h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm just watching a documentary about Napoléon Bonaparte.
Did you know that he introduced the metre, litre, kilogram etc after he had come to power? He introduced a revolutionary calendar with a week having ten days, the christian Sunday didn't exist anymore, and he wanted the hour to have 100 minutes.
As Germany was occupied by Naploeon's troops, the metric system was forced upon the Germans, too.
Fascnating stuff

Would we have had to spend the extra time at work or in bed?

At work or at war, presumably. They said the clock makers were delighted by the idea. I don't know why it never worked out, my sister called at the crucial moment.

A2903636

That's most in'ersting.

It really is. Napoléon was celebrated as a lberator in many parts of Germany, apparently, not by the noblemen and cxleric, understandably. They'll send part III and IV of the series tomorrow evening, I hope I'll not forget watching it. It's absolutely fascinating
Now, I'm watching a film about Josephine Baker. There's no guide entry about her.

And this looks very odd.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Horloge-republicaine1.jpg

Something new everyday and all that jazz. Thanks!

Yes, they showed those watches on TV. I was so fascinated, I just had to share it

I think it'd work - I'm just old enough to remember when the UK swapped their old money - pounds, shillings and pence for the new decimalisation - and that was much easier in the long run - I suspect it'll be even easier when we swap our decimalised pounds for euros. Still Footbacon is right it'd probably mean we had to work longer hours.

I have a query maybe some of you could answer........you know on a leap year there's that extra day - I never get an extra days pay - do you know why???

Hmm, no idea about the rules in norn Ireland, here, it depends on which status you are: a worker gets paid per workday, so an extra day n a leap year will get paid. Employees get a fixed wage, independent of the actual workdays of the month.

I am surely an employee then twelve pay packets per year even when there is an extra workday every four years.

>> I suspect it'll be even easier when we swap our decimalised pounds for euros <<







Yes. You'll have noticed how *every* political party has quietly dropped that from its manifesto now, won't you?

RF

rue, but you don't get paid less in a month with less work days - it evens out, believe me. It can be quite critical when there are many national holidays in a month, and you get paid less

It'll happen one of these day RF on a manifesto or not - and like when decimalisation first appeared it'll cost us lots.

I think that the € has a stronger likelihood of exploding before the £ does.

RF

You'd better start prayng it will never happen, it has cost us so much, and still does. We pay twice the price for most things we paid before the Teuro, as it's called here. (Teuer= expensive)

5 years ago, people were predicting how the £ not joining € would cost London, the UK and the financial markets dearly.

Last month, London overtook New York as the world's biggest financial centre. I think the £ can look after itself, frankly. We don't need the €.

RF

We go about 60 miles down the road and the euro is the currency - everything is much cheaper there - but I know the way swapping your currency works - everything is rounded up

I think the euro is here to stay - and while I like the pound and would hate to see it go - I really think it will.

Nonody asked us, or else we would´still have the D Mark, now, we have to pay so much for everything. And the worst thing is, we're slowly getting used to it.

Then you fail to understand how currency markets work. The £ will be around awhile, don't you worry. You seem to be confusing currencies with taxation.

RF

That reply to Fizzymouse, not B'El, as I hope is obvious!

RF