World's Greatest Draft (3 Viewers)

[Fennis]

1.20 Mohandas Gandhi (Leader/Rebel)

Wiki intro:

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી, IPA: [moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi]) (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of satyagraha—resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa or total non-violence—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. He is commonly known around the world as Mahatma Gandhi (Sanskrit: महात्मा mahātmā or "Great Soul", an honorific first applied to him by Rabindranath Tagore) and in India also as Bapu (Gujarati: બાપુ bāpu or "Father"). He is officially honoured in India as the Father of the Nation; his birthday, 2 October, is commemorated there as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers in protesting excessive land-tax and discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, for expanding women's rights, for building religious and ethnic amity, for ending untouchability, for increasing economic self-reliance, but above all for achieving Swaraj—the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led Indians in the Non-cooperation movement in 1922 and in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (249 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, on numerous occasions, in both South Africa and India.

As a practitioner of Ahimsa Gandhi swore to speak the truth, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as means of both self-purification and social protest.

For everything he accomplished and all that he preached and symbolized, it speaks to the depth of this draft that he lasted to the end of the round.

As the Rebel judge, and being restricted to talking about rankings, I'll just say at first blush he would fit as a rebel. I haven't pre-ranked anyone, so I don't know if he would be #1 or #20, but he was one the early (not the first) names I thought of when I decided to judge the Rebel category.But since he is slotted as Leader, I don't have more to comment as a judge. But good pick Gandhi is very worthy of this draft.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

2.05 - Genghis Khan was the founder, Khan (ruler) and Khagan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history.

The last of the people I considered at 1.03... a total steal at this point, and should be the #1a Military person (with Alexander at 1b). I think he'll be a little lower on leaders, but strong there as well. Outstanding pick!

 

[Fennis]

PS I love Indian food.

 

[Abrantes]

PS I love Indian food.

 

[dparker713]

Its pretty provincial that consensus on Budda and Confucius is that they're good picks, but not in the running for the top spot.

And Sun Tzu is far and away the most influential military thinker of all time (and there's really only 1 other with broad influence) Its somewhat like the issue in the American draft where we had musical performers and songwriters lumped together.

BTW Tim, I have no idea why you're so down on Tesla, but he's a giant and his inventions are as responsible for modern life as anyone. Oh yeah, and unlike the guy ahead of him in the cat, he actually invented the stuff he's credited with.

And I wouldnt put Einstein or Newton first in the scientist category.

Again, the category isn't military thinker or theorist. It's military. It's hard to compare and contrast thinkers and doers, but Tzu isn't the #1 guy when they're all lumped together. As long as you're not judging science, I'm ok with that though I disagree. Unfortunately the guy I sniped for Newton is...

The category also isnt General or Warrior or Soldier. Im not saying he's a slam dunk for the top spot in the category, but battle scars fade, bodies rot, kingdoms crumble, but ideas can endure. As such, he deserves quite a bit of consideration for the top spot. As for scientist, in terms of iconography he doesnt compare to those two, but his contributions were wide ranging and fundamental. It'll be interesting as to when, or if, he gets drafted.

 

[thatguy]

Debating between two names here, will ponder the decision on the toilet and return with a clear mind to make my pick.

 

[Orange Crush]

Its pretty provincial that consensus on Budda and Confucius is that they're good picks, but not in the running for the top spot.

Very Those who took them can make a strong argument that they should be tops in their categories.

And Sun Tzu is far and away the most influential military thinker of all time (and there's really only 1 other with broad influence)

Right. Like when Alexander of Macedonia consulted his copy of The Art of War before the Battle of Issus.

 

[HERBERT THE HIPPO]

Debating between two names here, will ponder the decision on the toilet and return with a clear mind to make my pick.

It will be a crappy pick for sure..........

 

[Fennis]

Debating between two names here, will ponder the decision on the toilet and return with a clear mind to make my pick.

It will be a crappy pick for sure..........

http://www.repwars.com/PSP/crapper.html

 

[dparker713]

Right. Like when Alexander of Macedonia consulted his copy of The Art of War before the Battle of Issus.

The west doesnt have a monopoly on killing each other, and for the past 200 years it has been highly influential in the west as well.

