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Photo Forum / Film Photography / Darkroom / November 2006[Slightly] OT: Another data point in the "metric or not" debate
Regarding the ongoing debate over metrification for the U.S. and few other places that aren't currently "with the program" (yes, Virginia, there is a robust debate over this, believe it or not), another data point. I recently bought something at Ikea. Now, of all the companies doing business here (the U.S.), you'd think that this one would be firmly committed to using metric measures, no? After all, this Swedish company is an international concern, with both retail outlets and suppliers all over the world. Reading their labels for the country of manufacture is a small lesson in geography. So imagine my surprise when, looking at the assembly instructions, printed in English & French, I discovered that all the measurements therein were given in inches! And solely in inches, no mention of cm or mm whatsoever. This is quite contrary to what I would have expected. So there. It's going to be a long, long time before the entire world goes metric.  SignatureJust as McDonald's is where you go when you're hungry but don't really care about the quality of your food, Wikipedia is where you go when you're curious but don't really care about the quality of your knowledge. - Matthew White's WikiWatch (http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/wikiwoo.htm) .... > I recently bought something at Ikea. Now, of all the companies > doing business here (the U.S.), you'd think that this one would be [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > therein were given in inches! And solely in inches, no mention of cm or > mm whatsoever. This is quite contrary to what I would have expected. I lived in the U.S. when Ikea first opened there. All of the measurments were in metric, the sheets fit only metric beds, which only they sold, the light bulbs used a small socket not usually available in the U.S. (or anywhere else), etc. After the fascination with something new died down, their sales plumeted. People wanted their products but were not going to metricate to buy them. Now their products are sold with measuments in inches and feet, volumes in ounces, quarts, etc. They now carry U.S. standard sheet sizes, regular base light bulbs etc. Ivor whats-his-name is not stupid, he got where he is today by filling the needs and desires of his customers, not telling them what they will settle for. Even in Israel, has he done so. When the Ikea store first opened, it took the liberal, non-relegious attitude that the restaurant would not be kosher and the store would be open on the Sabbath. They figured the local yuppies who are not relegious and do not keep kosher would flock to the store. The economics don't work that way, the people who most want to buy his products are the relegious right who won't patronize a store that is open on the Sabbath or sells no kosher food. They recently closed on the Sabbath and made their restaurant kosher. Geoff. SignatureGeoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm@mendelson.com N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ >So there. It's going to be a long, long time before the entire world >goes metric. That's odd. In looking at their website I note that the furniture has both American and metric dimensions. Product dimensions Width: 31 7/8 " Min. depth: 22 7/8 " Max. depth: 37 3/8 " Height: 40 1/8 " Width: 81 cm Min. depth: 58 cm Max. depth: 95 cm Height: 102 cm Also of interest : A3 papers will fit into the drawer http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15600 &catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=68649&langId=-1&categoryId=16133&chosenPar tNumber=50059149 == John S. Douglas Photographer & Webmaster Legacy-photo.com - Xs750.net John spake thus: >>So there. It's going to be a long, long time before the entire world >>goes metric. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15600 &catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=68649&langId=-1&categoryId=16133&chosenPar tNumber=50059149 Now what I'm wondering about is what the hell this means: "Solid wood - not from intact natural forests". Maybe cut from deadwood? Or synthetic forests? SignatureJust as McDonald's is where you go when you're hungry but don't really care about the quality of your food, Wikipedia is where you go when you're curious but don't really care about the quality of your knowledge. - Matthew White's WikiWatch (http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/wikiwoo.htm) >Now what I'm wondering about is what the hell this means: "Solid wood - >not from intact natural forests". > >Maybe cut from deadwood? Or synthetic forests? It means the wood is from an actively managed forest that is planted and harvested, rather than a natural forest. >> Now what I'm wondering about is what the hell this means: "Solid >> wood - not from intact natural forests". [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It means the wood is from an actively managed forest that is planted > and harvested, rather than a natural forest. FWIW I live on the upper Mississippi River and from time to time a prosperous fellow with a big boat pulls a few logs up from the river bottom. This is wood that sank over 100 years ago during logging enterprises, and some of it is precious. An violin maker in Italy is quite interested in picking the best of the lot. >>> Now what I'm wondering about is what the hell this means: "Solid >>> wood - not from intact natural forests". [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >some of it is precious. An violin maker in Italy is quite interested in >picking the best of the lot. I presume it is top quality hardwood. Two hurricanes hit the UK, in 1987 and 1989. It is extremely unusual for the UK to experience hurricane force winds. Many natural forests were badly damaged and a great many oak trees were felled by the wind. Over the succeeding years, the fallen oak trees have been methodically harvested for use. There hasn't been a sudden glut. Rather, the harvesting has been carefully managed over a period of about 15 years in order not to create an excess of supply and encourage an excess of demand. During this time, quite a few homes have been built around the UK using traditional oak framed construction. This extra supply is now running out and new oak construction will become as rare as it was before the two hurricanes. I don't pray for another hurricane - the roof blew off my home in the first hurricane and suffered minor damage in the second, soon after I had sold it - fortunately for me but not for the buyer. But the traditional oak-framed buildings erected in the last 15 years or so have added much beauty to the built landscape and I have photographed many of them. > I presume it is top quality hardwood. Yes, Tony, it is. We have a lot of Oak and, of course, Walnuts and Hickory. That's the wood I had in the valleys of my farm. There are different oaks, walnuts but all Hickory is the same - horrible to work with unless one is making axe handles. :) > Over the succeeding years, the fallen oak trees have been methodically > harvested for use. There hasn't been a sudden glut. Rather, the > harvesting has been carefully managed over a period of about 15 years > in order not to create an excess of supply and encourage an excess of > demand. The UK is quite wise compared to the USA. I'm glad things are working for you. Tony Polson spake thus: >>>>Now what I'm wondering about is what the hell this means: "Solid >>>>wood - not from intact natural forests". [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > I presume it is top quality hardwood. Well, if a violinmaker is actually interested in it, it can only be one of two kinds of wood: spruce (unlikely at that location, and not a hardwood), or maple. These are the only two woods used in violins (well, apart from a small amount of ebony, and an even smaller amount of willow or similar wood for linings and blocks, where quality doesn't really matter). SignatureJust as McDonald's is where you go when you're hungry but don't really care about the quality of your food, Wikipedia is where you go when you're curious but don't really care about the quality of your knowledge. - Matthew White's WikiWatch (http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/wikiwoo.htm) >FWIW I live on the upper Mississippi River and from time to time a >prosperous fellow with a big boat pulls a few logs up from the river bottom. >This is wood that sank over 100 years ago during logging enterprises, and >some of it is precious. An violin maker in Italy is quite interested in >picking the best of the lot. Kinda flexible after being soaked for all those years ? == John S. Douglas Photographer & Webmaster Legacy-photo.com - Xs750.net >> FWIW I live on the upper Mississippi River and from time to time a >> prosperous fellow with a big boat pulls a few logs up from the river [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Kinda flexible after being soaked for all those years ? Nope. Sunken wood goes to the bottom of the river. It is better than preserved - aged without oxygen. It's quite interesting. |
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