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April 2009

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Subject:
From:
Joe Fjelstad <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]
Date:
Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:21:31 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (254 lines)
Thanks Steve, 
 
Seems I am now chronometrically challenged as well... ;-)  

Best! 
Joe
 
 
In a message dated 4/15/2009 9:07:32 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Joe,

No!  It is NOT Friday yet!  You are pushing it a  bit ol' man  :-)

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From:  TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe Fjelstad
Sent: Wednesday,  April 15, 2009 12:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] NTC? SI vs  imperial, cont.

Thanks Graham

Interesting indeed. The professor  created quite an interesting  scenario. 
A 
lot of assumptions about  how observant, resourceful  and clever  folks 
were 
back in those  days and what they might be doing when  they were not busy 
getting  themselves fed, clothed, watching the kids, fighting  with others
and  
keeping warm (then again they did not have the  television to  distract 
them 
;-)

This now to resolve/relate another ancient  measure, the cubit, and the  
megalithic yard. 

From the web:  

"Eastman's bible dictionary says there are at least 2 measures for the  
term 
"cubit":

Standard cubit = elbow to end of middle finger   (~20").
Lower forearm cubit = elbow to base of the hand (~12").

So  if a cubit is a foot then it is possible that the megalithic yard could 
  
be 3 cubits and the cubit (which is easily discovered/derived and  very  
transportable :-) could also have been used as a measure that  would also  
possibly explain the commonality to my thinking  

The problem with the cubit is that it changes over time. People used  to  
be 
of smaller stature. 

Is it Friday yet?... ;-)   

Cheers, 
Joe



In a message dated 4/15/2009 5:31:55  A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask]  writes:

Louis et  al

The history of measurement goes far  back in time.

If anyone  has the interest go read:   
http://www.robertlomas.com/megyard/index.html

I find it a  fascinating  subject and keep my mind wide open to   
alternative  considerations.

Graham Naisbitt
Gen3  Systems

On 14 Apr 2009,  at 17:06, Louis Hart wrote:

>  Joe, et al, If I am correct, the US  has been using international   
> units officially since 1890. At  that time, I believe the  Imperial  
> units were legally defined in  terms of the  metric ones. (For  
> whatever good that   did.)
>
> I largely refuse to use the Imperial units, unless   asked, as many  
> people, including engineers, often do. My  wife  is an artist who also  
> does framing work (with a lot  of help  from me). Occasionally, I make  
> a mistake and use  the legitimate  excuse that measuring, adding, etc,  
> with  the Imperial units  most material suppliers provide set me up   
> for an error. If I  could use International units, chances of  an  
> error are  enormously reduced. When I can start  measurements from the  
>  beginning, on my own terms, I use  international units and feel much   
> more comfortable. So I  see, in a very small way at first hand,  some  
> of the cost  of using an outmoded system of  units.
>
> Incidentally, I  have to admire the surveyors who,  during the French  
>  Revolution, went all over the country during  turbulent times with   
> their strange equipment to determine how  big a meter  was.
>
> Louis Hart
>
> -----Original   Message-----
> From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of  Joe  Fjelstad
> Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:52 AM
>  To:  [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [TN] European Union Council  Directive  80/181/EEC  
> (Metric Directive)
>
>  This is has been  a sore spot for me for some years. Actually,  the   
>  Metric
> Convention was signed in Paris  on May 20, 1875 by 17  countries,  
> including
> the  USA and we continue to move  toward its adoption "inch by inch"  ;-)
> Actually  we have been  backsliding and future  generation will suffer  
> as a   result,
>  especially the fields of science and engineering. There is a   beauty   
> and
> logic to the metric system with   interrelated units of measurement  
> rather   than
>  disparate and arcane units of ancient  origins.
>
> The metric  system makes sense where all the  others are rooted in
> nonsense....  furlongs per fortnight?   And who can fathom the  
>  fathom?  (actually it  is
> from the old  English "faethem"  which means
>  outstretched arms  hence the length of the  outstretched arms  now  
> taken as 6
> feet but it only   applies to  depth in water [sigh] )
>
> There is a timeless poem by  Sam  Walter Foss called The Calf Path
>   (http://www.holyjoe.net/poetry/foss3.htm) that is worth reading   and   
> pondering. This
> is especially the case  when  one thinks about the  increasingly  
>  outdated
>  measurement system we continue to cling to in  the  states like some   
> sort of
> security blanket.  Unfortunately, a security  blanket  won't help when  
>  your
> sinking into the  fathoms as our children will. And so  it  goes...
>
> Excuse  the rant.
>
>  Joe
>
> **************Why pay full  price? Check out this  month's deals on  
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