1. Not attending any external training/education that cost the company money for three years.
2. Accepting no pay increases for three years.
3. Essentially taking a pay cut by consolidating a pager so I go on call less and taking all overtime as time off not paid.
4. Cutting back on work from home days because management has a problem with the "optics" of it even though the US arm of the company has a program in place and encourages work and lifestyle values. (again, just rhetoric)

In a word, nothing. It is, without a doubt, one of the best sports to watch in the world. It's fast, it's physical, and there are generally great swings of momentum during the game. The recent events in the NHL of stick work by their players has brought the controversy of violence in the game, once again, to the forefront. In these cases, the league has, in my opinion, made a mistake. The Belak incident was clearly an act of aggression gone awry. I see the replay of the event and it is clear Belak must be held accountable for his actions, although I don't think he meant to hit his opponent in the face with his stick. He was off balance and that is what caused the stick to be higher up than intended. Of course there is no way to know 100% of his intent but this is my opinion of the situation. Mark Messier's "pitch fork" job of his opponent, to me, was far more calculating. Belak reacted to being held up, however inappropriate, whereas Messier looked his opponent straight up and drove the blade of his stick into the player's abdomen - clearly, a malicious attempt to injure. The league sees it differently.

Belak received 6 games plus two playoff games for his actions. Messier received two regular season games. The differences:

1. Belak is NOT a star in the league. He is a gritty player with one goal this season.
2. Messier is a "former" star in the league. He gets special treatment (the benefit of the doubt?).
3. Belak hit his opponent in the heacarelessa carless swing of the stick.
4. Messier struck his opponent in the stomach on purpose.
5. Messier is likely to retire after this year, Belak will play again.

The league seems to feel the hit to the head warrants more punishment than an intentional strike to a player's mid-region. In most cases I would agree. In this case, I do not. Both acts should have gotten the same punishment, 3-5 games. The recent Bertuzzi incident has clearly muddied the waters of the disciplinary committee.
Having said all this, however, there is still a need for the players to regulate themselves and bring the words "sportsmanship" and "respect" back to the ice. Neither the league nor the officials can bring that back.

How the games change when you're in a pool! I watched quite a few games the past four days. A ton of good ones and a good number of upsets. After the first two days I was doing pretty well, then the weekend came. Two number ones gone, and one of the number ones I figured was weaker (St. Joe's) is still in it. My pool picks are destroyed. I had Kentucky winning it all but they're gone. They were supposed to be playing Stanford but they choked (again). Mississippi State got beat up in the second half, and Gonzaga turned over their yearly Cinderella story to a new Cinderella - Nevada.

Last year I wasn't in any "money" pools, just the free ones online. I could easily root for the underdog without worrying about the money I had on the line. It was great cheering for the "little guy". This year I wanted Kentucky to win even though I don't like them. Was I secretly urging UAB to come up with the upset? Hush your tongue!
The only teams left in the tournament that I would regularly cheer for is Syracuse and North Carolina. I've always called them one of my teams...along with Michigan and UCLA. Not because I have any great affiliation with any of them, it's just that growing up the only games we got to see were those teams in the ACC, Big Ten, Big East, and Pac 10. There would be an occasional "independent" game featuring Notre Dame or Depaul, but that doesn't happen anymore.

So, in order to win be in the money for the pool I'm in, there's going to have to be some more upsets and no one else having my other 2 final four picks; OK State and Duke. If that is happening I just might get my money back (all ten dollars worth). I'm not holding my breath.

My Bloginality is ISTJ!!!

Yep, the description is pretty much me, most of the time. Btw, Kelly is another Canadian blogger. We're all over the net.

§ An Irish Friendship Wish §


§ May there always be work for your hands to do; §
§ May your purse always hold a coin or two; §
§ May the sun always shine on your windowpane; §
§ May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; §
§ May the hand of a friend always be near you; §
§ May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. §

First, the leafs. They just lost to division rivals Boston. It was a good game and they could have won it. There are still moments of sloppiness that a team vying for a Stanley Cup just cannot afford to go through. As a Leaf fan I so want them to go all the way, but I have reservations. It looks as though they are going to finish 4th or 5th and play Ottawa. They have dominated that match up this year and, in the past, dominated any playoff square off the two teams have had. Can we repeat? I'm pretty sure we will, AS LONG AS BELFOUR IS HEALTHY. We are deep enough at every position except goaltender. The dropoff, as with just about every team, from starting goalie to backup is huge.
Every year, Leaf fans hope for their team to do well. This year we expect it. The only team I see beating them is Philly. There is something about that team that scares me. Every other team, we can beat if things fall into place, but Philly has something else - except a proven goalie. Time will tell.

The Raptors may not make the playoffs. There are rumours that there is strife between head coach and GM. At this point in time that should not matter. Their injured players are starting to come back. Things are looking brighter. However, they are still a club that is undersized, and lacks a physical presence. Teams take advantage of them inside, and the Raptors all too often settle for a jump shot rather than taking the pounding necessary to go to the hoop. Vince will have to change this...no one else can. If the rest of the team sees him putting that type of game together, they will follow suit. I think they will squeak into the last playoff spot and bow out of the first round.

Now, March Madness! It all starts this Thursday. The goal is the NCAA basketball championship. There is no other event in North America that draws more TV viewers than the 3 weeks of this tournament. The parity in US college hoops is unbelievable. In my estimation there are probably no less than 6 teams that have a legitimate shot at the title. And then there is always the team that comes out of nowhere. I have picked Pittsburgh the winner. But when it came to putting my money up, I picked Kentucky, although it pained me to do so. I like the underdog. I will be rooting for the underdog all through the tournament. There is something so much more intriguing about the college game that the pro game cannot touch. The heart break of these kids, even when they are not supposed to win, is something you rarely see at the pro level. These kids play the game for the love of the game, not the money. For many of them, this IS there final claim to fame. They will end their college career and go out into the real world to try to earn a living. They won't make the mega-millions the superstars will by turning pro. This is where the emotion comes from. This is why this tournament is so great.

1. What was the last song you heard?
Back in Black AC/DC

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Along Came Polly and Missing

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Coffee, Pizza, Gas

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
Clean up the nook downstairs, straighten up the garage, buy beer, pay bills.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
Brenda, Claire, Heather, Elizabeth, Dave

In Canada we love our hockey. If you live in Canada or a place that covers hockey at all, you've heard about the Todd Bertuzzi attack on Steve Moore and the subsequent suspension.

This story has led the sports casts and pages since it occurred. There has been much debate as the Vancouver police contemplate laying formal charges against Bertuzzi. The hockey brass hope that the police allow them to police themselves.

I think there is no doubt that Bertuzzi did not intend to break Moore's neck. However, he did. I believe he wanted to fight him and when Moore refused Bertuzzi gave him, what Bertuzzi thought, no choice by sucker punching Moore in from the back. The "highlights" (how can you call this a highlight?) I saw indicate to me that Moore was out cold when he hit the ice.

Now hockey is left with yet another black eye on the game. I've never been a proponent of fighting in hockey, although admittedly, because it is "part of the game", don't mind seeing a good tussle between rivals. I believe it is time to take another step toward eliminating fighting in hockey. Some arguments against abolishing fighting:

1. It is part of the game.
2. Stick work will increase.
3. Star players will be vulnerable to cheap shots.
4. Without the fear of retribution chaos will prevail.
5. The fans like it.

From that point on, the officials need to call the rules about use of the stick more literally. Don't let the slashing and hooking and spearing that occurs every game go on. The product will become a better flowing product in the long run.

If we really sit down and think about it, we all know that the fighting really is a side show of the product. Nobody sits down to watch a game because there will or may be a fight in it. We also know, that fighting has pretty much been eliminated from the grass roots leagues around the country, and even to a great extent from men's hockey. Why? Because it is not tolerated by the leagues, nor accepted by society as a whole. Society says it is not alright to go and fight someone because you do not see eye to eye. Professional hockey needs to adapt the same mentality.

The game truly is, in it's purest form, one of the best and most exciting sports to watch. Anyone who watched the last hockey at the Olympic games knows this. Now it is time to bring that type of hockey into the living rooms of all Canadians and Americans.

If you would like to know what is really going on in the IT world, not just the corporate mush the companies feed the press, then check this site out. Someone in my company brought it to my attention and the articles seem bang on for our "reality". It's packed with IT news and "gossip".

Another interesting site I found by way of "The Register"is Worksmart. A similar site for Canadians is here. I think there are times we get "pushed around" in the corporate world due to our lack of awareness of our rights as workers. A union will answer those questions for you and even fight for your rights, whereas most HR groups are more concerned with the status quo and keeping management happy rather than the workers.

My Computer

What does it mean to me? What does your computer mean to you? Would you be lost without it? How dependent have we become on our personal computers?

I know for myself, I have become very dependent on my computer. It is my one source of information and entertainment. I rarely buy a newspaper anymore. Why would I need to? All the world's events, are easily accessible via the Web. The PC has become my main source of entertainment, whether it be internet games, PC games, or reading the many Blogs that are available. I don't have to go to a bank to pay bills anymore, the bank is on my computer screen. Soon, we will be able to get money from the PC via card readers. The technology is already available but not widely used. As a cashless society becomes more and more of a reality, the PC will become even more in demand for "simplifying our lives.

Would I be lost without it? No. I would just do other things. Read more books, play more board games, and watch more TV. Good or bad? Well, that depends on your views of being social. The PC has made face to face communication something reserved for immediate family and on the job occurrences. Think about how little people actually communicate face to face anymore. People avoid eye contact rather than encourage it. I'm not much for small talk, but today's children will grow up even less inclined to it. Get them online, however, and you can't shut them up.

There are times when B&B (my bread and butter as I call her) feels I spend way too much time on the computer, and she is probably right. The PC definitely cannot offer the love and companionship that she does. But, alas, the computer doesn't get angry at me (unless you count the odd crash as angry) nor will it get on me to take out the garbage or cut the grass (unless I program it to do so...but why would I do that?) No honey, I wouldn't pick the computer over you.

All in all, I would have to say the PC is a great thing. Used in some moderation we can still have all that yesteryear offered and more.

Corporate BS

I knew today was going to be "one of those days". There was a meeting called for the afternoon to "discuss" the amalgamation of two pagers (and the responsibilities of each) into one. I carry one of those pagers for 2 weeks of every month. I get paid pretty well to do so. We get paid just to carry it and then if we are called for support, depending on the length of the call will get additional overtime pay. The payout is dependent on your hourly wage. The more you make the more pager money you get. The disciplines that each pager supports are related but by no means the same. Cost to the company is about 20 dollars a month, or so I'm told. We do not get called very often, but when we do, it is of a critical nature most times. The system is about to die or some application is so slow there is no point in using it. You know, like Windows sometimes.
Anyway, the bright lights above me have been told to cut costs by reducing pagers. Great! On paper that's a big savings.
However, consider a few things:

1. We are a multinational company making double digit BILLION dollar profits.
2. One level above my manager is fully equipped with pager, blackberry, laptop, and cell phone at company cost.
3. Our reputation is top notch with respect to mean time to recovery (MTR) in failure situations because we know our shizzle!
4. The likelihood of having the correct person on call that will know the subject matter well enough to fix the problem has now been reduced from better than 50% to about 20% (based on a 1 in 5 chance of having the correct person on call for the subject matter.
5. The very first time we are called and the actions required to fix the problem take too long, or the person just doesn't know what they "should" know, there will be damage to us as a department and company.
6. Our specialized discipline has been demeaned by management believing that it can be done by "anyone" with a little background.
7. On a personal level, the one week a month missed of oncall money is about a $150
hit in the pocketbook per month.($1800 a year after taxes!)