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Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
By:Bill Hamm
Date: 2/3/2011, 2:04 am
In Response To: Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric (Paul G. Jacobson)

: Not even a real 4 liters. A quart is smaller than a liter, and just
: 4 of those to a US gallon, which is smaller than the Imperial
: gallon. Note that we can't even spell the same term in OUR
: version of the metric system!

: At least liters or litres are the same size from country to
: country.

: Actually, the US is officially on the metric system and has been
: for wuite a while. Our common measures are officially based on
: metric measures. For example, our inch is defined as being 25.4
: mm. And labeling laws have required metric equivalents on many
: products for years. I used a 35mm camera, and buy 2 liter
: bottles of soda, which I occasionally mix with an American
: liquor sold in a 750ml bottle. (Say goodby to the old fifth of
: booze)

: My personal campaign for many years has been to get the federal and
: state highway signage to go to using both systems on any new
: signs they erect. One of the reasons cited for NOT transforming
: this country to the metric system is the cost of making
: infrastructure changes. The cost of erecting a sign is far
: greater than the cost of paintint that sign, so the cost
: difference would be trivial. But, over time, as new signs are
: erected in new construction areas, or old signs are replaced due
: to aging or accidents, there would be more and more signs with
: information in both miles and kilometers alongside the highways.
: Eventually a transition to only metric would be easier and
: cheaper.

: But there are many items which simply would not need to change. A
: 2x4 hasn't actually measured 2" by 4" for quite some
: time. (The idea that they cut them that big at lumbermills and
: that they shrink or are planed down is not accurate. Shrinkage
: is not that great, and it can be accurately calculated. They cut
: them smaller to get more from a tree.)
: Staying with 2x4s, I can get that in an 8 foot length, or I can get
: it precut to a standard wall stud height which allows for
: footers, headers, and the common width of drywall sheeting. If
: common wall heights were to change they'd cut the boards to a
: different length, but the width and thickness are already
: plugged into structural calculations.

: For my purposes it wouldn't matter if the plywood is 4x8 feet, or a
: metric equivalent. It would still be too short and I'd still
: need to scarf two or more sheets together to get usable lengths
: for a S&G kayak.

: We measure nails and screws by pennyweight and gauge. The actual
: dimensions aren't going to change, just the way we talk about
: them. A horse race will be so many furlongs, oil prices will be
: quoted by the barrel, and the ladies dress sizes will stay as
: flattering as they are now.

: Anyone who wants to support getting a progressive change to road
: signs as an aid to tourism should write their local politicians,
: or persuade me to run for president 4 years from now.

: OK, I'm off my soap box. Thanks for bringing up this hot button.

: PGJ

Yep, fairly trivial to paint about a billion street signs.

Bill H.

