Municipal elections are this week, and without trying to influence the vote; I don't suspect the mayor's race will be close in Yorkton, Regina, or Saskatoon. In Yorkton's case, I wonder if voter turnout will be lower based on the fact many people think the end result is already a foregone conclusion, and there is really no hot button issue right now. I'm also not expecting much change at all on Yorkton's City Council, as a whole. I don't pay a lot of close attention to Saskatoon, but I know the incumbent has been extremely popular for a number of years and after watching a news program on some of his challengers, I don't see why he won't win again. In Regina, there will be a new mayor, but a number of candidates can't be taken seriously. I'm guessing the winner will earn as much of the popular vote as Pat Fiacco did during the last municipal election.
As Canadians, we are a funny group. Out of ten people, I bet I could easily find eight that won't give two hoots about a political debate featuring Stephen Harper and the rest of the federal leaders. However, seven of those eight will pay attention to what's going on between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney south of the border.
The fall from grace continues for Lance Armstrong, as he's been stripped of all seven of his Tour de France victories. I find it interesting that the moral police go after the athletes who rub the media and other member of the public the wrong way, but stay away from the darlings. Armstrong, it has been learned, isn't really the nicest guy in the world. Yet, I wonder if these same people will check into the second place finisher (now the official winner) in each of those seven Tour de France races. Cycling has long been considered a very dirty sport as far as HGH is concerned. I am thinking they will have to investigate everybody in order to come up with a 'clean' winner.
Remember the 1988 Olympics that saw Ben Johnson get stripped of his world record in the 100 metres? Well, it has now been determined that seven of the eight participants in the final were on steroids. The only one that wasn't came last.
Take it easy on Darian Durant and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Yes, they lost to the Montreal Alouettes on the weekend. Yes, they have now lost two games in a row. Yes, there are obvious holes on the roster. However, this team has come a long way from last year's embarrassment. I, simply, chalk up this weekend's loss as a game in which the Riders played a pretty good game, but they are just not as good as an Alouette team when Anthony Calvillo is having a banner day.
Here's my over-simplified solution for the NHL and the NHLPA: Give them the same amount of Hockey Related Revenue money as they presently receive, but don't give them any more until the total amount equates to 50%. What I mean is that if the NHLPA gets $1.8-billion of $3.2-billion at the moment, then cap them at $1.8-billion until total revenue gets to $3.6-billion and then give them 50%. To me, this is fair. The players don't lose anything, and the owners don't have to give up more until they reach a figure where 50% becomes more of what the players, presently, receive. For me, what little money I spend on the NHL (Centre Ice package) is being diverted to the NBA. I'm going to give that league a chance.
Our Yellow Lab dog, Bella, has started dog obedience class. One of the things she likes to do is chew her leash. I have been told that trying to tug it out of her mouth encourages her to act as though it's a game. So, ignorance is the best tact. Well, two minutes (I'm not exaggerating) into her first class she was chewing on her leash and I was trying to ignore it, but that is pretty hard to do once the leash is in two pieces. Back to the drawing board.
"There's way too much football on TV," said Nobody, ever.
Nice person mentions of the week to Dr. Schoeman and the rest of his team in the Operating Room of Yorkton Regional Health Centre on Friday. In fact, the entire staff that I had dealings with on Floor 3 were top notch. I wish I had all of your names. Thank you.
