tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8641615214429833552024-03-05T18:28:04.383-06:00Blogged Down in DetailsMy views on all the news I choose to use.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-21911637975751593262009-07-09T12:25:00.005-05:002009-07-09T13:05:02.608-05:00Harry Towb: Man of MysteryAround 40 years ago, a man was trying to pay bills. To that end, he played a part, the cook, in the movie "Patton."<br /><br />Some 35 years later, at the suggestion of my brother-in-law, Matt, I watched the movie "Patton." Immediately, I was fascinated by it. Not only that, but I was wondering where I had seen one of the characters, the cook, before.<br /><br />I checked the credits. Nothing listed for the cook.<br />I checked <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066206/" target="window">IMDB</a>. Nothing listed for a cook. (Surprisingly, though, Harry Morgan did get credit, even though he wasn't in the movie.)<br /><br />I asked the missus, who is a trivia fan and a librarian. Nothing.<br />I asked siblings; especially the trivia fans. Nothing.<br />I went to the public library. They suggested I try the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.<br />I contacted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They said they didn't know, but would send me the roster for the movie. I received that roster on September 12, 2006.<br />I did more online research using the roster. Nothing.<br />The missus did more research using the roster. She found the e-mail address for one of the other bit players in the movie.<br />I sent an e-mail message to said bit player. Nothing.<br /><br />The entire quest was put on the back burner. Except, every once in a while, I tease my trivia fanatic brother, Jon, with the question: Who played the cook in "Patton"?<br /><br />One of the times I did that was yesterday, July 8, 2009. Later that day, I read a note from him, quoting <a href="http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/movies-television/41258-cast-blue-max-where-they-now.html" target="window">a web site</a>:<br /><blockquote>Northern-Irish actor Harry Towb, who played Kettering in "The Blue Max", also has a very brief role in "Patton". He plays the American GI cook who gets chewed out by Patton for not wearing a proper uniform and helmet. His one memorable line is something like "Hell, general, I'm a cook!". He sounds very American to me. The second or third time I saw "Patton", I finally recognized good old Kettering again...</blockquote><br /><br />Jon solved the mystery: Harry Towb played the cook in "Patton." Again, Harry Towb played the cook in the movie "Patton."<br /><br />Now, there's suddenly a void where they was once a quest. I need a new one. <br /><br />Of note, I checked Harry Towb's IMDB resume. Other than "Patton," I haven't seen any of Harry Towb's work. The entire quest was based on a mistaken identity (I may have been thinking of Johnny Haymer.)<br /><br />Let me repeat that:<br /><br />More than three years of searching, utilizing the services of at least 4 people, an e-mail account, and the United States Postal Service; all for a mistaken identity.<br /><br />Unless, of course, there are other things missing from his IMDB resume.<br /><br />I should check on that.<br /><br />And have a good day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-38108188480849974642009-07-05T17:54:00.004-05:002009-07-05T18:17:16.480-05:00The Words of GodSlowly, but surely, I'm trying to read my way through the Bible. Never have before; probably never will again. It's pretty long, so I may not even make it through this time.<br /><br />I did read far enough, though, to have a new favorite Old Testament verse: Exodus 25: 4. The problem is that there are many versions of the Bible and I may be the only one with the version with the fun wording of this verse (Revised Standard Version). Here is how it reads in my Bible:<br /><blockquote>Blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, goats' hair</blockquote><br />God used the word "stuff"? How cool is that? The guy who starts every other sentence with the words "thou shalt" used the word "stuff."<br /><br />So, until I get to the part where God asks Samson to hand him "that whachamajiggy" or informs Isaiah to add a "doohickey to the altar," I think I'm set for my favorite Bible passage for a while.<br /><br />What a treat!<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-55748161900344776162009-06-17T11:18:00.001-05:002009-06-17T11:25:39.127-05:00Refreshing combo boxes in Microsoft Access VBAFor those of you using <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">VBA</span> in Microsoft access and need to refresh a combo box, I've figured out how to do it.<br /><br />Add a button or create an event in the combo box properties. For the event, just set the row source for the combo box (Even though it will just be the same table, it will still use the updated information)<br /><br /><br /> Combo87.<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">RowSource</span> = "SELECT [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tablename</span>].field1, [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tablename</span>].field2, [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tablename</span>].Field3, [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">tablename</span>].Field4 FROM [<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">tablename</span>] ORDER BY [field];"<br /><br />You can get the select statement from zooming in on the current setting for the row source.