Quickies

I have been busy lately, but do not wish to completely neglect the blogs, so here are a few tidbits...

• The latest Technology podcast from the Guardian interviewed some judges from Young Rewired State, a week long hackathon for British kids. One of the programs that will be developed is animalympics - a cross matching program between the UK Olympic games team and the London Zoo animals. Essentially it answers the questions 'if you were an animal, which would you be?' for each athlete/or animal, using some statistical algorithm correlating data on the participants.
  
  As I was listening, two things came to mind. First, for humanity's sake, let's hope we do not get too many stereotype choices for the weasels, asses, lions and monkeys. Second, wouldn't it be so much better to cross match the current and past Members of Parliament with the London Zoo animals? If nothing else, matching them with animals would be so much easier. We can also try international politicians (George W. Bush the Chimpanzee, Blair the Poodle, anyone.), singers or actors.
  
  
• Poor Shelly does not have enough money and would like to extract some more from Jewish Democrats (according to the Washington Post). Reminds me of the Russian / Chinese saying 'when the crocodile is crying, it means he is hungry'. Shelly deserves a full blog entry (though maybe one should shut up less Shelly will sue individual bloggers to protect his impeccable character). If and when I find the time, I might oblige.
  
  
• Looks like both Democrats and Republicans are engaging in a race to the bottom. There is a saying that one shouldn't mud-wrestle a pig, because sooner or later you realize the pig actually enjoys it. It now seems both pigs are having a good time - and getting money for reality-show style entertainment...