tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post9068978489796595902..comments2024-03-27T19:03:23.094-04:00Comments on The Armchair Squid: The Cephalopod Coffeehouse: May 2014The Armchair Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-18518784855981956002014-06-06T18:51:51.738-04:002014-06-06T18:51:51.738-04:00Aussie Rules - terrifying sport! I had some frien...Aussie Rules - terrifying sport! I had some friends in Japan who played on a team. Bones were broken.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-24285082500582891822014-06-05T21:27:48.657-04:002014-06-05T21:27:48.657-04:00I wish I had a better story for this. Maybe I sho...I wish I had a better story for this. Maybe I should make one up. My original thought was Armchair Sports Fan but, not surprisingly, that was already taken. Since the mid-'90s, truly for almost as long as I've had an e-mail account, my online identity has been The Squid. At the time, it was just a word I pulled out of the air. It stuck.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-82027590900530078442014-06-05T21:25:22.150-04:002014-06-05T21:25:22.150-04:00I have not read the book but have seen him intervi...I have not read the book but have seen him interviewed. I think he and Epstein would agree on plenty.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-62465073009114490842014-06-05T21:22:28.542-04:002014-06-05T21:22:28.542-04:00Like I said, I think there's enough for the ge...Like I said, I think there's enough for the general interest reader to enjoy. I take it your son's an athlete? Which sports?The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-66859849158852831602014-06-02T23:39:08.039-04:002014-06-02T23:39:08.039-04:00I think many of the sports books you've mentio...I think many of the sports books you've mentioned would be of interest to me, despite me not being a huge sports fan. I follow Aussie Rules football, but couldn't care less about most other sports. I do enjoy watching tennis, and gymnastics, and diving!Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-9666337057796329612014-06-02T13:09:49.438-04:002014-06-02T13:09:49.438-04:00Also, since I'm new to this site :), I have to...Also, since I'm new to this site :), I have to ask about the name of your blog. It is so delightfully odd and unexpected. Are you willing to divulge?Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03994768531978964801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-85517262756263967852014-06-02T13:08:59.809-04:002014-06-02T13:08:59.809-04:00I too heard this author interviewed on NPR, and it...I too heard this author interviewed on NPR, and it sounds like a fascinating read.<br />Have you read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell? The conclusion drawn here strikes me as similar to what he says accounts for successful people: a combination of hard work and good opportunity (in this case, good genes) :)<br />I ran track in college, and quickly found I was lacking in both columns...Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03994768531978964801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-47767215672718985502014-06-02T10:57:55.899-04:002014-06-02T10:57:55.899-04:00I'm not much of an athlete but this looks like...I'm not much of an athlete but this looks like an interesting read. Definitely like something my son would be interested in. Melissa Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17603077242009027497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-19459811420556775432014-06-01T21:20:27.286-04:002014-06-01T21:20:27.286-04:00A few years ago, I decided to learn to keep score....A few years ago, I decided to learn to keep score. I'm grateful to have learned but I'd much rather sit, relax and enjoy the game. I love your idea of visiting as many stadiums as possible.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-29327937096441938872014-06-01T21:19:17.280-04:002014-06-01T21:19:17.280-04:00You can't make it without the work. That much...You can't make it without the work. That much is clear. But some start with definite advantages that are little more than accidents of birth.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-10202503495442552752014-06-01T21:18:23.573-04:002014-06-01T21:18:23.573-04:00I think this one is digestible for those who aren&...I think this one is digestible for those who aren't sports fans. It's an interesting exploration of the practical applications and limitations of genetic mapping, if nothing else.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-50487619488361674242014-05-31T23:30:57.010-04:002014-05-31T23:30:57.010-04:00My pleasure. I actually got the book as a gift fr...My pleasure. I actually got the book as a gift from my father - not a sports fan at all.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-52845223166761423042014-05-31T23:30:13.560-04:002014-05-31T23:30:13.560-04:00Is your family from Trelawny? That is the parish ...Is your family from Trelawny? That is the parish - population 74,000 - in northwest Jamaica from which most of the world class sprinters hail, including Usain Bolt.<br /><br />Hope you're having a great weekend, Maurice!The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-73044729827021620332014-05-31T23:19:57.629-04:002014-05-31T23:19:57.629-04:00It's fascinating stuff, a book to consider in ...It's fascinating stuff, a book to consider in light of the aspiring archers in your family.