"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money".  Maybe Senator Dirksen never really said that, but it is difficult to think about big numbers.  This is especially true when dealing with different currency exchange rates.

This is a map that tries to make it easier to understand these numbers. It tries to clarify just how big the US economy is, compared to the rest of the world.

Updated:
Thanks, Rescue Rangers, for putting me on the list!
Yes, I can see that China, Germany, Japan, etc. are larger than ANY U.S. state.
And I do agree... what's really interesting is comparing these numbers to financial flows.  The total dollars washing back and forth around the world is astounding, and dwarfs almost any economy, including the  U.S. economy.
Which several folks have noted, that's mostly speculative money, chasing a return.  For example, take the amount of money that went into the U.S. Housing Bubble.  The money (credit) buying Mcmansions, granite countertops and expensive stucco shacks probably exceeded the annual GDP of many countries.
 And as credit contracts..... "the Grand Ah-whoom"....
 Another time, perhaps.

I just received an email from our state teacher's union. Apparently the organization below is about to start a statewide (and likely nationwide) anti-union disinformation campaign.  It appears to be timed to attack teachers just as school starts.  

Hillary's announcement of her support for E85 ethanol from cor n IS a big business subsidy and scam, no doubt. Other posters have covered this better than I.
 But biodiesel has strong possibilities as an alternative transportation fuel, and has roots in the 70s oil crises. There is strong supporting research from NREL (National Renewable Energy Labs). But since it's not produced from heavily subsidized corn,  no one flies its banner.
 

Tune in to watch one of the tallest structures in the Pacific Northwest BLOW UP!

 http://www.kgw.com/...

 Yes, it's the 500 foot tall Trojan nuclear power plant's cooling tower (say that one ten times fast) getting reduced to rubble, rebar, and broken, shattered, chunky-monkey dreams.

So I'm sitting around, hating America, supporting the terrorists and reading Al-Jazeera http://english.aljazeera.net/...
... just for the pictures and perspective on the Iran thing, you understand.  I decide to read the editorials, maybe read their statement of ethics, maybe write 'Go Islam' on their comment board..

MAY 1 .. International Worker's Day... and I'm all alone.. in my classroom.  Normally I have students. So what happened?