Introduce Yourself Here

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jeopfansincebirth
Keeper of the All-Time Rankings
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Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:17 am
Location: Hermitage, PA

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by jeopfansincebirth »

My name is Michael T. Mondak. I am 26 years of age and a part-time sporting goods store sales associate from Hermitage, Pennsylvania. I am a native of Portsmouth, Virginia and hold a bachelor's degree in business from Penn State Shenango. Have taken the test 5 times since 2008 (4 regular, 1 college), but have never passed.

Announcer Johnny Gilbert and I are both natives of the Hampton Roads region in Virginia.

I have hosted a Summer Game Series at my home in July 2010 and am planning a Shenango Valley Series for 2012.

I am the "Keeper of the Rankings".

That is all for now until I actually make it on the show.
Michael M.
"Keeper of the Rankings"
jgpeterson
Jeopardy! Champion
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Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:14 pm

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by jgpeterson »

Roadgeek Adam wrote:I was wondering if a thread like this was going to show up.

My name is Adam Moss. I am a 3rd year college student at Middlesex County College, one of Jersey's 19 community colleges, double majoring in Civil Engineering and Liberal Arts-History. (As far as I know I won't have my Bachelors until 2018 at least, and I started college in 2009). I live in the isolated borough of Highland Park, known for at least one Jeopardy contestant. (6/3/02: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=1456 )

I am an avid Jeopardy fan, but someone who could really never try out for the show. I can do well watching TV, but I am not someone who can take a test that well, especially 1 or 2 of them. I enjoy reading the experiences from the posters here and such, but I just don't think I could ever muster an attempt to take it. (Even for someone like me, who was deemed "gifted" throughout grade school, I failed all the state standardized tests so badly that without my exemptions I wouldn't have graduated high school.) It's just easier for me to sit to the side and improve my own knowledge watching the show.

Over the last few months (especially once finishing my CSC-105 class on campus) I have become a major Excel and statistics junkie and have been continuously improving my work and trying to get estimates down. It's fun reading Nick Condon's work and finding ways to integrate his work into my Excel spreadsheets. I am an avid photographer of railroads and highways (see the picture of Boyd Tower in Raritan NJ on my avatar, built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey) and have my own Flickr photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek/. I have been a Wikipedia editor since I was 14, with a vested interest in hurricanes, highways and railroads and am the defacto event planner for Wikimedia Foundation's New York City chapter. I am also aspiring to run for political office in my borough, and trying at a young age. In the meantime I am advocating for expansion of history recognition in this place.

Anyway, enjoy.
Hey Adam!

Nonsense - you could definitely get into the pool. Of course, after that, it's producers' discretion, but don't look at the tests like those old standardized ones. They're just like J! itself - a form of the game. It sounds like you enjoy playing the game, so that's the first step. I teach at Atlantic Cape CC down in South Jersey, but my uncle teaches economics at Middlesex. I also went to Rutgers, so I definitely know Highland Park. Your dual majors speak volumes about J! readiness.

I just finished my win-and-lose J! experience, and I can say the most nervous I was in the whole process was probably arriving at the audition. However, my nerves settled down once I was given the paper-and-pencil test - then it was all fun 'n' games. They administered two of them actually, but that was fun.

Good luck!

Jay
jgpeterson
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by jgpeterson »

Hey everybody!

I'm Jay. I teach English at a two-year college in South Jersey, near Atlantic City. I found this great board after my stint on the show ended last week (Oct 20-21) - it lasted all of an hour, but it was one of the best hours of my life. I started searching for more J!-related stuff online because I think I was, maybe still am, suffering from J! hangover. Or maybe it's more serious - J! withdrawal.

I never thought I'd get on the show. I took the online test a couple of times and heard nothing. Then when I got the email inviting me to the audition, my heart started to race. Holy crap! The auditions were actually fun and later when Glenn called me to book me on the show, I was able to temper my expectations so well that when I did actually win a game, I realized I hadn't even entertained the notion of what I might do with prize money. But I tell you, the 120 day-waiting period after the airing gives you a lot of time to do that. I've been advised to blow it all on coke and hookers. Or, wait, was it not to do that...

I live on the Jersey Shore (btw, fans of the show, remember that they're NOT even from NJ!). I grew up in Toms River, NJ, but have had a few detours in PA, OH, and MO. Love to travel - have hit the lower-48, saving AK and HI for their own special trips, and I absolutely love to take photos abroad too, especially now that I've found someone who loves it as much as I do.

Also, if there are any ultramarathoners out there, would love to connect. I've run 50-milers, but am looking to conquer the 100-mile distance next. I played D-III soccer in college, but then I quit and took up triathlon to fill the void.

I guess the theme of my post here is the myth of that "hedonic treadmill." Next project - get a poem published. I'm a closet poet. Not anymore, I guess.

Good luck to all our swimmers and to-be's!
Jay
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Roadgeek Adam
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by Roadgeek Adam »

jgpeterson wrote:
Hey Adam!

Nonsense - you could definitely get into the pool. Of course, after that, it's producers' discretion, but don't look at the tests like those old standardized ones. They're just like J! itself - a form of the game. It sounds like you enjoy playing the game, so that's the first step. I teach at Atlantic Cape CC down in South Jersey, but my uncle teaches economics at Middlesex. I also went to Rutgers, so I definitely know Highland Park. Your dual majors speak volumes about J! readiness.

I just finished my win-and-lose J! experience, and I can say the most nervous I was in the whole process was probably arriving at the audition. However, my nerves settled down once I was given the paper-and-pencil test - then it was all fun 'n' games. They administered two of them actually, but that was fun.

Good luck!

Jay
Jay, yeah, watching your 2 day run was fun. Of course, as of recent, long after that post was written, I met Elisabeth Altruda, an English professor on my campus, who was on the show in 1997 (archive has her as Betty Altruda.) Kind of changed my personal views on it.
Adam Seth Moss
DoorDasher (since May 7, 2020)
M.A. History, Western Illinois Univ, 2017
B.A. History (minors in PoliSci & PubAdm), Montclair State Univ, 2015
A.A. History & Education, Middlesex County Coll., 2013
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alietr
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by alietr »

jgpeterson wrote:I've been advised to blow it all on coke and hookers.
That's for when Charlie Sheen is on the Celebrity edition.
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SkoolRN
Jeopardy! Champion
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Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:29 am

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by SkoolRN »

Spaceman Spiff wrote:Jeff here, from Richmond VA. A one-day champion in January 2011; I guess I have the dubious distinction of being the person who kept Anthony Fox out of the TOC.

I'm probably one of the older winners this past season, at age 52 (at time of taping). I'm actually old enough to remember when Jeopardy permiered with Art Flemming. And, growing up, J! isn't the show I aspired to be on - I wanted to be on Concentration, though it didn't have the same magic after Hugh Downs left. I did manage to get onto the prime-time version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? back when the show was a hot item and they still used the phone game, but was left out to dry on a double-clutch on a fast finger.

For those of you who wonder "How many times do I have to try out to get on this show?", I'll reply "As many times as it takes." My first attempt was back in 1995, when they actually had the LA tests in the J! studio (I managed to time it with a business trip, so it didn't cost me anything out of pocket). I didn't pass that one. I managed to get a tryout in DC in 1997, and passed that, but no response. I signed up for the "field" tryouts again in DC, but never was chosen; when they went to the online test, I took those every year, with no response until last year. Evidently, the game show gods smiled upon me last year.

Even though J! was a big thing for me last year, it was sandwiched by the death of my parents - dad died two months before taping, and mom died two months after taping. She had memory issues (even to the point of not remembering her husband of 57 years had died), but did remember that her son had taped an episode of Jeopardy. Whenever she saw me, she asked the same two questions: "Has the show aired yet?" (No, it hasn't); and "Was Art Flemming a nice man?" (Yes, he was. I did say she had memory issues!)

