Even if the US does not use the comma as a decimal point nor the spellings of litre and metre what does it do if an American (or foreign source) choses to use them in offical documentation? Do they accept it or make an issue of it?
Jerry ________________________________ From: James Frysinger <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 7, 2009 10:32:28 AM Subject: [USMA:42925] Re: Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg Martin, those channels are well established and are used. The U.S. is a signatory nation to the Treaty of the Meter and has representation on the CGPM, CIPM, and various consultative committees (CCs). When we "interpret" the SI for use in the U.S., that perhaps means something other than what comes to some folks' minds. Consider it more a "regionalization" or "nationalization" than an "explanation". This is where spelling differences, style of indicating the decimal point, etc. come in. No changes are made to the definitions and realizations of the SI. The official U.S. interpretation of the SI is found in NIST Special Publication 330. The Foreword in this document should answer your questions. See http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP330/contents.html Other nations publish similar documents, reflecting their various languages. Jim Martin Vlietstra wrote: > May I suggest that this places the onus on the Secretary of Commerce to > contact the CGPM via the appropriate channels should there be an area where > interpretation is required. > > There are at least two areas where SI permits local variations - the choice > of decimal delimiter (comma or dot) and the choice of upper or lower case L > for litres. Again, this suggests to me that the Secretary of Commerce can > decide on behalf of the US. > > Finally, this suggests to me that the Secretary of Commerce has the power to > require that "metre" and "litre" be spelt to UK way instead of the US way > (not that he would ever do such a thing). > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf > Of Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > Sent: 07 February 2009 01:45 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Cc: U..S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:42912] Re: Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg > > > The statutory U.S. definition of the SI provides the Secretary of Commerce > can > interpret or modify it for the United States. > > Quoting Jeremiah MacGregor <[email protected]>: > >> Paul, >> >> Why does SI need to be "interpreted and modified"? Isn't the rules >> self-explanatory and what possibly would need to be modified? Doesn't > that >> interfere with the universality of metrics? >> >> Jerry >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]> >> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 11:03:05 AM >> Subject: [USMA:42869] Boston Globe article on Sen. Judd Gregg >> >> >> After fits and starts in the nomination/confirmation process, New > Hampshire >> Senator Judd Gregg is poised to become the next U.S. Secretary of > Commerce. >> The Commerce Department includes the National Institute of Standards and >> Technology (NIST). Federal law gives the Secretary of Commerce the > authority >> to "interpret or modify" the International System of Units for the United >> States. >> >> See the Boston Globe at >> > http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/04/for_gregg_a > n_unlikely_new_assignment/ >> >> Paul Trusten, R.Ph. >> Public Relations Director >> U.S. Metric Association, Inc. >> www.metric.org >> 3609 Caldera Blvd. Apt. 122 >> Midland TX 79707-2872 US >> +1(432)528-7724 >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> > > > -- > > > > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > Public Relations Director > U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. > www.metric.org > 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 US > +1(432)528-7724 > mailto:[email protected] > > > > -- James R. Frysinger 632 Stony Point Mountain Road Doyle, TN 38559-3030 (C) 931.212.0267 (H) 931.657.3107 (F) 931.657.3108
