Ed, The visualization limitation is only because of your infamiliarity with using the metric units. The same argument could be used in reverse. Actually, it is much more useful to use millimeters and centimeters instead of inches or feet for small things. The ability to change units by only moving a decimal point is a distinct advantage over the counterintuitive system of mils, inches, links, feet, yards, fathoms, rods, chains, furlongs, miles, leagues, and whatever else there is. The ability to use SI units easily in calculations to other types of units without strange conversion factors, such as volume, is another advantage. The only real advantage to our current system is that we are already using it.
Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward Frank To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:54 PM Subject: [ENTS] Re: Red Oak in Halifax Will, The system works fine overall, but there are some limitations. One is the description of relatively small things. A foot is a convenient size for small things. A foot is easier to visualize than 031 meters or 31 cm. It is good for approximations. Similarly a gallon is a useful unit, as is a cubic foot. I like the metric system, but it would be better if it had a unit in the metric system that was of a scale similar to the foot or gallon. Ed "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science." - Albert Einstein ----- Original Message ----- From: Will Blozan To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:21 PM Subject: [ENTS] Re: Red Oak in Halifax Barry, What’s not to like about the metric system? It is far superior to the crazy base-12 English system and is also virtually universal world-wide. We Americans are holding on to an archaic system that makes global communication ever more difficult. As a nation we should switch over and be done with it. My two-cents from a base-10 monetary system. Imagine counting pennies in twelves… Will --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
