Soooo....

[Mousey Girl]

My day started off verrrry badly with Nickolas recieving a phone call at 7am. I knew the call would be coming, but it didn't make it any easier. Top off that news with fighting a sinus infection and I am feeling quite pissy.

The only thing keeping me work-worthy is my picture of Nickolas, taken by the waterfall/fountain in front of WoD store. He is wearing his NBC ears and Pirate t-shirt, sporting his big, cheesy Nick Grin.

[Kevy Baby]

In case anyone hasn't noticed, I'm in a mood today.I was wondering what that smell was.

[Kevy Baby]

Okay, that's it. I'm swooning! :) :)

I have to find a way to get a baby beardie!!! Thank you for sharing those pictures!! Your beardies are darling!!To give you an idea, a baby could/would easily start out in a 10-gallon tank (with lights). I could loan one to you until he outgrew it in a few months at which time you would need something larger. You could then get a 20 or 40 gallon tank, but those will be quickly outgrown. I suggest just going from the baby tank to permanent housing. You could do a 60 gallon (or larger) tank at that time, or a reptile enclosure - which are easily found on Craig's List.

BTW: one thing that might put a kibosh on the whole Beadie thing for you: food.
They eat live worms and crickets (as they grow older, you add greens as well)

[Snowflake]

So here's a little piece of history that's new to me

http://www.geocities.com/~rudyfan/brevity.gif

[Prudence]

I just registered for my fall classes. That's right, I just registered FOR THE LAST TIME!!!! (For this degree, that is...)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Interesting question to hear from one's manager: "Do you have a passport?"

[Brigitte]

Where do you want to go today?

[Morrigoon]

Anywhere but here. I need to travel, desperately.

[Mousey Girl]

I am simply keeping my eye on the brass ring, which for me is DLR. I sososoooo need to go away, if even for 4 small days. The best thing about it is that I will be there with my favorite person.

[MouseWife]

Four small days are better than not. I must have missed something, Nikolas received a call this morning? If it is what I think it is, did they have to do that to him/you that early in the day?

Me, I am awaiting Gas & Electric to come and check for a gas leak. I smell something but no one else does. My family. They think I am nutty. Well, I am 'zany', perhaps, but not nutty. I have been working all week and no one else noticed it here while I was gone. Today I am here and I actually have felt nauseous in the kitchen. Trouble is, I have to leave to get my Boy...my son in law had better not have any immediate plans....

The Hubster wants to go to Hangtown this Sunday for some race kick off? I told him I wish I coiuld oblidge {he does a lot for my fancies} but it is such short notice.

I would love to hit the road and go somewhere. Oh well. I'll have to wait until the end of June. :(

Oh, did everyone enter the Nemo contest on the Disney site?

[€uroMeinke]

So, I've been to busy to log in the past couple days and now I have 875 unread posts - you folks have been busy!

[Snowflake]

Welcome back Guru of Swank!

How's your Mom doing?

[€uroMeinke]

Welcome back Guru of Swank!

How's your Mom doing?

Mom's back home and doing well - though still a bit tired out from the whole ordeal. She's most happy that she can walk around. I still owe her a Champagne Brunch.

[katiesue]

Glad to hear she's feeling better.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Bronchitis/Pneumonia really sucks.

Thanks to all of you for keeping me entertained while I'm confined to my bed. :)

[Morrigoon]

You're welcome :)

[MouseWife]

I am really glad to hear your mom is home and doing better, Chris.
I bet she is worn out from all of that business, testing, etc.

Motorboat Cruiser, sorry to hear how sick you are. That is quite exhausting, isn't it?

[Not Afraid]

MBC!!!!! Why so phlegmie?

[wendybeth]

Mom's back home and doing well - though still a bit tired out from the whole ordeal. She's most happy that she can walk around. I still owe her a Champagne Brunch.


I'm glad she's doing better!


Now, MBC- you get better!

[JWBear]

I was wondering what that smell was.

:p

[Ghoulish Delight]

I spent 2 extra hours at work today, and will be spending tomorrow and Monday at work desperately attempting to save myself from being sent to the UK to deal with a problem at a customer site. Joy.

[thecorndogwalker]

Place your hand on the screen and rub the MAGIC BEAVER it will help remove any negative thought, idea or pain!

[Not Afraid]

I spent 2 extra hours at work today, and will be spending tomorrow and Monday at work desperately attempting to save myself from being sent to the UK to deal with a problem at a customer site. Joy.

There's something wrong with this post. I can't figure out what it is. Hmmm let me think.

OH! It's the "being sent to the UK" part.

On another note:

Put these things in order:

Go grocery shopping
Think about what to make for dinner for the next week
Buy ingredients for dinner
Make up recipe
Make dinner

[Kevy Baby]

Place your hand on the screen and rub the MAGIC BEAVER it will help remove any negative thought, idea or pain! Rubbing a magic beaver always makes me feel better.

[Prudence]

My mommy got accepted to WSU's distance degree program! She's planning to finally finish her BA. My dad doesn't see the point, and I'm not sure my brother does either, so I'm the sole cheering section. Fortunately, I feel pretty damn rahrah about about it.

[Gemini Cricket]

My mommy got accepted to WSU's distance degree program! She's planning to finally finish her BA. My dad doesn't see the point, and I'm not sure my brother does either, so I'm the sole cheering section. Fortunately, I feel pretty damn rahrah about about it.
Send a "rah" her way from me. I think it's awesome.
:)

[Alex]

Hey, if friends don't let let friends go to WSU then I have to think that goes double for family.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I forgot how much I love Orange flavored Hostess CUp Cakes.

Yummy!

[CoasterMatt]

Anybody want any 'Graham Cracker Crust Pie'?

It's got plenty of meringue!

[wendybeth]

Pru- tell your mommy she rocks!

(Does this mean she's a Coug now?)

[Gemini Cricket]

I don't work until 4:30pm tomorrow.
Yay!

I'm thinking of eating more brownies before I go to bed.
:D

[€uroMeinke]

Ack - my junior high is having a reunion - that was 31 years ago!

[RStar]

Mom's back home and doing well - though still a bit tired out from the whole ordeal. She's most happy that she can walk around. I still owe her a Champagne Brunch.

Yes, a champagne brunch sounds like a great idea! I'm glad she's doing better!:snap:

~Bob

[Gemini Cricket]

Did they have junior highs back then?

[Prudence]

Pru- tell your mommy she rocks!

(Does this mean she's a Coug now?)

Oh, it's worse than that - starting next month my brother's going to be faculty with their extension program out here. So that's two cougs in the family.

[MouseWife]

Did they have junior highs back then?

When did they change them to middle from junior?

So, you are eating brownies? I have been eating little fruit tarts {I forget what they are really called...}, pecan tarts and little brownie bites. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm. So bad but sooooo good. Pretty, too. :D

[Motorboat Cruiser]

MBC!!!!! Why so phlegmie?

You want phlegm stories? I got phlegm stories. Buckets of them.

No? I didn't think so. :)

Thanks for the wishes of wellness everyone. Antibiotics seem to be slowly doing their job.

[Snowflake]

I spent 2 extra hours at work today, and will be spending tomorrow and Monday at work desperately attempting to save myself from being sent to the UK to deal with a problem at a customer site. Joy.

Is this angst because (1) you will be away from the newly installed HDTV or
(2) there will be no chance for a little fun time in the UK or (3) the area of the UK you'd be sent to is the pit of hell?

What's wrong with me that I'm looking forward to a free trip to DC for a seminar in November? Of course, I'm tying that in with a long weekend so I can visit with friends and former co-workers, too?

[Snowflake]

Ack - my junior high is having a reunion - that was 31 years ago!

My junior high is now housing a school for chiropractors.

[Alex]

Wow, I though junior high "graduations" were pointless. Good to know that's been topped.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Is this angst because (1) you will be away from the newly installed HDTV or
(2) there will be no chance for a little fun time in the UK or (3) the area of the UK you'd be sent to is the pit of hell?#2 mostly. I'll be flown out there, spend hours of boredom at the customer's site, and have little opportunity to do anything other than have dinner with my coworkers.

I'm not entirely sure what part of the UK yet. The company is headquartered in Edinburgh. If that's where I'd end up, that would be a little better as I have a friend living there, so I'm sure that would give me a good excuse to get away from coworkers for a while. But even so, spending 2 or 3 days in a city I've never been without being able to actually VISIT the city is my idea of torture.

[Brigitte]

Yay! Go Cougs :) I'm a Coug too!

[Ponine]

When did they change them to middle from junior?


Totally depends on where you lived and when.
case in point, in Linda Vista, Montgomery Middle was Montgomery Junior until about four years ago.
Yet we have others that are still juniors.

Truly I believe it has something to do with what grades the school houses. 7/8 vs 6/7/8 or 7/8/9

[blueerica]

My mommy got accepted to WSU's distance degree program! She's planning to finally finish her BA. My dad doesn't see the point, and I'm not sure my brother does either, so I'm the sole cheering section. Fortunately, I feel pretty damn rahrah about about it.

I think it's great to finish what you started, especially in terms of education. I meet people at school all the time that waited until their kids were grown and had kids of their own to go back to school. It's good to feel completion in one's own life.

Right now I'm really proud of my cousin, who's been through hell and back. She's getting her GED any second now ;) and she'll be completing some criminology program (that I'm clearly not sure on the specifics of). She wants to work with other rape victims, and is planning on continuing her education. I'm glad that at 36, she realized she's not stuck and can learn to help herself and others.

[Mousey Girl]

**yawwwwn** I be very tired today.

On the "plus" side/size of things, I have lost another 6 pounds, bringing my post-Easter pounds lost to 20!!

I just wish my tummy would straighten out. The thought of food is still giving me issues, so I am having to force myself to eat.

[Kevy Baby]

On the "plus" side/size of things, I have lost another 6 pounds, bringing my post-Easter pounds lost to 20!!

I just wish my tummy would straighten out. The thought of food is still giving me issues, so I am having to force myself to eat.Congrats on the weight loss. Just make sure you aren't damaging your health in the process.




Eh... f-it. Who cares about your health if you are looking good ? :evil:

[AllyOops!]

Aw, I feel your pain, Mousey Girl! Stomach issues & stress are just the worst!! Congrats on your weight loss, but I wish it was under much different circumstances! :( I hate to see you hurting!!

When my grandfather passed away (he was very ill & I took care of him) I found I never, ever had the time to eat. Plus, when I did manage to eat, I was never able to keep it down for very long. My nerves were just raw and frazzled. I was juggling so much, and my weight dropped to 95 lbs. (I'm 5"7).

I didn't really take the time to slow down and notice. However, everybody else did. I got gasps and comments like, "are you sick?" or, "do you think maybe you could find your missing ass?" This is when I learned that no man is a fan of the emaciated Nicole Richie look. Especially when some jerk told me he was "afraid to hug me for fear I would break".

I've since gained all 20 pounds back (my love of bean & cheese burritos ensured this.) & now I'm back to being a whiny female who's never happy with the way I look. ;)

[MouseWife]

Ponine~yeah, I think that is it. {the grades}

Yes, not a fun way to lose weight, stressing out. I hope that balances out for you soon {yoga? meditation? going for walks? walking helps me relax...}

AofD~ I am glad you picked those pounds back up!!! That is more healthy for you, physically, and, it means you are in a better place emotionally, right?

[BarTopDancer]

I got a B in one of the classes I thought for sure I was going to fail!

YAY!

[AllyOops!]

AofD~ I am glad you picked those pounds back up!!! That is more healthy for you, physically, and, it means you are in a better place emotionally, right?

Aww!! Thank you so much, MouseWife! :) I'm definitely in a much better place emotionally and that makes all of the difference!! Sometimes, when I get way stressed, I tend to almost go the same route, but then I think of my many blessings and bean & cheese burritos! :D

[Morrigoon]

Okay, this is really really funny, but it might only be hilarious to me. I guess the Virginia department of real estate decided to come up with an "entertaining" way of teaching ethics to their members, so they came up with this "Ted Truitt" character to represent every bad agent stereotype that exists, and set up this website (http://www.tedtruitt.com/)as if it was "The Ted" trying to coach other agents. You take "The Tedst" (test) to see if you've "got what it takes" to do things Ted's way, and when you answer the questions or even hover over the answers, he does different things, including (if you pick the ethical answer) getting slime dumped on him - he even wallows in it a bit, haha.

Okay, maybe I'm the only one that finds it hilarious. But good on Virginia. If only boring subjects in school were taught that amusingly!

[Snowflake]

So this question just was sent firmwide, in all seriousness,

Does anyone have experience obtaining highway signage for a client?

but the wag in me could not resist a silly a$$ response. :evil:

[BarTopDancer]

GO DUCKS GO!

[Kevy Baby]

GO DUCKS GO!Congrats on the win last night!

[BarTopDancer]

Congrats on the win last night!

Thank you! It was a great game, a huge win and a huge statement.

We got lucky and had some really awesome Detroit fans sitting directly behind us. Our section is full of season ticket holders (upper level, center ice) so it's rare that we have the enemy sitting amongst us. These folks were so nice and so respectful. They were aware of their audience and could talk smack and at the same time have respect for where they were. The Red Wings have a legacy that is to be respected - no matter who *your* team is and some fans think that means they own hockey.

[Kevy Baby]

So, Susan just called me:
Good News: I'm going to have surgeryNow, to me, this is not what I would call good news. I don't like the idea of someone chopping into my wife. I subscribe to the "No surgery is minor" school of thought. Sure, if the surgery is on me, it isn't a big deal, but not my beloved (I'm weird that way).

Seems the reason for her extreme cramps and probably a major contributor to our lack of success in the conception department is Endometriosis (Firefox doesn't think that is a real word). She went to the stirrups doctor this morning and was officially diagnosed.

I guess it is just a small incision below her belly button. I suspect that it is arthroscopic, but I am not sure. It should just be an outpatient procedure, but we'll know more later.

Susan is actually happy about this as she is looking forward to getting rid of the pain. I am looking foward to her being pain free and happy. I just wish she could get it without surgery.

[Kevy Baby]

We got lucky and had some really awesome Detroit fans sitting directly behind us.Hey, what is it with the whole "throw a dead octopus on the ice" thing? I heard there were a couple of them last night. Is that a Detroit thing or a hockey thing? And WTF is that all about?

[Snowflake]

I subscribe to the "No surgery is minor" school of thought. Sure, if the surgery is on me, it isn't a big deal, but not my beloved (I'm weird that way).

Which is why you're the wonderful husband you are. Not weird.


Susan is actually happy about this as she is looking forward to getting rid of the pain. I am looking foward to her being pain free and happy. I just wish she could get it without surgery.

Sending good mojo for the procedure and I hope you're both pain free and conceiving soon! ;)

[Kevy Baby]

Sending good mojo for the procedure and I hope you're both pain free and conceiving soon! ;)Actually, that is going to have to be a whole other discussion. I'm 42 and she's 40. I am not sure I am willing to go down the "high risk pregnancy" route.

[BarTopDancer]

Hey, what is it with the whole "throw a dead octopus on the ice" thing? I heard there were a couple of them last night. Is that a Detroit thing or a hockey thing? And WTF is that all about?

It's a Detroit thing - generally reserved for "hat tricks" (when the same player scores 3 goals in a game). Normally people throw hats. They throw octopus. Not sure why they threw them last night. I guess they didn't want sushi.

Pos mojo for the surgery.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's a Detroit thing - generally reserved for "hat tricks" (when the same player scores 3 goals in a game). Normally people throw hats. They throw octopus. Not sure why they threw them last night. I guess they didn't want sushi.

The origin (http://www.detroitredwings.com/history/octopus.jsp)

Two Detroit brothers [in 1952], Pete and Jerry Cusimano - storeowner's in Detroit's Eastern Market - threw the eight-legged cephalopod on the ice at Olympia Stadium. Each tentacle of the octopus was symbolic of a win in the playoffs. Back then, the NHL boasted only six teams, and eight wins (two best-of-seven series) were needed to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings swept the series that year, and the Octopus has come to be the good luck charm ever since.

[Snowflake]

Actually, that is going to have to be a whole other discussion. I'm 42 and she's 40. I am not sure I am willing to go down the "high risk pregnancy" route.

Well, there are always more pets to adopt, if not children!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Best of luck on the surgery! And I hope Kevy doesn't worry too much. :)

[AllyOops!]

Aww! I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers Gus-Gus's way! Please keep us posted! I know surgery can be such a scary thing, but think of how wonderful she'll feel once she recovers! No more chronic pain, which I can imagine must be just heartbreaking to endure. :(

I absolutely feel for her! When I was about 25 years old, my doctors tested me for endometriosis. I rarely got my, um, "time of the month" (there's something I never wanted to post about!) They also thought I may be going through premature menopause. However, they told me that was usually genetic and nobody in my family has had it. Fortunately, I didn't have anything at all & hormones via "the pill" straightened me out.

I remember the fear that I felt when the doctor told me I'd probably never have children if this was the case (menopause).

Now, at age 34, I'm still not ready for children (I'm not even married!) but I feel the pressure and the weight of the clock. I'm always afraid my body will give up before I'm ready! :(

Adoption & animals are wonderful ideas! My pets were like my babies. This is why I'm foaming at the gums to have many more! Even if it means grinding my teeth, swallowing hard, weeping and feeding live insects (ACK!!) to a beardie that I so desire to have one day! :)

[blueerica]

Kevy - how strange that I mentioned my cousin earlier. She has actually battled with Endometriosis over the past 15 years or so. It's finally to the point that this next week she goes in for a hystorectomy. (I guess these things come back... she's done the other surgery before.) (And yes, she's going through soooo much this year. But it's all good... she's finally looking to the future. A pain-free future, both physically and emotionally.)

Like I will for my cousin, I will keep good thoughts in my heart for Susan. The best of luck to the both of you, and I hope she starts feeling better soon. Endometriosis is something I wouldn't wish upon anyone.

[Ponine]

Actually, that is going to have to be a whole other discussion. I'm 42 and she's 40. I am not sure I am willing to go down the "high risk pregnancy" route.

Not sure what I want to say to this... but I will say... been there, done that.
You're both otherwise healthy, and plenty of women over 40, (and a great many of us under40) have high risk pregancies without issue.

Thinking good thoughts for GusGus. Hugs.

[Morrigoon]

Why why WHY did they put me in charge of this project? We have a guy in our company who USED to head up our in-house marketing department. They did these booklets for us, which we now need more of. But our in-house marketing department was dissolved, and that guy was given a new role in the company. WHY, I ask you, was he not put in charge of getting more done? I know f*ck-all about print production, and just made a $60 mistake because of it. How was I to know that you cut paper after printing, instead of before? How was I to know that a printer that can handle 12x18" can't handle 12x17.75"?

And every time we hit a snag, they tell me to call this guy (who never sounds terribly happy to hear from me). Why not have him do it? The project probably would've been COMPLETED by now!

[AllyOops!]

I brought fresh, homemade lemon cupcakes with hard chocolate icing & homemade banana bread muffins with me to work today. I love seeing my guys (co-workers) joyfully gobbling cakes!

I brought a cupcake with me inside of my office, and I must confess that I only eat the icing off of the top. I don't like the "bready part". I'm known for single-handedly balding cupcakes.

So, when my boss opened my office door and saw my bald muffin just chillin' on my desk (how raunchy does that sound) he looked confused. To which I replied without even thinking, "Oh, I only like to lick my muffin".

You can imagine the conversation that ensued afterwards. Oops. :blush:

[alphabassettgrrl]

Kevy, I understand about accepting something for yourself that you wouldn't wish on your beloved. I am glad, though, that her problem has a solution of sorts. Too bad it's surgery, but they're pretty good at it these days.

The octopus thing... kind of creeps me out. Throw a stuffed octopus or something- don't kill a real one for nothing. It takes more than 8 games now anyway, so there's no point.

The hats I'm kind of ok with. Florida (?) throws rats. Not so much ok with that.

Me? Today I went to a funeral and nearly broke out in giggles several times. I figure it's ok to laugh at the officiant; he's not involved in the grief stuff. When the family members spoke, that affected me and that I can take seriously. The dead lady's daughter was *so* broken up... poor girl. And she got up to say a little bit about her mom dying just before mother's day.

That got me. But the preacher?? I nearly giggled. Several times.

[AllyOops!]

Laughing is incredibly therapeutic!! After my Grandfather passed, I erupted into giggles at both the mortuary & the funeral. If I hadn't, I would have continually gotten sicker and sicker to my stomach. I couldn't hold anything down.

I still laugh at times when I'm at the cemetery. I especially died (no pun intended) laughing when a solicitor called my Grandmother's house and asked for my late Grandfather. She simply answered "he's not in" and the solicitor answered back with, "oh, well I just spoke to him and he told me to give you a call."

Hahaha!! I wish I would have answered that call. I would have asked for my Grandpa's "new" Heavenly address & number. Then, I would have told him to make sure to tell my Grandpa I'm just a little upset that when he finally chose to make contact, it was with a hokey, lying solicitor and not his own family. ;)

[BarTopDancer]

The origin (http://www.detroitredwings.com/history/octopus.jsp)

Thank you! I totally thought it was for a hat trick.


The octopus thing... kind of creeps me out. Throw a stuffed octopus or something- don't kill a real one for nothing. It takes more than 8 games now anyway, so there's no point.

They don't go out and kill one for it. They go to the store and buy an already dead one.

The hats I'm kind of ok with. Florida (?) throws rats. Not so much ok with that.

Hats are fun. AndyMac got a Hat Trick early on in the playoffs. There was less than a minute left in the game and we were going to win no matter what. Besides hats the towels were being thrown out. Over and over again. The Ducks were helping the ice girls clean up the ice. And the announcer finally said "It's a hat trick, not a towel trick! Can we please finish the game!?" Hillarious.

[Morrigoon]

Well, here's one for the annals of "Stuff I Never Thought I'd See". I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the logic of creating a website for Amish clothing (http://plainlydressed.bravepages.com/).

Uhhh........ what?

[Ponine]

I notice that the one set of customer photo's they have is a school who bought the clothes for a play.

But.. they do have a great deal of informative type pages.
but yes, the whole, buy your clothes online thing isnt working so well.

[AllyOops!]

Well, here's one for the annals of "Stuff I Never Thought I'd See". I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the logic of creating a website for Amish clothing (http://plainlydressed.bravepages.com/).

Uhhh........ what?

WOW!! And debuting in Italian Vogue Magazine, no less! :snap:

And how's about the sexy, dramatic picture of the heavily eye-make-up'd, heroin-chic'd Mennonite accompanying it? Those were some words I never thought I'd type.

[Capt Jack]

yeah, freaky shots, werent they?

I definitely got the impression that those supplying the clothing werent at all thrilled with the photos

[Kevy Baby]

OK, so...

A WEB SITE targeted for people who DON'T USE COMPUTERS?

Yeah, I don't get it.

[Alex]

The clothes are targeted to Amish people. Nor are they exclusively Amish. There are quite a few "conservative dress" Christian groups that don't have the same prohibitions on technology.

[Mousey Girl]

I survived today. I was up at 4am, couldn't sleep, tummy issues, ect...

I only had a "few" run-ins with Bridezillas and demanding customers. Luckily most of my orders were problem free. A couple of my co-workers were not so lucky. Now if only I survive tomorrow I will be a happy camper.

Right now I am waiting for Nick to get home. He is off meeting his baby brother. Lovely.

[Alex]

I was arguing about this with someone at work a few days ago (even in a bank I'm amazed by the number of people that don't understand the concept of present value).

But this guy sums it up pretty well. Why you'll never come out ahead (http://www.slate.com/id/2166475?nav=tap3)with the "forever stamps" now being offered the post office.

[blueerica]

Meh, I don't think it's smart to "stock up" on a forever stamp. On the other hand, since it's extremely rare for me to actually mail something out, if I had to go buy stamps I'd buy the forever ones. It saves the cost of my sanity. I hate buying 1 and 2-cent stamps to cover the difference, and usually, I'll just slap two stamps on.

In that sense, someone like me would benefit. But not in the sense that its an investment of any sort. I'd buy a sheet of 20 and it would probably last 5 years for me. And for those five years, I wouldn't have to go back to the post office for a new stamp.

[Kevy Baby]

I'm trying to figure out why they still sell a First Class stamp with a postage amount on it.

Excepting for philatelists, this makes no sense.

[Alex]

Why wouldn't they?

[lindyhop]

Meh, I don't think it's smart to "stock up" on a forever stamp. On the other hand, since it's extremely rare for me to actually mail something out, if I had to go buy stamps I'd buy the forever ones. It saves the cost of my sanity. I hate buying 1 and 2-cent stamps to cover the difference, and usually, I'll just slap two stamps on.

In that sense, someone like me would benefit. But not in the sense that its an investment of any sort. I'd buy a sheet of 20 and it would probably last 5 years for me. And for those five years, I wouldn't have to go back to the post office for a new stamp.

How could anyone consider this anything but a convenience?

I'm still working on a roll of 37-cent stamps. I bought about 18 more 2-cent stamps a couple of months ago but didn't manage to use everything up before this week. So now I'll have to double up on the 2-cents and buy a few more. I rarely use snail mail. A roll of 100 "forever" stamps would probably last me just about forever.

[MouseWife]

Maybe the 'Forever Stamp' was an after thought?

Mousey Girl, strenghth to you in handling Nickolas tonight. This is a very delicate situation, not to mention what you yourself are going through. This is hard. Who can resist a baby?

Fvckers. They cheated. {in more ways than one, this is sneaky, bringing a baby in to the mix...forcing the issue, etc.}

Stay strong.

[lindyhop]

I managed to clean off my desk at work today. I tend to keep everything that I'm working on in little piles close at hand but when my two visitor chairs were full and I couldn't find a place to sort my mail I knew something had to change. I know I think more clearly without so much clutter but I rarely let myself take the time to get organized.

I'll forget about it over the weekend and surprise myself when I get in on Monday. (Who took my stuff?!)

[Morrigoon]

Wait, that was the phone call? They announced the baby? (I've been wondering ever since she posted about getting it)

[katiesue]

In case you didn't get the memo - today was bring as many obnoxious kids as you can to Targe and Vons and just let them run rampant day.

[Alex]

If it is purely a convenience purchase then by all means get the forever stamps. But a lot of people are thinking of them as an eventual cost savings. As the article mentioned one guy went in and bought $8000 worth, presumably to use over the course of his lifetime.

Me, stamps are always a money loser. I use them rarely and always buy a book of 15 when I do. Then I use a few and lose the rest. And then buy another book of 15.

[MouseWife]

ha, I always lose them too....

sadly...yes, they seem to have called a little boy at 7 a.m. in the morning with such news....

katiesue, do tell!

[katiesue]

It was just madness. At Target there was a group of youngins sitting on chairs in the isles chatting on cells, anther mom with say 6-8 kids all running rampant. That was just in one isle - it went on and on.

Then I went to Vons. Three different bigger kids with the mini-carts running rampant in the isle. Goodness. Madzer would be departing the store immediately for that kind of behavior.

[MouseWife]

Ugh, and it isn't even a school break right now???

[Kevy Baby]

Why wouldn't they?From a logical standpoint, they serve no purpose not covered by the Forever stamp. If you want to have different versions (different artwork), you can do so without putting a denomination on them.

[Mousey Girl]

I need June 22nd to hurry up and get here. I truly need a vacation.

[katiesue]

Here's to sending a time warp your way MG. :)

[CoasterMatt]

Yesterday was a really slow day at work, today I got extended 2 hours.

[BarTopDancer]

I needed stamps. I got tired of going to the post office whenever I needed to mail something. So I bought 1 book of forever stamps. It made more sense then buying a book of stamps and then more 2 cent stamps. I think the last time I knew how much stamps cost I was working at Longs.

[Capt Jack]

In case you didn't get the memo - today was bring as many obnoxious kids as you can to Targe and Vons and just let them run rampant day.

again? didnt they do like 4 of those last week?

[Not Afraid]

298 posts since last night! Don't you people have things to do??? ;)

This is what i got - surgery for GG, baby brother for Nick, cupcakes for Ally, madness at Target and Vons, Ducks who quack and throw octopus, going postal forever, new issue of Amish Vogue. Did I get it all? I won't be back until tomorrow evening. Keep being amusing,folks. ;)

[wendybeth]

298 posts since last night! Don't you people have things to do??? ;)

This is what i got - surgery for GG, baby brother for Nick, cupcakes for Ally, madness at Target and Vons, Ducks who quack and throw octopus, going postal forever, new issue of Amish Vogue. Did I get it all? I won't be back until tomorrow evening. Keep being amusing,folks. ;)

I was going to point out that you forgot to mention me, my aching feet (from working too damn much the past two days) and my insomnia. Oh, and it's fifty-thousand degrees in our house right now because no one turned on the air today and now it's too late because it takes hours to cool this behemoth of a house down. Then, I remembered that I'd forgotten to post that.

Not that I'm whining or anything.

[thecorndogwalker]

aaaaarggghhh! I ended up falling asleep way too early last night.. and now I woke up wide awake feeling way rested. Its the middle of the night. what am i going to do?
oh, log onto the LOT of course...

[NickO'Time]

My new job is really cool, I'm loving the freedoms I have gained.:cool:

[Prudence]

Since I haven't killed the lemon tree yet - and it's actually making lemons - today I bought a Seville orange tree.

[thecorndogwalker]

Does anyone know anyone who wants to rent a room in a swanky west hollywood apartment? My roomate is moving out. The room will be ready July or sooner if need be..

Hopefully the person will have a sense of humor, be queer friendly, dont mind have a cat around the house, can get rent on time and is at least entertaining to talk to from time to time....

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I have already used the forever stamps. We sent our wedding invitations out when the postage was lower, and the RSVPs were due after the postage increased. And the other, higher postage was not yet available at that time. So instead of using multiple stamps (unsightly!) we just bought the forever stamps and put them on there. It was nice not to have to worry about it.

God, if my eye infection doesn't heal soon, I'm going to be stuck wearing glasses on 6/9!

[Prudence]

Today I repotted the orange tree and 6 pepper plants. (We do actually get peppers, oddly enough. Hopefully it's getting warmer...) But it's raining now so I had to stop gardening. Still have some cucumber plants and a bunch of flowers to plant.

[MouseWife]

I have already used the forever stamps...RSVPs were due after the postage increased....instead of using multiple stamps...we just bought the forever stamps and put them on there.


I just had to comment~

How sweet. Forever stamps on your RSVP envelopes. Quite fitting. I wonder if anyone caught that when they received theirs?

[CoasterMatt]

Damnit Ducks... you gotta win this one!

[BarTopDancer]

Damnit Ducks... you gotta win this one!

Ya they do or there is going to be one very unhappy BarTopDancer.

[Morrigoon]

Slow open house, only one person so far. Luckily, that one person was just the sort of one person one wants coming to an open house :) So it's all good!

If not another soul walked through that door all afternoon, it's already been worth my time to sit this open house. Oh, and the property's pretty nice too (for a 1-bedroom place).

I do wish I'd been able to pick up some lunch though. All I have till 4pm is a telera roll (and not a very good one, at that, more like dull white bread in the form of telera bread) and a Coke. Didn't eat breakfast either. Somehow I never manage to eat on open house days. Always running around dealing with flyers and putting up signs and junk.

[BarTopDancer]

I am a very happy BarTopDancer!

[CoasterMatt]

WOOHOO!!!!

OT Victory - beautiful!

[Morrigoon]

Go Ducks!

[RStar]

Go Ducks!

Do Gucks!

Too much wine coolers..................

[Prudence]

THE GROCERY STORE HAD VANILLA COKE!!!!!

This is a major development in my life. For quite some time it had been replaced with that black cherry vanilla crap. Now my sweet nectar of life has come back to me! But, this doesn't help my quest to reduce my soda intake at all.

In other news - I finally boxed up and put away the Christmas lights today! Now the pile o' lights is gone from the upstairs hallway and the rubbermaid tubs are no longer taking up real estate in the middle of the spare bedroom.

[Ghoulish Delight]

In other news - I finally boxed up and put away the Christmas lights today! Now the pile o' lights is gone from the upstairs hallway and the rubbermaid tubs are no longer taking up real estate in the middle of the spare bedroom.

But it's almost June, you're just going to have to pull them back out again.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Freebird!!!

[Mousey Girl]

I had an interesting Saturday afternoon. Nick and I picked up a friend and went in search of a clean, nice place to get my tattoo. I have always wanted a small tattoo on the back of my shoulder. I have been telling myself I would get it when A) I turned 40 or B) if something else happened. The something else is happening, so I am getting my tattoo next Saturday. We only ended up in 2 shops. I made an appointment at the first. It was verrrry clean and welcoming. The artists' portfolios showed some really nice stuff, very clean lines and great colors. The guy I will be seeing also does portrait tattoos. I couldn't help but to compare his work to the bad one that was posted here last week. They even has a pool table in the waiting area. One of the guys aksed Nick to play for him so that he could sit for a while.

Then we went to one downtown. I was there 16 years ago, right after it opened. OMG! It has gone soooo downhill. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the smell. It smelled like a mixture of pee, burned flesh and pot. Then there were the customers. It felt like we had just stepped into a skinhead rally. The music was loud and obnoxious. Nickolas asked me for my keys so that he could go sit in the car. Even the art work sucked, and it wasn't even a true portfolio, so I would hate to see how it came out on someone's skin.

Now, I just need to make sure my mother never sees the back of my shoulder.

[Ponine]

THE GROCERY STORE HAD VANILLA COKE!!!!!

This is a major development in my life. For quite some time it had been replaced with that black cherry vanilla crap. Now my sweet nectar of life has come back to me! But, this doesn't help my quest to reduce my soda intake at all.



This is actually new thing. There were actually advertisments for the *NEW* vanilla coke at Shrek this weekend.

I was quite pleased as well.

[Matterhorn Fan]

THE GROCERY STORE HAD VANILLA COKE!!!!! I noticed this the other day. I always thought vanilla Coke was too sweet. However, its return makes me think that maybe Lime Coke will come back one day.

[Brigitte]

We saw the ad at the theater when we saw Shrek this weekend. My daughter kept a 12 pack of Vanilla Coke when we heard it was going away, she was very glad to see it back too :)

[Kevy Baby]

I noticed this the other day. I always thought vanilla Coke was too sweet. However, its return makes me think that maybe Lime Coke will come back one day.Then Pumpernickel Coke shouldn't be too far behind.

[JWBear]

Then Pumpernickel Coke shouldn't be too far behind.

Is that coming out before or after Horseradish Coke?

[Alex]

All Cokes other than Coke and Coke Zero should be retired so that I'll know what kinds of Coke Safeway will have from day to day (it's insane, half the time I go the selection is different from the last time). And by limiting it to those two it'll cover the two I am willing to drink.

[wendybeth]

I take it you're not excited about the new Tomato Basil Coke, Alex?

[Stan4dSteph]

I noticed this the other day. I always thought vanilla Coke was too sweet. However, its return makes me think that maybe Lime Coke will come back one day.Wegmans stil sells their version of lime cola.

I wish we had Pepsi Max Cappuccino here. I only saw it in France. It was yummier than I was expecting.

[BarTopDancer]

Don't forget about bacon coke

http://media3.guzer.com/pictures/diet_coke_bacon.jpg

[katiesue]

I stick with TAB - easier than figuring out all the rest.

[mousepod]

Sucrose Coke. I know I've posted about it recently, but as of now, it's the only Coca-Cola I can stand. I'm going to have to find a supplier when we move...

[AllyOops!]

I stick with TAB - easier than figuring out all the rest.

I stick with coffee & Jamba Juice (or Robeks..or Juice It Up!) Once in a blue moon I might drink a soda, but the bubbles always burn my throat. It takes me 6 forevers just to drink one. When I do drink soda, I like Cherry Coke a whole bunch. :)

However, I am curious to try the new Diet Coke complete with vitamins & minerals.

Oh, and my Red Bull days are just so yesterday. I can't believe I used to chug that bile like it was water. Now it just creeps me out! :(

[Ghoulish Delight]

So, a coworker who knows I follow baseball asked me last Friday if I collect Dodger memorabilia. I started to say no, but it occurred to me that that answer didn't really jive with the existence of a pair of Dodger Stadium seats sitting on my porch, so I said, "kinda".

Well, he pointed me to a charity auction being run by the LA Times. There were a handful of Dodger items signed by Eric Gagne. One was a cap. It had no bids and a minimum bid of $65.

So on a whim I bid. And I won. No one else bid, so $65 it is.

Now I've got to decide what to do with it. It'll be a little awkward to display because for some reason he signed on the underside of the bill. If anybody has any ideas, I'm listening.

http://www.cmarket.com/tie/img/photo-44f75b3a54a4aa2827276657aae699e9.jpg

[Strangler Lewis]

On the shelf?

[Kevy Baby]

On the shelf?Um, yep. Pretty much like it is shown in the photo.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Now I've got to decide what to do with it. It'll be a little awkward to display because for some reason he signed on the underside of the bill. If anybody has any ideas, I'm listening.


Wear it Gomer Pyle style?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/1/19/Gomer_Pyle.jpg

[Kevy Baby]

Soooo....

I wonder how it will take Nirvanaman to realize that his title has been changed from

Surprisingly, not gayto

Not surprisingly, gay



And for the record, I had NOTHING to do with any such alteration. I am not smart enough to know how to hack. I simply noticed it just now.

[thecorndogwalker]

surprisingly, so very, very gay

[Ghoulish Delight]

Um, yep. Pretty much like it is shown in the photo.But it's kinda ugly that way. Can't see the team logo. It'll take some pondering.

I wonder how it will take Nirvanaman to realize...Oh goodness, what a horrible act of cyber vandalism. I'll look into it immediately.




Firefox's spell check doesn't recognize "cyber"? Then again, it doesn't recognize "Firefox", so I shouldn't be surprised

[innerSpaceman]

I wonder how it will take Nirvanaman to realize that his title has been changed.

Hahaha, I just noticed that a little while ago, and simply assumed that NM was tired of living the lie.

[Strangler Lewis]

Um, yep. Pretty much like it is shown in the photo.

By "on the shelf" I was alluding to Gagne's having spent the last two years signing cap brims and not doing much else.

[Ghoulish Delight]

By "on the shelf" I meant having spent the last two years signing cap brims and not doing much else.Hahaha, *whoosh* missed that first time around. Yes, it definitely looks like the Dodgers dodged Darren Dreifort the Sequel by letting Gagne go. But even if he never finishes another season, his short stint at the top was spectacular enough to keep his name worth something for a while.

[JWBear]

Soooo....

I wonder how it will take Nirvanaman to realize that his title has been changed from

to





And for the record, I had NOTHING to do with any such alteration. I am not smart enough to know how to hack. I simply noticed it just now.

I'd say... oh... as soon as he reads your post.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'd say... oh... as soon as he reads your post.Good thing he's never on and rarely reads this thread.


Errr, I mean, I sure hope he gets informed soon to clear things up. Darn shame it is.

[Mousey Girl]

GD, is there a way to put a mirror under it to reflect the sig?

[Ghoulish Delight]

GD, is there a way to put a mirror under it to reflect the sig?
Yeah, that's more or less the direction I was thinking. I may end up constructing my own display case as nothing I've found will quite fit the bill...so to speak.

[Morrigoon]

What about getting one of those wooden hat stands or blank mannequin heads and putting it in a plexiglass box? That way it can be seen 360, and if the box is up on a shelf above the eyeline a little bit, then the signature is easily viewed from below, and the logo is easily viewed from a distance.

[mousepod]

Why don't you make a papier maché Gagne head? Or better yet, have some local kids make one?

Nothing like the collision of outsider art and pop culture.

[madmonkeygirl]

I wanna run away too...CM was trying to hold the doggies inside screen door only while i bring in the groceries and Jovi kitty got out. I am so pissed at him right now. I told him that doggies know their names while a cat doesn't. She ran off and is declawed as well...so i put out food and water on the porch. She has an id tag and her chip tag as well. I'm just hoping she comes back if she doesn't he OWES me another GIRL Cat....

[Alex]

At least until Huston Street came along, Billy Beane made a killing using the closer position as an ATM machine. There's almost nothing easier than making an ok (and cheap) pitcher look like a fantastic (and expensive closer). Pump up a cheap pitcher and sell him the next season. Instant profit. Isringhausen, Koch, whoever was before Isringhausen.

Anyway, that is apropo of dodging a bullet by letting Gagne go. That's generally the best practice with a closing pitcher.

[madmonkeygirl]

Ok update i found Jovi kitty and got her safely back inside. She was hiding underneath the house. It wasn't til i went out there with a can of cat treats and shaking the can and callin her name out did i hear a tiny faint "meow" so i started to meow and continue to call her and shake the can. I noticed her on the side of the house (my back was turned away from her towards some bushes i thought she was hiding in). She came running over to me and i picked her up at that point and carried her inside. :)

[blueerica]

YAY for finding kitties!

[Prudence]

I am really quite angry with newegg. They have received an angry - but not abusive - email from me that uses the word "unacceptable." Next stop: BBB. Not that it will fix the situation, of course.

[CoasterMatt]

I am happy with this new graphics card, and I can just about cook eggs on it's cooler, too.

[Morrigoon]

Pru: what did they do?

[Prudence]

Pru: what did they do?

Short version:

I bought an item that had a rebate. (I know, I know...) The item didn't work. I returned it for replacement. They confirmed receipt of the return, and then lost it within their own facility. And it's that week it was lost in their facility that is the reason I won't be able to send the rebate in on time. (I should get the replacement the day after the rebate deadline.)

I wouldn't necessarily fault them if it didn't work and they replaced it promptly and still it was too late - but for them to lose it and refuse to do anything to remedy what it will cost me (credit me the rebate amount on a future order, express mail me a replacement so I get it in time, agree to take a return on a non-returnable item, etc...) really bastes my brisket.

[Kevy Baby]

I am really quite angry with newegg. They have received an angry - but not abusive - email from me that uses the word "unacceptable." Next stop: BBB. Not that it will fix the situation, of course.I'm kinda surprised. They are usually quite good. I've had excellent success with them (although I've never had to deal with a return with them).

[Morrigoon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

[Gemini Cricket]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo
"Brilliant! Genius, I say!"
~ Yzma, The Emperor's New Groove

[wendybeth]

"Squeakity-squeak-squeak-squeakums"

Kronk (speaking Squirellese) The Emperor's New Groove

[Alex]

That's been going around a lot the last few days and I find the concept amusing but the execution to be excruciating.

[Gemini Cricket]

"Ask him which way the talking llama went!"

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Why don't you make a papier maché Gagne head? Or better yet, have some local kids make one?



Then put it in the bunny cage and film the carnage!

[BarTopDancer]

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

At least until Huston Street came along, Billy Beane made a killing using the closer position as an ATM machine. There's almost nothing easier than making an ok (and cheap) pitcher look like a fantastic (and expensive closer). Pump up a cheap pitcher and sell him the next season. Instant profit. Isringhausen, Koch, whoever was before Isringhausen.Perhaps, but Gagne was a little different. He wasn't an ok starting pitcher, he was a worthless starting pitcher. He's the rare pitcher that is pure closer. If he's doing anything other than trying to get the last 3 outs of the game, he's awful (I used to cringe every time he was brought in with the game tied. He lost nearly every one). But as a closer he's pure brilliance.

When he's not injured. And that's really it. Had he not been so obviously falling apart at the seems, the Dodgers would have kept him, no doubt. Healthy, he's worth any price. He gets people to the games, he sells merchandise, and he's as close to a guarantee of winning as can possibly exist in baseball.

But he can only do that by throwing harder than his body can handle.

[Alex]

I don't deny he was good, but was he pure brilliance or just taken out of situations where winning and losing were equally likely and then put into situations where winning is extremely likely. Regardless of who is pitching, the team ahead in the ninth inning (99% of the Gagne's appearances) wins are all but guaranteed.

The average winning percentage for pitching in the ninth inning save situations in 2002 was (I doubt it has changed much in the last half decade):

Top 9th, lead by one: 84.2%
Bottom of the 9th, lead by one: 95.8%

Those number, obviously, go up as the lead increases to 2 or 3 runs. And therein lies what I see as the brilliance of Billy Beane: the recognition that since the difference between "average" and "pure brilliance" is so small that it is easy to manufacture extremely overvalued players and use the profit for investment in more important areas.

And if it is true that Gagne is truly useless unless starting an inning with a lead then he is even less valuable since he can only be used in a narrow situation of minimal incremental value. Where there has been some light shed on the relative unimportance of ERA and win-loss record it is amusing to see so much stock put into the even more silly save statistic.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Those may be the average numbers, but while San Diego has spent the last decade or so on the high end of that bell curve, the Dodgers spent far too much time at the bottom end of the bell curve. It is a matter of fractional percentage differences, but they matter. If you've got near 100% confidence that a 1 or 2 run lead is enough, you can alter the way you play the game offensively. You can play it safe, squeak out a run or two with sac bunts and situational hitting, increasing the number of times you get to the ninth with that 1-2 run lead. Rather than having to take more offensive risks to score bunches of runs and get a good sized lead, which more often than not fails to pan out.

[Strangler Lewis]

What, please, means this funny word "bunt?"

[Alex]

Bunts and playing for one run instead of several is almost never a smart move statistically. It may make you feel better but if you play "small ball" you'll come out on the wrong end more often than if you just tried to hit the ball.

[Not Afraid]

Don't you guys have baseball thread or something? ;)

[wendybeth]

Don't you guys have baseball thread or something? ;)

I was kinda thinking the same thing.

Let's start talking about shopping, 'kay?;)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I was kinda thinking the same thing.

Let's start talking about shopping, 'kay?;)
Hey, I started by talking about baseball AND shopping.

[wendybeth]

Lol- so you did, GD.

[Not Afraid]

I've been really swamped the past couple of days. I did my morning stuff and I find that i have about 3 hours with nothing scheduled. I don't know what to do with myself!

[wendybeth]

Relax?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've been really swamped the past couple of days. I did my morning stuff and I find that i have about 3 hours with nothing scheduled. I don't know what to do with myself!

Prevent cancer?

[Ponine]

So a co-worker of mine just sent me this image.
Doesnt remember what website he was looking at, or who owns this pic...

But what I want to know is, have we been discussing this pic in another thread?
Is it real?
Where did it come from?
And what's in space #9 NOW?

I'm placing it in spoilers so that the owners of the pic understand that I wasn't TRYING to steal their stuff.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/ponine/LoT/db_DCA_2010_map1.jpg

[Ghoulish Delight]

The photo's been edited. That long white building tot he right of the #9 space is actually located right next to that shorter white building to the left of it. That space cuts out a bunch of the existing Timon parking lot. Beyond that, other than having heard about some possible plans for a Cars-based attraction, I don't know anything about actual plans.

[Prudence]

A really excellent cup of tea (http://www.teavana.com/Peach+Tranquility/cid=32/page_no=1/edp_no=5177/shop.axd/ProductDetails)goes a long way toward improving one's day.

[Alex]

Here's (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=disneyland&ie=UTF8&ll=33.806253,-117.918727&spn=0.006196,0.01133&t=k&z=17&om=1) the satellite map of the pretty much current* park. As you'll see, GD's answer is correct.



*Actually, the fact that Space Mountain is half brown and half white indicates two that the satellite photo is from a date between October 15, 2003 and November 23, 2003.

[JWBear]

Our AC is out at work, and I’m miserable!

What, please, means this funny word "bunt?"
It's a type of cake.

[cirquelover]

It's a type of cake.

Only if he forgot the D;)

[blueerica]

I am vomitus maximus right now.

And here I was hoping to get something accomplished today. I just hope I'm feeling better by tomorrow for finals... and Thursday, for travel.

[Strangler Lewis]

Bunts and playing for one run instead of several is almost never a smart move statistically. It may make you feel better but if you play "small ball" you'll come out on the wrong end more often than if you just tried to hit the ball.

I know Earl Weaver always subscribed to the big inning theory that the winning team usually scores more runs in one inning than the loser scores in the entire game. Has that been borne out by any study?

I think small ball makes sense in short playoff series, though perhaps not over a 162 game season. I recall feeling that the Mets lost to the Dodgers in the 1988 playoffs because the Dodgers were better at scratching out runs.

[Alex]

Sorry to the non-baseball people.

Small ball can only help in a single game environment so whether it makes sense has nothing to do with how many total games there are to play.

Yes, there is statistical support that in almost any situation bunting is a bad idea. The same is also true of intentional walks and base stealing.

There are two statistical metrics you can use: Run Expectancy and Win Expectancy. Looking over all the many games in a season you can compile statistics for every combination of close game situations by inning, out count, and runners on base.

Then you can see how many additional runs went on to be scored in each inning from each starting situation. You can also calculate how often the team went on to win the game from each starting situation.

This allows you to evaluate the relative values of various actions for how much it increases the likelihood of you scoring X runs in an inning and the likelihood of increasing your odds of winning.

For example, a leadoff home run to start the game is five times as valuable (for increasing the odds of winning the game) as a one-run homer in the top of the ninth when behind by two. And yet, the latter is considered good clutch hitting and the former almost ignored.

