news feeds jan 3

Welcome back. Haven't updated a whole lot the last while because of work, holidays and such not to mention the news has been fairly depressing lately so, hey, hey, what can you do? Thought I would throw out a few things… that are semi-news worthy at best, but you can be done with it in no time and go back to getting your news from The Guardian and USA Today.

--

First off, congrats on being alive! We survived yet another doomsday prediction and as it turns out all those Mayan and Dick Clark memes didn't generate enough sarcastic karma to wipe us out. Compared to the last major prophetic apocalyptic threat in the year 2000 (Y2K anyone) every one seemed pretty calm this time around, seeing it as a win-win situation. If it doesn't end, you're alive and if it does you can probably defer your credit card and car payments. Many scientists have predicted that the world will end due to intolerable levels of carbon dioxide, that the universe will rip apart because of its continual expansion or the Sun grows so hot it  eventually swallows Earth. You don't have to rush out an buy water purification tablets just yet, those events aren't expected to take place for billions of years, but as luck would have it, there's a couple more doomsday predictions that will come (and go) during our lifetime. Jeane Dixon, a well known American psychic who passed away in 1997, predicted that Armageddon would occur with Jesus returning to Earth to defeat the Antichrist, Satan and the False Prophet between 2020 and 2037. Jeane also predicted that the world would end on February 4, 1962 due to that particular day's planetary alignment. Swing and a miss. Mariners Church head pastor is rolling with 2021 because it is one biblical generation (80 years) since the founding of Israel in 1948. Sooo.. that is it for the next hundred or so years. Live easy, friends.

--

A Washington woman has grounded her 59 year old son for conveniently 'losing' the girl's bike she gave him when he was 8 years old. Helen Puz, now 99, was gifted the bicycle by a neighbour after her husband died forcing her to raise her young son Don alone. Don put up with the girls bike for a while before ditching about 50 feet off the Vashon Highway near Vashon Island, Washington. Helen saw a story in a local paper about a bike that was swallowed up by a tree and thought it looked familiar. Helen and Don went out to the tree where the bike was encased and confirmed it was in fact the bike that had be ditched some 50 years ago. Also, it has been confirmed that the front wheel still turns. I just like the picture. 

--

We all know how much of a pain in the ass air travel can be sometimes. The infinite queues, the overpriced stale food, and passengers that require assistance board first? What the hell is that? Not to mention when you actually get on the plane… their stupid small bags of chips and thimbles of juice. Cramped seats. Large dude beside you taking the whole armrest. What a habitually terrible experience. Well, imagine an airport that played nothing but the first six Black Sabbath albums (and maybe some Heaven & Hell and Born Again at regular intervals), the lights were dim, the security was lax (not LAX… airport humour!), and the Ian Gillen led incarnation of Sabbath was the house band. That may be a ways off, but the airport in Birmingham, UK has considered a proposal that would rename the airport after Ozzy Osboune, the resident Prince of Darkness. "It's an interesting idea and I've got an open mind. We need to be making the most of the talent we have got and did have in this city," said Birmingham city councillor Phillip Parkin. Rock & roll, mate!

--

This isn't even news, and I feel kind of like a moron posting it but this is photographic gold. And a rarity! A picture of Madonna's legs open WITH clothes on. But for real… she fell while skiing in Switzerland.

--

Remember when Mel Gibson didn't scare people just by mentioning his name? He started off bad ass enough, playing in the first two Mad Max films, then Peter Weir's Aussie WWI epic Gallipoli. My favourite of Mr. Mel is definitely Lethal Weapon. The first one. The sequels provided some fun with Riggs and Murtaugh but they didn't come close to the first one. In the original film, the mismatched cops (Mel's counterpart being Danny Glover) take on a seedy drug and prostitution ring, and their main muscle, resident crazy man Gary Busey. Gary and Mel's hair are the best things in a movie and make the best gritty, dirty cop movie since Magnum Force. Why am I mentioning any of this? It just Mel's birthday, that's all. And since Lethal Weapon and, to a lesser extent "Braveheart," are pretty bad ass flicks and hopefully he has a pleasant evening, but Mel, don't drink and get behind the wheel.. Just saying'

--

Let's not talk World Junior hockey. Canada's version of March Madness saw the boys lose to a very well prepared American team in the semis, setting up a USA-Sweden gold medal game with Canada and Russia playing for bronze.

--

Check out Hot Water Music's new video for "Drag My Body" and check out their current tour dates HERE.

--

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? 

--