Current Goo

Todd Brotsch | October 20, 2004
Does the current goo have all the leaders stumped? Can I declare victory now? Or have we just not had enough time?

T

Amy Austin | October 20, 2004
I, for one, do not know how to proceed with it... are you *that* confident that you have it right, Todd?!!

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
Absolutly positivly 100% confidence, supreme confidence in my guess.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Then... TELL ME! What's your e-mail address? ;D

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
sorry luv, canna do it. I did however send a picture to scott so that can be posted whenever. You asked for that on the other thread, so one outta two aint too bad.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Actually, Dave was the one who asked for that -- but I think I'm tired of our current look as well... ;>

C'mon -- just whisper it in my mailbox... ;D

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
done

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
HAHA -- I *am* kidding... but did you really?

(Or was that a joke?)

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
Yeah, I did.


I'm a half way decent guy, a third of the time.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
I didn't get anything -- I figured you were playing, and you literally whispered to the computer or something... You trying to get me in trouble with Hardie, Todd?! ;D

Does that make you 1/6 of a decent guy?

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
hehe, yeah, that's exactally it. But I sent ya something to the email addy you supplied to scott or something. Ya know, click on your name send email to, wherever that goes is where it is.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
hmmm... well it didn't work -- but no worries. Now, if by some miracle I DO figure it out on my own (not likely!), Scott'll never believe me!!! ;D

Good luck on your victory, Todd... though it sounds like you don't need it! (Though there is still enough time left for me to FW the other potential champs... *if* I had it, that is! ;D)

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
awww, that wouldn't be cool


not cool at all

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
heeheehee -- I know...

So don't worry: a) it didn't come -- really; and b) I'm at least 1/5 of a decent gal! ;D

(Seriously, though -- I wouldn't do that!)

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
ok, I just tested it on my email/goomail It didn't work either, So i dunno what to tell ya.


Sorry luv

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Haha -- s'all right... good luck -- sounds like you've won already!

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
might just be being cocky and hoping

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
everyone else will answer at 11:59 to spite me


for spite

hehe

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
heehee... well, it's just killing me, because I keep looking at it and thinking that I just *know* that it's gotta' be somebody I know -- but I can't conjure any names to go with the faces I see!!! As soon as it's revealed, I'm gonna' be like, "D'OH!!!! I *knew* it!"

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
hehehe, don't worry about it. Sometimes it's more about how you go about finding the answer, then knowing what it is right off the bat. But the way I went about findign it dosen't work any more, just because the way the internet works.


You'll figure it out, or kick yourself soon.

:)

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Yeah, I know that finding it is key... but I don't understand what you say about it not working... unless it was dated material... hmmm -- you suck, Todd.

If you have an evil laugh, then now would be the time for it.

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
because google search results change all the time, when I looked I found it 'rather quickly' I looked again later on today with the same search and what not, nothin came up. Google is a fickle fickle beast

muahaha

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
That's what I thought you meant... but Scott says he tries to make them Google-proof -- and you have to know where to start!

Incidentally, I saw that I have a new message in my junk filter -- that's why we thought it didn't work! All I did was check to see who it was from... I was working what I thought was a solid lead when I found it, and so I RESISTED looking at your message. My "lead" just petered out though.

"Must resist", "must resist", "must resist"... got... to... press... on!

I'll look probably give in and look at it in about an hour...

Anna Gregoline | October 21, 2004
You guys really need to start IMing each other instead.

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
hahahaha


yeah, after a while it got to my junk mail folder too.


google proof is just a rouse....it's hard to google proof these things. Just think about it...what's the most OBVIOUS , or second most obvious thing about the picture.

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
eh

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Yeah, I'm hearing you -- but so, I guess, are the TC police...

No worries -- just 'splain to me when it's done (if you want to give away your "secrets" that is...)

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
Sting's not in town here...

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
??? -- sorry Todd, missed that one...

Anna Gregoline | October 21, 2004
Scott is going to hate this thread. Not an indictment, but a prediction.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Well... I was worried about that, too -- but how do you know he isn't WATCHING us right now???

(That was pure Big Brother dramatization, Anna -- not yelling...)

Anna Gregoline | October 21, 2004
Cause he would have said something already. Believe me.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Because we're potentially compromising the Goo? I don't think we have.

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
I don't belive I've said anything that isn't above board and beyond reproach.

Anna Gregoline | October 21, 2004
I could be wrong.

Scott Hardie | October 21, 2004
I'm not in love with it... but I don't hate it. Better that Todd and Amy are making no secret of their sharing, rather than hide it from me. I figure some people have to be working together -- I'm never surprised when Mike and Kelly guess within moments of each other, or Todd and Dave and Scott Horowitz either. I can't prevent cheating, so I'm forced to take a "don't ask don't tell" policy towards it. I have punished and will continue to punish cheaters, but I'm going to cut Todd and Amy some slack because this very discussion would have canceled out any guess Amy would have tried to make with Todd's help... though I admit a smidgeon of temptation to disqualify Todd from victory and let Megan or Steve go for it, just to shake things up. ;-)

Congrats Todd, you earned it. I had a feeling all along that this was going to be your round. I'm glad we moved past that ugly exchange your first day in the game; I was this close to ejecting you from the site, but I gave you a chance as a friend of Mitzman, and I'm glad I did. You're a great GOO player.

