I found the lyrics quoted below my signature block on the web at
http://slisweb.lis.wisc.edu/~gometric/gogometrics.htm
They need a little cleaning up, but I sure like the sentiment!
Apparently there is a link available so that one can hear an audio
performance. I think it's one of the spiffiest metric ditties I've seen
yet. All they need is the correction of some grammatical problems (e.g.,
start unit names in lowercase, not uppercase) and to replace that horrid
"KPH" with km/h. With these few exceptions, the author's comprehension
and representation of the metric system is very good.
The alleged sponsoring group is the Metric Advancement Association of
Madison. To quote from another of their pages (dated 2002 May 01),
"The Metric Advancement Association of Madison
is an organization which strives to increase
awareness and use of the metric system through
education and encouragement. Although the group
is relatively small (15 members), we strive to
identify ourselves as metric supporters in all
activities, thus increasing awareness of the
system.
I have no idea if this is a real organization; it is probably a
fictional construction. But would like to hope that it is real; we need
good college clubs like this! Maybe I'll try to start one at the College
of Charleston.
The site, posted on a web server provided for student projects, is well
worth exploring. One page provides three references. One is to a page
describing the Mars Climate Orbiter debacle. One is to a case involving
an appeal of a sentence on the basis that unit conversion was
incorrectly performed:
http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/02/04/011230P.pdf
The third is to another case but the link is non-existent and there is
insufficient citation for me to find it easily.
The MAAM site was created by Caroline as a project for a Library
Information Sciences class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate School and I am sending a blind copy of this email to her. She
did this in the Government Documents Class (LIS 653) [also titled
Government Information Sources], Spring 2002. Hopefully, she'll forward
this to her professor and perhaps her grade will be increased, given
proof that such fine works are noticed when published.
Good luck, Caroline! And thanks! A tip of the hat also to Univ. Wisc.
for providing the site. I don't know who the professor was for that
particular course convening, but hopefully one of the three people given
blind copies here will forward this message. I would appreciate hearing
from them as well.
Jim
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, LCAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone: 843.225.6789
also at:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.cofc.edu/~frysinger
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
College of Charleston
===========================================================
Metricate
by the Go-Go Metrics
If you really want to smile,
Use the kilometer, not the mile.
If you're stuck in a pinch,
Use the centimeter, not the inch.
Unless you are a stupid thug,
Use the kilogram, not the slug.
For your data to be sound,
Use the Newton, not the pound.
Femto, pico, nano, micro, milli, centi, deci,
Let's employ a system that's not so messy!
Wake up and join the cause, you fool!
Don't use the Calorie, use the Joule.
For your life to be much sweeter,
Don't use hogsheads, use the liter.
To keep yourself from being late,
Don't use knots, use KPH!
It's warm enough for you to delve in,
So don't use Fahrenheit, use Kelvin.
Femto, pico, nano, micro, milli, centi, deci,
Let's employ a system that's not so messy!
The English system is so badly out of date,
So c'mon let's get together and METRICATE!
