2002-10-17 These are vague visualisations used by vast majority of Americans who are functionally innumerate. FFU was developed for and by such people, and that is why the mathematically impaired cling to it. It was never meant to be exact. That is why for centuries before the advent of the metric system, there were thousands of variations on every unit within FFU.
Apparently today, most people can not visualise distances in FFU, so they resort to visualisations. Even though a football field may be a little over 90 m, the visualisation is meant to be a rough estimate, and just one can also visualise it as 100 m, making it easier to do conversions back to SI. Isn't it sad that instead of teaching and learning SI as a proper system for descriptive measurement, we would rather revert to these primitive types of visualisations. It really shows that America is regressing, when methods of ignorance are promoted over methods of intelligence. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, 2002-10-17 23:22 Subject: [USMA:22752] RE: A new system > Mike: > > I don't know of an exact definition. > > City blocks certainly vary. In general, they're just a guide to getting > around (go so many blocks in this direction, turn right, then so many blocks > in that direction, ...) . In New York, it's the distance between adjacent > numbered streets (short blocks) or avenues (long blocks, as the avenues are > much further apart). Chicago city blocks tend to be more uniform. In > California, the term isn't used very much. > > I think a football field is a little over 90 m or so. > > A story (no e in American English) varies, depending on whether it's a > standard residence, a commercial building, or whatever. For houses, the > minimum is a little over 2.5 m. For fancier houses, it's somewhat more. > > Bill Potts, CMS > Roseville, CA > http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-usma@;colostate.edu]On > >Behalf Of Mike Joy > >Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 17:22 > >To: U.S. Metric Association > >Subject: [USMA:22751] A new system > > > > > >Hello all, > > > >I see the US media is converting from the ifp 'system' to some kind of new > >'easyspeak' system. > > > >Can any one tell me please how many metres there are in:- > > > >1) 1 city block > >2) 1 football field > >3) 1 storey. > > > >Is there an exact definition? > > > >Regards > > > >Mike > >Perth Australia > > >
