Ramblings of a Tired Mind...or Napoleone's Balony

ARRRGGGG

2006-06-08T16:53:00.000-04:00

June 8

I am going to blog...I am going to do it. I promise...

Do you ever wish you could scream? I dont mean shreak or contain...just let all of the crud feeling inside...feelings of anger, rejection, pain...perhaps mostly unfounded, but there irregardless...out of you with everything in you until you fall over. Perhaps with your throat all ripped up?

I have some stupid squishy and easily permeable feelings these days...I asked someone for their msn because we're friendly with each other and that person gave me a "no" right out there. Now Im not disputing their right to say no, it is their msn and I have no problem with the fact that they took that right but for some reason it still hit me like a tonne of bricks. I'm so messed up these days that even something as small as that is like a slap in the face and "Stomach torture". The person didn't say sorry but no, didnt say I cant give it to you, didnt even say "F--- off I dont want to talk to you"...all they said was no and then seemed to giggle or something...I dunno. It just shocked me I guess...its so stupid.

Sometimes I can't stand SOMers...that is School Of Ministry people...more moodswings then a menopausal woman I'm telling you. Sometimes they want to hug everyone the next you feel like everything you do is hindering their ability to breath. Yes I know the same line "God is doing something with me" but if God is in there wouldn't they at least be a little considerate? We aren't all in SOM for crying out loud! Now this isn't true of all SOM people and I do appreciate how people feel when they go through issues...hell I need to go through some issues myself (As is apparent in this blog).

I think the root of this problem is insecurity and rejection and its eating me up. I've been rejected in every way I can think of but I don't know how to deal with it. Arrgg

Well Im sorry for typing so much..maybe thats why I don't blog because I dont know who will possibly read all my ramblings...Oh well...

I give up

2006-03-12T18:31:00.000-05:00

Yes I have given up with the whole "my hormones a hurting" thing and have dropped the concept of "liking" anyone "like that". There is no point at all if it isn't mutual to begin with so I quit.

By the way, sushi is really good..yummm

So strange...

2006-02-26T23:01:00.000-05:00

If you don't care about me personally but merely see me as an aquaintence don't bother reading on...it is a waste of your time though I dont know if people who aren't my friend read this...

By the way, this is a long blog so yeah..I would like yous all (hehe mike nowak language) to read it but if you don't on account of its length then I understand.

Today was interesting. Well not in the Jamie physical sense but certainly in the Jamie mental sense (is that how you spell sense?). Anyways, I came into contact with the person who I...well..the person I wish...well you know what I'm getting at and I'm afraid that I'm scaring her or something. Perhaps it is in my mind but it kinda seemed as if she was withdrawing from me...though it could be in my mind, a mind weary of returning to school (where I am right now). I have had "crushes" or whatever the polite Christianese term is (I find I'm not so great at Christianese sometimes) before but somehow this is different. As much as I think this is different I am afraid of her being creeped out but at the same time...I'm not sure what to do but it does make me sad. I think I've heard God say something about her to me and I wish it to be but she doesn't seem interested and I'm afraid that I was hearing my wish. This being said if you (and I think you know who you are) are reading this then I apologize immensely but if not inner thoughts, what else are blogs for (other than the obvious goofing around and whining about useless crap....). I know many people are saying "God's timing" and "wait on God" again and again and it isnt that I disagree with them...I do want to submit to God's plan and timing but...I don't know...I don't know how to put this I guess...maybe I think too much? Maybe I'm being impatient and/or immature? I know I'm not alone with all this stuff as Anthony said on Friday but I just feel strange. I'm also super tired from lack of sleep during this reading week....

Speaking of reading week...ITS OVER! ARRRRGGGGG...it just started for crying out loud! As much as I'm proud of our men and women over in Italy I can't help but sigh over the men's hockey team...they were a bunch of great hockey players but were a lousy hockey team...and teams win not players. True some will say that "you are insane! We did so great in other events and they are just professionals who get too much money so who cares", and in a sense I agree. We did fantastic outside of men's hockey! Our women's hockey destroyed the competition, we had some great speed skating results and we ended up with 24 medals (and 18 4th place finishes...imagine if we had gotten bronze in all of those!). Look out for Canada in Vancouver 2010! And I also agree that the professional nhl players are overpaid and such but to wear one's national colours...I refuse to believe that anyone would lack in intensity in that situation. They just didn't finish (Gerber, Niitymaaki and Nabokov were outstanding for Switzerland, Finland and Russia respectively against Canada) and if you can't score, you can't win. Sounds simple, but it's the truth. But my point is, is that Men's Hockey is the heart and soul of our country and losing in that is like if the States loses the up-comming World Baseball Classic thingamickbobber....(you can steal that word if you wish).

