0652 - AXAUnit

Some time back, we revealed to you that the standard unit of time on Anguilla -- one AXA Unit -- is 13 years, say the time from promise of a new road and construction of same. The OO has lived on Smiling Anguilla 13 years, plus, by now, and has just completed one AXA Unit's service as the United States Consular Warden for Anguilla. This is an unpaid post with supposed duties of keeping track of all U.S. citizens on island, and taking care of them in times of invasion or disaster. Anguilla has not been invaded recently, and since most USCits will not register, the job has mostly devolved to keeping and handing out forms for, say, adult passport renewal, nagging the Consul in Barbados to send a Vice-Consul around every six months to register new children as USCits because they were born in St. Thomas or San Juan or elsewhere under the flag, and holding meets to renew the kids' passports. We also do a brisk telephone biz, telling callers who should be bothered in Barbados for Visas and such. The work load is growing: we receive up to 75 passport applicants every six months. Anyway, to get to the point, the OO is resigning as Warden, but will serve as Deputy, while a fine couple, now Deputies, will assume the mantles of office. They are tough, trained, and handled with distinction a real recent crisis.

This July also marks one AXA time unit of publication of the OO column you are reading with rapt attention at this moment. The Staff is hard at work preparing the past 13 years of columns for recording on CDs, in the original WordPerfect format (the modern equivalent of foolscap and quill pen) and in Adobe .pdf format. Now, a question for all you Readers. There are 208 of you registered to receive the column by e-mail from our mailing robot. This means that our historic CDs must be made commercially. Our respectful question is, how many copies (if any) of this cultural monument do you wish? Since they're being made commercially, you may order some as gifts if you wish. They will be charged at cost of duplication and mailing. [Aside: have you noticed how the "Shipping and Handling" fees are often more than the cost of stuff advertised on TV?] The Staff will handle free, but needs to know how many to order, so if you want one or more you have to order NOW NOW NOW! Please send an e-mail if you want the CD and remember that you CAN NOT reply to the robot that is sending you this OO. Instead, just send a polite e-mail to:
ubob@anguillanet.com
(that's the secret bat cave e-mail).

Meanwhile, in the big world, problems persist. Today, the space shuttle was to take off, and there was much talk about the dangers of the coating flaking off the tanks and hurting the ship. We have a modest question: why is the coating made of the same white foam as one of those throw-away coffee cups? Why couldn't NASA consult Starbucks and order something a bit more durable? We'd contribute the cost of a latte if NASA will fix the Hubble telescope, a wondrous instrument.

And then, we must report to our more Republican Readers that we have lost a bet. Given Rummy's demonstrated incompetence, we bet a Reader that Rummy would be out by July 1. He ain't. We thought the White House was better at politics, but they ain't. Meanwhile, today's car bombing in Baghdad was monstrous. Given that Iraq is about a tenth the population of the U.S., the carnage is statistically awful. It's worse than ever. We are proud of our own stern stance against invading Iraq, and our correct statement that there were no WMDs there, but it's no fun being right. There doesn't seem any way to clean up this mess. You voters know who's to blame.

Next time: Change [OO #653]

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

Home