Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
September 2010 Archives
Get Busy This Offseason
Now that Jose Bautista has crushed the Toronto Blue Jays home run record and has officially broken the 50 home run mark I think we can safely start talking offseason for the Jays.
This offseason needs to capitalize on the renewed buzz in Toronto around this team, around the fact that if you can get this team 10-12 more wins via free agency and improving in a few key areas, this team has a shot to make a real run at this division, not in five years, not in three years but next year.
Alex Anthopoulus, the young, yet impressive new Jays GM has had a very, very successful year after taking over a turbulent franchise from JP Riccardi, I think it was safe to say that morale amongst fans after the Halladay trade last offseason was at an all time low.
But something happened. We all forgot this team had talented pitching behind Doc. They have two of the best lefties in baseball in Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero and a rejuvenated Shaun Marcum. They also have a much more talented Brandon than the one they shipped to Seattle to get Morrow. If Brandon Morrow continues to make progress, Brandon League for Brandon Morrow will be the biggest steal pulled off by any GM in the history of this franchise.
Vernon Wells may earn some of his contract and Jose Bautista....well, JP Riccardi did something right by getting this guy and Cito, well Cito took a guy who couldn't hit 15 home runs and now he has gone out and hit 51 and 52.
You could even argue that the ten games this team needs to gain in the standings is already on the roster. If Aaron Hill and Adam Lind have just .75% of the seasons they had in 2009, this team probably wins 10 more games and could easily be talking wildcard.
So, Alex Anthopoulus needs to go running out of the free agency gates this offseason and compete for some talent this offseason, Edwin Encarnacion is not going to work anymore. The experiment is over. I want Scott Rolen back who though injured for times this season has had his best offensive season in 4 years and still playing great defense. Since that won't happen, well find someone who can do something similar.
Lyle Overbay, you made up some ground this season but no dice on next year, your contract is up and its time to go fishing for something better. Or maybe we use a stop gap guy in there for one more year and go after Prince Fielder in 2011, either way, do something.
Revamp the bullpen a little. Please, no more Jason Frasor, I can't do it anymore. Kevin Gregg might be the worst closer ever to have 35 saves.
This is a grand opportunity, go out and make some moves this offseason, the time is right to strike while the buzz is up and fans are interested again. Spend a lil, trade a lil, either way, make some waves this offseason that make this team a contender and I promise the Dome formerly known as Skydome will be rocking next year.
Category: Toronto Blue Jays
Sabres 2010/2011
Its getting to that time, the preseason gets underway Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. I will find a way to tune in just to hear RJ and Harry Neal for a bit.
We have the best goalie in the NHL, a stud on the blueline in Tyler Myers and Lindy Ruff is finally after 13+ years talking this team up. He is mentioning the two words that most would think would jinx the whole thing....STANLEY CUP.
What a novel idea, get the team thinking big prize early. Wasn't that Drury's idea, putting picture of the big prize up in the locker room? So, Lindy is using that thinking now, promote that winning atmosphere. This team really has no excuses either. Last year maybe you could have used the young excuse, but this year they have another year under their belts, they won the division last year but got out muscled in the playoffs.
The maddening era of watching Tallinder and Lydman on the blueline is over and we have Shaone Morrison from The Washington Capitals who is a big, bruising veteran and Jordan Leopold who should serve well to replace Lydman and Tallinder.
We also got something this team was sorely missing last year. A new leader. Rob Niedermayer. Hes not going to lead the team in scoring but hes been around, won a cup and he knows what it takes. Having him on the fourth line even will add a presence that could be infectious through the rest of the team.
We also have signed a bunch of lesser known, big rugged forwards who could help to make this team a little tougher on that fourth line if any of them make the team. Something that this team also lacked, team toughness.
So, since Lindy is saying it, I am going to as well. This team is primed and ready, they are going to make a serious run at a cup this year and when the air clears next June, The Buffalo Sabres in their 40th season will be hoisting a Stanley Cup over their heads.
The ride begins Saturday against the Leafs, preseason game number one. Im going to try to post on every game this year.
Oh yeah, my new logo for Sabres post is at the top of this post. Keep the Stanley Cup spirit alive early baby!
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Life Beyond The Pool
Back in July my time coaching was abruptly ended and at the time I was pretty bitter about it and I still miss it. There have been a few days where I have come home and been itching for something to do. I am not ruling out a return to coaching somewhere if the situation is right either.
However, since then I have been working more and earning more with my full time job, had more time in the evenings to myself and have spent a lot more time with my daughter.
Im getting the itch though and I think if something comes up, I may jump at the opportunity if it fits what I want to do. I miss being on deck, I miss the thrill of watching the swimmers I coached swim at meets and showing their improvements from meet to meet.
I miss all the people I have know over the years including the officials, coaches and swimmers I coached. While Im enjoying the time off from it Im getting the itch to be involved with it again. You can't just shut off something that has been a part of you for 20+ years either as a swimmer or coach.
Im keeping my eyes open, not in any rush but like I said, if the opportunity presents itself and it makes sense, Ill take it.
Category: Swimming
Getting The Ears Fixed
Yesterday we took our daughter Olivia to Children's Hospital so she could have tubes placed. She has had quite a few ear infections and back in August she had the one that convinced the doctor to send her for tubes.
We were up at 5 AM and hopped in the car around 5:30, it was about to pour outside when we got there and I pulled up to the Valet at CHOB....despite a sign at the entrance clearly stating that Valet opened at 5:30 AM Monday through Friday no one was outside. So, my wife took my daughter in and I waited for her to find someone to come out and park the car. Valet was $4, for what they charge for services it should be free and is at other Kalieda facilities but I won't hold that against them, anything related to parking costs money in Buffalo or any city for that matter.
So, we got to out patient surgery at 6:00 and after registering it was a waiting game. at around 9:00 Olivia was called for surgery and we had two coupons for free coffee from the hospital which I presumed were good anywhere, they had a Tim Horton's in the lobby so I took them there and was informed that they were only good in the cafeteria. Well, I wasn't about to go to the cafeteria after waiting in line for 15+ minutes and so I just paid for the coffees which were as hot as the blazing sun. I nearly burnt the finger prints off my hands.
So, after grabbing a few napkins to hold the cups with, (afterwards my wife pointed out that I should have gotten double cups)....and when I say hot I mean hot, literally 40 minutes later, after we were getting into the car to leave, this stuff was still burning my tongue/lips. ...I got back up to surgery and after that little bit...all done. We just had to wait for her to wake up from the anesthesia. That took 30 additional seconds and then we had to wait to be discharged which took longer than the actual surgery.
Olivia was a little cranky after but nothing outrageous came home hungry after not eating at all since the afternoon before and other than that she was right back to being a happy baby only now, no more ear infections...hopefully.
Overall, the surgery went great, the medical professionals were great and informed us exactly what was happening and it was a very quick/minor surgery...exactly what they described. Of course when it is your own daughter no surgery is minor, you are alert to everything around you and can't wait to see her back in your arms.
The perk type stuff though could be better, have a valet out there at 5:30, chill the coffee a little, I still have a nice blister/sore on my upper lip from that blazing coffee which btw was not Tim Hortons, maybe the outside of the cup but not the coffee, probably because the burnt the hell out of it by making it so damn hot and don't give coupons unless they are honored at all food locations in the hospital, I mean whats the difference? Tim Hortons or the hospital cafeteria, the stuff they passed off as Tim's could have been from the cafeteria for all we knew.
Olivia is doing well though now and we are ready for the next big day....Birthday #1, the party is this Saturday. Chili, beer, wine and munchies and Olivia will be the life of the party and wearing her favorite Toronto Blue Jays T-shirt.
Category: Baby Buffalo Girl
We Are Losing on Renewable Energy
While our tea party/repuke party in this country creates distractions and keeps limiting the ability of the democrats to function as the majority party we are losing. We are losing ground in the renewable energy sector. Instead of leading the way and creating opportunity to be a leader and export our ideas overseas we can now sit back and watch as countries like Brazil who has been energy independent for years, they don't use any imported oil, China is making huge progress in solar and wind technology and we can now add the UK to the list.
