King of Vegas "Old School Rules"

Spike TV’s KING OF VEGAS, is a new reality TV show that debued on January 17. Players must not only master poker but a full spectrum of casino games. KING OF VEGAS will feature gamblers who will compete in a ‘decathlon of gambling’ for a $1 million cash prize and be crowned the world’s greatest gambler.

The program is co-hosted by Max Kellerman (from ESPN and Fox Sports) and Wayne Allyn Root, a prominent handicapper. During the competition the twelve players will compete against each other in varies casino games. Blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, Pai Gow, Caribbean Stud and horse racing are only some of the components of gambling that will be used to help to determine who is the "King Of Vegas".

One of my favourite players is Jerry Goldgerg, at an 83 year old retiree from Las Vegas. This guy is the ultimate definition of "old school". according to his biohe list 'gambling' as his only occupation. He first bet on a baseball game back in the 1930's!

Last week Jerry showed the world how to play blackjack when he won with this shocker of a hand. (see picture montage)


Jerry Goldberg 

Dealer turns over a nine. 

Loud mouth Hollywood is silenced with 14. 

David thinks he's sitting pretty after hitting blackjack. 

Jerry gets his second 6. Spits 

Jerry hits trip sixes! Splits again. 

Amazing! Jerry hits the fourth six! 

Jerry hits a ten for 16 on his first six. 

Amazing! 16 on the next 6. 

Jerry hits 16 again on the third six and doubles down! 

Are you kidding me! Jerry hits a fourth 16! 

Hollywood and David can't believe it. 

Dealer busts! Jerry cleans up and sits pretty. 

Jerry's reaction says it all, "Holy Sh**!" 

Spike TV has announced that they will be airing a "King of Vegas" marathon on Saturday February 18, 2006 from 2-7pm.

Later,
Kenaz

Heart Break For Canadian's at Torino

Day 3

Forsyth Crashes, Olympic's Over


Canadian skier Allison Forsyth suffered a torn knee ligament in a crash during Monday's Olympic downhill training runs at San Sicario, Italy. Forsyth, from Nanaimo, B.C., lost control of her left ski and grabbed her left knee as she skidded across the course into the protective fencing.

Canadian officials told CBC Sports that she tore an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a potentially career-threatening injury that takes upward of eight months to fully recover from. Forsyth, 27, was taken down the hill on a toboggan and later airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in nearby Sestriere, where an MRI confirmed the injury. She is expected to return to Canada for surgery.

"It's the Olympics," Canadian skier Emily Brydon said. "People are trying to take more chances."


Defending champion Carole Montillet-Carles of France and American contender Lindsey Kildow sustained injuries in crashes too. A fourth skier, Austrian Elisabeth Goergl, also wiped out but was unhurt.

"There's just a lot of rolls, anything can happen," American skier Julia Mancuso said of the Fraiteve course, which officials re-designed because skiers complained it wasn't challenging enough.

"You can come off a jump, catch an edge and be a little unlucky."


Forsyth, a veteran of the Canadian alpine team, is a slalom specialist, but chose to compete in the Olympic downhill as well. She won a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the 2003 world championships.

Montillet-Carles, 32, crashed following a jump. She smashed into the fencing, landed on her back and slammed head-first into the snow. Details of her condition were not immediately available, but she appeared conscious when transported to the clinic located at the athletes' village in Sestriere.

Kildow, 21, was the eighth skier to follow Montillet-Carles and lost control as she turned around a gate on a flat stretch. When Kildow's left ski slid out, her right knee buckled and she went airborne for 15 feet before landing hard on her back and slamming her head. Writhing in pain as medical personnel rushed to her aid, she later was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Turin, where U.S. Alpine physician revealed she suffered a severely bruised left hip.

"She has no other significant injuries and has not ruled out competing in these Games," he said. I've known her for 10 years, and she's a very tough young lady."


Kleibrink falls to Norberg

Anette Norberg of Sweden defeated Canada's Shannon Kleibrink 7-5 Monday afternoon in the first draw of the women's curling tournament at the Torino Olympics. Norberg, the reigning world champion, broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth end by drawing for two with the hammer.

Kleibrink got one back in the ninth, nailing a hit-and-stick with the final rock to cut Norberg's lead to 6-5. But Kleibrink surrendered the hammer and couldn't set up a steal in the tenth. With her final shot of the match, Kleibrink came up short on an attempt to freeze her stone against Norberg's near the bottom of the house. That gave Norberg another point and made the Swede's last rock unnecessary.

Women's play resumes with two draws on Tuesday. Canada will take on the U.S. in the morning and Russia in the evening.

The Good News of the Day:Gushue Sweeps Germany Under the Rug


Brad Gushue of St. John's began his quest for Canada's first Olympic gold medal in men's curling with a 10-5 win in nine ends over Germany's Andy Kapp on Monday evening.

Gushue's rink, which has Russ Howard throwing second stones, got off to a shaky start, giving up a steal of two in the first end. The teams then traded two-point ends before Gushue responded with three points in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. Gushue stole one in each of the next three ends before Kapp got a point back in the seventh to cut Gushue's lead to 8-5. After Gushue scored two in the ninth, Kapp, who curled 50 per cent to Gushue's 81 per cent, conceded the match. Monday's match was the first of the Torino Games for both Gushue and Kapp. The men's tournament began Monday morning but both skips had a first-draw bye. Draw three goes Tuesday afternoon in Pinerolo, Italy, with Gushue taking on Sweden's Peja Lindholm.

Later,
Kenaz

Rune Reading For The Week Of February 13, 2006-February 19, 2006

Introduction to Rune Readings

Rune readings are arrangements of the 24 runes (letters) of the old Futhark alphabet. The layout of the runes is known as a spread, and determines what each rune refers to. For example, in the Three Norns spread, the first rune represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future.

