Sweet victory
In October I put in an unsuccessful bid for a home. It eventually sold for $10k more than I bid.
A couple of days ago, an identical unit sold for $2.5k less than my bid.
I think it's time for me to get back in the market.
Uncategorized
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Cool Site of the Day
Some of you probably know about this already, but it's useful so
here it is. If you ever want to read an article from a website that
requires free registration, go to http://www.bugmenot.com and they'll supply you with a working username and password so you don't have to bother. -
Quote of the day
"A sense of humor is a measurement of the extent to which we realize
that we are trapped in a world almost totally devoid of reason.
Laughter is how we express the anxiety we feel at this knowledge." -- Dave Barry -
"Deep Thought" of the Day
Three_five commented that my Dec. 22 post reminded him of the old Saturday Night Live gag, "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey." Here is my favorite Deep Thought.
One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take
my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old
burned-out warehouse. "Oh, no," I said, "Disneyland burned down." He
cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty
good joke.
Not bad! An innocuous
opener, followed by the surprising twist and minor suffering.
(Comedy tip: suffering children = guaranteed laughs!) The closing
line raises the stakes and echoes the beginning. A solid performance from start to finish.So, then, why does Handey have to add another sentence?
I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was
getting pretty late.
This undermines the "liking
to be tricked" sentiment, is not surprising, and gives the story a limp
conclusion. But mostly, it is just not funny. What was he thinking?Still, the joke is clever overall. I give it a B+.
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When poker gets personal
People enjoy poker for a variety of reasons. Some play for the fun of competition, or
the thrill of gambling, or the camaraderie of spending an evening with
the guys. But others play for more sinister motives.Here is a hand from last night's home game. No-limit holdem,
blinds $.05/$.10. I raise to $.40 with AQ offsuit. I have $10 in front of
me. I buy in for lots of money (compared to the blinds) because the
game is more challenging that way. Also, it makes me feel like a big
man.C, with $2.40, calls from the small blind. L, with $3, calls from the big blind.
The flop is 522. They both check. I probably still have the best hand,
so I bet $.50. C raises to $1.50. Not good, but I might still call him
and hope to get lucky.L
calls the $1.50. Now I know I'm toast. I fold.The turn is a blank, C checks, L goes all-in, and C calls. C has a
5 for two pair, fives and deuces. L has 62 of hearts for three of a kind, deuces. L wins.It is shocking that L played
6h2h for a raise before the flop. He is a very tight player, and there is no way he could expect to make
a profit playing that garbage.Me: L, I can't believe you called with six-deuce!
L: I did it so that I could bust YOU! -
Wish-Fulfillment of the Day
Here's an article on the proliferation of sitcoms featuring hot wives married to fat, buffoonish husbands (According to Jim, The King of Queens, Grounded for Life).
It's clear that these shows allow male viewers to live vicariously the dream of
drinking beer and watching TV all day while being happily married to
Courtney Thorne-Smith. The less-obvious flip side is that they allow female viewers
to indulge in a persecution fantasy: "Look at all the crap that I have to put up
with, and check out my fat, useless husband. And I still look great!"I don't watch any of those shows, but maybe I should start. Those husbands must know something that I don't!
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[adult swim]
Last week, my family -- my parents, my brother Scott, and I -- rented a
condo in Fort Myers Beach, which is in southwest Florida. The weather was very nice, warmer than San Diego even.One afternoon I was sitting in the living room with Mom and Scott,
while Dad was watching TV in the bedroom. The conversation went
something like this.Mom: Let's go swimming.
Scott: I don't want to.
Mom: It'll be fun. Come on, let's do skinny-dip!
Scott: WHAT!
Mom: Um, what does "skinny-dip" mean?
Scott and I look at each other and start laughing hysterically.Scott: It means swimming naked.
Mom: Oh. (trying to cover her mistake) Well, it's the most natural thing in the world, a family swimming together naked.
Scott: No, actually that's the least natural thing in the world.
At this point, Dad sticks his head through the door.Dad: What's going on?
Mom: I told the boys, "let's go skinny-dipping," and they were very happy!By this she only meant that my brother and I laughed. But
the way she phrased it makes it sound more like the seeds of a
Greek tragedy.Apparently my mother had seen, but not fully comprehended, some old
movie where Katharine Hepburn's character suggested skinny-dipping to
her daughter. It's another sad example of Hollywood's morally
corrupting influence on America's innocent parents. Will no one speak on their behalf? -
D'oh
The electoral college vote results are in!
George W. Bush, 286 votes
John F. Kerry, 220 votes
John L. Kerry, 31 votes
John Edwards, 1 vote
The New York voters voted correctly; the
certificate was in error and will be corrected. On the Minnesota
ballot, one of the voters really did vote for Edwards (actual vote: "Ewards"), apparently by
mistake. But no one will admit to having done it, and the vote stands.When I was in high school, pranksters used to write in votes for
Scooby-Doo for student council. It was juvenile back then. But if I
were an electoral college voter and my guy were going to lose anyway, I
think that it would be kinda cool to write-in a presidential vote for Frodo, or Superman, or
Eminem. Or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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