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KBBS Archive 10,000
What a gas
Posted By: Paul G. Jacobson In Response To: Re:Metric Measure (Ian Johnston)
Date: Sunday, 14 November 1999, at 6:39 p.m.
> Well, I thought of selling the old tank in the U.S., but then realised
> that they couldn't use it either as Canada used the Imperial system which
> meant that our gallon was bigger than theirs.> Being the man of vision that I am, I bought every one of these Imperial
> gas tanks I could find and I am waiting for the U.S. to raise their speed
> limit a little bit. When they do I will be rich! In the mean time I an
> looking for partners if you want to get in on the ground floor!> I think that I missed the opportunity to make big bucks on all those cars
> that go back and forth at the border! Someone must be changing the tanks
> in these cars each time, or else maybe they have two tanks!!> Ian
Don't reveal this money making tip, but some people are making fortunes in their spare time stuffing envelopes. That's right, they are taking those Imperial gastanks and stuffing them into very large envelopes and mailing them to Japan -- one of the few countries that still has an emperor, and can properly use anything that comes in an imperial size. These tanks are then used on the test cars that get such incredible gas mileage results, which are never obtained in actual use. 55 miles per gallon? sure! on the imperial gallon!
In the days when Canada and the U.S. used gallons -- but of different sizes -- and the cars were all gas guzzlers, the lines at the border crossings were secretly calculated to be so long that idling autos would burn off the difference between the two measuring systems. The introduction of the `litre' merely increased the waiting time. Detroit was in on this, and built repair parts near the Canadian border.
`Litre' by the way, is also spelled `liter', and was originally spelled `loiter', which is a kayaking term meaning `to sit motionless, preferably in the back cockpit of a tandem kayak, while your partner in the front cockpit does all the paddling'
The internal capacity of a kayak can be measured in litres. Smaller kayaks (those with fewer litres) need to be paddled more often to maintain speed, while larger kayaks (those with more litres) have an inherently faster hull speed and can be paddled less frequently.
Calculations in either system can be carried out on slide rules with greater speed and accuracy than can be done with modern electronic digital calculators and computers. This was proven by the Scots who, through a feat of exceptional engineering, for many years, were able to divide 128-ounce gallons into perfect fifths -- but in modern times are limited to working with 750 ml. bottles.
Now excuse me while I go eat my dinner, which could be a rather painful chore as my tongue seems to be firmly planted in my cheek.
Paul G.( as in ) Jacobson
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KBBS Archive 10,000 is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.
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