WWTBAM Bored

Last night we were watching J! and they had a promo for the Brain Bus. I told her that since I had problems with the online test the Brain Bus was the only other way I might be able to get back into the contestant pool. Unfortuately the Brain Bus isn't coming anywhere near our area. Whereupon she said, "Why don't you go online and see where it's going to be?" So I did - and sure enough it's not coming close. It's making its way across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then she said, "You've got that airline ticket voucher - why don't you fly to Minneapolis?"

You could have knocked me over with a feather when she said that. Of course it would involve a hotel, a rental car, and other expenses, but she didn't bat an eye when I mentioned them.

The pragmatic part of me says that it's a fool's errand and I shouldn't waste the voucher (and incidental expenses) that way, but part of me wants to throw caution to the winds.

Of course, I knew that they would be in the Twin Cities over Princess Peanut's birthday weekend. (Plus, we are celebrating Princess Pudding's first birthday that Saturday.)

I am glad that I was not selected from the online test, because I would have had to decline.

Probably no hope that they will drive south to Omaha.

earendel wrote:Last night we were watching J! and they had a promo for the Brain Bus. I told her that since I had problems with the online test the Brain Bus was the only other way I might be able to get back into the contestant pool. Unfortuately the Brain Bus isn't coming anywhere near our area. Whereupon she said, "Why don't you go online and see where it's going to be?" So I did - and sure enough it's not coming close. It's making its way across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then she said, "You've got that airline ticket voucher - why don't you fly to Minneapolis?"

You could have knocked me over with a feather when she said that. Of course it would involve a hotel, a rental car, and other expenses, but she didn't bat an eye when I mentioned them.

The pragmatic part of me says that it's a fool's errand and I shouldn't waste the voucher (and incidental expenses) that way, but part of me wants to throw caution to the winds.

Ok, I am too lazy to look it up, when will the bus be in Minneapolis?

earendel wrote:The pragmatic part of me says that it's a fool's errand and I shouldn't waste the voucher (and incidental expenses) that way, but part of me wants to throw caution to the winds.

When opportunity comes your way, and your wife ok's it, it would be tempting fate not to go do it.

earendel wrote:part of me wants to throw caution to the winds.

What's caution for if you can't throw it to the wind?

Make sure you bring Mrs. Endel a most excellent present.

Good luck in your quest.

It would also be a great story to tell at your audition.

kusch wrote:

earendel wrote:Last night we were watching J! and they had a promo for the Brain Bus. I told her that since I had problems with the online test the Brain Bus was the only other way I might be able to get back into the contestant pool. Unfortuately the Brain Bus isn't coming anywhere near our area. Whereupon she said, "Why don't you go online and see where it's going to be?" So I did - and sure enough it's not coming close. It's making its way across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then she said, "You've got that airline ticket voucher - why don't you fly to Minneapolis?"

You could have knocked me over with a feather when she said that. Of course it would involve a hotel, a rental car, and other expenses, but she didn't bat an eye when I mentioned them.

The pragmatic part of me says that it's a fool's errand and I shouldn't waste the voucher (and incidental expenses) that way, but part of me wants to throw caution to the winds.

Ok, I am too lazy to look it up, when will the bus be in Minneapolis?

Friday, March 7, 5:30-7:30PM at Mall of America. They're doing an appearance at UM on Thursday but it's for college students only.

earendel wrote:Last night we were watching J! and they had a promo for the Brain Bus. I told her that since I had problems with the online test the Brain Bus was the only other way I might be able to get back into the contestant pool. Unfortuately the Brain Bus isn't coming anywhere near our area. Whereupon she said, "Why don't you go online and see where it's going to be?" So I did - and sure enough it's not coming close. It's making its way across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then she said, "You've got that airline ticket voucher - why don't you fly to Minneapolis?"

You could have knocked me over with a feather when she said that. Of course it would involve a hotel, a rental car, and other expenses, but she didn't bat an eye when I mentioned them.

The pragmatic part of me says that it's a fool's errand and I shouldn't waste the voucher (and incidental expenses) that way, but part of me wants to throw caution to the winds.

Of course you must go! Considering the free airline ticket for which you hadn't yet found a good use, this may be destiny!

Checking online I find that I'd have to fly to Minneapolis via Chicago on Thursday, March 6, and come back on Saturday evening. There are flights on Friday but the earliest one gets me to Minneapolis at around 4:30PM, much too late to get in line for the Brain Bus.

You must!

I insist!

You must obey!

After all - you would go if that stoopid RUSmarter one called.

