Emernation

Photos from the Derby

In the spirit of the upcoming Preakness I thought I would share some photos I took during my rent trip to the Kentucky Derby.

White House Czar Declares End to 'War on Drugs'

The Obama administration's new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting "a war on drugs," a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration. In his first interview since being confirmed to head the White House ONDCP, Gil Kerlikowske said the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with abuse.

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DMR Poll: Do you want to see a pro hockey team in Des Moines next season?

Ducks Farts

Well, if you haven't heard by now the Anaheim Ducks
have pulled their affiliation from my beloved Iowa Chops. What
initially started as a blurt on the Anaheim Ducks site has snowballed
in to an all-out media frenzy here in central Iowa.

Here's what we know: The Anaheim Ducks have pulled their
affiliation, meaning that the players and coaches we had last season
will not be returning to Iowa as the Ducks' AHL development team.
Ducks GM Bob Murray has stated to the Des Moines Register that the
Chops owe the Ducks a "substantial" amount of money, and that they've
made one of their scheduled payments. The Chops have told me
something else entirely, that this development stems from a
misunderstanding about the deadline for payments. Iowa believes
that it payment was to be delivered at the end of the fiscal year on
June 30, while the Ducks anticipated payment at the conclusion of the
Chops' season which ended April 11th. Assurances have been made to
me that the Iowa Chops are working hard to either patch things up
with the Ducks by making a payment or my approaching another NHL
Franchise for an affiliation.

I could care less about the Anaheim Ducks. I didn't care about them
before they affiliated with Iowa, and only was interested in them
because of their affiliation with the Chops. The same will apply to
our new friends in the NHL in come October.

I believe that AHL Hockey belongs in Iowa. We have the climate and
the geographical orientation to make Iowa a great place for
professional hockey. What I find puzzling is the local media's
fascination with health of this team. Over the past two days there
has been more energy and time devoted to this team that for the
duration of the season. Where was the connection made when Bobby
Ryan was making a run for the Calder Trophy to the start of the
season in Iowa? Where was the media-praise for the fact that the
Chops had over 10,000 people in the stands on multiple occasions this
season?

I am a proud Iowa Chops season ticket holder, and I stand firm in my
commitment to my season tickets next year. The whole Iowa Chops
organization has been exceptional to my friends and family and I look
forward to what lies ahead for AHL Hockey in Des Moines in the fall.