Haley Weak, Still Looks Great

Ok here is my Idol summary from last night.

Lakisha Jones Great voice, unpleasant presentation. If you don't look at her she is amazing. Unfortunately looks are (and should be) a big part of the package. Safe.

Gina Glocksen Probably her best performance yet. Gina in starting to find her groove. Safe.

Sanjaya Malakar Like Simon says, this guy has some balls for a 17 yr old. At least he's trying to be unique. And I think he'll make it through another week. Safe.

Phil Stacey Last night's mimic of Sting was spot on, really good. And he was smart enough to wear a cap. That bald head of his is really distracting. Safe.

Chris Sligh I don't want to be rude but: Appalling! Not only did he sing the Police Song (which he obviously had not heard before) badly, he looked like a bum. If you going to be on National Television, at least present yourself properly. Talk to Haley about that. Bye bye !

Haley Scarnato I really dislike "True Colors" and to be honest Haley was a bit weak on it. Her voice was pretty but, as Simon said, forgettable. Still, she looked great and has a fantastic stage presence. Safe.

Blake Lewis A very nice understated rendition of The Cure song. Very professional as usual from Blake. Safe.

Jordin Sparks The judges loved her performance, I thought it sucked hard. Just terrible. Doesn't matter, based on past performances, she is : Safe.

Melinda Doolittle Yeah, yeah, great voice and really knows how to sing but what happened to her neck? That's what I want to know. She'll no doubt be in the final two or at least three. Not my favorite, based on looks. Safe, duh.

Chris Richardson I absolutely cannot stand this guy. His voice is like nails on a blackboard for me. It's just creepy and I wish he'd get voted off tonight. He is lucky the other Chris had such a terrible night. Unfortunately, Safe.

Some Things You Do Just Because You Can

Ok, so this is self-indulgent fluff. Yesterday was the first really nice day of spring. I washed and waxed the Mustang and felt compelled to share it's lovely sounds.

Then we took it around town, topless of course, to show it off.

Leave The Game Alone!

As a long time NHL Hockey fan I have become increasingly concerned about constant changes to the rules of NHL Hockey.

My overriding fear is that influences that are ignorant of the Game will have the power to change the game from the passionate sport it is into a circus side show.

And these influences reside south of the Border, in the U.S.

As we all know, the mentality of the Americans is "bigger is better", or more is better than less.

These people equate more goals with a better game experience. They think a 7-3 game is, by default, better than a 2-1 game.

In fact, in most cases, the opposite is true. For those that know the game, the higher the score means the sloppier the play. A low scoring game increases the tension and gives each goal and goal scoring chance a greater value.

Good defense is as much a beautiful thing to see as a well executed offensive scoring chance. But the ignorant masses just want to see goals.

The absolutely craziest idea I have ever heard and I hope and pray it never comes about is the notion that the Net Size needs to be increased!!

That would be the equivalent of moving the Pitching mound further from Home Plate. Let's move it 5 feet further out and see how many more home runs will occur. Would that make the game of Baseball better?

And it means an asterisk beside every stat produced in the future. Crazy insane idea.

Recently, the NHL has made some major changes, allowing the two line pass, limiting goaltender movement, eliminating line changes on icing calls. I like them all but enough is enough.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE GAME!. Leave it alone.

In this article fighting in the NHL is once again the subject of debate.

Let's make one thing clear: Fight is Not Allowed in Hockey! That's why a player gets a five minute penalty. Because it's not allowed. So how can you ban something that's already banned?????

Fighting in the NHL occurs so rarely now that, for me, its a non issue. 95% of the players never fight and I will bet that 85% of the players have never been involved in a "fight", that being defined by the mutual throwing of fists with the intent to cause pain.

And when a "fight" occurs it's usually a lame affair where there is mostly tugging of
sweaters and fist against helmet.

The same players that fight play golf together in the off season.

Let's end the debating over the rules and let's just play the game as it is.

Why Al Gore Doesn't Want To Run For President

There is little doubt that a Democratic President will be elected in November of 2008.

The Republicans, led by the embarrassing Joke called George W. Bush, have been a Disaster, history will show him as the worst President EVER.

So, for whoever becomes the Democratic Candidate, its pretty much a Shoo-In, even if that person happens to be female or happens to be Afro-American.

Having a white, still young, Al Gore would even solidify the deal since, after all, he did "win" the last time he ran.

Unfortunately for Mr. Gore, if he became President, he would have to put his money where his mouth is on Global Warming. And that would be a very tough sell.

It's fine to grab the Spotlight and tell the world about the Impending Doom but it's an altogether different thing when you actually have the power and expectation to make the kinds of Traumatic and Monumental changes necessary to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Is Al Gore, or any President for that matter, brave enough to implement and legislate these changes to society?

I don't think so, we'll see.

Thighs vs. Talent

Ok, let's face it, Hayley Scarnato hasn't the best voice in this year's American Idol contest. But is there anyone else there that you'd rather SEE sing?

Idol is NOT a singing contest it's an Entertainment contest.

Lakisha Jones and Chris Sligh might have outstanding voices but I honestly don't want to see them sing. Not to be cruel, but they are not pleasant people to look at.

Hayley has a perfect presentation of Wholesome Sleeze, you know, the Classic Combo of Lady in the Parlour, Whore in the Bedroom kind of image that most men are attracted to.

Man, those legs go on forever and she can sure jiggle her assets! And she's smart enough to know she can't win this with just her voice. I say, Good For Her!

Talent wise, Blake Lewis should win this thing. But I'm cheering for Hayley!

Government Screws the Motorist Again

I don't own a Gas Guzzler and I'm not here to defend the people that do. I'm here to defend common sense and civil rights.

In this week's Federal Budget, the Conservative Government states that it will levy a surcharge of up to $4000 on vehicles sold that it considers Gas Guzzlers.

It doesn't matter to them that many of these vehicles are required just because they are the size they are. People don't buy Gas Guzzlers because they want to Guzzle Gas.

These vehicles are already being punitively taxed at the Gas Pump! Every time they fill their large tanks they are being taxed much more so than an "economy" vehicle.

Now they want lay more tax an already exorbitantly taxed vehicle.

It's a cash grab and a political maneuver, it has nothing to do with the environment. There is no shortage of gas out there and it will do nothing to clean the air.

People will still buy these vehicles because they need them.

And if they want them then so what? It's their right to buy what they want.

I'm all for giving incentives to certain economic vehicles but to punish people that want or require a larger vehicle is nothing short of robbery.

Say Goodbye to Movie Theatres

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I decided to take in a movie, only because we had been given free passes and they were due to expire shortly.

Thankfully the theatre is about a 3 minute drive from our home, so that part was easy. The movie we went to see was The Number 23 with Jim Carry.

I don't got to movie theatres very often and when I do, it just re-affirms the reasons that I don't.

For one thing, when I get home from work and plop myself in my Laz-E-Boy, I don't want to have to get up from it until bed-time. I like to sit there in front of my 63" Big Screen (old fashioned rear projection that it is) and enjoy my favorite TV enhanced with my sound surround system.

I don't like venturing out into the night.

But anyway, we were there. I knew what was going to happen and it did. No sooner had the movie started (after 4 previews, or advertising as it should be called) I could fill my bladder calling. Of course I tried to hold it but I knew that at one point during the movie I would have to get up and do that thing.

Where's a "Pause" button when you need it? The other thing I knew that would happen and did was that I started to nod off. This is no reflection on the quality of the film, its just something I do after a long hard day at work.

This particular film has quite a complex storyline and nodding off is not conducive to understanding what is going on. I tried my best to keep alert.

The seating tried to help me too. Those chairs they have there ain't no Laz-E-Boys!
And while they and the leg space have improved over the ages I find it a real task to find a comfy spot for my body for any length of time.

There is no way I would pay for this. There is nothing in a movie theatre that can compensate for the loss of a refrigerator, personal toilet, Laz-E-Boy or, most importantly, the Pause Button.

In a few years most families will have High Definition large screens and Blue Ray HD DVD's to rent.

Why would anyone want to go to a movie theatre in that case? It makes no sense to be uncomfortable as hell, to lose all your conveniences AND to watch inferior picture quality. Even if it were free it would make no sense.

The truth is that movie theatres will follow the record/cd stores' fate and become a relic of the past.

I won't miss either.

No One is Buying Into "Wireless"

Have you noticed that companies dealing with "handheld communication devices" call themselves a Wireless service?

And have you also noticed that everyone that has one of these devices still calls them a Cell Phone, or just plain Cell.

For whatever reason these companies like Rodgers, Bell and Telus don't like the word Cell but they really like Wireless.

I'm wondering why, since we the paying public, never use the word Wireless, we like the word Cell.

Who's going to give in first? Will the public be re educated into calling their handy little devices: "Hey Bud, call me on my Wireless". I don't think so, since the word Cell is a much less awkward word to say.

It's an undeclared war of stubborn wills that may yet go on for years. I'll keep you posted.

What's Up With The Modern Toilet?

Why do I plug my toilet 2 to 4 times per week? And it's not just me. A brief survey of some acquaintances has confirmed that my issue with toilets is not isolated.

I'm not a huge man, 6 feet, 173 lbs and yet my 7 year old toilet cannot handle my (or others) level of defecation?

Plunging a turd filled toilet is not a pleasant experience.