The UK has created 250,000 jobs in a deal that will do no more than insulate homes....what a novel idea. Could you imagine that right now in the middle of this economy if our president came out and said tomorrow I am introducing a bill to the congress and the senate that will CREATE 250,000 jobs to promote energy efficiency? How could the republicans turn that down?
Say what you want about Al Gore, but the guy has been bringing up ideas to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and energy and god for-friggin-bid to reduce our need to do what was done in the gulf this past summer and the right wing and frankly enough independents think hes some lunatic. Global warming or not, insulating homes decreases energy, creates jobs and saves me, you and every other person who owns/rents a home MONEY. Who doesn't want to save money?
Add to that, the UK has built and opened the worlds largest offshore wind farm. The argument I always hear is...well wind is unreliable....anyone who has ever gone to the beach...what is always happening weather wise at the beach? WIND. Right now I am sitting in my office at home and I have my window open, there is nary a breeze, but I guarantee if I go to the shore of Lake Erie or Lake Ontario there will be some breeze coming in off those respective bodies of water. Go to the ocean, any ocean, and that breeze turns into WIND. This wind farm they built created JOBS and will power 200,000 homes. Thats a pretty big chunk of England and takes a pretty big bite out of their goal to create 15% of their energy from renewable sources and decreases what they buy/import from foreign sources. Folks, the US is losing in this respect, we are losing on a lot of fronts, but you want to increase jobs, decrease dependence on foreign oil and help save people money? This is the way to go and we can't get out of our own way because the repukes and right wing wackos in this country are doing nothing but distracting us from our real needs/goals. The manufacturing base in this country would be revitalized with any progress toward renewable energy. Anyone on the right would say the private sector will take care of itself, well I'm waiting and if we keep that line of thought up we will be waiting a long time for anything to take shape on that kind of scale. The government would make its investment back on the fact that people would be put back to work implementing these projects. Its time to start catching up with the times and getting our heads out of our asses. This kind of stuff should be front page news to show that it can and is being done, just not here. The so called greatest nation in the world....except when we continue to fall behind in areas such as this .....we are far from the greatest nation, we are lagging and missing incredible opportunities to turn this ship around. President Eisenhower funded the interstate system we all enjoy driving on so don't tell me our government can't stimulate a large scale project such as what the UK has done.Tea Party Candidates Know How to Run and Hide
Christine O'Donnell, we all know who she is, she is Sarah Palin part 2. Dumb as a box of rocks yet somehow has managed to find herself in a race for Senate in Delaware. Sharon Angle ditto, she is in a fight with Senate Majority leader Harry Reid. Sarah Palin, Miss Piggy herself did it after her embarrassing interview with Katie Couric and has dodged everyone but Fox News since.
All these Tea Party candidates know how to do one thing really well come crunch time in their respective races...RUN AND HIDE. These whack jobs are afraid to talk to the media and most of them are implicating that they will not do debates against their opponents. Why is that?
Because each and every one of these tea party nuts know that if they get up in front of an audience and voice their agenda/opinion the public will see them for what they are. Ignorant and out of touch with the middle class and what really matters to voters.
If you have been paying attention at all you have heard the ridiculous statements from Sharon Angle in Nevada about bartering with your doctor for healthcare and about Christine O'Donnell's anti masturbation views. Add to that that O'Donnell has been stealing from her campaign funds to pay her rent and living expenses and should be and probably will be investigated for that.
Right here in our own state Carl Paladino has unleashed with some outrageous crap of his own from charging outlandish lease payments to government agencies despite calling himself a conservative who wants small government to racist and pornographic emails to his most recent deal where he wants to open prisons to the poor and teach them hygiene.
