Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. What a sad mess.
And in a rarity, these opening words aren’t exclusively meant for the 2024-25 New York Rangers either.
Instead, these words are also intended for the sorry state of the world, following both the tragic attacks in both New Orleans and Las Vegas.
Seriously, it’s the first day of 2025 and these terrorists couldn’t relax and take some time off from their sickening madness on a world-wide holiday?
Sports are our escape from both real-life and world problems, but yet again, “the religion of peace” strikes once more – especially at the French Quarter – and where from the last report that I read – fifteen lives were lost (including children) and over fifty people were hospitalized.
While this aftermath is on the bottom of the totem pole too, but Wednesday night’s Sugar Bowl, featuring Notre Dame vs. Georgia at The Superdome, was also postponed, which as a result, will put a huge strain on the some one-hundred-thousand people that are in-town for the game.
(The game will now be played at 4PM Thursday, 1/2 – so for fans like me, who also root for the Rangers and Fighting Irish – then we’ll get our entree first – and then a sour desert – another Blueshirts loss, afterwards.)
Furthermore, with Bourbon Street closed down, local business owners will also take a financial hit on what’s normally one of their most lucrative time periods of the year.
However, New Orleans has been through a tragedy before – albeit a natural disaster rather than a man-made massacre (Hurricane Katrina) – and they’ll get through this one too.
My condolences to everyone affected.
Now back to your regularly scheduled Ranger programming – and a blog that I wasn’t expecting to write either – but with so much news taking place during these past two off-days, then I figured that I’d chime in now, rather than posting a 20,000-word blog on Thursday night – that is – assuming that I can even watch the game.
But more about my chances of watching Thursday night’s tilt between Broadway and Beantown below.
The following words appeared during my Rangers/Panthers GAME REVIEW from 12/30 (and you can find that blog here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/123024/ ):
After Chytil had his sixth and now career-high seventh shots on goal denied; down to 16:20 remaining, and Lindgren, perhaps embracing the tank himself, pushed Bennett, moving like a locomotive, right into CZAR IGOR.
Igor laid on the ice for probably 15-seconds in real-time – but it felt like an eternity.
He remained in the game – but if you’re someone like me, who thinks that he should be traded before his new contract with full no-move protection becomes iron-clad next season – then you did have a little trickle of poo fall down your leg.
A day later, with the Rangers now returned in New York following their two post-Christmas losses in Florida, and the club announced the following on Twitter/X at around 5PM:
UPDATE: Louis Domingue has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 31, 2024
As Ranger fans were trying to find a reason to celebrate the New Year holiday, then it was reported that the Blueshirts had placed CZAR IGOR on the injured reserve list, where in turn, he’ll miss at least the next three games – Thursday against Boston, Saturday at Washington and Sunday in Chicago.
The club officially listed CZAR IGOR with an “upper-body injury,” and while we don’t know the specifics of what’s ailing the soon-to-be richest goalie in all of the league – we do know what caused it – the collision between Shestyorkin and Florida’s Sam Bennett – and as driven by Ryan Lindgren.
From first glance, then perhaps we can assume that this injury isn’t that severe, because if it was, then #31 would’ve been placed on the long-term injured reserve list.
Plus, he did remain in the game that he was injured in too.
But of course, should he not heal after missing these next three games, then the Rangers could always retroactively place him on LTIR anyway.
As I first opined on Twitter/X after hearing the news (https://x.com/NYCTheMiC ), then I really don’t think that this latest CZAR IGOR injury sustained makes that much of a difference.
For starters, when speaking about the starter, then it’s not like he’s been able to save this sorry sack of 2024-25 Blueshirts to begin with.
After all, #31 has lost eleven of his past fifteen games.
In addition, he’s not even a thought in the mind of any Vezina Trophy voter this season either.
Elsewhere, and it’s not like back-up backstop, Jonathan Quick, is bad either.
Heck, many fans, and even some reporters too, most famously Stan Fischler, all believe that Quick should be starting more games anyway.
While this is a lost season, where in this instance, it’s my intention to convey that you can’t go by what’s “on paper;” but schedule-wise, then you’d have to figure that Quick was set to receive one of the next three upcoming starts.
Instead, he’ll most likely start the next two games, against Boston and Washington, where following that pair of matches, then I’d expect Louie Domingue to draw in on Sunday, when the Blueshirts play visitor to one of the worst teams in hockey, the Blackhawks.
But of course, the Rangers are no strangers to such a distinction – “worst team in the league” – because not only have they been the worst team in the league (standings-wise) during the past two-months (and if it wasn’t for that opening record of 12-4-1, then they’d be in dead-last place today), but they have also lost to nearly every single one of these bottom-of-the-barrel NHL teams this season too – and including to these very same Blackhawks – and as they did back on December 9th while on M$G ice (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/12924/ ).
It should also be noted in this space, and as repeated many times over before too, that CZAR IGOR has always been prone to these mid-season injuries – although this time around – what caused this timeout is blatantly obvious.
In other words, then in the past, CZAR IGOR has missed stretches of games at a time (including during his 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winning season), and where many of these injuries sustained were of the wear-and-tear variety – and always of the “lower-body” nature – including to his groin. (Ouch!)
Last but not least, but for a team going nowhere this season, and where getting a top lottery pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft is more beneficial than scraping-and-clawing to a first-round playoff exit, then losing your best player for any amount of time isn’t that worrisome.
In fact, the opposite, as it could help the future.
And yep, and as his biggest fan too – then I’d still trade CZAR IGOR before his new NMC-laden contract kicks in – and as it will on July 1st of this year.
Before getting into our next story – the greedy disagreement between the two pig companies known as M$GN and Optimum/Altice – then let me dispel a very public misconception:
The Dolan family no longer owns Optimum/Altice, formerly known as Cablevision.
Heck, they haven’t owned the cable network for nearly ten-years now, as they sold the company to Altice back in September of 2015.
In other words, and despite what others are putting out there – then this isn’t a battle between Dolan’s two companies – as instead – it’s his M$GN vs another cable company – and where Dolan is no stranger to these very public and depressing wars either.
I first heard about this soon-to-be-severed accord between M$GN and Optimum/Altice about a month ago.
However, I didn’t give this story any mention here, because one, I didn’t want to do any fear mongering and two, more times than not, as in 99.9% of the time, then these very public contract negotiations usually become closed deals during the final hour.
The rare time when one of these disagreements lasted for the duration of a season in New York?
Back in 2002, when Cablevision, then owned by the Dolan family, couldn’t come to an agreement with the then brand spankin’ new YES Network.
Previously, Dolan’s M$GN had the cable rights to Yankee games (WPIX was the free network provider), which he then aired on his own cable network.
In the end, lawsuits were filed between both YES and Dolan’s companies – and where Yankee fans with Cablevision missed the entirety of the 2002 season – and while we didn’t know it then – when the Pinstripes were coming off the last year of their prime glory years (1996-2001) too.
The blackout, over a year long, eventually concluded and it wasn’t until 2003 when the YES Network appeared in Dolan’s Cablevision line-up.
Much like the Rangers, and this story between M$GN and Optimum/Altice was another negative one to take place on New Year’s Day – but obviously – nowhere as important or as meaningful as the tragedies that took place in both New Orleans and Las Vegas.
On January 1st, each FAT CAT company buried the other when releasing statements about their failed negotiations.
Here’s what M$GN said:
Here’s what Optimum/Altice said:
“Here at Optimum, we love the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and Devils. We understand losing channels can be frustrating. We are frustrated too!
“We’ve worked tirelessly on your behalf to reach a fair agreement with MSG Networks. However, they’ve refused to offer a fair deal. As a result, we no longer carry their channels. Fortunately, there are various options available for you to continue watching the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.”
Both of these original statements were then followed-up with multiple email blastings (and I received all of them as both a M$GN subscriber and Optimum/Altice customer – and NO – I don’t know why Optimum goes by two names these days either) – and where both companies pleaded and begged for fans/their customers to take their side in their own selfishly-made battle between billionaire businesses.
Seriously?
These two rotten companies want little old me to pledge my undying devotion to one of them?
To quote the great Mike Francesa, “GET LAWST!”
Until an agreement is reached, then starting with Thursday night’s game between the Rangers and Bruins – and Optimum/Altice subscribers won’t be able to watch it – and where I should also mention that the Gotham Sports App that never works, has also been blacked out by M$GN for subscribers of Optimum/Altice.
For people in the same predicament as me – Optimum/Altice patrons/suckers – then there are ways to get around this until these two slobs can figure out their shit.
As I do whenever I’m taking my dinner break at work (since Gotham Sports never works), then you can find (illegal) links to the games.
Since publicly providing such links is just that – illegal – then I can’t give you the full URLs to these sites here.
However, I can tell you what to Google when trying to find them.
Should this impasse go through Thursday, then search the following into your Google machine:
— Walter White’s most famous product + “streams.”
— The 1986 Mets favorite drug of choice + “streams.”
