news feeds feb 16

The world got a little more Armageddon/Deep Impact-y yesterday. A meteor blast hit the Russian city of Chelyabinsk and surrounding areas injuring more than 1000 people, costing more than $33 million US, and blew out most of the windows in over 4,000 building making the freezing temperatures at night feel all the more cold, you know, being windowless and all, has made the window repairs one of the most pressing items to repair. But to be honest, I'm sure most of the folks are content to wrap up in a few blankets and be thankful to be alive. The meteor packed a punch of approximately 300-500 kilotons of energy (the Hiroshima nuke the Americans dropped was 15 kilotons). NASA reported that the meteor was the largest recorded since 1908, where an asteroid entered the atmosphere and exploded, which knocked over 80 million trees to the ground in an area of 820 square miles in northern Siberia. If you haven't seen the video you should def watch it!

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Nipples. Maybe its just simple fundamental difference between the US and Canada. We aren't too weirded out by nips in the Great White North… we have a nude beach in Toronto, and both men and women are allowed to walk around topless. No big deal. In North Carolina however, a Republican state representative is trying to introduce House Bill 34 which would make it illegal for women to bare their breasts, even in a accidental or wardrobe malfunction scenario. Women who are worries about showing too much cleavage should use pasties, or some kind of double sided tape. Depending on the intent of exposure women could face up to a six month sentence for an 'errant areola,' whereas more mundane exposure results in a 30 day sentence. Fortuantely, there is an exemption made for breastfeeding, allowing the breast to be exposed is it least appealing sexual state." Rep Rayne Brown said "there are communities across this state, there's local governments across this state, and also local law enforcement for whom this issue is really not a laughing matter" despite the utter hilariousness of the whole bill. 

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Amidst the shocking case of Oscar "Blade Runner" Pistorius (the feel good story of the London, Olympics) Monty Python/Fawlty Towers funnyman John Cleese tweeted 'Oscar's defence will be that he was absolutely legless at the time." It caused a major uproar on the social networking site leading to him to lose more followers than Mel Gibson or say, Stephen Baldwin (if he had any to begin with). As it turns out, what seemed really, really inappropriate is only mildly inappropriate since 'legless' turns out to be British slang for drunk, and therefore it's pretty damn 'punny' when you think about it. People were in an uproar, but personally, I don't think the Olympian merits much compassion if the charges against him are in fact true. One of my favourite Python bits:

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The decay of the Star Wars franchise may have begun with Episode I. Not that it was a terrible movie, more than a terrible character or two, with too much CGI but it was overall semi-enjoyable. Fortunatly, Episode II and III were much better. The Disney purchase of Lucasfilm may have been the final nail in the coffin. It's not like I won't watch the new series when it comes out but then Disney has announced they will be doing some stand alone Star Wars films, focusing on characters of Han Solo, Yoda or Boba Fett. Horrifying idea. The stand alone spin off that seems to gathering the most attention is that of Obi Wan Kenobi, a role that Ewan McGregor would be more than willing to reprise, going as far as coming up with a potential storyline that would take place between Episode III and IV. On the plus side, Harrison Ford is now in negotiations to reprise his role as maverick smuggler/hero of the rebellion Han Solo. He hasn't officially signed on, and word has it the negotiations could take months to finalize, but how bad ass would that be?

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The Grammy Awards were handed out, I don't know, sometime recently. Who cares. As it turns out the big winner was Katy Perry's boobs. Ellen approved!

 

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The Toronto Maple Leafs put together an impressive string of games while I was gone, which makes me want to stay out of the continent just so they have a chance in hell of making the playoffs. The Leafs currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 35 games to play, and hopefully they can survive without goaltender James Reimer who got injured in the 5-2 beating the Leafs laid on the Philadelphia Flyers. Reimer had put up numbers that ranked with the leagues best, but back up Ben Scrivens has been great as well. The Leafs defence corps has tightened up, shaving nearly a goal per game of their team goals against average under the tutelage of Coach Carlyle. The Leafs main problem has been putting the puck in the net, and as their 3-1 loss to Carolina proved, their lack of strength/size down the middle. James Van Riemsdyk, Matt Frattin (who is now injured for a week or so), and Nazem Kadri have been doing most of the scoring, while sniper Phil Kessel sits on just two goals for the season (but has added 9 assists). The Leafs play the Senators on Hockey Night In Canada tonight 7PM EST start.

