OTBR: Vanishing View in Las Vegas

Latitude: N 36° 10.596
Longitude: W 115° 21.936

A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".

Rowlett 44, Lake Highlands 21

From 2015 09 04 Rowlett vs Lake Highlands

The Lake Highlands Wildcats lost their home opener to Rowlett, 44-21, Friday night, dropping to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats jumped to a quick 7-0 lead on a 78 yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the game, but from then on Rowlett contained Lake Highlands and showed their own offensive strength. Rowlett finished with 20 first downs to just 7 for Lake Highlands.

All the action, including the game, cheerleaders, drill team, colorguard, marching band and all the rest that make high school football the best value in sports entertainment, can be seen on Google Photos. Remember, without the band, it's just a game.

Overtime: Berkner 33, Naaman Forest 30

From 2015 09 03 Naaman Forest vs Berkner

Wow! What a game! This one game had more thrilling plays than a fan has a right to expect in a whole season. When was the last time you saw two safeties in a single game? Berkner pulled that off. Or how about two turnovers at the goal line? One an interception, one a fumble recovery. Naaman Forest pulled that off, killing two Berkner drives. Then, most improbably of all, with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Berkner down by a touchdown, Berkner blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Berkner scored first in overtime with a field goal, taking their first lead of the whole game, then sealed the win with an interception on a desperation fourth down pass by Naaman Forest. With this Thursday night win, the Rams move to 2-0 on the season. It's a great time to be a Ram!

All the action, including the game, cheerleaders, drill team, colorguard, marching band and all the rest that make high school football the best value in sports entertainment, can be seen on Google Photos. Remember, without the band, it's just a game.

POTD: Chào Buoi Sáng Vietnam

From 2015 03 22 Hoi An

Good Morning, Vietnam. Today's photo-of-the-day is from Hoi An, Vietnam. Robin Williams may be gone, but his memory lives on for every American of a certain age who strolls the streets of Hoi An and smiles when he passes the Chào Buoi Sáng restaurant.

From 2015 03 22 Hoi An

Mind Control with the Delphi Method

Hammer. Rake. Spatula. All tools. Tools that when used properly can be useful. But no guarantees. Here's another tool: Delphi Method.

The Delphi method is a structured communication technique or method, originally developed as a systematic, interactive forecasting method which relies on a panel of experts. The experts answer questionnaires in two or more rounds. After each round, a facilitator or change agent provides an anonymous summary of the experts' forecasts from the previous round as well as the reasons they provided for their judgments. Thus, experts are encouraged to revise their earlier answers in light of the replies of other members of their panel. It is believed that during this process the range of the answers will decrease and the group will converge towards the "correct" answer.

Source: Wikipedia.

I'm familiar with the Delphi Method from business. For example, when estimating how long a development project will take, the project team members use the Delphi Method to come up with a group estimate that is better than the estimate of a single project member, even the most senior. At least, it usually is. But no guarantees.

What the Delphi Method is not is mind control. It wasn't developed for the U.S. Defense Department "for use as a psychological weapon during the cold war" as one tinfoil hatter asserts. Nor is it intended for "manipulating ANY meeting toward a predetermined end." At least not any more than a hammer is, although I suppose someone could raise a hammer in the air at a meeting to get attention. But if that happens, don't blame the hammer.

What does all this have to do with Richardson?