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The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?

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  The Leap Second is Dead.  How Will GNU/Linux Cope? Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-16 15:45 +0000
    Re: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-10-16 16:56 +0100
      Re: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope? Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-16 17:08 +0000
    Re: The Leap Second is Dead.  How Will GNU/Linux Cope? Cóilín Nioclásín Glostéir <thanks-to@Taf.com> - 2026-10-16 19:13 +0000
    Re: The Leap Second is Dead.  How Will GNU/Linux Cope? Stéphane CARPENTIER <sc@fiat-linux.fr> - 2026-10-17 13:29 +0000
      Re: The Leap Second is Dead.  How Will GNU/Linux Cope? gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-17 13:51 +0000
      Re: The Leap Second is Dead.  How Will GNU/Linux Cope? Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-17 14:19 +0000
        Re: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-17 19:37 +0200
          Re: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 11:25 +0100
          Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-18 11:57 +0000
            Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-18 14:20 +0200
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 13:25 +0100
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-18 14:31 +0200
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 14:23 +0100
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Stéphane CARPENTIER <sc@fiat-linux.fr> - 2026-10-18 13:35 +0000
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-18 18:45 +0000
                      Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-10-18 21:41 +0000
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-19 00:57 +0000
                          Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-10-19 09:26 +0100
                            Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-19 14:17 +0000
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-19 02:11 +0000
                          Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-10-19 02:38 +0000
                            Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-19 03:52 +0000
                              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-10-19 03:56 +0000
                                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-19 05:58 +0000
                                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:41 +0100
                          Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-19 03:03 +0000
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-19 02:49 +0000
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-19 11:49 +0100
                      Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:29 +0100
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-20 01:59 +0000
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 20:15 +0100
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-19 00:44 -0400
                      Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-19 11:54 +0100
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-19 20:27 +0200
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-18 14:38 +0200
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 14:26 +0100
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-18 18:59 +0000
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-19 20:36 +0200
                      Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-20 09:08 +0100
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-20 10:35 +0200
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-18 18:55 +0000
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2026-10-18 19:05 +0000
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 20:41 +0100
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> - 2026-10-19 00:15 +0000
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-19 02:02 +0000
                      Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:18 +0100
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-20 01:52 +0000
                          Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-20 10:37 +0200
                            Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> - 2026-10-20 11:39 +0100
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-19 11:48 +0100
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-19 02:42 +0000
                    Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:20 +0100
                      Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam2616@zugschl.us> - 2026-10-20 08:39 +0200
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-20 07:53 +0000
                        Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-20 10:38 +0200
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-19 20:49 +0200
            Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 13:21 +0100
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-18 19:04 +0000
            Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-18 14:07 +0000
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-10-18 11:45 -0700
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-18 19:27 +0000
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-19 02:30 +0000
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-19 02:06 +0000
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-18 19:05 +0000
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Leroy H <lh@somewhere.net> - 2026-10-18 19:32 +0000
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-18 19:37 +0000
                  Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-19 02:20 +0000
                Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-18 20:40 +0100
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-19 21:00 +0200
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-20 03:03 +0100
              Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?) Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> - 2026-10-20 11:40 +0100

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#94387 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 2026-10-20 10:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 19/10/2026 19:36, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> On 2026-10-18 15:26, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> On 18/10/2026 13:38, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>>>> On 2026-10-18 14:25, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>>> On 18/10/2026 13:20, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>>>>>> On 2026-10-18 13:57, Kenny McCormack wrote:
>>>>>>> In article <ubocqmx3dc.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>,
>>>>>>> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>>>>>>> On 2026-10-17 16:19, Leroy H wrote:
>>>>>>>>> It was the French that gave the world the metric system (or SI) 
>>>>>>>>> which is
>>>>>>>>> perhaps fit for the sterile laboratory but which has no place 
>>>>>>>>> in daily
>>>>>>>>> life.  Indeed, both the USA and GB resist the SI units in that 
>>>>>>>>> most civil
>>>>>>>>> measurements are still reported in pounds, feet, Fahrenheit, etc.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Lighten up, the SI is used in the entire world. Just some 
>>>>>>>> recalcitrant
>>>>>>>> people remain in their old ways.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Believe it or not, this (the age-old discussion of US/Imperial 
>>>>>>> vs. metric)
>>>>>>> actually seems to be another instance of "Yes, it is technically 
>>>>>>> superior,
>>>>>>> but it is not the standard (i.e., what most people use), so we 
>>>>>>> think you
>>>>>>> should go with the standard even though it is technically inferior."
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There are actually quite a lot of those in life.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I.e., what I'm saying is that there actually are quite a few 
>>>>>>> arguments to
>>>>>>> be made that US/Imperial is actually better.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sort of like Betamax (Yes, the classic example of "better does 
>>>>>>> not ensure
>>>>>>> market dominance".)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Here, the imperial system is not even mentioned in school. All is 
>>>>>> SI. As in most countries.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Not really
>>>>>
>>>>> Just yours
>>>>
>>>> In your dreams. 19 out out of 20 people worldwide use the SI.
>>>>
>>> But 20 out of 20 people ALSO use other systems
>>>
>>> You don't say 'your last post was 1325.2 seconds ago do you?
>>>
>>> You use hours minutes days, moths and years
>>
>> That's grasping at straws, LOL.
>>
> Just the first example that comes to mind.
> Ever buy jewellry with a 6ooµg diamond etc?
> Of course not

