Friday?

It's been a fast week... yet the Super Bowl seems to have occurred so long ago. A few fun [and a few less fun] reads for Friday that I found interesting and some comments on the Jewish Economics Survey so far.

Regarding the survey, I must say that I'm relatively happy with the response so far, but there's certainly a need for it to keep spreading. Firstly, thank you to Wolf, ProfK, Orthonomics, and Hirhurim for linking to the survey; and thanks to all those who have forwarded it on to family and friends. Some points worth noting, even though it's still early:

• The respondents have been from a nice, wide spread. There have been people in their teens and people who are over 60. Over 30 communities have been represented at least once so far, 14 of them in the tri-state area, three of them in other countries.
• That said, no single community has 10 responses yet. The more people that take the survey, the better it can be utilized.
• About a third of the respondents left their e-mail; most chose to remain anonymous. More interestingly, and very helpfully, people have rarely chosen not to answer a question, and a large percentage have left notes in response to the survey questions at the end.
• Over half the people who responded to "What do you think is/are the most important financial issue(s) facing the Orthodox Jewish Community?" cited tuition.

Best comment so far:

What the survey did for me was make me sit down and add up all of the usual expenses that my family has in a year (I added in the ones the survey left out). Then I realized why we are struggling so much to make ends meet - our usual expenses now that we have only one tuition to pay are still slightly more than our income. Taking the survey is something that every family-- struggling with expenses or not-- should do. I have been recommending it to friends.

One of the primary reasons for doing the survey was because of exactly that. Most people have a vague idea in their heads - or even a decent idea - of what they spend each month and think that they're coming out just ahead even if not way ahead. But when they start adding in everything, suddenly that slight cushion is a slight debt.

Other funny but not so funny comments:

• In response to what questions should be added: None. This was depressing enough at is was.
• Advice: Live in a hole. Eat grass. Don't have kids right away, and save, save, save.
  

Elsewhere:

• (via Deadspin) The Krispy Kreme Challenge just started. Who wants to try this: Run two miles; eat a dozen doughnuts; run back the two miles - all in one hour, and without throwing up.
• Hilarious - Peyton Manning and a couple linemen shove Jay Cutler into a pool, taking his cellphone to protect it. But whoops! He's a diabetic...
• The full list of Madoff victims. 163 pages.
• Stubborn & Strong sent me this fantasticly interesting piece on how a young woman about my age lives while going deaf and blind in NYC.
• ProfK and Sephardi Lady have both linked to what should be an interesting pair of talks on birth control, tuition, and halacha.
• Freakonomics (which typically is moderately left) notes a pair of Chicago economists who rip into the 'stimulus' package. Final line:

  A very plausible alternative hypothesis is that the justifications being put forth for the stimulus package — even if those doing the justifying are economists — are based on politics, not economics.

• Speaking of brilliant ideas, guess what year this is from: (via DealBreaker)

  Fannie Mae, the mortgage-finance company under U.S. government control, will loosen rules for homeowners seeking to lower their loan payments by refinancing. Fannie Mae will drop some credit-score requirements, reduce income-documentation standards and waive the need for appraisals in some cases, according to a notice yesterday to lenders posted on the Washington-based company's Web site.

  Hint: It's newer than you think. Our brilliant government in action!

Enjoy!

Fairness Doctrine

I originally emailed this to Ezzie and he thought it was good enough to post. The link here is about the fairness doctrine.

The irony in all of this is this: Conservatives, believe that mainstream media such as the major networks, are all liberal...yet they have never called for the fairness doctrine to put conservative voices on TV. Liberals, have basically lost on the radio platform with Air America and yet want to artifically level the playing field. Don't liberals, rightfully, push the notion of having ideas out in the market place and letting people decide on them. (i.e., universities). The free market has allowed for that, and on radio, they lose. Not because anyone stops them, but because, well, the lose. Except for the fact that on the business side, they lost, nothing is stopping them, but because they lose, they now want gov't to step in. There is a reason people on the right fear a socialist trend. Clearly, nothing happens over night, but you start seeing things, drop by drop. Having government involved in ANY news media is a basically a couple of steps behind places like Venezuela that have government controlled press.

IIRC, this all started I believe a year or two ago when congress approval ratings were slipping badly. Instead of looking at themselves, they started blaming talk radio. Well........duh. If they screw up, shouldn't someone bring it up to the publics attention???? So instead of fixing  their own problems, they decide to regulate radio.

arrgghhh

A Promise Fulfilled

About one year ago, I promised to write about an event I attended. It was a beautiful affair, located in (of all places) Lakewood, New Jersey, and I had a blast.

I never wrote about it. In fairness to me, I was quite busy at the time... but then it slipped my mind, and I kept looking for a good opportunity to write it, and it just didn't happen. It is now one year later, and I'm not one for breaking promises, so here we go - a promise (belatedly) fulfilled:

What was so fascinating about the event I was invited to was that it was a wedding, and I'd received a formal invitation, and yet... I'd never met either the bride or the groom before. As far as I knew, I'd know only two other attendees: Moshe, and Mir. I drove straight from work with Mir and three others whom I didn't know in the back, and after a nice wait to get through the Lincoln Tunnel, we were on our way. We had a nice time shmoozing during the hour and a half drive,

Once Moshe arrived, we did something that I've never done before and there is a strong likelihood I'll never do it again: We made signs. They were pretty funny, and we knew they'd be appreciated by the kallah and perhaps even the chosson. And yet, I'd still never met either.

Part of what made the wedding so fascinating was that while I didn't know either side, I ran into a few people who I knew at the wedding in addition to Moshe and Mir, and nobody thought it strange to run into anyone who was there. Both families are from "out of town", one family has moved once or twice, and in both cases, everyone knows them - and loves them. One friend noted how he'd quickly become a ben bayis at the home of the groom's family - and this is not a friend who doesn't have plenty of family of his own. Yet there was something that drew him there and made him feel at home constantly. The bride's family is well known for their work, and one of Serach's best friends is obsessed with the whole family from her time working with them and her experiences with them when it comes to opening up their home and themselves. The positive impact each family had on any person they met was truly heart-warming and inspiring - and we haven't even gotten to the young couple.

The young couple who so graciously asked for our attendance fit right in with their families. One need only see their daily Facebook conversations or talk to any of their friends to understand what they're like and just how well liked they are, and how genuine those friendships are. They've spent their first year of marriage opening up their home to all those who need and all those who wish to join them, despite living out in small town, USA. They're just a beautiful couple, inside and out, and one can see that now just as one could see it one year ago, at their beautiful wedding.

So, to our very own Stam and M^2 - I really can't believe it's been a year already. May you continue to be blessed with happiness and health, and may your marriage continue to grow beautifully. Happy Anniversary!!

The Quiet King

I have to get this part out first: There's no right way to say this, but... Lebron James didn't even play that well tonight. The King went off for 52 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 107-102 victory by the Cleveland Cavaliers over the New York Knicks - and he could have done much, much better (as could have the Cavs). Does anyone realize how scary that is?

From my decent seats in Section 320, I spent the night alternating between oohing and aahing like the rest of Madison Square Garden, and muttering about the poor shot selection and ball movement of the Cavs, especially Lebron - and so did all the people around me, most of whom were Cavs fans. [Interestingly, I'd say there were a few thousand Cavs fans in the Garden tonight - enough that you really heard it when the Cavs were hitting shots, and I don't mean Lebron.]

Part of what is so fascinating about Lebron James is that he doesn't force shots in the typical sense, which makes it difficult to criticize him when he misses shots. Anyone looking at the particular shot would argue that the clock was winding down, nobody else was really open, and he got it off cleanly; and all of those would be true. When teams play tighter defense or double-team Lebron, he almost always swings it to the open man for a clean shot - and that's how he had 11 assists, with a few more blown on a missed Ben Wallace dunk or a couple wide open threes that didn't fall.

But when you sit there watching the game, you wonder why a player who moves so well without the ball in his hands is so rarely deferring to one of his (talented) point guards to start the set. Yes, there are times where he does this, often leading to a great look for him or a good open look for someone else, while keeping the rest of the team moving and involved. But much of the time, he's clearly taking the initiative and starting with the ball on the wing or at the top of the key, spending a good 8-12 seconds gauging where he can attack the player defending him by using a number of foot stabs to test the player's reactions (and those of his teammates coming to help). It is most similar to a quarterback calling out signals and sending players in motion to see if they can figure out how best to attack the defense, except just like when the QB too often gets stuck with a choice they don't like because the play clock has run down, Lebron is forced to take a long jumper because he wouldn't have enough time to drive and either shoot or kick and let the ball swing around to the open man. As Lebron gets more and more comfortable driving and forcing defenses to react to him consistently, or better, deferring to the guards to open up space for him, he will become an even greater force - and that's just scary.

