Statsblog

Pony Up! "He taught me everything. Go hard. Don't look back. Do whatever you can to win." Thanks Joe.

Brian McCabe may be putting up the points but, man, is he a stupid hockey player. He's all yours Leaf-fans, I don't want him anywhere near an AGH sweater.

Thanks for noticing, but we'll keep him. His teammates continue to bail him out, so its ok for now.

Bed, Bath and....Beyond!

So, will it be the Canucks or the Avalanche who trade for a goalie? Auld ain't the answer as Vancouver's home dominance has gone bye bye. Bertuzzi at center is an interesting attempt by Crawford to shake things up, but it isn't addressing the problem. Budaj and Aebischer can't stop enough pucks to support the third most productive offense, and the third-stringer just got sent back down. We're almost at 40 games. Time to pull the trigger.

UPDATE 12/29/05 - Damn, I'm good. But not this good.

Ouch!

Tasca Springfield Falcons Spoofcast

Yet another example of Maple Leaf mismanagement, not to mention the Blackhawks, Steve Sullivan is the epitome of what I think a hockey player should be.

"There was really nothing I could do except maybe flatten his tires,'' he said with a smile. "But that way I couldn't get to the rink either.''

Ruthless, but isn't dumb about it.

But I thought God created humans like 300 years ago? This has to be a fake.

How evil does Pope Benedict XVI look in this lovely photo op?

A rainbow trout fished out of Holmes Lake in Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 17, 2005

Dead Man's Chest

newgrounds.com

"Yeah, it makes you look like you’re ready to give oral to a humpback whale, but..."

As a follow-up on the eaves-dropping scandal, one of the members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court set up to approve surveillance has resigned in protest.

Confused shark attacks boat for 15 minutes, or was it just hungry?

"They hate us because of our freedom -- our meat-eating, fur-wearing freedom."

I think I just found what I'm going to use my itunes gift card on 'Based on a True Story' by Fat Freedy's Drop

Western Democracy is reaping what it has sown...

Señor Morales has pledged to nationalise the country’s huge gas reserves and call a constituent assembly to write a new constitution that will reflect the indigenous majority.

Señor Morales built his campaign on a promise to break the power of the European elite that has run Bolivia since independence from Spain in 1825 and which is seen by many as having ransacked the

He has also promised to ally Bolivia with other regional left-wing leaders such as Presidents Chávez of Venezuela and Castro of Cuba. Señor Chávez was one of the first to telephone to congratulate Señor Morales, whose victory continues Latin America’s shift to the Left.

Señor Morales, who used to lead a coca-growers’ union, has promised to legalise the cultivation of coca, the primary ingredient in cocaine

I imagine this is a setback for the futile war on drugs...especially when it is one of the few crops the third world has that has a market whose comeptition isn't subsidized.

[via]

What is especially perplexing about this story is that the 1978 law set up a special court to approve eavesdropping in hours, even minutes, if necessary. In fact, the law allows the government to eavesdrop on its own, then retroactively justify it to the court, essentially obtaining a warrant after the fact. Since 1979, the FISA court has approved tens of thousands of eavesdropping requests and rejected only four. There was no indication the existing system was slow—as the president seemed to claim in his press conference—or in any way required extra-constitutional action.

...Bush summoned Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger and executive editor Bill Keller to the Oval Office in a futile attempt to talk them out of running the story.

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Ok, I can't stop listening to the four Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah songs I was given for the past two days. Their influences are obvious, but are nothing I would consider favorites of mine. That said, I might have to redefine who my favorites are as I grow older and find myself singing along to the radio to songs I thought were dorky.

The vocal stylings are really what appeals to me. He isn't afraid to put a strong artistic form on lyrics that are really...not all that special. Tres cool.

Way to go Nick Stern! These guys are the real deal.

Highly Recommended.

Does the Center Ice package provide any Turin coverage? It better, especially when it can pick up the CBC feed.

Biron is 'the man' now!

Since I consider the Buffalo Sabres to be the only team with multiple viable options at the goaltending position this NHL season, I've been mulling the trade possibilities over; who do they move, and where does he go? This is primarily about part one of the problem.

Mr.HockeyBlog himself, along with several commenters, sees Biron being the one to move out of the snow belt. I found this surprising given Tom's meticulous attention to value of a player relative to salary, return on investment and the rest of what comes along with the new CBA. But conventional hockey wisdom seems to agree that the Sabres should trade away the player they have developed over several years in order to clear cap space and give Miller his chance. But I don't see it that way.

With Miller, the Sabres can trade away a starting goaltender to a cap-strapped team, i.e. a wealthy and play-off hungry team, and presumably raid the kitchen cabinet in return, all the while retaining the services of Marty Biron. I would assume SabreRattling has thought about this situation a tad more than I have (especially since I have to ponder whether Belfour should take a rest and see if Tellqvist can handle the weight of Leaf Nation), and he and his wife have arrived at a similar conclusion; Biron is the man now.

For all of Cheney's cheerleading about how well things are going, those carrying the real guns recognize that they will not soon be coming home from a country where their "replacements" are carrying imaginary guns.

