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Jul 23, 2021 10:47:53   #
newvy
 
I was born in Germany, grew up in USA, grandparents were Canadian, raced bicycles in Belgium, in 04 I went to Australia for 3 months and came home 8 years later w a wife, dog and two kids. I speak sae and metric. When I sold trucks in Au I would be asked for a body 6.5 metres long, 2300mm wide and 7 1/2 feet high. Conversions are not that hard. After 8 years here my wife can’t get temp in F she always uses centigrade. Luckily I know that one too.

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Jul 23, 2021 11:22:31   #
marine73 Loc: Modesto California
 
A quick method to convert C to F is to multiply C by 2 and add 30 this will be correct to within 1 degree. This method show that 15c x 2 + 30 = 60f. If you want absolute accuracy stick with the tried and true formula for conversion

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Jul 23, 2021 11:27:29   #
Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA
 
Hey! I could drive 100 legally !! Maybe even 120....

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Jul 23, 2021 12:06:20   #
paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah
 
chrissybabe wrote:
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one that has been to the moon. And I bet the calculations that got it to the moon were in metric ! The last bastion of a non-metric system is you ! The average, older American citizen who has lost the plot (unable to change).
I first went to the US 44 years ago. The US govt was talking about moving to metric then. Finally most American stuff is now metric. Your currency is metric ! Why did you stop there ? Even the distance indicators to Mexico are now in metric for some considerable distance from the border on the US side. Stop being so stubborn and change ! Although it is too late now. The USA will always be known as the last to accept the inevitable change to metric.
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one... (show quote)


Can't fight the system so I have to adapt. Two sets of wrenches. Degrees (temp) are better in ASA. Makes little difference in woodworking but you definitely can't combine the two and some people think that you can but they are selling the product. 10mm does not equal...

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Jul 23, 2021 14:15:01   #
JBRIII
 
chrissybabe wrote:
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one that has been to the moon. And I bet the calculations that got it to the moon were in metric ! The last bastion of a non-metric system is you ! The average, older American citizen who has lost the plot (unable to change).
I first went to the US 44 years ago. The US govt was talking about moving to metric then. Finally most American stuff is now metric. Your currency is metric ! Why did you stop there ? Even the distance indicators to Mexico are now in metric for some considerable distance from the border on the US side. Stop being so stubborn and change ! Although it is too late now. The USA will always be known as the last to accept the inevitable change to metric.
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one... (show quote)


Actually a Mars mission failed in just the last decade or so, because of a conversion error between the two systems.

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Jul 23, 2021 14:35:51   #
alexol
 
It's my understanding that the US is in fact officially metric although there has been no retirement to convert it SI units.

The US, Liberia and Myanmar are the only remaining countries not using the SI system.

I've read someplace that the official change with conversion will be 2023 which will doubtless cause huge confusion for the dinosaurs! Once you've used metric units, the logic is obvious and SO much easier to do just about everything.

Carpenters especially should rejoice - no more cutting off 7/32" from a 3' 1-1/3" board, to leave what exactly?

The key will be how well the conversions are done, especially for traffic signs/distances and weights/measures for shopping.

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Jul 23, 2021 14:45:41   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
chrissybabe, that is interesting that you were here in 1977. This was just a bit after the "gas crisis" and an economic turndown. There was discussion that that would have been the ideal time to convert to metric as it would provide a great deal of jobs, especially in the engineering and science fields. Those were greatly affected by the economic slowdown. Keep in mind that we were in the depths of the "cold war" at the time.

So, one of the reasons that were given for not converting to the metric system was that it would make it easier for Russia to invade the U.S. since that would provide them a system with which they were familiar. As ridiculous as that may be, I would not put it past some people to think that.
--Bob

chrissybabe wrote:
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one that has been to the moon. And I bet the calculations that got it to the moon were in metric ! The last bastion of a non-metric system is you ! The average, older American citizen who has lost the plot (unable to change).
I first went to the US 44 years ago. The US govt was talking about moving to metric then. Finally most American stuff is now metric. Your currency is metric ! Why did you stop there ? Even the distance indicators to Mexico are now in metric for some considerable distance from the border on the US side. Stop being so stubborn and change ! Although it is too late now. The USA will always be known as the last to accept the inevitable change to metric.
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one... (show quote)

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Jul 23, 2021 15:04:05   #
newvy
 
rmalarz wrote:
chrissybabe, that is interesting that you were here in 1977. This was just a bit after the "gas crisis" and an economic turndown. There was discussion that that would have been the ideal time to convert to metric as it would provide a great deal of jobs, especially in the engineering and science fields. Those were greatly affected by the economic slowdown. Keep in mind that we were in the depths of the "cold war" at the time.

