Changing of the Guard

Not to deride the effort of the Americans, but two thoughts: 1) the US had no edge yesterday, leading me to think they took their 4 point advantage as insurmountable.  They should have remembered Brookline, where they came back from 4 down.   2) the impressive play for the US side came from the younger players. Love's addition of Stricker was of no use.  Woods played not to lose.  While Mickelson and Bradley played well the first two days, kudos belonged to Bradley.  For the next Ryder cup, let's limit the team to those under 30. 

Here's Another Question

Who is the target group for Dr. Pepper 10?  It runs on local sports radio and prides itself on being a manly diet drink.  So it's aimed at men, not women.  But of the men in the world, who's going to switch from their preferred soda to Dr. Pepper 10?  I would assume it's those who drink Diet Dr. Pepper.  That can't be a big target audience!

Asymmetrical Information

One of my favorite bloggers, Megan McArdle, is back blogging.  She's now at The Daily Beast. Prior to that, she wrote for The Atlantic and before that, The Economist.  Check her out.  Here's a good example.   

What Has Me Thinking

At the end of  Plato's Apology, Socrates argues that he should not fear death because death is either a cessation of consciousness or a blessing: he'll get to spend his days post mortem speaking with his heroes. I've always used this as an example of a false dilemma in logic class.  My question: does it have any evidential value for the nonbeliever, i.e.  if we only look at evidence available through mere human effort, does the good man have reason to think nothing bad will happen after death?  Let me know your thoughts.   

Gambling Assumes a Fair Game

The fact that one online betting site is refunding money to those who bet on the Packers says more about the wisdom of the NFL to use replacement referees than anything else!

Update:  Oops!  The refund applies to non-Americans only!  Sorry about that!

The Rule of Law

Events in the NFL are a perfect illustration of what occurs when people lose faith in the ability of government to rule justly and fairly.  The major difference: the NFL owners could solve their problem swiftly.  Once a government has gone corrupt, the way out is treacherous.

Presidential Beer

I've blogged about the White House beer before.  Here's one attempt at using the recipe. I'd be very surprised if the President actually came up with the recipe, although pleasantly so. 

Watch "A Toy Train in Space" on YouTube

Carrie Nation Would Be Proud

Alabama raids a soon-to-open store for carrying.............................................[wait for it]............................................................................................brewing supplies!  Seems you can drink beer in Alabama, cook with beer in Alabama, do a keg stand, but you can't brew it yourself.  Hank Hill just gave an inaudible sigh.

Quandary

I want to see the new Resident Evil movie but I'm on a tight budget.  Tough call.  [btw, I know watching this series is akin to eating circus peanuts for nutrition, but I can't help it]

Justice

From the Washington Post's article on the Inspector General's report on the Fast and Furious Operation:

"While the report criticized officials in Washington, it said Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. had no advance knowledge of the tactics and risks involved in the operation."

Is it just me, or is this sentence intentionally unclear?  Did he know of the operation and not understand the risks?  Or did he not know of the operation?  Who's running DOJ?  

Update:  NBC and others state the IG found no evidence that Holder knew of the operation.  Hence, it was not him running DOJ, at least in this instance.  Why is it that Attorney Generals always seem to produce presidential heartburn?

Political Prisoners

The violence in Egypt and Libya can be contrasted with an event that occurred today in Washington D.C.: Aung San Suu Kyi received her Congressional Gold Medal, awarded to her in 2008.  Suu Kyi had spent roughly fifteen years under house arrest in Burma for her activities in support of democracy.  Her courage in the face of confinement and threats is an inspiration to us all.

It also should cause us to reflect on the fate of all political prisoners in the world, from the US to North Korea.  Organizations such as Amnesty International are to be commended for their work in keeping these prisoners in the public's eye. 

And, on a positive note, Suu Kyi's resistance shows us that sometimes even brutal political systems can be resisted and overcome through an act of individual will.

Physics for Phun

As a pyrrhonist, I enjoy thinking of the possible, as opposed to the actual.  Hence I get a big kick out of What If? , a website devoted to thinking of the probable physical consequences of improbable (maybe even physically impossible) events, sent in by readers.  Today's page, for example, is devoted to the question,"What if a rainstorm dropped all of its water in a single drop?"

