This provides quite an insight. I remember from my visit to Yangon 11 years ago when I asked the taxi driver what the speed limit sign actually listed (in Burmese script), he said 48 km/h (exactly 30 mph converted to km/h). There may be a lot of lead in the water!
Mike Payne ----- Original Message ----- From: Pat Naughtin To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Monday, 19 May 2008 01:45 Subject: [USMA:40932] Metrication and numerology in Burma Dear All, I heard a broadcast on overnight radio about the current dictator in Burma, Than Shwe, and his leaning toward numerology and astrology. Apparently Than Shwe cannot defer the constitutional referendum because the astrological signs favour a positive result for his junta — so any assistance to cyclone victims has to wait until after the referendum! In a story with the headline, US delivers aid to Burma' 'The Sun' in the UK reported it like this: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1150321.ece ) Here is an extract: It was revealed last night that the Burmese tyrant blocking aid to his cyclone-devastated people is being advised by ASTROLOGERS. General Than Shwe consults a star-gazing weirdo called E Thi — dubbed "ET" — and a Buddhist nun. When I tried to investigate this further this morning I found this reference: http://www.burmalibrary.org/TinKyi/archives/2002-12/msg00025.html where they refer to Than Shwe's predecessor, Ne Win, when they write: The hermit-minded leader dreamed up eccentric economic policies based on his superstitious belief in numerology. In 1987, he canceled the Burmese kyat currency and introduced new notes in denominations based on his personal lucky numbers ? 15, 45 and 90. Many people were bankrupted overnight when the previous currency was declared invalid. People were suddenly given new 90-kyat notes, and told they could only make change with new 45-kyat and 15-kyat bills. "He was said to have bathed in dolphins' blood to regain his youth, and his dedication to numerology was legendary," the BBC reported. I don't suppose that the Burmese government will be giving the adoption of the metric system of units a high priority anytime soon. Cheers, Pat Naughtin PO Box 305 Belmont 3216, Geelong, Australia Phone: 61 3 5241 2008 Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com/ for more metrication information, contact Pat at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter/ to subscribe.
