NHL '08-'09

Finally - the start of another NHL season is upon us!

After signing up for a partial plan last season, we decided to become Washington Capitals season ticket holders. And, we are new subscribers to NHL Center Ice, assuring there will be more than enough hockey on TV in our household every night.

The Capitals outlook is pretty good this year. They have supportive, committed ownership, a terrific head coach, a wealth of talent at the forward positions - but some aspects of their defence and goaltending may be suspect. I think they are assured to make the playoffs this year - if they don't it will be MAJOR dissapointment to the local area fans (who signed up for season-ticket and partial plans over the summer) - but maybe don't have quite enough to win the Stanley Cup, at least this year. We'll see!

LET'S' GO CAPS !!!!

I'm Baaaaaack!!.............

I haven't been here in quite some time. Maybe I'll start blogging again!

Lionel Layout for "The Sopranos"

The Train Station, a mostly-Lionel train dealer located in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, is auctioning off a train layout it custom built for an episode of "The Sopranos" scheduled to air this season. Details and photos right here. Bada-bing, bada-boom!

Yanni Arrested for Alleged Domestic Abuse

"New-age" musician Yanni (pronounced "Yawn-ee") has been arrested down in F-L-A for alleged domestic abuse. Details and mug shot are linked here courtesy of The Smoking Gun.

If these allegations are true, his punishment should be confinement in a locked room, forced to listen to his own music. (Hell, even if the allegations aren't true!)

CSNY in 2006? (Update)

It's all but official that Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (pictured here in 1974 - can't you just get a 'contact high' looking at this picture?) will be touring this year.

The Orlando Sentinal reported that Graham Nash broke the news at a recent media event for the Photographers Who Rock. "We're likely going to do 15 dates in Europe and then 35 in the states and the tour likely will focus on outdoor sheds and arenas'' Nash said. The U.S. portion is likely to start in late June.

Last month Neil Young also hinted at a new CSNY album and tour for 2006. Some die-hard Young fans on The Rust List detest CS&N and don't understand why Y wastes his time with them. The think Neil can do no wrong and would much rather see him tour with Crazy Horse.

All I know is, I'm in for CSNY'06 (and the' Horse' if it's gonna happen).

Sealed With a Kiss? - NOT!

Paul and Heather McCartney (photo left, with seal) squared off with Newfoundland and Labrador(Canada) Premier Danny Williams last night on "Larry King Live" in a heated debate over the hunting of seals.

"This is about propaganda. This is about using superstars like your husband," Mr. Williams said during one heated exchange with Mrs. McCartney.

"We're not here for propaganda," she replied, cutting Williams off mid-sentence. Ouch!

John Gleeson has a biting criticism of Sir Paul's latest cause in the Winnipeg Sun. Ouch again!

Sex Pistols to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:"Sod off!"

I never did care their for music, but the Sex Pistols came along in 1977 and gave rock music a long-overdue kick in the pants. Now they have impolitely declined the invitation for induction into the overblown, self-important Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Good for them. Read about it here in Undercover.

Separated At Birth?

Mayberry is a little sadder now, as we all are, with the death of actor Don Knotts, a/k/a Deputy Barney Fife.

However, if and when the biopic of his life is to be made, I know the perfect person (above) to portray Don (right).

Team Sweden Captures Gold

Congratulations to the Swedish hockey team, coached by popular ex-Washington Capital star Bengt-Ake Gustaffson, on its upset of Team Finland to capture the Olympic gold medal in Turin.

Some eyebrows were raised last week when Swedish coach Gustaffson was quoted saying it might benefit his team to lose against Slovakia to ensure a matchup with Switzerland, rather than Canada or the Czechs, easing the path to the medal round.

Be that as it may, Sweden still won when it counted, besting the undefeated Finns in a 3-2 thriller.

Washington Capital rookie sensation Alex Ovechkin scored five goals in eight games for Team Russia which, along with Teams USA and Canada, came home without a medal.

Prediction: the 2010 Games, which will be held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, will be the last that the NHL will participate in. UPDATE: Caps' owner Ted Leonsis take on the NHL in the Olympics here.

Stop! Hey, What's That Sound?

Folk music has always been considered to be associated with more left-of-center ideology. But why should the lefties have all the coolest music and performers on their side? Without further adieu, I present to you the newly-released "Folk Songs of the Far Right Wing". (Not available in stores.)

Neil Young's "Heart Of Gold" Concert Film

Mrs Blog and I went to the new "Heart Of Gold" Neil Young concert film over the weekend. Filmed by Jonathan Demme last August at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Neil and friends perform all but one of the songs from the recent "A Prairie Wind" CD, as well as a good number of past Neil Young favorites. The all-acoustic program is a delight for guitarists, as we get some extreme closeups of chord positions and picking. (When I try to play Neil songs without a pick like he does, it sounds like a muddled mess.)

For a roundup of stories and reviews, I direct you to Thrasher's website.