I've been really quite busy.  Not a lot of time to sit down and type. 

So some important quick facts: 

-the job is going well and I really like how I'm able to have so much say in how sports is covered on our station.  They've given me control AND credit when things go well.  Lots I have to improve, especially on the mornings, but it's going well. 
-I'm moved in to my new place and it's quite nice.  
-Mowgli is finally here and behaving very well.  

Things are looking up

I miss you all a ton.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Broadcast a lacrosse game, be part of an OHL telecast in my hometown, got a dog of my own, went through the end of a long term relationship, visited the United Kingdom, and saw an Edmonton Oilers playoff game live and in person.

I have been saying in a few places that the Edmonton Oilers have a boatload of acceptable bottom pairing defensemen.

In fact, I'd suggest Tjarnqvist, Hejda, Bergeron, Smid and Greene would all make terrific 5/6 defensemen on a team with a good or even average top 4.

I also suspect Gilbert, Roy, Syvret and maybe even Chorney could fill similar 5/6 roles effectively.

That's impressive bottom pairing depth. Striking even. However, it all means absolutely nothing when you only have two guys who are legitimate top 4 defenders.

I've been trying to avoid the typical traps of the new year.

It all started because it looked like I would have absolutely nothing to do for the big night itself.

http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsid=A38C3BE4-D56F-E112-4FC20FDA1C5EDB5F

I don't know if you knew about this Scott/Danny/Mather whomever else, but a 20th Anniversary Special Edition!  Talk about a lovely Christmas present for our favourite Calgary boys. 

But in all likelyhood Scott just put it on his credit card all ready.

Sorry to hear about this buddy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6161691.stm

;)

Just a quick update for thos who didn't hear: The Conservative motion to re-open debate on same sex marriage is dead. 175 MPs voted agains it, including 12 Conservatives. High profile Tory MPs Peter McKay, John Baird and Michael Chong were among those who voted against their government's outdated line of thinking and I applaud them for it.

Another note, there were Liberals who voted for the issue including one from the riding next store to me here. I disagree with them, but I'm glad new Liberal leader Stephane Dion gave them the chance to vote the way they felt was right.

Now, can we finally drop the issue and let same sex couples live in peace?

I want to talk about the great new leader of the Liberal Party - but before we get to that, this came in to our e-mail today:

PRESS RELEASE - 05 DECEMBER 2006

MAN INJURED AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY GOAT

An 80-year-old Durham man was treated for minor injuries and releasedfrom hospital after being attacked by a goat. Investigation revealedthat the victim was bending over to pick up his blue box on ChesterStreet, Durham when a goat attacked him from behind and knocked him intothe side of his residence. The goat was discovered to be owned by aneighbour.

Today Gerard Kennedy made the following statement:

"I cannot support the Harper-Duceppe motion currently before the House.

The Prime Minister's responsibility is to protect the constitution and the unity of the country. This motion does neither.

It is wrong for Canada.

First of all, sign the petition. Who knows how valuable one of these online pettions really is. However, Warren Kinsella is behind it and a media name as big as Andrew Coyne has signed it. It's something to do to show where you stand.

Speaking of standing up for something...

Current Mood: thankful

As heard on 560 CFOS and seen at www.radioowensound.com

What is it they keep saying we're fighting the war in Afghanistan for?

What is that word George Bush keeps using in selling the war on terror?

Freedom.

We want to protect freedom, spread freedom, everybody must have freedom!

As long as you don't scare us, right?

Justin Trudeau has given Gerard Kennedy's run for the Liberal leadership some much needed attention with this endorsement. How much Liberals actually value the endorsement is certainly a question no one can answer. I don't think the real value, in the short term at least, is necessarily that it alone will sway voters. However, Justin is a big name and the timing of this means Gerard can maybe get back some spotlight with very little time to go before the vote.

Justin Trudeau initially had me a bit skeptical. He gave a passionate eulogy for his father and the whole country was ready to crown him Prime Minister. I admire a man who can speak well publically, but I must say being passionate about your own father's death is not very unique. However, since that time he's stuck to his words about grassroots politics and gone all across Canada talking to people a lot of others don't talk to. I'm talking about young people and those interested in the future of the country and the Liberal party - but those who have very little power to decide its path. That's what he's been doing, and as a result it makes sense for him to line up beside the man who is championing that renewal.

A 5-1 win over a weak cousin team is exactly the kind of thing last year's Edmonton Oilers would have blown. Especially at home.

This team is teaching me that a reliable goaltender is worth more than any other player on your team. You simply can't get by with someone erratic and inconsistent. Right now I'd say the Oilers are having success beacause of the following ordered reasons.

• Roloson's consistent and often spectacular play
• Ryan Smyth and Petr Sykora's consistent clutch goal scoring (meaning we finally have more than just one player who takes advantage of breaks)
• Everyone else is at least buying in and working hard to do the little things.

So Stephen Harper has introduced a motion recognizing Quebec as a nation "within a united Canada."

In case you were wondering where this all started, look no further than the Liberal leadership race. Michael Ignatieff somehow decided what this leadership race needed was a big heaping of the old "how to appease Quebec" debate. Lets do that instead of winning them over with - I don't know - good policy and fair government. His stance? Eventual recognition of Quebec as a nation within the constitution of Canada. What did that mean? Not much. Now, I've had good impressions and not so good impressions of Mr. Ignatieff throughout his tenure in Canadian politics. One unfortunate thing about him is that he's not very good at staying on message. As a result, it's kind of hard to figure out the specific actions he would really take when tracking his new statements on the subject from day to day. However, my initial impression is that the constitutional change would actually mean nothing. It's a mere symbolic recognition to show Quebec uh... I suppose... that we understand them and love them in their special uniqueness? Of course that alone would not be enough to get Quebec to sign the constitution as it exists today. That means with any nation policy there absolutely would have to be other changes. But Ignatieff said there would be no concessions made as a result of the policy. Put two and two together and the whole idea is impossible and thus pointless.

Current Mood: aggravated

I've been through two elections in my time as a reporter. It's been less than a year, so that's a pretty good start. The only dissapointing thing is that means it's less likely I'll have another year with two elections.

You can find results somewhere on www.radioowensound.com, but I doubt anyone reading this is actually from there area.

That is, unless the federal government falls within the year and we have a provincial election next fall. YES!

They're fun to cover.  It's a big rush.  You're mingling with supporters, candidates, staff and other reporters with everyone wanting that first look at the numbers and that first shot at the politicians when the results come in.  It's a rush to be there on the phone setting the scene while big decisions are up in the air.  Not as fun with mail-in ballots because we got all the results at once.  But I enjoy the heck out of it.  Got dressed up in some of my new clothes I got for being on TV too.  Niiiice!