Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Bauxite Feedback Wanted: What else are you working on?

Bauxite Feedback Wanted: What else are you working on?

What are you doing under there?

Ha! I just made you say "underwear".

So we are all of course familiar with one another's interest in baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays. But in this thread let's discuss what else we're all doing that we'd like to tell each other about. For instance, if you're not familiar with Dave Rutt's other endeavour, the satirical baseball news site Bottom of the Fourth, you should be.

Or there's me. I'm writing a novel about superheroes. It's called Ded & Sac. I've started a website at matthewe.com with information about it; my idea is that the site will be of interest to anyone who likes superheroes or books. It's just getting started so it shouldn't take you too long to check out right now. (I have a dim idea for a novel about baseball, too, but that's in the far distant future.)

Now how about you? What are you doing these days that's cool?

Posted by Matthew E on Thursday, February 24 2011 @ 11:11 PM EST.

Bauxite Feedback Wanted: What else are you working on? | 76 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

electric carrot - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 12:25 AM EST (#230797) #

electric carrot was my 2nd choice for name -- my regular name would have been Magpie (obviously taken) -- magpieproductions.com is my site. I make "documentaries". Whimsical 5 minute short critical of immigration policy in the US was one of thirty chosen to tour the globe with The American Documentary Showcase this year -- free to watch on vimeo. http://vimeo.com/13117766

christaylor - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 03:15 AM EST (#230798) #

Defending my PhD thesis a week today (next Friday morning). Assuming I pass, I start a job as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School the following week. I've studied vision both basic research and in aged (60+) observers.

I went to setup my digs last week and had the radio on the local sports talk station -- the announcers were handwringing over the Sawks closer situation. Even if it has to be the Sawks, it felt like more like home than hearing endless hand-wringing about the Leafs on the fan. Felt very comfortable and I'll be out of the blackout area for Jays games on mlb.tv.

drjohnnyfever - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 08:30 AM EST (#230803) #

"Hoping to eventually quit my day job" side business: I've developed an online RSVP system called Be Our Guest (www.beourguest.ca). Everyone who has used it has loved it, but nobody who has used it has been a paying customer :P One day it will be big... I hope..

Baseball side business: I run a 20 team softball league (www.samsonleague.com), and I run it like it's the MLB :) It's divided into 2 leagues with 2 divisions each, we have All-Star Games where we line-up down the lines for the National Anthem, MVP voting, spring training week, and even have a "owners" Winter Meeting. Being a child of the 80's, my league does NOT have interleague play or wildcards, and only first place teams go to the playoff rounds. Also, every year I fly in a former MLB player to speak at a kick-off event. This year it's Frank Tanana! Last year was Tommy John, and in the past we've had Fernandez and Barfield. The event is open to everyone, so if you're a Tanana fan just let me know and I'll hook you up with tickets.

Of course, the league doesn't make a dime. If anyone has any suggestions of how to make a 20 team, 300 player, league into something that could generate revenue I'm all ears :)

rpriske - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:13 AM EST (#230804) #

I run Capital Slam, the poetry slam that has created that last two Canadian Slam Championship teams (one of which I was a member of). I am a member of the Copper Conundrum and the Collossus. Former member of the Recipe.

I write for the Legend of the Five Rings CCG and RPG.

I am working on a YouTube channel and blog at rustythepoet.wordpress.com

Oh, and I am in a 30 year old keeper Strat league. :)

Original Ryan - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:17 AM EST (#230805) #

I'm not doing anything of consequence.

Flex - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:43 AM EST (#230806) #

I'm an author with three well-received novels published by McClelland & Stewart. For the first time this fall one of my books will be published in the United States.

I'm also a magazine journalist who works for Toronto Life, Walrus and Report on Business Magazine.

John Northey - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:52 AM EST (#230807) #

Fairly busy with my kids, but also am the president of the local Green Party and at work we're putting together World Improvement Number which is a site designed to help us all understand how our personal actions can positively affect the world. The WIN system is designed to help people, communities, businesses, organizations and countries measure how their World Improvement Actions (WIA) and ideas can positively affect the world.

Plus I'm running around getting my 12 year old to figure skating practices (she won 2 medals including a gold at a recent competition, now she wants to practice even more), my 9 year old to gymnastics, and my 5 year old to dancing. Mix in a YMCA membership and misc activities and I'm surprised I ever post.

lexomatic - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:56 AM EST (#230808) #

I used to do a video blog (first music video one in Toronto c.2004-2007) which I'd like to get back online, but life is busy right now, and there's lots of work involved. If you're curious http://www.youtube.com/user/infinitesoundvlog there's some stuff there.
Currently doing a certificate in publishing at Ryerson.

blarry - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 10:13 AM EST (#230809) #

i'm buried in the exciting world of bathroom renovation at the moment. ugh

JohnL - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 10:33 AM EST (#230810) #

Apologies in advance for the political message, but this has been my life for the last week or so...

Besides my day job, I've been pretty much focused on the situation in Libya. My wife & I have been there twice, and despite the many great sights and sites there, the most powerful experience we had was discovering the Libyan people, who are overwhelmingly warm, open & generous. How people like that got sentenced to live under a tyrant like Gadaffi has always been one of those depressing facts of the world.

Now of course, he's demonstrating just how murderous an insane tyrant can be. We've been desperate for news, horrified by what we've been seeing and hearing, and fearful for our many friends there -- and for all Libyans.

Gadaffi will be gone soon; it's just a matter of how many he'll kill first. Last night, we heard from one of our closest friends for the first time in a week. It was so good to hear he and our other friends & their families are safe (although one friend had been shot -- not seriously injured). It was also great to hear how exhilerated he is about the situation there. A week ago he told me they would win, but I didn't believe him. Now I do. We also now know that our closest friend in Tripoli is well, and staying inside with his wife & 4 kids. Today might be a terrible day there, or perhaps the day Gadaffi falls.

I've put up a small page with links to up-to-date news, photos, videos about Libya: www.jookjoint.ca/libya. There's a rally for Libya in Toronto this Saturday (Feb 26). Info on that page.

Thanks for your attention. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

China fan - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 10:34 AM EST (#230811) #

I'm a foreign correspondent for a major newspaper, formerly based in China (hence my online handle), now based in Africa. Hmmm, maybe time to update my handle?

Matthew E - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 10:38 AM EST (#230812) #

Let me just say that the responses in this thread have been cooler than my wildest hopes would have led me to expect.

And, Flex, how are we supposed to find these novels if you won't give us your actual name or the titles? Don't deprive yourself of publicity and don't deprive us of good stuff to read.

bpoz - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 10:58 AM EST (#230813) #

Work, wife, a 16 yr old daughter & 14 yr old son keep me busy.

So nothing noteworthy for me.

I don't watch much TV any more. I try to get some exercise and stay healthy as I age. My interest in Science Fiction, Philosophy & Anthropology gives me a creative outlet. I will ponder on how a society would develop if 1 factor changed for example TRUST in one another. With more trust there would be less need for locks, fine print in contracts etc... Less trust could mean our homes would become a fort and don't even think of giving a hitch hiker a ride.

Paul D - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 11:16 AM EST (#230814) #

My job is nothing interesting (well, I like it, but you won't be interested in it), but, if pimpage is allowed, and it looks like it is... my friends and I are in our 30s. And we still like to play video games, but we don't really have time anymore. So we figured that a site telling you how much time you need to put into video games would be pretty useful, and it didn't appear to exist, so we're slowly putting our time into
www.gamelengths.com

which is a site to tell you how long you're going to need to devote to game X. It's been a slow and steady process.

pubster - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 11:17 AM EST (#230815) #

Im a pretty big MMA fan.

I work as a software developer (formely employeed by Rogers :) ), and in my spare time I have developed an MMA site (MMARanked.com) with the help of my bro and a couple friends.

We've steadily grown over the years and have even had a chance to interview guys that fight in the UFC.

Mick Doherty - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 12:32 PM EST (#230818) #

Exactly what I was about to write to Flex, Matthew. On point!

Flex, give us a title and a three-line summary -- who's your target audience?

Mick Doherty - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 01:18 PM EST (#230819) #

Not to go into too much detail, but since before Batter's Box even launched (I joined the team in 2004) I have been planning to develop a manuscript based on what here has become baseball's "Hall of Names."

I was keeping a full archive of them on one page here on my own portfolio website, but haven't updated it since late in 2008 and there have been 50 or so since then. Still, the page lists the fiirst 323 (!) and if you want the more recent,(not all on one page) you can just scrroll here.

Some questions for my fellow Bauxites:

Would you buy such a book?
How many HoN chapters should it have? (I was thinking 500, but a quirky number is good if there's an obvious reason -- 511 or something.) Would shorter be better?
Are there any HoN teams we absolutely MUST do before such a manuscript is submitted?
Many of these will take major updating,, and that will be a timesuck. (For example in the all-P-last-name story done several years ago, not sure if Pujols is even mentioned!)
Would it be worth it to include All-Birthday teams for the entire year? (I've done about 40 so far.) Or would that be a separate book?
What else? You tell ME!!

P.S. to those on this list who have contributed a HoN entry (about 15 of the 350+ aren't by me originally), if I use any of your posts, you would be bylined on the page, I promise! And yes, I plan an appendix to thank, by name or handle, every Bauxite who contributed a comment that made a HoN team better!

Mylegacy - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 01:51 PM EST (#230821) #

..."What else am I working on?"

A double scotch - single malt.

bpoz - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 01:52 PM EST (#230822) #

Mick D those are good questions.I wish you success. This topic never really appealed to me so I would not be a customer.

Do books come in diskettes so that you can jump all over the place? That would be a huge break through in study & enjoyment.

If/when a book is done on this Jays team, if it is on a journey to a championship, I would be a buyer. Especially if it is in diskette form that has video & audio of memorable moments.

Flex - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 01:57 PM EST (#230823) #

Thanks for the prompts, folks. Here I go blowing my anonymity!

I'm Trevor Cole. My novels are literary comic-tragic fiction. Titles in chronological order:

Norman Bray in the Performance of His Life
(2004, about an alcoholic, out-of-work narcissistic actor, shortlisted for the Governor Generals Award)

The Fearsome Particles
(2006, about an affluent urban family whose son has just come home from Afghanistan, also shortlisted for the Governor General's Award)

Practical Jean
(2010, about a woman who decides to kill her friends to save them from dying of old age, short-listed for the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize, and due to be published this fall in the US by HarperPerennial).

Would I love it if you went out to buy any of these? Yes, I definitely would.

Cheers

Trevor

(Ps. you can find out more details at my website, www.trevorcole.com )

JohnL - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 01:59 PM EST (#230824) #

A double scotch - single malt.

Great focus, mylegacy! I'll take what he's having.

Do books come in diskettes so that you can jump all over the place? That would be a huge break through in study & enjoyment.

Some do, some others come in a "paper and binding" format, which do allow you to jump all over the place at random, in targeted sections ("chapters"), or through a built-in search function ("index"). The breakthrough is here!

Ron - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 02:34 PM EST (#230826) #

I�m about to flip my life upside down and move from Vancouver to Toronto! You wouldn�t believe how much work is involved when you decide to move across the Country. I�ll be in Toronto before the regular season starts. I�m pretty pumped up that I will have the opportunity to go to a lot more games. Outside of Real Sports, are there any other good sport bars I should be aware of?

Besides Baseball, I�m a complete sports junkie. I follow MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL and UFC. I�m a huge fan of Bill Simmons and Colin Cowherd. I�m also a Reality TV Junkie and watch American Idol, Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Jersey Shore, and The Ultimate Fighter. I�m also a casual gamer and know way too much about �Pop Culture�.

Ishai - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 02:36 PM EST (#230827) #

I write and act in plays and films that are seen by my family and friends and browbeaten strangers. I also work in a coffee shop, which provides an ample supply of strangers to browbeat.

smcs - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 02:50 PM EST (#230828) #

I graduated from Queen's last year, majoring in Political Studies (not Science). I'm currently waiting to hear back from grad schools to do an MA in Political Science (not Studies). If I get accepted by my first choice (UVic), I hopefully will write my thesis on the unique Canada-US relationship (try to think of a situation where Canada and the US would go to war) and how Canada is viewed on the international stage and, more specifically, if the US is in a period of decline, is this a good thing or a bad thing for Canada's place on the world stage (I'm leaning towards bad, but can be swayed)?

CeeBee - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 02:50 PM EST (#230829) #

I just finished renovating the living room and now am building an aquarium stand/cabinet. A few years ago I was a beta tester for a railroad sim called Trainz and in my spare time I'm a carpenter. I turned 60 yesterday and believe it or not am looking forward to retirement...... someday. :)

Mike Green - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 03:15 PM EST (#230830) #

Aside from practising law, I am attempting to see more live music than I have in decades. There is nothing better for beating back cynicism.

Matthew E - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 03:29 PM EST (#230832) #

Would you buy such a book?

- I honestly don't know that I would. The HoN stuff is fun to play with, but when you get it in the format of a book, you're not playing with it; you're just reading it. One thing that might get me to buy it? Present it in a triviaesque kind of way. Like, on one page, you have a blank roster for Ballplayers Named After Trees, and the reader (or the reader and whoever else is at the bar with him) can either fill it in, or turn the page and see who you came up with. And you could defend your answer to show why your choice is the best, or list what the alternatives are, and why there are two second basemen that work about equally well, and so on.

How many HoN chapters should it have?

- Two or three hundred, maybe.

Would it be worth it to include All-Birthday teams for the entire year?

- Probably not. Unless they all happen to be interesting.

MatO - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 03:42 PM EST (#230833) #

Self-employed CA in the GTA getting ready for tax season. My hobby is frequenting (far too frequently) baseball websites and fixing up a recently purchased cottage in the Haliburton Highlands while my own house slowly falls into disrepair. I'll have that double scotch as well. Single malt of course.

bpoz - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 03:54 PM EST (#230834) #

Excellent thread Mathew E. I am very impressed by our Bauxites AA (Ambitions & Achievements).

I am enjoying the glimpse into the various personalities.

Cheers!! I am going out for a beer now. In my back yard.

Sano - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 04:53 PM EST (#230836) #

Law student at the University of British Columbia. Graduating in 2012, hopefully to work overseas. But we'll see.

I too am really interested in all these responses, seems like we have a pretty eclectic group of people on here!

China Fan are you Geoffrey York? Not to blow your cover or anything but not many Canadian major newspapers have correspondents in Africa.

raptorsaddict - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 05:17 PM EST (#230839) #

Well, it appears as though BB is overrepresented in the legal profession, as I too am a lawyer. I'm also finishing my MBA this semester, and pondering doing a PHD in economics on the subject of FreeGold (Reference Point Gold).

I'm also extremely interested in sustainable food production, namely a concept known as Permaculture. And when I'm not busy with all that, I enjoy strangling people in my Brazillian Jiu Jitsu class.

BCMike - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 05:26 PM EST (#230840) #

Been busy beta testing <a href="http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/out-of-the-park-baseball/index.php">Out of the Park Baseball 12</a>. I highly recommend the game to bauxites who are interested in text baseball sims. If you're on the fence you can check out the full version of <a href="http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/ootp8/">OOTP8</a> for free, the game has come a long way since then, but this version allows you to get a feel for the game. OOTP12 will be out sometime this spring.

The rest of my spare time is usually spent on my <a href="http://vancouvercanuckshockey.blogspot.com/">Canucks blog</a>

pubster - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 05:27 PM EST (#230841) #

I enjoy strangling people in my Brazillian Jiu Jitsu class.
-------------
Nice, which school do you train at?

I used to train at a place called Bravado, and my bro is currently training at Toronto BJJ.

krose - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 05:38 PM EST (#230842) #

Very interesting group. Certainly helps to explain the consternation with spelling and the "then/than" conundrum.

Ah yes... Retired I am...At last...All the double scotches/single malts anytime I choose. Of course "retired" does also indicate a proximity to the end of the track which can be a bit unnerving.

Worked for 30+ years in education. Particular interests in curriculum and instruction, special education and education for high ability students.

wdc - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 07:56 PM EST (#230845) #

I am a professor in my day job but have loved baseball since I was 5 years old. My brothers and I played "hit the bat" often and that game where you run to first base and back with only two persons up to bat at a time. I played little league where I went hitless in my first season, yes, that is right, my first season. I retired after Pony League but continued to love the game. My father was a Cardinals fan and Stan the Man Musial was his favourite player. So I latched on to that team as I entered my teen years and what a team it was. Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, . . . well, many of you will know the rest. Gibson remains my hero. His performances in the 1964, 1967, and 1968 World Series would have left deep impressions on any young teenage boy. When the Jays were formed, I add them to my loyalties and almost had my dream world series in 1985, between the Cardinals and the Jays. The Cardinals remain a favourite, but the Jays have long since captured my heart. And I love listening to games on the radio; Alan Ashby is tremendous and has jolted Gerry into being more open to saying things as he sees them. Call me old-fashioned, I guess. One other passion that I have in life is running. I enter races when I can, even though I am not particularly good. Next one up is a half marathon on Sunday and then the fabulous Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton at the end of March. Best race ever! I read this blog every day.

Brent S - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 08:03 PM EST (#230846) #

I'm an actuary working for a large human resources consulting firm. Doesn't get more exciting than that!

I must say that this thread has been an absolute pleasure. Who knew that we had such a diverse group of individuals around these parts? Consider me impressed.

Dewey - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 08:23 PM EST (#230847) #

I�m a retired English professor. Yeah. Almost forty years at it; but a great job, getting to read some wonderful books, and often lucking into some excellent students to teach me things about them. (But, oh god, the marking and grading; and then the whining!) Herman Melville is my man. Untouchable.

And of course, dammit; those "then/than" differences matter.

ComebyDeanChance - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 08:50 PM EST (#230848) #

Labour arbitration and appearing before other administrative tribunals ruins most of the time I have to spend away from baseball. Heading off to s t for the month (a signal that I'm enduring the tragedy called middle age) this weekend, hence the ticket gripe in the other thread.

earlweaverfan - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:42 PM EST (#230850) #

Management consultant since 1980; working with business leadership teams and Boards of Directors. Am fascinated by the leadership lessons that business people can learn from Alex Anthopoulos.

johnny was - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:56 PM EST (#230851) #

East coast university history professor who'd strongly discourage impressionable youth from doing a PhD in the social sciences or humanities in this marketplace. Have had The Hold Steady on in heavy rotation since 2004 and am presently counting down the last three months until baby no. 1. Go to guy for questions about the Vietnam War.

Mick Doherty - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 09:59 PM EST (#230852) #

... and misc activities and I'm surprised I ever post.

Wrote John Neary in his 3,144th career commemt on Da Box. (Honest, I looked it up!) :-)

Smithers - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 10:22 PM EST (#230853) #

I agree that this is an eclectic and interesting thread, thanks Matthew E.

In my parts, I've been keeping busy working with next-generation DNA sequencing of a bunch of bacterial and viral genomes. Also hoping that pretty soon we'll be able to pinpoint the actual genetic changes in the vaccine for chicken pox that make it effective. One foot at the lab bench, one foot at the computer.

Thomas - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 11:00 PM EST (#230854) #

Fascinating thread. I certainly didn't know the Box counted multiple professors, a newspaper's foreign correspondent and a two-time Governor General's award nominee (to name a few) among its ranks.

As for the lawyers and law students, that's the least surprising news of the thread.

Alex Obal - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 11:18 PM EST (#230855) #

Co-sign all the praise for this enlightening thread and the awesome nature of the crowd here. My mind has been blown.

John Northey - Friday, February 25 2011 @ 11:44 PM EST (#230856) #

Hey Mick, that's 3142 now, you had a few extras and a bit of a typo on the name. Given it lists back to 2005 that means I average 1.43 posts a day. Oy.

Huh, got you by quite a bit - Mick has just 2568 - whats wrong Mick, have a life or something? :)

Hal - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 01:00 AM EST (#230857) #

4th year BScN (nursing) student here on Canada's east coast. Graduating in June and hoping to eventually work in the ER.
Freelance photographer. http://www.haroldcookphotography.ca
Run the VintageLeafs blog, which any fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs should check out. http://vintageleafs.blogspot.com/
Father of 2, ages 5 and 7.

TamRa - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 03:14 AM EST (#230859) #

Geez you guys! I never felt more like a brainless bimbo than I do reading this thread!

I'm clearly out of my weight class.

I'm an unemployed, undermotivated (trying to work on that) wannabe writer who has gotten a lot of compliments and a few awards but seldom seem to complete anything - more full of great ideas than actual work.

Besides the blog you know about, i also blog about my ongoing transition here:

http://betchadidntseethiscoming.blogspot.com/

Be advised, it can be very melancholy at times, but I try to occasionally be informative too.

I have some ambition, once my own personal situation is settled out either way, of directing my passion towards support and education for Trans people in this part of the world where such help is harder to find than in other places. but that's probably pretty far down the road.

who'd strongly discourage impressionable youth from doing a PhD in the social sciences or humanities in this marketplace.

Oh my lord yes. As a holder of a BS in social Science and an expired teacher's license, i can most definitely offer an amen to that.

you can find out more details at my website, www.trevorcole.com

Sounds like some fascinating concepts. Maybe one day I'll get something published for pay/sale.

DaveB - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 06:53 AM EST (#230862) #

A pleasure to read about all the contributors. I'm a retired newspaperman, now a resident of a small island in the Caribbean. Several years ago my accountant advised I would not likely be able to retire comfortably at the age of 55. He made such a convincing case I chose instead to retire immediately, load up a backpack and move to a much cheaper country. Now approaching 60, I play tag with pretty fish, enjoy fine Nicaraguan rum, build useful things from driftwood (chairs, lamps, small tables, frames) or try to turn failed useful things into dubious objets d'art, watch the local baseball and soccer games, excavate the shelves of an excellent library/bookstore. Recent favourites: Paul Auster, Frederick Barthelme, Alan Furst. I sometimes offer a room to tourists or take on a few shifts as a bartender. It's not all humid sweetness and tropical light. Here, Mother Nature is the rich blonde in Sam Spade's office: pretty and all, smells great, just don't turn your back on her. When she goes crazy, take cover. We get the fringes of hurricanes, a nasty earthquake a couple years ago. The tarantulas and I eventually came to an agreement about my home being located in their prized breeding ground. The terms were that I had better get used to them. I did. They're lovely. My relationship with termites, sandflies, wasps, roaches, mosquitoes and various species of voracious ants is less amicable. I've sliced my big toe with a machete, scraped my thigh over coral and had it become infected, been laid low by a bout of Dengue. In one respect my accountant was right: retirement has not always been comfortable. Which is just fine.

Chuck - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 08:08 AM EST (#230863) #

Software consultant. Is IT under-represented in these parts? I think BTF is chockful of my ilk (and lawyers, of course).

I agree with Mike Green about live music. I'm finding it an imperative to counter the cynicism of middle age.

timpinder - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 08:08 AM EST (#230864) #

Smithers,

Are you at U of T?

skippy23 - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 09:30 AM EST (#230865) #

I am an ex-minister who now works for the Canadian Government.

My family is very important to me, wife of 19 years, daughter who is almost 16 and a son who is 14.

I coach and referee basketball through the winter which keeps me very busy.

I was born in California and learned to love baseball while watching Reggie Smith, Ron Cey, Rick Monday, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Steve Yeager et al.

I love this site, The Sports Guy [Bill Simmons], and any basketball but the NBA. It's not basketball, it's sports entertainment...

Hodgie - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 10:51 AM EST (#230868) #

Chuck, IT may just be under-reported as I too consult in the field. In addition to providing my expertise on software architecture and agile development to various public and private firms in Western Canada I am trying to somehow find the time to get two products to market. Further complicating that endeavour is the odd hour or twenty I spend every week coaching minor hockey while supporting my son (13) and daughter (8) in their pursuits to be the next Sidney Crosby, Alexandre Bilodeau, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Simon Whitfield, Lindsey Vonn, Janet Evans, Christine Sinclair, Paula Creamer, Lauren Groves, Cindy Klassen....... sadly no Ken Griffey Jr or Jenny Finch in this family. Luckily this still leaves me plenty of time to fully appreciate my beautiful wife of 13 years.

Wayne H. - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 11:00 AM EST (#230869) #

I am a blogging and social media, online marketing, and search engine optimization consultant. I am also a speaker on those same topics; and on other business related topics as well. I review business books (along with a few history, music, science, and literary fiction novels) on my business blog. Somehow, it has managed to win awards. Yes, I'm puzzled about that too.

http://www.blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com

I also host a twice weekly hour long business show on BlogTalkRadio. Over the past four years, I have interviewed guests on literally every business, career, personal finance, and economics related topic.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/WayneHurlbert

jerjapan - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 12:44 PM EST (#230870) #

As if I needed even MORE reasons to take the postings on the Box seriously ... it's great to see a bit of the talented, interesting people behind the handles. As for me, Im a high school ESL teacher, and while the students English may still need work, they leave my classes with a host of baseball metaphors.

BTW, I know the BP folks have meet ups in various cities ... has anyone ever organized a Bauxite gathering? Any interest?

budgell - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 01:08 PM EST (#230871) #

I was in the army but I never dug a trench

Used to bust my knuckles on a monkey wrench

Go to town and drink, give the girls a pinch

But I don't think they ever really noticed me

Kasi - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 01:16 PM EST (#230872) #

I'm a Game Programmer working on The Sims.

Smithers - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 01:59 PM EST (#230876) #

timpinder - no, not at U of T. Went to UVic but for the last 12 years I've been toiling in Winnipeg at "CDC North", our version of the level 4 lab in Atlanta. It's been a pretty interesting time seeing the outbreaks come and go and different diseases come to prominence (West Nile, Mad Cow, SARS, avian flu, H1N1, Listeria, MRSA, etc, etc), the building at the fore of it all. Thankfully I don't have to wear the space suits and work with stuff that could kill me! The windchills here take care of that.

budgell - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 03:58 PM EST (#230883) #

On my very first job I said thank you and please
Made me scrub a parking lot, down on my knees
Then I got fired, for being scared of bees
And they only paid me 50 cents an hour

sam - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 05:47 PM EST (#230885) #

Very impressive group of commentators and a pleasure reading what everyone is up to. Thank you very much!

I am just finishing an undergrad in History at UBC and will likely be starting an MA at UWO next fall.

In a past life I played super competitive baseball in the GTA. It was fun while it lasted. I got to play with a bunch of guys who are now in the minor leagues. Injuries probably happened at the best time as I would likely be playing baseball at something like Southwest North Missouri State Community College right now.

Matthew E - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 07:20 PM EST (#230888) #

Wayne H: I just checked out your blog (because, if I'm going to get any juice behind this novel, I'm going to have to leverage social networks in a big way) and was pleased to find that you had just interviewed Neil Howe! I'm going to have to listen to that; I've been a huge fan of Strauss and Howe's generational ideas for almost a couple of decades now. Their third book (The Fourth Turning) came with a website with a message board that started a very active online community itself, and we got together a few times in the states, so I was lucky enough to meet him a few times. So I think that's very cool.

johnny was - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 10:35 PM EST (#230889) #

Sam: I'm a recent UWO alumni and would be happy to have a conversation with you about the craft and the cast of characters you're going to encounter in London. If you're interested, I'm at: johnny_was@hotmail.com.

Wayne H. - Saturday, February 26 2011 @ 11:53 PM EST (#230891) #

Neil Howe was a fascinating guest, and I really enjoyed interviewing him about his latest book Millennials in the Workplace. Like you, I am also fascinated by generational theory. I have introduced many people to the concept.

Yes, indeed, the Fourth Turning message board is an active place. I am a member there, but like here, I read much more than I post.

Social media is a must for an author, along with the essential basics of a website and a blog. |A Twitter and Facebook presence (regardless of what people may think of them) really do help authors succeed. blog tours have helped create buzz for books on the cheap as well. There are simply countless low cost guerrilla marketing techniques that authors can use to market both fiction and non-fiction books. A great example of building an online community is John Sickels site and discussion board, from a baseball point of view. Of course, Batter's Box is another fine example.

As I always say and write: Once an author, always a marketer.

Doom Service - Sunday, February 27 2011 @ 12:38 AM EST (#230892) #

Budgell is either John Prine, or channelling John Prine. (Lyrics from Fish and Whistle...)

TamRa - Sunday, February 27 2011 @ 04:38 AM EST (#230894) #

If i ever finish anything, I'll definitely be looking for marketing advice. i hope i remember this thread.

greenfrog - Sunday, February 27 2011 @ 11:14 PM EST (#230910) #

Very interesting thread. I'm a staff lawyer for an NGO, sometime freelance writer (published in Canadian Geographic and a few other publications), former Random House intern and recipient of an editing award.

VBF - Sunday, February 27 2011 @ 11:57 PM EST (#230911) #

Working in the great game of baseball.

On that note, I'd like to express my thank you to da box and it's contributors for the past 8 years for keeping me passionate about the game from a very young age.

vw_fan17 - Monday, February 28 2011 @ 03:17 PM EST (#230933) #

Software engineer working for Synopsys in Silicon Valley. UW alumnus (BASc/MASc in Comp Eng), have worked at and taught at UW in the past.
Grew up in K-W (25 years) after being born in Germany.
Odd trivia: 25 years to the day that we moved to Canada, I was flying back to Canada for the last time as a resident (for now).
Moved to California in '04 because my wife's from here and doesn't like snow :-) Have 2 little ones (2 and 4).

Sports and cars are some of my interests, as well as german author Karl May.
I've done some winter rallying (185 kph down a snow-covered farmer's path, getting airborne, etc).
I've played church league softball for 20+ years

Currently trying to figure out what to work on (besides the regular job) as our lives are getting back a little structure..

bpoz - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 09:36 AM EST (#230973) #

jerjapan... You asked about interest in Bauxites getting together. I would be interested. I also gave it some thought.

I attended many games at the EX. General admission was cheap & you could sit any where & move around. My eyes cannot follow the ball very well any more at the ball park so I will watch the Jays win a championship on TV.

If somehow we could monopolize a cheap section, move around easily & show up for BP, then that would be a definite high lite for me. Just talking, listening & seeing Bauxites would be great.
Another way is to attend one of those caravan sessions in the winter if we can get seating.

Paul D - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 10:10 AM EST (#230975) #

I think it was summer 04 that a number of bauxites regularly took over a section at the Dome... I think it was 517? bird even brought a drum. I joined them for a couple of games and had a lot of fun. There was also a thread devoted to figuring out chants and songs for pretty much each player on the 04 team.

Thomas - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 01:20 PM EST (#230977) #

If Bauxites are interested in trying to arrange a get-together, that is certainly something we could look into arranging during this season.

The summer of 2004 was a unique (and fun) time. Unfortunately, the drum was subsequently banned from the SkyDome, IIRC, and central members of the "Cheer Club" have moved out of the country, across the country or have become a father several times over since then.

However, the memories of the Theodore Roosevelt heads lives on.

Matthew E - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 01:36 PM EST (#230978) #

Also, if there's an Ottawa-based contingent of this group who wants to get together to watch a game on TV someplace, or a Fat Cats game, I wouldn't mind getting in on that.

budgell - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 01:55 PM EST (#230979) #

Gameday has Morrow at 19 pitches, 19 strikes over 2 innings of work. Anybody else having trouble with audio at mlb?

Gerry - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 03:04 PM EST (#230980) #

Per Mike Wilner, Gameday isn't tracking pitches accurately. Don't believe Gameday in the spring!

China fan - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 03:24 PM EST (#230982) #

In fact, Morrow threw 10 pitches in the 1st inning (7 for strikes) and 19 pitches in the 2nd inning (12 for strikes), according to Wilner's tweets. Morrow's final totals, from his 3 innings of work, were: no runs, 2 hits, no walks, four strikeouts, 38 pitches, 26 strikes. A pretty good outing, for what it's worth. And yes, nobody should use Gameday for pitch information in the spring games -- it's all wonky until April.

Mike Green - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 03:57 PM EST (#230983) #

Even in spring training, a 9th inning comeback is fun. Having the kids do it with small ball is a bonus.

Gerry - Wednesday, March 02 2011 @ 03:57 PM EST (#230984) #

Jays get their first win on a walk-off, Jon Diaz singled in Darin Mastroianni and Ryan Budde for the win.

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