Digital BW, The Print

Europe waited a while longer, even though they invented TV, to have a better quality image. They got it . . . 625 vs 525 lines. Eurpoe has long used metric, while other countries held out. Over the last twenty to thirty years most countries joined on the metric bandwagon . . . it makes sense if most of the world is using it. About the only holdout still using the quaint, antiquated Avoirdupoids system is the US and the reason for it is simple. At the time that Canada, Britain and others were changing over, the US once again decided that THEY would guide? the world and opted to stay in the dark ages . . . no one would tell them what to do (a lot like the little brat crying and running home, screaming "it's my ball, and my bat, and I'm going home!"). Most (americans) would argue that it is of little consequence because everybody has a calculator or a computer and they do conversions readily . . . true, but there is NO reason to do conversions. America just needs to wake up.

Any precision business . . . machining, scientific product or manufacture, medical, etc., all work in metric. Most page layout and printing programs all use metric (they automatically convert from Avoirdupoids . . . though you don't see it).

I grew up with Avoirdupoids, still use it to a large degree, but do mental conversins as fast as a calculator. I used to be highly amused at my daughters when they were in grade school and I would say something like . . . "oh, about 2 miles", or "3 pounds" or whatever, and I would get the quizzical look, "what the hell are you talking about, daddy?". Today when I measure things, I finally have come to grips with metric . . . it is more precise, and I make fewer mistakes.

Paul Aparycki


  There must be some interesting explanation about how and why England 
  and Europe use A4 etc. paper and US uses Letter sized (and other 
  sizes).

  How and why did they get different standards.

  I see that A4 fits a 35mm aspect ratio full frame. Letter size 
  doesn't fit either full frame or 8x10 (probably another explanation 
  about 8x10).

  Just interested in this...I think about it every month when I see the 
  two paper sizes. It's funny how we've reduced the size of the world 
  digitally but not on paper <g>.

  thanks and cheers,

  Tom O'Connell

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]