About Google-proofing: It comes down to what Amy said, that you have to know where to start. I figure that no matter how difficult I make a goo, if somebody happens to think of the right answer, they can do a Google image search and usually come up with the source photo as a result. Hell, I often choose a photo from the first page of results intentionally, for that reason, if I'm trying to give the smart players an edge. When I sincerely want to make a tough goo, I'll find a photo offline and make sure Google doesn't have it.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Well, he certainly didn't give it away for me, although I had a guess and didn't find an image that matched. So, it's still got me stumped anyway. I'm glad you aren't penalizing him, Scott -- I was really just being a little froggy... ;>

Mike Eberhart | October 21, 2004
Well Scott, I can honestly say that I never "Gave" Kelly the answers. It's kind of tough when she sits right next to you. She would see me make my guess, and then start asking me about it. I made her do her own research before I confirmed anything to her about the guess. Most of the time it didn't take very long to find. Plus, if you remember, she beat me one round, so why would I have been giving her the answers? I wouldn't. I have been playing the Goo game long before she was here, and if you haven't noticed, she hasn't been playing anymore. Reason being, I don't sit next to her anymore. I'm now two cubes down from her so she has put the game out of her mind.

I'll admit to the one and only goo that I tried to unfairly get the answer and that was the one that Lori requested. No one got that, and no one would have got that. I was extremely frustrated with it and ran out of options. Scott knows what happened and we have already talked about it.

As for me and this game/TC, I'm leaving. If I'm going to be under suspicion for being a cheater, then I don't need that. A lot of good that's done me if I have been, I've only won once. As for TC, you won't have to deal with my right-wing conservative republican responses any longer. I had fun while it lasted, good luck to you all. Thanks.

Anthony Lewis | October 21, 2004
Aw man. Mike.

You may be a right-wing conservative, but you hate the Yankees. You're OK in my book. Please stay.

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
I second Anthony....well, on the Please stay part. I can't speak to the other points.

Please Stay

Lori Lancaster | October 21, 2004
[hidden by request]

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
You have my vote, too, Mike -- don't go!

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
kickin yourself now that you know who it is Amy?

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
No... I never watched more than part of a couple of episodes of that crap, so I wouldn't have known her face anyway. But I understood your hint perfectly, and I looked at the choices available... I also saw the name Angela and figured I must be in the right place. Had I Googled more than the obvious one (Jenn), I probably would have found her right quick. Ironically, I *did* think that her name was calling to me when I was looking at the menu (perhaps because of the Angela here -- gasp -- I just now made that connection!), but I wasn't seriously pursuing at that point anyway, because I knew my guess didn't count anymore.

Hahaha... is that the Angela you were really talking about, Scott? Is that how you knew to search her, Todd -- what was your original search??? Great clue, in retrospect... like "Keyzer Soze"!!!

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
Yeah, Keyzer only works if you know hungarian......I guess when the movie came out over seas they got it right away and it ruined the movie, ah well. I did a search for "tv guide" without the quotes in the google image system. Went through about 23 pages of pics and then there she was. The Clue to Angela only works if you know what that ment, I had no idea so it didn't help me at all. I also thought the person was either on sex and the city or desparate houswives, by the hair style. That obviously proved to be wrong. God luck...

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
WHA...? I'm not sure what you mean about Soze -- oh, I see, the name translated somehow ruined the plot... that's very interesting, indeed. But I was referring to Scott's goo of Takeru Kobayashi -- a name that is also in the movie. I wrote Scott and told him that I thought, "This isn't Keyzer Soze." would have been a good clue for it -- to make it a little tougher -- and he liked it. I guess he liked it so well that he devised one just like it -- the answer was right under our noses all along... just like in the movie! BIG props to Scott... apparently, he even fooled Angela! Love it!

I also searched TV guide, no quotes, as -- I'm sure -- did others... you are right that it was the only clue besides the hairstyle (I was also thinking on those lines -- "Sex & the City") However, I thought it best to look somewhere that "Angela" was either a co-starring character or actress... which happens to also be true of "The Bachelor" or "Bachelorette" (whichever it was)... and obviously, it wasn't her -- doubling the kudos for the clue -- but I just didn't search the right girl. I wonder how Angela feels about it...

Anyway -- Congrats, Todd... you lucky Som'!

Todd Brotsch | October 21, 2004
yeah, Keyzer Soze, in hungarian means Verbal, or something very simmilar to that. Saying obviously that Keyzer is Verbal, and busting the whole who is Keyzer part of the movie.

Amy Austin | October 21, 2004
Wow, that sucks -- MGM should give all the Hungarians a free movie ticket!

Todd Brotsch | October 22, 2004
lol

Scott Hardie | October 22, 2004
I have already talked to Mike privately about this (he is staying in GOO, probably not in TC), but I also wanted to apologize to him publicly for implying that he and Kelly gave each other answers. I knew they had helped each other sometimes because he had told me so, and in fact I changed the rules to allow helping other players specifically for them. Week in and week out, they'd guess at almost the same time, and I guess it stuck in my head for being both alarming in its implications and amusing in its clockwork-consistency. (They shared an identical 42-week streak of correct guesses, after all.) But honestly, I never really thought they cheated, and I regret implying that they did.

E. M. | November 16, 2004
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | November 17, 2004
Welcome, E... The thing about difficulty is, it's a prediction, and I'm terrible at making it. What seems easy to me is often hard to players, and vice versa. I renamed it "intended difficulty" to reflect this, and when a goo has been far off my mark, I edit the difficulty after the answer is revealed so that the historical record is a little more accurate.

For today's goo: Notice that the primary category is Diseases & Health, indicating that this person is most famous for whatever mental disorder she has, as hinted by the clue. The clue may initially seem to indicate a particular mental condition, but pay careful attention to the phrasing. (I guess this kind of vagueness doesn't help, but I'm not ready to give more hints than this right now.)

Mike Eberhart | December 8, 2004
Damn, that business goo is tough. I think that one is going to do me in for this round. I've spent 3 days looking for it and have come up blank. I must not be deciphering the clue very well. Oh well, good luck to you Megan, I'll be on your heels the rest of the game.

Jackie Mason | December 9, 2004
[hidden by request]

Megan Baxter | December 9, 2004
The business one came to me right away, but I took a long time to decide whether or not I was right. I kept waffling between that and another choice.

We'll just have to see if I can keep it up :)

Jackie Mason | December 9, 2004
[hidden by request]

Scott Hardie | December 10, 2004
Mike: Any comment now that the answer is revealed?

Megan: You're doing well, and it's no secret that I like to root for people who haven't won yet. Keep it up.

Jackie: Glad you like it. That's one of the reasons I was eager to launch the site in November even though it wasn't totally finished yet, because I didn't want to go even three more months with weekly goos. Those Reese Witherspoon and Michael Stipe goos would have gone down a whole lot easier with five others on the page with them.

Today's new "Music" goo is in poor taste a day after Dimebag Darrell's onstage murder, but that's too bad; I wrote the clue two weeks ago. R.I.P. Darrell.

Mike Eberhart | December 10, 2004
Scott, I just ran out of time on that goo. With about two hours to go, I finally started looking up women that had to do with the make-up industry. I started with Revlon, then went to Mary Kay, I next checked out Avon, then I got stuck. I couldn't think of any others, but I was finally on the right path. I think If I would have had another day I would have gotten it.

Scott Horowitz | December 10, 2004
I think Todd used this quote before, but it applies to you right now, Mike "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen. " Sean Connory, The Rock

Mike Eberhart | December 10, 2004
I really don't see how that applies to me right now. I'm not whining about anything. Scott asked me a question, and I answered it. Also, I wished Megan good luck with the rest of the round and told her that I would be on her heels for the rest of the game. Meaning, if she slips just once, I'm back in it. Also, this round isn't over so I'm not a loser of anything yet.

Scott Horowitz | December 10, 2004
I was kiddng... geeze. Can't anyone on here take a fucking joke?

Mike Eberhart | December 10, 2004
Oh, I can take a joke.. That just wasn't a good one....

Anna Gregoline | December 10, 2004
No, it really wasn't.

Steve West | December 10, 2004
No it wasn't.

David Mitzman | December 10, 2004
OK, this is insane. Mike said it was a bad joke. Stuff like that does not need to be backed up and verified. It's unneccessary. Regardless of whether or not Ho was making a good joke or not, one announcement of it is enough.

Kris Weberg | December 11, 2004
Dave, I think the repeated claims are themselves meant to be a bit of a joke. Facetiousness doesn't come across all that well in type, of course, which is something we'd ALL do well to remember.

David Mitzman | December 11, 2004
I really don't see how the repeated claims of the bad joke can even be considered an attempt at humor (whether in bad taste or not).

Scott Horowitz | December 12, 2004
Kris, I have one word for you: monosyllabic.

Jackie Mason | December 13, 2004
[hidden by request]

Todd Brotsch | December 14, 2004
Why must you sully my good name?

Scott Horowitz | December 14, 2004
Todd, I don't remember your name being that good.

Mike Eberhart | December 14, 2004
Wow, talk about a topic going massively off-course.... This one's it....

Mike Eberhart | December 14, 2004
I just noticed Scott, that there is a new All-Time Goo leader. Aaron has taken the lead. Just thought I'd bring that to your attention.

Anna Gregoline | December 14, 2004
I felt like Mike deserved support so I agreed that it was a bad joke. Nothing wrong with that.

Scott Horowitz | December 14, 2004
Here's another wow, Anna is supporting Mike. I thought I'd never see the day.

Mike Eberhart | December 14, 2004
Yep, times have changed..... :)

Todd Brotsch | December 14, 2004
No, I think it's more of anna prefering to disagree just to disagree.

Anna Gregoline | December 15, 2004
Thanks, I can speak for myself. And that's not the case, nor is it ever. I'm not like that.

Erik Bates | December 15, 2004
[hidden by request]

Anna Gregoline | December 15, 2004
I know you're joking, but I knew that someone would make that juvenile response. Can't dissent to dissenting without someone saying something.

Sorry, no offense, I'm just crabby today. Tired of Todd trying to paint me as a bad guy too.

Jackie Mason | December 15, 2004
[hidden by request]

David Mitzman | December 15, 2004
Well how bout the fact that several people went out of their way to insist a bad joke was made? It's just antagonizing a situation that doesn't need it. Plus you say "sorry, no offense..." but then you attack Todd? Gimme a break.

John E Gunter | December 15, 2004
Dave, what you're talking about in your post is why I lurk more than post on TC. You make a very good point and I'm happy that you did.

John

Anna Gregoline | December 15, 2004
I hardly think posting to a message board is going out of anyone's way.

The joke was made before, and if I recall correctly, it wasn't appreciated then either.

Scott Horowitz | December 15, 2004
Geeze, can't everyone just drink a glass of SHUT THE FUCK UP? I made a joke, it was bad, 98% of the jokes I make are bad. WHO THE FUCK CARES? I have been reading this thread laughing at the stupidity of this. I know officially end the "Scott can't tell a joke and bashing Todd" thread.

David Mitzman | December 15, 2004
John,
Thanks. It's the same reason I rarely post here at all as well. I was starting to get into it and then there was that whole thread from October which we don't need to get into. That's the main reason I stay very quiet in these parts as of late. If I post something, I know at least one other person is going to disagree just to disagree, and the only person I don't mind that from is Kris because he makes extremely valid, intelligent, and otherwise interesting posts 99.99% of the time.

Anna,
I didn't say posting on a message board is going out of your way. What I said was, you are going through the trouble of stating something that does not need to be repeated. So it was a bad joke, who gives a crap? Whether or not the joke was appreciated when Todd posted it back a while ago or when Scott posted it a few days ago, it doesn't matter. If this joke was a direct insult at you, your family, or whatever, then be my guest and go ahead and defend yourself. However, just because Mike didn't find that funny, it doesn't need to be backed up. I believe you said that you can speak for yourself, but what about Mike? Is his opinion that weak that it needs to be backed up multiple times just because he didn't like a joke? I am 100% confident that if Mike didn't say anything about that, you wouldn't have either.

Scott,
You're not helping the situation with making even more horrible jokes. Yes, I like the "tall glass of shut the fuck up juice" statement, but at this point in this thread I think we need to do away with the obnoxiousness of the tasteless jokes.

Anna Gregoline | December 15, 2004
The joke WAS offensive, and inappropriate. If I see something like that, I tend to speak up. You seem to be making more of the whole thing than any of us are.

David Mitzman | December 15, 2004
See this is where our thought process differs. You tend to speak up a tad too much and almost always on the opposite side of what a lot of people say. You said it yourself: "Tired of Todd trying to paint me as a bad guy too." Maybe you should go back and see that you bring a lot of this on yourself. You seem to have an extremely confrontational stance about everything. I am pretty sure that if I post something, even if you don't have a set opinion on it, you'll just post an opposing view for the sake of disagreeing. If you don't want to be painted as a "bad guy" or whatever you think you're being designated as, try acting more civil and not jumping on people's cases when they say something that might not agree with your own personal opinions. If someone posts something I don't like, I don't immediately post something and say "YOU'RE WRONG! DIE!" If it's worth the time and effort to formulate a valid argument to back my personal feelings, I'll most likely do it. On TC I most likely won't now. After that Yankees thread, how could I reasonably post on something I feel strongly about when I'm certain all I'll get out of it is an attack on my opinions?

Mike Eberhart | December 15, 2004
To try and route this thread back to what it's about, I think this round of the Goo game is going well... Should be interesting to see if Megan can keep the lead or not. I think she is approaching the longest streak of correct Goos also... Hey Scott, when's the Award page going to be back online?

Erik Bates | December 16, 2004
[hidden by request]

Anna Gregoline | December 16, 2004
When was anyone attacking you here, Dave?

Please also point me to anywhere I ever anything like, "YOU'RE WRONG! DIE!"

I thought the joke was inappropriate and all I said on this thread was No, it wasn't a good joke.

Steve West said the same thing but you didn't jump on him. I'm not sure why all the vitrol. All in all, all this fuss is a lot more destructive than anything I did on this thread.

And thank you, Mike, the post is about the Goo game.

I'm really liking the new goo format - it's so much fun to fill in the grid, even if I'm not always getting the goo. Thanks for that, Scott!

David Mitzman | December 16, 2004
Did I say anyone was attacking me in this thread? No.
Did I cite that you said "YOU'RE WRONG! DIE!". No, however that's my general feeling about how some people can act around here.

I didn't jump on anyone specifically at first, if you want to actually go back and read what I said (which is something you fail to do quite frequently), I said: "OK, this is insane. Mike said it was a bad joke. Stuff like that does not need to be backed up and verified. It's unneccessary. Regardless of whether or not Ho was making a good joke or not, one announcement of it is enough." Next time you want to question what I'm saying, read what I actually wrote, don't put words in my mouth. Quite hypocritical of you since you yourself said you don't like someone speaking for you.

I didn't single you out, I didn't single Steve out. I just generalized about how it was not really needed to back up Mike's opinion in this situation.

Erik Bates | December 16, 2004
[hidden by request]

Mike Eberhart | December 16, 2004
Yeah, I'm expecting a couple of those to show up too...

Scott Hardie | December 16, 2004
Hope you guys like the themed weeks. I have a few more planned. The Goo World Tour was a good idea and I want to follow it up, but 100+ consecutive goos with the same theme can get kind of boring.

I'm sorry for Matt as a friend that he finally lost the lead to Aaron, but as game administrator I'm delighted to see any big change. The Awards page is sadly some time off, as it's one of the most complicated things I have left to do and I have several other things I need to do first. I have made so few adjustments to the site in the last month and a half, so I hope you can see why it took me six months just to get the new site done at all (and why I was so insistent on publishing the damn thing November 1st and being done with it).

I hate to respond to the conflict, because it necessarily requires me to single people out, but aren't you two (Dave and Anna) just going in circles? You're each essentially accusing the other of making a big deal out of something unimportant, which, if you think about it, makes your entire debate kind of pointless to have. By continuing to discuss it, you're only proving each other right.

David Mitzman | December 16, 2004
I wasn't accusing anyone of making a big deal out of anything. All I simply did was state that the repetition of Mike's opinion was pretty pointless and ridiculous and from there it was completely blown out of proportion. Once again, Anna decided to just not read what I've posted and make statements that were false. Scott, it's because of situations like this that I post almost never now, and John said the same thing earlier. It's sad but true.

Scott Hardie | December 16, 2004
I am sorry that you don't post much any more. We would benefit from more constructive contributions to the discourse, and I know you're capable of making them. I wish to take no "side" of the debate — in my opinion, you've both said good things and bad things, true things and false things — but I wonder if we all wouldn't benefit from a bit of empathy.

By now it should be clear that Anna writes from an emotional viewpoint. (She frequently admits it, including in this discussion.) When she says something like that Scott made a bad joke, she's only voicing her emotional opinion, not making an attack on Scott. That's why she gets so upset about charges that her comments are inappropriate, because from her perspective, it seems like you're trying to censor her. Your own different viewpoint deserves due consideration as well; my point is that we each have valid reasons for believing what we believe and saying what we say, and we can't hope to understand each other if we don't give each other the benefit of the doubt when it comes to motives.

David Mitzman | December 16, 2004
I understand that she writes from an emotional viewpoint, and that's her problem. I'm not trying to censor anyone, that's not my style. I also didn't accuse her of attacking Scott, I just said that these repeated claims of a bad joke are not needed. Once is enough. I generally try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but when someone wears their emotions on their sleeve and goes ape everytime they don't agree with something, I find it hard to tolerate. A well written, thought out, intelligent post will never be disputed by me (regardless of the other person's opinion).

Scott Horowitz | December 16, 2004
Am I the attacker or the attackee? I'm so confused. Damn you Scott Hardie for having the same name as me. I order you to legally change it by noon tomorrow or we shall have a duel. Pistols at sundown on the mason dixon line. (I'm being stupid, I know.. been a long hectic day)

hehehe. I found the joke funny, and that's all that matters. The internet was invented for everyone to have an opinion. Here's a quote about that: "The Internet is a communication tool used the world over where people can come together to bitch about movies and share pornography with one another. " I think that sums it up nicely. Don't care if it isn't funny, I found it amusing.

David Mitzman | December 16, 2004
It's posts like yours that make me glad I can just drive to your house and kick you in the balls scott ho. < ----- disclaimer: the preceding was a joke and a low attempt at humor.

Scott Horowitz | December 16, 2004
I have 2 words for you Mitz: Oh and Dip!

Todd Brotsch | December 16, 2004
You couldn't have an opinion before the Internet was invented? Strange people....

I think the joke is only offensive to thoes who are loosers, or the prom queen, or thoes that are upset because they are or aren't the prom queen. Otherwise the joke dosen't really hit home, and if that's the case, who cares if it's in bad taste or not. So much of life really needs to be worried about; if this is the sort of thing that can bring an end to the world for anyone I really wish to be them, because then I wouldn't have a worry in the world.

Amy Austin | December 16, 2004
I have to admit... it's conversations like these that I haven't missed here, and like Steve, John and Dave, I ,too, am far more hesitant than when I first got here to post anything on the more "opinionated" topics based on things I have learned about the different personalities here.

I will say this, though: I know that 98% of what Scott Horowitz says is meant for laughs -- sometimes it's stupid and/or tasteless, and sometimes it's downright funny. I also know that he knows this and therefore doesn't mind when his rotten egg bombs are criticized. I've seen some serious harshing on him from both Dave and Todd that would far outstrip any harm *I* could do, and so I'm not too worried that anything *I* say -- or anyone else here, for that matter -- will bother/hurt him... I can see that he takes it just as well as he dishes it out, and I seriously repsect that, no matter what kind of differences in opinion I may have with him. This is what I really like most about Scottie Ho, even though I have snipped at him for his contributions a time or two. Love to you, Scott -- just remember that if I'm ever irritated with you, man! So basically, what I'm thinking here is that Ho don't need defending, Dave... but I do feel ya'!

And Scott (Hardie): not only am *I* really enjoying the new format immensely, but I know that it was probably the biggest motivating factor in getting E (he does prefer "E" from others, FYI) involved in the game -- I showed it to him when I first started playing, but the weekly didn't hold his interest like the dailies... he's far more interested in the challenge now. We are both very competitive (even with each other!), and because of it, I have to admit that both of us are a little dismayed with our current standings... ;> But good luck, Megan -- you definitely look to be the ultimate slayer in this round... I don't know *how* you haven't missed any yet!!! It will take a lot of misses (and none on our part!) for us to get even close to you and Mike and Denise! He keeps talking like it couldn't happen, but he's still playing!

So, thanks for the cool site, Scott -- I don't care what those Awful people say about you... I'm not a big chat/message board poster, and this site is one of only two that I frequent (I can't imagine having time for more than that!)... so I hope you find that as complimentary as it's intended!

Scott Hardie | December 16, 2004
Todd, the joke is offensive precisely because it is in bad taste. TC went four years without any jokes about fucking pretty teenagers or about inquiring as to the sizes of our penises; that crudeness has only started within the past few months. I appreciate that some of you find that funny, but I do not, and Anna doesn't, and apparently Mike and Steve don't either, and if TC went so long without that kind of humor then we cannot be the only ones. We're not attacking you or Scott for making the joke, and neither are we telling you not to make it; we're merely expressing our displeasure with it. How it is unfair of us only to express our opinions I do not understand. (Besides, that joke sparked a similar argument the first time it was mentioned. Scott could not have made it innocently this time unless he has a memory disorder.)

Whatever bad things go on in the world or go on in life are topically irrelevant to whether or not the joke is in bad taste. One can merely point out "I don't like that" without it bearing any meaning on any other opinion or aspect of their life.

Thanks for the comments, Amy. The switch to daily goos was the best thing that has happened to this game in pretty much forever.

Scott Horowitz | December 16, 2004
I actually did forget that Todd made the joke first until after I said it. Amy, Thank you for the praise, it does mean a lot. I disagree with lots of people on this board, it's fun. Sometimes, it's fun to get people riled up and see how they react. This was not one of those times. Mike was expressing his frustration at the Estee Lauder goo, and I thought he was whining. Apparently I was wrong, so I'm sorry to do anything. Does this mean I can't quote anything sexist or racist? Cause if it does, I have very few things to quote.

Scott Hardie | December 16, 2004
But when you made the joke, didn't you say right then that Todd has already made it? Or was that an edit after the fact? :-)

In the end, it's all good. I know you didn't mean any real offense, you were just having fun, and you probably think we should get thicker skins. But I wonder, if some people honestly don't mean to offend anyone, then why do they still say offensive things? It's not as if it's difficult to be polite.

Scott Horowitz | December 16, 2004
That was an edit after the fact.

I don't take anything anyone says on here seriously. Sometimes we have some good conversations, where I really contribute (mostly on the political side). This one I am just fucking around. I've said it before. 98% of the stuff I say isn't funny, well to anyone but me. I think people just need more of an open mind when they read TC.

John E Gunter | December 16, 2004
What I see you doing Scottie Ho is bringing the fire down on yourself. I'm not finding fault in that, but if you go looking to get people stirred up, you shouldn't complain when they get fired up against you.

I've known people who cry foul when someone gets really mad at them and makes hateful statements against them. Guess what they were doing just minutes before? That's right, they were inciting those same people to get fired up against them. Not necessarily in the way those people reacted, but they were still purposely trying to get people stirred up.

Then they cry, why are you treating me like this? Well, it's because you brought it on yourself. So that's partly why I hesitate to post on TC. That and a lot of what I post is how I interpret the topics and my opinions on them, which seem to go against the grain of the more vocal members of TC.

John

Erik Bates | December 16, 2004
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Mike Eberhart | December 27, 2004
Whoa, this place is sure dead today.... Just thought I'd pop in and say hi, haven't been in here much myself lately. Just long enough to answer the goos, and then off. That journalism goo is going to be a bitch though... Could be the whole ball game on that goo...?

Scott Hardie | December 27, 2004
Could be. I might have written a much easier clue based on the journalist's name, but I didn't want it to be easy. Then again, I wanted the Advertising goo to be hard and the Modeling goo to be medium, and those turned out opposite, so once again it's proven how little ability I have to affect that.

Happy birthday, Mike.

Mike Eberhart | December 28, 2004
Thanks Scott. Yep, turned 31 yesterday... No big deal though.

Amy Austin | December 28, 2004
I think you rated the modeling one fairly, Scott -- and it looks like about "medium" (number of) responses to me...

Happy Birthday (again), Mike! Would you rather be 51?! If you think about that, then maybe it is a big deal after all? ;D

E. M. | December 30, 2004
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Scott Horowitz | December 30, 2004
I thought I had it Ed. Guess I was wrong, now I have another idea, but I'm not giving anything away. Good job Amy.

Amy Austin | December 30, 2004
(smiling & singing) "Movin' on up..."

Goin' for that Imelda!

(Thanks, Scott!)

Scott Hardie | December 30, 2004
Well done, Amy!

E. M. | December 30, 2004
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Scott Horowitz | December 30, 2004
Just out of curiousity, what the hell is a "golden imelda"? I know it is when you get a goo that no one else gets, but where the hell did you come up with/find that?

Amy Austin | December 30, 2004
Look in the Goo Library... either it's the first or only goo that had only one correct guess -- although, it's one that I would have gotten if I'd been in the game at that point in time.

Thanks, Scott... (again ;>) Does anyone else hear a buzzing sound? (I love you , E...) Edit (for that buzzing sound): Oh, shut up! You don't even have to live with me 'til February!

Todd Brotsch | December 30, 2004
I think it's a Gong.

E. M. | December 31, 2004
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Scott Hardie | December 31, 2004
It's based on the Imelda Marcos goo (link) which, like Amy said, was the first goo to be guessed correctly by only one player. It's worth mentioning that this was a much easier feat back then, with only four or five people playing each week. Anyway, the well-earned Imelda is yours, Amy, though sadly the site doesn't currently report it anywhere. Damn it I'm looking forward to working on this site again (spending the few free minutes I have working on my Ten Best Films feature, currently way behind schedule).

Amy Austin | December 31, 2004
It's okay, Scott -- I'm just feeling pretty satisfied with myself for getting it before it ended... I am really looking forward to seeing my permanent kudos on the site, though -- thanks!

And Fat Head over there has got a LOT of nerve talking about the size of ANYBODY else's noggin -- you see his picture, don't you?! WHO'S got a sputnik head, I ask you??? And at least Charlie's little brother had a lot of curly HAIR as his excuse... what's yours, Fat Head???

Amy Austin | December 31, 2004
Actually, Scott... I was just clicking through the images in the library and saw that "Alfred E. Neuman" had only one correct guess, too and was published at an earlier date... so is there perhaps another reason for choosing Imelda for this honor?

Scott Hardie | December 31, 2004
Uhhh... There must have been, but I guess I forgot it. :-)

Amy Austin | December 31, 2004
Not quite celebrity goo, but here's a somewhat amusing item I found while browsing:

(link)

E. M. | January 6, 2005
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Erik Bates | January 6, 2005
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Scott Horowitz | January 6, 2005
If he stumps everybody, does Hardie get a square on the grid?

Jackie Mason | January 6, 2005
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Erik Bates | January 6, 2005
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Jackie Mason | January 6, 2005
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Scott Hardie | January 7, 2005
I'm kind of ignoring the rest of TC these days (sorry, priorities), but I wanted to comment on this while it's still timely. Since the early days of the goo game when this sort of thing happened more often due to having only a handful of players, there have been only three goos that stumped everyone: Tiamat (Feb 02), Takehito Koyasu (Jul 03), and Dan Mathews (Dec 03). In my opinion, this Cinema goo is not as difficult as those were, but then again I don't know jack about how difficult my own game is to play. This one would stump me too, but it's reasonably possible to figure it out, unlike the goo that inspired it. Where's Brad Htnck to get a Golden Imelda when we need him?

And if you think I'm evil now, wait until the answer is revealed. ;-)

Amy Austin | January 7, 2005
It's probably just as well, Scott -- today seems to have been a day of minor skirmishing. But... what about Augusto Pinochet??? And, I'm not really all that sure that I want this goo to be revealed -- I just know I'm going to be mad!!!

Edit: Okay, I'm dumb -- I just read what you said again, and I guess that one (Pinochet) was further back in the "handful of players" days... duh.

E. M. | January 7, 2005
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Scott Hardie | January 7, 2005
Well done, Ed.

Scott Horowitz | January 7, 2005
Hmm... 2 Imeldas in 1 week. And they're married. Methinks a conspiracy is afoot (combining Shakespeare and Doyle in that quote). JK, Good job Ed.

Denise Sawicki | January 7, 2005
Argh. I'm going to officially admit I'm not good enough to get hard goos any longer. I know nothing about celebrities, I'm just an evil googler. I'll say goodbye to my #3 standing before long. I guess it's not the end of the world :)

Amy Austin | January 7, 2005
If it *were* a conspiracy, then there'd be *two* correct guesses -- doncha' think? ;D

That bastard... truth be told, we *did* discuss the answer (a whole day!) before he entered it -- but without the source image, we just weren't quite certain enough. I told him to "just do it", and I had every intention of doing it, too... after all, in a blank square, I'd have nothing to lose! And then he got it right!!!

But... to be fair, it *was* his idea, and I already got my Imelda -- he deserves this one. (Even though *I did* point him in the right direction to get it!) Hmmmph. I really coulda' used that one to bump me up and out of the jockeying with Scott & Steve, too. Bastard. Yes, folks, I guess that *is* what marriage is all about...

Not even making it a birthday present of it...

Congratulations, Turd... ;D

E. M. | January 7, 2005
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Amy Austin | January 7, 2005
!!! "Whatever"??? "Whatever" yourself!

Scott Horowitz | January 7, 2005
Not to insult you guys or anything, but I do find it amusing to watch your married quarrels on the bulletin board. Please keep them going. hehehe

Amy Austin | January 7, 2005
HA! Not insulted, but perhaps we should charge admission? Premium rate gets front-row seats in our living room??? Then you can *really* watch the sparks fly... ;>DDDDD What do you think, E?

E. M. | January 7, 2005
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E. M. | January 7, 2005
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Lori Lancaster | January 8, 2005
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E. M. | January 8, 2005
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Scott Hardie | January 8, 2005
The answer's up, and I added some of the incorrect guesses. Comments?

Erik Bates | January 8, 2005
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Scott Horowitz | January 8, 2005
Good job, Ed. I didn't think the clue would be that misleading again. I was going for famous brother/sister combos. But, I think Hardie should be shot for his incredible evilness.. .who's with me?

E. M. | January 9, 2005
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Anna Gregoline | January 9, 2005
Thanks! I was hoping it might make a few people puzzle...

E. M. | January 9, 2005
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Scott Hardie | January 9, 2005
This week has seemed harder than most, especially following Robert Patrick at the end of last week. I am trying to make the game harder as we approach the end of the round, but not like this. The new week (starting tomorrow) is kind of on the easy side to compensate. I'm cleaning out my reserve and publishing some really old goos, one of them dating all the way back to 1999, and in the process I'm ignoring my own established rules about racial and national diversity each week, so you're getting seven white people in a row.

Ed: Today's Dance & Theater goo is the first goo without a clue, and I'm fairly certain it will be the last.

Stephen Ito | January 11, 2005
Scott, I'm new to the site (Thanks to Ed). I've had a blast so far. I am in agreement with Ed, The Dance & Theater Goo is a kicker. I need to ask, Do you use Photoshop to create your Goos.

Scott Hardie | January 11, 2005
Welcome to the site, Stephen (Steve?). I'm glad you like it.

A lot of people think I use the Photoshop tool to create my goos, but I go back to the source, Kai's Power Goo, a program that has been discontinued since about 1997. The manufacturer, MetaTools, was bought by another company, which was bought by another company, and so on until it wound up being owned by some company that sat on it for a few years and eventually turned it into that Photoshop tool. So, they are the same basic program, but Kai's Power Goo comes with around fifteen different distortion tools, which can be used in a countless number of combinations with each other for different effects. I went years before I had to start repeating my old gooing patterns, and still today I sometimes come up with a gooing pattern that I've never used before, like Kim Jong-il last week. Plus, Kai's Power Goo is a lot of fun to use.

