Trade Deadline Looms

There are a number of players who are getting fitted for new uniforms today. Seven players are changing addresses after the Maple Leafs, Flames, and Ducks got in on some pre-Olympics player swapping. With the moves made today by three teams, it appears that there are a number of trades looming on the horizon. While I'm not going to speculate on who is going where, I will give you a look at the trade that went down, along with some other potential player moves that several news sources have reported. Needless to say, the moves made today will have an impact on the three teams involved, and the moves could have a very significant impact on the future of these three teams.

IN: Dion Phaneuf, Keith Aulie, Fredrik Sjostrom, Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
OUT: Ian White, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers, Jason Blake, Vesa Toskala.

Let's start with the changes in Toronto. The Leafs dealt away four of their top-twelve forwards in this deal. Now, there have been a lot of people complaining on various message boards and hockey sites about how much potential offence was given away, but if your team is in 29th-place overall, what offence did you have?

Jason Blake's point-per-game average in New York was 0.61.
Jason Blake's point-per-game average in Toronto was 0.65.

Toronto was paying a player $5 million to essentially put up 53 points per season based on his point-per-game average. Do you really think Jason Blake is worth $5 million per season?

Brian Burke has essentially shed himself of a pile of bad contracts, made his team younger, and reinforced the one major problem of his team: keeping the puck out of his net. Phaneuf and Giguere are obviously the highlights of this trade, but I really like the pick-up of Keith Aulie in the Phaneuf trade. Going forward in a couple of years, we could be talking about Phaneuf-Schenn-Gunnarson-Aulie as the top-four defencemen in Toronto, and that's a pretty good outlook. Combine that with some bad expiring contracts, and Toronto's future is brighter than what it was yesterday.

IN: Ian White, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan.
OUT: Keith Aulie, Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom.

I'm not sure if Calgary wants to make the playoffs this year. I find GM Darryl Sutter's moves odd and out-of-line with what playoff-bound teams do. While I don't argue that there was some sort of change needed in Calgary, blowing up your team before the Olympic break seems questionable.

Dion Phaneuf had regressed under Mike Keenan, and that was apparent. I'm not sure what happened to Dion Phaneuf, but he is on pace for his wost season yet statistically. This would be the second year he has seen a decline in points from the year before.

However, we're talking about a 24 year-old physical defenceman. The kid has all sorts of potential, but, to me, it appears he was stuck between a rock and a hard place in Calgary. He couldn't score enough to be a perennial all-star, but he couldn't throw enough monster hits to be a physical defenceman. It was like he never did enough despite all he tried to do. And when a player starts trying to do too much, his play suffers. Thus, it surprises me that Calgary gave up on a player who appears to have at least ten good years of hockey left in him.

The New Jersey Devils had a kid who scored a lot of points from the blueline. He was considered one of the premiere defencemen in all of hockey, and they paid a big price to get him. However, he was given a leadership role on the Devils, and was told to play physically and to not back down in his own zone. The result? Between 1994 and 2004, he never scored more than 31 points despite having broken the 70-point barrier twice earlier in his career. Who was this player?

Three-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Stevens. Not surprisingly, the Devils' success came after Stevens was given a well-defined role. Perhaps Calgary simply needed to allow Phaneuf to find his niche?

The players that Calgary is receiving will not solve the scoring woes that they are experiencing. Matt Stajan appears to be penciled in to play alongside Jarome Iginla, but Stajan is far from a first-line centerman. Hagman could be a decent second-line winger, but it appears he may suit up alongside Stajan and Iginla in the hopes of igniting Iginla's scoring. Mayers will most likely see fourth-line action, but his career is on the decline.

The one player that Calgary might be happy with is Ian White. White can play forward and has shown that he is a very capable defenceman. However, with players like Mark Giordano and Jay Bouwmeester, the Flames already have a plethora of offensive defencemen. While I have no doubt that White will find a role with the Flames, it might be a more defensive role than what he's been used to playing.

IN: Jason Blake, Vesa Toskala.
OUT: Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

This deal was simply one team trading a problem for another team's problem. However, it appears that both deals may work out for all parties involved.

With the Ducks signing goaltender Jonas Hiller to a four-year contract extension earlier, the writing on the wall was visible in terms of the Ducks dealing Giguere. The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner hadn't been playing anywhere near his potential, and the money the Ducks were paying him could be better used elsewhere.

Enter Toronto who had a minor goalie controversy as well. With Jonas Gustavsson emerging as Ron Wilson's guy between the pipes, the higher-paid Vesa Toskala wasn't doing anyone any favors by sitting on the bench.

While it would be impossible for both teams to take on a large salary, we're beginning to see how problem contracts can solve themselves. In the exchange, the Maple Leafs get Giguere's heavy salary, but counteract that by dealing Blake's fat contract along with Toskala's mid-range deal.

With the Ducks having Toskala on the bench, they have an NHL-ready back-up goalie in case Hiller falters. While there is no discernible difference in Giguere's stats and Toskala's stats, the price tag makes a huge difference.

With Jason Blake as the counter-balance in the salary swap, the Ducks get faster down the wing while adding a former 40-goal scorer. Adding a player of Blake's experience and calibre never hurts when trying to make the playoffs.

So what do I make of this?

Toronto got better in the long-term. There's no denying that adding the youth in Phaneuf and Aulie will make their blueline better for the future.

Anaheim got better in the short-term. Hiller is a superior goaltender to both Giguere and Toskala, so his extension was paramount. Getting a veteran like Jason Blake for a run at the playoffs is a pretty good bonus for the Ducks.

Calgary, in my mind, took a step back. No longer do they have that intimidating presence on their blueline that can change a game with one monsterous hit. They dealt a defenceman who looked like he might be a solid prospect despite being a couple years away from the NHL. And they acquired a number of players who have never come close to scratching the surface of their potentials.

If the rumours are true, it appears Calgary is sending Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust to the New York Rangers in exchange for Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins. While I appreciate the Flames getting grittier, this is doing nothing to help their scoring woes.

Time will tell if Calgary made the right moves for this season. Anaheim's moves are more of an intermediate-term case where Toskala will be gone after this season, allowing the Ducks to use that cash to improve their team of they don't make the playoffs. The Leafs are the long-term planners who are investing heavily in their future.

For all three teams, time is of the essence.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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He'll get high with a little help from his friends

We've see Harper the Kitten Whisperer, then Harper as Mr. Blue Sweater and the Piano Man. Now he's becoming the Great Humanitarian.
But using the world's poor as a photo backdrop to raise poll numbers at home has triggered everyone's gag reflex. And in fact, this might well backfire on Harper if his cabinet uses it to justify CIDA funding for pro-lifers.
Steve V. sums up the issue:

It actually makes you angry on one level, the way this Prime Minister is clearly manipulating genuine human plight for NAKED partisan advantage. That said, I do find it somewhat refreshing that Harper's new projection, the great international humanitarian, is basically going over like a lead balloon, the disconnect so striking to border on embarrassing.. . .
Here's my cynical take on the chronology, which I'd wager is BANG ON.
Serious political problems at home, plummeting support that has sent shock waves through the PMO, completely derailing their ENTIRE winter and spring strategy, which was supposed to set the stage for electoral bliss. In the midst of the hammering the Conservatives were taking, a natural disaster occurred. The government responded with opportunistic zeal (I'm sure there was a genuine component, but only a fool doesn't consider "the wheels turning" in the PMO), high profile photo ops, swamping the media, seeing this event as the channel changer they desperately wanted.
The PMO saw the positive press for their Haiti response, which SUDDENLY produced this epiphany- we can re brand this Prime Minister as a humanitarian, taking a lead on the world stage, an advocate for the disadvantaged. Never mind, that all policies to date either contradicted the new messaging and/or demonstrated COMPLETE AND UTTER INDIFFERENCE, the PMO plowed ahead with the notion, cobbling together new initiatives. It was all political calculus, but this PMO believe if you say it, they will come, any level of true historical inspection a temporary obstacle.

