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I think the fans and media have cut Kipper a tremendous amount of slack (far too much in my opinion). When a goalie gets first star he takes credit for the win and no-one has any problem saying he was the difference. They have no "Bum of the Game" award, but lets face it, Kipper would have earned it in at least 3 of the games this year. I hear all sorts of media spewing that it is team defense that is hurting, but that is bunk. Fact it that there is a goatending statistic that is perhaps the most overlooked, but also the most indicative of how a goalie is playing. Its called save percentage. There have been 56 goalies that have played in at least one game in the NHL this Year. Mr. Kiprusoff is ranked 48th out of 56 in Save percentage. (As a side note, Brian Boucher is No 1 - LOL). Kipper was in the bottom 10 all last year. Blame team defense all you want, but this guy is playing poorly, and has played poorly for the past two seasons. People need to wake up and realize that this is professional sports, not kids kockey. He gets paid well to perform, and he is not performing. Iginla has been the best Flames player every year he has been on the team, but if he has 7 games without a goal, he gets singled out - and he has no problem with it, he responds by playing even better. Here, this guy stinks it up night in and night out, and the team takes a rap for it. Game 1 - everyone remembers it was 6-0 for Vancouver. Anyone remember what shots on goal were? 25-23 FOR CALGARY. So far Flames have outshot opponents 147-142, but been outscored 22-14. Talk about team defence all you want but the other teams' defences are giving up more shots and their goalies are stopping >50% more of those shots than our boy. Sit him for a few games and get working on your next goaltender. Look at what the Deadmonton Doilies did - played a rookie. Flames are good enough to win even if the goalie is only average - they just can't compensate as much as they are being asked to. I said it before - Sutter blew it. He saw what happened with Turek and then went out an did the same thing. I know what he was worried about - Kipper turns it around last year, has a great run to the cup, and then leaves as a free agent - so he buckles and gives in to a long term deal. Bad move and this team might pay for it for the next four years. Theodore, Gigere, Huet, Khabibulin, Nabakov, Turco - The only GMs that gets what it takes to have a good gosltending are - Mr. Lemaire and Mr. Gainey. Get more than one good one and keep them competeing. When one drops off, get another good one. This Backstrom guy is going to be really good. As for Bert - we got to see the real Bert late in the 3rd when he took that bonehead penalty. Don't care how many he scores - the guy is a jerk and I can't be a fan of someone I can't respect.

I blame myself. I read a good article on Adjustable Rate Mortgages last summer (2007). The woman that wrote it spelled out exactly what has happened - it is scary how accurate she was. At the time, I just could not believe that it was true, but inside I sort of knew it was. There are many people that have not been impacted much at all by this. Less than 20% in equities, and those are down about 30% - so a 6% impact to their savings. I blame myself for not being one of them.

Chuck Norris has a pet kitten - every night for a snack.

We'll see how he handles Kipper. Is it me or has he been scored on first minute about 8 games over the past two seasons? He was great in '04 when the team wasn't, but since then he has been beneficiary of a very good team in front of him. This isn't bandwagon jumping - he did not play well last year for the entire year (starting with a string of losses in pre-season that carried over in to regular season). As far as I'm concerned, the team carried him - .906 save % isn't going to get it done. The only time he played really well last year was after Joseph went in for a game and played great. If he doesn't feel he is playing for his job, he just does not seem to get it done. Maybe if Keenan plays Mc for a few games, he get it together early. Rememeber the goalie Calgary lost to in the Finals? He just cleared waivers and his save % and GAA were better than Kipper's last year - and he played for a Chicago team that was awful.

