The near future of Andy Murray

After Murray's loss at Wimbledon makes it possible to wonder if he'll ever win a Grand Slam.  It was close: he was 30-love in the pivotal game of the 2nd set, when Federer broke him to take it;  he was 40-love in the epic pivotal game of the third set, with 10 (or was it 11?) deuces.  And closing the roof appeared to aid the genius of Federer, who painted the lines in the last two sets -- Murray never caught a break on replays.  Federer is likely the best that's ever been (even though it's hard to judge for sure as technologies change and training improves), and it's hard to beat that when it is at its best.  And he was.

Will Andy Murray ever win a Grand Slam?

So this article wonders if Murray has the heart and mind to win a Slam final.  He's definitely got the game, and he's maturing.   Now, Federer is getting older, even if he didn't show it at Wimbledon, but faster surfaces make for quicker points, and that aided him.   With all due deference to his athletic wizardry, he's lost half a step and eventually it'll be a step.   That leaves Nadal and Djokovic.  At any given time, Nadal's style could deal him a significant injury, and then he's out of commission for awhile.  Which leaves a pretty athletic Djokovic.  It's hard to see how he can be beaten if he plays at his best, by anybody, but not everyone plays at their best all the time, so it only takes one upset to open the door.

So, if I was to predict, I'd say he will win one.  Of course, I predicted he'd win one this year, and now there's only one more chance for him to do that.  But I wish him luck;  it's hard to be #4 in a world with three great players.  And so in addition to his athletic talent, he'll probably need a bit of luck, too.

Why cut taxes when you can avoid them?

Sanjay Sanghoee wonders, even despite Romney's Bain Capital irregularities, why and if a Presidential candidate should so openly avoid paying taxes.   And what he says about taxes is dead right, too.

Romney and offshore tax havens

Verbatim:

"It is disturbing to think that a potential president of the United States would consider  it acceptable to siphon money into offshore bank accounts in order to shield that money from taxes. Taxation, unpleasant as it might be, is the primary funding mechanism for our nation; without it we would be reduced to a wasteland of crumbling infrastructure,  non-existent public services, and anarchy. Taxes fund most of our crucial public functions from road repair and public transport to the police force, welfare, and  even trash collection."

We're already seeing difficult choices being made because of the tax cut and deficit legacy of the Bush years, compounded by the nasty recession that began at the end of the Bush administration and which bedeviled the Obama administration.  Those choices are only going to get more difficult, and the GOP is squirming about the potential of tough Defense cuts.  (And so are employers.)  But still the GOP won't consider taxes as part of a deficit reduction package that might actually make a difference.

Nearly unbelievable natural chemistry

Just when you think that nature can't come up with anything really surprising, there comes this discovery of how the most reactive gaseous element known can actually exist in nature as its gaseous self, as little gas bubbles inside a form of the mineral flourite called antozonite.  I had never heard of stinky fluorite (oh, I'm sorry, "fetid" fluorite), and now I think I won't ever forget about it!


First direct evidence that elemental fluorine occurs in nature

Antozonite  
(picture below)

There.  See?  It is truly possible to learn something new every day, especially in the era of the Internet.

Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun

This particular video has some nice paintings associated with it.  This particular post is a preview of coming attractions.

A sonnet about... well, you know

Well if you don't know what "clouds and rain" mean, you are invited to look it up.

"Momentarious"

Her clutching, touching, urging hold sustains
the verging merge that she incites with joy,
compelling simple motion as the rains
and clouds converge and soar, and we alloy
our bond of silken steel -- we hold and mold,
entwining beauty (though it might be viewed
as other than the nature we enfold
within the basal act, where crude or rude
that it may seem, and lovely be, it lies
far more than necessary) -- brutal force
received, returned, replete complete, replies
in luscious naked brilliance voice the source
of ecstasy, onrushing love gives lust
its reason to transform from near to must.

Beyond the petals

Awhile ago I posted about Zahia Dehar's couture dress that basically looked like a collection of artfully draped flower petals.  Well, she's moved on in the fashion world, but I'm not sure that she's improved.  Furthermore, given what she's designing (she actually is designing nightwear and lingerie), I'm not sure she HAS to improve.  Remember, I'm talking about a remarkably shaped girl who rose to fame, so to speak,because she was an underage teenage prostitute hosting some strapping Euro soccer players

So here's the article, from the Huffington Post:

Zahia Dehar's lingerie collection at Paris fashion week

Here's Zahia herself, still quite remarkably shaped.  She's wearing something that is ostensibly called a bridal gown.  If that's a bridal gown, the wedding would be almost unimaginable.  But I can still try.

 And below is one of her more conservative pieces.  I'm not kidding.  The one being worn by the model walking the other way is somewhat less conservative, as can be ass-certained.

And there's a 12-minute video (in HD, no less) of the show right here.  Not for the faint of heart.

This review said: 

"The perfect combination of sweet and sexy, the Zahia Dehar catwalk consisted of cupcakes and corsets aplenty, with models emerging from deliciously decorated giant cakes. These girls definitely know how to make an entrance!"

 More pictures of the collection, and this comment:

"Do you like what you see? I think her designs are awesome. These are not your ‘average’ push up bra and panty lingerie from your ‘favorite store.’

I should say so.  Does Zahia have talent as a fashion designer?  I don't really think an opinion is warranted.  Should it be?  That's probably missing the point of all this.

This place really does exist

Some places in this world seem too improbably wonderful to be real. 

This railway bridge in the Swiss Alps (image from National Geographic) is one of them.