INDIANINK.NET

Home
Investments
Immigrants' Guide
Lifestyles
Articles & Forums
Marriage & Romance
Personal Ads
Member Pages
Musical E-Cards
Classified
Contact Us

BRAIN FOOD

Cross Currents   Brain Food  Stories & Humor   Crazy World   Joke World  

DID YOU KNOW ?

There are 5280 ft in a mile. The measurement known as a mile is a vestige of the Roman Empire's rule over Britain. At this time, the Romans had a measurement known as mille pasuum (ME-lay PA-soo-em), or a thousand paces. A pace comprised five, possibly sandal shod, Roman feet. Using a simple mathematical calculation, we arrive at 5,000 feet per mile.

The demise of the Roman Empire left the Britons in a quandary. They now had a mile, consisting of 5,000 feet, and their own agricultural measurement, the furlong, used to measure the farmers' fields for the purpose of property deeds, etc. Instead of using the Roman foot in calculating the measure of a furlong, they used the distance a horse could pull a plow, in a linear fashion, before the nag needed a nap. They agreed that this measurement consisted 660 feet.

Now came the dilemma. The British wished to marry the furlong to the mile, but, as they wanted a mile to comprise eight furlongs, totaling 5,280 feet, instead of the Roman 5,000 feet per mile, they had no choice but to select one of the two. Not surprisingly, they chose their measurement over the Roman measurement because, as property deeds at the time were measured in furlongs, or 660 feet, a change to the Roman measurement would short the farmer or landowner.

Quiz/Puzzles

1. The same 4-letter word can be placed in front of all of the following words to make a new word. What word is it?
LOCK, END, BOLT,WOOD

2. My brother likes beets but not spinach. He likes jeeps but not caravans. He likes apples butnot pears. He likes Sally but not Susie.Who does he like - Jimmy or Joe?

3.We have caught a spy but have to let him go because we can not decipher the  innocent-looking message he is carrying. Can you help us break his secret message? The message is as follows:
AL: The trucks arrive. Charles knows when every day. Do answer when necessary.

4. What set of numbers would come next in the following series? 30 20 29 21 28 22 27 23 26 24
 

For answers,