I don't get it.
I'm upvoting this, but I think this would have been even more effective as an article instead of a tale.
E: on second thought, I'm not seeing any real justification for a researcher to write something like this. I did laugh, but this would be expanded on better in an article.
Isn't this just the old FFF system joke with the bare minimum dressing needed to make it a Foundation thing?
The only part of this tale that is from the original FFF idea (which is the system I used for the joke, not the other way around) is the furlongs, firkins and fortnights. While half of the additional units are made up (though half of them are, themselves, humorously real), it certainly takes the original scope of the triple F joke to a far distant point than the original intended or did.
I could have easily made a different system, but I like incorporating preexisting material. It provides context, appreciation for the past and develops ideas even further than just adding another humorous system to the internet-sphere.
Upvote, but a couple questions.
I kind of get the vibe that the person writing this is not misguided but making a very blatant and doomed attempt to sabotage the Foundation. Was that your intent, and if so who is this guy, who's he working for and why is he trying to sabotage the Foundation in the most impractical way possible?
Second, is the fact that he addresses the O5 council as Gentlemen intentionally old-fashioned, because I'm not aware of any iterations of the modern O5 council that depicts them as being entirely male. There's usually at least two or three women on it.
I'm probably overthinking this.
1. I really appreciate the thought you have put into this. However, this article is intended to be a joke, and this person is being entirely facetious. It is partially making fun of those who don't use metric, while creating its anthesis to point out ridiculousness.
2. It is an old-fashioned voice, yes. To be honest, while I completely imagine the O5 Council including women, I always still want to reference it in masculine style. I think it is like a 60s spy movie influence.