<br /><br />And have a good dayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-41991786290670464492009-05-07T12:34:00.004-05:002009-05-15T21:42:13.615-05:00An Examination of Take-Home TestsI'm taking Economics 113 this semester. On Monday, we have our mid-term exam. Last class session, a student asked the professor if it could be open book. The professor asked the student to, since this is an economics class, give the costs and benefits of an open-book exam. A back-and-forth ensued. The professor said, since it is more likely that a student would study less and watch American Idol more, the exam would not be open-book. However, it will be open-notes. I'm not sure if he believes students should not be allowed to Idol in particular or enjoy entertainment in general.<br /><br />Upon reflection, here are my thoughts, economic and otherwise, on the open-book debate. These thoughts came after the class and I said nothing during the exchange.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">IF</span> it can be assumed that a student will watch Idol instead of studying, it can also be assumed that one or both of two things economic perceptions are in place for the student:<br /><ol><li>the student sees more value in watching American Idol than it doing well on an exam</li><li>the student sees little marginal benefit in an hour of Idol is more than the marginal benefit in studying</li></ol>It may be of no surprise that I concluded there is little or no perceived benefit to the student to take an exam. And that may be true. You do not learn anything taking a closed-book exam. (If we assume the student will watch Idol, is it not fair to assume the student will not go back and study his/her incorrect answers?) You get a grade, but you could have gotten a grade through several of many other arbitrary means: homework, presentation, papers, class participation, etc. An exam, itself, is not mandatory for grading. The only thing the student gains from an exam is experience in a very specific and uncommon stress situation--the stress of remembering things and verbally regurgitating them onto a piece of paper during an allotted amount of time in a specific place. I don't have the facts on this, but I'm betting the post-mortem for the Bay of Pigs crisis did not include the phrase, "unfortunate that POTUS did not have more closed-book exams in school."<br /><br />So, the student does not benefit from the exam. So why take the exam? Because the professor wants you to. Since you are, to a large degree, a captive audience, you do what the professor wants, to a large degree.<br /><br />So the question goes back to the professor. What is the value in an exam? What is the marginal benefit? Is it worth the time it took for you to write it up? Why do you want the student to take the exam?<br /><br />I've come up with three reasons (other than "I was told to" or "I dunno; seemed like the thing to do") for a professor to want students to take an exam:<br /><ul><li>To quantify what a student can memorize and verbally regurgitate</li><li>To quantify what the student understands about the material</li><li>To make sure the student is exposed to the key objectives for the course</li></ul>For the rote memorization reason, it would have to be closed book. I don't see another way to test memory; but I also don't see how that's an indicator of how well a student understands material.<br /><br />To quantify what the student understands about the material, it should be open book or open notes. You can understand a concept without knowing the jargon. You can understand how to use a formula without having it memorized. Open the book/notes so the student has access to the jargon and formula and can more clearly explain what he/she knows and understands.<br /><br />To make sure the student is exposed to the key "talking points," if you will, no test is needed. Just give it as homework. Create a list of questions about the most important items discussed during the course of the course and tell the student the due date. If the student doesn't know it, the student learns it. If the student already knew, the time saved could be enough to watch an episode of American Idol.<br /><br />Unfortunately, since I now understand that an exam is of no benefit to me, I have trouble taking them seriously. If you think that grades are important, then my economics course was very costly to me. I hope my prof can live with that.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-75282079055838072302009-03-26T21:24:00.003-05:002009-03-26T21:44:13.915-05:00NFL Considers Expanding SeasonAs reported by many news outlets, the NFL is considering expanding the regular season from 16 to 17 or 18 games. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Commissioner</span> Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Goodell</span> did some spin doctoring, saying the season was 20 games long, but that's including preseason games--which help determine which players should make the team and help the team prepare for when the games count. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Goodell's</span> plan would keep the total at 2o by subtracting from the preseason the number of games added to the regular season.<br /><br /><blockquote>"Fans don't believe preseason games are up to our standards"</blockquote>That's what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Goodell</span> said, regarding the necessity to shift some preseason games to the regular season. The point that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Goodell</span> misses is that the problem fans have with the preseason is that the NFL charges full price for them when they are not meant to be the same importance as regular season games.