Earlier this month, Chris Pronger returned to the ice after missing close to two weeks worth of play with an eye injury. An eye injury that was caused by an inadvertent stick to the face. One of those injuries that everyone talks about as a career ending injury if it had been just a few inches either way, it certainly could have. When he returned, he had a visor attached to his helmet. Just recently, Ian White of the Detroit Red Wings, missed a week's worth of games for accidental blocked a shot with his face. It broke a cheek bone, another reason you can never question a hockey player's toughness. So, it has brought up a debate of whether or not visors should be required for all NHL players.
It seems to be one of those things that players acknowledge is a good idea, but can hinder their play. Visors apparently cut down on their peripheral vision, and vision is key to the game of hockey. Those no look passes don't create themselves. It also can create issues with the enforcers. If they get into a fight, how can your fist go through their face if there is a piece of plastic in the way? Any argument you hear is just a mask for the real argument against the visors: it's not manly. I know that hockey is a game of manly men, but there also has to be a point when safety comes before masculinity.
I wasn't around for the debate about everyone being mandated to wear helmets, but I'm sure it went the same way. It blocks my vision, it doesn't feel right, if I punch someone the helmet hurts my hand. Everyone got over it and it was for the better. You can't tell me that helmets are a bad idea. Visors are the same way, it's a smart safe advancement for the players. I think that they should be mandated for every player. I don't want to hear this debate again after a player can't lace up his skates anymore because of an eye injury. All the league would have to do is grandfather everyone in. Anyone who is playing in the NHL right now, doesn't have to wear a visor, but anyone who comes into the league from this season onward must wear a visor.
The big thing that I don't understand is that in the lower leagues, they wear visors or cages, so what is the issue? I don't know if they restrict vision of the players, but it will keep them safe and that is what the commissioner should take into consideration. No one will question any player that wears a visor. I sure wouldn't. Would you want to be considered manly for not wearing a protective visor and having a shorter career because of eye or facial injuries or be considered less manly and have a longer career because your face is safe?
29 November 2011
26 November 2011
Almost got away without it
The NBA has tentatively reached an agreement to end their lockout. The agreement, if approved, would start the season on Christmas day. All of this is according to ESPN. I'm sure we'll hear more about this as the story progresses.
We almost got away with no NBA season and how glorious would that have been? Further more, if they do reach this agreement, why would they start on Christmas day? How horrible of an idea is that? Why not just start on New Year's Day and play later into the calendar year? It'll give them more time to get back in shape. I understand that they have played games on Christmas for years and years, but they have been just two or three marque games and are meant to draw a huge amount of numbers and television numbers, but are they going to have every team play?
Outside of the fact that they are starting to play, how many fans did they lose with this lockout? There are going to be the die hard fans that will watch regardless of the lockout, but what about the fans that are just casual? It will take a long time to get those fans back. Baseball and hockey both dealt with it after their lockouts and it took years and years to get the fans back. Basketball will deal with it too. The arenas will be filled from time to time and for teams that are really good, but the teams that are bad, their arenas will be emptier than they would have been if the season was not in a lockout.
You know, I think that they should just cancel the season and do nothing but train for next year. It's the best for everyone involved.
We almost got away with no NBA season and how glorious would that have been? Further more, if they do reach this agreement, why would they start on Christmas day? How horrible of an idea is that? Why not just start on New Year's Day and play later into the calendar year? It'll give them more time to get back in shape. I understand that they have played games on Christmas for years and years, but they have been just two or three marque games and are meant to draw a huge amount of numbers and television numbers, but are they going to have every team play?
Outside of the fact that they are starting to play, how many fans did they lose with this lockout? There are going to be the die hard fans that will watch regardless of the lockout, but what about the fans that are just casual? It will take a long time to get those fans back. Baseball and hockey both dealt with it after their lockouts and it took years and years to get the fans back. Basketball will deal with it too. The arenas will be filled from time to time and for teams that are really good, but the teams that are bad, their arenas will be emptier than they would have been if the season was not in a lockout.
You know, I think that they should just cancel the season and do nothing but train for next year. It's the best for everyone involved.
