The same happened in some European countries, but with mmHg (barometric
pressure) for decades after the abolition of this unit. especially the
Belgian and French weather services continued to give mmHg first followed by
millibar (hPa). Ridiculous. Even *40 years* after that change they
justified this nonsense by referring to old people who, they claimed, could
not adjust to this 'new' unit. This is an insult to old people, because they
can change, and many of them may be more open to it than teenagers. Some
years ago I heard some of the latter in Castlebar (Western Ireland): someone
said something in km, and they wanted to have the conversion to miles at the
spot. It was as if they had never heard of the metric system (they learned
it at school). I was shocked about such stubbornness by young people, who
are supposed to be openminded and willing to change.
It is still possible to buy barometers with mmHg and hPa and thermometers
with Celsius and Fahrenheit here! Unnecessary dual trash. I would steer
clear of them. Once I bought a thermometer; I asked one with Celsius only,
and I got it. If peole looked at what hey buy, we would be rid of this dual
nonsense quickly enough.
The attachment in the original message is in the body of this one, see
below.
Han
-----Urspr�ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: "Gregory Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
An: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Gesendet: maandag 6 november 2000 22:26
Betreff: [USMA:9034] Fwd: Re: why translate?
The following was an exchange I had with the local Cdn. Broadcasting Corp.
outlet.
greg
Hi Gregory,
We occassionally add the Imperial equivalent as a courtesy to our older
listeners. Thanks for listening.
Bill Gerald
Director of Radio
CBC Saskatchewan
>>> Gregory Peterson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 11/06 9:40 AM >>>
Dear Mr. Gerald,
Why does CBC Saskatchewan continue to use precious air time to unnecessarily
translate well known metric measurements into archaic Imperial measurements?
(see below) I never heard snow or rainfall converted from the proper
centimetre or millimetre on the CBC in any other province.
Meteorologists have been using metric units for public weather forecasts for
25 years, you'd think that would be enough time for Saskatchewan to get used
to them. If certain listeners to CBC radio are wilfully remaining ignorant
of the modern world around them then that is their concern, not the CBC's. I
associate the use of Imperial measures with the ignorant and unenlightened
and these are certainly not two adjectives that I would want to use in
association with the CBC.
Everyone in Saskatchewan should know how many centimetres and millimetres
there are in an inch and a foot and I'm sure (since mathematics is an
important skill needed for agriculture) we all know how to multiply and
divide. Meteorologists use the metric system to describe weather phenomena
and thus it is only natural for the general public to hear these units.
Otherwise an unwanted gap of knowledge is
created between our scientists and the general public.
Don't insult our intelligence and don't waste CBC airtime with these
translations back to an outdated system.
Sincerely,
Gregory Peterson
Saskatoon SK Canada.
Winter has arrived all across Saskatchewan. As much as 15 centimetres or
**six inches** of snow fell across the province Sunday, and it continues
to come down Monday morning.
