2002-10-12 I just found the time to read this review and would like to comment.
The first thing that came to mind is for what purpose was such a book written? Was it to expound on the idea that the original calculations to determine the length of the metre were in error and thus the metre today and the whole of SI is in error? Without reading the whole book I guess I can't really comment further.. But, I wonder again as to why at this time is such a book written? There is no real metric activity occurring in the US that metric opponents need to sound the alarm about. So, what gives? It is apparent from some of the comments in the review, such as the use of the terms WOMBAT, luddites and others, that this person has been to this listserver and observed our comments. It still makes me think that this person, despite there not being a massive conversion effort in the US, is sounding an alarm that metric creep is happening and is reaching "dangerous" levels. He realises that this represents a threat and it is time to sound the warning call. >From what I can gather, the review concludes that there is a place for FFU along side of SI. This kind of feeling almost seems to me like the FFU-ites are begging for breathing space as SI is slowly choking them to death. They feel angered, abandoned and betrayed that SI is not being stopped and is being allowed to slowly wipe out FFU. A slow torturous death. What a terrible way to go. But, as long as FFU continues to live, the US will be the only nation to have to endure the economic burden of working in 2 systems. A burden that slowly but surely will cost us as errors and redundancies mount. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Elwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, 2002-10-08 16:42 Subject: [USMA:22553] Metric Book Review > An interesting and delightful book review in the New Yorker, by David Owen: > > http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/?021014crbo_books1 > > > > Jim Elwell, CAMS > Electrical Engineer > Industrial manufacturing manager > Salt Lake City, Utah, USA > www.qsicorp.com >
