I hate imperial, but my favourite part of the metric/imperial system is when you find specifications for a 8mmx3" long bolt.
I seem to recall that when I was in the UK in 2006 there was a unusual mixture of imperial and metric measurements over there. It's almost like they started with the best intentions and then realised they couldn't be arsed. Certainly everything that comes from the continent is metric, so there is a lot of it about. I also seem to remember that cars in the UK that have their economy expressed in are miles/litre, but that may have been too much beer.
I came to Australia from the UK in 1971 when the metric conversion process here was in full swing. Hence I missed learning about the imperial system, so I find it hard to relate to 11/64" and 1/8" as my brain wants everything in mm.
I have a 1/10 RC (a RC10 B4 FT 2WD if anyone is interested) off-road buggy made in the US. All the bolts/screws are imperial, and they also come in decimals. A .05" allen key - wtf is that? The answer is it's pretty small, about 1.2mm but fook me.
And then you have firearms where depending on where the firearm originated depends on the calibre. You can get a 7.62mm NATO rifle, but you'll also find it happens to be the same ammo as a US .308". The projectiles and load of propellant are expressed in grains, even in metric ammo. GRAINS OF WHAT I ASK YOU??? Grains of rice, grains of sand???
Then there is US and UK gallons -who's idea was that? Stupid bastards. I know one is 3.8l and the other approx 4.54l, but seriously...why????
Mick