 

[timschochet]

While thatguy ponders, a few comments:

Mozart was an overrated mediocrity!- Salieri

Kudos to Socrates for making Yankee's life a living Hell. You lawyers deserve it!

And finally, Andy wins this draft already. Why? Because I am not ####### around with Ghenghis Khan. You can if you want. If Andy's team (and I don't really care who else he drafts) comes anywhere near me I am out of here. Quick.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

While thatguy ponders, a few comments:

Mozart was an overrated mediocrity!- Salieri

Kudos to Socrates for making Yankee's life a living Hell. You lawyers deserve it!

And finally, Andy wins this draft already. Why? Because I am not ####### around with Ghenghis Khan. You can if you want. If Andy's team (and I don't really care who else he drafts) comes anywhere near me I am out of here. Quick.

I don't mean this as a knock on the pick, but as someone who was trained as a classical pianist, I have always found Mozart to be overrated crap. Hated learning his music. Hated playing it. It's not that it wasn't good, I just didn't find it capable of moving me the way Beethoven's music did, and has.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

As for the Socratic method - the method itself might be the best way to teach a given subject. It allows the student to see a problem from multiple facets and challenges him to "know" the subject in order to learn the subject.

The problem with the method is that most of the talentless hacks that couldn't make it in a courtroom that we call law professors use it as a blanket card to throw some downright stupid stuff into a classroom discussion. And they do it to make themselves look smarter, education on the actual law be damned.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Mozart was an overrated mediocrity!- Salieri

Genius v. Jealousy

 

[mad sweeney]

Its pretty provincial that consensus on Budda and Confucius is that they're good picks, but not in the running for the top spot.

Very Those who took them can make a strong argument that they should be tops in their categories.

And Sun Tzu is far and away the most influential military thinker of all time (and there's really only 1 other with broad influence)

Right. Like when Alexander of Macedonia consulted his copy of The Art of War before the Battle of Issus.

It's also widely belived, but unconfirmed that Ghengis' final words were "Sun Tzu ain't got #### on me!"

 

[dparker713]

As for the Socratic method - the method itself might be the best way to teach a given subject. It allows the student to see a problem from multiple facets and challenges him to "know" the subject in order to learn the subject.The problem with the method is that most of the talentless hacks that couldn't make it in a courtroom that we call law professors use it as a blanket card to throw some downright stupid stuff into a classroom discussion. And they do it to make themselves look smarter, education on the actual law be damned.

I loved after a discussion in Torts, I approached the professor to answer a question we'd been discussing in class without resolution. Her response "Well, thats the issue, isnt it?" ARRRGGGGGHHHHH. I still want to strangle her to this day.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Interesting article on Mozart's influence on Beethoven, and their brief (two week) meeting in Vienna:

Mozart and Beethoven

 

[timschochet]

Mozart was an overrated mediocrity!- Salieri

Genius v. Jealousy

 

[mad sweeney]

Debating between two names here, will ponder the decision on the toilet and return with a clear mind to make my pick.

Must be an epic BM.

 

[thatguy]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/Philosopher

For me there are three obvious choices at the top of this category. I am going with my personal favorite due to his lasting influence, not only for his work as a novelist but also as an essayist, education reformer, and philosopher/intellectual. For now I will slot him as a novelist, and there he will likely stay, but it's important that we take into account his full body of work. The man wrote two of the most important novels in the history of world literature in War and Peace and Anna Karenina . On top of that, his ideas on non-violent resistance as expressed in The Kingdom of God is Within You profoundly impacted the likes of Gandhi and other great men.

Leo Tolstoy, or Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: Лев Никола́евич Толсто́й?·i, Russian pronunciation: [lʲɛv nʲɪkɐˈlaɪvʲɪtɕ tɐlˈstoj]; September 9 [O.S. August 28] 1828 – November 20 [O.S. November 7] 1910), was a Russian writer widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time. His masterpieces, War and Peace and Anna Karenina, represent the peak of realist fiction in their scope, breadth and vivid depiction of 19th-century Russian life and mind.

Tolstoy's further talents as essayist, dramatist, and educational reformer made him the most influential member of the aristocratic Tolstoy family. His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Gandhi and [blank].