(I can't believe I just spent three paragraphs criticizing one of the more incredible individual performances a person will ever see.)

All that said: Tonight's performance by Lebron James was one of the most incredible things I've ever witnessed (no pun intended). Yes, I happened to be surrounded by many Cavs fans, and yes, people often ooh and aah at amazing performances of opposing superstars. Sure, people cheered Kobe two nights ago. But this was something different. A couple of months ago, when Lebron last visited the Garden, amidst much greater 2010 hype, the place was electric about Lebron, going crazy every time he touched the ball and openly cheering when he made a great play. This time, the crowd was much less interested in wooing Lebron, and as it was a very close game, they were rooting hard for the Knicks. The Garden was actually pretty loud when the Knicks fought back and took the lead. But every time the arena would start to rock, Lebron would do something that would not just quiet the crowd as so often happens when a run is stopped. He'd electrify the crowd into being quiet. You'd hear screaming after another Al Harrington make followed by booming chants of "DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE" followed by an audible "ohmygoshWOOOOW" - and then silence. Just to finish it off, you've never seen a place get so excited when a player on the other team gets his 10th rebound in the last 3 seconds of the game while falling out of bounds.

What is particularly ironic about the last paragraph is that while he was electrifying, it was also a "quiet" 50. Except for a string of shots in the first quarter, there was no time where he drained shots in a way that you would jump up every time he took a jumper, like what happens when Kobe is on fire. You'd be electrified by something in the split-second after it happened, but you didn't feel that pumping right before he'd go up for each shot. In that sense, it was a "quiet" 52.

Lebron made shots that were difficult to understand how he even got to - one second he's 8 feet away from the hoop, one guy all over him and another in front, and the next second he's falling past the hoop, the ball rolling in from the rim, a whistle blowing, and the Knicks players looking on in wonderment. His early alley-oop was on a full-speed, 90-degree left hand turn toward the basket followed by a straight up 36+ inch vertical and then a power slam downward with both hands, all with someone pushing against his body on the left side. Sure, we've seen him do it dozens of times - and I still can't figure out how it's physically possible. After having been beaten on defense twice, and seemingly a third time, he not only caught up to Wilson Chandler but completely stuffed a reverse layup. And in what might just be a beautiful example of how aware Lebron is, the Knicks hit a shot with 3.7 seconds left in the first half to pull within three. Lebron looks at the clock, motions for Gibson to inbound the ball to him on the run, and turns to start running up the court, with about enough time for a pull-up three. A split-second later he fires a dart to Ben Wallace on the far baseline, who gets an easy lay-in right before the buzzer.

Lebron James is a frighteningly amazing basketball player. What is especially scary is to think that he had 52-10-11 on a night where he honestly just did not play his best game. I sat there during the game wondering just what his numbers would be in a game like tonight's if he drove a little more, if his jumper were a little better, if Delonte West were helping spread the floor a little more. We're talking about a guy who just turned 24 years old, and he is capable of improving on his game to a point where he would have 70-15-15 in a game like tonight's. He is a mind-boggling wonder.

52-10-11. I still can't believe it. I'm just shaking my head... Wow.

If You Wouldn't Say It In Person

I saw this video on Hirhurim and thought it was pretty important*:

*Not that there's a problem here, because there actually isn't really, but a lot of people read this blog and I do know there are problems elsewhere.

Adventures in Chinuch

An old associate opened up a blog recently which is quite intriguing, entitled Adventures in Chinuch. As his profile states:

I teach limmudei kodesh in the MO school system. I'm one of those "cool young Rabbis" who isn't really cool and isn't really a Rabbi. However, I have the secret power to trick teenagers into thinking I'm cool by using my taste in music and juvenile [sic] sense of humor. I can also trick them into thinking I'm a Rabbi, but that's easier.

His latest post touches on a common difficulty teachers face, which is what to say when you know the wrong lesson is likely to be taken from a situation.

