2000-11-26
Of course any 10 year old would know. But, by the time they get past 20
they forget it. I don't even remember those factors any more. That is
something you learn long enough for the test and forget it shortly
thereafter.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Paul Trusten
Sent: Sunday, 2000-11-26 18:46
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:9370] Americans' famiiliarity with WOMBAT
I am in the process of refuting the Almanac article point by point. One
of the statements made therein was:
"Maybe NASA aiming someone towards Mars, or the Ford Motor Company
designing do-dads for its cars, may find the metric system useful for
all the dividing they are doing, but most of us just don't do a lot of
division of distances and measures. And even when we do, we're quite
smart enough to fiture out that there are 16 ounces in a pound, thank
you--just ask any American 10-year-old."
The part about few of us dividing things is easy (I don't know what
this fellow does for work, but I have always had to use our existing
measurement system to divide things---well, MEASURE, darn it! It's
called measurement) . But, haven't we discussed here on this list that
Americans have an abysmal knowledge of WOMBAT and that perhaps the
average American 10-yo does NOT know how many ounces there are in a
pound? Would one of you (or, even MORE than one of you) please send me a
citation on the lack of US WOMBAT familiarity?
--
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"No one from the Audubon Society has yet documented the
finding of a modified barium swallow."
--Byrd Ona Wyng, Forensic Ornithologist
"Free Billy Rubin!" ---Medical Technologists' protest cry
