"Hillary has big chunky thighs as well, that has to be considered"
So thats an excerpt from a conversation I witnessed in a scrabble room, at Scrabulous, waiting for my game to start. I will refrain from comment. [BTW my login is Sciolist, feel free to challenge me.] Speaking of Scrabble, I found an anagram puzzle game you can download free. Its excellent; each letter combo has at least one potential bingo. More on that later. Back to work - adjusting for risks and WACC.
Dabblings & Diatribes
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Where ya Bean?
I've discovered that there are 3 primary metrics for describing coffee: Body, Acidity, and Roast. This is good news, except that I haven't been able to discern variations in these qualities, yet. My taste buds are now on high-alert. My Ethiopian beans are claimed to have high acidity, moderate roast and body. Eh, I'm not much a fan of anything "acidic," so I'm eager to try a Sumatra brew. Sumatra Mandheling features low acidity, medium roast, and a heavier body. That sounds like what I would enjoy. According to RareCoffee.com, its full bodied with strong, earthy tones and a smooth cream finish." Ooh yea!
I've decided that somewhere out there exists the perfect beans! How many drinks will it take for me to find that perfectly compatible coffee blend? Whew. It seems my work here has only begun.
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe (2)
Today I brewed my newly acquired, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee beans. It's enjoyable; heavy bodied with very complex flavor. "This Ethiopian variety exhibits tones of tea rose and coffee blossom giving it a floral taste." I purchased a pound but only had half of it ground. Saving the beans to be ground later so I can preserve the freshness; I'm also contemplating employing the french press convention, which will require a slightly different grind.
The advice was "try the cheap beans BEFORE the Starbucks this time--appreciation factor will thus be enhanced rather than diminished." This strategy, as opposed to my previous experience - buying Verona Bold grinds and then stooping to Folgers; the cheaper and infinitely inferior alternative. Right, so I'm afraid its far too late for the appreciation factor to kick in now.
And I've had two cups already today :)
The advice was "try the cheap beans BEFORE the Starbucks this time--appreciation factor will thus be enhanced rather than diminished." This strategy, as opposed to my previous experience - buying Verona Bold grinds and then stooping to Folgers; the cheaper and infinitely inferior alternative. Right, so I'm afraid its far too late for the appreciation factor to kick in now.
And I've had two cups already today :)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Not having a car is less miserable than one might imagine. At least in Athens. Today I biked to my favorite coffee shop, Cups Coffee, and studied there a bit before proceeding to my home meeting...ON MY BIKE!!!!
Yes, that was gratifying. Its dangerous, especially riding after sunset. To an alarming extent, I enjoy the thrill of it biking 25mph (a speeding radar sign thing clocked me today), but risks are offset by the fact that I'm being environmentally-conscious; such a deep concern to me.
Today I caved and bought the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, named I believe after the city where it comes from. It was expensive, and chosen at random. Not all coffee tastes the same, but I don't have the experience to differentiate. So its basically pointless to try to evaluate my tastes when my experience in this world of fresh coffee is so limited. Tomorrow at 5:30am though...we'll find out what it means to drink coffee. And it should be good, since the status quo for the last 2 weeks has been Folgers. I'm about ready to dump that crap in the trash - its bland and if there is such a thing as synthetic coffee grinds...they embody it. Well I'm off. Waking up early requires you go to bed before 2am, a plan I'm at risk of compromising. Cheerio!
Yes, that was gratifying. Its dangerous, especially riding after sunset. To an alarming extent, I enjoy the thrill of it biking 25mph (a speeding radar sign thing clocked me today), but risks are offset by the fact that I'm being environmentally-conscious; such a deep concern to me.
Today I caved and bought the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, named I believe after the city where it comes from. It was expensive, and chosen at random. Not all coffee tastes the same, but I don't have the experience to differentiate. So its basically pointless to try to evaluate my tastes when my experience in this world of fresh coffee is so limited. Tomorrow at 5:30am though...we'll find out what it means to drink coffee. And it should be good, since the status quo for the last 2 weeks has been Folgers. I'm about ready to dump that crap in the trash - its bland and if there is such a thing as synthetic coffee grinds...they embody it. Well I'm off. Waking up early requires you go to bed before 2am, a plan I'm at risk of compromising. Cheerio!
