810...Kamikaze Mission Starts Today For May

Elizabeth May's failed run for parliament in the next election starts today when she announces that she is seeking the nomination for the British Columbia riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, suburban Victoria and environs.

The Globe and Mail reports what we already know: the riding is held by Gary Lunn, the Minister of Sport, heading into an Olympic year when the Olympics are in Vancouver, a city that most Victorians are very familiar with through friends, family and visits. Mr. Minister, the Honourable Gary Lunn is the man in charge of the games and if you don't think he is going to play the "I am Mr. Olympics" card hard, you are crazier than the leader of the Green Party.

She has been saying for eons that she wants an riding where she can be elected; this ain't it.

The Globe and Mail's Bill Curry writes that the riding was selected "...after extensive party polling and research..." This is a big steaming pile of bullsh't.

Ms. May, who earlier said that she would only only only ever run in Central Nova, way on t'other side of the country but equally remote from the vast majority of voters, is being challenged by Stuart Herzog for the nomination. I suppose her "...extensive...polling and research..." missed Mr. Herzog.

WFDS

370...Buffets Are For Birthdays

This is an important one.

I was perusing the Moscow News on line and was amused to discover that 25 years ago this month Tetris, my favourite video game, so simple yet so frustrating, debuted.

It is estimated that over a million people waste time every day playing Tetris. Moi aussi.

There is more, Henk Rogers, whose Blue Planet Software controls the game's licensing, outlined ambitious plans for the future that include a Tetris Cup and Tetris in the Olympics.

Happy birthday, darling.

WFDS

219...Good News/Bad News For Our National Game

From this morning's Globe and Mail, Toronto's National Newspaper, Bruce Dowbiggin writes:

...NBC and the NHL are set to announce an extension to their relationship for another two years, past the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Stanley Cup playoffs.It will likely be a continuation of the no-money-down/split-revenues-after-costs arrangement that has existed since the two sides fell into each other's arms after the NHL lockout in 2004-05... NBC got an inexpensive property to fill out its sports schedule, while the NHL got the perfume of network respectability after locking out its players and fans for a complete season.Despite the hiccup of NBC switching away from a playoff overtime to a Kentucky Derby prep show in 2008, the relationship has worked reasonably well for both sides...NBC has to get their priorities straight when it comes to the use of Versus, but they've improved their broadcast over the last few years immensely. It also doesn't hurt that the star power is finally there for advertisers... the network is also airing the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

Good news is Gary Bettman gets to stay on American TV and continue the dream of becoming a bigger sport to mainstream USA than bowling, IndyCar, tractor pull, fishing, squash, tennis, golf, lacrosse, sumo wrestling, rodeo and the other 35 sports that get bigger ratings outside of the northern coast of the States than the NHL. Bad news is, still working for free.

WFDS