NOAH, Nowitzki, and Naysayers

Of all the self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture, the assumption that aging means decline and poor health is probably the deadliest.
--Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Consp

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts between 13 and 16 named storms this year, of which eight to 10 are predicted to become hurricanes. As many as a half-dozen of those storms could be large, reaching Category 3 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5.

The Dallas Mavericks are moving on to the conference finals after Dirk Nowitzki converted a three-point play to tie San Antonio and force Game 7 into overtime, during which the Spurs were defeated 119-111. The Mavs take on the Phoenix Suns next in Game 1 tomorrow night.

Spurs’ guard Tony Parker was so deflated by the loss he had to be comforted by companion Eva Longoria.

Oh, waaah. Somebody call a wambulance.





Former Enronista Ken Lay is using the ignorance defense in his bank fraud trial. In today’s Houston Chronicle, George Secrest, one of Lay's lawyers, and not to be confused with a lay lawyer, said Mr. Lay just "never took the time to monitor his personal financial affairs," and didn't know he was doing anything wrong.

I believe this is popularly known as the "Doofus Defense," which has been invoked in the past for Mr. Lay's shortcomings. Lay has also said he was unaware of the shenanigans that brought down Enron.

Secrest says Lay "didn't pay close attention."
That may be the understatement of the decade.