Have you ever tried to raise a teenager, or train an unruly dog [ducking, quickly] and found yourself being completely arbitrary? It is a bad moment, and with any luck you didn’t take the opportunity to dig in your heels and make a complete ass out of yourself. But while one of the pleasures of being a parent is getting to be boss, most of what you are trying to impart is not stuff you just made up on a whim. Some is detritus of your parent’s parenting, and with any luck that isn’t too detrimental to your endeavours. But much of what one encounters and tries to convey are life’s rules. The ones, unfortunately, that I didn’t make up, and cannot therefore change.
When we were impressionable youths imprisoned at the cottage during the summers, my dad was big on playing games, most of which were great fun. I liked crokinole and backgammon myself, and cribbage, being a simple minded soul in many ways. But sometimes dad stretched the limits, as when he introduced Whif n’ Proof
Nomic on the other hand, which we didn’t really play, certainly informed my thinking about rules. It is, to quote the creator of the monster, Peter Suber, “a game in which changing the rules is a move.” There are theoretically both mutable and immutable rules, but you can change an immutable rule ultimately by making it mutable, so there you go … have fun kids.
In life, however, there are immutable rules. If you are late, you will miss the bus. Mundane but true. And while it would be nice if we could change some of the laws of physics [just kidding, that would be an unmitigated disaster, just look at the laws we write today] we have to learn to live within certain confines, that are not arbitrary.
I found myself distinguishing to my children as they grew up between my rules and the world’s rules, uttering the statement, “those aren’t my rules”, surprisingly frequently. I also became aware of the remarkable number of “rules” that society imposed that were arbitrary. And those it was and is important to challenge, and not just so your kids will think you are cool, but I will take what I can get.
But the bottom line is don’t blame mum for life’s rules. I just thought I should get that out there before the arbitrarily designated mothers’ day causes massive guilt throughout the land. It really wasn’t my fault.
And I do like begonias …
Xty, were you watching the hockey game last night? That’s why i was asking. Early in the 2nd, there was a stick on the ice, but i never saw what or how it happened, but you’ve answered the question. Some Begonias for you.
Why thank you!
good morning all.
And yes that stick floated around for ages, I was watching – it really looks more dangerous than having someone pick it up but I guess not. Play until you hear the whistle was a very important rule, and you just had to disregard anything, even a burning arena, until the whistle went. And there were always jerks around to whistle loudly and try to throw the kids off – it is amazing how easy it is to be a bad hockey parent. But drop the stick and get off the ice. Of course good old wooden sticks didn’t break every time you tried to shoot the puck, cost about 10 bucks at Canadian Tire, except when they had deals at the gas station and you could get one for under $5. Now it is composite this that and the other and even kids in minor league b would have these two hundred dollar sticks.
that’s where i’m confused, who dropped the stick and why?
I didn’t see it break, but it will have broken, probably on a wrist shot. They are so flexible now it is ridiculous, and you see fanned shots all the time now where the stick shatters up the shaft when it makes contact with the puck.
Hockey players are mostly very good golfers, as one might imagine. Maybe soon they could play with something more like a golf club, and shoot the puck right through the goalie. It is an example of the improvement in the equipment getting in the way of the game.
But I am biased because I disliked the focus on the stick as the problem, rather than the shot. However, my golf clubs clearly suck.
one more stupid question. so if you break or crack your stick, you drop it and leave the ice?
Yes, pretty much. You have to drop it as soon as it is broken but you don’t have to leave the ice. Occasionally you will see a defence man get stuck unable to make a change because they cannot get the puck out of their own end and they will play without a stick until they get a chance to make it to the bench. Because they change ends between periods it changes where the bench is relative to your goalie, so it can actually take a fair amount of thought to just get off the ice. It is a more difficult game to play than the thuggery implies.
But since they aren’t my rules, here’s what the NHL has to say about it:
10.3 Broken Stick – Player – A broken stick is one which, in the opinion of the Referee, is unfit for normal play.
A player without a stick may participate in the game. A player whose stick is broken may participate in the game provided he drops the broken stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule.
A player who has lost or broken his stick may only receive a stick at his own players’ bench or be handed one from a teammate on the ice. A player will be penalized if he throws, tosses, slides or shoots a stick to teammate on the ice. A player may not participate in the play using a goalkeeper’s stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule.
A player tendered a stick thrown on the ice from the players’ or penalty bench will not receive a penalty. However, the person responsible for throwing the stick will receive a bench minorpenalty.
10.4 Broken Stick – Goalkeeper – A goalkeeper may continue to play with a broken stick until a stoppage of play or until he has one legally handed to him by a teammate. The teammate must hand the stick to him. He cannot throw it or slide it to the goalkeeper (this includes situations where the goalkeeper has lost his stick and a teammate is trying to return it to him). For a violation of this rule, a minor penalty for throwing the stick shall be assessed to the offending player (no penalty to the goalkeeper for receiving the stick).
A goalkeeper whose stick is broken or illegal may not go to the players’ bench for a replacement but must receive his stick from a teammate. A goalkeeper may participate in the play using a skater’s stick until such time as he is legally provided with a replacement goalkeeper’s stick.
For an infraction of this rule, a minor penalty shall be imposed on the goalkeeper.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26286
we hit 88 here yesterday. our high for today was at 12:01 AM, at 72. i just walked out in back to get the grill going and i think i saw a snow flurry. it might have been a dandelion seed, but i was too chilled to investigate further. will go out again and provide an update but i’ll be properly dressed. it was awesome though to finally get to wear shorts, even if only for one day. also a relief that i didn’t get too fat for them over the longest winter of my life.
holy smokes. i’m going to call it Whole Wheat Pete. it has non-GMO seeds, nuts, and grains.
plus it don’t need no stinking butter.
it looks absolutely delicious and i’m honored. please don’t let Dude get near it.
….. he might have his bread goggles on.
the Dude has a weak spot for Country & Western. this ought to draw him out.
my maiden adventure with the “northern lights strain”. fuck it.
so sorry if you were misled. i named my bread after this Pete. what have you gone and done now?
for my friends at the northern outpost.
it’s all g00d.
to properly kill the thread.
and to honor Lemmy Kilmister’s mum. may she rest in peace.
It is either very late or very early.
And what did happen to Pete?
traffic and coffee. rain in the air, i can smell it. Xty, i have a request but my vocabulary is still drowsy, so i’ll defer it. good morning fine people.
Here’s something interesting my middle son found. It turns out Spirit was an opening act for Led Zeppelin, who totally ripped off the riff for Stairway to Heaven:
Looks like we got the makin’s of a fine medley here folks, but not to be confused with a chance-medley.
Definition of CHANCE-MEDLEY
1
: accidental homicide not entirely without fault of the killer but without evil intent
2
: haphazard action : confusion
Origin of CHANCE-MEDLEY
Anglo-French chance medlée mingled chance
First Known Use: 15th century
encountered here this a.m.:http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1372/1372-h/1372-h.htm
page 168
But I still like Led Zeppelin
Sorry, off topic, but release your inner nerd.
Alan Guth: What made the Big Bang bang
Nearly 35 years ago, the MIT physicist figured out what made the Big Bang bang. Finally, there’s evidence.
remember what you were saying the other day about utoob?, there used to be a way cool video of this, but it’s been sucked into the nethers.
It did vanish, and then seemed to return with more searching … I was whining about that the other day. What a powerful song about needing to open up … “but silence is harder, I know ’cause I’ve been there” . Funky band but they seem to have shot their wad, to use a ghastly metaphor.
And I hope it wasn’t Captain Bonneville [about whom I know nothing] who was the accidental mass murderer without evil intent … I have an image of someone just backing away from carnage, and apologetically sneaking away. My bad …
And here’s something on one of my favorite topics. Bring on the butter! (sorry, DP)
The Questionable Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease
Are butter, cheese and steak really bad for you? The dubious science behind the anti-fat crusade
One of my least favorite jobs on tap for today. Painting. Mrs. O is ramrodding the operation, and she is a harsh mistress indeed. With a few nieces and nephews hired (and way overpaid) as labor for the day. Thus, Mrs. O kills two birds with one stone. Gets her house painted, and finds a way to give away money to “the kids”.
I may have to self-medicate. 😕
Chance-medley at it’s original best:
Interestingly, the special guest star of episode one of Police Squad, Lorne Greene was a Canadian best known for his role in Bonanza!
EO, my understanding is that painting and drinking are sympatico, so it’s in the rule books,
loves to paint as well.
Very interesting article EO ’bout that Bang Thang. Coincidences do abound- we have a close friend who worked briefly at that observatory at the South Pole. And her husband has worked at an observatory in Scotland where he met another astronomer who was married to George Halas’ granddaughter.
Xty, i’m trying to find my way back to one of your previous posts, but i don’t remember the subject matter. At the end, you posted some photos, and one of them was you with some kind of goggles on, i think (glasses?). Anyway, can/would you help me find it? please.