L.A. Lakers Eliminate the San Antonio Spurs

In Game Five, the San Antonio Spurs built a seventeen point lead. The Lakers gradually chipped away at that lead and eventually won Game Five: 100 - 92. The Los Angeles Lakers now advance to the championship series.

link: Game Five

There was a remarkable, perhaps widely unnoticed play, in the fourth quarter. The Spurs were trying to fend off elimination. The game was still in doubt. Tony Parker made a hard drive to the basket and ended up behind the basket, on the floor. Along with him on the floor was the Lakers’ Lamar Odom. Tony Parker picked himself off the floor, turned and gave Lamar Odom a hand off the floor. Under the circumstances, it was a remarkable gesture. Kudos to Tony Parker - and the Spurs team.

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

Telecasting the Bee

The kids are amazing - each and every one of them. Each is an excellent speller and this is the ultimate goal: the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It is telecasted, on ESPN and ABC. Check the times in your region:

link: 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee

And here is an old spelling joke: “yes, of course, I used the spill checker”.

Catherine

Telecasting the Bee

The kids are amazing - each and every one of them. Each is an excellent speller and this is the ultimate goal: the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It is telecasted, on ESPN and ABC. Check the times in your region:

link: 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee

And here is an old spelling joke: “yes, of course, I used the spill checker”.

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

Firefox: For the World Record

You could be part of a world record. Firefox needs your download clicks as it tries to establish a world record:

“Mozilla is aiming to create what may be the geekiest world record ever with its upcoming Firefox 3 browser release.

The company on Wednesday started a campaign asking users to pledge to download the next full release of its browser on the day it is available so the release can set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of software downloads in 24 hours.”

link: Mozilla Shooting for Record Books With Firefox 3 Release

link: DownLoad Day

There are going to be download parties. Who know that downloading would become a social activity? Check the Download Day site and make a ‘geek pledge’…

Catherine

Ray Allen: Welcome Back; Where Have You Been

The low point for Ray Allen in these 2008 NBA playoffs may have been when he missed two consecutive foul shots. It rarely happens that Ray Allen misses one foul shot. However, on one trip to the foul line, he missed both his free throws. That might be the official bottom of Ray Allen’s shooting slump.

In Game Five of the Boston Celtics - Detroit Pistons playoff game, the real Ray Allen returned. He made five of six attempts from three point territory and scored twenty nine points:

link: Game Five

Not only did Ray Allen’s shooting touch return, it was during crucial points in the game. And for free throws, he did not miss. There were six attempts from the free throw line and all six were good. Ray Allen has a shooters mentality. His shot is fine. They simply are not dropping through the hoop. And Ray Allen knows that they will start dropping soon, as long as he keeps shooting.

Catherine

NBA League Office Adds to the Controversy

The 2.1 seconds at the end of Game Four of the Spurs / Lakers series has been guaranteed to live on. The NBA league office has added to the controversy by declaring a non call at the end of Game Four as a foul:

“The league office on Wednesday reviewed the final play of the San Antonio Spurs’ 93-91 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and acknowledged that a two-shot foul should have been called on Derek Fisher for impeding Brent Barry.”

link: League acknowledges Spurs’ Barry was fouled

It is surprising that the league offices should involve themselves in this referees’ decision. The non call was not challenged by the San Antonio Spurs. The league’s involvement undermines the instant judgment call of the referees who were on the court. The opinion of the league office does not change the results. The narrow win by the L.A. Lakers stands. It seems that the NBA would have been better served if the league office had recused itself from making any statement whatsoever and allow the referees’ call to stand on its own. With its statement of opinion, the NBA office has fueled discussion of that long 2.1 seconds for years to come.

Catherine

Congratulations to Sriram Hathwar

Do you remember being eight years old? For most eight year olds, being part of the Scripps National Spelling Bees is not one of life’s goals. However, it is for Sriram Hathwar. He’s eight years old:

“…Despite his correct spelling of a word trickier than many of the others given during the preliminary round of the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee — his peers were asked words such as “rigatoni” and “macaroon” — Sriram was barred from moving on to the bee’s quarterfinals because of his score on a written spelling test administered earlier this week.”

link: Youngest Speller in History Hits Bee Stage

It’s just a hunch but the Scripps National Spelling Bee may be seeing young Mr Hathwar again… soon. Kudos, Sriram!

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

Firefox: For the World Record

You could be part of a world record. Firefox needs your download clicks as it tries to establish a world record:

“Mozilla is aiming to create what may be the geekiest world record ever with its upcoming Firefox 3 browser release.

The company on Wednesday started a campaign asking users to pledge to download the next full release of its browser on the day it is available so the release can set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of software downloads in 24 hours.”

link: Mozilla Shooting for Record Books With Firefox 3 Release

link: DownLoad Day

There are going to be download parties. Who know that downloading would become a social activity? Check the Download Day site and make a ‘geek pledge’…

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

NBA League Office Adds to the Controversy

The 2.1 seconds at the end of Game Four of the Spurs / Lakers series has been guaranteed to live on. The NBA league office has added to the controversy by declaring a non call at the end of Game Four as a foul:

“The league office on Wednesday reviewed the final play of the San Antonio Spurs’ 93-91 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and acknowledged that a two-shot foul should have been called on Derek Fisher for impeding Brent Barry.”

link: League acknowledges Spurs’ Barry was fouled

It is surprising that the league offices should involve themselves in this referees’ decision. The non call was not challenged by the San Antonio Spurs. The league’s involvement undermines the instant judgment call of the referees who were on the court. The opinion of the league office does not change the results. The narrow win by the L.A. Lakers stands. It seems that the NBA would have been better served if the league office had recused itself from making any statement whatsoever and allow the referees’ call to stand on its own. With its statement of opinion, the NBA office has fueled discussion of that long 2.1 seconds for years to come.

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