0708-1300/Smoot - Revision history

Franklin at 14:27, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:27:10Z

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 The '''smoot''' is a nonstandard unit of length created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot (class of 1962), a MIT fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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 * [http://web.archive.org/web/19970806205154/%68ttp://web.mit.edu/museum/fun/smoots.html MIT Museum article (courtesy Internet Archive), with photos]
 * [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5043041 A December, 2005 National Public Radio Interview with Oliver Smoot upon his retirement.]

Franklin at 14:26, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:26:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:26, 27 September 2007
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	Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]		Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]

	{{-}}

	==External links==		==External links==

Franklin at 14:26, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:26:19Z

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	Google Calculator also incorporates smoots. Enter [http://www.google.com/search?q=1+smoots+in+meters 1 smoots in meters] at Google and the calculator will respond that 1 smoots is 1.7018 meters. Google also uses the smoot as an optional unit of measurement in their Google Earth software.		Google Calculator also incorporates smoots. Enter [http://www.google.com/search?q=1+smoots+in+meters 1 smoots in meters] at Google and the calculator will respond that 1 smoots is 1.7018 meters. Google also uses the smoot as an optional unit of measurement in their Google Earth software.

	Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]		Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]
	{{-}}		{{-}}

Franklin at 14:25, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:25:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:25, 27 September 2007
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	The '''smoot''' is a ~~[[List of strange units of measurement\|~~nonstandard]] [[unit of length]] created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot (class of 1962), a MIT fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.		The '''smoot''' is a nonstandard unit of length created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot (class of 1962), a MIT fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

	One smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches ~1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". Smoot repeatedly lay down on the bridge, let his companions mark his new position in chalk or paint, and then got up again. Eventually, he tired from all this exercise and was thereafter carried by the fraternity brothers to each new position. Everyone walking across the bridge today on its eastern sidewalk sees painted markings indicating how many smoots there are from where that sidewalk begins on the Boston river bank. The marks are repainted each year by the incoming associate member class (similar to pledge class) of Lambda Chi Alpha.		One smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches ~1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". Smoot repeatedly lay down on the bridge, let his companions mark his new position in chalk or paint, and then got up again. Eventually, he tired from all this exercise and was thereafter carried by the fraternity brothers to each new position. Everyone walking across the bridge today on its eastern sidewalk sees painted markings indicating how many smoots there are from where that sidewalk begins on the Boston river bank. The marks are repainted each year by the incoming associate member class (similar to pledge class) of Lambda Chi Alpha.

Franklin at 14:25, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:25:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:25, 27 September 2007
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	{{unit of length\|m= 1.7018\|accuracy=5}}
	The '''smoot''' is a [[List of strange units of measurement\|nonstandard]] [[unit of length]] created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot (class of 1962), a MIT fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.		The '''smoot''' is a [[List of strange units of measurement\|nonstandard]] [[unit of length]] created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot (class of 1962), a MIT fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Franklin at 14:25, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:25:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:25, 27 September 2007
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	{{otheruses}}
	{{unit of length\|m= 1.7018\|accuracy=5}}		{{unit of length\|m= 1.7018\|accuracy=5}}
	~~[[Image:Harvard_bridge.JPG\|thumb\|left\|The Harvard Bridge, looking towards Boston.]]~~The '''smoot''' is a [[List of strange units of measurement\|nonstandard]] [[unit of length]] created as part of an MIT ~~[[hazing\|~~fraternity prank]]. It is named after [[Oliver R. Smoot]] (class of 1962), an ~~[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology\|~~MIT]] fraternity pledge to [[Lambda Chi Alpha]], who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the [[Harvard Bridge]] between [[Boston]] and [[Cambridge, Massachusetts~~\|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]~~.		The '''smoot''' is a [[List of strange units of measurement\|nonstandard]] [[unit of length]] created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot (class of 1962), a MIT fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the Harvard Bridge between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

	One smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches ~1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". Smoot repeatedly lay down on the bridge, let his companions mark his new position in chalk or paint, and then got up again. Eventually, he tired from all this exercise and was thereafter carried by the fraternity brothers to each new position. Everyone walking across the bridge today on its eastern [[sidewalk]] sees painted markings indicating how many smoots there are from where that sidewalk begins on the Boston river bank. The marks are repainted each year by the incoming associate member class (similar to pledge class) of Lambda Chi Alpha.		One smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches ~1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". Smoot repeatedly lay down on the bridge, let his companions mark his new position in chalk or paint, and then got up again. Eventually, he tired from all this exercise and was thereafter carried by the fraternity brothers to each new position. Everyone walking across the bridge today on its eastern sidewalk sees painted markings indicating how many smoots there are from where that sidewalk begins on the Boston river bank. The marks are repainted each year by the incoming associate member class (similar to pledge class) of Lambda Chi Alpha.

	~~[[Image:100_Smoot_mark.JPG\|thumb\|250px\|The 100 smoot mark.]]~~Markings typically appear every 10 smoots, but additional marks appear at other numbers in between. For example, the 70-smoot mark is omitted in favor of a mark for [[69 (sex position)~~\|69]]~~. The 182.2-smoot mark is accompanied by the words "Halfway to Hell" and an arrow pointing towards MIT. Each class also paints a special mark for their graduating year.		Markings typically appear every 10 smoots, but additional marks appear at other numbers in between. For example, the 70-smoot mark is omitted in favor of a mark for 69(sex position). The 182.2-smoot mark is accompanied by the words "Halfway to Hell" and an arrow pointing towards MIT. Each class also paints a special mark for their graduating year.

	The markings have become well-accepted by the public, to the point that during the bridge renovations that occurred in the 1980s, the Cambridge Police department requested that the markings be maintained, since they had become useful for identifying the location of accidents on the bridge.[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1999/hacks-0901.html] The renovations went one better, by scoring the concrete surface of the sidewalk on the bridge at 5 feet and 7 inch intervals, instead of the conventional six feet.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR2005120702328_pf.html]		The markings have become well-accepted by the public, to the point that during the bridge renovations that occurred in the 1980s, the Cambridge Police department requested that the markings be maintained, since they had become useful for identifying the location of accidents on the bridge.[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1999/hacks-0901.html] The renovations went one better, by scoring the concrete surface of the sidewalk on the bridge at 5 feet and 7 inch intervals, instead of the conventional six feet.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR2005120702328_pf.html]

	[[Google Calculator]] also incorporates smoots. Enter [http://www.google.com/search?q=1+smoots+in+meters 1 smoots in meters] at [[Google]] and the calculator will respond that 1 smoots is 1.7018 meters. Google also uses the smoot as an optional unit of measurement in their [[Google Earth]] software.		Google Calculator also incorporates smoots. Enter [http://www.google.com/search?q=1+smoots+in+meters 1 smoots in meters] at Google and the calculator will respond that 1 smoots is 1.7018 meters. Google also uses the smoot as an optional unit of measurement in their Google Earth software.

	Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the [[American National Standards Institute]] (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]		Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]
	{{-}}		{{-}}
	==See also==
	* [[Modulor]]
	* [[List of humorous units of measurement]]

	==External links==		==External links==

Franklin at 14:16, 27 September 2007

2007-09-27T14:16:41Z

New page

{{otheruses}}
{{unit of length|m= 1.7018|accuracy=5}}
[[Image:Harvard_bridge.JPG|thumb|left|The Harvard Bridge, looking towards Boston.]]The '''smoot''' is a [[List of strange units of measurement|nonstandard]] [[unit of length]] created as part of an MIT [[hazing|fraternity prank]]. It is named after [[Oliver R. Smoot]] (class of 1962), an [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] fraternity pledge to [[Lambda Chi Alpha]], who in October 1958 was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the [[Harvard Bridge]] between [[Boston]] and [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]].

One smoot is equal to his height (five feet and seven inches ~1.70 m), and the bridge's length was measured to be "364.4 smoots plus one ear". Smoot repeatedly lay down on the bridge, let his companions mark his new position in chalk or paint, and then got up again. Eventually, he tired from all this exercise and was thereafter carried by the fraternity brothers to each new position. Everyone walking across the bridge today on its eastern [[sidewalk]] sees painted markings indicating how many smoots there are from where that sidewalk begins on the Boston river bank. The marks are repainted each year by the incoming associate member class (similar to pledge class) of Lambda Chi Alpha.

[[Image:100_Smoot_mark.JPG|thumb|250px|The 100 smoot mark.]]Markings typically appear every 10 smoots, but additional marks appear at other numbers in between. For example, the 70-smoot mark is omitted in favor of a mark for [[69 (sex position)|69]]. The 182.2-smoot mark is accompanied by the words "Halfway to Hell" and an arrow pointing towards MIT. Each class also paints a special mark for their graduating year.

The markings have become well-accepted by the public, to the point that during the bridge renovations that occurred in the 1980s, the Cambridge Police department requested that the markings be maintained, since they had become useful for identifying the location of accidents on the bridge.[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1999/hacks-0901.html] The renovations went one better, by scoring the concrete surface of the sidewalk on the bridge at 5 feet and 7 inch intervals, instead of the conventional six feet.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR2005120702328_pf.html]

[[Google Calculator]] also incorporates smoots. Enter [http://www.google.com/search?q=1+smoots+in+meters 1 smoots in meters] at [[Google]] and the calculator will respond that 1 smoots is 1.7018 meters. Google also uses the smoot as an optional unit of measurement in their [[Google Earth]] software.

Oliver Smoot later became Chairman of the [[American National Standards Institute]] (ANSI)[http://www.ansi.org/other_services/speakers_bureau/smoot.aspx?menuid=10] and President of the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO). [http://www.mit.edu/spotlight/smoot-salute/]
{{-}}
==See also==
* [[Modulor]]
* [[List of humorous units of measurement]]

==External links==
* [http://aether.lbl.gov/www/personnel/smoot/smoot-measure.html The Smoot as a unit of length]
* [http://lambda-chi.mit.edu/chapter_history.html#smoots The Smoot story, in Oliver Smoot's own words]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/19970806205154/%68ttp://web.mit.edu/museum/fun/smoots.html MIT Museum article (courtesy Internet Archive), with photos]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5043041 A December, 2005 National Public Radio Interview with Oliver Smoot upon his retirement.]

[[Category:Units of length]]
[[Category:Human-based units of measure]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
[[Category:Massachusetts culture]]

[[de:Smoot]]
[[he:סמוט]]
[[ja:スムート]]
[[ru:Смут]]
[[vi:Smoot]]