Up in alms

I read something in the paper the other day: Jesus saves, Moses invests, and Buddha pays dividends. Which may be just as well because it seems the World Cup is taking its toll. A Reuters report from Thailand suggest the Buddhist monks there are so tired from watching the games late into the night that they are sleeping in and not available for receiving early morning alms - "a mandatory religious ritual in the predominately Buddhist country". While watching the Cup has not been banned there, even though "inappropriate behaviour" has been reported at 7 temples, responsibility has been referred to the abbot of each temple to ensure the Cup does not interfere with the monks' religious activities. But at least they're not under threat of de-frocking if they get too excited over the soccer - as is the case in neighbouring Cambodia.