Wizard's challenge----
Good luck, but my money would be on failure.
Then again, maybe you should make the bet THREE choices: Success, completion in over one hour, and surrender.
Quote: SOOPOOThere are only 2 results possible- success or failure. I am accepting $5 bets max per person. Can I count you as betting $5 against him as the first official wager? As a poor grad student he needs the money....
I'd like $5 on failure. I'd bet more if I could.
Quote: rdw4potusAre there other stipulations involved? Like, if/when the nuggets come back up in minute 61, is that success or failure if all of the criteria were met by the end of minute 60?
This is just my opinion, and nothing agreed upon, but if anything comes back up I think that means it was not truly eaten. However, I don't want to sit there for hours either waiting on his digestive system. I think that there should be a rule that nothing can come back up for 15 minutes after the challenge.
2. As previously discussed, Wiz, you are allowed to wager $100. The $5 limit was from all others.
3. I am only booking action for those willing to bet against him. But thanks for the confidence, rdw4.
I'd bet $5 on failure...
And I assume that once he says the NYTimes CrossWords are complete, he has no chance to correct errors found during verification. On that note, how good is his handwriting, particularly after a two mile run?
Quote: WizardI think that there should be a rule that nothing can come back up for 15 minutes after the challenge.
I'd say if he can keep it down for one minute it should count. My 2 cents.
You should contact a local tv station. Or better yet a casino host. There might be some high rollers out there who love to gamble on random events that might think that this is a wonderful funny break from the craps table. I can just see a couple of poker pros betting thousands of dollars for or against your son in side action.
Personally, I wish I could be in Vegas to see it go down. Are you taking out of state action? If so, I'll throw in $5 against, even though I'll be rooting for your son to finish. PM me an address and I'll send cash.
Quote: gamblerAnyone know how much a chicken nugget weighs? How many pounds is 100 chicken nuggets?
You should contact a local tv station. Or better yet a casino host. There might be some high rollers out there who love to gamble on random events that might think that this is a wonderful funny break from the craps table. I can just see a couple of poker pros betting thousands of dollars for or against your son in side action.
Personally, I wish I could be in Vegas to see it go down. Are you taking out of state action? If so, I'll throw in $5 against, even though I'll be rooting for your son to finish. PM me an address and I'll send cash.
I consider your $5 bet booked. Do not send money until after the competition. I am leaving it up to the Wiz to see if any media are interested. 100 McNuggets allegedly weighs between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds.
Quote: DJTeddyBearHow are you taking bets for people that will not be in attendance?
I'd bet $5 on failure...
And I assume that once he says the NYTimes CrossWords are complete, he has no chance to correct errors found during verification. On that note, how good is his handwriting, particularly after a two mile run?
His handwriting is atrocious. (His father is a doctor). But he has passed muster on the official NY Times crossword competition, and I will let the Wiz decide if there are any errors. Any error will count as a one minute penalty. An error is defined as one letter being incorrect, so if more than one letter is incorrect he will be penalized multiple minutes. My son informs me the likelihood of him making an error is equivalent to a certain roulette system being a foolproof way to make money. The unknown is if he can eat the grease laden McNuggets.
I consider your $5 bet booked.
Quote: SOOPOOI am leaving it up to the Wiz to see if any media are interested. 100 McNuggets allegedly weighs between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds.
You should also try to get Vegas travel sites and blogs interested.
"The First Annual Wizard of Vegas [something] Challenge" :P
Does the weight include dipping sauce?
Quote: NareedYou should also try to get Vegas travel sites and blogs interested.
"The First Annual Wizard of Vegas [something] Challenge" :P
Does the weight include dipping sauce?
I will let the Wiz see if any media can be drawn in. i tried contacting the local newspaper to no avail. My hunch is he wont be using any dipping sauce.
Quote: gamblerAnyone know how much a chicken nugget weighs? How many pounds is 100 chicken nuggets?
According to McDonalds ( http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf )
5.6oz. for 10 nuggets, so 3.5 lbs for 100 nuggets. That's not as bad as i would have thought, it's still a hell of a challenge. I'd love to be able to make it out there.
Trust.Quote: AyecarumbaRegarding the security of the puzzles until the challenge... How do we know he will not have seen the clues before the challenge?
FYI: The NYTimes Xword is not as hard as you might think - particularly for someone who does them on a regular basis. Many of the clues get used again and again. Therefore, there's a good chance he DID see many of the clues before - just not in the same sequence.
Quote: DJTeddyBearTrust.
FYI: The NYTimes Xword is not as hard as you might think - particularly for someone who does them on a regular basis. Many of the clues get used again and again. Therefore, there's a good chance he DID see many of the clues before - just not in the same sequence.
I think they also start easy and get harder through the week. Not that it's ever truly simple or anything, but Monday and Tuesday should be at the less-difficult end of the Times' spectrum.
Quote: SOOPOO
3. I am only booking action for those willing to bet against him. But thanks for the confidence, rdw4.
Then I will take the position of betting against, but rooting for, Son-of-Soopoo. Please book my $5 bet on the "failure" side.
