The Blazers And...
by Dave on Aug 4, 2009 12:00 AM PDT
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PrintWe've had quite the variety of posts so far this off-season. A quick scan through the archives will show you tons of draft, Summer League, salary cap, free agent, and trade posts plus multiple looks at Blazer players, plenty of chat about management, and lots of gooey frosting covering the state of the roster, Portland's immediate and long-range goals, and plenty of fan opinion on Blazers past, present, and future. We've seen contests in the sidebar, throwdowns in the comment section, depression over Turkoglu, elation over Miller, and confusion over the Roy and Aldridge contract situation. We've heard tons of rumors, celebrated great mainstream media columns penned nationally and locally, lamented foolish ones from both sources, and seen guest appearances by statisticians, salary gurus, Blazer officials, and some of you as well.
I don't know about you, but after all that I'm pretty stuffed. So we're going to take a one-day-only break (sort of) from Blazer talk. (I do have at least one Blazer observation below.) We're all passionate about the Blazers or we wouldn't be here. This post is titled "The Blazers And..." because I'd like to hear about the other passions in your life that approach the level of Blazer fandom for you. In effect each comment could start with the line "I'm passionate about the Blazers and..." and you fill in the blanks from there. Anything is fair game as long as its content is site-appropriate. Write at length or just make a list, whichever you choose.
I'll share a couple things from my life that probably approach the level of my devotion to the Blazers. The first and most obvious one has to be Baby Point Guard, who has rapidly developed into Toddler Point Guard. He's 20 months old now. That's right...if you remember the post announcing his entrance into this world you've been reading here for almost two years now. (To some that still makes you a new-timer!) There aren't many calls I feel much deeper than the one you see me pursue right now but I honestly consider every moment I get to spend with the little guy a miracle. Oh, you don't see many big moments...at least not moments that would seem big to anybody but a dad. It just things like the other evening when I was taking him for a ride in a little plastic car with a long handle that he sits in and I push. We live in a small town and pretty much walk right down the side of the street. He doesn't know a ton of words yet but every time we'd get to an intersection he'd say, "Dad! Dad!" and point the way he wanted to go. We went on the longest walk--about 40 minutes--with him sitting there steering the whole time. People would walk next to us for a while and talk and he just thought that was dandy. I remember thinking as we got home that he wasn't going to fit in that little car much longer and that all too soon I'd be tossing him keys to my real car and praying that he'd be careful at those same intersections.
He also provides his share of hilarity. He loves to vacuum the carpet with the real vacuum, which is about three times his size. He'll get behind it, ask you to push the release lever on the handle, and then manhandle that thing all around the living room, holding on over his head. He turns it on and off too. Or the other night he wanted marshmallows for a snack before bed. This is another one of his small cadre of vocabulary words, except he calls them "mi-mi's". So he calls me in the kitchen and says, "Dad! Mi-mi! Mi-mi!" I wasn't thrilled about the sugary end to his day so I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I don't know where they are!" knowing that his mother had hidden them in a special drawer instead of his usual snack cupboard for just this reason. He looked at me, walked over to the secret drawer (which is above his eye level but not his reach), pulled it open, pointed to the corner where the bag was, and said, "Mi-mi. Peese?" He got his marshmallow. "Please" is one of his recent words and I wanted to reinforce its use, after all. Yeah, that was it.
I suppose the other thing I continue to be passionate about is work with the kids and youth in town. Once upon a time we started with a few young guys and a couple board games. They'd come over and play games with pastor, chat, and generally hang out. A couple years later this has ballooned to a whole bookshelf full of games (plus an extensive DVD collection...we're working our way through classic Star Trek episodes and movies now), a raft of kids, and more afternoons and evenings than I care to count. Somehow it's always a delight to get a call or have somebody show up at the door to hang. These generations are growing up in such marvelous ways but they're also missing some things I took for granted when I was a kid: relaxation time, attention from somebody, the chance to use your imagination and explore and talk and reflect without being guided towards a certain goal or achievement. It makes me feel good that there's a little corner of the world where those things are preserved I guess.
Whoa. That was more than I intended to type. But I suppose that's the point of the post. You've shared your Blazer love. Clue us in on your other great devotions. They don't have to be deep. If you love water skiing or collecting Hello Kitty paraphernalia, go for it! Let us know who's out there and what you do. It'll be a refreshing read for all of us before we get back to Blazer business tomorrow.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
P.S. Oops! Forgot the Blazer-related point. I think I've said this before but it's come to mind again. Reflecting on spending time with my son and how precious that is (in every sense of the word) made me think about all of these Blazers who have children of their own and all of the time they have to spend away from them. I think if I saw Brandon Roy out in public alone I'd feel fine about saying, "Hey, Brandon!" and thanking him for what he does. But if I saw Roy out with his kids, you know what? I'd leave them alone no matter how much I wanted an autograph and even if I felt this was my only chance to see him ever. Those kids don't get a lot of those moments even compared to my own son, and I'm a pretty busy guy. I believe it's possible (and necessary) to be successful at work and parenting both, but there needs to be some boundary between the two. It must be awfully hard for NBA guys to keep that boundary strong. We'd probably all help by assisting in that effort if presented the chance. And if a player was short with me or had no time for me I think I'd take that in stride as long as I knew he was using some of his time and energy with his family and not treating them that way too. We get what we need by watching him on the basketball court. They need so much more. And part of these players' success in life is learning how to give that to the ones they love. Here's hoping they're as good with that as they are with a basketball.
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I care more about my faith in Jesus Christ than anything else
I may not always live like a Christian should (or post on Bedge like a Christian should), but I always regret those times. I try to make my decisions be consistent with that. For me, it is not What Would Jesus Do, because He could do lots of things I can never do, but What Does Jesus Want? Usually, it is obvious what he wants — the difficulty is doing it.
I love my family deeply, and my Christian faith drives me to be the best husband and father I can be.
My faith drives me to be a good employee, a good neighbour, a good friend. It should impact every part of my life, and if it doesn’t, at the root of the problem, I have not failed my neighbours, my friends, or my employer, I have failed my God, for if I followed Him as I should have, I would not have failed them. And if I do not fail them, it is because I have somehow managed to be faithful to my God.
I know religion is sometimes not a welcome topic, but you asked, and that is where I am.
As an aside, that is also why I find it hard to not respond when people post things that criticize the Christian faith. A person may have a different view, and that is entirely their right. But when they are mocking or criticizing the most important thing in the world to you, it isn’t easy to just let it slide as if it doesn’t matter.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
by jscot on Aug 4, 2009 12:34 AM PDT reply actions 14 recs
it takes a lot of willpower to avoid commenting in those situations
I applaud your restraint
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
I sometimes do comment
but I try to remember to stop and ask myself, “Will this end up being profitable at all? Is there any chance of a useful discussion? Heat or light?” Sometimes, the optimist in me wins out and I give a response.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I think in this context
the religion thing is OK. I think we can handle it if we all make a compact not to argue with others’ passions…just appreciate them for what they are. Also, I suppose, our passions shouldn’t be thinly-veiled attempts to argue people towards one way or another. (Which JScot’s isn’t.) That way this doesn’t become a pro-religion or anti-religion thread, which would obviously submarine it.
Everybody just use common sense and take care of each other.
—Dave
Yeah, it seemed to fit
Now, I wish others shared my faith, but it isn’t because it would make me feel better about my faith or myself. It wouldn’t. But I just feel sad to see so many people without what it brings.
But trying to argue someone into faith never works, whether it is a thinly veiled argument or not. They have to make that decision themselves, or it is entirely worthless. Faith under pressure is no faith at all.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I find this insulting
I am much happier without religion and the thing it brought me and I don’t appreciate the condescension
by shteveo on Aug 4, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm sorry you see it that way
because that is not the intent at all. If you’ve found something good, it isn’t insulting or condescending to say you wish others shared it.
Now, if your experience with religion has been negative, you certainly aren’t alone in that. But I’m not talking about your experience with religion, or what others may have experienced, I’m talking about what faith has brought me, and I wish everyone had it.
If you choose to view that as insulting or condescending, that is your choice, but it is not intended that way, and it isn’t objectively insulting or condescending, either.
If someone who has a great marriage says they wish everyone could have what they have, is that insulting or condescending?
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I think
in deference to keeping the conversation on everyone’s passions the responses to the responses to the responses in this section of the thread should wrap up now. The lid on the can of worms is starting to open and this isn’t the place for that important discussion to be had.
—Dave
I share this passion in the deepest way I know
So I stand with you and appreciate your voice here as in so many comments which you do throughout the site. The faith is what I live. It is my life. It is not for everyone. But for those whom it finds it is the greatest blessing of all.
Thanks, Lee, great statement
and the appreciation is mutual.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Me too.
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
by Tofu Anonymous on Aug 4, 2009 5:17 AM PDT up reply actions
minus the being a good husband and father part because i'm not there yet.
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
by Tofu Anonymous on Aug 4, 2009 5:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Glad to hear someone taking a stand for Christ.
Not enough people do these days. I myself am also a Christian. I’m actually planning on becoming a pastor.
Right on!
When I read Dave’s post, this is the first thing I thought of but I wasn’t sure how it would go over on here. Then I went to the comments and the first one was about being a Christian. Unfortunately, my fear of man often keeps me from speaking up. It took a lot of guts for you to post this on here and I think it sets a good example for other Christians like myself who are often afraid to say what needs to be said. Great post. :)
by clydebrandon7 on Aug 4, 2009 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Never be afraid
Check out the story of Gideon. He was afraid, but he did the first thing God told him to do (tore down his father’s idols) and got support from, of all people, his father.
Look at all the encouraging comments on this! Some of the really solid and frequent contributors on this site, too. Never be afraid.
