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Anglo/US measurement phobia

To: "Austin-Healey List" <healeys@autox.team.net>
Subject: Anglo/US measurement phobia
From: "William Moyer" <William.Moyer@millersville.edu>
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 08:08:52 -0400
Folks,

There's nothing more or less "logical" about any system of measurement.
Logic is a thin reed to grasp in any event, but that's another
discussion.  There's nothing magic about either the base 10 or the
choice of meters as a measurement.  A base 12 is actually more flexible
since 12 is evenly divisible by 2,3,4,and 6 whereas 10 is evenly
divisible by only 2 and 5.  The problem is people only have 10 fingers
to help them count.  Include your big toes and that problem is solved.
The selection of the "meter" was made by a bunch of French scientists in
the 1700's who determined that the standard of measurement should be a
fraction of the meridian passing through Paris.  Now there's a standard
for you.  Nothing subjective about that.   Why not 10 times the length
of Napoleon's favorite tool?   And  they got it wrong in the first place
by 2mm..  And they got it wrong the second time as well.  Imagine that.
Now it's determined by a fraction of the speed of light.  Got your light
speed measurement device handy?  Guess what, that's not a constant
either.

As to how we list dates, that's also arbitrary, was determined by
utility at the time (not logic) and is no better listed in one order
than another.


Now for something else entirely.  What should the orientation of the
screw-head slot be in the trim screws for a 1963 BJ7?

Bill Moyer, BJ7, all screw slots lined up pointing towards Warwick.




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