Saturday, January 9, 2010

“New hire explains philosophy - Jackson Clarion-Ledger” plus 4 more

“New hire explains philosophy - Jackson Clarion-Ledger” plus 4 more

New hire explains philosophy - Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 07:32 AM PST

Jackson State offensive coordinator Earnest Wilson will make $75,000 a year while he attempts to retool a unit that scored just 13.9 points a game in 2009 and ranked No. 109 in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The newest addition to the staff held his first interview Friday since being hired Tuesday afternoon and talked all things football. Wilson was relaxed as he cracked jokes and explained his philosophy inside the JSU Student Center.

"We want to run the ball well, throw the ball accurately and threaten with option," Wilson said. "I think we've got to be more of an attacking offense. ... Defense should be backing up. Offense should be attacking."

Wilson brings a long resume that includes internships with the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings and a graduate assistant position at Penn State. He said he learned his running game and play-action practices from Joe Paterno and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. The passing tendencies will feature "Air Raid" principles developed by former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach and former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme, who Wilson worked under at New Mexico State.

"The bottom line is if you're doing things right and you're fundamentally and technique sound," Wilson said. "And the kids understand what they're doing when they hit the football field. If they don't understand it, you're going to lose.

"I have a high expectation of myself. I'm here to instill that into the young men that I coach - to have a high expectation of themselves."

Wilson said he has poured through tapes of the first three Jackson State games of 2009 and plans to do so for every game. He's impressed at the talent on the team and excited about the youth.

One of the biggest tasks for Wilson, however, will be the development of sophomore quarterback Dedric McDonald and other players at the position. A criticism of former coordinator James Woody was the quarterbacks didn't show much growth during their time at JSU.

"In the future, my quarterback has to have football IQ," said Wilson, who has been impressed with McDonald. "He has to prepare and be able to study. I want him to have a quick release - if you see it, he has to trust what he's seeing. Quick feet and be able to make something out of nothing.

"No matter what offense you have you have to keep the quarterbacks throwing and the running backs running. We have to develop a consistency here."

Some have worried about the fact that Wilson held seven different coaching positions between 1994-2004 before a five-year stint at New Mexico State. Wilson thinks he was able to increase his breadth of knowledge about the entire game by being in several different situations - something that JSU athletic director Bob Braddy also saw as a positive.

"He's a positive guy with extensive work at upper level programs," Braddy said. "He's been tested. He brings a variety of experience from all levels."

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The PokerJanitor’s Philosophy - FlopTurnRiver.com

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 07:47 AM PST

The PokerJanitor's Philosophy


Posted on 9 January 2010 at 10:51 am EST by PokerJanitor | Permalink

I've received an offer I cannot refuse – the nice young woman I've been seeing has offered to teach me how to bake her delicious homemade bread. And what does she ask in return?

"Well," she said, "I've always wanted to get good at poker. Could you teach me?"

So, rather than simply tossing "Super System 2" in her lap and watching the NFL playoffs, I'll spend some quality time teaching her how to play. That shows what a caring guy I am, right? I think so, at least. Also I get to eat homemade bread. What's not to love?

In preparation for the evening, I've decided to put my thoughts to paper in an effort to polish my own instructing techniques. So here, courtesy of this nice young lady, are my philosophies for beginners.

Play, play, play.

There is no substitute for the real thing. Sit down at a live table as often as possible, and immerse yourself in the online game with every chance you get. Play as if you were practicing your jump shot or spending some extra time in the batting cages. If you get burned out on hold 'em, switch over to Omaha or one of the many stud games. The basic skills you'll need to excel will always be present, no matter what form of poker you're practicing.

Vary your strategy- see what works.

The most dangerous opponent at a table will always be the unpredictable one. No one wants to play with a loose cannon who will move all in on a small pair preflop, only to check his nut flush down to the river two hands later. In many ways, that's exactly the kind of player you want to be. Don't let your opponents build a solid read on you. Make different moves in different situations, and see how the other players react. To be clear, I'm not recommending that you make reckless, blatantly incorrect moves. Those are the kinds of plays that'll swallow a bankroll before you know it. But never let the opposition draw a bead on you. As soon as you think they have you figured out, it's time to switch it up.