And really, there’s nothing to be afraid of, anyway. A few people may be laughing, but so what? Most won’t laugh, even if they don’t share our faith, but even if they did, so what?
There’s not a thing in the world wrong with having faith and freely saying so. If there is anything wrong, it is mocking or disrespecting faith. But when someone does that, they don’t hurt you, anyway. They are really only hurting themselves, both by cutting themselves off from faith and by, too often, cutting themselves off from people who would like to be their friends (and good friends as well).
The purpose of my post was NOT to convert anyone, but to answer Dave’s question about what is important to me. But if it converts even one believer from fear to confidence, that would be great.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
I also share that passion, jscot
My faith is the driving force in my life. Growing in my relationship with Christ, spending time with other believers to challenge and be challenged by them, volunteering time for ministry endeavors – it is the passion of my life.
I am glad that this was the first entry
this is placed where it should be. #1 on my list as well.
(I’ll comment later on my other frivolous passion that is not worthy of being placed here.)
I was raised catholic, but am not deeply religious/devout in a Christian sense
I do go to church on occasion, I for some time watched interesting US pastors on TV, I read the bible and find many parts of it fascinating. It just doesn’t define who I am as much as other things. However I share the ethical system as a moral compass, and that is what many people in the Western world do naturally.
"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw
Yes, there's a lot of people who would describe themselves that way
For some of us, it goes beyond that and really does define us in multiple ways.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
lots of christians here.
im gonna send my kids to catholic school in their formative years just so they can learn how to respect the needy and be sympathetic to the poor. thus ensuring that they align with my political goals.
Interesting perspective
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
yeah, I've been a "Jesus freak" for decades now
For many of us, it is an “alternate reality” that is all the world better living, now, not just “pie in the sky”. I have learned a lot over the years, too much to go into. The unfortunate thing is that there is a lot of misunderstanding of what “Christianity” is, and can be, including within some churches. But then, there is an enemy who wants to hide the truth. Some people getting irritated with us is nothing new, pretty standard, not that we seek that. But I’m not into “hiding out” either. Happy to talk with anyone whose curious, not into forcing anything onto anybody. Personal choice all the way.
Anyway, good to hear “j”. I have appreciated your comments, and this takes it to another level.
I can't beleive I'm first...hope i still am when i finish this novella
No really, I really enjoyed this post. I have always enjoyed the more human aspects of everything I do. Blazersedge is a big part of what I do on a daily basis. The points you make about spending tie with your family are important, but to me they carry on to everyone you hold dear. Family is who you relate with, not necessarily who you are related to. I didn’t know you had a child, that’s good to know. Sounds like you’re living the good life and recognize the importance of a phrase my mother introduced to me at a young age: “work to live, don’t live to work”.
You bring up a great point about respecting peoples family time. I am watching this movie “Funny People” that really touches on just that subject, highlighting how famous people lose the ability to connect with people on various levels, for various reasons. Eminem, who obviously suffers from this unfortunate turn of events, is in the movie at one point and, not so subtly, understates this situation.
Me personally…I really enjoy basketball. It’s one of my favorite past times. The trailblazers have helped me get through my 2nd year of college. But aside from that, I’m a politics guy. I chose to double major in Political Science and Economics and love to discuss either. So, for what its worth, anyone interested in that just shoot me a message or something.
O man…I procrastinated too much…looks like I wont be first…but 2nd is better than nothing lol.
Sorry, I type fast....
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
well said, dave
and I’m passionate about the Blazers, and ball golf and frisbee golf
I feel a frisbee golf tournament coming on for Bedgers!
even if it just the two of us!
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
i’ve been reading blazer’s edge since right before the Lottery Miracle, and have been pro-oden since he came to portland (even after i left portland for boise, idaho… it’s a long story), but i wanted to give dave love for his continually outstanding posts, especially during the dog days dry spell in blazers (and NBA) news (ziller does a lovely job of addressing this in his kings hypothetical-performance-based-salary writeup on the kings)(and does a nice job of treating tom “lexus and the olive tree” friedman like he deserves consideration, too). i love the blazers, i am glad that we have the team we have going into training camp, and i am excited to see what will come this season. high hopes!
I care about my kids (5 months boy and 4 and a half year old girl)
and my wife of 10 years, and my job (writing children’s books). Then would come the Blazers.
I’m glad the Blazers are there, to keep tabs on and discuss with my friends, but my family and translating that dynamic into literature is what I care about most. I’m blessed in that I get to stay home with my children, and see them every day, watch them grow and amaze.
The Blazers are fun, my family is fun, my job is fun, LIFE is fun. For me passion has always led to fun, and unexpected fun has always pointed to a new passion.
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Aug 4, 2009 12:42 AM PDT reply actions
Are children’s books your full time job? For what age do you write? How did you begin on such a career path?
I’m curious, because as a father to a 3 yr old and reader of countless bedtime stories, I always find myself critiquing them. I fully understand that to write a 500 word book doesn’t take 1/100 the talent of a 50,000 word book…likely the opposite is true.
What other children’s authors do you admire or respect?
The cowards never started
The weak died along the way
Only the strong survived
They were the Trailblazers
Writing would have to count
as a part-time job. I write four books a year, and they take about a month each, with about 100 hours total in that month. Most of that is rewriting and editing, making it exactly right. That’s the difficulty of shorter form- each word has much more value.
I write for 4th and 5th graders, but under the guise of being written for younger readers. I got into it when I realized that I was going to have to put off writing fantasy novels (unpublished) to take care of my first child. Writing wordy novels takes a lot of perfect concentration for extended periods of time, and I just didn’t have any chance at that. So I applied some observed behaviors (and fears of what my toddler daughter could become) and sent it to a publisher friend. That’s the key really- know someone who knows your personality and style and has the power to help out.
Authors I like…Dahl, Edward Gorey, Sendak, Neil Gaiman, Dr Seuss. Creepy, moral-driven, usually dealing with put-upon good children or horridly bratty children who change or don’t and don’t survive. I write exclusively about bratty kids who receive come-uppances and change. And I always try for an O Henry/ Rod Sterling-ish twist.
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Aug 5, 2009 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions
if not blogging about basketball...
i am in the courts playing it… i am not gonna be one of those cats that stops when they get older.
Better get some other interests
in case your knees or back zap you in a few years. In my case, I’ll still play a little with the kids, but just can’t do much anymore. Hope I never have to stop completely.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
yikes. serious injuries are my biggest fear. if that doesn't happen and i think i can deal with just slowing down.
i love when old cats come in and foul and stuff cause they can’t keep up. that gives me hope. im 25 and have been hoopen it up for about 15yrs 3 to 4 times a week.
also... i wonder about people thinking they are over the hill.
is it really body breaking down in every single case? im sure some must be mental in so far as they convince themselves they have no time and to many obligations and that their bodies are breaking down. whats the % of people there?
It's not so much serious injuries
as just wear and tear.
Basketball pounds the lower back, and things just get worn over many years (like 30+ years of playing basketball). Knees, hips, cartilage starts to wear out, etc. So you may not end up incapacitated, but in my case, more than a half hour to an hour a day is going to cause me a lot of trouble. And that’s about 3 times a week, max, you’ve got to take a day or two off in between.
So even when on holiday, when I have the time, I’m not going to be out there that much, except for maybe just shooting around a little. But I have to limit the up and down, running, jumping, etc.
I’m pretty fit, so I can still move fairly quickly, and don’t wear down too quickly. It’s just the pain that comes if I go too long, and can leave me laid up for a couple weeks if I’m not careful.
I can still do enough to have fun. Things change in life, you adjust. No great regrets.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Well, at 50 it is still fun
If you take care of yourself, you should be able to enjoy basketball for a long time.
I find running is even harder on my back, interestingly enough. I’m not sure why. But I did put it through a lot when I was younger.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Blazersedge and... books
In addition to basketball, I am a huge fan of reading. I love books.
I’ve always loved the flirtatious tango of consonants and vowels, the sturdy dependability of nouns and capricious whimsy of verbs, the strutting pageantry of the adjective and the flitting evanescence of the adverb, all kept safe and orderly by those reliable little policemen, punctuation marks. Wow! Think I got my (deleted) kicked in high school?
It’s not really about escapism or temporarily becoming lost in whatever world the book has created, it’s about experiencing quality thinking, which is just pure pleasure for me. And sometimes, the jokes.
A beard on a blind man! Too much, I say.
The comments we write daily mean little compared to the work many do that is unsung for children
I am talking about youth work and especially youth work in communities without many good role models.
I am passionate about reaching out to share time and money and care to these kids. For me that took root in Little league where I was going to be a bleacher dad in T-Ball. A neighbor and good friend had signed his son and my older son’s best friend to play and convinced me to take my son as well. We ended up coaching 7 years together in Little League (ages 6-12) and 3 more years in Babe Ruth (ages 13-15) in Southeast Portland – Marshall HS area. These kids were nearly all white and nearly all below the poverty level. Few had both parents in the home and a large number had neither parent living with them. The baseball was not the passion. It was the vehicle to deliver care and mentoring to kids that would come to play and have fun and would learn that they could achieve far beyond their expectations if they work hard and play for the fun at the same time.
I am also passionate about the work that has occurred just since 1990 in the exposure and prevention and healing from child sexual abuse. Like religion, this is a topic many avoid but as exposure has occurred, many thousands have sought help and begun to heal and schools and other organizations have begun to work to prevent the more abuse.
