Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
I don't think Bono is calling or Lil' Richard for that matter...
Those of you that know me know that I have a very close friend who I went to college with named Ray. He is my oldest and dearest friend. I'm a guy who doesn't really have any friends from high school ( I left that life behind in New York City) and when I came to college here in Buffalo, Ray was one of the first people that I really clicked with . We had a great mutual love of sports amongst other things. Ray and I even lived together for four years before he got married.
Last May a couple of weeks after our annual draft party I got a phone call from Ray. He called me really early ( like 7am) and he sounded a little under the weather. He told me that he had a bad stomach flu and asked if I could drive him to the doctor later that day. I agreed and told him that I would speak to him later in the day. A few hours later at about 11 in the morning I got a call from Bates (Ray's wife) and she told me that Ray was in the hospital. Apparently his pancreas was infected and he was in intensive care. I immediately went to the hospital to see what I could do and to see if I could see Ray and to see what was going on. I remember getting there and seeing BAtes and I gave her a hug. I think that was the first time that I ever hugged her. It's funny people come in and out of your life and you hug them and kiss them but I had never given Bates a hug and I've known her for about 10 years and I spend every X-MAs with her and Ray. She told me what was going and apparently Ray's life was in danger. His pancreas was infected and his kidneys shut down. This all sounded very grave to me and I was prepared for the worst. It just didn't sound very hopeful to me. I went in and saw Ray. All i can remember are all the tubes that he had in him and the fact that it seemed like he was having trouble breathing. I talked to him for a few minutes then I left. I talked to Bates and she told me of the prognosis which sounded iffy at best. Ray had a surgery and then had to wait and see. It took him six weeks to get out of the hospital but he is out and ok.
Ray spent, if I remember right, four and a half weeks in ICU and about ten days in a regular room. I remember going over to Ray's house and seeing his kids during that time, it didn't seem fair because he didn't see his kids that whole six weeks. I don't have kids but I couldn't imagine what that would be like. So Ray got home was home for two months then he returned to work.
It's crazy thinking about people who are your age almost dying which could have happened to Ray. You think about his kids and what they would do without him. I couldn't imagine that. I lost a parent at 17 and that left a massive void. I couldn't imagine what those young kids would do. Rays oldest is 8 and the other two are younger than that. I couldn't imagine those years without a parent.
I know some people who read this know Ray through me and I would ask them to keep Ray in their thoughts because he has a new mountain to climb now. It's something which he has a very good chance of conquering but warm thoughts will help him in the process i'm sure.
Last May a couple of weeks after our annual draft party I got a phone call from Ray. He called me really early ( like 7am) and he sounded a little under the weather. He told me that he had a bad stomach flu and asked if I could drive him to the doctor later that day. I agreed and told him that I would speak to him later in the day. A few hours later at about 11 in the morning I got a call from Bates (Ray's wife) and she told me that Ray was in the hospital. Apparently his pancreas was infected and he was in intensive care. I immediately went to the hospital to see what I could do and to see if I could see Ray and to see what was going on. I remember getting there and seeing BAtes and I gave her a hug. I think that was the first time that I ever hugged her. It's funny people come in and out of your life and you hug them and kiss them but I had never given Bates a hug and I've known her for about 10 years and I spend every X-MAs with her and Ray. She told me what was going and apparently Ray's life was in danger. His pancreas was infected and his kidneys shut down. This all sounded very grave to me and I was prepared for the worst. It just didn't sound very hopeful to me. I went in and saw Ray. All i can remember are all the tubes that he had in him and the fact that it seemed like he was having trouble breathing. I talked to him for a few minutes then I left. I talked to Bates and she told me of the prognosis which sounded iffy at best. Ray had a surgery and then had to wait and see. It took him six weeks to get out of the hospital but he is out and ok.
Ray spent, if I remember right, four and a half weeks in ICU and about ten days in a regular room. I remember going over to Ray's house and seeing his kids during that time, it didn't seem fair because he didn't see his kids that whole six weeks. I don't have kids but I couldn't imagine what that would be like. So Ray got home was home for two months then he returned to work.
It's crazy thinking about people who are your age almost dying which could have happened to Ray. You think about his kids and what they would do without him. I couldn't imagine that. I lost a parent at 17 and that left a massive void. I couldn't imagine what those young kids would do. Rays oldest is 8 and the other two are younger than that. I couldn't imagine those years without a parent.
I know some people who read this know Ray through me and I would ask them to keep Ray in their thoughts because he has a new mountain to climb now. It's something which he has a very good chance of conquering but warm thoughts will help him in the process i'm sure.
2012
More than ever it has been proven that sellouts better look out and that they can't be trusted.
Their time is almost up.
Their time is almost up.
Wooly...
Aparently Jamie Woolford's current band Let Go just recorded a new song. If you know anything about me you know that The Stereo was one of my favorite bands ever. I remember when I first heard the Stereo. They were on a mixtape Gerald Thomas sent me after he moved to Delaware. I wonder if he still likes them? Let Go is just as good if not better. Here are a couple of videos, one by Let Go and One by the Stereo.
Let Go "Spotlights"
The Stereo "New Tokyo"
Let Go "Spotlights"
The Stereo "New Tokyo"
Friday, February 20, 2009
DR. D. David Schultz
Pete and I recently spent a wonderful evening watching this man's antics. Viva la Kayfabe.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Plane Crash in Clarence
Plane Crash Story.
How do you react when a plane crash happens?
I was hanging out with my friend last night and he got a phone call from his wife and she told him about a plane crash in Clarence. He then called this friend of ours who works for the Buffalo News. That friend gave us a few sketchy details but nothing concrete.
So I got home and watched the news and my first thought was not of the people who might have been on the plane but I went and checked to see how close my boss lived to the site of the crash. He's about 2 miles from where the plane went down so i'm assuming everything is ok with him but he may have known someone involved with it. (in fact i just heard on the radio that his street is closed).
Anyhow time for work and hopefully everything is alright with him.
How do you react when a plane crash happens?
I was hanging out with my friend last night and he got a phone call from his wife and she told him about a plane crash in Clarence. He then called this friend of ours who works for the Buffalo News. That friend gave us a few sketchy details but nothing concrete.
So I got home and watched the news and my first thought was not of the people who might have been on the plane but I went and checked to see how close my boss lived to the site of the crash. He's about 2 miles from where the plane went down so i'm assuming everything is ok with him but he may have known someone involved with it. (in fact i just heard on the radio that his street is closed).
Anyhow time for work and hopefully everything is alright with him.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Crazy old Hippie ladies
SO the other day a crazy old hippie lady with quite a few teeth missing came to pick up some of her photofinishing. She picked up an old picture of a few friends of hers from the 60's, one of her friends looked a lot like Phil Lynott (Singer of Thin Lizzy)
So anyway she proceeded to tell me the following things....
- The three gentlemen in the picture were her friends but the one on the right was the "love of her life" who asked her to marry him. HE died the day after he asked her this. HE apparently was working his construction job and was killed on site. Never fear though. She was able to communicate with him through the "white light" and she was able to say goodbye to him.
- She told me that she has done acid over three hundred times in her life and she wishes that everybody could and should do it so they can see the "awesome " perspective that she has on life.
-She told me about the room that the picture was taken in (that she picked up). The room had no windows and she and her friends sat in the room and tripped on LSD while listening to the first zeppelin album. She said the walls were moving and that the experience was both "crazy" and "groovy".
- She commented on the great George Carlin. She said that if he was president that he would bring back the Guillotine and take care of "Bush". She also said that if she were in Carlin's cabinet that she would make it mandatory for everyone to take 3 hits of Acid when they turn 18. She also said that there would be free pot for everyone.
- She also said that she used to date one of the higher ups in the black panther party and the party's she had with those guys were "wild".
I think if I had one wish this week it would be for me to sit in a room with her and tape record or video tape all of her ramblings.
So anyway she proceeded to tell me the following things....
- The three gentlemen in the picture were her friends but the one on the right was the "love of her life" who asked her to marry him. HE died the day after he asked her this. HE apparently was working his construction job and was killed on site. Never fear though. She was able to communicate with him through the "white light" and she was able to say goodbye to him.
- She told me that she has done acid over three hundred times in her life and she wishes that everybody could and should do it so they can see the "awesome " perspective that she has on life.
-She told me about the room that the picture was taken in (that she picked up). The room had no windows and she and her friends sat in the room and tripped on LSD while listening to the first zeppelin album. She said the walls were moving and that the experience was both "crazy" and "groovy".
