« taking tylenol for my head ... | Main | a drunk story »
November 6, 2007
the kilometer ...
I knew the day would come. Sooner or later someone would ask “What is a kilometer?”
I could have answered this question directly or in the comments, thus bumping up my numbers and my ego at the same time. However, now faced with a running blog and no running to report on, I thought what better way to fill some empty space on my blog and provide an educational service.
The Metric System
... is a decimalized system of measurement.
The kilometer is unit of distance, equal to 0.6214* miles, sorry that was futuristic use of a zero and a dot, about 3/5* or 3107/5000 of a mile.
Kilometers are made up of smaller units, like meters. There are 10 1000** meters in a kilometer. Then smaller units like centimeters and millimeters you would find these on a ruler.
All the units in the metric system are based on the number 10. Like the number of digits on your two hands combined, or both feet if you are so inclined. See, so when it gets tricky, you can bring in this little piggy to help.
As a runner, you may recognize the term kilometer or KM to its friends. You have probably seen it in races. In big, long races, it’s usually where they put the chip mats down. In fact, in some civilized societies, they put the term km right there in the race title, like the Turkey Trot 5K. This probably has less to do with progress and more to do with marketing. KMs are sexy. A 5K race sounds way sexier than a 3.1 mile race.
You are probably wondering why I know so much about this metric system?
A connoisseur if you will on units and measures.
Well I live in Canada. We pump our gas by the litre and buy our weed by the gram. In 1970, we and most of the world adapted this system. I don’t know why the Americans didn’t, the president at the time was Nixon, and maybe he was busy with other things?
I don’t want our friendly neighbours beneath us to feel bad. If you ever choose to travel to say either Liberia or Burma, you will feel completely at home.
This posting is meant for educational purposes only. Any smug and superiour tones you feel have been used in the writing of this post have been done so for humour and my own personal entertainment. I am in no way insulting or belittling any person or nation. I don't have time for that, I am too busy counting all my valuable CDN $.
Tomorrow, the outcast letter 'U', why 'O' and 'R' chased it's ass out of town.
* approximately, I rounded up so as not to blow anyone’s mind with a lot of numbers
** data in this entry has been checked and verified by Smartass Vanilla of Half-Fast
Posted by Ali at November 6, 2007 12:07 PM
Comments
LOLLL!!! I find it very educational. However, it sounds too complicated. I'd rather stick with mile. It easier to read 1.0 mile instead of 0.6214 km. *wink*
Posted by: Ted at November 6, 2007 12:55 PM
As my running improves, so does my metric. funny how that works.
Posted by: Pat at November 6, 2007 1:19 PM
Pat, the reverse is happening to me. Since training for a marathon, I now convert everything to miles!
Posted by: Ali at November 6, 2007 1:23 PM
I grew up in England so I was somewhat familiar with the metric system, but I didn't realize that it was different in different countries. For example in England they taught us that there were 1000 meters in a Kilometer, but you say that there are only 10?
I must say that if your Kilometers are only 10 meters in Canada I am less impressed with the 42K marathon you recently ran. ;)
Posted by: Vanilla at November 6, 2007 1:37 PM
Vanilla, I stand corrected. I would fire my writing staff, but unfortunately they are on strike.
Posted by: Ali at November 6, 2007 1:46 PM
Fascinating and educational. Thank you.
Posted by: Amy at November 6, 2007 2:22 PM
I agree that km sounds sexier than miles, but I think I would rather run 26 than 42 or something.
you buy weed by the gram?
Posted by: Darryl at November 6, 2007 5:22 PM
I agree. I wish we (Americans) would have switched over too. So much easier. But nooooooooooo, we have to be stubborn and think our way or the highway.
The weird thing is that we (Americans)buy weed by the ounce, however cocaine by the gram. Hmmmmmmmmm I don't know why I know that.
Posted by: P.O.M. at November 7, 2007 12:41 PM
Ok, listen up I come here to laugh my ass off, not learn. I'd like to request an amusing tale of your running or drinking to wash this off.
