We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:14:47 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2010 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Yeah, like *that's* an original title. However, since FbL was kind enough to quote me in her latest post -- despite almost choking on something else I said (and which I’ll trot out whenever her keyboard needs washing again) -- so, I figured I'd add today's installment on Iraqi terminology. The stoo'nts gave all the instructors nicknames (wotta surprise, eh?). I've discovered that *mine* is "Haji," which, in this neck of the woods, they use to designate an elder as "Patriarch" or "Father-figure" -- but, knowing their sense of humor, I suspect is somewhat more akin to "Gramps"... * *... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:16:50 -0600 Réaumur rules!!! :oD .]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71146 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71146 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:36:19 -0600 12 for what inches to a foot? How many feet in a yard? is it 12? How many yards in a mile? 12 as well? Perhaps in your head (no cheating now) you can tell me how many feet in a chain. If that's too easy what about the number of cubic feet in a gallon? Or better yet the number of grains in a dram. And this is easy, just one unit conversions. Tell me, for the number of grains per dram, just what that's factorable by? The common graduation on US rulers may be that but you are wrong when it comes to most English speaking rulers outside the US. Re: blame the French for your bank errors. Do you even use the French banking system? If not how are you blaming them for the mistakes of your own system? Prove your system would never have a rounding error. No the decimal system is for those who count on a a basis of one to ten. You know.. most people. Why do you make that assumption? Is the calender better? Does it have worldwide use and acceptance? No. You are just letting your dislike of the French blind you. And you should be proud of US achievements. BTW As of 1980 NASA implemented going metric. Because it's better. And degrees Kelvin, look it up. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71088 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71088 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:26:59 -0600 Oh, Trias, that's just dog poo, 'specially since computers were invented. 12 is factorable by 2, and 3, and 4, and 6. 10 is factorable by what, 2 and 5? The common gradations on English-speaking rulers are in negative powers of two; 1/2, 1/4, ... 1/64, 1/128, etc. If it weren't for the French system, we wouldn't have round-off errors in bank computers. The decimal system is for people who can't do arithmetic in their heads without looking at their fingers. I suppose you think we should adopt the French Revolutionary Calendar, too? May I remind you, that of the objects on the moon, the ones left there by humans who rode them there had the threads of their fasteners described in inches, their velocities described in feet per second, and their weights and masses described in pounds and slugs, respectively. Oh, and it's degrees RANKINE http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71079 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71079 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:36:51 -0600 Fahrenheit does not allow for finer gradations. That's why fractions and decimal points exist. And it isn't ever below zero if you use Kelvin. -41F is -40.6 Celsius. Actually the American system is just a muddled British system (the US altered it to Americanize it to be Not British because of of Independence) so in effect it's the Brits fault. The British system was always built on muddle in the first place. The 10 basis system I think developed by the French SI (who hated the British dominating even the tiniest bit of culture) was probably the best thing since sliced croissant and one of the few things I have enormous respect for the French with. It's superior in it's simplicity and that really is the end of the story. It replaced the British system in Australia and even Britain eventually and is the most widely used system across the world, the primary exception was always the US. A fact which has forced me and every other scientist or engineer and probably commerce handlers to muddle through conversions back and forth. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71074 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71074 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:48:41 -0600 Oddly enough there was a similar thong situation that I noticed while stationed at Camp Taji, Iraq. AAFES could never keep Dr Pepper in stock, but there was a constant flow of assorted thongs. Actually made me wonder who the hell was buying these things...because I never saw that many women about. One of life's great mysteries. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71073 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71073 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:12:15 -0600 Fred - -41*F is just flipping cold. No Celsius needed. Was that ambient temp or with wind chill? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71068 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71068 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:41:37 -0600 Oddly enough Fred - it's... -40 or so. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71062 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71062 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:13:57 -0600 Whiner. Blame US for everything! 8^D http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71061 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71061 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:56:08 -0600 I'm still trying to figure out what -41 fahrenheit is in Celsius. I think my calculator broke. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71060 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71060 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:56:02 -0600 Regarding the celsius/farenheit thing, consider yourself lucky if you feel completely comfortable in one or the other. Up here in the frozen white north (it's going to snow again today in Toronto), we're not quite sure which to use for any given purpose. For example, I'm currently trying to get a bit healthier. Since Christmas, I've lost almost thirty pounds. I'd have to actually do the math to know the kilogram equivalent. I happen to know my height in centimetres because it was on my military ID those many years ago now, but I think of myself as five-foot-ten. If I'm working around the house, the studs are still sixteen inches apart, the ceilings are eight feet high, and the fence I'm building outside this spring will be six feet tall. But if I'm driving down the highway on my commute, I'm monitoring my speed in kilometres per hour, and my hike or run is always measured in kilometres. I buy litres of milk or gasoline. And twenty five degrees is pleasantly hot, whereas thirty five is make-sure-you-stay-hydrated weather. Unless I'm cooking, in which case I'm still setting the oven to 375 before I put the chicken in. Yet another example of how Canadians remain torn between the European and American influences in our day-to-day lives...and damned inconvenient if you ask me. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71057 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71057 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:20:48 -0600 A lot of the sweating had to do with the abysmal climb performance of a 135shp diesel-engined aircraft in 35C. And I've used Celsius before. Mostly to keep the Denizennes from hollering at me to take more cold showers (and not for the obvious reason, either)... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71056 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71056 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:55:55 -0600 Heh. I *still* prefer Farenheit - and not just because I grew up with it... it allows for finer gradations. Fooey on C. It ain't below zero until it's below zero in F! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71055 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71055 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:53:03 -0600 Wow an American used Celsius. This is a proud day. I imagine the sweating had little to do with the weather. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71053 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71053 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:33:25 -0600 verboten.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71052 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71052 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:31:59 -0600 On the even-brighter side, the warmer weather (it hit 35C at 1000) has encouraged those contractors of the female persuasion to dress in a somewhat breezier style, What? No Pictures?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71051 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/words_do_have_m.html#comment-71051 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:07:46 -0600