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In a message dated 4/29/03 9:15:12 AM, diamondair@... writes:

<< A mile of

straight earth has always been a mile, we just invented a way to measure it.

And we've invented ways to play with that measurement. >>

I loved your post up to that point.
(No, I still loved it, I just had to say "WAIT!!!")

A mile wasn't a mile until we (somebody, not us now) invented the ideas and
terminologies of measuring the ground.

The other day Holly asked me if certain streets (on the gridlike new part of
town) were half a mile apart. I said yes, they drew it on paper first, with
a ruler.

Well what about the hills? she asked. Did they take into account where the
ground went up and down?

(For the benefit of those who know Albuquerque, we were at Tramway and
Montgomery, headed south and could see the intersections/lights at Comanche
and Candelaria, out in front of us, half a mile apart.)

I said no, they were on paper, so it wasn't the same mile they would have had
if someone walked along rolling a rotary measuring tool.

I don't think there was a mile there before those roads were there. And even
now, it's a questionable mile!! <bwg>

Sandra

Robin Clevenger

From: SandraDodd@...
>I loved your post up to that point.
>(No, I still loved it, I just had to say "WAIT!!!")
>
>A mile wasn't a mile until we (somebody, not us now) invented the ideas and
>terminologies of measuring the ground.

Yes, that was a burst of non-clarity on my part. I meant that the earth was
there, the whole mile of it was there, but we just didn't measure it or call
it a mile.

>(For the benefit of those who know Albuquerque, we were at Tramway and
>Montgomery, headed south and could see the intersections/lights at Comanche
>and Candelaria, out in front of us, half a mile apart.)

BTW, I always enjoy your descriptions of New Mexico. I lived in Albuquerque
as a kid and haven't been back in a couple of decades. I'd really like to
see it again now.

Blue Skies!
-Robin-