Anyway that was a long blog...I hope you read it and comment if you wish.

Team Canada

2006-02-16T01:18:00.000-05:00

Goaltenders/Gardiens de but
30	Brodeur, Martin	L/G	6’2	210	5/6/72	Montréal, QC	New Jersey Devils
1	Luongo, Roberto	L/G	6’3	205	4/4/79	Montréal, QC	Florida Panthers
35	Turco, Marty	L/G	5’11	183	8/13/75	Sault Ste. Marie, ON	Dallas Stars
Defence/Défense
4	Blake, Rob	R/D	6’4	225	12/10/69	Simcoe, ON	Colorado Avalanche
3	Bouwmeester, Jay	L/G	6’4	210	9/27/83	Edmonton, AB	Florida Panthers
-	*Boyle, Dan	R/D	5’11	190	7/12/76	Ottawa, ON	Tampa Bay Lightning
52	Foote, Adam	R/D	6’2	215	7/10/71	Whitby, ON	Columbus Blue Jackets
55	Jovanovski, Ed	L/G	6’2	210	6/26/76	Windsor, ON	Vancouver Canucks
24	McCabe, Bryan	L/G	6'2	220	06/08/75	Calgary, AB	Toronto Maple Leafs
27	Niedermayer, Scott	L/G	6’1	200	8/31/73	Cranbrook, BC	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
44	Pronger, Chris	L/G	6’6	218	10/10/74	Dryden, ON	Edmonton Oilers
6	Redden, Wade	L/G	6’2	212	6/12/77	Lloydminster, SK	Ottawa Senators
28	Regehr, Robyn	L/G	6’3	226	4/19/80	Rosthern, SK	Calgary Flames
Forwards/Avants
14	Bertuzzi, Todd	R/D	6’3	245	2/2/75	Sudbury, ON	Vancouver Canucks
9	Doan, Shane	R/D	6’2	216	10/10/76	Halkirk, AB	Phoenix Coyotes
33	Draper, Kris	L/G	5’10	190	5/24/71	Toronto, ON	Detroit Red Wings
21	Gagné, Simon	L/G	6’0	185	2/29/80	Ste-Foy, QC	Philadelphia Flyers
15	Heatley, Dany	L/G	6’3	215	1/21/81	Calgary, AB	Ottawa Senators
12	Iginla, Jarome	R/D	6’1	208	7/1/77	St. Albert, AB	Calgary Flames
40	Lecavalier, Vincent	L/G	6’4	207	4/21/80	îÎe Bizard, QC	Tampa Bay Lightning
61	Nash, Rick	L/G	6’4	215	6/16/84	Brampton, ON	Columbus Blue Jackets
39	Richards, Brad	L/G	6’1	198	5/2/80	Murray Harbour, PEI	Tampa Bay Lightning
91	Sakic, Joe	L/G	5’11	195	7/7/69	Burnaby, BC	Colorado Avalanche
94	Smyth, Ryan	L/G	6’1	190	2/21/76	Banff, AB	Edmonton Oilers
10	*Spezza, Jason	R/D	6'3	211	06/13/83	Toronto, ON	Ottawa Senators
22	*Staal, Eric	L/G	6'4	205	10/29/84	Thunder Bay, ON	Carolina Hurricanes
26	St-Louis, Martin	L/G	5’9	185	6/18/75	Laval, QC	Tampa Bay Lightning
97	Thornton, Joe	L/G	6’4	225	7/2/79	St. Thomas, ON	San Jose Sharks

Goaltenders:

From the outset of the Team Canada selection process, Gretzky and crew made it absolutely clear that Martin Brodeur will be Canada's number 1 goalie; even despite the fact that Brodeur and the Devils had an atrocious start to their season. However, Brodeur has earned the spot playing absolutely spectacularly in the red and white in both Salt Lake City and the World Cup. As was the focus of Gretzky's crew from the beginning: experience is number 1. Behind him will be Roberto Luongo who took his spot between the pipes in the semi-finals of the World Cup and played a fantastic game against the Czechs whilst Brodeur was nursing a hand injury. Many believed that Turco should play behind Brodeur as a result of his excellent season thus far with the Stars. To that I say not likely! Gretzky knows where to put his loyalties and its done.

