# Milestone or Kilometerstone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 25, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681 "2023-09-25T17:26:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/41 "2023-09-27T01:33:07Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > The U.S. alone used to use, and perhaps still uses, survey miles, statute miles, and “international” miles, all different, They seem to be the same? _The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a British imperial unit and United States customary unit of distance; both are based on the older English unit of length equal to 5,280 English feet, or 1,760 yards. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile)_ Or very nearly so- _In the United States, the term statute mile formally refers to the survey mile,[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile#cite_note-FOOTNOTEThompson2008B.6.-3) but for most purposes, the difference of less than 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) between the survey mile and the international mile (1609.344 metres exactly) is insignificant—one international mile is 0.999998 U.S. survey miles—so statute mile can be used for either._ So the statute mile and the survey mile are the same, but the international mile is 0.999998 shorter, and that leads us into “sig figs”. And also the Fahrenheit system is much better for human use and is also tens based. There was no reason to go to Centigrade. 0F is very cold, 100F is rather hot. 100F means a mild fever. 0C is cold, but 100C is too hot for human life. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/42 "2023-09-27T02:24:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So the statute mile and the survey mile are the same If I interpret these maps correctly [https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/SPCS/maps.shtml#spcs83](https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/SPCS/maps.shtml#spcs83) the definition of a statute mile depends on which state’s jurisdiction one is talking about, and a few of them left it unspecified. > [@DrDeth](#): > > And also the Fahrenheit system is much better for human use and is also tens based. There was no reason to go to Centigrade. Yes, yes, I am familiar with this anti-Swedish sentiment. I note you will not even mention his name 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/43 "2023-09-27T02:36:46Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I note you will not even mention his name Bjorn Centigrade was a great man. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/44 "2023-09-27T05:08:35Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Yes, yes, I am familiar with this anti-Swedish sentiment. I note you will not even mention his name **Anders Celsius** was indeed a scientist of note. However, first of all, he set 0 at boiling and 100 at freezing. And he was also solidly opposed to naming it after himself. So if we want to honor his memory, we should call it Centigrade. That’s what he wanted. And 0 for boiling. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/45 "2023-09-27T14:55:43Z")
As a CBC announcer put it when C was introduced: 0 is freezing 10 is not 20 is pleasing 30 is hot ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/46 "2023-09-27T19:18:46Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Barbados (which is thoroughly metric) has a town called “Mile and a Quarter”. I’ve heard no suggestion that it be changed to “Two Kilometers”. Reminds me of when the US was toying with metrification '70s people were whining about having to say, “Centimetering towards a goal,” or, “Third down and 4.57 meters,” in a football game . I just pointed out that the army’s M60 tanks had been sporting 105mm guns for years so it must be part of the conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681/47 "2023-09-27T20:50:39Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I just pointed out that the army’s M60 tanks had been sporting 105mm guns for years so it must be part of the conspiracy. As have every US military personal arm after the 1957 M14 (7.62x51mm). Stupid NATO STANAG. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milestone-or-kilometerstone/990681.md?page=2)