https://petertuuk.com/blog/A home on the webFri, 05 May 2023 08:15:00 -0400https://petertuuk.com/blog/2023/05/baseball-standings-plotted-2023.html<p>Since 2021 I've made plots of MLB standings to help me keep up with the various division races. Those original plots were <a href="https://petertuuk.com/blog/2021/05/baseball-standings-plotted.html">here</a>. Below are those same plots for this year. (these should update daily):</p> <p><img alt="NLE23.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/NLE23.svg" title="NLE23.svg"> <img alt="NLC23.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/NLC23.svg" title="NLC23.svg"> <img alt="NLW23.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/NLW23.svg" title="NLW23.svg"> <img alt="ALE23.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/ALE23.svg" title="ALE23.svg"> <img alt="ALC23.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/ALC23.svg" title="ALC23.svg"> <img alt="ALW23.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/ALW23.svg" title="ALW23.svg"></p>Peter TuukFri, 05 May 2023 08:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2023-05-05:/blog/2023/05/baseball-standings-plotted-2023.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2022/04/baseball-standings-plotted-2022.html<p>Last year I made a set of plots of MLB standings to help me keep up with the various divisions. Those plots were <a href="https://petertuuk.com/blog/2021/05/baseball-standings-plotted.html">here</a>. Below are those same plots for 2022. (these should update daily):</p> <p><img alt="NLE22.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/NLE22.svg" title="NLE22.svg"> <img alt="NLC22.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/NLC22.svg" title="NLC22.svg"> <img alt="NLW22.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/NLW22.svg" title="NLW22.svg"> <img alt="ALE22.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/ALE22.svg" title="ALE22.svg"> <img alt="ALC22.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/ALC22.svg" title="ALC22.svg"> <img alt="ALW22.svg" src="https://petertuuk.com/files/mlbplots/ALW22.svg" title="ALW22.svg"></p>Peter TuukMon, 18 Apr 2022 08:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2022-04-18:/blog/2022/04/baseball-standings-plotted-2022.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2021/12/michigan-won-the-big-ten.html<p>Michigan won the Big Ten! Those who stay will be champions. </p> <p>Michigan fans can now look forward to the college football playoff and debating the seeding. Unfortunately Georgia couldn't knock Alabama out, so the picture is a little more crowded. A big question is who will be in and who …</p>Peter TuukSun, 05 Dec 2021 00:15:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2021-12-05:/blog/2021/12/michigan-won-the-big-ten.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2021/08/covid-plots.html<p>When the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic first hit, I spent some time trying to find any good sources of data on its severity over time and between states (and countries). My interest in this faded as case rates decreased and vaccines became available. But now as the Delta variant is working its …</p>Peter TuukSun, 22 Aug 2021 22:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2021-08-22:/blog/2021/08/covid-plots.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2021/05/baseball-standings-plotted.html<p>I find that one of the joys of a baseball season is the narrative arc that has the chance to develop over the course of a 162-game season. But keeping up with such an arc for a single team is hard enough, let alone the broader context of other divisions …</p>Peter TuukSun, 16 May 2021 08:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2021-05-16:/blog/2021/05/baseball-standings-plotted.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2018/01/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>An update to college football rankings:</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_2d.png" title="cfb2017w16_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_updown.png" title="cfb2017w16_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_claimants.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_claimants.png" title="cfb2017w16_claimants.png"></p>Peter TuukTue, 09 Jan 2018 23:35:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2018-01-09:/blog/2018/01/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2018/01/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>An update to college football rankings:</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_2d.png" title="cfb2017w16_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_updown.png" title="cfb2017w16_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_claimants.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_claimants.png" title="cfb2017w16_claimants.png"></p>Peter TuukTue, 09 Jan 2018 23:35:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2018-01-09:/blog/2018/01/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2018/01/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>An update to college football rankings:</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_2d.png" title="cfb2017w16_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_updown.png" title="cfb2017w16_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w16_claimants.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w16_claimants.png" title="cfb2017w16_claimants.png"></p>Peter TuukTue, 09 Jan 2018 23:35:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2018-01-09:/blog/2018/01/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/12/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>An update to college football rankings:</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_2d.png" title="cfb2017w14_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_updown.png" title="cfb2017w14_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_top7.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_top7.png" title="cfb2017w14_top7.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png" title="cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png"></p>Peter TuukSun, 10 Dec 2017 16:25:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2017-12-10:/blog/2017/12/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/12/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>An update to college football rankings:</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_2d.png" title="cfb2017w14_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_updown.png" title="cfb2017w14_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_top7.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_top7.png" title="cfb2017w14_top7.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png" title="cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png"></p>Peter TuukSun, 10 Dec 2017 16:25:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2017-12-10:/blog/2017/12/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/12/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>An update to college football rankings:</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_2d.png" title="cfb2017w14_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_updown.png" title="cfb2017w14_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_top7.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_top7.png" title="cfb2017w14_top7.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png" title="cfb2017w14_first_out_cfp.png"></p>Peter TuukSun, 10 Dec 2017 16:25:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2017-12-10:/blog/2017/12/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/11/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>In a previous post, I had outlined a college football ranking construct. I've since made a few additional plots to illustrate how teams compare now now (after week 12) and where they stood in past weeks.</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_2d.png" title="cfb2017w12_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_updown.png" title="cfb2017w12_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_top7.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_top7.png" title="cfb2017w12_top7.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_b1ge.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_b1ge.png" title="cfb2017w12_b1ge.png"></p>Peter TuukTue, 21 Nov 2017 22:25:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2017-11-21:/blog/2017/11/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/11/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>In a previous post, I had outlined a college football ranking construct. I've since made a few additional plots to illustrate how teams compare now now (after week 12) and where they stood in past weeks.</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_2d.png" title="cfb2017w12_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_updown.png" title="cfb2017w12_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_top7.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_top7.png" title="cfb2017w12_top7.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_b1ge.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_b1ge.png" title="cfb2017w12_b1ge.png"></p>Peter TuukTue, 21 Nov 2017 22:25:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2017-11-21:/blog/2017/11/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/11/college-football-rankings-illustrated.html<p>In a previous post, I had outlined a college football ranking construct. I've since made a few additional plots to illustrate how teams compare now now (after week 12) and where they stood in past weeks.</p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_2d.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_2d.png" title="cfb2017w12_2d.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_updown.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_updown.png" title="cfb2017w12_updown.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_top7.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_top7.png" title="cfb2017w12_top7.png"></p> <p><img alt="cfb2017w12_b1ge.png" src="https://petertuuk.com/blog/images/cfb2017w12_b1ge.png" title="cfb2017w12_b1ge.png"></p>Peter TuukTue, 21 Nov 2017 22:25:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2017-11-21:/blog/2017/11/college-football-rankings-illustrated.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/10/college-football-rankings-continued.html<p>In a previous post, I had outlined a college football ranking construct. In it, I assume that the quality a team is made up of two parts: the part that scores and the part that keeps others from scoring. The quality of team <span class="math">\(i\)</span> then, can be summarized by the …</p>Peter TuukSun, 22 Oct 2017 00:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2017-10-22:/blog/2017/10/college-football-rankings-continued.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2017/10/college-football-rankings-attempted.html<p>The activity of ranking teams has played an important role in college football through the post-war and modern periods. This comes about for several reasons: short seasons, a large field of teams, largely regional scheduling, and lack of a playoff. Together these lead to a poorly-connect graph of teams and …</p>Peter TuukTue, 10 Oct 2017 00:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2017-10-10:/blog/2017/10/college-football-rankings-attempted.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2012/03/cfb-sched.html<p>The current college football structure has grown and branched over many years. During this time it has developed from a nascent college club sport on the east coast to a big dollars production. In the process it gave us Woody and Bo, the Iron Bowl, plucky independent Notre Dame, and …</p>petertuukMon, 19 Mar 2012 00:34:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2012-03-19:/blog/2012/03/cfb-sched.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2010/12/shuttle-launch-video.html<div class="figure align-center"> <img alt="Shuttle Launch" src="http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/images/2009/01/14/shuttle.jpeg" /> </div> <p>Shuttle Launch</p> <p>As my wife is at a Christmas cookie exchange party this evening, I'm taking the opportunity to watch an incredible <a class="reference external" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwqZ4qAUkE">video</a> of Space Shuttle launch footage. It is some of the first public viewing of the 100+ engineering analysis cameras sitting all around the orbiter as it lifts …</p>petertuukSat, 11 Dec 2010 21:32:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2010-12-11:/blog/2010/12/shuttle-launch-video.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2010/09/augusta-70-3.html<p>This past weekend I had the chance to head down to Augusta to race their half ironman. The race was well-organized and well-run.</p> <p>We left Atlanta on Saturday afternoon after watching the first half of Michigan's blowout win over Bowling Green. On the good note we promptly ran into a …</p>petertuukMon, 27 Sep 2010 21:31:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2010-09-27:/blog/2010/09/augusta-70-3.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2010/05/savannah.html<p>We took a trip to Savannah; it was nice. We stayed at a B &amp; B which was right in the historic district. In a weekend we were able to get to know our way around the historic district and wander around most of the famous squares. We didn't do much …</p>petertuukThu, 13 May 2010 17:22:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2010-05-13:/blog/2010/05/savannah.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2010/01/black-and-white.html<p>Andrew Sullivan <a class="reference external" href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/01/so-what-does-it-mean.html">writes</a>:</p> <blockquote> The current system insures fewer and fewer people and costs more and more. It is crippling other sectors of the economy and will bankrupt the entire Treasury if some painful adjustments are not made. If America cannot grapple with a crisis this big, and cannot accept an …</blockquote>petertuukTue, 19 Jan 2010 21:23:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2010-01-19:/blog/2010/01/black-and-white.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2010/01/new-york-times-paywall.html<p>Word is <a class="reference external" href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/01/new_york_times_set_to_mimic_ws.html">leaking out</a> that the New York Times will start charging for access to parts of their website. While this isn't crazy (Wall Street Journal follows this model) it is a departure from their previous thinking.</p> <blockquote> The argument for remaining free was based on the belief that nytimes.com …</blockquote>petertuukTue, 19 Jan 2010 21:12:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2010-01-19:/blog/2010/01/new-york-times-paywall.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/11/calvin-soccer.html<div class="figure"> <img alt="" src="http://www.calvin.edu/gallery/albums/Albion102709/IMG_6492.sized.jpg" /> </div> <div class="figure"> <img alt="" src="http://www.calvin.edu/gallery/albums/Calvin-Witt-NCAAs09/IMG_5428.jpg" /> </div> <p>I'm excited for both Calvin soccer teams tonight. They're deep in the NCAA-III tournaments with quarter-final games against Transylvania for the men at 6 and Wash U. for the women at 7 (EST). Interestingly in <a class="reference external" href="http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2009/ncaa_bracket_DIII_soccer_men.html">both</a> <a class="reference external" href="http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2009/ncaa_bracket_DIII_soccer_women.html">brackets</a>, Calvin plays in the only one out of four sectionals without a game …</p>petertuukSat, 21 Nov 2009 17:48:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2009-11-21:/blog/2009/11/calvin-soccer.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/10/fall.html<p>At fifty-five degrees, overcast, and damp this evening, it is starting to feel like fall in Atlanta. Alex went for a run and her ears were cold. Me, I drank cider because my shin is a little gimpy the last few days. This weekend we're taking a trip up to …</p>petertuukFri, 16 Oct 2009 17:58:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-10-16:/blog/2009/10/fall.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/06/mcallen-vs-mayo.html<p><a class="reference external" href="http://capturedperspective.com/2009/06/10/mcallen-vs-mayo/">Repost from The Captured Perspective</a>:</p> <p>For <a class="reference external" href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all">the newest issue of the New Yorker</a>, Atul Gawande travels to McAllen, Texas to try to understand why that county has higher health care costs than anywhere else in the United States. He pins the blame on perverse economic inscentives that pay doctors more …</p>petertuukThu, 11 Jun 2009 07:14:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-06-11:/blog/2009/06/mcallen-vs-mayo.