April 2007 - Posts

Pirate Personality Test Results - Arrrr, Matey, I Be Liking These!
28 April 07 06:48 PM | scoutmom | 6 comment(s)
Since I've already done the Pirate Name Generator, and Who Are You from POTC, I decided to try the Pirate Pesonality test.  Here are my results:


You are The Cap'n!

Some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any man that stands between them and the mantle of power. You never met a man you couldn't eviscerate. Not that mindless violence is the only avenue open to you - but why take an avenue when you have complete freeway access? You are the definitive Man of Action. You are James Bond in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. Your swash was buckled long ago and you have never been so sure of anything in your life as in your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off their head if they show any sign of taking you on or backing down. You cannot be saddled with tedious underlings, but if one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones' locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed - a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.



What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

My favorite part of the test is the disclaimer at the bottom:

*Note. School Psychologists, Social Workers and Clinicians should be wary of using the TOTLAPPI when qualifying students for IDEA services, DSM IV identifications (under any axis) or as a part of any professional assessment. Medical professionals are hereby cautioned not to use the TOTLAPPI as a tool to determine appropriate medications and/or dosage. Lawyers are hereby notified that the results of the TOTLAPPI are not admissible in most state and federal courts with the notable exceptions of The Bahamas, French New Guinea, Madagascar and Wyoming. Amnesty International has requested a moratorium on the TOTLAPPI in Death Penalty Cases until the American College of Psychiatry and the British Psychological Association can complete a twelve-year longitudinal study into the TOTLAPPI's efficacy rate and cultural bias. This tool was designed for use solely by Pirate Captains and Web Surfers. Please do not attempt this in any professional setting.
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2007 NFL Draft First Round Results
28 April 07 05:26 PM | scoutmom | 1 comment(s)
Oakland chose JaMarcus Russell with the first pick of the the draft today.  What about Brady Quinn, the QB who until he faced LSU was expected to go first?  Well....the young man kind of slipped a bit, and went with the 22nd pick to the Cleveland Browns on their 2nd pick in the first round.

Courtesy of NFL.com, here are the results of the first round of today's NFL draft:

ROUND 1
#Sel#TeamPlayerPos.Ht.Wt.School
11Oakland Russell, JaMarcusQB6-6263Louisiana State
22Detroit Johnson, CalvinWR6-4237Georgia Tech
33Cleveland Thomas, JoeOT6-6313Wisconsin
44Tampa Bay Adams, GainesDE6-5260Clemson
55Arizona Brown, LeviOT6-4328Penn State
66Washington Landry, LaRonFS6-2205Louisiana State
77Minnesota Peterson, AdrianRB6-2218Oklahoma
88Atlanta (from Houston) Anderson, JamaalDE6-6279Arkansas
99Miami Ginn Jr., TedWR6-0180Ohio State
1010Houston (from Atlanta) Okoye, AmobiDT6-2287Louisville
1111San Francisco Willis, PatrickILB6-1240Mississippi
1212Buffalo Lynch, MarshawnRB5-11217California
1313St. Louis Carriker, AdamDE6-6292Nebraska
1414N.Y. Jets (from Carolina) Revis, DarrelleCB6-0197Pittsburgh
1515Pittsburgh Timmons, LawrenceOLB6-3232Florida State
1616Green Bay Harrell, JustinDT6-4305Tennessee
1717Denver (from Jacksonville) Moss, JarvisDE6-6251Florida
1818Cincinnati Hall, LeonCB5-11193Michigan
1919Tennessee Griffin, MichaelFS6-0195Texas
2020N.Y. Giants Ross, AaronCB6-1192Texas
2121Jacksonville (from Denver) Nelson, ReggieFS6-0193Florida
2222Cleveland (from Dallas) Quinn, BradyQB6-3226Notre Dame
2323Kansas City Bowe, DwayneWR6-2217Louisiana State
2424New England (from Seattle) Meriweather, BrandonFS5-11192Miami (Fla.)
2525Carolina (from N.Y. Jets) Beason, JonOLB6-0236Miami (Fla.)
2626Dallas (from Philadelphia) Spencer, AnthonyDE6-3266Purdue
2727New Orleans Meachem, RobertWR6-3211Tennessee
2828San Francisco (from New England) Staley, JoeOT6-5302Central Michigan
2929Baltimore Grubbs, BenG6-3314Auburn
3030San Diego Davis, CraigWR6-1207Louisiana State
3131Chicago Olsen, GregTE6-4252Miami (Fla.)
3232Indianapolis Gonzalez, AnthonyWR6-0195Ohio State

