A New Level of (Un) Wellness

To the great disgust of many people I have spent the better part of the past seven months morphing from a fanatical non-runner into a poor man’s Hal Higdon disciple.

To put it into a current frame of reference: if you had told me at this time last year that I would be running 25 plus miles in one week I would have told you that there was a better chance that John Boehner would come out in support of The Affordable Healthcare Act.

It was that improbable.

And then something happened.

My sister asked me to run the Buffalo Half Marathon with her. In the process of training for that event  the elusive ‘runner’s high’ was discovered; I have been chasing another occurrence since.

Four weeks out from my second half and another run was missed.  Tuesday mornings are my one four hour block during the week where I am free to do as I please. And yesterday I needed to log some miles.  My need to for sleep vetoed that plan; I was sunk.

Until a thought (or what passed for one) welled up in my diseased running mind, a logical solution: I could run after work.

The issue?

Work ends at 2:30 am.

My wife was understandably concerned with my intentions.  My case was plead: I am on a campus that is well lit, has sidewalks on the path, as well as “blue light” phones every 500 feet or so; I would be fine.

During my shift last night there was what I  could only call a perpetual Clark Griswold-like state — akin to when he was at the edge of the pool ready to jump in with Christie Brinkley and kept repeating, “This is crazy, this is crazy…”.

Nervous and unsure if I was doing the right thing, I felt like a teenager all over again (you know, like Clark).

As 2:30 approached I searched for reasons not to follow through.

One of them was that there could be a roving gang of Ivy League thugs wandering around vent long held frustrations at having to attend a Blue Man Group concert as a child and focus that on me (I wear a blue spandex top, don’t judge me)… but in the end the truth will out (as it tends to), “I really need to get these miles in”.

And run I did.

Usually on my runs I lull into a jog-like state, my strides getting shorter, the pace slower.  But not last night, no, last night was all about getting the miles in and getting the hell out of there.

For around every corner there was a flash from every horror movie I have ever seen. I was a 21st century “survivor girl”, there were beasts lurking in the shadows.

Re: “Survivor Girl”, I was just trying to convince myself that I was not the first victim, which was a valid concern.  “The Ithaca Journal” and “Cornell Daily Sun” have not had any stories on parades of, or even one victim.

At any rate whether it be fear of beasts or perhaps Socs ( identifying myself with the Greasers…Mr. Duttweiler would be so proud)  fueled by fear my minute per mile dipped to unprecedented time.

Approaching Olin Library again there was a fleeting, adrenaline fueled delusional thought: should I do it again?

With thoughts of Michael Myers or Leif Garrett in madras lurking around every corner, I passed. 3.5 miles would just have to do. Upcoming half-marathon or not, some things, like Leif Garrett, are just too scary to tempt with a second lap.

Upon Further Review: “The Forgotten”

Yet another film I hated…no hate is the wrong word… worse than hate: I was apathetic about when I saw it back in 2004.   Why did we go to see this film?  A mystery to be sure.

Sure it had alien abduction and a great cast, but I had seen enough bad Gary Sinise films that you would think I would have know better by then.  Having not yet discovered “The Wire” yet, following Dominic West was not a possibility. (For the last time Jon, you were right)

Julianne Moore was/is likeable enough, but I am sure that I was not looking forward to her crying face:

There is something about it that feels off to me.  It is the Uncanny Valley of acting smiles; it makes me feel uneasy, not sad.  So why would I put myself through a film about lost children, surely she was going to cry.

Cut to 2011:

Surfing through the new titles available to stream…”The Forgotten”…hmm. Cue Smeagol/Gollum- like debate in my head

“I totally did not connect with that film”

Why would you watch it again?

Well it has the element of lost children, perhaps now I can at least understand her awful crying face.

You will never understand that face…

You are probably right, but look McNulty is in it…

hmmm

And Dr. Thomas Wayne.

Yeah but…

It’s only 91 minutes.

Sold.

While some of the above is true (McNulty was a key), the main reason was that I wanted to see how much punch the film had post-breaking the fatherhood seal.  In the past six years I have found some wretchedly made, on the nose heart-string pulling bait has triggered emotions in me that I never thought they would….the fear, doubts and pain of parenthood are all too relate-able, even when the vehicle for those connections is poorly made.

