Tag: hockey

Friday, February 14, 2025

by fasted86

Briefly.

In a tremendous stroke of luck, Dr. Remley has the opportunity to perform surgery on the contractor who renovated his kitchen. Says the doctor, “OK, Roger. That’s all the time I’ve got for now, I’ll try to get back to you in a week or two to finish the job.

Trivia #1: For you Patriots’ fans… Mosi Tatupu played for the Patriots from 1978-1990. What team did he play 5 games for in 1991?
Trivia #2: Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net the other night to move closer to Wayne Gretzky’s career record for goals. In terms of career empty net goals, what two players are NOT in the top 5 all-time? – Wayne Gretzky, Brad Marchand, Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux, Alex Ovechkin, Marian Hossa, Sidney Crosby
Trivia #3: Who is Nicholas Daniel “Nick” Miller?
Trivia #4: Woodpeckers can peck at a rate of how many pecks per second? – 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 100

Stop complaining: As if the southern California wildfires weren’t enough, a major storm packing a plume of moisture that has evolved into quick-moving atmospheric river will slide southward along the California coast. The firehose effect will direct a period of torrential rain along the shoreline, the Coast Ranges and the lower west-facing elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Making matters much worse will be the burn scars of the recent wildfires that swept through South California. There is little to hold back the water and mudflows as the onset of storms demonstrated in late January. Some of the runoff can be toxic in some locations as it washes ash and other debris into streams and then reaches the beaches.

Please Lord, just get me through February. (We’re half way, baby!)

That’s right! Pitchers and catchers have reported. Though I don’t believe in daylight savings, we do turn the clocks ahead in a mere three weeks. What I’m saying is, we’re getting there!

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they’re “moving on” from the QB next season

On this date: February 14, 1849, In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes first serving US President to have his photograph taken (by Matthew Brady).
February 14, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray apply separately for telephone patents, the Supreme Court eventually rules Bell the rightful inventor
February 14, 1924, Thomas J. Watson Sr. renames the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) as International Business Machines (IBM)
February 14, 1931,  The original “Dracula” film starring Blea Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released
February 14, 1962, US 1st lady Jacqueline Kennedy conducts White House tour on TV
February 15, 1989, The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit.
February 14, 2005, Online video sharing site YouTube is launched in the United States by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim; headquartered in San Bruno, California

Congrats to the, then 9th ranked, BU Terriers in defeating the, then #1 ranked, BC Eagles 4-1 in the Beanpot final on Monday.

Speaking of hockey… the Minnesota Wild. What a weak nickname.

Go away: The Kansas City Chiefs. You can stop with the “Mahomes may become the new GOAT” talk. The “Travis Kelce is better than Tony Gonzales and Gronk” talk. And the “Andy Reid is a better coach than Belichick” talk.

Go away, part deux: Pennies – According to the U.S. Mint, each penny cost 3.69 cents to produce in fiscal year 2024, costing taxpayers $119 million. This marked the 19th consecutive year in which production exceeded its face value. 

Good news, x2: Hall of Famer Randy Moss made an emotional return to ESPN’s coverage of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, two months after he took a leave from his job to get treatment for cancer. He was greeted with a video that included messages from Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Justin Jefferson, Kevin Garnett and several other big names welcoming him back to ESPN’s set. Moss was moved to tears by the video before getting on with his job of analyzing the Super Bowl. Also, on Saturday night, Dick Vitale made his long-awaited return to the ESPN airwaves. The crowd gathered behind him made sure to let him know how much he was missed. After battling through several different forms of cancer and going nearly two full years without calling a game, Vitale received warm welcomes and loud ovations from inside Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum. The 45-year ESPN veteran, who has become one of the faces of college basketball over the course of his distinguished broadcasting career, was understandably emotional when addressing the audience for the first time.

Article I’ll skip: Make delicious pizza with the help of these 12 tools and accessories. – Hey look, I make my own pizza and it’s pretty damn good, if I don’t say so myself. I don’t need new “tools and accessories” to try to improve it.
Article I’ll skip, part deux (I had to do it): ‘Karate Kid’ star shares secret behind his successful marriage to wife of 38 years. (Really?)

Red Bull gives you wiiiiings…

Trivia #1 answer: For you Patriots’ fans… Mosi Tatupu played for the Patriots from 1978-1990. What team did he play 5 games for in 1991? – The LA Rams
Trivia #2: Alex Ovechkin scored his 878th career goal into an empty net the other night to move closer to Wayne Gretzky’s career record for goals. In terms of career empty net goals, what two players are NOT in the top 5 all-time? – Wayne Gretzky, Brad Marchand, Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux, Alex Ovechkin, Marian Hossa, Sidney Crosby – Mario Lemieux is #7, Jarome Iginla is #8
Trivia #3 answer: Who is Nicholas Daniel “Nick” Miller? – Nick is professionally known as Illenium, is an American musician, DJ, music producer and songwriter. Tickets for Illenium at MGM Music Hall at Fenway are on sale now! (I gotta get out more often…)
Trivia #4 answer: Trivia #4: Woodpeckers can peck at a rate of how many pecks per second? – 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 100 – 20 times per second

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!) Like a midget at a urinal, stay on your toes!

