... and in the UK they weigh church bells in hundredweights, quarters, and pounds. As with stone and pounds, it was no doubt done to keep the size of the numbers down, necessary 400 years ago given how most people comprehended - or didn't comprehend - math at the time ...
Carleton -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Martin Vlietstra Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 15:34 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:39501] Re: 60 seconds for the metric system Justin, I recently publish the following on a blog attached to a UK newspaper: << When my son was at school (he is now 21) he questioned how much of the maths (and other subjects) that he was being taught was relevant. If he felt that the subject concerned was not relevant, it was difficult to persuade him to study that subject. I believe that there are thousands of school-children out there who take a similar approach to their school-work. In this day and age, where every school-child has a calculator, how would they find the average weight of Fred (7st 8lb), John (8st 2lb) and Chris (8st 9lb)? Could the reader of this posting do the calculation using a calculator? If however they were asked to find the average weight of Fred (48kg), John (52kg) and Chris (55kg), the problem is not too difficult, but the concept of using kilograms to measure body-weight renders the problem irrelevant. In contrast, if a German school-child is asked to find the average weight of Fritz (48kg), Johan (52kg) and Christof (55kg), the problem is not too difficult, but more importantly, it is relevant. >> You might like to try something similar, but make it more relevant to the US situation such as using feet and inches, pounds and ounces etc - in the UK most people weight themselves in stones and pound (14 pounds = 1 stone). -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason Darfus Sent: 01 October 2007 03:04 To: U.S. Metric Association Cc: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:39496] Re: 60 seconds for the metric system I like the rapid fire quiz in the vein of which is bigger: 13/16 in or 7/8 in ? which is bigger: 12 mm or 18 mm ? Ask if anyone knows what Title 15, sec 204 of the U.S. code says? How about Title 15, sec 205b? (answer: the metric law of 1866 and the omnibus act of 1988 expressing preference for said system). And then ask Can anyone tell me where colonial units are allowed under law? On Sep 30, 2007, at 18:55, Amy Wang wrote: > Hello everyone, > > I am a recent graduate who did a master's thesis on the metric system. > Coincidentally, I have been nominated as one of 20 young designers to > speak at a national design conference on October 11th (National Metric > Week!) in front of 2,500 designers, design educators, and design > commentators. Each of us has 60 seconds to speak on any subject, and I > want to make mine an opportunity to spread the word on metrication. > Although I have an idea what facts would most startle and impress a > newcomer audience, I think the collective experience on this mailing > list is greater than my own knowledge any day. So I am writing you for > your input: what are the most memorable news items you've seen > recently on this subject? To an initially indifferent public, what are > facts that you've discovered to be most memorable to them? I am > looking for facts that can be very easily and quickly conveyed in > these 60 seconds. > > Here is more information on the conference: > http://designconference2007.aiga.org/ > > Here are a few images from my thesis project. The complete campaign > and supporting arguments have been printed into 1000 books recently, > which I am going to mail out to people I hope can make a difference > once they become aware of the issue. > http://www.adobe.com/education/adaa/winners/2006/wang.html > > I hope you will be willing to help me, and look forward to reading > some exciting new news articles. > > Amy. >