No, I will not fess up to the lowest of the low.  Let’s just say that some “very special episodes” do not seem so trite anymore after seeing them through a father’s eyes.

Onto “The Forgotten”…it did not work, and surprisingly it is not due to Ms. Moore’s Uncanny Valley tears.  The film is simply disjointed, not sure what it wants to be.  The end lacked, no…the whole film did.

I would love to see the script that got all the fine actors aboard.  How you get Julianne Moore, Anthony Edwards, Gary Sinise (in spite of “Snake Eyes, et all) ,Dominic West and Alfre Woodard to sign on with the story that ended up on the screen is hard to imagine.

There are flashes of an interesting film on the screen from time to time, but they are fleeting and never come together.

Not Recommended

“The Forgotten” is available on Netflix streaming.

Class Warfare? Welcome to the Party, Pals!

The GOP and their ilk remind me of Al, the cherubic, naive cop from “Die Hard” who just wants to enjoy his narcissistic serenity and overflowing abundance of gold(en treats).  Don’t call him out to Nakatomi Plaza when there is clearly nothing going on.  He has some spoils to celebrate.

Barack Obama, the candidate…make no mistake, this was not a Presidential move by his standards, pulled a John McClain ( no, not the neutered “Live Free and PG-13 Hard” version) and threw the dead terrorist known as the top 2 % on the hood of the GOP’s sugary sweet car and laiying down the thunder.

It is bittersweet for me, really.

Where was this to frame the difference of the parties before the disastrous 2010 midterms?

Where was this during the Bush Tax Cut debate last winter?  We could have been saving this money all along.

Where was it this past summer when he let the GOP frame the debate on the debt ceiling?  Why not show solidarity with their icon Reagan who raised it 18 times!  You need to call them on their “facts” (read emotionally charged bullshit), Mr Candidate…I mean President.

I hold onto this dream that if Mr. Obama is re-elected then he will let his Progressive/FDR freak flag fly.  I know this is a pipe dream, the man is a moderate by any sane standards.

And that moderateness is all I can expect. It will be enough given the fact that we are due for new Justices in the next 5 years.  We need to purge the activist judges on the Right who are legislating from the bench to benefit their corporate masters.

Do I yearn for a liberal on the bench?  You bet.  But given the recent work of Scalia, Alito, Roberts Thomas and Kennedy I would settle for the next few nominees to not be pro-business whores.

Low standard, I know.  That is where we are.

And make no mistake GOP and their lemmings: where we have been for the last thirty years is in a state of class warfare.  Since Reagan took office there has been a steady redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.  And it is not all the Republicans fault.

Bill Clinton gave business NAFTA which killed our manufacturing base and repealed Glass-Steagall, which helped lead to our mortgage mess.

Our current Capitulator-in-chief gave up too many talking points and concessions to the GOP in the last three years, only now finding his footing as he becomes Candidate Obama again.

Here is the one fact you need to know about the redistribution of wealth in this country since Reagan took over: (From my November 15th 2010 post “Breaking the Narrative: Ike the Socialist and Tax Policy”)

When “The Gipper” entered office the richest 1 percent had 8 to 9 percent of the wealth in the country.  His policies, including drastically cutting the taxes of the rich and hoping they would urinate some wealth on those below them, helped raise that percentage to 23.5 percent in 2007.  I am no John Stockton, but that seems like a fair bit of distribution from one group to another.

So you see this is nothing new.  The GOP is like the chubby 6th grader with bad gas,  always calling out someone else for their own stink in hopes that will help them avoid detection.  It’s a classic grade school tactic that for whatever reason seem to work nowadays with far too many people.

It is more important than ever that Candidate Obama use his bully pulpit and get out the facts to fan away the reeky rhetoric of the GOP as they attempt to frame the debate.  That latter part has happened far too often and it needs to end.

“Golly how truth will out”

Now that Candidate Obama has finally returned from his slumber we need him to bring the facts and tell the GOP that their redistribution party is over…and to stop with the blame game.  Welcome to the party pals!

NFL Pick Em 2011 – Week 2

This year I am again picking games against my good friend Joe Munley over at ESPN.com.  Last week I went 7-9.  Lucky for me Munley went 8-8.

