28 May
2010
28 May
'10
2:42 p.m.
Tony Duell [ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk] wrote:
Am I the only person who objects to a _weight_ being
quoted
in kg? When I
was asekd for my body weight, I gave it in newtons :-)
I'm sure she meant to write kgf. BTW did you assume 9.81m/s^2 or
did you account for local gravitational field strength variations :-)
Odd.. When I was weifght in a hosptial, it was
measured in stones and
pounds (and the nurse had a conversion table to kg).
I've never been weighed by a medic, but the last time my young'un
was weighed the machine didn't do imperial units.
And it's one of the most stupid laws we have!
Provided both parties
involved in the transaction agree on what is being traded,
the governemnt
should not interfere. If I want to buy 5 yards of cable, and
the shop is
prepared to cut me that length, what is the problem?
The problem is that some smart Alec will sell you 5 Elbonian
yards (but the Elbonian part will be in really small print, in
white ink on a white background). Weights and measures have been
regulated in various ways, in various places for a long time.
The only thing that's changed recently is the units that can
be used. A free-for-all will just let the con merchants thrive
and that's bad for all of us. So your only objection is that
they can only sell in one system instead of two. There's not
a great deal of difference between 5 yards and 5 metres ...
it's only going to be rapidly yanked off a reel, measured
approximately on the wooden gauge by the reels and
then cut approximately. In our local shed you get to cut yourself
and declare a length at the checkout ... must remember to try
declaring a fraction of a furlong some time :-)
Antonio