Pascal: The Well

[Pascal]

Feel like I'm letting myself in for some hell here but could be fun

Ask me anything you want.

For some background, I'm a 4th year student in the UK. I've been playing poker for around 3 years, and playing MTTs fairly seriously alongside my study for just over 1 and a half, although I spent all of last year in the Netherlands on an exchange year so I didn't play much.

[Chelle]

Ugh, I want to ask horrible mean things to troll, but I won't.

What are you majoring/minoring in?

What type of music is a favorite?

Favorite color?

Current goal in life?

Style of clothes you choose to wear?

[JKDS]

What do you want as a profession?

Redhead v Asians?

Cats or dogs?

Why are you the Gieko gecko? Is it to make me read everything you post in the gecko's voice?

[Chelle]

Why are you the Gieko gecko? Is it to make me read everything you post in the gecko's voice?

This, too. Obv it should be

[Pascal]

Ugh, I want to ask horrible mean things to troll, but I won't.

What are you majoring/minoring in?

What type of music is a favorite?

Favorite color?

Current goal in life?

Style of clothes you choose to wear?

Ha, thanks. No major/minor system over here, studying law (with a year of comparative law).

I like pretty much all types of music apart from R&B, favourite genres are probably metal, rock, dubstep and trance.

Favourite colour is chrome (if that even counts as a colour)

Doubt i have a style, jeans/trousers + tshirt + hoody is what I tend to wear cos it's easy.

What do you want as a profession?

Redhead v Asians?

Cats or dogs?

Why are you the Gieko gecko? Is it to make me read everything you post in the gecko's voice?

I think I want to go into business but not how or what to do yet, I'll take a year out when I finish my Bachelor's and go from there probably, maybe a Masters or internship or something.

Redheads by a mile

Like both but probably cats at least at the moment cos I just spent 2 weeks looking after my aunt and uncle's and they were awesome

Didn't even know it was the Gieko gecko (gieko aren't big over here but I've seen the adverts a few times). I found a toy gecko which looks a bit like this: http://www.turtlemax.com/images/P/n8659.jpg from when I was a kid just before I signed up so I tried to find a picture and saw that gecko and thought he seemed like a good lad.

[Chelle]

Why do people from land of the brits spell things all . .. weird
I.E.
colour
....
ITS COLOR OKAY?!

I've got many more questions, but at the moment I've got to go shower and whatnots.

also - HI5 FOR REDHEADS

[Vinland]

Why did you choose to be the forum manager for a group of degens who complain all the time?

[Pascal]

Doubt there's a right answer for that so I'll just say I am very happy to be here

[eugmac]

As a Briton, do you feel comfortable with the way your government is running the country? How do you feel about the oft-repeated claim that the UK has the most surveillance cameras per capita in the world? Do you belong to the camp that says "I have nothing to hide, so I feel safer that they're there." or do you feel that your privacy and civil rights and freedoms are being violated?

More heavy questions.

About a year ago, London and other major cities in the UK saw tremendous rioting and looting, at times by youths (or even children) aged 13-14 or even younger. They often seemed not even politically motivated, but were merely there to steal things, and destroy some property. From my current perspective living in Berlin, I don't think I would be alone in saying that I can't picture, in the current environment, anything like this happening here - at least not to that scale. Is this something that you personally could foresee in advance, based on your estimation of the amount of civil unrest? The media made note that extreme right-wing groups like the EDL were becoming active in some areas, and were even welcomed by locals because "the police weren't doing their job". Is this cause for alarm?

[Pascal]

Heh, as a lawyer I obviously have modules on privacy/government intrusion/human rights blah blah. The places I visit and the places I've been haven't been heavily infested with surveillance cameras, so I can't say they've had any impact on me. Looking at the distribution BBC NEWS | UK | The statistics of CCTV , they are no where near me. That said, I obviously still have an opinion - I think CCTV is good in town centres for example, there's lots of violence on nights out here, but I think they should have a reason.

I think there are other, far more pressing concerns than CCTV cameras. Proposed legislation to basically monitor ALL internet access is a big thing I'm against. I also think the courts could be improved, "health and safety" has become a national joke. The government should be there to step in when the courts are making clearly illogical decisions based on loose interpretations of the law to re-codify the provision and make it clearer.

As for the riots, it's a very area-specific thing I think. Even though the UK is pretty small, and it has a very small population (relatively), there are immense differences between areas. Most of the rioting happened in large cities - Manchester, Birmingham, London. There's a lot of resentment towards the police in some of these areas, and it's understandable. I did a module called Crime Justice and Society which showed that racial profiling still occurs. Cases like the Birmingham Six (although not racially motivated) always amaze me. I don't see the riots happening again in the UK, although they are a possibility if the economic situation goes downhill as shown by Spain and Greece. The rise of the BNP, EDL etc is scary though, I don't understand how people can blame their problems on a select group of people. Then again, it's been happening throughout history.

[supa]

What stakes MTTs are you playing? ROI?

[Pascal]

Lifetime SS says $11.18 average buyin, so 14.6% ROI lifetime. My average buyin is about $16 at the moment. I play $5 to $30 + 2,5,11rs on Stars and €10 to €30 (3, 5, 11rs) on a couple of French sites.

[OngBonga]

What's the dog's name in Twin Town?
Do you hate the English?
Ever had a fight with someone from Cardiff?
Do you enjoy watching rugby?
How do I say "fucking donkey" in Welsh?
What shape is the universe?

[Pascal]

Haven't seen that film in a long time so can't remember. Great film though!
Nothing against the English but it's good to see them beaten in sport
Nope.
Yup, rugby is a great sport.
Don't speak more than a couple of words of Welsh but Google translate says "ffycin asyn" - good luck pronouncing that
The universe is the shape of an egg.

[rong]

Are you sure that doesn't say fucking Asian?

[OngBonga]

donkey = ass, I guess the word comes from that.

The dog's name is Cantona. And the universe is torus shaped imo.
Also, I don't need to pronounce it, just type it into ps chat. I pretend I'm Welsh when they try to get anti-English on me. Most of these muppets have never even heard of Wales.

[Pascal]

Some questions for you Ong:
With a big hole in the middle?
What's in the hole?
What's outside the edges - if the universe isn't EVERYTHING then what's around the universe?
Given the universe is expanding there must be something outside it but does that mean the universe is still everything?
Could there be more than one universe?
Does the space outside of the universe "exist"?
Is the space outside the universe still part of the universe seeing as the universe is everything, and if it is then the universe can't be expanding right?
How many different life forms do you think there are out there?
Do you think that on the other side of the universe things are different? Like no gravity, no atoms, etc. Or is everything the same throughout the universe?

[OngBonga]

With a big hole in the middle?

No, a singularity, thus a very small hole.

What's in the hole?

Compressed energy, it's total mass exactly equal to that of all the mass outside of the hole.

What's outside the edges - if the universe isn't EVERYTHING then what's around the universe?

No idea to be honest. Either there is no "outside" so to speak, just as there is no before and after. Or perhaps other universes. Or something I haven't thought of. If I had to swing one way or the other, I'd say there is no outside, or if there is, just total emptiness that we can never interact with.

Given the universe is expanding there must be something outside it but does that mean the universe is still everything?

The observable universe is explanding. We then make the assumption this means the universe is expanding. But Newton's thrid law (I think) says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So if we see the universe is exanding, there must be a region we are yet to discover where the universe is contracting. The torus model supports this, and it's the core reason I subscribe to the torus model, it allows for expansion AND contraction AND equilibrium. We are just located in the expanding region of the universe, and it's very large indeed.

Could there be more than one universe?

Possibly. I get confused when I start thinking about beyond our own universe. If another universe exists, and we can interact with it, then we both belong to the same larger universe. And if we can't interact with it, for all intents and purposes, it doesn't exist, since we can never know it's there.

Does the space outside of the universe "exist"?

See last answer.

Is the space outside the universe still part of the universe seeing as the universe is everything, and if it is then the universe can't be expanding right?

The universe isn't necessarily everything, it's just everything under the gravitational influence of the centre, it's everything that makes up mass equal to the centre. Anything beyond belongs to another universe, or at least another region of a larger universe. In that event, the universe isn't necessarily torus shaped, just our region.

How many different life forms do you think there are out there?

More than we can comprehend. Billions per star.

Do you think that on the other side of the universe things are different? Like no gravity, no atoms, etc. Or is everything the same throughout the universe?

Gravity exists throughout the universe, due to the sheer mass of the centre. There is no escape. Further out from the centre, gravity is weaker, but never negligable. In the contracting region of the universe, maybe time goes backwards, maybe positive is negative, I obv have no idea, but that doesn't stop me thinking about it!


I've read up quite a lot about this. Some scholars of the torus shaped universe assert that there are only two forces at work in the universe... electromagnetism and gravitation. EM is expansion of energy, gravity contraction of energy. The other "forces" are merely different aspects of EM, the same force working under different conditions. I'm not going to pretend I understand what the fuck that means, but it interests me nonetheless.

[Penneywize]

I thought the big bang theory meant the current universe resulted from a singularity; in that case why would there be yet another singularity in the middle (and why is that considered a hole?).

Anyway, don't answer, this whole thing just seems like a really silly 10th-grade-stoner kind of conversation to be having and thus not important to have an opinion on.

Yes, I'm no fun.

[OngBonga]

a hole

Bahahahaha.

So yeah this is 10th grade stoner shit. w/e. Bing Bang theory is grandad shit. Do you have grandchildren?

The bing bang is just the beginning of our expansion phase. It's still happening as the universe rotates. If you want to see what was before the big bang, look forward in time, not back.

/opinion

I get that I know shit. So does pretty much everyone. Anyone who thinks they know for sure what is beyond what we can observe, they're talking shit. I don't know any more than you. But I at least think about it openly, rather than blindly accept what scientists say.

[JKDS]

Hi, im Penneywize!

