President's Day (GHWB)

A bunch of stories, including why we don't have the metric system in the USA. Also, 7 other things worth knowing today.

Quick note: A few people didn’t love Friday’s subject line. (“Why haven’t you responded?”) It was intended to be a joke about the guilt that people feel about not replying quickly to emails and texts and the like—but it might have fallen flat.

Some readers thought for a moment that I was adopting the hard-sell techniques of telemarketers and political fundraisers. Sorry about that!

At the same time: Friday was also the single day on which the most readers signed up for paid memberships (outside of the first few days after we launched them).

These memberships are what make it possible for me to spend a ridiculous amount of time on this newsletter, and to keep Kate and Thomas involved as well—plus, as things progress, to bring other writers to the platform. I can’t thank you enough!