2001-01-30
Something tells me the person who came up with the hole size requirement had
2 cm or 20 mm in mind. Some how the 2 cm was converted to the closest
fraction as 13/16 inch, and then back converted back to metric with a
calculator exactly as seen below. You should write to the paper and explain
that 2,06375 cm is meaningless, and that the original dimension was 2 cm is
all that was needed as a conversion.. I think we need to get it through
some peoples heads that anything more than one place after the decimal in
centimetres for most applications is a sign the person coming up with that
number is innumerate.
It irks me that when converting from metric to imperial, numbers are rounded
to the nearest rational number or fraction, but when a number is converted
or back converted to metric, the result is always to some un-godly number of
decimal places. What stupidity.
John
Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrtümlich glaubt
frei zu sein.
There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they
are free!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis JOURDAN" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, 2001-01-30 08:35
Subject: [USMA:10745] Gruyere cheese
> To my American friends
>
> Sometimes we complain about the European bureaucracy which enacts
> very precise standards, but can one of you confirm the information
> below I just found in my local newspaper (Ouest-France, 2001/01/30) :
>
> ---
> Le ministère de l'Agriculture américain vient de décider que les
> trous du gruyère made in USA seront plus petits pour "développer
> l'uniformité dans les pratiques commerciales". A compter du 22
> février, une note officielle stipule donc que les trous plus gros ne
> pourront dépasser treize seizièmes de pouces,
> soit 2,06375 cm.
>
> --- (free translation)
> The US department of Agriculture has just decided that holes in the
> US-made gruyere cheese should be smaller in order to" improve
> uniformity of commercial practices". An official note provides that,
> starting 22 February, largest holes could not exceed 13/16 of an inch
> (2,06375 cm).
>
> ----
>
> If this is true, what about the imported gruyere cheese ?
>
> Louis
>
>
