I have a small keychain laser measurer that I originally bought to use when calculating focal distance with manual camera lenses.

But I find I'm often whipping it out to randomly check how far away I am from random things.

It's oddly very fun.

Adam Savage has a tattoo for that.

9 inches! Ialreadymeasuredyoudonthavetocheck...

I did the reverse. I went into the hardware store to buy some chain. As it has to be cut, it is not self-service, I told the Lady that I need this much chain and held my hands apart, and added "50cm". She said "Hold it", took her tape, and measured the distance between my palms. It was exactly 50cm.

Same at the butchers. "I take that piece, it should be 800g." Scale: 802g

Whether software, electrical, aerospace, or civil… engineer gonna engineer.

The great thing about carrying a purse is that I can have a tape measure and small flashlight wherever i am. and a mushed up granola bar "for emergencies." and so on. can never find a damn pen, though.

You'll get good at estimating lengths fast doing that, the feedback loop works. Do the same thing with scales for weights. Do the same thing with wrist watch/timer for durations. Pretty soon you get a nickname from your wife 'master of time and space'

My hands are exactly 6 inches long from the base of the palm to the tip of my middle finger. I use them to measure things all the time. Very handy.

Just when I didn't think that it was possible to like this guy more.

And when he’s depressed he resorts to desperate measures.

I’m a carpenter. We love to do that too.

I have a tiny 3ft tape measure on my keychain for similar reasons. It's so handy!

That does actually sound like it would be neat to do. I don't understand why ... but it does.

A man with a good sense of scale.

Thats sincerely such a silly fun fact, thank you for sharing 😂

Pleb, all of the real metrologists like me measure their forearms and fingers to use as measuring devices. Bonus if your forearm is an actual cubit.

Make sure you use class 1 measure tape because you might be right but the device you're using is not precise.

I carry a rolled up 1m paper tape from IKEA as well as miniature plastic vernier caliper in my purse! They are super handy and lightweight, highly recommended.

If you realllly get into it. Or if you're into plant ID: you can tattoo a little ruler onto your hand. e.g., along your index finger. Makes it easy to get pictures of plants to scale. The tattoo will eventually get a little inaccurate, but still seems like a good point of reference.

4"!

📏 hum... I thought so.