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2010 Presidential Dollars Coin Images

Late last week, the US Mint released coin images for the 2010 Presidential Dollars. The images come just about three weeks before the first coin is released into circulation and two weeks before the first of the year's Presidential Dollar products goes on sale.

The circulation release date for the Millard Fillmore Dollar will be February 18, 2010. This will be followed by the Franklin Pierce Dollar on May 20, 2010, the James Buchanan Dollar on August 19, 2010, and the Abraham Lincoln Dollar on November 18, 2010.

The US Mint will begin sales of the 2010 Presidential Dollar Proof Set on February 11, 2010. This set contains the proof version of each of the four coins and is priced at $15.95.

The newly released images for each coin are shown below.

Millard Fillmore Presidential Dollar


Franklin Pierce Presidential Dollar


James Buchanan Presidential Dollar


Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar


These images do show some variation from the previously released line art images, particularly for the Abraham Lincoln Dollar. Below is a side by side viewing. Click the image for a larger version.

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Obamacare Menagerie

Well, I have to say that today, the Great Opologizer made it easy for Madame to call him out. At the GOP Retreat Friday, the President made some meandering statement in which he admitted that there were "stray cats and dogs" in the bill (aka special favors and provisions). Well, at first he said that these dogs were not in the bill, then he said that they were being taken out of the bill before finally admitting that they were in the bill. Huh? I guess that's what happens when he doesn't have TOTUS by his side (or should I say by his front). Madame was happy to bring to light this statement.

Also, Madame again pointed to the GOP solutions that were being offered, but she didn't do so without trying to push the often wimpy, but somewhat good GOPers: Boehner, Cantor, Pence, and Ryan. Her final statement: " I implore them to speak louder because we’re listening, and we’re counting on them! " That's right, boys! Speak up!

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Hockey Day In Canada

Today is "Hockey Day In Canada" as coined by CBC for their all-Canadian broadcast today. Each year, CBC's Hockey Night In Canada travels to some small town where the spirit of the game is strong, and the dreams of playing under the lights is a twinkle in everyone's eyes. From outdoor rinks to NHL arenas, Canadians are always associated with hockey where ever you may be on this planet. While I'm not here to advertise for any companies, there is one other thing that Canadians are fiercely proud of: coffee.

Canadians are not like people from Seattle who have seen the likes of Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee and a pile of other upstart coffee peddlers try to carve out a niche in the hot beverage world. No, when you speak to Canadians about coffee, there is one name that stands above the rest: Tim Hortons. Isn't it fitting that Canada, hockey, and coffee are all woven together under this name?

Tim Horton was a proud Canadian and former NHL player. Tim Horton bought a couple of coffeehouses and renamed them after himself. Tim Hortons is a proud sponsor of Timbits Hockey, a minor hockey program that encourages as many youngsters as possible to play hockey. And Tim Hortons is a proud Canadian company.

Because of how all this is related, I've been extremely impressed with the commercials that Tim Hortons has produced about everything Canadian. Who knew a Canadian coffee company would produce such excellent hockey commercials?

Sidney Crosby was a Timbits hockey player when he was younger.

This is an exceptional commercial for the message contained within it. And, as strange as it sounds, Tim Horton's cups are present in garbage cans at every arena in Canada.

There are certainly more great commercials out there, but these two are my absolute favorites simply due to the messages that they carry. It's not about the coffee that Tim Hortons sells or any of their other products. These two commercials bring together proudly-Canadian three institutions: Tim Hortons, hockey, and family.

Sometimes, there's nothing better than a warm Timmy's at a remote arena watching kids play a game they love. That, to me, is Canada.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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Curiouser and curiosier

Four wingnuts wearing phone company costumes were arrested the other day for trying to bug the offices of Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu.
Stupid, huh? When a Landrieu staffer asked for their ID, they said they left it in the truck.

The U.S. Marshal's Service apprehended all four men shortly thereafter.

Now they're saying they were actually just trying to investigate whether her phones were busy or not.
Well, this explanation makes even less sense.
I smell a barking fish here, or a smoking gun or something.
Initially, all the attention was focused on James O'Keefe, the guy who played a pimp to sting ACORN last year. And the news stories also mentioned Robert Flanagan, 24, who is the son of the acting US attorney for the Western District of Louisana.
Blogger Lindsay Beyerstein has pieced together some background on another of the gang that couldn't bug straight

One Stan Dai was listed as the Assistant Director of the The Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (ICCAE) at Trinity (Washington) University. . . . Stan Dai spoke about torture and terrorism last June at a "CIA day" organized by the Junior Statesmen Summer School at Georgetown. The program included a field trip to the CIA and lectures at Georgetown the next day, according this event program I found online. As we know, Dai served as the assistant director of a program dedicated to steering young people into careers in intelligence. Get this: according to the flier, Adam Brandon, the press secretary of FreedomWorks (Dick Armey's town hall mob outfit) was on the same program.
. . . Prior to that, he served as the Operations Officer of a Department of Defense irregular warfare fellowship program.

And the plot sickens. A commenter at Emptywheel's post on this issue says:

Dai’s co-conspirator Flanagan was on a similar track.
Flanagan’s resume indicates he is enrolled at the Missouri State University’s Department of Defense and Strategic Studies. This curious institution is in Fairfax, VA (not in Missouri). It is headed by William Van Cleave, another neocon figure (a member of Wolfowitz’ Team B!). It graduates 15 people a year. And it is next door to NIPP (National Institute of Public Policy).

In a later post, Beyerstein digs into Flanagan's resume a little more -- turns out he has interned for two Republican politicians and claimed that he "briefed legislative staff on areas of national security and international relations."
So these guys have spent years thinking of themselves as intelligence operatives and national security experts.
This makes even more ridiculous the explanation of the incident as an investigation of busy phones.
Does anyone remember how low-level the Watergate burglars were, and how stupid the whole thing appeared to be at first?
I'm just sayin...

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Give it back to Steve Fonyo

Rev. Paperboy calls bullshit to the decision to take away Steve Fonyo's Order of Canada and so do I:

I still think this is unfair, hypocritical and just plain mean-spirited. . . .Admittedly Fonyo has not led an exemplary life since he was awarded the Order at age 18, but he was not given the award for the life he was going to lead or for his ongoing contributions to Canada - he was given the award for finishing what Terry Fox started, running across the country on an artificial leg to raise awareness of and money for cancer research.

