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 Off-Topic / Geek / 3677
  question about the metric system
 
When I was down burning through the last of my grant money in the form of a mileage reimbursement, I got to thinking... What do people who live in nations where the metric system is used call mileage? For english speaking countries is there a word (...) (22 years ago, 2-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Mileage, as in miles per gallon? We normally use litres per mile. That being metric miles. A metric mile is 10 km. Note that litres per 10 km is the inverse measure, compared with mileage. Fredrik (22 years ago, 2-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Here in Canada we call it mileage. If you look at an Auto Trader magazine, the ads list the cars' mileage. A funny thing - I'm a programmer, and I developed a system a few years ago that required users to enter a "mileage" which was passed (...) (22 years ago, 2-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) In Israel, (in Hebrew, of course), it's "Kilometrage"... :) (22 years ago, 2-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) ??? Are you sure about this? I never heard about metric miles - AFAIK, the biggest metric measure is the km; but I may be wrong... Or is this a "non-official" measure? ;-) Pedro (22 years ago, 2-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Well, here's a tough one... In Portugal we use the word "quilometragem" (or "kilometrage", if you prefer), when referring to cars and trains; for ships and aircrafts the use of the Imperial Measures is standard, so the word "Mileage" applies. (...) (22 years ago, 2-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Thanks for the info. So in the last example is used in the context of frequent flier miles? (...) well, as a scientist i'm well informed of the inherent goodness and usability of the metric system-- I use it more frequently than the imperial (...) (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) um... yes and no. my question was more so aimed at straight distance like "the mileage on my car's odometer is 52000 miles (or ~83686 km). But either meaning should work. :) -c (...) (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) In Aus, a common way to say it is "my car has 83000 Ks[1] on it". Officially, engine economy is measured in litres per 100km. Because that's way too long to say, most people don't bother trying - it generally only comes up when you're buying a (...) (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) It is probably a non-official measure, then. It is common in the Scandinavian countries. Personally, I think that litres of petrol consumption per 10 km is a bad measure, as it always amounts to point something with modern cars. It would have (...) (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Ah, well, in that case, we usually say that a car has gone 45'000, say, to indicate that it has 45'000 km on the speedometer. Fredrik (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Absolutely. They didn't even bother to translate "Frequent flier", since they assume most portuguese frequent passengers are familiar with the english language. And they are not wrong... :-) (A quick note: noone here actually says "milhagem", (...) (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Oh, I see - we used to have the "Légua", which ranged from 5 to 25 km. (...) We use that - you don't? I thought the EU had a directive about it (they do about *everything* else.. ;-) Pedro (who illegally used a wooden spoon to cook dinner (...) (22 years ago, 3-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Is this because of bacteria? Do they still sell them within the EU? -c (22 years ago, 4-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Allegedly. But I never got food-poisoned, so it sounds void to me... It's a bit dumb as a rule. Some years ago they also forbid stomping grapes to make wine (as done since time immemorial), for the same reason. If they keep this path, noone (...) (22 years ago, 4-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) I remember reading something in one of my dad's (surely totally unbiased) woodworking magazines a while ago about how wooden cutting boards are actually better than plastic ones -- the plastic boards get little cuts all over where the bacteria (...) (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) I've heard the samme comment myself. I think it sounds plausible, but I can't say for sure... Fredrik (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) So, how long before you have the FBI on your doorstep? ;-) Fredrik (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Oh brother. Anti-american might be a bit strong, but a surprised reaction isn't unexpected. If someone asked you how tall you are and you said "I'm 1.6 ells," you'd get a weird look, too. Dave! (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Wood and bacteria (was: question about the metric system)
 
(...) The one I read not too long ago wasn't that they were killed by the wood, but that when they got in there, it was just under the surface of the wood. On the plastic boards they live on the surface so it's easier for them to get into your food. (...) (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Can't put it better than Abe Simpson: "Yes I said the metric system is the devil. My car gets 40 rods to the hog's head, and that's the way I likes it." :-) -Chris (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Well, it sounds reasonable. And I've used both plastic and wooden cutting boards, from which I chose the latter. Pedro (22 years ago, 6-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) Yes, but plastic ones can be run through the dishwasher. Wooden ones don't last long if you try that ... --Bill. (22 years ago, 7-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
 
  Re: question about the metric system
 
(...) I reckon that if this is true, it would greatly depend on the type of wood that the cutting board is made of, the age of the board (e.g. a new board would have a greater amount of tannins and other allelopathic(1) compounds), what type of (...) (22 years ago, 7-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)

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