Pat: Could you please stop using typographical quotes. Your opening quotes are coming out as an OE diphthong and your closing quotes are coming out as a superscripted 1.
If you're using MS Word to create your message, you should note that you can turn off the feature that turns plain quotes into typographical quotes. I wonder if others are experiencing the same problem with Pat's messages. (I'm using Outlook 2000.) Note that I use the same encoding Pat does (Western European ISO -- ISO-8859-1) -- although incoming messages default to whatever code the sender is using, anyway. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Behalf Of Pat Naughtin >Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 16:49 >To: U.S. Metric Association >Subject: [USMA:30394] New UKMA initiative Clauses 6.18 to 6.20 > > >Dear Chris, > >In the light of your remarks on pages 39 and 40 (Clauses 6.18 to 6.20) of >your report, 'A very British mess', you might find these observations >interesting. > >Cheers, > >Pat Naughtin >Geelong, Australia > > >In Australia, the building industry chose millimetres as their small unit. >The actual statement in the pamphlet, �Metric Information � for >Building and >Construction Workers� (October 1973), said: > >�(1) Distances for transport will be measured in kilometres (km) > 1�km = 1�000 m = about 5/8 mile > >�(2) The centimetre will be used in the clothing industry. It is only 10 >times 1�mm and to avoid confusion it will not be used in building. > >�N.B. DON�T use a tape or rule marked in both millimetres and feet and >inches and never use one marked in centimetres�. > > >The words, 'will not be used in building', were printed in bold letters in >the original document. > >With this one decision, the Metric Conversion Board removed the >need for all >vulgar fractions (and all calculations involving vulgar fractions) and all >decimal fractions (and all calculations involving decimal fractions) on any >building site. I believe that this single decision was largely instrumental >in allowing the Australian building industry to make a smooth and >relatively >rapid transition to metrication. In my own personal experience, for most >builders metrication was largely completed by 1976. > >In the book, �Metrication in Australia�, Kevin Wilks says that (by 1982): > >�Building regulations in all States had been metric for many years. All >plans and specifications, development applications, building materials and >promotional literature for project homes were metric, although a >few project >builders, selling principally to retired people, saw some advantage in >giving imperial equivalents�. > >In comparison, the clothing industry, which chose to use centimetres, is >still struggling with their metrication transition, even after more than 30 >years. > >I have worked extensively in both the Australian building and textile >industries and I have personally seen the dramatic differences between the >two metric conversion processes. > >My conclusion is that the use of millimetres leads to a more rapid and >smooth conversion than does the use of centimetres. > >** > >Occupations and millimetres > >In a recent study that I did on occupations in Australia, I noted that for >most job descriptions, millimetres were used as the basic small measure. >Here is my analysis of a list of occupations that I obtained from the >Australian Bureau of Statistics: > >90 occupations � millimetre users >Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics), Aircraft Maintenance Engineer >(Mechanical), Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Structures), Automotive >Electrician, Binder and Finisher, Blacksmith, Boat Builder and Repairer, >Bricklayer, Broadcast Transmitter Operator, Business Machine Mechanic, >Cabinetmaker, Cable Jointer, Carpenter, Carpenter and Joiner, >Communications >Linesperson, Computing Support Technician, Dental Technician, Drainer, >Electrical Engineering Technician, Electrical Powerline Tradesperson, >Electrician (Special Class), Electronic Engineering Technician, Electronic >Equipment Tradesperson, Electronic Instrument Tradesperson (Special Class), >Electroplater, Engraver, Farrier, Fibrous Plasterer, Fitter, Flat Glass >Tradesperson, Floor Finisher, Furniture Finisher, Furniture Upholsterer, >Gasfitter, Gem Cuter and Polisher, General Communications Tradesperson, >General Electrician, General Electronic Instrument Tradesperson, General >Fabrication Engineering Tradesperson, General Mechanical Engineering >Tradesperson, General Plumber, Glass Blower, Graphic Pre-Press >Tradesperson, >Greenkeeper, Gunsmith, Jeweller, Joiner, Leather Goods Maker, Lift >Mechanic, >Locksmith, Mechanical Engineering Technician, Mechanical Services and >Airconditioning Plumber, Medical Grade Shoemaker, Metal Casting >Tradesperson, Metal Fabricator (Boilermaker), Metal Machinist >(First Class), >Metal Polisher, Motor Mechanic, Optical Mechanic, Painter and Decorator, >Panel Beater, Patternmaker-Grader (Clothing), Piano maker, Piano Tune, >Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer, Pressure Welder, Printing >Machinist, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Mechanic, Roof Plumber, Roof >Slater and Tiler, Saw Maker and Repairer, Screen Printer, Small Offset >Printer, Sheetmetal Worker (First Class), Shipwright, Shoemaker, >Signwriter, >Small Offset Printer, Solid Plasterer, Stonemason, Textile, Clothing or >Footwear Mechanic, Toolmaker, Upholsterers and Bedding Tradespersons, >Vehicle Body Maker, Vehicle Painter, Vehicle Trimmer, Wall and Floor Tiler, >Watch and Clock Maker and Repairer, Welder (First Class), Wood >Tradesperson, >and Wood Turner. > >10 occupations � centimetre and inches users >Apparel Cutter, Baker, Chef, Chef � Head Chef, Cook, Dressmaker, General >Clothing Tradesperson, Pastry Cook, Picture Framer, and Tailor. > >7 occupations � centimetre, feet and inches users >Canvas Goods Maker, General Gardener, Head Gardener, Landscape Gardener, >Nurseryperson, Sail Maker, Tree Surgeon > >7 occupations where length measures are relatively unimportant >Butcher, Buttermaker or Cheesemaker, Confectioner, Hairdresser, Smallgoods >Maker Supervisor, Hairdressers Supervisor, and Meat Tradespersons. > >In summary > >millimetres 90 occupations = 78.9 % >centimetres and inches 10 occupations = 8.8 % >centimetres, feet, and inches 7 occupations = 6.1 % >Few length measures 7 occupations = 6.1 % >Total 114 occupations = 100 % > >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] >-- >
