I never sign online petitions, because they are essentially worthless. But in this case, since the issue is mostly about PR anyway, I have signed and post the link here. No further comment on this beyond the one I left with the petition:
Perhaps the league would be better served to worry about players like Bertuzzi and Pronger attempting to kill fellow players and leave Al and the cephalopods alone.
As a radical moderate, I'm very much in support of environmental protection, but feel the solutions need to be both useful and reasonable. For this reason I cheer the recent focus on Hybrid and electric vehicles that are still relatively normal and fun to drive, focused on a "moderate" improvement in efficiency without giving up all the comforts of modern engineering. Also for this reason, I am highly skeptical of the fad of "carbon-neutral". As in, "Sure, I live in a 60,000 square-foot house with a heated outdoor poor, but I planted some trees in Brazil, so its cool now." Not that I'm against trees, in fact I like them quite a bit. But really it just seems like a salve for liberal guilt, and a colossal waste of money and resources that should be spent on smart conservation.
Green Dimes certainly seems far too good to be true. But being paid (modestly) or paying a slight amount to not receive something you never wanted is too good an offer not to at least try. The short version: They monitor junk mail to your address and either give you the information you need to opt-out or (for a fee) opt out for you. They also screen catalogs and such so the few you want can get through. Basic signup is free.
I don't have much to say about this except that you should play it. It will only take 5 minutes (or 10 if you play twice).
Note: Gravitation is pretty interesting too.
1458
OK, one last note... that makes two goals from mid-ice, though the empty net goal was actually scored from closer in than Lidstrom's! And a final tip of the hat to Ellis. Keep an eye on him, this was an incredible performance in the playoffs, and especially nice for a journeyman goalie who just got a starting job this year after several years in the league.
1454
And we're on to round 2. Let me say, I'm hoping sincerely for Dallas. Calgary and Anaheim are both the kinds of teams that are tailor made to upset us in the playoffs. And let me also say how much respect I have for live bloggers in hockey. This game is fast! You don't realize so much cause usually I'm just drinking beer, pacing, and shouting or making weird noises when the puck goes near the net. Actually forming thoughts and writing them down before something else happens is awfully tough. With that, siging off for the day. Have to be back to work in 4 hours. Can't wait for round 2!
1452
Icing on the cake. Mmmm.... delicious cake.
1444
OK, something has to be said. What the hell is with the shaving cream commercials with the scantily clad women flying up a dudes nose with jetpacks? What is this supposed to make me feel, apart from disgust?
1437
Have I mentioned yet in this blog how happy I am to see Chris Osgood in the game? I've had mydoubts in the past (and he's earned them) but he's really turned his game around. Not a knock on Hasek, but I think he's toward the end of his career, and how many times did he play 3 games in 5 days during the regular season? I know the conventional hockey wisdom is to pick a guy and stay with him through the playoffs, but this is not a conventional goalie situation. I still wouldn't rule out seeing Hasek in future rounds. And well rested and relaxed, I would welcome him.
1434
Detroit is staying aggressive. Which is a good sign. Like anything, as soon as you start playing "prevent" defense, you start preventing yourself from winning. So its good to see them continue to create chances. They just need to avoid getting too loose. This game is in hand without any breakdown.
1428
Just a quick note about the place I'm watching in. Its called "Pull Tabs" which I thought was a quaint reference to beer tops, which identifies a simple working class dive bar, likely to have cheap beer and lots of TVs. While that part was true, in fact it references the bizaare little cubby hole in which a dozen people are squeezed to play pull tab lottery games. Its the weirdest scene, like a little opium shack in the back of the bar. I remember working at 7-11 and seeing the weird attraction people had to scratch off tickets. This is far weirder.
1424
GOAL! Nice simple bingo bango as Mickey would say. Feeling very good about the game now.
1419:
Power Play. Unfortunately, Ellis still looks terrific. We need Downey to come out and give him a Riendeau a la Bob Probert.
