Fire Tortorella

The Lynx and Wumbo are off to a good start - we're currently 7-1, which is awesome. Due to a snaffu with the lines, I've only played 2 games so far, but more are coming. In those 2 games, I've played pretty well - 2 wins, .931 save percentage, and a goals against average of 1.00. So I might be a week late on this, but I want to touch on the additional affiliation TPE now available. All in all, I am in favor of the affiliation agreement between the VHL and the other leagues. Originally, it was "6 TPE from the VHL, 6 TPE potentially from other leagues". It was a good balance between allowing some work to be done in other leagues and still getting work done in the VHL. Now you can claim up to 8 TPE from other leagues, meaning you only need to earn 4 TPE here. It's a minor thing, as it's maybe only 5-10 less minutes of work, but it takes away content from the VHL, which I don't think is a good thing. It's not that hard to write 150 words of something, and if you can't be bothered to do that to participate in the league, I don't think you should have the opportunity to earn it outside of the league. Trade Me? More like "Sign Me" @WentzKneeFan036 - also time for you to change your username.

Good to hear! If we get enough people interested, I'll update the top post with a table keeping track of the best times! 

So as I mentioned in my recent VHL.com article, I did a VHL Speedrun! Basically, I tried to get the 12 capped TPE as quickly as possible and this was the footage of it. Unfortunately I fucked up and forgot to check what was being captured when I pressed the record button, but luckily you can capture most of it. This is the time that I finished with:
 

 
And I know I made a lot of mistakes and that's very beatable, so does anyone fancy a go at beating that?
 
Here are the rules I went with:
1) Starting position is VHL forum page with no apps open (unfortunately you can't see that on my end with the cut-off on the screen, but you do see GIMP loading towards the start as evidence.
2) You can use tools to speed things up (I used ShareX to take screenshots of my graphics to upload for example), but I would say nothing premade (e.g. Everything gotta be done there and then, no copying and pasting in of something you've already done, also cannot use graphics/media/podcasts either posted earlier or as part of a multi-week claim).
3) No JOBS!
4) No use of purchasable goods (E.g. TPE Boost for VHL.com or PT's, etc.)
5) No use of Free Weeks
 
LEADERBOARD
1 - @Hogan - 10:40:67
2 - @jhatty8- 12:40:04
3 - @MubbleFubbles - 17:57:58

Tacos are easily the most overrated food in existence.
 
No tacos.

WUMBO DRAFTED BY OTTAWA LYNX
 
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - With the second pick in the 5th round (50th overall) of the S81 VHLM Dispersal Draft, the Ottawa Lynx selected Wumbo, a young goaltender from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Right away, it was a match made in heaven for both on ice and off ice reasons. Off the ice, The Ottawa franchise of the VHLM has a long and storied history with this player's agency. Their first player came into the league in Ottawa (then known as the Ice Dogs) around S27 or so. Many of their other players have also started as member of the Lynx. From a management perspective, the Lynx were the first management opportunity given to the owner of this player agency. They were able to win the Founder's Cup in S35 and S39 before their GM moved on to manage the Riga Reign. On the ice, Wumbo is joining a very strong Lynx team that won the Founder's Cup last season. 
 
Wumbo: "I think it's a great opportunity to join the Lynx. I had some conversations with management leading up to the draft so I always knew it was possibility, but now that I've been drafted by them, I'm extremely happy it work out this way. The team was obviously strong last year winning the whole thing, and going into this pre-season, we still seem to have a very strong team. I'm going to put the work in to improve myself as much as possible."
 
If Wumbo wants playing time, he's going to have to continue to improve each week. Incumbent goalie Ed Nu was also drafted by the Lynx (11th pick in the 2nd round, 23rd overall) after appearing in 6 games last year as a waiver wire claim. Nu got the starting nod to the season and both goalies have been told to keep the work up to split starts. However, it all seems to be working, as the Lynx are currently off to a torrid start with 6 wins in 6 games.
 
