Big Bank Take Little Tank

As one of you may know, the World Championships of Football begin today. The Schopenhegels of Germany, gracious hosts of the tournament, enter into a mortal struggle for the soul of the universe and a free 40G Ipod against the Cloud Foresters of Costa Rica. The world is watching. As befitting an occasion of such crucial importance to national pride, and despite the quantifiable gulf in the footballing prowess between these two nations, Germans are taking this game quite seriously, preparing detailed dossiers on the Costa Ricans -- defensive formations, danger men, real estate investment options, etc. In fact, the Germans prepared for today's match not merely by kicking soccer balls amongst themselves repeatedly, but also by watching a short documentary about what makes Costa Rica, and Costa Ricans, tick.

To essentialize, Germans like philosophy. Part of the pleasure of watching international soccer comes in reducing an entire nation, a people, and their history, to one or two representative and easily explainable characteristics that describe best how they kick a ball about a field. Therefore, the idea that Germans would not only appreciate watching game tapes about their opponents's skills, but also ones that described those opponents' culture, their competing philosophies on life, and the bountiful biodiversity of that country's rainforests seems just about right. It's not a knock -- it's rather admirable really.

Either way, game on, we say.

Your boy Stijls is here for the duration, out in Europe, spending Euros, so kick back and keep clicking.