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So, NHL bigwigs have gathered in Florida and have come up with a solution to solve the increasing amounts of headshots in the league. Basically, that rule is to leave it up to the officials to access the situation and grant a minor or major penalty. Now, it is sad when guys get hit and are out for the season. What comes to mind is 2007. One of the dirtiest hits I’ve seen. Boston’s Patrice Bergeron lost an entire season after a nasty hit thrown by Randy Jones. Then there is the whole Steve Moore/ Todd Bertuzzi, which I admit was a dirty hit, but I think the one way to change this is by scrapping the instigator penalty. It’s a joke; it doesn’t allow players to ‘police’ their own game. If we leave it up to the referees to call a penalty is it really going to change the amount of headshots? I don’t think so. But if you know if you hit someone like Sidney Crosby (dirty or otherwise) and you know a guy like Georges Laraque, or Donald Brashear are going to hunt you down because you nailed their superstar, won’t you think twice? And that’s how I half-ass justify the Bertuzzi hit on Moore. Earlier in the game, then Canuck captain Markus Naslund was in the corner battling for a puck when Moore hit him from behind, nailing his head into the boards. Naslund didn’t finish the game. You don’t hit a guy from behind, take him out of the game and not expect some form of revenge from his teammates. And, that’s what Bertuzzi gave him. Yes a dirty hit, but just as dirty as Moore’s on Naslund.

Think back to the days of the NHL where the players could play and have room to actually skate a bit because the referees weren’t so whistle happy. But I guess we can blame that on Gary Bettman. Now hard hits were thrown, but guys weren’t aiming at heads trying to knock they’re fellow players out of the game for life. Maybe it was back then, there was more respect between players than there is now, or those players just knew how to take a hit and not turtle. I’m willing to bet the concussion rate in the NHL would be down if guys wouldn’t shy away from a hit.

Headshots do need to be addressed by the NHL’s management, but there is a responsibility on the part of the players. First, understand that it is hockey so checking is part of the game, learn to take a hit, and finally like Don Cherry’s been saying for years, skate with your head up.

While the Olympics are an amazing spectacle and symbolize international peace (at least for 16 days), we've deterred from the path of what the Olympics should stand for. The Olympics were meant to be a celebration of sport but what it's turned into is a massive, money driven business of trying to 'out-do' another country. The Vancouver games are wracking up a $6 billion dollar tab. Did they spend extraordinary amounts of money in Olympia or in other homes of the ancient games? No. So my question is, why now? Take the opening ceremonies for example. What's the point? I understand showcasing your country, putting on a show…blah, blah, blah…but I want someone to tell me one thing 'Olympic' related in that whole 3 hour ordeal. The most exciting part was the snowboarder bounding in through the rings, then the hydraulics breaking so the Great One couldn't light the torch - I laughed.

Pretend for a moment you are a Chinese athlete, who can't speak any English. It's your first time in Canada. What would you think of the 'True, North, Strong, and Free'? Here's what I get. Canadians are a tribe of Native-Americans dancing through the rough elements of the North and being 'one' with nature. Oh, and how can I forget the gigantic sparkling polar bear. Aren't moose and beavers more Canadian? Now what can one do with that? Anyway, don't get me wrong, the Native American culture, and beliefs are very important in our nation's identity but it's not only what Canada is.

I thought as Canadians we embraced our multiculturalism. I thought we banned together to support and cheer on the one thing that means the most to us, hockey, our national sport. I thought we were proud of our beautiful, picturesque landscapes from sea to sea to sea. But, most importantly I thought Canada was about uniting as a people to not say "I'm from Canada" but to say "I AM CANADIAN". Let's embrace who we are and show to the world what we're aboot. Eh? Sorry I had to.

The $40 million ceremony was no doubt a show but was it worth it or necessary when some of that money could be spent on say, our athletes?

LOST

Season 6 premiere: Smokin'

Confused? I am. The season 5 finale started with a very intriguing conversation between Jacob (the leader of the island) and another gentleman dressed in black. Both of which I believe have been engaged in some sort of 'battle' between good and evil for hundreds of years, which would make them entities rather than human beings…call me crazy! The mysterious man in black (not Johnny Cash) wants Jacob dead and says he'll find some sort of loophole. But, loop hole in what? Ah…the questions of the Island. But of course it wouldn't be LOST without a twist…or a series of them. So, Ben Linus killed John Locke in an earlier episode in season 5, explaining he had to die to bring the Oceanic 6 back to the Island. But, once they are back, guess what, Locke's alive. Here's the thing, how is Locke's body lying on the beach while he's parading around the island? 

Meanwhile, in 1974 where Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Sayid, Jin, Hurley and the Dharma people, Sayid gets shot. About the same time (now in the present day) that Sayid is shot, Ben kills Jacob because Locke tells him to. Making me believe whomever the man in black was talking to Jacob has taken over Locke's body. That may sound nuts, but during the season 6 premiere it starts to make sense.

So, now that the recap is over let's talk season 6. Smokin' starts almost the same as season one's pilot episode - Jack politely pointing out the lack of strength of his drink.   Then turbulence hits and he chats with Rose, same as the pilot episode, but the conversation isn't the same.

Two timeline's ensue. One has everyone landing safely at LA X. Just how you would expect. Well almost. Locke's in a wheelchair, Kate's in handcuffs, but she escapes, and jumps into a cab with Claire! Jin gets in trouble with American customs, and the airline loses Christian's (Jack's father's) coffin. Weird…cause we have seen Christian walking around the Island. I believe whatever the 'evil' entity is has also taken over Christian's body, like it did to Locke.

The second timeline is back on the island. We find out Juliet survived her fall and the detonation of the hydrogen bomb. Sawyer runs to save her but she dies in his arms. That was heartbreaking…poor Sawyer can't catch a break. While Sawyer, Jin, Jack, and Kate are trying to save Juliet, dead Jacob comes to visit Hurley who's taking care of Sayid, who is dying from getting shot. Jacob tells Hurley the only way to save Sayid is to take him to the temple. Which, I believe is the same temple Richard and the other's took little Ben after Sayid shot him. Another theory is Jacob took Richard there to make him 'special' and not age.

Back on the Beach, John Locke turns into the smoke monster (therefore I'm giving him the name SmokeLocke) and he kills all of Jacob's bodyguards but spares Ben. I particularly loved when Ben called Locke a monster and Locke asked him to not resort to name-calling. I laughed and thank god for some humour because that episode was intense. At the end Locke grabs Richard and I think he's headed to the temple where Hurley and company took Sayid. Who, of course, 'rises from the dead' at the very end of the episode and is ALIVE! Isn't that a hook for episode 2? Another theory…Jacob was killed at the same time Sayid was dying, so did Jacob take over Sayid's body?

Anyway, that's where we stand. Except I can't figure this out - Myles 'talked' to Juliet after she died because she had something important to tell Sawyer. That message was 'It worked'. But, what worked? The hydrogen bomb…is the timeline at the airport actual reality or do the characters play out both scenarios and have to choose life on the island or life without island experiences. Let's face it all the characters have some drama or trouble in their lives before the plane crash and learn something on the island. Like Sawyer learns about true love. Who knows? Only time will tell.

What do you think? Comment on this post or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Michelle

xo

Feeling the blues?

Well it is that time of year when most of us will start feeling the blues. Lack of sunshine, fresh air and outdoor activities can surely bring your mood down but there could be more at work. If you find your mood is up and down, your losing interest in hobbies/work or are having issues sleeping then consult your doctor as soon as you can. You could be suffering from Seasonal Affective disorder or something more serious as depression or bipolar disorder. I speak from the heart on this as I suffer from bipolar disorder. Please take it from me…see your doctor and try and take some comfort in knowing your not alone.