Do you think in metric?
-
Strangely enough I was discussing this in the pub the other day. I think imperial for speeds and distance, buy foodstuffs in imperial, drink in imperial and know my height and weight in imperial. This is because we live in an imperial universe, there is no metric universe. 365 days a year, 12 months, 360 degrees etc. I remember old money, (Just about, I must be one of the youngest people who can remember spending it). 12 pennies to the shilling, 20 shillings to the pound.
------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]
What happened to the Groat! Or the Farthing? Guinea? Crown? Did you forget them? :laugh:
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
-
BBC News story[^]. I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this, like so much of my life (e.g. In cricket I bowl left-handed but bat right-handed). I tend to purchase in imperial but when cooking something such as a cake I work in metric units. I suspect that younger members, at least, would be mostly, if not entirely, metric. Except, of course, for the good old Pint of Pig's.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
Metric, powers of ten, is a result of having ten fingers to count on. Great idea . . . until the computer age. Why you ask? And rightly so. I must needs give you an example: Let's start with the humble ounce.
4 ounces = gill = 22 [00000100] 8 ounces = cup = 23 [00001000] 16 ounces = pint* = 24 [00010000] 32 ounces = quart = 25 [00100000] 128 ounces = gallon = 27 [10000000] Similarly, quarts, pecks, and bushels are powers of 2.
Clearly a perfect match for computer logic, using int's instead of floats, and thereby exact (& faster) calculations. Obviously, it's long past overdue that we change back. * A beloved Unit to many, particularly after a long day's work.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
-
Metric, powers of ten, is a result of having ten fingers to count on. Great idea . . . until the computer age. Why you ask? And rightly so. I must needs give you an example: Let's start with the humble ounce.
4 ounces = gill = 22 [00000100] 8 ounces = cup = 23 [00001000] 16 ounces = pint* = 24 [00010000] 32 ounces = quart = 25 [00100000] 128 ounces = gallon = 27 [10000000] Similarly, quarts, pecks, and bushels are powers of 2.
Clearly a perfect match for computer logic, using int's instead of floats, and thereby exact (& faster) calculations. Obviously, it's long past overdue that we change back. * A beloved Unit to many, particularly after a long day's work.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
Ok, however this:
W∴ Balboos wrote:
Clearly a perfect match for computer logic, using int's instead of floats, and thereby exact (& faster) calculations.
makes no sense. The float is not for metric (but you can use it for that), and definitely not for decimal, which it sucks at. It actually implements the system you describe there, but extended to much smaller and much higher exponents, and with places after the binary mark (like the decimal mark, only for binary). Besides, floats aren't much slower these days (ok fp addition is slower), in fact for division they're faster.
-
Not so: the metric system was proposed in 1670 by Gabriel Mouton. The revolution was over one hundred years later. In fact, the metrification of France was well underway when the Revolution began. Two men were busy measuring the meter by calculating the length of the Paris meridian when the Revolution started. There is a very good book on this journey: The Measure of All Things[^] - worth a read.
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
-
Um. There are only three countries in the world who have not officially adopted the metric system: Burma, Liberia and the United States
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
OriginalGriff wrote:
Burma, Liberia and the United States
Is that for real? I mean, just three?
If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe, but not a personality. [Charlie Brooker] ScrewTurn Wiki, Software Localization Tools & Services and My Blog
-
BBC News story[^]. I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this, like so much of my life (e.g. In cricket I bowl left-handed but bat right-handed). I tend to purchase in imperial but when cooking something such as a cake I work in metric units. I suspect that younger members, at least, would be mostly, if not entirely, metric. Except, of course, for the good old Pint of Pig's.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
A real mixture of the two. I've only been educated in metric but think a lot in Imperial - people's heights and weights in metric mean nothing to me.
-
BBC News story[^]. I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this, like so much of my life (e.g. In cricket I bowl left-handed but bat right-handed). I tend to purchase in imperial but when cooking something such as a cake I work in metric units. I suspect that younger members, at least, would be mostly, if not entirely, metric. Except, of course, for the good old Pint of Pig's.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
I found when putting up shelves over the weekend that I was happy using whichever side of the ruler came up first. 30cm one side, 12 inches the other. What could possibly go wrong? Weirdly my spirit level said that things weren't straight. Clearly the spirit level, being antique, was out of calibration. Wife and daughter subsequently commented shelves sloping. Obviously both been at the gin. :D
-
What is 'metric'? I only know of Imperial. :)
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
-
Metric, powers of ten, is a result of having ten fingers to count on. Great idea . . . until the computer age. Why you ask? And rightly so. I must needs give you an example: Let's start with the humble ounce.
