Paul Fardig wrote in USMA 11155:
>We need to work with NIST to create an alternative to those conversion
>cards, one that would be SI only and experientially based, eg "one meter is
>about one long step," etc.
That is a bad example. Who can walk a kilometre in 1000 paces? The
British army pace is 30 inches, or 5 feet for a double pace. That was the
Roman army's pace also. 1000 double paces made the the miglia, or mile.
Queen Elizabeth I lengthend the mile to 5280 feet to fit the Saxon furlong,
8 furlongs to the mile.
A better standard for the metre is the metric salute. Stretch out the
right army fully and place the left hand against the left ear. The metre
is the distance from the right finger tips and the left hand.
Joseph B. Reid
17 Glebe Road West
Toronto M5P 1C8 Tel. 416 486-6071
