Well, it's official. I'm shutting down this blog. The 11 months without a post was probably clue to any readers I still have left. Anyway, today I launched a new blog. This one is going to be more focused on issues of policy, politics, science, technology, and the shaping of the future (which means you can get the good stuff without having to sift through my rants, inside jokes, and self-indulgence). The blog will also serve as the new home for the BurgerMap. So here are the relevant links.
The blog: Policy, Science Burgers
The BurgerMap: BurgerMap Philly
My first bizarrely popular post: A Missed Connection (why is this one getting more hits than all the others combined?)
I've had a lot of fun with this blog, but it's been mostly a "play-blog." I like to think of myself as graduating to a real blog. I won't say goodbye; hopefully I'll see you on the new site. Thanks for everything, readers,
-Matt
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thursday, March 25, 2010
I just got back from a hockey game. Good game, but my Flyers lost 4-3 in overtime. But this post isn't about what happened, it's about what didn't happen: bad officiating.
Every time a team loses, it's easy to blame something the referees missed. "If only..." and "but for..." Usually it wouldn't have mattered, but sometimes it would have.
But no one ever gives the refs credit when they do a good job. And it's hard for 4 people to keep an eye on every single thing 12 other guys do, especially when they can't talk to each other and have to duck a move out of the way a lot.
Anyway:
Dear Officiating Crew of the 3/25/2010 Flyers/Wild hockey game,
You did a great job tonight. Every penalty you called against Philadelphia was TOTALLY deserved, even that potentially game-changing goalie interference call. It might have been accidental, but he definitely didn't try very hard to avoid it (and if you hadn't called it, he could have unduly influenced the game the other way). Also, every time Minnesota did something bad that I saw, you saw it too and made the right call. I in no way blame you for my team's losing focus in the 3rd period and allowing the Wild to come back to tie it up. Anyway, thanks for an enjoyable evening spent watching hockey instead of yelling at blind zebras.
Sincerely,
-A fan
Every time a team loses, it's easy to blame something the referees missed. "If only..." and "but for..." Usually it wouldn't have mattered, but sometimes it would have.
But no one ever gives the refs credit when they do a good job. And it's hard for 4 people to keep an eye on every single thing 12 other guys do, especially when they can't talk to each other and have to duck a move out of the way a lot.
Anyway:
Dear Officiating Crew of the 3/25/2010 Flyers/Wild hockey game,
You did a great job tonight. Every penalty you called against Philadelphia was TOTALLY deserved, even that potentially game-changing goalie interference call. It might have been accidental, but he definitely didn't try very hard to avoid it (and if you hadn't called it, he could have unduly influenced the game the other way). Also, every time Minnesota did something bad that I saw, you saw it too and made the right call. I in no way blame you for my team's losing focus in the 3rd period and allowing the Wild to come back to tie it up. Anyway, thanks for an enjoyable evening spent watching hockey instead of yelling at blind zebras.
Sincerely,
-A fan
Saturday, February 20, 2010
So in addition to this blog, Awesomeopolis, BurgerMap Philly, and a couple guest posts on Urban Direction, I'm also a financial blogger now:
http://kanjoh.com/2010/02/18/hank-paulsons-ideas-for-financial-reform/
I'm a regular renaissance man. Like Leonardo da Vinci...except I'm terrible at art and I don't have a ninja turtle named after me. Also, I'm pretty sure I have more blogging experience than he did.
(Incidentally, the BurgerMap's up to 70 burgers...)
http://kanjoh.com/2010/02/18/hank-paulsons-ideas-for-financial-reform/
I'm a regular renaissance man. Like Leonardo da Vinci...except I'm terrible at art and I don't have a ninja turtle named after me. Also, I'm pretty sure I have more blogging experience than he did.
(Incidentally, the BurgerMap's up to 70 burgers...)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
My Few Thoughts
Been a while since I posted. Busy busy. Anyway, a few thoughts I'd like to share:
1.) Is it me, or is every website trying to become just like every other website? What's up with that? (Evidence: Facebook overhaul, Google Buzz, I heard Twitter is becoming more social-networky...)
2.) If I'm ordering a Papa John's pizza online, don't you think they should tell you the expected delivery time is 90 minutes BEFORE they bill your credit card? What do people consider acceptable maximum pizza wait times? I think 20-30 minutes is normal, 45 minutes to 50 if they're super busy. 90? Really? For shame.
3.) Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year. How come I'm celebrating Chinese New Year, but all my Chinese friends are celebrating Valentine's Day? (Disclosure: I'm not Chinese, but compared to some of the people who are, boy do I feel like I am.)
