Octopus Overlords

Didn't know it was a holiday until I cant get anything delivered until Tuesday. I hate holidays.

Elton John achieves elite EGOT status with Emmy win for his concert film

Elton John officially joined the elite EGOT club when he won an Emmy on Monday for his Disney+ special “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.”
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He has previously won two Oscars in the best original song category in 2020 and 1995 for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” in “Rocketman” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” in “The Lion King,” respectively.

In 2000, John won a best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theater Tony for the play “Aida.” He is also a six-time Grammy award winner.

(googles EGOT)

Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony

EGOT being someone who has managed to win at least one of each... pretty rare accomplishment

List of EGOT winners

EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards, is the designation given to people who have won all four of the major American art awards. Respectively, these awards honor outstanding achievements in television, recording, film, and Broadway theatre. Achieving the EGOT has been referred to as the "grand slam" of American show business. As of 2024, 19 people have achieved competitive EGOT status and six others have done so with honorary or special awards. In 2018, Robert Lopez became the only double EGOT winner.
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The EGOT acronym was coined by actor Philip Michael Thomas in late 1984. While starring in Miami Vice, he stated a desire to achieve the EGOT within five years. The acronym gained wider recognition following a 2009 episode of 30 Rock that introduced EGOT status as a recurring plotline.

disarm wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 12:11 pm Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony

EGOT being someone who has managed to win at least one of each... pretty rare accomplishment

Perhaps, but I hear his Golden Globes are nothing to brag about.

I have a NEGOT

(NO Emmy, Globe, Oscar or Tony)

I hate epiphanies. I'd be happier without them.

There were a few of those in Iowa the other night.

dbt1949 wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:40 am I hate epiphanies. I'd be happier without them.

It's great that you have figured this out about yourself. These revelations and moments of insight don't just happen every day.

We have an early contender for dumbest argument of 2024. I just sat and listened to two people argue over mouse pad orientation and use for about an hour.

Backstory: The head of one of our departments wants to order some mouse pad from Gecko Travel Tech that sticks to your desk or whatever surface you're using. He intends to send them out to clients as swag. NOTE: The mouse pads are NOT square. They're rectangular.

Cut to admin staff member that calls to put in the order. She asks the head of the department (let's refer to him as ART - Anal Retentive Type) if he'd like the company logo to be small and in the corner, or large and in the middle. As part of this, she sends him a couple of screenshots our graphic design company provided...both of which depict a mouse pad in the landscape position.

This sets off Art who demands to know who uses their mouse pad in landscape! Everyone knows most mouse movement is up and down!

...I am not embellishing here. He was literally adamant that the overwhelming number of mouse users primarily go up and down with their mouse, and thus portrait position is the only way a mouse pad should be used.

Side note: Art will defend any position he takes to a degree that would astound you...and his initial opinion is ALWAYS right in his head.

Anyway, this set off the admin person who finally had had enough and started arguing with him.

It was truly an amazing hour of snips and quips about who was dumber for thinking that mouse pads are normally used in <insert portrait or landscape orientation here>.

Christ....

So, hold up here.

Are you telling me that people still use mouse pads?

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:42 pm So, hold up here.

Are you telling me that people still use mouse pads?

Or think that it is swag anyone would appreciate?

Note, my dept just gave us mousepads for the holidays... like, seriously? It was in addition to a pullover hoodie, but still...

There are times that some surfaces don't reflect the light properly and a mouse pad helps. But the main utility went away when castrated all the mice, didn't it?

LordMortis wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:51 pm There are times that some surfaces don't reflect the light properly and a mouse pad helps. But the main utility went away when castrated all the mice, didn't it?

They are good for playing deckbuilders on if they are big enough!

LordMortis wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:51 pm There are times that some surfaces don't reflect the light properly and a mouse pad helps. But the main utility went away when castrated all the mice, didn't it?

LordMortis wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:51 pm There are times that some surfaces don't reflect the light properly and a mouse pad helps.

Yep, they're still quite useful depending on the surface.

I used to support a graphic design firm that had nothing but glass-top desks. Mouse pads were required there.

I don't think I've used a mouse pad in 15 years.

But when you do use a mouse, do you only go up and down? Or do you go crazy and go side to side sometimes?

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:48 pm I don't think I've used a mouse pad in 15 years.

Same 'ere. But that's because I prefer to use trackballs, which are not as clumsy or random as a mouse; an elegant pointing device for a more civilized age.

I tried using a trackball, and it's a complete non-starter. Can't do it. Same goes for trackpad on a laptop.

hepcat wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:59 pm But when you do use a mouse, do you only go up and down? Or do you go crazy and go side to side sometimes?