Here’s hoping I can turn this around…then again there is a reason I do not bet regularly. I am all heart and to bet successfully you need to ignore that organ for three others that begin with B: your brain and your balls.

Oakland Raiders (1-0) at Buffalo Bills (1-0) -3.5 – I will take my Bills and give away the points based on the West Coast team playing at 1 pm EST (always a kiss of death).  I know the Bills are better than they were last year, but I think last weeks points parade will be an aberration this year with this O-line.

Chicago Bears (1-0) at New Orleans Saints (0-1) -7.5 – If this were a straight up game, or if the line were half what it is I would be all about the Saints.  But neither of those are the reality.  What we are dealing with is an underrated defense that feels disrespected.  The heart and soul of the Bears team, Brian Urlacher, lost his mother this week and I think his team plays for him and at least keeps it close.  Bears and the points, please.

Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-1) +2.5 – Last week was a rough one for the Colts, so bad that this week they are underdogs for the first time in forever at home…against the Browns.  Ouch.  What a fall from grace.  I remember that feeling all too well, I think the year was 1996 for my beloved Bills.  The fact that the Browns lost a game they should have last week is what has me taking them and giving away the 2.5.  They will be a hungry team.

Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) at Detroit Lions (1-0) -8.5 – This line is way too big.  The Chiefs are not as bad as they looked last week. I can see them losing, but it will be by less than 8.5 points. Chiefs and the points, no question.

Green Bay Packers (1-0) at Carolina Panthers (0-1) +10.5 – Another line that has me nervous.  I am taking the Panthers and points and hoping that Ron Rivera, a smart defensive coach knows well enough to run, run, run and chew some clock.

Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-1) +5.5 – Once upon a time this would have been an interesting game…once upon a time.  Ravens and give the 5.5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) at Minnesota Vikings (0-1) -3.5 – Another pick predicated on the pedigree of the head coach.  Leslie Frazier…run the ball and take this game home.  Vikes and give away the 3.5.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at New York Jets (1-0) -10.5 – Another huge line has me taking the dog and the points…again.

Arizona Cardinals (1-0) at Washington Redskins (1-0) -4.5 – Cards and the points…Rex Grossman, Starting QB.

Seattle Seahawks (0-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) -14.5 – One huge line I am not scared of.  An abysmal performance last week combined with a 1 pm start for a West Coast team = a slaughter in the making.  STEELERS!

Dallas Cowboys (0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0) -2.5 – I’ll take the road favorite who have to be feeling the sting of letting that game get away from them at the Meadowlands last week.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) at Denver Broncos (0-1) ) -5.5 – Have you seen the Doncos injury report? I’ll take the Nati, I would if it were straight up.

Houston Texans (1-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-1) +2.5 – The real chad Henne reemerges this week and Wade Phillips again shows he may have the largest skill gap ever between being a D Coordinator and Head Coach.  He is back where he belongs.  Texans, all the way.

San Diego Chargers (1-0) at New England Patriots (1-0) -6.5 – Chargers, thanks to the line.  I know Tom Brady looked great last week.  But so did Chad Henne.  I know Phillip Rivers, and Chad Henne is no Phillip Rivers.

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-1) +2.5 - I’ll take the home team and the points.  They should be plenty amped considering their game last week.

St. Louis Rams (0-1) at New York Giants (0-1) -6.5 – Two teams battling injuries has me taking the team getting almost a TD.

Mark it dude.

24 Hour Beef and Bean Chili – Take One (Updated)

Actually it is more like take twenty-five, but who’s counting.  No one as it turns out.  And that is not the only thing that has not been documented during that time.  Over the last 6 years every one of those prior twenty-five chili’s have been different.  I never wrote down a recipe, let alone measurements.

Well I am rolling the bones on this one and counting that it will be great.  I am biased but I would submit that each of my prior off-the-cuff concoctions were at least good edible.

The first five had wide swings of ingredients, I tried them all: ground chuck in place of ground beef, wine, chocolate, adobo, even peanut butter.  They were amalgams of Food Network recipes, and while I ended up grabbing some of the principles from them I never took too much – I wanted this to be my own.

The below recipe is not my ideal one.  But I have to keep the heat down.  I want my kids to be able to enjoy my endeavors.  I cannot wait until they are old enough to handle some jalapeno.

Ingredients:

Olive Oil

1 1/2 cup Yellow Onion, chopped

1 1/2 cup Celery, Chopped

1 1/2 cup Carrots, Chopped

1/2 Cup Fresh corn kernels

1/2 Cup Red Pepper, diced

2 lb 93/7 Grass Fed Ground Beef

1 lb dry Red Kidney Beans

1lb dry Black Beans

2 large cans of Organic Crushed Tomato with Puree

I bottle of Miller Lite, Vortex Technology enabled ( key to get the right pour)

1 tablespoon of each the following spices(in no particular order):

• Thyme leaves
• Rosemary
• Smoked Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Smoked Cumin
• Hot Mexican Chili Powder
• Cinnamon

Also Salt and Black Pepper to taste and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

24 Hours before starting to cook soak the dry beans.

Next day coat the bottom of a big Chili Pot with Olive Oil.  Throw in the diced vegetables and saute on medium high until they are soft, about 15 minutes.  Add the beef and break it up.  Once the beef starts cooking and releasing fat add the spices.  Let cook until the beef is all nicely browned.

Add beer, taste first to be sure it is fresh.  Make sure to deglaze the bottom of the pot, scraping to get all the flavor out.

Add both sets of beans and the tomatoes, stir and get the chili boiling. Once it hits a boil drop it to simmer.  Let sit on the stovetop until you go to bed.  For me it will be 8 6 hours.   Set Crock Pot for longest (read lowest) setting other than warm.  I am on warm…and it should help the beans get just a touch less firm.  It could be plated now, I just ate 2 small bowls.  I only planned on 1.

Stir, re-season and add liquid if needed when you get up.

Wait for the chili to set…add toppings you love: cheese, sour cram, cilantro…what have you.  I had Queso Blanco and Red Hot, win!

I’ll let you know how it turns out tomorrow.  It’s awesome

My Top Ten Favorite Films # 3 – “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

This is not the 10 best films that I have ever seen, that would be a very different list.  It would be one filled with classics and have a more academic feel to it.  I would feel sterile and snobby.  As much as I have always loved film, that is not what drew me to it.

Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the classics, I am just not sure that I would line up to watch many of them more than once or twice.  The reason I fell in love with the movies was the characters and their adventures of the heart, body and soul.

The following films may not be perfect, they may not all be classics, but they are my 10 favorite films of all time.

Number 3 - “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

I first saw “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with my dad and twin brother on a rainy Sunday afternoon at the General Cinema Boulevard Mall Cinemas.  I miss the huge theaters of that (at the time) major cineplex – it had four screens!  And as I was told many times as a kid it used to be two when my dad was an usher there in the sixties.

I have fond memories of the cinema, I having seen some great films there: “Return of the Jedi”, “Unforgiven”, “Empire of the Sun” and “Die Hard” (the second time, sorry Dad) .  I also saw “Jaws: The Revenge”, “Nightmare on Elm Street V: The Dream Child”, “The Golden Child” (on its last showing on a Thursday night.  I had to see it!”) and the Christian Slater vehicle “Kuffs”* there.  Hey life is all about the sweet and sour, some of the stinkers above had both.

It speaks to how amazing “Raiders” is that I don’t allow the stain of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” to touch my feelings on the best action film that I have ever and likely ever will see.  It probably helps the latest entry of Indiana Jones saga, is not a prequel, and can be pulled away from the original trilogy and be easily forgotten.

The Indiana Jones trilogy (as I can and chose to ignore the 4th film exists) is strong, built off the base of the classic first film.  And what a film it is.  From the first shot, which like all the films melted out of the Paramount logo, I was riveted.  I can remember shifting forward in my seat and never moving back.  To this day the film holds that quality for me.

From the South American opening, to the Himalayas and the amazing bar fight that happens there, to Cairo and its multiple, spectacular chases: the film is stuffed with amazingly staged action set pieces.

Leading it all is my favorite actor from my childhood and most disappointing of my adult years: Harrison Ford.  I first knew him as Han Solo, I would argue that Indiana Jones is his defining role. With George Lucas making me care less and less about “Star Wars” each day “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the film love from my childhood that I cannot wait to share with them.**

Most Highly Recommended

*On the afternoon of Super Bowl XXVI, the second of four heartbreakers that the Bills served up on Super Sunday.  If “Kuffs” has a redeeming quality it has to be the card that Christian Slater’s girlfriend gave his girlfriend with her flowers, “Love and Kiss on all of your pink parts.”  No, I have not seen the film since, but that stuck with me.