Grasping at straws. That's irrelevant for the claim "we use the SI only".

> 
> Point being every country in the world uses a mixture. This is something 
> BooleanBrains™ find hard to grasp.
> 
> 


-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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#94210 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:38:45 +0200, Carlos E.R. wrote:

> Worldwide, the SI (metric) system is used by the overwhelming majority
> of the world's population. The Imperial System, by contrast, has a much
> smaller footprint, primarily in the United States for everyday
> measurements, with some Imperial units still used in the UK and
> elsewhere.

The US doesn't exactly use the Imperial system. The US adopted the British 
units before Britain defined the Imperial system. It's mostly the same but 
there are differences. A ton is 2000 lbs, the gallon is .83 of an Imperial 
gallon which trickles down to quarts and pints.

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#94213 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 2026-10-18, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> Here, the imperial system is not even mentioned in school. All is SI. As 
> in most countries.

How are vehicles wheel/tire diameters in your country measured?
All the imported cars I see here in the U.S. have wheels and
tire size measured in inches.

-- 
  Roger Blake

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#94227 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 18/10/2026 20:05, Roger Blake wrote:
> On 2026-10-18, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>> Here, the imperial system is not even mentioned in school. All is SI. As
>> in most countries.
> 
> How are vehicles wheel/tire diameters in your country measured?
> All the imported cars I see here in the U.S. have wheels and
> tire size measured in inches.
> 
Of course. rims are inches, tyre tread widths are mm.




-- 
“it should be clear by now to everyone that activist environmentalism 
(or environmental activism) is becoming a general ideology about humans, 
about their freedom, about the relationship between the individual and 
the state, and about the manipulation of people under the guise of a 
'noble' idea. It is not an honest pursuit of 'sustainable development,' 
a matter of elementary environmental protection, or a search for 
rational mechanisms designed to achieve a healthy environment. Yet 
things do occur that make you shake your head and remind yourself that 
you live neither in Joseph Stalin’s Communist era, nor in the Orwellian 
utopia of 1984.”

Vaclav Klaus

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#94259 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 2026-10-18, The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Of course. rims are inches, tyre tread widths are mm.

Since the person I was asking said that only metric is taught
in his country's schools, I was wondering if people there just
scratch their heads in confusion when buying tires.

To me the metric system makes no sense. I don't grok it at all.
But fortunately in the U.S. the exposure to it is minimal.

-- 
  Roger Blake

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#94263 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second ...)

On Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:15:06 -0000 (UTC), Roger Blake wrote:

> To me the metric system makes no sense. I don't grok it at all.

Doesn’t matter what units your country uses, they are all officially
defined in terms of SI units anyway.

I was reading an article earlier today about NASA’s Artemis II mission
to the Moon. They were measuring their distance from the Earth in (get
this) nautical miles. Why?? As far as I know, they give their
velocities in (non-nautical) miles per second or (non-nautical) miles
per hour; so after travelling an hour at 18,000 miles per hour, they
won’t say they’ve done 18,000 miles, they give a figure like 15,642
nautical miles instead?!?

To me, that’s just making extra work for yourself -- and introducing
more opportunities to make mistakes.

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#94369 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On 2026-10-19, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:

> On Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:15:06 -0000 (UTC), Roger Blake wrote:
>
>> To me the metric system makes no sense. I don't grok it at all.
>
> Doesn’t matter what units your country uses, they are all officially
> defined in terms of SI units anyway.
>
> I was reading an article earlier today about NASA’s Artemis II mission
> to the Moon. They were measuring their distance from the Earth in (get
> this) nautical miles. Why?? As far as I know, they give their
> velocities in (non-nautical) miles per second or (non-nautical) miles
> per hour; so after travelling an hour at 18,000 miles per hour, they
> won’t say they’ve done 18,000 miles, they give a figure like 15,642
> nautical miles instead?!?
>
> To me, that’s just making extra work for yourself -- and introducing
> more opportunities to make mistakes.

