Final Word from Friday, August 7, 2009
John McCain suffered a big blow in the U.S. election when he admitted he didn't know how many residences he owned. The correct answer was apparently eight, and his gaffe showed how completely out of touch he was with the economic concerns of Americans. When MFD asked Marek Dalík how many homes he owns, he had a McCain moment by answering, "Probably about two." If a home is where you hang your hat, Dalík can apparently write off the Tuscany villa, because he won't be going there again. But he's not the only one in a housing pickle. The ČEZ-Škoda-PPF gang (Roman, Beneš, Krska, Korecký, Zapletal, Minx) might have to abandon its enclave in Velké Chuchle if the backlash against ODW (ostentatious displays of wealth) takes the expected trajectory. Perhaps sensing what was to come, Zdeněk Bakala hightailed it to Switzerland, out of rock-throwing range of his angry OKD tenants. Pity all the misunderstood Czech billionaires, alone with their pride in their loveless mansions on the hill.[Czech Republic Hank Williams Plzeň Holding NWR Martin Daniel Tomás Michal Jiří Aleš MF Dnes]
Glossary of difficult words
Mansion on the Hill - a song by Hank Williams;
gaffe - an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator;
home is where you hang your hat - your home is where you are comfortable, not necessarily where you where you were born or raised;
pickle - a difficult or messy situation;
enclave - a secured area; a place that is different in character from what is surrounding it;
backlash - a strong and adverse reaction by a large number of people;
to hightail it - to move or travel fast;
alone with their pride in their loveless mansions on the hill - borrowed from Hank Williams, Mansion on the Hill.