I have many international friends and sometimes we banter about the differences between our countries. One of the more predictable jokes is that someone will ask why the crazy English system of measurements (pounds, miles, gallons, etc.) is still used in the States. My standard comeback has been that anyone can use the base 10 metric system, but it takes an intelligent person to use the English system.
All kidding aside, it would be useful if everyone used the same set of standards. There is a manufacturing truism that better is not better, standard is better that reflects the high value placed on standards. So for years I thought it would be desirable if the US converted to the metric system. I do not expect this to occur in my lifetime, but I always thought it would be nice. Today, I am not so sure I would want the US to convert to metrics. Apparently the kilogram is not a constant standard -- the official measurement has been shedding mass for an unexplained reason.
No one knows why it is shedding weight, at least in comparison with other reference weights, but the change has spurred search for a more stable definition."It's certainly not helpful to have a standard that keeps changing," says Peter Becker, a scientist at the Federal Standards Laboratory here, an institution of 1,500 scientists dedicated entirely to improving the ability to measure things precisely.
Unfortunately, the US system now has the same flaw. In order to appease our international friends, the US government changed the official definition of the pound to 0.45359237 kilograms in 1959. Based upon this change, our system of measurements is also flawed and will remain flawed until the official standard for the kilogram is redefined.
The morale of this story: Appeasement is always a bad idea. Even trivial matters that seem to have no long-term reprecussions (the 1959 change to the definition of the pound only changed the official weight of the pound by approximately one part in 10 million) may impact you in ways you would never guess.
Helo