Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
August 2008 Archives
Bloggage and Stuff
August was a decent month. 1072 visits to Buffalo Boy Mike. My busiest day was this past week with 120 visitors. My best month was still June with close to 2500 visits to the site.
Tomorrow I will present my 2008 Fantasy Football teams and I will also preview the Fantasy Baseball playoffs. I personally don't think Im going to get beat. I have dominated my fantasy baseball league all year.
I will also announce at some point my fantasy hockey league which I will be registering for shortly and I will open that one up to readers of the blog if they would like to sign up for my fantasy hockey league.
September I will also be doing my NHL predictions and Sabres previews and this week I will be doing my football predictions.
Also, I will be starting to preview the issues on the presidential election. Retro sundays, I still have to pick a day to do a tune from my I-tunes during the week. I think it will be Mondays. Mandatory Music Mondays we shall call it. That sounds good.
If there is anything you particularly like or dislike about the site, this is the post to leave your comments.
Oh, in case you didn't notice yet, I have added a few links in the sidebar, make sure you check them out! Happy Labor Day!
BBM
Category: Blogging | Miscellaneous
Sunday Retro
This week for Sunday Retro it is back to something a little more traditional as opposed to the loud, albeit great punk rock from The Milkmen and Kennedys. Today is an REM song that would probably go overlooked for a greatest hits collection. It is probably one of my top 5 REM tunes if I had to rank them. It might even be number one. Its Radio Song. The rap on this song is by KRS-one. The single was released of 1991's Out of Time. It has been 17 long years since that came out. I have the cassette floating around somewhere.Category: Sunday Retro
Return of Real Time
Bill Maher was back last night and Real Time on HBO is my show on Friday nights. Its funny, relevant and provides some interesting insight from politicians (both republican and democrat), celebrities and other significant cultural figures.
Bill is someone who has the rare ability to combine politics and current events with a unique brand of comedy. He does poke fun at both democrats and republicans even though he himself is very liberal.
Here's a few tidbits from last nights show:
Opening Monologue: Interview with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine: (Listen to him tell how McCain made his choice, calling her at the Alaska State Fair, nice pick for VP) New Rules:Category: Politics | Television | comedy
Don't Let The Woman Fool You
The republicans are going to try to play this up as "cracking the glass ceiling". However, the ceiling to this point has been cracked.
Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman as a vice presidential candidate in 1984 with democrat Walter Mondale. Its happened before.
That is part of the problem with people in this country, most are uneducated and don't even know this and the ones who are educated are forgetful of our nations history.
The media has yet to bring up Ferraro and that kind of surprises me. Usually they would be all over the comparisons or providing the history. Instead they themselves are treating this as some historical thing that has never happened before.
Now, winning would be a first and that would crack the ceiling. However, since this got off on a bad foot by Palin claiming to be McCain's answer to Hilary, winning is out of the question. She is already proven to be an abuser of power and someone you can't trust, of course we elected George W. and Cheney twice so that shouldn't be surprising.
The only glass ceiling that is going to be cracked is Obama becoming the first African American president.
Category: Politics
What Do Republicans Have Against Universal Health Care?
Why does the so called Christian, right wing republican party have such a distaste of universal healthcare? I can not get my arms around that no matter how often it comes up.
Jesus was the most altruistic person ever. If you were sick, he healed you. He didn't expect a co-payment or anything in return.
Republicans fear is more taxes. But there are several ways that we can come up with the money to fund such a system without increasing taxes one penny or very little, say only to the rich (which someone is rich according to John McCain if you make more than $5 million a year, I don't know about any of you, I would consider lots of amounts under that to be rich.)
End this wrong war and immediately we save billions of dollars per year that could go to domestic issues such as.....HEALTHCARE. The other is getting this country off oil. End our dependence on foreign oil which we are essentially borrowing from the Chinese to pay for oil and we save billions more. This could once again pay for other domestic issues.
Taxing the upper tier of income earners (not the average American) would also generate plenty of income to help establish universal healthcare amongst other things.
The other area we seriously need to look at taxing is churches. Its time. Their profound influence in the political system and the fact that we have a "Christian" right wing of our political system says that yes, its definitely time to tax churches. Not just Christian churches, all of them. Whats fair for one denomination is fair for all.
Donations to churches should no longer be tax deductible either. Its all bullshit anyway and those who claim it are probably lying about it most of the time anyway. Churches and those who donate to churches would be fine with that for the noble cause that those tax dollars would be going to.
The other thing we need to do is eliminate the waste in the healthcare system. Universal Healthcare would eliminate one thing, billing. The number of people to keep track of billing is astronomical, Watch Michael Moore's Sicko to get an idea of how simple it could become. You go for healthcare and instead of worrying about what they have to fill out for the insurance company, healthcare professionals can worry about getting the patient well. Instead of worrying about how many patients they see for productivity, they are rewarded for how many patients they get better.
Finally, healthcare under a universal system would be proactive instead of reactive. If you are proactive in treating a disease, the treatment is usually cheaper. If you wait till something hurts to the point that you have no choice but to go to the ER the costs all of a sudden rack themselves up. If you feel pain coming on and say gee maybe I better go just in case and it turns out to be something important they can catch it early without a hosptital stay.
I've posted this before and I am posting it again because its an issue that is going to come up again and again in the coming months. If you think about it, we are already half way there. Medicare and Medicaid already cover a large number of people. I think the biggest thing right now is the system needs to be streamlined and HMO's need to be eliminated. They are the ones driving up costs. Them and drug/medical suppy companies. Expand medicare and medicaid or combine them to all Americans. Whats wrong with that if the funding is secured.
We should really be looking to our neighbors to the north, Great Britain, France or any other nation that has a system in place. They have it and most of them would tell you that while its not a flawless system and it has its prolems from time to time but one thing they do not worry about is how high their medical bills will be.
The basic premise here is simple, Healthcare is not a privilege, its a human right. The sick should be cared for, just like we provide a free and public education to our kids and fire and police protection to all. What is wrong with having a society that cares for its people enough to provide free universal healthcare to its citizens?
Category: Politics | healthcare
McCain's VP
John McCain just picked the worst possible VP selection in the history of the Republican party. Im not going to comment on it because a friend of mine already has. Rob is a new reader of my blog and he emailed me with this:
"McCain picking Palin as his running mate is a clear slap in the face to Hilary Clinton and all she did in running for president. Some observations after seeing Palin speak in Dayton just now during lunch: 1. The Repukes are surely trying to capitalize on dissenting Hilary supporters by placing a woman on the ticket, in effort to get them to vote McCain. 2. She plagiarized Hilary, commenting about breaking the glass ceiling, and even herself I think insulted Hilary with a comment about her being on the ticket is (read sarcastically) "real" progress... I'm assuming versus having run in effort to get on the ticket. A lot of smack for a 1st term governor with no significant political experience. 3. The Repukes are trying to combat Obama's youth. Palin is just 44. They are also attempting an energy crisis coup here because she is of course governor of Alaska. My thoughts: 1. They have in effect eliminated their ability to harp on Obama's inexperience. He at least has been senator since 2002, she has been governor since 2006. 2. If the Dems successfully paint this move as a slap in the face to Hilary, the 'pukes should lose more pro-Hilary dissenters than they would ever possibly gain. They have to jump all over that, pointing out that she's only on the ticket because she's a woman. 3. I hope there are still enough conservative stalwarts out there that don't want a woman in power. He may have just turned off that conservative minority who won't see a woman in the Executive Branch unless it's over their dead bodies. Unfortunately most of the folks still around with those thoughts aren't going to exactly open up to a black president either. Could they sit on the sidelines? If it's possible to have less than no respect for something, that would describe my feelings about the GOP. And I think they still have something up their sleeve to ensure they keep a stranglehold on the White House. I'm not sure what it is, but if the polls aren't in their favor come mid-late October, I wouldn't be surprised by anything... a. Start a war and suspend elections in the interest of "national security"? b. Declare victory in Iraq and withdraw the troops, boosting ratings? c. Create a domestic terrorism event and see (a) above?d. Assassinate Obama?
They sound far-fetched now don't they? Or do they?"
Great job Rob and thanks for reading. I think the above pretty much sums up all the feelings I have. Its a big slap in the face to all women voters who were supporting Hilary. This republican party is getting desparate. I don't think any of that would surprise me.Category: Politics
What An Asshole
Rush Limbaugh just now was commenting on the McCain VP pick and I can not believe that he gets away talking like the insensitive asshole that he is.
He said about Sarah Palin and I quote: "She is a mother of five, she had A DOWNS SYNDROME BABY AND DIDN'T ABORT IT."
How friggin insensitive can he get. How politically incorrect can he get? If any other talk show host says that he be crucified. He said it like he was surprised that she wouldn't abort a baby with down's syndrome. Like this kid is worthless because of down's syndrome.
He said it so as a matter of factly that he made it seem like he thinks babies with down syndrome are aborted all the time, which is not the case. Not even close.
Rush, I hope there were others listening to your opening comments who had the chance to hear that who took it the way I did. You are truly a classless act. So much so infact that Im not going to bother posting your picture. I should post a picture of a steaming pile of dog crap, because after hearing those comments today thats about all he is,
As far as McCain's VP pick, he can't talk about how Obama is inexperience, this chick is about as inexperienced as they come. How could anyone look at this and say that this is a good pick? She is ultra conservative, pro-life, pro-guns, its a female version of George W. Bush. She is also in favor of more oil. The only thing she has going for her is her looks. Shes actually pretty nice looking, but we are not voting on looks, we are voting for someone who can run this country, McCain needs more than her to help him win this race.
Internet Companies Limiting Internet Usage?
Okay, during down time I am online a lot, updating the blog, fantasy sports, and music. I don't know the numbers that Comast is suggesting or how big they are and how much usage they imply as their limit but what I do know is, I like many Western New Yorkers and people all over the world pay top dollar already for internet usage
I pay close to $50 a month for Time Warner's Road Runner service and now they along with Comast are looking at limiting and charging more for high usage? For $50 a month I should be able to stay online and surf 24 hours a day if I have to. How could they possibly be complaining about people using a service that they pay for! I'd love to see Comcasts and Time Warner's bottom line. These two companies are in no way struggling to make ends meet. The companies suggest that they could potentially start consumption based billing. Are you kidding? What does it really cost to provide the service? All the friggin advertising online and their sites, Im sure somebody somewhere is making a bundle at Comcast. This is nothing more than coorporate greed. Everyone paying $45-50 a month they are making a killing without changing a thing.Barack Hit The Home Run
I just finished watching the big speech from last night, I just couldn't keep my eyes open long enough. Barack, if you were already a believer in him, made you a bigger believer. If you are not a believer and you watched his speech, if you are not a believer, you need to have your head examined.
Im not going to sit here and tell you how much better he is than McCain. The next two months will show that Obama clearly understands the issues of this country. His greatest point of the evening was he and John McCain may disagree, Americans may disagree on issues in this country but, he will not and we should not question our patriotism just because our ideas of what will make his country better differ. If you haven't seen it yet, I have it here, whether or not you like him, if you haven't watched his speech, it is worth the few minutes to understand the man who is Barack Obama:
Category: Politics
Taking on the Role
Talk about taking on his role. David Duchovny plays a sex obsessed guy on the Showtime series Californication, which I have never seen.
So now he is checking into rehab for.....sex addiction. Whats even stranger is that this morning as I woke up and read this I caught the tail end of a reasonably good movie called Trust The Man. He plays a guy who is cheating on his wife in that movie too.Maybe there is something to actors and actresses taking their work home with them?
Category: Celebrities
The End of Stu
Former Sabres Captain STUUUUUUUUUUUU BARNES retired today. Stu played for 3 plus seasons here in Buffalo and even though he left for the Dallas Stars we still love him here in Buffalo.
He was a true worker on the ice and left every ounce of energy he had out there. He is joining the Dallas Stars coaching staff which I can say that he should make a great coach, hes got a good head on his shoulders and is respected by his teammates.
He will best be remembered in Buffalo for the OT goal against Pittsburgh in 2001 which is the first goal in the following Stu highlight film
Football Is Here
Of course before hockey comes football and for football being a distant third on my favorite sports I have done quite well in recent years with fantasy teams. My drafts for my two leagues are this weekend and honestly, I don't think I will have the one-two punch at quarterback I had last year with Tom Brady and Derek Anderson. This was my team from last year:
Quarterback: Tom Brady (NE), Derek Anderson (Cle), David Carr (NYG), and Cleo Lemon (Mia). (if it was a keeper league I would have been set for years as I had Jamarcus Russel and Brady Quinn but with injuries and bye weeks I needed a few guys who could play in Carr and Lemon.)
Wide reciever: Reggie Brown (Phi), Mark Clayton (Bal), Leveranues Coles (NYJ), Bobby Engram (Sea), Larry Fitzgerald (Ari), Brandon Jones (Ten), Muhsin Muhammad (Chi), and Vincent Jackson (SD)
Running Back: Reggie Bush (NO), Marshawn Lynch (Buf), Julius Jones (Dal), and Kenton Keith (Ind)
Tightend: Donald Lee (GB) and Kellen Winslow (Cle)
Kicker: Shayne Graham (Chi)
Defense: Pittsburgh
I needed a ton of wide recievers as I had a ton of injuries throughout the year but some how I pulled it off, mainly on the fact that Brady and Anderson were just incredible. Easily the 1st and 2nd rated QBs in all of football last year.
I will have my complete drafts after the picks are made this weekend.
Category: Fantasy Sports
Has Anyone Checked The Calendar?
According to the calendar and the friggin nip in the air the last few nights it means only one thing: The Sabres should be starting soon.
Real soon as a matter of fact. the first pre-season game which just so happens to be against the Toronto Maple Leafs is set for September 22nd. That means training camp opens probably a week before that.
Yikes. Better get summer in now because as much as I love hockey season, with it comes that damn white stuff, cold and 6 months of darkness. Where oh where does the summer go?
Stay tuned for the return of Sabres updates, fantasy hockey and other NHL related tidbits/predictions.
Working Out
Working out is habitual, the more you do it, the more you can't go without doing it. The trick is getting into the habit. Once you get to a certain point you feel bad if you miss. The last few weeks I have gone 3 times each week and its starting to become automatic. Granted I can't get that 5:30 AM thing going again but I have been going in the afternoons and that is good for now.
Its amazing how good it feels too. More energy on the days I do work out. The secret is going to bed early and getting the sleep in too. Without sleep regardless of the time, your body doesn't recover or respond well when you go to do the workout.
I am amazed at how good my cardio is at least on the bike. I have been doing 30-45 minute rides and going about 10-12 miles on the stationary bike. I then lift weights for about 15-20 minutes and Im done. This is first phase, second phase is re-entering the pool. I will provide updates as I re-enter the swimming part. Stay tuned. That should begin sometime in October.
Category: Swimming | Working out
Radio Nigel
In the endless pursuit for quality music listening experiences I was reading some comments on a recent post from Freddie P. He wanted to know what Toronto radio lacks. In case some of you are not familiar with the Toronto radio scene there have been a number of changes that have not necessarily gone over well over the years with radio listeners in TO.
We here in Buffalo are lucky as we get a number of the more powerful Toronto stations such as Q107 and CFNY 102.1 amongst others. CFNY has lost its luster starting with the loss of the Humble and Fred Show. It was cool for a while, Humble and Fred did MOJO Radio AM 640 so they were still around. But 102.1 lost its appeal. I have almost stopped listening to music on the radio which sucks because I feel I have not kept up with the "new" music scene. So Freddie wants to know what would the Toronto radio listeners do differently with the state of radio in Toronto without bringing back the Humble and Fred Show. Well there were a number of interesting responses and one of them, from a guy named Steve, included this alternative to radio, Radio Nigel. It is an interesting mix of 80's tunes that sounds very much like what you would have heard on the old school CFNY. My suggestion was a classic alternative format which I think is sorely needed. You could constantly add to the playlist as there is always new alternative rock coming out and let the fans of the old school pick what belongs on the classic list.This is a sample playlist from Nigel Radio:
Thu 28th Aug,2008 02:26 pm
14:23:49 U2 - Wire
14:23:39 Bump H2 - Uncertainty
14:20:59 Iggy Pop - Im bored
14:15:44 Depeche Mode - Fly On The Windscreen
14:11:38 REM - Radio Song
14:08:19 Soft Cell - Down In The Subway
14:04:34 Devo - That's Good
13:59:04 The Smiths - This Charming Man(New York Vocal)
13:56:21 The Plimsouls - How Long Will It Take?
I've almost come to a point in my music listening life where I like what I like and I'm probably not going to experience much new stuff without being either very critical of it or just hating it for lack of adventure. I like music that sounds different or at least attempts to do stuff that no one has tried or at least no one else is doing at the time.
Don't get me wrong, I like some new stuff that has come out, The Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire and Hot Hot Heat are some examples of stuff I like now but I always find myself rediscovering the stuff from back in the day. Maybe because that stuff was so different then that it was ahead of its time. If you go back and listen to that old school CFNY stuff it still sounds fresh today because quite frankly, much of what comes out today all sounds so stale. Bands like Nickelback just don't do it for me. They are boring, watered down reruns of what Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden tried to pave the way for. Its why I really don't listen to Buffalo radio. 103.3 The Edge is really loud guitar laden band after loud guitar laden band with little to no originality or attempt to play anything different from time to time. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of the guitar laden stuff but I like the INXS's, Cures and New Orders too. One station I do enjoy is 92.9 Jack FM because at least on there, they try to give a variety and mix it up a little. You can hear Led Zepplin followed by Echo and the Bunnymen. Thats refreshing. Not too many stations around here can say they can do that. So here is my question, which is much the same as Freddie's, what would anybody around Buffalo change about our radio scene? One thing I would do is get rid of the record industries influence and this playlist mentality that gets stations over playing certain songs just because they are big at any given time. One reason I do like Toronto/Canadian radio in general is they do have a larger selection to play on their stations so you don't hear songs 20 times a day. The only requirement Canadian radio has had and I don't know if that is still the same is they have a Canadian content requirement that requires them to play 35% Canadian artist, which has helped the likes of Sam Robers, The Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace and other bands acheive a degree of success in Buffalo and border cities in the US that they would not have had otherwise. Have at it, let me know about your feelings about the Buffalo radio scene and go check out that Nigel Radio, its worth a listen.Category: radio
Hip For The Hell Of It
I haven't done any Tragically Hip stuff lately so here is a live video of Lake Fever which was on the Music at Work CD. Take a listen, its a video I have never seen before and the sound quality is pretty good. Gord has a pretty good intro to the song as well. I love the vocals/lyrics in this song and Rob Baker on lead guitar is simply the best.
Category: Music | The Tragically Hip
How Good Are They?
Tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays showed how good their pitching staff really is. Of all the pitchers they rolled out tonight (5 all together), no one had an ERA higher than 2.69.
Roy Halladay had the highest at 2.69, BJ Ryan had the second highest at 2.68. Everyone else was substantially lower!
5 pitchers and everyone was in the mid 2's or lower and one, Scott Downs has an ERA of 1.31. Folks, just because you knock out the Jays starter, doesn't mean you are going to get a cream puff reliever.They are the leagues best pitching staff by a mile.
Any kind of offense for the first half of the season and this team is in first place.
Category: Sports | The Doc Watch | Toronto Blue Jays
Too Good?
Everyone has heard this story about the 9 year old who throws 40 MPH and thus deemed too good to play against.
They can't be serious. You discourage kids who are too good from playing? How about ENCOURAGING the other kids to play better? How about making it a challenge for the other kids to improve.
Ill tell ya what, if you find this same kind of thing happening in your baseball, football or basketball team, come join your local USA swim club.
We don't discourage kids from being too fast, we encourage kids. Last year I had an 8 year old who was ranked in the top 20 in the country in multiple events for her age group swimming for me. They still let her swim and I even encouraged her to get better and she did. So if you want a sport that doesn't discourage greatness, try swimming.
I think its sad that instead of trying to get better, the teams facing this kid just gave up. Then the league insists that he not be allowed to play because he is too good?
Boy, its a good thing they weren't running Wayne Gretzky's hockey leagues when he was up and coming. Wayne may have been forced to quit playing hockey because nobody could stop him from scoring.
Category: Sports
A Message To Clintonites
Listen, Clinton supporters, you need to start dealing with reality. Yes it was a long, hard fought primary that really went way longer than it probably should have considering the math that Hilary had to make up, but its over.
If you truly consider yourselves democrats you will realize what is at stake here in the coming months and fall in line behind the next president of the United States, Barack Obama. He is a democrat. Realistically, him and Hilary, on the issues, were not that far apart. They were really very similar in their policies that they wanted to implement.
If its more about the want to see a first woman president, don't worry. It will happen. Not this year, but maybe in 8 years after Obama's second term is done.
For now though, be happy for what Hilary accomplished. She became the first woman to really be taken seriously as a contender for the White House. She pushed Obama to the limits and he needed that for what is coming in the months ahead as he goes on to defeat Gramps McSame.
The fact that she didn't win the nomination does not mean you go vote republican, it means you get behind the leader of your party and support him. We cannot have four more years of Bush politics.
So, get your heads out of your asses and come to grips with the fact that Obama won the primaries fair and square. He got the majority of the delegates, there is nothing that can be done to fudge the math in the other direction. Hilary is on board, follow suit so this party doesn't fall on its face.
We are here, this is the friggin DNC, and you are still back in May thinking its primary season
Category: Politics
All Time Blue Jays
Ill post some DNC stuff later, I was playing PS2 Baseball today and it got me thinking about my All Time Blue Jays team. I based my selections based on whole career and longevity with the team so even though some did not spend a significant amount of time in Toronto I included them. I have first and second team and it goes as follows:
Starting pitchers, I decided to go with five starters on the first team and five on the second
First team starting pitchers: Dave Stieb, Jimmy Key, Dave Stewart, Jack Morris and Roy Halladay
Second team starters: Jim Clancy, David Cone, Al Leiter, Pat Hentgen and David Wells
(I left Clemens off the list due to his status as all time asshole)
First team relief pitching: Closer Tom Henke, Set Up Duane Ward
Second team relief pitching: Closer BJ Ryan, Set Up Mike Timlin
First team catcher: Ernie Whitt
Second team catcher: Pat Borders
First team firstbase: Carlos Delgado
Second team first base: John Olerud
First team second base: Roberto Alomar
Second team second base: Damaso Garcia
First team shortstop: Tony Fernandez
Second team shortstop: Alfredo Griffin
First team thirdbase: Kelly Gruber
Second team thirdbase: Ed Sprague
First team outfield: George Bell LF, Devon White CF, Joe Carter RF
Second team outfield: Shannon Stewart LF, Lloyd Moseby CF, Jesse Barfield RF
First team DH: Paul Molitor
Second team DH: Dave Winfield
Bench: Jeff Kent, Derek Bell, Ricky Henderson, Fred McGriff, Willie Upshaw, Mookie Wilson, Mauel Lee, Garth Iorg, Candy Maldonado and Darin Fletcher
Manager first team: Cito Gaston
Manager second team: Bobby Cox/Jimy Williams
Go ahead kids, argue this up all ya want!
Category: Toronto Blue Jays
Rain Dispersal
According to this report China used rain dispersal chemicals and rockets during the Olympics to prevent rain from falling in the Bejing area
That is not the first time I have heard this "technology" was considered being used but is it right? Who are we to control nature? Simply controlling weather to prevent it from happening during an event? I don't care if it is the Olympics its not right and seriously needs to be looked at by the international community as being outlawed. Its bad enough we are altering climate by the pullutants we throw into the atmosphere as innocent as fossil fuels seemed back 100 years ago or so when they were first discovered as a viable fuel of the future, but now we are intentionally trying to alter the weather. Have we truly investigated what long term impacts of altering regional weather like this could have on a global scale? What if long term altering or regional rainfall using these chemicals and rockets alters rainfall patterns hundreds or even thousands of miles away? Think about it, a front or storm system that was meant for the California coast is dispersed by the US for example before it hits because the Super Bowl is being played in an outdoor stadium and the NFL doesn't want it to rain, while that storm system is dispersed for LA, the southeastern US going through a drought doesn't get that rain that was supposed to make its way across the country and give the south eastern states rain the so need. Thats just an example. Besides that what are those rain dispersing chemicals? Those are going into the air that we breathe....I think it would be nice to know about those chemicals before they are used. Its scary to think we have this capability. We can control what really should not be controlled by any one species on this planet. We have no right to control the weather. The weather happens for a reason. Rain is necessary, snow is necessary. Even hurricanes and tornados serve some purpose. We have no right to try to control this. No one does. I hope this does not become the norm around the globe. This should be stopped before others try it and it becomes the norm rather than the exception.Category: News | Olympics 2008 | Weather | environment
Biden Perfect for This Ticket
Senator Joe Biden is the perfect running mate for Barack Obama. He chose a guy who in my opinion was one of the best debators back during the primaries and he is a guy who speaks honestly and with great clarity.
Biden is passionate and he will not hesitate to throw dirt back at McCain if McCain chooses to get dirty during the presidential campaign. I think Biden is exactly the person Obama needs on the campaign trail and then at his side in the White House.
In the White House Biden, though one of the longest running politicians in Washington is a senator that has always fought for the people and was one of the ones during the primaries talking about the need to change what was going on in Washington. He also brings a wealth of foreign policy experience something McCain has been barking about now for months.
With Biden aboard, this thing could get real fun, at least for democrats!
Category: Politics
Sunday Retro
This weeks selection is a little louder than most of my Sunday Retro posts. I love old school punk and alternative rock. These guys were one of the pioneers of the California scene and their lead singer has run for Mayor of San Francisco and was second to Ralph Nader when he tried to gain the Green Parties nomination for a run at the 2000 White House.
He is one of the more colorful individuals to come out of the punk scene of the late 70's and early 80's and that is saying a lot considering who came out of that era.
For this weeks retro pick its Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys. As a side note, his real name is Eric Reed Boucher. This is Holiday in Cambodia:
Category: Music | Sunday Retro
Bachelor Party
Yesterday I didn't post because I worked in the morning and then myself, my dad, uncle Don and my dads friend Vince all took a road trip out to Liverpool, NY to my future brother in laws bachelor party at the Cobble Stone Ale House.
It was quite the festivity and the four of us followed that up with a trip to Turning Stone Casino. It was my first time to Turning Stone and to be honest, I was less than impressed. Seneca Niagara Casino is cleaner, the machines are newer and so are the chips. Seneca is also bigger than Turning Stone. It was worth the trip for not having been there before but in the end, I think its safe to say that you do not have to leave the Western New York area to see a vegas-like casino.
Seneca Niagara is every bit as nice as any other casino if not more so. We had fun and it was a great time both at the party and at the casino, I can say that I've gone but I don't think Im in a hurry to go back.
Category: Miscellaneous
The Doc Watch
The Doc Watch continued last night, no it wasn't a shutout or a complete game. It didn't have to be. What was impressive about last night wasn't the fact that Doc was lights out again. (he was as usualy). It was the fact that the Toronto Blue Jays broke out the whooping sticks and laid a 21 hit, 14-3 beating on the evil empire New York Yankees.
Next up is the Boston Red Sox. Cito Gaston has this team playing passionate baseball and it shows as they have won four out of their last five games which have all been against the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.
If the Jays can keep it up and either win this series against the Red Sox or by some miracle sweep them, they can officially start talking about wild card races. The offense is finally starting to turn around what was a horrible start into what could be a great finish and the pitching looks like it is what its going to be, great the rest of the way so its not an impossible task.
Category: Sports | The Doc Watch | Toronto Blue Jays
The Aurora Trout
My supervisor Brian at the Elmwood Health Center also departed today, for a vacation that will take him to the great white north into Sudbury on a bear hunt. He is on a quest to bag himself a big bear but the story that interested me the most was the fish he could potentially catch.
The Aurora Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis, is a rare sub species of brook trout and is only found in two lakes in Canada. Fishing is only allowed for these things every two years or so and it costs $200 per person to go out on a boat and fish for this thing.
What ever you catch you keep and you only get to catch and keep one fish. Turns out that this is the first year in five years that they have opened up the lake that he is staying by to fish for this particular trout. What are the odds. For me, forget the bear Im going after the fish. As for Brian, its the other way around and if he nabs a bear hopefully Ill get some pictures from him to post and hopefully he'll get a shot at and catch one of those trout for me to post on as well.
In the mean time he is out of range to communicate so good luck to him on his outdoors adventure!
Category: Miscellaneous
Thank You EHC
Speaking of moving on, today was my last full time day as a physical therapist at the Elmwood Health Center. I am entering some uncharted waters for me over the next four months or so. I am going to be student teaching through December 4th and have to take some time off to do it.
I have saved and saved and today I decided would be a good day go to part time-per diem to give myself a week to change gears and prepare for the change of scenery.
Everyone at Elmwood Health Center in Buffalo was awesome, my supervisor Brian took me aboard a few years back knowing that the time was coming for me to student teach and finish my masters degree and I am leaving there a better therapist and I enjoyed my time there.
In addition Wednesday night I was treated at The Pearl Street Grill and Brewery by my friends and co workers from there and I want to say thank you for the send off. It was more than I could have possibly asked for.
Thanks everyone at EHC for making it a great experience! I am still part time there technically and I am happy that I may be back there on a limited basis down the road to fill in or do some extended hours at some point. Even if things don't get me back there as my friend Freddie P says, don't be sad its over, be glad it happened!
Category: Miscellaneous | News
Just Knock It Down
Maybe the reason why Buffalo as a city has not grown and even shrank over the years is we are so afraid to move forward. We are always holding on to the past like some sort of lifeboat.
Later this fall officials want to hold a "Farewell to the Aud". Didn't we already do this back when Pat LaFontaine skated in front of the net and scored the last goal (all be it on an empty net and with no other players on the ice) in Memorial Auditorium history. Well its been 12 years since then and here we are, still saying goodbye. Hello, the building has been vacant, its probably rat infested and has an asbestos problem. So just knock the damn thing down already. It should have been knocked down years ago, right after HSBC arena opened would have been fine. Ask Toronto where Maple Leaf Gardens is. Demolished. They moved on. They don't have a building sitting, empty, earning absolutely no tax dollars for the city. Instead Buffalo has to ponder, hmmmm do we open up a Bass Pro store, yeah saw that one worked out well, do we knock it down? Knock the son of a bitch down and move on. If it was knocked down 12 years ago the second they closed the doors Bass Pro would have had no problems building from scratch and there would have been no questions about whether or not to build it there. Things like that make you look at this city and think that there is no question, Buffalo deserves its economic and at times dilapitated state.Happy Birthday Mom!
Today is my mom's 60th birthday! Make sure you leave a happy birthday message for Grace today! I can't participate in the festivities as I am working late today 8-8....but this is the next best thing. As with all the birthday boys and girls she gets the birthday song too!
Category: Birthdays
The Cone of Silence
John McCain during the Saddleback interviews with Pastor Rick Warren may have been tipped off or overheard the questions when he was supposed to have been in a "cone of silence".
This was brought up by NBC's Andrea Mitchell who by the way did a great job covering the swimming in Bejing. She commented that McCain may have been able to overhear the questions and it has even come out that McCain may have been in a limo with radio or even TV access and amongst those with Blackberrys where he could have easily accessed the line of questioning from Rick Warren.
McCain's campaign says the comments Mitchell made are "unsubstantiated". Yeah right, all that means is that Mitchell nor anyone else can prove it. Nice way to word your comeback there grampy!
If you watched the interview McCain was anticipating questions throughout the interview and the one question Warren asked that was not asked to Obama, McCain stumbled his way through it.
Of course, instead of taking responsibility, McCain's campaign is going after Mitchell and requesting that NBC take action against her. If NBC has any balls they will tell McCain and his staff to shut their traps, she works for NBC not them and they will determine whether or not she needs to be dealt with. As far as Im concerned, she deserves a pat on the back, great job Andrea!
That stunt may have worked for McCain in this instance but wait till McCain gets on stage with Obama during the one on one debates. Then we will see who looks better and gives the better answers. Obama will stand out when these two take the stage together.
My Favorite Non Sports TV Shows
Today I was watching what is probably my favorite non sports TV show. I like it for its ability to blend unique food experiences and really present the cultural links between food and the culture it comes from. Here are my 5 favorite non sports TV shows:
1. Bizarre Foods
2. Real Time With Bill Maher
3. The Daily Show With John Stewart
4. The Colbert Report
5. Survivorman
Category: Television
Should Not Have Happened
Evangelical minister Rick Warren and his Saddleback Church or what ever the hell they call it was the place for the big first time on stage together for Barack Obama and John McCain for this presidential campaign. Does anyone see anything remotely wrong with this?
An evangelical minister gets to interview these guys one on one and people were watching this live on national television for it to influence their opinion on who they vote for. A church and its respective minister has a chance influence the outcome of this election?
Separation of church and state folks has obviously been thrown out the window. I don't care what kind of questions he asked or which candidate he asked them to, he had an agenda from and he pursued his agenda in the questions he asked.
So, if this is going to be the benchmark for these types of "debates" or "interviews" then why not have a Rabbi or Muslim or for that matter an Atheist interview them on live national television? How do the evangelicals get this thing and not some other faith?
Why does it matter who these guys worship if at all? Its a joke and a blunder in the political process to allow religion to have such an impact. John McCain and Barack Obama are not trying to become ministers, they are trying to become leaders of what is supposed to be the most powerful country on earth. I think its sad that religion has come to play an increasingly large part in the process.
The Defining Moment of These Olympics
This call on NBC of the Mens 4X100 meter freestyle relay will be the defining moment of these 2008 Olympic games, Why they are shutting down the videos of this on Youtube is ridiculous so all I could get were photos and the live call of the race.
Jason Lezak for all his failed moments in previous Olympics earned himself a place in history no one will soon forget. It too bad that the track and field has to follow up a week of swimming that played out as it did because it can not possibly measure up to what the US swimmers did in the pool. It will be a an Olympics not soon forgotten for USA Swimming.
We will just call it, the comeback:
Category: Olympics 2008 | Swimming
AJ Can't Leave
AJ Burnett who is having a career year with the Toronto Blue Jays has hinted at leaving. The lastest one to speculate is none other than Cito Gaston saying that AJ will probably test the market.
Heres the thing, AJ hasn't earned the previous two years of this contract, he owes it to himself and the Jays to stay through year 5. Besides why would a guy who is finally having success with a club want to go somewhere else with all the uncertainties of starting over with a new team? Besides that, under Gaston the team is playing well again and looks to be headed in the right direction with some tweaks to the offense for next year, this is a team that will contend. How many times do you see it in sports as often as guys sign with new teams and experience success, there are those who leave teams and fall flat on their faces. AJ if he leaves will not only be letting the team that gave him that ridiculous contract of $55 million down but he will ultimately be setting himself up for failure. Starting with a new pitching coach, a new team, new setting....hes finally comfortable in Toronto and pitching lights out ball and he wants to leave that? I find that hard to believe. Then again hes a major league baseball player, I shouldn't be so surprised.Category: Sports | Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday Retro
For this Sunday I continue with the punk rock scene with a geeky little jingle that is still as popular now probably as it was back in the day. Camper Van Beethoven and Take the Skinheads Bowling is my pick for Retro Sunday:
Category: Music | Sunday Retro
The Doc Watch
The Doc Watch rolled on tonight. Remember the Doc Watch was started in response to the "Joba Watch" while Yankee fans watch their mediocre player do mediocre things, Jays fans are being treated to their superstar doing incredible things.
Roy Halladay against the Redsox pitched ANOTHER complete game. His 8th of the season allowing only one run. The Jays also got a win against a team they need to catch if they have any chance of seeing October.
Alex Rios added to the excellence of Roy Halladay by finally showing some power and hitting a two run homer.
Stay tuned and remember we are always accepting of Yankee fans who may be getting tired of mediocrity and want to watch a real pitcher instead of that wanna be in NY, Joba, they can come here and watch greatness in action in Roy Halladay.
Category: Sports | The Doc Watch | Toronto Blue Jays
Dara Falls Short But Still.....
The other big headliner of the Olympics thus far is Dara Torres and its almost hidden by Michael Phelps. Torres swam the 50 freestyle in an American record time of 24.07 and finished 2nd for silver. Her 400 medley relay also finish second to the Austrailians for silver as well.
Take nothing away from her, at 41 she proved that age means very little. If you watched the semifinals for the 50 freestyle Friday night you also saw the incredible sportsmanship that Dara displayed by going to the judge and requesting that they wait for a swimmer next to her because they were changing suits.
They could have swam that race with out that individual but Torres went out of her way to inform the judge when she should have been getting mentally prepared to dive into the pool. All this and she still swam the fastest time in the prelims.
Dara, though she did not win gold, won three silver medals at 41 years of age in her fifth Olympics. She deserves full marks for making it and achieving personal bests and medaling in all three events. She may be short of gold, but she is long on heart and will go down as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time.
Category: Olympics 2008 | Swimming
Michael Phelps is the Greatest Ever
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He did it. Im speechless too. What more can you say that hasn't been said? I will take it to the point that this guy maybe the greatest athlete ever....yes that includes Gretzky, Lemeiux, Montana, Jordan, Woods and Mays. He is the greatest athlete of his time, period.
He finishes these games with 8 golds in one Olympics, 7 of those were world records. He now has 16 medals total for his career and with New York as the destination for 2012 you have to seriously put him down for 20 career medals easily and probably more gold.
Phelps in this Olympics has dominated, been a little lucky and gotten by with a little help from his friends (Jason Lezak). He has in essence, changed the sport of swimming forever. He has set a benchmark that no other Olympic athlete will measure up to anytime soon.
He like Gretzky, Lemeiux, Jordan, Woods and Montana has dominated his sport like no other, only I would argue after having been a swimmer myself for 10 years and a coach for close to 8 years, needed more endurance, strength and mental toughness than any of the other so called greats to achieve what he did this past week. He had 7 other swimmers chasing him down in every single final event for something that is so coveted, more than any other prize in any other sport...Olympic gold.
Michael Phelps until someone does something equally as spectacular is the greatest athlete of all time....period.
Category: Olympics 2008 | Swimming
STOP PANICKING
Folks, stop feeling insecure, stop panicking. When the Buffalo Bills finish their run of games in Toronto over the next five years or so they will still be the Buffalo Bills. They are going no where.
All it is right now is talk radio material and nothing more. They certainly can't talk football because pre-season football is awful. So bad in fact that I am not posting another football comment until after the preseason is over.
The Toronto Argos rule Toronto and all the Bills and the NFL will ever be in Toronto and Canada is a spectacle. Besides, trust me Toronto, you don't want a league that is going to charge you $250 on average for a ticket to watch a mediocre football team. The league doesn't care about the average ticket holder because regardless of whether or not anyone paid for a single seat, they get their TV money which is far more than what they get in ticket revenue.
Enjoy your Argos and realistically, you are better off in Toronto for having the CFL than we are for having a money hungry, greedy league like the NFL. Trust me.
Olympics
Michael Phelps is so amazing. There are no words to describe his performance so far. So Im not going to try and come up with anymore adjectives all I am going to say is that I will be more shocked if when all is said and done if he doesn't accomplish his feat.
Rebbeca Soni shocked everyone by winning the womens 200 meter breast. She adds to a long list of American swimming medals and world records. She is one who will definitely be back in 2012 so keep an eye out for her.
I tried to stay up last night for the whole gymnastics but the eyes just got way too heavy. When I woke up to see that they took gold-silver in womens gymnastics my jaw dropped. China's goal was to win the medal count on their home soil, right now, they are not doing a very good job losing events that they are supposed to dominate. Thats what they get for cheating.
I am honestly looking forward to this weekend because all week I was focusing in on swimming and gymnastics (mostly swimming). What I like almost as much as swimming is seeing the sports that you wouldn't normally spend the time to watch like for instance, air rifle, rowing, beach volleyball, and I even caught myself watching and enjoying soccer.....I could get used to watching that I think more often.
The one sport I can't bring myself to watch is basketball, I am totally against the use of professionals and really the olympic hockey doesn't interest me for the same reasons. Baseball has done it right and they are not going to be back after this Olympics which I think is a shame and to have the Olympics potentially be in New York City in 2012 and not have America's past time would be outrageous. Baseball is the one summer team sport that should without question be an Olympic mainstay.
One thing I will say, watching the Olympics is emotional. It takes a lot out of you because I think at least for me, you realize 4 years of work go into this for these athletes and they leave themselves and all their energy in their respective events. I find myself as excited for Michael Phelps as I am sorry for the guy next to him who settled for silver but probably worked just as hard if not harder to be there. There are so many stories and so many great performances to see its almost overload. Again, thats what makes the Olympics so special and miles above all the other sporting events out there.
I will be posting over the weekend but I will also be spending much of my time watching the rest of the swimming so if my posts are infrequent you know why, but stay tuned because I will be on from time to time updating and leaving my two cents......
Category: Olympics 2008
My Solution To Our Energy Independence
Someone out there has got to be smart enough to figure this one out and if you are, we split the profits okay, I get a cut for coming up with the idea.
I was walking through the clinic and watching someone on the fan bike it gave me the idea that we, us, our own muscle energy could power the electric grid in the US. We by exercising could theoretically power our country to energy independence.
If there is a way, (and there is always a way), we hook up every piece of exercise equipment including nautilus, stationary bikes, treadmills (they would have to be non-electrically powered treadmills), stair masters (again without the power), rowing machines, elipticals and any other piece of moving gym equipment in every physical therapys, sports medicine, high school/college gym and health/fitness club and hook them up to the electrical grid.
Thats right, make those machines into exercise equipment that generates power by human exercise. The more you exercise the cheaper your memebership and our co-pay gets and if you exercise beyond that, the fitness center or therapy clinic pays you to come there.
We could solve three issues in the country by doing that: 1. Our foreign oil dependency 2. Our national obesity issues and ultimately by becoming healthier as a country we decrease healthcare costs (so technically a fourth solved issue) and finally 3. Our economic woes would potentially improve because we could be getting paid to work out.
Move over T. Boone I just came up with a better energy plan and I bet it would cost substantially less than even the $700 billion yours would cost because minus the wiring and hooking things up, the infrastructure (health clubs/fitness factilities and therapy clinics) are already in place with the exercise equipment there.
So, if anyone out there is reading this and has the wherewithall to do this.....give me my cut when you do.
Category: Energy
T. Boone Pickens Makes A Lot of Sense
I finally watched T. Boone put his plan down and it makes a lot of sense and its an oil man talking about clean, renewable energy that will not only reduce our costs long term from buying foreign oil, but will ultimately, reduce our oil consumption altogether. I like his plan alot better than ANWAR and opening up more land than we need for driling. We already have 68 million acres for drilling for oil in which we know oil is, McCain and the republicans want to open up more without even knowing if there is oil or not. Even T. Boone himself states that we are not drilling our way to energy independence. His plan would not even require us to drill for more oil, His plan immediately begins to decrease our dependence on oil without drilling for another drop. You can't question his plan, its cost looks staggering but when you see that the cost of it equals one years worth of what we consume now from foreign countrires, it makes a lot more sense to spend that money here and create jobs doing it. Jobs would be created for building the infrastructure necessary to make this switch happen. Money would be saved because ultimately, this energy plan would cost less as fuel would be renewable. T. Boone, should run for president. This is the type of leadership George W. Bush should have been giving us ever since he said those famous words "America is addicted to oil."Category: Energy
Climate Program Shut Down
I would like to think that this is an over sight. Why in a time that we need funding and research to solve the climate crisis is a small, low cost yet important climate program shutting down due to lack of funding?
The National Center for Atmospheric Research is shutting down an important program that has been helping developing countries deal with climate change. It is a program that could potentially help millions of people deal with the possibility of becoming climate refugees as global warming changes the face of our planet. Its a program that was run on a very low budget yet was doing a lot of important work in researching climate change in those countries that would see the greatest devastation, the ones that are still developing, third world countries.It was run on about $500,000 a year. A small price to pay for the millions that are going to be affected.Category: Global Warming | News | environment
Quick Olympic Update
The mens gymnastic team wins bronze which was the equivalent of David kicking Goliath's ass because they shouldn't have been in the same arena as the rest of the gymasts, but they somehow gutted it out.
Michael Phelps is now tied for most gold medals ever over an Olympic career and goes to break it tonight.
Aaron Piersol, if you get a chance to watch this guy swim and/or hear an interview, he is Mr. Cool. No wonder why he is redefining backstroke, one of the keys to a successful backstroke is being relaxed, this guy is just on a different playing field when he gets in for a backstroke event. Every time I watch him swim he breaks a record whether its American, Olympic, World or otherwise in the backstroke.
Natalie Coughlin has got a horseshoe up her butt, she had no right winning that 100 meter backstroke last night as she nearly hit the lane line again. She is what we call a circle swimmer. She is so used to circle swimming in practice that she does it in a race. I don't understand, as a coach how you get to the Olympics and let that be a factor. She got away with it and thats good because all things considered, I really like her and she deserves to win some hardware.
Thats all for now, Im going to watch more events. Best bet is, don't miss the swimming. They are flying in the water.
Category: Olympics 2008
Take Home Vehicles a Big Joke
Here is my question, why does any city employee need a take home vehicle? I don't understand why this is even an issue in a city that is hemorrhaging money for years now. Workers should not be shocked if they get take home vehicles taken away.
My only question then as a tax payer is the city better be able to show savings from taking these vehicles away. Unless taking home that vehicle is of vital importance to your job, then you should not get a "take home" vehicle. What city jobs require this? I could see police, fire I don't see, they are paid fire fighters who if they are working go out to fires, if they are not they don't. They should have their own cars to get back and forth to work and when they go out on a fire, they take the city trucks do they not?
So I may be a little ignorant in this respect but I see very few individuals from the mayor on down who truly need the city and hence the tax payers to pay for what is essentially a city owned car. If its a matter of them not having a car, then they can take the mass transit system or a cab or ride a bike or something, but don't waste taxpayer money on a take home vehicle unless you can come up with a legitimate reason why that vehicle is coming home.
I think its great the city of Buffalo is cracking down on it, next step should be to show the savings from doing so and then maybe the court can shut their trap over an issue that is wasting thousands of dollars in a city that needs to conserve.
Sticking Up for JP
I can't believe I'm doing this because all logic would say JP Riccardi should be a goner, but after reading Mike Boon's post yesterday I couldn't help but disagree and defend the guy a little.
A lot of Blue Jay fans are getting on the guy for letting Reed Johnson go in favor of Shannon Stewart, but lets be honest here, Mike Boon and myself included were on that band wagon when JP picked up Shannon who career wise is a better hitter and better baserunner than Reed Johnson. Who knew that Reed Johnson was going to recover fully from a major back operation last year and be the player we knew in 2006? Thats not the only move Im going to defend JP on either, he acquired Scott Rolen for Troy Glaus, batting wise two very similar hitters though I would argue that Rolen is more clutch than Troy. After watching Troy Glaus battle foot pain and at times looking downright uninterested getting Rolen for Glaus was a steal when it happened. Now here Glaus is sitting on a 20+ homerun year and Rolen is struggling to get to 10. It goes without saying that I'd take Rolens glove over Glaus's defense anyday but Rolen's power outage is a bit of a surprise and the fact that his shoulder is not 100% is also a surprise to many. That shoulder issue was something that I thought and Im sure the Blue Jays thought was a part of Rolen's past, maybe this could be looked into and maybe that is JP's fault for not digging a little deeper on the health of Rolen. (Remember Mike Sirotka?). Lets look at some other moves: Alex Rios and Aaron Hill's signings earlier in the season, again who knew that Rios would fumble his way power wise this season and who knew that Aaron Hill would suffer a freak concussion? They are both great signings that preserve the future and core of this ballclub and Hill will bounce back and Rios is bound to see better power numbers. Lets look at pitching: Jeremy Accardo for Shea Hllenbrand was a steal and though Accardo has been hurt much of the year he is going to be a valuable part of this bullpen for years to come. AJ Burnett though disappointing due to minor injury setbacks the last two years is finally starting to win and win consistently. He is a viable number two behind Halladay. It took a while but Burnett is starting to earn that contract. BJ Ryan, again unexpected elbow injury last year that very well was the leading factor in costing this team a playoff berth. 9 games after he went down last year the Blue Jays lost in a row all in the late innings when BJ Ryan would have shut it down. Hes back now and the later innings are looking better as he gets stronger. Im not saying that JP is perfect, but what I am saying is look at the uncontrollables and the intentions he had and expectations that he and fans had when these guys were all acquired over the last few years. Hes done a respectable job, injuries and bad timing have cost this team which are really uncontrollable. The only thing that I do fault him for is for making assinine comments at the most inopportune times (AKA Adam Dunn). The Jays could have had him, he was just traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for one minor leaguer. If JP hadn't pissed on that situation with his comments earlier in the year, maybe the Jays have Dunn knocking the ball out of the dome and increasing home run production whose current home run leader is 39 years old and has a grand total of what? 11. Its mid-August and Matt Stairs had 11 friggin home runs. To me, I fire JP because of his cocky attitude and for saying stupid things not for the moves hes made. If he is willing to keep his mouth shut and make the right deals, Im willing to keep him around.Category: Sports | Toronto Blue Jays
Greatest 4X100m Free Relay Ever
It had to be the suits! The US shocked the world last night by coming from behind on the best 100 m freestyler in the pool in Alain Bernard. Bernard just also happened to be talking it up prior to the event which added fuel to the fire.
Michael Phelps swam an American record to lead it off which was bestest by the Austrailians who went a world record on the lead off leg. The US lost ground in the second and third legs to the French and then Jason Lezak had some words for Alain Bernard, only his words were spoken through his actions.
Sorry about the quality of the video but its all I could find this morning, it does the trick though if you didn't see it:
Category: Olympics 2008 | Swimming
Goodbye Police
Friday night was the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics and also the closing night on the Police's reunion tour. I am glad I got to see them and though it was about the cash grab, Sting and company can not debate that, it was well worth the money spent to see them together on stage. Im glad I was a part of their last times together.
Knowing Sting though, he will completely shock everyone and announce plans for a new Police record, I would say sometime in early 2009.....if not, thanks for the memories guys:
Category: Music
Phelps Wins First and Probably Toughest
Michael Phelps won what is probably the toughest of the eight medals he wants at this Olympics. The 400 IM is not his favorite race though I don't know many swimmers who "like" to swim it, they just deal with it do it.
Michael Phelps got the first gold out of the way with the 400 IM which is 100 meters of each of the four strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle). He did it in world record time too...4:03.84. After the 400 IM Phelps has nothing longer than a 200 and he also has three relays so he can relax knowing the first is in the bag and his toughest race is done. A relaxed Michael Phelps? That means trouble for anyone thinking they can challenge him, hes going to be good, and to quote a local hockey guy, scary good the rest of the way. He really is the only one who can lose the rest of his individual races. In other swimming things, Dara Torres went a :52.4 in the 100 free as the anchor on the womens 4X100 meter relay. Rowdy Gaines mentioned that her anchor split might be one of if not the fastest relay split ever. She still has the 50 meter freestyle and has to be the favorite to win that event after watching her swim last night. Katie Hoff's finals swim in the 400 IM was a little disappointing but when you consider the two that finished ahead of her Stephanie Rice and Kirsty Coventry both were the first two ever to go under 4:30. Katie swam well, just not mind boggling well. She'll win some gold, it just wasn't meant to be last night.Category: Olympics 2008 | Sports | Swimming
Sunday Retro
This is one of those bands that I recently "re-discovered". The Dead Milkmen were a combination of They Might Be Giants and the Clash all rolled into one. They were witty and rocked at the same time. They were geeky yet they were ultra cool back in the day. I wanted to do two from them....and you know what, I think I will. This is a double feature from the Dead Milkmen on this Sunday Retro edition with a song called Stuart and Punk Rock Girl here on Buffalo Boy Mike Enjoy!:Category: Music | Sunday Retro
Opening Ceremony
For those of you who missed it, I can remember some great opening ceremonies, but this was truly spectacular. Some 15,000 individual performers participated in last nights ceremonies and it was simply amazing. For all the negatives that have been talked about prior to these Olympics, the opening festivities helped everyone forget about all that stuff.The torch lighting was simply unique and awe inspiring all rolled into one. The lighting of the torch may have been the icing on the cake last night. I don't think anyone could have done it better.
It will be difficult for the next host of the 30th games to upstage this. Film maker Zhang Yimou went all out with a seemingly endless budget to do what he did last night. Take a look at the lighting of the torch, butterflies in the stomach man, thats all I could muster watching that. Watching that is one reason why the Olympics are the premier sporting event in the world, Super Bowl included, nothing can match the Olympics as a sporting event:
Category: Olympics 2008
Edward's Actions Disappointing
Here is a different spin on things, a blog, The Slate, that I read today posted on the effect John Edward's affair will have on Barack Obama and John McCain as we move forward with the election.
The answer in my book is absolutely none. For the first time, Im going to defend McCain. Im going to defend Obama at the same time as well but I am going to stick up for McCain in the process. This despite the marital infidelity that John McCain has displayed throughout his marriages.
What Edwards did was disappointing. For a man that many both Republican and Democrat at the very least respected, his actions have taken a lot of that respect and squashed it. I liked Edwards, I was ready to support him as the democratic candidate. Now he'd be lucky to get re-elected in his senate seat. His actions however, should have no effect on either the democrat Obama or on the republican McCain. Neither one made Edwards do what he did, neither one had any part in it and really other than being from the same party what did Obama really have to do with Edwards other than having his endorsement. Republicans, I know what you are all thinking and don't even go there unless you want me to unleash a long line of dirty laundry that is endorsing John McCain that will make Obama's reverend issues look like saints.So, this is simply a matter of John Edwards cheating on his wife. Its happened before, Clinton, Kennedy, gay republicans, its all happened before. Edwards is going to get whats coming and really, I actually respect the man for how he and his wife have handled it. They first handled it privately, second, they handled it publicly but only after they had to address, not before.
Im also impressed that the media has not over done it yet. I think we have seen enough of politicians cheating and doing rotten things that its no surprise anymore. The only surprise was the fact that it was John Edwards.
Category: News
Humble Howard is Working Again
Mike Boon is reporting today that Humble Howard, formerly of the Humble and Fred show and one of my favorite radio personalities of all time is back on the radio in the morning. No its not with Freddie P. It is on EZ Rock 97.3.
The photo above is from Mike Boon's coverage of the Humble and Fred Christmas Podcast which if you remember the Humble and Fred Show of years past, they were known for the Christmas Spectaculars as they liked to call them.
While I probably won't go and listen for the music, I will tune in to hear Howard. He is an incredibly funny guy and with the right mix of characters in the morning can be a really cool show to wake up to. Maybe EZ Rock can change their format to a classic alternative format or something? Stop by Howard's site and wish him luck in his new gig and congradulations Howard, looking forward to hearing ya on the air waves again, hopefully that station will come in down in WNY.
Here is a little clip of the former Humble and Fred Show off the #1 in '97 CD:Drama Amongst The Mens Swimmers
A little drama between the men is exactly what swimming needs. The French are talking shit led by Alain Bernard and they think they can beat the US in the 4X100 mens freestyle relay.
Okay fine go for it, but lets review the US mens potential 4X100 relay: Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak and Cullen Jones could all easily make the 400 Freestyle relay in the finals. Three of them, Phelps, Lezak and Jones set the world mark in 2006 in Victoria, British Columbia. The US also has current US record holder Garret Weber Gale sitting there too. Put any combination of them together and they can easily take gold.I suggest Alain Bernard not give the US mens team anymore to throw on their fire or he may end up regretting it when he looks up at the finals clock. Anyone test him for 'roids yet?
Category: Swimming
Teppo Is Back
Okay, here we go again, Teppo is a Sabre. I really have nothing to say other than I hope you are not retarding the growth of your other young defenseman who deserve a shot to make this team.
Teppo is 40 years old, played all of one game last year and isn't exactly going to out skate or out hit anyone for a loose puck anymore.
So why sign him? If its only for a calming influence on the defense and for leadership, then hire him as an assistant coach but not as a 6th defenseman.
Mike Weber will be the early victim of this signing even though he is 20 years old, he was a plus 12 and had three assists and looked like a veteran himself at times over the last 16 games of the season.
I like Teppo I really do, he served this franchise well but if you are not going to get veteran leadership out of Toni Lydman, Henrik Tallinder and Craig Rivet then its time for this team to consider drastic changes.
In a league that you have to stay young now Id rather have Weber and Andrej Sekera take their lumps back on the blueline.
There is also the question of his health after having open heart surgery before last season. I hope it wasn't a ton of money like the $2.6 million he signed to last year because if so, you have to wonder why this team didn't go after another free agent like Brooks Orpik instead.
Just when you think this offseason is going well and no questions had to be asked we get Teppo for another year.
It Just Doesn't Matter
There are going to be a lot of people who will look at the latest news of a deal to remove our troops out of Iraq as a good thing. Not here.
They can remove the troops today, but the fact remains that they still have not caught the person responsible for 9/11. Osama Bin Laden is still out there.
Don't let this news fool you and don't think that this is good news because its just a ploy. Its a ploy to get people thinking better of an administration that has lied its way into this war. All this move is doing is getting peope thinking higher of John McCain and the republicans before November.
Its a hoax, don't believe it because if you do you'll be brainwashed just like the other 20% that still think there is a reason to support this president. Until Bin Laden is caught, the guy who orchestrated 9/11 is still out there. Every drop of money spent in Iraq has been wasted. That fact cannot be ignored regardless of time lines or deals to get troops out.
The fact is they (George Bush and Dick Cheney) lied to us to get us there and dump our money into it.
Lets Ban China
As these Olympics begin tomorrow, China presses on by putting bans on various protests and what the media can and cannot report on.
Here's an idea, as these Olympics progress, celebrate what the athletes do regardless of their country but especially ours, but lets ban China.
Check labels on everything you buy if it says made in China, put it back. Don't buy it. Until China gets its ducks in a row on human rights and stops supporting the tragedy in Darfur then we need to boycott everything made in that country.
I still believe that the best thing they could do would be to pull the press out of China altogether and leave these Olympics go uncovered by foriegn media, but that won't happen. Instead, don't buy Chinese products and send an economic message.
The final thing that I will say is this, the IOC needs to seriously take a look at their selection process. How did they come to the conclusion that this, Bejing, this choked up, polluted, dump was worthy of an Olympic games? The IOC skips over Toronto, one of the cleanest and beautiful cities in the world for Bejing? I find that awful. I wonder how much Bejing paid off the IOC?
Worst Sequels of All Time
The worst sequels of all time go to the same series of movies, Revenge of the Nerds should have stopped at one. It should have ended with the one and left us all googling over Betty Childs.
Instead, they had to make not one, not two, not three, but four of them. The second one was mildly funny but still was pretty awful. The third was embarassing to watch, and then there was the fourth, Nerds in Love. This is a scene from that third Nerds, its that bad in the third, you can imagine how bad the fourth is.
Category: Movies
Hip For The Hell Of It
The Tragically Hip are at their best live and Gord Downie is at his best when he is telling stories through his words and prancing around on stage. This version of Boots of Hearts features one of my favorite Gord Downie Intros of a song
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Category: Music
The Joba Watch Goes Blind
"The Joba Watch" is now going into the surgeons office. Dr. James Andrews, three words pitchers hate to hear will look at Joba Wednesday and if you are like me and hate the Yankees you are hoping for a season ending shoulder injury for him.
Nothing would be better for diminishing the evil empires post-season hopes than losing Chamberlain. Lets keep our fingers crossed. Their rotation is now down to a 39 year old Mike Mussina and a 38 year old Andy Pettite, behind those two, there ain't much left.
The Jays are only 5 back of the Yanks, nothing would be sweeter than catching the Yankees and putting them in the fourth place hole right behind the Jays except for maybe a wild card berth. Right now I'd settle for catching the Damn Yankees.
Sabres Keep Dineen
Kevin Dineen has been kept around to coach the Portland Pirates. Its about time this guy is on our side. I remember Kevin Dineen as a Hartford Whaler. He was also a Sabre Killer in the late 80's and early 90's with the Whalers and Philadelphia Flyers.
He is now a member of the "Sabres I think should go into the Hockey Hall of Fame". With 355 goals and 405 assists for 760 points for his career, he had more goals and points than Igor Larionov. He also posted two 40 goal seasons and while not dominating, I would say he was a much more dominating player than Igor Larionov ever was.
In addition, Dineen also holds the distinction as being one of only five players in the history of the NHL to score more than 350 goals while spending over 2000 minutes in the penalty box. He could score and he could kick ass. What a great combination. That stat alone is worth Hall consideration.
So, I am adding him to the list of Sabres who deserve the Hall, Im also predicting, but by no means wishing, that if anything happens to Lindy Ruff (a bad start and subsequent firing) Kevin Dineen will be the next in line as coach of the Buffalo Sabres.
Can anyone name the other five with 350 goals and 2000 penalty minutes?
My first guess.....Mark Messier?
Career Sacked
I really haven't posted on Brett Favre yet because quite frankly, unlike most of the NFL fan robots out there who call into these radio shows and make a bigger deal out of it that it is, I realize that its just Brett Favre showing his true colors. Hes no better than any other professional sports athlete. Hes a big asshole with no appreciation for the fans or the game. All he cares about is himself.
The games that he plays with retirement and then wanting to play again are an example of a player who thinks more of himself than he does the game. Its all what Brett wants, not what is good for his team mates, not what is good for the league or for the fans.
He brought this situation on no one but himself. Its no different than what Roger Clemens was doing the last several years of his career, retiring and then coming back mid season and signing a ridiculous contract and making the team that was signing him (the Yankees or Astros) sit there with their thumbs up their ass wondering if the guy was going to play.
Now that Green Bay took him back he doesn't feel that his heart is in it after all Green Bay put him through.....PUT HIM THROUGH? He is the one who said he was retiring, they went to him and said Brett we want you back, he is the one who turned them down....and then at the last minute before training camps go to open, he comes out and wants to play after they made committments to Aaron Rogers. Aaron Rogers, probably has lost all respect for Brett Favre.
In fact, the whole NFL has lost a lot of respect for Brett Favre through all this. This is not on the Green Bay Packers for this. This is on Brett's shoulders. Now they want to trade him and he doesn't feel like playing for Tampa Bay, well, if Im Green Bay, I'd just as soon release him then. Let some other team sign him. For all the mixed signals and crap he is throwing out there what do you really think you are going to get for a guy who is clearly messed up mentally right now.
The best news for the league would be for Favre to retire or the Packers to release him and then, could we please not hear his name for about 5 years when hes inducted into the Football Hall of Fame?
Category: Sports
Pull All of the Press Out of China
Here is an idea, if China insists on putting limits on what reporters from other countries can report on and journalists are going to get beat by Chinese police over what they cover, then maybe the UN or some international body should step in and pull every last member of the press out of the China.
Maybe, the press/media should show for once that they have some morals and collectively do it themselves. The modern day press has this "anything for a story" attitude about them but is it really like that when two of their own gets beaten by police? Two Japanese journalists were beaten while trying to cover the Muslim attacks. How would China like it if they proceeded to host the games with no television coverage, no newspaper coverage and the media world by in large ignored the event. Granted, that would do the athletes who have prepared a huge injustice, but at least they still get to compete. I love the Olympics, it is bigger than the Super Bowl, the ultimate sporting event. But this time, the IOC picked the wrong city/country to host these games. China is proving every day why they have no right hosting these games because they are really miles behind the rest of the world in human rights and foreign relations. Something tells me that while the sports should be the headline, they will not be at these games. Something also tells me that things are going to be very nasty throughout these games, its just a matter of what it is that happens to turn them that way.Category: News
Sunday Retro
This week I discovered a lot of bands for the second time as I browsed my IPod and ITunes. I will be sharing some of those bands with you over the next several Sundays but first this is a well known band for those of us who grew up around the US/Canadian border and tuned into CFNY over the years. One of my readers from across the border Rob Reed sent me some pictures from a recent Teenage Head show. These guys are getting a little grey and maybe the leather jacket doesn't help but according to Rob these guys still rock.
I couldn't agree more. Teenage Head had a handful of catch punk songs that did trickle south of the border at times to US border cities and towns. This song just happens to be one of them, its a live version off Youtube so the video is a little rough, it features their biggest hit Let's Shake and Luv for Sale:
Category: Music | Sunday Retro | cfny
Gotta Have Heart
If you check out Neighborhood of fear, you'll see some really cool retro commercials too, including this one from Molson Light. Check out the old style short neck bottles, they should bring those back. This is one of the catchiest beer jingles of all time.Category: Beer | Television
30 Years Since Love Canal
During the late 1970's Niagara Falls, NY was a battleground for residents of the Love Canal. I wasn't even 5 when it all started and by the time it finished, I was 7 years old. I still remember the tension of our friends, neighbors and the community as the event unfolded. My mom was very active in it with the Love Canal Homeowners Association. The link above is from WIVB Channel 4 which features some videos of the past and present. Check out Neighborhood of Fear, it really provides the most comprehensive look at the whole situation. Yesterday, was the 30th Anniversary. About half way through you'll see Grace McCoulf, my mom sounding off on officials. At the time they were moving all children under two and pregnant women. My sister Kelly was just over two making her ineligible. The questions were about how they could discriminate between a 2 year old child and three year old. Love Canal really kicked the environmental movement into high gear, making polluters responsible for cleaning up land that they contaminate. The result was the Superfund Bill which, funding has been reduced to since the Bush Administration took office in 2000. Here is another video from Youtube that is worth a look too:Category: News | environment
