Burke trades Versteeg for Philadelphia’s 1st and 3rd round picks in 2011.
The Campaign to fire Brian Burke: Beauchemin Trade
Burke Trades Francois Beauchemin for Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and Anaheim’s 4th round pick in 2013
The Campaign to Fire Brian Burke: Staffan Kronwall
Two years ago today, in one of his first moves, Burke waived Staffan Kronwall.
The Campaign to Fire Brian Burke: January 31, 2010
January 31st of 2010 was a big day for the Leafs. In one day, the Leafs traded 6 players for 4 players, completely changing the team and yes, perhaps, even the “culture.” Surely, this day played as big a part as any other day in Burke’s attempt to get rid of the players he associated …
Did Weird Al really turn me into a music snob?
I am a music snob. I can do nothing about it. I prefer music that tries to be unconventional, “un-trendy,” different and is not aimed primarily at profit or notoriety. I have always wondered where this came from.
No Sound Reasons for Conspiracy Theories
This is a response to a comment on this post.
The Campaign to Fire Brian Burke – Prologue
I am an odd kind of Leafs fan; at this point I expect them to fail more than I expect them to succeed. I can’t look at any move they make in a completely positive light, and don’t believe they will win the Cup in my lifetime. And yet I watch (or listen) to as …
Academy Concert Series November 13, 2010
On Saturday I went to see a performance of some of Bach’s chamber music at Eastminster Church on the Danforth. Sadly this is the first time in my life I can recall seeing a chamber size group outside of a wedding.
Ok. Why do you think conspiracy theories are a social evil?
I think conspiracy theories – as opposed the identification of actual conspiracies, which is an altogether different thing – and the belief in them cause a number of problems.
Creepy Classics or How I spent Halloween Eve
Last Saturday I went to TSO’s “Creepy Classics,” conducted by Alastair Willis.
What is reality?
Saying “reality is everything” is hardly helpful. In fact, it’s “obscurantist”: a position which, deliberately or not, actually lessens human knowledge. The reason for this is that in order to understand what you mean by reality is everything, we must first understand what you mean by “thing.” There’s no other option because “reality is everything” …
Why is metaphysics dangerous in the hands of those who govern us?
Metaphysics, i.e the study of “things” outside of physical reality, is incredibly dangerous for politics. But first, why do we use metaphysics?
A Brief Attempt at Elucidating my Political Views
A liberal form of government – i.e. a government which is restrained by an enforceable bill of individual rights and complementary “checks and balances” – is necessary to protect individuals from the great power of the state. This is true and will continue to be true as long as the “state” has more power than …
Why do you beleive that’s the only reality there is and why do you [think] that it is meaningless?
Dr. Johnson, when confronted with the argument that this reality isn’t the real one, said “I refute it thusly” and stubbed his toe. (Or was it that he banged his hand on the table?) This is enough for some of us. It isn’t enough for most. But all evidence – based on our own perceptions …
Evolution of Riley’s Political Views
As a teenager, I was a statist, a borderline fascist. I may have believed in liberal ideas in theory – my grade 11 politics class group was the only group to propose a liberal constitution instead of a utopian one for a project – but I thought the government should draft the unemployed. I was …
NHL 2010-11 Predictions
I like to make predictions each year for the Stanley Cup but this year I am having a really hard time. No one team strikes me as being particularly stronger than the herd.
The Campaign to Fire Brian Burke: Leafs 2010-11 Preview
Hopefully I’m wrong, but I think the Leafs will again be a pretty weak team. At least the Oilers look like they won’t finish last again. Hoping against hope that Burke, Wilson et al. will be intelligent and let Kadri develop in the AHL this year (as if his presence alone will turn them into …
Why don’t you believe in conspiracies?
First, I think we must distinguish between conspiracies in the legal sense, and conspiracy theories. Conspiracies are any time that two or more people get together to break a law. Conspiracy theories are “hidden hand” theories of history – around for ages in the case of the Illuminati for example, or newer theories, in the …
TIFF 2010 Wrap Up
So here is a list of the movies I saw this year in the order of quality: Poll (9/10) The Poll Diaries (which seems an inappropriate translation, since the German name appears to be Poll) is probably the best movie I’ve seen this year. Much more consistent, though less compelling, than Route Irish, it is …
Why is it so hard for some people to beleive that the people in charge don’t have their own agenda?
[Responding to the above question submitted to me using Formspring:] We can debate endlessly the meaning of “in charge” but I can’t agree with your first statement. Nobody is actually “in charge” in the sense that nobody has the power to do whatever they want. A cursory look at Obama’s struggles implementing his agenda is …
Riley’s Essential 271 Movies
So I guess maybe you’re wondering what my Greatest Movies of All Time list would look like. Well, first I must say that it wouldn’t be ranked unless of course someone was going to kill me unless I ranked it. But here it is at this moment, and it changes constantly FYI. Keep in mind …
Riley Goes to Gaspe, August, 2010
Friday August 6, 2010 Once again I feel like a foreigner in my own country. My inability / unwillingness to (re?) learn French makes me feel and act differently than I do in all other parts of Canada. I should just try to pass myself off as an American (which is only mostly a lie). …
Raptors 2010 Offseason Gameplan
Losing Bosh is huge. He was the only all-star on this team (regardless whether you think he was a franchise player or not). Who will replace him? There are so many holes to fill it’s hard to know where to begin. As it stands, here is next year’s starting lineup
Leafs
Colby Armstrong for $3 mil a season? Are you fucking kidding me? What exactly are we paying him for? He is a body check, that’s it. Just a body check. How is that worth $3 mil? This is especially true now that they are claiming they are going to clamp down on head-hunting (which is …
2010 G20 in Toronto
Disclaimer: I didn’t know how to go about doing this. Maybe I’m paranoid (I certainly felt paranoid on Sunday…), but I worry that posting this will in someway have a negative affect on my career. I think there are many people in the governance and corporate worlds who – implicitly if not explicitly – feel …
The Campaign to Fire Brian Burke: 2010 Off-season Trade Rumours
So today there is a column in the Star today suggesting that Leafs are trying to trade for three players: Dan Hamhuis Patrick Sharp Nathan Horton
An Open Letter, I guess
Dear Mr. Crimmins I read your editorial in June 7th’s Hamilton Spectator with great interest. Your idea of dispensing with elections is compelling: it would save huge amounts of money, it would shorten campaigns and make them completely unpredictable (hopefully saving us from a situation like that of the US, where each campaign begins after …
Maria Stuarda
So I went to the Canadian Opera Company yesterday for the first time. The closest thing I’ve come previously is a serious musical, way back when I was like 12: Les Miz. I have since seen other musicals, but I don’t think they count (Evil Dead). The theatre, named after some no doubt famous opera …
Aaaaaaaawkward…
So, we just got our new students at work. We get students every summer. They help us out. It is a good thing. Some of them have worked with us before, others not.
The Campaign to Fire Brian Burke: What do the Leafs need to do to create a winning club?
I think first things first, someone needs to buy MLSE, because I don’t think a pension plan has any interest in championships.