Computer-aided translations don't 'solve' all the problems. FFU very effectively fragments information. We watch football in yards; baseball in feet; golf, it's back to yards again. Gas-fired heaters are rated in 'Btu' [Btu per hour]; electrical heaters in kW; automobile engines in h.p., air conditioners in 'tons' (whatever THAT means). Area is expressed in square inches, square feet, square yards, acres and square miles. Volume is expressed in cubic inches, cubic feet, cubic yards, fl. oz., gallons and barrels. Mass ["weight"] is in ounces [Avoirdupois and Troy], pounds, carats, tons. IT IS LUDICROUS! Duncan -----Original Message----- From: kilopascal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: February 10, 2002 12:28 Subject: [USMA:18117] Re: Weather reports during the Olympics
>2002-02-10 > >With computers, it takes the bite out of using FFU and makes FFU more "easy" >to use for the masses. In this respect computers have taken away the need >to convert to SI. The market can be flooded with SI products but computers >can translate those dimensions into FFU for the masses. > > >John > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ma Be" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Sunday, 2002-02-10 12:10 >Subject: [USMA:18116] Re: Weather reports during the Olympics > > >> John, I'd venture say that these guys may simply have used technology to >lift this burden of conversion off their shoulders. I'd bet big bucks that >they may have developed some computer program to do this dirty work for >them!... ;-) >> >> Marcus >> >> On Fri, 8 Feb 2002 18:12:52 >> kilopascal wrote: >> >2002-02-08 >> > >> >Why do they have to "translate all forecasts"? I thought the posting >from a >> >few days ago stated that SI was used behind the scenes. Thus, the >> >translating that is being done is from SI to FFU, which they must do all >of >> >the time, seven days a week. >> > >> >One would think they would tire of the daily conversions from SI to FFU >and >> >would jump at the chance to drop FFU altogether. >> > >> >John >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >----- Original Message ----- >> >From: "Gene Mechtly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >Cc: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >Sent: Friday, 2002-02-08 11:57 >> >Subject: [USMA:18054] Re: FW: Weather reports during the Olympics >> > >> > >> >> Nikolay, >> >> >> >> Your letter to Mark Eubank is persuasive and excellent! >> >> >> >> Unfortunately, Keith Merrill's reaction leaves much to be desired. >> >> >> >> My evaluations are interleaved below. >> >> .................. >> >> On Fri, 8 Feb 2002, Nikolay O. Malyarov quoted Eubank and Merrill as: >> >> >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> >> > From: Mark Eubank [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >> >> > Sent: Thursday, 7 February 2002 23.37 >> >> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> > Subject: Re: Weather reports during the Olympics >> >> > >> >> > ... translating all forecasts, or having double 7-day forecasts, or F >> >> > and C temps on our maps is very confusing to the people who watch us >> >> > every day. >> >> >> >> The solution is simple: report only Celsius temperatures, at least >during >> >> the Olympics (and hopefully thereafter). >> >> >> >> > There is only so much data within the time contraints we are >> >> > given in news to present data. >> >> >> >> Again, the solution is simple: report only Celsius during the Olympics. >> >> >> >> > I will do some C temps when we forecast for venues or downtown >events - >> >> > single events rather than statewide or long term forecasts. >> >> >> >> "Some C" is not acceptable and an insult to visitors, in my opinion. >> >> >> >> Gene. >> >> >> > >> > >> >> >> Is your boss reading your email? ....Probably >> Keep your messages private by using Lycos Mail. >> Sign up today at http://mail.lycos.com >> >
