NationStates Jolt Archive

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)

It's because they're stubborn. Which is why they happen to win alot of wars.

Ha, because they're stubborn...or because they haven't gone Metric? That'd be an interesting theory..."we win wars because we refuse to be subsumed by The Metric!"

It's getting there. Some of the stuff I bought here even had imperial in parentheses behind the metric ones instead of the other way around.

uh didnt the FRENCH develop the metric system originally?

It's because they're stubborn. Which is why they happen to win alot of wars.

Now there's a lot more truth in that than most folks realize. We Americans are a proud, idealogical, stubborn bunch, and that is not always a bad way to be. Also, I quite like the Imperial system. I also respect the English a lot, as a people, that is, though British politicians are more left-leaning than is my style.

~ Romandeos.

Ha, because they're stubborn...or because they haven't gone Metric? That'd be an interesting theory..."we win wars because we refuse to be subsumed by The Metric!"
Doesn't that technically mean the Americans would lose to the British in a war?

It's getting there. Some of the stuff I bought here even had imperial in parentheses behind the metric ones instead of the other way around.
They're probably made in China.

What would be the benefit of switching over? Anyone in a technical field uses metric measurements as it is, and making the conversion when visiting Canada or Mexico is easy enough. We have a few thousand miles of roads on the metric system near the borders.. it's just another system, no better or worse to my mind. And any casual drug user is familiar with metric weights, so there's some crossover anyhow.

For the millionth time. The metric system is mass mass, the USCU (not imperial, the US doesn't use imperial) is force derived, so it makes our engineering easier.

Also, a lot of our empirical data for soil strength etc. and fluid behaviour is calibrated to USCU, it would be a real fuking pain to go out and do all those studies again. Do you want to go out and do tens of thousands of soil borings in NYC, because I don't. So since you have to use USCU at some point anyway, you might as well use it for everything.

I am sorry your brain has problems with sums not using base ten. No amount of jiggering with the measurements will help the underlying problem.

And any casual drug user is familiar with metric weights, so there's some crossover anyhow.

No wonder I have such a good knowledge of the metric system. Excuse me whilst I go buy some drugs.

I'm totally in fovor of it. I'm a chef (BTW I have some photos for those who remember the "Can you cook" thread), and metric is FAR more accurate for cooking measurements.

What would be the benefit of switching over? Anyone in a technical field uses metric measurements as it is, and making the conversion when visiting Canada or Mexico is easy enough. We have a few thousand miles of roads on the metric system near the borders.. it's just another system, no better or worse to my mind. And any casual drug user is familiar with metric weights, so there's some crossover anyhow.

there IS no benefit. what needs to be metric is metric, the rest doesnt matter.

there was a time when the clunky units of the "uscu" system was a pain in the ass. that time is over. now we have the pocket calculator. its the great equalizer between metric and imperial.

I'm totally in fovor of it. I'm a chef (BTW I have some photos for those who remember the "Can you cook" thread), and metric is FAR more accurate for cooking measurements.

What's so tough about cups and tablespoons? Just curious, I'm sure there's an argument for using metric. Works well enough on cola cans.

I'm totally in fovor of it. I'm a chef (BTW I have some photos for those who remember the "Can you cook" thread), and metric is FAR more accurate for cooking measurements.

That's because people in the US use volume (cups) to measure out dried ingredients instead of mass (g). It's not really to do with the metric system.

uh didnt the FRENCH develop the metric system originally?

That must be it, that must be the motivation for refusing it!

Doesn't that technically mean the Americans would lose to the British in a war?

That's a good point...we'll have to test this theory! Someone tell Blair that Bush slept with Blair's wife! Oh wait...that won't cause any sort of kerfuffle :(

I believe the question that should be asked is: Why bother? What does it matter to you.

It's uniquely insignificant.

They're probably made in China.Too expensive to ship water that far :p

What would be the benefit of switching over? Anyone in a technical field uses metric measurements as it is, and making the conversion when visiting Canada or Mexico is easy enough. We have a few thousand miles of roads on the metric system near the borders.. it's just another system, no better or worse to my mind. And any casual drug user is familiar with metric weights, so there's some crossover anyhow.

Hahahahaa....yeah, but ounces for some things, grams for others...I suppose it's probably best to be fluent in each.

