The Orion Blog
April 12th, 2008
Backpacking
By on April 12th, 2008
So, I’m heading up to Lassen this morning for a class backpacking class trip. I’ve done a lot of hiking but never with a 30 pound sack attached to my back or with snowshoes. It should be interesting especially since I’m not a big fan of the cold and we’re hiking in snow.
I would recommend this class to anyone looking for a little adventure and a couple extra units. I took it because it’s a little out of my realm and I thought it would be good to learn some outdoor survival skills. Not really sure why, but you never know when they’ll come in handy.
Although its going to be beautiful and fun (hopefully) it is quite a bit of work to collect the gear; snowshoes, backpack, sleeping bag, food, 5 layers of clothes and several other goodies—and that’s just for one night.
But the friend I’m going on the trip with is taking the class for the second time, so that must be a good sign.
I hope all goes well and I can report back with a fun and fresh experience!
March 29th, 2008
NBA season really exciting this year
By on March 29th, 2008
I am a big time NBA fan and the western conference is looking very exciting this year, since it is so tight with so many great teams all having a winning record. I think the playoffs will be very competitive and each series will go the distance. I became a big Golden State fan after they beat Dallas last year and hope they can do the same this year and even go further, which I believe is very possibly if they play New Orleans the first round since they do not even really have playoff experience and the warriors match up well against them I think. If the Rockets made number one I also think the warriors could handle them, the problem would be Utah, Lakers or San Antonio in my opinion as they have a lot of presence inside, and San Antonio has great defense of the three.
I was hoping last year the warriors would stun the NBA and become the first 8th place team to go all the way and am hoping they can fulfill that dream this year, problem is they don’t have Jason Richardson anymore or much of a rebounding presence. They need to have Biedrins down low a lot so he can get those rebounds.
I would also like Denver to make it into the picture replacing Dallas, as they are a fun team to watch with some great players. It is very hard to bet on any western team this season, but one thing I am quite confident in and that is they will have to play Boston. In my opinion Boston will be tougher to beat than any team in the West actually despite the West being so competitive which I find kind of amusing.
March 19th, 2008
The Madness of March
By on March 19th, 2008
It’s here – well almost. Cue the countdown (T minus 10hrs), order the pizza, put the beer in the fridge, and most importantly make your picks people, the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament is here! I hope everyone has signed up online or made your own pick em’ pools (I know I have) for this year’s tournament because the month of March is truly a mad one.
This year’s favorites include the likes of UCLA, Kansas, North Carolina, and Memphis who are also all seeded number one in their conferences. But don’t forget the highly contested and formidable number two seeds like Tennessee, Georgetown, Texas, and Duke, not to mention the perennial dark horses in Louisville, Xavier, and even this year Pittsburgh. Like I said the madness begins before the tournament.
For some this just might be another routine week attending classes…O wait I forgot its spring break, that means there’s no reason not to watch the games. So put aside the project-homework, record the ump-teenth episode of Lost, and practice some couch potato-ing because when else do you get the chance to watch this much extraordinary basketball?
As far as the picks go well that depends solely on you. There is the concept of loading your brain with as much ESPN analysis as possible since their show schedule seems to completely revolve around that lately, or you could just sit yourself down in front of your laptop for a quick statistical comparison of teams online. Of course there’s always the blind-folded point and choose method, just flail your hand up in the air – and pick em’ just like you don’t care.
In the first rounds the Indiana vs. Arkansas looks appetizing not to mention the possibility of George Mason making another Cinderella run into this tournament, although they don’t look as good as they did last year.
Kansas and Georgetown both look sharp in their own conference, but I would like to see Georgetown make it into the final four this year. North Carolina and Tennessee are looking to have quite a showdown if they can both make it to the regional finals. As for Memphis, well not many seem to be in their favor despite only losing one game this entire season. Many yahoo.com basketball analysts have them losing to Pittsburgh in the regional semis.
On my card I have the final four being Georgetown, Memphis, North Carolina, and UCLA. Let’s hope for my sake Memphis wins the whole thing, c’mon baby daddy needs a new pair of shoes!
March 19th, 2008
Nikon vs. Canon Digital Cameras
By on March 19th, 2008
When choosing a digital camera, the options can be completely overwhelming.
Whether you’re a snapshot shooter, or a professional photographer, the way to choose the perfect camera for you depends on your skill level, and the subject of what you want to capture.
For example, if you’re just beginning, and you’re only looking for something to capture those quick moments of little Billy blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, or some action photos of Suzy’s soccer game, then you don’t really need a professional grade camera.
The most appropriate camera for this type of “simple-shot” weekend warrior type of photographer is something like the Canon Powershot series. Canons are known for being some of the most user-friendly cameras on the market, without sacrificing quality.
However, if you intend to make photography a serious hobby or even a profession, a higher-grade camera is more likely to be your style.
The Nikon D series is by far my favorite digital camera line. The D40 is Nikon’s smallest digital SLR ever, and for it’s incredibly small size (just over 16 oz) it packs an incredible punch.
The D40 boasts 6.1 mega pixels and 2.5 frames per second shutter speed response time for action shooting.
Choosing a camera can be like choosing a car. It’s a long, complicated, and expensive process, but in the end, the right decision can save you money on repairs or replacements as well as saving you from paying for features you don’t need.
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