Daniel ..Toronto, Canada

Norfolk, Virginia - Is there a coverup at the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, as two of their off-duty reporters (Marjon Rostami, Dave Foster) may have been caught up in a racially motivated beating, surrounded by five young black youths throwing a brick through their car window.

The beating was so bad that the reporters were off work for a week while they recovered, and have now taken a leave of absense due to death threats against them, and they are in fear.

When the crime occured two weeks ago last Saturday, the Editor, Denis Finley of the Virginian-Pilot, felt it was not news, therefore did not cover it in their newspaper. I think he is having second thoughts now, that this has gained National and International attention.

UPDATE: Kerry Dougherty of The Virginian-Pilot tried real hard to apologize, to no avail, “We made a mistake, That’s all it took for those who detest the “liberal mainstream media” to work themselves into a lather. They assumed that political correctness caused The Pilot to engage in a cover-up of an explosive, race-based crime in Norfolk.”

You can read the whole Op-Ed CLICK HERE

Should skin color of people being assaulted, determine whether it is news or not? According to Editor Finley, "it was just a minor street fight." And how long has he been in news reporting? Finley indicated he did not 'know' what happened, but then isn't that what newspapers find out, the facts, they seek out the facts and the story no matter what is the skin color of the assailants or victims.

He blew it, Finley could have stood tall and said he did the right thing, and wasn't pressured to hide the story, but he took the easy way out. Like they say, it's not about lying, it's about the 'coverup.' We Hope Editor Finley knows that now, he may have some time to think about it if they get rid of him, he's NOT covering important news.

Here's the memo-editorial Denis Finley wrote trying to explain his misgivings, CLICK HERE.

Another take on the "story" in his own paper, and it was revealed, finally in an Op-Ed CLICK HERE.

Big question, why is Fox News covering this terrible assault, and yet it appears none of the main stream media have said a word about it? If the roles had been reversed, and it was a gang of white people throwing a brick through the window of a black couple, would this have been newsworthy? Bernie Goldberg and Bill O'Reilly ponder the dilemma.




Daniel ... Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50




Toronto Restaurants

Newark, NJ - New Jersey Devils beat Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Sunday and in the last minute Flyers pulled their goalie in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal. Devils player Dainius Zubrus grabbed the loose puck and headed towards the empty net, and was pulled down (hooked/tripped) by a Flyers player, feet from the open net, and scored his second goal of the final.

The referee put his hand up to call a penalty while Zubrus of the Devils was pulled down, but was it an 'awarded goal' or a penalty the referee was going to call? If it was an 'awarded goal' why did the referee not blow his whistle?

In the last minute of the second period Zubrus almost got a head injury as Claude Giroux of the Flyers took a head shot to him which will be revieved by NHL VP disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan today.

Claude Giroux was out earlier in the season (Dec/2011) for himself receiving a head shot and suffered a concussion, which he fully recovered. Zubrus was not seriously injured and returned to the game.



Daniel ... Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50




Toronto Restaurants

Toronto Canada - 'To Serve and Protect and ticket' - Oops is right, Sergeant Wanda DeCoste, of Toronto Police Service just spilled the beans and what we have always believed, police do have ticket quotas, they have just always denied it, and still do.

In a troubling report today in the Toronto Sun Joe Warmington uncovers a memo from DeCoste claiming officers are required to do "a book a day" (25 tickets.)

Everyone always knew it, but it was always denied and never seen in writing until today.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Sgt. DeCoste after this revealing memo.

Many may not agree, but that is probably the only way the bosses can tell if the officers are working. But to put it in writing, is a whole other surprising move. It shall be fun watching how this plays out to the residents of Toronto.

UPDATE: Deputy Chief Peter Sloly commented after the Toronto Sun article this morning, saying the language DeCoste used in the memo was "inappropriate, but there is an expectation." but stands by what she said.


Let's just call it what it is, and stop the runaround. They need to give tickets every day to prove they are working. Okay, but that's not what annoys the public. What annoys us is they wait until the end of their shift and then go to one of those out of the way places, where nobody walks, no traffic, but they can get 'easy' tickets.

