12 April 2009
Things Aren't Always As They Seem . . .
18/04/2009 12:44
A doctor on his
morning walk, noticed a very old lady sitting
on her front step smoking a cigar, so he walked
up to her and said, "I couldn't help but notice
how happy you look! What is your secret?"
"I smoke ten cigars a day," she said. "Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week, and eat only junk food. On weekends, I pop pills, get laid, and don't exercise at all."
"That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?"
"Thirty-four," she replied.
SINC SAYS:
That little gem courtesy of Jeff Young, a regular reader here on St. Albert’s Place. Thanks Jeff!
Food: What You See And What Your Get . . .
18/04/2009 02:06
Have you ever seen a
McDonald’s or Wendy’s advertisement and
really appreciated how delicious a sandwich or
burger looked. You were so impressed that
you went to said fast food restaurant and
ordered yourself one.
You fork over your hard earned white collar cash expecting to receive the same beautiful masterpiece shown in the ads just to be let down by a sloppy disgusting looking sandwich that was probably made by an ex inmate.
Sure, you can’t expect that much for a burger that is delivered in less than three minutes but give me a break people, false advertisement is false advertisement. If you are going to advertise sexy full figured burgers don’t give me a squashed beef patty with some sort of material that is supposed to pass as cheese.
Think I’m just trash talking fast food restaurants? Naaa, I can appreciate a two cheeseburger meal from McDonald’s when nursing a hangover as much as the next guy, but seriously, quit advertising your food as designer foods and start advertising it like it is. Cheap, fast and greasy.
Take a look at these, TV versus real item purchased:
Arby’s Beef ‘n’ Cheddar Sandwich
VS.
McDonald’s Sausage Breakfast Burrito
VS
Subway six-inch turkey breast and ham sub sandwich
Vs
You fork over your hard earned white collar cash expecting to receive the same beautiful masterpiece shown in the ads just to be let down by a sloppy disgusting looking sandwich that was probably made by an ex inmate.
Sure, you can’t expect that much for a burger that is delivered in less than three minutes but give me a break people, false advertisement is false advertisement. If you are going to advertise sexy full figured burgers don’t give me a squashed beef patty with some sort of material that is supposed to pass as cheese.
Think I’m just trash talking fast food restaurants? Naaa, I can appreciate a two cheeseburger meal from McDonald’s when nursing a hangover as much as the next guy, but seriously, quit advertising your food as designer foods and start advertising it like it is. Cheap, fast and greasy.
Take a look at these, TV versus real item purchased:
Arby’s Beef ‘n’ Cheddar Sandwich
VS.
McDonald’s Sausage Breakfast Burrito
VS
Subway six-inch turkey breast and ham sub sandwich
Vs
Plucky 86-Year-Old Beats Burglar With Her Crutch
18/04/2009 02:03
AN 86-year-old widow
told today how she used a crutch to bring down
an intruder and beat him until he
cried.Gwyneth Davies, from Treharris, near Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, hit the man four times with her metal stick when she caught him breaking into her kitchen on Friday evening.
The pensioner said the man then buried his face in his hands and wept as she made him sit on a stool and stood guard over him until the police arrived.
Mrs Davies was getting ready for bed when she heard a crash in the kitchen and went to investigate.
She opened the door and found herself face-to-face with the man, who had broken in through the back door.
She said: I heard a bang so I went to look, and there he was standing on the other side of the kitchen door.
“I wasn’t going to have this - I thought I’d do something about it. He played right into my hands, so I let him have it.
“I said ’I’ve got you, lad. You get out from here, I’ve got a walking stick.’ Up goes my walking stick and I hit him across the back four times. If I had broken it I wouldn’t have cared.
“I told him, ’You sit on that stool over there. I’m calling the police. Don’t move or you’ll have my stick across you.’
“When the police came they were killing themselves laughing. My niece arrived and said I looked like a schoolteacher with a naughty child.”
Mrs Davies, who worked at Woolwich Arsenal and at a munitions factory in Bridgend during the Second World War, said she hopes the incident will make people look at her differently.
Despite having suffered recently from a broken hip and ribs, pneumonia and shingles, the widow of 20 years said she was capable of looking after herself.
She said: “Why should old women be looked down on? I think it is terrible the way people look down on you.
“I have been brought up with men, and I am very independent and able to stand up for myself.”
A South Wales Police spokeswoman confirmed that a suspect was arrested at the scene, adding: “It appears that during the burglary the lady hit the intruder with her crutch.”
SINC SAYS:
You gotta admit folks that any man who cries when hit was a wimp in the first place.
The Philosophy Of Ambiguity . . .
18/04/2009 01:57
As well as
the
idiosyncrasies of
English
24. How is it possible to have a civil war?
25. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?
26. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
27. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
28. Whose cruel idea was it for the word 'lisp' to have 's' in it?
29. Why are hemorrhoids called 'hemorrhoids' instead of 'assteroids'?
30. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?
31. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
32. If you spin an oriental person in a circle three times do they become disoriented?
33. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of god?
24. How is it possible to have a civil war?
25. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?
26. If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
27. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
28. Whose cruel idea was it for the word 'lisp' to have 's' in it?
29. Why are hemorrhoids called 'hemorrhoids' instead of 'assteroids'?
30. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?
31. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
32. If you spin an oriental person in a circle three times do they become disoriented?
33. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of god?
Couple Get More Than Burgers At McDonald’s
18/04/2009 01:49
A giant set of golden
arches outside a McDonald’s in Eastern Arizona
toppled in 60-mph winds Wednesday, crushing a
Naperville couple as they sat in their SUV in
the parking
lot.Retirees Russell and Carolyn Janke were knocked unconscious and suffered multiple injuries after they had stopped at the McDonald’s on the Navajo Nation reservation in Window Rock. The two were on their way back to suburban Chicago from their winter home near Tucson.
Navajo acting police chief Steven Nelson said the “winds were pretty bad’’ Wednesday, causing the sign to be blown down from atop a pole across the street from the restaurant.
“It was a freak accident,’’ Nelson said.
Carolyn Janke was trapped inside the SUV and had to be cut out of the vehicle by rescue crews, Nelson said.
Both were taken to the Indian Health Service in Fort Defiance, Ariz. Carolyn Janke was later transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix — about six hours from Window Rock — where she remained in intensive care this afternoon, her daughter-in-law, Ann Janke, told the Chicago Sun-Times today.
Carolyn Janke has a fractured spinal column and a fractured sternum, her daughter-in-law said. Russell Janke, a retired engineer, was hit in the head and “has over 70 stitches,” she said.
SINC SAYS:
A severe case of fallen arches if I ever saw one.
Ferbey Heads To Playoffs After Beating Martin
17/04/2009 19:56
Randy Ferbey beat long-time rival Albertan Kevin Martin 6-5 Thursday to nab an early quarter-final berth in the Players' Championship in Grande Prairie, Alta.
Ferbey (3-0) ended Martin's two-game unbeaten streak by opening with a strong three points in the first end in the Draw 10 showdown.
"Obviously getting that three set them on their heels a little bit,'' Ferbey said.
After Martin rallied to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the final end, Ferbey's fourth, Dave Nedohin, made a draw to the button on the game's final shot for a one-point victory.
"Most games that we play some have been blowouts, but this is typical of us,'' added Ferbey. "Tied up coming home. Normally (Martin has) last rock but this time we had last rock. Dave made a couple good shots in the last end and that was the difference.''
Since going undefeated at the Brier and opening the World Championship with a 10-0 run, Martin is 3-4 in his last seven matches.
Defending champion Glenn Howard (3-0) also earned an early berth in the quarter-final with a 7-3 drubbing of Wayne Middaugh.
Howard picked up his third consecutive victory of the tournament after scoring four straight points in the middle ends to pull away.
More from ctvolympics.ca
UPDATE: THE PLAYERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
The women's semi-finalists were determined late last night. Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg will face Calgary's Cheryl Bernard, while Kelowna's Kelly Scott will take on Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary at 9:30 a.m. local time this morning to determine this afternoon's finalists. Catch all of the action of the women's final at 1:00 p.m. local time today on CBC and CBC-HD TV.
In men’s action late last night, Winnipeg's Mike McEwen, Edmonton's Kevin Martin and St. John's Brad Gushue advanced to join Edmonton's Randy Ferbey and Coldwater, Ontario's Glenn Howard in the Championship round. The final three qualifiers for the Championship round will come from C Event this morning.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Even though Ferbey beat Martin to advance to the Championship round out of A Event, I still wouldn’t go betting against Team Kevin Martin winning this thing.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
17/04/2009 19:55
Competitive rinks' lineup adjustments sometimes controversial, or occur with bitter feelings
It's amazing that someone hasn't come up with a soap opera based on curling, a sport that has more twists and turns than The Young and The Restless.
The scripts essentially write themselves.
"Yeah, you're right. It would be a Canadian cult classic, followed right across the country by rabid curling fans," said a chuckling Marc Kennedy about the proposed show.
Take this week, for example.
Heather Nedohin is throwing third stones for Cathy King, whose team offically broke up with former third Lori Olson, which also means coach Randy Olson, Lori's dad, is gone.
Rumour has it that Lori, away from the team after having a child two months ago, was more than willing to return to the rink for the Grey Power Players' Championship this week in Grande Prairie.
The team suggested that since it's the final event of the year, she should just continue to rest. The decision, apparently, didn't sit well and coach Olson told King that if Lori wasn't playing, she was walking.
"It was a little bit of a shocking breakup. She came to us and said she'd like to make the move and we said, 'Good luck,' " an emotional King said of the disintegration of the five-year team, which includes Raylene Rocque and Tracy Bush.
Olson is at the Players' Championship in the role as a fifth player for Crystal Webster's team, as Webster is due to deliver a baby -- as opposed to curling stones -- in early June.
"Last Saturday, we had a meeting.
I think we would have had the meeting after the Players' Championship, but because the other team had asked me to come, it made the meeting sooner," Olson said of the confrontation.
"I wish them all the best and I'm sure they are going to pursue all their goals they have set out for them. I had a baby two months ago and I think that presented some difficulties this year in terms of our schedule, and we mutually decided to go our separate ways." Olson said leaving King's team is difficult because "those girls are like my sisters.
"Eventually, all good things come to an end at some point," she added. "Unfortunately for us, it was a little short of our goals as a team, but that's OK." Lost in all the movement is some of the emotion that transpires in difficult personnel changes. Geez, even the men are going through it now.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Frankly, folks, I’ve never liked the Cathy King team with Lori Olson playing third. I have never felt they had a chance at winning anything. Olson is just not the 'big chucker' that's going to get you out of any trouble.
I think Heather Nedohin is a much better fit, and a lot of the success that Team King has enjoyed in recent times has been with Nedohin playing third for King. With Nedohin’s lack of success in recent years skipping her own team, do you think she can possibly be persuaded to come back into the King fold? I say go for it Cathy!
The Sounds Of Silence
17/04/2009 19:54
Worth the wait to hear MacTavish's account
We have questions, Craig MacTavish has tee times.
We want answers, he wants distance. We need to know, he needs to let the dust settle.
Fine.
That MacTavish is happy to have silence speak for him now is fairly typical of the suddenly former Edmonton Oilers head coach. On any given day, he would rather chew glass than delve into his feelings in public. At a career crossroads like this one, the wall around him must surely be higher, thicker and more soundproof. But the information blackout is also a tad ironic, since the affable bench boss had always delivered his opinions with such honesty and clarity, always stood up to take the heat and this year in particular to dish it out in the direction of underachieving players, always reluctantly took credit and always took the time.
An Oilers source said MacTavish may be on holiday for more than a week, so his last public comments on Monday will have to stand for that long, possibly much longer.
The trouble is, there are still serious questions to be asked and answered if Oilers fans are to become convinced the team is indeed addressing every old problem as it moves forward. Granted, GM Steve Tambellini surely knows those answers and that is likely enough for the Oilers, who are becoming an ever more impenetrable shop.
But it would be nice to know exactly how the blue-collar culture of this team was eroded so quickly in a dressing room that seemed more than a little dysfunctional. What kind of relationship did MacTavish really have with the leadership core of Ethan Moreau, Shawn Horcoff, Sheldon Souray and Steve Staios? Was his captain more of an ally, enemy or casual observer this year? When Moreau organized on-ice, players-only meetings in order to speak freely away from the coaches, what exactly does that say about the lines of communication? The Oilers could not ask MacTavish to address those questions Thursday and nobody could rightly speak on his behalf. Moreau and Staios answered some queries Wednesday, but their responses were unsatisfying and neither was available for more in-depth discussion Thursday.
So we wait. Perhaps for months.
We wait for the Oilers to rebuild a franchise that had last been torn down more than a decade ago.
We wait for Tambellini to build a list of coaching candidates, whittle it down and choose a successor. I think he will be youngish, from outside the Oilers' organization, he will favour aggressiveness and offence over defence, have particular acumen for plotting a potent power play and he will have professional head coaching experience though not necessarily at the NHL level. I think San Jose assistant coach Todd Richards will be just such a candidate in due course.
Until then, we also wait for the Oilers to remake the roster by letting some ECHL and AHL contracts lapse and by dealing fringe NHLers for draft picks, by watching over-hyped, underperforming Rob Schremp sign in Europe, by taking a July 1 run at Marian Hossa unless he re-signs with Detroit, by concocting the big, draft day trade for a first-line left winger or pivot and a smaller deal for a faceoff-winning depth centre. By reshaping the leadership core. By overhauling the player development department.
We wait for the Oilers to do all of this because it is necessary. Because a good coach and decent man in Craig MacTavish could not win with this lineup, which is the last thing he said to us on Monday. His was a brutally honest assessment of a season gone wrong and a team culture gone missing. He essentially telegraphed his departure and when it was made official two days hence, he was already out of reach and may well see no benefit to him, the Oilers organization or this hockey-besotted community in taking one last turn behind the lectern.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
Crawford, Quinn ‘interested in the job.’
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I notice that it is really bothering the Edmonton media that they just can’t stick a microphone in front of Craig MacTavish’s face and get their story for the day, because MacTavish has left town and made himself “unavailable.” Tough. Suck it up little princesses.
Kevin Martin, Team Shannon Kleibrink Win WCT Awards
17/04/2009 19:53
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. - Edmonton's Kevin Martin was named the World Curling Tour's most valuable male player Friday.
Martin captured the Canadian men's curling championship this year and finished second at the recent world event in Moncton, N.B. He also won the Canada Cup in Yorkton, Sask.
Martin also led his team to three WCT event titles this season.
"This is one award that you just have to cherish because you don't get it very often," Martin said in a statement. "No question."
"This is a good one to win.''
This marks the second straight year a member of Martin's team has captured the award. Second Marc Kennedy claimed it last season.
The Shannon Kleibrink foursome from Calgary was named the WCT's top women's team.
Kleibrink, third Amy Nixon, second Bronwen Webster and lead Chelsey Bell captured wins at the Canada Cup and Trial Appliances Autumn Gold Curling Classic, a women's 2008-'09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event.
It also won the CUETS Schmirler Curling Classic, Twin Anchors Houseboat Cashspiel and International Bernese Ladies Cup in Bern, Switzerland.
"There are so many other good teams that could have won this award,'' said Kleibrink. "It's nice for others to say that our past season has been that good.''
The top men's team will be announced Saturday.
Marie-France Larouche female most valuable player, Team Rachel Homan female rookies of-the-year.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Congrats to Kevin Martin and Team Shannon Kleibrink. These awards are very well-deserved.
Memory Loss Won’t Catch Terry Evanshen Napping
17/04/2009 19:52
Lists, routines and old-fashioned grit keep Terry Evanshen's life humming along.
