Who let the golds out?

The UN has called for an immediate suspension of government-mandated US ethanol production, adding to pressure on Barack Obama to address the food-versus-fuel debate in the run-up to presidential elections. Most US ethanol is made from corn. The dispute over ethanol promotion pits states such as Iowa that benefit from higher corn prices (and in some cases are swing states in the election) against livestock-raising states such as Texas that are helped by lower corn prices. But enough about that, because the Bahamas claimed a first track and field Olympic medal storming to gold in the 4x400m relay ahead of Team USA yesterday. Bahamas anchorman Ramon Miller ran an inspired final leg to overall America's Angelo Taylor and come home in a national record of two minutes 56.72 seconds. This will most certainly be one for the local history books, as will be Usain Bolt's successful defence of his 100m and 200m titles and 19-year-old Kirani James taking home Grenada's first Olympic gold a few days ago. And New Zealand has so far won 5 golds, 3 silvers, and 5 bronzes. Even though we haven't won as many as Australia, we're still ahead of North Korea.