Date: Fri, 7 Nov 1997 15:25:38 -0500

From: REBECCA GREENHILL rxgree01[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MOREHEAD-ST.EDU

Subject: Rima's rule of thumb



I hardly think the wife beating story is a fallacy!

I have read in several publications that the "rule of

thumb" originates from an English common law dictating the width of a

strap a husband could use to discipline his wife. The husband would use

his thumb as a rule to measure the width of the strap, hence the expression.

I have to question the validity of the beer story as a "rule of thumb". The

purpose of testing the heat has nothing to do with the thumb really. No

more than testing a baby's bottle could be called the "rule of wrist".

Granted, the popularity of the wife beating story doesn't mean it is

true but it is more believable than the "fingering the yeast

story"!!!



Rebecca Greenhill





On Thu, 6 Nov 1997, Kim & Rima McKinzey

wrote: