8 - Orono Weekly Times Wednesday, June 21, 2006 Basic Black by Arthur Black The late, great Noel Coward wrote many witty and memorable lines, but perhaps his most famous contribution contribution was this: Mad dogs and Englishmen Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun. I'm not sure that it marks a great leap forward forward for humankind, but it looks like 44 million Spaniards may be about to join those batty Brits and crazed canines. The Spanish government is officially abolishing the siesta. Siesta. A beautiful word for a beautiful concept. concept. It comes from, hora In praise of the siesta siesta, or 'sixth hour', referring to the number of hours after dawn when it seems like a good idea to get out of the potato patch, turn off the cement mixer, abandon abandon the Toro mower and get your carcass out of the broiling sun and into some nice cool shade. It's just a sensible break, not the end of the working working day. The workers return refreshed to their jobs for a couple of hours in the cooler temperatures temperatures of the evening. The Spanish didn't invent the siesta---they swiped it from Portugal - but they enthusiastically exported it to grateful nations around the world. Mexicans embrace embrace the siesta concept, as do most Central and South American countries countries as well as the Philippines. Indeed, any country where the mercury mercury routinely soars into the 40's in the early afternoon usually ob- . serves some variation of the siesta. Most folks in China, Taiwan and southern India also make it a point to pull down the shades just after lunch. Not that the Spanish siesta is all about sleeping--it's sleeping--it's more about family. For untold generations, generations, Spaniards have retired to their homes for a mid-afternoon break to be with their loved ones, eat a hearty lunch, drink some vino and... what have you. The siesta is healthful, life-affirming and pleasant. So naturally naturally the Spanish government government wants to get rid of it. Because it's frightfully frightfully unproductive, don't you see? All those citizens citizens enjoying themselves themselves at home when they could be down at the factory cranking out widgets, sweating over hay bales out in the south forty or filling out purchase orders in quin- tuplicate back at the office. Let's face it. The siesta siesta is an anachronism. A throwback to ancient times when people lived for themselves, not for the clock on the wall. Classified Business Directory Yours for only $7.09 per week! (all 983-5301 Pro Painting Why Wait... Book pur spring projects now! Excellent Rates ~ 905-983-5761 Clifford Francis Fine Finishes by T. 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Spain is a member of the European Common Market--and how's that going to work if an olive oil importer in Düsseldorf Düsseldorf calls Malaga to place an order and all he gets is a busy signal because Senor Malaga has his phone off the hook so it doesn't interrupt interrupt his siesta? Well, no more. Under a new law, federal federal employees are obliged to take no more than 45 minutes for lunch - and to leave the office for the day no later than 6 PM. Will it work? I have my doubts. The law was passed in Januaty, when afternoon temperatures are chilly, even downright downright frigid in Spain. We'll see how many Spaniards think working through the afternoon is a good idea once torrid summer weather sets in. As a Luddite and a romantic, I hope the initiative initiative fails miserably. Why should Spain be like Belgium and Denmark Denmark and Latvia, all in the name of economic harmonization? German marks and Dutch pfennigs, pfennigs, French francs and Spanish pesetas are already currency history, replaced by the dreary, ubiquitous Euro. Sure, it's easier to figure out what you're paying for a product in Europe now - but it's a- whole .lot blander. L guess this is the Global Village Marshall McLuhan prophesied. No doubt one day Toronto will be just like Toledo and Madrid will be indistinguishable from Moncton. It's already happening. happening. I spent some time in a town called Almunecar on Spain's Costa del Sol this past winter. Overall, the town is unremarkable, unremarkable, except for one section section Î discovered by accident. It's a labyrinthine labyrinthine warren of twisting cobbled streets that follow follow no pattern, curving back, even bisecting themselves at times. The streets meander crazily, opening up on unexpected plazas, tiny hidden cafes and ancient churches. It's the Old Town, originally settled by Phoenicians more than two thousand years ago. It's impossible not to get lost in the Old Town, but it's not very scary because it's not very big. Sooner or later, you'll run into something . familiar. Too familiar, actually. After stumbling along one corkscrew alley for a while I suddenly came to an opening. • It was a mini-mall. A nest of shops selling Timex watches, Nike running shoes, Levis, Janzten swimwear and Paula Abdul CDs. On the plus side, I couldn't buy any of it. It was two in the afternoon and the shops were all closed. Siesta, don't you know. CARD OF THANKS From the family of the late Fern Foster We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our relatives, friends and neighbours,who have supported supported us in the past few weeks. Our sincere appreciation for all of the cards, floral arrangements, memorial donations, phone calls, visits and food. They, will not be forgotten. Thank you to the Orono Fire Dept, paramedics and staff of surgery at Lakeridge Health Bowmanville. Sincere thanks to Cory, Amy and staff at Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home whose guidance and help was very much appreciated; Thank you to Rev. Bryan Ransom for all his words of comfort and support and to the Kendal U.C.W. for an excellent luncheon after the service. Sincerely, Jane and Ralph Kennedy and family 21ap Vtm a ft î? v * ^ MgsimMSm