Schadenfreude!

I take it, SteveH that you object to Mr Parker's remark?

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"NBA star Tony Parker, who had been part of the Paris delegation in Singapore, was very downbeat after the result.

"I don't know what else we could have done. If we don't have it now, I guess we will never get it," he said.

"The IOC seems to be very pro-Anglo-Saxon. I feel extremely gutted".



P.S. The London Borough of Newham Highways Department is already designing those signs saying: "Olympic Stadium 2 miles"

Will the track and field events, as well as swimming be measured in metres still?

They appear to attribute anything British with being "Anglo-saxon". It's like when the American's call us "English".

BTW - Did you see how Glenys Kinnock (once anti-EU) has blasted Bob Geldof for being too 'anti-european'.

Again - the 'pro-EU' brigade mix up the 'EU' with 'Europe'.

I heard something briefly in the news about an explosion, some people killed and many injured. Anyone have details?

www.cnn.com

www.bbc.co.uk/news

www.skynews.co.uk

Not good

If Britain is still unmetricated in 2012 will signs in London for the Olympics be imperial only, or will give distances on both road and pedestrian signs in imperial and metric? Metricate NOW!

how tasteful

A long shot - but the Olympics could prove to be significant (if road signs are not yet metric anyway in 2012)

Clearly for any pedestrian signs around the venues, metric would be far more appropriate and if there hasn't been by then already, it could prompt a change in the laws.
The authorities wouldn't want the embarassment of Tony going round changing signs at the Olympics!

Andy - try and remember that they will all be coming to BRITAIN! Along with all its traditions, customs, quirks etc.

<<<how tasteful>>>

This is a messageboard dedicated purely to weights and measures so I don't think us discussing them today in any way shows that we view this issue as important in the context of what has happened today.

<<<Andy - try and remember that they will all be coming to BRITAIN! Along with all its traditions, customs, quirks etc.>>>

Of course. But pedestrian signs are there for practical information not tradition - so when it comes to designing them, you can be sure that (like some councils already do) they will decide to put distances in metres. If the word metres is still illegal in 2012 then it might possibly prompt a change in the law.

In the wider sense, the Olympics means the eyes of the world are on us and in preparing to host them it is an opportunity to take a look at ways in which we can improve.

And sorting out the measurement "mess" is one thing that could be improved

Please Andy! Don't turn into one of those sorts that ACTUALLY BELIEVES that us using pounds, feet etc makes us a "laughing stock" of the world.

BTW - keep in perspective one particular country thats quite good at winning medals.

I don't believe news coverage is complete, but so far, I have heard of 4 confirmed bombs, 45 dead, 1000 wounded (150 critically so -- but these are unofficial reports). An Islamic group has claimed responsibility, but it is unconfirmed at this point. Our analysts are saying that it's al-Qaeda's style, but we don't know for sure yet.

I hope none of you had friends or relatives in the area. I humbly offer my condolences if you did, and to Britain generally.

<<BTW - keep in perspective one particular country thats quite good at winning medals.>>

Why, whomever could you be referring to? ;-)

In respect for those who have suffered in the terriblr attack I'm not going to contribute to this subject for the time being.

re (Daniel Jackson): "In respect for those who have suffered in the terrible attack, I'm not going to contribute to this subject for the time being".

REPLY: A sentiment I expect we can all agree with. My son and his 5-month pregnant wife travelled on the tube today from Harlow to atttend the Metropolitan Tabernacle's 'School of Theology' Day. Another family member exchanged texts with them after the bombs went off and we were all greatly relieved to hear that they had got an early train and tube and were walking down Oxford Street when the bombs went off. They had to continue their journey to the Elephant and Castle by foot. A close-run thing.

It's been a truly awful series of events today and it's a subject on which I have written to my MP many times, ever since 9/11. I can't imagine what the bereaved and seriosly injured are going through and offer them in this humble way my sincerest sympathies at this time.

I will cease to visit all the BWMA discussion boards for a decent interval

<<<Please Andy! Don't turn into one of those sorts that ACTUALLY BELIEVES that us using pounds, feet etc makes us a "laughing stock" of the world.>>>

People do occasionally find it mildly amusing that Britain still uses such outdated measurements. Laughing stock of the world is stretching it a bit far, of course!

<<<BTW - keep in perspective one particular country thats quite good at winning medals.>>>

And how often do you hear the people of that country being made fun of for being stupid, arrogant, narrow-minded etc etc?

I'm not trying to make out for one moment that the rest of the world really thinks any less of us because we use outdated measurements - but it does play a small part in giving the impression that Britain likes to dwell on the past.

And then attracts millions of tourists precisely because of that.

I've never heard a foreigner snigger at our system although I have heard colleagues say (at XES Europe) that they are actually quite fond of our units and like to learn and use them.

These comprise Germans,Swiss,ITalian French, Belgian, Spanish and a few more.

This was quite a few years ago though (about 5yrs, daniel can work out the mega seconds for us)

<<they are actually quite fond of our units and like to learn and use them>>

Indeed... it adds to the experience.

If they are that fond, they would have learned them along time ago. Fondness can fade once they realize how really difficult they are to learn, how many conversion factors they have to learn and keep straight, and how cumbersome the calculations are. There is a big difference between learning unit names and actually having to deal with the units.

I live in London. I'm not dead. Thank the late great Rvd. Muton. :)

Obviously if you are able to post here. So who or what is the late Rvd Muton?

Great to hear from you Bryan. Thanks for checking in.

Gabriel Mouton was the man who first suggested what eventually would become the metric system. :)




Niles, no problem. I am not here much as this board has grown a bit longsome. Not the folks in it, mind!! No, just the thing keeps going ever round in a cycle; my head can't stand it. I'll most likely "come back" before too long, tho.

The metric imperial debate is going to get boring. There really isn't that much that can be said without subject matter being repeated. This is the same for any subject matter.

Good to hear that you are unaffected, Bry.

(as in "the london thing" rather than the imp/met debate)

Re: IOC 'Very pro Anglo-Saxon' July 9 2005, 4:57 PM
SD
The metric imperial debate is going to get boring. There really isn't that much that can be said without subject matter being repeated. This is the same for any subject matter.

metre
There are many reasons why some people support imperial measures and no amount of arguing will shift their position. The only hope proponents of metrication have to show why it should take place is to highlight imperial shortcomings. Simple questions like why are imperial educated children forced to learn 2 sets of measurement units and so on. Mind you persistent questions like these are a sure recipe to atrophy this board.

I see what you mean, Bryan!

heh... ;)