How long is a cubit ?

[Recklessrob]

It looks like I may have to build an ark, damn it !
All around here, there's all sorts of flooding going
on. I went out to find a path to work. It'll likely double
my trip to work. I went by the shop, and the lot is full of
towed in cars and trucks. Most don't run, and are soaked.
Those will have to be pushed in.  Ahhhrrrr!  

Here are some pics I took of the situation.
They've declared state of emergency for both Massachusetts,
and New Hampshire already.

[Recklessrob]

More pics.

[Recklessrob]

Yet more.

[Recklessrob]

last 3.

[Racer X]

The cubit is among the first recorded units of length used by an ancient people.

The Egyptian royal cubit: It has been securely estabished from multiple cross referenced sources and surviving architectural evidence that a standard measure was employed as early as c. 2750 BC (Dynasty III) at Saqqara (J.P.Lauer). From the evidence this is widely accepted to have been 523.5 to 524 mm (20.61 to 20.63 in) in length, and was subdivided into 7 palms of 4 digits, giving a 28 part measure in total. This unit was used virtually unchanged for 3000 years, although some variations were seen.

The copper bar cubit of Nippur from c. 2650 BC is possibly a 'graduated rule' found by archaeologist and defines the Sumerian cubit as about 518.5 mm or 20.4 inches. It was published by Eckhard Unger in 1916, after studying the weights of the Museum of Constantinople . He interpreted it as a standard of length indicating 30-part standard of 518mm, and despite its irregularity, and the lack of any supporting textual evidence, this was, and still is, considered to be the earliest extant unit of measurement ever in existence, supposedly predating even units widely attested in Old Kingdom Egypt. The period in which this was published is notable for political and diffusionist arguments between Assyriologists and Egyptologists, so that the status of this item as a standard rule is highly questionable.

From c.2150 B.C. are two now famous statues of the Sumerian regent Gudea c.2150 B.C. found in 1880 in the excavation of Lagash by Ernest de Sarzec, which Gudea holding on his knees a rectangular writing tablet bordered with a graduated measuring rule. The two rules appear identical and indicate a 16-part measure of around 250mm, similar to a typical but short foot.

Old Egyptian geometers could not calculate the square root of two but they needed the value of the hypotenuse. The well-attested old Egyptian set square called the "construction remen" used a good approximation: 20√2 ≥ 28. The sides of this surveying instrument measured 20 digits of the Nippur cubit (about 518.5 mm) divided into 28 equal parts, that's about 20

[Recklessrob]

Excellent. Now we need to forward that to Bill Cosby.

[Ttype83]

Darn flood is delaying me getting my car....couldn't you guys have waited a couple of weeks before pissing off the rain god....

[Top Speed]

I am 3.3 cubits tall (based on the Egyptian royal cubit).

Stay dry RR and don't get washed away!

[TSM Girl]

Those pictures are amazing...I have been watching it on the news...That is horrible.....  RR, be careful and safe!

[Be4u]

Be prepared RR, The news people said that big hurricanes are headed your way this summer.

[DCEPTCN]

Why do people live in the damn jungle like that?

Rob, you want me to mail you a roll of Bounty?

[Recklessrob]

Actually, I've adapted to the confusion around here. I'm not
by any means in one of the worst hit places. We've had some roads in the
next town over get washed away. A few have been damaged here in Derry,
but not the end of the world. This is a pic I downloaded from a local news site.
It's rather funny in an ironic sort of way. I think it was taken in Rochester, NH.

[Recklessrob]

This is a pic I took of the road that I would ordinarilly
drive to work on. I was standing quite a distance away
because the police had set up a barricade. I had to enlarge it several
times to make it visible, so its a little grainy. The cops
have to set up at a lot of the flooded areas because there are some people that
are stupid enough to think that they can drive through the water.
My bosses nephew got a police call to  pull a car out of the water
on the Northern end of Londonderry. Within 10 minutes of getting the call, the called him back to cancel because the car was almost submerged. The fire dept has
decided that the only cars that they're going after are the ones that pose an imediate danger to someones life or well being, otherwise the can stay right where they are until the water subsides.

[TSM Girl]

Holy crap!  Everything is washing away!  I guess people have not figured out that cars do not float!

[DCEPTCN]

I went to Rochester once. Once.


It always amazes me how stupid people are. Trying to drive through flooded areas? Good idea, dickweed- how do you know for sure that under the surface there aren't any sinkholes, deep spots, etc.?