L.A. Lakers: No Sense of Urgency

One of the story lines from Game Three of the Lakers - Spurs playoff series is that this is a matchup of youth versus experience. The Lakers were thrashed in Game Three: 103 - 84. It was a convincing win for the Spurs.

The argument that the Lakers are young and inexperienced simply does not wash. The Lakers starting lineup is not that inexperienced:

• Kobe Bryant 11 years as a professional
• Derek Fisher 11 years as a professional
• Lamar Odom 8 years as a professional
• Pau Gasol 6 years as a professional
• Vladimir Radmanovic 6 years as a professional

From that starting lineup, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher have been on multiple championship teams. These Lakers starters do not lack for experience. These players know how important it is close out a series and not to allow the opposition to regroup.

As for the Lakers bench, Sasha Vujacic is in his third year and Jordan Farmar is in his second year. Jordan Farmar, with just two years experience, managed ten points and three rebounds in under nineteen minutes of playing time:

link: Game Three: Spurs - Lakers

The reason that this was not even a close game was that the Spurs played with greater intensity and urgency. Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich is too good a game manager to allow a critical Game Three to slip by quietly. Game Four is in San Antonio on Tuesday, May 27. Although the Lakers have a two games to one advantage in the series, the pressure is on the Lakers to prevent the Spurs from building more momentum. The Spurs have proven to themselves that they can beat the Lakers in this playoff series. Now, it will be a test of whether this is a championship Lakers team. It will not be a matter of experience as much as it is a matter of desire. Who wants the win - and the series - more?

Catherine

Google Does Metric Conversions

There is no need for metric conversion software if you are using Google. A required conversion is done quickly by entering the query into the Google search box. Here are a couple of examples:

• in the search box, enter “10 pounds in grams” (without the quotation marks). Google will return an answer. It is 4535.9237 grams.
• in the search box, enter “22 degrees C in F” (without the quotation marks). Google will understand that it is being asked for a conversion from Celsius temperature to Fahrenheit. The answer is 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is really a terrific tool. You may want to experiment a bit to see if Google understands your shorthand. Google understands what I want when I query “15 mi in kilometers”. The caution, though, is that Google will be highly sensitive to spelling / typo errors when using this feature.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

TAPS: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

Memorial Days honors those who have fallen during the course of military service to their country. It is a pause to pay tribute for the sacrifice of patriots. TAPS ( Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors ) is an organization for the family and friends of lost loved ones:

“The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Inc. (TAPS) was founded in the wake of a military tragedy — the deaths of eight soldiers aboard an Army National Guard aircraft in November 1992. In the months and years following the loss of their loved ones, the survivors turned to various grief support organizations for comfort; but when they turned to each other for comfort and to share common fears and problems, they found strength and truly began to heal. They realized that the tragedy they shared, losing a loved one in the line of military duty, was far different from other types of losses. They shared pride in their spouses’ service to America, and tremendous sadness at the ultimate sacrifice their loved ones made.”

link: TAPS

TAPS provides an invaluable service. There is a toll free number and there are people to provide support.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[I am grateful to Nancy P, Debra G and Terry L for contacting me and providing me with their insights about this organization. Thank you... Catherine]

L.A. Lakers: No Sense of Urgency

One of the story lines from Game Three of the Lakers - Spurs playoff series is that this is a matchup of youth versus experience. The Lakers were thrashed in Game Three: 103 - 84. It was a convincing win for the Spurs.

The argument that the Lakers are young and inexperienced simply does not wash. The Lakers starting lineup is not that inexperienced:

• Kobe Bryant 11 years as a professional
• Derek Fisher 11 years as a professional
• Lamar Odom 8 years as a professional
• Pau Gasol 6 years as a professional
• Vladimir Radmanovic 6 years as a professional

From that starting lineup, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher have been on multiple championship teams. These Lakers starters do not lack for experience. These players know how important it is close out a series and not to allow the opposition to regroup.

As for the Lakers bench, Sasha Vujacic is in his third year and Jordan Farmar is in his second year. Jordan Farmar, with just two years experience, managed ten points and three rebounds in under nineteen minutes of playing time:

link: Game Three: Spurs - Lakers

The reason that this was not even a close game was that the Spurs played with greater intensity and urgency. Spurs coach, Gregg Popovich is too good a game manager to allow a critical Game Three to slip by quietly. Game Four is in San Antonio on Tuesday, May 27. Although the Lakers have a two games to one advantage in the series, the pressure is on the Lakers to prevent the Spurs from building more momentum. The Spurs have proven to themselves that they can beat the Lakers in this playoff series. Now, it will be a test of whether this is a championship Lakers team. It will not be a matter of experience as much as it is a matter of desire. Who wants the win - and the series - more?

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/