For the millionth time. The metric system is mass mass, the USCU (not imperial, the US doesn't use imperial) is force derived, so it makes our engineering easier. Soooo...Metric engineers are smarter than their USian colleagues? :P

So..not Imperial, what can I call it?

Also, a lot of our empirical data for soil strength etc. and fluid behaviour is calibrated to USCU, it would be a real fuking pain to go out and do all those studies again. Do you want to go out and do tens of thousands of soil borings in NYC, because I don't. So since you have to use USCU at some point anyway, you might as well use it for everything.

I am sorry your brain has problems with sums not using base ten. No amount of jiggering with the measurements will help the underlying problem.

Bleh, we've been doing it in both systems for ages, since the older generations just don't want to switch completely to Metric.

So, human weight? Pounds. Height? Feet and inches...distance...metres, kilometres...drugs, ounces and grams...it's a crazy, mixed up world...

That's a good point...we'll have to test this theory! Someone tell Blair that Bush slept with Blair's wife! Oh wait...that won't cause any sort of kerfuffle :(
erm...tell Blair Bush is pulling out of Iraq, and tell Bush Blair is pulling out of Iraq. That should get the two of them at each other's throats pretty quick...
Too expensive to ship water that far :p
So Antarctica then? :p

Seriously, does the US have any freshwater left?

I believe the question that should be asked is: Why bother? What does it matter to you.

It's uniquely insignificant.

I can't speak for the OP, but I care because I have to keep Google Calculator open.

I believe the question that should be asked is: Why bother? What does it matter to you.

It's uniquely insignificant.

It matters only insomuch as I, on occasion, see it as a vexing bit of US arrogance, a refusal to 'get with the times'...

When I can't find anything else to get pissed off about, I reach for this, and smite thee with it...

Seriously, does the US have any freshwater left?

Remember the Great Lakes? They're very, very large. :p

I can't speak for the OP, but I care because I have to keep Google Calculator open.

I think the thing that bugs me the most is temperatures. 24 degrees? Beautiful weather, isn't it? Oh wait...not in the US...what the hell...

Remember the Great Lakes? They're very, very large. :p

Those are ours, beyotch :)

And you wouldn't really call that 'fresh' water, would you? Sure, sans salt...but...avec mercury, lead etc...ugh. On second thought, maybe you can have them.

Remember the Great Lakes? They're very, very large. :p
They're also very, very polluted.
Those are ours, beyotch :)
And that. Hands off our lakes.

Remember the Great Lakes? They're very, very large. :pNah, the water I drink comes from Florida.

They're also very, very polluted.

And that. Hands off our lakes.Quit bitchin. Or have you forgotten that the US is a prime goal for Canadian trash? :p

Those are ours, beyotch :)

And you wouldn't really call that 'fresh' water, would you? Sure, sans salt...but...avec mercury, lead etc...ugh. On second thought, maybe you can have them.

It's getting better. The algae may be killing the original fish populations, but it's also cleaning the water. Lake Michigan is getting bluer, although economically, the filth was probably better.. it benefits the fish somehow, for reasons I can't really remember. I was pretty shocked at the blueness of the water last time I was in Chicago though.. the usual gray/brown murkiness has improved a bit.

It's getting better. The algae may be killing the original fish populations, but it's also cleaning the water. Lake Michigan is getting bluer, although economically, the filth was probably better.. it benefits the fish somehow, for reasons I can't really remember. I was pretty shocked at the blueness of the water last time I was in Chicago though.. the usual gray/brown murkiness has improved a bit.Sorry, but that all sounds like bullshit in my EnviSci ears...

It's getting better.

Now, getting better...in Metric, or uscu?

Quit bitchin. Or have you forgotten that the US is a prime goal for Canadian trash? :p
Oh, I can't forget that. Puget Sound in Seattle is basically Victoria's toilet, and they never quit reminding us of that.

Sorry, but that all sounds like bullshit in my EnviSci ears...

The lack of "murkiness" is supposedly an issue because the lakes are extremely deep and sunlight penetrates deeper into the water without the suspended particles. That upsets fish somehow. I'd ask a biologist. As for the algae, it has some effect, but, on second thought, I believe it's the particular strain of mussel spreading throughout the lakes whose insane absorbancy is causing the recent cleanliness. The Zebra mussel, along with a few others. It's basically a filth magnet.

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)

Gosh, the US Army has been metric since the Vietnam War... go figure...

They're also very, very polluted.

They're not that bad. At least away from Chicago.

