PC Board OT thread

ardee · Post #381 » by **ardee** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 6:19 am

Happy Thanksgiving PC peeps

thankful for having all you guys to talk ball with

Post #382 » by **Moonbeam** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:03 am

Figured I might as well "introduce" myself.

I was born at 4:29 am on 4/29/1980 (something I find cool as I'm a numbers geek, though my geekdom is pretty much all-around) in Michigan. Both of my parents were teachers - my dad a math teacher and my mom a speech and drama teacher. I think I am a good mix of both in my job as a statistics lecturer in Australia, as I am not above singing and dancing for my students to get a point across!

As a kid, I had a favorite EVERYTHING. One of my favorite hobbies was when my Dad would take me for a drive so that I could look at the addresses on mailboxes and the different state license plates. That starts to paint a picture of my affinity for rather trivial things, but suffice it to say, I could put anything and everything in favorite order. So I'd pour through the encyclopedia and put all of the countries in favorite order (Czechslovakia at the time, how could I look past those awesome letters?!), as well as states (Utah - look at the shape! And it starts with a U!), colors (I collected paint chips and am particularly keen on bright yellow and bright orange), letters (V), numbers (8), U.S. presidents (Rutherford B. Hayes), music (more on that later), etc. There was no limit to it, really.

I got into basketball as my parents started to really pay attention when two rookies, Dennis Rodman and John Salley, started to have an impact for the Pistons. I quickly became obsessed, and my childhood hero became Adrian Dantley, and I really tried to mimic his play with relentless drives to the basket and a huge focus on free throw shooting. I used to spend hours at a time trying to mimic his free throw routine, and using our wooden backboard so much that it you couldn't really hit it too hard in the center square while pretending to play against the Celtics or Lakers. My mom always likes to tell the story how I would come in after a long time for lunch and say, "Mom, the Pistons are beating the Lakers 100-0 and guess who scored all the points? Adrian Dantley." After lunch I headed out again and my mom asked where I saw going and I said "it's only halftime". Who did I dress up as for Halloween when not going as something even weirder like the Alphabet man or a box of crayons? Yep - Adrian Dantley. Needless to say, I was devastated when I went to school and found out from a friend that he had been traded. I insisted "maybe they'll trade back for him", came home to ascertain from my mom if he really had been traded, and the sobbed my 8-year-old eyes out. The Pistons then became my most hated team, and I was devastated that they won the next two titles. After Dantley's trade, I was free to root for other teams, and my favorites became Portland and Seattle due to their high-flying play and Utah because, well, I wanted to go dressed as my favorite state one year for Halloween, too, but my mom didn't know how to make the costume. :lol:

Portland's highly entertaining starting lineup of Drexler, Porter, Kersey (my favorite), Buck Williams and Duckworth were enough to cement me as a lifelong fan, even though I have yet to set foot in Oregon.

I played basketball in junior high and part of high school, but I was wayyyyyy too bound by the plays to exhibit any sort of creativity, and that was very limiting. I got cut from the varsity team, but I became a better player for it once I wasn't so restricted by specific plays and such when playing for intramural teams. I'm 6'3" and now about 180 lbs, but I used to weigh around 150, so I fully sympathize with those who have said they can eat everything and not put on any weight. Unfortunately in leagues here, my height makes me the default center most of the time, but I developed a skill set more akin to a small forward. I have crappy handles but a decent shot and am relentless in chasing rebounds and throwing my body out of bounds for the ball. This has led to several broken fingers, toes, and ribs over the past few years, much to my wife's dismay.

Speaking of my wife, I am very, very lucky to be married to the absolute love of my life. I was one of those weirdos who wanted a permanent girlfriend from the age of about 4, and would ache through unrequited "love" for years at a time over a girl who didn't even know my feelings. I'd only ever kissed 1 girl before I met my wife thanks to my other main passion - music. Like everything else, I went to meticulous detail to explore and rank my favorite artists, albums, and songs, and I was about the only person my age who liked Prince. Hence, I turned to online sites for a sense of community to avoid the constant teasing I would get. Never did I anticipate that my love for Prince would lead me to the love of my life, but it did. My wife is originally from South Africa but had immigrated to Australia 4 years prior to when we first "met" in 2002. I had graduated a year early from college so decided to take a year off, so it gave me plenty of time when I wasn't working to chat online with her, then send letters and gifts, speak over the phone, etc. When we met in real life for the first time 16 months later, we had developed such a strong sense of openness, honesty and trust that it felt totally natural, and I knew I wanted to marry her right there and then. After several visits over the next 3 years, I immigrated to Australia to be with her, and I couldn't be happier.

Our first son was born on June 5th last year, but his original due date was Prince's birthday (June 7th), so that was kind of cool.

Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, I can confess that I've developed a computer program using the statistical software R to help me rank my top 800+ albums, 3000+ songs, and corresponding artists using various algorithms. Here is the latest version of my top 500 albums:

Spoiler:

john248 · Post #383 » by **john248** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 7:22 pm

Great story!

But Milli Vanilli at 490? Your software needs work!

ardee · Post #384 » by **ardee** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:41 am

Ok, strange closeted question: anyone else here an Iggy Azalea fan?

Post #385 » by **Moonbeam** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:52 am

john248 wrote:Great story!

But Milli Vanilli at 490? Your software needs work!

Oh, but it is right! It is so, so, SOOO right!

"All or Nothing" and "More Than You'll Ever Know" for the win, suckas!

Post #386 » by **Moonbeam** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:53 am

ardee wrote:Ok, strange closeted question: anyone else here an Iggy Azalea fan?

I kind of like "Fancy", but that's mostly due to Charli XCX, whose album True Romance is very good. Don't know much else by Iggy, but I don't have anything against her.

Post #387 » by **penbeast0** » Tue Dec 2, 2014 8:37 pm

Always glad to see Bootsy and Parliament getting some love though I wasn't clued in when they were actually playing.

Post #388 » by **trex_8063** » Tue Dec 2, 2014 9:59 pm

john248 wrote:Great story!

But Milli Vanilli at 490?

Girl, you know it's, yes you know it's true (ew, ew...)

Post #389 » by **trex_8063** » Tue Dec 2, 2014 10:09 pm

Moonbeam wrote:
Spoiler:
Figured I might as well "introduce" myself.

I was born at 4:29 am on 4/29/1980 (something I find cool as I'm a numbers geek, though my geekdom is pretty much all-around) in Michigan. Both of my parents were teachers - my dad a math teacher and my mom a speech and drama teacher. I think I am a good mix of both in my job as a statistics lecturer in Australia, as I am not above singing and dancing for my students to get a point across!

As a kid, I had a favorite EVERYTHING. One of my favorite hobbies was when my Dad would take me for a drive so that I could look at the addresses on mailboxes and the different state license plates. That starts to paint a picture of my affinity for rather trivial things, but suffice it to say, I could put anything and everything in favorite order. So I'd pour through the encyclopedia and put all of the countries in favorite order (Czechslovakia at the time, how could I look past those awesome letters?!), as well as states (Utah - look at the shape! And it starts with a U!), colors (I collected paint chips and am particularly keen on bright yellow and bright orange), letters (V), numbers (8), U.S. presidents (Rutherford B. Hayes), music (more on that later), etc. There was no limit to it, really.

I got into basketball as my parents started to really pay attention when two rookies, Dennis Rodman and John Salley, started to have an impact for the Pistons. I quickly became obsessed, and my childhood hero became Adrian Dantley, and I really tried to mimic his play with relentless drives to the basket and a huge focus on free throw shooting. I used to spend hours at a time trying to mimic his free throw routine, and using our wooden backboard so much that it you couldn't really hit it too hard in the center square while pretending to play against the Celtics or Lakers. My mom always likes to tell the story how I would come in after a long time for lunch and say, "Mom, the Pistons are beating the Lakers 100-0 and guess who scored all the points? Adrian Dantley." After lunch I headed out again and my mom asked where I saw going and I said "it's only halftime". Who did I dress up as for Halloween when not going as something even weirder like the Alphabet man or a box of crayons? Yep - Adrian Dantley. Needless to say, I was devastated when I went to school and found out from a friend that he had been traded. I insisted "maybe they'll trade back for him", came home to ascertain from my mom if he really had been traded, and the sobbed my 8-year-old eyes out. The Pistons then became my most hated team, and I was devastated that they won the next two titles. After Dantley's trade, I was free to root for other teams, and my favorites became Portland and Seattle due to their high-flying play and Utah because, well, I wanted to go dressed as my favorite state one year for Halloween, too, but my mom didn't know how to make the costume. Portland's highly entertaining starting lineup of Drexler, Porter, Kersey (my favorite), Buck Williams and Duckworth were enough to cement me as a lifelong fan, even though I have yet to set foot in Oregon.

