My 2010 Christmas Wish List

I'm shocked that another year is almost over. It baffles the mind how quickly the days pass and before we know it we're into another holiday season and preparing for the start of another new year.

Something I've done in the past as Christmas approaches is sit down and complile a list of items that would be on my Wish List for Santa to fill.

But traditionally the Bundy Wish List has included items of a more unrealistic nature. These are gifts that range from a slight possibility of receiving to presents that I have no chance in hell of seeing under my tree. It’s more of a “Not in Your Wildest Dreams Christmas List”. Obviously a Lotto Max win of 50 million would be nice or to instantly lose a bunch of weight would be my first choice but for this list, I’ll only mention actual items that could be purchased...but not by me personally.

Before we begin, I can update that over the past year I have either received or purchased some of the items or variations of the items on last years list. Sadly no new vehicles or homes were included in these.

So, let’s have some fun shall we?

Logitech Harmony 900 - Universal Remote
Cost: $400

Xbox 360 Game Console
Cost: $300

Garmin Nuvi 3790T - GPS
Cost: $500

Apple iPhone 4
Cost: $660 (received)

Apple iPad 64GB
Cost: $750

Nikon D7000 DSLR Camera
Cost: $1400 (received)
Still would like the Nikon D3x worth $8000

Bose Lifestyle V35 Home Entertainment System
Cost: $3800

Nikon 600mm f4.0 VR II Telephoto Lens
Cost: $11000

Samsung 60" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV
Cost: $3200

Unlimited Tickets and Airfare To Any NHL Games
Cost: Priceless

2011 Cadillac Escalade
Cost: $83000

2011 Bentley Continental GT
Cost: $200000

New Home and Land in Canada
Cost: $2500000 est.

New Home in Florida
Cost: $4000000 est.

So there you have it. I'm sure I've forgotten a few items but if I get these on Christmas morning I'm sure I won't be upset.

Of course, these are just things and the most important items are having a healthy and happy family and good friends. No price tag could be put on them.

I hope all of your Christmas Wishes come true and may you have a Merry Christmas.

Now I'm In The Spirit

I don't know why but each year I seem to have a tougher time getting into the holiday spirit. I can't explain why. Maybe it just happens as you get older or perhaps you need to experience something that helps to trigger that joyous feeling.

This year I was able to get that feeling sooner than normal.

It wasn't seeing the Christmas lights coming on that did it. The early arrival of some snow had no effect on me. Shopping in the malls with the songs of the season playing didn't set it off.

No, this year it was a commercial that gave me that warm feeling and desire to unwrap some items.

Why don't you watch this and see if it helps your spirit rise.

Almost Hockey Night Roadkill

Last night just prior to the second game on Hockey Night in Canada, commentators Scott Oake and former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes were giving their thoughts on the upcoming game between the San Jose Sharks and the Edmonton Oilers.

As usual, this was taking place at the opening in the boards where the Zamboni will enter and exit the ice for cleaning.

It just so happened that they were on the air as the big machines were leaving the ice and had to make a move to avoid being resurfaced themselves.

Not only was it a good job to move out of harms way but Weekes shows his professionalism by continuing his thoughts on the match-up while Oake tried to hop in the lap of a season ticket holder.

Pat Burns Passes Away

After a hoax earlier this year and unconfirmed reports of his passing were found to be untrue, we were a bit skeptical when we heard the news tonight about Pat Burns death. Sadly, this time it's true. Coach Burns has passed away at the age of 58 after a long battle with lung cancer.

He is easily my favourite NHL coach of all-time.

Burns' career spanned 14 seasons and 1,019 games, from 1988 to 2004. He won a Stanley Cup with the Devils and earned a record three coach of the year awards (Jack Adams Award) - a record he still holds.

After he retired as a cop in Montreal he eventually made his way to the NHL with stops in Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New Jersey.

What I'll remember most about Burns was his passion and how he never hid his emotions on the bench. He always stood up for his players and his coaching outbursts became legendary.

