>>> New numbers are often marked alone, but many people, even supervisors,
still prefer old #. I doubt if they do not like excessively large numbers,
as in the am/pm case. The mixture of 2 sets of numbers are so stupid,
comparable to mixture of the SI & >>> >>> WOMBAT; and mixture of 24 h time &
am/pm (some even convert by adding/subtracting 10 rather than 12, e.g.,
15:00 = 5pm? Wrong!). These require avoidable conversions. I doubt what kind
of education level they have received.
I brought up a point about FFU a few months back. My point was that FFU
consists of internal conversion factors between unit steps always being less
than 20. This is because in the old days and also now among a majority of
innumerates, people can not work with numbers past 20. Must be because they
only had 20 fingers total to count with. The 24 hour clock goes past 20 and
that is confusing to them. Don't assume because you speak in FFU, people
understand you. All you have to do is parrot an FFU word and people think
they understand you. You can precede an FFU word with any number and you
will get an expression of recognition because you said an FFU word.
If someone asks you to convert to FFU for them, just make up some number.
Chances are they will never know the difference. And if they do, tell them
you guessed, or you knew the exact amount in metric, but got the conversion
wrong. Another good one is: "I didn't think you knew FFU (or what ever name
you call it) anyway. Like most people you just pretend to and muddle your
way through. So, what difference does it make what I tell you? Why must I
try to use difficult measurements that you yourself don't understand? I can
only be accurate in metric. If you don't want to know metric, then don't
ask me. Am I clear?
The whole am/pm situation is a big joke. I remember being behind a couple
at the airport as they argued with the clerk about their flight.
Apparently, they had a "7:30" flight (19:30 h), but they were dropped off at
the airport for what they thought to be an 07:30 h flight. In essence they
showed up 12 hours to soon. They came from Akron, Ohio about an hour's
drive from the Cleveland airport and were dropped off there. So, their
mistake meant they had to wait at the airport for 12 h.
I wonder how many other people make that mistake. Also, how many people
have missed taping their favourite program because they set their VCR to am
instead of pm or vice-versa? How many will admit to this type of mistake?
How many would rather continue taking the chance of making these mistakes
instead of advocating a change to the 24 h clock?
What irks me, is most digital clocks are not 24 h friendly. They should all
be required to allow a choice. And also VCR's too.
John
Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrt�mlich glaubt
frei zu sein.
There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they
are free!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
