BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: David Cameron finalist for scholarship

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

David Cameron finalist for scholarship

I would like to not have to talk about this too much more, honestly, and just focus on baseball, but I feel like it’s wisdom to remind you all of the $10,000 scholarship I’ve been nominated for thanks to my work here. Hopefully, if you’re reading this, you’ve enjoyed some of my writing, and you’re willing to take ten seconds, click the link, and vote for me.

Thanks to the early response, I’ve had a comfortable lead for most of the contest. However, the current second place nominee has been flooding Daily Kos, getting 11 stories posted about the scholarship in the last five days, and racking up hundreds of votes from folks who have never heard of him but simply are voting because he shares their political beliefs.

If you enjoy USSMariner, vote baseball over politics here.

[ I urge everyone reading this to go over there and put in a vote for David. He’s been a part of the baseball analysis community for 15 years, from usenet to StrikeThree to Baseball Prospectus to USS Mariner. Us baseball nerds have to stick together and there’s no excuse for not going over there and putting your vote in, an easy gesture for a valuable gain! -DS].

Vogon Poet Posted: November 16, 2008 at 09:16 PM | 85 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Esoteric Posted: November 16, 2008 at 10:59 PM (#3010323)

As if I needed another reason to hate the Daily ####### Kos. Jesus Christ is everything even tangentially associated with that site ever repulsive.

2. Esoteric Posted: November 16, 2008 at 11:03 PM (#3010326)

Ugh, and now the mindless, soulless Kos Kiddies have put their fellow jackass over the top.

No justice in the world - what else is new?

3. Lassus: Posted: November 16, 2008 at 11:06 PM (#3010327)

Heeee hee hee heeeee hee.

And I don't even like or read daily kos.

4. Esoteric Posted: November 16, 2008 at 11:23 PM (#3010334)

It's not even DKos's progressive politics that revolt me (although obviously I'm not a fan) so much as it is their "swarming hive of plague-ridden vermin" mob mentality.

I mean, give BTF at least this much credit: though we may be 75% liberal and 100% douchechill-snarky, we would muster into the least-organized, most comically ineffective online mob in history if we ever even tried. Here's to cranky anti-tribalism.

5. Jeff K. Posted: November 16, 2008 at 11:34 PM (#3010337)

See, you'd think that, then you look at the weirdly organized campaigns that come out of /b and the like. The problem is, we're not all motivated by the same things, and we're not generally easily amused (except for penis jokes.) Boycotting Habbo Hotel like /b might occur to someone here, but there'd never be enough support. I think the three biggest things we've done as a group are the BTF wiki, the polar bear/penguin games when they first came out, and the day of GeoSense.

6. flournoy Posted: November 17, 2008 at 12:36 AM (#3010366)

the polar bear/penguin games when they first came out

Wait, is that like the flash game where you're the abominable snowman swinging his club at the penguins going for the greatest distance? That was fun.

7. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:05 AM (#3010380)

What's /b? I do recall some incident where there was a Colin Farrel post at one of those Hollywood gossip sites that Deadspin emulates. Some Lounger went over there and posted as tina. Hilarity ensued.

I should root for Cameron. He's a late bloomer getting an econ degree at a small state college. Good for him; despite his anti-ERA stance.

8. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:14 AM (#3010384)

Justin Varner has only 27 votes. Clearly he needs an online audience. I voted for David.

9. Crashburn Alley Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:18 AM (#3010387)

I'm about as liberal as you can get and even I can't stand Daily Kos.

10. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:38 AM (#3010398)

I'm about as liberal as you can get and even I can't stand Daily Kos.

Me too on both accounts.

11. Darren

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:28 AM (#3010423)

Yes, grassroots political organizing is the worst!

12. Darren

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:30 AM (#3010424)

And all those votes coming from Kos are from people who share that other guy's politics, while all of Cameron's votes are the good kind. Give me a break.

13. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:37 AM (#3010428)

Incidentally, I think this is a god awful way to determine a scholarship.

14. Repoz

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:04 AM (#3010443)

I think the three biggest things we've done as a group

Wha!...How bout all those years of helping Posnanski change the course of the Royals.

and wiffle ball and poker in the middle of the SABR-vention (ok, small sample)

15. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:11 AM (#3010446)

I think the three biggest things we've done as a group are the BTF wiki, the polar bear/penguin games when they first came out, and the day of GeoSense.

We also either cured or worsened Mike Piazza's habit of Googling himself during the pre-registration days.

16. JoeHova Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:16 AM (#3010451)

Incidentally, I think this is a god awful way to determine a scholarship.

agreed. Also, I think dailykos and ussmariner share a few similarities.

17. Jim Wisinski

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:23 AM (#3010480)

Incidentally, I think this is a god awful way to determine a scholarship.

Yep. Internet voting for this kind of stuff is just plain idiotic, it has absolutely nothing to do with who the most qualified person is and everything to do with how many people they can use their blog or other internet communities to drum up votes from.

18. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:25 AM (#3010481)

And all those votes coming from Kos are from people who share that other guy's politics, while all of Cameron's votes are the good kind. Give me a break.

Thank you Darren. The idea that one kind of get-out-the-vote campaign is OK but the other guy's is unseemly is silly.

19. Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 05:00 AM (#3010495)

My, it's the bitter Esoteric, continuing to plow through his stockpile of lemons. At least he won't catch scurvy.

20. Heinie Mantush (Krusty) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 05:39 AM (#3010503)

What's /b? I do recall some incident where there was a Colin Farrel post at one of those Hollywood gossip sites that Deadspin emulates. Some Lounger went over there and posted as tina. Hilarity ensued.

I should root for Cameron. He's a late bloomer getting an econ degree at a small state college. Good for him; despite his anti-ERA stance.

BE WARNED : VERY NOT SAFE FOR WORK. VERY. NOT SAFE FOR MOST HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

http://img.4chan.org/b

B is the underbelly of 4chan. This is alot being in the worst part of Camden, NJ. It's a den of trolling, highly pornographic imagery, and various other sundry things. It also happens to be where the genesis of a very fair share of the internet's humor occurs.

21. Jeff K. Posted: November 17, 2008 at 06:04 AM (#3010508)

Good to see Herschel was here to link to /b. GGC, I don't think you would much care for it. His description is apt, for the little I've looked through there. Though for some reason the Habbo Hotel thing cracks me up.

And he's right; for example, lolcats started on /b. As did rickrolling.

Wait, is that like the flash game where you're the abominable snowman swinging his club at the penguins going for the greatest distance? That was fun.

Yep, except for whatever reason, that caught the zeitgeist, and it quickly expanded into a whole suite of games. "Yeti Sports" was big time for a while, but we were there before it even stored scores...

22. Tuque

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 08:15 AM (#3010525)

This has the potential to turn into a really hilarious turf war.

23. Jeff K. Posted: November 17, 2008 at 12:02 PM (#3010534)

Or at TeeVee! Especially the incomprehensible part. "All over the internet", not so much. More like "scribbled in a Spiderman notebook carried by Nathan Alderman everywhere he goes".

24. OCD SS Posted: November 17, 2008 at 12:56 PM (#3010543)

None of the resident computer whiz type people set up a bot to vote for Cameron?

25. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:13 PM (#3010547)

Good to see Herschel was here to link to /b. GGC, I don't think you would much care for it... for example, lolcats started on /b. As did rickrolling.

You read me like an open book. I don't care for that lolcats stuff.

26. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:17 PM (#3010549)

You read me like an open book. I don't care for that lolcats stuff.

lolcats? What the hell is that? Internet scholarships determined by an online vote? Has the world gone mad? I mean, madder than it already is? I feel lost already this Monday morning. We need some hot stove action to set things right.

27. Jeff K. Posted: November 17, 2008 at 01:35 PM (#3010553)

Well, most of the humor is not lolcats. Most of the humor at /b is...hmm. I like "the underbelly of 4chan. This is like being in the worst part of Camden, New Jersey." It's violently pornographic. Imagine a classroom with no teacher. The class is thirty 7th grade boys. Not normal children, but highly disturbed. ###### in the head. Now imagine that when they enter, they don't just do it, they take glee in throwing away every societal norm. And I don't mean "Brush your teeth" or "Don't lie to others", I mean like social contract norms, like "It's wrong to be racist" and "Jokes about rape with accompanying diagrams aren't funny." Then pump crystallized methamphetamine into the room. And then give them a teacher. Except the teacher is Paul Reubens, from before he had the kid's show, all dark and really kind of creepy.

That's /b.

28. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#3010577)

I need /b/lackup!

29. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:24 PM (#3010579)

"Incidentally, I think this is a god awful way to determine a scholarship."

Maybe, but it's their money. They can pile it up in the midle of the street and set it on fire if they want.

30. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:26 PM (#3010582)

Maybe, but it's their money. They can pile it up in the midle of the street and set it on fire if they want.

Hey, that's what I did with my savings this year!

31. A One-Shoed Craig K Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:28 PM (#3010583)

Hell, maybe the entire blogging community can chip in a few bucks apiece for Dave if he loses.

Between BTF, BPro, Hardball Times, and the zillion other assorted team blogs, we'd probably bring in double that.

32. A One-Shoed Craig K Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:28 PM (#3010585)

Maybe, but it's their money. They can pile it up in the midle of the street and set it on fire if they want.

Hey, that's what I did with my savings this year!

Still did better than my parent's 401K.

33. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:30 PM (#3010586)

Thanks, Jeff. The site sounds like it might be right up Admiral Will's alley.

34. A One-Shoed Craig K Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:32 PM (#3010587)

Yeah, 4chan is the proof of concept of the Greater Internet ####-wad Theory.

35. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:32 PM (#3010588)

Still did better than my parent's 401K.

I tied my 401K up to a pole near Half Moon Bay state beach on the night of the first Full Moon of Autumn and then chanted an old Ohlone spiritual until a 47 foot tall kraken emerged from the foamy water and ass-raped my 401K until it died gurgling in the misery of a billion dying worlds.

Yeah, it's been a great ####### year!

36. A One-Shoed Craig K Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:36 PM (#3010595)

The Greater Internet ####-wad Theory

37. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:39 PM (#3010598)

The Greater Internet ####-wad Theory

There's no arguing with that. I like to think I'm the same person on the internet as I am in "real life" but who knows. I actually swear more in real life than I do on the internet, though.

38. RJ in TO Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:51 PM (#3010603)

I tied my 401K up to a pole near Half Moon Bay state beach on the night of the first Full Moon of Autumn and then chanted an old Ohlone spiritual until a 47 foot tall kraken emerged from the foamy water and ass-raped my 401K until it died gurgling in the misery of a billion dying worlds.

Yeah, it's been a great ####### year!

You still probably had a better return that most. This year has been a bloodbath for anyone with a retirement plan that didn't consist entirely of government bonds. I got absolutely slaughtered this year, and was still pleased because it wasn't quite as bad a slaughter as I expected.

39. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:53 PM (#3010605)

You still probably had a better return that most.

!!!

40. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 02:58 PM (#3010609)

I tied my 401K up to a pole near Half Moon Bay state beach on the night of the first Full Moon of Autumn and then chanted an old Ohlone spiritual until a 47 foot tall kraken emerged from the foamy water and ass-raped my 401K until it died gurgling in the misery of a billion dying worlds.

Funniest thing I've read on Primer in months.

EDIT: first word.

41. RJ in TO Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM (#3010611)

!!!

I know. It's been that bad a year. For a lot of plans, an ass-raping by an elder god would have been an improvement.

42. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:06 PM (#3010615)

Funniest thing I've read on Primer in months.

Thank you, sir.

43. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:07 PM (#3010617)

I would like the MIT kid to win, but more than that, I want Cameron to lose.

If I set up a bot to generate a bunch of votes for anybody but Cameron, they could get disqualified, and Cameron could win.

If I set up a bot for Cameron, in hopes of his disqualification, he might *not* get disqualified, and would have a better chance to win.

So I guess I just need to cast as many legal votes as possible for the non-Cameron finalist with the most votes.

Which finalist is leading now?

44. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:08 PM (#3010619)

Thank you, sir.

BTW, Shooty, I missed your campaign suspension speech, if you gave one. Did you?

45. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:11 PM (#3010622)

I would like to not have to talk about this too much more, honestly, and just focus on baseball,

Then don't talk about it.

46. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:13 PM (#3010624)

BTW, Shooty, I missed your campaign suspension speech, if you gave one. Did you?

Like Sarah Palin, my campaign never ends. I'm already setting up a grassroots organization in preparation for 2012. I don't know who my running mate will be but I can guarantee you she will have big, big tits. McCain had the right idea, he just didn't execute properly.

47. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:15 PM (#3010629)

I don't know who my running mate will be but I can guarantee you she will have big, big tits. McCain had the right idea, he just didn't execute properly.

You are on a roll, this morning. Can't wait to read your "position papers."

48. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:18 PM (#3010632)

You are on a roll, this morning. Can't wait to read your "position papers."

Drill, baby, drill!

49. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:22 PM (#3010634)

Voted for Mauro once, so far. Wonder if that lead can hold up.

50. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:23 PM (#3010635)

Mary Carey (sp) already has campaign experience.

51. A One-Shoed Craig K Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:26 PM (#3010638)

Shooty/Morganna '12!

52. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:31 PM (#3010643)

Shooty/Morganna '12!

I'm just glad you didn't suggest Phil Mickelson.

53. villageidiom Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:41 PM (#3010647)

This year has been a bloodbath for anyone with a retirement plan that didn't consist entirely of government bonds.

My 401(k) is down less than 15%, despite my company's stock being down around 85% on the year. Actually, it's down 15% because my company's stock is down 85%. If not for that I'd be even on the year.

54. RJ in TO Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:47 PM (#3010651)

My 401(k) is down less than 15%, despite my company's stock being down around 85% on the year. Actually, it's down 15% because my company's stock is down 85%. If not for that I'd be even on the year.

You know, it's probably not a good idea to advertise this - Shooty may change his 2012 platform to include a 100% villageidiom tax.

55. flournoy Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:51 PM (#3010654)

Hey, my 401(k) is up 2% this year!

56. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:52 PM (#3010655)

You know, it's probably not a good idea to advertise this - Shooty may change his 2012 platform to include a 100% villageidiom tax.

Windfall profit tax on villageidiom! The greed of villageidiom has destroyed the middleclass of America and cannot go unpunished. Also, villageidiom will be drafted for my war on the Cook Islands for good measure. Folks, this time we're gonna get 'er done!

edit: Flournoy, too.

57. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 03:58 PM (#3010657)

If you have web access via multiple IP addresses, you can vote multiple times at CollegeScholarship.org

Of course, that's a heinous, dishonest idea, I'm sure...

EDIT: a possible next step would be to see if you can use an IP-masker to vote multiple times, so you don't have to worry about switching IPs.

58. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:11 PM (#3010668)

"If you have web access via multiple IP addresses, you can vote multiple times at CollegeScholarship.org

Of course, that's a heinous, dishonest idea, I'm sure..."

BTF is NYPA.

59. RJ in TO Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:16 PM (#3010673)

BTF is NYPA.

Of course it's not. Once he's elected, however, we'll all be part of Shooty's personal army.

60. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:17 PM (#3010674)

BTF is NYPA.

Dude, of course it isn't...everyone knows it's Danz and Davidz. C'mon.

BTW, I enjoyed reading your Pirates blog while you had it going. Well-written, meaty baseball content.

Hopefully you'll be back?

EDIT: possessives.

61. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:41 PM (#3010688)

"BTW, I enjoyed reading your Pirates blog while you had it going. Well-written, meaty baseball content.

Hopefully you'll be back?"

Maybe. I liked writing it as well (and I really liked having people read it), but it's a huge, huge time sink.

62. Oriole Tragic is totally awesome in the postseason Posted: November 17, 2008 at 04:47 PM (#3010695)

but it's a huge, huge time sink.

It seemed like it...you has some pretty high word-counts going.

63. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 17, 2008 at 10:01 PM (#3011098)

Hey, if you're going to do it, do it right, eh?

64. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: November 17, 2008 at 10:13 PM (#3011112)

This year has been a bloodbath for anyone with a retirement plan that didn't consist entirely of government bonds.

Check out SDS (ultrashort ETF--S&P500;goes down 1%, the ETF goes up 2%). I've jumped in and out at various points over the past 18 months. I'm up 57.5% for the calendar year. I'll get out for good when we hit 770 on the S&P500;and then go back into conventional index funds.

65. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: November 18, 2008 at 12:41 AM (#3011218)

a this moment, Cameron is ahead by three votes.

66. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: November 18, 2008 at 12:48 AM (#3011225)

+15 .. he is getting a vote about every 30 seconds..you think somebody has a bot going?

67. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: November 18, 2008 at 12:49 AM (#3011226)

+20

68. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: November 18, 2008 at 12:50 AM (#3011230)

+25 .. he was behind by 700 plus last night.

69. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: November 18, 2008 at 12:55 AM (#3011235)

+30 ... somebody has to have a bot going ..in the same time frame, the liberal scribe got 5 votes. could be a coincidence i guess.

70. Esoteric Posted: November 18, 2008 at 01:01 AM (#3011237)

I'm praying that this lead holds up. Cameron is very deserving.

71. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: November 18, 2008 at 01:03 AM (#3011239)

I'm praying that this lead holds up. Cameron is very deserving.

agreed .. +52

72. robinred

Posted: November 18, 2008 at 01:10 AM (#3011241)

I voted for Cameron, although I assume there are other deserving candidates. This will no doubt be the only time Esoteric and I ever vote for the same candidate in any election.

73. Esoteric Posted: November 18, 2008 at 01:22 AM (#3011245)

You never know, robinred...four years from now we both might be casting protest votes for Ron Paul.

74. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: November 18, 2008 at 01:30 AM (#3011250)

+30 ... somebody has to have a bot going ..in the same time frame, the liberal scribe got 5 votes. could be a coincidence i guess.

Well, I'm sure it's a virtuous, grassroots bot, as opposed to the cold, calculating bot the Friend of DK would employ.

75. Meatwad is on team keefe Posted: November 18, 2008 at 02:52 AM (#3011291)

35. In what respect, Craig K? Posted: November 17, 2008 at 10:32 AM (#3010587)
Yeah, 4chan is the proof of concept of the Greater Internet ####-wad Theory.

Now why are you bringing me and my theory into this?

76. Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott) Posted: November 18, 2008 at 03:02 AM (#3011296)

Well, I'm sure it's a virtuous, grassroots bot, as opposed to the cold, calculating bot the Friend of DK would employ.

duh, after all, anything to beat DK is acceptable. they're worse than babykillers. or are babykillers.

77. RJ in TO Posted: November 18, 2008 at 03:06 AM (#3011298)

Check out SDS (ultrashort ETF--S&P500;goes down 1%, the ETF goes up 2%). I've jumped in and out at various points over the past 18 months. I'm up 57.5% for the calendar year. I'll get out for good when we hit 770 on the S&P500;and then go back into conventional index funds.

Hey Shooty, here's another one for your windfall tax.

78. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: November 18, 2008 at 03:18 AM (#3011302)

Actually its in a tax-deferred account (IRA), so no taxes to worry about--at least for a few decades.

79. flournoy Posted: November 18, 2008 at 03:29 AM (#3011308)

I also voted with robinred.

In my clearer moments, I suspect there are lots of issues on which we'd vote the same way, but none of them are fun to discuss.

80. greenback

Posted: November 18, 2008 at 04:03 AM (#3011314)

Shorty should start taxing gains in IRA's. It would be asymmetric though, no tax benefit from losses.

Check out SDS (ultrashort ETF--S&P500;goes down 1%, the ETF goes up 2%).

Are these things a bunch of put options?

81. Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott) Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:32 PM (#3013451)

http://www.redstate.com/diaries/chicagomarylander/2008/nov/19/if-you-would-like-to-enrage-the-dailykos-you/

classy.

82. Social media assassin (Templeusox) Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:39 PM (#3013461)

It's all in the game, right?

83. North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan Posted: November 21, 2008 at 07:54 PM (#3013978)

http://www.redstate.com/diaries/chicagomarylander/2008/nov/19/if-you-would-like-to-enrage-the-dailykos-you/

classy.

Apparently they lack the hive mentality required to pump out the votes...

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David Cameron finalist for scholarship

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