Yesterday, I had occasion to
measure a piece of glass for
a window in an ensuite chez
moi. Having dropped my
measuring tape between the
cavity wall, I was forced to
improvise, by using two bits
of wood. The width being
less then the height, I added
the second piece by means of
a *****. Therefore achieving
both dimensions by a simple
pivoting of the short arm.

The glazer said it was the first
time he had encountered this
form of lateral and vertical
thinking from the same mind.

In France, back in medieval
times, builders used Baguettes
to measure everything, as they
were exactly a metre in length.

Today, anyone familiar with
renovating old buildings in
France, will confirm this story
as the permutations of 100 cm's
is visible in every opening.