Novels and fictional works

Tolstoy was one of the giants of 19th century Russian literature. His most famous works include the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, and many shorter works, including the novellas The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Hadji Murad. His contemporaries paid him lofty tributes: Dostoevsky thought him the greatest of all living novelists while Gustave Flaubert gushed: "What an artist and what a psychologist!". Anton Chekhov, who often visited Tolstoy at his country estate, wrote: "When literature possesses a Tolstoy, it is easy and pleasant to be a writer; even when you know you have achieved nothing yourself and are still achieving nothing, this is not as terrible as it might otherwise be, because Tolstoy achieves for everyone. What he does serves to justify all the hopes and aspirations invested in literature." Later critics and novelists continue to bear testaments to his art: Virginia Woolf went on to declare him "greatest of all novelists", and James Joyce noted: "He is never dull, never stupid, never tired, never pedantic, never theatrical!". Thomas Mann wrote of his seemingly guileless artistry—"Seldom did art work so much like nature"—sentiments shared in part by many others, including Marcel Proust, William Faulkner, Vladimir Nabokov (who superlatively praised works such as Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilyich, questioned the reputation of War and Peace and harshly criticized Resurrection and The Kreutzer Sonata).

His autobiographical novels, Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth (1852–1856), his first publications, tell of a rich landowner's son and his slow realization of the differences between him and his peasants. Although in later life Tolstoy rejected these books as sentimental, a great deal of his own life is revealed, and the books still have relevance for their telling of the universal story of growing up.

Tolstoy served as a second lieutenant in an artillery regiment during the Crimean War, recounted in his Sevastapol Sketches. His experiences in battle helped develop his pacifism, and gave him material for realistic depiction of the horrors of war in his later work.

His fiction consistently attempts to convey realistically the Russian society in which he lived. The Cossacks (1863) describes the Cossack life and people through a story of a Russian aristocrat in love with a Cossack girl. Anna Karenina (1877) tells parallel stories of an adulterous woman trapped by the conventions and falsities of society and of a philosophical landowner (much like Tolstoy), who works alongside the peasants in the fields and seeks to reform their lives.

Tolstoy not only drew from his experience of life but created characters in his own image, such as Pierre Bezukhov and Prince Andrei in War and Peace, Levin in Anna Karenina and to some extent, Prince Nekhlyudov in Resurrection.

War and Peace is generally thought to be one of the greatest novels ever written, remarkable for its breadth and unity. Its vast canvas includes 580 characters, many historical, others fictional. The story moves from family life to the headquarters of Napoleon, from the court of Alexander I of Russia to the battlefields of Austerlitz and Borodino. Tolstoy's original idea for War and Peace was to investigate the causes of the Decembrist revolt, to which it refers only in the last chapters, from which can be deduced that Andrei Bolkonski's son will become one of the Decembrists. The novel explores Tolstoy's theory of history, and in particular the insignificance of individuals such as Napoleon and Alexander. Somewhat surprisingly, Tolstoy did not consider War and Peace to be a novel (nor did he consider many of the great Russian fictions written at that time to be novels). This view becomes less surprising if one considers that Tolstoy was a novelist of the realist school who considered the novel to be a framework for the examination of social and political issues in nineteenth-century life. War and Peace (which is to Tolstoy really an epic in prose) therefore did not qualify. Tolstoy thought that Anna Karenina was his first true novel, and it is indeed one of the greatest of all realist novels.

After Anna Karenina, Tolstoy concentrated on Christian themes, and his later novels such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1886) and What Then Must We Do? develop a radical anarcho-pacifist Christian philosophy which led to his excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901.

For all the due praise of Tolstoy's two great pillars of Russian Civilization, "Anna Karenina" and "War and Peace," Tolstoy rejected the two works later in his life as something not as true of reality. Such an argument is supported in "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" whose main character continually battles with his family and servants, requiring above the water and food needed to keep him alive, Ivan demands honesty.



Bibliography

* Childhood (Детство [Detstvo]; 1852)

* The Raid (1852)

* Boyhood (Отрочество [Otrochestvo]; 1854)

* Youth (Юность [Yunost']; 1856)

* Sevastopol Stories (Севастопольские рассказы [sevastopolskie Rasskazy]; 1855–56)

* Family Happiness (1859)

* The Cossacks (Казаки [Kazaki]; 1863)

* Ivan the Fool: A Lost Opportunity (1863)

* Polikushka (1863)

* War and Peace (Война и мир [Voyna i mir]; 1865–69)

* A Prisoner in the Caucasus (Кавказский Пленник [Kavkazskii Plennik]; 1872)

* Father Sergius (Отец Сергий [Otets Sergii]; 1873)

* Anna Karenina (Анна Каренина [Anna Karenina]; 1875–77)

* A Confession (1882)

* Strider: The Story of a Horse (1864, 1886)

* What I Believe (also called My Religion) (1884) complete text

* The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Смерть Ивана Ильича [smert' Ivana Il'icha]; 1886)

* How Much Land Does a Man Need? (Много ли человеку земли нужно [Mnogo li cheloveku zemli nuzhno]; 1886)

* The Power of Darkness (Власть тьмы [Vlast' t'my]; 1886), drama

* The Fruits of Culture (play) (1889)

* The Kreutzer Sonata and other stories (Крейцерова соната [Kreitserova Sonata]; 1889)

* The Kingdom of God is Within You (available at wikisource) (1894)

* Master and Man and other stories (1895)

* The Gospel in Brief (1896)

* What Is Art? (1897)

* Letter to the Liberals (1898)

* Resurrection (Воскресение [Voskresenie]; 1899)

* The Living Corpse (Живой труп [Zhivoi trup]; published 1911), drama

* Hadji Murat (Хаджи-Мурат [Khadzhi-Murat]; written in 1896-1904, published 1912)

* The law of love and the law of violence; publisehd in 1940

 

[thatguy]

I accidentally posted that in the Greatest American Draft first. Oops.

 

[Abrantes]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/PhilosopherFor me there are three obvious choices at the top of this category. I am going with my personal favorite due to his lasting influence, not only for his work as a novelist but also as an essayist, education reformer, and philosopher/intellectual. For now I will slot him as a novelist, and there he will likely stay, but it's important that we take into account his full body of work. The man wrote two of the most important novels in the history of world literature in War and Peace and Anna Karenina . On top of that, his ideas on non-violent resistance as expressed in The Kingdom of God is Within You profoundly impacted the likes of Gandhi and other great men.

YOU!Thought I had a shot at getting him later since he's not a consensus #1 in the category, but apparently not. Incredible author, and a great pick. PS. You're despicable.

 

[thatguy]

Sorry man. I really love books and literature, so I wanted to land who I considered the top novelist, even if he is not the consensus top pick in the category. It's also one of the main reasons I went Gutenberg. I got the guy who gave us printed books, and a guy who wrote them better than almost anyone else in history.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/Philosopher

You're brave dipping your toes into the novelist pool first. There are handful of people who you could make case for being at the top here, and Tolstoy is definitely one of them (though wouldn't be my number 1).

 

[thatguy]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/Philosopher

You're brave dipping your toes into the novelist pool first. There are handful of people who you could make case for being at the top here, and Tolstoy is definitely one of them (though wouldn't be my number 1).

For me there is only one other guy who could be #1, simply because he was "first". But I think Tolstoy's body of work is stronger, and his influence outside of the literary realm puts him over the top in my book.

 

[Abrantes]

Sorry man. I really love books and literature, so I wanted to land who I considered the top novelist, even if he is not the consensus top pick in the category. It's also one of the main reasons I went Gutenberg. I got the guy who gave us printed books, and a guy who wrote them better than almost anyone else in history.

Nah, it's cool. Really glad he was the first novelist to go. His work is mesmerizing.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Mozart was an overrated mediocrity!- Salieri

Genius v. Jealousy

First thing I thought of when I saw your quote.

Here's a more in depth article - Beethoven and Mozart Compared

As this ongoing debate is over 175 years old, doubtful we'll be settling it in this draft.

 

[timschochet]

Tolstoy certainly belongs at the top of the novelist category- along with about 6-7 others. Like the painter category, this ought to be deep with incredible talent and it will take a lot of effort to make a bad pick here (though I bet somebody will!)

But Tolstoy is a fine pick. I enjoyed War And Peace- Pierre is a great character. Never read Anna Karenina.

