Re: misc.metric-system

"Gene Nygaard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "JD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> > "Pat Norton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > JD wrote:
> > > >We don't want it. We don't need it. We can't afford it.
> > >
> > > Define 'we'.
> > >
> > > This is an international newsgroup. The proposed newsgroup is
> > > international. If you are the worldwide representative for all
> > > scientists, automobile manufacturers, or urban planners, please
> > > specify.
> >
> > Take it however you want. The OP said the purpose of his new group is to
> > install metric where it does not now exist. So, I say "we" for all who
live
> > and work with imperial units.
> >
> > The U.S. has done just fine for over 200 years. A while back, some fools
> > decided we should change. So, some companies, most notably gas stations,
> > started changing over. In the end, it was a waste of time and money. I
> > haven't seen a gas pump with the litre conversion in a very long time.
> >
> > As for "WE", I speak for everyone I've ever worked with. WE have no need
to
> > convert. WE don't want to convert. WE are fine with feet and inches.
> >
> > All you have to do is follow the money. Who is really going to push for
such
> > nonsense? Every copier, fax, etc will have to be replaced or modified.
> > Odometer, speedometer, textbooks. Everything.
>
> Don't forget replacing all those 14 oz hammers with 400 g hammers.
>
> You get some really wild cost estimates, as long as someone thinks
> they can get Uncle Sam to pay for it.
>
> Of course, you also overlook the benefits in calculating those costs.
>
> Every printer and every copier I've ever had will handle A4 paper with
> no modification.  Talking about paper, it was pretty damn stupid not
> to swetch to the worldwide standard when the U.S. government changed
> its standard paper size in the late 1970s, at considerable expense in
> the form of new desks and the like, because the old ones designed or 8
> inch by 10.5 inch paper wouldn't hold 8.5 inch by 11 inch.
>
> Gene Nygaard

   This is all a non-issue.