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Video for the title track from Bad Religion's stellar new album "True North":

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world juniors 2013

Still no NHL. I think we're over it anyways. Quite often the best hockey of the year (at least in Toronto) is during the World Junior Tournament that kicks off every boxing day. The games, officially known as "2013 Ice Hockey U20 World Championship, are being held is Russia, who host the tournament after losing the Gold medal game to Sweden in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta last year. Canada placed third, winning the bronze medal game against Finland following a semi-final loss to the Russians. Their long time rivals came out of the gates full speed ahead and built up a 6-1 lead at the midway mark of the third period. The Canadians finally got their game going, 50 minutes too late, losing the game 6-5 after potting three quick goals to give Team Russia a scare. It was the first time Canada hadn't played in the gold medal game in 11 years. This year, the Canadians are sending out locked out Oiler young gun Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (who scored 18 goals in 62 games during his rookie NHL season) to captain a team that features six returnees, but is overall, a young team (relative terms for an under 20 event). But since the third place was the worst showing since 2001's bronze, change may not be the worst thing. A potential issue for team Canada is that if the NHL lockout resolves itself then four of their returnees will have to go back to their NHL clubs. Some owners are fine with their rookies playing for their country, others not so much. The final rosters must be submitted on Christmas day and no player can be added to the roster after said date. If we lose Nugent-Hopkins (Oilers), Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers), Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets), Dougie Hamilton (Boston Bruins) and Ryan Strome (New York Islanders), we could be in for a rough ride. The loss of the veterans would definitely be a tough blow, but a shortened bench for the playoff round of the tournament would be the main  obstacle to overcome. The NHL, in lieu of angering anymore Canadians, might want to wait until after the Juniors until they resolve their player-owner CBA bickering. 

Phil Housley, seven time NHL All-Star, takes the reigns of an American squad that's coming off their worst finish in the tournament since 1999's 8th place finish. Their roster this season only has three returnees: Kitchener Rangers/Anaheim Ducks' pick John Gibson, U of Michigan/Winnipeg Jets' pick Jacob Trouba, and the New York Rangers' first rounder in 2011 J.T. Miller, who is the only one actually playing pro hockey now, with the Rangers AHL affiliate, Conneticut Whale. In fact, all but three players on the Americans roster have been drafted by an NHL team and that's only because two of them aren't draft eligible until 2013. Toronto Maple Leafs goalie prospect Garrett Sparks and current Guelph Storm netminder is trying to make the squad, as is Leaf first round pick Tyler Biggs, who currently with the Oshawa Generals. The Americans have some big punishing D-men in the backend, not to mention all three of their goalies are huge, they are going to make it tough to get pucks to the net. 

Sweden makes its first trip to the tournament as defending champions since 1982. The hallmark of Sweden over the last few years of the tournament has been their phenomenal goaltending. This year is no exception with Erie Otters goalie and Blue Jackets draft pick Oscar Dansk manning the pipes. That if he gets the starters job… Niklas Lundström, a veteran of the Swedish national stage, put up amazing numbers in the IIHF U18 tournament in 2011 and is currently playing for AIK in the Swedish Elite League. Upfront the team has some returning firepower despite losing leading scorer Max Friberg (he's now 20). Returnee Filip Forsberg, Washington's first round pick will be a player to watch for his creativity, explosive shot and great two way play. Sweden's main concern may be in the back end, with no returning members from their championship squad from a year ago, but have a great two way defenceman named Hampus Lindholm, currently of the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL and the Ducks first round pick last year, who could be their anchor.

