Between Christmas and New Year's, I'll take ...
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What? (Score:5, Insightful)
Am I the only one who has no idea what this poll is about?
Re:What? (Score:5, Informative)
I believe they're asking if you like christmas or new year more and if so, how much more.
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What about them? Would they prefer to celebrate Christmas? I'd like to know!
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Doesn't have to be xmas. Just pick the biggest gift-giving day of the year. No reason everyone can't participate just because the xtians stole the idea, date, and semiotics from secular and pagan celebrations.
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I, for one, welcome our Thai non-Christian in-February-year-changing overlords from the future.
Re:What? (Score:5, Funny)
Dear devbox,
please send all lottery results of Loto-Québec for the year 2011 at yvan256@nowhere.com
Thanks in advance.
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Re:What? (Score:5, Informative)
by a mile also by miles
if someone or something wins or is the best by a mile, they win easily or are much better than everyone or everything else Of all the strawberry ice-creams we've tasted, this is the best by miles. Everyone expected him to win the championship by a mile.
inch
a very small amount of anything; narrow margin: to win by an inch; to avert disaster by an inch.
So in an English-to-English translation the options are:
1. Christmas is much better than New Year's
2. Christmas is slightly better than New Year's
3. New Year's is much better than Christmas
4. New Year's is slightly better than Christmas
5. I don't care about either of them
6. I'm too ignorant and lazy to work it out, so I'll just bash the US unit system instead
Re:What? (Score:4, Insightful)
Perhaps a better translation for 6 might be:
6. I think this poll is even lamer than the usual /. fare, so I'll just bash the US for still using a unit system everyone else abandoned decades ago (or never used at all).
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Real men measure by their own personal unit system. I don't use inches or miles but I do have a foot, a hand, a finger, and an arm.
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Real men measure by their own personal unit system.
Real men == weirdos? Interesting.
Re:What? (Score:4, Funny)
"Real men" don't try to describe what "real men" do.
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Here is the list... http://www.globalwood.org/tech/tech_01001.htm [globalwood.org]
Next time, consult google before posting here.
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In almost all metric countries that speak English, they call them "twobyfours."
That would be the UK? (and perhaps canada...)
if i go to the local DIY store, i buy wood in millimeters... as does, i imagine, the rest of europe
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In almost all metric countries that speak English, they call them "twobyfours."
Because almost in English speaking countries metrification happened within living memory. Luckily by the time I got to High School we (Australians) didn't have to deal with all those pesky imperial watchits anymore (showing my age, 50, here). But sure the building industry was perhaps the slowest to change, and after all housing needs occasional repair.
They buy firewood in cords as well.
I regularly buy firewood (our sole so
Re:What? (Score:5, Informative)
Could you remind me what those in metric using countries use for measurement of lumber?
Usually, a tape measure.
Re:What? (Score:4, Informative)
In Britain we call luber "timber", and it is sold in metric units - meters for length and milimeters for width and depth.
See for example http://www.wickes.co.uk/Timber/Planed-Square-Edged-Timber/icat/psetpsetimber [wickes.co.uk]
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Give me 2/3 of 2 meters
2*(2/3)=4/3=1+1/3 metres.
Just like two times two thirds of a car or two times two thirds of a sausage.
Of course if you want somebody to cut something to size they aren't going to do anything with a repeating decimal. Most likely they will shorten the sequence to their limit of precision.
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For added fun, try converting a metric recipe for six people into one that can feed 16.
That is soooo easy man. Take 2.5 of everything and add a dash more (to get close to 2.67). Or just multiply by 3 and make bigger portions.
And if you are the kind of person that thinks that recipes need to be followed down to 1% tolerance, and not judge the amounts by taste you shouldn't be allowed near a kitchen!
And if you work in a profession that needs recipes be followed exactly, like in chemistry for instance, then you should really be using SI units, or be prepared to be fired.
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For added fun, try converting a metric recipe for six people into one that can feed 16.
So 8/3 of 5 imperial eggs is more convenient that 8/3 of 5 metric eggs?
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Most ingredients in most recipes are not discrete objects like eggs. They are measures of liquids or flowing solids like salt, flour, or diced tomatoes, etc. for which measures are typically mL, teaspoons, cups, ounces, pounds, etc.
Re:What? (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes this is a good point. This must be why Americans and Brits with their old, trusted units are so much better at cooking then the French and Italians with their useless litres and grammes.
I agree that the best thing about pounds, pints, gallons and inches is that they can be divided into three so easily.
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As a non-resident of the US, I must choose number 6.
This is not due to a lack of research ability, nor is it due to a lack of understanding of the "US unit system."
Rather, I must choose number 6 as it is my decidedly un-American duty to God, Queen and Country that I find some way to ridicule the US at every opportunity.
