14 September 2005

Protests create panic buying

Demonstrations over the price of words have been low-key, with small numbers of demonstrators at letter refineries, despite the expectations of ordinary bloggers who have been panic-buying.
Font designers said the campaign was meant to be symbolic and that the government was on the back foot. Word processor companies are admitting that stocks of the letter R became dangerously low on Tuesday because of the two-fold increase in demand, but say that supplies are already back to normal.
"The price of words has risen dramatically over the last two months because of world events," said Jo Narlist, one of the campaign leaders. "Free speech is being drastically limited because of the fight against stupidity and climate change means that we are using up this precious resource too quickly. We want the government to free up some of its massive stock of long words to increase the supply of letters and reduce prices."
Speaking for the government, Mr Gordon Blue, secretary of state for the clear promulgation and understanding of government communication in a straightforward and comprehensible manner, said:
"The public has no need to worry. We have ensured that there will be a plentiful supply of words for all the emergency and security services, and if people do not panic buy, there should be enough for everyone."
However, he admitted that some rationing was already in place. There are strict limitations on the use of the words "blame" and "fault" in the context of stories about the government, for example.