-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Metric Story
Date: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:52:21 -0500
From: John Nichols <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Chad:
I enjoyed your story about the metric signs. There are actually some
places in the USA with metric speed signs - having seen them on my
travels - including the Houston International Airport.
Of course when you refer to a foot for instance you have to be careful
to say which one you mean, the USGS original foot or the metric foot? A
big difference if you are going a long distance.
There are other quirks of the US customary units - there is a
measurement in Texas defined as a cigarette - 1240 feet. I understand
from the lawyers it is perfectly legal, or the old Barley Corn unit -
perfectly legal in the USA and quite customary.
Unfortunately a lot of the old units are dying out and we are left with
just a few, pity really - of course there can be fatal consequences for
not knowing your metric units - but that is another story
JMN
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/24077659/good-question-why-are-speed-limits-posted-in-kilometers
--
*John Nichols*| Associate Professor
Construction Science Department | Texas A&M University
ph: 979.845.6541 |
| *[email protected]
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www.tamu.edu*
