steveo3002
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Dr.Al
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I'm surprised that's American... I didn't think they used stone - you often hear them quoting daft big numbers of pounds and assuming everyone knows what they're talking about. While I prefer kilograms, if someone says they weight 12 stone I'll have a vague idea of how much that is. If they say 180 pounds I'll be reaching for a calculator.My 'Murican bathroom scales measure in stones and pounds which suits me just fine, but they have the facility whereby they 'remember' your weight from the last time and calculate any increase/decrease - which they then display as (e.g.) 1.4 lbs.
Go figure.
Dr.Al
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Usually a good plan to convert to metric wherever possible!
slim_boy_fat
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Alan Reynolds
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I suppose it all keeps the old grey matter making connections. Rishi wants everyone to do maths and I agree.
I’m in the supermarket and pick up a BOGOFF.. The item is 98p. The girl on the toll tries to work out how much that is each. I tried to tell her it didn’t matter as one is free. “I can’t let you have it for free, I need to have a price.” Calls the supervisor. Well the seed of doubt was now planted in both “brains”, so I dropped a £1.00 on the counter and walked out.
Auto correct replaced Rishi with fishing. Hmmm.)
I’m in the supermarket and pick up a BOGOFF.. The item is 98p. The girl on the toll tries to work out how much that is each. I tried to tell her it didn’t matter as one is free. “I can’t let you have it for free, I need to have a price.” Calls the supervisor. Well the seed of doubt was now planted in both “brains”, so I dropped a £1.00 on the counter and walked out.
Auto correct replaced Rishi with fishing. Hmmm.)
But it's not if you haven't been taught it - there's plenty of older/retired engineers in the UK who struggle with metric engineering even now.
I've worked both sides of the pond, and having been brought up "metric", I initially had to think metric and convert - but you get used to it surprisingly quickly. And it all works and makes sense as everyone is used to it.
What confuses the issue is when they have to look at our drawings which specify UNC or UNF - because they don't bother putting those letters as they don't need to - so 1/4-20 is perfectly understandable, but 1/4-20 UNC confuses the issue with the "UNC" bit. Similarly with 1/4-28 . . . which we would have to slap UNF after.
What does cause panties to get in motion is putting fractions and decimals on the same drawing!
But there is plenty of metric in use in the USA these days, so people are getting more used to it.
On my desk at work is my tape measure . . . it doesn't get borrowed and not returned these days . . . bought in the USA, it shows only inches . . . my younger colleagues pick it up and try to use it once only . . . they have no clue
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I went into a shop to buy 4 batteries at 45p each, the assistant had a calculator next to the till, punches a few keys and asks for £8 odd
I was stood in a chick-fil-a in Seattle last year . . . with the sales tax it came to some cents over some dollar - say $8.12 . . so in attempt to reduce the shrapnel load to bring home eventually, I proffered a ten dollar note and 12c in change . . . that caused havoc and consternation involving two supervisors . . . as the line behind me got longer, the resolution was to cancel the sale, ring it up again, and give me even more change from the ten . . .
I guess there, like here, most people pay electronically, so no-one needs to do any maths anywhere in the transaction.
Dr.Al
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Sounds like my RPN calculator - no-one tries to borrow it more than onceOn my desk at work is my tape measure . . . it doesn't get borrowed and not returned these days . . . bought in the USA, it shows only inches . . . my younger colleagues pick it up and try to use it once only . . . they have no clue
None of my tape measures have inches on at all.
Erie Fred
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I like drawings that call out metric threads with inch depth.....But it's not if you haven't been taught it - there's plenty of older/retired engineers in the UK who struggle with metric engineering even now.
I've worked both sides of the pond, and having been brought up "metric", I initially had to think metric and convert - but you get used to it surprisingly quickly. And it all works and makes sense as everyone is used to it.
What confuses the issue is when they have to look at our drawings which specify UNC or UNF - because they don't bother putting those letters as they don't need to - so 1/4-20 is perfectly understandable, but 1/4-20 UNC confuses the issue with the "UNC" bit. Similarly with 1/4-28 . . . which we would have to slap UNF after.
What does cause panties to get in motion is putting fractions and decimals on the same drawing!
But there is plenty of metric in use in the USA these days, so people are getting more used to it.
On my desk at work is my tape measure . . . it doesn't get borrowed and not returned these days . . . bought in the USA, it shows only inches . . . my younger colleagues pick it up and try to use it once only . . . they have no clue
M20-1.0 x 1.00
Changing measuring systems midstream.....Ugh.
Last edited:
slim_boy_fat
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I was stood in a chick-fil-a in Seattle last year . . . with the sales tax it came to some cents over some dollar - say $8.12 . . so in attempt to reduce the shrapnel load to bring home eventually, I proffered a ten dollar note and 12c in change . . . that caused havoc and consternation involving two supervisors . . . as the line behind me got longer, the resolution was to cancel the sale, ring it up again, and give me even more change from the ten . . .
