Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread

Posts: 145 · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:25 pm

I would do some more research if I were you, B.
You'll find Mark Cuban is not such a great guy, either.

Posts: 4543 · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:18 pm

Agent Cooper wrote:

I would do some more research if I were you, B.
You'll find Mark Cuban is not such a great guy, either.

I don't have to do any research. Before he took over the Dallas Mavericks, the team had the worst decade in basketball history. His money has made this team a contender every year since. The best thing you can say about an owner is that he gives his players as well as his management a chance to win, Cuban does that.

Whether or not he's a great guy I could give a rat's ass about. All I care about my team owners is that they put a winner on the court/field. By all accounts, Wirtz was a turd as a owner AND a human being. If you are going to be a piece of crap (like Steinbrenner apparantly is), then at least do something for your fans and put a winning team out there. Cmon, do you REALLY want to be #3 on this list????

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/owners/greediest.html

Or worse #1 on this list???

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=johnson/060417_blackha wks

For all Mark's nuttiness, he is committed to putting a winning product on the floor. If I was a fan of any NL team but the Cubs, I'd be terrified at the prospect of his purchase...he won't be outspent, or out scouted, by any other team.

Little known is that for every fine incurred by Cuban from the NBA, he's donated an exact amount to charity (yes, even the time he was fined close to a million bucks). He also created the Fallen Hero Fund, which gives cash to families of servicemen who have died in Iraq. He's personally donated over $20 million dollars out of his own pocket for the fund. Also little known, if you show up in uniform for a Mavericks game, it's not unusual to be given free tickets, or if you are already in the audience, to be moved to a private box or into a floor seat...it's happened numerous times.

http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/fallenheroes/about/default.htm

His worst sins are supporting oddball wacko left wing causes (donating money to the idiotic "Loose Change" movie, which no one saw anyway), and having a severe case of ego-titus. Still, everyone forgets he was 100% right when he was laughed out of basketball for insisting referees be independentally graded and audited...long before one of them was caught red handed trying to influence games and is now in line for 10 years in prison. Surprise, last year the commsish announced a grading and auditing program REMARKABLY similar to Cuban's suggestion years ago...without giving him any credit.

Knicks, Bulls and Clipper's fans would kill to have Cuban as owner....

Mike B.

Posts: 1076 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:19 pm

Interesting eBay auction text from Uncle Duke:

"And in response to the many questions, yes this is old Uncle Duke Seifried here.

These are some of the items i've accumulated in my time as president of Heritage, Der Kriegspielers, Custom Cast and as EVP at TSR.

My next regeneration is coming up, so I'm selling them off, rather than have them sitting around."

Posts: 2556 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:28 pm

Hey, I know that guy. I bought a copy of The Vanquished Foe from his collection at GenCon. Smile

Posts: 101 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:57 am

Ahhh, it's good to be back! Apparently bclarkie and I were booted from The Acaeum because of our good taste in forum themes. Wink

Posts: 2556 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:23 pm

They just dont make quarterbacks like they used to:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8671838/?MSNHPHMA

All I have heard all morning long on the radio is how Tony Romo broke his pinky in yesterdays game. Now because of said broken digit, he is out four weeks?!? Was it a compound fracture or something like that? I could understand if he broke his thumb....you cant throw the ball without your thumb. But pinky? It's almost an afterthought. Maybe he has small hands and his pinky helps to make up for the other fingers. Poor Jessica. Razz

Seriously though. Whatever happened to QB's like Steve DeBerg? That guy broke a finger on his passing hand during a game and they taped it up and he played through it. Cool

Posts: 96 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:23 pm

Kingofpain89 wrote:

Hey, I know that guy. I bought a copy of The Vanquished Foe from his collection at GenCon. Smile

And I bought his Jazz CD during the charity auction.

I'm going to donate it for next years auction at Gencon. Wink

Posts: 592 · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:04 pm

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank are soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank are reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Posts: 2130 · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:33 pm

lawrenson wrote:

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank are soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank are reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Thanks

Posts: 1200 · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:29 pm

Is there any kindly person that would be willing to make a purchase for me at Buy.com and reship the item to me?

It is an AC adapter for a laptop that I cannot find in Canada for less than $60 plus shipping. Sad

It is not available on the Canadian version of buy.com and buy.com does not ship to Canada.

http://www.buy.com/listing/sellerlistings.asp?sku=209138578&buy=0

Cancel that! I just found one!

Posts: 1756 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:20 am

A woman goes into a hairdressers in Newcastle, and says "I want a perm."

So the assistant says "I wandered leurnly as a cloud ..."

Laughing

Posts: 1076 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:10 pm

red_bus wrote:

A woman goes into a hairdressers in Newcastle, and says "I want a perm."

So the assistant says "I wandered leurnly as a cloud ..."

Am I correct in assuming that the Newcastle pronunciations of "perm" and "poem" are mangled into the same sound . . . ?

Posts: 1076 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:15 pm

Here are two ten-minute videos from GenCon 2008 of Lou Zocchi explaining why his dice are superior to dice from other companies:

. . . http://www.gamescience.com/

Col. Lou for President! His experience with generating fair numbers can only benefit the U.S. economy, and his ability to speak convincingly is amazing.

Posts: 592 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:39 am

To the Citizens of the United States of America
From Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary).

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).
Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1.
The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour'
and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping
half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally,
you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (Look up 'vocabulary').

2.
Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
There is no such thing as U. S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf.
The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated
letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

3.
July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

4.
You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers,
or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists
shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only
be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing
someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot
grouse.

5.
Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more
dangerous than a vegetable peeler, although a permit will be required
if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6.
All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start
driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same
time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the
benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication
will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7.
The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been
calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8.
You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French
fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling
potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick
cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with
vinegar.

9.
Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as
good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English
actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt
English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin
to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

10.
You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper
football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time,
be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American
football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty
seconds or wearing full Kevlar body amour like a bunch of nannies).

11.
Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event
called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America.
Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your
error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the
Australians first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

12.
You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

13.
An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's
Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of
all monies due (backdated to 1776).

14.
Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with
saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies)
and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in
season.

God Save The Queen
_________________

Posts: 605 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:58 am

Repeat post, but it's still funny.

http://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6710&highlight=sovereign+m ajesty+queen+elizabeth

lawrenson wrote:

To the Citizens of the United States of America
From Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary).

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).
Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1.
The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour'
and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping
half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally,
you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (Look up 'vocabulary').

2.
Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
There is no such thing as U. S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf.
The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated
letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

3.
July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

4.
You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers,
or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists
shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only
be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing
someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot
grouse.

5.
Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more
dangerous than a vegetable peeler, although a permit will be required
if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6.
All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start
driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same
time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the
benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication
will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7.
The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been
calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8.
You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French
fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling
potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick
cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with
vinegar.

9.
Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as
good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English
actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt
English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin
to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

10.
You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper
football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time,
be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American
football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty
seconds or wearing full Kevlar body amour like a bunch of nannies).

11.
Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event
called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America.
Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your
error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the
Australians first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

12.
You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

13.
An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's
Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of
all monies due (backdated to 1776).

14.
Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with
saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies)
and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in
season.

God Save The Queen
_________________

Posts: 1117 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:04 am

Nifty. Just noticed that DSR and DCC automagically get acronym HTML tags added to them.

I'm now curious as to what else does...

Posts: 605 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:51 am

Wow! The Falcons didn't lose again this weekend! Shocked

Of course, they didn't play either. Wink

They should lose this weekend as the Eagles are looking like one of the top teams in the NFL this year, especially if McNabb stays healthy. And while they'll be lucky to stay 500 the rest of the year, the season has more to be happy about than most. Give Ryan a couple of years experience, and I think he could be a real star. If nothing else, the Falcons now have a quarterback to build a team around. And Arthur Blank appears to be a decent enough owner to provide adequate funding for future needed aquisitions.

Hey! I can always hope. Confused

Posts: 1200 · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:05 pm

This has to be the most bizarre music "mash-up" that you will ever hear, but somehow it kind of works. Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyccmlaKS8s

Posts: 1076 · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:00 pm

jasonw1239 wrote:

This has to be the most bizarre music "mash-up" that you will ever hear, but somehow it kind of works. Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyccmlaKS8s

Heh . . . Mashuptown (http://www.mashuptown.com/) has some great mash-ups. Use their search function and see what wonderful hybrids can be found . . .

Posts: 605 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:36 am

jasonw1239 wrote:

This has to be the most bizarre music "mash-up" that you will ever hear, but somehow it kind of works. Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyccmlaKS8s

My eyes! My eyes! shakng2

What the heck was that? Wink