[USMA:54736] Re: An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm)
The strongest arguments for metrication are economic and bipartisan, aren't they? Sent from my iPhone On Jun 4, 2015, at 4:07 PM, j...@frewston.plus.com j...@frewston.plus.com wrote: From an outsider, if I may: There is little hope that Chafee will get anywhere in his bid for US President. BUT, he might well get some sort of position in a Clinton administration, should she be successful. It seems to me that Chafee could lay a lot of groundwork right now with Clinton regarding completing metric conversion. Just my two cents' worth. John F-L -Original Message- From: c...@traditio.com Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2015 7:45 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm) Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric question once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He claimed (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, but he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could have talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could have talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he could have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets of tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he didn't. Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have educated people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in medicine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he didn't. As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was thousands of meters behind in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its broadcasts. It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being the butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him on metric, and help him develop talking points for his speeches so that he won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television yesterday. If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that candidates back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one of the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize jobs and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we can get the message across that Metric Means Jobs and Money (how's that for a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. Martin Morrison USMA Today Training Education Columnist - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5961 / Virus Database: 4355/9939 - Release Date: 06/04/15
[USMA:54735] Re: Paul Trusten Gets through to CNN
Let's not forget that it was Claiborne Pell, the senator from Chafee's Rhode Island, that was the strongest pro-metric force in the senate. Maybe Chafee inherited that enthusiasm and drive. He deserves our support even if it were only symbolic in the end. Stan J. On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 6:44 PM, c...@traditio.com c...@traditio.com wrote: Paul Trusten, USMA Vice President, got through to CNN as of 06/19/15 18:19 EDT: www.cnn.com/2015/06/04/politics/lincoln-chafee-metric-system/index.html. It sure doesn't say much for Chafee that he has such a disorganized office and campaign staff that Paul was able to get through to CNN, but not the candidate himself. Chafee has been described as quixotic. We in the USMA need to be careful that metrication isn't thrown into the same basket with him. I'll bet Marco Rubio in Florida or Rick Perry in Texas or Carly Fiorina in California could make a much better argument for metrication that Chafee ever will! Martin Morrison Metric Today Training Education Columnist P.S. In my previous message I meant Don (Hillger), not Dan. Sorry, Don.
[USMA:54732] Fwd: Re: Presidential Candidate
Your right, and doing on tablet that wants to constantly zoom... But I must add Chafe is not part of this group, so how serious is he? --- Bruce E. Arkwright, Jr Erie PA Linux and Metric User and Enforcer I will only invest in nukes that are 150 gigameters away. How much solar energy have you collected today? Id put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we dont have to wait til oil and coal run out before we tackle that. I wish I had a few more years left. -- Thomas Edisonâ(tm)½â˜¯â(tm)' Original Message SUBJECT: Re: [USMA:54726] Presidential Candidate DATE: 2015-06-04 15:40 FROM: Michael Payne metricmik...@gmail.com TO: a-bruie...@lycos.com I'm thinking your spell checker changed Myanmar to the below. Mike Payne lieu dit Gasquet 82400 Montjoi France On 04/06/2015 20:05, a-bruie...@lycos.com wrote: Some needs to tell Chafee, Marmara is metricating as we speak http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/politics/lincoln-chafee-metric-system-2016-election/index.html [1] -- Bruce E. Arkwright, Jr Erie PA Linux and Metric User and Enforcer I will only invest in nukes that are 150 gigameters away. How much solar energy have you collected today? Id put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we dont have to wait til oil and coal run out before we tackle that. I wish I had a few more years left. -- Thomas Edisonâ(tm)½â˜¯â(tm)' Links: -- [1] http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/politics/lincoln-chafee-metric-system-2016-election/index.html
[USMA:54733] Paul Trusten Gets through to CNN
Paul Trusten, USMA Vice President, got through to CNN as of 06/19/15 18:19 EDT: www.cnn.com/2015/06/04/politics/lincoln-chafee-metric-system/index.html. It sure doesn't say much for Chafee that he has such a disorganized office and campaign staff that Paul was able to get through to CNN, but not the candidate himself. Chafee has been described as quixotic. We in the USMA need to be careful that metrication isn't thrown into the same basket with him. I'll bet Marco Rubio in Florida or Rick Perry in Texas or Carly Fiorina in California could make a much better argument for metrication that Chafee ever will! Martin Morrison Metric Today Training Education Columnist P.S. In my previous message I meant Don (Hillger), not Dan. Sorry, Don.