I guess there, like here, most people pay electronically, so no-one needs to do any maths anywhere in the transaction.
Not just in the USA, I get the same here in the local Spar shop with some of the young girls - they don't get it because the till tells them how much change to give you back. Result? A pocketful of shrapnel.....
Erie Fred
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I had the drive-in line backed up at a McDonalds once, poor girl was in tears, trying to find a scrap of paper and a pencil..... $6.52 bill, I hand her a $20, and (2) $1's and (2) pennies (I was out of quarters for the $.50) totalling $22.02 ..."You've given me too much money sir".
I was stood in a chick-fil-a in Seattle last year . . . with the sales tax it came to some cents over some dollar - say $8.12 . . so in attempt to reduce the shrapnel load to bring home eventually, I proffered a ten dollar note and 12c in change . . . that caused havoc and consternation involving two supervisors . . . as the line behind me got longer, the resolution was to cancel the sale, ring it up again, and give me even more change from the ten . . .
I guess there, like here, most people pay electronically, so no-one needs to do any maths anywhere in the transaction.
Local Auto parts store, the young counter guy was a good kid, he waited in anticipation for how I would pay. So then the pressure was on...I mixed it up allot more just for a challenge.
I've mostly given up with drive-thro's in the USA . . . a strong Yorkshire accent combined with wind noise, a bit of V8 and the electronic distortion . . . far quicker to park, walk in, order to go . . .
Alan Reynolds
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This is where metric falls on its ar$e. Example: I asked the lad to measure a roof for edpm. 323cm x 267cm.
Ok, now add on 150mm each edge for overhang and send the order.
Luckily I decided to check before he sent it.
323+300=623. 267+300=567. Doh. Should have been 3230+300 and 2670+300. He got mm and cm mixed up, again! We would have ended up with four times the area if I hadn’t spotted it. And you can’t send it back either.
How much is that each then? I did it in my head, £9.64. They all looked at me then got their phones out.
Your wrong, it’s £9.6428571. I just said the decimal halfpenny was no longer legal tender.
Ok, now add on 150mm each edge for overhang and send the order.
Luckily I decided to check before he sent it.
323+300=623. 267+300=567. Doh. Should have been 3230+300 and 2670+300. He got mm and cm mixed up, again! We would have ended up with four times the area if I hadn’t spotted it. And you can’t send it back either.
In the shop the other day some parts arrived but there were only 7 not the ten ordered. All the vat and postage was in the total. The invoice totalled £67.50.
I was stood in a chick-fil-a in Seattle last year . . . with the sales tax it came to some cents over some dollar - say $8.12 . . so in attempt to reduce the shrapnel load to bring home eventually, I proffered a ten dollar note and 12c in change . . . that caused havoc and consternation involving two supervisors . . . as the line behind me got longer, the resolution was to cancel the sale, ring it up again, and give me even more change from the ten . . .
I guess there, like here, most people pay electronically, so no-one needs to do any maths anywhere in the transaction.
How much is that each then? I did it in my head, £9.64. They all looked at me then got their phones out.
Your wrong, it’s £9.6428571. I just said the decimal halfpenny was no longer legal tender.
Alan Reynolds
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I have a drawer full of new flexible tapes with inches on. Just in case they stop producing them.Sounds like my RPN calculator - no-one tries to borrow it more than once
None of my tape measures have inches on at all.
Erie Fred
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Oh god no.....I've been inside at the counter placing an order, and hear the speaker with someone trying to order.I've mostly given up with drive-thro's in the USA . . . a strong Yorkshire accent combined with wind noise, a bit of V8 and the electronic distortion . . . far quicker to park, walk in, order to go . . .
I think you made a good decision to simply walk in, and how would you drive up anyway being on the right side ?
Dr.Al
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Hire car? I doubt many people bring their right-hand drive cars to America with them
DAPPH
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Think I'll stick to cubits and rods .But it's not if you haven't been taught it - there's plenty of older/retired engineers in the UK who struggle with metric engineering even now.
I've worked both sides of the pond, and having been brought up "metric", I initially had to think metric and convert - but you get used to it surprisingly quickly. And it all works and makes sense as everyone is used to it.
What confuses the issue is when they have to look at our drawings which specify UNC or UNF - because they don't bother putting those letters as they don't need to - so 1/4-20 is perfectly understandable, but 1/4-20 UNC confuses the issue with the "UNC" bit. Similarly with 1/4-28 . . . which we would have to slap UNF after.
What does cause panties to get in motion is putting fractions and decimals on the same drawing!
But there is plenty of metric in use in the USA these days, so people are getting more used to it.
On my desk at work is my tape measure . . . it doesn't get borrowed and not returned these days . . . bought in the USA, it shows only inches . . . my younger colleagues pick it up and try to use it once only . . . they have no clue
