It appears you've failed to remember the lost NASA Mars Climate Orbiter mission of September 23, 1999 , attributed to English/metric conversion error.
While it is true that most scientific, medical and military measurements are all metric (and have been for some time, as they should be), there is still enough widespread use of antiquated English measurements to cost us millions, if not billions, of dollars per year in wasted conversion time... and demonstrated losses in valuable scientific exploration. Say, $125 MILLION in losses, for example.
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/1999/30/mars.metri c. 02/
And when you're done reading that, note the link, "Error points to nation's conversion laq".
If we're falling behind in the space race, I'll tell you one of the reasons: We're still using that archaic, dumbass English measurement system.
I remember being given metric rulers, reading textbook sections on metric units, etc. when I was a young grade schooler during the Carter Administration, then as soon as Reagan got in, whoosh! Suddenly all plans to convert the nation vanished.
If we fail in multi BILLION dollar missions to Mars or any other destination because someone made a *ucktard conversion mistake, we deserve it. There's no logical reason this country should continue using such a daft, foolish, illogical system of measurement, and I consider this among my greatest national pet peeves.
Everyone against the process of converting standard United States measurements to metric should be boot kicked into orbit, and someone should screw up a conversion to that they fall into the Sun's gravitational pull and fry to a crispy bbq'd cretin--
It's time to join, you know, THE REST OF THE LIVING WORLD and begin using a system that is elegant in simplicity and functional in practice. It would be difficult for about a year until people got used to it, but after that... measurement bliss. I'm telling you.
I'm among those who remember with great fondness the original series Battlestar Galactica. As a kid I recall playing with those old toy Vipers-- The ones that had the plastic projectile laser cannons that were later dropped due to young kids choking on them. I see unfortunately they've continued the choking trend with this new series.
In attempting to rebuild the show to better reflect modern technology and such, I can accept a reasonable degree of change, but those that this new series has made I find completely offensive and contrary to the original's character. If they were to make such changes they should have called this something else, NOT Battlestar Galactica.
In this, I see Starbuck AND Boomer are both women (which, I agree with others' commentary, is not meant as an affront to strong female characters-- It's just too much of a stray from the original), the rag-tag fleet is NOT in pursuit of Earth, Cylons have emotions, Commander Adama isn't even gray haired (which I always thought lent a degree of wise experience to the character)... What the hell is this!?
Well, it's a circus, I say... They should open up this series with "March of the Gladiators" music playing instead of the majestic, noble theme so well carried by the original series.
I don't claim that this new show won't be entertaining or lack its own merit; I'll watch it with hopeful curiosity in that regard-- It just damn well isn't Battlestar Galactica, and I despise the gall they have in presenting it as such.
Slashdot Mirror
Waaaay ahead of you, AC--
i c. 02/
It appears you've failed to remember the lost NASA Mars Climate Orbiter mission of September 23, 1999 , attributed to English/metric conversion error.
While it is true that most scientific, medical and military measurements are all metric (and have been for some time, as they should be), there is still enough widespread use of antiquated English measurements to cost us millions, if not billions, of dollars per year in wasted conversion time... and demonstrated losses in valuable scientific exploration. Say, $125 MILLION in losses, for example.
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/1999/30/mars.metr
And when you're done reading that, note the link, "Error points to nation's conversion laq".
YOU get a clue you patronizing imp!
If we're falling behind in the space race, I'll tell you one of the reasons: We're still using that archaic, dumbass English measurement system.
I remember being given metric rulers, reading textbook sections on metric units, etc. when I was a young grade schooler during the Carter Administration, then as soon as Reagan got in, whoosh! Suddenly all plans to convert the nation vanished.
If we fail in multi BILLION dollar missions to Mars or any other destination because someone made a *ucktard conversion mistake, we deserve it. There's no logical reason this country should continue using such a daft, foolish, illogical system of measurement, and I consider this among my greatest national pet peeves.
Everyone against the process of converting standard United States measurements to metric should be boot kicked into orbit, and someone should screw up a conversion to that they fall into the Sun's gravitational pull and fry to a crispy bbq'd cretin--
It's time to join, you know, THE REST OF THE LIVING WORLD and begin using a system that is elegant in simplicity and functional in practice. It would be difficult for about a year until people got used to it, but after that... measurement bliss. I'm telling you.
Dammit.
I'm among those who remember with great fondness the original series Battlestar Galactica. As a kid I recall playing with those old toy Vipers-- The ones that had the plastic projectile laser cannons that were later dropped due to young kids choking on them. I see unfortunately they've continued the choking trend with this new series.
In attempting to rebuild the show to better reflect modern technology and such, I can accept a reasonable degree of change, but those that this new series has made I find completely offensive and contrary to the original's character. If they were to make such changes they should have called this something else, NOT Battlestar Galactica.
In this, I see Starbuck AND Boomer are both women (which, I agree with others' commentary, is not meant as an affront to strong female characters-- It's just too much of a stray from the original), the rag-tag fleet is NOT in pursuit of Earth, Cylons have emotions, Commander Adama isn't even gray haired (which I always thought lent a degree of wise experience to the character)... What the hell is this!?
Well, it's a circus, I say... They should open up this series with "March of the Gladiators" music playing instead of the majestic, noble theme so well carried by the original series.
I don't claim that this new show won't be entertaining or lack its own merit; I'll watch it with hopeful curiosity in that regard-- It just damn well isn't Battlestar Galactica, and I despise the gall they have in presenting it as such.
Bloody saps!!
Cripes.