Re: Metric Time (was Re: Why not 13 months? (Was La Systeme Metrique))
Robert A. Uhl (ruhl@phoebe.cair.du.edu)
13 Oct 1995 05:39:22 GMT
In article <45j83h$4as@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, MacFAQ <macfaq@aol.com> wrote:
>
>hatunen@netcom.com (DaveHatunen) wrote:
>> In article <45g945$lcl@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, MacFAQ <macfaq@aol.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Another reason the metric system is better: the main units of volumetric
>>>measure span a small range of volumes. Measuring tiny volumes requires
>>>small fractions. Measuring large volumes requires using a large number
>of
>>>digits. The metric system has things like microliters and megaliters to
>>>deal with the extremes.
>>
>>Ever heard of a dram?
>
>Sure, but it's a unit of weight, not volume. What's your point?
I believe the point was that it's an itsy-bitsy unit. We have the
tablespoon (== fl. oz. == jigger) which is ~ cubic in. (believe that
it originally was). We also have the hogshead and the pipe (two
hogshead). They are _huge_. Quite as useful as the ridiculous
megaliter (conveys no meaning; I bet that the volume of the ocean is
told to schoolchildren in liters or perhaps kiloliters.
--
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| Bob Uhl | Spectre | `En touto nika' + |
| U of D | PGG FR No. 42 | http://mercury.cair.du.edu/~ruhl/ |
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