I agree with that. However, NIST has CLEARLY indicated that the centimeter is OK for trade. They may feel the dekameter is fine too, in general, but in fact, it is not OK for trade. I believe we are talking about practice here, as the way height is stated has ramifications in medical records, driver licences records, ID documents, criminal records etc. Individuals might be free to choose how they state it, but I do think officials need to agree on a practice. As to which practice, meters or centimeters would be reasonable choices, although we should agree on one. I think millimeters is a poor choice for reasons I have already argued.
--- On Thu, 7/30/09, James R. Frysinger <j...@metricmethods.com> wrote: From: James R. Frysinger <j...@metricmethods.com> Subject: [USMA:45468] Re: centimeter To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 5:41 PM John, Now you're talking U.S. law and regulation regarding a particular application: labeling. It is perfectly fine to specify which form of a unit should be used in certain applications if one wishes to standardize **practice**. For example, the ICAO might decide to specify that all flight altitudes should be given in kilometers. Woe betide the pilot who is assigned to fly at 1000 dam but hears that as 1000 m. By limiting altitude information, reporting, and direction to one specific form, the meter, a large number of potential problems are obviated. But, NIST is the NMI and WMO for the U.S. Therefore, as a matter of general practice, they see the meter and the dekameter as being equally valid **in general**, that is, as far as SI goes. For NIST to state a universal practice for all applications would be neither practical nor desired. Jim John M. Steele wrote: > I agree with Jim F's comments, but I would like to make an additional point. > NIST was the technical advisor (and possibly ghostwriter) for the FTC's >detailed rules in support of the FPLA, and advisor to NCWM on the language of >the UPLR. As a matter of state and Federal law, the centimeter is an approved >unit of length in that legislation (in the range 1.00 - 999 cm). So their >position seems pretty clear and happens to be different from yours. (In >squared and cubed form, also permitted for area and volume within applicable >ranges). > Current laws would require amendment to say it can't be used for trade. > > --- On *Thu, 7/30/09, Robert H. Bushnell /<roberthb...@comcast.net>/* wrote: > > > From: Robert H. Bushnell <roberthb...@comcast.net> > Subject: [USMA:45460] centimeter > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> > Cc: usma@colostate.edu > Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 1:10 PM > > > Does NIST have any comments, reports, policies or recommendations > about the use of centimeter? Or not use of centimeter. > > I want everyone to stop using centimeter. How are we to convert to > SI if, when we hear centimeter we think, "now how many inches is that"? > Centimeter causes this problem because it is near the size of the inch. > This makes it hard to stop using inches. People keep comparing > centimeters to inches. > > Millimeter does not have this problem. > > Can NIST help get rid of inches? > > Thanks for your ideas. > Robert Bushnell, PhD PE > member USMA > member ASTM > -- James R. Frysinger 632 Stony Point Mountain Road Doyle, TN 38559-3030 (C) 931.212.0267 (H) 931.657.3107 (F) 931.657.3108
