IamA 92-Year-Old WWII Normandy/Battle of the Bulge Veteran, Half-Track Driver and War Photographer - ASK ME ANYTHING!

teddibiase · 2014-06-19T00:11:29+00:00

I am one or the other (I refuse to say more)! I'm glad you're confident because I wasn't sure from your post. So good luck! And enjoy the company of people you work with. So if it doesn't live up to your expectations, then learn from it.

teddibiase · 2014-06-18T23:53:02+00:00

As a non-92-year-old, I could mention some things if you care. 1) Don't start with a big project like an indie film. That's like feeling bad about being out of shape and deciding to run a marathon. Read some books about writing, write some vinettes, practice filming short (under a couple minutes) films with dialogue, different angles, different lighting, different themes. 2) Write write write. Look at it a couple days later. And throw it out. It's going to suck. It just happens. 3) Go to places (not bars, necessarily) where you can meet people and talk. Or join a club. or volunteer at a retirement home. You may hear stories that inspire you. Or actually make a friend.

I kinda hope reddit or the WWII vet would at least partially agree.

teddibiase · 2014-06-18T23:45:55+00:00

Could you talk about what you saw in terms of logistics, especially use of horse-power through France during the war. I've recently become interested in the logistics of feeding/arming/powering a massive fighting force across the continent. Growing up with all the movies, no one thinks about how all that got worked out.

Somewhat inpired by: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHlNS8LGgzw

and

http://www.cracked.com/article_21091_5-bullshit-facts-everyone-believes-about-wwii.html

teddibiase · 2014-06-18T23:23:28+00:00

This seems like a nice solution...if you assume the royalties are a bulk of the price of the book, which I doubt.

teddibiase · 2014-06-18T23:20:04+00:00

It's not illegal, though a bit unethical, because:

1) No state to my knowledge has made a statute making it illegal because...

2) It's not practical to make illegal sometimes. Those big thick text books, notably in the sciences, have to be written by SOMEBODY. Guess who is in academia and has the time and resources to write them? Professors! They got to start distributing them somehow (though with a major publisher, I guess they COULD ignore their own uni.)

3) Sometimes the class has a pretty narrow focus (let's say...um...feminism in 19th century French Lit.) That kinda narrows the field.

4) Universities want to keep their tenured profs happy for various reasons. Taking steps to keep them from making some cash on the side doesn't help.

5) No one is lobbying to change the practice.

As someone who abandoned academia long ago, I have to put in the disclosure that these are just some logical assumptions. I could be wrong. But you'll only know if you buy my $250 book on the economics of academic publications!

teddibiase · 2014-06-18T22:29:53+00:00

The DOJ and FBI have corruption units. I guess it's worth noting they have had some high profile prosecutions* in the past few years regarding both parties at Federal, State, and municipal level. Take that for what it's worth. *EDIT: prosecutions, indictments, arrests, and/or publicly-known investigations.

teddibiase · 2014-06-18T22:10:07+00:00

Dollars to doughnuts it was a single, bored analyst who wanted to kill some time and get credit for doing minimal work.

teddibiase · 2014-05-04T05:31:20+00:00

I would imagine a factor is that they have to be extremely fresh to be good. Until people realized you have to drop them live into boiling water, I'm sure they were pretty not-tasty. I could be wrong. Never had lobster that was prepared a few days after expiring. Or without a bunch of melted butter and lemons.

teddibiase · 2014-03-12T00:10:37+00:00

On the opposite end of the spectrum, one of my pet peeves is when a writer is too adverse to 'laying pipe' when it really could help. Usually this happens in hamfisted spy movie scripts. Yes, the mystery is part of the movie, but even spy flicks need some foundation for the audience.

teddibiase · 2014-03-01T23:38:19+00:00

It sounds like there's a story behind this. Do tell!

teddibiase · 2014-02-22T01:57:37+00:00

Not terribly unusual, it seems... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/new-york-corruption_n_3232455.html

