Vince Young is going to be a bust.

Reports out of the NFL Draft combine are that Vince Young bombed his Wonderlic test. I don't know exactly what this test is but a score of less than 20 is considered to be terrible. He scored a 16 on his second try. As I've said before on this site Young is going to be the biggest bust in the history of the NFL draft. Bigger than Ryan Leaf and Tony Mandarich. Not because of this test but because he just can't throw the ball at all. He's not even that much faster than most linebackers or cornerbacks. Whoever takes him will be very sorry.

Terrible NBA GM summit.

Bill Simmons always makes me laugh and his sports knowledge is very impressive. Here he moderates the first ever terrible GM summit. With the likes of Rob Babcock, Isiah Thomas and Kevin McHale, it reads like a how to on how to run a franchise into the ground.

Port deal to get further review.

I think it's more than reasonable for the port deal to get further review. It's obviously a political hot potato and the added security audit is required to appease those who oppose it. Bush is stuck between a rock and a hard place here. It's too far along in the process to renege on the sale of the ports, and it would be a foreign relations nightmare to do so. I have supported the sale from the start but with a couple of ideas on how to ensure security. The US government should reserve the right to have some of their top security experts on staff and they should also report to a congressional committee once a year. Those measures would be both practical and symbolic.

Don Knotts RIP. 1924-2006

Happy Trails Barney Fife. You made me smile.

Bono and Geldof get Nobel nominations

It seems Bono's ego may get even bigger. I don't mind Geldof that much but I hope Bono does not win this. A Nobel prize would make him more insufferable than he already is, if that's even possible.

Recruiting poster.

This was a poster inviting students at the University of Tehran to sit in on a lecture advocating them to sign up and become suicide bombers. They were given choices of who they would like to bomb. It doesn't have the same cache as "Uncle Sam Want You" but sadly, I think it may be more effective.

Liberals name shadow cabinet.

Usually I wouldn't give a rat's arse about this but three things struck as either funny or odd.

1. 79 MP's are either "critics" or "associate critics". 79? Somebody may need to remind them that the higher salaries and limos are not part of the title when you are the opposition.

2. Choosing a former NDP Premier, Ujjal Dosanjh, who presumably would have our armed forces equipped with toy guns and rubber bullets, as Defence critic is utterly hilarious. Gordon O'Connor is a Brigadier-General. This should be very entertaining.

3. Michael Ignatieff is the associate critic for HRSDC? There's two ways of looking at that pretty lowly assignment. First, it is to keep him in low profile so he cant' create much attention for a potential leadership race. Or second, it gives him plenty of time to plan a leadership run. I can't tell yet which is more accurate.

Isiah Thomas should be fired immediately.

The trade that sent Steve Francis to the New York Knicks should be the last straw for Isiah Thomas as an NBA GM. Having Francis and Stephon Marbury in the same backcourt, with each having the exact same style of game, is a joke. There is no way in hell these two can be happy together unless the league decides to start playing with two balls. Thomas helped run the Raptors into the ground, got booted from Indy, and is now intent on destroying the Knicks. His unmatched ego and the fact that he is the most hated figure in the NBA means this guy will never get another gig in the league after Larry Brown eventually orchestrates his firing.

Cindy Klassen is AWESOME!

Cindy Klassen won her fourth medal of this Olympics today, this time gold in the 1500 metre race. She is the most decorated Canadian olympian ever in one Olympics. She has a chance to make it five later this week. We're all cheerin' for ya Cindy!

Who's your favorite sports hottie?

ESPN has got their annual hottest female athlete vote up and running. Anna Kournikova is not there because the women included have to actually be good at their respective sport. So who are you voting for? Tanith Belbin (from Quebec as I have noted before)? Danika Patrick? Maria Sharapova? Someone else on the list? Decisions, decisions.

James Bond has a bad start.

Daniel Craig has lost his two front teeth in his very first fight scene as 007. Replacing Pirece Brosnan was going to be tough enough, but I hope for Craig's sake things inprove soon.

Dribs and Drabs

Congratulations to Cindy Klassen who yesterday became the first Canadian women to win three medals at one winter Olympics. With more races still to go hopefully she can add more.

A U.S. Civil court has ordered the Khadr family to pay $102 million to the widow of the soldier their then 14 year old son killed, and to the other soldier he injured. Good. And I will fell absolutely no sympathy for them when they cry poor.

The men's hockey team better get their act together fast. They can't just flip the switch and start winning at will. Pronger and Foote look slow and terrible out there and God help them if they have to face the lightning quick Russians.

Porn star (is there any other kind?) Jenna Jameson wants to start her own clothing line. She wants the designs to "cater to the everyday girl." Jenna may be a lot of things but an everyday girl is not one of them.

The town of Scugog, not far from Toronto has banned children from having toy guns in public. It is punishable by a $150 fine. This may be the stupidest by-law in the history of Canada.

Kid Rock sex video.

A video recording of Kid Rock and Scott Stapp may be making it's way on to the internet shortly. The company that put out the Paris Hilton video has the rights to the video featuring Kid and Stapp having sex with four female fans, not with each other, in a tour bus. Anybody else think the timing of this just after Stapp was arrested for public intoxication is just a coincidence? This will get him some solid press and he will use it to try to get his career back on track.

Spring training is a sight for sore eyes.

Pitchers and catchers have reported for camp. That may be my single favorite phrase in the english languauge.

Some common sense on health care.

In B.C.'s throne speech on Tuesday in Victoria, Gordon Campbell's government indicated that they were going to start experimenting with privately delivered health care. Quebec already allows it and Alberta is on it's way to doing the same. Only Ontario is left of the largest four provinces not to commit to private care. Private delivery should be a no brainer and B.C. will be taking the correct approach and studying the positive and negative effects of private care in other countries that have adopted the mix such as Sweden and France. This approach will allow for our provincial governments, whose jurisdiction health care falls under remember, to deliver a far more efficient system. As long as wait times are reduced and services continue to be paid by the public, what difference does it make who is delivering the services? Thankfully Campbell will not (at least should not) face resistance from newly appointed federal health minister Tony Clement who is in support of increased innovation. With the aging population, and health care needs of that population, we can no longer let a dogmatic ideological belief get in the way of caring for Canadian citizens. The days of the public health care monopoly in this country are over and it's time everyone accepted that fact and worked together towards an improved system.

Bode Miller is an ass.

I've had enough of Bode Miller. This is the guy who went on 60 Minutes and said he has skied drunk, and has often competed on two hours sleep after a long night out. He and his fellow American ski team gladly called themselves the best in the world and created the expectations of many gold medals at these Olympics. After a fifth place finish earlier this week Miller said medals weren't important to him. Sorry pal, you can't have it both ways. Then yesterday he missed the podium again and said he was happy that he didn't have to drive into Torino for the medal ceremony. It's no secret that this guy didn't train much at all this year at which leads me to say he should have stayed home. Yes he's probably the best skier the US has, but if he isn't going taking the games seriously he is just depriving somebody who has busted their ass and genuinely wants to be there a spot on the team. Somebody else may not finish as high as him but at least they would appreciate being there and would give it their best efforts.

Team Canada Olympic Clothing

Team Canada officials decided to apparently go with the lowest bidder and award the clothing contract for this year's team to The Bay. This despite Roots consistently producing great looking clothing, so much so that they now do the clothing for the US and Britain among others. Well you get what you pay for because the clothing line for this year's team is dull and awful. The Bay should be ashamed of themselves for making our athletes wear that stuff.

Reasons to watch skating.

As my charming friend over at slightly organized kerfluffle mentions, it is time to stop watching Skating With Celebrities and start watching the real thing at the Olympics. If you do you will see women who look like this:

As an added bonus, though Tanith Belbin skates for the US, she was born and raised in Canada. Therefore, watching her skate is patriotic.

The Democrats think too small.

I have been trying to figure out what the hell the Democrats stand for ever since Clinton left office. Some of the bigger problems they have had in my opinion is no consistent and coherent core policies to unite on, therefore no consistent message. But an even bigger problem they have had is that they just think too small. They keep putting out well known but worn out faces nationally and don't give rising stars with good ideas a hell of a lot of air time. This is yet another example.

Movie Review - Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain is not a gay cowboy movie. It is a love story that happens to feature two cowboys as the lead protagonists. Director Ang Lee is at his best when dissecting improbable and impossible relationships as he did in The Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and he is at his best here with similar material. This movie revolves around the relationship between Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger), a brooding loner, and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), a smooth talking dreamer, two ranchhands who work and fall in love with each other one summer at the titular mountain. They part at the end of the season and each move on with their lives, each getting married and having children. The film spans their relationship over 20 plus years and the havoc their secret relationship creates for all those around them.
Heath Ledger has produced flashes of great potential before, specifically as the emotionally neglected son in Monster's Ball, but this is the role that should take his career to new heights. Ennis is a emotionally subdued husband consumed by shame of his feelings for Jack. His wife Alma (Michelle Williams), mother of Ennis's two daughters is completely unaware of her husband's inner conflict until Jack visits four years into their marriage. The look on her face when she sees her husband kissing a man is gut-wrenching. In one instance her life as she knows it has come to an end. All she can do is accept the two or three times a year Jack and Ennis go "fishing" and she must continue to do her best for her family, all the while pining for some affection from her husband. Having only know Williams for her role in Dawson's Creek I was astounded at her range and ability to play the long suffering wife with the minimal approach she takes. It makes Alma's divorce from Ennis at once inevitable and surprising when both she and Ennis realize he simply can't continue living his lie. But due to time and circumstance Ennis can't bring himself to live his life with Jack despite Jack's pleas. Gyllenhaal also delivers a fine performance in a role that could have easily become camp. He is a man of contradictions. A bull rider, cowboy, free sprit and hopeless romantic. His relationship with wife Lureen (Anne Hathaway), originally built on excitement and then a pregnancy, turns to plain and routine as the years go on. Lureen is either completing unaware of the nature of her husband's frequent trips to Wyoming to see Ennis or just quietly tolerates it.
Another star of the movie is the cinematography. Filmed primarily in Alberta, Lee takes full advantage of the natural landscape and shapes the mountains and running streams beautifully. It makes for a nice metaphor of the relationship between the two ranchhands being quite natural. The movie is not without flaws. The relationship between Jack and his son is left unexplored, as is Ennis' relationship with one of his daughters. I also didn't understand the motivation behind Ennis' post divorce love interest Cassie (Linda Cardellini). Ennis was so emotionally frail and distant at that point I couldn't see why she loved him. But I digress. Ultimately Brokeback Mountain is a film about cultural repression, being an outsider, the devastation of secrets and lies, and yes, a beautiful love story. In the films final words "Jack, I swear", you realize how sad it is that Ennis and Jack missed their chance to be together, and you fell for them.

4.5/5

The audio/visual club should be safe.

Apparently teenagers who get around raise their risk of meningitis. Your rate of developing the disease quadruples if you have multiple kissing partners, according to British researchers. If by multiple they mean at the same time, I went to high school in the wrong country.

Davinci's City Hall says Goodbye.

It's a sad day for quality Canadian TV. Yes that's right, I said quality Canadian TV. Davinci's City Hall has been cancelled by CBC. I can't really say I'm surprised by the decision to cancel the show. While it was time to move Davinci from the coroner's office to the Mayor's office, the show was too political in nature to gain an audience. I had planned to write a review for this show soon, but now there is now no need. I will say that I think this show, and it's predecessor Davinci's Inquest, were the best Canadian dramas ever made. The storylines, often straight from the headlines, could be infuriating at times because they took forever to resolve, if they did at all, but the acting, writing, directing, and use of the sites and sounds of Vancouver made this a very enjoyable show to follow for the last eight seasons. The show also garnered critical acclaim in the US and can be seen in syndication in many major US markets, a rarity for Canadian shows. It was a strong defense in the case for CANCON. In fact, I think it was the only defense for CANCON.

Angry Al Gore

For quite some time now it has been suggested that Al Gore has gone a little whacky. His observations that Stephen Harper's election was a product of oil companies showed that he doesn't have a clue about Canada or the US. In his latest speech, in front of a mostly Saudi audience, he claimed that the US government has committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs since 9/11. Let's ignore the fact that the majority of 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia. He says that Arabs have "been rounded up" and "held in conditions that were just unforgivable." What kind of conditions you ask? Who knows, he wouldn't give details in his speech. Later, when asked to comment on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he responded "We can't solve that long conflict in exchanges here". Way to take a stand Al.

How would they react to this?

In light of recent cartoon scandals - How would people react to this gem? (courtesy Threadbared.com)

Oh Yes, It's a Body Bag

Yes, why not on the terrace? In fact, why not use the afghan to transport the body of the pattern model that you just killed and left on your terrace? That condescending, insensitive pattern model who had the nerve to wear a turban on the horse and buggy ride that you took together in Cairo. The same model that later said she only dates real photographers. Of course, she said that only after she had finished the entire plate of basboussa that you paid for. Be sure to lay her on the attractive multicolored crochet flower portion of the afghan in order to help hide the blood stains....everyone will not find blood stains original and beautiful.

NDP math - One or the other equals both.

We all know that the Liberals campaigned to set up a national day care program and the Tories countered with their $1200 to families for each child under six. Most voters understood that it was going to be one or the other. Then there's Olivia Chow.


NDP opposes scrapping Liberals' national daycare program

OTTAWA - The minority Tory government's promised $1,200 children's allowance must not be implemented at the expense of ending funding deals with the provinces to create new child-care spaces, New Democratic Party MP Olivia Chow said yesterday. "We can do both," said Ms. Chow, a newly elected Toronto MP. "The $1,200 is a family allowance. It is fine. It helps parents." The NDP also has "no problem" with the Tory proposal to provide $250-million a year worth of tax credits to businesses and community groups that create child-care spaces, Ms. Chow said. "It's a win-win situation," she added, as long as the Conservative program doesn't "replace" the $5-billion the former Liberal government had agreed to channel to the provinces to begin building a national daycare program. NDP opposition to abandoning the deals with the provinces fuels a growing belief the new government could be headed for a showdown over its child-care plans -- both inside and outside the Commons. Quebec and Ontario are already leading what could become a bigger provincial revolt over Prime Minister Stephen Harper's plans to cancel existing child-care deals with the provinces on March 31, 2007.

Why not do both? Why not throw in government funded minivans for multiple child families too? Sadly, this is only the beginning of Olivia's reign of error.

This is also a small glimpse of why the Nationally Destructive Policy (NDP) gets their ass handed to them in every election.

BrokeBack to the Future

A lot of people may have seen this already but if you haven't check it out. It's hilarious.

The joys of the TTC

I got on the Subway at St. Clair West station yesterday and sat down. Across from me was a guy sprawled out along three seats with his shoes and socks off and reading a porn mag with his button and fly undone. This the day after myself and those around me were standing near a guy screaming "why won't anyone talk to me" on the University-Spadina line. I miss living in Toronto.

Thoughts and Musings.

Now that the Blue Jays have signed Bengie Molina to catch for them, it's fair to say they had one hell of an off-season. I think this is the year they take over the Yankees and grab the wild card (the Red Sox will find a way to win the division). The Yankees pitching is horrible.

I've always said that Booby Cox was a terrible manager (14 straight playoff appearances and only 1 series title are enough proof of that) and that pitching coach Leo Mazzone was the key to the Atlanta Braves success. Now that Mazzone has gone to Baltimore I guarantee the Braves miss the playoffs this year.

If Coco Crisp isn't the best name in sports I don't know what is.

If Kevin Pittsnogle isn't the second best name in sports I don't know what is. He sounds like a fraggle.

The Super Bowl was the worst big football game I've ever seen. The Steelers were horrible, the Seahawks were horrible and the referees were horrible. I'm looking forward to seeing the league play without a salary cap in '07. Football can have great teams again, if only for a year.

Is anybody surprised that Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong have parted ways? Does anybody care? Other than deluded men, and I guess some women (me thinks Crow and Liz Phair have had some fun together), who think they have a chance with Sheryl.

PM Stephen Harper names cabinet. And sends a bad message.

I had previously warned my fellow conservatives to be very careful to limit their criticizing of Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison to them alone and not to floor crossers in general. My reasoning was that it is not that uncommon, and if the Tories were to gain power, it was inevitable that some Liberals would join the Tory ranks. I did not, however, think it would take less than two weeks for this to happen. Stephen Harper announced David Emerson will remain as Industry Minister as a Tory. I'm sure the spin will be that they wanted "to maintain continuity in a portfolio as vital to working Canadians as Industry" or something along those lines. But quite simply, this is an absolute disgrace. Emerson was elected two weeks ago as a Liberal, in a riding where the Tory candidate finished third. This is even more crass politics than Belinda crossing the floor. Emerson should resign his seat immediately and run in a by-election. I somehow doubt this move fits in with Harper's promise to clean up government, make it more accountable, and win back the public's trust. I also think that if the CPC's strategy to gain MP's in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver is to have more MP's cross the floor, it is a very poor one.

Super Bowl Pick

I'm 8-2 so far in the playoffs, Pittsburgh handing me my only two defeats. I'm not going to get into a huge breakdown on the Super Bowl because it's been done to death over the last two weeks. I will say that the Steelers are not as good as people think and Seattle is better than people think. I think Seattle is going to be able to run the ball far more effectively than expected and will win a close game on a late field goal. Seattle 27, Pittsburgh 24.

