> > > > How long did the US flag have 49 stars? How long did it have 48?
> > > > Howard
> > >
> > > I can't resist...I must answer...I can't let Howard get the better of us again...The US flag has had 49 stars for 42 years.
> > >
> > > (Alaska was admitted into the Union as the 49th state in 1958, but the Presidential proclamation wasn't made until January, 1959, thus requiring a new design for the flag.)
> >
> > Um... don't you mean it had 48 stars for 42 years?
> >
> > By my calculations, the flag had 49 stars for exactly 230 days. (Jan 3- Aug 21, when Hawaii became the 50th state.)
> >
> > Do svidaniya,
> > Jannette ("Wondering if and when Puerto Rico will become #51.")
>
> Ha! No, I did mean what I said. The flag still does have 49 stars on it. It also has another star for good measure. :-)
>
> I got the 42 years by subtracting 1959 from 2001.
>
> Ell"Evil"myruh

You have no idea how glad I am that you cleared that up. I still have to go along with Janette's 230 days. I was in Puerto Rico recently and my guess is that it will become a state when San Juan freezes over.
Howard