well yes, the british have gone metric, but much like canada, most people 
still use imperial/standard terms when writing or speaking.
Metric is taught in schools, not imperial.

73
Colin, V A6BS
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerry Leary" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 4:09 AM
Subject: Re: Metric followup


> Yeah, and the British haven't gone there yet either.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:52 PM
> Subject: Re: Metric followup
>
>
>> We tried here in the U S for years and the public continually and
>> perpetually rejected it.  The same was true when the U S Congress voted
>> that
>> toilets could only use up to 1.6 gallons of water per flush.  For years,
>> everybody downsized.  Eventually, since everybody started flushing twice
>> to
>> keep them from plugging up, the Congress reversed the federal law and now
>> you can use 3.6 gallon tanks like it used to be when I was a kid.  We
>> don't
>> need metric and short toilets.
>>
>> Phil.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "richard fiorello" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:20 PM
>> Subject: Re: Metric
>>
>>
>>> Hi;
>>> The only way to do the conversion to metric is to just do it and suffer
>>> through the adjustment.  Canadians did it and lived.
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Buddy Brannan <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To:  [log in to unmask]
>>> Date: Wednesday, Dec 28, 2011 01:12:34 PM
>>> Subject: Metric
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> All good, except (to be pedantic), the gram is the basic weight of 
>>>> mass,
>>>> =
>>>> not weight. Of course, we assume they're the same, since they kind of =
>>>> are, on earth anyway, but someone who masses 100 kilos on earth will =
>>>> still mass 100 kilos in space, but of course will be weightless. Or as 
>>>> =
>>>> near weightless as to not matter much. Of course, this doesn't matter 
>>>> in
>>>> =
>>>> any practical sense.
>>>>
>>>> BTW, I'm a proponent of picking an arbitrary date and saying that on =
>>>> this arbitrary date, we'll all switch to metric. This gradual 
>>>> switchover
>>>> =
>>>> clearly isn't working. And to all the people who say they "can't deal =
>>>> with metric", of course they can. It becomes second nature after a 
>>>> while
>>>> =
>>>> when it's the only available system of measurement. Eventually, you =
>>>> really do stop doing conversions in your head and just know that 25 =
>>>> degrees is pretty comfortable, while 38 degrees is bloody freakin hot, 
>>>> =
>>>> or that 80 KPH is pretty fast but not awfully fast, and you know 
>>>> without
>>>> =
>>>> knowing that it's about 1.6 KM to the mile more or less, or that temps 
>>>> =
>>>> are, well, anyway, you get the idea. It's just that you don't have to =
>>>> think in metric, so believe it is impossible for you. Of course, my =
>>>> arbitrary switchover date will never happen, and we will continue to be
>>>> =
>>>> bass awkward from the whole rest of the world.
>>>> --
>>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Dec 28, 2011, at 12:09 PM, Howard Kaufman wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > Let's see.
>>>> > I am going back to high school in my memory.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > The metric system is a decimal system, rather like our money system.
>>>> > The basic units are
>>>> > Measurement of distance, the meter.
>>>> > The measure of weight the gram,
>>>> > The measurement of volume the leader.
>>>> > I think that distilled water with a density of 1 means that a leader 
>>>> > =
>>>> of=20
>>>> > water weighs 1 kilogram, but am not sure about that.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > Most of the civilized world uses the metric system.  Therefore we in 
>>>> > =
>>>> the=20
>>>> > United States have to convert from metric to the old English system, 
>>>> > =
>>>> which=20
>>>> > the English do not use any more.  G-D knows how much this =
>>>> nonconformity=20
>>>> > costs us every year.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > A meter is just over a yard in length,  I think 39.1 inches.  making
>>>> > a=20=
>>>>
>>>> > centimeter about .391 inches in length.
>>>> > The system was based on the diameter of the earth at the equator, =
>>>> which is=20
>>>> > 10,000 kilometers.  I think that's right.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > a Kilogram is about 2.2 pounds.  I have no idea how this compares to 
>>>> > =
>>>> weight=20
>>>> > in stone.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > 28 grams of water equals an ounce.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > The system was to calculate temperature in centigrade, with 100 =
>>>> increments=20
>>>> > between the freezing and boiling point of pure water as measured at =
>>>> sea=20
>>>> > level.
>>>> >=20
>>>> > So if we were using the metric system, a half wave dipole, would be
>>>> > 20=20=
>>>>
>>>> > meters in length, or 10 meters either side of the center feed point.
>>>> > =
>>>> Since=20
>>>> > a yard is less than a meter in length, and that difference is =
>>>> multiplied for=20
>>>> > every meter, a formula to convert the length is necessary.
>>>> > So frequency in mhz, divided in to 468 gives you the total length of 
>>>> > a
>>>> > =
>>>> half=20
>>>> > wave dipole.
>>>> > at 7 mhz, 7 in to 46 is 6 with a remainder of 4.  7 in to 48 is 6 
>>>> > with
>>>> > =
>>>> a=20
>>>> > remainder of 6.
>>>> > 7 in to 60 is 8 with a remainder of 4.
>>>> > This gives a figure of 66.8 total length, or 33.4 feet per side.  =
>>>> Since=20
>>>> > their are 12 not 10 inches to a foot, this comes out to 33 and 4 =
>>>> tenths of a=20
>>>> > foot, about 33 feet 5 inches.
>>>> > actually I think it's 33 feet 4.8 inches.  Close enough for 
>>>> > government
>>>> > =
>>>> at=20
>>>> > this frequency, but if you were working at 900 mhz frequencies,
>>>> > quite=20=
>>>>
>>>> > critical.
>>>> > Others who know better can rip this little story to shreds.
>>>