I found today the website of the guy who is one of the editors at _The Guardian_.
http://www.al-bab.com/arab/language/learn2.htm
I'm fascinated by the manner in which he discusses Arab culture and even give a brief nod to the Jews of the area. He insists on the use of Israeli borders prior to 1967, which I also thought a bit intriguing. At first, it seemed that his use of such was out of respect for his readership... primarily Arabic-speaking and hence Arab Islamic, but on further assessment, it looks obvious again that there is a certain oddity I keep noticing. People are generally partial to either the Arab Muslims or the Jews in the Middle East. I'm curious to know why those who study the cultures respectively are not more balanced in their viewpoints. Plenty of good things to be found in Arab culture as you can see from the al-bab website and plenty of good things to be found in Jewish culture...

I found this to be highly amusing.. a package of imported chinese cookies says in large letters on the front "no sugar! no fat!" in English.

When you flip the bag over and read the other side.. the nutritional content as described in Chinese says 80g of sugar 110g fat.

Far be it for me to say that the Chinese don't understand how to market to an American audience... I just find it amusing that if you're able to read Chinese you'll know that the English labelling is a lie.

I wonder though.. how many other such things are out there on the market.. and how much are American consumers taken in by the ida that if soemthing is in English they can trust it.

I remember once seeing a sign that read "Beware of Dogs" in English and then "it sleeps and looks dead, but isn't" in Spanish. Other funny signs: "Guard may shoot" in English and "caution electricity" in Dutch.

At any rate, English-speakers really should learn other languages. Just in case the rest of the world is putting us on.