4.) Why is it when the Republicans are in the majority, it's 51 votes to get something done, but when the Democrats are in the majority, it's 60? The obvious answer is because the Democrats don't threaten to filibuster as much...but my theory is a little different: the Democrats are more afraid of the filibuster. Filibustering is hard...the Republicans can't filibuster EVERYTHING, and if they did, it'd be political suicide to appear CONSTANTLY intransigent in the face of widely popular bills (with which the Democrats would lead, if they were smart). Call their bluff, or if it's not a bluff, use it to win some desperately points going into the midterms. I'm not professional political strategist, but when your enemy is announcing their intended strategy--and it isn't that great a plan to begin with--why be afraid of it? Lose a few battles, win a few wars. It shouldn't be that complicated. Am I missing something...or are they?
1.) Is it me, or is every website trying to become just like every other website? What's up with that? (Evidence: Facebook overhaul, Google Buzz, I heard Twitter is becoming more social-networky...)
2.) If I'm ordering a Papa John's pizza online, don't you think they should tell you the expected delivery time is 90 minutes BEFORE they bill your credit card? What do people consider acceptable maximum pizza wait times? I think 20-30 minutes is normal, 45 minutes to 50 if they're super busy. 90? Really? For shame.
3.) Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year. How come I'm celebrating Chinese New Year, but all my Chinese friends are celebrating Valentine's Day? (Disclosure: I'm not Chinese, but compared to some of the people who are, boy do I feel like I am.)
4.) Why is it when the Republicans are in the majority, it's 51 votes to get something done, but when the Democrats are in the majority, it's 60? The obvious answer is because the Democrats don't threaten to filibuster as much...but my theory is a little different: the Democrats are more afraid of the filibuster. Filibustering is hard...the Republicans can't filibuster EVERYTHING, and if they did, it'd be political suicide to appear CONSTANTLY intransigent in the face of widely popular bills (with which the Democrats would lead, if they were smart). Call their bluff, or if it's not a bluff, use it to win some desperately points going into the midterms. I'm not professional political strategist, but when your enemy is announcing their intended strategy--and it isn't that great a plan to begin with--why be afraid of it? Lose a few battles, win a few wars. It shouldn't be that complicated. Am I missing something...or are they?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 08, 2010
While on the subject of really specific dating sites, has anyone heard of BeautifulPeople.com? Apparently it's a dating site for those who are equal parts superficial and good looking (and pretty big parts at that).
Anyhoo, they recently kicked 5,000 members off the site for gaining too much weight over the holidays, the BBC reports. I tried to take a look at the site, but just finding out how to browse it without signing up and being approved as a beautiful person (or at least trying to) is a bit of a trick. Not that I'm not confident I would make the cut, I just don't have that kind of time.
Getting kicked off your internet dating site for getting too chubby over winter break. That's gotta be good for the self esteem. "Sorry, you're too unattractive to meet someone over the internet..."
Anyhoo, they recently kicked 5,000 members off the site for gaining too much weight over the holidays, the BBC reports. I tried to take a look at the site, but just finding out how to browse it without signing up and being approved as a beautiful person (or at least trying to) is a bit of a trick. Not that I'm not confident I would make the cut, I just don't have that kind of time.
Getting kicked off your internet dating site for getting too chubby over winter break. That's gotta be good for the self esteem. "Sorry, you're too unattractive to meet someone over the internet..."
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Some of my readers may be familiar with my curiosity regarding bizarrely specific online dating sites. I've encountered a new one that sort of speaks for itself:
http://www.dateacougar.com/
If anyone tries it out, let me know how it goes.
http://www.dateacougar.com/
If anyone tries it out, let me know how it goes.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
This post on a New York Times blog ends with the best sentence ever written in journalism. Seriously, if you're busy, just read the last sentence.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Well, I've been absent for quite a while. I've been involved in a few side projects, which have been taking up all of my time that isn't spent working (a rapidly diminishing quantity, sadly). So, to anyone who's still reading this, sorry, and I haven't forgotten about you (hypothetical though you may be).
And just so this isn't a boring self-interested post providing nothing of value, I nominate the following so-called "research" for "Most Unnecessary Research Ever" award:
Research Shows That People Really Love Bacon
I'll try to post more.
And just so this isn't a boring self-interested post providing nothing of value, I nominate the following so-called "research" for "Most Unnecessary Research Ever" award:
Research Shows That People Really Love Bacon
I'll try to post more.
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