Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Game Losing Shot Worth Big Bucks

"It was a shot that meant nothing to some and everything to others."

The above quote is from this ESPN article which reports on the NCAA tournament game between Duke and UConn.  Though Duke lost, by one point, the last second Duke bank shot, which made the final score 79 - 78, in UConn’s favor, covered the spread and had a multi-million dollar sized impact on the betting.

"With approximately $100 million being bet on March Madness each year in Las Vegas and about $2.5 billion wagered online according to the FBI, the Duhon shot transferred anywhere from $30 million to $100 million from those who bet on UConn to cover the point spread to those who bet on Duke to cover, as estimated by those closely tied to the sports gambling business."

Via J. Bowen at No Watermelons Allowed.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/06 at 08:15 AM
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In Your Eye

Camille Paglia has a piece in Arion A Journal of Humanities and the Classics titled “The Magic of Images: Word and Picture in a Media Age." In the piece, Paglia looks at the effects of moving images, which assail us daily, now, as compared to fixed images, photographs, the printed word, etcetera, on today’s youth.  An excerpt.

"The visual environment for the young, in short, has become confused, fragmented, and unstable. Students now understand moving but not still images. The long, dreamy, contemplative takes of classic Hollywood studio movies or postwar European art films are long gone. Today’s rapid-fire editing descends from Jean-Luc Godard, with his hand-held camera, and more directly from Godard’s Anglo-American acolyte, Richard Lester, whose two Beatles movies have heavily influenced commercials, music videos, and independent films. Education must slow the images down, to provide a clear space for the eye. The relationship of eye movements to cognitive development has been studied since the 1890s, the groundwork for which was laid by investigation into physiological optics by Hermann von Helmholtz and Ernst Mach in the 1860s. Visual tracking and stability of gaze are major milestones in early infancy. The eyes are neurologically tied to the entire vestibular system: the conch-like inner ear facilitates hand-eye coordination and gives us direction and balance in the physical world. By processing depth cues, our eyes orient us in space and create and confirm our sense of individual agency. Those in whom eye movements and vestibular equilibrium are disrupted, I contend, cannot sense context and thus become passive to the world, which they do not see as an arena for action. Hence this perceptual problem may well have unwelcome political consequences."

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/06 at 08:01 AM
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How Much Was Spent to Figure This Out?

“Lack of Vigorous Exercise Primary Factor in Adolescent Obesity."

And, according to the article, just four to twelve minutes a day of exercise can make the difference.  Jumping jacks, begin.

"Although this is a seemingly small difference, these adolescents are getting four to 12 minutes of vigorous activity daily and this type of activity burns a lot of energy,” Patrick said."

Posted by John Venlet on 04/06 at 07:34 AM
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Can Beauty Soothe the Savage Beast?

There are not many among us who cannot appreciate beauty in one form or another, and throughout history, beauty has been much commented on and recognized.  Though men can be described as beautiful, especially if you are reading Greek or Roman histories, women, generally, carry the moniker beautiful with much more grace than men.  At least in my opinion.

Yahoo News has an article up titled “Opening Afghan Eyes With Mascara and Beauty Classes" which looks at Revlon’s, L’Oreal’s, and Clariol’s investment in teaching Afghan women about beauty.  Can this investment in beautifying Afghan women yield positive results for the country?  It’s possible, but, keep in mind the story of Cleopatra and Antony’s groveling before her beauty and charms.

I was made aware of this Afghan beauty revival via this post at Bad Eagle in which Yeagley also reminded me that Artaxerxes ran a beauty pageant, of sorts, which can be read about in the book of Esther in the Christian Bible.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/06 at 05:49 AM
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A New Book

Oriana Fallaci has a new book available titled The Strength of Reason. It’s not listed on Amazon, yet, but I would bet it will be in the not too distant future.  The article that brought this to my attention is titled “New Book Calls Europe ‘Province of Islam’." There must be some truth to Fallaci’s new book because,

"A group in France unsuccessfully sought to stop distribution of the book, while two other associations have requested that it carry a warning."

I enjoyed Fallaci’s book The Rage and the Pride, so I’ll be looking for this newest work when it becomes available here in the U.S.

Via Daniel Medley at Lobowalk.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/06 at 05:11 AM
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Defining Edible

I’ve never read any of Ambrose Bierce’s work.  Heck, I never even heard of him until I stopped by the blog AnalPhilosopher. But I do get a kick out of some of the definitions being posted from Bierce’s The Devil’s Dictionary.

"Edible, adj. Good to eat, and wholesome to digest, as a worm to a toad, a toad to a snake, a snake to a pig, a pig to a man, and a man to a worm.

(Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary, c. 1911)

Posted by John Venlet on 04/06 at 05:00 AM
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Monday, April 05, 2004

Competition to be Cool

What’s that old adage about friends and money?  Something along the lines that you’ll know your friends still think you’re cool if they hang with you when the money is gone?  Okay, that’s a poor paraphrase, but it can’t be any worse than this little Michigan program Jennifer Granholm is selling by giving away Michigan tax dollars.

"Visions of trendy nightspots, outdoor cafes and expanded cultural events will be put on paper this month as Michigan cities compete for 12 slots in Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s Cool Cities Pilot Program."

It kind of sounds like a version of American Idol, except it’s cities competing, and the winnings are taken from Michiganians pockets.  I wonder which Michigan city will be the William Hung entry?

