Spanish lessons on a gambling forum?

What is happening when there are thousands more hits on a thread about a Spanish word of the day on a forum about gaming?
Should I go to a Spanish forum to view gambling topics????

There are plenty of gambling topics. Many of us are mathematicians who are happy to contribute to questions. There are also a number of threads about new games and the business of gambling.

My thoughts: many of us on this forum were a bit irritated that the "Top Threads" list, by showing the threads with the highest number of posts rather than the highest quality of information, had become dominated by really stupid threads, because many members kept trying to explain things to a member who just didn't get it. Then, our host had a brilliant (in my opinion) idea for a thread that would be interesting and which could continue to generate posts and views. Now a thread with both interesting subject matter and a rather high quality sits high atop the Top Threads list. The forum is not restricted to gambling topics, so I say, "Well done, Wizard."

Thanks Doc!

Quote: roll8imUP

What is happening when there are thousands more hits on a thread about a Spanish word of the day on a forum about gaming?
Should I go to a Spanish forum to view gambling topics????

It's a fun, educational thread and the brilliant minds on this forum need constant stimulation. Your second post after joining today had nothing to do with gambling.

Observar y aprender.

Quote: 1BB

Observar y aprender.

That's "Observa y aprende," unless you meant to say "To watch and to learn."

Oh, wait. This isn't the Speanish Word of the Day thread. I dont' have to make corrections. Just forget the line above, ok? :)

Quote: Nareed

That's "Observa y aprende," unless you meant to say "To watch and to learn."

Oh, wait. This isn't the Speanish Word of the Day thread. I dont' have to make corrections. Just forget the line above, ok? :)

Thanks, Nareed. I'm trying to take my poor Spanish to the next level and I welcome all corrections.

Do I get partial credit for being close?

Quote: 1BB

Thanks, Nareed. I'm trying to take my poor Spanish to the next level and I welcome all corrections.

Ok. You're welcome. Although I'm surprised the Wizard keeps posting when I find fault with 101% of what he writes in Spanish. I suspect he may be betting against himself :P

Quote:

Do I get partial credit for being close?

If it pleases you. It's not like I'm grading or keeping score. You did get the right verbs.

Quote: Doc

... Now a thread with both interesting subject matter and a rather high quality sits high atop the Top Threads list. The forum is not restricted to gambling topics, so I say, "Well done, Wizard."

Quote: Wizard

Thanks Doc!

Wizard, I think that now you need to come up with second, third, fourth, etc., threads with similar characteristics that could bump a few others off the Top Threads list.

Recently I posted a photo of the chips currently in my collection, representing 270 casinos. If I had just bothered to start a new thread and post photos of them individually, one or two per day, and if I could get an average of at least 1.25 replies to each post (possibly discussing that casino or posting photos of other chips), that would lead to more than 600 posts on a gambling-related theme and 2nd place on the list.

Unfortunately, I think I'm too lazy to do that, even though photos of single chips would be much easier to examine than the group shot. Instead, I'll just keep reading and enjoying your Spanish-words thread.

Quote: Doc

Recently I posted a photo of the chips currently in my collection, representing 270 casinos. If I had just bothered to start a new thread and post photos of them individually, one or two per day, and if I could get an average of at least 1.25 replies to each post (possibly discussing that casino or posting photos of other chips), that would lead to more than 600 posts on a gambling-related theme and 2nd place on the list.

Remember when Croupier was posting his very long list of Vegas facts? I predicted it would be the longest thread on the board. Too bad no one bet agaisnt me (too bad for the others, of course). But then he never finished it.

We could launch any number of threads that could be long and worthwhile, the trouble is in finding a good topic. if we had a couple more of SF lovers here, I'd suggest a book of the week thread, if only to see whether I could top a long thread with few participants. Off hand, though, I can't think of anything else but gimmicks like a trivia thread.

Quote: Doc

Wizard, I think that now you need to come up with second, third, fourth, etc., threads with similar characteristics that could bump a few others off the Top Threads list.

As you wrote, I am studying Spanish out of the love of learning. I think of myself first as a teacher, and if I can instill a love for any kind of learning, whether it be math or languages, I feel my mission is accomplished. So, I make no apologies for trying to bring up a fresh discussion about the language every day, thanks in large part to the help of Nareed and PacoMartin. Let's give them a round of applause.

However, the SWD of the day already takes up a fair bit of my day, and I don't see trying to do this with another topic. I could see something like the math fact of the day, but I just don't have the time to spare. If you want to try to teach us youngsters a science fact every day, your contribution would be more than welcome.