And if getting into legal trouble or behaving disreputably is grounds for rescinding this award, the Rev. asks, what about Conrad Black and Garth Drabinsky, not to mention the former Prime Minister who accepted envelopes of cash in hotel rooms?

UPDATE: And Guy Lafleur was convicted of perjury last year.

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Just for fun

A peculiar but compelling countdown

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Unrecognized Hockey History

Do you know who the gentleman is pictured to the left? If you don't, that's ok. I'm here to tell you. The NHL doesn't recognize any of the records set in the WHA by any player simply because the NHL doesn't recognize its largest rival to date. The WHA was the "rogue league" - a league whose players wouldn't be included in any international event that the NHL was included in. Because of this, there are a large number of records that have gone unrecognized despite the WHA having some impressive records set. The man to the left is a man who set a record that will never make a record book because of the NHL's unwillingness to acknowledge anything WHA. However, the man to left - Alton White - will be recognized here because of what he did.

While Willie O'Ree is certainly recognized and celebrated by the NHL for his achievement of being the first African-Canadian or African-American to suit up in the NHL, Willie O'Ree didn't accomplish what Alton White accomplished. White is widely recognized as the second black player in professional hockey, but Alton's achievements need to be recognized by the NHL simply due to marketing. Not many kids today can relate to what Willie O'Ree did, but they can relate to what Alton White accomplished.

The right winger starred in the WHA with the Los Angeles Sharks from 1972-74. He never caught the eye of any NHL general manager, but White carved out a pretty decent hockey career in the IHL, AHL, and WHA.

White was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia on May 31, 1945, but moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba as a young child with his parents. White's father took a job in the Manitoba capital with the Canadian National Railway, so they headed west. White was taught to skate before he was four, and he continued playing hockey in Winnipeg. White attended United College (now the University of Winnipeg) to study liberal arts, but only made it through a year-and-a-half of school before turning to hockey as a full-time job.

White had a successful season with the Winnipeg Rangers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 1962-63. This led to a roster spot with St. Paul Rangers in Minnesota under the tutelage of legendary Flyers coach Fred Shero in the old Central Professional Hockey League. Shero, a Winnipeg native, would go on to coach the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers for the 1971-72 season, leading them to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

From the CPHL, White cracked the roster of the IHL's Fort Wayne Komets. In his first professional season in a major league at age 20, White played 66 games, posting 17 goals and 25 assists.

The Columbus Checkers picked up White for the following season, and he really began to climb the scoring ladder. In his first season with Columbus, he scored 24 goals and 42 assists in 62 games. Columbus kept him around for the 1967-68 season, and he continued to show improvement. White put up 37 goals and 38 assists in 70 games for the Checkers, prompting them to bring him back for another season. The 1968-69 season was his best yet as White scored 35 goals and 50 assists in 72 games for the Checkers.

Because of his impressive scoring in the IHL, he was signed by the AHL's Providence Reds for the stretch run and the playoffs at the end of the '68-69 season. In seven regular season games, White only scored one goal for the Reds. However, the Reds made the playoffs, and he also scored one goal in nine playoff games.

The Reds signed White for the next three seasons where he played a total of 211 games. His scoring ability quickly found its way back, and White scored 48, 61, and 64 points respectively over those three seasons. In all three seasons, he scored 24 or more goals, showing that he definitely had a nose for the net. With his 64 points, White finished second in scoring on the Reds - pro teams started to take notice of the 26 year-old.

With the upstart WHA coming into existence in 1972, there were hundreds of professional hockey jobs opening up for players with talent. The New York Raiders were one of the teams in the WHA's first year, and they quickly signed White to a deal after he starred with the Reds. However, he saw little ice time with the Raiders after they had signed a number of talented minor-leaguers, and he demanded a trade in December after playing only 13 games. With one goal and four assists to his name in his short time in New York, White demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Sharks, and got his wish in December of 1972. The trade for White got New York a couple of grinders in Bob Brown and Jarda Krupicka.

In Los Angeles, White got what he wanted: playing time. Sharks coach Terry Slater gave White a spot on the top two lines most nights, and White responded. In 57 games after the trade from New York, White went on a tear, finishing the season with a combined total of 42 points in the 70 games he played that season. But what was more significant were the two benchmarks he set.

White became the first black hockey player to score 20 or more goals for a professional hockey team, finishing the season with 21 goals. And White became the first black hockey player to ever record a hat trick in a professional hockey game. That feat was accomplished on March 1, 1973 in Minnesota.

In a rather surprising seven minutes of action, White netted three goals for the Sharks in a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Fighting Saints. The first two came the standard way: beating the goaltender with shots. The goaltender that gave up White's first two goals was Jack McCartan, the gold-medal winning goaltender for Team USA at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California and former New York Rangers goalie.

White's third goal, and 21st goal of the season, was credited without having White shoot the puck. With the net empty late in the game and Los Angeles up 3-1, White was sprung for a breakaway. However, a Saints player threw his stick into White's path, and the play was blown dead. The officials made the correct call in awarding White the goal, giving him his first career hat trick and the first hat trick ever recorded by an African-Canadian or African-American player.

In a post-game interview, White downplayed the colour of his skin in regards to the hat trick. Instead, he said that the hat trick itself was a big achievement in his hockey career. While that may be the case for White, the fact that the NHL doesn't have any information about Alton White is tragic. If they needed a role model for African-Canadian or African-American who scored in bunches, Alton White was the first man to score with some regularity after becoming the second black man to play hockey professionally.

White's WHA career only last two more seasons, seeing him suit up for the Sharks before moving on to the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades franchise. Thanks to a little research and some digging, Alton White's story can be told here. In the 145 WHA game he suite up for, White recorded 38 goals and 46 assists. 21 of those goals and 21 of those assists came in the 1972-73 season split between New York and Los Angeles when he was 27 years-old.

According to Joe Pelletier's fabulous site, Greatest Hockey Legends, White is living in Vancouver and working in the construction business.

So there's a little hockey history about Alton White, the first African-Canadian or African-American hockey player to record twenty goals in a season, and the first African-Canadian or African-American to record a hat trick in a professional game. While there are some details that conflict in stories, there is no denying Alton White's place in hockey history.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

***Information sourced from Ebony Magazine, April 1973 edition.***

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Not RETREATing, Reloading!

While Madame was not at the GOP retreat today, she did offer a new post to answer the President's call to suggest other ideas for health care reform. Madame was happy to take up the offer. She wasn't retreating like other GOPers, she was reloading!

And, boy did she unload on our other post tonight! She called out the Opologizer administration for their blundering decision to try terrorists in New York which they are now trying to reverse. However, Madame recognized their facade! They are trying to create a "crisis" so they can propose a radical solution. In fact, Madame stated a few examples of the policies that the President is trying to enact or " we're all going to die!". Yep, in a sense it was another "death panel" post.

Madame, as always, calls it like she sees it! While the Obama administration calls terrorism "man caused disasters", Madame calls terrorists " dangerous haters-of-America", and she called for the terrorists to be tried in a military tribunal!

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2008 United States Mint Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set Sold Out

Yesterday the 2008 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set sold out at the US Mint.

The set contains the 2008-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle, satin finish 2008-D Sacagawea Dollar, and the five satin finish 2008-P Presidential Dollars. The product was first available for sale on August 7, 2008 and has been priced at $37.95 for the duration.

I have written about this set on a number of occasions, in part because it has been available for so long, but also because it was a reasonably priced, well presented product. My most recent post about the Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set was written at the beginning of January, when I mentioned that a sell out might be a few weeks away.

The last available sales figures indicate that 98,896 of the sets had been sold as of January 25, 2010. This suggests that the total production run may have been 100,000 units.

The sell out of this set means that the 2008-W Silver Eagle is (finally) no longer available directly form the US Mint and a final mintage can be established. The individual product option sold out on January 23, 2009 with final adjusted sales of 436,702. With the estimated 100,000 coins included in the Annual Dollar Set, this makes the final estimated mintage 536,702 coins. This number falls in the middle of the three years that the collectible uncirculated silver eagles have been produced.

The mintages for each of the three years are shown below. In each case, the figure represents the combined sales total across all product options that included the coin. The 2008 figure is an estimate, the other years represent the final adjusted sales totals.

Collectible Uncircualted Silver Eagle Mintages

2006-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle	466,573
2007-W Uncircualted Silver Eagle	621,333
2008-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle	536,702

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2010 Kennedy Half Dollar Bags and Rolls

The United States Mint will begin sales of bags and rolls of 2010 Kennedy Half Dollars today January 29, 2010 at 12:00 Noon ET.

The rolls will be offered as a two roll set that contains one 20-coin roll of coins from the Philadelphia Mint and one 20-coin roll of coins from the Denver Mint. The rolls are packaged in special US Mint branded wrappers which indicate the face value, date, and mint mark of the coins. The 2010 Kennedy Half Dollar two roll sets are priced at $32.95 each.

There will be one option available for coins packaged in a mint sewn bag. This bag will include a total of 200 of the 2010 Kennedy Halves, with 100 from each Mint facility. The bags are priced at $130.95 each.

These price levels remain unchanged from the prior year.

Since 2002, the United States Mint has not produced the Kennedy Half Dollar for circulation, but has produced the coin in limited numbers for sale directly to collectors in numismatic bags and rolls. During this period, the highest mintage attained was 3.8 million for the 2005-P Kennedy Half. The lowest mintage occurred for the 2008-P and 2008-D halves with 1.7 million produced for each. For 2009, the US Mint produced 1.9 million halves at each facility.

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Great line of the day

Andrew Sullivan writes a profound post about Obama's State of the Union speech and what it means for the future of the United States:

I've lived in Washington for twenty years. I saw in Obama the real hope that something constructive could emerge from the corruption and decline of the recent past. I saw last night the civil tone that marks a responsible politics, rather than the glib cynicism and mock heroism that has marked us in much of the new millennium . . .
Last night, I saw one of the few men left able to see the depth of the crisis and not lose faith in this country's ability to overcome it.

Emphasis mine.

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"You're from the 60s!"

I've always regretted that they had to call the reclusive author in Field of Dreams "Terrence Mann" instead of J.D. Salinger, though having him played by James Earl Jones instead of, say, Dennis Hopper, was what made that movie.
Anyway, I love this scene in particular, and always thought this was likely what J.D. Salinger would have said, too -- "Oh my God, you're from the 60s! Out, back to the 60s, back!"



Who knows, maybe he did actually say this to W.P. Kinsella.

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The Common Sense SOTU Rebuttal

Well, we all saw Governor McDonnell do a solid job giving the GOP rebuttal to the President's SOTU lecture, but, today, Madame wrote a 5 nightstick piece. I think if Tingles Matthews would have read Madame's post he would have said, " the whole time I was reading it I forgot she was a woman".

Madame really tried to be as nice as possible by starting the post with "while I don’t wish to speak too harshly about President Obama’s state of the union address"but here's a list of all the crap you've done to the country in the past year. Madame didn't mince words, so I suggest you read the whole thing. But. here's a summary of all the areas Madame in which called out the Great Opologizer: lack of credibility, contradiction, partisanship, lack of common sense, blaming Republicans, a bad health care plan, lobbyists, drastically increasing the debt, bailouts, taking over the auto industry, discussion of a second stimulus, feet dragging on oil leases, lack of support for Afghan women and Iranian democracy, lack of foreign policy discussion, and a fundamental disconnect with the American people. Whew.

Madame even throw in a few thoughts of her own for solutions . And, as always, the last line was great: "Real leadership requires results. Real hope lies in the ingenuity, generosity, and boundless courage of the American people whose voices are still not being heard in Washington."

That's right, Mr. President, maybe God gave you big ears for a reason--to listen!


Was that too harsh?

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THE STATE OF THE UNION:

THE STATE OF THE UNION:

At this present time in our history, are we facing a "constitutional crisis"? You bet your butt we are; but it did not start with Barack Obama or the Democrat Party. Everyone in government takes an oath to uphold the Constitution, but few do so. The people we have been sending to Washington do NOT recognize any limits today on Congress's power to legislate, the only thing they seem to recognize is whatever they can get away with. The real constitutional crisis is the manner in which the American people have, for years, allowed their elected and appointed officials from both major parties to routinely violate their oaths of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. We're the ones sending these criminals to Washington, time and again.

As Americans, we have been witnessing the rationing of liberty. Today, every freedom gained by one group means taking away a freedom from another. In 1973, the Supreme Court granted pregnant women the "right" to kill their unborn children by taking away the unborn childrens' right to life. In the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Congress gave certain groups of people the "freedom" to be employed by virtually any business without regard to race, religion, sex, or disability by taking away the freedom of association previously held by business owners. In 1994, Congress gave the federal government more "freedom" to regulate the sale and ownership of guns by further eroding the constitutionally protected right of the people to keep and bear arms.

The Constitution of the United States was designed to be an insurance policy guaranteeing that the freedoms granted to the people by their Creator would remain fresh and unspoiled by an overzealous and corrupt federal government.

For at least two or three generations now, Americans have been brainwashed into believing that to be "good patriots" Americans, we MUST support all of the laws and stautes that Congress or the Supreme Court comes up with, but, is every law moral? Take, for instance, state-sanctioned killing. Does the mere legality of the taking of a life negate one's culpability in such an act? We need to seriously consider this question.

Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, abortion on demand has been considered legal in the United States. Therefore, any woman seeking to murder her unborn child has been given full license to do so, but does that make it right? HELL NO!

Those who think abortion is murder realize that the Supreme Court overstepped its authority, because we know that the Constitution does not allow judges to legislate from the bench, and even if there wasn't any sort of constitutional restriction or conflict, we instinctively know that abortion would still be murder in the eyes of God. Thus we rightly conclude that not all killing done under the authority of government is justified or morally right. So, what about war?

Over and over again, we are bombarded with the message that we must "support our troops" because those men and women in uniform are putting their lives on the line -- and in many cases making the ultimate sacrifice -- to see to it that you and I are safe. But is this ALWAYS true?

But just what exactly does it mean to "support our troops"? Does it mean that we are to stand in agreement with the cause for which they are fighting? Does it mean that even though we may disagree with their mission we should encourage them in their efforts? Does it mean that we should restrain ourselves from criticizing them or their leaders because they are only "doing their jobs."

Stop and think, the troops are just as capable as anyone else to see through the lies this government perpetuated in order to get us into the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Gulf War, Iraq War, etc.

Secondly, in regard to the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the troops are there by choice; they weren't conscripted into the military and forced to fight against their will. Even so, like our elected and appointed government officials, they swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, not to blindly obey any and all orders given to them. Believe it or not, there was a time when refusing to obey an immoral, unconstitutional order was actually considered noble. What bothers me is how so many Americans, especially Christians, who vehemently support all wars in which the United States gets involved. Many of them will point to Paul's epistle to the church in Rome as evidence that we should support our government no matter what.

Let's take a look at the passage in question:

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." (Romans 13:1-7)

Despite what many Christians may think, scripture does not condone government doing whatever it wants simply because it was instituted by God. As we can see in the abortion issue, just because something is "legal" does not mean it is right.

In our striving to be good American Christians (rather than good Christian Americans), we seem to have forgotten one very important fact: the earthly governing authority to which we are to be subject is the Constitution of the United States, not the selfish desires of a small group of pompous, over-paid, bureaucratic elites. In other words, "We, the People," are the governing authority.

We know that the Constitution grants the power to declare war only to Congress, and that Congress cannot cede that authority to the executive branch by passing some meaningless resolution. Starting with the Korean War, every war that America has fought in, have been illegal, because in each case, the presidents involved have made an end run around Congress by going to the UN to receive a Mandate to go to war, and Congress has only consented after the fact by passing resolutions. Therefore, our actions in these wars stand in defiance of the legitimate governing authority of this nation of states.

Just as the Supreme Court refused to abide by the Constitution, so too have John Adams, and proceeding to Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama, Congress has enacted and the president has signed laws that criminalized political speech, suspended habeas corpus, compelled support for war, forbade freedom of contract, allowed the government to spy on Americans without a search warrant, and used taxpayer dollars to shore up failing private banks.

The Constitution grants Congress 17 specific (or "delegated") powers. And it commands in the 9th and 10th Amendments that the powers not articulated and thus not delegated by the Constitution to Congress be reserved to the states and the people.

In addition, Congress is ONLY allowed to use its delegated powers to legislate for the general welfare, meaning it cannot spend tax dollars on individuals or selected entities, but only for all of us, which means, plain and simple, it must spend in such a manner -- a post office, a military installation, a courthouse, for example -- that directly enhances everyone's welfare within the 17 delegated areas of congressional authority.

When it comes to Hate Crimes Legislation, Congress cannot Constitutionally deny the equal protection of the laws. Thus, it must treat similarly situated persons or entities in a similar manner. It cannot write laws that reward its political friends and punish its political enemies.

Another thing that our presidents, members of Congress and the Supreme Court Justices should bear in mind, they were not elected or appointed to save the snail darter, the Spotted Owl or other endangered species. They were not elected to save and protect the profits of the international bankers, Wall Street, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the perks of corporate lobbyists, etc. What our public servants are charged with, is preserving (saving) our Constitutional Republic.

What is truly sad is that the very people who are charged with the preservation of our republic are the ones who are the most responsible for its destruction. The American people have far more to fear from Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, John Murtha, Harry Reid, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer, Hillary and Bill Clinton, John McCain, etc., than they do from any foreign adversary, because our leaders have proven that they have absolutely no fidelity to the principles of constitutional government. They have no compunction about eviscerating the protection of our freedoms, or about abolishing the vanguard of our liberties.

But, in the end, it is We the People who have shirked our responsibility to govern ourselves. It is OUR responsibility to hold our elected officials accountable to their oath of office and the contract they made with us, which is to uphold our constitutional government. It is OUR duty to "throw off" any system of government that does not secure our liberties and protect our Constitution. And this we have failed miserably to do.

Now, perhaps more than ever before, is the time for a NEW DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another; a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which compel them to make that separation."

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes. But when a long train of abuses and usurpation's reduces them to despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patience of these fifty states; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their system of government. The history of the present federal government is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation's, all working toward the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:

It (the federal government) has refused to abide by the strict guidelines of the United States Constitution, and has instead decided that it alone will decide what is necessary for the public good.

It has forbidden state legislatures to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, and has allowed the federal judiciary to strike down countless state laws as unconstitutional, in clear violation of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution.

It has refused all states the proper control of land within their respective borders and has instead used its power to confiscate even more property.

It has enacted legislation, on issues ranging from alcohol consumption to the ownership of firearms, for the sole purpose of forcing states and individual citizens into compliance with its wishes.

It has unlawfully persecuted, under various administrations, citizens and organizations for opposing its invasions on the rights of the people.

It has continued to pass laws affecting campaign financing and election procedures that have only served to exclude ordinary citizens from the political process.

It has endeavored to prevent states from taking steps to curb illegal immigration and has refused to protect the sovereign borders of this nation.

It has obstructed the administration of justice by refusing to equally apply the laws it passes to members of the federal government.

It has allowed judges to become dependent upon their own political ideology without any regard for the Constitution.

It has established a multitude of new bureaucracies, and has sent out swarms of officers to harass the people.

It has maintained, in times of peace, standing armies both here on our shores and overseas.

It has effectively rendered the military independent of and superior to the civil authority.

It has subjected us to things foreign to our Constitution, giving its assent to burdensome acts of legislation:

For forcing states to quarter illegal immigrants.

For protecting them and refusing to deport even those convicted of serious crimes.

For implementing protectionist measures that have limited our ability to engage in free trade with all parts of the world.

For imposing taxes, hidden or otherwise, without our consent.

For threatening to deprive us, in times of perceived crisis, of the benefits of trial by jury.

For federalizing offenses that should remain under the jurisdiction of the states.

For implementing a foreign policy that has this nation engaged in costly and unnecessary entanglements overseas.

For taking away state sovereignty, abolishing federalism, and altering fundamentally our entire system of government.

For superseding state legislatures, and investing in Congress the power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever; including areas such as employment, health care, education, and housing, among others.

It has waged war against citizens of the United States by using armed troops to enforce unconstitutional laws.

It has denied states the control over valuable natural resources within their own borders.

It is, at this time, engaged in armed conflict overseas without a formal and constitutional declaration of war.

It has turned businesses into government agencies, forcing workers to report the "suspicious" activities of their fellow citizens to authorities.

It has succeeded, through its interventionist policies, in funding and arming enemies of the United States of America.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A government, whose character is marked by every act which may define a tyranny, is unfit to be the government of a free people.

We have warned them from time to time of attempts by Congress, the president, and the judiciary to extend an unwarranted jurisdiction over us.

We have reminded them of the circumstances of the founding of our nation.

We have appealed to their sense of justice and fair play, and we have appealed to the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They have been deaf to the voice of justice and of reason. We must, therefore, hold them as we hold the rest of mankind - enemies in war, friends in peace.

We, therefore, the people of the United States of America, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions, do solemnly publish and declare, that these states are, and of right ought to be, free and independent; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the existing federal government, and that as free and independent states, they have full authority to re-assume those powers guaranteed to the states and the people by the Constitution. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

Never before in the history of America have we been confronted with problems so huge that the very existence of our country is in jeopardy.

