Distance and the British way of doing things

From Yahoo news (AFP):
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...e_030712160637

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But organisers have been warning, as they do each year as numbers dwindle, that a low-show Saturday would mean a no-go for the parade next year.

"It will be very hard for us if the participation drops below 500,000," said the head of the Love Parade, Fabian Lenz.

" It would really be a shame if this was the last one," yells Helmut, who has travelled 600 kilometres (400 kilometers) with some colleagues just to be here for the weekend.

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So, we have a new system of measurement:
3 kilometres == 2 kilometers. Imagine the possibilities. Travellers, 200 kilometres off course. Taxi drivers, 200 euros richer. And Deutsche male porn stars, significantly more endowed.



And some people wonder why Americans use 'miles'... :D

>>And some people wonder why Americans use 'miles'...<<
You say it like you're the only ones that do? :confused:

wtf???

600 kilometres=400 kilometers

:confused: :confused: :confused:

"Significant roundoff error while multiplying by 0.999999999999999..."

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>>And some people wonder why Americans use 'miles'...<<
You say it like you're the only ones that do?

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Practically...I don't know which other (few) countries do, but I know there is at least one other...I think...

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/internat.htm

Personally, I hate when people use km, I have no idea how they relate to miles. Yeah, I know, its a simply calc between the two, but miles is what I've used for like ever, and it's going to stay that way. I'm too stubborn to change. :)

But why is there translation between the same units of measurement? (And why are they different?)

The American system was actually brought over from Britain. The foot was the actual length of a Kings food. A yard 3 of his feet. All I know on that subject.

Length of his food, eh? ;)

I tend to think in nautical miles, which is outta sync with both systems anyways. Though, I much prefer kilometres to statute miles.

Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but I think a kilometre is the same distance as a mile and a kilometer is simply a kilometer. B/c I was looking at my mph on my car the other day and when I'm going 60mph it converts to 40kph.

>>> I have no idea how they relate to miles.

Doesn't the speed measuring dial in your car have both?

The speedometer in my car has both (except the one with the electronic display - it only displays one at a time, but can switch) However, American drivers don't even see those little numbers representing kph, because we never use them. I bet a lot of people don't even know what they are. ...I've only ever used them in Canada.

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Originally posted by TechWins
Sorry if this is stating the obvious, but I think a kilometre is the same distance as a mile and a kilometer is simply a kilometer. B/c I was looking at my mph on my car the other day and when I'm going 60mph it converts to 40kph.

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I think you are right, because 1 mile == 1.6 kilometers( almost )

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>>And some people wonder why Americans use 'miles'...<<

You say it like you're the only ones that do?

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We're the only ones that get crap for it.

The old British system is over-due for systematic extermination. Long live metric!

Forget metric! Gotta go all out and use SI.

SI is metric for distance, and mass, right?

I don't see people moving to Kelvin over Centrigrade any time soon though.

Would be nice to have speeds in m/s, but i don't see that happening either.

Think people might be a bit wary about saying its 300 degrees out, eh?

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And Deutsche male porn stars, significantly more endowed.

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In fact, that goes for all germans and has nothing to do with different measurement systems :p :rolleyes: :D