Quote: Wizard

If you want to try to teach us youngsters a science fact every day, your contribution would be more than welcome.

Sorry, but science (or what humanity understands of it) has changed too much since the last time I studied it. Why, back in my day, the chemists only had to deal with four elements.

Quote: Doc

Sorry, but science (or what humanity understands of it) has changed too much since the last time I studied it. Why, back in my day, the chemists only had to deal with four elements.

Those were easy days. you didn't even need to find out which elements made up something: they were all present always in all things. all you had to determine were the ratios. Did anyone ever publish the ratios or earth, fire, air and water in glass? or in anything else? I'd be curious to know.

Then, of course, phlogiston came along and FUBARed it all :(

I'll think about a science fact of the day. It would be a huge job if done right, including background and explanations like the Good Doctor used to do it...

I see there are no takers for a science fiction novel of the week.

Wizard: When I was your age I could name all the presidents.
Wizard's teenage daughter: It was easier for you, there weren't as many then.

Tell her to go to her room and practice her music. (Those #*$&@# smart-alecky teenagers!)

There were only three U.S. presidents from the time I was born until I finished high school. Then I was enrolled as a college student during eight consecutive presidential administrations. Sometimes I'm slow to complete a task.

Quote: Nareed

I'll think about a science fact of the day. It would be a huge job if done right, including background and explanations like the Good Doctor used to do it...

I see there are no takers for a science fiction novel of the week.

I would be interested in such a thread. Since I am the leading expert in the properties of invincibilium, I might even contribute. But like my other contributions, I fear I'd be a discussion catalyst at best, with no real answers supplied, and a derailer at worst, with nonsense notions of fake elements and hypothetical situations.

By the by, the snow has begun here in the northeast, therefore so too has reading season. Any suggestions? Keep in mind I'm a Sci-Fi rookie, but I've been looking to branch out into something I haven't done before. Why don't you give me two, say, something you think an idiot would like, and a "if you could only have one book for the rest of your life" type book. If you only have one suggestion, that's fine, but I don't think I've ever judged a book by it's cover and I smell opportunity ;)

Quote: Face

I would be interested in such a thread. Since I am the leading expert in the properties of invincibilium, I might even contribute. But like my other contributions, I fear I'd be a discussion catalyst at best, with no real answers supplied, and a derailer at worst, with nonsense notions of fake elements and hypothetical situations.

Fake elements can be fun. I've toyed with the idea of doing a "hard" SF story using outdated science. Things like the 4 elements, phlogiston, alchemy, etc. Stories with more recently outdated science are out there. Stories with scientific misconceptions are quite common...

Derailing a science thread is hard, as a propped thread would mender all over the landscape.

And hypothetical situations are called hypotheses :)

Quote:

By the by, the snow has begun here in the northeast, therefore so too has reading season. Any suggestions?

Nothing snow specific, sorry :P

Quote:

Keep in mind I'm a Sci-Fi rookie, but I've been looking to branch out into something I haven't done before. Why don't you give me two, say, something you think an idiot would like, and a "if you could only have one book for the rest of your life" type book. If you only have one suggestion, that's fine, but I don't think I've ever judged a book by it's cover and I smell opportunity ;)

Tall order....

My tastes run to the old-fashioned side, mostly Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein and such. So:

Isaac Asimov: The End of Eternity, The Gods Themselves
Arthur C. Clarke: The Fountains of Paradise
Robert Heinlein: The Door Into Summer, Friday
Larry Niven: Ringworld
Clifford D. Simak: Way Station
Robert Silverberg: The World Inside


If you like short story collections, I suggest you look up:

Nightfall and Other Stories by Asimov
The Man Who Sold the Moon by Heinlein
His Share of Glory by Cyril Kornbluth
The Complete Paratime by H. Beam Piper (this is more of an alternate universes story collection but not in the classic sense)

Feel free to ask questions.

Quote: 1BB

It's a fun, educational thread and the brilliant minds on this forum need constant stimulation. Your second post after joining today had nothing to do with gambling.

Observar y aprender.

Observa y aprende is 2nd person imperitive mood (You watch and Learn!) or a command, as opposed the infinitive forms of the verb (To watch and to Learn).
Observa y aprende Tequila Suicide in Sweden

For what it's worth, I was the top contributor before that thread started. I suspected it would help knock me down a peg or two on that list.

