Gilligans Island Beer Summit

A sure cure for "foot in the mouth". A cold refreshing beer. Earlier in the week,
President Obama stuck his foot in it big time when he accused Cambridge police of acting "stupidly". Whether he was ill advised, ill timed or just ill, the comment brought about negative reaction across the country where most people agreed that Obama should have kept his nose or in this case his foot out of it.
But the crafty Obama found a solution. Bring all the parties together for a beer.
The stupid policeman, the cranky professor (this sounds like something from Gilligans
Island) the Vice President and the President himself all sitting down for a beer to discuss the situation. The result:
Said Obama: "I have always believed that what brings us together is stronger than what pulls us apart. I am confident that has happened here tonight, and I am hopeful that all of us are able to draw this positive lesson from this episode."
And Obama is hailing his meeting with professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and policeman James Crowley as a "friendly, thoughtful conversation."
So there you have it the Gilligan's Island beer summit, everybody's happy. beer companies will be capitalizing on hopeful advertising opportunities and the country is left wondering, what will happen the next time the President sticks his foot in his mouth. Perhaps we will look back at this beer summit as being the secret to good government.

Saskatchewan Police To Follow Calgary Lead

Downtown Calgary police officers switching to cowboy hats
Beat officers protecting downtown streets will be getting some protection of their own -- from the elements--with a set of new chapeaux.
The 64 officers on the new beat patrol in the city core will be outfitted with cowboy hats for the warm weather months, but more research is needed to determine what headgear will work best against the winter cold.
Now, beat patrols will have cowboy hats with wide brims to shade the officers' faces and keep torrents of rain from streaming down their backs.
Reportedly Saskatchewan Police may soon follow the Calgary lead, not with cowboy hats ofcourse, but with a cap that reflects both the Saskatchewan heritage and the work ethic of the province.
A spokesman says the prairie dog or gopher was chosen as it is a symbol of the province and points to the use of Gainer by the Saskatchewan RoughRiders.
The cap reflects the hard work poured into the province by both pioneers and today's farmers.

The CFL's Best Fans, But

Rider games at McMahon pose a unique situation in professional sports because half of the building is cheering for the visiting team," said stadium manager John Haverstock.
"Most of the competitiveness is good natured, but there's a percentage that gets stupid. It creates a really unique challenge for us.
"Saskatchewan fans, grow up. 'Yea Riders, go green.' There are people who don't even understand the game, but just go to drink and distract the players," says Calgarian Nadeem Jaffer who bought eight tickets for the highly anticipated game. An engineering student at the University of Saskatchewan, he said he's had his fill of Rider fans in his temporary home and is looking forward to sporting the red and white of his favourite team.
"It's the biggest rivalry in the Canadian Football League. We stole (Calgary quarterback) Henry Burris, won the Grey Cup and now Riders fans are mad," said Jaffer..
Saturday's game marks the first tussle between the Calgary Stampeders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders this season--and officials say there will be heightened security at McMahon Stadium to control unruly fans.Fans will see a 30 per cent increase in security, including 40 police officers and 40 private guards. It comes after a handful of high-profile incidents at games last year--including an altercation between an intoxicated Roughriders fan and a police officer that was posted on YouTube.

So the table is set for Saturdays game between and Saskatchewan. The fans are obviously ready, the security is beefing up but will the Riders, the players that is, give their fans anything to cheer about.
The Riders back into this game having lost two in a row, including giving up a 22 - 0 lead to the Edmonton Eskimos and succumbing 38 - 33. The Riders porous defense also gave up forty points to the Montreal Alouettes two weeks ago.
The Stampeders meanwhile have their game back winning two in a row.
The Riders offense has seriously imploded in the second half of the last two games failing to move the ball and failing to
score any points.
On the surface this one looks like a blowout. The Stampeders at the top of their game, the Riders somewhere else.
Makes you wonder if the countries greatest fans will have anything to get riled up about or if the Rider fans will be sound asleep by halftime.

I Swear, The F Bomb is Out of Control

It's "one of the most graphic, explicit and vulgar words in the English language," U.S. Solicitor General Gregory Garre proclaimed last fall, when the Supreme Court launched hearings on Federal Communications Commission v. Fox. If TV networks have their way, Garre argued in his opening statement on behalf of the FCC, it won't be long before Americans hear "Big Bird dropping the F-bomb on Sesame Street."

I don't know about Big Bird dropping the F bomb on Sesame Street, hopefully not but Monday I had the experience of having lunch at the cafeteria at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. Sitting at the table next to me were five ladies, (?), obviously employees from their outfits and identification tabs. In their normal course of conversation the F word was being tossed around as casually as any other word in the English language. One lady in particular at the table used the word in almost every sentence she uttered. It actually became my noon hour entertainment as I munched on my healthy wrap and listened to these ladies in particular rap out what to many is a offensive word. It also got me thinking as to how much this F word has just become part of our everyday conversation. Is it no longer offensive to people? Have we become so accustomed to hearing this word that we no longer even blink or flinch? Are there no other words in our vocabulary that we could substitute and still get our point across. The funny thing in the hospital conversation was these ladies weren't angry. No one was upset. It was just regular everyday conversation.

The F Bomb of course has become accepted regular conversation used by Presidents, Vice Presidents, at least one Prime Minister, celebrities such as Joan Rivers, A Rod and others.

Looks like Garre needn't worry about puppet profanity. There may be hope at least south of the border and as far as your radio and television are concerned.
On April 28, the Supreme Court upheld the FCC policy of fining "fleeting expletives" like the one used by U2 front man Bono during his acceptance speech at the 2003 Golden Globes ("This is really, really bleeping brilliant"), to which the agency will no longer turn a blind eye — or deaf ear. Henceforth, stations both big and small can be fined as much as $325,000 for airing a single accidental (or deliberate) slip of the tongue during live prime-time broadcasts.

The ladies conversation at the Royal U got me wondering, where did this word come from, how did it come about?

First printed in a Scottish poem in 1503, the ancient and awesomely powerful F-bomb continues to mystify lexicographers. Rumors persist that legal acronyms spawned the obscenity in question ("Fornication Under Consent of the King" or the Irish police-blotter inscription "booked For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge"), though the modern-day phrase has been traced to a number of etymological origins: Middle Dutch (fokken), Germanic (ficken), English (firk), Scottish (fukkit). Even the Latin terms futuerre ("to copulate") and pungo ("to prick") bear a striking resemblance to the four-letter word. Of course, its original definition linking sex with violence and pleasure with pain has broadened considerably in the past 500 years.

People in the know tell me the F bomb is used most frequently in countries such as Canada and the United States.
Apparently, they say, North American's expressions of vulgarity seem to center around sex where other countries expressions and apparently language has something to do with this, center around religion. One report I read seemed to suggest the primary users of the F bomb are English speaking. Lucky us.
The most versatile word in our language can do almost anything, other than be printed in a family newspaper. It can be a noun, a verb, a gerund, an adjective or just an expletive. It can be literal or figurative. Although it has an explicit sexual meaning, it's usually used figuratively these days, as an all-purpose intensifier.

The F-word remains taboo. But just barely. We may be entering an era in which this fabled vulgarity is on its way to becoming just another word -- its transgressive energy steadily sapped by overuse.

Howling At The Moon

“You’ve gotta deal with reality.” Comment from Saskatoon mayor Don Atchison after plans were announced that a group of investors plans to buy the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL and have them play five of their home games in Saskatoon.It’s a long ways to anything happening,” said Mayor Don Atchison. “They don’t own the hockey club yet. . . . They need to talk to (the NHL Board of Governors) and (the NHL Players Association). We’re a long ways away at this time.
This might be called "Howling At The Moon" in honor of the prairie coyotes out there because it just isn't going to happen for at least two reasons.
1) The NHL is trying to establish a hockey market in Phoenix as misguided as that concept is. Pulling five of their home games out and awarding them anywhere else just doesn't make sense. What does that say to the few loyal Phoenix fans that may come out to the games. Sorry you only get 35 home games this year, maybe 30 next year if we can find a place to put another five.
Come to think of it NHL brass just might be dumb enough to go for it.
2) The Saskatoon Blades have been a strong feeder of NHL talent. Having Phoenix here for five games won't help the local team and the NHL won't pull the rug on them for five games.
3) Ticket prices. The new group already has dollar signs in their eyes. Do they think that Saskatonians are so starved for the NHL that they will pay double what the ticket prices are in Phoenix to see this team. Well maybe they might. Ok put Wayne Gretzky on skates and they probably will.
Its kind of pie in the sky stuff. The NHL board of governors will listen politely and then probably not so politely pass on Saskatoon. The second bid for the Coyotes is supposedly 148 million dollars, just under the 150 million supposedly the Saskatoon group is willing to pay. For two million bucks difference and a commitment to play all the games in Phoenix, what do you think the NHL will chose.
Again it made for interesting news, talk shows got to discuss it, newspapers wrote about it and tomorrow will just go back to howling at the moon and wishing for that elusive NHL franchise.
Tuesday July 28th
The Coyotes coming to Saskatoon is the lead story on the sports for the second day in a row so I guess someone has been captivated by this. This announcer is even drawing comparisons to Bill Hunter's bid to buy the St, Louis Blues and bring them to Saskatoon. But I guess there is no harm in dreaming.

You're Right But You're Wrong.

I have heard enough about the two bad plays that supposedly cost the Saskatchewan RoughRiders a win over Edmonton, to last a lifetime. I'm sure there will be more crying tonight on the local sports shows. But its time to move on, preferably next week to the game against the Calgary Stampeders.
For those who haven't heard, the Saskatchewan RoughRiders blew a 22 - 0 lead and lost 38 - 33 to the Edmonton Eskimos. According to local radio types and their loyal call in followers who's to blame for this? If you guess the officials you're right but wrong.
The two plays in question: Steven Jyles on a third down gamble of about six inches gets stuffed and comes up short. According the the radio types, he had it. Bad spot by the officials. According to the CFL, officials got it right
The second play and even more controversial. A pass to Weston Dressler is caught, wait no it isn't. The radio types say he caught it. The officials are sure enough that he didn't that they didn't bother to review. Jake Ireland who sits in his Lazy Boy in Toronto and reviews plays confirms the officials got it right. Dressler dropped the ball. The bottom line: the Riders predictable defense wilted and died.
the Riders predictable offense didn't fool anyone in the second half.
Edmonton figured it out on both sides of the ball and won 38 - 33.
So if you guess the officials cost the Riders this game you would be right, in joining everyone else, but you would be wrong. The Riders cost themselves this game.
Next the Calgary Stampeders and Rider brass had better find some answers.

Thoughts on Week Four in the CFL

Things seem to be back to normal in the Canadian Football League this weekend with the possible exception of the British Columbia Lions.
The Lions dropped their record to 1 - 3 and last place losing 43 - 10 to the Calgary Stampeders with the Stamps now evening their record at 2 -2.
The Saskatchewan Rough Riders lost 38 - 33 to the Edmonton Eskimos leaving both those teams with 2 - 2 records as well. The Riders managed to blow a 22 - 0 lead on the way to their loss. The unfortunate thing about the Riders loss to Edmonton is that now all the glaring errors on defense and the blowing of a huge lead will be overshadowed by two questionable calls made by the CFL officiating team. One could of gone either way. Did the Riders get the first down they needed to keep a late drive alive or was it a bad spot by the referees? Probably it was but those things do happen and its pretty tough to review and almost impossible to overturn. But a drive killer it was.
Then the pass to Dressler. Was it a completion? It looked like it. The Rider broadcast team (hardly impartial) moaned and groaned and declared the officials had blown it. The fans were in complete agreement. But you know what. Lost in all that is that the Riders blew a 22 - 0 lead, that Edmonton running backs ran through the Rider defense like a hot knife through butter and finally don't leave it to the officials to decide the outcome. If you needed to get one yard on a third down gamble to win the game well then get two or three to be sure. If you're driving for the winning score, don't drop the ball and the officials won't have to decide. I'm not a great fan of the CFL officials, but they have a tough job as to all officials in all sports.
I attended the Canada - New Zealand game in the ISF world championship softball and sat in front of an iron lunged lady who's hollering at the umpire was an embarrassment to Canada, the fans sitting around her and should have been to herself as well.
Try putting yourself in their shoes sometime.
Back to the CFL -
So after four weeks in the west the Riders, Eskimos and Stampeders are all at 2 - 2 and the Lions at 1 - 3.
The Riders go to Calgary and then BC so the next two weeks will be tough.
In the East its Montreal way out in front followed by Toronto, Hamilton and Winnipeg.
As to the quarterbacking. Darian Durant moved the ball and looked pretty good. His defense let him down this time.

