Overnight Open Thread (22 March 2013)

Frankly, I'm still amazed that cities are still subsidizing sports teams.

The problem with [the theory that sports subsidies help the economy] is that there is scant evidence that such economic benefits actually occur. Numerous studies done over the last 25 years have found that professional sport teams have little, if any, positive effect on a city’s economy. Usually, a new team or a new stadium location doesn’t increase the amount of consumer spending, it merely shifts it away from other, already existing sources. Entertainment dollars will be spent one way or another whether a stadium exists or not. Plus, the increase in jobs is often modest at best — nowhere near enough to offset the millions invested in the projects.

Indeed, the politicians deserve our scorn as much as the team owners do. The old Giants Stadium cost $78 million, yet the outstanding debt more than 30 years later is $110 million. How did this happen? Simple: The politicians spent the money that was originally intended to pay off the debt on other things. It's a common problem. Revenues get diverted to other programs and the stadium debt gets refinanced.

Dealing With A Snake

Don't deal with snakes in your yard as this woman did. Woman lights snake on fire, flaming snake burns down woman's home.

SMOD

You can't beat SMOD, your only hope is to pray. Ah, now I get the muslim outreach at NASA. Perhaps we should've kept the shuttles operational and used them as suicide vehicles for these guys.

Gunman vs Snowmen

The battle for spring begins.

Flavored Whiskey

Oh oh. Here comes flavored whiskey. At least not in the hipster douche fashion of vodka flavoring with every known fruit and then some.

Bourbon isn't partied with, it's contemplated and enjoyed. That said, Scientific American notes that modern, more experimental distillers are studying the wood in whiskey barrels to see just how much they can toy with bourbon's flavor.

Sex Toys And Singers

Singers are using vibrators to hit the high notes.

University of Alberta vocal coach David Ley accidentally discovered that using sex toys could help ailing singers relax their vocal cords. When looking for vocal massage devices he ended up at the local sex shop. Now he swears by the little purple vibrator for singers, actors or anyone experiencing vocal strain.

Dog Video

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posted by CDR M at 10:05 PM

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