I was actually asked by a student if I saw the Doritos commercial which shows the effect of eating Doritos on a person's ability to keep their clothing on (the student made a point to reference that part of the commercial). It was inappropriate viewing, but unavoidable to those watching. I could have said yes [...] However, the problem is that once a student hears me say that I saw it, in his head it becomes "Rabbi said I can watch inappropriate things on T.V." without really internalizing or even comprehending my explanation.

So...I implied that I did not see the commercial.

'Tis an interesting dilemma, and he's touched on a couple of others in his first few posts. Check him out.

On Thinking Institutionally

Via cousin Ally, this article in the New York Times is fantastic, and worth a quick read:

A few years ago, a faculty committee at Harvard produced a report on the purpose of education. “The aim of a liberal education” the report declared, “is to unsettle presumptions, to defamiliarize the familiar, to reveal what is going on beneath and behind appearances, to disorient young people and to help them to find ways to reorient themselves.”

The report implied an entire way of living. Individuals should learn to think for themselves. They should be skeptical of pre-existing arrangements. They should break free from the way they were raised, examine life from the outside and discover their own values.

This approach is deeply consistent with the individualism of modern culture, with its emphasis on personal inquiry, personal self-discovery and personal happiness. But there is another, older way of living [...]

In this way of living, to borrow an old phrase, we are not defined by what we ask of life. We are defined by what life asks of us. As we go through life, we travel through institutions — first family and school, then the institutions of a profession or a craft.

Read the whole thing.

Jewish Economics Survey Notes

Firstly, if you have not yet taken the survey, please do! :) The more information we can gather, the bigger impact this can potentially have.

Even if you have taken it, please pass it along to friends and family by e-mail (the link above is all you need). It's anonymous [unless you choose to give your information], it's quick, it's painless (unless you're really dismayed thinking about how much money you spend each month, which could apply to most of us), and it's important. One friend did it in less than 5 minutes, though I think most people need closer to ten minutes to complete it.

Though there's not nearly enough data to analyze yet, there are a couple of points I'm already finding interesting:

• One of the last questions asks if simply filling out the survey made the person more aware of their expenses. About half the people so far have answered "somewhat".
• It's nice to see the quick geographical spread already: 3 countries, 4 major metro areas in the United States, and a large number of neighborhoods have at least one respondent.
  

Of course, one response from anywhere is not data, so pass it along to all your friends!

Help Friendship Circle Win $25,000 - or $50,000

Jews around the world helped Leah Larson of Yaldah Magazine win $100,000 - now we have a chance to help another organization, Friendship Circle of Sharon, MA.

Friendship Circle of Sharon (www.sharonfriends.com)

The Friendship Circle's unique approach brings together teenage volunteers and children with special needs for hours of fun and friendship. These shared experiences empower children with special needs, while enriching the lives of everyone involved.

Children with special needs bloom and gain the confidence they need to make the most their abilities and talents.
Teenage volunteers learn the priceless value of giving, the curative power of friendship, and the vital importance of integrating children with special needs into our communities.

Parents and siblings receive much-needed needed respite and support from the Friendship Circle community, and all those who assist it.

The Friendship Circle of Sharon is affiliated with and under the auspices of the Chabad Lubavitch Torah Center Inc.

Follow the steps below to register and vote for the Friendship Circle to get a chance to win $25,000 - plus the top 15 contenders will be entered into a raffle for an additional $25,000

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & VOTE
(Note: by clicking the link above, you will skip the first step shown below and will be directed straight to the registration page)

Jewish Economics Survey

UPDATE: Link should be fixed and working; please email me if you have any trouble. Also, in case anyone was concerned, all your answers are completely anonymous. Unless you wish to tell me your name and/or e-mail, I have no way of knowing who anybody is.

Over the last few weeks, with the help of a number of other people, I've been working on compiling a survey of the Jewish community. To name all the people who've helped in various ways - whether they know it or not - would take too long; however, Sephardi Lady of Orthonomics and G of SerandEz were of utmost help and gave excellent suggestions and input, and deserve a public thank you.

The purpose of the survey is explained in its introduction; the link to take the survey is right... here. http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p-2WPRCDbkfzWDcHNWxlhdQ

Please take a few minutes and fill it out; we're still not sure what impact this could end up having on the Orthodox community, and won't until we have the information, but we suspect it will be eye-opening to many and will be able to be utilized in many ways which will help the community as a whole. We'd also greatly appreciate it if you could forward the link above to as many friends and family as possible within the Orthodox community, asking any who are willing to join in; the more information we can gather, the better we can trust and use the findings to help everyone.

