Hmm, a horse won the Melbourne Cup LOL. Lots of people took time off work to get drunk on champers too early in the day for real drinking, and Queensland alone put in over $21 million worth of bets. For some reason I just didn't get Cup fever this year - maybe because in my mind the race is either at the end of the day (5pm back home) or to be listened to or watched in the middle of the night on the other side of the globe. Put me where it is really happening and the aura goes I guess.
Also remember the couple of times I have been to racetracks and hmm nah, I'm not a racetrack person at all LOL. Too much easy money and alcohol around at the same time, no thanks - when they brought in no smoking in the TABs back home and started sports non horse or greyhound racing betting, that was a big leap forward :) Of course, this from a guy who gambles only what I can afford to lose...
Some good, common sense news from the dwindling election campaign - in Ohio at least, judges have said it is illegal for the political parties to challenge/harrass people they 'don't think' are eligible to vote. New Hampshire has already started to vote apparently - in twenty four hours we should have SOME idea of how this 'Armaggedon' election has gone.
Not even gonna say anything today about the situation in Iraq with fighting in Ramadi, Fallujah and terrorism in central Baghdad. If only the soldiers and Iraqis over there could just take a break from it as well, I'm sure they would be pleased.
OK, one last election article - this effort by Gary Younge of the Guardian, saying that it's not about stem cells or Iraq or abortion or gay marriage, but is simply a referendum on Dubya. Like this quote from the article, from shall we say the Michael Moore wing of the Dem party LOL -
'"If they put up a vacuum cleaner against Bush we'd vote for it and just ask them to change the bag every now and then," quipped Gene Lyons, a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. '
As well as the Melbourne Cup and the US election, this article shows that there is other life in the world away from 120 million votes and lots of gambling. Not quite the light relief that I was looking for, but on the way there maybe :) Selected paragraphs -
'* The new Christmas stamps arrive. The launch of Royal Mail's new range of festive postage, designed by Raymond "The Snowman" Briggs, clashes unfortunately with news of their plans to close half the post offices in the UK, but they're really, really nice.
* A number of birthdays are being overshadowed by the US presidential elections, including those of kd lang, Keith Emerson, Samantha Janus, Lord Sainsbury, the guy from Right Said Fred and Stefanie Powers. According to a website which specialises in the birthdays of fictional characters, November 2 is also the Cookie Monster's birthday.
* The first feature film to come out of Iraq since 1979 is being premiered at the BFI London Film Festival. Judging by the title, we'd have to guess that it's about the Bush administration's optimistic schedule for the invading, destroying and rebuilding of Iraq. It's called Turtles Can Fly.
* It is safe to assume that no matter what day it is, somebody somewhere will attempt to set a pointless world record by creating a gigantic version of a common foodstuff. Today is certainly no exception: the world's biggest onion bhaji is currently being formed at the Guru Nanak Community Centre in Bromwich.
* The Big Lottery Fund is 10 years old today, and to mark its anniversary it has arranged for - wait for it - the world's biggest onion bhaji to be constructed in Bromwich! You can buy your scratchcard safe in the knowledge that the money is well spent.
* The Queen and Prince Philip are making a State visit to Germany, which is sure to provoke a load of tired, unfunny jokes about freeloading immigrants finally being sent back where they belong. Remember: you heard one here first.
* Today two American states celebrate the anniversary of their admission to the Union, which means a whole load of people have been saved the trouble of putting out their American flags twice, although these days most folks fly them year round to show just how much they hate France. The first is North Dakota, which became the 39th state on November 2, 1889. Can you guess the other one?
* Yes, it's South Dakota. In fact, nobody knows which state signed on first. Sticklers from either state will fly a flag with 43 stars on it, the model officially adopted on July 4 1890, which included five new stars for North and South Dakota, Montana, Washington and Idaho and became obsolete six days later when Wyoming joined up. They were heady times.
* The Home Office is expected to deport a mentally ill immigrant detainee named Bonnett Mbombila back to the Congo today, even though he cannot get the medication he requires in his home country. You have to admit, it's a very good day to bury bad news. '
Oh, remembering back to the Iowa primaries, and Howard Dean self destructing, sooooooooo funny LOL. Take an election quiz here :)
Oh gods, remember me saying earlier in this entry about common sense not harrassing voters, well according to an early NYT story, it's been reversed grrr.
Just going to find a nice pic to post to soothe the mind - I get the feeling tomorrow will be frantic...
Pauly
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