Shootings in US schools

[Bodisathva]

I'm not bashing the USA, I'm asking our American colleagues for the facts as I have been told to do many times.

Col

I personally have never heard a shopkeeper ask for anything in "bits", only Dollars and Cents, so technically your scenarios wouldn't occur (except maybe in Texas).

The only thing we sell in the US for fractions of a cent is gasoline. People read the sign which is marked $2.199 and human nature is to translate to $2.19, not $2.20. I gave up trying to figure out the rationality behind it.

 

[ColinEssex]

I personally have never heard a shopkeeper ask for anything in "bits", only Dollars and Cents, so technically your scenarios wouldn't occur (except maybe in Texas).

so why have the phrase "2 bits" if its not used? is there a "1 bit" phrase?

Col

 

[Bodisathva]

so why have the phrase "2 bits" if its not used? is there a "1 bit" phrase?

Col

Honestly, I've only heard it used in Nursery Rhymes... a hold-over from an earlier time, I suppose.

 

[jsanders]

so why have the phrase "2 bits" if its not used? is there a "1 bit" phrase?

Col

Col as you know I'm from Texas.



2 bits is a quarter, so now that that's solved; the general use has always been casual.

For instance let’s say you had a good looking chocolate bar that cost 22 cents to 27 cents and I asked you how much it was. You might say eh… 2 bits.

But the shop keeper would say 22 cents (plus tax) please.

I have never heard anyone refer to an odd number of bits.

 

[ColinEssex]

Fair enough. I was guessing that as it was a quiz question, it was a more common thing.

Its no wonder our (UK) contestant got it wrong - it seems Fo-Fa would have to!

Now onto dimes. . . . . . . . . .what the hell is a dime? - is that used alot? "that'll be 2 dimes please". . . . . .

Col

 

[Bodisathva]

Now onto dimes. . . . . . . . . .what the hell is a dime? - is that used alot? "that'll be 2 dimes please". . . . . .

10 cents. The usage would be "20 cents please".

 

[Matt Greatorex]

Honestly, I've only heard it used in Nursery Rhymes... a hold-over from an earlier time, I suppose.

I do remember hearing it in that 'shave and haircut, two bits' thing they used to do in the old American music hall days. The tune is till used a lot for knocking on doors.

Impossible for me to type here (as I have no idea how to go about writing it), but it involves one knock, brief pause, four in quick succession, pause two knocks.

 

[Rich]

If these issues were confined to their relevent threads I'd back you 100% ,
Brian

Which thread is this?

 

[Rich]

Honestly, I've only heard it used in Nursery Rhymes... a hold-over from an earlier time, I suppose.

You're that old

 

[Worley]

Colin, I personally have never heard "2 bits" used in any way other than as an expression, mostly because the "bit" usefulness went away with the development of a standardized currency in the US. There is no single "bit" that I am aware of. Also, $12.30 would be asked for usually like "That will be twelve dollars and thirty cents, handsome man in the wheelchair." or more likely "Twelve dollars, thirty cents please.", lol. If its a quarter instead, it might occasionally be "twelve dollars and a quarter, please", but most likely just twenty five cents. Dimes are our $0.10 coin, and asking for twenty cents by asking for 2 dimes might get you a strange look or a smile, because its an unusual way of asking, but we would know what you meant without a problem.

 

[Bodisathva]

to put the thread (somewhat) back on track, I heard on the news this morning that the total amount of donations to the Amish community here has now exceeded 4 million USD. More than enough to build a new school and to care for the three girls who are now permanently physically handicapped.

I was shocked the donations were so much so soon, but it should insure that the only thing the families now have to deal with are the emotional trauma.

 

[Rich]

So does money compensate for the pointless loss of life?

 

[Bodisathva]

So does money compensate for the pointless loss of life?

absolutely not, but it lessens the stress levels. It's one thing to deal with the tragedy itself, but quite another when the bill collectors come calling in addition to the emotional baggage.

But you knew that already in your own vituperative sort of way, didn't you?

 

[Rich]

absolutely not, but it lessens the stress levels. It's one thing to deal with the tragedy itself, but quite another when the bill collectors come calling in addition to the emotional baggage.

But you knew that already in your own vituperative sort of way, didn't you?

Why would bill collectors come calling and I thought the Amish didn't have anything to do with money?

 

[Matt Greatorex]

Why would bill collectors come calling and I thought the Amish didn't have anything to do with money?

They don't completely shun money, they minimise it's use.
It's seen as a necessity, but only up to a point. Beyond that, it falls into the category of 'luxury', so they don't bother with it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15241580/site/newsweek/

This link applies to Ohio, but I think the rules are very similar elsewhere

http://www.oacountry.com/Amish-financial-matters.htm

 

[Rich]

They don't completely shun money, they minimise it's use.
It's seen as a necessity, but only up to a point. Beyond that, it falls into the category of 'luxury', so they don't bother with it.

I see, I just wondered why they would end up with $4,000,000 dollars, personally I'd rather have my family and I'd have thought they would. I just wonder why the same energy isn't targeted towards tackling America's gun problem? I still don't know why they would need the money though

 

[dan-cat]

I see, I just wondered why they would end up with $4,000,000 dollars, personally I'd rather have my family and I'd have thought they would.

What makes you think they wouldn't?

 

[dan-cat]

Why would bill collectors come calling and I thought the Amish didn't have anything to do with money?

You only think this because you don't absorb people's efforts to answer your questions.

 

[Matt Greatorex]

I'd rather have my family and I'd have thought they would

I'd be willing to bet that they would, too. However, I don't remember them being given the option.

I just wonder why the same energy isn't targeted towards tackling America's gun problem?

The people who are in a position to do something (anything?) about the number of guns aren't the ones who supplied the $4m. If you tripped over a paving stone and I helped you up, my assistance wouldn't be a reflection on the local council's attitude toward road maintenance.

I still don't know why they would need the money though

They probably don't need the full amount, although knowing they could cover bills while grieving must be a source of some relief. I have no idea what the medical bills would have been, had they not been waived, but I doubt they would have come to anywhere near that much. Ultimately, it was the decision of the donors to give them the cash and there's no way of knowing when they'd have enough to cover whatever expenses they do accrue.

 

[Rich]

The people who are in a position to do something (anything?) about the number of guns aren't the ones who supplied the $4m. If you tripped over a paving stone and I helped you up, my assistance wouldn't be a reflection on the local council's attitude toward road maintenance.
.

That may be true but if people kept tripping over the local council would take action especially when faced with the prospect of litigation. That avenue however has been removed by many states in the states as far as the gun goes. I wonder why?

They probably don't need the full amount, although knowing they could cover bills while grieving must be a source of some relief. I have no idea what the medical bills would have been, had they not been waived, but I doubt they would have come to anywhere near that much. Ultimately, it was the decision of the donors to give them the cash and there's no way of knowing when they'd have enough to cover whatever expenses they do accrue

Yes and before the sanctimonious jump down my throat I wouldn't want to appear to denigrate gifts from the heart.