March 20, 2008
1420
COACH'S CORNER
Q: Okay, B. Time you met the press.
B: Fair enough, Q. Guess I lost my focus.
Q: In fact, B, you kind of phone'd it in on Wednesday.
B: I guess I wasn't mentally prepared and came up a little short, was out-hustled and out-coached. I take full responsibility for that loss and hope that it didn't mess anyone up too much. Been a long season here for a variety of reasons and have to put this loss behind me.
Q: Okay, B. Lotsa stuff happening here now.
B: Yes. Lots of activity in the 18th century and I have to pick and choose and I fear that this leads to some disconnectedness. But, the items I raised will all find important connections in just a bit and I didn't need much more detail to make my later points.
Q: Wow, B. A whole paragraph without any cheesy sports metaphors.
B: Well, this one's not on the bag yet...not until the final whistle. We'll see that the perception of an insurmountable lead in the 19th century will prove to be premature. We're headed for an upset and about to blow the whole series wide open.
Q: Thanks, B. That's better.
February 1, 2008
2130
COACH'S CORNER
Q: Okay, B. Science is not rational? Science doesn't follow rules?
B: Well, Q, it's a nail-biter, a nip and tuck process. Changed the complextion of the game, right? Really silenced the crowd, right?
Q: Well, a little soporific?
B: I think it's great too! You can feel the momentum shifting!
Q: B, that means it's sleep-inducing material, dude.
B: Oh..um. Maybe I should work on making this part more exciting. Maybe I should try again?
Q: Noooooo!
B: I think that most people really don't expect that it is so hard to take science, which everyone thinks is the paradigm (eh?) example of rational behavior and describe it as such. Rather, when you try to do it, it fails every test. Now, do I think that scientists are not rational? Well, most of us are pretty human, and that sometimes entails behaving like humans...sometimes, not altogether rational. But, taken as a profession, there is a conscious effort to behave in rational and self-critical fashion on a day-to-day basis. Having said that, the ideas that Kuhn first said out loud you'll see will have some truth to them: there are ideas, theories, concepts that we don't question while in the course of our scientific work. That's not to say that we're unaware that we're so protective of these core ideas, we're just not prepared - perhaps because it's not productive - to waste time tilting at windmills. So, a little Kuhn and as you'll see, subsequently Lakatos, is well worth taking to heart. So, I ....
Q: zzzzzz
January 20, 2008
1300
COACH'S CORNER
Q: So, B. Tough stuff this Plato/Aristotle duo.
B: Watch and Learn, Q. Michael and Scottie, Lynn and John, Jerry and Joe, Lou and Babe, Kareem and Magic, Plato and Aristotle. The most famous duo of them all. Plato was an explosive player, and the real deal. Aristotle?...the scrappiest player of them all. The real deal. Proven Winner. Could take over a whole game.
Q: So, in two lectures. Aristotle and Plato. That should be like three overtimes, B.
B: An up-tempo game, Q. Gotta throw long, in order to establish control for the second half. From Thales, to Aristotle. Boy, that Thales: you can't say enough about him. The role player. The heart of a champion. Knew what it took to win, playing bigger than his size.
Q: So, was Thales the real deal, B?
B: So right you are, Q.
Q: You're Greeking me out, B.
January 10, 2008
1300
COACH'S CORNER
Q: So, coach, clock became a factor for you, right?
B: Yep, Q, it did. I hope that the fans are getting their money's worth and while they were not exactly on their feet, you could feel the electricity.
Q: Actually, coach, I thought your rant about Science really silenced the crowd.
B: Well, Q. No lead is safe and I think that this was the big play that capped the rally. But, then I only see it from my side of the field.
Q: Finally, if you'll take one more, Coach...
B: Do I have a choice, Q? You're the one typing...
Q: Ah..yes...well, I think that you're never quite clear in the first quarter about the art-physics thing. That's not in any playbook.
B: Well, we've got plenty of season left. They've got to retain their composure and go with the flow. There's no need to panic.
January 1, 2008
1245
COACH'S CORNER
Q: So, coach, a new season for Navigating?
B: Yes, Q. Maybe the last one for a while. Going to try to play an up-tempo game this season. Remember, the season is a marathon, we have to believe in ourselves and can't leave anything on the field.
Q: B, that's a tall order for just an honors course.
B: It's about life, Q. It's about life, not just...a game. Turnovers will be key.
Q: B, you know, you've not gotten any easier to understand in a year.
B: So right you are, Q.
