Welcome Back, Jason!

If you are a Devils fan there are a number of moments you cling to from the past 25 years of history. Clearly the three Stanley Cup Championships take primary placing, but other exciting ones such as John McLean's overtime winner that put New Jersey in the postseason for the first time, Patrik Elias' Game 7 winner against Philadelphia in 2000, Jeff Freisen's Conference clincher in 2003 against Ottawa, Martin Brodeur's goal in the 1997 playoffs and Brodeur's record-breaking win against the Blackhawks in 2009 are all up there.

But for someone who grew up in the 90's and watched an unheralded dynasty come to maturity (and fall short of true historic greatness by not sealing a title in 2001), the moment that rings loudest in the franchise annals is Jason Arnott dumping the puck top shelf past Ed Belfour in the second overtime of Game 6 in the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals. The goal sealed the Devils' second Stanley Cup Championship in outrageously dramatic fashion.

Fast-forward two years and Devils GM Lou Lamoreillo, seeking to shake up what he sees as a stale roster, ships Arnott and longtime Devil Randy McKay off to Dallas for Jamie Langenbrunner and Joe Nieuwendyk. While Nieuwendyk and Langenbrunner would be key pieces of the Devils' third title a year later, Arnott would eventually wind up in Nashville where he has fashioned a solid if unspectacular career.

While the Devils have still been a solid contender in the years since and Arnott has achieved success in Tennessee, there has always been something unfulfilling about seeing the man who fashioned the greatest goal in franchise history spend most of his career in another jersey.

But that all changed this weekend, when Lamoreillo, seeking improved strength down the middle as the Devils hunt one last title before Brodeur retires and the window closes, dealt a draft pick and Matt Halischuk to Nashville for the man who made the Devils champions for a second time.

And apparently Arnott couldn't be happier.

In an interview with the Fire & Ice blog, Arnott said that while New Jersey isn't generally the most sought after free agent destination, he was "devastated" when he was dealt to Dallas. Arnott had been part of a wildly productive unit with Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora known as "The A-Line", and while Sykora was in a hospital after a vicious hit at the time of Arnott's Cup-winner, the line's chemistry was still in place as Arnott potted the goal on an absolutely blind feed from Elias.



Ten years later, Elias has become the Devils' all-time leading scorer, Arnott has been one of the league's steadiest captains and Sykora has had his own set of big postseason moments, including the winner of a 5OT game with Anaheim in 2003 and a 3OT season-saver in Game 5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final for Pittsburgh. Sykora, however, appears to be at the end of his career -- a shame for me as he was the first Devil I saw score in person -- but with Arnott and Elias playing together, there is an old-timey feel to next season's Devils team that will bring fans memories if not another championship. Beyond the obvious strategic advantage to putting a big, sturdy, proven center in the lineup, Devils fans have to be excited to have a favored son back in the fold.

This year's champions are still making headlines, and rightfully so. The Chicago Blackhawks were one of the most complete teams in hockey all this year before they capped their season off with a deserved Stanley Cup Championship in Philadelphia, but today the team is also making headlines for what it plans to do with Stanley. And incidentally, it may not be so far-fetched to confuse this Stanley with this Stanley.

Why, you ask? Well, because the Chicago Blackhawks have responded to a request from the Chicago Gay Hockey Association to march the Cup through this weekend's Chicago Gay Pride Parade, and will indeed be bringing the Cup, along with defenseman Brent Sopel, to the celebration. Here is the official announcement from the CGHA. While I don't necessarily think it's appropriate for the Cup to be used as a political statement, I do acknowledge that sports and politics, particularly at the Olympics, often are intertwined. If there is a statement for the Stanley Cup to be a part of, I see the struggle for gay equality to be a fairly appropriate one. Professional sports often is wracked by the forced facade of machismo, in hockey as well as any other. But in the aftermath of the tragic passing of Toronto GM Brian Burke's son Brendan, and the elder Burke's vow to march in the Toronto Pride Parade in his honor, that facade is being stripped away.

As I said, I don't much like the idea of the Cup being used to make political statements, but as far as statements go, this is one that makes sense to me. Having an opinion on how the United States should manage trade or whom to go to war with is a real debate. Denying human equality has no argument for either side.

Last on my list of rambles today is that we are finally at the first day of elimination games at the World Cup. The knockout stage of 16 is yet to start, but France and the host nation South Africa have already gotten their walking papers from this year's tournament after failing to make up goal differential this morning. One more group will have its advancers settled this afternoon. While I'm still smarting from the U.S. being robbed of a remarkable comeback win against Slovenia last Friday, I'm as excited as can be for the Yanks' final group match tomorrow against Algeria, which, for the time being will decide their fate in the greatest of international sports tournaments.

I wish I could be there for the excitement, but it's good to know that some entrepreneurs have taken it upon themselves to at least make it feel like we're there when we browse the web, or at the very least, get appropriate updates just how one would hear them in South Africa.

What, you don't feel like blowing your vuvuzela? Don't worry. If the States can prevail tomorrow and play their way into the round of 16, you just might. I know I will.

Random Stuff That I Think About

The Census
I finally filled out my census (yes, I realize it was due a few weeks ago).  As I was answering the ten questions I started to think about the last few questions which deal with ethnicity.  The first question deals with Hispanic background, then the next question has to do with whether you are white, black, or whatever.  Then there is a part that allows you to check off what your background is or write in.

What the hell is the point of all this?  Does it matter if you are Colombian-American or Argentinian-American?  What if you are Ainu?  Should you mark Japanese-American?  Do South African-Americans get to mark African-American?  What if you are a black person born in England, but now an American citizen?  What the hell do you mark down? 

This is the stupid shit I think about for long periods of time.  No wonder I never get anything done.

Local Taxes
I also filled out my local taxes.  Another thing that is absolutely stupid.  This is the 21st century, why the hell does this stuff just not happen automatically?  I did my federal and state taxes online, local taxes should be included on that somehow.  Hopefully I did them right, I paid $9.00.

TV Shows
Is anyone else watching Justified on FX?  That show is awesome.  Timothy Olyphant is badass.  For those of you not watching, he plays a U.S. Marshall, who shot a man in Miami.  He is sent back to Kentucky (where he is from) until things cool down.  He is like a modern day cowboy, wears the hat and everything.  He also has a reputation for being a quick draw, which he has proven on occasion.

The show V is really starting to blow.  At first I had the feeling that Georgie was going to turn out to be John May.  I would explain why, but no one is watching this crapfest.

Flashforward is also starting to suck.  It seems like they just want to keep bringing in twists every week for the sake of being twisty.

I also started watching Treme on HBO.  The first episode was pretty good.  The show is created by the guy who did The Wire, which I never watched, but have heard that it was the best show ever.  The show is about New Orleans after Katrina and the musicians living in the area.  At least that is what I think the show is about.

Fuck You Google Maps
I recently attended a seminar for work.  I had to head down to Greensburg because that is where my hotel was located.  Google maps gave me directions and needless to say, they got me lost.  I took 22W to 119S, then it had me turning down SR1053.  Do you know how hard it is to find a state route sign?  They are those small white signs, like six inches wide.  I finally found a Sheetz and a guy gave me directions.  When I asked him if he knew where SR1053 was, he laughed and said "nope and I have lived here my whole life."  The hotel bartender also had no clue, but he thought it might have been some road that actually has a name.

Hockey Playoffs
I am watching the Pens game right now and they are losing 3-1.   Nevermind, 3-2, Malkin just scored his second goal.  I feel like the Pens have a great chance to win the Cup again, but then again what the hell do I know?  As long as the Capitals do not win it...

Pirates
Jonathon Sanchez pitched his second best game of his career today.  It was actually embarrassing to watch as a Pirates fan.  They were flailing around at the plate like they were facing Tim Lincecum.  Actually, the Pirates theme over the last few years has been to play well against ace pitchers (Dan Haren and Matt Cain this year) and then get destroyed by a  four or five starter.

Movies
I really want to see Kick-Ass this weekend.  So if anyone wants to go, let me know.  I have not seen a movie in theaters in awhile.  Also, I read that Iron Man 2 is projecting to be bigger than Dark Knight, at least by the amount of hype people have for the movie.  No clue where I read that though.  Or if that means it will actually be as big as DK.

DirecTV
Anyone that has DirecTV, do you like it?  My cable bill is way too high, I priced DTV and it seems like it would be cheaper (except that I would have to keep Comcast as my internet provider, unless Philipsburg has other options...).  I will call Comcast tomorrow and see what kind of deals they are offering, but if I get nothing satisfactory, I might be done with them.

Sexy

Apparently Audrey Bitoni will be at the strip club, Blush, this weekend.   She is so freakin' hot.  I really wish I could go down.  Speaking of hot girls, if you listen to Mark Maddon on 105.9 in Pittsburgh, you have probably heard him talk about Bree Olsen and her twitter account.  Definitely someone I would love to spend time with.  And by spend time with, I mean masturbate to some of her videos.

Just so you are clear on who is who, Bitoni is the girl on the right, Olsen is up top. 

Damn Earthquakes Taking All The Good Jobs in This Country!

As many of you know, I work at The-Place-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named-For-Fear-That-Someone-From-Human-Resources-Reads-This-Blog-and-Will-Fire-Me or TPTSNBNFFTSFHRRTBAWFM for short.  Sometimes the stupidity of the customers amazes me, and yesterday was another one of those funny moments.

These two old ladies were at the cash register and they are checking out the water jug we have set up for Haiti.  This is the exchange, almost verbatim.

Old Lady One:  What's this jug for?
Old Lady Two:  For those ungodly Haitians.
OL One:  Ethel!
OL Two:  What?  If those people had used condoms this problem would not be happening right now!  I am serious!  They all have AIDS and this is what happens to people like that.

Unfortunately for me, I could not say anything.  Mainly because they were old, which means they cannot be reasoned with.  It is true, most old people (and these ladies were well over 80) refuse to listen to anything that contradicts there point of view.  Sadly, she probably got her information from the 700 Club or maybe from Paul Shirley.

Another gentleman said something about the jug, and at first I thought he was being a prick, but then he clarified himself.  He basically thought it was sad that it took a massive loss of life for people to decide to drop some changes into a jug or for companies to take up a collection.  He feels that these kinds of jugs should be out all year and should support numerous charities.   I agree with him, unfortunately TPTSNBNFFTSFHRRTBAWFM would probably argue that people would be less willing to give year around and that would make them look bad come Christmas time when they do their annual charity drive...

I also noticed quite a number of people on facebook saying idiotic things like "we need to be focused on the people here who are suffering, not the people in Haiti."

Ugh, I hate this argument.  Well, it is not really an argument, more of a ridiculous statement.  It is true there are people here in America who have lost their jobs, have no insurance, been screwed over by the government, etc. 

This was a natural disaster that hit Haiti.  Not caused by crappy government leaders or greedy corporations, but instead by tectonic plates that cannot be reasoned with, or say voted out of office...That is the thing most of these people do not understand.  The problems in America cannot be fixed by tossing some charity money at it, but instead by people becoming educated before they go into the voter booth.  Instead of believing that the main issues are abortion and gay marriage, start reading about what policies these folks will be pushing for concerning trade, corporate shenanigans, etc.

I know someone is thinking, "well what about Hurricane Katrina!?"  That was a natural disaster.  Yes it was, very good.  And look at how the rest of the world responded.  Even Albania joined in with some money.  I realize that some of those donations seem paltry compared to the hundreds of millions the US plans to give to Haiti, but hey, we can afford it.  Albania cannot.

Okay, that was my rant for the day.

Sarah Palin

So John McCain finally chose his running mate. She is kind of hot, makes me want to vote Republican now...

Expensive Sex

I am sure everyone has heard about NY governor Eliot Spitzer's big prostitute bust. If not, just read the article and then come back...okay, you're back?

$4300??? What kind of awesome perverted things would he be allowed to do for that kind of money? The normal stuff usually only costs $100. Hell, some girls I know will light your pubic hair on fire while they jerk off a circus midget for like $500. Umm, not that I know from experience...

On a serious note, if you are a big time politician, would it not be easier just to get a mistress? For that kind of money, he could get her an apartment and some spending cash. Then go do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

Also, why is it anytime some politician gets involved in a big scandal, the media immediately says things like "and his name was tossed around as a possible upcoming presidential candidate..." Somewhere, some group of people sit around all day just tossing names around for the candidacy of the President...

I also think I have a new way of rating the hotness of a girl: $4300 Club. I will have to definitely give it some consideration as to what girls I would spend that kind of money to have my way with. And by have my way with, I mean 28 seconds and then 30 minutes of me explaining that it has never happened before...damn it, I think I have said too much.


Would she make my $4300 Club?

Presidential Election 2008

Just curious on everyone's ideas about our next President. Honestly I wish it could be David Palmer, but we just have to accept that Jack's father killed him and we must move on. Wait, 24 isn't real. Damn it. Anyways, below is a poll about who you vote for.

Be honest, and if you want to mention another person in the comments go for it. This may lead to something bigger later, or it may not, who knows.

Who would you vote for President?
	Hilary Clinton
	Barack Obama
	John McCain
	Joe Biden
	Rudy Giuliani
	Don't Care
	No Clue Yet
	Other
Free polls from Pollhost.com

NewCanada

I just found this linked at WarrenEllis.com and found it amusing.



The article brings up some interesting ideas about the split between north and south, I would discuss it more, but I really think you should read the article, and laugh at my awesome work of art up above.