Outstanding record!

The prize goes to <Sweden>, and thanks for the correction.

That's the second "truth claim" I made in the last few days that was FLAT WRONG.

That I know of...

He'd probably give the thumbs up.

Sadly, the brave new old world got sick of the traditional Hibernian double act, with Logan writing/singing the winning songs and Wogan doing the wry (or is it rye?) commentary. They even have a Gogan on the pop radio here, to complete the set.

- What about us? Your inference of completeness is defamatory, and legal proceedings have been initiated. <Messrs Brogan, Dogan, Hogan, Fogan & Rogan (Josh), Solicitors, Dublin & Mumbai>.

So anyhow they've all been retired to a home for superfluous entertainers, aka 'distressed gentlefolk'. Ireland doesn't even *qualify* for eurovision any more -- a collective punishment for entering a turkey last year -- not a metaphorical turkey, we've had plenty of those, but a 'real' turkey, named Dustin. As real as a papier-mache bird with a strong Dublin accent, anyhow.

These days, Euro-nation is a toss-up between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and whichever former soviet entity Putin wants to reward for good behaviour.

I'm shocked!

Was this Idle Nomad speaking?

I'm glad someone recognises my magnificent omniscience but on this occasion a fellow admirer beat me to the draw. I'd been consigned to internet limbo at the critical moment by the internet demons (which is why I'm here now and not before) and I must own up to the sad fact that on this occasion it wasn't me.

I always think of <Dear Leader> as you- I usually think you are referring to yourself here.

You mean <Kim Jong-il>-

As I did say previously- no actual <South Korean in the street> pays any attention to the Press about <North Korea>.

Not even during actual "incidents."

They've heard it all before and not a single person thinks the North will ever actually invade again.

No serious foreign analyst or political scientist does either.

Something to do with the <American 8th Army, 7th Air force, and 5 nuclear submarines> sitting around playing "Go Stop" since there's nothing else to do.

That's "Korean poker".

I will tell you one example of the "literature" on Korea being actually accurate-

Every kid knows the war isn't over- technically- Do you know the whole story here? It's not just that the War lacks a peace treaty- South Korea didn't even sign the "cease fire" agreement drafted in <Paris>. The kids all know these facts.

Also- you probably know that the North claims all of the peninsula, and so does the South.

This is not a joke- The students don't know the actual name of their own country- <Daehan minguk>- "Republic of Korea."

They only know <Hangook> "KOREA".

So in trivia games, when I ask them (as I did this week actually) "What country is north of South Korea, they say <Russia>.

I pressed them for some time before they finally said

"No teacher only one Korea."

When <North Korea> plays matches, <South Koreans> cheer like crazy for them.

Yes, and as per <Niels'> comment here-

What does the Asian qualifying rounds have to do with <Holland>?

<Holland> has never once NOT qualified- they are a perennial powerhouse team.

Plus they have bright orange jerseys, which is quite "flash" during the games.

Also, <Holland> is in Europe, no?

Ok if you ask a Korean class

"What is the official animal of Canada," you immediately hear thirty people yell "KANGAROO".

Then, if you ask them-

"Where do kangaroos live?"

They say- again in unison: "AUSTRALIA."

Then if you ask them "Is Australia in Canada"?

They all shout "NO!"

Then if you ask them once more

"What is the official animal of Canada?"

They shout in unison "KOALA".

Anyway, what do you get when a scientist cross an elephant with a kangaroo?

//

//

//

(2) I mentioned Holland because, at that point, they were the only European country to have won all their qualifying games, thus making qualification for the finals a certainty. They have since been joined by England. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are hanging grimly on and calculating probabilities. - It's 37.5%, Mick, I tell yeh!
- But only if we beat Italy...
- Sure beatin' Italy is in the bag, man ...
[and so on]

Speaking of which, you still find people who refer to Northern Ireland as a 'failed political entity' and refuse to recognize it. Thankfully, they've mostly stopped setting off bombs to make their point.

I've also heard a version that starts "We all live in a lump of Carragheen". Edible seaweed, apparently (Chondrus Crispus). I haven't personally tried it -- a useful rule of thumb or tongue is that tasty food does not come in 'lumps'. Slices are more genteel.