Today, Feb 9th, in History

[John E Hardiman]

...Millions for defense....

http://www.jrusselljinishiangallery.com/images/dodd/dodd-engagement.jpg

[Alan D. Hyde]

... but NOT ONE CENT for tribute."

Robert Goodloe Harper

*.*.*

Alan

[George Roberts]

billions or perhaps trillions ...

But if you spend too much, you wind up with nothing.

[Stari27]

This came over the web to me.....
Just something I thought to share with you.



A Billion is a difficult number to comprehend. The next time you hear a politician
use the word "Billion," casually --- think about whether or not you want the politician
spending your tax money.

Being such a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good
job of putting that figure into perspective in one of its releases.

1. A Billion Seconds ago -- it was 1973.

2. A Billion Minutes ago -- Jesus was alive.

3. A Billion Hours ago -- our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

4. A Billion Days ago -- No-One walked on two feet on earth.

5. A Billion Dollars ago -- was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government
spends it.

[John Gearing]

Okay, I'm game. When exactly did a US frigate engage a French frigate in combat? Feb 9? Hmmm....Feb 9, 1861 marks the date the Confederate States of America was founded, IIRC.

[John E Hardiman]

Try 1798...The "XYZ Affair". An extremist foreign revolutionary government tried to extort money from the US by attacking our commercial enterprises and kidnapping/killing our citizens. The US president responded by sending out the US military to hunt them down and kill them while stalling with the Congress to prevent having War declared.

Nothing is new under the sun...

(Edit:Image is of USS CONSTELLATION vs L’Insurgente Feb 9, 1799. US Navy went 9 and 1 in the "Quasi-War")

[ 02-10-2006, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: John E Hardiman ]