semeai

This.

It makes sense that you'd want a system that does well on 16-20-ish hands in 4th seat, but that's true in any field. In a weak field the gain from playing a different system that is good on these hands would presumably be lower (and possibly negative) unless you believe the system is great at getting weak opponents to make unforced errors. In that case, though, you'd want to play it in any seat against a weak field. Maybe instead play 2/1 but add gazzilli and/or other conventions that help out the 16-20 hands in 4th seat if you don't play them generally

Not sure. Maybe GreenMan mistook one for the other. Or maybe he's just a fan of the economist. It seems like wikipedia might have to swap the naming for the pages, giving precedence to the nobel prize winner now for the name-without-a-middle-initial privilege.

Nope. See the wikipedia page for our Al Roth.

Maybe try paring down the word count and resubmitting it. It's pretty long for a letter to the editor. You could look at how long the (longest of the) letters to the editor usually are and shoot for that.

Here's a dictionary suggesting "second bite at the cherry" is British, so perhaps that's the distinction.

Two points: 1) The phrase is more commonly second bite at the apple 2) I prefer "second bites at the apple" if it's the same (metaphorical or not) apple. I can have my second bite and you can have your second bite at the same (metaphorical or not) apple.

Unlike that situation, in bridge there is no one correct way to bid. If you're teaching beginners and they can't handle the conventions you introduce, it's always an option to go back to how they played before you introduced the convention.

Some possibilities: Solution 1: Allow them to play this way. Solution 2: Introduce concepts at a slower rate to them. Also, make sure they understand why this is a better way to play. If they are resistant or can't understand why, consider Solution 1. Solution 3: Laugh, say, "I bet next time you'll both remember," and carry on as you have been.

This probability of his already takes into account the uncertainty due to the time until the election, so the same number is less impressive the closer to the election you get. What should impress is his "now-cast" of Obama having a 97.8% chance of victory if the election were held today.

The 5M and secondary club fit hands can bid 2♦ if the auction 2♣-2♦;2M shows 3. If partner doesn't show 3 of your major you can then bid 3♣ if you're just invitational. [You can still have 2M by opener show 3 even if you allow 4M-5C hands in your 2C bid. See e.g. the Fantunes structure I linked above.]

Here's the paper.

What is marmic? For converting to Swedish Club, 1C = 17+ or 11-13 bal or 11-13 some [or any] 4441 patterns seems fine. I agree with gwnn that not even 11-13 hands with 5 card majors should not be in the 1C opener, if marmic means 5431 patterns or something. If marmic means just 4441 patterns, then it seems okay. Added: It seems that maybe marmic = 4441 or 5440 after using a bit more google-fu than previously. If so, I'd separate the 5440's off from the 4441's and just have (bal or some 4441's) be grouped together.

There's a difference between free practice of science and the regulations one places on corporations that are involved with science for profit and are bringing a product to market. That said, being opposed to GMO in theory seems crazy. Being opposed to specific implementations or uses and/or requiring extensive testing before a product comes to market need not be crazy. What the scientists in the video were saying (as opposed to what the producers of the video were implying) hewed toward the latter. I agree, the way the video was put together was somewhat off-putting.

Aye aye.