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Car of Tomorrow - Not the Right Kind of New Car Smell
27 April 07 08:00 AM | scoutmom | with no comments
The Car of Tomorrow stinks.  No, really!  During the Phoenix race, some of the drivers were complaining about the fumes.  But that's just a small part of their complaints.  Apparently, a lot of the top guys feel they aren't really race cars. 

The CoT was created to make a safer car and one that also provides better competition.  They wanted a car that would not only have more passing, but side-by-side duels.  Want to know what the drivers say? 

"I could see the leaders almost the whole race, and it was like we all were just out there running the exact same lap times.  It was a parade. I was bored.  No one could pass anybody else -- we were all equal it seemed."  -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"To be as nice as I can...it's frustrating.  People will say, 'But went from the back to the front.'  But,yeah, it took us 300 laps to do it when it shouldn't have.  Our car was just that much better than everyone else's...I don't know how we're going to run these cars on bigger tracks without changes."  -- Denny Hamlin

"I only saw what was around me, but it didn't look like a good race, really, to me.  I didn't see a lot of side-by-side, I didn't see everybody equal.  I saw everybody sliding all over the place.  And NASCAR's claim to fame is they want them hard to drive.  Well, it's not that they're hard to drive, it's just that they're not like driving a race car.  They're like giving us Pinewood derby cars and saying, 'OK, everybody, this is what you're going to race.'"  -- Greg Biffle

But, you know, not everyone is unhappy...although I think that sometimes where you finish the race determines how you feel about the car.  Just ask Jeff Gordon:

    "Well, I be honest with you; it was better than I thought it was going to be.  I really thought that once you got out front, all you had to do was just mirror drive and there's no way that ugy had a chance.  But Tony got by me and then I got by him." 

Okay, not a ringing endorsement, but his teammate Jimmie Johnson had some good things to say, too:
   
    "If this had been last year's car, with that bumper, I would have been wrecked.  It seems like these cars are more forgiving.  You can't just knock the guy out of the way, you actually have to pass him."

I'll withhold my own judgment till I see them race a little more.  It will be interesting.
   





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Tony Stewart Compares NASCAR to Pro Wrestling
26 April 07 07:50 PM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
What does Tony Stewart think about all the cautions being called by NASCAR officials?  "It's like playing God," he said on his Sirius Satellite Radio program.

Don't hold back, Tony, tell 'em how you really feel... "They can almost dictate the race instead of the drivers doing it.  It's happened too many times this year.  I guess NASCAR thinks 'Hey, wrestling worked, and it was for the most part staged, so I guess it's going to work in racing too,'" he said.  "I can't understand how long the fans are going to let NASCAR treat them like they're stupid before the fans finally turn on NASCAR."

Go, Tony, go!! Let it all out!!  "I don't know that they've run a fair race all year."

My, my, my.  And what does NASCAR think of all this vitriol?  They said it was "very, very disappointing." 

"NASCAR has been running races since 1948, and we place the safety of the drivers at the top of the list," said spokesman Jim Hunter.  "We have more people and more resources than ever officiating our races.  The safety of the drivers is our first priority.  It has always been that way and will continue to be that way."

Personally, I think the problem can be traced back to Hi-def.  No, really!  You know, like the commercial for Texas Instruments DLP (#96 Chevy, Tony Raines) - you'll see everything, every piece of rubber, every scrap of metal, every bump on the track.  Time to wave that yellow flag again.

And Tony, I still love ya!!

