jimbow

the more i read about the issue the more it stinks....bettman being cosy with the owner of the bruins who coincidentally just happens to be the one in charge of extending his $7.2MM contract.....campbell's son on the bruins.....now joe thornton pipes in with his comments.... remember when glencross was suspended for 2 games for his hit on crystal drury last year.....seemed like a pretty innocent play to me and i think just showed that drury must have a glass jaw......was not malicious or from behind or anything like that, seemed on the replay to me normal contact....yeah the puck had gone by before the hit but nothing compared to chara's hit.....i've changed my mind on the non-suspension to chara.....even he didn't intend to injure him he did given his previous issues with pacioretty and the bruins habs brawls and the severity of the injury i think a suspension was warranted.....maybe not 10 games but something..... ....and what about the 5 min penalty and game misconduct to lessard in the sens game last night?.....that was a joke and clearly just an overreaction to the pacioretty incident....maybe even the boarding penatly chara got last night.....demonstrating the inconsistency in officiating in the nhl......

i'll continue to maintain that although skilled the cancucks do not have a playoff team....the sedins have been knocked around every playoff they've been in and why would this year be different....and luongo....still a lot to prove there too..... not to say the flames are going deep in the playoffs (but they'll be there)....you'd be nuts to suggest that after all these years of futility....but their record since 12/23/10 certainly indicates they are a team to be reckoned with....second behind the canucks in points since that date i believe.....and goals are coming from all over....kipper is back in form.....let's have a flames v canucks series early and get it over with!!

i'll agree with one thing...they do have the best defenceman named chara..... but that's it......i'd like to agree with the vancouver sucks b/c i hate those bas%$#@* but damn it they do have a decent team and score a lot and may win the presidents trophy but i don't believe they have the team to win 16 games in the playoffs.....it truly is a new and different season......

not watching the oilers regularly but why in the hell are they doing so poorly with all the young talent? goaltending? defence? what is it? thought they'd be a lot better this year. hard to believe they're behing the flames given the raw talent they have. the flames still have their first round pick this year right? better for them to clean house (assuming they can unload sutter's stooopid contracts - staios anyone? stajan? kipper?) and crash and burn and get a high pick. maybe with feaster they'll actually pick an nhl player for a change.

this year (same as last) i'm ignoring the whole officiating issue.....there's a lot of bad calls not just against the flames. it helps one to concentrate on just how bad the flames are and how much work it's going to take feaster to get the flames back to being competitive again....wish he could be given free rein to start now.......not wait until the end of the season........

imdao, clean body check and not a sucker punch but the kind of behaviour that avery engages in and is the master of.....cheap, antagonistic and classless. smid ought to have known better than to not pay attention to what avery was doing. isn't a sucker punch when the guy is not looking...most commonly from behind or a blind side? doesn't seem to be the case here.

don't think that bridgecreek is still operating. they were locked out of their offices in the calgary beltline in the summer of 2009. and now no websites come up. who now controls the property? debtors? investors? someone must have taken it during the closing down of the business. although sounds like it has a lot of hair on it at this point.

we're on the same page so i don't want to get in a bun throwing match but i'd say a 153-151 vote in parliament is more indicative of the divisive nature of the registry than a cbc online poll. all purchases of guns (new or used) from a shop are registered at the time of purchase. when you purchase a gun it doesn't leave the store until it has been registered with the firearms centre.

it's a very divisive issue (which harper intends to use for political means and hey which politician wouldn't - trudeau maybe but that was old politics not new). this was a stupid idea that resulted from the polytechnique massacre. and the liberals basically played on peoples' fears and ignorance of the issues. i believe one of the problems is that the general public does not really understand all of the issues. if you ask 10 people probably 7 will say of course guns should be registered - cars are, dogs are, etc etc. but cars and dogs are out on the streets in the public and there needs to be a system of determining who's car ran the red light or who's dog is running loose. why do you need to know what specific guns are where? how does that improve safety. just because a gun is registered doesn't mean it can't be used to commit a crime. if it was simply a matter of filling in a simple form and some gov't worker in summerside, pei enters the info in a data base fine. but it's much more. the rights of gun owners are trampled - warrantless searches, widows are turned into criminals b/c farmer brown died and owned guns that were not registered which are seized. the cost is outrageous and indefensible. there have been many incidents of people trying to register guns only to be told that what they are trying to register as a gun can't be done. or cases of monkey-wrenchers registering parts of guns but that are not really guns. at this point certainly there are hundreds of thousands of guns that are not registered and likely never will be. i have no problem with licensing myself as a gun owner - and the state snooping - all of the intrusive questions and the call to my wife to ask about my temper and how i handle stress etc etc. i can live with that level of state snooping - although i don't like it - b/c it is reasonable in the circumstance. are you a gun owner - you need a license. want to buy a gun - you need a license. want to buy ammo - you need a license. domestic disturbance - police can check the licensing database to determine if there is a registered gun owner in the house. i truly believe the system is unfixable and should be eliminated asap and keep the personal licensing system in place.

and how is that an argument in favour of the registry? using a registered gun to commit a crime would seem to be an argument that the gun registry is not effective in improving safety. using an unregistered gun would seem to be an argument the gun registry is not effective in improving safety.

it's not the registering that's really the issue....i'd be fine if it were simply fill in a form. it's the complete lack of accountability in the gov't for the way the program was introduced and ultimately the hiding of the actual costs of the program from not only the public but parliament. it's the laws that allow the police to enter your home without a warrant. it's making hunters (and others) criminals. it's the complete and utter waste of money for an ineffective system with no way of determing if it has improved safety of the country. it's the lies that came from the gov't - $2 million to set up and then it will be self financing vs. the more than $1 billion cost (that's 9 zeros and counting). the FAC and subsequently the POL/PAL system was reasonable. the guns that potentially (depending on your point of view) needed to be registered, handguns, were registered and have been for decades. why not leave the system that was in place? want to be a gun owner you need a personal license. want to buy ammo you need a license. with a personal licensing system the police have a method of determining if there are guns in the house - if the license is for a restricted weapons there are handguns if not there are long guns....if the state should really be entitled to that personal info in any case. i don't believe there is one defensible argument in favour of the long gun registry....if someone knows one i'd love to hear it. and if you thing the adscam was a scandal where certain individuals/companies got something for nothing imagine the scamming that went on with the gun registry. that's a public inquiry i'd actually like to see happen.

as a dawg owner and fly fisher i'd say that there are people in both categories that could use a good swift kick in the ass - although likely more dog owners than ff'ers. in the dog park i live by i see a lot of dog owners who have no control over their dogs, don't pick up after their dogs and are just generally not great dog owners because they don't treat their dog like a dog. ff'ers ought to know that if you're fishing around dogs there is always the possibility of dogs interfering in a way that is totally frustrating/upsetting. i'd wouldn't want to be downstream of dogs that are not too far away as it only takes a moment for one or more to get in the current and come down on top of you. never fished by the southland park and would not really think to go there b/c of the dogs - unless i was accessing the river and going up or downstream. i think the guys overreacted to lynn's dogs. ff'ers should try to remember that many people have no idea about ff'ing (they didn't know lynn is a ff'er) and don't think it's a problem to be around you when you're fishing - the fish are all underwater right so whats the big deal. i've have canoes land virtually on top of me downstream of calgary when i've been fishing - lack of consideration - yes but i think they also don't know what they are doing to your fishing and dont' realize that if they just moved downstream (or up) 100m or so that we could all share the riverbank. i try to live by the rule that everyone is out for themself and plan accordingly (and also live and let live). that way you can be pleasantly surprised by friendly and courteous people. of course my wife is not happy with my attitude..... lynn i think you showed very good restraint not to get into it with the guys.....karma will repay you and hopefull give them a kick in the ass.....

nokian vatiiva are another one to look at - available only at Kal Tire and not cheap but i've used them for a few years now as a consumer reports subscriber i can tell you pirelli scorpion atr were the top rated at tires followed by yokohama geolander a/t-s and bridgestone dueller a/t revo. nokians weren't included in the testing.

not sure what you mean by more durable (games played is marginally in jokinen's favour) but lombardi is 4 years younger with a lot more upside and dare i say heart. if i had to choose between the 2 i'd take lombardi even at an extra $500K/year. jokinen has done nothing since leaving florida and tanguay has been on a downhill slope since his first year in calgary. i think sutter has totally lost it with these signings....smacks of complete desperation with no future vision. i hope i'm wrong but it looks bad for the flames future.

