Tribute to John Wooden

Games

I was saddened to read this morning that legendary UCLA (and South Bend Central) coach John Wooden had died. He was 99 years old, so his passing was perhaps little surprise. But it reminded me of all the stories I’ve read about him over the years, and how his great character asserted itself  in every one.

This Rick Reilly column was my introduction to Wooden, and Sports Illustrated continued to offer some great coverage on him over the years. I’ve always intended to read his book, “They Call Me Coach.” The great thing about books is that I can still hear from him there, even after he’s gone.

Not Quite a Jury of One’s Peers

Well Worth Reading

In “Study Finds Blacks Blocked from Southern Juries,” the New York Times writes about how prosecutors’ dismissals result in racially imbalanced juries throughout much of the former Confederacy.

The reasons given aren’t that great, either:

The district attorney, Robert Broussard, said one had seemed “arrogant” and “pretty vocal.” In another woman, he said he “detected hostility.”

Mr. Broussard also questioned the “sophistication” of a former Army sergeant, a forklift operator with three years of college, a cafeteria manager, an assembly-line worker and a retired Department of Defense program analyst.

Caricature-ization

Books

I tried to read Jonathan Franzen’s latest story in the New Yorker, “Agreeable,” and I had to abandon it on the first page. I usually try to soldier through with the fiction, but he’s shameless in loading the deck for his protagonists, employing characterization that’s about as nuanced as a Snidely Whiplash appearance on the Rocky and Bullwinkle show.

Continue reading Caricature-ization →

Graduating Into Debt

Well Worth Reading

The Project on Student Debt, a research and advocacy organization in Oakland, Calif., used federal data to estimate that 206,000 people graduated from college (including many from for-profit universities) with more than $40,000 in student loan debt in that same period. That’s a ninefold increase over the number of people in 1996, using 2008 dollars.

The New York Times has an excellent article on ballooning student loan debt. I’ve long thought higher education will be the next bubble to burst; people are leveraging themselves beyond what their college degree will give them the ability to pay.

Joystick Jockey, Heal Thyself!

Games

I can’t claim to be much of a gamer anymore, but I enjoyed David Wong’s Cracked piece, “5 Reasons It’s Still Not Cool to Admit You’re a Gamer.” He touches upon the format’s misogyny, immaturity and repetition. I would agree and add the sheer cost–in dollars and time–of keeping up with the hobby. Many games leave you repeating the same gameplay experience for three levels beyond the point it’s novel. (Hello unbeaten copy of Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind!)

I think the anecdotal surge in casual gaming highlights how many fun, quick and free browser-based games are out there. Plants Vs. Zombies, Bejeweled and Mushroom Madness 2 are some recent ones I’ve clicked through and then happily abandoned. The AV Club’s Sawbuck Gamer feature is a great guide to more.