Re: [USMA:48045] Re: KG3U unitsI still prefer SAMS (Stone Age Measurements).
Short neat acronym.
John F-L
----- Original Message -----
From: Patrick Moore
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 1:44 PM
Subject: [USMA:48053] Re: KG3U units
In science and engineering publications, I call the WOMBAT units "obsolete,"
"old-fashioned," "old," or "disfavored." The words "U.S." and "customary" are
misleading and do the public a disservice by giving positive associations to
bad habits. For the same reasons, I would never call them "traditional" or a
"system."
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From: Paul Trusten <trus...@grandecom.net>
Reply-To: <trus...@grandecom.net>
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 22:52:19 -0500
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Subject: [USMA:48045] Re: KG3U units
IMHO, John, I have decided to call them nothing more than traditional
measurement units. The U.S. has already declared officially its preference for
metric (Metric Conversion Act of 1975 as amended 1988), and had already defined
legally these traditional units in metric terms (Mendelhall Order, 1893). No
nation need claim the old units as their own. Personally, I have stopped using
the expression "U.S. customary units."
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: John M. Steele <mailto:jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
To: U.S. Metric Association <mailto:usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: 04 July, 2010 10:11
Subject: [USMA:48034] KG3U units
In honor of Independence Day, I think the "battle" of what to call US
traditional units (Customary, WOMBAT, etc) should be decided in favor of King
George III Units (KG3U). I don't wish to stir up any anti-British feelings
here, but lets face it, WE didn't like King George.
It is historically accurate as the US "locked in" various units that
pre-date the improvements of the Imperial system in 1824. The definitions of
the Queen Anne or wine gallon and Winchester or corn bushel were apparently
redefined in 1707 by an Act of Parliament, and used at the time of the
Revolution.
(The cubic measures, 231 in" and 2150.42 in" were previously cylindrical
measure, diameter and height; rounding produced small value changes).
Our metric idiots frequently cry out "We don't need no foreign rulers."
KG3U is a good reminder that we measure using the foreign ruler of the very
foreign ruler we overthrew in 1776. So, if we really don't need foreign
rulers, KG3U represents EXACTLY what we don't need. Complete the Revolution,
throw out KG3U!
The obvious alternative to King George III Units is the modern
International System of Units (SI). Yes, the early metric system was
developed by the French and others (remember, they were our allies in the
Revolutionary War). However, development of the SI is overseen by democratic
processes among those nations (including the US) who signed the Treaty of the
Meter (either 1875, the initial treat as we did, or at some later day). As it
is created democratically, not imposed by a King, and we like democracy, we
should like and fully adopt the SI. Throw out the foreign ruler, throw out
KG3U.
