*snarl*

It's two o'clock in the morning in London. I'm awake and internetting (like probably everyone else in the neighbourhood) because some Cupid Stunt is letting his incredibly loud car alarm go on.

Italy and Germany: competing at which is the stupidest

Italy being stupid:
Italy has been carrying out a program to increase the fading bear population in the Alps. Recently a bear from the still-tiny Alpine herd has entered the Bavarian Alps, where it did as bears do - killed and ate sheep and poultry, until a local killed it with a hunting rifle. Italy's environment minister, the ridiculous Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, chose to make an international incident of it, demanding the bear's body back and claiming that "other avenues should have been explored."

Germany being stupider
During the last match, a German player called Frings was guilty of a bad foul which the referee did not see. FIFA took the matter over and, quite rightly, suspended him. At which point the vile Bild Zeitung, Germany's grotesque excuse for a national newspaper, which makes Britain's The Sun look thoughtful and restrained, decided that the whole thing was an Italian plot against Germany and whipped up a hate campaign against Italy, which is reported to be raging among German internet users.

Latest result in the stupidity competition: Germany one, Italy one. Put the ball in the centre spot and start the game again.

"August words" (C.S.Lewis)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

I said, beware.

Italian football went into this like a rudderless half-sunk ship, with most of its managers under accusation, its team manager under more than a shadow, many of their players under press attack and public distrust. It is at times like this that Italians are most to be dreaded. And I mean, dreaded. Do NOT be in the way with an Italian team with nothing to lose.

Germany fought a fine, brave match, and a fair one too (in spite of the fact that its coack Klinsmann was, as a player, the most notorious diver and faker in Europe). All credit to them. But pardon me my glee.