0581 - Backwards

Over the past weeks, the entire Staff has been combing over past OO columns, sorting by date, and preparing the giant 1993-2004 compilation . This required reading the entire canon, and triggers thought, a rare phenomenon around here. Some columns strike repetitive themes, mostly small whines about the habits of bureaucracy, or the surplus of goats, or the despicable non-food at San Juan airport. That’s not news. More interesting are the political and economic predictions and the analysis of the different casts of Anguillian and Expat thought. We are glad to report that the politico-economic reports from before the 1999 election to date are dead on. The deficit is as predicted from the no-tax big-spend platform of the incumbent. The Ir*q mess is also flatly as predicted. So don’t blame us.

It’s been some time since we mentioned the peculiarities of the Anguillian speech, a lack due, we admit, to ignorance of what’s being said. So, here is a quote from a column in The Anguillian by the clever Ijahnya Christian (who is, we believe a Rasta, despite last name). She writes “... a cousin of my sister’s reminded me of the saying, ‘Hog win arsk he Marmee, what mek you mout so long? Hog Marmee tell he, wait you time.’” Can you parse that? We inquired of the lady who cleans up here [tough job] and she – we think – explained. Marmee means Mother; Mout is mouth, and Long should be read as “wide”. So the piglet asks the Mama why her mouth is so big and she says wait until you grow up. Since there is an Anguillian election soon, this may carry a message about spending. Washington please note.

We also have a fine new word and a repellent one. The Economist supplies “Doddle”, as in “Amending the Constitution is no doddle.” Know that one? It means: “An easy task”. Good word. The repellent word comes, of all places, from the University of Chicago Magazine, which ought to know much, much better. In the December issue, there is a graphic [chart] showing comparative costs of different ways of generating power. The chart (sob) is headed “Levelized Cost of Electricity”. Ugh! What is the cost of depraving (levelizing?) our fine language?

Checking back on our past bloviating, this column repeatedly advised assassinating Saddam, as cheaper, more ethical, and more humane than the present disaster. Well, truth proves contagious, and the latest CNN poll shows public approval of offing tyrants is running 2 to 1 in favor. Another moral victory!

And still on politics, the Ford Foundation (Cairo office) is seeking a “Program Officer” to “strengthen respect for and realization of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights in the Middle East and North Africa” That’s a tidy assignment, no doubt, and leaves two questions. First, how about starting with Rumsfeld’s Department, Abu Ghraib Section? And also, in transcription of the quote the words came out “Pogrom Officer” which slip much better describes Middle East and African governmental behavior.

Last, know that the Anguilla airport – Wallblake, known to intimates as AXA – is now open and larger planes are landing. The food at Wallblake is, we are happy to tell you, quite good, in contrast to you-know-where. Also good news is the arrival of another fine chef on island . He makes those crisp and lacy potato doilies to top his dishes. Name divulged if you invite the OO. Which reminds us, get your reservation in early for the great OO compilation. If we need to cut a lot of CDs, we are outsourcing, thus raising the cost.

Next time: SocSec [OO #582]

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