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Wednesday, February 24, 2010
B101's Weekday Tweets - Wednesday
If Minnesota ends up not making the tournament, there are going to be a lot of sleepless nights in Minneapolis spent lamenting what happened in The Barn on Wednesday night. Minnesota had a four point lead against Purdue with 1:46 to play, an injured Robbie Hummel was watching the game from the Boilermakers bench, and the Gophers looked liked they were about to get the marquee win they so desperately needed. But that's when Keaton Grant took over. The senior guard scored five points in the game's final 40 seconds, including the go-ahead basket with 7.7 seconds left, as the 3rd-ranked Boilers handed the Gophers a heartbreaking 59-58 loss. After Grant's basket, Minnesota had one final shot for the win, but Devoe Joseph missed a jumper, and Damian Johnson's tip-in of Joseph's miss came just after the final buzzer sounded.
The loss is obviously a brutal one for Minnesota - especially considering how close they came - and it puts a serious dent into their recently resurgent at-large chances. One of the main reasons we had the Gophers in the field this week is that we loved their chances to upset the Boilers, given how well they played at home against Wisconsin last week. With that chance blown, Minnesota is now going to have to win its last three regular season games to be in the mix for a bid. They play at Illinois on Saturday, and then at Michigan and at home against Iowa next week. If they can upset the Illini, the Gophers will be a tough call for us on Sunday night. We would like their chances to win out at that point, but they would be far from a sure thing.
(The silver lining for us on Wednesday night was that two of the other teams we could have put in instead of Minnesota this week also lost. Dayton dropped another A-10 road game at Temple, and San Diego State, who many bracketologists put in as an easy-way-out quick-fix this week, lost by 14 at BYU. Looking ahead, we still aren't crazy about Charlotte's chances and we still don't see how St. Mary's will end up getting a bid in the end, either. That means we may have to get a little creative Sunday night - if Minnesota loses at Illinois - in the way we fill that open backet spot.)
The win was huge for Purdue in terms of seeding and in terms of the Big Ten standings, but it may have come with a pretty hefty price tag. Hummel left the game with just over seven minutes to play in the first half after his right knee gave out on a drive to the basket. (There's no word yet on the extent of the injury.) The Boilers deserve a lot of credit for finding a way to win in Hummel's absence - they went scoreless for nearly 10 minutes during one stretch after he left - but if he's out for any length of time, their national championship hopes will take a serious hit. They weren't that deep as it was, and now their bench might have gotten a lot, lot thinner.
After four straight Big East wins, Pitt was probably due to lose a game in conference. Still, no one saw a performance like Wednesday night coming. The 16th-ranked Panthers trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half and lost 68-54 to a struggling Notre Dame team that had lost seven of 10 coming in and that was playing once again without Luke Harangody. The Irish won the game because of their long-distance shooting - they went 10-of-18 from behind the three-point line, while Pitt was just 4-of-18. With the win, Notre Dame improved to 7-8 in conference and crept up ever so slightly on the overcrowded Big East bubble. They still have to play at Georgetown on Saturday and at Marquette next week, with a huge home game against UConn sandwiched in the middle. The best the Irish can probably hope for is a 9-9 finish, which means they'd have to win two or more games in the Big East tourney to be in the at-large mix.
Pitt wasn't the only power conference team to get blown out on Wednesday night. Virginia Tech got knocked back to earth a little bit - by Boston College of all teams - in an ugly 80-60 loss to the Eagles in Chestnut Hill. The loss was the Hokies' second straight in conference and it makes their game at home against Maryland on Saturday that much more important. With their well-documented weak OOC schedule, Virginia Tech can't afford a three-game losing streak down the stretch. If they get by the Terps, they'll almost certainly get to 10-6 in conference, which will be enough to get them a bid. If they lose, they might be on the Last Four In list next week, and they'd run the risk of a road loss to Georgia Tech in their season finale potentially ruining their at-large hopes.
Marquette looks like it's finally found a recipe for winning close games: get the ball to Jimmy Butler. The junior swingman, who hit a game-winning shot for the Golden Eagles against UConn back on Jan. 30, was the late-game hero again on Wednesday night, hitting a 17-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Marquette a 63-61 victory over St. John's at Carnasecca Arena. Butler finished with 18 points for the Golden Eagles, who have played in 12 games this season that have been decided by five points or less. They're now 9-6 in the Big East with another road test coming this weekend at Seton Hall. After that game, Marquette returns home for two huge bubble games against Louisville and Notre Dame next week. A 2-1 record in those games would definitely get the Golden Eagles a bid; if they win just one of the three, they'll probably need two Big East tourney wins to feel safe come Selection Sunday.
Four of the seven Big XII bids faced off against each other on Wednesday night, and in true Big XII style, both home teams came out on top. LaceDarious Dunn scored 23 points and hit some big threes late as Baylor held Texas A&M 70-66 in Waco, and Dexter Pittman had 16 points and eight boards as Texas pulled away in the second half to beat Oklahoma State 69-59. For the Bears, Aggies, and Longhorns, these results matter only in terms of seeding. For Oklahoma State, it means they now have to win two of their last three games to avoid falling to the wrong side of the bubble heading into the Big XII tourney. The Cowboys welcome top-ranked Kansas to Stillwater on Saturday and then finish up with games at Texas A&M and at home against Nebraska next week. Two wins would get them to 9-7 and put them in pretty good shape. If they just get one, they'd have to win a pair of Big XII tourney games to get in.
It took Maryland a little while to wake up, but once Greivis Vasquez and Co. got going, the Terps had no problem pulling away from Clemson Wednesday in College Park. Vasquez had 15 points and 13 assists, and Sean Mosley added 20 points, as Maryland rallied from 15 down in the first half to beat the Tigers 88-79. It was the fourth straight ACC victory for Maryland, who is still undefeated at home in conference, and it kept them within a game of Duke in the race for the ACC regular season title. The Terps host the Blue Devils next Wednesday, in between road games at Virginia Tech and at Virginia. Clemson, meanwhile, has now lost four straight ACC road games and sits at 7-6 in conference with three tough games left to play. They play at Florida State on Sunday, home against Georgia Tech on Tuesday, and at Wake in their season finale next weekend. Two wins would clinch them an at-large, and one win would mean they'd probably have to win two ACC tourney games to feel safe.
Saint Louis finally lost an A-10 home game on Wednesday night, falling 73-71 to Xavier. The Bilikens led by six at the half, but the Musketeers went on an early 16-0 run in the second half to take control of the game. Jordan Crawford finished with 26 points for Xavier, which improved to 11-2 in the A-10 with the victory. They host Richmond on Sunday in what is their last real test of the regular season (they finish with games at Fordham and vs. St. Bonaventure). A 3-0 finish could net Xavier the A-10 title and perhaps a spot on the top of the 5 line heading into the A-10 tourney. Saint Louis, meanwhile, slips out of the at-large discussion for the moment as a result of the loss, but they have two more chances next week to get back in the mix (vs. Temple, at Dayton).
Of note: Villanova beat South Florida at home; Ohio State won at Penn State; Florida State won at North Carolina; Missouri beat Colorado at home; Mississippi State beat Alabama at home; UNLV beat TCU at home; UTEP won at Southern Miss; UAB won at UCF; Charlotte beat St. Joseph's at home; Cincinnati beat DePaul at home.
36 comments:
Is Maryland now a lock?
I actually liked how you guys got creative last week by sliding UConn and Minnesota in, and Minnesota almost made you guys look like geniuses tonight.
But after tonight, does anybody want to be in the tournament that has been on the bubble this month? It seems like absolutely nobody can get over that hump.
With having this much trouble filling out the field of 65, can you imagine this field being expanded? I think this proves that expansion shouldn't be considered.
Looking forward to see who gets included next bracket. Keep up the good work.
Regarding in-season holiday tournaments, does the committee take into account teams who were in the tournament even though the champion of the tournament didn't play each team?
For example, Florida State won the Old Spice Classic but didn't play Xavier or Baylor. However, they did beat Marquette and Alabama, who beat Xavier and Baylor, respectively. Will the committee take the field into account?
going to give credit to bracketology 101 as the top site for bracketology on my radio show tomorrow at 12pm PDT
- Eric J. said...
@Anonymous: For what it's worth, I think it matters what teams an opponent beats or loses to in that it establishes how good that opponent was and how important the win was. So FSU's victory over Marquette looks better in part because Marquette beat Xavier. But I don't think it matters that it was in the same tournament.
- ScarShoulders said...
MD will win two more ACC games, but I would say they are already a lock. This team is so deep and talented I don't see them not making it to the second weekend of the tourney. Very high on the Terps...
If FSU wins out, which would mean wins over clemson, wake, and miami, and then gets the bye, beats maryland and loses a close one to duke, can they get a top 4-5 seed?
Scar, I can see why you are so high on maryland, but if they are a 7-8 seed, I don't think that it would be hard at all to envision a loss... Even if they pick up speed, do you see them being a prohibitive favorite against West virginia, G-town, Nova, ohio state, K-state or pittsburgh? I could easily see them beating ohio state, k state or pitt, but to go so far as to say that you couldn't envision a loss seems a bit like hyperbole, don't you think?
- Bracketology 101 said...
The Terps are pretty much a lock right now. One more win (either in the regular season or in the ACC tourney), and they're dancing.
If Florida State goes on that run, they could get up to a 5 seed or so.
I had a couple of questions. Does Marshall have any at large hopes? I realize Oklahoma State has a poor OOC resume, but will it help them that they play in the tough Big 12 South, having to play Baylor, Texas A&M, and Texas twice?
Anonymous, Did B101 know that Hummel was going to get hurt? They is the only way they would look like geniuses because Purdue was in control early in that game. It is sad that Minnesota was unable to beat Purdue at home without one of their best players. Minnesota already had benefitted from the Evan Turner absence. A win over Purdue would not have been enough to put Minnesota in the bracket. They still have 2 tough road games. The Gophers still havent made up for bad losses to Michigan, Indiana, Northwestern, Portland, and Miami. Minnesota hasn't beaten anyone good on the road all year. B101 never should have put the Gophers in the field. It was a big mistake.