As an intellectual, Tolstoy was one of the few eminent Russians to speak against the anti-Semitism of the Black Hundreds, which caused so many Jews to emigrate from Russia. He was a liberal who also wrote against the excesses of the Tsars, to whom he was loyal; had his advice been taken, history would certainly have changed.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Tolstoy certainly belongs at the top of the novelist category- along with about 6-7 others. Like the painter category, this ought to be deep with incredible talent and it will take a lot of effort to make a bad pick here (though I bet somebody will!)

But Tolstoy is a fine pick. I enjoyed War And Peace- Pierre is a great character. Never read Anna Karenina.

As an intellectual, Tolstoy was one of the few eminent Russians to speak against the anti-Semitism of the Black Hundreds, which caused so many Jews to emigrate from Russia. He was a liberal who also wrote against the excesses of the Tsars, to whom he was loyal; had his advice been taken, history would certainly have changed.

Both categories represent a slight risk IMO; may end up 1st or 6th depending on the whims of a judge.Terrific pick, but it's a tough sell as clear #1.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/Philosopher

You're brave dipping your toes into the novelist pool first. There are handful of people who you could make case for being at the top here, and Tolstoy is definitely one of them (though wouldn't be my number 1).

For me there is only one other guy who could be #1, simply because he was "first". But I think Tolstoy's body of work is stronger, and his influence outside of the literary realm puts him over the top in my book.

I'm not sure he's the best Russian writer that will be drafted... but like I said, he's definitely in a good group near the top.

 

[thatguy]

Tolstoy certainly belongs at the top of the novelist category- along with about 6-7 others. Like the painter category, this ought to be deep with incredible talent and it will take a lot of effort to make a bad pick here (though I bet somebody will!)

But Tolstoy is a fine pick. I enjoyed War And Peace- Pierre is a great character. Never read Anna Karenina.

As an intellectual, Tolstoy was one of the few eminent Russians to speak against the anti-Semitism of the Black Hundreds, which caused so many Jews to emigrate from Russia. He was a liberal who also wrote against the excesses of the Tsars, to whom he was loyal; had his advice been taken, history would certainly have changed.

Both categories represent a slight risk IMO; may end up 1st or 6th depending on the whims of a judge.Terrific pick, but it's a tough sell as clear #1.

IMO there is a pretty definite top three, and I'm happy as long as he is included there.There is a guy on the board who should be a lock for #2 in his category, and I almost went there, but I stuck with Tolstoy for personal preference.

I also almost went with a guy who I think is the clear cut #3 in his category, but I think his category is also rather deep.

 

[larry_boy_44]

Tolstoy certainly belongs at the top of the novelist category- along with about 6-7 others. Like the painter category, this ought to be deep with incredible talent and it will take a lot of effort to make a bad pick here (though I bet somebody will!)

But Tolstoy is a fine pick. I enjoyed War And Peace- Pierre is a great character. Never read Anna Karenina.

As an intellectual, Tolstoy was one of the few eminent Russians to speak against the anti-Semitism of the Black Hundreds, which caused so many Jews to emigrate from Russia. He was a liberal who also wrote against the excesses of the Tsars, to whom he was loyal; had his advice been taken, history would certainly have changed.

Michael Crichton on deck!

 

[krista4]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/Philosopher

You're brave dipping your toes into the novelist pool first. There are handful of people who you could make case for being at the top here, and Tolstoy is definitely one of them (though wouldn't be my number 1).

I agree that there are several who have a good case for #1. I have my top five ranked in order but expect to get plenty of grief when rankings are announced, since each of the five reasonably could go first. I note that thatguy left himself some wiggle room to move Tolstoy later, too.

 

[thatguy]

Leo Tolstoy - Novelist/Intellectual/Philosopher

You're brave dipping your toes into the novelist pool first. There are handful of people who you could make case for being at the top here, and Tolstoy is definitely one of them (though wouldn't be my number 1).

For me there is only one other guy who could be #1, simply because he was "first". But I think Tolstoy's body of work is stronger, and his influence outside of the literary realm puts him over the top in my book.

I'm not sure he's the best Russian writer that will be drafted... but like I said, he's definitely in a good group near the top.

I put him a notch above the other guy. Although I love them both.

 

[GTBilly]

I have to admit, this is not going the way I thought it would through the first half of the first round. I wouldn't change my mind on my pick, but my plans for round two have changed dramatically.

