According to my current bathroom reading material, “The Intellectual Devotional: American History,” when Cornelius Vanderbilt died in 1877, his estate, worth >$100 million, exceeded the holdings of the United States Treasury at the time.

Therefore, income inequality in the U.S. has cycled more than once through significant highs and lows.

If, as economic historian (or political scientist, if you will) Francis Fukuyama states in this interview,  the German economic model benefits the whole society, what, if any, are the negative aspects that prevent Americans from adopting the same or similar model?

Higher taxes?

Tariffs?

And if Greece is just a system of closed corporations, are any of them too big to fail?  If not, why not let them implode and give the dregs/leftovers/wreckage to the lowest bidders at that point?

A nod to many soon, including Juliette Binoche in “Certified Copy” and “Jet Lag” — may she inspire Julie Delpy to reprise her character Celine in the Before Sunrise/Sunset series.  Danielle at Mori Luggage reminds me of her so perhaps we can make a local production that imagines the ending to the trilogy…

Last, but not least, am I the only one who can’t look at the New England Patriots without trying to figure out how they cheated their way into the Super Bowl this time?  No matter how much the players will claim it is their hard work and talent that got the team there, something tells me that Belichick has another lying/cheating scandal waiting to be revealed by an investigative reporter someday soon.  Why the NFL did not boot him tells me a lot about the league and its owners.  Take that as a challenge to win, NY Giants!

Syria is Russia’s last hope that the Islamic movement infecting the Middle East does not spread.  Do EU countries care?  What about China or the U.S.?  Is Sharia a threat or a welcome change?  Do Buddhists or Hindus care?

Time for me to meditate on dinner and dancing the Charleston.  G’night!