Monday, October 24, 2005

In a way, he is Mr. England

Two observations about this Reuters story on British Foreign Minister Jack Straw's visit to Alabama over the weekend:

1) Straw may have "bemused" many Alabamians -- English accents are rare around here -- but is it really news to report that many of them couldn't name him? You know who else probably couldn't name him? Most of the people in any of the 50 states.

2) It's Alabamian, not Alabaman. And to think that's in a story about people not knowing what to call other people. (Yes, I know the dictionary technically says Alabaman is an acceptable alternate form. But as broadcasting pioneer Stephen Colbert once noted, reference books are high and mighty and not to be trusted.)