Morning in Santa Monica

Morning in Santa Monica with the waves of the Pacific Ocean coming in.

The morning mist hasn't really lifted yet, but soon the sun will burst through. It will be a warm day.

I'm here to give the commencement address at this year's graduation ceremony at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. It might well be the world's leading institution when it comes to education in policy analysis.

New PhD's from all over the world will graduate here today. And have to listen to my remarks - among others.

But it will be a short stay. More or less immediately after the ceremonies I'm heading the few miles to LAX to catch a flight back to Europe.

In the meantime, the fate of Sweden in the World Cup might well have been decided.

It does not seem to be such an enormous issue here in California, although the Sports Section of Los Angeles Times does mention it, and I notice that the game can be seen on both Channel 7 in English and Channel 34 in Spanish here.

And LA Times own prediction for the game is that Germany will win with a single goal, perhaps in overtime.

Whether the beaches, streeets and schools of Southern California will be deserted remains however to be seen.