I'm thinking run: 20 min., crossword: 15 min., nuggets: 15 min. = 50 minutes. o/u = 47-53 min.
But I would like to know more details:
-- Does "transition" time count? (e.g., run - set up crossword; finish crossword - start of eating)
-- Does David (aka Son of SooPoo) have to obey all traffic laws during the run? Will his time spent waitng for lights to change count against him?
-- How will the completion of the entire run be monitored? ("official" trailing on a bike, in a car; bring something back from a location 1 mile away?)
-- At what point will the McNuggets be ordered? (Prior to the beginning of the entire competition? Temperature matters)
-- Medical personnel standing by?
Quote: Ayecarumba-- Does David (aka Son of SooPoo) have to obey all traffic laws during the run? Will his time spent waitng for lights to change count against him?
Well, being run over would kind of put a damper on things.
Quote:-- Medical personnel standing by?
Yes. And cheering on, too :P
Quote: AyecarumbaI think he will be successful. Wizard, what do you think a fair over/under on the total time would be?
I'm thinking run: 20 min., crossword: 15 min., nuggets: 15 min. = 50 minutes. o/u = 47-53 min.
But I would like to know more details:
-- Does "transition" time count? (e.g., run - set up crossword; finish crossword - start of eating)
-- Does David (aka Son of SooPoo) have to obey all traffic laws during the run? Will his time spent waitng for lights to change count against him?
-- How will the completion of the entire run be monitored? ("official" trailing on a bike, in a car; bring something back from a location 1 mile away?)
-- At what point will the McNuggets be ordered? (Prior to the beginning of the entire competition? Temperature matters)
-- Medical personnel standing by?
I'm guessing that if the route and weather is good, we are talking sub 20 minutes for the run if the lad is a decent runner (and by all accounts he is) 6-7 for the crosswords each. I'd guess 30 minutes to get the pre-work done. 30 minutes to eat 3.5lbs of Nuggets is the tough bit.
I'd assume there is no time off for transition. Run into the Mac D's with the crosswords on the table, and the nuggets get ordered at that point?
All fun and games, I'm sure, though competitive eating isn't on my list of spectator sports.
The Monday and Tuesday Crosswords are the easiest of the week. They were chosen because the event is being held on a Tuesday. You will have to trust David that he will avoid seeing them. David takes the puzzling very seriously. He 'trains' daily, maintains some sort of 'hard question' database, etc. For those who want to see him in action you can google his name, David Plotkin, and 'crossword competition'.
Unless the Wiz says otherwise, david will be trusted to run the proscribed course. If there are any runners out there on this site who would be willing to run with him, that would be great. He expects to be able to run the 2 miles in 14 minutes or so. He expects to do the puzzles in 8 minutes or so. He will probably lose a couple of minutes in transition time, but that will leave more than 30 minutes for the McNuggets.
The Mcnuggets will be ordered in advance and will be not be hot when he eats them.
In general I am generally against 'competitve eating', and if it were up to me he wouldn't have done that burrito challenge. But given the relatively 'small' portion of only 3 1/2 pounds that this challenge entails, and his previous succes at a much larger challenge, I am 'sanctioning' this attempt.
I thought there was a route mapped out with minimal lights, and the start/end is at McDonald's.Quote: SOOPOOBeing able to run without stopping was one of our concerns. It would be unfair to David if he had to stop at lights.
...
He will probably lose a couple of minutes in transition time.
"Not be hot" ?Quote: SOOPOOThe Mcnuggets will be ordered in advance and will be not be hot when he eats them.
Do you mean cold, like they were cooked and have been sitting around for half an hour?
While "HOT", immediately out of the oil would be too hot to handle or eat, "Nicely warm," like the temp they normally serve them at would probably be easier to swallow than cold.
You should set it up in advance with the McDonalds, and verify the timing, but I think if a basketfull are dropped into the oil as soon as he steps inside to start the crossword,s the timing and heat should be perfect. Then drop another basket as soon as the first comes out of the oil, etc.
I don't object to the Tuesday puzzle. If this were for huge amounts of money I might suggest the Wednesday puzzle as a happy medium, but we're doing this on a Tuesday, so let's just stick with that. If it is of any consolation to the "no" bettors, he may be slowed down here and there on the run for cars pulling in and out of driveways.
I'm planning to record the whole thing and will post it on YouTube later. I'll ask someone else to take the camera while I'm doing the run.
I forgot that Jim was supposed to do this challenge. Let me make sure he is aware of this thread.
However, using Google's StreetView, I didn't see any McDonalds on the route.
Quote: DJTeddyBearLooks like each lap is .98 mile. Personally, I'd say that's good enough.
However, using Google's StreetView, I didn't see any McDonalds on the route.
I think there's one in the Palms
Quote: mipletI think there's one in the Palms
There is, in the food court.
HOWEVER . . .
I suggest you get approval from that McDonald's as well as the Palms.
The Palms may not appreciate somone all sweaty and running thru the casino, combined with what might be a significant entourage and/or media crew.
Then again, if they were getting a benefit from the media, they might love it.
Quote: DJTeddyBearGotcha. And that added distance will make for the full 2 miles.
HOWEVER . . .
I suggest you get approval from that McDonald's as well as the Palms.
The Palms may not appreciate somone all sweaty and running thru the casino, combined with what might be a significant entourage and/or media crew.
Then again, if they were getting a benefit from the media, they might love it.
Good points. One, it can take a while to cross Flamingo Blvd, which would be necessary. Two, I could see the Palms not liking the making of the video. I think if I asked they would say "no."
I hope SooPoo won't mind that I mention that he said he was staying at the Rio. Maybe we could do the eating and crossword portions in his room? If he is uncomfortable with that, I suppose I could get a room at the Gold Coast, which is also on the route, but would prefer not to. As I recall, SooPoo jr. wanted to eat the McNuggets at room temperature anyway. With either room, I think the clock should be stopped to allow time to get from the running course to the room.
Another idea is to do everything at Clark High School, which is not far away at Arville and Penwood. Surely they must have a track. We could all meet there. I can bring the McNuggets. If that is agreed upon, I could scope it out in advance for parking and access issues.
I think you should have made this a more Vegasy challenge: running done on the strip and the runner has to pick up a minimum of 12 different stripper cards.
Quote: PaulEWogthe runner has to pick up a minimum of 12 different stripper cards.
Remember this is supposed to be a challenge. Have them run the gauntlet from Venitian to Planet Hollywood without getting any stripper cards. Better yet, give them a stack of 25 cards that they have to stop and hand out during the run.
Along the way, there are three sets of elevated street crossings with escalators, a couple minor streets / driveways, and some other interesting maneuvers. (Do those elevated crossings also offer stairs?)
This route is 1.98 miles. It needs to be verified as walkable - I'm not 100% sure it's got sidewalks in the exact path I drew.
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/wiz_challenge_2_mi.JPG
Quote: PaulEWogI think you should have made this a more Vegasy challenge: running done on the strip and the runner has to pick up a minimum of 12 different stripper cards.
Maybe we can do something like that for WoVCon. Everyone has 30 minutes to get as many different cards as possible. The one with the most wins. Talking to the slappers would not be allowed, although I think it would only help if you knew Spanish.
Quote: WizardMaybe we can do something like that for WoVCon. Everyone has 30 minutes to get as many different cards as possible. The one with the most wins. Talking to the slappers would not be allowed, although I think it would only help if you knew Spanish.
Why not make it a 2 part challenge with part two being they stand in a group on a corner and hand them out again.
And when doing so out they couldn't speak any English.
You could make it 1 point for every card collected, and one for every card given away, with a time incentive for finishing quickly on the second portion. I'd love to see video of that :)
Quote: Wizard
I forgot that Jim was supposed to do this challenge. Let me make sure he is aware of this thread.
I'll put $5 on the no just for the fun of it.
I still think I can do this, although I admit I'm not 100% confident. I've got a lot of people who want to put money down on it and I've gotta get that all figured out and organized before I attempt it. Although after watching SonofSoopoo I might change my mind completely!
Quote: DJTeddyBearGotcha. And that added distance will make for the full 2 miles.
HOWEVER . . .
I suggest you get approval from that McDonald's as well as the Palms.
The Palms may not appreciate somone all sweaty and running thru the casino, combined with what might be a significant entourage and/or media crew.
Then again, if they were getting a benefit from the media, they might love it.
I can't imagine any media being interested, prop bets happen every day in this town. Maybe if there was a huge amount on the line but even then it's rare that I've seen prop bets get coverage.
Palms security may very well say something about the video taping although it will be in the food court area. I know most of the security guys there and most are pretty cool but all it takes is one guy and you'd have to stop taping.
Quote: WizardMaybe we can do something like that for WoVCon. Everyone has 30 minutes to get as many different cards as possible. The one with the most wins. Talking to the slappers would not be allowed, although I think it would only help if you knew Spanish.
Oh, easy. Take out a bunch of dollar bills and say "Necesito una de cada tarjeta."
Quote: PaulEWogWhy not make it a 2 part challenge with part two being they stand in a group on a corner and hand them out again.
And when doing so out they couldn't speak any English.
Even easier. Take out a bunch of dollar bills, and hand one out with each card. no need to say a word. You'll be done in no time. You may be done with the first lucky stiff who comes along.
Yeah, I guess we got a little carried away....Quote: SOOPOOI like the high school track idea- the concept was him running the two miles as fast as he can, not having to negotiate lights, crossings, etc.
To bring it back to what it was intended, are there any McDonald's near a high school? Have him do however many laps that would leave him with the distance to McD to complete the 2 miles.
Of course, ya gotta make sure the school isn't planing on having a track function or gym class that day.
Quote: DJTeddyBearare there any McDonald's near a high school?
Yes! There is one on Sahara and Arville (SW corner). I suggest we meet there by 5:00 and then either walk or drive to Clark High School. It is about 1/4 mile away. Personally, I'll show up at 4:30, should anybody want to chat. In the unlikely event the field is occupied we'll just have to drive to another school with a track, or revert to plan A. Afterward, anyone who still has an appetite is welcome to join me for dinner.
Jim says he will not be participating in any eating challenge but plans to watch.
