Growing up in Chicago, there was one voice that I associated with horse racing and that is Phil Georgeff. He called most thoroughbred races at all the area tracks for over 30 years and he made all of his world record 97,000 calls sound special to me. His most famous race calls were the first million dollar races along with the one of Dr. Fager in 1968 of the fastest mile in North America whose record still stands 50 years later.
For me the most special calls of his were during the 6 week period in January and February when he called the harness races at Hawthorne as there was no thoroughbred racing at that time.
This date 30 years ago was a big deal as the fastest active trotting horse in the world, Chicory Wind, was racing there to close out the winter meet. My father and I joined the 10,000+ there (at that time there was limited OTB and intertrack wagering so most who wanted to bet on a horse had to do it there.) We got there about 40 minutes before the first race (as usual) and as I do when there is a big race immediately went to look at that one. After 30 seconds, I proudly announce to my father that Broderick was going to beat Chicory Wind.
He gave me that look I often get when I make an unusual statement so I explained that Broderick will be second the whole way. Chicory Wind will open up the lead to three lengths on the turn right into the northeast wind that was happening and instead of holding on or drawing away like it usually does, it will struggle and lose. Since I did not have much cash with me, I played $5 a 1-2 perfecta (more known as an exacta; that is what it was called only in Illinois at that time) for that race and then looked at the rest of the races. I actually had to watch the previous two races before without any money on them since all I had left was my $5 bet. When it was time for the race, Chicory Wind was 1-9 (which is as low odds a horse can be listed at) and my father decided to not make any bet since it was not worth it.
After finding out a current coworker has an interest in harness racing a few weeks ago, I went to you tube and as I have done before I searched for names of horses and found this which I my favorite call that he ever made.
https://youtu.be/pIm1VZxvKd4
What I cashed was about what I earned in 8+ hours at Universal Bowling and Golf corporation when I made $6.85/hr. Though I have won more many times, that race made me happy. After I saw the video, I had a smile all day at my job and currently have one now after watching it while sitting at an old laptop typing this in pain from when I stumbled while walking up six flights of stairs after a long evening of deliveries.
My father saw the smile on my face and after lighting a cigarette stated if I was that confident about what was going to happen, I should have borrowed $20 to put on the race. Since I did not want to figure out how to get home on my own, I did not respond remembering the previous July he stopped the car on I-55 just before the California Ave exit and demanded I get out and walk the rest of the way home.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Working with a Linux mind
I have compared my brain to a Linux operating system due to its unique processing power but filled with compatibility issues with other formats as well as filled with weird bugs. Here is a prime example:
Last week my company had a contest guessing the total employees across its 5 US locations with the closest not over winning a $50 gift card.
On the company TV channel that plays in the lunchrooms shows the 95 total people with either a birthday or service anniversary in February. Multiply that by 6.5 since February averages 28.25 days for all that would be here (28.241 over 1,000 years) is 617.5. I figured 50 on their first year not on the list (those from my previous employer have their prior service time included in the company service milestones) gives 667.5.
As I was writing my email with an answer of 666, I realized that answer could create a problem as some would interpret my deliberate anti Christian answer incorrectly as a supporter or Satan. That is incorrect as I find all beliefs in a supreme being (even those whose members are tortured because they believe in the "wrong one") non plausible.
I was relieved to see that all answers were shown and then eliminated until there was a winner. The correct answer was 668 and the winning entry was 615. Shortly after I realized had I just answered 665, I would have won the gift card without the potential headache.
Last week my company had a contest guessing the total employees across its 5 US locations with the closest not over winning a $50 gift card.
On the company TV channel that plays in the lunchrooms shows the 95 total people with either a birthday or service anniversary in February. Multiply that by 6.5 since February averages 28.25 days for all that would be here (28.241 over 1,000 years) is 617.5. I figured 50 on their first year not on the list (those from my previous employer have their prior service time included in the company service milestones) gives 667.5.
As I was writing my email with an answer of 666, I realized that answer could create a problem as some would interpret my deliberate anti Christian answer incorrectly as a supporter or Satan. That is incorrect as I find all beliefs in a supreme being (even those whose members are tortured because they believe in the "wrong one") non plausible.
I was relieved to see that all answers were shown and then eliminated until there was a winner. The correct answer was 668 and the winning entry was 615. Shortly after I realized had I just answered 665, I would have won the gift card without the potential headache.
Friday, January 25, 2019
The greenhouse effect
When I was a kid, I would read books about sports and science including those about the nine planets.
I thought I noticed an error in that the high and low temperature on Venus was the same. I pointed that to my teacher and she did not know why. At least she did not answer the question by stating it was a decision made by a supreme being.
(A book on evolution I read when I was 7 stated life began on earth millions of years ago and I asked a priest about the conflict between that and the Bible. His reply, "Faith." The next time I looked for the book in the St. Augustine school library was told it is no longer available. )
The answer to my Venus question was provided by Carl Sagan in the Cosmos episode titled The Greenhouse Effect. He explained though the planet is farther from the Sun than Mercury, it is hotter and not just the side that faces the Sun as it rotates aund the Sun in less time than it spons around itself once.
The massive amount of hydrocarbons spewed by volcanoes trap the heat from the Sun and even when facing away from the Sun, heat doesn't escape. That is why the whole planet is hotter than Mercury.
When there is a clear night on earth, heat radiates away from the planet a whole lot easier which is most noticable in winter.
Without any hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, the planet would get too cold at night but with too much, it does not get cold enough.
Weather is generally not a correcting situation. Heat produces more heat, rain produces more rain, etc. As more hydrocarbons get released, things are slowly getting warmer a little at a time. Enough years of this will make it more difficult for those on the planet to produce enough food.
This is the situation. We are making things more difficult especially when production and profit overcome responsibilities.
It will get extremely cold in the Chicago area the upcoming week. Weather happens. Right now in Australia it is so hot power grids are failing.
No matter what please do NOT state:
Where the hell is global warming?
You are likely smarter than the president of the United States and a person so stupid that she married me.
I thought I noticed an error in that the high and low temperature on Venus was the same. I pointed that to my teacher and she did not know why. At least she did not answer the question by stating it was a decision made by a supreme being.
(A book on evolution I read when I was 7 stated life began on earth millions of years ago and I asked a priest about the conflict between that and the Bible. His reply, "Faith." The next time I looked for the book in the St. Augustine school library was told it is no longer available. )
The answer to my Venus question was provided by Carl Sagan in the Cosmos episode titled The Greenhouse Effect. He explained though the planet is farther from the Sun than Mercury, it is hotter and not just the side that faces the Sun as it rotates aund the Sun in less time than it spons around itself once.
The massive amount of hydrocarbons spewed by volcanoes trap the heat from the Sun and even when facing away from the Sun, heat doesn't escape. That is why the whole planet is hotter than Mercury.
When there is a clear night on earth, heat radiates away from the planet a whole lot easier which is most noticable in winter.
Without any hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, the planet would get too cold at night but with too much, it does not get cold enough.
Weather is generally not a correcting situation. Heat produces more heat, rain produces more rain, etc. As more hydrocarbons get released, things are slowly getting warmer a little at a time. Enough years of this will make it more difficult for those on the planet to produce enough food.
This is the situation. We are making things more difficult especially when production and profit overcome responsibilities.
It will get extremely cold in the Chicago area the upcoming week. Weather happens. Right now in Australia it is so hot power grids are failing.
No matter what please do NOT state:
Where the hell is global warming?
You are likely smarter than the president of the United States and a person so stupid that she married me.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Looking at stats
One of the things I can't do on a tablet or phone is look at detailed stats from disc golf. Since playing right now would be difficult as the weather is actually reflecting the fact that it is January, I powered up the old work laptop that was given to me and looked at Illinois 50+ amateurs to see how I compared to them.
The default listing is player points and for 2018 for events in the 50+ division, I was 6th out of 82 total players who played in at least one event in that division. This includes players who are 60+ and one who is 70+ that played in one event in that division. Last year I was tied for 9th.
I then sorted the players by rating.and saw that I was 30th. Last year I was 46th.
I decided to sort by number of events played and my name was on the top with 12. (There were three events where I didn't play in MA50+ because that division was not available) In 2017, I was tied for third with 14.
The two who were ahead of me in 2017 were tied for second. Both of those players played more total events than 15 I did but they played 8 and 9 in other divisions including 2 each in the newly created MA55+ division which I will be eligible to play in 2020.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Ten year picture challenge (times two)
Many have posted to Facebook a side by side picture from ten years ago and recent to show how they changed.
Though I want to do that, can't without a computer so I will do this here but going back 20 years with three pics:
March 1998
This is against at the time World Scrabble champion Brian Cappeletto. He was tired and made a mistake at the end and I won the game. That is the same as beating Brooks Kopeka or Greg Barsby in a couple of holes at a practice round.
I don't remember what year my last Scrabble game against a human being (as opposed to a computer AI) was but with using all 7 tiles three times one of them being a triple-triple, scored 618 points against my mom.
March 2008
At the Dementia Radio part room at Marscon 2008. Was there alcohol in that cup? Of course there was. People would ask me why I would take the whole week after the convention off work. That was to physically recover from it.
March 2018
My last practice shot before playing my first rated event in 2018 in Olympia Fields, IL. That round was rated higher than any played in 2017 and equaled that of an elite player in the MA50 group who was on my card.
I am positive that spending the previous Sunday at that course practicing and not at a hotel 450 miles from there contributed to my success.
If my instincts are wrong and instead of dying in 2034 it happens soon, I would hope these three pics are in a memorial of me.
Though I want to do that, can't without a computer so I will do this here but going back 20 years with three pics:
March 1998
This is against at the time World Scrabble champion Brian Cappeletto. He was tired and made a mistake at the end and I won the game. That is the same as beating Brooks Kopeka or Greg Barsby in a couple of holes at a practice round.
I don't remember what year my last Scrabble game against a human being (as opposed to a computer AI) was but with using all 7 tiles three times one of them being a triple-triple, scored 618 points against my mom.
March 2008
At the Dementia Radio part room at Marscon 2008. Was there alcohol in that cup? Of course there was. People would ask me why I would take the whole week after the convention off work. That was to physically recover from it.
March 2018
My last practice shot before playing my first rated event in 2018 in Olympia Fields, IL. That round was rated higher than any played in 2017 and equaled that of an elite player in the MA50 group who was on my card.
I am positive that spending the previous Sunday at that course practicing and not at a hotel 450 miles from there contributed to my success.
If my instincts are wrong and instead of dying in 2034 it happens soon, I would hope these three pics are in a memorial of me.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Moving on
A couple years ago, I was half drunk and half naked sitting in a room with similar people and among the adult questions and games, there was a question about one's biggest regret.
All of a sudden a light clicked on in my head. Though I could babble on the many bad memories throughout the years, a revelation occurred.
Living the first 25 years of my life thinking that was all I was going to have.
I have been asked many times by others and myself "What happened?" Having a 1% intellect I often wondered how I ended up where I am today.
Once I realized when I was going to die, the idea of caring what would happen in the future was gone and acted as such.
After cheating death the weekend before 25, I realized, "what now" and eventually out of sequence with most learned about life.
In my late 30s, I discovered what is known as fandom and spent the next decade plus at scifi and gaming conventions and partied the way I wish I did when I was younger.
Today, due to pain and medication, can no longer do that. Even the idea of sitting down for a concert is now difficult. Even if my computer was still working, I would be unable to cast anymore due to pain from sitting.
Fortunately my body can handle disc golf. Since I am moving while playing, it is ok. In 2018, I decided to focus most of my spare time to my game and the results show. Most players regress as they get further in their 50s. My rating is 54 points higher than it was the day I turned 50 three years ago.
Granted, 2018 was mostly healthy for me and it shows as my game is five plus shots better than it was.
It makes sense in 2019 to try to continue my success especially with the PDGA AM Worlds next July. I also know that I am one bad move from problems as getting off a couch, getting off the floor, or even a bad dream has caused an issue.
This weekend is the yearly event where the thing referenced at the beginning happened and there will be three uniquely wrapped presents.
For me, no drinking, no partying, no games that would involve clothes being removed. I am going to thank anyone I know there for putting up with me and leave anything crazy for my now 18 year old daughter.
It will likely be the last time I ever see some of those people since I don't see myself at anything similar in the future because thinking like 1% but realizing that is wrong are two conflicting concepts that roll through my mind and going has become too much work since fighting instincts is too difficult.
Unlike those who were opponents and teammates, I will still follow them because I do care about what happens to them in the future.
I trust those there with my daughter and unless there is a need for me to be a parent, have no desire to know what she did.
All of a sudden a light clicked on in my head. Though I could babble on the many bad memories throughout the years, a revelation occurred.
Living the first 25 years of my life thinking that was all I was going to have.
I have been asked many times by others and myself "What happened?" Having a 1% intellect I often wondered how I ended up where I am today.
Once I realized when I was going to die, the idea of caring what would happen in the future was gone and acted as such.
After cheating death the weekend before 25, I realized, "what now" and eventually out of sequence with most learned about life.
In my late 30s, I discovered what is known as fandom and spent the next decade plus at scifi and gaming conventions and partied the way I wish I did when I was younger.
Today, due to pain and medication, can no longer do that. Even the idea of sitting down for a concert is now difficult. Even if my computer was still working, I would be unable to cast anymore due to pain from sitting.
Fortunately my body can handle disc golf. Since I am moving while playing, it is ok. In 2018, I decided to focus most of my spare time to my game and the results show. Most players regress as they get further in their 50s. My rating is 54 points higher than it was the day I turned 50 three years ago.
Granted, 2018 was mostly healthy for me and it shows as my game is five plus shots better than it was.
It makes sense in 2019 to try to continue my success especially with the PDGA AM Worlds next July. I also know that I am one bad move from problems as getting off a couch, getting off the floor, or even a bad dream has caused an issue.
This weekend is the yearly event where the thing referenced at the beginning happened and there will be three uniquely wrapped presents.
For me, no drinking, no partying, no games that would involve clothes being removed. I am going to thank anyone I know there for putting up with me and leave anything crazy for my now 18 year old daughter.
It will likely be the last time I ever see some of those people since I don't see myself at anything similar in the future because thinking like 1% but realizing that is wrong are two conflicting concepts that roll through my mind and going has become too much work since fighting instincts is too difficult.
Unlike those who were opponents and teammates, I will still follow them because I do care about what happens to them in the future.
I trust those there with my daughter and unless there is a need for me to be a parent, have no desire to know what she did.
Dashing in December
It was expected to hear December music playing in a Portillo's where I had to get food for a delivery. What was noted was the agonizing slow version of Silver Bells that was playing. Though the vocals were normal, the music sounded like a record player on the wrong speed.
Since I was working for Door Dash at the time, I had to restrain from "singing":
Suck my balls ... Suck my balls...
Then let me play with your titties.
I could imagine what could happen if I did that as well as with the following song:
There's no thing like blow for the holidays...
when you're tired or ragged or slow.
Just set up and knock out a couple lines... (make sniff sounds)
*sing fast* for the holidays you have get up and go.
Since I was working for Door Dash at the time, I had to restrain from "singing":
Suck my balls ... Suck my balls...
Then let me play with your titties.
I could imagine what could happen if I did that as well as with the following song:
There's no thing like blow for the holidays...
when you're tired or ragged or slow.
Just set up and knock out a couple lines... (make sniff sounds)
*sing fast* for the holidays you have get up and go.
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