Great Britain and the United Kingdom
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
I think no one ever really thinks about it. Other than when the English refer to themselves as British and everyone else as English but everyone else refers to themselves as Scottish, Welsh, etc Except for the address when sent from overseas: then mostly always use UK. Other than if you live in the Channel Islands; then you need to use Jersey, Guernsey, etc. Or Isle of Man. Or the Shetland Islands. Or London which is really its own country these days and is everything inside the M25. :-)
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Oh man. I completely forgot about the British Isles and the British Islands. Doing my head in.
cheers Chris Maunder
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
Breathe. Well, just as the U.S. isn't America. America is two continents and several associated islands, comprising a great many countries. The U.S. is a sizable chunk -- make that two sizable chunks -- of North America, but also includes some islands that are nowhere near America. The United States of North America, Western Canada, and Hawaii :jig: (Plus Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands... ) But, yeah, at least the code isn't NA.
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
I recently looked at a tourist guide of Holland, so I'm thinking to myself that's nice for people who want to visit our provinces North- and South-Holland. And then I see the guide includes other provinces like Utrecht and Zeeland. That's not Holland, that's The Netherlands! Also, HOL is not a country code, it's NL or NLD. I know how the UK/GB people feel... Even tourist guides get it wrong :(
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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And it still does not paint a complete picture, since British Overseas Territories are not included.
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I recently looked at a tourist guide of Holland, so I'm thinking to myself that's nice for people who want to visit our provinces North- and South-Holland. And then I see the guide includes other provinces like Utrecht and Zeeland. That's not Holland, that's The Netherlands! Also, HOL is not a country code, it's NL or NLD. I know how the UK/GB people feel... Even tourist guides get it wrong :(
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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Most people don't even refer to those islands as The Netherlands.
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I recently looked at a tourist guide of Holland, so I'm thinking to myself that's nice for people who want to visit our provinces North- and South-Holland. And then I see the guide includes other provinces like Utrecht and Zeeland. That's not Holland, that's The Netherlands! Also, HOL is not a country code, it's NL or NLD. I know how the UK/GB people feel... Even tourist guides get it wrong :(
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
And isn't the Netherlands part of Spain? Or at least the National Anthem pledges allegiance to the King of Spain IIRC
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"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt -
And isn't the Netherlands part of Spain? Or at least the National Anthem pledges allegiance to the King of Spain IIRC
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In the time that we were taxed to death by Alva, some Spanish noble. We claimed to be loyal to the Spanish crown, despite being openly revolting against Alva. At the moment, we are as much part of Spain as of Germany.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)
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Most people don't even refer to those islands as The Netherlands.
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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And isn't the Netherlands part of Spain? Or at least the National Anthem pledges allegiance to the King of Spain IIRC
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OriginalGriff wrote:
And isn't the Netherlands part of Spain?
How old were you again? We ditched Spain over 300 years ago ;) Our National Anthem goes a little like... "Wilhemus van Naussau am I of German blood, something something, I have always honored the king of Spain." And then a whole lot more verses that most people don't know. For some reason we usually sing the first and sixth verses from a total of fifteen. I'm not all that chauvinistic though. Last time I sang that anthem was on Queensday back in elementary school.
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
Long live the Empire!
Decrease the belief in God, and you increase the numbers of those who wish to play at being God by being “society’s supervisors,” who deny the existence of divine standards, but are very serious about imposing their own standards on society.-Neal A. Maxwell You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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In the time that we were taxed to death by Alva, some Spanish noble. We claimed to be loyal to the Spanish crown, despite being openly revolting against Alva. At the moment, we are as much part of Spain as of Germany.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)
Eddy Vluggen wrote:
we are as much part of Spain as of Germany
That could confuse him as we also sing about being of German blood :laugh:
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
dont forget the Falkland Islands - which is UK territory, but not a UK postcode oh or Pitcairn Island UK territory, but not UK postcode and and and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_postal_codes[^] Bryce
MCAD Sometimes in life we need a hand.[^] ---
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OriginalGriff wrote:
And isn't the Netherlands part of Spain?