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Technically (pedantically, of course
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Actually, the "Imperial System" was properly standardised only after the US had already adopted "English" measurements, which is why some US measurements are different from their Imperial equivalents.
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6. I'm too ignorant and lazy to work it out, so I'll just bash the US unit system instead
Actually, this is clearly for those who prefer the French Revolutionary Calendar. Happy Frimaire!!
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It's your worst nightmare: the question is what are you doing between Christmas and New Year, and every option is Cowboy Neal.
- RG>
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Nope. Missing option: "What the Hell you about, anyways?"
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"The holidays", particularly Christmas, apply social (and therefore emotional) stress on people. Any psychologist working with people from western or* Christian backgrounds must know the social details of these days to do their job properly. This is simple logic.
*(inclusive or)
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a third of the world celebrates Christmas; and muslims already had their new year, and the far east will have their new years in February (chinese), March (hindu) or April (SE asian).
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Re:What? (Score:5, Interesting)
Since you are on /., /. and ./ are the same. If you were somewhere else, /. would remain /., while ./ would be whereever you are.
Christmas by a mile (Score:2)
Re:Christmas by a mile (Score:5, Interesting)
New Years is amateur night. I hate going out on New Year's Eve and far prefer the quiet streets and hushed sense of peace that seems to descend on Christmas Eve. After about 4pm, my busy city becomes a small town, and walking my dog as darkness descends Christmas Eve is one of my favorite things.
Having children also makes a big difference. For a few hours, the focus is off of work and progress and (at least in my house) consumerism. We eat and drink and relax and watch old movies. It's my favorite holiday, if only because of the Vince Guaraldi music.
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I reckon having children will change up both holidays.
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"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is on heavy rotation here all year around. Smooth stuff.
New Years (Score:4, Insightful)
New Years on the other hand has fewer constraints. Depending on what I feel like doing that year, I can stay in and surf the web in a drunken haze or go out with friends and work on my hangover for next morning.
Two small kids & getting old means Xmas by a m (Score:2)
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Even in college I was never a fan of New Year's. I never saw the point of ending the year in a haze and starting a new one sick in bed.
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Ditto. A 20 year old is still around the house a lot, along with the 13 year old. I'm 50+, so the allure of Happy New Year lost its shine at least a decade ago.
The extra day off is nice... Not that I mind going to work. I managed to land a gig only 4 1/2 miles from home, and the "work" is a nice change from the honey do list.
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Have to agree with the kids angle. Besides drinking sucks anyway. Not sure I know the meaning of a day off.
A holiday? (Score:2)
What? No Festivus? (Score:4, Insightful)
I'll take Christmas Grumbling (Score:5, Interesting)
Christmas is a pain in the ass!
When I go out to buy something that I really need for day to day living, I have to deal with Christmas shoppers. I try like hell to stay out of retail stores at this time of year.
People are in a rush and they're rude and obnoxious.
Here's an interesting tidbit ....
My wife's family are all well to do - a couple of self made millionaires - and Christmas means just some token gifts and nice dinners here and there.
My family - mostly blue collar and lower rung white collar workers - a shit load of gifts and the subsequent high credit card bills in January. More is better and the children are spoiled - when they see a toy, they expect to get it.
I find it to be an interesting comparison. I wonder if it holds true across the population: rich don't spend a lot of money on stuff as opposed to the lower socio-economic rungs.
So, maybe the way to act rich is to save your money and stop blowing it.
Re:I'll take Christmas Grumbling (Score:5, Insightful)
I think it's more like this... (Score:3)
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There's no such thing as a "self-made" millionaire. That money came from a lot of other people who worked hard to get their money and then paid more than the thing they were buying was worth. And between them and the buyer are likely a whole bunch of people who worked hard and were paid much less than the real value of their effort. And they used a logistical infrastructure constructed by other people who may or may not even be alive any more. And holding it all together is a transportation and communic
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Why are the materials & equipment are owned and maintained by somebody else?
If the worker is a contractor (and thus a business owner himself), then yeah he owns & maintains his own stuff. I'm just pointing out the real antithesis of your view, a situation where a human worker is necessary but is an utterly minor injector of value into the chain.
Everything you bring up points towards "I don't like to be an employee. I should be an owner instead." Well, then do so. Being an employee has a lot of downsides, the upside being that you do not have the risks and responsibilities o
Re:I'll take Christmas Grumbling (Score:4, Insightful)
I've noticed this phenomenon as well.
It appears to me that many families strapped for cash wear wealth on their sleeve, Cars, Christmas and all. Always trying to show off.
Meanwhile, we sometimes see wealthy folks driving cars long past their prime.
I work on New Year's Day (Score:2)
Missing poll option: (Score:3)
Between Christmas and New Years I'll take: ...a week off from work!
