Monday Morning Meissnervations

It's Monday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is December 3rd, the 338th day of 2012. There are 28 days left in the year.

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NHL, Union plan players/owners CBA meeting.

1992-93 featured unprecedented offensive explosion.

Visit the official league website, http://www.nhl.com/.

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Today's Birthdays: Ozzy Osbourne is 64; Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right) is 52; Amanda Seyfried (In Time, Red Riding Hood, Big Love) is 27.

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U.S. National Sled Team Defeats Norway, 3-1, at 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge Roman Picks Up Two Points; Named Player of the Game CALGARY, Alberta – Rico Roman (San Antonio, Texas) registered two assists and player of the game honors as the U.S. National Sled Team defeated Norway, 3-1, in its first game at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge here today at the WinSport Canada Ice Complex. "It's a good way to start the tournament," said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. "This is a much better start than we had a year ago in terms of where this team is. I'm very pleased." Norway began the scoring late in the first period on a power-play goal at 13:44. In the second stanza, Team USA applied pressure quickly and registered five shots in the first two minutes of action. At the 9:46 mark, Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa) netted the equalizer. After U.S. captain Taylor Chace(Hampton Falls, N.H.) was stopped on back-to-back shots, McKee collected the rebound and fired the puck low into the net. Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.Y.) assisted on the play. Josh Sweeney (Phoenix, Ariz.) scored the go-ahead goal for the U.S. just 2:28 into the final frame. While shorthanded, Sweeney collected a pass from Roman and drove hard to the net and deked Norwegian goaltender Kristian Buen to give Team USA a 2-1 lead. Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) secured the win in the closing seconds with his first career goal. U.S. goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) made five saves in the victory, while Buen made 21 stops for Norway. The U.S. will return to action at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge Monday (Dec. 3), against Japan at 9:00 p.m. EST. A full Team USA schedule is below. For complete World Sledge Hockey Challenge coverage, click here. FASTHockey will provide live streaming coverage for all tournament games. Those interested in watching should sign up for a free account in advance at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com. NOTES: Rico Roman was named player of the game for the U.S. ... For the complete U.S. tournament roster, clickhere ... The World Sledge Hockey Challenge is entering its sixth year. Its official website is available here ... Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.), former men's ice hockey head coach at the University of Wisconsin, is the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, while Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.) is the assistant coach ... Follow @USAHockeyand @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament and join the conversation by using #WSHC. For additional coverage, visit usahockey.com and USA Hockey's Facebook ... Taylor Lipsett (Plano, Texas) will miss the tournament due to injury. Billy Hanning (Festus, Mo.) has been called up from the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team ... Dan Brennan is the general manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team ... The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia, will be chosen next summer. Game Summary Scoring By Period 1 2 3 Total NOR 1 0 0 1 USA 0 1 2 3 First Period - Scoring: 1, NOR, Pallander, 13:44 (pp). Penalties: NOR, Klakegg (holding), 7:19; USA, Brady (teeing), 11:55. Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA, McKe (Pauls), 9:46. Penalties: NOR, Svee (holding), 12:34. Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA, Sweeney (Roman), 2:28 (sh); 4, USA, Farmer (Roman), 14:58 (pp). Penalties: USA, Salamone (teeing), 1:40; NOR, Pallander (teeing), 11:48; NOR, Pallander (elbowing), 14:03. Shots By Period 1 2 3 Total NOR 3 0 3 6 USA 5 11 8 24 Goaltenders (SV/SH) 1 2 3 Total NOR, Buen 5/5 10/11 6/7 21/24 USA, Cash 2/3 0/0 3/3 5/6 Powerplay: NOR, 1-2; USA, 1-4. Penalties: NOR, 4-8; USA, 2-4. 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge Dec. 2-8 • Calgary, Alta. • WinSport Canada Ice Complex Date Opponent Time (Local/EST)/Result Sun., Dec. 2 Norway W, 3-1 Mon., Dec. 3 Japan 7 p.m./9 p.m. Wed., Dec. 5 Canada 7 p.m./9 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 6 Semifinal 1 Semifinal 2 12 p.m./2 p.m. 7 p.m./9 p.m. Sat., Dec. 8 Third-Place Game First-Place Game 12 p.m./2 p.m. 5 p.m./7 p.m.

