[Enjoymms]

Therefore it will continue to be called Big Ben by everyone, and the move is purely symbolic. There's likely to be a lot more of this kind of thing now Her Majesty is getting older.

[illiniastibly]

While wiki'ing yet, I find that Big Ben actually refers to the Bell, not the tower...

[Quick$bux]

Is it that the reason you keep them?

JM

[beethyday]

Nazi guy ?

[dicemets]

I don't view Big Ben as being particularly royal, given that it's attached to Parliament. But yes, I've never understood why Americans have given one iota of a **** about Princess Diana, or the Queen, or the Nazi guy either.

We all wanted to bone Princess Diana and were sad when she died, because she seemed to be on her way to doing exactly that (boning everyone).

[yurawerj]

So, if I'm understanding you correctly, that means that every girl in Constantinople lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople?

[DOWNLOADnowADOBEphotoSHOP]

And just for the record. Female Americans are the ones that go gaga over the British royalty. Most American Men don't give a damn. (not included those royals perceived as boneable of course) Or if we think we will get laid by going along with the scam.
I'm not going to defend women's fixation with the fairy tale aspects of royalty.

[BrainTop]

This is getting silly. Why'd they change it?

[Hankie]

Exactly. Therefore nothing for anyone to get their knickers in a twist about. No one cares.

In fact, why is it that it's always the colonials who seem to have a fixation with all things royal in the UK?

What ratio do you think the audience of the most recent royal wedding was?

[ftpsoft]

Yeah, no different then when they renamed "SEARS TOWER" to "WILLIS TOWER" in Chicago. Everyone moaned and groaned and swore up and down that they would never call it Willis Tower. Local broadcasters would have to catch themselves whenever they said it wrong. Now as short as a few years later, I hear Willis Tower more than Sears Tower. In another decade, the old name will be forgotten by most.

Why did they change it? For more Different Strokes jokes?

[Aztegjpl]

Why would anyone consider a pointless gesture attached to an antiquated relic inappropriate where the Queen is concerned.

[beth]

This is an incredibly stupid idea.

[RorieSorNearop]

Big Ben = know around the world landmark. How did renaming St. Petersburg to Leningrad work?

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[JeremyIV]

Besides, "Big Ben" has never been an official name for anything.

[Prererularl]

Guynemer (June 28, 2012),N35t0r (June 28, 2012)

[mr.calisto]

That's a big mealy mouthed bit of fail. It is what people call it and it's called Big Ben.

Dude, what the hell are you talking about? The tower is called the Clock Tower, Big Ben is the name of the bell inside it. They are not renaming the bell, they are renaming the tower. People will inevitably continue to call it Big Ben, but an officially named monument will now honour Her Majesty.

It's really not that confusing.

[Kokomoxcvcv]

web-hickstead12_1340594cl-8.jpg

Canadian show jumping horse Big Ben.

[statistica]

Your grandfather doesn't have the stark genetic disadvantage that comes from centuries of inbreeding, HC--or does he? If he does, consult Parliament to discuss his rewards package. In any case, we Americans have no room to talk about this sort of thing, given our own conservative party's history of naming every damn thing in the world after Ronald Reagan. Remember when they renamed Old Faithful "Reagan's Sphincter"?*

*I am uncertain whether this actually happened. If it didn't, it damn well should have, because that would have been awesome.

[8jIDXQ80]

So, once the tower is officially renamed, can we say that Big Ben's dong is in Big Bess?

[CaseyFronczek]

I'm pretty sure Reagan just got an airport and an aircraft carrier. Hell, W already has an airport in Houston so what's the big deal? Besides, Reagan actually did something to deserve his recognition. It's not like he was born into the presidency.

They are all impressed she's survived so long.