<br /><br />I have three questions for Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Goodell</span>:<br /><ol><li>With the expanded injury list coinciding with the expanded schedule, do you really want the players who would be playing in the lower-standard 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> preseason games to be the players playing in the Super Bowl.</li><li>By expanding the season both in length and later into February, do you run the risk of over-saturation--losing the casual fans and the television ratings they bring</li><li>How does the expanded schedule "grow the game" on the field? (I understand how it grows the owners' pocketbooks, but how will it improve the game itself?)</li></ol>That said, I sure won't mind watching another week of games each year. Just start the regular season in August instead of extending it so the Super Bowl is in February.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-63540616271172106502008-09-01T20:08:00.003-05:002008-09-01T20:19:14.292-05:00The Ol' College EffortI start classes next week. At least, I hope to. I'm having difficulty figuring out what day of the week one of my evening classes meets.<br /><br />The registrar's office says it meets one day. The syllabus says another day. We received an e-mail message from the professor who claimed it was a third day.<br /><br />Along with that, the bookstore wants us to buy the eighth edition of the textbook. The prof mentioned in his syllabus that the bookstore wants us to buy the sixth edition, but we should buy the fifth edition. The fifth edition is from 2000. <br /><br />Topping it all off is the name of the class: Principles of Management.<br /><br />If that isn't a clear statement on the state of management these days, I don't know what is.<br /><br />But, on the bright side, this is why we can so enjoy Dilbert.<br /><br />And have a nice day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-67441430236192386542008-08-26T20:54:00.003-05:002008-08-26T21:10:46.689-05:00Baseball's Instant ReplayBaseball is introducing their version of instant replay. This is needed, you see, because several months back there was a home run which was ruled not a home run. Or not a home run which was ruled a home run. Who can remember?<br /><br />This is vitally important to the game, you see. What would happen if, in game seven of the World Series, an umpire made a mistake? For, like, 2 weeks, people would care. Maybe.<br /><br />I actually don't care one way or the other about instant replay. What I've enjoyed is that no one's taking the conversation any deeper. Most seem to be in favor of instant replay, but no one is asking the questions. Do we just do home runs? Do we do any call that a manager argues? Do we do something in between? Will that elephant in the room, er, stadium obstruct the view of the replay camera?<br /><br />In the end, of course, it doesn't matter. The entire point of it is that once or twice there was a slow sports news day. Sports radio had nothing else to talk about so they made it seem like the lack of instant replay was a crisis situation. In the future, there'll be a complaint about how instant replay was handled. It'll be a slow sports news day. And sports radio will have another crisis Du jour to talk about.<br /><br />So enjoy baseball. Enjoy instant replay. Enjoy the inevitable "crisis" which will come from it.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-81976416391924821142008-07-18T12:09:00.003-05:002008-07-18T12:16:14.206-05:00Izzy Stradlin - ConcreteAccording to Beenafix.com, Izzy Stradlin has a new album out: Concrete. It's only available, again, on ITunes.<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><br />Tracklist:<br /><br />1. Ball<br />2. Circle<br />3. Easy<br />4. Concrete<br />5. Drove<br />6. Ship<br />7. G.B.<br />8. Knuckleheads<br />9. I Know<br />10. Raggadubbacrete<br /> <br /><br />Source:<br /><br /><a href="http://beenafix.com/board/" target="window">www.beenafix.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.chopaway.com" target="window">www.chopaway.com</a></blockquote><br /><br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-19582373738526503762008-07-17T21:56:00.004-05:002008-07-17T22:14:21.908-05:00Campaigns and Web 2.0I found an article on CNN about how politicians are using Web 2.0 for their campaigns and how they're adding <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/15/modern.communication/index.html" target="window">Twitter to their stable of applications</a>. I was going to rant about how, based on the e-mails I receive from candidates, they'd probably just use it to bombard us with requests for money. <br /><br />However, I decided I should actually try Twitter so I could make an educated comment about it. Since I don't know a whole lot of folks who use twitter, I subscribed to political campaign tweets. Bob Barr kept suggesting I check out the new videos on his site. BarackObama (the first one to sign up to follow me, by the way) kept telling me the locations of his campaign stops. I couldn't find a John McCain account. Ralph Nader was micro blogging about a map. Nary a call for money in the lot. So I was wrong. <br /><br />But I did think back to Bob Graham's 2004 campaign. I shudder to think of what Graham, who allegedly keeps a meticulous log of his daily activities anyway, would have put on Twitter. It's probably best to forget I even mentioned that.