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I was involved in metrology (measurement science) for a number of years and am acquainted with both systems. The Metric system is much easier to deal with and, when converting measurements from English to Metric, the conversion results are not resolvable. An example of the ease in conversions within the Metric system is in converting from meters to centimeters, centimeters to millimeters, etc, etc. The same applies to other measurements within the Metric system such as mass and volume. Such conversion ease does not exist within the English system.

I suspect though, that the English system will be around for a long time. Those who come after us in this country will be burdened with a measurement system whose length measurements, for example, were originally based on a royal decree that the "foot" measurement would be based on the average length of the male foot in one instance and twelve "barleycorns" in another. I have no idea what a barleycorn is, so please don't ask. And, yes, those men had unusually long feet in the days of that royal decree.

So, my wish for all of you who so tightly embrace the English measurement system is that you measure carefully and live long. And when converting from English to Metric and vice versa, do so very carefully. Instances wherein your life may hang in the balance abound.