Below is what the survey looks like; by my estimation, it should take 10-15 minutes to fill out, though many will surely be able to do it more quickly than that. Please take the survey here, and feel free to leave any input in the comments at the end of the survey. Thank you!

...Because That's Smart

I mean, everyone knows that making banks give out loans beyond what they would normally do is smart. That's never helped lead to a recession, not in the last ten years or anything. I'm glad this President has learned from the mistakes of the past ten years to come up with a new idea that won't lead to any of the same problems at a much deeper level at all, and has a guy who had nothing to do with those problems announce the plan, too:

President Barack Obama will require banks to boost lending to consumers and companies in return for taxpayer aid from the $700 billion bailout fund, in a departure from Bush administration policy, a key lawmaker said.

“You’re going to see the Obama administration,” learning lessons from the first phase of the program, “push for much more lending,” House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, who helped write the financial-rescue law, said yesterday on ABC television’s This Week program. “There are going to be some real rules in there.”

All seriousness - any media member worthy of the title journalist should be all over this asking questions. Anyone who shrugs it off should be fired on the spot. This is idiocy at its best.

Also interesting: Change* we can believe in.

Why is the _____ Shaking?

[Insert: Table/Room/Car/Building...] For all those who understand, this one's for you.

And for everyone else, this is just awesome. (Just ask SpEd and Stam.) Mom, I think you should try this; the mouseover text is "You can do this one in every 30 times and still have 97% positive feedback."

I should note that it's sad when these random cartoons are way funnier than anything during the Super Bowl. There were very few horrible SB commercials yesterday, but there were no amazing ones, either. This second comic would make for a better commercial than almost all the ones that actually aired yesterday.

SUPER BOWL XLIII...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other things you could be doing with your time:

• Ice skate
• Read your favorite book
• Clean your room
• Do homework
• Watch a movie
• Eat ice cream
• Drink hot chocolate
• Prank your roommates
• Prank other people (rearranging furniture is always an option)
  
• Go for a walk
• Have a melted snow/slush fight
• Go to the YU Seforim Sale
• Learn Torah (or does football still fall in the realm of "shtark?")
  
• Write emails
• Play boggle
• Write blog posts
• Etc.,etc.,etc.
  

121 Response

A celebration of ascension. From the desert, our salvation is coming.
The Lord will [iyH!] not allow evil to hold reign in this time.
The men of the trenches will not give an inch; the men behind them will not rest but remain active.
Behold, the protectors of the heroic bagger will neither slumber nor sleep.
The men in the back will be the guardians, shadowing those who try to benefit from the clock's right hand.
The gold shall not smite by the ground, nor the black through the air.
The humble flying man shall keep all from evil; he will invigorate the soul.
The old man's runnings will control the goings and comings - and keep evil out, from this time forth and forever.

GO CARDINALS!!

Cardinals, 27-20. Wishful thinking, maybe... but I can't pick the Steelers, right? With all the focus on Fitzgerald, I think Boldin will actually be the one to have a big game and score a touchdown or two, and the Arizona defense will have a couple of big plays. I think Edgerrin James/Tim Hightower, Santonio Holmes, and Troy Polamalu will also play well. (I love making baseless predictions.)

This post is dedicated to my good friend Coops and the Mrs., with whom I wish I was watching today, and for their attempt to bring hope and change into Cleveland sports culture.

Please

Please have in mind Tamara bas Frayda Basha in your tefilos - the grandmother of one of our loyal readers and good friends. Thank you...

Elianna on Vacation

(Because this is more pleasant than ranting about economics.)

While it took her a day or so to understand that being on vacation did not mean that she was going to a place called vacation rather than to school, she's been hilarious all week, except for the little stiff-arms to Kayla when she'd pull her shirt. (Though they were well-executed.) I've been sick most of the week, so if Elianna would see that I didn't look well, she'd walk over, concerned, and the following conversation(s) would occur:

Elianna: Aw, Daddy, are you sick?
Daddy: Yeah... (cough)
Elianna: You're coughing? Do you need a drink of water?
Daddy: No, it's okay, thanks...
Elianna: Do you need a kiss?
Daddy: (laughing) Sure.
Elianna: {kiss} Do you feel better?
Daddy: A little.
Elianna: You're still sick? Do you want to go to the doctor tomorrow? Yeah? Okay.

We felt bad that we couldn't take the girls out to somewhere fun this week, with Serach having less hours due to vacation and Elianna off, but that's what happens when you live in NYC and your ABS sensor and bumper are getting replaced (and you're paying for it). Grr. But it's fun watching the girls in general, and this week listening to Elianna all day I've gotten to appreciate just how fast they're both growing. Kayla is sitting, crawling faster and faster, making noises like "Dada" though hard to say if she's directing them or not, and is eating real food well (ironically, she loves Bananas). Elianna's gone from full sentences to having a pretty good command of grammar - sadly, she says some things better than many adults I know. Her teachers were shocked when they showed a picture of Obama and she immediately called out "that's Obama! Where's McCain?", and she now knows that Obama is President of America and lives in a big white house. McCain is "on vacation" (apparently she doesn't care about Congress). Best of all, little shoves aside, she and Kayla adore one another, and Kayla cracks up at everything Elianna does that's funny. The hard part is making sure Elianna doesn't give Kayla things she shouldn't have or too much food at once, but she's learned this week about "chokables" and now grabs items away from Kayla citing their status as "chokable"... or of course, "mine". Sigh.

Ezzie's Blog Roundup II, 1/29

Been wanting to post this (hat tip: Ed) for a while, but it's better after a couple weeks of news pieces. The difference is that this is a comedy show.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Changefest '09 - Obama's Inaugural Speech

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

More Funny Videos
Comedians on Tour

• Inspiring post by JACP - Because I Can, And So I Did.
• A Soldier's Mother posts a moving letter from a soldier to the Palestinian house he stayed in in Gaza.
• Northern Light discusses the homeless and how attitudes have changed since the Great Depression.
  
• EoZ has a comic from 1956 that's... well, nothing has changed. (I've seen this flying around since yesterday - Jameel had it today, too.)
• Via Freakonomics, Will Wilkinson asks if economists are completely clueless.
  

Enjoy!

Economics & Politics

I've been under the weather all week, so excuse the lack of real content...

For the dozen or so people besides me that read this blog and actually care about such things, here are some sharp pieces on the economy and political landscape:

• Rush Limbaugh pens a rather funny but quite intriguing alternative, offering President Obama a compromise: The Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan 2009.
• A WSJ editorial notes that barely $100 billion of the nearly $1 trillion in spending suggested by Obama has even a likelihood of stimulating the economy; the rest is a 40-year wish list for Democratic Party supporters. Quite mind-boggling to see where the money is going, when all you hear about in the news is the $30 billion for bridges and highways.
  
• Dick Morris argues that Obama will have moved us toward socialism - even if he's voted out in 2012 - in irreversible ways.
• An interesting (and eye-opening) take on the Bush economy - what was good and what mistakes were made.
• A fascinating Q&A with a former White House economist on Freakonomics, with this piece the most important one to me (as we see it in areas besides economics):

  Q: What are some of the most absurd economic assumptions Washington politicians are guilty of making, and that you’ve had to “advise” against in your position?

  
  

  A: That’s a fantastic question, and it gets at a nefarious tactic by some advocates: they try to skew the “baseline” assumptions to make their proposed policy changes look more reasonable.

  Read it all, it's very telling.

Enjoy!

Brown & Orange Flurry

I was talking to my good friend and constantly pessimistic Cleveland fan Howie tonight, and the call ended with something it rarely ever does - slight optimism. For context, I'll share a voicemail that Howie left me and that I still have saved from October 2004, when the Indians were officially eliminated on a fly ball in the sun:

"You don't need to call me back. I just called to say I told you so."

This time, it ended with Howie saying that while he'd liked his own suggestion, the one I'd thrown out in response was a really good idea.

What about? Well, the Cleveland Browns, of course. You see, Howie and I own a pair of 50-yard line season tickets to the Browns, so their success not only gives us enjoyment as fans, but makes us actual investors in our team's success. And it therefore behooves us to - as all fans do - suggest just what our team should be doing to be successful.

