Articles written by Neil Wagner

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About me - Neil Wagner

Former mad scientist who likes translating scientific jargon back into plain English, where it belongs.

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Food & Drink > Coffee How to make great coffee in a drip coffee maker: 6 of 28

Good, cold water, a clean pot and a clean coffee maker are the only absolute requirements for making great drip coffee. Everything else is a matter of personal taste. Just because coffee experts say to use one or even two tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water doesn't mean you have to do so. Many people enjoy a m...
Food & Drink > Coffee Tips for buying a small drip coffee maker: 2 of 5

It's possible to buy drip coffeemakers that will grind beans, work on a timer or probably even play the theme from Spider Man. That's not what we're talking about here, though. This is about buying a simple unit that will get you your dose of caffeine without giving you a headache in the process. I've found the two most impo...
Politics, News & Issues > Baseball News & Opinion Do baseball salaries buy championships?: 9 of 21

Actually, the answer to the question is "maybe." All you have to do is look at the ineptitude of the Baltimore Orioles over the last decade to see that a high payroll doesn't always translate into victories. They've spent, and their only championship quality is Boog Powell's barbecue. What a high payroll does do is give you ...
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness The hazards of carcinogens: 3 of 6

Most people would be surprised to learn that the list of proven human carcinogens is pretty small. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists under 70 agents and groups of agents as known human carcinogens. Some of these are viruses and radioisotopes. Asbestos, aflatoxins and benzene and some derivatives he...
Sports & Recreation > Baseball Coaching & Skills The possibility of blowing a bunt foul: 1 of 1

I know this is going way back, but it deals with an extremely peculiar play and seems to violate the laws of physics, so I'd like some confirmation that I didn't just imagine it. Lenny Randle was an infielder who played in the 1970s and early 1980s. He's best known for punching out his manager, Frank Lucchesi while with the ...
Sports & Recreation > Baseball Coaching & Skills Analyzing the bullpen by committee approach: 4 of 6

BULLPEN BY COMMITTEE The habit of baseball teams using a single closer has become so well established, it's hard to imagine another approach. Can multiple closers work? I think they can and should definitely be tried by some teams. I'm not talking about teams with premier relievers like Mariano Rivera, BJ Ryan or Trevor Hoff...
Politics, News & Issues > Sports Archives Reasons the Yankees will or will not win the pennant: 17 of 19

The main reason the Yankees are likely to win the 2007 AL pennant is because they will be best at addressing whatever mid-season deficiencies crop up. Some of this is due to their GM and a lot of it is due to having a virtually unlimited payroll. Sorry Kansas City Royal fans, it isn't fair and I commiserate with you but the ...
Sports & Recreation > Baseball (Other) Drug testing for sports management: 2 of 2

Drug Tests for Sports Management Floyd Landis. Barry Bonds. Boog Giambi. Everybody's heard about them. The history of athletes using performance enhancing substances is said to go back to the ancient Greeks (if not further). You all have an opinion on it too: "It's ruining the game" or "Babe Ruth played on absinthe". Whateve...