Pledge to see "An Inconvenient Truth" this weekend!

An Inconvenient Truth, the critically acclaimed movie based on Al Gore's book on Global Warming, opens this weekend in Philadelphia. I strongly urge you see the movie on opening weekend because the movie distributor, Paramount Classics, will donate 5% of ticket sales from opening weekend to the Alliance for Climate Protection. You can pledge to see the movie by going Here. Not only do I plan on seeing the movie, but I have Gore's book by the same name, and I plan on reading it just as soon as I get through 31 Days.

So far, the film is getting fantastic reviews. "...Intellectually exhilarating. An Inconvenient Truth is a necessary film," writes A.O. Scott of The New York Times. I'm not saying that should be a reason to see the movie, though. I encourage all of you to see it because this is perhaps the biggest threat to humankind that we have ever known. I'd listen to an argument that atomic weapons holds that distinction, but we can disarm. It's going to take a superhuman effort times a million to reverse or stop the onslaught of global warming consequences. It may be too late, but that certainly isn't an excuse to not try and combat this problem, on a global scale. But, it all starts with you.

Al Gore has been thrust back into the national spotlight with his relentlessness and dedication to this cause. "What changed in the U.S. with Hurricane Katrina was a feeling that we have entered a period of consequences," said Gore recently about climate change. Who can argue that point? Before Katrina, people sounding the global warming alarm were portrayed as fanatics and heretics. As Gore and many scientists now rightly contend, the debate is over. It's now time to begin coming up with solutions, remedies, and strategies to deal with this problem.

I've blogged several times about my strong feelings on global warming, and those feelings are only growing stronger. In April, Time ran a well written and eye opening article on global warming; if you missed it, go to that series Here. Another magazine, U.S. News and World Report, ran a piece on global warming in its June 5, 2006 issue. In it, several mind-numbing statistics really grabbed me by the throat:

In the Pacific Northwest, temperatures have increased by 1.5 degrees since 1900, resulting in a 50% loss of snowpack. This could have a devastating impact on water reserves; in one of the wettest areas of the continental United States. The snowpack in the mountains traditionally serves as a "natural banking system" that allows rainwater to slowly seep into the ground and streams, filling up reservoirs for the summer dry season. Now, more precipitation is falling as rain, which quickly runs off and is lost. Think about that for a second, because it dramatically illustrates just how enormous this problem is - one of the wettest areas of the country, precipitation wise, may go through a drought because of climate change.

Want more proof we are swimming in the deep end with no life jacket? The article continues: "Even if people everywhere unplugged their applicances, left their cars home, and shuttered their factories today, enough fossil fuel emissions are already in the atmosphere to heat up the planet an additional 1 degree Fahrenheit this century, experts say." However, emissions are increasing, not only in the United States (the king of greenhouse gases), but dramatically increasing in China and India. And this upward trend is certain to continue (and some say skyrocket). Some scenarios peg the temperature increase at 2.5 to 8 degrees. Even 2.5 will have sea levels rising three feet, by conservative estimates.

The only fools left who think global warming is a myth work for an oil company, a fossil fuel power plant, the Bush administration, or a lobbying group for one of these groups.

Scared yet? Or just confused? No matter your outlook, you are not alone.

Just like the universal health care misinformation campaign in the early 1990s, and the bullshit campaigns by big tobacco before it, there is a well-financed campaign to misinform and confuse the public.

Step to the mike, Mr. Gore...

"We are dumping tens of millions of tons [of carbon dioxide] into the atmosphere every day, and it has literally changed the relationship between the Earth and the sun. It's a challenge to our moral imagination to understand we are now like a bull in a china shop. [And] there has been a very well-organized and lavishly funded effort by a few irresponsible polluters to intentionally confuse the American people by spending millions of dollars a year on pseudo-science reports - the same way the tobacco industry used that technique to stave off action to save the lives of smokers."

I'll leave it right there, since I can do those comments no justice.

Be proactive, get informed, be afraid. Throughout history, Americans have shone brightest when we were scared and worked our hardest: The Manhattan Project, World War I, World War II, the Space Race, arms control, civil rights, etc. With education, public will and dedication, we can hopefully stem the tide or even begin to reverse the devastating consequences of climate change. There are many Web sites you can visit to find out ways to lessen your environmental impact. The Inconvenient Truth site is a good place to start.

The Heat is on!

Now those are cool pictures of one of the NBA's brightest young stars, Miami's Dwayne Wade, a.k.a. "Flash." I love the Heat, and I love cooler sports shots even more.

I still can't believe it, but for the first time ever, the Miami Heat could make it to the NBA Finals tonight. They are giving the Detroit Pistons fits. I'm a bit surprised by this, and I've previously blogged. The Pistons are the two-time defending Eastern Conference Champions, and I wasn't sure the Heat would have the gas to get past them in these playoffs. They still haven't, but they have to win one game in the next three to get there, and I sure like their chances of doing just that.

I've been a Miami fan since 1988, and there have only ever been three things to cheer about, in this order: 1. getting Pat Riley, 2. trading for Shaq, and 3. Drafting Dwayne Wade. Notice there is no mention of playoff success on that list, but that could all change this year.

It's also exciting for me on another note - I've never had two of my favorite teams play for their respective league's championship in the same season. This year, the Oilers are there, and the Heat could be on their way. Wow - I still can't believe it. I've always been a huge Shaq fan, so seeing him get another chance at a rock would be great, but seeing Miami get its first title would be very memorable and cool. I still think this series could go long, though. Detroit will not go easily.

One more cool picture...

Don't worry kid, I'll get you a fat bling ring when we get past these Pistons!

Go Heat!

Oh Edmonton, O Canada, Oh YEA!!!

What an unbelievable night, what an unreal playoffs, what a thrill! It's pretty tough to overstate how crazed I was last night when the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 16 years with a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. (Maybe not as crazed as this Edmonton fan from the Blue Mile in Edmonton, Alberta last night, [left] but I was pretty close!) Quick confession - I was out with friends last night to celebrate a birthday, so I didn't watch the game live, but I DVR'd it and watched it in full, start to finish (and commercial free) when I got home at 3 a.m. Easiest all nighter I've ever had.

Anyway, we were at a bar and I was doing some gawd awful karaoke, and I lost my nerve and checked my cell phone - I just HAD to know and couldn't wait.

I finished singing, read this score, and made this announcement: "The Edmonton Oilers are going to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 16 years! Woo Hoo baby!"

Silence. (Keep in mind, this is a bar in Philadelphia - I'm lucky I didn't get capped)

Then, without thinking, I blurted out, "Oilers in 6!" (I know, ridiculous - I don't even know who Edmonton is facing in the Finals yet!) I step off stage, and some girl goes, "Oilers and sex? All right!" I just laughed, and promptly did a shot with Vandra to toast the Oilers.



Wrapping up the song before I break the big news to the crowd. Notice the words on the screen - from a classic Beastie Boys hit. Notice I didn't need no stinkin' screen. And also notice my hand motion goes with the lyrics on said screen!
**

We are going all the way, and I don't care which team we face! I'm happy, delirious and pretty much drunk with joy. It's been a looong 16 years. It's going to be a tough, and probably long, series, but the way the Oilers, and specifically Edmonton Goalie Dwayne Roloson are playing, I think the Oilers will be a very difficult team to beat in a seven-game series.

A few pics from last night...



A very cool overhead shot of Edmonton's new hero, Goalie and Conn Smyth Trophy candidate Dwayne Roloson. This guy has icewater in his veins. What a surprise, what a steal from the Minnesota Wild.



Raffi Torres pots the game- and series-clincher in the second period. Beautiful.



Edmonton superstar Center Shawn Horcoff celebrates Raffi's rip. You just knew I was going to include another fisheye goalcam photo, didn't ya? I love these shots. Streaks in this shot are due to a camera malfunction.



Edmonton RW Ryan Smyth (center) celebrates sweet victory, and his first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. He is the longest tenured Oiler on this team, and he has endured many hard seasons, and defeats. No one on this team, and I mean no one, deserves this more than #94.



Grown men happy as kids. It's so awesome to see, especially when they are wearing Oiler sweaters. Michael Peca, #37, and Ales (Al-ISH) Hemsky are two of my heroes on this team. Peca deserves particular praise because his regular season was just short of a disaster. He scored 9 goals, while earning $4 million US. That's $444,444.44 per goal. Ungood. However, as baaaaad as Peca's regular season was, he's been the exact opposite so far in the playoffs. He's been worth every penny - it's almost impossible to quantify how great he has played. I hope he comes back next year, but I doubt it. Wait, who cares about next year? We've got a Stanley Cup Final to play!



Warrior, say hi to a warrior. Anaheim Captain Scott Neidermayer, a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, shakes hands with Edmonton's Ethan Moreau. There is no post-game tradition that is classier in all of sports than the handshakes after a hard fought hockey playoff series. You do not see this in baseball, basketball or football. Sure, some players will mingle and shake hands (especially in football and basketball, not so much in baseball), but hockey players actually line up and shake hands; every player greets every player, and this includes the coaches. It's a wonderful throwback to when athletes respected the game. I love this about hockey.



The goalies exchange pleasantries. Just another cool shot from this cool tradition. Not even 20 minutes prior to this picture, they were competing, and competing hard for their respective teams. Now, it's over, and congratulations (and consolations) are exchanged.



Don't touch that trophy! Oilers Captain Jason Smith smiles and gets a picture taken with the Campbell trophy, but he doesn't touch it, and the Edmonton players pretty much ignored it. Some teams think it's a jinx to touch the trophy, others celebrate and hold it high. No matter your point of view, you can point to evidence that it's either a jinx or it isn't. The '94 Rangers touched the Wales trophy and they hoisted the Cup; other teams haven't dared touch the trophy and they won the Cup. Either way, this is what Smith chose to do. "I thought about it, and I just thought it was the right thing to do," said Smith after the team left the ice. No one can blame him - it's his decision. Besides, he wants to be like other Oiler captains in the team's wonderful history who are called over to the table to lift up something a little heavier and a helluva lot more prestigious...



I still believe!

Another season over... damn!

So, another season of honoring false idols is over. Thank freakin' God! From the annoying theme music, to asshole Simon, to pathetic Paula. Gee, I'm really going to miss it. But, just when I got on my haughty high horse about people patheticly tuning in and never missing an episode of this drivel, I took a quick read of my own blog and realized that I basically have the same devotion to sports, hockey in particular. Okay, touché. Let it be noted that I'm capable of some self examination and introspection. But at least sports are real, and not a blatant attempt to pander to the public's idiotic obsession with "reality" TV, a textbook misnomer is there ever was one. The whole damn show is scripted, from start to finish. The really unwatchable episodes are the early ones of a new season, when the show clearly picks pathetic singers (a.k.a., softballs over the plate) so Simon can smack them out of the park.

Has anyone ever given thought to the idea that this may also be a blatant attempt by an increasingly desperate music industry to prop up slumping record sales? Just a thought.

To be fair, though, some real talent has emerged from this show, most notably Pennsylvania's own Kelly Clarkson. The woman has real talent. And this year's winner, Taylor Hicks, has a great voice. So, I'm willing to give the show some props, but all of the pomp, circumstance, and bullshit that goes along with the show render it unwatchable to me. And Ryan Seacrest is more annoying to me than all four yentas on The View, combined. That's saying a lot.

And do I need to point out the fact that it's a laughable disgrace that Hicks received far more votes than any U.S. presidential candiate, ever? Yes, I know, people can vote more than once, but to those people, I'd say this - if you can sit there and mindlessly vote 10 times for your favorite Idol, which doesn't make a damn bit of difference in your life, make sure to get your ass to the voting booth whenever there's an election, too, because that vote does have an impact on your life. I'm sure more than a few who voted for their favorite Idol didn't make it to the voting booths last election, and in '00 and '04.

And for those who still think that "their vote doesn't make a difference" (in the presidential elections), why are you wasting your time voting after watching American Idol, then? (I know more than a few people who can't explain away this contradition.) Anyway, to those people, I'd say this...

Two more books make my summer reading list

I've added two more books to My Summer Reading List (Page down about 2/3 way when you click on the link), which has quickly turned into my "2006 reading list," because there's no possible way I'll get through all of them this summer.

Anyway, Al Gore's new book, An Inconvenient Truth, has quickly moved to the top of said list. I've come to really admire Gore, not only for his dignified manner during the aftermath of the 2000 election he had stolen from him, but for his compassion, drive and dedication about global warming. He's tireless and passionate about this issue that it just only beginning to catch the public's attention. I just hope it isn't too little, too late. If it's up to Gore, it won't be.

Another book that's a must-read for me this year is Open Target, written by Clark Kent Ervin, the former inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. I'm eager to read what he has to say about how vulnerable we still are. I blogged about Ervin at length, so no need to do in-depth now. Jump to that blog entry Here.

But, Ervin said it best during an interview on The Daily Show last week - it's been five years since 9-11 and our last major attack, and we are starting to go back to sleep; a sense of security has begun to pervade our legislators' and leaders' actions and thought. Books like these are a bucket of cold water to wake us up.

Happy reading this summer - share your books with me and let me know what you are reading in the sun. I'd love to know.

Canon to abandon film cameras?

A good photo buddy of mine, Kevin, sent me a Reuters press release yesterday about how Canon is considering stopping production of film single-lens reflex (SLR) and point-and-shoot cameras. I think we can drop the "considering" from that statement. There's little question that Canon will abandon film - it's not a question of if, but a question of when. The company has not released a new film SLR camera in years, and it's not going to start now.

Nikon's recent big announcement that it would abandon film cameras, save its flagship pro SLR, the F6, set the tone for the rest of the industry. Nikon was the long-time king of film, but Canon is, so far, the king of digital. Of course, that can change quickly - in the digital world, things move pretty fast. But, Canon has been on the cutting edge.

Anyway, the announcement had me in a very reminicent mood, and I began to think about my days in film. In some ways, I really miss it. I have always been and I'm almost certain I always will be a "Canon man." It's the only make of camera I've ever owned (as well as scanners and photo printers).

A trip down memory lane...



My first Canon, the T-50. My Dad gave this to me for Christmas when I was 12. It got me started, and I'll forever be grateful to my dad for getting me interested and started in photography. This was simply a point and shoot, but Dad started me right. This one familiarized me with the basics of SLR photography - knowing how to load film, compose, and just take care of a camera! I soon outgrew this one, and moved on to a camera where I could control the exposure. Incidentally, this camera lives on in my family, nearly a quarter century after my Dad gave it to me. "That's my camera," e-mails my brother Todd. "And it still works great." The good old T-50 continues to chug along, with the speedlite 244t flash. Proof positive that Canon makes one helluva good camera.



This one really was one of my favorites, but I didn't have it long, for reasons I can't fully explain. The Canon AE-1Program is one of the best selling cameras of all time. It gave me full manual control, as well as full program when I didn't feel like thinking about exposure; when I just wanted to click a candid. However, this was right around the time when highly electronic cameras started to make their debut, with bells and whistles like liquid crystal displays, etc. So, I traded this beauty in for a T-70. Kind of a confusing upgrade. It was right around this time that I became a "tech whore," a personal trait I've previously discussed at length on this blog.



I had my T-70 for a few years, until Minolta released the Minolta Maxxum, the world's first autofocus SLR. I got caught up in the autofocus SLR craze, too, but only when Canon caught on. Surprisingly, I didn't jump ship and get a Maxxum. I'm glad I didn't and that I've stuck with Canon all of these years.



I passed on owning Canon's first attempt at an autofocus SLR, the T-80, which was a true piece of garbage. When Canon released its next attempt at an autofocus SLR, the EOS 650 (its first EOS), I got one. I had this camera for many years, but I didn't use it a whole lot. I was a junior and senior in high school, and I was busy with other things and forgot about this camera for months on end. (I'm not proud of the fact that I didn't always stick with photography, but what can I say? I was a teen with attitude - photography wasn't fun for a while. I look back on that now and laugh. Oh, the pictures I could have taken!) I paid so little attention to the camera sometimes, that, in fact, my brother Matthew borrowed this without asking, left it out in the rain, and I didn't discover itwas missing until the camera was in Japan. The camera was never the same after it was, "repaired." Thanks Matt! Ahh, sibling rivalry. Anyway, when I was in college and needed money one weekend, I got rid of this for a little over a hundred bucks at a local camera dealer. This began my wilderness years - I actually didn't own a camera for several years. It always bugged me - I hated not having a camera at the ready.

Once I received my bachelor's degree, I got a decent paying job and decided to jump back into the world of photography. This led me to the purchase of my favorite Canon film camera of all time - the Canon Elan 7E. An akward name, but truly a great workhorse. ...



This baby got some serious miles - I took a few hundred rolls of film with it, at least. A pro would laugh at that number, but that's a fair number for an amateur. I kind of regret selling it, but once you go digital, film just looks primitive. For a while, I owned this along with my first digital SLR, but I never used the Elan once I started digital. The lure of digital photography was just too strong. Anyway, here are a few of my favorite images that I took with my Elan in grad school:



Kimmel Center, Spring 2003.



William Penn on the top of City Hall, taken from the 53rd floor of One Liberty Place. What office did I take it from? Canon, of course! Anyway, I moved on to my first Canon digital SLR after getting my master's, in the summer of 2003.



My first digital - the Canon EOS 10D. This one will always have a soft spot in my heart - my first digital. (And you never forget your first!) A pretty good camera, but slow start up time, and good but not great images. I didn't have it long, though. I hit some financial trouble, going to school full-time as I began a Ph.D. program at Temple U. So, I sold it, figuring I wouldn't have much time to take pictures, anyway. However, soon I realized that particular Ph.D. program wasn't for me, and I began working full time. My hankering to own a digital SLR soon returned.




My current baby, a Canon EOS 20D. I LOVE it! Very few complaints about this camera. In fact, the only one I can think of is the relatively small, 1.8" viewing screen on the back. Canon has adequately addressed this in the 20D's successor, the 30D, and my dream camera, the EOS 5D. But, I won't be getting a new camera in the foreseeable future. This is all the camera I need and it takes great pictures and has great resolution that allows for fantastic prints. It's getting a good workout, too, and with the wedding and honeymoon coming up, it will earn its pay!

I miss a lot about film, including creating in the darkroom, but there's so much to love about digital. I have a great deal to learn, but that's half the fun.

One ugly loss!

This photo pretty much sums up the night for the Oilers - goalie Dwayne Roloson had to weather an ice and rubber storm all night.

Wow - that was an unwatchable disaster. The worst post-season effort I've seen by the Oilers in a long, long time. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I saw an Oiler playoff loss that ugly. They allowed 25 shots in the first period alone. 25! A franchise record. Some good defensive teams don't allow 25 in a whole game. If it weren't for Roloson, they would have been down 5- or 6-0 at the end of the first period.

They allowed the Ducks to have a 5-on-3 powerplay on three different ocassions. I could rattle off the horrific stats all morning, but I'm too depressed to keep going.

Bottom line - the Oilers must play their best game of the playoffs this Saturday night to end this series and get some rest for the Finals. I'm not panicked, but certainly concerned. The onslaught began during the third period of game 3 and continued last night. Heck, I just want to see a good first period on Saturday night.

It's time to tighten up and end this series. The last thing the Oilers want to do is give the Ducks even more momentum by handing them another victory on Saturday night. Shift this series back to Edmonton on Monday night, and the Ducks will start believing they have a chance to be only the third team in NHL history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Now is when Head Coach Craig MacTavish will earn his pay. (Actually, he already has - see the Detroit series.) But, he will distinguish himself if he makes all of the right adjustments in this series, thrusting himself into the upper echelon of NHL coaches. He's already on his way, but this series could really mark new territory for MacT.

I'm worried, but I still believe.

John McCain - a sellout coward

Does anyone see the ultimate irony in this picture? Republican Arizona Senator John Sidney McCain III, presidential wannabe, (left) with the Reverend Jerry Falwell at Liberty University's commencment in Lynchburg, Va. on Saturday, May 13, 2006. This turncoat coward will do virtually anything to get votes.

Flashback: Spring of 2000, before the South Carolina primary. Deeply conservative Republican voters are push polled; called in the middle of the night and asked "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?" The group is quickly tied to then Texas Governor George W. Bush's campaign. (McCain and his wife adopted a baby from Bangladesh.) Also, bear in mind that South Carolina is arguably the most racist state in the country; the first to succeed from the Union in December, 1860, and the last state to fly the Confederate flag. You think all of this is coincidence? Karl Rove and Bush knew exactly what they were doing.

Why am I bringing all of this up? Because in 2004, when Bush was airtight to be the Republican party's nominee as the incumbent president, look who's hugging Bush on stage?



"Can I puleeze be president?!?"

What the hell happened to McCain? I dunno. I loved and welcomed his maverick streak, his independence, his no-nonsense style and his keeping his priorities straight. McCain has always been someone who wouldn't just tow the party line. If he disagreed, no matter what the issue, a party leader wasn't getting his vote. His military record is impeccable - he's a flat-out war hero. (I wonder aloud how outraged Republicans would be if McCain got Swiftboated by the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee?!? Just a thought.)

But it seems to me that he'll do just about anything to be president now, and in the process if he whores himself out, emotionally, intellectually or otherwise, so be it. How else can you explain this piece of shit hugging an even bigger piece of shit after what Bush and his team did to him in South Carolina? It makes no sense. The only thing I can gather is that McCain will get Bush's support in '08. It's the only way I can figure it. The sad thing is this - I really liked the guy. Notice the tense - likED. Depending on his opponent, I may have even voted for him in a national election.

As if his embracing Bush weren't enough, we have to witness him shaking hands and hugging Jerry fucking Falwell at a commencement address. It's enough to make one wretch up bile and blood.

I don't even need to get on too much of a rant about Falwell - I've got better things to do with my time than shoot ducks in a barrel - but, briefly, here is a guy who:

Tried to completely destroy President Clinton. It's tough to forget, much less forgive Falwell in regards to The Clinton Chronicles. From Wikipedia.com:

In 1994, Falwell released the straight-to-video documentary "The Clinton Chronicles: An Investigation into the Alleged Criminal Activities of Bill Clinton." The description on the box read:

"For the first time on video, a documentary that puts together the whole story! -- The names and faces of the key players who Clinton used to build his Circle of Power... as well as those who got in his way and lost their jobs, reputations, virtue, and lives! From Whitewater to ADFA... From millions in drug smuggling in Mena, Arkansas, to money laundering with the BCCI... From Gennifer Flowers to Paula Jones... From Vince Foster's "suicide" to the gangland slaying of private investigator Jerry Parks.

THE CLINTON CHRONICLES uncovers the shocking truth the controlled media and Clintons don't want you to know!"

Falwell's infomercial for the 80-minute tape included footage of Falwell interviewing a silhouetted journalist who was afraid for his life. The journalist accused Clinton of orchestrating the deaths of several reporters and personal confidants who had gotten too close to his illegalities. However, it was subsequently revealed that the silhouetted journalist was, in fact, Patrick Matrisciana, the producer of the video. "Obviously, I'm not an investigative reporter," Matrisciana admitted (to investigative journalist Murray Waas), "and I doubt our lives were actually ever in any real danger. That was Jerry's idea to do that ... He thought that would be dramatic."

In an interview for The Hunting of the President, Falwell admitted, "To this day I do not know the accuracy of the claims made in The Clinton Chronicles," but nevertheless failed to condemn the poor research and false statements.

##

It's also tough to forget Falwell's comments about homosexuals, and also the reasons why 9-11 happened. Take a quick read:

Falwell: The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way—all of them who have tried to secularize America—I point the finger in their face and say "you helped this happen."

You might ask again - Why am I bringing all of this up, ? It's obvious - McCain is hugging Falwell at his university's commencement. Is this all in the name of forgiveness? I seriously doubt it. I firmly believe that a vast majority of politicans are liars, cheats and/or opportunists. McCain is probably all three.

Allow me one more quick flashback: Here's McCain, verbatim, in February 2000:

"Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outreaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farakhan and Al Sharpton on the left, or Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson on the right. "

On May 13, at the commencement of Liberty University, Falwell had this to say:

"He could, in fact, co-opt the religious conservatives in the country, in the same way George Bush did, to help him get to the White House."

This morning, when pressed by Katie Couric on Today about his visit to Liberty University, McCain shrugged it off, saying (I'm paraphrasing here) that he doesn't live in the past, and he was honored to have the opportunity to speak to students on an important day in their lives.

The other night on Larry King Live, McCain explained his visit to Falwell's Liberty University this way:

"Well, first of all, a lot of things happen in political campaigns. You know that as well as I do, and campaigns get tough, and things are said in campaigns. But most importantly, as far as my life has been concerned, I put all of the things that happened in the 2000 campaign, except for the good memories, behind me. There's no reason for me to hold a grudge against people. It's not appropriate, and it's not good service to the people of Arizona. So, when Reverend Falwell came to my office and wanted to put our differences aside, I was more than happy to do that."

So, in other words, I'm happy to forgive if I can win an election and it will get me votes. I'm glad that Osama bin Laden doesn't have a university here in America - perhaps McCain would give the commencement address there, be seen on stage with him, and say, "We have our differences, but I don't hold grudges." I hope and pray that most American voters, both Republicans and Democrats alike, are a little bit smarter than this, and can see his appearance at Falwell's school for what it was - a textbook case of rank opportunism.

I often hear Republicans bitch and moan about the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and in some cases, rightfully so. I despise religious extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. But when is the last time you heard someone from the left making despicable comments like those of Falwell and Pat Robertson? I hope I live to piss on both of their graves.

Everyone should remember the picture of McCain hugging Falwell. Because you know what? In the spring of 2008, during the heart of primary season, John McCain sure as hell won't remember it. Let's make sure we do. Students at The New School in New York City sure weren't fooled (see below).

A real-life Clark Kent

Haven't we heard this song before? Another former Bush administration official is speaking out about this administration's ineptitude in dealing with terrorism, and most importantly, its lack of funding and preparedness for another attack against America. I wonder what Rove and company will do to discredit him.

First, it was Richard Clarke, and his 2004 explosive best selling book, Against All Enemies. In a highly partisan political year, Bush, Rove and Co. went after him just like they've gone after Osama bin Laden. Oops. Bad example. Okay, they went after Clarke like the GOP went after Clinton for having an affair. Yea, that's better.

The new man in Rove's crosshairs is Clark Kent Ervin, currently the head of Homeland Security Program at the Aspen Institute. He was the first Inspector General of the United States Department of Homeland Security, appointed by President Bush in December 2003 in a recess appointment. He served until December 2004, when his term expired. Subsequently, The White House did not submit his name to the Senate for confirmation.

Ervin has written a book , Open Target: How America is Vulnerable to Attack, which details how vulnerable America is to another terrorist attack and the reasons why. His biggest criticism is this administration's lack of funding for the DHS. Read this exchange, between Ervin and Jon Stewart, on a recent airing of The Daily Show:

JS: It feels as though [the Bush administration is] very good at the rhetoric of fighting this war [on terrorism], but don’t apparently have the wherewithal to competently govern it.

CKE: That’s exactly right. You know, it’s as if they think all it takes to secure the homeland is a department called Homeland Security. Creating this department really was the beginning of the job, not the end of it. And from the beginning, the department has been under funded. I say that, rightly as you say, as a conservative republican. I don’t typically call for greater government spending, but you can’t secure the homeland on the cheap.

JS: What are the changes being made? I know now they [Republicans] just came out and said we should get rid of FEMA.

CKE: That’s right, well you know it’s a typical Washington response. Rather than taking the government we have, giving it the money it needs, the leadership it needs, and the culture it needs to work, we are recreating the organizational chart. I had hoped and thought that Secretary [Michael] Chertoff would be a big improvement, but as you say, Katrina was his test, and he obviously failed it. The thing about terrorism is that we won’t have any warning, or if we do it will be very indirect, and if we’re not prepared for something that is not just foreseeable but foreseen, how prepared can we be for the next terror attack?

Just a few weeks ago, Congressional investigators were able to sneak bomb components through 21 airports undetected, even though investigators went out of their way to make it easy to spot them.

JS: You make a point in your book about a report that said that 40 percent of all weapons and bombs, etcetera, you guys were able to sneak into airports, and [Tom] Ridge [The first head of DHS] called you into his office and said, "Why didn’t you say we were successful 60 percent of the time?"

CKE: Rather than making bad results better, they were focused on making bad results sound better. And that in a nutshell is the problem; that accounts for why America remains an open target all these many years after 9-11.

##

Still feel safe? I don't.

The only question now is what the Bush administration will do to Swiftboat Ervin. It's not a question of if, it's a question of how and when. Hey, it's an election year, and the War on Terrorism is arguably Bush's strength, if he even has one left. Do you honestly think that Karl Rove will let attacks on the president's credibility go unanswered? You can be confident that when Rove finishes his attack campaign, some right wing hacks will consider Ervin a real threat who "hates America" and "sides with the terrorists."

Hurricane Katrina was a perfect illustration of how poorly this government can execute any kind of significant federal response to any kind of disaster, be it natural or terrorist. Ervin is merely pointing it out. The DHS has been vastly under funded since its inception in November 2002. Our ports are more open than Paris Hilton and our border agents should have red sheets so they can yell olé! as illegals pour over the border. But hey, thank GOD the GOP controlled Congress just passed another fucking tax cut a few weeks ago, to the tune of $70 billion. Republicans are so out of touch, it's just turning into a comedy hour now. But, it will be no laughing matter when the hotly contested campaigns kick into high gear this summer.

Hurricane Katrina, before it blew off the Bush's administration's shroud of competency, to the tune of $115 billion. Must be time for another tax cut! Great idea - let's pay back all of this money we are borrowing [because of record-high deficits], with interest. What difference will it make? Bush will be long gone, with his two nightmare terms behind us, by the time the bill comes due.

Thanks George!

Dixie Chic

This is the latest cover of Time, which sports the Dixie Chicks. To be honest, the title of the cover story pissed me off and will prompt me to write a letter to the editors. These three women are radical because they dared stand up to a president who rushed us to war on faulty, cooked intelligence? Yea, right.

Anyway, I heard the Dixie Chicks on Howard Stern this morning (another shameless plug for Sirus Satellite Radio - I LOVE it) and they had some very interesting things to say. Among them, how they received death threats because they told an audience during a concert in London that they were ashamed to be from Texas because President Bush is from Texas. Christ, get the nooses ready! I'll say right now that sometimes (and with increasing frequency, lately) that I'm ashamed to be an American when I hear some of the sewage that comes out of the president's mouth. What do I mean by that? Not that I don't love my country. Far from it. I feel this shame because I love my country. I can't believe we've had to endure him for eight years. He's a disgrace.

Following their comments, the Dixie Chicks were forced to apologize and had to endure all sorts of negative publicity along with Clear Channel banning them from its radio stations. First off, Clear Channel can go screw themselves; terrestrial radio is so last century, anyway. This is a company that has completely buckled to the FCC; this administration is pretty much out to ban any language it finds the least bit offensive, as well as in opposition to its policies. Look no further than Howard for evidence of that. Bush and the Republicans didn't touch Howard until he turned on Bush for the war in Iraq. All of a sudden, the FCC was on the attack, and Clear Channel fired him.

The big problem I have with what happened to the Dixies is not people disagreeing with them; people who came out against the group have as much of a right to their opinions as the group does. But death threats? Banning them from radio stations? What's next? Book burnings, Nazi Germany style?