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Mark Prior Out For the Season - It's Deja Vue All Over Again!
26 April 07 07:31 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
Well, you knew it had to a happen.  Mark Prior, who hasn't had a full, uninjured season since his first full year in the majors in 2003, is out for the season again.

Oh, yeah, sure the doctor says it's not career-ending.  What career?  He was on the disabled list three times last year alone and started this year in Triple-A Iowa.  The surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday, was an arthroscopic procedure in which he also worked on Prior's rotator cuff.

"Dr. Andrews feels comfortable that he will still have a career.  This is certainly not career-ending" according to Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.  Oh, goody, I'm so encouraged.  "He felt optimistic that he would be able to pitch next year"  Wow, like everything else with the Cubs "next year"!  "At his age, he should not have a problem responding and coming back after a strenuous rehab."  And that, folks, is the kicker.  I just don't see it happening.  Not next year, not ever.  "It's best for him.  He had some physical problems and now they've been taken care of" said Cubs manager Lou Pinella.  "I don't think he was going to be able to pitch this way." 

You know, I don't think so either.  He not only has physical problems, there seem to be some emotional issues, too.  He couldn't get it right in Spring training, yet he had his little hissy fit when they sent him down to Triple-A.  You've got to want it and you've got to work at, and you've got to EARN it, Mark.
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A Mother Torn
24 April 07 07:00 PM | scoutmom | 6 comment(s)
Two years ago, after spending six years attending St. John’s-Northwestern Military Academy courtesy of my ex-husband’s relatives, my youngest son from my first marriage decided to enlist in the Army.  I was extremely proud of him, being a patriotic American, as well as the daughter of a former Korean War medic and married to someone who spent nine years in the Air Force.

His chosen field would eventually have him stationed in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.  Off he went to Ft. Benning for basic training, but seven weeks into the training an inherited blood disorder caused his spleen to become enlarged and he became jaundiced.  We won’t go into how the recruiter was able to get around that little fact and get him in without a pre-enlistment physical.  Suffice it to say he was given a medical discharge and a huge let-down.  As a mom, however, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Fast forward to last week:  my stepson, who has lived with his dad and I since he was four years old, came home and told my husband he had enlisted in the Army.  Not only had he enlisted, but in less than a week he would be on his way to Ft. Leonard Wood to start his basic training and become a Combat Engineer.  Although no one knows for sure where he will end up, we’ve all got a fairly good idea.  Now he and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.  In fact, when he hit the teenage years, our own battle lines were drawn.  For the past several years we have gone back and forth from uneasy truce to full-blown confrontations.  But I never, EVER lost the love I have felt for him since the first day I knew him.  I shepherded him from Tiger Cub through Webelos, learned that you drop a middle school kid off at least two blocks from school so no one sees he is getting a ride from his mom, and cried when he walked across that stage and got his high school diploma. 

Oh, sure, he knows exactly which buttons to push to drive me right up the wall, but I still love the kid.  He may think he’s not a kid anymore; after all, he just turned 22 years old.  But in my mind he’s still the little kid in the blue sweater and red turtleneck, grinning for the camera in his kindergarten picture. 

So, tonight we will take the family out to dinner for his birthday and farewell.  We’ll all smile and laugh and have a good time.  And when it’s time for him to leave, I will hand him a copy of this because I want him to know that for the past nearly 18 years, I have loved him as dearly as any of my own children. In my heart of hearts, there is no “step” in front of son.   I want him to know how proud I am of what he has chosen to do, and of how terrified I feel that there is a chance I could lose him. 

So, Tom, good luck.  Be safe.  Make us proud.

Love,

Mom

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Leave It To The Cubs!
21 April 07 12:31 PM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
Sheesh, after the weirdness in the seventh inning in yesterday's Cubs-Cardinals game (which I'll get to in a minute) you wouldn't think there could be anything stranger than that. 