So, for example, using the 2005 season numbers, if you have a man on 1st with zero outs you had a 41.7% chance of scoring at least one run. If you have a man on second with one out (the situation after a standard bunt sacrifice) the odds of scoring at least one run are 41.0%. Yes, there is the chance of a completely successful sacrifice and you end up with men on 1st and 2nd with no outs (61.6%) but statistics show an almost equal chance of unintentionally small balling into a double play (nobody on with 2 outs is a 7.1% chance of scoring).

But that's with averages and few players are truly average. Surely if Neifi Perez is up he is such a sucky batter that sacrificing makes sense?

You can then combine this with specific batter performance and develop a table that tells you when advancing the runner on a sacrifice is of more value than simply swinging. Per the book I'm reading right now (which is why I have this in my head, in the following situations here is the Batter Average your hitter must be doing worse than for a sacrifice to make statistical sense when you just need one run.

Again, 2005 numbers:

Man on 1st, 0 out - .177 batting average
Man on 1st, 1 out - .199
Man on 2nd, 0 out - .277
Men on 1st and 2nd, 0 out - .206

So, generally the only person on a team who should ever bunt is the pitcher, and then not even decent hitting pitchers (such as Dontrelle Willis).

On the other side, similar statistical analysis shows that you only ever decreases the expected run production of the San Francisco Giants by intentionally walking Bonds if for some reason the next batter is the pitcher (or someone who bats like one). Since that never happens, there is almost never a good reason to give him the IBB.


(All of these numbers, by the way, are from Baseball Between the Numbers from BaseballProspectus.com. I just happen to be reading it right now so that is why I have it here at my desk with me.)

[Prudence]

I love the Miss Universe pageant solely for it's "national costume" segment. Some are amazing. Some are bewildering. Some look like they were assembled backstage 5 minutes before runway time using only a hot glue gun and the detritus the caterers left behind.

[Alex]

I've not seen that. What is the United States national costume? I assume she doesn't walk out in blue jeans and a logoed t-shirt.

[AllyOops!]

Heehee..I'm picturing Miss Universe in all of her glossy lipped, poofy haired glory wearing tight, indigo Wrangler's and a THESE COLORS DON'T RUN American Flag tee shirt. Even better if she includes a pack of Marlboro Reds peeking out of one rolled short sleeve. ;) :p

[Morrigoon]

Haha, classic!

I suppose a National Costume could be:
Cowboy
Hawaiian
Native American
Tourist - white tennis shoes, jeans*, t-shirt (*- shorts over pasty white legs may be substituted for jeans, but only when worn with a fanny pack)

That last one is how most of the world pictures us anyway ;)

[Prudence]

There are photos on the website. Apparently our national costume is Elvis, the white jumpsuit years. Some of them really are quite atrocious.

[katiesue]

For some reason I keep thinking the national costume would be a hooters girl outfit.

[Morrigoon]

Link?

[Alex]

None of those mentioned are national costumes; they're regional costumes. And likely historic costumes.

Makes you wonder when you see someone from some obscure country in their native dress and we all think how neat it looks how retarded they probably feel wearing it.

[AllyOops!]

For some reason, I keep picturing the Simpsons episode where the students are involved in the model UN club. They are all dressed in little national costumes! They also get stranded on a desert island & hope to have monkey butlers. :D

"Go, banana!"
"I'm so hungry I could eat at Arby's!" ;)

Did anybody watch The Simpsons season finales the other night? I giggled when Marge found a House Of Blues- Anaheim matchbook in Bart's shorts.

[Prudence]

Well, here's the link to the main website: http://www.missuniverse.com/

From there you need to select a contestant from the drop down menu on the left (I suggest starting with Albania and progressing alphabetically), when the contestant page comes up choose "photos", and then choose "national costume". It's a bit of work, but from there you can go through the candidates alphabetically using the next/previous buttons in the lower right.

[blueerica]

Well, that was fun, Pru...

Pitch Perfect & Loved 'Em
Miss Australia (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0343838)
Miss El Salvador (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0349627)
Miss Germany (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0349740)
Miss USA (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0359057)
Miss Korea (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0352440)
Miss Slovak Republic (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0356523)
Miss Canada (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0361449)
Miss Dominican Republic (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0363846)
Miss Mexico (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0369441)

I Most Sincerely Hope
Miss Israel (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0351031) wasn't a play on stereotypes. (She looks gorgeous, princess-like...)

And I'm Just Not Sure What They Were Going For
Miss Switzerland (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0357140)
I'll assume Miss Puerto Rico (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0371924) was going for "pirate."
and... Miss Guyana (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0350130). Uh...

[Capt Jack]

Well, that was fun, Pru...
I'll assume Miss Puerto Rico (http://missuniverse.exposuremanager.com/p/universe_national_costume_angel_of_independence/uni07ps_0371924) was going for "pirate."

hmm...that kinda works for me. :evil:
(did they have Puerto Rican pirates?)

[wendybeth]

Well, I suspect Switzerland's costume points out their long history of wartime cowardice.;)

Either that, or she's memorializing Disneyland's accidentally dead people in a chic rendition of :decap:.

[Capt Jack]

neutrality...they call it neutrality :rolleyes:

but in that case, shouldnt her outfit be grey?

[Prudence]

How could you like Germany? Egads! That one was so poorly constructed it made me want to cry.

My personal favorite was Kazakhstan.

Croatia looked as bored in her costume as I felt looking at it.

[Alex]

The only one that blueerica linked that I liked was Israel and that doesn't seem particularly "national costumy" except for being blue and white.

[wendybeth]

Miss Guyana looks like she got t-p'd.

[blueerica]

I liked Germany mainly because it had something to do with something (though in retrospect, it could be any kind of European dress). Plus, she has that silly look on her face while pulling up her braids. That always wins points with me. :D

[Kevy Baby]

I liked Germany mainly because it had something to do with somethingI just love taking things out of context

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I liked Germany mainly because it had something to do with something (though in retrospect, it could be any kind of European dress). Plus, she has that silly look on her face while pulling up her braids. That always wins points with me. :D

She's missing her beer steins

[Gemini Cricket]

Me too.
:D
I just love taking things

[Morrigoon]

Okay, in context, the Elvis costume works. Some of those "national costumes" are little more than glorified swimsuits and/or Vegas showgirl outfits with the breasts (barely) covered.

Kudos to countries like Finland for wearing "real" national costumes.

[blueerica]

Well, to be fair, the one that really was a swimsuit, I thought, was pretty fitting. ;)

[BarTopDancer]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE'RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO

[wendybeth]

Do you need a paper bag, BTD?

[Morrigoon]

BTD is having a joygasm :)

[scaeagles]

The funny thing is how completely unaware I am of the Stanley Cup playoffs right now.

[BarTopDancer]

Do you need a paper bag, BTD?

No thanks. I'm ok. I quit shaking from excitement at the Ponda.

[Alex]

Hey, don't go pissing on people's joy parades!

That's my job.

[Strangler Lewis]

The funny thing is how completely unaware I am of the Stanley Cup playoffs right now.

Well, now that it's the finals, it's time to hook up the UHF antenna and figure out what station's airing it.

[AllyOops!]

So none of you watched The Simpsons finale, eh? What-ever! ;)

So, I'm looking at the Miss Universe National Costumes before I go to bed.

Being partially polish, I HAD to check out Poland! I was totally scared they'd have her dressed in a clown costume or something. :(

To my delight she was in a pink Glinda Good Witch tutu dress and gold stiletto heels!! Something I'd wear on like, a Saturday night. Aww! I really am a true blue polak! :D

..and night-night, everybody. :)

[Prudence]

The thing about gardening is that it makes my back hurt. Still, I uprooted most of the myrtle and planted a few springs alongside the fence where it will drive the neighbors nuts. And I threw out the herbs Ryan let get totally rootbound in their little pots - but I kept a few cuttings in case they can be revived. And I planted cucumbers. Still lots to do.

[wendybeth]

Poor cukes.


:D

[wendybeth]

So none of you watched The Simpsons finale, eh? What-ever! ;)

So, I'm looking at the Miss Universe National Costumes before I go to bed.