Will Georgia Tech-Clemson in effect be an elimination game?
- Paymon said...
Vikings51 - 2 facts
1. Evan Turner played 38 min in Minnesota's 73-62 win over Ohio State. He wasn't completely healthy, but he played and produced.
2. Minnesota beat Butler in Anaheim earlier this season.
You may now proceed.
- Kevin said...
Is the WAC a two bid league if Utah State doesn't win the league title or championship game?
Minnesota would have needed more than a win over Purdue to earn a bid. They would have also had to win at Illinois to in some part make up for their numerous losses to bad teams. Minnesota was not deserving of being in this week's field.
pay, You just pointed out a home win for Minnesota. Who on the bubble doesn't have good home wins? Show me one strong road win for Minnesota. I can show you several bad losses for Minnesota. You can defend B101 till your face turns purple, but they were wrong to include Minnesota in the field. They will be proven wrong on Selection Sunday. Minnesota will not make it. But I admire how you are kissing up to Chris and Craig.
Where would my Noles stand if they finish 9-7? You folks are doing great things at FOX! That was a huge upgrade to the FOX website.
- mag900 said...
vikings, a lot of teams on the bubble don't have good home wins (which is partly why they are on the bubble in the first place). just off the top of my head are these:
NI -- best home win Siena (12)
Memphis -- best home win UAB (12)
ASU -- no home wins against projected teams
Miss St -- no home wins against projected teams
Actually, I believe Paymon pointed out a good neutral win for Minnesota (Butler). The comment about the home win over Ohio State was strictly about Evean Turner. I will note that I don't see Minnesota in the field - not with an RPI of 81 as of today.
All I was saying (1:57 AM anon) was that it was interesting to see somebody put two entirely different teams by projecting something else at the end of the season. Had Minnesota won (regardless of how), it would have shut up some people on here saying how stupid it was to include them. Now I think everyone, including B101, will agree Minnesota isn't worthy, even from a projection point of view.
At this point, it probably doesn't matter which two or three teams are in the bottom of the last four in list. I'm sure some conference tournament bid-stealers will come in and grab up a few at-larges from the enormous list of bubble teams.
- Michael said...
Hey -
Well, it completely sucks that Robbie Hummel is out for the year for Purdue, but I was wondering what you guys thought this would do for its seeding. Gottlieb at ESPN already said this drops them a line, maybe two. Do they have to do more now than before to hang on to the #1? Like win out? What does 3-0 to close the season and a BTT semis loss do?
Doug Gottlieb said Charlotte would be in now cause they are 9-4 in true road games. Do you agree?
Mag, There is a common thread with all the teams you listed. None of them are going to make the NCAA tournament, just like Minnesota.
- Paymon said...
Vikings 51 - I am actually defending myself. I do not disagree that they should not be in the field. They just happen to be among the 34 best at-large teams based on the data.
Butler was a neutral-court win = not played at the barn.
Who would be in your field instead of Minnesota?
Anonymous - Thanks for reading my comment. Minnesota's RPI is prohibitive. Does anyone know the highest ever RPI for an at-large team? We need Russell Baxter.
Worst RPIs (by memory, so someone might need to check).
'99 New Mexico - 74
'04 Air Force - 70
'07 Stanford - 66
- mag900 said...
i believe new mexico in 1999 had an rpi of 74.
- Bracketology 101 said...
Using the "new RPI" (2005-present) the worst RPIs for at-large teams have been No. 62 Arizona (2009), No. 62 Iowa St and No. 63 NC State (2005), and No. 63 Stanford (2007).
Under the "old RPI" formula (pre-2005), the worst RPIs for at-larges were No. 74 New Mexico (1999) and No. 70 Air Force (2004).
You guys love to criticize other bracketologists about their "mistakes". So why is it so hard to admit that you were wrong about Minnesota?
- Bracketology 101 said...
See what happens when you criticize us, Vikings? We sick Paymon on you.
In all seriousness, though, we admit that Minnesota's inclusion was a stretch, but keep in mind that it was done as a projection. If the Gophers would have beaten Purdue last night, they would have been worthy of an at-large.
Utah State needs to win the WAC regular season title and get to the final of the WAC tourney to be in the mix for an at-large. The Aggies also need BYU to keep winning and need to root for as few bid-stealers as possible during Championship Week.
If the 'Noles finish 9-7, they'll need to win at least one game in the ACC tourney (and maybe two depending on what happens elsewhere). FSU's at-large chances, especially if they finish 9-7, are also going to be tied to how Georgia Tech (who they swept) and Virginia Tech (who they beat once) fare down the stretch. That's all they have in terms of quality wins in conference.
Does Memphis have to win the conference tournament now? Their defense was nonexistent against Houston.
in defense of b101, the other "bracketologists" have absurd abnormalities, and b101 has one error (maybe) about Minnesota. Really? Lunardi consistently has conference teams meeting in the second round...or places slews of big east teams in last four in/out. Palm, the RPI Nazi, thinks that is the be all end all. And, Glockner....has admitted before that his bracket and b101's bracket should not be compared because they are "apples to oranges". I asked him why and he said one is if the season ended today and the other is a projection of what the other thinks. Finally, Lundardi repeatedly updates his brackets after readers point out how idiotic he is and tries to hope nobody notices.
Guys, I love your work, but I am going to call you out on VT. There is NO way they get into the dance if they lose 2 out of 3 without winning 2 games in the conference tourney at a minimum. Even 10-6, they should probably want to win 1 game in the ACC tourney to feel safe. You already mentioned their weak OOC schedule, as everyone has. However, have you looked at their ACC schedule? It is unbalanced toward the bottom. The teams they played twice in the ACC: UNC, BC, NC St., Virginia, and Miami. Those are the bottom 5 teams in conference. You are right to say a lot depends on their game against Maryland coming up.
Remember, Greenberg was wailing about how they got left out last year with a 10-6 ACC mark, and it was because of their OOC schedule. This year, it will be the same if they go 9-7 in the ACC. The committee will probably find someone from the A-10 or C-USA to take their place. More likely though, it will be a bid-stealer like Butler who loses in their conference tourney.
- Bracketology 101 said...
Memphis isn't getting an at-large after last night. They'll have to win the C-USA tourney to get a bid.
- Bracketology 101 said...
Everyone needs to start getting their facts straight..."Remember, Greenberg was wailing about how they got left out last year with a 10-6 ACC mark, and it was because of their OOC schedule."
It was 2 years ago and the Hokies finished 9-7 in conference that year. We don't think there has ever been a team finish with 10 regular season ACC wins not make the tourney.
The Hokies are still in pretty good shape. Their RPI is a respectable 48 and if they can win their final 2 home games they will have 10 wins in conference and be a virtual lock. Right now there are plenty of bubble teams who would fall by the wayside with bid stealers instead of the Hokies.
If VT only picks up one more win they will have to win their first game in the ACC tourney against a bottom dweller and at least be competitive in their quarterfinal game.
- Rodrigo said...
Minnesota has a slight advantage because of their strong defense line in this current season to give maximum to College Basketball Odds.
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Anorexia is a disease in which patients maintain dangerously low body weight and fear weight gain.
Discovering that your child has searched on an at-risk topic like anorexia, bulimia, cutting, suicide, bomb making, etc. can be unsettling, but searches do not necessarily mean there is reason to worry. There are many legitimate reasons for such a search, it could be for a school project, or perhaps they heard about a friend and are looking up information to know more about their condition and how to help them.
Start by looking at the types of sites being searched. Are they anorexia research sites that describe eating disorders and their symptoms? These are likely to dominate the searched sites if your child is trying to learn more about the disorder. Other sites actually promote eating disorders and are therefore more concerning.
Pro-eating disorder websites are defined as containing materials that describe and endorse self-abuse through starvation or purging, and support the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. Because anorexia and bulimia go by the code names 'ana' and 'mia' these sites are often referred to in slang as pro-ana and pro-mia. These sites range from hard-core promotion of eating disorders with information on how best to deepen the disorder, to sites that provide a great deal of pro-recovery content - and many sites are a mix of both encouragement to those who want to participate and help for those that want out.
Next, sit down and have an open, gentle conversation to ask why your child was visiting sites about anorexia before jumping to conclusions. Note that a common misperception is that only girls struggle with eating disorders. While less common, males can also struggle with eating disorders so the same level of concern should be applied to both young women and young men.
If your child or teen is generally well balanced, active, eating healthy amounts of food and they give you a reasonable non-defensive explanation you are comfortable with things are probably fine; you can then use the conversation as an opening to a candid discussion about healthy self-image, and self-care. For safety sake, you should always keep an eye out for dramatic weight loss in your child or teen that is either obvious, or is being masked by the addition of multiple layers of clothing - a common tactic used by people with eating disorders.
On the other hand, if you find cause for concern, the rest of this article contains some information to get you started. Contact your child's primary care physician for further advice and help.
Pro-eating disorder sites typically list the benefits of being anorexic/bulimic, offer interactive communities where those with eating disorders can encourage and celebrate one another as they strive to attain and maintain their thinness goals, give diet tips (what to eat to stay under 700 calories a week!) and may provide 'buddy' services to pair one anorexic up with another.
Many of these sites have been created by people with eating disorders who "falsely believe that they are okay [and] falsely believe that anorexia is a lifestyle choice" according to Toronto-based National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC).
Identifying the websites your child or teen has visited is not the end of your digital discovery process.
Look into your child or teen's video viewing history. People with eating disorders seek out video sharing sites like YouTube where there are thousands of videos designed to encourage those with eating disorders in their quest to be thinner, plus tips and tricks for achieving their goals.
Review the songs in your child's playlists and ringtones. The music industry provides a large collection of music by famous and less famous artists with lyrics about, or promoting, eating disorders. You can find lists of music promoting the disorder, by typing in the phase 'music about anorexia', 'thinspiration music', or something similar into your search engine.
About 1% of young women and a smaller percentage of young men struggle with anorexia in the U.S. alone.
New research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry and billed as the largest and most comprehensive analysis of eating disorders, found that more than half a million U.S. teens have had an eating disorder but that few have sought treatment for the problemi.
In addition to those struggling with existing eating disorders many more youth, and adults, turn to these pro-eating disorder websites for 'thinspiration', support on losing weight, and dieting tips.
Thinspiration is defined as any content that inspires people to be thinner, and includes images and videos of (usually famous) thin women, children and men, as well as the music lyrics that discuss thinness and the disorder.
In addition to looking for motivation through pro- ana and mia sites, many also set their faith in the Thin Commandments, shown here.
Or strive to reduce their weight further by following the ABC diet (the Ana Boot Camp Diet).
As the U.S. faces an obesity epidemic, and the media and fashion industries idealize size 0′s, we have created the perfect storm conditions for youth. The very fear of obesity is driving youth into eating disorders:
If you remain concerned that your daughter or son may be struggling with an eating disorder, contact your child's primary care physician for further advice and help.
1 Mortality in Anorexia Nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1995; 152 (7): 1073-4.
2 Characteristics and Treatment of Patients with Chronic Eating Disorders, by Dr. Greta Noordenbox, International Journal of Eating Disorders, Volume 10: 15-29, 2002.
3 The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, "Eating Disorders 101 Guide: A Summary of Issues, Statistics and Resources," 2003.
4 American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 152 (7), July 1995, p. 1073-1074, Sullivan, Patrick F.
5 Shisslak, C.M., Crago, M., & Estes, L.S. (1995). The Spectrum of Eating Disturbances. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 18 (3): 209-219.
6 National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders 10-year study, 2000
7 Public Health Service's Office in Women's Health, Eating Disorders Information Sheet, 2000.
8 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), offices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
9 Carlat, D.J., Camargo. Review of Bulimia Nervosa in Males. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 1997.
10 American Psychological Association, 2001.
11 International Journal of Eating Disorders 2002; 31: 300-308.
12 Prevention of Eating Problems with Elementary Children, Michael Levine, USA Today, July 1998.
13 The National Institute of Mental Health: "Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions." Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/complete-index.shtml
14 Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. website. Accessed Feb. 2002. http://www.anred.com/
15 Nutrition Journal. March 31, 2006.
16 Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2005). I'm, Like, SO Fat!. New York: The Guilford Press. pp. 5.
17 The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, "Eating Disorders 101 Guide: A Summary of Issues, Statistics and Resources," published September 2002, revised October 2003, http://www.renfrew.org

subset: commoncrawl


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Sunday, October 26, 2008
Made-For-TV Story Comes With The Camping World CEO
NASCAR may have just struck pay dirt in more ways than one with the announcement of the new Camping World sponsorship of the Truck Series. This multi-year deal puts a new brand out in the marketplace and brings with it a story that is almost made-for-TV.
The Camping World CEO is named Marcus Lemonis. Rather than being just another corporate figure, Lemonis is one of the most dynamic young executives in American business today. This is just a slice of a Lemonis profile from Chicago Magazine:
It wasn't just any family that adopted Marcus Lemonis from a Beirut orphanage when he was nine months old. His new father and grandfather ran the largest Chevy dealerships in Miami and Tampa. After graduating from Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Lemonis returned to Florida and started selling cars at his grandfather's dealership.
At 22, he made a change. "I decided that if I wanted to be successful, I had to get beat up, learn from others rather than from my family," Lemonis said. He took a job at AutoNation, the country's largest car dealer, and worked his way up to regional manager.
Then he took some advice from a family friend, Lee Iacocca (the former head of Chrysler Corporation), who told him the path to long-term success lay in finding an industry that was ripe for transformation. Lemonis sniffed opportunity in the fragmented recreational vehicle industry. At the time, most RV dealers were small independents who typically sold only one brand and offered poor customer service.
Lemonis poured most of his limited savings into a business plan, inspired by the AutoNation model, for a national chain of RV dealers that sold and serviced multiple brands. His new company, FreedomRoads, began buying up independents and, in less than three years, has become the country's largest RV dealer, selling 18 brands and racking up more than $1.5 billion in revenues.
In June of 2007, FreedomRoads merged with the existing Camping World company to form a "super-power" RV corporation. This past June, only one year after the formation of the new Camping World franchise, Lemonis was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year for a Midwest-based business. Camping World now has over 100 retail locations and over 4,000 employees.
Mr. Lemonis is just 34 years old.
As the CEO, Lemonis has come a very long way from the Beirut orphanage. If there was ever a time when NASCAR needed a shot-in-the-arm and some fresh blood, this is it. To announce a sponsorship deal for the Truck Series in this economic climate goes a very long way toward putting aside a lot of negative rumors that have been circulating.
Friday morning, the Trucks take to the track in Atlanta for practice at 11:30AM on SPEED. Rick Allen, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip will be the TV team. John Roberts will be along with the news-oriented NASCAR Live at 1PM. Since the entire Truck Series is televised on SPEED and Fox Sports, you can bet that we will all become better acquainted with Lemonis over the next several days.
Krista Voda will host the pre-race show for the truck race Saturday afternoon at 1PM. It would certainly make sense to either have Lemonis on-hand for an interview or make sure that he is interviewed sometime before the show.
His life is just the type of story NASCAR fans love and the way this year is going a little love could go a very long way.
Click here for the Camping World sponsorship announcement at TruckSeries.com.
The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Just click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy instructions. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page. Thank you for taking the time to stop by.
36 comments:
- Lou said...
Yes, Mr. Limonis is a feel good story of success and hard work. Glad to see it is a 7yr agreement w/the truck series, Brian is lucky and I as a fan am thankful. Now if the teams can get and or keep their sponsorship, we can contunue to see good racing on SPEED.
- October 23, 2008 at 9:21 PM
- Anonymous said...
Thank heaven the truck series has a sponsor. They've showed us the best racing of the season, even better than Cup.
- October 23, 2008 at 9:51 PM
- Dot said...
Brian France needs to take a lesson from Mr Lemonis. NASCAR needs a good business plan and Emperor Brian has not provided one. I hope Mr Lemonis has some say so on how the CWTS is promoted. Like Lou said, let's hope the teams can still race.
- October 23, 2008 at 10:19 PM
- Rockin Rich said...
This certainly flies in the face "conventional wisdom"! Today's economy must be impacting the RV sector. I would assume pretty heavily. Yet, this guy is coming in spending, (I assume), a ton more of money than he already was to keep his empire thriving, (or just afloat). Add to this the fact that the truck manufacturers are dramatically reducing their support, and it really presents a grim scenario.
I hope we aren't seeing another Bobby Ginn!
Good luck, and truly best wishes to Mr. Lemonis, and to the Truck Series fans. To Brian France, and the Beach Bozos, not so much.
In my IBM marketing career, oh so long ago, we called this a "bluebird", as in a bluebird flying in the window with a huge unexpected sale just in time to make quota when it looked like there was no way that would happen.
- October 23, 2008 at 10:25 PM
- Anonymous said...
YOUPPI! Mr. Lemonis!
I look forward to "Camping with Ray" each week *giggle* I'll miss the Tool Tech segment...unless they find a way to keep it :)
rockin' rich--yes you do have a good point. I'd definitely hate to see something negative come out of this. I've enjoyed Mr. Lemonis--he's been on Fox Business Network promoting CWs involvement with NA$CAR many a time.
- October 23, 2008 at 11:50 PM
- bevo said...
I agree with rockin rich. I think an even better cautionary tale would be the saga of Evan Knoll with the NHRA. Hope this works out for both NASCAR and Mr. Lemonis. Glad to see a fellow alumnus doing well!
- October 24, 2008 at 12:11 AM
- Photojosh said...
I'm stoked about this announcement.
One thing that is encouraging (compared to the previously mentioned sponsorship failures) is that Camping World already has a history of sponsoring a NASCAR series. True, it's a lower tier series. But it's not like they went from nothing to sponsoring the trucks. There is some experience there and they should know what to expect in terms of investment vs returns.
- October 24, 2008 at 2:31 AM
- jamie said...
dot is dead-on with her assesment of the camping world ceo versus brian france. also, this sponsorship must have really been 'on the cheap' for a deal to be struck this late. if the economy is on an upswing in 6 years, dont look for camping world to be back. nascar will again try to gouge a new sponsor.
- October 24, 2008 at 6:29 AM
- Vicky D said...
Gymmie, I also was thinking of Ray's camping segment during the truck races when I read the press release. Can't wait to see those! This is very good news for the series and as long as the teams can get and keep their sponsorship it should do ok.
- October 24, 2008 at 7:24 AM
- Rockin Rich said...
Okay, coming back, a little more positive this time.
Instead of Bobby Ginn, maybe I ought to be thinking more Bill Gates here. Maybe this guy really is what is needed to keep the Truck Series from failing. Hopefully, he will come in similarly to the way R.J. Reynolds came into NASCAR, and put some sound, reality grounded, management and marketing practices into the Series. In reading the article, he certainly sounds like the kind of guy that could shake things up.
It certainly should be fun to watch how Brian and the Beach Bozos react, and work with, (or don't), what appears to be a real business dynamo that seems to be able to put his money where his mouth is. I truly hope he doesn't flame out like the aforementioned Mr. Ginn. I also truly hope that the entrenched Beach Bozos don't stifle his enthusiasm. If that happens, we may see the scenario mentioned by Jamie @6:29AM come to pass when business turns up again, and we know business will turn up again in the future.
Again, Mr. Lemonis, and all you Truck Series fans, best of luck, and wishes for success.
- October 24, 2008 at 7:45 AM
- majorshouse said...
I am really happy to see someone outside of the normal business model being hugely successful and I am also happy to see the truck series is not going to die because it is by far the best racing series out there.
- October 24, 2008 at 7:50 AM
- Anonymous said...
I wish Mr Lemonis had bought the
series from the BEACH BUMS.
It's the closest thing to real
racing there is and shows a product that is closest to a showroom model.
- October 24, 2008 at 9:03 AM
- chase said...
