SPORT IN JULY
One of the great advantages of being a teacher is having the whole of July as holiday (well, almost; I had to work today and will do so again tomorrow, but then I am off until 6 August). Because July is a great month for sport.
First, for doing it. If the weather is even half decent, then I will have a good cycle ride pretty well every day. I unfortunately pulled a muscle in my back last night, unhitching the trailer I had used to transport my son and his stuff to his lovely new apartment in Odense. So my fitness programme won't start until later in the week. Thereafter, I will be getting into serious shape.
Secondly, for watching it. Wimbledon started last week, and the business end of the tournament is now beginning. There's something about Wimbledon that lies deep in British folk's genes. Even my mum, who is possibly the least sporty person I have ever met, watches Wimbledon, though she tends to base her opinions on non-sporting criteria. She likes Roger Federer, for instance, because he is always elegant, has a family with small children, and speaks fluent English. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, another great player, gets the thumbs-down, because he doesn't always shave, looks moody and Mediterranean, and fiddles with his bottom before every serve.
Then the Tour de France starts on Saturday. The Tour gives me lots to think about during my own rides, particularly when going uphill (if I struggle doing 1km at an average of 5%, how would I fare doing 15km at an average of 8%?). It also gives me lots to watch when I get back.
This year we also have the added benefit of the World Cup. Football can be disappointing, if the teams spend more time trying not to lose than if they try to win. But now that Ingerland are out, and the tournament has reached the knock-out stage, it gets more interesting.
Thirdly, for talking about it. My elder son is in Copenhagen, and my second son has just moved out after lying on the sofa and talking to me about sport for 6 months, so there is just my wife and daughter at home at the moment. But they quite like both Wimbledon and the World Cup, and can even be persuaded to watch the Tour if it's exciting enough. My daughter currently has a soft spot for Nick Kyrgios, the new 19-year old star of men's tennis. But I can't work out if that's because she admires his serve, or just admires him.
Throw in some mowing, rose tending, eating outside and a week's family holiday on Bornholm, and July's set fair to be a good month.
Walter Blotscher
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 29 June 2014
THE ORIGINS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR (2)
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the assassination in Sarajevo of the Archduke Francis-Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungarian Empire. The event is widely held to be the start of the First World War; but as I argued in my earlier post, this is too simplistic.
If you don't believe me, then go out and buy The Sleepwalkers, which I am currently reading. Christopher Clark's magisterial book expands that thesis in much more detail. It should also be required reading for any modern politician itching to go to war.
Walter Blotscher
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the assassination in Sarajevo of the Archduke Francis-Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungarian Empire. The event is widely held to be the start of the First World War; but as I argued in my earlier post, this is too simplistic.
If you don't believe me, then go out and buy The Sleepwalkers, which I am currently reading. Christopher Clark's magisterial book expands that thesis in much more detail. It should also be required reading for any modern politician itching to go to war.
Walter Blotscher
Friday, 27 June 2014
BRITAIN AND THE E.U.
What is David Cameron up to? I know that he has some bolshy backbenchers, who have cornered him into promising an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the E.U. However, opposing Jean-Claude Juncker to be the next President of the Commission doesn't seem to me to make it more likely either that he can renegotiate Britain's relationship or win that post-negotiation referendum. In particular, in forcing a vote on the matter for the first time in the E.U.'s history, a vote which he lost 26-2 (the only support came from Hungary), he simply managed to hack everyone else off. Other European leaders who were not enthusiastic about Mr. Juncker (Holland and Sweden certainly, Germany maybe) ended up supporting him, when they could see that a protest would not succeed. Mr. Cameron fought on to the bitter end.
He of course is saying that he is fighting for a principle, and that it doesn't matter being defeated, provided that one is right. The problem is that this is just another version of the "everybody else in Europe is stupid, we are the only ones that are sensible" argument that has long bedevilled Britain's relationship with the E.U. People who are called stupid are unlikely to give lollipops to the people who call them stupid.
Britain seems to be sleepwalking towards an E.U. exit. That would be a catastrophe, in my view. But perhaps it needs a catastrophe for the Brits to work out that they no longer run the world in the way they used to.
Walter Blotscher
What is David Cameron up to? I know that he has some bolshy backbenchers, who have cornered him into promising an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the E.U. However, opposing Jean-Claude Juncker to be the next President of the Commission doesn't seem to me to make it more likely either that he can renegotiate Britain's relationship or win that post-negotiation referendum. In particular, in forcing a vote on the matter for the first time in the E.U.'s history, a vote which he lost 26-2 (the only support came from Hungary), he simply managed to hack everyone else off. Other European leaders who were not enthusiastic about Mr. Juncker (Holland and Sweden certainly, Germany maybe) ended up supporting him, when they could see that a protest would not succeed. Mr. Cameron fought on to the bitter end.
He of course is saying that he is fighting for a principle, and that it doesn't matter being defeated, provided that one is right. The problem is that this is just another version of the "everybody else in Europe is stupid, we are the only ones that are sensible" argument that has long bedevilled Britain's relationship with the E.U. People who are called stupid are unlikely to give lollipops to the people who call them stupid.
Britain seems to be sleepwalking towards an E.U. exit. That would be a catastrophe, in my view. But perhaps it needs a catastrophe for the Brits to work out that they no longer run the world in the way they used to.
Walter Blotscher
Thursday, 26 June 2014
VOLDSBOLD
Voldsbold (literally "violence ball") is a Danish game a bit like British Bulldog. Two teams, lots of violence, a complete absence of rules. The only difference is that you have to put the ball at the other end of the pitch, as in rugby.
Today my two classes, black and white, played each other before dinner. Black deservedly won 5-2. But what surprised me was just how violent it was. Very violent.
