Official Not So Random Thoughts Thread Version 2.2

[Rafael122]

The movies are fantastic. I know for a fact Miller and Ben on these boards have viewing parties. It's a little much, but what can you do?

Also, on an unrelated note...I just got into Sons of Anarchy. Got 3 eps of Season 1 left...terrific show.

[miller31time]

Knew Raffy was going to be on that post like white on rice.

I feel like you have the "search" feature on your computer constantly enabled with the phrase "Harry Potter" entered.

[Rafael122]

Maybe I do, maybe I don't.

[montestewart]

Also, on an unrelated note...I just got into Sons of Anarchy. Got 3 eps of Season 1 left...terrific show.

I'm up to date on it, and it's so run amok now, I can't even tell which way it's going. Season three had echoes of I Love Lucy in Italy or The Brady Bunch in Hawaii (that is, maybe all downhill from there).

[Nivek]

Book recommendation: Read the Hunger Games trilogy. My daughter kept bugging me to read them, and I kept resisting because the last thing she wanted me to read was Harry Potter and I was unimpressed. (She keeps insisting I have to read all 7 Potter books because they get better, but I'm dubious after book one.).

Your daughter is right. Harry Potter does get better. Books 4, 5 and 6 are the best. They're aimed at children and teenagers so of course they lack the depth of works like Lord of the Rings, but I thought they were a pretty good read.

WHISPERING: The Lord of the Rings books didn't exactly blow me away either. They were good, but I kept thinking that I really didn't need to know the complete history and parentage of every blade of grass in Middle Earth. Everyone had like 9 names and seemingly endless family trees that stretched back to some time before time or memory or something. Just tell me the f-ing story already.

In sum, the LOTR story was great. It just got too far into the weeds for my taste.

I'll probably get around the Potter books eventually. I'm not in any particular rush, though. I believe my daughter when she says they get better, though. Especially after her Hunger Games recommend.

[Benjammin]

The movies are fantastic. I know for a fact Miller and Ben on these boards have viewing parties. It's a little much, but what can you do?

Also, on an unrelated note...I just got into Sons of Anarchy. Got 3 eps of Season 1 left...terrific show.

Well played young sir. Watch your step during in game chats this season. You have been warned.

[Zonkerbl]

Book recommendation: Read the Hunger Games trilogy. My daughter kept bugging me to read them, and I kept resisting because the last thing she wanted me to read was Harry Potter and I was unimpressed. (She keeps insisting I have to read all 7 Potter books because they get better, but I'm dubious after book one.).

Your daughter is right. Harry Potter does get better. Books 4, 5 and 6 are the best. They're aimed at children and teenagers so of course they lack the depth of works like Lord of the Rings, but I thought they were a pretty good read.

WHISPERING: The Lord of the Rings books didn't exactly blow me away either. They were good, but I kept thinking that I really didn't need to know the complete history and parentage of every blade of grass in Middle Earth. Everyone had like 9 names and seemingly endless family trees that stretched back to some time before time or memory or something. Just tell me the f-ing story already.

In sum, the LOTR story was great. It just got too far into the weeds for my taste.

I'll probably get around the Potter books eventually. I'm not in any particular rush, though. I believe my daughter when she says they get better, though. Especially after her Hunger Games recommend.

Did you know the editor tried to get "The Two Towers" deleted? I mean really -- the whole thing with Saruman -- what does that contribute to the overall story? The two idiot hobbits getting kidnapped and having their own separate little adventures -- completely irrelevant!

[dobrojim]

Jacqui's team is 2-0 after a fugly win yesterday.
But she still hasn't got off the bench.

The team won by ~ 8-9 pts but should have won
by 20 with numerous missed lay-ups and other very
makeable shots.

I told Jacqui she should talk privately with her coach and
just let her (the coach) know that she really wants to
play AND ask her what she needs to see from her in
practice that would give her confidence that she can
play her in games. And keep it about the team.

[fishercob]

Jacqui's team is 2-0 after a fugly win yesterday.
But she still hasn't got off the bench.

The team won by ~ 8-9 pts but should have won
by 20 with numerous missed lay-ups and other very
makeable shots.

I told Jacqui she should talk privately with her coach and
just let her (the coach) know that she really wants to
play AND ask her what she needs to see from her in
practice that would give her confidence that she can
play her in games. And keep it about the team.

Careful Jim. Communication is a two way street, and even if Jacqui goes to the coach with the right intentions, the coach could hear the message differently and may think "who is the freshman coming to be complaining about playing time two games into the season."

There may be a time for that conversation, but for now I'd tell Jacqui to focus on busting her butt in practice, being a vocal leader on the bench when she isn't playing, and being a great teammate. I think her coach will respond better to that.

[dobrojim]

true it may be early - I've told her the same thing about busting her
butt in practice and being a good teammate. Still I think as long as
the approach is not whiny and confrontational, a coach ought to
be able to give a kid a solid, straight answer.

maybe she should wait until Jan....they have 2 more games before
the holidays which they will be idle for. Thanks.

edit to add - maybe she should start the approach with
the assit coach.