John - this is a great column! I am really excited that Mr. Limonis and his company have come onboard to sponsor the Truck Series. As mentioned above, racing in the Truck Series is as good as it gets, at least in 2008. Perhaps Brian France can do a stint at Camping World and see how a good company is run - God knows he has nothing better to do! Having attended my first truck race a few years ago it is truly exciting and the announcers on SPEED are pros -- let us hope the truck races have tons of people in the stands in 2009 - thank YOU Mr. Limonis!!!
- October 24, 2008 at 9:19 AM
- Anonymous said...
What a great personal story. I like the fact that Mr Limonis does not look like he runs things by the seat of his pants.
It's not really a rags to riches story (Lee Iacoca family friend), but it shows somenone who used his college knowledge and applied it to the real world.
As smart as Mr Limonis is, he would not sign a long term contract if he thought NASCAR was going to hell in a hand basket under the France"s flag. He apparently believes this is the best thing for his company-- and he is willing to put his money out there for the next 7 years.
This is really a natural alliance. Camping World just announced it was going into the cargo trailer buisiness as well as the rv rental business. NASCAR is a gold mine for them, not just the fans but the drivers, crews, vendors, media, etc.
Goof luck to all.
- October 24, 2008 at 9:32 AM
- Anonymous said...
Goodness sake!! This is insanity! There is no way that Camping World will finish out the term of this contract. More "johnny come lately" to the sport with pie in the sky dreams of grandeur rather than a sober assessment of the marketplace.
Lest anyone doubt my position, just ask how many of your Planet "orbiters" who are overjoyed at this announcement will actually go out and purchase a recreational caravan (R V as you call them in the US). Then factor in how many of those folks will then seek out Camper World to buy their vehicle? 1 in 1,000??
Sorry. This fan thinks this is rubbish
Bray Kroter
- October 24, 2008 at 9:35 AM
- Anonymous said...
Anonymous 9:35:
I think you're wrong with your comments regarding no ROI on the sponsorship. It's not just about selling $300,000 motorhomes. It's about selling pop-ups, small trailers, larger trailers, etc. And renting all of this stuff, including the monster motor homes. More importantly, the parts and service on all of these units. Just look at how many RVs you see at a track. And each and every one of those units need maintenance, usaually for each and every trip you take with them.
I personally use Camping world over other dealer when I can, just because of their involvement with the Camping World series, and I'm sure many others will be doing so as well, especially now that they're in a much higher profile series. As a bonus, I've always found that Camping World has a much larger selection, and always has parts in stock that my local brand name dealer has to order, even though the local dealer is a dedicated dealer of my units brand.
- October 24, 2008 at 9:49 AM
- Anonymous said...
If CW does not pick this up who does? The line was not that long and if CW did not pick it up, say so long to the Truck Series.
From what I read about Mr. Lemonis, if he did not think this was a great place to spend millions in ad money and get a return, it would be somewhere else.
I for one am glad he stepped up.
L Randall
- October 24, 2008 at 9:53 AM
- red said...
i am absolutely thrilled by this announcement and will go to the camping world website to drop a thank you note on mr. lemonis!
bray, i have to disagree with you, especially about camping world being a "johnny come lately." they have sponsored a lower-tier series (camping world east AND west) for a while now and been happy with the results as demonstrated by them still being sponsors. they "get" racing in a way that i doubt other series' sponsors can.
also, i say "bravo!" to him for waiting nascar out and coming in at the last moment: to me, that's good business sense. i would hope he got a better deal from nascar by making them worry over sponsorship for this series than if he had come to the rescue earlier in the process.
as we've often noted, the trucks are THE best racing at this level and have long deserved more attention and a more dedicated sponsor. my biggest hope is that camping world execs will see their involvement as more than just a series name, $$ and stickers. i certainly hope they become actively involved in the series and get these teams the attention they have earned!
and truck guys just announced that mr. lemonis will be on krista voda's "the set up" tomorrow!
- October 24, 2008 at 11:40 AM
- Anonymous said...
West Coast Diane said:
This is great for the Truck Series and Camping World. What a great venue for them, at the track and on TV.
Camping World has had a tent at the last 5 Daytona 500's we've been to as well as a Bristol race we attended. They are also at the Indy 500. In every case their tents are in or near the major RV lots and always seem to have a crowd. They always have race specials. Last year it was Honda generators. With the economy the way it is maybe instead of flying trips to Disney World or where ever, families may rent a camper and take shorter trip, less expensive trips.
- October 24, 2008 at 12:08 PM
- Anonymous said...
West Coast Diane said:
PS...left out an important point. I hope Mr. Lemonis finds a way to put pressure on NASCAR to make sure the Truck series gets better coverage on TV. Especially in shows like TWIN, NN, Speed Report. It's a shame because it is the best series for sheer excitement and side by side racing.
- October 24, 2008 at 12:14 PM
- darbar said...
Mr. Kroter, you have a very myopic view of what Camping World is all about. It's just not RV sales, but it's ALL things camping, and not just $300,000 motorhomes. They sell everything from small camping stoves and GPS units, to sheets and dinnerware for tents and RV's. They also have things available for the hunter and fishermen of the world. Their inventory of camping products is huge just on their website alone.
And, may I point out, that with the economy, families will be replacing their expensive cruise/European vacations with things closer to home, and that includes camping.
I'm thrilled that someone stepped up and is sponsoring the Truck Series. Like others have said, the trucks have shown us the best racing this season. I hope everything works out for all the teams so this sport can continue.
- October 24, 2008 at 12:23 PM
- Anonymous said...
I guess you are getting a bit of an education as to what CW is about. But it is more than just that, they are into banking and finance, road side service 24/7, repairs, and business to business sales.
As a woman, I love to go to their tent and see what's new. It's sometimes boring to be stuck for days waiting for the action to start. CW is a one stop shopping.
A lot of people also mocked Sam Walton.
- October 24, 2008 at 1:28 PM
- Anonymous said...
JD just a question about the tv schedule, why didn't ESPN put the horse race and sports center on classic and leave NASCAR on espn2?
- October 24, 2008 at 2:06 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 2:06PM,
ESPN is going through a phase where they have been trying to expand their college and professional sport product as far as events are concerned.
This has left the ESPN executives with three TV networks (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2) and four live events. Two college football games, one day of horse racing and one NASCAR race.
If this was Sprint Cup, things might be different. But ESPN sees things in a very different perspective than NASCAR fans.
The fact that this sport has been on ESPN2 live since February and there are only a handful of races remaining does not trump the fact that the other three events have overall higher TV ratings.
This was one key concern when NASCAR returned to ESPN. It has proven to be the toughest on the Nationwide Series. ESPN has been working hard to fix this problem and we hope that ESPN Classic turns into ESPN3 and provides another basic cable sports channel soon.
- October 24, 2008 at 7:16 PM
- Anonymous said...
Good luck with that JD. ESPN News and Classic USED to be basic cable offerings, but more often than not, cable owners are placing those channels on a higher tier. I have the feeling that ESPN3 would be relegated to a top tier of programming, and not basic cable.
- October 24, 2008 at 7:33 PM
- Robyn said...
Good to see Johnny Benson on Trackside last night. And another truck driver is scheduled for next week. That with the added truck highlights in TWIN (although they could be a little longer), shows that SPEED is stepping up on the coverage issue. Thanks!
- October 25, 2008 at 12:52 AM
- RAEckart said...
I'm with Truck Series fans; this sponsorship will undoubtedly increase traffic in Camping World stores nationwide. And they'll sell plenty of gear for campers (RV, tent, etc.)
This may even start the ball rolling for at least a half-hour TV show dedicated to the Truck Series.
As discussed in JD's previous columns, the Truck Series needs a support show. Something like "NFL Films Presents". High quality, a variety of topics about the series, teams and/or individuals. Something that gives the sponsors on the hoods more TV time than just Saturday afternoon.
And it looks like Camping World will be able to leverage its vendors like Target does its vendors with Chip Ganassi. Work with brands like Coleman, Winnebago, Thetford, etc. to sponsor events in-store, at-track and then on TV.
It would really elevate this series, and Mr. Limonis track record is what the Truck Series is looking for.
Game on!
- RA Eckart -
- October 25, 2008 at 1:25 AM
- Anonymous said...
I want to thank Mr. Lemonis for keeping some of the best racing sponsored for the next 7 years.
Camping World has been in our sport a few years now so I'm not worried about another Ginn situation. Hopefully Mr. Lemonis influence, enthusiasm & work ethics will rub of on Brian France. We can only hope.
Thank you again Mr. Lemonis for sponsoring the truck series.
- October 25, 2008 at 10:05 AM
- Anonymous said...
When will you write an article critical of SPEED for its treatment of the Truck series. Looking at the TV schedule, there is NO coverage of any practice session, or qualifying. How do they expect the series to survive?
You are all over ESPN when they do that to the Nationwide series. SPEED deserves equal treatment.
- October 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 11:08PM,
Both sessions of practice were to be televised by SPEED from Atlanta but rained-out. NASCAR turned the Saturday morning qualifying into a practice session and started the trucks on points.
The practice and qualifying is normally shown on SPEED for almost all of the truck races, except for when SPEED is handling the Cup Series.
Thanks, nice try.
- October 26, 2008 at 11:22 PM
- Anonymous said...
Take a look at the Texas schedule. NCTS practice and qualifying is on Thursday.
10/30 1:30pm Practice ... Where is SPEED?
10/30 3:15pm Final Practice ... Where is SPEED?
10/30 8pm Qualifying ... Where is SPEED?
With only 31 points seperating the drivers at the top of the table this late in the season, these sessions are vitally important.
It is obvious SPEED does not care about promoting the Truck series, and a slap in the face to the devoted fans that these sessions are left in the dark.
If this happened in the Nationwide Series, you would be blating ESPN for a full week.
SPEED is failing to adequitely cover the NCTS series at a race where the championship is on the line in Texas ... where is your column?
- October 27, 2008 at 10:54 AM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Talk about grasping at straws!
SPEED is live from Noon to 3PM on Thursday, do you ever check SPEEDtv.com?
Unfortunately, Thursday night on SPEED has a regular programming line-up so highlights of qualifying will be seen on Friday.
SPEED will also handle the Nationwide Series practice and quals as ESPN has no room on the schedule.
Get a grip dude!
- October 27, 2008 at 11:20 AM
- Anonymous said...
I did check speedtv.com prior to posting. SPEED is showing the Atlanta Sprint Cup race replay from noon-3pm on Thursday, NOT NCTS practice.
12:00PM ET Sprint Cup Replay Atlanta
Also, you can check NASCAR.com schedule for this week.
SPEED is skipping practice and qualifying.
You wouldn't let ESPN off the hook with highlights of qualifying. Why does SPEED get a pass?
- October 27, 2008 at 12:01 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
ESPN uses SPEED to cover qualifying and practice on most weekends for one or both series.
SPEED has this issue with TX every single time Eddie Gossage puts the Trucks on Thursday.
If you have not noticed, SPEED is stepping in and handling the Nationwide practice and quals again this weekend.
But, that would twist your already twisted logic.
- October 27, 2008 at 1:22 PM
- Anonymous said...
I'm not defending ESPN's actions. They screwed things up enough times already.
Though, if its bad when ESPN skips over practices and qualifying, its bad when SPEED does the same thing.
You weren't cutting ESPN any slack back in the spring Texas race, when Nationwide ran on thursday.
- October 27, 2008 at 2:03 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
I see where you are going now. Let me help. The SPEED TV trucks are going to be parked and powered for Friday, but they will not be available for Thursday's truck stuff.
Geez, you could have just asked about that one. We went through the exact same deal last season with this track insisting on Thursday.
- October 27, 2008 at 10:18 PM


text:
Steve Whysall shares six top reading picks for aspiring vegetable gardeners.
1. Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook by Ron and Jennifer Kujawski (Storey, 18.95)
This father-and-daughter team has produced a terrific step-by-step guide that tells you precisely what to do every week of the year, starting 20 weeks before the last frost date. It's an ideal way for a beginner to go through the year.
2. The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook by Jennifer Bartley (Thomas Allen, $26.95)
As well as good vegetable gardening tips, this contains 100 recipes featuring seasonal crops, so you can enjoy eating what you grow in creative ways as you go. Most important for beginners is that it contains to-do lists of what to do when.
3. Grow Great Grub. Organic Food for Small Spaces by Gayla Trail. (Carlson Potter, $24.99)
Written to inspire you to create your own "miniature organic farm" regardless of space — in other words, even on a patio, balcony, rooftop, windowsill or planter box — this is a wonderfully enthusiastic guide to growing vegetables, as well as herbs, fruit and edible flowers. It approaches the subject by teaching you to understand the needs of each plant. Which makes perfect sense in all gardening if you want plants to be healthy and productive.
4. The Zero-Mile Diet by Carolyn Herriot. (Harbour Publishing, $32.95)
This comprehensive month-by-month guide to growing food organically comes from one who has done it for the past 30 years. Herriot looks at how to produce homegrown fruit and vegetables for the table every day of the year. It also looks at backyard poultry, seed saving and plant propagation.
5. Gourmet Garden by Virginia Hayes (Barrons, $23.99)
Superbly laid-out and illustrated, this is more like a video in your hands than a book. It guides you through each project with few words, but loads of instructive images.
6. The Gourmet Gardener by Bob Flowerdew (Kyle Cathie, $18.87)
You don't know Bob Flowerdew? No, say it ain't so. This is one of Britain's foremost food gardeners. You will have to get this from amazon.ca, as it is not published any more, but it is still a great book teeming with tips on how to grow food organically. It also tells you how to store and preserve it.


text:
Ex-Pfizer exec muses on industry's image
For a man like John LaMattina who lived and breathed science, stepping into the daytime television environment of "The Dr. Oz Show" was a bit like Daniel entering the lion's den.
The Stonington resident, retired president of research and development for Pfizer Inc., said he never expected the reaction he got during his TV appearance in May 2011, which was headlined "The Four Things the Drug Companies Don't Want You to Know." (One of the things LaMattina didn't know was that this would be the title of the show.)
"The pharmaceutical industry killed my daughter," one member of the audience yelled at LaMattina after the show's taping, then stormed off before he could usher a response.
"It was eye-opening," LaMattina said in an interview last week at Muddy Waters Cafe in New London.
LaMattina, who was invited onto the show after writing his 2008 defense of the pharmaceutical industry called "Drug Truths," recounts the scene from "Dr. Oz" in the introduction to his new book, "Devalued and Distrusted," published last month by John Wiley & Sons. The subtitle poses a question that LaMattina has at the top of his mind these days: "Can the Pharmaceutical Industry Restore Its Broken Image?"
Soon after his appearance with Dr. Oz, LaMattina began writing a blog and going on Twitter to express his views on the state of the industry and what drug companies could do to polish their tarnished image.
"It was a great release for me," he said.
He also wrote a major piece in the publication Nature Reviews Drug Discovery in August 2011 that questioned the wisdom of pharmaceutical-firm megamergers. In the article, LaMattina said mergers - such as Pfizer's buyout of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in 2009 - have reduced the productivity of drug research divisions and have led to fewer remedies making their way to patients.
In an interview last week, LaMattina said Pfizer's merger in 2001 with Warner-Lambert was "disruptive, but not a killer." But he added that a later merger with Pharmacia "was very difficult, because now we had to cut sites."
The first wave of closures was bad enough, but then major labs in France, Japan, Ann Arbor, Mich., and elsewhere fell by the wayside, he said.
"Now you got really disruptive," he said. "People didn't know whether they were going to have a job."
LaMattina's new role as an industry pundit is something he said he never could have imagined six years ago, before retiring from Pfizer. But his writing attracted the attention of Matt Herper, a respected industry analyst for Fortune magazine.
Herper recruited LaMattina a year ago to start blogging about the pharmaceutical business for Fortune's website, and LaMattina decided he could add something to the public debate because of his many years in helping bring to market new drugs.
"I got tired of people beating the industry up," LaMattina said. "People had no clue of how drugs are discovered and developed."
'We can do better'
But, while LaMattina sees himself as one of the few public defenders of drug companies, that's not to say he's an apologist for the industry.
Among LaMattina's pet peeves are television advertisements for drugs, known in the industry as direct-to-consumer marketing.
He said he doesn't think the commercials are effective, and they add to the cost of drugs while potentially taking money away from R&D.
"We can do better," he said.
LaMattina also said drug companies can become more transparent in their operations. He sees no reason, for instance, why all pharmaceutical firms don't list their payments to doctors and academicians, who are often compensated for providing expertise in the development of new drugs.
Critics have said that the public should know about drug-company payments to scrutinize the impartiality of academicians and the prescribing practices of doctors.
"People should know how much these guys are getting paid," LaMattina agreed.
Similarly, LaMattina said he favors openness in the publication of clinical trials, a process that drug companies must go through to determine whether new medicines are safe and effective.
In the past, he said, only clinical trials that led to conclusive results were published in academic journals, but the advent of the Internet has opened up a huge database of experimental-drug information, available on the website www.clinicaltrials.gov.
LaMattina, still involved in the drug business as a senior partner at the Boston-based entrepreneurial group PureTech Ventures, acknowledges that pharmaceutical companies were involved in some shady business practices in the past, especially the promotion of off-label uses for its products.
Pfizer itself in 2009 paid one of the largest fines in corporate history, $2.3 billion, for illegal promotion of a variety of drugs, including the painkiller Bextra.
It was the fourth time in seven years that Pfizer or one of its subsidiaries had been charged with illegal marketing practices.
But LaMattina said many of the worst abuses are remnants of the past.
"Companies are taking hard steps internally," he said in a December interview with the industry blog Pharmalot. "Remember, the lawsuits are from a number of years ago, but are being paid today, and so it comes across as the same old stuff."
'I believe in the industry'
As for Dr. Oz's list of the four "secrets" that drug companies don't want people to know, LaMattina acknowledges there is some truth in the complaints, but they are half-truths.
Drugs often do have bad side effects, for instance, but LaMattina said this is because it is impossible to offer up a single drug that will deliver a safe, sure-fire cure for everyone - because everyone has a different metabolism, which is why some people become seriously ill after eating seafood, while others find it delicious.
"Every medicine can cause a safety problem in people," LaMattina said in his latest book. "People should only turn to medicines as a last resort."
Similarly, complaints that drug companies push medicines that are not needed overlook the complexity of determining who will most benefit from a given medicine, he said.
And the argument that drug companies control information supplied to doctors ignores the fact that clinical trials upon which the information is based are done by independent academic institutions and teaching hospitals, LaMattina writes in the book.
The fourth complaint about the drug industry - that medicines target symptoms rather than the cause of a disease - is flat-out wrong when it comes to antibiotics, which do cure bacterial infections, LaMattina said.
He added that other medicines as well have been proven to reduce the risk of people developing a major health problem.
"I believe in the industry," LaMattina said. "I think it does a lot of good."
Critics and selective data
LaMattina said the problem with industry critics such as Ben Goldacre, author of the bestseller "Bad Science" and the recently released "Bad Pharma," is that they tend to use selective data to support their claims of drug-company chicanery - often information that is years old.
"Drugs are tested by the people who manufacture them, in poorly designed trials, on hopelessly small numbers of weird, unrepresentative patients, and analyzed using techniques which are flawed by design, in such a way that they exaggerate the benefits of treatment," Goldacre writes. "Unsurprisingly, these trials tend to produce results that favor the manufacturer."
It's true that trials are designed by pharmaceutical companies, LaMattina acknowledges. But the structure of the drug experiments has to be approved by regulatory authorities, he said, and companies can't risk doing messy science that might lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to force them to re-do the hugely expensive trials.
LaMattina pointed out that drug development is a difficult and complex field in which even the best science doesn't necessarily result in a medicine that works.
"You learn from failures because you have a lot of them," he said.