22 November 2011
Early decorating
How early in the winter season is it okay to decorate for Christmas? I understand people get really really excited for it and jump the gun, but is two weeks into November too early? I think so. Some apartments around our complex have lights on their decks or porches or trees in their windows and I thought that it was time to lay down the law on decorating. And it's real simple: Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is so close to the end of November that why not just wait? It's not like there is a ton of decorating people do for Thanksgiving, but they just need to take a break. A few days into the month of November the Halloween decorations come down and it should be time to take a break. Realize that your house or apartment does not always need to have lights hanging off of the eaves or pictures in the windows. I always thought that December was the time for Christmas decorating, not November. Christmas decorations stay up through the majority of December through the new year, but not too long past the new year. Within the first week. Growing up, the decorations were always down before my brother's birthday which is 10 January, so there's a week and a half window in which to take everything down.
We got our first snow last week and I immediately thought about decorating for Christmas. It was the first time in years and years that there was snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. Snow brings out the spirit of Christmas and the decorating that goes along with it. However, it's all about timing. Decorate too early and you seem too eager, decorate too late and you lose out on how long your house looks like a fun holiday house. I think that the best time frame for decorating your house has to be some time in between the 7th and the 11th of December.
Not to be too particular or anything like that.
Thanksgiving is so close to the end of November that why not just wait? It's not like there is a ton of decorating people do for Thanksgiving, but they just need to take a break. A few days into the month of November the Halloween decorations come down and it should be time to take a break. Realize that your house or apartment does not always need to have lights hanging off of the eaves or pictures in the windows. I always thought that December was the time for Christmas decorating, not November. Christmas decorations stay up through the majority of December through the new year, but not too long past the new year. Within the first week. Growing up, the decorations were always down before my brother's birthday which is 10 January, so there's a week and a half window in which to take everything down.
We got our first snow last week and I immediately thought about decorating for Christmas. It was the first time in years and years that there was snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. Snow brings out the spirit of Christmas and the decorating that goes along with it. However, it's all about timing. Decorate too early and you seem too eager, decorate too late and you lose out on how long your house looks like a fun holiday house. I think that the best time frame for decorating your house has to be some time in between the 7th and the 11th of December.
Not to be too particular or anything like that.
19 November 2011
Life milestones
A few months from now, I will be thirty. It's one of those life milestones that gets overshadowed unless it's happening to you. Normally, when you hear people talking about their life's milestones, it's twenty first birthdays, sixteen, eighteen, forty, etc. Thirty can be big if you want it to be, but it seems to be more of a second thought with all the other age milestones.
I want to make my thirtieth birthday a memorable one. I want to get a tattoo [inspired by my sister who has a few so blame her for that mom! :o)]. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head of what I want. If anyone had asked me about seven or eight years ago if I would ever get one, I probably would have said no. I don't know why, but it's something that I want now. I was told once that if you can picture what you want, where you want it, for at least six months, you are definitely ready for ink.
And who knows, two months from now, when my birthday does roll around, I may change my mind completely. But then again, I could have a tattoo in mind that goes shoulder to shoulder.
I want to make my thirtieth birthday a memorable one. I want to get a tattoo [inspired by my sister who has a few so blame her for that mom! :o)]. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head of what I want. If anyone had asked me about seven or eight years ago if I would ever get one, I probably would have said no. I don't know why, but it's something that I want now. I was told once that if you can picture what you want, where you want it, for at least six months, you are definitely ready for ink.
And who knows, two months from now, when my birthday does roll around, I may change my mind completely. But then again, I could have a tattoo in mind that goes shoulder to shoulder.
17 November 2011
Why cold is great
It's getting cold outside. I checked the weather this morning and it showed that it was twenty degrees, but felt like it was ten. It's an exciting time. I think that I have always enjoyed the cold. I know that as an adult, I prefer the cold to warm or hot weather. With cold weather, you can bundle up. Put on a heavy coat, a scarf, gloves, hat, etc. When it starts to get hot outside, you just walk around in shorts and short sleeve shirts. There is no way to walk around with a portable A/C unit in your pocket (or is there.....).
