The Doldrums

I remember learning about the adventures of Christopher Columbus and his trips to the West Indies. One of the problems he encountered was the lack of wind - the doldrums - when his ships entered the Sargasso Sea.

Well, as far as the thoughts of Johnny V., I have hit the doldrums. I still think about lots of things and I have the odd interesting thought. It's just that I don't feel any desire to write very much these days. My inspiration just isn't there. Hopefully it will return. It is as if the wind has been taken out of my sails.

I look forward to the days in the future when the gusts will pick up and I will feel the force drawing me towards my destiny. It just isn't happening right now.

It has been said that people have to suffer for their art. I find that my writing is quite the opposite. I write best when I have a zest for life and feel it coursing through my hair. That just isn't happening right now.

The Tamil Protest

I understand that innocent people are being killed in Sri Lanka. They are also being killed in many other parts of the world, too. However, there is something about the way the Tamils in Canada are bringing it to our attention that bothers me.

Canada is already involved in Afghanistan and many are saying that we should not be involved there. How is Sri Lanka any different?

From what I have read, the situation is quite different, though. There have been many attempts to negotiate peace on the island once known as Ceylon. The 2006 attempt failed. A Wikipedia entry on the Tamil Tigers (the LTTE)states:

Further peace talks were scheduled in Oslo, Norway, on June 8 and 9, 2006, but canceled when the LTTE refused to meet directly with the government delegation, claiming its fighters were not being allowed safe passage to travel to the talks. Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim told journalists that the LTTE should take direct responsibility for the collapse of the talks.

So now there are Tamils in the street of Toronto trying to force the Canadian government to take action. Why are they trying to force us to do something? As I understand, we are being told that this disruption will continue until we do what they want. Why should we forced to enter into a civil war that has been going on for years? Why can't the Tamils themselves become the agents for peace in their own land?

Yes, there may be many things I don't understand about the situation, but the actions of the Tamils in Canada are not making me feel sympathetic about their cause, particularly when there appears to be close ties with the Tamil Tigers, a group that Canada considers a bunch of terrorists.

If I am wrong educate me, but don't threaten me.

By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Concerning Research in Motion's Jim Balsillie's (on the left) attempt to buy the Phoenix Coyotes franchise and move it to Southern Ontario, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly (on the right) had this to say:

"It doesn't take into consideration all the people and the money that has been spent on and devoted to the Coyotes franchise here in Glendale, both in the creation of a new building that was paid for largely by taxpayers and in the emotional and financial connection Coyotes fans have with their team.

"In any situation we believe, once you've committed to a market, you have to give the market a fair chance to succeed or fail and I don't think this market has had that chance at this point of time."

I can think of two words to say to Mr. Daly - Winnipeg and Quebec. My guess is that there would be few tears shed by the departure of the NHL team in Phoenix. The people of Winnipeg would dearly love to have another crack at a franchise.

Are people worried about too many teams around Toronto? New York has three teams and New York citizens don't have the same passion for hockey Canadians do. No, this is not a convincing argument.

So, what's the problem? There is no doubt that a Southern Ontario team would be a success financially and in fan interest. Many are saying that much of it is the struggle of egos between Jim Balsillie and league commissioner Gary Bettman, which is why Daly made the most recent response. I think there is something else to consider.

The NHL keeps trying to convince the Americans that it is a major player on the sports scene. It's all about marketing. Looking at the current Canadian teams, Toronto and Montreal are solid. Because Calgary has hosted the Olympics and Vancouver will be hosting them, Americans are aware of them. Edmonton has been on shaky ground for years. Going there is compared to being sent to Siberia. In the league's eyes, if the American public doesn't know or care about a city, it is expendable as in Winnipeg, Quebec and Edmonton.

You can imagine, then, the tremors the league's brass has when they contemplate hockey night in Hamilton or Waterloo. To them, Kansas City and Portland are more recognizable to Americans. Putting a team into these city will give the league more credibility in the eyes of the US media. Forget what is in the fans' hearts. My guess is that Moscow or Toyko has more of a chance of a franchise than Jim Balsillie's attempt to put one into a hockey-starved Southern Ontario city. Of course, Canadians don't share or accept this view, but try telling somebody in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles that his team has to fly to Hamilton, Ontario. Where?

Don't believe me? Tell me, which city has a greater population, Kansas City or Hamilton? It's Hamilton. Hamilton is bigger than Buffalo, too, and about the same size as Portland, Nashville, Seattle and Baltimore. Who would have thought that? Not many. But which cities will capture the hearts of Americans as being seen as a sport having arrived in prominence? Not any of the Canadian ones except Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

And that is probably why Jim Balsillie has met his Waterloo.

Sound Off

Sorry I haven't been writing much lately. I've been busy. I've been launching my Facebook group called Sound Off.

Yes, it's a play on words. It is a group dedicated to issues relating to the sound polution of our environment.

There are many horror stories of people who have been bullied by sound. There are scads out there who feel it is their right to play music or make noise. Sometimes they even do things like alter their vehicles, be it the muffler or an expensive sound system with extra bass, to make even more noise.

If you want to join, check it out.

Unfortunately, the people who are subjected to these bad vibrations often suffer in silence. Their ears are raped by inconsiderate "soundanistas" who equate freedom as imposing their will on others.

Just like non-smokers pressed for their rights and won, the time has come for those who want to live a life in peace to do the same. The information is there. Excessive sound is bad for your health. It is ignored. If I work in a factory, there is legislation under the terminology of health and safety that requires me to wear earplugs. In society, though, we tolerate, ney, condone and encourage, activities where sound levels exceed these limits. Why?

All we are saying is give peace a chance.