The Games Are Good....BUT

Took in the ISF World Championship Softball last night. The games are good but oh my the organization or lack thereof is something else.
We bought the $100 tickets which included reserve parking.
We arrived at the park for about 8pm for the Canada USA game.
First, we were told reserved parking was full. We would have to park where ever we could. This confuses me. If you sell for example 100 reserve parking tickets, would you not have 100 parking spaces? Someone help me with that.
No big deal, we parked a long ways away.
Second, the Australia New Zealand game was only in the second inning despite the fact Canada and the USA was scheduled to start in less than 20 minutes. Again, no big deal. We watched Australia pull the upset of the tournament defeating New Zealand 7 - 0.
The Canada USA game started close to 10:30pm and ended near or after midnight. Again no big deal. I'm a big boy and can stay up late.
Third, the big deal. Absolutely no traffic direction in the parking lot and we were at least one and a half hours getting out. For one hour, I shut off my engine and nobody moved. We had ended up parking near the campground and ofcourse that was the last line go move.
Two young men finally got out of their cars and directed the traffic. No bright vests, no flashlight but they did a real good job.
We ended up getting home at 2am.
To the tournament organizers I wonder this.
1) Where was your traffic control. Where were the Saskatoon City Police? Three men made cell phone calls to get police help and no help responded. I don't blame them. The organizers should have had people directing traffic. Were they not expecting anyone to show up for the game.
2) What does reserve parking mean? The lady that sold me the ticket pointed out that if I spent more money along with my reserved seat I would get reserved parking.
Quick in, quick out she said. I don't think so.
So thats my rant for a Saturday morning.
Am I going back today? Not sure! Will there be traffic control. A call to the office indicates nobody knows. What they they do know. They already have our $100 bucks times two so do they really care if we come back or not.
I leave that question unanswered.

A Young Mom's Encounter With A Rude Clerk

I experienced an interesting encounter this morning at a local major grocery store between a rather rude male clerk and a young mother with two boys in tow.
It was pretty obvious this clerk didn't really like his job. The young mom was at the checkout counter putting her groceries through when the youngest of the two boys
(probably about four) brought up a toy in a package he had opened complete with all the plastic torn off. The mom explained to her son they would not be buying the toy and returned it to the clerk. The boy accepted the decision really well, no fusing, whining or crying. The clerk's reaction was well, different.
The mother apoligized to the clerk and handed him the package. The clerk took the package, rolled his eyes, emitted a loud sigh and then literally tossed the package over to the next counter obviously displaying his disgust.
The following dialogue then took place as near as I can remember it.
Clerk - Most people keep an eye on their kids when they are in the store.
Mom - I do keep an eye on my kids but you can't watch them every second of the day.
Clerk - Really, I thought that's what being a good mother was all about.
Mom - Pardon me,
Clerk - No reply
Mom - What did you say?
Clerk - No Reply
Mom - I am a good mom whether you think so or not.
Clerk - No Reply
The young mom then took her receipt and left the store having some trouble gathering her two boys.
I paid for my items and watched as the Mom exited the store.
The youngest boy (the one who took the toy) ran ahead of Mom and went out the in door instead of the exit of the automatic doors and was promptly knocked flat on his
ass by the door as a customer was making her entrance.
But you know what - you can't watch them every second of every day can you?

Crime in Saskatoon: We're # 3

Crime rate in Saskatchewan down; still highest in Canada
Saskatoon’s crime rate fell by 10 per cent in 2008, while Saskatchewan's reported crime rate and overall crime severity has dropped for the fifth consecutive year, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Canadian Centre for Justice.
At the same time, Saskatchewan still has the highest police-reported crime rate and crime severity index value in Canada.
So crime is down in Saskatoon. Thats good but we're still #3 in the nation and its still happening too often
.Home Invasion in Broad Daylight (This mornings headline)
A man was bound and robbed at his home in Saskatoon yesterday afternoon.
It was shortly before 5:30 yesterday afternoon when a 24 year old man was just getting home, in the 800 block of 6th Avenue North, that he was confronted by suspects who were armed with what looked like a gun.
They tied him up and then made off with the victim's vehicle and some personal effects. He wasn't hurt and managed to get free to call police. Saskatoon Police are still looking for suspects.

Now I realize sporadic crime can happen in any city at any time but the problem in Saskatoon is it just seems to be much more than sporadic, its happening all the day. And the amount of broad daylight attacks really seems to have increased this year.
I recently wrote a piece about crime in Saskatoon and received a letter from Saskatoon's Police Chief, Clive Weighill.
I print the letter here and for what its worth, I agree with the Chief. The Saskatoon Police Service can not do it all.
The responsibility also lies within the justice system with weak laws and the Canadian court custom of "Catch and Release"
Add to that defense lawyers that will seize on any loop in the law. Consider the court case that was just tossed out this week.
An Ontario police officer makes a good bust, stopping a car and finding a million dollars worth of illegal drugs. The case is tossed out because the police officer in the court's opinion did not have probable cause to stop the car. Completely ridiculous and "only in Canada you say" Anyway here is the letter from the Chief.

Mr. Hiatt:

I have been forwarded your letter to City Council dated July 7, 2009. I thank you for your concern regarding crime in Saskatoon. Let me assure you that I do not take the recent incidents lightly, nor am not in a state of denial regarding violent attacks in Saskatoon. Our Service is working diligently to prevent such attacks and investigate occurrences. We have made arrests in connection with most of the incidents.

Please do not take my comments in the media or on the Gormely show out of context. Yes we do have crime in Saskatoon and it must be addressed. I am simply saying that in comparing criminal activity, we compare very favorably for the quality of life in this city. I am not saying we do not have crime in Saskatoon, I am simply saying that overall we are making a difference and crime is reducing. We cannot prevent every criminal incident, but we are reducing the frequency. The cities I mentioned have been victimized with shootouts in grocery store lots, assassinations of women at streetlights, and gangland assassinations. Vancouver had 32 shootings with 15 deaths in a one month period. The comparisons are certainly not to downplay the victimization of even one citizen of Saskatoon.

Just to provide you with a few facts.
· We arrested 800 more people in 2008 than we did in 2007. In 2007 we arrested 1400 more people than we did in 2006. As a police service we are holding criminals accountable.
· Our traffic enforcement has increased by 20%
· Crime both violent and property have dropped 8% in actual incidents, even though the city continues to grow

I would suggest the problems of crime are not solely controlled by the police. Many social conditions are contributors to the crime problem. In particular, we live in a city where 20% of the population is marginalized and living in poverty, poor housing, and family dysfunction. Layered on top of that is racism and poor outlook for optimism. We could hire many additional police officers, but if we don’t improve the social conditions crime will continue to be the outcome. Don’t forget the courts also have a role to play in this issue.

I certainly agree with you that violent crime must be curbed. The police service however is only one piece to the puzzle in eliminating crime. Should you wish to discuss this matter further please do hesitate to call me at 975-8250 or come to my office at your convenience and we could have a conversation.

Clive Weighill
Chief of Police

No argument from me on that letter and thanks for the response

In Defense Of Darian

People in Regina are really getting excited about the possibility of a new domed stadium Pictured a Regina waiter displays his concept of what the dome should look like.

I'm really beginning to like this guy, Darian Durant, the quarterback of the Saskatchewan RoughRiders. Sure he throws a lot of
interceptions, fumbles the ball a little to often, and many times goes two and out as he leads the Rider offense. But chalk all that up to inexperience and give the man some time. Darian Durant exudes leadership and he's one the Riders need to hang on to.
In other words, he's a keeper. Yesterday Darian faced the media after the 43 - 10 drubbing at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes. I like his answers. "Whats the panic, says Darian, we're 2 -1 which equals first place in the Western Conference.
Well part of Darian's inexperience includes the rabid, eat the quarterback Saskatchewan RoughRider faithful and Darian will soon learn, losing just does not go down well in these parts.
But lets hang on to this guy for a while longer. Look around the league and the ex Saskatchewan Rough Rider quarterbacks.
The first one that comes to mind is Kevin Glenn, who this team still could have. Glenn was traded to Winnipeg by the Riders, dumped by the Bombers and resurfaced in Hamilton, where he led the TiCats to a win over Winnipeg. Sweet revenge for Glen against Mike Kelly.
Then of course there's Kerry Joseph strutting his stuff in Toronto and struggling but still the main guy there. Travel over to
Calgary and you have Henry Burris backed up by Drew Tate both former Saskatchewan RoughRiders.
So maybe lets invest a little time and patience in Darian Durant and see what he can do before we send him off to another CFL team. How about landing a veteran quarterback to come play a back up role and do some mentoring? If Durant struggles in a game, then the veteran could go in to the game in a relief role. As I said previously Darian Durant shows leadership, give him time, thats worth holding on to. And remember Anthony Cavillo wasn't an overnight success either. The Montreal Alouettes mentored him, invested time in him and today that invest is paying off.

CFL - No Longer Under The Hood

I've never been accused of being the sharpest knife in the draw or the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree so I guess it doesn't come as a real surprise that it took me until week number three and I don't know, about a half dozen games, to realize that
CFL referees are no longer going "under the hood" on replays.
I've never been a big fan of the long delays while the referee stands with his head under some kind of a sack, reviewing the play, and then making the long walk to signal his decision. Well now that is no more.CFL referees will have one less decision to make this season with the league adopting a command centre at its head office to review coaching challenges.
Instead of an on-field official going under the hood to review a play, a replay official in Toronto will make the final call based on video review using high-definition technology.
CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said the new process is designed to be quicker.
A replay official at the command centre can immediately start reviewing a play from various angles instead of fans and teams having to wait for the on-field referee to reach a video booth on the sideline before examining the replay.
The lead replay official at the command centre will be Jake Ireland, who retired last year after working 30 years -- 557 games and 15 Grey Cups -- as a CFL referee.
"I'm excited about it because I think it does a couple of different things," Cohon said. "It speeds up the game, which I think is very important.
The biggest change for fans is the replay boxes on the sidelines will be gone," said Tom Higgins, the former CFL head coach who is now the league's director of officials. “But I think our fans will truly notice the difference because the moment a referee does put on the headset, when we went through our trial runs we had the decisions made already.
“That's where we're hoping we'll be able to tighten our belts somewhat to get the play going a little bit quicker than they have the last couple of years."
They say that if you never notice the referee out there calling any game then he's done a pretty good job.
So here I sit, a fan that didn't notice the difference, that didn't even notice the referees were no longer going under the hood.
I guess maybe that says something about the calibre of both the Canadian Football League and the referees that are working this year. Good move by the CFL and good job so far this year to the guys in the striped shirts.

To Dome Or Not To Dome

To Dome or not to Dome has become the question for all Saskatchewan residents and everyone has an opinion on it.
A better question might be, where should this new dome be built. Should it be Regina, the traditional home of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders or should it be Saskatoon, the hub city of the province and central to almost every direction.
First the question of whether a stadium will even be built.
"Today's announcement is an exciting one for the City of Regina, for the Province of Saskatchewan, but make no mistake about it — no decisions have been made on a new facility," Saskatchewan Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff stated at the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza.
"We have to do the study. We have to examine all aspects. We have to know every facet of what we're talking about. We recognize that Mosaic Stadium is nearing its 100th birthday and has served us well, but something needs to be done.''
The price tag for this, an estimated 350 million dollars on the backs of Saskatchewan taxpayers drawing this comment from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"They're trying to say that there's not going to be any provincial taxpayers dollars going into this. Well, definitely there's going to have to be heavy Crown involvement if this partnership with Sask Gaming is true," said Lee Harding, the federation's Saskatchewan director.
"There's definitely a heavy, if not a provincial taxpayer component, then certainly a huge commitment from government run enterprises."
Then there is the question of where to build the new stadium. Callers to call shows and emails from Regina were quick to point out that the Riders have been in their city for a hundred years, that Saskatoon already has the University and the Children's
Hospital and so rightly the Riders belong to Regina.
But do they and do not the Saskatchewan Rough Riders claim to be a provincial team? If so would it not be more sensible
to build this new stadium in the center of the province with easy access to many cities instead of just a few. Loyal fans come from as far away as Prince Albert, North Battleford, and one gentleman even claimed for years he had been making the trek down for every game from as far away as Meadow Lake.
It would be one thing to remain in Regina if they were adding on to the present Mosaic Stadium but if a brand new stadium is being constructed than Saskatoon just makes more sense.
And anyway the name Saskatoon SkyDome or Saskatoon SuperDome sounds much better than Regina Retractable Roof Place.

How's That Again ?

Comment from Saskatchewan Rough Riders head coach Ken Miller

"The disparity in the score does not reflect the difference in the two teams"

I had to go back and check the score again and sure enough it was Montreal 43 Saskatchewan 10
Now if that doesn't reflect the difference between the two teams, I am left wondering what does?

Is it the fumbles, the interceptions, the turnovers? Is it the Rider defense that had to stay out on the field for almost three quarters of the game? Is it an offense that couldn't move even when the defense got them the ball several times?
Is it the lack of quarterbacking that failed to move the offense? Is it poor Steven Jyles who got to come into the game in a
garbage cleanup role when their was no chance of coming back?

To me the score 43 - 10 accurately reflected the difference in the two teams. Montreal has a championship quality team, the Riders, without an experienced quarterback are far from that.
Kent Austin brought hard nosed, no excuse, no reason to accept mediocrity football to Saskatchewan and the result was a
Grey Cup championship. The Danny Barrett era featured lots of losses and lots of excuses for every loss.
Hopefully we are not headed back to that.

A final comment - the fans, hopefully few in number, who booed Anthony Cavillo after he tied Ron Lancaster's record are
in a word, classless.

Riders: The Wheels Came Off The Bus

Theres an old joke that goes something along the line of.
Did you hear the two loud thumps in the night last night? The first one was half the Rider fans jumping off the bandwagon and the second one was the other half of the Rider fans coming back down to earth.
The Montreal Alouettes certainly brought the Riders back down to earth with a 43 - 10 drubbing. Media types around these parts had called this game a test for the Riders to see how they really rated after a fast 2 - 0 win loss start. Well if that was a test, the result would be a failing grade.
Saskatchewan managed just 149 yards of offence behind starting quarterback Darian Durant, who was pulled midway through the fourth quarter for Steven Jyles, and scored all of their eight first-half points off three Montreal turnovers.
The Roughriders proved to be their own worst enemy with six turnovers, including four in the first half.
The post game show on the radio brought about the usual calls. Where's Casey Printers? Ryan Dinwaddie, Kevin Glenn, how about Kent Austin back in uniform?
Theres no doubt the Riders need an experienced quarterback. Despite now being 6 - 1 as a starter (over two seasons) Durant just doesn't possess the poise that a team needs to win a championship. Hang on to the guy. Don't let him get away but get an experienced back up to come in and do the job when he struggles. Five quarterbacks on the roster. None with any great amount of experience.
Speaking of Kevin Glenn, wasn't it nice to see him lead the Hamilton Tiger Cats to a 25 - 13 win over Winnipeg. With Mike Kelly as the Bombers coach, it won't take long for the Bombers to become the most disliked team in the CFL.
Elsewhere British Columbia Lions and Calgary Stampeders returned to normal.
The Lions whipped the Edmonton (where has the defense gone) Eskimos 40 - 22 while the Stampeders demolished another ex Rider quarterback with a 44 - 9 beating of Kerry Joseph and the Toronto Argonauts.
So after three weeks Riders sit atop the Western Division standings and play host to Edmonton next week. That really is a must win for the Eskimos if they want to keep pace in the Division and the Riders need a win to prove their first two games were not just flukes.

A Taste Of Insanity

Crowds, people everywhere and long lineups. That was A Taste of Saskatchewan tonight.
I think everybody decided to take advantage of the beautiful and hot day and get out tonight.
Pretty good food but if you don't like waiting in line, then its not the place to be.
Some of the booths weren't to bad for lineups but the token booths were long.

Let The Bleeding Hearts Begin For A Good Kid

The city of Saskatoon has been plagued in recent weeks with a series of crimes relating to knife wielding suspects attacking innocent people.
Remember one man was walking home from work and was attacked and hospitalized. Another man sitting at a red light was dragged from his car and beaten with bottles.
Now two girls are approached by a person with a knife. This time the police intervene and what is the result!
Police Dog Too Rough: Suspect's Mom
You could have predicted that. Now we hear the suspect who was roughed up by the police dog doing his job was only
fourteen, he was just a kid, he wouldn't have hurt anyone. In fact he is wait for it A good kid in the words of his mother.
Even though a 14-year-old suspect was allegedly armed with a knife and resisting arrest, his mom is angry that Saskatoon Police let their dog get so rough.
The woman and teen's names can't be released since it would identify the underage suspect.
But the Saskatoon mother says that even though she can't argue with her son being arrested if he was breaking the law, she's concerned about the amount of force used.She tells The StarPhoenix that her son needed 160 stitches after a police dog took him down at about 3:15 Wednesday morning.
So what is a good kid doing out at 3:15 am, why is a good kid carrying a knife out at 3:15 am, why is a good kid following girls and waving a knife at them at 3:15 am, and finally why does a good kid run away from police at 3:15 am when police attempt to apprehend him.
Oh and by the way is the knife any less deadly when its in the hands of a fourteen year old or a thirty year old.
Age is not a factor in this incident. It was a suspect, male with a knife
Saskatoon has seen to many knife attacks lately. The police stopped this one. Its too bad the good kid was injured but the
police did their job and the police dog did his job as well.
Maybe the result will be less knife attacks in this city and Saskatonians actually feeling safe on their streets.
Let the bleeding hearts begin.

Visa: Don't Leave Home Without It

"We're not talking about the kinds of people that are living in UN refugee camps by the millions who are victims of war and state-sponsored persecution," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says.
"It's an insult to the important concept of refugee protection to allow it be systematically violated by people who are overwhelmingly economic immigrants."
Kenney defended the imposition of new visa requirements on Mexican and Czech citizens Tuesday in a bid to stem a surge in refugee claims by visitors from those countries.
Immigration experts said demanding visas from all Mexicans and Czechs entering the country is not the answer because it lumps fraudulent claims with legitimate ones.
The NDP called on the government to review the decision and at least delay any change until after the summer tourist season.
“This couldn’t have come at a worse time, at the very height of the tourism season,” said New Democrat Tourism Critic Bruce Hyer. “More than 200,000 Mexican tourists visited Canada last year, but now many planning to visit Canada will have to cancel their bookings”
Isn't it funny how most people are in agreement with Jason Kenney's move and support it except ofcourse the NDP. I suppose its part of Canadian politics where the opposition disagrees with anything and everything the Government does or could it
be, the NDP counts on these "illegals" for votes?

Spying scout simply overzealous: Blue Bombers

Its a word that we have heard before in Saskatchewan. Winnipeg Blue Bombers president Lyle Bauer has condemned the actions of the scout accused of spying on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and said he was not representing the Winnipeg team.
Bauer called the actions of the scout "overzealous" bringing back memories to Saskatchewan folk of the Dwain Lingenfelter leadership campaign and the work of one
"overzealous" volunteer who managed to sign up thousands of phony memberships.
Bauer told reporters Wednesday that the scout, Ron Trentini, was not asked to take notes on Hamilton's formations at practice.
"It should be noted that the [Blue Bombers] did not engage the services of this individual who attended an open practice for said purposes, nor do we condone any such actions," Bauer said in a statement.
“It’s totally unethical,” said Hamilton general manager Bob O’Billovich. “It blows my mind that the guy would be dumb enough to walk into our stadium and take notes and think he wouldn’t be recognized.
Ross Hodgkinson, the Bombers director of football operations, confirmed that Trentini did scouting work for the Bombers but said that Trentini did not have instructions to spy.
“He took upon himself, without any specific direction as to what was appropriate or not appropriate, to attend what was an open practice with the belief that what he was doing was acceptable and somewhat innocent,” Hodgkinson said. “Obviously, that’s not the case and obviously that’s not something we condone or solicit. We apologized to Hamilton and we’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”
Meanwhile Bomber coach Mike Kelly, never one to sugar coat words, engaged in a spirited debate with members of the media pushing for the coach's reaction and Kelly refusing to comment saying it was an internal matter and it was now finished.
The Tiger-Cats (1-1) host the Blue Bombers (1-1) on Saturday night

The Shawinigan Handshake

Former Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chretien, a.k.a. "The Little Guy from Shawinigan" was appointed to the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II. This award places him among the inclusive ranks of Albert Schweitzer, Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela.

