"Curse be upon your mustache" & Lost in the Translation

Earlier this month, Iraqi vice president Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri made headlines when, at the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Qatar, he clashed with Sheik Mohammed Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, the Kuwaiti foreign minister. Responding to an inaudible remark made by the Kuwaiti, al-Douri shouted, "Shut up, you monkey. Curse be upon your mustache."

Such incidents point to the importance that Iraqi leaders give to facial hair and pose the question: Will Saddam's Stalinesque lip-warmer suffer the same fate as Adoph's Chaplinesque moustache? And, if so, will prominent patriots, including some well-known Portlanders, require a makeover?

See if you can pick out Saddam's secret 'stache from those of Oregonian columnist Steve Duin, City Commissioner Randy Leonard, state Sen. John Minnis and a prominent star of the silver screen.

a. Randy Leonard

b. Saddam Hussein

c. Dabney Coleman

d. John Minnis

e. Steve Duin

Answers: 1=C, 2=A, 3=B, 4=E, 5=D

Lost in the Translation

George W. Bush has a knack for, as they say in Texas, tellin' it like it is. But how does this plain-speakin' world leader come across in Europe? Well, without the aid of professional translators, it's a bit rough. Here's what happens when you run his comments from last week through a online translation service, first into French, then German and back to English.

Original Flavor Bush:
The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a deep hatred of Americans and our friends, and it has aided, trained and harbored terrorists, including operatives of al Qaeda. The United States and other nations...will do everything to defeat it. Instead of drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course toward safety.

International Bush:
The regime has a carefree aggressions history in the middle east. It has a deep hate of the Americans and our friends, and it qualified and accommodated, including employees of aluminium Qaeda simplified those terrorist. The United States and other nations will detach...everything for to make. Instead of the length toward the tragedy to derive we will set a course toward security.

WWeek 2015