I Love The Library
It's really sad, when you admit to loving the library. Something is just wrong with that, I think.
It's one of those weird "love-hate" relationships: so much pain, yet so much fun and joy at the same time. Sort of like liking a bad football team (see: Dolphins) - everyone once in a while they will win, but most of the time they will lose.
It really is amazing how much time we lose each day (and so much of my time is lost at the library). If you take out eating, sleeping, showering, relaxing...there's really not that much time in the day. Really, each day is only about 20 minutes long. Really.
Autumn Colours
Blogging today from the 402 on the way to visit family in Dresden, Ontario.
Wow.
I had great plans to get all kinds of work done on the way down here, and I have indeed done a little bit. But most of the time has been spent staring out the window.
Every second could be a new desktop background. The colours on the trees are absolutely incredible. There are some things in this world that can only be described as “breath-taking” and this was one of those times.
Imagine what it would be like if the leaves just stayed green, and then fell off the trees. Not only would it be boring, it would be one of the saddest times of the year. Instead, the leaves turn colour: fire engine red, bright blazing orange, soft relaxing yellow.
It’s moments like these that I remember that God, in His spare time, is quite the artist. Although it would be easy to argue that the colours changing would be unnecessary, we would all feel the loss if they simply stopped.
And to think of the attention to detail He puts into the colouring of the trees, to think of the detail and attention that He pours into our lives.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you for being the first Perfectionist and the first Artist.
Update
My apologies, it's been a while.
Digital has been outblogging me. I'm sure this is causing him much joy.
Although I will point out that however bad my World Series pick was, he picked his about 3 minutes before gametime at Game 4. So he's a little bit lucky/cheating (more accurately the latter).
I found myself dreaming about my family law project the other day. I suppose this can only be described as a bad thing. I'm not sure if I need more sleep, or more things to think about (maybe less things), or what, but I don't think that dreaming about school is really going to help things much. The dream was more of a nightmare, where the project was turning into situations where you could only analyze certain parts and only include certain sections of the relevant statutes, etc. Bizzare.
The hysteria behind the Lotto 6/49 is incredible. The chances of winning are so low - and the insanity developing over it...wow. It's only money, folks.
And I've added some new stuff on the sidebar there. Words, events and quotes. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Let me know what you, the readers of Ironic Paradox, think about the new material. Good? Bad? Ugly? Fantastic? Awful?
It's in your hands.
CFL: Week 19
Hamilton @ Toronto
Toronto.
BC @ Edmonton
BC
Montreal @ Ottawa
Ottawa
Calgary @ Winnipeg
Calgary
Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 47-22
Fearless World Series Pick
Houston Astros in 7
CFL: Week 18
Ottawa @ Hamilton
Hamilton.
Toronto @ Montreal
Montreal.
Winnipeg @ B.C.
B.C.
Calgary @ Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan.
Last Week: 4-0
Overall: 45-20
According to Fortune, these are the 25 people we envy the most. Of course, the first thing I thought of when I heard the word "envy" was
this movie - perhaps the worst movie ever made. How, with Ben Stiller and Jack Black, I have no idea, but anyways.
May I present the 25, and whether or not I "envy" them:
Sergey Brin & Larry Page
These guys are the founders of Google. I guess we are supposed to envy them - presumably because they are rich. This dude, who named his kid "
Google Kai" apparently does. Me? Money is fleeting. I don't envy them. They need more than just money. And google isn't THAT great.
Envy? No.
Tiger WoodsHe's pretty cool. Only the best golfer in the world, with an awesome "job" and tons of money. Including a beautiful wife. Yeah, I suppose. That's enough.
Envy? Yes.
Paul Allen
To be honest, I didn't even know who this guy was. Apparently he owns some stuff, including the Seahawks and TrailBlazers. 2 of the worst sports teams out there. Lots of money, sure - but seriously. If he owned the Canucks and BC Lions, we might be talking.
Envy? No.
Mario Batali
A chef? You're kidding, right?
Envy? No.
Mark BurnettSurvivor is a cool show, and Burnett's a cool guy, with a sweet job - he must have some money, right? - but to have to deal with people like Susan and Richard? Ouch.
Envy? No.
Andy GroveOne problem. He's 69. Why would I envy and want to be someone who's 69? I'm not throwing away 48 years of my life. And all he has is money and nerdness.
Envy? No.
Anderson Cooper
I laughed out loud when I read this. Anderson Cooper? Are you kidding me? Why would anyone want to be Anderson Cooper? His job? "Hello, USA. Let me tell you why the world sucks tonight!"
Envy? No.
Jon Stewart
Finally, someone who has a cool job again. Even if he's really not that funny - all he can do is raise his eyebrows and wait for the audience to laugh at the news - they aren't even his jokes. But sure. He's a really cool guy.
Envy? Yes.Rick Warren
Author of the "40 Days of Purpose" and pastor of one of the largest churches in the USA. Pretty cool guy. And he's doing something that matters. He makes Joel's list.
Envy? Yes.
J.K. Rowling
Yeah, I want to be known as the author of a book series that has been turned into dreadfully awful movies. Not.
Envy? No.
Theo Epstein
Except for the fact he is the GM of the Boston Red Sox, he's a cool guy with an amazing job. JP Ricciardi? Yes. Epstein? Yeah, as much as I hate the Red Sox, I'd take his job in a second.
Envy? Yes.
Richard BransonSimply, no.
Envy? No.
Gwen StefaniI haven't liked Gwen since two of my friends said they liked "Hollaback Girl". Male friends. You guys have some explaining to do.
Envy? No.
Bob CostasDo I really envy someone who annoys me to no end? Would I want to be annoyed like him? I mean, sure, he's basically just a sports fan who gets paid to watch sports, but maybe we should pay him to just watch, and not talk about them.
Envy? No.
Herbert Allen Jr.Again, I didn't know who this guy was. But I don't envy him. Seriously. How could I envy an old rich guy? And his name is "Herbert". Not for Joel, thanks.
Envy? No.
Phoebe PhiloUh...not for Joel, thanks. Although I could understand that some girls might.
Envy? No.
Brad GreyCEO of Paramount. Yeah, I could go for that job.
Envy? Yes.
Chris RockHe's a cool guy, but I'm surprised he's really the only actor that made this list. Why him? Funny, yes. Rich, yes. Envy?
Envy? No.
Jeffrey SachsEconomist extraordinaire. Another nerdy rich white guy. How did so many of these make the list??
Envy? No.
Jake BurtonHe likes snowboards. I don't.
Envy? No.
Craig VenterNow, this is a nerdy guy who did something. Pretty smart in the whole genetics field. But I don't even like studying genetics! And he's another rich old guy.
Envy? No.
Peter JacksonI'll admit, this is a guy who is a) cool, b) loaded, and c) smart. Horrible hair, but he's cool enough.
Envy? Yes.
Jonathan Ive & John Lasseter
Apple and Pixar bigwigs. Apple just rocks, and to spend your days developing iPods? Cool. Pixar? Ehhhhh....
Envy? Yes and No. 1/2.
Burt RutanI've never had the astronaut dream. But I'm sure space is cool. Just not for me.
Envy? No.
Elon MuskSee above.
Envy? No.
Totals:
Envied? 6 1/2
Not Envied? 18 1/2
Well, I'm either not normal, or Fortune is nuts. Or something.
Another Day In Advanced Constitutional
Well, I've come the decision that I don't really like the idea of dialogue theory. And I now know why it bothers me.
A brief recap on dialogue theory. In the super-short, abbreviated version: Dialogue theory discusses how the courts and the legislature interact to develop laws. The courts strike down a law, the legislature redrafts the law, and the court decides if it's okay under the Charter, etc. The legislature (in theory) can also use the notwithstanding clause (which basically says "too bad" to the court, and implements what it wants anyways. Of course, the fact that the notwithstanding clause is never used can be a strong argument that dialogue doesn't really exist anyways, but that's another blog post).
In class today, we were talking about how the SCC in the recent same-sex marriage reference failed to answer the 4th question (refused would probably be the better word), and the reasons behind this.