The former CFL football star, whose memories and past life were literally erased following an auto accident in 1988 at age 44, continues to deal with short-term memory loss. The events of one day are forgotten the next, unless he commits them to paper.
"If I have things to do tomorrow, I mark them down," said Evanshen, who is the guest speaker Saturday at the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association's Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey in Saskatoon.
"I don't put any time constraints on them; I just know I have to start it and finish it. I mark down what I have to do and where I have to go; it's the five Ws. As long as I have the five Ws under control, I know what I'm doing."
That kind of organization came naturally to Evanshen during his stint from 1965 to 1978 as a glue-fingered CFL receiver and seven-time all-star. His survival then depended on outmanouevring and out-plotting bigger opponents.
The accident, in which a car ran a red light and crashed into his Jeep, erased his memory and stripped clean his entire emotional base. He had no recollection of his family or his football past; he reverted, in many ways, from adult to toddler. Early on, one of his daughters threw him a football; he had no idea what to do with it.
His family took it upon themselves to reteach him the game that once defined him; they taught him to catch a football, just like he taught them when they were children and he was the indestructable father/football star.
"I was a nobody, I was a somebody, I was a nobody, then I had to be totally retrained again -- how to speak and eat properly," said Evanshen, who was the subject of June Callwood's book The Man Who Lost Himself.
"The first five years (after the accident) was a nightmare.
"You're starting all over again. You have no experience; you never worked; you never did this, you never did that. I was always in the never stage. It was 'Who's this? What's that?' You're walking around befuddled. It took me a long time to learn to cross the street. The light turning red and turning green, getting caught in the middle and not moving; it was silliness. But the brain was all scrambled up."
Even today, two decades after the accident, Evanshen has absolutely no memory of his other life. Everything he knows about his football career comes from old newspaper clippings, film, and the recollections of family, friends and former teammates.
He's resigned himself to the complete erasure of that history within his memory bank; to the fact there will never be any sweet twinkling of recollection.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Terry Evanshen’s story is truly heart-wrenching. I remember him as an all-star Canadian CFL receiver with both the Calgary Stampeders and the Montreal Alouettes in the late 1960s and early 1970s. What’s most impressive about Evanshen’s story is the grit and determination he has shown in adapting to the hand he has been dealt in life.
Trial Underway In Montreal For Hockey Legend Lafleur
17/04/2009 19:52
MONTREAL -- Guy Lafleur went too far in trying to help his troubled son by omitting certain information during a bail hearing in 2007, the Crown argued at the hockey legend's trial Thursday.
Lafleur, who is facing a charge of giving contradictory testimony, testified his son Mark told him his curfew did not extend to any particular location.
And that was what Lafleur said he based his decision on when he allowed Mark to stay at a hotel on two occasions with a 16-year-old girlfriend.
The retired Montreal Canadiens star repeated over and over that his son always respected his curfew and never consumed drugs or alcohol under his watch.
Lafleur, 57, is alleged to have given the contradictory evidence during Mark's bail hearing on various criminal charges in September 2007.
Lafleur agreed at the time to supervise his son and to ensure he abided by the court-ordered curfew if he were granted bail pending trial.
But at a subsequent hearing in October 2007, it was revealed the elder Lafleur had driven his son to a hotel so he could spend time with a girlfriend on two occasions.
"He respected (the curfew) except for twice, when he asked if he could go to a hotel," Lafleur said that October.
"I thought that at 22, he had a right to some intimacy."
He testified Thursday the hotel visits had slipped his mind in the September court proceedings.
Lafleur said he didn't think the unsupervised hotel tryst was important and that it didn't occur to him to mention it. He maintained that even while at the hotel, his son abided by the curfew and other rules.
Once he was found out in October, Lafleur said he didn't have anything to hide.
Judge Claude Parent told Lafleur he was surprised the accused found the hotel visits to be unimportant.
"But what was important for me was that he respected his curfew and that he not abuse any substances," Lafleur repeated.
The Crown questioned how Lafleur could have known how his son was abiding by his conditions if the latter was not always at home.
"It's clear that Mr. Lafleur wants to do everything he can to help his son ... but sometimes his decisions unfortunately were not the right ones," prosecutor Lori-Renee Weitzman said in her closing arguments.
"He went too far in trying to protect his son and went as far as lying to the court."
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Being the sports icon that Guy Lafleur is in Montreal, it will be really interesting to see how this trial turns out. The judge is due to render a decision May 1.
Castroneves Acquitted Of Most Tax Charges - To Race Sunday
17/04/2009 19:51
MIAMI - Brazilian race car driver Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than US$2.3 million in income tax.
A federal jury acquitted Castroneves, the 2007 winner of TV's and "Dancing With The Stars," on six counts of tax evasion but hung on one count of conspiracy. When the sentence was read, Castroneves broke into sobs and leaned against his lawyers for support.
The jury also acquitted Katiucia Castroneves, 35, who is her 33-year-old brother's business manager, on the tax evasion counts but also hung on the conspiracy. Michigan motorsports lawyer Alan Miller, 71, was acquitted on all three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy.
The jury deliberated six days after a six-week trial.
Castroneves, speaking in his native Portuguese, expressed profound relief.
"I just want to thank God and my fans, and all of the people who prayed for me," he said outside the courtroom, still fingering a rosary.
A few moments later, Castroneves said that he can't wait to suit up for this weekend's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
"Instead of going to Disneyland, I want to go to Long Beach to race," he said. "I'm going back to racing."
He said he planned to leave Friday night for Los Angeles, where he will race for Team Penske.
Penske officials did not immediately return a message but planned to hold a news conference later in the afternoon.
All three faced more than six years in prison if convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion between 1999 and 2004. The case mainly revolved around income from a $2-million sponsorship deal Castroneves had with the Brazilian firm Coimex and his $5-million licensing deal he reached with Penske Racing in late 1999.
Alicia Valle, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office, said prosecutors will review all of the options on the hung conspiracy charge "to determine how best to proceed."
Castroneves' lawyers said it would be "illogical to proceed" with refiling the conspiracy count.
Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the Indy racing circuit's most popular drivers, was temporarily replaced on Team Penske by Australian Will Power pending the outcome of the case.
Central to the case was the ownership of a Panamanian company called Seven Promotions. Prosecutors called it a shell corporation set up primarily so Castroneves could dodge U.S. income taxes, but Castroneves' father testified he created Seven to boost his son's image in Brazil. The elder Castroneves said his son never owned it.
Prosecutors called that a lie, showing jurors numerous documents in which Castroneves claimed Seven as his own. If it was, an Internal Revenue Service agent testified that Castroneves owed U.S. taxes on the full $5 million from Penske even though he has never actually received the money.
More from Canadian Press.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I can’t believe this, folks. He really did just dance his way around the IRS. Good for you, Helio!
Man Gets DWI On Steamroller
17/04/2009 02:47
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas -
A Pflugerville man is arrested for driving home
a piece of construction equipment, police say
while intoxicated.
FOX 7 News first reported this in October, now Pflugerville Police are releasing the video.
A patrol officer spotted the road roller at four in the morning, driving down Immanuel Street.
"The vehicle was actually weaving. There were no flagmen, no lights on it. It was dark and it was a dangerous situation," Asst. Chief Jim McLean said.
The officer put on his lights, and pulled the driver the equipment over.
The driver-- 32 year old Ronald Howell-- told the officer he was walking from Players Night Club and Tuffs Tavern.
He took the Dynapac Vibrator Roller from a construction site at F.M. 1825, and started driving it home.
"The officer smelled alcohol on his person," McLean said.
Howell was given a series of sobriety tests, which police say he failed. He was arrested for DWI, driving with an invalid license and felony theft, for stealing the roller valued at $180,000.
"When the officer was talking to him, the only explanation he could get was that it was cold outside, he's driving it because it was cold, trying to get home.
During an officer's career, I would say that's a normal contact they would have," McLean said.
A judge ordered Howell deferred adjudication on the criminal charges.
SINC SAYS:
I bet that guy was going flat out trying to get away from the cops.
Louis Armstrong’s Last Appearance?
17/04/2009 02:47
Louis Armstrong
and Johnny Cash - Blue Yodel No.
9
I would have never guessed, but Louis Armstrong was a guest on the Johnny Cash Show. This and the story about Satchmo and Jimmie Rogers show how diverse musical tastes these men had and once again that music is a great connector.
This is from episode 38, Oct., 28, 1970 and must be one of Satchmo's last performances. He was such a great performer right to the end and the Nashville audience and Johnny just loved him.
Louis Armstrong cracks everybody up at the start of the song: Let's give it ...
READER RESPONSE:
Good morning Don!
Now, how the heck did you know that watching Satchmo would put a smile on my face?? When I was about 3, I told my mom that I wanted a record by the man who I saw 'blow mouth and sing Hello Dolly'. That was the beginning of my love affair with the amazing Louis Armstrong. What a performer. Wow, it's a good thing someone archived clips. Now, future generations can also share the incredible music of the 'Blow mouth man' - Satchmo - as all those who loved his music called him.
Thanks very much.
Vicki
I would have never guessed, but Louis Armstrong was a guest on the Johnny Cash Show. This and the story about Satchmo and Jimmie Rogers show how diverse musical tastes these men had and once again that music is a great connector.
This is from episode 38, Oct., 28, 1970 and must be one of Satchmo's last performances. He was such a great performer right to the end and the Nashville audience and Johnny just loved him.
Louis Armstrong cracks everybody up at the start of the song: Let's give it ...
READER RESPONSE:
Good morning Don!
Now, how the heck did you know that watching Satchmo would put a smile on my face?? When I was about 3, I told my mom that I wanted a record by the man who I saw 'blow mouth and sing Hello Dolly'. That was the beginning of my love affair with the amazing Louis Armstrong. What a performer. Wow, it's a good thing someone archived clips. Now, future generations can also share the incredible music of the 'Blow mouth man' - Satchmo - as all those who loved his music called him.
Thanks very much.
Vicki
Woman's Bite Of Burglar Reveals DNA
17/04/2009 02:47
APPLETON — A Grand
Chute woman who chased a burglar and bit his
hand got a big enough piece of him to provide a
DNA match that led to his arrest, authorities
say.Scott D. Cross, 23, 620 W. Fourth St., No. 1, Appleton, was charged Monday in Outagamie County Court with burglary and bail jumping, both as a repeat offender.
He was jailed on a $10,000 cash bond with a preliminary hearing set for April 23.
On Feb. 26, a Grand Chute woman told police she was awakened when someone entered her Eighth Street residence. She found someone standing in her hallway and yelled out "What are you doing?"
Cross then ran from the residence with the 39-year-old woman in close pursuit. She tackled Cross, and when he put his hand near her face, she bit down on his finger, according to the criminal complaint.
She told police she bit him so hard it pushed one of her teeth outward.
Police collected enough blood and skin from her mouth to process a DNA sample, which led to Cross.
Scott, when interviewed by police, said he was drunk and went into the woman's house to steal food.
SINC SAYS:
Talk about taking a bite out of crime.
The Philosophy Of Ambiguity . . .
17/04/2009 02:47
As well as
the
idiosyncrasies of
English
12. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
13. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
14. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
15. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
16. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
17. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
18. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
21. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
22. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
12. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
13. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
14. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
15. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
16. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
17. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
18. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
21. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
22. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
Tambo: ‘I Have In Mind The Coach I’m Looking For’
17/04/2009 02:46
But Oilers GM Tambellini says other changes besides MacTavish's dismissal are pending
When the Craig MacTavish era ended Wednesday, as many expected, confirming whispers emanating from the Oilers organization for weeks, some could only manage a half-hearted wave good-bye.
Certainly, veterans like team captain Ethan Moreau and Steve Staios took the firing of their head coach for the last eight seasons rather bloodlessly.
"I don't think anybody is terribly surprised," Moreau told reporters. "We knew that changes had to be made in the organization, this is just the first one."
Staios, too, coolly summed up the dismissal of MacTavish, whose team missed the playoffs five of his eight seasons as head man, including the last three in a row, as "the nature of the business."
But the magnitude of the dismissal and what it signals for a franchise that has lost its way was palpable in the heartfelt address GM Steve Tambellini gave to a jam-packed news conference at Rexall Place.
"I have in my mind the type of coach that I'm looking for," he said. For obvious reasons, he wasn't ready to provide more specific clues.
"In our discussions, it became quite clear that it was the right thing for Craig and the right thing for the Oilers, at this point," said Tambellini, who said MacTavish's termination was by "mutual agreement," although it looked and felt like a firing.
"We need a new voice, we need a new start, we need new expectations, we need a new discipline and it's time to look forward here."
MacTavish, who delivered a brutally honest post-mortem of the Oilers' 38-35-9 non-playoff season on Monday, wasn't in Edmonton on Wednesday and did not return a voicemail message.
Tambellini added it would have been difficult for his increasingly frustrated head coach to return in that position, given the amount of time he has been here, "trying to push this group to a different level."
More from the Edmonton Journal.
Players must share blame for dismal season fans say.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I hope that coach that Tambellini is looking for can somehow get this bunch of underachievers to win.
Martin Prevails In Battle Of Edmonton Kevins
17/04/2009 02:46
Halfway through the Battle of Edmonton, it didn't seem like much of a battle at all.
Kevin Martin faced off against fellow Edmontonian Kevin Koe in Draw 5 at the Players' Championship and stole points in the first four ends, opening a 5-0 lead.
That's when Koe seemed like he had enough, and the battle was on in Grande Prairie, Alta.
He answered with two in the fifth, then stole points in the sixth and seventh to tie the game 5-5 heading into the final end.
But Martin ultimately prevailed with a single point, a double takeout - only the second point scored with the hammer in the match - defeating Koe 6-5.
"It was a two-way shot,'' Martin said. "I just couldn't afford to hit it too thick. So I hit it thin, off the (Koe rock), knocks (the other Koe rock) out and our back one scores.''
With the win, the Brier champ and 2009 World silver medallist advances in the triple-knockout preliminary round to play Randy Ferbey, who defeated Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue 6-3 Wednesday night in Draw 6.
Leading 5-3 in the seventh end, Ferbey's team put the game out of reach after Gushue's draw to the four-foot came up short, giving them a one-point steal and an insurmountable three-point advantage heading into the final frame.
"The difference tonight was we got two in the first end and they were chasing after that,'' Ferbey said. "We played reasonably well and anytime you get two on a good team in the first end in an eight-end game, it's tough to catch up.''
Elsewhere Wednesday, Calgary's Cheryl Bernard romped through Regina's Michelle Englot 10-2, after a steal of three in the sixth prompted Englot to shake hands.
2009 Tournament of Hearts finalist Marla Mallett beat Marie-France Larouche 9-7, Sherry Middaugh beat Amber Holland 8-5 and Crystal Webster beat Barb Spencer 8-4.
In Draw 6, Brad Heidt beat Kerry Burtnyk 7-5, Dale Matchett beat Sean Geall 4-3, Mike McEwen beat Pat Simmons 7-5 and Ted Appelman beat Chris Schille 6-3.
UPDATE: MEN'S PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Late last night, it was Edmonton's Randy Ferbey finally beating his arch-rival Kevin Martin 6-5, and Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ontario clipping Wayne Middaugh of Toronto 7-3. With those wins, Ferbey and Howard are the two A Event qualifiers for the Championship round. Three more qualifiers will come out of B Event today, with the final three qualifiers emerging from C Event tomorrow.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Wow, what a surprise folks – it was Kevin Martin vs. Randy Ferbey to determine the first men's qualifier for the Championship round at the Players’ Championship. And Ferbey finally beat him! Will miracles ever cease?