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-42663744079573090192008-07-08T11:35:00.003-05:002008-07-08T11:50:12.349-05:00Another View on "Web 2.0"After spending time with my Inbox Zero project, I've finally started catching up on some reading. In the March 2008 issues of <a href="http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/" target="window">Associates</a>, <a href="http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/?page_id=145" target="window">Carol Borzyskowski writes </a>about her and her library's experiences with <a href="http://23thingsonastick.blogspot.com/" target="window">23 Things on a Stick</a>, the Minnesota version of Library 2.0. I don't know that there's anything earthshaking in the column, but it is another view on 2.0. Word is spreading. <br /><br />I did find out, however, there are a few things in 23 Things with which I am not familiar. I'd better get busy learning. After I catch up on my reading. After I finish my Inbox Zero stuff.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-59523872349909059402008-06-28T11:36:00.004-05:002008-06-28T11:40:48.983-05:00Holiday ReminderJust a reminder that we have about 15 shopping days until the galactic holiday known as <a href="http://www.wentzmania.com/july140708.shtml" target="window">Mark Wentz's Birthday</a>. There are <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/markwentz" target="window">great gift ideas</a> out there for your loved ones. And don't forget to pre-order your doughnuts and pizza as there may limited quantities.<br /><br /><br />A friendly reminder from Wentzmania.com<br /><br />And have a good dayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-81058193861551138092008-06-02T14:24:00.004-05:002008-06-02T15:51:09.999-05:00Toward Zero E-mail MessagesSeveral weeks back, I listened to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">vodcast</span>/podcast/video/whatever of a <a href="http://depts.washington.edu/randtech/blog/2008/05/07/inbox-zero-towards-a-clean-and-sane-e-mail-life/" target="window">Merlin Mann lecture</a> on Inbox Zero. I guess the point is to have your e-mail inbox empty 10 minutes after you open it. I tried it; and I like it.<br /><br />I don't follow it to the letter, though. For instance, we're told to have only one archive for saved e-mail messages. Nope; I need more. I do try it keep it simple, but, as an e-mail message <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">archiver</span>, I have needs.<br /><br />The one hurdle I have yet to overcome are the short-term messages. I get messages that are important for, maybe, two weeks and then can be tossed. There isn't really a place for those in my system. Perhaps I should create a folder called "2 weeks" for those messages. Are there any problems a blog cannot solve?<br /><br />But, overall, it's refreshing to me to have an empty e-mail inbox. I feel like there is less hanging over me.<br /><br />Furthermore, I've been more free with my e-mail delete button. That's nice. So often, I don't really need an e-mail message but don't want to keep it either. Now, too bad. DELETE! Sorry, but that one guy said to.<br /><br />One other note on this. During the lecture, he told us to close our e-mail except for, perhaps, 10 minutes an hour. You waste time when you check e-mail as it arrives. It's better to blow through it all at once and be done with it for an hour. This also solves the problem of people expecting you to reply instantly. They only expect you to reply instantly if you let them expect you to reply instantly. If you stop replying instantly, they'll no longer expect it. Theoretically. Having your e-mail closed 5/6 of the time forces you to not reply instantly. There is one small problem with that.<br /><br />I'm the guy who expects instant replies to e-mail messages. Oops.<br /><br />Anyway, check out Inbox Zero.<br /><br />And have a good day!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-76495775902378416372008-04-15T20:17:00.003-05:002008-04-15T20:39:03.299-05:00golB yM tuobA thgiR t'niA gnihtemoSLong, long ago, David Rothman, of <a href="http://davidrothman.net/" target="window">David Rothman </a>fame, spoke to my group or organization about blogs and their usefulness to society. I, being the studious type, took notes. Included in the notes was a definition Mr. Rothman used for blogs. Blogs are a web page with "dated entries in reverse chronological order." Seems pretty simple, until you get to my other blog. For some reason, the blog has postings in reverse reverse chronological order, or, as I like to call it, chronological order. I see three parts to the definition. My blog missed by only one.<br /><br />I thought it was funny, but I still wanted it corrected. (My first post wasn't so great, you see.) So I went to wordpress' web page for help (as it is a wordpress blog). They blame my web host service--specifically, the host's version MySQL or something. Their suggestion, since someone else noted that the host (which we share) had a response of "it ain't my problem," was to ask for a refund and get a new web host.<br /><br />So, anyone with my web host be ready to ask for a refund, move to a new host, read backwards, or fail Mr. Rothman's simple definition.