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Showing 1-24 of 103 items found in Places to Stay
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This cozy retreat has modern appliances and luxury touches. There are two bedrooms, one queen and one with two twin beds and extra bedding available in the loft. The kitchen has a microwave, electric stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, toaster and coffee machine. The spacious dining area comfortably sits six people. The large deck spans the rear of the house overlooking the fenced-in yard and the woodlands below.
CITY:Alto Pass
Western-themed, fully-furnished living quarters that sleep six, attached barn and stables on the 50 acre Herold Ranch, adjacent to J&M Quarter Horses. Full kitchen, patio and BBQ. Hunters welcome. Corral and horse stall rental available.
CITY:Alto Pass
Located on Main Street in historic downtown Alto Pass, the Alto Wine Trail Loft provides 2 new units, both with 2 bedrooms offering unique accommodations for experiencing the wineries and wilderness of Southern Illinois. An alternative to cabins in Southern Illinois, the Wine Loft is a vacation loft rental in Southern Illinois. A unique getaway in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, the Loft is a private vacation rental, close to Giant City, Southern Illinois University, and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. The historic building that is home to the Wine Loft was constructed in 1912 as a general store. The Loft renovations used environmentally friendly material and preserved as much of the original brick work and exterior as possible.
CITY:Alto Pass
Big Sky Cabins is a private 4 bedroom vacation cabin available for nightly rental in Southern Illinois. Currently 2 cabins are available for a getaway to peace and nature. Located in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the cabins are perfect for large groups, weddings parties, honeymoons, or just a nice getaway. Big Sky Cabins provides the most private getaway on the Southern Illinois Wine Trail. At night, build a big fire and look up at all the stars in the sky.
CITY:Alto Pass
This 3 room Inn has common areas that include a Victorian dining room for your home-cooked country breakfast every morning at 8:30 a.m. Served with coffee and hot tea. Two living rooms complete with DIRECTV with DVR and DVD players. Make yourself at home and feel free to put your feet up. Books, magazines, games and cards are available for your use during your stay. Sixty-foot balcony with tables and chairs for your enjoyment.
CITY:Alto Pass
A log cabin with hot tub and gas log fireplace. Enjoy adelicious breakfast in a quiet country setting. You have to see it to believe it!
16-room motel, restaurants within walking distance. Credit cards accepted. Pets allowed. Free local calls. Cable TV with remotes.
Opened in 2001. Includes 43 rooms, indoor pool, fitness center and a complimentary breakfast.
This 1910 schoolhouse features spacious suites with nine-foot-tall windows overlooking Anna Park. Each guest room contains an original chalkboard and bookcase from the old school days. Located near Carbondale, the Davie School Inn makes a great base for exploring the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and Giant City State Park.
Lost Trail Cabins are fully furnished cabins located at the end of a dead-end road on 62 acres of private and secluded property. Bordering Shawnee National Forest in beautiful Southern Illinois less than three miles from the Johnson Creek Recreation Area of Kinkaid Lake, these cabins are perfectly situated between the Sparta World Shooting Complex and the Shawnee Wine Trail. They cater to all outdoor enthusiasts including equestrians, hunters, hikers, boaters, fishermen, and anyone just wanting to get away from their fast paced everyday life.
Enjoy your stay in one of our comfortable rooms with your own queen-sized bed to relax in after an active day enjoying the outdoors. Private garden-patio entrance, scenic views and private stocked pond.
Tucked away in the beautiful rolling hills of Southern Illinois, the cabin location rests on the highly acclaimed Southern Illinois Wine Trail. Pinnon Lake is five minutes from the edge of Shawnee National Forrest. We are only three miles off Interstate 57 at exit 36. Moments from anywhere yet feels like miles from it all. On any given day you may observe deer in the field, geese landing on the lake, a family of wild turkeys at the edge of the woods. In the spring you may even take a peek at our new baby calves, as the property is a third generation working family farm.
Two bedroom log cabin offers a private setting with full kitchen and a hot tub to soak in while you enjoy the amazing sunset views. The spectacular views at Cedar Sunset Cabin are just one of the amazing amenities. The cabin provides you with top notch accommodations on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and on the edge of the Shawnee National Forest. Or you may opt for an evening in by the fireside or a soak in the hot tub.
Located on 140 private acres nestled in ancient bluffs, loaded with wildlife, peace and quiet and everything at your fingertips! We provide everything you and your guests need for a wonderful getaway! The kitchen is fully equipped with all manner of cooking needs, along with a backyard BBQ, all you need is your provisions to whip up a meal to be enjoyed in this wonderful home! The great room has floor to ceiling windows to take in the breathtaking views that span for 40 + miles to Kentucky! It features a flat screen tv and blue ray dvd player along with a cozy gas fireplace for your enjoyment...Also located on the main floor is a laundry room and half bath. Upstairs you will find a log style King Bed Master Suite. There is a walk in closet and a 4 piece Master Bath that rivals any Spa. The walk in shower has body sprays and the jacuzzi tub has a multitude of jets to enjoy while gazing out the window in the tree line! There is a private balcony off the bedroom to take in the views of the bluffs. Downstairs, the walkout basement offers another living area complete with a flat screen tv/dvd player. There is another full bathroom and two more bedrooms, one with a King bed and flat screen tv/dvd player and another full size bedroom. The patio off the living room provides ample shade in the Summer and again you have spectacular long range views of the area! Outback you can relax on the deck while BBQ'ing or watching the kids on the playset. There is ample parking for you and your guests. Rock Ridge also offers guided repelling and climbing, there is a fully stocked pond, and plenty of room to roam around and explore the property!
Oversize lobby with fireplace, beautiful, quiet location, expanded continental breakfast, pay per view movies. Free local calls, 800# access calls. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Hilton Honors Bonus Program.
The legendary Heritage Motel offers clean and quiet rooms at reasonable rates. The rooms are equipped with a fridge, microwave, free WiFi internet, and 75 channels of cable TV (with HBO) in every room, as well as an on-site laundry room. Deluxe rooms with kitchenettes and apartment suites are also available. Conveniently located just one block from a 24 hour grocery store, gas station, numerous restaurants, and one mile from the SIUC campus.
Built in 1998, nice decor, close to Giant City State Park. Located within walking distance to shopping, the University Mall and restaurants.
Located in the heart of Carbondale. Minutes away from Southern Illinois University Campus, Carbondale City Hall/Civic Center, John A. Logan College, shopping and restaurants. 10 minutes from the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
Located near a variety of shopping and eating establishments, including the University Mall. Also offers meeting space and staff with foreign language ability.
40-year old, 2-story, interior and exterior doors, king size beds, full-size beds.
A brand new in a "fancy farm setting", offering soothing decor & pampering So IL style. 3 special gardens – butterfly (featuring a stunning bronze butterfly seating area), heirloom plantings, & seasonal. Close to SIU, shopping, & many area attractions.
Kite Hill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast
Kite Hill's B&B is located on a 30-acre estate with a five-acre vineyard, all surrounding Kite Hill Lake. Start your day with a full three-course breakfast followed by a stroll through the vineyards or around the lake. After a full day of Southern Illinois activities, enjoy a complimentary wine tasting at the winery.
The Train Inn features 4 rooms, they are called "Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans and Carbondale". The house is an Arts & Crafts Bungalow with a masterfully refinished interior and many antiques including a Mission Oak staircase.
Super 8 Worldwide - Carbondale
We guarantee the cleanest rooms in town. 25" TV with cable, including HBO and pay per view movies. Our beds are either Queen or King size and many rooms include a recliner. Life is great at Super 8 !


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Issue 139 | October 2010
Now is the time to visit the NGA—the opening season commences on Friday 1 October.
The 11 Indigenous galleries and new entrance will be open to the public from Friday, kicking off the opening season celebrations.
Get your diaries because October will be big. Regular events like The Big Draw and the Australian Print Symposium are joined by fresh faces in great new spaces. This is a stick up sees the Gallery overrun by street artists for a day to celebrate the opening of Space invaders, the exhibition Anton Bruehl begins and we host the forum Public culture 2010: the art museum and the digital future.
But you don't have to wait until then to get lost and entranced in Life, death & magic, a spectalcuar exhibition of Asian art on until 31 October. Enjoy.
Australian-born photographer Anton Bruehl was one of the most successful photographic illustrators in America, renowned especially for colour photography.
He was most famous at the time for the advertising campaigns he undertook where he created 'characters' out of the products he was advertising. He began work for the Kentucky bourbon brand Four Roses in the early 1930s and made images for the brand until the late 1950s.
One Four Roses ad called Manhattan magic of 1948 showed a Manhattan cocktail hovering above a table as if by magic. The 'Roses' went on all sorts of adventures on trains, on cruises, to concerts.
More about In the spotlight: Anton Bruehl phorographs 1920s–1950s
Purchase tickets online for Life, death and magic to go into the draw to win a trip for two to Bali
What people are saying on Twitter:
Life, death & magic @NatGalleryAus was fascinating+moving.
Artonline special offer: Be one of the first five to email email@example.com with a ticket receipt number purchased after 22 September to receive a free copy of the Life, death & magic exhibition catalogue.
Space invaders opens 30 October and the Gallery will be overrun by street artists.
This is an excerpt from an interview with Australian street artist Vexta by National Gallery curator Jaklyn Babington. The full interview will be available on the exhibition website.
JB: In recent years, Australian street art has transitioned from the streets to the gallery. I see you as one of the Australia's key 'cross-over' artists. You have established a successful gallery career but you are still enthusiastically producing work in the streets. Do you see yourself as a 'cross-over artist'?
V: I guess I could be seen as some kind of "cross-over artist". I didn't go to art school, I taught myself. I was never part of the art world. I guess if you're a cross-over artist you have to come from somewhere and go to somewhere else, right? I just wanted to make things that are beautiful, objects that make people feel and think about different ways of living and being. I feel that my work has more in common with outsider and low-brow art than the contemporary high-end art world.
More about Space invaders (full website coming soon)
The Big Draw
Sunday 10 October 11.00 am
Come and draw the distinctive architecture and inspirational works of art in the Gallery. People of all abilities and ages can participate in the fun. People with disabilities and carers are welcome.
Saturday 30 October 10.30 am
This is a stick up: a Saturday of street art at the National Gallery of Australia
To launch the exhibition Space invaders, the Gallery is preparing itself to be overrun by street artists who will demonstrate their techniques and distinctive styles in a range of free activities.
15–17 October
MATERIALITY: the seventh Australian print symposium
Tim Maguire will be out from London to talk about his huge-scale digital prints from the last few years, as seen in Contemporary Australia: Optimism at Queensland Art Gallery. Richard Tipping will be doing a live cross from overseas to answer questions. Jon Cattapan will be talking about the influence on his work from his recent stint as an official war artist in Timor Leste.
Friday 22 October 6.30 pm
Origins, voyage, cosmos
$45, $35 members/concession (includes exhibition ticket) | bookings essential 02 6240 6528
View Life, death and magic and enjoy a haunting performance of new and ancient sounds by Synergy Percussion, Australia's premier percussion group. Pay bar and hawker-style food available.
Members Stage One Opening Celebrations
Join us Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening of the opening week to celebrate the 'new look' National Gallery.
Friday 1 October, Sunday 3 October 6.00 pm
Members cocktail party
$60 members / $70 non-members| bookings essential 02 6240 6528
Saturday 2 October 6.00 pm Members dinner
$145 members / $155 non-members bookings essential 02 6240 6528
Sunday 31 October 6.00 pm
Life, death and magic: Halloween Dinner
Dress: devilish and debonair | $110 members, $130 guests | bookings essential 02 6240 6528
Farewell the exhibition with a Halloween-themed dinner; enjoy a talk and tour followed by a three-course meal.
Special members offer: The first 15 members to book into the Halloween Dinner and mention the Artonline offer will receive a double pass to see the upcoming film Let me in PLUS the first 5 members to book will also receive a copy of the original novel by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist.
Become a member and receive a range of benefits.
Conservation of Indigenous art
In preparation for the Stage One opening lots of conservation work has been completed on the works of art filling the 11 new Indigenous galleries.
Special attention is given to delicate barks and traditional materials, however more modern works of art also present issues such as paint flaking.
The above image shows a detail of the work under UV light. Click through to Flickr for more conservation images of this work which has been attributed to Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri and/or
Timmy Payungka Tjapangarti
c 1927–1998 and c 1935–2000
Pintupi people, Papunya,
Western Desert, Northern Territory.
See more conservation images on Flickr
Monet's haystacks
Gallery favourite Monet's Haystacks, midday will not be on display for the next few months. The masterpiece has left us for a jaunt to Paris where it will join friends at Les Galeries nationales du Grand Palais for Claude Monet 1840–1926.
The international art rehang due in a couple of weeks will see this new purchase on the wall. This acquisition by Toulouse-Lautrec was made possible through the National Gallery of Australia Foundation and the Poynton Bequest, 2010.

subset: commoncrawl


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Narcolepsy Network Responds to NIH's Call for Comments on Revision of Sleep Disorders Research Plan
Advocating on behalf of all people with narcolepsy, and in keeping with our mission to promote scientific research and early diagnosis, Narcolepsy Network submitted the following comments to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in response to their June 9, 2010 notice, NOT-HL-11-107: Request for Information (RFI): Sleep Disorders Research Plan.
* * * * * * *
To: National Institutes of Health
Narcolepsy Network is the only non-profit organization in the U.S. that provides patient support to persons with narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia and other hypersomnias. We are a membership organization whose membership has grown in the past 10 years from several hundred to over 1300. Our services are provided to members and non-members alike.
During the course of one year, we field hundreds of phone calls, close to 1000 email inquiries and personally interact closely with approx. 200 people who attend our annual Conference. We have an active online forum; among our Trustees and members active on our Board Committees we have 4 individuals who have been hosting narcolepsy chats for 10 years and several individuals who lead active support groups. All of these venues uniquely position us to understand and speak on behalf of the needs of narcolepsy patients.
Narcolepsy with cataplexy is a life long neurological condition affecting one out of about every 2,000 Americans. Similar conditions like narcolepsy without cataplexy, idiopathic hypersomnia and other hypersomnias add an unknown number of our citizens to this group. This makes this set of disorders among the most common neurological conditions. The toll on the national economy, health system and society can not be estimated.
There are many gaps in current knowledge about narcolepsy, related sleep disorders and circadian rhythm disruption. Being an organization composed primarily of people who live with these conditions we can not be expected to have full insight into the many intricacies involved in research. We do know that the following basic issues are in desperate need for attention:
1. Narcolepsy and other hypersomnias are orphan diseases not only because of their low level of incidence but also in that it has been difficult to attract both public and private funding for basic research.
2. Important advances in the study of narcolepsy with cataplexy have been made in the past several years. This momentum needs to be continued until a full understanding of the cause(s), mechanism(s), diagnosis, prevention and effective treatments or cures are realized and made available to all.
3. There have been essentially no advances in the understanding of narcolepsy without cataplexy, and other hypersomnias. Research into these conditions needs to commence immediately and continue until effective diagnosis, prevention, treatments or cures are made available to all.
4. The existing diagnostic tools and the definitions of the various types of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias are inadequate. There is frequent misdiagnosis including both false positives and false negatives. This is because there is poor understanding of these conditions among clinicians; genetic testing lacks full understanding of all of the factors involved; differential diagnosis relies on anecdotal evidence, subjective observation by the under-trained, under-experienced, under-informed and misinformed diagnostician; the poor patient preparation and "First Night†effect in sleep disorder testing; the unavailability, invasiveness and hazards of CSF hypocretin testing.
5. On average, medical students are exposed to less than two hour of instruction on sleep and sleep disorders in a four year curriculum. It is not known how much instruction Physician's Assistants, Registered Nurses and other health care professionals receive on these subjects. It is essential that research be conducted on the quantity and quality of education and the qualifications needed to address this large gap in learning. Goals, objectives and timetables need to be set and enforced not only for initial education but continuing education as well.
6. As many of these disorders become manifest in children of school age, complimentary studies, standards and programs should also be undertaken for educators and ancillary school staff. The role of sleep in health and mental well being and latest information and discoveries about sleep should be integrated into elementary and secondary education programs. In addition, because of the great impact of inadequate sleep and sleep disorders on learning and development, sleep assessments must be mandated as a part of annual school physical exams.
7. There is a lack of appropriately trained and experienced sleep researchers. It is essential to promote and develop the proper educational resources to improve the number and abilities of researchers in studies about sleep and sleep disorders.
8. Develop and disseminate comprehensive standards for the identification of people at risk for all forms of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias as well as diagnostic criteria, and care and treatment plans. Special consideration must be given to include the hereditary legacy of the individual as genetic predisposition is believed to vary with geographic origin, ethnicity, race and currently unidentified environmental factors.
9. Develop new medications for the treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias and methods of administering them so that treatment is targeted at treating the disorder rather than relief of symptoms. Ways must also be found to assure that these treatments are available to all who need them and not just those who are economically secure.
10. To assure that every person has the opportunity to find self fulfillment as a contributing member of society, appropriate federal agencies should research, develop and distribute material for employers, employees and labor groups about the benefits of employing and retaining people who have different types of disabilities. This should include identifying them and their special talents and abilities, hiring, discovering appropriate accommodations and maintaining them as a valuable asset.
Narcolepsy Network would be happy to elaborate on any or all of the above items and look forward to participating in the Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board meeting in August.
I, the members of the Board of Trustees, Staff Members and the members of Narcolepsy Network thank the NIH and all other agencies involved in this project for the opportunity to comment, contribute and participate in this process.
All of us look forward to the reports these efforts generate, the final plan and continuing our relationship with all of the contributing groups.
Most sincerely,
Patricia Duffin Higgins, RN
President, Board of Trustees
Narcolepsy Network, Inc.
# # #
Date Created: July 3rd, 2010
Last Updated: August 18th, 2010


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Mia Limited Edition Stirrup Bootie
Sorry, this item is sold out!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 235979
This casual boot from Mia Limited Edition will carry you through the fall season with ease! The Stirrup has just enough western flair to be right on trend!
- Leather upper
- Pull on
- 7" shaft height
- Synthetic sole
- Imported
By: diva3
Location: California
April 10, 2013
Look good but not very comfortable
"These look good but have no support, not very comfortable to wear for a prolonged period of time. returned them"
By: bootiesbootiesbooties
Location: MA
March 20, 2013
comfy, functional & stylish
"I live in the slushy/snowy/rainy Northeast and get sick of wearing my Sorels everyday. These are the perfect solution- they look great, they feel great. I slapped some waterproof polish on them when I first got them and they survived the last snowstorm we had. I've only had them a couple weeks so my feet can get slightly sore after a whole day of walking in them. Once they are completely broken in, I'm sure this won't happen."
By: CCONSTANCE
Location: PA
February 07, 2013
"This boot is very comfy, love the distressed leather. It looks like a pair of old loved boots.The look of say a old leather jacket this boot is for you. The boot itself is very flat without any arch support. The color is a dark choclate leather. Fits well and is diffrent looking big enough to tuck jeans into or leggings. I wear them under my jeans not a tucker or legging person. I think you really have to love the look to wear it. Great quality but as I said has to be your tatse if you want brand new looking boots pass on these."
By: bronxgal
Location: New York, NY
September 19, 2012
cool boots!
