bigalcal

Here's how I categorize fans in general but will use the Flames fans as an example. 1) FANATIC: A fan that knows everything about there team. Line combinations, PP,PK, can name the assistant coaches, draft picks etc. etc 2) SUPPORTER: A fan that can name the backup goalie, the top 6 forwards and top 4 defence 3) CHEERER: The guy/gal at the pub that starts clapping/cheering 30 seconds after his team scores 'cause he/she hasn't been watching the game. 4) SWEATER WEARER: The guy that bought his first ever Flames jersey in 2004. Wears it at the game because he wants to look like everybody else, but won't wear it out after the game, cause it's doesn't match his outfit. Thinks that the sweater makes him a fan. Any categories that I may have missed? This could be funny!!

I couldn't have said it better!!

The" bold" statement is inaccurate. If you guys are gonna trash talk...get your facts straight!! 2004. Flames won a first round and before that nothing after '89. They lost first round in '93, and 5 straight years in the playoffs, not 6 http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=calgarypost

With the NHL salary cap it is very difficult to build a team with UFA's. You have to draft players and build in that way. look at all the draft picks on the recent championship teams. Currently the Flames have few prospects on their farm team. The Hockey News recently ranked their prospects 27th out of 30 NHL teams. There first pick 2 years ago may be NHL ready next year. There are very few decent UFA's available this year and the draft is considered weak. Edmonton is in a tough situation as UFA's don't want to go there. Most seem to want to go to the US teams for the money and the obscurity. UFA's also want to go to a winner or a team with potential. I think that right now Edmonton has more potential and is going in a different direction than Calgary and they have a first pick overall again this year. UFA's may view Edmonton differently in the upcoming years. I can see why UFA's don't want to go there. Lots of travel ( although alot better now with team charters) and ..well it's Edmonton. Now with the new CBA, free agency comes a lot sooner than earlier years and if you have great young players you have to pay them. There's a small window of a few years when you nave star players making less than 1 million against the cap and then you have to pay them. (see Chicago). Teams are trading young superstars these days (Erik Johnson). It is tough/impossible to build dynasties now with a salary cap and with the ridiculous cash being doled out to average players (see Scott Gomez) so you have to draft well. It's a tough business....some times GM's see a chance of a championship, spend and trade prospects to get that one player that will make the difference, and when it doesn't happen they are stuck with an old team with no future (see Darryl Sutter). I'm rambling.................!!

Don't make me have to tell the Flames fans about there team again. Fact is... if you don't count 2004, the Flames have not won a playoff round or been in the playoffs since 1989. No other team in the NHL has been so under achieving in that time. I don't know what they put in that beer at the Saddledome but it seems to brainwash the "Cloned Jersey wearers" in the seats. Get your heads out of the sand!!

You are right...Nieuwendyk for Iginla....that was a different day...pre-2004 when 13,000 showed up for games and the team almost left. Hard to get a good back up goalie when Kipper makes 7 mil!! Sad ..when non Flames fans know more than Flames fans...actually..it's typical! Not very passionate fans in Calgary.

This season Flames had 26 man roster with 62.7 salary (3 mil over salary cap). Next year they have 16 players (9 with no trade) signed to 53.2 mil so that gives them 6 mil to sign Tanguay, Glencross, Morrison, Babchuk and a backup goalie. Big mess!!

the Flames will be worse next year in my opinion. They have 11 players with no trade clauses and they will have to sign Tanguay, Morrison and Glencross who deserve double what they make now. See this site for details http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=9 This year they flirted with the salary cap and they didn't include Langkow's hit as he was injured all season. In other words, unless players waive there no trade clause and the UFA'S decide to play here for less than their deserved value, Flames fans are left with the mess Darryl Sutlter left behind. The farm has nothing as well. The Flames have drafted poorly and have only 2 players that they have drafted on their current roster, actually 4 if you want to include Nemisz and Bouma. Sorry Flames fans.....you are gonna be stuck with a loser for a while....well next year for sure!

I knew you would jump in here quickly Clive. E-mail sent. Thanks.