Being partially polish, I HAD to check out Poland! I was totally scared they'd have her dressed in a clown costume or something. :(

To my delight she was in a pink Glinda Good Witch tutu dress and gold stiletto heels!! Something I'd wear on like, a Saturday night. Aww! I really am a true blue polak! :D

..and night-night, everybody. :)


Lol, and night-night, Ally.:)

[Kevy Baby]

So none of you watched The Simpsons finale, eh? What-ever! ;)Actually, and surprisingly (since I haven't watched the Simpsons in years), I did watch the episode. I liked the whole 24 tie-in with Kiefer spoofing himself.

To my delight she was in a pink Glinda Good Witch tutu dress and gold stiletto heels!! Something I'd wear on like, a Saturday night.Hey -- me too!

[JWBear]

The AC is still out at work. The rumor going around is that it died and needs to be completely replaced; we will be without AC for 3 weeks! :(

[Mousey Girl]

I finally got Chicken moved and increased the size of her pen. She has a love/hate relationship with PoohDog. He whines at her and wants her to play with him, and she talks to him, but if his nose is within reach he gets pecked. This morning she got out of her pen. He left her alone, so we thought maybe it was time to open her pen. Nope. Once we were out there with them he decided it was play time. She went right back into her pen and let me close her in.

Just once I would like a "normal" animal, one who behaves "normally."


*sigh*

tonight I have to go into Nick's TaiKwonDon class to check out the board. He said they have posted a sign for testing tomorrow night. This means tomorrow night we will be there until almost 10.

[Capt Jack]

The AC is still out at work. The rumor going around is that it died and needs to be completely replaced; we will be without AC for 3 weeks! :(

better now than August

[Snowflake]

The AC is still out at work. The rumor going around is that it died and needs to be completely replaced; we will be without AC for 3 weeks! :(

Man, I feel for you!

How about finding your local ice house, getting a block of ice in a tub at your feet and turn a fan on it?

Failing that, take a day off and enjoy the cool AC at home?

[Kevy Baby]

Failing that, take a day off and enjoy the cool AC at home?Or three weeks.

[blueerica]

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2213/readytorockcw4rl5.jpg

[Kevy Baby]

I need to be giving out more mojo, because every time I try to give it to Erica, I can't.

Soooo....

blueerica, consider yourself mojo'd for the picture above and for your latest avatar.

[BarTopDancer]

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/546/mordorrockyw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[BarTopDancer]

This (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-dayinla23may24,0,404739.story?coll=la-home-sports) makes me sad :(

[lashbear]

The AC is still out at work. The rumor going around is that it died and needs to be completely replaced; we will be without AC for 3 weeks! :(

No probs... it's been really chilly lately. :D

[Morrigoon]

This (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-dayinla23may24,0,404739.story?coll=la-home-sports) makes me sad :(
A typical sampling, courtesy Chris Zelkovic of the Toronto Star: "With a final that [will] feature Anaheim, a city where few care about hockey, and Ottawa, a city that will require NBC to run a locator map, don't be shocked if NBC leaves overtime for a 'Celebrity Poker' rerun."

"Typical"? Is she kidding, or is she really that arrogant about her obviously-east-coast heritage? (she never mentions it, but c'mon, she's a ranJerks fan, only people in NY like that fuggin' team!) And she posts a quote from a Toronto commentator, like he has any idea what people in Anaheim care about.

[Alex]

You have to admit that interest in hockey is extremely low and Anaheim is not a destination that generates any additional interest outside of the region.

The comment is right as far as NBC concerned, this is as bad as if Milwaukee and Kansas City were in the World Series.

[Morrigoon]

I admit nothing about interest in hockey. My own boss is growing a playoff beard.

[BarTopDancer]

You have to admit that interest in hockey is extremely low and Anaheim is not a destination that generates any additional interest outside of the region.

The comment is right as far as NBC concerned, this is as bad as if Milwaukee and Kansas City were in the World Series.

Either game 4 or 5 they cut out at OT to cover the Preakness. Coverage continues on Versus (a station hardly anyone gets).

[AllyOops!]

Hey -- me too!

And I bet you look a helluva lot more sexy in it! :snap: :cool:

That pink tutu dress was too much fun. It really did remind me of Glinda the Good Witch. Or something Britney Spears would wear to go boutique shopping. ;)

Speaking of Britney, why is it that these days she always looks like she's headed to the world's most sluttiest hoedown? My poor little Hee-Haw Hoochie. It breaks my heart. I was once obsessed with her!! :(

[blueerica]

Meh, it just doesn't seem kind of LA Times.

Then again, this is the sort of publicity that gets people to sit up and notice... and perhaps rally together. I keep thinking about the iGasm lawsuit (yeah, like it has anything to do with this, right?). Without that lawsuit, it's unlikely I'd have ever heard about it, and now... I'm interested. Perhaps this will increase local awareness and some semblance of local pride.

[Kevy Baby]

This (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-dayinla23may24,0,404739.story?coll=la-home-sports) makes me sad :(I wholeheartedly agree. That is just terrible news about the Clippers.

[Stan4dSteph]

This (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-dayinla23may24,0,404739.story?coll=la-home-sports) makes me sad :(My reaction: oooh, the UEFA cup match is on now?

In other news, I am contemplating getting a WDW AP.

[Moonliner]

Oh great, so now I have to feel guilty for watching celebrity poker. Damn.

The NHL finals might get better coverage if Emilio Estevez was still the coach. Why did they let him go anyway?

[BarTopDancer]

Oh how funny. I didn't realize it was a fluid link.

[Moonliner]

Without that lawsuit, it's unlikely I'd have ever heard about it, and now... I'm interested.

Perhaps we should ask a mod to merge the iGasm thread with the "All time great feel good songs (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=5794)" thread. They do seem made for each other.

[JWBear]

Man, I feel for you!

How about finding your local ice house, getting a block of ice in a tub at your feet and turn a fan on it?....

Funny you should mention this... Management said that they are going to install a temporary air conditioning system until the main unit can be replaced. Someone suggested that it will be a block of ice and a big fan. Great minds think alike.

[Capt Jack]

its probably a swamp cooler...and thats about what it amounts to.

[AllyOops!]

Did anybody happen to catch the Law & Order: SVU finale last night? I began to watch it in bed and then promptly passed out.

What happened with Ludacris' character? Ooh! And Stabler & his pregnant wife??

Anybody? Anybody?

[Prudence]

What happened with Ludacris' character? Ooh! And Stabler & his pregnant wife??


I was kind of watching. The guy on trial was found not guilty, even after making mom cry on the stand. And no one ever wants to see him again, but that's okay because he doesn't want to see them ever again FIRST!

Nothing with Stabler and the wife, that I notice. But what's-her-butt was confessing about helping her brother and basically the whole unit is in disgrace.

[blueerica]

I'm going nuts. Too much time between finals! No more computer for me. I'm going to step out and get some lunch.. probably will pop back on later.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I hate finals week.

[AllyOops!]

Thank you, Pru!! :snap: I was dying to know what happened!

Doesn't it seem like the characters on all of the Law & Orders have some kind of criminal law-breaking relative? Detective Goren just might have a serial killer Dad. Detective Benson has an allegedly rapist brother. Detective Munch had Jerry Lewis portraying his Uncle that if I recall, commited some sort of crime (and I don't mean by starring in The Day The Clown Cried) What next? Will Detective Greene reveal that he has a pedophile cousin who was recently filmed on Dateline? Or Detective Eames has a forgery lovin' Aunt? Gadzooks! :(

[RStar]

What next? :(
Perhaps a six degrees from Charles Manson show?

BTW, I've learned that if you want to stay awake for a show, don't watch it in bed! ;)

[AllyOops!]

LOLOLOL, RStar!! :D

You are so right about watching TV in bed! I tell myself that I'll close my eyes for a second, and then wake up 2 to 3 hours later with some sort of infommercial blaring in the backgroud!

[Ponine]

Did anybody happen to catch the Law & Order: SVU finale last night? I began to watch it in bed and then promptly passed out.

I'll follow up on Pru tomorrow, I have it on the dvr.

[AllyOops!]

Thank you muchly, Ponine! :)

[Prudence]

Doesn't it seem like the characters on all of the Law & Orders have some kind of criminal law-breaking relative?

And as of last night, Stabler's DUI daughter has to do jail time or some such. And Tutuola apparently "tested dirty" when he was undercover at some point.

[alphabassettgrrl]

We're watching Ducks/Wings game 5. We get Versus but it's already done so we'll probably miss OT. I don't think TiVo is smart enough to have changed channels for us.