"Stefan" wrote in message ...
TWO METRE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOLDING RULER

VISIT http://www.foldingruler.com for more details

Wow, I'm impressed! Especially since rulers like that can be bought in any
hardware store for at least the past 40 years...

Meindert

On Fri, 28 May 2004 08:29:49 +0200, "Meindert Sprang"
wrote:

"Stefan" wrote in message ...
TWO METRE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOLDING RULER

VISIT http://www.foldingruler.com for more details

Wow, I'm impressed! Especially since rulers like that can be bought in any
hardware store for at least the past 40 years...

Meindert

But doesn't everyone in the US need a good metric folding rule? Just how big is
a 2x4 in millimeters? After working with that sloppy old English system of
inches and feet, not to mention fractions, for more than fifty years, I am
really up and ready to change my whole mind set. And, if I convert to metric, I
can write a letter of complaint to my old elementary school for forcing me to
suffer through learning fractions in the fourth grade because I won't need to
know anything about them anymore. Of course, I will have to get a metric mic so
that I can re-estimate saw kerfs and drill sizes.

On second thought, I already have at least six folding rules in my drawer that
are covered in those dreadful inches along with several sharp edged tape
measures and some old combination squares that seem to do me just fine.

The metrics will just have to slide in my workshop in the good ole US of A.

Bill Waller
New Eagle, PA

Bill Waller responds:

But doesn't everyone in the US need a good metric folding rule? Just how big
is
a 2x4 in millimeters? After working with that sloppy old English system of
inches and feet, not to mention fractions, for more than fifty years, I am
really up and ready to change my whole mind set. And, if I convert to metric,
I
can write a letter of complaint to my old elementary school for forcing me to
suffer through learning fractions in the fourth grade because I won't need to
know anything about them anymore. Of course, I will have to get a metric mic
so
that I can re-estimate saw kerfs and drill sizes.

On second thought, I already have at least six folding rules in my drawer
that
are covered in those dreadful inches along with several sharp edged tape
measures and some old combination squares that seem to do me just fine.

The metrics will just have to slide in my workshop in the good ole US of A.

Not everyone here is from the U.S.

I know I've seen metric folders around the U.S. market, but so far, none have
turned up. Ah. Lufkin, LFK062CME . Among others.

Charlie Self
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." Ambrose Bierce, The
Devil's Dictionary

On Fri, 28 May 2004 08:29:49 +0200, Meindert Sprang wrote:
"Stefan" wrote in message ...
TWO METRE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOLDING RULER

VISIT http://www.foldingruler.com for more details

Wow, I'm impressed! Especially since rulers like that can be bought in any
hardware store for at least the past 40 years...

And my corner hardware store doesn't spam newsgroups. Decisions,
decisions...

"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 08:29:49 +0200, Meindert Sprang
wrote:
"Stefan" wrote in message
...
TWO METRE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOLDING RULER

VISIT http://www.foldingruler.com for more details

Wow, I'm impressed! Especially since rulers like that can be bought in
any
hardware store for at least the past 40 years...

And my corner hardware store doesn't spam newsgroups. Decisions,
decisions...


I've got two and one with the little sliding brass ruler-ette on the end.
Got them at a flea market for a few dollars for use when I can't find my
metal tapes. Say, isn't that big, long pocket on the right leg of my
carpenters' pants built to hold those folding tapes?
Larry

TWO METRE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOLDING RULER

VISIT http://www.foldingruler.com for more details

Wow, I'm impressed! Especially since rulers like that can be bought in
any
hardware store for at least the past 40 years...

And my corner hardware store doesn't spam newsgroups. Decisions,
decisions...


I've got two and one with the little sliding brass ruler-ette on the end.
Got them at a flea market for a few dollars for use when I can't find my
metal tapes. Say, isn't that big, long pocket on the right leg of my
carpenters' pants built to hold those folding tapes?
Larry

That, my friend, is exactly what that pocket is for

Charlie Self wrote:
Bill Waller responds:


But doesn't everyone in the US need a good metric folding rule? Just how big
is
a 2x4 in millimeters? After working with that sloppy old English system of
inches and feet, not to mention fractions, for more than fifty years, I am
really up and ready to change my whole mind set. And, if I convert to metric,
I
can write a letter of complaint to my old elementary school for forcing me to
suffer through learning fractions in the fourth grade because I won't need to
know anything about them anymore. Of course, I will have to get a metric mic
so
that I can re-estimate saw kerfs and drill sizes.

On second thought, I already have at least six folding rules in my drawer
that
are covered in those dreadful inches along with several sharp edged tape
measures and some old combination squares that seem to do me just fine.

The metrics will just have to slide in my workshop in the good ole US of A.


Not everyone here is from the U.S.

I know I've seen metric folders around the U.S. market, but so far, none have
turned up. Ah. Lufkin, LFK062CME . Among others.


Starrett has some metric rules and I've bought a number (folding,
straight and tapes) in a fascinating, very large hardware store in
Munich across from Viktualienmarkt.

RB

Charlie Self
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." Ambrose Bierce, The
Devil's Dictionary

[snip]
But doesn't everyone in the US need a good metric folding rule? Just how big is
a 2x4 in millimeters? After working with that sloppy old English system of
inches and feet, not to mention fractions, for more than fifty years, I am
really up and ready to change my whole mind set. And, if I convert to metric, I
can write a letter of complaint to my old elementary school for forcing me to
suffer through learning fractions in the fourth grade because I won't need to
know anything about them anymore. Of course, I will have to get a metric mic so
that I can re-estimate saw kerfs and drill sizes.

