 Explanation of English Measurement
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Loquacious
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Perfectly comprehensible. NOT!! Still, having grown up with the imperial system of measurement and forced to convert to metric as a young adult, I can't tell you my height or weight in metric. Temperature is iffy too.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
Perfectly comprehensible. NOT!! Still, having grown up with the imperial system of measurement and forced to convert to metric as a young adult, I can't tell you my height or weight in metric. Temperature is iffy too.
Why KEITH! And here all this time I've always thought of you as SO Canadian, and NEVER as your "average American"!!!
(...well, Trail British Columbia IS just a stones throw from the U.S. border, isn't it...so maybe THAT explains all this then, HUH...errr...EH?!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
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(...well, Trail British Columbia IS just a stones throw from the U.S. border, isn't it...so maybe THAT explains all this then, HUH...errr...EH?!)
And we all know a stone is 14lbs don't we!!
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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If the metric system is so great, how come all ratchets are still 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3/4" 1"? Ever seen a metric ratchet? 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
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Well can someone please explain a UNIT of alcohol? Drunk idiot terms please.
Like a 6 pack of 5.5% abv beer = X units?
Or a 5th (750ml) of Jack Daniels = x units?
A bottle (750ml) of Merlot = X units?
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
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If the metric system is so great, how come all ratchets are still 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3/4" 1"? Ever seen a metric ratchet?
Oh yeah, we went metric up here back in the '70s yet I (we) still measure with an imperial tape. Plywood is 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" etc. and comes in 4x8 sheets. Lumber is 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 and so on. Screws are in inches, houses are measured in square feet, doors are so many inches wide and insulation is inches thick, not centimeters. There's a whole lot of stuff that never went metric, including the way I think. 
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
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One of the few things Ronnie R did that I approved of. Congress passed a bill requiring the U.S. to change to Metric. He couldn't over ride Congress, so he found a way to DEFUND it. And while I understand the logical superiority of Metric, I'm an old cranker and I just don't want to change my thinking.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
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(...well, Trail British Columbia IS just a stones throw from the U.S. border, isn't it...so maybe THAT explains all this then, HUH...errr...EH?!)
And we all know a stone is 14lbs don't we!!
If we're talking about throwing a 14 lb stone that would be a female sport in Highland Games. It's my understanding men throw a 28 lb'r which would be 2 stone.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: May 2007
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
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they throw a stone that is two stones? now I'm all confused again
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Well, I know I've passed a few KIDNEY stones in my life, anyway. (...and brother let me tell ya, THAT ain't no fun!)  
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I STILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT A DERN UNIT IS, ITS DRIVEN ME NUTZ!!!!! 
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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As late as 1900, the US navy included 3 standard barley corns (from the middle of the ear, of course) with every munitions order.
Metric temperature is pretty well meaningless because it is based on the freezing and boiling points of water. Where I live, 100C is about 208F.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Loquacious
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Quote:
As late as 1900, the US navy included 3 standard barley corns (from the middle of the ear, of course) with every munitions order.
Metric temperature is pretty well meaningless because it is based on the freezing and boiling points of water. Where I live, 100C is about 208F.
If you are up at the 2000 ft above sea level where water will boil at 208F then it will boil at 97.75C
Fahrenheit ranges from 0 to 100 as does centigrade based on the original scale by the physicist Daniel Fahrenheit.
I guess that means you are using a 100 point (decimal) system as well. 
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jun 2013
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Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
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I'm an old dog and metric is a new trick! When the U.S. tried to convert to metric years ago, I was afraid the next step would be driving on the left side of the road.
When the wind changes direction - adjust the sails.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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I am in Canada and like Keith i still can't get used to the metric thing.....
2007 Speedmaster and miss it!
2013 T-Bird Storm and Luvin it!
Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I STILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT A DERN UNIT IS, ITS DRIVEN ME NUTZ!!!!!
A UNIT is someone who has far to much alcohol!!!  
05 Speedmaster,Reverse Cone Shortys,Thunderbike AIR Kit,K&N Air Filter,Snorkel Removed,Dynojet Stage 1 Kit(126 main),Needle-Clip 1 From Bottom,42 Pilot,NGK Iridium Plugs,Progressive Springs,Hagon 2810's,Barnett Green Springs,TTP Safe-Start,MOSFET R/R
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Quote:
I STILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT A DERN UNIT IS, ITS DRIVEN ME NUTZ!!!!!
A UNIT is someone who has far to much alcohol!!!
As in he is being such a UNIT..... 
05 Speedmaster,Reverse Cone Shortys,Thunderbike AIR Kit,K&N Air Filter,Snorkel Removed,Dynojet Stage 1 Kit(126 main),Needle-Clip 1 From Bottom,42 Pilot,NGK Iridium Plugs,Progressive Springs,Hagon 2810's,Barnett Green Springs,TTP Safe-Start,MOSFET R/R
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I'm an old dog and metric is a new trick! When the U.S. tried to convert to metric years ago, I was afraid the next step would be driving on the left side of the road.
