h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

us Yorkshire scientists would have saved $$$millions in computers/calculations/programming etc, we'd have used a long piece of string

Like the "memory function" on this East Frisian pocket calculator? (top left)

http://www.rechnerlexikon.de/artikel/Rechnen_mit_Fingern

And as far a volume-ounces, I learned, back when I had all Avent stuff (before we learned that PaperKid (PaperBaby, then) would *not* drink expressed milk from a bottle, but would only take it from the source) UK ounces and US ounces are different. Not that I remember which is larger.

U.S.A. gallon - 7 pints
U.K. gallon = 8 pints

don't know about ounces etc

US gallon is 8 (US) pints.

US fl oz, she says, fetching a bottle.

Are bigger, I mean. According to baby bottles.

might help

http://home.clara.net/brianp/usa.html

and maybe

http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_imperial.htm

Vive la revolution!

Back at the height of the space-race I had friend who worked a local aero-space plant. He gave my a copy of their list of 'Murphy's Laws' One I remember was;

'Always express important numbers in the least comprehensive form - acceleration should always be given in furlong per fortnight squared'

FS

"acceleration should always be given in furlong per fortnight squared"

bloody
I love it

My uncle once decided to work out speed in units of tortoise.

He'd have fitted right in here, wouldn't he?

You mean because we'rr slow,Sol, or because we're weird?

Sol;

Is that the uncle from your picture?

I'm sure he would have fit right in here.

>Replaces the 's' that fell off furlongs

FS

Don't get metric mixed up with SI. The two systems are related, but different. (SI doesn't have prefixes: the unit of distance is the metre, and that's it; kilometres and centimetres will not be needed. SI doesn't have redundant units: it doesn't need litres; the unit of volume is the cubic metre. Also, the base unit of mass in SI is the kilogram, while the base unit of mass in metric is the gram.)

Personally, I'm a fan of metric paper. It's a very clever design, all based on root two.

TRiG.

Why Americans chose to semi-metricise the imperial system, but use the same words, is anyone's guess. I think it's just a plot to confuse us.

TRiG.

I am feeling challenged/compelled to write 'A Brief Explanation of Weights and Measurements in Cookery' for the Guide.

We could then link to this entry where needed.

When you realise that the pounds/ounces are termed as Imperial measures, ie used by the British Empire, there's certainly some historical interest in why we still are light years apart in sharing a single system.

Back in the Middle Ages we used the unit of measurement called oksehoved (head of an oxe = six ankers = 226 litres) but of course that too was different from measurements on the British Isles where they had to top it with a hogshead = 238.480942 litres