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/04/lunacy-at-michigan-state-university.html<p>In <a class="reference external" href="http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/04/bicyclists_need_to_stay_on_sidewalk">this article</a> on the State News website Zack Colman writes about his interest in running cyclists over: &quot;Black 2001 Saturn SC2. That’s the car I drive — and if you’re a bicyclist on the road but not in a bike path and you see my car, I hope …</p>petertuukMon, 13 Apr 2009 21:49:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-04-13:/blog/2009/04/lunacy-at-michigan-state-university.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/04/facebook-annoyance.html<p>Don't you hate it when people post a status message that naturally leads to another question, but then don't answer it?</p> <p>I could write:</p> <blockquote> <p>Peter Tuuk had a wonderful surprise today.</p> <p>Peter Tuuk has an important question for everyone.</p> <p>Peter Tuuk is dreading 7:00 tonight.</p> </blockquote> <p>Or this:</p> <div class="figure align-center"> <img alt="annoy" src="http://petertuuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/annoy.bmp" /> <p class="caption">annoy</p> </div> petertuukThu, 02 Apr 2009 18:12:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-04-02:/blog/2009/04/facebook-annoyance.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/03/at-least-hu-jintao-wont-care.html<p>It <a class="reference external" href="http://i.usatoday.net/news/TheOval/Obama-on-autos-3-30-2009.pdf">looks like</a> in addition to everything else, the US government will start fixing cars. As Obama puts it:</p> <blockquote> But just in case there's still nagging doubts, let me say it as plainly as I can: If you buy a car from Chrysler or General Motors, you will be able …</blockquote>petertuukMon, 30 Mar 2009 12:36:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-03-30:/blog/2009/03/at-least-hu-jintao-wont-care.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/03/and-for-his-next-trick.html<p>... Mr. Ben Bernanke will reveal...</p> <p>...from inside his magical black box...</p> <p>...for each of you in the audience...</p> <p>...a <em>unicorn!</em></p> <p>Also, <a class="reference external" href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8ada2ad4-f3b9-11dd-9c4b-0000779fd2ac.html">here</a> is a animated tutorial on quantitative easing from the Financial Times.</p> petertuukThu, 19 Mar 2009 15:35:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-03-19:/blog/2009/03/and-for-his-next-trick.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/03/march-madness-is-in-the-pool.html<p>Yes I know the basketball tournament starts today (still need to get a bracket together), but this is the most exciting time of the year for college swimming! NCAA Division III championships are happening at the University of Minnesota. D1 Women are racing this weekend at Texas A&amp;M. And …</p>petertuukThu, 19 Mar 2009 05:52:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2009-03-19:/blog/2009/03/march-madness-is-in-the-pool.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/01/skip-the-speech-the-this-is-the-real-change.html<p><a class="reference external" href="http://whitehouse.gov">http://whitehouse.gov</a> just made the transition at 12:01. They jumped the gun a little in fact, since Barack Obama is still technically President*-Elect*, for a minute or two at least.</p> petertuukTue, 20 Jan 2009 12:09:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2009-01-20:/blog/2009/01/skip-the-speech-the-this-is-the-real-change.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2009/01/go-bigten-beat-the-big-xii.html<div class="figure"> <img alt="" src="http://grfx.cstv.com/confs/big10/graphics/big10-08-hdr-logo.gif" /> </div> <p>...even though the good guys are, at this time, manifested in the form of the Ohio State Buckeyes.</p> petertuukMon, 05 Jan 2009 23:30:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2009-01-05:/blog/2009/01/go-bigten-beat-the-big-xii.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/12/merry-christmas.html<p>The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.</p> <p><a class="reference external" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN%201;&amp;version=31;">John 1:14</a></p> petertuukThu, 25 Dec 2008 10:45:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-12-25:/blog/2008/12/merry-christmas.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/12/engagement-pictures-cathy-and-joe.html<p>Yesterday I had the chance to take engagement pictures of my friend from GT, Cathy, and her fiancee Joe. We drove over to <a class="reference external" href="http://www.stonemountainpark.com/maps-directions/">Stone Mountain</a>, and staked out a few places around the Grist Mill. It was a nice spot with some water, an old mill house, a lot of …</p>petertuukMon, 15 Dec 2008 13:57:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-12-15:/blog/2008/12/engagement-pictures-cathy-and-joe.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/12/hello-world.html<p>Hello indeed. This is my little home on the web. I hope to make it feel that way as time goes on.</p> petertuukMon, 15 Dec 2008 07:41:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-12-15:/blog/2008/12/hello-world.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/11/wall-e.html<p>We watched <a class="reference external" href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/">Wall-E</a> this past weekend. I liked it a lot. Pixar is good at what they do. Rod Dreher has an interesting, though spoiler-filled, <a class="reference external" href="http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/07/walle-aristotelian-crunchy-con.html">review</a>.</p> <div></div><div><p>It makes you want to go out run through the brambles a little.</p> </div>petertuukTue, 25 Nov 2008 12:22:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-11-25:/blog/2008/11/wall-e.