The Blazers are a great release for most of us to lose ourselves from the traumas of just living. So these topics are not intended to be addressed here on a daily basis. But our shared devotion to the team brings together an amazing plethora of talents and education and a healthy diversity of personal lives. I am thankful for you, here, to be allowed to share all that you write and to know that perhaps someone might even read what I might write, however relevant.
by lee3022 on Aug 4, 2009 1:01 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
That work is laudable
Thank you for sharing this.
When I was a junior in high school, I spent the summer volunteering with the Beaverton Police Activities League, a summer organization aimed at giving at-risk kids something to do while their parents are at work that keeps them from getting into trouble. I was fairly privileged growing up and my neighborhood was lily-white; I’d never experienced or seen anything like these kids’ daily hardships.
The conversation that pierced me to my core happened when I was herding my charges from the rec center to a nearby park. I was talking to an adorable six-year-old girl about whatever it is happy six-year-olds talk about on a summer day’s walk to the park — cute animals, the latest Disney channel fad, all that. The conversation veered to her mommy and how great she was, and being sixteen and still relatively inexperienced in my job, I asked, “And what about your daddy?” Her face clouded over and she said flatly, “I hate my daddy. He’s in jail. He hits my mommy and makes her cry.” Flabbergasted, I changed the subject immediately and she started chatting away animatedly again.
Those are three sentences that should never be coming out of any six-year-old’s mouth. That summer inculcated in me two desires: to help empower marginalized people (I’ve done a lot of work, volunteer and otherwise, with low-income Hispanic immigrants) and to pursue a career in law enforcement (I’m going to law school a year from now, then applying to the FBI). There are bad people who bring misery to the world out there, and I have to think that bringing them to justice is a pretty fulfilling life work.
The Michael Ruffin of BlazersEdge, cuz Amlmart said so.
by BlazersOrBust on Aug 4, 2009 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
rec to both of you
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Thank you for your service and it is just beginning!!!
And thanks for sharing. The thing about being in big organizations is it becomes harder and harder to do the right thing rather than do the prescribed thing. They often differ. Organizations want evidence of results but with the damaged kids that healing is internal and taken on faith.
Whatever your career, take time to spend with the kids. Your heart will never let you down. The kids will teach you more about reality and life than adults ever can.
Me
I am totally way rad into movies, writing, travel, drawing, and other crap.
I am also into making a living doing what I want and like to do, and that is what I am mostly focused on. I am boring these days, and only work. The Blazers are my fun thing to relax with.
Soon I’ll make kids with the wife and be focused on them, I guess. Even if they’re not mine.
I am incredibly boring these days. It is work, and Blazers.
Mortimer
I am not buying writing travel and drawing as crap
But movies – I concede.
If you love your work it must not be boring?
No, the work is not boring I guess
But I am very boring these days.
I usually got lots of stuff happening to me and nice stories to tell, but these days it is “today I worked and tonight I worked and tomorrow I worked”.
I really like my work and I am lucky, but I must say I am boring now.
Morty
So you are not writing on a comedy I guess :)
"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw
No matter the subject matter
Because the “stuff” of what I do is entertaining and fun to research and work on, but since all I do is the work of it, I as a person am now boring, no matter how entertaining or funny or whatever the work is.
Ya know what I mean? Since all I am is work and there aren’t any funny stories derived from sitting and working all day, and it makes me not go anywhere, I am a boring man these days.
When I am travelling (like I plan on doing again), I am like a magnet for fun stories and events happening to me. It is hard for fun stuff to happen while working I guess, but I’ll take it for now.
Actually, I’ve had a bit of bad luck lately, which isn’t like me, and had MULTIPLE bank account break ins, unlucky professional turn of events, dog needs surgery, my toe needs surgery, need a new car, etc… so maybe just staying still and working all day is bad luck for me!
I need to get back out there and live, Norkstroll!
Morty
It's funny
because, while it’s boring to tell about what you did, creating is anything but boring. A day can just disappear when you’re going strong. And of course you have the work to show, to say “I may be boring to look at while I work, but look what comes from it.”
Or you could just be boring.
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Aug 4, 2009 1:59 AM PDT up reply actions
No, totally
Time goes like ZIP BANG ZOOM.
I didn’t explain it well— I am not bored doing what I do, but doing what I do makes for boring stories and personal life now. Maybe if I wasn’t married, and felt the urge to “go out” and meet babes? I dunno.
My wife is a lawyer for a crappy firm that is crappy, so her time drags and draaaaags. She’ll call me, I’ll be working, and not realize it is 3pm and I haven’t ate yet and I’m bummed because the normal work day is almost over already. Time just FLIES. It makes her mad.
Mortimer
It is not boring to me to hear you tell it
Work was consuming for me when I was younger and in my 40’s began to shift into new interests and that was even better. As you describe it I was exceedingly boring and as I did not take time to go to parties and stuff, prefering to enjoy a few friends over dinner.
Travel is like the glitter in my memories. It still sparkles. It was broadening. It sounds like this for you as well.
boring isn’t that bad, not by a long shot.
there’s something marvelous to be said for the abstraction of a Pro Sports Franchise, especially one that’s making nice moves and building a solid team, questions re: greg/ martell/ jerryd aside.
but when they’re not just asides, when they’re young people with solid, possibly epic potential playing a game that’s important to a lot of people, and when they have the ability to play said game really, REALLY well…
well, that may be magical.
Yes, I feel lucky
That my side-obssession is something as fun and magical and awesome and potentially extremely successful as the Blazers.
Thank God I was born in Portland. What if I was born in Memphis, or Minnesota or sumthin’? And having to obssess over their teams just because I was born there? Ooph…
Fate brought me to Portland and the Blazers though, so perhaps even if I wasn’t born in Portland I’d find my way into the Blazers’ loving arms.
M—
i was inundated with the majesty of the early nineties bulls, being brought up in the loving arms of the american midwest, and it left me colder than cold. it was only after moving to portland, as so many young folks do these days, in winter of ‘05, that i began to grasp NBA basketball as a worthwhile interest (D. Miles was a standout player in st. louis, as [comically] was david lee), but my attraction was mediated by the terribleness of the blazers at that time. i learned how one might value the game by being annoyed by the pure shaq-ness of the early nineties lakers and by an atrocious three-and-one called against the indiana pacers against the knicks in a pre-aughts finals. a slim resume, perhaps, but moms went to ISU with larry bird and i felt a certain birthright. long story short, witnessing the “rising” of blazerdom makes me think i might be able to actually, legitimately watch a bunch of very awesome ball players develop into exactly the sort of team i’ve been wanting to watch play. and i hope they keep doing it. because it’s fantastically exciting to watch it happen, even if it is a little bit “police academy” from time to time. i guess i’m fine with travis making “bleep bloop” noises to open himself up here and again, so long as a fadeaway falls sometimes.
I have the first season of original Star Trek too
and enjoyed many of the episodes. I don’t get it when others accuse Shatner of overacting. It doesn’t happen as much as people who parody him. And how else is he going to portray a really heroic, intrepid type of captain?
I like the reason/emotion dichotomy of Spock and McCoy, with Kirk a blend of the two; it makes for interesting conflicts. I don’t myself subscribe to that philosophy, but I like the drama. The other Star Trek spinoffs seem unfocused and not as interesting to my eye, although I like seeing Patrick Stewart as a captain.
I’ve also heard Star Trek conventions can be really bizarre.
Honor Alaa Abdelnaby.
First in the NBA. At least alphabetically
I love Shatner's acting
At the end of Star Trek 2, Wrath of Khan, when they shoot Spock into space for his funeral.
Shatner gets choked up and I think he did a very good job, thank you very much.
M—
I think
the actors got pretty broad as the movies progressed and people react more to that than the original series. And then there’s T.J. Hooker.
The funny thing about watching these with a high-def TV now is that you can TOTALLY see that the fights are staged with stunt men who don’t look at all like the actors. DVD upconversion is not Star Trek’s friend. But we’re enjoying and/or chuckling at the episodes.
I hadn’t watched them in a long time and revisiting them I have to admire how iconic Shatner and Nimoy made Kirk and Spock. All of the cast, really. They’re just so right in those roles.
—Dave
—Dave
What, you are not enjoying Kirk fight in slow motion?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1eFdUSnaQM
The props and some of the acting doesn’t hold up anymore (it’s weird that some very old sci-fi movies do), but their budget wasn’t all that high. I grew up with TNG, but when watching some of those now it’s funny how hard they are pushing the agenda of a species that grew up to be very morally correct and try to always behave good where Kirk would just have hit someone in the face.
"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw
Every time Kirk had a problem with someone
he hit them in the face.
Spock! Snap out of it! WHACK!
Professor Gill, you’ve got to wake up! WHACK!
Spock! Snap out of it again! WHACK!
Sulu! Stop looking at me that way! WHACK!
—Dave
Sounds like a good solution to me.
I can’t think of one problem, NOT A ONE, that can’t be fixed with a back handed slap.
And, sex with aliens. That somehow fixes problems as well.
M—
That worked on earth too. For centuries monarchs strategically married their heirs among each other to prevent wars, or at least have an ally if you have to go into one.
"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw
Kirk should have hit the lizardman with the another rock
when the lizardman picked up the bolder. Then the bolder would have fallen on top of the lizardman. Didn’t Kirk watch any Roadrunner cartoons?
Seriously, worst fight scene (and funniest) was Michael Palin playing Scott of the Antarctic fighting the desert lion in Monty Python’s Flying Circus (should be about 1/2 way through). At least that had the excuse, though, of being a parody and trying to be funny.
Honor Alaa Abdelnaby.
First in the NBA. At least alphabetically
I like how Kirk can smack the Lizard Man away
But a rock thrown pretty hard from a high distance just bounces off of him.
I haven’t seen the original episodes in years and years, though I loved it as a kid and loved watching the movies with the original cast growing up. The funniest thing about the bad stunt doubles to me was how often they were used for stunts that really didn’t need doubling.
