Yesterday, there was a lot of cars honking in Kreuzberg. At first, I chalked it up to the hundred or so wedding processions that happen every weekend of Alive Season (May-September), but after a while, I realized the events were too sporadic and dispersed. I also saw a lot of pastel shirts and high and tights in the participating cars, but whatever, that was just a piece of intelligence. My thoughts grew more national when I saw how animated even the most grizzled old Turks were.

My best guess at press time is that it was a celebration of Atatürk Day or something else beyond my ken, but when I saw the car doing 180 after 180 on Wrangelstrasse and waving a Turkish flag out the sunroof (and screaming funny epithets about how much they rule) at the time, my first thought was: World Cup. Turkey has slain Ghana in the friendlies or something like that. I guess that's just how prevalent football is here: people are excited? It must be the World Cup.

Well, here's another story to hammer it home -- in the face of encroaching globalism, unions are crusading for early work release on the days of important matches. The game starts at 15:00, so we'll need to get off at 14:00, change into our jerseys, and split a six-pack before we hit the Kniepe. Now maybe you'll understand how overbearing the pressure is in 2006, and why I can't stop talking about it, Poindexter though I am. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm taking off early -- got a game to catch. And don't tell me there's no game.