#57272
02/16/2002 5:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 55
newbie
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newbie
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OK, ok! I did the search here, and I don't understand the whole nine yards bit, and tsuwmn's link from last year (March) didn't take me a millimeter closer to finding the first thing about the whole nine yards.
And, of Troy, that construction description of yours didn't make sense to my mind, which is always way out there far from things like cement! Ooh, my aching feet stuck in cement! Can't move much.
So, from Ozoneland here, what is this whole nine yards bit about? If it's construction, is it nine square yards?
Completely spaced out on this one,
OrB~ and please pardon the introduction of a repeated topic
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#57273
02/16/2002 6:02 PM
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Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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was the link to Quinion? http://www.quinion.com/words/articles/nineyards.htmyou don't like his non-answer? there are some mysteries in our language and it would appear that this is one. Quinion: If you're hoping for a definitive answer, you'd better buy a crystal ball. I have to say straight away this is one of the great unsolved mysteries of modern etymology, for which many seek the truth and almost as many find explanations, but hardly anyone has a clue. What we do know is that the phrase is recorded from the 1960s, is an Americanism (it's nothing like so well known in Britain, for example), and has the meaning of "everything; all of it; the whole lot; the works". But there are no leads anyone can discover to a reasonable idea of where it came from.
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#57274
02/16/2002 6:55 PM
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Gotta go with tsuwm (and Quinion) here. There's zillions of explanations and every one of them has something seriously wrong with it.
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#57275
02/16/2002 7:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 55
newbie
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newbie
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Dear tsuwm,
The link I tried took me to a page where there were just a lot of choices, so I clicked on "Phrases," and among the phrases listed was the notable absence of "whole nine yards." I probably was off-course.
Thanks for pasting the mystery.
All for life's mysteries,
OrB~
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#57276
02/16/2002 7:28 PM
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Posts: 3,439
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You can always count on the Board for the whole nine yards on any subject!
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#57277
02/16/2002 7:38 PM
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Posts: 4,189
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the whole nine yardsAw, everybody knows it came from "the full monty"!  which has a similar meaning and has the same etymological haze surrounding it...try searching the board for that one if you have a few days to spare, OrionsBelt~...another much-discussed (to say the least!) enigma. My apologies to the board for bringing the f.m. phrase up again, but it did seem relevant here.
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#57278
02/16/2002 9:02 PM
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Dear Whit,
And to complicate matters, consider the Emperor's new clothes being made of the whole nine yards as he showed off the full monty!
Rocketing outta here into the stratosphere,
OrB~ -- Wordwind -- Whatever -- Life is confusing!
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#57279
02/16/2002 10:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 55
newbie
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newbie
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Me, I'm still working on the whole nine inches! Cannot tell whether I'm coming or going here. Is there some mystical meaning for nine? I mean, we got the cat o'nine tails... Why nine, I ask you? And how 'bout the Beatles and "Number nine, number nine, number nine"! What was that all about?
And then, since I'm on the subject of how weird numbers are, why do people say, "I'm all sixes and sevens here"?
I don't get it.
Don't even know who I bloody am anymore,
OrB~ (I think...I think I got it right this time!)
And, come to think of it, bloody Clementine's shoes--those herring boxes--were number nine! What's this with nine anyway????
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#57280
02/16/2002 11:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
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Oh, mighty nightly warrior, what a great thought! (has anyone else been keeping track of Jupitor? now days, it can be seen nightly, in north, very close to Orion)
Yes, certain numbers have "magical" qualities.. 7-- it is thought that the seven planets known to the ancient started seven off as a lucky number, but i have never (and i don't remember reading anything here) explored why we use that set of characters (well, we did a bit on Octo (Hi, ya Love(land) Child Jazzo!) and i know octo (eight) goes back to latin and further to greek.. but now i am going to start exploring and see if any numbers have any magicical connotations in their roots.. (crossing threads.. an other theme? Words you can count on?
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#57281
02/16/2002 11:01 PM
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Posts: 4,189
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since I'm on the subject of how weird numbers areLooks like you're behind the eight ball on this one, OrB~! 