I never got into TNG, and I don’t like any of their movies… not even the Borg one. I just don’t like them.
M.
I saw it opening week
I did like it. My wife’s pappy is a big Star Trek nerd (well, big is a relative term, he can’t tell you the serial numbers of the Klingon’s vessel in episode 23, but he loved all the shows and movies with the obvious generally accepted exceptions) and her parents were “visiting” us, so we saw it as soon as we could.
I liked it more than any TNG movie, that’s for sure. I liked Picard, but everyone else was such a TV actor… not fit for movies. The original cast weren’t great actors, but they were those roles. I’m sure they didn’t like “being those roles” as much as I do, but I prefer it to mediocre TV actors.
I’ll need to see the new cast a bit more to know if they is ‘good actors’ or just those characters, but the movie was fun. It wasn’t The Wrath of Khan, but what is?
Mortimer
it saddened me
that in order for star trek to make it again it had to resort to the trope of terrorism to do it. An intergalactic osama bin laden attacking civilizaiton and kirk has to stop it? action was good but that use of that trope to appeal to post-911 audience was just to predictable…
star trek is supposed to be about exploring culture relativity and the human condition in a science fiction setting, not protecting the “best” civilization against its enemies. summer blockbuster for middle america, go!
Well what can ya do
People like a specific easy to hate bad guy and ’splosions.
I also took it more as the Federation is finding it’s ways in the earlier days, and adjust their modus operandi as the years go by and attempt to be much more peaceful than the early turbulent years.
That explains, to me, why Kirk can punch out any problem. The early days required some problem solving with brandished fist.
Then Picard can come in and sit on his butt and not punch anything. What kind of future is that for us? No punching out aliens?
That’s not a world I want to live in.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Aug 4, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
well there was plenty of action in tng and especially in ds9...and also plenty of cultural relativity and human condition in TOS
but thats not my point. it saddened me that for it to be popular again it had to resort to the trop of terrorism to do it.
A lot you know!!!
there were no Klingon ships in episode 23
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
You guys are racist.
Calling them Lizardman is like the ‘n’ word to these creatures. The prefer to be called Gorns…or Gorn-Americans
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
Speaking of the actors getting broad...
…I must say the short skirts of the yeomen (short for “Yo! I’m glad we’re men!”) contributed to the original Star Trek appeal. I certainly had no serious objections.
I also heard a funny story about the leotard jumpsuits the women wore in the modern spin-offs. The producers wanted the jumpsuit of one of the more popular women to be really tight and revealing. But they found that spandex on a woman’s body—um—produces one bump up front, not two. So they had to do some special rigging to return the proper number to her and erase the “breasthump.”
I hope that wasn’t beyond the restrictions of this most decent family-styled blog.
(If it is, I claim first to use the word “breasthump” on any blog ever).
Honor Alaa Abdelnaby.
First in the NBA. At least alphabetically
Maybe it's because of prima donna behavior offscreen
a la “Galaxyquest” that brings out the worst of the criticism.
I’m not saying he’s Shakespeare, but during the first season, at least, I would typifying his acting style as low-key, not overblown.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if the directing styles have something to do with how he’s typified as an overacter. I remember lots of crash-zooms to the red-alert signal and tight close-ups.
Hope I haven’t gone too far off topic. Star Trek is a nice thing, but not my favorite non-Blazer thing. I think I would say books are my passion.
(Seeing Dave’s response as I write: I didn’t watch much T.J. Hooker, although I remember the series. Wasn’t George Takei in that series as well? What was that series like?)
Honor Alaa Abdelnaby.
First in the NBA. At least alphabetically
That was Shatner-2000 model
hair piece ….the prototype I believe
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
STAR TREK. i love to watch all 7 seasons of tng and ds9 and voy in a row. not watch them for like 3-4 yrs forget them all...
and then watch them all over again.
i do this with homicide life on the street too. some other shows as wel.
The Blazers And... Innovation, Travel, Outdoor Sports, ...
I subscribe to Dave’s Blazers podcast, the B.S. Report, some other media, and read a lot about the Blazers. But I subscribe to about two dozen podcasts about innovation, entrepreneurship, business, and related fields. I love hearing and reading anecdotes about people founding companies, bringing new products to market, or failing to do so. Those blunders can be the most fun. The best innovators usually also discovered hundreds of ways to not be successful in the process. And it’s also a mistake to think of innovation just in terms of new cool products. Services, business processes, whole organizations can be innovative too. Changing the way people perceive products and businesses and think about them is challenging, but can be fun. That might be why I also like the business aspects of basketball. At the moment I’m helping those innovative companies and people to be successful. Some day I might find the right idea myself.
Another passion I’d like to mention is travel, which combines with other passions like mountain sports/being outdoors, photography, history, art, “voluntourism”, but also my business. I have visited 35+ countries (which is easier by being based in Europe, mind you). And while I don’t always like being on the road, the places you see and the people you meet make up for it. A day I spend seeing something new about never feels like a wasted day. I can be happy standing on the peak of a mountain. Boarding down its slope. Standing under a giant tree. Walking in the shadows of old ruins. Being in a city I have never been to. Looking out over a savanna. Looking up to a skyscraper. Talking to the person at the corner. Never boring. Never wasted.
"I'm addicted to polo y'all...respect my fresh" - Travis25Outlaw
Thomas Edison comes immediately to mind
Someone is going to discover a way to store electrical energy in a common substance and easily retrieve it and change the entire complexion of the world!
It does sound like you have a dream job to expand your passions.
I'm passionate about the Blazers and...
My job/volunteer work at summer camps for children with type 1 diabetes. For the past 8 years I have been involved with Gales Creek Camp in Forest Grove, Oregon. I volunteered in the kitchen for 5 years during jr. high and high school and now I am an employee on the medical staff.
For the past 4 years I have been working at the Chris Dudley Basketball Camp for Children with Type 1 Diabetes in Vernonia, Oregon. The camp is in its 14th year and my connection with Chris is how I initially got into the Blazers. He gave my family and I our first tickets to a Blazers game because of my mom’s volunteer works with the Chris Dudley Foundation. I am really glad to be able to give back to the community like this, and owe my Blazers allegiance to the camp.
"Cathartic? I didn't go to college, I don't know what cathartic means."
Kobe Bryant
Living lightly and being a good steward of the land
I am lucky that I have a job that is very much aligned with my values – creating green buildings and environments that attempt to use our limited resources more effectively. This has been my passion for a long time, even before it became more widely appreciated the last five to ten years. I feel blessed to be in Portland with this passion since there is a great network of people to work with.
I also love playing soccer, hockey, going downhill skiing, fishing, and coaching my two kids’ teams in their sports.
put a body on 'em
by RayBourque on Aug 4, 2009 1:43 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Speaking of green buildings.
I am building a house with a big basement in a hillside, and during our recent heatwave it was comfortably “air conditioned” (I don’t have electric air conditioning) just from the earth.
Really amazing how much people spend on energy for air conditioning (single story, anyway), when a simple construction technique can give you such a temperature buffer. I am not installing any air conditioning. Opening windows at night, close in morning. But then, I generally like heat. I also get a lot of wind on the hillside. Maybe someday a windmill would be the total package.
There are so many ways to answer this.
There are things both personal and profound that I treasure as much or more than following the Blazers, and any of them would make a good subject to ruminate on. There are already some truly beautiful and heartfelt things posted, and I’d love to be able to offer something of that caliber.
But instead I’ll just be brutally honest. As I write this, my level 73 Forsaken Warlock is flying from The Barens to the Ashenvale so I can solo Blackfathom Deeps and pick up an easy Achievement. Total time played: 34 days, 23 hours, 48 minutes, 28 seconds.
by conspirator5 on Aug 4, 2009 1:52 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm passionate about the Blazers and...
Living here in Australia is really awesome, and I have found numerous things which have grabbed my interests and led me to where I am now. Being only 20 years old I don’t have a grand story about life, and the joys of my work/children etc. but I have found a number of things which interest me and help me to keep enjoying life and prepare me for the future.
Naturally, being young has led me to movies, TV and video games…All of which provide hours of entertainment for me and allow me to relax and just have some fun.
Sports is another big feature in my life. As a basketball player (socially, not high quality) I enjoy watching all kinds of basketball, whether it be NBA, NBL (Australian National Basketball League – Which is a shambles at the moment) or even local State League, I just love the game and get great enjoyment out of watching the development of plays and the sequences which the game follows.
Australian Rules Football is another passion of mine with my local team playing well and being a consistent finals contender and developing of young talent. The game itself is a thing of beauty once you understand it, and the excitement, thrills and emotions that the game stirs up inside me is almost indescribable.
And finally….University. Currently I am studying a double degree in Arts (Australian Studies) and Education (Secondary) with the goal of becoming a teacher at the end of my studies. The things I am learning, and the people I get to interact with are fantastic and can be counted on for casual conversation about what happened over the weekend, to heated debates on many issues (Politics, the Australian Economy, Media etc.)
So yeah, those are just a few of the things which feature in my life….but I am still young so this will expand alot in the coming years….
I am passionate about the Blazers and...
Next week I will start my 5th year at a Portland high school where I am a football, basketball and baseball coach. I essentially spend 11 months out of the year doing this job, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Initially I started coaching because I had this desire to stay around the sports I had played my whole life. It’s a tough transition to make from a kid who plays sports all the time to a student and an actual adult, with a job and bills and all that mess. After a while that competitive nature kicks in and you start to miss the things that fueled you for so long, the battles, the passion that you had, pushing yourself to a new level because you wanted to win. For me, when that passion kicked in, I knew I had to do something about it. So I moved back home and I started coaching because I knew I needed to feed that desire I had for competition. But a funny thing happened to The Juice along the way. All of a sudden the winning and the losing, the competition, wasn’t the most important thing to me. Now I had these kids, not any more than 8 or 9 years younger than me, and I started to care about them. Not just on the field or the court, but in life. Good kids, smart and funny and caring about more than just sports. Kids with problems with schoolwork or problems at home, needing someone who cared about them beyond sports. And I started to realize that that was the thing that keeps me coming back day after day, ready to face the long practices and bus rides, the annoying sports parents and all of that. It’s more to me than just wins and losses and competing now. It’s something I never could’ve imagined when I signed up for this thing. I’m 23 years old and a role model, big brother or even a second father to 50 kids and I couldn’t ask for anything more. Except for a Trail Blazers championship, of course.
I want Greg Oden to tuck me in at night and tell me stories about the old times
by Juiceman76 on Aug 4, 2009 2:51 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I would love to get into coaching very soon
Which Portland school do you coach at? Do you need volunteer help for hoops?
I wanna be Brandon Roy when I grow up!
Central Catholic
I encourage anyone who has ever thought about coaching to do it. Quite frankly, it is one of the most rewarding things I think a person can do. There’s a lot of hard work, but the rewards from it, both on and off the field, make it absolutely worth it. As far as our staff is concerned, we’re pretty much packed to the gills with coaches, but I would recommend that you just call around to schools in your area, or ones that you wouldn’t mind making a commute to (I live in Beaverton but make the journey across the river every day), and speak to the head basketball coach. While there may not be a paid position available, there aren’t too many coaches that can’t find a spot for someone who’s willing to work
I want Greg Oden to tuck me in at night and tell me stories about the old times
That's awesome
I live literally a block away from Central Catholic: I can hear the whistles from summer football practice during the week:)
I will definitely make some calls. Thank you.
I wanna be Brandon Roy when I grow up!
Wonderful story
The reward comes in knowing you have added a bit to each boy’s life whether he knows or shows it or not.
You must have had some caring coach in your own youth to inspire you?
The funny thing is
I didn’t realize the impact that my coaches really had on me until I became one myself. As you go through the process of coaching and mentoring, you really start to reflect on the lessons you have learned along the way. The things that just come out naturally you realize you were taught by a coach or a teacher. I would imagine it is very much like a new parent taking the things they’ve learned from their own parents and applying it to their own child’s life. But I did have a good amount of positive influences growing up, people who’s lessons I teach today, and who I admire greatly still. I guess it’s just my way of paying tribute to the people who helped mold me.
I want Greg Oden to tuck me in at night and tell me stories about the old times
As odd as this may sound, I am very passionate about economics
In my world view, everything comes back to economics, and the people who control the economy control everything. I use control rather loosely, as I feel there is very little malicious skullduggery going on, and more just good old fashioned incompetence, but the point remains.
I am a very adamant Libertarian, and a very adamant Ron Paul supporter, and this is often something difficult to explain to others, particularly when “Libertarians” include many of the mindless anarchist types.
But… I often feel like the only one who can see the whole picture, as I watch others run in circles. I dont’ mean that in a derrogatory way at all, I ran in plenty of circles myself… it’s just… I feel people sell themselves short.
People latched on to Obama for some really bad reasons. He may very well be an excellent president, but it really saddens me to see some of the reasons people started supporting him, or have continued to. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that many people would/did vote for him based solely off of his ethnicity, party and slogan, but cared little about his politics or credentials.
Regardless, I’m behind him 100% right now as a leader, I jsut wish he’d do something right. I don’t for a second think he isn’t trying his hardest,but honestly…
I’m 22, and Obama is embarking on a crash course spending spree that is going to affect me the most. He’s addressing all the wrong issues, and addressing them with all the wrong answers. His stimulus package is terrible, and will continue to be terrible, and honestly I think between him and Bush we’ve pretty much guaranteed the complete collapse of the US dollar. It’s just a matter of how long it takes.
I could literally go on for hours and hours, but after so many years of talking into the wind, I’m kind of worn out. I don’t even particularly care about trying to change the politics now… I see it as a force of nature, like a hurricane. And like a hurricane, I feel it’s my responsibility to help those people who are willing to prepare.
Please, I know politics is a very sensetive thing for a lot of people, but economics does what it does regardless of what you believe, and I really don’t want people to suffer. If you have even the slimmest doubt in your mind about the direction we’re heading right now, I’d like to encourage you to go to http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse and go through the videos.
This isn’t about me trying to change your mind, or convert anyone way from being liberal or conservative, this is about me trying to help people understand what is going on around them.
Anyway… I guess I’ve preached enough. It’s really difficult for something to be so important to you, and for you to be so sure of it, and for so few people to even take the time to listen…
I don't know a whole lot about the Stimulus Package....
but Kevin Rudd implemented an “Economic Stimulus Package” here in Australia which I feel was basically a complete waste of government funds.
The basic idea of Rudd’s plan was that anyone who was a ‘working resident’ in Australia between a given time period and paid taxes would receive an economic stimulus payment of AU$900, basically just free money.
BUT
There were MASSIVE flaws in this, with overseas students who were studying and working in Australia at the time (and since returned to their home country) received $900, a large number of recently deceased people received $900 (which could not be recovered as it became part of the estate) and a number of people being excluded from receiving the payment due to the parameters around it.
My main issue with this was at the time we were in the midst of the ‘Global Financial Crisis’ and the government just provided something along the lines of AU$40 billion in free handouts to eligible people, in the hope that they would spend this within Australia and help stimulate the economy….good plan, in theory.
The temporary relief it provided for the nation was helpful, but we soon returned to the same place we were in before as a country, and I feel that the AU$40 billion could have been put to better use (Funding for hospitals, education, development of infrastructure etc)
Unfortunately I’ve come to realize a simple, yet frightening truth:
As long as people don’t understand our economy, our leaders are doomed to break it. It does not matter the caliber or wit of the leader we place in our government, nor their intentions or insight. As long as the citizens of our planet do not understand the ways our global economy works, we have little ability to change anything.
And the reason for this is simple: We have dug ourselves an enormous hole. Not the US, the ENTIRE world. Our only ways to fix it are painful, and without understand the reasons, people will never accept that pain until it is thrust upon them without choice by the realities of our world.
This is amusing.
I agree with most everything you just wrote, but knowing you are a libertarian makes me believe that we would roll about every individual point. :)
I actually have to avoid talking about the economy at regular intervals to avoid giving myself an ulcer.
Products = Wealth = Good
Money Schemes = Imaginary = Bad
Probably not the most clear and eloquent way to say it.
I need to take my Pepto.
Everybody was a baby once, Arthur. Oh, sure, maybe not today, or even yesterday. But once. Babies, chum: tiny, dimpled, fleshy mirrors of our us-ness, that we parents hurl into the future, like leathery footballs of hope. And you've got to get a good spiral on that baby, or evil will make an interception.
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government.
“It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.”
— Attributed to Alexander Fraser Tyler (later Lord Alexander Fraser Woodhouslee)
Well done sir.
Jordan: As an atheist with an economics degree, I say take jscot’s approach and go with God. I hear it’s much less frustrating.
I am pretty sure people do not want to understand economy
But they do understand fear.
Franklin Roosevelt said The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Barack Obama said: (you have likely read and heard and can fill in the gaps)
The town hall meetings being reported are interesting as some are beginning to become activist. High drama with our childrens’ future at stake.
I do not see this as a political times. It is instead a very pivotal time in our country that can take us in vastly different directions as far as even continuing to be a democracy (some argue that has already happened). I have experienced only a few times in my life when one political party had complete control of both houses of congress and the presidency. Each time has led to excesses that damaged us deeply. I am independent of any party for that reason.
Your passion has sound roots in economic reality and I wish you well.
graffiti, videogames, and wiener dogs.
Any dogs really, I like em all but dachshunds are the best.
Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. - 'The Sports Guy' Bill Simmons
I really like photography as well as music.
That’s just my site where I post some photos here and there. I would like to one day to take some more classes. It’s a fun hobby to have.
I also really like music. I used to be in a few bands while I was living in Shanghai and was part of the fairly rapidly growing underground student rock bands. I have also been a worship leader or part of the worship team at every church I’ve been a part of.
Apart from the Blazers, I also enjoy playing many sports myself including basketball, soccer, tennis, football, volleyball…and pretty much anything else. My other teams that I follow include the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sonics, Seattle Sounders, Atlanta Hawks, and Houston Rockets (obviously though, Blazers are my number 1).
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
Blazers and my football team.
I left Oregon in 1992 weeks after Portland lost to MJ’s Bulls to move to Texas and fullfill a lifelong dream of mine to be a Texas High School Football Coach. I started out as a middle school assitant for one season moved up to a high school position coach the following season after 6 years as a postion coach I became a defensive coordinator. After 5 years of being a defensive coordinator I added the title of assistant head coach, 2 years later I applied for three head coaching positions. On the 3rd interview I got the job. I am getting ready for my 4th season as a Texas High school head coach. It has been tough, the school had won 7 games in three years prior to the arrival of myself and my new staff. In our three seasons we have won 11 games, better than the three previous years but still a very poor record of 11-19. This season is make or break for us, we only lost 5 startes on both o and d from last years team and feel this should be the year we have a winning season and get into the playoffs. Practice for us starts on the 10th since we did 4 weeks of full pads in the spring so it is time to get to work!
Sounds fun, keep us posted
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Portland and Eugene sports (sorry Corvallis)
For me, its actually UofO football and the Blazers.