And that. Hands off our lakes. By "our" I do hope you mean Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York, right? Especially Michigan, since we're right in the middle of most of them.

However, I'd certainly side with the Canadians if people wanted to divert water from the Lakes. If you don't have enough water, perhaps you shouldn't live in the middle of the damned desert.

Quit bitchin. Or have you forgotten that the US is a prime goal for Canadian trash?

This has been a big campaign issue in every election in Michigan for some time now. Both parties promise to do something about it, but since Uncle Sam creates the treaties our hands are tied. It's bullshit if you ask me.

What's so tough about cups and tablespoons? Just curious, I'm sure there's an argument for using metric. Works well enough on cola cans.

There's nothing "wrong" with them when you're dealing with a standard recipe, but you need to know your math a lot more strictly, i.e. 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce liquid, 1 cup flour = 4.75 oz et. Metric makes brings it all down to one system.

By "our" I do hope you mean Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York, right? Especially Michigan, since we're right in the middle of most of them.


I don't think he/she/they were being serious.. the second largest of the lakes doesn't even make contact with the Canadian border. We all share the other lakes. :)

I don't think he/she/they were being serious.. the second largest of the lakes doesn't even make contact with the Canadian border. We all share the other lakes. :)

I know, I'm just picking on her. Anyway, most of the states on the Lakes are halfway Canadian anyway as evidenced by our love of hockey and Tim Horton's, the two pillars of Canada.

The lack of "murkiness" is supposedly an issue because the lakes are extremely deep and sunlight penetrates deeper into the water without the suspended particles. That upsets fish somehow. I'd ask a biologist. As for the algae, it has some effect, but, on second thought, I believe it's the particular strain of mussel spreading throughout the lakes whose insane absorbancy is causing the recent cleanliness. The Zebra mussel, along with a few others. It's basically a filth magnet.I see, that's why it sounded wrong. You seemed to be equating industrial pollution with murky water. I can guarantee you that stuff like mercury or aluminum is much more unhealthy to fish than it is beneficial. The suspended particles you refer to are most likely sediments or other non-toxic substances.

As to the algae, yeah, a lot of those can emit toxic substances killing local wildlife.

This has been a big campaign issue in every election in Michigan for some time now. Both parties promise to do something about it, but since Uncle Sam creates the treaties our hands are tied. It's bullshit if you ask me.Oh, Virginia is prime dumping terrain too, just more for US trash. The issue revolves around what waste is classified as. Currently, it's a commodity, and thus no state may make a law restricting its handling across state borders.

Kill for the kilogram!
Murder for the metre!
Slaughter for the second!
Lynch for the litre!

:)

But learning metric is hard dammit! :p

The Imperial system has more flair and quirkiness...metric is too boring and orderly for my tastes.

Kill for the kilogram!
Murder for the metre!
Slaughter for the second!
Lynch for the litre!

:)

What's the Imperial unit for second? :confused:

What's the Imperial unit for second? :confused:

Second, but I wanted to use slaugher for something.

What's the Imperial unit for second? :confused:New York Minute.

What's the Imperial unit for second? :confused:

The hora is the ancient measure of time. It's doubly cool because it's length changes with the time of year.

We should go back to it.

Second, but I wanted to use slaugher for something.
Ahh, so your poem is faulty.
New York Minute.
Damned yankees.

Ahh, so your poem is faulty.

Damned yankees.

Hey, I made you president!

The hora is the ancient measure of time. It's doubly cool because it's length changes with the time of year.

We should go back to it.
and confuse the crap out of an already confused nation with the Imperial and Metric systems in conflict?
Hey, I made you president!
For which I am eternally grateful.

*bows*

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)

It costs us enough just to change telephone area codes. It's not worth the expense to convert to metric. English units work perfectly well for us, and there's no compelling reason to expend the resources necessary to change. And fortunately for us, we're a big enough market that if anyone wants to sell to us, they can damn well use our system to do so :p

It costs us enough just to change telephone area codes. It's not worth the expense to convert to metric. English units work perfectly well for us, and there's no compelling reason to expend the resources necessary to change. And fortunately for us, we're a big enough market that if anyone wants to sell to us, they can damn well use our system to do so :p
you know i'd find it hilarious if all other countries converted to metric and refused to do anything in imperial.
i'd like to see what you americans'd do then

you know i'd find it hilarious if all other countries converted to metric and refused to do anything in imperial.
i'd like to see what you americans'd do then

Question...other than the US and England...are there any countries that DON'T use Metric? I've never been in one....

