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OTFPOT(SAOT) Starting 2009-05-04

Tiny by seattlebruin on Comment 892 comments

I have no purpose in posting this OFFTOP. I have no particular subjects I want to discuss (except beer!), no particular links to share or images to chortle over. I just need a dose of LL off-topicness, especially given that the last two are both well over 1,000 comments and no one seems to be posting in them.

So please, come, enjoy, talk about stuff related to the Mariners or not (we should rename Scrappy's to the Rally Puppy!) and don't think about how little effort I put into this FanPost.

I can't believe I strung that out for more than 75 words.

 

EDIT: One of my life goals is to be able to view the rec leaderboard on my own. What are your random life goals?

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Read More: off topic alert, sorry nola, jeff clement, american football, american basketball, american hockey, american baseball, american american sports nascar golf you choose, Seattle Mariners

Comments

Display:

Some of us have work ethic.

The rest of us get to watch hockey!

by ningwers on May 4, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The NHL playoffs really irritated me on Saturday.

I wanted to go somewhere to see the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.

But with the Canucks still in the playoffs, literally every place in the city with a television was showing hockey (and admittedly, they were all packed with crazed hockey fans). But I wanted to see the Pacquiao fight.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on May 4, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lousy attempt at sarcasm

If he had tried to change the channel somebody would have re-enacted the final 3 seconds of the fight on him

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There were plenty of places to see it down here.

I wasn’t terribly interested given that it was a colossal mismatch, but hey.

Ricky Hatton seems like a great guy, and I’d buy him a beer if I ever find myself in his parent’s pub. But he’s so clearly not at the Pacquiao/FMJ level.

by marc w on May 4, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Beer talk!

I had another Anderson Valley that I was disappointed in, the High Rollers Wheat.

On a positive note, Midnight Sun is finally widely available in WA!

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 12:11 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Also, RateBeer completely re-did their profile sections.

I’m liking a lot of what I see, but so far haven’t been able to find the state and country maps yet, which I loved.

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Okay, if you go to place ratings, it takes you to the old profile version which you can then see the maps

but I don’t think that’s intended to stick around, so they better bring those maps to the new format. Otherwise, how will I ever complete my life goal of drinking at least one beer from every country?

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So I had Souther Tier Jah-Va Stout last night.

The second half of the bomber was a chore to get through. It was really good, but man was it sweet and viscous. Moreso than Choklat even.

by acblue on May 4, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Need more midwest

Though I finally found a beer store out there that’ll ship so Bells, Founders, Three Floyds et al are coming my way soon

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think you should have each game brought to us by beer

so the less-educated-but-eager amongst us can learn and find new things to try

by seattlebruin on May 4, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have plenty of beers to recommend,

I have limited time and patience. Also, I try to avoid featuring more than one beer per brewery and in general with the series previews am highlighting good breweries, not so much individual beers. That is, I try to limit myself to choices where I would feel comfortable having someone like you say to himself “Matthew recommended beer X by brewery Y. This store doesn’t have X, but it does have Z. I will give that a try instead.”

I am finding it increasingly difficult to maintain that status level.

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nicely linked. The other issue would be tracking down all the beers Matthew comes across.

It would be one thing if the less-educated-but-eager all lived in Seattle, but we’re just going to have to start our own SoCal beer trial.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My wall of beer is starting to become a distraction

it is on top of my desk, and when I put the bottles too close together, they clink against each other when I’m typing, which is kind of annoying. Suggestions?

No, I’m not taking my beer wall down.

by seattlebruin on May 4, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

At some point you'll just have to stop being sentimental about old beer bottles.

Imagine the joy you’ll feel when you realize that you get to rebuild a new wall.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only ones I've kept

are Elysian Loser Ale, a St. Bernardus bottle we use for a flower vase and a Speedway Stout bottle.

by acblue on May 4, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah.

For a period I was into saving at least one of each new beer bottle I tried (carried over from my father who passively did the same thing). When I reached about 50 in my tiny little dorm room I said screw it and just recycled them all. I do sometimes save bottle caps though figuring that’s the economically efficient way to accomplish the same goal.

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's definitely a better way to cherish the memories of your beer exploits.

I don’t really enjoy clutter, and the bottles become just that after a week of the novelty wearing off. I even recycled my first ever Speedway Stout (thanks sb!!!!) bottle.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

For me to save a bottle it has to be impossible to find (Speedway) or limited edition and awesome (Loser)

or my girlfriend decides she thinks it’s too pretty to throw away (St Bernardus.)

by acblue on May 4, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Those are all perfectly fine criteria.

I don’t figure anyone else will be wildly impressed by what I’ve been drinking and I know I’ve had, so to the recycling they go!

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Random life goal:

Get a haircut that I am actually happy with.

by acblue on May 4, 2009 12:11 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Random life goal:

Give a rats ass what my hair looks like

by royalcurve on May 4, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm so vain.

I probably think this song is about me.

by acblue on May 4, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like a haircut that I can then ignore.

I found someone who can do that, so I’m good.

by msb on May 4, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Space talk!

BLOW YOUR MIND!

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2706/spaceb.jpg

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 12:12 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I've seen that thousands of times

And I still find myself awe-struck when I come across it. I actually just watched the Youtube video of that last night. The Hubble Deep Field is more often than not being featured as my desktop wallpaper. Absolutely incredible

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm a rec giving whore.

I also have little pet favourites that I rec more than I should, like Robert.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My goal is to be able to view it on my own

I needed someone else’s help to be told of my own rec activity =(

by seattlebruin on May 4, 2009 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

(In Seinfeld Cockney accent)

Current listening enjoyments: Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, Parenthetical Girls

by Woodinville_12thMan on May 4, 2009 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the rankings would go

Ms. Jeff recs
Unsolicited witty comment recs
Original .gif idea recs
Original Photoshop idea recs
Obvious witty comment recs
Horrible MS Paint recs
Obvious Photoshop recs
Robert being drunk recs
.gifs of plays recs

by seattlebruin on May 4, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What would the theme of this blog be?

SBN needs more football blogs. If I was a) a good writer b) have the time c) care about the team enough I’d like to have a Manchester City blog!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sigh. I'd join.

Robert’s better than cable.

by royalcurve on May 4, 2009 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He'd create 9,984 alts and rec himself

Since nobody would be able to ban the alts

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How can you know he hasn't done that already?

Maybe you and Robert are the only people on this site.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe I'm not really me

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh god I knew it I'm the only real person

and you’re all aliens/robots and you’re acting out the world to study me as if the Earth was still real.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Something like that

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Random life goal?

See a no-hitter in person. A triple play too. Never seen either one.

by Sec 108 on May 4, 2009 12:20 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Felix Slam again!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought you lived in Leeds?

from your comments about your stag night. Could be completely wrong, if so apologies.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He went to Leeds for a stag do, which perhaps only makes sense if he lived there

but of course not everything about English Mariner makes sense, hence he’s Mancunian.

by marc w on May 4, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That does seem a strange trek

unless the groom’s from there or something. Leeds is very toiletesque. But I’ll run with the manc vibe.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stone's talking about him at #2

Which would be good golly retarded

by Graham on May 4, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That would be bad

though I think no matter what happens we’ll be disappointed at 2, even if we get a really good player

by seattlebruin on May 4, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's an absolute homerun pick, right?

Has the potential to pan out to something spectacular, but could far more easily just blow up?

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

crap. hit the wrong button.

The Animal Shelter had a small fire this weekend, with tno injuries, but is asking for donations of blankets, towels & pet toys

by msb on May 4, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Where's the button that let's me rec something ten times

I just got a weird look from my secretary because of how hard I started laughing

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Funny that you say "flashed" and "PeeWee Herman" in the same sentence

(And I also thought of the same)

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wanted to find a gif of him running out of the store with the snakes

so I searched pee wee herman pet store and the search was blocked as “adult content.” At first I was like “oh, shit,” but it turns out they just don’t like the word pee.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh dear lord laughing so hard

just barely able to keep it down enough that people don’t find out what a terrible person I am.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

One of my biggest life goals is to travel to space

I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain why and I probably couldn’t anyway, aside from the obvious. I just want to experience the sight of something that cannot properly be put into words

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

If only it were that easy

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It makes reasonable sense to me

but in order for it to keep making sense I have to ignore the odds and just think about it from a purely “what else was I going to do with this one dollar bill” standpoint.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The key is the value of the dollar to you.

If you need that dollar, don’t waste it on the lottery. If that dollar isn’t necessary for your life, the minimal chance of winning the lottery is worth the risk of losing that dollar.

by Jed MC on May 5, 2009 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Like with any gambling, you also have to factor in the entertainment value of playing.

I know for myself and most people I know, although the marginal value of a dollar is pretty low, we don’t play because the chances of winning and the entertainment we get out of playing are so low that the benefit we will get out of that dollar doing something else is still greater.

by ningwers on May 5, 2009 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That sounds mildly dangerous

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's actually safer than Rocket-propelled entry.

It’s the re-entry that gets a little tricky.

by waldo rojas on May 4, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sign me up!

Although since I’ll be in the vacuum of space I won’t be able to hear the sound of the bubble wrap popping as I pinch it :(

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you pop bubble wrap in the vacuum of space

you will probably go back in time, or rip a hole in some continuum and let some hideous aliens into this side of the galaxy.

/not a scientician`

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I thought you were smart

if you win the lottery once, you can win it again. Thus, win it once, then invest all your winnings into winning it 650,000 more times! Then they’ll have to let you fly!

by seattlebruin on May 4, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How could I lose!

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seriously though, I want to be this guy

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Has anybody rediscovered a video game they were originally very frustrated with, only to find that it is one of the best games they've ever played?

I started Mass Effect about a year ago and became so infuriated with the game that I returned it to GameFly without a second thought. At some point I decided that I needed to give it another shot, and this time I’m actually playing it correctly (the first time through I was playing it like a shooter, but this time I’m actually making use of my tech and biotics), and holy shit, the game is amazing.

In the span of one week it has entered my top-5 games EVER. I can’t wait for the sequel.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 1:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

It was definitely an incredible game

I’ll be giving it another run through at some point over the summer. Aside from some wacky texture loading issues, I had no complaints with the game. Although, ever since I played it, I am terrified to ride an elevator in real life because I don’t have nearly enough time in my day to wait

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really like Mass Effect but wish it were more sandboxy

Having random city planets that aren’t main story related would be neat.

by Graham on May 4, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wouldn't surprise me if they did

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

A bit more of a sandbox element would have been a nice touch.

That said, you can definitely go too sandboxy. I’d rather the game have a more linear story than get completely lost (See: Farcry 2).

by BrianL on May 4, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I still have my original discs for

Full Throttle, The Secret of Monkey Island (playing through it again-started last night!), The Secret of Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge, and Grim Fandango. I’ve had to use SCUMM VM to play all the older adventure games, so I also have backup copies of these and many others on my Hard Drive

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Now that's a game I haven't thought about in a long time.

For some reason, that reminds me of another game I loved during that era.

Road Rash.

by BrianL on May 4, 2009 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I played Road Rash so much on my Sega Saturn that the disc wore out and stopped working

I love how the title screen for the game always played either Outshine or Rusty Cage in the background

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Pitt is pretty good, Operation Anchorage sucked.

The one releasing tomorrow is one everyone who owns Fallout 3 needs to get.

by BrianL on May 4, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Anchorage was pretty good

Haven’t touched The Pit yet. Broken Steel comes out tomorrow, which extends the game past the original ending, and raises the level cap.

I’m foaming at the mouth for Broken Steel

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm just finishing the Pitt

and I can’t say I really liked it.
  
Art direction: they try to get a little Portal-like on you (the last part of Portal where you’re in the rusty innards of the testing facility.)

Game play wise: the additional weapons are nothing special… the silenced sniper automatic rifle is a stupid idea that has terrible accuracy. The auto axe is lame in a game where guns kick ass. Close quarters combat is for combat shotguns and flamers… NOT melee weapons.
The maps get tricky… with a lot of vertical ramps and 4 or 5 levels of upward sprawl.

Plot wise: it’s a basic… do good or do evil, with the requisite twist where maybe good is actually evil and vice-a-versa. When the twist came, I just decided to stick to my original plan and shoot any upset mothers that got in my way. Which is to say that I broke with how I would typically role play my character because I thought the plot was too obvious and manipulative.

Also, I was never able to find my old stuff. I think it’s in The Mill somewhere… but damned if I could find it. But after a while, I didn’t care. Even on hard difficulty I had managed to find enough replacement gear.

Lastly, a minor spoiler: you will eventually find a workbench. I didn’t for a LONG time and figured they planned it that way. You also find a couple bottles of Quantum if you’re a grenade throwing sort.

by johnbai on May 4, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just found out they're making LEGO Harry Potter.

Considering:

a) I don’t know how to play any other video games
b) I’ve completed all the other LEGO ones to 98% or so
c) I frigging love Harry Potter

I’m STOKED.

by royalcurve on May 4, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm waiting for the inevitable announcement of LEGO Lord of the Rings

Because it would be super awesome. I’m about to get LEGO Star Wars, as I only have a bit of Indy left to finish

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nothing to do with games

but I miss Batgirl’s Lego reinactments of Twins games.

heck, I just miss Batgirl.

by msb on May 4, 2009 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My all-time favorite

is still Oh Five! the musical that introduced the 2005 season…. wait out the Batgirl intro.

by msb on May 4, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm starting Lego Star Wars as soon as I get back from the honeymoon.

Indy was awesome, I’m hoping this one lives up to my expectations.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on May 4, 2009 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It is an awesome game, but I can see how you got frustrated with it

There are some MAJOR difficulty issues with some parts of it, even on easy.

by OlSalty on May 4, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So I don't know if this video has been posted here

and I know it’s really old in internet terms, but I swear to god I’ve never loved any internet video as much as this one. I play it at least once a day, and the song is constantly stuck in my head. I present to you:

Auto-tune the News #2

There is also a #1 and a #3, but this one is the best.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 1:23 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Bad link.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah sorry about that

I can’t open youtube here at work so I didn’t bother checking it.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I see no viable reason to remake this film

John Travolta is annoying.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Have to?

Like the British used to “have to”, or like on a vacation?

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Best friend lives there, she got married last year and is having another ceremony for "abroad" friends

June 2010. Gives everyone time to save. So yes, I have to, but of course I’m happy to go. If anyone has any Sydney tips for me, I’d love them.

by royalcurve on May 4, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

sydney is awesome is my favorite tip

But I haven’t been there in 8 years so most of my knowledge is probably pretty dated.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

pdb was on Oceanic Flight 815.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Several times.

I’m still not 100% sure what year it is as I sit here, but I’m guessing it’s about 1947.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fonzie times!

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hurley is awesome.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I most definitely do

but the flights that I’ve found are a bit (okay, a lot) more than I want to spend. If I’d never been to a WC before I would probably be more inclined to spend $1500+ on a flight.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really want to go to S. Africa anyways

so the WC would just be a bonus. Only $150 for a QF ticket.

I need an impulsive friend to talk me into going with him/her :(

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

At some point I really want to go to SA myself

but it’s a bit lower on my wife’s priority list so we won’t get there for a while I don’t think. Asia first.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But that's the good part of Africa.

I’ve always found it odd that the better parts of Africa are the two extreme directional ends.

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is anywhere really safe in Africa that doesn't border the Mediterranean?

I guess Kenya/Ethiopia area and maybe Nigeria in the Lagos area but everywhere else seems terrifying/depressing.

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Visit the Seychelles

Safe and beautiful place to go.

by tdot mariner fan on May 4, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There's all sorts of places that are "safe" in Africa.

The correlation between poverty and danger to Western travelers isn’t all that strong. If you want to feel safe, go to Rwanda because that country is Africa’s great development story of this generation and it’s extremely safe and has low crime rates (being ruled by a president who conquered all of central Africa and rules with a kindly iron fist).
And Lagos is certainly terrifying – read George Packer’s article in the New Yorker about it if you’re interested.

Ghana is reasonably safe and they speak English there – and they play baseball!

But there’s plenty of great places to visit in Africa – just do your homework and you’ll be fine.

Not sure if this is too political, by the way. Apologies if it is.

by Decatur on May 4, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, this is great.

The dangers in Africa are usually horribly exaggerated. There are obviously places that are dangerous and should be avoided at all times (the Congo), but the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa is not the Thunderdome.

by ningwers on May 4, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah I think Western perceptions cloud it quite a bit.

Hollywood doesn’t exactly help. I don’t think Africa would be on the top of my list for places to visit regardless.

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Text me when you are going Kaliningrad.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not a country, technically, but a Russian enclave.

With nothing to visit except Kant’s grave, I’ve heard. Just stick with Moscow or St. Petersberg and Kalinigrad will light up on your Facebook map anyway.

by Decatur on May 4, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

that's a lot of counties

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes it is

I’m 19% of the way done

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on May 4, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So is every Georgia county like 5 square miles or what?

3142 counties will be an impressive feat.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey Corco, I'm planning a road trip along one of these routes this June.

Milwaukee to St. Louis to KC to Denver to Seattle – and the stars aligned and I can see a baseball game in each city. Any advice/warnings/cool places to visit for the St. Louis to Denver leg of the journey?

by Decatur on May 4, 2009 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I-70 across Missouri and Kansas is roughly the worst drive in the country

I-70 across Missouri goes across the ugly part and has tons of truck traffic, I-70 across Kansas is really boring

Have fun. Your best bet is to make the drive as quickly as possible and enjoy St Louis and Denver

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on May 4, 2009 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like the middle of nowhere so that shouldn't be a problem

I’m more worried about Hawaii- if I really go through with my life goal of never getting on an airplane again then that could present a challenge

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on May 4, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is one of those comments

that is so awesome to me that I just burst out laughing when I hear it. I think it’s genius, and hope that you get it done because that would be awesome.

by Zwakamatsu on May 4, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

London is trying to host a Superbowl.

(Link). As much as sports like baseball are loved around the world, football is an American sport. It would be insane to host the UEFA final in LA. I’m all for trying to drum up some national interest in sports, especially when that takes the form of the WBC. Taking the biggest single sporting event in the country out of the country is a slap in the face to NFL fans.
While I realize that most of the outrage should be mitigated by the fact that no one can afford to attend the Superbowl anyway, moving it would severely take away from the ability of diehard fans to show up and support their team. This is stupid.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 1:52 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You have no idea how funny that actually is

considering that the main knock on Man Utd these days is that 95% of their supporters live in London and have never set foot in Manchester.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go ahead and call it soccer

because the English actually coined the word, even if they only use it pejoratively these days to describe Americans and their curious relationship with the sport.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Interesting

how come? (not snarking, just curious)

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My first real introduction to the sport outside of the US (I played soccer as a kid)

was during a trip to Spain. I quickly realized that soccer was a much more serious thing there after watching matches in bars with locals (yes, I was 11), and as such took to calling it the way the Spaniards did. It’s more imprinting than anything else.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

makes sense.

And on a somewhat related note I would love to live in Spain someday.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It seems like anywhere on the Mediterranean would be fantastic.

Well, except maybe the eastern Mediterranean. Or Albania.

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Turkey!

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was Constantinople

But now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They Might Be Giants

and I’m glad you missed it for they are annoying.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have them on my iPod

It’s horribly annoying when I’m drifting off to sleep with it on shuffle, and then shitty nerd rock with fake computerized brass blares in my ears.

by Taylor H on May 4, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just TMBG or shitty nerd rock in general?

I should say at this point that other than Weezer, who also annoy me, I can’t think of any shitty nerd rock bands.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I enjoy TMBG but do not love them.

However my first real band did a whole set of songs about math, chemistry and physics and it was a blast to play.

I am going to tie you to a chair and make you listen to it some day.

by Sec 108 on May 4, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But did you play them as a rock band

or as a twee pop band? It’s more the twee pop part that I can’t stand rather than the lyrics – I like Bloodhag just fine, for example.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah Bloodhag,

they are enjoyable if not for many of their fans.

I’m not sure if we were twee, but we dressed up as nerds and definitely had stage personas. I have always enjoyed taking an alternate personality to the stage. Makes it more fun for me.

by Sec 108 on May 4, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That could be interesting

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

At this point you might as well say you're doing it on purpose

3 times now? 4? I thought you were already here for most of this anyway

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nope, been away for hours.

Doing that catch-up-but-not-quite-enough thing I guess.

by acblue on May 4, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

downthread there's a Joss Whedon discussion

and a debate over vocalists whose voices annoy various people. Just a heads-up.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That works then

Done it plenty myself. Guess there’s some benefit to reading through some replies before chipping in an opinion, since I’ll constantly repeat something

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It will never happen

there will probably be more regular season games played overseas, but the league’s showpiece will never be played outside the US for much the same reason that it will never be on pay TV.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, that's one move that will not be happening purely for PR reasons.

I bet it would have little actual impact on the game or the fans actually in attendance. Though I wonder about time slot.

by Matthew on May 4, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fuck the NFL I want some MLB over here.

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on May 4, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If there were proper facilities they'd probably be there in a heartbeat

but there aren’t that many grounds that have the space to convert to a baseball setup, I don’t think – cricket grounds might work, but still.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd love to see Manny Ramirez at Lord's

just for the comedy value.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There was talk of the Red Sox trying to con Gilchrist into coming over.

I’d have loved to see that. There was some video of Manny playing a little bit of cricket earlier this year (did I find that here?), and that was pretty neat.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Something like this?

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I meant trying to field baseballs actually

but trying to watch him play cricket would have been awesome too.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Although I do love that they play different match lengths, so strategy changes radically.

It would be like the Mariners playing 5 inning games, 1 inning games, and 30 inning games.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It actually has very explicit rules

not that I know what they are to any great degree, but it’s very unlike Calvinball.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hahahahaha

How did I miss this? This was on live TV.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 2:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I finally figured out why M/G/J are opposed to making a big deal of steroid use

As graduates from difficult college programs, they’ve probably all been abusing neurological-enhancing drugs:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/04/27/090427fa_fact_talbot?printable=true
:)

by johnbai on May 4, 2009 2:27 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Nope

It was all eating raw coffee beans for us.

by Graham on May 4, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Key Quote on neuro-enhancing drugs
I suggested that adults, too, might feel coerced into using the drugs. "Yeah, in a competitive field—if suddenly a quarter of the people are more equipped, but you don’t want to take the risks with your body—it could begin to seem terribly unfair," he said. "I don’t think we need to be turning up the crank another notch on how hard we work. But the fact is, the baseline competitive level is going to reorient around what these drugs make possible, and you can choose to compete or not."

The steroid dilemma has gone from baseball to your workplace. Are you ready to make a decision on which competitive risks you are willing to take?

by johnbai on May 4, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just started taking my allergy meds this morning and they contain steroids

I’m fully expecting to be a major league baseball player or elite-level cyclist by the end of the week.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Didn't Gary Sheffield teach you ANYTHING?

Steroids are not something you put into your eyes.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Singer whose voice grates on you?

Besides the obvious ones (Axl Rose, Billy Corgan) I’d have to go with Scott McCaughey. Something about his voice just makes me not want to listen to his music a large percentage of the time.

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:51 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh I need to come to your house and set you on fire now

Scott McCaughey is pretty much my Seattle rock hero.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah yeah, I know

He’s a good songwriter, I just don’t like the tone of his voice on certain songs.

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh but to answer your question

Morrissey.
Billy Corgan.
Whatshisname from the goddamn Decemberists

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I know I'm gonna be ripped for this, but

Stevie Wonder

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'M ON A BOAT!

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Eddie Vedder

I understand that he is a good singer and Pearl Jam is a good band, but I don’t like his voice or that band.

by Jed MC on May 4, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

YES YES YES

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I also do not like the new player pages.

If the player doesn’t have an action photo I feel like I am being visually assaulted. Example

by Mariner John on May 4, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, well

on the plus side I like how they’ve really integrated high quality video into everything really well.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on May 4, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I kind of miss him...

Sure he was terrible, but he was likable. Unlike Silva and Wash he never blamed others for his own ineptitude and threw one or two gems.

by SethGrandpa on May 4, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He was in the last episode of Dollhouse

and was awesome in it.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's really grown on me

It’s nowhere near as good as Firefly was, and can’t hold a candle to Buffy, but if you can stick with Dollhouse past the first four or five episodes it’s pretty solid.

The main problem I have with it is the almost complete lack of Whedon-esque humor in most of the episodes; once I learned not to expect that, the show got a lot better for me.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Aaaand

Buffy didn’t really get good until the second season. If (and it’s a big if) there’s more to come from Dollhouse, I’m hopeful that it’ll get a lot better.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just hope it gets that funny edge

that’s half the reason I like Whedon’s stuff so much – it’s very rapid-fire, with lots of throwaway lines that are funny about 10 seconds after you hear them once you catch up, and Dollhouse seems to take itself entirely too seriously.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder how much of that is FOX's fault.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

A lot, from what I've read

Whedon turned in the pilot and Fox loved him but hated it, so they rewrote it with their writers, and then those writers did the next 5 eps as well. Whedon didn’t start writing it again until episode six, and the tone immediately shifted a bit. Hopefully they’ll leave him alone next year.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's never not awesome.

Check out the Firefly Gag Reel. 3:13-4:07. Genius.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not all that recently--

he was pretty manly when playing Lancelot in Spamalot

by msb on May 4, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

and .... EW had the same thought:

“Speaking of which, you look like you put on some muscle for the part.

TUDYK: Yes, because they cast a damn body double that looks like the Hulk! Joss showed me the first episode where you see Alpha from behind and I was like, “Oh my God. I’ve got a lot of work to do.” But I have a Ned Flanders kind of body. When I’m wearing baggy clothes you wouldn’t expect that I have any muscle. Just like in tonight’s episode. I don’t look too wildly in shape at first. It’s when I put on the tight shirt that you see it."

by msb on May 4, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My wife said pretty much the same thing

She liked Serenity OK until that happened and now that incident colors her love of the movie.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I admit it, I have trouble watching that movie because of that scene.

I love it to death, but Wash going the way he did is almost too much for me.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My wife almost walked out of the theater she hated that scene so much

and up till that point she loved the movie.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Uh oh.

So the actor who plays Desmond on Lost is being sued for sexual harassment. Fuck, that means Desmond is going to get killed off.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:08 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Here's a question for the mods as well as my fellow Google Reader users

Lately, LL posts have been taking an obscene amount of time to show up in my reader, where they used to pop in pretty quickly. In GReader, hovering the cursor over the time/date on a feed item will tell you the published date (from the website) and the posted date (when it hit the reader). I’m seeing gaps of up to 4 hours on many posts and am curious if this is happening to anybody else.

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My LL has been about normal, but Field Gulls has been off by hours.

My morning posts are showing up at like 3pm in my reader.

by abender20 on May 4, 2009 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

See I'm getting your (and all other) Field Gulls stuff very promptly

Your post this morning hit barely half an hour after the publish time. Here, though, I have no such luck anymore. For example, the Series Preview post Matthew made still has not gotten to me, even though I’ve refreshed many times

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't use Google Reader for LL so I can't speak to that one specifically

but Reader usually lags by anywhere from 1-10 minutes for me depending on the site.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have LL there because I can't always be at a computer but still read my feeds through my cell phone

Plus while I’m at work I can’t always freely browse the site to find new content, so having the RSS show up lets me click straight through and stay caught up. It’s obviously not the end of the world, but definitely a curiosity. Yesterday’s “Gamethread part 2” went up at 3, and hit my reader at 8:41

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And that's where my confusion comes in

I’ve got LL, LL FanPosts, and LL FanShots queued up, as well as the same for Field Gulls. All others seem to attach fine, but the majority of front page items here take forever to show up. And to further the confusion, your post about Beltre this morning went up here at 8 and hit my reader at 8:04, so WTF

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Anybody know anything about a band called Red Red Meat?

A song of theirs was featured in KEXP’s latest podcast. It sounded awesome, and wondered how the rest of their stuff is.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:49 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

They sound familiar and I think I have some of their stuff

but I’ll have to check when I get home and refresh my memory as to whether I like them or not.

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

by pdb on May 4, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dunno about them

But I do know that you put Red Red Meat over some Hot Hot Heat and then you can Yum Yum Eat

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions   4 recs

Yeah yeah yeah!

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

,

!!!

I want to poop at your house - Thingray

by tootthekazoo on May 4, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

You, sir, are the master.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on May 4, 2009 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep.

They were on Sub Pop in the 90s…. I had a few of their records but can’t remember much about them. Pretty bluesy, if I remember correctly. If they are still around I’m surprised, as I thought they’d sort of gone on to become Califone. Maybe they’ve reunited or something. See how full of zero information I am?

by royalcurve on May 4, 2009 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs