We're on Foal Watch

So Maude is 'officially' due 1st September 2008. However, she does not appear to want to produce her foal for us today and is still looking fairly WIIIIDE as this video demonstrates. Dear old girl, I cannot imagine it is comfortable to be that size! ...

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My Issues with Time

I never seem to have all the time I need to do the things I want to do and need to do. It is getting on my fucking nerves. My reach continually exceeds my grasp.I'm tired of living like this. I often wonder if I have too many projects going on until I realize that I am making no progress on anything outside of my job. I wake up each day to do things, and I get less and less done each day. It drives me insane.I've been taking my Labor Day Weekend and using it to try and recharge my batteries and find new ways for managing my life. I'm not sure what...

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Knight Commission on NCAA, College Player Publicity Rights, and Fantasy Sports

Knight Commission co-chairs William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the university system of Maryland, and R. Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University, have an interesting op-ed in today's Los Angeles Times on college athletes being used in fantasy sports (a topic which Rick blogged about in July). Although the NCAA claims to oppose the use of college athletes in...

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Building a Successful Franchise Takes Time...and Patience

In yesterday's edition of the Washington Times, Thom Loverro rips the management of the Washington Nationals for its poor performance, including Nationals president Stan Kasten for not achieving in two years the level of success he had as president of the Atlanta Braves (Kasten's Impact Not Visible):If Kasten is not steering this ship - and it's difficult to believe that he is - then he needs to find a life preserver and jump because, as the great Micheal Ray Richardson once said, "The ship be sinking." The franchise has become a source of bewilderment...

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Two expectant mums and my little grey stallion

Not really much to report today. Hamish's book is nearly filled with the addition of another mare on Friday. He was his usual amenable self when the mare owner came out to meet him and once again ensured that I was a very proud mum. Here are some pix taken today:Debi is due in the first couple of weeks in October. As usual she is carrying a little lopsided. I took these pics...

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Can someone explain why Metallica is popular?

I know among Heavy metal fans they are popular, but how come people who don't like Metal, love them. I have a mate who doesn't like the genre, but he has their CD's, he swears by this band, and they seem to have been around for decades, at the school I went to kids loved them, they couldn't believe me, I would rather listen to Billy Joel, than rock out to them.I didn't think...

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Sean Marks signs with the Hornets

Sean Marks is surly the most underrated kiwi sports star ever. Here is a kiwi, playing in one of the most competitive sports leagues in the world, hes a veteran of the NBA, where millions of basketballers are trying to get a contract, and he has one. At his time with Spurs, he was a crowd favorite, with chants of "KIWI KIWI KIWI", can ya imagine any other NZ sports star being...

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LPGA English Only Requirement

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has been at the center of a media firestorm for the past several days. On August 20th, it announced that it was adopting a policy that requires its member golfers to speak English proficiently or face suspension. For players that have been on tour for two years, they must pass an oral evaulation of their English proficiency by...

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Wow, I am a Grandma!

Today a lovely email arrived in my inbox. Five years ago we sold our first homebred (TF Bridie - half sister to TF Bijou & Century's Glee & a full sister to Roxy) to a fantastic farming home up the line a wee way and on Tuesday our baby had a baby all of her own! A delightful filly. I'm a very proud grandma!...

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Two (Resold) Tickets to Paradise

As a NY Jets fan, the start of a new NFL season brings new hope. Hope that this might be the first time that the Jets make it to a Super Bowl in my lifetime, and hope that someone I know (let’s call him, “Fabe Geldman”) does not buy counterfeit tickets outside the stadium. I'll save the Super Bowl discussion and my pain in seeing Chad Pennington in a Dolphins uniform for another time and focus on the ticket issue here.As first announced back in December 2007, the NFL launched its secondary ticket partnership with Ticketmaster in time for the upcoming...

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The NCAA's "No Agent" Rule Discriminates Against Baseball Players

Aaron Fitt of Baseball America wrote an excellent article this week that really delves into the issue of the impracticality of the NCAA's "no agent" rule in the sport of baseball (Secret Agent Deals: NCAA Has Rules on Agents, But They're Rarely Enforced, subscription only). In a 2005 law review article, I discussed how baseball is unique from football and basketball because amateur players in baseball have NCAA eligibility remaining before and after the draft. Essentially, baseball players have to be concerned about being disciplined for retaining...

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The Green Party of New Zealand

Your a disgrace Jeanette Fitzsimons, a once proud woman, who stood up for people's right's regardless of Gender/religion or race, someone all kiwis could look too, has showed her real side. I feel quite ill to my stomach, this is beyond repugnant.You see, there is state sponsored bigotry and sexism happening in our schools, the Green Party has been informed and wont do anything...

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When young players are "too good"

No time to analyze this, but I wanted to call attention to this story about a youth baseball league in New Haven that has prohibited a 9-year-old on one team from pitching because he is "too good" (he throws 40 MPH, apparently with control) and now has taken steps to disband the team. There also seem to be some sub-surface issues about personal disputes between the adults running the league.Sometimes, there is nothing to s...

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Reilly being a pillock in the paddock

I guess I only have myself to blame. The weather has been so atrocious and the ground getting so saturated, that I have been putting Reilly in the yards to get him off the pasture for a bit. I let him out early this evening and he thanked me by proceeding to play silly buggers and act like a complete numpty in his paddock. I went back inside and grabbed the camera and captured a couple of quick video snippets of his antics for everyone to enjoy! ...

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Ventspils Atlants 2008

Back from the IUKL-competition and European Championships in Ventspils 22-25/8. It was great and many experiences, learnings, and nice people. In fact, it feels like I have been away for weeks, rather than just four days. I will only scribble down some impressions so it does not become a book.PeopleIn about 200 competitors and a good number of judges and functionnaries. Ginko,...

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Medals Poll

In this blog's recent poll asking which country would win the most medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, voters were split, 50-50, between China and the USA. As it turned out, it was a split decision . . . sort of. The USA won the overall tally with 110 medals (its highest number ever, not counting the boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Games) to China's 100, but the host country handily...

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NFL Seeking Congressional Support to Exempt Top Exec Salaries from Public View

As Howard and TaxProf Paul Caron noted last week, the NFL is fighting public disclosure of top league executive salaries (other than that of the commissioner). According to an article published on BNA today, the NFL will continue this effort. The article features comments by attorney Martin Gold (Covington & Burling), who explained:"Discussions are ongoing to see if there is a consensus among parties in Congress who have taken an interest in this matte...

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The 2008 Olympics has Ended

What a wonderful Olympics.New Zealand had its best Olympics in 20 years, with three gold and nine medals overall.Great Britain became great again by winning a gazillion medals.China topped the Gold Medal table, while the USA won most medals over all.Two global superstars were created in Michael Phelps and Bolt.The Redeem Team , took out Gold.Nick Willis won Bronze for NZ...

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Reilly's new browband

A very kind online buddy of mine sent Reilly a new browband for his work bridle. The ribbon one that it came with is really nice but tends to slip a bit and I just wanted a leather one for everyday riding but was struggling to find something. It arrived today so I chucked it on the bridle and whizzed up to the paddock and popped it on Reilly so I could take a pic for Debz...

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Separate marathons

Why don't they run the men's and women's Olympic marathons together? They run every other world-class marathon together. And this is the one sport (or event) in which space, rules, and logistics allow the separate competitions to be played simultaneously. And wouldn't it be a nice symbol for gender equity?Update: Sunday, 7:30 a.m.In response to Joshue'a comment that inertia trumps absent a compelling reason for combining them, let me rework my point to make it an assertion rather than a question: They should run both marathons together. The compelling...

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Joe Biden is Obama's Choice

He brings something to the ticket that is Obama's weak point, experience, he is serving his six term and is considered very moderate for a democrat. He is very tough on crime, having drafted the violent crime control and law enforcement act, according to the good people at Wiki.His strong points are that he has no weak points, right wingers cannot call him soft on issues...

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April 2009

In April 2009, it will be 20 years ago, that Garth Brooks, the biggest selling solo artist in USA history, made his debut, and became the fastest artist ever to sell 100 million albums.In 2001 he retired, only to come out for special charity concerts or releasing an Ultimate Hits package that covered the music and videos of his career. Garth it seems is enjoying his retirement,...

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All dressed up yet nowhere to go!

Amy is a definitely a very spoiled little girl. Recently two of my internet friends have sent her riding clothes and tonight, I was bored, so I dressed her up. The jods came from a long-time internet friend Shiwon Green and the jacket is on loan from another long-time internet friend, Charlotte. The shirt under the jacket came from ANOTHER long-time internet friend (but one...

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Stunning weather, sunning ponies!

I LOVE crisp winter days like this - you can really believe that spring is on its way but the snow and sharp frosts remind you that winter is still very much here! Today my photos are a mixture of happy ponies in the sun and the snowy vista of the Tararua ranges - We are surrounded by stunningly snowy mountains and have views that, particularly on days like today, are to die...

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Tom Crean Better be "Mr. Clean"

Tropical storm Fay is getting closer and has caused us to shut down school today and tomorrow. So it's a good time to blog about IU's new contract with head basketball coach Tom Crean signed last week and announced yesterday -- a 10-year deal that could be worth up to $23.6M. Mark Alesia of The Indianapolis Star highlights the fact that Crean's contract "includes far more strict language on rules compliance, disciplinary action and personal behavior than that of his predecessor, Kelvin Sampson." IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre told Alesia, "Obviously,...

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What ya talking about Willis?

He's talking about a Bronze medal. New Zealand's first medal on the track since John Walker in 1976. An amazing race, by an amazing man, he has just become a New Zealand hero, in such a global sport that is taken so seriously, this must be one of the biggest sporting achievements our country has ever done.What a Olympics for New Zealand so far, Three Gold and nine medals...

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The Return of The Single Entity Defense for Sports Leagues

The Seventh Circuit ruled yesterday in American Needle v. NFL (No. 07-4006) that NFL teams act as a single entity “when promoting NFL football through licensing teams’ intellectual property“ and are therefore not subject to scrutiny under Section 1 of the Sherman Act.To give some brief background on this case, the plaintiff (American Needle) designs, manufactures, and sells apparel bearing the names and marks of pro sports teams. For more than 20 years, American Needle held a non-exclusive license from the NFL to manufacture and sell headwear with...

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Daniel's Doodle Stops Potter Movie

So Warner Bros, says theres a slot open for next summer's blockbuster and that is the reason why, they have delayed the release of the new Harry Potter movie, they are saying they want this movie to start off the season and other WB's will follow thus giving the studio a grand summer in 2009.Well all that is BS, the real reason is Daniel's doodle. You see Mr Harry Potter,...

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A day I would rather not repeat!

Well the old boy gave me one hell of a fright today!I thought I had lost him and then, when I realised I hadn't, I thought I might!Went out to feed out this morning and the old boy was not grazing with his girls. The girls were stood up on the hill looking at the far end of the paddock and did not come down for their hay. I called Bados & he did not appear so I wandered...

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Mission Accomplished!

What can I say? To repeat some of the adjectives overheard from the students to describe this trip, it was at once "awesome," "unbelieveable," "wicked fun," "unforgettable," "amazing," "freaking incredible," and the like. Many of them asked if they could stay a few days longer, and at least some said they definitely will visit China again sometime. I am proud of the 13 students...

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Home Sweet Home!

We arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., this evening after our 13+ hour non-stop flight from Beijing and happily, everyone was present and accounted for! While everyone was thoroughly exhausted after our eight-day, non-stop, sleep-deprived adventure -- Seminar Abroad '08: Beijing Olympics -- I think the students' facial expressions sum up their feelings...

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Farewell, China!

Dr. Dan Covell and I pose with Grace Liang, our very friendly and exceptionally capable tour guide, without whom we would not have had the extraordinary experience that we enjoyed in China. Without question, Grace contributed mightily to the students' overwhelmingly positive experien...

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Xie Xie, Grace!

Grace Liang, our tour guide extraordinaire, poses with Golden Bear and the rest of our crew prior to our departure at Beijing Capital Airport. In front: Marti, Jenn, and Whitney; and at back: AJ, Shaq, Bre, Mike, Jake, Ashley, Rob, Lauren, Amanda, and Je...

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Chinese Twins

Whitney DePrizio and Marti Blum sport their Chinaman's hat and identical "I Climbed the Great Wall" t-shir...

