Solly as a Rock!!

A Bulgarian woman rated the world’s cleverest wants a British firm to give her a job after spending two years on the dole. Bulgarian Daniela Simidchieva, a mother of three, has five Masters Degrees and an IQ of almost 200. She’s listed by the country’s Mensa office as the world’s cleverest but despite sending off hundreds of applications she still hasn’t found a job. (more)

I won’t draw any conclusions yet, as I am a lot dumber than her…

At the end of this weird, surreal week (murder in the Lowlands, unlogical voting in the US, chaos in Palestina) I think it’s time for something silly. Something to laugh about. The ‘give-Dubya-a-Brain-game‘!!!

No… This can not be true… Not four more years of ´Dubya´…

This is really a crappy, depressing week so far…

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(* fill in the blanks)

I stayed up till 1 AM, hoping to see the results of the US elections. Neck and neck all evening, slight advantage for George, but nothing to worry about just yet. It looked like it was going to be a long night, so I went to bed. When I woke up this morning, I immediately turned on the TV, hoping to see a smiling John Kerry and a depressed George Bush. I did not. “Too close to call” in Ohio, and it seems like it’s gonna take a while to count all votes. However, it looks as if Bush is going to win the elections.

What? How? Why?

Can someone explain to me what the American people see in or know about George Dubya, that we – obviously – just don’t see or get in Europe?

Controversial Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was shot dead this morning.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Controversial Dutch filmmaker and newspaper columnist Theo van Gogh, who made a film about violence against women in Islamic societies, was murdered in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning, police said.

Amsterdam police said Van Gogh had been stabbed and shot in the center of the city. Some Dutch media said Van Gogh had been planning to make a film about anti-immigration populist Pim Fortuyn, who was gunned down by an animal rights activist in May 2002. Van Gogh received death threats after “Submission” was broadcast earlier this year.(more)

I am shocked. Though, he WAS very controversial – he tackled subjects no one dared to burn their fingers on – I never expected this. He had a lot of enemies, received hate mail, death treats, but he laughed all the danger away. He did not want protection of any type. “I live in the Netherlands,” he said, “You can have an opinion here, there’s not censorship, we have freedom of speech!” … I am afraid ‘Freedom of Speech’ died a bit today, too…

update @ 4 PM The killer has dual Dutch and Moroccan nationality. F*ck. I hoped it was ‘just’ an idiot, a psycho. Now the whole brutal killing gets a scary undertone of Islamic extremism (terrorism?)

update @ 6.30 PM Today it is exactly 911 days ago that Pim Fortuyn was murdered… And 11/2 is the Dutch emergency phone number… (coincidence? conspiracy?)

update @ 8 PM 20.000 people gathered at Dam Square in Amsterdam to commemorate Theo van Gogh. Not in silence, but with a lot of noise. A loud tribute to freedom of speech!!!

update @ 7 AM The suspect arrested for the killing of Theo van Gogh had ties with Islamic extremists and was a friend of a terrorist suspect, Dutch newspapers said on Wednesday. (more)

Today is a very important and historical day. As you all might know (if you don´t, you must have been without any media for the past year or so) the people in the US will vote for their next president. It seems to be the closest election ever, though recent polls show a slight advantage for John Kerry. I´m not getting too happy yet, lots of voters will only decide in the voting booth. I just don´t get it. Is the choice so difficult? Why vote for Bush? Why vote for another four years of war about oil? Do the people in the US miss information or do we miss some? If the elections were held here, John Kerry would win with large numbers!

I´m hoping that Florida won´t mess up like in 2000 and that John Kerry becomes the 44rd president of the USA!!!

Running nose, teary eyes, popping ears, sore throat… Oh, oh: It’s common cold time – again…

I’ll be in bed – I already spend the weekend in it – you just keep your distance from the screen – I’m spreading the virus… Atchoo!!! – and read some inspiring poetry.