tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post1335700113258020091..comments2024-03-26T13:46:42.738-05:00Comments on 4 Quarters, 10 Dimes: News and UpdatesDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-66949974710181912142022-10-30T13:43:47.133-05:002022-10-30T13:43:47.133-05:00Some days I'm on top of things, some days I...Some days I'm on top of things, some days I'm not. :)<br /><br />1. That tells you how often I go into casinos, I guess. I believe the last time I was in one was 1996. I spent my $20, got an hour or two's worth of entertainment (and a couple of free if rather watered down drinks), and came home with half a dozen old nickels for my time. Not bad. I regard gambling as an entertainment expense rather than a way to make money, and that was cheaper than a baseball game.<br /><br />4. I have never understood Vegas lines ever since they went to the whole +140 or -60 thing. I understood 3:2 or 2:1. But betting on the GOP to do performatively cruel, destructive, and pointless things is not even money as far as I am concerned - even money means "50/50" to me. Betting on the GOP to do those things is a sure bet, like betting on the sun rising tomorrow. It will happen and I will win that bet, if not much money for it. And the country loses. So I am absolutely sure your explanation is correct, but it will no doubt slide off my brain and into the same black hole where I keep people's names and the quadratic equation by this time tomorrow, alas.<br /><br />And now you know why I don't gamble. ;)<br /><br />9. I have maybe dozen coins worth more than $20 in my collection. But to me the fun of it was always the fact that they were interesting, and it was something I could share with my grandfather and my dad and, later, with Oliver. Lauren never got interested in it, and we share other things. I'm not really looking for a buyer - it's not worth the hassle for the money. But it's cool stuff, and that's good enough for me.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-41775349975134603462022-10-30T12:28:49.976-05:002022-10-30T12:28:49.976-05:00Well, that was fast! Took me longer to proofread w...Well, that was fast! Took me longer to proofread what I wrote than it took you to respond …<br /><br />1. The nickel slots don’t take nickels anymore, so you’re basically screwed on that goal. Also, see #4 below.<br /><br />2. It’s good to hear you took some precautions. While some protection is better than none, proper protection ain’t all that difficult or expensive to do. [End Sermon]<br /><br />4. Well, you’re right about one thing: you’d never make a living gambling, ‘cause that’s not how it works. Probability is the measurement of the likelihood of an event happening. Odds are a measurement of the likelihood of an event <i><b>not</b></i> happening. A 100% likelihood is even money. Bet a dollar, win a dollar. 50% pays (roughly) 2 to 1. Bet a dollar, win two (this is kinda where the Democrats hang out). Higher odds like the Megabucks slot machine I was playing last night are downright close to non-existent - 784,000,000 to one against. Bet $3 lose $3. Bet $100 lose $100. (Or, as in my case, bet $21 [$3 per spin] win $30 on the side bet [single bars], take the money, and run!)<br /><br />The Vegas line this morning has the spread at 1.5: Houston -170, Phillies +140 for the series. A $100 bet on the Phillies placed this morning (before the start of the next game) would net you $1400 if they take the series. There are currently 234 side bets that are also available to wager on. Or, more accurately, against. If you place that bet on the Phillies, what you’re actually saying is that you think the Phillies are going to lose, and here’s how much you’re willing to lose to prove that. What the bookie* is saying is that they think you’re right, and they’ll take your money to prove that, and that they are so sure that you’re right, they’ll pay you $140 dollars for every dollar you wagered if the Phillies should actually win.<br /><br />And so, this follows: Betting on any weird-ass shit that the rethuglicans are going to do is, at best, an even-money proposition. Betting that they’re going to something good or even within the realm of logic is where the ‘Megabucks Odds’ start looking good. Odds against that are incalculable.<br /><br />8. Which would make it irretrievable. Point. Set. Game. Match.<br /><br />9. Which is why my Wife said, “We need a new christmas tree” and made that work. BTW, a 1948 Wheat Penny is worth (roughly) about a penny unless it is in ‘Mint State’ in which case it might be worth a buck or two. If you can find a buyer. https://www.coincollecting.com/lincoln-wheat-pennies-key-dates-and-values<br /><br />Lucy<br /><br />* If you’re placing your wager through an actual <i>bookie</i> instead of an actual casino, all of those numbers are going to change. In the bookie's favor.LucyInDisguisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169432604954981941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-826530658997273762022-10-30T11:11:17.444-05:002022-10-30T11:11:17.444-05:001. I'm from Philadelphia. Pessimism is my bir...1. I'm from Philadelphia. Pessimism is my birthright. I'm still worried they're going to lose the 2008 Series somehow. Plus I have in fact made money betting against my hunches because I'm just that out of step with my times. I suspect any bet I make will turn out wrong, and I just can't bring myself to put money on the Astros for the sake of "reverse juju." Also, I'm the kind of guy who goes into a casino with $20 worth of nickels and plays the nickel slots in order to a) get an hour's entertainment and b) find some collectible coins. Gambling is kind of wasted on me, in other words. Sigh.<br /><br />2. Well, we wore long pants and long sleeves and masks, so we weren't totally just bathing in the stuff. We all have glasses, though I admit the safety goggles provide more protection. We've cleaned these out before without trouble, but I suppose it never hurts to take precautions.<br /><br />3. Retail therapy is a wonderful thing! I am torn between wanting to vote early and get it over with and wanting to go to the polls to give flak to any limp-dick camo-wearing asshole who tries to intimidate me. It's a quandary.<br /><br />4. No, the odds of winning a bet on the Phillies are pretty small, but the odds that the GOP will engage in useless revenge politics are high and the odds they'll try to impeach Biden, Harris, and probably Garland are nigh on 100%.<br /><br />5. We did! They were pretty good. Far better than anything you'd find on <i>Great British Bake Off</i>, for example. Plus there were chips with a passable salsa. WIN!<br /><br />7. Well, five this month. I'm slacking. I had to go through all of my pay stubs for the last three years as part of that project, and it turns out I have 11 employee classification numbers total. I have no idea what some of them refer to, if I'm being honest here. But nine this week? You're working to hard for The Man!<br /><br />8. Point taken. Of course, the accountants can just assign any grade they want and justify it under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.<br /><br />9. WAY COOL! I haven't seen an old-timer like that in a long time. The one I found was 1948 (in great shape, by the way).<br /><br />10. It was a very good way to spend a Friday afternoon. :)<br /><br /><br /><br />I always wear my seatbelt. I spent five years on a rescue squad. I've seen what happens when people don't wear seatbelts.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03463621516644789183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977625681756554695.post-18462711742518991532022-10-30T10:46:00.771-05:002022-10-30T10:46:00.771-05:001. Place the bet. While it is probable that you wi...1. Place the bet. While it is probable that you will lose, with the right odds one bet could change your life! (That’s more or less what was on that slot machine I was playing last night! That’s why they call it gambling!)<br /><br />2. “The chickens were unimpressed.” And even less so am I. [rant[] Okay, I gotta call you on this one … The reason the chickens ejected that shit from their bodies is that it is <i><b>toxic</b></i>! Whatever possessed you to do that to yourself and your family? As a degree holdin’, college edumacated, more or less intelligent-but sometimes not quite bright elder professor of knowledge and thinking and stuff like that you should know better than to do shit like that without at least the minimum personal protective gear, if not full biohazard suits. <br /><br />Quick! Google the question “what PPE should I wear to handle chicken shit?”. Click the following very sensible link … <br /><br />https://www.backyardchickensmama.com/how-to-dress-when-cleaning-a-chicken-coop/<br /><br />And that was just the first link of five pages of links. <i>Seriously!</i> The internet has at least <i>some</i> useful information, but you need to expend a little effort. [/rant]<br /><br />3. Viking and I just finished shopping online for a replacement christmas tree. $284.64 with tax on Amazon. What has that to do with the midterms? We have already cast our ballots so we have time to sit back, relax, and tremble in fear and anxiety. Shopping online helps take your mind off that. Next up, shopping for a casket for our beloved country. Shipping may be a little bit of an issue …<br /><br />4. You’ll get better odds betting on the Phillies.<br /><br />5. So (and this is the important thing), did you ever get to eat the tacos? Also, if you did, was it worth the effort? Enquiring minds want to know …<br /><br />7. Only five career hats to do your professoring job? ROFLMAO. Just yesterday I wore nine to end my week. I get to wear eleven tomorrow (End Of Month reports due). Wimp …<br /><br />8. NO!!!! The HR people will just utterly fail to screw it up. Give it to the accountants - they have rules to follow to ensure that everything gets thoroughly fucked up. Irretrievably.<br /><br />9. My wife got a 1914-D wheat penny in ‘Good’ to ‘Fine’ condition from the cashier cage at Stockman’s Casino last week, which I sold to a coin dealer Thursday for $295.00. Who woulda thunk that cashing out an 89¢ ticket would pay better than the actual slot machine? <br /><br />10. I am, in fact, in awe! Absolutely ecstatic that you and Oliver were able to spend such time bonding together. Seriously! <i>(See #2 above*)</i> 🥴<br /><br />Lucy<br /><br />PS I thought I was done, but, nope. Risk assessment/mitigation is an essential tool in human survival - Please take it out for a short walk and give it some exercise. And wear your seat belt, too. 😉LucyInDisguisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169432604954981941noreply@blogger.com