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19 Dec 08 - 12:29 PM (#2519935) Subject: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Ebbie Have you noticed? We used to hear of 'millions' that a wealthy person had, 'millions' that somone had hijacked or had been garnered in a fraudulent scheme, 'millions' as in 'millionaire'. Now we toss around 'billions' as casually as if we understood the figure. Banks are bailed out to the tune of billions, approaching trillions, the auto industry is loaned billions, Madoff defrauds investors of $50 billions. What's next? Is this just inflation? Is the new million a billion? |
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19 Dec 08 - 01:12 PM (#2519969) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Midchuck I think "billion" has a different meaning between US and Britain. "Billion" in the US is a thousand million - ten-to-the-ninth. Isn't it a million million - ten-to-the-twelth - in Britain? That would be a trillion in the US. Or did they change that when the rationalized the currency? Either way, it's a whole s***load - of either dollars or pounds. Peter |
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19 Dec 08 - 01:13 PM (#2519971) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Little Hawk Ah yes...Quintillions are just around the corner. I heard that in Zimbabwe now the smallest amount of money you can get is a 500,000 whatever-it-is note in their local currency. With it you can buy a toothpick...if anyone has one to sell you. |
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19 Dec 08 - 01:17 PM (#2519977) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Jack Campin The "UK billion" was virtually extinct more than a generation ago. Use the word with anything other than the US meaning and people would think you were pretty weird. |
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19 Dec 08 - 01:20 PM (#2519982) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Little Hawk Well, what if people already think you're weird anway? Then would it be okay? |
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19 Dec 08 - 01:30 PM (#2519990) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Amergin Well, I think you're weird, Little Hawk....so I suppose that's all right. |
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19 Dec 08 - 01:51 PM (#2520011) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Ebbie Everyone is weird but me and thee... |
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19 Dec 08 - 03:21 PM (#2520063) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Bill D To quote the late Senator Everett Duerkson..."A billion here, a billion there...and pretty soon you're talking about real money!" I guess it has to be upgraded to Trillions, now. |
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19 Dec 08 - 04:29 PM (#2520101) Subject: RE: BS: From MILLIONS to BILLIONS? From: Lizzie Cornish 1 My bank lost £3 billion the other day. It's all got so awful that it's kinds black humour time, isn't it? "Oh, another billion! Woops!" |