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Blarch Badness Update

Hunter_tiny by Devin on in Regular News Comment 419 comments

Just a quick memo on this year's extremely exciting Blarch Badness competition, in which Lookout Landing has been rocking the socks off other blogs.

As many of you know, LL was busted when a few regulars around here decided to "stuff the box". While it's a great (albeit unsportsmanlike) strategy to actually score a W, it's not very nice and those running Metblogs weren't pleased. In fact, LL faced possible sanctions that zero of you would want to see implemented.

I've been asked to tell everyone to not get that urge again. It won't be taken lightly and doing so could run the risk of getting LL the boot from the competition.

With that out of the way, let's win this mother.

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Pie Faucker
Good to see you around.

by Garces on Feb 23, 2008 6:37 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Jeez,
not saying it was me or anything, but how did they ever get the impression that LL "stuffed the box" (sarcasm alert)

Go LL!

Damn, nailing this girl last night was like nailing a kid...oops, too much info, please don't call the cops (me, early Feb 08)

by wwbaker3 on Feb 23, 2008 6:52 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

He's aware.
And we're aware it wasn't just LL.  

Thanks in advance for playing fair.  Jeff and Devin are friends of mine and I'd like nothing more than for LL to win this thing (after all, there are some pretty cool prizes this year).

by ryanhealy on Feb 23, 2008 7:25 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Well looks like the percentages
are still around the same either way
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

by wadswerth on Feb 23, 2008 8:03 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Rigged votes> Canada
and Canada > Everything but certain incredibly sexy girls with which I hope to engage in sexual intercourse with

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 23, 2008 11:31 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Well that was blatant
And my sister says "Bring it."

by yourfacemakesmewail on Feb 24, 2008 12:57 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Is she hot?
and legal?

Legal being the most important

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 24, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

25 in July
But she's a Portlander.

by yourfacemakesmewail on Feb 24, 2008 9:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

who says rape isn't funny?
"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 25, 2008 8:58 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno...
This guy???
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 25, 2008 9:01 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

FUCKER!
I am at work and that started playing on my laptop speakers when I clicked on it..lol, I need to shut those off.

by appleshampoo on Feb 25, 2008 10:49 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, I dunno
the 25% of all women who have experienced it. Probably they don't think its funny.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 25, 2008 9:33 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

25% ?
I call bullshit.

by Matthew on Feb 25, 2008 9:49 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Amazingly that's what they say
Especially on college campuses they try to tout that like 1 in 3 women get raped but 99% don't report it.

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 25, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The number of date rapes and other
drug/alcohol related incidents are insane.

I think a lot of it has to do with how the person who was raped is treated by law enforcement, the health care system, their family members, etc. when they try to get help.  A lot of women feel like they end up being attacked by so many people when they are actually the victim.  I know the recent articles on the UW football program are pretty incredible, but that type of story is much more common than we'd like to believe.

by Jed MC on Feb 25, 2008 11:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I think it is interesting how hard...
people try to get out of being blamed.  Unless an actual drug is used it is NOT date rape.  Since when did fumbling, uncomfortable, unwise, drunk, CONSENTUAL sex become rape?

It used to be called a one night stand.

Oh well, yet another good reason not to drink in excess.

Go M's

by OBF on Feb 25, 2008 11:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I think in a number of cases
It's probably legitimate but I know the numbers are influenced by what you're saying.

To me if guy and girl go out and get sloshed and consentually have sex with each other and girl regrets it in the morning that's not rape, that's just her being stupid

But I do think there are a ton of unreported cases of actual, non consentual rape.

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 25, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

See what happens...
...when you leave -- and tell us???

I wonder if all of this madness wouldn't've happened if you didn't warn us in advance that you were leaving.  Hmmm...

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 25, 2008 11:58 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And on that note...
...let's get back to talking about, oh, ANYTHING ELSE NOW PLEASE.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 25, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

How about Toyota Pri-i?
I'm always up for that argument

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 25, 2008 11:34 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hybrid cars would make so much more sense
if they were diesel-electric hybrids instead of gas-electric hybrids.  Just put little tiny diesel engines that run flat-out all the time and the efficiency would get a lot better.

by Llewdor on Feb 25, 2008 1:28 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

don't encourage the boy
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 25, 2008 1:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You're correct
And smart car buyers these days purchase diesels, not hybrids

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 25, 2008 2:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Given the current construction of both
I'd probably want a hybrid rather than diesel if I spent all of my time in stop-and-go traffic.  Like if I was a cab driver.  Idling is a lousy way to run a diesel engine because it doesn't burn as clean when it's cold.

If I was doing any significant amount of driving on the highway or on fast-flowing freeways (by which I mean well designed freeways where the traffic doesn't ever grind to a halt), I'd rather have a diesel.

Since almost all of my driving is on the highway (it's only 14 hours non-stop from Vancouver to Edmonton), I like diesels.  But if I could have a diesel-electric hybrid, I'd have the best of both worlds.

by Llewdor on Feb 25, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Until you realize that
Ni-Cd or Li-ion battery has a laundry list of dangerous chemicals.  Just saying...

Just run your diesel with biodiesel and call it a day.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 25, 2008 7:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

not to mention
what mining those dangerous chemicals have done in place like China and Latin America.

by InSpokane on Feb 26, 2008 9:22 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

you're wrong

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 25, 2008 11:18 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

college class I had
I'm sure its not precise, but I doubt it's off by more than 5%. I know at least a half dozen women who had been victims in one way or another, and you gotta figure that most don't talk about it. All the ones I know have never told their families even...

Anyway, I'm not trying to be the PC police, but some things really never are funny no matter how hard George Carlin tries.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 25, 2008 11:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm just wondering about the criteria
because as Corco mentioned above, according to the law (last time I was informed, which admittedly was about 8 years ago so it could have been changed), if a woman is incapacitated (includes being drunk) then she cannot give consent for sex and thus it is automatically considered rape. There's no provision on the man for that case. So if a drunk guy and a drunk girl have sex, the law considers (or considered) it rape by the male. (Which begs the question if drunk lesbians have sex, did they rape each other? Or drunk gays; it's not rape?)

I know the majority of what I'll call "real" rapes go unreported, so the exact figure can never truly be known, but if the 25% estimate includes the scenario outlined above, then I think it's a faulty number.

by Matthew on Feb 25, 2008 11:57 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

From what I remember,
and it was a while ago that I had the class mind you, the study was not looking strictly at forced sexual intercourse, but physical sexual abuse. Which, before OBF pipes in with 'copping a feel ain't rape why else do women wear short skirts' falls under the legal definition. I think a large proportion of that number are women who were abused as adolescents or preteens. Anyway, I don't really want to get into a long discussion about this on a baseball blog, I just wanted to make the point that any time you're in a group with several women (or in a public forum like this one), its a bad idea to tell rape jokes unless you're a complete horse's ass.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 25, 2008 12:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

There are plenty of rape jokes that are funny
How else am I suppose to describe how I feel after the M's get blown out?  Saying "I'm sad" sounds stupid.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 25, 2008 12:37 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

There may be plenty of rape jokes that are funny
but there's also plenty of women who would disagree, and those same women would probably also object to the contention that a blowout loss in a baseball game equates to a rape.

Now, seriously, can we change the subject?

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 25, 2008 12:40 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Next time you should just leave me in charge
I'll show 'em. I'll whip this place into line

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 25, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

YATZEE BINGO
mission accomplished

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 25, 2008 3:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was just making a vauge
George Carlin reference
"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 25, 2008 3:43 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Eh
You've said that so many times that its lost all meaning.

by Robert on Feb 25, 2008 3:53 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ouch
Uncalled for...

by yourfacemakesmewail on Feb 25, 2008 6:41 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Why that "stuff the box" stuff
Wasn't saved until the matchup vs. USS Mariner I'll never know.

by ThundaPC on Feb 24, 2008 2:22 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Just looking through the
2008 Seattle Mariners Media Guide http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/fan_forum/media_guide.jsp

Broadcasters for next year:
Niehaus, Rizzs, Sims, Blowers

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 25, 2008 9:36 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

heh
the huskies closed the gap
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

by wadswerth on Feb 25, 2008 9:33 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

ha
the guy from the huskies blog is still voting for himslef even after the poll is supposed to be closed
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

by wadswerth on Feb 25, 2008 10:02 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Damn
So we really can't cheat. What I was going to do was stuff the boxes for the other blogs until they got disqualified. But now if anyone looks like they are cheating we're done. So I think we'll just have to win this fair and square

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 11:01 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

I'm watching you Corco
Both eyes on you. Zumsteg is primed and ready to glower at you if needed.

by dw on Feb 26, 2008 11:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm staying clean
If I were actually d oing that the last thing I'd do is admit it on the internets

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 11:43 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Wasn't aware
it was illegal.

And I did NOT, despite reports, start the cookie blocking/spam voting initiative. I merely joined in at full force after others had already started

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Seattle Bubble is gonna be a problem, I think.
They're tied with us.
I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on Feb 26, 2008 11:16 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Whoa
We were up by 10% like an hour ago

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 11:16 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe they're cheating...
Uh ohs.
I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phildopip on Feb 26, 2008 11:18 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

how do you check
results without voting repeatedly

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 26, 2008 11:21 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Whenever I refresh LL it tells me
Seattle Bubble have now gained 14% on us in an hour. Huh

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 11:22 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Great.
We can't cheat but they can. Terrible.
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 11:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry to disappoint you.
Not cheating, just enthusiastically participating in the competition.  Why would we need to cheat?

by The Tim on Feb 26, 2008 11:30 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Because this website's awesomeness
should be smothering you.
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 12:04 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

pretty strange.
anyway, its only Tuesday. Its going to be all about whose readers vote every day.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 26, 2008 11:30 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If we run into trouble
I imagine AN and co will give us a hand. No biggie.

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 11:32 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I assumed it was something to do with bubble tea
Turns out it's about real estate. Who knew?

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, the blog devoted to explaining
Why I spent waaaaaay too much for my house.  Very exciting stuff.

by Sec 108 on Feb 26, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

By the way
<begin discussion> Taro is by far the best flavor in Bubble Tea. </end discussion>
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 12:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Bubble tea is stupid
Tapioca balls are only good for launching at people through those perfectly sized straws.  Bubble tea is all hype in my opinion.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 26, 2008 12:53 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Wrong.
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 1:12 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I guess i am just wrong
but I really don't see the point.  Maybe I just don't like those tapioca balls.  I just don't get it.  Maybe my palette just isn't sophisticated enough but I don't see where bubble tea would ever fit into my beverage options.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 26, 2008 1:33 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm with you
Bubble tea seems to be one of those things like Crocs, where everybody does it without thinking, because everyone else is doing it, and then when they realize they've been hoodwinked by a stupid fad, they stop doing it.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 1:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I dont even know what bubble tea is
im guessing by the name its a tea... and it has some sort of bubbles in it like a soda pop.
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

by wadswerth on Feb 26, 2008 1:36 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

tea
the bubbles, or boba, are typically tapioca balls. They can also be little jelly balls too (white jelly + taro = great)

Bubble Tea's popularity is probably a fad, but the product itself is really good. Crocs are just stupid.

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 1:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Except crocs are indeed incredibly stupid
and bubble tea actually tastes good

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 1:36 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of Crocs
Four years ago I am in Iowa with my wife visiting her family.  They were all wearing Crocs and we had never seen them before.  We both commented that we did not see something that stupid becoming popular in Seattle.  

My how wrong we were.  And how the hell did anything get popular in Iowa before Seattle?

by Sec 108 on Feb 26, 2008 1:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

except again,
North Face is useful; they make warm jackets. Crocs aren't.

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 8:22 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This I agree with.
I was just saying that there are similarities in their appearance starting in the east.

by Mariner John on Feb 26, 2008 8:27 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Is it better than
a milkshake, a good smoothie, a coffee, soda or other beverage?

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 26, 2008 1:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Bubble Tea Tastes Good
And Tapioca Balls are chewy.

It's only liked for its novelty if you consider it novel. Once you've had it enough, it's just a good drink with a semi-tasteless chewy thing at the end of each sip.

Try Taro. That's usually why people don't understand bubble tea. If you don't like it, I'll owe you the 5.00.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You're probably right.
I love the bubble tea phenomenon but it really is just a fad, at least in the US. But it has been popular for the past five years or so and hasn't shown signs of stopping any time soon.
Refuse to progress!!

by Double06 on Feb 26, 2008 1:32 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Not a chance.
Coconut, papaya and honeydew are miles better than taro.
Refuse to progress!!

by Double06 on Feb 26, 2008 1:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

i'm partial to passionfruit
and I'll second taro as awesome.

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 1:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Passion fruit is pretty good too.
Maybe I'm just the only one here that's not a fan of taro. But I've had bubble tea from a lot of different places and I've never thought taro of being more than OK.

BTW, the best place in Seattle for bubble tea is Gossip in the ID, like two blocks from Uwajimaya. Their royal egg bubble tea is to die for.

Refuse to progress!!

by Double06 on Feb 26, 2008 1:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Good to know, I'm not that far from there
One place I really enjoy, whose name I don't know, is in the u-dist about 2 stores down the Ave from 45th

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 1:47 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yunnies
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 2:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I should warn you
that that flavor is really rich. I love it, but I have two friends who ordered it and didn't like it (compared to the dozen who did). They also have a popular flavor they call "champaign" which tastes like the bubble gum ice cream you used to get as a kid.

I also heard that Oasis just opened a store in the u-district. I've been to their first one in the ID just across the street of Uwajimaya, and their bubble tea is pretty good, but that's my favorite bubble tea place in the city because of the ambiance. I have to check out their new store.

Refuse to progress!!

by Double06 on Feb 26, 2008 2:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Never had Bubble Tea
My wife loves it.  

I, OTOH, look forward to another Leechy "soda" at a local Thai restaurant during our group lunch tomorrow.  

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 26, 2008 1:46 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I mean "Leechee" of course.
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 26, 2008 1:48 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Lychee
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Smartypants!
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 26, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I assume Miles Better is a terrible Jazz Singer
Because if you meant "significantly better tasting" you would be wrong.
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 26, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I just have no clue
why so many people would spend time reading about something as boring as real estate

I mean, it may make a great resource while you're thinking of buying, but who sits around reading this shit just for the hell of it?

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Two words:
Washington Highways

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 12:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Incredibly that actually has a
lot of traffic.

Just google:

Highway Ends
[State] Highways
Aaroads
Interstate highways
US Routes
etc

and you'll see there's actually an incredibly active community.

Hell, misc.transport.road is one of the most highly used usenet forums left

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You still got owned.
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Feb 26, 2008 12:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You do realize
that if he lived in England he'd be a trainspotter.  And not the cool Ewan McGregor type, either, but this kind.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 12:28 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Actually
England has a completely fascinating system of primary, secondary, and teritary highways. I'd probably be working on driving every mile of signed highway in England

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:33 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe I'm just not a highway geek
but I'm not sure how, having driven a lot of them, England's roads are any different than US roads except that they're narrower in rural areas and have more roundabouts.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 12:37 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Is the land the same?
Is British dirt equivalent to American dirt? Do they pass through the same towns?

That's your motivation right there

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:40 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

British dirt is much better...
So what would Brian Boitano do if he were here today? I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two, that's what Brian Boitano'd do!

by MarinerintheDistrict on Feb 26, 2008 12:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm more of a sign geek/ history buff
But roadgeekery generally has about 6 or 7 subsets
  1. Sign geeks
  2. Pavement geeks
  3. History buffs
  4. Bridge geeks
  5. Town geeks
  6. County/County Courthouse geeks
  7. Interstate/interchange geeks
There's obviously some overlap but what makes roadgeekery such a fascinating hobby is how it combines so many disciplines. To completely appreciate a road you need to know math, physics, history, geography and psychology

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:50 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

and politics/law
Mention the word "Bud Schuster" to anyone who cares about roads and you are bond to ruffle some feathers

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm a closet bridge geek,
so I'll give you that. I don't go out on weekends or vacations to look at bridges, but I'll take a little different route or detour to see one.
All this optimism is bringing me down...

by Thingray on Feb 26, 2008 2:19 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And it's impossible
To get anywhere that isn't London.

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 12:40 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

that's what trains are for
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 1:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

and once you're there
you get to pay TWENTY FIVE POUNDS to drive around there! (This is absurd)

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 1:40 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Why the fuck would you drive in London?
Actually, no, I don't even want to get into this.

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 1:44 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Congestion pricing is not absurd
it's actually made London a much more easy city to get around if you have to drive.  Congestion pricing and toll roads should be mandatory in any big, congested city.  

You want to drive everywhere?  You want to drive alone into midtown Manhattan, or central London?  Fine.  Pay for it when you do.  

I'm hoping they toll the hell out of the new I-5 Columbia River bridge when it's finally built.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 1:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Congestion pricing is absurd
Especially at the US$48 price to get into London. That's nuts. $5, $10 is reasonable.

It's not the job of the government to go against the wills of its people and 73% of Londoners are opposed to the congestion charges

Why toll the hell out of the I-5 bridge? You're just hurting middle class commuters from Vancouver/Battle Ground/Brush Prarie/Camas. That's not fair to them. By doing that you're discouraging spread. Huge congestion charges to get in an out of a city make it more appealing for workers to live INSIDE the city which only makes it more congested

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 1:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Why toll?
To get people on buses and public transportation.  All you do when you build a massive bridge is encourage MORE traffic, more congestion, and more problems.  

Especially at the US$48 price to get into London. That's nuts.

You're wrong about the price, by the way.  The congestion charge itself is £8; it's a £50 penalty if you drive through the zone and fail to pay.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 1:55 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

They are raising it really soon
Porsche is the most active opponent

Public transit is great, but what sorts of public transportation is there between Vancouver and Portland?

Portland has the problem of every freeway they've ever tried to build getting cancelled, and then there was the talk about destroying parts of I-405 to build a farmers market. It's insane down there

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 2:02 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It might encourage employers
to place their offices in less congested areas, or allow more telecommuting.

Downtown Vancouver (BC) is getting pretty crowded, and it's on a little peninsula so you have to cross a bridge to get there (unless you drive through the downtown east side, the most crime-ridden neighbourhood in North America).  As such, living downtown is significantly more expensive than living just outside downtown (about 60% more per sq.ft.) because no one wants to commute.

My office, thankfully, isn't downtown, so I can live right near it without paying a premium to live somewhere I otherwise wouldn't want to live.

by Llewdor on Feb 26, 2008 2:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

there is no reason
that I am forced to do my work in an office building. All I need to do my job is my work laptop and an internet connection. This irritates me. I should be allowed to travel at will.

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 2:51 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Vancouver is rough
You guys have no dual-carriageway into town besides Route 1, which I was not aware went through the most crime-ridden neighborhood in North America, I'll keep that in mind for the future (I usually take 1 down to 13 to cross when heading to downtown Vancouver). But yeah, you guys have insane traffic sometimes trying to get downtown and there's no other option. I can see where a congestion charge might be useful there. I do not see how it is beneficial in downtown Portland

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 2:55 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Vancouver's traffic
is the worst I've seen outside San Francisco.

Access to downtown Vancouver is possible by 5 routes:

From the northwest, via the Lions Gate Bridge.

From the southwest, via the Burrard Bridge.

From the south, via the Granville Street Bridge.

From the southeast, via the Cambie Street Bridge.

From the east, overland, through the downtown east side.

Highway 1 actually misses downtown Vancouver.

by Llewdor on Feb 26, 2008 4:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ah, that makes sense
Real estate was actually my third guess, after a local marketing website for the Wham-o! corporation, or a website, inspired by The Simpons' Movie, advocating the placement of a giant bubble over the City of Seattle (although I was undecided about whether its supporters would be Seattleites wanting to keep undesirables out of the city, or residents from the rest of the state wanting to keep the undesirables in the city).  

by G_ on Feb 26, 2008 12:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

pretty unfortunate
that the contest takes place in the dead of winter at a time of uncertainty for real estate speculators. I imagine that if this happened during winter meetings there wouldn't be a contest. Anyway, first game is when, thursday? right.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 26, 2008 12:10 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ethical/procedural question
if I have two browsers available to me at work, is it cheating to vote once a day on each browser?  
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 26, 2008 12:13 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Dont tell anyone
But I voted for Lookout Landing.

by Slica on Feb 26, 2008 2:04 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

What the balls?
We're losing?
"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 26, 2008 2:30 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Too odd
I've been monitoring all afternoon and it seems like there are periodic spikes in voting that last about 2 minutes

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 2:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

they just got
about fifty votes in about two minutes. yep. Again, I think if its not a complete blowout by the thursday M's-Padres, there's something awfully funny going on.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 26, 2008 2:36 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Honestly though
we're already up to 670 votes

which would be fine if Seattle Bubble didn't only  draw 53% of a 407 vote crowd in their last showing.

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 2:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This would be so much easier if we could cheat.
"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 26, 2008 3:29 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

We probably can
we just can't do it as openly.

by Llewdor on Feb 26, 2008 4:46 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Quick question:
Why do we care so much about this competition, and what possible sanctions could Metblogs impose? Do they have some authority over LL?
All this optimism is bringing me down...

by Thingray on Feb 26, 2008 3:34 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Jeff gets swag for winning
and people here have pride in the community.

They could kick LL out of the competition.

No.

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 3:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I get it. I just didn't know if it was a bigger
deal than that somehow. Go LL!
All this optimism is bringing me down...

by Thingray on Feb 26, 2008 3:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If we lose
The ghost of Snelling will come back and tear Bedard's ACL

by Matthew on Feb 26, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Doyle's dead?
"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 26, 2008 4:17 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I miss the updates.
"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Feb 26, 2008 4:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Today:
Doyle remained on the DL.

If he had been playing, however, he would have gone 4-5 with 2 2B.

by Graham on Feb 26, 2008 4:36 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And a walk.
Also I live in LA and have not heard of bubble tea.

I think this is because since graduating in December I have almost no social circle.

Free Adam Jones

by bluemax on Feb 26, 2008 6:58 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

No, that's because no one outside of
Seattle calls in "bubble tea"

Asian people call it "boba," which I assume you're inherently familiar with

by seattlebruin on Feb 27, 2008 11:40 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I heard it called Bubble Tea
far more often than Boba on the east coast.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 11:42 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmmm
I have actually heard that too from friends who went east for college. Perhaps it's just my sheltered little world that only includes Seattle, SF, LA, OC and San Diego.

by seattlebruin on Feb 27, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah
I went to school in Boston and still live here, and everyone calls it Bubble Tea, even my asian friends.

by patsfan on Feb 27, 2008 12:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

No official plate appearances
C. Snelling walks*

*lifted for pinch-runner after knee injury on jog to  firstbase

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Feb 26, 2008 7:17 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

MY GOD --
They've gained a percentage point!

by redwolf75 on Feb 26, 2008 9:17 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Seattlebubble getting help elsewhere....
Looks like they got a front page advertisment form raincityguide.com

http://www.raincityguide.com/2008/02/26/why-i-read-seattle-bubble/

I actually like reading seattlebubble, but no way it should be head to head with us at LL right now.  We should be crushing them.

by Grubbie on Feb 26, 2008 9:18 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Uh
How did Huskies Fan POSSIBLY gain three percentage points?

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 9:49 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Huskies fan just gained 4%
in the last 5 minutes. LOL.

by redwolf75 on Feb 26, 2008 10:06 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

All the former Huskie players
just got out of jail and voted!
I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Feb 26, 2008 10:08 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

They could've made it a little
less obvious that they were cheating...

by redwolf75 on Feb 26, 2008 10:10 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

heh
yeah cuz like 3500 votes in 20 minutes just flew under the radar
I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.

by wadswerth on Feb 26, 2008 10:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, but that was
before anyone was warned for cheating. This is different.

by redwolf75 on Feb 26, 2008 10:28 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah
My one desire is to see Jeff get free stuff. I don't even care so much about the winning*

We need to and can win this fair and square

 (*this isn't true)

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 10:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Not saying cheating is bad --
only that now it's more obvious.

by redwolf75 on Feb 26, 2008 10:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This is so ridiculous
I'm assuming that as long as it stays close nobody is going to get busted for cheating, but this is getting obvious

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 26, 2008 10:27 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

There are going to be 7000 votes
before this thing is over.  That's absurd.

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 10:20 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

if we don't pull away
by a good margin after tomorrow's game then there's definitely something funny on. Else, I really don't care so much and I don't think Jeff does either. Our community of regulars is not that large, and while Jeff's readership is pretty broad, this isn't exactly peak season for him.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 10:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Give me a break
Let's see, according to Google Analytics, Seattle Bubble had nearly 2,200 "Absolute Unique Visitors" yesterday alone.  And you guys are trying to say that because we have 600 votes it means we're cheating?

Last week we had 6,755 "Absolute Unique Visitors,"  15,347 "Visits," and 49,984 "Pageviews."

Despite what you may think, sports is not the most important thing in the world, nor the only interesting thing to blog about.

by The Tim on Feb 27, 2008 11:04 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

OOOOH PISSING CONTEST YAY!
/*pulls up chair
/*gets popcorn
/*awaits trainwreck
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 11:05 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I guess my question is
Where were those 600 votes in previous polls? Before you never had more then a couple hundred?

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 11:09 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Glad you didn't miss a period.
Baby Corcos would be a terrifying thing to behold.

by Graham on Feb 27, 2008 11:14 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks
I'll be a dad come this summer, and I'm terrified.

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 11:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Good luck.
You have instincts that will kick in eventually - mine didn't really start working until I held my son for the first time.  You should be more terrified of your pregnant wife than being a dad.

by Jed MC on Feb 27, 2008 12:10 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

She flips out when people call her my wife
but that's not new (she opposes government regulation of marriage, so we're not married).

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 2:32 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Jed's right
your wife (especially post partum) will be much harder to deal with than the baby. Babies need milk sleep and contact. nothing else. Just don't go buying a bunch of shit you don't need. You need 10% of what they tell you to buy and 40% of what you think you can get by with.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 12:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The no buying thing is so correct.
All you need is the boob, a car seat, diapers, wipes, a few changes of clothes, and a crib/bassinet/place-to-sleep-other-then-your-bed.  Just get everything else as you need it.

by Jed MC on Feb 27, 2008 1:44 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Goddammit
I just now got the joke

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 11:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Just the facts.
Sorry, not interested in a "pissing contest."  I'm just pointing out that our volume is more than sufficient to support the amount of votes we've been getting.

The reason we didn't get more than a few hundred votes in the previous rounds is because we didn't push it nearly as hard.  This is the first round that we've been put up against a formidable opponent, so this is the first round that I've put the poll on our own page and made a big effort to get votes.

I have nothing more to say here.  You guys enjoy your fantasies.

by The Tim on Feb 27, 2008 1:25 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Mmm...
Natalie Portman.................
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 27, 2008 1:44 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Bleh
mmm...vinegar potato chips and Scarlett Johansson...

by redwolf75 on Feb 27, 2008 6:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

A bunch of those unique visitors were us
trying to figure out who the hell you were.

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 11:12 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah
I know I gave them hits from 2 different computers yesterday

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 11:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I voted for LL
from their site, just for fun.

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 11:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

don't be so sensitive
this site has a huge spike in traffic any time something interesting happens in Mariner land. It follows that if the two sites have roughly equal traffic during baseball doldrums, we ought to pull away when things pick up.

And while I agree with you that sports are neither that important in the general scheme of things or the most interesting thing to blog about, they rank far above real estate in the latter category. It is the national pastime, after all. Real estate, not so much.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 11:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Obviously you missed the late 90's/early 00's
Real estate has become a hobby for a lot of people who think that they can become "real estate investors" because they just KNOW that if they buy JUST THIS ONE MORE HOUSE and flip it, Lillibridge-style, that this time THEY'LL GET RICH!  FOR SURE!!!!

These, of course, are the same people who are now going to seminars about how to save their houses, because they didn't realize that buying a $600K house with 0 down and a 5-minute credit check wasn't probably too savvy of an idea.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 12:36 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Fixed this for you
"...JUST THIS ONE MORE HOUSE and Lillibridge it"

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I thought about that
If it were a blog about living in debt, I'd say it could rival baseball as a national pastime. And it still wouldn't be as interesting.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 12:40 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

One of the annoying things
about being a new, first-time homeowner is that EVERYONE wants to talk to me about my house - what I paid for it, what my mortgage terms are, how I can fix the house up to improve its "curb appeal", all that stuff.  It's retarded.

There is nothing less interesting in the world than talking about mortgage rates and loan terms, and besides, it's nobody's damn business.  Why people think this stuff is interesting is beyond me.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 12:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

:O
That's crazy talk!

Seriously though, this whole thing makes me say "People are fucking retarded" on a greater scale than just about anything I've seen in my life time

I have no sympathy for them

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

and I don't know
but if there is one thing that my parents always drilled into my head for when I'm out living on my own it's

"LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS"

They placed so much priority on that piece of advice that it's just permanently drilled into my head and if there is anything I can thank them for it's that I am batshit scared of spending more money than I have (mortgages of course are different, but to me "variable rate" means you're trying to buy more than you can afford anyway, because if you had to do that you likely couldn't afford the fixed rate payment, as are student loans but that's a whole nother ballpark)

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Mortgages are really freaky things
because all of a sudden, I, who also live within my means, owe someone a six-figure sum.  Yikes.  But, it's good because it's mine.

The most sobering part of the whole thing, though, is the breakdown they give you of the percentage of your monthly payment that goes to principal and interest every month for the life of the loan.  For the first two years, it's something like 95% interest/5% principal.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah
I bought my first home last spring (a condo), and I was appalled that someone was willing to lend me 4 times my gross annual earnings.

Then again, real estate in Vancouver is insane ($800/sq.ft. downtown), so you need to borrow as much as you can to afford anything.

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 2:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

ever been to new york?
its the first thing you're asked after "how are you". Where you live, what kind of lease, etc. Pretty funny. I had a conversation with a waiter about what he should do with a rent controlled loft he inherited from a relative. Ridiculous.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 1:59 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Used to live there
And yeah, it's pretty stupid.  It's like porn, except completely boring.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That is ridiculous
My parents always brung me up to not ask those kinds of questions- it's just not polite.

You don't ask people how much stuff costs, you don't tell people what is wrong with their stuff and what they can do to fix it (in normal conversation), and I just have no clue why you would even care about somebody's mortgage terms

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:04 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It seems to me
that people are trying to feel better about their own choices by refracting them through yours; that way, someone with a better mortgage/terms/whatever can feel smug and superior for a minute.  Which, good for them, but I don't care enough to indulge those sorts of games.

I was brought up similarly - two subjects I will NEVER bring up in a room full of people I don't know are politics and religion - and when someone asks me about my house/mortgage I just say "I got the best loan I could qualify for, and I'm really happy in my house".

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:11 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

For me it's a matter of
Have we really come to the point in society where we feel smug that we have better mortgage terms than other people? I mean, seriously? That's absolutely pathetic.

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It seems we have
and that fact distresses me to no end.  The way I figure it, if you have nothing more interesting in your life to talk about than your work or your mortgage, you need a hobby.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's your tipping point on society?
I still cannot get over the insane amount of celebrity worship.

At least having better mortgage terms means something.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 2:23 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It may mean something
but it should absolutely not be something to feel smug over.

Celebrity worship is weird, but it at least gives people something to strive for

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:26 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I just hate smugness
Smugness is such a negative thing and if we're finding things as pointless as mortgage rates to feel smug about, that's bad for society

Celebrity worship, although retarded, is pretty much harmless

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was reaching
I have no clue what's going on in the celebrity world besides what I see on the cover of tabloids buying groceries

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If I meet anyone who pines for celebrity status
I will take great joy in being the bearer of bad news.

by Jeff on Feb 27, 2008 2:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Actually
Used to be you had to actually have accomplished something to be a celebrity - made a movie, sold a bunch of records, wrote a book, that sort of thing. In the last 15 years or so, the definition of "celebrity" has been defined down to the point that, really, anybody with a website and some notoriety could be considered a "celebrity".  

So, any day now, I fully expect you to shave your head, run over a paparazzo or two, and then check yourself into rehab.  Isn't that the celebrity way?

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:42 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I buzzed my head and I drink a lot
so I think I'm halfway there.

by Jeff on Feb 27, 2008 2:46 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It's decision time
Courtney Love-size trainwreck, or Bret Boone behind-the-scenes fix?  I'd go the Courtney Love route, it's probably more gratifying, at least in a celebrity trainwreck sense.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

my gramma died three!
This is funny only to me.  I could explain it, but it would take too long.

What the hell.

So, when the Lord of the Rings movies were coming out, there was an online petition to change the name of the second film because it was insensitive to families of the victims of 9/11.  That The Two Towers was titled some 55 years before 9/11 was somehow irrelevant.  Anyway, among the many thousands of idiots who signed the petition, there was one who added as a comment, "my gramma died three!"

Why I felt this fit here, I probably can't explain.

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 4:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I find that oddly amusing
but mostly because I think people that sign random petitions for stupid things deserve all the crap they get.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 4:08 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Trainwreck
Somebody invite me to a roast.

by Jeff on Feb 27, 2008 4:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder what Britney's
mortgage terms are...

Probably can't get a loan now; she may not even have power of attorney for her finances, I dunno.  

by marc w on Feb 27, 2008 4:51 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Also
the effect of media and helicopter parents on the upbringing of children.

This makes me cry myself to sleep at night :(

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

what is a helicopter parent?
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:42 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I had to look it up on google.
Overprotective parents of their college aged kids.  

by Jed MC on Feb 27, 2008 2:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

These parents
who just hold total control over their kids l ife, signing them up for dozens of activities and keeping an incredibly close eye on them. I got lucky with old fashioned parents but a lot of kids my age are still being called by their parents every day, their parents are taking care of all their stuff for them,  basically parents who cannot let go and the kid has no desire to let their parents go.

And it's the media's fault- preaching overprotectiveness, competitiveness.

It's like Halloween. That makes me madder than hell.  The media gets ratings by blowing up every little incident and now kids aren't allowed to go trick-or-treating without heavy parental supervision and only going to pre-approved houses or whatever. It's devastating.

The world isn't more dangerous, people just have too much access to information and it's beginning to affect the way they raise their kids.

My parents kicked me out onto the street and I was expected to play outside with the neighborhood kids all day. I feel like I caught the very tail end offa ll of that.

That's why I refuse to live in a city, by the way

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:48 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Like Tacoma?
Also, that sounds more like a suburban attitude than a city attitude.

by Mariner John on Feb 27, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Not just Tacoma
but in BOISE in the last couple years I'd live there you'd have medium sized groups of 12 year olds going trick-or-treating in a safe neighborhood with parents hovering over them.

It's one thing to accompany your kid when he's 5 or 6 (or 7 or 8 if you go to a wealthy neighborhood to trick or treat), but when they're 12?

Let your kid find a group of friends and go trick or treating with them

There are neighborhoods that are unsafe. Don't get me wrong. But the middle-class suburban/semi-urban neighborhoods that these helicopter parents are in are not unsafe.

I'm thinking I want to live in like Waitsburg or Dayton when I grow up

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 2:58 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Don't be mean
You shouldn't pick on people with acute vaginitis. It's a disease. He can't help himself.

by Graham on Feb 27, 2008 12:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hey Graham
I need to ask you a random question for an article I'm writing - Do people often run into school loan debt in the UK? If so, what is the average per graduate.
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 27, 2008 12:54 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes
"The most reliable estimate, based on SIES, is that the average student debt
from all sources among final-year students in 2002/03 was £8,666. Student
loans constituted 84%; overdrafts 11%; and commercial credit 3%"

Source: some government thing, page 5.

by Graham on Feb 27, 2008 1:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks Graham.
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 27, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

that's pretty awesome
considering people graduate with six figure debts here.

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 1:19 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Considering the value of the American Dollar
I'd say that's roughly equivalent.

Badum Bum Ching.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 27, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Aren't most new grads debts
credit card debts though? That's nobody's fault but their own.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 1:55 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I would imagine
that student loans are a big source of debt; not everyone's lucky enough to have mom & dad pay for school or to be on scholarship.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 1:56 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure student loans are a big part.
I know that all too well :(

It might just be my own internal filtering, but I felt that most stories I read about new grad debt focused on credit debt though.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 2:00 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Consider the source, though
it's far sexier for the media to beat up on the Evil Credit Card Companies (even though big fat piles of debt are not their fault) than to beat up on the student loan providers, so that's all you read about.  I'm only one data point, but I graduated college with ~$500 in CC debt and ~45K in loans, which I just in the last three years finished paying off.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:03 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I figured, that's why I asked.
Funny thing is, student loan providers are probably more evil than CC companies.

I also probably paid more attention to CC debt stories because I abhor credit debt.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 2:06 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't really see how.
People with post-secondary educations tend to earn more in their lives than people without post-secondary educations, so asking them to pay for that education themselves doesn't strike me as a terrible idea (says a guy who paid $2000/year to go to university 10 years ago).

by Llewdor on Feb 27, 2008 4:07 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I think you misunderstand me
The theory of student loans isn't evil, but many Student Loan companies operate in a very evil way, giving kickbacks to university trustees to quasi-force all their students to go with said company for example.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 4:27 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Textbook companies are much more evil
Much, much, MUCH more evil...
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 27, 2008 4:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I've never bought a textbook
I'm an engineer. Fuck reading.

by Graham on Feb 27, 2008 4:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Engineers love Porn?
Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 27, 2008 6:41 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah baby, solve those viscosity equations...
oh, no way, is she pulling out a density matrix? Oh god she did!! This is so exothermic.

by Matthew on Feb 27, 2008 9:45 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Damn.
I just squirted all over my partial derivatives.  
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 28, 2008 12:55 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This is true
Amazon makes it nicer because you can avoid ever having to deal with their asses

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 27, 2008 4:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

yep
and tuition + room and board runs at about 40k for private or out of state students. Then comes grad school, which you mostly have to pay for. Credit cards are a drop in the barrel

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 27, 2008 2:00 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was in that boat.
Worked full time during school and took out govt loans to pay the rest.  I was 33 when I finally zeroed out my college loans.

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm so happy I'm tall
So what would Brian Boitano do if he were here today? I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two, that's what Brian Boitano'd do!

by MarinerintheDistrict on Feb 27, 2008 2:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm tall too
but I utterly suck at pretty much all sports.  So oddly, no one wanted to give me a scholarship.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:32 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You're right...
I'm also really glad I'm good at sports.

Except soccer. Man I suck at soccer. But soccer sucks anyway.