4 ounces = gill = 22 [00000100] 8 ounces = cup = 23 [00001000] 16 ounces = pint* = 24 [00010000] 32 ounces = quart = 25 [00100000] 128 ounces = gallon = 27 [10000000] Similarly, quarts, pecks, and bushels are powers of 2.
Clearly a perfect match for computer logic, using int's instead of floats, and thereby exact (& faster) calculations. Obviously, it's long past overdue that we change back. * A beloved Unit to many, particularly after a long day's work.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
And how many Pounds are there to a Stone?
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt -
What happened to the Groat! Or the Farthing? Guinea? Crown? Did you forget them? :laugh:
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
-
And how many Pounds are there to a Stone?
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
-
And how many Pounds are there to a Stone?
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
Well, it depends upon how big the stone is, doesn't it? That's why, in the USA, we don't use 'the stone' as a from of measurement, although it's been suggested for fat ladies who may then choose larger stones so they can quote their weight as fewer of them. Ridiculous question for such a weighty matter - not a dram of sense to it.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
-
OriginalGriff wrote:
Burma, Liberia and the United States
Is that for real? I mean, just three?
If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe, but not a personality. [Charlie Brooker] ScrewTurn Wiki, Software Localization Tools & Services and My Blog
Yep! http://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~jharlow/metricworld.html[^], also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication#Exceptions[^] Just because it the is formal system, doesn't mean everybody uses it though! Quite a lot of countries have "extra" units which just happen to be a very close match to the now-outdated traditional units :-D
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
-
BBC News story[^]. I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this, like so much of my life (e.g. In cricket I bowl left-handed but bat right-handed). I tend to purchase in imperial but when cooking something such as a cake I work in metric units. I suspect that younger members, at least, would be mostly, if not entirely, metric. Except, of course, for the good old Pint of Pig's.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
-
BBC News story[^]. I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this, like so much of my life (e.g. In cricket I bowl left-handed but bat right-handed). I tend to purchase in imperial but when cooking something such as a cake I work in metric units. I suspect that younger members, at least, would be mostly, if not entirely, metric. Except, of course, for the good old Pint of Pig's.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
One thing the French did right was devising the metric system. I studied at Imperial College in London which doesn't sound right if it had been called Metric College instead. I recommend the book "The Measure Of All Things" by Ken Allder if you want to read about the tortuous survey that was done to define the meter. I recall seeing a preserved meter bar bolted to a wall near a marketplace in an old village in France. It still had some of the remains of the prefecture's seal etched on it. The locals looked puzzled when I was explaining what it was to my wife.
-
Um. There are only three countries in the world who have not officially adopted the metric system: Burma, Liberia and the United States
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
see, as long as you don't use them you could also live in Burma - or the US. Kind of all the same :laugh:
regards Torsten When I'm not working
-
Metric, powers of ten, is a result of having ten fingers to count on. Great idea . . . until the computer age. Why you ask? And rightly so. I must needs give you an example: Let's start with the humble ounce.
4 ounces = gill = 22 [00000100] 8 ounces = cup = 23 [00001000] 16 ounces = pint* = 24 [00010000] 32 ounces = quart = 25 [00100000] 128 ounces = gallon = 27 [10000000] Similarly, quarts, pecks, and bushels are powers of 2.
Clearly a perfect match for computer logic, using int's instead of floats, and thereby exact (& faster) calculations. Obviously, it's long past overdue that we change back. * A beloved Unit to many, particularly after a long day's work.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
W∴ Balboos wrote:
* A beloved Unit to many, particularly after a long day's work.
That particular unit is, I'm obliged to advise you is in fact 20oz. Liquids are measured in Fluid Ounces[^] in the Imperial system. And since the Pint is an Imperial unit, that is what you should use. Unfortunately this makes all of your other units incorrect too. :-D
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
-
And how many Pounds are there to a Stone?
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
Rods, Poles and Perches?
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
-
BBC News story[^]. I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this, like so much of my life (e.g. In cricket I bowl left-handed but bat right-handed). I tend to purchase in imperial but when cooking something such as a cake I work in metric units. I suspect that younger members, at least, would be mostly, if not entirely, metric. Except, of course, for the good old Pint of Pig's.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
No. All of my scopes are sighted in using yards instead of meters. For instance, I know one click up on the elevation knob lets me shoot across my neighbor's yard, to hit a target in the next yard over. How I know this isn't germain to the discussion, so let's just say that I know it to be fact.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Rods, Poles and Perches?
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.” I wouldn't let CG touch my Abacus! When you're wrestling a gorilla, you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is.
Henry Minute wrote:
Rods
I have just the one, in perfect working order thank you.
Henry Minute wrote:
Poles
They live just down the road.
Henry Minute wrote:
Perches
No, we don't have a budgie - Dij the Cat would consider them "Flying Chicken McNuggets".
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