A point was raised that the government didn't appeal the
Halpern case (the seminal case from Ontario that immediately led to the institution of same-sex marraige in Ontario, without any suspension period for the government to consider an appeal). The question was raised that wasn't it essentially dialogue at play for the government to not appeal - after all - the government was essentially dialoguing by expressing their happiness with the government's decision.
But that's simply wrong. And it hilights the major problem with dialogue.
See, by not appealing, the legislature wasn't really the one dialoguing with the judiciary. It was the executive.
Basically, the attorney general and Paul Martin decided that they didn't want to appeal the decision, and essentially "accepted it". Of course, dialogue is intended to be a conversation between the legislature and the judiciary, not the executive and the judiciary. By not appealing the decision, the executive usurped the role of the legislature and cut off the dialogue without really giving the legislature a chance to discuss the issue.
Dialogue seems then, in our Parliamentary system of democracy, to be largely a sham. Without a way of actually seeing the legislature interact with the judiciary (because the executive can usurp whenever it wants to), how can it be considered a true dialogue?
Plesiasaurus, Moon Treaty & Blog Of The Week
THAT, on the right, is a plesiasaurus. The only pictures on the web were found at
these kids' project website. Some good research there.
What on this green earth made me think of the plesiasaurus at 10:50 am on on a Saturday morning?
And by Saturday, I of course mean Wednesday. Never really woke up this morning.
Well, in
PIL this morning, the
professor was teaching us about EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones) as they relate to the law of the sea. Basically, it's a large section of sea that that particular state can exclusively look after the resources, if it so desires. Anyways, in those EEZs, a state can harvest the natural resources as it so chooses - including fishing, mining for oil, and harvesting....any other creature it wants to.
And the first thing that came to my mind was a plesiasaurus. So shoot me.
But that wasn't all I learned in PIL this morning.
I also learned about the
Moon Treaty. The most amazing thing about the Moon Treaty is that only 11 countries have ratified it.
| Participant | Signature | Ratification, Accession (a) |
| Australia |
| 7 Jul 1986 a |
| Austria | 21 May 1980 | 11 Jun 1984 |
| Chile | 3 Jan 1980 | 12 Nov 1981 |
| France | 29 Jan 1980 |
|
| Guatemala | 20 Nov 1980 |
|
| India | 18 Jan 1982 |
|
| Mexico |
| 11 Oct 1991 a |
| Morocco | 25 Jul 1980 | 21 Jan 1993 |
Netherlands
| 27 Jan 1981 | 17 Feb 1983 |
| Pakistan |
| 27 Feb 1986 a |
| Peru | 23 Jun 1981 |
|
| Philippines | 23 Apr 1980 | 26 May 1981 |
| Romania | 17 Apr 1980 |
|
| Uruguay | 1 Jun 1981 | 9 Nov 1981 |
When we look at that list, a few things jump out.
Well, one key thing anyways.
Uruguay has signed the Moon Treaty. China, Russia and the USA have not. Is there something wrong with that? Just maybe a little bit.
There's been a new addition to Joel's "Blog's I Read" section. Go visit
All-In-Together-Now .
I promise we will be back to regular and sane blogging within the day.
Pile Off The Bandwagon?
So fickle.
Over the last 2 years, I've been becoming a bit of a Houston Astros fan - for some reason, they are just a fun team to watch.
No team, of course, could ever measure up to my Blue Jays, but it's probably okay to have a National League team that I like.
After the Astos went up 3-1 in their series with the Cardinals on Sunday, the pundits and sports writers were all quick to state that they feel that the Astros had it in the bag. Over. Finished. Astros finally make the World Series...etc.
Well, not so fast. 1 bad pitch at the wrong time, and the series heads back to St. Louis.
Of course, heads back to St. Louis with the Astros still up 3-2. And perhaps 2 of the best pitchers in the National League set to pitch Game 6, and Game 7, if necessary.
So why is it that everyone is piling off the Astros cart? They have clearly outplayed the Cards up to this point.
It does amaze me how the media decides to sell stories - swing with the wind - whatever they feel will get people jumping in their seats, that's how they'll sell it. All of a sudden, Game 6 is more interesting - afterall - will the Astros blow it like the Yankees last year? Is Lidge done? etc., etc.
Fans of sports are always interesting to listen to. From the blind partisanship that I hear daily from Leaf fans in my area, to the gross bandwagon jumping whenever the Blue Jays start to play a little better - what is it about sports that make us so willing to change our minds, whenever there is a newer or hotter topic?
Peter MacKay Talk
Heard Peter MacKay speak at school today.
For the likely future leader of the CPC, it wasn't bad.
Not great, but not bad.
During discussions with various people after the event, the thinking was that he missed a big chance to really nail his message.
It appeared he was just speaking from the cuff and seemed to be more or less thinking on his feet. Which wasn't bad, but it just came across as a little underprepared.
Nice guy, and articulate enough. However, he does appear to be very different from Harper in that he's definitely not the policy wonk. This, I suppose, could be a good thing - a lighter face of the party, and all that.
And I did agree with his talk. Good things were said. It just could have been more powerful. An opportunity to really stick it to the government for their corruption. And it felt rather "hollow".
We will see. I support Stephen Harper as the leader of the party, and I hope that he wins the next election. Will he? Perhaps not, but we cross that bridge when we get to it.
Montreal Pics
Montreal Church.
Biodome and Olympic Stadium.
Picture Day!
Me at the SCC.
Parliament Buildings.
Old Montreal.
CFL: Week 17
Hamilton @ CalgarySo much for Hamilton improving. They had one good game against the Esks, now it's back to normal TigerCats. Coupled with the fact this is in C-dot, this shouldn't even be a question.
Stampeders 31, TigerCats 16Saskatchewan @ EdmontonRoughriders played well against Montreal, but just short. Edmonton played well against the Argos - and the Eskimos still amazingly have a shot at the division title (with BC so spectacularly self-destructing). That'll be enough (especially with home field).
Eskimos 22, Roughriders 19B.C. @ MontrealDickenson shouldn't play (the Lions probably will still have enough to hold on to win the West), and it would be terrible to get him injured (the last 3 weeks have shown just how much they need him). Montreal is hitting their stride at the right time, and they can easily take the East. Homefield again helps.
Alouettes 27, Lions 24Toronto @ WinnipegWinnipeg is not as good as they looked against the Lions. Toronto needs a win to keep up with Montreal. And they won't be underestimating Winnipeg now.
Argonauts 20, Blue Bombers 15Last Week: 1-3Overall: 41-20
Tuesday Morning Thoughts (Also Known as TMT)
Without a doubt, Calvin and Hobbes is the greatest comic strip of all time.
In my humble opinion, anyways.
Those first two statements might be mildly contradictory, but we'll go with them anyways.
In any event, it appears that I have a new item for the Christmas list (tip to
Anti-Joel).
What you see here on the right is the complete boxed set of C & H. This fantastic 3 volume set is could possibly only be improved upon if it was leather bound, or something like that. Anti-Joel told me that it was leather bound, but according to Amazon, it appears as if it
going to be hardcover.
Only a minor setback, really.
Really, even just the box looks fantastic. Sort of like the extended edition of Lord of the Rings - it just looked good.
Like, it just looks cool.
Anyways, in other completely random thoughts of the day, I discovered this morning that Nestea Lemon-Flavoured Iced Tea and Listerine Pocket Paks really don't mix. It's even worse when you instinctively grab another swig of the iced tea to try to wash down the awful taste.
Well, it didn't wash down, it just made it all worse.
We'll be back to more sane and regular blogging later on in the day.
=====
JT's 3 Songs of TMT:
"Black Balloon" - Goo Goo Dolls - "Dizzy Up The Girl"
"Everybody's Fool" - Evanescense - "Fallen"
"Be Yourself" - AudioSlave - "Be Yourself"
MLB Playoffs - Round 2 Predictions
Well, after a decidedly mediocre 1st round (2-2) for me, I'll give it another shot.
AMERICAN LEAGUELA of Anaheim @ ChicagoChicago looks good. Really good. Solidly dispatched the Red Sox, and the pitching looks really good. I don't really like their bullpen, but the Angels pitching is all messed up now. And I trust the Chicago hitting slightly more than the Angels. And Chicago has home-field advantage, and are rested.
White Sox in 6.NATIONAL LEAGUEHouston @ St. LouisSimply for the sake of staying with the team I said was going to win the World Series, I'll go with Houston. Their pitching looks good, the hitting has been (just barely) good enough, and the Cards hitting isn't as good as it was last year.
Astros in 6.=====JT's 3 Songs of the Day:"Where the Streets Have No Name", U2 - "The Joshua Tree""Deeper", Delirious - "Mezzamorphis""Where You Are", Rich Mullins - "The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume 1"
Unprofitable and Useless Quarrels
One of my favourite (and most convicting) passages of Scripture is
Titus 2. Particularly strong and convicting is Titus 2:6-8:
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and
soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Pretty powerful stuff. That takes alot to live up to. Still going to be working on that forever - I'm sure well into the time of my life when I'll no longer be considered a "young man".
This morning, though, I kept going onto
Titus 3, and ran across a verse I haven't looked at for quite a while:
Titus 3:9-11:
9 But
avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that
such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Yikes.
The context is Titus 3:3-8:
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
As the son of a Pentecostal mother and a Christian Reformed father, I've had plenty of reason to consider the many interpretations of the Scripture. (Perhaps not surprisingly considering my multi-doctrinal parents, I grew up in an United and then Congregational church for all my life.) I've long been a proponent of church unity, and have consistently grown frustrated with church denomination bickering.
But it is amazing just how clearly Paul lays it out there in Titus. Not known for pulling punches, he really lets it go here.
It's so easy, really, for Christians to argue about doctrinal differences. Or church service style differences. Or, well, pretty much everything. What is incredible, however, is how closely we hold some of these issues.
I personally remember many "discussions" I have had with my Christian friends about various doctrinal differences - probably hours of my life devoted to these petty arguments. Really - does it really matter that one church uses only piano, while another uses a full-out band? In the grand scheme of things - when we try to focus on what is really important - will it ultimately matter?
Not that these discussions may be "wrong", inherently. If discussing about the best way to minister or to teach, and looking for productive solutions - by all means - continue!
But it's rarely that, and I think we all realize that. Generally, we spend our time talking about why our particular brand of "Christianity" is the best - or even more often - talking about why are particular brand of "church service" is best. Not only is that type of conversation about as useful as discussing whether "Coca-Cola" or "Pepsi-Cola" is better, it might actually be destructive.
Afterall, aren't we supposed to be "having soundness of speech so that there can be nothing bad to be said about us?" Seems to me that an easy thing we could eliminate from the list of "bad things to be said about us" would be unprofitable, useless and ultimately destructive bickering over things that don't really matter anyways.
=====
JT's 3 Songs of the Day:
"Blind" - Jars of Clay, "Stringtown""Liquid" - Jars of Clay, "Jars of Clay""Unforgetful You" - Jars of Clay, "If I Left the Zoo"
Why Are You "Busy"?
I was "busy" with schoolwork this afternoon, and during one of my (frequent) breaks to poke around various blogs that I read, I noticed a theme in a few of them that resonated with my current mental state: namely, that of "busyness".
I've blogged about "not burning out" and "margin" and the like alot recently (like, yesterday recently), but today I decided that it was high time that I actually checked out again what the Word had to specifically say about "busyness".
So I threw on some
Delirious in the background, and fired up good old
Bible Gateway.
"Busyness" gains no hits.
"Busy" gets a few - most specifically
Haggai 1.
Read the whole book (it's two short chapters). A worthy read - and definitely more interesting than the Trusts readings I was studying.
There were a few verses that particularly came flying off the page at me while reading this short book (all cites to
Bible Gateway, NIV):
Haggai 1:2 - This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.' "
Hmm. The question of course is "why?" What was the delay in rebuilding the temple? The temple was (and continues to be) very important to the Jewish nation and it seems strange they would delay in rebuilding the temple, as it was where God resided.
Haggai 1:3-4 - 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
A good question. Although the practical relevance for us today may not be the same, Haggai quickly shows us where he is going with this:
Haggai 1: 5-6 - 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
To me, this seems to be applicable to us here in our little Christian sub-culture today. So many of us work so hard, all the time - often doing very good "things" for the kingdom of God - we plant, we eat, we drink, we dress, we earn wages - but so often we bemoan the lack of results. Why? So many good things! We're so busy doing good things!
And, of course, that's the problem.
Haggai 1:7-11 - 7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away.
Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."
(emphasis added)
They were so busy doing "important good things" that they forgot about the most important thing of all. And they were punished for it.
Of course, the issues facing us are completely different today - we don't really have to worry about rebuilding the House of God - at least not the physical model - but then of course, we run into verses such as
1 Corinthians 6:19-20. If our body is indeed a "temple of the Holy Spirit", we better make sure we are "honouring God with our body".
And, of course, if our spiritual lives are in ruin, how can we be "maintaining and building the temple" - as Haggai teaches?
It doesn't seem like God really has to worry too much about punishing us now though - we fill our lives up with so much "busyness" that we burn out and crash out before he has to really worry about famine and the like. We are really destroying ourselves - and yet we wonder why?
It's time to refocus on rebuilding the temple. How are we supposed to be effective if we are so busy with everything that we miss the most important part of all?
I'm speaking, of course, entirely to myself. I need to start making time for the important stuff - like maintaining and rebuilding the temple. It's so easy to get so busy doing all the peripheral stuff - even good stuff like church, CLF, school, friendships, etc. - and then I find that I'm exhausted and I haven't even spent time learning and studying the Word of the Creator of the Universe. Regardless of my good intentions, I've spent time building MY house, and failed to work on His. Again.
Of course, the counterpoint is that if we spend time on God, then we'll have less time for the other things (all those good things). But really, what's the most important? When I stand before the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, is it really going to matter? It's time to focus on those things that matter. Getting into the Word, praying, studying, etc. The rest of it all - in the timeless words of a typical sinner - can be summed up with "It will get done". It always does.
But it's time to get the truly important stuff done first. That's the real new goal for the coming year. To focus on what truly matters, and to trust that God will bring the rest of it together, in His good time.
CFL: Week 16
Last week was a bit of a rough patch - I was shocked to see the Eskimos get beat by the TigerCats. But into the breach again, regardless.
Hamilton @ OttawaOttawa has got to break this funk eventually. The Tigercats just had a huge win over the Eskimos, so maybe they're due for a dropoff. I can't see Ottawa indefinitely losing, and since I'm trying to mix it up a bit, I'll go against my gut, and pick...
Renegades 25, Tigercats 19Montreal @ SaskatchewanSaskatchewan is looking for real. Montreal has been improving as well. With the Lions faltering suddenly (and the Eskimos losing to the TigerCats), these 2 teams are also trying to show that they matter in the playoff picture. 2 weeks ago I pick Montreal to win this game in a landslide. This time, I'll give the home-field Roughies a bit more love...
Roughriders 30, Alouettes 28Edmonton @ TorontoToronto has been impossible to figure out all year, and Edmonton has been even more confusing - beating BC one week, and losing to Hamilton the next? Huh? At home, I'll go with the rested Argos against the Eskies.
Argonauts 22, Eskimos 13B.C. @ Winnipeg11-2 is still easily the best record in the CFL, but the Lions suddenly look vulnerable. Winnipeg has a remote outside shot at the playoffs, and they need this one, but I still think the Leos are better, and they are now overdue for a win. And mildly desparate for one too, before they give too much more gametape for opponents to examine their weaknesses.
Lions 38, Blue Bombers 20Last Week: 2-2Overall: 40-17
2-to-the-1
Well, I was looking to see if I had made any grand comments about life on the last b-day, but apprently, I was busy, and thus simply did a "
post-n-run".
For some strange reason, 21 seems significantly older than 20. I didn't feel much of a difference between 19-20, but the 20-21 jump seems to be a little more weird.
I'm supposing that it probably has something to do with this sense of apprehension/wonderment that is rapidly increasing with each passing day.
The real world is approaching soon. Very soon.
I just realized this morning that I just completed my last first month of school. Next September, I'll be working (albeit as an articling student, I'll still be working). That first Tuesday after Labour Day - I won't be in school - for the first time in about 17 years. That's a pretty big scheduling change. I keep being reminded of
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
This has been one of the craziest years of my life - but it's one of those "good crazy" things. Never ending, always running.
At the conference I was at over the weekend, I heard Dr. Richard Swenson, author of multiple books on "
Margin". I think that's my goal for the coming year. As I blogged about at the beginning of the school year that my goal was to not "
burn out", I think that needs to remain a major focus of my entire life. As lawyers, we enter one of the busiest professions that is known for a high burnout rate. And so the goal for the coming year is to stay relaxed, stay fresh, and remember what is truly important. Swenson argued that we need to specifically take time for rest - it is mandated in Scripture, afterall. The Sabbath was made for man - it's about time we started taking advantage of this gift.
As I continue my final year of law school, I continue to hope and pray that I will be able, with God's help, to maintain an even keel. And afterall -
Matthew 19:26 - and a whole host of other related passages state: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
2005 MLB Divisional Playoffs
Hopefully we'll get to see what
AJSG (Anti-Joel Sports Guru) has to say about this.
AMERICAN LEAGUENY Yankees at LA Angels (of A)The Yanks appear to be coming together at exactly the right time. The Angels have been hot recently as well - hot enough to hold off the A's again. The Yanks lost 2 games over the weekend against the Red Sox - if they had won 1 of them, they would be at home for this series (and would make their lives at bit easier). The Yanks lineup looks too good to counter the single-threat Angels. But it won't be easy.
Yankees in 5.Boston Red Sox at Chicago White SoxI'm not sold on either of these teams. The Red Sox pitching is awful, and the White Sox hitting isn't great (although I wouldn't really trust their pitching recently either). I just can't see the White Sox getting enough hits. The Red Sox can bash with the best of them. Here's thinking that the Red Sox will pitch around Konerko, and make someone else beat them. The White Sox might have the pitching, but I'm not holding my breath.
Red Sox in 5.NATIONAL LEAGUESan Diego Padres at St. Louis CardinalsThe Cards haven't been great recently, but the Padres wouldn't have made the playoffs if they played in any other division. I don't know if the Cardinals will go all the way this year, but they're good enough to beat the Pads.
Cardinals in 4.Houston Astros at Atlanta BravesWhile I think this is one of the better Braves teams in a while, I can't keep consistently picking hitting over pitching (see NY, BOS). The Astros have by far the best pitching in the playoffs - 3 elite starters, 1 elite closer, and 2 or 3 elite middle relievers. And their hitting has the potential - Berkman, Ensberg, Lane, Biggio, Bagwell. Not this year either, Braves.
Astros in 4.First Thoughts on World Series: Astros over Yankees.
I'm Honoured
Well, apparently, my maniacal views have caused the creation of another blog (and no, it's not
this one ;) ), I have caused the creation of another blog. No
The Anti-Joel Sports Guru.Looks like it is going to be a beehive of activity. But I suppose we shall see. Now to go about giving them more fodder.
NHL Predictions
First of back-to-back sports posts. MLB playoffs to follow tomorrow morning.
Overall conference ranking in parentheses.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTICPhiladelphia (2)Solid, deep core of forwards. Big D, but not so mobile. Questions in net. Will Forsberg stay healthy?
Pittsburgh (8)Solid group of forwards – but will they gel - Crosby is overrated. Love Gonchar/Tarnstrom on D. Goaltending is improving. Will Crosby’s hype help or hurt?
New Jersey (9)Elias out, who’s left? No Stevens/Niedermayer. Still the best G on the planet. Will the rule changes hurt them too much?