Potential Liberal leadership candidates

Now that another high profile potential Liberal leader, Allan Rock, has bowed out of the race, it is clear that the party needs to add some pizzazz to the proceedings. They need candidates who not only understand, but personally personify the Canadian values the party claims to have a monopoly on. Who they need to join the race are...


If their first campaign promise is to bring back the stubbies, we could have the makings of a juggernaut.

Huh?

Math was never my favorite subject, but I'm pretty sure this equation is not right...



And the Dems wonder why they have image problems right now.

This and That.

John Roberts has left CBS for CNN. This guy has come along way from his days as a MuchMusic VJ. Does this mean Rick the temp will be the Fox White House correspondent in 2016?

I'm already sick of the Great Cartoon Controversy. Isn't it funny how Muslim countries are aghast at a Danish newspaper for publishing cartoons depicting Muhammed with a time bomb in his turban? Saudi Arabia and Syria have recalled their ambassadors from Denmark, and protesters in Gaza are chanting "Death to Denmark." This from countries that use state run newspapers to call for the elimination of Israel and call for jihad against the West. The Jyllands-Posten (the paper the cartoons originally appeared in) were correct in defending their right to publish these cartoons.

Burger King is going public. Now we can all profit from the North American love of obesity and fast food. Those great football commercials alone make me tempted to by in.

Poor Pluto. Astronomers have discovered an object on the edge of the solar system that is bigger than Pluto. The object, originally thought to be Paul Martin and his PMO's collective ego, may become the 10th planet or may cause Pluto to lose planet status. The object has current nicknames such as "Xena", "Santa", and "Rudolph". Unfortunately Santa declined to comment from his winter home in Costa Rica, and Rudolph's whereabouts are currently unknown (though it is widely suspected he spends his winter vacation "chilling out" in Amsterdam).

The Blue Jays and my cable bill

A month and a half ago the Toronto Blue Jays went on a spending spree and added over $25 million to their payroll. They are owned by Ted Rogers. Yesterday I received a $5 increase on my cable bill. Coincidence? I don't think so.

The night Great White went wrong.

Charges are finally being laid against former Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele for the fire set at a concert in Providence, R.I three years ago that killed 100 people. The real crime is that Great White was still charging people to see their sorry act. I hope that there were some Brown University students in attendance documenting the crowd for sociology class. I'd like to think it was like that scene in Animal House when the Delta House frat boys ditch their dates at the black night club they stumble into.

Will & Grace going out with a whimper.

This is the final season for NBC sitcom Will & Grace. The first few years of this show were actually very entertaining. The writing was witty, the cast relatively new and fresh, and the storylines were pretty original. That being said, the past few years have been very bad and NBC finally pulled the plug, though the show never intended to go beyond this year. Whenever a show turns to stunt guest casting you know it's in trouble, and this show started doing that long ago. So it's only fitting that on the April 13 episode, notable train wreck Britney Spears will appear to help put the final nails in the coffin. If Britney pulls off playing a Christian conservative convincingly she should get an Emmy (and also be McCain's VP running mate in '08. That would get the youth vote over to the GOP).

I do have to admit that a Christian cooking show called "Cruci-fixin's" is pretty funny though.

Why I like Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods won his 47th career PGA tournament on Sunday but this post is not designed to talk about his golf game. One of the biggest reasons I like Tiger is his Tiger Woods Foundation, and the way he manages it and goes about financing it. A lot of his critics have criticized Tiger, similar to the way they did Michael Jordan before him, for not speaking out on social issues. In my opinion we have to many celebrities using their fame as a soap box for their political views and pet causes as it is. Maybe Tiger simply realizes that just because he happens to hit a golf ball better than anyone else alive, that doesn't qualify him to make statements on Iraq, the environment, the UN, etc. He doesn't use victory speeches and public appearances to plead for government funding for his foundation. He simply goes about using his corporate connections and influence over golf fans to get private funding for his initiatives. As a result, it is estimated that over 95% of all donations make it to the programs the foundation was created to support, such as a learning center using the latest science and technology, golf programs for underprivileged kids, and awarding scholarships to kids who achieve their pre-determined goals. Contrast this to estimates that less than 10% of money donated to UNICEF actually makes it to the children it supports. Tiger may not be the public spokesperson the media wants him to be, but I don't think kids his foundation supports in southern California much care about that.