I was just informed that there will be no seasonal campsites available this year at Racehorse Creek Provincial Rec Area. This is my letter to Alberta Parks. I realize I am painting random campers with a broad brush but I was trying to make a point. if anybody can suggest other offices I can complain to, please let me kniow. To whom it may concern, For the last 5 years I have camped between 40-65 days a season at Racehorse Creek Recreation Area in SW Alberta. Last year I bought a small trailer and was able to set it up there for the season for a reasonable fee. There are a few other seasonal campers at the campground and we set up in the least desireable sites in the campground. This leaves the nicer campsites available for all drive up campers. There were perhaps 6 seasonal sites there last year in a campground of 38 sites. I was there almost every week from mid May until October. When I was there (Sun-Tues) the campground was usually 2/3 empty. I had an amazing experience there last season and I was really looking forward to this upcoming season. This area in the Forest Reserve allows "Random Camping". The area around the campground is flooded with these sites. There are sites all along the Forestry Trunk Rd, Dutch Creek Rd. and the Oldman River Rd. There are hundreds of permanent campsites that are erected every May and occupied until Sept-October. There are many regulations regarding this type of camping. These regulations are shown in the pamphlet ditributed by SRD http://www.srd.alberta.ca/RecreationPublic...mping_Final.pdf. I have fished all through this area and I KNOW almost all of these regulations have not been enforced. There are campers there all season and they use the area as there own private getaway. They ruin the area around them with their garbage and waste, not to mention making the area look like a refugee camp. I personally respect authority and for the last 6 years I went the legal route and the route with the least environmental impact and decided to stay in a Provincial Rec. Area. and last year I opted to get a seasonal campsite, and I was looking forward to doing the same this year. I have just been informed that Alberta Parks will not be allowing seasonal campsites this year!!!! I am shocked and very disappointed. I can't think of a valid reason why, and I was hoping you could give me one. It doesn't make sense to me. Alberta Parks won't allow me to stay in a proper campground where I pay a proper fee for this privilege for a season, but, they do allow people to camp all around the Rec Area, destroying the environment, leaving garbage, permanent structures and other unsightly messes and stay for the whole summer. Worst of all they can do it for FREE!! Also the regulations are rarely enforced so they know they can!! Please don't tell me that this year will be different as far as enforcing these regulations because I have heard it every year and it never is. The decision for no seasonal campsites makes no sense to me and I would like a reply. I have put a lot of camping dollars in your coffers over the last 5 years and I believe I deserve the courtesy of a response. Thank you I appreciate any feedback Thanks Al

Tropical Vacation tip: If you lay in the sun 1) Slather on the sunscreen or 2) Fake n' bake prior We have all learned this the hard way!!

I have found Jimmy Simpson in a snowbank!!! How is he anyways? Oh.....I enjoy your comments. Pretty neat stuff in those hills!!

'I am the same size. Redington's fit is perfect, but I've replaced them, on warranty.... twice.

Ditto

Trout Fishing by Mrs. Eunice B Lamberton Give me a rod of the split bamboo, a rainy day and a fly or two, a mountain stream where the eddies play, and mists hang low o'er the winding way, Give me a haunt by the furling brook, A hidden spot in a mossy nook, No sound save hum of the drowsy bee, or lone bird's tap on the hollow tree. The world may roll with it's busy throng, And phantom scenes on it's way along, It's stocks may rise, or it's stocks may fall, Ah! What care I for it's baubles all? I cast my fly o'er the troubled rill, Luring the beauties by magic skill, With mind at rest and a heart at ease, And drink delight at the balmy breeze. A lusty trout to my glad surprise, Speckled and bright on the crest arise, Then splash and plunge in a dazzling whirl, Hope springs anew as the wavelets curl. Gracefully swinging from left to right, Action so gentle- motion so slight,. Tempting, enticing, on craft intent, Till yielding tip by the game is bent Drawing in slowly, then letting go Under the ripples where mosses grow Doubting my fortune, lost in a dream, Blessing the land of forest and stream. ........seemed like the right time to post this. My thoughts are with you Lynn.

I read this book about 10 years ago. It has since been updated. Crazy stuff. http://warrenkinsella.com/books/web-of-hate/

...and Superstore tanks aka "Death Row"

My ski pants are Goretex and my ski boots have felt bottoms.WTF!!

last summer the Upper Oldman drainage was so up and down. This year should be interesting. I'm wishing for the best ....as always.

Nice...

Thanks Sean, I really didn't have any intentions to dig up bottles. I am more interested in the history. A friend in California often does excavations with his work and often there is a State official (Archeologist) there to check for artifacts etc. so I know about the legalities. Your seminar sounds interesting. I will try and make it

I thought I got rid of that before I posted. Thanks for clearing that up. Also I'm a Hunter and I shop at MEC all the time. Hunter is my last name!!

Service at Bass Pro is hit and miss. More misses than hits IMHO. The best thing to do if you get bad/no service is what you and a few others did. Find a manager. Also if you get great service......find a manager. There's a tent & gear sale at Campers Village Calgary April 14-15. The reps will be there. Canadian Tire is the worst, except for the one on Macleod Tr. There's a man as you enter that will tell you where to find stuff. Apparently they are the only store in CANADA that has that. Customer service in big stores is basically non-existant.

Awesome!!

There were quite a few in SW Alberta. if there was one in the area perhaps it was a sub-camp to build the FTR. Could that be possible? When was the FTR built? I would like to find more history about the area. Any one know where I could get more info on the local history? There are some old bridge pilings on RHC near the T junction where #517 meets #40.