Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29

Thanks, Preston!

Thanks! I knew we could count on you! (I used to know this stuff. Really, I did...)

That's why the Army paid for me to get an engineering degree -- then assigned me to a tank!

Yes, this has been a quarter for strange dreams...

Well done!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Writersof ... 619640.htm

Jeremy Brink from Texas
Holly Heisey from Arizona
Marina J. Lostetter from Arkansas
Sean Monaghan from Manawatu, New Zealand
Tina Smith from California
Martin Shoemaker from Michigan
Stephen Sottong from California
Chris Stamp of Perthshire, United Kingdom

There it is!
Though I'd prefer not to be noted as "from Texas" -- I just happen to LIVE in Texa now. I'm an Ohioan, darn it...
Although I suppose they could say I was from Mars and it'd be okay in this instance.

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

where in Michiagn are you from, Martin? I'm from the Toledo area, just south of the border.

You wanna know something?

This is the first quarter I've actualy been really jealous of the finalists - almost annoyed at myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for those of you who have made finalist, but I'm really annoyed I'm not on that list. Which, in a way, is really silly as I knew months ago I was rejected.

Maybe I've had a few tastes of success recently, and I'm starting to get *that* hunger.

I just hope that the new judge likes my writing style.....

I'd love to have it all turn around and this be my year for luck, but so far today I've not seen any gumdrops falling from the sky...so I hope results do not come today.

It's cool, Tina. I had a dream last night that I was at the awards ceremony and you won first place.

Uh oh.... who's dream shall win? Steve or Krystal? tune in on page 150 when we find out!

It won't be mine, I dreamt I was there also....

Steve

Woooo hoooooo! CONGRATULATIONS to everyone!

What's this? Another Texan in the running!

I'm not a Texan! (not that there's anything wrong with that.... well, yeah, there probably is.)
I just happen to reside there against my will. 98 degrees today. going to get worse before it gets better.

Thanks, Beez! It's still possible for all 3 winners to be non-forumites. I'm sure Hazlett could add some mathematical rigor to that statement.

Assuming that 5 of the finalists are "forumites", the probability that exactly 3 winners will be non-forumites is exactly 1.7857%.

Here's how the math shakes out.

The total number of distinct permutations of k people in a group of n people is = n! / (n-k)!. Therefore, in a group 8 people, there are 336 distinct permutations of 3 people. 336 becomes our denominator.

The total number of distinct permutations of 3 people in a group of 3 people is 6. 6 becomes our numerator.

Hence the probability of non-forumites winning is 1.7857%, which incidentally is the same probability that "well-known" forumites like Martin, Tina, and Marina win together.

Congrats Martin, Tina, and Marina!

Congrats to Holly and Jeremy as well. As you can see, I included you both the "forumite" camp.

Congrats to the 3 non-forumites as well!

My work is done here.

So just being invited to play on here has already increased my chances?? Great! Thanks!!!

I'm from the Toledo area, just south of the border.

WAIT! WHOA! HOLD THE FLIPPIN PHONE! ANOTHER TOLEDOAN IN THE HOUSE!

Where in Toledo do you live/are you from?

Tina Smith from California

You really owe your hubby a plaque which says HOTY if you win for getting that thing in on time.

Martin Shoemaker from Michigan

Congrats, Martin. Crossing my fingers you finish high.

And, of course, congrats to everyone else.

You wanna know something?

This is the first quarter I've actualy been really jealous of the finalists - almost annoyed at myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for those of you who have made finalist, but I'm really annoyed I'm not on that list. Which, in a way, is really silly as I knew months ago I was rejected.

Maybe I've had a few tastes of success recently, and I'm starting to get *that* hunger.

I just hope that the new judge likes my writing style.....

Steve

Steve, don't beat yourself up over that. I haven't officially lost yet and i'm already jealous of everyone who's been through this multiple times and just waiting their turn in the winners' circle.
You can't help your feelings, just your actions, and I'm sure these folks wouldnt all be your friends if you acted badly.

Not that I'm Oprah or anything, I'm just saying.

I'm from the Toledo area, just south of the border.

WAIT! WHOA! HOLD THE FLIPPIN PHONE! ANOTHER TOLEDOAN IN THE HOUSE!

Where in Toledo do you live/are you from?

I'm from Fremont/Clyde region, about an hour east of Toledo. Went to school at BGSU (the first time -- well, technically second time)

where in Michiagn are you from, Martin? I'm from the Toledo area, just south of the border.

West Michigan, halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. But a lot of my career has revolved around Ann Arbor; and my best friend and his family used to live in Sylvania, so I know that northern fringe of Toledo a little. I think in a pinch I could still find the Tony Packo's on Monroe. (Yes, another obscure M*A*S*H reference!)

You wanna know something?

This is the first quarter I've actualy been really jealous of the finalists - almost annoyed at myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for those of you who have made finalist, but I'm really annoyed I'm not on that list. Which, in a way, is really silly as I knew months ago I was rejected.

Maybe I've had a few tastes of success recently, and I'm starting to get *that* hunger.

I just hope that the new judge likes my writing style.....

Steve

Steve, don't beat yourself up over that. I haven't officially lost yet and i'm already jealous of everyone who's been through this multiple times and just waiting their turn in the winners' circle.
You can't help your feelings, just your actions, and I'm sure these folks wouldnt all be your friends if you acted badly.

Not that I'm Oprah or anything, I'm just saying.

I'd say I'm jealous since I got an R every time I submitted, but it's more the "Oh, why didn't I submit that piece to WotF first!" reaction instead of jealousy.

But, the one I'm working on for 3 is going to be rather interesting. Interesting indeed.

Thanks, Michael!

I'm from Fremont/Clyde region, about an hour east of Toledo. Went to school at BGSU (the first time -- well, technically second time)

Heh. And in other small world news... That best friend of mine who lived in Sylvania later moved to Bowling Green, where his wife, his father-in-law, and his brother-in-law all taught.

Maybe I've had a few tastes of success recently, and I'm starting to get *that* hunger.

If it's a motivator, fantastic!

I'm from the Toledo area, just south of the border.

WAIT! WHOA! HOLD THE FLIPPIN PHONE! ANOTHER TOLEDOAN IN THE HOUSE!

Where in Toledo do you live/are you from?

I'm from Fremont/Clyde region, about an hour east of Toledo. Went to school at BGSU (the first time -- well, technically second time)

I'm in North Toledo, but could be close enough to call it Michigan (my backyard is 75 feet from the border).

I nearly went to BGSU when I was pursuing architecture. Then, I went to UT to get my degree in literature. Now, I'm in the MA Program for it.

Martin, Sylvania, eh? Really close to where I'm at.

But, the original Packo's isn't really on Monroe (it might be the second location, but I don't know if they have it anymore because the family's in a disupte with ownership). The original is on Front Street and Consaul (just across the river). That place has tons of character.

I think Martin is definitely up to be in Brad's position over the next couple of years.

Martin, Sylvania, eh? Really close to where I'm at.

Yeah, 75 feet from the border is a lot like my friend's old place. I honestly think a good athlete (not me) could've thrown a ball from the roof of their house and landed it in Michigan. He worked in Ann Arbor, and his wife worked in Bowling Green, so they found a house JUST over the Ohio border (where the taxes where noticeably lower).

But, the original Packo's isn't really on Monroe (it might be the second location, but I don't know if they have it anymore because the family's in a disupte with ownership). The original is on Front Street and Consaul (just across the river). That place has tons of character.

Yeah, the place I visited was clearly just a branch in a strip mall. They tried to give it atmosphere, but I could tell it was all transplanted. But the food was good, and they had a picture of Jamie Farr on the wall, so it was good enough for me! I use it as a milestone because any deeper into Toledo than that, and I get lost.

Wow, huge congrats to the finalists!

Steve, don't beat yourself up over that. I haven't officially lost yet and i'm already jealous of everyone who's been through this multiple times and just waiting their turn in the winners' circle.
You can't help your feelings, just your actions, and I'm sure these folks wouldnt all be your friends if you acted badly.

Not that I'm Oprah or anything, I'm just saying.

LOL. Don't worry - as Martin said, it's a motivator more than anything else. I thought I was hungry for it before. I've just stepped up a level where I'm really hungry for it.

Steve

I think Martin is definitely up to be in Brad's position over the next couple of years.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Amanda! But I need to adopt Brad's work habits first.

Steve, don't beat yourself up over that. I haven't officially lost yet and i'm already jealous of everyone who's been through this multiple times and just waiting their turn in the winners' circle.
You can't help your feelings, just your actions, and I'm sure these folks wouldnt all be your friends if you acted badly.

Not that I'm Oprah or anything, I'm just saying.

LOL. Don't worry - as Martin said, it's a motivator more than anything else. I thought I was hungry for it before. I've just stepped up a level where I'm really hungry for it.

Steve

You never know, Steve, that dream you had could come true. You'll just win in another quarter.

Thanks, Laura!

Martin, Sylvania, eh? Really close to where I'm at.

Yeah, 75 feet from the border is a lot like my friend's old place. I honestly think a good athlete (not me) could've thrown a ball from the roof of their house and landed it in Michigan. He worked in Ann Arbor, and his wife worked in Bowling Green, so they found a house JUST over the Ohio border (where the taxes where noticeably lower).

But, the original Packo's isn't really on Monroe (it might be the second location, but I don't know if they have it anymore because the family's in a disupte with ownership). The original is on Front Street and Consaul (just across the river). That place has tons of character.

Yeah, the place I visited was clearly just a branch in a strip mall. They tried to give it atmosphere, but I could tell it was all transplanted. But the food was good, and they had a picture of Jamie Farr on the wall, so it was good enough for me! I use it as a milestone because any deeper into Toledo than that, and I get lost.

That's when you let your Toledo connection let you know how to get around.

Yeah, we're kind of like that, too. Good on property taxes, but our sales tax is higher.

You never know, Steve, that dream you had could come true. You'll just win in another quarter.

I dream, I hope.....

Then I write.

Steve

You never know, Steve, that dream you had could come true. You'll just win in another quarter.

I dream, I hope.....

Then I write.

Steve

What he said.

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A bunch of amazing math.

My work is done here.

(Of course, one could also argue that the statistical probability likely has nothing at all to do with the actual results, given that we're talking about judges' preferences, etc., etc., etc. but... still. Headexplodey.)

That exploding head is sheer, unmitigated genius.

Thank heavens for the Internet, is all I can say.

I'd be much, much duller without it.

I just sent a letter to Chris Stamp in the UK. Hope I got the right one and *yeah* I googled and found someone!! Hope he comes and joins the party!

I just sent a letter to Chris Stamp in the UK. Hope I got the right one and *yeah* I googled and found someone!! Hope he comes and joins the party!

A letter? As in, snail mail? People still use that?

I just sent a letter to Chris Stamp in the UK. Hope I got the right one and *yeah* I googled and found someone!! Hope he comes and joins the party!

A letter? As in, snail mail? People still use that?

I meant an email. Wouldn't that be funny:

Dear Finalist!

Come join us for tea tomorrow at noon.

Signed,

Other Finalist

Except he'd get it a week after the date of the tea.

Congrats to all the finalists! It's been a fun ride. Best of luck in the final judging!