**  I still want to show them the OT, as pure as I can get it.  I wonder if my laser-disc player still works.

Re-Emergence Day For “Gears of War” and My Matrix

In Randy Newman’s “Our Town” from the soundtrack of the film  “Cars” the first lyrics are “Long ago, but not so very long ago…”, that is exactly how I feel about my escape from my Matrix. For about two plus years video games were too front in center in my life.  And while I never let it fully impact the truly important things in my life such as family and providing for them it did chew up more time than it should have.

I never want to feel that way again, that pull, the ache that kept me from doing more with my life during that time.  Wherever there was free time it would  be filled with video games in some way, be it playing them, reading reviews or simply thinking about playing them.  It was too much.

I broke through it, and can honestly say to have never been happier. Video game are still in my life, but they are in their place.  Staying vigilant, and aware that they still can pull me back in, that fear keeps me on my toes.

Today was such a day.

“Gears of War 3″ releases next Tuesday, and today with the help of my friend Adam I found myself getting that old feeling again.  Why in the name of Bruce Dickinson would I get that feeling today?

Well today is the pink candle in the advent calendar of video game releases, the end of the embargo on media reviews.  A deluge of media and opinions for “Gears of War 3″ fell on the geekbox community today and with that release, the realization that we are so close to getting our hands on the long awaited gift from our current Santa Claus, Cliffy B.

My friend Adam, he had the fever…and the only cure was more “Gears 3″.  And is the case with recovering geeks who have pried themselves from the Matrix and find themselves sliding back -  they want company.  It makes sense: the more the merrier, especially given the greatness of Gears co-op story mode and Horde modes.

The Gamespot review had me going:

…they almost had me.

But something was missing in it all, there were no singular moments or images that had me quoning (yes quoning, it’s a medical term) like the “Mad World” TV spot  that supported the first “Gears of War” back in 2006.  The brilliance of that minute haunted me until I got the game on Christmas Day 2006.

That was back in the day before I owned an Xbox 360, and that ad had me doubled over with pangs of desire.  The mood, the camera angles, everything about the ad worked for me.  I can’t remember the last time I was that riled up for anything.  That feeling, that mad world led me right into the heart of my Matrix.

“Gears of War 3″ has had some nice media, the “brothers to the end” and “Dust to Dust” were nice.  But they felt like pale shadows of the “Mad World” ad. With that in mind I feel confident that Tuesday there will be no mad world, and the reemergence that I experience will be that of stepping back from the edge of the Matrix.

Home Schoolin’ It

No I have not completely lost my mind.  My kids are going to a real school…this is all about me.

While looking for tips on how to construct my new machinima project “The Other 97%” I ran into a wall when using the new traditional route of Google.  There just was not much out there, at least in the context I was looking for.

Wanting more nuanced help than “how to make a great combat montage” or “how to integrate LOL CATZ  into Call of Duty”, the search for knowledge continued.

My hopes for the project were partially  to help elevate machinima past the geek norms ( though I am sure they will be present in content as I am a bit* of geek)  which are omnipresent on Youtube – including in my own prior dabbling in machinima.

The genre/format/whathaveyou can be so much more.

While learning more about article searches and databases while training for my new position as Reference Assistant I was given the queue that led to an epiphany.

The direction given was to practice using not imaginary search terms, but rather something that I was interested in. Using that strategy I would better understand the gap that sometimes exists between what I was looking for and what I got from the queries.

I chose “machinima”. And like Bilbo before me I found something valuable in what I considered to be the unlikeliest of places: academia.

I started with an article search, which was not as fruitful as anticpiated.  There were a few helpful journals and collections…but it all seemed to either be the same basics, or branching in directions that did not particularly interest or inform.

Then a stab in the dark: Proquest Dissertations and Theses.  7 results followed and those magnificent 7  changed the whole course of “The Other 97%”.  No more stumbling in the dark; a flood of brightness, of knowledge glowed before me.