It's a dirty little secret that toilet manufacturers should be made aware of.

I Rate The Reality Shows

Reality Programs are like Mini-Vans, no one wants to admit they are involved with one.

I'm not sure of the reason for the embarrassment of either. The Mini-Van is the most useful and versatile vehicle ever made and the Reality Shows have value because there are real people showing real emotion under real stress. Massive editing notwithstanding.

Most "fictional" TV is pretty crappy.

I don't watch every reality show out there but of the one's I have here are my favorites:

1) Big Brother The absolute best of the breed by a country mile. Not only is this show "performed" in real time, but the participants have to endure over two months together, never being able to be escape than 20 meters from another.

2) Hell's Kitchen Gordon Ramsey is by far and away the most interesting personality on TV today. This one is put out by Fox but if you wait till the Food Channel version, you get the bleep free profanity laced Ramsey Tirade version. It's hilarious.

3) Rock Star This summer production which has run for two years now is outstanding! Unlike "American Idol" you get to see real talent. Most of the singers are amazing and the judges actually are experts in the field, rock stars themselves. This is a really slick production, very well done.

4) Canadian Idol I like this one better than the American counterpart because I like the 4 judge system rather than three and I like the Canadian judges better than the Randy/Paula/Simon crew. I think the talent is as good or better.

5) American Idol
It's fun to compare people and its great to see talent recognised. I can usually spot the ultimate winners pretty early on. They'd do well to get rid of Paula though.

6) The Amazing Race this one is pretty intense but because they "Race" about four or five times a year, its value as a show is diminished. It's interesting to see the different areas of the world. It's fun to see the couples fight and one wonders how oneself would react under all the stress.

7) Survivor The bloom has long gone from this rose. The big problem here is locations. They might as well do this one in a studio or the back lot of some Hollywood site. I am really getting weary of seeing some generic Tropical Island that could be anywhere between Cancer and Capricorn. The best shows were the Australian and African shows. How about going up North to the Arctic or some Swiss Alp setting. Anywhere but the same old beach.

8) The Apprentice In a word: Pathetic. If these people are the cream of the crop, God help us all. This show has become so lame I don't expect to see another version.

Whatever happened to The Mole, I only saw one real version (they did have a Celebrity Version) and I thought it was really well done.

A Change in my "Best Music List"

I created My List a few years ago and Blogged it last November.

Such a list has no integrity if you are constantly changing your mind and rethinking your considerations.

So it was pretty traumatic for me to substitute one song for another. I was even considering calling it my Top 31 songs to accommodate the change.

The song I've chosen to supplant another is Coming Back To Me.

Unfortunately, that meant eliminating another song and that song was Within You Without You by the Beatles.

Coincidentally, both songs were released in 1967. Now I have no Beatles songs in my top Thirty. But I still consider them the Best Pop band in music history with Lennon/McCartney being the best songwriters ever.

Anyway, this sad but beautiful Marty Balin song is just too sublime to be overlooked.

Alain Vigneault and Roberto Luongo

Alain Vigneault


There has been a lot of talk in the Hockey Media regarding Roberto Luongo as a leading candidate for the Hart Trophy, the NHL award given to the player judged most valuable to his team.

Luongo is a great goaltender, make no mistake about that. But it's not like he has been standing on his head keeping the Canucks in games.

We fans of the Canucks have, over the years, been so accustomed to incompetent goaltending that now that we have a quality goalkeeper, its like a miraculous gift from God.

Luongo has made the saves a Goalie should make and he has made the saves that are above and beyond, saves which make him an All Star and provide him with $6 million a year.

But to award him with the Hart Trophy, to my mind, is a disservice to the rest of the team.

The Canucks have played a strong team game this year, like one solid unit, in front of Luongo. In many games Roberto has had nothing to do for minutes on end.

When he does get shots, the Canucks are there to prevent secondary quality chances.

If anyone on the Canucks deserves an award it should go to Alain Vigneault. Mr. Vigneault definitely deserves the Jack Adams Trophy for Coach of the Year.

He has been the one major change in this year's Canucks Team that has brought so much success.

I think it's fair to say that this 2006/07 team is the best coached Canucks team EVER.

Is There A Plan "B" For Global Warming?

This ship can't be turned around.

There is currently a huge fad, encouraged by the Al Gore phenomena, to join together to fight Global Warming.

It's one of those Causes that Celebrities and Rock Stars and now even Politicians like to warm up to because it's like Mom and Apple Pie, no one is really against it.

The subject of Global Warming is great to talk about and everyone is in agreement that a looming disaster is upon us if nothing is done.

According to most scientific sources, within 50 years the ocean temperatures will rise to the point where the Greenland and Antarctica ice caps will undergo considerable melting and the sea itself will swell in size.

The result being a significant rise in the global sea level.

It seems everyone, at least in North America, wants to go Green. Motivated by fear and/or respect for the planet and the welfare of future generations.

My question is, even with willing Governments, is it possible to turn this ship around in time?

I'm thinking no. I'm thinking that even if those societies in North America and Western Europe somehow manage to cut back Greenhouse Gases to the necessary level, those in China, India, Russia and much of the developing world will not.

To get the entire world on the same Greenhouse Gas Page is impossible. There just is not the collective will to do so. It's just not going to happen.

A lot of the blame has been wrongly directed toward the internal combustion engines powering our vehicles. In fact, recent technologies have rendered these engines clean and will even be cleaner in the near future. Even if every car went electric, where is that electricity coming from?

Is Nuclear Power now worth reconsidering?

The Inconvenient Truth is that Greenhouse Gases will not be adequately reduced to stem the foreboding tide of doom, at least not within the next 50 years.

It's not going to happen. No Way.

So is there a Plan "B"? If we can't reverse the inevitable rise in sea level, what can we do to adapt to it? That's the question we should be asking ourselves.

The Netherlands has been fighting back the sea for decades so there is technology to achieve that.

I think this is the technology we need to pursue, the alternative is to move all our major cities inland, and that is not realistic.

The sea will rise, local and hemispheric climates will change, some drastically. We have no choice in the matter, we will have to change with that.

I Want To Do This Before I Die - Nurburgring

Wow, this guy knows what he's doing! What a ride! Sweet Mama!

The car is a Porsche 911 RUF

Movie Review: The Devil Wears Prada

Wow, talk about a chick flick, this one has to be the queen of them all. I rented this one to watch with my wife at home, it had Meryl Streep and she's not known to do bad movies. So how bad could it be?

Can any movie be more "girlish"? No sex, no violence, no profanity, just a lot of cattiness and fashion. I have to attest that if there is a subject I know nothing about, it's Fashion.

However, it became a source of interest, as the movie progressed, to anxiously await and then admire the outfits the ladies wore for each scene change.

But what saved the movie for me and the reason I have to recommend it is actress Anne Hathaway.

Not for her acting ability but rather for her sublime doey eyed, porcelain skinned, long dark chocolate haired, full lipped and rounded bosomed beauty packaged in this enchanting aura of naive innocence.

Mmmm, talk about eye candy! Thankfully for the men there are massive doses of Anne all over the screen, I don't think there are many scenes she is not in.

Movie: 5 out of 10. Anne: A perfect 10

Video Blog # 2 Hit Counters

I hate Video Blogging!

Weight Loss Update

Ok, so I haven't been sticking to the Refried Bean and Cottage Cheese Diet. But I have lost 18 lbs so far in 9 weeks.

My current weight is 175 and I'd like to reach the 170 mark.

It's all being done by calorie counting and no cheating.

It's easy, just lay off the crap and eat good food, there isn't any secret. Just add up the calories!

Sorry Kid, You're Not Really A Hero

It's always bothered me the way the news media throws the word "Hero" around.

Acts of Heroism obviously occur, but they are very rare. The Word and the Act and the real Heroes are being devalued by labelling acts of common sense as Heroic.

If a person is being labeled as a Hero he or she must qualify via the following definition:

A Hero is a Person who chooses to put his personal health and/or welfare at considerable risk in order to significantly benefit another or others who are at risk themselves.

Here are a couple of recent news stories as examples.

Grandfather and 14 yr old Grandson are on a snowmobile when the machine overturns and crashes. Grandad is severely injured with broken ribs and lacerations.

Grandson (who has been taught to drive by Grandad) puts Grandad in the Truck and drives to the nearest house where an ambulance is then called.

Grandson is declared a Hero! With a ceremony and Declarative Plaque. Huh, did I miss something? Why? The kid never put himself at risk, he just used his common sense.

Sorry kid, you're not a hero.

Example two:

Four year old girl sees her mother collapse in an epileptic fit and fall awkwardly. Mom hits her head and is unconscious. Little girl calls 911 and help comes. Proclaimed a hero.

Sorry Kid, You're Not Really A Hero. You're a smart kid and cool under pressure, but you're not a hero.

There are actual stories where a Television Film crew was involved and broadcast on Global TV News.

How do you think a Real hero feels when he sees these stories which devalue his status.

I'm talking about the Fireman who runs into a burning building to save a child? Or the Soldier who ventures into a field of hostile fire to rescue his fallen comrade?


Hero and Miracle may be the two most abused words in the English language.

If you're going to label someone, whether it be a nice label or naughty one, at least please be accurate.

For more on my "thing" with definitions check out this post.