New York Islanders (10)Yashin must improve. Good, strong D. DiPietro is still a question mark. Can Milbury actually build a winning team?
New York Rangers (12)Jagr, and a bunch of nobodies. Questions on D. Who IS playing net? Will anything change now that they can’t outspend everyone?
NORTHEAST
Ottawa (1)Good F, with emerging stars – Heatley looks good. Solid D, losing DeVries hurts. Hasek must keep it together. Can they beat the Leafs?
Boston (4)Great F, ready to win now. Solid D – but they need Boynton. Great young G. Can they put it all together?
Montreal (5)Kovalev for a full year will help. Mobile D. 3rd best goalie out there. Can they recapture the glory?
Toronto (6)If healthy, excellent veteran forwards. Decent D, but slow. Belfour must stay healthy. Are there too many “ifs” and geriatrics?
Buffalo (13)Briere…and… Who’s left on D? Ryan Miller looks good. Can they pull a surprise from a bunch of no-names?
SOUTHEASTTampa Bay (3)Great group of young and fast forwards. Mobile D. Unproven G. Will the lack of the Bulin Wall hurt too much?
Atlanta (7)Hossa will be a monster. Quickly improving D. Unproven G, but loads of potential. Will this franchise take the next step.
Florida (11)Solid group of young stars. Bouwmeester is solid. Luongo is number 2 on the planet. Will Keenan help or hurt the young players?
Carolina (14)Young group, nothing recognizable. Bret Hedican is underrated. G?? Is this franchise actually going anywhere – any direction?
Washington (15)Ovechkin, and...Witt is the only D, but he wants out. Kolzig will be good, but frustrated. Will they make this the worst division in the NHL?
WESTERN CONFERENCECENTRALDetroit (3)Still strong group of F. Slowing D, but veteran. Questions in net. Are they too old?
Nashville (8)Love the Kariya signing. Underrated D. Rapidly improving in net. Can they bring it together in time?
Chicago (10)Need more scoring. Aucoin is a huge signing. The Bulin Wall will make a huge difference. Have they improved enough?
Columbus (12)Nash is amazing, but not enough. Foote helps, but need more offensive D. G looks decent. Will they get enough beyond Nash?
St. Louis (14)Solid, but fading group of F. No MacInnis, no Pronger – ouch. Lalime won’t scare anyone. Is this where the remarkable playoff run ends?
NORTHWESTVancouver (1)Added Carter, Park to last year’s already solid group. Mobile, fast D. Cloutier solid in regular season, good backup G options. Will Bertuzzi return to dominance?
Calgary (4)Iginla might be the best on the planet – but who else is there…Great D. Kiprusoff must show last year wasn’t a fluke. Can they surprise again?
Edmonton (7)Peca will help. Pronger will help. Conklin or Marrkannen is a question mark. Have they really improved that much?
Colorado (9)No Forsberg – Sakic must step up. No Foote – Blake must step up. G is a serious question. Is this finally where the Avs drop off?
Minnesota (15)Gaborik…and Gaborik. Decent D. Good rotating G cycle. Will they score at all?
PACIFICSan Jose (2)Great group of underrated F. Ditto on D. Nabokov is excellent. If they win, will anyone watch?
Anaheim (5)Fedorov is going to break out with a big year. Niedermeyer signing was excellent. Giguere must prove 03 was not a fluke. Will Burke build a winner now?
Dallas (6)Veteran F – fading stars. Good, tough D. Turco is the real deal. Will the slow ice hurt?
Phoenix (11)Doan is the next star, in the Iginla mold. Unknown D – Gauthier is good. Questions at G. Will Gretz overshadow the team?
Los Angeles (13)Nothing left on F. Nothing left on D. Nothing left on G. What’s going on here?
Eastern Conference Final: Ottawa over Philadelphia
Western Conference Final: Vancouver over Calgary
Stanley Cup: Vancouver over Ottawa
Hart: Jarome Iginla
Vezina: Roberto Luongo
Calder: Sidney Crosby
Art Ross: Markus Naslund
Norris: Sergei Gonchar
