stats ~ love

Discussing the long-term potential of a romantic partner:

Betsy: "I think it's 0.5% chance it would work out long-term."

Randolf: "If it's below 1%, then just consider whether it would be enjoyable in the short term."

Betsy: "Well, maybe it's more like 2%."

Randolf: "Ah, that makes all the difference. Now you can expect to be married by 80, instead of past 200."

fried chicken contest (cooking, not eating)

I went to a fried chicken contest yesterday, held at a cookbook store in Noe Valley.

Eaters pay $5 to sample six types of fried chicken. They vote for the best, and that chef collects the pot of money. There were 50+ eaters, so the pool is at least $250.

The contest started at 6:00pm, and the chicken ran out at 6:10pm. More people poured into the bookstore, but the chicken was already gone.



Here is entry #6.

The bookstore is so smart! They didn't have to actually cook chicken. They only had to advertise the contest and set up tables and beverages, but they got all the publicity. They probably paid less than $50, in exchange for luring a hundred people to the bookstore.

More storefront owners should hold smart contests like this!

"The Birds" was set in Bodega Bay

Last weekend, I went to Bodega Bay with friends. On July 4, four of us went on a hike. As we set off down the road:

Susan: "We're setting off on our epic adventure."

LG (my former intern): "Epic anything sounds pretty exciting."

Me: "What about Epic FAIL?"

LG: "Oh, epic fail not so much."

...

Susan: "What happens if it's an epic fail and we get stranded with no way to get back?"

Me: "We'll have to eat the intern."

LG: "What?"



Photo at the beach. LG was very good-natured about our plans to eat him in case of contingency.

graphjam

I just discovered GraphJam, while waiting for fireworks. Some of these graphs are pretty funny.

happy independence day

The July 4th eating contest occurred this morning.



My brother claims to be the biggest fan of Joey Chestnut, the American eating contest chmapion.

Tom: "Experts said the 60 hot dog barrier couldn't be broken by humans! It was like the four-minute mile. Joey Chestnut proved them wrong. He's really a symbol of human achievement."


The Japanese champion, shown here after eating almost six pounds of pizza to win a Pizza Hut eating contest.

i thought that was the opposite of liberty

I'm on a weekend trip with friends. Last night, talking in the hot tub:

Dan: [after a long discussion about love] "Okay, now shouldn't we discuss computers or startups, to counter-balance all the talk about girls?"

Omst: "Computers aren't the opposite of girls."

Dan: "What's the opposite of girls?"

Omst: "Death."