Then why would NASA list Burma, Liberia, Muscat, and South Yemen as the other countries not using metric?
http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/metric.html Note that the web page claims it was last updated on Sep 28, 2007 (bottom of page). It also lists the responsible NASA official as John M. Kusterer. Should he be getting a letter from Paul? Ezra -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "Paul Trusten, R.Ph." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Thank you for the correction, Michael. Come to think of it, this fact sets > even > more of an example for the U.S., since it can thus be said that the U.S. is > the > only remaining nation that does not use the metric system as its primary, > everyday system of measurement, be it official or not. > > Quoting Michael Payne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > It's misinformation to state that Burma and Liberia avoid the metric system. > > They don't, they are predominately metric. The only reason they are on this > > list of non-metric countries (CIA website) is that they don't have an > > 'Official Policy of Conversion'. Despite having no official policy, they > > have both become predominantly metric, including metric speed limits, signs > > with km/h and speedometers with km/h, fuel sold in liters, etc. I wish we > > would not give out the misinformation that they are not metric when they > > are. > > > > I wrote an article on this for Metric Today about 10 years ago after > > visiting both countries. > > > > Michael Payne > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Paul Trusten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, 05 November 2007 16:55 > > Subject: [USMA:39678] China and Japan beat U.S. back to the moon > > > > > > > Dear National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Officials, > > > > > > Fifty years ago this year, the U.S. was reeling from the shock of a > > > technological coup from the Soviet Union, which launched the world's > > > first artificial earth satellite, Sputnik, on October 4, 1957. Back > > > then, an inspired U.S. responded by creating NASA and the Mercury, > > > Gemini, and Apollo projects that landed us on the moon first in 1969. > > > This morning, our country once again faces challenges,and from not just > > > one, but two competitors, China and Japan. Both countries claim > > > spacecraft currently orbiting the moon. See > > > http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5274045.html . > > > > > > But,where is the United States on this? Can we again meet the challenge? > > > Do we still have what it takes to compete scientifically, as we did a > > > half-century ago? > > > > > > But, our country does not use the same system of measurement as China > > > and Japan. We avoid the metric system along with only two other nations, > > > Myanmar (Burma) and Liberia, which are not known for their scientific > > > influence. Perhaps it is not the lack of the metric system alone that is > > > keeping us down, but our clinging to imperial units of measure is > > > symptomatic of the scientific malaise that threatens to kayo us from the > > > world stage of research. > > > > > > Once more, I urge NCTM to consider teaching the metric system > > > exclusively in U.S. schools. That the metric system currently competes > > > with the units on street signs is a point we can no longer afford to use > > > as an excuse. Our students are being robbed of a necessary part of their > > > science "language." The world is going to pass us by, just as we once > > > bypassed the world with our scientific talent. > > > > > > SI-ncerely, > > > > > > -- > > > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > > > Public Relations Director > > > U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. > > > www.metric.org > > > 3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 > > > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > > > +1(432)528-7724 > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > Public Relations Director > U.S. Metric Association, Inc. > Phone +1(432)528-7724 > www.metric.org > 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://oleapothecary.blog.com >
