I haven't seen something that did a great job documenting this, but if it's out there would love to see it. I assume it's both what you & @worstcaseeng.bsky.social point out independently & interacting (fiscal crisis + private takeover).

SO cute omg congrats this is incredible

Some 4,000 munis were ever created.

THE POPE: and... let's do chips and guac, to share. Chips and guac, right? If I get chips and guac you're going to eat some, right? They make it right at the table

My experience is M, B, T for million, billion, trillion in finance. No idea the evolution of the MM, but your British hypothesis + chemical engineering seems correct. MMbtu, MMbbl, etc., leading to, e.g., $100MM for 100 million dollars.

idk if a crusade but along the same lines, i was taught to write 'millions' of something as MM (if M is 1000, MM is 1000x1000) from my engineering origins and i still do this (at least before copyediting)

We are a social species, and we have always prevailed through cooperation. Caring for our sick. Raising children we didn't sire or birth because they were part of our village or extended family. We are not breeders and predators, we are communicators and survivors. We evolved to UNITE.