4th of July

Chris Lemler | July 5, 2010
Hope everyone has a safe and nice 4th of July

Sarah Kyle | July 5, 2010
Had a blast. It was good seeing you and your parents. Little man had to tell each of you bye. LOL. Hope you had a blast even though you had to work :(

Chris Lemler | July 5, 2010
Well yeah I did glad to see you

Scott Hardie | July 7, 2010
Our plans were postponed for a later weekend at the last minute, which gave me some extra time to work on this site, so I guess it turned out ok. I have to say though, themed weeks in the goo game that are based on a holiday turn out much better when the week ends on that holiday instead of starting on that holiday. It's already Wednesday and I keep finding myself forgetting why the game is still so patriotic right now. Anyway, I'm glad you had a good holiday.

Steve Dunn | July 7, 2010
We had a ball. My family and I went to Atlanta to visit Ryan and his family. We went to a Phish show on Saturday and had a laid back cookout Sunday. A couple times during the weekend, as Ryan and I were discussing the goo game and rock block, people would overhear us and ask, "What are you guys talking about?"

Um, well, see there's this online game...

Funniest time was in the bathroom during setbreak of the Phish show. Ryan and I were discussing the goo game and it went something like this:

Steve: I guess my question is if you drop down to Tier 4 and start guessing goos, does the bet carry forward all the way or would it automatically adjust down as you rise up in tiers?
Ryan: I am pretty sure it carries forward. I think the key in all this is the distance between the leader and the top of the most attractive betting tier.
Steve: Yes, you would need to be mindful of the top score in each tier. It will affect the timing of when you drop down.
Ryan: I guess, but would that ever trump the need to make the max number of bets?
Steve: Probably not, but I think this is designed so the outcome is decided at the margins. You need to scrape for every point, including the bets on other players.
Ryan: Which can totally screw you if you cut too close when you drop down. Hit a couple bets on other players and you can bump up a tier.
Steve: Right. Gotta watch that.

Random dude in bathroom: Excuse me. What are you guys talking about?
Steve: Um, well, see there's this online game.
Dude: Oh! OK, that's weird, I thought you were talking about the Phish show.

If anything, I guess this explains how nerdy Phish fans can be. I have no question there were other conversations about "tiers" going on during setbreak...

Scott Hardie | July 8, 2010
Hilarious. I am proud of this site today to have been discovered by a random dude in an Atlanta bathroom. :-)

Jackie Mason | July 10, 2010
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Ryan Dunn | July 10, 2010
Nice pick, Jackie. For me it's Thanksgiving. This 4th was particularly nice, though.

Scott Hardie | July 11, 2010
Memorial Day, here. With all due respect to the point of the occasion, it also means enjoying the arrival of summer, taking a much-needed holiday from work after four straight months, making the most of my birthday, and more.

Sarah Kyle | July 14, 2010
The fourth of July was great for me and my son. We went to see the fireworks and before we left my parents were like I am not sure he can do it. It might freak him out to much. My son loved it and it shocked us all. My son clapped as the fireworks lit up the sky. We sat across the street from where they were shooting them off for our city and needless to say they were loud. Although with it over now I wish people would quit setting there fireworks off.

Sarah Kyle | July 14, 2010
The fourth of July was great for me and my son. We went to see the fireworks and before we left my parents were like I am not sure he can do it. It might freak him out to much. My son loved it and it shocked us all. My son clapped as the fireworks lit up the sky. We sat across the street from where they were shooting them off for our city and needless to say they were loud. Although with it over now I wish people would quit setting there fireworks off.

Scott Hardie | July 14, 2010
Sounds like a good day. I thought most people were fond of the 4th, until a friend described what it's like for his dog. Because of a nervous condition, the dog barks loudly and endlessly at the slightest provocation like a knock at the door. The 4th means six hours of relentless barking and terror for the dog. Medication, shutting it in a closet, nothing seems to work. He's no fan of the neighborhood kids setting off their fireworks all weekend either.

Erik Bates | July 14, 2010
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Steve Dunn | July 14, 2010
I think the idea is that a holiday signals our collective political judgment that a particular issue is extremely important. People may not ponder American independence on the 4th of July, but everyone knows that we, the people, deem it important enough for BBQ and beer.

Jackie Mason | July 14, 2010
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Amy Austin | July 15, 2010
Lol... nicely put, Steve & Jackie. I agree, and... as a veteran myself -- although remembrance has its place (a moment of silence, please...) -- I do believe I'd rather use the remainder of three (or four, if possible!) days to consume beer and BBQ... and yeah, shoot fireworks!

Scott, I know of several pet owners with those issues... even extending into thunderstorm action, too. Thankfully, my two numbskulls are oblivious to such a response.

Scott Hardie | July 16, 2010
I understand what you're saying, Erik. These holidays have definitely become removed from their original meaning for most people. But that's kind of inevitable: Are we supposed to spend an entire day attending services for dead soldiers, or thinking about the founding of the nation? Reflecting briefly on the spirit of the day as you go on about your BBQ and beer is about the most that we can reasonably expect of people, and in light of that, it doesn't seem like a big loss if they don't even give it a moment's thought at all. If that makes it sound like the purpose of the holiday is kind of arbitrary and meaningless, well, it is. That's not to say that soldiers' sacrifices or America's anniversary are unimportant, just that the setting aside of an entire day for them is.

Bill O'Reilly and other controversy-mongers often seem to lament the "war on Christmas" that is removing that holiday from its spiritual origins. Is there no similar outcry over people forgetting the patriotic origins of Independence Day and Memorial Day (and Veterans Day for that matter), or am I just not aware of it because I don't pay attention to Bill O'Reilly?

Jackie Mason | July 27, 2010
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