Is it really a good idea to try and replace something that has become that rarest of beasts: a nearly uncontested international standard? Why not leave well enough alone? So the kilogram has a prefix. So what? That's a pretty tiny wart, as warts go. It is widely understood and accepted, and a lot of ordinary people have been talked into switching, some with great difficulty. Now you want to ask them to switch again? Not gonna happen, and if it did, the metric system would lose some of its luster to people who value consistency (me).
And if a new standard were to be proposed, shouldn't it be directly to the BIPM, not some peripheral institution? People should do what the standard says. It is not a good idea to encourage groups outside of the BIPM to come up with totally new, non-SI ways of doing things. That's not the same as trying to change the standard itself. On top of all that, what's wrong with using an existing unit -- the grave, which was a real unit that actually meant kilogram some time ago -- instead of coining a new one? Gry has other meanings, notably an old unit of length equal to 0.212 mm. The BIPM thinks changing the name of the kilogram now is a bad idea due to the fact that it has become so deeply ingrained, but mentions the grave as the most notable alternative. This link also mentions the correct place to propose changes to SI. http://www.bipm.org/en/scientific/mass/faqs_mass.html Sorry if I sound preachy. This just reminds me of a some unfortunate things that have happened in the world of computer programming standards. "it sure is nice to have a standard for this"... "let's change everything because this isn't pretty enough"... "ok, then we'll just use our own standard"... "gee, I wish there were some standard for this". Be afraid... --- Ron Stone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Dear Pat and all, > > The term 'gry' as a name for a reference unit of mass ([USMA:40308] > Re: kg) promises a few more chief metric benefits than the present > term 'kilogram'. > > One chief metric benefit is coherence with a system of other coherent > units. > > The equivalence of mass of '1 gry' to '1 liter' of water could be > widely appreciated. > > At the same time the rules for usage of metric prefixes would not need > to note an exception like for the term 'kilogram'. > > When used with reference to a designated style guide, I think that the > term 'gry' could be learned and practiced practicably. > > I spoke with my wife Claudia, a biologist, about the use of a term > like 'gry' for a reference unit for mass. The calibration of > instruments for measuring small amounts of liquid might be determined > more practicably if a microliter could be compared directly to a > 'microgry' (with the same prefix), rather than a with a 'milligram'. > > However there may also be some procedures, such as for determining > molar concentrations of solutions, that might already be stated in > terms of certain prefixed expressions, that might call for a > reconsideration of 'mise-en-pratique' if a reference unit for mass is > conformed with the prefixing of other reference units. > > In the meantime, I think that the expression 'gry', and a transitional > symbol 'G' (or with much consensus a 'g') should be placed on the > draft AAT ICAS (Integrated Chronological Applications System, Alliance > for the Advancement of Technology) transitional specifications document: > > AAT ICAS Basilicum-1600-AAT ICAS transitional specifications > 1600-ps05 review of name and symbol for reference unit of mass > 'http://www.aatideas.org/icas/1600.html#go1600s18' > > For those who might be wondering what is AAT ICAS; it is a framework > that is mainly concerned with developing standards for uniform formats > of calendar and clock expressions. Yet ICAS is also concerned with > coordinating to SI and other reference frameworks. > > Some other links on that document: > > Appendix Aâsome initiatives for metric timekeeping or calendaring > 'http://www.aatideas.org/icas/1600.html#go1600s19' > > Appendix Bâsome normative references > 'http://www.aatideas.org/icas/1600.html#go1600s20' > > In addition, AAT is reviewing comments on the development of ICAS on > an ongoing basis; and this includes the standards for 'ICAS in use', > 'ICAS terms of use', and 'ICAS now' open source terms of use. > > As I am serving a role of ICAS development for AAT, I will also try to > see that discussions about ICAS on this list are given consideration > in the development of AAT ICAS. > > Cheers, > > Ron > > ICAS date and time (UT): > > â UCN 12008B01 White â > > â UCA 2008B01 White â > > â IDC (UT) t872 â > > â day of year 031 â > > â AD 2008 January 31 Thursday â > > â SMH (UT) 20:56:30 â > > built with 'ICAS now' open source: > < http://www.aatideas.org/now/icas.html > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > - - - - - - - - - - - > > Ron Stone > > e: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > web: > http://www.enhanceability.com > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > - - - - - - - - - - - > this message does not necessarily reflect > the views of any organization I may be affiliated with, > and should be regarded as personal opinion. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > - - - - - - - - - - - > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? 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