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Randomness thread, part two.

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  1. #30901
    Some fascinating clips here. I'm not even sure you need to be an expert to tell the guilty from the innocent on these videos. I mean these guys are really good at articulating the differences, whereas I would just be more like "something seems off here, but can't put my finger on it." Guess that's why they make the big bucks.


    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  2. #30902
    I can't wait for them to do Boris at his little partygate hearing. Maybe it'd just be too boring for them to say "He's lying," over and over again though.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  3. #30903
    Did you really just share an 8+ hour video and expect us to watch it?
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  4. #30904
    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
    Did you really just share an 8+ hour video and expect us to watch it?
    Do I "expect" you to watch it? No. It's a suggestion which I thought some people on here might enjoy. But you can watch part of it, the whole thing, or none. I promise I won't be offended either way.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  5. #30905
    I'm half way through. I've pissed myself and I'm hungry.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  6. #30906
    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
    I'm half way through. I've pissed myself and I'm hungry.
    I expected you to do that. Whether you watched it or not.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  7. #30907
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    C'mon, now. I'm sure Ong is potty trained.

    Whether he knows his way around a kitchen is kinda in question, I suppose. Especially since British.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  8. #30908
    I'm perfectly capable of setting the oven, putting something in, and coming back half an hour later.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  9. #30909
    The English national dish is chicken tikka masala. Fact.

    Ong probably eats fish and chips five times a week though cause he's patriotic.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  10. #30910
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    I hear the British actually live off tea, but feign eating food so as not to draw attention from the rest of us.

    No wonder their own dishes are like ... beans on toast... and they'll tell you it's good.
    So you inquire... what are the ingredients in said dish? And they reply... beans. and toast.
    And you're like... is there pork in the beans?
    and they're like... no.
    And you're like... bit of onion?
    and they're like... no.


    And you're like... Tikka Masala sounds nice.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  11. #30911
    Fun fact - I'm not patriotic. I suppose I'm a nationalist. Just because most nationalists are patriotic, it's not a requirement. I'm a nationalist because I believe in the right of a nation to self determination. Defining a "nation" is problematic and in unions of nations such as the UK it gets even more awkward, but I don't believe in this right out of a sense of superiority or pride of all things English. I believe it because, as I'm sure we all agree, it absurd for the English to enforce British rule over Scotland against their will. How long they can get away with between referenda is another matter, but they happen every "generation" or whatever language they like to use.

    I eat fish and chips probably once a week on average, usually from the oven rather than the chippy.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  12. #30912
    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    I hear the British actually live off tea...
    Tea and toast.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  13. #30913
    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
    Tea and toast.

    What do you put on your toast? 'Cause I don't think anywhere else in the world thinks beans is an appropriate topping, maybe if you're out camping or something.

    When you come here Mojo, don't bother eating a sausage. They taste like sawdust. Indian and middle eastern food is done better here than in N. America though.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  14. #30914
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    Unfortunately my friend and would-be tour guide for London on my visit it dealing with job troubles, and may not be able to show us around for a few days.

    So I started looking at attractions in London and not even joking, multiple sites talk up the food and then mention a lot of international restaurants. Kinda hilarious.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  15. #30915
    Quote Originally Posted by Poopadoop View Post
    What do you put on your toast? 'Cause I don't think anywhere else in the world thinks beans is an appropriate topping, maybe if you're out camping or something.

    When you come here Mojo, don't bother eating a sausage. They taste like sawdust. Indian and middle eastern food is done better here than in N. America though.
    Usually just butter, and I'll have toast alone or with eggs. Sometimes I have jam on toast for breakfast, or for lunch maybe cheese on toast, but beans can fuck right off. I hated them as a kid and hate them now. They taste of burps. Who wants to eat something that tastes of burps?

    As for sausages, they are amazing if you buy good sausages. Buy from farm shops, not from supermarkets. If you must buy from a supermarket, buy their "finest" range rather than the cheap ones.

    A sausage is as good as the meat that it's made from. It's it's made form good quality meat, you have the food of kings.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  16. #30916
    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    Unfortunately my friend and would-be tour guide for London on my visit it dealing with job troubles, and may not be able to show us around for a few days.

    So I started looking at attractions in London and not even joking, multiple sites talk up the food and then mention a lot of international restaurants. Kinda hilarious.
    London is pretty much the most ethnically diverse part of the country. You'll find just about every culture represented somewhere. So it's not really a huge surprise that international food is a big part of London culture and British culture in general. Every town has Turkish, Indian and Chinese food, most will have an Italian restaurant, Greek and Thai are popular, you might find a sushi bar, this is the result of having a bland national cuisine and high diversity.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  17. #30917
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    Any suggestions on what to see while I'm there?
    Any restaurant suggestions?

    Any places to avoid 'cause they don't meet the hype?
    Anything tourists do that I should avoid?

    Really, any tips on a 3 day vacation in London?
    We'll be in a Hilton nearish the Eye, if that helps.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  18. #30918
    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    Any suggestions on what to see while I'm there?
    Any restaurant suggestions?

    Depends what you're into of course, but Richmond Park and Kew Gardens are both nice green places. Tower of London is pretty cool, and Covent Garden area for nighttime.

    Mahdi in Hammersmith has excellent Persian food and is affordable. Cote's in Richmond is nice (French) but expensive. Probably any indian restaurant is a safe bet.




    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    Any places to avoid 'cause they don't meet the hype?
    Natural Science Museum is a good place to learn the British tradition of standing in line all day long. But it's great if/when you go inside. Definitely don't try it on a weekend.

    Hyde Park never really impressed me, but I don't think it's meant to be a tourist destination anyways.

    I've heard the London Eye is overpriced for what you get, but never tried it myself.




    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    Anything tourists do that I should avoid?
    Trying to make the beefeater guards flinch? Pretending to have a cockney accent? Dunno really. Just be polite and you'll get along fine.




    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    Really, any tips on a 3 day vacation in London?
    We'll be in a Hilton nearish the Eye, if that helps.
    It's quite compact relative to N.A. cities. Good train service (when they're not on strike), and busses as well. Lots of things within walking distance if you're central. And it's reasonably easy to get to places on the fringe of London like Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace too, so don't be tempted to look on a map and think they're too far away to get to.

    If you're going from there to Ong-shire, I would recommend a stop in Oxford and/or the Cotswolds. Stonehenge is also sort of on the way but it gets a big fat no from me because it's one of those places you can get the same amount of joy from just looking at a picture. However, there's a place nearby named Amesbury that has a similar vibe except the stones are spread in circles throughout the town rather than in a field in the middle of nowhere. I always thought that was a cool town. And Salisbury has a great cathedral if you're into ye olde churches and such.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  19. #30919
    Monkey, when are you visiting?

    Anything in particular you like doing and any dietary requirements?
  20. #30920
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    Thanks for all that, Poopy!

    Heya, beans!
    I'll be in London 5/18 to 5/21.
    In Ongshire 5/21 to 5/23.
    Then up to Barnoldswick to visit my online British grandmum, then off to Switzerland.

    I'll have a rental car in the UK.

    I like museums and sightseeing. Not opposed to spending a bit of money for a good time or good food.
    Aquariums, Zoos, malls, whatever local entertainment all good.
    I'm not opposed to walking about the city, but my partner will not be able to handle too much without constant breaks and stalling. Which is fine if it's a nice walk / good sights.

    No notable dietary restrictions. Just minor pickiness on my part. My partner is more adventurous with food.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  21. #30921
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    If anyone on FTR wants to arrange a meet up for a meal or drinks in London, I'm down with that.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  22. #30922
    Ongshire = Shropshire (or Herefordshire / Worcestershire), we can have an FTR meet here too if anyone is in the area at that time.

    Mojo I'm sorry but I really don't know London that well, I try my best to avoid the place! Poop's post looks pretty helpful though.

    National Science Museum is a must for a man of science.

    Hyde Park is great if you want a nice walk in an huge urban park. There's also Battersea Park in central London. These are the kind of place I like to go in London because I like peace and quiet, and somewhere to smoke a spliff! Might not be what you're looking for though, especially if Allison isn't much of a walker. (I did get her name right didn't I?)

    London Eye is just a tourist trap, if you want a nice view of the city it's probably worth it. That's about all it's good for. I haven't been on there either.

    Trying to make the beefeater guards flinch?
    Don't stand in their way, mock them or give them any disrespect. They will walk through you because they can, and they promote equality in that they will happily barge over a daft woman or even a child too if they're in their way. Lots of hilarious footage online of people getting barged over by the guards. They don't fuck about.

    Definitely do not push into a queue. If you want to join a queue but there's someone awkwardly placed such that you can't tell if they're in the queue or not, a simple "are you in the queue?" is the most British thing you can say and will get huge bonus points. It's the perfect conversation starter, especially in an American accent.

    If you're going from there to Ong-shire, I would recommend a stop in Oxford and/or the Cotswolds.
    If you're coming down the M42 (it's a freeway) then Oxford and the Cotswolds is a small detour, definitely worth the time if you're travelling early.

    You'll be visiting Ludlow Castle, West Midland Safari Park, and Clee Hill. That's what I've got planned for you!
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  23. #30923
    btw I'll be arranging hotel soon. I believe I have a friends and family discount, I'll be talking with my manager about that soon. It's not necessary to pay in advance, however it will likely be cheaper if you do it online before arrival, and the sooner it's done the better because we operate on a demand basis, it's more expensive if there's fewer rooms available. I'll have full info soon and we'll get the reservation done as soon as practical.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  24. #30924
    Thanks for the offers guys, but it's bad timing for me. I'll actually be at a conference in Ireland when all this is happening. Hope you have a great visit though Mojo, make sure to post some pics and tell us your impressions.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  25. #30925
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    Do you mean The Science Museum (neither natural nor national)?
    I don't see anything on google for National Science Museum, and a search for Natural Science Museum returns hits for a Museum of Natural History.

    Hyde Park sounds nice.

    No worries about messing with guards. I do know the rumors about US tourists in particular trying to mess with them. I never heard of people getting trampled by them, but makes sense. I usually hear people trying to be comedians and get one of them to crack a smile, but that's not really my schtick.

    The thing about asking if someone is in queue is natural to me. The only hard part will be calling it a queue instead of a line. But if my Americanisms will be considered cute and a conversation starter, I wont worry about it.

    I was looking into a visit to Stonehenge, but it's not thrilling me. If Allison is excited (yes, you remembered correctly, Ong), then I'll do it. Sounds like it's a moderately bad experience unless you get there at 9:30 when they open, with pre-purchased tickets. Apparently by 10:00 the place is flooded with tour busses and their loads, so if you want any sense of awe and mystery, you need to get there when there are as few people as possible.


    Just keep me posted on the hotel, Ong. Cool that you have plans for us. I hope they include food and maybe some drinks in the evening. Neither Allison nor I are heavy drinkers, but having a few pints with a friend (or a few) is good times, IMO.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  26. #30926
    I was thinking of the Natural History Museum, sorry. Science museum is across the street I think.

    Everyone who has come to visit me over the years has wanted to go to Stonehenge, and without exception they've all been underwhelmed. I mean even if you go when it's not busy it's just kinda meh. I'd go to Avebury instead (I think I called it Amesbury before but that's actually where the stones come from. Or something. Don't ask me, I'm not British)

    https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/...laces/avebury/

    That said, I suppose it's a bit weird if people ask you if you went to Stonehenge and you say "nah, this poopy guy on the interwebs told me to go to see some smaller rocks instead." So yeah, whatever, Stonehenge is probably worth seeing once in your life.

    Richmond Park or Kew Gardens >> Hyde Park imo, but obv. you're much closer to the latter if you're central. And yeah basically a park is a park so whatever there too.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  27. #30927
    "Do you mean The Science Museum (neither natural nor national)?"

    Well I was thinking the the "Science Museum" which I probably tagged with "National" because either I'm stupid or the media use that term, not sure.

    I wanted to correct poop's Amesbury to Avebury but wasn't certain he meant the latter. I've never been to Amesbury so I don't know what's there. Avebury is really special though. It's a village rather than a field, so there's more to do.

    Stonehenge is probably worth a visit if you're going to Avebury because you might as well. You don't *need" to buy tickets, you can see the stones from the road. If all you want to do is tick it off then you could just drive past on the way to Avebury and stop in the car park for a look, save yourself the queueing and money.

    Kew Gardens is probably right up your street. World class botanical gardens. Richmond Park is near Kew Gardens and is enormous. I've never been there though, it's less central than Hyde Park, quite a bit to the west of the city (Brentford).

    btw, are you planning to go to any seaside resorts while you're here? I'm as central as it gets so that's not practical for your visit to me, but London isn't far from the sea. If that's something you want to do then head south-east towards Kent, perhaps the Isle of Sheppey. That'll be a day.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  28. #30928
    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post

    I wanted to correct poop's Amesbury to Avebury but wasn't certain he meant the latter. I've never been to Amesbury so I don't know what's there. Avebury is really special though. It's a village rather than a field, so there's more to do.
    Yeah I definitely was thinking of Avebury. Amesbury is close to Stonehenge and I've probably driven through it but afaik there's nothing special there. Just got the names mixed up.



    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
    btw, are you planning to go to any seaside resorts while you're here? I'm as central as it gets so that's not practical for your visit to me, but London isn't far from the sea. If that's something you want to do then head south-east towards Kent, perhaps the Isle of Sheppey. That'll be a day.
    Never been there. Isn't Leeds Castle in Kent? I dug that.

    For the coast I like the Seven Sisters.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sisters,_Sussex
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  29. #30929
    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post

    Kew Gardens is probably right up your street. World class botanical gardens. Richmond Park is near Kew Gardens and is enormous. I've never been there though, it's less central than Hyde Park, quite a bit to the west of the city (Brentford).
    For outdoorsy stuff, I'd also recommend the Surrey Hills. It's in Poopshire, and not far from London down the A3.

    https://surreyhills.org/visit/
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  30. #30930
    I should be able to meet you for a bite to eat and drink after work on the Friday evening, Monkey, if that works for your timetable. I go into the office 1-2 days per week. I'll also add to your long list of recommendations:

    The easiest way to tick off all the sights is an open top bus tour, if you don’t have much time to play with. Expensive for what it is.

    Take a boat ride up the Thames on the “Clipper” to Greenwich, which is a vibrant area. Get some street food and a drink in a pub. Take a walk up to the observatory, which is the home to Greenwich Mean Time and has the prime meridian line.

    Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are great and next door to each other. Also close is the V&A Museum, which I find dull. All located in Kensington, which is one of the most expensive areas to live in London.

    You are close to a very small museum called The Clink. It’s an old prison and very interesting. Also in the area is the London Dungeon, which is a lot of fun. For medical history, The Old Operating Theatre museum is a bit different. Also the Hunterian museum.

    Tower of London is walkable and you’ll get in some stories about people being tortured and having their head cut off. Bite to eat or drink at St Katherine’s Dock next door.

    Have a walk around Westminster, just across the river from your hotel. If you’re interested in World War II history, the Cabinet War Rooms are interesting. This is where Churchill ran the British war operations from. Banqueting House is ok for a quick trip – it has an interesting Ruebens ceiling and it’s where King Charles has his head cut off.

    Shows: plenty of world class shows on at the West End (basically the Covent Garden area). There might be some Shakespeare on at the Globe on the river.

    Art: not my thing, but a number of galleries close to your hotel.

    I wouldn’t bother with the London Eye. If you want a view, book a bite to eat of a drink at the top of one of the tall buildings e.g. The Shard, Heron Tower and the Gherkin. Duck and Waffle do a good brunch at the weekend, but corporate dinners midweek.

    Sport: there’s a regular match at Lords cricket ground, the home of cricket. Most americans find cricket dull when I’ve taken them…

    Fancy things to do: traditional afternoon tea at a 5-star hotel like the Ritz, Claridges, Dorchester or Corinthia. Expensive and need to dress smart. Dinner at Rules in Covent Garden, after cocktails upstairs. Cocktails in the Savoy.

    Getting Around:
    Tube will serve your needs. They are all cashless. Take a look at your options, but you can probably get a prepaid “Oyster” card. Uber also works very well.

    Food:
    London food is generally excellent these days and the beer (real ale) in the UK is the best in the world. Tripadvisor is your friend here for eating. Poop is right that Indian food is much better in the UK than the US (but well short on Mexican). I like a chain called Dishoom for Indian food. There’s one in Covent Garden and one in Kensington. Otherwise, you have all kinds of cuisine that can be found at a high standard. Most places in central London will be busy and vibrant.

    Recommendation:
    Book EVERYTHING in advance – restaurants and attraction tickets.
  31. #30931
    Australians love cricket, and that's because they've figured out the key to enjoying several days of potentially rain interrupted sport.

    Beer.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  32. #30932
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    Wow. So much to sift through and think about. Excellent!!

    I'm definitely down to meet up on Friday, May 19 for food and drinks.
    I'll DM you my email and phone number so we can coordinate that.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  33. #30933
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    "The Shard, Heron Tower and the Gherkin. Duck and Waffle do a good brunch at the weekend"
    Weird and expensive is kinda a fun vibe for vacations. Nice list.

    I spent too much time at work googling their menus. Time to ask Allison what seems most fun.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  34. #30934
    I'm arguing on Twitter with an anarcho-communist. He's responding with memes and anti-capitalist nonsense instead of responding to my point that you can't be an anarchist if you're a commie. It's quite fun.

    Isn't oskar close to an anarcho-commie? I'm genuinely curious how they deal with the contradiction, but this Twitter guy doesn't seem able to. Communism requires political authority, while anarchy rejects political authority. How do you enforce communism on a population without being a political authority?
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  35. #30935
    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
    I'm arguing on Twitter with an anarcho-communist.
    It's so easy to find people on twitter who live in fantasy land. There's still people on there who think Jeremy Corbyn is the nuts.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  36. #30936
    Funnily enough this guy name dropped Corbyn on his profile.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  37. #30937
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    I appreciate the irony.

    It's hard forming an adult opinion. You want to be nice and let other people be nice, but then you find out the world and its people just can't sustain that. And you have to draw some lines. You have to choose what you'll accept and what you wont accept. Then the world throws shit at you that you didn't expect and you're still fucked.

    Don't be too hard on the 'tarded kid, ongie.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  38. #30938
    Corbyn is a personality cult, like Trump. The people who support him are a minority but are 100% convinced they're right. The only difference between him and DT is he's not completely whacko. But he's whacko enough to be unelectable and so he had to go.

    I met a guy on twitter who supported JC and seemed reasonable enough for a while. But once he realised I wasn't buying the whole "Starmer is evil incarnate" schtick he blocked me. Lol, ok dude whatever.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  39. #30939
    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    I appreciate the irony.

    It's hard forming an adult opinion. You want to be nice and let other people be nice, but then you find out the world and its people just can't sustain that. And you have to draw some lines. You have to choose what you'll accept and what you wont accept. Then the world throws shit at you that you didn't expect and you're still fucked.

    Don't be too hard on the 'tarded kid, ongie.
    Anarchy is the most misunderstood of all the ideologies. Antifa aren't anarchists, since they seek to impose political authority on others. They are political activists at best. People think it means chaos but that's because we're indoctrinated into thinking that authority is what makes our world civil, and that's a reasonable assumption because humans are horrible, and a lack of authority only emboldens violent people. But it's perfectly possible to be an anarchist that hates all forms of violence. Hippies are closer to anarchists than the likes of Antifa.

    Anarchy is the most natural of the ideologies... it's the way of the natural world. There's no rule that says the lion can't eat the snake. There's a consequence though. Anarchy doesn't mean a lack of consequence, far from it. It means no higher power enforcing a political and legal structure on its adherents. You're free to do as you please, just remember so is everyone else.

    Anarchy is also the ultimate ideology for a social species. A species that can achieve anarchy without violence and theft has achieved social perfection. A world where we care for one another, respect territory and property, and share and trade resources, without the need to impose rules. That for me is the ultimate species.

    Authority is necessary because we're nowhere near social perfection. Even the most civil countries in the world need legal and political structure, and that isn't going to change in our lifetimes.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  40. #30940
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    The problem with anarchy is personal property, IMO.

    Ownership. Who has claims to what and what do those claims entail?
    How can those claims be enforced?

    There are disagreements that need to be adjudicated. Humans appreciate a sense of continuity and fairness in the manner of adjudication of disagreements.

    I just don't see how anarchy can deal with these ubiquitously everyday human concerns.

    Pretending everyone will just be civil and work things out between themselves without conflict and violence is ... nice for some species that isn't humans, but for humans, it's missing some very essential data about how humans interact with each other.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  41. #30941
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    Not that US taxes make any sense, but what is VAT?
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  42. #30942
    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    Not that US taxes make any sense, but what is VAT?
    Sales tax. 20% on most items barring anything deemed as essential. Any prices you see advertised will already include VAT, which is much better imo than the US.
  43. #30943
    Galfond.jpg

    Shout out to Galfond.
  44. #30944
    Quote Originally Posted by mojo
    Pretending everyone will just be civil and work things out between themselves without conflict and violence is ... nice for some species that isn't humans, but for humans, it's missing some very essential data about how humans interact with each other.
    Well this is why it's the ultimate achievement for a social species. Humans are nowhere near capable of living like this.