Oh, come on folks, these are the Chicago Cubs, people!  Of COURSE it can get weirder!!  Let me set this up for you.  Bottom of the ninth, one out, Cubs at bat trailing 2-1.  Jason Isringhausen (remember how Harry Carey used to try and pronounce his name?) is pitching.  Pinch-runner Ronny Cedeno is on first, Jacque Jones is batting.  The count is 3-1 and Jones swings at what should be ball four.  Okay, nothing out of the ordinary for the Cubs there.  Cedeno has in his mind to steal and has a good lead off first.  The pitch and he goes!  He slides head first into second, but it's ball four.  The catcher, not waiting for the call throws the ball to second.  The second basemen tags Cedeno.  But, hey, the Jones just drew a walk.  Great.  We've got men on first and second!  Nope, he's OUT!

For those of you scratching your heads as I was, wondering how in the world you can throw a guy out at second when the batter walked, here's how it worked.

Cedeno was running, the catcher threw to second, Cedeno overslid the bag and the shortstop  tagged him for what turned into the second out of the inning.

Second baseman David Eckstein and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa both argued Cedeno should be out.  After conferring with one another, the umpires agreed. Matt Murton then popped out to end the game.

"I said 'Hey, he went past the base,'" Eckstein said. "They talked it over and just made sure they got the right call. Once you touch the base and you come off, no matter what the situation is, he's live as a runner."

Crew chief Larry Young said the umpires met to make sure they got it right.

"Call there was ball four, the runner is entitled to second base but that's it. He overslid the base and was tagged out," Young said. "We got together on it, yeah."


Only the Cubs.  Now about that play in the seventh inning...

The Cubs had two on, nobody out.  Henry Blanco pops up a bunt in front of the plate.  The catcher reaches around Blanco to make the catch and the ball hits the ground.  The cacher tags Blanco, throws to second with Eckstein covering.  Eckstein throws to the third and Scott Rolen tags Mark DeRosa.  Rolen whips the ball to first - triple play, right?  Not!!!

After conferring, the umpires determined Blanco should be ruled out for batter's interference, and the two Cubs base runners were sent back to their bases. 

Like I said, only the Cubs!

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History Channel 10-Part Series "The States" Starts Tonight
21 April 07 12:20 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
The History Channel has gone into trivia mode with it's new 10-part series "The States".  When you have 50 states and only 10 hours, what better way to present the information!

The series, which starts tonight at 10:00 PM Eastern/9:00 PM Central promises to be a fun look at facts and trivia about each state, rather than a straightforward history.  Here's some of what they will be bringing us:

    The highest per capita percentage of PhDs is in New Mexico.  Wyoming was a very progressive state, granting women the right to vote 50 years before the federal government did.  You can fit 250 Rhode Islands in the great state of Texas.  And, one really surprising fact, the location that leads the US in percapita consumption of sunglasses is...Seattle, Washington!!  So much for dark, rainy weather.

So, if you want to fill your head with more little factoids about this great country, tune in tonight!

As a side note, at least in some areas this program will follow a rebroadcast of an excellent program that looks back on the Jonestown massacre - Jonestown Paradise Lost.  If you didn't see it the first time, try and tune in.  It is a very well produced, very interesting program.
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AOL's Million Dollar Bill Game - A Little More Info
18 April 07 07:22 PM | scoutmom | 3 comment(s)

I've been searching around for info on the new AOL game "Million Dollar Bill" and found a little info.  Apparently, it will work similar to Gold Rush - with daily online games, but will also involve the top players competing on TV and playing along at home, all for a chance to win a million smackeroos.  The game is scheduled to begin sometime early next year:


AOL Announces 'Million Dollar Bill' Interactive and TV Game, with Host Leeza Gibbons

NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- AOL announced a new online game and cross-media program that will let players compete for the chance to turn everyday one dollar bills into cash prizes of up to $1 million dollars. Leeza Gibbons (Leeza) has signed on to host the game, which is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2008. The program is co-produced by AOL, Madison Road Entertainment, Scott A. Stone (for Stone & Co) and Viewer Rewards, LP.

In the game, players will compete on AOL (http://www.aol.com) in a series of challenges that will reveal serial numbers on real dollar bills in active circulation. Each day, there will be new games on AOL - from "21" and "Hi-Lo" to celebrity trivia. Top players will compete in 90-second video segments aired on network TV as well as online.

