“The Liberal Party today defended its use of pre-recorded phone messages from Prime Minister John Howard, with which it is bombarding households across Australia in the lead-up to polling day.” (n.c.a)
I’m so glad I’m not in the country. Getting one of those calls would probably lead to me destroying my phone in an incandescent rage. I’m not sure whether the American-style recorded message or hearing Johnnie’s voice would annoy me more.

Budapest is beautiful! Far too much to see and do in just a few days,
I’ll have to come back.
We had cake at Gerbeaud’s coffeehouse this morning, I’m about to walk around Pest and go to the Basilica and Matthias Church today, and see the House of Terror museum before the opera at the State Opera house tonight. Tomorrow I’ll walk around Buda, and go to the national museums on Castle Hill. We’re staying in an apartment in the old Jewish Ghetto, very atmospheric area.