although i think sutter is nuts he's not as crazy as the ownership group that is allowing sutter to continue with his kooky style. why does he now think that his build by trading strategy is going to work when it hasn't so far? i can't believe jokinen would play on the same line as iginla again. didn't work last time why would it this time. surely he'll be the second line centre. if sutter's going to go out and get old flames why not lombardi who had a pretty damn good year in phoenix and must have more upside than jokinen. tanguay, well at 1.7m maybe he'll be a good addition if he can find his old game and put up 60 or more points. but the flames need to rebuild the team with youth and energy not bring in more old guys. this must be sutter's last chance. not happy to see nystrom gone. he was a good 3rd line player in my mind. could score and not afraid to drop the gloves when necessary. i always felt he played with a lot of energy. and now in minnesota could come back to haunt the flames. and need to get white signed. may be a long cold winter for flames fans.

i think the wc soccer will become more enjoyable now that the teams have to win...instead of just not lose. when the wc was in the usa i finally learned the rules and strategy (enough anyway) and certainly gained an appreciation of the game that i didn't have before. however, it is even more boring watching a soccer team try to protect a 1-0 lead than a hockey team trying to do the same.

most people who say there's no culture in calgary have no idea what they are talking about. i suspect if you ask them they would be unable to articulate why they say that. calgary may not have the variety of choices as larger cities but there's pretty much something for everyone. it depends on the person's definition of culture. for the size of calgary we have plenty of culture. we have the #1 english language creation theatre company in canada - one yellow rabbit (all of the founders and current artists are calgarians) - which has essentially created a new style of theatre now being imitated across canada. and other more mainstream theatre including atp which runs an annual festival of new canadian plays. we have djd one of the only jazz dance companies in canada that grew itself without the help of the canada council. we have the alberta ballet which has made waves around the world with both traditional ballet and the contemporary joni mitchell and elton john ballets. we are lacking a major visual art gallery unfortunately. there is a vibrant independent music scene. jazzfest was a problem again but that is mostly related to poor management and operating as events i've enjoyed in the past have been well attended. the calgary folk festival certainly rivals edmonton's and is in a much better venue imho. and as noted there are many other music festivals too. opera and philharmonic are also available if that's the way you roll. we have the same pro sports as other major canadian cities - mlb excepted (but who cares about guys hitting .237 or going 12-10/4.42 getting paid 6 or 7 mill a year?). we have the stampede - yeah some disparage it but to each his/her own - which is a major rodeo (maybe the biggest $?) on the circuit and certainly a well accepted fact of life in calgary. what other city completely changes their business dress for 10 days and you don't get fired for being drunk in the office at 10am? there are also ethnic events - africadey, carifest, greek festival and i'm sure others i don't know about. they may be small by some standards but it's related to population and what can affordably be offered. how many cities in canada (or the world for that matter) can boast the level of outdoor activities readily available? start with what we all know the bow - in the city or say up to an hour +/- drive (carseland) for world class fly fishing and then expand from there. hiking, skiing etc within even a 50 minute drive. i believe sunshine is considered a top drawer skiing destination. great hunting opportunities for birds and big game within an hour's drive. we have well recognized restaurants (a few have been chosen as best in canada) and a decent amount of night life (although i dont' really partake) with a variety of choices. yeah there's plenty of problems in calgary too. poor urban planning resulting in nasty sprawl and suburban neighbourhood after neighbourhood of oversized pink houses. a reliance on the automobile resulting shitty traffic flow - but perhaps not as bad as vancouver or nyc or la. poor public transit system. questionable architecture. dead downtown. macleod trail. over the years i've had many out of towners from various walks of life (artists, fashion people, the governor general, regular joe and janes) actual marvel at what calgary has to offer once they are shown around and sample what is available. i usually ask them to keep quiet about it as we're happy with what we have. now if we only had the ocean (or even decent lakes) it would be almost perfect here.

being a skeptic it sounds like an urban myth considering there's no info available....if it were foreign workers you would expect something that gruesome would be all over the news in north america....our office has a number of clients working in mexico in that field and we've heard nothing about this.....

