Dear Brij, The Miss Metric in New Zealand was (theoretically) born on the same day as the New Zealand metrication program.
She had a body mass of 3.5 kilograms; a body length of 500�millimetres; and I suspect that her bust, waist, and hips all measured about the same, except after feeding when her waist measurement was much larger. Miss Metric's dimensions developed for ten years, or so, years during the New Zealand Metrication Program, but she never developed into the figure � or figures � that you and Bill are discussing. Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia on 2003/06/03 00.24, Brij Bhushan Vij at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Joe, sir: > It may be a great idea to have 'Miss Metric' for popularising implementation > of SI in US. Vital statistics of such a beauty *In search of Miss Universe > or Miss Metrication* were suggested between pages 254-255 of my book Towards > A Unified Technology (1982) as 'hard conversions'. These could be rounded to > Height: 1.71m; Weight: 51.5 kg; Bust: 91.5 cm; Waist: 61 cm; Hips 88.5 cm. >> I have a theory that great powers find it difficult to convert because of >>> hubris. France did not complete its conversion until 1840, while >> Neterlands >converted shortly after 1815. Germany converted in 1872. Russia >> converted in >1918. Japan started conversion in 1923 but did not finish the >> job until 1965. >The Unied Kingdom started in 1965 but still has not >> managed to convert speed limits and distance signs. The (US) National >> Bureau of Standards (now NIST) in >1971 proclaimed "A Metric America - A >> decision whose time has come". This led >Canada to decide in 1970 to >> convert so as not to be left behind. > I am for certain that US shall not allow her economy to go to the level: >>> That revolution may be the result of a tragic collapse in our economy, >>>>> compelling us to take drastic action to buttress our global >>> competitiveness. > Regrads, > Brij Bhushan Vij <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Aa Nau Bhadra Kritvo Yantu Vishwatah -Rg Veda. > *****The New Calendar Rhyme***** > Thirty days in July, September: > April, June, November, December; > All the rest have thirty-one; accepting February alone: > Which hath but twenty-nine, to be (in) fine; > Till leap year gives the whole week READY: > Is it not time to MODIFY or change to make it perennial, Oh Daddy! > > And make the calendar work with Leap Week Rule! > ***** ***** ***** ***** > > > > > >> From: "Joseph B. Reid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: [USMA:25894] Re: 480 km to El Paso >> Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 21:52:02 -0400 >> >>> I'd like to talk about measurement, too---American measurement, and how we >>> of USMA have always had, and continue to have ,a great struggle before >>> us. >>> >>> We Americans on this list live in a society in which measurement is highly >>> emotional and highly romanticized, in which mere >>> metrology can turn into a real shouting match. Invariably, discussions of >>> metrication in the US deteriorate into the old jokes >>> of metricating popular sayings as well as the standard of measurement (I >>> hold my nose as I repeat one of them: "Give him 2.54 cm and he'll take >>> 1.608 m"). In a way, US metrication suggests a revolution in American >>> thinking, since it involves political, economic, and social change. I >>> often wonder if Canadians, Australians, and South Africans had to fight a >>> revolution to change their standard of measurement, but I do not wonder >>> about my own country, the United States. I believe that it will take a >>> kind of revolution to enact SI in our land. That revolution may be the >>> result of a tragic collapse in our economy, compelling us to take drastic >>> action to buttress our global competitiveness. I do not think we will go >>> into SI in good times. >> >> >> >> I have a theory that great powers find it difficult to convert because of >> hubris. France did not complete its conversion until 1840, while Neterlands >> converted shortly after 1815. Germany converted in 1872. Russia converted >> in 1918. Japan started conversion in 1923 but did not finish the job until >> 1965. The Unied Kingdom started in 1965 but still has not managed to >> convert speed limits and distance signs. The (US) National Bureau of >> Standards (now NIST) in 1971 proclaimed "A Metric America - A decision >> whose time has come". This led Canada to decide in 1970 to convert so as >> not to be left behind. >> >> In New Zealand a wise old man gave metrication a human touch by finding a >> girl who was born when metric conversion started. He named her "Miss >> Metric" and followed her development as metrication proceeded. Australia >> started by metricating horse racing and getting the press on side. They >> concentrated on converting trade and industry but did not make much effort >> to inform the public, assuming that they would learn more from exposure to >> the metric system than they would from proganda. South Africa made the most >> rapid conversion, ignoring any public protests. >> >> -- >> Joseph B. Reid >> 17 Glebe Road West >> Toronto M5P 1C8 Telephone 416-486-6071 > > _________________________________________________________________ > Race along with NK. The fastest Indian > http://server1.msn.co.in/sp03/tataracing/index.asp Feel the thrill! >
