Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
November 2008 Archives
Sunday Retro
I continue the trend, its officially after Thanksgiving so now its okay. The Pretenders have one of the best Christmas songs but the video that goes with it, well, its pretty bad.
The song and the video just don't go together very well. It just doesn't look as if a lot of time or effort was put into the video. Just throw some fake snow around the band, have them skiing and have a few Christmas looking decorations and call it a video for a great song.
This song shows just how great a vocalist Chrissie Hynde can be. This is 2000 Miles
Category: Sunday Retro
Goal From Center Ice
Check out this goal, from center ice off the stick of the Blue Jacket's Fedor Tyutin. Yes, Chris Osgood was in net:Category: Hockey
Sabres 4, Penguins 3
Before going into this week my first thought was that the Sabres had to take 2 of 3 to have any hopes of staying in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Anything less than that and they would fall further behind a conference that is a tough one to catch up to once you get behind. We saw that all last year.
So, last night against Pittsburgh was enormous because the last thing you want to do is have to win the third game of three games in four nights.
It was a nail biter but Ryan Miller seems to have re-focused himself the last few games and has played strong in goal. Paul Gaustad and Drew Stafford provided the four goals as the Sabres banged their way to a big, big win.
It was a nice game to see too as Gaustad had yet to score this year and to see him get two was nice, even nicer was to see Drew Stafford have a two goal, three point game. He in my mind is the future leader of this team. He seems to have found a place skating on a line with Vanek and Roy again which is right where he should be.
Whats even more is that this team came back to win. At one point they were down 3-2. The win leaves us still in 9th but just one point out of a playoff spot and it also provides some breathing room between us and 10th place now 5 points ahead of both Ottawa, Toronto and the NY Islanders (how the hell are the Islanders not in dead last?).
Next up: Montreal tonight, time to get greedy and go for at least a point if not the win tonight. Im going to continue using the old logo since using it the last night extended the winning to two games. (call me superstitious)
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Tis The Christmas Shopping Season
This story is one to add to the many reasons why I will never understand the hype and the stress that people seem to crave. We act like cavemen at best on the day after Thanksgiving thinking that if we don't get that bargain, the world is going to end.
Shoppers in Long Island killed a Walmart employee as they barged into the store at 5 AM. Seriously, after seeing a story like that, is this midnight madness and 4 AM, 5 AM insanity really worth it? Is it worth killing people over? Maybe its better that our economy does crash, that way we can see the real value in life isn't materialistic possessions that we crave this time of year. Its not what you give to one another. Its the fact that we spend time together around the holidays. Would the people's relatives who they were buying presents for be happy to know that their actions at 5 AM caused the death of someone in order to get them something that was $10 cheaper? Personally, I'd tell you to take the present back and give the money to the family of the store employee that lost his life. This day has been blown way out of proportion. I don't care what sales are offered, the greed and materialism that we as a country display this time of year is so un-Christlike that we probably should not even bother celebrating Christmas anymore until we take a long hard look at what the day really means. At what point did stores start offering this insanity at 4 AM? I think that the store itself should be held accountable for this death and for not providing some order to the way in which they allowed people in. Also, individual shoppers who directly trampled this man should be charged with manslaughter and thrown in jail. There should definitely be a nice civil trial against Walmart itself for the victims family. And it should be a big one. Millions for the victims family. That will serve as a warning for all stores that conduct these insane sales to make sure people are safe when they line up like idiots. As for the rest of us around this country we need to think about our actions on this day in the future. Maybe the stores should go back to opening at a reasonable time, say their normal time like 9 AM and offering the huge sales for the whole day or the weekend after and having enough merchandise so people don't feel like they will not be able to buy what they need to and just maybe, they won't feel like they have to kill someone just to get what they want. Its getting to the point where people don't even celebrate Thanksgiving, they just start lining up for shopping. That is just stupid. The shoppers, need to calm the hell down and not act like crazy, materialistic heathens and instead conduct ourselves with a little humility and common sense. Im not religious and I don't really believe in the religious part of Christmas. I just celebrate it as a nice time to spend with family. But, Im sure for those who do celebrate the religious part of the holiday, JC did not have this kind of behavior in mind to start the celebration of his birthday, which, by the way, is not in December.Category: Christmas 2008
Music for the Musically Tasteless
Hilary Duff should be banned for her awful sampling of a classic. She takes Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus and ruins it. Im sure if Depeche Mode knew their song was going to go to such trash they would have taken it all back.
Thanks to the musically tasteless fans of the world however we will probably hear more of this awful version than we need to. At least Marilyn Manson did a decent cover of it and if you want to dig a little further, Johnny Cash did his own impression of it that wasn't so bad as only the man in black could do it:
The Duff crappy version:
The Manson version: The Johnny Cash version: The Depech Mode original:Category: Music
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Category: THANKSGIVING 2008
Some Good Music News
Blur is planning a 2009 reunion of sorts. According to lead man Damon Albarn they will be in the studio rehearsing to see how it goes. As far as my favorite bands of all time, they rank up in the top 10. Heres to a little Blur reunion this is Bang off their 1991 release Leisure. Easily their best full length CD.Sabres 3, Bruins 2
Finally, the five game losing streak is over. The last time this team lost 6 in a row in regulation was back in 2003. If my calculations are correct that would be the same year that there were nights with more empty than full seats in the arena and a team that was struggling to survive. So to have that happen tonight would have signaled some ugly things.
It was not to happen though and Derek Roy came out of his season long nap to score twice to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead that they would not let go of. Jochen Hecht got the other which was nice to see from him as well.
Ryan Miller for the first time in two weeks looked somewhat comfortable in net as well. He had a tough night. It was not one of those night where Buffalo would outshoot their opponent decidedly and give up odd rushes. Boston earned their scoring chance and the chances they had, Miller had to work to save.
We got a scare after the second period it was doubtful whether Thomas Vanek would come back or not but he allowed us all to exhale when he was on the bench in the third.
Next up Pittsburgh as we wtill sit in 9th place, one spot away from the 8th and final playoff spot. We are going to start hearing this phrase sooner or later but I am calling Pittsburgh an early season must win if this team wants to get back into the top eight.
Im using the old logo tonight because they were wearing the third jersey. I wish they would come out with a white version of the third jersey. Its always nice to see the original logo.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
The Only Good Thanksgiving Song
With all the Christmas music we hear early I have a suggestion. We should play Adam Sandler's The Thanksgiving Song 24/7 on all those radio stations and in all the stores the week of Thanksgiving.
They can start playing their Christmas stuff early, but this week they should take a break and only play this song. I think it may be the only Thanksgiving song in popular music.
Category: Thanksgiving 2008
NHL Injuries Require No New Rules
Every single NHL season we go through the same thing. The talk runs around the league that we need to change the rules in the NHL to protect the players.
Its all crap. If anything they need to eliminate a rule. The instigator rule would allow players to police it themselves. Lets face it, back in 70's and earlier, players didn't wear helmets and I'll bet there were fewer head injuries back then than their are now.
Thats because back then, if someone was taking liberties on another teams players, they had to answer to the enforcers on the other team. now you have to worry about being the third guy in or instigating a fight over something like that and putting your team in a major penalty situation.
Eliminate the instigator rule and I guarantee you players would take fewer liberties knowing that they would pay the price later, everything would take care of itself.
