Differences between American and Canadian Football (Sports)
As we finish off the playoff run-up to the Super Bowl, it's a little interesting to realize just how popular the sport of American football has gotten around the world. For nearly a decade, the NFL operated a multi-team league in Europe (dominated by London) while another football league has quietly operated in Japan for decades and arena football slowly gains a fanbase at home. To the north of the border, Canada has played its version of football since before many of the teams in the NFL were even founded with ratings second only to hockey and exceeding those of baseball.
To that end, here's a chart detailing all the differences between NFL, NCAA, high school, CFL, and CIS (Canadian college) football. I haven't found another chart of this nature on the Internet and figured it might serve a function for football fans or anyone researching the subject.
Downloads:
American to Canadian football differences (Firefox/IE - html) (Open Office - ods) (Microsoft Excel - xls)
NFL - CFL Differences (Two columns only) (Firefox/IE - html) (Open Office - ods) (Microsoft Excel - xls)
Book/Movie of the Day
Washington's General by Terry Golway
Written just in 2005, this is one of the most well-researched and really captivating books about Nathaniel Greene - considered by George Washington to be his ablest general but had no formal training or combat experience. Much of his past is still unknown but this biography reveals much of a man who would have never gained an officer post in any contemporary army but rose to become one of the best generals in the Continental Army outmaneuvering and ultimately defeating one of the most well-armed and best-trained armies in the world.
Filled with quotations and anecdotes straight from his personal records and private papers, see a man whose singular but obscure determination all but guaranteed the survival of the American republic in its earliest infancy. In terms of readability, relevancy, price, and time investment, I'd give this nonfiction work a 7 out of 10.
Business Germ of the Day
Nature: Mr. Icee (or Senor Piragüa)
Category: Franchise
Cost: $150,000 to $400,000
Probability of Success: Moderate (7/10)
Anyone who's lived in a medium-sized city has been treated to a piragüa on a hot summer day at impressively low prices. This treat, popular among Puerto Rican and Cubans in the United States, is simply ice shavings flavored with syrup and is on par with Italian ices, fish and chips, hot dogs, or coffee and donuts - all of which have gained acceptance as a "poor-man's treat" and even gourmet status.
There is already an existing distribution and independent retail network that is self-sufficient but previously like hot-dog vendors, were decentralized and could not take the next steps in the growth of what they owned - which wasn't just what they were making with their hands but the perceived value of it and the supplementary services that would go with it. Coffee shops became as known for their morning beverage as they did for their quick and energizing breakfast, often becoming chain restaurants in the process. Italian ices are now sold in pizzerias, eateries, and supermarkets nationwide.
A similar network for piragüas is inevitable especially as demand surges during the summer. Convincing individual cart vendors would standardize practices, help the group bid collectively for materials lowering costs, put a franchise stamp of reliability with uniforms and advertising, provide for more revenue from supermarket retailing, and increase preference for the treat compared to ice cream or Italian ices.
Note: Apologies for another late one this week.
To that end, here's a chart detailing all the differences between NFL, NCAA, high school, CFL, and CIS (Canadian college) football. I haven't found another chart of this nature on the Internet and figured it might serve a function for football fans or anyone researching the subject.
Downloads:
American to Canadian football differences (Firefox/IE - html) (Open Office - ods) (Microsoft Excel - xls)
NFL - CFL Differences (Two columns only) (Firefox/IE - html) (Open Office - ods) (Microsoft Excel - xls)
Book/Movie of the Day
Washington's General by Terry Golway
Written just in 2005, this is one of the most well-researched and really captivating books about Nathaniel Greene - considered by George Washington to be his ablest general but had no formal training or combat experience. Much of his past is still unknown but this biography reveals much of a man who would have never gained an officer post in any contemporary army but rose to become one of the best generals in the Continental Army outmaneuvering and ultimately defeating one of the most well-armed and best-trained armies in the world.
Filled with quotations and anecdotes straight from his personal records and private papers, see a man whose singular but obscure determination all but guaranteed the survival of the American republic in its earliest infancy. In terms of readability, relevancy, price, and time investment, I'd give this nonfiction work a 7 out of 10.
Business Germ of the Day
Nature: Mr. Icee (or Senor Piragüa)
Category: Franchise
Cost: $150,000 to $400,000
Probability of Success: Moderate (7/10)
Anyone who's lived in a medium-sized city has been treated to a piragüa on a hot summer day at impressively low prices. This treat, popular among Puerto Rican and Cubans in the United States, is simply ice shavings flavored with syrup and is on par with Italian ices, fish and chips, hot dogs, or coffee and donuts - all of which have gained acceptance as a "poor-man's treat" and even gourmet status.
There is already an existing distribution and independent retail network that is self-sufficient but previously like hot-dog vendors, were decentralized and could not take the next steps in the growth of what they owned - which wasn't just what they were making with their hands but the perceived value of it and the supplementary services that would go with it. Coffee shops became as known for their morning beverage as they did for their quick and energizing breakfast, often becoming chain restaurants in the process. Italian ices are now sold in pizzerias, eateries, and supermarkets nationwide.
A similar network for piragüas is inevitable especially as demand surges during the summer. Convincing individual cart vendors would standardize practices, help the group bid collectively for materials lowering costs, put a franchise stamp of reliability with uniforms and advertising, provide for more revenue from supermarket retailing, and increase preference for the treat compared to ice cream or Italian ices.
Note: Apologies for another late one this week.