Jean Chretien was Prime Minister of Canada from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003, and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1990 to 2003.

The Merit of Order is bestowed by the British Monarch. The Award was established in 1902 by King Edward VII as a personal award for military service, art, literature, science or the promotion of culture. The award is considered a personal gift from the Monarch and does not require ministerial advice.

The Royal website states that the award is restricted to 24 members as well as additional foreign dignitaries.
Whether you like Chretien or not and whether or not you think he deserves to be ranked along side of Mother Theresa and others, one think is undeniable.
Chretien loves Canada, stood for Canada, fought for Canada and left no doubt he was
Canadian. The award? Good for him and good for Canada.

'A prime minister has a unique duty to preserve the integrity of the office. It is not about power. It is about responsibility.'—Jean Chrétien

A River Runs Through It

I shot these pictures on my way to North Battleford this morning. A torrential overnight down pour near Maymont caused flooding over the highway re-routing traffic both ways on Highway #16.
My pictures shot from a cell phone do not really give an indication of the massive water that was out there but on the east bound lane the water was right up over the highway. The highways department would not let me get out of the truck to take pictures but along the side of the highway there were uprooted tree trunks, logs and debris. A massive force is Mother Nature.

Fido Off Air Canada's No Fly List

Air Canada travellers who fret over leaving Fifi at home when they fly can relax, the airline is once again allowing furry companions in its cabins.
The airline announced that travellers can bring their cats or small dogs on the plane with them starting July 1 for a fee of $100 for domestic return flights and $200 for an overseas trip.
Passengers are asked to register their pets in advance, as a maximum of two animals are allowed on the smaller Jazz planes, with four allowed on the larger Air Canada flights.
The company has changed its policies on pets several times. In September 2006, the airline said it would no longer allow pets in the cabin due to allergy concerns.
Nine months later, the company said it wouldn't accept pets in the cargo hold either due to the need for more space for luggage.
Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the reversal is part of a "renewed commitment to the customer" on the part of new president and CEO Calin Rovinescu.

A DOG’S PRAYER

Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in the world is more grateful for kindness than my loving heart.
Do not break my spirit with a stick for though I would lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.
When it is cold and wet please take me inside for I am now a domestic animal no longer used to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though you had no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water for, although I would not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I may stay well to romp and play and do your biding, walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should yours be in danger.
And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to take my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather, hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest… and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was ever safe in your hands

Hero - Is The Bar Too Low ?

Dictionary definition of hero
MYTH., LEGEND a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped after his death
any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, or exploits, esp. in war
any person, esp. a man, admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model
the central male character in a novel, play, poem, etc., with whom the reader or audience is supposed to sympathize
the central figure in any important event or period, honored for outstanding qualities

The word hero has been used a lot this week. We have heard Michael Jackson proclaimed by fans and media alike as a hero.
A now, Steve McNair, a retired quarterback shot to death last week, is being assailed with the same title. A hero and more.
Is it a title we use too loosely? Is it a term that we seem ready to hang on anybody as we usually remember them in death.
Are Michael Jackson and Steve McNair heroes or are they just people that were exceptionally good at the work they did and thus rose to national prominence?
Michael Jackson, undoubtably is a pop music icon, a entertainment superstar who some hail as the best of all time.
But is he a hero? Michael Jackson, being human, had his failings. Drugs, unsubstantiated charges and rumors all take the shine off the hero image.
Steve McNair, an excellent quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, who at his funeral was almost portrayed as a saint. Stories were told, the most popular being the one when McNair took a crushing blow to the chest and had to leave the game having trouble breathing. His back up came in and was injured on the first play. McNair returned to the game and immediately led the Titans to a touchdown. Courageous no doubt. But a hero? Isn't that what these people are paid millions to do?
Overlooked is McNair's off the field life. Shot to death by a mistress, apparently jealous that he had supposedly found another mistress despite still being married with children. Incidentally the oldest child a seventeen year old while the mistress was not much older at age twenty.
Is this all part of the culture of professional sports? Wives look the other way while their star husband has a girl wherever he can find one and sometimes more than one. Stories are rampant in the National Basketball League about players who have numerous children with more than one mother.
Thousands attended McNair's funeral where they heard.
Mississippi lost a huge legend," McNair coach Cardell Jones at Alcorn State commented. "He was a role model both inside and outside the field because he had a tireless heart which never stopped helping people and giving it all."
A role model ? A hero ? Not the first accolades that jump to mind when you discuss a man with perhaps more than one mistress.
Steve McNair’s pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.
Drop your stone the next time you write about Steve McNair. Drop your stone the next time you text somebody. Drop your stone the next time you twitter. Drop your stone, those of you in the barbershops, the beauty shops. Those of you walking the streets on the corner, drop your stone,” Bishop Joseph W. Walker III told thousands of people, among them family members, fans and more than 50 former teammates, gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church.“What I do know about this man was that he loved God though he was just like us: imperfect,” Walked said. “But he knew God.”
Perhaps the Pastor is right. He was imperfect. Michael Jackson was imperfect. In fact we all are imperfect.
But a hero ? There are many brave men and women who have laid down their lives in war for the freedom that we enjoy today, many brave men and women who have died in their line of work protecting us, notably police officers and firefighters. I'll reserve the title "hero" for those who lost so much and gave so much for us.
For them the bar can never be too low.

CFL Thoughts - Week Two

I received an email tonight that was titled CFL SEASON ENDS - START PLAYOFFS NOW !
The reasoning was, said the writer, that if they ended the season now and started the playoffs an eastern team would be the cross over team coming to the West and the British Columbia Lions and the Calgary Stampeders would both be out and watching from the sidelines.
As appealing as it would be to have Smiling Henry Burris and frowning Wally Buono sitting out, well its just not going to happen.
But some thoughts from week two.
The biggest surprise? Who would have predicted that the Stampeders would be 0 - 2 prompting Coach John Hufnagel to state the obvious. "We're not a very good football team right now" Or how about the Lions also at 0 - 2. Or even the Hamilton Tigers Cats managing a win and a 1 - 1 record. The last couple of years the season has almost been over before the Tiger Cats got into the win column. And who would have expected the Montreal Alouettes to lay a 50 - 16 beating on the Edmonton Eskimos on their way to 90 points in their first two games.
The stars of the week - Quarterback Quinton Porter in the win over the BC Lions.Porter, sacked 10 times in a 30-point loss here last year, threw for 222 yards and what proved to be the winning touchdown without an interception.
He also ran for 55 more and a second major in a 31-28 CFL victory over the stumbling B.C. Lions.
"You're starting to see him mature and progress and he'll be the first to tell you he probably left a few more plays on the field," said coach Marcel Bellefeuille.
Terrence Edwards in the Blue Bombers win over Calgary
"They can doubt us all they want," said Edwards, who had a pair of touchdown catches of eight and 12 yards in Winnipeg's first win of the season. "What matters is we don't doubt each other in this locker-room.
Pick almost anyone as the star of the Montreal Alouettes clobbering of Edmonton. Montreal has demonstrated a potent offense combined with what always has been a pretty good defense.
And the Saskatchewan Rough Riders closed the week out with a 46 - 36 win over the Toronto Argonauts making quarterback Darian Durant 6 - 0 as a starter.
There's a long way to go and next week the Riders will really be tested as they host Montreal. How good is the Rider defense?
Next week against a team that has scored 90 points in two games we will have a pretty good idea.
As for that email - well I wouldn't count on either Henry Burris or Wally Buona missing the playoffs anytime soon.

Oh Henry, You're 0 - 2

We’re not a very good football team right now, and I think everyone in the CFL understands that,” said Stamps coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “And I made sure everyone in that locker-room understood that, if they didn’t already. That means that we need to work hard and do what we need to do to get better. Real quick.”
Poor execution. Poor discipline. Sloppy ball-handling. All played a role Friday night, and it added up to a disastrous night that stretched Calgary’s losing streak in Winnipeg to four years and counting.

Winnipeg 42 Calgary 30
“I mean, it was ugly,” said Stamps quarterback Henry Burris, who was picked off three times. “From start to finish. There’s not really too much I can say was good in that game. They did what they needed to do and we sure didn’t do what we needed to do.”
Three interceptions by Henry. The Stampeders losing again and standing at 0 - 2. And to top it off last night Montreal blasting Edmonton 50 - 16.

Oh Henry, does it get any better than that.

Would You Like Fries With That?

FRIBOURG, Switzerland - Swiss police said they are investigating a 7-year-old girl's discovery of a condom in her McDonald's Happy Meal.

Fribourg state police said the mother called them after the girl discovered the condom among her French fries.

Police said Monday they were investigating where the condom came from and how it got into the Happy Meal. They said an analysis was being done to determine if the condom posed a health risk.

Can I supersize that for you?

Do you need a Happy Meal?

Stopped at the local Tim Hortons drive through this morning to place my order for a breakfast sandwich. When asked, I told the nice young girl that I would like a breakfast sandwich with bacon and cheese. I got my order, pulled away, and then opened it to find that I had received a breakfast sandwich with bacon and cheese but there was no egg.
Back through the drive through I went, into the long line, to sit and wait. Trying to explain what happened over those stupid speaker things was a nightmare so after several futile attempts, I just drove ahead to the window where a real person was.
I told the girl my breakfast sandwich had bacon and cheese but no egg. She rather haughtily told me, I needed to be more specific. If I had wanted egg, I should have said that. Well Ok, said I, I have ordered these before and always the same way and always got an egg. Well she said, she didn't know about that.
So I asked well what would have happened if I had ordered just a breakfast sandwich, if thats all I had said, would I just have gotten two biscuit halves stuck together without anything in between. I wouldn't know she said hottily and handed me the sandwich. I drove away thinking IF I ever come back, I must be more specific.
Speaking of drive through restaurants, heres a couple of interesting news items.
It’s safe to assume Joseph Henry Devalle didn’t order a Happy Meal.
The Golden Gate Estates man’s trip through a McDonald’s restaurant drive-through in North Naples began with an argument over his order and ended with his arrest after police found him at home with a drive-through attendant’s shirt.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office gives this account:
Sheriff’s deputies responded early Saturday to the McDonald’s restaurant 11145 U.S. 41 North, and heard a complaint from a male employee, who was not named in the police report.
The employee took Devalle’s order at the drive-through, but Devalle, 37, complained it was incorrect. The employee repeated the order, but Devalle then took issue with the dollar amount. The argument escalated, and when Devalle pulled up to the drive-through window, the employee refused him service.
Eventually the employee put his arm in front of his face to indicate he wasn’t going to serve Devalle, but Devalle hit it out of the way. The employee then punched Devalle in the face.
Devalle responded by reaching into the drive-through window and trying to pull the employee outside. As Devalle continued to pull, he tore off the employee’s shirt. Devalle took the shirt and sped away in a green Honda. The employee got the car’s license plate number and called police.
Deputies went to Devalle’s residence, 374 Burnt Pine Drive, and found him with the employee’s shirt in tow. Devalle gave substantially the same account as the McDonald’s employee, but kept repeating that he was punched in the face.
Devalle was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery because he was the aggressor, police said.
Angry Wendy's customer punches out drive-thru window
A customer at a Fort Myers Wendy's was arrested after he punched a drive-through window, reports the Fort Myers News-Press.
The customer walked into the fast food restaurant yelling and screaming about poor service after pulling out of the drive through.
So an employee handed him a 1-800 number if he wanted to file a complaint.
That's when the customer walked out of the restaurant and toward the drive-through window, punching through it.
When deputies found him, he told them “Yeah, I hear you are looking for me, all I did was break a window.”
Another guy who obviously needs a happy meal.
And last but not leastIn Fribourg, Switzerland, a 7-year-old McDonald's costumer got the remainder of someone else's Happy Meal in hers.
According to authorities the girl discovered a condom among her French fries.
The incident is under investigation and an analysis is underway to determine whether or not it poses a health risk.
The condom, that is.
And as for me, well a bowl of Shreddies at home is starting to look pretty good.

Good Mourning Edmonton

"From start to finish we didn't play as well as we're capable of playing, and after a while we sucked out there," said Eskimos head coach Richie Hall.