It can take $1 billion or more to move a major drug from the discovery stage to the local pharmacy, he said, and it sometimes goes unacknowledged that it is the world's largest pharmaceutical firms that do most of the grunt work to make sure the next big breakthrough - in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer or a range of other maladies - gets to patients as quickly as possible, LaMattina said.
"That is the best feeling in the world - when a drug makes it," he said. "It's a win for everybody."


text:
Stanczyk is happy once again !
The folks at Ancestry.com fixed my GEDCOM Export. It was about 10-14 days, but at least the job got done and my ability to export my research is back to normal.
The timing of the infinitely spinning icon could not have been worse. I had just imported a great deal of photos and I continued to do so even with the export problem. But all is well that ends well. So I did one more export (and it worked) to get myself to a valid checkpoint of my work.
Whew! What a relief. I did not want to have to once again re-enter my multimedia. Nor was I previously aware that I would also have lost my valued contributors too. Who knows if their emails have changed since I invited them???
At any rate, thank you Ancestry.com for fixing my GEDCOM Export!


text:
The journey east to Brecon was long but not without its charms. Back in Haverfordwest I caught the train to Carmarthen through gorgeous green countryside and over many an old railway bridge topped with merry people waving. At times it was like being part of a very large model railway. The experience would have been all the more enjoyable were it not for the train guard. The ticket office at Haverfordwest had been deserted and the prospect of a free trip was a distinct possibility. This bet had been crippling me financially since the start, so any chance of a freebie had to be seized with both hands. Things were looking good until the penultimate stop, when the dreaded guard caught me day-dreaming and yanked a £10 note from my reluctant grasp.
From Carmarthen I caught another bus, having first had a brief look at what remains of the castle there. Wales is absolutely teeming with these things, thanks partly to the efforts of the Normans and later King Edward I, who saw fit to knock up a good few fortresses to keep the locals under his boot. Standing amidst the ruins, I reflected on the imperialist nature of the English throughout history and wondered quite why we have gone to such lengths to extend our borders and generally piss off the rest of the World. Before this trip a Welshman in a pub had warned me about opening my mouth in certain regions of this homeland. He was adamant that colourful language would ensue and a few other choice words that would leave me in no doubt whatsoever that they really were not keen on me. So far though everyone had been kindness itself, and I began to think his words had been little more than scaremongering. And in any case, it is difficult to be intimidated by the Welsh, who of all the people on Earth possess the least threatening accent.
My penultimate stop was in the small town of Llandovery, where the ruins of yet another castle can be seen atop a grassy mound. There was a half hour wait for my next bus, so to kill some time I explored yet another noble fort. Here a rather unusual mounument to Owain Glyndŵr, the famous hero of Welsh nationalism, can be seen. Even in the afternoon's dull weather its metallic sheen was blinding. The statue (I'm guessing) is not supposed to be 100% realistic, otherwise the English army would have been dealing with some sort of Johnny 5-like robot during the Welsh uprisings of the early 15th-century.
I was the only passenger on the bus to Brecon and the driver was at liberty to talk. He winced at my pronunciation of the towns and villages we passed through but was friendly enough. He gave a snort when the purpose of my trip was revealed and heartily gave his approval for the venture. Once we arrived in Brecon it was too late to visit the cathedral, so I asked him if he knew the way to the Youth Hostel, where I had planned to spend the night. He looked at me as if I had just asked the way to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and said that he didn't think there actually was a hostel in Brecon. This was worrying news as it was getting dark and my meagre budget would see me laughed out of all the other hotels in town. Most of these I trudged past on my way down to the canal, which the driver thought was roughly in the right direction of the hostel. The hotels all looked warm and inviting of course, as most places do when you know you can't afford them. Inside jolly, red-cheeked folk were sat down to dinner in the bar, tucking into steak and quaffing pints of ale, while I pressed my nose against the windows with a sigh, like some pathetic Victorian urchin.
Feeling mournful and suddenly very lonely I began the long walk along the canal path. The bus driver had called it a "pleasant stroll". If by "pleasant" he meant a laborious trudge through puddles, thick mud and goose crap, resulting in total despair and general dark thoughts then his description was spot on. The path went on for quite some way and I began to question the accuracy of the directions I had been given.
As the sun began to sink behind the nearby Brecon Beacons I had a good mind to retrace my steps, go and find the bus driver and do him some horrible injury; that or ask someone else the way. Eventually a kind soul appeared on the path and confirmed that I was on the right track, but warned that the hostel was inside a deep, dark wood where it was likely that I would be shot with a poisoned dart and wake up inside a burning wicker man surrounded by locals chanting pagan songs of sacrifice. He didn't actually say that, but those were the images running through my head as I entered the dark wood in question.
Eventually the hostel appeared amongst the trees and so ended a long and exhausting journey. The building itself was rather drab and depressing, but the staff were friendly and the prices low and the dinner excellent. Sleep came very easily that night.
Over breakfast the following morning I got talking to the hostel's only other guest – a fellow Englishman on a gloriously aimless jaunt through Wales. He had been driving around with no particular destination in mind and seeing where his fancy took him. This seemed a splendid attitude to travel and it was worthy of praise. He had also passed through St. David's and agreed that it was a "fine spot", and recommended a number of other charming towns and villages in the locality. He had yet to go to the north and I toyed with the idea of asking hum for a lift to the cathedrals in Bangor and St. Asaph, before reality reminded me that work awaited me the following day. He did though offer me a lift into town, which I gladly accepted.
It was fine summer morning and Brecon was at its very best. In a happy state of mind I made a leisurely route up to the cathedral, which sits in the quiet backstreets of the town, on top of a hill almost entirely obscured by trees. It is a lonely spot but a wonderfully peaceful one. A modest doorway serves as the entrance here and in I slipped. Just as I got inside my phone rang:
"Hello, this is BBC Radio Coventry. We've heard all about your, err, hobby and wondered if you'd like to do a live interview with us this coming Sunday?
Yes, why not? I told them I would be delighted to and hung up.
Oh no. Just then I remembered all the mean things I'd written about Coventry on my blog, not about the cathedral but the ugliness of the city itself. Making a mental note to think of some nice things to say about the place I delved into my fourth Welsh cathedral.
Brecon Cathedral exudes an air of calmness. The building and its interior is certainly charming but cannot be called stunning, having a relatively modest layout that is simple to explore. The beauty of a cathedral (or any building, in fact) does not always have to lie in its appearance but in the feeling it gives you, and here it was an aura of calm that was most striking. This is not to say that the building is ugly, far from it, but that for perhaps the first time on this licking trip it was the atmosphere of the place that had the greater hold on me, rather than the architecture. I sat for a while to drink in this serenity and then began exploring.
Although modest by design and layout, the cathedral contains several eye-catching treasures, most notably an ancient baptismal font decorated with the heads of horned, ugly beasts with enormous tusks. These date to the Dark Ages and have no doubt been frightening pre-baptised babies and other young children for centuries. Carvings such as these were, it is believed, a hark back to pagan myths, which were still well-known even after the arrival of Christianity on these shores. Religious faith could be altered, but even as late as the 15th-century Western Europe still clung onto some remnants of its pagan past. This is evident in churches and cathedrals up and down the land, where the unsettling faces of grinning creatures look down on us with menace from lofty heights.
Brecon's other main highlight is its association with the British army. Brecon men have served and died in numerous conflicts over the years, most notably the Zulu War of 1879 when a good number saw action at Isandhwala and Rourke's Drift. Their colours can be seen in St. Lawrence's chapel here, and include one that was captured by the Zulus. Another hero lies in the churchyard: one Charles Henry Lumley, who won the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War for leading a near-suicidal charge at Sebastobol. Although not a local to these parts, this proud Scot later achieved the rank of major before being laid to rest here in 1858. His other claim to fame is being an ancestor of the actress Joanna Lumley.
I'm sorry to say that pretty soon I had exhausted all there is to see at Brecon Cathedral, though the beasts' heads on the font were given another thorough examination, and if anything, they get uglier the more you look at them. Now it was time to get licking.
There had been no decent signs anywhere inside the cathedral, and it's very generic interior would not be sufficient proof of its location, so I turned my attention to the exterior. A suitable sign was found near the main door and I licked away, being very pleased with the result. I recorded the lick on film as well, just for good measure. Having traveled huge distances I was paranoid of losing a camera so decided to get as many copies of the deed as possible. The loss of such evidence would be catastrophic.
My mood was buoyant post lick; I had achieved what I had set out to do and now the rest of the day was before me. Strolling back into town I nodded good morning to the good folk of Brecon, who all returned the greeting with a smile. What a jolly fine place this was. Passing two old gentlemen with another nod, I overheard part of their conversation, which was delightfully baffling:
"So yes, in that respect the fish and I are in agreement."
After a couple of drinks in a friendly pub it was time to start heading back to London, a fact that did little to cheer my heart. It had barely been 48 hours since I'd left and already the travel lust was alive in me again. At the bus station I spotted buses heading north, up to St. Asaph and Bangor, and once more the temptation to cast my responsibilities to the wind and continue my Welsh licking journey was overpowering. I could always call in sick and tell work that I was far too ill to come that day, tomorrow or however long it would take to get back from some, as yet, unknown destination. In the end I decided to be sensible and climbed aboard the bus home, a choice I soon came to regret. The journey back my mind was plagued with thoughts of "what if" and where I might have ended up had I taken the chance. Sensible is so overrated.


text:
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Letterman "Top 10" calls pregnant man "freak show"
You know what number one was?
"Michael Jackson here -- just wanted to reach out to another androgynous freak show."
No joke.
I think Beatie's story is great. He and his wife wanted a child, and she couldn't conceive. Modern technology will be helping them have a family. We should be celebrating the fact that Beatie and his wife are able to do something that will make them happy because they are human beings who deserve that. Instead, people with high visibility, like Letterman, choose to throw around hateful, intolerant words. It's not funny. I can't believe it.
I will be, so I hope like-minded individuals will also tell CBS that Letterman's "Top 10" was uncalled for.
Via, with much thanks.
