105 thoughts on “February 19, 2015: Varnish”

      1. That was my reaction as well. He'd recently had knee surgery, although that may not be related.

        Kersey underwent a knee surgery earlier this week and Wednesday reportedly told fellow Trail Blazer employees at the team's Rose Quarter office that he wasn't feeling well and was going to go home. One source told csnnw.com that he collapsed on the way to his car but it's also being reported he was taken by ambulance from his Lake Oswego home to a local hospital. Cause of death is unknown at the time this is written.

        1. Recently (i.e. in the last month or so), a former NDSU football player had surgery on his Achilles' tendon and died as a result of complications. He was 28.

            1. Oh man, that hits close to home and reminds me of how close I came. I completely understand the tiredness (and likely extreme shortness of breath).

              1. good gravy, that is the third death this year that i've heard came from some injury in the legs causing a blood clot that got to the lungs

  4. Jane Fonda explains movie criticism:

    "I'll smoke pot every now and then. I cannot see a movie on pot. The number of movies I've seen thinking, This is probably the best I have ever seen, and then I'll see it again sober and think, What was I thinking?"

  5. Another reason not to drink cola? Or at least not Malta Goya.

    Caramel color is added to many widely-consumed beverages as a colorant. Consumers of these beverages can be exposed to 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), a potential carcinogen formed during its manufacture. California’s Proposition 65 law requires that beverages containing 4-MEI concentrations corresponding to exposures that pose excess cancer risks > 1 case per 100,000 exposed persons (29 ΞΌg 4-MEI/day) carry warning labels. Using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we assessed 4-MEI concentrations in 12 beverages purchased in California and a geographically distant metropolitan area (New York) in which warning labels are not required. In addition, we characterized beverage consumption by age and race/ethnicity (using weighted means calculated from logistic regressions) and assessed 4-MEI exposure and resulting cancer risks and US population cancer burdens attributable to beverage consumption. Data on beverage consumption were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, dose-response data for 4-MEI were obtained from the California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment, and data on population characteristics were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of the 12 beverages, Malta Goya had the highest 4-MEI concentration (915.8 to 963.3ΞΌg/L), lifetime average daily dose (LADD - 8.04x10-3 mg/kgBW-day), lifetime excess cancer risk (1.93x10-4) and burden (5,011 cancer cases in the U.S. population over 70 years); Coca-Cola had the lowest value of each (4-MEI: 9.5 to 11.7ΞΌg/L; LADD: 1.01x10-4 mg/kgBW-day; risk: 1.92x10-6; and burden: 76 cases). 4-MEI concentrations varied considerably by soda and state/area of purchase, but were generally consistent across lots of the same beverage purchased in the same state/area. Routine consumption of certain beverages can result in 4-MEI exposures > 29 ΞΌg/day. State regulatory standards appear to have been effective in reducing exposure to carcinogens in some beverages. Federal regulation of 4-MEI in caramel color may be appropriate.

    1. I remember drinking Shasta a lot as a kid and seeing cancer warnings on their cans, and it kind of freaking me out.

  6. Just seeing yesterday's Cup now. Looks like there may be interest in another Cribbage Tournamenf. Comment or email me if you want in and I'll bracket it and start probably Monday when I'm home and settled.

    4. I'd be in no rush to do the tournament quickly. How about a round robin, EPL style? That way people can just hook up with all of the players whenever they have time. Make each round like a best of 5 or 7. The winner is the best record, no playoffs.

  7. KG to the Wolves? Sounds like it could happen. It's like Torii coming back, except he's a certain HOFer and he probably won't get the non-stop adulation from the local media.

    1. It also won't drive me away from the team. It's probably an unwise move from a basketball standpoint, but I expect that with the Wolves.

          1. Man, KG is back.

            Anything is possibllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllle!

    2. I see the Wolves twittersphere is up in arms because Thad Young a rumored player going to the Nets.

      Umm, what am I missing here? Thad Young is a nice player, but he has been mostly terrible with the Wolves (on an uptick lately) and can be replaced in the offseason.

      1. No upside to KG coming back. But, not much upside with Young, either. Might be other pieces. Let's see.

          1. KG is expiring at $12 million. Young has a player option for next year at $10 million. Assuming Young would have picked up that option, yes, shedding salary.

        2. Re: KG back to the Wolves - I liked this post from Canis.

          One of the takeaways:

          The second part of all this, which I believe is the real heart of the divisive reaction, is yet another grim look at the Wolves' decision-making process. In this case, what we call "opportunity cost". What are the Wolves *not* pursuing to pursue this, and what does that say about their method of assessing players like Payne that they believe he's the answer?

          If Thad's not the answer at power forward, but he is indeed tradeable, why not trade him for someone who could be? Why not Mizra Teletovic? Why not Kenneth Faried, or John Henson, or Jason Thompson, or Terrence Jones? Why not trade for then sign then waive Josh Smith, or pick up a first rounder to use on Montrezl Harrell? It's, as always, a question of asset management. As with any deal the Wolves make, this is being viewed through the lens of decades of mostly futility, built on the back of bad decision making, which has its roots not in the chances the Wolves did take so much as the choices they didn't make. It's a mentality that goes back to McHale, who would famously say players like Tracy McGrady or Gary Payton would never play for the Wolves without even trying for them.

            1. Not sure if serious/I dunno about that. I thought the point was more that they picked up Thad to have a starting PF after trading Lub and now they're considering trading him because they believe he won't opt-in for next year. That they'd consider trading him for KG but not looking to replace a potential hole at PF (ignoring Payne/Bennett) suggests a poor decision-making process (& ignoring the fact that having more than half your starters missing significant time might change the calculus come trade deadline...).

