On 2008/01/28, at 8:10 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Deciliter in the denominator is conventional medical practice in
which "convenient numerical values" are considered more valuable
than coherence of units. The same is true for grams and mg in
medical practice.
Gene.
Dear Gene and All,
The expression you use here, 'convenient numerical values' appears
quite often in many different contexts and, it seems to me, that this
is at the expense of an efficient metrication upgrade.
Another example is the change from millibars to hectopascals in
meteorology where the numbers stay the same while the unit name
changes without gaining the benefits of the coherence of the metric
system or the convenience of the 'rule of thousands'. I am sure that
there are many other examples.
Those who opt for convenient numerical values also opt for a number
of impediments to their metrication program. Essentially they set up
a jargon* term that they must then teach to all new entrants to their
profession at, I suggest an enormous cost both in financial and
efficiency terms.
* Encarta defines jargon as follows:
jar·gon n
1. language that is used by a particular group, profession, or
culture, especially when the words and phrases are not understood or
used by other people
2. pretentious or meaningless language (disapproving)
3. See pidgin
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
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