Juxtaposition
The ever left-leaning Guardian, working with other left-leaning newspapers, publishes the results of a poll that show that the Brits think that George Bush is a greater threat to the world than Kim Jong Il.
It exposes high levels of distrust. In Britain, 69% of those questioned say they believe US policy has made the world less safe since 2001, with only 7% thinking action in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased global security.
The finding is mirrored in America's immediate northern and southern neighbours, Canada and Mexico, with 62% of Canadians and 57% of Mexicans saying the world has become more dangerous because of US policy.
Okay, then. Well, let's just put aside any doubts about the veracity of the poll or its methodology (or its release on the eve of an American election). Instead, let's turn around and look at a bit of interesting material just coming out of Britain:
The venerable London Review of Books has published a compendium of the weirdest and funniest advertisements from the eccentric readers who write to its personals column seeking love, sex or simply correspondence with like-minded people.
Long seen as cold fish compared to the torrid Latin lovers of Italy and France, the book, titled "They Call Me Naughty Lola", shows that Britons are not all stiff-upper lip with this collection from the world's strangest lonely hearts section.
"Woman, 32, needful of the finer things in life seeks stinking rich bloke, 80-100," one ad says. "Must be willing to fibrillate his ventricles when he becomes tiresome or bankrupt or both. Also interesting thirtysomethings for illicit, immoral affair to be conducted concurrently with the above."
In a big departure from other personal ads with their coded GSOH (good sense of humour) and promises of good looks and fun, Review readers flaunt their foibles and parade their oddities in a mild-mannered display of that special British madness.
"Medication free after all these years!," says another, apparently from a psychiatric ward. "Join me (anxious, overweight, self-harming flautist, F, 34) for congratulatory drink (or seven) in side ward of nation's finest."
In their search for a soul-mate, men trumpet their flatulence, baldness and kleptomaniac tendencies, sometimes with alarming frankness.
"Bald, short, fat and ugly male, 53 seeks short-sighted woman with tremendous sexual appetite."
One offers to make yours a truly family Christmas.
"Obnoxious, drunkard uncle for hire (62). Belches the national anthem in three octaves, scratches inappropriately and is seemingly never satisfied by your very best efforts. Is dinner ready yet - and if not, why not? December will be magic again at Box no. 5610."
Now we could make some snarky remarks about the British based on the above oddness. But do we really have to?
World news | Gaius Friday, 3 November , 2006
By Dom, Friday, 3 November , 2006 @ 2:01 pm
Yes,
The Guardian never liked bloggers.
The British were stupid enough to go after the Matin, Kofi, and Balirs G8/Live 8 GDP tax, get bombed by terrorists that day while a private security firm was running a test looking for precisely what happened while they were live on the radio in a foreign country , and have Balir double the tax the day after the bombing.
They actually thoght they were working for the Queen, Country, and their Intelligence Service as they were exploding all over London.
By TC@LeatherPenguin, Friday, 3 November , 2006 @ 2:20 pm
Oh, c’mon! English=Limey=Eeegits!
I learned that dandled on my IRA gunrunning grampa’s knee.