On 2008/10/19, at 1:44 AM, Han Maenen wrote:
I read today that the British Government has given in to the metric
martyrs and wants to stop prosecuting them.
From a Dutch newspaper, the Telegraaf, translated:
British Metric Martyrs given a respite
LONDON- The British Government has stopped the prosecution of the so-
called metric martyrs. This was announced today by the BBC.
Earier this month Janet Divers, a London shopkeeper, was prosecuted
because she continued to use the traditional pounds while weighing
out goods.
The British measure traditionally with pints, pounds and miles, not
with litres, kilogrammes and kilometres. Since 2000 the government
is attempting to metricate, but the metric martyrs continue to
oppose giving up trusted traditions.
See also from BBC-news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7677438.stm
Dear Han,
Thanks for the reference to this story. I have just sent this feedback
to the BBC.
##
When Janet Devers decided to use illegal scales and a bowl for selling
fruit and vegetables at her market stall she probably had no idea that
she would lead the way to a future for all UK weights and measures.
Now that the government is lending her support, I am sure that other
traders will soon decide on using illegal scales and bowls for their
trading — perhaps they might extend it to two bowls — a big one for
buying and a small one for selling will look about right.
We could call the new British measuring regime 'Devers' weights and
Devers' measures'.
However, I predict a backlash. To paraphrase a very old quotation:
Thou shalt not have in thy bag Devers' weights, a great and a small.
Thou shalt not have in thine house Devers' measures, a great and a
small. Devers' weights and Devers' measures, both of them alike are an
abomination to the Lord. (From Deuteronomy 25:13-14)
##
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
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modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
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