Thankfully, it's not like NASA has ever lost a spacecraft or probe due
to unit mismatches...

<https://enwp.org/Mars_Climate_Orbiter>

-- 
Nuno Silva

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#94374 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:18:52 +0100, Nuno Silva wrote:

> 
> Thankfully, it's not like NASA has ever lost a spacecraft or probe due
> to unit mismatches...
> 
> <https://enwp.org/Mars_Climate_Orbiter>
>

We have all heard of that fiasco, but it's just another example of lax
engineering practice.

As a university student, I attended a US school of engineering and a good
portion of the curriculum was devoted to unit conversions.  In each and every
class, there were constant and tedious unit conversion drills to the point
that I became absolutely sick of them.

But unit conversions are especially important in the US where US customary
units exist side by side with SI (metric) units.

In the US chemical engineering, for example, one does ever mention a "mole"
but only a pound-mole, lb-mol, or a gram-mole, g-mole.
 
So the NASA fiasco was due to only to the lack of diligence of the engineers
involved.

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#94388 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On 2026-10-20 03:52, Leroy H wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:18:52 +0100, Nuno Silva wrote:
> 
>>
>> Thankfully, it's not like NASA has ever lost a spacecraft or probe due
>> to unit mismatches...
>>
>> <https://enwp.org/Mars_Climate_Orbiter>
>>
> 
> We have all heard of that fiasco, but it's just another example of lax
> engineering practice.
> 
> As a university student, I attended a US school of engineering and a good
> portion of the curriculum was devoted to unit conversions.  In each and every
> class, there were constant and tedious unit conversion drills to the point
> that I became absolutely sick of them.

LOL. We never spent even a second on it. Not even mentioned.

> 
> But unit conversions are especially important in the US where US customary
> units exist side by side with SI (metric) units.
> 
> In the US chemical engineering, for example, one does ever mention a "mole"
> but only a pound-mole, lb-mol, or a gram-mole, g-mole.
>   
> So the NASA fiasco was due to only to the lack of diligence of the engineers
> involved.
> 


-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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#94391 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On 10/20/26 09:37, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2026-10-20 03:52, Leroy H wrote:
>> On Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:18:52 +0100, Nuno Silva wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Thankfully, it's not like NASA has ever lost a spacecraft or probe due
>>> to unit mismatches...
>>>
>>> <https://enwp.org/Mars_Climate_Orbiter>
>>>
>>
>> We have all heard of that fiasco, but it's just another example of lax
>> engineering practice.
>>
>> As a university student, I attended a US school of engineering and a good
>> portion of the curriculum was devoted to unit conversions.  In each 
>> and every
>> class, there were constant and tedious unit conversion drills to the 
>> point
>> that I became absolutely sick of them.
> 
> LOL. We never spent even a second on it. Not even mentioned.
> 

I'm in the UK, in formal education, I only ever used metric. I was 
irritated on leaving education to find the rest of the UK dragging its 
feet on metrication. FWIW, I wanted to write metrification, but wiki 
primarily uses metrication, so I use that, that is what standardisation 
is about. It is just polite to use standards.

>>
>> But unit conversions are especially important in the US where US 
>> customary
>> units exist side by side with SI (metric) units.
>>
>> In the US chemical engineering, for example, one does ever mention a 
>> "mole"
>> but only a pound-mole, lb-mol, or a gram-mole, g-mole.
>> So the NASA fiasco was due to only to the lack of diligence of the 
>> engineers
>> involved.
>>

I think a couple of standard IT maxims apply. The first is about spoken 
instructions for a task that can be completed in "13 easy steps" (pick 
any big number). The second is "no job is so simple that it cannot be 
fucked up".

In essence, yes, conversion is simple, but adding unnecessary steps, 
even simple steps, increases the risk of failure.

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#94311 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 19/10/2026 01:15, Roger Blake wrote:
> On 2026-10-18, The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> Of course. rims are inches, tyre tread widths are mm.
> 
> Since the person I was asking said that only metric is taught
> in his country's schools, I was wondering if people there just
> scratch their heads in confusion when buying tires.
> 
> To me the metric system makes no sense. I don't grok it at all.
> But fortunately in the U.S. the exposure to it is minimal.
> 
It would seem that your exposure to metric is as limited by narrow 
experience as Carlos' is to non metric


-- 
"Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social 
conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the 
windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) "

Alan Sokal

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#94274 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On Sun, 18 Oct 2026 20:41:57 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 18/10/2026 20:05, Roger Blake wrote:
>> On 2026-10-18, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>> Here, the imperial system is not even mentioned in school. All is SI.
>>> As in most countries.
>> 
>> How are vehicles wheel/tire diameters in your country measured?
>> All the imported cars I see here in the U.S. have wheels and tire size
>> measured in inches.
>> 
> Of course. rims are inches, tyre tread widths are mm.

