Calipari New Coach at UK

That was quick. It’s scary how good next year’s recruiting class could possibly be for UK. Wow.

Dojo Info 3/30/09

1. Study Says Playing Shooters Improves Vision
   That’s why I play them. ;^)
2. Pearl Jam’s “Ten” DLC arrives just in time to play along with Matt Cameron
   There are some good tunes on that album. Heh, I said album. Kids today are like… “Whaaaa?”
3. President Obama’s Final Four revealed
   If I’m going to criticize the President for things I don’t like, it’s only fair to compliment him on the positives. I really like how he’s not not taking sides and honestly filling out his NCAA bracket. He’s bucking the politically correct stance of staying above the fray. If only he’d show some restraint with the government’s new mega-spending mindset.
4. Skype for iPhone: It’s official
   Doesn’t it seem like AT&T would be fighting this? Every day that goes by makes me want to get an iPhone. And I call myself a geek… sheesh…
5. Twitter still has no business model, and that’s OK
   Is our world upside down or what?

College Coaches Pimping Guitar Hero

Gotta love the angry Robert Montgomery Knight!

Bradley vs. Oakland – 3/23/2009

Here’s something you don’t see every day. Can you feel the love?

Men’s Basketball NCAA TournStats Since 1985

I’m a bit of a stat geek. Since it’s NCAA Tournament, aka March Madness, time now, I thought I’d share some of the stats I’ve been collecting over the years. (I probably should have posted this before you completed your brackets, huh?)

1st Round Games (out of 4)
16 beats 1 - 0.00
15 beats 2 - 0.17
14 beats 3 - 0.58
13 beats 4 - 0.92
12 beats 5 - 1.25
11 beats 6 - 1.25
10 beats 7 - 1.50
9 beats 8 - 2.17

#1 Seed to Final Four - 1.8
< % means more upsets 44%

Dojo Info 3/17/09

1. Skiles to Villanueva: No halftime tweets
   Wow. You know technology is pervasive when it invades fast-paced Pro basketball.
2. And It’s Such A Useful Song
   Yakety Sax is my new favorite song.
3. Christian rock mainstays newsboys add dcTalk-er Michael Tait to line-up
   I’ve always liked the Newsboys, especially their lyrical wit. Hopefully this move will free up Furler to spend more time writing? If it’s only a partial vacation then color me disappointed. I do think Tait has an amazing voice.
4. Judge orders homeschoolers into public district classrooms
   The kids have tested above their grade levels but that’s not stopping this judge from overstepping his authority.
5. Rock Band DLC Week of 3/17/09: Get the Funk Out, Papa Roach, New Pornographers, Against Me!
   It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about Rock Band, but a couple of these DLC look intriguing.

Keep Coach Gillispie

Two years isn’t enough time to install his players with his system. Kentucky fans need to take a deep breath and step away from the message boards for the good of the program.

After next season, if there’s still not marked improvement, then we can talk about changes.

Update 4/9: After a week watching the new hire, John Calipari, I believe the program is better off than with Gillispie. This guy “gets it.”

John Stossel: The Big, Bad Bailout

John Stossel is the man. You NEED to watch his piece called, The Big, Bad Bailout. The bailout is bogus.

CJ Penny’s Last Second Shot Sends Anderson Co. to State

This is why basketball is my favorite sport. Anderson County has never made it to the Sweet Sixteen but that’s all changed now! C.J. Penny was stone cold clutch.

Pluripotent Stem Cells Avoid Need for Embryos

I am Pro-Life. I am alive. I like being alive. You probably do too. I don’t think I know a single person who wishes they weren’t (at least openly).

An embryo is a form of human life. Who knows when the soul is introduced, but it’s still life and, in my opinion, life is sacred.

There’s much ado about Obama’s reversal of current law that makes growing and harvesting stem cells from human embryos legal again. Apparently scientists cheered! Of course, the AP makes it sound like all scientists, but that’s expected from their slanted view of the world.

Here’s the thing, embryos aren’t the only way to get stem cells. All we hear from the mainstream media is how great stem cells are. No one is disputing that! We all agree that stem cells are good. But what we don’t hear from the press is that scientists already know how to get stem cells from adults and there is a new technology where scientists can create pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from adults.

This new research uses ordinary adult body cells – like skin cells – and, with some added growth factors, prompts them to become embryonic-like stem cells. These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) have the flexibility (pluripotency) of embryonic stem cells without the moral problems of destroying human life. [link]

In fact, this research has been extremely promising for some time now. So why the silence? It’s truly troubling that this technology is out there and it seems that the press is purposefully leaving it out.

From the Washington Post:

In the new work, Nagy and his colleagues in Toronto and at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland instead used a sequence of DNA known as a transposon, which can insert itself into the genetic machinery of a cell. In this case, the researchers used a transposon called “piggyBac” to carry four genes that can transform mouse and human embryonic skin cells into iPS cells. After the conversion took place, the researchers removed the added DNA from the transformed cells using a specific enzyme.

“PiggyBac carries the four genes into the cells and reprograms the cells into stem cells. After they have reprogrammed the cells, they are no longer required, and in fact they are dangerous,” Nagy said. “After they do their job they can be removed seamlessly, with no trace left behind. The ability for seamless removal opens up a huge possibility.”

The process isn’t finalized but a breakthrough occurred just this week. You’d think the potential being what it is, that all research monies would go towards this methodology rather than one that grows human embryos for the sole purpose of destroying them and harvesting their parts.

Giant Office Slide Speeds Productivity

Chuck ‘E Cheese meets Wall Street, or… in this case, the Sheffield business district.

Talk about your fringe benefits! I wonder if there’s a limit to the number of times you can play slide work on this piece of office equipment per day?

Chris Matthews Calls Pro-Life Movement ‘Terrorism’

It’s real subtle how he throws this in there. I always thought Matthews was a bit of a loon. Consider that viewpoint validated.

If this upsets you, send Mr. Matthews an email.

Dojo Info 3/3/09

1. Sri Lankan players injured in Pakistan
   “At least a dozen men attacked Sri Lanka’s cricket team with rifles, grenades and rocket launchers Tuesday ahead of a match in Pakistan, wounding seven players, an umpire and an assistant coach. Six policemen and a driver were killed in the brazen assault on South Asia’s most beloved sport.” And here I thought some Kentucky basketball fans were crazy.
2. $500-a-day fine for posting Constitution
   The government takes more rights from individuals as America moves closer and closer to socialism.
3. Data about Obama’s helicopter breached via P2P?
   Is it possible Obama wants his “data” breached so he’ll have more ammunition for coming out against free markets? I can hear him now, “We need to protect our sensitive information to keep our enemies gaining the advantage.”
4. Verizon Wireless goes official with the LG Versa
   I think I’d have to hold this phone in my hands to tell if having a detachable keyboard is a good idea.
5. Health Workers’ ‘Conscience’ Rule Set to Be Voided
   “The debate centers on a Bush administration regulation, enacted in December, that cuts off federal funding for thousands of state and local governments, hospitals, health plans, clinics and other entities if they do not accommodate doctors, nurses, pharmacists or other employees who refuse to participate in care they feel violates their personal, moral or religious beliefs.” The government flexes more muscle by telling us they’ll decide what’s right and wrong.

Former Korn Member Shares Life Changing Message

Is your world crashing down around you? Is it more than you can handle?

I’ve been there. Sometimes I think I’m still there. The only solution is to find someone more powerful than I… that can help you get through.