you say you want a resolution

The new NFL Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum resolutions arrive within hours, and, consequently, my life is about to be sucked into a vortex of nerditude. Here's a celebratory tacky tie to announce the official onset of the debate season.

Chris's vengeance is complete

Our "woeful husk of a team" ended up losing 101 games. The resurgent White Sox, though, are headed to the playoffs thanks to a masterful pitching performance by John Danks and a solo shot by future HOF-er Jim Thome. Jr. Griffey even got in on the action, making a great throw to nail Michael Cuddyer in the fifth inning.

Ultimately, Griffey was smart to stay miles away from the radioactive Mariners, even though a lot of fans wanted him back in a bad way. Now we're on the outside looking down. In? That's months, if not years, away.

Chris, congratulations. Enjoy the good times. I'm rooting for your guys now.

x-phi hogging the spotlight

Experimental philosophers continue to irk the armchairists.

Experimental philosophy has suggested, for example, that people from East Asian cultures may have different intuitions on very basic philosophical questions — reference (what nouns refer to in certain situations), morality, epistemology (what it means "to know" something) — than members of Western societies do. Experimental philosophers also draw on work by contemporary psychologists demonstrating just how malleable human cognition is, how easily redirected and reshaped it is by external cues, even as the conscious mind remains blissfully unaware. Opinions on crime and punishment, for instance, can be altered by placing people in a dirty room designed to trigger feelings of disgust: Subjects in such experiments respond more punitively when asked what should be done to certain hypothetical criminals.

"If we keep getting the same kind of results with the right kinds of controls and right kind of experiments," says Stich, "then there is a problem with the central method that philosophers have used throughout the 20th century, and for a long time before that": the reliance on armchair intuitions.

Understandably, such claims have met with resistance. "A philosophical problem is not an empirical problem," writes Judith Jarvis Thomson, the noted MIT moral philosopher, in an e-mail message to The Chronicle, "so I don't see how their empirical investigations can be thought to have any bearing on any philosophical problem — much less help anyone to solve a philosophical problem."

For an academic's take on the role of x-phi in the philosophy of morality, see here.

Homer the divine

To be divinely inspired, a book must be historically accurate; after fall, if its credibility cannot be established on the basis of known events, it certainly cannot be relied upon as an adequate guide in matters beyond our ability to check. On the other hand, if we can demonstrate that such a book is correct in historical matters, to an extent unknown among human writings, then we have strong evidence that the authors were inspired by Zeus. This is true of The Odyssey and The Iliad.

In his influential book, "Troy and Homer," German classicist Joachim Latacz argues that the identification of Hisarlik as the site of Homer's Troy is all but proven. Latacz's case is based not only on archeology, but also on fascinating reassessments of cuneiform tablets from the Hittite imperial archives. The tablets, which are dated to the period when the Late Bronze Age city at Hisarlik was destroyed, tell a story of a western people harassing a Hittite client state on the coast of Asia Minor. The Hittite name for the invading foreigners is very close to Homer's name for his Greeks - Achaians - and the Hittite names for their harassed ally are very close to "Troy" and "Ilios," Homer's names for the city.

"At the very core of the tale," Latacz argues, "Homer's 'Iliad' has shed the mantle of fiction commonly attributed to it."

Down through the centuries, enemies of these works have attacked its historical accuracy. Time after time, they have been thus questioned, only later to be shown correct by archaeology. Archaeology is a study of relics, monuments, tombs, artifacts, etc., of ancient civilizations. Peoples and events, known before only in Homer's accounts, have been brought to light by the excavations of ancient cities. Always, Homer has been proven right.

You got me: the above is parody. But barely.

lesser of two WASLs

The News-Tribune's Peter Callaghan explains why Randy Dorn isn't quite the candidate WASL foes hoped for. Which is no surprise, really; if Semler hadn't dropped out, Dorn wouldn't even be in the race. He was hardly anyone's first choice.

for a teacher dying young

I was going to post something tonight, but after reading what the TRP has written, instead, I'll merely link, without comment, to his memorial to both a colleague at his school and a friend at another, two untimely deaths in a painful week.

hall decorations for CHS homecoming, 2008

'Tis the season for hall decoration. First place will undoubtedly go to the Seniors for their magnificent "Jurassic Park" hallway in Pod A. The vines are just gorgeous.

One thing about the "Spirit Days" that makes me sad: Grunge Day, according to the students in charge, is a day to wear "grungy clothes." C'mon, people. Haven't you heard of Nirvana? Haven't you seen Singles?

Oh, and here's a set from two years ago.