- She commented on the great George Carlin. She said that if he was president that he would bring back the Guillotine and take care of "Bush". She also said that if she were in Carlin's cabinet that she would make it mandatory for everyone to take 3 hits of Acid when they turn 18. She also said that there would be free pot for everyone.
- She also said that she used to date one of the higher ups in the black panther party and the party's she had with those guys were "wild".
I think if I had one wish this week it would be for me to sit in a room with her and tape record or video tape all of her ramblings.
Stallone Movie Night
For the last year me and three of my friends have been having a Sylvester Stallone movie night. We've been retracing the movie career of one Sylvester Stallone. We met every week (or tried) to watch all of Stallone's movies. It all started with the new Rambo and we are soon to end it with Rocky Balboa.
We didn't watch all of them but here are the one's that we did watch. (in no particular order)
Rambo (2008)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Avenging Angelo (2002)
D-Tox (2002)
Get Carter (2000)
Cop Land (1997)
Daylight (1996)
Assassins (1995)
Judge Dredd (1995)
The Specialist (1994)
Demolition Man (1993)
Cliffhanger (1993)
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)
Oscar (1991)
Rocky V (1990)
Tango & Cash (1989)
Lock Up (1989)
Rambo III (1988)
Over the Top (1987)
Cobra (1986)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Rhinestone (1984)
First Blood (1982)
Rocky III (1982)
Victory (1981)
Nighthawks (1981)
Rocky II (1979)
Paradise Alley (1978)
F.I.S.T (1978)
Rocky (1976)
Death Race 2000 (1975)
The Lord's of Flatbush (1974)
The Party at Kitty and Stud's (1970)
Now i'll comment on a few of them
First Blood
This was the first movie that we watched. Actually Pete, Chris, Smith watched all of the First Blood movies one Saturday in December '07. We actually watched this movie about 4 times over the course of the movie night run. We even got to see First Blood on the big screen. There was a special showing at the Regal , but I think (including us) there were only about 10 people in the theater. It's still probably my favorite Stallone movie.
The Party at Kitty and Stud's
Yes Stallone's "porn" movie. We had it on the same night that we watched also watched "Oscar" but on that movie night (one of the few we had at my apt) We were working on another project. We were organizing my pictures for the Burning Fight Book. So we did have the movie on (no homo, lol) but we weren't really paying too much attention to it. SO again no homo :) But we had to watch it for the sake of the movie night.
The Lords of Flatbush
This was Stallone's answer to American Graffiti. It was about four friends in the fifties and their coming of age. It also features one of the funniest trailers ever.
Avenging Angelo
This had some potential. It was Anthony Quinn's last movie. It had a mob storyline. Stallone was a mob boss' bodyguard . So you figure it would be good right? Wrong...it was a chick flick. It was like Sly was put in some made for TV love story that you would see on Lifetime or Oxygen. It was easily (in my opinion) the most disappointing movie of the movie night.
Rambo
I think this movie inspired the Stallone movie night. It was Stallone's comeback and very satisfying. It the only memorable action movie that I've seen this decade and leave a 60+ year old Sly to bring it.
In'09 we are going to have a Eastwood movie night but so dar we've only watched "Gran Torino" so we will see how that goes.
We didn't watch all of them but here are the one's that we did watch. (in no particular order)
Rambo (2008)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Avenging Angelo (2002)
D-Tox (2002)
Get Carter (2000)
Cop Land (1997)
Daylight (1996)
Assassins (1995)
Judge Dredd (1995)
The Specialist (1994)
Demolition Man (1993)
Cliffhanger (1993)
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)
Oscar (1991)
Rocky V (1990)
Tango & Cash (1989)
Lock Up (1989)
Rambo III (1988)
Over the Top (1987)
Cobra (1986)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Rhinestone (1984)
First Blood (1982)
Rocky III (1982)
Victory (1981)
Nighthawks (1981)
Rocky II (1979)
Paradise Alley (1978)
F.I.S.T (1978)
Rocky (1976)
Death Race 2000 (1975)
The Lord's of Flatbush (1974)
The Party at Kitty and Stud's (1970)
Now i'll comment on a few of them
First Blood
This was the first movie that we watched. Actually Pete, Chris, Smith watched all of the First Blood movies one Saturday in December '07. We actually watched this movie about 4 times over the course of the movie night run. We even got to see First Blood on the big screen. There was a special showing at the Regal , but I think (including us) there were only about 10 people in the theater. It's still probably my favorite Stallone movie.
The Party at Kitty and Stud's
Yes Stallone's "porn" movie. We had it on the same night that we watched also watched "Oscar" but on that movie night (one of the few we had at my apt) We were working on another project. We were organizing my pictures for the Burning Fight Book. So we did have the movie on (no homo, lol) but we weren't really paying too much attention to it. SO again no homo :) But we had to watch it for the sake of the movie night.
The Lords of Flatbush
This was Stallone's answer to American Graffiti. It was about four friends in the fifties and their coming of age. It also features one of the funniest trailers ever.
Avenging Angelo
This had some potential. It was Anthony Quinn's last movie. It had a mob storyline. Stallone was a mob boss' bodyguard . So you figure it would be good right? Wrong...it was a chick flick. It was like Sly was put in some made for TV love story that you would see on Lifetime or Oxygen. It was easily (in my opinion) the most disappointing movie of the movie night.
Rambo
I think this movie inspired the Stallone movie night. It was Stallone's comeback and very satisfying. It the only memorable action movie that I've seen this decade and leave a 60+ year old Sly to bring it.
In'09 we are going to have a Eastwood movie night but so dar we've only watched "Gran Torino" so we will see how that goes.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A-ROID!
ESPN.COM Story
The above link is to an ESPN.com story.
And here is my response to it. Now I'm not a reporter but it seems like "investigative" reports such as Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn seem more intent on attacking the subjects of their stories rather than just reporting facts. Their main contention is that Alex says that he didn't know what he was taking in the interview. Yes, he acknowledged using performance enhancing drugs in the interview but he didn't say which ones or who gave them to him. Does it really matter? Is there a higher degree of Performance enhancing drug use? Like the way a drug like crack is "worse" than marijuana? I don't believe so (but that is just my opinion). I don't even think people even reall know what steroids do. I would bet that if you asked someone what they do they would tell you that steroids are a magic pill that makes you faster and stronger, which it is not. What steroids do (at least from my lay understanding) is that they make it easier for you to work out . You can work out more often making it easier for you to rehab and build muscle. So according to my understanding you have to work out even more than you would to get the "muscle building" results. It is a "short cut" but aren't supplements and other things like that? Most of the stuff you can get at GNC didn't exist 100 years ago but they can also help you build muscle if you want. The thing with steroids is that they work better than these supplements that you can buy and they also have negative permanent side effects if they are abused. Which is why they are only legal with a doctors prescription.
It' is still my contention that is old time baseball players had access to steroids they would use them. Those guys were womanizers, racists, and probably drug abusers. Who's to say that some of these players weren't using some sort of perfomance enhancing drugs back then? People act like these guys had all sorts of integrity because they weren't making the money that they are making today. I'm sure those guys did their share of bad things. I mean for crissakes nonwhites couldn't play at the major league level till 1947. To me that more of a moral faux pas than steroids. but we still celebrate the era before that.
The above link is to an ESPN.com story.
And here is my response to it. Now I'm not a reporter but it seems like "investigative" reports such as Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn seem more intent on attacking the subjects of their stories rather than just reporting facts. Their main contention is that Alex says that he didn't know what he was taking in the interview. Yes, he acknowledged using performance enhancing drugs in the interview but he didn't say which ones or who gave them to him. Does it really matter? Is there a higher degree of Performance enhancing drug use? Like the way a drug like crack is "worse" than marijuana? I don't believe so (but that is just my opinion). I don't even think people even reall know what steroids do. I would bet that if you asked someone what they do they would tell you that steroids are a magic pill that makes you faster and stronger, which it is not. What steroids do (at least from my lay understanding) is that they make it easier for you to work out . You can work out more often making it easier for you to rehab and build muscle. So according to my understanding you have to work out even more than you would to get the "muscle building" results. It is a "short cut" but aren't supplements and other things like that? Most of the stuff you can get at GNC didn't exist 100 years ago but they can also help you build muscle if you want. The thing with steroids is that they work better than these supplements that you can buy and they also have negative permanent side effects if they are abused. Which is why they are only legal with a doctors prescription.
