I Called In Sick Today

[Napa_Don 688]

Agreed. I was really just commenting on your lack of giving a shit about doing better than your bare minimum on standardized tests.

Counterpoint: If I really didn't give a shit about doing the bare minimum I would just take the test with no prep. As I'd be willing to bet that I could walk in and get better than a 520 with 0 prep. Which, would be the bare minimum. And the choice of schools is more of a not willing to take the risk of quitting my job to go to school for two years when I don't think I could get into a B-School with that prestigious of a a program based on my undergrad.

[speedz99 145]

Fair enough.

[Tactical Bear 3]

dear persons who know things about football:breakout picks for fantasy this year?

Is it really this time already? When is your draft? I've got a few ideas already, but I think, more than "sleepers" and "breakouts," it's more important to have an understanding of how fantasy dynamics have changed given the significant shift in offensive philosophy the last few years. I'm not a fantasy superstar or anything, but I've held my own in some very competitive leagues -- as well as, ahem, some not so competitive ones; BACK TO BACK MOTHERFUCKERS -- the last few years with minimal preparation, simply by recognizing that the old formula of "RB + RB" no longer makes as much sense as it once did. I've been going pretty WR heavy the last few seasons, and filling the RB position by volume (and sheer force of will). Nobody here is really going to be able to evaluate whether RunningBlack X is going to over-perform or under-perform, or be good value compared to RunningBlack Y or whatever, but it doesn't matter. Take whatever value you can get by stocking up on whatever blacks fall in your draft, for whatever reason, and consolidate talent as soon as you can.Also: Matt Schaub is awesome, and Eli Manning is, seriously, one of the worst players in the entire league. He is just... laughable.

I'm studying for the GMAT over the next two weeks. I've always done really well on standardized tests. How worried do I need to be?Also, the grad school I will be applying to has an average of 500 GMAT score for their students

Just... are you kidding? You could roll off the couch, smoke a 6-pack of Foster's and a 40 of Olde English 800 Ice, show up 30 minutes late to the exam, and still bink a 500 with plenty of room to spare. Maybe I'm thinking of a different exam, but isn't a 500, like, 40th or 45th percentile? I'm confident that a majority of this thread could hit that number with zero prep.

[Napa_Don 688]

Just... are you kidding? You could roll off the couch, smoke a 6-pack of Foster's and a 40 of Olde English 800 Ice, show up 30 minutes late to the exam, and still bink a 500 with plenty of room to spare. Maybe I'm thinking of a different exam, but isn't a 500, like, 40th or 45th percentile? I'm confident that a majority of this thread could hit that number with zero prep.

No, you are correct. And my undergrad GPA is just above the avg GPA for their students. Basically, I'm just prone to: overreacting. This has been fairly well documented. I am also worried about acquring two letters of recommendation from previous employers and/or professors as I was never one to go and talk to my professors and develop a rapport. The closest I got to this was when my finance teacher took us all out to the bar after the final and we got hammered and he shared with me his disdain for his wife always wanting him to do shit and that "his daughter needs to find someone like me, not one of those engineering fags."

[runthemover 39]

So I need a grill. A cooking grill. An indoor cooking grill. Probably one of those Cassius Clay grills. Anyway, apparently there are like ten million different models from which I can choose. Go to your kitchen. Look up your model number. Come back. Spin in a circle. Put that # into your post replying to this one and explain why your grill is the one for me. Easy cleanup is key (things like trays not catching all the liquid are key). Also cheaper is better. I'm not gonna spend over $100. And, I'm probably going to spend under $50.

[Napa_Don 688]

http://www.amazon.com/George-Foreman-GR10A...286&sr=8-10Is what I own. Except in red. It was a gift from my brother and fits two chicken breasts comfortably. It also cleans fairly easily with a wet rag (I did not inherit the cleaning tool in the exchange).

[runthemover 39]

spin

[Quacktastic 106]

I'm studying for the GMAT over the next two weeks. And then I'm going to commence studying for the CPA. Anybody take the GMAT? Thoughts on it? Knowing that I sound like a douchenozzle when I say this, but I've always done really well on standardized tests. How worried do I need to be?Also, the grad school I will be applying to has an average of 500 GMAT score for their students, so its not like I'm trying to get into Michigan or Harvard or anything. Should I be ok?

What everyone else said. The GMAT is pretty easy, especially if you only need a 500...

[El Guapo 8]

My undergrad record is not what I would call "exemplary". Also, fwiw, and I have no idea how much weight his actually has, but it's the #10 MAcc program for small schools according to "Public Accounting Report".

Ummm, there are only 10 schools in this conference.

[strategy 4]

I think most people our age, say 90%+, would envy napa's position (me included). career field he wants, free education, MBA+CPA in under 3 years. even if your job isn't what you want, you can pretty much pick whatever you want to do in a few years, once you've attached those six letters to the end of your name.

[brvheart 1,757]

Strat, you are the only one that will find this entire post interesting, and I would even put your interest at <50%.I think your 90% is WAY too high. Many people our age don't work or desire to work, let put that number at 5%. Many people own their own businesses in their 20's and 30's, I would put that number at 15% or more. Then you have people that hate math, like me. I would HATE Napa's job. I would put Math haters at 40% or more. Ect.-----------[Tangent]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-26/a...plications.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_wguy/2010072...h_wguy_tc3236_2

[strategy 4]

Strat, you are the only one that will find this entire post interesting, and I would even put your interest at <50%.I think your 90% is WAY too high. Many people our age don't work or desire to work, let put that number at 5%. Many people own their own businesses in their 20's and 30's, I would put that number at 15% or more. Then you have people that hate math, like me. I would HATE Napa's job. I would put Math haters at 40% or more. Ect.

well, I definitely meant recent grads with the comment. you're not a recent grad, you're old balls with money. I really just meant to say that being able to take a bunch of big steps forward in the field you wanted to be in, in THIS ECONOMY... it's a really nice deal.as for being an accountant, you are absolutely right. it would take an awful lot of money, much more than any accountant my age is making, to convince me to switch to the napa-plan.in light of these revelations, my 90% statement was dumb: it's 100% by definition.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-26/a...plications.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_wguy/2010072...h_wguy_tc3236_2

this ruling is ridiculous and unnecessary, but whatever.

[Tactical Bear 3]

I think most people our age, say 90%+, would envy napa's position (me included). career field he wants, free education, MBA+CPA in under 3 years. even if your job isn't what you want, you can pretty much pick whatever you want to do in a few years, once you've attached those six letters to the end of your name.

I've always wondered what it is that separates people like Napa from people like me. If you put our qualifications on paper when we were 16, 17, 18, and 19, I would have been the prohibitive favorite at each age to be the more successful. And, honestly, I think I would have bet against myself. Even when I was just a kid, I knew there was just a little something missing. I never felt... it's really hard to explain, but I guess I felt a little bit fraudulent, like I knew there was something that I was didn't have, some lesson that everyone else learned when I was out sick, and no matter how hard I tried to express that, it came out flat and nasally, like the typical insecurities of a kid who just doesn't know better. But I was right.I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, like I'm complaining, or that I'm suggesting I'm somehow better than Napa. It's actually just the opposite. Sure: I'm slightly envious of people who have, and have always had, their shit together. But mostly I'm just confused and impressed. (Sorry. I popped in here whilst deep into writing a birthday message for a friend, and it is trending towards the maudlin and nostalgic, so I was kinda in a mood.)Edit: Here's the section I wrote, about a song on the birthday mix, comprised of songs from the last 12 months, right before I decided to check in here:15)

Mines The first time I heard this track, a classic album closer reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Videotape,” I immediately thought of you. “INTIL” is a solemn, bordering-on-funereal ballad, its lyrics a straightforward confession, and an exploration of what almost happened to us. The song itself is beautiful and haunting and depressing, but somehow it feels like stroke of good fortune. It’s a mute, black shrouded reaper, bony hand pointing to a narrowly avoided future, like Dickens’ Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come."The times that I'm with you/I'm really not myself/because you don't want the truth." These lyrics will never remind me of you, and I'll remember that. How's that for some overwrought, purple-fucking-prose? Huzzah for: delete! Huzzah for: shame!