A few notes to start: The Browns have the 5th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. If I'm not mistaken, they have the 36th pick as well. Via WFNY, there are teams like the Vikings who are interested in players like Derek Anderson. (Yay!) The Browns have a new coach, Eric Mangini, who seems to be reasonably intelligent with some good schemes, even if he was hired rather hurriedly; and a new GM, straight from Baltimore, in Kokinis. Kellen Winslow is not particularly happy in Cleveland; the other Browns' tight ends did fine in his absence. Terrell Suggs is a free agent, and is 26 years old. Shaun Rogers is HUGE. The Detroit Lions have the 20th pick in the first round in addition to the #1 pick in each round. The Philadelphia Eagles have the 28th and 31st picks in the first round.

The sharp among you may have already realized where I'm going with this, but to spell it out, here's what the Browns should consider doing:

• Trade Kellen Winslow and Derek Anderson to the Minnesota Vikings for the #22 pick in the first round (and whatever else you can get with it - a defensive back, maybe?).
• Trade the #5 pick in the draft to either Detroit for the #20 and #33 picks or the Eagles for #28 and #31.
• Sign Terrell Suggs as a free agent.
• Draft four defensive players between picks #20 and #36.
  

First, why Minnesota would do it: Duh. If you have Adrian Peterson and a good line, what do you need? A big-arm QB who can take advantage of defenses trying to cheat on the run. Winslow is a solid-blocking TE who has great talent and can also spread the field, works well with DA, and would be great off play-action with Peterson. He'd be able to function similar to how Gates has for years in San Diego with Tomlinson. For the Vikings, the ability to open up their offense like this combined with their already good defense seems to be a no-brainer as compared to a mid-first round pick.

Why Detroit would do it: Think Quinn + Thomas, but maybe better. Whether they take Stafford or Sanchez, what would be better than immediately grabbing a top left tackle to protect his blindside? There's nothing they could get at #20 or to start the second round that would compare to one of those top tackles.

Why Philly would do it: Their core is aging. They want someone who can make that immediate impact, whether by shoring up that O-line or wherever. Two picks at the very end of the first round to take that shot at a Super Bowl might be awfully enticing.

Why Suggs would do it: Baltimore is in disarray, and can't afford him and still pay Ray Lewis. Kokinis can bring him over. (Side note: If Suggs' reputation is merely boosted by the defense he plays for and not his own skills, presumably Kokinis would know this and not sign him.)

Why the Browns should do it: Why not!? The offense will barely be taking a hit. You'd still have Quinn, Edwards, and the O-line. You'd have a coach more willing to use Josh Cribbs as he used Leon Washington. Top 5 picks bust almost half the time, and they cost a lot more money. None would be of help this year except Crabtree, and he's unlikely to be available. You'd have a defense with two real studs in Rogers (29) and Suggs (26), leading a bunch of young, talented guys [Laurinitis, Mayben, Alphonso Smith, and William Moore?] who will be coming in as a group and learning a scheme together under their new, young coach. Will this team be great in 2009? No. But it could be really great in 2010.

People often shy away from plans that require lots of moves, figuring at least one of the counterparties will balk - but this plan is one that should be relatively easy to sell on each of the other partners. Minnesota is the first one, and is easy enough to find out. Philly and Detroit (especially Detroit) seem to be no-brainers; it's pretty clear who will be available at #5 and what each needs and wants out of this draft. Whether the Browns have 22-28-31-36 or 20-22-33-36 it should be relatively easy for them to get four players they really like, knowing the needs of the teams in between their picks. Suggs is probably the trickiest part of all of this, but seems to be doable especially in light of the ability he'd have to be the big name and leader of a high-potential defense for years to come.

Are we totally off here, or does this sound like it's just not too crazy to actually work?

Now You Hear Me

...now you don't. This guy and his inventions are really cool, and the practical uses of the one he discusses most of the presentation are incredible.

My immediate thought was - as they start to be made smaller and cheaper - to talk to people far away without anyone hearing, such as in a crowded room, during a football game, or particularly cool for spies. The coolest use would be to talk to terrorists in the middle of the night, convince them that they're being talked to by God or some such thing, and get them to either walk into traps or give up on terror. But it would be incredibly useful for operations such as the ones Israel just carried out in Gaza - both for communication between soldiers and to warn away civilians from terrorists.