10 Things That Books (Not Movies) Taught Me About the Nazis

1. The decision to invade Russia was stupid only in retrospect.

2. They weren’t emotionless drones.

3. They weren’t a ruthlessly efficient killing machine.

4. (Despite what George Bush might say) Things aren’t easier in a dictatorship.

5. Nazi ideology was … flexible.

6. Along the lines of Point 5, the Nazis were neither Christian nor Atheist.

7. The holocaust didn’t just happen in concentration camps.

8. Despite the billion Hollywood movies about D-Day, north Africa, Italy and the Pacific, the deadliest (and arguably most important) front in the war was in Eastern Europe.

9. Many westerners preferred Hitler to the Communists.

10. Hitler’s early successes were the worst thing that could have happened to him.

Taken one at a time …

Actors Robbed of an Oscar, Part 2

Once again, an asterisk indicates that the actor was nominated for, but did not win, an Oscar.

• Peter O’Toole, My Favorite Year*

2012 Predictions (Late)

AL EAST

1. New York Yankees (93-69)
2. Boston Red Sox* (89-73)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (86-76)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (82-80)
5. Baltimore Orioles (68-94)

AL CENTRAL

1. Detroit Tigers (91-71)
2. Cleveland Indians (83-79)
3. Kansas City Royals (78-84)
4. Minnesota Twins (74-88)
5. Chicago White Sox (70-92)

AL WEST

1. Los Angeles Angels (96-66)
2. Texas Rangers* (93-69)
3. Seattle Mariners (76-86)
4. Oakland Athletics (68-94)

AL MVP:  Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
AL Cy Young:  Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox
AL Rookie of the Year:  Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
ALCS:  Angels over Yankees
WS:  Angels over Reds

NL EAST

1. Philadelphia Phillies (90-72)
2. Miami Marlins* (86-76)
3. Atlanta Braves (84-78)
4. Washington Nationals (79-83)
5. New York Mets (65-97)

NL CENTRAL

1. Cincinnati Reds (91-71)
2. St. Louis Cardinals* (89-73)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (84-78)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (78-84)
5. Chicago Cubs (73-89)
6. Houston Astros (63-99)

NL WEST

1. San Francisco Giants (83-79)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (81-81)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82)
4. Colorado Rockies (78-84)
5. San Diego Padres (66-96)

NL MVP:  Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
NL Cy Young:  Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
NL Rookie of the Year:  Devin Mesoraco, Cincinnati Reds
NLCS:  Reds over Phillies
WS:  Angels over Reds