So.. Why did the US never convert to the metric system?? It's 10 X easier..

that goes on here, too!
"turn left where old man Jones's Ford used to be parked"

 

I happened to think of this thread tonight when I made a run to the liquor store.
I wanted a pint size bottle of Bacardi rum that they keep behind the counter. But when asked what size I wanted, wasn't sure if I should ask for a pint, or a 375 milliliter bottle. So I just pointed and said, "That one." Lol.
Next time I'm going to ask for a 375 and see what happens.
Either way, I'm still using a 1oz. shot glass or fingers.
How many milliliters of liquid is 2 fingers?

 

Speaking of directions..

My first job as a tech was working for a great old time service station in South Minneapolis. Not far from one of the many lakes within the city limits, whose parkways were full of kids cruising in the summer months.

About twice a year we would get a carload of girls in, asking for directions to the lake.

This is before anyone had heard of a Cel phone, or the internet for that matter..

Navigation systems were still only in fighter jets back then.

It never failed, the owner, who was in his mid 40's at the time, would look at them totally deadpan, shake his head, and say "Sorry girls, you can't get there from here".

After a few seconds of perplexed and worried looks, he would crack a smile and say "down to the next stoplight and take a right, you run right into it".

That was always good for a few laughs, we got some really weird responses from teen age girls.

JW

 

No, at least around here in MN it is travel distance.
And distinction is made between stop sign, and stop light.
Color of said light is irrelevant.

 

Several years ago I read " 1 gallon/3.8 liters per flush" and thought that if I ever buy a turbo regal I'd get "1 GALLON" as a plate.
Patrick

 

Wow this is the longest thread. So some want to change over some want to stay. The problem is our children cannot learn basic math, make change, or carry on a conversation so is the answer to change to the metric system? We need more help than that! As to the metric system making people smarter I doubt that because our great scientists ( in the past) did use the inch, pound,foot, horsepower ect. We had some of the brightest minds in the world. I believe any child that studies and any adult that can read could learn the metric system but the change over will make some think they are getting ripped off. Doe's this mean our teachers are substandard?
I learned at an early age the std and metric system. I use rulers and micrometers and I am no geniousuzzled:

 

Never read a gallon of milk p I probably noticed since my first car (Skylark) came with the 231cid, 3.8L p Now it has a 2 gallon engine, lol!

 

the us is to busy kissing up to apple and making it illegal to unlock your own phone

 

When I was growing up in Canada, we went through the imperial to metric conversion process. It wasn't difficult although it was likely costly to the country to convert all of the road signage, etc... Think of how much changing all of the road signs in the US (at the same time) would cost! LOL! The biggest complaint my mother had was that all of her recipes were, of course, in imperial measurements so 1 lb would now be 500 grams, etc... I recall this annoyed her more than anything. I believe the food makers and grocery stores took this type of worry into consideration and simply put both measurements on the goods they sold. I'm not certain they are still doing this but they did it right up until the 90's. Also, I believe you can still order 1 lb of ground beef from the butcher and he won't roll his eyes at you. LOL! Can you imagine what the butcher at the grocery here in Stongsville, Ohio would say to me if I order 750 grams of ground beef? ou:

I think metric is better but the point is, converting the US will not occur without some pain.

 

My mistake! I should have said 455 grams. I think that's what they normally put on packages of food that is supposed to be 1 lb. I think it is rare to see something that is 454 grams.

---------- Post added at 10:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------

Then again, maybe it is 454 grams that they show. Whatever, I don't have to worry about it because my wife does all of the cooking.

 

876

scott

 

That's just a little over 6 gross.

 

Many years ago we decided to dispense with unnecessary letters. BTW: Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg is located in Webster, Massachusetts. It is the longest place name in the USA.

 

Let's not forget about the (in)famous Gimli Glider which was a then brand new Air Canada Boeing 767. Due to serious fuel load miscalculations based on confusion between metric and Imperial measures it was forced to land, er glide into Gimli, Manitoba on July 23, 1983. Fortunately, the pilot had glider experience, and the crew were able to locate, and safely land on an old military airfield that is now used as a drag strip. It was big news in Canada at the time.

The subsequent investigation revealed company failures and a chain of human errors that combined to defeat built-in safeguards. In addition, fuel loading was miscalculated due to a misunderstanding of the recently adopted metric system, which replaced the imperial system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider

https://www.google.ca/search?q=giml...gHdnIHIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=1018&bih=591

There was a TV movie made about this several years later starring William Devane.

 

This quote reminded me of an article on the onion, a satirical news website. Maybe a funny read for you guys.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/metric-system-thriving-in-nations-inner-cities,458/

 

So..... how would the metric system have worked if we had not arbitrarily decided to use a base-10 numbering system?

"There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't"


John

 

So . . . what is a 15/64" drill called anywhere other than the U.S.?

 

But Bangkok is not in the United States!

BTW: In 1960 at one of my first full-time jobs, I had to replace the clutch in an MG. It had a Dynamo with Positive Earth.

 

I'm sure positive earth would be ground but the Dynamo, is it the alternator/generator or battery, or none of the above?:grin:

Bob H

 

A "bit."