I made one of those novelty photo things, for my mother-in-law, Kim, of Kim's Learning House fame.
Apparently it was a hit, and my average just went up.
6.06.2010
Wild Free Agent Wish List, 2010-2011
It's a little early to say what the Wild will need for the upcoming season, especially considering Chuck Fletcher's many signings of young players. As with the 2009-2010 season, there should be plenty of appearances from prospects, but there should be need for centers (Andrew Ebbett, Nathan Smith, Andy Hilbert, and Danny Irmen are all Free Agents; James Sheppard is a Restricted Free Agent), and possibly a few wingers (Owen Nolan, Derek Boogaard, Robbie Earl, Petr Sykora) and defensemen (Shane Hnidy, John Scott).
Of course, not all FA's are let go, and not all who are valued are kept, but I anticipate Ebbett, Boogaard, Earl and Scott to return, and mournfully expect Nolan and Sheppard to be set free, as well as Sykora, though I'm ambivalent about his inevitable departure. I hope for Irmen and Hnidy to return, but am not sure.
This being said, here's my annual list of Free Agents whom I would love to see in a Wild uniform:
Ilya Kovalchuk, F
With due respect to Martin Havlat, Kovy would be the most electrifying player in Minnesota since Marian Gaborik. Until Havlat can produce for an entire season, Wild fans will still dream of 30, 40, 50-goal seasons, and Kovy would deliver. Every team wants him, honestly, unless they can't afford him, or think he's a primadonna.
Patrick Marleau, F
With due respect to Martin Havlat, Marleau would be the most electrifying player in Minnesota since Brian Rolston (minus the slapshot, admittedly). I imagine a Marleau-Bouchard-Latendresse line, and am happy.
Jason Spezza, F
Big center with magical playmaking skills. Not a free agent.
...so it would take Santa Claus, himself, to deliver Spezza without giving up way too much. In terms of prospects and depth, the wild are not in a position to trade for this kind of quality; bear in mind, this is a wish list.
Lee Stempniak, F
Hands, speed and grit is the combination that made Guillaume Latendresse such a hit, and it's what the Wild will need, if Havlat, their only true sniper, can't pick up his game.
Tomas Plekanec, F
He's a center, and scored 25 goals-70 pts last season. The Wild have seen a lot of small centers(Walz, Bouchard, White...), and have gotten decent mileage out of them. I still miss Todd White, but Wes Walz was unquestionably the fan favorite of the group, because of his passion and grit. If Plekanec is tough enough for the job, I'm down.
Maxim Afinogenov, F
"Wild" is exactly the word for Afinogenov's game, and the Wild didn't quite deliver the exciting game, as promised, without giving up the defensive ghost, until Latendresse was brought in, guns-a-blazing. Could Afinogenov bring a similar sort of spark? ...oh yeah: 24 goals-61 pts.
Willie Mitchell, D
Wild fans will likely be glad to have him back, even after being a favorite in Vancouver. The bigger picture is that the Wild will need a tough defenseman, who can move the puck, if Shane Hnidy leaves.
Of course, not all FA's are let go, and not all who are valued are kept, but I anticipate Ebbett, Boogaard, Earl and Scott to return, and mournfully expect Nolan and Sheppard to be set free, as well as Sykora, though I'm ambivalent about his inevitable departure. I hope for Irmen and Hnidy to return, but am not sure.
This being said, here's my annual list of Free Agents whom I would love to see in a Wild uniform:
Ilya Kovalchuk, F
With due respect to Martin Havlat, Kovy would be the most electrifying player in Minnesota since Marian Gaborik. Until Havlat can produce for an entire season, Wild fans will still dream of 30, 40, 50-goal seasons, and Kovy would deliver. Every team wants him, honestly, unless they can't afford him, or think he's a primadonna.
Patrick Marleau, F
With due respect to Martin Havlat, Marleau would be the most electrifying player in Minnesota since Brian Rolston (minus the slapshot, admittedly). I imagine a Marleau-Bouchard-Latendresse line, and am happy.
Jason Spezza, F
Big center with magical playmaking skills. Not a free agent.
...so it would take Santa Claus, himself, to deliver Spezza without giving up way too much. In terms of prospects and depth, the wild are not in a position to trade for this kind of quality; bear in mind, this is a wish list.
Lee Stempniak, F
Hands, speed and grit is the combination that made Guillaume Latendresse such a hit, and it's what the Wild will need, if Havlat, their only true sniper, can't pick up his game.
Tomas Plekanec, F
He's a center, and scored 25 goals-70 pts last season. The Wild have seen a lot of small centers(Walz, Bouchard, White...), and have gotten decent mileage out of them. I still miss Todd White, but Wes Walz was unquestionably the fan favorite of the group, because of his passion and grit. If Plekanec is tough enough for the job, I'm down.
Maxim Afinogenov, F
"Wild" is exactly the word for Afinogenov's game, and the Wild didn't quite deliver the exciting game, as promised, without giving up the defensive ghost, until Latendresse was brought in, guns-a-blazing. Could Afinogenov bring a similar sort of spark? ...oh yeah: 24 goals-61 pts.
Willie Mitchell, D
Wild fans will likely be glad to have him back, even after being a favorite in Vancouver. The bigger picture is that the Wild will need a tough defenseman, who can move the puck, if Shane Hnidy leaves.
2.16.2010
Budget Diffusers
This is how a charter school budget does diffused photo lighting:
embroidery hoops, plastic tablecloth, panel clips (for drop ceiling installations), and paperclips.
2.02.2010
Films That I Finally Saw: Revolutionary Road
In Three Words: This Devastating Stillness
One could say that Revolutionary Road is a story about a couple. To say that might place this film in a category with many others, that have an emotional and intellectual value tantamount to a meal of sawdust. Thankfully, this film is not one of those.
While so many stories revolve around a slow reveal that a seemingly-good relationship is not so good, Mendes tells us that right away. Viewers know immediately that Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April (Kate Winslet) Wheeler don't have a good relationship, or at least that they don't anymore. However, this is not a film about a bad relationship getting good, either.
Though the plot events in following the lives of the Wheelers are captivating, the real power of this story is in the direction. Perfectly timed use of still shots, slow pans, and musical cues create an still air, which is oppressive. In most stories, a relationship goes bad, and we feel bad; in this story, a relationship goes bad, and we feel our souls collapsing.
Despite our many sympathies, one gets the feeling that the turbulence of the Wheeler household means little to the neighborhood. ...that, in the glassy peace of a 1950's suburb, the ghastly disturbances of lives gone horribly wrong would rather be passed-over and forgotten.
Perhaps that's really the point of this film. So many other films want to glorify people and deeds, but when April says "we're not special", it's really true. When happy, the Wheelers made a lovely accessory to the neighborhood; when troubled, the neighbors would rather not talk about them.
Such poignant messages come together with excellent acting and brilliant direction to create a story which is beautiful and haunting. My only issue would be the sparse use of non-linear storytelling, which works, when used, but is far from consistent.
The see it rating still rests at: immediately.
Grade: A
1.24.2010
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