Folks, if this isn't screaming out for a change in how the run up to elections are carried out in this country I don't know what is. Instead of letting questionable, whack job candidates run and hide from public view leaving those on the fence without the full picture how about at the very least having a mandate that at the Federal and State level all candidates for public office need to: A) be available for all interviews with the media as their schedule permits, and B) participate in at least two debates between the primaries and the general election.
It would force candidates on both sides of the political spectrum to face the American voters and let the American public become informed voters not just sheep who follow the clips and edited content played on Fox News and other media outlets.
The fact is, Christine O'Donnell and a lot of these Tea Party whackos are scared shitless about facing an audience and a moderator and their democratic opponent because O'Donnell, Angle, Paladino and these other candidates would be destroyed in any intelligent debate that didn't focus on their far right, almost insane ideas.
It won't happen though, this system is so bought and paid for by big coorporations at this point that a candidate that big money wants in is going to get in whether they debate, do interviews or not. Someone should get some balls in Washington and present that as a bill, requiring debates and openess to the public during the primaries and general elections, anything short of that is just wrong. The American public deserves to see who their candidates are on both sides, but especially in this election when you have candidates threatening to privatize social security, repeal the healthcare bill and other ridiculous things.
Category: Politics
BTW
BTW, Freddie P stated today on his blog The Leafs would finish ahead of the Habs thats fine, my how low the bar has sank in Toronto, in Buffalo Im predicting one of those silver trophies at the top of this post. So while the Leafs and Habs are fighting for second last in the division, we will be on our way to our second division title and a run to the Stanley Cup,
Category: Buffalo Sabres Hockey
Back to Bloggage....
Geez, I don't think I have posted since last week, its been busy and I will get into that later. Its really been hard writing about the usual stuff lately. Just kind of sitting back and watching things unfold but I have some things rattling around in my head I have to get out later. Stay Tuned.
Category: Blogging
160 Arnold Quotes
Since I can remember I have always been a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan, I stumbled across this today on Youtube, yes I know, I wasn't going to use that site anymore, well at least not for music videos.
This was too good to pass up, 160 of Arnold's movie quotes, it seems like more but I think they counted the repeats as one.....Enjoy!
In the comment section, leave your favorites....Category: Movies
We Are Amused by the Simplest of Things
Somethings I will never understand, like why people actually bother watching say....America Has Talent....I have watched it two times and it was obvious from watching if that is the bar we have set, America obviously is lacking....Then there is this video, choreographed walking....yep...walking. Brace yourself, you are going to hear people oohing and ahhing and yes applauding people for walking in the same direction.
Never seen that before, nope, not me. Thats how people applauding at this make it seem. Not to mention that there is some guy shouting out instructions or something to the "performers". I put it in quotes because really are they performing something that unusual that someone would want to watch this?
Obviously they have a lot of time on their hands in Japan. I just don't get it, people are amused by the simplest of things:
Category: Miscellaneous
A Letter From Michael Moore: "If Mosque Isn't Built, This Is No Longer America"
Michael Moore sent out a letter to his website subscribers today and I think it speaks volumes. On a day that we should be remembering who died not pointing fingers at those who are innocent and definitely not taking away freedoms and rights that this country was founded on.
Here is the letter in full:
If That 'Mosque' ISN'T Built, This Is No Longer America
OpenMike 9/11/10
Michael Moore's daily blog
I am opposed to the building of the "mosque" two blocks from Ground Zero.
I want it built on Ground Zero.
Why? Because I believe in an America that protects those who are the victims of hate and prejudice. I believe in an America that says you have the right to worship whatever God you have, wherever you want to worship. And I believe in an America that says to the world that we are a loving and generous people and if a bunch of murderers steal your religion from you and use it as their excuse to kill 3,000 souls, then I want to help you get your religion back. And I want to put it at the spot where it was stolen from you.
