Doin' It Down Under Too, Mate

A shout out to all the VoterVirgins down under as they head to the polls in Australia. The Aussie election is in some ways eerily similar to the impending US election. Prime Minister John Howard, a conservative and staunch ally of Bush in the War on Iraq, is neck in neck in the polls with his just left of center opponent, Mark Latham. Political tension and rhetoric are high with two very different choices being presented to voters. The big difference is that Australians are required to vote (or face fines/ jail time) and votes are ranked by preference to provide an instant run off. So, all you brand new Australian VoterVirgins, even though you are required to do it, we salute you!

BIRDS & BEES: Skin makes us grin: Study by Australian professor finds that pornography makes most people happy.

HOLLYWOOD: Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery: Anti Michael Moore film "Farenhype 911" hits video stores.

JOCKS: No love here: Mayor of Warsaw wants to ban World Sex Championships from coming to town.

TECHNOLOGY: Living in the connected world: How to communicate better with your roommates.

TUNES: Good to be in DC: Those wacky pranksters at JibJab are at it again with the political parody songs.

WEB SURF: The animal kingdom is one big choir: Everybody loves the never-ending llama song.

Hey You! Haiku? Think you might be a cunning linguist? Register for the VoterVirgin Class of '04 and practice that 5/7/5 for a little election season wordsmithing contest. Details on Monday!