Topic: Episode #349

[craig]

No.  In the U.S. we call it english.

[seaotter]

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

Well, I see the metric conversion has gone much better in Australia, buts a far cry from no use in any shape or form.

[Moloch]

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

Well, I see the metric conversion has gone much better in Australia, buts a far cry from no use in any shape or form.

As an Australian I can vouch that most of the instances listed in "variations in usage" are accurate. I was going to come on here and point out that Australian's still use imperial for TV's and Height but had missed those other instances (mainly because they're so obscure).

[Demosthenes]

We were discussing Americans not American manufacturers, therefore you moved the goal posts. If your silly amercans quip was directed at manufacturers, then it makes no sense since they already use metric designs. If it was directed at American scientists well, the same. The only Americans that use English measures are the Joe smoes, so I assumed that's who we were insulting, which again I don't see any compelling reason to go to the trouble of learning a new system for them.

1.   You’re the only one discussing ‘Americans’ I’m referring to the entire country, there are no goalposts for me to even move as I’m not narrowing it to specific proffesions.
2.   Unless your American manufacturers are staffed by the French it benefits ‘Americans’ to work with a standardised measurement system.
3.   There was no “silly Americans quip” I’ve already mentioned this. Stop making subjective opinions up and attributing them to me, I expect better from people on this forum

Again I couldn't find any country that officially uses English measures, united states included. In fact you quoted the law that says we are officially metric. The 5% is bullshit from common sense. The us population alone is almost five percent. India has a huge population, if only 10% of the population still uses english we are well above the government estimate.

1.   I didn’t quote a law
2.   Do I really need to explain the history of metrication globally and within your own country! http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6BGCT5M0oa0J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication+which+countries+officially+use+imperial&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States#cite_note-World_Factbook-0
3.   Referring to other countries that use elements of a social hybridised metric system is irrelevant, as it does not imply its beneficial for them either.

Australia was the crazy country I had in mind that still used English measures like the us. I thought I'd had interactions with Aussies on the forum where they refered to it's use. I'm no expert but the wiki article did mention those places in my post.

It’s incorrect.
Australia has essentially entirely transitioned into the metric system other then some obscure instances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_Australia

[seaotter]

With respect to the metric system you all seemed to think it was a good idea for the U.S. to switch but conceded that that easing into it wouldn't work, it would have to be done all at once.  I think Steve referred to pulling off a bandage- just rip it off!

So when the idea for the podcast to go metric only came up, you guys then back tracked and decided to continue to use both so that people could understand you?!

No wonder the U.S. can't get their act together when even a science podcast with an international audience still feels it has to cater to the lowest common denominator !

The U.S. hangs on to those silly units just like they hang on to their silly religions

My mistake, it was James.

[Caffiene]

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

Well, I see the metric conversion has gone much better in Australia, buts a far cry from no use in any shape or form.

The important point from that wiki to note, though, is the line in the variations bit about things being built for the US.

Nuts & bolts, TVs, printer DPI, car wheels, etc are all in imperial not because we like it, but because if we dont take advantage of US manufacturing we have to pay significantly more. We'd prefer these things in metric, but not so much that we're willing to pay double the price - we dont have a big enough population to match the economy of scale US manufacturing gets. These things are made for the US, which is why theyre not metric.

We could in theory just convert the measurements, but you get weird numbers like a 59.69cm LCD (my current 23.5" monitor), or a 1.0117 hectare plot of land (2.5 acres... and that hectare measurement is rounded off). Its possible, but very awkward for advertising.

The only ones Id say people use out of choice are feet and inches for a person's height, and older generations will use pounds for a person's weight.

[Chew]

No wonder the U.S. can't get their act together when even a science podcast with an international audience still feels it has to cater to the lowest common denominator !

If you don't like it then you can always stop listening to it.

[seaotter]

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

Well, I see the metric conversion has gone much better in Australia, buts a far cry from no use in any shape or form.

The important point from that wiki to note, though, is the line in the variations bit about things being built for the US.

Nuts & bolts, TVs, printer DPI, car wheels, etc are all in imperial not because we like it, but because if we dont take advantage of US manufacturing we have to pay significantly more. We'd prefer these things in metric, but not so much that we're willing to pay double the price - we dont have a big enough population to match the economy of scale US manufacturing gets. These things are made for the US, which is why theyre not metric.

We could in theory just convert the measurements, but you get weird numbers like a 59.69cm LCD (my current 23.5" monitor), or a 1.0117 hectare plot of land (2.5 acres... and that hectare measurement is rounded off). Its possible, but very awkward for advertising.

The only ones Id say people use out of choice are feet and inches for a person's height, and older generations will use pounds for a person's weight.

Well, for the average American the only things to add are temperature, distance, and milk volume. As was reported we drink coke in liters. No wonder we are fat.

[Old Hoplite]

For most people in any country, the majority of the time, measurement is merely an estimate anyway.

"My office is about 20 by 8."  "I need a about a meter of rope."  "I drank a liter of water a day." etc.

For things more precise but not below a meter. We still tend to use feet and inches.

"I need a garden wall 5 feet tall."

Only when discussing exacting measurments does it really become important.  And then in most cases, even in America we tend to use the metric system.

"My weapon of choice is a 9MM."  "Use the 2 Micron filter for this bactria."  "I need 500 milli-liters of growth medium."

The American military tends to use the metric system for the reason of interoperatbilty with our allies.  The German's and French just don't think in miles, gallons and caliber. Rather they think kilometers, liters (litres) and millimeters.

[seaotter]

And again the scientists involved in weapons development are using si units.

[Old Hoplite]

And again the scientists involved in weapons development are using si units.

Better that than kiloton (kt) or megaton (mt) or worse the Hiroshima equivalent (H)

[DaveTheReader]

The reason the US didn't go metric like everyone else, is that the cowboy for president in 1981 canceled the conversion. Canada (the US's largest trading partner) did switch. The Canadian sky did not fall, nor was there rioting in the streets.

The US has the distinction of being one of only 3 countries still using the avoirdupois and English systems: Myanmar, Liberia and the US - see the US is in good company.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoirdupois

In order to trade with the rest of the world, most packaging contains American and metric units.

[DaveTheReader]

I think in metric for distances like a few meters or a few kilometers, but after that I do miles.

I was watching a BBC program and the presenter said that oldest human remains found in britain was of a person that was 1.8 meters tall and weighted 14 stone.  What the heck? 14 stone?

Stone = 6.35 Kg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_%28unit%29

So, we are talking 14 stone X 6.35 Kg/stone = 88.9 Kg. A bit more than I weigh!

No problems!

[seaotter]

People will change when there is incentive to do so. I want to be an economist when I grow up.

[Old Hoplite]

I think in metric for distances like a few meters or a few kilometers, but after that I do miles.

I was watching a BBC program and the presenter said that oldest human remains found in britain was of a person that was 1.8 meters tall and weighted 14 stone.  What the heck? 14 stone?

Stone = 6.35 Kg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_%28unit%29

So, we are talking 14 stone X 6.35 Kg/stone = 88.9 Kg. A bit more than I weigh!

No problems!

Or just about 196 pounds.