It' is still my contention that is old time baseball players had access to steroids they would use them. Those guys were womanizers, racists, and probably drug abusers. Who's to say that some of these players weren't using some sort of perfomance enhancing drugs back then? People act like these guys had all sorts of integrity because they weren't making the money that they are making today. I'm sure those guys did their share of bad things. I mean for crissakes nonwhites couldn't play at the major league level till 1947. To me that more of a moral faux pas than steroids. but we still celebrate the era before that.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A good article/webpage on Steroids in baseball.
http://steroids-and-baseball.com/
A list of my opinions about Alex Rodriguez and steroids.
1. When A-Rod used performance enhancing drugs they weren't against the rules in baseball. SO how can you cheat if something isn't against the rules? Sure usuing steroids are against the laws of the country but so are the drugs that Josh Hamilton used. So if you use cocaine and abuse alcohol and overcome that you are somehow a hero? But if you use something which wasn't against the rules to make yourself better you are a pariah.
2. A-Rods numbers were better in his Texas years (the years where he allegedly used steroid) but he also played 81 games in TExas which could have also helped his numbers. Much like the short porch in right field at Yankees stadium can help a left handed power hitter.
3. Alot of these reporters don't want people who may have used drugs in the Hall of Fame. Again they weren't against the rules. Gaylord Perry is in the Hall of Fame and he is a notorious cheater. He would regularly get thrown out of games for throwing Spitballs. I guess that was "cute". At the same time though steroid are dangerous especially if kids use them . they can have terrible side effects and can do permanent damage. MAkes you wonder why MLB didn't make them against the rules when football did.
4. I think baseball knew about the rampant steroid abuse but they didn't care. They figured that baseball was getting more and more popular because of their percieved affect so they let things go.
5. A-Rod and Barry Bonds are obviously the best players in baseball. SO why shouldn't they be in the Hall of Fame. Sure they allegedly cheated but it wasn't like these guys were average players who all of a sudden became good because of performance enhancing drugs, They were superstars and they still will be superstars. How can they not be in the Hall?
1. When A-Rod used performance enhancing drugs they weren't against the rules in baseball. SO how can you cheat if something isn't against the rules? Sure usuing steroids are against the laws of the country but so are the drugs that Josh Hamilton used. So if you use cocaine and abuse alcohol and overcome that you are somehow a hero? But if you use something which wasn't against the rules to make yourself better you are a pariah.
2. A-Rods numbers were better in his Texas years (the years where he allegedly used steroid) but he also played 81 games in TExas which could have also helped his numbers. Much like the short porch in right field at Yankees stadium can help a left handed power hitter.
3. Alot of these reporters don't want people who may have used drugs in the Hall of Fame. Again they weren't against the rules. Gaylord Perry is in the Hall of Fame and he is a notorious cheater. He would regularly get thrown out of games for throwing Spitballs. I guess that was "cute". At the same time though steroid are dangerous especially if kids use them . they can have terrible side effects and can do permanent damage. MAkes you wonder why MLB didn't make them against the rules when football did.
4. I think baseball knew about the rampant steroid abuse but they didn't care. They figured that baseball was getting more and more popular because of their percieved affect so they let things go.
5. A-Rod and Barry Bonds are obviously the best players in baseball. SO why shouldn't they be in the Hall of Fame. Sure they allegedly cheated but it wasn't like these guys were average players who all of a sudden became good because of performance enhancing drugs, They were superstars and they still will be superstars. How can they not be in the Hall?
Helzberg Diamond Commercial
I don't know about anyone else but I think it would be easier and more thoughtful to make a card than to spend a ton of money on a Helzberg Diamond. I think the card is actually worth more than the diamond. I mean don't you think?
Ok what do I think of you?
This
That
the other thing.
Go buy some construction paper and write it down. Sure it will look like a kindergarten project but it's priceless.
Or I can go buy a diamond which the guy who came into Helzberg before you and after you bought for their significant other. And you didn't pick out the diamond you bought the one that the salesperson recommended to you (the one with the most commission). SO actually you put no thought into it. Great gift eh?
Or you can buy a camera. Cameras are great gifts LOL. They preserve memories. The memories of you and her. Cameras are good :)
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