Martin Vlietstra suggests a possible threat to our prosperity resulting from our resistance to change.
Continue reading “The English language – not to be taken for granted”
Marathon facts
As an alternative to Budget gloom, one of our regular contributors, Martin Vlietstra, provides some topical information about the marathon.
A sticky problem with symbols
As a result of having to use two systems of measurement, many in the UK are familiar with neither. Philip Bladon, a regular contributor to MetricViews, draws our attention to yet another example.
Just how big is a trillion?
Media interest has recently focussed on the effects of the credit crunch. The UK’s stalled metric changeover is all but forgotten. John Frewen-Lord has, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, succeeded in linking these issues while providing another example of the superiority of metric measures.
Update on the fires in Australia
Our correspondent down-under brings us up-to-date on the recent catastrophic fires in the state of Victoria. Pat Naughtin wrote on 5 March:
Free-for-all on packages sizes, but no help for consumers?
The Government has published its decisions on deregulating package sizes (as required by a 2007 EU Directive), including advice for business. But, so far, there is no advice for consumers.
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‘User-Friendly’ metric
One of our readers, John Frewen-Lord, asks why popular resistance to the simplicity of metric measures is now limited to a few English-speaking countries. With change in the air, he makes a few suggestions to help the stalled metric changeovers. If you are a Metric ‘Purist’, turn away now…
Will 2009 bring metric-only labelling to the USA?
The coming year may see progress in this area. MetricViews offers a guide for the novice.
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Our Christmas Cracker
The traditional Christmas cracker usually contains a joke, a paper hat and a toy, and goes off with a bang. Metric Views, in its cracker, has an anecdote about a Christmas Fair, links to two radio programmes, and a video with some knockabout fun.
Will science training for MPs help?
A report in the Times that new MPs are to get some scientific training poses the question: will this help them to understand why we need to scrap non-scientific imperial units and embrace the modern metric system? (Article based on a draft by Martin Vlietstra)
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