One of the nice things about traveling is that sometimes you have no idea what’s going on, and so when you’re faced with ads and slogans, you have no choice but to take them at face value.

Here in St. Vincent, there are numerous large red signs, sometimes adorned with large looming faces, with a slogan that’s hard to argue with:

Better than what, I have no idea. Than the alternative, I guess. Or better than ULP used to be. Or better than being mauled by a rabid cougar, maybe. But ULP is better, anyhow. By far. All over the island. Three exclamation points.

Turns out ULP is a major political party, and yep, they won the last election. Possibly because they were better. Than being mauled. By far. !!!

Actually, I find this preferable to political marketing in the US. Phrases like “clear skies,” “healthy forests” and “war on terror” actually invert reality, the same way 1950s TV tobacco ads dressed actors as doctors to make smoking look healthy. “Better by far!!!” is so direct, sincere, and inspecific that I find myself feeling almost wistful. If they were also “new and improved,” I believe I could live here happily.

I also love that the ruling political party’s acronym is a word used in cartoons to indicate a sudden realization of doom.

In a lot of countries, that’s damn near truth in advertising.

This baby goat (a goatee?) wandered by.  Closest thing St. Vincent probably has to a pudu, so here:

Yes, granted, this week’s cute mammal is five days late.  But that seems to be how things happen around here. And stuff gets done anyway.

Half-seriously.  We could do worse.

God, I love the intertubes.

1001 Ways To Open A Beer Bottle. Google, one click, and now I’m a happy man.

Thanks to these fine scientists, the chest of drawers in this hotel room just became a remarkably efficient bottle opener, and my Hairoun didn’t get have to get warm.

Two days ago I didn’t even know what a Hairoun was. Turns out it’s a pretty decent beer. Especially if you have a chest of drawers handy.

It’s the simple things in life.

I wish everyone reading this could be sitting here right now.

You’d have to get your own beer and furniture, though.

The most validating sign I’ve seen in a long time:

There should be signs saying this on every street corner in the world.

Bowler James Anderson of England leaps for joy — or, possibly, just to block umpire Rudi Koertzen’s face from the camera.

And yes, both England and Bermuda dress like Domino’s Pizza delivery people.

Not really Freddie and Monty, although some kids had fun pretending: