Weekly links

VH1's Greatest Songs of the 1990s

I began listening to popular music in junior high and high school, although it was restricted to what was on the radio at the time - I didn't start taking my music listening more seriously until late college (after having gone through a "Christian music only! Secular music is of no value!" phase). So seeing this link brings back memories and melodies of the music (both good and bad) on the airwaves a while ago - stuff like:

- "Tennessee" from Arrested Development
- "Unbelievable" from EMF
- "My Lovin'" from En Vogue
- "Time of Your Life" from Green Day (which I actually played and sang at a company party two years ago when we got acquired)
- "MMMBop" from Hanson
- "Mama Said Knock You Out" from LL Cool J
- "Jump" from Kris Kross
- "U Can't Touch This" from MC Hammer
- "Good Vibrations" from Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (how weird is it that he's now getting Oscar nominations? And that he tried to rap?)
- "Wonderwall" from Oasis
- "Losing My Religion" from REM
- "Under the Bridge" from Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Killing Me Softly" from the Fugees
- "Buddy Holly" from Weezer
- and many more

Check out the link for more stuff from memory lane.

Is Dirk a Leader?

One of the more interesting subplots of the NBA playoffs this past season was the stunning upset of the Dallas Mavericks by YOUR Golden State Warriors! As the reigning MVP, Dirk Nowitzki completely disappeared in the series and watched his team go down in flames. The linked article implies that this year, a focus will placed on developing Dirk as a leader.

My question - some leadership skills can be learned, but some seem innate to a person. If Dirk is in fact simply a really talented basketball player but not a leader, is it supremely important for him to become one? Does the best player on a team need to be a leader? Does the best engineer in a group need to be the leader?

I find it interesting because when Coach Avery Johnson was on the 1999 championship Spurs team, he was the unquestioned leader of the group, whereas the best players were Duncan, Robinson, and Elliott. So maybe there is something to be said for putting people into positions to succeed rather than shoehorning them into perceived positions of what they should be. On the other hand, it's often good to shore up weaknesses.

How does a Chinese sports apparel factory run?

A while ago there was a great civil rights hubbub about "sweatshops" in China producing athletic gear that was marked up several hundred percent from what the production cost. This is a great insider's look at how the factories work, among other things:

- Workers make $110 US/month for 6 day, 60 hrs/week
- Workers like factory conditions b/c of A/C and the relatively high salary of $110/month
- The products are held to a very high standard of quality and timeliness, which is why bathroom breaks are regulated

Great read.

An interview with ESPN TrueHoop's creator

As blogging becomes viable business models for information on the web, there are more and more "success" stories of people using Web 2.0 technology to do what they love to do - like write about the NBA. Some quotes from Henry Abbott:

A blog is like a book, or a college course. It's a big, ongoing endeavor. You mean you're going to drone on and on at me about something - and you're not going to be passionate about it? No, thanks. There must be some kind if higher holy calling (to borrow a phrase from Steven Rubel of Micropersuasion, one of the people I learned a lot about blogging from).

I find myself saying "TrueHoop is all about ..." and then finishing that sentence several different ways. But it's something along these lines: using the freedom afforded me by this awesome medium to make public the truthiest truth I can about the NBA. Not the bits that sell magazines. Not the bits that fit the AP style. Not the power rankings and the armchair quarterbacking. But the part where this is a bunch of humans at work, who are both way more flawed than you'd realize from watching highlights, and way more likable than you'd realize watching police reports. It's about humans.

Think you've got what it takes to be a fighter pilot?

See how long you can last. Fighter pilots are expected to last up to 2 minutes. After some tries, I got over 18 seconds.