Q:
View on Religion?
Do you care about US politics?
Drugs taken ever (not pharmacy)?
Breaking Bad: Great Show? Or Greatest Show?

[MadMojoMonkey]

Please, please, please, tell me anyone who reads ongies universe theory understands that this is not the view of a trained astrophysicist.

@OP: WWWWWhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyy???????

[d0zer]

Have you "managed" any other forums before?

[Pascal]

Have you "managed" any other forums before?

I was a "senior" moderator at a popular US PC forum for a few years which involved a lot of the same stuff, but some stuff is new to me.

Q:
View on Religion?
Do you care about US politics?
Drugs taken ever (not pharmacy)?
Breaking Bad: Great Show? Or Greatest Show?

Not a fan.
Not really, I keep track cos of BBC News but I don't overly support anyone, don't really understand what each party stands for etc. I know it has a big impact on the rest of the world tho
A couple
Show which is on my to watch list

[OngBonga]

Please, please, please, tell me anyone who reads ongies universe theory understands that this is not the view of a trained astrophysicist.

lol I never suggested it was!

So come on, please tell me why this theory is flawed, I want to learn more about this shit from someone who has expertise on the subject.

[JKDS]

Professor Google and his colleague Dr. Library know more on the subject.

[OngBonga]

Haha so if Professor Google is expertise, then this isn't just ong onging. I got all this from that very same professor. Google "torus shaped universe" and you'll see there's quite a bit of discussion going on about it. But here we have a trained astrophysicist, I believe? I'm genuinely curious why he thinks this is so ridiculous.

[MadMojoMonkey]

I have a BS in Engineering Physics. I'm not a trained astrophysicist. I have taken a Masters level course on cosmology, though, as an independent study.

I didn't say all of your ideas are ridiculous, and I don't intend to hijack this thread to dig in to the bits and pieces.

Besides, everyone knows that the universe is shaped like a rotini.

[Chelle]

Want to make babies? JK, obv.

Favorite song at the moment?

Favorite food?

Didn't answer the colour/color thing.

[a500lbgorilla]

When did you realize your lifelong ambition was to move to America and live in a real country?

What are you gonna do with FTR? Get its name in circulation?

And, what's the last thing you said outloud?

[d0zer]

I was a "senior" moderator at a popular US PC forum for a few years which involved a lot of the same stuff, but some stuff is new to me.

US PC forum, eh? You must be good with the PCs then.

Hey, who makes the good laptops?

[kiwiMark]

Why did you choose to be the forum manager for a group of degens who complain all the time?

follow-up: was sleeping with rilla worth getting that golden badge under your avatar, or do you have regrets?

[givememyleg]

what do you think of this comic?

[MadMojoMonkey]

what do you think of this comic?

Supremely impressed.

[joker131]

are u a true jack
are u studying in jack city.
this should confuse most ftr members

[Pascal]

Haha Like to think of myself as a Jack but I wasn't born here, lived here for most my life though (about 14 years). Studying in Bristol

[Miffed22001]

What car do you drive?!

[Chelle]

Want to make babies? JK, obv.

Favorite song at the moment?

Favorite food?

Didn't answer the colour/color thing.

don't ignore my questions, damnit.

[joker131]

do u support the jacks
are u supprised by how well the new manager has fitted in

[Pascal]

Want to make babies? JK, obv.

Favorite song at the moment?

Favorite food?

Didn't answer the colour/color thing.

Sarrrrry.

Umm, haven't been listening to much music at the moment. Probably Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here tho, keeps me calm when playing poker.

I'll eat anything. Big fan of Indian food though.

It's our language so I'll call it colour. It's like aluminium, you just say it wrong!

Miffed - I don't drive at the moment cos I don't need to in Bristol, everything's in walking distance. At home I drive my parent's C1 tho, nice little car.

joker - definitely support the Jacks, been an amazing few years. Was always expecting big things from Laudrup, he proved he was a good manager at Mallorca and he was a great footballer. Sad that Brendan Rodgers left, although I can understand why. Looks like he's shot himself in the foot though and I wouldn't be surprised to see Swansea finish above Liverpool this season

gorilla:

When did you realize your lifelong ambition was to move to America and live in a real country? - In about 120 years I guess. I like America and I want to visit more (went to San Fran for a week for a few years ago) but can't see myself living there)

What are you gonna do with FTR? Get its name in circulation? - Get it more active again with both new and old members is the main aim, world's the oyster from there!

And, what's the last thing you said outloud? - was making fun of some guy whose come round to visit for a BBQ my parents are having with friends who thinks he's awesome but is awesomely boring

d0zer - I definitely wouldn't recommend HP. Acer seems to be a good thing to go for at the moment though.

gmml - awesome comic, really enjoyed

Mark - just imagine me looking identical to your avatar and you have your answer

[Miffed22001]

At home I drive my parent's C1 tho, nice little car.

[!Luck]

Would you play on a site that explicitly allowed/encouraged botting?

What does your answer say about your future and the future of poker?