Anglophile

I’ve always been an unabashed Anglophile. My one trip to England was on my honeymoon, 18 years ago, but I started dreaming of that kingdom decades before. On my first visit to the ocean, when I was four, I looked across the blue-grey swells of the Atlantic and thought: England is on the other side.

The small countries of the British Isles—Scotland and England, Wales and Ireland and Cornwall—were the land where stories happened. I never made the mistake of thinking they were the Fortunate Isles, where nothing bad could befall, but they represented history, literature, continuity, a world where I might conceivably belong. British writers seemed to share my powerful sense of place, and both learning and nature were valued there.

These days I’m less of a rank sentimentalist, but I still have a weakness for things British, from scones to accents. I’d love to go back and spend more time there. And this makes all the more disturbing my instinctive reaction when I saw Pirates of the Caribbean. It didn’t matter that I’m a lifelong Anglophile. When I spotted the redcoats, all my insurgent Minuteman tendencies rose up and cried “Enemy!”

Does it matter? I’m not about to go out and beat up a wandering Brit for the sins of mad King George, who didn’t even have a British accent. (His native tongue was German.) But it does matter when I think about the ancient rivalries everywhere else. If a well-educated pacifist Anglophile can still respond that way, what hope do we have to heal any of the thousand feuds and conflicts in the world?

Oh, All Right, I Will Talk about the Governor’s Race

Or, rather, I will quote other people being witty about Ahnold. This is from Omaha.com.

Rise of the political machines

There’s no truth to the rumor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Warren Buffett will be starring in “Twins II: the Sequel.” But Hollywood’s “Terminator” and the “Oracle of Omaha” are now partners in politics. Buffett is a financial and economic adviser to the action movie king’s campaign for governor of California. The two have things in common, including both having screen credits (what, you forgot Buffett’s cameos on the soap “All My Children”?), as well as sharp differences. Here’s a guide to Hollywood’s hottest new couple.

Arnold and Warren: the new odd couple

Arnold: Has great pecs. Warren: Picks great stocks.

Arnold: Legions of fans flock to his movies. Warren: Legions of fans flock to his annual meetings.

Arnold: Promotes physical fitness. Warren: Promotes fiscal fitness.

Arnold: Bodybuilder. Warren: Empire builder.

Arnold: Eats power bars. Warren: Eats Dilly Bars.

Arnold: Causes catastrophic damage. Warren: Insures against catastrophic damage.

Arnold: Rocked summer filmgoers in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” Warren: Rocked California homeowners with views on Proposition 13.

Arnold: Million-dollar body. Warren: 50-cent haircut.

Arnold: Was paid $30 million to make “Terminator 3.” Warren: Is paid $100,000 to run Berkshire.

Arnold: Once Mr. Universe. Warren: Owns the universe.

Arnold: Married into American royalty. Warren: Owns a part of the Omaha Royals.

Arnold: Played an unpredictable cyborg. Warren: Stayed away from unpredictable techie stocks.

Warren: Sees the future. Arnold: From the future.

Arnold: Likes the Golden Gate Bridge. Warren: Likes to play bridge with Gates (Bill, that is). Warren: Golden Midas Arnold: Bronze Adonis

Warren: Owns General Re Arnold: Thinks General Re is a movie villain

Arnold: Conan the Barbarian. Warren: Buffett the Septuagenarian.

Arnold: It’s the reel thing! Warren: It’s the real thing!

Arnold: Starred with Jim Belushi in “Red Heat.” Warren: Goes to Gorat’s for red meat.

Arnold: Is beefcake. Warren: Eats beef steak.

Arnold: Sweats a lot in workouts. Warren: Wears a lot of old sweaters.

QUOTE:

Arnold’s wisdom: “Hasta la vista, baby.”" (“Terminator 2″).

Warren’s wisdom: “When acquisition costs are similar, we would much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that is not reportable by us under standard accounting principles than to purchase $1 of earnings that is reportable.”

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Here’s another great Page Not Found.