2nd one in profile

ever see the complete list of pics from which this one was taken - i think its basically redneck boat, redneck grill etc etc (but real red necks none of this you live in ab you must be a red neck nonsense)? hi-larry-ee-ous.......

tell you what i'll bring a few to show you when we go searching for the unknown trout waters........i've got a selection for my daily "uniform"......

if jarome is not traded prior to this year's draft for one or more draft picks & players he will be traded at the deadline next season if the flames are again floundering....and as of now there's no reason to believe they won't be.....

didn't hear it myself but from what i read about the king/sutter press conference yesterday we can expect the status quo for next year. wish the ownership had done what tampa bay did on monday.... hawgstoppah i can't see how this team can compete as is....a #1 centre will help but how the heck would we pay for that given the cap situation. and then what about secondary scoring? seems pretty important to have 2 lines that are threats to score. can't see a team taking on any of the bad contracts....langkow, sarich, kotalik, staios and dare i say it regehr (could get a much cheaper stay at home defenseman who would be as effective as he was this year - although maybe he just had an off year? - but a team may very likely take on that contract so i wouldn't be surprised to see him go). and presumably they will resign white....at what cost? gotta be in the $1.5 to 2mm neighbourhood. what are we going to do about a backup goaler? another young guy that gets thrown to the wolves and eaten alive every time he gets between the pipes? can't see signing toskala for a reasonable amount....another team may take a chance on him as a starter and pay him accordingly....although i don't know why...otherwise kipper gets overworked yet again....at some point all those minutes will catch up to him.... a real concern is we really have no young talent coming up...between bad drafting and trading away draft picks we seem to be in a pretty tough position to try and even change the makeup of the team. perhaps there's some talent in abbotsford i don't know about but the future doesn't seem very bright in that regard.... as for the oilers it seems to me that in their favour they have a lot of younger players with potential upside (although a number don't seem to be panning out for them). and don't they have eberle's rights? and get to choose hall or sequin this year? those players along with the younger guys they already have seem to give them a leg up in rebuilding on the flames. this year they were hit so hard with injuries it seems a bit unfair to compare them to the flames who had virtually no injury problems. although with souray wanting out there must be some problems in that organization as it seems that players don't want to go there or once they get there want out after a short time.... i just hate to think about another middle of the road (if that) for the flames....

i think if you get rid of one sutter you've got to get rid of them all. brent was a good coach in junior but not so much in the nhl....at least what has he done in the last 3 years? the new gm may want a say on a coaching staff. darryl has had his chance and i think this year has been a disaster. hard to believe that we couldn't have received more for phaneuf....even though he does seem to wear the role of overrated rather well. and kotalik? higgins? those guys looked out of place on the flames. we need a complete change of philosophy. we're old and slow. langkow at $4.25 million? signing stajan to a $3mm/contract? seems a bit high when you consider what vancouver signed some of their guys for recently. who's the backup goalie next year? toskala? will he sign for a reasonable salary as backup? i don't want jarome to go but perhas he is traded for younger players/draft choices as part of a rebuilding process? hell give him a chance to play on a contender when he still has the skill to score 40+ goals and get something for him now to help the future. darryl has not shown he can draft and nurture young talent (or even recognize talent for trades?!?!). in fact given his preference for trading away draft choices it seems as though he doesn't think that's a good way to build a team. and the draft choices he has made are pretty much all busts....although backlund seems to be showing some potential now. i'm thinking we're going to have a few rebuilding years that may be a bit painful for us fans. but i'm hoping at least rebuilding will start now. if it were my team, on monday, apr 12, king and all sutters would be shown the door - they've had their chance. don't hesitate. get out there and get new mgt and coaching staff in place asap and get started on rebuilding the flames into a team capable of contending. but what the f* do i know?! i liked the team a lot at the start of the year and in November dared to think they would contend in the conference this year.

and then the winning goal with .3 seconds in ot in vancouver - stupid canucks - erhoff should have tackled zetterberg given how much time was left. luongo sure didn't look that sharp on the daytsuk and zetterberg goals. the canucks won't get far in the playoffs if he doesn't play better. he hasn't been very good since the olympics (and wasn't exactly stellar there either).