The Simpsons has a track record when it comes to predicting the future. The animated series correctly foresaw a Donald Trump presidency way back in 2000, not to mention a number of Super Bowl outcomes and Fifa corruption scandals over the years.
With an archive of 32 seasons and almost 700 episodes, writers were bound to strike right every so often, but recent political news has seen them land closer than ever. The show appears to have predicted Kamala Harris and Joe Biden as running mates, and also Vice President Harris's inauguration day outfit – even down to the accessories.
In an episode that premiered in March 2000, Bart to the Future, Lisa Simpson is the newly elected president.
As she tackles her first speech, she is wearing an outfit that's remarkably similar to Vice President Harris's Inauguration Day look, which featured a purple coat by Christopher John Rogers over a purple top by Sergio Hudson, paired with a pearl necklace.
Incidentally, it's the same episode that predicted a Trump presidency.
In the Oval Office, Lisa is seen speaking to advisers, when she says: "We inherited quite the budget crunch from President Trump."
In 2016, when Trump was elected, the self-referencing show's recurring chalkboard joke read, "Being right sucks," a week after the election.
Meena Harris, the vice president's niece, included the apparent prediction in her round-up of "things [she's] still not over" on Instagram, along with Harris's double fist bump with former president Barack Obama at the inauguration, and Michelle Obama pointing at the vice president.
However, that is not the only prediction the show seems to have made when it comes to the new administration.
This week, The Simpsons animator and director David Silverman brought attention to another apparent political prediction.
The West Wing Story song was posted online in August 2019 – a spoof of the song from West Side Story – and shows president Trump in a sing-off against Democratic members of the US House of Representatives, including Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley.
At the end of the clip, all of the Democratic candidates come into the song, with Kamala Harris and Joe Biden dancing the can-can beside each other, long before they become running mates.
"I set up this kick line for ending. Just happened to put then-candidates Biden & Harris together," Silverman wrote on Twitter. Before directing a question to The Simpsons producer and writer, Al Jean: "Did we predict future again?"
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Read more:
Celebrities react to President Biden's inauguration: From Oprah to Rihanna
Who are America's First and Second families? Meet the Bidens and the Harrises
Amanda Gorman for president? Why Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton are praising poet as the voice of the future
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Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SECRET%20INVASION
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WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
CREW
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Zayed Sustainability Prize
World Cup warm-up fixtures
Friday, May 24:
- Pakistan v Afghanistan (Bristol)
- Sri Lanka v South Africa (Cardiff)
Saturday, May 25
- England v Australia (Southampton)
- India v New Zealand (The Oval, London)
Sunday, May 26
- South Africa v West Indies (Bristol)
- Pakistan v Bangladesh (Cardiff)
Monday, May 27
- Australia v Sri Lanka (Southampton)
- England v Afghanistan (The Oval, London)
Tuesday, May 28
- West Indies v New Zealand (Bristol)
- Bangladesh v India (Cardiff)
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
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'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5