On Thu, 2005-07-14 at 20:40 +0200, Goswin von Brederlow wrote: > Ron Johnson <ron.l.johnson@cox.net> writes: > > > On Thu, 2005-07-14 at 18:22 +0200, Goswin von Brederlow wrote: > >> Hi, > > [snip] > > > > 37.5 cent packages? ;) > > > > > > > > (Or is that solely an Americanism?) > > I don't get that. Must be an Americanism. This hearkens back to when Spanish gold coins were common currency in the colonies. Their value was based on the gold, and not the good faith and credit of Spain, and they were easily split into 8 equal parts. Each "bit" was thus == 1/8th of a "dollar". "2 bits" is still[0] in slang use to mean a quarter dollar, and also a slur to mean anything cheap. A "2 bit pair of shoes", for example. Thus, 3 bits == 37.5 cents. And in this case, it was just humor. [0] But fading fast, since not much is worth a quarter anymore. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Ron Johnson, Jr. Jefferson, LA USA PGP Key ID 8834C06B I prefer encrypted mail. "Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory." John Kenneth Galbraith
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