Usually Christmas... (Score:2)
But I'm getting married New Years Eve in Vegas, so it's an up over Christmas in Alaska
Ha! Bumhug (Score:2)
Missing option (Score:3)
I get two Christmases (Christmasi?) (Score:5, Interesting)
We get December 25th and January 7th! Twice the fun and for the January celebration, you get to take advantage of all the boxing day (Dec. 26) sales! Yay to being Ukranian-Canadian!
----------
Thomas Dzubin
Easy. (Score:2)
Christmas means family. New years means friends. That makes the winner pretty obvious
(it's new years)
Missing Option (Score:2)
Can't I like both, but like them equally? (5) seems to imply that I don't care about either.
Anyway, as a metric using non-American it is my duty to vote for (6). I'm going to feel that little bit better today knowing that I support my country.
Between Christmas and New Year (Score:2)
With that in mind when I read the poll options I got very confused.
What about Chanukkah? (Score:3, Insightful)
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What if you are Jewish? Do I just look forward to the Chinese food?
You really should wait for Chinese New Year for that. The food is far better. I'm not Jewish but I try to avoid eating shellfish anyway. Their only defence against you is poison. I prefer to leave them alone.
a week's vacation (Score:2)
and some bowl game tickets, if I can get 'em.
missing option (Score:2)
...a few days off
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Between Christmas and New Year's, I'll take
several types of drugs.
The Alcoholidays (Score:2)
Would be nothing without both of them! Inseparable!
Kwanza (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm dreaming of a white Kwanzaa
bah, humbug! (Score:5, Insightful)
I like time off. I like spending time with my family. I like blinking lights and festive decorations. I like eggnog and fruitcake and booze. I like giving gifts. I like receiving gifts.
But I hate Christmas.
I'm so tired of the endless consumerism... The big machine starts going before Halloween is even done - decorations in the stores, sales, advertising. Only X days left 'til Christmas! Buy while you can! Shop here, save money, give more Christmas!
Then you've got the fundamentalist Christians out on parade... Yelling at anyone who's a little too inclusive. Happy Holidays?! How dare you! This holiday is exclusively for Christians, nobody else is allowed to be happy during this time of year! It's a war on Christmas! They're trying to take Christ out of Christmas!
And all the "charities"... Folks incessantly ringing bells, or running ads, or sending out mailings... Yes, I know, people are in need. They're in need year-round. I've given to an assortment of charities throughout the year. No, I don't have any change to drop in your bucket, stop glaring at me.
So I grit my teeth every time a Christmas-themed commercial comes on. I avoid the mall like the plague. I cringe inwardly every time I have to go to the store for anything.
And then I have a few days off with my family. And that's really nice. And it almost makes all the rest of the crap worth-while. Almost.
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This doesn't have all that much to do with being Christian. I'm not, and I get irritated at this quite a bit myself. I don't care about the whole Jesus birthday celebration bit, but it's fucking Christmas. Call it what it is, even if you don't celebrate it because of religion. Our society needs less bullshit coddling of those who take any excuse to get offended, and one good place to start would be to say, "It's Christmas. We're celebrating it, you don't have to if you don't want to. Deal with it."
Except that you also have folks celebrating Chanukah at the very same time. And folks celebrating Kwanza at the very same time. And folks celebrating the Winter Solstice at the very same time. And folks who're just enjoying the season and don't have any particular holiday in mind.
Plus, you've got the festivities starting around October here... So that includes Halloween and Thanksgiving... And usually the whole "holiday" thing extends until New Year's Day...
So you've got an awful lot of holidays going
Between Christmas and New Year's, I'll take (Score:5, Insightful)
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I was just about to post this very thing, and happened to look up as the post "preview" loaded... So I had about a half-hour to waste waiting.
Missing Option (Score:3)
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But the metric choice is for those who don't think it's humbug, but feel that they can not give their preference when the answers are presented with miles and inches. This option doesn't really make sense and the answer is akin to answering "I'm not going to answer sensibly".
Re:Bah humbug (Score:5, Interesting)
And imperial is obsolete in every country of the world except Burma and the US.
Anybody willing to bet which of them that will give up the imperial system first?
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Anybody willing to bet which of them that will give up the imperial system first?"
Well, there's really no compelling reason to go to all the trouble and cost to change the US to metric. I dn't see it changing any time soon...at least I hope not in my lifetime.
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Don't know what you consider compelling, but off the bat I can see these advantages:
I do note that much the same could be said for adopting English as a national language
Re:Bah humbug (Score:4, Insightful)
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Because the downside is cost, to everyone. Metric wrenches won't work on imperial bolts. Rulers, yardsticks, all have to be replaced.
