Help me settle an argument!

[Fatman_do]

Chances are you would need a 3/8's", or most likely 10mm.

5/16" is roughly 8mm (7.9375mm)
3/8" is roughly 10mm (9.525)
7/16" is just over 11mm (11.1125mm)

I work in a mechanical design shop that caters to the Auto/Heavy equipment/Aerospace/ industry. Everything is designed metric, Imperial fasteners are used however (think of automation equipment and welding fixtures, stuff inside a factory used to make the end product). More and more U.S. manufacturers are moving from "Soft metric" to "Hard metric". They even start stocking metric steels in the tool room. (Soft metric is taking the Inch equivalent and multiply by 25.4 to get mm equiv. 4*25.4=101.6)

I rather design something at 125mm over and 100mm down than 127.0mm (5") x 101.6mm (4"). The math during measurment stackups gets easier...125+75+100+90 vs. 127+76.2+101.6+88.9 (5"+3"+4"+3.5").

[McBainUK]

My wife is scottish: I find it easiest not to consult her on matters of pronunciation.

That's the funniest thing I've read this year, nice one!

[gEd]

My wife is scottish: I find it easiest not to consult her on matters of pronunciation.

one of son's friends (who mother is from Glasgow) was speaking to his Muslim friend who said "my mum doesn't speak very good english" to which he replied, that's ok, nor does my mum...."

[Fatman_do]

My cousin (a Mexican-American) got married to his wife near Cork, Ireland (Blarney?? I remember them mentioning it, I don't know if he visited it while there). She, and her family are from that part of the world. Anyway, they showed me pictures, and me being the Dumb American, said "I can't read half the signs in those pictures". She replied they were in Gaelic. Whatever that is. I think they were making it up (sarcasm). I couldn't afford to fly over for the wedding, I wish I would have though. Looked amazing.

[McBainUK]

She replied they were in Gaelic. Whatever that is. I think they were making it up (sarcasm).

Don't forget 3/4 million Welsh speakers, and the fact that they have the longest place name in the UK:Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. The sign saying the place name is really, really, really long!

[Fatman_do]

Don't forget 3/4 million Welsh speakers, and the fact that they have the longest place name in the UK:Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. The sign saying the place name is really, really, really long!

That place, and this place in New Zealand makes me think we are are a long way from spelling reform. I thought the Hawaiian state fish "Humuhumunukunuku apua'a" was bad..

[Fatman_do]

Here is an American example I found on the wiki....

A long place name in the US is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula," ("The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the River Porciúncula"). This place is now known as Los Angeles (which is still too long for some and is abbreviated as L.A.)

[bgowland]

Or better yet, the Firkin.

Aaah. Something dear to my heart...BEER!

Pins, Firkins, Kilderkins, Barrels, Hogsheads and Tuns. Casks of nectar (well, ale anyway).

I can't remember why the US gallon is smaller than the UK gallon though.

There are 20 fluid ounces in an Imperial pint but only 16 in a US pint. A US fluid ounce is slightly bigger than an Imperial fluid ounce although not by much (UK fl. oz. = ~28.4ml, US fl. oz. = ~29.6ml). I'm not sure why the fluid ounces are different nor why there are only 16 in a US pint though.

Cheers,
Brian

[bgowland]

Don't forget 3/4 million Welsh speakers, and the fact that they have the longest place name in the UK:

Yeah. But they made that up just to get tourists to visit - the original name was a lot shorter. People would travel there by train just so they had a ticket with the place name printed on it. Excellent piece of marketing.

Cheers,
Brian

[flyswatta]

Don't forget 3/4 million Welsh speakers, and the fact that they have the longest place name in the UK:Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. The sign saying the place name is really, really, really long!

Uh, how do you pronounce that? :confused: