"Oftentimes, publishers or editors are forced to back-back on something published or broadcast. Why? Because of some error, some slip-up, which, mysteriously, took place twixt the originator of a story item and the print room and which results in the wrong headline, caption, spelling appearing in what is seen -or heard- by the intended audience.
Most of those oftentimes, rather than pinpointing the culpable human, these publishers or editors seek refuge from punishment by explaining away the whatever blooper as having been conjured by an invisible imp. Whom, aptly, they insist is "The Printer's Devil". Whatever!.."
Now, today, December 1, 2008, I read where the Trinidad Newsday says that:
"PRIME Minister Manning last night promised to spear the nation cuts in salaries, pensions and social assistance grants, even as he unveiled a $4.5 billion Bud-get cut, calling on citizens to work harder and “save wherever possible” in the face of the global economic crisis..." ("PM: Work harder and save more" by Andre Bagoo.)
To "spear"??!! "Spear"?? As in, "Pierce with a long, sharply-pointed shaft"?
At first I was tempted again to berate the Printer's Devil for yet another of his shenanigans. But, on tempered reflection, I mused, "Maybe "spear" is what was really meant to be said?" For, assessing the man from his record, I suspect his true intention is to shaft those who depend on such sources of income?
Hope we don't have to await the jury's on-the-face-of-it- scheduled return to know the true interpretation.