Watch the pros (selectively).

ESPN deserves a lot of credit for the so-called "poker boom." But while it may be an excellent place to watch your favorite players butt heads, it's not the best learning tool. What many viewers don't realize is that ESPN condenses an entire day's worth of poker into a single hour (minus commercials). So what you're essentially seeing is a glorified, glamorized highlight reel with a commentary track added in post-production. But fear not, TV lovers – there are some great shows to be found on the dial. NBC's Poker After Dark is one of the finest places to learn the sit & go game, though there is certainly still some editing taking place. The hands down winner in the television world has to be High Stakes Poker, found on the Game Show Network. It runs unedited, showing the game in its entirety. The show features some of the biggest names in the business betting big money. What's not to like about that?

Don't try to be someone you're not.

If you're a talkative person, then be talkative. If you're naturally introverted, then stay that way. If you're trying to be someone else, good players will be able to sniff it out. Your body language and speech will change depending on hand strength, and you'll always appear to be nervous. Let your own personality come out, but be sure to control some of your basic physical tells. Watch your posture and eyebrows. Do your best to maintain a constant delivery no matter what cards you're holding.

Don't be intimidated.

You're going to lose, plain and simple. It's how you take it and learn from it that will make you a better player. Above all, don't let the opposition get inside your head. There are plenty of players out there who rely solely on intimidation to beat their opponents. They will berate you no matter what check, call, raise or re-raise you make. Don't be fooled – players like this are not nearly as good as they think they are. In fact, the worst thing you can do to a bad poker player is to tell them how horrible they are! You want to play with suckers, because they're easy money. So if you see someone playing poorly at the table, don't taunt or try to scare them. Just keep taking their money little by little, pot by pot. Before they know it, they'll be broke down to the felt. And after all, isn't that the best victory?

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 at 10:51 am and is filed under Online Poker, Poker Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Honda’s design philosophy stresses function - WIS-TV

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 05:16 AM PST

Honda isn't typically singled out for its design expertise. Instead, it is the fun-to-drive and rock-solid aspects of Honda vehicles that usually get top billing. But quietly, Honda has been capturing more and more international kudos for its leading-edge design work, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Nobuki Ebisawa, the corporate managing director and general manager of styling and design development, to talk about it.

Ebisawa stressed two simple and overarching themes for Honda design: dynamism and functionality. He said the company's designers still draw inspiration from the functional designs of the first-generation Civic and first-generation Accord that were drawn in the same nondescript design studio in which Ebisawa and his crew work today. And at the same time, they look back all the way to the 1963 S500 sports car to channel the dynamism that helps set the brand apart. 

Ebisawa is proud of what he calls "an unbroken chain of dynamism and functionality" that stretches from those earliest models through the legendary Acura NSX sports coupe of the '90s to the Honda Odyssey minivan that transformed its segment. He expects that the upcoming hybrid Honda CR-Z, which was shown in concept form at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, will draw on both aspects of the Honda personality. Functionality will be characterized by the fuel-efficient hybrid drivetrain, and dynamism will be expressed by the car's style and fun-to-drive nature.

While the exterior design of Honda vehicles has not always been highly praised, the interior of its vehicles -- and especially their instruments and controls -- have routinely been lauded around the globe. Ebisawa cites his group's intense study of the "man-machine interface" for this, noting that Honda has long relied on the philosophy "Man maximum, machine minimum" in its designs. This means that Honda's controls are intended to be intuitive, not intrusive: to help the driver, not to challenge the driver or to make a design statement for design's sake.

An example of this effort is the bi-level instrument panel seen on the current Honda Civic. Intuitive operation and instant recognition were keys in the design, and Ebisawa said that in the "layered construction," perceived space is enhanced and line of sight movement minimized to prioritize information. Special effort goes into achieving natural hand position and create buttons that are easily understood. Ebisawa believes that voice support is the next frontier in making things simpler and more functional.

Since 2000, said Ebisawa, Honda design execs made the conscious decision to add emotional appeal to the company's vehicles without compromising functionality. In keeping with the "man maximum, machine minimum" philosophy, space has been intentionally reduced for mechanical components, and interior space with long rooflines has been increased to maximize usable roominess.

The Honda CR-Z, which will be launched next year, will encapsulate all these ideas in a vehicle that is functional and emotional, dynamic yet pragmatic. It draws on Honda's long heritage while at the same time presenting a new face and a new heart. The CR-Z will also be the harbinger of even more fascinating products from the carmaker that was once best known for its motorcycles.

Tom Ripley Driving Today Contributing Editor Tom Ripley writes frequently about the auto industry and the human condition from his home in Villeperce, France. He is a big fan of the art world. 

Copyright (c) 2009 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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In These Times - In These Times

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 02:28 PM PST

I'm not trying to negate your point. Of course the class struggle is won or lost on the job. That said, railway workers in the U.S. face unique obstacles to workplace democracy--like not being allowed to strike. So, if they're going to democratize their workplaces, they need to carve out a legal space to do so. Or, at least their leadership thinks they do, hence the lawsuit. It makes tactical sense. It's harder to have a democratic workplace when the boss can drag you into an unaccountable kangaroo court.

Posted to Supreme Court Hands Major Victory to Rail Workers—and Labor Lawyer Geoghegan

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Matthew Crowe - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Posted: 09 Jan 2010 01:45 PM PST

My most read post that I have written online to date is one titled "Everyone Struggles" located on my blog mattcrowe.com ~ business and philosophy followed by a close second of a new one I just recently wrote for the blog Dumb Little Man titled "Why Choosing Happiness Will Dramatically Change All Aspects Of Your Life".

Today, as I was preparing to write this article a common thread jumped out and smacked me straight in the face from not only my first post here on this blog "The Time Is Right Now…" but also these two listed above and thought I would share my thoughts with this community to get your feedback.


All three of these posts discuss this notion of deciding to "choose" and making "choices" which sounds simple enough right??

Not exactly. 

Over the past two days I had a conversation with a mentor of mine who has an extensive background in psychology and personal development as well as a best selling author and coach around this very topic of choices.  Much of the conversations were dominated with the acknowledgment of sure, it may be easy to logically understand something - like "choosing" happiness, success, love, fulfillment, gratitude, or whatever.  However, it's a WHOLE nother thing to be able to translate those decisions emotionally, apply them, and actually stick with it for a whole number of reasons. Our emotions truly do control us much of the times it seems…right?  Past experiences that have been engrained or conditioned in us or fears and blind spots that have held us back from our true potential we all have.

I

know for myself that many times I decided to make a choice, for example to be in rocking good shape then all to quickly to fall of the horse.  I start a killer work out regime, then go out with friends and slam down 6000 calories of pizza and sweets followed by the next day of sitting on my bum doing nothing frustrated with myself for making that bad "choice" of eating like crap and not working out.  The next day I have to "choose" again to work out, and hopefully with repetition and condition it will become a new habit but doesn't always go that way.

Making a choice can be complicated and isn't always as easy as it sounds.  I don't ever want any of my readers to think that the things I write about are simple and I recognize that all of us including myself are human. For many of us there seems to be areas in our lives where it's incredibly difficult to make certain "choices", let alone to stick with those "choices" without continual struggle.

So I conclude with this and would like your feedback:

What have been areas of your life where you tried to choose something and yet still struggled with it?

I leave you with this wonderful note I received from a friend of mine who was originally from Argentina and sent me this in response to choices:

I "chose" happiness when I was 17 and took a risk by leaving home and moving to the states… Everyday I work at it, because choosing happiness takes a lot of work! It seems so much easier to NOT be happy but those of us, who are lucky enough to have the energy to choose, are certainly better off. ~ Veronica

 


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