"This is the first game show where every American already owns a ticket - probably lots of them, and we are thrilled to be working with Madison Road Entertainment, Stone & Co., and Viewer Rewards to bring it to our online audience," said Mike Kelly, President of AOL Media Networks. "With 'Million Dollar Bill' we are taking online interactive games to a whole new level. It is another example of how AOL is able to produce and distribute fun and entertaining online programming for consumers, and provide innovative new ways for marketers to reach consumers online."


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NASCAR to Honor Virginia Tech Victims
18 April 07 06:50 PM | scoutmom | 3 comment(s)
For the next three weeks, all the NASCAR and Busch Series vehicles will display the Virginia Tech logo as a tribute to the victims of the horrific shooting at the school this week.  The logo will also be displayed on all entries in the Craftsmen Truck Series April 28 even in Kansas City. 

As reported by the AP, the logo will be seen displayed on a black background just to the right of the driver's side window net on cars in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday and Saturday, Talladega Superspeedway (April 28-29) and Richmond International Raceway (May 4-5).

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their family members, their friends -- and the entire Virginia Tech community," said NASCAR chairman Brian France. "We wanted to make a simple, but strong, gesture of remembrance. We are grateful the university gave us clearance to display their logo."

Duane Cross, who normally does a very funny power ranking on each of the drivers, has chosen this week instead to do something very different, and very wonderful.  Where he would normally have put his line or two about each driver, he has chosen instead to make the entire page (read top to bottom) a way to honor the victims and the school.  He has included the school's fight song as well. 

Please take a moment to read Duane's 'column':

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/features/power_rankings/08/phoenix/index.html
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Chickadee-dee-dee
15 April 07 07:55 PM | scoutmom | 8 comment(s)
I just wanted to share with you some of what I enjoy in my back yard.  After I finished my gardening, I couldn't bring myself to go inside.  So, I grabbed the camera and snapped away.




P4150047_thumb.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
Golden Currant in bloom

P4150050_thumb.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
Birch Bark

P4150057 (3)_thumb.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
My little chickadee

P4150059 (2)_thumb.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
And his friend!

P4150061 (2)_thumb.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
American Robin

P4150051 (2)_thumb.jpg is uploaded at imgplace.net
Apple Tree
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Cleveland Rocks!
14 April 07 08:43 AM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
I was a Cubs fan, in Miller Park in Milwaukee, watching the Cleveland Indians vs. the Los Angels of Anaheim (possibly the world's DUMBEST team name, by the way!)  It was great.

There were 17,093 of us there under the dome on a cold, blustery Thursday afternoon, some of whom had gotten there several hours before the game to tailgate in the parking lot, Wisconsin style with plenty of brats grilling away.  A surprising number in attendance were from Cleveland, including a group of college students with a sign that said "I skipped school and drove 8 hours to see this game."  Aside from being a Cubs fan, I am a huge fan of the game, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to see a game on Spring vacation, especially when the tickets were only ten bucks apiece!  I got to sit in the ninth row, third base side, right by the Indians dugout.  I went with my husband and youngest son and we decided to root for the Indians for a couple reasons.  The first?  Major League, of course!  The second?  Cleveland is closer than LA.  The third?  How can you root for a team with the name like the Angels have!  A personal reason for me?  I have a friend who lives in Ohio, so why not.

The Indians were great.  Trot Nixon came over to sign autographs for a group of Cleveland fans.  How do I know they were Cleveland fans?  Let's see...the jerseys, the hats, the signs, the complete and total excitement watching their guys warm up on the field were all tip-offs.  I happened to find a ball cap at home that matched the Indians home caps - blue with a red bill- and wore that to the game to show my support.  The aforementioned group of college students came by, saw the hat, shook my hand, told me to enjoy the game and asked if I was an Indians fan.  I sure was by that point. 

