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User: Zagra

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  1. Science Documentaries for Youngsters? on Science Documentaries for Youngsters? · · Score: 1

    Go to www.richarddawkins.net. Choose Forums - Atheism and then ask your question there.

  2. DUID = 6.25 pounds?? Rubbish! on Space Money Invented For Space Tourists · · Score: 1

    The Quid is equal to one £1.00 and this has always been so as every British Citizen knows. The Quid is another and commonly used name for the British pound sterling and probably goes back over a hundred years.

  3. Weight & Mass on Kilogram Reference Losing Weight · · Score: 1

    I found the original article unbelievably used the terms 'Weight' and 'Mass' to describe the same phenomenon - almost in the same breath! 'Mass' is surely used to describe a given quantity of matter while 'Weight' is used to describe the property of a given 'Mass' in a particular gravitic field. If the gravitic field varies then the 'Weight' will vary - the 'Mass' stays the same. If the original article meant that the 'Mass' is changing, then we have a problem in all fields of science and measurement, albeit only 50 parts per 1,000,000,000. If the term 'Weight' was intended then this can easily be explained by a local change in the gravitic field by long term movement of the Earths core, magma or other geological phenomena which may change the localised density under the Earths crust thereby reducing (or increasing) the localised field of gravity.

  4. Re: School districts votes to require 'Cubits'. on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 1

    Correct. My mind was more on wine & spirits as sold in the shops not the non-metric measures as demanded by the pub trade. I visit pubs only infrequently so there was a 'blind spot' there.

  5. Re: School districts votes to require 'Cubits'. on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 1

    Ah! I did not know that. Thanks. Are you suggesting that the US uses the Troy Ounce and not the Avoidupois Ounce? 1 Troy Ounce = 31.1035g (480 grains) 1 Avoidupois Ounce = 28.3495g (Kaye & Laby 16th Edition).

  6. Re: School districts votes to require 'Cubits'. on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 2, Funny

    We use asprin for headaches - sold in milligrams!

  7. Re:Metric Imperialism - Globalisation the goal? on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 1

    As a point of pedantry, timber in the UK is measured in millimetres. So a piece of planed timber 2x2 inches is really 45mm x 47mm (yes, 45mm x 47mm) allowing for planing. I'm NOT sure how THAT one is derived! And a metric ton is a tonne = 2204 pounds avoidupois while the old ton = 2240 pounds avoidupois. The tonne is therefore lighter than the ton by 36 pounds (or 16.334kg). Some people over here pronounce 'tonne' as 'tunny' to avoid confusion.

  8. Re: School districts votes to require 'Cubits'. on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 1

    Oh! We do! We do! If I buy 4 pints of milk (80 fluid ounces) the label on the container must declare it in metric = 2.272 Litres to comply with EC law. This seems only to apply to milk and maybe other liquid food products (not alcohol which is purely metric). Sooo, if the US were to have a similar approach then 4 US pints (64 fluid ounces) would equal 1.704 Litres. Confusing or what?

  9. Re:Metric Imperialism - Globalisation the goal? on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In a similar vein, in the UK I was educated at school (some 60 years ago) in the Imperial system of measurement. All those foreigners across the English Channel and the North Sea used something called 'The Metric System', something that I was not really aware of until I left school and began work in the Industrial Chemistry industry. But even in that environment we had to get used to using mixed units, e.g. Centigrade (which became Celcius)and grammes and British Thermal Units (BThU) which used Fahrenheit and pounds Avoirdupois. I later had to change from the old CGS system to the MKS system (not very difficult) in the interest of International Standards. We in the UK of an older generation have got quite used to using mixed units: I regularly use metric for DIY but think of my car fuel consumption in miles per gallon while purchasing the fuel in Litres. All our distances on the roads are measured in miles and we are at quite 'at home' with kilometres when travelling abroad. The younger generation become quite confused when I talk to them using Imperial units - (deliberately, I guess, to show how 'superior' I am) and as for Old Money (pounds, shillings & pence), that really blows their mind! If we in the UK can be dualist in our outlook, I'm sure the US can. In order to have contact with the rest of the world in science, industry, politics, etc. we use the Metric System and it is much to our advantage and internally it is the official system. However it does have its peculiarities, one example will suffice: when buying timber the old measurements were converted to metric so that eight feet became 2.44 metres. Why not 2.4m or 2.5m and forget the Imperial system? I suspect you in the US will have a similar problem (if you are not already experiencing it) where building materials will have to comply with older building measurements for repair and renovation, etc.

  10. Re: School districts votes to require 'Cubits'. on How Can We Convert the US to the Metric System? · · Score: 2, Informative

    And to make matters worse, we Oldies in the UK use 1 pint = 20 fluid ounces!

  11. Re:If people want an alternative to the de facto.. on UK's Biggest Supermarket Challenges Microsoft · · Score: 1

    Oh, I see! We who buy food from a supermarket are somehow of lower intelligence? I am 70 and I build my own PCs AND I shop at a supermarket!! How dare you suggest that we supermarketeers are of some lower order of the Human Race!

  12. Re:Even Apple would have been better on Professor Sells Lectures Online · · Score: 1

    So, students can get a second chance if 'life gets in the way'. Hmmm! If they are really serious students then 'life' must surely be subservient to studying. 'Life' can then be arranged to be enjoyed after the studying tasks have been completed. If they are not serious students, then that begs the question.

  13. My First Computer on What Was Your First Computer? · · Score: 1

    The Microtan 65 home built with a massive 1k (yes, 1024 bytes!) of memory that occupied a whole Eurocard. You cannot imagine the exitement when programming in machine code we actually MOVED a pixel from one part of the TV screen to another. It used the 6052 processor and was sold by the Tangerine company in the UK.

  14. Re:well... on FCC Proposes Abolishing Morse Code Requirement · · Score: 1

    Although I am a member of the RSGB, I am inclined to agree with your comments. The RSGB represents less than half of all British Amateurs and likes to think that it is the 'official' body to represent all Amateurs. This is not so. This fact was pointed out to Ofcom (the government communications regulatory body) quite recently and the RSGB had to admit to their minority role. Ofcom are now in consultation with other groups besides the RSGB regarding the recent licence requirement suggestions - more bureaucratic nonsense - this time from Ofcom.

  15. Re:well... on FCC Proposes Abolishing Morse Code Requirement · · Score: 1

    At last the good ol' US of A is catching up with the rest of the world. Perhaps they might even embrace the metric system! I am a UK Radio Amateur formerly Class B and I welcomed the demise of the Morse requirement in my country. There now seems to be an increased interest in Morse because we want use it not because have to learn it.