Wumbo: "Obviously everyone wants to play every game, but as a goalie, that's not always possible. Ed and I are both coming into a good opportunity here to show ourselves to the coaches and prove to them why we want to play. It seems like we'll be splitting starts for most of the season and that's just the reality of playing goalie in the league today. Gone are the days of struggling to find 1 solid starter - now it seems like every team has 2!"
 
Wumbo is going to enjoy his time in Ottawa, but he knows that it will only be for one season. After this season, he'll be drafted by both a VHL and VHLE team. Unless he starts taking some steroids (and even then, it might not be enough), he'll be playing in the VHLE next season and the VHL the season after. All in all though, he is going to continue to take the advice of the coaching staff and Lynx alumni on how to improve his game and become a professional both on and off the ice.

I am the Systems Administrator at a school district close by. It has the every day IT challenges, which I love taking on. It may pay less than a corporate environment, but that is compensated by being in a far less stressful environment, and I get amazing PTO to spend plenty of time with my family. I also do IT consulting on the side, so that little gap of money that can be made elsewhere is more than made up!

Not many people know this, but I grew up in poverty. My mother was fighting an addiction and didn't work, and whatever my father gave her for child support was blown on drugs and unnecessary items. My younger brother and I grew up with very little, and it impacted not just my mental health, but also my physical health. The biggest impact had to do with my teeth.
 
First, my adult teeth came in incredibly crooked. It's certainly not the worst case of crooked teeth, but it was a noticeable amount. I really don't recall ever being made fun of for my teeth, but I honestly don't remember much from my childhood anyways. What I do know is that I hated smiling. Sure, there are pictures of me as a kid where I smiled and showed my teeth, but most of them have my lips sealed. I hated how my mouth looked.
 
Second, because of the poor parenting and lack of necessities, brushing your teeth was not a priority. The drugs my mom used caused her teeth to erode away very quickly, so she didn't really have a dental hygiene routine to show us. That, coupled with barely ever having tooth paste and a consistent diet of junk food and soda, caused for my brother and I to develop cavities early on. At one point I was given two temporary crowns which should have been replaced with permanent ones a few years later...they weren't. That was when I was about 8.
 
20 years later I started at my new church and finally, for the first time ever, I had dental and health insurance. I went to the dentist and watched as they were amazed that I still had temporary crowns. A few thousands of dollars, and many visits later, I now have the temporary crowns gone and the permanents in. 
 
On top of that work I began to see an orthodontist. I went to one as a kid one time, but as soon as my dad saw the price tag he said "this is why I give your mom child support" and, of course, she wasn't going to use that free money to care for her kids. So, I went without. As I said, I don't remember being bullied as a kid, but I was as an adult. I was once at a training in California for the Army when a guy said, "Hey, why don't you come over here and I'll bust your teeth out so they can fix that crooked smile for ya." I heard things like this in college too. Now, if you know me in real life you'd know that comments like these don't really bother me. However, even if they don't bother you a great amount, the comments can build up over years.
 
About a month ago I made the decision that I was going to do what I've always had to do, provide for myself where my parents did not. So, I went to the orthodontist, wept bitterly at the price, and signed on the dotted line. Today I started my next 18 month journey. I now have Invisalign. I'm incredibly excited for this, and I'm anxious to see what happens as these next 18 months go by, but I'm very proud of myself for doing this. So, I wanted to share with you all!
 
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

we should make it a rite of initiation to proofread an old article from either Viet, J-Cool, or GAllen

The flip side is there were a good number of people with English as a second language that greatly appreciated the practice and grading.
 
Graphics grading was 10x more stringent than media spots and the same applies. Our graphics community (IMO) used to be much more skilled than it is now.

Yukon 2 gud
 
@WentzKneeFan036

TL;DR: Gustav talks about 1984 and whatnot.
 