The game was great - a pitchers duel - the fans were loud in their support of the 'home' team and we even did the Wave.  Wave after wave of Wave.  (I think the most fun was the high speed Wave, by the way.)  I do want to apologize to the Indians though.  I think the Wave may have distracted them and allowed a stolen base by the Angels. We had gone from the standard Wave to the University of Wisconsin Camp Randall slow-mo wave when the runner on first took off.  Whoops!  No harm though, as Cleveland ended up winning 4-2 and headed home for their second 'home opener'.

"We've got a road trip to Cleveland this weekend," manager Eric Wedge joked Thursday morning. "Hammy [Indians broadcaster Tom Hamilton] said it best. He said, 'Today we head home to begin a 10-game homestand with three games left.'"

Good luck guys.  Now I have someone to root for in the American League!
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Pirates of the Caribbean - Beta Test Email
14 April 07 08:28 AM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
Recently, a friend received an email to preview the beta version of the online Pirates of the Caribbean role play game from Disney.  You can read about the game here:  http://disney.go.com/pirates/online/thegame/index.html

(BTW - This game has NOTHING to do with the Volvo POTC Treasure Hunt, by the way, it's just more piratin' fun.)

However, when she went to register, it asked for a credit card number to "verify you are at least 18 years of age".  None of the other online role play games I have had dealings with required a credit card just to register to play a free version of the game.  I've contacted the Disney people to verify whether or not this was a legit email and request, but haven't heard back yet.  I will update when I do hear something.  In the meantime, if any of you have had a similar email or experience, - or know more about this - please let us know. 

I do know that there are two versions of the POTC online game - the free version with sponsor ads and a premium version that for $9.95 a month has no ads. 

The online game looks INCREDIBLY cool:
(From the official website)

Set sail on the vast blue waters of the Caribbean in search of adventure, fortune, and fame in the world of the infamous Jack Sparrow and the evil Davy Jones. Create and customize your own pirate, build and outfit your own ship, and assemble a crew of your fellow rogues. Set your own course, your own adventure, and truly live the Legend!

Setting Sail

In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, a massively-multiplayer online game for the PC platform, you, alongside thousands of other players, will be able to fully experience the adventure of the films and explore beyond these boundaries to discover new myths and untold stories. Forge alliances, hunt for buried treasure, battle evil undead forces, and use cunning and strategy to outwit your foes - all to become the most legendary pirate on the high seas.


FEATURES:
  • Create your own Pirate character - Choose from millions of combinations to fully customize your character (shapes, colors, clothing, names, etc.). Further enhance your pirate persona with eye patches, peg legs, tattoos, scars, and more!
  • Set sail on your own Pirate ship - Purchase, customize, and captain your own ship. Recruit your crew and set sail for the adventure of a lifetime.
  • Quest for adventure and treasure - Embark on ship and land-based missions using secret maps to locate buried treasure. Explore lush jungles, volcanic caves, and vast tropical islands. Keep your wits about you though, as traps, ambushes, and double-crosses are an everyday occurrence when keeping company with Pirates.
  • Use advanced weaponry - Jump into battle with a variety of weapons, each requiring a unique set of skills to master. Improve your reputation as a fighter to be reckoned with and unlock more powerful weapons. Become a Legend
  • Become a legend - Master a variety of skills, including sword fighting, card playing, and treasure hunting to become the most notorious pirate in the world.
  • Work your Voodoo Magic - Voodoo magic is used to heal, travel, cheat in games, and cast curses on enemies. Use items found in the world to craft your own curses.
  • Get some Booty - Earn extra loot and build up your notoriety by competing in mini-games such as poker, blackjack, and darts. Server-hosted tournaments and contests for the games will award rare items and gold.
  • Build a notorious crew or guild - Band together with others for expanded adventures and added power. Form your own crew for a quick battle or join a guild for longer-term strategy.
  • Grow your wealth with money and rare items - Hunt for buried treasure including gold, precious gems and mysterious artifacts. Trade these bounties among other pirates in the open market economy.
Any info would be GREATLY appreciated!

