Archive for the ‘Wagers’ Category

“What you gonna do when you get out of jail?…” part 258

Sunday, December 13th, 2020

Science Sunday!

I had a little trouble picking out today’s videos. There’s some good stuff related to Gödel, Escher, Bach and cognition that I might use in the future, but I didn’t want to go back to the Gödel well so soon.

I was hesitant to go back to Chris Bishop again again, but science should be fun. Unfortunately, the video I wanted to use, i couldn’t: YouTube has it age restricted due to content.

So I thought I’d go metal.

Okay, maybe that was a little too metal. Same org, “Metal Mayhem”, but with Andrew Szydlo. He’s got a neat sort of child-like enthusiasm, and he’s a little absent minded (or at least presents himself that way). This might captivate the kids, but might also annoy you.

Bonus: I know I’m using the same source twice, but this popped up as well, and I thought it was worth including: the presenter, Adam Kucharski, works at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and specializes in modelling infectious diseases.

“How Science is Taking the Luck out of Gambling.”

“…there are two large flaws with this lady’s strategy. The first is, it’s completely illegal. And the second is, it clearly doesn’t work.”

Peanuts and popcorn.

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018

Well, once again, Gonzaga folded. And they didn’t even reach the Final Four this time. I’ve paid off my bet with Lawrence.

And, having learned nothing from history, I’ve bet another $5 with him on baseball. This year, I’m picking the Indians to win it all: the humor value of betting on the Cubs isn’t there any longer, I can’t stand the Dodgers or Yankees, and (as I’ve noted before) some of my family pull for the Tribe.

And 538 is giving the Indians a 13% chance of winning it all (as of today, April 3rd), second only to the Astros. So I’m feeling kind of good about my chances…

Before it gets away from me…

Monday, March 19th, 2018

…I should document, for the hysterical record, that Lawrence and I renewed our $5 bet on Gonzaga. (I take Gonzaga, he takes the field.)

After all, it is the Year of the Dog.

The thrill of victory…

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017

…and the agony of defeat.

It was a nice run, though. Maybe next year.

(And yes, I owe Lawrence $5.)

gonzaga

Wednesday, March 15th, 2017

Once again, I’ve bet Lawrence $5 that Gonzaga will win the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

This year, though, I did it grudgingly.

It isn’t that I don’t think Gonzaga has a chance: they probably have their best chance in years. It isn’t that I didn’t want to take Lawrence’s money again, after already taking $5 from him when the Cubs won. After all, I should give Lawrence a fair chance to win his money back. And I would feel stupid if Gonzaga did win this year, and I didn’t bet.

So what’s my grudge?

Last fall, Gonzaga hired Melissa Click. Yes, that Melissa Click.

I’d be willing to agree that everyone deserves a shot at redemption. But not on my dime, and not necessarily with my active support. Also, I think part of deserving a shot at redemption involves atonement for your actions, and I haven’t seen any evidence of that from Ms. Click.

On the other hand, it wasn’t the basketball team that hired her, and should I punish them (and Lawrence) for the actions of Gonzaga’s administration? That seems unfair.

So, grudgingly, I am preparing myself to lose $5 betting on a team I can’t quite bring myself to cheer for. Life is suffering.

Your NFL loser update: week 9, 2016

Monday, November 7th, 2016

NFL teams that still have a chance to go 0-16:

Cleveland

Maybe there’s something to be said for the theory that rising baseball fortunes are tied to falling football fortunes and vice versa.

Lawrence suggested that I also do an NBA loser update, now that the season has started. My response: “The season has started?”

Okay, okay. NBA teams that still have a chance to go 0-82:

Philadelphia
New Orleans

Also: all gambling debts have been paid, in front of witnesses. There’s even photo documentation, which may be posted later.

Edited to add: Photographic proof.

img_0755-1.jpg

The Seventh Seal.

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Revelation 8, verses 1-5:

When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

You know, I kind of like Steve Goodman. I think we can do with one more musical interlude, before we retire this song for another 100 years.

And I hope he’s smiling somewhere in heaven.

Edited to add: Tam. Office seems kind of dusty this morning.

Edited to add 2: I had no idea Bob Newhart was on Twitter.

(Hattip: Mike the Musicologist.)

The Sixth Seal.

Sunday, October 23rd, 2016

Revelation 6:12-6:14:

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

I’m actually pretty conflicted over this.

On the one hand, as I’ve noted many times before, I have family in the Cleveland area. Some of them are Indians fans. One of my beloved family members who is a fan is also going through some serious health issues at the moment: I won’t go into detail to protect their privacy, but the Tribe winning would give them a much needed morale boost.

On the other hand, if the Cubs win:

1) It would shut up the Cubs fans and their perpetual wingeing about being the hardest luck fans in baseball.
II) Ideally, Steve Bartman would become a very small footnote in history.
c) I would win $5 from Lawrence.

So: family happiness, or $5 from Lawrence? Decisions, decisions.

Gonzaga 68, Seton Hall 52.

Friday, March 18th, 2016

Well, I was right about something for once.

Memos from the sports desk.

Monday, March 14th, 2016

Trent Johnson out as men’s basketball coach for Texas Christian University. Story with official announcement from the horribly designed Dallas Morning News site. ESPN.

Hattip on this to Lawrence. And speaking of Lawrence, once again I have taken Gonzaga against the field for $5 with Lawrence.

I know that Gonzaga struggled to get a tournament bid this year, but it seems like they are on a hot streak. I think they might at least be able to surprise Seton Hall…

Wager update.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

On the one hand, I am disappointed that I won’t be collecting my $5 from Lawrence.

On the other hand, if the Cubs had won the World Series, we’d be looking at the opening of the seventh seal and global Apocalypse.

So perhaps it is better, after all, that they did lose.

On the third hand, they went a lot further than I honestly thought they would go. Seriously, this was an impressive run.

On the fourth hand, I’ve gotten more than $5 worth of entertainment this year out of the Cubs.

And on the gripping hand, it seems like this is actually a good team. I’ve got high hopes for next year. (And I don’t think I’m the only one: I’ve seen other people projecting that 2016 might just be the Cubs’ year.)

TMQ Watch: October 6, 2015.

Wednesday, October 7th, 2015

Yes, we know, we’re late again. We have a worse excuse this time: we put off TMQ Watch so we could go to the Alamo Drafthouse and watch “Sicario”.

It has actually been a big movie week for us: in addition to “Sicario”, we watched “Black Mass” with Lawrence on Saturday. We may have some more thoughts on both later on. (And “The Martian” is on our list. We don’t expect that to vanish from theaters any time soon. Yes, this is relevant to TMQ; see below.)

After the jump, this week’s TMQ

(more…)