05 October 2008
A Game So Simple You Have To Try It
11/10/2008 03:59
The days are getting shorter and as time on my hands gets longer, I yearn for things to do to pass the time.
Every once in a while, a game comes along, so simple it drives you nuts.
Such is the case with this little gem.
The object of the game is really quite simple.
Click on the ball and it will change colour.
And it will. I know. I actually did it. Twice, before I gave up.
Knock yourselves out folks.
And be sure to have fun, after all, it’s only a game!
Play ball here.
The Things That People Send Me . . .
11/10/2008 03:56
Yabba-Dabba Doozy
11/10/2008 03:51
A bit of Bedrock
rolls into Great Falls
neighborhodTake a ride with the family down the street because it's yabba-dabba-doo time in Prospect Heights.
This past summer, resident Bob Langevin decided to put his creative energies into building a replica of the famed Flintstones rock cruiser to display in his front yard.
It was a labor of love inspired by a recent trip east to visit family, according to the artist.
"I was out visiting my son in St. Cloud, Minn., and saw a vehicle similar to it," Langevin explained. "I took a picture of it and came home and got on the Internet and looked at the 'Flintstones' cartoon and saw the real thing and said, 'Heck, I'll just make one.' "
Langevin had been throwing around ideas to spice up his landscaping for awhile.
Full story here.
SINC SAYS:
I watched many an episode of The Flintstones and enjoyed them all. Well, maybe not as much as Gilligan’s Island, but close.
Computers Now Designed For The Bathroom
11/10/2008 03:47
You don't suppose
this guy was an Apple fan by any chance, do
you?
The Musings Of Maxine And Marvin . . .
11/10/2008 03:43
Losing a wife can be hard.
In my case, it was almost impossible.
------------------
I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months.
I don't like to interrupt her.
Way Back When . . .
11/10/2008 03:38
Who could forget
Alfred E. Neuman or the very first real
gaming set, the
Atari?
Want Next President to Disclose 'Truth' About UFOs
11/10/2008 03:30
We don't need to tell
you that the next president of the United
States is going to have a lot to
do.
He has to fix the
economy, the environment and Wall Street.
And he's going to have to explain the whole UFO thing to the U.S. public, if the Paradigm Research Group has its way.
The group, which says it is dedicated to ending the "government imposed Truth Embargo regarding an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race," is launching a pressure campaign it hopes will force the government to fess up. Its Million Fax on Washington campaign is just that: an initiative to bury the next president in faxes and mail, all of it demanding that the U.S. government reveal the truth about its alleged knowledge of UFO activity.
In an interview with Wired.com, Paradigm founder Stephen Bassett says that President Carter, who reported seeing a UFO in 1969, signed off on two studies after taking office but that they were kept under wraps for national security reasons. Bassett says reports of extraterrestrial sighting have been on the upswing since the end of the Cold War, creating pressure on the government to "disclose."
"Witnesses are coming forward," Bassett says, "and 50 percent of the U.S. public believes that this is real."
Adding to the pressure is recent moves by other nations.
Full details here.
SINC SAYS:
You see, I told you they were out there. They are, aren’t they? And the president knows too.
And he's going to have to explain the whole UFO thing to the U.S. public, if the Paradigm Research Group has its way.
The group, which says it is dedicated to ending the "government imposed Truth Embargo regarding an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race," is launching a pressure campaign it hopes will force the government to fess up. Its Million Fax on Washington campaign is just that: an initiative to bury the next president in faxes and mail, all of it demanding that the U.S. government reveal the truth about its alleged knowledge of UFO activity.
In an interview with Wired.com, Paradigm founder Stephen Bassett says that President Carter, who reported seeing a UFO in 1969, signed off on two studies after taking office but that they were kept under wraps for national security reasons. Bassett says reports of extraterrestrial sighting have been on the upswing since the end of the Cold War, creating pressure on the government to "disclose."
"Witnesses are coming forward," Bassett says, "and 50 percent of the U.S. public believes that this is real."
Adding to the pressure is recent moves by other nations.
Full details here.
SINC SAYS:
You see, I told you they were out there. They are, aren’t they? And the president knows too.
Magic Johnson Outraged At Suggestion He Faked AIDS
11/10/2008 03:27
MINNEAPOLIS - A Minneapolis radio station said Friday it would air public service announcements on HIV/AIDS after a pair of talk hosts accused Magic Johnson of faking AIDS.
KTLK's Chris Baker and Langdon Perry made the remarks during Baker's conservative talk show on Wednesday. After Johnson condemned the statements, the station said Friday it regretted "some off-hand remarks" by the pair.
According to a partial transcript and audio clip posted on a media watchdog site, mediamatters.org, the remarks came after a caller asserted that health care isn't a basic right.
Perry responded by asking about treatable diseases that a person can live with for a long time "if you just get some basic drugs."
Baker responded, "Like Magic Johnson?"
Perry replied, "Like Magic with his faked AIDS. Magic faked AIDS."
Baker said, "You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?"
Perry replied, "I'm convinced that Magic faked AIDS."
"Me too," Baker said.
Johnson issued a statement Thursday saying he was "outraged that Chris Baker and Langdon Perry would minimize such a serious and deadly issue."
"Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS, and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable," Johnson said. "Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies."
Johnson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and then retired from the NBA at 32.
KTLK's statement said it recognized the seriousness of AIDS and the "great work" Johnson has done to call attention to the disease.
"We regret that some off-hand remarks by commentators on KTLK did not reflect that," the statement said. "To better inform our listeners and employees, KTLK will be airing HIV/AIDS awareness public service announcements, and will be reaching out to Mr. Johnson to get his thoughts on education efforts."
A spokeswoman for Magic Johnson Enterprises didn't immediately return a call for comment on Friday.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
But really, what next from these talk show hosts, folks? I hope they’re both fired for their outrageous actions. If not, they should be.
Lawyers For O. J. Seek New Trial
11/10/2008 03:26
LAS VEGAS - Lawyers for O.J. Simpson are citing judicial errors and insufficient evidence as they seek a new trial.
They filed documents Friday in Las Vegas with Judge Jackie Glass.
She oversaw the trial at which the former football star was convicted of robbing two memorabilia dealers at gunpoint.
If she doesn't grant a new trial, Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter says he will appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.
Lawyers for co-defendant Clarence (C.J.) Stewart also plan to seek a new trial.
They argue that Stewart should have been tried separately from Simpson.
Simpson and Stewart were convicted this month and face up to life in prison when they are sentenced in December.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Why was this totally predictable? This guy O. J., and his blatant disregard for the U. S. judicial system and disrespect for anything or anyone else, is really getting to bother me.
Simple Plan Records ‘Special’ Hockey Theme For TSN
11/10/2008 03:25
Montreal's Simple Plan is the first in a series of Canadian artists who will re-record special renditions of the iconic The Hockey Theme.
Simple Plan record their rendition Friday in Montreal, and the Juno Award-winning band's unique punk-pop version of the theme will debut during the Boston @ Montreal NHL game on TSN and RDS on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Simple Plan turned heads with a jaw-dropping version of the song at this year's MuchMusic Video Awards. The song was used to introduce MMVA presenter and hockey superstar Jason Spezza. Simple Plan's rock version of The Hockey Theme will be used in TSN and RDS broadcasts during intermissions at various points throughout the NHL season.
"This is a very cool and a huge honour for a bunch of die-hard hockey fans," said Chuck Comeau, Simple Plan drummer. "This song was a huge part of our childhood and we are all stoked to have the chance to put our own 'Simple Plan' twist on it and to record it for the millions of hockey fans tuning into TSN and RDS."
TSN and RDS will use a classic version of The Hockey Theme to introduce their slate of NHL games, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 14. RDS will debut the theme tonight to open their broadcast schedule of Montreal Canadiens games.
TSN will broadcast 81 NHL games this season - plus playoff games with 71 games featuring at least one Canadian team. RDS is the official broadcaster for the Montreal Canadiens and will broadcast their full schedule of 82 games.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I don’t know about you, folks, but I’m getting just a little bit sick and tired of this dueling ‘hockey anthems’ nonsense. But, I guess an NHL hockey telecast these days has to be a ‘total entertainment experience,' right? Whatever happened to just playing the darn games?
Castroneves Granted Right To Race In Australia
11/10/2008 03:25
MIAMI - A Miami judge has agreed to modify bail conditions on tax charges so Helio Castroneves can race later this month in Australia.
The Brazilian race car driver and 2007 "Dancing With The Stars" champ had been barred from leaving the United States. A judge granted Castroneves' request Friday to travel to Brisbane, Australia so he can drive in the Oct. 26 race.
Prosecutors may still appeal that order.
Castroneves was indicted last week on federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges and is free on $10 million bail. Prosecutors say Castroneves used offshore accounts to hide millions of dollars in income from the Internal Revenue Service.
Castroneves insists he is innocent and that he relied on advice from tax experts for his financial dealings.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Over the years, I’ve learned if there’s once agency you don’t even try to fool or joke around with here in Canada, it’s the Canada Revenue Agency. Rightly or wrongly, and I think mostly wrongly, they, single-handedly, have the most power of any agency in this country. I think Helio is finding out the same goes for the IRS in the States and this isn’t going to be one that he’ll be able to ‘dance’ his way out of.
U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Welcomes Class Of 2008
11/10/2008 03:24
DENVER - Brian Leetch glided out to the ice in loafers, not skates.
The former defenseman was wearing a blue suit and matching tie, instead of his familiar Rangers sweater. He's grown quite fond of retirement.
"I'm not looking to play another game," Leetch said with a laugh. "I know that's done."
Leetch was honoured before the Colorado Avalanche's game with the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, along with Mike Richter, Brett Hull and Cammi Granato. The group will be inducted into the 2008 class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday night in Denver.
Hull even took a break from his co-general manager duties with the Dallas Stars to attend the festivities.
"When you get an honour like this thrust upon you, it's pretty special," said Hull, who wrapped up his 20-year career as the league's third all-time leading goal scorer with 741.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Congratulations to Brain Leetch, Mike Richter, Brett Hull and Cammi Granato, the U. S. Hockey Hall Of Fame class of 2008.
A Defining Moment For 55 Plus Games
10/10/2008 04:10
Help me out here
folks, please.
On second thought, help out the misguided souls at the Alberta 55 Plus Games who ran the ad you see to the right with this item. (Click on ad to see larger image.)
Note they list “winter” and “summer” sports.
While I’m sure you all can read, here is what they call “winter” sports:
Euchre, badminton, 5-pin bowling, duplicate bridge, snooker, carpet bowling, cross country skiing, ice curling hockey, scrabble, table shuffleboard and table tennis.
So-called summer sports are listed as:
Athletics, cribbage, contract bridge, cycling, disk golf, floor curling, golf horseshoes, military whist, 8 ball pool, darts, slo-pitch, swimming, tennis, boccee, writing and arts & crafts.
Good Lord who let the inmates out to run the asylum?
From the list above, I submit that the following are neither summer, nor winter “sports”:
Euchre, badminton, 5-pin bowling, duplicate bridge, snooker, carpet bowling, scrabble, table shuffleboard, table tennis, cribbage, contract bridge, floor curling, military whist, 8 ball pool, darts, swimming, writing or arts and crafts.
Lemme see, that makes 18 of 30 sports wrongly labelled as either summer or winter when they are obviously playable year round.
I guess at the end of
the day, it’s all in fun, not only for the
contestants, but for the rather misguided souls
who try and label games that are so obviously
year round activities so as to “slot” them into
unwieldily pigeon holes.
And on top to change the name from what they are, “senior games” to the catchy “55 Plus” designation is pure folly.
Ask any senior who gained “Freedom 55” recently to tell you how their investments are going this past month.
Taxpayers Election Forum Goes Tonight
10/10/2008 04:06
Hi Don;
Could you please arrange to assist us to advertise the upcoming Federal Candidates Forum on your web site?
Friday - October 10th, 2008
8:00 - 10:00 pm
St. Albert Community Hall on Perron Street
Also we now have website for St. Albert residents to visit.
Thank you for your continued support.
Gord Hennigar
SINC SAYS:
Folks, if you don’t like the taxes, get out and join this group. This forum may help put pressure on council to hold the line on more taxation.
Documentary Made On Fort Chipewyan Doctor
10/10/2008 04:02
A doctor’s advocacy
for his patients in the face of increased cases
of rare cancers, and the impacts of oilsands on
their traditional way of life, has caught the
attention of
Hollywood.Dr. John O’Connor’s headline-making push for a baseline health study of the health and environmental impacts on historic Fort Chipewyan and its people is the focus of a new documentary produced by Leslie Iwerks. The former Academy Award nominee was commissioned by Babelgum, a “maverick” online TV network headed by Italian billionaire Silvio Scaglia.
Iwerks told Today she had read a lot about O’Connor on the Internet, but it was a story that appeared this spring in Mother Jones that “really just made me think, ‘Oh, this is a really great guy. I need to meet him.’”
Capturing the story involved a lot of work, said Iwerks.
“We shot in a variety of areas, and interviewed a lot of different people,” she said.
“I think a lot of people in Canada certainly know the oilsands, but I don’t think they really know the oilsands, and I think this is going to raise some eyebrows, create some awareness, and I think Dr. John O’Connor and the Fort Chipewyan story together is a very powerful story, (a) very moving emotional story about what’s happening,” she described, mentioning the tears shed by residents sharing their stories.
More in Fort McMurray Today.
SINC SAYS:
This is one documentary that we all, as Albertans should watch.
RELATED STORY:
Field Narrowed For Oscar's Docu Shorts
Academy lists final eight out of 31 submissions
From THR.com
The assassination of Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez's grape boycott, gay men in China and historian David McCullough are among the subjects of the films vying for Oscar nominations for best documentary short subject.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday released a shortlist of eight titles, culled from 31 submissions. Three to five of them will be named when the nominees are announced Jan. 22.
The films making the cut are:
-- "The Conscience of Nhem En," directed by Steven Okazaki, a study of Cambodia 30 years after the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Okazaki won in the category for 1990's "Days of Waiting."
-- "David McCullough: Painting With Words," by Mark Herzog, an HBO documentary offering a portrait of the historian who wrote "John Adams," the basis for HBO's Emmy-winning miniseries.
-- "Downstream," by Leslie Iwerks, a nominee for 2006's "Recycled Life," that looks at Canada's oil sands industry and its effects on aboriginal natives.
-- "The Final Inch," Irene Taylor Brodsky's account of efforts to eradicate polio.
-- "Smile Pinki," Megan Mylan's portrait of a young girl in India who is treated for a cleft lip.
-- "Tongzhi in Love," a film about gay men in China by Ruby Yang, who was nominated for 2006's "The Blood of Yingzhou District."
-- "Viva la Causa," Bill Brummel and Alonso Filomeno Mayo's study of the grape strike and boycott led by Chavez and Dolores Huerta.
-- "The Witness From the Balcony of Room 306," by Adam Pertofsky, an account of the King assassination as witnessed by Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles.
Nash Ramblers Play LB's Pub Tonight
10/10/2008 03:56
Woman Claims To Be Elvis Presley's Half Sister
10/10/2008 03:54
Says He's
AliveA woman claiming to be Elvis Presley's half-sister says the music icon is indeed alive, and she successfully convinced a Memphis probate judge to reopen the estate of the late Vernon Presley, the King's father.
MyFOXMemphis.com reports Eliza A. Presley, who recently changed her name from Alice Elizabeth Tiffin, says she has DNA evidence to prove her claims — pointing to a envelope licked and mailed to her earlier this year that was allegedly licked by "Jessie Presley," an assumed name used by Elvis Presley.
The envelope implies "the King did not die in 1977," according to the Web site.
Eliza A. Presley claims to have additional DNA evidence to prove she is Elvis Presley's half-sister, but UPI reported Tuesday — a day before the judge made his decision — that Eliza A. Presley's mother denies she had an affair with Vernon Presley.
"There is no Presley connection," Florence Clark told UPI. "I would be rich if there was a Presley connection. Do you think I would walk away from that? Would any girl walk away from that if they had a child by Vernon or Elvis?"
The judge said his ruling was just to reopen the estate and did not confirm Eliza A. Presley's claims.
SINC SAYS:
Uh, yeah, sure, right.
NYC National Debt Clock Runs Out Of Digits
10/10/2008 03:51
From CBC News
NEW YORK - In a sign of the times, the National Debt Clock in New York City has run out of digits to record the growing figure.
As a short-term fix, the digital dollar sign on the billboard-style clock near Times Square has been switched to a figure - the "1" in $10 trillion. It's marking the federal government's current debt at about $10.2 trillion. The Durst Organization says it plans to update the sign next year by adding two digits. That will make it capable of tracking debt up to a quadrillion dollars.
The late Manhattan real estate developer Seymour Durst put the sign up in 1989 to call attention to what was then a $2.7 trillion debt.
SINC SAYS:
Where is the world headed and why am I in this basket?
The Musings Of Maxine And Marvin . . .
10/10/2008 03:46
Never go to bed mad.
Stay up and fight.
-------------------------
The secret of a happy marriage.
It remains a secret.
Stay up and fight.
-------------------------
The secret of a happy marriage.
It remains a secret.
Man Sends $10 To Cover Theft Of Toy In 1940s
10/10/2008 03:43
ABILENE, Kan. -- More
than 50 years after stealing a 35-cent toy from
a small-town store, a man penned an apologetic
letter to the Abilene mayor and enclosed $10 in
hopes of clearing his
conscience.The letter that city officials handed over to the Abilene City Commission this week carried a Colorado postmark and was signed "Bob."
"I have a problem that I need assistance with," the letter began. "In either 1943 or 1944 I traveled thru Abelene, Kansas and went into a 5 & 10 cent store. While there I picked up a 35 cent toy car. I am not proud that I walked out of the store without paying for the toy and I have lived with this for well over 50 years."
The writer said he enclosed two $5 bills to pay for his dishonesty and hoped the money could go to descendants of the store's owners or to a needy family.
"I wish to be forgiven for this action," the writer stated. "It is unlikely that the owners are still the same after all these years, however I would like to pay for my dishonesty. In the event that some of the owners are in the same family of owners I would like for the money to go to them. If not I would like for the $10.00 to go to a needy family that have children who could use a toy."
He wrote that he was not identifying himself to avoid embarrassing any relatives he might have around Abilene.
City Manager Allen Dinkel said it's "a cool story," and donated the money to the Toys for Tots program.
"It makes you feel good about people again. People do have a conscience," Dinkel said.
SINC SAYS:
That little guy that sits on your shoulder called a conscience, does some wonderful things on this old globe.
Oberst Finalist In ‘Hockey Anthem Challenge’
10/10/2008 03:40
Toronto teenager
Robert Fraser-Burke and Colin Oberst of
Beaumont, Alta., were revealed Thursday as the
two finalists in Canada's Hockey Anthem
Challenge.
Canadians can cast their votes at CBCSports.ca/anthemchallenge, by phone and via SMS on their mobile phones until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday.
The winner will be announced Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada (6:30 p.m. ET), when Toronto hosts Montreal and Calgary visits Vancouver.
The contest to find new theme music for Hockey Night in Canada was launched June 19 by CBC Sports after it didn't renew the rights to The Hockey Theme, which were subsequently purchased by CTV Inc.
Burke, the 13-year-old son of a music teacher, is a pianist who sings in a choir and performs in the school band.
Oberst is an elementary school teacher, and performs in an Edmonton-based band.
An expansive judging committee poured over 14,871 contest submissions, trimming the contenders to five semifinalists, including Burke's Sticks to the Ice and Oberst's Canadian Gold.
A nationwide vote then determined the finalists.
Each of the five semifinalists were profiled on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos and later on the Hockey Night In Canada Anthem Challenge special, when their original compositions — produced by Bob Rock, a multiple Juno Award winner — were played in their entirety.
The winner of Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge will receive $100,000 in cash and half of the ongoing royalties, with the other half invested in minor hockey.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Congrats to Beaumont’s Colin Oberst. Let’s make sure we all vote for Colin and his anthem, ‘Canadian Gold.’ It would be nice to see a Capital Region tune win this thing.
Please go hard over the next day and a half to vote for Colin’s song. You can vote by phone, text or online. Be sure to vote for Anthem 1 ‘Canadian Gold’.
Here's the online link.
The winner will be announced this Saturday sometime between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
McGuire Names Olympic Team ‘Locks” And Watch List
10/10/2008 03:40
One of the most interesting sidebar stories throughout the upcoming NHL season, especially in Canada, will be the jostling for position for the 2010 Canadian men's Olympic hockey team.
As part of the build-up to the Games, hockey analyst and former player/coach Pierre McGuire named his Olympic team locks and watch list, players he believes are sure-bets for the Canadian squad, as well as players to watch for throughout the 2008-09 NHL season.
Both lists will be updated throughout the season, including throughout the playoffs and 2009 World Championship.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
For more from TSN hockey analyst Pierre McGuire, click here.
Breaking Down The Top 20 NHL Rookies
10/10/2008 03:39
This year's crop of NHL rookies is strong, ranging from teenage defensemen to twenty-something forwards. For the NHL on TSN preview show this rookies list was trimmed to ten players and, for that reason, didn't have any of the excellent defencemen chosen in the 2008 entry draft.
However, for TSN.ca we've expanded our rookie list to twenty - including five blueliners who are seeking to become the first teen since Jay Bouwmeester in 2002-03 to play a full season.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
For more from TSN’s Darren Dreger, click here.
Pacman Jones Involved In Fight At Dallas Hotel
10/10/2008 03:38
DALLAS - Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones was involved in a fight with one of his bodyguards, according to Dallas police, the night before attending a previously scheduled team meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
No one was arrested and no one will be charged in connection with the fight late Tuesday night at The Joule, an upscale downtown hotel.
Jones missed all of last season for Tennessee while serving an NFL suspension for off-field incidents. Goodell fully reinstated the cornerback, acquired by Dallas in a trade in April, just before the season opener.
"Someone from the business called police," Dallas police spokesman Cpl. Jerry Monreal told The Associated Press. "Police arrived and spoke to the parties after they had a verbal argument. Both parties agreed to leave, and they left."
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
You must be kidding me! Now Pacman Jones tries to beat up his bodyguard, while enroute to a meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his many violations of the NFL code of conduct policy? I’m sorry, but Jones is just another malcontent who never grew up and learned how to behave properly, folks.
Holyfield Offered Fight With WBA Champion Valuev
10/10/2008 03:38
FRANKFURT, Germany - Evander Holyfield has been offered a fight with WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev in December.
Holyfield, a former heavyweight champ who turns 46 later this month, has not fought since losing a unanimous decision to Sultan Ibragimov, then WBO champion, a year ago.
"Yes, we are in negotiations with Evander Holyfield," Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer said Thursday. "We have made him an offer, but nothing has been signed yet."
Should the fight happen, it likely will be staged in either Switzerland or Germany, he said.
The seven-foot, 300-pound Valuev (49-1, 34 KOs) won an unanimous decision over John Ruiz in August to regain the WBA title.
A four-time heavyweight champion, Holyfield would become the oldest fighter to win the crown if the fight goes ahead and he defeats Valuev.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Trust me Evander, stay retired. But will he? Of course not – the money’s too good. And, wow, isn’t that Valuev one tough and ugly looking dude? A face that maybe even a mother couldn’t love.
St. Albert Transit Replies To Incident
09/10/2008 04:48
Dear Mr. Sinclair,
Thank you for providing information with regards to an incident involving a St. Albert Transit bus which reportedly ran through a red light on September 4th, 2008. We appreciate receiving communication from citizens of St. Albert and StAT customers, with all correspondence treated seriously and followed up. The specific incident that you described was indeed followed up at the time and I can only apologize if this information was not relayed back to you.
As Mr. Holtby described in his message dated September 8th, our procedure is to ask Diversified Transportation's Manager for St. Albert to investigate the matter and take any appropriate action to ensure that all buses are operated safely and within the law.
The subsequent investigation for this incident included an interview with the bus driver concerned. The operator involved in the alleged incident stated in counsel that he did not specifically recall the incident occurring. In general terms, he stated that he does indeed make it a habit (as per training) to stop at red lights and does not barge into traffic. Upon further counselling he stated his procedure is to slow, stop and check both directions before proceeding adding that he is a new driver and is not comfortable 'squeezing by' anyone on the road. He has been counselled on the importance of safe driving and the obligation to comply with the laws of the road (including stopping at red lights).
That said, the operator is very new and accordingly will be receiving follow-up training with Diversified's driver trainer (as happens with every new driver). Having received this driving complaint, the trainer will be specifically watching for any indication that the operator is developing a habit of this nature and will take the appropriate corrective action.
Both Diversified Transportation and St. Albert Transit thank you for taking the time to bring these observations to our attention and giving us the opportunity to address them. It is our expectation that all StAT buses are driven safely and within the law.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Sankey
Acting Director of Transit
StAT
SINC SAYS:
Thanks for the detailed reply to a question asked nearly a month ago when I witnessed a bus run a red light. It is good to know that StAT takes these matters seriously. And drivers should know locals observe and remember their behaviour when driving a bus covered in advertisements. They’re hard to miss.
“GRASSROOTS” FEDERAL CANDIDATES FORUM
09/10/2008 04:45
Hi Everyone;
I thought I would give you an update - on what is transpiring;
- Attached is a News Release on a Federal Candidates Forum - this Friday - October 10th - 8:00 pm at the St. Albert Community Hall on Perron.
This Forum is being sponsored by the St. Albert Taxpayers Assoc. - This Forum will be a little different where it will be "grassroots" questions coming from the floor.
In order to pull it all together for a smooth operating evening - We need HELP - if you are interested - Please give Gord a call - 780-458-1691.
- We now have a Website - Thanks to Andy von Busse. The address is www.saintcitytaxpayer.org - If you have any suggestions - Please let me know.
Could you please pass the word to your neighbors and friends - to see if they would be willing to attend the Federal Candidates Forum this Friday.
Many Thanks - as we all strive together for the common goal to keep our taxes as reasonable as possible.
Gord Hennigar
Chairman
SINC SAYS:
Here is the official press release:
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
“GRASSROOTS” FEDERAL CANDIDATES FORUM
The St. Albert Taxpayers Association will be sponsoring a “grassroots” Federal Candidates Forum:
Friday – October 10th, 2008
8:00 pm
St. Albert Community Hall on Perron Street
Here is another opportunity for citizens to hear what their candidates will do if elected:
- Municipal infrastructure
- Economy
- Green shift
- Aging population - downsizing to accommodate Citizens on fixed income
- Decreasing expenditures – without downloading costs on other levels
The St. Albert Taxpayers Association is a new organization in St. Albert representing citizens who are concerned with tax increases; services provided; how tax monies are being spent; etc.
This Candidates Forum will be structured on a predetermined list of the most important issues nationally; where citizens will ask questions from the floor; based on certain agreed topics. Candidates will be given the list of issues days before the forum.
For the candidates it will be challenging from the aspect of not knowing what the questions will be until the citizen asks. There will be no prearranged scripts. This should make the evening very interesting; by keeping all candidates on guard.
We look forward to many surprises and challenges.
If there are further questions; please contact Gord Hennigar – Chairman.
Phone: 780-458-1691 or email: ghennigar@telusplanet.net
Islamic Ewer Valued At £100 Fetches £3m
09/10/2008 04:42
London A rare crystal
jug that was mistakenly valued in January at
£100 sold for more than £3 million at
auction.The ewer, made for the Fatimid rulers of Egypt in the 10th century and carved from one piece of rock crystal, was believed to be a cheap French pitcher when it was first put up for sale in Somerset. It fetched £220,000 but the sale was declared void.
The ewer was sold yesterday to an anonymous bidder at Christie’s in London for £3,177,250, including the buyer’s premium. It is believed that only seven such pieces survive. This was the first to be offered on the open market.
SINC SAYS:
Just look at the skills required to make something like this and to think that it was over 1,000 years ago that it was crafted. It boggles the mind.
One In Three Like Smaller Boobs
09/10/2008 04:38
ONE in three Brit men
find big boobs too much to
handle.Nine per cent of men in the UK find large breasts a turn-off and 22 per cent will barely consider dating anyone above a “D” cup, according to research.
A whopping twenty-seven per cent say they prefer the boyish figure and flat-chest of Keira Knightley to the artificial enhancements of Pamela Anderson.
Bigger-busted women were more popular up north though with Scandinavians all too ready to embrace larger boobs.
An online dating firm surveyed 6,500 single men in 13 countries and found that Norwegians were the biggest fans of larger baps, with just one per cent finding them a turn-off.
Neighbours Sweden were less than picky, with 81 per cent of blokes saying they would be happy to see their cup overflow, and 82 per cent also giving the thumbs-up to flatter chests.
Only 15 per cent of Irish guys said they would never date a woman with big bazookas.
Fill your cup here.
SINC SAYS:
That's better than the North American obsession with bazookas. It’s not the breast size that counts folks, it’s the brain size.
Talk About Culture Shock . . .
09/10/2008 04:34
Nothing quite prepares you for the culture shock of Jay Walker's library. You exit the austere parlor of his New England home and pass through a hallway into the bibliographic equivalent of a Disney ride.
Stuffed with landmark tomes and eye-grabbing historical objects—on the walls, on tables, standing on the floor—the room occupies about 3,600 square feet on three mazelike levels.
Is that a Sputnik? (Yes.) Hey, those books appear to be bound in rubies. (They are.) That edition of Chaucer ... is it a Kelmscott? (Natch.) Gee, that chandelier looks like the one in the James Bond flick Die Another Day. (Because it is.)
No matter where you turn in this ziggurat, another treasure beckons you—a 1665 Bills of Mortality chronicle of London (you can track plague fatalities by week), the instruction manual for the Saturn V rocket (which launched the Apollo 11 capsule to the moon), a framed napkin from 1943 on which Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined his plan to win World War II. In no time, your mind is stretched like hot taffy.
Lots more pictures here.
SINC SAYS:
All I can say is wow! This guy has some collection. Be sure to check it out folks.
The Musings Of Maxine And Marvin . . .
09/10/2008 04:28
My wife and I were happy for twenty years.
Then we met.
-----------
I was married by a judge.
I should have asked for a jury.
Pair Claim To Break World Record
09/10/2008 04:24
For watching 57
movies in 123 hours in NYC's Times Square
NEW YORK (AP) _ You may want to try this at home. Suresh Joachim of Toronto, and Claudia Wavra of Germany, claim to have broken the world record for continuous movie watching, after seeing 57 films in 123 hours in a plastic-glass house in New York's Times Square.
A Guinness World Records spokesman said it appears the non-dynamic duo have broken the record but said it will take two weeks to officially verify.
The attempt began Oct. 2 when eight challengers started watching "Iron Man." After 72 hours, only two remained. They watched "Thelma and Louise" until the end on 3:10 p.m. Tuesday.
Susan Sarandon, a star of that film, dropped off the final film.
The rules: Each movie had to be viewed until the last credit rolled, and competitors couldn't divert their eyes from the screen. They were allowed 10-minute breaks between movies.
SINC SAYS:
Why? No, I mean really, why?
Oilers Look To Past For “New” Third Jersey
09/10/2008 04:21
It's not only Edmonton's brides who are taking advantage of the well-known saying of 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.'
The Edmonton Oilers drew upon the old adage when designing their new third jersey for their 30th anniversary season.
The team unveiled the new jersey Tuesday, opting to use parts of the old Oilers' uniform from when they first entered the NHL in 1979.
That was the year when Kevin Lowe, current president of hockey operations, scored the first NHL Edmonton Oilers goal in Chicago.
Defenceman Jason Strudwick said he remembers wearing the colours as a young fan
"The third jersey, I'm really excited about it," he said. "I watched growing up guys wearing it."
More from CTV News.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I certainly like the “new” vintage third jersey much better than I like the crappy looking jerseys the NHL teams wear now. And, better yet, they bring back many memories of the glory days.
Sarah Palin To Drop Ceremonial Puck At Flyers Opener
09/10/2008 04:21
PHILADELPHIA - Sarah Palin's next faceoff will come at centre ice at an NHL arena, not at a debate.
The Republican vice-presidential nominee will drop the ceremonial first puck when the Philadelphia Flyers open the regular season against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Palin, the Alaska governor and self-described "hockey mom," will join the winner of a team promotion for the "Ultimate Hockey Mom" to drop the puck.
Last month, Palin visited a Philadelphia bar with Flyers owner Ed Snider, who has donated money to Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign.
"Because of the tremendous amount of publicity she has brought to our sport, we invited the most popular hockey mom in North America to our home opener to help us get our season started," Snider said in a team statement Wednesday. "We are very excited she has accepted our offer and we are very proud of the publicity she is generating for hockey moms and the sport of hockey."
The team will award all hockey moms entered into the contest with a free "puck-er peach" lipstick and four tickets to a hockey game of the Flyers' minor league affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. The winner will appear on the ice with Palin for opening faceoff.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well, about all I can say is she’ll probably do a much better job at this than, god forbid, Vice-President of the United States. But, then again, I wouldn't count on it.
Cowboys’ Owens States He’s Fine Mentally
09/10/2008 04:20
IRVING, Texas - Tears shed on the sideline after a touchdown catch. The vague statement after the game, and then not answering any questions.
Terrell Owens realizes those incidents have raised speculation about his "mental state of mind." The Dallas Cowboys' star receiver insists there is nothing to worry about.
"Last week I was going through a lot of stuff, and the previous week," Owens said Wednesday. "Other than that, dude, I'm in good spirits. I'm fine. . . . Honestly, I am good."
After Owens caught a 57-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter Sunday against Cincinnati, he ecstatically raised his arms over his head and clapped while still grasping the ball in one hand. T.O. then went to the bench, bowed, put a towel over his head and started crying.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
No matter what TO says, he’s definitely not fine mentally.
Matt Dunigan's Take On Things In The East
09/10/2008 04:19
My Take On Things In The East
By Matt Dunigan
Hey y'all, I have missed the opportunity to lay out my thoughts on the Gunslingers of '08 for quite some time now. As it turns out, that was on me. So where do I begin? How about in the East, with a little recap and my take on things. Let's get started.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
For more from TSN football analyst Matt Dunigan, click here.
St. Albert To Host Over-55 Games
08/10/2008 04:46
February event
could
generate $2M for
city
St. Albert will host the 2011 Alberta 55-Plus Winter Games, in which athletes 55 years and older across the province compete in winter sports.
More than 1,000 athletes, spectators and family members across the province are expected to participate in the four-day event, which includes skiing, curling, and ice hockey.
Participants will also get the opportunity to compete in games such as Euchre and Scrabble.
Throughout the week, entertainment will be provided by both Edmonton-and-area entertainers and games' participants.
The provincial government is providing funding of $265,000, which includes a $25,000 cultural grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. The games are expected to generate economic activity of up to $2 million.
Details in today's Edmonton Journal.
SINC SAYS:
Just to be clear, this event used to be known as the Alberta Senior Games.
St. Albert will host the 2011 Alberta 55-Plus Winter Games, in which athletes 55 years and older across the province compete in winter sports.
More than 1,000 athletes, spectators and family members across the province are expected to participate in the four-day event, which includes skiing, curling, and ice hockey.
Participants will also get the opportunity to compete in games such as Euchre and Scrabble.
Throughout the week, entertainment will be provided by both Edmonton-and-area entertainers and games' participants.
The provincial government is providing funding of $265,000, which includes a $25,000 cultural grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. The games are expected to generate economic activity of up to $2 million.
Details in today's Edmonton Journal.
SINC SAYS:
Just to be clear, this event used to be known as the Alberta Senior Games.
Quebec Man Sues Loto-Quebec
08/10/2008 04:09
Says he got winning
ticket seven seconds
lateFrom CBC News
MONTREAL - A man is suing Loto-Quebec for $13.5 million he says he won in a drawing last May but was denied on the grounds he bought his ticket seven seconds past the deadline.
Joel Ifergan bought two Super Seven tickets at a convenience store last May 23 and says he ordered the tickets at 8:59 p.m., believing he had just made it under the deadline.
His second ticket - which had winning numbers for that draw - was delayed by a few seconds but Ifergan still maintains he is due his winnings, half of the $27 million jackpot.
The Montreal-area resident says the convenience store clerk looked at the clock and told him he had one minute to buy his tickets when he came in to the store. Ifergan blames the processing delay on Loto-Quebec's central computer terminal.
Ifergan says when he looked at his tickets, one had the date for May 23 and the second ticket had a date for the next draw, on May 30.
The terminal apparently treats each ticket as a separate purchase. The time recorded on the second ticket was seven seconds after the 9 p.m. deadline for the May 23 draw.
Ifergan has filed his lawsuit with Quebec Superior Court.
SINC SAYS:
So close but yet so far is the old saying. I guess it holds true here as I doubt any court will award him that much dough.
The Musings Of Maxine And Marvin . . .
08/10/2008 04:02
A Tail Of Two Foxes . . .
08/10/2008 03:59
Tommy Fox was driving
home from his job in Dover Wednesday at about
11 p.m. when a beautiful red fox dashed in
front of his
SUV.After he ran over the fox, he stopped his GMC Jimmy to get the fox to cut off its tail for a souvenir, and he put it in the back seat, said Dale Grandstaff, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency wildlife officer.
"The tails are real bushy and pretty and thick this time of year," Grandstaff said.
Things took an odd turn when Fox heard a noise coming from his back seat and realized the fox was alive — and not happy.
The driver desperately searched for something to hold the fox back and prevent him from climbing into the front seat and biting him, he told Grandstaff.
Details here.
SINC SAYS:
What are the chances that a guy named Fox would run over a fox in the first place?
An Eye Opening Visit To The Barber Shop
08/10/2008 03:47
One day a florist
goes to a barber for a haircut.
After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The cop is happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.
Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' and 'Becoming More Successful.'
Then, a Member of Parliament comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The MP is very happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen MP's lined up waiting for a free haircut.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the members of our Parliament.
Vote carefully this year.
SINC
SAYS:
I think the outcome
of this election will see little change in
the present situation, and that is sad
indeed.
'Bra Bandit' Accused Of Stealing 160 Bras
08/10/2008 03:45
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.
- There's a bra bandit on the loose in
southwest Florida. The Lee County Sheriff's
Office was searching for an individual they say
stole 160 bras valued at nearly $6,000 on
Thursday from a Victoria Secret store, the
latest in a string of bra burglaries in the
area.
Since February, authorities say 452 bras valued at nearly $19,000 have been stolen from two of the chain's southwest Florida locations. Six different bra thefts at the stores have been reported during that time.
Investigators said a female customer walked into the store Thursday and immediately went to a four-drawer cabinet with new bras of the PINK brand name. The store manager told deputies the woman waited until employees were busy helping customers and then thrust the bras into a bag and exited the store.
SINC SAYS:
You have to figure it would take a real boob to pull a job like this.
Way Back When . . .
08/10/2008 03:28
This one brought back
a lot of memories as I can remember going to
the lunch counter at Woolworths because it was
nearly half the price of private restaurants.
Just click to see the larger image and look at
the prices here folks:
Mike Weir Supports Golf As Olympic Sport
08/10/2008 03:27
WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. - Including golf as an Olympic sport would help grow the game globally, former Masters champion Mike Weir said Tuesday.
Weir, who conducted a golf clinic at the Capilano Golf and Country Club, also said it will be difficult for the PGA Tour not to be impacted by the current economic downturn.
"There are a lot of banks that sponsor events, car companies," said Weir, "It could have an adverse affect down the road."
"The commissioner did a great job locking in some of those (sponsors) for a long term and hopefully we can get this thing turned around. But the PGA Tour is not immune to what the rest of North America is feeling."
Watching the Beijing Olympics on television this summer made Weir think about how exciting it would be to be part of the parade of athletes during the Games opening ceremony.
"It would be a thrill," he said. "It would be an honour to represent your country in the Olympics."
"I think it would be great for the game. The game is already a global game. It's played around the world. I know to be an Olympic sport it has to be played by a majority of the countries. I think golf is there now."
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Seems to me that with some of the sports that are already included in the Olympics these days, golf should be a shoo-in, non?
Tiger Stadium Avoids Full Demolition, For Now
08/10/2008 03:26
The Detroit city council has granted Tiger Stadium a stay of execution.
The council voted 5-3 on Tuesday to reject a resolution that would have authorized the immediate demolition of the historic ballpark.
Crews began tearing down the stadium in June. A corner of the ballpark has been left standing while a preservation group tries to raise money to turn it into a sports museum.
The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy was told to pay the city $219,000 US by Tuesday to hold off total demolition.
The group says it has $150,000 in hand and can have the rest by Friday.
The stadium's fate last came before the council in July, when a vote was delayed while preservation advocates and city officials negotiated.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Kind of reminds me of the Bruin Inn fiasco here in St. Albert in the late 1990s, when a group of local do-gooders tried to save that old dump, too.
Stamps, Coach Fined For Abuse Of Officials
08/10/2008 03:26
Three members of the Calgary Stampeders were fined by the CFL for confronting and verbally abusing game officials after they had left the field following a 37-34 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday.
Defensive line coach Cornell Brown was fined $2,500 while defensive backs Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson were also fined undisclosed amounts for their involvement in the confrontation.
"We hold our teams, and in particular our coaches, to a high standard, especially when it comes to respect for our officials who are so integral to our game," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.
Reports indicated the incident occurred in the tunnel outside the locker rooms at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Don’t mind me if I refer to this as a joke.
N.B. Helps Fund World Curling Championships
08/10/2008 03:25
The New Brunswick government will help a world sporting event slide into Moncton next year, with a $200,000 contribution.
The money will be used to renovate the Moncton Coliseum, which will host the 50th anniversary of the 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in April.
Even though the cost of putting on the event is high, organizers said the city and province stands to gain a whole lot more.
Jim Lockyer, chairman of the organizing committee, said the provincial funding will lighten the financial burden of hosting such a large-scale event, which is expected to draw curling fans from around the world.
The construction budget for the championship already tops $350,000 because the Coliseum’s ongoing problems with high humidity levels needs to be fixed, and new scaffolding must be built, Lockyer said.
"It’s like going to a concert. If you go to a concert, it’s not the same Coliseum. Well, for the world curling championship, it won’t be a hockey arena," he said.
"So, there’s a lot of construction that has to be done. It’s temporary, mind you, and a lot of this money will go in that regard."
Moncton North MLA Mike Murphy said the nine-day competition will reap many benefits for the local economy.
"This world championship is expected to general $12 million to $15 million as an impact to the local and provincial economy with visitors from across Canada and the world descending on our region, filling our hotels, restaurants and shops," he said.
"This is a wonderful announcement for Greater Moncton. With the stadium at the University of Moncton, and with support for a Metro Centre, I believe that Greater Moncton is second to none, perhaps in this country now, as we go forward in hosting world events, national events and, certainly, provincial events."
For many of the participating teams, the tournament will be their last chance to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Murphy said it’s a good opportunity to present Moncton on the world stage as a leader in hosting sporting events.
Curlers from 46 nations will compete from April 4 to 12.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It’s nice to see the New Brunswick government realize the shortcomings of the Moncton arena and pitch in to try to help make this year’s men’s World Curling Championships in Moncton a first-class event that will be long remembered in the curling and sports communities for all the right reasons.
Reader Questions ATB Executive Bonuses
07/10/2008 05:22
Hi Don,
I thought I would forward this for your perusal and including for your site: I have culled the main items from quite a long article that appeared in this morning's Edmonton Sun.
ATB EXECS GET BIG BONUSES DESPITE POOR PERFORMANCE . . .
Alberta Treasury Branch officials will have to explain why more than $26 million in bonuses were handed out to staff after a year of dismal performance last year, says the head of the province's public accounts committee.
Auditor General Fred Dunn has questioned the massive bonuses, handed out even though the bank fell short of its net income goal by nearly 90% in the 2007-08 year.
Dunn's annual report released last week, said ATB earned a net income of $30 million in the year, a fraction of its $262 million target.
Dunn said management overrode ATB's policy that bonuses are tied to achieving or exceeding set targets.
The reason given for breaking the rule, Dunn said, was that "staff morale and retention" were at stake.
Somehow in my opinion this just does not sit right. Your opinion please.
George Proulx
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Well George, I doubt if this is going to sit well with many people, given the economic atmosphere of the past few weeks.
That being said, having spent some 40 odd years in the corporate world, it certainly does not surprise me that that old and tired, “staff morale and retention" line is being dragged out to defend this practice.
While there are some good cases for management bonuses, they should never exceed 20 percent of salary. In other words, an executive's incentive to do a good job should be to earn 80 percent of his salary.
The extra 20 percent should be a reflection of excelling at the job.
To understand the process, one has to understand the budgeting process corporate firms use. To put it bluntly, a budget is no more than crystal ball gazing based on past experience. There are many years that business will achieve results far in advance of predictions in their budgets, and rewarding executives for a booming economy is just plain wrong.
So is rewarding executives when a company has a year with losses on the bottom line, such as is apparently the case with the ATB.
Rather than be rewarded based on screwed up budget predictions and cost overruns that put the firm in a negative balance for the operating year, executives should themselves show some leadership.
They could do that by telling customers right up front that accepting such bonuses under the circumstances would be seen as an outrage and cancel all such bonus structures for that fiscal year.
You asked for my opinion George and there you have it.
Two other points though. The executives won’t like my opinion much and their board of directors will cower in fear of losing them and go ahead with the bonus cheques.
The Things That People Send Me . . .
07/10/2008 04:21
Ontario To Make It Easier To Apologize
07/10/2008 04:09
From CBC News
TORONTO - It will soon be easier to say you're sorry in Ontario.
The government plans to adopt an act that will allow everyone to apologize without having to worry about being sued. Sources say Attorney General Chris Bentley and Health Minister David Caplan will on Tuesday announce the adoption of the Apology Act, initially introduced by Liberal backbencher David Orazietti.
Orazietti tabled his private member's bill last April, saying he hoped to encourage more people to offer sincere regrets for their mistakes.
The bill would allow doctors, nurses and police to apologize for their errors without worrying about whether their statements will be used against them in civil court.
While the law would apply to all Ontario residents, it's expected to have a special significance in health care, since professionals are generally advised to not apologize for fear those statements would be used against them in court.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have similar apology laws, as do 35 U.S. states.
Bentley has said he wanted to look into the ramifications of adopting the legislation, and both opposition parties have said they like the idea.
SINC SAYS:
The lawyers out there are gonna hate this one. Think of all the lost law suits. But that's a good thing.
Ancient Peru Pyramid Spotted By Satellite
07/10/2008 04:07
New remote-sensing
technology reveals huge structure beneath
surfaceA new remote sensing technology has peeled away layers of mud and rock near Peru's Cahuachi desert to reveal an ancient adobe pyramid, Italian researchers announced on Friday at a satellite imagery conference in Rome.
Nicola Masini and Rosa Lasaponara of Italy's National Research Council (CNR) discovered the pyramid by analyzing images from the satellite Quickbird, which they used to penetrate the Peruvian soil.
The researchers investigated a test area along the river Nazca. Covered by plants and grass, it was about a mile away from Cahuachi's archaeological site, which contains the remains of what is believed to be the world's biggest mud city.
Via Quickbird, Masini and colleagues collected high-resolution infrared and multispectral images. After the researchers optimized the data with special algorithms, the result was a detailed visualization of a pyramid that could not be spotted using conventional imagery.
The discovery doesn't come as a surprise to archaeologists, since some 40 mounds at Cahuachi are believed to contain the remains of important structures.
Complete details here.
SINC SAYS:
I suspect there are many things that man has yet to discover.
The Musings Of Maxine And Marvin . . .
07/10/2008 04:00
Kiwi Skateboards Across Three Continents
07/10/2008 03:55
New Zealander Rob
Thomson says wanting to go outside his comfort
zone was the motivation for a 12,000 km
unassisted skateboard journey across three
continents.Thomson's journey through Europe, North America and China has ended in Shanghai after 462 days.
The 28-year-old from Christchurch said today that he hoped to have the feat recognised by Guinness World Records.
Asked why he had undertaken the journey, Thomson said: "I struggle with that question sometimes as well."
But the main reason was that he had wanted to push himself.
"I took a couple of years of my life to put myself outside of my comfort zone," he told National Radio.
Details here.
SINC SAYS:
This is another one of those “why” stories that baffle me.
Way Back When . . .
07/10/2008 03:50
Memories of days past:
Do you have any
photos kicking around of the good old days? If
so please send them along to us for this
feature.
07/10/2008 03:46
Can you "stare off into space" when you're in space?
Where do people in Hell tell other people to go?
Is "vice-versa" to a dyslexic just plain redundant?
How come you can kill a deer and put it up on your wall. but it's illegal to keep one as a pet?
Why do we say we're head over heels when we're happy? Isn't that the way we normally are?
If prunes are dehydrated plums, where does prune juice come from?
Serenity In The Face Of Near Disaster
07/10/2008 03:45
Jason Tucker suffered a potentially catastrophic neck injury two months ago. He'd love to return to football, but if he can't, it won't be the end of the world for the laidback Texan
"A miracle, I think. You watch the replay, you watch him hit the ground. The only reason he fumbled the ball was because his right arm, the one he was holding the ball in, had gone numb. Yet, he still had the presence to fall on the ball. Then he's hit again while he's on the ground.
He has a broken neck. And then a couple days later to be up and walking ..."
- Dan McKinnon, Eskimos manager of football administration and Canadian scouting
Inevitably, the conversation was the same.
"Come on ma," pleaded Jason Tucker. "Let me play football."
And, just as she had done a hundred times before, Jason's mother, Joyce, lips pursed tight, would just shake her head no.
Back then, back when Tucker was in junior high, the Friday nights of autumn were the worst. Throughout the United States, but especially in places like Jason's home state of Texas, congregations of fans would pack stadiums to watch the religion of high school football.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
While I would dearly and selfishly love to see Tucker back in an Edmonton Eskimo uniform, the important thing right now is that he recover from this horrific injury so that he can carry on with a normal life again off the football field. If he is once again pronounced medically fit to play football, that would just be a bonus.
Surly Stampeders Confront Official After Loss
07/10/2008 03:44
Decision on fate of Stamps players allegedly involved now expected on Tuesday
REGINA -- A decision on potential punishments for Calgary Stampeders players allegedly involved in an altercation with CFL officials after Friday's contest at Mosaic Stadium has been pushed back until Tuesday morning.
The CFL's director of officiating Tom Higgins hoped to have an announcement this afternoon, but told John Down of the Calgary Herald that nothing will be made public until Tuesday morning.
Asked is there was any fear of Stampeders players being suspended, Calgary head coach John Hufnagel told Down: "I don't think there's any fear there. There was some heated comments made and when I entered the tunnel, I heard some shouting, went up, diffused it, got our players into the locker-room and made the point it wasn't acceptable."
Hufnagel also pointed out the altercation was only verbal.
More from the Regina Leader-Post.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Although there is no place for this anywhere in sport, amateur or professional, with the CFL officiating I can sure understand how frustration builds up.
Five Top Picks Crack NHL Opening Night Lineups
07/10/2008 03:44
Not since 1990 - when Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci and Jaromir Jagr did it - have the first five picks of the Entry Draft been on opening night NHL rosters in the same year they were drafted.
But it looks like it's going to happen this year.
First overall pick Steven Stamkos, of course, has already played two games for the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be a fixture there.
No. 2 pick Drew Doughty has made the Los Angeles Kings' roster and they just don't see any upside to sending him back for a fourth OHL season.
Atlanta will have defenceman Zach Bogosian as one of its top six to start, but will see after nine games how he is adapting.
Both the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs will adopt the same philosophy with defencemen Alex Pietrangelo and Luke Schenn. Pietrangelo and Schenn have excelled in training camp and deserve to be there on opening night, but their rebuilding clubs will re-assess before the 10th game for each.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
For more from TSN hockey analyst Bob McKenzie, click here.
Ticats May Have Found Their Man In Porter
07/10/2008 03:43
Did you happen to see how well Quinton Porter played at quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats?
For the first time in a long time, I think the organization has found a talented player who can make a difference not 'every now and then,' but consistently over an entire season.
Granted, I thought Casey Printers would be The Man a year ago, and I also had good thoughts about Richie Williams. But I haven't seen a quarterback stand in the pocket and deliver passes in black and gold like that since Danny McManus did almost a decade ago.
I remember seeing Ricky Ray get the start in Edmonton a few years ago when Jason Maas got hurt, thinking this kid was going to get killed, physically punished, totally humiliated and destroyed in every way.
Then he completed his first pass, followed by a second and a third.
It's just luck, I thought.
After a bunch of first downs and a couple of touchdowns, I was wondering if this kid was for real. After two or three games, I was sold on him. Ray could play each and every single week no matter who he was playing with or against.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
For more from TSN football analyst Chris Schultz, click here.
Canucks’ Luongo Sports Captain’s ‘C’ On Mask
07/10/2008 03:43
VANCOUVER - Roberto Luongo is sporting a C after all.
The Vancouver captain, forbidden by NHL rules from wearing the letter on his jersey because he is a goaltender, sported a new C on his mask Sunday night as the Canucks hosted Anaheim in the final 2008-09 pre-season game for both clubs.
"It can stand for whatever he wants it to stand for," said Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis, when asked if the C stood for Canucks or captain.
The dark blue C is located on the bottom of Luongo's mask in the area that protects his throat. It is clearly separate from the mask's painted design and resembles the plain letter that a captain usually wears on a jersey.
The Canucks broke tradition Tuesday by naming Luongo as their new captain. He became the first goaltender in 61 seasons to receive the honour after Bill Durnan served as captain of the Montreal Canadiens in 1947-48.
Durnan's penchant for leaving his crease to talk to officials prompted the league to create a rule that is still in effect today. It prohibits a goaltender from acting as a captain or alternate captain on the ice and wearing a C on his jersey.
More than half a century later, the NHL remains concerned that allowing a goaltender to perform traditional captain's duties will give a team unscheduled timeouts. Luongo is not allowed to discuss calls with officials or participate in pre-game face-offs.
GM Gillis sought clarification of the rule from NHL executives before naming Luongo captain. The Canucks were left without a captain after Markus Naslund signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers in the off-season.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Oh brother, let the games begin!
Chinese Pandas Fed Chicken Soup For Health
06/10/2008 02:14
BEIJING (AP) --
Everyone needs some chicken soup for the soul -
even
pandas.The Wuhan Zoo in central China has been feeding its two pandas home-cooked chicken soup twice in a month to reduce stress and give them a nutritional boost, a zoo official said Friday.
He Zhihua said 3-year-old Xiwang and Weiwei - literally meaning "Hope" and "Greatness" - were tired and suffering from a little shock since the start Monday of the weeklong National Day holiday, one of the biggest travel seasons of the year.
On Wednesday, up to 30,000 people swarmed the zoo and about 1,000 tourists packed the panda enclosure, shouting to get the animals' attention, He said. The pandas paced restlessly.
"They had been getting less sleep, and they had to run around more," he said. "We felt it would be good to give them the soup because they were fatigued and had a bit of a shock."
Reflecting the Chinese tradition of drinking slow-cooked chicken soup for health, the zookeepers boiled roosters in water overnight and added a pinch of salt to the concentrated stock.
Spoon up this story here.
SINC SAYS:
I guess your Mom was right when she fed you chicken soup when you were sick in bed.
Cabbie! Drive Me To Munich
06/10/2008 02:01
A cab driver did a
double-take when a customer asked to be driven
1,200km (740 miles) from Portsmouth to
Munich.Though at first he thought it must be a joke, Mick Hogan agreed to take the passenger in his 30s on the 17-hour trip – at a cost of £1,950.
Mr Hogan, 54, was sitting at a rank when the customer called Dave ran up and jumped in the back of his cab.
He explained he had to get to the Munich beer fest as soon as possible as he had missed a flight for his friend's stag night.
Mr Hogan said: 'I thought he was having a laugh to start off with or it was one of my cabbie mates doing a wind-up on me but he was deadly serious.' The cabbie warned Dave it would cost £1,700 for the trip plus £250 for the Channel tunnel and a hotel for the night.
Mr Hogan admitted it 'felt surreal and a bit weird'.
'I assume he found his pals because he was on the phone to them trying to find out what bar they were in,' he said.
'I didn't need to give him a lift back because he said he still had the ticket for the return flight. It's not something I'd want to do every day but it beats taking a few pensioners out to the shops.'
SINC SAYS:
Some people will do anything for a glass of suds.
The Musings Of Maxine And Marvin . . .
06/10/2008 01:57
SPIES WILL TAP INTO ALL E-MAILS AND CALLS
06/10/2008 01:54
ALL telephone calls,
emails and text messages in Britain will be
monitored under new Government snooping
plans.A £12billion identity database at the GCHQ spy centre could even log every website visited by computer users nationwide.
Hundreds of bugging probes will be installed in the telephone system and computer networks to monitor communications traffic.
GCHQ has already been handed £1billion of taxpayers’ cash to begin developing the database.
After the top-secret plans were leaked yesterday critics accused the Government of stalking the public. Michael Parker of anti-identity card group No2ID said: “It is a shocking intrusion into privacy. This is stalking. If an individual carried out this sort of snooping, it would be a crime.”
Snooping details here.
SINC SAYS:
This is a gross invasion of privacy and should be stopped dead in its tracks.
Way Back When . . .
06/10/2008 01:49
Memories from times
past
Have a photo kicking around of days gone by? Toss it on the scanner and send it along to this new feature remembering simpler times.
Have a photo kicking around of days gone by? Toss it on the scanner and send it along to this new feature remembering simpler times.
Unique Bar Sign Stolen
06/10/2008 01:46
Pennsylvania State Police at Newport are investigating the theft of the "Home of Mr. Wiener'' sign from the front of the former Ada's Country Bar along U.S. Routes 11/15 in Liverpool Township, Perry County.
Troopers said the sign, which depicted a hot dog holding a top hat, was stolen between Sept. 10 and 24. The bar no longer is in operation. Anyone with information can call state police.
SINC SAYS:
I’ve met a few wieners in a bar myself over the years.
Voting Opens For HNIC ‘Anthem Challenge’
06/10/2008 01:33
With the five semifinalists already revealed for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge, Canadians can now cast their votes for the winning entry.
The voting began on Saturday night (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 8 p.m. ET) with a special broadcast featuring the contenders.
The five semifinalists were profiled on CBC's The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, on Friday night. They are:
Quebecers Christian St. Roch and Jimmy Tanaka (Let the Game Begin ).
Graham McRae of Burnaby, B.C., (Eleventh Hour ).
Colin Oberst of Edmonton (Canadian Gold ).
Robert Fraser Burke of Toronto (Sticks to the Ice ).
Gerry Mosby, also of Toronto (Ice Warriors ).
The first part of the voting closes on Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The final round begins Thursday during a special mid-week doubleheader on Hockey Night In Canada (Toronto at Detroit, Calgary at Vancouver), and will end Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The winning submission will be announced Oct. 11 on Hockey Night In Canada's traditional Saturday night doubleheader (Montreal at Toronto, Vancouver at Calgary).
The winner of Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge will receive $100,000 and half of the continuing royalties, with the other half invested in minor hockey.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I’ve already voted for Beaumont’s Colin Oberst and his anthem ‘Canadian Gold.’ It would be great to have a winner from the Capital Region. In order to vote, go to cbc.ca and follow the instructions.
49ers Retire Quarterback Steve Young’s Jersey
06/10/2008 01:33
SAN FRANCISCO - As Steve Young listened to the Candlestick Park crowd roar at his jersey retirement ceremony, he looked at Jerry Rice and wished he was in his old No. 8 uniform instead of a suit.
"Honestly I feel like I want to play," Young said after the ceremony. "My life is sublime now and great and wonderful in many ways but you can't replace it."
Young was honored at halftime of the San Francisco 49ers game on Sunday against the New England Patriots. He was introduced to the adoring crowd by his close friend and former teammate Brent Jones, who called Young a "brilliant field general" who "could destroy you with his left arm and then could turn around and destroy you as well with his legs."
Several members of the 49ers glory teams from the late 1980s and '90s were on stage with Young for the ceremony, including Rice, Jones, Harris Barton and Jesse Sapolu.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
While Young was a great quarterback, in my humble opinion Joe Montana was the best the 49ers ever had. His four Super Bowl titles, and three Super Bowl MVP awards with the 49ers, will attest to that.
Official And Unofficial 2010 Tickets For Sale On Web
06/10/2008 01:32
As tickets for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games officially went on sale Thursday night, the Vancouver organizing committee says its legal team is looking into a Winnipeg travel company allegedly selling tickets to the Games that it does not have.
Roadtrips, a Winnipeg company that specializes in sports travel, is offering tickets to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler on its website.
"Roadtrips offers tickets to every Winter Games event, including the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies," said the company website.
But the executive vice-president of revenue, marketing and communications for the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, Dave Cobb, said that's a promise Roadtrips isn't in a position to make.
"They've not been assigned or allocated any tickets, and any tickets they've been promised would be violating the ticket contracts we have with whoever they're getting the tickets from," Cobb said Thursday.
"People need to be very careful of counting on those types of commitments when these people have no relationship with the Games," he said.
More from CBC Sports.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
No matter what it is, there’s always a scam artist out there on the web trying to make a quick buck, isn't there?
Mixed Opinions On NHL Expansion To Europe
06/10/2008 01:32
Ottawa Senators owner
Eugene Melnyk has no doubt that - sooner rather
than later - the National Hockey League will be
expanding into Europe.
"There are a lot of logistical issues from arenas to how we set up the schedules," Melnyk told reporters in Stockholm over the weekend. "But it's happening and it's going to happen. Absolutely and irrevocably I am committed that my vote is in for European expansion."
However, not everyone - including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman - is as bullish on locating teams across the Atlantic Ocean.
"Mr. Melnyk was not voicing an official league position," he explained. "We want to develop a more permanent, more regular presence in Europe, (but) permanent doesn't necessarily mean franchises on the ground or ever."
