Of course you're right. Not too many would deny that. It's just that we
don't want to change. Well, we want to, but we've got too much invested in
our own crazy system. Look at it this way. I believe the being a
vegatarian is much healthier and in keeping with good karma. But I ain't
capable of switching off my burgers and dogs, etc now.
We might try to make the next generations more flexible and open to it
(especially for scientific pursuits) but that's our best hope.
:) 73 de John, ks4xn
On Tue, 3 Jun 1997, Chris R. Burger wrote:
> > The metric system is no easier than the English system in common everyday
> > use. Sure, you can move the decimal point easily in the metric system, but
> > so what? How often do we move decimal points?
> You sure haven't used the metric system!
>
> One of the prime advantages of the metric system is that you don't
> need fractions. You only have to typeset a few documents containing
> the lovely 1-3/64" (or is that 1 minus 3 divided by 64 seconds?) type
> measurements before you realise that the metric system has its
> advantages!
>
> Some questions:
> How many inches to a mile?
> How many ounces in a ton?
> How many cubic inches in a gallon?
> And if you're east of the Atlantic?
>
> Lemmesee, the answers are easy:
> 5280ft/mile x 12"/ft = 63 360"/mile
> 16ounces/lb x 2240lbs/ton = 35 840ounces/ton
> I give up. But whatever the conversion factor is, it's different
> on the other side of the Atlantic by something like 20%.
>
> Now try the equivalent questions for the metric system:
> mm per km?
> g per ton?
> ml per l?
> What is the mass of a litre of water?
> West of the Atlantic?
>
> Answers:
> 1 000 000 mm/km
> 1 000 000 g/ton
> 1000 ml/l
> 1 kg, of course
> And, gee, west of the Atlantic it's the same!
>
>
> > Metrites criticize the English system as arbitrary. But at the end of the
> > day, I can always find my foot.
> I dare say your foot may not be an exact twelve inches...
>
> Besides, the base unit of the SI system is derived from the
> circumference of the earth--the circumference over the poles is
> 40 000 km.
>
> > I once tried a 25 meter tower, but found that an 82-foot one worked better.
> That's only because it sounds higher, thereby lowering your voice by
> at least three full tones when you tell the station you're working!
>
>
> Now, to relevant stuff: Tool and hardware sizes are much simpler in
> the metric system. For example, spanners/wrenches/sockets/nuts/bolts
> are numbered in their mm size, which is an integer. Instead of
> having to look for a 17/163" tool, you can simply grab a 12. Bolts
> are similarly numbered by diameter (e.g. an 8 mm bolt). And, best of
> all, wires are sold by surface area (2 sq. mm) or diameter (1 mm),
> depending on the application. How much current does a number 22 wire
> carry anyway?
>
> Chris R. Burger
> ZS6EZ
>
>
>
>
> PS Hey, on the other hand, this imperial system really is easy:
> 16 ounces to the pound
> 14 pounds to the stone
> 2 stones to the quarter
> 4 quarters to the hundredweight
> 20 hundredweights to the ton
>
> Gee, this is a real elegant system!
>
>
> --
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John Hughes
--
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