Thanks Oppo!

"Michael Ballaban" (ballaban) 02/23/2014 at 21:23 • Filed to: Appreciation

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Hey Oppo! I just want to say thanks for being such a great crowd over the past year. I didn't even start as an author here, just commenting on random stuff. Then I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! my own !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , yadda yadda yadda, and tomorrow begins my first day working for Jalopnik full-time.

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I'll still be your weekend dude for the foreseeable future, along with posting on most weekdays, so you're not rid of me just yet. Thanks also for putting up with all my typos, my not-at-all interesting asides, and my constantly conflicting opinions.

You guys are great.

Brian Silvestro > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:24

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McMike > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:25

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Congrats, Michael.

Now that you mention it....... you did just kinda come out of nowhere... .

Michael Ballaban > McMike 02/23/2014 at 21:25

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I may or may not actually exist. Just saying.

Blondude > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:28

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MtrRider > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:28

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Congratulations, Michael. I don't know how you crank out so much stuff on the weekends, but it's appreciated.

Good luck, and hopefully you start getting some cars to test. Like the new P1.

daender > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:29

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Keep it up!

Tim (Fractal Footwork) > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:29

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getchapopcorn > Brian Silvestro 02/23/2014 at 21:29

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These. I know these feels. These feels are warm and fuzzy. Top three types of feels probably. Enough about the feels.

Aaron Brown > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:29

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Congratulations!

getchapopcorn > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:30

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Brian Silvestro > getchapopcorn 02/23/2014 at 21:30

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I got a feeling you like this gif.

$kaycog > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:32

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Full time! That's awesome, Michael!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:32

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congratz dude! How do you get to be able to post articles on OPPO?

YoungPadwan > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:42

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Congrats. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely, YoungPadwan

DasWauto > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2014 at 21:43

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Just made you an author, you should be able to post now.

fhrblig > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:44

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Congratulations!

Michael Ballaban > Tim (Fractal Footwork) 02/23/2014 at 21:46

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Yep that's pretty much the only thing you need to know in GMG's official guidelines.

getchapopcorn > Brian Silvestro 02/23/2014 at 21:47

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Michael Ballaban > MtrRider 02/23/2014 at 21:47

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Thanks!

In September I got a CTS-V wagon, and just last week I had a Jaguar XJL (you should be seeing something on that shortly). I'm supposed to be doing a first drive of an Audi pretty soon, really looking forward to that.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:47

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Awesome. Well deserved.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:48

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Michael Ballaban > DasWauto 02/23/2014 at 21:48

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Ironically, I'm still not an admin on Oppo. When people ask me if I can make them an author, I sort of just have to go "ask someone else, I guess?" Can't have it all.

Brian Silvestro > getchapopcorn 02/23/2014 at 21:49

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MtrRider > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 21:55

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Awesome! Inspirational!

Don't be afraid to do burnouts either. Remember, multi-billion dollar corporations are paying for those tires, so smoke them good!

Tom McParland > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 22:07

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Congrats Mike! Looks like all that mommy-blogging paid off. :D

Blake Noble > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 22:12

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Congrats!

You know what this means, everyone?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 22:12

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Congrats Michael ballaban your the man I hope I can receive author privileges one day and follow in your footsteps

Michael Ballaban > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 02/23/2014 at 22:17

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If only I could grant them, but unfortunately, I cannot. Ask around, somebody will get to you I'm sure!

f86sabre > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 22:17

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Congrats and good luck! It looks like a good crew to work with. Also, thanks for giving some of us Opponauts a chance on the FP. It is appreciated.

Michael Ballaban > f86sabre 02/23/2014 at 22:17

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My pleasure. A lot of the stuff I see on here really is top-notch.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 22:19

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Congrats sir Blablablah!

pdthedeuce > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 22:51

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congrats , man ... does this mean you'll have more or less time for GTA tennis ?

Michael Ballaban > pdthedeuce 02/23/2014 at 23:02

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More, probably, weirdly enough. I'm going from working seven days a week to only five.

Though I must confess, I've moved on to a lot of DiRT 3 and Assassin's Creed 4. I should get back into GTA.

pdthedeuce > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 23:10

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DasWauto > Michael Ballaban 02/23/2014 at 23:15

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Hah, do you want to be? I could ask to have you added. It just means you have to deal with drama and add people as authors. In exchange you could get Matt to pay me for the Best of Oppo... :P

If people continue to ask though, just tell them to google how to post on Oppo. They'll find this post , where I'll add them if they ask. I get several requests there every week.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DasWauto > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 02/23/2014 at 23:17

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I got you. You should be able to post on Oppo now if you want.

EL_ULY > Michael Ballaban 02/24/2014 at 00:43

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Dude, your brain juices kickass, may they keep flowing!

911e46z06 > Michael Ballaban 02/24/2014 at 01:33

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Mazeltov duder. Just remember. We made you. We can destroy you.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > DasWauto 02/24/2014 at 07:31

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Thank you may you live a long life

Agrajag > Michael Ballaban 02/24/2014 at 08:33

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That's awesome. Congratulations.

Michael Ballaban > DasWauto 02/24/2014 at 10:06

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Once I figure out how to get paid for all the GOLD, GOLD I TELL YA, I've been churning out, I'll let you know. So far all I get is the leftover fish heads from Collins.

Michael Ballaban > 911e46z06 02/24/2014 at 10:07

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This post was more of a plea than an expression of gratitude. I thought I'd masked it pretty well.

911e46z06 > Michael Ballaban 02/24/2014 at 10:12

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This is the internets, man. We can smell your weakness.

Just keep crankin' out the posts about how awesome we are, and you should be fine.

chromecarz00 > DasWauto 02/24/2014 at 11:54

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Let me post! PLEAEEASE :)

DasWauto > chromecarz00 02/24/2014 at 12:56

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Added.

chromecarz00 > DasWauto 02/24/2014 at 13:14

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Have this gratuitous Peugout as a token of my appreciation.

Money Hustard > Michael Ballaban 03/05/2014 at 17:13

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I'm really happy this happened. I didn't know you worked your way up from an Opponaut. I've asked myself more than once why you were only working on the weekends, because your reporting and rehashing of stuff is pretty damn good.

Michael Ballaban > Money Hustard 03/05/2014 at 17:59

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Thanks! I worked weekends for a variety of reasons. One of which was I had to quit the day job, first.