Measurement
In 1971, Australia converted from the Imperial measurement system to metric. That was 39 years ago.
In fact, the last babies to be weighed and registered in pounds will turn 40 next year – happy birthday to you. And as far as I know anyone who started school from 1971 onwards learned metric as the only measurement system in Australia.
I didn’t ever learn Imperial at school. I only learned conversion rates when I had a child. Up until then I’d bought a kilo of fish, 500 grams of ham and 2 kilograms of potatoes.
Continue reading "The metric system works, let’s use it all the time" »
Doubtless, last Wednesday night you were struggling to get to sleep.
Having marked May 20 on the calendar weeks in advance the sense of anticipation can be intense when there is just one sleep to go. For me, circadian rhythms stood no chance in the face of the sheer excitement of Thursday’s dawn: the dawn of World Metrology Day.
For those who measure things this is a very important anniversary. World Metrology Day commemorates the signing of the Convention of the Metre in 1875 and the birth of the modern international system of measurement.
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Dan says:
That’s why the metric system is used in Science and Engineering, where multiplying and dividing the various figures happens a lot. On the other hand, in day to day life the old imperial (or modern SAE) measures can be handy sometimes. Recipies specifying cups and tablespoons are easier to read… Read more »
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T.Chong says:
Ah Constance, yur a real card .some more examples?Howards “never ever” to a gst, Downer, Howard, Abbott, Hockey et al with “I know nothing” about the AWB, “SIEV X” and “children overboard. Ruddock referring to an Afghan boy as “it”., the $10,000,000 rain machine,Abbott with"it was hotter when adam (or… Read more »
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