Monday, April 14, 2008
dispatches from a library basement
Not all floors are created equal. It's true. The tenderfoot library-studying student would discount this observation as a trivial nuance; or may not notice at all. But as experience and exploration testify, each floor has its own atmosphere, patronage and character.
Want to study in a busy, open and well-lit area? Try the first floor - through the double doors and immediately to your right. You'll rarely be alone, and there's plenty of breathing room. Maybe you're hungry? You'll find the cafeteria has some bargains, and often you might overhear law students arguing over their interpretations of dicta from their latest tort case. It's a nice place to people-watch, one of my pass-times.
Maybe you want something a little quieter? Try going up a few floors. On the 4th and 5th floors you'll usually see the same people. Sometimes they're graduate students, sometimes greeks. But if you see somebody at one table, chances are you'll see them there again. These floors are slightly more quiet, but you still have the occasional disturbance of a librarian squeaking around with her cart full of books, or a bewildered student trying to figure out what happened to the GH135.13 section; you'll notice him circle the floor about three time, then possibly return with somebody from the help desk (if he's hasn't just given up). The mid-level floors sometimes have nice windows. And although the glare from outside light can make laptop use difficult, the view is amazing(ly distracting). Most of the tables are out in the open; don't sit next to a bathroom! But if you snoop around a bit you might just find a random table hidden among the rows and rows of books. (Look along the walls).
The 7th floor is a whole different animal. In my opinion, this is where the cool, artsy people study. The video archives are here, and I think some fashion design publications. Generally a higher art-content area than other floors. There's one hidden wing that can be a good area to study, but usually there are already people here.
Want to study in a busy, open and well-lit area? Try the first floor - through the double doors and immediately to your right. You'll rarely be alone, and there's plenty of breathing room. Maybe you're hungry? You'll find the cafeteria has some bargains, and often you might overhear law students arguing over their interpretations of dicta from their latest tort case. It's a nice place to people-watch, one of my pass-times.
Maybe you want something a little quieter? Try going up a few floors. On the 4th and 5th floors you'll usually see the same people. Sometimes they're graduate students, sometimes greeks. But if you see somebody at one table, chances are you'll see them there again. These floors are slightly more quiet, but you still have the occasional disturbance of a librarian squeaking around with her cart full of books, or a bewildered student trying to figure out what happened to the GH135.13 section; you'll notice him circle the floor about three time, then possibly return with somebody from the help desk (if he's hasn't just given up). The mid-level floors sometimes have nice windows. And although the glare from outside light can make laptop use difficult, the view is amazing(ly distracting). Most of the tables are out in the open; don't sit next to a bathroom! But if you snoop around a bit you might just find a random table hidden among the rows and rows of books. (Look along the walls).
The 7th floor is a whole different animal. In my opinion, this is where the cool, artsy people study. The video archives are here, and I think some fashion design publications. Generally a higher art-content area than other floors. There's one hidden wing that can be a good area to study, but usually there are already people here.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Pretense Explained
Today I decided that my newly-elected favorite word could easily be overused. It's a popular word in my vocabulary, but over-dependence on it word makes one guilty (or at least liable for accusation) of, well, pretense. So I turned to my trusty thesaurus, which I impulsively purchased last year while reading about law schools. Anyway, you can read the accolades at Meltzer's website, read the theory behind the book at the publishers website, and reader's reviews at Amazon.Anyway, back to pretentious. It's that word I want to use all the time, but can't because I've already used it recently. Probably we critical people who enjoy disparaging others like it more than the average person. So I decided to diversify my literary arsenal. Here's the fruit of my labour...
Pretentious
(as in pompous) adj: flatulent
(speech or writing) adj: fustian
(person on issues of grammar) n: grammaticaster
(self-important person or official) n: high muck-a-muck; hoity-toity; panjandrum
(esp. regarding speaking or writing style) adj: magniloquent, orotund
(pretentious but superficial knowledge of a subject) n: sciolism
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Narrative of the Negotiating Table
White: I believe I'd like to have this center area; its very strategic and the view is great.
Black: No, no you don't. You'd better let me settle here. My long term prospects are stronger if I can control this area. I'll be right across from you here, at E5; so you don't get any foolish ideas and try to come closer.