<br /><br />And have a nice day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-26881360718415603942008-04-06T20:20:00.004-05:002008-04-06T20:31:01.567-05:00Governor Heckles LibraryAccording to an <a href="http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=336144&z=16" target="window">article in the Rochester Post Bulletin</a>, Minnesota governor Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pawlenty</span> "scoffed" at the idea of a grant to the <a href="http://www.chatfieldband.lib.mn.us/library/" target="window"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Chatfield</span> Brass Band & Music Lending Library</a>. The library collects and loans sheet music. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Pawlenty</span> is quoted as saying a sheet music library "might be a nice idea, but is that a priority relative to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">zeroing</span> out the Veterans Home?"<br /><br />Perhaps someone might want to suggest to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Pawlenty</span> that both veterans' homes <strong>and</strong> libraries are valuable projects. He could try to fund both.<br /><br />And have a nice day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-15325424998923610912008-04-02T21:24:00.003-05:002008-04-02T21:42:24.838-05:00A Fine Description of BaseballNow that March Madness has become the Final Four and, for some reason, very few people are talking about their "brackets," we turn to the start of the baseball season.<br /><br /><br /><br />Minneapolis Star Tribune sports columnist Jim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Souhan</span> tells us in the April 2, 2008 print edition that Opening Day is not the best day in the baseball season. The best day is day 2, after all of the socialites have left and those who are actually baseball fans fill the stands--and will fill the stands for 6 months. He says "Among all of the entertainment options available to the American public, perhaps only baseball offers the prospect of a pleasant form of boredom." Well said.<br /><br />So to all you baseball fans out there, enjoy the boredom.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-29443103420031498762008-02-09T20:21:00.000-06:002008-02-09T20:49:14.465-06:00Shared Cognition and Group SatisfactionAnother article came through on my groupthink RSS feed:<br /><br />Park, Hee Sun. "The Effects of Shared Cognition on Group Satisfaction and Performance." Communcation Research. 2008 Feb; 35(1):88-108.<br /><br /><br />Okay, this article isn't about groupthink. In fact, it doesn't even mention groupthink. But it is still a good article and I learned from it.<br /><br /><br />I have two thoughts on it. First, it discusses two "conversational constraints: politeness and efficiency." In polite conversation, you are "mannerly, courteous, and respectful." In efficient conversations, you are "direct, immediate, and to the point, not wasting time, energy, effort, or steps." This may be not be news to people reading this, but it is news to me. I'd put this almost on par with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as an important tool for communication. Just as an INTJ needs to understand that an ESTP is going to go about communication differently; a polite conversationalist needs to understand the difference with an efficient conversationalist.<br /><br /><br />Second, the author goes on for several pages talking about how the study was probably inaccurate and why. I love that! Perhaps I spend too much time following politics, where saying you're wrong is not in the playbook, but I love that scientists openly admit being wrong. Even when there are no indications of being wrong, they still say, "this warrants further study."<br /><br />There's a certain level of being comfortable in your skin when you can say, "yeah, I believe this is correct, but double-check my work if you like."<br /><br /><br />A good read, and I learned a lot. But, rather than read this article, you might be better off reading the text on polite versus efficient conversation.<br /><br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-52889623407443798822008-01-29T21:15:00.001-06:002008-01-29T21:47:49.098-06:00State of the Union AddressI'll be honest. While I follow politics a bit, I tend to skip the speeches because they tend to not tell us anything. It's all show. So, I didn't watch last night's state of the union address. However, I did read about it in the newspaper. Two quotes caught my attention.<br /><br />First, about taxes.<br /><blockquote>Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome<br />their enthusiasm, and I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks<br />and money orders.</blockquote><br />This demonstrates the immaturity of Bush which will be a major part of his legacy. Of course, an uncoordinated and unpredictable influx of money will be of little use to the government. You can always do more as a group than as an individual. Some people are suggesting we, as a society, look at ways to improve lives. Bush can't understand that idea; thus the sarcastic remark toward those who have an ability to understand. <br /><br />The second quote is about trust:<br /><blockquote>So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise<br />decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures.</blockquote><br />Certainly not a bad philosophy. One thing gnaws at me whenever I read Republicans preaching about trusting the people. Trust never comes up when talking about abortion or same-sex marriage. In those two instances, suddenly it's the government's job to step in, regulate, and tell the people what to do. Oh yeah, and write up amendments to the Constitution. And the trust keeps rolling in.