I don't move it at all. I don't have a mouse pad.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:08 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:48 pm I don't think I've used a mouse pad in 15 years.

Same 'ere. But that's because I prefer to use trackballs, which are not as clumsy or random as a mouse; an elegant pointing device for a more civilized age.

That GIF is making me uncomfortable.

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:26 pm

hepcat wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:59 pm But when you do use a mouse, do you only go up and down? Or do you go crazy and go side to side sometimes?

I don't move it at all. I don't have a mouse pad.

Anonymous Bosch wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:08 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 6:48 pm I don't think I've used a mouse pad in 15 years.

Same 'ere. But that's because I prefer to use trackballs, which are not as clumsy or random as a mouse; an elegant pointing device for a more civilized age.

That GIF is making me uncomfortable.

Yes, the power of the scroll wheel compels you…

I use two mousepads wit ha heating pad in between. The bottom pad is a large soft foam/cloth one then the heating pad because in window this window lets cold air flow over my hand and freezing me numb so keep it on warm, and on top is an old Razer eXactMat metal steel mousepad. Its also why the heating pad is needed ..brrrr.

A trackball is for Centipede! Spin baby, spin!

I use a MTG play mat as my under keyboard/mousepad. My vertical may be slightly more than my side to side, but infrequently due to a mouse wheel scroll. I’m more likely to notice insufficient sideways space.

Since when did Apple Jacks become the size of Cheerios???

I need a new mouse pad. Mine is shredding around the edges and the surface is worn to a sheen. I don't want to BUY one; surely somebody will give me one sooner or later.

An MTG pad seems like a terrible idea, but I can see where it might be satisfying when her face starts getting worn down.

Trent Steel wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:25 pm Since when did Apple Jacks become the size of Cheerios???

Ways back..sad.

Whenever I see someone using a trackball or a weird vertical mouse or whatever, I assume that their KD ratio is in the toilet.

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:26 pm That GIF is making me uncomfortable.

Really? Things are tingling. Tingling I tell you!

The GIF is weird to me because its like his pinkie is connected to his ring finger and it does what that does. Me, I can move mine without the other.

Trackball...

/shudder

I can't use that, and hate the laptop touchpads too. Mouse, mouse, mouse!

Zarathud wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:11 pm
I use a MTG play mat as my under keyboard/mousepad.

What an odd choice for a mouse pad.
Also, please include me on the Iist of people who just cannot use a trackball. At all.

Posting such images unspoilered transcends the limits of tasteful humour sir.

That’s a good point. I’ve made the change.

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:42 pm So, hold up here.

Are you telling me that people still use mouse pads?

Years ago I started using my mouse directly on the desktop. After three or four years, I'd worn the finish off of at area of the desk. I've stuck with mousepads ever since.

Holman wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:31 pm Whenever I see someone using a trackball or a weird vertical mouse or whatever, I assume that their KD ratio is in the toilet.

Back when I was writing manuals/strategy guides, I was having to game-type-game-type all day, almost every day for weeks at a time, and developed really nasty carpal and cubital tunnel. To combat that, I swapped to an ergonomic keyboard and a trackball. And yeah, I sucked and died constantly.

For a few weeks. Then I held my own. It didn't take long before I was doing as well in fast paced shooters as I had been with a mouse. I very nearly won the UT2K4 tournament we held around the time that we transitioned from GG to OO with it, only coming in second because my opponent hid in one corner and cheesed the entire match. Trackballs are absolutely suitable for gaming - but it's going to take a month or two to get to that point with it. After the 'writer' period of my life was over, I switched back to a mouse, but there's no doubt that I could go back to a trackball if I needed to.

This was my weapon of choice, the Microsoft Trackball Explorer. A classic, and one of the best general use trackballs I've ever used:

hepcat wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:46 pm

Zarathud wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:11 pm
I use a MTG play mat as my under keyboard/mousepad.

What an odd choice for a mouse pad.

Spoiler:

Also, please include me on the Iist of people who just cannot use a trackball. At all.

BAM! Sort of. More of a little bam I guess.

Kraken wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:25 pm An MTG pad seems like a terrible idea, but I can see where it might be satisfying when her face starts getting worn down.

Not what I meant, but there would be some satisfaction dragging a laser across her face.

A trackball is fine if I only use my computer for Missile Command. Otherwise, no.

Max Peck wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:00 am A trackball is fine if I only use my computer for Missile Command. Otherwise, no.

Too bad the Atari 2600 didn't have a track ball too.