My god. How does one review this book? I hate this book. I hate William Finnegan. I also love the book and love William Finnegan. The problem is that it is hard to be enthusiastic about someone who is so thoroughly superior to you in every way. When I read something, I want to feel a little like the author. I want to believe that, at a pinch, I could achieve a little of what … [Read more...]
North Coast school cancels ocean sports – shark risk too high?
After a string of shark related incidents including several fatalities and a number of encounters with sharks resulting in non-life-threatening injuries over the last few years one Northern N.S.W. High School has decided to cancel all ocean-based sports for the remainder of the school term. Given that, on the face of it, there seems to be a localized increased in shark … [Read more...]
The “golem effect” playing out in real sport – tell female soccer players that they can’t play and their performance will respond accordingly!
Subjecting female soccer players to a negative stereotype about their abilities reduced their dribbling speed significantly, according to a new study published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise. The results demonstrate the impact negative stereotypes can have on athletic performance. There continues to be a stereotype that women are inferior as soccer … [Read more...]
What does “heels” and “faces” mean?
“Heels” and “faces” sound like human anatomical bits, right? The heel is at the back of your foot. Everyone knows that. Also… in a rugby ruck sometimes the forwards use their feet to “heel” the ball back and win possession. A well-trained dog will walk behind its trainer when commanded to “heel.” But there is another meaning, too. In wrestling the meanings of these words are a … [Read more...]
How come everyone is wearing board shorts?
A few days ago my daughter reeled in horror and scolded me fiercely as I emerged from the water at the beach in a pair of relatively modest European-style swimmers that revealed no more than a pair of “boy-leg” undies or snug boxer shorts would. Hardly revealing! In my daughter’s world men wear board shorts! She was horrified. When I pleaded for some tolerance and explained … [Read more...]