[Amps] Burning question of the day- how long is it?

[w5grg]

Well-lots of good comments, but I stopped with the beer long ago, so I 
don't know what size it comes in, but it has been a handy saying for me 
since a pint of water (fresh at some temp -forgot how many degrees maybe 
72 F) is equal to 1 lbs, so both the liquid and weight have a common unit.
  I was kidding about the antenna,but since the metric system is not in 
common use in most homes in the US and I imagine most hams buying the 
handbook live in the USA, I am not sure why the ARRL uses the metric 
system, seems more like an affectation rather than to make things clear.
If you understand tolerances  then fractions of an inch are easy  to 
work with and close enough for most things including an antenna. After 
all, most of the raw stock is made to the English system, not metric. I 
always liked the fact that when buying steel or aluminum, and it came 
sized in Metric, it actually worked out to an even inch size in 
thickness, L, W.
I don't think that anyone commented on the most remarkable fact that the 
English system (which I think comes down from the measurement of the 
human forearm  or "cubit" - not sure of that) is both Base 2 and Base 3 
, that is divisible both even and odd.
My father pointed that out to me when I was a kid and told him all about 
learning about the metric system in school. As we all know now, but not 
back when the French invented it, the distance from the town in France 
(forgot which one) to the North Pole (where Santa lives) is not the 
same- about like the French mans feelings for us depending on if they 
are in trouble and need the American army to bail them out.
Maybe if we drop the metric system they will want the Statue of Liberty 
back.
Me - I will stick to our system of measurement, that way when my wife 
says she wants one-half of everything (not .5000000 + - 000) I will 
understand what she means.
Good Luck
73's George W5GRG