Shoot down Sutter and you don't know hockey? I disagree. I think he has made some good moves, and some real stinkers - particularly with bringing in some dinosaurs on defense. He let Giordano go to Russia and then signed Hale and Erickson in the same year. And don't get me started on Bert. Its fair for somone to question him. As a scout he has done pretty well. The Flames run in '04 was fantastic. Best time I've had in this city since i got here in '95 ('88 and '89 were probably even more fun). But lets face it - they were an overtime away from being bounced in the first round. Since then, they have underperformed. His Coaching record: Team Year Regular Season Post Season G W L T OTL Pts Finish Result SAG 1988–89 82 46 26 - 10 102 2nd in East Lost in First Round IND 1989–90 82 53 21 - 8 114 1st in West Won Turner Cup CHI 1992–93 84 47 25 12 - 106 1st in Norris Lost in First Round CHI 1993–94 84 39 36 9 - 87 5th in Central Lost in First Round CHI 1994–95 48 24 19 5 - 53 3rd in Central Lost in Third Round SJ 1997–98 82 34 38 10 - 78 4th in Pacific Lost in First Round SJ 1998–99 82 31 33 18 - 80 4th in Pacific Lost in First Round SJ 1999–00 82 35 30 10 7 87 4th in Pacific Lost in Second Round SJ 2000–01 82 40 27 12 3 95 2nd in Pacific Lost in First Round SJ 2001–02 82 44 27 8 3 99 1st in Pacific Lost in Second Round SJ 2002–03 24 9 12 2 1 (73) 5th in Pacific (Fired) CGY 2002–03 46 19 18 8 1 (75) 5th in Northwest Missed Playoffs CGY 2003–04 82 42 30 7 3 94 3rd in Northwest Lost in Stanley Cup final CGY 2005–06 82 46 25 - 11 103 1st in Northwest Lost in First Round CGY 2006-2007 Lost in First Round CGY 2007-2008 Lost in First Round Hardly Scotty Bowman numbers

Of course the web-site has bugs all over it. Anyone actually get it to work?

Birchy - I pity you. As I sat stranded at work last night because I had lost my car keys at some point during the day and couldn't get home, I read your post and thought to myself, glad I'm not like him.

Wow - one tough chick. Hard to believe the first girl wasn't killed. Still - Sweedish twin sisters (Is that wrong?)

iceman - can you give a drop dead date for sign-up? My schedule bounces around, and I likely won't know for sure until next monday whether I'll be in town.

Not trying to be a jerk Weedy - but the only one that seems to be responding is you.

46.9

I like the one about the one that got away. If only I can remember it for next year's fishing extravaganza. Heres one that bcube and toolman might like. A fisherman returned to shore with a giant marlin that was bigger and heavier than he. On the way to the cleaning shed, he ran into a second fisherman who had a stringer with a dozen baby minnows. The second fisherman looked at the marlin, turned to the first fisherman and said... "Only caught one, eh?"

There's an "other"? Or does that imply those folks are abstaining from voting for any of these flakes? If so, i need to change my vote.

A fellow Parrothead. Love Jimmy Buffet - but my wife hates him, so I ONLY listen to him in my car One thing I noticed - most of us have a fairly ecletic mix going - Gregory Isaacs and Poison, mon?

Not sure we should be pointing to China for good ideas on sustainability. Environmental concerns rank right below human rights in the list of priorities for China.

The Council - Recover Local Calgary band that is awesome. The song New York City is one of the best I've heard anywhere and the title track is cool also. They get some play on local radio. Check them out on itunes.

Damn - I had my reply completely typed out, then knocked the off switch on my computer. And what I had written was brilliant, really! bhurt - just wanted to say that sometimes being on the same team as someone you don't like (or don't think you would like) can be pretty interesting. I was in the military years ago and we did alot of exercises and competitions where we got randomly assigned. It was a great way to develop tolerance and also to see someone elses point of view. Not saying you always ended up lifelong pals, but I have friends from those days that couldn't be more different than me. And yes - there were a few slugs thrown, but pretty rare. But - I hear you on the other part of your post. I spent a long time learning how to flyfish. I enjoyed doing things myself and it would have absolutley killed me to ask someone what they were using - but that was just me (I've also never asked for directions). Don't know your history, but if it is any consolation, all of the techniques you've perfected on the Bow will likley be useless in a couple of years anyways :. When I started fishign the Bow in '95 for the first three years I never used anything other than a dark brown Elk Hair Caddis - really - and we slayed them almost every time we went out. Then the river changed and we had to learn new stuff . Anyway - I understand your reluctance to make it too easy for folks that aren't willing to try to figure some things out on their own. I usually try to give people some hints that send them in the right direction, but leave enough out so that when they get it, they can feel some satisfaction. If someone just wants it to be too easy and constantly asks "what fly, what depth, what technique etc." I usually tell them to try figuring it out themselves. Regarding the competition/fundraiser: If I'm in town: I'm in, regardless of what the format and rules are. I'd like to see random teams because there are lots of folks on here that I think I have different views from on various issues, and different backgrounds, but would still enjoy meeting - MTB, bhurt, and a few others to name a few. Any prizes should be awarded randomly, and I don't think too many are required. Maybe go for one or a few bigger prizes. Trophies are a good idea. Largest brown, Largest Rainbow, and most team fish. Two days of fishing might be too much. Fish Saturday and have a BBQ/gasbag session on Sunday.

