As we run to the store for a six-pack prepare for tonight’s Oval Office speech, comes news from across the pond that their goalie still sucks one of their Great Leaders has been airbrushed:

In the well-known original image, Churchill makes a “V” shaped symbol with his fingers — while gripping a cigar in the corner of his mouth.

But in a reproduction of the picture, hanging over the main entrance to a London museum celebrating the wartime leader, he has been made into a non-smoker through the use of image-altering techniques.

It is unclear who is responsible for doctoring the photograph, with the museum — The Winston Churchill’s Britain at War Experience — claiming not to have noticed the cigar was missing.

We suspect Smokin’ Barry of swiping the stogy.

Winston Churchill’s cigar airbrushed from picture [Telegraph UK]

“7.52pm Applause and Cheers: Gordon Brown arrives at Labour Party headquarters to applause and cheers from staff and political figures there. He produces an actual smile — not the rictus grin to which we’ve become accustomed.” [Times UK]

Get out of the way, apparently: “Gordon Brown has said he is stepping down as Labour Party leader — as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government. Mr Brown, prime minister since 2007, said he hoped a successor as Labour leader would be in place by September.” [BBC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FFTx6AKmU

It’s Election Night for British Bigots, and rather than pretend we know anything, we’ll just kick you over to the Beeb for the latest results. At post time, Labour has a single seat, with just 649 to go.

Election 2010 [BBC]

Gentlemen, start your engines — the London Sperm Bank is in desperate need of, um, deposits:

The bank is looking to answer the British Fertility Society’s call for clinics to invest in dedicated recruitment programmes to address a national shortage of donors.

As a result, the Colchester consultancy was tasked with designing a brand identity as well as a dedicated website which raises awareness of the banks role within the wider community.

Yes, the new logo certainly raises our, uh, awareness. Can we get that on custom checks?

London Sperm Bank brand designed by Silk Pearce [The Drum, via Daring Fireball]

London Sperm Bank

You know that moment when you’re just waking up, but your mind hasn’t yet plugged into the Matrix of the reality chosen for us by our Robot Overlords?

Washington refused to endorse British claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands yesterday as the diplomatic row over oil drilling in the South Atlantic intensified in London, Buenos Aires and at the UN.

We had one of those today.

US refuses to endorse British sovereignty in Falklands oil dispute [BBC]

Dick Armey, October 23:

Coming to Mr. Hoffman’s defense, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, who accompanied the candidate on a campaign swing, dismissed regional concerns as “parochial” issues that would not determine the outcome of the election.

Dick Armey, Wednesday:

“The fact of the matter is, he didn’t pay enough attention to the local concerns, and they were able to tag him as being unaware of the local needs and concerns,” Armey said.

Lesson: If you’re gonna whore yourself to Teabaggers, get the money up front.

Armey throws Hoffman under the bus: ‘He didn’t pay enough attention to the local concerns.’ [Think Progress]