Walter Blotscher
Voldsbold (literally "violence ball") is a Danish game a bit like British Bulldog. Two teams, lots of violence, a complete absence of rules. The only difference is that you have to put the ball at the other end of the pitch, as in rugby.
Today my two classes, black and white, played each other before dinner. Black deservedly won 5-2. But what surprised me was just how violent it was. Very violent.
Walter Blotscher
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
WORLD CUP FASHION
Ingerland and Luis Suarez notwithstanding, the World Cup has started well, not least in providing a lot of goals. However, there are two things that irritate me, neither of which has anything to do with the football.
The first is the increasing habit of top players to wear different coloured boots. In my day (admittedly some time ago) football boots were always black. Then they became coloured, which was also OK, provided that they were not lime green. But I draw the line at having one red and one green boot, that's just naff.
The second is this year's standard haircut, which is a sort of a cropped Mohican on the top and bald on the sides (think Mario Balotelli). While this can look pretty cool on black people such as Mr. Balotelli, it tends to look naff on small white people like the Swiss guy I saw this evening.
Just to make things crystal clear, I can confirm that all of my pairs of sports shoes are of the same colour, and that I do have hair on the side of my head.
Walter Blotscher
Ingerland and Luis Suarez notwithstanding, the World Cup has started well, not least in providing a lot of goals. However, there are two things that irritate me, neither of which has anything to do with the football.
The first is the increasing habit of top players to wear different coloured boots. In my day (admittedly some time ago) football boots were always black. Then they became coloured, which was also OK, provided that they were not lime green. But I draw the line at having one red and one green boot, that's just naff.
The second is this year's standard haircut, which is a sort of a cropped Mohican on the top and bald on the sides (think Mario Balotelli). While this can look pretty cool on black people such as Mr. Balotelli, it tends to look naff on small white people like the Swiss guy I saw this evening.
Just to make things crystal clear, I can confirm that all of my pairs of sports shoes are of the same colour, and that I do have hair on the side of my head.
Walter Blotscher
Monday, 23 June 2014
A NEW MOSQUE
Denmark has freedom of expression and religion enshrined in its constitution. However, freedom of religion doesn't necessarily mean enthusiasm for another religion, as was demonstrated last week.
The country has just got its first proper mosque (i.e. one with a minaret and other things such as a cultural centre and cinema), a purpose-built structure in Nørrebro in Copenhagen. The 6,700 sqm building cost kr.150 million, and was funded by the former Emir of Qatar. It was consecrated last Thursday.
You would think that this was an opportunity for the great and the good to turn up, and thereby show that integration doesn't just mean becoming good little (Christian) Danes, but can also include people of different colour and religion. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The royal family, the Bishop of Copenhagen, and the country's party political leaders all stayed away.
That was a mistake, in my view; gestures matter. The next time that politicians talk about pork meat balls being served in kindergartens, expect a loud raspberry from Muslim parents.
Walter Blotscher
Denmark has freedom of expression and religion enshrined in its constitution. However, freedom of religion doesn't necessarily mean enthusiasm for another religion, as was demonstrated last week.
The country has just got its first proper mosque (i.e. one with a minaret and other things such as a cultural centre and cinema), a purpose-built structure in Nørrebro in Copenhagen. The 6,700 sqm building cost kr.150 million, and was funded by the former Emir of Qatar. It was consecrated last Thursday.
You would think that this was an opportunity for the great and the good to turn up, and thereby show that integration doesn't just mean becoming good little (Christian) Danes, but can also include people of different colour and religion. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The royal family, the Bishop of Copenhagen, and the country's party political leaders all stayed away.
That was a mistake, in my view; gestures matter. The next time that politicians talk about pork meat balls being served in kindergartens, expect a loud raspberry from Muslim parents.
Walter Blotscher
Sunday, 22 June 2014
ADOPTION
The combination of longevity, careers for women, contraception and falling sperm levels gives many good things, but more babies is not one of them. Denmark, and other European countries, are storing up trouble for themselves, because there are not enough new Danes to take care of the old Danes of the future.
Adoption might help alleviate the problem, but even here things are not going the right way. The number of couples approved as eligible for adoption has plummeted in recent years. In 2005 it was 1,183, but that had halved five years later and fallen to 238 in 2013. This year is predicted to be even lower; a mere 55 couples had been approved in the first four months.
There is no one reason for this downward trend. The economic situation probably plays a part; the cost of adopting has risen sharply. But there has also been a string of scandals in the media, usually involving parents in very poor countries who (it is alleged) either part with their children in return for benefits which do not materialise, or are forced to part with them against their will. That makes prospective adoptive parents rather twitchy.
Whatever the reason, it is not a good development. Denmark needs more Danes. In the interests of national solidarity, I am willing to help and make myself available. Any takers?
Walter Blotscher
The combination of longevity, careers for women, contraception and falling sperm levels gives many good things, but more babies is not one of them. Denmark, and other European countries, are storing up trouble for themselves, because there are not enough new Danes to take care of the old Danes of the future.
Adoption might help alleviate the problem, but even here things are not going the right way. The number of couples approved as eligible for adoption has plummeted in recent years. In 2005 it was 1,183, but that had halved five years later and fallen to 238 in 2013. This year is predicted to be even lower; a mere 55 couples had been approved in the first four months.
There is no one reason for this downward trend. The economic situation probably plays a part; the cost of adopting has risen sharply. But there has also been a string of scandals in the media, usually involving parents in very poor countries who (it is alleged) either part with their children in return for benefits which do not materialise, or are forced to part with them against their will. That makes prospective adoptive parents rather twitchy.
Whatever the reason, it is not a good development. Denmark needs more Danes. In the interests of national solidarity, I am willing to help and make myself available. Any takers?
Walter Blotscher
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