The Oakland A's GM brought the Moneyball philosophy to MLB.
Views: 41
He certainly had an impact
Monthly Archives: October 2020
Excessive self-confidence isn’t necessarily a virtue
“[T]he macho allure of Mr. Trump is undeniable. He is forceful, wealthy and, most important, unapologetic. …
“They liked his strong style, his apparent confidence in his own opinions.”
I can’t help but be reminded of Carlyle’s portrait of Robespierre: “Of incorruptible Robespierre it was long ago predicted that he might go far, mean meagre mortal though he was; for Doubt dwelt not in him.”
Views: 59
Why there will be no pandemic relief bill: blame Mitch
Paul Krugman in the NYT: “You might think that Republicans would set the plutocratic imperative aside when the case for more government spending is compelling, whether it’s to repair our crumbling infrastructure or to provide relief during a pandemic. But all indications are that they believe — probably rightly — that successful government programs make the public more receptive to proposals for additional programs.
“That’s why the G.O.P. has tried so frantically to overturn the Affordable Care Act; at this point it’s clear that Obamacare’s success in cutting the number of uninsured Americans has created an appetite for further health care reform.
“And that’s why Republicans are unwilling to provide desperately needed aid to economic victims of the pandemic. They aren’t worried that a relief package would fail; they’re worried that it might succeed, showing that sometimes more government spending is a good thing. Indeed, a successful relief package might pave the way for Democratic proposals that would, among other things, drastically reduce child poverty.”
Views: 38
Poem of the day
Atomic Motions
by Titus Lucretius Carus (c. 99-55 BCE)
from Book II of De Rerum Natura
Cuius, uti memoro, rei simulacrum et imago
ante oculos semper nobis versatur et instat.
contemplator enim, cum solis lumina cumque
inserti fundunt radii per opaca domorum:
multa minuta modis multis per inane videbis
corpora misceri radiorum lumine in ipso
et vel ut aeterno certamine proelia pugnas
edere turmatim certantia nec dare pausam,
conciliis et discidiis exercita crebris;
conicere ut possis ex hoc, primordia rerum
quale sit in magno iactari semper inani.
dum taxat, rerum magnarum parva potest res
exemplare dare et vestigia notitiai.
Hoc etiam magis haec animum te advertere par est
corpora quae in solis radiis turbare videntur,
quod tales turbae motus quoque materiai
significant clandestinos caecosque subesse.
multa videbis enim plagis ibi percita caecis
commutare viam retroque repulsa reverti
nunc huc nunc illuc in cunctas undique partis.
scilicet hic a principiis est omnibus error.
prima moventur enim per se primordia rerum,
inde ea quae parvo sunt corpora conciliatu
et quasi proxima sunt ad viris principiorum,
ictibus illorum caecis inpulsa cientur,
ipsaque
sic a principiis ascendit motus et exit
paulatim nostros ad sensus, ut moveantur
illa quoque, in solis quae lumine cernere quimus
nec quibus id faciant plagis apparet aperte.
Views: 35
What could possibly go wrong?
President Donald Trump takes his Covid denial tour back to the campaign trail Monday as the tense final stretch of an election now three weeks away gets a fresh jolt with Senate hearings on his Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett.
Views: 25
Poem of the day
Seltsame Genossen
by Wilhem Jensen (1837-1911)
Ist das ein seltsamliches Gewander:
Ihr schritt noch eben vergnügt miteinander
Durch Wälder und Wiesen udn Sonnenschein;
Du siehst dich um—da gehst du allein.
Er blieb zurück am Weggelände,
Das Wort auf den Lippen, er sprach’s nicht zu Ende;
Ein wunderbarlich Gebahren, und doch
Scheint dein’s verwunderlicher noch.
Ganz ruhig gehst des Weges du weiter,
Hast schnell einen andern vergnügten Begleiter,
Und fröhlich wieder zieht ihr drein
Durch Wälder und Wiesen und Sonnenschein.
So geht’s eine Weile, das seltsam Wandern:
Dann kommt es an dich, dann hörst du die andern
Noch weiter lachen ins sonnige Land,
Und du bleibst einsam am Wegesrand.
Views: 37
Poem of the day
Whoso List to Hunt
by Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542)
Whoso list to hunt, I know where is an hind!
But as for me, alas, I may no more;
The vain travail hath wearied me so sore,
I am of them that furthest come behind.
Yet may I by no means my wearied mind
Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth afore
Fainting I follow; I leave off therefore,
Since in a net I seek to hold the wind.
Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt,
As well as I, may spend his time in vain.
And graven with diamonds in letters plain,
There is written her fair neck round about,
“Noli me tangere, for Caesar’s I am,
And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.”
Views: 34
Game of the week
Wesley So turned 27 on Friday.
Views: 39
Of course he did
Views: 137
I guess it must be October since the baseball playoffs have begun
As we near the end of the second round of Major League Baseball?s expanded playoffs, we thought it would be a good time to delve into what we?ve observed in thi?
Views: 34