<br /><br />Yeah, after reading about the state of the union address, I feel secure in my decision to not watch political speeches. I'll listen to music, watch a television show, read a book, ... okay, okay, I'll surf the web.<br /><br />And have a good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">day</span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-81635695127652255062008-01-16T21:18:00.000-06:002008-01-17T09:55:17.896-06:00Groupthink and People Who Don't Get ItAn unfortunate article came through my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">groupthink</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">RSS</span> feed today.<br />Butler M. Our HR columnist: Work is a team sport--but beware of 'group think' that ignores the needs of the organization. People Management. 2007 Nov 29;13(24):43.<br /><br />This article is frustrating because Butler comes to the correct conclusion--beware of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">groupthink</span>--even though every step on the way to those conclusions is just a bit off. Instead of acknowledging groups need to be cautious, he suggests that teamwork can be hazardous. No one, to my knowledge, is warning against teamwork. We are warned that group dynamics need to be monitored.<br /><br />So, while Butler advises correctly that we need to be "eternally vigilant," I would not suggest promoting this article as ignorance seems to be the skeleton of the piece.<br /><br />If you don't have access to this article, feel comfortable in keeping it that way.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-57798160842144600502008-01-16T21:02:00.000-06:002008-01-16T21:17:58.038-06:00Groupthink and Citizen Juries in The NetherlandsA month ago, this article came across my groupthink RSS feed. <br />Huitema D, van de Kerkhof M, Pesch U. The nature of the beast: are citizen's juries deliberative or pluralist? Policy Science. 2007;40:287-311.<br /><br />To be honest, this article is over my head, but here is what I got out of it. Citizens' (as opposed to penal) juries are minipublics. The conclusion of the article is that you need to design a citizens' jury based on what you want to get out of the jury. Deliberative juries would need to be formed and processed one way while pluralistic juries would need to be formed and processed another way. <br /><br />Since juries are groups, precautions need to be taken to prevent groupthink. In a deliberative jury, special precautions need to be taken because there is a strong desire to build consensus. In a pluralist jury, there is a strong sense of authority which sends up a groupthink red flag.<br /><br />A good and interesting read, even though I didn't understand all of it. Some day I'll learn enough to keep up. I suggest giving the article a read.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-31002261843501480192008-01-11T18:53:00.000-06:002008-01-11T18:54:40.290-06:00Don't Make Me Turn This Web Browser Around<p>There is certainly a positive aspect in being a shack with no curb appeal on the information superhighway. It's rare that anyone is paying close enough attention to me to start some <a id="yg6-" title="blogosphere fisticuffs" href="http://davidrothman.net/2008/01/10/the-beauty-of-the-dialectial-process/" target="window">blogosphere fisticuffs</a> as we've seen this week. In case you missed it, David Rothman took issue with Dean Giustini's BMJ (British Medical Journal) editorial and gauntlets were thrown down.<br /></p><p>No, when even your own spouse never reads your blog you're pretty safe from blogfrontations. </p><p> </p><p>However, blog spats might be a pretty good focus for a blog. You know, just keeping tabs on which blog celebrities are feuding with other blog celebrities and putting the information out there for the world to take note. It should be a rollicking good time. Unless political blogs are involved; then it's an eye-rolling good time. (It used to be about the politics; now it's all politics.)</p><p> </p><p>The problem is, of course, the style in which these two are airing their grievances. Sharp, but respectful, comments in--as close as a blog will allow--a discussion. No good. There is only one true way for a geekery 2.0 (if you will) battle to commence: the Slayer application on Facebook and put the footage on YouTube (mind the tags!!!). Keep up with the times, fellows. </p><p> </p><p>And have a good day.</p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-42926267982778274772008-01-02T20:28:00.000-06:002008-01-02T20:48:10.941-06:00Group Think and Ethical DecisionsA recent article mentioning <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">groupthink</span>:<br />Prentice, RA. Ethical Decision Making: More Needed Than Good Intentions. Financial Analysts Journal 2007 Nov/Dec;63(6): 17-30.<br /><br />This article starts out reading like a litany of ways white collar criminals are victims: Obedience to Authority, Conformity Bias, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Incrementalism</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Groupthink</span>, Overoptimism, Overconfidence, Self-serving Bias, Framing, Sunk Costs, and Loss. However, at the end, it seemed more like a warning to financial analysts--telling what they're up against--before telling them how to steer clear of these demons. <br /><br />What devices can be used to avoid unethical decisions and practices? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Debiasing</span>, keeping ethics in the frame of reference, monitoring rationalizations, and acting courageously. Of course, if you want to know what all this jargon means, you'll need to read the article for yourself. I suggest you do, as it was a very good read and very informative.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-7027167191156837712007-12-20T20:08:00.000-06:002007-12-20T20:22:12.674-06:00The Death of a BaseballAccording to a story on Sports <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Illustrated's</span> web site, the ball used for the final out of the 2007 World Series went missing. But, the<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/12/20/world.series.ball/index.html" target="window"> mystery has been solved</a>. Pitcher Jonathan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Papelbon's</span> dog ate the ball. This sounds like one of those stories which ends a few days later with a follow up story saying it was all a joke. But, I hope it is true. A dog eating the world series baseball would be awesome!<br /><br />Near the end of the movie Patton, Patton says "There's only one proper way for a professional soldier to die: the last bullet of the last battle of the last war." Well, to my way of thinking, there are only three proper ways for a baseball to die. First, the family dog eating it (I spent much of my youth shaking dog drool off baseballs). Second, beaten apart until it gets too dark to play ball. Third, lost in the field of weeds next to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ball field</span>.<br /><br />Note that none of those proper ways includes the terms "glass case," "shelf," or "Hall of Fame display."<br /><br />So, hooray for Jonathan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Papelbon's</span> dog and for an honorable death of a baseball.<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-38134647734702968752007-11-30T21:31:00.000-06:002007-11-30T21:39:28.383-06:00Buying products made in the U.S.A.People often wonder how buy products made in the U.S.A. when we're bombarded with products made elsewhere and often in less than desirable conditions. Jim <a href="http://www.jimhightower.com/node/6273"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hightower</span> provided some web sites selling made in the U.S.A. in one of his commentaries</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usmadetoys.com/">http://www.usmadetoys.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.shopforamerica.com/home.php">http://www.shopforamerica.com/home.php</a><br /><a href="http://www.madeinusa.org/">http://www.madeinusa.org/</a><br /><br />I didn't verify that all of the products on the web sites are made in the USA, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Happy shopping!<br /><br />And have a nice day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-51508212719948265012007-11-30T21:21:00.000-06:002007-11-30T21:30:42.106-06:00Facebook UpdateAccording to the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7120916.stm" target="window">BBC, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span> backed off of its policy </a>of reporting member purchases on other sites. Supposedly, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span> wrote an apology letter to its members, but I never saw it. I'll need to evaluate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook's</span> response on the BBC account. The story quotes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Facebook</span> saying in the phantom letter "We are really trying to provide you with new meaningful ways, like Beacon, to help you connect and share information with your friends."<br /><br />Gosh, it would have been nice if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Facebook</span> had been honest: "We found a new way to make money but the backlash was more than we expected so now we're not making money that way."<br /><br />But, at least they will stop reporting what your friend bought you for Christmas.<br /><br />And have a nice day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864161521442983355.post-33543870144185228902007-11-28T21:13:00.000-06:002007-11-28T21:31:02.995-06:00MoveOn.org takes on Facebook<a href="http://civ.moveon.org/facebookprivacy/?rc=fb_front" target="window"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MoveOn</span>.org has started a petition </a>against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook</span> has allegedly started displaying what members have purchased from other sites. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MoveOn</span>.org calls it a privacy issue.<br /><br />As you may recall, we had another <a href="http://sns.mlanet.org/blog/2007/09/06/facebook-wants-to-go-public/" target="window">privacy issue with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Facebook</span> </a>earlier this year, where <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Facebook</span> planned to let search engines search member information. It looks like if you want information privacy you should stay away from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">facebook</span>.<br /><br />Looks like it's time to sign a petition and close my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">facebook</span> account. (or, at least, remove myself from certain groups ... like Minnesotans for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Favre</span> in '08)<br /><br />And have a good day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0