Re: Metric Time (was Re: Why not 13 months? (Was La Systeme Metrique))

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Robert A. Uhl (ruhl@phoebe.cair.du.edu) wrote:
: In article <46ksi8$si6@news3.cts.com>, Will Rose <cwr@crash.cts.com> wrote:
: >Robert A. Uhl (ruhl@phoebe.cair.du.edu) wrote:
: >
: >: Excellent book: Reading the Numebrs, by Mary Blocksma. She
: >: advocates metric, but does list the old units as well. She regards
: >: the system of doubling as ridiculous, althoug I can hardly see how it
: >: is any worse than multiplying by ten (for which there is no word,
: >: BTW).
: >
: >Use decimate, and stand on your head while you say it.

: Nope, decimate means to reduce by one-tenth. When a conqueror
: decimates a village he lines up all the men and kills every tenth one.
: Yep, that's the origin of the word. It is sometimes used incorrectly
: to mean division by ten, but never mutliplication thereby.

Apologies, it was late at night and I was being excessively flippant.

Will
cwr@crash.cts.com

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