So, one of the reasons that were given for not converting to the metric system was that it would make it easier for Russia to invade the U.S. since that would provide them a system with which they were familiar. As ridiculous as that may be, I would not put it past some people to think that.
--Bob
chrissybabe, that is interesting that you were her... (show quote)


I remember when Carter tried to convert to Metric... So much pushback. People dont like change, but it is inevitable. Its so much easier, and yes you will get to "drive 100" and if in SoCal then 130 everyday! I have lots of friends in AU that still use Feet becuase they havent been Metric for that long... Cheers!

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Jul 23, 2021 15:51:56   #
chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand
 
Liberia still uses imperial but is in the process of adopting metric.
Myanmar (and look at the mess they are in) is in the process of adopting the metric system now that it is open (?) to the rest of the world.
It is likely that the US will soon be the only country in the world that has not fully adopted the metric system.
Interesting that the US was concerned about invasion by Russia so decided to stay imperial to make it hard for them. An example of very fuzzy thinking. I doubt very much that something like that would deter anybody from attacking the US.

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Jul 23, 2021 16:14:27   #
khildy Loc: Brownsburg, IN
 
tradio wrote:
You have countries that use the metric system and then you have countries that have been to the moon.


🤣

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Jul 23, 2021 17:16:48   #
hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico
 
chrissybabe wrote:
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one that has been to the moon. And I bet the calculations that got it to the moon were in metric ! The last bastion of a non-metric system is you ! The average, older American citizen who has lost the plot (unable to change).
I first went to the US 44 years ago. The US govt was talking about moving to metric then. Finally most American stuff is now metric. Your currency is metric ! Why did you stop there ? Even the distance indicators to Mexico are now in metric for some considerable distance from the border on the US side. Stop being so stubborn and change ! Although it is too late now. The USA will always be known as the last to accept the inevitable change to metric.
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one... (show quote)


Right now, when I come across metrics, I simply convert. If the US decides to change to metrics, Which I don't think will happen in my lifetime, then I will simply convert.

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Jul 23, 2021 17:48:04   #
tuatara Loc: Orig. NZ - currently SF area
 
tradio wrote:
You have countries that use the metric system and then you have countries that have been to the moon.


While it may be factual that has got to be one of the stupidest "we're better than anybody else" comments I've read for a while.

The metric system is far superior to the imperial system and is used by almost everybody except the USA.

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Jul 23, 2021 18:01:08   #
tuatara Loc: Orig. NZ - currently SF area
 
melismus wrote:
Sad to say, it is not inevitable. The first few gas stations that made the switch suffered huge drop in business and had to switch back. So it will not happen in commerce, and this unruly nation will never accept it by governmental decree.


for a country that obsesses over business profits I find it strange that the US hasn't gone metric. Building two of many things, one for 'mericans and one for export just can't be that profitable.

and let me tell you the old meme that the elderly can't do it is BS, I'm a born and raised New Zealander, been living in the US for quite some time and when I talked to my mother, who died a couple of yrs back just short of 90, I had to talk to her in metric, km kg etc. she had forgotten how to think imperial.

The US just has to get over it's self and switch.

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Jul 23, 2021 19:03:50   #
chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand
 
hookedupin2005 wrote:
Right now, when I come across metrics, I simply convert. If the US decides to change to metrics, Which I don't think will happen in my lifetime, then I will simply convert.

Hmmm. The US is now mostly metric except for the general population, and I suspect the older ones of them. NASA will be metric, most cars are now metric. As long as you walk in and ask for the older style they will keep selling them. If you insist on metric they will soon change. All manfs around the world use metric except yours. All tools imported will be metric (although the manfs probably pander to you guys and make small runs of imperial) because they are cheaper as they will be made in larger quantities. Probably one of the reason why the US has slipped behind in exports because nobody wants what you make because it is the wrong size.
Next garage cleanup I have I will retire all my imperial tools unless it is of such a shape that it is equal to a metric tool.

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Jul 24, 2021 00:36:09   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
chrissybabe wrote:
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one that has been to the moon. And I bet the calculations that got it to the moon were in metric ! The last bastion of a non-metric system is you ! The average, older American citizen who has lost the plot (unable to change).
I first went to the US 44 years ago. The US govt was talking about moving to metric then. Finally most American stuff is now metric. Your currency is metric ! Why did you stop there ? Even the distance indicators to Mexico are now in metric for some considerable distance from the border on the US side. Stop being so stubborn and change ! Although it is too late now. The USA will always be known as the last to accept the inevitable change to metric.
You have every country using metric EXCEPT the one... (show quote)


Hell, who cares whether we use inches, centimeters, picas, or ciceros? So long as they get the job done, all units of measure are welcome.

I use metric and American standards according to what tools I’m using. I really don’t care which. My cars are all metric, so I have two sets of tools.

Most Americans learned metric in high school. For me, that was 50 years ago. There are still some folks who can’t think outside the traps of their own paradigms. They will be subject to the Darwin Award, eventually.

When we finally contact other beings in the galaxy, we’ll have a whole new set of standards to whine about…

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