So what would Brian Boitano do if he were here today? I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two, that's what Brian Boitano'd do!

by MarinerintheDistrict on Feb 27, 2008 2:44 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

WTF Spurs?
I know it was just the Carling Cup, but WTF?
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:46 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Woodgate's goal was so hilarious
That I couldn't really be pissed off about it.

Plus I prefer Chelsea losing cup finals. That way I'll stop expected them to win them and the world will go back to normal.

by Graham on Feb 27, 2008 2:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It was rather comical, true
and if you have to lose a cup final, that's the one to lose.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 2:57 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Woohoo!
I seriously don't know what to do.   I'd taunt people, but I'm sick of all the taunting I've absorbed over the years, and besides, everyone can throw the 'it's just the league cup' thing back.

But we've got silverware this year, and Arsenal does not.   Things are looking up.  

Woodgate's goal was hilarious, but I think it was justice for Zokora's humorously bungled breakaway.  

by marc w on Feb 27, 2008 4:56 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Lemme finish that sentence for you
We've got silverware this year, and Arsenal does not. Yet.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2008 5:19 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Soccer was supposed to be my ticket
To a free education.  Then I got Osgood-Schlatter Disease at 15 and was never an athlete after that.  I hear they have much better luck treating now than they did in the 80's.

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2008 2:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Sounds like my brother-in-law's luck.
He's 6'7", about 250lbs of solid muscle, 20 years old, can't participate in aerobic activity because he had open heart surgery at 16 to repair a hole and has an irregular heart beat.

by Jed MC on Feb 27, 2008 2:56 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That sounds tougher than my lot.
Heart conditions rank much higher than knee problems IMO.  I feel for him though.  As a kid my identity was largely based on playing sports and I had to learn to be ok with not having that any longer.

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

As weird as it sounds, the emotional side
was way more difficult for him than healing from surgery.  He went from having a free or highly-subsidized college education to not playing sports and struggling to pay for community college.  Luckily, he had a good doctor and there was no CRISIS from the physical issues.

by Jed MC on Feb 27, 2008 3:10 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I had that disease too.
That sucked. I wore bands around the part of my leg beneath my knee. Helped a little. But man, jumping. That hurt. Did they develop new ways to treat it? I didn't know it was possible to treat, thought you just had to outgrow it.
So what would Brian Boitano do if he were here today? I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two, that's what Brian Boitano'd do!

by MarinerintheDistrict on Feb 27, 2008 3:04 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have heard they are able to correct it in weeks
Now instead of months to years.  The worst part for me wasn't the pain.  It was randomly falling down all the time when my knee would collapse.  

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2008 3:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, weeks?
I wish I had that. Your collapsing memories reminds me of a funny story. When I was a high school freshman I was in a weightlifting class with all upperclassmen, and I was walking down the hall to the weight room when I dislocated my knee. Yeah, I was walking, and it dislocated. Still haven't lived that down....
So what would Brian Boitano do if he were here today? I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two, that's what Brian Boitano'd do!

by MarinerintheDistrict on Feb 27, 2008 3:19 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Sounds all too familiar
I'm glad you grew out of it and are still playing.

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2008 3:24 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ditto on that disease
I found out after a couple weeks of track in junior high.  walked home after practice and couldn't make it up the stairs.  Stupid knees
I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Feb 27, 2008 3:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ask USSM for help.
They're out, what do they care?
...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Feb 28, 2008 12:56 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

what does anyine care, really?
besides, this is about individual blogs. If they posted 'go vote for LL' we'd get booted.

that said, what the tits - its fucking even?

by Mere Tantalisers on Feb 28, 2008 6:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Other blogs have made a post for seattlebubble
For example,http://www.raincityguide.com/2008/02/26/why-i-read-seattle-bubble

I don't think that is cheating...

Ya, I'm shocked that we are tied as well, we should be crushing them.

How often are we allowed to vote, once per day? week?

by Grubbie on Feb 28, 2008 9:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If we can't cheat
I'm starting a smear campaign, and Jason H is my new spokes-smearer:

I used to read Seattlebubble.com from time to time, but I found that no matter how many intelligent posts you place about the market, or what facts you bring to the table, they are always willing to discredit them there...

Seattle Bubble discredits people!  Why would you vote for a discreditor?  We're all about credit here at LL!  We credit WFB with being a baseball player all the time!

(Seattle Bubble is) a bunch of naysayers who seem to have a zeal for doom and gloom. Tim tends to be pretty factual... though data can be interpreted in a number of fashions... lies, damn lies and statistics...

Yeah. We have no room for doom and gloom.  We're all about sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows here at LL!  We've got the song to prove it!

I would never vote for seattlebubble over sports... even bowling. Frankly, seattlebubble for 90% of the time is a bunch of hot air... and I wish that hot air bubble would float away.

What did hot air ever do for anybody, besides give Rush Limbaugh a job?  A vote for Seattle Bubble is a vote for Rush Limbaugh, people!  They're both powered by hot air, after all - it's SCIENCE!

Lookout Landing is clearly the choice of right-thinking Americans everywhere.  Vote LL or the terrorists win.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 28, 2008 9:29 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Okay, that was funny.
Even I laughed :^)

by The Tim on Feb 28, 2008 9:33 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Now, now
just because Seattle Bubble steals retirees' pension checks for sport doesn't mean we have to slander The Tim personally.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 28, 2008 9:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

:-) = normal face
:^) = tumour'd face

by Graham on Feb 28, 2008 9:43 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Gosh
sounds like what everyone says about USSMariner

by I'm NOT Corco on Feb 28, 2008 11:00 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Aw, how cute
they're requesting help.

by Jeff on Feb 28, 2008 11:54 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs