3 weeks in limbo

Two weekends of travel, plus a 3 day celebration of my birthday last weekend, took me away from these efforts but I suppose now I'm back. What have I missed?

England destroyed by Australia (that is far too mild a term to describe what happened) in the Ashes.

Arsenal do nothing in the transfer market. Lather, rinse, repeat.

USA defeated by Mexico and referee. See above.

I'll quickly share my thoughts on each of these things:

Ravi Bopara should not be allowed to bat 3rd for England. What he did in the Fourth Test was so terrible, so wretched, so embarrassing, that it actually is beyond belief. When do you stop beating your head against a wall expecting it not hurt? What is worse about what he did was the ripple effect it had on the rest of the batsmen, forcing ever-desperate displays. If he plays in the Fifth test, write it off. His confidence is in ruins.

Arsenal--I don't know. I don't know what to think anymore. I am to the point where I say, "Would you please just overpay for a decent centre-half so we can move on?" The angst of this summer is hurting the supporters. It's sickening, really. Not that I have any claim on what Wenger ought to do--by sickening I mean that it causes tension, stress, and feelings of unease that are translated by the mind into nausea and headaches. Stop making me sick, Arsene! I don't have health insurance!

A very different reaction from the USA v. Mexico match--white-hot anger. Why is it OK for opposing players to grab an injured player and try to drag him to his feet by his head? Why is it OK for an opposing player to sprint 40 yards and shove someone in the back at the endline? Why is it OK to throw debris, missiles, cups, and other nasty stuff at a visiting player? IF THE USA SUPPORTERS CONDUCTED THEMSELVES THIS WAY, FIFA WOULD BAN US. But when "they" do it, it's OK because it's "cultural." Oh, so you're saying that behaving like savages is part of their culture? Is that racist?

It's cowardly for FIFA to look the other way at the abuse that USA players have to endure. It's also disgusting. The USA will never be taken seriously, nor will the USA take the game seriously, until this stupid, childish, dimwitted double-standard is eliminated. The end.