Worth Noting Pages 81-85

WORTH NOTING PAGE 81

·         On artistic motivation from Jeanne Claude – Christo partner

Artists create for themselves.  If somebody else likes it, that’s a bonus.

·         On Wealth from The American Dream by Dan Rather

There are only two things money can’t buy: true love and home grown tomatoes.

·         From Fighter, a documentary on Russian Communist oppression

Two men meet after a long separation and the first asks the other where he’s been for the past 15 years.  The second tells him he’s been in a concentration camp.  The first asks: “They put you in prison for 15 years?  What did you do?”  Second replies:  “I did nothing.  First guy says to him:  “You didn’t get 15 years for doing nothing.  For doing nothing they gave you 25.”

·         On Ever-Romantic Italians also from Fighter

“I love the Italians.  I was in a camp of 5,000 – Buchenwald Camp.  With us were 2,000 Italian deserters.  I really loved these guys.  They were warned under penalty of death not to flirt with any German women but they did it anyway, and every day they were hanged for it.  Nobody could stop those Italians from flirting.”

·         On Citizenry from Consumer’s Republic

Citizens:  individuals in a political relationship with the government – assumed to embrace a larger public interest, as they must fulfill duties and obligations in the larger society to earn basic rights and privileges.

·         On Consumers also from Consumer’s Republic

Consumers, concerned with satisfying private material desires, are often denigrated for their personal indulgence -- perhaps stemming from the word’s original meaning “ to devour, waste and spend.

·         On Righteousness, Roger from Ernst Hemingway’s Islands in the Stream

Being against evil doesn’t make you good.

·         On the phrase: “It’ll be all right.” also from Islands in the Stream

“Sure,” Thomas Hudson said. All right and all wrong are identical twins in this business.”
 

WORTH NOTING PAGE 82

How to spot bad chalk  from Fountaine’s Aqueduct Tips,  Ed Fountaine NY Post 1/17/2001

The first question you should ask when handicapping any race is, can I beat the favorite? 

Over the years, at all racetracks, favorites win about a third of all races.  Which means, of course, they lose two out of three times.  The key to success, then, is searching for value plays by identifying those 67 percent of races where the favorite is vulnerable.  Here is a point system for doing just that.

We evaluate the favorite using ten important handicapping factors.  For each factor that is a strength – that is, it gives him an edge over the rest of the field, the horse gets two points.  If the factor is neutral, he gets one point.  The horse gets no points for factors that are negatives – that is, they put him at a disadvantage.

1)     Trainer:  If the trainer is one of the leaders at the meet, if the barn is hot, if he excels under today’s conditions, etc., that’s a strength.  If the trainer can’t find the winner’s circle without a search party, that’s a negative.

2)     Jockey: Same criteria as trainer.

3)     Class:  Has the horse run well at this class before, or is he dropping into a spot where he fits?  That’s a strength.  Negative:  He’s running over his head.

4)     Distance: Track program and Racing Form past performances list each horse’s record at today’s distance, that’s a plus.  If he’s oh-fer that’s a minus.

5)     Running style:  If the horse is lone speed, or a closer in a race that promises a speed duel, that’s a positive.  But a speed horse facing other speed horses isn’t.

6)     Last race:  Was it a strong effort?  More important, does the horse figure to improve off it?

7)     Speed rating.  Sometimes a favorite’s speed ratings in the past performances stand out over the field.  Usually they’re in the same ballpark with two or three other contenders.

8)     Track:  Is he a horse-for-the-course?  Or has he never run a good race over the track?

9)     Track condition:  How does the horse perform over an off track?

10)  Post position:  Either an inside or a far outside post can put the horse at a big advantage, or disadvantage.

Favorites who total 20-17 points are virtually unbeatable.  Don’t bet against them.  Those in the 16-13 point range are solid.  Try to beat them at your own risk.  Favorites in the 12-9 point range, however, are vulnerable.  Look for someone to beat them.  And those registering 9 points or less are mandatory bet-againsts.

·         On Stocks

§  The holy spirit of gold and money – Mark Twain

§  evaporated money – unknown

·         From Salvador Dali

No one has to understand whether I’m serious or joking.  Not even me.  That’s true artistic expression.

WORTH NOTING PAGE 83

·         On directing special talent from Expanded Universe by Robert Heinlein

It’s like this:  It takes a smart dog to hunt birds, but it takes a hunter behind him to keep him from wasting time chasing rabbits.  And the hunter needs to know nearly as much as the dog.

He [Manning] told me once that every time a man is court-martialed, it is a sure sign that some senior officer hasn’t measured up to his job.

·         On nuclear weapons also from Expanded Universe

It’s like this:  Once the secret is out – and it will be out if we ever use the stuff! – the whole world will be comparable to a room full of men each armed with a loaded .45.  They can’t get out of the room and each one is dependent on the good will of every other one to stay alive.  All offense and no defense.  See what I mean?

·         On the hope of a world democracy

I think a world democracy would be a very fine thing and I ask that you believe me when I say I would willingly lay down my life to accomplish it.  I also think it would be a very fine thing for the lion to lie down with the lamb, but I am reasonably certain that only the lion would get up.

·         On nuclear might

If two men are locked in a basement, one armed with a 50-caliber machine gun, the other with an 18^th century ball-and-powder pistol, victory goes to the man who shoots first, not to the one with the better weapon.  That is the logic of atomics and now is the time to learn it by heart.

·         From the passing of Pope John Paul II – based on comments from Christopher West (sp) on Fox News Channel Sunday 4//3/05 9:30-10 AM

·         On Marriage in the priesthood.  Marriage is not the solution to the sexual problems that are facing men in the priesthood.  It is a problem of sin.  Allowing marriage only serves to sexually objectify women rather than provide what the sacrament intends: Love and the building of a life in Christ.

·         On Truth.  In response to those who claim, “There is no truth.”  I say, Is that true?”.  When they say, “It can’t be proven.”  I ask, “Can you prove that?”  When they say, “nothing is certain.”  I ask, “How can you be so certain?”  Those who deny there is truth are trapped in their own arguments.

·         On difference between NBA and college basketball from UConn coach Jim Calhoun

College is more about the name on the front of the jersey; the NBA is more about the name on the back of the jersey.

WORTH NOTING PAGE 84

·         From Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success

Base:  Industriousness, Enthusiasm, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation

Level 2:  Self Control, Alertness, Initiative, Intentness

Level 3:  Condition, Skill, Team Spirit

Level 4:  Poise, Confidence

Level 5:  Faith, Competitive Greatness, Patience

Peak:    SUCCESS

On Success      Peace of mind attained only from the self-satisfaction of knowing you made the effort to become the best at which you are capable.

§  It’s the things we learn after we know it all that really matter.

§  Wooden’s Father’s credo of three:  Don’t lie.  Don’t cheat.  Don’t steal.

§  Also:  Don’t whine.  Don’t complain.  Don’t make excuses.

§  Passion is temporary; love is enduring.

§  I’ve never met a person from whom I didn’t learn something.  Most often something I shouldn’t do, but something nonetheless. – Abraham Lincoln

§  Little things make big things happen.

§  Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

§  Competitive Greatness:  Being able to function best when it’s needed the most.

§  Team spirit:  Consideration of others or an eagerness to lose yourself in the interest of the group.

§  Poise:  Just being yourself

• On matters of imitation and plagiarism from Ernest Hemingway

In any art, you’re allowed to steal anything if you can make it better.

• On Country Music from The Thing Called Love

That’s the thing about country music.  There’s no sarcasm in it. 

It’s real straightforward; it makes you laugh or it makes you cry.

• On Fairness from TV movie Attila

            Attila:  Trickery and deceit is the way of the Romans.  Not of the Hun

            Antony: Which way rules the world?

·             On Horseback Riding

            You and your horse are one.  Any mistake your horse makes you make as well.

·             You’re the Ghost In Me – The Psychedelic Furs

·             On Power of Photography from photographer Klaus Thyman EW 10/14/05   Photography can capture reality in ways that the eyes can’t see it. … explaining a photo in which Green Day front man is suspended in mid-leap.  “To freeze him in midair … you want to keep looking at it.”  

WORTH NOTING PAGE 85

• The 2004 6^th Grade Champion Orangemen.  Individual awards from me and Jack

Atlas Award                  presented to Tom “The Rock” Geneste whose dominant center play, strong rebounding and broad shoulders have ably carried his entire team to a successful season.

Iron Man Award             presented to Doug “The Caveman” Cavers whose energetic rebounding, intense effort and consistent game performance have made him a model competitor and indispensable teammate on both ends of the court.

Scrapper Award            presented to Stevenson “Mr. Funny” Bone whose fierce defensive play, clutch scoring and ever-present good humor give his opponents nightmares and his coaches and teammates something to smile about.

Courage Award             presented to “Gentleman” Joe Maccarone whose unselfish attitude, mature sense of team and eagerness to step up to any challenge has shown us a quiet courage that’s made us all proud to be his teammates.

Hustle Award                 presented to Matt “The Man” Macksamie whose reliable “help defense”, smart under basket play and tireless ability to run the floor have ended many defensive possessions and started just as many fast breaks for his team.

Firecracker Award          presented to “Dynamite” Dennis Conetta whose skillful play on both ends of the court amazes, excites and blows away everyone who watches – proving it’s not necessarily a big man’s game if you’ve got the bigger heart.

Sweet Shot Award         presented to Ryan “Sweet Shot” Saffa whose smooth shooting stroke, deadly eye, and strong sense of position make him a dangerous scoring threat from anywhere on the floor and the foul line.

Spirit Award                  presented to Jake “The General” McCauley whose floor leadership, team spirit, and personal commitment to a winning performance every week represent the best ideals of competition and good sportsmanship.

*  Worth Noting entry 4/3/05