I don't presently create goos with any other distortion software. I do use Paint Shop Pro to make minor adjustments to images, like cropping them and converting them to grayscale. If you believe I still use a 1997 program to create goos, would you believe I still use the 1994 release of Paint Shop Pro to do all of my basic image editing? :-)

Amy Austin | January 11, 2005
Oh my God, E... I leave town for the weekend, and you just spew forth bullshit all over the place??? You just wait... now that you're showing your face here more often, love... WHERE on Earth are the Bullshit Police when you need them???

Stephen Ito | January 11, 2005
Thanks, Scott. Yea, Full name Stephen, but I go by Steve or any of the other nickname I put into my bio. Feel free to call me what ever you feel like at the time. Trust me I have been called worse, lol. Keep up the great work.

Scott Horowitz | January 12, 2005
I have nothing to say right now, I just want to get ahead of Melissa in the TC authors list.

Amy Austin | January 18, 2005
So, Scott (Hardie)... is that meant to be a butt-kiss pucker on the John McCain goo??? ;DDD

Scott Hardie | January 19, 2005
Hehe, I hadn't seen it that way. I copied it from some news photo a long time ago and saved it till today; it's obviously an of-the-moment photo and not a portrait for which he posed. I get weird urges to goo certain celebrities in certain ways (some are obvious, like making Kate Moss look fat), but I don't know what, if anything, possessed me to goo McCain like that.

Scott Horowitz | January 20, 2005
Not to be a pest, but as a site upgrade. Can you add pagination to TC threads? As they get really long it can take a decent amount of time to load.

Scott Hardie | January 20, 2005
Yes. This was among my planned upgrades for the new site that didn't happen in time for launch and have been ignored ever since. It's coming.

Denise Sawicki | January 20, 2005
How bizarre. I actually guessed the current goo from the picture alone, before I had figured out the clue. That's like a first for me (excluding things like major presidential candidates in the VERY easy category). I guess I must have ingested a *little* bit of pop culture over the years.

Amy Austin | January 26, 2005
I have nothing to say right now, I just want to get ahead of Melissa in the TC authors list.

No, I wasn't *waiting* for the day to come that I could crack the same joke as Scottie Ho... ironically, I just happened to look at the Intro page and see that we were now tied -- and thought it was pretty damn weird. Not anymore.

Scott Horowitz | January 26, 2005
:-p

Amy Austin | January 26, 2005
;DDD (Back at ya'!)

Erik Bates | January 27, 2005
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Mike Eberhart | January 27, 2005
I just wanted to say that I'm proud that I didn't know the answer to this week's Video Game goo. Guess that shows I'm not that big of a geek... :) No offense to those who got it right.. :)

Anna Gregoline | January 27, 2005
I thought that was the easiest one, but maybe that's because Scott loves it so much, I don't know. =)

I had trouble with the "flying over France" goo, but I got it in the end.

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
Last game system I ever owned was an Atari 2600, Mike -- and I got it within 5 minutes. ;DDD

Anna Gregoline | January 27, 2005
Oh man. Atari 2600. I want to play it so bad, I have one in my house but need a new adapter for it. It's my favorite.

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
Hahaha... Mine was still around at my folks' house, and apparently my brother and sister enjoyed it up until getting a PS2 (probably quite recently, actually) -- and then he says he gave it to my sister and brother-in-law... punks.

Anna Gregoline | January 27, 2005
My mom GAVE AWAY my childhood one and the games because, I quote "it didn't work."

I was informed in college by geeks that it was a simple part switch-out costing only a few dollars. Fuming still.

I bought another one and a bunch of games at a garage sale in college - managed to get the system, games, and all the controlers (4 sets) for around $130, which is quite a steal. The only issue is that the adapter (don't know what it's called) for the television, the switcher thing? Overheats or something and doesn't work well, so the picture is wonky. Gotta fix that. Someday, someday.

Games are still quite cheap for it, except for the "Holy Grail" games that are out there somewhere in extremely limited supply. I dream about finding one at a thrift store someday and selling it on eBay for hundreds.

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
I know the feeling, I know the feeling...

Anna Gregoline | January 27, 2005
I just cracked myself up re-reading this and reading "informed by geeks." Makes it sound like there are roving bands of geeks across the campus, imparting information!

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
heeheehee... geek nomad tribes... that is pretty funny -- okay, you can laugh now (ever see those dumbass TBS commercials???)

Anna Gregoline | January 27, 2005
No, I'm afraid I haven't...

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
Lucky you -- isn't TBS a Chicago station???

Mike Eberhart | January 27, 2005
I believe it's in Atlanta. Isn't it Turner Broadcasting Station. I think it's owned by Ted Turner.

Scott Horowitz | January 27, 2005
Yeah, Mike's right about that. I think Chicago is WGN

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
Oh, yeah -- probably right! (WGN *is* what I was thinking of...)

Anna Gregoline | January 27, 2005
If it's a commercial, chances are I haven't seen it anyway. *Kisses TiVo*

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
Yeah, we need TiVo.

Scott Horowitz | January 27, 2005
You should get a new computer first.

Amy Austin | January 27, 2005
Yep... priorities. Unfortunately, they are both pretty far down the list right now...