Germany's New Conservative Cabinet

It consists of:

A Vietnamese immigrant, brought from that war-torn country as a tiny child.

A baron, the grandson of a princess, who lives in his family’s five-hundred year old castle.

A widow who once worked for the patent office.

A paraplegic.

A huffy gay man.

A former captain of paratroopers.

A mother of seven.

Read more here.

Hat tip to MR for the pointer.

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Rightwinger, German Style

In light of the elections in Germany, I've been reading a number of various German politics- and culture-related news.
This one, via Matt Yglesias, takes the cake.
He writes:
"Germany’s Free Democrats have a lot of pro-business tax cutting views, much like our Republicans. But they’re also liberal on cultural questions. Thus things like these t-shirts people were wearing at their election party last night:

The t-shirts say roughly: “make love, not tax forms.”
More here.
Tip of the hat to Yglesias.

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Formula 1, Alban Skenderaj, Europe, and Music

All the Euros in the crowd say 'what, what.' Don't be shy now. I know for a fact I have a lot of Euro readers.
If you're intent on pressing me for a definition [especially you, category-enamored folk], then all the authentic Euro and Europe-influenced/informed/educated/experienced folk say 'what, what.'
I'm sure the pool became significantly larger now.

All the Euros in the crowd who love Formula 1 say 'what, what.'
All the Euros in the crowd who are friggin' excited that Michael Schumacher is reentering the sport, raise the roof. Woof, woof, woof!
Another woof for me. I'm uber excited Schumacher's back as he used to be the very making of the sport, in my humble opinion, at least. And he focuses like a very small, blessed few. But I digress.

Now, all the Euros who know what the official Formula 1 song for 2009 is, say 'what, what.'
Those of you who know who the performer is, follow suit.

I can't say I can say 'what, what' to the last two and as much as I love music and follow it nigh maniacally, I didn't know about the new official song to Formula 1 called This Is Your Day performed by Albanian-born Alban Skenderaj. Granted, the fact that the sound is not entirely aligned with my own musical sensitivities might have something to do with it.
Still, I'm happy to have heard about it.

Ergo, tip of the hat to Giuditta Dante for the pointer.
And another tip of the hat goes to Alban Skenderaj who even though he's channeling too much alternative rock a-la-Nickeback, is one impressive guy.

Ah, and aesthetically, those of you who ask me what I think an Indie guy a-la-2009 looks like, refer to Alban on the stadium stairs.

And, for your viewing pleasure, here is the song:

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Brian Kilmeade Responds to Study on Marriage, the Swedes

This actually happened live on TV.

Granted, Brian Kilmeade is the comic, but still.

To get a sense of what it is the people involved in this video are talking about, refer to this recent study on marriage in Sweden.

A paragraph notes:

"Inevitably, the subject turns to sex and marriage. I'll never forget asking one group what they thought of marriage in a country where most educated young people (and half go to university) don't get married or bear children until they are well over 30. A young woman gave me a thoughtful answer and so I asked her, "What are you looking for in a husband?" Without batting an eye or pausing for thought, she answered: "Three things. One, he must be good in bed. Two, he must be a good father. Three, when we divorce, he mustn't be bitter."

Read the gripping article in its entirety here.


And drumroll please....

Here is Brian Kilmeade's close reading and insightful interpretation of said article.
BROWN HAIRED GUY: We keep marrying other species and other ethnics--


GRETCHEN CARLSON: Are you sure you are not suffering from some of the causes of dementia right now?

BRIAN KILMEADE: The problem is the Swedes have pure genes. They marry other Swedes, that's the rule. Finns marry other Finns; they have a pure society. In America we marry everybody. We will marry Italians and Irish.

DAVE BRIGGS: This study does not apply?

BRIAN KILMEADE: Does not apply to us.

[pause]

DAVE BRIGGS: Huh.

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Where to Travel Post-Graduation

World-renowned economist Tyler Cowen over at MR suggests the following places for graduating seniors to consider visiting while in Europe.

I would perhaps suggest Berlin instead of either Paris or Rome. And perhaps Budapest instead of Prague even though the latter is a great city to visit as well.

Tyler suggests:

1. Paris. Duh.

2. Rome, the major city of antiquity plus still a major national capital.

3. Süsten Pass in Switzerland, or Zermatt on a clear day. Rural Europe, and scenery, with a Germanic slant. I love Germany but am hard pressed to pick out a single locale to make this list.

4. Prague, with architecture from all major periods of European history since medieval times. Plus you get a dash of Eastern Europe and corruption, as well as some Germanic and Jewish history.

5. Rural Albania, maybe Shkodra or Girokaster. See how much of Mediterranean Europe lived in the 19th century. Recall a Malthusian world.

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graph of Gjirokaster per albca.com

No Kebabs in Lucca, Italy

Consider the following:

"In this deeply conservative city, where even Sicilian food is considered ethnic, there are already four kebab houses, testaments to Italy’s growing immigrant population and the fact that many Italians, especially young ones, like eating non-Italian food. Offering kebabs at $5, the restaurants are also a bargain in difficult times.

Under the new law, these four can stay, but the banning of new ethnic and fast-food restaurants within the city walls has struck many here as contrary to the rules of free-market capitalism and the notion that Italy can offer more than visions of its long-dead past.
...
Lucca allowed the kebab shops to open in the first place only because city officials did not know what they were, Filippo Candelise, a Lucca City Council member who handles economic development, said in a recent interview in the medieval palazzo that houses city government.

Mr. Candelise defended the new regulation as essential for Lucca’s future. “We absolutely reject the ‘racist’ label,” he said. “We simply want to preserve our cultural and historical identity.”

So, if you find yourself in beautiful Lucca and you might be in the mood for a kebab, stop and stock up in Rome first and then head up. I'm certain the "buccellato" will taste scrumptious then.

I don't care much about meats anyway, as I tend to roll vegetarian-ly mostly, but I do care about the, what I call, the democratization of the tongue.

What think ye?

Read it all here.

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graph per ny times

Which Cities Do Most Prefer?

It's one of the times I'm concurring with David Brooks. His piece goes well with a lot of the new research that revolves around urban planning.
Brooks writes:

"You may not know it to look at them, but urban planners are human and have dreams. One dream many share is that Americans will give up their love affair with suburban sprawl and will rediscover denser, more environmentally friendly, less auto-dependent ways of living.
...
America will, in short, finally begin to look a little more like Amsterdam."

Read it all here.

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The Roman Empire and the HIV Connection

According to a new study from the University of Provence, Europeans currently living in the Roman Empire's 'previous colonies are more vulnerable to HIV.'

If you're saying: 'Say what?!' just about now, read more here. Very interesting article.

A snippet says:

"The claim, by French researchers, is that people once ruled by Rome are less likely to have a gene variant which protects against HIV.
This includes England, France, Greece and Spain, New Scientist reports.
Others argue the difference is linked to a far larger event, such as the spread of bubonic plague or smallpox.
...
The idea that something carried by the occupying Romans could have a widespread influence on the genes of modern Europeans comes from researchers at the University of Provence.

They say that the frequency of the variant corresponds closely with the shifting boundaries of the thousand-year empire.

In countries inside the borders of the empire for longer periods, such as Spain, Italy and Greece, the frequency of the CCR5-delta32 gene, which offers some protection against HIV, is between 0% and 6%.

Countries at the fringe of the empire, such as Germany, and modern England, the rate is between 8% and 11.8%, while in countries never conquered by Rome, the rate is greater than this."
graph per bbc

The BlackBerry Review: European Style

What could this video tell us about cultural differences?
Pay attention to the last 20 seconds especially.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

As most Woody Allen's movies have it, 'life's short and dull, so, yeah, good luck with all that....'
The premise of Allen's new film Vicky Christina Barcelona is definitely interesting. It was what made us watch it opening day, after all.
In a nutshell, I was glad it was an hour and a half but I did enjoy much of the 90 minutes. Unlike Woody Allen's Match Point or Scoop, this new film seemed to have relied more on the abilities of its key performers.
Who really carries this film is Javier Bardem and that is the main reason to go watch it.
Well, that and the breathtaking views of one of the most spectacular European cities, Barcelona.
Scarlett Johansson's presence is bearable especially when she shares scenes with Bardem and Penelope Cruz. I reckon, the latter two could make most actors look good.
So, is Vicky Christina Barcelona worth a look? Yes, it is. And like a good guest, it knows when to bounce.
graph per imdb

More Things Sarkozy: The Son and His Scooter

There's always something with this guy. His ubiquity in the press also translates to ubiquity in my blog.... Sarkozy's quite the text, that's for sure. So, what's the news today?
Well, 'Sarkozy' news today revolves around his aesthetically superior blonde son, his lovely scooter, reckless driving, and that little concept called 'sense of entitlement.'
The premise of the article might seem inconsequential in the beginning. However, it does raise some valid questions.
Here it a bit:
"Jean Sarkozy has also been a beneficiary of his father’s power, it seems. When his motor scooter was stolen last year, the police recovered it quickly, even going to the extraordinary length of taking a DNA sample from his helmet. In 2005, he ran his scooter into the back of a BMW, according to a complaint brought by the car’s owner, M’Hamed Bellouti, who managed to catch the license plate number as the scooter sped away. The police failed to find the scooter, but the car owner’s insurance company did. Nevertheless, in a December 2007 trial, the complaint against Jean Sarkozy was dismissed.

