If I called any of you nerds, I was just joking. (1209 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.87 on 76 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Indoninja (View user info) at 2007-07-25 08:35:21 EDT
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/07/24/07242007wacarsoncourt.html
A career ruined: Man's sentence follows long-distance Internet squabble, arson
By Erin Quinn
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Two years ago, Russell Tavares was a clean-cut 25-year-old entrusted with "very high clearance" in missile and fire control in the U.S. Navy, officials say.
Now he's the subject of a bizarre, tragic story — one that McLennan County investigators say would be a fitting plot for a television crime drama about short tempers, long-distance vendettas and the Internet's ability to bring various personalities into conflict.
Tavares was involved in an Internet chat room squabble with John Anderson, a 59-year-old Elm Mott resident. Anderson said he called Tavares "a nerd."
Tavares' response: He took a leave of absence from the Navy. Drove from Virginia to Waco. Set fire to Anderson's trailer home.
Monday, he pleaded guilty to a felony arson charge and was sentenced to seven years in a Texas prison. He was discharged from his post in the military.
No remorse was shown, officials say, as Tavares was scolded by 54th District Judge Matt Johnson during Monday's court proceedings for taking pictures of Anderson with his cell phone camera.
What led a man with the utmost trust from the U.S. military to throw it all away to take revenge on a man 1,300 miles away is still a mystery — even with a formal confession from Tavares.
Officials say there was simply another side to this man — a side that was seen publicly on various Web sites.
Tavares was obsessed, officials say, with fire, guns and knives. Using the screen names "pyrodice" and "illpackapistol," he posted pictures of himself online pointing firearms at certain people, Assistant District Attorney Jason Darling said.
It was on one of those Internet sites, orfay.com, that Tavares, of King George, Va., met Anderson, who owns Museum of Horrors Haunted House along Interstate 35 in Elm Mott. Anderson digitally touches up photos in his spare time and posts them on the site where people post pictures and chat.
Anderson said his page became the most popular on the Web site and a small group of individuals from all over the world started trying to pick fights and critique his photos. For example, Anderson said, some would make sexual statements about some of the photos of children.
One of those who got involved was Tavares. Anderson said he made fun of the pictures posted on Tavares' page of himself, comparing him to a "white Steve Urkel."
Anderson said he posted "Revenge of the Nerds" above a picture of Tavares with no shirt and carrying a gun.
"There was no real fight other than I called him a nerd," Anderson said. "And then he said he was going to kill me."
And in October 2005, Tavares took a leave of absence from the Navy. He drove from the base in Virginia to Waco.
He took a picture of himself in each state he passed through, posting it on his Web site. The photo of him by the Texas welcome sign was dated Oct. 9. Tavares' Waco-based attorney, Susan Kelly Johnston, said she was unaware whether her client intentionally came to Waco to seek revenge on Anderson or if he took a detour to Waco on his way from Virginia to his parents' home in Arizona.
Law enforcement officials say they don't know, either.
But Tavares' intention that day, officials say, was to knock on Anderson's door, point a shotgun in his face to scare him, then fire a round at his computer.
No one was injured in the fire, but Anderson said it caused more than $50,000 in damages. The trailer, located behind the haunted house, was a total loss.
James Pack, a detective with the McLennan County Sheriff's Office, and Janine Mather, an arson investigator with the State Fire Marshal's Office, began investigating the long line of people Anderson thought might have set the fire.
Talking with people who post images on orfay.com from Waco to Virginia to Spain, Pack said he began to have suspicions about Tavares.
Pack worked closely with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and other government officials, he said.
"I've worked plenty of arson cases, but never one as bizarre as this one," Pack said. "Most are committed for money or getting back at somebody. This one he blames on the computer. Tavares said if it wasn't for the computer, this wouldn't have happened.
"This was one of the hardest cases I've worked," said Pack, a 13-year veteran of the sheriff's office. "It was just a rollercoaster for me. It was definitely an experience."
But even after spending between three and four months on the case, culminating with Tavares' arrest in Arizona, Pack said he still doesn't understand what prompted Tavares to go to such lengths to commit a crime against a man across the country whom he had never met. Tavares had no previous criminal record, he said.
"(Tavares) is a very smart person with fire," Pack said. "He knows his stuff. But now he's just a guy that's ruined his whole entire career."
User Reviews
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-07-26 12:52:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
goddamn, thats why im fairly nice online man, you never know who you're dealing with.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2007-07-25 21:32:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Shlongy, if by "be prepared" you mean "have scotch ready" then I say "yes."
Also, donkey punching doesn't work.
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-07-25 17:28:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I call dibs on the retard at the back left.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 15:17:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
rob berg thinks that comment was about him.
what a weirdo.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:40:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:17:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/110477
come on...+2 it for a good cause...keep it on the front page! :-D
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haha - now THAT is classic.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:20:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:17:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/110477
come on...+2 it for a good cause...keep it on the front page! :-D
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didn't even know it was you, but as that is my one uber principal, and more importantly I won't open it at work again the -2 will stay.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:17:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/110477
come on...+2 it for a good cause...keep it on the front page! :-D
Submitted by BranDo (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:05:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Those 2 kids on the left have a Dachau Hairdo.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:04:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nerd.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:01:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
imo keel joo
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:53:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:43:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
How can you cause $50k in damage to a trailer?
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It was a doublewide...
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:43:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
How can you cause $50k in damage to a trailer?
Submitted by Acarnis (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:24:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
The shotgun to the computer would have been more funny.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:23:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:16:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:40:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
funny how shit like this always happens in texas.
good story, but why post it here?
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i think you have texas mixed up with ohio...
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Or wherever the fuck ToxicNarcotic wanted to fly you for the big fight.
Submitted by DeathJester (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:23:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Their pockets, they need protecting.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:20:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Doesn't matter, dickless...I have enough ammo to make WACO look like Fourth of July Sparklers.
Submitted by Bohme (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:18:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:10:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
All I ask of any of you fucking jackoff Uber losers is to let me know before you come to do harm to my house, so I can be prepared.
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Fat chance.
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:16:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:40:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
funny how shit like this always happens in texas.
good story, but why post it here?
===============================================
i think you have texas mixed up with ohio...
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:10:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
All I ask of any of you fucking jackoff Uber losers is to let me know before you come to do harm to my house, so I can be prepared.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:02:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 10:18:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
'Medical Experiment Ring Toss'
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 10:03:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
it's the aryan amusement park!
fun for the whole WASP family
in small print(no chinks, spiks, jews or niggers allowed)
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 10:03:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The one legged jew race
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2007-07-25 10:00:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
The SS SS Pirate Swing Ship
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:57:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The grenade and spoon race
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:56:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Dr Mengele's Shower o' Fun
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:53:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
'Escape from Auschwitz' obstacle course.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:50:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i can't stop...
guard house bungee jump
ok, last one.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:41:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
the "gaza strip" funhouse
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:40:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
there's only so much milk a cow can give cwzij...shhhhhht
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:39:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
not just holocaust - the "gulag archipeligo" ride would be like the pirates of the carribean except with soviet army and KGB types instead of pirates
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:38:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
There will be wigs too..........
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:35:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What a badass idea - an amusement park based on the holocaust. I'm not sure how many people would come, but the premise is promising.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:35:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:33:57 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:31:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:30:49 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
Indo, you forget that the 1st participants of the gas chambers were mental and social defectives.
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How the fuck did you escape then?
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Lets have hate sex.
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That depends on your position re: donkey punching.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:35:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hilarity can we have clown sex?? I will bring the juggling balls.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:34:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
mengele's house of mirrors!
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:34:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:32:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"participants"...you make it sound fun.
come and try the zyklon-b waterslide!!!1
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Hahaha
Zyklon does sound like it could be the name of an awesome roller coaster.
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:33:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:31:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:30:49 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
Indo, you forget that the 1st participants of the gas chambers were mental and social defectives.
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How the fuck did you escape then?
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Lets have hate sex.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:32:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"participants"...you make it sound fun.
come and try the zyklon-b waterslide!!!1
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:31:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:30:49 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
Indo, you forget that the 1st participants of the gas chambers were mental and social defectives.
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How the fuck did you escape then?
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:31:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Drogo people are talking about you!
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:30:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Indo, you forget that the 1st participants of the gas chambers were mental and social defectives.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:28:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:26:45 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
whoa!!!!!
I put in a pic that took me 30 sec to google and rename.
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FUCK!!!! Sorry man!
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:27:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:20:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
lol, these people are all gas chambers candidates
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Come on Caul, only two of them look jewish..
Yeah I went there.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:26:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:41:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:40:33 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
funny how shit like this always happens in texas.
good story, but why post it here?
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More to the point, why +2 a Copy & Paste?
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whoa!!!!!
