Why would you? Why would any intelligent person engage with that crap?
- James_Tanner

I've seen you engage in worse crap but hey it's your choice to pick and choose.

Tanner,

In a delightfully ironic twist, a hockey blogger attempts to make witty banter about geopolitics but instead exposes himself as a tv head zombie that dutifully regurgitates socially engineered propaganda. Hint look up Edward Bernays and then the dictionary meaning for the word 'defer'.
Way to live the narrative!

To celebrate
Keith Olbermann, Van Jones, Stephen Colbert, Alec Baldwin and Don Lemon.

....I am embarrassed for you. These are the people you willingly (in your flicker rate hypnotically induced stupor) choose to DEFER to? Wow! Really hope you get your wake up call soon. Better just stick to hockey, because you're way out of your element when it comes to understanding the context you're living within. That is a crime in iteslf. But to knowingly foist it upon others in a hockey blog? PLEASE stick to the hockey.

I hope you live in the States because its about to get very REAL for all zombie Americans (mostly on the coasts) on January 21st. Your life will be better, against your own weak, compromised will. Sorry you won't get your precious New World Order....or do you even realize that was what you were pulling for?

When you read 1984, at what point did you come to the conclusion that you wanted to live in it someday in the future? (In this case under Hitlary Clinton and the EU?)

Glad its popular amongst weak people to bash Trump because they're all about to get a little snowflake bashing of their own. Ask Jeff Zucker what it feels like to be admonished like a little boy and you may begin to understand what you're in for.
Don't worry, it will be good for you. You all just don't realize how FAR you've strayed.

About a year in, you'll love Trump.
That's about the time the political correct brainwash starts to fade.
At that point, you'll shave the beard, lose the ironic glasses and burn
your skinny jeans beause you will realize that the pretense of 'intelligence'
is not via acquired knowledge (which is mental enslavement btw) but
through knowing something DIRECTLY for yourself...and not because
you think it is in alginment with acceptable 'norms'.

Admit it. You're terrifed to hold a viewpoint of your OWN.
Next to physical harm, being laughed at is the thing that scares you most.
So you celebrate when someone else (your pretend heroes) gang rape
an agreed upon perceived tyrant like Trump. Because you know that its
SAFE to laugh in the contolled context where the 'thinking' is all done for you.

And if that's where you are.
Hate to break it to you but.
You're not a man.

Trump IS a man and welcome to your apprenticeship.
Just in the nick of time.

The worst part for you and the rest of the zombies is that
when they look back to this period in history, they will be
deeply and terribly embarrassed for what they had allowed
themselves to become whilst standing on the wrong side
of history. Its gonna hurt and I wish I could spare you the pain
but in your ingnorance, you have no idea the pain that you're
participating in generating.

The 'NWO you' had to be stopped.
And it was.
Now get ready to eat some crow with Obama
as it begins to slowly dawn upon you what you
were all participating within. As the world wakes
up and as all wounds are healed
As you suddenly come upon your senses again and
as your real sense of well being and goodness is restored.

Go easy on yourself when you reflect upon this time.
As you will know, more deeply than you ever wanted to
know what is social engineering and deferring and how
dangerous they can both be while speeding along recklessly,
thinking you're cool, progressive and intelligent, completely
separated from your own dignity and sense of self.
Now do you understand what is 'acquired knowledge'?
Van Jones and Colbert served it up daily.
You proudly lined up for the crap and then crowed about it!

We collectively just averted careening off a cliff in a self indulgent
stupor of self destruction that will be remembered as the silent
world war 3.

Start researching.
You are WAY behind.
Probably has to do with all the indulgence
in mindless sports and entertainment. (bread and circuses)
Maybe dial it back a bit?!

Just a warning.

If you have even the slightest inkling of taking me on intellectually.
Be prepared to get your ass kicked, intelllectually of course, to
an extent that your pride may be too damaged to carry on.
If you like humble pie, please proceed.
- King Salming

I'd love to see where you get your information.

well this thread got out of hand pretty quickly...

well this thread got out of hand pretty quickly...
- lplafrance

Opinions, opinions everywhere.

James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Smith, JVR, Panthers ++++
Your gramma's favorite weekly NHL column.
- James_Tanner

"Lungs" by him is great tune.

Meth, not even once.
- Mordecai

I was going to say coke. Looks like a copy and paste job too, because the formatting is all off.

How true it is what you write. I hope trump and cabinet can dismantle nwo elites who've been destroying USA and he might have to deal with mr soros. Times are a changing. Hoping for better
- BreathLeafs2015

Look out behind you!! It's the UN!!!

"This might sound like a fantasy, and it probably is, but I have come to view the internet and cell phones and social media as one of the worst things in modern society. I believe, 100%, that it's a societal addiction that makes life worse for everyone.

Unfortunately, as of today, 100% of my income comes from using a cell phone and going on the internet in someway. "


Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo..... cry us all a river.

I always knew you were a social misfit.

(You are still getting my weekly 'click' though, so don't cry yourself to sleep just yet)

"This might sound like a fantasy, and it probably is, but I have come to view the internet and cell phones and social media as one of the worst things in modern society. I believe, 100%, that it's a societal addiction that makes life worse for everyone.

Unfortunately, as of today, 100% of my income comes from using a cell phone and going on the internet in someway. "


Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo..... cry us all a river.

I always knew you were a social misfit. :lol:

(You are still getting my weekly 'click' though, so don't cry yourself to sleep just yet)
- Katana777

How does relying on the internet for work make someone a social misfit? I run a small business, try doing that without the internet.

I'm guessing you don't even realize the irony of what you said while attacking a total stranger you don't know and insulting him anonymously, even though clearly what he writes is at least interesting enough to make you show up, as you said, at least weakly. It's insane.

James, Why is it. When a team has bad corsi numbers but win, they are just lucky? The Yotes have six less points then Dallas, And played three less games. The Coyotes have some good players. They have good goal tending. They are a young team. in a rebuild. Yes they are making mistakes. But they are there with the other teams. Whats Edmontons excuse? You say they have the best lineup in the NHL. They stink! McDavid carries the team. And mark my words they will miss the playoffs. Again! Just like Toronto, who you said are a lock for the playoffs.

James, Why is it. When a team has bad corsi numbers but win, they are just lucky? The Yotes have six less points then Dallas, And played three less games. The Coyotes have some good players. They have good goal tending. They are a young team. in a rebuild. Yes they are making mistakes. But they are there with the other teams. Whats Edmontons excuse? You say they have the best lineup in the NHL. They stink! McDavid carries the team. And mark my words they will miss the playoffs. Again! Just like Toronto, who you said are a lock for the playoffs.
- Gomey

This is why a good number of analytics people are a bit frustrating to read and listen to, the all or nothing certainty. It's either analytics gurus or 100 year old dinosaurs who are trying to protect their jobs, nothing in between. I'm totally open minded to analytics, I think there's a place for it and looking forward to seeing where it all goes. But, if you have to explain major discrepancies away with terms like "luck" then there is a flaw in how you analyze the numbers or there's not enough data. Sure, a lot of these numbers ring true with time and a large sample size, but in an 82 game season, in a league with a salary cap, fluctuating profits and unpredictable human beings in the middle of it all, analytics can only go so far.

Analytics are great and help a lot, but teams still need experience and "intangibles" in order to be successful, and I think the best teams in the league right now actually do both very well whether they admit it or not.

MINUS: I don't like how the Leafs have been playing William Nylander on the fourth line. I do like that they've moved him to centre. The obvious move is to trade Tyler Bozak.

He's proven to a be a very good second/third line centre (though how he ever got a rep. as a defensive centre is beyond me) and could likely get you back some decent value in a trade.

With Matthews, Nylander and Kadri down the middle the Leafs would be either the deepest team in hockey at centre or close to it.

Don't they already have those three up the middle? And with bozak who is a very good second/third line centre. That would already make the leafs the deepest team in hockey at centre..????? I'm not sure how trading bozak makes us deeper at centre?

I haven't read a novel by Nabokov, but I've read criticism and short-stories (i think) in university. Most of my favorite authors - Pynchon, DeLillo, Wallace - site him as a favorite, so I'm not sure why I've never gotten around to at least reading Lolita.

I haven't read that other guy though whose name I'll not even attempt to spell, but I'll give it a shot. I tend to enjoy Russian novelists, particularly Gogel.

If you haven't read one of the three DFW novels you owe it to yourself to get one as soon as you can. They are wonderful.
- James_Tanner

I read his first one, just known of the big ones.

Just starting to read The Executioner's Song.


Man you have got to read Nabokov. If you like those other postmodernists then read the man that took it to another level. Try Invitation to a Beheading. Lolita is beautiful but it is not his best work, just one of them. Gogol only wrote one unfinished novel, but it was a good one. Bulgakov is another one that is a lot of fun. The Master and Margarita is an awesome book and also insoired the Stones famous song Sympathy for the Devil.

I see you're in the third step of your grieving process. Depression. Still some Anger and Denial but maybe it's time to retreat back to University and find a safe space for awhile. Maybe some crayons and puppy therapy will help you to meditate and clear your mind. It sounds like a terrible place to be right now so a break might do you some good. Good luck reality is tough for some.

For us old guys e-readers are fantastic Jim. I like to read late into the night and with my tired old eyes I would need a very bright light and my better half wasn't happy about that. And the font size is adjustable which is great. Also when I finish a book I can buy a new one on the spot. And with the pollution caused by pulp and paper mills it has to be more friendly to the environment. The only drawback is that I can't share my books after I've read them. Cheers
- shack67

They are convenient, but people have not updated their opinions of the paper industry since the industry has been revamped.
Forests are now farmed responsibly with more than one tree being planted for every one cut down, on average. Clear cutting does not happen anymore in countries that have committed to doing things the right way. Selective cutting strategically removes the trees that are least desirable, leaving healthier forests and wildlife habitats are taken into consideration.
Also, paper mills and other facilities utilize 100% of the wood through various practices, benefitting different industries.
The end result...buying paper books is no longer irresponsible. Oh, and eReader's are made from oil based materials. So, I'm not sure that the manufacturing of them is exactly better for the environment.

James,
I almost got excited when you mentioned DFW, thinking for sure that you would include this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYYsrgJPNoU

This is a long clip as it heads right into another song, but the intro is concurrent to your write-up.

James, Why is it. When a team has bad corsi numbers but win, they are just lucky? The Yotes have six less points then Dallas, And played three less games. The Coyotes have some good players. They have good goal tending. They are a young team. in a rebuild. Yes they are making mistakes. But they are there with the other teams. Whats Edmontons excuse? You say they have the best lineup in the NHL. They stink! McDavid carries the team. And mark my words they will miss the playoffs. Again! Just like Toronto, who you said are a lock for the playoffs.
- Gomey

First, since the Oilers traded Hall, I have not said they have the best roster in the NHL. I don't even think I said that before they traded him. They will definitely make the Playoffs.

I don't think the Leafs are a lock, don't recall saying that, but the odds are good.

As for why I say the Coyotes are lucky, well, it's because they are. Mike Smith has played out-of-his-mind. Against Columbus, they allowed 60 shots and still managed to make it to the shoot-out.

Do you think a team that allows 60 shots deserved to get a point? Do you know how hard it is to get 60 shots? If you tried to let the other team get 60 shots on purpose, it might not happen. That's how crazy 60 shots is.

And, if you look at what is actually happening, and not just the results, which have been favorable, you see a team that is getting it's ass handed to them night in and night out. Corsi shows this pretty well - that the Coyotes allow 60% of the shot attempts against in about half their games. That is insane.

So, it is not my opinion that they are lucky to have the record they have. It is an actual fact.

Don't they already have those three up the middle? And with bozak who is a very good second/third line centre. That would already make the leafs the deepest team in hockey at centre..????? I'm not sure how trading bozak makes us deeper at centre?
- Trevrrrgavo

If Nylander is your 4th line C, you aren't really getting anything out of his 9 or 10 5v5 minutes per night. I mean, he's far and away the best 4C in the NHL, but you're wasting him.

Nylander is about twice as good as Bozak, so if you get rid of Bozak, you get an asset and you can now play your three best centres on the top three lines.

I read his first one, just known of the big ones.

Just starting to read The Executioner's Song.


Man you have got to read Nabokov. If you like those other postmodernists then read the man that took it to another level. Try Invitation to a Beheading. Lolita is beautiful but it is not his best work, just one of them. Gogol only wrote one unfinished novel, but it was a good one. Bulgakov is another one that is a lot of fun. The Master and Margarita is an awesome book and also insoired the Stones famous song Sympathy for the Devil.
- BluemanGuruu

Did you take Russian lit, or are you just a fan of Russians? I always found them so bleak. I enjoyed Chekov's plays however. Dostoyevsky is also very good, but just too f'n depressing. I thought War and Peace was a soap opera and couldn't finish it, though a lot of guys I've respected thought Tolstoy was the master.

Gogel is still my favorite. I used to teach the Overcoat in all my creative writing classes, and I also enjoyed the double a great deal.

I see you're in the third step of your grieving process. Depression. Still some Anger and Denial but maybe it's time to retreat back to University and find a safe space for awhile. Maybe some crayons and puppy therapy will help you to meditate and clear your mind. It sounds like a terrible place to be right now so a break might do you some good. Good luck reality is tough for some.
- tpd11

I see this kind of insult all the time lately, and I think it's pretty embarrassing. The Trump supporters - who do not include scientists, economists or intellectuals of any kind - are trying to validate their gross anti-intellectualism by equating the not only smart, but also kind, thoughtful and empathetic people who find them disgusting to be some kind of ____ s (you know, what Trump likes to grab without permission).

It's laughable. As any psychologist could tell you, you put your insecurities into your bullying. So, whatever.

They are convenient, but people have not updated their opinions of the paper industry since the industry has been revamped.
Forests are now farmed responsibly with more than one tree being planted for every one cut down, on average. Clear cutting does not happen anymore in countries that have committed to doing things the right way. Selective cutting strategically removes the trees that are least desirable, leaving healthier forests and wildlife habitats are taken into consideration.
Also, paper mills and other facilities utilize 100% of the wood through various practices, benefitting different industries.
The end result...buying paper books is no longer irresponsible. Oh, and eReader's are made from oil based materials. So, I'm not sure that the manufacturing of them is exactly better for the environment.
- Tonybere

Nailed it!

James,
I almost got excited when you mentioned DFW, thinking for sure that you would include this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYYsrgJPNoU

This is a long clip as it heads right into another song, but the intro is concurrent to your write-up.
- Tonybere

That's pretty sweet. The Lowest of the Low also happen to be one of my favorite bands (they were actually the last concert I went to) but I never saw that version before. Thanks for sharing.

You didn't even think about and/or acknowledge anything I said, you just stuck with your preconceived notions, which I already pointed out were wrong. I expect better, and am always disappointed.
- James_Tanner

Actually, I know what you said, regarding shooting %, is true so I didn't feel the need to write a novel like someone did earlier in the blog.

I'm speaking in facts, not "notions", I'm saying they drafted well under Tallon and steadily improved and yet YOU totally dismissed what I said...pot meet kettle!

In 2011 the Panthers finished with 30 wins 72 points, Tallon drafted Huberdeau, Grimaldi & Trocheck.

In 2012 the Panthers finished with 38 wins 94 points, Tallon drafted Matheson.

In 2013 the Panthers finished with 15 wins 36 points in a lockout shortened season, definitely a setback but the short season caught a few teams. Tallon drafted Barkov.

In 2014 the Panthers finished with 29 wins 66 points, Tallon drafted Ekblad.

In 2015 the Panthers finished with 38 wins 91 points, Tallon drafted Crouse.

In 2016 the Panthers finished with 47 wins 103 points, yes they may have overachieved but the signs of progress through drafting and developing are there. Why change the program at this point?

James Tanner:

I think I will try your book recommendation, Pale King. Thanks

I think you need to try a real e-reader like a Nook or Kindle with e-Ink. They are not backlit screens and great for reading outside or inside since they are really easy on the eyes. I love my old Nook since I am trying not to buy a lot of paper books because of their space requirements.

I agree with your newspaper subscription comments. If we don't support them they are going to disappear or greatly diminish in number. Too bad Millennials generally don't read newspapers or books.

I recently picked up Mike Smith in Lums hockey pool. Smith has been excellent.

Enjoy your Plus / Minus columns.

Cheer up James and always look on the bright side of life (Substitute Brian with James).

James Tanner:

I think I will try your book recommendation, Pale King. Thanks

I think you need to try a real e-reader like a Nook or Kindle with e-Ink. They are not backlit screens and great for reading outside or inside since they are really easy on the eyes. I love my old Nook since I am trying not to buy a lot of paper books because of their space requirements.

I agree with your newspaper subscription comments. If we don't support them they are going to disappear or greatly diminish in number. Too bad Millennials generally don't read newspapers or books.

I recently picked up Mike Smith in Lums hockey pool. Smith has been excellent.

Enjoy your Plus / Minus columns.

Cheer up James and always look on the bright side of life (Substitute Brian with James).
- Leafsandbolts

Hey thanks for the great comment. One thing about the Pale King - even if you mostly use e-readers, this is a book you should buy in physical copy because the copious footnotes may make reading it difficult on an e-reader. Maybe not though, I don't really know how they work, I just imagine it'd be a scrolling nightmare.

Also, while this may be a surprise to people who regularly read my column, in real life I am a very positive, easy going guy. Whimsical even.