I think the response in Boston on Friday was way over-the-top. The entire city should not have been shut down for this guy. Should they really have the authority to institute martial law? What does a house-to-house search really mean (warrant?)?

by WISCyUTE 2013-04-22 07:01:43

I couldn't believe the photos I saw of SWAT (or similar) taking up tactical positions in backyards. I especially can't believe an entire US city was shut down (estimated cost of a third of a billion dollars).

This is exactly what terrorists want. To make us afraid and to disrupt our ability to live our lives. That clearly happened on Friday in Boston, and it didn't need to. The authorities overstepped their bounds.

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Since a math question was so popular the other night...

by WISCyUTE 2013-02-08 10:12:12

If I pick a card out of a 52 card deck at random, put it back, pick another random card, put it back and keep repeating, what is the most likely number of unique cards that I will have picked at least once after 1000 draws (any guesses?)? What is the probability of picking exactly 48 unique cards at least once? What is the probability of picking all 52 cards at least once? What is the probability that anyone bothers to respond?

Note: there is no joke or punchline here- I am puzzling over a similar question for work and haven’t been able to find the correct equation. Cheers.

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Re: Teo: I'm leaning towards thinking he was totally duped and (mostly innocently) exaggerated some details to not sound stupid. But who did he talk to on the phone? Who does the AZ player know? And what is the point of such "catfishing"?

by WISCyUTE 2013-01-17 14:42:56

There doesn't seem to be any profit motive here.

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Some out-of-state football watch parties from the Alumni Association...

by WISCyUTE 2012-08-23 19:52:25

I have seen posts wondering about some of these areas. I wonder if the selected bars can guarantee they will have the Pac12 network?

ULink

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Just got an invite to the U of U Deans Unscripted tour in DC. Anyone been to such a thing (anywhere, I suppose)?

by WISCyUTE 2012-01-13 13:42:28

Sounds interesting in general, but I have especially been looking to extend my network. I am a postdoc at the National Institutes of Health and am looking to transition to the biotech industry in the DC area. I'm having trouble since I don't really know anyone in biotech. Think the deans tour might have useful contacts? LinkedIn has so far failed me at identifying relevant U of U grads in the area.

Also, business attire required... to me that suggests that as a 31 year-old I might be the youngest person there... but that could be the scientist in me- we don't generally dress up .

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Anyone know if there is a DC alum watch Party?

by WISCyUTE 2011-12-31 12:07:44

It used to always be at Penn quarter but this place is deader than dead. Thanks!

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What happened to turn the game around?

by WISCyUTE 2011-09-20 07:40:23

There was a point during the second quarter when things looked really bad. The defense had given up yards, and despite the turnovers we were losing 10-7. Heaps looked excellent on a couple of series and we didn't appear to be able to reach the QB or cover the receivers. Perhaps most distressing, our offense was anemic at best. Some in the chat room were ready to give up on the game (and season).

What changed during the rest of the game? What did the team do differently to turn it into a blowout?

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Hoping for some car help. My car just mostly broke down... I just got a new Johnson rod so I don't think it's that.

by WISCyUTE 2011-08-21 14:40:28

So my '99 mitsubishi diamante just broke down. As I was driving some electrical-related things started to happen over a couple of miles: battery light stayed on, parking brake/gas/SRS lights all came on, electric window only went up/down very slowly, RPM meter started jumping up and down although the engine didn't rev, wipers moved super slow, AC also had an error. I turned off the headlights and the RPM problem got a bit better but still was messed up. Brakes started being really jerky (power brakes shutting down?). I pulled into a parking spot and the car finally stalled and I haven't tried to restart.

Any diagnoses? Will dealer be required or any mechanic (note: I am in Annapolis MD)?

To add to the mystery, the car has had very minor electrical issues for quite some time- battery drains easily, battery light comes on for about 5 min upon starting but turns off once the car gets going. Mechanic couldn't find anything wrong. I got the car washed this morning and minutes afterward the AC problem started. I drove about 5 minutes, the car sat for about 4 hours, then when I tried to drive home all the above mentioned stuff happened. Did the car wash maybe get something wet that might dry out (I hope I hope)?

Thanks!