Honestly this is the most civil "complaining about being punished" posts I've seen and the fact that (by admission of some higher-ups) it points out legitimate issues is good. Usually when someone is punished and wants to complain about it--even if they're right--it comes across terribly, and more often than not they're straight-up wrong. The couple posts made by Penny about this, for anyone who remembers those, are examples of this, where someone admits no wrongdoing and just makes themselves look worse.
 
This is not that. @Hogan is being civilized for once and tells a story far different from the outright misleading (we'll get to that later) post in the ban thread. And what's happened here sets a dangerous precedent that could get ridiculous if the mods and the member base don't check themselves.
 
Point 1: Yes, this was against the Code of Conduct at the time, and is now. I think this is already covered in this thread so I won't harp on it.
Point 1A: Yeah, but no. Things equally as bad are said frequently across the league without punishment. I genuinely have no idea what member is being talked about in the main post (and I'm not interested in finding out who or why), but regardless I'm inclined to believe that the report was made for reasons other than the nature of the comment.  Point 1B: I'm also disappointed by the lack of transparency. I complained about this recently and I think I communicated part of my point somewhat poorly--that being that I'm not saying we need to know EXACTLY what happened, just that a fair balance should be struck between keeping things private for the sake of professionalism and privacy and being honest and informative for the benefit of the members who are subject to the rules being enforced. This is not the same as the recent punishments for harassment, which it does make sense to keep more private to protect those affected. It's a public comment and a teachable moment. Not only is there precedent for making things like this public--if you'd like to say there isn't, I invite you to explain what isn't OK about this or this or this, or quite frankly any other post in the ban thread. We weren't told "for offensive remarks made under an alternate account in the S80 draft stream, which are in violation of sections 1.3 and 1.5 of the Code of Conduct..."; we were just told that the CoC was violated with zero explanation. And the fact that the post received four positive reactions is similarly not something I understand, because knowing that someone was punished and celebrating it without having any idea why is a bit of a disturbing mindset. Point 2: More about disturbing mindsets. This makes literally everyone in the league, mods and regular members alike, look bad and has the potential to create a shitstorm.
Point 2A: If someone in fact did decide to dig into old draft streams for dirt on somebody...why? Also...that's against the Code of Conduct too! I understand that a motive will not (and should not) be made public, and that even if it supposedly is I'd be skeptical. If, and I am specifying if, this is what happened, I'd invite anyone reading this to consider that making reports specifically intended to punish another member is something that's done out of spite against another member with negative consequences for that member--in other words, a personal attack, which is specifically discussed multiple times in the league's Code of Conduct. If this truly is a case of someone trying to dig up dirt on someone else, that someone isn't innocent either. Point 2B: Why have we decided that every single post made by anyone in the past 2-4 years is subject to retroactive review? The replies in this thread bug me a bit, because they seem to imply this. We've got this post, which all but states that posts made after rules were officially drawn up are punishable offenses...  
...as well as that the relative insignificance of this punishment somehow makes it not worth talking about. If someone decided to ban me for a week over this post (I'm not saying anyone will) and just broadly stated that I violated the Code of Conduct (I haven't), that doesn't make it OK because it's only a "tiny TPE ban". That would be an abuse of power as well as a hit to my own reputation with my name being put in the ban thread forever.
 
To respond to the other similar comment:
 
 
For the record, I agree that it's "less than ideal" that something got by everyone at the time. But there has to be some sense of reasoning--if someone wants to go through every post made over the last 2 years and demand that everyone who said anything against the Code of Conduct over that time be punished for it, they now have a precedent to do so. Even if someone wanted to dig up a post from 4 years ago and used the rule you mentioned, they now have a precedent to do that. Of course, it would be ridiculous to give someone a punishment today for something they said once in 2017, and I think you can agree with me on that. But where do we draw the line between rational and ridiculous? I think reporting things, or even considering reports on things, from 2 (or 4? whichever it even is, I'm confused) months ago is ridiculous unless said things were legitimately ban-worthy--and this wasn't. Were this said on Discord, the most that would have happened is a tempmute, and I've seen things of equal disgusting-ness just met with a request to shut up. 
 