"That's not us. We got our butts kicked."
You can steal away the best of the Saskatchewan Rough Rider defensive players, lure away the coach, stick them all in Edmonton Eskimos sweaters, but you know what, there not the same Saskatchewan Rough Riders.

Edmonton Eskimos defense, built mainly from free agent Saskatchewan Rough Riders, a gift trade - Kitwana Jones for well nothing, and the Riders defensive coach, promoted to head coach, was supposed to be their strong point.

Someone forgot to tell the Montreal Alouettes.

Montreal 50 Edmonton 16
"What happens against good teams is if you don't take care of business early, it comes back to haunt you," Hall said. "That's what happened. We hung in there, we thought we were good at halftime, then we had some chances to do some things and we didn't."
Fact of the matter is Ritchie, you didn't look that good against Winnipeg either with a 19 - 17 win that the Bombers could of won.
31 Montreal points in the fourth quarter makes you wonder were the Eskimos awake, did they quit? What the hell happened here?
Back to the drawing board and Good Mourning Edmonton.

In His Own Image

Reading eastern newspapers, as I am prone to do, watching TSN or CBC and following websites that cover hockey one thing is clear. Brian Burke is being touted as "the Messiah, the Saviour, of a franchise that has been in hockey's wilderness for 42 years. From the glory years of Keon, Mahovolich, Bower, Baun and others its been four decades since the Leafs hoisted the Stanley Cup.
And like him or hate him, Burke is building a team "in his own image, a team that may bear some resemblance to the Anaheim Ugly Ducks who led the league in almost every bad boy category in 2007 and then raised the Stanley Cup.
Leaf fans are confident that history will repeat itself but the question is how long will it take?
Reading Maple Leaf fan comments its now and its going to happen this year, but the always quoteable Burke may not share that dream quite yet.
I don't know if we're good enough to make the playoffs yet. That's our goal and I think we're a lot closer than we were five days ago and we'll keep trying to improve the club."
Toronto has added defencemen Mike Komisarek from Montreal, Francious Beauchemin from Anaheim and Garnet Exelby from Atlanta, forwards Colton Orr from the Rangers and Colin Stuart from the Thrashers and, yesterday, goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.
Toughness added to be sure but when Burke won with the Ducks there were plenty of skilled players to provide balance with the tough guys.
Goaltending for the Leafs has to be a huge question mark.
While Burke made it clear that Toskala will enter training camp as No. 1, the fact that Gustavsson will have a chance to snatch the position away from the Finn likely was a factor in Gustavsson deciding on Toronto over Dallas, San Jose and Colorado. In other words is the Leafs present goaltending so bad an untested rookie easily can become number one?
Whether or not the Leafs capture the Stanley Cup in 2010 the colorful Burke always provides some great quotes and is a media mans dream for an interview.
Some of my favourites follow:
Sometimes (Mikhail) Grabovski spent more time on the ice than the Zamboni. These (forwards) were getting knocked down and picking their teeth out of the glass all year. Let's see how they do with a little toughness around," he said."Our goal is to make the playoffs next year, we're going to have to make some changes to do it. We're going to be a different team.'
"I like a lot of hitting. I like a lot of fighting. We have a passive group. All year long, when a trainer was on the ice - it was always our trainer- that really bothered me.
"It will be a more hostile group in the fall."
The biggest thing we've done (is create) competition here for the first time in a long time," Burke said yesterday of his work the past week. "If you are coming to training camp and your only concern is where you're going to sit on the bus or who your roommate is going to be, you are not going to get the level of push you need to excel.
"Part of the problem here has been this entitlement that players feel. We need job security issues and I think we've got those now."
You need some knuckles on the blue line, too, some five-minute majors. I think with the changes we've made, there's some bite there, there's some size there."
If we tampered, we're pretty poor at it because those two kids are still sitting in Vancouver."

Few controls on items confiscated from passengers: report

Why do West Jet employees, or owners as they like to call themselves, look so happy, smile a lot and tell all those whacky jokes?
We may have found the secret.
There are "many airport sites where alcohol is apparently being disposed of by service providers without a witness present and without any form of record of documents maintained," according to the report by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CAT)
"Questionable or non-existent" documentation or controls at most airports undermine the "public expectation that any item that is surrendered, abandoned or forfeited at screening checkpoints is actually being disposed of and not converted to the use of others."The review also notes that in cases where screening officers do pour confiscated alcohol down the drain, "some sites utilize bottle recycling to raise funds for the screening officer's local coffee fund."There are "very few basic controls in place" and "considerable inconsistency" for the handling and disposing of items confiscated from passengers at airport checkpoints across the country, the federal agency charged with aviation security admits in a confidential report.
So the next time your flight attendant appears just a little too happy and those crazy jokes may be just a little too frequent, well it may be that little bit of booze you were failed to get home.The report, completed a year after CATSA determined it needed to "take ownership of the issue," notes that Transport Canada has "no plans" to bring in regulations to address the issue and the existing legislation is "silent" on the disposal of confiscated objects except for dangerous goods.
Some examples
On a West Jet Flight with a very “senior” flight attendant crew, the pilot said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants.
”Heard on West Jet Airlines just after a very hard landing in Edmonton; The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, “That was quite a bump, and I know what y’all are thinking. I’m here to tell you it wasn’t the airline’s fault, it wasn’t the pilot’s fault, it wasn’t the flight attendant’s fault, it was the asphalt.”

A plane was taking off from the Winnipeg airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from Winnipeg to Montreal. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax.. OH, MY GOD!”
Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee on my lap. You should see the front of my pants!” A passenger yelled: “That’s nothing. You should see the back of mine!”

Goodbye Buffalo Days, Hello Queen City Ex

Brad Trost is horrified. Diane Ablonczy, as Minister of Balloons and Parades, is probably looking to see if she has a few spare millions in her budget or if she is left with any budget at all to fund this new venture.
Times change, and so is Regina's yearly exhibition.
Buffalo days will be no more, at least, not in name.
The multi-day event is being re-branded as the Queen City Ex.
Federal Tourism Minister Diane Ablonczy has given up responsibility for overseeing a major stimulus fund that sparked controversy in Conservative Party ranks after it gave $400,000 to a Toronto gay pride celebration in mid-June.
Conservative MP Brad Trost, a critic of the Pride Week grant, is suggesting that the Harper government stripped Ms. Ablonczy of responsibility for the fund as a punishment.
Meanwhile no word out of Regina, as yet, on how they will market this new Queen City
Ex but officials are quick to point out that it is not connected to Gay Pride.
And no word as to whether Brad Trost will be honorary parade marshall