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I remember math class and the âswitch to metricsâ that never happened because they made it so hard. All these calculations! Then I moved to Europe and figured it out in about 2 weeks. A kilo of potatoes is about so many. A litre of milk is about 4 glassfuls. 1m50 is enough fabric to make a dress. Like that. As for temperature, when you get in single digits itâs cold. In my city in summer, if it gets over 37Âș (and it often does, well over) you stay indoors after about 2 PM.
47 years later and the US still hasnât officially switched to the metric system, although those of us in the scientific fields have used metric units for years.
Everywhere they use the Metric system, they actually depend on the Imperial system. If you donât believe me, try to find a Metric ratchet. They are all Imperial. You canât use a Metric socket without an Imperial ratchet.
The big switch to Metric was supposed to happen by 1980. I remember having to do those darn conversion formulas. â27 inches is how many centimetersâ. We got to hate the word âmetricâ. I think it got to be a spending issue in the end.
We received a new lab freezer last year. When setting it up, I had to change the setting from Fahrenheit to Celcius. I was having an issue getting to the âdeep menu settingsâ so I called customer service in another state. Weâre going through the steps and I hear another CS guy in the back ground ask âwhy does she need Celcius?â My guy replies âbecause sheâs in Canada.â My reply? âNo, Iâm in south-central Kentucky standing in a lab, and we use metrics for temperatures. Do I sound Canadian??â The call was on speakerâmy co-workers were rolling.
It was 1963 when they told us we would âsoonâ be switching to the Metric System. Uh huh. Here I sit, collecting Social Security, and itâs STILL not happening other than 2 liter soda bottles.
If the U.S. would ever switch to the metric system, I predict manufacturers would take advantage of the confusion and give us less product for more money.
I remember driving over the George Washington Bridge, on the way to Pennsylvania, back in the â70s sometime, and there was a speed limit sign on the bridge in km/hr. with a small sign under it reading âThink Metric.â I think that was the only metric road sign I ever saw in the United States. When I lived in Buffalo for a couple of years, we used to go to Canada regularlyâno passport needed back in the â70sâand theyâd already converted, so I got used to speed limits in km/hr. and buying gas by the liter (it was cheaper in Canada than in the States back then).
If youâre a scientist or an engineer, then the metric system simplifies things considerably. If youâre not in a technical field, and just need measurements for everytday purposes, the metric system would still be fine, but the imperial system is not as hard or âillogicalâ as promoters of the metric system make it out to be.
Anyway, Sally, if America had gone over completely to the metric system (which is still not impossible), then the old 12 inch rulers would one day be valuable collectibles.
The Hubble telescope did have a lens error due to flaw in a machine that was used to insure accuracy during shaping of one of the lenses.
The flaw had nothing to do with metric versus imperial â the error occurred because a flake of paint had chipped off of part of the testing instrument.
It was repaired (1993 â 30 years ago) by astronauts, who installed a âcorrective lensâ during a space walk (among other upgrades) . The repairs gave Hubble 20-20 vision.
That was the most daring of the many services done to the Hubble. The last one was done in 2009, and it is still sending valuable info to earth.
I switched in 1976 for the bicentennial. The metric system is getting easier as the MKS replaces CGS, Joules for calories, and parsecs for lightyears. Theyâve added new prefixes for the powers of 27 and 30. My oldest scientific interest , astronomy, trails in that system, using CGS and lightyears. Fortunately, Iâve learned a fast way to change lightyears into parsecs.
mccollunsky 2 months ago
Guess it wasnât a ruler with both 12 inches and 30 cm on it.
orinoco womble 2 months ago
I remember math class and the âswitch to metricsâ that never happened because they made it so hard. All these calculations! Then I moved to Europe and figured it out in about 2 weeks. A kilo of potatoes is about so many. A litre of milk is about 4 glassfuls. 1m50 is enough fabric to make a dress. Like that. As for temperature, when you get in single digits itâs cold. In my city in summer, if it gets over 37Âș (and it often does, well over) you stay indoors after about 2 PM.
hariseldon59 2 months ago
47 years later and the US still hasnât officially switched to the metric system, although those of us in the scientific fields have used metric units for years.
Qiset 2 months ago
Everywhere they use the Metric system, they actually depend on the Imperial system. If you donât believe me, try to find a Metric ratchet. They are all Imperial. You canât use a Metric socket without an Imperial ratchet.
charliefarmrhere 2 months ago
Was it the Hubble Telescope or a Mars lander, that had a big problem because someone used metric on the specs instead of Standard inches?
Courage the Cowardly Dog! 2 months ago
Well they didnât switch, didnât they??
