[aprssig] Re: Metric vs. English systems

[Mark Fellhauer]

At 05:07 PM 9/4/2007, Keith VE7GDH wrote:

>Good article there! I'm all for standardization - including in APRS. Many 
>in the US would be happy if "the rest of the world" bought into the "new" 
>path settings currently being recommended in North America. Perhaps at 
>least amateurs in the US will realize the beauty of simplicity and opt to 
>start using metric units for APRS as well. It's just a matter of time 
>before they realize the economic benefits of converting. As everywhere 
>else, there will be some "growing pains" in the switch, but there's a huge 
>economic advantage in not having to tool everything using two different 
>standards. If they want to continue trading with the rest of the world, 
>they will eventually change over. It might even happen in my lifetime - hi!


I'm not so sure I understand these snide comments.    Or the comments at 
all.   What economic advantage?  Tool to two different standards?  And if 
you think the rest of the world has standardized, try using a European-made 
Phillips-head screwdriver on the Phillips-head fastener of a Japanese made 
photo processing machine.  Can you say JIS?

U.S. industry competes in a world market and some people seem to think 
we're still in the horse and buggy age.  The last American car I owned made 
in the mid 1980's had a 2.2 liter engine with metric fasteners - a Chrysler 
made in East St. Louis, Missouri.    How could this be?  Us backward 
'mericans in the sticks of Missouri taint never heard of no metric system 
before...

The wonderful company Airbus seems to have a problem getting their wiring 
harnesses to match up on the A380.  It seems the French and the Germans 
can't measure correctly despite both using that superior metric system.

And when will they get around to standardizing angular 
measurement?   Hmmm...  400 units to a circle?   That kinda breaks the old 
10/100/1000 standard, now doesn't it?
Europeans and Canadians can't handle the math of using mils, so we can't 
use that.   They've addled their brains on decimalization.

4000 years ago the Greeks and Babylonians could think in Base 60.     That 
would probably make the brain of a "modern" Frenchman in the BIPM 
explode.   At least in the United States we don't let the government 
dictate every aspect of our lives.  So what if my granny in Florida wants 
to bake cookies using cups of flour and teaspoons of salt?  So what if the 
British want to heft a pint at the pub?   I really don't see the benefit of 
some bureaucrat in Brussels telling me I have to buy my gasoline in liters 
or my gandma has to buy butter in 250 ml sticks.   Get off the U.S. 
bashing.  It has nothing to do with APRS.

Mark
KC7BXS

My car gets 564500 Rods to the Hogshead, and that's the way I like it.