You make a very valid point on how ridicules it is for the US to continue using the imperial system, but you fail to note that the US is the most powerful nation on Earth and can do whatever the hell it wants. Yes, it could change to metric and solve all confusion with minimal effort, but...whatever.

Question...other than the US and England...are there any countries that DON'T use Metric? I've never been in one....

I know Liberia doesn't, but I think that's about it.

It costs us enough just to change telephone area codes. It's not worth the expense to convert to metric. English units work perfectly well for us, and there's no compelling reason to expend the resources necessary to change. And fortunately for us, we're a big enough market that if anyone wants to sell to us, they can damn well use our system to do so :pHaha. There's km signs in Arizona and there's metric measurements on my water bottles. It'll happen eventually.

you know i'd find it hilarious if all other countries converted to metric and refused to do anything in imperial.
i'd like to see what you americans'd do then

I can say, without fear of contradiction: Have you got a long wait, pal.

That's got as much chance of happening as the next snowstorm on Mercury, or the average Democrat growing a pair of balls :p

You make a very valid point on how ridicules it is for the US to continue using the imperial system, but you fail to note that the US is the most powerful nation on Earth and can do whatever the hell it wants. Yes, it could change to metric and solve all confusion with minimal effort, but...whatever.
yes, but if all the other countries in the world decide to stop selling stuff with imperial measurements on them, what's america going to do?

But learning metric is hard dammit! :p

Only if you're lazy....and someone earlier claimed that it was actually because Metric is TOO easy...the uscu is the only thing fit for the TRULY intelligent person.

I know Liberia doesn't, but I think that's about it.

Seriously? Liberia doesn't? So, we have three backwards nations...:D

I kid! I kid because I care.... :P

Only if you're lazy....and someone earlier claimed that it was actually because Metric is TOO easy...the uscu is the only thing fit for the TRULY intelligent person.
the thing is that while it's more entertaining to do calculations in, it's often less accurate when used on computers/calculators.

Seriously? Liberia doesn't? So, we have three backwards nations...:D

I kid! I kid because I care.... :P

Hey Canada, how ya doing? How's your oil?

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements?

My car gets 40 Rods to the Hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!!!

I can say, without fear of contradiction: Have you got a long wait, pal.

That's got as much chance of happening as the next snowstorm on Mercury, or the average Democrat growing a pair of balls :pYou know, it gets pretty damn cold on Mercury, about -180 °C. As for Dems having balls, it takes a lot of cajones to swear on your own holy book instead of the one a bunch of rabid lunatics want you to. ;)

Seriously? Liberia doesn't? So, we have three backwards nations...:D

Liberia was a US colony, so that's probably why.

Seriously though, I have no idea why we don't use the metric system. I learned it when I was in the Army and it makes so much more sense. I really wish we'd switch to metric and the 24 hour clock.

Do anyone honestly believe that the rest of the world is going to stop tradding with the US just to prove a point? By the way, Democrates are the way, the truth, and the light, and no one comes to reason but through them.

Do anyone honestly believe that the rest of the world is going to stop tradding with the US just to prove a point? By the way, Democrates are the way, the truth, and the light, and no one comes to reason but through them.
i never said anything about ceasing trade. just ceasing to put imperial units on anything.

There's nothing "wrong" with them when you're dealing with a standard recipe, but you need to know your math a lot more strictly, i.e. 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce liquid, 1 cup flour = 4.75 oz et. Metric makes brings it all down to one system.

And in one simple sentence Unabashed Greed quietly answers the question.

Because it brings it all down to one system.

Sorry about your cat btw...


You make a very valid point on how ridicules it is for the US to continue using the imperial system, but you fail to note that the US is the most powerful nation on Earth and can do whatever the hell it wants. Yes, it could change to metric and solve all confusion with minimal effort, but...whatever.

I'm getting really tired of the "we're bigger than you so naa naa" defence of america's stupidity and stubbornness - how about arguing in favour of your position for once?

And while we're at it - why does america write dates as MM/DD/YY?
Other systems (eg. time) increase incrementally - seconds, then minutes, then hours, days... etc
month then day then year makes no sense - it's like a watch reading hours then seconds then minutes

Maybe that would work. Then again, the US could just put the Imperial units on itself and be anoyed at what backward people occupy the rest of the world.

