That's the only reason I even "bit" for a second, at a sleepy 05.00 in the morning, about the White House spokesman. Stranger things have been occuring the last few months!
Nat -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Trusten Sent: Monday, 2003 August 11 10:21 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:26552] Re: Watley Archives Metric System Increased Food Portions.htm I believe I was the one to predict increased jingoism (and in this case, also a psychotic episode!) in the post-September-11 era, as well as anti-metric backlash via the French thing. Ye gads, Nat! > > From: "Nat Hager III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2003/08/11 Mon AM 04:56:50 EDT > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [USMA:26548] Watley Archives Metric System Increased Food > Portions.htm > > This is really off-the-wall.... > > Nat > > _____ > > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/EditorsDesk.html> [History] > How the Watley Review came to be. Sort of. > > > _____ > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/About.html> [Disclaimer] > Please read before quoting us in court. > > _____ > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [Send Electro-Mail] Questions? > Comments? Send them to us! > > _____ > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/travel.html> [Travel] > Other places to visit, once you've perused all we have to offer. > > _____ > > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]&Body=Do > %2 > 0please%20Engage%20me%20in%20the%20Weekly%20Posting%20of%20the%20Watley% > 20Review%27s%20Headlines%2C%20so%20that%20I%20might%20Consult%20your%20E > xcellent%20Webamagraph%20publication%20in%20a%20Timely%20Manner%20each%2 > 0Week.> [Subscribe!] > Sign up for updates! > > _____ > > [The Watley Review] > <http://www.watleyreview.com/2003/HeaderArchive.jpg> > Volume 1, Issue 11, July 29, 2003 > > _____ > > > Metric System to Blame for Increased Food Portions > > > The recently documented rise in food portion sizes over the past three > decades can be directly tied to the nation's half-hearted flirtation > with the metric system, according to an audit just released by the > U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). > > "There is a direct correlation between the degree to which a company > attempts to employ the metric system, and the portion sizes of food > products produced by those companies," said Zachary Camara, adjunct > director of food and agriculture at the GAO. "Since no company has > been able or willing to entirely dispense with the traditional units > of measurement, strong efforts to use the metric system have only met > with increased confusion and chaos." > > Part of the problem lies in the disparity between the kilogram and the > pound. Although both are standard units of weight, the kilogram is > actually equivalent to over 2.2 pounds. Surveys have demonstrated that > Americans assume the two measures are approximately equivalent. > > "Who can keep track of this stuff?" said Roger Deromedi, Co-CEO of > Kraft Foods Inc. and President and CEO of Kraft Foods International. > "If you put 2.2 pounds of macaroni and cheese before the average > consumer instead of 1 pound, they are actually very happy." As a > result of confusion over metric measurements, for example, the average > size of a large soda has increased to 5 liters, or almost 1 1/3 gallon > - technically enough soda to kill a person ("Only if they drink it > all," said Deromedi). > > The United States has authorized the use of the metric system since > 1866; the most serious attempt to systematically replace the English > measurement system of pounds and inches was in the 1970s. Americans > balked at "having to learn anything new," however, due to the malaise > gripping the country at the time. Today, both metric and English > systems are used indiscriminately. > > The problem extends beyond portion sizes. In 1999, NASA lost a $125 > million Mars orbiter because a Lockheed Martin engineering team used > English units of measurement while the agency's team used the more > conventional metric system for a key spacecraft operation. But with > growing documentation of increasing obesity in America and the > gigantic metric portions being dished up in restaurants and grocery > stores, new concern has been focused on the troublesome alternative > measurement system. > > "The problem," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan, "is that > the metric system was invented by the French." The widespread (and > correct) use of the metric system throughout the world only bolsters > the Administration's support for banning it. "Let's face it; the > metric system is the system terrorists are most likely familiar with. > If we went back to pounds and cubits, we'd be doing America a > service." > > "Invented by the French," reiterated McClellan. "Think about it." > > In This Week's Issue: > _____ > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/index.html> [Page One] > Pope, President Agree; Not Sure What To Do > > _____ > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/PageTwo.html> [Page Two] > New York, London Battle Over Sussex Fossils > > _____ > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/PageThree.html> [Page Three] > Seven-Eleven Sued Over "Big Gulp" Coffee Burns > > _____ > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/Editorial.html> [Editorial] > My Cravat Is Trying To Kill Me > > _____ > > _____ > > > <http://www.watleyreview.com/Previous.html> [Archives] > Index of previous Watley articles. > > _____ > > Related Previous Articles: > _____ > > What's In A Name? Plenty, Says FDA > <http://www.watleyreview.com/2003/061003-2.html> > > Typo Sidelines Tort Reform > <http://www.watleyreview.com/2003/052703-1.html> > > Frosting Migration More Serious Than Previously > <http://www.watleyreview.com/2003/052703-3.html> Believed > > > > Copyright (c) 2003 The Watley Review, all rights reserved. > > _____ > > >
