on 2004-07-28 05.00, Nat Hager III at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I like to get news from the UK, because it is relevant to metrication in > the US. But geez Chimp, 20 messages in a row is a bit much. > > Nat
Dear Nat and All, While the bizarre activities in the UK, as reported by Euric, are less relevant to the USA at present, I believe that they are a warning of possibilities to come there. As is obvious, the UK and the USA are at different stages in their metrication transitions, The UK is nearly there and the USA still has a long way to go. To me, the activities in the UK are extremely interesting because they shed light on to the desperation of the anti-metric people when they suddenly realise that metrication is not only inevitable � but that it has already happened so substantially that it is almost completed. I think of this as 'going the final millimetre' Let me give some examples. Roads in the UK are designed using all metric dimensions (mm, m, and km). The roads are then built using the same dimensions. I also understand that there are small unobtrusive metric markers along these metric roads so that road repair workers can easily find faults and damage � these are at 100�m, 500�m, and kilometre spacings. New bridges are also designed, built, and maintained in metric measures. The only remaining metric changes needed are speed signs, distance signs and bridge dimensions. When viewed from the perspective of the metrication progress made in the UK since 1965, these final minor changes represent 'going the final millimetre'. All of the modern* cars on the roads in the UK are designed, built, and maintained in metric units. The only remaining metric change needed is to the speedometers. The odometers, and to tyre pressure gauges, Again, when seen in historical context, this is simply the final millimetre. * modern includes the all-metric 1934 model car designed by Ferdinand Porsche, which most people know as the Volkswagen Beetle, and to all other all metric cars made to the 'world car concept' since the mid-1970s. I can also think of examples where the concept of the 'going the final millimetre' is directly relevant in the USA. For example, in the computer industry all design, manufacture and maintenance is done in metric units. Then the software people set the word processor page margins in inches and quarter inches, the tabs and indents in half inches to delude their customers about their metrication. In short, the computer people are using metric measures, because they are simple and easy to use, but they are not 'going the final millimetre' and informing their customers. Let me quote from the Q&A item in last month's Metrication matters newsletter. Q&A It seems that hiding metric measures is quite common in woodworking activities in the USA. See http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Going_metric_Pros_and_cons.html and then try to understand what (and why) woodworkers are hiding their practices from their customers. This question and answer are from the woodweb site. Question What are some pros and cons of going metric? We purchased three new machines recently, including a 'Weeke' point to point, and the question of converting to metric keeps coming up. Forum Response I heartily endorse the idea of full metric production in the shop. Most staff start out not liking it but come around quickly when they get rid of the fractions. Our only ongoing difficulty has been that the design end of our business must remain in imperial dimensions for customer reasons and the conversion issues are most easily handled by the computer packages we have. Cabnetware does a good job of letting you design in imperial and then build in metric. I suspect that many businesses in the USA are fully aware, and perhaps afraid of the reaction they will get when they finally decide on 'going the final millimetre'. 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] --
