Re: OT: Spatial thinking (WAS: Re: Letf / Right, was Re: Count and mass nouns)

Tristan McLeay scripsit:

> That has nothing to do with a grid, though; it comes from a neumeric
> system.
There can be and are grids without numbers, as you say; but a numeric
system without a grid is hardly conceivable.  I am told that somewhere
in London's twisty little maze of streets, all different, there are
a First, Second, and Third Streets -- forming a triangle.  Feh.

In New York, the grid is numbered both ways.  In Philadelphia, the
east-west streets in Center City can be remembered by this mnemonic:

        Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, and Pine,
        Market, Arch, Race, and Vine,
        Tar, Wood, and Turpentine.

The first line names streets south of the center line (which is
Market St.), the remaining lines name streets north of it.
These are principal streets; small intervening streets are omitted.

But eheu fugaces!  With the great expansion of Vine St. into an
expressway, Tar St. and Turpentine St. (as well as most of Wood St.)
are no more.

--
John Cowan  www.ccil.org/~cowan  www.reutershealth.com  jcowan@reutershealth.com
In might the Feanorians / that swore the unforgotten oath
brought war into Arvernien / with burning and with broken troth.
and Elwing from her fastness dim / then cast her in the waters wide,
but like a mew was swiftly borne, / uplifted o'er the roaring tide.
        --the Earendillinwe

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