There's been so much that's been said about this manufactured controversy, I really don't want to waste any time on this day of remembrance talking about it. But I hate bigotry and I hate liars, and so in case you missed any of the truth that's been lost in this, let me point out a few facts:
1. I love the Burlington Coat Factory. I've gotten some great winter coats there at a very reasonable price. Muslims have been holding their daily prayers there since 2009. No one ever complained about that. This is not going to be a "mosque," it's going to be a community center. It will have the same prayer room in it that's already there. But to even have to assure people that "it's not going to be mosque" is so offensive, I now wish they would just build a 111-story mosque there. That would be better than the lame and disgusting way the developer has left Ground Zero an empty hole until recently. The remains of over 1,100 people still haven't been found. That site is a sacred graveyard, and to be building another monument to commerce on it is a sacrilege. Why wasn't the entire site turned into a memorial peace park? People died there, and many of their remains are still strewn about, all these years later.
2. Guess who has helped the Muslims organize their plans for this community center? The JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER of Manhattan! Their rabbi has been advising them since the beginning. It's been a picture-perfect example of the kind of world we all want to live in. Peter Stuyvessant, New York's "founder," tried to expel the first Jews who arrived in Manhattan. Then the Dutch said, no, that's a bit much. So then Stuyvessant said ok, you can stay, but you cannot build a synagogue anywhere in Manhattan. Do your stupid Friday night thing at home. The first Jewish temple was not allowed to be built until 1730. Then there was a revolution, and the founding fathers said this country has to be secular -- no religious nuts or state religions. George Washington (inaugurated around the corner from Ground Zero) wanted to make a statement about this his very first year in office, and wrote this to American Jews:
"The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy -- a policy worthy of imitation. ...
"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens ...
"May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants -- while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid."
3. The Imam in charge of this project is the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. Read about his past here.
4. Around five dozen Muslims died at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Hundreds of members of their families still grieve and suffer. The 19 killers did not care what religion anyone belonged to when they took those lives.
5. I've never read a sadder headline in the New York Times than the one on the front page this past Monday: "American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?" That should make all of us so ashamed that even a single one of our fellow citizens should ever have to worry about if they "belong" here.
6. There is a McDonald's two blocks from Ground Zero. Trust me, McDonald's has killed far more people than the terrorists.
7. During an economic depression or a time of war, fascists are extremely skilled at whipping up fear and hate and getting the working class to blame "the other" for their troubles. Lincoln's enemies told poor Southern whites that he was "a Catholic." FDR's opponents said he was Jewish and called him "Jewsevelt." One in five Americans now believe Obama is a Muslim and 41% of Republicans don't believe he was born here.
8. Blaming a whole group for the actions of just one of that group is anti-American. Timothy McVeigh was Catholic. Should Oklahoma City prohibit the building of a Catholic Church near the site of the former federal building that McVeigh blew up?
9. Let's face it, all religions have their whackos. Catholics have O'Reilly, Gingrich, Hannity and Clarence Thomas (in fact all five conservatives who dominate the Supreme Court are Catholic). Protestants have Pat Robertson and too many to list here. The Mormons have Glenn Beck. Jews have Crazy Eddie. But we don't judge whole religions on just the actions of their whackos. Unless they're Methodists.
10. If I should ever, God forbid, perish in a terrorist incident, and you or some nutty group uses my death as your justification to attack or discriminate against anyone in my name, I will come back and haunt you worse than Linda Blair marrying Freddy Krueger and moving into your bedroom to spawn Chucky. John Lennon was right when he asked us to imagine a world with "nothing to kill or die for and no religion, too." I heard Deepak Chopra this week say that "God gave humans the truth, and the devil came and he said, 'Let's give it a name and call it religion.' " But John Adams said it best when he wrote a sort of letter to the future (which he called "Posterity"): "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it." I'm guessing ol' John Adams is up there repenting nonstop right now.
Friends, we all have a responsibility NOW to make sure that Muslim community center gets built. Once again, 70% of the country (the same number that initially supported the Iraq War) is on the wrong side and want the "mosque" moved. Enormous pressure has been put on the Imam to stop his project. We have to turn this thing around. Are we going to let the bullies and thugs win another one? Aren't you fed up by now? When would be a good time to take our country back from the haters?