By contrast, NHL Players' Association Executive Director Paul Kelly was more supportive of Melnyk's remarks, going so far as to establish a probable timeline for such a venture to happen.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
As I have said on this forum before, Gary Bettman should stick to building the league and growing its fan base right here in North America, particularly in some existing U.S.-franchise cities, before he even thinks about NHL expansion to Europe.
Vote Carefully This Month . . .
05/10/2008 02:38
John was in the
fertilized egg business. He had several hundred
young layers (hens), called 'pullets,' and ten
roosters to fertilize the eggs. He kept
records, and any rooster not performing went
into the soup pot and was replaced.
This took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters. Each bell had a different tone, so he could tell from a distance, which rooster was performing. Now, he could sit on the porch And fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells.
John's favorite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but this morning he noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all! When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters coming, could run for cover.
To John's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one.
John was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the local fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges. The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the No Bell Piece Prize but they also awarded him the Pullet surprise as well.
Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making. Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention.
Vote carefully this month, the bells are not always audible.
British Trucker Suspended For Driving / TV Viewing
05/10/2008 02:36
LONDON - A British
court has suspended the license of a truck
driver who careened down a highway while
watching episodes of "Battlestar Galactica" on
a laptop computer atop his
dashboard.Police say Benjamin Trotman drove for 40 kilometres in northern England last December with one eye on the road and the other on the cult sci-fi show.
A traffic officer who pulled him over found the show still playing on his computer.
Trotman's lawyer claimed he had been looking at Google Maps while listening to the sound from the show. But Trotman pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.
On Friday a justice of the peace banned him from driving for 15 months.
He also was sentenced to 225 hours of community service and ordered to pay the equivalent of about C$1,000 in costs.
SINC SAYS:
It makes one wonder how many truckers here do this.
Be Careful What You Wish For . . .
05/10/2008 02:34
A man was sick and
tired of going to work every day while his wife
stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went
through so he prayed:
Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen.
God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish. The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman. He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners. And stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, then drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the chequebook. He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog.
Then it was already 1 P.M. and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor. Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework. Then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing. At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.
After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed. At 9 P.M., he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.
The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said, "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."
The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied, "My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."
Two Houses Make A Home
05/10/2008 02:31
An innovative
renovationA Platt Park couple double their living space while preserving the neighborhood's character.
Two homes in Denver's Platt Park neighborhood have the same address.
But homeowners Dan Rees and Elizabeth Lopez use different doorbells so they know which front porch to greet their guests at.
One of the couple's favorite tricks is to open one door and wave hello while newbie visitors stand dumbfounded at the other door. It's a perk of living in one home that used to be two.
"We started out joking around that we should buy one of the neighbors' houses," says Rees, a 44-year-old economics professor at the University of Colorado at Denver. "I would build an underground tunnel so I could stay in one house with the dog, and my wife could be in the other house with the children."
Then one night their next-door neighbor knocked on the couple's door to say he was selling his home. "And just like that, the tunnel idea was no longer just a funny thing to say," adds Lopez, a 33-year-old Medicaid analyst who speaks with a musical Venezuelan accent.
Details here.
SINC SAYS:
I wonder if this type of thing could ever happen here? On second thought forget it. There must be a by-law against that too.
Things I've Learned From My Boys
05/10/2008 02:29
Honest and not
kidding:
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 square foot house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
11.) Playdough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject peanut butter and jelly sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odour is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department has a 5-minute response time.
21.) If you try hard enough you can pee on the ceiling
22.) Magnets make your TV screen go green
23.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
24.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
25.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
26.) 80% of men who read this will try mixing Clorox and brake fluid.
27.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
Coquihalla Toll Booths Torn Down
05/10/2008 02:24
Canwest News Service
VANCOUVER - The demolition of the Coquihalla Highway toll booths is underway, the provincial government announced Thursday.
The demolition of the 13 toll booths on the northbound and southbound lanes is expected to take several weeks. Once the work is complete, traffic will flow uninterrupted through the site, with no stop necessary between Kamloops and the Lower Mainland.
The tolls, which have been in place since the highway opened in 1986, varied from $10 for a car to between $5 and $50 for other vehicles.
"The tolls served their purpose, and paid for a highway that literally opened up B.C.'s Interior," Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon said Thursday.
SINC SAYS:
This is good news for those who drive to the coast. Even better news is that the BC government actually kept their word and eliminated the tolls once the road was paid for.
Tune Earns ‘Mr. O’ Shot At Hockey Immortality
05/10/2008 02:23
Semifinalist for Hockey Night In Canada theme
EDMONTON - Music and hockey and songwriting contests -- these are a few of Colin Oberst's favourite things.
So when the 37-year-old musician and elementary school teacher learned that CBC's Hockey Night In Canada had launched a national contest for a new theme song, Oberst knew he had to try to write a future hockey anthem.
Earlier this week, CBC announced that Oberst, known as "Mr. O" to his Grade 5/6 class, was one of five semifinalists selected out of nearly 15,000 entries in its contest to replace Hockey Night in Canada's longtime iconic song.
Friday morning, he performed his song for an audience of nearly 400 students at Holy Family School, where he teaches.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I don’t know how many of you heard Oberst’s tune last night on CBC-TV, but I think it’s a catchy tune. Good luck, Colin, and we can all help him out by voting for his song by phone, text message or online. You are allowed to vote multiple times and the finalists will be announced October 9, followed by another round of voting, with the winner unveiled on October 11.
Video Game Simulation Says Wings Will Repeat
05/10/2008 02:23
The Stanley Cup is staying put in Hockeytown, according to a simulation of the 2008-09 season by Electronic Arts using its "NHL 09 video" game.
The simulation shows the Detroit Red Wings defeating the Montreal Canadiens four games to two in the Stanley Cup final, with Pavel Datysuk capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The Red Wings won the President's Trophy for the second straight season, leading the league with 53 wins and 114 points. Pittsburgh was the power in the East, finishing with 51 wins and 112 points but was upset in the Eastern final in seven games by Montreal.
The Habs, in their centennial season, finished second in the East with 49 wins and 100 points. according to the simulation.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
What I found interesting about the simulation is the Oilers made the playoffs, finishing eighth in the western conference with 42 wins and 90 points, only to be swept by the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs.
Former CFLer Lawrence Phillips Gets 10 Years
05/10/2008 02:19
LOS ANGELES - Former football star Lawrence Phillips was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison, two years after he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.
The sentencing was repeatedly delayed while Phillips fought to withdraw a guilty plea in a domestic abuse case that could have led to a stiffer sentence.
Phillips was convicted in 2006 of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
The 33-year-old former Nebraska running back has been jailed since August 2005, when he drove onto a field near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and his car struck three boys, ages 14 and 15, and a 19-year-old man, who suffered cuts and bruises. The car narrowly missed three other people, prosecutor Todd Hicks said.
Phillips was allegedly upset after losing a pickup football game to the youths and accused them of stealing some of his possessions.
"When he gets angry and he feels disrespected, he acts out with blind rage," Hicks said in a telephone interview after the sentencing.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Just another malcontent and “head case” who never learned how to behave properly, Phillips got exactly what he deserves.
Oilers Say They’re Ready For Run At Playoffs
05/10/2008 02:18
EDMONTON - With a cadre of young guns, a revamped defence, a new general manager and a new owner, the Edmonton Oilers are determined that the final chapter of this NHL season will include a trip to the post-season.
That's not so tall a tale even for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since it caught lightning - and Chris Pronger - in a bottle and marched to the 2006 Stanley Cup finals.
"We're confident that we're a good team and have the potential to be really good, but as of right now we have a lot of work to do," said centre Andrew Cogliano.
"We're not going to just be able to step on the ice and win games," added forward Fernando Pisani.
"We have to put the work ethic in, and play hard and win those one-on-one battles and do the little things well."
Last season, the Oilers battled through a team-record injury total (346 man-games lost) to turn on the jets in the last quarter and finish with 88 points, ninth in the Western Conference but three points out of the playoffs.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Let’s hope the Oilers’ pre-season record is not indicative of their start to the season. They have only recorded one win so far in six pre-season starts. And, while the pre-season record may not reflect what will happen in the regular season, with 12 of their first 15 games away from Rexall Place, another slow start for the Oilers could mean they’re, once again, behind the eight ball and playing “catch up” the entire season. Let’ hope not.
Castroneves Pleads Not Guilty To Tax Evasion
05/10/2008 02:17
MIAMI - Race car driver and ''Dancing With The Stars'' winner Helio Castroneves pleaded not guilty Friday to U.S. federal tax evasion charges and declared outside the courtroom that he would treat the case like a race against the Internal Revenue Service.
"I'm a race car driver," the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner told reporters. "This is a very difficult situation. I'll be strong and I'll win this race."
Castroneves, 33, spoke after his release on US$10 million bail following a court appearance in which he was shackled in handcuffs and leg chains and was visibly weeping into a wad of white tissue. Outside, Castroneves acknowledged he was overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.
"It's been a long day. It's been an emotional day, obviously," he said. "I am not guilty."
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Lets’ see Helio “dance” his way around this one!