Convenience of the metric system

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Not to worry. Most of what was sold in half gallon jugs in US supermarkets, crept down to 56 oz. a couple of years ago. And the half gallon containers of ice cream, mysteriously shrank down to 48 ounces after that...

I feel your pain; but (at least) Blue Bell Creameries, and Costco’s Kirkland half-gallon ice cream are still a full 64 Oz. .
ie ➥ Blue Bell Ice Cream- Still a Half Gallon

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by StuM

You were right first time.

Err -- it's "appendices"

[woodenboats]

Originally Posted by skipmac

It's certainly annoying for me to maintain two complete sets of wrenches and sockets and I see this as a significant barrier to companies in the entire rest of world to buy US made products with nuts and bolts that require a second set of tools.

Why should anyone bother with two sets of tools as long as everything can be bought in a metrical, mostly cheaper and often better version?


Sent from my Lenovo B8080-H using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by woodenboats

Why should anyone bother with two sets of tools as long as everything can be bought in a metrical, mostly cheaper and often better version?


Sent from my Lenovo B8080-H using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

I have two Toyotas and both are made in the US and have US and metric parts on them.

I have a boat with a Westerbeke engine that is all inches and I don't think it's worth $15,000 just to get a metric engine.

If you're in the USA you are almost forced to have two sets of tools. The rest of the world probably can get by with metric only unless you buy a US made car.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Err -- it's "appendices"

Depends on context and we were talking the anatomical sense, weren't we?

appendix - definition of appendix in English from the Oxford dictionary

"Appendix typically has the plural appendixes in the anatomical sense, and appendices when referring to a part of a book or document."

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by StuM

Depends on context and we were talking the anatomical sense, weren't we?

appendix - definition of appendix in English from the Oxford dictionary

"Appendix typically has the plural appendixes in the anatomical sense, and appendices when referring to a part of a book or document."

Maybe I should have just said, 'penis's' instead

[GordMay]

I had an 80's era Buick LeSabre, that required 3 screwdrivers to change & aim a headlight. Phillips, Robertson, & Torx.
No metric, though.
At least I didn't have remove a wheel & wheel well liner to access it (like I do with my '95 Nissan).

[JPA Cate]

If the US ever loses its arrogance, sometime after that, they might convert to metrification. Honestly, it will cost a fortune and take a very long time, in any event.

Ann

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by StuM

Depends on context and we were talking the anatomical sense, weren't we?

appendix - definition of appendix in English from the Oxford dictionary

"Appendix typically has the plural appendixes in the anatomical sense, and appendices when referring to a part of a book or document."

Indeed -- thanks for the correction.

And your cite is good . "Appendixes" is in use for the documents-related meaning, so no one can say it's totally wrong, but it's bad usage. A good editor will change it every time. Use it like Oxford says in Stu's citation.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

If the US ever loses its arrogance, sometime after that, they might convert to metrification. Honestly, it will cost a fortune and take a very long time, in any event.

Ann

Well the British, despite EU membership, use miles on roads and pints for beer , and there are no kilometers or liters in sight . They weigh people in stones (14 pounds). And in common speech, inches and feet are everywhere, although these have given way to meters and cm in anything written.

So it's not just the U.S.

[hellosailor]

Gord-
Much as I like Breyer's, I haven't bought theirs since the one first time that I found out "Hey, wait, this carton is conveniently the wrong width! I been had!" especially since they cleverly stack them up so you don't notice that. Then when 56 shrunk AGAIN to 48...well...
But Bluebell? Really? There was a piece on one of the network nooze, maybe pbs, last week, interviewing a lot of BB employees. Apparently there was a corporate culture of unsanitary practices that should scare the hell out of anyone. Like, scooping waste off the floor to reuse it?! And when inspectors would show up, the jungle telegraph gave everyone instructions to temporarily clean up their acts before the inspectors could catch them.
When I hear about that kind of thing, the kind of corporate culture enforced from the top all the way down...I wish the new management good luck but I'm not buying into that product for one long time, if ever again. I know what goes on in even "the best" in the food business, but when it is institutionalized and winds up killing people, nuh-uh. That's worse than cheating on the package size.
One thing you don't have to worry about, if you don't have a deep freeze on the boat.(G)

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Gord-
Much as I like Breyer's, I haven't bought theirs since the one first time that I found out "Hey, wait, this carton is conveniently the wrong width! I been had!" especially since they cleverly stack them up so you don't notice that. Then when 56 shrunk AGAIN to 48...

I quite buying Breyers when they stopped making ice cream and turned into artificially flavored frozen semi-dairy product. The last carton I bought I assumed it was the same stuff but first bite I almost spit it out. Thought it was spoiled until I read the label. Now made with thickeners, additives, milk derivatives, artificial flavor. Tastes like flavored cardboard.

[Abgreenbank]

Dockhead, gas/diesel is bought in litres, every item in a supermarket is in litres or kgs, even bananas. My water bill is in litres and my bathroom scales are in kgs, and we have marks on a wall in the kitchen of the kids height/age, all in meters.

It's illegal to sell most goods in si units, especially bananas!

Yes my cars speedo is in miles, but has to have km as well, and road signs are in miles. If I buy draft beer in a pub it's a pint, but a bottle or a glass of wine is in millilitres.

It's easy to buy socket sets in metric and imperial sizes all in one box, the 1/2 inch socket is very handy when you have a worn 13mm bolt head.
Regards
Ab


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[avb3]

Figured it had to be a Canadian who would bring up a Robertson.

There is one heck of a story behind that design, but I'm sure the rest of the world is scratching their head as to what the heck a Robertson is.

Best screw head ever invented... saves a LOT of scrapped fingers.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Well the British, despite EU membership, use miles on roads and pints for beer , and there are no kilometers or liters in sight . They weigh people in stones (14 pounds). And in common speech, inches and feet are everywhere, although these have given way to meters and cm in anything written.

So it's not just the U.S.

We drink beer in 10 0nces, pints, and schooners.