Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/08/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=inches+in+1.25+miles&aq=f&aqi=h1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=CPgRqt29gTPD_MIWWhgSPnOyUBgAAAKoEBU_QPx5C there's a second answer: "who cares?" -rei On 08/09/2010 05:08 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: > Rubbish. Tell me, quickly, how many inches to 1.25 miles? > > Nathan Wajsman > Alicante, Spain > http://www.frozenlight.eu > http://www.greatpix.eu > http://www.nathanfoto.com > PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws > Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog > > YNWA > > > > > > On Aug 9, 2010, at 10:49 PM, Rei Shinozuka wrote: > >> This metric debate led me to find this intriguing site from some Brits >> (of all people). It's an eloquent and cogent expression of why we yahoos >> cling to our inches and pounds. >> >> http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/estatopia/inch.htm >> >> Quotes: >> >> "Metric is a (scientific) way of measuring the world as if we were not in >> it, not a part of it. But we are in the world, we are a part of it and >> we need a measurement system which takes account of our existence and >> which allows us to know our place in relation to nature. If we understand >> that we are part of nature then we will be less inclined to destroy it." >> >> "Those who know their history will know that the metre was invented in >> France in 1790 and is, allegedly, one ten-millionth of the distance from >> the North Pole to the Equator. The invention of the metre was part of the >> Revolutionaries' rational and scientific response to what they regarded >> as the superstitions of the past. By contrast, the British Imperial >> system (as used by the Greeks and the Romans as well as in >> pre-revolutionary France) is anthropometric which means it is based on >> the human frame. From time immemorial units of measure have been derived >> from the human figure: palm, hand, foot, cubit etc. Some fall out of use >> and become archaic but those which remain do so for the very good reason >> that they are convenient, practical, easy to understand and, above all, >> easy to visualise which is a necessary part of translating working >> drawings into a built structure. This was clearly demonstrated to me when >> I recently had a garage built. The workmen, all of whom were under 3 > 0 years of age were thinking and working in feet and inches - 18" deep > foundations, 4" step etc. When any change such as that wrought in 1965 is > mooted, nobody ever consults the real experts, the people who actually do > the work. Where theory and practice do not coincide then theory is wrong > and practice is right. " >> "The reasons put forward in support of metric are far from compelling. >> They range from the feeble (everyone else uses it) to the dimwitted (we >> have ten fingers for counting on). There has never been, to my knowledge, >> a logical demonstration of its superiority /in use/ over traditional >> measurement. One of the most famous architects of the Modern Movement, Le >> Corbusier, used feet and inches to calculate his twin modular system of >> design after struggling and failing to work it out in metres and >> centimetres." >> >> "We have now all been thoroughly brainwashed into accepting the >> weatherman on TV and radio telling us the temperatures in Centigrade (or >> Celsius or whatever it's called this week). But there is a curious thing >> happens during the summer months. When it gets hot outside, the >> newspapers and radio and TV start telling us the temperatures in >> Fahrenheit with phrases such as "..in the nineties". This is >> understandable because talking about temperatures "..in the high >> thirties" doesn't quite have the same impact. Nor does talking in >> Centigrade give any indication of the /relative/ temperature, i.e. how it >> feels to us. Is it hot or cold today? Will I need a coat if I go out?" >> >> -rei >> >> >> On 08/09/2010 11:39 AM, Aram Langhans wrote: >>> Ah, to be metric. I sure remember the ill-fated attempt in this country >>> to "Go Metric". I had just started teaching in this little town in >>> Washington, Odessa. I was teaching 6-8th grade science. The law gave >>> all kinds of money and materials to schools to teach the kids metric. >>> The school looked around at the staff and classes they had and asked, >>> "Hmm. Who should we give this task to. I know. Science teachers. >>> They use metric anyway." So the task was mine. But they also looked at >>> all the materials that were send and saw that there was a "lot" of math >>> involved, so the said the math teachers could assist the science >>> teachers. Let the fun begin. The materials, or at least the ones that >>> I got, were all conversion based. Lets teach our kids how to convert >>> from the English system to the Metric (or should I say SI) system. I >>> looked at that and said, forget that. They will never learn it that >>> way. So, the math teacher and I devised an immersion curriculum. For 15 > minutes each day (at the start. It expanded as time went on), we > started talking in just "metric". We would hold up objects and ask what > length, volume, mass, etc. they were. Just "Think Metric". We went on > metric field trips around town, walking about and asking how far that was, > sizes, masses, etc. The kids were really learning the metric system. Of > course, after they left our classes, they were back in the English world > again. It didn't take many years and the school district said stop. Too > bad. I felt we were really making progress and the students were > bilingual in measurement. >>> This country has always been afraid of change. From things as benign as >>> metric to civil rights. If I remember correctly, when Canada changed, >>> they just said this is the way it will be and did not teach how to >>> convert. As Nike says, Just Do It. Change all the signs, order forms, >>> product labels, etc. Just Do It. Mass confusion for a bit, but if you >>> have to, you will. Of course, any politician who votes for something >>> like that would not be reelected. >>> So, as a scientist and science teacher, I just plug along an in my >>> class, we Just Do It until it is second nature. >>> >>> Aram >>> >>> Aram Langhans >>> Semi-retired (retarded?) Science Teacher >>> & Unemployed photographer >>> >>> "The Human Genome Project has proved Darwin more right than Darwin >>> himself would ever have dared dream." James D. Watson >>> >>>> Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:07:57 -0400 >>>> From: Rei Shinozuka<shino at panix.com> >>>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Today is 8/9/10 >>>> To: Leica Users Group<lug at leica-users.org> >>>> Message-ID:<4C5FEF9D.40406 at panix.com> >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >>>> >>>> On 08/09/2010 03:34 AM, Jeff Moore wrote: >>>>> While I don't want the world to be boringly culturally homogeneous, >>>>> there are some things we should all just get with the program on: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> - Use the metric system, dammit. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> Metric? We might as well dissolve the NFL and watch guys in shorts >>>> maneuvering black and white Archimedean Buckyballs using only their >>>> feet. >>>> >>>> :-) >>>> >>>> But any American born in the 1960s should remember this: >>>> >>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Metric_Marvels >>>> >>>> The article closes: >>>> >>>> "Ultimately, /The Metric Marvels/ failed to convince Americans to >>>> convert to the metric system. ... Americans largely ignored governmental >>>> attempts to push them in the direction of metrication, and the USMB [ >>>> (U.S. Metric Board<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Metric_Board>) ] >>>> was eventually disbanded in 1982<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982>." >>>> >>>> -rei >>>> (the ugly american, whose favorite lens is the 1.97 inch noctilux) >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information