...It should come as no surprise that the troops Cheney encountered appeared to have been as frustrated with the illusion as Jack Murtha. After all, Murtha, the old soldier who earned a chest full of medals in Vietnam, is one of them. Cheney, the guy who got five deferments to avoid serving in Vietnam, is not.

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Developing countries, forced to liberalize by developed countries, have always been told that liberalization will deliver gains ... It is not too late for developed countries to swallow their own medicine

That is why it is called Free Trade.

The World Bank added its voice to the indignation expressed by least-developed countries over their treatment at the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting, saying there had been much talk about development but too little action.

"In the three days the meetings have taken so far, the rich countries have transferred more than $2 billion to their farmers in various forms of support," World Bank Vice President Danny Leipziger said in a statement.

"In the same period, the 300 million poorest people in Africa have earned less than $1 billion between them."

Bravo World Bank! In a capitalist global economy, the biggest capitalists of all can't protect their workforces with economic socialism.

The 25-nation EU says Washington must first indicate how it plans to reform its food aid system, arguing that -- because the aid is in kind rather than cash -- it amounts to as great a subsidy for U.S. farmers as European export subsidies.

The United States parried pressure from African countries to end its cotton subsidies, which they say are devastating their economies, saying that it could not take such a step without a move from the EU to open further its farm markets.

And the haves play games with people's lives.

Prospect Pogge Progressing

The above is not a misprint. The Leafs actually have prospects with potential, particularly Pogge (pronounced POH-gey) who is to start the WJC in net for Canada.

That Pogge is even part of this elite group speaks of his progress, as he was a little known Western Hockey League goalie when the Leafs selected him. This season, Pogge has been arguably the best goalie in junior hockey and is leading the WHL in every goaltending category with a 22-5-0 record, a 1.53 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage to go with six shutouts.

Selected 90th overall in 2004 with the Leafs' first pick(ouch), he may be facing the Leafs' first rounder of 2005 Tuukka Rask, the standout Finnish goalie.

Later Eddie. It's been real.

In the words of the ever-eloquent Alan Linquist "...I have to call bullshit. Bullshit! There, it's been called."

Potential computer users in the developing world will not want a basic $100 hand-cranked laptop due to be rolled out to millions, chip-maker Intel Corp. chairman Craig Barrett said on Friday

At $100, fuck the developing world, I want one.

Now in Long Sleeve

I know it sounds bad coming from the reigning gold medalist country, but I have to agree with Gretzky that naming the Olympic hockey roster by 12/21/05, instead of the IOC deadline of 02/05/06, per the NHLPA's CBA input, though well-intended, won't yield the best teams which is afterall the idea of the Olympics. Then again, I could be just nervous that Wayner won't pick the right 23.

Three weeks ago he was lying on an operating table, the septum of his nose -- the cartilage wall separating the nostrils -- driven through his forehead, resting on his brain....Van Massenhoven required surgery after being struck with a deflected puck at a Florida Panthers game...

Wear a fucking visor!

adventure handbook

"PCBs and other man-made toxins can cause hormonal imbalances"

Best Fly Name - Rat Faced McDougal

Einstein Award Winner - self-charging smoke alarm - I can't believe some engineering student didn't think of this 10 years ago instead of some half-assed CD storage device. cribcandy seems to have alot of Einstein Award entrants.

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Something I want, but really shouldn't have around the house. Maybe as a rental for special occasions.

the jimmy castor bunch 'King Kong'

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So, the Leafs won last night. That in and of itself is news.

The Leafs also came out and played a good first period, winning the first period despite going into the break tied 1-1, though it easily could've been 0-0 and I still would've been pleased. Indicative of their dominance was the shot count, 13-4 after 20 minutes. After 60 they were outshot once again, but I'm looking on the bright side today, and perhaps shots early in the game count more in a deeply abstract and metaphyiscal sort of way.

Going down to injury was Domi, who may need to take a few games off, regardless of the severity of his ailment. His dump and chase ploys are tired and effectual of late, and misdirected enthusiasm won't get us anywhere.

Regulars not playing last night were Lindros with a wrist owwie and Belfour with a sore...what for it...groin. Inserted were Wilm and Tellqvist. I think Quinn should ride Telly, irregarible of Eddie's bread basket, and see what the young lad can do.

To be honest I like the team alot better when we are short a star or two. The team tends to hustle as whole, play with urgency in all three zones of the ice, and probably place more responsibility upon themselves individually to have an impact, rather than thinking someone else will win the game. This is as Freudian as I will venture to be in regards to hockey, but I think I have a point. The Leafs need a lunch pail attitude to be successful, and with all the healthy bodies they are out getting lattes at Starbucks and throwing down their platnium cards when they get another 5 on 3. Life in the NHL ain't that easy, and they need to get their learn on mighty quick.

Since I'm gonna be positive today, I see these three injuries as a good thing that can help the team realize how it has to play to be successful. And with several days off before the banged-up Senators host the buds on HNIC, perhaps they'll put some of this together and get a huge win.

car bomb

Q Q Q Q Q-Unit!