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The latest government figures show that the U.S. birthrate hit an all-time low. [Experts think the drop may have to do with Levi Johnston pulling a groin muscle.]

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Corvallis, OR. -- The Oregon State University football team has accepted an invitation to play in the 20th Annual Valero Alamo Bowl, Sat., Dec. 29 in San Antonio, Texas. The No. 13 (BCS)/No. 14 (USA Today)/No. 15 (AP) Beavers (9-3 overall, 6-3 in Pac-12) will play the No. 23 (BCS)/No. 25 (USA Today) Texas Longhorns (8-4, 5-4 in Big 12) of the Big 12 Conference at 3:45 p.m. PST (5:45 CST) in a game that will be televised by ESPN.

Read the rest here.

Visit the Oregon State Athletics department official web site.

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NASA will discuss the latest Red Planet activities of its Mars rover Curiosity today (Monday). Despite Internet rumors to the contrary, NASA officials say today's press conference (12 PM ET) won't present any earth-shaking results that force humanity to rethink its place in the universe.

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Als extend Bomben to new three-year deal.

Prefontaine hoping to return an Argo in 2013.

Visit the leagues' official website, http://www.cfl.ca/.

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San Diego detectives are looking for two men who were caught on surveillance video stealing about 300 pairs of panties from a Victoria's Secret store.

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Tampa, FL. —The Buccaneers rallied in the fourth quarter once again on Sunday, but an uncharacteristically rough third quarter for the visitors created a deficit they couldn’t overcome in a 31-23 loss in Denver.

Read the rest here.
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A New Jersey teen started a petition asking toy company Hasbro to make its Easy-Bake Oven more boy-friendly after her brother asked for one for Christmas. Thirteen-year-old McKenna Pope started a Change.org petition over her 4-year-old brother's love of cooking. McKenna says, "My little brother has always loved cooking. Being in the kitchen is his favorite out-of-school activity, and he yearns for the opportunity to cook on his own." But the toy oven has long been marketed to girls and made in gender specific colors like pink and purple. Pope's petition calls on Hasbro to drop its all-girl advertising so boys like her brother feel comfortable asking for the toy.

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Okay Jimmy, do this game now.

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Beats watching reruns of Becker, doesn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1960 - Elvis Presley's single "Are You Lonesome Tonight" hit #1 in the U.S.

1968 - Elvis Presley's NBC-TV special "Elvis" was aired.

1983 - The Elvis Presley album "A Legendary Performer Vol. 4" hit #91 in the U.K.

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YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS - Five hours of airplane landings in thirty seconds.

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Today in Beatles History:

1961 - The Beatles met Brian Epstein for the first time at his record store in Liverpool.

1969 - John Lennon was asked to play the title role in "Jesus Christ, Superstar." The offer was revoked the next day.

1973 - Ringo Starr released the song "You're Sixteen." It was his second straight number one single.

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ON THE TUBE: EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION (8p ET, ABC) - In this 2-hour special, the team helps build a home for a family that's house and farm burned in a wild fire.

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Today in Sports History:

1929 - The Boston Bruins began a 14 game winning streak.

1950 - Tom Fears (Los Angeles Rams) caught an NFL-record 18 passes against the Green Bay Packers. Terrell Owens (San Francisco 49ers) broke the record with 20 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown against the Chicago Bears on December 17, 2000.

1961 - George Blanda (Houston Oilers) kicked a 55-yard field goal.

1968 - The rules committee of Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that in 1969 the pitcher's mound would be lowered from 15 to 10 inches. This was done in order to "get more batting action." The strike zone was also reduced from the knees to the shoulders to the top of the knees to the armpits.

1988 - Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State University won the Heisman Trophy.

1991 - Hulk Hogan won his fourth WWF championship when he defeated Undertaker.

1994 - Greg LeMond announced that he was retiring. He was a three-time winner of the Tour de France.

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Want an edge the next time the Powerball or Mega Millions lottery jackpots get to big numbers? Software developer Mark McCracken says his program, The Lottery Picker, can increase your chances. The software also helps streamline the labor of buying, filling out, and checking multiple tickets. But it'll set you back $140.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --
Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 4:00pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 8:00pm EST

Sunday --


Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 10:00am EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 12:15pm EST


NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles 1:00pm EST

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!