On 4/3/2017 12:48 PM, Folderol wrote:
> On Mon, 3 Apr 2017 10:56:41 -0400
> rickman  wrote:
>
>> On 4/3/2017 8:30 AM, alister wrote:
>>> On Mon, 03 Apr 2017 11:05:23 +0000, Martin Gregorie wrote:
>>>
>>>> Not used here, except by scientists, until forced by the EEC. A vast
>>>> improvement over the geriatric FPS system, which should have died at
>>>> least a century before it did. $DEITY knows why the Yanks still persist
>>>> in using it.
>>>
>>> for the same reason that you still measure distances in miles & prefer to
>>> by your beer in pints
>>> (& I suspect you know you're height in Feet & Inches & your weight in
>>> stone)
>>> imperial measurements are based on natural body measurements & therefore
>>> more comfortable for some purposes. The scale is also more convenient
>>>
>>> 12 inches in much nicer than 0.3m or even 300mm (30cm is not to bad if
>>> you want to use a non iso subdivision)
>>
>> Yes, inches are so much better...  Like 12 5/8 inches which is how many
>> feet?
>>
>> There is nothing good about Imperial measures.
>
> There is, in a sharing community - maybe you're not familiar with those.
>
> Base 12 counting is perfect for divvying out portions - especially when you
> don't have access to accurate measuring systems (like a picnic). The only
> numbers that are awkward for a small group are 5 and 7.

That must be why we divide cups 8 ways and gallons 128 ways... oh, wait!
  They are only divisible by powers of 2.  Heck, bakers are very
generous giving 13 items when only 12 are required.  But try dividing 13
between any group that's not 1 or 13.

--

Rick C

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