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It always hurts when you take your exit from the playoffs. It’s worse when your star player, Luongo has a very uncharacteristic performance.
Still, this season was far beyond my expectations. I barely expected to see the ‘Nucks in the playoffs, let alone get this far.
But until next year, I give you…
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John Madden has decided to call it quits today as a broadcaster, drawing to a close forty years in football, as both a coach and a broadcaster. Though I didn’t always agree with his viewpoint, there has to be something to be said about his longevity and popularity.
What I do have to ask is this. Who now will be able to point out the exceedingly obvious with such panache?
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Watchmen looks at the world through the literary lens of what if. What if America won Vietnam because of a super-human. What if Tricky Dick was elected to many consecutive Presidential terms? What would humanity do on the verge of global thermonuclear war? What if costumed vigilantes were outlawed?
Now, the most pressing concern: what if the Watchmen were really the kids from Peanuts? Inspired by the following artwork I found on the web:
Let’s to back to the forties. Linus van Pelt, operating as a morally corrupt Comedian, rapes his mother, the original Silk Spectre, and fathers his sister Lucy, who becomes the second Silk Spectre. Even back then, incest IS a game the whole family can play.
Fast forward to the sixties. Charlie Brown gets disintegrated accidentally in an experiment. His last words would have been ‘Good Grief’ had his consciousness not survived and become a glowing blue person who has a strong propensity for nudism. Later that decade, Charlie Brown and Linus decimate the Viet-Cong on about a month, as Linus burns many to death with a flamethrower while Charlie Brown grows to several hundred feet tall and blows up enemy soldiers by the thousands. Charlie Brown begins to lose touch with humanity when he lets Linus kill a woman he raped.
Back in America, Schroeder becomes very intelligent and wants to save mankind. Pig Pen starts to think he’s a Night Owl. An Charlie Brown changes Snoopy’s spots to move in a kind of kinetic Rorschach. All just in time to become outlawed.
Charlie Brown and Linus continue as government agents. Charlie Brown also starts sleeping with his best friend’s sister/daughter. This makes Luke and Leia’s kiss in Empire look like nothing.
Snoopy becomes a criminal outlaw who ironically supports the Republicans.
Schroeder sells out his costumed self and makes a fortune marketing the past as there is no further need for classical Beethoven pianists.
Pig Pen becomes a drunk with no purpose. Of course, Linus’ satirical view of the American dream decimates Pig Pen, who refuses to follow Linus into a pumpkin patch to find (and subsequently murder) the Great Pumpkin.
Part II to follow soon.
Society, the Machine, Big Brother, whatever you call it, would tend to deem graffiti a form of vandalism, not expression.
There are definite cases that I really disagree.
Like this:
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It is always disheartening when following down a path you think is right and it ends up a dead end for yourself. Much more so when you put so much on hold to find out the choice wasn’t right. Bah.
Still, it provides some clear introspection. Self re-evaluation. I’ve forgotten too much of myself lately, and need to reconnect. And back to blogging and photography. I can’t even fathom that I really haven’t gone and taken any pictures in MONTHS.
As such, and being as we went to Victoria last weekend…
Dawn in Victoria
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I swear, today the machines (well, at bare minimum computer and computer based devices) decided to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day one day early. Consider the following ‘phun’ these beasts had with me:
• My handheld mobile device for work decided to only download half my jobs (as the paper backup evidenced that the entire queue was released for download). Shame I wasn’t let off the hook for the truant orders.
• My personal handheld mobile device (read iPhone) ‘decided’ to hang up on all calls one minute in the early afternoon today. I actually blame the Rogers network over my physical piece of technology, but when I or others stress over mobile communication, I try to remind myself that for the majority of my existence, this technology did not exist, and we got along just fine.
• The most heinous, my Score mobile application for my phone decided to tell me that in the English Premier Football League, the Toronto Raptors would face the Charlotte Bobcats. They would also simultaneously golf, play hockey, baseball, and the North American brands of football. The NBA must be fully CGI by now.
But machines can’t make mistakes. Well, that’s what the powers at work claim. There is some logic. They just follow instructions without question (how Orwellian, as it is managements dictum for us in regards to our orders).
