Child's Play Breaks a Million Bucks 81
Utoxin noted that Child's Play has raised the bar for their annual games for hospitals charity. They say "Not only did we break the million dollar mark, but we decimated it with our new total of $1,135,000! This significant achievement made this holiday season a happier, brighter one in our fifty partner hospitals. To everyone who has contributed to this amazing milestone, thank you!
The hospital wish lists are still online, and some have seen new items added. While we try to get lots of new games and more to the children in time for the holidays, the hospitals have a need for equipment year-round. Likewise, we will continue to accept donations through Amazon, PayPal and the mail until next year's fundraiser kicks off."
What Are They Talking About? (Score:2, Funny)
decimated? (Score:2)
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Re:decimated? (Score:4, Informative)
But it's still inappropriately used in the summary. Commence the "!decimated" tagging...
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It is a foolish generalization, and decent-educated people ought to reject it. It is "generalized" by ignorant people (like the guy in the article), who don't even realize, that the dec-prefix in this word is the same as in, for example, decade.
And if you are going to argue, we should accept it because of "common (mis)use", th
Doctor Who got it right (Score:2, Interesting)
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I'd say it's similar to how "virus" is generalized to include "trojans" and "worms"... or how "hacker" is used for "cracker" in main-stream speech. I don't think it's really misuse to use them more generally, and I don't think people who distinguish the terms are just being pedantic jerks.
When you use the more specific version, you are now into jargon territory. It helps you be more precise, but you have to realize that you've stepped outside general spee
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But then how will the grammar nazis compensate for never touching a woman?
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"But then how will the grammar nazis compensate for never having touched a woman?"
Fixed that for ya...oh wait...
How about "obliterated"? (Score:1)
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I believe you missed my point.
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Yes, quite right.
Now, why don't you take all this energy you have and go around shouting about how the word "gay" is misused to mean "homosexual."
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It is a foolish generalization, and decent-educated people ought to reject it. It is "generalized" by ignorant people (like the guy in the article), who don't even realize, that the dec-prefix in this word is the same as in, for example, decade.
And the same prefix as DECent, DECadent, DECaffeinated (ooops, the prefix is actualy de-), DECant, DECal, right? Er... except none of those use the dec- prefix, most (but not all) having de- prefix for negation -- which is actually not that far-fetched a misinterpretation of the etymology of 'decimate'. So get off your high horse.
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Where that percentage is definitely not generalised, but is specifically 10 percent - i.e. decimate = reduce by one-tenth.
You're right though, it is an inappropriate use of the word
Looks Right To Me (Score:2)
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Re:Gabe (Score:5, Insightful)
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If Gabe were using it to get good PR after beating his wife to death or something, you might have had a point.
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Re:Gabe (Score:5, Informative)
So far, Child's play has raised a huge amount of money, and helped make being hospitalized less sucky for lots of children, and given Gabe/Tycho a way to thumb their nose at Jack, which I'm all for. Not that it'll matter to Jack, mind you, since he's a raving lunatic, and incapable of dealing with rational arguments anyway.
ash
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Re:Gabe (Score:4, Insightful)
As for the OP in this little thread... accusing somebody of being a raging egomaniac in comparison to Harlan Ellison is almost mind bogglingly ironic. If it's true this must have been a real case of unstoppable force meeting immovable object.
Re:Gabe (Score:4, Funny)
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From one of Isaac Asimov's books of humorous anecdotes.
A long time ago at a science-fiction writer's convention a few authors were standing around talking when another author walked by. One author explained to the group, "That's the next Harlan Ellison." Whereupon another author said, "Should we kill him now?"
Re:Gabe (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Gabe (Score:5, Insightful)
Most charity is fundamentally egotistical in nature. In fact, most everything we do is egotistical, even stuff we think of as altruistic. We've just been taught that ego is shameful, and so we dress our actions up in language which hides the self-gratification.
So, frankly, wanking Gabe's ego in exchange for coordinating the flow of $1m of toys and games to kids coping with chemo is a fair trade to me. Does mean I have to like the guy, or hang out with him on Friday night.
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I don't think this is actually an argument with what he's claiming. I think you're just agreeing with him from a different angle.
Re:Gabe (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Gabe (Score:5, Funny)
Tycho, is that you? Harlan? DivX?
so Gabe kicked your ass at Halo 3. get over it.
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Wonderful (Score:3, Insightful)
Bravo! This kind of grass-roots charity warms my heart.
If this sort of thing sounds good to you, check out Rotary International [rotary.org] because they do this sort of thing, on a global basis, year round. There are plenty of other similar organizations; shop around to find one that works for you.
Never makes mainstream news though.. (Score:3, Insightful)
I wished this kind of stuff made the news instead of the numerous violent video gamer portraits that are painted by TV and Paper news.
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Re:Um. (Score:4, Informative)
To decimate is to reduce by one tenth. It was a punishment for mutinous units in the Roman army, where all the men would be lined up and every tenth man executed.
Since their goal was 1,000,000, and they exceeded this by one tenth, their usage of the word 'decimated' is actually not too bad. All too often people use 'decimated' to mean 'completely destroyed', but at least here there's a factor of 0.1 involved.
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The one day I don't have mod points. >100000K to be exact which meant > 10%.
That's decimating a goal when it comes to raising money, and more so when your "reaching" for your goal.
This isn't an investment, this is a charity any money raised is a good thing, and they deserve a little stroking.
I say you lend em a hand...
Good Use of Power (Score:5, Insightful)
I saw this on Penny Arcade the other day, and it is good to see that Tycho and Gabe have used the power of running a top ranked webpage for a greater social benefit.
Kudos the them, and to everybody who enjoys successful and a love for charity.
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Contributors (Score:5, Insightful)
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I hope they can fix them (Score:3, Funny)
You people are sick (Score:5, Funny)
Congratulations on putting murder simulators into the hands of our kids. I vow to put a stop to this! I won't rest until the people responsible are made to pay for their crimes.
Regards,
Jack Thompson
P.S. Gabe and Tycho just threatened me.
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Movies aren't what they used to be (Score:1, Offtopic)
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Child's Play: (Score:1)
Oh... Child's Play (Score:2)
More games (not just gaming sites) should do this (Score:2)
It is a clone of risk called Grand Strategy (www.denizengames.com).
Our motto is: Good can come from global domination.