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The rarely updated blog of Joel Dixon
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions!
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 13/06/2009 14:18:39
2009 Stanley Cup Champions!
The Detroit Red Wings were 11-1 at home this playoff year. In 3 games at The Joe the Penguins were beaten by a combined score of 11 goals to 2, including Detroit's 5-0 win in game 5. No team in NHL history had been able to rally from 2-0 series deficients twice in the same playoff year. Of the 45 teams that have been up 2 games to 0 in the Stanley Cup final, 41 were able to go on to win the Cup.
But none of that mattered. Game 7 is a whole different story to the first 6, and the Penguins overcame adversity to win their 3rd Stanley Cup in franchise history. And boy do I feel good!
Currently (I hope) being shipped from the US to me is the following:
: This was the first Pittsburgh Stanley Cup I was able to watch live - and watching the Pens putting on their Cup Championship hats made me want one! Also the DVD will be a keeper.
: Even though he was injured early in the second period, Sidney Crosby is the team captain, and the first player to hoist the cup on our team. This bobble-head is going to stay at work for the offseason!
: Last playoffs the Penguins were down against Detroit 1 game to 3. Game 5 was played in Detroit, with the Red Wings having the chance to finish off the Pens in 5 games. Detroit were up 3 goals to 2 with a minute left in regulation. The officials had the Stanley Cup removed from it's box, and started polishing it up ready for the presentation.
With 35 seconds left in the game Maxime Talbot scored on a wrist shot to send the game into overtime (which the Pens won in the 3rd overtime period). Right after Talbot scored that goal, I immediately said "I'm buying a Talbot jersey". When we eventually lost the series in game 6, I sulked for a month and never ended up buying the jersey - even though Talbot's been one of my favourite players for a long time.
In game 3 of this year's series against Detroit, Talbot scored the first goal of the game to set the tempo, and ensure we didn't go down an unassailable 3-0 games against the Wings. After he scored that goal I also said to myself "I'm going to buy a Talbot jersey".
To take any doubt out of my mind, Talbot scored the only two Penguins goals in this year's game 7, and ensured the Cup comes back to Pittsburgh. I have finally bought the jersey I promised I'd do so many times. I don't currently own a road jersey - so as we won the Cup on the road I figured now's a good time to get one.
Pittsburgh Assistant Captain, Gino "The Scoring Machino" Malkin, after winning the Conn Smythe trophy
Evgeni Malkin was an absolute force in the Penguins' Playoff run scoring 36 points, the first player to score more than 30 points since Joe Sakic in 1996 (Crosby also broke 30 points with 31). In some of the games, especially against Carolina, you can just tell when Malkin decided to step up and own the game (resulting in some damn pretty goals). With Malkin and Crosby on this team for many years to come, I'm thinking the Penguins collection of 13 Art Ross Trophys will be added to more than a few times.
Hossa shaking the hand of Fleury after losing the Stanley Cup
In the off-season Marián Hossa turned down a multi-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins to sign to the Detroit Red Wings. At the time he said that the Red Wings offered him the best chance to win a Stanley Cup. The ultimate irony in this - Hossa played ok in the first three rounds of the playoffs - but was completely shut down against the Penguins. No goals in seven games. You have to think if Hossa hadn't lived up to his "playoff no-show" reputation in this year's Stanley Cup final, he'd may drinking champagne out of Lord Stanley's cup as I type.
About two years ago (before Pittsburgh lost to Detroit the first time) I told my little brother that the Penguins were going to win 2 of the next 5 Stanley Cups. This is the first - I'll be cheering next year for the second!
# Posted in the Hockey section and tagged as: Pittsburgh Penguins
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Thursday, June 11, 2009
Stanley Cup Final, Game 7
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 11/06/2009 21:32:40Pittsburgh has done a good job at pushing the Detroit Red Wings to a winner-takes-all game 7 in this year's Stanley Cup final.
Last year Detroit beat the Penguins in 6 games, but I think we've got a better chance this year. Last season, we had Scary Gary Roberts providing us with the crazy eyes:
Gary Roberts - what he do?
When Roberts left via free agency to Tampa Bay, the Penguins needed to look towards Brooks Orpik for their crazy eye needs, and he certainly has stepped up. Here he is getting pretty serious about hydration:
When making big hits, a common expression is that Brooks Orpik is handing out free candy.
I'm hoping Orpik's crazy eyes are enough to help the Pens over the line, to win their first cup since 1992.
# Posted in the Hockey section and tagged as: Pittsburgh Penguins
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The ol' Client / Server Database
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 27/05/2009 23:12:55The first result in google when searching for "client server database" is quite interesting:
At the time of posting - that result is still number one. Here - let me google that for you.
Firstly - a great use of the word girth. Doesn't get used enough in my opinion. Then again - what's my opinion worth? After all - I used to think client / server was a computing term. The more you know!
# Posted in the General section and tagged as: Funny, Web
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Saturday, May 23, 2009
Amazing Malkin Goal
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 23/05/2009 14:51:13Pittsburgh has gone up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Final against Carolina. Sidney Crosby has been a force in the playoffs - scoring the first goal of the game on 6 occasions equaling a record by Chicago / Winnipeg legend Bobby Hull and Edmonton's Fernando Pisani. But in Game 2 of the Carolina series - Malkin was a force in a game. Scoring his first playoff hat trick, Malkin's third goal - an insurance marker that relieved some of the threat of a Hurricane comeback - was truly something to behold:
Respect to AlexPKeaton from Lets Go Pens for creating the animated gif
What a goal! He called the shot to teammate Talbot beforehand and just went out there and got it done. Amazing no-look, backhand roofer to put the game away.
It's fun to have two of the best three players in the NHL in your team every game!
# Posted in the Hockey section and tagged as: Pittsburgh Penguins
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Monday, May 18, 2009
I have an ouchie
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 18/05/2009 15:59:44My last roller hockey game was around 6 weeks ago (in which we finally won the elusive Division 2 grand final), and since then I've done a whole lot of sitting around. I wasn't going to play again this season (and allowing my gut to expand at will) - but a good mate of mine that I've played hockey with on and off since high school was keen to start up again this season. I love playing hockey with him (especially when we're on the same line) as we both know where the other one is going to be. A downside however - is that he tends to push me into playing as hard as I can - and the time that I just coast around the rink is reduced as I attempt to keep up with him.
So when I got home yesterday after my first game back I felt pretty darn tired - and ready for bed at 3 pm. But a mate from work has just recently bought Guitar Hero: World Tour, and was up for some online action. With Rock Band I've been playing drums at the "Hard" level - so when we played our first song, Everlong by the Foo Fighters, I chose Hard drums. Big mistake:
Guitar Hero: World Tour Everlong Hard
That's a crap load of notes! It was fine for the first few hundred hits - but then my arms turned to jelly, and just completing the song without passing out was my new goal. After that I put my level down to Medium - but my arms are still hurting me today.
# Posted in the General section
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Penguins Make Playoffs - 4th Seed
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 14/04/2009 10:56:07This is just a post so that April has a blog against it - but anyway, the Pittsburgh Penguins have qualified for the playoffs again:
Penguins make Playoffs
Bring it Philadelphia!
# Posted in the Hockey section and tagged as: Pittsburgh Penguins
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Friday, March 13, 2009
Cardiac Kids
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 13/03/2009 12:58:21I'm currently on two weeks leave from work - I think I might be returning to work more wound up than when I left.
Being home I get to listen to all of the Penguin's games live via NHL.com Game Center. The last three games I've listened to have ended in a shootout. Two days ago they came back from two goals down to beat Florida in a shootout. Today after being down 3-0 in the third period, we scored three goals in 3.5 minutes to push the game into another shootout - which we lost.
I don't know how much more I can take. I guess if we keep getting the points I'll be happy. Any heart attacks will be considered the price of victory.
Let's Go Pens!
# Posted in the Hockey section and tagged as: Pittsburgh Penguins
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Popop in the movie theater
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 26/02/2009 20:30:43My favourite television series of all time - Arrested Development - is finally expected to make the transition to the big screen as the last actor has reportedly signed on.
Michael Cera had previously let it be known that he wasn't interested in reprising his role of George Michael Bluth - and he thought fans would be behind him:
I'm a huge fan of Michael Cera's work as George Michael - so I'm glad he's had a change of heart.
Production is expected to begin this year sometime. This combined with my favourite series of novels being made into a HBO drama - I'm a pretty happy fan!
# Posted in the General section and tagged as: Movies
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Don't forget your booties, because it's cold out there!
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 25/02/2009 23:06:52It's been pretty hot in Melbourne recently. Record-breaking temperatures are almost becoming commonplace and crazy 40 degree-plus days are getting annoying.
But whenever one of the super hot days happens on a weekday I will generally spend most of the work day inside shivering from the cold. I think something like the following is to blame (but without the Devil's mascot):
Sportscenter Commercial
That Iceburgh knows how to strut!
# Posted in the General section
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Left at Albuquerque?
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 24/02/2009 20:36:04The devastation of the recent Victorian Bushfires has touched most Australians, with nearly everyone knowing someone that's lost a house or something more devastating. Driving home from the station last night was pretty scary as there was a heap of smoke in the sky around my street. I wouldn't say I'm completely out in the sticks though we do have a lot of trees and bush near our property. Thankfully the Upwey blaze that was causing the smoke wasn't nearly as close as I had feared - but it's still a cause for concern.
As I was not sure how close the fires in Upwey were to us, I did a quick Google Maps search for directions from Upwey to Montrose.
View Larger Map
As you may have noticed, Google had helpfully given me directions from Upwey, Victoria to Montrose, Houston. Just a small mistake in the destination.
Anyway, the directions are fine until I get to the top of the Northern Territory. when I'm given the following:
I assume the kayak across the Pacific will give me the time to learn Japanese for the next few steps:
I get a brief tour of Japan before another short kayak across the Pacific and I start my road trip to Houston. The estimated travel time is only 55 days and 21 hours which might seem like a lot. But when you compare it to the 209 days and 3 hours that is estimated when you set the Google Maps travel method to "walking", it doesn't seem all that bad.
Its always fun to find an example of Google's sense of humor when using their products.
BTW - the distance between Upwey and Montrose, Victoria is only 30 minutes apart by car. Thankfully fire crews worked through the night and the Upwey fires are no longer a threat.
# Posted in the General section and tagged as: Web
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Recent Blogs
Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions! Stanley Cup Final, Game 7 The ol' Client / Server Database Amazing Malkin Goal I have an ouchie Penguins Make Playoffs - 4th Seed Cardiac Kids Popop in the movie theater Don't forget your booties, because it's cold out there! Left at Albuquerque?Feed
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