Dear John,
I like this approach very much. So much, in fact, that I have been using it
for years. However, my list of reference measures differ from yours.
My list adds to yours (with my personal measurement):
The thickness of your thumbnail 1�millimetre
The width of your little finger nail 10 millimetres
The width of your hand 100 millimetres
Your hand span 250 millimetres
Your cubit � elbow to fingertip 500 millimetres
Note: If I put my fingertips together, my elbows are one metre apart.
But I hadn't thought of the temperature, steak, and mountain measures.
Thanks for sharing your list � I'll blend them together.
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]
--
on 2003-09-09 11.09, John S. Ward at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Hi Pat,
>
> A solution to the never-ending conversion scenario you describe below is to
> make a list of personal benchmarks and note their metric values. This might
> include,
> - my height
> - my mass
> - (for dieters) my target / ideal mass
> - references for tall, short, obese, etc.
> - the hottest day I remember
> - the coldest day I remember
> - the surface area of my house/apartment and yard
> - the highest altitude I've been to
> - the biggest steak I ever ate
>
> Write them down and keep them in a handy place. I realize this is a bit
> pedantic, but it really works, would help people to really think metric, and
> they won't ever have to convert again.
>
> John
>
> Pat Naughtin wrote:
>> This remindes me of the situation of baby masses in Australia. New mothers
>> insist on having the mass of their babies converted from grams into pounds
>> and ounces so that the new babies can be compared with the babies of their
>> mothers, grandmothers, sisters, cousins, and aunts.
>
