On Thu, 14 Jan 1999, Pam Blythe wrote:

>     Another case of beauracracy standing in the way of common sense!
>
>      _A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client.  He was
>      told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory
>      title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral.  The
>      title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer
>      three months to track down.
[...]
>      her jewels to fund Columbus' expedition.  Now the Pope, as I'm
>      sure you know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
>      And God, it is commonly accepted, created this world.  Therefore,
>      I believe it is safe to presume that He also made that part of
>      the world called Louisiana. He, therefore, would be the owner of
>      origin.  I hope ... you find His original claim to be
>      satisfactory.
>
>      Now, may we have our ... loan?"

This old chestnut has been around for decades.  I first read in the 1960s,
and it was old then.  It is folklore and almost certainly pure hooey.

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com