I'm an accountant by trade, a musicial and former (amateur) rocket scientist for fun. Grew up in northwest Alabama (literally on what was part of the Ivy Green estate of Helen Keller's family, so those questions are always instagets!), spent a lot of time in Huntsville, and an alumnus of the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and VCU.
Sorry, but I've got you way beat in the older winners category. (A dubious honor.)
"Lefthanders have more enthusiasm for life. They sleep on the wrong side of the bed and their head gets more stagnant on that side."
Casey Stengel.
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WRV
Always Lies
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by WRV »

Name: Bill Vassar
Occupation: Journalism Student

Contestant interview worthy stories:
-I write in my spare time; my favorite genre is science fiction, and I hope to get my work published someday.
-I've been a student journalist for about two and a half years, and have produced/hosted programs for my college TV station.
-One of my goals is to visit every continent (I've got 2/7 so far, the 2 being North America and Europe).
-My first kiss occurred in college, while I was dressed as Captain Kirk.
-I was on my high school's swim team, I once lost my swimsuit during a state meet.

I've taken the online test twice.

Avatar explanation: A cartoon version of the 11th Doctor from my favorite TV Show, "Doctor Who". It was drawn by the lady here:http://www.redscharlach.co.uk/
"If you are lonely when you're alone, you are in bad company." -Jean-Paul Sartre
John Boy
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 2981
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:11 am

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by John Boy »

jgpeterson wrote:Hey everybody!

I'm Jay. I teach English at a two-year college in South Jersey, near Atlantic City. I found this great board after my stint on the show ended last week (Oct 20-21) - it lasted all of an hour, but it was one of the best hours of my life. I started searching for more J!-related stuff online because I think I was, maybe still am, suffering from J! hangover. Or maybe it's more serious - J! withdrawal.

I never thought I'd get on the show. I took the online test a couple of times and heard nothing. Then when I got the email inviting me to the audition, my heart started to race. Holy crap! The auditions were actually fun and later when Glenn called me to book me on the show, I was able to temper my expectations so well that when I did actually win a game, I realized I hadn't even entertained the notion of what I might do with prize money. But I tell you, the 120 day-waiting period after the airing gives you a lot of time to do that. I've been advised to blow it all on coke and hookers. Or, wait, was it not to do that...


Also, if there are any ultramarathoners out there, would love to connect. I've run 50-milers, but am looking to conquer the 100-mile distance next. I played D-III soccer in college, but then I quit and took up triathlon to fill the void.

I guess the theme of my post here is the myth of that "hedonic treadmill." Next project - get a poem published. I'm a closet poet. Not anymore, I guess.

Good luck to all our swimmers and to-be's!
Jay
As a one-time marathoner myself, several hundred years ago, I must say I don't personally equate ultramarathoning with hedonism. Perhaps just the opposite. More power to you, buddy.
iowabelle
Loyal Jeopardista
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by iowabelle »

jeff6286 wrote:What do you call 3 lawyers at the unemployment office?
?
?
?
A good start. ;)



Just kidding, just kidding, just a poor ripoff of an old lawyer joke, and I apologize for any offense felt by lawyers, or the unemployed, or those who work in an office, or those who tell old jokes.
I think we have to roll with the punches and not take ourselves too seriously. I wasn't blessed to work in an LA Law type of place, it was more like MASH but with lawyers. Lots of dysfunction and some humor.
jgpeterson
Jeopardy! Champion
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Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:14 pm

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by jgpeterson »

alietr wrote:
jgpeterson wrote:I've been advised to blow it all on coke and hookers.
That's for when Charlie Sheen is on the Celebrity edition.
He's the one who advised me!
bpmod
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Location: Hamilton Ontario

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by bpmod »

Hi All

I'm Brian. This is my first post here, but I had just passed the 3000 mark on the old board, having signed up near the end of Ken Jennings' run.

I have been a fan of Jeopardy! since sometime in the 80's and I remember watching it with my folks when I moved back home in '90. I started watching it consistently (that is, taping if not home) around '98, and saving the recordings once I upgraded to DVD in '05.