Refworks has been invaluable to parse through the treasure trove.  This remarkable program allows the importing of references from searches, provides organization with the ability to sort those references into folders, and creates bibliographies.  Where were you when I was in school?  If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

I am collecting sources and reading more for this independent project than I did for any single class in either of my tenures in college.  I think much of that is due to the passion I have for this project.

Sometimes I wish I could go back again.  Two tenures in higher education, two degrees have to be it for now.  The reality is that my last sojourn in academia is still omnipresent in my life thanks not only to the knowledge gained, but unfortunately due to the student loans taken out to go back.

For now home schooling it is, with help from the access to academic resources I get through my job.  It is not ideal, but so far it has fit the bill.  “The Other 97%” is on its way, and will be all the better with the knowledge gained in my virtual schoolhouse.

If interested please visit “The Other 97%” blog, where I am documenting what I am finding during these journeys into the heart of academia and how they are influencing my work on the project.

*And by bit I mean quite a bit.

The Promise of a New Day Stepped on By the Tea Party “Faithful”

Just when I thought it was safe to read about the Tea Party Express debate last night…

I may have been unduly influenced to have some expectation of sanity due to a conversation that I had this past weekend with some one who I would consider a true conservative.  I met Justin at a wedding and for whatever reason politics became a topic…I think it was in response to a comment about President Obama as he was shown on a TV in the bar…whatever the reason what followed was the most refreshing discourse that I have had with someone outside of my ideology in a long time.

There were of course things that we disagreed on but instead of pulling out talking points we just talked.  And what we found was more common ground than most people would think exists based on the rhetoric flying about.

• I agreed that raising taxes on those who make over 250,000 was not wise, especially in these times.   He agreed that raising for those who make over $1 million, something championed by Senator Schumer (D) would be a wise move.  I could not believe someone who considers themselves a Republican in 2011 would feel this way.  Perhaps I was painting all the GOP supporters with too broad a brush.
• I conceded to Justin that Jon Huntsman has some great ideas, especially in foreign policy.  He does scare me with his tax plan, but what can I expect from the GOP?  I love that he does not run from science…which of course means he has no place in the modern tea party/hyperbole driven GOP.  So my kudos look to be moot.  No being a VP to any of the other frontrunners would not tilt me to vote GOP for the first time.
• Maybe if they ran Zombie Ike…I think given the Zombie love in our society now he might have a puncher’s chance.  Zombie Ike certainly would have a better shot than Perry to get independents…who are widely know to be the most intelligent of voters.*  I may be biased on that front.oJustin admitted that Barack Obama is not a socialist but a centrist and also copped to the fact that Fox News is full of shit.  The US would be a better place if more Republicans could see this.  In order to be reasonable I decried MSNBC for being too biased.(which they are).  But I would not say they were as bad as Fox News, especially in regards to building their own bent truths (they aren’t).
• We both agreed that President Obama has been a disappointment, from different ends of things…but it was nice to admit.  I also confessed that I am voting for him for two reasons: a hope that in a second term he will find his inner FDR/LBJ and let his freak flag fly and we cannot afford more GOP justices on the Court.

This was one big point that we both saw as a worrisome issue. Citizens United is a disastrous decision for democracy. There is no basis in reality or law for the way the Court decided it (and it is the definition of legislating from the bench as it stepped all over the McCain-Feingold Act, something conservatives cry out against on the floor when vetting a Supreme Court nominee).

Citizens United was all for the benefit of the Koch brothers and people of their ilk.  Justices Scalia, Thomas and Roberts (who all see corporations as people through Citizens United) are regulars on conservative banquet tour, often canoodling with NeoCon media members and major contributors to the party (who are often the people who run those companies that were just granted personal rights).

My new GOP friend and I both agreed this is not the way the Court is supposed to operate.  The Justices are supposed to be apolitical, at least in their public lives. They certainly should not be hanging with lobbyist and money men at political fundraisers.

So I left the weekend feeling hope.  Maybe there are more people like him who can take back the GOP and move them back to the center of things….and then I saw this:

The most offensive part coming at 1:02, when people in the audience cheer for the death of a (theoretical) uninsured man.  My first thought was:

Just like Jesus would have done…oh wait that is what happened to Him, the cheering for His death. Who gets to be Barabbas?