Everyone Get Out Of The Pool
17/04/2009 02:46
Award-laden Strathcona High School facility on chopping block
The last time anyone beat the Stratchcona Lords in the swimming pool, the Oilers were Stanley Cup Champions and Brian Mulroney was prime minister.
After 23 years on top, though, the Lords could be in for a tough battle for No. 24.
City manager Al Maurer told council this week he wants to close the Scona Pool, which is attached to Strathcona High School.
The closure would save the city tens of thousands of dollars in repair and operation costs every year, he said.
But it would also mean displacing the Strathcona swim team, which has more than 100 members.
"We'd like to see it stay open, obviously," said Strathcona assistant principal Tom Davey. "We'd like to see things carry on the way they are."
Davey said the swim team uses the pool daily during the competitive season and he wasn't sure what would happen if they were forced to go to another location.
The Lords, though, are only one of a number of groups that would be displaced by the city plan.
Carl Simonson is the head coach of the Olympian Swimming club. He helps train more than 160 competitive swimmers between the ages of five and 14, as well as hundreds of learners, all out of Scona.
"They've basically given us until September to figure out what to do," Simonson said.
Simonson found out about the potential closure Tuesday night at a city meeting. He said the city told them it won't go out of its way to find new space for users.
"If you look around, there are no facilities that have availability," he said, especially during peak weekday hours between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
A manager with the city's recreation branch said that other pools in the area can easily pick up the slack.
"There is capacity, there is no question," said Rob Smyth, who added that the city will work to find space for all Scona users. "We're not going to cut them loose."
Scona has far fewer swimmers than any other Edmonton indoor pool, attracting about 35,000 people last year compared to 132,000 visits to Hardisty and 140,000 at Bonnie Doon, city figures show.
That works out to a subsidy of about $8 for each Scona customer compared to an average $5 subsidy for people using other pools.
Scona also rents time to private groups including a synchronized swimming club, a kayak club and a handful of diving clubs and trainers.
The city is proposing to close it permanently July 1, saving $80,000 in operating costs and repairs in 2009, and more in future years.
"Because of the downturn, we have to be fiscally responsible," Smyth said.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It’s really sad when city administrations get too big and powerful and community facilities such as the Strathcona Pool get the axe due to municipal budget cuts. Couldn’t City of Edmonton Administration have found something else?
I remember when the City of St. Albert tried to save a few nickels and dimes by proposing that the Grosvenor Pool be closed down in 2001. Wow, what a public outcry that caused! I remember Elke Blodgett and her orchestra of St. Albert kids chanting in Council, "Save our pool, save our pool!" And guess what? The pool was indeed saved by a few astute members of St. Albert City Council of the day, as I remember it.
Jones, Kleibrink Post Victories At Players’ Championship
17/04/2009 02:46
Jennifer Jones and Shannon Kleibrink are the only women to secure a spot at the Canadian curling Olympic trials in December.
On Thursday, the two skips will face off in a preview of what's to come later this year, after their rinks each posted a victory Wednesday afternoon in Draw 4 at the Players' Championship in Grande Prairie, Alta.
In 2008, Jones beat Kleibrink, the 2006 Olympic bronze medallist, in the Tournament of Hearts final, but they did not have a rematch at the 2009 tournament because Cheryl Bernard represented Alberta instead of Kleibrink.
The winner of Wednesday's match (3:30 ET) at the Players' Championship will advance directly to the tournament's championship round.
On Wednesday, Jones defeated Stefanie Lawton 7-4 after scoring three in the fifth end to break open a 2-2 draw.
Tied at 2-2 through four ends, Jones seized control of the game in the fifth frame after executing an open draw for three points.
"We made a couple of good shots and Stefanie was just a little bit light on her last one,'' Jones said. "She could have forced us to one point but we got a little bit of a lucky break and had a draw for three.''
Kleibrink needed an extra end to beat Kelly Scott, former Hearts champion and world bronze medallist, 9-8.
She stumbled in the beginning of her match with Scott, trailing 5-0 after two frames. The top seed in the women's draw, Kleibrink's comeback began in the third end after the Olympic bronze medallist made an open draw for three points, followed by a steal of one point in the fourth frame.
Scott rebounded to force an extra end with a point in the seventh and steal of one in the eighth. In the final frame, Scott could not sustain her momentum as her final draw came up short, allowing Kleibrink to win the game without throwing her final stone.
Elsewhere around the rink, Glenn Howard opened his tournament with a 7-4 win over Brad Heidt. Krista McCarville rebounded from a loss to Kleibrink Tuesday with a 9-2 rout of Cathy King, and Heather Rankin beat Rachel Homan 7-5.
Earlier Wednesday, Jeff Stoughton thumped Dale Matchett 7-1. The 2009 Brier finalist scored two points in the second end, and another three in the fifth end. Blanking two ends early in the match, Stoughton scored another two points spread over the sixth and seventh ends, and the two rinks shook hands.
Wayne Middaugh of Toronto led his rink to a 7-3 win over the B.C. rink of Sean Geall. After Middaugh scored a four point fourth end, Geall's rink couldn't make up the ground and conceded the match after the seventh end.
Brad Gushue of Newfoundland led his rink through to a 6-2 win over the rink of Ted Appelman of Edmonton. The Gushue rink scored two points in the second and third ends, and the Alberta rink conceded the match after the seventh.
Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw, Sask., edged Kerry Burtnyk in the final end to win with a score of 5-4.
The all Edmonton matchup of Chris Schille and Randy Ferbey ended in an extra end, with Ferbey prevailing 6-5.
UPDATE: WOMEN'S PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
Calgary's Shannon Kleibrink and Cheryl Bernard became the first two qualifiers for the Championship round yesterday afternoon from A Event. Kleibrink thumped Team Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg 10-4, while Bernard dispatched Team Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ontario 8-2 to qualify for the Championship round. Three more qualifiers will come from B Event late last night, while the final three qualifiers will come out of C Event today.
One of the early casualties was St. Albert's Cathy King, who lost three straight games and made a quick exit from the event.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I could live with either Team Shannon Kleibrink or Jennifer Jones as Canada’s female curling representatives at Vancouver 2010.
The End Of The Line For MacT
17/04/2009 02:46
Coaching change first of several moves necessary to improve team
The to-do list is a long one.
Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini wants more grit, more energy and more strength, things that were lacking as the club stumbled into 11th place in the Western Conference.
He also has to find a new head coach who can draw all of that from the players he has to work with.
Craig MacTavish couldn't.
After failing to get his team into the playoffs for the third year in a row, MacTavish was relieved Wednesday of his duties, which is another way of saying he has a year left on his contract but won't be paid to coach the Oilers.
"He gave everything he possibly could to help this team get better, but we both agree it's time for a change," a fervent Tambellini said. "Our players shouldn't be comfortable. Our hockey operations shouldn't be comfortable that we're sitting here out of the playoffs.
"Is there emotion when you have to let a quality person, a quality coach go? Yeah there is, but that's the hard part of this business," Tambellini continued. "Decisions have to be made for us to get better. He's a great coach, and I'd expect, if he wants, that he'll be coaching in the NHL next year.
"It just became very clear to Craig and myself that it would have been very difficult for him to come back in this position. He has tried to push this group to a different level.
"We need a new voice, we need a new start, we need new expectations, new discipline." MacTavish, who served as the Oilers bench boss for eight seasons, wasn't available for comment.
His assistants are now in limbo.
Tambellini said he has not yet had discussions with Charlie Huddy, Bill Moores or Kelly Buchberger but, typically, head coaches want to pick their own assistants.
A new head coach will not be brought on board before the playoffs end.
"One thing I want to make clear is that because we are changing our head coach and moving in a different direction, this does not absolve the players," Tambellini said.
"The second part of this is do we need to address our personnel? Obviously, we do. People say we weren't gritty enough as a team.
I agree with that. Do we need to get stronger? Yes we do.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
Players knew changes had to be made.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Let’s hope that Tambellini sticks true to his word, because there is one helluva lot more than the head coach that needs to be changed in the Edmonton Oiler organization.
Another Wrench Thrown Into Works
17/04/2009 02:46
Ryan Werenich doesn't look like his famous dad, but has same passion for game
Funny, he doesn't look like a Little Wrench. More like a tall rake.
But there he is, in flesh and blood. Ryan Werenich, son of the legend Ed Werenich, a two-time world and Brier champion from 1983 and 1990.
Hardly a chip off the old block, though. The younger Werenich is tall (six feet), lean (160 pounds), with no protruding belly or even a piece of straw broom clutched between his teeth.
Quiet and mild-mannered, this Werenich hardly ratchets the pressure on the ice like dad did, or often abraded other players and curling officials off the ice -- hence the nickname. Nope, just calm and reserved, but he carries the same passion for the game that The Wrench carried in his tool pocket.
"He's still that way, just not in the spotlight anymore," said Ryan of his dad, retired and enjoying golf in Ontario.
Mention the name Werenich in curling circles across Canada and immediately thoughts turn to The Wrench, a colourful, outspoken character, who in 1972 joined Paul Savage's team as his second. It led to a wonderful, but also somewhat controversial career. It included a stint at the 1987 Canadian Winter Olympic Trials, where the elder Werenich was "humiliated" by the Canadian Curling Association, which threatened to disqualify him if he didn't "shed a few pounds."
Now his 30-year-old son is playing third on Dale Matchett's Churchill, Ont.-based team that is competing at the 2009 Grey Power Players' Championship in Grande Prairie.
"We're so low-key, I don't think a lot of people are even aware of it (the relation)," admitted the younger Werenich, who has heard several of the wonderful Wrench stories.
As a child he used to follow his father around and he himself started playing at age eight.
"As much as I could. I loved it," he said, of the trips to the curling clubs. "Any time he was in the Toronto area, we were there."
He also got to spend the entire week at the 1997 Brier in Calgary. "I was old enough to appreciate it then," said Ryan, who was 17 at the time.
Many of the curlers competing here at this Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event have had their experiences with The Wrench and weren't afraid to share them.
"Me and The Wrench never really got along," chuckled Randy Ferbey. "We didn't associate a lot during the years, which was unfortunate. It wasn't like we didn't get along, we just weren't buddies.
"He was crafty, though, and way older than me," laughed Ferbey. "They were a solid team, they won almost everything in sight. They were the Kevin Martin and Glenn Howard of their time. He was a force for years."
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Ryan’s dad, Eddie, is a curling icon and one of the great Canadian curling “characters” of all time.
John Madden Announces Retirement From Broadcasting
17/04/2009 02:46
NEW YORK - John Madden, the burly former coach who has been one of pro football's most popular broadcast analysts for three decades, is retiring.
Madden worked for the past three seasons on NBC's Sunday night NFL game. His last telecast was the Super Bowl between Arizona and Pittsburgh.
"It's time," Madden said in a statement. "I'm 73 years old.
"My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."
Madden said he still loves all aspects of the game and his job, and that's why it took him a couple of months to make the decision.
Madden's blue-collar style and love for in-the-trenches football endeared him to fans. His "Madden NFL Football" is the top-selling sports video game of all time.
Madden is reluctant to fly and often travelled to games in a specially equipped bus.
He began his pro football career as a linebacker coach at Oakland in 1967 and was named head coach two years later, at 33 the youngest coach in what was then the American Football League.
Madden led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory and retired in 1979. He joined CBS later that year.
He worked at CBS until 1994 when the network lost rights to broadcast NFL games, leading him to switch to Fox. He left Fox in 2002 to become the lead analyst for ABC's "Monday Night Football" and joined NBC in 2006 when that network inaugurated a prime-time Sunday game.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
"I don't know that I've ever met anyone who loves the NFL, or cares about the NFL, more than John Madden," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "As a friend, I know that John's respect and passion for the sport will be the two elements of his legacy that matter the most to him. His imprint and impact on our game were powerful and meaningful. His influence on the sport was felt by everyone -- the guys in the equipment room, the players, the coaches, the owners, and most importantly, the fans.
"He's going out on top -- as the best we have -- and the best we have ever had."
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I will really miss John Madden on the Sunday night football broadcasts. He is the very best football analyst that ever lived.
Ovechkin, Ryan Face Off In POY Showdown Semi-Final
17/04/2009 02:46
The preliminary round of the NHL Play of the Year Showdown is over and the semi-final matchups are set.
The first semi-final will pit the NHL's leading goal-scorer and Hart Trophy candidate, Alex Ovechkin, against a fantastic freshman in Ducks forward Bobby Ryan. Both players pulled off spectacular spin moves to win their respective pools, but only one can move on.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
To comment, see the complete picture and/or watch video of the plays, click here.
'Miracle' On A Maple Leaf
16/04/2009 03:02
Woman finds
an
uplifting
image
Mimi DiMauro was doing yard work with her family in the fall of 2007 when her 24-year-old daughter, visiting from New York City, made a discovery that could be described as beyond beleaf.
She was off to one side of the lawn, raking and singing to herself, said her mother, when she make a stroke with the rake and noticed what looked like a face looking up at her.
She leaned over to get a closer look.
There, etched in black on the edge of a fallen maple leaf, was what looked to her like an image of Jesus.
DiMauro's daughter ran over to show the leaf to her mother who also saw the face of Jesus in the design. They put the leaf away, but showed it to other family members who recognized the well-known religious figure.
DiMauro, a Sudbury Realtor, brought the leaf to her office and took an informal survey.
"Three-quarters of the people I showed it too immediately saw the face of Jesus Christ. The other quarter saw Bob Marley or John Lennon," said DiMauro. "But when I asked that quarter if they were religious, right away they said, 'It's Jesus Christ."'
The image of Jesus, said DiMauro, "seemed to be a symbol of hope in a world where everything seems to be negative."
"It's like finding a four-leaf clover," she said.
The family began discussing what they should do with the leaf and decided it was "a blessing in nature," DiMaura said.
DiMauro has read about religious images on a cheese sandwich and a potato chip that have sold on the Internet, and considered posting a photograph of the leaf online, but instead put the leaf away.
"I put it aside and haven't done anything with it, but I check it regularly and it hasn't changed," said DiMauro. "Every time I look at it I see the same image. I feel like it was something that was brought to us."
She said the leaf came up in conversation this week, and she thought that, with the arrival of spring and Easter it was time to share the story of the maple leaf with the public.
"I thought, maybe this is something that could be uplifting," said DiMauro. "At a time of so much negative news, it makes a little good news."
SINC SAYS:
He’s everywhere, but I think he prefers to appear on toast, doesn’t he?
Mimi DiMauro was doing yard work with her family in the fall of 2007 when her 24-year-old daughter, visiting from New York City, made a discovery that could be described as beyond beleaf.
She was off to one side of the lawn, raking and singing to herself, said her mother, when she make a stroke with the rake and noticed what looked like a face looking up at her.
She leaned over to get a closer look.
There, etched in black on the edge of a fallen maple leaf, was what looked to her like an image of Jesus.
DiMauro's daughter ran over to show the leaf to her mother who also saw the face of Jesus in the design. They put the leaf away, but showed it to other family members who recognized the well-known religious figure.
DiMauro, a Sudbury Realtor, brought the leaf to her office and took an informal survey.
"Three-quarters of the people I showed it too immediately saw the face of Jesus Christ. The other quarter saw Bob Marley or John Lennon," said DiMauro. "But when I asked that quarter if they were religious, right away they said, 'It's Jesus Christ."'
The image of Jesus, said DiMauro, "seemed to be a symbol of hope in a world where everything seems to be negative."
"It's like finding a four-leaf clover," she said.
The family began discussing what they should do with the leaf and decided it was "a blessing in nature," DiMaura said.
DiMauro has read about religious images on a cheese sandwich and a potato chip that have sold on the Internet, and considered posting a photograph of the leaf online, but instead put the leaf away.
"I put it aside and haven't done anything with it, but I check it regularly and it hasn't changed," said DiMauro. "Every time I look at it I see the same image. I feel like it was something that was brought to us."
She said the leaf came up in conversation this week, and she thought that, with the arrival of spring and Easter it was time to share the story of the maple leaf with the public.
"I thought, maybe this is something that could be uplifting," said DiMauro. "At a time of so much negative news, it makes a little good news."
SINC SAYS:
He’s everywhere, but I think he prefers to appear on toast, doesn’t he?
Patriotic Retirement - This Would Work:
16/04/2009 02:59
This was an article
from the St. Petersburg Times
Newspaper. The Business Section asked readers
for ideas on
"How Would
You
Fix the
Economy?"
I thought this was the BEST idea.
I think this guy nailed it!
Dear Mr.President,
Patriotic retirement:
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force; pay them $1 million a piece severance with stipulations:
1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage- Housing Crisis fixed.
All this and it's still cheaper than the "bailout".
SINC SAYS:
You know this was meant as a joke, but the longer I think about it, the more sense it makes.
I thought this was the BEST idea.
I think this guy nailed it!
Dear Mr.President,
Patriotic retirement:
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force; pay them $1 million a piece severance with stipulations:
1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage- Housing Crisis fixed.
All this and it's still cheaper than the "bailout".
SINC SAYS:
You know this was meant as a joke, but the longer I think about it, the more sense it makes.
Man Builds Working Replica Of Noah's Ark
16/04/2009 02:50
To exact scale
given in Bible
The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened to the first crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder. Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist, Johan Huibers, as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high an d 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the l ength of a football field and as high as a three-story house.
Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son, Roy. Construction began in May 2005. On the uncovered top deck, not quite ready in time for the opening, will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs, chickens, goats and one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension', said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.
'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big ' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark.
Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where church-going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.
SINC SAYS:
No matter what you do or don’t believe, you cannot deny the faith it took for this man to complete such a huge vessel in such a short time.
Swinestoppers . . .
15/04/2009 20:18
A DAD was hauled out
of bed and arrested for having an ornamental
PIG in his garden — after his policeman
neighbour claimed it was put there to poke fun
at him.
Shocked Robin Demczak, 57, was dragged off to cells and held for more than 6? hours as the constable’s colleagues grilled him about the porcelain porker.
He was finally freed without charge after explaining the black pig with white spots had been there for eight years — while the officer had only lived next door for FOUR.
Fuming window fitter Robin — who used to have a PIGGERY in his back garden — slammed the swoop yesterday.
He said: “I was in bed and I could hear police cars outside.
“I was thinking, ‘What’s going on?’ Then I was dragged out by police, arrested and chucked in the back of a police car.
“I was held by them for almost seven hours because having the stone pig apparently counted as harassment.” Neighbour PC John Ablett called in his colleagues following a simmering 18-month feud over a footpath that splits his back garden from Robin’s in Witney, Oxfordshire.
The traffic cop insists the former pig farmer has no right to use it.
Robin said: “PC Ablett had me arrested because he didn’t like me keeping my 12-inch porcelain model pig in the back garden.
“He seems to think it is offensive to policemen.”
The dad, who got rid of his hogs years ago and now uses the sty as a shed, told how his neighbour also failed to see the funny side over a sign he painted saying: “No pigs”. He denied it was a dig at the cop.
Robin explained: “When I got rid of all the pigs, I painted a sign saying there weren’t any left in there. That was in case someone was worried about them.”
Although he was freed without charge, Robin was ordered to REMOVE the ornamental pig from the garden of his £200,000 home.
He was also told to STOP calling his outbuilding a sty.
Robin said: “The reason I call it that is because it used to be a piggery — it has still got troughs and slurry dips in the floor.”
Yesterday Thames Valley police confirmed officers were still looking into the complaint made against him.
A force spokesman said: “We can confirm that a man was arrested on suspicion of harassment in relation to the incident.
“He has been released without charge. But the investigation is still ongoing.
“There was an ornament in the garden and also some writing on a wall.” PC Ablett was last night unavailable for comment.
SINC SAYS:
Anyone that paranoid about a nickname for a cop shouldn’t be one, should he?
The Philosophy Of Ambiguity . . .
15/04/2009 20:11
As well as the
idiosyncrasies of English . .
.1. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
5. The main reason that santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
7. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
8. If a deaf person signs swear words, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
9. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
10. Is there another word for synonym?
11. Where do forest rangers go to 'get away from it all?'
Oilers Let Craig MacTavish Go
15/04/2009 17:31
EDMONTON — In an attempt to steer the Edmonton Oilers in a new direction, general manager Steve Tambellini will start by hiring a new head coach. Craig MacTavish has been relieved of his duties, setting in motion the first significant change the team will undergo this off-season.
“In discussions with Craig and myself and (president Kevin Lowe) it became clear it was the right thing for Craig and the right thing for the Oilers at this point,” Tambellini said. “We need a new voice, we need a new start, we need new expectations, new discipline.
“It’s time to look forward.”
MacTavish, who still has a year left on his contract, was not available for comment.
As for the assistant coaches, Tambellini said he has not yet had discussions with the group. Typically, head coaches want to work alongside assistants of their choosing.
Either way, all hirings will remain on hold until the playoffs end.
“One thing I want to make clear is that because we are changing our head coach and moving in a different direction, this does not absolve the players,” Tambellini continued.
“The second part of this is do we need to address our personnel? Obviously we do …When I think about the Oilers and what they represent and the things that are important to the Oilers and why there hasn’t been success here at times, lately, it’s because of a passion, because of a commitment, because of a sacrifice to do anything to win. That’s why it was so hard to compete against the Oilers. The players would do anything.
“People say we weren’t gritty enough as a team. I agree with that.
“Do we need to get stronger? Yes we do.
“The job now is to think about how much of that can we get from what we have. We’ll make that assessment and if we don’t have internally, how do we acquire it? We have some good pieces in place here … But I can tell you things are going to change as far as expectations and preparation from the players' standpoint.”
MacT departure no surprise to players.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well you Prima Donna players? You are now officially out of excuses. What do you do now?
Ferbey Has To Cheer For Arch-Rival Martin
15/04/2009 17:30
GRANDE PRAIRIE — Hell has officially frozen over. How else can you explain veteran, hard-nosed curling skip Randy Ferbey cheering for Kevin Martin?
Well, it’s come to that as Ferbey keeps a close eye on proceedings during Draw 3 of the Grey Power Players Championship in Grande Prairie.
With a direct berth to the 2009 Canadian Olympic Trials in Edmonton Dec. 6-13 on the line, Ferbey needs somewhat of a miracle to grab the fourth and final free space to the event, dubbed the Roar of the Rings.
His option of Wayne Middaugh going winless at this Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event went out the window quickly with Middaugh’s 7-3 thumping of Sean Geall late Wednesday morning. Now Ferbey needs Kevin Koe to stumble and Koe, a Grande Prairie resident who curls out of Edmonton, is up against Martin at 5 p.m.
“I was watching, Koe basically has to lose now, so I’m a Kevin Martin fan tonight,” laughed Ferbey. “Just for this once, I’m on the Kevin Martin bandwagon, see if he helps us out.”
The two archrivals are both 1-0 here as Martin soundly thrashed Pat Simmons 9-3 in just four ends Tuesday night. Ferbey came up with an extra-end 6-5 win over fellow Edmonton rink Chris Schille. Dave Nedohin, who throws last stone for Ferbey, had to draw the button for the tough win.
“It wasn’t an easy start,” admitted Ferbey. “Considering we haven’t played in three weeks or so, I thought that we played real well. But man, you look at the scoreboard and we’re tied going to an extra end and we have to draw the button. It’s probably a good thing that Dave had to draw the button, maybe he’ll have confidence now for the rest of the week.”
Unlike having confidence in his chances of grabbing that direct berth, which now hinges on Koe winning just two games here and he’s already 1-0.
“You can’t worry about it,” smiled Ferbey, knowing his chances are awfully slim. “Worst-case scenario is there is a lot of money out here, we’re already in the (Olympic) Pre-Trials (in Prince George, B.C. in Nov.), so hopefully we’ll make some money for the summer.”
But he still had his opinions of how the entire Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) works, with points up for grabs in various one-, two- and three-year processes.
“It’s confusing, there are definitely some flaws in it,” said Ferbey. “I was talking to a couple of teams today who are already in the pre-trials. We’ve been basically playing our (bags) off for three years to get this spot. A couple of teams are just upstarts and if they do well here they are in the pre-trials. So we’re thinking, ‘Maybe we did this the wrong way?’
“It’s not a real good system, they have to look at it, that’s for sure,” insisted Ferbey, who now faces Brad Gushue tonight at 8:30 at the Crystal Centre.
Gushue defeated Edmonton’s Ted Appelman 6-2 in Draw 3, while Jeff Stoughton hammered Dale Matchett 7-1 and Joel Jordison toppled Kerry Burtnyk 5-4.
“It was a good way to get off, with a win,” said Stoughton, who is also in the hunt for that direct berth to Edmonton. Stoughton would have to win this event and have Middaugh not go past the quarter-finals to win the two-year CTRS title.
“For us, we’re not in the drivers’ seat, that’s for sure. Wayne doesn’t have it quite locked up, but we have to do real well, get to the semi or win it. We’ll just take it as it comes,” said Stoughton.
“Not bad, take it and run,” said Middaugh, of his win. “The whole goal is to win three before you lose three. The first one you take and you run.”
Middaugh will now face Stoughton in A-event play on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well, folks, I guess hell really has officially frozen over.
Martin Ready To Go Again
15/04/2009 17:29
Skip upbeat as others continue to dissect defeat
After suffering a catastrophic end to the world men's curling championship, Kevin Martin was anxious to get back on the ice to try and pick up the pieces.
Having lost an opportunity at a second straight world title in Moncton, N.B., on Sunday night, the Edmonton curler and his rink made their way to Grande Prairie for the Grey Power Players' Championship.
A somewhat controversial shot call by the veteran skip was still the talk of the town in Edmonton on Monday and in this northern Alberta city on Tuesday.
Yup, curling actually outweighed hockey in print, on TV and the airwaves, and Martin and Co. weren't moping about it. In fact, it was totally the opposite as they took the collective high road.
"You have to be able to regroup, suck it up and go again," said Martin, prior to demolishing Saskatchewan's Pat Simmons with a six-point first end en route to a 9-3 victory in the late opening men's draw of the Capital One Grand Slam event at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie.
Just two days after allowing Scotland's David Murdoch a shocking steal of two in the 10th end to lose the world title 8-6, Martin and his rink of third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert were anxious to get going again.
With hammer against Murdoch, Martin threw away his first stone of the 10th and then watched his competitor raise his own rock to set up a critical last shot. Martin threw big weight in an attempt to remove the counting Scottish stone -- to no avail and a steal of two.
Then the querying began.
"I don't look at that," said Martin of the second-guessing. "It doesn't matter. The back-seat driving? I do it all the time. Look at the Masters. How can you lay up? How can you not go for it? How can Phil (Mickelson) put it in the water? That's sport.
"That's great," said Martin, putting on his bravest face despite the painful loss. "If everybody questions and talks, that's great for us."
His teammates took the same direct tact. After two days of seeing the shot repeated over and over again on stations across the country, the Martin rink will press on.
"I think some of it is good," Kennedy said of getting back on the ice. "One of our mottos over the last couple of years has been, 'On to the next one.'
"In this sport, with the importance of these events, you just have to get it done. Jump to the next one, forget about the last one and keep going.
"It is hard, a little bit" admitted Kennedy. "But we've put a lot of emphasis on this event (the Players' Championship) and the (Olympic) Trials for December. It stings for a couple of days, but I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal.
"We stick behind our skipper the whole way. It was a team decision and it's over and done. ... A little controversy never hurt. Our team is fine with it and I'm sure we'll come out hard."
More from the Edmonton Journal.
Martin back on prowl at Players’ Championship.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Anybody want to bet against Team Martin this week at the Players’ Championship?
Cheryl Bernard Shopping For Olympic Berth
15/04/2009 17:29
Team tries to avoid being overwhelmed by possibilities
The variations and permutations of curling's Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) is enough to make even the most conservative, pencil-pushing accountant drink.
So Cheryl Bernard had something else in mind with the start of the Grey Power Players' Championship, which began on Tuesday at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie.
Sure, collecting points towards the 2009 Canadian Olympic Trials -- slated for Dec. 6-13 in Edmonton -- is critical, but it's also nerve-racking and mind-boggling in adding up the ramifications of various finishes. So Bernard and her Calgary rink opted for a different, simpler focus.
"We talked about shopping, that's our focus coming in here, so we'd have some money to shop at the end of the year," chuckled the Calgary skip.
"We just decided to focus on money," she continued, laughing even more, referring to the $25,000 first prize at the 16-team men's and women's Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event. Not to mention the $50,000 Capital One Cup bonus to the men's and women's standings leader, in which Bernard currently sits second.
"Yeah, there is lots on the line. You can't kid yourself, you think about it for sure," said a more serious Bernard, of the CTRS system. "You think about it, but then you go back to what you do, which is play. That's what we've done all year and hopefully we can keep doing that."
Bernard is close to joining Winnipeg's Jennifer Jones and Calgary's Shannon Kleibrink in securing a direct berth to Edmonton. In fact, all that stands in her team's way here at the final qualifying event of the year are Kelowna's Kelly Scott and Saskatoon's Stefanie Lawton. Bernard can secure one of the two final direct berths into trials as long as Scott, a former world champion, does not win the Players' Championship here.
Should Scott manage a victory, Bernard can still qualify, provided Lawton does not make up a 12.82-point deficit in the two-year CTRS points race.
Bernard got off to a good start on Tuesday, defeating Barb Spencer of Winnipeg 9-7 thanks to a three-ender in two and a four-ender in four that gave her a 7-3 lead. Scott, meanwhile, escaped a dangerous fifth end against Edmonton's Cathy King to win 7-5. Lawton pulled out a tight 8-6 victory over Ottawa's Rachel Homan with a deuce in the eighth and final end.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I don’t think I’d be very comfortable with Cheryl Bernard representing Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games. They just can’t seem to get over the hump – even in national competition.
Maggie The Monkey Makes Much-Anticipated Playoff Picks
15/04/2009 17:28
While the Detroit Red Wings were the most popular pick to be the Stanley Cup champion on the NHL on TSN's Playoff Preview Show, there was some good news for two of the three Canadian teams in the post-season. The Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks were both picked as first round winners by Maggie the Monkey, TSN's famous prognosticating primate.
The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, did not get a favourable spin of Maggie's lucky wheel. She predicted the Boston Bruins would beat the Habs in their first round series.
Detroit was the pick for Stanley Cup champion for three of the six hockey experts assembled for the preview show. Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie and James Duthie all picked the Red Wings over the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final.
Ray Ferraro picked the San Jose Sharks to beat the Bruins for the Cup, while Darren Pang liked the Sharks over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Bruins were picked as finalists by five of the six panelists, but only Peter Laviolette picked them to win, predicting a Boston victory over San Jose.
As for the Canadian teams, all of TSN's experts agreed with the notion that the Canadiens would be hard-pressed to advance against the Bruins in the first round.
"Tim Thomas has been the most consistent goaltender in the NHL this year," said Pang. "Carey Price has not been in a rhythm all season long."
"I like Boston a lot because of the depth they have," said Laviolette.
Maggie the Monkey was not alone in picking the Flames, but it was close. Pierre McGuire was the only expert panelist to take the Flames, pointing to their post-season experience and playoff-style of play as reasons to take Calgary over the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I like teams that have been there before and Chicago has virtually no playoff experience aside from the goaltender," noted McGuire. "And there won't be any fly-bys with Nikolai Khabibulin in the crease. This is going to become a bloody mess. This series is going to be vicious, it's going to be tough, it's going to be in your face, and the guys that can produce that kind of hockey play for the Calgary Flames.
"I'm not throwing them down the drain at all. They're going to bring a whole lot of nasty to this series, and I don't know how Chicago is going to respond to that."
While Maggie's wheel stopped on the Canucks, the panel was split between Vancouver and the St. Louis Blues. Pang said the Blues had a chance to play Cinderella this spring.
"You're talking about momentum," said Pang. "You're talking about a team that absolutely believes in what they are doing… I think they are a dynamic hockey team – well-coached and well-prepared."
Along with goaltender Roberto Luongo, the Canucks will need big performances from Daniel and Henrik Sedin to beat the Blues.
"The Sedins really have to step up," said McKenzie. "They are marvelous hockey players, point-a-game players in the regular season... But in the post-season, they average less than half a point-per-game. They need to close that gap. If they do, the Canucks will be fine."
Maggie's other picks were the Devils, Flyers, Sharks and a couple of upset specials - the Blue Jackets to beat the Red Wings and the Rangers to beat the Capitals.
Maggie didn't get any support for her underdogs, though, as TSN's experts all went with Washington and Detroit. At least one panelist, however, was not sure Washington would go much further.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It will be very interesting to see whose predictions are closer – the TSN panel members or Maggie The Monkey. I know who I’m betting on . . .
TSN.ca Unveils Final Group In Play Of The Year Showdown
15/04/2009 17:27
The NHL Play of the Showdown continues to roll on with the final group of highlight-reel plays as TSN.ca unveils Pool D.
Our first semifinal is set with Alex Ovechkin taking Pool A, he will face the winner of Pool B: the Sultan of Spin, Bobby Ryan.
Miikka Kiprusoff proved to be unstoppable in Pool C and will move on to face the winner of this pool. Pool D features two desperation saves, some puck trickery, a shootout dazzler and a dirty, dirty goal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
To view all of the plays in Pool D and to cast your vote for play of the year, click here.
Islanders Win Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery
15/04/2009 17:27
In a season filled with bad news, the New York Islanders finally received some positive information Tuesday night when they won the Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery, meaning they will have the first shot at London Knights phenom John Tavares or Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly unveiled the top five live on TSN. Much to the delight of Islanders fans, no team beat the odds to displace New York atop the lottery standings. The Islanders finished last in the NHL this season and had a 48% chance of landing the first overall pick.
"I'm thrilled for our fans. Thrilled for our organization, (owner) Charles Wang and (GM) Garth Snow. This is a great moment." Islanders director of pro scouting Ken Morrow told NHL on TSN's James Duthie after the Isles won the lottery. "No offence to you guys, but I don't want to be back here next year."
The remainder of the lottery remained true to the odds with the Tampa Bay Lightning getting the second overall pick, followed by the Colorado Avalanche, Atlanta Thrashers and Los Angeles Kings.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Hmm . . . let’s see . . . the Oilers draft in the number 10 position. That’s great, just frickin’ great!
Questions On My Mind This Week . . .
15/04/2009 06:00
* I read about the
Navy SEALS in the Gulf of Aden rescuing the
American captain of a highjacked
ship. Sharpshooters fired
simultaneous shots and killed all three pirates
to free the captain. I have to wonder why the
world puts up with Somali pirates taking ships
and demanding huge ransoms at all. Why not
simply put an international force of warships
in the area and blow every single suspected
pirate ship right out of the water. Somalians
might then get the idea that pirating is not
such a good idea any longer.
* I like to watch the Global TV news reports from their helicopter. It adds a new dimension to traffic reporting and they’ve caught a few interesting fires and police chases as well. But why, oh why does that Chris Hayden guy on the evening news insist on the awkward reporting language. I mean really, who do you ever hear talk about the intersection of “one seven zero street and one three seven avenue”? Normal folks call it 170th street and 137th avenue, don’t they?
* Yellow pages. Who the hell uses the Yellow Pages any more? The other day I heard a loud “thump” on my front step and there they were, two sets of Yellow Pages. Why do they do this and leave me with taking the damn things to the recycle bin? And believe me, they go into that bin a a few days after I get them. Do you think we should share our dirty little secret with Yellow Pages advertisers folks? With the internet, the books are redundant and no one looks at them anymore. At least I don’t, how about you?
Reader Bits ‘N Pieces . . .
15/04/2009 06:00
*
Wow
those big pictures
and large print sure catch attention!! -
Anon, St.
Albert* Great service as usual Don, and thanks to Mayor Crouse for his prompt reply. I’ll have to wait until the results of the May 4th council meeting are known before commenting further. Hopefully, as St. Albert will no longer be responsible for EMS, council will do the right thing and reduce municipal taxation accordingly. Else we’ll be paying tax twice for the same service, provincial and municipal. Regards - Robert Hartley, St. Albert
* Hi Don: Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for today's edition of mybirdie.ca. Aside from making my sides hurt from your humor, I was literally astounded with your 'Extreme Sheepherding' video. I then waited for my kids, ages 22-11, to come read your publication. They are not only laughing but have watched your video link three times thus far. All in all, your Happy Easter edition was a Huge Holiday Hit. You reached a readership of 11-45 today! NOW THAT'S impressive! - Vicki, Toronto
Clean-Air Agency Makes Burn-Ban Violators Feel Heat
15/04/2009 06:00
Donald Harmon's
attempt to save a few bucks on his heating bill
could cost him $850 — more than half his
monthly Social Security — because he picked the
wrong
fuel.The 82-year-old retiree was hit with a hefty fine in January for burning wood to take away the chill in his kitchen and the living area in his North Seattle home.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency had declared a burn ban that day. While Harmon was feeding broken-up pallets into his woodstove, an agency inspector was outside taking notes and photos as the smoke rose from the chimney.
"It would take me a year or more to pay something like that," Harmon said. He said he was unaware the ban was in place that day, and wondered: "Why didn't they knock on the door and tell me to put it out?"
Harmon was one of 55 homeowners in a four-county region cited for violating a so-called Stage 1 ban against wood burning over five days in January. The agency calls Stage 1 bans when it believes federal air-pollution standards for particulates might be exceeded. The airborne soot is a health hazard, especially for people with allergies or asthma, and for children and the elderly.
Full story here.
SINC SAYS:
These people aren’t clean air activists, they’re jerks. Reminds me of those other jerks at PETA. A simple knock on his door asking him to cease would have sufficed.
This Should Keep You Busy For A While
15/04/2009 06:00
There are more
than 100 world known personalities on this
painting.
If you can name a minimum of 25, you may consider yourself a cultivated person, good luck. Click on the picture to see the large version.
The picture in its mega large format is available for download from my web site here.
Give it a try and please let us know how many you were able to identify. We’ll announce the results here on St. Albert’s Place.
My Anteater Heater
15/04/2009 06:00
IT’S aardvark
looking cool when you’re an anteater — but this
one’s got it all wrapped up in a nifty purple
jumper.Pua the pet Tamandua anteater wears the cosy knits because she is living away from the tropical heat of her native Guyana.
Owner Angela Goodwin lets her have the run of the house in Okaridge, Oregon, USA.
The exotic animals worker said: “I started putting little sweaters on Pua and she didn’t seem to mind, so now she’s got a whole wardrobe of clothes.”
And clever Pua even knows how to open drawers and the fridge. When not munching on ants, she raids it for bits of CHEESE.
Tamandua anteaters can grow up to 4ft 6ins from head to tail and weigh 13lbs, with 2ft tongues and no teeth.
Apart from ants, they eat termites and bees.
SINC SAYS:
I wonder if those critters eat wasps too? If they do, we could sell them by the dozens for local back yards.
Just For All You Baby Boomers . . .
15/04/2009 05:59
This is one heck of a look at Boomers nearing retirement folks.
And entertaining
too!
Check it out here!
Check it out here!
Eskimos Sign All-Star DB Jason Goss Through 2012
15/04/2009 05:59
(Edmonton) Edmonton Eskimo All-Star defensive back Jason Goss has signed a contract extension that will see him through the 2012 season, the club announced today.
Goss enjoyed the best season of his career in 2008. In 18 starts he accumulated 52 defensive tackles, six pass knockdowns, five interceptions (two for touchdowns), three fumble returns, two tackles for a loss, one punt return and one quarterback sack. His 182 yards and two touchdowns on five interceptions put him at the top of the league in interception return yards on the season.
Goss earned CFL Defensive Player of the Week accolades when he broke the Eskimo record for yards on interception returns on Sept. 13 vs. Hamilton. He also became second in CFL history for most interception return yards in a game. Goss had 144 yards on three interceptions and two touchdowns and tied Eskimo records for interception touchdowns in a game (2) and interceptions in a game (3). He started in the East Semi Final and East Final posting three defensive tackles and one fumble return. Jason’s stellar year allowed him to be named 2008 West Division All-Star and, for the first time in his career, 2008 CFL All-Star.
“Jason is a great asset to this football club,” says Eskimo Head Coach Richie Hall. “With the retirement of Shannon Garrett we are looking forward to Jason taking a more active leadership role. His stability and ability to make plays have helped develop him into an ideal football player and a great leader.”
Goss joined the Eskimos on February 13th, 2007 when he was traded from Hamilton. He spent the first three years of his CFL career with the Tiger-Cats when he joined them mid-season in 2004. Prior to coming to the CFL, Jason was with the Arizona Cardinals for one season, appearing in four games.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
This is certainly super news for the Eskimos. Goss is a great defensive back.
Last Chance For Randy Ferbey
15/04/2009 05:59
Edmonton rink a longshot to get last direct Olympic Trials berth
Randy Ferbey knows his rink is between a curling rock and a hard place.
When the 2009 Grey Power Players' Championship begins later today in Grande Prairie, it will mark Ferbey's last chance to earn a pass directly to a Canadian Olympic Trials spot.
Kevin Martin, Glenn Howard and Kevin Koe's rinks have secured three of the four direct berths available to the Roar of the Rings, set for Dec 6-13 in Edmonton.
Ferbey will need a minor miracle to grab the fourth.
"The chances are pretty slim, but curling's a funny game. You never know what can happen. Look at (Sunday) night for example," said Ferbey, referring to Martin's stunning last-rock loss to Scotland's David Murdoch at the world championship.
Ferbey and his rink of Dave Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer and Marcel Rocque are among four teams with aspirations of advancing straight through to Edmonton and skipping the pre-Trials event in Prince George, B.C., from Nov. 10-15.
Wayne Middaugh, of Midland, Ont., and Winnipeg's Kerry Burtnyk and Jeff Stoughton remain in the hunt for the final direct berth. Middaugh currently holds
the fourth spot by virtue of his two-year Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) point total of 343.645. He has an 11.32-point advantage over Burtnyk and an 11.945-point lead on Stoughton. Ferbey sits 27.357 back of Middaugh in the two-year CTRS points race.
What it boils down to is Ferbey can qualify through the three-year CTRS points race if he wins the Players' Championship and Koe does not win more than two games. Or, Ferbey can also secure a direct spot via the two-year CTRS points race if he wins the Players' Championship, Middaugh goes winless at the event, and Stoughton does not reach the final.
"I can't see Wayne Middaugh going winless, so that kills the latter. And Koe, that's an interesting one," said Ferbey.
"You never know. They've already secured their spot, so maybe they'll go up there with thoughts of having fun and just drink," chuckled Ferbey.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I wouldn’t shed a bunch of tears if Ferbey didn’t make it to the ‘Roar Of The Rings.’ It would be kind of nice to have some new blood in there for a change, don’t you think folks? Martin, Howard, Koe, Ferbey, etc., etc., etc., etc. – it’s just getting a tad bit monotonous, don’t you think?
RBC Canadian Open Heading To Vancouver In 2011
15/04/2009 05:59
The RBC Canadian Open is heading west.
Vancouver's Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club will be unveiled Wednesday as the host for the 2011 edition of the tournament, according to a source.
It will be the fourth time the national golf championship will be held at the scenic course, which overlooks the Fraser River and Strait of Georgia.
The last time it was played there was 2005, when Mark Calcavecchia won with a score of 5-under 275. The venue received rave reviews from the players that week.
"I think overall the golf course probably has been recognized as one of best, if not the best, in Canada for playing the Canadian Open," Calgary's Stephen Ames said at the time. "I just hope that in the future we get to play on golf courses like this more often."
The Canadian Open will be played at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., this July. Next year's event will be held at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
The decision to bring the tournament back to Vancouver in 2011 could signal the start of a rotation of courses for the event. That has been stated as a long-term goal by RCGA brass.
Executive director Scott Simmons has said that he'd like to see a rotation of five to seven courses that would probably include the likes of Shaughnessy, Royal Montreal, Hamilton and Glen Abbey.
The event has been held almost exclusively in Ontario over the past three decades -- in part because Glen Abbey was its permanent home through the '80s and '90s and more recently out of necessity as the RCGA navigated a turbulent period after Bell dropped out as title sponsor.
Now that the tournament appears to be on more solid footing under RBC, there might be more of an opportunity to move it around the country.
Even though some great courses have been ruled out in the past because of infrastructure and logistical concerns, Shaughnessy and St. George's are both examples of host venues that are on relatively small properties.
The Canadian Open was previously held at Shaughnessy in 1948, 1966 and 2005. The only other time it was staged in British Columbia was 1954 at Vancouver's Point Grey Golf Club, where Pat Fletcher became the last homegrown champion of the event.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It only makes sense, does it not, to have the Canadian Open in Edmonton at some point very soon? I mean it would be the most successful Canadian Open of all time.
Tai Chi: The Ancient Art Of Going With The Flow
15/04/2009 05:59
It happens every spring.
Along with April showers and that red, red robin, tai chi devotees return to the public parks.
They reappear like lilacs -- men and women, dressed in loose clothing and cotton shoes, gliding in silent unison through their ballet-like exercises.
"There's more energy in the air outside, especially early in the morning or evening," George Kormendi, the program director of the New York School of Tai Chi Chuan, said in an interview.
"So sometimes I'll bring my students outside to the park," said Kormendi.
The director has been teaching tai chi, indoors and outdoors, for 20 years.
Literally translated as "Supreme Ultimate Fist," Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient Chinese martial art based on the idea that in softness there is strength.
The short form of the popular Yang style of tai chi consists of 37 postures.
With names such as "Grasping Sparrow's Tail" and "Fair Lady Works with Shuttles," these "forms" are performed in a slow and continuous sequence.
The entire exercise can be completed in seven to 10 minutes.
"The slow movement trains our awareness of energy and use of force," Kormendi explained.
"To follow it and get out of the way without resistance. So we meet another person with a calm mind and without emotion."
For Valerie Sannino, a 60-year-old receptionist with two herniated discs, exercise was just about impossible until she discovered tai chi.
"My spine doctor suggested it," she said. "Now I can move freely, my sense of balance is much improved and I'm not in constant fear of hurting myself.
"I'm grateful for these exercises," she added.
Research has shown that stroke patients who practised as little as six weeks of tai chi improved their balance. Another study found that healthy seniors improved standing balance after only four weeks.
"This is good stuff," said Dr. John Kelly, spokesperson for the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Kelly, an orthopedic surgeon and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the 2000-year-old exercise can improve the balance, increase the flexibility, reduce the stress and boost the strength of the 21st-century practitioner.
"I'm happy to promote it," he added.
Kelly says it's particularly good for older people.
"As folks get older, they lose their sense of balance.
"Tai chi promotes balance. More and more data shows that balance training prevents hip fractures, which are almost always caused by falls," he said.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I know a number of people who swear by Tai Chi. Maybe there is something to it after all. I've always thought that I just 'go with the flow' pretty well. Yeah, right!
Michael Bishop Takes His Game Indoors
15/04/2009 05:59
Former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Michael Bishop is 1-0 after making his debut with the Corpus Christi Hammerheads on Saturday in the Indoor Football League.
Bishop completed 11 of 18 passes for 149 yards as the Hammerheads beat the visiting El Paso Generals 37-17. He completed one touchdown pass of 26 yards and rushed for another on a two-yard run.
Bishop, 32, signed with the Hammerheads on Wednesday and started their home-opener Saturday. The Hammerheads are 1-1.
Bishop joined the Roughriders on Aug. 23 after a trade with the Toronto Argonauts. He started eight regular-season games and one playoff match. Bishop's final start for the Riders was the West Division semifinal in which he threw three interceptions and fumbled once in a 33-12 loss to the B.C. Lions.
Bishop was placed on waivers on Nov. 10, just two days after the season-ending loss.
Bishop has had previous experience with indoor football leagues. He played with the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush and shared in the 2006 Arena Bowl championship. He also played part of the 2005 season with the AFL's Grand Rapids Rampage.
The IFL, which is in its first season, features 19 teams from Alaska to Washington, D.C. Each team plays a 14-game schedule.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
The Hammerheads – now there is a team that Michael Bishop was just born to lead.
Woods Leads Top Players In Support Of 2016 Olympic Bid
15/04/2009 05:59
LONDON - World number one Tiger Woods is one of 18 of the world's leading golfers to back the International Golf Federation's (IGF) bid to have the sport included in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Woods has written personally and sent a 32-page brochure outlining the bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member for the United States.
Ireland's Padraic Harrington, winner of two majors last year, Fiji's Vijay Singh, Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and Spain's Sergio Garcia, have also written to their respective IOC members to try and restore golf to the Olympic fold for the first time for more than 100 years.
"As we have consistently stated from the outset of the bid process, it is imperative that the best players in the world support golf's Olympic effort," Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A and joint secretary of the IGF, said.
Dawson said in a statement this would give golf "the best chance of being selected by the IOC to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games."
The IGF's Olympic committee, which represents golf's main organisations and tours, hopes to claim one of two spots for new sports available at the 2016 Games after golf missed out on the 2012 Games.
Dawson said last year that a strokeplay competition would be the proposed format for golf at the Games, with men and women taking part. The last time Olympic medals were up for grabs in the sport was at the 1904 Games in St Louis.
Golf faces competition from baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash with the IOC's final vote taking place in October when the host city will also be chosen. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are the contenders.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Let’s hope the OIC does the right thing for once in its life and includes golf as an Olympic sport in 2016.
Economy Hitting Players Hard - Paul Kelly
15/04/2009 05:59
Paul Kelly, executive director of the NHL Players' Association, shares his views on hockey economics, expansion, and the likelihood players will lose some salary this year due to the collective bargaining agreement with the owners.
A former U.S. Justice department lawyer who helped prosecute previous NHLPA director Alan Eagleson, Kelly took over the position in October 2007.
He is trying to rebuild the NHLPA and chart a more conciliatory path with the league while still protecting players' rights. The following is an edited transcript of the Calgary Herald's interview with Kelly:
Canwest: How would you describe the current business prospects for your membership?
To read the entire interview with NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly, click here.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Awwww . . . let's feel sorry for poor, hard-done-by NHL millionaire players . . .
Mayor Responds To Reader's Questions
14/04/2009 05:22
SINC SAYS:
Yesterday in this space, we ran a letter from St. Albert Taxpayer Association member Robert Hartley who publicly asked questions of Mayor Nolan Crouse regarding the long term effect the recent EMS transfer to provincial control might have on taxpayers in the city.
Here is the mayor’s response to those questions:
Mr. Robert Hartley
First, thanks for the questions and I will answer below in CAPS imbedded within the e-mail.
I also attach a summary of where we are relative to the last council meeting where we addressed this.
Nolan Crouse
Mayor
SINC SAYS:
I have reduced the Mayor’s responses to upper and lower case italic for readability. I have however, coloured the responses in blue to separate them from Mr. Hartley’s questions. Mr. Hartley's complete original letter can be read at the bottom of this column.
Here are the questions and answers:
I have been following, with great interest, the recent media coverage regarding upcoming changes to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) here in St. Albert. I have also studied lots of information readily available on the city web-site. This is my understanding deduced from this abundance of information:
· The City of St. Albert will no longer be responsible for EMS (ambulance) response.
Agree - generally except we have signed a contract to provide service under the provincial direction using 2 of our 4 ambulances. The other 2 ambulances remain parked as we did not have the funds and staff to provide more ambulances for the province.
· EMS (ambulance) response will now be the responsibility of, and provided by, the Provincial Government.
Yes - we have contracted to the province to have 2 ambulances on the road with our staff but serving the greater good.
· The city is in the process of hiring 20 new positions (on behalf of the Provincial Govt.) to meet the staffing requirements of the new EMS protocol.
We are separating ambulance and firefighting. While it is more complicated than this - simply put we needed staff to backfill for the ambulance drivers who are now managed by the province. We also have been slipping in response times and staffing the 3rd fire station was a part of that.
· The transition of responsibility from city to province will come with an initial cost to the city taxpayer of $265,000. there after the entire cost will be borne by the Provincial Govt.
Yes.
The Province of Alberta (provincial taxpayer) now assumes responsibility for $1.4 million that the city taxpayer previously paid, annually, for EMS (ambulance) response.
Yes this is simply put, as there are matters such as rental of space for ambulances in our fire stations, the transfer of our assets etc.
From all the information available, what is not clear, and perhaps you can enlighten us upon, is:
· The City of St. Albert Fire Service currently has the required staff to provide full EMS (ambulance) coverage. So why is the city hiring 20 new EMS members?
Yes but won't have and we have 90 days to get staff on board.
· When the city hires 20 new EMS members, will the St. Albert Fire Service staffing requirement be adjusted to reflect the fact that the city is no longer required to provide EMS (ambulance) response?
Yes as the transition may take a year or 2, this will change. Additionally we have to monitor closely the response times of ambulances. Money is part of the formula. We are used to response times of 9 minutes with up to 4 ambulances available. What if the 2 we are contracted out are in Lamont or Athabasca or Whyte Avenue? We are not allowed to put the other ambulances on the street because we won't have the paramedic skills to respond with; those skills are out on the road working for the province and our firefighting staff will not be allowed to perform advanced support. Ambulance is seen as a health issue not a fire issue.
· Will the city budget be reduced to reflect that St. Albert taxpayers are no longer required to pay $1.4 million annually, for EMS (ambulance) response?
What we approve May 4th will reflect all of this and it is included in the attached.
Regards,
Mayor Nolan Crouse
City of St. Albert
SINC SAYS:.
You can download the attached document the mayor refers to here.
Speedy Sex Lands Couple In Trouble With Law
14/04/2009 04:49
A Norwegian man faces
a heavy fine and a driving ban after police
caught him having sex with his girlfriend while
speeding on the motorway, police
say.The unnamed couple, a 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, were caught in the act late on Easter Sunday by traffic police on the E18 highway, some 40km west of Oslo.
Officers who clocked the couple's silver Mazda 323 racing at 133km/h in a 100 zone realised they were doing more than just breaking the speed limit, police told AFP on Monday.
"It was veering from one side to the other because the woman was sitting on the man's lap while he was driving and doing the act, shall we say," said Tor Stein Hagen, a superintendent with Soendre Buskerund district police.
"He couldn't see much because her back was in the way," he added.
"Why they did it on a highway with such a high risk we don't know."
After following the couple for nearly a kilometre, officers pulled the car over at a service station.
"We have taken away his driving licence because of the danger that he caused," Hagen said.
Prosecutors will decide within the next week what his punishment will be, with police having filmed the incident to use as evidence against the driver.
Hagen said he expected the man to face a fine of "several thousand Norwegian crowns" and a lengthy driving ban.
SINC SAYS:
I keep tellin’ ya folks, you can’t make this stuff up!
VET FINDS A FAMILY’S WASHING IN PET DOG
14/04/2009 04:49
FOR years Nicola
Perrett’s family couldn’t fathom where their
missing clothing was
going.But when their golden retriever Bailey had an operation for a suspected tumour all was revealed.
The dog’s tummy bulge wasn’t a tumour, vet Keith Moore discovered. Instead he pulled out 17 garments, including nine socks, four gloves and a stocking. He described it as “like performing a magic trick.”
He said: “We were just pulling out one sock after another.” Bailey, seven, had been taken to the vet by Nicola for his annual check-up. When Mr Moore noticed a mass in Bailey’s stomach he thought it was cancer and phoned Ms Perrett, 44, with the bad news.
The mother of two cried all morning but was amazed later when the dog was found to be healthy.
Ms Perrett, a customer service manager at B&Q, said Bailey had probably been eating the items for years – her son Jack, 15, had first noticed that his rubber gloves went missing two years ago. Daughter Laura, 18, also lost various garments to the family pet.
Ms Perrett, from Poole, Dorset, said: “This year Bailey had lost a bit of weight and the vet must have been able to feel a lump. Now he’s back to being like a puppy again.
“He is a really mad dog – full of beans and always up to mischief.”
Mr Moore, from Corfe Mullen, said: “I doubt I’ll ever see anything like this again in my career.
“It is amazing that he was not more unwell or sick but was still eating his food.”
SINC SAYS:
That’s one doggone strange story. I wonder what possesed that pooch?
Indian Woman In Record Chilli Attempt
14/04/2009 04:49
Gordon Ramsay watches
on during chilli record
attemptAn Indian mother is set for an entry into the Guinness World Records after eating 51 of the world's hottest chilli in two minutes.
Anandita Dutta Tamuly, 26, gobbled up the "ghost chillis" in front of visiting British chef Gordon Ramsay in the north-eastern state of Assam.
Ms Tamuly told Associated Press she "felt terrible" - because she had managed 60 in an earlier local event.
Mr Ramsay tried a chilli but said "it's too much" and pleaded for water.
He is in Assam for a television shoot of a global food series.
Guinness World Records accepted in 2007 that the ghost chilli was the world's spiciest at more than one million Scoville units, the measure of spiciness, twice the heat of its closest rival.
A standard green chilli has about 1,500 units.
The chilli record took place on Thursday in Jorhat, 300km (200 miles) north-east of state capital, Guwahati.
Ms Tamuly told AP she used to eat the chilli as a child "while children of my age roamed the village to look for berries".
Atul Lahkar, a local chef, told the Times of India that Ms Tamuly also "smeared seeds of 25 chillies in her eyes in one minute with the crowd simply awestruck".
The previous record for eating was held by a South African with eight jalapenos in a minute.
Guinness World Records has not yet formally confirmed the record.
SINC SAYS:
I just don’t get why people torture themselves with super hot foods. I can take a Jalipino on some nachos, but that’s it other than the odd bowl of mild Chili.
House Of Blues Is 'Ridiculous'
14/04/2009 04:48
DO NOT adjust your
screens.AN architect has painted his entire house, and everything in it, bright blue as part of a barmy experiment.
Not even the pot plants have escaped an airbrushing.
Arty Peter Kaschnig said he wanted to see the psychological effects of living surrounded by just one colour.
But the masterstroke has outraged locals in the quiet neighbourhood of tree lined Klagenfurt, Austria.
The house, with its blue shutters complete with blue bedroom and blue bathroom, has become a colourful hotspot for snap-happy tourists.
“It looks ridiculous and out of place and all the visitors it attracts are a real nuisance. You can’t park any more and there is no privacy. This used to be a quiet neighbourhood,” moaned neighbour Heidi Manning.
Unrepentant Kasching said: “The results exceeded my expectations. It really does have an amazing impact on the senses to have everything in one colour.
“It changes the whole 3-D impact of a room. I know there are critics but there are also a lot of people who are very interested in my project."
SINC SAYS:
Perfect! It will go well with one of my favourite movies of all time, “The Blues Brothers”.
Scientists Create Chocoholic Dream
14/04/2009 04:48
All the taste with
none of the
caloriesA new inhaler - dubbed Le Whif - has been developed by scientists, allowing chocoholics to enjoy all the treats they can handle for zero calories.
The revolutionary gadget means chocolate lovers can indulge their guilty pleasure without putting on weight.
The gadget lets users breathe in chocolate to curb cravings and satisfy their sweet tooth.
Invented by Harvard professor David Edwards, Le Whif comes in four different flavours: raspberry, mint, mango and plain.
He worked with his students at Harvard University to develop the product and said he was inspired by thinking beyond normal ways of eating food and into the future.
He said: "Over the centuries we've been eating smaller and smaller quantities at shorter and shorter intervals.
"It seemed to us that eating was tending toward breathing, so, with a mix of culinary art and aerosol science, we've helped move eating habits to their logical conclusion.
"We call it whiffing."
The chocolate-flavoured powder is housed in a small plastic cylinder which users breathe in from.
Makers say the particles of the powder are too large to enter the lungs or do any damage.
They believed the chocolate inhaler is just the first step in a gastronomic revolution.
Tom Hadfield, part of the Le Whif team, said: "When you inhale food, you don't want the particles going into your lungs.
"However, these are too big to do that, and we have developed a special mouthpiece to help.
"It fills your mouth with almost pure chocolate - it tastes really good.
"It's zero calorie, so could also be used as a diet tool.
"But chocolate is only the beginning - we're going to be unveiling more different types of food in the future.
"Two Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx is even working with us to develop meals, such as a mint-flavoured inhaler to go alongside his lamb dishes.
"Eventually we could be having three course meals this way."
Each canister costs £1.50 and can be reused several times.
SINC SAYS:
But, but they’re taking all the fun out of eating chocolate. Years ago I used to love to buy a friend’s kid a Jersey Milk chocolate bar when he was babysitting. I would then take the wrapper completely off and hand the two year-old the bar. 'Twas great sport!
Benny Hebert To Kevin Martin: Are You Serious?
14/04/2009 04:48
World championship eludes Martin after questionable calls in decisive 10th end
So technically proficient, so consistently sharp and unbeaten for long stretches, only Kevin Martin could beat Kevin Martin.
At least, that was the suggestion before the men's world curling championship began, and it gained reinforcement as he romped to a 10-0 record in the round-robin, rarely having to bother playing all 10 ends.
That line of thinking had always been an obvious denigration of the better competition in Moncton, where so many Olympic-bound teams were tuning up against one another, and that was hardly fair to them. But nobody actually imagined the old bear and his boys would go out and do exactly that anyway. Certainly not in the final.
These guys have been money on Sundays.
But a sport involving heavy chunks of rock sent skittering down slippery sheets of ice is laced with unpredictability, even when the best technicians in the game are holding the handles and the brooms. And the stark reality is this: Martin got the better of Martin when it came time for skip rocks in the 10th end, and Scotland was the better team for it.
The Scots were crowned world champs in fact when Martin's final shot settled inconsequentially and they had stolen an 8-6 win. Scottish skip David Murdoch had laid his first and final stones exactly where he ought to have put them, first clogging up the four-foot with such an intricate and unbalanced mess that neither a rock-cracking blast nor a subtle touch seemed the best course of action for Canada, then nudging a Martin stone far enough off the button to sit shot and wait for something good to happen.
And what did Martin do with his granite arsenal in that end, you might ask? He threw his first one away on purpose, his second by accident. And that was that. If his final shot seemed ill-advised, it was no less so than the first one, which he sailed wide and through the house.
"Are you serious?" lead Ben Hebert asked Martin, when the old bear had made the oddest call you are likely to see in a tie game at the world championship.
As serious as silver, it turns out.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
The decision to throw away his first rock in the 10th end is one that will haunt Kevin Martin for the rest of his days. Not to mention the ridiculous call on his final shot.
In sport, you always do your utmost to make things as difficult for your opponent as is humanly possible, including throwing your second last shot - it's the nature of sport. Throwing away that rock just demonstrated Martin's arrogance and was a slap in the face to Scotland. He paid for it dearly.
‘Voice Of Oilers,’ Rod Phillips, Eyes Peace And Quiet
14/04/2009 04:48
After 36 years, fans may have heard Phillips' last 'He scooooores!'
The voice of the Oilers goes silent for a moment as he packs up his gear and leaves the broadcast booth with a cherished gift, a seat cushion, tucked under one arm.
It's the final home game of the year for the Oilers -- game No. 3,421 for Rod Phillips. In 36 years, he's only missed 14 Oilers broadcasts -- due to a child's birth, his father's death, an ear infection, a relentless nosebleed and his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
As Phillips descends from the catwalk above the rink, taking a well-trodden route down the back hallways and stairwells of Rexall Place, he passes an unwitting honour guard of NHL officials, team staff and rink attendants.
"See you next fall," they all say, seemingly with a tinge of hope in their voices.
Mostly, Phillips returns the greeting warmly. But to a few he pauses to express his inner struggle. Maybe not, he says. You never know.
No one asks about the object under his arm. Why would Rod be taking his seat cushion home?
Earlier in the day, the self-described "fat kid from Calmar" sits on the Oilers bench in a darkened Rexall Place.
It's Friday. The Oilers' final home game is that night. Phillips describes how difficult the losing season is on the players and coaches; how much emotional pain they feel in letting the fans and themselves down.
He feels it, too. Yes, he's a homer, he concedes. He broadcasts games to Oilers fans, after all, not to the world.
His loyalties are to Edmonton and its home team.
To his credit, he's not one of the banal, fawning optimists of Oilers TV broadcasts. Phillips often calls out Oilers players for "boneheaded" mistakes on the ice, or for playing with less than expected vigour.
What he might be best known for, though, is going ballistic on referees who miss obvious, blatant, heinous crimes of unspeakable treachery against virtuous Oilers players.
Listening to Phillips do play-by-play is like tuning into a graphic novel on the radio, complete with flawed superheroes, dark villains and corrupt public officials, the referees.
"If I see a dirty play, or a missed call, I sometimes get mad," he says, smiling. One time, the NHL head office called. He'd gone a bit too far one game. Phillips knew it. He apologized.
As we sit and talk, I notice a tendency to deflect the conversation away from himself. When pressed, Phillips admits that he's actually quite shy. Talking about himself makes him uncomfortable.
Yet fans stop him all the time and treat him as a celebrity. After 36 years, he's recognized all over town. It's not that he doesn't like the praise, it's just that he finds it awkward. He doesn't know what to say.
Shyness is actually quite common in successful people like Phillips. A bit of insecurity drives a strong work ethic. Yet the shy can be terribly self-conscious in conversations, and will replay them critically afterwards. Given a few hours of self-recrimination, shy people come up with the best lines never spoken.
"I was always very critical of myself," says Phillips. "I'll feel awful if I get the wrong goal scorer or something. I'll think about it on the drive home. You don't like to miss those calls. It's just depressing.
"This is the National Hockey League, the best hockey league in the world. So get it right, you know? We have to be accountable, too."
He's been known to study a thesaurus to look for new ways, or better ways, of describing the play. Thus, he added words like magnanimous -- even serpentine, as a verb.
In Friday's game, as the seconds wind down, he describes how an Oiler player's character was that of a man battling for the puck, "until the last dog was hung."
Immediately, he glowers and apologizes on air for making a "very inappropriate" comment.
He's obviously upset at himself. He tells me later that his wife Debby runs a vet clinic. Things like that just slip out as you channel a hockey game, he says.
I suspect few listeners noticed or cared about him using an old expression that has nothing to do with harming dogs. I also suspect it was a long drive home for Phillips on Friday evening.
The flight back from Calgary on Saturday night was even longer, Phillips tells me Sunday. After the season's final game, the Oilers flew home through turbulence as bad as he's ever encountered. Phillips is a fearful flyer. So he wasn't pondering his future on the flight, so much as the potential irony of the plane crashing somewhere near Calmar.
Later this week, he'll be driving to his second home in Phoenix. He'll spend a few weeks relaxing, golfing and talking with Debby about future plans. They hope to spend a bunch of time in Edmonton this summer enjoying the festival season. The family cottage is now sold. The children, Quinn and Devon, are grown.
Phillips remains in love with the game of hockey. He says it's been his privilege to be the Oilers play-by-play man for 36 years. But he's 67. All things must eventually pass.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
After 36 years, it will certainly be very different listening to an Oilers' game on the radio if Rodney ‘Road Trip’ Phillips decides to hang them up. As a matter of fact, if Bob Stauffer replaces Rod, I think I'll prefer not to listen, thank you.
Oilers’ MacTavish Mum On Future After Poor Season
14/04/2009 04:48
EDMONTON — The decision has been tabled. Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish talked Monday about the shortcomings of the season, about changes that need to be made, but when it came to his role with the team, he wasn’t saying.
He did say that he wasn’t going to spend weeks mulling matters over.
“For me this year started with a lot of promise and maybe some false hope based on how we played last year,” he said. “There were a lot of inadequacy in our game.
“The thing that was maybe more disappointing for me was our culture took a hit in terms of our work ethic and unselfishness. Just the universal commitment we’ve had here for so many years. There were a lot of nights as a coach I had to ask for more and sometimes the tank was pretty empty.
“It was a difficult year. A disappointing year in a lot of ways.”
The players, coaches and management team reconvened Monday at Rexall for the usual wrap-up proceedings. Pictures were shot, bags were packed and meetings got underway.
General manager Steve Tambellini, who is still to address the media, started his post-season briefings with the players.
“I’ve had some initial discussions with Steve that will continue over the next day or so,” said MacTavish. “I’ll have a clearer picture then about my future here.
“The joy in this business is in success, and we didn’t have enough of it. I don’t think you’ll see anybody skipping out of here today.”
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
My prediction is that MacTavish resigns as head coach and is “promoted” to Assistant General Manager.
‘Too Slow’ Jones Throws Weight Into Housing The Poor
14/04/2009 04:48
When former Eskimos all-star defensive back Ed Jones first flew into Edmonton in the fall of 1976, he wasn't exactly sure where he was going or what to expect. The Eskimos had called the New Jersey native when he was released from the Buffalo Bills.
"I came up here not knowing where I was going," Jones recalled last week. "I knew it was nowhere near Toronto -- and it was cold."
Raised in Navesink, near Asbury Park on the heavily populated Jersey coast, he was somewhat aghast to look out the plane window on his descent into Edmonton and see nothing but farmland. "I remember wondering: 'Where the hell is downtown?' I got off the plane and I didn't see any civilization."
Jones arrived on a five-day trial and he has called Edmonton home ever since. Part of the reason for that was his chance meeting on his first night in town with a local girl, Jamie, who would later become his wife. He liked the team and youthful coach Hugh Campbell and he liked living in a community where people aren't judged by their color. An African-American who played football in Texas after being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, he had seen discrimination.
"Living in New Jersey wasn't too bad, but prejudice was all around you. In Texas, it was really bad, but up here you are accepted for who you are and not what you look like."
Jones, born on June 29, 1952, didn't start playing football until Grade 9, but despite being only five-foot-two and 115 pounds, he made his school team as a running back.
His team was undefeated in its first two years and Jones went on to win a football scholarship to Jersey's Rutgers State University. At Rutgers he switched to defensive back and ended up staying on the defensive side of the ball most of the rest of his playing days. "I would rather hit than be hit," he says ruefully.
His first year in Dallas with the Cowboys under coach Tom Landry wasn't that great. "Tom Landry said I didn't fit in." As soon as the Cowboys released Jones he was snapped up by the Bills, made the NFL all-rookie team and was runner-up for rookie of the year. He played 12 games in Buffalo, but his relationship with management soured when it was time to renew his contract. They cut him and the Eskimos snatched him up.
He played the Eskimos' last four regular-season games and two playoff games before they dropped the Western Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Eskimos made it all the way to the Grey Cup the next year, 1977, losing to Montreal, but Jones, a CFL all-star four straight years, helped them win five consecutive championships after that.
"He was a hell of a hitter," recalls Eric Upton, an Eskimos offensive lineman in the glory days. "He was a good leader and one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs that I have ever seen play." Jones smacked Ottawa Rough Rider Tony Gabriel so hard in 1981 that he broke the receiver's ribs.
The Eskimos traded Jones to the B.C. Lions in 1984, but he spent most of his last season in football on the injury list. Over his career he had five knee operations and four shoulder surgeries and he is waiting for a knee replacement. But he has no regrets.
Upton explains that the bond that was forged between the players on the five-in-a-row squad will never be broken. "In those years you spent more time with the guys than with your wives," says Upton.
"We still count on each other. It really was a special time. People probably know some of us better than the players playing now."
Upton, an executive with an equipment supply company, says it is no secret why he and Jones and many of their teammates are still here contributing to the city. "It isn't the most hospitable climate, but the city opened its arms to us and gave us a lot of opportunity."
Jones, now 56, says the first years after football were tough. But he got a break when he landed jobs with the Boys and Girls Club of Alberta and later, the Boys and Girls Club of Edmonton. He joined Habitat For Humanity, building houses for needy people, and he has been putting roofs over people's heads in one way or another ever since.
Today, when he's not on the sidelines of a football field coaching, you will find the father of two at City Hall, where he's first contact for the Cornerstones grant program, working with community agencies to provide more affordable housing in the city.
"If you look at my whole career, it's always been in positions where I could help people out, and that has been very rewarding," Jones says. He also serves as vice-president of the Eskimos Alumni, helping out former teammates and encouraging the young stars of today to give back to the city. "A lot of guys who came by here got that message and stayed, and they do good work," he says. "This is our community and we want to contribute to make this the best community around."
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Jones was a great defensive back for the Esks during the five-in-a-row glory days. It’s nice to see that he remained in Edmonton after his football career was over and continues to make a huge contribution to the community through such worthwhile causes as the Boys and Girls Clubs and Habitat to Humanity.
Scots’ Performance Truly World-Class
14/04/2009 04:48
Murdoch must now be considered Olympic co-favorite
When it well and truly counted Sunday night, Kevin Martin simply couldn't find his mojo.
And chances are, he'll find it somewhere in the vicinity of the rock he intentionally, and stunningly, threw to the backboards in the 10th end of Sunday's Ford world men's curling championship gold-medal game loss to Scotland's David Murdoch.
That head-scratching shot -- or to put it better, the lack of one -- will be debated ad nauseam in the wake of Scotland's stolen 8-6 victory that handed Murdoch his second world title in four years.
But suffice to say, if there were any doubts that Murdoch and his Lockerbie foursome -- third Ewan MacDonald, second Peter Smith and lead Euan Byers -- were world-class, on a level with the Martins, Glenn Howards and Randy Ferbeys, they should be erased now.
"It shows we're doing something right," said Murdoch, the government-funded pro curler who turns 31 on Friday. "We're playing a tough game, we managed to beat an unbeatable Canadian team.
"It's just unbelievable. At the start of the week, you hope to get in the final and get a good game against Canada, and to come here this week and beat them three times, I think that shows the belief this team has."
So should everybody else after a brilliant performance here against Martin's overwhelmingly favoured half-Edmonton (Martin, second Marc Kennedy) half-Calgary (third John Morris, lead Ben Hebert) foursome, which lost three of its final four games here, all to Murdoch.
But in the final, it all seemed to be going Canada's way. Martin had erased Scotland's first-end last-rock advantage by the fourth end, and was dictating the game through the eighth end, when he stole a single on Murdoch's last-rock draw being inches too heavy, to take a 6-4 lead.
In the ninth, though, Martin faltered with his final two deliveries, including a fairly routine double takeout on his last stone, to give Murdoch a draw for a game-tying deuce.
Then, the 10th, when it all went south, thanks partly to two Scottish centre guards left inexplicably in play until third rocks.
"I was a little surprised he wasn't peeling the guards," admitted Murdoch. "But he wanted to control that top-of-four-foot zone, and he did it well, but he left us a few openings at the end and it worked to our advantage."
Yeah, you might say that.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
After this debacle, I can hardly wait for the 2010 Olympic curling folks – and whoever Canada’s team is - to have another shot at Scotland and David Murdoch.
Tiger-Phil Sideshow Could Be Main Event In June
14/04/2009 04:48
Rivals’ superb play Sunday raises expectations for U.S. Open
Golf history will have its own say over how the electrifying Phil Mickelson- Tiger Woods twosome at the Masters Sunday is remembered. It could rank as one of the greatest duels ever, right up there with Francis Ouimet-Harry Vardon. For now, though, we can see it only one way: A heck of a setup for Bethpage.
It was clear, through the 18 holes that totally captivated Augusta National and overtook the major championship, that these two guys are definitely not through with each other. Their rivalry, which only one of them really acknowledges (and that helps make it great), grew a whole lot more intense Sunday in one of the most memorable days ever at the Masters.
"I was hoping they'd have a little boxing match," said Kenny Perry, who was the leader most of the day before losing in a playoff. He felt the heat that those two put on.
Even casual golf fans know the background between them. Their performance Sunday told all of us that there is plenty more to come. See them again two months from now, in the U.S. Open at one of their old jousting grounds, the Black Course at Bethpage State Park.
More from newsday.com
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Indeed, it was quite an exhibition of golf put on by the world number one and two, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, yesterday in the final round of the Masters. Let’s hope that this is, in fact, a prelude to the U.S. Open in June.
Ticket Prices Slashed For Bills' Game In Toronto
14/04/2009 04:48
TORONTO -- It's going to be cheaper for fans to watch the Buffalo Bills play in Toronto this year.
Citing "challenging economic times," organizers said Monday that ticket prices have been reduced by an average of 17 per cent, with 36,000 seats selling for less than they did last year.
Tickets will go for between $99-$275, topping out at $495 for the VIP seats. Only the 100 seats that went for $75 last year went up in price to $99.
The date and opponent will be announced Tuesday.
Last year, seats ranged in cost from $75 to $295 in 2008, with VIP tickets soaring up to $575, leading to some difficulties selling out the Rogers Centre, which seats about 54,000 seats for football, and criticism from fans in their feedback.
"This price adjustment, developed in conjunction with the NFL and the Bills, is a result of that feedback," Phil Lind, vice-chairman of Rogers Communications Inc., said in a statement. "Sports leagues and teams around the world are taking similar steps to make their products more accessible."
The Bills' average ticket price at Ralph Wilson Stadium is US$51, among the lowest in the NFL.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Do you suppose if they gave the tickets away they could fill up the Sky Dome for the Buffalo Bills game there this year? Between $100 - $275 U.S., topping out at $500 U.S., to watch that boring football? I think I’ll pass, thanks.
How Will New Ambulance Deal Affect Our Taxes?