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Shaq and Friend

Shaq Walker poses at the entrance of our hotel with his newly acquired plush, "Mr. Blizzard" (won with a scratch ticket at Dairy Queen!) . . . a perfect pillow for the plane ride ho...

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Pearls, Pearls, Pearls!

Amanda, Ashley, and Bre check out the merchandise at the Pearl Market, which is a six-floor department store of . . . you guessed ...

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Last Chance for . . . Shopping!

On our last day in Beijing, Sunday, August 17, several students decided to do some last-minute shopping at the Pearl Market right after our final morning seminar (I gave them a break today and started a half hour later at 7:30 a.m.!). Apparently, Jess, Jake, Jenn, Amanda, Bre, Lauren, Ashley, Shaq, and Mike still had Chinese money to "get rid of" before departing for the airport...

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The Music Behind The Man

Michael Phelps must the greatest sports person on the planet, his feats will probably never ever be overtaken. What makes him special is, he is an all round down to earth humble guy, there is no trying to be political, making a point about the suffering of the world.He is without a doubt, the poster boy on what sports people should be, every advantage he uses to better himself,...

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Raising of the Flag

This morning at 5 a.m., Jake Roy and I jogged over to Tiananmen Square -- about 10 minutes from our hotel -- to watch the daily flag-raising ceremony at sunrise, which today occurred around 5:23 a.m.. We observed the one-minute spectacle that attracts literally thousands of people (mostly Chinese) everyday to the square. In the background is the Great Hall of the Peop...

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Morning Crowd at Tiananmen

To give you an idea of the bustling activity beginning around 4 a.m. near Tiananmen Square, here's a photo of a section near the famous plaza of people immediately after the flag-raising ceremony concluded . . . at around 5:25 a....

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Temple of Heaven

This afternoon, we visited the Temple of Heaven, another popular tourist attraction in Beijing. Larger in area than the Forbidden City but smaller than the Summer Palace, the temple was built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. Here we are -- attracting attention to our banner -- in front of the iconic structu...

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Summer Palace

Today was another glorious clear-blue sky day in Beijing (two in a row!), and this morning, we visited the Summer Palace, an historic park about 9 miles from the city center. The Palace proper occupies 764 acres (an area four times the size of the Forbidden City), three fourths of which is a lake. Begun in the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), it was continuously improved, and now...

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Bargaining at the Silk Market

Today, after sightseeing tours of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven, we took a two-hour break to do some shopping at Beijing's famous Silk Market. Here, Jess and Lauren check out the merchandise. The hallmark of this six-story, department store-sized bazaar is that you haggle over price . . . and from all appearances, our students did quite we...

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Two Olympic thoughts . . .

sort of related to law and public policy.1) This week, I watched the women's beach volleyball (a sport I actually have enjoyed watching) match between USA's Misty May-Treanor and Kerry Walsh (they of the frolicking with W while Russia invaded Georgia) and a team from Cuba. The match was a blowout and no one expected it to be close, so the announcers naturally had to find other stuff to talk about. Nothing unusual; announcers struggle to fill during bad games all the time.What struck me as unusual was the content: Stories about how each one met...

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Contrast

This photo of the Olympic Village and edge of the Bird's Nest was taken yesterday, in sharp contrast to the clear blue sky that we enjoyed tod...

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Multi-purpose ID Card

In addition to serving as an ID card to remind us who we are (in case we lapse into amnesia), our "badges" attract the attention of curious onlookers, who attempt to see what organization we are with. The lanyard is also a good place to display our lapel pins, which invites people to trade theirs for one of ours, or vice versa. Perhaps most importantly, the back side of...

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All Present and Accounted For!

To reassure any nervous parents, here's a photo of everyone in front of the equestrian venue at the Olympic Green. Notice that after nearly a week of a hectic and exhausting dawn-to-dusk schedule, everyone still looks fresh . . . and even hap...

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The NCAA is at it again

The NCAA is at it again, committing what a parent to a 20 year old college athlete calls “Gestapo tactics” by interviewing his son without an attorney late into the night prior to his getting ready to pitch in a crucial regional championship game. Hours before the game, and presumably as a result of the interview, Oklahoma State declared Andy Oliver ineligible.Oliver has now...

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