1420
COACH'S CORNER
Q: Okay, B. Time you met the press.
B: Fair enough, Q. Guess I lost my focus.
Q: In fact, B, you kind of phone'd it in on Wednesday.
B: I guess I wasn't mentally prepared and came up a little short, was out-hustled and out-coached. I take full responsibility for that loss and hope that it didn't mess anyone up too much. Been a long season here for a variety of reasons and have to put this loss behind me.
Q: Okay, B. Lotsa stuff happening here now.
B: Yes. Lots of activity in the 18th century and I have to pick and choose and I fear that this leads to some disconnectedness. But, the items I raised will all find important connections in just a bit and I didn't need much more detail to make my later points.
Q: Wow, B. A whole paragraph without any cheesy sports metaphors.
B: Well, this one's not on the bag yet...not until the final whistle. We'll see that the perception of an insurmountable lead in the 19th century will prove to be premature. We're headed for an upset and about to blow the whole series wide open.
Q: Thanks, B. That's better.
February 1, 2008
2130
COACH'S CORNER
Q: Okay, B. Science is not rational? Science doesn't follow rules?
B: Well, Q, it's a nail-biter, a nip and tuck process. Changed the complextion of the game, right? Really silenced the crowd, right?
Q: Well, a little soporific?
B: I think it's great too! You can feel the momentum shifting!
Q: B, that means it's sleep-inducing material, dude.
B: Oh..um. Maybe I should work on making this part more exciting. Maybe I should try again?
Q: Noooooo!
B: I think that most people really don't expect that it is so hard to take science, which everyone thinks is the paradigm (eh?) example of rational behavior and describe it as such. Rather, when you try to do it, it fails every test. Now, do I think that scientists are not rational? Well, most of us are pretty human, and that sometimes entails behaving like humans...sometimes, not altogether rational. But, taken as a profession, there is a conscious effort to behave in rational and self-critical fashion on a day-to-day basis. Having said that, the ideas that Kuhn first said out loud you'll see will have some truth to them: there are ideas, theories, concepts that we don't question while in the course of our scientific work. That's not to say that we're unaware that we're so protective of these core ideas, we're just not prepared - perhaps because it's not productive - to waste time tilting at windmills. So, a little Kuhn and as you'll see, subsequently Lakatos, is well worth taking to heart. So, I ....
Q: zzzzzz
January 20, 2008
1300
COACH'S CORNER
Q: So, B. Tough stuff this Plato/Aristotle duo.
B: Watch and Learn, Q. Michael and Scottie, Lynn and John, Jerry and Joe, Lou and Babe, Kareem and Magic, Plato and Aristotle. The most famous duo of them all. Plato was an explosive player, and the real deal. Aristotle?...the scrappiest player of them all. The real deal. Proven Winner. Could take over a whole game.
Q: So, in two lectures. Aristotle and Plato. That should be like three overtimes, B.
B: An up-tempo game, Q. Gotta throw long, in order to establish control for the second half. From Thales, to Aristotle. Boy, that Thales: you can't say enough about him. The role player. The heart of a champion. Knew what it took to win, playing bigger than his size.
Q: So, was Thales the real deal, B?
B: So right you are, Q.
Q: You're Greeking me out, B.
January 10, 2008
1300
COACH'S CORNER
Q: So, coach, clock became a factor for you, right?
B: Yep, Q, it did. I hope that the fans are getting their money's worth and while they were not exactly on their feet, you could feel the electricity.
Q: Actually, coach, I thought your rant about Science really silenced the crowd.
B: Well, Q. No lead is safe and I think that this was the big play that capped the rally. But, then I only see it from my side of the field.
Q: Finally, if you'll take one more, Coach...
B: Do I have a choice, Q? You're the one typing...
Q: Ah..yes...well, I think that you're never quite clear in the first quarter about the art-physics thing. That's not in any playbook.
B: Well, we've got plenty of season left. They've got to retain their composure and go with the flow. There's no need to panic.
January 1, 2008
1245
COACH'S CORNER
Q: So, coach, a new season for Navigating?
B: Yes, Q. Maybe the last one for a while. Going to try to play an up-tempo game this season. Remember, the season is a marathon, we have to believe in ourselves and can't leave anything on the field.
Q: B, that's a tall order for just an honors course.
B: It's about life, Q. It's about life, not just...a game. Turnovers will be key.
Q: B, you know, you've not gotten any easier to understand in a year.
B: So right you are, Q.