My most sincere apologies for so effectively offending Mr. Wallace. I can only assume that he was not a recipient of previous recommendations to IGNORE those posts that described the subject as "Off Topic", especially IF there was any possibility that the reader might be incensed by the content. I have re-read my contribution and though I cannot immediately support that it is entirely factual, can support that it was not an "insensitive" piece of "garbage" and was most certainly NOT an attack on the victims of Katrina. WHEREVER and for WHATEVER the "billions" goes can be debated elsewhere, but for a perspective on WHAT a billion is, I thought this was insightful. Sherry > [Original Message] > From: James Wallace <Mjwall@charter.net> > To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 9/9/2005 6:34:12 PM > Subject: Fw: [IADECATU] Off topic--but near and dear > > I like everybody else on the Decatur Email list just recieved this email > from Sherry Balow. This is NOT GENEALOGY, this is complete GARBAGE!!! In > light of the billions the government is spending on the poverty stricken > victims of Hurricane Katrina, the insensitivity of the email is absolutly > astounding. I am disgusted, and sick of recieving messages like this. IS > ANYBODY ELSE???!!! Will the administrator of the Decatur list please do > something!!! > > James Wallace > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sherry Balow" <balowmsg@earthlink.net> > To: <IADECATU-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:40 AM > Subject: [IADECATU] Off topic--but near and dear > > > >A BILLION ...................... > > > > The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion," casually, > > think about whether you want the politician spending your tax money. > > > > A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency > > did a good job of putting that figure into perspective in one of its > > releases. > > > > *A billion seconds ago it was 1959 > > > > *A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive. > > > > *A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Ave > > > > *A billion days ago no-one walked on two feet on earth. > > > > and finally, > > > > *A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our > > government spends it. > > > > > > Have a nice day. > > > > > > *note: I've had several e-mail messages not reach the intended recipient > > so have temporarily added a notice of receipt option to my outgoing mail. > > It's not really much of an imposition, the click of a key, and is actually > > a plus for those who can't answer right away but want to let me know they > > DID get my mail. Let me know if this is a problem for you. > > > > > > Sherry Balow > > balowmsg@earthlink.net > > NOW BLOGGING > > http://settlethedust.blogspot.com/ > > > > "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed > > until it is faced." > > - James A. Baldwin > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== > > Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, > > Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu > > > > ============================== > > New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors > > at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: > > http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&ta rgetid=5429 > > > > > ==== IADECATU Mailing List ==== > Stacey Dietiker, Momdit@aol.com: Decatur County List Administrator, > Website Coordinator, Decatur County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx

I was not offended, it's info, nothing more. Barbara Texas