1411:
Just for the hell of it, I'm live blogging the game. I just now was able to get to a bar where I could watch in West Seattle, and I worked until 7AM this morning (That's 10 for you East Coasters) so if I'm loopy, then you'll know why. As soon as I sat down NBC was BSing on their coverage so I went to the sportsline gamecenter and saw... a goal from mid ice? Seriously? I had to call my dad for an update to hear how it was scored. Shorthanded? Seriously? Not to make too big of a prediction, but if I remember correctly (questionable) this is how we *broke* Patrick Roy in a series where he had been stellar and then game up 6 goals in the game. I believe it was Lidstrom as well, taking a shot from just outside the blue line that blazed right past him, and the rout was on. Hopefully this marks the *breaking* of Ellis. God knows we need it.
Wow, I certainly feel better about it based on the outcome, but even still, what an amazing effort. Since I'm stuck on the ferry whilst the game unfolds I have to satisfy myself with online 97.1 FM coverage and the sportsline game tracker. Check out the 2nd period on said gametracker. I somehow knew this would go into overtime. When you're that dominant but still only up by 1, the luck demons start to take hold. But in the long run, hard work is rewarded and we walk away with a win. Very happy that Ozzie is playing, not at all worried about game 6.
There, go ahead and identify what I'm getting at with that title...
So I've been living in Seattle as a union hall nomad for a few months now, and I'm enjoying the life actually. I tried to avoid it by sailing with MSC and NCL and ultimately, there just aren't any shortcuts, and so far its been just fine. But its had me thinking about fiscal responsibility and how to structure my life quite a bit.
Here's the thing. I've already lived the consuming life once, and while it certainly had its benefits, it was kind of empty for me, especially because to maintain it I had to get deeper and deeper in debt, which is a concept I hate but some how is a practice I am well suited to.
This actually reminds me of a Slate article I read recently about parenting (No, Mother, I don't have any announcements to make. I have no idea why I was reading it apart from the fact that I read 90% of what's on Slate, and I'm living with someone else's two year-old which allows me to have the curiosity and delight of watching the human mind form without the annoyance and difficulty that goes with it) which basically said that many parents try to explain things to their children about why they should or shouldn't do things and that this is the wrong way to influence behavior. Quite rightly, as they point out that adults frequently know all of the reasons why a behavior is good or bad, but fail to act in that rational manner (see Smoking, Credit Cards, and Bacon Cheeseburger for references). And yet, as parents we can't help but treat our children as *more* rational than our selves.
And it describes it perfectly, because it isn't as though I didn't know how dangerous credit cards were when first I became swallowed by their commercey deliciousness. I know more about economics and mathematics than most, but that didn't stop me from charging ahead into debt doing my "patriotic duty" as our President would have it, to spend spend spend my way into wage-slavery.
Put aside the fact that I escaped said wage-slavery, in part by deciding to change careers and in part by having the few things I had of value stolen around the same time. The truth remains that I am susceptible. I have the consumer gene. And in talking to my creditors lately (and there are plenty of them) it has occurred to me that I am uncharacteristically free right now. My income is determined primarily by my desire and willingness to work. I have no expenses apart from what I need to eat, get to the next job, and not piss off the people who are sheltering me in between. I have absolutely no assets that can be taken away, and I can live almost anywhere and still find an income. The considerable debt I owe is owed because of my sincere moral imperative to do so, but I could have had it discharged through bankruptcy at any time in the last few years and still can. In fact, there's no need for me to declare bankruptcy, as I am what is referred to legally as "judgement proof". Which is to say, I ain't got nothing to give you. And it's a beautiful powerful feeling. And now subsequently, it occurs to me that this is something like being Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. This is, as they say in the old country, the feeling of having "fuck you money". In their case its because they can't possibly spend it faster than they make it. In my case (to quote Kris Kristofferson) its having "nothing left to lose". But it seems to me, really, this is the feeling of fiscal responsibility. Even though I arrived here by perhaps the most irresponsible route, and even though few would likely envy me for it, this is the same feeling of handling your affairs so well as to really be free.
I don't think I'd be the only one to say I've never felt it before. For a short time while I was 14, washing dishes and making a regular paycheck, I had more money than responsibilities or expenses, but I was still a kid, so it doesn't really count, because I didn't have any responsibilities for *anything*. But in my adult life, I've never been in a position to not be entirely dependent upon my next paycheck. I'm no millionaire (in fact it will take the next year paying on debt before I truly become a "thousandaire") but I've broken free of the cycle of paycheck to credit card bill, and I don't want to go back.
