Off topic - the French are next

[Mark Padgett]

"Swiss inadvertently invade Liechtenstein
Company of Swiss troops marches into tiny Liechtenstein by mistake
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:41 p.m. PT March 2, 2007
ZURICH, Switzerland - What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of Swiss soldiers got lost at night and marched into neighboring Liechtenstein.

According to Swiss daily Blick, the 170 infantry soldiers from the neutral country wandered 2 kilometers (more than a mile) across an unmarked border into the tiny principality early Thursday before realizing their mistake and turning back.

A spokesman for the Swiss army confirmed the story, but said that there were unlikely to be any serious repercussions for the mistaken invasion.

"We've spoken to the authorities in Liechtenstein, and it's not a problem," Daniel Reist told The Associated Press on Friday.

Officials in Liechtenstein also played down the incident.

Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Amman said nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. "It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something," he said.

Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington, D.C., does not have an army."

You know that if they had crossed the French border, they'd own the country by now. Ya' gotta keep your eye on those crafty Swiss.

[Adam]

I think I speak for all of us when I ask, "There's a Liechtenstein?"

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I think I speak for all of us when I ask, "There's a Liechtenstein?"

Of course there is, silly. I've got a couple of 'em - they're great for drinking beer.

[Jurassic Referee]

If there was a Switzerland/France war, they could use the following weapons....

[Adam]

Jurassic, how long you been sitting on that pic?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Jurassic, how long you been sitting on that pic?

Just until it was needed......

[eg-italy]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I think I speak for all of us when I ask, "There's a Liechtenstein?"

Of course there is. It is a ruled by a Prince. People there speak German (well, their idea of German). It is almost as wide as DC, but I bet it has much more banks than there are in Washington.

We Europeans have also more little States: do you know about Luxembourg (which is much bigger than Liechtenstein)? Or about San Marino and Andorra?

Ah, you can find Liechtenstein by looking quite closely to a map of Europe, just between Switzerland and Austria.

Ciao

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by eg-italy

Of course there is. It is a ruled by a Prince. People there speak German (well, their idea of German). It is almost as wide as DC, but I bet it has much more banks than there are in Washington.

We Europeans have also more little States: do you know about Luxembourg (which is much bigger than Liechtenstein)? Or about San Marino and Andorra?

Ah, you can find Liechtenstein by looking quite closely to a map of Europe, just between Switzerland and Austria.

Ciao

If we blink, will we miss Liechtenstein or Luxembourg?

Also, wasn't Andorra the name of a race of people in Star Trek? The Andorrans?

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Also, wasn't Andorra the name of a race of people in Star Trek? The Andorrans?

Remember, Star Trek was really in the future. So, isn't it amazing that a small country grew up to an entire race of beings?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Remember, Star Trek was really in the future. So, isn't it amazing that a small country grew up to an entire race of beings?

That's true. Maybe they left Earth because they didn't like the 2114 United Nations, and found a home on an unused Class M planet. They re-named it Andorra and years later, Picard et. al. comes by.

Who knew?

[eg-italy]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

If we blink, will we miss Liechtenstein or Luxembourg?[/I]

Rhode Island is 1,214 sq mi (3,144* km²), I believe it's the smallest of the United States. The District of Columbia is 68.3 sq mi (177.0 km²); the metropolitan area of New York City is 6,720 sq mi (17,405 km²). (Data according to Wikipedia.) If you think that DC is small, then compare with the following:

• Andorra is 181 sq mi (468 km²), located between France and Spain in the Pyrenees;
• Liechtenstein is 62 sq mi (160.4 km²);
• San Marino is 23.5 sq mi (61 km²), located between Emilia-Romagna and Marche, two regions of Italy;
• Monaco is 0.75 sq mi (1.96 km²), famous for its Casino.

And, of course, there is the City of Vatican, only 0.17 sq mi (0.44 km²), enclosed in the city of Rome.

It is very easy to miss them on a map. Luxembourg is less easy to miss, because it is 999 sq mi (2,586.4 km²).

The population of Andorra is about 67000; I don't think they have nothing to do with the Andorrans of Star Trek, but we can wait and see if they decide to colonize some distant planet. Do you know that the country is ruled by the French President (formerly by the King of France) and the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell (a small town in Catalonia, pop. 12000)?

Ciao

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by eg-italy

And, of course, there is the City of Vatican, only 0.17 sq mi (0.44 km²)

Never heard of it.

[jkjenning]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

You know that if they had crossed the French border, they'd own the country by now. Ya' gotta keep your eye on those crafty Swiss.

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html
Read all about French military victories!

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by jkjenning

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html
Read all about French military victories!

Not sure what this website is, but the server at work has it blocked under the category "Tasteless"...hmmm...

And JR, thanks for the picture...interrupted my Algebra kids taking a test because I was laughing so hard!!!

[jkjenning]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Not sure what this website is, but the server at work has it blocked under the category "Tasteless"...hmmm...

Considering that it is completely a text page with no vulgarity... why? You must have French IT folks!