[USMA:54726] Presidential Candidate
Some needs to tell Chafee, Marmara is metricating as we speak http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/politics/lincoln-chafee-metric-system-2016-election/index.html -- Bruce E. Arkwright, Jr Erie PA Linux and Metric User and Enforcer I will only invest in nukes that are 150 gigameters away. How much solar energy have you collected today? Id put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we dont have to wait til oil and coal run out before we tackle that. I wish I had a few more years left. -- Thomas Edisonâ(tm)½â˜¯â(tm)'
[USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm)
Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric question once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He claimed (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, but he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could have talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could have talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he could have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets of tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he didn't. Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have educated people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in medicine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he didn't. As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was thousands of meters behind in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its broadcasts. It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being the butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him on metric, and help him develop talking points for his speeches so that he won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television yesterday. If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that candidates back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one of the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize jobs and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we can get the message across that Metric Means Jobs and Money (how's that for a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. Martin Morrison USMA Today Training Education Columnist
[USMA:54728] RE: An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm)
I agree completely with Martin Morrison. This has to be done very, very carefully. The danger of a backlash is huge. Americans are terrified of math, and going metric brings up visions of math, conversion charts, having to learn a whole bunch of numbers and jokes about An inch is as good as 1.609344 kilometers. It does not have to be that way, people know what a two liter bottle looks like without using math, and there a many other examples, but, in spite of the facts, way too many people will think they will have to do a lot of mathematical calculations and learn a bunch numbers. Most people do not want to be bothered with that. Even many of those who understand the advantage of metric do not want to be bothered with that. Many will resist. We cannot rely on logic alone, we have to account for people's emotional response. Al Lawrence Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2015 11:45:39 -0700 From: c...@traditio.com To: usma@colostate.edu Subject: [USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm) Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric question once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He claimed (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, but he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could have talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could have talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he could have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets of tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he didn't. Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have educated people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in medicine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he didn't. As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was thousands of meters behind in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its broadcasts. It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being the butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him on metric, and help him develop talking points for his speeches so that he won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television yesterday. If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that candidates back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one of the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize jobs and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we can get the message across that Metric Means Jobs and Money (how's that for a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. Martin Morrison USMA Today Training Education Columnist
[USMA:54729] RE: An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm)
Hi Al, and everyone, I also agree that Martin made good points. I also think that most people do not want to be bothered with math, however pointing out cans of vegetables like many groceries come in 500mL cans and figuring out cost per mL or gram is to the consumer's advantage. On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 12:27 PM, Al Lawrence alana...@hotmail.com wrote: I agree completely with Martin Morrison. This has to be done very, very carefully. The danger of a backlash is huge. Americans are terrified of math, and going metric brings up visions of math, conversion charts, having to learn a whole bunch of numbers and jokes about An inch is as good as 1.609344 kilometers. It does not have to be that way, people know what a two liter bottle looks like without using math, and there a many other examples, but, in spite of the facts, way too many people will think they will have to do a lot of mathematical calculations and learn a bunch numbers. Most people do not want to be bothered with that. Even many of those who understand the advantage of metric do not want to be bothered with that. Many will resist. We cannot rely on logic alone, we have to account for people's emotional response. Al Lawrence Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2015 11:45:39 -0700 From: c...@traditio.com To: usma@colostate.edu Subject: [USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm) Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric question once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He claimed (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, but he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could have talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could have talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he could have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets of tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he didn't. Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have educated people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in medicine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he didn't. As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was thousands of meters behind in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its broadcasts. It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being the butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him on metric, and help him develop talking points for his speeches so that he won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television yesterday. If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that candidates back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one of the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize jobs and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we can get the message across that Metric Means Jobs and Money (how's that for a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. Martin Morrison USMA Today Training Education Columnist -- Sincerely, Edward B.
[USMA:54730] RE: An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm)
Concerning the math Ed, anyone promoting metrication should skip that word , because there is no math in SI. There is plenty of it in I-P but none in SI unless one includes numerals recognition as math. For example, saying kilo instead of thousand is not math, it is vocabulary. As is milli and thousandth. Orr the British thermal unit and the joule. This emphasis on math in promoting SI is one of the reasons for the repetitious failures of the metric system phasing in. Teachers are to be blamed alongside politicians. Stan J. On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 3:39 PM, Edward Schlesinger edws...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Al, and everyone, I also agree that Martin made good points. I also think that most people do not want to be bothered with math, however pointing out cans of vegetables like many groceries come in 500mL cans and figuring out cost per mL or gram is to the consumer's advantage. On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 12:27 PM, Al Lawrence alana...@hotmail.com wrote: I agree completely with Martin Morrison. This has to be done very, very carefully. The danger of a backlash is huge. Americans are terrified of math, and going metric brings up visions of math, conversion charts, having to learn a whole bunch of numbers and jokes about An inch is as good as 1.609344 kilometers. It does not have to be that way, people know what a two liter bottle looks like without using math, and there a many other examples, but, in spite of the facts, way too many people will think they will have to do a lot of mathematical calculations and learn a bunch numbers. Most people do not want to be bothered with that. Even many of those who understand the advantage of metric do not want to be bothered with that. Many will resist. We cannot rely on logic alone, we have to account for people's emotional response. Al Lawrence Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2015 11:45:39 -0700 From: c...@traditio.com To: usma@colostate.edu Subject: [USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm) Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric question once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He claimed (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, but he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could have talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could have talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he could have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets of tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he didn't. Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have educated people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in medicine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he didn't. As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was thousands of meters behind in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its broadcasts. It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being the butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him on metric, and help him develop talking points for his speeches so that he won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television yesterday. If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that candidates back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one of the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize jobs and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we can get the message across that Metric Means Jobs and Money (how's that for a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. Martin Morrison USMA Today Training Education Columnist -- Sincerely, Edward B.
[USMA:54731] Re: An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm)
From an outsider, if I may: There is little hope that Chafee will get anywhere in his bid for US President. BUT, he might well get some sort of position in a Clinton administration, should she be successful. It seems to me that Chafee could lay a lot of groundwork right now with Clinton regarding completing metric conversion. Just my two cents' worth. John F-L -Original Message- From: c...@traditio.com Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2015 7:45 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a Lot of Harm) Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric question once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He claimed (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, but he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could have talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could have talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he could have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets of tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he didn't. Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have educated people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in medicine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he didn't. As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was thousands of meters behind in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its broadcasts. It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being the butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him on metric, and help him develop talking points for his speeches so that he won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television yesterday. If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that candidates back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one of the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize jobs and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we can get the message across that Metric Means Jobs and Money (how's that for a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. Martin Morrison USMA Today Training Education Columnist - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5961 / Virus Database: 4355/9939 - Release Date: 06/04/15