We all must pull together or watch the demise of a society that we all love and cherish. If you are a religious person, pray for our nation.


NOW FOR A TRUE AMERICAN, COLONEL ALAN WEST:

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Good Guys Wear White, Right?

This is how I grew up watching hockey. The two men on the covers of their respective issues of Sports Illustrated were the dominant forces in the game, and they electrified fans where ever they went. But perhaps the most notable part of those pictures are the jerseys being worn by Gretzky and Lemieux. You see, home teams always wore white when I was growing up with hockey, and you didn't have the myriad of alternate jerseys we see today. Because of this, you instantly knew who the home team was based upon who was wearing wearing white and who wasn't. With that in mind, I turn the forum over to Uni Watch Blog's Phil Hecken and the highly-respected James Huening for a little fun.

Phil: Ah, memories. I grew up during the halcyon days of the NHL when the Flyers, Islanders and Canadiens (and later, the Oilers) were the kings of hockey. In fact, from 1972 through 1990, other than those four teams, only the Calgary Flames (in 1989) won a Stanley Cup. Despite my feigned disdain for the sport of hockey nowadays, the fact is I was a huge fan of the game growing up. An back then (and up until the 2003-04 season) everyone wore a white sweater at home.

My fondest memories of the white jersey, of course, came while I was following the New York Islanders, a team who played (and still plays) in the Nassau Coliseum, a scant few minutes from my home. Back then, before cable television reached my neighborhood, local games were subject to a “home blackout,” meaning, the only Islander games I could ever see, unless they were somehow on national TV, were road games. Thus, the white sweater took on an even greater prominence — it was special. I had to GO to a game to see my team wearing their home white jerseys. Back then, since I was actually good friends with the son of the team’s dentist, I did go to quite a few games (and of course, had the best seats in the house). All sports, except for the NFL, had the home team wearing white. Ya know, the good guys. And when I’d go to those games, all the teams who came into the Nassau Coliseum wore a different color uniform, and that was cool too.

Now…you go to a game (or watch one on TV) and the road team (for the most part) always wears white. Of course, the “dark at home” can be traced directly to the sales of the dreaded alternate jersey (and yes, I know that prior to prior to 1969-70 the home team wore dark — ever wonder why the Rangers were always called the “Blue Shirts”?). But when I grew up, the home white jersey was king.

So, when it was mentioned a few days ago in the comments that “such and such” is a better white jersey than “so and so’s”, it got me to thinking that we should put this all to a poll. There are quite a few of the white jerseys in the league that I prefer to the alternate or dark jersey wears — and I bet I’m not alone. But, how do they stack up against each other? And would anyone besides me like to see the NHL return to “white at home”?

Today I’m teamed up with Uni Watch Pollster, James Huening, who’s assisting me with today’s column. Here’s James with the setup:

James: Oh, yeah, white at home in the NHL... I think only the youngest readers here wouldn’t remember that.

For me, as a Blackhawks fan, it was a little bit different. For starters, there were no championships and the home blackouts had nothing to do with not having cable TV. They had everything to do with “Dollar” Bill Wirtz and his supposed promise to his father Arthur as he lay dying that home games would never be televised as long as he owned the team. So, if I was watching the Hawks on TV, they were on the road.

No white sweaters.

No Barton organ.

No anthem. (OK, that one was actually on TV, but I was at the game.)

Hell, no Stadium at all.

So, yes, it was a special treat to get to see them wearing white.

But I digress. We’re not just here to reminisce about the good ol’ days. We want to know what you think of the current crop of NHL road unis. You know, the ones with the white jerseys.

So please, take a few minutes to complete our survey. Here are some pictures you can use as reference material. They’re broken up into groups of six and organized alphabetically:

• Anaheim – Carolina
• Chicago – Edmonton
• Florida – New Jersey
• New York – Pittsburgh
• St. Louis – Washington

Big thanks to Andrew M. Greenstein and his invaluable website, The Hockey Uniform Database, for those images.

Phil: Thanks for the setup, James. Now, it’s up to you to decide. If you haven’t yet clicked on the poll, there is the survey and a few quick questions. Please let us know what YOU think of the jerseys, in a simple rating system (like we did with the NFL jerseys). We’ll be back with the results in a couple of weeks, so vote early (and often).

Get in on the voting action, people. It seems that there is less of an appreciation of the white jerseys in the league since the switch to dark at home, so this is a chance to take a good look at the white jerseys. Once the results are tabulated by Phil and James, I'll post them up here.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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The SOTU Address or an Opologist Lecture?

Well, the Great Opologizer gave his State of the Union address. I knew it was going to be a long speech so I preemptively sent TOTUS a case of Red Bull so that he could stay awake. I'll summarize the speech for you all. Blame Bush. Condescension. Spending freeze. Continued crazy ideas on health care reform and climate change. Criticism of the Supreme Court. Hypocrisy. Disconnect. Etc. He even plagiarized Madame and spoke of common sense. Grr!!

If you didn't have the chance to watch it, I'll have to let you know that VP Biden's tie and Pukelosi's suit matched (Barf). Also, the Great Opologizer invited the Ft. Hood heroes, but didn't even take the time to acknowledge them.

You must watch Madame's excellent analysis of the speech embedded above. It was also my Foxnews debut! I'm seated right behind Madame. How did I do? Madame did an excellent job summarizing the SOTU in one word: lecture. You tell 'em, Madame. She also appeared to comment before the SOTU and on Hannity. There's a lot good stuff there too. Madame's not very happy about the Great Opologizer bashing the Supreme Court and the Constitution. She also said that the factcheckers will busy tonight! Hmm, I wonder if there will be more fact checkers to for the State of the Union address than for Madame's book.

I wonder if we'll do a Facebook post on this later. I'd better do some hibernating so that I'm ready to go if we do.

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2011 America the Beautiful Quarter Design Candidates

While collectors are still awaiting the final design announcements for the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters, the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) recently reviewed the 2011 design candidates provided by the US Mint.

Based on the US Mint's design selection process for the American the Beautiful Quarters Program, these candidates were prepared based on source materials provided by a federal liaison to each site. The candidate designs are reviewed by the CCAC, CFA, the Secretary of the Interior, and the chief executive of the host jurisdiction. The United States Mint may make changes to the candidate designs as a result of the review process. The Director of the Mint will make a final recommendation to the Secretary of the Treasury, who has authority to make the final decision.

The images shown below represent the designs recommended by the CCAC. You read a full report on Coin Update News report written by Les Peters who attended the CCAC meeting.

Read the full article on Coin Update News:
2011 America the Beautiful Quarters CCAC Recommendations

Gettysburg National Military Park Quarter - Pennsylvania


Glacier National Park Quarter - Montana


Olympic National Park Quarter - Washington


Vicksburg National Military Park Quarter - Mississippi


Chickisaw National Recreation Area Quarter - Oklahoma


The CFA recommended the same designs for Glacier National Park and Olympic National Park. For Gettysburg National Military Park, they recommended a view of the Soldiers National Monument with some modifications. For Vicksburg Natoinal Military Park, the CFA recommended an arch located at the entrance of the park. The CFA had no clear favorite among the design candidates for Chickisaw National Recreation Area.