Mr. Bellouti asked then: “Why is there a two-speed justice system? When they steal his scooter, they are full of zeal. When it hits my car, there is less zeal.”
Read more here.
graph per ny times

Euro 2008

Alas, Euro 2008 ended yesterday. And, alas, Germany didn't win even though Ballack tried harder than we thought he could.
But someone had to win and that someone was Spain. They played better. So, for once, the soccer gods favored those played well. I bet Zidane is saying to himself, 'tja, where were those guys when we played Italy in '06?!'
Congrats Xavi and friends, the cup suits you.
graph per euro2008.uefa.com

The French Obsession with Sarkozy: A Bona Five Love Story

I'm fascinated by France's Sarkozy and I'm not even a French person.
Many French people are so obsessed with their leader that they're now taking many of their respective obsessions, fantasies, and issues to their therapists' office.
I'm really not joking.
The Times' piece observes:
“As I listened to my patients during consultations, many of them mentioned Sarkozy by name,” Dr. Hefez said. “He’s penetrated some of their deepest fantasies. I noticed all this passion in people speaking of him, and I thought there is something particular about this man — he’s like a reflection of us in the mirror.”
The French project themselves onto Mr. Sarkozy, too, Dr. Hefez said.
“He’s the incarnation of the postmodern man, obsessed with himself, turned toward pleasure, autonomous and narcissistic,” the psychiatrist said. “And he exhibits his joys and sorrows, all his private life, his sentimental doubts and pleasures. He represents the individualism of the society to the extreme, that it’s the individual who counts, not the society.”

Well, especially the last paragraph made me produce a loud, 'holy cow!' when I read it. Could it be basic cynicism or is there actually some measure of truth to this? Granted, there is individualism galore out there but I find it difficult to believe that it is the sole active currency. I've found Sarkozy fascinating from the very beginning. I don't know what it is, really, other than this inherent ability to fuse confidence with inferiority.
Apparently, the French are reading papers obsessively following their leader's private and public life as closely as possible. Many papers are being sold and many discussions are being generated. Oh, yes, and more shrinks are being seen too. Here's how a session starts in my mind:
'So, what would you like to talk about today?'
'I had a dream that I was dating Carla Bruni,' says the hypothetical French patient.
I don't know if the Sarkozy phenomenon is a a commentary on contemporary individualism or a simple example of people being fascinated by foibled and fallible leading figures. Hmm. I especially like how the Times article concludes:
'The Rue89 news Web site asked: “After a year of dependency, how can we stop being Sarkotoxicated?”
As yet, there appears to be no cure.'
graph per ny times

Interesting fact of the Day

Hat tip to Marginal Revolution for the pointer.

"Highest birth rate in Europe + highest divorce rate + highest percentage of women working outside the home = the best country in the world in which to live...Iceland, the block of sub-Arctic lava to which these statistics apply, tops the latest table of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Index rankings, meaning that as a society and as an economy - in terms of wealth, health and education - they are champions of the world."

Go, Iceland.

Beppe Grillo, the Italian Stand-up Comic, Says: Basta, Already!

I am interested in Italy on account of my personal history and as a result I follow the socio-cultural developments in the country with some measure of regularity. The following NY Times article attracted my attention today. It's on the politically and socially aware Italian comic Beppe Grillo.

From the article:

'“Basta! Basta! Basta!” Beppe Grillo, a 59-year-old comic and blogger with swooping gray hair, howled in an interview. The word means “enough,” and he repeated it to make his point to Italy’s political class clear. In recent months, Mr. Grillo has become the defining personification of Italy’s foul mood. On Sept. 8, he gave that mood a loud voice when he called for a day of
rage, to scream across Piazza Maggiore in Bologna an obscenity politely translated as “Take a hike!”'

The Accounting-trained stand-up comic whose critical 'reading' of Italian politics can be traced decades ago and is well-known to Italians and many Europeans, is actively involved with social reform. Grillo is one of the best-known Italian bloggers and he has managed to evoke much interest among the young in Italy. He is encouraging young people to run for public office in an effort to engender good political reform. A lover of the internet, he is employing cyber space tools actively and his blog receives much daily traffic. Grillo himself is not interested in running for political office. His sole mission seems to be one of informing the masses about the political nature of things and why they need to be proactively involved with their government and the goings-on in the Palazzo Montecitorio, i.e., the Italian parliament.

I suppose in the case of Grillo, we see an artist who considers art, in this case his stand-up routine, as functional to a specific socio-political mission.

The Pope said it, folks

Ok, as I was sipping my Passion Tea Lemonade this afternoon thinking about ways to finish a writing project on which I have embarked, I came across some news online re: Pope Benedict XVI, or as he is known in Southern Germany, Joseph Alois Ratzinger.

Interesting timing, I thought. Last night I was speaking to my friend Benjamin about this 'monopoly on truth' business and when I read the following bit online I thought, 'how apropos!'

So, here is the blog-worthy snippet of today:

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy -- Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document that says Orthodox churches are defective and that other Christian denominations are not true churches.

The document, released Tuesday, restates key sections of a 2000 document that set off a firestorm of criticism among Protestant and other Christian denominations. It said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the "means of salvation."


via real time with Bill Mahr