From life at CHS

From life at CHS

From life at CHS

From life at CHS

From life at CHS

From life at CHS

49th Parallel

If, like me, you're an ex-Canadian who loves all things Canada, you're bound to love 49th Parallel, a propaganda film from World War II that, although hokey and full of stereotypes, presents the Nazi menace with urgency, charm, and sometimes shocking brutality.

Whenever my brother and I see our friend Ryan--a current Canadian--we joke about the general mightlessness of our northern neighbor's military forces. This movie, produced by Brits to educate Brits about their Canadian cousins, won't dispel any rumors of dogsled battalions hidden in igloo bunkers, and in the end, it takes Americans to round up the last fleeing Nazi. (I won't share my multitudinous quips; watch the film, and savor your own. There are plentiful opportunities.)

49th Parallel is a historical curiosity, more travelogue / tourism film than anything. Meet Eskimos, Quebecois, Hutterites, Indigenous Canadians, in-the-closet writers, and repentant pacificists as you jaunt across the unfrozen wasteland to the north, following a rag-tag band of Nazi submariners. If you don't love Canada by the time the movie's done, you're a hoser.

what's the lesson here?

Consider this year's Seattle Mariners, proud owners of this abysmal factoid:

First team with a $100 million payroll and 100 losses. With one bonus loss for good measure.

You make the inference.

Ranch House BBQ is moving back

Good news: Ranch House BBQ will move back to its (that's "its," dear advertiser) original location in 2009.

Hurrah!

In December, that is.

Delayed hurrah!

Capital's offense rolling; Cougs down Olympic, 56-14

In their last two contests, the Capital Cougars (2-0 OWL) have racked up 113 points while giving away a mere 20. Olympic was the latest victim of the resurgent Riley twins; Reid with one TD, Riley with three, as CHS romped, 56-14, taking their second straight league victory.

Tim Allbee, Olympic's associate head coach and defensive coordinator, said Riley Wall was the "best kid we've faced. He never stops moving his feet. It takes more than one guy to take him down...."

"We're a lot younger even than we thought we'd be," Allbee said. "I thought our kids got intimidated early. The kids let (the Cougars) get in their heads early. Capital's very, very good."

Indeed. Last week I predicted we'd "plow through the WCC/OWL." For once, I just might have the right psychic frequency.

M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I: a McCain / Obama liveblog

5:54 PST
Weather: Sunny, with children.
Mood: Pensive.
CBS Website: up and running.
Backup plan: KPLU, ca. 88.5
Perspective: Seventh-year debate coach and English teacher analyzes election rhetoric, body language, argumentation, and--this is far too ambitious, I now realize.

6:01
Jim Lehrer notes that the debate will be divided up into 9-minute segments, with 2-minute primary responses. Lehrer has selected the questions personally, and will hand them on a platter to the candidates, served up with hot, steaming platitudes.

6:02
Lehrer quotes Eisenhower on the relationship between the economy and the military to kickstart things. Wasn't he the guy who coined the phrase "Military-industrial complex?"

6:03
First question to Obama. Wall Street / Main Street is a nice rhetorical dig; McCain probably wishes he could've gotten there first. 1:30 in, and Obama's already going after his presumed opponent, President Bush.

6:05
McCain cribs the "Wall Street / Main Street" line. Knew it was coming.

6:06
McCain is looking at Lehrer; Obama directly into the camera. Obama's playing better on the television so far. (Somebody get McCain a glass of water, too.)

6:08
McCain's use of the Eisenhower anecdote comes across as sincere and sharp. Here comes the split screen.

This "talking to each other" thing that Lehrer is "determined" to achieve: profoundly weird, at least to this debate coach. We train debaters to not look directly at their opponents.

6:12
Okay, guys. Enough with the "Main Street" metonymy.

6:14
McCain calls earmarks "evil." Studying bear DNA isn't just impractical, it's diabolical!

6:15
McCain strikes closest first, going after Obama's earmarking. Obama's response is a deflection: sure, I've earmarked, but in a saintly way==no special interests--and McCain's tax plan is $300 billion. (Next to the bailout, though, even that seems small.) McCain comes right back, saying that $18 billion "may not be that much to Obama," but Main Street--that's you and me, right?--want to elect a Sheriff.

6:18
"Let's be clear" is Obama's pet phrase, in the same way that McCain loves "My friends."

6:19
McCain touts Ireland as a development haven? And here comes "my friends."

6:22
McCain scores the best adjective: "festooned," when describing an energy bill. Try all you want, Senator Obama, but you're not going to beat "festooned."

6:24
We're going to have to start giving these guys their own internet connections so they can look up the things they're asking us to look up. FactCheck is going to have a heyday tonight.

