Frugal Friday, Entropy Edition

 

No amount of planning could get me to that exact number of steps. Does it matter, anyway?

 

Entropy (noun): in Physics, a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system. Alternatively, a lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.

All systems are supposed to have an increase in entropy over time, which is why nothing lasts forever. The innate human trait to find a cause for every effect often leads to excessive extrapolation and ignores entropy.

******************

Explain again why I cannot find an interesting and fulfilling work situation:

Thirty years of experience in research, evaluation, and management within high-visibility business environments, including professional sports organizations. Analytics-based contributions have impacted decisions affecting millions of dollars in contract negotiations, laid the foundation for highly successful business operations, and provided the type and quality of analysis that gave a third dimension to traditional management thinking. Applied proven statistical concepts to improve management decisions. I am looking for a part-time or consulting role where a company can use my combination of analytical and communication skills for our mutual benefit.

 

“[     ]’s analytical skills are surely in the top one percent of the population.”

• Bill James, noted author and “Father” of modern baseball analysis

“[      ] was one of the leaders of the movement that I described in Moneyball. He was an original thinker before original thinking became fashionable.”

• Michael Lewis, author of “Moneyball,” “The Blind Side,” “Liar’s Poker”

 

That’s the summary section of my resume with my name omitted. How many people do you know who have recommendations from Bill James and Michael Lewis on their resume?

Poor Bill James…I sort of unloaded on him yesterday in an email (sorry once again, Bill). I did apologize in the email, but what’s done is done. Anyway, here is some of that email, which was to thank Bill for giving me a shout-out in a tweet long before I established a Twitter account:

 

Yes, no one seems to remember anything I’ve done. I’m reasonably sure that after I die everything I’ve done will be attributed to baseball’s golden boy. I wrote a book that the Wall Street Journal called, “Without a doubt the best book on pro football analysis ever written.” Yes, that was a long time ago, but that review is what it is. In the third edition of Total Baseball I was described as the analyst who “has risen the highest and had the most influence.” That was before I was named Director of Baseball Operations for the Padres. Speaking of baseball’s golden boy, when he was first named as GM of a major league team (which was only because Billy Beane changed his mind) he gave an interview in which he named Kevin Towers (RIP, KT) and me as the two people who had most influenced the way he thought about baseball.

I think I come by my bitterness honestly. In the blink of an eye I went from being an integral part in the decision-making process of multiple teams to being cast aside as obsolete.

Of course, you have zero culpability in any of this and without your work and guidance I would have had no career in baseball. As you know, though, people don’t judge events by objective reality, but by expectations and against the status quo.

Sorry for the rant; I don’t think time heals all wounds.

 

I’m only human. From Shakespeare, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.”

******************

From this Hemmings listing a picture of a 1964 AMC Rambler American:

 

 

I don’t think it was actually an AMC because I don’t think they put that make on cars until 1966, but it was manufactured by American Motors Corporation. It’s not a performance car as it’s powered by a 6-cylinder engine (the ad doesn’t say which engine). I think it’s a fetching design and would be proud to drive it. The dealer is asking $6,500. Yes, my insane obsession with defunct American makes plays a role in my interest in this car. I believe this is the 440 and not the 440H, which means AMC made 19,495 of them in 1964.

 

 

From this Hemmings listing a picture of a 1963 Chrysler Newport convertible offered at $9,850. Yes, the wheels are not stock and I’m sure the paint isn’t, either, although you know I really like orange cars. The standard engine on this car was a 361 cubic-inch V8 rated at 265 HP/380 LB-FT of torque. Only 2,176 were made in 1963.

Both of these cars are listed at less than $10,000. C’mon, do you want to spend $30,000 for a Toyota RAV4 or do you want to have some fun for a lot less money?

I’ve rambled (see what I did there) on long enough. Have a great weekend.

 

#FrugalFriday

#Entropy

#HonestBitterness

#BillJames

#MichaelLewis

#HemmingsMotorNews

#1964AMCRamblerAmerican

#1963ChryslerNewportConvertible

#somanycarsjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings

If you like this blog please tell your friends and share the blog URL (https://disaffectedmusings.com). Thanks.