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alanskillcole

Listed below are comments made by alanskillcole between Wednesday, 16th September 2009 and Sunday, 29th November 2009.

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Dubai: Just a sideshow? 11:20am on 29 Nov 2009 Fascinating how economists are such experts - with the benefit of hindsight.
"the global financial system has a rear view mirror quality to it" sounds like something Nassim Nicholas Taleb would've said.

"Based on the author's criteria:
1. The event is a surprise (to the observer).
2. The event has a major impact.
3. After the fact, the event is rationalized by hindsight, as if it had been expected.
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Beyond this, he emphasizes that many events simply are without precedent, undercutting the basis of this type of reasoning altogether."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory

As #25 pointed out:
"nor was Iceland, until Iceland happened, and nor was Lehmans, until Lehmans happened"
What we can learn from Rooney, Dan Rooney 8:40pm on 10 Nov 2009 It SOUNDS good to say "if there're good enough they'll get it".
The article is trying to ask why? maybe it's not nuanced enough for a football crowd to grasp (but that'd be streotyping too).
It's trying to get at the why? Not getting people hot under the collar about "postive discrimination" or "reverse racism" or any pet Daily Mail peeve. Just why?

For an opportunity - someone has to be interviewed. If as Barnes (maybe not a good example, but - hey - there aren't many examples) says he took the Jamaica job because they offered and nobody else had, that suggests it's a matter of being invited to the table. Not given it on a platter but being invited. Crooks said as much why he didn't try that route.

To dismiss the article as being PC is easy and doesn't cost much but Matt still has a point.
The wider public probably doesn't care / want to hear this - so this sits more easily with "Voice"/"New Nation" than the BBC readers.

No one expects to recruit based on ethnicity but to invite to the table (a la Dan Rooney) to have a crack at it - like anyone else - sounds good.

The way the NFL is/was, there've been (a few) black quarterbacks but it's always deemed that a black player fitted the athletic Jim Brown type role.
As #20 alluded to, the central roles here seem to go elsewhere.

On an aside, hoped Tigana would've had as much of an invite for the FF job as Hoddle or Domenech but wasn't to be...wasn't even called it seems. We'll never know if he's the "right man for the job" if he isn't even invited to say his tuppence.

It's just a question. People shouldn't get too roiled for Matt asking.
The boundaries of Brand Obama 9:40pm on 03 Oct 2009 #19
Obama is getting a fearful kicking in the US from people too gutless to ever speak out about the previous occupant of the White House. It is ludicrous that they will curse Obama over an issue like healthcare yet the voices were silent when it came to throwing troops into combat in two different countries.

#64.
Chicago is home to 107 corporate headquarters (second only to New York), two of the top ten universities of the world, stunning architecture, and city's GDP of $460 billion. Chicago is a winner without olympics, so please enough of talking nonsense! No city is immune to corruption and crime.
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Agree with all that.

For those critical of the BBC journalists, why be on a BBC website? It's not like it's being funded by anyone but the licence fee payers here anyway.

For those critical of what Obama has/has not acheived in 8 months, it's not like he works on an assembly line and actually produces tangible "stuff". Then again, what has Bush II produced in 8 years? Wish the same yardstick was used for him!

The King of Spain, President Lula of Brasil, ex head of the IOC were present...the same people critical of Obama for being there would have been critical of him for not being there.

Some of these sad, all knowing, griping people need to chill a little...
Who was hot in 2009? 11:41am on 27 Sep 2009
RE: You ask about 2010. There will be new stars coming out of Jamaica.

http://www.pumarunning.com/bolts-physical-profile

His effort in St Lucia shattered the previous Games mark of 21.09 set by St Jago High's Nickel Ashmeade two years ago. The 20.97 run by Murphy, who turns 16 next year, also loomed into the ballpark of another sprint prodigy - Usain Bolt - who at 15 years and 333 days ran a stunning 20.61 to win the World Junior Championships in 2002.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090502/sports/sports7.html
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20090307T230000-0500_147252_OBS_MURPHY_CLOCKS_BREATHTAKING_______AT_TRIALS.asp

