tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56495241187202632132024-03-14T01:20:49.040-05:00JONDODD.meJonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-36279170761264298862007-10-02T14:32:00.000-05:002007-10-02T14:34:03.625-05:00Big change, folksCheck me out at <a href="http://jondodd.wordpress.com">jondodd.wordpress.com</a>.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-49724840349306419502007-10-01T23:13:00.000-05:002007-10-01T23:57:56.597-05:00Rox win a thrillerWow, after going from Pirate games to <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=AnuB1qn7o7omX8SmbQdl9s05nYcB?gid=271001127">this</a>--I suddenly remember why I love <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/playoffs">October</a>. What a game.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-6397193141584570022007-09-29T23:51:00.000-05:002007-09-30T17:26:48.263-05:00David BazanTwo great covers:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/28TaxZgYiss"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/28TaxZgYiss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />"The Man in Me," Bob Dylan<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BULNO7CwDDE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BULNO7CwDDE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />"Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen<br /><br />Plus one of my favorite Pedro songs:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sjZIzlizie4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sjZIzlizie4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />"Preists and Paramedics"Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-76097184560389933222007-09-24T10:17:00.000-05:002007-09-25T12:10:55.658-05:00Root, root, rootThe Steelers are 3-0, the Pirates 15th season of misery is almost at and end (and yes, this is a good thing with the way they're playing right now), the baseball <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/standings">playoff picture</a> is falling into place, and the Pens drop the puck for real October 5th. I'd say it's a good time to be a Pittsburgher and a sports fan.<br /><br />Everyone keeps asking me if I'm still going to root for the Steelers in SoCal, and while the allure of LT might make me root for a Chargers-Steelers playoff match-up, I could never turn my back on the black and gold. I figure if I'm still a Pirate fan, I don't think my loyalty should really be questioned. But there's a difference in my mind between <span style="font-style:italic;">your</span> team and teams you root for. And then there are some you just don't. Example: I'm stoked the Indians won the AL Central, but I could <span style="font-style:italic;">never</span> don Cardinal Red in St. Louis no matter how long I lived there, or do the Tomahawk Chop in Atlanta or wear a Yankees cap anywhere, ever. But would I buy a Grady Sizemore t-shirt at the Jake? Sure. Would I love watching Chase Utley and Ryan Howard bash in Philly? You bet. So I'm figuring I'll pick up an LA cap or Russell Martin tee at Dodger Stadium sometime next spring, but that doesn't mean I won't be at every game the Buccos play there in my black and gold booing the home team--because I will. Do I wish I could see a Ducks-Pens game, sure, and is there any question which team I'd be pulling for? Of course not. It's all silliness to even question such things. No matter how much Big Ben gets on my nerves (or local news coverage of the Steelers), or whatever, he will never be Tom Brady and Pittsburgh will always be my home team.<br /><br />In my head I'm pretty sure I have a pretty good idea of teams I would never in a million years root for (whether that's because of a specific defeat, player, image or whatever), and teams I could care about if given the chance (mainly because I currently hold no ill will, or I like their uniform colors or the way they're building their farm system or something). And here it is:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Never In A Million Years</span><br />St. Louis Cardinals<br />Atlanta Braves<br />New England Patriots<br />New York Yankees, Rangers<br />Dallas Cowboys, Stars<br />Cleveland Browns<br />Baltimore Ravens<br />Buffalo Sabres<br />Detroit Red Wings<br />Colorado Avalanche<br />Denver Broncos<br />Philadelphia [ed.] Flyers, Eagles<br />Washington Capitals<br />San Francisco Giants<br />Oakland Raiders<br />Ottawa Senators<br />Pretty much any NBA team<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Eh, Why Not?</span><br />Cleveland Indians<br />Milwaukee Brewers<br />Minnesota Twins<br />Colorado Rockies<br />LA Dodgers<br />Anaheim Angels, Ducks<br />Vancouver Canucks<br />San Diego Padres, Chargers<br />New York Mets<br />Philadelphia Phillies<br />Boston Red Sox... I think<br /><br />Feel free to add your own nevers and why-nots, and include explanations if you so choose. Be sure to vote in the poll to the right (and if you answer "somebody else," say who below). And no matter where you live, go black and gold.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-3152261660965829702007-09-23T21:06:00.000-05:002007-09-23T21:26:22.692-05:00An important question??<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EZUB3eJOTos"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EZUB3eJOTos" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />At THE crucial point of the game. Just unbelievable.<br /><br />This really is the reason why <a href="http://www.firejoemorgan.com/index.html">sites like this</a>, <a href="http://thepensblog.com/">and this really</a>, exist, and why I have zero respect for ESPN. Thank you, Internet, for intelligent sports journalism.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-46174295313521781152007-09-21T14:41:00.000-05:002007-09-21T14:51:45.700-05:00Small world?I know stuff like this happens to people all the time, and it seems like more and more people are spending time in China so it's not that big of a deal I guess, but it still sort of blows my mind. <span style="font-style:italic;">Two</span> girls I liked in high school (of say, five) have China ties. One I dated briefly and is living there now (with her husband) and the other I really wanted to date and has been to China twice, once with ELIC even!! (She's married, too, by the way.) It seems really weird to think back to when I knew Kayla and Amanda (when I was a sophomore/junior in high school) and that we would end up in the same country on the other side of the globe at different times. It makes me think maybe John Stuart's six-degree thing is possible, but mainly it just makes my head hurt.<br /><br />It's all that thing I try to explain to people sometimes: I like big things to be big, and small things to be small, and it scares me when they aren't. OK that's enough randomness for a while.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-23708043188738114562007-09-21T03:54:00.000-05:002007-09-23T23:34:53.473-05:00Doddi CaliforniaI want to fill you all in on some details of my sooncoming relocation, if you don't know this stuff already. I'm taking a job with the <a href="http://www.elic.org/">English Language Institute/China</a>, the company that sent me to Beijing as a teacher in 2005-2006. I'm not going back to China, though, instead to California. Specifically, San Dimas, home of a famous Circle K where some strange things once were afoot.<br /><br />San Dimas is also home to ELIC's North American headquarters and is, for some reference, about 45 minutes east of downtown LA, an hour from the beach, 2 minutes from the mountains, and 25 minutes north of Anaheim/Disneyland. (A year pass <span style="font-style:italic;">will</span> be purchased.) My job title will be "Communications <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typographer">Typographer</a>." My primary responsibility will be newsletter layout and I start October 15th.<br /><br />Oh, this is cool. Here's <a href="http://zipskinny.com/index.php?zip=91773">the skinny on 19773</a> (my new zip) from ZipSkinny, via <a href="http://wikicarson.com/">Chris</a>. Also, go ahead and <a href="http://zipskinny.com/zipcompare.php">compare your Zip</a> to San Dimas, or Moon Township (15108) or Beaver Falls (15010) or wherever. Lots of interesting stuff there.<br /><br />But, just so you know, I'll only be living in San Dimas for about a year (maybe less) until all of ELIC relocates to Fort Collins, Colorado, which means I too will be moving--again--sometime next summer, most likely.<br /><br />I'm trying to approach this big step in my adult life with proper preparation and thought, which means I've been reading up on surviving earthquakes, how far I'll be from Google/Apple/Pixar (the answer: 7 hours) and when Blade Runner is showing in LA theaters in advance of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blade-Runner-Five-Disc-Ultimate-Collectors/dp/B000K15VSA/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-6460440-9717549?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1190362474&sr=8-1">The Final Cut DVD</a> release in December (the answer, I think, is starting October 5. First movie I'll see in California? I think yes.)<br /><br />Which leads me to my question: What are some must-see/read/listen to LA/California films/books/albums I should get to know before or after my Westward trek?<br /><br />I'll start the list and you all can help me put something complete together.<br /><br />Films:<br />Chinatown<br />L.A. Confidential<br />The Big Lebowski<br /><br />Music:<br />The Beach Boys<br />Weezer<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers<br /><br />Books:<br />The Grapes of Wrath (not LA specifically, but <span style="font-style:italic;">the</span> book I think of when I think California)<br />Shoot... I need help with books.<br /><br />While we talk must-sees, be praying that I can find a church home in LA, and somewhere to live. My buddy <a href="http://jondodd.blogspot.com/2007/08/ryan-lang.html">Ryan</a> has graciously provided me with a bed/couch until Thanksgiving-ish, but I'll need lots more than a pillow leaving home, Providence and friends and family behind. <span style="font-style:italic;">Somehow</span> I'll survive without the Steelers (I left before and they won the Super Bowl), but Wednesday nights at the Stuarts, dinners at Sweet Basil and staying above mom and dad's garage will be harder.<br /><br />I'll have lots more to say on lots of stuff soon. But for now, good night.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-42513287539926960102007-09-21T01:25:00.000-05:002007-09-21T03:25:58.878-05:00Confession<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://frameofreference.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/pj_pamjim_008.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://frameofreference.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/pj_pamjim_008.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I'm watching through season 2 of The Office again and it's official: Jim and Pam have reached the heyday of Arms 404 Clark and Lana status for me. Which makes me wonder, am I ready for an adult relationship?? Because I haven't felt like this for a long time.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Oh wow.<br /><br />(Season 4 of The Office premiers Thursday, September 27th at 9:00 on NBC.)Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-49505394608883353512007-09-20T23:35:00.000-05:002007-09-21T00:14:17.368-05:00DJ Gallo is right<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=baseball/070920&sportCat=mlb">We've got it the worst.</a>Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-65675136069694756372007-09-18T23:10:00.001-05:002007-09-18T23:38:51.087-05:00I'll never say Jeter's o-ver-rated again(As long as ESPN gives Freddy just as much man-love.)<br /><br />Basically I stand corrected on everything <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/dakfjm/product/235252865036391130">I've ever said</a> about <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5406">Derek Jeter</a>. In 146 games and 592 at-bats in 2007, Jeter has scored 93 runs and has 187 hits, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 11 HRs, 67 RsBI, 54 BBs, 89 Ks and 13 stolen bases to go with 8 caught stealings. He has a .316 BA, .386 OBP, .438 SLG and an .823 OPS.<br /><br />Which makes Jeter <span style="font-style:italic;">just as good of a player</span> as our own <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6999">Freddy Sanchez</a>. In 140 games and 576 at-bats, Freddy has 76 runs, 178 hits, 42 doubles, 3 triples, 11 HRs, 78 RsBI, 31 BBs, 70 Ks, and 0 stolen bases in 1 attempt. He has a .309 BA, .348 OBP, .450 SLG and a .798 OPS.<br /><br />Jeter gets the edge in World Series rings admittedly and has a slight edge in OPS thanks to those extra walks, but that's crazy how similar those lines are. Thanks, <a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/07262/818580-126.stm">DK</a>, for the heads up.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-27460553205741007502007-09-17T21:41:00.000-05:002007-09-17T21:55:08.767-05:00Giving it upThe decision's no longer in my hands. It's in His.<br /><br />And here's some <a href="http://derekwebb.net/song-vault/">Derek Webb</a> for the night:<br /><br />I repent of my pursuit of America’s dream<br />I repent of living like I deserve anything<br />Of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife<br />In our suburb where we’re safe and white<br />I am wrong and of these things I repent<br /><br />I repent of parading my liberty<br />I repent of paying for what I get for free<br />And for the way I believe that I am living right<br />By trading sins for others that are easier to hide<br />I am wrong and of these things I repent<br /><br />I repent of judging by a law that even I can’t keep<br />Of wearing righteousness like a disguise<br />To see through the planks of my own eyes<br /><br />I repent of trading truth for false unity<br />I repent of confusing peace and idolatry<br />By caring more of what they think than what I know of what we need<br />By domesticating you until you look just like me<br />I am wrong and of these things I repentJonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-81262462682340371632007-09-12T14:44:00.000-05:002007-09-12T15:06:09.154-05:00GroceriesI seriously have no idea how to shop for myself. I went to Giant Eagle last night and came home with:<br /><br />2 cartons of Arizona Iced Green Tea (mmmm)<br />1 half gallon of 2% milk<br />1 carton of low-fat yogurt<br />1 case of Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper<br />Hotel Rwanda<br />Strictly Ballroom/Moulin Rouge!/Romeo + Juliet box set (...that movie section in Giant Eagle kills me)<br /><br />And that was it. I need groceries and I buy drinks, yogurt and movies. Ugh.<br /><br />In my defense, I also bought s'more stuff for our youth group bonfire tonight, and it took me about 20 minutes to find marshmallows which drove me crazy. Speaking of, tonight's our Fall Semester Youth Group Kick-Off Extravaganza. We're building an awesome bonfire, there'll be food and crazy games, and our talented musicians are plugging in outside for a jam session that will rock Phillips Lane all the way to Clever (Eric's autoharp included). Should be sa-weet.<br /><br />Before that though I have a phone call with California.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-49235044410022231712007-09-10T23:44:00.001-05:002007-09-11T00:13:06.422-05:00I was wrongThe Pirates <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270910123">scored a lot of runs tonight</a> but didn't need them.<br /><br />I really liked 3:10 to Yuma.<br /><br />My brother Scott started his week as a <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=8889">Science Journalism Fellow</a> at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on Cape Cod, and is blogging about it <a href="http://doddcasting.blogspot.com/search/label/woods%20hole">here</a>. Very interesting stuff.<br /><br />And I'm a week late on this, but John Piper <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/2371_Mark_This_Day_and_Marvel_at_the_Work_of_God/">talks about</a> a momentous anniversary in the history of Protestant Christianity in China and about its future. Thanks, Sam, for the heads up.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-66052023917274191272007-09-10T16:04:00.000-05:002007-09-18T22:56:46.136-05:00Westerns, 3:10 to Yuma and Jack Wilson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/custom/53/1183953.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/custom/53/1183953.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After all that Pirate talk, I changed my plans for tonight. Instead of seeing the legendary showdown that will be Tony Armas vs. Carlos Villanueva, I'll be seeing Christian Bale and Russell Crowe square off in James Mangold's remake of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381849/">3:10 to Yuma</a>. Mangold previously directed 2005's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358273/">Walk the Line</a>, the biopic of the life of Johnny Cash, and I was mostly underwhelmed by that film. While Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon put in great, great performances as Cash and his long-time love June Carter, I just didn't find Johnny Cash's life story nearly as interesting as his music--which I love. I don't know if I can blame that on the director, and even <span style="font-style:italic;">if</span> I can that might have no bearing at all on the movie I'm seeing tonight, which is getting some <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/310_to_yuma/">critical praise</a>--though coincidentally both Walk the Line and 3:10 to Yuma have 83%s on Rotten Tomatoes. We'll see if my reaction is similar, as well.<br /><br />Anyway, Westerns. I'll admit I haven't seen many (<span style="font-style:italic;">Unforgiven</span> is my favorite of what I have seen), but I'm trying to watch more. I bought Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy (starring Clint Eastwood) earlier this summer but haven't had time to watch them for whatever reason... yet. Last night though, I watched John Ford's classic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056217/">The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance</a>. It was one of Ford's last films (<span style="font-style:italic;">Stagecoach</span> is the only other of his I've seen) and arguably, from what I've read, one of his best. The film had a different scope and feel than many Westerns, almost all of the action taking place <span style="font-style:italic;">in</span> the town of Shinbone, and with one of the main themes being the transition of the West from the rule of the gun to the rule of the law. The film stars Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne and I can't think of two more legendary actors sharing the big screen (sorry Bale and Crowe). Stewart is Ransom Stoddard, an East Coast attorney just come to Shinbone hoping to practice law. The Duke is Tom Doniphon, a rough-and-tumble cowboy who insists Stoddard settle his score with uber-bad guy Liberty Valance (superbly played by Lee Marvin) with a gun rather than words. In addition to exploring the "end of the West" the film deals with ideas of truth, fiction, legend and what makes a man.<br /><br />Like anime (another genre I love), Westerns have their quirks (over-the-top character acting, for example, or just not very good acting) and often show blatant racism, and <span style="font-style:italic;">Liberty Valance</span> has both, but it redeems itself. Characters like the Marshall and the Newspaperman/Town Drunk look less like caricatures and become real characters by the end of the film and Stoddard's treatment of the only black person in Shinbone, Pompey, show that the Western is certainly capable of overcoming these tendencies (see, <span style="font-style:italic;">Unforgiven</span>) and Ford successfully does so. Like I said, I'm no expert on the Western, just a fan, so feel free to correct me or agree with me, either way.<br /><br />One diversion back to the Buccos, Jack Wilson was named the <a href="http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070910&content_id=2199800&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb">NL Player of the Week</a> for his hot hitting. He has been on fire since the trade deadline passed with him still wearing black and gold, and not trading him may end up being one of Dave Littlefield's best moves. Wilson has raised his OPS all the way to .765, which for a slick-fielding shortstop like Jack Flash is phenomenal (for comparison in his 201-hit career year of 2004, it was .794--his second-best OPS season was last year's .686). This means one of two things: We can keep him, because Jack has a ton of value (way more than <a href="http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=285131">this guy</a>, for example) or a good GM can trade him this off-season (selling <span style="font-style:italic;">high</span> for once) and net what could be a great return--much better, at least, than Craig Monroe or whomever it was DL was insisting on.<br /><br />Even though I won't be at PNC Park tonight, go Bucs. And I'll let you know my thoughts on <span style="font-style:italic;">3:10</span>.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-30368528063725868622007-09-10T11:23:00.000-05:002007-09-10T17:20:18.967-05:00New Pirates GM: Jon DoddAdrian and Brandon think I ought to apply for the now-vacant Pirates General Manager position (as I am looking for work in the Pittsburgh area, of course), and I just might. Above all else the Pirates need an evaluator of talent in their GM role, and I suppose my success in Fantasy Baseball does speak for itself. I could argue in the last few years I've drafted Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, Russ Martin, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay and Victor Martinez. Quite a formidable line-up. The Pirates hitters they've drafted include Brad Eldred and Chris Duffy (who are for all intents and purposes out of baseball) plus Ronny Paulino, Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit (terrible, fourth outfielder, and <a href="http://www.themortgagereports.com/images/mr_glass.jpg">Mr. Glass</a>).<br /><br />I've pulled off a few nifty trades, too: Chone Figgins from Piper for pennies last year (if I remember right). K-Rod from Dre last year, and then Josh Beckett and Fausto Carmona for slugger Adam Dunn from Dre <span style="font-style:italic;">this</span> year. Adding those guys to a pitchers Gorzo, Snell, Maholm and Capps looks pretty slick.<br /><br />But my biggest qualification has to be my ability to develop pitchers. In Jake Peavy's second year on my club he's turned into a top-10 pitcher. I'll admit I let Dan Haren go too soon, but I knew <span style="font-style:italic;">two</span> years ago that he would be the pitcher he is today. And to continue to point out that I'm moderately good at something prefaced by the word "fantasy," I'll say I'm pretty happy that I passed on Poo-Holes this year to take Johan Santana no. 1 overall (although that A-Rod guy would've been a good choice, too). And, be it Takashi Saito, Brad Lidge, Huston Street, Joe Nathan or J.J. Putz, I have a knack for knowing which set-up man has the stuff to be the next big closer.<br /><br />Unfortunately it is called "Fantasy Baseball" for a reason, but I haven't a doubt that my Yahoo skills would translate into the "real baseball" world. If it's alright with you guys, Dre, Piper and Zeke, I will be using you as my references, and when Bob Nutting calls, just say something along the lines of "Jon Dodd dominates us year in and year out. He'll do the same with the NL Central."<br /><br />...OK, now that I'm done with my trash talking that may or may not be legit (since I currently sit in second place behind Matt Wright and only <span style="font-style:italic;">tied</span> for first with Dre last year... but that was preceded by a championship in 2005--yeah, nevermind, the trash-talking's legit) I am pretty stoked to return to PNC Park tonight for my first Pirate game in ages. Partially I haven't gone because I've been busy, but there's also been that hesitance to totally root (root, root) for the home team since rooting for the Pirates has previously meant supporting Dave Littlefield and the general buffoonery that goes on in the Pirates front office. With changes happening, I can at least hope it will get better.<br /><br />Tony Armas starts tonight against the Brewers, so we'll need to score a lot. But hey, with <a href="http://www.kansasoz.com/ryangray016.jpg">Littlefield gone</a> anything can happen.<br /><br />Bob Nutting: "Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce the new Pirates GM, Jon Dodd."<br />Me: "Segways and iPhones for everyone!"Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-37119069614881288302007-09-07T10:52:00.000-05:002007-09-07T12:26:18.312-05:00FINALLYThe headline I've been waiting to see: <a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/07250/815475-63.stm">Littlefield fired</a>, so says the P-G.<br /><br />In <span style="font-style:italic;">completely</span> un-related (yet possibly as equally amazing) news, take a look at <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=480286&in_page_id=1770">this kid</a>, via <a href="http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Baby_Born_with_a_Full_Head_of_Conan_O_Brien_Style_Hair">Digg</a>. Maybe I should give up my obsession with bald baby heads and hope for more like this?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/09_01/hairbabyMENSYN_468x526.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/09_01/hairbabyMENSYN_468x526.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />UPDATE: Here's <a href="http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070907&content_id=2194217&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit">Bob Nutting's letter</a> to we Buccos fans. A jubilant day, indeed.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-61935306512637824442007-09-05T01:05:00.000-05:002007-09-05T01:48:10.033-05:00Two headlines, two franchisesI can't take credit for catching this first (that'd be Pat from <a href="http://whereisvanslyke.blogspot.com/2007/09/fun-with-comparisons.html">WHYGAVS</a>), but I will point it out to all of you who might be interested:<br /><br /><a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/07248/814675-63.stm">Pirates Notebook: Tracy wants young starters to go distance</a><br />vs.<br /><a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/07248/814670-63.stm">MLB Notebook: Buchholz in bullpen after historic no-hitter</a><br /><br />One of these two franchises is the best team in baseball, one is the worst. Guess which one is the Red Sox and which one's the Pirates? If you're not sure, click the links and figure out for yourselves how to treat young pitchers.<br /><br />In other less depressing Pittsburgh sports news, the Pens unveil their new Rbk Edge unis later today. Follow the story <a href="http://thepensblog.com/">here</a> and <a href="http://nhllogos.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />Oh and I hear that's not the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/ipod/">only thing</a> being <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/we-think-you-shouldnt-buy-an-ipod-right-now/">introduced today</a>. Wo ai ni, Apple...<br /><br />Wo ai ni?<br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LcZY7vJjQwY"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LcZY7vJjQwY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-87185695698674511532007-09-03T20:47:00.000-05:002007-09-03T23:30:31.953-05:00There is a surpassing worthSo... I'm tired. My mind, body and soul are tired, and finally I'm starting to realize it's a lot more than sleep I need. What I definitely don't need is to watch another movie or listen to more music. I do enough of those things. I don't need more "hang out time" with this friend or that. I don't need to debate this or to think more about that and I certainly don't need a break from work or "real life" to serve myself and my own selfish desires.<br /><br />Paul tells me that there is a surpassing worth: Knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. I need to know Jesus so much more than I need sleep or comforts or relevance. Right now I need time in the Word and time in prayer. I need to immerse myself in His words of truth and merely in Him and forget about everything else around me, everything that's distracting me from my one and only purpose: To worship and give glory to the Holy, Good and Triune God. Let me explain further.<br /><br />I'm realizing that so often I want (and seek after, and pursue) all the trappings of "church" and "worship" and "relationship" without the substance. Without Christ. I'm a white-washed tomb and I love the whiteness of my tomb and I love to talk about how white it is and why it's white and what the whiteness means. That's what I do. I talk about how nice my tomb is, its purpose and its calling and what its worth is to the tombstones around it, while all the while I'm dead inside.<br /><br />For a baser example: Pretend that I go everywhere wearing a Beatles t-shirt. I love the Beatles, I talk incessantly about the genius of their music and song-writing and the impact they've had on rock and roll music and on my own life. All the while John Lennon is staying on my couch and wants to be my best friend. But, rather than thanking John for the music he's made and the things his songs have meant to me personally, let alone sharing a cup of coffee with him or seeing the symphony together or actually trying to form a meaningful relationship, the only thing I'll say to him is to ask him to clean my toilet after I've failed to flush yet again. And oh, John Lennon is actually my dad. For my entire life he's given me the roof over my head, the food I eat and the shirt on my back in addition to The White Album and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.<br /><br />I talk about the Church and its Mission and the Kingdom and my Calling, but I don't <span style="font-style:italic;">talk to</span> Jesus. I forget that it's for <span style="font-style:italic;">His Glory</span> and not for my enjoyment that He has given us the good things in this world. I forget that it's for <span style="font-style:italic;">His Glory</span> and not for my safety and comfort that He hung on a tree. I forget that <span style="font-style:italic;">He is alive</span> and loves me and wants to make me new. In fact, He already has.<br /><br />But most of all it seems I forget that while He lovingly, graciously and freely gives me all things, He wants me to desire <span style="font-style:italic;">only</span> Himself.<br /><br /><blockquote>But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.<br /><a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=philippians+3%3A7-8"><br />Philippians 3:7-8</a></blockquote>Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-27823143392998408972007-09-02T01:03:00.000-05:002007-09-02T01:56:42.328-05:00What I've been listening to:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/31HBPHXX13L._AA240_.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/31HBPHXX13L._AA240_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jaJ3ZbJ8L._AA240_.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jaJ3ZbJ8L._AA240_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nANC23dbL._AA240_.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nANC23dbL._AA240_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This past week in the world of what I've been listening to, Wilco and Arcade Fire dominated when it came down to it. I just purchased Neon Bible from iTunes so that explains why I'm into Arcade Fire right now, and I've been listening to as much Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born as I can, both spectacular albums I haven't spent enough time with. Jamie lent me the new Caedmon's Call album, Overdressed, so that has had some play time, too, but not a ton. And I listened to the Gorillaz' Demon Days album once through earlier today after I heard Feel Good, Inc. on the radio. Cool song, cool album. And that's the update. Let me know what you've been listening to and/or what I <span style="font-style:italic;">should</span> be listening to, and you should be listening to Wilco and Arcade Fire.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-68452806148258487982007-08-31T00:38:00.001-05:002007-08-31T01:31:06.937-05:00Left turns in Beijing really are this crazy<a href="http://soimgoingtochina.blogspot.com/2007/06/beijing-traffic-lesson-left-turn.html">This is just amazing</a>. One commenter nailed it: This guy gives <a href="http://www.bat-girl.com/">Batgirl<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></a> a run for her <a href="http://www.bat-girl.com/archives/000386.php">LEGO</a> money.<br /><br />(Link via <a href="http://www.outside-in.typepad.com/">Joann</a>)Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-89547501894571344842007-08-28T10:28:00.000-05:002007-08-28T10:46:24.061-05:00Must-reads for anyone following the Pirates CEO searchKnown to any and every on-line Pirate junkie, the blogger/amateur scout Wilbur T. Miller is the cream of the Internet crop when it comes to Bucco baseball. WTM turns in another gem in this two-part series (<a href="http://www.baseballfans.net/pirates/article.php?story=20070824110717525">one</a> and <a href="http://www.baseballfans.net/pirates/article.php?story=20070825144729540">two</a>) on why Bob Nutting musn't be fooled by the Pirates good play of late. He argues convincingly that the Pirates are neither good nor young, and that (wrap your head around this) if/when Dave Littlefield is fired, he will leave the Pirates in <span style="font-style:italic;">worse</span> shape than when he inherited them. (Links via <a href="http://bucsdugout.com/">Bucs Dugout</a>.)<br /><br />As far as who might be the one firing DL, John Perrotto from the Beaver County Times suggests <a href="http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18755278&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478568&rfi=6">Tony LaCava</a> as someone Nutting needs to talk to. Finding an evaluator of talent has to be our no. 1 priority.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-82649901637325930852007-08-27T23:27:00.000-05:002008-12-11T21:52:32.058-05:00Ryan Lang<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ErO3sq3WoTg/RtOxGPTd0eI/AAAAAAAABWE/sZm2QVQXLz4/s1600-h/Jon+%26+Ryan.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ErO3sq3WoTg/RtOxGPTd0eI/AAAAAAAABWE/sZm2QVQXLz4/s320/Jon+%26+Ryan.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103617523486413282" /></a>I talked to my best bud who lives in LA tonight for a glorious hour and a half. Ryan is my friend from China (you can see us together in Beijing to the left) who's originally from Minnesota and now works for ELIC in California, if that makes any sense. We talked about Disneyland, Starbucks coffee, CTF friends, getting together again, and tried to sum up basically a year of our lives. It was equally as daunting as it was great. One of the best thing about friends is that they don't care when you don't call them back for days or weeks at a time (this is for Jason and the Wilseys and Matt Stewart, too) and not only that... they still want to talk to you when you finally do.<br /><br />I am blessed with some truly wonderful friends--for sure--even though I don't call any of you back.<br /><br />(Here are a couple more pictures of Ryan, for fun, one more appropriate than the other.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ErO3sq3WoTg/RtOrGvTd0bI/AAAAAAAABVo/o2nHuiYpbsQ/s1600-h/Ryanface.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ErO3sq3WoTg/RtOrGvTd0bI/AAAAAAAABVo/o2nHuiYpbsQ/s320/Ryanface.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103610935006581170" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ErO3sq3WoTg/RtOsN_Td0cI/AAAAAAAABVw/axDe-WozKqI/s1600-h/IMGP2033.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ErO3sq3WoTg/RtOsN_Td0cI/AAAAAAAABVw/axDe-WozKqI/s320/IMGP2033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103612159072260546" /></a><br /><br />Oh, Ryan... and oh, Thailand! (You might <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> want to enlarge that second one.)Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-23245963521221532462007-08-26T23:29:00.001-05:002007-08-27T00:07:52.479-05:00Leopard to the future?I've had fun exploring all the <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/">dazzling new features</a> the next phase of Mac's OS X, "Leopard," will introduce this October.<br /><br />And then Digg led me to <a href="http://phillryu.com/2007/08/26/new-secret-leopard-feature-revealed-where-were-going-we-dont-need-roads/">this</a> today, a blogger speculating that Leopard may abandon the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_%28user_interface%29">Aqua</a>" theme OS X has held since it's inception (or at least begin to phase it out) in favor a space/time travel theme, as seen in the new (and amazing) Time Machine application, which you can see in the Leopard tour I linked to above, or below:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_njvvdUU_4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_njvvdUU_4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />If using a Mac for the first time doesn't already blow you away, then Leopard ought to change that. It looks just amazing, introducing even more intuitive and user-friendly features that expose Vista for what it is--a cheap imitation and blatant rip-off of what Mac's been doing well for years--and is about to do even better.<br /><br />Pretty cool stuff, huh?Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-23653441292675349742007-08-25T17:15:00.000-05:002007-08-26T23:26:19.124-05:00Ice BowlIf at all possible, I will be <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_523982.html">here</a> to kick off 2-0-0-8. Go Pens.<br /><br />Thanks, <a href="http://thepensblog.com/">Pensblog</a> for the heads up.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5649524118720263213.post-13110948636768728432007-08-23T23:20:00.000-05:002007-08-24T00:25:08.123-05:00Pittsburgh & KovacevikSome of you might know that I'm an avid reader and fan of <a href="http://post-gazette.com/pirates/">Pirates P-G</a> beat writer Dejan Kovacevik. I read everything he puts out, and I often take for granted the outstanding insight he provides into my favorite baseball team and (and I think this is where most of you should take interest) my favorite city. Dejan speaks of Pittsburgh the way I hope I speak of Pittsburgh, with the realization that Pittsburgh is a flawed yet unique and beautiful place to live that Pittsburghers should be proud to call home.<br /><br />Part of my nightly routine before I go off to bed is to read the P-G's Pirates coverage (mostly written by DK) that's published every night at midnight. (Fun fact: In China, it was my pre-lunch routine at noon.) I just finished his <a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/07236/811616-126.stm">weeknightly Q+A</a> (which is only found on the Internet) and wanted to point you all to it, because Dejan has a lot to say about cities and Pittsburgh and perspective this evening, all of which I found very interesting. He continyes tonight with a series of "Things That Make Pittsburgh Great" that he includes each weeknight when the Pirates are on the road (which sounds terribly confusing, I'm sure, to a non-baseball fan) and tonight the Bucs <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270823127">won in Denver</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote>Thing No. 53 that makes Pittsburgh great: We are a terribly insecure people.<br /><br />We always want to know what everyone thinks of, and we always are surprised when they like us, they really like us.<br /><br />A history buff might suggest that has to do with our polluted industrial past. After all, who could brag about a place that was immersed in darkness in mid-afternoon?<br /><br />Someone else might say that the mass exodus of jobs in the late 1970s and early 1980s, one of the greatest in American history, contributed. After all, how happy could anyone be with a place that was being virtually abandoned?<br /><br />Whatever it is, it most surely applies.<br /><br />Eve Picker, a loft developer in the Downtown and Strip areas, hails from New Zealand. Way before it became cool -- or profitable -- she was buying up vacant buildings and converting them into residential properties. And, as I recall from the one conversation I ever had with her, she was doing so with a sense of bemusement that so few people here seemed to appreciate what he had or, potentially, could have. As she put it, it took an outsider to come in and show us. There is a lot of that going on.<br /><br />The Uruguayan guy who designed the convention center was inspired by the flow of the Three Sisters bridges, a view he glimpsed from driving atop the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Might someone here have noticed that?<br /><br />The travel writers around the country who come here and glow about the place point out things in a way some of us never could see or, in some cases, never have taken the time to see.<br /><br />It is a somewhat endearing trait, in a way, that we care what others think about us. But it also illustrates plainly that we do not think enough of ourselves.<br /><br />Visiting San Francisco last week and now here in Denver, these are two places where you can ask anybody about these cities, and they will do everything but sing and dance in describing them.<br /><br />We need to do more of that. No rose-colored glasses are needed, either.</blockquote><br />If you don't have any interest in baseball or in specifically a pretty bad baseball team, that's fine, but I hope you (by, perhaps, spending a few days following his Pirates coverage) can appreciate the seriousness in which Dejan does his work and reports on a city and its baseball team, and I'm glad his thoughts and observations are a part of my daily reading.<br /><br />On another note, it made me exceedingly proud tonight (as the group I traveled with to Sweden gathered at my house to look back and look forwards) to hear Arianna, who has started <a href="http://rgar1989.blogspot.com/">blogging here</a>, cite Russ' thoughts, from <a href="http://russwarren.blogspot.com/">his blog here</a>, in our conversation. (It wasn't only through hyperlinks, I had used what Russ wrote <a href="http://russwarren.blogspot.com/2007/08/church-and-place.html">here</a> to initiate some conversation in youth group a couple of weeks back.) I try to take my life, conversations and connections on this Internet seriously and use them, not for viral videos and forwarded e-mails, but for a conversation that we otherwise could never have. It really made me proud and happy. I've never specifically realized or thought out <span style="font-style:italic;">all</span> of the things I try to pass on to the younger generation as I work at my church, specifically, but some of these things I've been blogging about tonight vaguely (like place, stories, community and conversations) are certainly some of those things.Jonathan Doddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911727714816250883noreply@blogger.com0