Monday's list.
1. Who here thought Jack Layton looked like a total knob mugging and preening for the camera on the gold medal game broadcast yesterday when CTV would cut to Gretzky's? Seriously.
And on that note, they could have done better than choosing Gretzky's to cut away to like that. I've been to Gretzky's, and a more white-collar sports bar you will not find. How about a Legion in St. John's instead? (Or Fort St. John?)
Where was I when Crosby scored the goal? Sitting on the futon in our living room, next to Hiedi, who was right in the middle of speaking when it happened. Her sentence (and I am not making this up) started with, "Crosby isn't even playing that good a ga-"
Where were you when it happened?
Fighting-lovers, notice: that tournament was bereft of pretty much any goonery, and it was fabulous. And it was also the highest-rated hockey in 30 years in the United States (and even longer in this country).
I know it's not fair to do a straight-up comparison of NHL ratings versus Olympic ratings, but really, isn't it time we tried some NHL minus fighting? I am not the only one who thinks so. I often hear the argument made that a lot of fans are attracted to the NHL *because* of the fighting and might be turned off of the sport if fighting were curbed. I've yet to hear any of those same people acknowledge the many people who may be turned off from NHL hockey in the first place *specifically because of the fighting*. All of you: please do so.
2. Pointer by Dan Gardner: This study is sure to raise plenty of hackles. But as a liberal, atheist and (albeit belatedly) monogamous individual, I'll take it. The article itself is pretty questionable though, especially the quote from the SMU psych prof: "I could see how smart people might be more apt to wanting to push boundaries but, at the same time, I can easily think of many intelligent people I've met who would be exceptions to this rule."
Thanks for your contribution, Maryanne Fisher.
3. Sort of hockey-related: I JUST CANNOT FUCKING BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT PASSES FOR PUNDITRY IN THE POST.
"But for all the political calculation that went into Harper's weekend, what stood out was the fact he was clearly having a hell of a time."
"Somewhere along the line he managed to shed the reserve that so often lends him the air of robo-man, and seemed just authentically excited at being on hand to watch so much great stuff happen."
"Which suggests there's something wrong with our politicians. And with us. We're electing the wrong people. It's hard to imagine an American president who wasn't a football fan."
Do I even need to explain how utterly, utterly wrong this all is? Even if it's all half in jest?
OMG KELLY FUCKING MCPARLAND MAKES ME SO ANGRY AND EVEN THE FUCKING POST SHOULD HAVE FIRED HIM BY NOW. He is incompetent. When he tries to write funny stuff, it falls flat. If he were put up against a junior high school debate team, he would lose, no matter the subject. Even the very worst writers that the Yukon News has to offer, I absolutely swear, could write circles around him.
There are conservative columnists who can write. Jonathan Kay, his mother Barbara and Mark Steyn - say what you will about them, those people can write. They are entertaining and infuriating. Kelly McParland is infuriating merely because I can't understand how he fucking holds down a job at a national newspaper.
It is well past time for Kelly McParland to be fired.
4. I was really hoping to bury the thing I have to do for sabatoa in here, but it's just too late, and I haven't had enough time to compose it. But I do pay my debts, so Sam, you can count on it soon.
And I was also really hoping to have a recap of the Sourdough Rendezvous activities of the weekend, but it's also too late and I haven't had enough time to compose that, either. So, for now, a photo of me from Saturday night (count this as a beard update):
And on that note, they could have done better than choosing Gretzky's to cut away to like that. I've been to Gretzky's, and a more white-collar sports bar you will not find. How about a Legion in St. John's instead? (Or Fort St. John?)
Where was I when Crosby scored the goal? Sitting on the futon in our living room, next to Hiedi, who was right in the middle of speaking when it happened. Her sentence (and I am not making this up) started with, "Crosby isn't even playing that good a ga-"
Where were you when it happened?
Fighting-lovers, notice: that tournament was bereft of pretty much any goonery, and it was fabulous. And it was also the highest-rated hockey in 30 years in the United States (and even longer in this country).
I know it's not fair to do a straight-up comparison of NHL ratings versus Olympic ratings, but really, isn't it time we tried some NHL minus fighting? I am not the only one who thinks so. I often hear the argument made that a lot of fans are attracted to the NHL *because* of the fighting and might be turned off of the sport if fighting were curbed. I've yet to hear any of those same people acknowledge the many people who may be turned off from NHL hockey in the first place *specifically because of the fighting*. All of you: please do so.
2. Pointer by Dan Gardner: This study is sure to raise plenty of hackles. But as a liberal, atheist and (albeit belatedly) monogamous individual, I'll take it. The article itself is pretty questionable though, especially the quote from the SMU psych prof: "I could see how smart people might be more apt to wanting to push boundaries but, at the same time, I can easily think of many intelligent people I've met who would be exceptions to this rule."
Thanks for your contribution, Maryanne Fisher.
3. Sort of hockey-related: I JUST CANNOT FUCKING BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT PASSES FOR PUNDITRY IN THE POST.
"But for all the political calculation that went into Harper's weekend, what stood out was the fact he was clearly having a hell of a time."
"Somewhere along the line he managed to shed the reserve that so often lends him the air of robo-man, and seemed just authentically excited at being on hand to watch so much great stuff happen."
"Which suggests there's something wrong with our politicians. And with us. We're electing the wrong people. It's hard to imagine an American president who wasn't a football fan."
Do I even need to explain how utterly, utterly wrong this all is? Even if it's all half in jest?
OMG KELLY FUCKING MCPARLAND MAKES ME SO ANGRY AND EVEN THE FUCKING POST SHOULD HAVE FIRED HIM BY NOW. He is incompetent. When he tries to write funny stuff, it falls flat. If he were put up against a junior high school debate team, he would lose, no matter the subject. Even the very worst writers that the Yukon News has to offer, I absolutely swear, could write circles around him.
There are conservative columnists who can write. Jonathan Kay, his mother Barbara and Mark Steyn - say what you will about them, those people can write. They are entertaining and infuriating. Kelly McParland is infuriating merely because I can't understand how he fucking holds down a job at a national newspaper.
It is well past time for Kelly McParland to be fired.
4. I was really hoping to bury the thing I have to do for sabatoa in here, but it's just too late, and I haven't had enough time to compose it. But I do pay my debts, so Sam, you can count on it soon.
And I was also really hoping to have a recap of the Sourdough Rendezvous activities of the weekend, but it's also too late and I haven't had enough time to compose that, either. So, for now, a photo of me from Saturday night (count this as a beard update):