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-70656676170848144542014-05-31T23:18:27.516-04:002014-05-31T23:18:27.516-04:00I look forward to your thoughts, should you read i...I look forward to your thoughts, should you read it.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-5620937859127335282014-05-31T23:16:32.507-04:002014-05-31T23:16:32.507-04:00I remember the interviews when the book first came...I remember the interviews when the book first came out. A lot of the hubbub at the time had to do with the 10,000 hours rule, a long held belief that it takes 10,000 hours to achieve world class mastery of anything: tennis, the violin, chess, whatever. In the book, Epstein introduces the theory early, then spends the rest of the text debunking it.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-42561211160303674142014-05-31T23:13:03.160-04:002014-05-31T23:13:03.160-04:00Without a doubt. As one of the scientists intervi...Without a doubt. As one of the scientists interviewed remarked, you don't see Olympians jumping up off the couch.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-86727916175287752072014-05-31T23:09:25.826-04:002014-05-31T23:09:25.826-04:00My pleasure! I hope he enjoys it.My pleasure! I hope he enjoys it.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-22981638496449496872014-05-31T23:09:00.812-04:002014-05-31T23:09:00.812-04:00There's a lot more about track and field athle...There's a lot more about track and field athletes than those in team sports as their accomplishments are more easily quantifiable. However, there are a few keen insights into team sports, too. Here's one: while height is an obvious advantage in basketball, arm span is a more reliable indicator of success in the NBA.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-8509759943556305652014-05-31T23:02:01.758-04:002014-05-31T23:02:01.758-04:00Absolutely. I'm so glad you've joined us,...Absolutely. I'm so glad you've joined us, Stephanie, and I hope you'll get loads of great new book ideas.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-9251541501215410342014-05-31T23:00:31.161-04:002014-05-31T23:00:31.161-04:00I work in the performing arts. I see kids with wa...I work in the performing arts. I see kids with wasted natural talent all the time. I also see plenty with fantastic attitudes who I know will only ever make it so far (bless them). Every once in a while, you'll find one who has both. You build your program around those kids.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-70486723586104199382014-05-31T22:57:29.817-04:002014-05-31T22:57:29.817-04:00A lot of it has to do with DNA analysis and how it...A lot of it has to do with DNA analysis and how it relates to physical characteristics that are known to give an advantage in athletic competition. For instance, if someone's body naturally produces more hemoglobin, s/he as an advantage in endurance competitions. If you belong to a tribe in Kenya whose members typically produce more hemoglobin as an adaptation to living at high altitude, you already have a leg up on the competition at the Boston Marathon. It's not a guarantee of success but it definitely helps.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-66002921888989959602014-05-31T22:48:54.758-04:002014-05-31T22:48:54.758-04:00It was always assumed that baseball players had qu...It was always assumed that baseball players had quicker reflexes than average but when they were actually tested for it, reaction times were not appreciably faster. Their eye sight, as described above, is off the charts but that still wasn't enough to explain how they're able to process sufficient information between when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand to when it crosses the plate to be able to recognize pitches. So, they were tested for other visual cues. Turns out, hitters can tell a lot about where a pitch is going just from the positioning of a pitcher's arm in still shots - enough, with a lifetime of experience, to be able to make a reasonable guess in time to hit the ball.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-43258790766457613182014-05-30T22:35:38.903-04:002014-05-30T22:35:38.903-04:00opps the last part was, when I watch baseball opps the last part was, when I watch baseball angryparsniphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236094827257446781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586403344533829376.post-62747915010320195032014-05-30T22:33:50.827-04:002014-05-30T22:33:50.827-04:00This sounds very interesting and sound like fsomet...This sounds very interesting and sound like fsomething that you would like.<br />I must tell you I just enjoy watching sports and not into all the theory behind it all. <br />I know like any endeavor one needs to be inclined (blessed ?) with some ability. Then practice, practice practice. Like a pianist I think your need that part of your soul ? ability that leads you. <br />The x always had to fill the running play by plays and mark them down. he would always get mad that I just wanted to watch the games, and visit as many stadiums as I could. <br />Believe me Baltimore has the best food !<br /><br />cheers, parsnip<br />angryparsniphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236094827257446781noreply@blogger.com