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political shorts

• I should hope CITGO's and Chavez's actions embarass U.S. oil firms, because they bloody well should be embarassed.
• CIA shifts prisoners from Europe to N.Africa. Not sure how I feel about this move, but the Geneva Convention is the bottom line here, and openly denying mistreating prisoners ain't the answer, especially against the backdrop of changing policy.
• "Brutal, Indifferent, Scornful, Ruthless"...but America is allowed to do this because it is America, or hadn't you heard this obvious circular justification before? To those that think using a Nobel acceptance speech isn't the proper forum for this type of commentary, its his moment in the sun, he's entitled to use it as he sees fit.
• That makes me feel so much better. This guy is beyond belief, literally.

This is a sweet lid

Avs goaltending situation acknowledged as up for grabs

Ok, I can dig on supermarket trash rag mag pics of sports stars out on the town.

[via (who, btw stole my spofi link title a day late => via]

Oh please, oh please, for the sake of my FHL team (#2) let Martin Biron go the Avs, who have taken the unusal step of calling up Vitaly Kolesnik, and who will get the start in net tonight for the Colorado Avalanche.

UPDATE - Ryan Miller is now practicing, and should be ready for the weekend.

"Dang!"

...he even impishly suggested that he might sign with the Leafs next summer when he becomes a free agent.

"This is my realm here. Sometimes I feel this is where I was born to play hockey," said the 35-year-old. "I've score more points against this team than any other team in the league. This city has been really good to me outside the rink. It's been real fun for me. I always circle the date on my calendar every year when the schedule comes out...You think Tie Domi is big here. If I'd have played here ... oh man."

Sure, we'll sign you...for the league minimum plus performance bonuses. Play 75 games, another $500,000. Score 70 points, another $500,000. Get in line JR, alot of players want to come to the Leafs.

I'm not to blame
No cracks in my shell so far
There is no shame
You're in the clear so far

Cos you said it, doesn't make it so
Doesn't mean that time stands still between us
There is nothing left to know

What you stole, wasn't really yours
though you want, they have no meaning
your awkwardness still shows

Ease it down
Come in out of the rain
To a better place

Sleaze is all you know
That which is causing you pain
Is all you'll ever know

I'm not to blame
No cracks in my shell so far
There is no shame
You're in the clear so far

Every thought you think is not how it goes
Though to see the way you treat them
Explains your empty soul

Make demands of others that you control
There will always be that certain someone
Whose answer will be "no"

Ease it down
Come in out of the rain
To a better place

Sleaze is all you know
That which is causing you pain
Is all you'll ever know

Come on in out
Come on in out
Come on in out
Come on in out

Ease it down
Come in out of the rain
To a better place

Sleaze is all you know
That which is causing you pain
Is all you'll ever know

Engineers interview

"But as a whole, the album works -- in fact, the album works remarkably well. While the influence of the shoegazers is undeniable, Engineers takes the best of what the genre had to offer -- the lushness, the luxuriousness of the sound -- and modernizes it into a notably accessible and likely enduring end product. In this case, it would seem, the positive press was right on."

Agreed

Unintelligent Designs

A Kansas Professor, who was to teach 'Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies', a course he designed in reaction to "fundies" as a "nice slap in their big fat face," was assaulted on the side of the road in rural Douglas County.

Unfortunately, "the course was canceled last week at [the Professor's] request."

"One aspect the Leafs are so good at now is their puck control down low, and he (Allison) is almost impossible to knock off the puck," one veteran NHL scout said. "And he is getting those two young guys (linemates Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky) going. That counts for something. I really don't understand some of the Allison bashing that has been going on in Toronto."

Uh, I may not be a veteran NHL scout, but I can tell you Allison is the beneficiary of Antropov and Ponikarovsky when playing at even strength. Allison couldn't do jack at even strength before being paired with the Bloc Towers. Yes, Allison has 28 in 28, mostly on the powerplay where his limited movement isn't a liability, but let's not start claiming Allison is getting +/- leaders of the team last time out "going."

If you need any more help 'understanding' the Leafs going forward, Mr. Anonymous veteran NHL scout, just let me know. I'll piece it together for you.

Date - mid to late August 2006
Location - Frying Pan & Roaring Fork

flyshack

Winter Trout Fishing in NJ

Trout Fishing Hotspots In The Garden State

NJ Trout Fishing

180 Days of Fly fishing - some info for a chance to win fabulous daily prizes

Gulf of Tonkin never happened.

Puck Periodic is a fanatastic feature I just found at Breakaway Beach

Ike & Tina 'Funky Mule'

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17 of 24 U.S. hockey markets show t.v. ratings increase thru first quarter.

Please Insert One Token

I found this looking for a link to the White Stripes performance on the Daily Show last night.

"We’ve never had a musical performance on the show before — not because we haven’t wanted one — but because we were holding out for a reunited Spandau Ballet,” Stewart joked in a statement. “This will have to suffice.”

Google is Good.

And Jack confirmed in a roundabout way that indeed the weed is good in Amsterdam. Go figure.