listener--thinking of Spinnaker's evident overdosage with the opioid, I am first reminded of the Mars Climate Orbiter, which evidently crashed because of inadequate care when using both metric and conventional [English] units. My second thought is that many Americans are not conversant in metric units. My third thought is that many people do not have an adequate grasp of significant figures or a well-honed ability to estimate the size of a mathematical product. It is my observation that the ability to estimate and to understand significant figures has decayed markedly since slide rules were replaced with electronic calculators.
It was back in the 1890's when the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that all Americans were legally responsible for understanding the metric system, since it was the only system of measurement that had been explicitly recognized for use in the United States. [The US is one of the original signatories of the Metric Convention.] As memory serves me, the case revolved around a witness who testified in metric units, and an objection that he should have testified in English units so the jurors could understand.
Oh, ^ that Anony-mouse was me (as you likely guessed).
Today Spinnaker is doing a lot better, though not herself completely yet. It bodes well that her intense interest in Mr. Chippy has revived. Waiting for word back from the vet about the dosage. But we have cut it back by half and she's still improving, so that's a start!
listener--thinking of Spinnaker's evident overdosage with the opioid, I am first reminded of the Mars Climate Orbiter, which evidently crashed because of inadequate care when using both metric and conventional [English] units. My second thought is that many Americans are not conversant in metric units. My third thought is that many people do not have an adequate grasp of significant figures or a well-honed ability to estimate the size of a mathematical product. It is my observation that the ability to estimate and to understand significant figures has decayed markedly since slide rules were replaced with electronic calculators.
ReplyDeleteIt was back in the 1890's when the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that all Americans were legally responsible for understanding the metric system, since it was the only system of measurement that had been explicitly recognized for use in the United States. [The US is one of the original signatories of the Metric Convention.] As memory serves me, the case revolved around a witness who testified in metric units, and an objection that he should have testified in English units so the jurors could understand.
DeleteVerrry innnnteresting!
DeleteOf course, persons who work in medical offices MUST be aware!! I don’t mean “must” as evidentiary but in terms of imperative.
Oh, ^ that Anony-mouse was me (as you likely guessed).
DeleteToday Spinnaker is doing a lot better, though not herself completely yet. It bodes well that her intense interest in Mr. Chippy has revived. Waiting for word back from the vet about the dosage. But we have cut it back by half and she's still improving, so that's a start!
Russia is losing the war, a battalion every day & forced to retreat. What Does President Putin Do Now? [Click] This morning I read that he was hiding in his palace at Sochi and refusing to meet with military commanders or representatives of arms manufacturers. I keep coming back to what happened to Russia and its head of state back in WWI. Also in the Crimean War.
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ReplyDeleteHow Ukraine has rolled over Russia’s top tank army. [Click]
Said top tank army was supposed to defend Moscow against a NATO attack. . .
DeleteWest Virginia governor signs bill into law banning abortion with few exceptions
ReplyDeleteCondolences, puddle
2022 Ig Nobel Prizes [Click] Among other, a moose crash-test dummy and improved chemotherapy.
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ReplyDeleteBBC: Russian retreat exposes military weaknesses in soldiers, equipment, and organization [Click] It sounds frankly astounding.
"retreat" should read "rout"
Delete"retreat" also works! Ha!
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