But yeah, I don't like to think about how we're going to go about things in the future if it's suddenly perfectly acceptable to say "hey, this person made this one comment, months ago, and I think you need to punish him for it". We can talk all we want about how our forum used to be different and how things said after the Code of Conduct was made aren't subject to it--but I'm sure most who have been in the league for the past 2 years, myself included, can think of things they've said in that time that they'd like to have back. I'm not defending the comment, but the response to it is irrational and it embodies some legitimate concerns I have about recent shifts in mod policies.
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I understand that we want a "higher standard" of moderation. But a higher standard of moderation does not mean more moderation. It means being consistent, it means being transparent when possible, and it means being respectful and accessible to members of the community. And yes, it does mean catching things when they come up--but what's the point in punishing anyone retroactively, especially when the infraction is pretty minor (no pun intended)?
 
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks this is strange, and I'm glad to know that Hogan can respectfully tell his story without being shut down. And I do seriously appreciate anyone in a position of power with the patience to read through and consider this whole thing. Much love and respect ✌️

1.) I was at home sitting on my recliner, so I'll probably forget it in a couple of years! Hopefully we can go back to back this season.
2.) The scary thing about game 7s is that it's just one game so anything can happen. Not that you should be scared to lose, but so many wacky things can happen in just one game.
3.) I was just happy to join the league!
4.) Not going to miss much to be honest, I was barely here.
5.) Hm...not really sure. They'd probably brand it with "Behind the Scenes" and then something...but if they didn't, maybe something like "Pouncing on Success: The S81 Ottawa Lynx"
6.) Gotta keep training - have to earn my spot on this team.

1.) I was at home sitting on my recliner, so I'll probably forget it in a couple of years! Hopefully we can go back to back this season.
2.) The scary thing about game 7s is that it's just one game so anything can happen. Not that you should be scared to lose, but so many wacky things can happen in just one game.
3.) I was just happy to join the league!
4.) Not going to miss much to be honest, I was barely here.
5.) Hm...not really sure. They'd probably brand it with "Behind the Scenes" and then something...but if they didn't, maybe something like "Pouncing on Success: The S81 Ottawa Lynx"
6.) Gotta keep training - have to earn my spot on this team.

Review:
 
No.

Review:
 
No.

HALIFAX, NS (PP) - In the Victory Hockey world, rumours were running rampant that former VHL Commissioner Jardy Bunclewirth was looking to once again get involved in a management position within the league. On Wednesday, these rumours were confirmed true when the General Manager of the VHLM's Halifax 21st, Nathaniel Minion (@Minion) named the old-timer his Assistant General Manager.
 
"It feels good to be back in some position of responsibility," the notoriously irresponsible league veteran said. "I'm looking forward to working with Minion and doing my best to usher in a new era of VHL players and members."
 
"As for the team itself, most VHLM teams got thinned out this season, so all said I'm pleased with what we've got in place here in Halifax. Minion has done a good job of collecting what draft picks he can, and I think we have one of strongest defensive pairings in the league already in place with Harry Hagel @jasplunds and Marcel Janser @Morcar80 anchoring the blue line. Meanwhile on forward, I expect Jorgen von Strangle @Timmy Turner is going to be one of the most dangerous skaters on the ice this season, and he's the perfect cornerstone for Minion and myself to build around in the draft tomorrow," Jardy continued.
 
The 21st have four picks in the Top 20 in the S81 VHLM Dispersal Draft, three of which are in the first round. After that, the team has five more picks in the final two rounds of the draft that the team can fill out the roster with.
 
"My primary goal coming into Halifax will be attracting waivers to the city over the course of the season," Bunclewirth said. "The draft is important and we'll be able to build up our bones, but it's the incoming free agents that will separate us from the pack. With some savvy selections and the right marketing, and I think the 21st can be a force in S81."

Absolutely nothing wrong with taking a break and coming back after a reset.
 
At the end of the day this is a fantasy sim league with made up hockey players, nothing actually important.

