[meteorite-list] Ad - Please Ignore!!!! Way off topic!!!! Stating the OBVIOUS!??

From: j.divelbiss_at_att.net <j.divelbiss_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Feb 18 17:22:24 2005
Message-ID: <021820052222.6580.42166A9B00093B28000019B421603763169C9C070D040A90070BD206_at_att.net>

Metric...I remember that...we were going to convert our country (USA) from english to metric back in the 70's. Somehow that didn't happen...along with a few other ideas we had then.

"And don't forget to divide by 32.2 unless you are doing thermodynamics, then ignore that comment."

What a system!

JD

-------------- Original message from "Jerry A. Wallace" <jwal2000_at_swbell.net>: --------------


> Hi Adam,
>
> The problem here lies not with you but with the average American who
> is almost totally ignorant when it comes to the 'mysteries' of the metric
> system.
>
> The average (older) American doesn't know a centimeter from a centipede
> or a millimeter from a millipede. They can't tell you which has more
> volume:
> a quart or a liter (except for a few dedicated drinkers who figured it
> out at
> the liquor store years ago when the distillers went through the conversion
> process to metrics.)
>
> There was a once a highly promoted national program that was meant to
> educate Americans about the use of the metric system and then gradually
> convert the country over to its use. If memory serves, it seems like
> that was
> during the Kennedy administration. It was a rational and noble effort that
> died on the vine because it brought the populace of our fair country
> together
> like few things before or since. I well remember all the kickin', screamin',
> shoutin', and hollerin' that the proposal caused. "Yessiree and by
> dang," they
> shouted in unison, "the old methods of using inches, feet, yards,
> fractions,
> quarts, gallons and the like were good enough for our forefathers, so by
> jingo,
> they're good enough for us."
>
> Well, the government cratered to popular will, therefore we're still
> building
> and measuring things with a system of measurements that was created by
> establishing the distance between the tip of the King's nose to the tip
> of the
> King's thumb with his arm outstretched as being one yard (whatever that
> was).
>
> The metric system is actually based on scientific reasoning and is
> incredibly
> easier to use. It actually makes sense. I don't know what is being taught or
> used in schools now, but I can only hope that the metric system is the
> preferred system. If it is, then it's one of the few things that the
> feds had any
> input on that was truly useful and right. But then that's a different
> can of
> worms.
>
> So, my recommendation to you is "stick with using the centimeter cubes as
> scale comparisons in your photos, and thereby force the boneheads to go
> out and buy a metric ruler." It'll be good for the economy and may give
> the knuckleheads a clue the next time they meet a centimeter or millimeter.
>
> Just some thoughts from the west Texas wilderness,
>
> Jerry
>
>
> Adam Hupe wrote:
>
> >Dear List,
> >
> >I must be missing something here. Using a 1 cm cube to give a perspective
> >buyer some scale is considered by some a corruption of use? It tells a lot
> >about this public forum when something as innocent as a scale provided in an
> >image so that a perspective buyer can make an informed decision about the
> >size of the object is somehow considered a scam. It makes the avocation so
> >much more enjoyable. Just, what is proper scale etiquette?
> >
> >Kind Regards,
> >
> >Adam
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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Received on Fri 18 Feb 2005 05:22:21 PM PST