Happy National Ferris Wheel Day!
And, of course, Happy Valentine’s Day, for you love birds out there!

“When you invent the ship, you also invent the shipwreck.” – Paul Virilio, philosopher

“Well I’m not the kind to live in the past
The years run too short and the days too fast
The things you lean on are the things that don’t last
Well it’s just now and then my line gets cast into these
Time passages
There’s something back here that you left behind
Oh time passages
Buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight”

– Al Stewart (Time Passages)

Friday, February 23, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

Sometimes elevator music can be so uplifting. Other times, it can really bring you down.

Hey, throw me a bone here, will ya? As mentioned in the past, just a few hundred thousand (or so) more hits and I could make some money off of this blog. Give me a “like”, share with friends, relatives, convicted felons. Get the word out!

Trivia #1: The Toronto Maple Leaf’s Austin Matthews scored his 6th hat trick of the season the other night, joining the list of players with 6 or more hat tricks in any one season. The record is 10. Which player does NOT have 6 or more hat tricks in one season? – Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Darryl Sittler, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny
Trivia #2: Besides Brad Marchand, name the NHL player with, thru their first 1,000 games, >=375 goals, >=500 assists, >=300 +/-, >= 1,000 penalty minutes.
Trivia #3: What was the name of Boston’s first “football” club, cited as one of the first football clubs established anywhere outside of England? They were undefeated for most of their seasons between 1862-1867.
Trivia #4: Who is Ian Anderson?
Trivia #5: How long did the Battle at the Alamo last? – 3 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days, 13 days, 17 days?
Trivia #6: In 1906, Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart for the heavyweight boxing title. How many rounds did the fight last? – 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20?

Six trivia questions???

Why aren’t the Toronto Maple Leafs the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Giddy-up you “football” fans. As you soccerheads should already know, Boston is one of 11 US cities to be hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Jump up, look around, find yourself some fun…”

On this date: February 23, 1836, the Battle at the Alamo began.
February 23, 1945, US Marines raised the American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Pulitzer prize-winning photo which by Joe Rosenthall later became iconic, inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture.

Go away: D-I-N-K-S. You know, those people who don’t wipe the snow off the roof of their car thinking, “the highway is right down the road. I’ll just hit the gas and let it blow off.” You know those people who leave their shopping cart where they park instead of walking it over to the caddie. I hope you’re not that guy/gal! I would think my readers are on a different level.

They said it: “It’s way beyond ironic that a place called “The Holy Land” is the location of the fiercest, most deeply felt hatred in the world.” – Comedian George Carlin

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: It can be a “blockbuster” hurricane season, AccuWeather hurricane experts warn, as all of the ingredients are coming together for explosive tropical development in the Atlantic this year. “Can be…” They can say this every year and if it is a mild season, so what? If they are correct, they are geniuses. Spare me, please, these buffoons.

Stop complaining: Postal workers in the Dallas area have been experiencing an uptick in armed robberies and assaults, and conditions have gotten so bad that federal authorities have opened an investigation. Around 2,000 letter carriers have been victims of armed robberies since 2020. 

5 of the last 6 Boston Bruins games have gone to OT. The results? Shootout win, Non-OT loss, OT loss, Shootout win, OT win, OT loss. BTW, NHL overtime sucks. Jut sayin’.

Conversely, the Celtics have won 7 in a row while averaging 126 points during that stretch. “Shoot!”

Selfie, you’re doing it wrong. A zoo guest who decided to climb a wall and chain-link fencing to enter a lion enclosure at Sri Venkateswara zoological park in Tirupati, India, to apparently take a selfie was mauled to death by the animal.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Lawmakers in New York City are pushing a ban on Tide Pods, made by Procter & Gamble, and other single-use laundry detergent products in the name of climate consciousness.

Article I’ll skip: Insiders why explain why Princess Kate, Meghan Markle will never be friends. (Why do people care about these people??)

Good news: A suspected Florida child molester whose alleged victims included his own granddaughter has been captured days after his family teamed up with “America’s Most Wanted” to raise awareness about the case.

Me: “I’m surprised at how winded I am by this exercise.” Personal trainer: “That was the tour of the gym.”

R.I.P. Chuck Mawhinney (75) – The marine from Lakeview, Oregon, recorded 103 confirmed kills in Vietnam over the span of 16 months in 1968 and 1969. By the time he returned home, he’d also been credited with another 216 “probable kills,” a classification for incidents in which the act of confirming a kill in an active war zone would jeopardize safety.

Trivia #1 answer: The Toronto Maple Leaf’s Austin Matthews scored his 6th hat trick of the season the other night, joining the list of players with 6 or more hat tricks in any one season. The record is 10. Which player does NOT have 6 or more hat tricks in one season? – Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Darryl Sittler, Joe Malone, Alexander Mogilny – Darryl Sittler only had 5
Trivia #2 answer: Besides Brad Marchand, name the NHL player with, thru their first 1,000 games, >=375 goals, >=500 assists, >=300 +/-, >= 1,000 penalty minutes. – The answer is no one!
Trivia #3: What was the name of Boston’s first “football” club, cited as one of the first football clubs established anywhere outside of England? They were undefeated for most of its seasons between 1862-1867. – The Oneida Football Club
Trivia #4 answer: Who is Ian Anderson? – Ian is the originator and, since its creation in 1967, the only remaining member of the band “Jethro Tull.” DYK: Jethro Tull, nothing to do with the band, was an eighteenth century English agricultural engineer who invented the seed drill.
Trivia #5 answer: How long did the Battle at the Alamo last? – 3 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days, 13 days, 17 days? – It lasted 13 days
Trivia #6 answer: In 1906, Tommy Burns beat Marvin Hart for the heavyweight boxing title. How many rounds did the fight last? – 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20? – The fight last 20 rounds!

Sometimes, my greatest accomplishment is just keeping my mouth shut.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National Banana Bread Day!

“Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea

Aqualung my friend
Don’t you start away uneasy
Your poor old sot, you see, it’s only me.”

– Jethro Tull (Aqualung)

Friday, February 16, 2024

by fasted86

Briefly.

I may not be that good looking, or athletic, or funny, or talented, or smart… I forgot where I was going with this, but I do know that I love bacon.

Trivia #1: Which of the following did NOT sing at Stevie Ray Vaughn’s funeral in 1990? – Bonnie Raitt, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Prince
Trivia #2: Who is Gunnarwolfe Fountaine?
Trivia #3: The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons with the Sox primarily in left field. He also played stints at centerfield, rightfield, first base, DH and 33 games at what other position?

On this date: February 16, 1838, Kentucky passes a law permitting women to attend school under conditions.
February 16, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stops his train in Westfield on his way to Washington to thank 11-year-old Grace Bedell in person for her advice to grow a beard to gain more votes.

Go away: The NFL. Now that the Super Bowl is over, can we just move on full-time to college hoops, hockey and spring training, please?

I have to mention, but can’t say much, about the KC parade shootings. It happens far too often. You have to feel for everyone directly, and indirectly, involved. What a shame.

The f*n Catalina Wine Mixer.

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: Alexander Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky with his 57th career empty net goal. He has now shot the puck passed no one more times than any player in NHL history.

Speaking of hockey, congratulations to the Northeastern men’s hockey team for winning this year’s Beanpot tournament 4-3 over BU, in OT!

Speaking of champions, after the championship game, Northeastern players immediately were seen wearing Beanpot Champion baseball hats. Why don’t baseball players, after winning a championship, put on hockey helmets? NBA players with championship football helmets on the court raising the trophy???

Stop complaining: There are two consecutive storms forecast for the California coast this weekend.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse:  USA Boxing rang in 2024 by codifying a new rule for female boxing; participants need not be female. According to them, “female” is a term merely equating a few surgeries and pills.  

Being nice people, doh! – With state shelters hitting capacity and migrant families sleeping overnight inside Boston Logan International Airport, Colin and Jessica Stokes of Brookline, Massachusetts, decided to step up and try to make a difference. The Massachusetts couple who volunteered to take in illegal migrants was surprised when a family of four showed up at the doorstep less than an hour after signing up.

Congratulations to Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark who became the highest scoring women’s basketball player in D1 history last night with a 49-point effort. Back in my day, she would have been called a “gun” or a “hung.” That’s just the way it was.

Article I’ll skip: Harry, Meghan launch aggressive PR tour after ‘chilly reception’ from Harry.

A 30-second Super Bowl commercial costs $7M. Nobody’s paid that much for 30 seconds since the Jets signed Aaron Rodgers.

Good news: Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward was selected as the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service, as well as his playing excellence. Heyward, who was nominated for the sixth time this year, is a standout in both areas.

Trivia #1 answer: Which of the following did NOT sing at Stevie Ray Vaughn’ funeral in 1990? – Bonnie Raitt, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Browne, Prince – Prince did not perform
Trivia #2 answer: Who is Gunnarwolfe Fountaine? – Not only does Gunnarwolfe have an all-time sports person’s name, but he became the first player in the history of the Beanpot tournament to score an overtime winner in both the semifinals and the championship game in a single tournament. The Northeastern forward was named tournament MVP.
Trivia #3 answer: The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski played 23 seasons with the Sox primarily in left field. He also played centerfield, rightfield, first base, DH and 33 games at what other position? – Third base

Far better it is to have a stout heart always and suffer one’s share of evils, than to be ever fearing what may happen.

Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.

Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)

Happy National No One Eats Alone Day! (So, go ahead and find someone to eat that donut with!)

Just give me some screamin’ guitar!

“Well you’ve heard about love givin’ sight to the blind
My baby’s lovin’ cause the sun to shine
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boy”

– Stevie Ray Vaughn (Pride and Joy)