Bottom line - on Howard today, someone from the group (I'm not sure who - couldn't tell) said it best in explaining the group's negative statements about the president:

"I don't want people to die for a reason that has not been proven to us." It doesn't get much more sage than that.

Anyway, I think this group has a lot of moxie, and some of their tunes aren't bad, either. Their remake of Fleetwood's timeless classic Landslide is one of the best remakes I've heard in years.

The group has since retracted their apology to the president, and they are as feisty as ever. Bravo. Their new album, Taking the Long Way, has a great tune on it entitled Not Ready to Make Nice, and it alludes to the whole controversy. Take a read of these lyrics:

Not Ready to Make Nice

Forgive, sounds good

Forget, I’m not sure I could

They say time heals everything

But I’m still waiting

^

I’m through with doubt

There’s nothing left for me to figure out

I’ve paid a price

And I’ll keep paying

^

I’m not ready to make nice

I’m not ready to back down

I’m still mad as hell and

I don’t have time to go round and round and round

It’s too late to make it right

I probably wouldn’t if I could

‘Cause I’m mad as hell

Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

^

I know you said

Can’t you just get over it

It turned my whole world around

And I kind of like it

^

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby

With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’

It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her

Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger

And how in the world can the words that I said

Send somebody so over the edge

That they’d write me a letter

Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing

Or my life will be over

^

I’m not ready to make nice

I’m not ready to back down

I’m still mad as hell and

I don’t have time to go round and round and round

It’s too late to make it right

I probably wouldn’t if I could

‘Cause I’m mad as hell

Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

^

I’m not ready to make nice

I’m not ready to back down

I’m still mad as hell and

I don’t have time to go round and round and round

It’s too late to make it rightI probably wouldn’t if I could

‘Cause I’m mad as hell

Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

^

Forgive, sounds good

Forget, I’m not sure I could

They say time heals everything

But I’m still waiting

**

Damn right! America needs a much bigger fix of what the Chicks are offering though their inspirational, and, dare I say it, patriotic, lyrics.

50 things...

I usually find these pretty corny, but I found this on MySpace today, and thought I'd fill it out here. Vandra and I were talking about this the other night, and she was telling me how women do these. I laughed & told her that guys do them, too. Maybe I'm the only guy who does, but I do have many women friends, so maybe that explains it.

Here's the message that you can post if you copy/paste this and send it to your friends:

If you opened this, FILL IT OUT ! Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you!

Here goes. ...

1. How tall are you barefoot? 5'11"

2. Have you ever been unfaithful in a relationship? When I was very young, stupid and immature, yes, once, but I wasn't in love and didn't know what I was doing. When I've been in love? Never.

3. Do you own a gun? No, but I'm not anti-gun by any stretch. I grew up around them. My politics range from moderate on a few issues to mostly liberal and sometimes very liberal, but I'm not one of those anti-gun liberals. But, don't put my in Charleton Heston's corner, either. Hey, I live in Philly, and people get shot for sport here - some sensible, enforceable handgun legislation would be a good thing.

4. If you had a mental disorder, what would it be? Probably that I'm germphobic.

5. How many letters are in your crush's name? Six. It's spelled V-A-N-D-R-A - my future wife. 79 days to go 'til Cabo!

6. Music that always moves you: Frank Sinatra and The Dave Matthews Band. There are many others, but you don't have that much time to read them.

7. What's your favorite Christmas song? I have two - Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley, and A Christmas Song by The Dave Matthews Band.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Sugar Free Red Bull, and Diet Raspberry Tea Snapple. Once in a while, Crystal Light. I need to have a juice in the morning.

9. Must have tech accessory - Forget it - I'm a tech whore. My Sirius Satellite Radio, my iPod, my cellphone, my digital camera, my photo printer, my Palm Pilot, I could go on and on. I love 'em all.

10. Have you ever done ecstasy? Hell no. I've been in ecstasy, I don't need to frickin' take it. Pill poppin' is for chumps.

11. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? No, I have a fiancee and best friend... the aforementioned love of my life - Vandra.

12. Do you like the rain? LOVE thunderstorms - one of the best things about summer. Other than that, rain is just that - rain. I'm usually in a bit of a lower mood when it's crappy out, so I guess I should say I don't like rain, unless it's a thunderstorm.

14. Do you own a knife? Sure, in my kitchen.

15. Do you have ADD? No.

16. Full initials? RJC

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. 1. I have a lot on my mind and will probably blog multiple times today. 2. The Edmonton Oilers - I'm hockey crazy! They could make it to the Stanley Cup Finals tonight with a win in game 4. 3. The coming holiday weekend, which I have off. It's going to be relaxing and fun. Okay, four: 4. My job interview tomorrow.

18. Name the last 3 things you have bought today. Nuttin' - I'm hangin' in and doin' stuff around the house today.

19. Name five drinks you regularly drink, in order most to least. 1. Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper 2. Diet Raspberry Tea Snapple 3. Sugar Free Red Bull 4. skim milk 5. water

20. What time did you wake up today? 7:30 a.m.

21. Can you spell? Not well.

22. Current worry? None, really.

23. Current hate? I'm not going to be PC here and say "It's bad to hate," even though I know it is. But, I'm a very passionate, strong, emotional person, and sometimes I can froth at the mouth over things, people I strongly dislike and yes, sometimes I hate. I have to say right now it's 95% of Republicans and definitely anyone involved in this administration. I also hate apathy. Don't bitch - do something about it!

24. Favorite place to be? The beach (can't wait!), with friends/family just enjoying what I'm doing at the time. Also love summertime concerts on a warm summer night.

25. Least favorite place to be? Probably at my job, which will change soon (the actual job, not my 'tude about it). I also really dislike hospitals and funerals.

26. Where would you like to go? Just on vacation! 76 days and I will be there.

27. Do you own slippers? I love my hushpuppies.

28. Can't miss show on TV? The Daily Show, with Jon Stewart.

29. Do you burn or tan? tan, and quite well, thank you.

30. Yellow or blue? blue - my favorite color.

31. Would you be a pirate? Um, no.

32. Last time your cell rang? yesterday - it was my friend Mike.

33. What songs do you sing in the shower? I usually don't, but sometimes Vandra catches me singin' Dave to myself.

34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? You name it - fires, mostly. And someone breaking into the house.

