The Ashley Treatment

Well, after a protracted silence on the blog front, I am back on line, and hopefully this will be a more regularly active site. What brings me out of my long period of inactivity, you ask? A topic that fits most squarely into the working title/content of my blog, brought to my attention by my good friend Bob.

The topic? The so-called "Ashley Treatment", referring to a recent case of a young girl in Seattle, and her parents' decision to pursue some radical medical interventions that have broad implications not only about health care, but about eugenics, social justice, the value of individuals (and in particular, those with disabilities) in our society, and whose needs come first...

The link in the post title connects to a blog written by the parents of Ashley, explaining their perspective and feelings. Some other sites of potential interest include the following:

Times Online Article

CTV article

CNN article

As well as NUMEROUS blog entries addressing the issue...

For my own part, I need time to read and digest it all before making comment - but I thought I would post this to solicit opinions and reflections from others in the meantime...

Stay tuned....

Another Look for the Great Whites?

Let the battle begin!!

The season starts in less than 24 hours, and there's the scent of blood in the water. The Great Whites open the season against the Wolves in Dublin in a potential early clash between Predator Cup contenders.

The Great Whites Week 1 lineup:

LW - Nash (Cbs) - RFA, Frolov (LA) - RFA, Hartnell (Nsh) - RFA (TG) Bench: Stillman (Car) - RFA (inj)

C - Savard (Bos), Arnott (Nsh) - (TG), Nylander (NYR) Bench: Fisher (Ott) - RFA

RW - Gaborik (Min), Cheechoo (SJ), Hemsky (Edm) - RFA Bench: Barnaby (Dal) - RFA

D - Pronger (Ana) - FP, Zidlicky (Nsh), Liles (Col) Bench: Meyer (Phi) - RFA

D - Meszaros (Ott), Ryan Whitney (Pit) - RFA, Hamhuis (Nsh) - RFA Bench: Sutton (Atl) - RFA

G - Brodeur (NJ) - FP Bench: Roloson (Edm) - RFA


Prospects (unpromoted):
- Semin (Wsh) - LW (P3)
- J.Jokinen (Dal) - LW (P2)
- Ladd (Car) - LW (P2)
- Miettinen (Dal) - RW (P2)
- Svatos (Col) - RW (P2)
- Ryan (Ana) - C (P1)
- Boyd (Cgy) - C (P1)
- Esposito (QMHL) - C (P1)

PrD 2007:
- Plus: None
- Minus: 2nd, 3rd

Wish List

The latest gadget that's got me drooling - time to upgrade my 20 year old film camera!

The Sony Alpha

Free XBox 360

Anyone interested or planning to join Columbia House for DVDs or CDs, or Doubleday book club or ones like that, use the link below and we can both earn a free XBox 360 in the process!

XBox 360 Offer

No really...it's for medicinal purposes!

YouTube - Medical Marijuana

More of the latest EMS devices

Those of you in medical circles probably know that CPR guidelines are changing. Perhaps this gadget will come in handy... ;-)

YouTube - CPR Jackhammer

The latest in EMS equipment

My honey nearly coughed up a lung laughing at this one:

YouTube - The Busy Simulator Commercial

Great Whites v 4.0

Great Whites, like their namesake, prefer to never stop moving, hence another trade, this time in the depths among the Shadows.

LW

Frolov-LA (P4 aka RFA2B)

Nash-CBS (P4 aka RFA2B)

Semin-WSH (P3)

J.Jokinen-DAL (P2)

Ladd-CAR (P2)

Roberts-FLA (RFA)

C

Nylander-NYR (RFA)

Arnott-NSH (RFA)

Allison-??? (RFA)

RW

Cheechoo-SJ (RFA)

Gaborik-MIN (RFA)

Cole-CAR (RFA)

A.Carter-CBS (RFA)

Miettinen-DAL (P2)

Svatos-COL (P2)

D

PRONGER-ANA (FP)

R. Whitney-PIT (P4 aka RFA2B)

Hamhuis-NSH (RFA)

Liles-COL (RFA)

R.Jackman-FLA (RFA)

Sutton-ATL (RFA)

Regehr-CGY (RFA)

Desjardins-PHI (Retired)

G

BRODEUR-NJ (FP)

Roloson-Edm (RFA)

PrD 06

Highlanders 1st and 4th

minus 1st,2nd,3rd,4th

PrD 07

Wolves 3^rd

Minus 2^nd

Great Whites v 3.0

Great Whites management continues to fine tune the roster prior to the Entry Draft. Here is the latest incarnation following the trade with the Highlanders:

LW

Frolov-L LA (P4 aka RFA2B)

Nash-L CBS (P4 aka RFA2B)

Semin-L WSH (P3)

J.Jokinen-L DAL (P2)

Ladd-L CAR (P2)

Roberts-FLA (RFA)

C

Nylander-NYR (RFA)

Arnott-NSH (RFA)

Allison-??? (RFA)

RW

Cheechoo-SJ (RFA)

Gaborik-MIN (RFA)

Cole-CAR (RFA)

A.Carter-??? (RFA)

Miettinen-R DAL (P2)

Svatos-R COL (P2)

D

PRONGER-ANA (FP)

Hamhuis-NSH (RFA)

Liles-COL (RFA)

R.Jackman-FLA (RFA)

Sutton-ATL (RFA)

Zhitnik-NYI (RFA)

Regehr-CGY (RFA)

Desjardins-PHI (Retired)

G

BRODEUR-NJ (FP)

Roloson-Edm (RFA)

PrD 06

Highlanders 1st

Edge 2nd

minus 1st,2nd,3rd,4th

PrD 07

Wolves 3^rd

Minus 2^nd

Great Whites v 2.0

Great Whites management is pleased to unveil the newest roster for the team as the 06-07 Entry Draft draws near. The latest deal with the Wolves means the GW's will ice a team featuring Rocket Richard Trophy winners from both of the last two seasons - opposition goalies beware!

Interest has been expressed by other franchises for acquiring the services of Jay Bouwmeester in Florida - Trade lines are still open for any interested parties, as contract negotiations have stalled.

For now, then, the Great Whites:

LW

Frolov-L LA (P4 aka RFA2B)

Nash-L CBS (P4 aka RFA2B)

Semin-L WSH (P3)

J.Jokinen-L DAL (P2)

Ladd-L CAR (P2)

Roberts-FLA (RFA)

C

Nylander-NYR (RFA)

Arnott-NSH (RFA)

Allison-??? (RFA)

RW

Cheechoo-SJ (RFA)

Gaborik-MIN (RFA)

Parrish-MIN (RFA)

A.Carter-??? (RFA)

Miettinen-R DAL (P2)

Svatos-R COL (P2)

D

PRONGER-ANA (FP)

Bouwmeester-FLA (RFA)

Liles-COL (RFA)

R.Jackman-FLA (RFA)

Sutton-ATL (RFA)

Zhitnik-NYI (RFA)

Regehr-CGY (RFA)

Desjardins-PHI (RFA)

G

BRODEUR-NJ (FP)

Roloson-Edm (RFA)

PrD 06

Severed Heads 1st

Edge 2nd

minus 1st,2nd,3rd,4th

PrD 07

Wolves 3^rd

Minus 2^nd

Greetings, Lucas-san

YouTube - ART OF THE SABER

Hong Kong martial arts action meets Star Wars.

Nice touch: monologue extracted from an authentic Civil War love letter written in 1861

Amazing choreography....Enjoy

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose

YouTube - Me: Girl takes pic of herself every day for three years

Creepy, but cool...

Just because we can doesn't mean we should

Facelifting Star Trek

Some things should just be left well enough alone - this is a good example.

A Few More Pics From The Trip

Pohutu Geyser

About to ride the luge...

Misery loves company? :-)

Astronauts in training...

Great Whites - FUNHL

The current incarnation of the Great Whites, my FuNHL team, pending the holy Entry Draft event of course.

We enter the season after a strong performance from FP Brodeur in goal, and an amazing playoff run by FP Pronger and the Oilers. Both FPs will be counted on to deliver top flight performances.

A host of RFA's decorate the roster, including:

LW
Zetterberg-DET (much trade talk circulating)
Roberts-FLA

C
Nylander-NYR
Arnott-NSH
Allison-???

RW
Gaborik-MIN
Parrish-MIN
A.Carter-???

D
Bouwmeester-FLA
Liles-COL
R.Jackman-FLA
Sutton-ATL
Zhitnik-NYI
Regehr-CGY

G
Giguere-ANA

Plus we have some exciting prospects coming along and ready to contribute this year (for the most part):

Frolov-L LA (P4)
Nash-L CBS (P4)
Semin-L WSH (P3)
J.Jokinen-L DAL (P2)
Ladd-L CAR (P2)
Miettinen-R DAL (P2)
Svatos-R COL (P2)

Future Prospects will be selected starting with the Severed Heads 1st round pick, and the Edge 2nd round pick, before a long wait till a next pick in the 5th round (if needed)

Trade lines are always open, and the roster will update here as trades/drafts occur.

Hockey's back, baby!!!

Red Five - the Lego Version

NZ and Disneyland

A fabulous trip, made all the more enjoyable for the conspicuous absence of much-anticipated jet-lag, especially from the 7 and under crowd! Only about 500 pictures were taken, which reflects some restraint believe it or not. While there are many family pics, and scenery, and Disney characters, here are a few of my favourites, either from an artistic perspective, or a family one...