The VP proves his regular-guy bona fides
Vice President Biden was in Denver yesterday, with President Obama, helping to promote the stimulus package, which includes subsidies for companies pursuing "green" technologies. Part of his job was to introduce Blake Jones, the CEO of Namaste Solar Electric, which makes solar-powered heating systems for homes and businesses.
"Namaste," pronounced NAH-meh-stay, is a Sanskrit term often spoken at the beginning and end of yoga classes. It means, "I bow to you." Despite joking in his remarks that he'd carefully practiced the pronunciation of a word that clearly vexed him, Biden, sure enough, went ahead and botched the company's name. (He stressed the second syllable, not the first, and generally flailed around. See roughly the 13:00 mark on this video.) That opened the door for the CEO to respond, when he took the mike, "Thank you, Vice President 'Bidden.'"
It's probably a good thing, politically speaking, that Biden has never seen the inside of a yoga studio. (See also, under "elitist pastimes," windsurfing.) But there does seem to be something vaguely symbolic, even hopeful, in his gaffe. It would once be safely assumed that a solar-heating enthusiast would be acquainted with the yogic vernacular (along with, say, how to power your VW using Canola). No longer. That's evidence of progress in the mainstreaming of alternative-energy, if a challenge for Namaste Solar Electric.
(Via Best of Both Worlds)