Messages In This Thread

Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/2/2011, 12:19 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
JohnK -- 2/2/2011, 4:38 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Doug S -- 2/2/2011, 8:26 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Damian wentzel -- 2/2/2011, 9:19 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 1:51 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Richard Hayes -- 2/2/2011, 10:05 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Al Edie -- 2/2/2011, 11:49 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Mike Savage -- 2/2/2011, 1:03 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Paul G. Jacobson -- 2/2/2011, 4:34 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/2/2011, 9:10 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Niven Paine -- 2/3/2011, 2:07 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 2:16 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Niven Paine -- 2/3/2011, 4:29 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 8:46 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/3/2011, 2:21 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Chris Richer -- 2/3/2011, 9:29 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/3/2011, 9:54 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 2:09 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/3/2011, 2:26 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Robert N Pruden -- 2/7/2011, 12:44 pm
Off Topic: Goin' with Yost measurements
Paul G. Jacobson -- 2/3/2011, 3:25 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' with Yost measurements
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 8:48 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' with Yost measurements *PIC*
Tom Yost -- 2/3/2011, 9:21 am
R/C pushrod
Doug S -- 2/3/2011, 1:29 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 3:29 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Doug S -- 2/3/2011, 3:44 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Les Cheeseman -- 2/3/2011, 3:47 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Doug S -- 2/3/2011, 4:29 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 5:43 pm
Re: R/C pushrod *PIC*
Tom Yost -- 2/3/2011, 6:06 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Clayton Plunkett -- 2/3/2011, 6:12 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 7:00 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 7:03 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Clayton Plunkett -- 2/3/2011, 7:23 pm
Re: R/C pushrod *PIC*
Tom Yost -- 2/3/2011, 7:35 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Randy Echtinaw -- 2/3/2011, 7:45 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 7:48 pm
Re: R/C pushrod
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 7:50 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' with Yost measurements
Robert N Pruden -- 2/7/2011, 12:34 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' with Yost measurements
Bill Hamm -- 2/8/2011, 12:39 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 2:04 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Paul G. Jacobson -- 2/3/2011, 3:18 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 1:53 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Richard Hayes -- 2/3/2011, 7:30 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 8:51 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Richard Hayes -- 2/3/2011, 1:33 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 3:32 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Robert N Pruden -- 2/7/2011, 12:39 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/8/2011, 12:39 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
dave -- 2/2/2011, 12:46 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Paul G. Jacobson -- 2/2/2011, 4:37 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
ancient kayaker -- 2/3/2011, 12:04 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 2:23 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Phil Nelson -- 2/3/2011, 2:34 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 8:54 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Phil Nelson -- 2/3/2011, 8:39 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 6:59 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Phil Nelson -- 2/4/2011, 7:17 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 7:23 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 7:31 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bushwacker -- 2/4/2011, 10:48 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Todd O -- 2/4/2011, 11:29 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 12:28 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 7:17 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Phil Nelson -- 2/4/2011, 6:54 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/3/2011, 3:13 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Alex Ferguson -- 2/3/2011, 4:31 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 8:56 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/3/2011, 10:05 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
dhwdaniels -- 2/3/2011, 5:37 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
dhwdaniels -- 2/3/2011, 5:29 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Mike Savage -- 2/3/2011, 6:28 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Les Cheeseman -- 2/3/2011, 8:48 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/3/2011, 9:00 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Les Cheeseman -- 2/3/2011, 9:06 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
ancient kayaker -- 2/3/2011, 11:28 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Mike Savage -- 2/3/2011, 1:28 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
ancient kayaker -- 2/3/2011, 3:07 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
John Caldeira -- 2/3/2011, 5:56 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Ian Johnson -- 2/4/2011, 12:48 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 7:12 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Mike Savage -- 2/4/2011, 1:15 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/4/2011, 1:38 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
ancient kayaker -- 2/4/2011, 11:51 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/5/2011, 5:35 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
ancient kayaker -- 2/5/2011, 12:58 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Charles Leach -- 2/5/2011, 1:53 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Les Cheeseman -- 2/4/2011, 11:07 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Roy Martin (fadedred) -- 2/4/2011, 6:56 pm
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Will Clarke -- 2/5/2011, 12:07 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Roy Martin (fadedred) -- 2/5/2011, 9:25 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Bill Hamm -- 2/5/2011, 10:32 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Roy Martin (fadedred) -- 2/5/2011, 11:59 am
Re: Off Topic: Goin' Metric
Robert N Pruden -- 2/7/2011, 12:30 pm
I can't read any more metric conv. posts...
Robert N Pruden -- 2/7/2011, 12:50 pm
Re: I can't read any more metric conv. posts...
Kirk Fredericks - Farback Carpentry and Automation -- 2/7/2011, 1:25 pm
Re: I can't read any more metric conv. posts...
Bill Hamm -- 2/7/2011, 2:07 pm
Just one more
Ian Johnson -- 2/8/2011, 4:34 am
Re: I can't read any more metric conv. posts...
Palle Dam -- 2/8/2011, 5:28 pm
Re: I can't read any more metric conv. posts...
Bill Hamm -- 2/9/2011, 12:43 am
Re: I can't read any more metric conv. posts... *PIC*
Tom Yost -- 2/14/2011, 12:39 pm