Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Conan's Ghost!

I'm behind in my reading of The Economist. Normally, I read it on the bus going to and from school, but lately I've been negligent. In the July 1st issue, there is an article (pg 39-40) about Baluchistan, Pakistan's largest and poorest province.

In a town named Dera Bugti, there stands a castle formerly occupied by Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. The Economist sent a correspondent there, who then had to travel through rough terrain to reach Mr. Bugti for an interview - who apparently speaks flawless English.

To quote The Economist quoting Mr. Bugti:
"What is better than seeing your enemies driven before you and then taking their women to bed?"

Either Mr. Bugti has been watching pirate versions of Hollywood movies, or he's channelling Conan the Barbarian.

Mr. Bugti, you are saying it wrong. It's supposed to be phrased as question-and-answer, and the answer is slightly more complex:
"What is best in life?"

"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!"

I guess in Conan's world, the bedding-the-enemy's-women part comes later.

4 comments:

Carlo said...

Is Mr B. a huge guy wearing nothing but a loincloth and an huge sword? If not, I'm unimpressed.

TheBrummell said...

Mr. B. is apparently about 80 years old. So, probably not.

Anonymous said...

Mr. B is actually Martin. And we all know that.

And you know that in his user pic, he is so totally wearing a loincloth beneath that t-shirt.

His huge sword is off being sharpened.

TheBrummell said...

Loincloths are not appropriate laboratory attire. Neither are chain-mail bikinis, but that's beside the point.

And yes, my huge sword is being sharpened. You must be careful with my very sharp huge sword.