But still, macines, like man, wear down. And ultimately, the instructions given by the operators, who are human, have the potential to be flawed. Which brings to light the real point. People are far less inclined to think when using a computer or reasonable facsimile.
So why not pen and paper anymore? Paper is more and more recycled stock, and trees can be replanted. If my return to post secondary was any insight, young people’s dependency on computers has eroded their capacity to think individually.
Could this be by some design?
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… do we have a radio station that not only promotes, but had someone at City Hall sign a declaration that March 14 is Steak and BJ Day in the city of Vancouver.
… we live in the mountains, a stone’s throw away from Whistler, and so many residents of the Lower Mainland have neither the ability or desire to ski.
… do so many people wear Canucks clothing and support the team, but really have no understanding of the game. Listen to TEAM 1040, and see how retarded Vancouverites are as they play GM on the air. They are even worse than Filet Mignon with his line juggling.
… does it take 55 minutes to drive 5 km in rush hour. Thank you stalls on bridges daily.
… I have seen so many islands in the roads. Our main intersection is an example. If, Gods forbid, Dawn and I want Choke and Puke, it’s a two minute walk, but because of the islands, it’s a ten minute drive to get to the right side of the street.
… would I even fathom that there is a very significant movement boycotting the Olympics and using the plight of the homeless as the crux of their argument. I may sound heavily Conservative here, but even in these rough economic times, there are still more jobs than people here. Some of the homeless would do well to get off their ass and apply themselves.
… do so many people drive the wrong way down a one way street. I’ve even gotten into an argument with one who argued the posted signage was wrong, and that myself and every other driver on Granville Street that the signs indicating to drive north were wrong, that it goes only south. Fraktard.
… do people turn the wrong way onto a street divided by an island, and instead of biting the bullet and righting themselves to drive along in the appropriate direction until the opportunity arises to turn themselves around, they drive straight over the island to continue in their intended direction, fucking up the underside of their vehicle and pissing a lot of people in the process.
What an interesting yet fucked up land we live in. Well, either way, happy Steak and BJ Day!
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Was Gaius Frakking Baltar right? Delusional, and near death on the renegade Cylon Basestar, he admits his connection with the holocaust to President Roslin, and extrapolates to suggest the cycle of life needs periodic purging for life, spirit and hope to spring anew.
As a parallel to a truism, our existence needs death for life to spring anew.
On a more personal side, many things are coming to an end. Battlestar Galactica is two episodes to it’s close. Watchmen has finally made it’s cinematic debut after a long, hungering wait. In my geek’s paradise of sci-fi, much of what I’ve longed for is ending. Over. Done.
In the realm of reality, much is also drawing to a close. A potential opportunity could spark a significant change for Dawn and I. And a much needed change for the better. Things coming to am end can yeild a positive end.
We’ll also have Caprica. X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Angels and Demons. And frak. In film school, I always wanted to be a writer. I think it’ right time to refresh my approach and effort toward that endeavour.
Death isn’t the end of all things. It’s just the change we need to start anew.
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Dear TEAM 1040.
Being a Vancouverite, I would like to thank you for relegating Jim Rome to a ‘floating’ evening timeslot. I am sick of hearing sportscasts that pertain to anything except the Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver Giants, or BC Lions.
On a day that featured no real news, being that Mike Gillis did not make any trades at the deadline, I applaud Blake Price for avoiding a non-Vancouver story like T.O. Being released by the Cowboys. Instead, I felt far more entertained by two sportscasters with no relevant copy, engaging in a three hour PMS fest about the rip-off artists known as Ticketmaster.
Bravo. Ripping T.O. would be far more entertaining, and if I want a festival embracing P.M.S. I think I’ll either piss off my better half at that time of the month, or opt for a voluntary lobotomy first.
TEAM 1040, admit you massively fucked up, don’t listen to your audience, and be entertaining again by bringing Rome back to his usual timeslot.
Blake Price, why don’t you just disappear already.
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To start this onslaught, I present to you the following rant from Canada’s [ahem] Second Greatest Living Canadian:
I can’t say this outburst surprises me. And before going there, I do have to say, in general, short of certain subtleties (and suit choices), I tend to agree with Cherry’s slant about hockey. I fully agree fighting is a part of the game and should be encouraged, if to serve as part of the entertainment along with lessening more serious injury caused via stickwork. But this rip on Ovechkin is nothing more than bias. Consider it this way.
