The Fix is In

As one
may expect, tonight’s Miss Universe pageant is a big deal down here.
It is quite
an honor, not to mention a sterling business opportunity, for a two-bit,
third=world country (and we say that with all due respect) to host a
galaxy-wide extravaganza like the Miss Universe.

So it comes as no surprise that the local papers are choking in stories,
profile of the candidates, human interest, background stories, gossipy
descriptions of their public appearances and artificial glimpses into
their private lives. And of course, polls of all sorts, to see who is
"winning".

Interesting results in today’s El Universo.  Side by side, on page
4D (the special Miss Universe section) are two very different polls,
given equal coverage and written in identical breathless-respect-for-science
style. The first is a "personal scientific poll" conducted with some
semblance of validity by an outfit called "Datanalysis" They interviewed
512 individuals, and though the article does not detail how they were
selected, we are given to believe it was somewhat scientific.

Not surprisingly, Miss Ecuador came in first with 31.4% (Susie, as she
is called, is a real looker and will surely be among the finalists, but
won’t win. Ecuador already got its props just hosting) followed by Canada
(18.6%)(Miss Canada is very blond and buxom and is a local favorite)
and then Venezuela (16%) and Miss USA (15%).  American favoritism,
anyone?

However, the other poll, organized by the paper, had very different
methodology and results.  In this case readers were asked to vote,
which they could do via email, over the phone or in a form on the paper’s
web page.

Out of 58,000 votes (as of yesterday, Ecuador was IN SECOND PLACE, with
8,133 votes, followed by Spain (most of the two million Ecuadorians who
have emigrated for economic reasons over the past 10 years went to Spain),
Turkey and Canada. 

But in first place, with THREE TIMES MORE VOTES THAN ECUADOR, was Miss
Thailand! Now, she’s cute (see photo) but we don’t think readers of El
Universo were stunned into submission by Morakot Aimee Kittisara’s raw
beauty.  Rather, we suspect either a well organized campaign in
the Thai press or a well-behaved robot designed by some kid at one of
the many excellent Thai universities.

Anyone wanting to get a slick professionally produced glimpse of what
Ecuador looks like on a good day, tune in to NBC tonight. There is sure
to be some beautiful footage of  Galapagos, the volcanos and the
Colonial architecture, at least.

article from El
Universo (in Spanish)