Also, according to Feministing, Thomas Beatie will be appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show tomorrow. If you're interested, you should watch out for that.
68 comments:
- Ryan Capuano said...
Coming on the heels of Jay Leno's homophobic comments regarding an early Ryan Phillipe role where he played a gay teen, this hasn't been a very good week for late-night talk show hosts tossing out hateful sayings.
You'd think that in this day and age that this wouldn't be such an easy target for ridicule, and yet here we are. Really piss poor on Letterman's part.
- April 2, 2008 at 6:10 PM
And yet you people complain, which interests people, and drives up ratings.....
- April 2, 2008 at 6:35 PM
He isn't a he because she has a working uterus.
- April 2, 2008 at 7:25 PM
- Ryan Capuano said...
Well, either way, Letterman isn't funny, never has been, and this further solidifies the fact that transgender and gays aren't as openly welcome in our society as people think.
And it's nitpicking in terms of saying whether or not the man is actually a man. At this point, it's irrelevant because he's married to a woman and in a happy marriage and now they're going to have kids.
Hypothetical: if a woman was a woman, but had a penis-making her a hermaphrodite-would she still be a woman? Sure. And if we have the science to recreate this genetic abnormality and it's making people happy, then why not?
- April 2, 2008 at 7:38 PM
I agree with "every sane person on earth" but I also agree that it's private matter and every one has there right to be "happy" as long as it doesn't harm or "offend" anyone else.
- April 2, 2008 at 8:23 PM
- Amelia said...
Yes, Anonymous, "we people," do complain because being silent about societal problems is not a way to fix them. And I have to say, I think that calling someone who is doing something as non-controversial as starting a family (without the gender considerations) a "freak show" is a problem that needs to be changed.
Silence only allows these things to continue, and my conscience will not allow me to be silent.
- April 2, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Isn't this America? Aren't people entitled to their own opinions? If Letterman thinks the guy is a freak show, he's entitled to think that and say it too. The First Amendment gives him that right.
I also agree with "every sane person on earth" - just because he looks like a man that is negated by the fact that he has a uterus that obviously works... thus making him still a woman.
I would like to point out that complaining about societal problems is not a way to fix them either...
Starting a family is typically non-controversial, but in this case it IS controversial simply because the person giving birth is precieved as a man.
Silence allows things to continue? So does complaining with no action.
- April 2, 2008 at 11:11 PM
- Kate said...
I completely agree with Amelia.
Silence is passive acceptance. And we will NOT be silenced.
- April 2, 2008 at 11:11 PM
- Amelia said...
I do believe that the first amendment stops applying when someone's right to safety is infringed upon. And using terms like "freak show" are only fuel for the fire of trans-hatred and trans-violence (like this: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/02/10/2008-02-10_cops_excon_slays_bronx_transsexual_hooke.html
I'm sorry that I don't buy into the idea that people should be allowed to use hurtful language like that on the television. There's no way you can call someone a "freak show" in a nice way.
And by the way, I'm not sorry.
- April 2, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I'm confused... are you sorry? or not? you seem to contradict yourself a bit there...
- April 2, 2008 at 11:39 PM
I think saying that his "rigt to safety is infringed upon" is stretching that just a bit much... it's not like anyone is yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded theatre filled with blind kids in wheelchairs... Letterman is simply stating his opinion, which he is constitutionally entitled to. He is not calling a meeting of torch barring followers to go to the man's house and burn it to the ground - since his comment is legally harmless and in no way a call for violent action, it is not infringing on the man's right to safety...
- April 2, 2008 at 11:42 PM
- Amelia said...
I am not sorry, Anon.
I disagree with you, All American Girl, in that I believe that words, even without direct calls for action, can greatly inspire action. Using the term "freak show" in reference to a transsexual perpetuates the idea that transpeople are somehow less-than-human. And it is much easier for people to inflict violence upon those whom they view as being less-than-human. So, because Letterman's words help reinforce this wrong idea that transsexuals are not human, he does indeed increase the likelihood that violence will continue to be inflicted upon them.
- April 2, 2008 at 11:49 PM
I still don't understand how he increases the likelihood of violence being inflicted - how many times have you heard someone that works at the circus refered to as a "freak show" and how many times have you heard that someone in the circus who was deemed a "freak show" was a victim of a violent crime?
- April 2, 2008 at 11:53 PM
- Amelia said...
American Girl, if you could come up with more than one hypothetical situation about your point, I would be glad to reconsider.
- April 2, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I agree with All American Girl. Everybody has their right to say what they want when they want. If Letterman was just a guy walking down the street and he said this no one would know except who he was talking to, but because he has a TV show, people freak out about it. So, he called someone a freak show, you cannot honestly tell me that you haven't said something hurtful to someone at a point and time in your life...
- April 3, 2008 at 12:04 AM
- Amelia said...
Meg, I am resisting your attempt to make your argument into a personal one against me. But I stand by what I said.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:06 AM
"4. freak show
1. a friend that is always putting on freaky displays of a great variety
2. a highly entertaining risque individual.
"you were dancing on the bar last night freak show""
- http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=freak+show
would this elicit violence against the friend dancing on the bar? calling someone a freak show does not cause people to run amuck, hunt them down, and club them to death.
ps. in addition to freedom of speech, there's also another thing called freedom of the press.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:07 AM
- Amelia said...
American Girl, listing the definition of a word does not express any consideration of how words can affect the way people behave.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:12 AM
- Kate said...
I don't know if Urban Dictionary is the most reliable of sources (as entertaing as some of the entries are).
I disagree to an extent with Amelia, did Letterman have the right to say what he did? I believe he did. But did he have a responsiblity to refrain? Most definately.
As a public figure, Letterman should know as much.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:13 AM
- Amelia said...
I bet that when people hear the word "freak show," they do not automatically think things so...nonthreatening...as a friend.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Amelia, I wasn't making it personally about you. Everyone has said something hurtful, whether they mean to or not, it happens.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:15 AM
- Amelia said...
I see your point, Kate. Taken.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:16 AM
okay, try this one from dictionary.com then:
"any ludicrous, bizarre, or dehumanizing occasion, function, performance, etc.; grotesque, circuslike event: endless interviews and auditions that became a ridiculous freak show"
a person who appears to be a man, but still possesses a uterus and has the ability to give birth does qualify as a bizarre occasion, does it not? last time I checked, women were still the ones that had to go thru 9 months of fun and joy before pushing out a 7 pound baby... but when a man is pregnant, that's just a little bit out of the ordinary - thus qualifying it as a freak show.
and if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I believe it is safe to call it a duck.
Letterman, as a public figure, does not have a responsibility to censor himself. If he wants to state his opinion, legally he can, and he shall. People are free to speak their minds without having to worry that the king will throw them in jail - that's the beauty of America.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:18 AM
- Amelia said...
"Dehumanizing occasion", American Girl. That's all I have to say on that for now.
"Letterman, as a public figure, does not have a responsibility to censor himself."
I think you are wrong here. Public figures are very influential in American life, and therefore should be responsible and make sure that they don't promote ideas that are harmful, such as transsexuals being less that human. (Please see "dehumanizing occasion.")
- April 3, 2008 at 12:23 AM
He is not "promoting his ideas" he is stating his opinion. The two are very different things. The Trump-O'Donnell battle not too long ago was very public, and both stated their opinions on the other - they did not need to censor their opinions. Letterman, since he is stating his opinion, should not need to censor himself. I don't know how many times I can say it: he is in no way calling for an act of violence! He is not standing out on street corners handing out flyers saying "Kill the Pregnant Man! Gather at (insert location) at (insert time) if you hate transsexuals!" As long as he is not calling people to rally for a common goal of taking the right to life away from someone else, legally he has done nothing wrong.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:32 AM
- Amelia said...
...but ethically, he, and his writers, have done something wrong.
In my opinion. Which is my main point.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:35 AM
"In my opinion"
You can state yours, but Letterman can't simply because he is in the limelight of the American public?
In my opinion: that is ridiculous.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:43 AM
- Amelia said...
Excuse me, but my opinion is not offensive. I am not calling anyone names. Maybe you missed that slight difference between Letterman's "opinion" (probably written by someone who was not him) and mine.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:46 AM
- Amelia said...
So who needs to be more responsible when expressing their opinion? Me or Letterman?
- April 3, 2008 at 12:47 AM
There are some that may find your opinion offensive. What is deemed "offensive" is in the eye of the beholder, the same with "beauty" and other such ideologies. If everyone were to go around trying to not offend anyone, no one would say anything. Chances are for everything someone else says, there is someone out there that is offended by it.
- April 3, 2008 at 12:48 AM
- Amelia said...
Good night, everyone! Thanks for reading and commenting!
- April 3, 2008 at 12:50 AM
All American Girl: I wish someone could buy you a clue. :/ You seem to know nothing about how bigotry and violence actually come about. It's a process, and it starts with hateful ideas. Words. They're spread and eventually the idea snowballs until real people get killed.
That is why it's morally wrong and irresponsible for Letterman to say what he did. He is free to, yes. Hooray, Bill of Rights! But that doesn't mean he should. Not by half.
- April 3, 2008 at 3:36 AM
- OutcrazyOphelia said...
I can't believe that right after the "gayest look" debacle, that another host would come out with something like this. I hope to see more coverage about this like with the Leno incident.
- April 3, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Anon: Thank you for your offer to buy me a clue, but I'm pretty sure I understand the concepts of bigotry and violence and how they occur. You, however, do not seem to understand that this is not a hateful idea. This is a comment based on opinion, which you yourself agreed that Letterman is intitled to. It was not a call to violence, and I doubt that it will be taken as one - there is no one that has made a follow-up supporting Letterman's idea. Gaysocialites.com seem to be just as offended as you, but they are not out creating violence against themeslves. This comment is being blown out of proportion, and you're looking for problems where there aren't any.
- April 3, 2008 at 9:40 AM
- Amelia said...
American Girl, I am sorry if I happen to see a major problem with people seeming to be unable to refer to transpeople as that - people. There was no need to call Thomas a freak show, and the fact that Letterman and his writers allowed that to be broadcast was irresponsible.
