[TheForge] metrology - YAK

[Andy Vida]

Gladish Family wrote:

> Yeah- think about it: the metric system is all about base ten arithmetic,
> and what's that based on? Counting on your fingers, that's all. We think of
> the number "ten" as a fundamental constant, but it's a totally arbitrary
> counting system.
> The "English" system ("American" might be a better moniker) is based on
> counting things in bases 12 and 16, and measuring things with your thumb
> (inch) and your feet.
> The meter was an attempt to measure in terms of the earth's circumference,
> but since that varies slightly and since they got it wrong in the first
> place, now it's 09384752398475093544039840293840.092357309845 wavelengths of
> some radiation in some medium or another.
> Now, there's a fundamental constant decreed by God!   ;-)
> Why don't we use multiples of the Planck length instead?

	How about the angstrom as the fundamental unit.  It would make
	sense.

> Or just measure in terms of anvil lenth and width?

	I like the way you think.  But what size anvil?  And which
	manufacturer? :)

> Like P. Ross says- How much iron do you start with??? Enough to do the job!

	Words to live by.