I'm not arguing one way or other. I'm simply noteing that it is a pipe-dream to think the pure light of reason will beam down upon America and all would be good and wonderful.

And while we're at it - why does america write dates as MM/DD/YY?
Other systems (eg. time) increase incrementally - seconds, then minutes, then hours, days... etc
month then day then year makes no sense - it's like a watch reading hours then seconds then minutes
it's amazing how annoying the way they put their dates is. i've occaisionally wanted to get violent because of it.
the only way to fix that sort of thing is by using letters for the month, which is annoying as they should always be expressed as numbers, in my opinion

And while we're at it - why does america write dates as MM/DD/YY?
Other systems (eg. time) increase incrementally - seconds, then minutes, then hours, days... etc
month then day then year makes no sense - it's like a watch reading hours then seconds then minutes

Likely because the way we say dates. We say "December 12th" rather than "the 12th of December". Anyway, here's what the Wiki says about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_and_time_notation_by_country#United_States

it's amazing how annoying the way they put their dates is. i've occaisionally wanted to get violent because of it.
the only way to fix that sort of thing is by using letters for the month, which is annoying as they should always be expressed as numbers, in my opinion

I think it's amazing how people are bothered by such a small thing. I suppose it's like the great "pop v soda" debate in the US.

Kill for the kilogram!
Murder for the metre!
Slaughter for the second!
Lynch for the litre!

:)

Sounds like punk lyrics...

it's amazing how annoying the way they put their dates is. i've occaisionally wanted to get violent because of it.
the only way to fix that sort of thing is by using letters for the month, which is annoying as they should always be expressed as numbers, in my opinion

especially given how much internet content is US generated or hosted
if i can't read 11/10/06 without having to wonder if it's the tenth of november in america, or the eleventh of october absolutely everywhere else in the western world, what's the point of using a shorthand notation like dd/mm/yy OR mm/dd/yy at all?
isn't that the whole point of a shorthand notation - that it's understandable quickly by anyone?

I think it's amazing how people are bothered by such a small thing. I suppose it's like the great "pop v soda" debate in the US.
it's annoying because when i give dates to (or receive them from) americans, i have to remember that you guys do it like that and change it accordingly, unlike with anyone else.

In the end I think its just a cultural thing. It seems perfectly resonable to Americans. English isn't a very reasonable language, but few would suggest that everyone convert to latin for the sake of efficency.

Likely because the way we say dates. We say "December 12th" rather than "the 12th of December".

conversationally i say it both ways (i'm kiwi btw)
also i work in advertising, and type-set dates several times a day, and different clients have different preferences (and i'm only talking about nz clients)

but because the month is named rather than annotated it makes clear sense both ways

the problem is the annotation - it's self-defeating to have a standard annotation that isn't standard!

it's amazing how annoying the way they put their dates is. i've occaisionally wanted to get violent because of it.
the only way to fix that sort of thing is by using letters for the month, which is annoying as they should always be expressed as numbers, in my opinionWell, I've been having to watch myself with numbers. I had the shock of my life getting back an exam with a 15% on it, until I remembered that a handwritten American 7 looks like a German 1.

Well, I've been having to watch myself with numbers. I had the shock of my life getting back an exam with a 15% on it, until I remembered that a handwritten American 7 looks like a German 1.
yeah, i can see how that can cause issues. then again, at least you did well.

conversationally i say it both ways (i'm kiwi btw)
also i work in advertising, and type-set dates several times a day, and different clients have different preferences (and i'm only talking about nz clients)

but because the month is named rather than annotated it makes clear sense both ways

the problem is the annotation - it's self-defeating to have a standard annotation that isn't standard!

Conversationally the "December 12th" style is almost always used, although "the 12th of December" can be used, but it sounds extremely formal to me.

Personally I prefer the "21 Dec 2006" notation myself, but that's what the military drilled into me.

And your quite right in saying that it's self defeating to have a standard annotation that isn't standard. However, probably because the US is such an insular society, we see having an "American standard" and a "world standard" as being normal. Many Americans see it as being "the US" and "everything else" which I think at least partly explains why we don't feel the need to adhere to the international norm in things like this.

it's annoying because when i give dates to (or receive them from) americans, i have to remember that you guys do it like that and change it accordingly, unlike with anyone else.

And when I'm on French language forums I have to remember to use the 16h37 style, but I've never found it all that bothersome.