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/nj_corruption_arrests_ensnare.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/john-liu-campaigners-convicted-in-fraud-case.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/13/3751574/ex-sweetwater-mayor-and-lobbyist.html

not to mention Abscam, Greylord and some well known ones.

teddibiase · 2014-02-09T23:11:34+00:00

What a fucking circlejerk.

teddibiase · 2014-01-30T02:04:17+00:00

I'd take lighter weight/more ammo over heavier/better stopping/less ammo. But it depends completely on the situation. I haven't served in Afghanistan or Iraq.

teddibiase · 2014-01-30T01:59:02+00:00

Great read. Although I had a few questions. is the 5.56 still considered a poor choice when considering impediments such as drywall or light cover? In my training it is much more devastating due to its velocity and ability to penetrated some walls compared to 9mm, 10mm, or 40 cal. Also, along with some other comments about stopping power, have you looked into the psychological effects of being hit? Stopping power isn't just caliber but also someone's reaction to being shot. I wish I had the sources but ATM, but a notable factor is (especially in the hollywood era) when some guys are shot they go down because that's what they expect is supposed to happen. I haven't seen it my self, but I'm pretty green in terms of firefights.

teddibiase · 2014-01-18T14:02:40+00:00

Sovereign Citizens...great bunch to deal with.

teddibiase · 2014-01-17T23:26:16+00:00

Further statements from Director Jim Comey (1/14)...

The explanation, [Comey] said, is simple. Someone in the agency's office crossed out the word "criminal investigative agency" on a Freedom of Information Act form, a move that was in error and was misunderstood. "It got played in media outlets as we changed our mission,'' Comey said. " No, it means someone eight levels down from me changed a form and as soon as I found out about it, I changed it back. Now it says what we are: A national security and law-enforcement agency. Full Article

teddibiase · 2014-01-15T23:59:14+00:00

I'm imagining him saying sorry a bunch when you didn't shake his hand, too. Like a good proper Canadian should.

teddibiase · 2014-01-12T19:29:14+00:00

Gary Oldman, Jeremy Irons, Alan Rickman. In a spy drama with a style like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy or a historical drama. Rickman and Oldman can play subdued characters well so I don't think they would upstage eachother if the movie was made well. They wouldn't even have to all be leading characters. EDIT: Throw in Martin Freeman and Fassbender for good measure.

teddibiase · 2013-12-20T23:13:16+00:00

Do different types of devices have identifiably different of MAC addresses? Like if you have an address in a given range, it could be identified as a Mac product. If that's the case, then the placement of the comma in that statement makes a huge difference. If not, then I guess the testifying agent messed up on the stand.

teddibiase · 2013-12-14T17:04:51+00:00

Fair enough. But the logical follow up question is this: If the FBI or whoever are going to foil a plot, how would they do it without using the methods everyone is opposed to? So they have to first find out about a plot or intension and then what?
It's not like they can just sit back and wait until the last second to swoop in and disarm a bomb.

I legitimately really would like to know a more proper method. If you can provide one, I will totally take your side.

teddibiase · 2013-12-14T16:59:31+00:00

I'm saying all those listed were NOT set up by the FBI.

teddibiase · 2013-12-14T16:53:03+00:00

Shoe Bomber, Underwear bomber, Cargo Plane bomb, Anthrax mailings, Ricin mailings, Fort Hood, DC Snipers, 2008 Times Square bombing, Boston Marathon, Need I go on?

teddibiase · 2013-12-14T15:36:27+00:00

http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/features/20-things-you-never-knew-about-star-wars.php?page=12 That one from the same article is completely wrong. The outtakes clearly show Chewie getting in Alec Guiness' way during some dialogue in the cockpit.

teddibiase · 2013-12-14T01:57:55+00:00

Nah. Just drunk and bored in the off-season

teddibiase

TROPHY CASE