I'm still bitter about what happened in Junior High School regarding learning Spanish, to the point where I haven't even viewed that thread.

However, I do not think there's anything wrong with having the thread here. Nor do I think there's anything wrong with having FrGamble's threads on a gambling website. Nor any of the other off topic threads.

Quote: Wizard

Wizard: When I was your age I could name all the presidents.
Wizard's teenage daughter: It was easier for you, there weren't as many then.

Yeah, and you only had 5 channels on TV.
And if the president was on, your night was shot!

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I'm still bitter about what happened in Junior High School regarding learning Spanish, to the point where I haven't even viewed that thread.

Now there are over a million Spanish speaking citizens of New Jersey. What happened to make you bitter?

Quote: pacomartin

Now there are over a million Spanish speaking citizens of New Jersey. What happened to make you bitter?

That's kinda my point.

The class was arbitrarily divided. Half got Spanish, half got French. I was in the French group and tried everything to get switched. When the hell will I find French useful? If I visit Quebec?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

When the hell will I find French useful? If I visit Quebec?

I can remember maybe half a dozen words from when I "studied" French. On my only trip ever to Quebec, most of the people I encountered were quite fluent in English and didn't seem particularly annoyed about an American being monolingual. There was some communication problem with a waiter in Quebec City, and an amusing incident at a McDonald's along the highway: the teenage girl at the register seemed to have very limited English. I tried to make it simple, selected one of their combo meals from the menu, and ordered number "huit". She was still trying to figure out my English and apparently thought I ordered something on "wheat", but we finally got it straight. :-)

Quote: roll8imUP

What is happening when there are thousands more hits on a thread about a Spanish word of the day on a forum about gaming?
Should I go to a Spanish forum to view gambling topics????

It is a Las Vegas forum. If you want to spend a lot of time in Las Vegas, you can deepen your experience by speaking Spanish. Made perfect sense to me. Awful lot of Spanish-speakers in Las Vegas, you know. :)

Quote: heather

It is a Las Vegas forum. If you want to spend a lot of time in Las Vegas, you can deepen your experience by speaking Spanish. Made perfect sense to me. Awful lot of Spanish-speakers in Las Vegas, you know. :)

I hear a lot among the crews refilling the buffets. I've also noticed Spanish signage here and there, most notably on buses (usually well done, too). And the last shuttel driver tried to engage me about a Chile-Mexico soccer match. I considered saying in English I didn't understand him, but I wound up saying "Ni sabía que jugaban hoy." Really, just because you're taking Mexicana you're Mexican? Anyway, he was so eager I wished I could say something more; but in truth I didn't know such a match was on.

Quote: heather

It is a Las Vegas forum. If you want to spend a lot of time in Las Vegas, you can deepen your experience by speaking Spanish. Made perfect sense to me. Awful lot of Spanish-speakers in Las Vegas, you know. :)

Clark County is 29.1% latino as of the 2010 census.

A border crossing card (BCC) is issued by the US State Department to only Mexican citizens who have a demonstrated a compelling reason to return to their homeland. At this point, I believe almost 10 million have been issued. Geographically they must remain within 25 miles of the border (75 miles within Arizona to permit travel to Tucson). Prior to August 13, 2004 the visitation had to be 72 hours or less, but President Bush extended the time limit to 30 days.


When the time limit was extended the Department of Homeland and Security estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 BCC holders will utilize the expanded time period to remain in the United States for longer than the current 72 hours limit. Additionally, this rule would likely motivate more
Mexican nationals without BCC’s to obtain BCCs in order to take advantage of the extended time-limit. These factors will facilitate commerce along the U.S. border and increase the demand by BCC holders for goods and services provided by border communities in the United States. As more Mexican nationals take
advantage of the extended time-limit and remain in the United States for a longer period of time, the border communities in the United States will
also benefit from a greater demand for goods and services provided by those communities.

President Bush extended the time limits as a reward for Mexican citizens who traveled to the US for legitimate commerce and recreation, and as political balance against the renewed restrictions on illegal immigration.

Although the BCC restricts travel to the "border region", I believe that holders of these cards are much more likely to receive visas to travel further inland.

The US government should consider these 10 million BCC holders as potential visitors to Las Vegas. It would help if the authorization extended to 7 day visits to inland locations.

Quote: pacomartin

Clark County is 29.1% latino as of the 2010 census.

Hell, even the name of the city's in Spanish. Some very very good Mexican restaurants, too, as well as Mexican-Chinese.