And when I'm on French language forums I have to remember to use the 16h37 style, but I've never found it all that bothersome.
but it's alot easier to tell when people are using 24 hour time as opposed to 12 hour time. whereas 6/12/86 is entirely ambiguous

but it's alot easier to tell when people are using 24 hour time as opposed to 12 hour time. whereas 6/12/86 is entirely ambiguous

zigactly

but it's alot easier to tell when people are using 24 hour time as opposed to 12 hour time. whereas 6/12/86 is entirely ambiguous

Quite true. I guess one has to rely on context for numerical dates, although I still thing having the month in letters (abbreviated or written out) would be a better way to remove any ambiguity. That way Americans don't have to get rid of their traditional "month day year" system (which would be nigh impossible to do anyway) and everyone else can understand what date we're talking about.

Go metric? Go metric!?!?

The metric system is a part of who we are!

Gee, lets take a looksie at who does use the metric system.

The Japanese, who bombed pearl harbor and killed lots of Americans.
The Germans ,who were the bad guys in WW1 and WW2.
The Communists, who by the same tolken, can't keep their nucular reactors from exploding.
Freedom haters around the world, who hate freedom.
The Australians, who killed all the dodo birds.
Canada
I'm pretty sure that infamous dictators/evil people such as Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin (It's his birthday today), Adolf Hiter, Hugo Chavez, Mussolini, and many many more all used the metric system!!

Surley I am not the only one who sees a correlation between these?

:D
Keep in mind this is a joke.

Go metric? Go metric!?!?

The metric system is a part of who we are!

Gee, lets take a looksie at who does use the metric system.

The Japanese, who bombed pearl harbor and killed lots of Americans.
The Germans ,who were the bad guys in WW1 and WW2.
The Communists, who by the same tolken, can't keep their nucular reactors from exploding.
Freedom haters around the world, who hate freedom.
The Australians, who killed all the dodo birds.
Canada
I'm pretty sure that infamous dictators/evil people such as Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin (It's his birthday today), Adolf Hiter, Hugo Chavez, Mussolini, and many many more all used the metric system!!

Surley I am not the only one who sees a correlation between these?

:D
Keep in mind this is a joke.


Don't forget america used the power of english units to invent the a-bomb, conquer the moon and beat the commies.

You don't change your socks when you are three up in the world series.

The Australians, who killed all the dodo birds.
keeping that it's a joke in mind, i still have to say it was the dutch that killed the dodo, as i recall

*snip*
Personally I prefer the "21 Dec 2006" notation myself, but that's what the military drilled into me.

I prefer that, too, and I've never so much as put on a combat boot.

And your quite right in saying that it's self defeating to have a standard annotation that isn't standard. However, probably because the US is such an insular society, we see having an "American standard" and a "world standard" as being normal. Many Americans see it as being "the US" and "everything else" which I think at least partly explains why we don't feel the need to adhere to the international norm in things like this.
Which explains the war...among other things.

Don't america used the power of english units to invent the a-bomb, conquer the moon and beat the commies.

You don't change your socks when you are three up in the world series.Probably not, actually. The sciences use metric.

Probably not, actually. The sciences use metric.

Not back then. Nasa still has some divisions that use english units, or did very recently. Hence that whole satellite screw up.

Face it, WWII was won by the english system (western allies) which was fighting the metric system (fascism).

keeping that it's a joke in mind, i still have to say it was the dutch that killed the dodo, as i recall

to quote the infallable font of wisfom, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo

which suggests that small mammal ("dogs, pigs, cats, rats") predation was probably the greatest contributor to their extinction

but wale on the dutch by all means ;)
(keeping that it's a joke in mind)

Oh, I can't forget that. Puget Sound in Seattle is basically Victoria's toilet, and they never quit reminding us of that.

I'm a Puget Sounder, and I'm okay with that. Victoria's a lovely place. If she wants us to eat her shit, I'll open wide.

Hongcouver, however, is a different story.

to quote the infallable font of wisfom, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo

which suggests that small mammal ("dogs, pigs, cats, rats") predation was probably the greatest contributor to their extinction

but wale on the dutch by all means ;)
(keeping that it's a joke in mind)
weren't they the ones who introduced the predators?
then again, i do have a write-only memory

I can say, without fear of contradiction: Have you got a long wait, pal.