Defencemen:

All the big nhl-laden teams in the tournament are deep up front but only two, in my mind, are as deep on defence. One is the Finns and the other is the Cannucks. There was plenty of discussion about the fact that neither Ed Jovonovski nor Scott Niedermeyer will be participating due to injury and that it is a harsh blow to Canada. I say that is hogwosh. This Canadian team is extremely solid up front. The one thing that really stands out is that I have never in my entire life seen a bigger defence than the one Canada will ice in Torino. Not one of the Cannuck d-men are below 6'2 and 210 pounds. Led by the veterans Blake and Foote, this defence will probably be the best in the tournament both offensively and defensively. They will move the puck very well and with plenty of speed and will take the body hard and often. Everyone knows, it is no fun playing against Canada's defence.

Forwards:

As with all Canadian teams, there was no lack of controversy regarding who was picked up front. Eric Staal is third in scoring in the NHL and Jason Spezza is having a banner year playing with Dany Heatley while Rick Nash has sat out most of the season with injuries and Todd Bertuzzi....well nobody needs to be reminded what he did. Despite all the controversy, Gretzky and his boys have put together a fine assortment of players ranging from the slick, speedy Tampa Bay Lighting Martin St. Louis to the penultimate power forward, the San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton. The number one line argueably will be the Iginla-Sakic-Gagne line that was so dynamic in the World Cup while Quinn will try to retain some of the Lightning chemistry between St. Louis and Lecavalier on a line with Ottawa Senator phenom Dany Heatley. Another point of chemistry will be the Nash-Thornton combination that was so potent for HC Davos in the Swiss Elite League, the Spengler Cup and the World Hockey Championships last year. This group will score and will score in bunches as they have a fantastic balance of speed and size. Look for Jarome Iginla and Todd Bertuzzi, two Western Canadian boys, to have excellent tournaments.

General Comments: Canada is argueably the favourite for Gold comming into the tournament with the Czechs nipping at their heels. There will be no shortage of goals from this offensive-minded, high-powered roster. Pay no attention to the first three games against Italy, Germany and Switzerland as the first real test wont come until they face Finland in their fourth contest. The three games are good to try out line combinations and give Luongo, who will start against Germany, a chance to play.

Finland

2006-02-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

Goaltenders/Gardiens de but
Antero Niittymaki - 0	Philadelphia Flyers
Kari Lehtonen - 0	Atlanta Thrashers
Fredrik Norrena - 0	Linköpings HC
Defence/Défense
Teppo Numminen - 3	Buffalo Sabres
Sami Salo - 1	Vancouver Canucks
Kimmo Timonen - 2	Nashville Predators
Joni Pitkänen - 0	Philadelphia Flyers
Toni Lydman - 0	Buffalo Sabres
Aki-Petteri Berg - 2	Toronto Maple Leafs
Ossi Väänänen - 1	Colorado Avalanche
Forwards/Avants
Saku Koivu - 2	Montreal Canadiens
Olli Jokinen - 1	Florida Panthers
Niko Kapanen - 0	Dallas Stars
Mikko Koivu - 0	Minnesota Wild
Jere Lehtinen - 3	Dallas Stars
Teemu Selänne - 3	Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Jussi Jokinen - 0	Dallas Stars
Ville Peltonen - 2	HC Lugano
Sami Kapanen - 3	Philadelphia Flyers
Antti Laaksonen - 0	Colorado Avalanche
Antti Miettinen - 0	Dallas Stars
Jarkko Ruutu - 1	Vancouver Canucks
Jukka Hentunen - 0	HC Lugano

Goaltenders:

The 21st Century so far has been the time when Finland has superseeded Quebec as the world's premier goalie producers. These three are no exceptions. The loss of Calgary Flame all-star Miikka Kiprusoff was a blow to Finland but unlike many other countries, Finland is very deep in the net moving the grand total of countries with real depth at the spot to 2 (of course Canada being the other). The troika of 2006's version of Team Finland is lead by 25 year old Antero Niittymaki. The Philadelphia Flyer goaltender stepped in between the pipes this year when Robert Esche was facing pro-longed injury and Niittymaki was nothing short of spectacular. 22 year old Kari Lehtonen has been shaky at times though the Thrashers' defence has been quite suspect this year. Fredrik Norrena, who has been playing in Sweden's Elite League since 2002, is the veteran of the group. He was solid last year making Linkoping a very good contender for the Swedish crown. Who the number one will be comming into Turino is up in the air and much will hinge on the last few days before the tournament.

Defencemen:

The Finnish defence in Turino will most likely be the best defensive unit out of all the gold medal contenders. Led by veteran Pheonix Coyote defenceman Teppo Numminen, the Finns are a tight checking, physical and tough group. Youngsters such as Philadelphia Flyer Joni Pitkanen and Buffalo Saber Toni Lydman add offense to an already solid bunch of defencemen while Edmonton Oiler Sami Salo will be a key quarterback on Finnish powerplays. Aki Berg has had a horrendous year for the Toronto Maple Leafs and look for him to be the weak link in the line of excellent Finnish defenders. That being said, the Finns will give up very few goals in Turino and these men will be the reason for it.

Forwards:

Finland's forward crew has a good mix of seasoned veterans and quick youngesters. Teemu Selanne has been having a fantastic year for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and that is very very good news for Finland. Finland will be a media darling as well as two sets of brothers will be playing for Suomi (The Koivus - Mikko and Saku, and the Kapanens - Nico and Sami) while it would have been three had it not been for a Tuomu Ruutu ankle injury and subsequent surgery (Ollie and Jussi Jokinen are not related). The addition of two-way Dallas Star youngster Antti Miettinen will aid Finland very much with the projected numerous amounts of penalties. Look for Vancouver Canuck veteran Jarkko Ruutu to be in the box a lot as he has a habit of taking lots of bad penalties while the veteran core of this Finnish forward squad including Jere Lehtinen, Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Sami Kapenen, Ville Peltonen and Jukka Hentunen to provide enough goals for Finland to capture a medal of some sort.

General Comments:

The Finns are a solid team that will play North American style bang and crash hockey. Their large defence will be a force to be reckoned with and don't expect anyone to score a lot on them. Finland's question mark is the inexperience between the pipes as neither Lehtonen or Niittymaki have top level international experience.

Switzerland

2006-02-06T00:17:00.001-05:00

Goaltenders/Gardiens de but
David Aebischer - 1	Colorado Avalanche
Marco Bührer - 0	SC Bern
Martin Gerber - 1	Carolina Hurricanes
Defence/Défense
Goran Bezina - 0	Genève-Servette HC
Severin Blindenbacher - 0	ZSC Lions, Züriuch
Olivier Keller - 1	EHC Basel
Mathias Seger - 1	ZSC Lions, Zürich
Martin Steinegger - 1	SC Bern
Mark Streit - 1	Montreal Canadiens
Julien Vauclair - 0	HC Lugano
Forwards/Avants
Flavien Conne - 1	HC Lugano
Patric Della Rossa - 1	EV Zug
Paul DiPietro - 0	EV Zug
Patrick Fischer - 1	EV Zug
Sandy Jeannin - 1	HC Lugano
Marcel Jenni - 1	Kloten Flyers
Romano Lemm - 0	Kloten Flyers
Thierry Paterlini - 0	ZSC Lions, Zürich
Martin Plüss - 1	Frölunda Indians
Ivo Rüthemann - 0	SC Bern
Adrian Wichser - 0	ZSC Lions, Zürich
Thomas Ziegler - 0	SC Bern
Kevin Romy - 0	HC Lugano

Goaltenders:

In previous international top level tournaments that Switzerland has been involved in, the answer to the question of who would be the number 1 goaltender was clear: one David Aebischer. However in Turino, the answer won't be as clear. The Colorado Avalanche goaltender will contend for the number one spot with Carolina Hurricanes net-minder Martin Gerber. Gerber has been outstanding playing platoon in the Hurricane net with youngster Cam Ward but recently has been emerging as a solid number one for Carolina bench boss Peter Laviolette. Regardless of who starts for the Swiss, look for goaltending to be their number one asset and reason why they won't be blown out this year.

Defencemen:

Look for long-time Swiss National Team member Martin Steinegger of HC Bern to be slotted with Montreal Canadian regular Mark Streit as Switzerland's top defencemen. Julien Vauclair started the season with the Tampa Bay Lightning but moved back to his Swiss club HC Lugano in November. Look for the 6', 200 lb Vauclair to get plenty of ice along with Streit and Steinegger. The Swiss d-men have long been known for quick puck movement but lacking the size needed to stop NHL stars. This might be their achilles heel, preventing them from going very far against the hockey super-powers.

Forwards:

It seems that SC Bern star forward Ivo Rüthemann has worked out his differences with Swiss National Team Coach Ralph Krueger as he will star for the Swiss in the tournament. Veteran forward Marcel Jenni, former member of Farjestads in Sweden and current member of Kloten Flyers in the Swiss Elite League will also need to play a role for the Swiss to compete. Martin Pluss is a member of the defending Swedish Elite League Champion Vastra Frolunda and has been a solid mainstay for the Swiss as of late in World Championships and other tournaments. The Swiss have also added young speedster and Philadelphia Flyer draftpick Kevin Romy to the mix, hoping to add a little more flair to the Swiss forward caste. Canadian-born Paul DiPietro adds scoring as well.

General Comments: Look for the Swiss to defeat the host Italians and most probably the Germans but it is difficult to say how the Swiss will fair against the big boys. With the excellent goaltending that they have, they will compete but will most likely fall to the power-houses of Group A: Canada, Czech Republic and Finland.

Olympic Men's Hockey Team Previews

2006-02-06T00:15:00.000-05:00

Here I am going to preview and give my thoughts on the teams and selections for the 2006 Turino Games. They will be in different posts to make it look like I have more posts than I should.

The Super Bowl

2006-02-05T23:49:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I know I haven't done this in a while but whatever...life is like a box of chocolates bladibladibla...etc.

So I watched the Super Bowl this evening and it was cool. I was cheering for the Seahawks but you kinda had to know that the Steelers would win (The Jerome Bettis at home thing...). Randel El has a better arm than Ben Rothlesberger o.o. That Toss Reverse Wide Receiver Option Pass was so cool and exciting! What a cannon on a receiver! It was like something out of a movie...crazyness. I was impressed with Hasselbeck's ability to move the ball but equally as impressed with his offensive line's inability to give him a hand in key situations (when he tossed the interception down 14-10 in the third quarter after they had marched from their own 3 really proves this!).

Rothlesberger's ability improvise and scramble really won the game for the Steelers not to mention a banged-up Seahawk's secondary. Penalties were deadly for the Seahawks as were dropped passes (specifically by Seahawk's tightened Jerammy Stevens); passes that would've been huge in the outcome - as much in terms of confidence and momentum as literal field position and opportunities. It is a mystery why Hasselbeck continued to go to the unsure handed tight end Stevens over sure-handed and speedy wide receiver Darrell Jackson who was exemplary in the first quarter. Many of Hasselbeck's throws were absolute gems but Seahawk receivers (ie Stevens) seemed to forget their training. I mean they were playing like University of Waterloo receivers! That's harsh but in a lot of cases true.

Props to the Steelers for a fine performance and no props to the 'genius' who booked the Rolling Old Un-Talented Farts...I mean Rolling Stones.

Theory #2: I Cannot Blog

2005-12-11T13:47:00.000-05:00

Ok so I know I haven't been on here in a while but the reason why is simply this:
I am not able to effectively blog. This could be due to laziness though I doubt it.

Anyway, the reason why I am not able to blog are as follows:

1) There is the word "log" in "blog". Naturally then, logs infer heavy lifting and I am not able to do so. Logs also infer tiredness (heavy lifting equals tiredness) and I am already always tired and thus I cannot blog due to the log part of the word.

2) It takes time. I do usually have the TIME to blog but I dont usually have the time to BLOG, if you catch my drift ;). Basically when it comes down to actually doing the blogging I feel like I could be doing something more fun with my time such as Xbox, hanging out with friends, chatting on msn, playing guitar, and listening to music...and eating...gotta have eating.

3) I probably have other work to do that I am procrasinating for whilst I write a blog entry and thus I am wasting creative juice...and I have limited juice these days let me tell you.

So yeah...that's it. This all being said, I will try to blog more.

The World Scourge: Fundamentalism

2005-08-08T11:51:00.000-04:00

From the beginning of known history to now, one single insect bite in humanity has never gone away. This itch is scratched so often that it has spread and is covering us like a sleeping bag. It is today's plague that we believe is "far off", but it is not so. It is called Fundamentalism and it is rampant everywhere.

So with that introduction you are probably thinking: "Oh yes...Jamie is going to rant about Islamists blowing Jews up". Well, my friend, you are incorrect. I am going to discuss a new type of fundamentalism, one that is usually shrugged off. This is what I call "Western Fundamentalism" (not to be confused with materialism, although materialism has a part in this). It is the viscious, aggressive, and conformistic need to be a non-conformist. I recently went to a great collection of people called "The Warped Tour", a rock festival that was a lot of fun...and a sociologist's dream. In it I noticed this fundamentalism everywhere. The mass of "punks" yelling that they refuse to be conformists in one large block of like people in the same place. Is this not strange? Don't get me wrong; I am all for being unique and different, but my gosh, thousands of people are fooling themselves. Green Day's song "Minority" actually made me laugh when I heard it because they are not even close to being one. Everyone in our society is constantly being fundamentalistic about their new Gods, themselves (Thank you Five Iron Frenzy). If you dare to mention that they are conforming to the "non-conformists" they go all psycho.

Well that's that, you get the point don't you. I'm not into writing books when I don't have to so that's life.

By the way, pray for the peace of Israel :D

Theory #1: Sushi

2005-08-06T16:00:00.000-04:00

Sushi is great. Here is theory #1: Sushi and sunshine are similar words. How could a Japanese word be a cognate of an english one you ask? In 1852 American Matthew Perry commanded a squadron of ships in an attempt to reach a trade treaty with Japan. Now as we all know the United States spoke/speak english and Japan is commonly referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun", or the origin of the sun. The sun produces sunshine. Now sushi as we know it today was invented by Hanaya Yohei of Edo (today the Japanese Capital City of Tokyo). He lived between 1799 and 1858 and so my theory was when Mr. Yohei was looking for a name for his new "fast-food" product, he decided to go for a metaphor of the experience of eating sushi. When he let Perry try his invention, Perry stated: "It reminds me of sunshine running through my veins." At first Yohei decided to call it sushine, thinking he heard that instead of sunshine. Later he changed it to sushi because of its awsomeness.

Though I could be wrong ;)

Oh The Annoyance

2005-08-06T10:13:00.000-04:00

So I got back yesterday from a long trip in the USA to Kingdom Bound...wahooo...it was really great, got tonnes of autographs, etc. One day I got to meet and talk to Reece Roper (lead singer of the former Five Iron Frenzy *sheds a tear* and current lead singer of the crappiest band I saw "Roper" for all you ignorants) and after that Skillet and Pillar played in order. So nuts! However...

I got a message this morning from a brother from a different mother, Cagri if you know him, that he was leaving this morning....the problem is he called yesterday :( Oh well he is comming back...he is a Canadian now so :D Anyway yeah, that's a bit of a serious one and I apologize...but deal with it!

The Opening: Interrupting the Vanquished

2005-08-05T23:38:00.000-04:00

Greetings and salutations all who come into Jamie's realm of theories, both mind boggling and completely random...all at the same time. Enjoy what will come in terms the deepest, but not so much the darkest....parts of my ever growing...and shrinking mind.

If you edit my grammar I will bludgeon each and every skin cell off your body with an arsenal of dirty, hard rubber, and pink chickens. So you are warned...