The 'meter? stick' I saw at Walmart was yellow, about a meter, and I may buy
one saving the receipt of course for the possible return. Two nice things about
it, it was metal and if I remember correctly zero begins at the extreme end not
a space then zero if you understand...

Zenith doesn't sell a ruler any longer but I did order their tape measure. I
think it will be higher quality than I can find locally. It is also comparably
priced to the US measure I have been seeing...

I found several 'meter sticks' at the local art supply shop, for drafters, but
zero was not at the end. They also had a couple of short flexible clear plastic
rulers with metric in the right place, and zero at the end. I am gonna try
these on some scrap aluminum and see how they work. Only cost me about $3 for
the two 6", 12"