August, 2012

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Flyers sign Hartnell to 6-year contract extension

I find it strange that only a few years after the NHL had a lockout, the owners are back to the same mistakes. There’s no need to keep signing these players to 6 to 15 year contracts:

 

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed All-Star forward Scott Hartnellto a multiyear contract extension.

Hartnell is coming off his best season, scoring a career-high 37 goals. He was second on the Flyers with 67 points.

The deal announced Monday is reportedly worth $28.5 million over six years.

”I’m very happy to be staying in Philly to continue my career playing in front of the best fans in the NHL,” Hartnell said.

Hartnell has 222 goals and 252 assists in 11 seasons with Nashville and Philadelphia. He has also recorded 19 goals and 25 assists in 84 career playoff games.

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Gloucester City plans to ban fishing at Freedom Pier

FISHING PIER
FISHING PIER

GLOUCESTER CITY — When the refurbished Freedom Pier opened in December, it was the first time in more than 20 years the public could gain access to the quay.

The pier offered a prime fishing site, locals say, but the No Fishing signs have recently gone up as City Council aims to ban the sport from the 98-year-old dock.

“That’s because you had a few knuckleheads leaving a big mess and destroying property,” said Mayor William James.

“We spent over a million dollars fixing the place up and making it accessible to the public,” James said. “And initially we didn’t mind people going out there fishing. But then we had people leaving their cut-up bait and fish guts.

“They were stealing the bolts from the benches to use as weights. We had to take some action.”

At a July 26 council meeting, an ordinance was approved on first reading that would prohibit anglers from casting their lines into the Delaware River off the pier.

The recently posted No Fishing signs notwithstanding, the ordinance still has to go before a public hearing and a second reading, which will place Thursday.

On a recent hot and humid morning, residents had differing opinions on whether the ban should go into effect.

“(The ban) makes sense and I agree with it,” said Bill Cook, as he and his dog Spud sat on a bench along the walkway between Freedom Pier and Proprietor’s Park Pier.

“You had underage kids drinking on Freedom Pier and people not cleaning up after themselves. It’s a shame because it was good to see the town finally doing something with (the pier),” added Cook. “It was a dilapidated garbage heap for years.

“But you have another pier right over there,” Cook said as he gestured toward Proprietor’s Park Pier. “There’s no difference. I’ve seen a 5-pound catfish from both piers. There’s no reason for anybody to complain about (the ban).”

Recently unemployed salesman Pete Donofrio had just pulled in his third catfish of the morning off Proprietor’s. A longtime fisherman who makes his own lures, the chatty angler said there is, indeed, a difference between the two piers.

“From (Proprietor’s) you have to know where to throw your line, otherwise you’ll lose it among the branches and other stuff down there.

“At Freedom you can fish from anywhere around the pier and you won’t hit anything. There are no snags there.”

Donofrio also blamed the “idiots” who have ruined a good thing for other townfolk.

“It had been opened for less than a year and some morons came out and tore the pier up. The kids obliterated it.”

James said plans are in the works for an Ott’s Restaurant to be built on Freedom Pier, and hopes to see it open sometime next year.

He added that if the ordinance does not pass, he’s looking for ideas on how to police the pier.

“Somebody’s going to have to come up with something if the fishing is allowed. I certainly can’t have a cop sitting out there all day watching people fish.

“We’ll see what happens” on Thursday, the former police officer said. “I’m sure we’ll get our share of public pressure. But it’s not what’s good for the few, it’s what’s good for the many.

“I love to fish, but you have to abide by the rules, respect property and police your own area.”

 

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The Submarines – Submarine Symphonika

‘Red Dawn’ breaks again with stars on the rise

Red Dawn is one of my all-time favorite movies. Since almost every remake is a disaster, I don’t know what to expect from this….

 

Patrick Swayze, left, C. Thomas Howell and Charlie Sheen starred in the original 'Red Dawn,' released in 1984, as a group of teenagers who defend their town from invading Soviet soliders.

Patrick Swayze, left, C. Thomas Howell and Charlie Sheen starred in the original ‘Red Dawn,’ released in 1984, as a group of teenagers who defend their town from invading Soviet soliders.

 

 

Sometimes you don’t need a big army to resist an enemy occupation — especially when you are dealing with Chris Hemsworth (Thor of The Avengers), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark of The Hunger Games) and Josh Peck.

  • Josh Peck, left, Josh Hutcherson, and Chris Hemsworth do battle with invading North Korean forces in 'Red Dawn.'

By Ron Phillips, Film/District

Josh Peck, left, Josh Hutcherson, and Chris Hemsworth do battle with invading North Korean forces in ‘Red Dawn.’

“Well, we are fighting an entire army, so that definitely stacks the odds against us,” says Hutcherson of his role in Red Dawn, due in theaters Nov. 21. “But it does help to have a superhero on your side.”

Even if the stars couldn’t tap into their alter movie personalities for this remake of the 1984 invasion film, Peck acknowledges, “We got a lot of firepower on our side.”

The original Cold War film featured a troupe of then up-and-coming stars — including Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey and her future Dirty Dancing co-star, Patrick Swayze — defending their Midwestern town from the Soviets.

The remake has moved the location to a Washington state high school under seige, but the same eye for emerging talent remains. When the film was shot in 2009, Hutcherson had not yet been cast in The Hunger Games, and the closely cropped Hemsworth was just training for Thor. Red Dawn‘s release was delayed because of financial problems at MGM, the film’s distributor.

“And their careers have blown up,” says Peck, who plays the younger brother to Hemsworth’s Marine character in the film. “It’s pretty dope to see what’s happened to Josh and Chris over the last three years.”

Ron Phillips

Chris Hemsworth secures a location in Red Dawn. Hemsworth might not have Thor’s “glorious flowing locks,” says co-star Peck. “But Chris could have a mullet and still look (cool). There’s something inherent in his DNA. He exudes masculinity.”

The Red Dawn enemy assailant has changed as well during the delay: Filmmakers re-edited and digitally altered the finished film.

“Originally it was the Chinese,” Hutcherson says. “And then there was the thought that the Chinese own most of the companies making movies and that maybe it wasn’t the best idea in the world.”

In the end, the attacking forces became the North Koreans (aided by the Chinese and Russians). Meanwhile, the members of the small-town high school “put aside our John-Hughes-Breakfast-Club difference and unite” to fight off the attack, Peck says.

The youngsters form a resistance group called The Wolverines, which includes Adrianne Palicki, Isabel Lucas and Connor Cruise. They show off their chops in an ambush scene that recalls the original movie.

“There’s the spider-trap moment when we just appear out of the ground,” Peck says. “Red Dawn fans are going to be blown out by it.”

Hutcherson plays Cruise’s best friend in the film and was impressed with his “gung-ho” co-star. “He definitely takes after his dad (Tom Cruise) in the action department, 100%,” Hutcherson says.

Though he enjoys his on-screen bromance with Cruise, Hutcherson doesn’t get a romance in the film. It’s not a bad thing as he gears up for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

“I’ve got to save all my love for Katniss Everdeen.”

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