6:26
"It's hard to reach across the aisle that far too the left." McCain reaches out to the base; Obama smiles.

6:29
Every time McCain or Obama cites a number smaller than $700 billion--16, 15, any -teen billion--it seems tiny. "A billion here, a billion there," someone once said.

6:31
A delightful mixed metaphor from Obama: "The problem with a spending freeze, is you're using a hatchet when you need a scalpel."

6:33
"...the way you rule the country..." Lehrer's phrasing, referring to the changes in leadership a massive bailout might bring to either candidate, reflects the current conception of the chief-executive-as-king.

6:36
Obama goes after McCain's purported penny-pinching; McCain responds with a second go at the "Miss Congeniality" line. Plus, one good "maverick" begets another: Palin, who, though unnamed, apparently fits the appellation.

6:39
The Iraq War enters the building.

6:44
Who was wronger? Obama on the surge, or McCain on the entire conflict? Ouch: "Senator Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy."

6:48
Tough to say who's winning this debate, to be quite honest. Each is landing a punch or two, but no one has a knockout yet. Stylistically, Obama isn't stuttering as much as he did back against Hillary Clinton, and McCain seems perkier than he was in the GOP debates.

6:52
McCain, on public military threats: "You don't do that--you don't say that out loud. If you have to do things, you do things."

6:54
Who is McCain squinting at?

6:55
Obama brings up McCain's choice in mid-60s surfer rock.

6:58
The bracelet battle. Is this gravitas or severe tackiness? Honestly, I think I might be becoming too cynical.

7:01
It's also a battle of condescension. Obama keeps calling McCain "John," and McCain keeps listing things "Senator Obama doesn't understand."

7:04
Proof that McCain isn't Bush III: he lists the French as potential allies in a "league of democracies."

7:06
I've lost count of the times Obama has declared, "Senator McCain is absolutely right," before immediately dispatching another of McCain's suggestions.

7:11
"What Senator Obama doesn't seem to understand..." Obama needs to come right back with a classic: "There you go again..."

7:14
Actual Kissinger quote:

KISSINGER: Well, I am in favor of negotiating with Iran. And one utility of negotiation is to put before Iran our vision of a Middle East, of a stable Middle East, and our notion on nuclear proliferation at a high enough level so that they have to study it. And, therefore, I actually have preferred doing it at the secretary of state level so that we -- we know we're dealing with authentic...

SESNO: Put at a very high level right out of the box?

KISSINGER: Initially, yes. And I always believed that the best way to begin a negotiation is to tell the other side exactly what you have in mind and what you are -- what the outcome is that you're trying to achieve so that they have something that they can react to.

7:17
One more thing Obama, in his naivete, doesn't understand: that Putin wears KGB contact lenses.

7:21
Some say that Obama doesn't have to win this to win--he just has to hold his own. So far, nothing's really stumped him. McCain has shown some weirdness--squinting, crazy blinking, and an insistence on pet phrases--so in a relatively equal pitched battle of arguments, a draw is a loss.

7:25
Lehrer ends on an interesting question: what's the likelihood of another 9/11?

7:29
Which is just one more opportunity, ultimately, for McCain to talk about what Obama doesn't understand.

So, the debate boils down to this:
1. McCain: Obama is naive.
2. Obama: McCain, you're getting the facts wrong.

7:35
McCain closes with an appeal to veterans based on his experience; Obama closes with a call to a renewed global presence, America as a "beacon on a hill."

I'm calling this a tie, which, because of Obama's relative inexperience, counts as a win.

7:39
Bob Schieffer says exactly what I did, including the lack of a "knockout," and that "Obama held his own." Thanks for visiting, Bob.

7:43
And then there was Bob Barr.

8:37
Dave Weigel writes,

If your drinking game code words were "doesn't understand," please see a doctor.

I'm sure it's not the first, or last, time McCain's driving folks to drink.

9:16
The debate is barely over, and the factcheckers have already descended. McCain appears to be penalized the most for running out-of-bounds with the ball. Even the Eisenhower anecdote (which was delivered quite well) was a stretch.

Sigh.

bus-stop blogging

Maybe this will become a recurring feature, although I can't predict the frequency of its recurrence. Bus-stop blogging requires a combination of several factors:

1. Forgetting that the 45, sadly, has no 3:09 stop at CHS. (Note to Intercity Transit: if you want more teachers taking the bus, give them a stop immediately after the end of the contract day, 3:07.)

