Well I still have 2668 e-mails at work in my inbox, as well 42 saved messages on my phone. I plan on deleting everything in the near future. The subject of today's blog will be to give my playoff predictions for Round 1 of the NHL playoffs. That time of year is finally here. You will also find some advice below. Feel free to follow it to the letter, or discard it like an unwanted sweater.

In other news, I have decided to delay the purchase of a new comp system as I will be busy with other stuff. Maybe in the early summer. I do not envy the task that I will eventually face of transferring over all sorts of media files. I also need to figure out the best way to dispose of my old comp stuff that is environmentally responsible. I will have to pay to get it take care of properly. No free programs set up in Ottawa. But there is a gun amnesty program. I guess a lot more people own guns than people who want to get rid of old computers.



NHL predictions:

New Jersey vs. New York Rangers:
Probably the hardest series in the East to call, but the season series record shows New York as the clear cut favourite (7-0). Marty Brodeur and the Devils should go out again early. Boring, yawn!

Rangers in 6

Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh:
A disaster waiting to happen for Ottawa, not that they would have been any better off facing Washington. Ottawa is so discombobulated right now, it is hard to imagine that this team went to the finals last spring. They say that a shake-up could be on the way for this Senators squad, with Spezza likely to fetch the most in return. Can anyone say Spezza for Luongo, given the disgruntled time Roberto had facing the Vancouver media this year. Oh yeah, the reason I am giving the sweep to the Penguins is because Alfredsson and Fisher will both miss the entire series

Penguins in 4

Washington vs. Philadelphia:
The speed of the Capitals should prove deadly for Philly. Look for Ovechkin to regularly undress Martin Biron and Huet to shut the door. Washington is on a mission this spring.

Capitals in 5

Montreal vs. Boston:
Complete domination should be expected here, but I will give Boston the benefit of a doubt and give them at least one game.

Canadiens in 5



Anaheim vs. Dallas:
Hard to predict, but remember that Turco is traditionally shake come playoff time. Can Richards rise to Conn-Smythe form? This one should be a slobber-knocker with the Ducks coming out on top in the end. Lots of OT here!

Ducks in 7



San Jose vs. Calgary:
San Jose should obliterate the Flames and anyone who says differently is drinking the Canadian Kool-Aid. While the series won't last long, it should be a physical one.

Sharks in 4

Minnesota vs. Colorado:
The hardest series to predict since I am not familiar much with the Wild. There team seems mostly the same from previous years, but analysts are saying, watch out for this group. Forsberg probably will not play much, but there is Foote to play the big shut-down on Gaborik. Let's not forget about Smyth in front of the net. Should be a beauty of a series which also features OT.

Avs in 6

Detroit vs. Nashville:
Anialhation by the Red Wings. A rather boring series can be anticipated.
Red Wings in 4

Advice:

-Pizza is your friend. Eat it as often as you can without doing damage to your body and health.

-Don't buy a "$300 Blu-ray player". Just continue to rent regular format DVD's and stick with an older player. Besides, ina few years, we are supposed to skip the video players altogether and get direct downloads from somewhere: probably the internet. I couldn't care less about "features, resolution, sound"

As long as I am getting to see the movie I am content; I would still sit down and watch VHS.

-Large amounts of money can be saved by not buying DVD's. Except for maybe a few select titles (i.e. Star Wars, a priceless comedy etc) it is just a bunch of clutter in your tv stand. Some people think they have really cornered the market by buying a dvd they have never seen and probably don't care much for, instead of renting it one time. When do you have the time to sit down and watch that drama/thriller with the B rated actor? Actually, the cheapest way to do it is to download, but that is another battle altogether (small risk of virus, annoying to watch at comp etc)

-Reduce your upgrades of technology equipment from every 2 or 3 years to every 4 or 5 years. Buy on the cusp of the right cycles and you should be fine.

Delaying gratification is something that the following groups have mastered: Viet-Cong, The Muja-Hadeen, and the Tibetan monks. We should strive to be more like them.

-Discipline is a must! Otherwise you are one of the many who are convinced that paying with cash is always the best way to go. The credit card can play a valuable role and is optimally used by placing a big purchase right after the cut-off date for the monthly invoice.

-To add to the above note, don't spend money you don't have! Only make that big purchase if you can afford to pay it off next month. Until then, you should stick with the CRT screen. Oh wait, I'm doing that anyways. But for everyone else!