[closg00]

The NBA forced a security director out of his job because he stuck up for colleagues who complained of sexual harassment and discrimination, the ousted league official said in a lawsuit Thursday.

After a decade with the league, Warren Glover was fired in July "in retaliation for his continued advocacy on behalf of female employees," according to his lawsuit against the NBA and three current and former security executives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/1 ... 51147.html

No surprising.

[montestewart]

^
the continual improvement of the league's public image

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Jacqui's team is 2-0 after a fugly win yesterday.
But she still hasn't got off the bench.

The team won by ~ 8-9 pts but should have won
by 20 with numerous missed lay-ups and other very
makeable shots.

I told Jacqui she should talk privately with her coach and
just let her (the coach) know that she really wants to
play AND ask her what she needs to see from her in
practice that would give her confidence that she can
play her in games. And keep it about the team.

Careful Jim. Communication is a two way street, and even if Jacqui goes to the coach with the right intentions, the coach could hear the message differently and may think "who is the freshman coming to be complaining about playing time two games into the season."

There may be a time for that conversation, but for now I'd tell Jacqui to focus on busting her butt in practice, being a vocal leader on the bench when she isn't playing, and being a great teammate. I think her coach will respond better to that.

Yep, I'm with fish on this one, jim. You know best for your daughter, but I think the coach might not want any input or may resent even the most well-intended comments. I think practicing so hard and so well the coach takes notice works. I think sitting next to the coach during games and giving "the puppy dog, I want to play so badly" look works. But words get in the way, often.

My 11-yr old son has finally gotten off the offensive line. He's gotten to play receiver, a little defensive back, running back, the last games and has taken a few snaps at quarterback in practice. (No, IMO he's not THAT good--but he IS better than I thought.) Son seems to run fast ONCE HE GETS THE BALL. Now he gets angry whenever his teammates don't pass the ball to him. Looks and moves like a black Eric Cartman IMO. (Gotta admit, dude was open a couple times in the game last week). His statement to me the other day: "I am determined to get a touchdown this week!" I have told him to get to practice earlier than the other kids. Work harder in practice. Stay a little late. Keep a positive attitude. Don't tick anybody off but saying what your're thinking unless you're the quarterback and they're fooling around on the line. Most of all let the coach coach and don't get so mad at your teammates.

But then again, jim, your daughter may be persuasive and diplomatic. I know my son. He inherited a direct-but-not-necessarily-successful gene. I'm one of those "Do as I say not necessarily how I do dads, it seems."

Seriously, hindsight is 20-20. I wish I back in the day when I was a youth I had just been agreeable and coachable as I'm advocating to my son to be today. Now I know better. You live and learn.

[dobrojim]

I'm leaving it to her and emphasizing hard work, staying positive
and being ready at any time.

the team's 2-0 record is on the line this afternoon going up
against Langley who is also 2-0 with wins of 48-16 and 35-7.

[pancakes3]

yikes. well, it does look like your daughter might see some PT there. 7 pts in 32 minutes? that is shocking. i do think that with something like suburban public school freshman girl's basketball, the stakes are as low as it gets and that the coach should really be looking to play players instead of worrying about W/L's. Plus, how many girls are let on the freshman team anyway? my HS freshman team was capped at 10. JV at 12. Varsity at 15. you can definitely find minutes for 10 players in a freshman game.

[Nivek]

I think if your daughter goes to the coach with this question: "What can I do to get better?" that the coach would/should be very receptive. If she goes in with a "I want to play more..." approach, it'll probably get on the coach's nerves.

I'd steer her away from explicitly mentioning playing time because the coach may not want to create a future obligation. If the coach says, "Do x, y and z..." and your daughter does those things, but still doesn't get minutes...it could lead to ill will and hurt feelings. So, focus on "improvement." The coach will understand she wants to play more, but doesn't get put on the spot.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

yikes. well, it does look like your daughter might see some PT there. 7 pts in 32 minutes? that is shocking. i do think that with something like suburban public school freshman girl's basketball, the stakes are as low as it gets and that the coach should really be looking to play players instead of worrying about W/L's. Plus, how many girls are let on the freshman team anyway? my HS freshman team was capped at 10. JV at 12. Varsity at 15. you can definitely find minutes for 10 players in a freshman game.

A local girl's varsity team won a game 47-4 the other day.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Question for parents out there: How do you feel about your kids being on facebook account?

My son has friends who are moving and he says, "More kids have facebook than cell phones, dad."

I already and leaning towards no, but just wanna get some other opinions.

[gesa2]

I have 3 teenage daughters CCJ, age 13, 15 and 17. I let them all on facebook but only if they approve all family friend requests, and don't approve any friend requests from people they don't know in the real world first. It's allowed several of my siblings and cousins to catch comments they posted and reply with cautionary statements. Hearing it from someone other than their parents can be more effective sometimes. Seeing what they're posting gives me a window to their minds, too. Seeing a post of "worst day ever" made me make darn sure I did more than a cursory check in with them after a 12 hour day at work for example.

[Zonkerbl]

When is the darn NBA season pass coming out already??????

[edit: ah, it's out finally! never mind!]