0545 - KellySystem

It is difficult for our Staff to remain focused, what with the veritable blizzards of news now assaulting the Observatory. Take just a single example from the recently-arrived copy of The Economist. It seems that a certain Dr. Ditto [a name that arouses every detective instinct] of the University of Florida has been busy with his team of researchers. They have “made a logic element out of a pair of leech neurons (nerve cells from blood-sucking worms) placed on a microchip.” We have enough computer problems here – and disburse enough on maintenance – without worrying about feeding our computers with an arterial tap. Re-direct your researches, Prof Ditto, or we will cut off your funding, and your blood bank account, too.

The major political event in the U.S. was the Presidential news conference. While producing little news, it had one incredible moment. A reporter asked what mistakes the President had made and what he had learned. The Prez was nonplussed, as if the idea of making a mistake was foreign to him. After some stammering, he said he couldn't think of any error. Amazing. If you are a Latinist, as so many Learned Readers are, is the correct saying not “Ne Sutor ultra Crepidam” (sometimes “Sutor ne supra Crepidam judicaret”)? [If not a Latinist, and don't be ashamed, we have none on Staff, it means “Shoemaker, stick to your last”, or “Don't let the cobbler criticize anything above the sandal”.]

Meanwhile, in response to some Readers who don't want to think about Iraq, and we don't blame them, we turn to news from Ecuador and its relevance to Anguilla. It seems that a group called Participaçion Ciudadana has started a national campaign called “Campaña Contra la Impuntualidad”, or “Campaign against Lateness”. The idea is to stop wasting time by everybody turning up late for appointments. All who live on Anguilla know that its beneficent environment includes a low percentage of urgency about anything. When arranging an appointment with any workman, for example, the needed maintenance expert will tell the householder “I'll pass” (i.e., I will come by ... sometime). The airport extension here, the need for which has been known for a least 11 years, is in the works at last, but it looks as if it may not be done by the time American Eagle has threatened to cut off service because it is getting bigger planes. You will, of course, be able to come visit by flying to St. Martin and coming over by ferry. So relax. You'll pass.

Since Anguillians, unlike Iraqis, treasure most highly their democracy, we have a suggestion (like all such, it has no chance of adoption). We suggest, meekly, that Anguilla adopt the Internet poll so popular on many TV programs. CNN in particular loves to ask you to vote on the Internet, and the poll results are often illuminating and lead the more scientific polls. So here, why not a weekly or even daily poll, using the Internet or the phone system. The public should provide the questions. Lots of fun and sure to provoke debate and discussion, if not action.

What has all this to do with the Kelly System? This system is a statistically sound method of dividing your money when betting so as to increase your ultimate chances of ultimately coming out ahead. It has a great deal of relevance in playing poker, or in investing – the same thing – where it insists on diversification. If you follow the System, you don't risk all on a single bet, even if convinced you are right. Those interested in politics may see a good deal of relevance at this time. Or have we strayed from our last?

Next time: ShrinkWrap [OO #546]

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

Home