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I'm watching the Rose Bowl on ESPN3 (aka 360) online. Anyone know what the business plan there is?

by WISCyUTE 2011-01-01 16:49:51

I don't have cable but have internet. There isn't another game on, so I don't understand why ESPN would show the Rose Bowl for free. Free games online makes more sense when there are multiple games on at once like during the rest of the year, so you can see out of market games. The feed is excellent, AND most of the commercials are gone. What gives? Is ESPN preparing for an online subscription service? Why no commercials? Oh, and ON WISCONSIN!

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Regarding the Touchdown Tuesday promotion at the bookstore, I just noticed the 25% off code for online orders is now working.

by WISCyUTE 2010-10-11 19:25:50

I entered the promotional code UTAH68 at checkout and it works now. Technically the promotion is only for tomorrow, but for online orders I guessed it might be active already tonight and it looks like it is.

(if you missed the threads below, the tuesday after a road game the bookstore offers 5% off insignia items for every touchdown the utes score (up to 25% off). someone tried the promo code a couple hours ago and it did not work, but I was able to get 25% off my order at checkout a couple minutes ago.)

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Congrats to LOyALUTE for predicting the final score exactly right!

by WISCyUTE 2010-09-11 18:25:46

I’d sure hate to be the schmuck who predicted 38-17, the likely final score had our defense not had two incredible goal-line stands in the final minutes.

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Rugby Utes on NOW on NBC Universal. I don't have cable and I have this channel so you probably do too! Watch it!

by WISCyUTE 2010-06-06 13:29:19

It is a semi-final match, and finals will be on NBC later today.

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Any doctors in the house? So I just broke my nose. Upper supporting bone on the left was crushed in at kung fu (second time, actually). Didn't bleed, aches a bit. Any reason to go to the emercency room?

by WISCyUTE 2009-09-03 20:01:02

I don't really think there is, TIA.

And a 96 yard TD run? WTF?

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a friend of a friend's facebook post

by WISCyUTE 2009-07-14 09:07:37

If the Mt. West and WAC want respect they should recognize that their conference schedule is garbage. Or you could play Louisville, Utah St. and SJSU then wonder why no one takes you seriously. Congrats on the TCU win, try playing UF, UGA, and Bama week-in and week-out instead of once a year when it's the biggest game in your history while your opponent is disappointed to be there. Play LSU week 1. See how that goes.

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I personally think a four-team playoff is all that is needed...

by WISCyUTE 2009-07-10 13:46:16

To determine a national champion, I suggest a four team playoff of the four top-ranked teams (according to BCS-type standings, polls, whatever), with the significant exception that ALL undefeated teams are involved regardless of ranking. An undefeated team not ranked in the top four would replace the fourth ranked team (or in the case of 2008, BSU and Utah would replace the third and fourth ranked team, or have to play each other first to see who gets the spot). This way, no team could finish the year undefeated unless they are the champion. Every team would start the season knowing that they have a shot at the national title, unlike the current BCS.

Obviously this is similar to the “plus-1” model, but the plus-1 model would leave out an undefeated non-AQ team if they don’t start out ranked high enough (e.g. Utah and Auburn 2004 season). To me, this plan would also largely preserve the bowl system and importance of the regular season, which I think a 16-team playoff would destroy, and not be unduly taxing on the student athletes or traveling fans.
(apologies if I am inadvertently ripping off someone else’s plan)

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My first and current car: the glorious 1989 Toyota Corolla Wagon

by WISCyUTE 2009-04-28 21:39:40

Mine's white, although sadly the Wisconsin winter has finally rusted up the back left wheel well. I actually really love this car- runs great. In the last couple years (pre-rust) I had 2 different people offer to buy it from me in the parking lot of the same Cub foods. I pushed it to 110 mph downhill on I-215 once near cotton bottom (10 years ago now). Four people learned to drive stick in this car and the clutch finally gave out in the West Virginia mountains last year. Thankfully the lone "foreign car specialist" (it's just a toyota, for cryin' out loud!) in Washington, PA was able to install a new one, so I can drive it for another 100,000+ miles.

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The mountain time zone (extremely miscellaneous)

by WISCyUTE 2009-04-06 21:51:19

So a guy in my lab today was whining about how he always had to translate what time stuff started from the "real time" (ie eastern) into local time (ie central). he is from phila. area, but has been in central time zone 6 years. he and our token alabamian asked me what time stuff happened in mountain time. when i said it happens at the same time as in central (relatively), that kinda blew their minds. (this seems to be a problem with east coasties).

but here's why. central is at the same absolute time as eastern because when radio was invented they couldn't record and play back an hour later so it had to be the same broadcast (so something at 11 pm eastern would also be 10 central). pacific time zone could just be three hours behind because the technology was fine with that (so also at 11 pm). from what i've read, mountain time didn't really fit into the equation cuz no one lived there in the 1920s. eventually, however, the mountain timezone was settled but chose to be on central's schedule (10 pm in the above analogy). which is actually kinda odd because seemingly the times the pacific and eastern times zones have are somehow "best", since they chose that time, and central kinda got stuck being an hour behind. So the question is, why did mountain time choose to be on central's schedule (and who chose)? the best i found on teh interwebs is that mountain and central folks "like to get an early start for mowing their alfalfa".

i know, super random, but good gawd the game was awful so my mind wandered. also, rants about daylight savings time are relevant to the discussion.

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Katz link from below now says Miller taking the AZ job...

by WISCyUTE 2009-04-06 11:46:41

Better him than Boylen.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story? id=4045199

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If you were to eat ONE breakfast and ONE lunch in Salt Lake, where would you eat?

by WISCyUTE 2009-03-25 16:02:40

I ask because I will be doing this on Friday. I haven't been back in a year or two. I was thinking Red Iguana for lunch but I was kinda disappointed last time I went. Stuff near Ft. Union would be good cuz that's where I'll be but Red Iguana distance is not too far.

Also, any suggestions of food along I80 between SLC and, um, Illinois would be good. And along I70 in Indiana and Ohio (to DC eventually).

Also, suggestions of ways to avoid stabbing my eyes out due to boredom in America's heartland would be appreciated as well. Thanks.

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First play I see on Gamecast: Luka Drca picks up rebound from Zvonko Buljan miss. I guess these never arrived...

by WISCyUTE 2009-03-07 16:54:12

Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia
Cities of Sjlbvdnzv, Grzny to Be First Recipients

Before an emergency joint session of Congress yesterday, President Clinton announced U.S. plans to deploy over 75,000 vowels to the war-torn region of Bosnia. The deployment, the largest of its kind in American history, will provide the region with the critically needed letters A, E, I, O and U, and is hoped to render countless Bosnian names more pronounceable

"For six years, we have stood by while names like Ygrjvslhv and Tzlynhr and Glrm have been horribly butchered by millions around the world," Clinton said. "Today, the United States must finally stand up and say, 'Enough.' It is time the people of Bosnia finally had some vowels in their incomprehensible words. The U.S. is proud to lead the crusade in this noble endeavor."

The deployment, dubbed Operation Vowel Storm by the State Department, is set for early next week, with the Adriatic port cities of Sjlbvdnzv and Grzny slated to be the first recipients. Two C-130 transport planes, each carrying over 500 24-count boxes of "E's," will fly from Andrews Air Force base across the Atlantic and airdrop the letters over the cities.

Citizens of Grzny and Sjlbvdnzv eagerly await the arrival of the vowels.

"My God, I do not think we can last another day, Trszg Grzdnjlkn, 44, said. "I have six children and none of them has a name that is understandable to me or anyone else. Mr. Clinton, please send my poor, wretched family just one 'E.' Please."

Said Sjlbvdnzv resident Grg Hmphrs, 67 : "With just a few key letters, I could be George Humphries. That is my dream."

If the initial airlift is successful, Clinton said the United States will go ahead with full-scale vowel deployment, with C-130s airdropping thousands more letters over every area of Bosnia. Other nations are expected to pitch in as well, including 10,000 British "A's" and 6,500 Canadian "U's." Japan, rich in A's and O's, was asked to participate in the relief effort, but declined.

"With these valuable letters, the people of war-ravaged Bosnia will be able to make some terrific new words," Clinton said. "It should be very exciting for them, and surely much easier for us to read their maps."

Linguists praise the U.S.'s decision to send the vowels. For decades they have struggled with the hard consonants and difficult pronunciation of most Slavic words.

"Vowels are crucial to the construction of all language," Baylor University linguist Noam Frankel said. "Without them, it would be difficult to utter a single word, much less organize a coherent sentence. Please, don't get me started on the moon-man language they use in those Eastern European countries."

According to Frankel, once the Bosnians have vowels, they will be able to construct such valuable sentences as: "The potatoes are ready"; "I believe it will rain"; and "All my children are dead from the war."