They're slowly going to metric but bike tires, particularly tube type  
knobbies, still are sometimes in inches. 

https://fortnine.ca/en/converting-motorcycle-tire-sizing-systems

I'm pretty sure my current set of Kendas are stamped in inches.

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#94370 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On 2026-10-19, rbowman wrote:

> On Sun, 18 Oct 2026 20:41:57 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
>> On 18/10/2026 20:05, Roger Blake wrote:
>>> On 2026-10-18, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>>> Here, the imperial system is not even mentioned in school. All is SI.
>>>> As in most countries.
>>> 
>>> How are vehicles wheel/tire diameters in your country measured?
>>> All the imported cars I see here in the U.S. have wheels and tire size
>>> measured in inches.
>>> 
>> Of course. rims are inches, tyre tread widths are mm.
>
> They're slowly going to metric but bike tires, particularly tube type  
> knobbies, still are sometimes in inches. 
>
> https://fortnine.ca/en/converting-motorcycle-tire-sizing-systems
>
> I'm pretty sure my current set of Kendas are stamped in inches.

Do people in the USA use another numbering for CR2032 batteries? Or do
they just use the SI units there?

-- 
Nuno Silva

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#94380 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>Do people in the USA use another numbering for CR2032 batteries? Or do
>they just use the SI units there?

3,5 Inch Floppies are actually specced as 89 mm. In the 1990ies some
german courts fined companied for not giving the floppy size in SI
units, which prompty led to advertisements like "Diskette 8,89 cm".

Greetings
Marc
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marc Haber         |   " Questions are the         | Mailadresse im Header
Rhein-Neckar, DE   |     Beginning of Wisdom "     | 
Nordisch by Nature | Lt. Worf, TNG "Rightful Heir" | Fon: *49 6224 1600402

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#94382 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:39:29 +0200, Marc Haber wrote:

> 3,5 Inch Floppies are actually specced as 89 mm. In the 1990ies some
> german courts fined companied for not giving the floppy size in SI
> units, which prompty led to advertisements like "Diskette 8,89 cm".

Not mm?

Then it would sound like an FM station. “Radio Floppy Eighty-Eight
Point Nine!”

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#94389 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial

On 2026-10-20 08:39, Marc Haber wrote:
> Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> Do people in the USA use another numbering for CR2032 batteries? Or do
>> they just use the SI units there?
> 
> 3,5 Inch Floppies are actually specced as 89 mm. In the 1990ies some
> german courts fined companied for not giving the floppy size in SI
> units, which prompty led to advertisements like "Diskette 8,89 cm".

Wow. That's a funny one.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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#94352 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 2026-10-18 21:05, Roger Blake wrote:
> On 2026-10-18, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>> Here, the imperial system is not even mentioned in school. All is SI. As
>> in most countries.
> 
> How are vehicles wheel/tire diameters in your country measured?
> All the imported cars I see here in the U.S. have wheels and
> tire size measured in inches.

I don't know. I just ask my mechanic for a new set of wheels, in the 
acceptable set listed by the manufacturer :-D


Google says:

Car wheels are measured using specific dimensions and a mix of inches 
and millimeters, according to Wikipedia.

Main Measurements and Units

• Diameter (Rim Size): Measured in inches. This is the distance across 
the wheel taken from the inside bead seat (where the tire mounts) rather 
than the very outer edge of the lip.

• Width: Measured in inches. This is the distance between the inner bead 
seat and the outer bead seat of the rim.

• Offset (ET): Measured in millimeters (mm). This is the distance from 
the wheel's centerline to the surface that bolts against the car hub. It 
can be positive, negative, or zero.

• PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter / Bolt Pattern): Expressed as the number of 
bolt holes and the diameter of an imaginary circle passing through their 
centers, measured in millimeters (mm) (e.g., 5x114.3).

• Center Bore: Measured in millimeters (mm). This is the diameter of the 
large hole right in the center of the wheel that fits over the vehicle's 
hub.

If you are looking up a specific wheel or tire size, let me know the 
year, make, and model of your car and I can help you find the stock 
dimensions.


