Dear David, on 2003-07-11 08.05, David Shatto at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Hello. I joined this list a few weeks ago, and think it's time to stop > lurking and get involved. Welcome to the USMA list. You asked: > Do any of you veteran activists have any advice for a newbie such as I? > Is there any particular "starting point"? My initial advice would be to 'Change your own mind to metric' before you try to convince others. A good start for me was to measure my own body parts. If you use my figures as examples, it might give you a good start: My thumb nail is 1 millimetre thick. My little finger nail is 10 millimetres across. My thumb, at the base of the nail is 25�millimetres wide. My hand is 100�millimetres wide, across the knuckles. My hand span is 250�millimetres, from thumb to little finger. My cubit, from elbow to lingest finger is 500�millimetres. My normal walking pace is about 750�millimetres. I can walk with a stretched pace of 1 metre for the purpose of stepping out distances. Normally, I walk at about 100�metres per minute. I am 1.85 metres tall. I am overweight at 120 kilograms. My body Mass Index is (way too high at) 35. For temperatures, this rhyme might help: Zero�s freezing, 10 is not. 20�s pleasing, 30�s hot. 40 frying 50 dying. Early on you should also decide that you will only use the International Systrem of Units (SI). SI is the modern version of the metric system and it is preferred to previous metric systems. One of the reasons why I am suggesting that you learn this stuff early, is that once others learn that you are a promoter of the International System of Units � the modern metric system, many will try to trick you into using old measures � just to confirm that it's still morally OK for them to continue with their old ways. Also they will be probing your knowledge and trying to check how deep your conviction is. Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online newsletter, 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by sending an email containing the words subscribe Metrication matters to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --
