Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Not since Micheal Moore have I seen such a self absorbed, preachy and cocky documentary film maker as the director of this film; one Rob Stewart. That said, the film itself is hauntingly beautiful. I found myself wondering if I, seeing the things he did both below and above the surface, might not cry myself to sleep at both the horror and beauty of this place we call home? He started out making an underwater documentary on sharks in general, yet becomes involved with the Sea Shepard's Paul Watson and his fight against both long line 'harvesting' of the sea and the 'finning' of sharks. If we can believe what this film tells us, we are a dangerous species, and the East's craving for posh soups/cartilage tablets will surely endanger a premier predator that's been swimming around for 400 million years. Watch Sharkwater. You might be convinced by the arguments for the cause too. If not, it's still an educational trip, with a stark warning not to tamper with the natural order of Mother Nature. We're some scary hairless apes folks.
On another note:
Don Cherry is really starting to piss me off. Why does 'Coach's Corner' devote a full minute to pics of the moron back in the seventies, where he discusses the suits he had then? Aren't teams battling it out for the Cup right now? I mean really - go away, you crazy fuck - you did jack all apart from winning one coach of the year award while ya hod Orr!
New York Rangers forward Sean Avery has been hospitalized after suffering a lacerated spleen during a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In a statement Wednesday, the team said the noted agitator was taken to St. Vincent's hospital after New York's 5-3 loss Tuesday night and was admitted following a CT scan.
Avery will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Rangers said in a statement, but is expected to make a full recovery.
After the shit this punk has pulled, primarily on M. Brodeur, G. Laroque et all - last nights injury just seem so appropriate.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Vancouver’s Stanley Cup Jersey
The Vancouver Millionaires won the Stanley Cup in 1915, but there are few tangible keepsakes to remember them by—until now. From John Mackie at the Vancouver Sun:
No Millionaires sweaters from 1915 are known to have survived. Cyclone’s mannequin is actually wearing an old Ottawa Senators sweater—the team the Millionaires beat to win the Stanley Cup.
This has bothered local hard-rock singer Thor for years. Thor is such a hard-core Millionaires fan, he copyrighted the name a few years ago and has been reproducing Millionaires merchandise.
Now he has produced a replica of the 1915 Millionaires sweater, which he will present to the BC Sports Hall of Fame May 1, so that the Cyclone can be shown in the proper duds.
When he says a replica, he means it. The sweater is made from wool, just like in the old days, and has the 1915 “V” logo, which Thor’s wife Kathryn painstakingly studied and reproduced from old photos.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sports fans in Dundee have been celebrating after their local side took home the Scottish Ice Hockey Cup.
Part-time team Dundee Stars made it to the final of the competition where they played Solway Stars from Dumfries.
The final was held at the Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy and was attended by hundreds of ice hockey fans who travelled from both towns.
Dundee were the favourites and eventually took the title after beating their opponents 7 - 4.
The winning team included a motorcycle mechanic, electrician, salesman and even a caravan site owner.
Each side is allowed to have up to 22 players but only six are allowed on the ice at a time.
Both clubs had been expecting a higher attendance at the game.
They put the poor showing down to the fuel strike.
Despite the low attendance, officials have insisted that the sport is increasing in popularity.
Charlie Ward, of the Scottish Ice Hockey League, told the BBC Scotland news website: "We had a lean spell in Scotland in particular after the demise of the British National League three seasons ago but this season the crowds are starting to come back again.
"Clearly they are seeing that we're trying to improve the sport in this area."
Among the travelling supporters was 80-year-old Beatrice Robinson from Dundee.
She goes to every game the team play and has been supporting them from almost 10 years.
Mrs Robinson said: "You get hooked on it so you've got to support the club.
"It gets your adrenaline going."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I know this is wrong, but:
OK - I've recently been emailed this, and have pondered posting it in the past. Now, I know the Nazis are bad, and I'm aware Hitler was the super villain of recent memory, and the Richter oven joke is clearly in bad taste; but man oh man - some clever scripting here. Let the razzing begin...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
VANCOUVER - Player agent Mike Gillis is expected to be announced Wednesday as the new general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.
Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini would neither confirm nor deny the hiring.
"I don't have any comment," Aquilini said late this afternoon.
Gillis, 49, is a former NHL player with the Boston Bruins and former Colorado Rockies. He has never worked in management but has represented players since 1991.
His first client was former Canuck Geoff Courtnall and he currently represents Canuck captain Markus Naslund. He also represented Pavel Bure.
"I think he'd be phenomenal," Courtnall said today. "He's a really smart guy."
Gillis is a native of Sudbury, Ont., He has two children and moved to Vancouver last summer to accommodate his daughter's field hockey career.
Aquilini fired Dave Nonis on April 14 after the Canucks missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. Former Dallas Stars GM Doug Armstrong and ex-player agent Brian Lawton were also in the running.
Related links:
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Well, well - what a day it's been already. Dentist in the am for a 'night guard.' Apparently I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep. Since the accident, they feel smaller; so perhaps I'm reliving my shattered leg fiasco in my sleep. Or perhaps I'm dreaming of beer can chicken. Who the hell know? Then off to the butcher for dindins tonight and yummy bacon for Sun's brunch with the family. Mmmm - DRo waffles rock! Then off to Art Knapps for some seeds and a lovely Bay Leaf bush. I first saw one at a friends Mom's place and fell in love with the idea of owning one. Dried Bay leafs for everyone's Xmas pressie - be warned! Then the real excitement. There was a heavy fuzz presence on the bridge today. Tuned into the 'Not so Mighty NL' to find out there was a body in the Thompson River. Drove by, morbid and bored as I am. Saw the floater some 60 ft. away in the water. At least I think it was a body....an interesting day to say the least.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
I AM LEGEND alternate ending
Well, well well. Finally got to watch I am Legend last night and absolutely loved it until the final five minutes. SPOILER ALERT - the link above is how the film was originally slated to end. There's a lot of info regarding the networks decision to go with the crappy ending out there on the interweb. Surf away kids. This was a really fun film, recommend it highly. If you can get it with the alternate ending, even better.
It appears the Vancouver Canucks are the winners of the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes.
No fewer than 20 NHL teams expressed interest in the 23-year-old Swedish winger, who went undrafted and played the past season in the Swedish Elite League with Farjestad.
As reported on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, Brunnstrom had a short list of five or six and further reduced that to one: the Canucks, whose general manager, Dave Nonis, did a good job of selling the youngster on the team and the city.
Now the Canucks have to finalize contract details with agent J.P. Barry over the next week.
Among the finalists for his services were the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks. The opportunity to be a top-six forward in Vancouver and potentially play with the Sedin twins is believed to have help with his decision.
Brunnstrom is a speedy and skilled winger, who is now 23, and a classic late bloomer.
Note: I was going to blog about the RCMP constable who, posing in red serge, hit up a bunch of websites trolling for a trans gendered Thai 'Lady-Boy.' While on duty of course. It just seems these guys are taking media hit after hit. What will the brass do to bring the respect back to this once proud organization?
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wow - the Habs were barely tested by the Bruins club that was bragging about how hard they were going to come out hitting tonight. This was a super match to watch, and I'm hoping the boys in red go far. Tomorrow night will bring the Pens again and the debut of Ovetchkin to the dance. I usually ignore hockey after the Nucks shit the bed, but this year I'm watching as much as I can - and coming to the conclusion that Vancouver looked really, really bad down the stretch. Malkin would be worth 7 mil. if you could pry him out of Penguin town though....
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Masters Theme - Augusta - Dave Loggins
I spent the day watching golf, because as you all know, I have fuck all else to do. The course was looking great, and there are a load of the up and coming young studs atop the leader board. That said, every time they went to the scoreboard/commercial - they play this song. And it makes me nuts! Televised golf does itself few favors in general, but this relate of Kenny Loggins truly shows why the game's PR needs an overhaul. It's known as an old mans game, and music that puts you to sleep on the couch (or makes you a raving lunatic), isn't doing much to quell that stereotype. You'll all be happy to know however, that everyone in the top twenty actually resembles and athlete! These guys are getting bigger and stronger, even Phil (Man Tits) Mickelson. He's slimmed down in the off season and built up some major arms. But he will forever be Man Tits to me. When he walked by us at the Presidents Cup, them babies were jiggling...
Not quite sure what to make of my latest film viewing. 'The Mist' had a poor start, with some questionable adaptation from novella to script. It was, well - hokey I suppose. Once they got into the supermarket, I really liked it. It ended in different fashion than did the story I'm told, and had an ending that really wasn't very satisfying. There was a 'Reindeer Game' scream at on point, that was absolutely fucking hilarious. I'm unaware of how much King was involved with the production, but I do know that the director was also involved with 'Shawshank' and the 'The Green Mile' - two far superior films. It jumps between horror/suspense and a human morality play, which was an interesting take, and some of the effects in this film are stunning. The best performance was by far Marcia Gay Harden's. She really made you hate her, which is never a bad thing for an actor. She played her role to a tee. I was unusually disappointed with André Braugher, which upset me some. All in all - it's worth watching, but I'm looking forward to tracking down a copy of Skeleton Crew and reading it for real.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Seeing Alex the other night had me thinking about the digitized versions of the B/W film I shot while he graciously played my host and showed me about France and the Netherlands. I found em and finally got them added to my IPhoto library, which really has me thinking I ought back the music/film on this machine up. If it ever crashes, I'm positively hooped! Thought I'd post this one for posterity. What a couple of studly lads!
If there is anything that this horrible tragedy can teach us, it's that a male model's life is a precious, precious commodity. Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.
There was a moment last night, when she was sandwiched between the two Finnish dwarves and the Maori tribesmen, where I thought, "Wow, I could really spend the rest of my life with this woman".
Really, with quotes like theses - how could I not have seen this movie before. Laugh out loud funny - I accept my mistake here kids. I was incorrect in dissing this show before actually watching it.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Well, I liked this one - very interesting film that follows a number of characters on the day Kennedy is killed. It flies back and forth between the different folk in a very funky way, and the cast is absolutely killer. Worth a view in my humble opinion. Tonight is apparently Zoolander night...to be followed tomorrow by 'I am Legend' and maybe 'The Mist'. More rants to surely follow. Oh yes, The Master's are ahead of us this weekend. Expect a few man-tits jokes as well...
Monday, April 07, 2008
You may own the night, but you only made me sleepy. Wow, is this some kind of crap. You know the kind I'm talking about? Dog crap. Perhaps it's runny, perhaps it's been in the sun way too long, perhaps it's crawling with flies. Perhaps you stood in it. I know that's how I felt for 110 minutes - like I'd stood in it. That's the kind of crap this movie is. I want my money back, or to at least be able to throw the disk at anyone involved in this pile. Overacted to the extent of hilarity. Choppy, obvious, and apparently given up on by all those involved. That said, Geo - I think you'll like it. If I hate it this much - it's gotta be your kind of flick!
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Rough night. Thanks for everything Trev., I must note that Jarome Igininla waiting at center ice to lead his team in shaking the hand of one of the finest Canucks ever was a moving moment. Perhaps the classiest moment I've seen in almost 30 years of watching this fine game. Captain Canuck, aka Linden, seemingly handled the moment well, though I'll admit to adding a bit of volume to my pail...Here's how a real writer summed it all up:
With the Canucks season already over after Thursday’s lack of finish on a plethora of scoring chances in a 2-1 loss to the Oilers, there’s definitely not a lot to look forward to in tonight’s season ending game against the Flames.
If the Canucks had won that game instead of making Dwayne Roloson look all-world, game #82 would have been another classic in the rivalry with a playoff position on the line for both teams. Instead, the annual Fan Appreciation night will be nothing but a formality to close out one of the most disappointing seasons in the Canuck’s oh-so-disappointing history.
All that’s really on the line in tonight’s game is playoff and draft seeding. The Flames can finish as high as 6th ensuring a first round match up with Minnesota while the Canucks could finish as low as 20th overall which, if they were to somehow win the Draft Lottery, would give them the 7th overall pick in this year’s extremely deep draft.
Really, the only thing to look forward to is that tonight’s game will more than likely be the last for two of this city’s sporting icons in Trevor Linden and Marcus Naslund. A cynic would say that is definitely something to look forward to as it has been too long as it is, but regardless of how you feel about this team, if you are truly a Vancouver Canuck hockey fan you have to feel at least a little bit of remorse in seeing the end of an era right before your eyes.
Linden and Naslund have served as Captains of this team for a combined 15 years which is 40% of the time that this team has been in this league. They are #1 and #2 in all time team scoring and have given fans in this city many memories while being nothing but upstanding citizens of the community.
Linden will be dressing in his team record 1140th game as Canuck and will be trying to add to his 733 points wearing the Canuck jersey. The most revered Captain in team history is closing out his 20th season in the league and his 2 goal performance against Calgary last Sunday left him in the top 100 scorers in league history. His team goals and points records were surpassed this year by Naslund, but #16 will retire with the most assists as his own at 415 and counting.
Linden has always come through when his team needed him most and this season has been no different as his 5 goals in the Shootout, will attest. He led the team in playoff scoring last year with limited minutes and has scored more points in Game 7’s than almost every player who has ever played the game. In ’94 he scored two goals in game 7 against the Rangers and recorded 25 points in 24 games in that historical post-season run.
Linden has always been the consummate professional and this season has perhaps been his most trying after being a healthy scratch for 23 games, but he has never wavered from his team-first attitude. Even going into tonight’s game which is almost certain be his last ever, he will not allow himself to be put before the rest of his team by letting everyone know that he will be retiring. He apparently has made the decision, but does not want to tonight to be about him and him only.
Naslund, the longest serving Captain in team history, holds the records for most goals and points at 346 and 756 respectively. The last two years, as disappointing as they may have been, added to his goal scoring records with 9 consecutive 20-goal seasons and 11 hat-tricks as a Canuck (tied with Toni Tanti). Leading the team in scoring for 7 straight years and being the team’s MVP 5 times are also both team records. He is the only Canuck to win the Pearson Award as the Leagues best player (voted by the players) in 2003 when he also came second in balloting for the Hart Trophy as the League’s MVP.
Naslund was the cornerstone of this Franchise for many years and was an integral part of allowing us to witness some of the most exciting hockey we have ever seen. Along with Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi he formed the “West Coast Express” line which was arguably the very best trio in the league for a couple of seasons. When Naslund was at his peak there were very few better offensively, and other than Pavel Bure, there’s no one else in the team’s history that we can say that about.
Like Linden, Naslund will also not comment publicly as to what his future may hold and whether he even wants to come back and play here. The simple fact that there have been no talks to date would seem to mean that the team will be looking to go in a new direction. That does not mean that he can’t come back next year, but the likelihood of re-signing him, even at a discounted rate, does not look very promising.
Honourable mention should also be given to Morrison in this piece as, even though he won’t be suiting up in tonight’s game; it too could also be his last as a Vancouver Canuck. My gut tells me the home-town boy will be back next year to try and resurrect his career that has been devastated by serious injuries the last 3 years, but regardless, he is part of team that we will never see again.
So Canuck fans, in this deepest hour of despair that we currently find ourselves in after missing the playoffs for the second time in the last three years, tonight we can honour the passing of an era and two of the most celebrated players in the team’s history. I for one, am looking forward to it and am sure there will be a few tears in my eyes as I salute these two great players at GM Place tonight.
Thanks for the memories Trevor and Markus!
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I'm currently listening to it all, and loving it all over again..
March 31, 2008
Vancouver, British Columbia
GM Place
Atlantic City Tour Premiere
Radio Nowhere
No Surrender
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Trapped
Reason To Believe
Because The Night
She's The One
Livin' In The Future
The Promised Land
Waitin' On A Sunny Day
None But The Brave Tour Premiere
The River
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk
Badlands
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Rosalita
Born To Run
Dancing In The Dark
American Land
Thursday, April 03, 2008
If ever there was something known as 'crunch time' this is it. Luongo has been technically off a bit the last 6-8 games, but I have a hunch to share with you all. I expect to get get flamed before the game even begins, but could care less! That said, here it is: Luongo will shut out the Edmonton Oilers tonight. Not a goal allowed. He's a fierce competitor, and I suspect he'll take the team on his shoulders tonight to give them a chance...I can only hope so anyway. Good luck lads, and here's hoping the Oilers (mathematically eliminated last evening) went out and good and pissed up...
Evidence in a multi-million dollar trial into a nationwide car theft ring may have been tampered with during a computer security breach, RCMP in Kamloops, B.C., admitted Wednesday.
RCMP had isolated six computers which were dedicated to processing evidence in the case against four Kamloops men who have been charged in connection with the ring, an RCMP spokesperson told CBC News.
An RCMP officer connected the computers to the internet and then used them to download software programs, videos and music files. The officer also accessed chat lines and a dating service.
Subsequently, the computers were infected with at least four viruses over a 20-month period, the RCMP spokesperson said.
One of the viruses caused one of the computers to become part of a Zombie Network, an intrusive web-based proxy network, and sent out thousands of spam messages to other computers.
The viruses also opened a "backdoor" allowing the computer to be controlled by an outside person, including giving them the ability to view, copy, delete or alter any file on the infected machine.
RCMP computer specialists said it's unlikely the files containing evidence in the auto theft ring investigation were altered, but there's no guarantee the evidence was not compromised, the RCMP spokesperson said.
It's not known if the RCMP officer who connected the computers to the internet has faced any disciplinary action.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Not good - I knew when Nashville came back from a 3-0 drilling to defeat the Blues, that the stars were not aligned for the Nucks tonight! They too, took a two nil lead, and promptly shit the bed, allowing the Avalanche to come back and win the game. They also managed to lose another player to injury it appears. They had not so stellar goal tending, the D looks beat down to China Town, and I suspect the chins are hanging a bit low in the dressing room. I won't rule anything out, but limping into the playoffs (not likely) isn't like coming in on a streak.....assuming they don't make it - the fallout is going to be an interesting trainwreck to watch.
Don't Stand So Close to Me
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Bell-bottom Blues
The Thin Red Line (LOL)
Sting and Co., Queen Elton, God Eric, and sweet sweet Glass Tiger - stand aside!
There's a new concert to supersede all. I've seen a few, and they all mean something different to me. I suspected that that the Police would never be surpassed musically to me individually, but they were last night. For years and years, I've heard that Springsteen gigs are truly different. Heart pounding rock and roll. Having been there for the 2 hrs 40 min gig last night proved those stories to be undeniably true. He was, to understate things, the most compelling entertainer I've had the privilege of seeing. The way he and the E Street band captivated myself and the legions of fans was a sight to behold. The sound was the best I've heard in GM Place, and apart from a few bits of nonsense regarding seating and access to said seats, this twas an awful lot of fun. I'll see Springsteen anytime I ever get the opportunity again. I'm no concert reviewer, and am far to tired to attempt articulation. I'll only say that this was the most fantastic show I've ever seen, I enjoyed it (as well as the company of my pals) muchly, and highly recommend that if you're give the opportunity - you go! You will not forget it anytime soon. Thanks for getting the tix, and muchos gracious for the accommodations Doc. Appreciated once again, and as usual! Here's a review with some footage. Go pasting and linking kids!
http://www.straight.com/article-139139/bruce-springsteen-rocks-vancouver-with-born-usa-obscure-outtake
For the Doc:
Taxi passengers have the right to:
* Be picked up and transported to their stated destination by any available on duty taxi driver
* Pay the posted rate by cash, or accepted credit card or TaxiSaver voucher
* A courteous driver who provides assistance, if requested
* Travel with an assistance dog or portable mobility aid
* A taxi that is clean, smoke free and in good repair
* Direct the route, or expect the most economical route
* A quiet atmosphere, upon request
* A detailed receipt, when requested
Taxi drivers must obey all laws and have the right to refuse to transport a passenger:
* To avoid contravening a law or condition of licence
* To protect the driver’s, or any passenger’s, health or safety
* If the passenger is acting in an offensive manner
* If the passenger refuses to provide a deposit, if requested