Archives for November 2008
The real reality
You might get the stamp in your passport but it’s easy to spend time in a ‘war zone’ and see nothing of the human cost. David Cotterrell’s photos are a blunt reminder of life beyond the blast wall.
Is it time?
By the time you look at this, you’ll probably know. On Venice Beach, CA.
The week in numbers
It’s been a busy week.
Number of flights taken: 5
Number of miles flown: 9,244
Number of times pulled into the Dubai customs office: 1
Number of times feared a cavity search: 0.75
Number of green laser pens held in ‘detention’ for release upon departure: 1
Number of green laser pens returned: 0
Number of toilets in upgraded Intercontinental suite: 3 (of which none were bidets)
Number of articles about Ross and Brand read: 0
Number of conversations about the US election: countless. Is infinity a number?
Number of dollars spent on hotel internet connections (grrr): $152
Number of metres swum in hotel pools: 1,000
Number of good nights of sleep: 0
Number of ruined Roman cities visited: 1
Number of times thought ‘Hmm, Dubai might be a nice place to live’: -3
Number of times thought might die in Beirut traffic: 7
Number of times it was good to be home: 1
Number of hours before I left home again: 36
I’m not looking for sympathy, as I’m lucky to be doing it, but l’ll be glad when this is over. This is not a vacation. 48 hours to go.
Change!
I was going to write some insightful comment about opinion polling and predictions for that US election thing from the viewpoint of a grizzled psephologist, muttering about Bradley and the Tories, but it’s been done to death so I shan’t bother.
Safe to say that, whilst it’s none of my business (although it is important for my business, if you see what I mean), this says it all. Heck, even they‘re backing him.
Fingers crossed, let’s hope it’s not a long night/week/path to the Supreme Court.