Posted by: Amanda at November 7, 2007 7:22 PM
I'd really like to know why some of our POOLS are in METERS and some in YARDS. Hello! Ms. OCD cannot compute THAT level of math conversions.
Posted by: Tea at November 8, 2007 12:10 AM
Nah, we use kilometres and metres down here!
Kilometres are good in marathons because they come up faster than miles :)
I always scratch my head when up-over types convert their 10k PBs to minutes per mile pace.
Posted by: Ewen at November 9, 2007 9:51 PM
The site www.breakingthetape.com is cool resource, good job, admin. see this [url=http://carolinecs.150m.com/state_select_hot_water_heater.html] state select hot water heater [/url]
Posted by: stateselecthotwaterheatershor at August 19, 2008 6:45 PM
The www.breakingthetape.com is interesting site, thanks, owner. look at this [url=http://howdoqj6.netfirms.com/buy_liquor_online.html] buy liquor online [/url]
Posted by: buyliquoronlinehor at August 20, 2008 8:15 AM
This is where you [url=http://best-savings-accounts.expectgroup.net/best-savings-accounts.html] best savings accounts [/url] kit the redemptional your money. Upper crust savings accounts in clarification that atrophy duties picture from settling to combination and the weep for applies to paving dance surplus buyers only.
Posted by: best_savings_accounts_in_ukSr at August 21, 2008 9:19 AM
saving account interest rateshor [url=http://bestsavingsaccounts.tripod.com/saving_account_rates.html] saving account rates [/url]
Posted by: healthsavingsaccountcustodianhor at August 22, 2008 7:37 AM
Amazine site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: best savings accounts at August 24, 2008 7:45 PM
Amazine site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Cheap Ipod Nana at August 25, 2008 10:09 PM
Cool blog
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: dvi digital cable at August 26, 2008 4:57 AM
Amazine site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: digital cable provider at August 26, 2008 8:04 AM
Nice site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: digital cable remote at August 26, 2008 10:36 AM
Beautifull design
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: best savings accounts children at August 26, 2008 3:23 PM
Nice site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: state select water heaters at August 26, 2008 8:19 PM
Beautifull design
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: state courier water heater at August 27, 2008 5:15 AM
Amazing site.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: doherasebekei at September 3, 2008 6:51 AM
Amazine site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: werewolf at September 5, 2008 4:37 AM
Beautifull design
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Svetlana at September 5, 2008 7:33 PM
Beautiful design.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: helmet at September 8, 2008 2:58 AM
Beautiful design.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: helmet at September 8, 2008 10:35 AM
Nice site.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: helmet at September 8, 2008 3:27 PM
Beautiful design.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: were to buy at September 11, 2008 6:22 AM
Amazing site.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: halloween at September 11, 2008 10:23 AM
Beautiful design.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: halloween at September 11, 2008 12:53 PM
Cool blog.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: mario and luigi halloween costume at September 11, 2008 4:38 PM
Cool blog.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: egyptian halloween costume at September 11, 2008 8:28 PM
Beautiful design.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: Elena at September 12, 2008 11:53 AM
Nice site.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Maria at September 12, 2008 3:07 PM
Nice site.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: Elena at September 12, 2008 7:30 PM
Cool blog.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: Maria at September 13, 2008 3:02 AM
Cool site
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Boots travel insurance uk at September 14, 2008 11:15 AM
Amazing site.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Marina at September 14, 2008 1:35 PM
Nice site.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: Marina at September 14, 2008 4:11 PM
Amazing site.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: Marina at September 14, 2008 7:06 PM
Amazing site.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Marina at September 14, 2008 10:02 PM
Cool blog.
Thanks, admin.
Posted by: Elena at September 15, 2008 5:45 AM
Cool blog.
Thanks, webmaster.
Posted by: Pavel at September 15, 2008 8:45 AM