It's done by Randall Munroe, a physics grad, who also does the XKCD comic strip.  Try either out if you're so inclined. 

Can School Districts Run a Deficit? Part II

Earlier, I had asked this question because my automobile tax showed a charge for "District 7 Prior Year Deficit."  The auditor's office informed me that this was under the purview of the School Board.  Looking through the old minutes, I found reference to Act 388.  This act got a lot of attention at the time, because it replaced some property tax funding for schools in favor of a one percent sales tax increase.  It also allows, on a 2/3 vote of a school board, an increase in millage to cover a deficit.  So here's the basis in law, but I still haven't found the minutes in whcih the Board approved this. 

One takeaway from this: make sure you're informed about what's going at your local school board!

A Nerdy, But Cool, Keg

Courtesy of Deadspin.:  

ESPN Theme

Deadspin has an interesting piece that includes an interview with John Colby, who came up with the ESPN musical theme. 

Politics and Pop Culture

Just thought I'd pass this on:  a YouTube video of future governor Jennifer Granholm on the Dating Game.  Sorry no cheesecake, e.g. naked pictures of princesses.

The US Apology

I couldn't have said it better.  Thanks Ken at Popehat!

Gone for 2 Days

Flying out for a committee meeting...back Friday!

The Future of Public Funding?

Terry Teachout, Wall Street Journal's drama critic and composer, has an interesting article on the Detroit Institute of Arts.  I recommend it to you, in part because Teachout is a gifted writer but also because it illustrates some of the inventive ways public institutions are working with the new reality: lower government appropriations and subsidies.  The institute's solution was to ask for a local tax, but in return give everyone in the tax district free membership to the museum.  This type of specific quid pro quo might become popular.

Your Rosie Ruiz Moment

Although his was unintentional.

Irritating Radio Ads

I know that some ads can be effective even while off-putting--think Mr. Whipple and his Charmin---but I'm wondering if the same is true on the radio.  There's a certain ad on Yahoo radio regarding fantasy football that drives me insane.  Every time it comes on I immediately switch to ESPN radio and leave it there.  My questions: Is this phenomenon common and if so, is it something radio stations take into account?

Philosophy Cartoon of the Day

From Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

MMA

Not Mixed Martial Arts.  Mixied Media Attempts! Kevin at Lowering the Bar tells us about a lawyer who wished to submit an amicus brief to a case involving the Department of Justice.  The judge would only allow 5 pages, whereas his brief was 55 pages.  Solution? Write a comic strip!

Using visual media to communicate serious ideas can be productive.  One philosophy professor I know uses Xtranormal in his introductory classes, where the students present a philosophical issue in dialogue form.  To combine the written with the visual--and to do it well--requires serious cogitation. 

A Contrast Between Leaders

Vladimir Putin takes flight in a motorized delta plane to watch cranes.  Angela Merkel drinks a large mug of beer.     Quick: who would you rather lead your country?  Answer: I'll take the beer drinker any day.  Putin has guts, for sure, but his aeronautical adventure shows he's willing to risk his life, thereby throwing his country into momentary chaos.  Merkel takes time to enjoy the safe and the pleasant.   And we all know, 
BEER SAVED THE WORLD!

The Lovely Bones

My granddaughter convinced me to watch The Lovely Bones the other day.  While one could discuss the implicit theology in the movie, I'm more focused on two questions: 1) How did the serial killer dig a subterranean room in the middle of a barren cornfield at night with a hand shovel and get rid of all the dirt without anyone observing him?  2) How did the serial killer get a safe-a safe that was so heavy he needed help rolling it into a pit--quickly out of his basement into his car without any help?  Suffice it to say if you're thinking about watching this movie to pass the time, just keep on moving.  There's nothing to see here.

Ivory and the Drug War

The New York Times has a video on the increasing destructive trade in ivory.  While there are certainly unique circumstances in the area, there are many similarities between banning drugs and banning ivory.  Both bans increase the lucrativeness of the trade.  At the same time, those who engage in the banned trade have an added incentive to use violence.  And in both, the governmental response calls for increased militarization of the police.   Finally, there seems to be no endgame in sight. 

Cartoon of the Day

From Dan Piraro at Bizarro Blog!

A New Experience

A first yesterday: I was blessed to be able to hold my first great grandchild.  Pics to follow, I'm sure.