Movie Review: United 93

I just watched the movie United 93 this past weekend. It's the movie about the 4th plane being hijacked on the day of Septemeber 11, 2001. It's the only plane that did not reach its intended target that day.

Before I entered the cinema, I was pretty sure that I was prepared to watch the movie. I have to say that the memory of that day really cause a lot of stir for me while watching this movie. It is not surprising some people have to leave the cinema in the middle of the movie.

There is no movie stars in this film, no side stories, no dramatic effect. The film is so simple that it's just a remake of a tragic events, yet it's so powerful that it tells the stories of 40 passengers knowing what they could do to save the life of manys. I would highly recommend this movie. However, please be emotionally prepared.

Edmonton Oilers advance to the Cup Final

The Stanley Cup Final will feature a Canadian team for 2nd season in a row. Looks like the trades Kevin Lowe made during the season pays off. Compare to last season, this team has lots of improvements. In Defence, they have Pronger and Spacek; in Forward, they have Peca, Samsonov, in Goal, they have Roloson. All of these players are acquired through trades. It makes you wonder what could've happen to the Canucks if Dave Nonis make better acquistion than sticking with the team we have.

Not a bad way to travel across Canada

If you want to see the scenery of Canada from East to West and don't want to drive, this is not a bad idea (if you have that much money).

Long distance love a fare

Luckily, we are still in the hunt for Memorial Cup

Why is the hockey team in Vancouver always choke in the 3rd period? The Canucks have been like this for the last few years. Now, the Giants are suffer from the same effect. Luckily, we beat Peterborough today to force a tie-breaker on Thursday.

On the NHL, Edmonton is now up 3-0 to the Ducks. Let's hope they can finish them off Thursday.

On the NBA, it will be interesting to see Steve Nash go up against Dallas Mavericks, his former team owned by Mark Cuban, in the Western Conference Final. My prediction is Phoenix in 6.

Hockey Schedule for the next 10 days

YES!!!! Oilers Won!

Just to let you know that I have my Oilers fitted cap since 2002, so I am not bandwagon jumper like my friend who is a Flames fan I am not going to name, just call him Chandler.

So, here is the schedule for all the hockey fans:

Friday May 19 Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Mighty Ducks 6pm
Saturday May 20 Moncton vs. Vancouver Giants 4pm
Sunday May 21 Quebec vs. Vancouver Giants 1pm
Sunday May 21 Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Mighty Ducks 6pm
Tuesday May 23 Peterborough vs. Vancouver Giants 4pm
Tuesday May 23 Anaheim Mighty Ducks at Edmonton Oilers 5pm
Thursday May 25 Anaheim Mighty Ducks at Edmonton Oilers 5pm

The Amazing Race Season 9 Finale

Congrat to BJ and Tyler.

Lessons to you all, Finish school. It comes down to who has the brain.

P.S. Sorry I didn't know I have to approve in Blogger for your comment to show. I thought they would send me email when someone post comment.

Guys, fill out your Census form

Today, May 16 is Census Day in Canada. Don't forget to fill out your form online or send it by mail.

Here is a trivia about Canada's First Census from Statistic Canada website:

---

NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST CENSUS

Talon began his administrative appointment by taking stock of the colony. This included a systematic census in the winter of 1665-66.

Talon conducted his census on the de jure principale – that is, counting people where they normally reside. And he did much of the enumeration himself, going door-to-door. Talon’s census recorded everyone in the colony by name and included age, occupation, marital status, and relationship to the head of the family in which they lived. The census also measured the wealth of industry and agriculture, the value of local lumber and mineral resources, and the number of domestic animals, seigneuries, government buildings, and churches.

The census enumerated 3,215 inhabitants of European descent – 2,034 men and 1,181 women. Among these were 3 notaries, 3 schoolmasters, 3 locksmiths, 4 bailiffs, 5 surgeons, 5 bakers, 8 barrel makers, 9 millers, 18 merchants, 27 joiners, and 36 carpenters. The colony consisted of 3 major settlements, inhabited by 528 families. Quebec had a population of more than 2,100 people, Montreal had 635, and Trois-Rivieres had 455.

---

TALON PUTS THE CENSUS TO WORK

After collecting his statistics, Talon put them to work. He was responsible for everything from taxes to health , from bridge building to chimney sweeping, and his influence touched every facet of government, and of the day-to-day lives of colonists. He used knowledge gained from the census to develop the colony in many directions.

His figures showed that men outnumbered women nearly two to one in the male-dominated fur-trading and missionary outpost. Talon consequently arranged for young single women to come from France. From 1665 to 1673, 900 "filles du roi" arrived at Quebec. Talon imposed penalties on bachelors and rewarded early marriage and large families. Discussing the results of his efforts, in a letter to Louis XIV, King of France, in early 1673, Talon states:

The number of settlers has increased significantly as a result of the King’s decision to send young women from France and by the marriage of these women to the soldiers stationed in the colony. In looking at the results of the 1671 Census, 700 children were born during the year, according to registered baptisms. I believe that there could be up to 100 marriages annually involving young men and women from the colony.

Bell City Chase was awesome

This past weekend, I volunteered in the Bell City Chase Vancouver point. It was an awesome experience. For those of us are The Amazing Race fans living in Canada, this is the closest we will get to similar experience.

So, what is the Bell City Chase? It is the mix of reality TV show The Amazing Race, Fear Factor, and Survivor all happening in a city setting. Team of 2 will have to complete 10 of 15 or so checkpoints scattered around the city. To reach each checkpoints, teams must travel on foot or Translink. Each checkpoint has different types of challenge. Some are physical challenges; while some test their mental abilities.

Some of the day's activities are captured and will be shown on TV in the fall. Ironically, it will not be shown on CTV, the network BCE owns, but rather on Global, CTV's main rival.

The Amazing Race Season 9 Prediction

Well, at least I hope it ends this way:

Ray & Yolanda
BJ & Tyler
Eric & Jeremy

Why can't CTV lobby CBS for a Canadian team? At least it would be better than how Canadian was being protrayed in The Apprentice.

Why can't the Oilers play like this in San Jose?

The Edmonton Oilers have so much jump in Game 3 agains the Sharks. One have to wonder why they couldn't perform like this in Game 1 and Game 2. They certainly played their best against the Wings in Game 1 and 2 of their series.

Let's hope the Oilers can win at home again to tie the series.

Maybe the Canucks should play in Pacific Coliseum

Congratulation to the Vancouver Giants winning the WHL Champion and advance to the Memorial Cup.

Before the Canucks were eliminated from the playoff, so much was talked about their 12 years cycle, e.g. took them 12 years to reach the Stanley Cup final, took them 12 years again to reach to another Stanley Cup final, the only retired number is 12. Maybe this 12-year cycle is for the hockey team playing base in Pacific Coliseum.

Just pointing out the coincident.

My very first post

To all my friends,

Welcome to my blog spot. Hope you enjoy this.