I know that everyone does not have to think like me. But having just had a great experience with someone who has more differences in their ideologies than similarities it really bothered me. My new refreshing reality was already smashed.

Conversations with the people in the audience who cheered that thought, or with those you can hear laughing about it just afterward is impossible to consider. The shame is that there seem to be more of the latter than there are of Justin’s on the Right.

* Not supported by any independent data other than my own biases.

Thoughts on: Bills vs. Chiefs

A note: I did not get to see the game.  Unfortunately (and fortunately for more mature, adult reasons) I got a new position that requires me to work Sundays from 1 pm to 6 pm, right smack in the middle of the NFL Sunday.  Mix in the following facts:

1. the Bills play only two 4 pm starts all year
2. I have basic cable (no ESPN)
3. ESPN and Time Warner have conspired to block ESPN3 access if you do not get digital cable

and I will be stuck with a lot of Jets and Giants 2nd halves with some decent Sunday Night matchups, though I will only be able to watch first halves…

Tough for this football fan, but you know what?  Worth it, thanks to the new position I will be able to save for a house in the next year.  House> NFL Football.  If you are older than 25 and/or have a family and disagree with that equation…grow up.

That business being done let me hit up my thoughts on the game yesterday, gleaned from anecdotal evidence and box scores…I know, not the best way.  This is how it has to be.

• I love that the Bills ran Fred Jackson 20 times to C.J. Spiller’s 5.  Anyone who loves football can see that is the correct ratio and from what my wife said and columinsts have written Freddy rewarded that faith in punishing the Chiefs D.  There are rumblings out of Buffalo that the team is talking with Roscoe Parrish about a contract extension.  I have two problems with that: 1.  The Bills have a lot of nice young receivers.  And 2. Even if you made a case for Roscoe to get resigned( and I am not sure how you would do this) he should get in line behind Fred.
• As I said I didn’t get to see the game, but looking at the stats I hate that Jamaal Charles got off a 22 yard run and Dexter McCluster got away for 23.  I heard the D played great, but both runs seemed to come against the 1st D.  I had hoped I would find them buried in the play by play of the 4th quarter, when the game was not in doubt.  This could be trouble for the Bills, especially with Darren McFadden coming to town next week.  I understand they looked better against the run, that would be hard not to do considering the last 4-5 years, but still allowing 6 yards a carry and two rushes over 20 yards can not be considered a slam dunk.
• There is hope in Buffalo on the football side for the first time in a few years.  I just want to remind my fellow Bills fans of a few other great starts that led to nowhere:

1. 2003 – The Bills stomped all over the Patriots, who were on their way to another Super Bowl win, 31-0.  Lawyer Milloy, freshly cut from the Pats, came over and had a nice first game for Bills on a short week and I thought, “he is going to be an All-Pro.”  Not so much. The team started 2-0 that year.  I remember driving to work the morning after they hit that record and  listening to noted windbag Gregg Williams on “Mike & Mike in the Morning” who was at his blowhard, motivational poster best and thinking, “we are in trouble”.  2-0 quickly became 2-2 and the team fell to 6-10 on the year.  At least the season cost Williams his job…but did usher in the Mularkey era.  Ugh.
2. 2008 – The Bills started 4-0!  It was a magical quarter of a season: Ryan Denney scored on a fake field goal in the opener against Seattle!  James Hardy scored a TD to win in Jacksonville.  Jamarcus Russell handed the Bills a win on my wife’s 30th birthday thanks to his inability to throw a fade route, both ended up in the stands on plays where the reciever got behind coverage, and the Bills had a great comeback against the Rams.  Then came the hot read that wasn’t.  Trent Edwards did not account for a clearly blitzing Adrian Wilson and got tatooed. He left the game and was never the same again, somehow beating out Rob Johnson and JP Losman for most disappointing QB of the 21st century.

I expect the Bills to beat the Raiders next week.  They are after all the Raiders, but the big factor is the 1 pm start.  West Coast teams have always had trouble with those early games.  The come the Pats…and likely the pain.

So don’t mind me if I protect myself: I am the guy who thought Lawyer Milloy would be all-World. Being a 21st century Bills fan means balancing hope with reality, let’s hope the two meet in the middle and we can fight for the Wild Card.