Yes, cardinal clairvoyant that I am, I won money wagering on the Papal Election. Although, by the time the white smoke came a-pluming today, I had actually already settled my bets, as the steep decline in the market-based probability of an Italian Restoration was such that I was able to take away a sure-thing profit without having to wait and see if the conclave had my back.
My total profits: $3.75. Woo-hoo! My first drink at karaoke tomorrow night will be a Ratzinger Zinger in honor of the new kid on the basilica, Benedict XVI.
As I was telling Pontiff-Market investment guru Tom over e-mail, I really think I missed my calling. I think I would have enough money to buy the Vatican right now if I had gone into being a futures trader instead of being a sociology. In any event, as becomes more obvious every single day this job wears on, I have certainly missed some kind of calling.
8 comments:
Ratzinger Zinger: brilliant!
Calculate the compound annual return that $3.75 represents, and it'll probably look a lot more impressive.
Exactly what is in a Ratzinger Zinger?
You are a sociology?
The Ratzinger Zinger consists of three parts holy water, two parts sacramental wine, and one part apfelscholler. It is typically served as a shot with a dark Bavarian beer chaser and a side of German bratwurst.
You can also dip Polish sausage in it if you want to in honor of the last Pope.
Do you think a sociology professor mocking a religion or their procedures, or belittling it with the gambling and alcohol comments, takes anything away from your performance in the classroom? That is, if Catholic or conservative students read your blog, and are offended, do you take responsibility for any of the backlash they dish out to other students because they believe their views are not being respected? Would you or could you tone down the silliness, even though it is your first amendment right, to preserve dignity and respect of other views in the classroom? I have often wondered if the left-wing professors know what they are doing overall to serious discussion. Signed, a liberal.
Being too far bent to the Right for my own good, perhaps I can best address your concern(s), Anonymous. The most important thing a left wing professor, whatever that really is and means, can do is enable the free flow of ideas and open discussion and exploration of any and all topics. To inhibit that is dangerous and harmful to the expansion of knowledge. It is not so much the topic or idea that matters, but the atmoshphere. In that respect, the University must be as 'sacred' as the Vatican or Mecca or any other religious center. These folks simply must have free reign within the confines of the University. Our collective future depends on this, and it pains me to say it. Brother John Birch
"Brother John Birch"?
Why not just sign your post "Adolph Hitler" or "David Duke" or "William Pierce"?
Post a Comment