A proposal for a new SI unit of measure for kilt addiction.

[sjrapid]

In a post elsewhere in this section, Hamish reveals how long it has taken him to build up his internationally famous Kilt Kollection...

The kilt first came into my life when I was 14 and developed an almost fanatical love of Scottish Country and Highland Dance - a love which has remained with me for 57 years. For 47 of those years, I looked upon the kilt as nothing more than a costume or 'uniform' to be worn when dancing ........ it never ocurred to me to wear one at other times. Then, the comfort, freedom and joy of the kilt hit me (hard) and I began acquiring more than the one kilt I had owned for years and, eight years ago in ten days time, I started wearing them full-time and rid myself of all the trousers I owned.

The rest is history, and I have never been more comfortable or happier.

Now that Hamish has kindly posted these figures (thanks Hamish!) it is possible to use them to form the foundation for a new SI unit of kilt addiction to be called (of course!) the Hamish.

We have long known the number of kilts that Hamish owns (displayed here on XMarks) but until this recent post, we haven't had accurate information on how long it has taken Hamish to acquire them, from which we can calculate an average rate of acquisition.

We know that Hamish has 76 kilts - one of them was a kilt for Scottish Country Dancing and predates the addiction - therefore 75 have been acquired in a period of 8 years less 10 days (2910 days [(365*8)-10] so thats one kilt every 38.8 days or 5½ weeks, or alternatively, 9.4 kilts/year.

Wow Hamish! That's quite a rate!

It is therefore respectfully proposed that this rate be adopted as the standard unit of kilt addiction - 'the Hamish'.

However, now we have this figure, and a new standard unit, any kilt-wearer can calculate their own relative additiction level, and take appropriate action.

For example, my own paltry collection of two kilts acquired over 140 days (5.2 kilts/year) means that my own addiction score comes out at approximately 533 milliHamish.

However, the imminent arrival of the next run of XMTS tartan, and the fact that I expect to have two more kilts in hand before the end of the summer will lift my addiction to approximately 675 milliHamish.

Like all standard measures, the Hamish will be periodically re-calibrated back to the original source to ensure accuracy. Any significant change in Hamish's purchasing habits will therefore influence future values of the unit. Suggestions that a 'reference standard' platinum-iridium kilt be placed in the international bureau of weights and measures in Paris are under active consideration.

What score do other members calculate for their own addiction?

Best regards

[Sean_the_Kilted]

sorta complicated, but i like it I'm at 2 kilts in approximately 4 years so if i did the math right (=2/4/9.4) only 53 milliHamish

[Arlen]

I love this. It made me laugh out loud. And I don't often do more than grunt and smirk.

[ccga3359]

OK without finding a calculator, since January of this year when I aquired my first SWK, I have another last week and one in the post. I also have one more on order. Based on 4 months average of 30 days/month that is one a month so I'm 12 kilts per year. That is what? 1.2765957446808510638297872340426 kiloHamish? Expect that to drop faster that a kilt lifter's moral standing soon though.

[Kid Cossack]

Without doing a full inventory (and allowing for kilts I've since sold or passed on to others) I think I come out at about a "half Hamish" . . . which is doubtless better than a "half Nelson." Ba dum bump!

[Mr. MacDougall]

Alas, my own addiction, due to financial circumstances, would have to be measured in microHamishes.

[sjrapid]

sorta complicated, but i like it I'm at 2 kilts in approximately 4 years so if i did the math right (=2/4/9.4) only 53 milliHamish

Yes - 53 milliHamish is right.

OK without finding a calculator, since January of this year when I aquired my first SWK, I have another last week and one in the post. I also have one more on order. Based on 4 months average of 30 days/month that is one a month so I'm 12 kilts per year. That is what? 1.2765957446808510638297872340426 kiloHamish? Expect that to drop faster that a kilt lifter's moral standing soon though.

Your calculation is right, but the units aren't that high. 12 kilts/year would be approximately 1.27 Hamish - your addiction is worse than Hamish's own, so your score is >1. Scores greater than 1.0 indicate very serious addiction, but in XMTS, you've already found the best support group!

To get a score in kiloHamish, you'd need to be buying kilts at the rate of about 26 per day which is unlikely.

Best regards

[ccga3359]

Your calculation is right, but the units aren't that high. 12 kilts/year would be approximately 1.27 Hamish - your addiction is worse than Hamish's own, so your score is >1. Scores greater than 1.0 indicate very serious addiction, but in XMTS, you've already found the best support group!

To get a score in kiloHamish, you'd need to be buying kilts at the rate of about 26 per day which is unlikely.

Best regards

So then am I 1127 milliHamish (mH)?

[cessna152towser]

Um, well, when I joined xmarksthescot on 21st December, 2005 I owned 3 kilts and currently I own 17. One of the original trio was passed on to a fellow xmarker as it no longer fitted me, so that means I've acquired 15 kilts in one year and one hundred and thirty five days, i.e. 15 kilts in 1.37 years. That equates to an average of 10.95 kilts per year, or an addiction factor of 1.155 Hamishes. Heck, never realised I was so addicted and at this rate I am gradually catching up with the great Hamish at the rate of around one and a half kilts a year.
I must stop buying kilts.
I must stop buying kilts.
I must stop buying kilts.
I must stop buying kilts.
I must stop buying kilts.

[sjrapid]

I've acquired 15 kilts in one year and one hundred and thirty five days, i.e. 15 kilts in 1.37 years. That equates to an average of 10.95 kilts per year, or an addiction factor of 1.155 Hamishes. Heck, never realised I was so addicted...

Indeed. One of the purposes of promulgating the unit is to allow easy comparative reference between the level of one's own addiction, and that of others. If your score is greater than 1, you could also calculate the point at which your collection will overhaul that of the great man himself.

Assuming that kiltwearers are immortal and that both your addictions remain constant over time, C152T, you will end up owning more kilts than Hamish some time in in the year 2045 - and you'll be purchasing your 434th kilt.

Best regards