35. What's in your pockets right now? Wallet, cellphone, money, bluetooth headset for my cellie, change.

36. Last thing that made you laugh. Vandra last night, and Shawn at work yesterday.

37. Best bed sheets you had as a child? I think I had Superman and also Dallas Cowboys sheets. I still love the latter!

38. Worst injury you've ever had? A hernia, which required surgery, and a badly separated thumb, which was unbelievably painful.

39. What is your GPA? Yikes. Undergrad was just shy of a 3.0 (but I was involved heavily on campus!), but something around a 3.75 in my major. Grad school was a 3.8 or something like that.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 5, but only 3 are in use.

41. Who is your loudest friend? Probably Shawn. He's also one of the funniest.

42. Who is your most silent friend? Nicole (or Niki as she goes by up north). She lives in Beantown now.

43. Favorite magazine? Ohmygod - not even remotely enough time to list all of those - I subscribe to a ton. I'll keep it simple and list 2 - Shutterbug and Popular Photography.

44. Do you wish on stars? Yea, I guess I do, even though most falling stars are in fact meteorites entering the atmosphere.

45. What is your favorite book? Soooo many, but probably Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them; A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right by Al Franken. Many others though.

46. What song did you last hear? Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks. Love those women - they speak their minds and don't take shit from anyone.

47. Do you like to be spanked? This is a family blog, occasional swearing aside. And no, by the way.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Definitely Lie in our Graves, by The Dave Matthews Band.

49. What were you doing 12 a.m. last night?? Watching TV and reading.

50. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up today? The alarm went off already?!?

More to come...

I know, I know, lots of hockey lately. But, I've got PLENTY to talk about, and more will be on the way later today. Promise! No more hockey. Today, at least! If those damn Oilers would just stop winning, I would stop writing about them! ;o)

One win away...

Just one more! One more victory and the Oilers are in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1990. Last night's contest was the craziest ride-of-a-hockey game that I've been on since, well, maybe ever. Hey, I love roller coasters, but who puked on my boots?

xx
O

Well, the Oilers pulled it off last night. About halfway through the third, they were up 4-0, and I was ready to book their tickets to the Finals, but then the Ducks proved they have a little bit of fight left. Before I knew what happened, it was 4-3. Fernando Pisani potted a marker to give the Oilers a 5-3 lead (see pictures below), and I was breathing easier, but the Ducks provided some drama with about a minute left by making it 5-4. But, the Oilers held on.

I hope Edmonton can close out this series tomorrow night; obviously, so they make the Stanley Cup Finals; but also so this team can get some rest. Some of you may not know that the flu is running through this team like shit through a goose, and a week off (if the Eastern Finals is a long series, which it looks to be) would do this team a world of good.

The Oilers certainly have a destiny feel to them. I'm cautiously optimistic about their chances. But, I look at it this way - they knocked off Detroit, the best team in the NHL during the regular season, so they can knock off anybody if they play their best game/series.

I had goosebumps during the third period, but I had even bigger goosebumps during the singing of O Canada, when the crowd quite literally took over. Unreal - I've never seen or heard anything like it. I would give my leg (okay, not really, but you get the metaphor) to be there for game 4. Anyway, see a video of the crowd singing along to the anthem Here. You don't need to be a hockey fan to appreciate that. Oh, and Edmonton fans are showing even more class in the face of San Jose fans booing O Canada during the last series. I know I'm biased, but I truly believe that Oilers fans are the best in all of sports.

Well, one more day to wait, and one more game to go. I'll be glued to the set tomorrow. In the meantime, a few more pictures. ...



I can't get enough of these fisheye goalcam pictures. This is Fernando Pisani's game winner. Sweet.



Elation! bedlam! (In Edmonton and in our office, where I was trying to not wake Vandra at about midnight.)



You try to fight Laraque, twice in one night, and you're going to take your lumps. Hey, if you keep screwing with the bull, you're going to get the horns. Hey Fedoruk, keep your gloves on and try to score a goal. Wait, you can't score. But, your team needs it. Perhaps you should be a healthy scratch in game 4. But, it's probably too little, too late, anyway. Better luck next year, Ducks.



Anyone remember Duck Hunt? A great video game - I used to love shooting the dog so he would come out on crutches. Anyway, I found this on an Edmonton fan site I always visit and post to. That's Chris Pronger, a Conn Smythe trophy candidate, with a few dead ducks. Art can imitate life.

I've got a fix for 6!*

*Um, that's 6 Stanley Cups - the Oilers have won 5 in their history. Figured I'd point it out - I know most of you aren't hockey fans. :o)

Heat's cookin'

I'm a little overdue to talk about my other, "forgotten" team that has moved deep in the playoffs - the Miami Heat. To be honest, of all four major professional sports in North America, basketball is my 4th favorite. Family and close friends know that I've been a Miami fan since 1988, when they came into the league. They've never won anything, and I'm not sure if this will be the year that they do. I'm not a "frontrunner" or "bandwagon" Miami fan (incidentally, I hate the word bandwagon - so trite and hackneyed in sports fandom), but I'm not a crazed NBA fan, either.

Anyway, I'm pretty excited that they might make it to the NBA Finals for the first time ever, but getting past Detroit is a tall order indeed. Last night's victory was a start, but I think this is going to be one long series. The Miami fan in me says Shaq will get his 4th ring this year and his first with the Heat, but the realist in me says that Detroit is going to be very difficult to beat, and the Pistons will probably win this very close series. I hope I'm wrong though and that Miami takes the Pistons out.

Hopefully Edmonton will close out their series vs. the Ducks tomorrow night so I can watch some of the Heat games more closely. I'm very busy these days and haven't had a whole lot of time for basketball. Hockey gets all the spare time first - hockey will always be #1.

Anyway...

GO HEAT!

Am I dreaming?

Before I get started, I again must apologize that I've been bloggin' so much lately about the Oilers and hockey in general. I will be writing about a buffet of different issues this week, but I'm just so damn excited about Edmonton going this far in the playoffs and having this much success. Actually, it's impossible to overstate how happy and juiced I am about this team. I can't believe how the years pass - the older I get, the more I realize that time flies by and is precious - it has been 16 years since Edmonton last won the Stanley Cup. Seems like yesterday - but I was 18 years old. So, it's been a while.

Anyway, I just couldn't resist posting this picture. Because the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim truly are covered in Oil. After last night's game, the Ducks are on the ropes now; they truly are flying straight into a Category 5 Hurricane (Sorry, Carolina Hurricanes, a team we might face if we make it to the Finals). Rexall Place in Edmonton is going to be deafening tomorrow night - Oiler fans know the game and are smart, and they know what's at stake here - the Oilers could wrap up this series in Edmonton with two victories on Tuesday and Thursday.

