Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The West Wing is real life
I love how all I have to say is “WTF LIBYA?!?” and Sarah knows I’m talking about current events while simultaneously referring to the Pilot episode of the West Wing:
Before she tweeted back to me, I tried unsuccessfully to find the scene on youtube.
Leo: Margaret! Please call the editor of the New York Times crossword and tell them that Khaddafi is spelled with an “H” and two “D’s” and isn’t a seven letter word for anything.
Margaret: Is this for real, or is it just funny?
Leo: Apparently it’s neither.
Leo: [on the phone with the New York Times] 17 across. Yes, 17 across is wrong… You’re spelling his name wrong… What’s my name? My name doesn’t matter. I am just an ordinary citizen who relies on the Times crossword for stimulation. And I’m telling you that I met the man twice. And I recommended a pre-emptive Exocet missile strike against his air force, so I think I know how… C.J.: Leo. Leo: They hang up on me every time. C.J: That’s almost hard to believe.
Not only is Leo wrong to say “exocet missile strike”,
but after reading dozens of news articles over the last few weeks,
I assumed his spelling of Gadhafi was wrong as well. Little did I know the can of worms I was opening in trying to figure out the CORRECT spelling, which does not appear to exist.
The basic problem here is that (1) there is no generally accepted authority for romanizing Arabic names, and (2) the Mummer’s name contains several sounds that have no exact equivalent in English.
For the record, here’s the official Library of Congress rundown on how to spell ol’ whatsisname: (1) Muammar Qaddafi, (2) Mo’ammar Gadhafi, (3) Muammar Kaddafi, (4) Muammar Qadhafi, (5) Moammar El Kadhafi, (6) Muammar Gadafi, (7) Mu’ammar al-Qadafi, (8) Moamer El Kazzafi, (9) Moamar al-Gaddafi, (10) Mu’ammar Al Qathafi, (11) Muammar Al Qathafi, (12) Mo’ammar el-Gadhafi, (13) Moamar El Kadhafi, (14) Muammar al-Qadhafi, (15) Mu’ammar al-Qadhdhafi, (16) Mu’ammar Qadafi, (17) Moamar Gaddafi, (18) Mu’ammar Qadhdhafi, (19) Muammar Khaddafi, (20) Muammar al-Khaddafi, (21) Mu’amar al-Kadafi, (22) Muammar Ghaddafy, (23) Muammar Ghadafi, (24) Muammar Ghaddafi, (25) Muamar Kaddafi, (26) Muammar Quathafi, (27) Muammar Gheddafi, (28) Muamar Al-Kaddafi, (29) Moammar Khadafy, (30) Moammar Qudhafi, (31) Mu’ammar al-Qaddafi, (32) Mulazim Awwal Mu’ammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi.
I mean, hey, are we talking a major campaign of Libyan disinformation here or what? Well, I’m not going to fall for it. I say we just call him Duckbreath. It’s short, it’s easy to spell, and Lord knows it satisfies the soul.
In all seriousness, though, what is going on in Libya at the hands of this man is terrible. Leo was right; Gadhafi doesn’t deserve to be recognized as ANYTHING, by the NYT crossword, or otherwise.
Okay, forgive my late night ramblings and West Wing nerd moment.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Drink more water!
I don't understand how people can't like water. It is the best thing for your body. I don't understand how people can't drink 8-10 glasses of it a day without feeling physically terrible.
Drink more water. We have some of, if not the cleanest water in the world. While you're thirsting for a vodka collins, or a Pepsi, some kid in Africa thirsts. Have you ever been dehydrated? I guarantee you've never felt nearly as bad as this kid, who's only quenching comes diseased and dirty.
Nearly one billion people don't have access to clean water. You do and you take it for granted when you brush your teeth, wash your hands, shower, flush away your crap, and ignore the shiny silver tap in your kitchen for a Monster or a Coke.
I encourage you to not eat out for a week, or not buy a movie or cd this week, or stop yourself from entering that clothing store -- and instead use the money to give someone a glass of clean water.
You can donate at these two organizations, browse through and see which one you prefer:
http://globalwaterchallenge.org/home/
but most of all, the next time you step under your shower head, before you turn it on, think about not having access to a shower with clean, hot water, for months.
oh and, drink your daily recommended 8 glasses of water a day. PLEASE -- Do it for the children.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Taking a break from 490
...for a few minutes. Thought I would share these two tidbits from the last few days of readings (All from the 1970s):
[listing different forms of segregation in Northern Ireland] "In a Protestant pub the only Catholic present is likely to be the bartender."
[lists different ways leaders have tried to fill the gap between Protestants and Catholics] "Some other leaders in Northern Ireland mentioned the possibility of chess or bridge to bring the people together. But chess and bridge are not, to any great extent, the pursuits of working class people."
Yeah, and playing a good game of chess is gonna resolve decades of official government sponsored religious and political discrimination. LET'S GET OUR BRIDGE ON AND DISBAND THE IRA.
