The National Hockey League playoffs have begun. It’s a foregone conclusion that the Pittsburg Penguins, led by a guy named Iginla, will win the Stanley Cup.
Darren Bersuk begs to differ. And offers tribute to the Canucks. (They need the support. In Game 1, Vancouver was beaten by the San Jose Sharks.)
Dvora Meyers has an entertaining article on the Slate double X blog:
… puberty does not spell doom for most gymnasts (or humans for that matter—life expectancy typically exceeds 16). Most of the girls figure out how to perform with their newer dimensions after a bit of time, which is why the NCAA features a great degree of body diversity. The athletes are average sized human women who just happen to do double back somersaults with ease. …
… reduced training and lesser difficulty are indicative of a different set of priorities that govern the NCAA sport. The emphasis in college gymnastics is on consistency and execution. When you see extraordinarily difficult skills in a college meet, it’s because the gymnast wants to do it, not because she needs it for her score. …
Brittany’s STUCK Yurchenko 1 1/2 in Super 6 was perhaps the most underscored routine I saw at Championships. It’s included in a Georgia highlights video.
I don’t know how some of those College judges sleep at night.
On April 29, 1904, the renowned inventor of the first motion picture camera, or Kinetograph, brought a Japanese juggler and his young assistant to his New York City studio to record a video showcasing their amazing acrobatic feats. …
The short recording was produced by Edison Manufacturing Co, which started putting out films as early as 1891, when one of the earliest camera tests was made. …
The famous inventor’s production venture released more than 340 films until it shuttered its doors in 1918 …