tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post5058747382212668272..comments2024-03-28T23:22:41.774-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): Pennies vs. penceMinnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-64854260541249622402021-11-23T23:04:43.768-06:002021-11-23T23:04:43.768-06:00It is based on the amount of divisors. Take one do...It is based on the amount of divisors. Take one dozen for example. It is a common unit for distance (one foot), time (one half day), and amount (a dozen donuts). With something measured in base 12, you can easily calculate 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 1/12, 2/3, or 3/4. This allows for many different divisions that result in a whole number. If you follow the logic a bit more, base 60 (5 x 12) makes sense because you add even more divisors for a finer gradiation of a whole number part of the unit.TJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-65266984523105078402021-11-23T13:45:18.848-06:002021-11-23T13:45:18.848-06:00Yes, it sounds complicated but they knew it by hea...Yes, it sounds complicated but they knew it by heart.<br />The Imperial measurements we use are more complicated than metric, but it’s what I know, what I grew up with. When something is stated in kilometers or hectares or meters I have to convert it in my head to Imperial miles, acres, or feet to truly understand exactly what it is.<br />That's why the resistance to decimalisation.xoxoxoBrucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04512934465987061068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-12610883354923391542021-11-23T13:14:57.517-06:002021-11-23T13:14:57.517-06:00Who asks for a 5 pence stamp? It's a 5p (said ...Who asks for a 5 pence stamp? It's a 5p (said 5 pee) stamp. <br /><br />As for linguistic drift, when I was a child I was familiar with the phrase "daft apeth" (often directed at me), and presumed that it was something to do with apes. It's actually a contraction of "hapennyworth": https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/apeth Margehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06753777047197507136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-14370725196981526932021-11-22T14:15:48.583-06:002021-11-22T14:15:48.583-06:00That is so base 3 (or maybe base six?) counting. ...That is so base 3 (or maybe base six?) counting. We use base 10 because we have 10 fingers. Did the early British have only 3, or 6, fingers on each hand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-90637645700607436102021-11-22T14:09:36.666-06:002021-11-22T14:09:36.666-06:00Oi - thanks for the reminder!Oi - thanks for the reminder!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-21419194594734053052021-11-22T08:08:41.733-06:002021-11-22T08:08:41.733-06:00I'm a bit of a numismatist and have some pre-d...I'm a bit of a numismatist and have some pre-decimalization British coins. The, well, pennies clearly say "One penny". I've also almost certainly shared this before but any mention of British currency reminds me of my favorite footnote from Gaiman and Pratchett's <b>Good Omens</b>: "Two farthings = One Ha'penny. Two ha'pennies = One Penny. Three pennies = A Thrupenny Bit. Two Thrupences = A Sixpence. Two Sixpences = One Shilling, or Bob. Two Bob = A Florin. One Florin and One Sixpence = Half a Crown. Four Half Crowns = Ten Bob Note. Two Ten Bob Notes = One Pound (or 240 pennies). Once Pound and One Shilling = One Guinea.<br /><br />The British resisted decimalized currency for a long time because they thought it was too complicated.” Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10320886074658710855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-24070455410534556462021-11-21T17:49:19.574-06:002021-11-21T17:49:19.574-06:00Not when you're discussing old postage stampsNot when you're discussing old postage stampsMinnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-15799844223486824462021-11-21T16:57:48.268-06:002021-11-21T16:57:48.268-06:00They're called cents, people! Come on over the...They're called cents, people! Come on over the the decimal system!Nepkarelnoreply@blogger.com