>>>>>Just because you're paranoid, Jerry, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
>>>>
>>>>Chris;
>>>>
>>>>I think I hear the foot steps now! :)
>>>
>>>I wouldn't be so sure... could be some Europeans there, and would your ears distinguish foot steps from meter steps?
>>
>>Dragan;
>>
>>Wish you were out on the West Coast. I would enjoy working with you. I am not too sure about my ears but my feet would know. My shoes are from Europe so they only make metric noises. Now what is the unit of measure of metric noise? dbeun? I was a Metrology Engineer in my previous life. Metrology is the Science of Measurement.
>
>European shoe units don't make much sense to me - I'm wearing a 44, which is supposed to be equal to 10 1/2. The question is, 44 of what? Surely not centimeters, as 44cm would would require registration with coastal guard - any shoes above the size of 46 is usually reffered to as "boats" or "child's grave" in our slang.
>
>Seems to be that you must be disappointed with this life, since metrology sounds somewhat out of place when you're still using inches, feet, yards, and several other units of measure whose spelling bears only vague resemblance to their pronunciation :).

Dragan;

I wear a 49 (size 14). Not a bad size for someone from California ('49ers = gold rush of 1849). Over here my size is refered to as a "battleship". Being 6' 7" I have a small foot for someone of my size. I played basketball with a guy my height who wore size 23!

Yes, what does the European shoe number stand for? The number of grains of rice the King of a European country lined up end to end when the moon was full? So many numbering systems have such backgrounds. Now where is that rice?

In Metrology we used both English and Metric systems. You have to comply with international standards. It was a fun career but being so closely associated with manufacturing it is almost impossible to find a job in that discipline.

We measured any physical quantity. This includes mechanical and electrical standards. Knowing what to use to measure a physical object is very important and is only the starting point. We used hundreds of tools like scanning and tunnel electron microscopes. We measured time to 2 parts in ten to the –12, and distances of one micron, with very high degrees of accuracy and repeatability. All measurements have to be traceable to international standards.

For many years the National Bureau of Standards (NBS established about 1890) was the name of the organization that represented the United States and its efforts of International Physical Standards. Then one day we had a President named Ronald Reagan, who renamed the NBS to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). I objected to this change as I saw no reason for it to occur. Then later, I realized why Reagan changed the name. He has Alzheimer's and forgot the name NBS so he made up a new name. :)

With the decrease in manufacturing came unemployment. Thus I sunk to the depths of programmer but only to survive. Programming allows me to continue my life in what I term my “Neanderthal state”. Life was different before the recession of 1990 and now we have another recession. Perhaps it is time for a new career. Printing money would be fine except some government entities seem to frown upon such endeavors.

While a Metrologist, I worked at Ampex Corporation. They had about 20,000 employees and owned property all around the world. We produced the worlds first commercial audio tape recorder, invented the video recorder, instant reply, and many more innovations. After being bought and sold three times 16,000 of us were laid off in one day in 1990. Today there are 60 people employed by Ampex and they occupy one small building in Redwood City, California. The owner (Richard Bramson) has sold off just about everything of value and taken the billions of dollars for himself and his own enjoyment. Thus an innovate American Company was sold to an Englishman for his pleasure and enjoyment.

Tom