[brvheart 1,757]

I've always wondered what it is that separates people like Napa from people like me. If you put our qualifications on paper when we were 16, 17, 18, and 19, I would have been the prohibitive favorite at each age to be the more successful. And, honestly, I think I would have bet against myself. Even when I was just a kid, I knew there was just a little something missing. I never felt... it's really hard to explain, but I guess I felt a little bit fraudulent, like I knew there was something that I was didn't have, some lesson that everyone else learned when I was out sick, and no matter how hard I tried to express that, it came out flat and nasally, like the typical insecurities of a kid who just doesn't know better. But I was right.I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, like I'm complaining, or that I'm suggesting I'm somehow better than Napa. It's actually just the opposite. Sure: I'm slightly envious of people who have, and have always had, their shit together. But mostly I'm just confused and impressed. (Sorry. I popped in here whilst deep into writing a birthday message for a friend, and it is trending towards the maudlin and nostalgic, so I was kinda in a mood.)Edit: Here's the section I wrote, about a song on the birthday mix, comprised of songs from the last 12 months, right before I decided to check in here:15)

Mines The first time I heard this track, a classic album closer reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Videotape,” I immediately thought of you. “INTIL” is a solemn, bordering-on-funereal ballad, its lyrics a straightforward confession, and an exploration of what almost happened to us. The song itself is beautiful and haunting and depressing, but somehow it feels like stroke of good fortune. It’s a mute, black shrouded reaper, bony hand pointing to a narrowly avoided future, like Dickens’ Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come."The times that I'm with you/I'm really not myself/because you don't want the truth." These lyrics will never remind me of you, and I'll remember that. How's that for some overwrought, purple-fucking-prose? Huzzah for: delete! Huzzah for: shame!

You're a crazy bastard. I love you [edited for El Guapo] it.

[Tactical Bear 3]

Ah fuck Meeting People is Easy is on Hulu. First time I did shrooms, I watched this on repeat with my friends for, like, 6 hours.

[Tactical Bear 3]

You're a crazy bastard. I love you [edited for El Guapo] it.

That line was intended as a placeholder. It expresses the basic sentiment I was going for -- the song is a reminder of a nightmare I never had -- but I couldn't get the wording or the meter down, so I just left that there. I am probably the worst writer in the world when I don't want to be writing.

[Tactical Bear 3]

You know how you can tell I don't want to be writing?

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

You know how you can tell I don't want to be writing?

Do you think it's too difficult to predict how football players are going to do year to year, and draft based solely on value?

[strategy 4]

I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, like I'm complaining, or that I'm suggesting I'm somehow better than Napa. It's actually just the opposite. Sure: I'm slightly envious of people who have, and have always had, their shit together. But mostly I'm just confused and impressed.

I know you're majoring in accounting, but is that what you're doing after you're done?

[Napa_Don 688]

I've always wondered what it is that separates people like Napa from people like me. If you put our qualifications on paper when we were 16, 17, 18, and 19, I would have been the prohibitive favorite at each age to be the more successful. And, honestly, I think I would have bet against myself. Even when I was just a kid, I knew there was just a little something missing. I never felt... it's really hard to explain, but I guess I felt a little bit fraudulent, like I knew there was something that I was didn't have, some lesson that everyone else learned when I was out sick, and no matter how hard I tried to express that, it came out flat and nasally, like the typical insecurities of a kid who just doesn't know better. But I was right.I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, like I'm complaining, or that I'm suggesting I'm somehow better than Napa. It's actually just the opposite. Sure: I'm slightly envious of people who have, and have always had, their shit together. But mostly I'm just confused and impressed.

