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Avatar Time


I am a luddite.  I have no idea how where avatars come from and then made part of a person's identity.  So I don't have one, and to hide my ignorance, I have pretended that I don't have one because I'm much too groovy for such insignia.

But, now that my champion is out of the race for good (even though I did write that she was toast after Indiana), and now that we have nothing to fight about (hee), it's time to throw the avatar issue into the ring.

Here's my proposal.  I am asking  folks, if they could spare the time, to propose an avatar for yours truly.  The winner will typecast me into perpetuity and have a $50 donation made by me on their behalf to a favorite cause or charity (such as the Clinton debt-relief fund for example).

I need a judge or judges.  If you would like to volunteer for that role let me know.  I'm kind of leaning for someone like the kid Greg from Missouri, because he's nice.  But anyone will do.

Vital Statistics:
Male
Age 48
Married (Round 2)
Jewish (who has banned himself from most discussions about Israel)
Four Kids (22, 20, 18, and 1)
New Yawker thru and thru, with time spent in midwest and the nation's capital (hee)
Big Yankee Fan (Bobby Murcer belongs in the Hall)
Union lawyer
Crotchety son of a bitch
Looks like a cross between Danny Kaye and a canteloupe

Let's play avatar.  And if you don't wanna play, then so be it!


83 Comments

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Editor's Comments:

Second sentence should read: "I have no idea where avatars come from and then made part of a person's identity".

Also, to clarify, the contest winner picks the charity, not this disgruntled Clinton supporter. Worry not, the money will not go to the Clinton debt-relief fund if you can somehow struggle and then manage to think of something more worthy.

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OK, so working on fun stereotypes of Jewish New Yorker, here's one for you:
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~abh2n/tmp/bagel_avatar.gif

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Delicious idea. We definitely need more food avatars, if only to remind us to reserve some time for sustenance in our busy blogging schedule.

I'm for the bagel idea too.

Either that, or a pair of matzah balls.

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Thanks Chino. Love the luddite options, especially the first one. I don't think the Danny Kaye/melon thingie shows up but I can just imagine. :)

Sounds like fun :)

I'm still thinking, but here's an initial suggestion:

http://www.newhampshire.com/doclib/celebrity/salinger.jpg

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Salinger?? Do tell why!

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Great start Ben. So far you're the judge, jury and plaintiff. I do love a good bagel, but I'm at the point in my life where I have to scoop out the inside first to save on calories.

By the way, I do have a real story about bagels and the economy. This past Sunday morning we had some elderly cousins of my Dad's over for brunch. Of course, typical Jewish reality, we told them to come at 10:30 and they showed up at 10 and they were famished. I explained to my wife that elderly Jewish folks don't do brunch and they like to eat breakfast no later than 7 a.m. (even on Sunday). They also like stuff like pickled herring in cream sauce, a half a pound of which I had dutifully purchased on Saturday evening (try it, you'll like it).

In any event, before they arrived that morning, I stuck the baby in the stroller and we walked to 81st and Broadway where the famous H&H Bagels is (I don't think they're that good but that's another story). I had the person give me an assorted dozen, and then she rang me up and announced that I owed $15.60. The thing is that I only brought 15 dollars with me, thinking that I would get the bagels and then maybe stop off for a coffee to go somewhere. Honestly, I had no idea that bagels had shot up so much in price.

Of course, the cashier felt sorry for me because I had a bunch of impatient folks behind me and I had the baby, so she let me go. But, can you believe the price of bagels these days? We have have real problems according to the bagel meter.

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But, can you believe the price of bagels these days? We have have real problems according to the bagel meter.

That sounds suspiciously like kvetching to me. ;)

Hey, if you want any of the other images resized to the necessary width or auto-leveled, etc., I'm your guy. I love using GIMP!

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Thanks Ben. Much obliged. What's a GIMP? LOL

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GIMP is the free and open source answer to Photoshop. If one's using Linux, it's definitely the way to go.

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GIMP = GNU Image Manipulation Program, for those wondering about the acronym.

GNU = GNU's Not Unix, for those wondering about that (recursive) acronym.

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Gee thanks, much clearer now!

The operating system should be called GNU/Linux. Linux is just the kernel.

- RMS

(I kid, but only because I love. Power to the Penguin!)

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I'll get around to it one of these days, but I really don't like them very much. They seem somehow to be an invasion of privacy and anonymity.

I'm from rural southern Ohio we don't know from bagels. The guy who rents the vacant lot next to the gas station every summer and sets up a fish fry shack has increased his prices by 50 cents, but your fried fish fillet on soft white bread with your choice of Miracle Whip or Mayonaise can be offset by picking up a can of offbrand pop at the gas station instead of a cold coke from the iced tub on the shaded side of the truck. And for Christ's sake kids, stop leaving the empty pop cans on the picnic table it attracts the sweat bees.

making me hungry...

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And he's one of the most talented cursers I've ever heard.

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White Bread?

Mayo? That's French, right?

Hey Bev, you wanna judge? Heck I even trust you. :)

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Sure, I'll judge - do I get to choose the charity? My son's unit has a family readiness group which has a fund that pays for home/car repair for families whose dad/husband/father is deployed - you've never seen people so grateful for a donation.

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Heck, that's perfect Bev, I mean Judge Bev. It'll be my pleasure. The wife of the president of my principal client is very involved with a similar group of marine parents on Long Island (there son just finished two tours). Wonderful cause, and I will be honored to contribute to it on your behalf.

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Here you go, BevD, one designed especially for you with your fried fish fillet and can of pop.

http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~abh2n/tmp/meal_avatar.gif

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I might go for that one, Ben.

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Harpo?

Bobby Mercer in the Hall? why? Who is next Yankee fan. Graig Nettles?

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You gotta problem with Nettles? But, hey, remember Bobby Murcer batted second in the '71 series in old Tiger Stadium. And he got a single up the middle in his first at bat. Doesn't that qualify him for the Hall?

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That is, the '71 all-star game; Yankees weren't near the series in '71.

And won't be this year either :)

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How about a Murcer pic for your avatar:
http://www.bobbymurcer.com/Web_Gallery/fmt_i0012.jpg

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Nice, and see even then Bobby was a peacenik. By the way, Bobby is recovering from brain surgery for a cancerous tumor. He's my guy.

No problem with Nettles, Just with Yankee fan wanting everyone in pinstripes to be in the hall. I can hear the calls from Chris Chambliss and Mickey Rivers coming now!

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Good ears! Remember, Game 5, 76 playoffs, Yankees and Royals. Bottom of the ninth, Chambliss leading off, and BOOM! Hall of Fame shot.

Horace Clark?
Oscar Gamble?

Best yet: RON BLOOMBERG!
http://www.yankeetradition.com/bloomberg.JPG

Ron Blomberg was the first major league player to appear as a DH, back in 1973.

Oscar Gamble had a great afro back in the '70s, and this wonderful quote:
"When I step into the batter's box, I am in scoring position."

Go classic bslev:

http://tinyurl.com/3d4c2l

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The Babe! Nice. He was a Clinton supporter clearthinker, did you know that?

Hey, it's your avatar... you have to be happy with it.

If I win, I'll let you know where to send the $50. Now, judge on the basis of the avatar, only.

Right? ;-)

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You mean rulez are rulez? Asking alot clearthinker.

I know. Especially from a Hillary supporter... ;-)

Nice one. Can someone find a way to morph The Babe into Joba Chamberlin? That would be a kickass avatar.

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They do kinda look alike, dontcha think?

Since you claim to favor the Union, an assertion of dubious truthfulness given your sudden adherence to the dogmas of the charlatan Obama, you should select an avatar such as a portrait of General Sherman. He is as popular in Georgia as that tribune of sneering youth ever shall be. Bah!

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I know who you are crankypants. You can't fool me mister/ms/or whatever. And you made me cranky. Alas, the good general is now in the ring. But, you know, if nominated, shall I wear his avatar if he still says no, no, no after all of these years?

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Well, the clock is ticking and if this doesn't get recommended some more, I think we are left with the entries submitted thus far. Bev D is the judge and, in her honor, in addition to the 50 bucks for the winning avatar, I will also donate another $50 to the organization she referenced above that is helping the families of soldiers in Iraq. Get those submissions in folks!

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Heck I can't believe this made it to the big board. Well this is for a good cause folks. I'm in Judge Bev D's hands; the avatar she picks is the one I don. Now's your chance to get me back for all those things I've written folks. :) My avatar, my identity, is out of my control and in your hands.

By the way, as stated, the winner gets to pick where I send my donation, and Bev D also gets a matching donation to her worthy "family readiness" group in Ohio, which assists military families with sons and daughters and spouses in Iraq. Hey Bev, why don't you print the name of the organization, and maybe we can get a couple of more dollars sent there from the good folks at TPM.

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As a fellow luddette, I am seriously contemplating donating my personal choice (for myself) of an avatar to you although you may not appreciate a picture of Laurie Mylroie as a stand-in.

Getting real, how about a pic of Mel Brooks at the appropriate age?

I would request that you donate $50 to one of the schools in Oregon the Clinton campaign has stiffed.

This one, as the debt is over 60 days in arrears, would be my choice:

"$1,384

OWED TO: Bend-La Pine School District

WHAT FOR: Bill spoke March 20 to about 2,500 people in the Bend Senior High School gym, where he joked that he’d offered to wash local Democratic superdelegate Wayne Kinney’s car windows. (Kinney later endorsed Obama.)

WHAT IT WOULD BUY: Gas for 51 school buses from Bend to Mount Bachelor and back."
http://wweek.com/editorial/3430/11055/

lally:

An excellent cause indeed. I would expect nothing less from you. Always a pleasure, sort of. :)

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Ooops. That's my wife. What she said though lally. She signed in to TPM and is prepared to propose my nose as the avatar. I have no additional comment.

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Thanks abster, I think.

;>}

and Bruce, did the abster give you leave to out her as your wife? I'm sure that you are relieved that she didn't provide a pic of your nose altho Bev would never....er...pick it.

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Er, Ceci n’est pas Henry Fonda

It's Tom Joad.

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Hey bug:

Tom Joad is my guy! And you know that he's always going to be there, right?

:)

It's a really good one, man. But what a responsibility.

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He led me.

Here's one of my favorites. I could never live up to it, but I think you can.

http://work.colum.edu/wordpress/briley/files/2007/11/murrow.jpg

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I think you could live up to him actually, but I don't think I have a stable enough demeanor, and I quit smoking. The other problem is that I don't want to be compared with Keith Olbermann, who seeks to compare himself without any rational basis to the great Mr. Murrow.