Soon after, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and in 2005 another new cancer attacked his liver. In 2009, he was again diagnosed with the disease, this time terminal lung cancer.

It was following this third diagnosis he decided to forgo further treatment.

On March 26, 2010, he made his final public appearance, when the Quebec town of Stanstead, near the U.S. border, announced it was building an arena bearing his name.

Not surprisingly the legend was met by a standing ovation and said the honour was one of the highest points of his career.

Burns knew he likely wouldn't be around long enough to see people skate on the ice. "I probably won't see the project to the end," Burns said at the time. "But let's hope I'm looking down on it and see a young Mario Lemieux or Wayne Gretzky."

I hope that every day where you are now Pat is like winning a Stanley Cup.

The one thing I had hoped to see before he passed was his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. There's no doubt he will be in there one day but the powers that be really blew it when they didn't elect him to the Hall this past year.

Here now are a couple of video clips of Pat Burns that I enjoyed and thought you might as well.

WARNING: The first clip contains some foul language.

Pat loses it on the bench


Pat doing a commercial for Bad Boy in Toronto


A slide show tribute with music (The Best)

Continue Profiling, End the Groping

In a perfect and peaceful world, racial profiling wouldn’t be an issue because there would be no reason for it to take place in regard to concerns for safety and security.

News Flash! This isn’t a perfect world and if profiling leads security and anti-terrorism organizations to individuals who are hell bent on causing death and destruction before they’re able to reach their targets, then how can that possibly be a bad thing?

I understand that not every Yemeni, Arab or Muslim person is a terrorist but they shouldn’t be focusing their blame for being singled out while travelling on the security people. They should be angry with their fellow citizens of the same nationality who continue to pose a threat to freedom loving people such as myself. That’s the reason why they’re being pulled aside for secondary checks, interviews, body scans and explosive detection screening by national security agents (CSIS) in Canada and other similar organizations around the world.

OK, it’s not fair I’ll admit but who said life was fair. If the shoe bomb were on the other foot and it was Caucasian individuals flying planes into buildings, slipping on to planes with bombs or blowing up subways and trains, then I would fully expect the same treatment. I would be the person being scrutinized and picked out of the crowd when I travel.

That isn’t to say it doesn’t happen already. Just after 9/11 I was in New Orleans and before boarding my flight home I was checked with the wand twice and had to remove my shoes. I also had my luggage, both inside and out, swabbed down and checked for explosives. They don’t come much whiter than me.

Was I upset? Hell no, I wasn’t upset. We’re told to be at the airport three hours before our flight. This should allow plenty of time for not just the “profiled” people to be checked thoroughly but everyone boarding a flight. If you have nothing to hide then who cares if you get checked.

Where I do have a problem, and it sounds like I’m not alone, is with the new screening process in the U.S. whereby high school dropouts working as TSA’s are allowed to sexually assault you with foreplay to be able to pass through security. That’s right, they get to grope, prod and fondle you in search of anything dangerous. You can’t even have a cigarette when they’re done. If you choose not to have your naughty bits and pieces man-handled by Bubba, you can always select to have someone else scan your body with a machine that provides a strip search, without the dinner and a movie first.

Oh but these security officers are “rigorously trained to maintain the highest levels of professionalism.” What this really means is if the uniform fits and you can speak English, you’re qualified. A sexual predator has more training.

The really scary part is that kids are not exempt from this. Parents teach their children that strangers should not be touching them in their “special” places but I guess that doesn’t count for government approved workers. I’m sorry, call it what you will, but that is “sexual assault” by definition and doing it in the name of security is still wrong.

Why aren’t the same groups of people and organizations who get up in arms over Muslims being centred out for extra security scrutiny just as upset over the sexual assault of all passengers? I guess if it doesn’t only affect the visible minority it’s just not worth the trouble.

I suppose this is one of those, “you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t” scenarios. If we cut out the invasive security measures, the terrorists win. If we keep things the same, then I know I can just head to the airport when I’m in the mood for some random action with strangers.