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Worlds Largest Trivia Contest
12 April 07 04:13 PM | scoutmom | 4 comment(s)
Every year the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point hosts the Worlds Largest Trivia Contest.  This year's will be held April 20, 21, & 22, 2007.

How large is the "world's largest"?  They expect over 7,000 people to show up in teams to compete this year, some of whom have been playing since it started in 1969.  And that's in a city of only 24,000 people.  What do they do for it?  Well, 
grocery stores and pizza shops have specials and discounts just for Trivia players. Hotels welcome players by offering hotel rooms with extra phone lines and putting messages on their signs to welcome players.

This game is played for 54 straight hours. 
Most of the contest is made up of questions broadcast over the radio airwaves, several questions will be asked about photographs contained in The New Trivia Times.

Okay, guys, here's a challenge for you.  What do you think about a Steeple Media team competing next year?  Remember, this is a trivia contest Ken Jennings (of Jeopardy fame) has come to!  What do you think? 

You can read all about the contest here:  http://www.two-twister.com/cnof/contest.htm

Remember, we have a whole year to prepare!

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Major League - Deja Vu All Over Again
11 April 07 10:01 AM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
Most of you have seen the movie Major League, starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Corbin Bernsen as the bottom of the standings Cleveland Indians and their journey to the World Series.  What you may not know is that it was filmed in Milwaukee at the old County Stadium, home to the Milwaukee Braves and later the Milwaukee Brewers.  (We won't go into Atlanta stealing the Braves, that's a whole different story.)

Last night, after being snowed out in Cleveland, the Indians finally had their home opener - in Milwaukee; and plenty of people showed up to cheer them on.  While the snow stopped falling in Cleveland, they are still carting it off the field and out of the stadium.  So, MLB decided for only the second time ever to move the games.  They considered other cities such as Houston and St. Petersburg, but couldn't find the hotel rooms to house the teams.  So they decided to try Milwaukee and the domed Miller Park.  We had the rooms (I mean, who spends Spring Break in Milwaukee, right?), the Brewers were in Miami, so we welcomed Cleveland for a three-game 'home stand' against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (who names these teams, geez!) 

That meant Rick Schlesinger, Brewers Executive VP of Business Operations was faced with just a little over 24 hours to host the first game with a full contingent of employees, parking attendants, concessions, etc, etc, etc.  Food had to be ordered, people brought in and things spruced up to make ready.  "And I was supposed to be home early last night," Schlesinger joked. "But you know what? Our staff came together and really made a commitment to get this done. And it worked."

Oh, yeah, and could you get some fans in there, too?  So, they put tickets on sale for $10 a piece.  They hoped to be able to fill the first level of Miller Park with 9,000 fans.  Final attendance figures for last night's game?  The official count: 19,031 showed up.  "I don't know what we would have done if even more people would have showed up," one Brewers official said. "We might have been in trouble."They filled the first level and opened the second to accommodate everyone.  How cool is that?  Nearly as cool as the famous slow motion wave we do here in Wisconsin!  A tradition at the University of Wisconsin Badger football games, the fans demonstrated it in the 7th inning, and wowed the Indians. 

"It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen," pitcher Joe Borowski said. "I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me."

"I had never seen the slow-mo wave before," manager Eric Wedge said. "That locked me up."

The size of the crowd thrilled the Indians as well. They placed bets on how many would show up.  "I thought it would be like five, maybe 500," Borowski said. "I thought it would be like an American Legion game. I mean come on, less than 24 hours notice? I didn't think anyone would be here."

"I thought maybe there would be like 2,000 fans," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "But the people from Milwaukee showed a lot. It felt like a regular game out there tonight."

But, back to Major League.  Here are the Cleveland Indians playing in their home uniform, and whose voice do you hear on the stadium radio feed but Bob Uecker who was the announcer in Major League.  "Just a bit outside."

And, when Joe Borowski took the mound in the 9th inning, they blasted "Wild Thing" and the crowd went crazy!

By the way, I will be at the Thursday game, with some of the best seats I have ever had at any ball game.  Nine rows back behind third base, right by the Indians dugout.  Sweet!


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