[Dixielandjazz] Mike or Mic?

[Hal Vickery]

I could have sworn that years and years ago (like the '50s and '60s) the abbreviation for microphone was spelled "mike."  

As for accents, I'll share with you something I do every year in my Chemistry I classes.  As background, I used to pronounce "kilometer" as "KILL-o-meter," but for some reason, maybe bowing to peer pressure, I've gone to the more commen "ki-LOM-eter."

However, when I introduce the next measurement unit with the prefix "kilo-," I call it a "ki-LAH-grim."  I reason that if they put the accent on the second syllable for the former, they should do it with the latter.

I haven't gone yet to calling the appropriate volume unit a "kil-LOL-iter," but I may just do that next fall.

(And people wonder how I can keep from getting bored with my job when I'm still five years away from retiring....)