I say right now. Let's each of us make a statement by donating to the building of this community center! It's a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and you can donate a dollar or ten dollars (or more) right now through a secure pay pal account by clicking here. I will personally match the first $10,000 raised (forward your PayPal receipt to webguy@michaelmoore.com). If each one of you reading this blog/email donated just a couple of dollars, that would give the center over $6 million, more than what Donald Trump has offered to buy the Imam out. C'mon everyone, let's pitch in and help those who are being debased for simply wanting to do something good. We could all make a huge statement of love on this solemn day.
I lost a co-worker on 9/11. I write this today in his memory.
"The man who speaks of the enemy / Is the enemy himself."
-- Bertolt Brecht
Watermelon Off the Grill
If this happens a lot on this show I've got to tune in, that was AWESOME! A whole watermelon right off the face, that has to leave a mark!Category: Miscellaneous | Television
Lets Make a Deal With The Crazy Christian!
You have to be kidding me right? This bastard, Terry Jones, is trying to get the to move the site of the Islamic recreation center in New York if he doesn't burn the Koran...but now since they are obviously not going to give in to this crazy, lunatic who calls himself a Christian he is only suspending the burning of the Koran, not outright cancelling.
Is this what it has come down to? I hope the recreation center goes as planned, because there is such a thing as a peaceful Islamic Center, and there are peaceful Muslims who just want to socialize. Just like there are crazy Christians and non crazy Christians. This guy is totally out of touch.
Hitler burned books. This guy is right there with Hitler in my book, he even has a mustache to boot. I say those opposed to him burning the Koran burn Bibles because you know Catholic priests molest boys and there are wacko Christians who hate gays and kill abortion doctors.
The bottom line is that this is a Christian leader in his church coming out burning someone elses religious book thinking his religion doesn't stink. I have news for you, all religion stinks and this guy proves it.
All relgions have their over the top wackos who take it too literally and become fundamentalists who eventually become dangerous. See Timothy McVeigh who I believe was a Christian, he committed one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism ever in this country, but no one was out burning bibles after that were they?
Jesus would be ashamed of this guy. What happened to tolerance and loving your neighbors? This guy is preaching the exact opposite. If the burning goes as planned there is already talk of fire trucks being present becaue this guy doesn't have a permit, I would love to see a fire hose turned on him pronto with the striking of the first match. Don't aim for the match though aim right for his mush, maybe it will give him a dose of reality and wake him up to what he is doing.
Its so strange, the religious right in this country screams for less government control and look who is trying to control....the religious right are the ones taking away religious freedom, our government can't do squat, not about the proposed Islamic Center and not about the book burning, all they can do is suggest he not do it and suggest otherwise for the Islamic Center, only difference is this guy is wrong in his actions and the Islamic Center has every right to be where they are locating.
I'm Done With Youtube
The copyright era of Youtube is upon us. I have noticed it especially recently, if you try searching for any official music video of a band or artist forget it, you aren't going to find it.
Youtube has pulled most if not all of them except for some crude ones filmed on an actual TV or the ones that are still up have sound disabled.
Its a joke, something I could probably watch for free anyway on VH1 Classic (The only one of the music television channels that still does what it should....PLAY MUSIC).
I will begin looking for a new site that allows the user to watch old music videos and previously copyrighted stuff and lets you embed them. Its like this stuff is top secret information.
Youtube no longer will see me on the site unless they agree with Time Warner Music to reinstate their videos. Apparently part of the problem was anything copyrighted Google had to pay a royalty every time it was watched. Since music videos are such a huge part of Youtube content Google was probably getting killed on having to pay out on music video content.
Still, they are going to get hammered even more now because users will go to other sites for their music video fix. Besides that, it has become such a huge tool for Warner to market both new and old artists whats the difference if people can watch official videos for free? Who cares. If they are bitching over copyrighted music videos how many other copy righted videos need to be removed? You'd probably have a fraction of the user created crap left that no one wants to watch anyway.
Its big medias control of the web.
Category: Music
