If you think the point of the metric system is to have everything in some integer measurement, then you're converting for the wrong reason.

No, but that is the goal of metrification .

Interesting.

Part of this is, I'm sure, that the drive measurement is a meta-level away from the socket dimension, and has simply become so universal that no one questioned it. (Sort of like SAE measurements, before metrification became trendy, talking about meta-levels.) Another part of it is that, being square drive, there's a bit more room for play in the connection than in a hexagonal drive, and if it doesn't fit right you can usually take a grinder to it to make it work.

I just found it interesting.

Y'know, I was being slightly trollish when I started this, but holy crap, people just don't READ.

We're talking about the socket DRIVE measurement, people! Not the sockets, but the square-drive connection to the WRENCH.

Uh, no?

Britain also seems to use English measurement drive sockets...

Same in France...

I had to equip my shop, and among other things picked up a set of socket wrenches, in both SAE and metric sizes. One thing I noticed, though, was that the socket drives were all in English measurements (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4") and that there were no metric-drive sets around anywhere. Just curious, are there any metric drive standards in Europe, and why haven't they found their way to the US? I'd expect at least some metric size sets from China to sneak in...

higher res version.

Definitely the best art.

And 64KB on the motherboard. I know, I had one.

I wanted a standing desk for a cheap PC in my workshop, for looking up parts and reference, etc. I wound up going to Kmart, purchasing a cheap narrow PC desk with a roll-out keyboard rest, and a TV stand, and screwed one on top of the other. The result worked out well, with plenty of storage below the PC, and can roll around well.

Even better: Wrap your ice in an insulating bag, then put *that* into the cooler. It will slow down the melting of the ice, and obviously won't cool your items as effectively, but should still keep the temperature below the point of destruction.

It'll take you longer than six weeks to get used to a chording keyboard or one of the alternative keyboards out there; typing one-handed may be annoying, but still more efficient. As to brackets and other special characters, I'd recommend getting a gaming keyboard with extra macro keys, and program those chars into them.

Put the lasers on the far side of the moon. That way, they could never target Earth. You'd only be able to hit the asteroid for fourteen days out of every twenty-eight, but hey, it's safer, right?

(Actually, put two installations on its equator, both near but not within visible range of Earth, and you'd be able to hit it 90+% of the time.)

Unless you plan everything perfectly, at some point you're going to need a keyboard; and carrying a keyboard eliminates all the advantages of having a smaller PC. Use an ultraslim laptop or netbook.

Alternatively, make someone at the presentation site provide a PC or laptop, and carry all the data and an installer for the display prog on a USB key.

They keep getting smaller. A pad or a netbook added to your bag is barely noticeable. Dual-core netbooks are awesome and cheap; just look for one with an Atom N550.