"Proper Units"

[DanHamer]

Just got around to making an avatar. You can't really see but its of some callipers that display measurements in "proper units". Here's a higher res image.

[Psi]

id hate to see the size of the bee

[Skimask]

....as long as somebody doesn't have an avatar for "sex on a stick", I think we're in good shape 

[veryevil]

should it be half a bees dick not half a bee dicks?

[dr_p]

should it be half a bees dick not half a bee dicks?

Actually it's "half a bee's dick"

[steve30]

Nice

Although my preferred unit of measure is the Nat's Whisker. I wonder if they make a caliper which measures in those.

[IanB]

Nice

Although my preferred unit of measure is the Nat's Whisker. I wonder if they make a caliper which measures in those.

Except gnat's whisker, with a "g"

[DanHamer]

I don't want to be pedantic but if you are talking about an individual bee and comparing sizes of things to his dick then its 'half a bee's dick' as the dick belongs to that particular bee.
But if you are creating a standard unit then the unit is '1 bee dick' singular and if you are measuring things against that standard unit you will need a range that assumes more than one unit so your graduation should be labelled 'bee dicks' as in 10 bee dicks for example. That was my thinking anyway, I may be wrong grammar is not my strong point.

[c4757p]

Even if you get it wrong, your grammar's only off by half a bee's dick.

[dr_p]

I don't want to be pedantic but if you are talking about an individual bee and comparing sizes of things to his dick then its 'half a bee's dick' as the dick belongs to that particular bee.
But if you are creating a standard unit then the unit is '1 bee dick' singular and if you are measuring things against that standard unit you will need a range that assumes more than one unit so your graduation should be labelled 'bee dicks' as in 10 bee dicks for example. That was my thinking anyway, I may be wrong grammar is not my strong point.

     

[kfitch42]

I would say the OP was actually pretty close:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drone_honey_bee_reproductive_organ.JPG

[iloveelectronics]

should it be half a bees dick not half a bee dicks?

I was taught in school that anything other than exactly one, we use the plural nouns/units. So "0.5 (or half) bee dicks" is correct, so is "half a bee's dick". "Half bee's dick" or "half bee dick" would be incorrect though

[SeanB]

I don't think the bee was enjoying it though............. Nearly as long as the bee as well!

[ecat]

should it be half a bees dick not half a bee dicks?

I was taught in school that anything other than exactly one, we use the plural nouns/units. So "0.5 (or half) bee dicks" is correct, so is "half a bee's dick". "Half bee's dick" or "half bee dick" would be incorrect though

Half right, hehe.

It is indeed 0.5 bee dicks (as in naught point five or zero point five), as it would be 0.5 inches or 0.5 millimetres. But. If using half or quarter etc it becomes 'half a bee dick' or 'a quarter bee dick' as in half an inch or a quarter millimetre, more precisely it should be 'half of a bee dick' or 'a third of a bee dick'.

Edit:
Clarified difference between '0.5' and 'half'

[gibbled]

This thread reminds me of the monty python song about "Eric the half a bee"

Who ipso facto must half not be.   

[SeanB]

He 'ad an accident you see..............

Chorus.........

[IanB]

If using half or quarter etc it becomes 'half a bee dick' or 'a quarter bee dick' as in half an inch or a quarter millimetre, more precisely it should be 'half of a bee dick' or 'a third of a bee dick'.

Not quite, though. Think of similar constructions, such as "half a day's journey" or "half an arm's length". For example, "I live not more than half a stone's throw away from my neighbour."

[ecat]

If using half or quarter etc it becomes 'half a bee dick' or 'a quarter bee dick' as in half an inch or a quarter millimetre, more precisely it should be 'half of a bee dick' or 'a third of a bee dick'.

Not quite, though. Think of similar constructions, such as "half a day's journey" or "half an arm's length". For example, "I live not more than half a stone's throw away from my neighbour."

I started off agreeing but soon decided you are in fact cheating :p My sample base units are millimetres as in 'a millimetre' and inches as in 'an inch', your base units are 'day's journey' as in 'a day's journey', likewise 'arm's length' and 'stone's throw'. If for example your base unit was 'arm length' then the four 'arm lengths' rule applies as do the 0.5 'arm lengths' and third of an 'arm length' rules.

Dan summed it up earlier...

I don't want to be pedantic but if you are talking about an individual bee and comparing sizes of things to his dick then its 'half a bee's dick' as the dick belongs to that particular bee.
But if you are creating a standard unit then the unit is '1 bee dick' singular and if you are measuring things against that standard unit you will need a range that assumes more than one unit so your graduation should be labelled 'bee dicks' as in 10 bee dicks for example. That was my thinking anyway, I may be wrong grammar is not my strong point.

[N2IXK]

There's always this one:



But the conversion factor can't be right. 35 to the inch seems a bit coarse, no? 

[metalphreak]

All it takes is a wax to destabilize your whole economy of measurement 

[kfitch42]

And for a 'gold' standard do you need to find a blonde where the carpet matches the drapes