You Don't Want No Part Of This Shit!!

Tim Meadows, where have you been?

Get It On

James Starks is a fun player to watch.

The Buffalo Bulls are set to kickoff the 2008 season tomorrow night against UTEP. Miners coach Mike Price was looking at this game as a free W when it was scheduled:

"I was thinking, boy, this guy (Gill) is down. It's time to pounce on him," Price said.

The tables have turned. After a solid 5-7 season, the Bulls are in the MAC Championship discussion. With many key players returning, UB is prime for a breakout season. With match-ups against no. 25 Pitt and no. 6 Missouri, it ain't gonna be easy, but I'm as excited as I've ever been for NCAA football.

I think the city is ready to embrace this team. While Ralph C Wilson Jr repeatedly reminds us that we're not good enough, UB is begging for our attention. They deserve it.

Last season was exciting, and I saw a few games in person. It cost me nothing. Zero for parking. Zero for admission. A game at the Ralph will easily run you a cool hundred with all the supplemental costs involved. One could go to a Bulls game AND eat 50 hotdogs instead. 50 HOTDOGS!

...and I don't believe UB is planning on exporting any games to Toronto.

This team spent a considerable amount of time as a perennial loser, but they have given us a reason to pay attention. Buffalo is certainly capable of being a college football town, and we now have a team worth routing for. Having been in Columbus during Michigan week, that thought makes my spine tingle.

New Year, New Logo.

Same result for our poor colleagues the Preferred Nomenclature. Let's git it aaawwnn!

I've Got A Feeeeelin'....

The fantasy draft is complete. Two weeks until kickoff. The Jills are ready. Are you?

Stalemate. The longer this thing drags out, the further I lean towards Russ Brandon's side. He's playing hardball and I like it. Peters has yet to submit to a physical evaluation. It would be foolish to throw money at a player coming off surgery without giving him the old turn-your-head-and-cough. Get your ass to One Bills Drive, Jason.

Butch Rolle's career stats. All he did was catch touchdowns.

Hot synopsis of '07 and preview of '08. Got me pumped.

Get your official Erik Flowers 8x10. I applaud your efforts, Bills, but I'd hardly call that a great gift idea. If you change that to read 'gag gift,' you'll probably be able to move a few.

Leader Donte Whitner, who has guaranteed playoffs, with local wacky hacks Shredd & Ragan:



Official website of my fantasy arch-rivals, Erasmus Razzle Dazzle. Stock up on that glitter, homey. You'll need it to gussy up that busted-ass rooster.

"Check out our customizable cheer team cosmetics kits.

Buying multiple Razzle Dazzle cheer makeup kits? Call us for up to 30% discounts for all cheer cosmetics!

All cheerleading makeup kits can be customized to include your cheer teams colors, cheer glitter, eyeshadow, lip gloss and more.

Razzle Dazzle Cheerleading Cosmetic kits are also great for dance and drill teams too!

Our guaranteed lowest prices on all cheer cosmetics will give parents something to cheer about!"

Will, your lip gloss be poppin'. Lil' Mama knows. All the boys be jockin'.

Girl Talk

Is This Death Metal?

I think I may have too much time to listen to music. I never thought I would listen to something like this by choice, but it has managed to slip into rotation.

I'm not sure what this music is technically called, and I'm not even sure that I like it. I do know that there are certain times when this grinding, growling, frightening sound resonates with some inner discord, some internal turmoil. At that moment, almost nothing else will do.

Catharsis.

Wall-E

Looks like Wall-E's run at the theaters is coming to an end. Do yourself a favor and see it before it's done on the big screen. It's easily the best Pixar movie to date, and is a true testament to the their skill and artistry. While the intended demographic is undeniably young, the film is entertaining for all. The story, characters and breathtaking visuals are impressive. It's humorous, and at times sad, but you know that Disney wouldn't leave you with a downer ending. It is definitely worth the price of admission. Wall-E is the best movie I've seen in a long while. Put your egos aside and enjoy.

Dear Trent and Company,

Thank you so much for calming the tempest of doubt brewing in the pit of my stomach. I came into last night's game resigned to the expectation of yet another half-ass offensive performance. What I saw, a competent first string offense, was a pleasant surprise. To you especially Trent, it was nice to finally see you live up a little to considerable hype the Bills have swirled around you. And I see you O-line, doing your thing, hopefully to be improved soon by our prodigal J-son. Give him his freakin' money.

Fucking Awesome

I finally got around to listening to this cd. Props to Dr. Sack!

Atmosphere

Finally finished Bioshock.



Got frustrated, and it took me awhile to get back at it. Turns out my Big Daddy killing skills weren't up to snuff. A little more persistence got me where I needed to be. I think I may even play through again on the hardest difficulty.

I can't say enough about this game. It's a must-play. Period. The combat system, level design, story & graphics come together to form what is nothing short of a video game masterpiece. It makes me want to get a new TV so I can play in high-def.

If you're still looking for justification to purchase one of the new systems, this is it.

...And Isaac

Rough weekend.

