This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Include it in your account or email me anytime.

Where do hockey fans turn to get their NHL fix?

Where hockey fans turn when streaming costs keep climbing

It’s a great question, where do hockey fans turn to get their NHL fix, when:

The cost for a family of four to attend a game is nearly $500
The cost to watch your team play an entire season is more than $400
You can’t actually watch all the games because of regional blackouts. BONUS: They make no sense!
After paying all that money and hunting down your game, you still have to watch all the ads

What makes it worse, I suppose, is that like the rest of the internet, it was almost perfect for awhile before taking a giant step backwards. All games were in one place for one price.

Now I have to listen to my team on the radio, if I bother at all, and the company that ruined the TV tried to end that by killing its affiliated radio stations. Highlights it is, I guess, until they start charging for that, too.

I’m really interested lately in companies like the NHL and Rogers that seem to hate their customers, you know? They’re so hostile to their audience, it makes no sense.

If you wanted to convince me that sports in general and hockey in particular is a public good, even a national one, I might agree. I feel invested in my team and its city, Canadian NHL teams in general and national teams, of course. I love hockey.

But the NHL and Rogers are playing themselves out of that discussion. They’re exploiting our love of the game for simple naked financial transaction which is an interesting choice because I certainly don’t need to make one.

I can get my hockey fix at my local arenas, thanks.

Where are you on this? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj
Marshall Jones
Managing Editor

iN RESPONSE

iN RESPONSE to Monday’s newsletter opinion-editorial on how hard it is to watch NHL hockey

Hello Marshall,

I was long ago turned off hockey by the Canucks then Bettman, the decline in quality etc.

I briefly rooted for Buffalo due to a personal connection to Lindy Ruff.

I haven’t attended hockey in an arena since the Canucks and the Richmond Sockeyes. Decades.
I am on the Vees bandwagon but haven’t attended a game yet.

I don’t pay for hockey streaming and the games on the shelter common TV could cause arguments.

I like the PWHL so I might watch that.

— Patrick Longworth via email

PS: Right now I could only watch hockey on CBC Gem as I don’t have my own TV anymore.

‘A stab in the back’: How it feels to be barred from accessing MAID for mental illness

iN RESPONSE to Wednesday, Oct. 28’s newsletter opinion-editorial on mental illness barred from MAID

I’ve struggled with Chronic Clinical Depression since childhood. No one other than my family knows this, and others would never have guessed, as I was a present and loving mom and worked at a successful career much of my life. (Because it was my own business, I could book off the worst times.) Yes, there are sometimes short periods of reprieve from the most devastating symptoms.

I’m now 70 and have worked hard over the years to research everything possible about this disease and stay on top of new developments and treatments. I’ve been using fairly reliable meds daily for many
decades (now self-monitoring, as I haven’t had a GP or psychiatrist for many years).

I try my best to do all the “right things” like walk, meditate, breathe, distract myself, attend healing groups, get the sleep I require, eat healthy foods, and attempt to spend time with others, which can be exhausting. It takes a huge amount of effort to do these things most days because anxiety & depression change the way the brain works, making it a physiological illness as well as a mental/emotional handicap. Having ambition to do anything requires an abundance of self-encouragement and bravery over fear. As with most who suffer from any chronic illness, I do sometimes manage to feel a little joy and laughter here and there, on top of the chronic emotional pain that dominates me. It helps numb the feelings for short, temporary pieces of time.

I’ve fantasized about the relief death would bring many times throughout my life and make sure to get to the hospital when I reach the point of “planning”, as I’m keenly aware that’s when suicide attempts are almost inevitable. Thankfully, that’s only happened a few times.

I choose to stay alive for my family, children and grandchildren, as I don’t want them to have to carry the pain and burden of losing me that way. At several points, I considered asking them if they could gather around me in some beautiful setting as I die of an overdose of medication, or lethal injection by my doctor sister (had I been able to convince her). But I never pursued that as it would have also caused them pain. There’s just no acceptable way to make it end.

I understand why the M.A.I.D. program would consider mental illness ineligible because it’s an invisible illness with moderate to severe symptoms that can’t accurately be monitored by anyone other than the
patient, who needs to count on good communication skills and bravery to describe their condition. Only others who’ve experienced actual chronic clinical anxiety and depression could imagine the symptoms,
thoughts, and internal experience.

However, the fact that most people still compare their own depression after a divorce, financial loss, family death, etc. to clinical depression, and believe either time or “pulling up one’s bootstraps” will eventually cure the disease is inaccurate. They have no clue how hurtful this advice (whether well-meaning or ego-driven) is to those they don’t understand. It only increases feelings of embarrassment,
low self-esteem and hopelessness in one who’s already suffering.

Mental health diseases have always been discriminated against by society, including most medical professionals. The refusal of M.A.I.D. to include this monstrous disease as a potential option for those who suffer is absolutely inhumane. Just because some folks who suffer from either incident-induced and/or milder to difficult bouts of depression, PTSD, or long-term anxiety may be curable, the fact is
that those who suffer chronically with deep emotional and mental pain for many years – (sometimes far less time) – will very often commit suicide, as it’s always been the only real option for escape, especially for those who do not have the intelligence, information, treatments, finances, or support that can keep them going (I’ve been fortunate). This way of dying is horrible due to the stigma attached, as well as the questions and possible feelings of guilt and shame suffered by parents and family members. Society still judges very heavily.

Being eligible for M.A.I.D. would not only validate the devastation and seriousness of this disease, but also acknowledge that it is “chronic and will eventually lead to death”, just like any other incurable illness that IS considered eligible.

The M.A.I.D. program must be available to any human who could be saved from ongoing painful symptoms that will almost always lead to death. Period. Trust people and their medical pros (even when there are no actual doctors or specialists available; a long-term clinical counsellor or other medical advocate could also be used, as they usually better understand the disease, the individual, the severity,
the progression, and the timeline).

I see lawsuits and ongoing suicides coming if mental illness continues to remain excluded from this wonderful and compassionate program.

— Identity withheld at request of writer

Disclaimer: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the editor, iNFOnews.ca, iNFOTEL MULTIMEDIA, its partners, principals or advertisers.