Why we won’t kill the Imperial System

Mobile Hydraulic Tips ^ | November 2, 2012 | Paul Heney

[Paladin2]

"Then why do I have 31"X 10.50" X 15" tires on my vehicle? "

Uh, 'cause you're a Bible/gun klinger?

[danielmryan]

No - twelve fluid ounces.

[Rebelbase]

They sell metric bras?

[Paladin2]

"Temperature...in Centigrade, water freezes at zero...boils at 100 degrees...is that complicated?"

There ain't no substitute for Absolute Zer0. (Vodka not withstanding)

[zeugma]

Lets us talk about calendars.

Yeah. Let's talk about calendars. Our measurement of time goes all the way back to Babylonia from what I understand. If I recall correctly, they had used base 60 as their numerical system. Of course this is off the top of my pointy head, so I could be wrong. :-)

Let's talk about some metric time. Personally, I like the martian time system.

 

• The International Meridian Conference Proceedings, Oct. 1884 - Resolution VII of the Final Act of these proceedings, which established the Greenich Prime Meridian, states: "That the Conference expresses the hope that the technical studies designed to regulate and extend the application of the decimal system to the division of angular space and of time shall be resumed, so as to permit he extension of this application to all cases in which it presents real advantages." All parties to the conference voted in the affirmative on this resolution except Germany, Sweden, and Guatemala which abstained.
• A New Time For Australia - Will Australia be the first country to switch to MT?
• Aristean Decimal Time - "New time system in decimal format covering the duration or elapsed time issue, and the clock time or time of day issue." Uses "aristo" for centidays and starts the day at sundown (18:00 ABT).
• The Decimal Time Society - With a decimalized date starting on the vernal equinox, AD 2000. Also a 10 day week. Also includes a poem.
• Global Standard Time (XTime) - Coordinated to the International Date Line.
• Grand Admiral Petry's Metric Time Page - "American Standard Metric Time: the HESIT ... Metric time divides the day into 40 demur(s) and centigrad hesit(s)".
• John Hynes' Decimal Time - Overview of decimalized time formats including (Modified|Truncated) Julian Dates, Unix, French Republic, Stardates, etc. with java clocks (digital and analog) illustrating them and a conversion table. Also links and a discussion board.
• Martian Time - Proposal for decimalized time system (and others) and calendar to be used by martian colonists. Will they beat the Aussies?
• Metric Time - Uses a 25h/100m/100s format plus has nonstandard years.
• Metric Time - This one uses a unit called a "tick" which is based on the solar year. It has a metric calendar too. It also has a links section which looks strangely familiar...
• RyoSystem - A replacement for a portion of the SI metric system that includes a decimilized time based on a centiday, here called a Choi (Ch).
• Universal Time Organization - "Promoting a metric based system that is co-ordinated on UTC".
• WRLD.time - IDL Coordinated, day divided into 100 measures of 100 beats. predecessor of GST.
• XAQ Metric Time (XMT) - Base unit is a Pulse (a mean solar day), also has a decimalized calandar system.

[Paladin2]

"Yard = An average mans maximum stride"

Fortunately a meter is close so I can do Orienteering easily.

[yarddog]

The only advantage the metric system had was it was easy to do calculations. Now that we have calculators and computers there is no difference to the machine if the number is a simple even one or a complex number. It does each as well.

On the negative side the metric system can easily cause confusion. For instance, did he say a meter is 100 milimeters or 1000? If I hear 12 inches I know it is a foot because that is all the number 12 is used for. If it is 36 inches I instinctively know it is a yard.

Also if someone says 1000 and I don’t hear him cclearly I might think he is speaking of weight or length but if I head 3 pounds I guess just what we are talking about.

If my wife sent me to get 5 pounds of ground beef I know exactly what she wants but if she says give me 10 kilo of steak I might ask myself, did she want 10 kilo or 100?

It is actually easier to keep organized using americaN SYSTEM.

[Paladin2]

"I think the Ford Pinto was designed using the metric system, at least the engine was."

Yep, they were Brit / German engines - 1.6l Kent, 2.0l German.

[tomkat]

200+ replies for an Imperial v Metric thread on election eve .. lotta folks needing a politics break, apparently .. LOL

[Paladin2]

"however, I might be with you on MPH speed. "

I'm good with klicks, it's just mass that really drive me to metric (though I'm a Francophobe).

[null and void]

An average stride is a little under a yard. That’s why a MILe (1000 steps by Roman soldiers marching in formation) isn’t 6000 feet.

[null and void]

*shrug*

All politics is loco...

[Paladin2]

Yah, the retarded American auto industry made all sorts of 16 and 18 mm hex head fasteners while the Europeans picked 15, 17 and 19. That sux.

[dadfly]

thanks karl. for me metric is more the tyranny of 10. probably a problem for me because of all the hex and binary i work in. but you know if there isn’t an official unit for edison there ought to be. one relating to light, i think.

[Paladin2]

"but his neighbor who doesn’t know anything except 1st base. "

Yabut does his neighbor's wife understand the measurement unit of base?

[dadfly]

i have to say i like it.

and another thing. i know metric is supposed to eliminate errors in calcs. but is it just my imagination or do “metric” engineers and students tend to drop their units more frequently than Americans. and if so, is the ease of metric perhaps a drawback in checking work?

[Paladin2]

My friend Miles takes exception..........

[JRandomFreeper]

I keep a screen up with Mars (the planet) time on it (there is a reason, no, I won't explain), and my normal screens have either civlilian or military time.

Best I find some girls, a dwarf, a jello pool, and other assorted equipment and consumables and think about other things.

It's really best for humanity.

/johnny

[Paladin2]

"John Browning."

A Mormon Hero.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I like my M13 and M19 drive sets.