R.I.P. Bernie

Bernie Mac: Dead at 50.

Melville Would Approve

Mastodon, off their album Leviathan, which is based loosely on Moby Dick.

Kudos to these guys for bringing hardcore metal some mainstream attention. Purists like to shun them for their oft-intelligible vocals, but you can't deny the skill.

Speaking of Herman Melville - The Whitness of the Whale:

"Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with the thought of annihilation, when beholding the white depths of the milky way? Or is it, that as in essence whiteness is not so much a color as the visible absence of color, and at the same time the concrete of all colors; is it for these reasons that there is such a dumb blankness, full of meaning, in a wide landscape of snows -- a colorless, all- color of atheism from which we shrink? And when we consider that other theory of the natural philosophers, that all other earthly hues -- every stately or lovely emblazoning -- the sweet tinges of sunset skies and woods; yea, and the gilded velvets of butterflies, and the butterfly cheeks of young girls; all these are but subtile deceits, not actually inherent in substances, but only laid on from without; so that all deified Nature absolutely paints like the harlot, whose allurements cover nothing but the charnel-house within; and when we proceed further, and consider that the mystical cosmetic which produces every one of her hues, the great principle of light, for ever remains white or colorless in itself, and if operating without medium upon matter, would touch all objects, even tulips and roses, with its own blank tinge -- pondering all this, the palsied universe lies before us a leper; and like wilful travellers in Lapland, who refuse to wear colored and coloring glasses upon their eyes, so the wretched infidel gazes himself blind at the monumental white shroud that wraps all the prospect around him. And of all these things the Albino Whale was the symbol. Wonder ye then at the fiery hunt?"

That's amazing! This is the chapter that makes people throw down Moby Dick and say "fuck this." Melville is frequently disrespected, which is a damn shame. I love that book, and I need to give it another read. Haters, you just aren't trying hard enough.

A friend of mine said that an English teacher told her that you should never read Moby Dick, but you should always say that you have. That some ol' bullshit! That dude should have his English degree revoked, if he even has one, and he should not be permitted to teach literature. Moby Dick is a classic, and is perhaps the finest American novel ever written(Henry James may give Melville a run for his money, but he was an expatriate, so fuck him).

If you ain't read it, get on it.

Shave Free Or Die

They year was 2006. The event: The Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a magical time in Buffalo sports history. The city was bound together by a common cause, and all Buffalonians with the testosterone to do so, allowed their facial hair to grow with impunity. This was the first time my beard reached its full potential, and it was glorious.

After the Sabres lamentable elimination, I found that I did not want to let that beard go. I liked the look. It was rugged, yet majestic. It was the same beard worn across our great nation by lumberjacks, truckers, fishermen, indie-rockers, rebel white-collar workers and all other manner of red-blooded Americans. In full bloom, my beard recalls that of Abe Lincoln, but with a mustache for wholeness' sake. Lincoln, the man who symbolizes Freedom, and is one with Equality. Proclaimer of Emancipation. American.

My Sabres Playoff Beard quickly became my Buffalo Bills Playoff Beard, and then reverted again after a disappointing NFL season. I have worn it more often than not up until present, and it looks as though the trend will continue.

Occasionally, certain social obligations will call for a more clean-shaven look. Recently, I was honored to take part in a friend's wedding ceremony, and I decided to trim down to a goatee. I chose not to shave until the morning of the ceremony, which means I attended the rehearsal dinner with the full beard. At said dinner, some fella thought it would be amusing to poke fun, and asked me if I had "joined the Taliban."

Perhaps it was merely a harmless, off-the-cuff quip, but are only terrorists allowed to grow beards? What about all those great Americans who preceded me in this tradition? Was Lincoln a terrorist? Hank Williams Jr.? ZZ Top!? I shudder to think...

The history of beards is as old as mankind himself, and probably much older. It spans all religions, races and continents. We can not allow this new social taboo to take hold, for if we do, the terrorists have won. Beards are an American tradition, and we must carry forward. For mom and apple pie, gentlemen, grow your beards long and full. Let them sway softly in the breeze, like the Red White & Blue waving triumphantly in a fresh July wind.

Jughead on the 7

Looks like in the latest Archie comic, the gang ventures from Riverdale to Buffalo for the Wing Festival. Out of context, the above panels might suggest that the writers really did their research by placing Jughead on the Baynes-Richmond as he sees the Anchor Bar. More than likely though, the bus is supposed to be a greyhound, and Jughead inexplicably passes the Anchor Bar on his way into the city. Or maybe he's just taking the bus to LaNova. Guard your crown dog. (Photo comes from www.buffalonews.com)

Creeping Death

Kirk Hammett is incredible. I haven't practiced the ol' geetar regularly in a long time. I've been slacking. Fortunately, I listened to Ride the Lightning a few days ago, and it inspired me to get back at it. Been working on Creeping Death. It. Is. Fast.

Many prefer Master of Puppets, but there's something about Creeping Death that I love. Hammett's solo is outstanding. The song is just so damned cool.