The Way Things Go

 My German-wife made this comment, along about the 4th day of 'counting' on the US election.

Typically in Germany, you conduct an election on a Sunday...opening up the door around around 8 AM, and closing it at 6 PM.  Votes are counted, in front of witnesses, and by 7 PM usually....it's done on counting.  The number is called into the local district, and then sent on.

The folks back in the poll station?  They start cleaning up....stacking chairs, and putting the rooms back in order.

Along about 8:30, they finish up....walk over to the local pub....have a beer or cognac (maybe two or three), and then wander home.  I doubt in the past fifty years that anyone has lingered around counting past 8 PM.

So in her mind....there's something wrong if you are still there at midnight, and marginally into 30-percent of the vote so far.  

I assured her....we have computers, and they really speed up the process.  For some reason, she's not really believing my story.