This Post Brought to You by the Letter R

The official start of the hockey season is just a week away and I had the coolest sighting! Myself and two co-workers who used to have lunch from time-to-time decided to have a farewell lunch in light of layoffs. We ate at a sandwich shop inside the Lafayette Court building on Main St. One co-worker who's known for being chatty was in the middle of a story about her family. I was in the middle of my sandwich. I was listening to her but then I heard some dude talking to someone across the way as he walked near our table. That wasn't just "some dude"...it was my hockey hero Rob Ray!! Awesome. For years I loved watching Ray beat the tar out of some hapless Sabres opponent. More often than not it was Toronto Maple Leafs goon,Tie Domi.

All I could do was wordlessly smack my co-worker on the arm and interrupt her story. She said, "Oh yeah, that's Rob Ray!" She was excited, but not like me. Meanwhile, Ray's scoping out the table puzzled that it was a woman getting nutty about his presence. He's not a traditional hottie in the vein of Michael Peca (go ahead frootloop pals, click it ;-). Besides, it's not about his looks, it's all about the throwdowns.Nonetheless, the other co-worker said hello to him while I lamented the fact that I didn't have my #32 Ray jersey or my poster. I will get him to sign my stuff--it's my goal this season and now that I'm going on unemployment, I should be able to track him down at a public event.
Courtesy of Fry a really great article about the New Orleans debacle from Rolling Stone. Author Matt Taibbi's writing is reminiscent of Hunter S. Thompson. He has keen insight and a great sense of humor. I enjoy his articles even more than the columns he wrote in the Buffalo Beast.

Jerry Lewis Hot Monkey Love

In need of cheap laughs, I sought out Captain Janks of the Howard Stern show. Janks has been making me laugh for years with his pranks to major media outlets during disasters or celebrity deaths. He bypasses the producers and leads the anchor person on only to make some obscene Howard Stern reference. His conspicuous absence during the Hurricane Katrina media blitz was noted by Howard when he came back from vacation. When asked about this, Janks replied that he didn't have a lot of money so his gift to Katrina survivors was no prank calls. Check out Janks prank to Jerry Lewis and a few other funny audiovisual tidbits here (scroll to the bottom for Janks).

My Sentiments

photo (c) 2005


I go back and forth between sadness and anger for a number of reasons. This is how I feel right now, courtesy of the Hustler Hollywood Store in Los Angeles.

The Shiznit

It's too early in the morning to discuss the details of my pending layoff. Suffice it to say that deep down I knew it was a possibility. When I'm ready, I'll discuss to the level that is appropriate for public consumption. What I really wanted to write about was my cross country trip to escort longtime friend French Fry to her new digs in California. The layoff announcement diverted my attention from what was a great trip.
Nonetheless, the support and props are pouring in from my peeps. I appreciate all that you do for me. Especially the laughs that you provide to keep my spirits up.
Mike Rite is slamming losers on a local media message board, which makes me bust a gut. Paulie Paul sent me my new unemployment hobby Gizoogle a search engine wif flava! Check this example:

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If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, pleaze let us know by email'n us at brotha wit tha question ID listed above. T-H-to-tha-izzank you.

The first laugh of a day that is once again sure to be full of seesaw emotion.

Ramen Noodles

I'm still reeling from the phone call. Due to the incompetency of Erie County government, I have been laid off. Details to follow.

Local Media

While getting a read on local media coverage of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, I came across third rated WKBW's link to their podcast. Oh Boy! They're sooo cutting edge!


"The latest buzz word in the Internet world is "podcast," and WKBW is proud to be on the forefront of this emerging technology. In short, podcasts are MP3 audio programs that are available to be downloaded onto your computer and transferred to an iPod or any portable media device that supports MP3s. It can also be played right on your computer."

Does the podcast include a bucket of chicken wings, hot, extra blue cheese and a pair of zuba pants?

"WKBW Podcasts

What is a Podcast?
A podcast is a short audio file containing news or entertainment information. Because it is in MP3 format, you can listen to it right on your computer or download it to a portable music player like an IPod and take it with you.

How do I get it?"

Shouldn't the question be "Why would I want it?" If you live in the area, turn on your damn TV set and you'll get your fill of their idiocy complete with commercials. Aside from out-of-town nostalgia folks (a very limited audience) I can't see anybody wanting to hear about pistol packing punks or fires in the City. Not that I've watched local news recently.

Bottom line, Podcasting is handy for taking programs with you that aren't locally available e.g. Alex Jones or late night talk shows like Coast to Coast AM. It also democratizes and levels the playing field for those who can't get a show on a radio station. Why on earth, other than for promotional purposes, would a local TV station want to air an audio version of their schlock is beyond me.

Don't Want to Live Like a Refugee

I cannot get over the New Orleans tragedy. I can't believe that this country was so unprepared for a disaster. With all of the technicolor warning systems and we couldn't be ready to mobilize help to a very poor part of the United States. I'll bet a majority of those living in apocalyptic conditions didn't have much to begin with. From all of the media coverage I've been reading, people who didn't leave couldn't do so because they live hand to mouth. The disaster came before payday so they didn't have any means to get out of dodge. A lot of people stayed and have either perished or are suffering the miserable conditions because they were afraid of losing their possesions. What the hell good are your things if you're not alive to enjoy them? Duh. It's all Suze Orman, people first, things second.
The looting has been a major part of media focus. The New Orleans Mayor called police off search and rescue to guard storefronts. In some ways, that's pointless. It's more important to help the living than prevent the theft of sneakers. On the other hand, looters stealing guns and ammo is a really scary thought. I don't envy that man. No wonder he lost his composure and began swearing while making official statements. "Now get off your asses and fix this. Let's do something and let's fix the biggest goddam crisis in the history of this country," an emotional New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded Thursday night in a radio interview."
The chaos and suffering is a direct correlation of what happens when this country is busy declaring war in places that it doesn't need to be i.e. Iraq. Where's the National Guard in Louisiana? Iraq. To boot, the feds knew this sort of an event was coming. I need to go get gas before this area runs out or rations go down. I'm leaving shortly for a roadtrip. I'm not taking my vehicle but I want to make sure that when I get back, my p.o.s. car has gas in the event that there's prahlems, as we'd say in WNY.
NBC Photojournalist Tony Zumbado has some hard-hitting footage from the New Orleans Convention Center and surrounding areas on Thursday. His viewpoints are especially valid because he provided an eyewitness account without being a camera whore (news bimbo/himbo).
On a pop culture tip, singer Fats Domino was thought to be missing but apparently he has been located. Harry Connick Jr. a Louisiana native went back and was actually a person of "authority" at the New Orleans Convention Center (see the Tony Zumbado footage). How sad is it when cheezbag Connick is the only "official" to offer comfort to those desperate peeps?! On a sad note, singer Alex Chilton remains among the missing.