That's not right. They sit there for about an hour get their tickets, then end the shift.

But are these 'locations' dangerous spots, lots of kids walking around, lot's of pedestrians? NO. It's just a spot where they can get 'easy' tickets, and that does not help anyone. If they went into a residential area, where everyone is complaining all the time, the public would be reasonable, and accepting.

Call it whatever you want, just be fair and honest. We get it.



Daniel ... Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50




Toronto Restaurants

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - I have a lot of fond memories of NHL playoffs, but one that sticks in my mind, is when Philadelphia Flyers get past the post season and you know Kate Smith is going to sing God Bless America at their home games.

She's always been a lucky charm for them and gets the crowd going before the game, and although she died in 1986, she lives on, when the song is song by Lauren Hart, and she is beamed through the jumbo tron and sings along with Hart.


Over the years the visiting team would try to throw off the Flyers, by bringing flowers to Smith just after she sang the anthem, and sometimes it worked, most times not. But no matter what the game outcome, the fans loved Kate Smith.

United States Postal Service (USPS) unveiled a stamp comemorated Kate Smith May/2010 on a postage stamp and a monument was errected in her honor, outside the Spectrum in 1987.


Not sure if she sang at every Flyers games, but I understand it was just playoff games, where she had a record of 94 wins, 26 losses, and 4 ties as of April 26, 2011, whenever she sang.

She had a long professional singing career and died in 1986, but the Flyer fans have not forgotten her, as she sings along with Lauren Hart every playoff game at home, and it brings about goose bumps (shrils through your body) when the Kate Smith video starts on the jumbotron.


Daniel ... Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50




Toronto Restaurants

There appears to be many reasons players don't shave during the playoffs, but it has become a long held tradition since the 80's, for players to grow their beards once they enter the playoffs. (no matter how old they are, if they can)

It's been just over a week now and some are getting caveman looks, but others, the younger crowd are having a hard time of it, with a little bit better than some peach fuzz.

It has been said in the past, players grew their beards to safeguard them from getting cuts about the face, but that appears to me, it would have been even worst getting stictched up with all that beard.

And to the, wives and girlfriends, they'll get over it, once they lose out in the playoffs as Boston Bruins did last night losing to Washington 2-1 in a few minutes of overtime, in the seventh quarter-final game.

As long time traditions go, this one is almost unanimous consent and acceptance, but the odd one falls short, trying to sneak in the odd goatee with I suspect a lot of razzing.

Don Cherry of HNIC fame, was on one of his rants again last night, as he objected to the constant violations at faceoffs. Quite often it appears centermen are thrown out of the faceoff for no reason whatsoever. I just realized tonight they throw players out of faceoffs, not just for a violation, but if one of the teams wingers encroaches on the faceoff circle, the centerman can be thrown out. Trouble is, Cherry has a point, there's no consistency, players encroach all the time, inside the faceoff circle.

Cherry keeps saying "Prospects game" why don't you tell 'us' what you are talking about? Not everyone that watches hockey playoffs is an aficionado (into) hockey, like Grapes.
Cherry said, "I know what I'm talking about" yes Grapes, we know you know.


'ICE CHIPS'

One of the referees blew his whistle in Bostons' attaching zone, after it appeared to the ref, that a players stick had been slashed and broken. After consultaion with the other referee, no call was made and the faceoff went to center ice. Ooops, no more playoffs for him. After the incident no-one came forward, and there was a slight delay while everyone stood around and said "who," before the senior referee pointed to center ice, thereby Washington, losing their advantage.

Several players including Captain Zdeno Chara of the Bruins have received some semi-severe knocks to the face and yes, they were not wearing a visors, will they ever learn. It reminds me of the house owner that gets broken into, and the week after his house is trashed, he puts in an alarm system.
"Nobodys gonna tell me what to do, I'm in the NHL."

How much do these NHL players actually make per year in salaries? You would be surprised how much some make, and how much some don't make.

CLICK HERE and see exactly what every NHL player makes per year. And it's all in USD funds. Use drop down menu for your team and player.




Daniel ... Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50




Toronto Restaurants