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#57282
02/16/2002 11:18 PM
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Posts: 5,400
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RE:why do people say, "I'm all sixes and sevens here"?
that's one you can look up-- as i recall, (and i am pretty sure i read it here) it has to do with guilded crafts.. and their processional order in a parade in London..
One guild was ranked first, and so on, till they got to number 6-- and there was a tie, so alternate years, one guildhall marches in the 6th position, and the following year, in the 7th position..and visa versa. if you want the detail of which guild hall, and what the criteria was for the ranking (details i have failed to remember, LIU!)
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#57283
02/16/2002 11:56 PM
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Posts: 4,189
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another nine
Dressed to the nines.
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#57284
02/17/2002 1:32 AM
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Posts: 10,542
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nine and three and seven all have mystical roots and have been much used by fantasists: Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.I'll look for a link which expands on this... http://www.bartleby.com/81/12099.html
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#57285
02/17/2002 12:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872 |
Looks like you're behind the eight ball on this one, OrB~!
And one is a lonely number and that makes nine.
OrB, Your Awad # is 20128, as this white eye counts the days. Yet even before I cast the stones we can see that the sum of 2-0-1-2-8 is 13. But ah...ahead I see much good fortune...I will report.
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#57286
02/17/2002 2:03 PM
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Posts: 13,803
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one is a lonely number
The original is, of course, one ain't the onliest number, 'cause it's second to none.
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#57287
02/17/2002 2:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
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OrB, Your Awad # is 20128, as this white eye counts the days. Yet even before I cast the stones we can see that the sum of 2-0-1-2-8 is 13. But ah...ahead I see much good fortune.20128 twenty; one; 2; 8 twenty-one x 2; 8 42 8 -- aha! she is for-tu-ateMilum, in casting stones "it's all in the writs."
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#57288
02/17/2002 5:58 PM
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Posts: 6,296
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Dear milum,
You just keeping adding till you can add no more, then you take a look at what you've got.
Soooooooooooo: 1 + 3 = 4
And that's a terrific number! 4. Why? Because you use four fingers on the fingerboard when playing violin. That's what 4 is for! Four sure!
But what about this nine business? I felt sure someone would straighten out the Beatles' mess!
Back into space to talk to Rigel,
OrB~ note the four characters in OrB~
I just noticed I signed on as Wordwind, but, at this point, big bloody deal. Orion's speaking here--obviously...
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#57289
02/17/2002 8:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Number 9, No. 9, #9, Number nine, number nine, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9 ...
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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#57290
02/17/2002 9:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
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[whisper] I think Cap is having a bit of a breakdown [whisper]
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#57291
02/17/2002 9:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
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[whispering too] Looks like his 19th nervous breakdown. Ayup.
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#57292
02/17/2002 9:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Ackshully©, it's 71, but who's counting?
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#57293
02/17/2002 9:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
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Oh, it's just his repetitive nature...either that, or he's on cloud 9!
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#57294
02/17/2002 9:55 PM
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Posts: 6,296
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CLOUD NINE
Great one, Whit! Now why in Sam's Hill is it Cloud Nine? There's that bloody nine again!
Best regards,
WordWhine
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#57295
02/17/2002 11:30 PM
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Posts: 4,189
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"...and seven little bottles of
Love Potion Number Niiiii~iiiiiiiiiiii~iiiiiiiiiine!"
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#57296
02/17/2002 11:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
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"seven"? I thought it was "sellin'".
"She's gotta pad down on 34th and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of
[um] Love Potion #9."
Now I've got to LIU!
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#57297
02/17/2002 11:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
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seven...bottles
Yeah, well...since tsuwm's looking up a history of numbers 9, 3, and 7 for us, I thought I'd work it in.
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#57298
02/18/2002 12:17 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
old hand
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old hand
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Posts: 872 |
My former idol, the former "Sonny Boy" Williamson had a fascination with the number "9". The number appeared in a large number of his songs and in the titles of two...
Ninty-nine
Well my Baby taken sick on July twenty-nine
The one I love she taken sick Boys, on July twenty-nine
Her doctor bill was four hundred dollars
and I didn't have but three hundred and ninty-nine.
Nine Below Zero
Ain't it a pity
People I declare it's a crying shame
She waited until it got nine below zero
Then she put me down for another man.
