The Philanderer
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
An Ounce of Sense from Brussels
The last topic headline reminded me that I was going to comment on the decision by the faceless ones in the EU to allow the UK and Ireland to continue using their imperial measurement system. A great result for common sense, but sadly its a decision which Steve Thorburn will be unable to celebrate.
Steve was one of the original 'metric martyrs' and was charged with selling banana's by the pound. he received a conditional discharge, but died of a heart attack about three years ago. His colleagues I am sure will have raised a pint to him, and no, two half litres of lager and a packet of crisps does not have the same ring to it, does it?
I was always intrigued that the pop band 10cc got its name from the average capacity of the male ejaculation, but I don't think they would have made it big as 0.352floz. No chance the Rolling Kilogrammes lasting 40+ years either.
There are a few things I am glad we have lost though. The 400m has a much better ring to it than the 440yds, and decimalisation in 1971 certainly made adding up easier. What exactly is a twelve times table?
My favourite comment on metrication though comes from the radio series of ' I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again' . A English girl asked President de Gaulle if it was true that a 32AA bra cup would become an 81. 'Mais Oui' replied the President, ' I always make zee mountain out of zee molehill'
I'll fetch my coat!
Steve was one of the original 'metric martyrs' and was charged with selling banana's by the pound. he received a conditional discharge, but died of a heart attack about three years ago. His colleagues I am sure will have raised a pint to him, and no, two half litres of lager and a packet of crisps does not have the same ring to it, does it?
I was always intrigued that the pop band 10cc got its name from the average capacity of the male ejaculation, but I don't think they would have made it big as 0.352floz. No chance the Rolling Kilogrammes lasting 40+ years either.
There are a few things I am glad we have lost though. The 400m has a much better ring to it than the 440yds, and decimalisation in 1971 certainly made adding up easier. What exactly is a twelve times table?
My favourite comment on metrication though comes from the radio series of ' I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again' . A English girl asked President de Gaulle if it was true that a 32AA bra cup would become an 81. 'Mais Oui' replied the President, ' I always make zee mountain out of zee molehill'
I'll fetch my coat!
Labels: 10cc, de gaulle, imperial, mile, ounce, pint, pound, weights
¶ 3:59 PM 0 Comments
