10 Pet Peeves

Posted by jimjim on January 23, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

1. Religion is not an absolute…and no dinoaurs did NOT live alongside humans.

2. Justin Bieber is not a joke…no matter the style of music, it takes guts to stand in front on thousands and sing. Do you have the balls to do what he does?…Didn’t think so.

3. Don’t spend on credit and then cry later about not having money.

4. If you think you are always cut off when driving, chances are you were driving to fast in the first place.

5. Don’t expect the govt. to take care of your children. Be less selfish and there won’t be a need for $7.00 a day daycare.

6. Can TSN stop cracking the jokes and just give sports news?

7. Fuck branding! I want Pulse not CTV news.

8. Can Quebec please stop embarassing itself? Unilingual coach…so?

9. Can people stop losing perspective over kids? They are humans not ultra weak idiots.

10. The politics of lying by conservatives….it works…but these are supposed to be god fearing Christian folk. They are all going straight to hell….if you believe in that sort of thing.

But what do I know, I’m just a bus driver.

Jimjim

Chapter 13: My review of CJAD..Montreal’s news talk station.

Posted by jimjim on November 27, 2011
Posted in: Media. Leave a Comment

I grew up listening to, CJAD thoroughly enjoying the likes of George Balkan, Gord Sinclair,  Earl Halderman,  Ed Cowell and Ted Blackman among others. So,  I should have a soft spot for CJAD.

Talk radio is about personality more than  it is about content. It is necessary to get people to listen so that content could have a chance to be heard, the way to do that is to get people interested in the announcers first.

My day with CJAD begins with Andrew Peplowski and Trudie Mason on their Live at 5  show. These two have a nice chemistry going as they read the newspaper together. That’s pretty much the entire 30 minute segment. They read news from Breakingnews.com and then they read the news from the newspaper. But it is informative and gives a decent overview of what the Montreal papers (and Globe and Mail) have to offer.  All in all, not a bad half hour. (B)

Andrew Carter delivers what a morning show should deliver in that it serves up light, entertaining news and information to start your day. Funny, he is,  and he is well suited to the role of morning man.  Nothing bad to say about him. (B)

Tommy Shnurmacher could have been a one trick pony when he started, as he was all about the language  debate and the separatists, but he has emerged as the star the station. No one trick pony, this one, but a burning cauldron of wit and sarcasm that makes him and entertaining listen. I don’t always agree with him,  but I don’t have to.  His show begins at 9am with the gang of four, a group of the station’s personalities discussing the day’s hot topics.  Egbert Gaye is the weak spot of the 30 segment.  His  “systemic racism” ideology makes him a the one trick pony that Schnurmacher could have been.  He just can ‘t defend his opinions well and is often mocked by the other 3 members of the gang of four for it. Graeme Decarie was well suited for the tussles with Schnurmacher but, for some reason, he ain’t there no more. But he was the most intelligent, eloquent of the bunch…maybe thats why he’s gone???  Gang of four (C) Tommy solo (B+)

In all fairness, I don’t care for Ric Peterson’s politics.  So that is what may be clouding my judgment of him. As a broadcaster, he is a true pro but his four o’clock show seemed liked an open audition for fox news (sun news maybe?).  He’s toned down a bit for his 12 o’clock show which is a good thing.  Maybe Suzanne Desautels has been a calming influence on him? I don’t care for his politics at all but, like Schnurmacher’s politics,  I don’t have to.  A little less venom from him is nice, but stop with the open audition for ultra right wing nonsense….and a big yay for the return of Suzanne Desautels to Montreal radio. Peterson solo (C) Peterson and Desautels (B-)

Thank goodness for Aaron Rand! Rand has been able to trade music for talk and he also manages a bit of toughness into his show. His interviews are lively and he is the best thing to happen to the station since Balcan came back from CFCF. (A)

As for the other stuff….

  • It is highly annoying that their Weather Center is nothing more than the Environment Canada Website.
  • Can they possibly say CJAD any more than they do? Is there a contest there to see how many times they can say it? Stop it, already!
  • Their news broadcast center????  Please, a little more honesty.
  • Sports segments are a joke, 2 minutes of commercials within the 5 minute segment. What a waste of Farber time..the guy has 30 seconds to spout his wisdom….please Farber,  TSN 990 is more suited to your immense talents.
  • Their trivia show is most entertaining. Laxer and Fisher have great chemistry.
  • I miss Dan Laxer during the weekdays….ditto for Kevin Holden
  • What’s with the fascination towards children? It seems to occupy their every waking moment.
  • Their sound bites from their newscasts are infuriatingtly small! I don’t know what their interviewees are saying!
  • Coast to coast is just plain sad.  This show just doesn’t have any credibility. The few times credible people are there doesn’t make up for all the nonsense in between.

All in all, CJAD isn’t terrible but it isn’t what it once was either. Their credibility takes a hit whenever their psychics are on air. They are capable of being so much more. Instead they went the right wing, confrontational way…filled by crackpot shows (coast to coast) and psychics and Harper worshippers. Their saving grace lies in their on air personalities. (B-)

(I have not listened to the Barry Morgan show  enough in order to give it a fair review)

But what do I know, I’m just a bus driver.

Great video: Earth flyover from the ISS

Posted by jimjim on November 16, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a Comment

Reblogged from Why Evolution Is True:

Several readers sent me this: it’s a series of time-lapse photos, made into a video, taken from the International Space Station from August to October of this year.  Kudos to Michael König, who put the video into hi-def format and edited it for smoothness.

Take five minutes and look at our pale blue dot from about 200 miles above.

Read more… 350 more words

fascinating stuff!

Chapter 12…Long Ago But Never Really Far Away

Posted by jimjim on November 16, 2011
Posted in: Memories. 1 comment

I can still remember the long walk home from school. In my mind, I’m still climbing that little hill beside the sidewalk on Villeray street as I headed towards home. I remember passing by the little casse-croute that used to serve the greasiest french fries I’ve ever tasted. I’d walk along to Bruno Depanneur where, if I was lucky to have money,  I’d buy me a pack of hockey cards for 8 cents and hoped to get a Ken Dryden card. I’d keep going along Villeray and pass by the nasty old curmudgeon of an old man who despised kids. I’d walk alongside the park where I’d play tennis against the wall and  then hockey on weekends where I’d be the goalie because I was the smallest one there. I’d turn up on my street and head to the apartment where I lived. I would head up the stairs past my cousin’s downstairs apartment and continue towards mine. Mom would be there, glad to see me as always and usually with some tea and cookies waiting for me. I’d sit and watch Happy Days on TV and then do homework before supper.

I had many great teachers during my younger days and a few terrible ones. But the good ones are the ones I reflect fondly on.  Miss Diane in grade one, who I thought liked me more than all the rest. At the end of the year she gave me a book called “My first Puppy” and I still have it.  She encouraged me to read and to be confident in my abilities. There was Miss Flood in grade four who was full of vigor and brought great fun to the classroom.  There was Mr. Guttilla in grade seven who had the unenviable task of teaching religion to this young atheist but who always had time for me and my musings.

Then there was Mr. Mcdonald, a kind, gentle, and well spoken man who had teaching in his soul. Not just a teacher but a man who always had time for me when most adults in my life at that time were giving me grief.  He listened, he cared and just by doing that, he had such an impact on me.

Sometimes, I wish that these teachers were still there for me when I have doubts about things but such is life.

I recall the smell of an autumn day, just before some raindrops would fall. Funny what we remember isn’t it?

I don’t remember thinking then that I would eventually hold on to what was happening all those years ago. It all seemed so unimportant to a young boy walking home from school and hoping to drink some tea and have some cookies and get a hug from mom.

Tonight,  I think I’ll take that book titled “My First Puppy” given to me by a teacher who cared and read it to my kids before bedtime and wonder what they will remember when they’re older.

jimjim

Chapter 11…But I Want An NHL Team In Quebec…Really

Posted by jimjim on November 14, 2011
Posted in: Economics, Sports. Leave a Comment

It would be wonderful for the NHL to return to Quebec City. Its a hockey city with knowledgeable fans who are passionate about the sport they love. It would bring back the thrilling rivalry Between Quebec City and Montreal and that can only benefit hockey fans.

But not at any price.

The Quebec City Mayor, Mr. Labeaume, tells us wonderful things will happen if the taxpayers pay a minimum of 400 million dollars to construct an arena in order to show the NHL that they are serious about attracting a team to the city. He says that the city will benefit from the economic benefits generated by the presence of the NHL in Quebec, that it would give the city prestige and everyone would benefit, not just certain businessmen.

Once again, a politician, is using the words “benefits all” to describe the situation of “benefits few”. There really are two people that will benefit from an influx of taxpayer cash to build an arena. These two are the aforementioned Mayor Labeaume and the other is Quebecor boss, Pierre Karl Peladeau. Mayor Labeaume will win politically but the big winner would be PKP.

PKP would be getting a brand new state of the art arena for free and all he would have to do is buy a team, most likely the Phoenix Coyotes or maybe even the Columbus Blue Jackets. The taxpayers would be on the hook for 400 million dollars (minimum) while roads and bridges crumble, teachers stay underpaid, hospitals continue to work at over capacity, construction is in a mess and taxes are already too high. All this and we are asked to fund the construction of an arena so that a private enterprise can purchase a hockey team and relocate it to Quebec City. If the benefits are so great then PKP can pay for the arena himself since the profits would be so great. The taxpayer has been asked to bail out stupid policies and commissions and ideas for too long. I know that taxes are necessary but they are not necessary for arenas being built to help out already ridiculously wealthy business people attract hockey teams. Does anyone think that PKP would lower ticket prices to “thank” taxpayers for paying for his arena? I didn’t think so.

I really do want a team in Quebec City, I do. But not at any price…and its sad that we will pay for it anyway. Man what dupes taxpayers can be.

But what do I know, I’m just a bus driver.

jimjim

Chapter 10…Kids and Bargaining

Posted by jimjim on October 12, 2011
Posted in: Social Issues. 1 comment

My son worked hard to study for a quiz. The hard work paid off. He was so proud that when I picked him up from school, he was beaming with pride. I, as his father,acted accordingly by giving him a big hug and saying how proud I was of him.

The disconnect from this happy scene happened just after that. A woman said to me that a treat ( a reward) was in my son’s immediate future. When I responded in the negative, she became apoplectic. She could not believe that there was no reward other than a beaming father’s pride at a son’s accomplishment. She said, firmly I might add, that I was being mean to him and that I should show some appreciation by buying him something, it didn’t have to be expensive, but it had to be something. I responded that my son does not yet know the value of money and that a treat no matter how inexpensive it is would still be seen as a treat.

People have bought into the consumer mentality. If a kid does well, buy him something. But it makes the kid value the treat more than the accomplishment. That if he doesn’t get a treat for doing a task well, something is wrong.

I don’t get it. My son does not get treats for finishing supper, cleaning his room, brushing his teeth or any other kind of action that he SUPPOSED to do anyway and a good test result falls into these categories.The pride of accomplishment is the treat, the happiness he felt is the treat and my acknowledgment of his success is the treat. There is no need for further “encouragement” by buying him something. Like somehow something bought will have more value than the feeling of accomplishment.
I’m proud of my son, he is proud of himself and that’s enough for both of us. Otherwise, he would expect a treat for everything he did well. I will not purchase my child’s affection nor will I bribe him to do well.

But what do I know, I’m just a bus driver.

jimjim

Chapter 8: Habs 2011-2012

Posted by jimjim on October 10, 2011
Posted in: Sports. 1 comment

My take on the Montreal Canadiens for the 2011-2012 season..

Goaltending:

Carey PriceCarey Price:

His play last year made him a legitimate member of the Vezina trophy conversation. He should have no trouble continuing his excellent play this year. His game in Toronto was fine although he was tagged with the loss. Expect him to play a minimum of 65 games this year. As Price goes, so do the Canadiens. (A+)

Peter Budaj:

He lost the number one job to Jose Theodore and Colorado was more than happy to let him go as Craig Anderson who replaced Theodore displaced Budaj. He has holes in his game and for a goalie, that’s bad. He could play a max of 20 games but judging from his preseason play, he may get 10-12. Not reassuring. (C)

Defense:

Andrei Markov:

Oft injured Markov should be the general on defense when healthy. I’m thinking that 30 games may be limit this year. I don’t know if he can once again be the number 1 defenseman he once was. Two injuries to the same knee in such quick succession can slow down even the best of players. I hope he can come back to form, but it’s not looking good at the moment. (A-)

