For more on this subject, I recommend "Time Lord" [subtitle: Sir Sanford Fleming and the creation of Standard Time] by Clark Blaise ISBN 0-375-40176-8 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375401768/qid%3D998411713/107-612154 7-7574109 "Wirt Atmar" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message news:9ls2ac0362@enews4.newsguy.com... > Jeff writes: > > > We > > should all just use UTC (or some equally global time system) and time > > references at every level (from computer databases to what time the movie > > starts) should be listed in that system. On the other hand, what decade > > was it that the US officially decided to adopt the metric system? That > > makes just as much sense... and we're still acting not only like it won't > > ever happen but that it shouldn't. > > On the subject of when did America adopt the metric system, P.J. O'Rouke said > that drugs have recently taught an entire generation of American children the > metric system. > > Otherwise, officially, the US became a metric-based nation during Thomas > Jefferson's tenure as Ambassador to France. The metric system was originated > in France. As one small item made in promise for enlisting France's help was > Jefferson's avowal to convert the US to the metric system (as opposed to the > "English" system of weights and measures). Jefferson made the promise in all > earnestness and continued to promote its advantages all during his time as > President and beyond. For the duration of Jefferson's presidency, the US > *was* a metric nation. > > Similarly, the US adopted Daylight Savings Time because of Benjamin > Franklin's stay in Paris immediately after the Revolutionary War, during > which he helped work out the final peace treaty between England and the newly > formed country of the United States of America. Again, Daylight Savings Time > was a French notion, but this time there was no pressure to adopt it. > Franklin merely thought that it was an excellent idea. > > Wirt Atmar > > * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * > * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html * > * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *