Europe as a superpower?

I'm surprised how many folks are starting to write about the ascendancy of Europe - in spite of overwhelming evidence of the rising irrelevance of Europe.

Smarty writers like T.R. Reid cite the prominent role of European government and the social net as 2 reasons for Europe's ascendancy. I would argue that these are actually arguments against (government isn't a growth industry, nor exportable, and the social net will be ripped apart by changing continental demographics), but Europe is economically coasting, at best. (btw: I think societal measurement begins with economic results and frameworks. Cutesy stats like "quality of life," just aren't important enough, nor are they ever possibly accurate.)

I think it's way more likely in 20 yrs. that the 2 biggest superpowers in the world are the US and China, with Europe taking the role of "pandering swing vote."

Social Studies (01/28/2005)

Steroids cartoon

This cartoon pretty much sums up the baseball-steroids issues.
Reason

Hewlett-Packard: Why Carly's Big Bet Is Failing - FORTUNE

Just a shout out to everyone who had to listen to me denounce the HP-Compaq merger as value destructive 3 yrs. ago. More proof that 2nd tier companies can't merge into top tier companies. (Or in the case of HP & Compaq, good companies with secondary positions in certain markets.)

CEO - Hewlett-Packard: Why Carly's Big Bet Is Failing - FORTUNE

I'm actually proud of this, in a way......

Here's a story with some facts behind the reputation of Philly fans (of which I'm one, though I've never pelted Santa with a snowball.)

Yahoo! Sports - NFL - Philly fans' rogue image got boost when Santa booed in 1968:

I've got 2 stories to add to the legend of the Philly fans:

When I was 9 or 10 years old, like any good Cincinnati Reds fan, and in particular a Johnny Bench supporter, I wore a Reds jersey to a meaningless midsummer game in Philly between the Reds and Phils. Halfway into the game, I noticed a few peanut shells down the back of my chair, but thought nothing of it.

In actuality, fans were throwing the peanut shells at my jersey. Before the end of the game, I also had a small amount of beer "spilled" on me, a ten year old. (So, if a 10year old gets hit with peanut shells, I don't have a hard time believing Santa got hit with snowballs.)

Also......

I went to a baseball game in Philly a few weeks after Philly legend Mike Schmidt retired during the season. While most agree that Schmidt was the greatest third baseman to ever play the game, he had a love-hate relationship with the city.

While walking around the stadium, I noticed a fan dressed head to toe in a Phillies uniform with a mustache and wig of red hair, like Schmidt's. On the back was Schmidt's number, but "K. Witter" in place of Schmidt's name.

I started to walk away thinking that someone named "Kevin Witter," or "Karl Witter," was offering a tribute to Schmidt, and then it dawned on me......K. Witter reallly was meant as "Quitter!"

Only in Philly......

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