— “Stream” + the first four letters of the Conference that the Rangers play in.
Be advised – you’ll have to click out of a few ads before you can get the video of the game to play – and stay away from their chat rooms too!
Of course, and from the legal perspective, then you can also cancel Optimum/Altice altogether – but I’m not so sure if one of their cable competitors can hook you up in time for Thursday’s game.
Furthermore, you can also legally pay for other streaming services such as Roku or Hulu.
And while this remains to be seen, but as an ESPN+ subscriber, then the world-wide leader does have the rights to the NHL package.
But of course, and due to cable agreements, then any game that airs on M$GN is blacked out by ESPN+.
We’ll see if this restriction is lifted on Thursday, but the odds on that are slim-to-none.
As of this writing, then there is no word on what refunds Optimum/Altice will give to their customers while this standstill is ongoing.
My prediction?
No refund at all.
While fans of the red-hot Knicks are arguably the most incensed about these two greedy companies screwing the little guy again; but there is some irony that all of this is taking place when the Rangers are experiencing their most historic losing streak in franchise history (sans the World War II years – and where those teams had every excuse in the world – and unlike these losers of today).
And while the Islanders are nearly as equally as awful as the Rangers this year; but I guess if you’re looking for a silver living here, then Devil fans with Optimum/Altice are also up shit’s creek too!
Fingers-crossed, then all of this will be resolved by Thursday night’s puck drop.
If not, then it may be time for yours truly to enter this New Year by cutting the cord too.
Of note: Following Thursday night’s game, and the next two Ranger games are ABC/ESPN exclusive, which means that if things aren’t settled come 7PM 1/2, then at least there is some extra time for these selfish scumbags to get their act together.
Before diving into our final story of the night – Zac Jones teeing off on Peter Laviolette – then I wanted to make mention of the above graphic that must’ve been sent to me about 5,000 times during the past 24-hours on Twitter/X.
As noted in the caption above – while Pagnotta is credible – I still need to see a second source confirm his story.
I don’t want to do a hit piece on Pagnotta here (after all, he’s good at what he does), but there have been several cases in recent years where he’s been wrong about the Rangers.
But to be fair to him – stories can change all the time too – so what’s right one day could be dated/wrong the next.
In addition when speaking about the idea of Missing Mika waiving his disgusting NMC – something that I’ve been championing for during the past two-seasons (and I was the first person to do so too!) – then I don’t want to get my hopes up either.
Furthermore, if Stinka Zibanedud is agreeable to waiving his NMC, then realistically, who is going to trade for him/absorb his contract hit?
While I do believe that Mental Mika could provide value for a small market club looking to promote a name (and as the Seattle Kraken are currently doing with Kaapo Kakko – and maybe Utah or Calgary could do the same for #93 in this case), but I can’t see a contender being able to accommodate him – much less having any interest in him in the first place.
The only way I could see the Rangers dealing Milk Carton Mika to a contender is in a potential three-way deal – where the Blueshirts, who do have the cap space, assume half of Zero Zibanejad’s contract, take back a bad (and expiring) contract and then give up a sweetener (prospect or pick) to another team who in turn, will then assume 25% of this insane contract that runs through 2030.
As we get to our final story here – and I have been covering all of these Ranger stories in a chronological order; then come the afternoon of January 1st – and the Blueshirts held their first practice of the New Year.
The first practice of 2025 was akin to the final skates of 2024 – the line-up remained the same.
I’m not going to rehash all of my previous talking points about this subject again, because one, I’m tired of it, two, this is all insanity and three, the fact that there have been no major changes during this unprecedented losing streak is just beyond all logic and reasonable critical thinking.
There have been about 786786786867989 times where I thought that Drury, Laviolette or both of them at the same time, would receive the pink slip – yet this baffling Blueshirts’ brain-trust still remains.
Furthermore, how many times can all of us collectively say the same stuff over-and-over again?
The practice itself was rather uneventful, and where yes, Domingue was there too.
Ditto Matt Rempe, who is still serving out the remainder of his eight-game scapegoat suspension.
Following a practice which was sparsely attended by the Blueshirt beat reporters and Zac Jones, now a regular health scratch, spoke to both Larry Brooks (NY Post) and Colin Stephenson (Newsday).
As I’ve been continually writing in this space for nearly three-weeks now – and I don’t understand why Jones has felt the wrath of Laviolette.
Granted, while Jones did have some stinkers sandwiched in-between, it’s not like he’s the only one to have had an off-night or three.
And as we all know – it’s not like Mika Zibanejad or K’Andre “Minus” Miller are ever held accountable either.
Of course, we recently discussed all of this in-detail following Kakko’s first-and-only scratch of this season – which of course – preceded his trade some 3,000 miles away to Seattle.
But I do want to bring up two things that I first wrote back on June 13th, 2023 (my 41st birthday – I’m old) when Laviolette – or as I call him – “LATERALETTE”- was first hired.
One, Laviolette does have a Stanley Cup championship on his resume. However, what’s often lost in that, is that his lone win took place in the 2005-06 season (nearly twenty-years ago) – and during the first NHL campaign in the salary cap era/post lockout era.
If you can recall, then that was a wacky season, as every team in the league was adjusting to the new laws of the land – and where you had hundreds of players coming off a year of rust too.
While I’m not taking anything away from Laviolette here, but with hindsight, then it does say something that he’s never been able to win ever since.
Two, and this grew more apparent during his most recent stays and especially in Washington, then Laviolette, who came close in Philadelphia and Nashville, started to rely on veterans more-and-more.
But in his defense, and ever since his 2006 win win Carolina, then he has been hired under “WIN NOW” pretenses – and just like most newly minted Cup champ coaches usually are.
Even when you consider Laviolette’s first gig, with a rebuilding and torn-down Islander franchise, then the worst stay of his career was in D.C – his previous stop before arriving in the Big Apple.
As I even wrote about the time, many Capitals, most notably Evgeny Kuznetsov, publicly voiced their displeasure with him – and then talked about how happy they were when he was dismissed.
Furthermore, not only were his former players talking like this, but both Capital beat writers and Washington fans were also talking about how Laviolette made routine scratches of young players, while also favoring veterans long past their prime.
Just ask a pair of 23-year-olds today, Connor “Mongo” McMichael and Aliaksei Protas, if you don’t believe me.
There’s also something to be said about how all Lavy-led teams usually have a strong first season – and then fall off a cliff in Year 2 and beyond.
As we all know by now, and Laviolette still prefers proven veterans over young players – and where even if the evidence suggests to go youth instead of over-the-hill – and Lavy will not budge from his stance.
We already know about Kakko.
We already know about how it took over 100 games for Laviolette to finally shake-up his first power-play unit with Lafreniere (but only after he got paid) over Zibanejad.
We are also extremely familiar with Lavy’s obsession in regards to Zibanejad too – and where in several “do-or-die” last minute of game situations during this failed season – then it’s Mika out there – and not the hot young player of that particular game – including Will Cuylle, Brett Berard and as we just saw on Monday night, Filip Chytil (who isn’t really a “kid” – but he is younger than Mika) too.
Then there’s the whole puzzling Matt Rempe situation too – a force that was 16-4 whenever in the line-up last season with a Presidents’ Trophy winner – but for whatever reason – can’t play for the worst team in the league today.
And it’s just amazing how Lavy poo-poos this gift horse, a true unicorn, whenever he gets a chance.
As previously noted on this site, and as it happened in real-time, then Jones has fell to the wayside for older players that have been way worse than him, including Miller, Lindgren, Trouba and now Urho Vaakanainen too.
And just to give you this reminder one more time – then this is the same Jones that’s always took everything with stride – and unlike a Nils Lundkvist who asked to be traded, as he didn’t want to work/earn his spot.
Not only did Jones stay silent when he was punted to Hartford, benched in favor of an injured Trouba and while also captaining a prospects team when he didn’t have to either; but throughout this recent string of healthy scratches – he didn’t mutter a word.
That is, until the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025.
Perhaps Zac “F-Bomb” Jones made a New Year’s resolution – as no longer would he remain a mute.
If that’s the case, then he most certainly accomplished that goal during the first day of 2025.
As brought up about 79867867868967867867986786 zillion times in the past in this space, then whenever anyone involved with the organization says something “controversial,” then the club never uploads or shares this information with their fans.
This took place again on Wednesday – as while the franchise did actually air Laviolette’s post-practice interview where he talked about what Jones had said (I have it for you below) – but once again – and this explosive Jones’ interview was deleted and omitted from being uploaded to the team’s official YouTube account.
I absolutely hate this state of media censorship.
While we do know what was said (we’re almost there), but the black-and-white print/quotes/transcript pales in comparison to the actual interview itself – as we can’t judge an inflection of tone, a raised voice, facial reactions or anything else from this nature.
The following quotes from Jones’ interview were shared by both Larry Brooks and Colin Stephenson and full credit to them for providing them:
[On being made a regular scratch]: “It fucking sucks, it fucking sucks.”
