"Proper Units" - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: DanHamer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 12:24:03 pm
content: Just got around to making an avatar. You can't really see but its of some callipers that display measurements in "proper units". Here's a higher res image.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 12:46:25 pm
content: id hate to see the size of the bee

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 01:18:50 pm
content: ....as long as somebody doesn't have an avatar for "sex on a stick", I think we're in good shape

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 01:20:38 pm
content: should it be half a bees dick not half a bee dicks?

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 01:24:25 pm
content: Quote from: veryevil on May 21, 2013, 01:20:38 pmActually it's "half a bee's dick"

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 01:35:48 pm
content: NiceAlthough my preferred unit of measure is the Nat's Whisker. I wonder if they make a caliper which measures in those.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 01:46:34 pm
content: Quote from: steve30 on May 21, 2013, 01:35:48 pmExcept gnat's whisker, with a "g"

author: DanHamer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 02:10:41 pm
content: I don't want to be pedantic but if you are talking about an individual bee and comparing sizes of things to his dick then its 'half a bee's dick' as the dick belongs to that particular bee.But if you are creating a standard unit then the unit is '1 bee dick' singular and if you are measuring things against that standard unit you will need a range that assumes more than one unit so your graduation should be labelled 'bee dicks' as in 10 bee dicks for example. That was my thinking anyway, I may be wrong grammar is not my strong point.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 02:13:14 pm
content: Even if you get it wrong, your grammar's only off by half a bee's dick.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 04:00:06 pm
content: Quote from: DanHamer on May 21, 2013, 02:10:41 pm

author: kfitch42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 04:23:18 pm
content: I would say the OP was actually pretty close:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drone_honey_bee_reproductive_organ.JPG

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 04:27:56 pm
content: Quote from: veryevil on May 21, 2013, 01:20:38 pmI was taught in school that anything other than exactly one, we use the plural nouns/units. So "0.5 (or half) bee dicks" is correct, so is "half a bee's dick". "Half bee's dick" or "half bee dick" would be incorrect though

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 04:55:23 pm
content: I don't think the bee was enjoying it though............. Nearly as long as the bee as well!

author: ecat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 06:16:09 pm
content: Quote from: iloveelectronics on May 21, 2013, 04:27:56 pmHalf right, hehe.It is indeed 0.5 bee dicks (as in naught point five or zero point five), as it would be 0.5 inches or 0.5 millimetres. But. If using half or quarter etc it becomes 'half a bee dick' or 'a quarter bee dick' as in half an inch or a quarter millimetre, more precisely it should be 'half of a bee dick' or 'a third of a bee dick'.Edit:Clarified difference between '0.5' and 'half'

author: gibbled
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 06:20:43 pm
content: This thread reminds me of the monty python song about "Eric the half a bee"Who ipso facto must half not be.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 07:10:05 pm
content: He 'ad an accident you see..............Chorus.........

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 07:56:37 pm
content: Quote from: ecat on May 21, 2013, 06:16:09 pmNot quite, though. Think of similar constructions, such as "half a day's journey" or "half an arm's length". For example, "I live not more than half a stone's throw away from my neighbour."

author: ecat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2013, 08:41:35 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on May 21, 2013, 07:56:37 pmI started off agreeing but soon decided you are in fact cheating :p My sample base units are millimetres as in 'a millimetre' and inches as in 'an inch', your base units are 'day's journey' as in 'a day's journey', likewise 'arm's length' and 'stone's throw'. If for example your base unit was 'arm length' then the four 'arm lengths' rule applies as do the 0.5 'arm lengths' and third of an 'arm length' rules.Dan summed it up earlier...Quote from: DanHamer on May 21, 2013, 02:10:41 pm

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 12:59:36 pm
content: There's always this one:But the conversion factor can't be right. 35 to the inch seems a bit coarse, no?

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 03:01:55 pm
content: All it takes is a wax to destabilize your whole economy of measurement

author: kfitch42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2013, 07:54:38 pm
content: And for a 'gold' standard do you need to find a blonde where the carpet matches the drapes