And the tires?

Car tires (the rubber part) are measured using a mix of three different 
metric and imperial units. If you look at the sidewall of a tire, you 
will see a standardized code like 205/55R16, which breaks down as follows:

1. Section Width (Millimeters)

The first number indicates the width of the tire from sidewall to 
sidewall in millimeters (mm). For example, a 205 tire is 205 millimeters 
wide at its widest point.

2. Aspect Ratio (Percentage)

The second number is a percentage representing the profile or height of 
the sidewall relative to the tire's width. In a 55 tire, the sidewall 
height is 55% of its 205mm width (which equals about 112.75 mm). Lower 
percentages mean a low-profile tire with a thinner rubber edge.

3. Wheel Diameter (Inches)

The final number tells you the size of the wheel the tire is designed to 
fit, measured in inches. An R16 tire is designed for a 16-inch wheel 
(the "R" stands for radial construction).

Complete Tire Specification Example: 205/55R16 91V


Component	Meaning	Unit / Type
205	Section Width	Millimeters (mm)
55	Aspect Ratio	Percentage (%)
R	Construction Type	Radial
16	Wheel Diameter	Inches (")
91	Load Index	Numeric Code (e.g., 91 = 615 kg)
V	Speed Rating	Letter Code (e.g., V = up to 240 km/h)




In primary school or high school, I never did calculations using inches 
or miles or pounds, we only used the SI. There were lessons on the 
equivalences, taught as a curiosity, not as a real thing. And how to 
convert units.

In engineering schools, we used the SI. I also studied in a Canadian 
college, I felt home there. No inches.

Of course, some engineers have to deal with things such as different 
threads. Marines use the nautical miles, aviators use feet for altitude.




-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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#94169 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On 18/10/2026 12:57, Kenny McCormack wrote:
> Believe it or not, this (the age-old discussion of US/Imperial vs. metric)
> actually seems to be another instance of "Yes, it is technically superior,
> but it is not the standard (i.e., what most people use), so we think you
> should go with the standard even though it is technically inferior."
> 
I fail to see anything superior about either system, frankly

And I have used both nearly all my life.

You don't get far as an engineer without being able to convert standards 
rapidly and fluently in your head. Or on a calculator

The arguments are mostly people talking bollocks about stuff they have 
no understanding of, so they substitute violently defended opinions


> There are actually quite a lot of those in life.
> 
> I.e., what I'm saying is that there actually are quite a few arguments to
> be made that US/Imperial is actually better.
> 
*shrug* duodecimal versus decimal. sexadecimal even better 360 dyas in a 
year, almost. Good enough for religion

> Sort of like Betamax (Yes, the classic example of "better does not ensure
> market dominance".)

Again *shrug*. Plywood is sold as 2.4384 metres long, instead of 8 feet. 
Its the same bloody sized wood

It is a complete storm in a bigots teacup.

Any US garage will be using metric and imperial all the time.

Any pilot will be too.


-- 
“The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the 
urge to rule it.”
– H. L. Mencken

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#94212 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:21:53 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> I fail to see anything superior about either system, frankly

When you are under the car it's much easier to say 'Darling, can you give 
me the 20'  than ask for a 13/16". 

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#94198 — Re: Metric vs. US/Imperial (Was: The Leap Second is Dead. How Will GNU/Linux Cope?)

On Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:57:54 -0000 (UTC), Kenny McCormack wrote:

> 
> I.e., what I'm saying is that there actually are quite a few arguments to
> be made that US/Imperial is actually better.
> 

The metric system was imposed, i.e. forced, whereas the Imperial units are
traditional and hence far more natural.

Forcing an entire society to change is never a good idea.  To force SI units
in the laboratory, among professional scientists, may be an easy switch, but
to expect the general, unwashed, population to immediately embrace a new system
of units is folly.

Keep SI in the lab and let the common folk do as they always have done.

Then there is the issue of manufacturing.  Converting a large industrial base,
such as in the US, willy-nilly to SI units is a very expensive undertaking.

For example, virtually all lumber products in the US are cut to Imperial
dimensions.  The ubiquitous "stud," which is universal in construction, is
still the "2 by 4" being 2 inches by 4 inches by 8 feet.  I highly doubt
that any lumber product is cut to SI dimensions.  The saw mills are too old
to easily change, and the wood worker is too conditioned to think differently.

Also, most raw materials such as pipes, tubing, and other parts are still
produced in Imperial units because most everything classified as buildings
or infrastructure was built according to Imperial specs. 

It will be a LONG, LONG TIME before US society becomes exclusively metric.

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