Michael Schumacher is being kept alive by a machine so Barack Obama can attend his funeral. That was one of the things I learned when TLA and Bento joined me on a two-pub crawl in Maylands. First to the crack action and jugs at The Pen. A regular knew what was going on: “It takes six months to plan these funerals where world leaders attend. They kept Nelson Mandela alive until everything was ready: they’re doing the same with Schumacher.” Then we walked across the line to Swallow. Over an electric harp and expensive lager was discussion of cinquains, R-codes, and Senate preference deals. Choose wisely.