Tag Archives: metric

A very Caribbean muddle

Metric Views has received news on the progress of metrication in the Caribbean.

Posted in General, History, Views from abroad | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The BBC explains its position on measurement units

A reader of Metric Views has received an unusually comprehensive reply to a complaint about the units used in the the programme ‘Bang goes the theory’. We are posting the letter in full as we feel it may be of interest to … Continue reading

Posted in General, Media, Science | Tagged , , , | 78 Comments

Remarks by Eric Schmidt throw up a paradox

The executive chairman of Google remarked recently that Britain needs to “bring arts and science back together”. But the USA, where he is based, is the most backward country in the world for sharing of measurement units between scientists and … Continue reading

Posted in Education, General, Science, Views from abroad | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Surprisingly balanced article in the Daily Mail

An interesting article about metrication appeared in the Daily Mail Online recently, describing the current situation reasonably well – but arguing that the current British mixture of metric and imperial measurements is actually a good thing since it enables people … Continue reading

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Media | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

Numeracy Counts

A recent report has stressed the importance of numeracy – and of raising the level of numeracy – both for people with learning difficulties and for people who are otherwise well qualified.  In this article Martin Vlietstra suggests that fully … Continue reading

Posted in Education, General, Media | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

An ‘el’ of a standard

The powers that be of the metric system are wrestling with the problem of defining the kilogram independently of an actual physical object (i.e. the very slowly degrading cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy kept at Sèvres, near Paris, known as “the … Continue reading

Posted in General, History, Technical | Tagged , | 18 Comments

Bizarre 2/3 pint proposal to go ahead

Despite widespread ridicule, the Government has persisted with the previous Government’s barmy proposal to introduce a 2/3 pint measure for draught beer and cider.  Under the pretence of  “removing unnecessary red tape”, it has actually resisted calls for genuine deregulation.

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Snow calculations made simple, or not

One of our readers, John Frewen-Lord, has been housebound for four days by the recent heavy snow falls – about 60 cm deep in his area. This has prompted him to provide an illustration of the comparative simplicity of calculating … Continue reading

Posted in Education, General, Technical | Tagged , | 6 Comments

10-10-10. A reason for celebration

For many in Britain, the metric system and decimal measures are the same. Sunday’s once-in-a-century date provides an opportunity to consider the link between the two.

Posted in Education, General, History, Technical, Views from abroad | Tagged , , , , | 24 Comments

UK Prominent Peaks tables and maps updated

A new release of the UK Prominent Peaks tables and maps is now available. This follows the announcement of survey results for Glyder Fawr in Snowdonia which demonstrate that it is more than one thousand metres high.

Posted in General, Mountains | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment