pants wrote:


I've been reading the OB's “The Audacity of Hope” and "Dreams from my Father" and I thought this guy is a bit odd. I've been reading proposed policy for "change" and I just feel wrinkly McCain is selling himself better.
I've always been a little scepticle of OB, when I first came across him in 2006 it was on an interview with Oprah I watched with excitment and hope and came away a little disappointed. OB talked and talked about the black man (using the words black and African American) about how he was going to help them out. He talked about Darfur, when asked about Iraq he said he'd take troops from Iraq and send them to Darfur. I don't see people by the colour of their skin and for me OB did, to me there are many minority groups within the US and to single out just the one was wrong and unprofessional. Why take US troops from Iraq and send them to Darfur, the UN is there thing's may not be stable with they are being helped.

My mom called today to say I could change my vote from the Embassy in Dublin to the one in Paris if needed, when I told her I may not vote she had a canary. "Its my duty to vote and vote right" - We'll see.....

As for being European Republican "I don't think so!" in Ireland I am a Republican but that's majorily different from US Republican - My country is only young being a free state in 1922 and finally a Republic in 1949. I love being Irish, there are statues in Dublin that when I read the inscriptions on them I well up but I'm sure its the same for everyone well maybe not the crying.

I'm not a fan of Europolitics and the aim to be a Super power, Ireland is a neutral country Europe recently tried to pass a treaty (of Lisbon) which would have had enforced conscription to the Super EU Army as well as forced conscription if one of our allies ever went to war (we'd have to go fight for France there were also some dodgey laws regarding tax. The big wig countries France, Germany etc. passed the treaty our constitution states that any laws or treatys that would effect the common man must go to the people to vote, we voted no and thus the treaty has been stalled we were the only people in Europe who had a say and the night we voted no the common man (those who are not politicians) celebrated right across Europe - it made the news for days and it was a time to be proud of our freedom fighters who fought for us to have such rights.

So politically I'd class myself as Irish Republican, Us Currently on the Fence and Europe No all the way!!!

Personally I'd like to see Russel Brand in politics.

So there's another big long pointless response of a party political broadcast!

College Wolf wrote:


Status of Collar: car (but by car I mean popped)

hniriain - I'm not going to cut and paste and quote a bunch of your stuff, but I was in Dublin last May ('07) and I have to say that Dublin, and Ireland in general, is my favorite place I've been away from St. Paul/Minneapolis. I always say that I've never been anywhere that would make me want to leave the Twin Cities, but everything about Ireland, from the people, to the city of Dublin, to the one-day tour I took outside the city was exceptional.

I remember walking down the street looking for the Old Jameson Distillery when some random gentlemen walked up to me, said, "What are you looking for?" I told him the distillery and he just replied, "Put the map away, you go two blocks easy and three blocks north, can't miss it."

I also had a blast at the Brazen Head one night. Just an all around great place. I'm sad I only had six days there and can't wait to go back someday. I would like to see more of the country side because my day tour included seeing the lake Loch Tay (I think that's how it's spelled, it's the Guinness Lake) and a lunch in a small town in the WIcklow Mountains somewhere.

Again, can't say enough good things about my time in Ireland.

TheOldLogo wrote:


Geeze Thank's - that put a smile on my face, I'm actually waiting to board a flight to Dublin from Lyon,going home for a couple days. The Old Jameson is one of my favourite Dublin tours, I'm not a fan of the Guinness store house because I think its over priced. I moved to Dublin from the sticks to go to UNI and it took me a while to fall in love with it. What I love about Dublin is the people, they make Dublin what it is. I also love the history, the bullet holes in the GPO reminding us of how we got our freedom, the Halpenny bridge, Phoenix park, watching cricket matches on the lawns of Trinity College. Irish people make Ireland the great place it is, we love to talk, which I guess comes across in my endless meaningless blogs. That small Wicklow village was most likely Avoca and the Guinness Lake you spelt correctly Loch Tay owned by the Guinness Family. I have some friends coming to Ireland during the October midterm and they got a great deal of 6 nights accommodation, flights and car rental for a total of $800 which was a bargin. 2007 you came the summer of 64 consecutive days of rain although I think may was dry, you could have taken the Luas from Abbey street (just of o'connell street) right down to the distillery at the four courts. The Brazen head jesus its a while since I've been in there, they've great music sessions I love that its famed for serving/selling alcohol longer than there have been licensing laws. Serving since 1198, legal 1638. Should be in Dublin by lunch time. I'll be viting the twin cities in early December and I'm sure it'll be great but hey there's no place like home.
There's a famous saying "There's only two types of people in the world, those who are Irish and those who wish they were Irish"

And that concludes my post on behalf of Tourism Ireland for the latest travel deals visit www.discoverireland.com

State or Country of Residence: Melbourne, Australia

Occupation: Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Marital and family status: Married for 4 years, 1 son, Aaron, 18 months old

Age: 33

Favorite past time: Between work and family, my spare time is taken up
with reading and speaking to the good folk of Minnesota. I am somewhat keen
on Australian football. It's finals time right now. That sort of tension takes years
off your life.

What little spare time I have is about to disappear; this week I've
been accepted to an MBA program.

Religion or philosophical ideal or definition of reality: Agnostic.

As for a life philosophy, I'm a live and let live type of guy. The hardnosed of this world
call it moral relativism.

Goal in life: To be good to my family and enjoy what I have.

I went through my pics and it was the "Day Tour of Wicklow", which included stops at Loch Tay, a tour of Glendalough, lunch was indeed in Avoca Ballykissangel, and then we stopped at the Meeting of the Waters on the way back. The next day we took the train out to pier one (Limerick?). In any event, it was a cool place. I never took the Guiness tour, I had a bunch of stuff to do and my buddy and I figured it was between Guiness and Jameson and we went Jameson. I definitely do not regret the decision. Five days in Ireland was a nice, relaxing way to end our Europe trip, especially since the previous five days were a haze in Prague...

Twin Cities are alright (I don't know if you've been here before). You'll be coming in the cold and snow season, which I don't mind. Unlike many other places that are described as "great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there...", I think the Twin Cities are more, "Great place to live, but wouldn't want to visit..." At least in December, you can check out the Wolves!

State or Country of Residence: 'sota

Occupation: Student @ University Minnesota Duluth

Marital and family status: Single

Age: just turned 20 last week

Favorite past time: Chilling and playing basketball with my friends

Religion or philosophical ideal or definition of reality: Christian - Lutheran

Goal in life: Well I wanna be a graphic designer and work in the Twin Cities, but I also wanna get into the movie industry (screenwriting, directing, storyboard art, ect.) So we'll see!

State or Country of Residence: Poland

Occupation: Student @ UAM in Poznan, Poland

Marital and family status: Single (in a relationship)

Age: 20

Favorite past time: Sports, music, drinking

Religion or philosophical ideal or definition of reality: Raised Catholic, not much of a religious person

Goal in life: Visit all of the continents, learn at least 3 foreign languages... get a Mustang GT

State or Country of Residence: On year 5 in Minneapolis, lived in Fairmont, MN & Sioux Falls, SD before then.

Occupation: Financial Analyst

Marital and family status: Currently enjoying the single life.

Age: 26

Favorite past time: All kinds of stuff. Obviously basketball is at the top of the list.

Religion or philosophical ideal or definition of reality: Big Jesus Follower. Definitely a Christian.

Goal in life: Play hard, work hard, make the world a better place, be happy, live every day to the max, travel a ton, have many different friends and do many different things, be successful, be a well-rounded individual with a lasting legacy.

residence: Milwaukee, WI as of August. born, raised, lived until then in Massachusetts.

occupation: high school teacher, though currently unemployed from the move and trying to land a non-teaching job.

marital/family: domestic partnership with my girlfriend. we strive for common law!

age: 31

past time: writing music, reading, exercising.

religion/philosophy: post buddhist catholicism. what? organization scares me in religion.
"que sera, sera"

goal: finish writing my book.

Welcome to the board mjohan. We look forward to your insights and opinions. Many people on this forum are not nor have ever been Minnesota residents. We have a great numbers of posters from other countries as well which amazes me. This is going to be a fun year to be a Wolves fan!

mmaland wrote:


Thanks Mmaland. I hope I can contribute to the community. I am currently debating getting NBA league pass (which would necessitate myself upgrading to digital cable...yeah yeah yeah, I know) so I can follow the wolves as closely as I want to. I have missed Al jefferson so much since he left Boston (though I owe you all at least a debt of gratitude for KG and the ensuing title). I think I need league pass. Need with a capital N.

hniriain wrote:


Hi hniriain. I'm new here but thought I'd toss my hat in this discussion...

1. Do you think it is more important for a politician to have substance or sell himself as substance?
2. Do you think it is wrong for OB to "help the black man out?" As potentially the first black president, I would think addressing some racial issues would be a welcome change, being that OB would be a person who could speak from a position of color.
3. In using the Iraq vs Darfur debate, I think OB was simply saying that he felt there is a need in Darfur which we could aid, in contrast to the Iraq situation which Bush created in the first place...and the UN being in Darfur would already be a step ahead of the situation in Iraq when Bush sent troops there.

I hope this doesn't come across as accusatory or combative. Just discussing.

State or Country of Residence: MN

Occupation: Student studying Spanish...

Marital and family status: SINGLE

Age: 21

Favorite past time: Basketball, art, MUSIC

Religion or philosophical ideal or definition of reality: Christian

Goal in life: To spread my seed....and see the Celtics play in MN in November. Also, to figure out what I want to do with my life.

An intro thread, just what I was looking for. For those of you who may rememebr me from RealGM etc over the years, I'm the same guy. Haven't posted anywhere in quite awhile.

I'm looking forward to getting back in the mix of things here. I'm looking forward to the year and perhaps catching up with some of you guys at NBA City before a game sometime.

State or Country of Residence: Minneapolis, MN

Occupation: Advertising/Promotion Sales

Marital and family status: I'll just say whipped

Age: 23

Favorite past time: Following the Wolves, music (I play just about everything), games, friends and family the usual bit.

Religion or philosophical ideal or definition of reality: Just seize the day. Life is too short.

Goal in life: Own a bulldog, live comfortably, never get too involved with work that it owns me. Also would love to meet this Silent Ababu guy.

Thanks all for now. Looking forward to getting into heated discussions this season.