Best part of that video was the redhead. But times stops for no-one: Tawny Kitaen - probably best known for those smarmy Whitesnake videos and more recently for her stint on VH-1's The Surreal Life - has been charged with felony drug possession after sheriff's deputies said they found cocaine in her apartment. Susan Kang Schroeder, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney's office. said Kitaen is scheduled to be arraigned on December 18 at Harbor Justice Center in Laguna Niguel. Schroeder said on Tuesday that if Kitaen is convicted, her sentence could be as light as attending a drug diversion program or a much harsher sentence which would consist of up to three years in prison. According to authorities, deputies responded to a request for a welfare check in May and found 15 grams of cocaine in Kitaen's San Juan Capistrano apartment. They also said her two children were home at the time and Kitaen had given deputies permission for the search. It wasn't immediately known whether Kitaen had retained a lawyer. The mug shot above was taken n 2002, when Kitaen was arrested on charges of spousal abuse. Her husband at the time, former Angels pitcher Chuck Finley and Kitaen got into a fight and Kitaen beat the hell out of the guy. Finley later dropped the charges after the couple divorced and Kitaen agreed to counseling.

Great fish. I go in the spring around may long-weekend and the banks are loaded with people. I'd prefer that they just make it catch and release. I think there is just too much population too close to the lake to manage it as a 1 over 20". Here's a pic of a a nice rainbow my 9 year old got stripping in a purple leech from shore (it was so $#$%$ windy that I could not row my jon boat accross the lake - everytime he would get a fish, by the time we landed it, we we're back at the boat launch). I was about 50 yards down shore when he hooked it, so just had to let him fight it on his own. When he hooked it, he had about 30 ft of wet line at his feet, and did a great job getting it to the reel. It was quite the thing to watch. He was so excited and had absolutley no problem with a quick pic and then sending this back for someone else to enjoy.

Markets up 7% yesterday, so everyone should be back soon!

I had thought things were improving. When I left Vancouver Island in '95 fishing in the the Staights was really bad. My friends that still live there say it is vastly improved in the past 5 years. Can't argue with the numbers though I guess.

Great Video.

Good discussion (most of it). Guess I've been out of the loop - I had no idea so many people used multiple flies. I tried two on Saturday and didn't have much luck. Went back to one and got a few. My fishing partner used one all day and did pretty well. I also don't use the dry line with strike indicator approach either - and based on the boats I saw on Saturday, that seems to be the predominant method on the river. I used a wet line for nymphing/streamers and dry line only for dry flies. So that may be a better way to fish multiple flies. Although I don't agree with much OO says, I do think that tradition plays some part in what we do (especially etiquette), and one fly seems more traditional (though I have no idea if this is really true). To each his or her own - whatever is legal and you enjoy you should do. I'll probably stick to one fly.

I've always only used one fly on my line, but when I moved to Alberta in the early 90's - saw that some people used two. From posts I've read on this board - it seems very common. I tried it a few times this year and find that casting is not as enjoyable, the lines get tangled, and its a pain to store when your done for the day. And - I've always seemed to do pretty well relative to others with just one fly. Just curious.

Took my 5 wt on a trip to Ottawa few years back. Went west of the city north or Carlton place and absolutley hammered bass all day on an olive wooly bugger and wet line.