I knew the Stalin - Hitler comparison would come up. In truth, I have Stalin as a top 5 as well, so I'm not going to argue one is much much better then the other. To me Hitler hits another level of evil though. But, again, I don't think either is wrong, and in VBD terms, getting Stalin where he was taken is probably better "value" then getting Hitler where I got him.

I Had Hitler and Stalin as top 5 overall as well, but Hitler was my 1.01.Stalin was a right ******* , but his methodology was different.

Hitler was the more evil IMHO and getting him at 1:06 was a steal.

If I was the judge for Villain, I’d have them 1 & 2.

There have been murderous pricks throughout history and I will have to take one of them down the line, but even if I get my #3, he could be rated anywhere from 3 to 20 by the judge.

Hitler and Stalin cannot be judged any worse than 3rd or 4th and if the judge ranks 2 above them I’d love to see the explanation

We'll just have to see won't we...

 

[GTBilly]

Hitler and Stalin cannot be judged any worse than 3rd or 4th and if the judge ranks 2 above them I’d love to see the explanation

Depends on if you think the pen is mightier than the sword.

Oh trust me you will. I will field all question's and debate all options, then again you and I maybe in complete agreement. I am avoiding all comment on both of my categories until draft is finished, but I am taking notes.

 

[timschochet]

I have to admit, this is not going the way I thought it would through the first half of the first round. I wouldn't change my mind on my pick, but my plans for round two have changed dramatically.

I knew the Stalin - Hitler comparison would come up. In truth, I have Stalin as a top 5 as well, so I'm not going to argue one is much much better then the other. To me Hitler hits another level of evil though. But, again, I don't think either is wrong, and in VBD terms, getting Stalin where he was taken is probably better "value" then getting Hitler where I got him.

I Had Hitler and Stalin as top 5 overall as well, but Hitler was my 1.01.Stalin was a right ******* , but his methodology was different.

Hitler was the more evil IMHO and getting him at 1:06 was a steal.

If I was the judge for Villain, I’d have them 1 & 2.

There have been murderous pricks throughout history and I will have to take one of them down the line, but even if I get my #3, he could be rated anywhere from 3 to 20 by the judge.

Hitler and Stalin cannot be judged any worse than 3rd or 4th and if the judge ranks 2 above them I’d love to see the explanation

We'll just have to see won't we...Mu hu ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

Fixed.So speaks our villian judge, Dr. Evil.

 

[Ozymandias]

2.05 - Genghis Khan was the founder, Khan (ruler) and Khagan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history.

The last of the people I considered at 1.03... a total steal at this point, and should be the #1a Military person (with Alexander at 1b). I think he'll be a little lower on leaders, but strong there as well. Outstanding pick!

EXACTLY RIGHT! Genghis Khan at 1a and Alexander at 1b. Why?Well, Alexander was born with a silver sword in his mouth, and got a running start. Genghis Khan started with nothing, an orphan abandoned by his clan. He gradually built up, subduing or allying himself with others, and gradually gaining the ascendancy. He unified the Mongols under his reign, and then he established an empire, conquered most of China, and spread westward until he had the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world. He was a brilliant battlefield tactician, knew how do use cavalry and infantry, and developed an army where merit and not family considerations were the means of advancement. To my knowledge he never lost a battle, and his armies came to the gates of Europe, defeating the Hungarians and the Poles.BRILLIANT PICK!

 

[flysack]

Tolstoy certainly belongs at the top of the novelist category- along with about 6-7 others. Like the painter category, this ought to be deep with incredible talent and it will take a lot of effort to make a bad pick here (though I bet somebody will!)

But Tolstoy is a fine pick. I enjoyed War And Peace- Pierre is a great character. Never read Anna Karenina.

As an intellectual, Tolstoy was one of the few eminent Russians to speak against the anti-Semitism of the Black Hundreds, which caused so many Jews to emigrate from Russia. He was a liberal who also wrote against the excesses of the Tsars, to whom he was loyal; had his advice been taken, history would certainly have changed.

Both categories represent a slight risk IMO; may end up 1st or 6th depending on the whims of a judge.Terrific pick, but it's a tough sell as clear #1.

IMO there is a pretty definite top three, and I'm happy as long as he is included there.There is a guy on the board who should be a lock for #2 in his category, and I almost went there, but I stuck with Tolstoy for personal preference.