*****
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#57299
02/18/2002 12:21 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
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As tsuwm notes, nine and three and seven all have mystical roots and have been much used by fantasists
-seven-league boots
-The Seventh Seal
-7th son of the 7th son
-7 wonders of the ancient world
-time measured by a 7-day week (established by the babylonians, I believe, per their belief that 7 was a sacred number)
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#57300
02/18/2002 12:47 AM
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Posts: 2,605
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-the 3 witches of Macbeth
-the 3 Furies in greek mythology
-the Holy Trinity
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#57301
02/18/2002 2:03 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
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Posts: 866 |
7 Dwarfs / Dwarves (crossthreading...)
The 7 labours of Hercules.....
Something to do with the number of days of the week praps?
stales
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#57302
02/18/2002 2:12 AM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
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Wasn't there a movie called Seven brides for seven brothers?
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#57303
02/18/2002 2:38 AM
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Posts: 4,189
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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Yep, bel...a Broadway musical and a movie.
more 3s
The Shamrock, the Triton, the Pyramids (their sides are geometeric triangles), The Three Musketeers, The Third Eye, Three Blind Mice, Babe Ruth wore number 3, The Tolkien Trilogy.
In numerology 3 is the number of creativity/but can lapse into indecision. How well I know...my birthpath number is 3.
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#57304
02/18/2002 3:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
The 7 labours of Hercules.....
I believe it was 12 labors. And that's another number with mythic/biblical overtones: the 12 tribes of Israel; the 12 apostles--and that, I've heard, is how come it's considered unlucky to have 13 at the supper table.
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#57305
02/18/2002 3:09 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
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Posts: 866 |
Thanks slithy - when it comes to matters theological I am not a reliable source of information...
stales
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#57306
02/18/2002 3:45 AM
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Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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And of course, the twelve days of Christmas. [signed] Emily
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#57307
02/18/2002 5:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618
addict
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addict
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Posts: 618 |
- time measured by a 7-day week (established by the babylonians, I believe, per their belief that 7 was a sacred number)
I think God might have something to say about that...
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#57308
02/18/2002 11:28 AM
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
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addict
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679 |
The Shamrock, the Triton, the Pyramids (their sides are geometeric triangles), The Three Musketeers, The Third Eye, Three Blind Mice, Babe Ruth wore number 3, The Tolkien Trilogy.
In numerology 3 is the number of creativity/but can lapse into indecision. How well I know...my birthpath number is 3.
This numbering system is inherent in nature. It was first laid down by Fibonacci 900 years ago. So it's far from a coincidence that is used so widely. People think in threes and fives. All nature derives from these numbers too. Leaves on a tree are divided into three and five segments (so it is impossible to have a four-leaf clover).
Doodle on the phone and you will draw a triangle or a pentacle. Think of a number between one and ten (or one and a hundred) and you will inevitably pick a fibonacci number. Give it a go. Your nature will overcome your conscious.
Writers and mathematicians, musicians and artists are inspired by the number three. In art you have the 'rule of thirds', musicians have lond preferred the three-time and writers love the number three. Include in your list of books The Third Man and The Thirty-nine steps. Most successful plots involve three central characters and are broken into three acts or scenes.
Mathematicians are mostly concerned by triangles and cubed numbers. Architects follow onto this by using triangulation to survey and to design.
It is no wonder that we are obsessed with the number three!!
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#57309
02/18/2002 11:33 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,071 Likes: 2
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_All_ numbers are interesting, actually. If there were one that wasn't, that would be a characteristic to make it interesting...
Read "The Phantom Tollbooth" (book by Norton Juster, no lyrics; illustrations by Jules Feiffer) to your kids someday...delves gently into "innumeracy", the concept analagous to illiteracy.
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#57310
02/18/2002 3:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96
journeyman
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journeyman
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Posts: 96 |
I think this is a great thread ,.............anyone who disagrees will get a bunch of fives
the Duncster
the Duncster
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#57311
02/18/2002 3:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96
journeyman
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journeyman
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Sorry to be so aggressive, its just that i'm 3 sheets to the wind
the Duncster
the Duncster
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