Erramontxu 2 months ago
The Sixties when the future was bright
loreleianothername 2 months ago
All you need to remember is -40 = -40
paulbbott1629 2 months ago
The big switch to Metric was supposed to happen by 1980. I remember having to do those darn conversion formulas. â27 inches is how many centimetersâ. We got to hate the word âmetricâ. I think it got to be a spending issue in the end.
tech60 2 months ago
We received a new lab freezer last year. When setting it up, I had to change the setting from Fahrenheit to Celcius. I was having an issue getting to the âdeep menu settingsâ so I called customer service in another state. Weâre going through the steps and I hear another CS guy in the back ground ask âwhy does she need Celcius?â My guy replies âbecause sheâs in Canada.â My reply? âNo, Iâm in south-central Kentucky standing in a lab, and we use metrics for temperatures. Do I sound Canadian??â The call was on speakerâmy co-workers were rolling.
dlkrueger33 2 months ago
It was 1963 when they told us we would âsoonâ be switching to the Metric System. Uh huh. Here I sit, collecting Social Security, and itâs STILL not happening other than 2 liter soda bottles.
phritzg Premium Member 2 months ago
If the U.S. would ever switch to the metric system, I predict manufacturers would take advantage of the confusion and give us less product for more money.
Tra1nman2 Premium Member 2 months ago
I remember driving over the George Washington Bridge, on the way to Pennsylvania, back in the â70s sometime, and there was a speed limit sign on the bridge in km/hr. with a small sign under it reading âThink Metric.â I think that was the only metric road sign I ever saw in the United States. When I lived in Buffalo for a couple of years, we used to go to Canada regularlyâno passport needed back in the â70sâand theyâd already converted, so I got used to speed limits in km/hr. and buying gas by the liter (it was cheaper in Canada than in the States back then).
bradford.j.hamilton Premium Member 2 months ago
I donât have the metric system down cold, but thanks to President Carter I can understand some of it. RIP, Mr. President!
StephenHoyt 2 months ago
It will always be yard lines as long as there is a NFL
dflak 2 months ago
Aviation still uses the imperial system. Distances (like visibility) are measured in miles. Runway lengths and altitudes are measured in feet.
Barometric pressure is measured in inches of mercury.
The knot or nautical mile is a ânaturalâ measurement. It is one second of arc along the Earthâs surface.
The official language of aviation is AMERICAN English.
Uncle Jack 2 months ago
When doing woodwork I often use a metric measuring tape. Itâs so much easier calculating millimeters than fractions of inches.
Bigfieldnutsfan(big Nate + Garfield + peanuts) 2 months ago
Bru nice excuse
Darryl Heine 2 months ago
Was it in the 1970âs schools were trying to get kids to learn the metric system?
uniquename 2 months ago
By staying on the Imperial system, our carpenters are really good at all that math they claimed to hate in school.
Ellis97 2 months ago
Linus nearly beat a bully senseless when his friend got made fun of. Heâs a lot more bold than we usually give him credit for.
Yermo Adam 2 months ago
Probably the other way around. Only ameriKa, Liberia, and Myanmar not gone metric.
Decepticomic 2 months ago
Linus, this is your chance to be good for something. Donât blow it.
Watchdog 2 months ago
She is 1/2 correct.
Kaputnik 2 months ago
If youâre a scientist or an engineer, then the metric system simplifies things considerably. If youâre not in a technical field, and just need measurements for everytday purposes, the metric system would still be fine, but the imperial system is not as hard or âillogicalâ as promoters of the metric system make it out to be.
Anyway, Sally, if America had gone over completely to the metric system (which is still not impossible), then the old 12 inch rulers would one day be valuable collectibles.
jrankin1959 2 months ago
Oh, how wrong they wereâŠ
FireAnt_Hater 2 months ago
The Hubble telescope did have a lens error due to flaw in a machine that was used to insure accuracy during shaping of one of the lenses.
The flaw had nothing to do with metric versus imperial â the error occurred because a flake of paint had chipped off of part of the testing instrument.
It was repaired (1993 â 30 years ago) by astronauts, who installed a âcorrective lensâ during a space walk (among other upgrades) . The repairs gave Hubble 20-20 vision.
That was the most daring of the many services done to the Hubble. The last one was done in 2009, and it is still sending valuable info to earth.
lnrokr55 2 months ago
My ruler has metrics on one side and standard on the other, most of them are this way now.
desertinutah1951 2 months ago
Ha! Ha! Itâs been decades and we still donât use the metric system.
VegaAlopex 2 months ago
I switched in 1976 for the bicentennial. The metric system is getting easier as the MKS replaces CGS, Joules for calories, and parsecs for lightyears. Theyâve added new prefixes for the powers of 27 and 30. My oldest scientific interest , astronomy, trails in that system, using CGS and lightyears. Fortunately, Iâve learned a fast way to change lightyears into parsecs.
anncorr339 2 months ago
Sally you should buy the kid a new ruler