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The Crew of the Powell To The People 2001 Expedition put their brilliant minds together, while tucked in their sleeping bags and staring at the stars and rocks hanging high above, to come up with what might be the most efficient use of the alphabet in the history of mankind.

A New Alphabet

a - keep it, it's quite useful
b - no need for it - "b" sounds a lot like "p", so they'll be combined
c - no need for it - substitute "s" and "k"
d - seems redundant - substitute a "th" and speak with the proper emphasis
e - it's a good letter
f - what a waste, substitute "ph"
g - yes it is a required letter
h - this also serves a purpose
i - it is useful
j - seems like it's just one too many letters - substitute "g" and speak with the emphasis needed
k - very much needed
l - required
m - why bother "n" will do perfectly
n - excellent letter
o - very useful
p - a foundation letter
q - really serves no purpose - use "k" as a substitute
r - seems too good a letter to omit
s - one of the best letters there are
t - essential
u - come on, what real purpose does this serve? Substitute "oo"
v - so redundant...combine it with "b" and use "p" as a substitute
w - this letter has an excellent shape, so we'll keep it
x - now, really...
y - there's just too many letters left, we'll be multilingual and borrow the "ll" from the Spanish spelling for this substitute
z - although it is a fine letter, it is useless. Substitute "s"

Bruce, one of the brilliant minds who contributed major input to the creation of this New Alphabet, wrote a fine example of its use in a letter to John. An exact quotation follows;

hi goohn
this is a test oph owr new alphpet, I hope llo kan reath it. As an ath I wil rite it phor llo.
aeghiklnoprstw

PNkK
(BMcC)

As anyone can see, the efficiency of this New Alphabet is obvious - from 26 letters trimmed down to only 14 - think of what an effect this could have on the future of the English language, and the World!

The Captain, although not a direct contributor to this fine New Alphabet, obviously would appreciate the amazing efficiency of it. Perhaps, even subliminally, we were inspired to create this New Alphabet from witnessing his own originality and efficiency. This theory was postulated based on the following evidence as one example; The image below is an unretouched photograph of an original document which The Captain composed during the Expedition:

This contest was organized by Bruce and the poems were made from a collection of magnetic words.

A prince may sparkle
but a frog may sing with kindness,
as a kite can be elegant
but sink in the sky
or ugly but float high on the wind

by Timothy McCarthy

Once on our elegant water home,
I sit and think of a poem.
the fish jump and make a splash
we go into a big crevasse

by Prescott McCarthy

The narrow blue ribbon snakes slowly
through milk and sand canyons
we follow;
sandstone cliffs rise,
bridging the arch of the sky.
Anasazi ruins sleep quietly
and secret Moki steps entice
climbing under sage brush mesas.
the moon shakes rainbow spray
across the supreme purple calm.
a multitude of flowers
play happ-I-ly
in the vast surround of sky.

by Charlotte Yeomans

Captain smiles
while his good crew
flings off tall rocks

by Nancy Nordstrand

Come together
gentle crew
lured from
your narrow shell.
climb where stones
entice the moon
in purple glow
and paint the sky
water color blue.
if you can fly,
smirk and rise,
or if we sink,
oh well.

by Karthy McCathy

To be a happy lollypop
or a special taco
alive in a black hamburger world
I presume
is because of a supremely wild
and seriously ungood GPS plan

by John Nordstrand

Red walls and golden sand
green green water and yellow sun
good friends and family
make summer fun

by Eleanor McCarthy

Friends good to stay
they picture I like
mom is alive well
Eleanor glad and wild
captain their crew choose
should a prince special is

Paul

Kathy's translation of Paul's poem:

Good friends we will stay
like a picture they.
Mom is alive & well,
Eleanor - glad & wild.
crew should choose a special prince,
their Captain.

Copyright © 2001, Committee For Powell To The People 
Revised : November 17, 2001	Webmaster: cougarmt@nwlink.com