Damn !

[kentuck]

What time of the day did the Senate vote not to break up the big banks? What time of the day did the stock market drop about 1000 points in about 30 minutes? Are these two events related in any way?

It's almost like the sword of Damocles:

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/ciceroworkslatin/f/DamoclesSword.htm

<snip>
Dionysius (II) was a fourth century B.C. tyrant of Syracuse, a city in Magna Graecia, the Greek area of southern Italy. To all appearances Dionysius was very rich and comfortable, with all the luxuries money could buy, tasteful clothing and jewelry, and delectable food. He even had court flatterers (adsentatores) to inflate his ego. One of these ingratiators was the court sycophant, Damocles. Damocles used to make comments to the king about his wealth and luxurious life. One day when Damocles complimented the tyrant on his abundance and power, Dionysius turned to Damocles and said, "If you think I'm so lucky, how would you like to try out my life?"

Damocles readily agreed, and so Dionysius ordered everything to be prepared for Damocles to experience what life as Dionysius was like. Damocles was enjoying himself immensely... until he noticed a sharp sword hovering over his head, that was suspended from the ceiling by a horse hair. This, the tyrant explained to Damocles, was what life as ruler was really like.

Damocles, alarmed, quickly revised his idea of what made up a good life, and asked to be excused. He then eagerly returned to his poorer, but safer life.




...

[tavalon]

1. Interesting

[BzaDem]

2. The vote was long after the market cloesd.

[dmr]

3. No, the Senate vote was later, but I did hear that the Germans

were at approx the same time, voting on whether to help Greece out. I don't know if that is true or not, but I did hear the rumor.
:shrug: