ERST LESEN! » ndon and we havee passed that test with flying colo

The good news is that we finally have a draft calendar for 2017. The bad news is what the calendar itself looks like -- a chaotic collection of dates that bears no resemblance to realistic flight schedules and which fails to take into account the impact of jetlag and endless travel on the human body.Not only will the F1 circus once again have to put up with the impossible journey between Montreal and Baku -- assuming that the much-loved Canadian Grand Prix even takes place next year -- but for those who traditionally save money by staying out in Asia between the Singapore and Japanese grands prix, we will have to go from European time back home to local time in Sepang before switching back onto European time for the Marina Bay night race and back onto local time again when it comes to racing in Suzuka.The first sight of next years proposed calendar led to jokes about wrist-slashing and finding new jobs in the Sepang press room on Thursday, but the draft calendar is no laughing matter. It is hard enough to stomach for those independent freelancers who already spend in excess of ￡20,000 each year simply attending the races, but for the hard-working F1 mechanics whose jobs are truly physical, 2017 is a nightmare that people will have to suffer unless they see it as an opportunity to move into a professional sphere that is kinder to both body and family life.Working in Formula One is a privilege, make no mistake. Whatever ones role within the paddock, we are afforded with a unique opportunity to see the world (or, at the very least, the airports and circuits of the world), all while working in a field that inspires passion like no other.But that passion comes at a high cost, both financial and personal. Divorce rates within the sport are high, but higher still is the level of staff turnover -- particularly in teams -- as those who revelled in the adrenaline and adventure of a life on the road in their twenties decide that it might be a nice idea to have a social life, a family life, or even simply a personal life when they hit their thirties.There are rumours that following the Liberty Media takeover of the sport we will soon see calendars of 25 or more races, and while increasing F1s global reach is no bad thing, a 25-round calendar will only work if it is assembled by those who have real and recent experience of attending every round.As things currently stand, 2017 features seven back-to-back races, few of which make logistical sense. Shanghai-Bahrain works well for anyone using a Middle Eastern airline (thatll be most of us...), while Spa-Monza makes for a pleasant road trip, as some of us discovered this year. But Montreal-Baku is an exercise in insanity, with no direct commercial flights between the two venues. This year I booked two separate returns (London-Montreal and London-Baku), and alterations to the airlines schedules post-booking meant that I had a 15 minute window in which to complete a transfer at Heathrow.Similarly insane is the non-flyaway pairing of Austria and Silverstone, which tested the limits of the truckies ability to get from Spielberg to Northamptonshire in time to set up the motorhomes at the latter venue without violating EU regulations on the maximum number of driving hours allowed before road safety becomes a problem. Given the FIAs interest in road safety, it boggles the mind that the Federation would sanction such a pairing for a second consecutive year.Budapest and Hockenheim make for a logical pairing given the proximity of the two venues, and the only complaint there is a social one -- the Hungarian capital is a fun and bustling city with an abundance of choice when it comes to celebrating the start of the summer holiday, while Hockenheim is something of a damp squib when it comes to partying hearty. Or partying at all, come to that.Sepang to Singapore leads to the body clock problems mentioned earlier, even if its only a short hop between the two circuits. Switching between three time zones in two weeks (four if one stays out east to save money rather than heading home before Suzuka) is far harder to live than can be imagined if youve not tried it. At least the Mexico-Brazil back-to-back is an easy (almost) end to the season...Still, the overall calendar consensus? Could do better. Much, much better. Expect record rates of employee attrition over the course of the year, and yet more divorces than weve seen in years past. Even the marital guidance counsellors now on many teams payrolls are going to find it hard to save the relationships that will allow teams to retain their valued staff.Randal Grichuk Blue Jays Jersey . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Rowdy Tellez Blue Jays Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-ken-giles-jersey/ . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Alen Hanson Blue Jays Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Aaron Sanchez Blue Jays Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively.Despite the carnage, defiant Essendon chairman Lindsay Tanner has hailed their AFL season a character test that they passed with flying colours.The Bombers continue to reel from the aftershocks of their supplements debacle, with Jobe Watson losing his 2012 Brownlow Medal.A few hours after the AFL Commission made that landmark ruling on Tuesday, Essendon announced a whopping financial loss of $9.8 million.The Bombers say the doping suspensions handed down in January were an overwhelming factor in the financial disaster.Essendon lost 12 players to doping bans this season, including Watson, and finished last for the first time since 1933.But Tanner said there is still much that Essendon can take heart from as they try to recover.We havent turned on each other, we havent been distracted by the temptation to publicly re-fight the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision, outrageous though it may have been, Tanner said in the clubs annual report.Weve turned up to support our team, and still recorded strong attendance levels and membership numbers.2016 has been an enormous character test for Essendon and we havee passed that test with flying colours.ddddddddddddTanner added that regardless of their tough circumstances, the Bombers must not assume that their recovery is guaranteed.It takes more than character to win games and premierships. Our comeback is only just getting started, he said.We must guard against the sense of entitlement and complacency that seeps into many successful organisations.Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell also said in the annual report that the worst is nearly over for the club.For so long we have asked each other when will the time arrive where we can attend a game free from the stress of off-fieldissues? Well, the storm is passing, the clouds have almost lifted, Campbell said.The smiles and joy that were constants when we fell in love with this club are returning.Our players are as committed as they ever have been. There will continue to be ups and downs but we can take pride in the knowledge that adversity has only made the Essendon family stronger. ' ' '