[Misc] One billion

[Brovion]

When I were a lad still at school - i.e. through the sixties - a billion was indeed a million million. Don't know when it changed, or whether it just happened over time that we moved in to the Americanism.....

*Ahem*, post #10. I did the research, all you had to do was read it! Even in the 1960s we'd been slipping towards the American usage and it was getting confusing. In 1974 Wilson confirmed that, as far as government statistics were concerned, we would be using the America measurement from now on.Took a while to filter through all of society, but as the posts of the younger generation have confirmed - filter through it did.

 

[Badger]

Sounds a bit like the American who bought London Bridge who allegedly thought he was buying Tower Bridge........ two peoples divided by a common language.

That's actually a nonsense story. The guy knew exactly what he was buying. I've been to the town in Arizona where the old London Bridge is now standing, it's quite a strange sight.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

As long as I can remember, the generally accepted definition of a billion has been 1,000 million. However, I'm fairly sure the original British definition of a billion was a million million. Does anybody ever still use that definition? Did anyone here use it in the past?

It seems a pretty pointlessly high number to me.

That's actually a nonsense story. The guy knew exactly what he was buying. I've been to the town in Arizona where the old London Bridge is now standing, it's quite a strange sight.

I did say allegedly...... I always took it with a pinch of salt.

 

[LlcoolJ]

American PINTS can f*** off too. I always feel cheated when they give me 473ml instead of 568ml.

Whilst we're on the subject, selling liquids in WEIGHT. Ridiculous concept. I'll have 14oz of coffee, and can I have litre of cake too please?

I didn't know that American pints were smaller. How the hell does that work? More pints to the gallon or is a gallon smaller too?

 

[Badger]

I didn't know that American pints were smaller. How the hell does that work? More pints to the gallon or is a gallon smaller too?

Yep!

 

[Colonel Angus]

This question is only relevant for Tony.

 

[maffew]

meh

 

[maffew]

meh

 

[LlcoolJ]

Yep!

Wow. How did they work that one out? Madness.