SuperBowl prediciton

I'm calling it now. One of these 8 teams WILL win it all: Indianapolis, Kansas City, New England, Denver, Seattle, LA Rams, Detroit, or Green Bay. Full stop.

Seattle vs Indianapolis is the most likely, based on their point differential.

Why? 

I've summarized below the teams that had the highest point differential in week10 of the season, for each of the last 6 seasons, and how they fared in the end.  

I did look at seasons prior, and the trend is the same.  If you are in the top 4 in points differential, you are very likely to make the playoffs (92% over the last six seasons), and one of the 8 teams will win the superbowl.  

I am aware that twice the team with the 5th best point differential made the superbowl, but both times that team lost.

Oh and by the way, something else I noted is that the teams that have a better win loss record, and generally those that get that bye, are much more likely to win in the end.

Here's the point differential...

2019, week 10:

AFC

New England +172 (lost in wild card round)

Baltimore +111 (lost in divisional round)

Houston +45 (lost in divisional round)

Kansas City +45 (won superbowl) <- had the bye

NFC

San Francisco +130 (lost superbowl) <- had the bye

Dallas +81 (did not make playoffs)

Minnesota +80 (lost in divisional round)

Green Bay +45 (lost in conference championship)

----

2020 week 10:

AFC

Kansas City +103 (lost superbowl) <- had the bye

Pittsburgh +100 (lost in wildcard)

Baltimore +79 (lost in divisional round)

Miami +69 (did not make playoffs)

NFC

Tampa Bay +70 (won superbowl)

New Orleans +58 (lost in divisional round)

Arizona +56  (did not make playoffs)

Green Bay +53  (lost in conference championship)

----

2021 week 10:

AFC

Buffalo +145 (lost in divisional round)

New England +98 (lost in wildcard)

Tennessee +46 (lost in divisional round)

Indianapolis +38 (did not make playoffs)

>> 5th best Cincinnati +33 (lost superbowl) 

NFC

Arizona +98 (lost in wildcard)

Dallas +89 (lost in wildcard)

Tampa Bay +67 (lost in divisional round)

Los Angeles Rams +44 (won superbowl)

----

2022 week 10:

AFC

Buffalo +99  (lost in divisional round)

Kansas City +64 (won superbowl) <- had the bye

Cincinnati  +43 (lost in conference championship)

Baltimore +39 (lost in wildcard)

NFC

Philadelphia +79 (lost superbowl)  <- had the bye

Dallas +47 (lost in divisional round)

San Francisco +35 (lost in conference championship)

Minnesota +35 (lost in wildcard)

----

2023 week 10:

AFC

Baltimore +113 (lost in conference championship)

Buffalo +78 (lost in divisional round)

Kansas City +65 (won superbowl)

Miami +60  (lost in wildcard)

NFC

San Francisco +109 (lost superbowl) <- had the bye

Dallas +104  (lost in wildcard)

Philadelphia +57  (lost in wildcard)

Detroit +38 (lost in conference championship)

----

2024 week 10:

AFC

Buffalo +97 (lost in conference championship)

Pittsburgh +69  (lost in wildcard)

LA Chargers +68  (lost in wildcard)

Baltimore +65 (lost in divisional round)

>> 5th best  Kansas City +58 (lost superbowl)  <- had the bye

NFC

Detroit +113 (lost in divisional round)

Washington +73 (lost in conference championship)

Philadelphia +72  (won superbowl)

Minnesota +64  (lost in wildcard)

---

2025 week 10:

AFC

Indianapolis +115

Kansas City +76

New England +73

Denver +62

NFC

Seattle +103

LA Rams +98

Detroit +83

Green Bay +37

First images from Sentinel-4 reveal air pollution hotspots - Earth.com

Back in July, the European space program launched a satellite called Sentinel-4. Its purpose is to monitor pollution and atmospheric conditions, so we can learn more about how pollution travels and where hot spots exist. 

The first publicly available data became available recently, and shows how this will work. We should be able to understand the impacts of man-made pollution (even if certain politicians here in the US want to ignore it). 

 

https://www.earth.com/news/first-images-from-sentinel-4-reveal-air-pollution-hotspots-around-the-world/

World’s First Wirelessly Charging Highway Is Here — More Powerful Than Tesla Superchargers - Autoblog

This is pretty cool, in principle. Though I do wonder about its practicality on a large scale. 

In any case, a company has embedded the technology on a stretch of highway in France, and the results are good, with an inductive charge that is faster than a supercharger, and doesn't require the driver to stop. 

 

https://www.autoblog.com/news/worlds-first-wirelessly-charging-highway-is-here-more-powerful-than-tesla-superchargers

New research reveals next-gen energy source that is plunging in cost: 'This technology is no longer a moonshot prospect'

The short summary is that the evolution in the technology used in solar means that it costs less than 3cents (US) to produce a KW to produce. 

Though of course installation is still a large cost, and storing the energy at night has pitfalls. 

But the larger point stands: it is much cheaper to harness the sun than to mine for coal or capture natural gas. And less hazardous too. 

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/solar-energy-university-of-surrey-cheapest-power-source-cost/

Indian-Malaysian CEO of American company with O-1 visa stopped by FBI at Miami airport | Hindustan Times

"I really can't wait for the next election because what's happening in America right now is insane. The fearmongering, the xenophobia, the blaming of immigrants by politicians with no ideas on how to truly make a country great."

https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/indianmalaysian-ceo-of-american-company-with-o-1-visa-stopped-by-fbi-at-miami-airport-101763182826879.html

FIFA and the World Cup

A few years ago, the World Cup was awarded to "North America" - with some games in Canada, some games in Mexico, and some games (including the late rounds and finals) in the United States.

Plans were made.  Contracts were signed.  Stadiums were updated.  Sponsors got involved.  Lots and lots of money changed hands to get ready for the event.  Its huge, and is the ultimate in "inclusion" with people travelling from around the world to see their team play!

And then, we had an election, and the idiot in chief started to take over the event to a degree.  He invited the head of FIFA to visit and told him he might move the games around at his discretion.  Word is that the head of FIFA was quite put off by that. The contracts, the money, everything would be a huge headache. 

Sponsors reacted by making a decision to spend more of their energy on games hosted in Mexico and Canada. Of course, there were rumblings and quiet talks  about maybe moving some games out of the US altogether.

And with the stupid rules around visas, and the "enhanced security" this might be wise, according to some.  Especially after what we saw at the Club World Cup earlier this year - what happened in Miami was a disaster. They certainly couldn't have a repeat of that.

Anyway, flash forward to a few weeks ago. The head of FIFA took on a new tactic: just kiss the ring (or more if necessary).  Flatter the guy.  Show him the trophy.  Tell him how great it is to have games in his country.  You know, all the things you say to a dictator.

And see if you can, get him to just accept the games where they are, and to remind him about the spirit of international competition.  Let people from other countries come for two weeks.... and then, the hook: FIFA will be awarding the first ever "FIFA Peace Prize" during the draw ceremony.  It will go to the person who really embodies the spirit of cooperation.  

"Will it be Trump?"  

"Wait and see!"

Never forget that while its nice that this is an international competition, its also about the money!  Getting T-rump on your side ensures that money flows with no need to breach any contracts.

And to that end, they announced ticket pricing.  They promised some tickets would be under $60.  And apparently they did make a very small number - across all venues for games in the first round - available to fans. They were immediately snapped up and resold for way over that value.

And meanwhile, the actual ticket prices are shown below, compared with the pricing in 2022 in Qatar.

Oh and then there's parking. While these games will take place at large NFL-sized stadiums, most of the parking lots will be closed off, and attendees will be directed to park in places literally miles away from the venues, at a starting price of around $175 per car.  Of course, these parking spots must be purchased in advance and to this point, the venues haven't announced how many spaces will be available, or where they will be.

And in many cities, public transportation really isn't an option, so its unclear who can afford to go to the games and how they will get there.

I admit that I was excited when I heard the world cup was coming to south Florida, and the notion that I could go see a game locally sounded great.  At a starting point of $100, which still seems high to me, maybe I would go.  

But good luck finding tickets under $400! That's the going rate apparently for any ticket to a first round game here.  No thanks.

The Chinese space station

(also known as space is hard, but keep calm and carry on)

The Chinese generally have had some good success on their Tiangong space station. 

The "standard procedure" for almost every trip to a space station is to launch a craft that then docks with the space station and remains there until they are ready to return.  They then board that same craft and head back to Earth.

But about a week ago, something unusual happened.  The spacecraft theTaikonauts used was struck by space debris, and damaged.  Enough so that its a risk to return the spacefarers home in it. 

And in this case, there are no other spacecraft docked to the station, so they are legitimately stranded on the space station without a means to get home.

The international community started to offer assistance, and of course, right on cue, Elon said he'd rescue them!  That sound bite made the rounds... but the Chinese weren't having it.  They thanked the community (though as far as I can tell, never him publicly) for their assistance.  And then announced they would be launching a new space craft for them soon.

And that is that.  No hyperbole.  No mention from them about being stranded.  No political games.  Just a sincere interest in their well being, and a plan to bring them home.

And then in one of the most amusing moments, they posted about the Taikonauts having the first barbecue in orbit as a somewhat momentous occasion.

https://youtu.be/GTgjFv51H7E?si=CMhnTQWBlSq90VLM

Not everything has to devolve into something else....