BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions

Subject: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 11:53 AM

On Jay Leno t'other night, Russel Crowe said he had a bailout plan for the US.... why give the banks 700B USD?... give each of the 300M Yanks 1M USD each... less than half the cost.

The audience applauded and cheered and Jay patted Russel on the back.

I can only assume that the audience and Jay are really Aussies or Brits and that my vague recollection of the difference is at least partly correct.

US : 1M = a thousand thousand; 1B = a thousand million; 1T = a thousand billion

UK : 1M = a thousand thousand; 1B = a million million; 1T = a billion billion.

So, am I at least partly correct... or is Russel Crowe smoking some Okanagan Hydro? In Canuck, 1g OH = 5g TS. (insert regular disclaimer about pot smokin here... been years and years and.....)

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 12:05 PM

Russel Crowe is a bit behind the times. The British custom of using the term "thousand million" is unwieldy, and out of step with the rest of the planet. Even the Brits are abandoning it. Russel would have been correct to say that even $2000 to every Yank would be cheaper (or $8000 to each family!). But that's much too egalitarian for the US.

Actually, what would have solved the problem, would have been mortgage relief; which could have been done through the tax forms. The Canadian Gov't tried to do this about 20 yrs ago, but it disappeared with the next change of Government.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 12:09 PM

700 Trillion (Auld Brit Billions) would be 20 times the annual GNP of the entire planet.

700 billion is the US GNP for about three weeks. Still, that's a lotta moolah.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 01:16 PM

John, I think it is the US who uses "thousand million" number.

The whole idea, of course, is ridiculous. If everyone were given a million dollars we would have the same ratio of wealth - and the lack of it - as now.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 01:51 PM

But, if it was just the Yanks and you didn't tell anyone else???? Why, The Red Onion Society could buy a whack of BC Green and.... minds me... why isn't Tommy Chong head of The Green Partay in Canuckistan?

Say... if Sarah The Saint is in charge of Alaska, does the Red Onion Society still exist and do the Alaskan laws still allow green gardens?

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:00 PM

Ebbie... just thought... what is Alaska's State Bird? Here in New Brunswick, our official provincial bird is the Blue Heron.

Somehow, I am hoping it's The Raven.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:07 PM

There yer go......
OFFICIAL STATE BIRDS & FOWL

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:17 PM

Yes, it's the Willow Ptarmigan. I too could wish it were the Raven. I much prefer the raven over the eagle- as I say, Raven enjoys life hugely while Eagle acts as though he were not sure he's even on the right planet.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:34 PM

The raven actually has a very real connection to Tinglit mythology =

'The Raven stories are told by the Tlingit, as well as by other peoples along the northwest coast of the U.S. and Canada. The Raven character is revered as the creator of the world, but is also a tricky being who likes to cause trouble for humans. However, Raven's actions often result in a benefit to mankind. Such is the case in the story of "How Raven Gave Light to the World."
Although Raven wants to steal the contents of the boxes that hold the stars, Moon, and Sun for himself, the people ultimately benefit from his trick when the light is released into the sky.'

see if you can access this

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:46 PM

Yes, Raven is important, superlatively so.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:52 PM

Nearer home there's also The Morrigan
goddess of battle, strife, and fertility. Her name translates as either "Great Queen" or "Phantom Queen,"
She is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann and helped defeat the Firbolg at the First Battle of Mag Tuireadh and the Fomorians at the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 03:02 PM

Isn't Chong a naturalized Yankee?

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 03:19 PM

Thanks for the link, EB. Willow Ptarmigan, eh.... partridge are cool.

Jack... I think he might be. Gosh... if he is a natural, he could run for Pres... and for PM.... think of the money we could save with job sharing.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 03:28 PM

Cool?
This one
looks f f f f freezing!

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 03:58 PM

One billion, US style: 1,000,000,000 or 1 followed by 9 zeroes.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 04:14 PM

Ebbie...
Nope, I'm right! The British switched to the American system in 1974!

Before 74, a billion (for Brits) was a million million. Now it's a thousand million.

I remember this, cuz I used to deal with old English Physics and Chemistry texts.

Anyhow, Crowe was wrong, regardless of ethnicity.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 04:40 PM

Ahhh... there it is. He can go russel up some crowe.... for that audience and that jay. Bunch a yard birds the lot.

Now, how much is a Paylin?

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 05:32 PM

More importantly as US Gallon is smaller than a UK Gallon, therefore a US pint must be smaller...

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 05:37 PM

a UK pint IS bigger!
1 US pint = 16.6534768 Imperial fluid ounces
1 UK pint - 20 fluid ounces

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 06:00 PM

In the US they like to say: A pint's a pound the world around.

At least, that's what a Scot once told me.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 06:01 PM

No it ain't! The last time I bought a pint it cost me more'n a pound, lemme tell ya!

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: heric
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 10:18 PM

A thousand million or a million million - Who cares anymore. Potato potahto.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 02:17 AM

Well, I figger if I had a million million versus only a thousand million it would matter to me. And to my heirs. Of course, they might bump me off. Pennies do odd things to people.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 07:12 AM

Ten Billion Pennies
well 10,000,023,552 actually :)

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: john f weldon
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 08:08 AM

Heric, you'd make a great employee. I'd give you 50 bucks a year, and say "Ain't it grand?"

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Paul Burke
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 04:48 AM

I don't think anyone in the UK has used 1 billion = 10^12 since the 70s. But whatever the value, government money is too big for people to think about clearly. Hence, faced with a 350 million pound shortfall in their budget, DEFRA, the UK government department responsible for agriculture and tourism, cut ten million pounds from the waterways budget. Which has practically no effect on the total, but devastated maintenance of the waterways. And now they are faced with repairing several bank collapses which could have been prevented by maintenance, and costing well over the amount cut.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: Emma B
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 05:56 AM

Perhaps you should have put this under the 'Banks going bust' thread Paul :)

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: IWTATBM
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 03:05 PM

"I don't think anyone in the UK has used 1 billion = 10^12 since the 70s"

Well I have been on the 85 billion thread. It's more of a challenge.

Subject: RE: BS: US Billion vs UK Billion... definitions
From: heric
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 01:04 PM

I stand by my assertion:


Pelosi's latest economic-stimulus package $300 billion
Paulson's Bank Nationalization package $250billion
Bailout to the American car companies $25 billion
Nancy Pelosi's bailout of the state and local governments $150 billion
Financial "bailout" bill $700 billion+
Bear Stearns financing $29 billion
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac nationalization $200 billion
AIG loan and nationalization $85 billion (+ extra request of $35 billion)
Federal Housing Administration housing rescue bill $300 billion
Mortgage community grants $4 billion
JPMorgan Chase repayments $87 billion
Loans to banks via Fed's Term Auction Facility $200 billion+
Loans from Depression-era Exchange Stabilization Fund $50 billion
Purchases of mortgage securities by Fannie/Freddie $144 billion
POSSIBLE TOTAL $2.56 trillion+
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS PER U.S. CENSUS 105,480,101
POSSIBLE COST PER HOUSEHOLD $24,269

http://www.infowars.net/articles/october2008/151008Bailout_figures.htm

(Not exactly a calm and reasoned website but you get the point)