Must be really galling for imperialist to see Cunard's new flag ship, E 2 , arriving in Britain to be officially christened. That's about all imperialists seem to be capable of nowadays. France, and in case they have forgotten, a metric country, built that vessel. What a shame! The biggest maritime nation reduced to build small pleasure crafts only. Maybe there is a lesson in all this for imperialists!

Go and open one of your presents if you're feeling that frustrated...

"arriving in Britain to be officially christened"

A Christian ship?

I actually think so! It is not only a Christian ship it is metric as well. Isn't that great.

<<<< It is not only a Christian ship it is metric as well. Isn't that great>>>>

how very very sad!
"life" and "get a" immediately spring to mind!!!

P.S. What speed will this -ahem- "metric" ship be travelling at?

Just a thought....

T.T.H.

<<<You wouldn't be saying that if the ship was engineered and built in FFU>>>

Are you saying that friendly flexible units were being used?

Also - now that we know that "euricworld" ships travel in metric can you also tell us how planes fly in "euricworld"???

Jeesh , "euricworld" - can you imagine that? On the spot fines for smiling!!!!

re: "Must be really galling for imperialists to see Cunard's new flag ship, E 2 , arriving in Britain to be officially christened. That's about all imperialists seem to be capable of nowadays. France, and in case they have forgotten, a metric country, built that vessel"


REPLY:

Well, don't crow too much, because you've omitted the most important piece of information about this project.

Namely that Cunard wanted to build this ship in the United Kingdom, but were unable to do so because of European Union rules. Under E.U. competition rules, they were legally required to accept the lowest tender. Failure to do so would have resulted in swingeing fines from the European Court of, ahem, Justice in Luxembourg.

And St. Nazaire's yards came in the lowest quote.

By the way, France's health and safety standards are so appallng that just four months ago, several dozen people, including young children, were killed when a gangplank gave way, causing them to fall nearly 100 feet to the ground. The poor individuals were family members of the shipbuilders, invited on to admire the work of the men. A sad footnote to yet another E.U. Directive.

Finally, can you explain why, if France and its metric system are so vaunted by you, why...

* France's unemployment is going up while Britain's is going down

* France has almost zero economic growth compared with Britain's healthy growth

* Inward investment into France over the past four years has been well below that into the United Kingdom?

Just thought I'd ask...

Indeed you do appear to be quite "sad" euric!!


<<<Because the British, like the Americans don't get benefits after a certain time period. They are considered statistically employed once their name drops off the list. In France and Germany, at least for the time being, people can receive benefits for years and good ones too. For this reason the numbers are higher in France and Germany.>>>

So there you have it - dish out benefit after benefit and everything feels great! BTW - the 70's ended over 2 decades ago!

<<<Also in the UK and US, people are more apt to accept work in low paying jobs that French and Germans are not. French and Germans are more picky about the quality of pay and vacations then Americans and Britons are>>>

Where *ON EARTH* do you keep getting this nonsense from ? Are you honestly saying that people prefer to be unemployed that temporarily have a job just to make ends meet before they get their chosen job? Are you honestly saying that those people who work in McDonalds in FRance and Germany are Brits? Are you honestly saying that myself, my friends, my colleagues, my colleagues' friends, my family's friends *DON'T* have well paid, interesting and good jobs?

Oh, I forgot, you've STILL never been here!!!

P.S. HAve you ever been to the U.S.?

"Only asking!"

Cunard News January 1 2004, 5:05 PM
metre: "Must be really galling for imperialists to see Cunard's new flag ship, E 2 , arriving in Britain to be officially christened. That's about all imperialists seem to be capable of nowadays. France, and in case they have forgotten, a metric country, built that vessel."

REPLY:TB
Well, don't crow too much, because you've omitted the most important piece of information about this project.Namely that Cunard wanted to build this ship in the United Kingdom, but were unable to do so because of European Union rules. Under E.U. competition rules, they were legally required to accept the lowest tender. Failure to do so would have resulted in swingeing fines from the European Court of, ahem, Justice in Luxembourg.

Metre:
You are interpreting laws to suit your prejudices it seems. What is wrong with healthy competition? Cunard, had it so wished, could have built the vessel without inviting tenders.

TB:
And St. Nazaire's yards came in the lowest quote

metre:
It was a fair competition, wasn’t it?
Without reading the complete EU law on competition, I won’t argue about your allegations, except to say that this country lacks the facilities and skilled workforce to build a ship of that size. To do so Britain has to invest billions of pounds in infrastructure and hire foreign experts and workers. Who can compete on that basis?

TB:
By the way, France's health and safety standards are so appallng that just four months ago, several dozen people, including young children, were killed when a gangplank gave way, causing them to fall nearly 100 feet to the ground. The poor individuals were family members of the shipbuilders, invited on to admire the work of the men. A sad footnote to yet another E.U. Directive.

metre:
Bless the poor souls and let’s hope those responsible are taken to account. By the way what has negligence, and I presume that’s what it was, to do with the EU? Just as an aside, nobody anywhere in Europe falls in feet, it is always metres.

TB:
Finally, can you explain why, if France and its metric system are so vaunted by you, why...* France's unemployment is going up while Britain's is going down* France has almost zero economic growth compared with Britain's healthy growth* Inward investment into France over the past four years has been well below that into the United Kingdom?Just thought I'd ask.

metre: Again, what has that to do with the metric system? Do you think then that metres propelled Italy well ahead of Britain economically?
Let me finish in your own words. “Well, don't crow too much”. How very true! Economies are fickle beasts up one day down the next. You would do well to keep that in mind and not hated metres.

EURIC:In reply to TB
Also in the UK and US, people are more apt to accept work in low paying jobs that French and Germans are not. French and Germans are more picky about the quality of pay and vacations then Americans and Britons are.

Comprehend the terms "McDonaldisation" and "Wal-Martisation".
Glad you did. But this was all explained to you earlier. Apparantly you don't comprehend the subject very well. As long as you think nobody knows the answers you keep reposting the same questions.

Sad, very sad!

metre:
Your analysis hits the nail on the head. Will it have any impact on TB and other imperialists, I very much doubt it. These guys are never prepared to let truth spoil their long held prejudices.

<<<nobody anywhere in Europe falls in feet, it is always metres.>>>

Is this the most pathetic thing I've seen posted here for a long long time? Considering the context?

P.S. No-one has told me who works at McDonalds in FRance and Germany yet. Are they Brits?

Re: Metric full steam ahead January 5 2004, 12:15 PM
steveH.
<<<nobody anywhere in Europe falls in feet, it is always metres.>>>

Is this the most pathetic thing I've seen posted here for a long long time? Considering the context?

P.S. No-one has told me who works at McDonalds in FRance and Germany yet. Are they Brits?

metre:
As far as I know their wages are as tightly regulated as everybody elses in France and Germany. No feeding youngsters crumbs to enrich US exploiters. I have also heard that Mac in Germany has to collect discarded wrappings and cups of theirs within a radius of 3km. Now that is what I call making companies responsible for their environmental mess. Can any European please verify that.

<<<Can any European please verify that>>>

I can verify that you are usually wrong eric!