    Actually the ultimate achievement for a species is for every individual to have the capability to wipe out life on the planet, but nobody does so. That's orders of magnitude more successful than blissful anarchy.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  45. #30945
    VAT means Value Added Tax, it's basically a consumer tax on pretty much everything, but if you're a business or registered as self employed and buy things that you need for your job (you're not consuming, you're making or serving, you're working) you either get the VAT deducted or you can note it on your yearly tax return for a tax credit.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
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  46. #30946
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    You mean the amount it actually costs is the amount you told me it costs?!
    Sounds disgusting. Have you no shame?



    Sounds lovely, actually.
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  47. #30947
    CoccoBill's Avatar
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    A friend convinced me to take up chess and against all odds I'm kinda hooked. Ong what's your elo?
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  48. #30948
    It depends. I peaked at just under 2000 on Gameknot (currently 1964, top 10%), but that's long chess, like 3 days plus per move, with access to an opening database. It's easier to play good chess if you know you're on solid opening theory, and have all the time in the world to analyse the position. And I haven't played any proper chess like that for a long time.

    OTB with clocks I'm not nearly as good, I can probably play at a 1500 level in a ten minute game, much worse in a bullet game. My openings aren't so good when based on memory, and I miss more winning tactics.

    My endgame is pretty solid though, probably closer to my peak 2000 rating even under reasonable time pressure.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  49. #30949
    For the last few years, I've been mostly getting my chess fix playing variants, in particular Bulldog chess. It uses a slightly wider board with extra pieces... usually a witch and guard. The guard is exactly like a king except you can lose it without losing the game, and the witch is a weird piece that makes pieces adjacent to it "transparent" to friendly pieces (takes a while to get your head around it but it's a great piece). Unfortunately there were only around 30 of us playing at its peak and that number has slowly fallen over time and now nobody is playing. I am the current "World Champion" though haha.

    I'm also world champion in "Chess on an Infinite Plane", having never lost at this variant (one draw). I really liked that variant but there were even fewer playing and again, nobody left.

    So I might start playing normal chess again soon in an effort to finally break the 2000 barrier, which I've come so close to (1991) but never achieved.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  50. #30950
    Also, I love that chess rating is ELO. They're also one of my favourite bands!

    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  51. #30951
    CoccoBill's Avatar
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    Ok I ain't gonna challenge you anytime soon then, I'm an absolute noob. I've played less than half a dozen games against people during my lifetime before this stint. Now a bit over 50 games in on chess.com I'm at below 900 with a ~75% accuracy and 75% winrate.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  52. #30952
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    I'm no good at chess, so it's a dumb game.
    sadface
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  53. #30953
    CoccoBill's Avatar
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    I always figured it's a silly game and too simple to get any mileage out of, and I still kind of think that, but I'm enjoying it far more than I expected. So satisfying when you know exactly what your opponent is planning and you know you've got them. Also, very humbling playing against someone far outranking you.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  54. #30954
    I learned how to play chess as a kid, probably around 9 years old. It's kinda strange when I look back because I was such a horrible kid at that age, living in a kid's home and basically uncontrollable, but I was smart and chess appealed to me, especially once I could beat adults.

    cocco you could probably give me a decent blitz game when your rating hits 1200-1300 territory, so keep at it and let me know if you get there. I'd say I'd beat a 1300 player 7/10 times in a 10 min blitz maybe. A 900 rated player, I'd have to be very tired to lose.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  55. #30955
    MadMojoMonkey's Avatar
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    When I was in college the first time (in the late 90's), I was friends with a drummer who'd smoke weed with me if I played chess with him. So... I played a couple games of chess with him most days after lunch.

    He readily beat me, but said it was very informative to play against a person and not the computer.

    I asked him for tips about how to improve and all I remember really getting from him was, "Just play pure defense and wait for your opponent to make a mistake."
    You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want, if you're prepared to ignore enough data.
  56. #30956
    Quote Originally Posted by CoccoBill View Post
    Now a bit over 50 games in on chess.com I'm at below 900 with a ~75% accuracy and 75% winrate.
    I didn't know it went that low

    I'm not bragging though, my rating was around 1600 when I played. But I don't have time for long games, so that was all blitz and lightning.
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  57. #30957
    Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
    I'm no good at chess, so it's a dumb game.
    sadface
    It's an ok game based on my ability. You know what is dumb? Word puzzles. I always score average on those and that's bullshit because I'm like a smart person, ok?
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  58. #30958
    If you're legit 1600 at blitz you might be better than me at that time format. I'm definitely losing a lot of points when I play fast chess. It's hard to say exactly but it's largely why I prefer long chess... I like to play as accurately as possible. It's very easy to miss winning tactics when you're under time pressure, and it infuriates me if I lose a game where I had a winning position.

    I'm pretty good with word puzzles too. I'm no Scrabble genius, but I can play.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  59. #30959
    CoccoBill's Avatar
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    I only play daily games, ie. 24h to make a move. I feel speed chess is a whole different beast where you need to have studied openings and have a good feel for most situations, I'm nowhere near that. I've been trying to read up and watch videos on openings a bit and I have a couple favorites for white and black, but at this level chaos ensues pretty often and it's frustrating cause I can't even test out many gambits heh. Having 4-6 dailies going on all the time and checking them a few times a day is perfect for me.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  60. #30960
    Oh ok, yeah you're not beating me in a 24 hour-per-move game, you'd need to be at least 1800 rated really. Speed chess does require strong opening memory and even I struggle with this after playing chess for 30+ years and studying openings since the internet happened, so don't feel bad if you struggle with this part of the game. Frankly it's what makes the difference between a good player and a grandmaster. To be a GM you need to have a memory like a book. I don't and will never get there.

    Of course, with long chess, people use opening databases (not cheating unless it's explicitly against the rules) to guide them through the opening, and when both players use one it creates high quality middlegame positions, which means good chess. Also, YouTube vids are excellent resources.

    I'm sure you're aware but definitely do not use an endgame tablebase to study a live position. That's definitely cheating because it's telling you perfect play. Tablebases are excellent tools but you don't use them to guide you, you use them to study before and after games. Same with engines, although that's more obviously cheating. Opening databases are considered acceptable in long chess because it's telling you theory, not perfect play, and you'll soon be "out of book", which means you're playing a truly unique position.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  61. #30961
    btw don't let that stop you from trying to learn openings. Just because you're very unlikely to ever become a GM that knows every single opening and what moves to play to punish every opening mistake, doesn't mean you won't continue to improve by studying openings. The vast majority of chess players have either no opening knowledge or limited opening knowledge. Mine is way above average and still infinitely far away from complete.

    also btw, check out the YouTube channel agadmator, he posts daily games with analysis, aimed at the more recreational player rather than masters, but with enough analysis to get a strong understanding of the positions. It's easy watching, he's a really cool guy, and you'll gradually improve your openings and tactics if you watch his vids, he's analysing high quality games with good engines.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  62. #30962
    Some more travel advice for Mojo.

    https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/...66518839885824
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  63. #30963
    I just think we should suspend judgment on Boris until we have all the facts through an inquiry, police investigation, and parliamentary commission...then we should explode him.
    also,
    I'd like to be called Lord Poopy His Most Gloriously Excellent.
  64. #30964
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    Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
    btw don't let that stop you from trying to learn openings. Just because you're very unlikely to ever become a GM that knows every single opening and what moves to play to punish every opening mistake, doesn't mean you won't continue to improve by studying openings. The vast majority of chess players have either no opening knowledge or limited opening knowledge. Mine is way above average and still infinitely far away from complete.

    also btw, check out the YouTube channel agadmator, he posts daily games with analysis, aimed at the more recreational player rather than masters, but with enough analysis to get a strong understanding of the positions. It's easy watching, he's a really cool guy, and you'll gradually improve your openings and tactics if you watch his vids, he's analysing high quality games with good engines.
    I checked out a couple of his videos, seems good, thanks. Gotta admit I've been more drawn to those gambit gotcha videos from like GothamChess and Remote Chess Academy, I know I should just concentrate on basic theory, but those are more fun.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  65. #30965
    Gothamchess is cool but the problem with these gotcha gambits are that they're generally unsound openings that will fail against someone using an openings database. You're hoping your opponent walks into an opening trap for an easy win, but if it doesn't work you're out of position in the middlegame. Nearly all games are won in the middlegame or endgame, not in the opening, so you should be trying to reach the best possible middlegame position.

    Not all gambits are unsound though, so don't dismiss a pawn sac in the opening if you think that your opponent accepting the pawn will cause him positional problems in the middlegame. Just don't play gambits in the hope of easily avoided blunders.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  66. #30966
    An example of when you might want to give up a pawn is if it creates doubled isolated pawns. For the cost of one pawn, you've made two enemy pawns weak for the rest of the game. Or perhaps you've traded a pair of knights, and given up a bishop for his other knight, you might now want to get your knight on an active square, protected, where it can't be attacked by an enemy pawn, and his remaining bishop is on the wrong colour squares to trade it. This knight is now a monster and it would likely be worth giving a pawn up for this outcome. Maybe a pawn sac will isolate an enemy piece on the wrong side of the board, giving you time to attack the other side.

    There are tons of good reasons to sac material, but there are also lots of bad reasons, and beginners tend to find the bad reasons.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  67. #30967
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    I do agree, but at the same time the amount of people at this level getting in trouble with the Rousseau gambit is hilarious.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  68. #30968
    That's a good example of an "unsound" gambit. I appreciate that you'll get positive results from this opening at your level, but if that's your plan as black against the Italian, then as soon as you hit a certain rating you'll start losing regularly as black and hit a wall.

    If you're playing the Rousseau gambit you're playing the Italian, not the Sicilian, which is probably the most important opening you need to learn. I'd recommend playing 1... c5 and studying this opening. Not only will you crush those who don't defend properly, but you'll be better prepared for higher level chess.

    The Rousseau is easily defended against with 4. d3, white is a lot better positionally. Of course if white grabs the "free" pawn he'll need to defend accurately just to stay alive, but as soon as you find people declining the pawn, you find yourself in trouble.

    I've never played this opening as I recall. I almost exclusively play Sicilian against 1. e4, if I feel like playing something different then the Alekhine defence is fun... 1. e4 Nf6... white usually defends properly for the first few moves but the middlegame is often less familiar territory for him.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  69. #30969
    Sicilian, Queen's Gambit, and the King's Indian... these are imo the three most important openings, with the Italian next.

    The Nimzo Indian is really fun if white doesn't defend well.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  70. #30970
    I suppose if you're playing 1. e4 as white then the Italian is important knowledge, maybe more so that the QG and KI. I tend to open with 1. d4 though so I don't face the Italian, and I employ Sicilian when I face 1. e4.

    On the rare occasion I do play 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 I'll play 3. Bb5, the Ruy Lopez.

    So the Italian is not familiar territory for me.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  71. #30971
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    I know I should study the sicilian but it's a bit daunting, I've been putting it off cause I haven't been in the mood to learn how to deal with all the 15 or whatever sidelines. Ruy Lopez and Caro-Kann have pretty much carried me so far. I'm on an 11 game win streak against people rated 0-200 higher than me, I promise I'll put some time into actual studying at some point but so far I've just been messing around and having casual fun.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  72. #30972
    Yeah fair enough. The last thing you want to do is turn something that's fun into a chore.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  73. #30973
    Imagine being this oblivious to what's going on around you..

    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
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  74. #30974
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    You know that part of the Dunning-Krueger curve where you think you're a world-beater, just before the inevitable freefall plummet into realization of how little you know? That's me in chess right now. Getting close to 1000 rating and a 20 game win streak, beating absolutely everyone rated 200 higher than me. Reminds me of poker quite a bit actually, the same happened to me in SnGs ca. 2008 and oh boy was the landing rough. There's a surprising amount of similarities between the games too, at <800 everyone is either a passive fish or a maniac, at 1000 the wannabe laggs start appearing with their kamikaze attacks. Table image is definitely a thing, and playing tagg seems to be most of the time a good idea. I've noticed that I've definitely been playing looser than I should lately, toying with and humiliating my opponents, and am just waiting to be punished for my shenanigans. Fun game.
    Our brains have just one scale, and we resize our experiences to fit.

  75. #30975
    "I like the moment I break a man's ego." ~ Bobby Fisher.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
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