Silly Quote of The Day

This one came yesterday whilst watching the BBC News.

The decision on whether you work past the age of 65 may come sooner than you think

What?! I’m going to age faster? They’ve finally invented a time machine? Why is this not headline news? No no… more people are expected to have to work past the age of 65 due to a lack of pensions, aging population etc. It’s just the wording the infers that my decision is going to be made quicker. It isn’t.. my personal decision will come if and when I get to 65 (hopefully I do!).. and not before. Silly BBC News.

Pain in childbirth is ‘a good thing’… says Dr Denis.

I’ve just read this report on the BBC website about how pain in childbirth can have a positive effect, for example aiding with establishing a rhythm with the labour. The science behind it may well be solid (I’ve not read the full report), but the fact that it is written by a man is inevitably going to put potential mothers off the findings. Which is wrong. There will be the usual ‘what do you know, you’re a man’. Even if people read down and see the agreement to some of the findings from a female doctor, I imagine the report will be held with small amounts of derision.

(I actually have no idea if Dr Denis Walsh is a man or not. I’m assuming so from the name but you can never be too sure!)

Kings sign Scuderi – does Jack Johnson have a future in Hollywood?

LA Kings announced yesterday that they had signed Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Rob Scuderi to a four year, $3.4m per year deal from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brought in to aid the development of the young defensive corps, the Kings management speak of his versatility and ability to play against the opposition top lines. Touted as a potential defensive partner for Drew Doughty or Jack Johnson, he also brings the experience of being a winner, something sorely lacking on the Kings’ roster to date.

However, what becomes of the Kings’ wealth of talent on the blue line? Doughty, Greene, O’Donnell and Quincey are certainties for sure alongside Scuderi. Thomas Hickey has been projected to make the roster and Davis Drewiske had a good spell towards the back-end of the 08/09 season. Johnson however was atrocious in his defensive play, notching up –18 in just 41 games last year for the Kings, the worst plus-minus rating on the roster. Doughty as a rookie playing twice as many games was –17.

The Kings struggle in attracting big free agents to Southern California for one reason or another and arguably will have to trade if they want to bring a top 6 forward that is so desperately needed. Johnson would appear to be a very tradable commodity right now. He’s an RFA (has received a qualifying offer from LA), and so teams could trade for him and then negotiate his salary in to wherever they see fit to. With his offensive upside, he’s not going to come cheap, but I suspect there are many teams who’d be willing to trade for it.

Should LA not make a trade – the top 6 forwards would be something like:

Frolov – Kopitar – Brown – Moller / Purcell / Simmonds – Stoll – Williams

Doesn’t exactly strike fear into your heart does it?

State of Paranoia

It’s pretty difficult in work at the moment, particularly in our group. One of our undergraduate students was diagnosed with Swine Flu over the weekend and she was in the office last Friday. So as brief as the encounter was, people are visibly starting to worry. It’s not good when you cough or sneeze and six or seven people turn round to look at you. Especially if you have hay fever – you already can tick two of the five main symptoms. Oh, and it’s hot, so everyone is uncomfortable like they have a fever. And no one really likes to eat in this heat, so that means they’re off their food too. Four out of five then. Oh, bugger.

Canada announces 46-man roster for Orientation Camp

Hockey Canada have announced their 46-man roster for the Olympic Orientation camp. Websites have been quick to point out that those who haven’t been invited are still able to be considered, both the 2002 and 2006 rosters comprised entirely of players invited to this initial camp

G:
Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils, Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks), Marc-André Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins), Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets), Cam Ward (Carolina Hurricanes).

D:
Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr, Dion Phaneuf (all Calgary Flames), Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks), Scott Niedermayer and François Beauchemin (both Anaheim Ducks), Chris Pronger (Philadelphia Flyers), Marc Staal (New York Rangers), Shea Weber (Nashville Predators), Brent Burns (Minnesota Wild), Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings), Stéphane Robidas (Dallas Stars), Mike Green (Washington Capitals), Dan Hamhuis (Nashville Predators), Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook (both Chicago Blackhawks)

F:
Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal (both Pittsburgh Penguins), Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes), Simon Gagné, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards (all Philadelphia Flyers), Dany Heatley (Ottawa Senators), Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames), Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets), Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth (both Colorado Avalanche), Martin St-Louis, Vincent Lecavalier (both Tampa Bay Lightning)., Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes), Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau (both San Jose Sharks), Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks), Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins), Andy McDonald (St. Louis Blues), Brenden Morrow (Dallas Stars), Derek Roy (Buffalo Sabres), Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) and Dan Cleary (Detroit Red Wings).

No Osgood, Spezza or Stamkos? I guess Osgood is only good as a big game goalie – is playing someone low down in the rankings likely to be a big game? Guess the selections also mean that LA took the right guy last year in Drew Doughty! Looks like a solid group of players, Canada will be in a strong position in 2010.