http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/02/impact_winning_hearts_in_hocke.html
Excellent op-ed piece. It's really too bad that our media outlets still take such caution when reporting on soccer. I hope that the game made the front page this morning in Montreal papers. 55,571 fans is no mediocre turnout - that's more than double the number who pack the Bell Centre for Habs games.
John Limniatis deserves a lot of credit. He is an excellent coach and deserves a shot at coaching our national team. (It would be a tremendous loss for the Impact, but maybe by the time 2014 WC qualifiers have rolled around he'll be ready for a change anyways).
I am so lucky to be growing up in Canada in 2009 with all this soccer action happening. The late 80s (when I was born) to the late 90s was an absolute drought for soccer in Canada - that's an entire decade of being forced to watch EPL games weekend after weekend, wondering when we'll finally get our own teams to support. But it's finally happening.
The Vancouver Whitecaps' MLS bid is solid. Kerfoot and Nash. Money and star power. A new state of the art stadium on Vancouver's waterfront. Joining the MLS would elevate Vancouver's game by giving them the chance to acquire players from other MLS teams in the expansion draft. Seattle is so far making an excellent transition: they nabbed 10 fine players from teams around the MLS and most recently beat Vancouver 4-0 in an exhibition match.
The Montreal Impact however should remain in the USL for the following reasons:
1 - They have a brand new stadium that seats 13,000. I've been to State Saputo and must say that I'm impressed. It's got quality seating, press boxes, executive suites, a supporters' section, and it sits a mere stone's throw from the Big O. The MLS wants new franchises to have 20,000 seat stadiums - even though many of those seats continue to remain empty!
2- The 40 million dollar franchise fee is a joke. Is Garber trying to grow soccer in North America or become filthy rich!? The MLS should be paying the Impact to join! Look at their performance in the Champions League thus far - it far outshines the performances of any "superior" MLS team.
3 - The Impact have an excellent squad and joining the MLS would cause such a shake up to the team (trades, transfers, loans) that they would probably drop right to the bottom of the table. Let them remain kings of the USL!
Allez les bleues!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Quebec Separation
I've jumped head first into a raging debate with Quebec sovereigntists. They call me a "federal agent" and accuse me of "spreading propoganda". I must be getting to them. The feds SHOULD be paying me for this! Where's my cheque dammit! I'm trying to keep this country together!
Anyways, check it out for yourselves. Come help me out if you get a chance!
http://lequebecois.actifforum.com/ici-on-parle-d-actualite-f1
Now on to related matters. French in America. Check this interesting article out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_in_the_United_States
There are communities in Maine where French is spoken by more than 75% of the population! Go figure. What else won't Quebec sovereigntists tell us?
Now might I add that there is an amazing collection of French outside of Quebec:
http://www.maillardville.com/ (BC)
http://www.willowbunch.ca/ (SK) (Also home of the Giant Edouard Beaupre!)
http://www.acfa.ab.ca/default.asp (AB)
http://www.fransaskois.sk.ca/ (SK)
http://www.franco-manitobain.org/ (MB)
http://www.fcfa.ca/ (CAN)
So, what do you have to say to all that my Quebec separatist friends?
Anyways, check it out for yourselves. Come help me out if you get a chance!
http://lequebecois.actifforum.com/ici-on-parle-d-actualite-f1
Now on to related matters. French in America. Check this interesting article out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_in_the_United_States
There are communities in Maine where French is spoken by more than 75% of the population! Go figure. What else won't Quebec sovereigntists tell us?
Now might I add that there is an amazing collection of French outside of Quebec:
http://www.maillardville.com/ (BC)
http://www.willowbunch.ca/ (SK) (Also home of the Giant Edouard Beaupre!)
http://www.acfa.ab.ca/default.asp (AB)
http://www.fransaskois.sk.ca/ (SK)
http://www.franco-manitobain.org/ (MB)
http://www.fcfa.ca/ (CAN)
So, what do you have to say to all that my Quebec separatist friends?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
1759 or 2009?
Due to the firestorm of controversy surrounding the historical re-enactment of the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham, I feel I must wade into this issue.
While thumbing through the National Post yesterday at Pearson airport I came across the story and was yet again confronted with the neverending separatist agenda of some Quebecers.
Look Quebec. You had a chance to make some money here! In a related NP article, it was reported that only 36% of Quebecers feel that their province gives more to Canada than it takes. (economically, socially, etc.) Meanwhile 78% of Albertans feel that Alberta gives more to this country than it takes. I'm surprised it's not 100% quite frankly.
What Ottawa should do for this fiscal year, is DEDUCT from your transfer payments, the amount of money that Quebec City would have made from thousands of tourists that would have flocked to your "capitale nationale" for the historical re-enactment. You had a chance to finally make some money for yourselves, finally contribute to the Canadian economy during an economic recession, and you blow it off.
Be advised my ill informed Quebec cousins: 221 billion dollars left Alberta between 1971 - 2001 in the form of transfer payments. 221 billion dollars taken from their province! And during that same period, 221 BILLION dollars was given to...GUESS WHO! Quebec!
We, in the rest of Canada, are growing very tired of your separatist antics. Patrick Bourgeois, Pauline Marois. All of you. We're tired of it. Quite frankly I feel that our government, as soon as possible, should introduce a motion to have separatist parties/organizations in Canada outlawed. It is an absolute disgrace that we still allow such childish politics.
Separatist Quebecers, do you not realize that we in the ROC give you hundreds of billions of dollars! You bite the hand that feeds you! Why? When will this stop?
Two years ago I would have said, "they want to leave, let them leave!" That statement in fact echoes what many western canadians have said since the very first referendum. However. I must now retract this statement and disagree whole heartedly. Because:
1 - New France lost the war in 1759 and was subsequently conquered by the English, becoming a colony and later a province, in the Dominion of Canada; (quite frankly the English should have been harsher with them following the war. No other western democracy would accept such treason from a portion of its citizenry.)
2 - Millions of Canadians, myself included, have French ancestors who colonized and settled New France/Quebec. My own ancestors came in the late 17th century. We've all moved on. Why can't they?
3 - Quebec does not belong to the French. Quebec is a Canadian province, inhabited by hundreds of thousands of English, Irish, Scottish, Arabs, Italians, Haitians and so on. My French ancestors had been there nearly 300 years before they moved West! All Canadians have a stake in that province.
4 - In 1995 the vote was 50-50. Of the 50 percent that voted yes, I don't believe they understand the potential economic implications separating from Canada would have. Again, I will repeat, Quebec receives hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal government. Quebec is a "have-not" province. Idyllic, separatist youth cannot run a province! Sure they voted OUI, but are they aware of the potential economic consequences of such an action? How would Quebec support itself?
Pauline Marois in the article was quoted as saying that the historical re-enactment was "federalist propoganda" and a "manipulation of public opinion". Madame Marois, kindly pull your head from the sand. Had your party, the Parti Quebecois, not been rabidly pushing a separatist movement for the past 25 years, our taxpayer dollars wouldn't need to be funding "federalist propoganda" and "manipulating public opinion" in Quebec. Our government is merely acting in a responsible manner, simply working to counter the dangerous separatist sentiment/propoganda that the PQ and BQ spew throughout La Belle Province.
What gives these separatists the right to take a province away from a country? A province that was inhabited by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the French. If anyone has a claim to indepedence it's the Aboriginals. Oh I forgot, the game only works one way. The French can colonize les Autochtones, but the British can't colonize the French. Damn squareheads!
Fifty percent! Half of your province! Voted NO. There are many French Quebecers who wish to remain a part of Canada. Paul Desmarais, the brain behind Hydro Quebec, is one such man. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has even told you all to smarten up. What gives you the right to take away a part of our country?
The government must step in and outlaw separatism in this country. Separatist political leaders should be heavily fined and imprisoned. No other Western democracy, indeed, no country in the world! would accept such discent. Separatism is akin to treason and must be treated as such.
The show must go on. I support my taxpayer dollars going to fund security at this historical re-enactment. We cannot concede to a group of separatists and their bullyboy tactics.
While thumbing through the National Post yesterday at Pearson airport I came across the story and was yet again confronted with the neverending separatist agenda of some Quebecers.
Look Quebec. You had a chance to make some money here! In a related NP article, it was reported that only 36% of Quebecers feel that their province gives more to Canada than it takes. (economically, socially, etc.) Meanwhile 78% of Albertans feel that Alberta gives more to this country than it takes. I'm surprised it's not 100% quite frankly.
What Ottawa should do for this fiscal year, is DEDUCT from your transfer payments, the amount of money that Quebec City would have made from thousands of tourists that would have flocked to your "capitale nationale" for the historical re-enactment. You had a chance to finally make some money for yourselves, finally contribute to the Canadian economy during an economic recession, and you blow it off.
Be advised my ill informed Quebec cousins: 221 billion dollars left Alberta between 1971 - 2001 in the form of transfer payments. 221 billion dollars taken from their province! And during that same period, 221 BILLION dollars was given to...GUESS WHO! Quebec!
We, in the rest of Canada, are growing very tired of your separatist antics. Patrick Bourgeois, Pauline Marois. All of you. We're tired of it. Quite frankly I feel that our government, as soon as possible, should introduce a motion to have separatist parties/organizations in Canada outlawed. It is an absolute disgrace that we still allow such childish politics.
Separatist Quebecers, do you not realize that we in the ROC give you hundreds of billions of dollars! You bite the hand that feeds you! Why? When will this stop?
Two years ago I would have said, "they want to leave, let them leave!" That statement in fact echoes what many western canadians have said since the very first referendum. However. I must now retract this statement and disagree whole heartedly. Because:
1 - New France lost the war in 1759 and was subsequently conquered by the English, becoming a colony and later a province, in the Dominion of Canada; (quite frankly the English should have been harsher with them following the war. No other western democracy would accept such treason from a portion of its citizenry.)
2 - Millions of Canadians, myself included, have French ancestors who colonized and settled New France/Quebec. My own ancestors came in the late 17th century. We've all moved on. Why can't they?
3 - Quebec does not belong to the French. Quebec is a Canadian province, inhabited by hundreds of thousands of English, Irish, Scottish, Arabs, Italians, Haitians and so on. My French ancestors had been there nearly 300 years before they moved West! All Canadians have a stake in that province.
4 - In 1995 the vote was 50-50. Of the 50 percent that voted yes, I don't believe they understand the potential economic implications separating from Canada would have. Again, I will repeat, Quebec receives hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal government. Quebec is a "have-not" province. Idyllic, separatist youth cannot run a province! Sure they voted OUI, but are they aware of the potential economic consequences of such an action? How would Quebec support itself?
Pauline Marois in the article was quoted as saying that the historical re-enactment was "federalist propoganda" and a "manipulation of public opinion". Madame Marois, kindly pull your head from the sand. Had your party, the Parti Quebecois, not been rabidly pushing a separatist movement for the past 25 years, our taxpayer dollars wouldn't need to be funding "federalist propoganda" and "manipulating public opinion" in Quebec. Our government is merely acting in a responsible manner, simply working to counter the dangerous separatist sentiment/propoganda that the PQ and BQ spew throughout La Belle Province.
What gives these separatists the right to take a province away from a country? A province that was inhabited by Aboriginal peoples for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the French. If anyone has a claim to indepedence it's the Aboriginals. Oh I forgot, the game only works one way. The French can colonize les Autochtones, but the British can't colonize the French. Damn squareheads!
Fifty percent! Half of your province! Voted NO. There are many French Quebecers who wish to remain a part of Canada. Paul Desmarais, the brain behind Hydro Quebec, is one such man. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has even told you all to smarten up. What gives you the right to take away a part of our country?
The government must step in and outlaw separatism in this country. Separatist political leaders should be heavily fined and imprisoned. No other Western democracy, indeed, no country in the world! would accept such discent. Separatism is akin to treason and must be treated as such.
The show must go on. I support my taxpayer dollars going to fund security at this historical re-enactment. We cannot concede to a group of separatists and their bullyboy tactics.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
End to Transit Strike
One man who commented on a message board re: the strike is over, summed it up perfectly:
"I feel sorry for the people who will still have to rely on OC Transpo. I feel sorry that they will have to put up with the ever so smug smiles from the drivers. I feel sorry for the people that will still have to put up with inadequate service, merely a continuation of what existed before the strike. I feel sorry for those in the suburbs who will be forced to wait weeks before they see any buses.
I don't feel sorry for the drivers who will be getting laid off for a few weeks. Don't try to tell me they didn't see it coming. This is exactly what they get fro trying to supoort union leadership that were in turn only catering to senior drivers under the guise of "you will inherit this someday". What a laugh. Most of the citizens of this city could see through Cornellier, why couldn't the junior drivers. Blind dedication to belief in the propoganda being spouted by ATU.
I swore during the last strike that I would never ever be held hostage again. I am happy to say it hasn't happened since.
OC Transpo should be legislated into a special category so that for the next strike, people can sumot reciepts for gas, taxi, claims for inconveneice such as per hour billing of extra time spend in rush hour. Should a person loose their job, they should be able to claim full wages until they find employment again. The union itself and the sriking members should be hideously fined to cover those costs. It should happen now, but sadly, it never will. One can only hope that the passengers who do have to ride the bus, tell the drivers (politely if possible) how the strike affected them. The drivers need to hear first hand about the tears, the turmoil, the lost wages, the lost jobs, and most of all, the pain that they caused. The effects of the strike needs to be embedded in the individual and collective memories of the ATU members.
Actions bear consequences. We all know what ATU's actions caused. Are they able to take full responsibility for those actions, for what their striked inflicted on innocent people. Tell me ATU, are you up to the challenge?
Sigh ... probably not"
source: CBC news
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/02/02/ot-090202-otrain.html
"I feel sorry for the people who will still have to rely on OC Transpo. I feel sorry that they will have to put up with the ever so smug smiles from the drivers. I feel sorry for the people that will still have to put up with inadequate service, merely a continuation of what existed before the strike. I feel sorry for those in the suburbs who will be forced to wait weeks before they see any buses.
I don't feel sorry for the drivers who will be getting laid off for a few weeks. Don't try to tell me they didn't see it coming. This is exactly what they get fro trying to supoort union leadership that were in turn only catering to senior drivers under the guise of "you will inherit this someday". What a laugh. Most of the citizens of this city could see through Cornellier, why couldn't the junior drivers. Blind dedication to belief in the propoganda being spouted by ATU.
I swore during the last strike that I would never ever be held hostage again. I am happy to say it hasn't happened since.
OC Transpo should be legislated into a special category so that for the next strike, people can sumot reciepts for gas, taxi, claims for inconveneice such as per hour billing of extra time spend in rush hour. Should a person loose their job, they should be able to claim full wages until they find employment again. The union itself and the sriking members should be hideously fined to cover those costs. It should happen now, but sadly, it never will. One can only hope that the passengers who do have to ride the bus, tell the drivers (politely if possible) how the strike affected them. The drivers need to hear first hand about the tears, the turmoil, the lost wages, the lost jobs, and most of all, the pain that they caused. The effects of the strike needs to be embedded in the individual and collective memories of the ATU members.
Actions bear consequences. We all know what ATU's actions caused. Are they able to take full responsibility for those actions, for what their striked inflicted on innocent people. Tell me ATU, are you up to the challenge?
Sigh ... probably not"
source: CBC news
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/02/02/ot-090202-otrain.html
Monday, February 2, 2009
Michael Phelps Fiasco
I feel sorry for Michael Phelps. He's a young man, in his 20s people! He went to a house party in November, and this week a picture surfaced of him using a bong. Really, I have to say so what. I seriously can't believe some people. One lady on the news was saying that she "expected better of him" and that "he should know how to conduct himself in public better", etc.
People, first of all, he's in his 20s. Secondly, it wasn't as though he was sitting in Times Square with that bong! That's "public life". He was at a PRIVATE house party, having a good time with his friends. It's none of our business!
Somehow joe public always thinks that star athletes and celebrities, etc. should be these upstanding, flawless people. They are PEOPLE! They engage in certain activities that aren't always becoming to a "hero" because they are HUMAN! Let them be!
Moreover, simply because we are unaware of the activities that some stars/celebrities/sports heroes engage in does not mean that they aren't doing "bad" things too! We don't know how many mistresses married public figures have! We don't know how many lines of cocaine various public figures may do! Simply because we don't see if doesn't mean it doesn't happen! They're people too!
And, let me get this point across, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ACHIEVED THOSE THINGS! Not you. They worked hard, they made sacrifices. They were the ones at the gym or on set at 6 am. They were the ones working non stop for 6 months straight with no time for a night out. They made sacrifices and so they are fully entitled to some time to themselves. He was at a private house party people. It wasn't as though he put those pictures up on his Facebook account or something.
It's the general public that needs to get a life, that engages in "bad" behaviour. The general public who is constantly haranguing and harassing stars/celebrities/etc.
AND FINALLY. The most important point of all. Did Mike ask you all to make him a public figurehead? Do you think that's why he went to swimming? What if some of our sports heroes/stars/celebrities DON'T WANT the admiration (and subsequent EXPECTATIONS!) we place on them????? Has anyone ever thought of that???? Did Michael Phelps ASK for that fame or was it OUR magazine editors, OUR newspapers, OUR youth, etc that raised him up on a pedestal?