"Love the boots! Got them in the brown color....I'm a size 9 and ordered a 9 and they're fine....wouldn't order down a 1/2 size. The bottom is a bit stiff, but I think it will loosen up with wear. Could always add a sheepskin insole for warmth/comfort. Plenty of room around the ankle to tuck jeans in. All in all, a nice, simple, classic boot!"
Click anywhere to close this.


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Random Thoughts - What Now, Season Ticket Holders?
Kent Wilson
October 31 2012 11:20AM
Because I have used up my allotment of satire for the year and there remains almost zero actual Flames news to discuss, it's time for another random thoughts post.
- I've never been a Flames season ticket - I was too young when ST's were cheap and plentiful and now as a working adult they are expensive and in short supply.
So I can't really relate. At this juncture in the lock-out with the league canceling games and the tqo sides engaging in little more than posturing, I wonder how many STH's are starting to question their financial commitment to the Flames. Particularly in the wake of three completely lackluster seasons (and with no real end in sight on that front).
I'm guessing Calgary didn't offer 10% interest on ST monies like the Wild, so there's no financial incentive to keep paying for a season that isn't. The risk of abandoning tickets in Calgary, of course, is that they could be snapped up by opportunistic folks on the waiting list.
That said, this type of action is pretty much the only kind of leverage fans have for hastening the end of the lock-out. Earnest petitions and impotent wailing on messageboards and on blogs is only so much sound and fury to a league that saw its customers come back in droves after a canceled season eight years ago.
I've seen a lot of expressed anger and apathy towards the NHL over the past month or so form various quarters, but until that translates into actual, financial consequences (loss of ticket holders, damage to the brand, etc.) the owners are going to continue to pursue their interests versus the players by whatever means necessary.
(it's either start canceling tickets or go full French Revolution on Bettman and the owners)
That's easy for me to advocate, of course. I don't have season tickets so I have nothing to lose. Still, I think the fact remains until the fans start manifesting their displeasure in some tangible way during this work stoppage, the league will continue to do little more than pay them lip service.
No room for Worthy Gambles
- If and when the season ever gets going, the Flames roster is more or less set with 13 NHL forwards + Sven Baertschi up front and nine NHL defenders (if you include Brett Carson) on the back-end. Even if the club uses some sort of amnesty clause to drop a guy like Stajan, it means there isn't much room for any kind of meaningful additions.
Which is too bad, because there are a few bodies having nice starts to the year that I wish the team could look at.
First up is Linus Omark. The former Oiler had a rocky start to his career in Edmonton thanks to a host of factors - the prevalence of higher-end prospects, the club's insistence on dressing borderline goons on the 4th line and Omarks own outspoken disinterest in being cast as a checker.
The 25-year old is tearing apart the Swiss League so far this year with 25 points in 17 games. Before crossing the pond, Omark was a PPG players in the SEL and managed 20 goals and 36 points in the KHL, so there's reason to think there is upside there. In addition, during his first 51 games in the NHL, Omark's underlying numbers were solid - he managed the third best relative corsi rating on the Oilers behind only Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall. The reason he struggled to put up points was a PDO of 95.7 (!!), the lowest amongst regular skaters on the club that year.
As a result, Omark was cast as one of those guys who is "too good for other leagues" but not good enough for the NHL. It doesn't help that he's small and NHL coaches/GM's typically want dudes who are big, tough, mean and with team-first attitudes on the third and fourth lines.
Still, he strikes me as worthwhile gamble. He won't be expensive to acquire or sign for whoever takes the plunge. If he works out, you have a 25 year old 2nd or 3rd line forward who can score 40 or more points, play on the powerplay and maybe manage a nice shoot-out goal or two.
Another guy I figure should be back in the league is Patrick Thoresen. Also a former Oiler, Thoresen is another guy who had solid underlying numbers during his time in the league but couldn't seem to get the bounces, which stigmatized him as little more than a checker. Since leaving, however, Thoresen has averaged more than a point-per-game pace in the KHL over three seasons and is currently second in scoring on St. Peterburgh behind only Ilya Kovalchuk with 19 points in 20 games.
Grim Reality
- Commenter Clay brought up an interesting point recently:
It worries me that with a shortened season it is more likely that a tail event occurs. This is all well and good for this team's needs going forward if it is a left tail event, and we get McKinnon, Jones, or another high ranking prospect. I'm worried about the right tail. This team finishes third and/or buys big at the deadline, and gets bounced out of the playoffs quickly. I'd prefer to take my chances with 3 balls in a Mckinnon draft lottery.
A shortened season certainly comes with the elevated influence of luck. Smaller sample = bigger chance a streak based on percentages (one way or the other) confounds things.
I'll go on record saying I'm completely okay with the Flames riding a hot streak and playing above their level as long as it comes with a siginificant measure of success. Meaning, of course, an extended playoff appearance (conference finals or better). Otherwise, I'm with Clay on this one - if the Flames pull a Minnesota Wild for a month or two and it convinces the decision makers the team is somehow a contender again, it could damage the team down the road.
- On the periphery of the lock-out, things are starting to get real for the little people. We here at the Nation had to institute a 30% rollback for paid writers this month because we can't drum up new business to pay the bills. Today, the Phoenix Coyotes laid off some support staff:
Phoenix Coyotes just laid off staff, including Manager of media relations. His last day is Nov. 5 #merrychristmasfromnhl— adater (@adater)
I'm guessing a lot of other such folks in every front offices around the league are either facing the same fate or operating with significantly reduced pay.
If the labour stoppage ends in a month or two it probably won't cause lasting damage. If this stretches the rest of the year, however, things are going to get pretty complicated for a lot of people.
I do actually think the flames offered 3% on st's.
flames did offer 3% and that stands, i did call yesterday because when i recieved my letter of the offer i was pretty sure that it said if you took back your money you would lose your seats. so when i called to take issue with this yesterday i was informed that STHs can now take back their money and keep their seats. still doesn't matter, after inquiring about what other teams are offering i haven't found a team that offers less or even the same. this contridicts what ol' kenny king said, when the 3% was made known he said what the flames were offering was around the middle of the pack. i have not looked into all teams but since i have not found a team that offers the same or less i don't believe this to be true. i just chalk it up to one more reason that ken king should be fired. what this city needs is a riled up joe sports telling everyone to burn their tickets, but no the flames control the only sports radio station in town and moderate their questions. sigh, whatever at least there is.................................... to fill the sports void.
With a couple of buddies, we have split a season tickets since the 80s. All of us are basically hockey nuts who have ridden the roller coaster that is an NHL franchise.
We have chosen to let the Flames hang on to our money and have the luxury of not being too fussed about interest paid. I know, however, that we are not in the majority of individual season ticket holders. I think, though, that a large portion of Flames season tickets are held by corporate Calgary.
Those ticket holding buddies just met over a beverage and it was a unanimous feeling that there will not be a season. So we in Calgary figure that we'd be very happy to have that lottery spot for McKinnon or Jones or whoever. What concerns us most, though, is the fact that Iggy and Kipper are losing the last season of their current contracts. Regardless of whether you think they would have been moved before the end of them (for assets of some description), I think the Flames end up losing more with there not being a season.
As a result, we are focused on what the Flames look like in September 2013, not what they look like in January.
Last, do want to comment on the grim reality of what this lockout does to those whose non-hockey livelihoods have a tie to the NHL. This is a part and parcel of the blinders that both the owners and the players have. Should they care? Well, probably not in the ego fueled existance, but they should be aware of the alienation of those folks along with Joe Phan, the ones that actually end up paying the freight. What they should care about is that alienation resulting in reducing or reversing any uptick in revenues (HRR or not) that will result. There is a strong possibility, in my opinion, that, should this season be lost, the NHL will not return as a 30 team league, but more a 24-28 team circuit. And THAT would be devastating to all.
Ha! Thanks for the reference.
Looking over the RW position while doing some research for another Flames article I was shocked at how poor their depth was. Nemisz is virtually their only prospect at that position and the NHL-level players are either at peak or in the latter half of their careers.
To that end I wondered about Omark but hesitated to make any mention of him here on the Nations. I didn't want to come across as suggesting Oiler castoffs being fit for the Flames.
I do think he would be a good asset for the team, especially in the area of a 2nd powerplay unit.
From the sounds of it the Red Wings are interested as well.
I suspect that the asking price right now is probably a 2nd round pick. High perhaps, but if someone is willing to pay it...
I'd move a second round pick for Omark, personally.
I dunno, this upcoming draft is pretty deep... I'd still pull the trigger if that was the deal on the table but I think I'd be more apt to offer Nemisz. I think he's a borderline NHL'er but if Edm is looking for the prototypical "Big Guy" for their bottom 6 then he fits the frame, he has some draft pedigree, and he was Hall's teammate (linemate even) on the Spitfires.
Call it a "change of scene" trade.
October 31 2012, 01:39PM
Hard to say what Omark would do without Zetterberg and Brunner; I'd rather use that second rounder on a solid puck moving D, with "high hockey IQ".
@Scary Gary
Are Zetterberg and Brunner who Omark is playing with right now? If so, I'd take this 25 points in 17 games with a grain of salt. We already have one Hudler, we don't need another.
If you bail on your season tickets, you shouldn't get them back. It is an unfair business practice to make people pay for tickets to a show that doesn't exist - sue the Flames ownership. They have a boat load of oil money, it won't hurt them at all. But if you let go of your tickets, without fighting the Flames' ownership, then you don't deserve them back.
As for our RW depth... should've picked up David Clarkson or Niclas Bergfors when we had the chance. Not prospects, but young enough to fill the gaping, cherry-picking void left by Iginla when he abandons the team.
The Flames pay 3% on the money you've paid for each cancelled game. So right now, they're paying 3% on roughly 15 homes games (counting pre-season) or 15/45ths of your account. It adds up to about a buck a month for me FYI.
I have 4 ST's. Bought during last lockout as I was done school and working. Now, to decrease my financial commitment I've added partners and we split 1/4 each, basically. To say we're questioning our commitment would be an understatement.
However, the tickets remain a decent investment for us - and people I know with tickets. These guys sell 15 or so of their games, easily making up the money they put in and then go to 5 or 6 every year for free... or even pocketing a bit of cash on top of that.
They've told me they'll go one season of losing money before ditching their end of the partnership. I think that season will be the next one as it's become increasingly difficult to offload the tickets for more than ST price - outside of the Edm, Van, Mtl, Tor games etc.
It's not like 2005-06 where the Flames were fresh off their lightning-in-a-bottle run to the finals. The city then was rabid for hockey to return. Not so much this time around. Ken King is going to be surprised how much a full-season lockout will hurt fan support for a non-playoff team.
And, I think you can get your money back this year and keep your tickets but you lose your seniority/priority on the list. Making it very difficult to improve your seats at the relocation events.
I think there are a lot of RW's in the league that fall into a "change of scenery" bucket.... ahem Iginla.
I like Omark, and would be willing to part with Nemisz or a pick, but I'd prefer to go for an NHL tested asset with some size(cost permitting). I want to be clear, not a refrigerator, but someone who may have consistency issues that lead to a cheaper price.
Chris Stewart gets ragged on a lot by fans, but I wonder what that finishing skill would look like with the distribution skills of Hudler, Baertschi, Backlund or Tanguay.
I'm rambling, but a good, strong, 22-27 year old 3rd line shoot first player might be nice. Maybe Rene Bourque is available (kidding)
I'd move a second round pick for Omark, personally.
Would that be a 2013 2nd round pick?
You know where I'm going with this.
A shortened season is likely to hurt the Flames much more than it helps. The Flames are becoming notorius for slow starts, with a late season spurt to compete for the final playoff spot. The typical Flames twenty game slow start (in a reduced 60 or 70 game season) is another season that we miss the playoffs.
Oilers are offering 4%, ya its not good but its a start. Good to see other teams are doing so also.
3% is a heck of a lot better than the GIC rate a bank would show you
Apparently I'm in the minority here, but I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in acquiring Linus Omark. The last thing the Flames need is YET ANOTHER winger, and the ABSOLUTE last thing they need is another Jiri Hudler.
I've never been a fan, and I never will be a fan. If someone asked me what I'd give up for him, I'd start with a 7th round pick, and maybe add Mitch Wahl. And I'm actually coming close to second guessing myself about that one.
The Flames already brought in a european import in Cervenka, and they added a winger of questionable value in Hudler. Where exactly does Omark fit into the plan? I don't honestly believe Omark can out-perform either one of those players. So basically, he'd be a high-scoring addition to the Heat. Which entirely defeats the purpose of adding him in the first place.
If you're looking for upgrades to the NHL team, look for hard-minutes forwards, or checking 3rd liners. And preferably get them through trade to clear some of the surplus wingers from the roster. OR get a center (and move a winger).
and anyway, why are we talking about trading for him? His contract with the Oilers is over. No NHL team owns his rights any longer. It's a FA signing, no?
"look for hard-minutes forwards, or checking 3rd liners. And preferably get them through trade to clear some of the surplus wingers from the roster."
Once again, David Clarkson and Niclas Bergfors. I agree re: Hudler/Omark comparison. And yes, he is currently UFA in terms of NHL availability. Oilers put in a qualifying offer on his RFA and he didn't take it (2-way deal probably), so he was let loose.
We don't really have Hudler though because he went and got himself hurt like a month ago and was cut from his team.
"look for hard-minutes forwards, or checking 3rd liners. And preferably get them through trade to clear some of the surplus wingers from the roster."
Once again, David Clarkson and Niclas Bergfors. I agree re: Hudler/Omark comparison. And yes, he is currently UFA in terms of NHL availability. Oilers put in a qualifying offer on his RFA and he didn't take it (2-way deal probably), so he was let loose.
We don't really have Hudler though because he went and got himself hurt like a month ago and was cut from his team.
No actually the qualifying offer is still open. The oilers still have his rights for another year.
This time is a whole lot more interesting to see what happens. I say this because last time there were a lot of rule changes, the game was faster and more exciting. The fans came back in droves. This time there are no radical rule changes as of yet.
The big market teams who make a lot of money I believe, will be unaffected. However, I would not be surprised to see dwindling or even further declining attendances in struggling markets like Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, etc. If one of these teams sinks further and Phoenix doesn't move then Quebec, Southern Ontario and Seattle just became a whole lot more attractive.
Even though this season hasn't been cancelled yet, if the lockout were to drag on to another season then maybe big markets could start to see some impact, maybe.
The players just got their escrow cheques, $80,000 for every million. The NHL while they may not like it, have to stick to 50/50 and honour all existing contracts or change the HRR split. However, the more games they miss, the smaller the pie keeps getting.
I dont think we have a 2013 2nd to trade for Omark, but that is too high of a price for him. I agree that a Nemitz for Omark is a pretty solid hockey trade of prospects needing a change of scenery.
The last lockout came after our run & hockey was at its peak. Sutter was Mayor & Iggy could walk on water in this City. The economy in North America & Globally was light years from what it is today. Back then our cash flows were so good, there wasnt even a consideration for letting the tickets go. The NHL/NHLPA are making a very poor poor decision having a media hyped money grab brawl this time around. Paid for my tickets last year & wasnt happy with the teams performance and management decisions these last few years. The Flames sent out a letter last month saying if you get a full refund you lose your rights to your tickets, which ticks me off. But they did say they will refund for official cancelled games at the end of each month & we have a choice. 1/ The monies would go into our ticket account & stay there collecting 3.0% & will be used for next year, or we can get the tickets for games cancelled refunded each monthend without losing the rights of the seats because they still have the $$$ for the games that havent benn cancelled yet. I chose to get the refund because 3.0% is peanuts & maybe these owners will negotiate if they are refunding $$$ as opposed to playing hardball knowing they have my $$$ for next season. The biggest danger is I am re evaluating whether I will renew in 2013, as our business has been hurt the last couple years & our Finance Minister is determined to destroy our Canadian real estate industry. Dont get me going on that one. But the numbers dont equate to the value added of having these Flames tickets. Yes, they have been harder to give away these last few years, especially for some games like Columbus & Minny.
Right now, if there is no season, I will not renew for 2013. If we get a partial season, my decision to renew will based on what I see from the Flames & the decisions I see moving forward. If I see the same mediocre garbage I've seen these last how many years, I'm done.
Will always be a huge fan & probably buy a few 3-4 game packages to teams I want to see. Last few years, I dont know which I love more, my team or my Hockey Pools & I dont need STickets to enjoy my hockey pools.
Nemisz for Omark is not an even deal. Omark may be a perennial power-play specialist and a future KHLer, but Nemisz does not have any attributes that the Oilers need right now, including size.
His skating is an issue and frankly, for a center prospect they have better options developing in Lander, Ewanyk and Martindale.
Feaster traded away the 2013 pick in the Cammalleri deal to get Gauthier to throw in Ramo and even it up with a 5th rounder.
Nemisz for Omark is not an even deal. Omark may be a perennial power-play specialist and a future KHLer, but Nemisz does not have any attributes that the Oilers need right now, including size.
His skating is an issue and frankly, for a center prospect they have better options developing in Lander, Ewanyk and Martindale.
Feaster traded away the 2013 pick in the Cammalleri deal to get Gauthier to throw in Ramo and even it up with a 5th rounder.
I think you are hanging on to a value for a prospect that wont ever get a sniff on the Oiler team & in a year Oilers return will be zero. Not saying Nemitz would be the right deal for Oilers but a 2013 2nd rounder, really? Nobody is going to part with that on a 25 year old that couldnt crack a non playoff team lineup & may have attitude issues. Sounds like he needs new scenery, but if thats the asking price, he will have to wait until he's 26 to get it in the NHL.
I called my ticket agent and got the scoop on refunds and season ticket holders. If you ask for a 100% refund you loose your seats and priority, but you can get a 90% refund and only leave 10% (which doesn't get the 3% per year) as a 'retainer'. With the 10% you keep your priority and seats, but in the event the season starts say... tomorrow; they'll have a old school 1929 margin call and you'll owe the 90% up front to keep your seats, if you don't pony that up at the time it's game on, you loose your seats.


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April 2013
Part of our journey through the day to the Hole in the Rock in the Bay of Islands. What a fabulous day out with a great guide and staff.
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Shimano Sellus Casting Rods
Place Your Order
About This Rod
Engineered for today's hottest bass fishing techniques, the all-new, affordably priced Shimano Sellus Series Casting Rods feature an array of Shimano's most popular actions. Boasting lightweight and sensitive 24-ton Graphite blanks, they also come equipped with durable, low profile Aluminum Oxide Guides for longer casting and reliable performance. Newly designed proprietary Shimano split reel seats put your hands in complete contact with the rod blank for increased sensitivity transfer, allowing you to feel the most subtle bites and pick ups, and custom shaped EVA split grip handles furnish a comfortable ergonomic feel for long days on the water. Perfect for anglers looking for a quality fishing rod at a reasonable price, the Shimano Sellus Series Casting Rods look sleek and stylish with their white blanks and black accents.
Additional Features:
- Laser Etched Technique Butt-Cap
- Multipurpose Hook Keeper
-Backed by 1-year Limited Warranty (All warranty claims must be made with Shimano directly. Tackle Warehouse can no longer accept Shimano warranty rods.)
Customer Feedback
Comments: great rod for the price may not be the best rod I've ever purchased but it's durable, fairly sensitive, pretty well balanced & light. I had mine for 3 years before I managed to break it by shutting the tip in my car door. Just purchased a replacement for the price you can't beat it.
From: Hunter: Pascagoula, MS 1/31/6
Comments: Amazing rod! Have jacked some jaws on a Texas rig & shakey head I have the 7' medium heavy & I absolutely love it. If you really want an amazing finesse combo pair this rod up with a Diawa Air Coastal Casting reel. My setup blows me away every time! Highly recommend!
From: Jason: Pendleton, SC 1/7/16
Comments: These rods are very light and have some relatively small line guides which is a big plus...it's got a very good feel to it and is also pretty sensitive...however the guides seem like they could break very easily(hope they hold up) however i highly recommend this rod for bass fishers of novice and intermediate levels.
From: Sebastian: Rockwell, TX 12/31/15
Comments: love the 7'6" rod for froggin. Some might not say its ideal but with its light weight, length and backbone, it's slowly become my go to froggin rod. I have made some VERY hard hooksets with this rod and hauled in some pretty decent fish from heavy cover and it's held up fine, including the guide inserts. Never a problem. As with most rods, especially cheaper rods, please don't crank down really tight on the reel seat. These are made of sometimes brittle plastic and can crack under severe tension. I highly recommend these rods. If I didn't love my Denali kovert so much I'd buy the 7'2" med heavy version for Texas rigs. Tight lines!
From: Evan: OK 10/10/15
Comments: i have 3 of these mostly because i like the price. But so far they have not disappointed me. even hauled in a 4ft alligator on my 7'2 medium/heavy with 40lb braided line. But like a lot of people have said the real seat is not the best quality, so to kind of make up for it i zip-tie the reel to it, which i know is not the best thing to do, but it works for me.
From: Garrett: Huntsville, TX 7/4/15
Comments: I've had this rod in the 6'10 medium action since July. At first it seemed to be a good quality rod for pond hopping and It was able to handle just about everything for me even frogs and jigs. But after two months of use the reel seat broke and I had to super glue it so I could tighten/remove my reel. Shortly after the handle part of the reel seat disengaged from the rod so the reel twists around on the rod freely and doesn't align with the guides. You get what you pay for with this rod I would recommend a step up to a Abu Garcia Vendetta or Shimano compre
From: Kyle: NJ 1/16/15
Comments: I HATE mine. Bought it to replace my normal blade rod in a pinch, it was the best rod for a blade the dealer had at the moment. Action is off, reel seat broke...skip this series. I'm selling mine.
From: Jay6: USA 10/4/14
Comments: when i started bass fishing a few months ago, this was my first rod, and i was expecting it to be just a decent low cost rod being it was 60 bucks. It performed beyond my expectations. the 7'2 MH had a very good backbone and the sensitivity was good. the weight of this rod is decent and balanced and you just have to choose a reel that goes well with the rod. IMO weight of the rod and reel depends on the angler's preference.
From: FP: San Jose, CA 10/4/14
Comments: I have 2 of the rods, 7'0'' medium crankin stick paired with a Shimano Saenan and a 7'6'' medium-heavy flippin stick paired with a Shimano Citica. I had for about 6 months now and never had any problem with it. If you are looking for a great and sensitive rod under $50 this is the way to go. Overall great rod for the price.
From: Tan: Dallas, TX 8/15/14
Comments: I have the 6' 8" MH model of this rod. It is built great, the reel seat is great, great backbone. For $50 this rod is awesome! However, this rod is not sensitive at all. I'd suggest saving up and getting a Clarus, I love mine!
From: Chris: WI 6/14/14
Comments: I gotta say, this is my first real setup I went out and bought without it being complete and I'm completely satisfied. I have the 6'8" jig MH rod and it's beautiful. Since I've bought my vendetta rod with my Lews reel I do t really use it as much (9/10 casts will be with the V) but it will always come on my fishing trips. Great value for the price
From: Tony: Valencia, CA 5/10/14
Comments: bought this rod in the 7'6" flipping version. Broke at the reel seat on the 4th hook set. Little super glue and now it's working wonderfully. I give shimano benefit of the doubt that this was a rare mistake. Great value rod!
From: Clay: KY
Comments: Purchased this fishing pole at the recommendation by a reputable local tackle dealer. He could've easily steered me towards a high-end pole as I own several of those. After using this sellus, it loads up nicely and possesses the correct amount of backbone needed. It works nicely with warts, raps and other small cranks. It is one of my go-to crank poles. Very pleased with it.
From: Larry: Springfield, MO USA
Comments: I have this rod and surprisingly for the price, the rod has held up through all the hell I put it thru, if you looking for a cheap reliable rod, I'd deffinately try this out.
From: destrehan, la
Comments: I love this rod. I have a medium light st Croix and I wanted a medium fast action so I bought this. I paired it with the Okuma trios30 reel and im very very pleased.
From: Greg: Enfield, CT US
Comments: Please don't let the $ fool you. This is a very good rod. I am a bank fisherman and if you do most of your fishing that way, this is your rod. I paired it with the Lew's MG and I am soo happy w/ both rod/reel set up.
From: Jay: Meridian,MS,USA
Comments: I bought the 6'8" jig/worm model of this rod about a month ago and it is awesome! For $50, it offers great sensitivity and plenty of backbone for hook sets. If you are looking for a great rod on a budget, then look no further! They are even technique specific, which makes that low price that much better! I definitely recommend these rods!
From: Jordan: Muscle Shoals, AL
Comments: I thought I had ordered the Crankbait version of the rod and was shocked when I got the "spinnerbait" version. Decided to avoid the hassle and keep this rod to go fishing now and not wait for it to get shipped both ways. I'm not really sure if crankbait/spinnerbaits fish very different for this level of a rod but it seems to handle the lures I have just fine. Nice long casts. lots of backbone. looks good. And its a good length for me. I'm pretty sure that for an introductory rod for baitcasting you can just select the length you want and dont really need to be too bait specific. With that being said I'd give it a 4/5 stars only cause its a bit heavy. But for this level of a rod its a solid buy. If you're a "serious begginer" go for it!
Comments: These rods are the worst EVER by Shimano. They do not deserve to be called shimano. If you think you are a good fisherman, don't buy these pieces of crap! I love Shimano but these rods suck!
From: Casey: professional bass angler
Comments: When I first purchased this rod when thry first came out, I figured it was a Shimano product so it has to be good. I was really impressed how this rod handles fish. Sensitivity wise, I feel its just as good as a Abu Vendetta or BPS Carbonlite. I now have taken my arsenal of Shimano reels and put them on Sellus rods. The Flipping rod that telescopes is great. Transporting the rod is easy since its 7'6, and all you have to do is push it down when transporting, and pull it back out when ready to fish. Handles braid, and polymer line very well, and has a great backbone. Heavy cover easy to handle without the heavy price. The only problem i had was one of the threaded sleeves that the reel hold down tightens on, came loose (from a little over tightening). All it took was a little super glue to secure it back in position on the blank, not a problem since. Good job Shimano.
From: Matt: S. FL
Comments: I do not own this product but I do own a number of Shimano rods and I absolutely love them. I am considering purchasing a 7' 2" or 7' 6" flipping stick but it says telescopic? Can someone fill me in? Is this a collapsible rod? This is the only site I see them listed as telescopic. Thanks!
From: Mike: Akron, Ohio
Comments: These rods are AWESOME lightweight and durable I got the 6"8 medium-heavy,fast taper paired up with the okuma krios (looks so good!) for my all-around set up. I was skeptical about this rod but it was more than I expectations. compared to the veritas it has a fighting chance but again you get what you pay for. For the money definitely GET THIS! it is lighter and more sensitive than other 50-60 dollar rods!
From: Von: Joliet, IL
Comments: I bought the worm/jig rod, very light, sensitive, and strong. Paired with a Chronarc and it's a great combo. Went and bought the crankbait version as well can't wait to use it. I would recommend this rod to anyone great rod for the money.
From: Clint: Wichita, KS
Comments: I purchased one of these rods over the weekend and took it out yesterday (7'6 flipping rig). I was so excited to test it out that I slapped one of my old reels on it and took it out to get it wet. Very sensitive and held up to my standards. Pulled a 3 and a half pounder out of some heavy brush without hesitation. Definitely buy this rod, especially for the price.
From: Raymond: LA
Comments: Update: I now own 2 of these {7'2" MH} Will be getting more! Great Value!
From: Ray: Tulsa
Comments: One of the lightest and sturdy rod. Held up with a 5lb bass like nothing. Balanced the rod for more sensitivity.
From: Noel: Milpitas, CA
Comments: Bought this rod (7'2" jig MH) about a month ago. It's not as sensitive as some, but handles heavy jigs and rough flipping very well! I will be buying more of these! Great for the price!
From: Ray: Tulsa, OK
Comments: Bought 2 rods, not impressed at all! The peice of the Handel that screws to seat the reel Broke on both rods today my second time to use them! Bring them back tomorrow for the money think shimano should put out a better product!!
From: Ben: Lake Charles, LA
Comments: well i just bvought this rod a month ago and im not very impressed. The tip ring broke and i had to replace the tip after fishing with it one time so that was a pain. I went to Bass Pro shops and i replaced my tip and i decided to take it out today and try it out. well after two casts the rod litterally snapped three guides down from the tip. This really upset me because Im only 15 years old and dont have tons of money. Ive always been very careful with my equipment and no rod should snap by merely casting it. Maybe i got a bad model or something but i am not very happy with this purchase. I have the 7'6 med heavy model. I only used this rod 2 times before it broke and i didnt even have it for one month...
From: Dale: Sacramento, CA
Comments: This rod is probley one of the best for the money i have used it 3 times sence i bought an it has amazing sencitvity i riped out a 5 pounder out of the water like nothing i have the 7-2 med hvy an i like it with my okuma cirtix i give it a five so far only had it for 5 day
From: Hayden: Gilbert, AZ
Comments: Since there was no reviews I thought I would post this. This size/action is technique specific for spinnerbaits and has logo etched into the butt plate. As far as quality it seems to be well enough made and casts pretty decent on my new Curado
Although it has a fast tip, it is not as sensitive as the Bass Pro shops IM8 med I am replacing. However, it is sensitive enough to feel the spinner blade and know whether or not the bait is running true. and for 50$ its a decent enough so that I won't be hurting if I break it. I like the reel seat as it doesn't have much play in it (like my similarly priced Shimano rod... the volteus). At this price point, I would recommend the sellus series or the Daiwa aird or for an little more the Daiwa T rods.
From: Dante: Newburgh, NY


text:
Updated: Tuned out and Souray's business
Robin Brownlee
April 14 2009 07:30PM
Fans who've insisted for years Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish had lost the dressing room weren't wrong, they were just more premature with their guesswork than a pimply-faced freshman with a hot date at the junior prom.
With MacTavish having one foot out the door and GM Steve Tambellini expected to face the media as early as Wednesday, what I was told by somebody I trust, in concert with on-the-record comments by players at Rexall Place Monday, has me convinced the lost-the-room argument holds water.
While MacTavish got most of the ink by voicing frustration with the make-up of the team, the willingness of his players to consistently compete and the inability of the coaching staff to fashion a game plan to suit a roster that's in transition, the telling stuff came from captain Ethan Moreau.
Moreau, long a MacTavish favourite and one of his staunchest backers, didn't exactly stand by his man when discussing his MacTavish's comments in pre-season that the Oilers would contend for a Northwest Division title.
Under the bus went MacT.
What was said
"Hopefully, we learned a bit of a lesson," Moreau said, answering a question by Dan Tencer from 630 CHED. "I think you just come to training camp and, if you have confidence, you have quiet confidence.
"You talk about your goals amongst your group. I don't think you need to predict you're going to win the Stanley Cup or win your division. You just go about your business. I don't think you need to have those expectations. Those are good conversations to have within your team."
Of course, Moreau talked about there being plenty of blame to go around and characterized the season as "a failure right from the top to the bottom," but that's captain-speak.
When I pressed Steve Staios, asking if he wanted MacTavish back, he said all the right things. Still, as somebody who has known Staios since before he arrived in Edmonton, I didn't find him convincing in the least.
"Yes, I would," Staios said. "I think we can have success with him. We've done it in the past. I don't think that a change, just one change, like that is the answer.
"I think that, overall as a group, I think everybody has to look at themselves and, you know, ask themselves if they gave everything they had and were committed. If you have that, you have a better chance of winning and making the playoffs."
What wasn't said
I found it telling Sheldon Souray, the most-quoted Oiler player during the regular season, opted not to make himself available for interviews Monday. With MacTavish clearly under siege since the team was eliminated from post-season contention, I would have thought he'd be front and centre to defend his coach, watch his back, tell us everything was rosy.
Then again, maybe Souray didn't want to lie -- that would fit with what I was told earlier in the day, when it was suggested MacTavish didn't have many allies in the dressing room and that he'd lost the support of the leadership core. That would be Moreau, Staios, Souray and Shawn Horcoff, who were solidly in MacTavish's corner -- largely because they'd been given the run of the room -- when the season began.
Add that to the obvious bad feelings between MacTavish and frequent doghouse resident Dustin Penner, not to mention MacT's obvious frustration with Robert Nilsson, and nobody, as MacTavish put it, was skipping out of Rexall Place yesterday. And nobody, at least players I talked to, sounded overly distraught at the thought of MacTavish resigning.
Time's up
So, unless Tambellini is willing to turn the roster upside down, he has little choice but to accept MacTavish's resignation, then sell us tomorrow or the next day on the new direction the team will be embarking on.
That's not to say Tambellini shouldn't be making significant players moves this summer to improve the team and find the right mix, because it's obvious to anybody with a functioning brain stem he should, but the motivation for doing so shouldn't be placating MacTavish. That won't happen here.
And it shouldn't.
Pronger reprise?
Perhaps one of the reasons Souray didn't make himself available to reporters Monday is he didn't want to address speculation that he's asked Tambellini for a trade.
Rumours Souray has asked to be dealt began several weeks ago and they've persisted since. To this point, neither Souray or anybody in the Oilers front office has gone on the record to put the talk to rest. Until that happens, and there's a flat-out denial from one of the parties, this has legs.
Stay tuned.
-- Listen to Robin Brownlee every Thursday from 4 to 6pm on Just A Game with Jason Gregor on TEAM 1260.
@ David S: You think Steve Staois is a considerable upgrade to Theo Peckham? (including contract)
April 15 2009, 08:41AM
topshelf wrote:
@ David S: You think Steve Staois is a considerable upgrade to Theo Peckham? (including contract)
Thiers a big difference between better value and more effective player. Sure Peckham maybe better value at .8 (or whatever he's paid) but he's no where near as valuable on ice (today).
Unused cap space is worthless... we had a couple million of it this year... didn't score any goals.
Ogden Brother wrote:
but he's no where near as valuable on ice (today).
I would debate how valuable Steve Staois was on the ice. Declining asset making triple the salary versus Theo Peckham who looks to coming into his own.
"looks to be coming into his own"
..need more coffee.
Staios on the ice in the last 2 minutes or OT = GOAL(for the other team)
My point exactly.
topshelf wrote:
You think Steve Staois is a considerable upgrade to Theo Peckham? (including contract)
Nobody's gonna argue that Steve Staios needs to find a new sucker team. The point was it's getting crazy in here to the point of all-out panic. Anybody who thinks picks or a guy like Peckham or Tavares will solve our immediate problem (that being having a hockey team that plain sucks) is fooling themselves.
@ David S: I would agree with that 100%. But the Staois example is one of a few that, if remedied, would help turn this club in the right direction. That was my argument.
I am late to this party but I'll try and add in things I haven't seen mentioned.
- I never saw this highlighted by anyone but does anyone recall a quote from 10 awhile back regarding 27 and how he does good good at the front of the net on the PP? I thought it odd at the time. Sure, I agreed with him as I thought most fans would who watch all the games but here was Horc commenting on where he thought 27 should play and that ran counter to some of the things his coach would do with penner. Things like health scratching him or banishing him to the 4th line.
- most people are black and white and while it seems like 18's a good team guy, I'm disgusted over the way he nicked MacT for his expectations quote. This dolt's allowed to take dumb penalty after dumb penalty and he never see his TOI cut and he still gets effusive praise from his coach. yet, he'll still take a shot at him. I was a MacT guy who's now ready to see him leave but that was a turncoat move by Moreau not matter how you pucking slice it.
- given his age, history troubles, plus/minus history and quality of comp, I think Souray would be doing us a huge favor by asking for a trade. What are the chances he'd replicate his '09 campaign? He's never done this well while playing top four min so if he showed up in '10 and didn't play more than 50 games and/or he was -15, I wouldn't bat an eyelash. I thought and think we have to move one of him or 71 and if he's volunteering, then I'm cheering. The only thing I would caution is what kind of a return we'd get for him. His tenure in Edm has been good and bad, there wasn't a strong market for him when we signed him - Oilers overpaid and that's on the record - he's at an age where the decline usually becomes palpable and the cap's on the descent.
This isn't July of '06 with Pronger coming off a near Conn Smythe postseason and everyone knowing the cap would keep going up.
April 15 2009, 11:11AM
Dennis wrote:
I thought and think we have to move one of him or 71 and if he's volunteering, then I'm cheering.
I agree. I don't like the idea of moving 71. People seem to forget how our PP, though not good before, fell of the map after 71 went down to injury. Also, 71 was almost always back to cover for himself when he made a gaffe in the offensive zone. Personally, if he is asking to go, IMO he will make life easier on Tambo. Especially if they are as close to signing 37 as the rights holders say they are.
Also see if you can get a pick for 24 and let 5 take his spot. Even give 5 the #4 spot on the D. He's gritty and not afraid to get in the face of the opposition.
My two bits.
April 15 2009, 11:12AM
442Junkie wrote:
Also see if you can get a pick for 24 and let 5 take his spot. Even give 5 the #4 spot on the D. He's gritty and not afraid to get in the face of the opposition.
He can make up for 77 being soft.
I can't handle all the Penner bashing anymore...sure the guy underachieved severely...but 17 goals..hmmm tied for 2nd on the team (i think), +/- tied for 2nd...
Oilers problem: leadership ...from KLowe(el presidente...dodging responsibility for the small sh++++ team he built...) down..best coach in the organization is Daum...the 4 stooges here must get the punt, to be replaced by whom?? Who knows, but can turf the 'Oiler Hockey' bs , it died the day Gretz got sold...Buchberger was a lousy player on some pretty lousy teams, and this qualifies him to be coach because???? Just because you're in the army for 20 years doesn't mean you should be a general...
Staois/Pisani/Moreau seem to have been given a different set of rules then the rest of the Oilers...time for them to go..
Argh..pardon the grammar...ramblings of a severely disgruntled oiler fan...
The Oil are dead to me until they make some serious changes, 4 coaches, 5+ players minimum.
April 15 2009, 11:39AM
They were using this article as a means of conversation on the KROCK morning show this morning. One of the morons called Souray one of the top 5 defensemen in the league, then preceded to call another caller a moron when the caller disagreed with him.
I agree with whoever said this is NOTHING LIKE THE PRONGER SITUATION. Once the team gets rid of MacTavish I bet Souray, Hemsky, and some of the other disgruntled Oilers will be much happier.
I believe the guys, like Souray and Hemsky, are only pissed off because they care, and guys like that are the ones we shouldn't be getting rid of .
I think Souray should be treated as a hero here, being the only big-name free agent who was willing to give Edmonton a shot - even if he ends up demanding a trade (a Big If) whatever we would end up getting for him would only help the Oilers, as opposed to him never signing here in the first place. And, he came here AFTER the Pronger debacle.
That said, this is all speculation as Robin suggested, so let's just wait and see. But I will not start bashing Souray in the meantime. I believe the situation will be solved when MacTavish leaves/is fired. I know MacTavish leaving will not solve everything but it is the most important move for the Oilers to make this offseason, in my opinion. Isn't that what this article was supposed to be about?
As R.B. suggested he players really know what is going on and the rest of us can only guess. Souray and Hemsky (and Moreau, etc.) obviously saw some disturbing things going on inside the Oilers this season and I believe this coaching change will change a lot of the problems. We'll see.
Personally, I'm just happy MacTavish is finally leaving! :D (see!)
April 15 2009, 11:54AM
@ Jack "FMNF" Bauer: Yeah, I cant believe they would suggest that the Defenseman who is tied for the lead on his own team for goal scoring and 2nd for D-men over the entire league is one of the top 5 defensemen in the league. Souray is SO overrated, with his goal scoring, point producing, toughness, and leadership. What a loser. That pilon only averages more ice-time than Nick Lidstrom and Sergei Zubov, What, he couldnt muster up the extra 4 seconds a game to over-take Francois Beauchemin? Weeny. I mean he only managed to score 12 powerplay goals on the worst powerplay in the league. I hope we get rid of this guy. Is Tom Poti available? Somebody call Cory Cross' agent, we have a spot available on the blueline.
April 15 2009, 11:58AM
If he is supposedly one of the top 5 defensemen in the league how come you havent heard a peep out of him for the Norris?
April 15 2009, 11:58AM
er out of anbody?
April 15 2009, 12:00PM
Tambo presser.
April 15 2009, 12:01PM
It isnt a perposterous argument, it might be more palatable to say he is top 10 this year, but that doesnt mean some very smart hockey people wouldnt include Souray in their top 5.
Guys, in an effort to touch on the MacT thing a little bit...I have a question for anyone who wants to participate.
I don't know how to do polls (if you do, help is appreciated) but I am curious how you would feel if MacT leaves this week, as anticipated.
Would you be: 1 Ecstatic, 2 Happy, 3 Not too crazy about it, 4 Disappointed, 5 Pissed right off about it ???
Just curious right now, even though I'm sure there will be plenty of polls done about it later!
April 15 2009, 12:11PM
mact is done-offical
Holy crap, it is official now.
Craig MacTavish has been relieved of his duties. It is on Oilers.nhl.com, and Steve Tambo is doing a live conference right now.
Thanks Jack "FMNF" Bauer for that scoop,
Happy? ;)
Oh yeah, are you changing your name now - lol!?
April 15 2009, 12:40PM
@ Darren: 1
April 15 2009, 01:33PM
SOURAY UPDATE: Tambellini was asked at the newser this morning if any players have asked for trades. He said, "No."
April 15 2009, 01:36PM
It wasnt just a no huh Brownlee, it was a NO. Are you surprised at how much leg your opinion piece has gotten? It kind of shows how far this site has come.
April 15 2009, 03:51PM
@ Jack "FMNF" Bauer: Not surprised. It would have been a significant story if there was something more to it. There's no way, after Pronger, to ignore rumours like this, especially when people are e-mailing you etc and asking about it. I've sat on this for a while trying to sniff around and get something firmer before I asked Tambellini or Souray, but thought I had to get it out there after Souray left without talking.
April 15 2009, 04:47PM
Does Tambo's response to the question mean anything to you? Its was a pretty definitive, firm, "dont f'ing ask me that again" kind of no in my opinion.
April 15 2009, 07:59PM
@ Jack "FMNF" Bauer: Tambellini was pretty intense throughout today. If you listened to the audio of the newser, you might have heard me ask him about the emotion in his voice.
April 15 2009, 08:17PM
I did notice that for sure. I think everyone did, and if you read through the live blog comments while he was doing his presser, a lot of people are excited he showed that kind of emotion. He came across like hes had enough as much as the fans weather its genuine or not.
April 15 2009, 08:44PM
[...] written MacTavish off April 9 in Already Gone, again last Sunday in Armchair GMIII and finally in Tuned Out on Tuesday, it's the reaction to an item at the bottom of the last bit that got me thinking [...]
April 16 2009, 09:05AM
[...] Robin Brownlee first wrote that the rumours about Souray possibly asking for a trade might have some legs. Dan Barnes said on the TEAM 1260 that Souray had told him that this season was tough because he didn't get to see his kids very often. I believe both of them, so I went fishing for more… [...]


text:
The Land
Cities & Suburbs
Boom & Bust
Patriotic Duty
At Ease
Theme: Patriotic Duty
Artist: Lesley MURRAY
Birth/Death: 1968
Title: Black soldier
Credit Line: Gordon Darling Fund 1996. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
At first glance Black soldier 1994 by Lesley Murray is a familiar, albeit shadowy portrayal, of the archetypal Digger with slouch hat. Closer inspection reveals a rather intimate portrait of the artist's grandfather, who served in the Second World War.
Though this image represents a personal memorial, the soldier is nameless. The lettering banding the top and bottom of the image is perhaps a reference to the anonymity experienced by many Aboriginal servicemen, including the absence of their names on Australia's war memorials.
More details
Click image to enlarge


text:
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text:
Shelley's "Frankenstein" warns the reader to consider if just because something can be done should it be done. Twenty years before Shelley wrote "Frankenstein" Luigi Galvani found that electricity could be used to cause muscles in the dead to spasm, opening the door to the possibility that reanimation was possible. It was in this frame of mind that Shelley began "Frankenstein". Shelley puts forth questions that has been repeated over the centuries by many people (1) Do people have the right to play God? (2) Can any good come from it? (3) Can man come to terms with his playing God?. She not only asks the questions but she, as most good writers, also answers them.
Frankenstein becomes all-consumed as he was creating his monster, forgoing all human contact so he can create his masterpiece. Upon completing his creation he really noticed it for the first time, not just the beauty he was trying to create but the ugliness of death that lingered around the creations eyes, skin, and lips. At that moment Frankenstein realized what he was really doing, he had not created life but just twisted death. Shelley seems to say that even if you can "create" life from leftover pieces your creation is not really a life, and thus you are not playing God. In modern times this situation is evident in cloning, to clone an animal scientists must use the animal itself to complete the process, no scientist can produce an egg from scratch nor is their a machine that can replicate the function of a womb.
Frankenstein's monster was not evil or bad originally, its first action was to grin, however circumstances surrounding its early life made it into the murderer it became. Upon the creatures first meeting with Frankenstein he was well spoken and refused to fight Frankenstein instead pleading with him to listen to what he had to say and show compassion. Frankenstein then relates his beginnings showing that indeed although he may have appeared evil he was good, and thus Shelley says that good can come from mans obsession with playing god, but whether that creation is good or evil depends on what man does with it. The creation of nuclear energy is a scenario such as this, although nuclear power has many legitimate and helpful uses it also can be very destructive. Even a destructive invention can have helpful uses such as dynamite in removing old buildings, the only thing that decides what outcome a creation has on the world is in what spirit it is used.
Frankenstein was unable to cope with his status as a creator, the thought of his creation haunted him even before the creation started murdering Frankenstein's friends and family. Instead of seeing the good that he had created he immediately saw all that was wrong with the creation. Many creators see only one side of the potential of their creations and only after it is too late see the other side.
All of these questions are asked when any new life altering science is created, in recent history these are all mostly related to genetically altered food and things like cloning. Humans have always had a problem with changing the status quo on a large scale, everything from whether math classes should use calculators to invention of the printing press has had proponents and opponents who think that their way is best. On much grander issues like cloning and gene altering the debate goes beyond the status quo and then enters into the world of philosophy, not only is the status quo to be changed but many deeply personal issues emerge. Invariably the three questions that Shelly asked in Frankenstein are asked again and invariably are given new answers.
A second question Shelley asks is what makes a human, human? By genetics it would be hard to argue that Frankenstein's monster was anything but human, but is a human created by man still human? For all intents and purposes Shelley asks does a creation have a soul, and for that matter does anyone have a soul?
Many people can spout, literally, chapter and verse of "evidence" that proves or disproves the idea of eternal souls or gods, however it is not possible to prove or disprove with any certainty in a way that does not rely on personal bias . Ask any Christian if there is a god and they will say yes, ask them how they know and they will say "I know it in my heart" or "The bible says so." Ask an Atheist if there is a god and they will say no, ask them how they know and they will say "Because there is no evidence." The same thing will happen if you ask the same questions of a person of any belief system because belief is the ability to consider intangible evidence definitive. There is no definitive evidence that supports a god nor is there definitive evidence to support the lack thereof. It all boils down to what evidence does a person believe and what explanation of the evidence they believe in.
Here is what we do know for sure: we were created, we can't tell for sure how or why but we can do our best to find out. Frankenstein's monster wondered the same questions and the more he chased his creator the further his creator ran from him. The monster's lack of perfection drove Frankenstein to realize what imperfections he himself had, and in doing so showed Frankenstein the frailness of his own beliefs. No longer did Frankenstein believe he held the power of life over death, instead he realized that his own imperfections had corrupted the creation. The creation was driven mad by the pursuit of the reasons for his life and at every junction realized the imperfections that existed within him forbade him from ever truly being free.
This is a lesson that is very important to learn, Shelley warns the reader not to get entangled in questions that can never be answered to any satisfaction. Humans may have been a divine creation by an omnipotent being, but just as likely humans could have been created through random changes outside the controls of anything. But this is for certain, humans are imperfect but unlike Frankenstein's monster one must net get caught up in the idea of ones own imperfection. Because in doing so one realizes that perfection does not beget imperfection and thus it is not possible for anything or anyone to be entirely perfect. The meaning of this last sentence is to be left to the reader to decide.


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By PATSY STODDARDEditor
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the final in a four part series which deals with issues facing rural communities.
The many dimensions of rural Utah were discussed at the recent Rural Summit in Cedar City. Risks and opportunities as they pertain to small communities and cultures were discussed. Event organizers said, "Many social, economic, political and even natural forces are combining to significantly alter the basic fabric of rural life. Utah has always been about values and closeness to the land, but traditional agriculture and family farms are taking a beating. Corporate agriculture is dominant. The majority of those who survive are nearing retirement age and there is little interest among their children to take over the farm.
"In many places, traditional cultures and populations are being displaced by new philosophies and perspectives that aren't rooted in the soil of the past. Technology is also changing the rural landscape. People can work from these rural settings and these technological advances present new opportunities to those who can recognize and capitalize on them.
"What things do we fight to maintain, and which do we leave behind as obsolete in the march of progress and change?
Mary Jo Waits who is the associate director of the Morrison Institute for public policy, the "think tank" of Arizona State University spoke at the summit and shared her ideas of blending the past with the future in rural Utah.
She stressed the point that many of the new technology related jobs can be done anywhere, especially great rural settings. "If we make great technology, that's only because we've been able to hire great engineers and this technological development can be done in rural as well as urban settings. There is no smooth ride. Progress requires that the old be replaced by the new. Most communities like to protect old jobs and realities. You need to be creative. Dot com companies have seized the power of this global computing and communications infrastructure and used it to transform themselves, that is a real revolution.
"We are in a cappuccino economy, the foam is the high gloss fast moving companies and the coffee layer is the slow moving traditional companies far below. These two distinct layers must see a blending and slowly mixing in and infiltrating the one below. The top layer must learn from the bottom layer that sooner or later you have to make a profit. The competition is relentless, on this front there are global rivals. There is no immunity from competition. It's like a blur and it's hard to keep up. One businessman said we're competing against the clock and ourselves. Economic directors don't get the opportunity to talk to people about their communities any more. With the Internet people can get on the computer and check out a potential business site without ever talking to anyone or going there.
"One medical advice company said they have five products in development that will totally destroy their current market of products. One way to deal with this is the forming of alliances. These collaborations help a company to concentrate on their core activities and to be great; know your strengths and partner for the rest. One niche that has been there for a long time is to collaborate with universities and share research. You need enduring competitive advantages in a global economy.
"Place still matters, companies will locate where something local can give them an advantage; whether it be people, relationships, customs or motivation. It has to be something that rivals can't get somewhere else. To create this environment takes a long time. Through research, venture capital, networks, technical spillovers, climate and quality of life all take a long time to acquire. Quality of life is an important factor in a knowledge economy. The quality of place counts big and more and more companies and skilled labor can locate where they want and not where they must.
"Companies have more flexibility now in where they can locate. From the 1940s-80s, there were more reasons to locate in an urban environment. Mass production, low cost, quality, stability, capital equipment and control were all factors. The future deals with knowledge, quality, speed, flexibility and networks," said Waits.
Waits mentioned companies that have customized their niches. Starbucks competes with the knowledge that people like to meet over coffee and form alliances. It's a more sophisticated cup of coffee than you would get in Denny's. But, when Starbucks opened in Taiwan. They found that the people there wanted to sit down and have their coffee and visit. Not grab it and go. So Starbucks adapted and changed the size of their buildings to accommodate this need.
Waits also told of another experience she had when going to Portland to do a presentation there. Two teenage girls had boxes and boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts they were taking back to Portland with them. So, one of the first things she told the business community there was that she knew one thing they didn't have but probably needed and that was Krispy Kreme doughnuts and she went on to tell her experiences with the girls on the plane.
"Find your niche and customize it. In this knowledge based economy there are tangible elements, you need infrastructure. Ideas are no good if they just sit there. You need a skilled workforce. You need a spirit of entrepreneurial culture or quality of life. In the Silicon Valley they will have good jobs for probably 20 more years and then they will be the rust belt and personal computers will be in museums, we will have DNA computers. You need to stay on your toes and know your resources.
"It's been a bad decade for strategy. Sound strategy starts with the right goal. The most important sources of prosperity are created. Universities, research centers and entrepreneurial are created assets and inherited assets are geography, climate and population. In the new economic development, companies are competing for talent. We are moving from companies being attracted to a location because the labor was cheap to companies locating in places where there are ideas and talents. People want to live in distinctive communities.
"In the future those who will be illiterate won't be those who can't read and write, but will be those who can't learn and relearn and relearn. The prosperity of a region depends on the productivity of all industries. Whatever industry you have make sure they're competing at their highest level. Innovation is inclusive and all places can be innovative. Use a new recipe, a new idea; the talent issue is important.
"The baby boomers are the biggest part of the work force who could retire in 10 years. We see them as active retirees, at 50 something they will go back to school and at 70 something they will start businesses. Smaller communities are gaining retirees, they want to be in high quality places where they can stay active and that is good news. They are a talent key.
"We need more education, success does not rely on chance we need to understand what's going on with new economic realities, new faces and new geography. One third of all the engineers in Silicon Valley are from China and India.
"We need to develop inherited assets, get the word out and market our quality of place, climate, geography and all our assets. Be communities that recognize and move," said Waits.
A panel discussion was also part of the learning process where rural planners and leaders discussed their situations. In the early years of planning and mapping out courses for communities they were basically left on their own to develop plans. Money was not forthcoming from the legislature and small communities lacked funding of their own to lead and guide their communities. Rural communities worked to get money for their planning and were successful. Some small towns did not require building permits and this was one of the things that came out of the process.
Rural leaders also stressed the need to recognize the culture and uniqueness of rural Utah. There are attractions in rural Utah that do not exist anywhere in the world. Whenever there is a willingness to embrace changes from the grass roots and a willingness for a community to embrace and see opportunity there will be growth, these opportunities are not available to communities not willing to change. The Old West as we knew it doesn't exist the way we would like to remember it. The things that make it attractive are still present, the wide open space and independence. People look forward to getting out of the city, and out into rural Utah.
We need to keep what is beneficial in the old west and embrace a new direction in learning how to develop that uniqueness to our best advantage.
Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt also spoke in the closing session of the summit. He recognized the Shakespearean Festival and how it has grown over the years and become an economic asset for the Cedar City area. He stressed how that idea started out as a dream and became a reality which involved the whole community. Governor Leavitt teased about his own part in the festival when it was in its second year. He said, "I had to wear tights and come on stage bringing a tray with two goblets on for the actor to fill. We had never practiced this with real liquid until the night of the performance and the actor filled the goblets and they started leaking all over and he said, 'My man, the goblets are leaking,' and I had a nonspeaking part and was shocked that he had spoken to me so I said, 'So it is.' Needless to say this was my last part in the festival.
Governor Leavitt described the rural Utah brand as being very closely tied to people's emotions and attached to it are security, safety, dependability. We have tried to build on that. We have planned for growth, finding new ways to make a living in rural Utah which included competing in a global economy. We are proud of our Smart Sites we now have 16-17 sites developed in 15 months which have brought 500 new technical jobs to the state and we are just getting started.
"Deploying technology has also been part of the plan so each community has required band width to deliver high speed connectivity to users," said Governor Leavitt.
He also described advances in seeing that rural Utah has a well trained work force. He described the CHIP plan which brings health care to children. He talked about 21st Century Communities. He described his desire to minimize differences in socio/political arenas. He described the monument concept process now going on for the San Rafael Swell and how the State, Emery County and the Bureau of Land Management is partnering in this process. "The Grand Staircase Escalante Monument caused a lot of disruption both socially and politically, we have learned from that. GSENM is functional and moving forward, that is time deployed. The Antiquities Act ought not to be used in secret. This is a broad community process from the grass roots up. We are learning in a broad sense to minimize differences.
"One of the goals of our administration has been to bring government on line and let people take care of business on line. They can renew their driver's license and register their cars, and send their taxes online. We would like to see the creation of jobs exceed the workers. We want wages to continue to exceed the rate of inflation. If we deploy our time wisely we can progress, we can have an educated work force. If we do our best, our best days are yet to come. We need to build on the Olympic success. The whole world saw a state that was capable and efficient. We believe in ourselves and we can compete and win. We not only hosted the Olympics but we did it better than anyone had ever before. The Utah brand went global. People know where Utah is now, we are a great people and have a great culture.
"We are going through some tough economic times, and there is no immediate solution; but we will get through it....we always have and we always will," said Governor Leavitt
The only sure thing is that change is inevitable and we can resist it and drag our feet or we can find a way to blend the past with future and strive to make things better than they ever have been before.


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Repossessing Virtue: Pankaj Mishra on the Dangers of Progress
Looking ahead to next week's refreshed and resonant broadcast of our Buddha in the World program, here's some new material with the guest of that program, Indian journalist Pankaj Mishra. In the original interview with Krista in 2005, he had come out of a personal adventure retracing the steps of the Buddha and reflecting on his modern-day relevance. He had some powerful things to say about globalization, so we sought out his thoughts once more, this time on the economic crisis.
Now, as he did in that program, he critiques the ideologies of progress and globalization. But his critique makes me think of something in our Recovering Chinese Religiosities program: we often measure progress solely through economic terms; we measure China's and India's increased economic power as invariably good. And the logic is fairly convincing: if a country has more money, its citizens must have a higher standard of living, and must therefore be happier.
But, unfortunately, the opposite must also be true — that when we lose money, we lose happiness, because we lose security. Never mind "we" — maybe I'm just talking about myself. I am secure when I know I have a roof over my head, a job, food nearby, the whole nine. Yes, I admit it: having money makes me worry less about the future.
So how do we deal with this unhappiness and insecurity? As Pankaj Mishra says, we don't have to invent some new solution to our way of living. Our traditions already have resources to heal us. We need to live like we're bound to the people around us. Perhaps doing so — especially in a society where we value individualism and specialization — would have prevented the larger crisis. Well, who can say. We can't really apply that program across society, but we sure can try it in our own lives. I suppose as the news gets worse day by day, being bound to other people is one way we might collectively stay afloat.