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Eurovision punters are on a rollercoaster ride – politicalbetting.com
Eurovision punters are on a rollercoaster ride – politicalbetting.com
Ever since the Russian invasion I’ve been asked several time by friends and family if there is betting on the outcome. Quite rightly: There is not. However, while I appreciate some people might find even this column too close to the line, I want to discuss Eurovision 2022.
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https://twitter.com/lewis_baston/status/1499708225951784962?s=21
From BBC
Russia must not take advantage of an agreed humanitarian corridor to advance its troops, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has warned.
That's like betting on Brazil for the World Cup when it may be their full side.
Or possibly the Third XI from a plastics factory in Recife.
Putin's disgraceful invasion has unfortunately also shone the spotlight on the west. Why, for instance, are we so sure that Putin is a war criminal whilst Tony Blair isn't? But leaving aside that favourite trope of the Left, this article in the Telegraph makes for some very sobering reading. I suggest we all read it:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/history-politics-mercenaries-many-african-nations-quietly-standing/
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-haas-to-part-ways-with-nikita-mazepin-with-immediate-effect.nmmqyclyJjFNkPJjQyiyF.html
Edited extra bit: also, his billionaire dad's firm isn't the main sponsor, which does raise a serious financial question mark, one would've thought. The whole reason Haas had the spinning oaf as a driver was for the cash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHAY_OVN_gY
EDIT: Damn, beaten to it by nanoseconds.....
An African country weighing in might have future opportunity costs as the country looks for competing offers of aid-for-influence, and I imagine the pressure on the leadership from the general population to take a stand is precisely zero.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=song+from+ukraine+bayraktar&docid=20694653015071&mid=47F1901028549DDD76BC47F1901028549DDD76BC&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Arcade. Fuego. Even Toy. I'm not saying any of them will go down in history, but they were all songs which if you heard they had charted at the top one week you wouldn't be shocked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVMcgWhg
But one where Gavin Williamson had a monocycle crash on screen would come quite close for LOLs.
Come ride with me
Through the veins of history,
I'll show you how God
Falls asleep on the job
And how can we win,
When fools can be kings?
Don't waste your time
Or time will, waste, you...
No one's gonna take me alive
Time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive
They don't make them like that anymore though.
We send James Newman, a songwriter more than a singer with a career high single of 23rd in the UK charts to sing a song he frankly sounded off-key in every performance. And then we complain about Eurovision bias for our poor results. We are at least as much to blame for sending crap!
Our House (Is Gone) - Madness
[Musical interlude]
It was 2016.
https://youtu.be/VJ920cN2HmA
Eurovision is harmless fun. The voting is nonsense, so just revel in the compression and eccentricity. Our problem is trying too hard, and taking it too seriously, and Iraq and Brexit of course.
Meanwhile, India is abstaining coz their PM is an arsehole.
I long ago gave up trying to understand Martin Baxter’s methodology. All I know is that the man is a wizard and a living legend. Doubt his maths at your peril.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4LybGX1d2YvaFIHB3VAxXx?si=3zEEOkoBRZC1-V1N1LArHA&utm_source=copy-link
It's an event I hate and I don't recall ever betting on it, but don't you just lay the favorites?
I liked the entry, but it is worth remembering some of the lyrics from the song, called 'Shine', as I think Putin must listen to it on loop.
Living on the edge
Closer to the crime
Cross the line a step at a time
Now maybe there's a place
Maybe there's a time
Maybe there's a day you'll be mine
As John Oliver put it, that chorus is essentially an anthem to annexation.
In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mister Krushchev said, "We will bury you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It'd be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly on common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the president?
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie we don't believe anymore
Mister Reagan says, "We will protect you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
But what might save us, me and you
Is if the Russians love their children too
Sumner/Prokofieff
Also, the way results are now ordered they know the final result before they start asking the countries to report - so they order the countries to make it look more interesting. This means laying the favourite in-play has been profitable every year since they started that system.
BBC:A ceasefire agreed between Russia and Ukraine to allow civilians to leave the city of Mariupol is not being fully observed, according to the city council.
In a message posted on Telegram, the council said that fighting was taking place in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is where the humanitarian corridor ends.
Since he very much likes music and plays a bit himself I will pass on your helpful information. I imagine it will make his mind up for him.
Nej tack.
2001 Results: Dr Death and the Tooth Fairy.
"Cross your fingers, we are in this together - fans"
Now let's call .... the Netherlands".
(Strewth !)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9696cd3CN0
There are some things I won't do for money.
In Melitopol a large pro Ukraine protest advances towards soldiers firing over their head.
https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1500026068782178304
In Kherson the main town square is filled to the brim by a pro-Ukraine protest, despite Russians firing warning shots.
https://twitter.com/VALERIEinNYT/status/1500055776534179840
He might just do it.
It is Jill Biden's middle name. Which is incongruous in a UK setting.
I used to have a similar attitude to the Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
I know what you mean about the x-Country though. It's a bit of a 'novelty' event, entertaining mainly for seeing how many jockeys get lost and go the wrong way.
I wonder if what looks ever more like a huge military, economic, and strategic disaster for Russia is a product of a category error by Putin, who failed to appreciate what type of Russian military action he was starting. (A thread – apologies for the length.)
https://twitter.com/ruth_deyermond/status/1499862127322046465?s=21
Much been happening these past few weeks lol?
I got properly hooked on the X Factor because of sofabet. I even managed to win some money! What did for the programme was when they bought in an app giving people five free votes (so people could split their votes). That gave the powers that be far too much info and it became incredibly predictable (good for odds-on punters, but not my cup of tea).
But Eurovision was Daniel’s big passion. I think he actually got accreditation to attend in a formal role! I think he made a lot of money when they brought in the semi finals. It was something like he backed Armenia based on the draw and their diaspora being able to vote in that semi final.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Miller
But as an aside, according to Wiki he was given a girl's name as the midwife was convinced he would be a she.