That's got as much chance of happening as the next snowstorm on Mercury, or the average Democrat growing a pair of balls :p

Conservatives wonder why Liberals hate so much? Asshole statements like this one in a non-political thread. Neocons just can't help themselves turning any innocent conversation into a platform for ad hominem horsehit like that. :rolleyes:

weren't they the ones who introduced the predators?
then again, i do have a write-only memory

i think that responsibility is shared between many, including the dutch, english, french, portuguese, spanish...

I prefer that, too, and I've never so much as put on a combat boot.

I'd advise against wearing them, they're not very comfortable. And if you wear them all day and do any physical labor your feet will be biological weapons.

Which explains the war...among other things.

I think it goes a long way towards explaining why we do what we do. I remember when I was stationed in Germany hearing some soldiers (specifically the barracks rats who wouldn't leave the post) saying they wanted to go back to the "real world". I think this excessively insular mentality causes a lot of our problems internationally.

I'd advise against wearing them, they're not very comfortable. And if you wear them all day and do any physical labor your feet will be biological weapons.



I think it goes a long way towards explaining why we do what we do. I remember when I was stationed in Germany hearing some soldiers (specifically the barracks rats who wouldn't leave the post) saying they wanted to go back to the "real world". I think this excessively insular mentality causes a lot of our problems internationally.

That isn't just "barracks rats" -- insularity became something very real for me when I left Seattle to take a job in North Dakota two years ago. I had to explain Teriyaki joints and Thai food. That was weird.

Of course, I also had to explain this thing called humidity that I'd taken for granted for so long....

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)




:rolleyes:

Well, I've been having to watch myself with numbers. I had the shock of my life getting back an exam with a 15% on it, until I remembered that a handwritten American 7 looks like a German 1.

So then.. what does a German seven look like? :confused: Does the horizontal line curl?

So then.. what does a German seven look like? :confused: Does the horizontal line curl?Here's an example of the handwritten variants:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4282/17lm2.jpg

Here's an example of the handwritten variants:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4282/17lm2.jpg

Aha, interesting. Some people write sevens like that here too.

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)
Because metric is for comformist posers.

American measurements are punk rock.

You know, it gets pretty damn cold on Mercury, about -180 °C. As for Dems having balls, it takes a lot of cajones to swear on your own holy book instead of the one a bunch of rabid lunatics want you to. ;)

It takes more than low temperatures to produce a snowstorm. Try learning some physics. As for "swearing on your own holy book," it isn't balls, it's a deliberate affront to the heritage of this country and a demonstration of allegiance to an alien ideology. Try again.

Conservatives wonder why Liberals hate so much? Asshole statements like this one in a non-political thread. Neocons just can't help themselves turning any innocent conversation into a platform for ad hominem horsehit like that. :rolleyes:

Oh yes, right, the poor persecuted little Liberals, always being driven to hate by statements they don't like. And of course, no Liberal ever inserted a "political" statement into a "non-political" thread. Gee, how could I have missed that one? I guess all those references to "W" in "non-political" threads really refer to weed or watermelon or Worcestershire or something like that.

Yep, libs dish it out but can't take it. Too bad. :p

And btw: I'm not a "neocon". I've been a conservative long before you libs began flailing around looking for a new word to turn into a term of abuse.

we will switch to metric if you make just a few changes.

milli will now be freedom, ex. freedom-meters freedom-grams etc...

kilo will be named after our beloved fomrer president Ronold Reagon, ex. Reagon-meters Reagon-grams.


and so on and so on. the whole list will be published by 2032. once you accept these changes we will galdly switch

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)

We can do the conversion math, if need be.

It's a shame others can't...

The problem is that it's easier to say "mile" instead of "kilometer", and so many of us are so used to the Imperial system that, if everything were to switch over to metric, we'd be doing conversions the rest of our lives. I stand 6'4" and weigh 285. I don't stand 193cm and weigh 130kg. At least not to me.

We're a land that's obsessed with weight. Losing 40 pounds sounds a lot better than losing 18 kilograms. It has more flare.

We like to believe there's a big difference between being 6'4" and being 5'4". Expressing them as 163cm and 193cm just doesn't have the same oomph.

In addition, we freak out of gas goes from $2.25 up to $2.50 a gallon. If that increase was merely from $.59 to $.66 a liter, it wouldn't be as frightening, and there goes a great source of material for our late-night talk show hosts.

