Even if experimenters bounce the beams to and fro to increase the effective length of an interferometer's arms to more than 100 kilometres, the expected difference in length between the two beams' paths still amounts to less than a hundred-millionth of the diameter of a hydrogen atom.

ECONOMIST: Fundamental physics

That argument is now reinforced by the realisation that trucking sick pigs the length of the country is a highly effective way of spreading the foot-and-mouth virus far and wide.

BBC: The pointless slaughter?

When you get over three to five feet, some of the smaller skimmers -- say, 30, 40 feet in length -- have a very difficult time operating and being effective.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

This, despite the fact that economists from all political ideologies concluded that extending the length of time that workers can collect unemployment insurance benefits would be one of the most effective stimulus measures.

CNN: Commentary: Jindal leads GOP on a 'march of folly'