[USMA:36393] Re: Kelvin quote

[Bill Hooper]

On 2006 Mar 27 , at 7:37 PM, Pat Naughtin wrote: I used that quote in 'Metrication matters 13' without 'Great Britain' in square brackets because, as I understood it, William Thompson was speaking to an audience in Philadelphia (1884 September 29) (NB It has been pointed out that his name is Thomson, not Thompson.) That's interesting! The "Great Britain" in square brackets in my email was added BY ME. I thought Lord Kelvin must have been speaking to British people (and I was not aware that the statement was made to an audience in Philadelphia). I thought my bracketed notes clarified to whom he was speaking. Apparently I was mistaken. He apparently was speaking to Americans and referring to Americans being subjected to Britain's "insularity" as a former British colony. That does change the tone of the quote a bit, but it still presents one of the most concise and severe condemnations of the Olde English system of units I have ever seen. If anyone wishes to use the quote further, please eliminate my phrase "Great Britain" in square brackets from my version, or better yet, go back to the more authoritative version at: http://zapatopi.net/kelvin/quotes/ or the one in Pat's "Metrication Matters" It is, of course, of further interest to note that Lord Kelvin was dead wrong about one thing; namely, his statment that he thought America should have no such difficulty (as the British had) in adopting the metric system. America has proved more intransigent than Lord Kelvin imagined. Regards, Bill Hooper Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA ==========================    Make It Simple; Make It Metric! ==========================