Aside from that, when my wife and I went on our honeymoon, it was bad enough for her to be 5,000 miles from home. If she had been 8,000 kilometers away, we might just have had to cancel the trip.

All our recipes would have to be re-written. How the hell does one measure .45 of a kilogram for a meat loaf, anyway? Plus all our measuring cups are now useless. It might stimulate the economy, but that creates a lot more trash.

Of course, if you go to the airport, they charge you for a bag over 50 pounds. If they go to metric, they won't measure at 23 kilograms. Those lazy bastards will charge you now for a bag over 20kg, I'm sure. Plus, with all the conversions that have to go on in the airports, the price of a ticket goes up even more.

What's next after the American measurements go? Fast cars, rock and roll, action movies, and cheap beer?

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)

Because Imperial is SO much simpler.
I mean its much easier to know there is 12 inch to a foot 3 foot to a yard 1760 yards to a mile and 3 miles to league.
Then the complicated metric
10 centimeter to decimeter, 10 decimeter to a meter and 1000 meters to a kilometer.

It's because they're stubborn. Which is why they happen to win alot of wars.

Vietnam

Iraq

It takes more than low temperatures to produce a snowstorm. Try learning some physics. As for "swearing on your own holy book," it isn't balls, it's a deliberate affront to the heritage of this country and a demonstration of allegiance to an alien ideology. Try again.
Meteorology would be more useful.
Oh yes, right, the poor persecuted little Liberals, always being driven to hate by statements they don't like. And of course, no Liberal ever inserted a "political" statement into a "non-political" thread. Gee, how could I have missed that one? I guess all those references to "W" in "non-political" threads really refer to weed or watermelon or Worcestershire or something like that.

Yep, libs dish it out but can't take it. Too bad. :p

And btw: I'm not a "neocon". I've been a conservative long before you libs began flailing around looking for a new word to turn into a term of abuse.
So, where do you plan on taking the hijacked thread to?
Because Imperial is SO much simpler.
I mean its much easier to know there is 12 inch to a foot 3 foot to a yard 1760 yards to a mile and 3 miles to league.
Then the complicated metric
10 centimeter to decimeter, 10 decimeter to a meter and 1000 meters to a kilometer.

As it happens I suck at remembering the numerical equivalent of SI prefixes.

I fought the war but the war won
I fought the war but the war won
I fought the war but the war won't stop for the love of god. /music

::realizes::

Ohhh, that Metric.

::giggles::

It's getting there. Some of the stuff I bought here even had imperial in parentheses behind the metric ones instead of the other way around.

Indeed, businesses are starting to metricate. Just not fast enough.

Why? Why do you hold out, USA? What is the allure of the Imperial system? Did you not fight, bleed and die to throw off the shackles of your British overlords? Only to what...continue to use a ridiculous system of measurements? For shame, for shame!

Oh yeah, and bugger the English too :)

Why do you care? Why can't you just go on being Canadian and metric and not bother about something so ridiculously unimportant?

;) Or maybe you're jealous? ;)

I grew up learning imperial then had the country switch to metric......I still use imperial because I understand it and I can visualize it (measurements)but it is a stupid cumbersome system.....

temp wise I've completely switched to the international system.......

my kids only understand metric good for them....

Vietnam

IraqVietnam the Americans caused the North Vietnamese what could equate to a Pyrrhic Victory. Iraq is not even over yet.

What would be the benefit of switching over? Anyone in a technical field uses metric measurements as it is, and making the conversion when visiting Canada or Mexico is easy enough. We have a few thousand miles of roads on the metric system near the borders.. it's just another system, no better or worse to my mind. And any casual drug user is familiar with metric weights, so there's some crossover anyhow.

strange, drugs tend to be sold in imperial measurements over here :confused: :)

As far as I know weed is sold in money...as in nickle, dime, quarter, etc...not sure about other drugs though

Its the Stone Cutters fault, I say.

All our recipes would have to be re-written. How the hell does one measure .45 of a kilogram for a meat loaf, anyway?
450 grams? Maybe, I could be wrong however.

450 grams? Maybe, I could be wrong however.

that's far too complex for me :rolleyes:

:D

that's far too complex for me :rolleyes:

:D

oh boohoo...
personally i prefer the USCU, cause i live in the USA, but I'm sure if I lived in oohh say...Holland, I'd prefer metric...not to mention drugs[stereotype, i know], but that's for a different day..