Of note: When was the last time you heard a Ranger drop an f-bomb during an interview – much less repeat it immediately afterwards?
However, Jones wasn’t done quiet yet with the expletives.
[On his see-saw career]: “I don’t want to say that I don’t get a chance, because but it’s tough having been in that role the last two years and it’s like, I’ve got to play. It’s as simple as that. I’m fucking 24 years old, it’s simple as that, and I’ve got to play, so it’s fucking really frustrating.”
As I have said three times during the past two-weeks – then all of this up-and-down Lavy movement has hurt Jones’ potential earnings.
Here’s Jones confirming my opinions with such a quote – and where once again – he dropped two more f-bombs.
[On what’s going on this season]: “Yes, there were some hiccups here and there during my stretch of games, but overall I thought I was one of our better players throughout the whole thing. I mean, the team wasn’t playing well, we weren’t winning, almost nothing was going right but I don’t want to look at it like that.
“It’s frustrating when you think you’re doing some things well and it’s just, you just keep getting taken out, taken out, taken out. I just feel like I’m rotting away a little bit and it’s tough. It’s really fucking tough. I mean, I’m not a 32-year-old guy collecting a paycheck. I’m a guy who wants to earn my paycheck. I need to play. I have things I need to improve in order to be a full-time player and that’s what I want to be, I want to be a guy who plays 82 games and be in the lineup every night.
“I get that there are decisions to be made but, you know, it just sucks when it’s always you.”
Again – another f-bomb, another confirmation about Jones realizing that this head coach is hurting both his money & his career – and where a lot of this transcript sounds like the R-Rated version of Kakko’s last interview as a Ranger.
[On how he feels about always being scratched]: “This is kind of a surprise, but at the same time it’s not. It’s honestly nothing new. You come in with a positive mindset, but you always have it in the back of your mind. I know guys are hurt, guys are coming back and that’s hard.
“You know in the back of your mind when everyone is ready it’s probably going to be you that’s out. And it’s like, no matter what you do you just feel like you’re stuck.”
As Jones alluded to – it’s one thing for a veteran, say like a Chad Ruhwedel to be in this position – but it’s another thing for a player still seeking his prime years to be stuck in such a predicament.
[On looking for another team to play for]: “I don’t know. I don’t know. I just think, maybe it’s here, maybe it’s somewhere else. I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you that. I’m taking it day-to-day – but I’m not trying to pull a Kaapo here.”
Perhaps he just did that – as while he never mentioned Laviolette directly by name – once again, and he’s another player to complain about how he’s being treated by the clown bench boss.
After a belated Festivus-celebratin’ Jones aired his grievances, Laviolette took the podium.
Here’s Wednesday’s edition of “LAVY’S LOUNGE” for you:
On Jones, and Laviolette, and as he previously did with Kakko and others, said that he understands the frustration and wants all of his players to have that fire of wanting to play, but at the same time, he wants to give his two new d-men, Urho and Will Borgen, a chance to suck too.
Okay, he didn’t say the part about sucking – but he did say that he wanted to give both of them a chance.
Laviolette, after his foolish decision to keep Chytil benched at the end of Monday night’s game (as fully recapped here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/123024/ ), was asked about it again.
The clown bench boss said that Chytil just played prior to the penalty drawn which then led to the (failed) 6 x 4 empty net attack.
Not one beat reporter asked him if he knew that he was allowed to call a time-out – not even just to give Chytil a breather – but to draw up a play too.
Apparently, Laviolette is under the assumption that he’s coaching an NFL team – where in pro football – you lose a timeout after a failed challenge.
And these days – he’s looking like he’s coaching the Jets.
This is also the same clown who didn’t use a review on a 3-2 Florida goal – and where unlike the NFL too – in the NHL – you can review every goal allowed to your heart’s content.
This wasn’t brought up by the beat reporters either.
We’ll see where all of this Jones v. Lavy stuff goes, but with the head coach confirming that he’s using the same line-up against Boston that he’s regularly been losing with lately – then even if the plan was to give Jones a shot – then I don’t think that Lavy would appease him.
After all, Lavy is both pig-headed and stubborn, and by reversing course would then allow Jones “to win” – and as we all know today – the Rangers don’t win anything.
Up Next For The Rangers: Thursday night against the Bruins.
Up Next For Me: Happy Birthday Mom – get us a Notre Dame win!
Up Next For You: Again, my condolences to everyone affected in New Orleans and in Las Vegas.
And oh yeah, this too:
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