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Survey Results: Bold Predictions

This post will conclude the coverage of the Mint News Blog reader survey. This survey was available during the first week of January as a way to wrap up the old year and start thinking about 2010 coins. The survey covered US Mint products, circulating coins, precious metals, and related topics.

With the coverage of the survey concluded, I wanted to once again thank all of the readers who completed the survey and others who read along for the results. These survey results will be revisited in some fashion at the end of the year.

From my perspective, compiling and covering the survey results was a thought provoking and enjoyable experience. It did end up being a much more lengthy process than I had anticipated. Next year, I plan to create a similar survey, but will probably reduce and refocus the questions. If anyone has other suggestions about how to improve next year's survey, please lave a comment.

The final page of the survey asked for a bold prediction about something completely unexpected that would happen during 2010 related to the US Mint or coins. I picked out a representative selection of these bold predictions, which are republished below:

"The design of the Silver Eagle will change."

"The Mint will announce the closing of one of the Mint locations due to the lowered need for circulating coin production."

"The post office will start to sell coins made by the mint in addition to stamps."

"A major change on the obverse on one of current coins. I haven't given up hope that they might put Teddy Roosevelt on the quarter or do something major with the dime."

"Presidential Dollar program canceled after Lincoln issue."

"The Mint will stop offering bullion because it will be unable to keep up with demand"

"A 1964-D Peace Dollar will surface."

"Palladium UHR!"

"I expect the 5 oz silver National Parks coins will sell out immediately . Their prices will follow the same type of curve the 1st wives coins did when first released. By the second year, the release will be a non event."

"Congress will mandate Eagle Proofs be minted for collectors."

"Another transitional variety will be discovered, similar to the 2008 silver eagle with the reverse of 2007, among currently circulating U.S. coinage."

"At least one MS first spouse gold coin will finish its production run with under 3,000 sales."

"Mint will produce 'new' Morgans to take advantage of the beauty and popularity of this coin and its design. "

"The U.S. Mint will not mint any 2010 nickels or dimes for circulation!"

"1933 St. Gaudens Double Eagles will be declared legal to own by a federal judge, and a dozen 'new' examples will surface."

"A metal change for circulating coins."

"2009 silver eagles (burnished and proofs) will be made available as limited edition products in the 2010 year."

"The mint will end direct shipment dollar coin program."

"Silver will make an all time high."

"The new quarters will be hard to find, low mintage, and banks won't order them."

Other posts covering survey results:
Favorite 2009 US Mint Product and Biggest Disappointment
Mint News Blog Readers Reflect on 2009
2010 US Mint Products and Potential Offerings
Collecting America the Beautiful Quarters
Mint News Blog Readers Look Ahead to 2010
2010 Coins and Precious Metals Predictions

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Antler Bantler: Volume 13

Antler Banter returns today with a severe case of triskaidekaphobia. The Manitoba Moose rolled into Hershey, Pennsylvania for a couple of games against the AHL-leading Hershey Bears, and there were some definite questions as to how the Moose would respond after a couple of blow-outs against the Milwaukee Admirals before the AHL All-Star break. Injury news returns today as the Moose see a few players return to the stretchers. For all of your Manitoba Moose news and information, don't forget to check out the Moose website. If you're interested in attending a Manitoba Moose game, please click here for seating information, ticket pricing, and availability. Hardcore Hockey takes a bit of a beating today, so let's get through this.

Mauled By The Bears

This one was simply looming on the horizon. The Moose were playing downright brutal hockey, and the Bears were destroying unsuspecting teams like they had rabies and a thirst for blood. Yes, it was that bad. I can't even begin to describe the horror I witnessed, but let's just say that Manitoba was consistent in scoring one goal per period. Cory Schneider got little help in the Moose net Friday night, while Braden Holtby suited up for the Bears.

Let me blunt here: I'm going to do this quickly. Like tearing off a band-aid. Quick and painless. Well, there's always a little pain. But it's fast so it doesn't last as long. That's better than long-term pain, right? Lots of pictures to try and make you smile through this horrific recap, so let's begin.

Andrew Joudrey poked home a rebound off an Oskar Osala shot from the right side of the crease for his sixth goal of the season at 10:07 of the first. Hershey led 1-0.

Mathieu Schneider pounded home a slaphot from the point on the powerplay to pull the Moose even 48 seconds later. Schneider's third goal of the season made it 1-1.

Keith Aucoin found a seam between Moose defencemen Taylor Ellington and Brian Salcido to streak in alone on Cory Schneider. A quick shot to the glove side found the back of the net, and Aucoin's 23rd goal of the season gave the Bears a 2-1 lead at the 12:42 mark of the first period. That score would hold steady to the first intermission.

Marco Rosa was sent to the box at 1:28 of the second period for charging, and the Bears went back to the powerplay. However, things got worse for the Moose when Mathieu Schneider was given two minutes of time in the box for hooking 1:02 later. With two Moose players in the box, Chris Bourque hammered a one-timer home from the slot to give the Bears a 3-1 lead on the powerplay at 3:07.

Marco Rosa brought the Herd within one goal at 4:55 when he shoveled home a loose puck under Holtby while a conference of players stood in front of the goaltender. Rosa's 12th goal of the season had the Moose trailing by a 3-2 score.

At the 6:26 mark, Steve Pinizzotto converted a Kyle Wilson pass from behind the net when he found a hole in the right corner. Pinizzotto's eighth of the season restored the Bears' two-goal lead at 4-2. Surprisingly, this was the last goal of the period despite there being 20 shots on net between the two teams. Hershey led in shots-on-net by a 20-16 margin.

Marco Rosa's 13th goal of the season was set up by a gorgeous feed from Michael Grabner. Grabner ate up a turnover and fed Rosa who beat Holtby to make it 4-3 just 2:41 into the third period. Let's just say that the Moose had poked a sleeping bear for too long.

Nikita Kashirsky was sent off at 6:04 for slashing, and the Bears went back to the powerplay. Alexandre Giroux sent a rocket from the point towards the net, and Andrew Gordon got a piece of it to deflect it past Schneider at the 7:25 mark. Gordon's 20th goal of the season on the powerplay put the Bears up 5-3.

39 seconds later, Oskar Osala scored his 11th goal of the season, and Kyle Wilson added his 17th of the season 1:20 after Osala's marker. Before the Moose could breathe, they were down 7-3.

Three minutes later, Jay Beagle scored a gorgeous shorthanded goal while teammate Patrick McNeill was off for hooking. Beagle skated down the middle of the ice after the Moose turned the puck over, allowing him to break in alone on Schneider. He deked around Schneider's left leg, and notched his eighth of the season past the sprawling Moose goaltender. Hershey led 8-3.

Like any mauling, it mercifully came to an end after Beagle's goal, and the Bears claimed victory with their 8-3 thrashing of the Moose. The Hershey fans went home happy on Friday night, and the Hershey Bears left the Moose in a bloody mess. With the loss, the Moose dropped to 23-18-4-1, but there was no silver lining on this game. Instead, all the Moose had to look forward to was a Saturday night game against these same Bears.