I am in the computer / internet services business, having started my own (current) business in 1992, and do my part for the Jeopardy! world by hosting the website for the J! Archive. I am proud to be a part of the team, although I don't do much of the heavy lifting.

I have lived almost all my life in the Hamilton Ontario area, and could be found talking up my hometown incessantly on the old board. I am well past the age of 40 and --gulp-- still single, but that gives me the freedom to roam wherever the mood takes me. As of now, I have vistied 46 US States and 4 Canadian Provinces, of which I have driven (from Hamilton) to all but British Columbia. (I still intend to drive there, as well as Alaska, Washington & Oregon).

I only started thinking earnestly about trying out for Jeopardy! in the last few years (mostly as a result of the amazing experience of 'meeting' all the great boardies -- three now in person), and took my first online test earlier this year. I tested, for fun, all three nights; the one that counted, I think I missed by two questions; the next one, I aced, and the last one I bombed. I am going to sign up for the next one and see if I do any better.

There's lots more that I could tell you, but it'll come out in time.

Good to be 'back'.

Brian
...but the senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity.

If I had 50 cents for every math question I got right, I'd have $6.30 by now.
Fishercat
Watches Jeopardy! Way Too Much
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:32 am

Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by Fishercat »

There's not much to say

Hi Everyone,

I am Ryan, and I was also Fishercat on the older board. I had no idea that (and where) the old boardies reconvened until I saw one of the TOCers tweets about a Jeopardy message board and decided to search again. Just know, no Sony hackers can keep me away forever.

I'm a 24 year old from Manchester, N.H., never been on the show and constantly floating in that awkward period of friends saying "You're awesome at this, you should try out", and then I go on a five minute diatribe on my audition/testing failures and they rapidly try and change the subject.

Not a ton to know about me, love me some arcane sports knowledge, pop culture, and groan at opera and art...so I'm like the general public who watches the show! Either way, glad to finally find everyone again and can't wait to jump back in.
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lasercats
Contributor
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by lasercats »

Hi! My name is Maggie Larkin. I have auditioned twice for the college tournament to no avail, but I'm giving the adult test a shot this year.
If you volunteer at the National History Bowl this year, you will definitely see me! I am one of the assistant directors.
I graduated in May from the University of Oklahoma with my BA in Multidisciplinary Studies...AKA I designed my own program to encompass my love of music history and film studies. It's not exactly a profitable field, so now I'm working as an Americorps member in an elementary school in Oklahoma.
dmleach
Damn Jeopardy! Hooligan
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by dmleach »

Time for me to officially delurk! My name's Dave Leach, and I live in Atlanta. I've been around both the Sony board and this one for some time now, definitely more as a consumer than a producer. Naturally I tend to get more active on the boards around the time of the online tests and the two times I've been fortunate enough to be picked for an in-person audition (Atlanta in 2007, Lexington in 2011). I played in about a half-dozen "Think Different" games over on the old board, rarely doing well but usually having fun. I also remember a thread where players came up with unusual letter combinations and other boardies would try to guess the word (for example, RYTH might lead to the word "everything").

I've been a fan of game shows for as long as I can remember. Mom would joke that Bob Barker taught me to count. My dream job would be hosting a show, and after playing quizbowl through high school and college, I indulged by serving as a volunteer moderator at many tournaments throughout the southeast (not to mention a national in St. Louis a few years back where I got to sit a few feet from Ken Jennings).

Some people believe I go out of my way to find unusual hobbies. I'm an avid player of European board games. I've been a time-speed-distance road rallyist for over ten years. My best friend Mischelle and I are urban racers and my girlfriend Leslie and I plan puzzle hunts that raise money for charity. I'm an occasional casino dealer, have recently given curling a try, am learning how to make glass beads and jewelry, and threaten every once in awhile to learn to play my mandolin.

I'm overjoyed to share that I did receive The Call in September* and went to Culver City last week to be a contestant. We'll be having a viewing party at a sports bar to be named later on the Thursday between Christmas and New Year, December 29. Everybody's invited!

Thanks to everyone involved for setting up the new community! I'll be the first to admit that part of the fun of finally making it as a contestant is having a bunch of smart, in-the-know people to talk to.

( * Thursday, September 29, 2011, at 4:35 PM - but who's counting? )
shubhaghosh
Contributor
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by shubhaghosh »

Hello everyone. I was on the old J! board and have been travelling etc for the past couple of months. So a bit out of touch. What happened to the old board? I was surprised that it was disabled, it seems permanently.

I lost to Buddy in his third game back in April 2010 by $ 1. Glad to watch his mojo today and I wish him well.
Mr. History Bowl
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by Mr. History Bowl »

I'm David Madden and I beat Watson twice and then wrote an angry Op Ed piece about it. I've set up and founded the National History Bee and Bowl. They've basically taken over my life. I'm also right now in New Mexico, trying to set up academic competitions in a state that needs them, I coach the quiz bowl team at my old high school, run a charity grant program for school teams off the rump of my J! winnings, teach history at ACE Quizbowl camp, and have declared war on sleep.
For those who don't know - our National Championships for the National History Bee and Bowl (as Maggie mentioned) is basically the largest J! reunion that I know of. Roger Craig, Brad Rutter, Raynell Cooper, Bob Harris, and many others were there last year and will hopefully be back again. Next April 27-29 - put it on your calendar! Come read questions and get in touch with your inner Trebek at an embassy, museum, or other cool site. Come play on your own in the open division of the all new National Sports History Bee or National Entertainment History Bee! Watch some of the nation's smartest students duke it out for eternal glory - and for the winner of the Varsity Bee - a trip to the French Riviera to take on our European Champion!
Oh, and I'm setting up a middle school division of the National History Bee that's buzzer-based and is going to be on the History Channel next spring. Jack from Hawken - this means you!
For all the info, visit www.historybowl.com, www.historybee.com, www.nhbbeurope.com and www.ms.historybee.com (that last one is the middle school one - it should be ready by Wednesday).
We're always looking for volunteers at state tournaments and at Nationals - if you're interested, drop me a line!
Cheers,
David
David Madden. Daily double divebomber extraordinaire. One of the few fulltimers in the burgeoning quizbowl industry.
Executive Director, National History Bee and Bowl
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alietr
Site Admin
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by alietr »

Welcome aboard, David. I know I'm looking forward to participating again next year!
caroline
Just Starting Out on JBoard
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Riot Grrrl/Kathleen Hanna Episode of Jeopardy from Dec 1997

Post by caroline »

Hi!

I am trying to find Ep 3068 / Air date: 12/24/97 of Jeopardy that asks a questions about Riot Grrrl and Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill/Le Tigre). Does anyone have any leads on where I can find a copy of this episode? Any information would be helpful.

Thank you!
Caroline
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jpahk
Jeopardy! TOCer
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by jpahk »

welcome dave, and retro good luck. season 28 boardie solidarity! also, quizbowl + euro board games + puzzle hunts = my kind of guy. i'll be cheering for you.

welcome to ryan, maggie, david, and shubhaghosh as well.
dmleach
Damn Jeopardy! Hooligan
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Re: Introduce Yourself Here

Post by dmleach »

jpahk wrote:welcome dave, and retro good luck. season 28 boardie solidarity! also, quizbowl + euro board games + puzzle hunts = my kind of guy. i'll be cheering for you.
Thanks very much, Joon! We should have some sort of secret s28b handshake (or a gang sign! even better!) I'd also have mentioned that I enjoy crossword puzzles, but I realize I'm in the presence of cruciverbalist royalty around here. My skill only ranks somewhere around the New York Times Wednesday-and-a-half level.

When your shows were airing I knew I recognized your name from one or another of the quizbowl websites or mailing lists and was wondering whether we'd ever met in person. Did you ever make the trip down to Chattanooga for one of the tournaments there? I'd have been most active from 1998 to 2005.
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