So I've pretty much decided for myself that I'm going to take maximum advantage of my rootlessness for as long as it takes to be able to maintain this feeling. First to pay off my bills, but then to gather enough money that I can pay for everything (except perhaps a home, but that's still not certain) with cash I have recently earned. And then maintain a standard of living that is easily supported by my income and my desire to obtain more income.
Don't get me wrong, the goal is not to become a billionaire. Because I'm starting to see that that's not what's necessary. What's necessary is to be enough ahead of your bills, and control your spending in such a way, that you are back in control. And with control of spending and a reflexive aversion to debt, that's not really all that much money. And right now, living the way I am, its not impossible to get it.
So I've decided all this and have felt quite good about the idea, and empowered and excited by the prospects. And then I see this. And something happens inside that I can't quite explain. There was a similar feeling after the first time I drove the C6 Corvette, but this is just looking at the thing. Its so awesome, and its completely electric. This has been my argument all along that the problem with automakers (especially the domestic variety) is lack of imagination and commitment. For Chrissakes GM had the best production electric car and builds several hybrids but its version of a plug-in hybrid won't be out until 2010! Meanwhile, this beauty is currently sitting in Jay Leno's garage.
There are a million things I could say about how wonderful this car is, about the fact that it is simultaneously efficient and unapologetically badass. 0-60 in about 4 seconds, and about $5 for a full "tank of gas"?
But its ridiculous. Its so expensive and completely impractical for someone who doesn't actually live anywhere and its no way to remain financially free. Which just goes to show me, this will remain a battle. Even having felt this feeling of freedom, I can still be seduced by the succubus of consuming. Ah well, we commit ourselves daily anew.
Note--Written Sunday night: Scheduled to post Tuesday night (in case anything happens in between that makes this all look stupider than it did on Sunday)
Note on Note-- Having reviewed my picks I find that the one game left after Sunday when I left to sail on Washington State Ferries changed the team order in the West and caused me to pick an impossible result (this being the stupid part I was discussing above) So I have changed my original pick of Flames over Wild to Avs over Wild (which I feel much less good about)
Here are this years Hockey Playoff picks. This is a yearly battle between Andy and I, in which the winner gets a 6 pack of Guinness from the loser and both players feel like they should know a lot more about hockey by the 2nd round. Anyone else who wants to join in is free to post their picks here, but I probably won't buy them Guinness (as past history shows I'm pretty terrible at this).
Round 1 East:
Habs
Pens
Caps
Rangers
Round 1 West:
Wings
Sharks
Avs
Ducks
Round 2:
Habs
Caps
Wings
Sharks
Conference:
Habs
Sharks
Cup Winner:
Habs
(Goals in the Final Series: 25)
Notes: Montreal is back, and as the 2nd winningest team of championships (second only to the Yankees in all of American sport, just not so much lately) never count them out. The Sharks look great this year, playing very well at the end of the season with terrific goaltending. Usually this is the mark of a cup worthy team. Plus, I like to pick someone besides Detroit so that if they get bounced early I don't feel quite as bad, and if I they do go to the Cup Finals, who cares about this stupid thing, anyway.
From a homer perspective, Calgary or Anaheim in the second round are scarier to me than Nashville, but I've been wrong before. (A lot!)
A blogger who may or may not be named Andy has posted the first of a two part series on the serious problems plaguing the. I agree completely with his analysis so far, and as hockey is my favorite sport and a winter passtime I get great pleasure from, I hope these problems are resolved. The problems are not that Hockey is not the #1 sport in America (and I don't think it should be), but that in an attempt to make it more broadly marketable its soul is being lost. Anyway, check out the post.
Wow, new record for posts in a day, but after seeing this, I absolutely couldn't resist blogging about it.
Marc Crawford Named in Steve Moore Lawsuit
I still remember Marc Crawford from his days with Colorado and I hated him then too. I wonder, too, what "suggestions" Crawford had for Claude Lemieux prior to the moment in 1996 that could have ended Chris Draper's career.
In any case, this era of cheapshot hits has to end and if I can see Bertuzzi and Crawford go together to put a stop to it, I'll be thrilled. Add in Marty McSorley and Chris Pronger and I'm throwing a party.