How old were you again? We ditched Spain over 300 years ago ;) Our National Anthem goes a little like... "Wilhemus van Naussau am I of German blood, something something, I have always honored the king of Spain." And then a whole lot more verses that most people don't know. For some reason we usually sing the first and sixth verses from a total of fifteen. I'm not all that chauvinistic though. Last time I sang that anthem was on Queensday back in elementary school.
Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need. Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. — Edsger W. Dijkstra
Regards, Sander
William of Nassau,
I am of Germanic blood,
Dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyaltyVerse 1 IIRC :laugh:
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I'm trying to fix an issue with conflicting country designations. Specifically, country codes. We use the country code "UK" internally to mean "United Kingdom". However, ISO 3166 uses the country code "GB", short for "Great Britain". Sort of. Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland and Wales, plus some other bits. The United Kingdom, more correctly called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, contains the Island of Great Britain plus Northern Island, plus some other bits. i.e. it's bigger than Great Britain. The country code for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, aka United Kingdom, is GB. GB is short for Great Britain. Except Great Britain doesn't mean the United Kingdom. Britain was used interchangeably with "United Kingdom", but not so much anymore. Following so far? To recap: Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 3 other countries (except they are independent nations, not actual countries) and some other bits. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB". My head hurts just thinking that through. You guys are complicated. [Edit: Updated to correct the bits I got wrong. Other bits I've got wrong have not yet been updated]
cheers Chris Maunder
Chris Maunder wrote:
GB is short for Great Britain.
No, it isn't. That's where you're making the error. It's not an abbreviation or an acronym. It is, as you rightly state elsewhere a code. Moreover it is a code for autonomous or semi-autonomous regions not necessarily full sovereign states. The code for Antigua and Barbuda is AG but presumably you wouldn't suggest that that means that Barbuda is excluded? The Aland Islands is AX which includes a letter that's not even in the name and is actually a Finnish region albeit autonomous.
Chris Maunder wrote:
Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 other countries. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB".
No, it isn't. It's a group of islands made up of three previously independent nations and a number of autonomous territories such as the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain though it is part of the United Kingdom and for the purposes of some sports is included in Great Britain teams. Really I can't understand why you have a problem with this! ;) If you want a real puzzle, try working out why Rule Brittania praises the upstanding virtues of Britons when any true Britons now live only in remotest parts of Wales and, as you might expect, Brittany, having long ago been chased away by Celts, Saxons, and then Normans many centuries ago!
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Long live the Empire!
Decrease the belief in God, and you increase the numbers of those who wish to play at being God by being “society’s supervisors,” who deny the existence of divine standards, but are very serious about imposing their own standards on society.-Neal A. Maxwell You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
Yeah - but...which bit?
cheers Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote:
GB is short for Great Britain.
No, it isn't. That's where you're making the error. It's not an abbreviation or an acronym. It is, as you rightly state elsewhere a code. Moreover it is a code for autonomous or semi-autonomous regions not necessarily full sovereign states. The code for Antigua and Barbuda is AG but presumably you wouldn't suggest that that means that Barbuda is excluded? The Aland Islands is AX which includes a letter that's not even in the name and is actually a Finnish region albeit autonomous.
Chris Maunder wrote:
Great Britain is an island, not a country. Except that it's made up of 4 other countries. It doesn't have a country code. The United Kingdom is a Sovereign State and has a country code "GB".
No, it isn't. It's a group of islands made up of three previously independent nations and a number of autonomous territories such as the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain though it is part of the United Kingdom and for the purposes of some sports is included in Great Britain teams. Really I can't understand why you have a problem with this! ;) If you want a real puzzle, try working out why Rule Brittania praises the upstanding virtues of Britons when any true Britons now live only in remotest parts of Wales and, as you might expect, Brittany, having long ago been chased away by Celts, Saxons, and then Normans many centuries ago!
Member 9082365 wrote:
Moreover it is a code for autonomous or semi-autonomous regions not necessarily full sovereign states
I get that. However, I would bet that GB, at some point, derived from Great Britain.
Member 9082365 wrote:
No, it isn't. It's a group of islands made up of three previously independent nations
Sorry - you're correct. 3, not 4, and yes, I should have mentioned the other bits. Did I mention that it's a fair chunk to get your head around?
cheers Chris Maunder
