As Australia continues its bidding for either the 2018 or 2022 world cup this is an interesting lecture on FIFA vice president Jack Warner. Whilst I would be rapt to see Australia hosting a world cup I just couldn't stomach the FFA giving this horrible character more money.
(Skip to the 8min mark to miss the introduction)
Closing speeches and presentation by Andrew Jennings from Play the Game on Vimeo.
On an interesting note, Michael Lynch, Age journalist, said in an interview on SEN this evening that Melbourne had absolutely no chance of hosting the cup final if Australia were to host the competition. Apparently Melbourne's lack of international icon status and the success of the 2000 Olympics mean Sydney is a shoe-in.
He also went on to say that the AFL's reluctance to give up stadia and change schedules for the competition meant that the FFA wouldn't give Victoria any more than it had to. As it would be the FFA and not FIFA who decide which city host which events, he probably has a point. As a fan of both codes this is tough to hear. Why on earth would the AFL chose to battle the FFA when it could continue grinding the NRL into insignificance?
The website that video comes from (Play The Game.org) is wonderful if you appreciate intelligent commentary on ethics in sport.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Cancellara's Electric Bicycle
It's fun being a neophyte fan of a sport where this kind of rumour can spring up.
The Inner Ring - Electric bikes are in the peleton
The Inner Ring - Electric bikes are in the peleton
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Good Calories, Bad Calories
If you read this blog chances are you have spoken to me in the last two months, and if you've spoken to me in the last two months chances are I've mentioned Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. The book's main contention can be glibly summarised as thus:
The last point listed there is, however, probably the most profound in the book. Taubes argues that 50 years of nutritional and obesity prevention information have suggested that decreasing one's calorie intake and increasing energy expenditure will lead to long term weight loss. In short, most evidence suggests otherwise, rather it suggests that decreasing your calorie intake and increasing forced calorie expenditure leads to a decreased metabolic rate and hunger. Hunger is a very significant aspect of the book too, Taubes makes it very clear that hunger is a natural signal to your body to eat. Persistent hunger is not a psychological problem, it's a physiological signal that your body is not getting the energy it requires. I summarised it to someone as thus:
However, the book is so much more than a summary of nutritional and obesity research. As it details 100 years of research it is also a commentary on the progress of health science, controlled and observational medical research and public health policy. It appears that many researchers in the field disregarded good scientific practice by never questioning the findings of their predecessors; officials who believed they needed to give some kind of advice preached 'proofs' that were anything but; and finally researchers in different fields failed to communicate their findings between one another.
Don't fear though, it's not at all a diatribe and nor is it a book requiring faith in Taube's findings. He makes it quite clear when the science has failed to conclusively prove anything; and if you so desire there are 114 pages of notes and references to review. Finally though, don't take my word for it, take the word of someone who makes a living out of being sceptical.
- saturated fat isn't bad for you;
- sugars and refined carbohydrates are bad for you;
- inactivity and overeating are no more the causes of obesity than overeating and inactivity are the cause of weight gain during pregnancy. They're the symptoms; and
- diet + exercise does not necessarily equal weight loss.
The last point listed there is, however, probably the most profound in the book. Taubes argues that 50 years of nutritional and obesity prevention information have suggested that decreasing one's calorie intake and increasing energy expenditure will lead to long term weight loss. In short, most evidence suggests otherwise, rather it suggests that decreasing your calorie intake and increasing forced calorie expenditure leads to a decreased metabolic rate and hunger. Hunger is a very significant aspect of the book too, Taubes makes it very clear that hunger is a natural signal to your body to eat. Persistent hunger is not a psychological problem, it's a physiological signal that your body is not getting the energy it requires. I summarised it to someone as thus:
- Humans get hungry when their cells need energy.
- Humans are most healthy and thus, probably evolutionarily designed to be lean.
- Therefore, if you're overweight and hungry you're doing something wrong. You don't need to harden up or learn to be hungry (there are horrible psychological affects of continued hunger), you need your body to stop storing energy and start processing it.
However, the book is so much more than a summary of nutritional and obesity research. As it details 100 years of research it is also a commentary on the progress of health science, controlled and observational medical research and public health policy. It appears that many researchers in the field disregarded good scientific practice by never questioning the findings of their predecessors; officials who believed they needed to give some kind of advice preached 'proofs' that were anything but; and finally researchers in different fields failed to communicate their findings between one another.
Don't fear though, it's not at all a diatribe and nor is it a book requiring faith in Taube's findings. He makes it quite clear when the science has failed to conclusively prove anything; and if you so desire there are 114 pages of notes and references to review. Finally though, don't take my word for it, take the word of someone who makes a living out of being sceptical.
Gary Taubes uses an impressive combination of rigorous logic and no-nonsense empiricism to thwart medical dogmas, particularly the one about the 'calorie-in, calorie-out' notion that no evidence can dislodge from the mind of medical doctors. This is a true document about scientific method, even a monument in the history of medicine - and something that will change your life.
-Nassim Nicholas Taleb (author of The Black Swan)
Monday, May 17, 2010
Giro
If you haven't seen any images from Saturday's 7th stage have a look at these. Whilst riding through mud isn't exactly a common occurrence in road racing it was certainly a spectacular and visibly gruelling addition.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Gonna have to face it I'm addicted to...
Hi, my name is David Briggs and I am addicted to (or are recovering from being addicted to) the following:
Is anyone else quite as obsessive when they find a new interest?
- fly fishing;
- harry potter;
- mountain biking;
- gym;
- restoring a 1960s racing bike;
- crossfit; and
- nutrition/health research.
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