I put in a pic that took me 30 sec to google and rename.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:25:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
imagine hanging out with those guys, I would be so cooooool, the leader of the geek patrol, they would stand aghast at my tales.
hehe I so have to hang out with Drogo.
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:22:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Caul, I seriously love you sometimes. You know, in that totally forbidden Canadian/American way.
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:21:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:08:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I feel bad for that kid all the way on the left.
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Dont feel sorry for him. He just thought it was 'Casual Geek Day' but everyone was playing a prank on him because it was actually 'Class photo Day'.
hahahah lolz !1!!!!!111111111 Nerd boy got pwned.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:20:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
lol, these people are all gas chambers candidates
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:14:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
that picture is, well, um, unfortunate? the highwater jeans are a nice touch.
Submitted by CHR15 (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:13:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:10:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
He may be getting ready to chop the child next to hims head off and hold it up proudly.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:08:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I feel bad for that kid all the way on the left.
he has no glasses, with tape, button down or pens. He probably gets schooled in chess and taunted for his limited vocabulary and poor scholastic performance all day.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:07:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
picture of ubercon 2004?
my, how bart has lost weight
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-07-25 09:00:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I bet the kid with the too short black trousers and the rather interesting ears is bursting to go all Techno on someones ass.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:59:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
hey go hang out on my post Hilarity!
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:58:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I think the fat kid in the middles already eaten his.
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:58:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Anyone wanna take bets on which kid in that pic kills his family first? My money's on the kid to the far left.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:58:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
below below
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:57:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:55:36 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
Do you not follow the news? Christ keep up Em.
p.s I prefer the shed at the bottom of the garden.....................
Your garden.
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Well im glad I dont have a garden or a shed or a drogo in my shed in my garden.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:57:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
garden gnome below
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:57:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Jesus Bret, that was truly funny. I lolled even.
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:55:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:53:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I hope its drogo for some really odd crime like painting a cats anus blue and sticking a white hat on its tail, pretending its a smurf. Then being found a giggling mess in a nearbye barn covered in hay.
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Do you not follow the news? Christ keep up Em.
p.s I prefer the shed at the bottom of the garden.....................
Your garden.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:53:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I hope its drogo for some really odd crime like painting a cats anus blue and sticking a white hat on its tail, pretending its a smurf. Then being found a giggling mess in a nearbye barn covered in hay.
Submitted by raebuf (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:52:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:48:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm giving this a +2 b/c I can't wait for the day Uber is in the news. My bet is either it's gonna be ETS or Oathy that wigs out first.
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I HAVE FUCKING HAD IT WITH YOU AND YOUR DISRESPECT. I JUICE BECAUSE THE CHICKS DIG IT AND IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEN KINDLY FUCK OFF.
IN FACT, I'M SO MAD AT YOU RIGHT NOW, HILARITY, THAT I'M GOING TO POP AN EXTRA DOSE OF D-BOL SO THAT WHEN I GO TO THE GYM THIS AFTERNOON I'MO GET SO FUCKING PUMPED THAT MY BICEPS SPROUT LEGS, RUN OVER TO WHERE YOU LIVE AND BASH YOUR HEAD THROUGH THE NEAREST ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE.
...that should make the news.
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:48:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm giving this a +2 b/c I can't wait for the day Uber is in the news. My bet is either it's gonna be ETS or Oathy that wigs out first.
Oathy's got the roid rage going for him, but ETS has the whole Waco Texas thing going for him, so I don't know who'd gonna go crazy first. I do see ETS having a stand-off with the Feds/ATF/Swat though. It's gonna be better than watching OJ run from the police.
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:48:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Pocket savers - Check
More pens than you will ever need seeing as you use a computer - Check
Weird fat Paedophile mentor - Check
Combed forward hair to hide as much forehead as possible - Check
Glasses, make sure they are repaired with elasto plast in the middle - Check.
Boy you are now a geek, congratulations.
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:48:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
pens in the pockets.
nice look.
wait...
i used to look like that.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:46:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
plus who EVER wears those white shirts without a collar?? I mean just no.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:45:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
heh, dorks
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:45:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
those jeans with the pockets!
i gotta have those.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:42:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
has the short nerd got tassles on his jeans?
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:41:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:40:33 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
funny how shit like this always happens in texas.
good story, but why post it here?
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More to the point, why +2 a Copy & Paste?
Submitted by czwij (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:40:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
funny how shit like this always happens in texas.
good story, but why post it here?
Submitted by raebuf (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:39:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
OathMeal, back row, just right of center.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-07-25 08:39:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sucks to be that guy.
Nerd.