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Hi All:
I read with interest from Chris
about Route Finders in France and UK.But, United Staes routes are marked and
understood in MILES - a late way of learning Metrics, perhaps by resistance!
India, perhaps cannot afford to put up 'kiloshilas' along the road, after our
taking for granted that process of metrication had been completed by 1966 - the
10-year outlined period.
Most road routes here , as I
see, while my children take me round use only 'MILES' and distances rarely
told or talked in 'Kilometres'. If this happen in the country that was signatory
to 'metre convention' during formation; and produces most interesting teaching
aids; there is a reason to ponder: Why the American industry has not gone ahead
in helping the governments in states, or the Federal agencies to adopt SI usage?
It slowly is 'metring' to adoption,BUT?
May be as a food for
thought, I give the converstions for ammending the road signs and
distance-boards near toll and merger points between towns and
counties:
1/4 Mile = 400m; 1/2 Mile = 800m;
3/4 Mile = 1200m; 1 Mile = 1600m (and not 1.609344 km);
1 1/4 Mile = 2000m (This also resemble an ancient
Indian length reference 'KOS' pronounced ' kau-os' - a distance that
I link with Indus Civilisation.
1 1/2 Mile = 2400m; 1 3/4 Mile = 2800m and
2 MILE = 3200 metres.
The distance between wickets
on the Cricket Pitch is known as 22 British Yards, which is 20 metres (exactly
20.1168m).
American industry shall be
greatly benefitted if timely rationalisation starts and avoidable debates of
'histriography, spellings and/or origin of Units and symbols is sacrificed
at the cost of 'usage of SI practice' and admitting new thoughts.
The greater the delay the
greater the 'children at schools' and hence on growth at colleges shall be lost
in bewilderness: about Units and SI.
Brij Bhushan Vij
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