The American airdrop represents the largest deployment of any letter to a foreign country since 1984. During the summer of that year, the U.S. shipped 92,000 consonants to Ethiopia, providing cities like Ouaououa, Eaoiiuae and Aao with vital, life-giving supplies of L's S's and T's. The consonant-relief effort failed, however, when vast quantities of the letters were intercepted and horded by violent, gun-toting warlords.

The Onion, 1997

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Plane crashes in icy Hudson river...

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-15 14:03:57

and there are references to "Airplane!" below. Coincidence??? I think not.

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Band in DC

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-15 09:32:28

So the band is coming to DC. I happen to be in DC (leaving for the frozen north Monday). Anyone have any inside info on what they will be up to and where? I saw an article that said they'd be staying near Dulles. It'd be fun to drop in on a practice or something. It's probably not to be (I have no car so that will make it difficult to successfully stalk them) but I figured I should try... GO Marchin' UTES!

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Okay... If you are a blind guy, and have to eat a tootsie pop, how many licks does it take to get to the center of the tootsie pop?

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-14 06:25:26

The answer is 3.

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So I refreshed the online U bookstore page I had open yesterday and all the stuff I wanted to buy is gone!

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-09 09:38:36

Glasses and mugs are all sold out. The "Official Online Store" at cstv.com appears to be completely sold out of everything Sugar Bowl related. I should have faith that they will replenish the stocks of good stuff, right? Right? I was looking forward to using that damn pint glass for the rest of my life.

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Why is the University of Oklahoma abbreviated OU?

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-08 20:10:45

and since they are, does that mean University of Florida should be FU?

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Have the announcers mentioned Utah yet? I ask mainly because of the obvious pseudo-parallel of OU's stare-at-the-sidelines "no-huddle" offense and Utah's successful true hurry-up.

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-08 19:27:59

For that matter, have they mentioned USC? They mentioned Texas when they mentioned the Fiesta Bowl, but they have been going way out of their way to avoid discussion of teams with claims to the title. I'm not surprised, I guess, but they have been quite successful at avoiding the subject.

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Overheard from Bama fans at SugarBowl...

by WISCyUTE 2009-01-04 08:00:15

4 hours before the game (to me): "You have NO IDEA what you are in for."

3 hours before the game (regarding my wife, sounding honestly sympathetic and sorrowful): "Poor girl's going to have her heart broken tonight."

At kickoff (with malice): "Here it COMES, Utes!"

Ten minutes left in the game, in response to a "Let's go, UTAH" chant, with the same cadence: "I have five wives" (took him three hours to come up with that zinger, huh?)

One hour after the game, Drunk Bama Fan #1 (not to me, thankfully, and persistently): "Hey, I'll kick your a$$."

Ten minutes later, Drunk Bama #2 (again, not to me, and again, he was really looking to fight): "I'll kick your a$$, I'll show you what Bama really is!"

Ten minutes later, Drunk Bama #3: (again, not to me, and again, he was also really looking to fight): "Did you touch me? Don't touch me! I'll kick your a$$!"

Me, to my wife (aside): "Um, don't they realize they are surrounded by 1500 Utah fans right now?" (cuz they were-Bama left much earlier).


And much more importantly than the drunks, Pleasant middle aged Bama fan: "Y'all played a great game today, congratulations."
Ute fan: "Hey, yeah, it was a good game, Bama"
Bama fan: "Good game, hell. Y'all kicked our a$$es."


and from most other Bama fans, the greatest line of all:

<crickets>

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Any cheers/chants I need to be aware of? I haven't been to a Ute game since '03 and will be at the Sugar Bowl

by WISCyUTE 2008-12-28 20:13:05

I don't want to be figuring out what to yell on the fly. Are there any chants I don't remember? What is your favorite yell? I looked up the fight song lyrics (I love our fight song, it's so awesomely ridiculous). How do you pronounce ki-yi? Or do we just shout Go Utes? Do we still do the tomahawk chop from time to time? That always bugged me (we are not Atlanta nor FSU). What do we do on kickoffs? I feel woefully unprepared to be a good Ute fan. All I know now are Wisconsin chants (which mostly involve swearing and requests for beer).

I am ready with my end-of-game rammer jammer chant, though (w/ props to 'bama- that cheer rocks but I really don't want to hear them do it).

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