Author Archives: Rob MacD

Okay, I have a proposal to make hockey more interesting. I welcome explanations as to why this idea wouldn’t work.

When a player on Team A gets a penatly, Team B gets to choose which player from Team A, who is on the ice at the time the whistle for the infraction blows, will serve the penalty. I say ‘on the ice when the whistle blows’ (rather than when the offense ocurred) so that the offending team could try to get their ‘star’ players off the ice on a delayed penalty (to save them from being chosen). This would be a calculated risk, however, because doing so would likely give the other team a better scoring chance before the delayed penalty whistle gets blown.

Any one player on a team could not serve two consecutive penalties, unless the second penalty was caused by that player (and the other team then chose to have him serve that penalty).

The only down side I can see is that so-called star players would probably be in the penalty box more often, more often taking away the excitement they add to the game.

Wouldn’t that add an interesting element to the game?

I don’t quite understand how, but you ask the subservient chicken to do something and it does it. I’ve asked it to hop on one foot. I’ve asked it to go read a book. I’ve asked it to stand on its head. It did all of these things. I’ve asked it to play dead and it did have a little trouble with that.

So, did this chicken do everything it could possibly think of, and then show the corresponding actions based on key words?

Go and try it.

I missed the first part of the show, but that guy who started to sing “Stay The Course”, around 9:30 Atlantic time sure sounded off-key. I didn’t like the lyrics much, and the tune consisted of pretty much one note. And there seemed to be an awful lot of guest judges this week.

I’m guessing he’ll get voted out.

It had to happen, I suppose.
And, perhaps, it should have happened well before this.
But my son just beat me, fairly, in a computer game. In a racing game.
I know there have been other games over the past few years where he could routinely beat me, but I didn’t like playing them. Not because I didn’t like losing, but because I didn’t like the games. Incomprehensible games like Pokemon Stadium and other games of that sort. I don’t like them, but my son does (or did) and he’d beat me anytime I succumbed to the pressure of a bored child to play with him and his game console.
But this is different. This is a racing game. I am (was) the racing game master of this household.

Until today.

The battle: the Mushroom Cup of Mario Karts Double Dash. I, full of bravado and myself, challenged Cameron’s friend, Keaton, to a 4 race competition. If he won, he could eat lunch with us. Long story short. He won, barely. In a sad attempt to restore my glory, I challenged Cameron and if he lost, he’d have no lunch. (of course, I wouldn’t really go through with that). I lost, barely.
Used to be, when playing video games with/against my son, I’d play at 3/4 speed, or sabotage my game enough to give him hope and the chance at victory. Sometimes I’d let him win.
Today though. No ‘letting’. In fact, there’ll be no more letting him win. Ever. From this point on, he’ll have to earn it.
As a parent, I’ve been waiting for this day for 10 years. As a racer, I’ve been dreading it just as long.

I’m afraid for myself. I may have actually switched over to liking Boston Rob. While I’m not falling at all for the supposed romance angle, I do have to give him the brass balls trophy. The guy’s a playah.
Last night’s episode had me laughing out loud and pointing at the TV. The scene where Rob tells Lex and Kathy ‘sorry but Lex’ll be going next’ was absolutely the best Survivor moment from ony of the seasons so far. Lex’s hypocritical “but you’re my friend, backstabber” was so deliciously enjoyable. I’m sure Colby (or was it Ethan, I always mix the two up) was laughing at that too, seeing as he used the same friendship logic on Lex when Lex was booting his ass out. Very rewarding moment. And I liked Lex, too, but my appreciation of his tactics was dwindling the last few episodes, and disappeared last week when he agreed that keeping Ambuh would be a smart move. Wrong.
That “I’m your friend” moment would have been enough, but as an added bonus, we get to see Kathy cry and grovel. Normally, I’m not one to enjoy seeing people in emotional turmoil, but I enjoyed Kathy’s bawling. Why? Because of her reaction to ToughSue’s departure from the game, when she blamed Sue for bringing the rest of the players into her troubled sexually molested state of mind. That total lack of empathy was ignorant and selfish, and because of it, I won’t miss Kathy when she goes next week, barring her winning immunity.

Good episode, just for that scene.

Another song. This one a Rob MacDonald original. Either head over to Annekenstein Monster Music for the story and download, or just download it here: It’s called Without You

Here are my picks for the first round of the NHL playoffs:

Eastern Conference First Round

#1 Tampa Bay
#8 NY Islanders —> Even though some slag them for being atop the worst division in the East, and therefore not really deserving of the top spot overall, Tampa Bay will have little trouble with NYI, who deserve their #8 spot. Tampa Bay in 5

#2 Boston
#7 Montreal —> This is going to be a close series. Both teams have the same number of regular season wins, Boston has a bunch more ties. I don’t know if that’s relevant. The Bruins will go physical, and the Habs will try to play a speed game, forgoing their usual defensive strategy. Since, being a Habs fan, it’s impossible for me to type “Boston” more than 3 times in a post, I’ve got to say: Montreal in 7 Really, though: Boston in 6

#3 Philadelphia
#6 New Jersey —> Philadelphia’s goaltending will let them down (again). New Jersey’s goaltending will propel them forwards (again). That’s all that needs to be said about this series. New Jersey in 6

#4 Toronto
#5 Ottawa —> Another hell of a series. The question is: Can Ottawa overcome their playoff woes? I say yes. Some will say Toronto’s age won’t affect them until at least the second round. I say it shows up mid-way through this round, and goaltending won’t be enough to keep them victorious. Ottawa in 6

Western Conference First Round

#1 Detroit
#8 Nashville —> The easy thing to do is to say Detroit, easily. The brave thing is to go with Nashville. Everyone who knows me, knows I’m easy. Not brave. This is simple: Detroit in 5

#2 San Jose
#7 St Louis —> St. Louis fought long and hard to get into the playoffs. Now that they’re in, there will be an inevitable momentary sigh of relief. The Sharks will pounce on that, and won’t let up. San Jose in 5

#3 Vancouver
#6 Calgary —> This could be a tough series too. I think Vancouver has sufficiently removed themselves from the Bertuzzi thing and are playing good hockey again. Calgary will give them a run for their money, but the Canucks will prevail. Vancouver in 6

#4 Colorado
#5 Dallas —> You know, of all the series, this is the one I could care less about. I don’t like either team, and since both can’t lose, I’ll say Colorado goes through, only because I dislike Dallas more. Colorado in 6

Another song. This one a Rob MacDonald original. Either head over to Annekenstein Monster Music for the story and download, or just download it here: It’s called Without You

When I was a boy and teenager, I was called “Robert”. In university, I decided that I wasn’t so much a “Robert” as I was a “Rob”, so I went about losing the ‘ert’. Even though it’s been over half my life since the shortening of name (even though in my mind I’m just barely out of university), many of those who knew me before the change still call me “Robert”.
So, if you’re ever with me, and somebody calls me by name, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how long I’ve known them. You know, if the police ask you.

If I feel like it each week, I’ll post my post-Tuesday impressions of the performances on American Idol. Here’s what I thought about last night’s show, based entirely on next-morning recollection:
Fantasia: Another very solid performance. She’s gonna win AI this year. It’ll come down to between her and George, and she has more Celebrity Personality Potential ™ than George. While it was an excellent performance, she does need to be careful of not relying too much on ‘tricks’ each week, such as ending each song with a “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAHHHH”.
JPL: Why is he on the show? I’d say “because America thinks he’s cute”, but I cannot believe they think he’s that cute that they’d put up with his unbearably bland singing and foolish stage presence. His eyes still too often give off that “I’m a psychotic killer” look. Can’t wait for him to go.
Hawaiin Girl: Simply, her voice isn’t strong enough. Can’t remember the song she sang (which says something there), but remember not enjoying it at all. She’ll make it through to another chance next week, though, because there were far worse performances than hers.
Crooner John: And I thought he couldn’t get worse than last week’s god-awful showing. He’s just not ready for the competition. While I think he does a good job with crooner songs, he just can’t translate himself into anything close to a pop singer. God, if you exist and are listening, please get him off the show tonight. I’d even take another week of JPL over this lump of sadsack nerves.
Ethnic Girl: Two weeks in a row, now, she’s sung songs that are too low for her range. Which indicates to me that she doesn’t have much of a vocal range. And why does she give me the impression that she’d steal hubcaps? She just looks like someone who’d get into legal trouble.
George: Another super showing from George. Gotta stop the bend-ercise though. The guy just oozes personality and charm and vocal talent. He’s getting more and more confident each week, however when he’s not singing and the spotlight is on him, he still looks like a little boy, with the blinking eyes and candy-eating grin. It’s this aspect of his personality that, I think, will keep him from ultimately winning the competition over Fantasia. Her presence says ‘Look at me, I’m a star’. George’s presences says “Look! Stars!”
LaToya: She came close to the power and wow of her fantastic semi-final performance, but there was still something lacking from her performance last night. She was one of the top four performers last night, but was the least memorable of them.
Princess: Simply awful. She doesn’t belong in the competition. Simon’s lack of anything to say said it all.
Jennifer: Jennifer let me down last night, by nailing her song. I don’t like Jennifer, mostly because her eyes convey the anger that’s obviously inside her. Those wide, scary eyes didn’t show last night, which disappointed me. Whereas Ethnich Girl looks like she’d steal hubcaps, Jennifer looks like she’d love to get into a good ole scrappin’ fistfight.

Bottom Three: JPL, Crooner John and Princess, with John Peter being sent back to the Sofas of Safety ™. Despite the unbelievable break he got last week by not even being in the bottom three, Crooner John’s luck surely has run out this week, and he’ll be the one to go, leaving Princess safe for another week.