White: Suit yourself, we'll compromise for that part. But I'm going to send somebody there to D4 to support my associates, just in case you get out of hand.
Black: Your proposal is entertaining White. You realize you are very vulnerable from there? I could cross over there and take you down.
White: Yes, but you know what would happen. There's no way you'd make that sacrifice this early. There's nothing for you to gain. Besides, a weakness in your formation will appear.
Black: We should trade on my terms.
White: Hmmm, okay I'll accept. Don't you know that I'm giving you an advantage here? This is a really good deal for you.
Black: Yes its very tempting. But I prefer the Sicilian, so I'm going to have proceed otherwise.
White: You're no working very hard. It's okay though, I'm just going to advance to this spot up here by B5. You're at an impasse now. Suppose you're going to have to go ahead and make a concession over there on B7.
Black: Mr. White you're always so quick to make demands. Don't you realize this is, by my calculations, a zero-sum scenario. There's no way I would accommodate your ploy. I'm going to have to put you in check for saying that!
From my forthcoming book, If Pawns Could Speak.
Just kidding.
Black: No, no you don't. You'd better let me settle here. My long term prospects are stronger if I can control this area. I'll be right across from you here, at E5; so you don't get any foolish ideas and try to come closer.
White: Suit yourself, we'll compromise for that part. But I'm going to send somebody there to D4 to support my associates, just in case you get out of hand.
Black: Your proposal is entertaining White. You realize you are very vulnerable from there? I could cross over there and take you down.
White: Yes, but you know what would happen. There's no way you'd make that sacrifice this early. There's nothing for you to gain. Besides, a weakness in your formation will appear.
Black: We should trade on my terms.
White: Hmmm, okay I'll accept. Don't you know that I'm giving you an advantage here? This is a really good deal for you.
Black: Yes its very tempting. But I prefer the Sicilian, so I'm going to have proceed otherwise.
White: You're no working very hard. It's okay though, I'm just going to advance to this spot up here by B5. You're at an impasse now. Suppose you're going to have to go ahead and make a concession over there on B7.
Black: Mr. White you're always so quick to make demands. Don't you realize this is, by my calculations, a zero-sum scenario. There's no way I would accommodate your ploy. I'm going to have to put you in check for saying that!
From my forthcoming book, If Pawns Could Speak.
Just kidding.
Memphis Basketball
The NCAA Championship was played just a few nights back, and as far as I'm concerned the Tigers won. Maybe they didn't win on the scoreboard, but they played their hearts out, and won ours. In a compelling bid for the national title, they captured our emotions and took us for an unforgettable (though we try) ride, culminating in a horrifying, cataclysmic ending. But who cares about that score? CDR showed character and heart, playing with humble prowess and his "little ole man tricks." Dozier played hard and had impact. Anderson nailed some beautiful 3's. Derrick Rose displayed graceful control, wooing the nation with his uncanny raw talent. Even Joey Dorsey was smiling; out there to have fun, but with dominating intensity. And who can forget that electrifying steal when he blazed past Alrich to finish with a dunk?
Despite the treacherous ending, we still love those guys. I didn't watch OT (It would have been too painful). But let's be honest, it was an exhilarating game. They showed talent and heart, and proved Memphis can compete at any level. The Tigers are no longer strangers to the NCAA tournament, they're hardened veterans, and they'll be back.
Despite the treacherous ending, we still love those guys. I didn't watch OT (It would have been too painful). But let's be honest, it was an exhilarating game. They showed talent and heart, and proved Memphis can compete at any level. The Tigers are no longer strangers to the NCAA tournament, they're hardened veterans, and they'll be back.
Implicit Egotism
An interesting article plopped its way down on the front page of today's NYTimes. Explaining the phenomenon called Googlegangers (google twins), the article explains how people are using google to find others who share their name. Fascinating interactions have been possible through this new way to "find yourself." Stephanie Rosembloom explained what impels us to be interested in others who share out name. One explanation comes from social science. She explains, "A psychological theory called the name-letter effect maintains that people like the letters in their own names better than other letters in the alphabet." Hmmm. Dr. Brett Pelham calls it implicit egotism. "We've shown time and time again that people are attracted to people, places and things that resemble their names, without a doubt," he explained. To me its an ironic little finding, and it resonates here, that we "human beings are unconsciously attracted to things that remind us of ourselves. "
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