[Fists] "The Correct Use of Metric"

[W2AGN]

Ofen, I hear criticism of FISTS for being "snobbish" or "know-it-all." I 
dismiss such accusations....until now.

I just finished reading the article 'The Correct Use of Metric," in Keynote 
2.2002. While I agree that many errors are made with Mhz, mHz, etc, the 
manner in which the author adressed this was patronizing and insulting. 

He starts of criticizing a magazine which said a QRPer was using 5MW of 
power. He notes that this means 5 MEGAWATTS. Yeah, that's right, and I'm sure 
everybody who read it immediately said, "Wow, that guy was running 5 
Megawatts!"  Then he carries on about the KEYNOTE, saying MCW is legal only 
above 144.1 mHz. He manages to waste almost a half column showing how smart 
he is, figuring out the 144.1 mHz is actualy 0.1441 Hz. 

He has to make sure we all appreciate our stupidity, by suggesting that 
"those of you who do not remember your Metric system from Grade School should 
keep a look-up card handy." Hey, when I was in grade school, it was 144.1 
Mcs, and the Metric sytem was something those people in Europe used. 

Of course, he also has to remind us he is a physicist. Congratulations! 

Anyway, I really don't think any normal person is going to think 144.1 mHz 
mean 0.1441 Hz, or a QRPer is running 5 megawatts.  So why waste space in 
Keynote with such a self-serving article?

-- 
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      John L Sielke   W2AGN
       w2agn@pobox.com
 http://mywebpages.comcast.net/w2agn
        Trustee: W3IYQ