I didn't say that I thought millimeters would be better for screen size. What I did say, regarding millimeters, was that I endorse their use in situations in which measurement is an essential part of the job. That was the gist of my parenthetical remarks.
Jim got it right, though. He and I agree on the use of centimeters for our height and for screen sizes, where the value in centimeters is almost always rounded to the nearest integer. If I used 1070 mm, instead of 107 cm, I'd be implying precision, while being technically accurate. If I used 1067 mm, I'd be technically accurate, but using unnecessary precision. By the way, I'm 183 cm and 86 kg, giving me a BMI of 26 (rounded to the nearest integer). However, if I'm feeling boastful, I cite the more precise (though no more accurate) value of 25.7. Bill ________________________________ Bill Potts Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of STANLEY DOORE Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 06:54 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:40776] Re: BMI, Metric at Costco Agreed that mm for screen size would be better. I wish they would go to metric. Seeing screens and metric sizes next to each other in stores would be a great learning tool. I saw a screen size in Costco of 40" and thought it was a nice round number for the meter. cm is too cumbersome whereas mm avoid conversion and adds only one digit whereas cm requires a decimal point for refinement. Stan Doore ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 4:29 PM Subject: [USMA:40775] Re: BMI, Metric at Costco > Where screen size is specified in metric (i.e., in most of the world), > it's > always in centimeters. > > If asked, I give the size of my Dell HDTV as 107 cm. > > Notwithstanding what Pat Naughtin says about standardizing on millimeters > (something I heartily endorse for situations where people must actually > design stuff or measure and work with materials), I think specifying > screen > diagonals in meters is somewhat ponderous and that specifying them in > millimeters feeds the objections of those who believe that the use of SI > units imposes an unnecessary degree of precision. They're wrong, as we > know, > but we still have to contend with that. > > Bill > ________________________________ > Bill Potts > Roseville, CA > http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of STANLEY DOORE > Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 02:18 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:40774] Re: BMI, Metric at Costco > > Another good way to promote metric is to specify new TV screens in > metric. > For example, a 40-inch TV screen equals one metre. Isn't this stealth > metric? > Stan Doore > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ziser, Jesse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 3:41 PM > Subject: [USMA:40772] Re: BMI, Metric at Costco > > >> >> --- Jim Elwell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>>> The question is whether companies with employees and leadership not >>>> particularly >>>> friendly toward metric will change without putting up a fight. That's >>>> the area where I think leadership at the government level could smooth >>>> things over. >>> >>> We generally agree, but the nature of the government "leadership" has a >>> big effect: if it is >>> mandates, there will be a lot of resistance. However, as I've said many >>> times in the past on >>> this forum, if the US Federal Government is the single largest purchaser >>> of goods and services >>> in the country, and if it simply said "we buy metric," it would have a >>> huge positive effect on >>> metrication, without passing laws on private institutions. >> >> I wasn't advocating legally forcing anyone to use metric (though that's >> an > >> interesting subject for >> debate). I was suggesting that a presidential administration should use >> its voice to tell people >> that metric is coming and they better be prepared for it. The presidency >> could be used as the >> proverbial "bully pulpit" to help persuade people that these changes are >> here to stay, and not >> something that will go away eventually. That was what I meant by >> "leadership". >> >> Needless to say, I strongly agree that the US government should buy >> metric. As to legislatively >> forcing people to use metric, I don't think I have an opinion right now >> whether that would have a >> more positive or negative effect. >> >> >> __________________________________________________ >> Do You Yahoo!? >> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >> http://mail.yahoo.com >> >