P.K. Subban:

Subban should be the general in waiting but he has to assume the rank earlier than expected. His is still a high risk, high reward type player as he has to learn to control his  game and make good decisions.  His two errors of judgment against Toronto were the difference and he’s smart enough to know it. His talent in undeniable and he is already a star in the NHL. He is exciting to watch and he could only get better. (A)

 

Josh Gorges:

A born leader who is also fearless and courageous. He is a 3 or 4 defenseman, can kill penalties well and makes good decision with the puck. He has an uncanny ability to bounce back from a hard check. (B+)

 

 

Hal Gill:

PK’s mentor and all around great team guy. His value is on the penalty kill and during the playoffs. A gentle giant of sorts, he is a great teacher to Subban. Teams need guys like him and I’m happy he’s a hab. (B-)+

 

 

 

Yannick Weber:

In the process of playing himself off the team until Spacek got hurt. A defenceman relegated to 4th line forward is not usually a good thing. He has a great shot but that’s all he seems to have. He may be in danger to losing his spot…a spot he was all but guaranteed at the start of training camp. His PP goal against Winnipeg has bought him some time (C)

 

 

Chris Campoli:

He came as advertised…injury prone. I like him and his style of play but at his age and physical troubles, can he really be a valuable asset? The jury is out on him, we’ll just have to wait and see. (-)

 

 

Raphael Diaz:

Has shown good things when he has played. The best defenseman by far in Switzerland, he still needs to learn the north american game, but he has huge upside and has already supplanted Weber on the depth chart. (B-)

 

 

Alexi Emelin:

The biggest news on him this year was that they took the (Y) out of his name. He plays a physical style which is a welcome change to the physical-less habs of recent years. Has the potential to be a good 3-4 man. His problem may be between the years sort of like a certain Andrei Kostitsyn. (B-)

 

 

Jaroslav Spacek:

Brought in to help the power play, he doesn’t get to play on it. He is one year older and had slowed down a step. He may be in better shape but he is now a 4-5 at best. Can still help the team but this is surely his last year with the team. (C)

 

 

Forwards:

Tomas Plekanec:

The smartest forward on this team, he can do it all. That may be his problem as Jacques Martin uses him too much. Near the end of the season he is too tired to make that much of a difference and he’s non-existant, at least by his standards, during the playoffs. This is no fault of his own, the blame lies on the shoulders of Jacques Martin. I like his use as point man on the PP, lets hope the coach sticks with the expiriment for a few games at least (A)

 

Michael Cammelleri:

A pure goal scorer who has the image of a selfish player. I want goal scorers to be selfish because they tend to shoot first and ask questions later, something that habs players have lacked recently. (A-)

 

 

Eric Cole:

At least he won’t haunt the habs for a while!  What the team needed it got in Cole. He is a straight to the net kind of player and his presence gives the Canadiens a chance at 3 good lines. A very good pickup (B+)

 

Andrei Kostitsyn:

He can break the game open but his problem is the mental fog that won’t clear out of his head. A player t hat will do better elsewhere because he just won’t do it here.  So much talent,  if only he applied himself more, he could be a star in this league. (C)

 

 

 

David Desharnais:

I must admit that I have a appreciation of all that he has accomplished. I feel that his talents are being wasted on the third line and when Eller comes back,  the fourth line.  He is stuck behind Gomez as is Eller and that can only hurt him in the long run. He has great vision and makes great passes. Play him with Max Pacioretty or Eric Cole and enjoy the fun to come. (B+)

Brian Gionta:

A warrior in the Saku Koivu mold. A true leader who is being hurt by the presence of Gomez on his line. He was and is the right choice of captain. Not afraid of the corners and front of the net. (A)

 

Travis Moen:

Aside from yesterday’s goal, I don’t understand his usefulness to the team. I hear he’s great in the room but  that does not translate into value on the ice. (C+)

 

 

 

Max Pacioretty:

A budding power forward who will only get better.  He is a joy to watch and with Desharnais the sky’s the limit!  He shows no ill  effects from the Chara hit.  (A)

 

 

Scott Gomez:

I will not begrudge his salary. His point total was abysmal last season and despite words to the contrary, he has played the same way in the first two games.  It’s as if he thinks he has only one option, the pass. His presence on the team hurts Gionta, Eller and Desharnais. I see 40 points at the most for Gomez and that’s just not good enough for a number two center. A failure from day 1 (C-)

Ryan White:

A gutsy player and enery line kind of guy. Useful, he needs to work on his finish. (C)

 

 

Lars Eller:

Another good pickup, he has the potential as a number 2 center with gusts to number 1. He is strong with good vision and he, like Pacioretty, can only get better. (B-)

 

Mathieu Darche:

All teams need a player and person like him. A man who knows what a priviledge it is to play in the NHL. He brings energy to the 4th line and acts like a mentor to the younger ones. (B-)

I do not know enough of Aaron Palushaj or Andreas Enqvist to make a proper judgment.

Coach:

Jacques Martin:

A defensive style coach who hinders offensive player development. Good regular season results followed by playoff exits. Relies too heavily on goaltending in the playoffs and overuses certain players thereby rendering them ineffective come playoff time. Makes for a boring game to watch but he gets results, until playoff time. What’s with the too many men calls? (B-)

All told, the habs should finish in a playoff spot and fight Buffalo for second in the Northeast. I don’t think that they have the guns for a first place NE finish..

Happy season to you all!!

What do I know, I’m just a  bus driver!

jimjim

CH. 7….The Habs Biggest Mistake of the last 35 years.

Posted by jimjim on August 29, 2011
Posted in: Sports. Tagged: . 4 comments

I grew up during a time when the Montreal Canadiens were winning the stanley cup almost on a yearly basis. One championship wasn’t enough and a year without a cup meant failure no matter how well the regular season went.

Since 1980, the Canadiens have won two stanley cups, largely on the strength of their star goalie of the time, Patrick Roy.

The Canadiens have made their share of mistakes since the last dynasty concluded in 1979. Coaching changes, managerial changes, trades, call ups and draft choices have all been scrutinized as major blunders. The likes of David Wilkie, Jean Perron, Rejean Houle, Ronald Corey, Denis Herron among a cast of hundreds have come and gone with varying degrees of success and failure.

But in all comes back to one seminal moment back in 1979. The Montreal Canadiens passed over Scotty Bowman to be their GM after the decision by Sam Pollock to step down. It is a decision that I still don’t understand. It was based upon the recommendation by Sam Pollock himself that Scotty Bowman not be handed the job. How could such an astute GM not have considered the value of Bowman to an organization, a man who knew the ins and outs of the whole team at all levels of play?

Would Scotty have drafted Denis Savard with their first pick? Would he have went with Michel Larocque as the number 1 goalie instead of going to get Denis Herron? Would he have handed the reigns to Jacques Lemaire to coach the team? Would he allow Guy Lafleur to resign or trade him for good return value? I think I know the answer to these questions but there is one thing that Scotty as GM of the habs would have accomplished.

It would have given the Canadiens continuity. Continuity with tradition, the tradition of winning that went from Frank Selke to Pollock and logically Bowman. A winning tradition is something that is built from the GM office on down to the coach and ultimately the players.

Irving Grundman, the GM the Canadiens chose to succeed Bowman did go get Wickhenheiser when Denis Savard was the obvious heir apparent to Guy Lafleur. He did go get Denis Herron which was an insult to Michel Larocque who waited patiently until Ken Dryden retired. Grundman may have been a good GM but he had no link to the glories of the past.

What I fail to understand in all of this is how Pollock, an astute a GM as there ever was, pass over the reigns to Grundman when Scotty Bowman was right there as the logical successor.

Since that fateful decision, the Canadiens have been playing catchup. There have been blunders such as the handling of Patrick Roy, Guy Lafleur’s forced retirement, the stupidity of the Koivu language dustups and in the case of Guy Carboneeau, they messed up twice.

But it all comes down to Scotty. He proved himself in Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Detroit and he would have done the same had he stayed with the Habs. I suspect the more banners would have hung from the rafters had he stayed. The culture of the organization would have been to win the cup, not just make the playoffs….and my frustration level would be greatly reduced.

But what do I know….I’m just a bus driver