As far as I can see, the writer is merely satirizing the compulsive act of conversion. I don't interpret his article as a criticism of metric usage as such (just of the use of conversion where it isn't even required).
His criticism is of any arbitrary and unnecessary conversion, including that of currency. It's obviously silly to convert figures of speech, such as "in for a penny, in for a pound" (where, unfortunately, he used the avoirdupois pound, rather than the currency) and "the whole nine yards." There is and probably never will be a metric equivalent of the latter. In time, it will probably die out and be replace with more contemporary expressions. Outside the metrication arena, for example, "half a bale shy of a load" (as a description of someone who isn't quite with it, mentally) has morphed into things like "a few fries short of a Happy Meal." Urban people aren't familiar with bales of hay, so are more likely to understand the latter. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Behalf Of Paul Trusten >Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 14:37 >To: U.S. Metric Association >Subject: [USMA:30009] the metric system and jokes > > >IMHO, a huge ongoing PR problem with metric in the United States >and also in >metricating countries is its being the butt of jokes, usually having to do >with conversion between systems, and not usually involving the use of the >metric system alone. Here's a current classic from Australia: > >http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/30/1085855438557.html > >I'd love to hear some discussion about this. I think this is a very >important metric issue! Thanks. > >-- >Paul Trusten, R.Ph. >3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 >Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > > >
