English/metric measurement error in the Mars Climate Orbiter

[Philip Davies]

Thank you for this reference, which is very intriguing. It will take a long time to absorb this new information, but I am most grateful.

[Philip Davies]

Now then, Norton, I have begun to study this very interesting article, but oh dear, I have read of a number of astonishing “facts”, which, while plausible, must be regarded as hypotheses, and not likely to be accepted by any academic in the relevant fields. Just thought I’d get that in before someone else does!

[NortonDommi]

Hello Phillip,
Until we invent time travel I doubt if we will ever know the true 'facts' about ancient history but it is a 'fact' that most of what we do know is theory and therefore subject to change when new discoveries are made. I am not an archaeologist but the author of the article is a very well rounded amateur with over 40 years of research under his belt. He is also in regular contact with others around the world many of them academics employed in universities and museums and he runs his theories by numerous people to find flaws. To date those that refute some of his claims have yet to file any evidence whatsoever to negate his research.
With that in mind I can say that not only that article but many other things point to a common umbrella system that was used by all with regional variations. It seems every week there is a new discovery made regarding our ancestors. Satellite imaging in particular is identifying precise places to investigate at an astounding rate.
In this perennial debate about which is best, Imperial or Metric I think it is a good idea to be aware of some history and are reminded of some T.V. programs I have watched where 'scientists' are trying to figure out why something was built a certain way,(measurement wise), and not succeeding because they insist on using Metric.
Sometimes our reasoning can be too rigid for our own good. If something does not 'look right' it usually isn't. I fix a lot of odd things and some are old and it continually amazes me that people try and use Metric fittings on Imperial machinery and visa versa. The Metric system is not perfect and has many traps for the unwary as does the Imperial system. I think the best we can do is be aware of the fact that there has been and continues to be a number of different systems in use and it is upon us to figure out what is what before diving in.

[Philip Davies]

Yes, I agree. I am quite slowly going through this article, comparing it with my notes, as it contains much information which is new to me. But the author, Michael Doutre, who styles himself as “Druid Imperior Rhymer”, early on asserts as fact what are dubious theories, anathema to academic archaeologists, who take a scientific approach and do not speculate about prehistory. I accept that it is possible that there may have been a prehistoric civilisation that surveyed the earth and it is well-known that there are a great many measuring systems which are linked by ratios, even when geographically very distant apart. But when I read something like his assertion that an early surveyor, Vyse, forged a cartouche in the Great Pyramid, I recognise the author has an axe to grind, having swallowed the theories of Sitchen (author/conspiracy theorist) . Proper researchers are very diffident when it comes to establishing facts and are careful also to reference their sources. Can you find anything about the author, Lenzen, he cites? I couldn’t!