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/11/redirect.html<p>This venue has been valuable for me, and hopefully any readers who came across it. I will be moving however. I have joined <a class="reference external" href="http://capturedperspective.com/">The Captured Perspective</a>, a brand new blog featuring a variety of voices on issues of politics, culture, economics, the media, and various other topics. This is exciting …</p>petertuukMon, 10 Nov 2008 20:10:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-11-10:/blog/2008/11/redirect.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/11/already.html<p>I just heard a &quot;Give a, give a, give a Garmin&quot; advertisement for the first time this year.</p> <p>Similar to <a class="reference external" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/WCFACAq4ni4&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1">this</a> but not quite the same:</p> petertuukSat, 08 Nov 2008 13:57:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-11-08:/blog/2008/11/already.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/stochastic-calculus-makes-it-to-prime-time.html<p>This quote has been making <a class="reference external" href="http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=10&amp;year=2008&amp;base_name=paragraph_of_the_day_2">the</a> <a class="reference external" href="http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2008/10/sentence-fragme.html">rounds</a>.</p> <p><a class="reference external" href="http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2008/10/economists_pretending_to_have_knowledge.html">Arnold Kling</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>My main beef with economists is that standard macroeconomics does such a poor job of describing what is going on. The textbooks models are pretty much useless. Where in the textbooks is &quot;liquidity preference&quot; a demand for Treasury securities? Where in …</p></blockquote>petertuukThu, 23 Oct 2008 22:14:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-23:/blog/2008/10/stochastic-calculus-makes-it-to-prime-time.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/obama-campaign-photos.html<div class="figure"> <img alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2967939537_ceefe89ff2_o.jpg" /> </div> <p>Callie Shell's <a class="reference external" href="http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0810/callie-bp.html">photo collection</a> shows a look inside Obama's campaign from the lonely back roads of his Illinois Senate race to the mania in Berlin and Denver.</p> petertuukThu, 23 Oct 2008 21:35:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-23:/blog/2008/10/obama-campaign-photos.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/deficits-and-balancing.html<p>The New York Times <a class="reference external" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/business/economy/20cost.html?ref=business#">keeps us aware</a> of the size and growth rate of the federal debt. They mention that balancing the budget has been moved to the bottom of most Washington agendas. John McCain, meanwhile, said in the <a class="reference external" href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/15/debate.transcript/">last debate</a> that he would be able to balance the budget …</p>petertuukThu, 23 Oct 2008 00:04:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-23:/blog/2008/10/deficits-and-balancing.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/thank-you-gen-powell.html<p>As well as Cpl Kahn.</p> <p><a class="reference external" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27266223/">Colin Powell</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, &quot;Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.&quot; Well, the correct answer is, he is not …</p></blockquote>petertuukSun, 19 Oct 2008 15:18:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-19:/blog/2008/10/thank-you-gen-powell.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/editorial-the-college-credit-card-trap-nytimescom.html<p>The New York Times editorial board <a class="reference external" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/opinion/18sat2.html">wants</a> Congress to pass a law restricting credit card offers to college students. They say that these college students are &quot;naïve about money matters and vulnerable to predatory offers.&quot; I call shenanigans. College students aren't middle schoolers. They can understand the concept of 30 …</p>petertuukSat, 18 Oct 2008 01:30:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-18:/blog/2008/10/editorial-the-college-credit-card-trap-nytimescom.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/self-driving-cars.html<p>Ars Technica has a very interesting series on self-driving cars. <a class="reference external" href="http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/future-of-driving-part-1.ars#">Part I</a> discussed the technical challenges to implementing the concept. <a class="reference external" href="http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/future-of-driving-part-2.ars#">Part II</a> discusses the societal effects of self-driving car adoption. Part III will talk about the public policy, political, and legal issues this all would raise.</p> <p>I've thought about this …</p>petertuukTue, 14 Oct 2008 10:25:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-14:/blog/2008/10/self-driving-cars.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/ads-come-to-google-maps.html<img alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2939077616_7813d55cfe_o.jpg" /> <p>I guess I should have been expecting this all along, but Google Maps is now festooned with advertising. I've mostly seen hotel ads (but haven't clicked on them to see where they go). I understand that this is how they make money, but it sure was nice getting something for …</p>petertuukMon, 13 Oct 2008 13:15:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-13:/blog/2008/10/ads-come-to-google-maps.