It will be a great tournament. It always is. The Russians are perennial favourites and hosts; no one should take them lightly. Not to mention the Czecs and Fins always ice some very tough teams… Canadians can click HERE for TSN's broadcast schedule of the tournament and here's your 2013 Canadian World Juniors (NHL team in parentheses):

GOALIES:

Jordan Binnington, Owen Sound Attack (St. Louis)

Jake Paterson, Saginaw Spirit (Detroit)

Malcolm Subban, Belleville Bulls (Boston)

DEFENSEMEN:

Dougie Hamilton, Niagara Ice Dogs (Boston)

Scott Harrington, London Knights (Pittsburgh)

Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers (Carolina)

Xavier Ouellet, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (Detroit)

Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings (New York Islanders)

Morgan Reilly, Moose Jaw Warriors (Toronto)

Tyler Wotherspoon, Portland Winterhawks (Calgary)

FORWARDS:

Anthony Camara, Barrie Colts (Boston)

Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres (Chicago)

Jonathan Drouin, Halifax Mooseheads (2013 Draft)

Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs (Florida)

Charles Hudon, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (Montreal)

Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals (Columbus)

J.C. Lipon, Kamloops Blazers (2013 Draft)

Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads (2013 Draft)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton)

Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks (St. Louis)

Brett Ritchie, Niagara Ice Dogs (Dallas)

Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts (Winnipeg)

Ryan Strome, Niagara Ice Dogs (New York Islanders)

Added treat... 1987 tourney… Canada and Russia. If you know, then you know! Can you say double disqualification? 

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news feeds august 17

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All three members of Russian female punk band Pussy Riot have been sentenced to two years in prison after screaming in protest "Mother Mary, please drive Putin away" in Christ Savior Cathedral, one of the biggest churches in Moscow. The three young women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich have already served five months in detention which will count towards their sentence. The judge found them guilty of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred', and was convinced they intended to insult the church and undermine public order. The support in Russia for them to be freed was a paltry 5% in a recent poll, even with heavyweights like Madonna lending her support. People have been more sympathetic in other countries, with rallies at 2PM Moscow time (6AM EST) in many major cities, and right here in Toronto a protest begun a noon today at the Russian consulate at Bloor and Church streets.  A call me juvenile, I like hearing straight faced news reporters saying Pussy Riot. 

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Remember how the late Steve Jobs' mansion was broken into a few weeks back? Well, his personal iPad has wound up in the hands of a clown. Kenny the Clown, a San Francisco area entertainer, was given the tablet by a friend who is now charged with burglary (along with the iPad he got away with iPods, Macs, jewelry and Jobs' wallet) and is due in court on Monday. Kenneth Kahn, his non-clown alias, loaded it up with songs to use in his act, but not once took a look through the photos or anything else on the device. The police had to confiscate the iPad. The clown, who had a sad face painted on the following day, went back to work with his Blackberry Playbook which crashed after playing 33 seconds of "Play That Funky Music."

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A well known activist in the Santa Monica area is suing the city because she says the city's new parking meters' wireless signal is deteriorating her health. Denise Barton's symptoms include ear infections, ringing in her ear and neck pain and is looking for $1.7 billion in damages to make up for it. "I know it seems a little big, but they can't do things that affect people's health without their consent. I think that's wrong." She is also asking for an additional $1.7 million each month that the meters are operational. The wireless signal she refers to is for the meters to process credit card payments, as well as to send out text messages to the driver when their time has almost expired. A USC professor says Barton is going to have a tough time proving these allegations, noting "there is no evidence that cell phones, wireless networks or other low-level emitters cause adverse health effects. The first cell phone was introduced in 1973, and the epidemiological data do not show significant changes in the incidence of cancers since that time. It is very difficult to prove that these energy sources do not cause health problems, but there is no data that they do."

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This is the strangest combination since Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg. Warner Bros are teaming up with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment?) and the Scooby Do gang in an all-new animated feature. Apparently, what happens, is that Shaggy wins tickets to the Wrestlemania in WWE City (original) but a mysterious ghostly bear is there and might ruin the whole thing! OMG! The gang teams up with the wrestlers to solve the case. Featured wrestlers, and thank God other than Vince McMahon, I don't know any of them, include Triple H, John Cena, Kane, The Miz, Brodus Clay, Santino Marella, Sin Cara, AJ and the previously mentioned WWE CEO McMahon. STOP RUINING MY CHILDHOOD WITH TERRIBLE MOVIES! …and that's all I have to say about that.

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Does the NHL lock out after such a great season last year? Guess we'll see by September 15 at the latest.

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And just because I'm going to see Down By Law for the first time in years on Monday, here's a tune, Down By Law's Clash inspired single from their fourth album "All Scratched Up," here's "Radio Ragga." Enjoy!