Messages

1

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: Mildly interesting things about you

« on: October 22, 2024, 01:21:22 PM »

I was in a band that won "Greek Idol" back to back years at K-State and one year Taco Wallace was a judge. One year we won like $100 Houlihan's gift card.

I was in a band that also won this! Or I think it was the updated version of this. It was something through K-State. Maybe it wasn't affiliated with Greek life at all, actually.

There was a music thing at the old stadium that I think was called Opus Fest. Mildly interesting: I saw Dread Zeppelin there and was the only person dancing.

2

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: July 23, 2024, 09:05:59 PM »

Anybody been to Bilbao/San Sebastian area? Trying to decide if doing a week there in October or maybe like Zurich.

Zurich is an amazing city for a lot of reasons but I wouldn’t tourist there. Very boring. Very sterile.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is why this blog is worth its weight in gold.

I have posted repeatedly about how much I like Zurich, and I still recommend Spain over Zurich.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: June 23, 2024, 09:41:19 PM »

Well perhaps my personal experiences are biasing me. I've got multiple close friends in Zurich, so maybe that makes me appreciate it more. But I've gone skiing while staying in Zurich and gone to an Alpen wedding while staying in Zurich, and it didn't seem that far to the mountains. On the other hand, I've spent weeks at the Beau Rivage in Lausanne, but my appreciation may have been skewed downward because it was for work. 

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: June 23, 2024, 05:07:01 PM »

Zermatt, Lausanne, Interlaken, for starters.

I'm more of a bigger town guy, I gather. But there's nowhere that doesn't have easy access to the mountains. Note that neither of us mentioned Geneva. Definitely not my fave.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: June 23, 2024, 03:47:02 PM »

I went to this ridiculously expensive $40 burger place in Lucerne and they messed up the order twice. It was like Johnny's level.

Switzerland is expensive as eff. Go buy a $20 bagel in Zurich.

And as to Sandstone's comments above, the last time I visited the grounds of the Eiffel Tower, there were rats running around everywhere. Did you see any ratatouilles? Maybe they only come out at night.

Zurich is on my short list for a trip during the kstate road game stretch in October. Recommend otherwise?

I mean, if you're just picking one place to visit in Switzerland, it's not the first place I'd recommend.

Curious which Swiss places you like better. I've been most places in Switzerland and I like Zurich best. Basel I liked second-best.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: SkinnyBenny's Band of Merry Misfits: Townie Master Thread

« on: June 18, 2024, 11:19:12 PM »

Godfather's Pizza was right there also, right? ("Do it!")

Visiting MHK and today I had a dinner of 2 Vista burgers and Manhattan Brewing Co "Townie" beer. Feeling good about those choices.

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Kansas State Football / Re: Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

« on: June 13, 2024, 01:18:59 PM »

TBH, I'm missing the downside here.  We're already doing stupid crap like playing non-saturday games and adding UCF and Cincinnati and giving up home games to play in Dallas and Ireland. 

Frankly, I'm surprised and a little flattered that someone still think we have a soul to buy at all.

getting PE money seems like a foolish short-term play.

Help me understand why?  What should i be afraid of if i'm a fan of the Allstate 12?

Does PE need to be involved to get money from a sponsor? I thought I was pretty clear that I was ok with a sponsor.

Generally my experience is that PE will make every decision based on what is most profitable for the PE firm in the short term, with little to no regard on the long term health of the the entities/people/institutions they invest in. I don't know specifically what harm they could do, but I know they will do whatever they can to maximize their profit.

Yeah short-term profit rules. What fat can be cut? That's always the first, second, third, fourth question that is asked. The conference offices are pretty lean already, I bet. Are there teams or sports that don't add to the bottom line? Those are at risk. Nothing is sacred unless it adds to the bottom line or is legally required.

8

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: May 20, 2024, 09:07:26 AM »

I have only been to Tokyo and I loved it. I was going to suggest going to Robot Restaurant but it looks like they are permanently closed.

Hahaha, I went to Robot Restaurant, too. Absolute madness, I couldn't stop laughing.

Recommend to check if one of the sumo tournaments is happening while you're there. Visiting Kyoto is an absolute must. Kind of cool to visit a sake distillery and have samples. Kabuki theater was super interesting, but I don't know if kids would enjoy. Same for an onsen we stayed at in the middle of nowhere (Iya Valley), which was beautiful but probably not something kids would enjoy, at all.

9

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: April 19, 2024, 08:14:33 AM »

Portland, Maine is a bucket list place for me. Keep notes of the cool places so I can get it from you when I go!

portland kicks tons of ass. I stated at The Press hotel which is a marriott property and was cool AF. eat at Central Provisions.

It's crazy that Portland is only 68K and has so much good food and drink. 100% on Central Provisions. The children's museum there is very nice, though you need a car to get to it. But there's more than enough to do in just the downtown area.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: April 15, 2024, 06:52:05 PM »

I really want to make it to Rome but I think it will be too rushed. I'm leaning towards adding another day or two in Paris (very much enjoying the vibe here) and a stop or two in a smaller French or Spanish city.

I'm biased, but I prefer small Spanish cities. Sitting in a Spanish bar and eating free tapas is preferable to me to what I've found in France. Spain is way more tranquilo than France. I've never been to Bilbao, but it's easy to get to from France and it has the Guggenheim. I studied in Santiago and it's great, but it's out of the way. Oh, I recommend you find a Pulperia in Spain and have the boiled octopus and potatoes. All they add is paprika, and it's amazing.