Playing with my kids
and playing with my bass. I like going on bike rides with my kids and we do obnoxious stuff like sing karaoke at home (and occasionally at the Ambassador). I also play bass and really like to lose some time to that when I am stressed. Everyone go check it out (shameless plug).
Everybody was a baby once, Arthur. Oh, sure, maybe not today, or even yesterday. But once. Babies, chum: tiny, dimpled, fleshy mirrors of our us-ness, that we parents hurl into the future, like leathery footballs of hope. And you've got to get a good spiral on that baby, or evil will make an interception.
by shenanigans on Aug 4, 2009 6:27 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
listening to your stuff right now!
Pretty sweet!
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
Thanks!!
Everybody was a baby once, Arthur. Oh, sure, maybe not today, or even yesterday. But once. Babies, chum: tiny, dimpled, fleshy mirrors of our us-ness, that we parents hurl into the future, like leathery footballs of hope. And you've got to get a good spiral on that baby, or evil will make an interception.
The Blazers and Jazz Music (NOT the Utah Jazz!!)
I have been a Blazer fan longer than I’ve been a jazz fan, but once I got into the music in middle school I haven’t looked back. Now I’m in a Master’s program in Jazz History and hope to be a jazz historian and journalist. I also play trombone, so it’s important to me that people who write about jazz have some respect for the musicians. It’s crazy how many people write about music who have no understanding of it at all … I guess the same goes for basketball sometimes. One of my pet peeves in both genres …
If you like jazz you can read my jazz blog Lubricity at http://lubricity.wordpress.com
I Love the Blazers and
my wife, who is just as obsessed with the blazers as I am… And my grandmother who has had season tickets since day one, when Harry Glickman told her that he was going to be bringing the Blazers to Portland. She was the 36th person to ever have a season ticket, and she still never misses a single game… She even missed her grandaughter’s 16th birthday party because Kobe and the Lakers were in town… When you see someone that age love the blazers so much, and realize that she looks forward to those games so much, as it is really the only time she comes out of her house, besides to walk to the mailbox to get her mail… I am just so happy that the Blazers have the team that they do now (Vs. the Jail Blazers) as she is on cloud 9…
Thanks
by Cadillac on Aug 4, 2009 6:40 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
The Blazers and...
- My adorable wife. She motivates me daily to be a better person, but keeps me grounded when my crazy ideas take flight.
- My religion. Gives me purpose and understanding in how to be truly happy and lead a good life. It also instills strong family values that makes my first priority an even more sound investment.
- Work. One of my hobbies is trying to do my job even better. It also causes me to have an entrepreneurial fire burn within.
- Shoes. I own over 40 pairs and if my budget would allow… Oh geeze, I’d have a LOT more.
- The NW. Living in Texas has made me realize how much I love home.
There's really only six things I do.
Eat
Sleep
Hunt
Fish
Love my wife and family
and last but not least, love the Blazers
I work as well but it’s more of a means to one of the above ends
.
"I've learned one thing, and that's to quit worrying about stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink 'till sunrise. The work never ends, but college does" - Tom Petty
Learning & teaching
I always want to know more. I was into middle age before I realized the term was “intellectual curiosity”. Maybe it was because my family (Mom, Dad & me) would read the encyclopedia aloud to each other. Someone would grab a volume and see where it opened and start reading. (We’d also play games with the dictionary.) My dad didn’t read much other than the newspaper and a few magazines, but he’d read the encyclopedia. Through most of my life I read mostly fiction, but since reaching adulthood often something in a novel will send me to non-fiction. (For example one novel had a character who had been injured in the Crimean War. I knew little about the Crimean War – I’m not a history buff – so went to the library and got a children’s book about that war. Kids books are great for basic information.) Sometimes I’d request every book on the subject that was in the library system. Now with the internet I can go even further. Just read a non-fiction about the ancient Columbia River floods (which was seriously lacking in photos) so went to Google Earth and to see what the area looks like from a satellite. I’ve also used Google Earth to look at the settings of some of my favorite novels) . This curiosity served me well when I had to fill in as a reference librarian (I was a cataloger). Someone would come to the desk and ask for information on something and I usually had a pretty good idea of the general field it was in which gave me a big start in helping them. I’ve always said, “I know a little bit about a lot of things, but there’s nothing I know a lot about.” (Jack of all trades, master of none.)
And I’ll leave the “teaching” in the subject line for another time.
"Most of the people reading and commenting here are smart, thoughtful, reasoned, and both capable of and interested in good conversation." - Dave, about Blazersedge, 07/29
by jorga on Aug 4, 2009 7:56 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
The games with the dictionary...
…did you ever play a “Balderdash” type game before Balderdash came out, with the dictionary?
Where someone leafs through the pages, finds a rare word, and then everyone else makes a fake word and fake definition and then everyone (besides the picker of the real word that round) gueses which is the right word?
We played that game at my house before Balderdash came out. Then we played Balderdash. It’s a good game both for vocabulary, and learning how to lie creatively. It helps me every day.
Mortimer
LOL – the learning to lie? No, I never played it, but it sounds like fun,
"Most of the people reading and commenting here are smart, thoughtful, reasoned, and both capable of and interested in good conversation." - Dave, about Blazersedge, 07/29
It was always our family game to play
I am 1 of 4, so us and my parents would play it together all the time.
Now when I go home, it is either Balderdash or Cranium.
Sometimes it isn’t fair because medical terminology is often the ‘rare’ word, and my ma is a doctor, so she gets to cheat.
Of course, I say “learning to lie” in a jus’ funnin’ way, but that is sorta what it is— learning to lie in a creative manner so it seems like a real definition. Ya gotta do it just right to lure in the chumps!
Morty
I love that game!
Not really learning to lie but learning to describe something creatively. I especially liked making up loose interpretations of the Latin roots of a word. Always tricked ’em!
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
It's a great game
Always real funny "daffy"nitions.
If it sounds boring to anyone reading this, I understand, but it ain’t. It will change your life.
M—
Since before we were married hubby and I have played
our own word game. We challenge each other on spelling, pronunciation, definition, usage. The challenger looks the word up in the dictionary and if they’re right they get to slam the dictionary closed. If they’re wrong they have to close the dictionary as quietly as possible. We lead exciting lives.
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
When I was teaching
I’d put a nonsense word on the board and tell the kids that it was some kind of animal and they had to write a description of it. (I didn’t give any guidelines.) Then I’d collect the papers, pass them back out randomly and have the kids draw a picture of what was described on the paper they got. They were always amazed to discover they had forgotten to say what color it was, or more likely how many legs it had. It was always good for a laugh, but they also learned the importance of details. To say a zerkva was big, yellow, and ate plants really wasn’t much of a description.
"Most of the people reading and commenting here are smart, thoughtful, reasoned, and both capable of and interested in good conversation." - Dave, about Blazersedge, 07/29
Here are some of mine
My faith in Jesus Christ- This one is far above all of the others
Family
I’m really into basketball
Biking
Food- Couldn’t go without it.
-My Christian Faith
-Family
-Taking better care of myself
-Healthcare Finance
-(mostly Cleveland Indians) baseball
But lately it has been pretty much about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I&feature=channel_page
by The Cactus Leaguer on Aug 4, 2009 8:40 AM PDT reply actions
What a sweetie pie!
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
My frivolous passion other than the Blazers
is a genuine love of the “Lindy Hop.”
The Lindy Hop is one of the uniquely american dances. It started in the late 1930’s and while having it’s own footwork, it is encouraged to bring any and every influence you have to give the individual dancer his/her own unique “look.” It was first created in Harlem and was very much a revolt by the young dancers wanting something different from the current - somewhat stuffy - dances of the day.
I’ve been teaching the Lindy Hop and other swing dances (Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, East Coast Swing and the Shim Sham) for about 10 years. It is one of the things in life that I get absolute joy out of.
I'm passionate about the Blazers and...
Being a good husband
Poetry
The Lion of Judah
Ultimate Frisbee
Dancing
Traveling to weird places around the world
House plants
Being an extravert
Belgian Ales
Coffee (although, I have bad acid reflux, which limits my coffee intake)
Olives
Healthcare Reform
Other sweet stuff
No to Hedo
I'm passionate about the blazers and....
National League Baseball, in particular the colorado rockies. Basketball is great and i devote myself to it during the cold months but my true passion is baseball. And by baseball i mean the game where the manager actually has to manage, not the game where the manager fills out a lineup card and just watches.
Ah a chance to talk about myself.
I’m not passionate about much. My family, there’s pretty much nothing I wouldn’t do to assure their well being. My kids are adults but in retrospect I think I was, and am, a pretty good dad. So that’s probably the #1 thing that matters to me.
I enjoy the Blazers and look forward to this season, but if I thought that I was passionate about a professional sports franchise in the same way that I am about my family or work, I’d seek professional help.
I say I’m passionate about my work, but the truth is, if I won the lottery I’d quit in a minute, so how passionate is that, really?
If I won the lottery I’d continue to write poetry, travel, read and fly fish though, so I guess they rank above work, if I’m being honest.
I’ve made an effort in my life not to confuse peace with boredom, and I happily spend quiet hours in the woods or with a book, not doing much useful at all. It’s a skill too few Americans have and the lack of it is responsible for any number of social ills.
I’m passionate about being lazy. I am committed with every fiber of my being to find the easiest way to do just about anything I am asked to do. This has lead to me acquiring a lot of skills and knowledge I never would have encountered had I been a hard worker. I’m passionate about not being a very hard worker. I’m one of the best in Oregon at what I do, but I don’t work all that hard at it.
I’d be more passionate about cooking, but couple that with a passion for eating and health demands I rachet that down a bit.