Stars/sports heroes/celebrities are people too! Don't be surprised if they sometimes let us down.
UPDATE:
While waiting for my girlfriend at her doctor's yesterday I came across an older issue of Sports Illustrated (presumably published right after the 2008 Olympics) that had dedicated nearly half of its pages to Phelps. In summation here is what it had to report:
1 - Michael Phelps is an avid volunteer with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls club where he resides;
2- Michael Phelps gave hope to, and was inspired by, a young protege who was dying of cancer (and who did eventually pass away as a result of his cancer). He stayed up with the kid when he was in hospital, speaking to him for 2 HOURS!!! while he was in a coma (the child's mother reported);
When the boy passed away he was at his funeral bearing purple flowers, the boy's favourite colour;
3- Michael Phelps would get up at 6 am EVERY SINGLE day and head to the pool to train! Do you have that kind of dedication?
4 - Michael Phelps feels it is "an obligation" to promote the sport of swimming - since winning his 8 gold medals he has managed to draw with Barack Obama! in terms of "most searched query" on Google.
5 - Michael Phelps is 23 years old. What were YOU doing at 23?
People, first of all, he's in his 20s. Secondly, it wasn't as though he was sitting in Times Square with that bong! That's "public life". He was at a PRIVATE house party, having a good time with his friends. It's none of our business!
Somehow joe public always thinks that star athletes and celebrities, etc. should be these upstanding, flawless people. They are PEOPLE! They engage in certain activities that aren't always becoming to a "hero" because they are HUMAN! Let them be!
Moreover, simply because we are unaware of the activities that some stars/celebrities/sports heroes engage in does not mean that they aren't doing "bad" things too! We don't know how many mistresses married public figures have! We don't know how many lines of cocaine various public figures may do! Simply because we don't see if doesn't mean it doesn't happen! They're people too!
And, let me get this point across, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ACHIEVED THOSE THINGS! Not you. They worked hard, they made sacrifices. They were the ones at the gym or on set at 6 am. They were the ones working non stop for 6 months straight with no time for a night out. They made sacrifices and so they are fully entitled to some time to themselves. He was at a private house party people. It wasn't as though he put those pictures up on his Facebook account or something.
It's the general public that needs to get a life, that engages in "bad" behaviour. The general public who is constantly haranguing and harassing stars/celebrities/etc.
AND FINALLY. The most important point of all. Did Mike ask you all to make him a public figurehead? Do you think that's why he went to swimming? What if some of our sports heroes/stars/celebrities DON'T WANT the admiration (and subsequent EXPECTATIONS!) we place on them????? Has anyone ever thought of that???? Did Michael Phelps ASK for that fame or was it OUR magazine editors, OUR newspapers, OUR youth, etc that raised him up on a pedestal?
Stars/sports heroes/celebrities are people too! Don't be surprised if they sometimes let us down.
UPDATE:
While waiting for my girlfriend at her doctor's yesterday I came across an older issue of Sports Illustrated (presumably published right after the 2008 Olympics) that had dedicated nearly half of its pages to Phelps. In summation here is what it had to report:
1 - Michael Phelps is an avid volunteer with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls club where he resides;
2- Michael Phelps gave hope to, and was inspired by, a young protege who was dying of cancer (and who did eventually pass away as a result of his cancer). He stayed up with the kid when he was in hospital, speaking to him for 2 HOURS!!! while he was in a coma (the child's mother reported);
When the boy passed away he was at his funeral bearing purple flowers, the boy's favourite colour;
3- Michael Phelps would get up at 6 am EVERY SINGLE day and head to the pool to train! Do you have that kind of dedication?
4 - Michael Phelps feels it is "an obligation" to promote the sport of swimming - since winning his 8 gold medals he has managed to draw with Barack Obama! in terms of "most searched query" on Google.
5 - Michael Phelps is 23 years old. What were YOU doing at 23?
News Talk Radio
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http://radiostationworld.com
Thousands of radio stations listed from around the world.
http://radiostationworld.com
Thousands of radio stations listed from around the world.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Skateistan: A Look at Skateboarding in Afghanistan
Leave it to an Aussie to bring skating to Afghanistan. A young man by the name of ___ has done just that, and by the looks of it, the sport is catching on quickly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/sports/othersports/26skate.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/sports/othersports/26skate.html
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