Naked Paul Toast’s Insights

Started my monthly poker game Friday. We don’t play over the summer. I’ve said this before, none of this group play serious poker, it’s a social thing. The host provides the place, the booze and the food. The stakes are quarters. The variance ranges from losing $30.00 to winning $30.00, though occasionally some manage to find themselves outside of these ranges. The record winning night was set by me a couple years ago, up $72.00.

Traditionally, we all count our change at the beginning, count it at the end, and then compare win/loss. Though we always have a pretty good idea idea who is up and who is down. After five hours, I finished up $0.25. That’s a whopping win rate of 5 cents an hour.

Spent Saturday golfing with my brother-in-law, while Mrs. NakedPaulToast and her sister-in-law went to Canada’s Wonderland. I won two skins. That’s a whopping win rate of 40 cents an hour.

We then all met up for a barbecue and beer .

Perhaps if my parents had focused more on my Arithetic as a youth, I wouldn’t be such a degenerate gambler.

Conspiracy theories (and theorists), the world is absolutely full of them.

JFK assassination, 9/11, moon landing hoax, are probably the most notorious modern day conspiracy theories. They have a lot in common, like most conspiracy theories, they fail Occam’s Razor, they’re not falsifiable, they’re not support by industry experts, they defy logic, they demand too many people stay silent.

They just don’t make sense.
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We all have reputations. I know on the GMC, I certainly have one. Through personal correspondence, responses to my posts, and the occasional comments, I can say with absolute certainty; with some I have an excellent reputation, with others, obnoxious and arrogant, with many an absolute pain in the ass.

The point is; the reputation I’ve garnered, positive and negative, for the most part, is absolutely deserved. The reputation we’ve all garnered, positive and negative, for the most part, is absolutely deserved.

But this topic isn’t about me, it’s about reputations. Specifically, the reputation that one particular member is quickly gaining, one that he probably isn’t aware of, and one that one day he mostly will wish he didn’t have. But, it is one that he deserves. He’s earned it.
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Just when I thought people couldn’t get any stupider.

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OK, let’s clear some things up right away.

Yes, I am aware that IQs, testing methods, distribution curves are problematic. Especially when IQs are compared between individuals, sexes, cultures and countries. Even with the problems, there are strong correlations between IQs and intelligence, academic performance, income, and other markers.

And yes, I’m also aware that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Though, often it does.

Lately, I’ve noticed a few members posting their perceived IQs in their signatures.

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An open letter to Connor AKA Dr. Watz0n.

Hi Connor (AKA Dr. Watz0n),

You’re an idiot.

Hugs,
NakedPaulToast

Open Letter
GMC Post
GameMakerBlog reaction

I have never understood why people make a big deal about celebrities. They stand in line for hours, hoping to get an autograph or a couple minutes of strained, disinterested, idle idol chit-chat.

I remember as a young boy attending a small Christmas party, at friends of my parents. In attendance was a celebrity, I don’t even remember who he was. My brothers made a huge deal over him, and asked him for an autograph. After signing autographs for my brothers, he then turned to me, assuming I also wanted one, asking who to make it out for. I didn’t want one.

I politely declined, telling him I didn’t collect autographs. His reaction was a combination of shock, disbelief, embarrassment, whatever. For the rest of the night, he was all over me, making jokes about giving me his autograph.

I guess the best way to get attention from celebrities is not to show them any.

In a community near me, there was a case of Hero Worship, gone bad.
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This is the result, if various GMC members were interested in construction instead of using Game Maker.

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I stumbled upon an excellent set of YouTube videos.

These videos describe the science behind; how we know how far away planet’s, stars, galaxies, age of the earth, rocks, evolution, etc. What is so wonderful about these videos, is not just the evidence is presented, but the layman’s explanation of how the meaning of the evidence is important.

potholer54 is pretty critical of creationist, largely Christian dogma. I don’t disagree with his criticisms, but I think the video’s are likely to disenfranchise a lot of Christians, to the point where they will not watch the complete series. Given potholer54 is encouraging people to download and create DVD’s of the video, this could be a fatal to the video’s success.
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I made the following post and followup on the GMC, as a response to a query, asking what member hardcoregamer meant. hardcoregamer posts often on the GMC. Let’s put it this way, almost never will you find me, clicking his username, and choosing, Find member’s posts.

I fully expect the original post to be removed, and understand that it’s underlying ad homonym and off-topicness is unwelcome. I’m blogging it for preservation.

I understand, many don’t see the need for preservation.
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