I used to be passionate about politics, but it’s mostly the wrong kind of passion. Not healthy,
by raoulduke on Aug 4, 2009 9:28 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
With you 100%
I would love to say I could be like djrazorburn since he’s got a list of cool stuff, but I can’t seem to throw the word around quite so frivolously. Fortunately, it doesn’t get me too down, because I don’t do “down” much either (hence my username).
Love my wife, big fan of the Blazers, like to do a whole bunch of stuff, but I am completely and utterly okay with simply chillaxin.
my passions both have to do with sports
while i have been a fan of the blazers since the beginning of the franchise, my other life long passion has been flyfishing. I started that when i was stationed in key west florida in the mid 70s. A fellow sailor let me go out with him to local flats and we fished for bone fish He gave me a spinning outfit because i didnt have the required skill to cast a fly. I watched as he shot out line over 80ft with a light touch down that barely caused a desturbance .A second latter there was an explosion and the fish was off for a 100 yard dash in the other direction, reel all but exploding ( i was hooked!!!). through the 80`s i bought a lot of gear, all of it flyfishing and proceeed to read and learn the art of flyfishing. I returned to the carribbean with my brother in in 1990 with the required skill to cast a fly once again for those lovely bonefish. somewhere around the late 90s i began my love affair with split bamboo flyrods. Once again emersing myself in everybook on the subject. I began restoring old rods in my spare time and gathering tools nessessary to build my own rods. By 2002 i was ready to start. the first rods werenot the best, but i learned quickly and began selling them by 2004. I now do this as my job, an truely love it. www.stoneroco.com
sure thing
20% off a rod or 15 % off a blank
That is tempting - I have a birthday coming, up, gotta clue my wife in.
That 7 foot 4 weight looks sweet.
That web site looks like
Stoner odd co
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
by 92wastheyear on Aug 4, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
that reminds me
In high school i had to wear pe uniforms with last name first then first initial .went through all of highschool with “Stone D.” stenciled across my chest. made for a hell of a first impression.
The Blazers, War and Peace, and Data Analysis
… with an emphasis on understanding war and peace. I am about to get my doctorate in Political Science and I do research on American foreign policy. I also teach classes on American foreign policy, insurgency and terrorism, and international security. To me, it goes without saying how important these subjects are, though I realize that war is something that most people prefer not to think about… and that most people are only familiar with conflicts involving the United States even though the vast majority of violent conflict in the world does not involve the United States directly. But, I am not here to lecture ya’ll about the world’s suffering. This may sound strange for an “educator,” but it doesn’t really bother me that most people are not interested in wars in far away places. I do not believe greater public awareness or preoccupation with war would help much. I don’t believe it is everyone’s responsibility to do something to end or limit violence—since that presupposes an ability to make a difference, which most people have neither the power nor the understanding to do.
In fact, I am fairly certainly that I lack the understanding to make a difference for the better, even if I had the power to influence governments or (other groups… though if could control them all at same time…hmm). Indeed, the reason that I am still so interested in war is that it remains a mystery to me. Many explanations have been proposed to explain why states and groups become involved in large scale political violence, but almost all of them are flawed or limited in some way. To give just a hint at what I mean, many people for many centuries have suspected that economic interests are central motivation for starting war, whether its access to the New World riches for European powers, Middle East oil fields for the United States, or diamonds for Angolan rebels. Yet it is not entirely clear what sort of economic stakes are worth fighting over or even amenable to being won through violence (there are more seemingly attractive natural resources to be fight over than wars). In addition, for just as long as people have suspected that states fight war for wealth, others have contended that commerce is a reason to avoid war, since it increases the costs of violence. How do these competing economic considerations shake-out? In what era? In disputes between which type of political entities or systems or individuals?
O, I also said data analysis. Yes, data analysis has become a very useful tool in answering questions (or making arguments) about the causes of war and peace, so I have been trained in quantitative research methodologies. I spend a lot of time working with data (conflict data, economic data, stock data, public opinion data, and congressional vote data, etc). Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I hate it. When I am hating it, I usually visit Blazersedge…
I've never taught any Chalmers Johnson
To be honest, some of his work has been a partial inspiration for mine, but his books tend to be too polemical for my tastes. I think he points at important features of American foreign policy, but he’s also selling an pretty simplistic story with a nice villain for his readers to hate…. On the other hand, if I ever got to teach a full seminar on American foreign policy, one where there was plenty of time to discuss and evaluate his argument, I could see assigning one of his books
Passions
My passions are the big three sports including college, I went to UW so I love all things Husky. I love all kinds of music, particularily rock n roll, Motown and jazz. I love reading, trying to play the guitar and playing hoops when my knees allow me. I am passionate for my wife, food and traveling. I guess I have quite a few, and I don’t engage in any casually.(maybe that’s why the call it a passion)
This is Jack burton from the PorkChop Express and I'm talkin to whoever's out there.....
I love the Blazers and
Taking my lady on a long ride to anywhere on our bike Bettylou. Thats right we named the bike.Cruising down the road on a beautiful day is the most amazing free feeling.
He did it! Yes he did!
Calssic cars...
For all of us B-Edgers who are into classic cars and live near the Portland metro area, let me tell you about the Beach’s cruise-in, held every Wednsday night at PIR Delta park. Cheapest entertainment in town, $5.00 to get in, and all proceeds ( after salary to the help is paid ) go to children’s organizations. It starts around 4:30 and lasts untill around sundown, and there are hundreds of sweet cars and bikes, including a live band, food court and of course adult beverage. No butter way to enjoy the great weather we hanve this time of year in the Pacific Northwest.
2-4 the who
Bring it out and put a sign on it!
Square Birds need love just like rare Birds and flare Birds!
2-4 the who
My passions
1. Finishing my law degree
2. Politics
3. Playing golf
4. Being the best and most supportive boyfriend I can possibly be
5. Being the best example for the little leaguers that I coach
6. The Mariners
7. The Blazers
I go to law school. Therefore, I have no life.
by andrewgolfsalot on Aug 4, 2009 10:27 AM PDT reply actions
The Blazers and.........
Nature. The great out-of-doors and everything it offers—solitude, recreation, food & nutrition, peace of mind, physical fitness………
My hobby (and I really have trouble thinking of a more important one) is keeping abreast of health related research. I am a strong advocate of disease prevention believing that individuals should be taking responsibility for their own health rather than waiting for problems to occur and then depending on the “medical mob” to treat them with medical procedures and patented space-alien drugs promoted by the mega-rich and powerful “big pharma” industry. A shift in priorities here would be an infinitely better solution to the media labeled "health care crisis) than having the feds take over the health care system.
Is it a realistic solution? Go to any public place today in the U.S. and observe the huge percentage of individuals who are markedly overweight, obese or grossly obese, and I sadly realize that I am probably just pissing into the wind. It would take a reform of great magnitude to make inroads I’m afraid, and the big money involved in the medical establishment isn’t going to let this happen without a huge fight.
Sorry, to get on the soapbox, but the religious zealots did the same earlier in this thread, and the economic guys got their shout too. So I thought I’d try for equal time.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
by TwoDeep on Aug 4, 2009 10:43 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs
Rec a million times
for spending as much time as possible outdoors.
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
The Blazers and...
my baby girl of 22 months is the biggest thing in my life. She is so much fun to play with, teach, and learn from. I love her and her mother (my wife) very much and hope that we can raise here the right way. To me, that means having an appreciation for where you’re from and knowing who your family and friends are. Not just by name but by getting to know them and their passions. We spend so much time on this site talking Blazers but I equally enjoy learning about my fellow Bedgers and what they do when they’re not at games or camped in front of the TV on game night. We are a community and likely have a lot more in common than just Blazers. Reading all of our passions has brought more than one smile to my face. I readily identify with Dave and his baby boy and can’t rec that any harder! Thanks Dave!
I’ll have to admit, spending time with my girls has taken away from many of my other passions but that is OK. I’ll get back to them. They include: homebrewing, backbcountry skiing, hiking, camping, gardening and other enviro-wacko! activities. I am a biologist by trade and love botany, birds, butterflies, mushrooms….the natural world in general.
I think if we focused our efforts on our individual communities, lightened our impacts on our land and thought sustainably rather than consumptively, we would have to focus less on the economics of the world and more on home-economics which is were it is needed most.
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
by clinchmobb on Aug 4, 2009 10:49 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec, rec, rec.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
Rec rec rec rec rec.
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
Blazers and teaching, learning, cycling, scifi, new tech...
I’m passionate about the Blazers but my true love is teaching and learning. I teach 5th grade, and I just love working with those kids. Building relationships with them, gaining their trust, and helping them to explore new ideas is the highest calling I can imagine. Luckily, I also love to learn, as part of teaching is constantly updating the way you teach as well as the information that you are teaching. Additionally, because I teach elementary I get to apply a huge range of interests to my field. I love reading an article about a weird animal species, then finding out about the country/region that it lives in, then what things are being done to help or use the animal, then bringing that multi-disciplinary excitement into my classroom.
I’m currently in love with my recumbent bicycle, a RANS Enduro F5 I’m training to ride from coast to coast across the USA in the summer of 2010. That’ll be a blast and something to talk about for the rest of my life.
Finally, I’m way into science fiction and watching science fiction become a reality. I’m constantly reading fiction: David Weber, David Drake, Richard K. Morgan, etc. and future tech Popular science, Scientific American, space.com, howstuffworks.com, etc.
Since you mentioned teaching
I’ll add what I only alluded to in my comment. Straight out of school I taught third grade for a few years. I thought it was a wonderful age as the kids were starting to become aware of the world beyond their immediate environment. I just loved watching them get excited about something new to them. Then I was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom and got to watch my daughter watch the world. I’d push her stroller around the neighborhood and she’d really look at every flower, every dog, every bug. A small child really knows how to stop and smell the roses and parents can learn from them. Unfortunately I had to go back to work when my son was barely two so I missed so many of the small things that I treasured with my daughter. Beyond that I’ve always enjoyed explaining things to people. I’ve worked with a few who were very protective of what they knew (in relation to their job) and only reluctantly taught someone else when there was a definite need to know. I always want to know the “why” of some thing so really liked working with those who wanted to know “the big picture”. I got to do some training in my job and I really enjoyed that. But I always explain, over-explain. I remember my son (in his teens) saying to his sister, “there goes Mom being a teacher again”. For me it must be more instinct than intentional.
"Most of the people reading and commenting here are smart, thoughtful, reasoned, and both capable of and interested in good conversation." - Dave, about Blazersedge, 07/29
"But I always explain, over-explain."
Me too…..in fact I am a corporate trainer in real life. Perfect fit
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
One of the things that made me hate my job
(in the once wonderful work environment I was in) was how people, desperate to keep their jobs, started hoarding information in order to make themselves look good. Ugly.
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
I have seen those folks (knowledge hoarders) too, but.....
…..every advancement I made in the company I work for was by doing the exact opposite…spread the word, help anyone who asked and explain why it was the way it was. This didn’t go unnoticed. I was on my way
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
I'm passionate about the Blazers and...
Books, music, movies, TV that isn’t reality TV (documentaries being the exception), skiing, hiking, and fishing.
I enjoy having meaningful conversations with people I may know nothing about. I strive to find time to laugh even when life is kicking my butt.
I have been unemployed since November. The experience has taught me how much I have to be thankful for and how much I love and respect my wife and family. We don’t have kids yet, but when we do I will do whatever I can to teach them about the frivolous nature of material possessions, and to value friendships and experiences over objects.
P.S. Love the Quizz picture BOSAKI.
I am a passionate Beaver Believer as well.
It doesn't matter who they vote for. As long as I get to pick who's running.
J.D. Rockefeller
I don't write checks, straight cash homey...
Randy Moss
The Blazers and...
Rugby! Well, at least in the sporting universe.
Being this far away from my homeland, watching both the All Blacks (New Zealand national rugby union team) and my Canterbury and Crusaders provincial teams gives me some kind of immediate connection to my roots.
In one fell swoop of serendipity, the Blazers colours are the same as the Canterbury ones – red and black! That makes it much easier for me than if they were the blue and white of the despised JAFAs* of Auckland (aka Dorkland to us “one-eyed Cantabrians”).
Even worse though… the green and gold of Australia – our traditional sporting rivals. Maybe the U.S. is to Canada what Australia is to New Zealanders – a patronising big brother that we have a love-hate relationship with! ;-)
Needless to say I have a hard time supporting the Ducks!
- JAFA is Just Another ****ing Aucklander. A Jaffa is a round sweet in New Zealand with a chocolate interior and a hard red candy exterior shell.
gotta love jaffas (the candy)
And even though I am an Aussie, I must admit I love watching the All Blacks take on the Wallabies or the Springboks because the All Blacks play some good, exciting rugby!
As long as you know
I’m being pretty tongue and cheek about the Aussie/Kiwi thing. I think Kiwis like to hype it up a bit because it makes us feel a bit more relevant.
You only have to look at what happens when those same people bashing each other at home go over to spend time in the “auld country” – seems like us colonials become as thick as thieves. :-D
I’m glad that there’s strength in the Australian and South African rugby base. It makes for exciting encounters and keeps the game alive. I only wish our cricket team was a little less horrible.
at least your cricket team.....
isn’t down 1-0 after 3 tests in the Ashes series to the English side….
C’mon Aussies, you’re better then that!!!
The Blazers and. . .
fingerstyle guitar. I’m a self-taught player and play an hour+ daily. I hope to play like my idol Laurence Juber someday.
I appreciate reading about people on the site working with youth. It’s an important contribution you’re making to the community.
The Blazers and
The Ducks. Call of Duty WaW for the Wii. I’ve maxed out prestige in that. Pretty much will pwn any n00b that wants some. Not bad at Tiger Woods, either. Lets take it to Wolf Creek and see what’s up.
I write all the time, don’t have a blog or a facebook or any internet avenue for it.
I play poker every Sunday but would play more often if I could. I’m pretty good, walking away with money more often that not, have yet to play in a real tournament though. Looking forward to that.
I love TV. Yeah, that’s right. Not books, not movies, TV is where it’s at. Mostly solid comedy and drama. I watch one reality show. The only reality show that’s really real. COPS.
Life is hilarious.
I think it's hilarious that Trek has already come up
Because I’m passionate about the Blazers and my new theater company that my friends started (and brought me along) this summer. The company is called Atomic Arts, and our inaugural show was incredibly well-received: “Trek in the Park.”
http://geekinthecity.com/?p=2106
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/the-final-frontier-is-the-park/Content?oid=1502251
http://geek-orthodox.blogspot.com/2009/07/trek-in-park.html
I played Spock, in case you were wondering.
I would also love to start coaching basketball. I miss being around the game all the time.
Sorry, all, I’m relatively young, single, working hard on my English degree, and (f)un-employed, so a lot of the other things that have been discussed don’t apply to me. But Trek does. Trek and the Blazers:)
I wanna be Brandon Roy when I grow up!
You don't have to be sorry.
That’s what the thread is for! Interests and passions are almost always deep in their own way even if they seem trivial to others.
—Dave
Man, I'd love to watch some Trek with Paul Allen!
Can you imagine siiting with Paul Allen geeking about Trek and the Blazers?
2-4 the who
I say we find Spock and sign him
Do you think David Stern would come up with a way to keep Vulcans out?
I wanna be Brandon Roy when I grow up!
I've never really considered myself passionate
I’m fairly level headed(read: Boring), and it takes a lot to make me throw my whole being into something. The only thing that truly, absolutely, and whole-heartedly consumes every ounce of passion I have are my 3 beautiful children. You can look closely at my Avatar and see my youngest offspring wearing his Blazer’s gear already. I get very depressed when school is in session (for me, not them) and it consumes every last second of my time and feel that I am ruining their childhood trying to better myself. But, I keep telling myself that while I’m not always there physically right now, it will be worth it in the end when i FINALLY finish my degree (BS Electrical Engineering…i’m literally on the 10 year plan, but have only 3 semesters left…Hooray!!!-I’ll be having a massive party, you all are invited). I could not have asked for better children than what I have. They each have VERY different and distinct personalities, but they all seem to love doing the same things as me. We like to sit and watch Blazers games, when we get them on national TV in San Diego. I’ve recently taken a golf class at school, and am now starting to try and play when/if I ever get free time, and they ALL want to get a set of golf clubs and go with me. My son already tells me he’s good at golf and that he’s better than Tiger. I can only hope that’s true! LoL…
so, in short, I guess my answer is two fold. I love my kids more than life itself(and my wife too, w/out her pushing me through school I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am) and I am starting to really love golf.
What I’ve learned here today? first, I didn’t realize there were so many people here who are faith driven. I’m not driven by faith, but have the utmost respect for those that are. It is nice to see that society isn’t driven by heathens such as myself. Second, I learned that OSU does have it’s own fans. Who’d of thunk it? Go Ducks!!
This is a wonderful topic Dave, I’m glad you posted it. I remember I used to be one of the most frequent posters here, but life has been coming so fast for me lately that I can hardly keep up with reading the main posts here, let alone commenting anymore and I don’t even touch the sidebars. I can’t believe how quickly this place has grown into what it has, and to that we all owe you a very sincere THANK YOU. While I don’t post often anymore, I still “lurk” almost daily and enjoy what you and Ben do here. Keep it up!
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: I heart Portland!!!
wow...i didn't realize i rambled that long
Dave, I forgot to mention that my son does the exact same thing as baby point guard. He’s been trying to play with the vacuum cleaner since he could walk. We’ve even gotten him a couple of toy vacuum cleaners that are his size, but he still insists on pushing around the real one. I hope it stays that way so my living room will always be freshly vacuumed! LoL
If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: I heart Portland!!!
With my son, it was the kitchen sink
As soon as he was old enough to push a dinette chair up to the sink and turn on the water, that was all he wanted to do. We got him a little toy sink and some soap. He loved them. – Elgin
Without you out there, we're nowhere here
I just got back from Oaks Park
I have some time off so we took the kids down there …..the Boy (13 yrs) doesn’t like hanging with dad much (maybe cause I point out the good looking teenage girls to him by saying “Hottie alert!!” ). Other than the Blazers, those kids are my biggest pleasure in life (my 9 yr old daughter is the future Blazer fan)
"My avatar picture is of the favorite vehicle I ever owned" -Me
I'm thinking "passion" is a little strong...
to describe my fondness for the Blazers. I get a kick out of following them, though there have been long periods of my life when I’ve avoided following any sports (though I always love to play them). I first hopped on the bandwagon during the 76-77 championship season, and the season that followed (such a great start!), but my interest in them corresponds pretty directly to having free time. Sometimes I do; more often I don’t. It’s not essential for me to follow them.
My passions are being in the woods (unless I’m sick, I hike or snowshoe every single day on the network of trails I blazed behind my house in Vermont); making music (I play mandolin in a bluegrass band and an acoustic jam band); writing and teaching writing (which is what I do for a living); organic foods and sustainable local culture (I’m on the board of directors for the regional food co-op), and of course my family (which for the moment is my pregnant partner and our rambunctious dog). I’ve got a wonderful, really full life. Following the Blazers is seasoning. I love it for the continuity it provides with my adolescence and my Oregon roots (fourth generation on one side, fifth on the other). But it’s not a passion.
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