[snip]

/RANT WARNING

Out of all the people in the world we ( the US) have the majority of them that use that old, antiquated english system.
Yet the problem is one of spatial reference. Let me explain :

How long is 3 1/2 inches ? I bet I would get a lot of answers, based upon peoples experience. Such as, about the length
of my middle finger (no pun or sarcasm intended), the height of a tall shot glass, etc. If would say how long is 89 mm,
then everyone would be stumped, though the two are pratically the same. Now there is one reference that everyone should
know. How much is 2 liters of liquid ? Thanks to the cola industry we know that one. Now tell me how many ounces that
is, you might not know (though some bright people might). My point is, we relate measurements to our every day lives. If
we have not made the connection between millimeters and the length of your spoon, then millimeters are foreign to us.

We have been taught, from early on, how to relate what we encounter in everyday life with what system of measurement we
use. If we are taught, from early on, to use the metric system, we would be very familiar with it. Instead we expect the
school system to teach this to the kids (abiet without the support of American business and government). What do we
expect ? Miracles ?

/ END OF RANT

I will now go back to my 2 hp chainsaw with a 18" bar and fill it with 30 oz. of gasoline so I can cut down a 12"
diameter tree.

JAW

"JAW" wrote in message
We have been taught, from early on, how to relate what we encounter in
everyday life with what system of measurement we
use. If we are taught, from early on, to use the metric system, we would
be very familiar with it. Instead we expect the
school system to teach this to the kids (abiet without the support of
American business and government). What do we
expect ? Miracles ?

/ END OF RANT

IIRC, back in the '70s they were going to teach metric and we were going to
change? Some of the highways signs had both metric/English measurements and
even the thermometers at the bank started giving Celsius. I think we got
there about 12% of the way and gave up.

I'm ready to change. Years ago I would have fought against it, but then I
was forced to think metric with imported machinery. Once you use it, you
never want to know if it should be a 29/32" wrench or a 7/8. You know the
17 mm is the right one.
Ed

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. com...

IIRC, back in the '70s they were going to teach metric and we were going
to
change? Some of the highways signs had both metric/English measurements
and
even the thermometers at the bank started giving Celsius.

I remember. I was teaching science/math in a rural highschool back then and
trying to integrate the metric system into the kids lives as required by the
current educational policy. I had a parent/teacher conference with one guy
and he didn't like my teaching metrics to his daughter. His idea was that
all the communist countries used the system and it was a communist plot( or
such.) He certainly wasn't aware that way back...IIRC Thomas Jefferson?
....tried to introduce a similar 'metric' system, however, congress accepted
the current metric system as usable in trade about 1866.

Larry

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:



"JAW" wrote in message
We have been taught, from early on, how to relate what we encounter in
everyday life with what system of measurement we
use. If we are taught, from early on, to use the metric system, we would
be very familiar with it. Instead we expect the
school system to teach this to the kids (abiet without the support of
American business and government). What do we
expect ? Miracles ?

/ END OF RANT

IIRC, back in the '70s they were going to teach metric and we were going
to
change? Some of the highways signs had both metric/English measurements
and
even the thermometers at the bank started giving Celsius. I think we got
there about 12% of the way and gave up.

I'm ready to change. Years ago I would have fought against it, but then I
was forced to think metric with imported machinery. Once you use it, you
never want to know if it should be a 29/32" wrench or a 7/8. You know the
17 mm is the right one.

There are four sizes of wrench, too big, too small, just right, and
crescent.

Ed

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 08:29:49 +0200, Meindert Sprang
wrote:
"Stefan" wrote in message
...
TWO METRE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOLDING RULER

VISIT http://www.foldingruler.com for more details

Wow, I'm impressed! Especially since rulers like that can be bought in
any
hardware store for at least the past 40 years...

And my corner hardware store doesn't spam newsgroups. Decisions,
decisions...

Yeah, life's hard..... :-))

Meindert

Yep, my folks even bought a car in the seventies where the KPH numbers
were larger than the MPH.

I don't think Big Brother warned us how much work the change would be,
so once it became a PITA, we gave up.

Joe



IIRC, back in the '70s they were going to teach metric and we were going to
change? Some of the highways signs had both metric/English measurements and
even the thermometers at the bank started giving Celsius. I think we got
there about 12% of the way and gave up.

I'm ready to change. Years ago I would have fought against it, but then I
was forced to think metric with imported machinery. Once you use it, you
never want to know if it should be a 29/32" wrench or a 7/8. You know the
17 mm is the right one.
Ed

Big Joe notes:

Yep, my folks even bought a car in the seventies where the KPH numbers
were larger than the MPH.

I don't think Big Brother warned us how much work the change would be,
so once it became a PITA, we gave up.

Well, for many of us who bounced back and forth from metric to Imperial, it
really wasn't much more than a slight nuisance. But it also provided zip,
diddly squat for benefits for Joe and Jane Sixpack, so there was no reason they
should tolerate even that.

Charlie Self
"The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the
exercise of his mind." Jacques Barzun