Dead Moose Carcass

The Moose looked to rebound from a disappointing effort that saw the Bears hang a season-high eight goals on the Herd, but this was nothing more than a repeat of the mauling they took a night before. Daren Machesney was thrown to his former Bear teammates, but they took little mercy on their former friend and ally. Braden Holtby returned to the den for the Bears.

Guillaume Desbiens solved Holtby just 1:19 as the Moose looked like they were going to reverse their fortunes early on. Mario Bliznak found Desbiens with a cross-ice pass that Desbien zipped past Holtby on the right side for his ninth goal of the season. The Moose jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the surprised Bears. However, you never surprise a bear. Ever. Because just when you think it's safe, you're bear dinner.

Keith Aucoin rifled a slapshot past Machesney on the powerplay with Evan Oberg in the box. Aucoin's 24th of the season knotted the game at 1-1 at 7:14. Oskar Osala netted his 12th of the season at 11:50 after zipping the puck upstairs past Machesney. And 27 seconds later, Jay Beagle scored his ninth of the season with a low shot that eluded Machesney.

For all the good that Manitoba had done in the first few minutes, it came undone in a hurry in the first period as the Bears closed out the first stanza with a 3-1 lead on the scoreboard, and a 22-9 advantage in shots. The Moose should have considered that a victory in itself as it could have been much, much worse.

The second period didn't fare much better, however. The Bears were buzzing the Moose net like jet fighters in an air raid.

Keith Aucoin scored his second of the night and 25th of season just 1:48 in as his wrist shot found the back of the net. This gave the Bears a 4-1 lead, and the rout was just starting.

Defenceman John Carlson made the Moose pay during some four-on-four hockey when he broke in all alone on Machesney, and ripped a shot past Machesney's glove hand. Carlson's third of the season made it 5-1 at 8:07 mark of the second period.

In what should also be considered a bright spot for the Moose, Evan Rankin scored his first career AHL goal at the 14:17 mark. Rankin had been signed by the Moose earlier that day on a professional tryout contract, and he showed management that he deserves a look with his marker.

With 40 minutes in the book, Hershey led by a 5-2 score, and they had a huge advantage in the shot department with a 34-20 count. If there was a time to wave the white flag, this may have been it. However, professional hockey doesn't allow for teams to throw in the towel, so it was on to the third period.

With Travis Ramsey off for an early tripping penalty, Andrew Gordon took full advantage on the powerplay. Off a beautiful backdoor feed from Keith Aucoin, Gordon scored his 21st goal of the season at 1:05, and the Bears took a 6-2 lead.

The powerplay continued to kill the Moose. Guillaume Desbiens took a delay-of-game penalty, and Chris Bourque used the extra room to make it 7-2. Bourque's 13th goal of the season came at the 11:13 mark of the third period.

Boyd Kane scored his 16th goal of the season with 1:39 to play in the game. Despite the score, you would have thought that the Moose's pride would have eventually prompted them to play with a little more passion, but it wasn't to be.

After the slaughtering on Saturday night that resulted in an 8-2 Hershey win, the Moose drop to a 23-19-4-1 record.

What Can I Say?

Honestly, when you're outshot 76-58 and outscored 16-5 in the last two games, there's probably going to be a whole lot of wind sprints at practice in the next few days. This weekend is one to be forgotten.

Combine that effort with the weekend before, and the Moose have been outscored 29-9 in their last four games. This is not the team that played so confidently two weeks ago at MTS Centre against the Bears whatsoever. Whatever has changed since then hasn't helped one bit.

Moose Infirmary

There were a few key additions to sick bay this week, and they have a lasting impact on the team. For a fragile blueline as it is, losing a couple of key cogs isn't helping matters at all.

• Mathieu Schneider - knee injury. Reports say he tweaked his knee during Monday's practice, and will likely be out for 7-14 days.
• Nathan McIver - broken hand. It could be up to a month before McIver returns to the Moose lineup.
• Geoff Waugh - broken hand. It's the same story for Waugh as his broken hand needs time to mend. Losing both McIver and Waugh is a huge blow for the team.
• Alexandre Bolduc - shoulder surgery. Bolduc blew out his shoulder in a fight while with the Vancouver Canucks, and the gritty forward is most likely done for the season. This is a huge blow to the offensively-challenged Moose.
  

Bodies Everywhere

Players were recalled. Players were signed. Players were back from injury. All in all, it was a busy few days of paperwork for GM Craig Heisinger and head coach Scott Arniel.

• Nolan Baumgartner - recalled by Vancouver. Baumgartner's play and recent AHL All-Star appearance prompted the Canucks to recall the veteran in place of injured Sami Salo. If you're counting, that's four Moose blueliners who are now missing.
• Marty Murray - return from injury. Murray was out with a groin injury, but should be ready for action tonight in Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Matt Pettinger - return from injury. Pettinger was also nursing a groin injury, but he's expected back tonight as well.
• Nikita Kashirsky - signed to PTO. Kashirsky has been plying his trade with the South Carolina Sting Rays of the ECHL, and comes to the Moose having scored 17 goals and 14 assists in 36 games this season. The 24 year-old forward was an ECHL All-Star this season.
• Chad Painchaud - signed to PTO. Painchaud has been with the Victoria Salmon Kings this season in the ECHL where the forward has scored 18 goals and 28 assists in 40 games this season. He does have 38 AHL games to his name with both Chicago and the Iowa Chops.
• Evan Rankin - signed to PTO. Rankin has been playing with the Toledo Walleye this season. The 23 year-old forward has 20 goals and 14 assists in 41 games this season in the ECHL, and spent time in the Central Hockey League last year.
• Tom Galvin - signed to PTO. Galvin comes to the Moose having played with Grand Rapids and Providence in previous years. The 30 year-old defenceman was on the blueline for Muskegon of the IHL this season before the Moose came calling.

Full Steam Ahead

After having been dismantled by the Hershey Bears, the Moose travel into Worcester, Massachusetts for a couple of games against the Sharks. They play the Baby Sharks on Wednesday and Friday before moving on to tackle the Baby Penguins in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday and Sunday.

The Sharks are holding "Guaranteed Win Night" on Friday for their fans. If they win, everyone goes home happy. If they lose, everyone gets tickets to a Sharks game for free! Let's hope that the Moose show up and cost the Sharks some tickets on Friday.

Steven Zalewski leads the team in scoring among their active players with 17 goals and 25 assists. Former Moose defenceman Danny Groulx is right behind him with 32 points, so the Moose won't have it easy in their defensive zone. Alex Stalock is 25-10-1 with a 2.50 GAA, so scoring will require an all-out effort for the Moose.

In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Dustin Jeffrey leads the team in scoring with 43 points while winger Luca Caputi leads the team with 14 goals. John Curry is a respectable 16-13-1 with a 2.54 GAA in the Penguins' net. Being that these games will be Game Two and Three of a three-in-three set, the Moose will need a big effort.

Let's be honest here: with all the turnover in the roster for the Moose, four out of eight points would be a minor miracle. If anything, the Moose simply need a win right now, and that's where they need to start. Don't worry about points; rather, just get a "W", and go from there.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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