Fun with physics

L. has decided to work through the physics textbook that's been kicking around the house for a while. Now, I never took physics, nor had I any interest in ever taking physics. I still don't have an interest in learning physics which is what I would have to do in order to help L. if she decided she needed help. We agreed that I could help with basic types of math questions, but I was in general not going to be of much use and L. would have to understand she was on her own. I'm thinking this was perceived as a benefit of studying physics. All I have to say is thank goodness for the Internet. 

But this isn't really what this post is about, but merely an introduction as to why L. had a physics textbook to be laughing at. Yes, laughing... with enjoyment. This seemed unusual based on I did know about physics. When L. showed me the paragraph in question, I agreed that it was indeed pretty amusing. Here it is:

"The conversions required by the following examples do not have to be taught in English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, or Korean schools because their governments have had the courage and common sense to switch to the metric system. This change may never take place in the United States unless students in this country inform their elected representatives of the extra difficulties they face in the study of physics. If you write to the President, and to your congressional representatives and senators, you will be amazed at the power you have to make changes that will benefit all Americans. We do not need a partial conversion. We need to change all our measurements to metric measurements as has happened in almost every country in the world except ours. Ask your teacher to help you start a letter writing campaign. It will probably take a stream of letters for two or three years to pry Congress and the President off dead center, but it can be done. Begin now." (Saxon Physics, p. 11)

I'll note that the textbook was published in 1993, thirty-one years ago. I think Mr. Saxon was a bit overly optimistic about his letter writing campaign timeline.