You may think it's harmless, but I don't think so. Words can hurt people. It's a fact.
- April 3, 2008 at 10:15 AM
everything people say can be construed as harmful. since there is a potential that people can get hurt by every statement anyone could possibly say, what is the use in talking at all?
- April 3, 2008 at 10:51 AM
All i know is that if I had a baby inside of me, all my friends would call me a freakshow, and rightly so. No matter how you twist it, this man/woman is a freakshow. Amelia, walk down the sidewalk at Knox and ask 10 random people if they thing a man having a baby is weird. I am willing to bet that al least 9 of them will say yes. Oh, and Letterman can say whatever he wants- this is AMERICA! This bog makes me want to play the song Get Over It by the Eagles.
- April 3, 2008 at 10:56 AM
- Kate said...
I agree with you on one thing, All American Girl and anonymous, that we do live in a politically correct world, and a lot of times, people are overly sensitive and get offended too quickly.
HOWEVER, transpeople are the most discriminated against group in America. They are still killed for simply walking down the street. They are denied jobs, expelled from schools, and experience violence because they are simply trying to live their lives. They are denied their basic human rights because people view them as less than human.
Letterman contributed to that dehumanization when he called Thomas a "freakshow." Yes, he can say whatever he wants, this is America (the land of the free, as long as you are white, straight, capitalist, male, and wealthy), but he is a public figure, and he should have known the statement could have harmful effects.
Will anybody be killed as a direct result of the statement? Probably not. But, it is another contribution to the dehumanization of transpeople.
- April 3, 2008 at 11:06 AM
when was the last time a transsexual was killed walking down the street? I believe Letterman did not realize that everyone would get so huffy about his simple statement.
- April 3, 2008 at 3:06 PM
- Kate said...
Killed FOR walking down the street, not WHILE walking down the street.
Killed for living their lives as transpeople.
- April 3, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Well if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck. It's a duck. Hurtful or not she is a freak show.
- April 3, 2008 at 6:39 PM
- Jezabel said...
I agree with Colt. Calling him/her a freak show is a statement of fact, not mearly an opinion. It is something unusual and not normally seen in nature.
- April 3, 2008 at 7:06 PM
I'm sad to see so many transphobic/homophobic freakshows posting here.
- April 3, 2008 at 7:39 PM
- Michael said...
If I were to ask someone on the street if they thought a person who had the general outwardly displayed physical characteristics, but also possessed the necessary internal organs to concieve, carry, and birth a child, was in itself a strange thing, I'm certain they'd say yes, because it's really not a particularly common thing in our world. Yes, people with such biological rarities certainly do exist in substantial number, but it's an uncommon thing that would certainly be strange for most people to see. Of course, we react with fear to things we're unfamiliar with, and many people choose to respond to fear with humor.
Letterman is clearly afraid of Thomas Beatie.
- April 3, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Why is no one standing up for Mike?
- April 3, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Micheal, you say "in substantial numbers" what composes a substantial number in your opinion? can you back up your facts, or are you posting out of your backside?
- April 3, 2008 at 8:56 PM
- Amelia said...
Anonymous, the fact that you choose not to reveal your name, and that you say things like "...posting out of your backside" is making me very cautious when it comes to your comments. Please be careful in the future, or I will start deleting. Your question could have been posed in a much less rude manner.
- April 3, 2008 at 9:53 PM
- Amelia said...
I also like the idea of Letterman fearing Thomas Beatie. I might be starting something here when I say this, but I think it might have some validity. Why would Letterman fear Beatie? Because Letterman is a white male who has been very successful in a society whose structure supports (and even calls for?) the subordination and sometimes oppression of people (such as women, transpeople, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queers, etc.).
Because Letterman has been successful in such a society, he wouldn't want someone like Thomas Beatie to go public and try to change the way society views people of different genders. He is afraid, and so he reacted by making an unnecessary joke.
It's a definite possibility in my view, although I do not contend to know all the facts.
- April 3, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Since it is true that Letterman is the successful man you claim him to be, what would possibly cause him to fear Beatie? Beatie is no true threat to Letterman. You're claiming there's a fire where there is none.
- April 3, 2008 at 10:30 PM
- Amelia said...
A little off topic, but I think it's funny how the ONLY example anyone ever uses for when free speech does not apply is the "FIRE!" in a crowded movie theater one. That sort of signals to me that perhaps a lot of people just don't know very well when free speech does not apply?
- April 3, 2008 at 10:39 PM
omg guys, Bernard Goldberg just was on Fox News and he called thomas a "freak show" twice in under two seconds!
- April 3, 2008 at 10:41 PM
I know when free speech applies, thank you. My last metaphor to fire had nothing to do with a movie theater.
- April 3, 2008 at 10:41 PM
- Kate said...
Two things:
1. Beatie is not a DIRECT, personal threat to Letterman. His existence and ability to reproduce as a male is a threat to the power structre Letterman exists in, as a white, wealthy male.
2. I would expect nothing less from Fox News, an incredibly right-wing biased and sexist "news" organization.
- April 3, 2008 at 10:58 PM
beatie isn't even an INDIRECT personal threat to Letterman. he is one (wo)man. thus not a threat at all to the powerful letterman - he is no more a threat to Letterman than you or i are
- April 3, 2008 at 11:10 PM
- Amelia said...
I don't really know why I am continuing this...but all I have to say is...wow.
- April 3, 2008 at 11:11 PM
i'm pretty sure goldberg was a guest on fox news and therefore fox news themselves does not control what he says therefore the opinions are his.
- April 3, 2008 at 11:13 PM
- Ryan Capuano said...
Bernie Goldberg is a nut job anyway.
And don't get me started on Fox News. They do have a right-wing bias and it's evident in the guests on their network and their most popular hosts.
Also, the amount of hate that's been posted here is really alarming. I had no idea so many people would react this badly to Beatie.
- April 3, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Foxnews might have rightwing bias, but MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN all have a leftwing bias. MSNBC is the worst, so you go watch keith "I have no clue" oberman some more.
- April 3, 2008 at 11:33 PM
- Michael said...
None of the major news hosts, like O'Reilly, Olbermann, Imus, or pretty much anyone who is on the major "News" networks are really journalists. They're all political pundits, and I don't know why we expect them to be 'neutral' or 'unbiased'. That's not their job. When someone brings up O'Reilly as an example of a conservative journalist, or Olbermann as a liberal journalist, they display a profound misunderstanding of the difference between journalism and punditry.
/rant off
- April 3, 2008 at 11:48 PM
letterman and fox news should be allowed to say whatever they want. this is america afterall, at least last time i checked i was in america....
oh wait... i forgot, suddenly this is nazi germany! here - have my freedoms, i'll give them to you on a silver platter lest i offend someone by exercising my freedoms.
- April 4, 2008 at 12:19 AM
- Michael said...
- April 4, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Ok, Its not Nazi Germany, its Soviet Russia
- April 4, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Thanks for the link, Michael, but it fails to prove anything. My analogy was correct because in Nazi Germany people's rights were taken away from them... but in order to please you, I suppose I can change my former statement, based on the suggestion of straight white male, because who am I kidding, society is all about pleasing the male:
"oh wait... i forgot, suddenly this is soviet russia!"
- April 4, 2008 at 12:39 AM
- Amelia said...
Can we try to keep the discussion on topic, please?
- April 4, 2008 at 12:41 AM
thank you for your support swm... and also for posting under my name....
please refrain from doing so in the future...
back to the topic at hand, Letterman's comment was repeated tonight on fox news, as someone else already pointed out, by goldberg, and i haven't heard anyone complaining that his statement that Beatie was a "freak show," a comment which he made not once - but twice, is a call to arms against transsexuals.
- April 4, 2008 at 12:46 AM
All American Girl and Straight White Male and all you other literal constructionists:
When talking about oppression, and bigotry, and hatred of the transgender and transsexual community, a lot of the points, like Beatie being a threat to Letterman, and contributing to the enviorment of sexism and hatred, we are doing a little thing called THINKING ABSTRACTLY. Of course Beatie is not siting outside Letterman's studio with a gun about to shoot him. And yes, Letterman did not give a specific call-to-arms against the trans community. However, his comment has contributed to a cultural attitude that is very unaccepting of the trans community (as so artfully displayed by many of the comments here) which fosters violence.
Also, and this is specifically to All American Girl. You obviously know nothing about free speech. Speech is not 100% free, ESPECIAlLY on broadcasting. Obscenities, profanities, and hate speech are not allowed on Television, believe it or not, so please stop using the free speech argument as a justification for his language. Yes, it "freak show" is not an obscenity, but the first ammendment rights are not completely extanded to broadcasting. At all. Of course, he will not get fined for it, but again, just becuase it is technically legal does not make it right or good. And if he, or you, for that matter, actually had an intellectual opinion on the matter, instead of just using school yard insults for a cheap laugh, I might be more inclined to respect it as opinion, instead of just immaturity fueled by threated members of the patriarch.
Finally, it is a gross assumption that everyone is just sitting around in complaining. First of all, setting up discourse about a matter and bringing awareness to it is the first step in creating change. Secondly, you do not know ANY of us personally and have no idea what we do to foster change in the real world.
- April 6, 2008 at 8:53 PM
I don't think anyone, no matter how controversial/unorthodox they may be, deserves to be blatantly insulted on national television. It's infantile and cruel, and it makes people like Letterman look equally bigoted and immature.
But, I also have to wonder why this family would go to such extremes. Certainly surrogates and other such options exist. Did he really want the mood swings, the swollen ankles, and the pickle-and-ice-cream cravings? Laughably, yes, that is the part that confuses me the most.
Kate and Amelia, you know who this is.
- April 8, 2008 at 2:35 PM
- Amelia said...
Anonymous, I cannot tell who you are simply by your comment, but if you would like to let me know privately, feel free to e-mail me at amelia.impersonator[at]gmail[dot]com.
Maybe we could meet and talk sometime?
- April 8, 2008 at 2:40 PM