Although it does sound a little arrogant, I won't take it personally. I think it's flattering that you are implying you think I have(always had) my shit together(you are implying that right?) even when I know it's far from the truth. Pretty sure NC can attest to that. The truth is I'm in a position similar to yours. Again without trying to sound arrogant, in my high school class there were about 5 of us that were miles ahead of the rest of our class intellectually (out of a class of 76). And within that five, I would have considered my self top two taking into account effort:gpa ratio and ACT scores. Now, of those five..two have graduated with their MAcc (one already has his CPA, one is currently taking it) and both work for top 5 firms. One is going to vet school in the fall, and one is just through her first year of law school(even though I'm pretty sure she blew a a guy in vegas(at the very least) to stay in his suite for a week, so, we'll call it a wash). And then there's me working a meh job, hoping he can get into a meh grad program and desperately hoping he will pass the CPA. So even though I'm miles ahead of like 90% of our graduating high school class, I still feel wildly inadequate.Edit: Don't me wrong though, I am extremely grateful to have the opportunities I have now as I know many of my classmates from college who still don't have jobs and all of what strat said. Also, I don't hate my job by any means and actually enjoy it for the most part, so that's nice.

[leftygolfer 7]

dear persons who know things about football:breakout picks for fantasy this year?

I always looked at WR who had 2-3 years experience ( rookies almost never contribute) on good teams. A #2 or #3 WR on a good team is better than a #1 for a crap team.

Devin Aromashodu

NFW...O line sucks.

I'm studying for the GMAT over the next two weeks. And then I'm going to commence studying for the CPA. Anybody take the GMAT? Thoughts on it? Knowing that I sound like a douchenozzle when I say this, but I've always done really well on standardized tests. How worried do I need to be?Also, the grad school I will be applying to has an average of 500 GMAT score for their students, so its not like I'm trying to get into Michigan or Harvard or anything. Should I be ok?

Napa - I have a very good friend who is a 30 year tax partner at Dawson/JBrad's firm and teaches a MS tax class at ND. Let me know if you would like to talk to him. He's good people.

Also, getting the CPA is a pretty big deal, in my opinion.

It is.

I've always wondered what it is that separates people like Napa from people like me. If you put our qualifications on paper when we were 16, 17, 18, and 19, I would have been the prohibitive favorite at each age to be the more successful.

I think what defines "successful" is what helps define the difference. Ultimately if you wake up each morning and look in the mirror and are happy where you are at and where you are going, you are fine. If not, then get off your ass and change it. The problem is society today has defined "success", so much different to what it is in reality.

Do you think it's too difficult to predict how football players are going to do year to year, and draft based solely on value?

Harder than predicting the weather.

[mk 11]

some general thoughts:

Is it really this time already? When is your draft?

I always looked at WR who had 2-3 years experience ( rookies almost never contribute) on good teams. A #2 or #3 WR on a good team is better than a #1 for a crap team.

thanks for this. i think my draft is on labor day. this a really competitive league between a bunch of my close friends which i've never participated in because, as all of you who were in the sickie league the year i was know, it would be almost impossible for me to know less about the nfl. but i did participate in a fun league last year, and it was actually...fun. plus, if my lf moves to france or something for the winter what the hell else am i gonna do besides watch football?

[mk 11]

wang - do you know of any sites that attempt to do more of a sabermetric-type breakdown of individual nfl players' value? doing a few quick searches didn't lead me to much. it does seem much harder to gauge an individual's contribution because there are so many variables involved in every football play, but surely there are people working on this, no? one thing that seems like it would be really important, just from watching games, is that an offensive fantasy player's value probably has a TON to do with the strength of his team's O-line, and this could be a reasonable predictor of, say, RBlack (enjoy this btw) breakout seasons. I really like Shonn Greene and Beanie Wells for this reason....... Let me know if I sound like a dumb noob.

[CaneBrain 95]

I like Shonn Greene a lot more than Beanie.

[Naked_Cowboy 0]

You know how you can tell I don't want to be writing?

part 2

Although it does sound a little arrogant, I won't take it personally. I think it's flattering that you are implying you think I have(always had) my shit together(you are implying that right?) even when I know it's far from the truth. Pretty sure NC can attest to that. The truth is I'm in a position similar to yours. Again without trying to sound arrogant, in my high school class there were about 5 of us that were miles ahead of the rest of our class intellectually (out of a class of 76). And within that five, I would have considered my self top two taking into account effort:gpa ratio and ACT scores.

No, i won't. You try and that's more than a lot more people than you realize. Stop picking your ideal of perfection and constantly measuring yourself against that. It's not healthy. There's no one here who wouldn't objectively say you're in a really great spot for where you're going.