    3. David Aldridge is a pretty reliable guy

      David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt
      Source: Kevin Garnett agrees to trade, will go home to Minnesota for Thaddeus Young.

  8. Controversial statement of the day: The Beach Boys Pet Sounds is a fantastic album.

    Someone had to take a stand on that issue.

    1. a) I like the sound of "cyclone sammich" in a heavy Aussie accent.
      and
      b) based on a quick look at the map, I'd say there are probably at least a couple hundred Australians living in that area who are about to be greatly inconvenienced.

  13. This KG thing. Man.

    He was everything that has ever been good about this sad sack of a franchise. He wasn't a perfect player, but we was great and he busted his ass every game. Every game.

    Now, he's an old man and the franchise is still adrift. I'm glad he's coming back, even if it doesn't make much sense. I want to say goodbye.

        1. As I've explained to many non-Minnesota fans, I can't think of a single person that faulted KG for leaving. The general sentiment among my peers was, "Go. Get out of this hellhole and go get yourself the ring you deserve."

          1. That's where I was. I also had a similar opinion of Kevin Love wanting out, even though I would have preferred they not trade him.

            1. Dido to the requisite degree. Why would anyone begrudge some championship success for a great player who put his heart and soul into a franchise for years without getting the support he needed to make it to the top?

              If Joe Mauer wanted to move on rather than have to suffer through the rest of "rebuilding," I would not begrudge him in the least. Just as I did not begrudge Rod Carew's desire to escape Calvin Griffith.

              I also don't really mind the Farewell Tour concept, particularly if it doesn't interfere with rebuilding. That's the difference between picking up KG short-term vs. signing Eye-Eye or this threat of an extension for KG.

              1. I'm not against a player moving on, depending on how the player requests it. If he shackles the owner a la Knoblauch or Viola (kinda), that's a different story.

      1. Really? That's not an indication that anyone is in charge. (unless the two years is a metaphor for "team ownership".)

      3. I liked KG coming back. I dont like two more years..... unless he is a player coach, I suppose.

        1. Player coach would be awesome, especially if he wore a warm up outfit that looked like a suit.

      1. He is smoking a cigar, and closed eye one to better hit his pitching target.

        Probably why the Senators were awful.

  16. Active day in the NBA!

    OK City is stirring the pot. Just traded Reggie Jackson to Detroit and Kendrick Perkins to Utah for Enes Kanter, Steve Novak, DJ Augustin, and Kyle Singler. Perkins gets bought out by Utah and they also get a future 1st round pick and junk.

    The Dragic brothers to Miami for the Ghost of Danny Granger, somebody named Justin Hamilton, and two future 1st-round picks

    Phoenix gets Brandon Knight from the Bucks, Milwaukee gets Michael Carter-Williams!!! and Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis, Philly gets draft picks. Wow. Philly is really stock-piling draft picks.

    Celtics get Isaiah Thomas from Phoenix, Jerebko and some Luigi dude from Detroit, Detroit takes back Tayshaun, Phoenix gets Marcus Thornton and a 1st next year.

    Blazers get Afflalo and Gee from Denver for Thomas "Bust" Robinson, Will Barton, Victor Claver and a 1st.

    Houston trades Shveddy Balls and two picks to the Knicks for Prigioni.

    Wiz get Ramon Sessions for Andre Miller. Really?

    Heat trade Norris Cole to Pelicans for John Salmons.

    1. re: Phoenix. What the hell was the brain trust thinking there? They went out and signed Isaiah Thomas to be a third PG and bench scorer, thus pissing off Dragic, forcing themselves to move both of the Dragic brothers AND Thomas to try to clean up the mess. If I am Jeff Hornacek, I am not a happy camper. He just got fire-saled on his best player (Goran Dragic), his best scorer off the bench (Thomas), and a useful big (Plumlee). What does he get back? A pass-first PG in Brandon Knight (yea!) and some draft pick opportunities for future rebuilding. I know Phoenix wasn't much of a threat to come out of the West with the roster they had, but ....

      Big winner: Miami picking up a premier PG and a veteran glue guy (Salmons) for very little cost (mostly the draft picks). That's probably enough to make them a threat to come out of the East this year if DWade can get healthy.

      2. Praying for a Heat-Cav playoff series.

        Agree with most of your sentiments, but Brandon Knight is hardly a pass-first PG.

          1. Ok, so I went and looked at some numbers regarding my unsupported description of Brandon Knight as a "pass-first" PG.

            Clearly, he's not. For the last two seasons, he has averaged a usage rate of just under 27 pct, 22-24 FGA/100 possessions, and assisted on 26-28 pct of field goals by teammates when he's been on the floor.

            Dragic's comps for the last two years are 21.5 (this year) and 24.5 pct (last) usage rates, 19.4-20.5 FGA/100 possessions, and assisted on 19.5 and 28.1 pct of FG by teammates when he's been on the floor (way down from 35.7 pct in 2012-13).

            The league's top assist-rate guys tend to be over 40 pct. Knight's FGA/100 and usage rate are kind of middling for a PG.

  17. Cookie update from a few days ago. I added parchment paper and moved my rack up. Now, I have great tasting cookies !

    1. Hurrah for the collective wisdom of the WGOM!

      Speaking of cookies, tonight I had a very important idea: chocolate chip pretzel cookies. Time to do a little recipe research . . .

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