Things Noticeable this week

[billybunter]

I was speaking to my brother in Berlin, shit is hitting fans over there about that sad bigot who stood up and did a nazi salute even worse they can't understand why Boris and Camilia found it so funny.

[Devius]

Originally Posted by billybunter

I was speaking to my brother in Berlin, shit is hitting fans over there about that sad bigot who stood up and did a nazi salute even worse they can't understand why Boris and Camilia found it so funny.

I'm glad someone else spotted that - I'm just assumed it was a mistake on the bloke's part...



PS: the person in question is Honourary International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Walther Troeger. I believe in the 1972 Summer Olympics he was mayor in the Olympic Village in Munich. During the hostage taking of Israeli athletes by Black September terrorist group, Troeger was involved in the negotiations with the terrorists.

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by billybunter

A lot of unionists over here loath the fact that UK the correct term is not used. I don't care,

Not to worry too much about the Unionists sensitivities - if they're so keen on staying British they'll just have to live with the rest of us calling it Great Britain.

After all it's ours to call what we like and anybody that doesn't like the name is free to leave or never visit the place if they are a foreigner.

[bumper]

They are the British Isles, Great Britain, is the name of the largest island.

[squigg58]

The use of Team GB is partly down to the IOC.

The full official name is the "Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team" and the three-letter code given to us by the IOC is "GBR". (GRB and GBI have been used in the past).

However, the "IRL" Olympic code is for the whole of Ireland. Athletes from Northern Ireland are therefore entitled to represent Ireland, or to represent GBR.

That seems like a sensible idea as individuals from Northern Ireland can make a choice based on their own personal feelings, views and opinions. However, I'm not Irish, so am only looking at it from an outsider's perspective. If anyone from Ireland doesn't think it's a sensible idea, I'm not about to tell them they're wrong!

[gedly]

Geoffrey Hughes 1944-2012 Rest in peace. Oh for the days when Coronation Street was a good soap worth watching.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19032928

[billybunter]

Originally Posted by bumper

They are the British Isles, Great Britain, is the name of the largest island.

The Island of Ireland and her Island's are not British. "British Isles" is a defunct term from old empire days. And it's offensive.

[TCO95]

Originally Posted by billybunter

... The word Great is now so outdated. It is pompous, but that's a given.

The Great Lakes would be what? The big fresh water repositories?

Further to my idiosyncratic rant, when my niece had children that Sir made me a Great Uncle. A title I waited my whole life to attain. I did nothing to earn it, need to do nothing to retain it and that suits me just fine as I am LAZY. Now if you'll excuse me I must let the Great Dane into the Great Outdoors before it lays a Great Big Turd on my floor. Great day to you Sir.

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by billybunter

The Island of Ireland and her Island's are not British. "British Isles" is a defunct term from old empire days. And it's offensive.

I like the term "British Isles" and I've always assumed that it referred to the main island consisting of England, Scotland and Wales and the offshore islands thereof. Nothing offensive about that surely.

[billybunter]

Originally Posted by TCO95

The Great Lakes would be what? The big fresh water repositories?

Further to my idiosyncratic rant, when my niece had children that Sir made me a Great Uncle. A title I waited my whole life to attain. I did nothing to earn it, need to do nothing to retain it and that suits me just fine as I am LAZY. Now if you'll excuse me I must let the Great Dane into the Great Outdoors before it lays a Great Big Turd on my floor. Great day to you Sir.

As you well know I was talking about the context of the word when used in conjunction with a countries name. I didn't consider your post as idiosyncratic. And I respect your view point.