Holy Crap Thats A Lot Of Money
So the bailout saga continues. Now instead of $700 billion it is $7.7 trillion. Great. Add to that that no one knows where any of this money is going. No clue. One day its going here, one day its going there.
Where do you hide $7.7 trillion dollars? This is the George Bush Administrations mess and Henry Paulson helped them orchestrate this big mess, there is no getting around it. So far this money is going who know where. The Citigroup bailout is a big hoax. The largest share holder in Citigroup who would benefit the most is Saudi Prince Alwaleed. So we are bailing out a company where the vast majority of the money will go overseas. Someone please explain that one to me. . If that doesn't have you seeing red, Once Wachovia is bought out by Wells Fargo, their executives will recieve $98.1 MILLION in severence pay. Severence for what? Running the one of the biggest banks in the country into the ground? This whole thing stinks and has stunk from the get go. Its time that we start letting some of these companies fail. Republicans talk about Obama spreading the wealth, it looks like George W. Bush and Henry Paulson are the two you really need to worry about, they are spreading $7.7 trillion around, to the very rich, coorporate CEOs. All Obama wants to do is raise taxes on those same greedy ass CEO's by 3%.Overly Protective
Sometimes our government goes overboard. That goes without saying right? One example is the enhanced IDs that we are all going to need if we want to go over the border starting June 1st.
Why the hell is this even an issue. I have news for you, if someone wants to get in illegally they are going to do it with or without these enhanced IDs. If I didn't already have a passport I'd be making a bigger deal about this.
Those of us living in Western New York and Sounthern Ontario and other border towns should be except from this program entirely. The average person who goes up to Toronto to see a Leafs game or Jays game or to go shopping for a long weekend has to fork over the extra $45 on top of the license they already have.
Why not just automatically replace our license when our licenses come up for renewal and allow this thing to happen gradually. You pay about that much anyway.
Its all a government ploy making you feel like your safer when really its just a hoax to collect more fees and taxes from our wallets for another ID that really, isn't needed. I have a lot of trouble buying into the average US or Canadian citizen having to shell out the money for a couple hour trip to the casino or a couple hour shopping trip.
Category: News
Mandatory Music Monday
Since I missed it yesterday, (Mondays are turning out to be a busy day lately) I will catch up today and call it a Two for Tuesday. Not many radio stations do Two for Tuesdays anymore why is that?
Today I give you two from The Cars. The Cars were led by frontman Ric Ocasek and listening to them last night I think they are probably one of the underrated bands that came out of that late 70's-early 80's new wave and punk scene. They just kicked on some of their stuff. This is You're All I Got Tonight and Just What I Needed.
Category: Mandatory Music Mondays
Bills 54, Chiefs 31
Well, they won. All be it against a 1-9 team, but they won. The Bills put up a team record 54 points against the worst team in the NFL. Two of their 6 victories have come against teams with a combined 3-18 record.
In short, they should have won that game. I want to see this team beat someone good. Someone they have to catch to make the playoffs. They have not beaten one playoff caliber team yet.
Look at the numbers, they gave up 31 against a horrible offense. Yes they have Larry Johnson in KC but really, they are a team that is leading the league in takeaways with 23 takeaways. Yet, they are still 1-9. That tells me that their offense stinks. They have been unable to capitalize on 23 takeaways.
So, as good as the Bills offense began to look again offensively, this team is awful defensively and I think they have one more win left in them unless this defense turns their game around. After San Fran we get back into division games that will mean something if there are any playoff plans left for this team.
54-31 is nice, but its an illusion.
Category: Buffalo Bills 2008
Happy Birthday to My Wife
My wife's birthday was this weekend! I didn't get a chance to do it yesterday so today I give her the Buffalo Boy Mike Birthday Thingy! I love you Sandie!
Category: Birthdays
Sunday Retro
Well, okay, its Thanksgiving week so I am giving in. The next few weeks I will do the Christmas retro. This week, U2. U2 was one of the featured artists on the very first A Very Special Christmas compilation released back in 1987, 21 years ago, it was also the year of the great Joshua Tree album and the movie Rattle and Hum for U2 which put them amongst the greatest bands in the world.
Category: Music | Sunday Retro
Islanders 4, Sabres 2
Well, now what? At the end of 40 minutes last night the Sabres were outshooting the Islanders 31-14 but losing 2-1. What more do you have to do? Its still not enough.
Some positives at this point:
1. Lindy Ruff has finally given up on Max, FINALLY!
2. Mark Mancari has played in two games and looked great in two games and scored his first NHL goal.
3. Drew Stafford and Daniel Paille look like they are turning the corner.
Some negatives that need to be addressed:
1. Decide on Teppo: He is 40, not the future of this team, call up Mike Weber and look to package Numminen for something.
2. Ales Kotalik needs to be shipped out as well. Enough with the inconsistent play. Yes hes a 20 goal scorer but with consistency he should be a 30-40 goal scorer.
3. Andrew Peters is still playing.
So here we are, 5 losses in a row and this coming week is not easy with two division games and one against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It would be nice to go 2-1 in those three. At least try to breathe some life into this thing.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Wendel to the Rafters
The Toronto Maple Leafs have always been my second favorite team in the NHL. I grew up with the Sabres and the Leafs. The Leafs were a distant second but when the Leafs were in the old Campbell Conference and the Sabres in the Prince of Wales, I could easily get away with being a fan of both.
Back in the 80's the Leafs had some pretty bad teams but they had a few years in the early 90's when they were contenders. One of the highlight reels of those 80's and early 90's teams was Wendel Clark.
Tonight they will be celebrating all things Wendel tonight including fake Wendel Mustaches. He was one of the toughest players that ever wore a Leaf jersey and his legend tonight will reach the rafters of the ACC. I hope this one is on the NHL network tonight, Im going to watch the raising of Wendel before tuning back to the Sabres game. The closest to Wendel you could get in a Sabres uniform was probably Jim Schonfeld.
Category: Toronto Maple Leafs
Flyers 3, Sabres 0
Okay this is getting serious. They went out, they played their best game in probably two weeks and still get shutout 3-0. They outshot the Flyers 40-25.
Its all about finish and right now, this team is having trouble finishing off plays. Mark Mancari was brought up so it was a game late but finally, Darcy followed up on my advice. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt though because coming all the way from Portland, Maine now I think you have to take part of that journey by dog sled, so it may very well take an extra day or two to get a call up.
Mancari was playing with Vanek for a good chunk of the night and looked great, they hit about 5 or 6 posts and had at least 10 quality scoring chances between Vanek and Mancari. He obviously impressed because he was picked as the third star, pretty impressive when you are on the losing end of a 3-0 shutout.
So, they played better, tonight they need to put the whole package together and not just play better, the result needs to be better. Baby steps. We can do this boys. Baby steps. Tonight should provide that too, its the lowly NY Islanders.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
GO AWAY!
Can she ever, please for the love of all that is good in this world, please go the hell away. She is the most annoying woman on the planet, add to that the backdrop she choose to be interviewed in front of. I accept the fact that its Thanksgiving and we eat turkey and someone has to kill them but to have it as a back drop while you are interviewing. Unreal. She has the brains of a chunk of granite.
Just do us all a favor and stay in Alaska and shut up!! Just when we thought we saw the last of her...
Category: Miscellaneous | Politics
Who Killed The Electric Car
GM had themselves set up in the mid to late 90's but they screwed it all up. They went for the Hummer instead of the EV1. They had an electric car that got 100 miles to a charge made and people waiting in line to buy it. Instead they and the oil companies crushed the thing.
Category: Energy | Miscellaneous
Michael Moore on Larry King
Michael Moore is to me one of the great Americans of our time. He has constantly brought relevant issues to the publics awareness and appearing the other day on Larry King he kind of comes full circle. His first documentary Roger and Me was about the auto industry, he hits the nail on the head in these clips including stating the fact that the management of Ford, GM and Chrysler need to be removed before they get a cent, he even addresses some of the union issues that many of the readers of this site brings up, its not the unions fault. Spend the time to listen to this its really worth the watch:
Category: News | Politics | Television | finance
Last Minute Laws
Last minute laws, they are called "midnight rules" that an outgoing president can get passed by midnight of November 21st slide through as laws enacted by his administration. They all do it, including Clinton who set a record for those laws, but it is the nature of the ones that George W. Idiot is trying to get through that is disturbing. You would figure with the lowest approval ratings of any president ever, he would just say screw it and fold up his tent and shuffle on back to his village in Texas, not this one. nope, every chance he gets to skirt the constitution, he will take full advantage of.
Most of them are environmental in nature including the following:
1. New rules to speed oil shale development including auctioning off land RIGHT NEXT TO 3 NATIONAL PARKS! It also involved changing endangered species laws and protection to make this happen allowing more polluting of rivers and streams.
This next one just kills me, how anyone can not be disgusted by this is beyond me and Im leaving it below word for word because it needs to be read:
2. The Chicago Tribune did a special report saying the administration undercut a clean-air rule aimed at curbing childhood lead poisoning:
...the EPA had planned to require lead monitors next to any factory emitting at least a half-ton of lead a year. But after the White House intervened, the agency raised the threshold to a ton of lead or more, according to e-mails and other documents exchanged between the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget.
Thats our children that they are talking about, you wonder why more and more children are being born with birth defects and conditions like autism, look no further. This president has allowed the passage of some of the worst environmental/pollution laws ever.
There are links in this article so you can go look at this jack asses last minute, mind boggling laws. I remember a time when a song called "This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land" meant something, now our politicians piss on our air, water and land with no regard for the public because all of a sudden, the public doesn't give a shit. To me thats sad that we can't stand up to this moron of a president and say no Mr. President, its not worth mining for oil shale right next to our pristine beauty of our national parks and quite frankly, we don't think this should happen, and we will fight this motion by your administration to allow this.
Category: News | Politics | environment
Buffalo's Beauty
I don't write nearly enough about Buffalo outside of the Buffalo sports or music scene. This was a little clip from the New York Times that my sister sent me that deserves to be seen. Its from a recent article talking about the amazing architecture that we have here in Buffalo.
Buffalo is frequently referred to a crumbling city that is in need of revival, that may be so, but take a drive around and I guarantee that you will see some of the most amazing homes, churches, and buildings ever build in the US.
Architects such as Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Henry Hobson Richardson, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Frank Lloyd Wright came here and built some amazing structures that need to be preserved and remembered as Buffalo begins its revival along the waterfront.
Category: Buffalo
Surprise, Surprise, Misused Funds
The US 1996 tobbaco settlement netted the US $61.5 billion between 2000 and 2006, gee guess who controlled both houses (senate and congress) and the presidency in that span?
They misused that money that went to the states. One of those expenditures was on a golf course in Niagara County. Other misuse of the funds included a museum in Alaska of all places. Imagine if all that money had gone where it was supposed to go. To say, I don't know, HEALTHCARE. It was supposed to go to healthcare programs, anti smoking programs and other health related programs but instead only 30% found its true purpose. The other 70% was squandered by a republican controlled Washington. Why does this kind of thing not surprise me. That is something that has gone relatively unnoticed but should have been a warning sign before we gave George W. and Hank Paulson $700 billion to play with at their discretion. Another question is this, instead of settling with tobacco companies why are we not just putting them out of business. Why are we still legalizing smoking/chewing tobacco in this country or anywhere. Its already to the point where pretty much the only place you can smoke legally is in your own home or backyard and thats if you don't have kids, which lets face it, if you smoke around your kids in an enclosed setting you should pretty much go to jail in my book. This country is so backwards. We sue big tobacco for billions, then we don't use it for healthcare and the use it was intended for. We ban it everywhere but we don't make it totally illegal. We tax the living shit out of it yet its still legal. That $61.5 billion could have gone a long way towards paying medicaid and even setting up universal healthcare, instead, our politicians use every excuse to misuse it on bullshit. And the republicans wonder why they were voted out. Im not saying that its not a bipartisan problem but lets face it, 2000-2006, they were in control of everything. Just think of the savings this country would experience if we banned smoking altogether. Just ended all sales of ciggarettes and made them totally illegal. The cancer rates in this country would plummet.Category: Politics | healthcare | money
Janet Napolitano is an Outsider
Janet Napolitano is an outsider being brought into Washington by Barack Obama, the Arizona Governor will make a great addition and she is well respected amongst her colleagues and brings great executive leadership to the post of homeland security.
Of course Obama is going to bring in experienced help from the Clinton administration. What do you expect. It was a successful administration he should bring some of them back, especially in important roles like his chief of staff who will basically be the office manager when he is not at the White House.
Of course, she is not to be confused the lead singer of Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano.
Bruins 7, Sabres 4
Well, thats what the Sabres get for not listening to all of my advice, Max was still on the team and Andrew Peters was still in the lineup. They did insert Patrick Kaleta and Drew Stafford back in but more out of the fact that TIm Connolly and Ales Kotalik are injured.
This team defensively is in disarray, its more a matter of this team being outskated and out worked at key times during the games. Last Friday they outshot Columbus decidedly but got beat 6-1, tonight, they were in this thing until the end of the second period and outshot Boston overall and still end up on the wrong end.
They are getting out hustled in their own zone and out skated to pucks in the offensive zones. They aren't working for rebounds and its killing them. They played well for the first half and did their job offensively, but lets face it, the defense is lacking and its got to be driving Lindy Ruff absolutely insane.
This is now 17 goals given up in three games. I don't care who you are, you are not going to win many games giving up an average of 6 goals a game. No offense in the league can keep pace with a defense that plays that poorly and to call all those goals the goaltenders fault would be looking at the games with a blind eye. When the defense plays like that the only thing that would stop a puck is a brick wall.
So, the suckiness continues, I think its getting time that Darcy Regier makes a move here and a big one because its looking like a streak that this team is not going to escape from anytime soon.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
They Do Have a Mind Of Their Own
Its nice to see that congress has a mind of their own instead of following President Idiot and Henry Paulson around like sheep on this bailout crap.
That said, I don't think anyone truly realizes what all this will lead to. Lets face it, we got hosed on the $700 billion, there was absolutely no oversight of this money in that bill. We handed Paulson $700 billion check and its not going to what he said it was for nor what we thought it was for.
Add to that the fact that the purpose he has given for this bailout has shifted several times already, does anyone really know what he is doing or for that matter does he even know what he is doing with that kind of money?
So, today we have GM, Forn and Chrsyler fly in a coorporate jet asking for the money and congress finally shows some backbone. The question is, is this the right time for that backbone.
I suspect that the collapse of the auto industry will have much greater and far reaching effects than the collapse of any portion of Wall Street. The $700 billion has not worked, its been mismanaged because once again George W, not Barack Obama was the mastermind along with his bed buddy Henry Paulson in getting a bill handed to them that had no oversight of the money.
This is not an Obama recession, its turning into a George W. Bush depression and we all got hosed. Now, congress is attempting to be the wiser and it may be the wrong time to be wise, this might be the most needed bailout of the bunch. Its should go through but, this time,if it does, it will be a hand held bailout where if the Big Three do not comply with what we want them to do in order to get the money, they get squat and fold up their tents. There will be oversight of the oversight of any money that they get their mittens on.
Mandatory Music Monday (Tuesday Edition)
I figured since I missed yesterday I would at least try to get a little music post today. Today I give you The Tea Party. Their major label debut Slendor Solis came out in 1993 and they took Canada and at least the WNY region by storm.
They have always featured a different sound, employing middle eastern influences into their eclectic mix of psychedelic rock and blues. I saw them perform at a small club in St. Catherines about 8 years ago. This is Raven Skies, the ninth track off that 1993 release.
Category: Mandatory Music Mondays
Bits and Pieces
Okay, I am not going to brag, but, my Cleveland Browns beat the Bills last night. I felt bad for Bills fans I really did. They are my second favorite team by location and really, haven't they had enouhg wide right? Not quite, one more was fine as long as it was against Cleveland. Stay strong Bill's peoples, things will turn around. If they can't beat Kansas City next week, then you have a problem.
Since when did it get so friggin COLD!!!!!!! I want the 60's back!
The next few days may be a little light, I am finishing my student teaching for my masters degree in special education so if you don't see much feel free to post in the comments of this post and let me know what you are all up to, if you have any pressing news. Thats not to say I won't be posting at all but the bloggage will be light probably until the weekend.
See ya in a few days!
Buffalo Boy
Category: Blogging | Buffalo Bills 2008
Sunday Retro
XTC's the Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead was released in 1992. It was most recently covered by The Crash Test Dummies in 1995 and featured in the Jim Carey movie Dumb and Dumber.
Its actually an appropriate song for Barack Obama. Its about a man who comes to a town "spreading wisdom and cash around". He is very popular amongst the people but not so much with the government.
Both versions of the video actually have scenes that resemble the assassination of JFK who was an Obama like figure back in the 60's.
Music's meaning can be reinvented and reapplied again and again can't it!
Category: Music | Sunday Retro
Penguins 5, Sabres 2
Not much good news to report after tonight other than the fact that Jason Pominville is on a two game point streak and Thomas Vanek found the back of the net again. Other than that, the rest of the lineup played a relatively uninspired third period that cost them the game.
They were up 2-1 going into the third and gave up 4 goals in the third period. Thats not Ryan Miller, that is a team that had some adversity presented to it and took their foot off the pedal.
Here are some changes I would like to see made. During the course of the summer, JP Riccardi of the Jays was obviously paying attention to my blog because a day after I wrote this the Jays followed through and fired John Gibbons and brought back Cito Gaston.
Well, now we will see if Darcy Regier reads my posts. These are the changes that need to be made sooner than later: 1.) Trade MaX, his time has come, let someone else reinvent him, its never going to work here in Buffalo. maybe you can catch someone willing to overpay, if not throw Andrew Peters in the deal with him and maybe in addition to the cup of coffee Max will get you, they will throw in some donuts. 2.) Adam Mair is a fourth line center/winger at best, never again play him on the third, second or for that matter the first line (thats more for Lindy Ruff). 3. They are ready: Mark Mancari and Nathan Gerbe, get them up here now. Im not talking about the fourth line either. Find room for them on the second or third line. Here are their respective numbers early in this AHL season: In 13 games, Mancari has 11 goals and 13 assists. He is 6'4" and 225 pounds and hes wrecking the league. Add to the fact that hes disciplined with just 2 minutes in penalties and hes a +16, he needs to be in Buffalo. Nathan Gerbe has 12 goals and 7 assists in 13 games. He is a +6. For a team that is struggling for goals and in need of forwards who are willing to play a little defense these two need to be immediate call ups. Ales Kotalik is out, its the perfect time. Here would be my four lines, all of which could play regular shifts, not like when Peters is in the line up and he can only contribute his 3 minutes a night Line 1: LW Thomas Vanek, C Derek Roy, RW Jason Pominville Line 2: LW Jochen Hecht C Tim Connolly RW Daniel Paille Line 3: LW Daniel Paille C Nathan Gerbe RW Mark Mancari Line 4: LW Drew Stafford C Paul Gaustad RW Patrick Kaleta When Ales Kotalik comes back he can take Kaleta's or Stafford's spot. Either way you have muscle and finesse on each line and a well balanced four lines. You also keep Mancari and Gerbe together and Mancari has played with Paille in the past so they will gel quickly. So, if my expertise holds true, keep an eye on the Wednesday's lineup and look for some moves to be forth coming.Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Where Does It Stop?
Where does the money train end? The New York Yankees are offering CC Sabathia 6 years and $137 million. They also have A-Rod signed at $270 million over 10 years. They also have Derek Jeter at $19 million a year. Thats potentially three players on the roster making collectively almost $70 million a year. That would be more than the Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins team payrolls combined on those three players.
The Yankees also paid out an average of over $6.7 million per player on their roster last year. 17 teams in the league averaged less than half that.
Where does it end? Now, thats not saying that with all that money they are going to be a championship team. At some point someone has to manage the egos in the clubhouse and keep them all healthy. Last year, despite a $200+ million payroll, the Yankees were sitting at home watching the World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Greed catches up with you eventually but at the same time, the money spent results in a super star team that can be unbeatable too.
The fact is though, most of the time, the top money teams win. Tampa this past year was the rare exception. You can bet that no matter what happens, once their top players head to free agency they will be bought up by the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers or Mets. All of whom have payrolls approaching or far exceeding $150 million a year.
The other problem is when you offer ridiculous contracts like that it drives up the price of other players on the market as well making them far less affordable for teams who thought they could spend a little to get them. Thats were Burnett, Derek Lowe and Ben Sheets come into the mix. The Jays are interested in keeping Burnett first but if he is signed, Derek Lowe and Ben Sheets would immediately peak their interest.
I am always hopeful come the first day of the season but when you hear that the Yankees are offering up obscene contracts like that to Sabathia and on top of that plan to try to sign both AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe it takes all the fun out of being a fan of Major League Baseball.
We have seen in the NFL how a hard salary cap can level the playing field. Look at how evenly distributed the championships are in that league. Given the exception of the New England Patriots, teams can and usually do turn their franchises around in a couple seasons and every team falls back down to earth sooner or later.
Major League Baseball needs a hard salary cap or at the very least something like that of the NHL. They also need revenue sharing that will allow teams to spend to the that cap.
The Yankees go out and just thumb their nose at the stupid luxury tax and keep right on spending. It does nothing. With each and every ridiculous contract thrown around the league I become less a fan of the league and more a fan of anyone who can beat the Yankees, Red Sox and other teams that spend excessively.
Category: Sports
Back To Reality
The above normal temperatures and the balmy weather for November are about to come to a close. Tomorrow is back to normal, back to reality of this time of year, dark, damp and ugly. Today was still at least comfortable temperature wise despite the monsoonal rains that came in.
Tomorrow Im hoping on my way back from Rochester its not winters icy blast. Just think, in about 5 weeks, we will be at the shortest day of the year and ready for days to slowly start getting longer again. 5 more weeks before we start eeking back daylight one minute at a time. Too bad its about 5 more months of crapstacular weather.
Category: Weather
Blue Jackets 6, Sabres 1
Look at the score and it looks like a downright blowout. If you went to the game like I did and you know that Columbus took advantage of the 6 total scoring chances they had. Those chances were due to poor defensive play in the Buffalo end.
The Sabres offensively played well, after two periods the shots on goal were 28-10 in favor of Buffalo and Buffalo was out hitting Columbus 21-6. The only difference was Columbus netted 4 out of their first ten shots.
It was one of those nights. The goals that went in were not the goaltenders fault (Patrick Lalime) with the exception of one miscue.
There were a few stretches when Sabres just dominated but Columbus did a great job of boxing out and keeping Buffalo off the rebounds that were given up.
One frustrating thing is the lack of finish from Max Nation. Once again he had several chances and failed to net a goal. Vanek and Roy also had numberous chances and failed to finish.
One question I did have for Lindy Ruff was why the hell hes starting the fourth line? Andrew Peters is a waste of space on the ice and needs to find himself scratched more in favor of Patrick Kaleta or even waived so that this team can bring up Mark Mancari who tearing up the AHL.
Next up Pittsburgh tonight at 7:30
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
The Office Space Beat Down
This scene was reminiscent of my Wednesday night:
Category: Miscellaneous
UB 43, Akron 40
How about those Bulls! They pulled it off in the fourth overtime with a 40 yard field goal. That improves their bowl hopes by beating Akron. Whats even more impressive is that they did it on the road.
I have to admit, I am a bandwagon jumper on this one. I didn't expect them to do nearly as well as they have. They have proven me wrong and deserve full marks.
It would be nice to see them make whatever obscure bowl game they get. It would help a lot with recruiting being able to say that they made a bowl game and it would provide them with some much needed revenue with which to recruit.
Turner Gil deserves a lot of credit for turning this team into what it is today.
When The World Is Running Down
If you want a great live compilation and didn't get the chance to see them on their reunion tour get $25 together, go to Best Buy and pick up The Police Live in Buenos Aires. There is 109 minutes of live concert footage including this awesome guitar solo in When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of Whats Still Around.
Andy Summers was 64-65 years old going on this tour and if they didn't do it this past year and a half, it wasn't going to happen. For a 65 year old, he can still play the axe and on this CD, its not Sting, though he may be at his best on the bass (especially on the live audio CD), its not Stewart Copeland on the drums, though he is still one of the greatest, it to me was Andy Summers and the fact that he is probably the most under appreciated guitarist of all time.
I have this on my Christmas list if anyone is interested.
Category: Music
Break Stuff
Where oh where did Limp Bizkit ever disappear to? I wasn't a huge fan but of all the rock/rap crap as I like to call it, they were one of the better ones.
Anyway, this song, kinda summed up my night last night with the bastard printer:
Category: Miscellaneous | Music
My Bastard Printer
Last night I had a meltdown. I have owned a Lexmark printer now for a little over two years. It came free with my laptop. This probably should have been warning number one.
Well, since getting this printer, I had to download the program four times until someone told me it wasn't compatible with Window's Vista when I got it and so I would have to wait until they came out with a fix for it. So, finally after three months of not being able to use it, I got my hands on the Window's Vista compatible download for it.
Ever since I started using it I have had problems with it freezing up, the printer cartridges would last about a month and then when it was time to replace, black ink was $22, color ink was also $22. $44 a month on ink. So, recently I have been coming to the conclusion that with printers as cheap as they are, when I have to buy ink, I'm better off buying a new printer.
So, yesterday, I had my fill. The damn Lexmark broke down for the last time. I took the thing out back and took the back end of a shovel to it. I had to take out my frustrations on it. I beat the ever living shit out of it. With ever ounce of strength I had I walloped the sun of a bitch until it was a mound of plastic pieces. It felt great.
I got in my car and drove down to Best Buy. I told the sales person that I had a printer that was a piece of shit, used a shit load of ink and froze up all the time. His first words...."It must have been a Lexmark". No shit?
I told him what had transpired and told him exactly what I wanted, I printer that is economical with ink and one that won't freeze up all the time. A very simple request.
So, today, for $64 (just $20 more than I was paying for ink every month), I have a brand new HP Deskjet F4280. Works like a charm and I got to beat the Lexmark to a pulp, life is good again.
Category: Miscellaneous
Good Bye AJ
Tomorrow I fully expect to come home to the news that some rich Major League Baseball team has signed AJ Burnett to an excessive contract that he will never earn. Tomorrow is the first day that free agents can sign with another club. With limited pitching out there, AJ along with others will be way over priced. He will probably go somewhere around $15-18 million a season. Too much for him.
He spent three years in Toronto and hardly earned the $11 million per season he was earning here only starting 21 and 25 games each of his first two years. This past season was his first truly injury free season in Toronto and to me, if he were honorable, he would play out the contract he signed.
He's not worth a penny more of what he has been making and up until this past year he really is not a proven 15 game winner in this league. He has averaged 10-12 wins a year even in seasons he has been healthy.
So, he will sign a contract tomorrow, probably not with the Jays, hopefully not with the Yankees, and quite possibly with the LA Angels or Baltimore Orioles. One thing is for sure, who ever signs him, is most likely over paying for him.
Category:
Last of The Experience
Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience back in the 60's was found dead today. He was the last surviving member of the group.
I have always listened to those Hendrix records not for the guitar of Hendrix, that goes without saying, we all listened to that, but the drumming on those records was just awesome. Easily one of my top drummers of all time and yet very underrated and seldom mentioned when mentioning top drummers.
Don't Let The Lower Prices Fool You
The International Energy Agency, despite the economic crisis we are in at the moment is calling for $26.3 trillion worth of investment in new and sustainable fuels in order to keep pace with growing demand. World demand is still growing despite the economics due to India and China.
$26.3 trillion sounds like a lot, but globally over the next 20 + years is not that much. Its a small investment given the fact that people will be put to work to install new energy infrastructure to support things such as natural gas, solar and wind power.
Oil, despite the drop off in prices is not going to be cheap for long. They are predicting prices to average $100 again soon. That would bring gasoline back up between $3.50-$4.00 a gallon consistently.
"Future sources of oil, the cost of producing it and the price consumers will have to pay for it are extremely uncertain, the IEA said."
Probably not the news we want to hear but really, if we don't invest in new infrastructure and energy sources like solar and wind, we are asking for even bigger problems than coughing up the money now. Of course the oil companies if they truly consider themselves "energy" companies should be forking over a good chunk of that $26.3 trillion considering the obscene profits they take in.
The fact is, due to the down turn of credit markets, there have been little if any new investments in energy lately and when the economy does turn, there are going to be supply problems.
Category: Energy
Joe Drops an F-Bomb
Joe Scarborough keeps talking after he drops an F-bomb on the MSNBC morning show. Everyone around him was in disbelief. This will probably be made a huge deal of and he will be forced to leave or be fined some exorbitant amount of money. People will over react like they have never heard the word "fuck" before.
There I did it, I am sticking up for a republican talk show host.
Category: Television
The Plus Deck Ex Is Coming
The Plus Deck Ex is coming. Its been on back order since my birthday in July. Its an external drive that actually allows you to convert cassettes directly to MP3.
I can't wait to get this thing, the audio clips I will be able to produce will be much improved. It allows me to record just about anything, AM/FM, directly off the internet, cassette and more. It will also allow me to be very selective in what I record and save.
I will be able to save 20-30 second sound bytes from a cassette and then fast forward to the next clip I want. My lovely wife is looking forward to this as my cassettes, as I download them, will be placed in a box and put in storage until I get my own basement with which to display my entire collection.
Category: Miscellaneous
October Bloggage
Last month was my second best month as far as vistors to this site. I had 2,162 visitors and 1000 of them were new visitors to the site. A big part of that was the political commentary that I have done and though we don't all agree, its fun to have the debate and allows all to vent.
I'm also starting to post more on the Bills and as usual, I post on every Sabres game. Mandatory Music Mondays are going well and Sunday Retro seems to be a keeper. The politics will continue to be a major source of content as well as I continue to shed light on the Obama transition to the White House and calm the illegitimate fears of you right wingers out there. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the posts!
Category: Blogging
Right Wing Over Reacts
Since the election it has been scary and almost comical at the same time seeing how right wing conservatives are over reacting to the Obama election. One such thing is the huge jump in sales of guns.
Yes guns. Its down right scary that this is happening. How soon we forget that Columbine and Virginia Tech were both the result of guns being in the hands of children and in the Virginia Tech case a college student who were seriously messed up mentally.
The increase sales in guns is for mostly hand guns and assault weapons or semi-automatic weapons. These are not shotguns or rifles that you would use for hunting. These are guns that are used for "self-defense" These people are afraid that Barack Obama and the democrats are going to take away their rights as stated in the second amendment.
Well, this amendment has been seriously misunderstood by the US citizenry over the years and totally convoluted. The amendment reads:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
A well regulated Militia is referring to the right of the army, the navy, the police, the FBI and any other law enforcement or military outfit, not an everyday citizen.The right of the people to carry guns does refer to the average citizen but the primary focus of the amendment is on the military and law enforcement.
Look, I support the right to a gun, a shot gun for the hunting enthusiast, not the shoot a moose from a helicopter kind of hunter (AKA Sarah Palin) that is just flat out stupid. The kind of hunting that you take your shot gun, walk into the woods, maybe have a tree stand or actually track animals in the woods, and then, I only support it if you are shooting the thing with the intention of using the carcass for food or some useful purpose.
These people buying guns for self defense like assault weapons and hand guns are asking for trouble. For starters, rarely will those guns ever be used for the purpose they are intended. The chances of the owner or someone the owner cares about being hurt by that gun are far greater than that gun ever being used for self defense. The average citizen does not need a gun. Period. Especially semi-automatic assault weapons. Thus the word ASSAULT.
Barack Obama and the democrats do not want to take your guns away or take away your right to own a gun, they want to make background checks a little more invasive so that a Virginia Tech or Columbine doesn't happen. So that guns have less of a chance of ending up in the hands of the mentally disturbed. True you will always have the occasional nut case who will get one anyway, but why not make it more stringent. I'm sure the responsible gun owner would agree and won't mind the extra precautions in the gun purchasing process to make sure they are not put into the hands of people who shouldn't have them.
Category: News
Mandatory Music Monday
Sam Roberts burst onto the Canadian and WNY music scene with his 2000 debut Brother Down. If you like Sloan, The Tragically Hip, or even the Rolling Stones, you'll love Sam Robert's straigh forward, raw brand of garage rock.Category: Mandatory Music Mondays
Patriots 20, Bills 10
How do you lose a seemingly impossible lead to give up to a team that lost its all world starting quarterback and seemed primed to have a down year?
Keep watching the Buffalo Bills, they are putting on a clinic. Three games ago, they were 5-1 and looking like they could run away with the AFC East, now they are looking like they are going to finish dead last.
Their running game has been awful and Turk Schonert is calling plays that look eriely similar to previously fired offensive coordinators. All pass, no run.
The offensive line that had all this money sunk into it is looking just offensive. They can't run block. Really if you can't run block, your offense is nothing. Trent Edwards has got to be wondering about the whole scheme they have right now.
Im finding it interesting that the Bills tendency is to run early and if they find that they are going to struggle they give up on it early instead of sticking with it. Whats wrong with run, run, run and when you think you have run the ball too much run it some more. Thats how you beat good defenses, not by passing the ball.
Marshawn Lynch I think is being under utilized but maybe that is just me. Last year he showed signs of brilliance and this year, he hasn't been anywhere near his rookie season and partly because Fred Jackson is getting more runs in.
Here they were, today was a day that the defense actually played a good game but the offense called some bad plays and simply didn't put the ball on the ground nearly enough. Sooner or later its the coaching that is ultimately responsible for lack of a running game. You can't get into a rhythm if you don't call enough run plays. They have the talent both in the running backs and on the line I think they are being mishandled.
Category: Buffalo Bills 2008
Sunday Retro
This week I feature a little ska classic from The Specials. They were one of the true originators of ska and fused rock, punk and reggae seemlessly.
They were originally formed in 1977 and only lasted until 1981. During that span, Jerry Dammers and the boys had 7 consecutive top 10 UK singles. Not bad considering the competition over there included the Clash, the Police and a whole host of up and coming punk and new wave acts from England.
The tune I feature 1979's Stupid Marriage which appears on their self-titled release. None other than the legendary Elvis Costello produced this album.
Lets make it two, this is a great live version of Much Too Young:Category: Music | Sunday Retro
A Lost Weekend
I didn't post the game from Friday because I wanted to post the weekend as a package. The Sabres played a sloppy game defensively against Atlanta giving up three, one goal leads. That game should have been 4-3 but defensively they didn't back check. They got caught up in a wild end to end shootout with a team that if allowed to open it up will. 4 on 4 in the overtime, Atlanta deserved it, they kept coming back and took advantage of Buffalo not coming back with the third man.
There is a good pity point and a bad pity point, Friday night was not a good point, when you have the lead three separate times during the game and with less than 10 minutes left, you have to get 2, no exceptions.
Last night, Buffalo over corrected in Boston. They were too conservative and too defensive minded and the offense wasn't there. Miller I thought played well and the defense played a good game but the offense was too defensive minded and just got beat to pucks in the Bruins zone.
Either way Ruff couldn't have been happy with Friday night and last night was over correcting on defense. There has to be balance boys.
Next up, St. Louis and Jay McKee come to town.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Starting the Blame Game
Already republicans are starting. Calling Obama a socialist, blaming him for this past weeks failures on Wall Street and trying to pick him apart.
First of all on the socialist issue, folks, look around you we already live in a socialized society. Police, fire, schools all socialized and paid for by your tax dollars. Healthcare is a necessity that belongs right up there with our right to fire and police protection as well as our right to a free and public education.
Also, you want socialism? The banks and Wall Street was just bought by our government under George W. Bush's watch. The man was on TV begging for it to be passed along with his buddy Paulson. He had a pen to veto the bailout if he wanted but he let it go through with absolutely no over sight.
So we have effectively socialized the financial system under the watch of the republican party. Barack Obama doesn't begin his term until next year. January 20th, 2009. Between now and then, George W. Bush will probably be in charge of a bailout of the automakers. Again, on his watch with veto power, socialism.
Obama's biggest move to increase taxes is raising coorporate/income taxes on individuals making more than $200,000 a year and couples/small businesses making more than $250,000 a year. Where the increase will come into play is on the amount over $200,000/$250,000.
So for instance, if you make $260,000, the first $250,000 will still be taxed at the current rate of 36%, the $10,000 above and beyond that will be taxed at 39%. So you will pay $300 more on that $10,000. Thats it.
Otherwise, those coorporations will get a 50% tax break for providing healthcare to their employees which will all but wipe out any damage done by the 3% tax increase.
Folks, we are over reacting already. Let the guy get there and give him the first 100 days. Hes not a socialist. Hes just bringing the tax code back to the Clinton years in which, the economy flourished with a 39% tax in place on the wealthy. If a coorporation chooses to create jobs here in the US, they get a tax break. That doesn't sound socialist to me. That sounds like common sense. The middle class, which is most, if not all my readers, will not be affected or see a tax break.
He is in it for the worker, the middle class citizens who have been working their asses off and seeing our incomes shrink when compared to inflation. Give it a chance, and give it a rest.
Category: Politics
One Final Word On Ms. Piggy
I have had a lot of fun watching Keith Olberman over the last few weeks and late in October he slammed Palin on her claims that Obama was a communist or socialist. He caught her with her own words.
Palin is such a terrible liar. What she was trying to blame Obama for wanting to do, she does in her own state. She shares the wealth and has said it on the campaign trail. Its another example of why we must remember this woman. remember that when she tries to run again, that we smack her wanna be presidents ass back up to Alaska.
I have a better idea, maybe we can set up a border fence along the Alaska/Canadian border and monitor for her trying to get back out of the state. If she does, we shoot paint balls at her from a helicopter. See how she likes it.
Category: Politics
The Dumb Get Dumber
Sarah Palin got dumber, this is courtesy of Fox News, the Republican news safehouse. Even her own campaign outed her as an idiot.
Such things have come out now that she didn't know that Africa was a continent and could not even name the countries involved in NATO. She probably thinks Alaska is its own country.
After hearing all the crap bewteen her and Ted Stevens and the Alaskan people voting a convicted felon back into the same senate seat he was convicted in, maybe Alaska should be its own country. The only country then that Sarah Palin is smart enough to run.
Im sorry if I come across as abrasive towards her, but you should have to have a certain degree of intelligence to run for Vice President. In 2012, it should be our responsibility as citizens, if this woman chooses to embarass herself and run for president, that we remember what a bimbo she was. She has an IQ lower than George W. Just like with 9/11, we should never forget Sarah Palin because had her and McCain won, it would have been another disaster on US soil.
Category: Politics
Hip For The Hell Of It
Its been a while since I did some good Tragically HIp stuff, here is a tune off 2004's In Between Evolution, its called "It Can't Be Nashville Every Night". This whole disc features Gord at his best vocally.
I was thinking today that its been a while, (March of 2007) since I last saw them live. Almost two years, I don't know if I have ever gone that long before, they need to do a Buffalo show at HSBC again.
Category: Hip For The Hell Of It | Music
Top Priorities
This is a world map and the colors on it represent those countries that have some form of universal healthcare. The blue are countries that have some form of universal healthcare in place, notice every industrialized country has some form of universal healthcare: Great Britain, Austrailia, Brazil, Russia, China, Japan. and basically all of Europe and Canada.
The countries in green are those that are currently implementing universal healthcare. Among those are Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand.
These countries in the blue and green believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. They believe that all citizenss regardless of ability to pay or previous condition deserve healthcare.
The US however is in the grey, we have no universal healthcare, we have 47 million American citizens who do not have health insurance. This my friends needs to change. We also have people who despite having it, can't afford their medical bills because their current insurance won't cover them for some lousy reason.
The two countries in yellow, are Iraq and Afghanistan. They have universal healthcare. Guess how.....WE THE US ARE PAYING FOR IT THROUGH WAR FUNDING!!!!!!
That to quote Grampy, my friends, is not a democratic thing, its a George W. Bush administration thing. On Barack Obama's list of things to get done, is reforming healthcare. Now is the time for universal healthcare in the supposed wealthiest country on the planet.
Category: Politics | healthcare
Barack's Victory Speech
Regardless of party loyalty, just about everyone stated the word "historical" in reference to last night. I watched the speech again just now and its more powerful the second time.
Its a great thing in this day and age that we have Youtube to document moments like last night. It was historical. It was as important and meaningful as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the writing of the Constitution, the Gettysburgh Address, MLK, the first man on the moon. It ranked right up there with the most important and historical moments of our time.
I don't think that the meaning of this moment has sunk in fully and I don't think it will for quite sometime. Maybe its because since day one, Barack Obama has acted, sounded and has presented himself as presidential as any other president in the history of this country.
Speech after speech, interview after interview this man took the high road during his campaign. He didn't use negative attacks, he won on the issues. He won because he was truthful and up front with the voters. He won because he cares. And it shows. This country has taken a great leap forward with last nights results. Under Obama, it will continue to move forward:
Category: Election 2008
Classless Followers
John McCain's concession speech last night left me feeling a little more respect for him. He came out and gave a gracious speech and gave Obama a great deal of respect and offered his helping hand in the transition.
His followers in attendance however were absolutely classless. Listen to the boos and jeers as McCain even mentions Obama's name.
Its time to move on and create a better country with his leadership, not to hold grudges, bitterness or anger towards him.
Category: Election 2008
A Blue Night For America And Buffalo
Tonight was a night of firsts and a blue night at that. Barack Obama has reached the highest position in this country and showed that this country wanted change. We wanted more than just another republican in office. We wanted someone who would identify with the middle class.
I still need some time to really let this sink in, its been 8 years of being against something and now, after tonight, Im for something. I've spent the last 8 years ridiculing George W. Bush and will spend the next 8 years showing my support more often than ridicule.
No president has ever been perfect, and Barack Obama will be far from it, but I think that he is the right man at the right time for this job. If you were against him, give him time, give him a chance.
I was thinking the last few days, after this election, now what? Well now comes the fun part, who will he have in his cabinet, how will his policies take shape over the next months and years.
On a side note, The UB Bulls defeated Miami of Ohio tonight, making it a blue night in Buffalo in more ways than one, the win keeps UB's bowl hopes alive.
Category: Buffalo | Election 2008 | Sports
LesMisbarack
I just caught this today and its a funny little production by the Obama staff signaling the end of their work on his campaign:
Category: Miscellaneous
Sabres 2, New Jersey 0
Another villager for Pominville and Patrick Kaleta's first of the year held up last night to beat the Devils. What's more is that Ryan Miller recorded his second shutout in a row.
He's in the zone folks. 145 consecutive minutes of shutout hockey. I'll take it.
We are not 8-2-2 with 18 points and in first place in the Northeast by one point. That also puts us in second overall in the conference.
Next up: Atlanta on Friday which means three days of rest for the boys, they have been busy lately and healing so a three day span without a game should prove to be very good.
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Mandatory Music Monday
Today I dedicate to Sarah Palin. Ah yes, Miss Piggy herself. What more can I say. She is just dumb and so was Grampy for choosing her. She was inexperienced and for the brainwashed who jumped aboard the Palin wagon and treated her like you had heard of her all along, I say you all lie.
Until McCain made her his choice nobody knew where Alaska was much less cared who the governor of the state was. Im gonna miss her. After this election, hopefully she will skate off with the rest of the hockey moms into obscurity and be just a comic memory.
So, Grampy and Sarah were looking for a theme song during their campaign, although, no respecting band would donate a song to them. So I found another that they could use and Im sure Kurt Cobain would be okay with it, it is Nirvana's Dumb off of 1993's In Utero:
Category: Mandatory Music Mondays
V-O-T-E VOTE!
Tomorrow is the day! Im not writing anymore than this post today and you can all have at it:
If you want everyone to be covered with some form of healthcare and believe that healthcare is a right in this country, vote Obama.
If you believe that your healthcare premiums should be taxed and that $5000 tax credits will be enough to pay for the average health insurance policy that costs $10-12,000 then vote for John McCain. (this will leave more people without insurance)
If you believe in moving away from oil and concentrating our energy needs on solar and wind and clean sources of energy then vote Obama.
If you want 45 nuclear plants built with no eye towards what to do with the waste, drilling for oil that may not even be there, and using coal with out having the clean coal technology in place, vote McCain.
If you believe in ending this war and bringing our troops home, vote Obama.
If you believe in continuing to spend a billion dollars a month on this invasion of Iraq, vote McCain.
If you believe in lower taxes for the middle class (those making less than $250,000) then vote Obama
If you believe in tax breaks for the wealthy and power hungry CEOs/coorporations then vote McCain
If you believe in ending No Child Left Behind and putting money that is needed into our public schools to support needed programs then vote Obama.
If you believe in privatizing our schools and continuing NCLB then vote McCain.
If you believe women should have the right to choose vote Obama
If you believe in overturning Roe v. Wade, vote McCain.
If you think that Sarah Palin is one of the dumbest people in this country and not prepared to run it should Grampy croak, vote Obama
If you think that Ms. Piggy is qualified, vote McCain.
The choice is simple. Its time, but we must get out there and vote. Don't vote, then don't bitch. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't vote and on Wednesday when I post I will be posting Barack Obama's victory speech.
Category: Election 2008
The Picken's Plan
T. Boone Pickens has a better energy plan than anyone in our current government could possibly come up with. How can you not like what he has come up with. He is undoubtedly being sincere in his proposal, its well researched, it speaks of specific funding needed, and he being an oil man himself is ready to admit that oil is not the answer.
Who ever is elected Tuesday has big problems, one less problem could be energy if they take the Pickens Plan and funds it. Yes its a $700 billion investment up front, but unlike the bailout, we know where we are spending this investment and know that it will allow us to put people to work here, and spend money here, and ultimately keep money in this country over the long term.
Until someone comes out with a better plan, T. Boone may be the guy to get this policy on track. I wonder if Obama has plans to make T. Boone his energy secretary?
Category: Energy
"Godless" Ain't Gonna Cut It
Elizabeth Dole, the incumbent republican US senator in North Carolina is running against State Senator Kay Hagan. A recent ad called Hagan godless. So what if she is? Hagan I think is going too far the other way in suing to have the ad pulled. She should let it play and ask the people the same question I just did. So what if I was "godless"? Religion should play no part in the peoples choice in any political race. Dole going to that trouble to come up with an ad like that must really be struggling in this race because obviously if you can't win on the issues, try to smear your opponent on something that truly doesn't matter. Kay's husband just so happens to serve on the board of the Godless Americans political action committee. Hagan herself though is a Christian. The PAC that her husband works with works to promote secular ideas. In one ad, they claim that the group that her husband works for wants to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, which I am all for. It really shouldn't be in there, but thats a whole other topic.Whats wrong with that? Nothing. Religion should have no place in politics to begin with and I would love to see Hagan defeat Dole as much because it would give another democrat a seat in the senate for as much as what Dole is attacking her for and the fact that the argument has no place in political venues.
I'm telling you my friends, the day is coming, we are going to have our first African American in the White House and soon, we will have our first Politician who doesn't use the word God in every speech.
Way Too Early
Yesterday I walked into Rite Aid to pick up a few things and I was standing at the register and it hit me, its November. Why did it strike me right then and there?
Because we start celebrating Christmas now. Christmas music was playing overhead as I was waiting at the register. Way too early people! By the time we get to the actual holiday, the whole point of the day is completely lost with all the commercialism and stress from having to shop and buy gifts that most of us given these economic times don't have the money to buy and end up going waist deep into debt to buy a bunch of crap.
Whats wrong with waiting until December 1st? Hell I'd even say, wait until after Veteran's Day and then have at it. After that day there isn't much to talk about, the days are like 5 hours long and it helps to brighten the long nights. As a matter of fact, Im going to start a push right now for a law, okay more a rule than a law, that there is to be no Christmas music before December.
I ran into this a few times over the last couple weeks, I did not uncheck the Christmas songs in my Ipod and Snoopy's Christmas by the Royal Guardsman came on. Its one of my favorite songs period but its a Christmas song so I blew right by it.
How early is too early to start mentioning the holidays and specifically, how early is too early to start with the damn Christmas music? Call me Scrooge, call me what ever you want, but Christmas is just way too early. Really, Im more of a fan of extending the celebration, we spend two months before hyping it and then the day after we race to take everything down. Start celebrating it in December and then keep things up a few weeks into January to keep things lit up during the first half of the coldest and darkest month of the year.
Category: Christmas
Sunday Retro
Every Sunday I feature an 80's or 90's music video and this week what better than the Cult once again off 1985's Rain album with Revolution.
Hopefully, we will have a revolution at the polls Tuesday and Grampy McCain and Ms. Piggy will be packing their bags and heading back to Arizona and Alaska respectively. Ah, two days to go, the tension builds........
Category: Music | Sunday Retro
Sabres 5, Capitals 0
What a difference! Vanek with two, Miller was outstanding and even though the Caps were without Ovechkin, the Caps are still a tough team and Miller did well to keep them off the scoreboard in the second period.
Derek Roy found himself again and Jason Pominville added his third resident to his village on the season.
So far, Thomas Vanek has 11 goals and 3 assists for 14 points, however, the most impressive numbers to me are Andrej Sekera with 7 assists already and Jaro Spacek with 1 goal and 6 assists. The blueline is contributing on the scoresheet and for a team that has prided itself on that over the last several years, that is a good sign.
Ryan Miller whose best shutout total on a season was 3 last year in which he played 76 games, now has one through 8 games, it would be nice to see a few more.
Currently they are in fourth in the conference with 16 points, one behind Montreal for top spot in the Northeast. Next up, New Jersey and Martin Brodeur on Monday.
The Story of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow
This is a story that so far has recieved little if any attention from our national media and it took going to Mike Boon's Blog to read about it.
Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow is a 13 year old girl in Somalia who was raped by three men and is now being charged with adultery by the Islamic militants that run the southern half of Somalia. What is the punishment there for adultery?
She was stoned to death by dozens of men in front of 1000 spectators. She reported the incident after three men had raped her and instead, she gets accused of adultery.
I know we have a big election, I know there are big events right now in this country that force us to focus our attention on ourselves, but for a minute or two, we need to look at an event like this and ask ourselves as a country, should we allow this to happen? Shouldn't we be asking, no demanding that the UN step in and if not prevent future acts like this but even stepping in earlier to prevent this?
After reading a story like that, knowing that something of that nature can still happen in this world is just nuts. Where was the UN on this? Why didn't they send a force or some sort of group in there to prevent this thing from happening? Sadly though, much of Eastern Africa is under control of Islamic militants. Somalia is just one area that is being controlled by these monsters. Darfur is the other area and is another area that is receiving way too little attention from the rest of the world.
Category: News
