This is actually a super fascinating example of the way data can be displayed in a technically correct way to lead the viewer to completely invalid conclusions.

Fever is not 100F. A fever is defined as 100.4F. Why 100.4 when 100 is a much easier to remember and handle number? Because fever is defined in humans as 38C, and that converts to 100.4F.

“Inches in 8.33 feet”

“Mm in a foot”

Fool, the scientist in me is infuriated. Good work, mate!

Saturday Night Live actually had a good sketch about this a few weeks ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYqfVE-fykk

Washington: "We fight for a nation where we choose our own laws… choose our own leaders… and choose our own systems of weights and measures.

I dream that one day, our proud nation will measure weights in pounds, and that 2000 pounds shall be called a ton."

Rebel: “And what will 1000 pounds be called sir?”

Washington: “Nothing. Cause will have no word for that.”

…

Washington: “Distance will be measured in inches, feet, yards and miles. 12 inches to a foot!”

Rebel: “12 feet to a yard…”

Washington: “If only it were so simple. 3 feet to a yard.”

Rebel: “And how many yards to a mile?”

Washington: “Nobody knows.”

Rebel: “Ok, how many feet to a mile?”

Washington: “5280, of course! It’s a simple number that everyone will remember.”

I’ll grant that farenheit has merit, but for me, the foot/inches distance works a bit better for casual measurements, and stuff that doesn’t have to be very precise.

Beyond maybe someone’s height, I’d rather work in metric. I’m also very much in favor of celsius and I still have trouble converting between the temperature scales. I grew up with temps in degrees C, and height and some sort distances in feet/inches. IDK, I’m weird.

The date thing drives me nuts though.

fuck BOTH these date formats.

ISO-8601 OR DIE.