January 4, 2012

  • Why dumping for a high draft pick is such bullshit

    You're entitled to your opinion.  So if you want to "argue" about this, don't bother.  My response to you is, "You're free to believe whatever you want."

    I'm sick and tired of everyone saying that the Habs should just shoot for last place to get a high draft pick.  I don't care what anyone says about "thinking/planning" for the future.  That is such bullshit.  These are professional hockey players.  I expect them to play their hearts out every single minute of every single game to try and win -- even if they're a mediocre team.  They are not paid 6 to 7 figures to just show up and skate around so that we can get a first rounder.

    As a professional, I would *never* do a halfass job.  Having played competitive sports, I would NEVER do anything other than play to win.  You know why?  Because that is what athletes do.  That is what professionals do.  That is what people WHO HAVE A STRONG WORK ETHIC DO!!! How can you scream for them to just dump?  I want them to TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK!  And to do that, they have to work as hard as they can, and then some.

    If the coaches and management want to orchestrate some crap so that they can strategically end up in the bottom to try and get a first round draft pick, that's their perogative.  I don't like it.  I don't have to agree with it.  But they hold the power so they can do whatever they want.  If you think I'm not a "real fan" just because I don't "look at the bigger picture" then I don't want to be your kind of "real fan".  I can be my kind of "non-real fan" and love every game where I see good hockey and cheer my heart out every time we win or score.  I will not let some armchair coach, whose opinion has no bearing whatsoever on the cosmic balance of the Habs universe, ruin the moment for me by saying, "They should just trash the rest of the season to get a first round draft pick."  If I'm going to take 3 hours of my precious time to watch a game, if I'm going to spend my hard earned money on tickets to a game, I don't care what their standings are.  They had better fucking win.

    I'm not telling anybody they can't voice their opinion.  I'm not implying that anyone should change their opinion.  I'm simply stating, if you're wondering why I went from talking to you all the time to not talking to you at all, here it is. 

    It's not because we have a different opinion.
    It's because you try to ram your opinion down my throat at every possible opportunity.

    So, have whatever opinion you want.

    Just respect the fact that I don't have to
    (and I don't)
    share that opinion.

    End of rant.

    We now return to your regular scheduled blogging.

    GO HABS GO!!!

December 22, 2011

  • Because not calling you back after 5 months isn't a sign

    Stage 5 Clinger.  That's what he is.  Doesn't matter that he's married (and has been for the past 3 years).  Doesn't matter that we broke up more than a decade ago.  Doesn't matter that I clearly have not shown any interest in maintaining a bond.

    *obviously* I want to have dinner/drinks, tonight.  You know...I have no plans.  Just sitting around, waiting for a Stage 5 Clingy Ex (did I mention that he's married) to ask me out. 

    At the end of July, he texted me asking me to meet up with him for dinner or drinks.  I told him I was busy.  Between my best friend's baby shower, school, work, my parents moving out of my house and me going on holiday, I was basically all booked up until mid-October.  I don't know why that wasn't a hint to him that I didn't want to go out.  I said I had ZERO time over the next 12-13 weeks.  He texted back, "Okay.  We'll catch up when you get back from Europe."

    Fastforward to today (~5 months).  I get a text from him asking to go out tonight.  Dude, what do you think?  If you can't book me over a 12-13 week period, do you actually think you can book me on the same day?  More importantly...it's not about whether or not I have plans (for the record, I do have dinner plans tonight).  Isn't it obvious that I don't want to spend time with you?  Besides, don't you have a wife?  You know...that woman who hates my guts because all your friends called her "Rebound girl" when you started dating her so soon after we broke up?  She's still insecure and has hang-ups, right?  Even though we only dated for 2 years and you two have been together for more than 10 years?  I mean, OBVIOUSLY I'm still a huge threat.   You should be spending your time reassuring her that you're not going to suddenly up and leave her for me.  Remember?

    Sarcasm aside, I really wish he would just freaking leave me alone.

December 19, 2011

  • Pardon? Je ne comprends pas.

    When losing, they [the fans] want a team you can relate to. What I hear now is if the team is losing, why not have team we can relate to?

    ~Francis Gagnon, La Presse

    This has to be the stupidest thing I've read all day! Relatable losers?! How about I DON'T WANT US TO FREAKING LOSE ANYMORE!! If a Stanley Cup trumps everything (as he claims) then we shouldn't even be talking about having a team of relatable losers. I don't care who speaks what. Just get me a team that WINS! Sheesh!! Priorities, people!

    Francis Gagnon is ridiculous. Just to blast point-for-point arguments:

    • After that [winning the Stanley Cup], have as many Canadians and French Canadians as possible...Not only Francophones but guys from Ontario.  Canadians.
      Uhm, how about, even if we’re not Cup contenders, I’d like to see some wicked ass, excellent hockey? I don’t want to watch a team that sucks “just” because they’re all Canadian. I don’t watch Canada’s soccer team during World Cup for this *exact* reason. I’ll be supportive, but dammit, they suck. I don’t want to watch them play.

      And how gracious of Gagnon to include, you know...guys from Ontario. 

    • Would the Leafs have a coach, like Pittsburgh did a couple of years ago, who only spoke Czech (Ivan Hlinka)? Of course, that’s not going to happen.
      I’ve lived in Toronto since I was a very little girl. I’ll tell you right now, with the confidence of every cell in my body, no Leafs fan would ever give a crap about the language capabilities of the head coach if it meant the Leafs would play better and possibly win the Stanley Cup. And unlike Gagnon’s claim about relating to a losing team, I think it’s safe to say no one looks to Leafs to be relatable. When they’re losing, most Leafs fans just don’t give a crap and get on with life.

      And you want to know *why* that’s not going to happen? It has nothing to do with Leafs, the fans or the Toronto media. It’s because you can’t work in China if you don’t speak Chinese. You can’t work in Brazil if you don’t speak Portuguese. And you can’t work administratively in the NHL if you don’t speak English. Players that don’t speak English have translators. And that’s the key!! The coach doesn’t *have* to speak English (though it being the only common language of the entire team of players makes this kind of significant), but he’ll need a translator. So Cunnyworth doesn’t speak French. His assistant coach does. Cunnyworth also said he would learn. And if that’s not freaking good enough, then the club can PAY a translator for him.

    • I can't imagine, even though there are lots of Francophones in Alberta, that English Albertans would accept a Calgary coach who would not say word in English. Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto would not accept that.
      You know what? Toronto (I’m talking about the fans) are so used to everybody speaking English as a second language, and a lot of times not even speaking it well, I’m sure they would not even flinch at the thought of a non-English speaking coach. As long as he can limp along in broken English, enough to coach the team, the fans won’t care. The most you might get is an acknowledgement of, “Hey, did you know the new head coach doesn’t speak English? I wonder how that’s gonna work out.” But just as a side thought, you can’t work for the Government of Quebec if you don’t speak any French. So how do you expect to work in the English business of the NHL if you don’t speak *ANY* English at all?
    • I understand, Montreal, in having a coach who can speak French to fans, they would be putting aside some great candidates. But if Montreal doesn't give chance to Francophone to coach in NHL who will?
      Opportunity. I agree. Montreal should give opportunity to Francophone coaches…BUT only if they’re NHL calibre coaches (and if they’re not proven NHL calibre, they at least have potential). I would not pick a mediocre coach over a superior coach based on language alone. The coach’s primary responsibility is to communicate WITH THE PLAYERS…NOT the fans. The team has an entire pack of PR & marketing people for that. I agree that most fans like being able to hear from the coach, but maybe that’s the responsibility of the media. Case in point. The Leafs have a growing contingent of Punjabi fans…who speak predominantly Punjabi and very limited English (if at all). The CBC (you know…that small media organization also known as the public broadcaster?) has a radio show that broadcasts the Leafs game…wait for it…wait for it…IN PUNJABI!!! Do you think that this community would demand a fluent Punjabi-speaking coach if their segment of the fanbase got bigger or became the majority? I don’t think so (in fact, I’m *sure* they wouldn’t).

      I know there will be an argument about heritage and all that stuff. And truth be told, I (an Anglo-Quebecker, visible minority-child of immigrant parents who fled Quebec thanks to Bill 101) would *love* to see a French/English bilingual coach behind the Habs bench…or behind all the benches of Canadian teams. BUT, if they’re not the best candidate for the job, I will RESENT the fact that they got there just because they can speak French.

      And another thing…not sure if you noticed, but Yuna Kim didn’t speak a word of English – her coach was Canadian Brian Orser. Tessa & Scott don’t speak a word of Russian…they have Russian coaches. England’s National Football team…coached by Fabio Capello – pretty sure he’s Italian. But maybe this will be deemed as “a different situation.”

    This quote isn’t from Gagnon, but it’s significant.

    The Montreal Canadiens once stood for excellence. Now they stand for something else. The team has gone on record that they must be representative. I heard someone in the press box say that there are not enough French Canadians on the power play? I understand it as an outsider, but I’m not sure it’s productive.

    ~ Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated

    The fact that the language ability of the Power Play special team even factored into someone’s thought path makes me wonder why these people are even watching hockey. I want *my* hockey team to be the best damned team out there. They represent us because they wear our shirt. The franchise still does everything in both languages. In addition to our history and legacy, the fact that we’re the only team that does everything in both languages is one of the many things that makes us special. You can upgrade all the parts that are inside the car if you want, but if the body is a Toyota Corolla, then the car is still a Toyota Corolla. The body of our car is the best damned body out there…standing for excellence in sport, and the pride of Montreal. That doesn’t change just because we have different coaches and/or players. BUT, if we don’t upgrade the inside with the times, stay competitive, and build to win, then the pride and glory fade and all we’re left with is a bucket of bolts with Made in Quebec parts. I’m not saying we shouldn’t draft French Canadian players or hire French Canadian coaches. I’m saying that we pick them if they’re best. And if they’re not, then we pick someone else. If we’re doing really well and can afford to give opportunity to someone who might not be the best but have potential and can benefit from getting a break, then do it. When times are dire and we’re trying to stop our downwards spiral (hence the mid-season firing of a coach), THAT is when we must go with best-most-qualified – bilingual or not.

    I love my team profusely and would never give them up. But I’m sick of the media creating a controversy over this. The thing that annoys me the most is, “Toronto wouldn’t stand for this either.” Because that’s just media bullshit. If you’ve ever lived even just two weeks in Leafs Nation during any of the hockey season, you would know, the fans wouldn’t care if the coach was Russian, Slovak, or even a penguin. If it means the team might win a Cup, everyone is fair game.

    Source of quotes: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/bruce-dowbiggin/habs-coaching-appointment-stokes-quebec-nationalist-sentiments/article2275452/

September 22, 2011

  • Randomness and dreaming

    Be warned.  This is basically a blog about nothing...I just I dunno...felt like writing something.  Carry on.

    Sometimes, dreams are not just an over active imagination.  Sometimes, dreams are just your subconscious connecting a few dots for you because you're too stupid when you're awake to be able to connect them while there are bright, shiny objects in view.  Now you know why I don't believe in psychic abilities.  You aren't having some kind of psychic episode where you can tell the future.  Your brain is just processing at a higher cognition level and making a better prediction of what's going to happen based on all the information you have - including the bits of information that your conscious mind overlooks (so that you don't go crazy from the details) but it registered by your subconscious mind.

    Yah...lots of mumbo jumbo to say that you're not having visions of the future.  You're just predicting better by including the information you normally disregard.

    Despite all of that, sometimes people have some crazy ass dreams that have nothing to do with any of this.

    And last night...I had one of those.

    I'd share, but now it seems rather silly.

    Because who the hell would want to hear/read about *that*.

    The first night I'm away from home, usually means I'll have some crazy ass dream.  I gotta say though, my friend's place is so nice and well decorated...I actually feel sorta like I'm in a nice hotel.  Serious....when I'm done the renos at my place, I hope it's as nice as this place.  Well...I'll have a lot of unavoidable dog fur at my place thanks to my fuzzball (Elfie) but aside from that...

     

September 3, 2011

  • And so the prodigal daughter returns

    It is with great shame that I admit to my delinquency. I, who have always prided myself on being well-read, have been unable to finish a book in probably over a year. I know. Gasps of horror abound. However, that has changed. I have regained my stride and finished two books in the span of a month. Okay…that’s not quite my stride. That’s still a little slow. I used to be “a book per week” kind of girl. Baby steps. After all, I still have to read all those reports and articles for school and work. But I digress.

    I started out by finishing a book that I had started a long time ago. I was two-thirds of the way through when I abandoned it in my office. I didn’t abandon it because it wasn’t a good book. I just had too much on my plate. But no matter. I have finished. And in true Mitch Albom style, “Have a Little Faith” took me through the roller coaster ride that is life and made me simultaneous love and hate both people and religion.

    source:  http://mitchalbom.com/cms/sites/default
    /files/albom_image_library/
    books/HALF/HaveALittleFinal.jpg

    ”Have a Little Faith” is a non-fiction book. Mitch talks about how he strayed from his faith (he’s Jewish, in case you’re wondering) and how he feels about it today. By strayed, I don’t mean he stopped believing. He just was no longer as observant (or observant at all) of religious traditions as he used to be. Moving away from his synagogue was part of it. His very busy work life was another part of it. And marry a gentile wife probably was a big part of it as well. But this book isn’t just about how “Jewish” he is or isn’t. And it’s certainly not a book that is peddling the virtues of organized religion (or if it is, I missed that part). It is, however, a journey into the realm of understanding – understanding why some people need religion. And it doesn’t really matter which one.

    As like “Tuesdays with Morrie”, “Have a Little Faith” takes you on the journey using two concurrent roads. One road tells you the story of his Rabbi, who has asked him to write his obituary. The road Mitch travels to try and understand the Reb enough to write his obit lasts 8 years. It lasts 8 years not because 8 years is enough time to get to know the Reb, but rather because that’s how long the Reb lives after asking Mitch to write his obit. The story in “Have a Little Faith” is as much about Mitch understand the Reb as it is about Mitch understanding himself.

    The second road in the story talks about a Christian reverend and his bumpy road. It’s a story of redemption, even though the reverend himself would say it’s not. It’s a hard story. You read about the conditions of his church and you just think, “Oh my. How is that acceptable?!”

    It wasn’t as big of a tear jerker as “Five People You Meet in Heaven” or “Tuesdays with Morrie” but it was an excellent read. It made me think about my position on faith in general, and reexamine how my faith fits (or doesn’t fit) in my life today. It doesn’t matter if you’re not Jewish or Christian, this book is great for anyone who wants to strengthen their tolerance of other faiths and better understand people who need some kind of religion or “being” out there to make sense of their lives – give them purpose.

    Who knows, maybe you will experience what Mitch and I both experienced and understand yourself a little better too.

August 31, 2011

  • Cookie perspective

    It's all about how you look at it.  Just think of Willy Wonka's square candies that look round (from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory).  Perspective.

    Friend:  I thought you just said that your shirt is telling you that you looked better 5 lbs ago.

    Me:  Yes.  Your point?  I already said, "Damn you, Guess Jeans" for making this shirt.

    Friend:  Then why are you eating those cookies.

    Me:  Why can't I have a cookie?

    Friend:  It's not the "a" cookie that's a problem.  It's the cookie"s".  You've had like 6 of them.

    Me:  But they're lemon!

    Friend:  Yeah, so?

    Me:  Lemon is a fruit.  That's healthy!

    Friend:  *rolls eyes*  Oh, and it offsets the butter in those cookies?

    Me:  Are you knocking dairy?


    Yeah...I have a way of justifying things.  It's part of my charm.  However, for the record, I did stop eating them.  Seriously though...it's not like they're huge.  They're these little tiny things!!

    source:  Langue de Chat

     

August 30, 2011

  • When I feel like I've failed at being Asian

    A newlywed coworker sent this to me.  I couldn't stop laughing because of how HILARIOUS it is.  And it's hilarious because it's true.

    Just for the record, it's been probably over 10 years since I last screwed up rice. But still...I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't consistently an underlying fear in the recesses of my mind every time I plug in the rice cooker. =P

     

August 29, 2011

  • One of those days

    I phoned up my coworker...

    Coworker : Hi cokeaddict!

    Me (croaking like a dying person): Starbucks!

    Coworker:  What?

    Me (slightly louder, but more desperate): Starbucks!!

    Coworker:  Oh.  You mean like right now?

    Me:  Please!

    Coworker:  Ok.  Lemme finish this memo and I'll call you back.  Just a couple minutes.

    Me:  Hurry!

     

    Need.  Coffee.  Now.  Please.  Hurry.

         

August 23, 2011

  • Better before

    It was better before I met you.
    Not because you did anything to drastically shake up my life.
    But rather because it kept you at a distance.
    You weren’t real.

    As great as it was to meet you, it now creates a dilemma.
    I can’t pretend that you are just a figment of my imagination.
    It gives substance to my perception of you.
    As your existence becomes more real, the hopeless romantic in me gains strength.

    And we can’t have that.

    I pride myself on my ability to remain detached.
    But even I have moments of weakness.
    I hate it when these typically fleeting moments become prolonged – self-sustaining.
    It makes them exponentially harder to exterminate.

    I will find a way to purge this.
    I have to.
    Because there is no happily ever after.
    I stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago.
    Even though I didn't want to.

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.
    Maybe I’ll get it carved on my headstone.

    Being a grown up sucks.
    It’s where dreams go to die.

August 22, 2011

  • You still have to turn it on

    "the cheapest form of power ... is conservation." ~Andrea Horwath

    Uhm, except you don’t get light by not turning it on.

    I hate political rhetoric. I understand that intellectuals/academics generally are not successful politicians because they’re not as adept at the rhetoric game, but seriously…it’s statements like this that make the masses DUMBER! And believe me, we don’t need a dumber electorate.

    For the record:

    Conservation is good. I strongly encourage EVERYONE to conserve as much energy as they can.

    Canadians, particular those of us who live in cities, are especially wasteful because our electricity is so cheap. For those complaining about the rising price of power, please keep things in perspective. Compared to most countries in the world, we pay considerably less for our electricity – and have for a long time. 

    The issue with energy costs is not only the rate we pay.  The rate is ONE part of the picture.  If we use electricity more efficiently and are less wasteful, even at a higher rate, we will ultimately end up paying less in total (because we're using less).

    HOWEVER

    Regardless of how aggressively you conserve, aging generating stations will need to be refurbished/replaced.

    ”Conserving” is NOT a form of power. Sure, if you want to do the political spin crap, you can try, but in plain English, this does not make any sense. If you look at how much infrastructure is slated to go offline without replacement/refurbishment/new construction, you’ll realize that you’re asking Ontario to cut almost 60% of their current consumption within the next 3-5 years. Add to this the fact that the non-residential (i.e. commercial & industrial) segments will also have to be restricted from consuming more. What does it mean when non-residential segments increase energy consumption? A growing economy. So not only does this statement tell people to conserve at home, it ALSO tells companies to hold to their current level of electricity use in Ontario.  So don't get bigger.  I'm sure all those job seekers are going to *love* that.

    I’m not playing partisan politics. Every party’s political platform on energy has flaws.  There isn't a perfect one.  But this Ontario NDP platform is clearly the product of a party that has no experience governing and did not bother to learn anything about Ontario’s energy needs. There is neither understanding of the electricity sector nor the province’s portfolio generating assets. In fact, some basic arithmetic is also lacking. But there are calculators for that, right? *rolls eyes*


    Dear Ontario,

    This October, please take elections very seriously. I know that energy is a big concern and it’s often in the news. Everyone would like some relief from rising prices. Everyone also needs to find ways to conserve energy. This is not a very simple subject, but it is entirely manageable.

    As much as I’d love to say I know exactly who you should vote for, I can’t. It’s not an easy choice because every platform has some very key problems with them. But make the best decision you can, and ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS. Don’t let them snow you with political rhetoric. Ask your questions and make informed decisions. Because all we can do is try our very best to make the best possible decision with the information we have.

    Sometimes I get very angry with you Ontario, but it’s only because I care.

    Love,
    ~~cokeaddict~~