Heeey Syndicate Members,
How “a-boot” those Canadians? Difficult to make heads or tails of this tournament with the Mexicans beating The States and the Canadians beating the Mexicans. Why won’t these countries settle down and conform to a reasonably logical pattern already? Oh well. It adds to the fun, even if it subtracts from the wallet. With precious little time before the Dutch square off against the Japanese, we’ll engage in some limited rambling.
--Sincere thanks to all of the both of you who got the joke
about Ratzinger and his doctoral thesis. The current snafu German politicians
are forced to contend with happens to be the best belated Christmas Present any
experienced Academia Basher could possibly hope for. Anyone interested in a
small revelation for the road? All universities are charged $20,269 annually
for online access the Tetrahedron Chemistry Journal. The International Journal
of Mathematics costs $20,100. In fact, most journals provides by the gouging
middleman “Elsevier” cost in access of $20,000. That’s what happened to the
fellowship money you never received. It went to pay for access to mediocre
scholarship written by those who already found their niche.
--An interesting article that I can’t find the link for:
“Fat Years: Why Germany has a Brilliant Future” by Dick
Heilman
I’ve spent the obligatory four minutes fiddling around with
Google. Fact is, there are too may “Dick Heilmans” out there….and they’re
screwing with my attempts to link to something. He had so many great things to say
about the infamous German “Mittelstand”, the improbable concept of “Mittbestimung”,
and plenty of existential psychobabble about the importance of living in a
modest way that makes sense to….YOU. Sadly, all Google gives me are Facebook
and LinkedIn links. No, I don’t remember in which periodical the article
appeared. That part is my fault. The rest of the blame lies with all the “Dick
Heilmans” out there. Damn you!
--One piece of writing I can link to is the fascinating vlog
of Chilean activist Camila Vallejo. Here’s a Guardian article that will take
you all the way to the Promised Land:
Yes, I’m attracted to her. That doesn’t mean she’s not a
genius!
--What the hell is going on in Zenit St. Petersburg? When
the fans are chanting “Sell your Dacha to finish the Stadium”….well that goes
beyond ordinary drunken banter.
--One week into the sequester, one is forced to conclude
that every last political talking point amounts to nothing more than a head
rush for the megalomaniacal.
--A bit of blowback in Northern Mali…no matter…no sense in
talking about the enemy in grand terms. Let’s put it candidly: “Chickenshit
losers strike back temporarily”.
--My personal utilization of the Internet may amount to
nothing more than a few random thought ejaculations. At least I don’t heckle
those working in the service industry. I’m looking at you…..Radio
Shack/Chick-Fil-A People.
--My personal vendetta against Vice Media….the decision to
send Dennis Rodman to meet with Kim Jong-Un greatly exacerbates matters. FUCK
YOU, HIPSTERS!!
--Overkill: It may mean writing entirely too much. It may
mean taking your job too seriously. To put things into perspective, it really
means being a member of either the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban. Banning
newspapers in regions that feature literacy rates of 20 percent or
below….that’s overkill.
--Now that the tired talking point of a “large government
stealing from its citizens” has resurfaced in the American Political Discourse,
it’s time to bring up the tired counterpoint regarding “Surplus States”. Who
contributes more in taxes than they give out in entitlements? In the States
it’s the Northern States. In Germany it’s the Southern States. The geography is
arbitrary. Bavaria can be as conservative as Alabama on occasion. Hessen might
resemble Mississippi. Baden-Württemberg functions as more densely populated
Georgia. It doesn’t matter. Those German States are your perennial “makers”.
Those American States are statistically “Takers”.
--The events in Camden confirm a deeply held belief: Every
American municipality should immediately fire 25 percent of its Police Department.
Let’s get it over with. Cut the fat from the bacon. Smaller government begins
with firing cops.
--The Syrian National Council reminds one too much of the
1848 German convention: “Hundred Fünzig Professoren, Vaterland du bist
verloren.” Same thing here. I give them another week before personally
sanctioning the arming of the rebels.
--In the bluntest terms possible, Obama’s anti-sequester
scare tactics were an abject failure. He might do well to take a page from “Mr.
Pudding”. Hollande manages to be indecisive, boring, and somehow effective all
at the same time.
--Kudos to New York on opening the Math Museum a scant two
blocks away from the Sex Museum. Now we’ve got “MoMath” not to far away from
“MoSex”. Two Museums presently explicitly satisfy both the urges of the mind
and the body. Man, I can’t wait to re-visit New York!
--Who doesn’t enjoy a good David Brooks column? The sclerotic
(not to mention brilliant) wordsmith specializes in coming up with content so
inspiringly metaphysical that one forgets how little sense it makes. It would
be my great pleasure to write a regular blog entitled “David Brooks once again
succumbs to over-reasoning”. New material would come down the pike every three
days. Here’s one of my favorites from the files:
“We have to have a consumption tax if we want to both grow
the economy and reduce debt.”
Adorable. Poor Dave completely forgot about the ridiculously
high consumption taxes we already have in place. It’s not his fault. He’s a
good man. You should read his column.
Enough rambling……..line anyone?
My Updated Stats
Spread: 6-16-2
Straight up: 13-9-2
Everything will even out. Just you wait.
Netherlands vs. Japan
(Tetsuya Utsumi vs. Robbie Cordemans)
Yesterday’s events should discourage me from setting lines
in accordance with what my heart desires. That notwithstanding, the projected
pitching match up gives one grounds for optimism. Cordemans cannot hope to
contend against this lineup. Utsumi will make the most of his chance. Time to
restore order. We won’t witness a blowout. The best team will still win.
THE
LINE: Japan +2 Runs
GENTLEMEN,
ENTER YOUR WAGERS
