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The Balls-o-Meter

I. Introduction

The Balls-o-Meter is a scientifically accurate, weekly measure of balls. Specifically, said balls are measured by my adherence to each of seven goals, with each goal ranked, weighted, and assigned point values according to its importance to me overall and its frequency per week. Points are tallied daily, and a weekly Balls-o-Meter Score will be posted at the end of the week. A perfect Balls-o-Meter Score (1.00) requires 100 points in one week.

II. Purpose

The purpose of the Balls-o-Meter is to keep my own ass in line, in the absence of hiring an ex-army drill sergeant to wield the proverbial whip. The goal is to use the threat of public embarrassment to enforce the ongoing achievement of these goals, and to provide a conscious, daily checklist. A secondary purpose, manifest in the Balls-o-Meter as website content, is to provide an ongoing source of interest, amusement, or, at the very least, a forum in which to display a complete failure of self-motivation.

III. Scoring and Point Values

1. Each goal is assigned a point value. (Specific point values per goal can be viewed at the bottom of this page.) The weekly Balls-o-Meter Score will be defined as: points accumulated in a week divided by the number of points required for a perfect week. For example, since a perfect seven-day week requires 100 points, if 96 points are accumulated, the Balls-o-Meter Score would be .96.

2. The daily point tally will vary depending on the point values of particular goals achieved. What matters most is the weekly Balls-o-Meter Score and overall weekly average (the Balls-o-Meter Index), not the total points in a given day.

3. Points accumulated for a particular goal cannot exceed the maximum number of points allowed for that goal. For example, the maximum number of points for "exercise" is 18 points (three days of exercise). Exercising on a fourth day cannot raise the points for this goal above 18 points. This is to ensure that each goal is achieved and judged according to its importance.

4. For the purposes of the Balls-o-Meter, a week is defined as Sunday through Saturday. See below (V. Exceptions) for an explanation of partial weeks.

IV. Posting Updates

Points are tallied when possible, usually about five days per week, with the weekly Balls-o-Meter Score and cumulative average (Balls-o-Meter Index) updated weekly.

V. Exceptions

Balls-o-Meter scoring may be suspended during business trips, vacations, and other special occasions (e.g., birthdays, special visitors in town, etc.) Such days will be noted, usually at the start of each week, in the scoring as "NA" (not applicable), and the weekly Balls-o-Meter Score will be calculated based on the following partial week point requirements:

6-day week - 84 points
5-day week - 70 points
4-day week - 56 points
3-day week - 42 points
2-day week - 28 points
1-day week - 14 points

In the future, special scoring may be devised to account for limited time and varying goals during these periods, but for now, the Balls-o-Meter will remain temporarily castrated. If you believe these exceptions constitute "rigging the system", you are free to make an official, alternate recommendation. However, please be advised that these are my goals and my rules, so I get to set them up however I damn well please.

VI. Modifications and Discontinuation

Adding or removing goals, changing point values, or discontinuation of the Balls-o-Meter may be done at any time without notice. Any modifications will be noted. Google and other websites retaining a permanent, cached copy of this page after its gutless removal is a potential annoyance that will grudgingly be accepted.

9/3/05 - Made some general clarifications and updated Exceptions to include specific point requirements of partial weeks (weeks that include non-scored special occasions, represented as "NA" in the daily point tally).
9/11/05 - Renamed the "Balls-o-Meter Index" to "Balls-o-Meter Score", and renamed the average weekly point total the "Balls-o-Meter Index".

Signed: Jason Roth, 8/30/05

 
Goals and Point Values

1. Write and/or update website (5 days/week)	25 points (5/day)
2. Weightlifting (2 days/week)	18 points (9/day)
3. Exercise (aerobic, 3 days/week)	18 points (biking: 6/day/1 hour; 4/day/45 min.; 3/day/30 min.; swimming: 6/day/30 min.)
4. Eat right (6 days/week)	18 points (3/day)
5. One-day alcohol max.	15 points/week (all or nothing, scored at end of week; 2/day or nothing in partial weeks)
6. Research publishing opportunities or make submissions (1 day/week)	5 points/week (all or nothing)
7. Send website newsletter (1 day/week)	1 point/week
Total Points	100 points/week (See V. above for partial week scoring)

 
2006 Daily Point Tally
(this is my second attempt; scores of first try in 2005 are here)

Date - Goals Achieved	Points
2/12/06 - 1, 3, 4, 5	11
2/13/06 - 1, 4, 5	8
2/14/06	NA

 
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