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rachamphetamine · 01-12-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectreBlofeld

There are situations in which systems other than base-10 are more useful; that's why metric time never took off, for instance. Base 60 for time is much more practical on an everyday basis:

(from Sexagesimal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )

I'm not arguing for a new system to tell time. I prefer the physical-based measurements of the metric system (if that's even the right term, I don't even know) such as meter, kilometer, kilogram, etc.

Jadey · 01-12-2009, 02:03 PM

Wirelessly posted (wap! woop woop!)

SI units FTW

mriff · 01-12-2009, 06:04 PM

The science community in the Unites States has switched. Long ago. Now to tell those not familiar with the metric system our answers, we have these long convoluted lists of conversions. We even have these whacked out conversion calculators that have seemingly hundreds of buttons.

I completely agree. Just switch already. It's a far simpler system.

kjjb0204 · 01-13-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jadey

Yes, yes you do! Roundabouts are brilliant.

I hope you don't get them though. I love watching US drivers navigating roundabouts.
I love watching US drivers on most English roads, actually. There is always confusion why the roads are so "bendy" for no reason, but a lot of the infrastructure here dates back thousands of years (they were dirt roads pre-Roman times) - in those days, it was easier to go round the tree than move the tree and build a straight road.

Plenty of roundabouts here in New England. Of course, here it's called a rotary. Being that our area is called "new" england, I can understand why we have so many. Just navigated two today in fact....

ackers · 03-11-2009, 03:26 PM

Anyway that's a bit off-topic, but sort of on since my biggest frustration with the imperial system is on the roads. It makes so much more sense to say that an exit from the motorway is 500 m ahead instead of 1/3 mi.

500 yards is close enough.

Metrification is quite easy for most every day things, 500g is as near as dammit to 1 pound, 1 kilo to 2 pounds, 1 yard is 1 metre, if you want to measure the length of something turn the ruler over and use the other scale. If the speed limit is 55kph read the numbers on the speedo. It's not a question of metric being easier to work out, it's more the case that with the modern English education system mental arithmetic has been thrown out with the bath water.

areardon87 · 03-12-2009, 07:24 PM

The metric system is the way to go. I'm in the Army and we use it for about everything. All of our distance measurements are done in meters and such. I wish also that we would switch to it.

All in favor, say 'I'.

dc/dc · 03-12-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areardon87

The metric system is the way to go. I'm in the Army and we use it for about everything. All of our distance measurements are done in meters and such. I wish also that we would switch to it.

All in favor, say 'I'.

It's easy to do when you just switch, rather than a gradual change.

I adjusted fine when I got to Iraq and Qatar.

areardon87 · 03-12-2009, 08:02 PM

I was deployed to Iraq in '07. Did combat patrols throughout fallujah, baghdad, ramadi, and others.. Spent a lot of time in BIAP.. went to Qatar for a 4 day pass. What part were you in bro? and you're right. It is a lot easier to do when you just switch.

dc/dc · 03-12-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areardon87

I was deployed to Iraq in '07. Did combat patrols throughout fallujah, baghdad, ramadi, and others.. Spent a lot of time in BIAP.. went to Qatar for a 4 day pass. What part were you in bro? and you're right. It is a lot easier to do when you just switch.

Hung out at Joint Base Balad (aka LSA Anaconda, Balad Air Base) at the end of '07 and early '08 and have been to Qatar several times. My most recent time there was March '08, but I'll be headed there in a few weeks hopefully.

dankarlinski · 03-12-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectreBlofeld

As long as it's not like this one:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/conte...ut_470x350.jpg

i would totally crash in that. lol

areardon87 · 03-12-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc/dc

Hung out at Joint Base Balad (aka LSA Anaconda, Balad Air Base) at the end of '07 and early '08 and have been to Qatar several times. My most recent time there was March '08, but I'll be headed there in a few weeks hopefully.

Cool man. Been to Anaconda. We might have been at the same FOB a few times. Hey, I got a bunch of Riyals from Qatar. Do you know what the current exchange rate is? Take it easy bro.

dc/dc · 03-13-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areardon87

Cool man. Been to Anaconda. We might have been at the same FOB a few times. Hey, I got a bunch of Riyals from Qatar. Do you know what the current exchange rate is? Take it easy bro.

Usually it is around 3.65 QR/1 USD, today it is 3.64 according to xe.com.

I wouldn't trade QR though. It's a good currency to keep.

dankarlinski · 03-13-2009, 09:25 AM

yeah.. dont change currency. the USD is doing really crappy right now. inflation will set in soon... itl just be a mess

areardon87 · 03-13-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc/dc

Usually it is around 3.65 QR/1 USD, today it is 3.64 according to xe.com.

I wouldn't trade QR though. It's a good currency to keep.

Thanks for the update bud. Yeah, I wasn't going to trade it.. just curious as to the exchange rate. It is a pretty cool looking currency though.

Have you gotten to go jet skiing on the Persian Gulf yet? That's one of the things I did on my 4-day pass. It was in Feb, and cold as hell.. but still a blast.. the water is awesome looking.

monkeypaw · 03-13-2009, 04:07 PM

I was in grade school in the early 70's when this was tried. I think it was a poorly thought out education plan. They would focus on conversion rather than just using the measurements. To this day I remember enough of those that I can do the conversions, but I have to convert. If someone's weight is 72kg, how much is that? I have no ingrained reference, I have to mentally convert.

They should have mandated common objects be in metric with a short phase in period. For food, just change the existing labels not the size of the cans. Have the double labeling, but remove the oz in 2 years or so. Instead, to this day, there is double labeling. People look at the measure they're familiar with. They don't look at the other for future reference.

The 2-liter bottle is one of the few things that made it.

These days, it's not such a big deal. No need to carry a specialzed conversion calculator or tables as long as you've got internet service.

dc/dc · 03-13-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areardon87

Thanks for the update bud. Yeah, I wasn't going to trade it.. just curious as to the exchange rate. It is a pretty cool looking currency though.

Have you gotten to go jet skiing on the Persian Gulf yet? That's one of the things I did on my 4-day pass. It was in Feb, and cold as hell.. but still a blast.. the water is awesome looking.

No, but I'd like to... I'm usually too busy with work... :(

Last time I was there, I was too busy shopping and partying... LOL

I went to Qube, the club at the Ramada, one of the nights and it was effing WILD!

areardon87 · 03-13-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc/dc

No, but I'd like to... I'm usually too busy with work... :(

Last time I was there, I was too busy shopping and partying... LOL

I went to Qube, the club at the Ramada, one of the nights and it was effing WILD!

Lol ohh yeah.. partying there can get wild.. I dont remember much of the night we went out partying in Qatar.. I assume we had a blast lol.