Magic Statistics

Last October, I posted some photos of a house with very unusual yard decorations located at the far end of my street.  Just to refresh your memory, here's one of them. (Click for enlargement.)

If any readers find that appealing and think it would be neat to live in a house like that, you're in luck.  It's for sale for a measly $289,000.

The MLS listing is posted here, with a photo that was taken last week.  Yes, there's still lots of snow on the ground; in fact, several more inches of the white stuff have fallen since then.

The largest in the family of stone figures is visible above the snow, but the little ones are still partially or completely covered up.  The row of animal figures made of brightly coloured stones along the side of the house is also completely covered.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes to unload sell the place.

Previous related post:  The house at the end of my street

Uncertainty and confusion reign in the wake of yesterday’s election in Zimbabwe.  This morning the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) declared victory on the basis of partial returns.  This was done in defiance of a pre-election agreement that no results would be announced until the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was ready to declare a winner.

MDC supporters are overjoyed but, even if President Robert Mugabe and the ruling Zanu-PF party have lost the vote, the outcome remains far from certain.

A party atmosphere of joy and celebration is spreading across this country this afternoon, as the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe are beginning to believe that at last this election has given Robert Mugabe the universal thumbs-down.

Church services have been cut short as people crowd around radios to listen to early unofficial results, almost all of which indicate gains for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, and in particular those candidates allied to the MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

Victory parties may be premature, however.  It is now being reported that military leaders have ordered the ZEC to announce that Mugabe has won.

The MDC US Representatives are reliably informed that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will, within the next 2-4 hours declare Robert Mugabe the victor of Zimbabwe's Presidential election.

The military brass in Zimbabwe met earlier today and decided to instruct the ZEC to declare Mugabe the winner. This is being done despite results showing that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has won a great majority of the parliamentary seats and its Presidential candidate is ahead in the already counted votes by about 68%.

The ZEC was given 2-4 hours to allow the military to deploy in all the major urban areas to crush any potential revolt by Zimbabweans.

Polls closed over 24 hours ago.  The prolonged delay in issuing official results has heightened fears that the fix is in.

Previous related post: Will Mugabe steal the Zimbabwe election?

The collect for today, The First Sunday After Easter, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may alway serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: 1 St John 5:4-12
The Gospel: St John 20:19-23

Artwork: Duccio di Buoninsegna, Christ's appearance behind locked doors (from Back Crowning of The Maestà), 1308-11.  Tempera on wood, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena.