[Info-vax] Why is starting epoch 17 Nov 1858?

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 3/11/21 1:39 PM, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 3/11/2021 12:44 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 3/11/2021 11:45 AM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
>>> In article <s2de9m$hrd$1 at dont-email.me>, Dave Froble
>>> <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>>>> It is an opinion.  I understand English, I do not
>>>> understand or speak French.  I understand the English measurement
>>>> system, I know how long an inch is without having to think about 
>>>> it.  If
>>>> someone tells me an object is 2 inches in length, I know about what 
>>>> that
>>>> is.  If someone tells me an object is 5 centimeters in length, I really
>>>> have to think about that for a while.
>>>>
>>>> Why am I irrational if I choose to use something I'm familiar with?
>>>
>>> It's not irrational, but consider other issues.
>>>
>>> First, without looking it up, explain the what a BTU is.
>>
>> It's been a while, but I seem to recall it is the amount of heat 
>> required to raise an amount, I forget the amount, of water one degree 
>> Fahrenheit.  I could look it up, but why bother.
>>
>> What I do seem to have some feeling for is sizing furnaces, and how 
>> many BTUs should be used for a specified area, say, 2000 sq ft.
>>
>> Oh, darn, there I go again, using those damn imperial measurements.  
>> The thing is, I can function with them.  I have no idea what 2000 sq 
>> ft comes out to in millimeters, centimeters, meters, or whatever.
> 
> It will be square something. Square meters are probably most convenient.
> 
> Roughly 180 square meters. Divide by 10 and deduct 10%.
> 
> (the "true answer is 185.8)
> 
>> I can function with what I know.  I cannot do so well with what I do 
>> not know.  Why can't I just use what works?  It's not broke, why fix it?
> 
> Progress.
> 
> Horses worked fine for field work for many years. Most prefer tractors 
> today.
> 

Go listen to "Heavy Horses" by Jethro Tull.  :-)

bill