Oh That would be great! It would mean we could import Yank cars without having to convert them! 
05 Speedmaster,Reverse Cone Shortys,Thunderbike AIR Kit,K&N Air Filter,Snorkel Removed,Dynojet Stage 1 Kit(126 main),Needle-Clip 1 From Bottom,42 Pilot,NGK Iridium Plugs,Progressive Springs,Hagon 2810's,Barnett Green Springs,TTP Safe-Start,MOSFET R/R
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Quote:
Quote:
I'm an old dog and metric is a new trick! When the U.S. tried to convert to metric years ago, I was afraid the next step would be driving on the left side of the road.
Oh That would be great! It would mean we could import Yank cars without having to convert them!
No, sorry Stephen. THAT ain't gonna happen, dude! 
(...and DON'T look for us Yanks goin' back to usin' that superfluous 'u' in certain words any time soon EITHER!!!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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We get a lot of mileage out of that "u".....not kilometers....mileage.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Lucky for me I am "Bilingual". Metrication happen in the UK whilst I was in Year Three at school (that's third grade Elementary for those on on the left side of the Atlantic, but who drive on the right side of the road).....
Now if someone could only explain to me why the US gallon is approx 20% less than the Imperial gallon, I would be happy. Is it just to make the Brits and Canuck's think they get 20% better mileage?
Caspian Blue '03 BA, Union Jack/Stars and Stripes paint, BUBs, Progressive 812s, and lots of chrome
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
Lucky for me I am "Bilingual". Metrication happen in the UK whilst I was in Year Three at school (that's third grade Elementary for those on on the left side of the Atlantic, but who drive on the right side of the road).....
Yes Martin. Your "bilingualism" is very self-evident as witnessed by your use of the word "whilst" here.
Quote:
Now if someone could only explain to me why the US gallon is approx 20% less than the Imperial gallon, I would be happy. Is it just to make the Brits and Canuck's think they get 20% better mileage?
It appears the difference stems from the time from the middle ages when there were actually two liquid gallon measurements used...the "ale gallon" and the "wine gallon".
The origins of these differences lie in the variety of systems that were in use in Britain at the time of the establishment of the first colonies in North America. The American colonists adopted the English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches, and used it for all fluid purposes. The English of that period used this wine gallon, but they also had another gallon, the ale gallon of 282 cubic inches. In 1824, the British abandoned these two gallons when they adopted the British Imperial gallon, which they defined as the volume of 10 pounds of water, at a temperature of 62 °F, which, by calculation, is equivalent to about 277.42 cubic inches (4,546 cm³)- much closer to the ale gallon than the wine gallon, and whereas the wine gallon unit had become firmly established as the standard for a liquid gallon in the United States by this time.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
Lucky for me I am "Bilingual". Metrication happen in the UK whilst I was in Year Three at school (that's third grade Elementary for those on on the left side of the Atlantic, but who drive on the right side of the road).....
Yes Martin. Your "bilingualism" is very self-evident as witnessed by your use of the word "whilst" here.
Quote:
Now if someone could only explain to me why the US gallon is approx 20% less than the Imperial gallon, I would be happy. Is it just to make the Brits and Canuck's think they get 20% better mileage?
It appears the difference stems from the time from the middle ages when there were actually two liquid gallon measurements used...the "ale gallon" and the "wine gallon".
The origins of these differences lie in the variety of systems that were in use in Britain at the time of the establishment of the first colonies in North America. The American colonists adopted the English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches, and used it for all fluid purposes. The English of that period used this wine gallon, but they also had another gallon, the ale gallon of 282 cubic inches. In 1824, the British abandoned these two gallons when they adopted the British Imperial gallon, which they defined as the volume of 10 pounds of water, at a temperature of 62 °F, which, by calculation, is equivalent to about 277.42 cubic inches (4,546 cm³)- much closer to the ale gallon than the wine gallon, and whereas the wine gallon unit had become firmly established as the standard for a liquid gallon in the United States by this time.
Given it all stems from the British there must be a grape seed or barlycorn relationship there somehow.  Thanks for taking us full circle.
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Re: Explanation of English Measurement
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
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The metric system sucks. Orwell nailed it in '1984' when he pointed out that a pint of bitters is just right and a half liter is too much and makes you pee a lot. Besides, just what is a half litter anyway? Is it 3 puppies or 2 kittens?
Looking at history, I feel the Brits had it right and then tossed it all in the bin. When people calculated everything mentally, England ruled half the world. Working out the proper change when 4 farthings were a penny, 16 pennies made a shilling and 20 shillings were a pound, the length of a rod was reckoned from the right feet of the first 12 men at church Sunday morning. The mental power required to deal with non-metric money and measures made people smarter.
The sad part is that they did away with real money to accommodate calculators, resulting in a double dumbing.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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