I know I’ve griped about lack of decent hockey coverage in the states on a number of occasions in the past, and I’m sure that 99.9999% of you could give a rats arse about this but as I’ve also said in the past, it’s my blog and you can find a sharp stick and sit and spin if you don’t like what I blather on about.

Anyways, back to me.

I never truly realized just how much I missed the seeing hockey games until the Oilers / Detroit game came on the TV tonight. I’m not the biggest hockey fan on the planet to begin with but I do enjoy watching a game now and then. And I will be fair and say that there are hockey games on tv in Texas so it’s not like I haven’t had a anything to watch for the past year (not that I’d want to watch the Stars to begin with but that’s a horse of a different colour and the basis for another rant entirely). It wasn’t the fact that it was on tv, though I really enjoyed listening to Ron & Don and the rest of the CBC crew again.

My realization about how much I missed it came solely from the cultural identity that surrounds the sport. Hockey is very much an integral part of who we are as Canadians even the ones that don’t care for the sport. To the general populace in the states (specifically the south) it’s just another sport that tends to take a back seat to the holy trinity of Football, Baseball & Basketball. Here, people look forward to games. They rearrange work schedules if possible to see the games (sorry Colin). They are genuinely excited about their team making the playoffs and there is a noticable positive vibe that pervades a city when the team is doing well. Even if, as an individual, you’re not a hockey fan, the glow coming from those that are can cheer you and give an unconscious moral boost.

Now I’m not trying to make this a Canada is better than the states rant <sotto voce> It is </sotto voce> I’m just commenting on why I missed hockey here. It wasn’t the coverage. It wasn’t the teams. It simply was the social and cultural impact that the sport has on us as Canadians. It’s almost as if it’s a Force of Nature. Hrrm, I wonder if all it takes to win the cup these days is 4 green and 2 colourless?

Anyhow… the Oil won tonight, as did the Sens and Flames and that’s all that really matters in the grand scheme of things. Here’s hoping that Lord Stanley’s Cup doesn’t summer south of the 49th!

G’nite
*wanders off bemusedly while humming random verses from The Arrogant Worms “We Like Hockey” and Stompin’ Tom’s “The Good Ol’ Hockey Game”*

Yarr Matey! Today’s brilliance is brought to you by an anonymous land pirate of little consequence.

“I find that brothels are a much safer investment than ships. Whores seldom sink, and when they get boarded by pirates, why, the pirates pay good coin like everybody else!”

Flew in from miami beach boac
Didn?t get to bed last night
On the way the paper bag was on my knee
Man I had a dreadful flight

[oh let me tell you honey
Hey I?m back...]

                                         Back in the USSR – The Beatles

Okay, so perhaps I’m not actually back in the USSR, but I do find myself back in another somewhat socialist country that is globally known for it’s Hockey skills.

That’s all for now.

This is amusing and addictive. If you remember the game where the yeti bashed the penguin with a club to see how far he’d fly, then you get the gist of this one as well only this time it’s hamsters. There is something absolutely cathartic about launching a small furry rodent through the air.

My current best total record is 393, 506, 547 ft with my personal best distance of a single hamster toss of 235 ft.

And who’s fault is it?

Hrrm?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

That’s what I thought.

I declare this day and all others that come after it to be easily amused day. A day of days when crap you find on teh intarweb amuses you for no reason other than it exists and you stumbled across it.

In that spirit, I bring you two stupid quizzes.

You Are 23 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view – and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what’s to come… love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You’ve had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You’ve been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

and

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor – Art Teacher – Book Editor Clothes Designer – Comedian – Composer Dancer – DJ – Graphic Designer Illustrator – Musician – Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

How’s this for random sacreligious humour.

When we were driving down to Galveston a few weekends ago we came across a huge billboard advertising a nudie bar with an attached sex emporium/gift shop up ahead. In the middle of nowhere mind you. I figured no big thing, it’s probably because some holier than thou tightwad doesn’t want the ladies shakin’ their maracas on his front lawn (which by the way, I myself would be perfectly happy with). We drive on and about 500 feet before the property line for the bar, we see another billboard that had us laughing our asses off.

Forsake the Porn & Be Reborn
- Jesus

We both were laughing our asses off at the concept of this being something that the J-man really said and was quoted on. I mean seriously. Was Jesus just hanging down at the local newstand in ancient Jerusalem watching people buy up all the ink on papyrus sketches of nubile young nazerene women gyrating with palm fronds to the beat of the Roman tribune’s marching drums that he immediately jumped up onto his pulpit and screamed the above epitaph? Somehow I think not. Though the more that I think about it, perhaps that was a deleted scene from the Life of Brian.

Food for thought.

Okay not as catchy as an Aussie shark saying fish are friends, not food, but I had to try. And now… by the power of greyskull a spamtastic little list of bookseseses for you filthly little hobbitseseseses!

What have I read?
These are the 25 most popular scifi books at What Should I Read Next?

Take the ‘What have I read?’ test now!
Eight different categories to try!
Buy your books at Amazon US or Amazon UK

What have I read?
These are the 25 most popular classic books at What Should I Read Next?

Take the ‘What have I read?’ test now!
Eight different categories to try!
Buy your books at Amazon US or Amazon UK

What have I read?
These are the 25 most popular kids books at What Should I Read Next?

Take the ‘What have I read?’ test now!
Eight different categories to try!
Buy your books at Amazon US or Amazon UK

Anyone want to help hammer a few more nails into the coffin of “intelligent design”.

My reasoning… The Fishapod