But how does this move help the VHLM at all? The change only seems to cater towards recreates who whine and complain that they wanna fast track to the VHL.  And even then this isn't doing them any favours. It's just watering down the M even further which again, sucks in my eyes.  If I am in the minority on this so be it, but  it feels like we are gonna be crippling one league to help boost another one rather than finding a way to make all three strong. 

2000+ words, because who wants to do a PT over Thanksgiving?
 
Claiming for the weeks ending:
11/14
11/21
11/28
12/5

y
Hello, it’s been awhile since I open this. I didn’t read the OP again but as I’m sure I had to of mentioned, I had quit one time prior with a prescription called CHAMPEX. I made it 3 months. When I quit this time cold turkey (no vapes, smokes, gum, nicotine, patches or anything) I honestly probably didn’t think I’d make it because I couldn’t make it with the help of a prescription that allegedly is somewhat successful in assisting with quitting. 
 
I’ve had a stressful last while I guess. Girlfriend had the pains, the tumour, the cancer diagnosis. Covid and lock downs, restrictions and societal divide. Work has been extremely stressful - I work with right wingers, racist albertans who are obviously anti-mask, covid, movements etc that love to spread their extremely far fetched conspiracies that they find in the dark corners of Facebook. Work too has been extremely busy and hectic working my normal 10 day shifts, on call 24 hours a day.. example - 3 shifts ago on the final day I worked  A 20 hour day with a call out… the shift after my final day was 16.5 hours… so 36.5 hours in 2 damn days… today is fortunately my last day of this stretch… We got a new puppy - which he’s adorable but man, he makes me so happy and appreciate of our 3 year old Doberman.. 
 
but, there’s good in it all. My girlfriend did her last round of chemotherapy on last Halloween (not this most recent) and in December she received the good news with check ups every few months since… her hairs even comeback very quickly!! Covid is still apart of our days but seems slightly better with hope now! Work is still shit!! Lmao.. and my puppy is our puppy.. but not even 48 hours into bringing him home, I taught him to sit.. flash forward a month later and he has sit, lay and very minor leash training.. and is working some more on lay and now slowly being taught spin.. 
 
AND FINALLY.. didn’t think I’d make it and I am about 9 hours early from my last cigarette I ever smoked a year ago.. but today is the day. ONE YEAR! My girlfriend’s mom just messaged me and wished me “Congrats on your 1 yr anniversary of being a non smoker ****..so proud of you and I believe I'm ready!!!   You can be my sponsor  😉 ” as I told her a couple days ago when visiting..  makes me happy and proud and it’s crazy I made it.. $3,700 bucks saved blah blah.. woo hoo!! Still can’t believe I did it!! Fuck yeah!! 
 

So apparently there are already 3 goalies ahead of me in my draft class, and it's not like I'm down at 20 or something. That doesn't really bode well for my career if I'm going to be going against 3 goalies around my TPE level in the same draft class. Which is kind of disappointing since I was looking forward to being a goalie, since I've never done it successfully before. Chicago and John LeClair II lost - that's a shame, because we were pretty good, but that's also life in the VHL. Every team (usually) who gets to this point in the playoffs is good, so it's not like a huge upset or anything to lose. Anything can happen in a 7 game series. Real talk - Discord (and any type of instantaneous communication, so something like XBOX Live as well) 100% amplifies problems in the community. It doesn't create them, only allows an easier opportunity to communicate. The league as a whole would 100% be better if it could go back to being forum based, but that's not where society is today.

So today is it. 5 hours from now I'll have a wife 

Updates will come, but probably more likely to be tomorrow morning (or today late night)

I've tried so hard to make it go away

Review:
Love the idea of continuing to do media spots involving you and your brother and linking them at the bottom. The VHL has had it's share of power brothers (right @WentzKneeFan036?) and it's fun to both play with your brother, but also against for bragging rights. Liked the transition into the Reaper awards and love the concept of individual team awards in the VHLM as well and congrats on winning your reward. Overall, a solid article.
 
8/10.