I also almost went with a guy who I think is the clear cut #3 in his category, but I think his category is also rather deep.

I would like to point out that the category isn't "Novelist," but "Novelist/Short Stories." For that reason, there is a clear-cut #1 IMO. One guy was the best at both without necessarily being the best at one or the other (but top 5, certainly). EDIT: Ok, I just thought of another guy who could rival him. I still say my guy is #1. For the category, Tolstoy is 3rd at best. I'll keep quiet now, at risk of spotlighting.

 

[Ozymandias]

When I saw that I was picking 18th, my first thought was it's going to be tough from there.

I had no idea that I would end up with two solid candidates for #1 in category picks after the turn.

2.03 (23rd pick) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Composer

A child prodigy, Mozart wrote his first symphony when he was eight years old and his first opera at 12. He went on to write some of the most important masterpieces of the Classical era, including symphonies, operas, string quartets and piano music. One of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. His works are loved by many and are frequently performed.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik is perhaps the most beautiful sound ever know to mankind. Listen and see if you agree:

I have to go with Beethoven at 1a and Mozart at 1b. No one else is in the same tier.

 

[flysack]

Mozart is definitely one of the top two composers drafted so far.

 

[Orange Crush]

Mozart is definitely one of the top two composers drafted so far.

 

[thatguy]

Tolstoy certainly belongs at the top of the novelist category- along with about 6-7 others. Like the painter category, this ought to be deep with incredible talent and it will take a lot of effort to make a bad pick here (though I bet somebody will!)

But Tolstoy is a fine pick. I enjoyed War And Peace- Pierre is a great character. Never read Anna Karenina.

As an intellectual, Tolstoy was one of the few eminent Russians to speak against the anti-Semitism of the Black Hundreds, which caused so many Jews to emigrate from Russia. He was a liberal who also wrote against the excesses of the Tsars, to whom he was loyal; had his advice been taken, history would certainly have changed.

Both categories represent a slight risk IMO; may end up 1st or 6th depending on the whims of a judge.Terrific pick, but it's a tough sell as clear #1.

IMO there is a pretty definite top three, and I'm happy as long as he is included there.There is a guy on the board who should be a lock for #2 in his category, and I almost went there, but I stuck with Tolstoy for personal preference.

I also almost went with a guy who I think is the clear cut #3 in his category, but I think his category is also rather deep.

I would like to point out that the category isn't "Novelist," but "Novelist/Short Stories." For that reason, there is a clear-cut #1 IMO. One guy was the best at both without necessarily being the best at one or the other (but top 5, certainly). EDIT: Ok, I just thought of another guy who could rival him. I still say my guy is #1. For the category, Tolstoy is 3rd at best. I'll keep quiet now, at risk of spotlighting.

I know who you're referring to, and I disagree. Just my opinion man. Although I think he is in the top three. I will say again, I think there is a very clearly defined top three, and I'm happy as long as Tolstoy ends up there.

 

[Orange Crush]

I have this incredible urge now to re-install Civilization.

 

[thatguy]

It's a little unfair, IMO, to call him third at best. I'd be curious to see who outside of the other two that I think we're both referring to would rival him for a spot in the top three.

 

[Ozymandias]

I have this incredible urge now to re-install Civilization.

Wait until after Global Thermonuclear War.Then we'll be ready.

 

[larry_boy_44]

I have this incredible urge now to re-install Civilization.

I have an urge to re-install Windows in order to re-install Civilization...but I won't...although I have some weird Civ for Linux thing... it seems ok, but it doesn't fit my laptop monitor well and is awkward to play...

 

[flysack]

I have this incredible urge now to re-install Civilization.

I thought the same thing earlier today.

 

[flysack]

It's a little unfair, IMO, to call him third at best. I'd be curious to see who outside of the other two that I think we're both referring to would rival him for a spot in the top three.

Stop trying to make my head hurt.

 

[BobbyLayne]

It's a little unfair, IMO, to call him third at best. I'd be curious to see who outside of the other two that I think we're both referring to would rival him for a spot in the top three.

I was thinking Tolstoy is third at worst.

In my earlier statement of 1st or 6th I was thinking more of painters.

I think your safe with the strategy you thought out, we'll see how it plays out.