0576 - Location

All those expert in real estate insist that the three keys to value are: Location, Location, Location. A recent OO column about hardships of air travel to and from Anguilla via the American Eagle service (a misnomer) and the terminally awful San Juan terminal brought many horror stories from Readers. At this holiday season, dear friends, we offer wise advice: your own hearth is the best Location. Plan to visit Anguilla when the rush abates. [Rush Abates is not that crazy loudmouth on radio.]

Just by the way, the news here is that the advantages of Anguilla (sun, sand, peace and that special tang of AXA life) have caused a big rise in real estate values, particularly along the coast, where veritable palaces are rising (and prices on restaurant menus will no doubt follow). But we digress, a habit you may have noticed. There is news on all fronts. Our Revered Investment Guru submits a review of a small biotech, described as in the “pre-revenue” stage. We’ve played that stage ourselves.

Also, there is a new word from Spanish television. Since Anguilla is in the Caribbean, our Cable TV provides not only an all-Spanish channel, but also some rather odd combinations of Spanglish. We have, for example, foot- and base- ball games on ESPN where the visible announcers are plainly speaking Spanish, and the scoreboard is in Spanish, but what you hear is English commentary. The strangest combination is in an ad constantly running on CNBC, begging you to subscribe to Telemundo, a Spanish-language TV channel. The curious part is that the ad is translated into English – sort of. The odd translation tells you that you can get “the most precise and serious” news, along with what seems to be a precise and serious imitation of Judge Judy. To whom is this addressed?

The very best word describing the great bulk of TV content has just come to hand, direct from Spain. It is “Telebasura”. As you know, “Basura” is Spanish for trash, refuse, garbage. So much for reality TV. [Note from Chief Proofreader: current English usage seems to distinguish garbage (organic) from trash or refuse. Looking up “Basura” on Google, the translation was “Sweepings”. But going the other way, translating either “Garbage” or “Trash” or “Refuse”, or for that matter “Sweepings”, you get “Basura”. English is deep, rich, and confusing.]

Along with their air travel horror stories, some Readers have commented on our silence on the subject of U.S. politics. This was deliberate, as you knew. Yet, the recent sweeping-out of Bush cabinet officers into the Basura, leads us to a mean-spirited question. In business, or in a business-oriented Administration, we had always understood that the executive who presides over mistakes and losses is quietly excused (“for personal reasons”), along with a rich parting gift for screwing-up, and a new guy is brought in. Well, if there is one Cabinet officer who has plainly mis-judged, mis-guided, and made some really embarrassing mistakes, it is Rummy. Obviously, Rummy is still messing up, and a certain country (we promised not to use the name for six months) is in a bad state indeed. The hearts and minds we have won under his direction are damn few, and getting fewer. So, who is kept on? Rummy. We would have preferred the Secretary of Agriculture be retained to continue the fight for free vegetables. Our motto is that of the physician: “First of all, do no harm.” Hippocrates (of Cos) was right. Rummy wasn’t.

Next time: LoveHate [OO #577]

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