English/metric measurement error in the Mars Climate Orbiter

[MiTasol]

Above all else remember that every stuff-up starts in an office and the usual instigator is a University Educated Idiot that is too clever to make a mistake.

As a UEI who had thirty years of hands on practical (including a five year apprenticeship in Aircraft Maintenance) prior to starting my degrees I totally agree with the bolded section above and would replace every with many a.

Far too many graduates are full of education and totally lacking intelligence and common sense. They confuse the ability to write essays that are graded by people with no practical experience with demonstrating learning.

Worse still the ego of many ensures they lack the ability to read the component manufacturers publications which clearly identify how the component works and how it will not work. Some, when you point out their error, throw a tantrum that a two year old would be proud of.