After decades of fierce resistance, North Carolina is finally going metric.
Last Monday the General Assembly voted 88 – 32, mostly along party lines, to enact HB 254 the so-called “Metric Enhancement Act”. The act kicks off a three-year conversion of imperial units of measurements to metric. All DOT signs will switch to metric beginning this Summer. In year two, textbooks and cookbooks will be required to use metric measurements. Finally, in 2021, North Carolina will adopt the metric calendar, which will complete the transition to a system of weights, measurements and time that is recognized around the world.
The Town of Manteo is, as usual, excluded from having to follow these new regulations.
“Doubtless there will be a bit of confusion as people adapt to grams, meters and kiloweeks,” said Mr. Leigh Prickles with the Dare County Tourist Bureau. “But in time I think it’ll work out just fine. It will really help our overseas visitors navigate the area though I don’t suppose it’ll do much to teach the exchange workers to ride their bikes on the right side of the road.”
Not everyone is happy with the change. Milepost Magazine has stated they will likely shutter operations as “Kilopost” just doesn’t have the same ring. Outer Banks Sporting Events is expecting a record loss in profits from having to replace all of their 26.2 stickers with 42.195 stickers.
But the new system is already winning over a number of stubborn holdouts. When Southern Shores resident Wanda Clavers found out her weight would drop from 158 to 76, she was ecstatic. “When I heard about how much weight I would lose, I went back to the waffle bar at brunch. I told all my girls, and we were so happy we got another round of mimosas. My husband wasn’t thrilled, you know how old guys are about change, but when I told him a certain measurement of his would be over 10 now, he changed his tune.”