This is a really cool bit of research. It relates to performance of individuals with the existence of competitors. Specifically it looks at how golfers do in PGA touraments when Tiger Woods ( a superstar) is in the field. Golfers generally perform better when Tiger is not in the field (presumably they feel there is a better chance of winning). It seems that if you feel you are largely outclassed in talent - your focus and effort might be reduced.
Why can't I do research like this???
The whole paper is at: http://are.berkeley.edu/~brown/Brown%20-%20Competing%20with%20Superstars.pdf
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
So sue me
Well we continue to see the real value of the legal system in the US where people can and so sue over almost anything shamelessly.
1) a police officer in Florida sued the family of a young boy who was disabled with brain damage in an accident in the home. The officer responded to the emergency call and slipped on some water and injured her knee. She then sued the family for having an unsafe house when she entered for the emergency response. That's gall! This one was withdrawn after much outcry. Even in the litigious US there are apparently limits. Imagine a fireman suing someone for getting too warm during a fire at their home. Or a consumer suing a company for not warning them that the cup of coffee they sold him or her was hot and might burn them - oh wait that one happened.
2) a lawyer in NYC sued the florist from her wedding for providing the wrong colour of flowers. While she had wanted rust coloured hydrangeas the florist had the temerity to provide paster pink ones (trying to match a photograph). The flowers had been valued at over $27,000 (a huge pile of hydrangeas apparently) and she is suing for an additional $400,000 (no extra zeros there from rantman) for restitution and damages. $400,000 for the damage done by pink flowers. Someone should sue the lawyer bride for the damage she's doing to the profession. Wake up and spill the coffee woman.
1) a police officer in Florida sued the family of a young boy who was disabled with brain damage in an accident in the home. The officer responded to the emergency call and slipped on some water and injured her knee. She then sued the family for having an unsafe house when she entered for the emergency response. That's gall! This one was withdrawn after much outcry. Even in the litigious US there are apparently limits. Imagine a fireman suing someone for getting too warm during a fire at their home. Or a consumer suing a company for not warning them that the cup of coffee they sold him or her was hot and might burn them - oh wait that one happened.
2) a lawyer in NYC sued the florist from her wedding for providing the wrong colour of flowers. While she had wanted rust coloured hydrangeas the florist had the temerity to provide paster pink ones (trying to match a photograph). The flowers had been valued at over $27,000 (a huge pile of hydrangeas apparently) and she is suing for an additional $400,000 (no extra zeros there from rantman) for restitution and damages. $400,000 for the damage done by pink flowers. Someone should sue the lawyer bride for the damage she's doing to the profession. Wake up and spill the coffee woman.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
He's not a man
Most Americans it turns out have never actually read the document that they are so smug about. The constitution! They all were shocked to discover a few weeks back that the office of the vice president unlike what they were told in civics 101, is not part of the executive nor is it a part of the legislative. So what is it? Dunno.
But that leads to a more interesting question, if VP Count Cheney is neither an executive nor a legislator than what exactly is he? Is he as he like everyone to believe part hunter(yes the shooting incident) part redneck trash talker (he is from Wyoming and used to represent Kansas and swears in the senate, need I say more) and part a guy who likes to drink baby blood. No clue. Maybe a hypocrite? Has a lesbian daughter, but is against same sex unions. Or maybe he is just a convoluted old guy who thinks he can bully anyone he wants and if you dare question him, he has an ace up his sleeve......question your patriotism. Are Americans that insecure that if one dares to ask you an question, you need to question their patriotism? He of course is not alone in his quest for ultimate evil. He has his wife by his side. Ultimate Bonnie and Clyde taking down DC.
But I digress as usual. The question is what is Dick Cheney? I believe, and this is just the mystic in me talking, he is not a man. The guy works in one of the most secure and might I add safest places in the world, yet has a man sized safe in his office. Where does he think he is? Watergate? Wait! Wrong decade, wrong party. He is obviously an unusual guy by any standard. And in case he or his pals fuck up, Dubbya has their backs covered with a pardon. So who or what is Cheney? He has been in the White House for a long time, under Regan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. and yet hasn't had enough of Washington. He is not even a neo-con, cause as insane as they maybe he makes them sound like sound and rational human beings. I am not sure, but judging by his deeds or lack of it, I must conclude in my humble and mystical opinion that the guy is a crackpot from a bizzaro world. Part crazy old guy, part your worst nightmare for a loving old grand daddy(I am talking to the newest edition to his family). 100% evil.
But that leads to a more interesting question, if VP Count Cheney is neither an executive nor a legislator than what exactly is he? Is he as he like everyone to believe part hunter(yes the shooting incident) part redneck trash talker (he is from Wyoming and used to represent Kansas and swears in the senate, need I say more) and part a guy who likes to drink baby blood. No clue. Maybe a hypocrite? Has a lesbian daughter, but is against same sex unions. Or maybe he is just a convoluted old guy who thinks he can bully anyone he wants and if you dare question him, he has an ace up his sleeve......question your patriotism. Are Americans that insecure that if one dares to ask you an question, you need to question their patriotism? He of course is not alone in his quest for ultimate evil. He has his wife by his side. Ultimate Bonnie and Clyde taking down DC.