2. Dry, warm weather--at least, warm enough that my fingers can move.

3. No one else hanging out at the bus stop; even though I'm a natural introvert, these days, I find myself drawn into conversations, even with total strangers, because it's easier than silence. Today: no problem. Students all went home at 12:00.

4. No immediate desire to dig through the pile of essays I collected.

5. Decent blood sugar.

6. Idle curiosity / morbid fascination / mild boredom / writer's itch.

7. Functional wireless.

speaking off-the-cuff: the really "competitive, scary thing"

I'm not blogging this from a political perspective--I'm exhausted by this year's election marathon, and am saving my energy for more important things, like finishing up my $700 billion bailout plan that promises to put America's banks, lending houses, and realtors on steadier footing, and I'm not going to say too much about it, except that it involves Donald Trump, Bill O'Reilly, and a cross-country death race--so I'm approaching this purely from a speech coach's standpoint.

This is the worst impromptu speech I've ever heard. Sure, it's more coherent than "U.S. Americans," but the potential importance of the source determines the ranking.



[Thanks to Jason Kuznicki]

Added: Christopher Beam's advice is quite good.

nifty science images

1. One of the winners from the International Science and Engineering Visualiz... too tired to finish. That's what links are for.



2. One of the runners-up.

Mariners reach 100

Losses, that is.

Congratulations to the Mariners for achieving the abyss for the fourth time in team history.

Nowhere to go but up, right?

sin comentarios, el Gnomovil

¿Quién necesita una razón?

green, yet not green

1. Green: riding the bus almost every day, except for yesterday, when I'm at school from dawn 'til post-dusk, Open House, which, despite arriving a season early, is actually the longest night of the year.

2. Not green: I've been teaching for 6.2 years, if you count the summer school stint that started it all, when I was fresh out of Evergreen's Master in Teaching program. I remember the first time I presented at Open House: I struggled to fill 10 minutes for each miniature class period. Now, I run out of time.

3. Green: yesterday's tie.

4. Not green: leaves, locally.

5. Green: If I'm not a rookie, why did I forget my lunch?

North Thurston shoves science aside

After tossing and turning all night in a Kennewick hotel--drunken neighbors, a concealed beeping cellphone, and snoring, all in conspiracy--I woke up at 7:17 this morning to browse the news. First up: The Olympian reports that, as a budget-saving measure, the North Thurston School District's high schools now start at 7:20, 35 minutes earlier than last year.

The initial comments are mostly uninformed and grumpy:

Wow, do you guys want some cheese with your whine? Get over it, kiddies (and parents). Go to bed 1/2 hour earlier instead of texting your friends. The world doesn't operate on a 9-5 schedule and the soon they learn that, the better.

...

Buck up!

(You too, OLYMPIAN. Got NEWS???)

...

Don't worry, little children. Once you get to college you'll only go to class for three to four hours a day and an early class is at 8:00 a.m.

More in that vein, but you get the point. Is it that simple? Kids shouldn't be coddled, adults have it tough, grow up and be a man, I walked uphill both ways in the snow naked and shoeless while memorizing Shakespeare just to improve my memory not because it was assigned?

No. If anything, this article understates the importance of sleep, for at least three reasons.

1. Continual sleep deprivation results not just in poor academic performance, but has been implicated in a range of mood disorders.

2. Sleep patterns aren't just based on when you go to bed and when you wake up. Circadian rhythms dictate ideal sleep times. Adolescents aren't just "night owls" because it's fun; their circadian rhythms are different from those of adults.

3. Adolescent brain development is a critical period, a massive reorganization of neural circuitry comparable in scale to the changes in infancy. Proper sleep is thus especially important for teens.

So, go ahead and call it whining, but realize that the facts aren't on your side. Or maybe you aren't getting enough sleep, crankypants?

baseball joins the 20th century

Instant replay, for the first time in baseball history, has overturned a call.

Pena's drive to right field off Boof Bonser appeared to be touched by a fan before bouncing off the top of the fence. First base umpire Mike DiMuro signaled fan interference, and Pena stopped at second base for a two-run double.

The umpires huddled immediately and decided to look at the video for the third test of the system since Aug. 28, when baseball allowed umpires to begin using it to determine boundary calls.

The crowd of 28,306 broke into cheers when the umpires returned to the field after a delay of 4 minutes, 10 seconds, and crew chief Gerry Davis signaled home run, giving Pena a three-run shot that made it 9-0.

"I was glad they went and checked ... and I think they got it right," Pena said. "I always thought it was a home run."

Twins right fielder Denard Span wasn't sure what happened, but said he definitely heard the ball deflect off skin.

"The whole thing is getting it right," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "They got it right. That's all we care about."

Weep or rejoice as you must.