Of Luck, Skill and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
No. 947 When the Islanders won the second and fourth games of the quarter-finals with the Penguins, panic set in on the streets of Pittsburgh. How could this happen to what the fans regarded as the best team in hockey? The answer is, of course, quite easily. As a post in Freakonomics pointed out during [...]
Wall Sign of the Week
No. 941 Time Magazine’s cover story was about Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, who recently published a book called “Leaning In”, which analyzes the reasons why, in her opinion, the progress of women in the workplace has stalled. Sandberg has the reputation of a super achiever, so her ideas are worth something. A sign on [...]
Whose Portrait Belongs on the Trillion Dollar Coin?
No. 929 Yes, the Trillion Dollar Coin. It would be made of Platinum and be the largest coin you’ve ever seen. According to its proponents, who are not kidding, this coin would be deposited in the Federal Reserve and would enable the Federal Government to keep spending without borrowing. Thus, no debt ceiling problem, at [...]
J. R. EWING, the All-American Psychopath with the Killer Instinct.
Larry Hagman the actor, who recently died at 81, was primarily identified with his role as J. R. Ewing, the ruthless oilman on the prime time soap opera Dallas. Like the classic psychopath, J. R. could put a convincing screen of charm and guile, fooling even the viewer for a while. But eventually, in the privacy of his office, J. R. would reflect on his misdeeds with an evil and blood curdling laugh. Hagman claimed that J. R. was a natural role for him and that he would go in and out of the role in real life without being aware of it. Hardly a self-compliment.
Fiscal Cliff: a Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come.
The most likely solution — they will agree to set forward the hands on the Doomsday Clock, postponing Armageddon to another day.
CFPB Closes Comments on Reg to Require Three Day Disclosure on Settlement Costs.
No. 918 The Massachusetts Law Blog reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently closed comments on a new reg which would, inter alia, require a three business day advance disclosure of settlement costs. If the numbers change during the three days, the time period starts over. Fascinating. Perhaps they should add a provision [...]
Don’t Try This At Home, Kids.
No. 911 Under the guise of passion for his cause, Joe Biden engaged in a lot of interruptions, talk-overs, derisive laughter and just plain rudeness. The moderator in the Vice Presidential Debate ignored Mr. Biden’s bad behavior, but if you are representing yourself in front of a magistrate, arbitration panel or judge, don’t try to [...]
How to Make the News — Sue Somebody Considered Newsworthy.
No. 909 Two very mundane lawsuits received more TV news attention recently than the cases deserved. A suit by someone who broke a tooth on a Primanti’s Sandwich received tease after tease on the evening newscast recently. ”You’ll never believe …” In the end (of the newscast), the foreign object in the sandwich was not [...]
Whalebone Bank
Nevertheless, through more than a century of change, the wealth and welfare of the community still remains central to the successors of neighborhood associations that started in the back rooms of bars and other retail establishments like dairy stores.
Still Crazy After All These Years: the Continuing Saga of the Duke/ Nifong Debacle.
No. 905 Remember in 2006 when members of the Duke Lacrosse team found themselves in a very compromising situation over allegations of rape made by an escort who was performing at a party? Sure you do. The administration and faculty of Duke turned into a lynch mob overnight and none of them bothered to ask [...]
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