Introduce Yourself Here

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not me. I'd convert it all to Loonies & Twonies and sprinkle it over the city from a hot-air balloon.

As God is my witness, I thought loonies could fly!

[OKlibrarian]

Not me. I'd convert it all to Loonies & Twonies and sprinkle it over the city from a hot-air balloon.

As God is my witness, I thought loonies could fly!

Best. WKRP. Episode. Ever.

[jeff6286]

This is all excellent advice! I suspect handling the audition is my biggest weakness, next to wagering theory. Having plunked down a slightly embarrassing sum of money last to fly out to see my first favorite band this year in an extremely unexpected reunion tour*, that was a perfect metaphor. Now to figure out what I'd do with my money...Trip to New Zealand to visit Famout Hobbit Landmarks? A lifetime supply of yarn? a culinary school vacation at the CIA?** Must ponder.

*I still can't believe a question about THAT TOUR (and the death that sparked it) was a triple stumper...I'd have pocketed that $2K before you could say Daydream Believer
**I'd really pay off the house, but you don't say that when trying to get on national TV

Am I crazy, or did one of the contestant's on Friday's show give the exact anecdote bolded in the above quote? OKlibrarian, did you have some inside info from this taping, did you see the show 2 days ahead of time, or...are you a witch?

*EDIT* I just thought of another possibility. Maybe the player read it here, then stole the story for himself and used it on tonight's show. So I guess that would make him the witch.

[TryphonTournesol]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

[jeff6286]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

I'm still sticking to my witch theory, but to each his own.

[TryphonTournesol]

Regarding that interview - do you think they cut something? It ended awfully abruptly, it seemed to me.

[OKlibrarian]

This is all excellent advice! I suspect handling the audition is my biggest weakness, next to wagering theory. Having plunked down a slightly embarrassing sum of money last to fly out to see my first favorite band this year in an extremely unexpected reunion tour*, that was a perfect metaphor. Now to figure out what I'd do with my money...Trip to New Zealand to visit Famout Hobbit Landmarks? A lifetime supply of yarn? a culinary school vacation at the CIA?** Must ponder.

*I still can't believe a question about THAT TOUR (and the death that sparked it) was a triple stumper...I'd have pocketed that $2K before you could say Daydream Believer
**I'd really pay off the house, but you don't say that when trying to get on national TV

Am I crazy, or did one of the contestant's on Friday's show give the exact anecdote bolded in the above quote? OKlibrarian, did you have some inside info from this taping, did you see the show 2 days ahead of time, or...are you a witch?

*EDIT* I just thought of another possibility. Maybe the player read it here, then stole the story for himself and used it on tonight's show. So I guess that would make him the witch.

Lol--I thought of this when Drew (?) said that. I think New Zealand's just a popular Nerd Vacation Spot these days. And the less said about my unfortunate College Wiccan Phase, the better.

[OKlibrarian]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

Killjoy. Now where on earth did I put my wand? Oh yeah, we had that ice storm in '08 and needed some twigs to get the fireplace going.

[Linear Gnome]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

If I ever go to New Zealand to do the LotR tour, I also want to go zorbing. I saw that on The Amazing Race and it looks like the most fun you can have in a big, plastic sphere.

[OKlibrarian]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

If I ever go to New Zealand to do the LotR tour, I also want to go zorbing. I saw that on The Amazing Race and it looks like the most fun you can have in a big, plastic sphere.

Oh yeah. I'd probably break my neck, but what a way to go!

[jeff6286]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

If I ever go to New Zealand to do the LotR tour, I also want to go zorbing. I saw that on The Amazing Race and it looks like the most fun you can have in a big, plastic sphere.

I'm pretty sure that Atlasphere is the most fun you can have inside a giant sphere, but I suppose the two activities are somewhat related.

[ElendilPickle]

One other possibility: millions of people have seen those movies, most of them are nerds, and there's a decent chance that two such nerds who would actually want to go to New Zealand to nerd out on location would also be into Jeopardy!

My husband won a trip to New Zealand from a Lord of the Rings promotion. I was in the grocery store, saw a display with the sweepstakes info, filled a form for him and one for me, and voila!

We visited several LotR sites on the North Island, and even bumped into Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop when we were in Wellington looking for a couple of the filming sites. They had just swept the Oscars with Return of the King, so it was a real super-nerd moment for me.

[someday]

I'd love to see more LOTR clues on Jeopardy! Maybe even a theme board. (FELLOWSHIP, OF THE "RING," TWO TOWERS, RETURN, OF THE KING)

Ok, just dreaming.

That is so cool, ElendilPickle.

[ElendilPickle]

I'd love to see more LOTR clues on Jeopardy! Maybe even a theme board. (FELLOWSHIP, OF THE "RING," TWO TOWERS, RETURN, OF THE KING)

Ok, just dreaming.

That is so cool, ElendilPickle.

It was! We would love to go back and see the rest of the country.

[This Is Kirk!]

I know this probably isn't the "toot your own horn" thread, but it seems like an innocuous place to put it. So, anyway, in addition to watching Jeopardy! every night I can, I also swim competitively. The international swimming federation (FINA in case it ever comes up on the show ) puts out a world top ten rankings list every year. The 2012 rankings have just come out and I'm ranked second in the 1500 meter freestyle for men 40-44 years old! That's the highest ranking I've ever achieved and I'm just three seconds away from first place. Maybe next year!

[Linear Gnome]

I know this probably isn't the "toot your own horn" thread, but it seems like an innocuous place to put it. So, anyway, in addition to watching Jeopardy! every night I can, I also swim competitively. The international swimming federation (FINA in case it ever comes up on the show ) puts out a world top ten rankings list every year. The 2012 rankings have just come out and I'm ranked second in the 1500 meter freestyle for men 40-44 years old! That's the highest ranking I've ever achieved and I'm just three seconds away from first place. Maybe next year!

Toot away! Congratulations--very cool!

[alietr]

I know this probably isn't the "toot your own horn" thread, but it seems like an innocuous place to put it. So, anyway, in addition to watching Jeopardy! every night I can, I also swim competitively. The international swimming federation (FINA in case it ever comes up on the show ) puts out a world top ten rankings list every year. The 2012 rankings have just come out and I'm ranked second in the 1500 meter freestyle for men 40-44 years old! That's the highest ranking I've ever achieved and I'm just three seconds away from first place. Maybe next year!

I'm afraid to ask, but I guess I have to since I pretty much know how long 1500m takes me ... how fast do you do it in? (Recognizing that I'm, um, older than that range.)

[This Is Kirk!]

I'm afraid to ask, but I guess I have to since I pretty much know how long 1500m takes me ... how fast do you do it in? (Recognizing that I'm, um, older than that range.)

17:47.

[jeff6286]

I'm afraid to ask, but I guess I have to since I pretty much know how long 1500m takes me ... how fast do you do it in? (Recognizing that I'm, um, older than that range.)

17:47.

That doesn't seem all that tough. I'm 34, and I can run 1500 meters way faster than that.





Oh wait, you said swimming? Okay, that's not too bad.

[red_chucks]

The late politician Paul Tsongas was a competitive masters swimmer. He turned 50 while running for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1991. When reporters asked him if he felt bad hitting the big 5-0, he said no, at least he was the youngest in his age range at swimming. He then reflected a bit and said no matter how well you think you'll do when you reach a new age group, there is always someone who is really good who eats your lunch. Or so I recall. Best wishes, This Is Kirk! Eat everyone's lunch.