Sets: In addition to each rune having a meaning, the material in which the runes are carved can color the reading. Most people consistently use runes made of ceramic, stone, or wood. In order to broaden your experience, we offer readings with Gold Runes (for questions about business, career, and property), Jade Runes (for questions about love, friendship, and relationships), Ice Runes (for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement), Spirit Runes (for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion), and Stone Runes (for questions about the natural world and things beyond human control).

The question will remain the same: "Will this week be a successful one?"

Rune Alphabet



Spread:Cross(in order of reading)
The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.




Here is the Reading Using the Ice Set.

1.


The left rune represents an important element of the past. Othila is the homeland. Land was the purest form of immovable wealth in Norse civilization, distinct from the movable wealth represented by Fehu. This rune speaks of stability and safety stemming from inheritance, both material and genetic. With respect to the question asked, consider the background of the people and families involved...

2.


The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Isa is the rune symbolizing Ice - cold, stagnant, frozen, and unchanging. This rune suggests heat removed not just from anger or conflict, but from passion as well. Paradoxically, Isa conveys images of slippery slopes and unsure footing, but also of circumstances that have crystallized and become utterly immutable. Remember that in the cold north, ice is not just THE challenge to be overcome, but the very nature of the environment. Be courageous, for you work against this element every day. Will you fight alone or with others against this, our common foe? Is there much worse than lack of change?

3.


The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Ansuz is the spoken word of God. This rune is reversed, indicating that you are misunderstanding the divine voice or failing to hear it all. The word is always correct, so you must strive, whatever the difficulty, to hear correctly. Be wary of the advice you are given, for it may prove incorrect. Do not attribute infallibility to fallible sources...

4.


The top rune represents a force that works for you. Ken is the rune of light and knowledge, driving away darkness and ignorance and revealing hidden truth. This rune also brings forth images of friendship and comfort. Ken is the light of inspiration, the light of imagination, and a beacon in the darkest hours.

5.


The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Berkana represents the birch tree. The birch is frequently symbolic of renewal, rebirth, birth, growth and fertility. This rune is a joyous one, representing good outcomes from ventures undertaken. It is the rune of the family and of a good household.

If you are further interested in Rune stones, please check out a script I wrote about three years ago. The story tells of a women's chance encounter with the towns rune reader and physcic. Her reading leads to a terrible discovery about her ex-husband.Click here to read 'Evil Of A Different Kind'

Later,
Kenaz

Canada's Women Show Their 'Klass(en)' On the Ice

Day 2

Speed skater Cindy Klassen settled for the bronze medal in Sunday's 3,000 metres at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

Dutch teenager Ireen Wust captured the gold medal in a time of four minutes, 2.43 seconds at the Oval Lingotto. Wust skated in the 10th pairing, so was left to watch anxiously from the inner circle as contender after contender fell short of her winning time.

Klassen, also the bronze medallist at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, covered the 7 1/2 laps in 4:04.37, well off her world mark of 3:55.75. Klassen even failed to win her pairing with Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands, who repeated as silver medallist. Groenewold clocked 4:03.48, almost a full second ahead of Klassen.

Klassen, from Winnipeg, faded badly over the final two laps and nearly stumbled as she cut inside down the stretch. Klassen had enjoyed spectacular success this season in the middle distances, setting new world records in the 3,000 and 1,500 on consecutive weeks and finishing second behind German rival Anni Friesinger in the 3,000 in World Cup competition at Turin. Friesinger, who, with Klassen, was considered the class of the field heading into the Olympics, finished fourth (4:04.59).

Ottawa's Kristina Groves placed eighth in 4:09.03 followed by Clara Hughes of Winnipeg in ninth (4:09.17).

Team Canada trounces Russia

Meghan Agosta celebrated her 19th birthday with a hat trick as Team Canada crushed Team Russia 12-0 at the Torino Esposizioni complex.

Charline Labonte stopped 17 shots in Sunday's victory, which guaranteed Canada at least second place in Group A. Canada can clinch the grouping with a win over Sweden in its round-robin matchup on Tuesday (CBC, 3:30 p.m. EST).

Hayley Wickenheiser had one goal and three assists. Vicki Sunohara opened the scoring 4:53 into the contest, leaping off the bench and charging hard to the net to convert a pass from Caroline Oullette. It was Ouellette's sixth point in two games. Less than two minutes later, Agosta banked in a shot off the stick of Russian goaltender Irina Gashennikova to make it 2-0. Gillian Apps smacked in her own rebound at the 10-minute mark for the first of two short-handed goals in the first period and Cassie Campbell worked into the slot to set up Danielle Goyette with 4:46 left. Cherie Piper later whisked in a loose puck off a faceoff and Wickenheiser scooped in a rebound after Gashennikova juggled the initial shot. Wickenheiser tops Canada with four goals overall. Agosta tallied her second goal on a breakaway with 40 seconds left, deking to the forehand and slipping the puck under backup netminder Nadezhda Alexandrova.

Canada eased off in the second period, but Katie Weatherston was credited with the eighth goal when Sarah Vaillancourt's pass struck her skate and fooled Alexandrova at 7:19. Agosta followed with Canada's first power-play goal, flipping in a rebound to complete the hat trick with 6:33 left. After Piper put Canada in front 10-0 with her second goal, a power-play marker 76 seconds into the third period, Vaillancourt scored at 7:47 before Carla Macleod completed the scoring with 7:27 remaining.

Charline Labonte was given the start in goal over Kim St. Pierre, who totalled five saves versus Italy. Canada trounced Italy 16-0 in Saturday's opener, the most lopsided victory in Olympic history, bettering its 13-0 pounding of Japan in the sport's debut at Nagano in 1998.

"We expected Italy to be weak," said Wickenheiser, who had three goals and two assists in Saturday's rout.

"I don't know if we would have predicted that score. But we're not going to apologize for winning by that much.

"It's the Olympic Games and we've got a gold medal to try and win. Personally, I don't like blowing out a team like that."


Later,
Kenaz

All 'Heil' Canada! In Torino

Day 1

Heil Wins Gold in Moguls

Canada's Jennifer Heil captured gold in women's moguls Saturday in Sauze d'Oulx, Italy, four years after narrowly missing the Olympic podium in Salt Lake City.

Heil, the last skier down the hill by virtue of her first-place finish in the qualifying round earlier in the day, posted a score of 26.50, 0.85 points better than silver medallist Kari Traa of Norway, the 2002 Olympic champion. Sandra Laoura of France took bronze, 1.13 points back of Heil.

I don't know what to say, this has been my biggest dream. I didn't know it could come true," said a jubilant Heil, who is from Spruce Grove, Alta.

Heil's jumps – a 360-degree spin and a backflip with her skis crossed – weren't as difficult as Traa's "D-Spin" on the top ramp, a double-twisting jump in which her body goes nearly parallel to the mountain. But the Canadian executed her tricks almost flawlessly and received a superior air score. Heil also scored higher than Traa on speed and form on the moguls, which counts for 75 per cent of a skier's final tally.

"I just felt so well-prepared," Heil said. "I was more relaxed than I've ever been in the start gate, which actually surprised me. But I knew it was just a sign I was ready to go out."

Heil's gold was Canada's first medal of the 2006 Winter Games and the first Olympic medal of her career. It was also the first gold by a Canadian woman in moguls. The 22-year-old finished fourth at the 2002 Games, missing the bronze by one hundredth of a point.

Canada clobbers Italy 16-0 in women's hockey

Caroline Ouellette and Hayley Wickenheiser posted hat tricks to lead Canada to a tournament-opening 16-0 rout of the host Italians in women's hockey at the Torino Olympics on Saturday. Ouellette made history with three goals in the first seven minutes of play as the defending champion Canadians counted five goals in the first period, four more in the second and seven over the final 20 minutes. Before Saturday, no Canadian player had scored more than one goal in a period at the Olympics. It was the biggest rout in Olympic women's hockey history, besting Canada's 13-0 dismantling of host Japan in 1998, when women's hockey made its debut at the Games.

"We expected Italy to be weak but we're not going to apologize for winning," Wickenheiser said.

Ouellette and Wickenheiser also joined Goyette as the only Canadian players to net hat tricks in the Olympics. Ten of Canada's 18 position players found the net on Saturday, including Gillian Apps and Cheryl Pounder with a pair each. Singles went to Danielle Goyette, Jayna Hefford, Jennifer Botterill, Carla McLeod, Sarah Vaillancourt and Katie Weatherston.

Cherie Piper led the assist parade with six, followed by Apps and Botterill with three apiece. Cassie Campbell and Wickenheiser set up two goals each. Canadian goaltender Kim St. Pierre barely broke a sweat as her teammates outshot Italy 19-0 in the third period and 66-5 overall before a crowd of 8,399.

The loyal Italian fans chanted "I-tal-ia! I-tal-ia!" early in the game and waved the flag in the final minute as they sang the national anthem.

Canada, which is expected to face the United States in the gold-medal game, will face a tougher Russian outfit on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Americans opened the tournament with a convincing 6-0 win over Switzerland. Only Patricia Elsmore-Sautter's saved her team from greater embarrassment, stopping 50 shots in the Swiss net.

The results of the Bell 3 Stars Poll, as voted by the fans, were Wickenheiser No. 1, followed by Ouellete and Italian netminder Debora Montanari.

Later,
Kenaz

Canada Prepare To Shine At Torino

Day 1

Let the Games Begin

Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi declared the 2006 Torino Games open near the end of a two-and-a-half hour show that featured a spectacular display of lights, pyrotechnics and music. Minutes later, Italian Olympic legend Stefania Belmondo lit an arc of fireworks that wound its way to the Olympic cauldron. Belmondo, a former cross-country skier, won 10 medals over the course of five Winter Games.

Earlier, former Italian gymnast Yuri Chechi struck a bronze anvil several times with a hammer in a fiery start to the opening ceremony of the 20th Winter Olympics. With 35,000 spectators on hand in the renovated Stadio Comunale, and an estimated two billion more watching on television, hundreds of dancers in colourful costumes took the audience on a beautiful trip through Italian history. Italian supermodel and singer Carla Bruni led the traditional parade of nations, followed by athletes from 80 countries.

Canada entered the stadium 16th, following Bulgaria and before the Czech Republic, with flag-bearer Danielle Goyette of the women's hockey team leading the way. She was joined at the front of the Canadian pack by some of her teammates, including captain Cassie Campbell and assistant captains Hayley Wickenheiser and Vicky Sunohara. Many Canadian athletes gabbed on cellphones and snapped pictures as they took their seats in the athlete section. The Canadians wore white parkas with red trim, white puffy pants and sand-coloured sheepskin hats with fuzzy earflaps. The jackets included a large red maple leaf under the left arm and had "Canada" emblazoned just above the hemline.


Early in the show, rollerbladers in red body stockings hurtled down ramps onto a white stage, the backs of their helmets shooting out bursts of fire. In a homage to mountain life and livestock in the Alps, dancers wearing green sheaths pranced near brightly-painted fake cows pulled on rollers.

Near the end of the show, spectators ringing cowbells cheered as eight women carried in the Olympic flag, including actresses Susan Sarandon and Sophia Loren. Yoko Ono, wife of the late John Lennon, made a plea for peace. British musician Peter Gabriel followed and sang Lennon's Imagine. Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti closed the ceremonies with a stirring performance of Let No One Sleep.


Womens Hockey

Team Canada faces a complete unknown when it starts defending its women's hockey crown at the Torino Olympic Games.Canada begins play Saturday (CBC, 2:30 p.m. EST) against Italy, which ranks in the lowly B-bracket at the world championships.

"I've never seen them play," Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser admitted.

Italy is competing only because it's the host country, so is simply hoping not to be embarrassed by the powerhouse Canadians.

"I know it is going to be tough," Italian defenceman Rebecca Fiorese said. "They are as good as some Italian men's teams."

"Everyone is expecting (a blowout)," added Canadian captain Cassie Campbell. "But I think we have to go out and just play our game.

"Obviously, if things get out of hand ... then we'd have to take a look at that. There's a respect issue. We'll see what happens once the game gets going. But we have to play as if it's the gold-medal game."

Wickenheiser, for one, certainly expects Canada to play as hard as it can.

"We want to get our lines rolling and get our systems working," she said. "We cannot worry about who we are playing against."

"We cannot worry about the score," Canadian forward Jayna Hefford noted. "By no means, do we want to run it up or make anyone look bad but, at the same time, we have to make sure our team is working the way we need it to."

Most observers figure Canada will score in double digits. But Italy, which boasts only four club teams, is excited to play on the Olympic stage.

"We have few rinks, and no money for our teams," Fiorese said. "You (Canadians) have a very different reality in your country about ice hockey.

"I've talked to some Italians who've said that just having a women's team in the tournament and women actually playing hockey in this country is huge for the sport in Italy," Hefford pointed out. "It's a huge step forward for women's hockey in Italy."

Beyond Italy, Canada takes on Russia on Sunday (CBC, 10:30 a.m. EST). Canada is 10-0 overall versus the Russians, including a 7-0 win at the 2002 Salt Lake Games. Canada will play Sweden Tuesday to finish the preliminary round.

"We have four strong lines that can put the puck in the net and play defence as well, and we have the best goaltending tandem in the world," Campbell said. "I think we're stronger than 2002."

Womens's Freestyle Skiing

A confident Jennifer Heil will have plenty of motivation Saturday as she attempts to become Canada's first medal winner at the Torino Olympics. The 22-year-old freestyle skier, who missed the podium by one hundredth of a point four years ago in Salt Lake City, enters the women's moguls event (CBC, 1 p.m. EST) ranked No. 1 in the world. While moguls is notoriously unpredictable, Heil is considered as close to a medal lock as there is. But she will have to contend with rival Kari Traa of Norway. The pair battled in World Cup action a few weeks ago in Lake Placid, N.Y., with Traa – the defending Olympic gold medallist – earning 25.82 points for the win. Heil followed at 25.30.

"I'm really excited because I'm feeling really strong and skiing really fast," Heil said after earning her fifth medal in six World Cup events this season.


Also scheduled on Day 1 of the 20th Winter Olympics is women's hockey – Canada versus Italy – men's singles luge, pairs figure skating, men's 5,000-metre speed skating, men's 20-kilometre biathlon and nordic combined. Heil, one of Canada's best hopes for gold, will be shooting for her seventh medal of the season in Turin after racking up two victories and four second-place finishes in her first seven events. The Spruce Grove, Alta., native has been dominant since taking the 2002-03 season off to recover from chronic injuries. Heil made history in 2004 as Canada's first World Cup champion and repeated the feat in the 2004-05 campaign. On Saturday, the three-time Canadian champion also is expected to face stiff competition from Austria's Margarita Marbler and Nikola Sudova of the Czech Republic. Marbler was a bronze medallist at the 2005 world championships, while Sudova took silver in the same event. Michelle Roark of the United States is the dark horse but has yet to prove she can win away from home as both her victories this season have come on American soil. Stephanie St. Pierre, Kristi Richards and Audrey Robichaud are the other Canadian competitors. St. Pierre, who won silver at Lake Placid, appears to have fully recovered from a knee injury suffered two years ago and could contend for a medal. Richards, 24, finished second at a World Cup event in Oberstdorf, Germany, two months ago. Robichaud, 17, twice has finished sixth this season.

Other Canadians to watch on Saturday include pairs figure skaters Valerie Marcoux/Craig Bunton and Elizabeth Putnam/Sean Wirtz; Vancouver's Jeff Christie (men's luge); Calgary speed skater Arne Dankers (men's 5,000 metres); Ottawa's Robin Clegg (men's 20 km biathlon); and Jason Myslicki (nordic combined).

Later,
Kenaz

Gretzky Indicated In Operation 'Slapshot' By New Jersey Police 'Chiefs'

From the Toronto Globe and Mail

Wayne Gretzky denied he ever placed a bet with the gambling ring his assistant coach Rick Tocchet is accused of operating. He also said he never placed any kind of bet on hockey in his life and that he will not resign his position as executive director of the Canadian Olympic men's hockey team.

Mr. Gretzky also brushed aside a report that New Jersey State Police had wiretap evidence of him discussing the gambling operation before it was made public by the authorities. He said he had no knowledge of Tocchet's involvement in gambling prior to this week's news.

"No way," he said emphatically when asked if he planned to resign from the Olympic team. "If I had ever bet so much as a penny on sports I would call Bob Nicholson and resign." Bob Nicholson is president of Hockey Canada, which oversees the Olympic team.

The strain of the past few days showed, as Mr. Gretzky looked tired, but he was unequivocal about keeping his post as head of the Olympic team and as part-owner and head coach of the Coyotes.

"If I did one thing that would embarrass Team Canada or the country or hockey I would resign," he said. "It didn't happen.

"If I bet on sports - I would never embarrass Team Canada or the country or hockey - I would phone Gary Bettman and Bob Nicholson right now and say you know what, I resign, it's over, even if I made a $1 bet," Mr. Gretzky added, referring to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"I wouldn't even go into a sports book in Vegas," Mr. Gretzky said. "Even though it's legal, I would never do that. That's how serious I am."