The coach of Usain Bolt has predicted the Jamaican will post sub-9.5 for the 100m and sub-19 for the 200m before London 2012, reports spikesmag.com.
“In the next two years he's going to peak,” said Glen Mills, who has guided the world’s fastest man for the past five years. “And I think when that happens, he'll probably be in the 9.40s or low 9.50s [for the 100m].”
http://www.spikesmag.com/news/usainboltscoachtheworldandolympicchampionisyettopeak473.aspx

“When he (Bolt) ran 9.69 and now 9.58, everybody say ‘bwoy something is wrong … and when Tyson ran 9.69, it showed that these times are not impossible,” commended Mills.
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“I am sure that Tyson will run faster,” Mills added while saying “we have some youngsters who are going to run some times, and they too are going to come under the microscope”.
http://www.trackalerts.com/?p=3643

“As a child walking four miles to grandmother’s farm … I know hard work”. - Kerron Stewart
http://www.trackalerts.com/?p=3666
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The supplement in question is Musclespeed and according to Mills, it was clearly written on the product that it was WADA and NCAA compliant.
“The literature on the supplement at the time of purchase was crystal clear in bold writing that it was WADA and NCAA compliant. Since the news came out, the manufacturer changed the wording to read differently and when the results came out they removed it entirely from their literature,” said Mills.
It was because of this, Mills said that they are considering legal action against the manufacturer, Accelerated Neutraceutical.
“We are in the process of securing the services of a prominent law firm in the United States to process the matter… we will hear further on that aspect.”
Mills said it has been a ‘teachable moment for Racers Track Club’.
As a result he said, they have appointed a medical panel, “This panel will advise, vet and approve supplement programs for each of our athletes and all our athletes must comply with the recommendations of this medical panel.”
In regards to the supplement taken by the athletes, club doctor Peter Ruddock is still not convinced it was a breach of WADA rules.
The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), who carried out the test and later appealed the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel not-guilty findings said, 4-Methyl-2-hexanamine, which was found in the samples has a similar chemical struture to tuaminoheptane and according to WADA, should be considered a breach.
Dr. Ruddock explained: “Tuaminoheptane if you look at it, is a straight compound with one branch. 4-Methyl-2-hexanamine is not a straight compound, it’s a little shorter and has two branches… they are made up of the same amount of carbons, the same amount of hydrogen and the same amount of nitrogen atoms but in chemistry that does not mean anything in terms of how the compound will behave.”
“Structure in similarity has nothing to do with biological similarity.”
Mills promised Racers Track Club will live on.
http://www.trackalerts.com/?p=3646
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090925/sports/sports1.html

http://www.spikesmag.com/features/aleenbaileysayshemebredda.aspx
http://www.spikesmag.com/features/myheromauricesmithonherbmckenley.aspx
http://www.spikesmag.com/news/priscillalopesschliephastrainingjournalstolenattheworldathleticsfinal476.aspx
Who was hot in 2009? 10:53am on 27 Sep 2009
"MVP not sending athletes to Commomwealth
2009-09-17 17:56:04 | (0 Comments)
President of MVP Track Club Bruce James said his club would not support the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi, India.
It means that athletes such as Olympic and World Champion 100-metre gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser, Olympic and World Champion 400-metre hurdles gold medallist Melaine Walker and former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell will not compete.
The Commonwealth Games are set for October 3 to 14 of next year and James said the scheduling is too close to the 2011 World Championship.
There are uncertainties surrounding the participation of the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt.
Coach Glen Mills also has a problem with the October staging of the Commonwealth Games."
http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=12659

Glen Mills, coach of World and Olympics triple gold medallist Usain Bolt, also believes the timing of the Games poses a serious challenge.
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Fraser, winner of the Olympic and World Championships 100m, on her arrival home on Wednesday also hinted that she may not attend the Games.
"I am not sure if I am going to the Commonwealth Games ... mainly because of school. That's why I might not be going," she said.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090918/sports/sports2.html

It may be an important event from the point of view of some, but if people step back a bit and try and be a bit rational/less emotional/dispassionate, they can see that some major stars (with an eye on 2011) would not be keen on it.
It may be difficult for some to grasp but that's that.

Whether the prospect of the Commonwealth Games is having an impact in Delhi, or whether world athletics is written about in the Indian press is one thing.
Whether the top athletes turn up is another.
We shouldn't confuse the two.
There are other viewpoints.

It's not hard to see that the Olympics and the Worlds are the big events. And 2011 takes priority. Logistics, and other fears may contribute to some no-shows.

On an aside, amazing that Gay couldn't do the 200 in Berlin so bad was his condition, yet seems to have recovered to the point he may? not need surgery? And his times "on one leg"? wow! And Jeter? Hope I'm not being too sceptical.

The more mellow, happy less macho stance of many athletes (funnily enough, Jeter aside) was refreshing in Berlin.
Obama's 'post-euphoria pre-delivery' phase 3:44pm on 24 Sep 2009 Don't remember (it probably happened but I missed it) a "how much trouble is Bush in?" from Mark Mardell. 8 months into a mess created by his predecessor, he seems to be held to a higher standard than the guy before him.
Premier League & England Q&A 3:39pm on 24 Sep 2009 "Rooney is viewed around the globe as one of the world's great players."
LOL
LTA must carry the can for failure 12:29pm on 23 Sep 2009 "an under-achieving organisation which receives around £25m every year, plus sponsorship on top"
what a waste

"Overall, entries were down from 356 to 261."
It's easy to find out about football or other sports (e.g., even league one Leyton Orient has links with local community, things like "Score", "Goals" centre).
http://www.locsp.org/
Where's the equivalent in tennis? Couldn't the LTA mount a Community Sports Programme?
Also, LTA's not very responsive when anyone tries contacting them.

Where are the facilities? the coaching? if someone has an interest in the sport, how easy is it to break in? Does the LTA encourage/seek out new talent? How big is the pool of players they're looking at? If many of the few players they have came through, not with their help, but in spite of it, what does that say about the organization? Where does one see/get exposure to tennis? Where is it promoted?
The ramifications of the Singapore race fixing verdict 1:48pm on 22 Sep 2009
What a way to write an article! Journalism or an excues for the favoured?

Agree with #205

When Alonso blabs, it's ok.
Whe Piquet does it, it's not - and his ability is questioned (in a team where he has to be second fiddle to Alonso anyway).

When Renault do something this dangerous (lives at risk) it's ok.
When McLaren do something (no lives at risk), it's not ok - hefty fine, loss of championship points.
Is race a factor in Obama protests? 00:00am on 16 Sep 2009 For those who say "you British have enough problems to confront at home without concerning yourselves with us Americans" remember:
Mark is the North American editor on the British Broadcasting Corporation website. It is from a British perspective - Mark hasn't voiced an opinion, he's opened it up to debate.

The birthers, the frightening scenes, those shouting about the nation being taken over by err those of another religious persuasion, the tea-partyers, the shock jock-y types calling the Prez a racist/socialist/whether he likes dijon mustard/the weird level of the "debate", the Malkin lot, all may not be so surprising - given the standard demographics of the opposition.

Like the italian who can't see anything but that the Prez is "tanned", many people can't quite believe/reconcile that he's actually black...so now they say he's "half-white".
Since when has any black person - and many have some mixture in the lineage - been other than seen as black.
Maybe the Prez has to be given a new category to calm the "guns and religion" brigade.

The rancour of the debate suggests there's more to it.
To suddenly worry about the deficit after having kept quiet for 8 years, to suddenly want to proffer something about healthcare when they couldn't for 8 years...what's that all about?

So, those who wonder if it's racist?
You think?

I just hope he walks away in 2012 and leaves them to it.

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