Good Magazine on the history of the official definition of the meter. Includes this humiliating nugget: “There are only three countries that do not use the metric system: Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States.” What's a meter?
The last time I posted on this topic it started a tirade of comments. Apparently there's not much love for the metric system on this side of the Atlantic.
(via daringfireball)
the US DoD as well as the DoCommerce have been metric for over a decade -- the US Army, and Army Core of Engineers have been fully metric since the early 90s.
Posted by: anonymous | August 23, 2007 at 02:08 PM
the US DoD as well as the DoCommerce have been metric for over a decade -- the US Army, and Army Core of Engineers have been fully metric since the early 90s.
Posted by: anonymous | August 23, 2007 at 02:09 PM
I will go metric when the metric system adopts a decimal based calendar and clock. 543 liters per week is how many liters per second?
Posted by: David | August 23, 2007 at 08:09 PM
I wish I grew up using the metric system. It makes much more sense and is based on reality instead of what some king decided would be a yard.
Why would a base 10 calendar and clock make a difference? I guess it would be nice that everyone would have to get used to something new, not just us.
Posted by: Seth | August 24, 2007 at 10:07 AM
You've mentioned this before, and as a young Canadian who grew up using the Imperial system (even though they taught us the metric system in school), I think you over estimate who uses metric in the world. Lies, damned lies and statistics I guess!
Most Canadians, Brits and Australians I know use the imperial system. Pounds instead of kilos, feet and inches instead of cm, hands to measure a horse the list goes on and on.
Besides this annoying little factoid that keeps reoccurring: I always enjoy your blog! :D
Posted by: anonymous | August 27, 2007 at 08:26 AM