13/04/2009 06:00
Hi Don,
I have been following, with great interest, the recent media coverage regarding upcoming changes to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) here in St. Albert. I have also studied lots of information readily available on the city web-site. This is my understanding deduced from this abundance of information:
· The City of St. Albert will no longer be responsible for EMS (ambulance) response.
· EMS (ambulance) response will now be the responsibility of, and provided by, the Provincial Government.
· The city is in the process of hiring 20 new positions (on behalf of the Provincial Govt.) to meet the staffing requirements of the new EMS protocol.
· The transition of responsibility from city to province will come with an initial cost to the city taxpayer of $265,000. there after the entire cost will be borne by the Provincial Govt.
· With the province taking over, it now becomes responsible for $1.4 million that the city taxpayer used to pay, annually, for EMS (ambulance) response.
From all the information available, what is not clear, and perhaps Mayor Crouse can enlighten us upon, is:
· The City of St. Albert Fire Service currently has the required staff to provide full EMS (ambulance) coverage. So why is the city hiring 20 new EMS members?
· When the city hires 20 new EMS members, will the St. Albert Fire Service staffing requirement be adjusted to reflect the fact that the city is no longer required to provide EMS (ambulance) response?
· Will the city budget reflect the fact that St. Albert taxpayers are no longer required to pay $1.4 million annually, for EMS (ambulance) response?
Regards,
Robert Hartley
St. Albert Taxpayers Association
SINC SAYS:
Over to you, Mayor Crouse.
A Smile To Start Your Week . . .
13/04/2009 06:00
A psychiatrist
was conducting a group therapy session with
four young mothers and their small children.
'You all have
obsessions,' he observed.
To the first mother, Mary, he said, 'You are obsessed with eating. You've even named your daughter Candy.'
He turned to the second Mom, Ann: your obsession is with money. Again, it manifests itself in your child's name, Penny.'
He turned to the third Mom, Joyce: 'Your obsession is alcohol. This too shows itself in your child's name, Brandy.'
At this point, the fourth mother, Kathy, quietly got up, took her little boy by the hand and whispered, 'Come on, Dick, we're leaving. This man doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. Besides that your brothers, Peter and Willy, will be waiting for us.
The Last Of Those Car Show Pictures . ..
13/04/2009 06:00
The Donkey’s Tail . . .
13/04/2009 06:00
One day a farmer's
donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to
figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the
animal was old, and the well needed to be
covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to
retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
NOW . . . Enough of
that crap.
The donkey later came back and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
SINC SAYS:
Thanks to reader Marc Glassman of St. John’s NL for that inspiring tail, er, tale.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
NOW . . . Enough of
that crap.
The donkey later came back and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.
SINC SAYS:
Thanks to reader Marc Glassman of St. John’s NL for that inspiring tail, er, tale.
150 Year Old House Holds Surprise
13/04/2009 05:59
SINC SAYS:
A lady in the UK who moved into a 150 year old house wondered why the living room was significantly shorter than the room above it. She did some exploratory surgery on the brick wall behind the modern fireplace here's the discovery step by step! There was still ash in the bread oven at the right of the fireplace! Thanks to reader Alison Glass for sending in this item.
A lady in the UK who moved into a 150 year old house wondered why the living room was significantly shorter than the room above it. She did some exploratory surgery on the brick wall behind the modern fireplace here's the discovery step by step! There was still ash in the bread oven at the right of the fireplace! Thanks to reader Alison Glass for sending in this item.
Kevin Martin Strikes Out Against Scotland
13/04/2009 05:59
MONCTON, N.B. -- Of all the victories Scotland's David Murdoch enjoyed over Canada's Kevin Martin, the third was the most satisfying of all.
Murdoch capped his dominance of the defending world champion Sunday, earning a 7-6 win over Martin's Edmonton foursome to wrap up his second world men's curling title.
The Scots had their way with Martin, beating him in the round-robin and again in the 1-versus-2 Page playoff game to earn an automatic berth in the final.
Murdoch made it count in the 10th end. Tied at six, Martin missed a pivotal last shot to give Murdoch the winning point.
"At the start of the week, it was unthinkable to win one against him," the Scottish skip told TSN afterward.
It's the second title in four years for Murdoch, who beat Quebec's Jean-Michel Menard in the 2006 gold-medal game in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Martin, third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert fell short in their quest to become the first repeat champions since Randy Ferbey won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.
More from ctvsports.ca
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Well, I guess I was wrong again for the first time in my life, folks. In this space yesterday, I said that Scotland wouldn’t beat Kevin Martin three times in-a-row. They did, and are full-value for their world championship win.
What we saw yesterday, folks, was another classic example of Kevin Martin “choking” on the world stage. Absolutely choking. How did Dottie Pepper put it when she was caught with an open mic talking about the American Women's Solheim Cup Golf Team, "Freakin' choking dogs."
Angel Cabrera Wins Masters In Playoff Over Perry
13/04/2009 05:59
Viva Argentina! Cabrera captures green jacket that Roberto DiVicenzo ‘blew’ back in 1968 back to Argentina
Angel Cabrera made par on the second playoff hole to defeat Kenny Perry and win the 2009 Masters championship in a dramatic finish at Augusta National Golf Club.
Cabrera is the first player from Argentina to win the Green Jacket. It's his second career major title, following his triumph at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
For Perry, it was a terrible collapse as he had a two stroke lead on the 17th tee before bogeying the last two holes and allowing Cabrera and Chad Campbell into a three-man playoff. Campbell was eliminated on the first playoff holes after he made bogey, while the other players saved par.
The 48-year-old Perry was looking to become the oldest player ever to win a major championship. Cabrera became the 18th Masters champion out of the last 19 winners to have played in the final pairing.
More from TSN.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Wow, folks, more than any other that I can remember, this Masters was a day of missed opportunities – for Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Chad Campbell and, most of all, for Kenny Perry – just to name a few. I’m not really a big Angel fan, and it’s not so much he won it as . . .
Frankie Morris Had Keen Eye For Talent
13/04/2009 05:59
CFL, Eskimos legend was known as 'most sensitive, caring man in the recruiting game'
Training camp and the warmth of June brought them out together the Sunshine Boys we called them -- and Edmonton Eskimos legends Jackie Parker and Frank Morris would putter about the Concordia College practice field in a golf cart, seemingly deep in vital conversation.
"They were talking more about golf than football," recalled equipment manager Dwayne Mandrusiak, one of just three Eskimos employees still with the team more than two decades later.
Morris was forever repeating a mock golf swing wherever he stood and it surely crushed his spirit when old injuries and new surgeries conspired to keep him away from his cherished Highlands. Parker was infamous in local circles for winning charity Texas Scramble tourneys as if by divine right and was on his favourite tracks late in life.
Obsessed as they so truly were by their pastime, the Sunshine Boys were also football brothers; their knees, hips and backs having suffered much because of the game they played so well for so long and just couldn't bear to leave. That's why they were at camp every summer, employed by the team or not. And why they needed the golf cart.
"Frank was just like Jack," said Mandrusiak. "Even after they were gone from the game they would come to training camp and tell you who would have a shot at making the team just from watching them for a little while." They are both gone now. Morris died Friday at age 85 after a long, sad bout with Alzheimer's disease. Parker succumbed to cancer in 2006 when he was 74. They were bejewelled, three-in-a-row Eskimos teammates from the 1950s who came back to serve the Green and Gold proudly in other ways. Parker was brought home to coach a team in need of resuscitation halfway through the 1983 campaign, the squad having regressed so quickly and dramatically during the failed Pete Kettela experiment. Morris had already been back in the fold since 1973.
Hiring Morris was among the best things Norm Kimball ever did for that franchise. You see, Morris and U.S. scout Ray Newman were a formidable force that put the Eskimos on the leading edge of talent recruitment north and south of the 49th parallel for two decades. It was no small coincidence that the Eskimos brought in Matt Dunigan, Damon Allen and Tracy Ham, some of the league's all-time greatest quarterbacks, or that the Eskimos offensive line was always stocked with all-star starters and high-quality backups.
When their keen eyes were gone -- Morris was nudged out the door first in 1989 and Newman eventually followed -- the pipeline was never quite as full and the rest of the league was able to catch up.
But back in the day, oh my how Morris could find them, mostly because he worked so hard to do it.
"So often it was just Frank Morris and his lawn chair out there," said former PR director Allan Watt, now with the NHL's Oilers. "Frank went to games and practices knowing there was nobody who would ever play (in the CFL). He just wanted to make sure he was there. I know the Eskimos were better because of that. And when Frank Morris came to your game, and he was looking at you, that meant something." It meant something for Morris to see those kids, who became his kids, play in the CFL. In fact, he couldn't bear to see them fall short.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Frankie Morris was simply the best – better than all the rest at judging Canadian football talent and personal character attributes that ever lived.
Koe Rink Qualifies For Olympic Trials
13/04/2009 05:59
Local skip joins Martin, Glenn Howard
Edmonton's Kevin Koe has become the third men's team to qualify directly for next December's Tim Hortons Olympic Curling Trials at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
Koe, backed up by third (and last-rock thrower) Blake MacDonald, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen, has built up an insurmountable lead in the three-year Canadian Team Ranking
System standings, a Canadian Curling Association official confirmed on Saturday.
He'll join Edmonton's Kevin Martin and Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont., in the eight-team men's field, with one more direct entry berth to be decided at the Grey Power Players' Championships, which kick off Tuesday at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie. Wayne Middaugh of Toronto, Randy Ferbey of Edmonton and Winnipeg teams skipped by Jeff Stoughton and Kerry Burtnyk all are in the running for the final berth.
The remaining four berths will come out of the 12-team triple-knockout pre-Trials tournament in November in Prince George, B.C.
On the women's side, Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg and Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary are pre-qualified for the Trials, while Cheryl Bernard of Calgary, Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon and Kelly Scott of Kelowna, B.C., are the remaining contenders for two remaining direct berths.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Here we go again, folks – Martin, Howard, Koe and probably Ferbey and a few others of those all too familiar names. The Olympic Trials is going to be one helluva dog fight.
Buddies Saw Avalanche Victim Swept Away
13/04/2009 05:59
Local snowmobiler was 'highmarking' when snowpack gave way
A Sherwood Park snowmobiler was trying to see how far he could ride up a steep climb near Valemount, B.C., on Friday when he triggered an avalanche that killed him.
The 24-year-old had been part of a group of 10 riders playing on a slope in the Monashee Mountains for much of the afternoon, taking turns going up until their snow machines or nerves gave out -- a practice called highmarking.
The snow stayed put until around 3 p.m., when the Sherwood Park man hit a particularly weak spot near the top of the climb, RCMP said. The snowpack shook loose, sending heavy snow thundering down the slope and taking the rider with it.
The man landed near the bottom in what's known as a terrain trap -- a dip in the terrain that the snow fills in, said Greg Johnson, an avalanche forecaster with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Others in the group fought for 30 minutes to dig the man out. They tried to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead on the hill, RCMP said.
Police are withholding the victim's name until they notify his family. More information is expected to be made public on Tuesday.
Friday's victim was the fifth snowmobiler from the Edmonton area to die in a B.C. avalanche since January.
That month, an Edmonton man died in the same area, known as Clemina Creek.
He was also highmarking.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
Avalanche death of snowmobiler fifth for city area.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
I guess not even the danger can complete with the thrill of snowmobiling in the “high country” or the mountains.
U.S. Wins Women’s World Hockey Championships
13/04/2009 05:59
Beat Canada in back-to-back finals
Finland - The U.S. won its second straight women's world hockey championship with a 4-1 win over Canada on Sunday.
The Americans have won back-to-back titles for the first time after beating Canada 4-3 in last year's final in Harbin, China.
The Americans are 4-2 versus their archrival in their last six games and are 3-0 in finals of their last three international tournaments.
Defenceman Caitlin Cahow scored a pair of goals and Meghan Duggan also scored for the U.S. Hilary Knight added an empty-net goal.
Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill replied for Canada in front of 3,046 at Patria Arena.
Charline Labonté of Boisbriand, Que., made her first start in a world championship final and stopped 25 shots, while U.S. counterpart Jessie Vetter made 39 saves.
The U.S. lost 2-1 to Canada in Friday's playoff game on little rest as they'd beaten Finland the previous night. The Americans shifted into a higher gear after a day's recovery Saturday and the Canadians were unprepared for the change of pace in the first period.
The U.S. spent much of Friday's game shorthanded, but didn't have a player in the penalty box for the first 40 minutes Sunday.
Cahow scored the Americans' third goal on their second power play of the game with Canadian Sarah Vaillancourt serving a slashing minor. Cahow beat Labonte five-hole from the slot at 7:09 of the third on a feed from U.S. captain Natalie Darwitz.
After falling behind 1-0 after the first period, Canada wrested some momentum back with Botterill's goal at 5:11 in the second period. But Duggan put the U.S. up a goal again at 10:10.
Duggan, who was robbed in the first period of Friday's game by Labonte, battled with Canadian defenceman Colleen Sostorics but got a wrist shot over Labonte's glove to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead.
Botterill beat Vetter low stick side on a feed from Caroline Ouellette, with Jayna Hefford providing the screen.
The U.S. scored on their first shift of the game. Jenny Potter found Cahow on the edge of Canada's crease and the defenceman backhanded the puck over Labonte's pad 24 seconds after the opening face-off.
Canadian defenceman Carla MacLeod went down to smother Potter's pass with her body and appeared to be injured as she slid into the end boards. She hobbled to the bench but was back on the ice a few shifts later.
The Americans' speed took time and space away from Canada in all three zones of the ice. A Canadian puck carrier on the offensive boards often had two Americans collapsing onto her.
More from ctvolympics.ca
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
That ‘ole U.S. got the Canadian gals again.
Bills’ Donte Whitner Zapped, Arrested In Cleveland
13/04/2009 05:59
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Buffalo Bills defensive back Donte Whitner was shocked with a stun gun and arrested by officers trying to control a rowdy crowd outside a Cleveland nightclub early Saturday, police said.
Whitner was jailed for aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Lt. Thomas Stacho said. The former Ohio State star was released later Saturday and hadn't been charged, police said. A prosecutor was to decide whether to file charges.
Police shocked and handcuffed Whitner, 23, outside the House of Blues after he forced his way past them and then broke free from officers trying to restrain him, Stacho said.
Officers heard reports that Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was having a birthday party at the downtown venue but couldn't confirm whether Whitner was attending, Stacho said. Whitner and Ginn were high school teammates and played for the Buckeyes.
It was unclear why Whitner tried to leave the club and head for the melee, though he told officers, "My cousin's out there, and they've got guns," according to a police report, Stacho said.
Whitner said he regrets the incident.
"It's not how I wish to conduct myself, and I apologize to all those involved," he said in a statement released through his agent, Neil Cornrich.
A Bills spokesman said Saturday the team wouldn't comment on Whitner until it had more information.
Whitner is at least the third Bills player to run into trouble with the law this year.
Police in South Carolina say they arrested 25-year-old safety Ko Simpson outside a bar in his hometown, Rock Hill, early New Year's Day when he interfered with officers trying to arrest his friends. Simpson's lawyer earlier wouldn't discuss the case; a prosecutor said Simpson had asked to enter a program that would remove from his record a charge of hindering police.
Running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested near Los Angeles in February when police found a weapon in a parked car. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour gun charge and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and probation. He also was suspended for three games without pay by the NFL for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.
Bills’ Lynch suspended for three games.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It would seem that a number of the Buffalo Bills players are having trouble with the NFL’s “personal conduct” policy recently, wouldn’t it folks?