That's a very good example, Martin. And they say we 'don't agree' ?!?! Tcha!
From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42549] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:27:59 +0000 Jerry, A typical adverisement for a UK house can be found at http://www.propertyfinder.com/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&id=504161763. (This is my wife's uncle's house). From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeremiah MacGregor Sent: 25 January 2009 18:00 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:42547] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? Stephen, It seems that you and Martin just have different experiences with Realtors. I'm sure each Realtor does it their own way according to their own preference. It sure would be better if they picked one way and stuck with it. I would prefer a L x W measurement as that would tell me the shape of the room as well as the size. Jerry From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 12:29:34 PM Subject: [USMA:42532] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? I have seen a more widespread use of 'sq m' come in -and then go. I suspect that there was a moment in time when the threat of law came down on these advertisers and then rescinded. I'm in agreement with you that 'second houses abroad' tend to be in sq m - I know this from practical reasons. UK houses tend to be sold by individual room W x L than via square measures though - again just a historical thing probably. From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42527] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:19:03 +0000 Steve, You might well have noticed that over the past few months an increasing number of estate agents are using both square feet and square metres in their advertisements for office space (at least they do where I live, which according to my motorway junction is 55.7 km from the middle of London). Also, today, I saw a set of house advertisements that were entirely in metric units – OK, they were for Spanish houses, but if Britons insist on using square feet, how will they know what they are being sold if they are buying a place in the sun? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Stephen Humphreys Sent: 25 January 2009 16:57 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:42520] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? An example of business use - office space is advertised in sq feet. Rarely this is backed up by bracketed sq m. Try not to make it look as if the only imperial used is in the newspapers and on TV. From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42501] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:08:37 +0000 Jerry, As regards units of measure, Britain runs an Apartheid system – business and official matters are conducted in metric units, but the press barons have instructed their editors to convert any metric units into imperial units for the benefit of the British consumer. As a result the man-in-the-street is unfamiliar with metric units unless he comes across them in his work situation. From: Jeremiah MacGregor [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 24 January 2009 15:22 To: Martin Vlietstra; U.S. Metric Association Subject: Re: [USMA:42425] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? Martin, Why would they convert back? Isn't Britain fully metric now like Australia and others? I thought they converted in the 1960s, so by now only the real old should still remember older units.. Jerry From: Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 10:20:38 AM Subject: RE: [USMA:42425] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? When traveling on the Continent, I have noticed that most British travelers tend to repeat the units that they have heard or seen – they tend not to convert back to Imperial units. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeremiah MacGregor Sent: 24 January 2009 14:28 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:42425] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? Jason, Do immigrants speak among themselves using metric units or do they conform to American practice of using English units even in their native languages? What about the goods they sell in their native shops? Are they sold to each other in metric units or English units (lbs of kg)? Jerry From: Jason Darfus <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:05:39 PM Subject: [USMA:42355] Re: Is there any literature on metrication in the US aimed at immigrants? On 18 Jan 2009, at 09:39, Pierre Abbat wrote: > It appears that the immigrants try to conform to what they think is the way we > do it. Is there any literature aimed at people who come here already knowing > metric, but haven't lived through the introduction of metric in the 1970s, > empowering them to push Americans to metricate? > > Pierre I think you're right in suggesting that immigrants, most of whom are inherently from metricated countries, feel it's not their place to complain about the way things are done here regarding measurement. The thought of producing some kind of a handout to be given to immigrants in the grocery store has occurred to me. This could be produced in an attractive way, written in multiple languages, and would ask the patrons to request of store management the posting of metric pricing signs in the produce, deli, and meats departments for example. The stores would also have to be equipped with switchable scales, as all the grocery stores I visit use scales that are only capable of displaying "lbs". I've written to the stores I shop at and my request has been summarily ignored, but they probably would take notice if they received many similar requests. I've even offered to buy a new dual unit hanging scale for a local coffee roaster/store if they'd price their beans by the kilo or 100g in addition to their lbs. Again there was no response. Share your photos with Windows Live Photos – Free Try it Now! Share your photos with Windows Live Photos – Free Find out more! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail, Messenger, Photos and more - all with the new Windows Live. 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