Which way will it turn out?

The rapid developments in telecommunications, media, information access has created unprecedented awareness of what others have and what is possible.

Will this be a force for good? Will it create healthy competition, create greater equality of wealth, motivate people to work hard to achieve their goals?

Or will or be a force for bad? Will it sow new levels of envy and resentment that previously never existed simply due to ignorance or lack of awareness?

Occupy Wall Street is a data point that supports the latter view vs. the former.

Evolution of Celebration

Is there anything more contrived than athletes celebrating victory by donning swim goggles to protect their eyes from champagne?

Golf

The definition of insanity is when you keep doing the same thing but you expect a different outcome.

Reduce Government

The hardest thing about running a company is properly allocating resources. Resources are always finite and difficult decisions must be made, usually with imperfect data. This is why government cannot possibly function. Incentives are not properly aligned for the decision makers. The decision makers personal time horizons do not match the time horizon of the allocation decisions. Most importantly, is that the government is not constrained. They can always expand the budget and defer difficult decision making,

2011-2012 NCMPL Kick-off Email

Welcome to the 2011-2012 paddle season! The courts are in great shape, the temperature is dropping, and Michael/Bo are hoping to make everyone in D1 their bitch once again.

Only problem is that I, your beloved commissioner, found out this week he’s making a 3 week “ai-yai-yai” trip (dubai, mumbai, shanghai) starting Oct 20. So while I would never dream of bailing on the League at the last minute, after 5 years of being everyone’s bitch, this is the perfect excuse for me to bail on the League at the last minute.

Fortunately there are 257 other players in the League who share a great love of the game, have all the time in the world, and possess the skills required to keep this thing on life support. Maybe even improve it.

For those of you with no interest in helping, stop reading here. Keep checking your email and the web (www.ncpaddle.com) for League announcements. Good day.

If you are still reading, below is a rough idea of what needs to happen. At least, this is how I did it. 2 or 3 people teamed up would make this a snap:

Signups Start Oct 1 and Last For 3 weeks

The website gets updated, a blast email goes out and everyone signs up.

This all happens via a hack I put together on the web and payment is via Paypal. Real technical expertise here would create significant operational efficiency.

10% of the teams can’t figure it out it up and need hand holding. It’s fun to send them mocking emails.

By the time you’re done you have the master roster.

Division Seeding Starts October 21

On October 21, the most important part of the job: seeding teams in the right divisions.

This is based on prior records and tryouts. Do not pay any attention to a team’s self-evaluation. The new teams have no clue to their ability (Jared King originally thought he should be in D3). During this week I’ve held tryouts, and they are semi-effective getting teams in the right spot. Once you’ve made up your mind, post the results on the web and then listen to the whining: “I’m in too hard a division”, “I’m in too easy a division”, “My pussy hurts”.

Kickoff Party Oct 27 or Nov 3

Reserve the lodge, buy the beer, etc. Make sure you keep Steve Benko on your good side – easy to do if you don’t blow up the Lodge.

During this event the teams in each Division get randomly assigned to flights.

Season

Teams start scheduling matches. Scores need to be recoded, slowpokes need prodding, and complete slackers get kicked out (great way to make new friends).

Playoffs and Finals

Between last minute matches, schedule conflicts, etc. wrapping up the season is a complete sh*%tshow. Somehow it happens and at the end you look at the results page and you can’t believe how much paddle got played. Then Tom O’Dea sends out a hilarious email, you have a beer and watch some playoff matches (that you didn’t qualify for) and smile.

That’s all there is to it. Lmk who’s in.

Thx,

Mike

New Canaan Men's Paddle League | www.ncpaddle.com

Evolution of Math

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $3.58.

The counter girl took my $4.00 and I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies. While looking at the screen on her register, I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.

Why do I tell you this?

Because of the way I see the evolution of teaching math since the 1950s:

Teaching Math In 1950

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5

of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1960

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5

of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1970

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is

$80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 1990

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

Teaching Math In 2005

Un ranchero vende una carretera de madera por $100. El cargo de produccion es $80. Cuantas tortillas se puede comprar?

Wheeler

Sat down for lunch with Wheeler at the Modern. The table had 4 place settings and as we got near the table they cleared 2 - the one to my right and the one across from me. Doug sat to my left. We looked at each other and both thought the same thing. As he got up to move the waiter arrived and asked, "Would you like to move seats?" Doug replied, "Well, yes. We're heterosexuals. We don't want to touch each other so it makes no sense to seat us this way."

The waiter smirked. He was clearly gay.