The Lockout Ends

It's been 301 days since Commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL Owners locked out the NHL Players Association. 301 days, one canceled season (1,230 games), a whole lot of very angry fans, a loss of a major fan base (the US isn't going to be so keen on coming back) and the second lockout in 10 years. Not bad for Canada's largest sport. The CBA (Collective bargaining Agreement) is still only tentative but is said to contain the first every NHL salary cap, on a team-by-team base, and a pay cut for any player that is already under contract. For more on the story click here or here. The NHLPA is meeting next Wednesday and Thursday in Toronto, while the owners meet in New York on Thursday to vote to ratify the deal. Speculation from the experts says that both sides will agree and there will be a face-off in the 2005-2006 NHL season. It is my estimate that the NHL lockout will end at between 310 and 312 days (just to give time to count the vote). This is the longest lockout in North American sports history. I must say I hope the NBA has as many problems as the NHL, I think they could just use a season off in general, maybe it would get all the thugs out of the league. Oh, well, one can only hope.

Where did the day go?

Wow, I can't believe it's 5 o'clock already. Where did the day go? Yeah, I know you don't know anything about what is going on, but that's ok. No new news on the NHL front other than adding another day to the time that the lockout has happened making it 266 days in lockout. So we painted the living room of our house, well, the living room and front hallway, wow, I forgot how hard it is to paint without a paint stick (you know one of those things that you load the paint into the handle and then push it out through the roller). But that's been my day, pretty much. Oh, and I had to pick dad up at the airport, always an adventure, but it worked out I guess. Still looking for any help anyone can provide on podcasting, if you know anything about how to do RSS feeds let me know, thanks.

The NHL is back!

Ok, so it's been 256 days since a hockey player in the NHL laced up their skates to get out on the ice. However, there are reports that the player lockout is if not over, close to being over. Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper is reporting that the League and Players Association have reached a deal with regards to a salary cap. According to the report a source says there is a way to go yet but, they are closer to inking a new deal. Finally there might actually be hockey again. I'm hoping they can continue to talk for the next few weeks and maybe have a new collective barganing agreement by August 1st. Then I hope we won't have to have another lockout for like oh, 50 years or so. There, that's my two cents on all of this.

Podcasting

Ok, so there's this new thing happening in the world right now. Yeah, leave it to me to be like 6 months behind but Podcasting is starting to take off. What is podcasting? Well, as Adam Curry and the Daily Source Code say, "it's hard to describe". Adam Curry and more info about him can be found here. Steve Jobs, as quoted in the Daily Source Code says, "TIVo for your iPod". Here's the great thing, you don't have to have an iPod to do it. You just need a computer that can support iTunes and, at least for the time being, software known as iPodder, downloadable here. Steve Jobs, of Apple is saying that iTunes will soon incorporate the iPodder softwared and you can subscribe to Podcasts from iTunes, I can't wait for that to happen.
Podcasting is really hard to describe, imagine uncensored radio, in small segments, say no more than, oh about an hour. Now imagine being able to send it around the world. Yeah, it's that cool. While I don't understand the technology, I plan to spend some time over the next couple of days/weeks learning about it. Currently podcasting uses RSS 2.0 feeds, which, at least in my head right now seems really confusing. If I can get something going I will have a link to it here on my blog page, in fact my show notes and things will likely be posted here and also on my Myspace page (that link is on the left of your screen). Podcasting has been called the current "hottest thing in Radio" I figure I better get on board. If you know anything about podcasts please feel free to email me or post in my tagboard.

Oh, the fun we have

Well, I've finally done it. Yep, I have graduate community college (ok, not quite yet I have two tests to take but you get the idea). After three years and a whole lot of time spent in a radio studio I have finally "arrived". Well, except for the fact that I'm going to WSU in the fall and then to Law School in a few years. No, I'm not planning on being a professional student, it just seems to be working out that way. I know it's been a long time since I posted but I might actually have some time now that I'm done (yeah, yeah, almost done) school for the summer. Of course I'm still working but I am waiting to hear back from WSU on what the status is. Hey, I might even get back to my daily posting. Later...

untitled

It has definitely been a long time since I have written here.  It’s been a pretty busy couple of quarters.  First, I pay tribute to the legend of night time comedy.  Johnny Carson died in his California home yesterday, he was 79.  Made famous for hosting the Tonight Show on NBC for nearly 30 years Johnny Carson made us all laugh.  He made late night television into what it has become today.  Johnny Carson was only 4 years younger than my grandfather, who also just died.  My grandfather died on January 2.  He was 83 and will be sorely missed.  If you want to read a copy of the speech I gave at his memorial shoot me an email (follow the link on the left side) or leave a comment in the box and I’ll see that you get it ASAP.  My X58 radio show is from 2-4 PST on Monday’s until the middle of March.  Later

I warned you

School has been keeping me very busy. Which unfortunatley has taken me away from the blog. However, I have time off and on and I will try to keep things updated. Right now I am still working on all my projects and thinking a lot about the election. I am supporting the current president and many of the republicans running in the state of Washington. However, I cannot wait for this election to be over. I'm so tired of everything. I will say the following, VOTE! I don't care who, when, why or how, but VOTE! We are 15 days away from the General election here in the United States. I'm serious I don't care anymore, I just want it to be over with. I want to quit arguing with everyone and hopefully I won't gloat when my man wins. But please vote...

Ralph Nader off ballot

I'm not a big fan of third party candidates, however, I think the that in they have the right to have their candidate on the ballot. The Oregon supreme court came down with a decision that keeps Nader off the ballot even though he has the signatures. This is one of those what do you think? Email me or post below. What do you think about third party candidates? What do you think about Nader not being allowed onto the ballot? For more information about this case you can read the Supreme court decision here. There is so much more to talk about in this case.
For example is this a decision based on party lines. Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury is a democrat. Nader is what we call a democratic spoiler, meaning if he's on the ballot people will sometimes vote for him instead of democrats. I'll let you draw you're own conclusions. You can seach here for more info from Oregon newspapers.

Summer comes to an end

As the season changes, so does my life. I'm going to be getting very busy. I plan to continue to post to this page as often as possible. I'm going to have a pretty busy schedule with my internship, school and work. I plan to post as often as I can but I can't make any promises.

It's a official

There will be, as of right now, NO NHL season this year. The commisioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, issued a statement today that the players were locked out until the NHLPA and owners can agree. The basic problem is that the Owners want to have a salary cap and the NHLPA doesn't. For more on the story click here.

And now my analysis. The NHLPA needs to get over themselves. Back in 1994 they did almost the same thing. The owners caved in a little to much and we have the same problem we had 10 years ago. The NHLPA needs to get their heads out of the clouds, be happy with playing the worlds greatest game and take a little of a hit. I mean come on the average NHL salary is 1.8 million dollars. That's right I said average salary, and from what I have heard the NHLPA is objecting to the owners offering a salary cap to be set at 6 MILLION dollars. So if you're the best in the league you make 6 million if you aren't you make less. I also think that the NHL should introduce revenue sharing across the board. It works well in the NFL, where they have teams that play in places like New York City, New York and in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Maybe then the smaller market teams (and all Canadian teams) will have a chance to compete once again. This is one of the things that I definately have more to say on, and I will continue to watch the stories and developments on what's going on in the non-NHL year. Oh, and what are Canadians going to do on Saturday night now, no CBC? Guess CTV's and Globals numbers will gon through the roof. But I can't wait for Hockey to return.