What are the rules about taking the Brain Bus test if you've already taken the online test this year?

MarleysGh0st wrote:What are the rules about taking the Brain Bus test if you've already taken the online test this year?

No idea. The only thing I could find at the J! site is this:

If you attended a Brain Bus event, passed the 10-question Brain Bus pre-test, and participated in an "in person" interview, you must wait 18 months from the date of the in-person tryout before you are eligible to take the online test. If you did not pass the 10-question pre-test, the regular online test rules apply.

Before rushing off, make sure of how the Brain Bus schedule works. I seem to recall from someone here who attended a Brain Bus event (I'm thinking ghostjmf) that the people who passed the 10 question test had to come back the next day for a more extensive interview. I don't recall if it included a more extensive test as well. The significant part of the memory for you, if I am indeed remembering correctly, is being available on another day.

Ghost, you around to clarify? Anyone else?

gsabc wrote:Before rushing off, make sure of how the Brain Bus schedule works. I seem to recall from someone here who attended a Brain Bus event (I'm thinking ghostjmf) that the people who passed the 10 question test had to come back the next day for a more extensive interview. I don't recall if it included a more extensive test as well. The significant part of the memory for you, if I am indeed remembering correctly, is being available on another day.

Ghost, you around to clarify? Anyone else?

I went to a brain bus event in OKC several years ago. Here is (or was) the drill: get up early to get in line, as the first 1,000 participants are guaranteed a chance at the 10-question test. If you pass that, they'll tell you on the spot and hand you a letter telling you the time and place to return the next day for the 50-question test (which will seem easier than the 10-Qs, as the consequences for a brain fart are more dire in the short version.)

The next day, the 50-question test is followed by an announcement of who should remain for a mock game and interview. Earendel already knows about this part. Since it seems highly likely that Ear will pass the written tests, he should arrange flights to arrive the evening before the Brain Bus date and plan to stay, at minimum, until the evening of the day after.

silvercamaro wrote:I went to a brain bus event in OKC several years ago.

Sorry for mistaking you for ghost, sc. Must have been the bad lighting.

gsabc wrote:Before rushing off, make sure of how the Brain Bus schedule works. I seem to recall from someone here who attended a Brain Bus event (I'm thinking ghostjmf) that the people who passed the 10 question test had to come back the next day for a more extensive interview. I don't recall if it included a more extensive test as well. The significant part of the memory for you, if I am indeed remembering correctly, is being available on another day.

Ghost, you around to clarify? Anyone else?

No need - I did a Brain Bus event here a few years ago. You are correct - the 10-question test was a "pre-qualifier" that got you an invite to the 50-question format the next day. Especially given that this event is on Friday evening, I'd bet that the actual test would be the next day.

Jeff flew to Vegas one day to do the Jeopardy Brain Bus event. He didn't realize that it was a two day thing, so he had made reservations to fly in and out the same day.

So he flew home and drove to Vegas the next morning.

It was a good story at his audition.

gsabc wrote:
Sorry for mistaking you for ghost, sc. Must have been the bad lighting.

No problem from my end, although ghost may not be so pleased. Perhaps I was standing in the most flattering possible light. Anyway, I think she has done a brain bus, too, so you were right all along.

gsabc says:

Sorry for mistaking you for ghost, sc. Must have been the bad lighting.

Gee, thanks. I did do a Brain Bus. Flunked the 1st, passed the 2nd. Then flunked the in-person next-day test. This year I repeated the flunk on the on-line test.

I know I'm not Jeopardy! material. I tell everyone "I'm just practising for Millionaire". Yeah.

To throw a spanner in the works, the J! people have been doing several Brain Bus events. They just did one in FL, I think. Don't bank on it, but they are likely to do a few more before the season is over. One of those might be more convenient for you.

I envy you for your wife's encouragement in this. I doubt that Mrs. Slam would do the same.

slam wrote:To throw a spanner in the works, the J! people have been doing several Brain Bus events. They just did one in FL, I think. Don't bank on it, but they are likely to do a few more before the season is over. One of those might be more convenient for you.

I envy you for your wife's encouragement in this. I doubt that Mrs. Slam would do the same.

If it weren't for the free airline ticket she probably wouldn't be so encouraging.

However reality has reared its ugly head and it's looking as if this trip will not happen. My boss is reluctant to let me take off for two days since the person who backstops me is retiring as of tomorrow (this has been in the works for a while) and there's no one to replace her yet, not to mention the fact that whoever it is won't be trained. He hasn't said no yet - the leave request is on his desk - but he did express concern.