This final note today, which comes with the observation that German chancellor Angela Merkel met with her Greek counterpart Prime Minister George Papandreou, at which Merkel said, in basically these words, that Germany will give Greece all necessary assistance.

Anyway, saw a piece in the New York Times yesterday by our every now and then commentator Todd Buchholz, in which he offers as good a reason as anybody for why the Germans will help Athens out: Passion, plain and simple. Not German passion, but Greek passion. Ouzo and dancing the day away. The Germans wish they had it, so they’ll help the Greeks keep it.