Now this really is depressing

A friend sent this my way. Do you think the strategists thought much about this?

First they thought an election campaign over the Christmas holidays would be a burden on the people. Now our leaders have gone one further and selected the most depressing day of the year for the federal election.

That's right, Monday, Jan. 23, 2006. This past year the most depressing day was Jan. 24. I assume that in 2006 it will be Jan. 23 because it is a Monday and everybody knows Mondays are the most depressing day of the week.

Dr. Cliff Arnall, a psychologist at the University of Cardiff in Wales who specializes in seasonal disorders, last year devised a formula that resulted in Jan. 24 being designated the worst day of the year. "Following the initial thrill of New Year's celebrations and changing over a new leaf, reality starts to sink in," Arnall said.