For more information, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Transverse_Mercator_coordinate_system .
_____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: 30 December 2009 18:45 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:46330] Re: 144 years to go.... The army uses the Military Grid Reference System (as does NATO) which is a UTM projection using metric grid. Assuming the bad guys are ex-military gone mercenary, this situation would exist today. MGRS is also the basis of US National Grid (USNG) which the Feds are trying to teach at least to first responders as a universal mapping system, in case they are deployed to areas they are not familiar with (forest fires, hurricanes, etc). For those not familiar with it, navigation within 100 km squares is in meters of easting and northing from SW corner, identical to UK Ordnance Survey. Because we are a bigger country, the designation and tiling of 100 km squares is a little different to cover the larger area. _____ From: Harry Wyeth <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Wed, December 30, 2009 1:21:28 PM Subject: [USMA:46329] 144 years to go.... Only 144 years to go before SI is implemented in (presumably) the US, according to "Avatar", the latest blockbuster hit. In 2154 the bad guys measure military distances in "klicks" (I hate the term!) and I think there is a reference to meters in one part dealing with firing distances. It is, off topic, a simply beautiful and truly innovative movie, but it would be a waste to see it in other than 3D. Plot is so-so. HARRY WYETH
