Mega Thread The Random Thoughts Thread Part 1

[Steve Dore]

Just read something on Hugh Lofting, the author of the Doctor Dolittle books. It took me back because when I was a kid they sparked a passion for reading in me like we heard happened for so many kids with the Harry Potter books. They were the first non-cartoon books I voluntarily read, it was a big jump for me to sit and read several hundred pages of text. Anyone else who enjoys reading have a similar book or series of books that got them going?

From memory it was Enid Blyton's Famous Five.

Dr Who books in year 5. Back then they were the shit. Still read a truck load of books now, currently working my way through the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. Great reading. Child must be running out of ideas for getting Reacher into life and death situations.

Just started on the latest Jack Reacher, "Never Go Back". I've read all the novels plus a couple short Reacher stories.

Very disappointed that Tom Cruise (170 cm) played Reacher (196 cm) in the movie.

.... The first book series I read as a kid would have been Dune.

Read a lot of sci-fi during my early teens. Read the Lensman series by E.E. "Doc" Smith, and the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov but my favourite was the Dune series.

 

[Andre]

Just read something on Hugh Lofting, the author of the Doctor Dolittle books. It took me back because when I was a kid they sparked a passion for reading in me like we heard happened for so many kids with the Harry Potter books. They were the first non-cartoon books I voluntarily read, it was a big jump for me to sit and read several hundred pages of text. Anyone else who enjoys reading have a similar book or series of books that got them going?

The first non-kid ones I started on was the Biggles series back in year 5.

The first book series I read as a kid would have been Dune.

Then my old man had one of his extremely rare times reading a book and read Dune as I was finishing yr 6. Read that over the summer and through to part way through Chapter House Dune. I enjoyed the first three, but each book was successively worse. By chapter house it was too much of a slog.

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

Magician is awesome, still my favourite stand alone book. I wish they'd throw big money at that for a movie, it'd make an awesome one IMO. My next step after Dune was a friend reading Lord of the Rings when in year 7, read that and fell in love with fantasy. Read Magician a year or so later. That was over 25 years ago (oops, feeling old) and still reading fantasy. Book nerded it a couple of weeks ago getting GRRM's signature for my A Dance with Dragons when he was at Supernova here.

 

[FishingRick04]

How do I link a jpg from my HD?

 

[powermacs]

Damn straight the legend in the Geppies jumper is getting the skirt.

 

[BIG MATTY WHITE]

I liked choose your own adventure books except when I died

 

[blackdiamond]

^That's the best part, often I did that just so I could finish reading.

 

[Dylan8]

I think the first book that i thought was really long at the time and got me into reading was the hobbit.

 

[Peck]

How do I link a jpg from my HD?

Upload it to imgur.com

I think the first book that i thought was really long at the time and got me into reading was the hobbit.

I used to read a shitload when i was in primary school, but then we moved to Lorne which had what could barely be described as one library at the school. When we moved to Melbourne I would read a decent amount on the tram back and forth from school but I basically stopped in general, and eventually stopped reading on the trams as well.

The Flashman papers got me back into reading, those books are just brilliant. Now I'm trying to get back into it since I finished my exams and have been reading the final book of A song of Ice and Fire which is significantly more interesting than the previous. Right now I'm trying to line up books to read and will probably read another Flashman before reading Dune. Looking forward to it!

Also, got results back last night and I officially have a Bachelor of Science!!! I have about a 1% chance of getting into masters so I guess its time to look for a job.

And I don't even know what Computer Scientists do?

 

[Dylan8]

Also, got results back last night and I officially have a Bachelor of Science!!! I have about a 1% chance of getting into masters so I guess its time to look for a job.
And I don't even know what Computer Scientists do?

congratz mate

I still haven't read Dune I'm doing year 12 next year so i will have bugger all spare time but i definately have to read Dune asap.

 

[BIG MATTY WHITE]

Wheres wally ....once you found wally you had to go back qnd find the magical scrolls and his missing beanie....greqt read as a kid

 

[HugeJohnson]

Can't go past Harry Potter, probably the only books I read for enjoyment. Only stuff I'll read nowadays are autobiographies. Usually musicians, just finished Dave Mustaines which was pretty interesting. Really keen to get stuck in to Nikki Sixx's and Ozzy's.

 

[HugeJohnson]

Jason Gillespie's book was a good read too

 

[Zakk Wylde]

Slash's book was a good read.

 

[Zakk Wylde]

See antlers on a car driving home today... See's knitted crows rug along parcel shelf... Makes sense.

 

[Noobz0r]

The first non-kid ones I started on was the Biggles series back in year 5.

I still have every single Biggles. It was that and Redwall.

 

[Dobie G]

Famous Five, Secret 7 and Noddy in Toyland were my first books, Enid Blyton ruled.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Sorry to intrude but I didn't want to make a new thread on it. I'm trying to come up with a best 22 for Port going into 2014. How close is this?

B: Pittard, Carlisle, Jonas
HB: Hartlett, Trengove, O'Shea
C: Broadbent, Boak, Wines
HF: Monfries, Westhoff, Wingard
F: Gray, Schulz, Butcher(?)
Fol: Lobbe, Cornes, Ebert
Int: Moore, Cassisi, Polec, White (sub)

I'm not sure about the third tall. Is Butcher likely to get the first crack?

 

[Schulzenfest]

Very good effort. I'd have Redden in as a ruck/forward ahead of Butcher and I'd probably have Hombsch in ahead of Pittard, but that's just a matter of personal taste. That's certainly a reasonable team.

 

[Killer Power]

Famous Five, Secret 7 and Noddy in Toyland were my first books, Enid Blyton ruled.

Roald Dahl. James and the giant peach.

 

[It Just Is]

Sorry to intrude but I didn't want to make a new thread on it. I'm trying to come up with a best 22 for Port going into 2014. How close is this?

B: Pittard, Carlisle, Jonas
HB: Hartlett, Trengove, O'Shea
C: Broadbent, Boak, Wines
HF: Monfries, Westhoff, Wingard
F: Gray, Schulz, Butcher(?)
Fol: Lobbe, Cornes, Ebert
Int: Moore, Cassisi, Polec, White (sub)

I'm not sure about the third tall. Is Butcher likely to get the first crack?

You've done well. Have we converted another one from Richmond?

If I was going to nitpick maybe swap Hartlett and Broadbent but that's minimal.

As to who our third tall will be, that really is the million dollar question.

 

[Kickpuncher]

Didn't read much in primary school or now infact. I enjoy it and all but my eyes just can't stay focused they always get distracted by things going on around me.

Although in primary school when I was reading it was always one of those Deltora Quest books.

 

[Macca19]

This thread needs to get back on track.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

You've done well. Have we converted another one from Richmond?

If I was going to nitpick maybe swap Hartlett and Broadbent but that's minimal.

As to who our third tall will be, that really is the million dollar question.

No not quite, but I'm from Adelaide so I might head down to a few games at Adelaide Oval this year (couldn't be faarked going out to AAMI for a neutral match).

I was just looking at the ladder predictions thread and I think I might be a bit hasty in predicting Port to slide. Port seem to be the popular choice as the slider since your draw is perceived to be a lot harder this year (kind of like North Melbourne 2012-13, but not as extreme).

But looking at your best 22 it boggles my mind how young just about every player on your list is. Your club made the finals in 2013 despite being the youngest (non-expansion side) in the AFL. Port's average age was 23.75 for games in 2013 (not including finals). Compare that to the other clubs:

Sydney: 26.24
Hawthorn: 25.97
Geelong: 25.86
St Kilda: 25.54
Carlton: 25.33
Fremantle: 25.20
West Coast: 25.19
Collingwood: 25.17
Richmond: 24.96
Essendon: 24.82
North Melb: 24.78
Bulldogs: 24.61
Brisbane: 24.55
Adelaide: 24.40
Melbourne: 24.04
Port Adelaide: 23.75
Gold Coast: 22.98
GWS: 21.60

That's quite a big gap between the rest of the established clubs. Generally the older more developed teams win more, as you would expect. To me that suggests that Port are holding their own against the rest of the league despite giving up a lot of experience and development every game. To me this suggests that their list must be a fair bit more talented than the clubs above them and once they mature we should see a surge up the ladder. Gold Coast are in a similar boat. Winning 8 games with an average age of less than 23 is insane.

I noticed all this because Richmond were the youngest team last year (23.89), and we saw them shoot up the ladder this year.

From that best 22 I posted, the only players on the wrong side of 25-26 are Cassisi (31), Cornes (30), Schulz (28), Westhoff (27). Pretty much every other player is young with plenty of scope for improvement. You've got a good core of young mids in Boak (25), Ebert (23), Hartlett (23), Broadbent (23), Moore (22), Polec (21), Wingard (20), Wines (19) who will mature and develop together. Providing none of them leave Port you won't lose any of them for 6-7 years!!!

If Cornes can play good footy for another 3 years or so you guys should have a pretty decent finals run before losing a couple of good players in Schulz and Cornes.

Port have caught my interest because they're in a similar boat to Richmond. Other than a declining Chris Newman Richmond aren't going to lose anything of value until Maric (27), Chaplin (27), Foley (28) and Jackson (27) start to hit that 30-31 year mark in 3-4 years time. We've got a young midfield like Port which we can keep together for a long time (providing Dusty keeps his head screwed on). Jackson (27), Deledio (26), Grigg (25), Cotchin (23), Martin (22), Conca (21), Ellis (20) and Vlastuin (19) all have quite a few years together. Both clubs are going to have very strong midfields for a long time.


Anyway, now that you've heard my life story I'll be on my way.

 

[Changaneen]

Just had my grandsons first birthday, so overwhelming for him. Too many presents, he just wanted to chew the paper up, best present was a Port tank top from the club. He's as solid as a brick shithouse, i'm going to push him playing footy. I've got another grandson on the way. Life is too good.

 

[Dylan8]

But looking at your best 22 it boggles my mind how young just about every player on your list is. Your club made the finals in 2013 despite being the youngest (non-expansion side) in the AFL. Port's average age was 23.75 for games in 2013 (not including finals).

This has been discussed to death