Turn on sports news. Sports radio. Especially hockey. Especially now, considering how close we are to the trade deadline, and the frenzy final few hours prior to. With the addition post lockout of the salary cap, the subtext of almost every trade is money money money. Clearing cap space. Is this player worth that much. Rental or keeper? Resignable after this season? Dollars dollars dollars are in the forefront of the hockey talk for the next three days. And therein lies the rub.
With the complexities of a cap based revenue system in the sport of hockey, the true evil of greed sometimes can get lost in the mix of the bigger, team picture. For example, Alexei Kovalev, of my beloved Habs. Never have I seen such an indifferent shithead of a player. No real passion for the game. It is clearly evident that he is all about the Benjamins, and nothing else. The same could be said about Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, amongst others.
Now enter Ovechkin. Cherry says his antics are uncalled for. It’s over the top ‘entertainment’. I say this. Any serious in depth report on Ovechkin proves one thing. The kid just LOVES to play. He has pure passion for the game. Maybe, Don, just maybe, the ‘antics’ are not showmanship directed towards the fans. Perhaps it could be a genuine expression of his joy. In a game filled with money driven sell outs, I find a player like Ovechkin refreshing. Cherry, I fear you lost perspective a long time ago. Fuck me, your commentary, as your broadcast location, is Toronto-centric. Having been in America Jr. for quite some time in my life, two things are constant. First, the hockey is shit. Secondly, the environment, media, fan and team for hockey is not amped up like a contender. It’s more like a relaxed country club. And Don, you and your comments fit right in. Is it any reason Toronto is so horrible? They are geared much more for April golf, not the playoffs.
Still, it could be worse. Here, in every rainy Vancouver (okay, this winter has been unseasonably dry, but generally it rains) we’ve had to endure weeks of speculation as to whether or not Ohlund will waive his no trade clause. Can we re-sign the Twins? And now today, will we offer up Alex Burrows as trade bait (which, in not only my but every other Vancouverite’s opinion is an idea spawned from a Hastings and Main crack addict)? It gets tiresome. January was lynch Vinnie Vigneault month, as the Sundin signing was looking like a flop. February was Vigneault is a genius for putting Kesler with Sundin and Demitra and Burrows with the twins. And our sportscasters talk about nothing else. 21 hours a day (if you’re even more a vampire and night owl than myself) of the same, repetitive story. Just 9 AM to 12 PM as a break. Thank you Jim Rome for adding variety. Can’t Rick Ball talk about NCAA Hoops? Can’t Scott Rintoul stop being a pint sized geek and talk Major League Baseball? Fuck, we do have a former AL MVP from our parts (Justin Morneau). Rome definitely covered a more diverse athletic spectrum than our home grown ‘talent’.
Well, now Rome has been relegated to ‘another time slot’ that Team 1040 has not decided to announce (which probably means late night). All in the effort to ‘give us more Canuck hockey coverage that we asked for’. I don’t know about anyone else, but I asked for less. FAR LESS Canuck coverage, if what constitutes coverage is regurgitating the same two minute story ad naseum for 21 straight hours per day. Now we have Blake Price and Dave Tomlinson repeating the same, homogeonized stories in the time I’d rather hear Rome rip ‘John from Kansas’ or some other clone or clone wannabe. Hell, if the Team wanted some research, it almost seems the majority of Rome’s emails come from Vancouver. Listen and count.
Fact is, I bet the Team 1040 are ultimately appalled by one aspect of Rome’s broadcast. He speaks his mind, and bows to no specific authoritative power. No network mandate, no FCC bylaw. He lays the smack, and frankly, he tells it how he sees it. No other personality on the Team 1040 does that. And maybe there’s the rub. Where Cherry, the former Bruin coach and later supporter has turned coat to be a closet Leaf fan (among other closet habits he may or may not have come clean with yet), Rome won’t change his spots for the good of big business broadcasting. Though in Vancouver, it means he has a right shitty timeslot. One I will probably take a few weeks to figure out. But as for the Team, I can genuinely say this. I, along with all the Rome fans in Van will NEVER, EVER listen again between 9-12 until you fix this atrocity.
Yes Team 1040, you have been BLOCKED!
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