Via The Soapbox Senate.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 12:51 PM
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He's Got That Right

"The politician’s ultimate necessity, as we’ve mentioned before, is an enemy. Hence, the Democrats have the Republicans, and vice-versa. No one seems to be able to differentiate the policies of the two parties, except in the most abstract terms, but never mind. The enemy can be blamed for your own mistakes, and provides a justification for an enhancement of your power. The left wing needs the right wing for the same reason. The “enmity” existing between the wings is like that which existed between Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, or Abbot and Costello. Only we’re not laughing."

Dr. Paul Hein, retired ophthalmologist, writing for LewRockwell.com in a piece titled “Wings Are For The Birds."

Via Strike The Root.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 11:08 AM
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Moral Dimensions vs. Economic Order

Very interesting paper written by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. titled “Morality and Economic Law: Toward a Reconciliation." The paper, delivered at Austrian Scholars Conference, 2004, examines the church’s influence on economics and whether its influence should, in actuality, be an influence.  A couple of excerpts.

"My critics notwithstanding, the primary claim I am making is not that there is no moral dimension to the economic order. Fraud, theft, and malicious failure to meet contractual obligations are crimes that amply merit the condemnation of the moral theologian. Moreover, one can raise no objection when a churchman expresses his concern regarding the material well-being of families and suggests that morally licit methods of improving it should be pursued. My point is simply this: as soon as he recommends the best or most effective way to carry out that intention—via minimum wages, various mandated benefits, heavy taxation on the wealthy, or whatever—he is entering a field in which his conclusions must be evaluated not on the basis of his authority as a churchman but instead on the rigor of the argument he makes on their behalf."

And this.

"Economics does not contain all the answers of life, nor does it claim to. It does, however, show how the morally acceptable desire for profit leads to spontaneous social cooperation that obviates the need for a bloated state apparatus to direct production. It shows us the fascinating mechanisms by which peaceful social cooperation, without the initiation of physical force, leads to overall prosperity. This means less disease, more leisure time to spend with our families, and greater opportunities to enjoy the good things of civilization."

The paper will take some time to read, but is worth spending the time with.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 09:15 AM
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Love on a Monday Lasts all Week Long

Jeff Jacoby has recently adopted a son, from Guatemala.  He pens a note to his firstborn son, Caleb, about this change in the home situation, which is posted at Townhall.com.

I come from a large family, I have five brothers and two sisters, and, as Jacoby mentions in his piece, there was always enough love to go around.

Congratulations Jeff.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 08:00 AM
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"Budget Hangliding"

"Police say Michael Gurwell intentionally jumped from the fifth floor fire escape Saturday night while holding a neon kite with an 8-foot wingspan."

Must not have been very good updraft.

At the Darwin Awards.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 07:38 AM
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Looking for Answers

Rev. Donald Sensing and Kevin at The Smallest Minority are looking for answers to the question of the loss of freedom.  The question.

"Believing what we believe, is it moral for us to let it happen without standing up and pledging our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to fight it? I have grandchildren. What do I owe them?"

Via Musings of the Geek WithA.45.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 06:11 AM
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Buying By The Gallon

Tyler Cowen looks at a Gregg Easterbrook piece which examines John Kerry’s energy plan.  He then compares Easterbrook’s thoughts to Nick Schultz’s, and he also provides some cost comparisons as the hand wringers berate the $2.12 cost per gallon of gas around San Diego.

"At the big-box retail outlets Sam’s Club and Costco, ketchup sells for about $0.04 an ounce or $5.12 a gallon — a little more than twice the price of gas.

But that’s not the best comparison. Americans typically don’t buy gas in bulk the way they buy foodstuffs at Costco. Ketchup at a retail grocery store is $0.16 an ounce meaning it rings in at an impressive $20.48 a gallon, almost ten times what gas costs.

Gas is also cheaper than orange juice ($6.64 a gallon), Snapple ($10.32 a gallon); olive oil ($51.04 a gallon), eye drops ($995.84 a gallon) and nasal spray ($2,615.28 a gallon) according to figures from the Department of Labor, Consumer Price Index."

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 05:49 AM
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From the "This Can't Be True, Can It?" Files

The title to the Samizdata post is “Very Dim Sums." The post links to this story which informs us,

"Yum cha restaurants in Chinatown will now have to train workers who push food carts to pass a “driving licence” under new regulations from Sydney City Council."

You want fork with that?

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 05:33 AM
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Professional Courtesy Follies

Instapundit has posted various links to professional courtesies being offered to those in the know.  Those in the know, are, of course, government hangers on.  An example from the post.

"The law requires everyone to follow the speed limit and other traffic regulations, but in Suffolk County, exceptions should be made for cops and their families, police union officials say.

Police Benevolent Association president Jeff Frayler said Thursday it has been union policy to discourage Suffolk police officers from issuing tickets to fellow officers, regardless of where they work.

“Police officers have discretion whenever they stop anyone, but they should particularly extend that courtesy in the case of other police officers and their families,” Frayler said in a brief telephone interview Thursday. ‘It is a professional courtesy.’"

Move along comrade, there’s nothing to see here.

Update: Professional courtesy in action, for the Governor of Pennsylvania. Via Strike the Root.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/05 at 05:15 AM
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