Mr. Gretzky admitted, "it's been a tough couple of days."

more

I've watched this case unfold and I find the motives of the New Jersey police and the prosecuters more than a little suspicious. I agree with Lawyers involved in the case who said details of the three-month investigation should not be made public.

“I have never been involved in a case where the prosecution has engaged in such inappropriate conduct in terms of making investigators available to the press, appearing on nationally syndicated television,” said Kevin Marino, a lawyer for Tocchet, who was granted an indefinite leave from the NHL Wednesday. “It's improper, it's unwarranted and I will not tolerate it.”

“We are not going to try this case in the press and we're not going to let them either,” he said.

This story is one of conjecture and accusation manufactured to distract and weaken the Great One in time for the Olympics. Maybe it all will die down and blow over once the Olympic torch is lit, I hope so. This kind of unsubstantiated speculative crap is not fair to a man of Gretzky's character. How about adding some conspiracy theory to the action I'm all for more Can/US suspicion. Softwood and Mad Cow as retribution for not helping in Iraq, anyone? Now they are hitting us where it hurts - right in the rink. Devious, yes, but that's not playing fair.

You would expect this type of callous attack from the rag mags not a respected? police department. It's a far cry from throwing down a few bucks on the ponies as Janet Gretzky states, to making bets with a multi million dollar gambling ring. Gimme a break, can I make a suggestion where the Jersey cops would be better off sticking their wire taps?

Tomorrow Canada starts their journey down the road to Olympic Hockey gold and rest assure I will be cheering loudly when the Maple Leaf flies proudly behind Team Canada, led by their general, the great one.

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Chris & John Tolos

John & Chris Tolos

REAL NAMES: Chris & John Tolos
BORN: In Hamilton, Ontario
ALIASES/NICKNAMES: The Golden Greek(s), The Canadian Wrecking Crew

The Tolos brothers were among Hamilton's greatest wrestling exports. The legit gimmick of inseparable brothers, willing to defend each other to the death, headlined cards across North America. Chris Tolos explained this to Jim Freedman, in his book Drawing Heat: "We didn't need no clips, no pens or robes. We had a natural gimmick. Nobody really needs that stuff, foreign objects and all. The gimmick is to reach the fans. Understand them. Look them in the eye." They were world champions as a tag team, and also successful as singles wrestlers.

Chris continued to wrestle into the 1980s and, as a manager, worked briefly for the WWF as "Coach" in 1991.

Chris Tolos died Friday, August 13, 2005 in Hamilton, Ontario at St. Peter's Hospital. He was 75.

Fred Blassie vs. John Tolos was the blood feud to end all blood feuds in California in 1970.

Later,
Kenaz

Canadian Milestones for Feb. 08

FLEMING PROPOSED STANDARD TIME
1879 Toronto Ontario
Sanford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time, by dividing the world into 24 equal time zones, with standard time within each zone; in lecture at the Canadian Institute in Toronto; idea adopted by North American railways four years later, and by 24 countries at a conference in 1884.



CANADIAN OLYMPIANS AT ST. MORITZ
1948 St Moritz, Switzerland
Fifth Winter Olympic games close at St Moritz. The RCAF Flyers win the Ice Hockey Gold, Ottawa's Barbara Ann Scott takes home the Gold Medal in Figure Skating, and Suzanne Morrow & amp; Wallace Diestalmeyer win the Bronze in Pairs Figure Skating .

Canadian Birthdays for Feb. 08

Headline Birthdays

George Parkin 1846-1922
educator, born at Salisbury, New Brunswick in 1846; died at London, England June 25, 1922. Parkin started his career as a high school teacher; involved in the Imperial Federation Movement, and wrote 3 books on the subject; 1895-1902 principal of Upper Canada College in Toronto; Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust in London; 1908 wrote first biography of John A. Macdonald.



Air Vice-Marshal William Avery 'Billy' Bishop VC, DSO 1938-1956
fighter ace, father of the RCAF, born on this day at Owen Sound, Ontario in 1894; dies Sept 11, 1956 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Bishop shot down 72 German aircraft during World War I, 25 in one ten-day period in 1918. In August 1918 he joined the British Air Ministry and helped form the Canadian Flying Corps as a separate brigade. After the War, he and another Canadian air VC, George Barker, formed one of Canada's first air charter lines, then served as a VP of the McColl Frontenac Oil Company. During World War II, he was Honorary Air Marshal, head of the Air Advisory Committee, and Director of Recruiting, RCAF.

Thelma Chalifoux 1929-
Metis activist, consultant, born at Calgary, Alberta. Chalifoux studied at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Lethbridge College; started her career working with the Company of Young Canadians; Chairwoman of the Metis National Council Senate and Vice-President of the Aboriginal Women's Business Development Corporation and the Provincial Association of Friendship Centres; Member, RCMP K Division, Elders Advisory Committee; Nov. 26, 1997 appointed to the Senate by Jean Chrétien, the first Metis to hold a Senate seat.

Your Canadian Quote of the Day...

"The Air Age faces mankind with a sharp choice - the choice between Winged Peace or Winged Death. It's up to you ."

Billy Bishop
Winged Peace
1944

Later,
Kenaz

Polley to get ACTRA Award of Excellence

Sarah Polley in 2003. (CP file photo)

Canada's actors' union has named Sarah Polley the 2006 recipient of its annual Award of Excellence.

Polley, star of The Secret Life of Words and The Sweet Hereafter, also has a reputation as a writer, director and cultural activist.

ACTRA plans to honour Polley and name its best actor and best actress at an annual awards gala Feb. 24.

"Sarah is so much more than an actor," says Karl Pruner, president of ACTRA Toronto. "We admire her fierce commitment to Canadian culture and her strength in speaking her mind."

Polley rose to fame as a young girl, starring in the TV series Road to Avonlea. She won a Gemini for her performance in the film Lantern Hill and another for her performance in the CBC series Straight Up.

She made a successful transition to adult film roles in features like Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter, Dawn of the Dead and The Hanging Garden, earning a Genie and an ACTRA award for her role in My Life Without Me. Spanish director Isabel Coixet wrote a role for Polley into The Secret Life of Words, a film that just won four Goya film awards in Spain.

Polly recently lobbied the Heritage Committee over the health of the film industry and the lack of dramatic film work for Canadian actors.

The Toronto branch of ACTRA, Canada's largest, also honours a best actor or actress from across several genres, including film, TV series, miniseries and movies of the week.

Here are more sites that contain biographies and movie stills of this talented Canadian star.

Memorable Scenes of Sarah Polley
The Sarah Polley Picture Site
Sarah Polley- Northern Stars
Sarah Polley - Yahoo! Movies
Sarah Polley [dot] Org - sarahpolley.org

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Samuel Lawrence

Sam Lawrence joining a picket line supporting nine hour days for restaurant workers in the 1930s.
Samuel Lawrence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Samuel Lawrence (August 16, 1879 - October 25, 1959) was a Canadian politician and trade unionist.

Lawrence was born in Somerset, England and went to work in a quarry at the age of 12 and became a shop steward in the mason's union at the age of 17. He entered politics running for election in Battersea in London.

He immigrated to Canada settling in Hamilton, Ontario with his family in 1912 and found work as a stone mason. He became involved in the local labour movement and was elected to city council as an Independent Labour Party alderman in 1922. He ran as a Labour candidate in the 1925 federal election but lost his bid for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons, coming in second. He remained on city council and was elected to Hamilton's Board of Control in 1929, retaining his seat until 1934 when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Hamilton East, the first Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MLA ever elected in Ontario. He was also the only CCFer elected in the 1934 election, and was defeated in his bid for re-election in the 1937 election.

Lawrence then served for a time as president of the local Industrial Union Council, and subsequently regained his seat on the Board of Control and kept it for six years. He was elected the first Labour mayor of Hamilton in 1944. He was re-elected mayor annually until his retirement from the office in 1949.

During his tenure as mayor, the city went through the deeply divisive 85-day Stelco strike of 1946. The strike was the union's first, and its victory established the United Steel Workers of America as a major force in Canada. It also helped establish the right of Canadian workers to collective bargaining. Lawrence was publicly supportive of the strike, and led a 10,000-person march from Woodlawns Park to the gates of Stelco. Despite pressure from the federal and provincial governments, he refused to call in police or the military against the illegal strike, and thus helped ensure its victory. When the federal government sent the army in, Lawrence angrily said that "the government was acting as the nation's chief strike breaker."

After stepping down as mayor in 1949, Lawrence continued on the Board of Control for six years until his retirement from politics.

Later,
Kenaz

Rune Reading For The Week Of February 6, 2006-February 12, 2006

Introduction to Rune Readings

Rune readings are arrangements of the 24 runes (letters) of the old Futhark alphabet. The layout of the runes is known as a spread, and determines what each rune refers to. For example, in the Three Norns spread, the first rune represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future.

Sets: In addition to each rune having a meaning, the material in which the runes are carved can color the reading. Most people consistently use runes made of ceramic, stone, or wood. In order to broaden your experience, we offer readings with Gold Runes (for questions about business, career, and property), Jade Runes (for questions about love, friendship, and relationships), Ice Runes (for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement), Spirit Runes (for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion), and Stone Runes (for questions about the natural world and things beyond human control).

The question will remain the same: "Will this week be a successful one?"

Rune Alphabet



Spread:Cross(in order of reading)
The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.




Here is the Reading Using the Ice Set.

1.


The left rune represents an important element of the past. Ansuz refers to a god or the spoken word of God. It is the voice of reason, law, prophecy and truth. It is the truth heard in the wind. This rune represents wisdom obtained or knowledge delivered. It is the rune of absolute good advice and true council - the message we all must strive to hear.

2.


The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Algiz can be easily recognized as the antlers of the elk that it represents. The elk can represent victory, but is much more appropriately associated with the thrill of the hunt itself. This rune therefore can portend vigor and success in active endeavors. Also, this rune seems symbolic of a hand with outstretched fingers - a protective hand. This hand may suggest that you will be shielded from things negative - the problems still exist, you are spared the brunt of their force.

3.


The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Ger is one of the runes that touches on the cycles of the year, in this case the fall harvest. These cycles are eternal, which is represented in the rune by the fact that it is unchanged by reversal. Ger can represent pregnancy or other forms of fruitfulness, and is especially indicative of the cycles of providence and karma - that which has been sown is now being reaped. This rune can also represent the cycles of wealth, for crops were frequently a sign of wealth.

4.


The top rune represents a force that works for you. Raido means to ride. In this rune, the image is not so much the riding of a horse as in riding in a cart or as cargo. As such Raido may suggest a journey, but is much more indicative of communication. Alternate interpretations based on the use of Raido as a cognate in other words give it the meaning of council, judgment, and moral correctness. Therefore, this rune is the rune of wise advice and good leadership.

5.


The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Isa is the rune symbolizing Ice - cold, stagnant, frozen, and unchanging. This rune suggests heat removed not just from anger or conflict, but from passion as well. Paradoxically, Isa conveys images of slippery slopes and unsure footing, but also of circumstances that have crystallized and become utterly immutable. Remember that in the cold north, ice is not just THE challenge to be overcome, but the very nature of the environment. Be courageous, for you work against this element every day. Will you fight alone or with others against this, our common foe? Is there much worse than lack of change?

If you are further interested in Rune stones, please check out a script I wrote about three years ago. The story tells of a women's chance encounter with the towns rune reader and physcic. Her reading leads to a terrible discovery about her ex-husband.Click here to read 'Evil Of A Different Kind'

Later,
Kenaz

Enjoy Sons of Butcher

I caught the first episode of “Sons Of Butcher”, the new 100% Canadian cartoon series which debued on TELETOON! on Friday. SOB will air regularly Fridays at 9:30pm (ET/PT).

Sons of Butcher takes you on a wild ride through the quirky minds and adolescent fantasies of three would-be rock gods.

Sol Butcher, Ricky Butcher, and Doug Borski – three rockers with a mission. When they aren’t busy running their successful “Sons of Butcher Quality Meats” shop in the armpit of downtown Steeltown, they rock out with their band called, naturally, “Sons of Butcher”. Meet your new favourite rock group:

SOL BUTCHER
Age: 19
Sol’s personal demons include repressed emotions, anger management issues, and short-term memory problems, and he struggles everyday, often unsuccessfully, to keep them at bay. He has a heart of gold, however, and would do anything to protect Ricky and Doug. Sol is the character who tries hardest to keep SOB a functioning unit. He’s taken a fatherly role for the parentless Ricky and Doug, and his misguided advice and occasional emotionally-charged speeches are the glue that holds the group together. Health-conscious, sensitive, and genuine, Sol is horrible with women. His breakup with high school sweetheart Trulie is still an open wound that is thinly-veiled at the best of times, but he still struggles to be an eternal optimist. Growing up close to his father Arpo, Sol learned to love meat and to respect the family tradition.
Sol values the shop above all else.

RICKY BUTCHER
Age: 17
Ricky does everything in excess. He is the Epicurean without motherly influence. Uncouth, quick-tempered, hot-blooded, inadvertently arrogant, and rebellious, Ricky operates on his own agenda, which is generally based on his desire to be the center of attention at all times. Add a distorted self-image and limitless ambition, and you have a cocky 17 year old that, despite his grandiose claims of sexual prowess, is still a child who is forever trying to replace his mother by dating much older women. From the brief time he spent with his mom, Ricky learned to dream big, and to expect more out of life than rib roasts and pinkelwurst.
Ricky values the band above all else.

DOUG BORSKI
Age: 18
After arriving in Steeltown, Doug was raised on hip-hop videos and daytime talk-shows. Always the outsider, Doug was hired by Arpo to clean the shop, and found his niche mopping blood and guts. When Doug’s traditional tribal rhythm training led him to rock the bass guitar, his place within this holy rock trinity was solidified. Lacking self-confidence, Doug is only really comfortable on stage. The rest of the time his shyness and raging libido lead him to spend a lot of time alone.
Doug values acceptance above all else.

Sons of Butcher is the creation of brothers Trevor and Jay Ziebarth and their longtime buddy Dave Dunham. On the show, Trevor is the voice of rock-god wannabe Ricky Butcher, Dave is his alcoholic older brother Sol Butcher and Jay is their bladder control-challenged pal Doug Borski. Each voice actor provides the facial expressions of their characters, as the show features live-action heads pasted on animated bodies. The series is produded by Max Smith son of Red Green Show star Steve Smith.

According to Smith not everyone is a fan of the shows racy content and lowbrow laughs. He himself admits in an interview with Calgary entertainment magazine "Fast Forward Weekly" he foresees hate mail as Sons of Butcher episodes hit the airwaves. Like the long-running animated hit South Park, Smith believes this series is "not the kind of show parents want kids watching, and that’s what makes it the type of show a kid wants to watch."

The humour is all in good fun and the show should do well for the Teletoon, finally giving them a show that you can waist time watching.



As mentioned S.O.B producer Max Smith is the son of Steve Smith, star and creator of the cult favourite "The Red Green Show". Saddly, Possum Lodge will close it's doors after fifteen years of making Canadian's laugh.

The show created a host of memorable characters, including the straight-man nephew Harold, played by Patrick McKenna, and the light fingured Mike Hamar, layed by Wayne Robson. The show attracted about one million viewers a week in Canada and many more world wide.

The show will air it's last episode April 7, 2006 on the CBC. For the last time, please stand and recite the lodge moto "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (When all else fails play dead).

Later,
Kenaz

Movie Review:The Boys from County Clare (2003)

I caught this little gem of a movie on the Movie Network last week and I thought I'd share my views on it. The Boys from County Clare is an enchantic musical comedy from Ireland with great acting and wonderful athentic Celtic music.

The movie stars Andrea Corr from the musical family The Corrs, and Colm Meaney the stable of the Irish film community. The tagline of a the movie is listen to your heart and by the end of this ninety minute introduction to Irish traditional music you will be listening to the tapping of your feet.

The All-Ireland Traditional Music Competition attracts the best musicians from all over the country -- and a few from beyond the shores of the Emerald Isle as well. As John Joe and his band prepare to capture the band trophy with their County Clare jigs and reels, Irishman Jimmy bends his Liverpudlians away from jazz toward the time-honored strains of Celtic music. As the musicians make their way towards the competition, trouble rears its head for both sets of challengers: the Liverpool Shamrock Ceilidh(pronounced Kay-li) Band and the defending champions from Clare, and at the heart of this adversity lie the vengeful interventions of two estranged brothers, Jimmy and John Joe.

Even though I question casting Bernard Hill and Meaney as brothers. They really don't look a bit alike, and their accents are completely opposite (Hill is fron Manchester while Meaney is from Dublin) the chemistry between Corr and Shaun Evans playing a young couple from opposite families brought together by the their love of music, more than make up for this oversight. Charlotte Bradley turns in a wonderful performance as Maisie the mother of Anne(Corr) who fights to keep her love after her infidelity is discovered.

If your not familiar with many of the stars work I suggest picking up the following works.

Andrea Corr-The Commitments (1991)
Bernard Hill-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)-Theoden and the "The Grid" (2004) (mini) TV Series.
Colm Meaney-The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995)

Later,
Kenaz

Famous Hamiltonian's:Lincoln MacCauley Alexander

The Honourable Lincoln MacCauley Alexander, PC , CC , O.Ont , CD , QC , BA , LL.B (born January 21, 1922, in Toronto, Ontario), served as the 24th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991.

Born to West Indian immigrants to Canada, Lincoln Alexander first distinguished himself by serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the second World War. He then became Canada's first black Member of Parliament when he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1968 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, representing the riding of Hamilton West.

Lincoln Alexander held the seat for the next four successive elections. In 1976 and 1978 he served as an observer to the United Nations. Under the brief government of Joe Clark in 1979-1980, Alexander served as Minister of Labour. He resigned his seat in 1980 to serve as the head of the Worker's Compensation Board.

Lincoln Alexander was selected by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in 1985, the first black person to serve in a vice-regal position in Canada. During his term in office he concentrated on bringing attention to education and youth issues.

After his departure from office in 1991, Alexander was awarded the Order of Ontario, and made a Companion of the Order of Canada. He remains an active spokesman on race relations and veterans' issues, and is the Chancellor of the University of Guelph.

The Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, a freeway through Hamilton, was named in his honour, though Lincoln Alexander has never held a driver's license of his own. There are three schools called Lincoln Alexander Public School, as well as Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School, all named after him.

Later,
Kenaz

My Oscar Predictions

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
The nominees are: Judi Dench (Mrs. Henderson Presents), Felicity Huffman (Transamerica), Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice), Charlize Theron (North Country) and Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line)

Prediction: My heart goes with Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) but it would be damn nice to see Judi Dench beat the 'kids' again.

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
The nominees are: Amy Adams (Junebug), Catherine Keener (Capote), Francis McDormand (North Country), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) and Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain)

Prediction:This is one tough category to prediction, every nomination is a contender but I have to go with Catherine Keener (Capote) after making The 40 Year Old Virgin and Death to Smoochy she should be rewarded for perseverence.

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
The nominees are: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line) and David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck)

This looks to be the year for Brokeback Mountain, but I'm putting my money on the underdog Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote).

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The nominees are: George Clooney (Syriana), Matt Dillon (Crash), Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man), Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) and William Hurt (A History of Violence)

My Pick:Paul Giamatti deserves the win after two consecutive snubs for American Splendor and Sideways.

Achievement in Directing
The nominees are: Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain), Bennett Miller (Capote), Paul Haggis (Crash), George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck) and Steven Spielberg (Munich)

Prediction:Ang Lee should take this one but Clooney could be the dark horse. How does Lee go from directing crap like Incredible Hulk to this gem?

Best Motion Picture of the Year
The nominees are: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Good Night, and Good Luck and Munich.

Prediction:I'm a sucker for a good historical biopic so I love this years crop of films. Again money is on Brokeback Mountain but I'm going to go with Munich, Steven Spielberg shows why he is the best director today Geoffrey Rush is incredible.

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
The nominees are: Don’t Tell, Joyeux Noël, Paradise Now, Sophie Scholl — The Final Days and Tsotsi.

Prediction:I haven't seen any of these films so I have to go with the story that has the strongest impact on me and Paradise Now's portrayal of the Israel-Palestine conflict does that.

Best Documentary Feature
The nominees are: Darwin’s Nightmare, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, March of the Penguins, Murderball and Street Fight.

Prediction:After reading each of the plot outlines for each film, Murderball's portrayal of quadriplegics who play full-contact rugby in Mad Max-style wheelchairs,overcoming unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, seems the most intriguing. But, the envirourment is still a hot issue so both Darwin's Nightmare, dealing with the complete anilation of Tanzania's fishing industry by preditory fish introduced by European vessels and Enron both have strong chances.

Canadian an American Officials In Dispute Over Details

Canadians are disputing the U.S. version of an incident in Iraq that saw American soldiers fire shots at a car carrying four Canadian diplomats in Baghdad.

No one was injured, but the two sides differ on what prompted the volley of shots.

A U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq claims American soldiers "felt threatened" that the car might represent a potential suicide-bomb attack after the vehicle came too close and ignored hand and arm signals to keep a safe distance away.

"They felt they had to use warning shots," said U.S. Lt.-Col. Barry Johnson, spokesman for the multinational force in Baghdad.

"Clearly, these warning shots weren't aimed at the occupants."

A statement from the country’s military said the shots were aimed "at the front of the vehicle, away from the passenger area."

But Canadian officials argue that one shot did enter the passenger compartment and others struck the vehicle.

They also claim that the car did keep a safe distance away from the convoy and that they didn’t see any warning signals.

"Our officials are clear that they were operating within the rules," prime minister-designate Stephen Harper said in Ottawa.

"Obviously, we'd like to make sure we deal with this and avoid such a situation in the future. We're obviously very glad no one was hurt."

Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada’s chief of defence staff, has contacted U.S. authorities with concerns over the chain of events.

The vehicle was carrying the charge d'affaires to Iraq, Stewart Henderson, consular offical Michelle Cameron, an unidentified agent with Canada's spy service and another official, plus the driver.

They were on a routine trip through the Green Zone, a highly militarized part of Baghdad that includes the headquarters of the U.S. military and houses the Iraqi government and diplomats, when the bullets began to fly.

No apology has come from the U.S. yet, as it continues to investigate what happened.

"Nobody, our soldiers and our security personnel, certainly don't want to fire on innocent people, certainly not close friends and allies, said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Canada has a small diplomatic presence in Iraq at this point, but plans to establish an embassy there by the summer.

It will be interesting to see how the Americans will try to get out of this one without an adequate explanation or even an apology. Maybe the Canadians should be required to belt out "I am Canadian!" as they pass through the blocquade. Just my oppinion.

Later,
Kenaz