Italian Soccer and Fixtures Explained

Serie A is once again in full swing. Here's a quick explanation of how soccer isn't just a league trophy and a playoff, but rather a chance for many teams to compete for 'something'.

I'll start off with something your no doubt aware of - NHL hockey. This should illustrate why Italian Soccer is so much more than just the "Stanley Cup of or Bust" mentality.

NHL hockey basically works like this:

30 teams play 82 regular season games.

Top team is President's Cup winner.

The top 8 teams in each conference qualify for playoffs and chance to win Stanley Cup.

Winner of Eastern Conference plays winner of Western Conference for Stanley Cup.

The End.

That makes for a long season if your team isn't in contention. If you aren't fortunate to live in 1 of the 30 cities you don't have a local connection to the team. There is no penalty for being a bad team - just the promise of 'next year' and the bonus of a high draft pick.

Italian Soccer differs greatly in a number of ways.

Lets break it down fixtures (trophies):

• Serie A League winner
• Italian Cup
• SupperCup
• Champions League
• UEFA Cup

Any given season your favourite team could be in contention to win up 5 possible trophies. Qualifications for each fixture differ, so lets break it down some more:

Serie A:

20 clubs compete in a regular season schedule. The team with the most points wins the 'scudetto'. This has a lot more importance in soccer than winning the President's cup in the NHL. This is the goal of all teams. It is similar in meaning as the Stanley Cup.

Italian Cup:

Quick background - there are no 'semi-pro' leagues in Italian soccer. Just 3 tiers of professional soccer. A, B and C with 'A' being the best and 'C' being the worst. The Italian Cup is a contest that all 60 teams in A,B and C play for. Very rare that a team from A doesn't win this, but its a highlight for many cities to host a 'big club' team to play against. Picture the Pitsburgh Penguins playing against the Hershey Bears.

SuperCup:

Here's where it gets interesting. This game is the kick off to the Serie A with some flare. The winner of last season's league winner plays a game against last season's Italian Cup winner. A comparison would be a winner of some NHL/AHL teams tourney last season vs the Vancouver Canucks (Presdident's Cup winner) to kick off the new season.

Champions League:

Here's where things really start to matter with regards to winning the league. If your team is in the top 4 than you are then participants in the Champions' League. This is a giant tournament that takes place throughout the year where the top 4 teams of every other soccer league in Europe plays each other. This when you see AC Millan play Manchester United for example. As the regular season plays on, these top 4 teams eliminate each other until there's one winner. So your team might be out of league contention, but you could still be playing for something.

UEFA Cup:
One mass tournament involving 194 club teams across Europe. Again, just another trophy to play for.

So this is why Soccer is more exciting through out the year and not the 'drag' of NHL that hockey becomes in February. Your team could be playing for a number of different 'fixtures' not just trying to make top 8 at the end of a gruelling season to play a 'second season' of hockey to win the Stanley Cup.

FootNote: RELEGATION!!!
Possibly the most interesting aspect to Italian soccer.  If you are the last place team or the second last team  you will get dropped from your tier and the top 2 teams in the tier below you will be promoted in your place.  So if you are in Serie A - you have to play every game to its best outcome or you risk getting demoted.  This is financial suicide as your team will then play in a lower class with less fans and less money.  There is no 'bonus' of draft picks here.  Just the stark realization that your team is dreadful and doesn't deserve to play with the likes of the other super stars.

If you are in Serie B or C  and you play your butts off and end up in first or second - you get to go up into the next level and have your stadium filled with superstars.  Its a great reward system.

Search AD for email aliases

There's no gui tool to easily find an email aliases in Active Directory

Found this and it works!

Right Click

1. Open AD and right click 'find' on the domain
2. Custom Search
3. Advanced tab and choose LDAP Query
4. Add the following line to the field: proxyaddresses=smtp:username@domainname.com
5. you can you use wildcards which is helpful - especially if you host multiple domains (something*@*.com) will yield results :)

Leafs 7th or Better

Leafs are 2-0. They look dangerous now. Sure they're disorganized, but hey we have a lot of new faces. The key is - we're better. Reimer bailed us out when needed, and when our key players got opportunities - we capitalized. Phaneuf on the drop pass blast, kessel with a hat trick, Grabo the point a game man. This team once it gels going - is only going to get better. The train is gaining speed with Leafs Nations in tow. GO LEAFS!

The Star Trek - The Unit - Castle Connection

Anyone know how these 3 shows are connected? A lot of the same characters in all 3 of these shows. All minor characters, but connected none the less.



I just watched the season premier last night of Castle and realized what i saw. I'm a Trekie. I did like the unit (but preferred e-ring but that's another post all together) and I love Castle. Not going to critique Castle today (that's another post all together). I'm just going to draw out the connections of these 3 shows:





1. Max Martini - he played a baddie for a couple of episodes last season. He was also a main actor in The Unit. The Unit also starred Denis Haysbert. This is no connection - except for the fact he was also in the second season of 24 as the President of the US. The first lady was:





2. Penny Johnson - who is now playing the new captain in Castle as "Victoria Gates". She also played a role in Star Trek DS9 as "Kassidy Yates". "Gates" "Yates". Odd. No who also starred in DS9?





3. Michael Dorn (Worf). He's in the final scene Castle as Beckett's councilor.

Waking the Sound

Kris Delorenzi's message of inspiration and love was well received during a live performance at Ruby Moon Saturday, Aug. 6.

Friends, family and fans all packed into the eclectic restaurant to create a lively atmosphere. This close and intimate performance highlighted Deloronzi's mastery of his craft as he performed songs from his debut album - Waking the Sound - a well-crafted 10 track journey into the soul.

Almost a one-man band, Kris sang, played bass and switched duties for guitar solos mid song with the aid of some advanced musical technology. Accompanying him throughout the set was seasoned percussionist Sean Jesseneu. -equipped with congas, rainsticks and chimes to add to the world beat vibe.

Ethereal sounds and a sense of warmth and comfort radiated throughout the lively room as onlookers took in the act.

Those attending who may have been of an older vintage got a real treat when Kris preformed Genesis' Follow Me, which was performed, of course, in his global sound style.

Waking the Sound is truly a journey for Kris. He is embarking on a U.S. tour that is set to start in California mid-October.

The tour is opened ended, and will see Kris travel up the Pacific Coast to Portland and possibly into British Columbia.

He doesn't know when or where he'll finish or end up. He says he only believes that he must go on the journey - fuelled with dreams, inspiration and aspirations.

www.wakingthesound.com

@delorenzifrenzi

Use the 4 Agreements in every day business meetings

Today i had the opportunity to meet and discuss issues on which i thought i had a fairly good grasp. I was hesitant at first but went in with an open mind. I was pleasantly surprised. I took away from my discussion new ideas, concepts and most of all a re-energizing of passion pertaining to this particular subject.

The 4 Agreements apply 100% to this scenario - as it does to all others:

1. Never make assumptions: Never be closed minded. Cautious scrunity is okay - just don't be pessmisitic and most of all don't assume you know what they're talking to you about.

2. Don't take anything personally: Hear what they have to say. It may be good it maybe bad. Don't internallize it. Listen and learn from it. You will know more by hearing and watching then by objecting and defending.

3. Be impeccalbe with your word. This person wants to share information with you. This will allow him/her to open up more if they feel a connection and will therefor want to share more. If you aren't impecable then they will sense it and shut down.

4. Always do your best. Don't half ass the meeting. Go in with your best face and smile. Be enthusiastic. Engage, ask questions and share back. The more effort you put forth the more you'll get out of it. You can't be a taker all your life!

Hope this helps!

This post was an adaptation of Miguel Ruiz's 4 Agreements: http://www.toltecspirit.com/

The Consonance

I've given this album a number of listens, but i was hooked on the first riff the first time i heard it. The fluttered run of the sax to start the jazzy intro smashes straight into the no nonsense drum beat of the core idea of the song. That sax is permanently imprinted into my psyche. I notice myself throughout the day looping it over and over in my brain - but it always takes a moment for me to realize it. That my friends is what they call a 'hook'!

This hook along with many many others is what you'll experience when you listen to The Consance's latest offering "Come The Day". This band has carved out a unique niche combining countless styles of music into a sound all their own. The Consonance is comprised of 6 accomplished musicians who all met at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton. Elements of jazz, funk, hip-hop, pop and R&B build the foundation of this group. Layered on top is Jesse Dolliment's vocals - a real treat for the ears. She has a true command of her voice. Her styles and range vary as much as the influences of this group.

The opening track "Tower" is a true showcase of this band's wide breadth of talent. This song takes you on a journey of styles. It starts off with a driving tick tock beat that gets your foot tapping. The chorus breaks into some smooth R&B and escalates into a nice funk. Second time around look out - The Consonance bust into an all jazz guitar metal break down followed by some great vocal chops that might make Christina Aguillera nervous. Dolliment nails the vocals in this section giving shivers down your spine. To see this group perform just this song would be worth the price of admission.

Each track written pays as much attention to lyrical content as it does arrangements. There's no fluff here. Inspirational lines like "you'll be okay as long your breathing - don't bite off too much you're only teething...", "listen to the ocean - put your mind in motion" and "from that tower that your standing on - you better come down" are all penned with poise weight and meaning.

This is a must see performance in July for Thunder Bay audiophiles. The Consonance will shake you from your musical complacency and make you remember why you love music.