One thing that I have noticed in the early mornings when it is cold outside is that everything just sounds different. It's quiet but there is something weird about the quietness. I can't really explain it, but everything is just that, different. There's something in the air when it is cold outside and I love every second of it.
I love putting on a heavy coat, a wool hat and scarf. I love having just a little slit to look through in between the hat and scarf. Just that little bit that reminds me of a cartoon character that gets shooed out the door by their mom as they have to walk to school in a blizzard.
The one thing above all else is that makes it great when it is cold outside is being in your own house and kicking back in a pair of sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt. It's great coming home from a long day of work and relaxing on a couch with your favorite sweats and grabbing a beer or a scotch and putting your feet up in your slippers and just letting it all go.
One thing that I have noticed in the early mornings when it is cold outside is that everything just sounds different. It's quiet but there is something weird about the quietness. I can't really explain it, but everything is just that, different. There's something in the air when it is cold outside and I love every second of it.
I love putting on a heavy coat, a wool hat and scarf. I love having just a little slit to look through in between the hat and scarf. Just that little bit that reminds me of a cartoon character that gets shooed out the door by their mom as they have to walk to school in a blizzard.
The one thing above all else is that makes it great when it is cold outside is being in your own house and kicking back in a pair of sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt. It's great coming home from a long day of work and relaxing on a couch with your favorite sweats and grabbing a beer or a scotch and putting your feet up in your slippers and just letting it all go.
13 November 2011
Permanent move
What constitutes permanent residency? I pose this question because we went and got our Minnesota driver's licenses last week which is one of several steps I think it takes to become a resident of a state.
It was interesting because despite the fact that we both have been driving for more than a decade, the state of Minnesota requires everyone who is getting their license for the first time in the state to take a forty question test. You need an eighty percent to pass the test. We both passed. With an eighty percent. BOOM! The test had some questions that you would never think of. Like, 'how many feet are you suppose to leave between you and someone biking on the road?' It's something you never really think of. Then they would have a question like, 'true or false: Alcohol impairs your judgement when operating a vehicle.' There were some questions that were no brainers and others which made me think how did I pass this course in the first place when I was fourteen and didn't have the experience?
So we both got our licenses, but that is just one of things it takes to be a permanent resident. The biggest thing has to be living somewhere. The first two weeks we were here, we lived with my uncle so we didn't technically live anywhere. We were out of our lease in Wichita and had no address in Minnesota. We missed our one opportunity to get off the grid and disappear forever. At the beginning of September, we moved into our apartment and step one was completed. Although there are some that would not consider living in an apartment a move towards a permanent residency because you could just be here for a year and be gone. However, we're here for the long haul, so I'll count it. Step one: completed.
Step two and three go hand in hand. Driver's license and license plate for your car. Both of these things expire eventually, so no matter how much you delay, you eventually have to get them both. These are the things that are the biggest road blocks when it comes to becoming a resident just because they cost quite a bit of money to get. Okay, so not a ton for a driver's license. It was twenty five dollars. License plates can be expensive, around one hundred dollars. I am waiting until July to get my license plate because that is when it expires. The license plates in Kansas come with property tax and it cost around one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty dollars depending on how new your car is, so I am getting my money's worth out of my Kansas license plate.
So it isn't until those three things fall into place that you become a permanent resident of a state when you are an adult. You can't hold kids to these standards because they can't drive.
It was interesting because despite the fact that we both have been driving for more than a decade, the state of Minnesota requires everyone who is getting their license for the first time in the state to take a forty question test. You need an eighty percent to pass the test. We both passed. With an eighty percent. BOOM! The test had some questions that you would never think of. Like, 'how many feet are you suppose to leave between you and someone biking on the road?' It's something you never really think of. Then they would have a question like, 'true or false: Alcohol impairs your judgement when operating a vehicle.' There were some questions that were no brainers and others which made me think how did I pass this course in the first place when I was fourteen and didn't have the experience?
So we both got our licenses, but that is just one of things it takes to be a permanent resident. The biggest thing has to be living somewhere. The first two weeks we were here, we lived with my uncle so we didn't technically live anywhere. We were out of our lease in Wichita and had no address in Minnesota. We missed our one opportunity to get off the grid and disappear forever. At the beginning of September, we moved into our apartment and step one was completed. Although there are some that would not consider living in an apartment a move towards a permanent residency because you could just be here for a year and be gone. However, we're here for the long haul, so I'll count it. Step one: completed.
Step two and three go hand in hand. Driver's license and license plate for your car. Both of these things expire eventually, so no matter how much you delay, you eventually have to get them both. These are the things that are the biggest road blocks when it comes to becoming a resident just because they cost quite a bit of money to get. Okay, so not a ton for a driver's license. It was twenty five dollars. License plates can be expensive, around one hundred dollars. I am waiting until July to get my license plate because that is when it expires. The license plates in Kansas come with property tax and it cost around one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty dollars depending on how new your car is, so I am getting my money's worth out of my Kansas license plate.
So it isn't until those three things fall into place that you become a permanent resident of a state when you are an adult. You can't hold kids to these standards because they can't drive.
10 November 2011
Writing barrage
Every single year, I try to write at least the same number or more posts than the previous year. The goal is one hundred and twenty three this year. Looking at the number of posts I have now, it's going to be quite a busy month and a half coming up here at My Own Manifesto. Enjoy or be disgusted, don't really care.
I have an issue with the Veteran's Day sales that stores have. Specific two or three day sales that are plastered with savings. Now, when I think of Veteran's Day, I don't think of going to Macy's or Kohl's or a furniture store warehouse to save money. I think of men and women serving their country. Not just the United States, but any person that has served in any branch of their military in any country. It's a day to remember any person that has fallen in the defense of their country, for something that was bigger than they were. It's a day to thank anyone you know that has served. It's a day not for going to stores to do your best to save some extra money on something you want to buy.
This holiday falls in line with the Columbus Day sales you see advertised. And President's Day sales. What is the connection to people coming in and saving money on a couch and Christopher Columbus mutilating, raping, and killing his way into the history books? Do you think that if George Washington could be here now he would be so happy to see that you can save an extra twenty percent at the local department store during President's Day weekend? Do you think a veteran of the first Gulf War gives two shits about any of that? I think not.
The one nice thing that I have seen is what some restaurants are advertising that they are doing for vets. It isn't anything major, but still, it's a sign of gratitude. Some McDonald's (okay, not a real restaurant) here in the Twin Cities are donating portions of their earnings on Veteran's Day to the Minnesota Military Family Foundation. A nice gesture. Kind of makes me want to go find one of these McDonald's and clog my arteries for a good cause. Many restaurants are giving veterans free meals on Veteran's Day. It's a great way to say thank you in the best way that their business can.
I just think that the best way that you or I can say thank you to a vet is to just say that. Thank you! Thank you to all the men and women around the world, no matter what country you are from, thank you. Thank you so very much for thinking of your country before yourself.
I have an issue with the Veteran's Day sales that stores have. Specific two or three day sales that are plastered with savings. Now, when I think of Veteran's Day, I don't think of going to Macy's or Kohl's or a furniture store warehouse to save money. I think of men and women serving their country. Not just the United States, but any person that has served in any branch of their military in any country. It's a day to remember any person that has fallen in the defense of their country, for something that was bigger than they were. It's a day to thank anyone you know that has served. It's a day not for going to stores to do your best to save some extra money on something you want to buy.
This holiday falls in line with the Columbus Day sales you see advertised. And President's Day sales. What is the connection to people coming in and saving money on a couch and Christopher Columbus mutilating, raping, and killing his way into the history books? Do you think that if George Washington could be here now he would be so happy to see that you can save an extra twenty percent at the local department store during President's Day weekend? Do you think a veteran of the first Gulf War gives two shits about any of that? I think not.
The one nice thing that I have seen is what some restaurants are advertising that they are doing for vets. It isn't anything major, but still, it's a sign of gratitude. Some McDonald's (okay, not a real restaurant) here in the Twin Cities are donating portions of their earnings on Veteran's Day to the Minnesota Military Family Foundation. A nice gesture. Kind of makes me want to go find one of these McDonald's and clog my arteries for a good cause. Many restaurants are giving veterans free meals on Veteran's Day. It's a great way to say thank you in the best way that their business can.
I just think that the best way that you or I can say thank you to a vet is to just say that. Thank you! Thank you to all the men and women around the world, no matter what country you are from, thank you. Thank you so very much for thinking of your country before yourself.
08 November 2011
Up goes Frazier, up goes Fraizer!
Joe Frazier has passed away at the age of sixty seven. 'Smokin' Joe Frazier is spoken about in awe and reverence amongst sports people. From all accounts, he was a great athlete. I never got the opportunity to see the man box. I have only seen clips of some of his fights. He was a true warrior, apparently.
Boxing is a sport I will never truly understand. I could not be paid enough to stand in a ring and get punched. Repeatedly. Can't do it. But some people can. Frazier was one of them. When boxing was big, he was bigger than the sport. The first man to beat Ali. Olympic champion. I will never understand the sport because I did not grow up with it. I did not grow up seeing the big names on Friday nights or Saturday main events. I did not get to see the rise or fall of the men of the ring.
Once again, it is one of those situations when you read or hear about some great person before your time passing away. You hear the stories that others have of these people and wish, just wish, for once that you can tell these same types of stories. But for that to happen, someone has to pass away.
And no one wants that.
Boxing is a sport I will never truly understand. I could not be paid enough to stand in a ring and get punched. Repeatedly. Can't do it. But some people can. Frazier was one of them. When boxing was big, he was bigger than the sport. The first man to beat Ali. Olympic champion. I will never understand the sport because I did not grow up with it. I did not grow up seeing the big names on Friday nights or Saturday main events. I did not get to see the rise or fall of the men of the ring.
Once again, it is one of those situations when you read or hear about some great person before your time passing away. You hear the stories that others have of these people and wish, just wish, for once that you can tell these same types of stories. But for that to happen, someone has to pass away.
And no one wants that.
05 November 2011
Early holiday
I worked in close proximity to our seasonal department today. I died inside a little bit today because of it. Christmas spluged all over. (if you don't understand that statement, just move on). I enjoy the Christmas holiday, it's just that it starts so damn early in the retail world that by the time the end of December comes around, when you should be really excited for it, you just want it to be over.
Everyone has their favorite holiday. Whether it's the fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day (let's not kid ourselves on that one, not even Italians like Columbus Day) or another holiday all together. Christmas is my favorite. And I'm not even talking about it from a kid's stand point, because what kid doesn't like Christmas morning? As an adult, it's always just been fun because it's about family. We've been lucky enough to have my in-laws come visit us down in Kansas the past four years because they are retired and my brother-in-law even came over from Colorado. It's just been nice to have some family there. The second year we lived in Wichita, we didn't get to go home and no one came to visit. It was depressing because we didn't have family around and it didn't help that there was no snow on the ground. Luckily, we don't have to worry about the no snow thing anymore.
This year, I planned on not letting the early Christmas set at work get to me. And that lasted all of a week.
Dammit.
Everyone has their favorite holiday. Whether it's the fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day (let's not kid ourselves on that one, not even Italians like Columbus Day) or another holiday all together. Christmas is my favorite. And I'm not even talking about it from a kid's stand point, because what kid doesn't like Christmas morning? As an adult, it's always just been fun because it's about family. We've been lucky enough to have my in-laws come visit us down in Kansas the past four years because they are retired and my brother-in-law even came over from Colorado. It's just been nice to have some family there. The second year we lived in Wichita, we didn't get to go home and no one came to visit. It was depressing because we didn't have family around and it didn't help that there was no snow on the ground. Luckily, we don't have to worry about the no snow thing anymore.
This year, I planned on not letting the early Christmas set at work get to me. And that lasted all of a week.
Dammit.
04 November 2011
It could be worse....
One more little tidbit on the Occupy Wall Street movement then I promise to move on. And it's not like this is some big lengthy post, it's just a link. A link to the past and what the occupiers could face if we lived in a shitty country. Maybe not shitty, maybe if we lived in a more oppressive country. Yeah, let's go with that.
Hit it. And be thankful this isn't the case.
Hit it. And be thankful this isn't the case.
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