I went to the site of the UKIP and dripped tihs bombshell in their forum "Guard the Yard", Han I have (old) news for all those pro- and anti-metric. The metric system is as British as it is "European". In fact, it is the global language of measurement, just like English is the global language of communication. Does anybody know that the British Association for the Advancement of Science was involved in reforming and improving the system in the second half of the 19th century? This drive has been called the Second Reform of measurement, after the First one, started by the French! The now obsolete cgs system was designed in Britain by people like Lord Kelvin and Maxwell. SI, the modern metric system contains many units of British and American origin. The system of electrical units is British. The now obsolete calorie was British, the joule replacing it is British and I can go on and on. The newton, unit of torque and work is of American origin. Last, but not least, the kelvin is British, and the degree Celsius is now standardized on it. I do like this type of British units indeed! Han Maenen, The Netherlands