I have to confess that I suspect this could still be a long series, though. San Jose was up 2-0 in the last series vs. Edmonton, and they are still trying to figure out how it all came apart. This is a very talented Anahiem team and they aren't just going to roll over. I fully expect a long, tough fight, but I don't see Edmonton losing two games in their barn; it will be a split at worst.

The realization is finally hitting me - the Oilers really could make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Unreal.

Here's a photo from last night's game - kind of a cool one.

It's only game 1, but I'm jacked...

I forgot to put up the NHL's "Final Four" Conference Finals grid the other day. Ahhh, it's been a long time since I've seen the mighty oil this far toward center in this grid and it looks awfully nice. They got off to a wonderful start last night with a 3-1 victory over the Ducks. This is going to be a long, tough fight with a very talented Anaheim team to get to the Finals, but I was glad to see the Oilers get the jump in this series. Of course I'm hoping for a victory tomorrow night, but if they left Anaheim for Edmonton with a split, I wouldn't be surprised. If the Oilers can somehow manage to win tomorrow, I will be elated. I didn't get to see much of the game last night - just the third period this morning, because we were at the Red Sox/Phillies game last night - Vandra got us tickets last minute. Incidentally, it was a 5-3 Sox win, with Boston playing long ball. That was nice - Big Papi David Ortiz has a 2-run dinger. I'll post some pictures from the game a bit later. Anyway, back to hockey.

This could be 1990 all over again - an Oilers team that underachieved in the regular season, coming alive and jelling in the playoffs to take it all. I'd like to think so, and so does Scott Burnside of espn.com. We'll see.

Anyway, I'll keep the Oilers rant to a minimum today - just wanted to get my happiness down on "cyber paper." If the Oilers can manage to somehow win tomorrow, they will be in full control and on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

A very cool view of Michael Peca slipping a shorthanded goal past Anaheim goalie Ilya Bryzgalov in the first period. Ya gotta just love a shortie, especially through the 5-hole. See that little shadow under the goalie? That's the puck, headed for the promised land.

A dejected Bryzgalov after Peca's goal. God, I LOVE the goalcam. What cool shots! It's one of those innovations where you ask yourself, "How did we ever do without that?" I can remember when there was no goalcam, but I'm glad the NHL has implemented it into broadcasts - it adds a lot to the game when you're watching from home.

I'm countin' the hours 'til game 2. I can smell Stanley, I just hope the Oilers aren't teasin' me. ...

The Conference Finals - Suweet!

The Sharks are dead. I don't have any more cliches to use and I don't want to think up any - I'm almost too happy to type. What a wild night of hockey, as the Edmonton Oilers eliminated the San Jose Sharks from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a convincing 2-0 victory. I was going crazy in our upstairs spare room, trying not to wake Vandra but too excited to contain myself.

The Oilers have not been to the Conference Finals in 14 years, so I've been waiting a long, looooong time for this feeling, and it's here at last. But, I'm sort of containing myself a bit, too, because they haven't won anything. But, 14 years of being tempered by playoff failure (when they even managed to make it) has me thinking dollars and cents - with another round of playoff cash in their coffers, the EIG, a group of entrepreneurs who owns the Oilers, will now have some cash to sign some of their important free agents, and maybe even chase one or two new ones. I haven't been able to say THAT in a long time, if ever, about the small-market Oilers. In the mid-to-late 80s and early 90s, when they were the best team on ice, player salaries were still affordable, even for a small market team. Then, salaries skyrocketed and the small markets nearly went extinct in hockey, with 2 teams even declaring bankruptcy. But, the pendulum has swung back. The '05 NHL strike, which wiped out the entire season and playoffs last season, was forced by the owners in order to implement a salary cap. It's working. Every team has a shot at Stanley now.

The strike was worth it.

Last night, there were several heroes for the Oilers. First, without question, was goalie Dwayne Roloson, who earned his first career playoff shutout. He has been HUGE, worth every penny they are paying him, and certainly worth that first round draft choice in the March trade that brought him to Edmonton. Michael Peca is finally earning his paycheck and more, scoring the game-winning goal last night. Too bad he won't be an Oiler next year, because he's alternated between very good and outstanding in the postseason. Shawn Horcoff had himself another excellent game, giving the Oilers some breathing room to make it 2-0 in the third. He's coming into his own; he's a bona fide #1 center in this league, and I remember not long ago that was Edmonton's biggest concern. Problem solved.


Peca's game winner (and series clincher!). I love My Peca. I've been dying all season to type that, but haven't had a reason to before now.


Peca celebrates his goal. How funny are the two women in the background? I envy them - wish I could have been there!

There were several "firsts" last night, and some notable happenings:

Edmonton became the first 8 seed to advance to the Conference Finals in the current playoff format, which was implemented in '92 (may have been '94, not sure - it's one or the other). The point is, the Oilers are the first.

This is also the first time that Edmonton has ever won a playoff series after trailing 2-0. To win four straight against a team as good as San Jose is something pretty special and I'll never forget it.

After some moronic San Jose fans booed the Canadian national anthem before game 5 in San Jose, Edmontonians showed true class last night by cheering the American anthem so loudly, they drowned out the singer. Way to go, Edmonton - being bigger men/women and not stooping to the level of a select few idiotic Sharks (and by extension, Americans) shows the hockey world what Oilers fans (and Canadians) are made of. I'm proud to be an American, of course, but I feel a sense of embarrassment when something happens like what took place in San Jose the other night. And I'm proud to be an Oilers fan when I saw what I did last night when the American anthem was sung.

The Oilers are now the only team remaining in the playoffs that has ever won a Stanley Cup; as I've mentioned many times, their last came in 1990 vs. the Boston Bruins. Edmonton is also the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs, and they are trying to become the first Canadian team to take the Cup north since Montreal in 1993.

##

Next up are the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. These guys are going to be one tough team to beat; their goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov, is playing amazing hockey. But, you know what? Edmonton's Dwayne Roloson has been as good as any goalie in the playoffs. Plus, the Oilers are 4-0 vs. the Ducks this season, so they have reasons to be confident. I just hope not overconfident.

I say the Oilers take it in 7 games. We're going to the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't know who we'll face, but these playoffs are proving that anything can happen.


The Cup is coming home, baby! Do I still believe? Now more than ever.