11

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: Quantum Computing — WHAT THE eff WILL IT BE ABLE TO DO?!?!

« on: April 03, 2024, 12:31:53 PM »

My understanding is this is logical quantum computing, so different than the pure quantum computing. They are talking about building a "hybrid supercomputing system", which is kind of like a quantum simulator I gather. It's not surprising that its easier to fix errors in a simulator. 

12

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: March 26, 2024, 05:36:30 PM »

I drove through Baltimore the day before. We took the tunnel, but coincidentally I was thinking about what would happen if the tunnel failed as we drove through.

P.S. The cherry blossom festival is a nice time to visit DC!

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: Let's talk about music in the 00's

« on: February 06, 2024, 07:54:36 AM »

Saw MGMT in the 00's and they did put on a good show. My favorite MGMT fact is that the guys were buds with Heems from Das Racist in college. Bet that was a good time.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: February 01, 2024, 03:47:49 PM »

Montreal is nice. Best to have your hotel in (or walkable to) the old quarter, though they more pricey. Bagels are amazing, and they have their own amazing pastrami ("smoked meat"). Walk up Mount Royal; it's a lovely park. I really love Quebec City, too, if you can swing part of your trip up there. I had a breakfast I will never forget in Quebec City, but would have to look up the name of the place.

I've been to Toronto a few times and do like the city -- it reminds me of a smaller NYC. But there wasn't a single meal I ate there that was memorable.

What about french whores?  While watching Kids in the Hall I was lead to believe there were loads of french whores there.

I don't know. My Canadian gf at the time (went to McGill) recommended certain notorious strip clubs when I went up there one time for a bachelor party, but I didn't mention that here because it's a family blog.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: travel thread

« on: February 01, 2024, 12:04:24 PM »

Montreal is nice. Best to have your hotel in (or walkable to) the old quarter, though they more pricey. Bagels are amazing, and they have their own amazing pastrami ("smoked meat"). Walk up Mount Royal; it's a lovely park. I really love Quebec City, too, if you can swing part of your trip up there. I had a breakfast I will never forget in Quebec City, but would have to look up the name of the place.

I've been to Toronto a few times and do like the city -- it reminds me of a smaller NYC. But there wasn't a single meal I ate there that was memorable.

16

Kansas State Football / Re: TRUE BLUE SQUAWK

« on: January 24, 2024, 01:55:28 PM »

I graduated from KU. But my fraternity pledge name was Apollo Boy Toy K-State-Wanna-Be Dick, so there's that. And when the crowd at Allen sang the KU fight song I would yell "Go" and "Fight" but remained silent when the crowd yelled "Win."

Go Cats.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: January 08, 2024, 10:25:08 AM »

GOSP!

steve dave!

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: January 07, 2024, 04:11:16 PM »

You going to finally get a NYC snow day, mich? It's already coming down north of the City.

It used to snow there.

It snowed but barely stuck and turned to rain.

I strongly suggest going to Prospect Park for sledding when the snowless streak finally ends.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: January 06, 2024, 10:24:23 PM »

You going to finally get a NYC snow day, mich? It's already coming down north of the City.

It used to snow there.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: December 18, 2023, 08:28:59 PM »

What the eff is that? Now I'm certain he's secretly from New Jersey and not NYC.

Adams also told a buddy of mine at a donor's dinner in 2022 that he was supporting Zeldin over Hochul for governor, so he can just rot.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: Quantum Computing — WHAT THE eff WILL IT BE ABLE TO DO?!?!

« on: December 06, 2023, 09:16:44 PM »

Right on!

22

Kansas State Football / Re: 2023 Dr pepper still in reach?

« on: November 16, 2023, 07:51:10 AM »

From a legal perspective, it is not a clarification but a change. The stupider course of action is to try to pretend it's a clarification instead of admitting it's a change. The Big XII chose to take the stupider route here.

But if I had to argue the Big XII's position in court, I would point to the comma and say the rule is legal gibberish as written, so some clarification is required. The Commissioner is authorized to clarify the rules. That's what he did.

It's just the intent of the rule was clear even if it was poorly drafted, and the "clarification" completely changed the intent of the rule.

Oh well.

23

Kansas State Football / Re: RANKINGS...

« on: August 08, 2023, 11:53:53 AM »

Here's your complete list

1   Georgia   
2   Michigan   
3   Alabama
4   Ohio State
5   LSU
6   USC   
7   Penn State   
8   Florida State   
9   Clemson   
10   Tennessee   
11   Washington   
12   Texas
13   Notre Dame
14   Utah   
15   Oregon   
16   TCU   
17   Kansas State   
18   Oregon State   
19   Oklahoma   
20   North Carolina   
21   Wisconsin
22   Mississippi   
23   Tulane   
24   Texas Tech   
25   Texas A&M   


It's going to be an interesting season!

I hope Oregon State whoops ass this year. Wins every game except the national championship.

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Essentially Flyertalk / Re: NYC

« on: July 05, 2023, 12:56:26 PM »

A great song; a true song about Bloomberg's NYC.

Your mild billionaire mayor's now convinced he's a king
So the boring collect, I mean all disrespect
In the neighborhood bars I'd once dreamt I would drink

Bloomberg was definitely the best mayor in the past 30+ years.

25

Tech Support and Suggestion Board / Re: 'Sup with these new splash ads?

« on: May 29, 2023, 09:45:24 PM »

Can't be good for traffic. I just close my tab and move on to some other mindless activity when I get one of those (often lately).