But I digress as usual. The question is what is Dick Cheney? I believe, and this is just the mystic in me talking, he is not a man. The guy works in one of the most secure and might I add safest places in the world, yet has a man sized safe in his office. Where does he think he is? Watergate? Wait! Wrong decade, wrong party. He is obviously an unusual guy by any standard. And in case he or his pals fuck up, Dubbya has their backs covered with a pardon. So who or what is Cheney? He has been in the White House for a long time, under Regan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. and yet hasn't had enough of Washington. He is not even a neo-con, cause as insane as they maybe he makes them sound like sound and rational human beings. I am not sure, but judging by his deeds or lack of it, I must conclude in my humble and mystical opinion that the guy is a crackpot from a bizzaro world. Part crazy old guy, part your worst nightmare for a loving old grand daddy(I am talking to the newest edition to his family). 100% evil.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
All ye faithful rejoice...........
Paris Hilton is free. Now we can get back to our normal lives again. maybe the news will now be about something that actually matters. like the war. or maybe something else. maybe Angelina Jolie and the kids she is planning on adopting now. My money is on Eskimos.
Being a cheap bastard that I am, I could have offered her a was cheaper suggestion than to fly around Asia and Africa to find under privileged kids to adopt. All she had to do was get in her car drive a few blocks to a hell hole called Compton and could have had a football team of underprivileged kids to adopt. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
She had t make a statement. And BTW why exactly is she famous? Its not like she has given great performance on screen. Its not that she has won an oscar for her role in tomb raider. Maybe she is famous cause she is married to Brad Pitt. I dunno. Please tell me. And yes I think she is hot, but I think any woman who can walk is hot. Thats what happens when you spend 10 years in school. To all potential PhD students out there. Pick a field where women outnumber men, else you will go insane. LIKE ME.
Or maybe the media will focus on someone else who maybe has just murdered his wife, specially if the guy is black and the girl is white.....and piece de resistance, she is pregnant. Cause that just never happens in America. so obviously we must spend every possible minute we are not watching commercials, watching the tragedy. Cause other than that there are no murders in US are there? If black kill black, so fucking what. That ain't news.
Or maybe how about a blond haired, blue eyed girl that is missing? That sure sells right. Even if the parents are the ones who are responsible (read irresponsible) for what happened to the girl. Who has heard of parents going to dinner leaving a 6 year old and two toddlers alone. Who saw that coming? Not them. But add insult to injury, His Holiness THE Pope decides to get in the game as well. Its a slap on every catholic's face, to see that the thousands who lose their kids maybe for no fault of their own, who don't even get a peep from the Vatican. A lesson to learn, if your kid isn't blond haired blue eyed like the McCann kid, you better take real good care of her cause no ones coming to help you. Shame on you, all those people whose children get kidnapped, you couldn't even dye their hair first.
Well enough venting.
Being a cheap bastard that I am, I could have offered her a was cheaper suggestion than to fly around Asia and Africa to find under privileged kids to adopt. All she had to do was get in her car drive a few blocks to a hell hole called Compton and could have had a football team of underprivileged kids to adopt. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
She had t make a statement. And BTW why exactly is she famous? Its not like she has given great performance on screen. Its not that she has won an oscar for her role in tomb raider. Maybe she is famous cause she is married to Brad Pitt. I dunno. Please tell me. And yes I think she is hot, but I think any woman who can walk is hot. Thats what happens when you spend 10 years in school. To all potential PhD students out there. Pick a field where women outnumber men, else you will go insane. LIKE ME.
Or maybe the media will focus on someone else who maybe has just murdered his wife, specially if the guy is black and the girl is white.....and piece de resistance, she is pregnant. Cause that just never happens in America. so obviously we must spend every possible minute we are not watching commercials, watching the tragedy. Cause other than that there are no murders in US are there? If black kill black, so fucking what. That ain't news.
Or maybe how about a blond haired, blue eyed girl that is missing? That sure sells right. Even if the parents are the ones who are responsible (read irresponsible) for what happened to the girl. Who has heard of parents going to dinner leaving a 6 year old and two toddlers alone. Who saw that coming? Not them. But add insult to injury, His Holiness THE Pope decides to get in the game as well. Its a slap on every catholic's face, to see that the thousands who lose their kids maybe for no fault of their own, who don't even get a peep from the Vatican. A lesson to learn, if your kid isn't blond haired blue eyed like the McCann kid, you better take real good care of her cause no ones coming to help you. Shame on you, all those people whose children get kidnapped, you couldn't even dye their hair first.
Well enough venting.
SICKO
I saw the movie and as usual I liked it. I like Michael Moore movies, I know I know it may give rant man indigestion. but nonetheless he makes a good point (often using convoluted logic) that health care is a fu*king human right and everyone should have it especially in one of the richest nations in the world.
So what exactly do I like about Mikes movies? I love the fact that he catches you in the act and then puts it on TV/Screen. Catching evil doers everywhere with their pants down. Its like COPS just no shooting.........anyways I highly recommend it to everyone.
So what exactly do I like about Mikes movies? I love the fact that he catches you in the act and then puts it on TV/Screen. Catching evil doers everywhere with their pants down. Its like COPS just no shooting.........anyways I highly recommend it to everyone.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Those trips to the Phoenix will pay off
According to studies, social drinkers earn more. Rantman, Indian in the crosshairs and sir t apparently have excellent earning potential.
It might help if we were meeting more people and networking but that's details. Those trips are an investment in our future!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070514.wxloffice14/BNStory/lifeMain
It might help if we were meeting more people and networking but that's details. Those trips are an investment in our future!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070514.wxloffice14/BNStory/lifeMain
Phoning for Fish - Cool Research
This is an interesting piece of research from the Quarterly Journal of Economics/ The role of cell phones in improving economic efficiency in this Indian fishery. Kind of cool and not just the role of ring tones in choice of hair dye but tangible economic analysis.
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9149142
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9149142
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