I played basketball in junior high and part of high school, but I was wayyyyyy too bound by the plays to exhibit any sort of creativity, and that was very limiting. I got cut from the varsity team, but I became a better player for it once I wasn't so restricted by specific plays and such when playing for intramural teams. I'm 6'3" and now about 180 lbs, but I used to weigh around 150, so I fully sympathize with those who have said they can eat everything and not put on any weight. Unfortunately in leagues here, my height makes me the default center most of the time, but I developed a skill set more akin to a small forward. I have crappy handles but a decent shot and am relentless in chasing rebounds and throwing my body out of bounds for the ball. This has led to several broken fingers, toes, and ribs over the past few years, much to my wife's dismay.

Speaking of my wife, I am very, very lucky to be married to the absolute love of my life. I was one of those weirdos who wanted a permanent girlfriend from the age of about 4, and would ache through unrequited "love" for years at a time over a girl who didn't even know my feelings. I'd only ever kissed 1 girl before I met my wife thanks to my other main passion - music. Like everything else, I went to meticulous detail to explore and rank my favorite artists, albums, and songs, and I was about the only person my age who liked Prince. Hence, I turned to online sites for a sense of community to avoid the constant teasing I would get. Never did I anticipate that my love for Prince would lead me to the love of my life, but it did. My wife is originally from South Africa but had immigrated to Australia 4 years prior to when we first "met" in 2002. I had graduated a year early from college so decided to take a year off, so it gave me plenty of time when I wasn't working to chat online with her, then send letters and gifts, speak over the phone, etc. When we met in real life for the first time 16 months later, we had developed such a strong sense of openness, honesty and trust that it felt totally natural, and I knew I wanted to marry her right there and then. After several visits over the next 3 years, I immigrated to Australia to be with her, and I couldn't be happier. Our first son was born on June 5th last year, but his original due date was Prince's birthday (June 7th), so that was kind of cool.

Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, I can confess that I've developed a computer program using the statistical software R to help me rank my top 800+ albums, 3000+ songs, and corresponding artists using various algorithms. Here is the latest version of my top 500 albums:

[spoiler][1] Prince - 1999 (1982)
[2] Prince - Lovesexy (1988)
[3] Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
[4] The Cure - Disintegration (1989)
[5] Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983)
[6] Madonna - Like a Prayer (1989)
[7] Björk - Vespertine (2001)
[8] Prince - Sign o' the Times (1987)
[9] Madonna - Ray of Light (1998)
[10] Annie - Anniemal (2004)
[11] LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (2007)
[12] Eurythmics - 1984: For the Love of Big Brother (1984)
[13] Prince - The Gold Experience (1995)
[14] Eurythmics - Touch (1983)
[15] Madonna - Madonna (1983)
[16] The Cure - Seventeen Seconds (1980)
[17] Kylie Minogue - Body Language (2003)
[18] Depeche Mode - Violator (1990)
[19] George Winston - December (1982)
[20] Kylie Minogue - Fever (2001)
[21] Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz (2010)
[22] Björk - Homogenic (1997)
[23] The Cure - BloodFlowers (2000)
[24] Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
[25] Björk - Post (1995)
[26] Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973)
[27] Annie Lennox - Diva (1992)
[28] Prince - Symbol (1992)
[29] David Bowie - Scary Monsters (1980)
[30] Blondie - Eat to the Beat (1979)
[31] Prince - Controversy (1981)
[32] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope (1980)
[33] The Sound - Jeopardy (1980)
[34] Annie Lennox - Bare (2003)
[35] Prince - Parade (1986)
[36] David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (1973)
[37] Eurythmics - Peace (1999)
[38] Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
[39] The Cure - Japanese Whispers (1983)
[40] The Cure - The Head on the Door (1985)
[41] Roxy Music - Roxy Music (1972)
[42] Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (2010)
[43] Gorillaz - Demon Days (2005)
[44] Janet Jackson - The Velvet Rope (1997)
[45] The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
[46] Tubeway Army - Replicas (1979)
[47] Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004)
[48] Janet Jackson - All for You (2001)
[49] Bootsy's Rubber Band - Ahh…The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! (1977)
[50] Annie - Don't Stop (2009)
[51] Grace Jones - Nightclubbing (1981)
[52] Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (2007)
[53] Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)
[54] Lou Reed - Berlin (1973)
[55] Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess (1997)
[56] David Bowie - Low (1977)
[57] Patti Smith - Horses (1975)
[58] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju (1981)
[59] David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (1972)
[60] Eurythmics - In the Garden (1981)
[61] Bat for Lashes - Two Suns (2009)
[62] Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974)
[63] Blondie - Blondie (1976)
[64] The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
[65] The Strokes - Room on Fire (2003)
[66] Prince - Crystal Ball (1998)
[67] Kraftwerk - Computer World (1981)
[68] Magazine - Real Life (1978)
[69] Morrissey - You Are the Quarry (2004)
[70] Bagarre - Circus (1982)
[71] Michael Jackson - Bad (1987)
[72] Kim Wilde - Select (1982)
[73] Dannii Minogue - Neon Nights (2003)
[74] The Human League - Dare! (1981)
[75] Blondie - Parallel Lines (1978)
[76] New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
[77] Siouxsie and the Banshees - A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982)
[78] Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)
[79] Björk - Debut (1993)
[80] Otis Redding - Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings the Blues (1965)
[81] David Bowie - Station to Station (1976)
[82] Depeche Mode - Black Celebration (1986)
[83] !!! - Myth Takes (2007)
[84] Tantra - Hills of Katmandu (1979)
[85] Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues (1983)
[86] Missy Elliott - Miss E… So Addictive (2001)
[87] iamamiwhoami - kin (2012)
[88] Can - Monster Movie (1969)
[89] Yaz - Upstairs at Eric's (1982)
[90] LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (2010)
[91] Kraftwerk - The Man Machine (1978)
[92] David Bowie - Earthling (1997)
[93] Mtume - Juicy Fruit (1983)
[94] The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)
[95] Kate Bush - Never for Ever (1980)
[96] Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band (1976)
[97] Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (1973)
[98] Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
[99] Lou Reed - Transformer (1972)
[100] Aerosmith - Pump (1989)
[101] Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
[102] André Cymone - Livin' in the New Wave (1982)
[103] Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)
[104] The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
[105] The Cure - Pornography (1982)
[106] The Associates - The Affectionate Punch (1980)
[107] Eurythmics - Savage (1987)
[108] Grace Jones - Warm Leatherette (1980)
[109] The Cure - Faith (1981)
[110] The Cure - Wish (1992)
[111] Eurythmics - Revenge (1986)
[112] Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward (1984)
[113] Blondie - The Curse of Blondie (2003)
[114] Kano - New York Cake (1981)
[115] Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets (1974)
[116] Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor (2005)
[117] Pretenders - Pretenders (1980)
[118] Roxy Music - Stranded (1973)
[119] Prince - 3121 (2006)
[120] Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
[121] Janet Jackson - Control (1986)
[122] Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
[123] Elvis Costello - This Year's Model (1978)
[124] Madonna - Erotica (1992)
[125] N.E.R.D. - In Search Of… (2002)
[126] Björk - Biophilia (2011)
[127] Kano - Kano (1980)
[128] Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady (2013)
[129] The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat (1968)
[130] The Doors - L.A. Woman (1971)
[131] Kylie Minogue - Light Years (2000)
[132] Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde (1981)
[133] Grace Jones - Living My Life (1982)
[134] LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (2005)
[135] Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam (1989)
[136] T. Rex - Electric Warrior (1971)
[137] Giorgio Moroder - From Here to Eternity (1977)
[138] Michael Jackson - Off the Wall (1979)
[139] PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
[140] Roxy Music - Avalon (1982)
[141] Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
[142] The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
[143] The Kinks - The Kinks Are Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
[144] Gap Band - IV (1982)
[145] The Human League - Travelogue (1980)
[146] Prince - Batman (1989)
[147] Prince - Around the World in a Day (1985)
[148] Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight (1985)
[149] Aaliyah - Aaliyah (2001)
[150] Depeche Mode - Speak and Spell (1981)
[151] Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (1983)
[152] Soundtrack - Edward Scissorhands (1990)
[153] Chromeo - Business Casual (2010)
[154] George Winston - The Music of Vince Guaraldi (1996)
[155] Zapp - Zapp (1980)
[156] Prince - Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
[157] New Order - Technique (1989)
[158] Madonna - Bedtime Stories (1994)
[159] Aaliyah - One in a Million (1996)
[160] Berlin - Pleasure Victim (1982)
[161] Blondie - The Hunter (1982)
[162] Donna Summer - Once Upon a Time (1977)
[163] Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express (1977)
[164] RES - How I Do (2001)
[165] Donna Summer - Bad Girls (1979)
[166] Rick James - Street Songs (1981)
[167] George Winston - Autumn (1980)
[168] Bootsy's Rubber Band - Bootsy? Player of the Year (1978)
[169] Debbie Harry - Koo Koo (1981)
[170] Vive la Fête - Nuit Blanche (2003)
[171] The Time - The Time (1981)
[172] Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones (1983)
[173] Kylie Minogue - Rhythm of Love (1990)
[174] David Bowie - Lodger (1979)
[175] David Bowie - Heroes (1977)
[176] Fad Gadget - Under the Flag (1982)
[177] Blondie - Autoamerican (1980)
[178] Living Colour - Time's Up (1990)
[179] Ramones - Ramones (1976)
[180] David Bowie - Heathen (2002)
[181] Patti Smith Group - Easter (1978)
[182] Mtume - In Search of the Rainbow Seekers (1980)
[183] Joan Jett - Bad Reputation (1980)
[184] Duffy - Rockferry (2008)
[185] Chromatics - Night Drive (2007)
[186] George Clinton - Computer Games (1982)
[187] Evelyn Champagne King - Get Loose (1982)
[188] Tantra - Tantra II (1982)
[189] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hyaena (1984)
[190] The Doors - Strange Days (1967)
[191] Parliament - Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome (1977)
[192] George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice (1990)
[193] The Doors - The Doors (1967)
[194] Sparks - Kimono My House (1974)
[195] Echo and the Bunnymen - Porcupine (1983)
[196] INXS - Kick (1987)
[197] St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (2011)
[198] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Peepshow (1988)
[199] Sade - Love Deluxe (1992)
[200] Nico - Chelsea Girl (1967)
[201] T. Rex - Tanx (1973)
[202] New Order - Low Life (1985)
[203] Prince - Graffiti Bridge (1990)
[204] Talking Heads - Fear of Music (1979)
[205] Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction (2007)
[206] Comateens - Comateens (1981)
[207] Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (1987)
[208] Clor - Clor (2005)
[209] The The - Soul Mining (1983)
[210] Television - Marquee Moon (1977)
[211] Shannon - Let the Music Play (1984)
[212] A Flock of Seagulls - A Flock of Seagulls (1982)
[213] Bootsy Collins - Ultra Wave (1980)
[214] Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life (1984)
[215] Heaven 17 - Penthouse and Pavement (1981)
[216] Prince Charles & The City Beat Band - Gang War (1980)
[217] Prince - Prince (1979)
[218] Grace Jones - Hurricane (2008)
[219] Eurythmics - We Too Are One (1989)
[220] Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain (1984)
[221] Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (1971)
[222] Janet Jackson - janet. (1993)
[223] White Noise - An Electric Storm (1968)
[224] !!! - Thr!!!er (2013)
[225] Brian Eno - Before and After Science (1977)
[226] Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (2010)
[227] Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981)
[228] Iggy Pop - The Idiot (1977)
[229] Kim Wilde - Catch As Catch Can (1983)
[230] Jody Watley - Jody Watley (1987)
[231] Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke (2008)
[232] Parliament - Up for the Down Stroke (1974)
[233] Cybotron - Enter (1983)
[234] Madonna - True Blue (1986)
[235] The Sound - From the Lion's Mouth (1981)
[236] Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club (1981)
[237] David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971)
[238] Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985)
[239] Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood (1989)
[240] Missing Persons - Spring Session M (1982)
[241] Kylie Minogue - X (2007)
[242] Magazine - The Correct Use of Soap (1980)
[243] Gang of Four - Entertainment! (1979)
[244] Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold (2006)
[245] Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)
[246] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (2009)
[247] T. Rex - The Slider (1972)
[248] OMD - Architecture & Morality (1981)
[249] PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (1995)
[250] Michael Jackson - Dangerous (1991)
[251] Roxy Music - Country Life (1974)
[252] Roxette - Have a Nice Day (1999)
[253] André Cymone - Survivin' in the 80s (1983)
[254] Sade - Lovers Rock (2000)
[255] Prince - LotusFlow3r (2009)
[256] The Cure - The Top (1984)
[257] Twin Shadow - Forget (2010)
[258] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Tinderbox (1986)
[259] Kano - Another Life (1983)
[260] Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84) (1982)
[261] Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)
[262] Prince - Come (1994)
[263] Klein & M.B.O. - De-Ja-Vu (1982)
[264] Zapp - Zapp II (1982)
[265] John Foxx - Metamatic (1980)
[266] Evelyn Champagne King - I'm in Love (1981)
[267] Can - Ege Bamyasi (1972)
[268] Brian Eno - Another Green World (1975)
[269] Donna Summer - She Works Hard for the Money (1983)
[270] Chromeo - White Women (2014)
[271] Chic - C'est Chic (1978)
[272] !!! - Louden Up Now (2004)
[273] Xavier - Point of Pleasure (1982)
[274] Azoto - Disco Fizz (1979)
[275] Fela Kuti - Sorrow Tears and Blood (1977)
[276] Björk - Medulla (2004)
[277] Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980)
[278] Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite (2010)
[279] Prince - One Nite Alone (2002)
[280] Madonna - American Life (2003)
[281] Sun Ra - Atlantis (1969)
[282] Kate Bush - The Dreaming (1982)
[283] Change - The Glow of Love (1980)
[284] Can - Tago Mago (1971)
[285] Sparks - No 1 in Heaven (1979)
[286] M - New York-London-Paris-Munich (1979)
[287] U2 - War (1983)
[288] THP - Good to Me (1979)
[289] Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man (2012)
[290] The Human League - Reproduction (1979)
[291] Björk - Volta (2007)
[292] Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again (1983)
[293] Sigur Ros - Takk (2005)
[294] The Knife - Silent Shout (2006)
[295] The Stooges - Fun House (1970)
[296] Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
[297] Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once (2014)
[298] New Order - Brotherhood (1986)
[299] Thomas Dolby - Golden Age of Wireless (1982)
[300] The Cure - 4:13 Dream (2008)
[301] Otis Redding - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966)
[302] Yellow Magic Orchestra - Solid State Survivor (1979)
[303] Romeo Void - Benefactor (1982)
[304] Prince - Planet Earth (2007)
[305] High Inergy - Groove Patrol (1983)
[306] Janet Jackson - 20 Y.O. (2006)
[307] Blancmange - Happy Families (1982)
[308] Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers (1976)
[309] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell (2003)
[310] The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
[311] The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge (1983)
[312] Bootsy Collins - The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away (1982)
[313] David Bowie - Diamond Dogs (1974)
[314] Deee-Lite - World Clique (1990)
[315] Missy Elliott - This Is Not a Test (2003)
[316] Modern English - After the Snow (1982)
[317] Iggy Pop - Lust for Life (1977)
[318] Death from Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine (2004)
[319] Prince - The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
[320] Gina X Performance - Nice Mover (1979)
[321] Parliament - Chocolate City (1975)
[322] Interpol - Antics (2004)
[323] Patrick Cowley - Mind Warp (1982)
[324] The Stooges - Raw Power (1973)
[325] Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove (1978)
[326] Gina X Performance - X-traordinaire (1979)
[327] High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky (1982)
[328] Erasure - Wild! (1989)
[329] Donna Summer - A Love Trilogy (1976)
[330] Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (1993)
[331] M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011)
[332] Madonna - MDNA (2012)
[333] New Order - Movement (1981)
[334] Naked Eyes - Burning Bridges (1983)
[335] Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
[336] The B-52's - Cosmic Thing (1989)
[337] The Clash - London Calling (1979)
[338] The Jam - Sound Affects (1980)
[339] PJ Harvey - White Chalk (2007)
[340] Charli XCX - True Romance (2013)
[341] Metronomy - The English Riviera (2011)
[342] Modern English - Mesh & Lace (1981)
[343] Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
[344] David Bowie - Outside (1995)
[345] The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy (1985)
[346] Mary Jane Girls - Mary Jane Girls (1983)
[347] Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004)
[348] Marquis de Sade - Rue de Siam (1981)
[349] Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)
[350] Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Scream (1978)
[351] The Cars - The Cars (1978)
[352] The Blue Nile - Hats (1989)
[353] Kylie Minogue - Kylie Minogue (1994)
[354] U2 - Zooropa (1993)
[355] Vanity 6 - Vanity 6 (1982)
[356] The Time - What Time Is It? (1982)
[357] The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth (2006)
[358] Sade - Stronger Than Pride (1988)
[359] Scott Walker - Scott 4 (1969)
[360] Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (2004)
[361] Soundtrack - Flashdance (1983)
[362] The Flirts - 10¢ a Dance (1982)
[363] The Strokes - Angles (2011)
[364] The Sugarcubes - Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! (1989)
[365] The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good (1988)
[366] Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1983)
[367] Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (2005)
[368] The xx - xx (2009)
[369] Split Enz - True Colours (1980)
[370] Björk - Selmasongs (2000)
[371] Joan Jett - I Love Rock 'n Roll (1981)
[372] Prince - MPLSoUND (2009)
[373] Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010)
[374] The Teardrop Explodes - Kiliminjaro (1980)
[375] Franz Ferdinand - Tonight (2009)
[376] Joy Division - Closer (1980)
[377] George Clinton - You Shouldn't - Nuf Bit Fish (1983)
[378] George Michael - Faith (1987)
[379] Mötley Crüe - Too Fast for Love (1981)
[380] Patrick Cowley - Megatron Man (1981)
[381] Patrice Rushen - Straight from the Heart (1982)
[382] Blondie - Plastic Letters (1977)
[383] Pet Shop Boys - Please (1986)
[384] Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)
[385] Chromeo - She's in Control (2004)
[386] Cherrelle - Fragile (1984)
[387] Can - Future Days (1973)
[388] Busta Rhymes - When Disaster Strikes (1997)
[389] D Train - You're the One for Me (1982)
[390] Sun Ra - On Jupiter (1979)
[391] Robyn - Robyn (2007)
[392] Roxy Music - Siren (1975)
[393] Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro (2008)
[394] Donna Summer - Four Seasons of Love (1976)
[395] Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message (1982)
[396] Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It on (1974)
[397] Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
[398] Goldfrapp - Supernature (2005)
[399] OMD - Organisation (1980)
[400] PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (2011)
[401] Chairlift - Something (2012)
[402] Otis Redding - The Soul Album (1966)
[403] A-ha - Scoundrel Days (1986)
[404] The Residents - Commercial Album (1980)
[405] Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow (2011)
[406] Neu! - NEU! '75 (1975)
[407] The Cars - Heartbeat City (1984)
[408] Lene Lovich - Stateless (1978)
[409] M - The Official Secrets Act (1980)
[410] Joe Jackson - Night and Day (1982)
[411] Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
[412] Funkadelic - Funkadelic (1970)
[413] The B-52's - B-52's (1979)
[414] David Bowie - Let's Dance (1983)
[415] Easy Going - Fear (1979)
[416] Imagination - In the Heat of the Night (1982)
[417] Jeff Phelps - Magnetic Eyes (1985)
[418] Echo and the Bunnymen - Crocodiles (1980)
[419] Funkadelic - Tales of Kidd Funkadelic (1976)
[420] Erasure - The Innocents (1988)
[421] Gary Davis and His Professor - [Untitled] (1982)
[422] The Cars - Candy-O (1979)
[423] David Bowie - Young Americans (1975)
[424] Busta Rhymes - Genesis (2001)
[425] Al Green - Let's Stay Together (1972)
[426] Robert Görl - Night Full of Tension (1984)
[427] Rick James - Come Get It (1978)
[428] Roxy Music - Flesh + Blood (1980)
[429] Peaches - Father****er (2003)
[430] Oppenheimer Analysis - New Mexico (1982)
[431] Arvo Pärt - Tabula Rasa (1984)
[432] Valerie Dore - The Legend (1986)
[433] U2 - Boy (1980)
[434] Wire - Pink Flag (1977)
[435] Wolf Parade - Apologies to Queen Mary (2005)
[436] Ultravox - Systems of Romance (1978)
[437] Tantra - Mother Africa (1980)
[438] Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
[439] David Bowie - Reality (2003)
[440] Debbie Harry - Deaf, Dumb and Blonde (1989)
[441] Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight (1972)
[442] Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby (2004)
[443] Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)
[444] Janet Jackson - Discipline (2008)
[445] Carl Carlton - The Bad C.C. (1982)
[446] Justice - Cross (2007)
[447] Duran Duran - Rio (1982)
[448] Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young (2009)
[449] Indeep - Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (1983)
[450] No Doubt - Rock Steady (2001)
[451] Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (1999)
[452] Sade - Diamond Life (1984)
[453] The Kinks - Something Else by The Kinks (1967)
[454] The Human League - Secrets (2001)
[455] Lou Reed - The Blue Mask (1982)
[456] X-Ray Spex - Germfree Adolescents (1978)
[457] Zapp - Zapp III (1983)
[458] Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55 (2006)
[459] Depeche Mode - Ultra (1997)
[460] Yaz - You and Me Both (1983)
[461] The Stooges - The Stooges (1969)
[462] Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001)
[463] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito (2013)
[464] Prince - Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
[465] Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat (1981)
[466] Britney Spears - Blackout (2007)
[467] Bronski Beat - The Age of Consent (1984)
[468] Funkadelic - Free Your Mind… And Your Ass Will Follow (1970)
[469] Joan Jett - Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth (1984)
[470] Kate Bush - Aerial (2005)
[471] Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
[472] A-ha - Hunting High and Low (1985)
[473] U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
[474] Peaches - I Feel Cream (2009)
[475] Patti Smith Group - Radio Ethiopia (1976)
[476] LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 (2006)
[477] Talking Heads - More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978)
[478] David Bowie - Space Oddity (1969)
[479] Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
[480] Automat - Automat (1978)
[481] Vive la Fête - Grand Prix (2005)
[482] The Clash - Combat Rock (1982)
[483] The Cure - The Cure (2004)
[484] The Kinks - Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (1969)
[485] Gorillaz - The Fall (2010)
[486] Salt 'n Pepa - Black's Magic (1990)
[487] Missy Elliott - Supa Dupa Fly (1997)
[488] Nico - Desertshore (1970)
[489] Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006)
[490] Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True (1989)
[491] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (2006)
[492] Magazine - Secondhand Daylight (1979)
[493] Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (2009)
[494] John Cale - Paris 1919 (1973)
[495] Guns 'n Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
[496] Skid Row - Skid Row (1989)
[497] Prince - The Black Album (1987)
[498] Tiga - Sexor (2006)
[499] Lime - Lime 3 (1983)
[500] Lipps, Inc. - Mouth to Mouth (1980)
[/Spoiler]

I can relate to the compulsive ranking of favorites; I'm prone to that myself (though I don't think my compulsion is quite so intense: I never ranked my favorite colours), as well as trying to get things categorized "by the numbers".

I can also relate to pining for extensive periods of time for girls who don't even know you're interested, as well as wishing for an LTR (long-term relationship) pretty much as far back as I can remember. Weirdly, our lives appear to have followed similar time-lines in many respects, too. Anyway......enjoyable read, thanks for sharing.

Post #390 » by **Moonbeam** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 1:34 am

penbeast0 wrote:Always glad to see Bootsy and Parliament getting some love though I wasn't clued in when they were actually playing.

Nice, Mr. Chocolate City! Of all of the early funk pioneers, I much prefer the Parliament/Funkadelic style to James Brown or Sly and the Family Stone, though I like those as well. Basically, make my funk the P-Funk. I wants to get funked up! :nod:

Post #391 » by **Moonbeam** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 1:40 am

trex_8063 wrote:
Moonbeam wrote:
Spoiler:
Figured I might as well "introduce" myself.

I was born at 4:29 am on 4/29/1980 (something I find cool as I'm a numbers geek, though my geekdom is pretty much all-around) in Michigan. Both of my parents were teachers - my dad a math teacher and my mom a speech and drama teacher. I think I am a good mix of both in my job as a statistics lecturer in Australia, as I am not above singing and dancing for my students to get a point across!

As a kid, I had a favorite EVERYTHING. One of my favorite hobbies was when my Dad would take me for a drive so that I could look at the addresses on mailboxes and the different state license plates. That starts to paint a picture of my affinity for rather trivial things, but suffice it to say, I could put anything and everything in favorite order. So I'd pour through the encyclopedia and put all of the countries in favorite order (Czechslovakia at the time, how could I look past those awesome letters?!), as well as states (Utah - look at the shape! And it starts with a U!), colors (I collected paint chips and am particularly keen on bright yellow and bright orange), letters (V), numbers (8), U.S. presidents (Rutherford B. Hayes), music (more on that later), etc. There was no limit to it, really.

I got into basketball as my parents started to really pay attention when two rookies, Dennis Rodman and John Salley, started to have an impact for the Pistons. I quickly became obsessed, and my childhood hero became Adrian Dantley, and I really tried to mimic his play with relentless drives to the basket and a huge focus on free throw shooting. I used to spend hours at a time trying to mimic his free throw routine, and using our wooden backboard so much that it you couldn't really hit it too hard in the center square while pretending to play against the Celtics or Lakers. My mom always likes to tell the story how I would come in after a long time for lunch and say, "Mom, the Pistons are beating the Lakers 100-0 and guess who scored all the points? Adrian Dantley." After lunch I headed out again and my mom asked where I saw going and I said "it's only halftime". Who did I dress up as for Halloween when not going as something even weirder like the Alphabet man or a box of crayons? Yep - Adrian Dantley. Needless to say, I was devastated when I went to school and found out from a friend that he had been traded. I insisted "maybe they'll trade back for him", came home to ascertain from my mom if he really had been traded, and the sobbed my 8-year-old eyes out. The Pistons then became my most hated team, and I was devastated that they won the next two titles. After Dantley's trade, I was free to root for other teams, and my favorites became Portland and Seattle due to their high-flying play and Utah because, well, I wanted to go dressed as my favorite state one year for Halloween, too, but my mom didn't know how to make the costume. Portland's highly entertaining starting lineup of Drexler, Porter, Kersey (my favorite), Buck Williams and Duckworth were enough to cement me as a lifelong fan, even though I have yet to set foot in Oregon.

I played basketball in junior high and part of high school, but I was wayyyyyy too bound by the plays to exhibit any sort of creativity, and that was very limiting. I got cut from the varsity team, but I became a better player for it once I wasn't so restricted by specific plays and such when playing for intramural teams. I'm 6'3" and now about 180 lbs, but I used to weigh around 150, so I fully sympathize with those who have said they can eat everything and not put on any weight. Unfortunately in leagues here, my height makes me the default center most of the time, but I developed a skill set more akin to a small forward. I have crappy handles but a decent shot and am relentless in chasing rebounds and throwing my body out of bounds for the ball. This has led to several broken fingers, toes, and ribs over the past few years, much to my wife's dismay.

Speaking of my wife, I am very, very lucky to be married to the absolute love of my life. I was one of those weirdos who wanted a permanent girlfriend from the age of about 4, and would ache through unrequited "love" for years at a time over a girl who didn't even know my feelings. I'd only ever kissed 1 girl before I met my wife thanks to my other main passion - music. Like everything else, I went to meticulous detail to explore and rank my favorite artists, albums, and songs, and I was about the only person my age who liked Prince. Hence, I turned to online sites for a sense of community to avoid the constant teasing I would get. Never did I anticipate that my love for Prince would lead me to the love of my life, but it did. My wife is originally from South Africa but had immigrated to Australia 4 years prior to when we first "met" in 2002. I had graduated a year early from college so decided to take a year off, so it gave me plenty of time when I wasn't working to chat online with her, then send letters and gifts, speak over the phone, etc. When we met in real life for the first time 16 months later, we had developed such a strong sense of openness, honesty and trust that it felt totally natural, and I knew I wanted to marry her right there and then. After several visits over the next 3 years, I immigrated to Australia to be with her, and I couldn't be happier. Our first son was born on June 5th last year, but his original due date was Prince's birthday (June 7th), so that was kind of cool.

Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, I can confess that I've developed a computer program using the statistical software R to help me rank my top 800+ albums, 3000+ songs, and corresponding artists using various algorithms. Here is the latest version of my top 500 albums:

[spoiler][1] Prince - 1999 (1982)
[2] Prince - Lovesexy (1988)
[3] Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
[4] The Cure - Disintegration (1989)
[5] Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983)
[6] Madonna - Like a Prayer (1989)
[7] Björk - Vespertine (2001)
[8] Prince - Sign o' the Times (1987)
[9] Madonna - Ray of Light (1998)
[10] Annie - Anniemal (2004)
[11] LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (2007)
[12] Eurythmics - 1984: For the Love of Big Brother (1984)
[13] Prince - The Gold Experience (1995)
[14] Eurythmics - Touch (1983)
[15] Madonna - Madonna (1983)
[16] The Cure - Seventeen Seconds (1980)
[17] Kylie Minogue - Body Language (2003)
[18] Depeche Mode - Violator (1990)
[19] George Winston - December (1982)
[20] Kylie Minogue - Fever (2001)
[21] Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz (2010)
[22] Björk - Homogenic (1997)
[23] The Cure - BloodFlowers (2000)
[24] Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
[25] Björk - Post (1995)
[26] Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure (1973)
[27] Annie Lennox - Diva (1992)
[28] Prince - Symbol (1992)
[29] David Bowie - Scary Monsters (1980)
[30] Blondie - Eat to the Beat (1979)
[31] Prince - Controversy (1981)
[32] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope (1980)
[33] The Sound - Jeopardy (1980)
[34] Annie Lennox - Bare (2003)
[35] Prince - Parade (1986)
[36] David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (1973)
[37] Eurythmics - Peace (1999)
[38] Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
[39] The Cure - Japanese Whispers (1983)
[40] The Cure - The Head on the Door (1985)
[41] Roxy Music - Roxy Music (1972)
[42] Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (2010)
[43] Gorillaz - Demon Days (2005)
[44] Janet Jackson - The Velvet Rope (1997)
[45] The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
[46] Tubeway Army - Replicas (1979)
[47] Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004)
[48] Janet Jackson - All for You (2001)
[49] Bootsy's Rubber Band - Ahh…The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! (1977)
[50] Annie - Don't Stop (2009)
[51] Grace Jones - Nightclubbing (1981)
[52] Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (2007)
[53] Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)
[54] Lou Reed - Berlin (1973)
[55] Kylie Minogue - Impossible Princess (1997)
[56] David Bowie - Low (1977)
[57] Patti Smith - Horses (1975)
[58] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju (1981)
[59] David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (1972)
[60] Eurythmics - In the Garden (1981)
[61] Bat for Lashes - Two Suns (2009)
[62] Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974)
[63] Blondie - Blondie (1976)
[64] The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
[65] The Strokes - Room on Fire (2003)
[66] Prince - Crystal Ball (1998)
[67] Kraftwerk - Computer World (1981)
[68] Magazine - Real Life (1978)
[69] Morrissey - You Are the Quarry (2004)
[70] Bagarre - Circus (1982)
[71] Michael Jackson - Bad (1987)
[72] Kim Wilde - Select (1982)
[73] Dannii Minogue - Neon Nights (2003)
[74] The Human League - Dare! (1981)
[75] Blondie - Parallel Lines (1978)
[76] New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
[77] Siouxsie and the Banshees - A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982)
[78] Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)
[79] Björk - Debut (1993)
[80] Otis Redding - Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings the Blues (1965)
[81] David Bowie - Station to Station (1976)
[82] Depeche Mode - Black Celebration (1986)
[83] !!! - Myth Takes (2007)
[84] Tantra - Hills of Katmandu (1979)
[85] Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues (1983)
[86] Missy Elliott - Miss E… So Addictive (2001)
[87] iamamiwhoami - kin (2012)
[88] Can - Monster Movie (1969)
[89] Yaz - Upstairs at Eric's (1982)
[90] LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (2010)
[91] Kraftwerk - The Man Machine (1978)
[92] David Bowie - Earthling (1997)
[93] Mtume - Juicy Fruit (1983)
[94] The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)
[95] Kate Bush - Never for Ever (1980)
[96] Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band (1976)
[97] Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (1973)
[98] Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
[99] Lou Reed - Transformer (1972)
[100] Aerosmith - Pump (1989)
[101] Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
[102] André Cymone - Livin' in the New Wave (1982)
[103] Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)
[104] The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
[105] The Cure - Pornography (1982)
[106] The Associates - The Affectionate Punch (1980)
[107] Eurythmics - Savage (1987)
[108] Grace Jones - Warm Leatherette (1980)
[109] The Cure - Faith (1981)
[110] The Cure - Wish (1992)
[111] Eurythmics - Revenge (1986)
[112] Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward (1984)
[113] Blondie - The Curse of Blondie (2003)
[114] Kano - New York Cake (1981)
[115] Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets (1974)
[116] Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor (2005)
[117] Pretenders - Pretenders (1980)
[118] Roxy Music - Stranded (1973)
[119] Prince - 3121 (2006)
[120] Roxette - Look Sharp! (1988)
[121] Janet Jackson - Control (1986)
[122] Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
[123] Elvis Costello - This Year's Model (1978)
[124] Madonna - Erotica (1992)
[125] N.E.R.D. - In Search Of… (2002)
[126] Björk - Biophilia (2011)
[127] Kano - Kano (1980)
[128] Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady (2013)
[129] The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat (1968)
[130] The Doors - L.A. Woman (1971)
[131] Kylie Minogue - Light Years (2000)
[132] Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde (1981)
[133] Grace Jones - Living My Life (1982)
[134] LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (2005)
[135] Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam (1989)
[136] T. Rex - Electric Warrior (1971)
[137] Giorgio Moroder - From Here to Eternity (1977)
[138] Michael Jackson - Off the Wall (1979)
[139] PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
[140] Roxy Music - Avalon (1982)
[141] Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
[142] The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
[143] The Kinks - The Kinks Are Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
[144] Gap Band - IV (1982)
[145] The Human League - Travelogue (1980)
[146] Prince - Batman (1989)
[147] Prince - Around the World in a Day (1985)
[148] Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight (1985)
[149] Aaliyah - Aaliyah (2001)
[150] Depeche Mode - Speak and Spell (1981)
[151] Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (1983)
[152] Soundtrack - Edward Scissorhands (1990)
[153] Chromeo - Business Casual (2010)
[154] George Winston - The Music of Vince Guaraldi (1996)
[155] Zapp - Zapp (1980)
[156] Prince - Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
[157] New Order - Technique (1989)
[158] Madonna - Bedtime Stories (1994)
[159] Aaliyah - One in a Million (1996)
[160] Berlin - Pleasure Victim (1982)
[161] Blondie - The Hunter (1982)
[162] Donna Summer - Once Upon a Time (1977)
[163] Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express (1977)
[164] RES - How I Do (2001)
[165] Donna Summer - Bad Girls (1979)
[166] Rick James - Street Songs (1981)
[167] George Winston - Autumn (1980)
[168] Bootsy's Rubber Band - Bootsy? Player of the Year (1978)
[169] Debbie Harry - Koo Koo (1981)
[170] Vive la Fête - Nuit Blanche (2003)
[171] The Time - The Time (1981)
[172] Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones (1983)
[173] Kylie Minogue - Rhythm of Love (1990)
[174] David Bowie - Lodger (1979)
[175] David Bowie - Heroes (1977)
[176] Fad Gadget - Under the Flag (1982)
[177] Blondie - Autoamerican (1980)
[178] Living Colour - Time's Up (1990)
[179] Ramones - Ramones (1976)
[180] David Bowie - Heathen (2002)
[181] Patti Smith Group - Easter (1978)
[182] Mtume - In Search of the Rainbow Seekers (1980)
[183] Joan Jett - Bad Reputation (1980)
[184] Duffy - Rockferry (2008)
[185] Chromatics - Night Drive (2007)
[186] George Clinton - Computer Games (1982)
[187] Evelyn Champagne King - Get Loose (1982)
[188] Tantra - Tantra II (1982)
[189] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hyaena (1984)
[190] The Doors - Strange Days (1967)
[191] Parliament - Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome (1977)
[192] George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice (1990)
[193] The Doors - The Doors (1967)
[194] Sparks - Kimono My House (1974)
[195] Echo and the Bunnymen - Porcupine (1983)
[196] INXS - Kick (1987)
[197] St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (2011)
[198] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Peepshow (1988)
[199] Sade - Love Deluxe (1992)
[200] Nico - Chelsea Girl (1967)
[201] T. Rex - Tanx (1973)
[202] New Order - Low Life (1985)
[203] Prince - Graffiti Bridge (1990)
[204] Talking Heads - Fear of Music (1979)
[205] Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction (2007)
[206] Comateens - Comateens (1981)
[207] Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (1987)
[208] Clor - Clor (2005)
[209] The The - Soul Mining (1983)
[210] Television - Marquee Moon (1977)
[211] Shannon - Let the Music Play (1984)
[212] A Flock of Seagulls - A Flock of Seagulls (1982)
[213] Bootsy Collins - Ultra Wave (1980)
[214] Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life (1984)
[215] Heaven 17 - Penthouse and Pavement (1981)
[216] Prince Charles & The City Beat Band - Gang War (1980)
[217] Prince - Prince (1979)
[218] Grace Jones - Hurricane (2008)
[219] Eurythmics - We Too Are One (1989)
[220] Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain (1984)
[221] Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (1971)
[222] Janet Jackson - janet. (1993)
[223] White Noise - An Electric Storm (1968)
[224] !!! - Thr!!!er (2013)
[225] Brian Eno - Before and After Science (1977)
[226] Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (2010)
[227] Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981)
[228] Iggy Pop - The Idiot (1977)
[229] Kim Wilde - Catch As Catch Can (1983)
[230] Jody Watley - Jody Watley (1987)
[231] Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke (2008)
[232] Parliament - Up for the Down Stroke (1974)
[233] Cybotron - Enter (1983)
[234] Madonna - True Blue (1986)
[235] The Sound - From the Lion's Mouth (1981)
[236] Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club (1981)
[237] David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971)
[238] Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985)
[239] Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood (1989)
[240] Missing Persons - Spring Session M (1982)
[241] Kylie Minogue - X (2007)
[242] Magazine - The Correct Use of Soap (1980)
[243] Gang of Four - Entertainment! (1979)
[244] Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold (2006)
[245] Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)
[246] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (2009)
[247] T. Rex - The Slider (1972)
[248] OMD - Architecture & Morality (1981)
[249] PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (1995)
[250] Michael Jackson - Dangerous (1991)
[251] Roxy Music - Country Life (1974)
[252] Roxette - Have a Nice Day (1999)
[253] André Cymone - Survivin' in the 80s (1983)
[254] Sade - Lovers Rock (2000)
[255] Prince - LotusFlow3r (2009)
[256] The Cure - The Top (1984)
[257] Twin Shadow - Forget (2010)
[258] Siouxsie and the Banshees - Tinderbox (1986)
[259] Kano - Another Life (1983)
[260] Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84) (1982)
[261] Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)
[262] Prince - Come (1994)
[263] Klein & M.B.O. - De-Ja-Vu (1982)
[264] Zapp - Zapp II (1982)
[265] John Foxx - Metamatic (1980)
[266] Evelyn Champagne King - I'm in Love (1981)
[267] Can - Ege Bamyasi (1972)
[268] Brian Eno - Another Green World (1975)
[269] Donna Summer - She Works Hard for the Money (1983)
[270] Chromeo - White Women (2014)
[271] Chic - C'est Chic (1978)
[272] !!! - Louden Up Now (2004)
[273] Xavier - Point of Pleasure (1982)
[274] Azoto - Disco Fizz (1979)
[275] Fela Kuti - Sorrow Tears and Blood (1977)
[276] Björk - Medulla (2004)
[277] Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980)
[278] Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite (2010)
[279] Prince - One Nite Alone (2002)
[280] Madonna - American Life (2003)
[281] Sun Ra - Atlantis (1969)
[282] Kate Bush - The Dreaming (1982)
[283] Change - The Glow of Love (1980)
[284] Can - Tago Mago (1971)
[285] Sparks - No 1 in Heaven (1979)
[286] M - New York-London-Paris-Munich (1979)
[287] U2 - War (1983)
[288] THP - Good to Me (1979)
[289] Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man (2012)
[290] The Human League - Reproduction (1979)
[291] Björk - Volta (2007)
[292] Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again (1983)
[293] Sigur Ros - Takk (2005)
[294] The Knife - Silent Shout (2006)
[295] The Stooges - Fun House (1970)
[296] Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
[297] Kylie Minogue - Kiss Me Once (2014)
[298] New Order - Brotherhood (1986)
[299] Thomas Dolby - Golden Age of Wireless (1982)
[300] The Cure - 4:13 Dream (2008)
[301] Otis Redding - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966)
[302] Yellow Magic Orchestra - Solid State Survivor (1979)
[303] Romeo Void - Benefactor (1982)
[304] Prince - Planet Earth (2007)
[305] High Inergy - Groove Patrol (1983)
[306] Janet Jackson - 20 Y.O. (2006)
[307] Blancmange - Happy Families (1982)
[308] Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers (1976)
[309] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell (2003)
[310] The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
[311] The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge (1983)
[312] Bootsy Collins - The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away (1982)
[313] David Bowie - Diamond Dogs (1974)
[314] Deee-Lite - World Clique (1990)
[315] Missy Elliott - This Is Not a Test (2003)
[316] Modern English - After the Snow (1982)
[317] Iggy Pop - Lust for Life (1977)
[318] Death from Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine (2004)
[319] Prince - The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
[320] Gina X Performance - Nice Mover (1979)
[321] Parliament - Chocolate City (1975)
[322] Interpol - Antics (2004)
[323] Patrick Cowley - Mind Warp (1982)
[324] The Stooges - Raw Power (1973)
[325] Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove (1978)
[326] Gina X Performance - X-traordinaire (1979)
[327] High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky (1982)
[328] Erasure - Wild! (1989)
[329] Donna Summer - A Love Trilogy (1976)
[330] Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (1993)
[331] M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011)
[332] Madonna - MDNA (2012)
[333] New Order - Movement (1981)
[334] Naked Eyes - Burning Bridges (1983)
[335] Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
[336] The B-52's - Cosmic Thing (1989)
[337] The Clash - London Calling (1979)
[338] The Jam - Sound Affects (1980)
[339] PJ Harvey - White Chalk (2007)
[340] Charli XCX - True Romance (2013)
[341] Metronomy - The English Riviera (2011)
[342] Modern English - Mesh & Lace (1981)
[343] Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
[344] David Bowie - Outside (1995)
[345] The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy (1985)
[346] Mary Jane Girls - Mary Jane Girls (1983)
[347] Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004)
[348] Marquis de Sade - Rue de Siam (1981)
[349] Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)
[350] Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Scream (1978)
[351] The Cars - The Cars (1978)
[352] The Blue Nile - Hats (1989)
[353] Kylie Minogue - Kylie Minogue (1994)
[354] U2 - Zooropa (1993)
[355] Vanity 6 - Vanity 6 (1982)
[356] The Time - What Time Is It? (1982)
[357] The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth (2006)
[358] Sade - Stronger Than Pride (1988)
[359] Scott Walker - Scott 4 (1969)
[360] Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (2004)
[361] Soundtrack - Flashdance (1983)
[362] The Flirts - 10¢ a Dance (1982)
[363] The Strokes - Angles (2011)
[364] The Sugarcubes - Here Today, Tomorrow, Next Week! (1989)
[365] The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good (1988)
[366] Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1983)
[367] Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (2005)
[368] The xx - xx (2009)
[369] Split Enz - True Colours (1980)
[370] Björk - Selmasongs (2000)
[371] Joan Jett - I Love Rock 'n Roll (1981)
[372] Prince - MPLSoUND (2009)
[373] Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010)
[374] The Teardrop Explodes - Kiliminjaro (1980)
[375] Franz Ferdinand - Tonight (2009)
[376] Joy Division - Closer (1980)
[377] George Clinton - You Shouldn't - Nuf Bit Fish (1983)
[378] George Michael - Faith (1987)
[379] Mötley Crüe - Too Fast for Love (1981)
[380] Patrick Cowley - Megatron Man (1981)
[381] Patrice Rushen - Straight from the Heart (1982)
[382] Blondie - Plastic Letters (1977)
[383] Pet Shop Boys - Please (1986)
[384] Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)
[385] Chromeo - She's in Control (2004)
[386] Cherrelle - Fragile (1984)
[387] Can - Future Days (1973)
[388] Busta Rhymes - When Disaster Strikes (1997)
[389] D Train - You're the One for Me (1982)
[390] Sun Ra - On Jupiter (1979)
[391] Robyn - Robyn (2007)
[392] Roxy Music - Siren (1975)
[393] Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro (2008)
[394] Donna Summer - Four Seasons of Love (1976)
[395] Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message (1982)
[396] Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It on (1974)
[397] Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
[398] Goldfrapp - Supernature (2005)
[399] OMD - Organisation (1980)
[400] PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (2011)
[401] Chairlift - Something (2012)
[402] Otis Redding - The Soul Album (1966)
[403] A-ha - Scoundrel Days (1986)
[404] The Residents - Commercial Album (1980)
[405] Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow (2011)
[406] Neu! - NEU! '75 (1975)
[407] The Cars - Heartbeat City (1984)
[408] Lene Lovich - Stateless (1978)
[409] M - The Official Secrets Act (1980)
[410] Joe Jackson - Night and Day (1982)
[411] Girls Aloud - Chemistry (2005)
[412] Funkadelic - Funkadelic (1970)
[413] The B-52's - B-52's (1979)
[414] David Bowie - Let's Dance (1983)
[415] Easy Going - Fear (1979)
[416] Imagination - In the Heat of the Night (1982)
[417] Jeff Phelps - Magnetic Eyes (1985)
[418] Echo and the Bunnymen - Crocodiles (1980)
[419] Funkadelic - Tales of Kidd Funkadelic (1976)
[420] Erasure - The Innocents (1988)
[421] Gary Davis and His Professor - [Untitled] (1982)
[422] The Cars - Candy-O (1979)
[423] David Bowie - Young Americans (1975)
[424] Busta Rhymes - Genesis (2001)
[425] Al Green - Let's Stay Together (1972)
[426] Robert Görl - Night Full of Tension (1984)
[427] Rick James - Come Get It (1978)
[428] Roxy Music - Flesh + Blood (1980)
[429] Peaches - Father****er (2003)
[430] Oppenheimer Analysis - New Mexico (1982)
[431] Arvo Pärt - Tabula Rasa (1984)
[432] Valerie Dore - The Legend (1986)
[433] U2 - Boy (1980)
[434] Wire - Pink Flag (1977)
[435] Wolf Parade - Apologies to Queen Mary (2005)
[436] Ultravox - Systems of Romance (1978)
[437] Tantra - Mother Africa (1980)
[438] Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
[439] David Bowie - Reality (2003)
[440] Debbie Harry - Deaf, Dumb and Blonde (1989)
[441] Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight (1972)
[442] Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby (2004)
[443] Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)
[444] Janet Jackson - Discipline (2008)
[445] Carl Carlton - The Bad C.C. (1982)
[446] Justice - Cross (2007)
[447] Duran Duran - Rio (1982)
[448] Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young (2009)
[449] Indeep - Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (1983)
[450] No Doubt - Rock Steady (2001)
[451] Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (1999)
[452] Sade - Diamond Life (1984)
[453] The Kinks - Something Else by The Kinks (1967)
[454] The Human League - Secrets (2001)
[455] Lou Reed - The Blue Mask (1982)
[456] X-Ray Spex - Germfree Adolescents (1978)
[457] Zapp - Zapp III (1983)
[458] Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55 (2006)
[459] Depeche Mode - Ultra (1997)
[460] Yaz - You and Me Both (1983)
[461] The Stooges - The Stooges (1969)
[462] Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001)
[463] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito (2013)
[464] Prince - Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
[465] Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat (1981)
[466] Britney Spears - Blackout (2007)
[467] Bronski Beat - The Age of Consent (1984)
[468] Funkadelic - Free Your Mind… And Your Ass Will Follow (1970)
[469] Joan Jett - Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth (1984)
[470] Kate Bush - Aerial (2005)
[471] Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
[472] A-ha - Hunting High and Low (1985)
[473] U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
[474] Peaches - I Feel Cream (2009)
[475] Patti Smith Group - Radio Ethiopia (1976)
[476] LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 (2006)
[477] Talking Heads - More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978)
[478] David Bowie - Space Oddity (1969)
[479] Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
[480] Automat - Automat (1978)
[481] Vive la Fête - Grand Prix (2005)
[482] The Clash - Combat Rock (1982)
[483] The Cure - The Cure (2004)
[484] The Kinks - Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (1969)
[485] Gorillaz - The Fall (2010)
[486] Salt 'n Pepa - Black's Magic (1990)
[487] Missy Elliott - Supa Dupa Fly (1997)
[488] Nico - Desertshore (1970)
[489] Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006)
[490] Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True (1989)
[491] Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (2006)
[492] Magazine - Secondhand Daylight (1979)
[493] Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (2009)
[494] John Cale - Paris 1919 (1973)
[495] Guns 'n Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
[496] Skid Row - Skid Row (1989)
[497] Prince - The Black Album (1987)
[498] Tiga - Sexor (2006)
[499] Lime - Lime 3 (1983)
[500] Lipps, Inc. - Mouth to Mouth (1980)
[/spoiler]

I can relate to the compulsive ranking of favorites; I'm prone to that myself (though I don't think my compulsion is quite so intense: I never ranked my favorite colours), as well as trying to get things categorized "by the numbers".

I can also relate to pining for extensive periods of time for girls who don't even know you're interested, as well as wishing for an LTR (long-term relationship) pretty much as far back as I can remember. Weirdly, our lives appear to have followed similar time-lines in many respects, too. Anyway......enjoyable read, thanks for sharing.

No problem! I didn't fully reveal the extent of my listmaking affinity. I've also ranked:

My favorite movies (nothing weird about that, right?!)
My favorite TV shows
My LEAST favorite musical artists (OK, getting a little strange here)

....

My favorite characters from the Mr. Men books :oops:

My favorite Food Fighters action figures :oops:

My favorite Transformers :oops:

My favorite video game characters/enemies from NES games like Bubble Bobble, The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventures of Link, Super Mario Bros (at least for SMB2) , Megaman (2-4 I think) :oops:

My favorite Weather Channel anchors :oops:

Now that I'm well-hidden in my box, I'd love to read your stories as well. :nod:

D Nice · Post #392 » by **D Nice** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 3:02 am

Moonbeam wrote:No problem! I didn't fully reveal the extent of my listmaking affinity. I've also ranked:

My favorite movies (nothing weird about that, right?!)
My favorite TV shows

Did you include every movie you've seen? If so...

I'm not sure I could ever actually manage that. A top 100 movies of all time list would take me months on end. Much easier to just rank the top 8-10 directors.

Spoiler:

As for TV...

Spoiler:

Not nearly as hard. :wink:

And Zelda ~ Ocarina of Time is easily the GOAT game for me.

Post #393 » by **bondom34** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 5:37 am

Just to toss out a video game that's way underrated to me:
SNES - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Think I've played through that game 20 times, never gets old.

ronnymac2 · Post #394 » by **ronnymac2** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 6:11 am

Moonbeam wrote:My favorite TV shows

What's top 5 or top 10?

Ranking dramas I've watched:

1. The Wire
2. Breaking Bad
3. Mad Men
4. House of Cards
5. Game of Thrones
6. The Sopranos
7. Sons of Anarchy
8. The Walking Dead

The only other show I currently watch is Gotham...far too early to rank it, though I'd put it last. lol Thinking about watching Deadwood and/or True Detective.

john248 · Post #395 » by **john248** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 7:26 am

I'm not a fan of Sons of Anarchy. Worst bikers ever! Nothing ever goes right :lol:

Post #396 » by **Moonbeam** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 9:28 am

Cool lists, guys! Most of the shows I've seen are also in my list:

Spoiler:

Haven't updated it in awhile, but here was the last variation of my top 100 movies:

Spoiler:

I'd have to think about video games, but my top 5 would be something like:

1. Bubble Bobble (NES)
2. Super Mario Kart (SNES)
3. The Legend of Zelda (NES)
4. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
5. Bubble Bobble 2 (NES)

I never got any subsequent Zelda games, but once our son is old enough, maybe I'll buy them and have a chance to play them with him.

D Nice · Post #397 » by **D Nice** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 11:21 am

ronnymac2 wrote:6. The Sopranos

This makes me a sad panda.

I like you have the Wire #1 though

. Seasons 3 and 4 of the Wire are (inarguably IMO) the 2 greatest seasons of TV ever produced.

The only other show I currently watch is Gotham...far too early to rank it, though I'd put it last. lol Thinking about watching Deadwood and/or True Detective.

Can't emphasize how strongly I recommend Deadwood. It's off-the-meter brilliant, best dialogue of any TV show ever hands down (if you're a shakespeare fan, you'll fall in love instantly, and if you aren't you'll be one by the time the show is done. :lol:

)

True Detective is really good, but if you're into behavioral psychology at all watch Hannibal. Only network show I'll ever tell anyone to watch, but it's brilliant. It makes silence of the lambs look like an episode of [insert mediocre children's show here].

Post #398 » by **Moonbeam** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 11:37 am

I've just started watching True Detective. It looks very promising!

Post #399 » by **penbeast0** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 4:14 pm

Watching Carnivale now. I don't have my cable connected, I just get seasons of stuff to see if it hooks me. I'm up to about episode 6 and it's good but hasn't really become must-see TV for me.

Heroes isn't on any lists yet, loved that one; got seriously into Lost too though I can see why it annoyed some people. No surprise that the Wire, Breaking Bad, Big Bang Theory, and Game of Thrones are contenders for the top and I've seen all of them that are available. . . haven't seen Sopranos for some reason.

Favorite shows growing up were Get Smart, Mission Impossible, and Star Trek. Shows I don't like that everyone seems to were/are All in the Family, Seinfeld, and Two and a Half Men . . . don't find them funny or even neutral, they actively annoy me.

Post #400 » by **trex_8063** » Wed Dec 3, 2014 5:36 pm

Moonbeam wrote:Now that I'm well-hidden in my box, I'd love to read your stories as well.

I think I posted something in here about a year ago, but I'll update (maybe make it a touch more personal).

I was born in 1978 and grew up in semi-rural Iowa (in truth, very little of Iowa isn't at least "semi-rural"). My hometown was about 6,000 people (which isn't particularly small by Iowa standards), although the house I grew up in was a farmhouse about 5 miles outside of town (though my family was not farmers). That distance lent my childhood a certain degree of isolation. My parents both worked, so before I was old enough to drive---which would allow me to go into town to hang out with friends or to go to a part-time job which was (rightfully) expected of me by age 16---well, it made for some long lazy summers, and I was awfully good at entertaining myself (still am).

Beginning around age 7 or 8, one of the things that occupied much of my time was shooting hoops in our driveway. We had a square of pavement (pretty level, too) ~22-24 ft by 22-24 ft. There were a few tricky spots on the court: a shrub on the left baseline, just a few feet left of the hoop; if you were on the left baseline or left wing more than 9-10 lateral feet from the rim, it was difficult to shoot because of the eaves/overhang from the garage. From the top of the key or from anywhere on the right wing you had to contend with a telephone wire which spanned across the court to the roof of the house.
But my dad and I learned to work around these things, and spent hundreds of hours out there (individually, I probably spent thousands over the years). In all kinds of weather, too; in the winter I'd scrape/shovel the snow and ice away, and shoot around until my fingers were numb, at which time I'd go in......often only long enough to warm up, and then I'd go out again.

Like Moonbeam with his Dantley/Pistons imaginings, I'd imagine a scenario as I played. For me, the team when I was very young was the Iowa Hawkeyes. When I was a little older and getting into the NBA, it was Jordan and the Bulls.
Anyway, basketball became a pretty important thing in my life. I learned a lot about work ethic through basketball. I learned a lot about teamwork and that special camaraderie that exists in a close-nit team with common goals (which I was lucky enough to be a part of). I was a decent player in high school, but not great. Unfortunately for my high school career, I really wouldn't hit my peak as a player until my mid-late 20's--->thru practicing on my own, men's leagues, etc; and also through simply gaining some self confidence and clarity of perception which (for me, at least) only comes with age.
I'm 6'0" or just a shade under, have generally hovered around 160 lbs (a little under in my younger years; a bit over now), play primarily as a SG. I was a lights out marksman from the outside. That has been my specialty since I was 15 years old. I have slowly augmented my game since. Certain aspects of my game are probably the strongest they've ever been, again: to some degree just through clarity of perception, maturity, and study of game principles. Unfortunately, my athleticism is quickly slipping. Age overlooks no one.

Anyway....
Although I'm an introverted guy who grew up in semi-rural Iowa, I knew small-town Iowa was not the place for me. The world's big, and I wanted to see/experience some of it. I was tired of living in a place full of nothing but white, Christian, English-speaking people who all think the same, talk the same, dress the same, seem to have no inclination to go anywhere or see much outside their tiny corner of the world, etc.

When I moved out at 18 to go to university, I never really had any intention of ever moving back....and I never have. My parents moved to Kansas City when I was 19, so at this point I have very little ties to the home of my youth. Which is sort of sad in a way, but c'est la vie.

Similar to Moonbeam, I met the love of my life at age 22, although we wouldn't start dating for nearly 2.5 years (and then wouldn't marry for about another 1.5 years). She's an awesome woman, we've been married 10 years now and have a son (sort of the 2nd love of my life) who will shortly be turning 5. So far he hasn't shown any real interest in or aptitude for basketball

, but I'm not sure I did until about age 7 either.

We lived in Phoenix from 2004-2008, and would occasionally get free tickets (good seats, too) from our employer. Needless to say, that was an awesome time to be getting free Suns tickets, and a great time to become a Suns fan. My gosh that team was fun to watch!

In 2008 we moved to Canada, and likely we're here to stay.

I too like to make "favorite" lists. I like ranking things in order, generally speaking (hence my consistent involvement in the top 100 project). I think it satisfies a little OCD itch for me; creating a little order out of chaos. If I can do things (rank things) somewhat mathematically, I also enjoy creating simple formulas to do so.

As examples, I'll share a list of all-time favorite actors I'd posted on imdb (movies are another passion):
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls004146371/?publish=save

And favorite actresses:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls009370499/

And that's me in a nut-shell.