Originally Posted by
The Golden Boy
The metric system will be taking over the world. At least they told me that in 3rd grade back in 1977.
I always chuckled at the nearly breathless enthusiasm people had when talking about the metric system and it's immense, if not seemingly moral, superiority over the English system. I mean, it's like, I get it guys. It's a great system. Powers of ten, no wacky fractions or divisions. It's your favorite actress in a wedding dress at the alter and you just have to say 'I do'...
I was told that the construction industry tried to convert to metric in the '80s and it didn't stick for whatever reason(s). A 2x4 for framing or a 4x8 sheet of plywood or sheetrock certainly roll off the tongue easier than a 51x102 (or 50-100 in eventual shorthand, which could actually work...) or 1.25 x 2.5.
Cars are always a bit funny. Designed in metric, advertised in inches. Wheels are in inches, tires in metric, inch, and a ratio (lol). Spark plugs are 5/8" or 13/16"...maybe some things are better left alone as they are part of the fabric of life like that (in a good/harmless way). Imperfections, inconsistencies, and quirks--very human, if at times maddening.
So back to the Gazelle....