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/the-big-picture.html<img alt="" src="http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/efa_10_06/01_s.jpg" /> <p>Gallery</p> <p>While I'm looking at it, let me say that The Big Picture, which is put together by the Boston Globe, regularly shows some of the most interesting photography on the internet. Their latest entry is one of the best. It features photography by <a class="reference external" href="http://www.yannarthusbertrand.org/">Yann Arthus-Bertrand</a>.</p> <p>Just go ahead and …</p>petertuukMon, 06 Oct 2008 11:33:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-06:/blog/2008/10/the-big-picture.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/palin-also.html<p>Have you noticed that Republican Vice-Pesidential nominee Sarah Palin uses the word &quot;also&quot; more than normal? It certainly seems to be true. And this is borne out by analysis of her debate performance.</p> <img alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2916492428_96298239e6.jpg" /> <p>Looking at <a class="reference external" href="http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/debates/transcripts/vice-presidential-debate.html">the transcript</a>, we see that Palin spoke 7795 words (more than Biden's 7302). Of those …</p>petertuukSun, 05 Oct 2008 15:27:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-05:/blog/2008/10/palin-also.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/10/sports.html<p>The Red Wings came to Atlanta for a preseason matchup with the Thrashers. We were in the last row for the first two periods, but then found our way down to some better seats for the third period.</p> <p>Then a couple days later I took some pictures at the Georgia …</p>petertuukSun, 05 Oct 2008 15:07:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-10-05:/blog/2008/10/sports.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/09/foreign-policy-debate-without-china.html<p>China doesn't get a single mention until a cameo appearance in Barack's answer with a minute to go?</p> petertuukFri, 26 Sep 2008 21:33:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-09-26:/blog/2008/09/foreign-policy-debate-without-china.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/09/the-first-debate-could-be-decisive-wsjcom.html<p><a class="reference external" href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122230655620873931.html">Karl Rove - WSJ.com</a>: &quot;Mr. Obama must avoid the pervasive sense of nuance that weakened his performance at the Saddleback Forum.&quot;</p> <p>Oh the horror of nuance, the burden of thought! There is little that I want more from a candidate this time around than thoughtful consideration and nuanced elucidation of …</p>petertuukThu, 25 Sep 2008 09:27:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-09-25:/blog/2008/09/the-first-debate-could-be-decisive-wsjcom.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/09/goldman-to-raise-capital-with-5-billion-from-buffett-nytimescom.html<p>Now must be the time to buy GS. Or I guess yesterday was.</p> <blockquote> <a class="reference external" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/24goldman.html">NYTimes.com</a>: &quot;The billionaire Warren E. Buffett will invest $5 billion in the investment bank Goldman Sachs&quot;</blockquote> petertuukTue, 23 Sep 2008 18:12:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-09-23:/blog/2008/09/goldman-to-raise-capital-with-5-billion-from-buffett-nytimescom.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/03/university-of-michigan-academic-standards-vs-football-success.html<p>Three days into a <a class="reference external" href="http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/academics/">four day story</a> on the academic options of University of Michigan athletes, Jim Carty, who took a 2-month-long leave from other duties at the Ann Arbor News to research, is revealing his findings. With a day yet to go, he paints a picture of athletes who …</p>petertuukTue, 18 Mar 2008 06:01:00 -0400tag:petertuuk.com,2008-03-18:/blog/2008/03/university-of-michigan-academic-standards-vs-football-success.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/02/obama.html<p>I heard Barack Obama speak from Houston after securing the Democratic primary victory in Wisconsin. He was energized by his win and the crowd seemed excited too. It is hard not to be attracted to such a feeling of possibility and, here's the buzzword, hope.</p> <p>But in truth, I feel …</p>petertuukWed, 20 Feb 2008 08:19:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-02-20:/blog/2008/02/obama.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/01/post-debate.html<p>I like McCain, and feel OK about things seeming to coalesce around him. But when I watch the debate he just seem <em>old</em>. Compared to Romney he talks more slowly, repeats himself more, and doesn't seem as dynamic. Whereas, Romney seems to speak less from the script and to answer …</p>petertuukWed, 30 Jan 2008 22:29:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-01-30:/blog/2008/01/post-debate.htmlhttps://petertuuk.com/blog/2008/01/under-duress.html<p>Globalization is true just as gravity is true. To pretend we can stop it at our borders is to invent the anti-gravity machine.</p> <p>Sorry John Edwards, sorry Mike Huckabee, sorry populists and protectionists of all stripes.</p> <p>Sorry every person who dropped out of high school, you will be outworked by …</p>petertuukSat, 26 Jan 2008 23:01:00 -0500tag:petertuuk.com,2008-01-26:/blog/2008/01/under-duress.html