But it looks like the US is going metric, albeit slowly, because of the fact of world trade. Pepsi and coke are sold in two litre bottles, for example. Most goods (motor oil, cooling oil, milk, etc) list content weights and volumes in both metric and imperial.
If you don't need a precise measurement, converting from imperial to netric is simple. A meter is a couple inches longe
Re:Bah humbug (Score:4, Funny)
Well, yeah, if Han Solo is teaching you how to convert units I guess it is.
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Wow, worst typo all week and it's still monday =(
Should be "yard". Should've gone to bed earlier last night.
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Hehe. Your signature tells me that no argument will ever sway you, so let me tell you a true story. I once asked an American here on /.: Given a bath tub about 1.8 yards long, 30 inches wide and 25 inches deep, how would you calculate the approximate volume (in gallons, presumably). The answer was: I wouldn't. That answer surprised me. Compare to metric: A bath tub about 1.7 meters x 85cm x 70cm = (The exact measurements are probably not the same). Same calculation is trivial, yielding about 1000 liters. Su
US not Imperial (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:Bah humbug (Score:5, Informative)
Erm thats because grams is a unit of mass and ml is a unit of volume.
If they knew the density of the toothpaste then it would have been a simple calculation.
If its density was equal to water's, then it would have been a very simple 100ml. Lets see Imperial be that simple though.
Re:Bah humbug (Score:4, Insightful)
If its density was equal to water's, then it would have been a very simple 100ml. Lets see Imperial be that simple though.
"A pint's a pound the world around." [wikipedia.org]
My grandma said "A pint of water weighs a pound and a quarter", and she was correct -- she's British.
I guess "a pint's a pound the world around" is still true if you're American ;-).
Re:Bah humbug (Score:4, Interesting)
The UK is not a very good example of an imperial using country. Since the early 80s school children have been taught entirely in metric. Everything has to be sold in metric units by law. You can buy a 1" nail but it must have the length in metric on the packet somewhere. For distances and speed we use miles for driving and meters when walking. It is not uncommon to see a sign that says " 2m" (m for miles) and then below it "Post Office 100m" (m for metres!)
The trend is to move towards metric now. If you buy an electric steam iron it will have the capacity in litres. Luggage gives the weight in Kg, as do airlines when setting limits. The fact that we get a lot of goods from Europe that have multiple languages on the packaging is driving the change forward. Sometimes on the TV weather they give the temperature in Fahrenheit but it is getting quite rare now.
It is a typical British half-arsed compromise. Rather than just picking one option on principal and simply doing it we try to keep everyone happy. We have the same problem with Sunday Trading where larger shops can only open for 6 hours maximum. Christians are not happy because people still work on Sunday and everyone else is not happy because we have to rush around the shops before they close early. Can you believe that when we changed to decimal money in the early 70s some people tried to refuse it?
God knows what would happen if we joined the Euro. Most countries did a two week change over, I expect we would need at least two years.
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Water is also 1 ounce of mass per 1 American ounce of volume, not that I want to advocate those units or anything...
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3.53 oz? That's a bastard unit.
Surely you mean 3 oz, 8 dr, 12 gr?
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But I'm not sensible, you insensitive clod. No, wait....
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Bah humbug is metric isn't it?
Nope. It was an acceptable term in England in 1843 when "A Christmas Carol" was published. At that time, England did not embrace metric terms. If it has been adopted by ISO (et al), I haven't heard.
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Ans: Till the editors are american. Something tells me you already knew that!
Re:Slashdot american? (Score:5, Insightful)
They are units. Units. You multiply by a certain number to get them to something else. I use kilometers at work and use miles when I get out. Whatever. It's hard to change a system of units, particularly in a country where people don't like the government telling them what to do. I'd rather fight the tea partiers on something important, like getting a decent health care system in place, then worry about something so minor. I wouldn't complain when reading a British website or visiting Germany that they use metric units, no more than I'd complain that other countries use other languages. Its the way of things. And its the same complaint every time.
And in this case, the use of English units is appropriate because it's a figure of speech. "By an inch" and "by a mile" are common colloquialisms, similar to "by a nose" (referring to a length of a horses nose in a horse race, implying a close finish). Saying Christmas is better than New Years by a kilometer would just sound goofy. Maybe saying it more plainly would be more friendly to international audiences, but sometimes using colloquialisms in unexpected ways can be fun -- I personally found the way the question was asked enjoyable, even if the question itself is particularly dull (I prefer thanksgiving as a holiday myself).
If youre really concerned, google does unit conversions for you. Type "1 mile in km" and it will figure it all out for you if you're unhappy with the simple 1.6 approximation.
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blow it out their ear
People can blow it any way they like but make sure you use metric. The use of medieval measurments will make you either blow up or miss the planet entirely!