Category: death

04/24/07 12:48 - 51ºF - ID#39024

Deathtroika this week

Who will die and complete the deathtroika?

1. Boris Yeltsin, former president of Russia

2. David Halberstam, Vietnam-era journalist and author

3. ?????

Permalink: Deathtroika_this_week.html
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Category: tv

04/12/07 07:59 - 36ºF - ID#38869

Jeopardy!

I haven't watched Jeopardy! in a long time, but a friend from high school just become the new champ. Chris was the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper the year before I was. Maybe this means I'm in line to win $25,000 on Jeopardy! next year. ;-) If only.

Permalink: Jeopardy_.html
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Category: hockey

04/08/07 09:38 - 29ºF - ID#38809

oh, it's ON, baby

Last-second heroics by Miro Satan, Viktor Kozlov, and Wade Dubielewicz in an overtime shootout in the final game of the regular season have propelled the Islanders into the NHL playoffs as the number-8 seed in the East -- which means the Sabres will be hosting the Isles in the first round! Woo-hoooo!

All the more sweet because it sends Darcy Tucker, Mats Sundin, and the other Leafs packing. hehe

OK, so who's got first-round playoff tickets? :-D

Permalink: oh_it_s_ON_baby.html
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Category: irritants

04/07/07 05:18 - 27ºF - ID#38788

the third sure thing in life...

Ugh, time to file tax returns. Because of the move, I have to file NJ, NY, and IRS. Oh, bother.

Oddly enough, I received tax forms from Pennsylvania (I worked there in 2005, but not in 2006)... but not from New York (hello?!) and not from New Jersey (wtf?). Go figure.

So I've been printing tax forms for the last hour or so. It's almost as exciting as watching paint dry. Somebody kill me.

I could deduct some moving expenses but that would (I believe) mean itemizing my deductions, which I have never done before (no kids, no home ownership, no investments, etc.) and do not particularly feel like doing for the first time this weekend or next.

It is ironic that I hound my students about not procrastinating when it comes to papers and studying for exams, and here I am filing my taxes during the last 10 days before the deadline. I made my bed, now I gotta sleep in it.

FFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

Permalink: the_third_sure_thing_in_life_.html
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Category: buffalo

03/29/07 09:54 - 41ºF - ID#38689

Bass Pro is coming after all...

Well, like it or not, Bass Pro is going to be the anchor for the redevelopment of the Buffalo waterfront:

It took $25 million in public funds to lure (har-de-har-har) Bass Pro to sign on the dotted line (ouch!) but I guess you have to give to get. I'm sure it will be all over the news on TV tonight and in the papers tomorrow.

My question: what sorts of tax breaks and other behind-the-scenes incentives were dangled in front of Bass Pro to get them to commit?

Permalink: Bass_Pro_is_coming_after_all_.html
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Category: tv

03/29/07 08:36 - 43ºF - ID#38687

Office Marathon -- in progress

I know tv is so uncool (except maybe the A-team, right, (e:brit) ?) but NBC is launching the new Andy Richter show (God help us) by nestling it within a marathon of classic "The Office" reruns. I know it's the American spinoff of the original Ricky Gervais britcom but hell it's still funny. Runs until 9:30 pm and then picks up again 10-11 pm.

Bonus:

Permalink: Office_Marathon_in_progress.html
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Category: food

03/27/07 08:45 - 61ºF - ID#38657

West Side good eats

I'm not well-schooled in Buffalo eateries outside the well-traveled neighborhoods: Elmwood, Hertel, Allentown, downtown, University Heights/UB Main St. But a colleague took me down Connecticut to the Armory Restaurant, near the corner of Plymouth and Connecticut right near D'Youville. For the uninitiated, it's an unassuming, old-school Italian-American joint with an old, low-slung wooden bar with two taps, odd collages of old black-&-white photos on the walls, and a few four-tops with red-&-white checked cotton tabelcloths. It was not exactly hip, but it was clean, there was very friendly and attentive service (we were there around 1 on a Monday) and the food was delicious.

I was alll set to order lentils and macaroni but then the waitress started describing the specials and I knew the lentils would have to wait. Beans-n'-greens just sounded way too good. My friend got the sausage giambotta (jyum-BOTT), which looked really good. The waitress warned me that the beans-n'greens typically came with some shells -- no problem there. She served it up steaming hot, in a huge bowl (even I couldn't finish it) along with fresh Italian bread. She mentioned that the hamhocks had stewed in the broth for a day (days?) and the smoky goodness in the bowl said she was no liar. The mix of pasta, beans (black-eyed peas and one or two white bean types), greens (escarole?) and slightly garlicky, smoky broth was sooooooo good.

The two entrees plus a Bud bottle for each of us came to $17. If you're in the mood for old-school Itai-American, try the Armory Restaurant for lunch (it's lunch-only I think) and tell me what you think.

For that matter, tell me your favorite low-rent traditional Itai-American joint. I really like Caffe Garangelo on Hertel, but the Armory's beans-n'-greens is giving me a second thought. What do you think??

Permalink: West_Side_good_eats.html
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Category: news

03/23/07 04:30 - 53ºF - ID#38594

Roswell/BGH Truck Fire

OK, actually this is yesterday's news but I thought the pics were interesting. (e:chicoschica) had to evacuate yesterday morning because of a truck fire that threatened to catch the enclosed walkway between RPCI and BuffGen. Nobody was hurt and no significant damage to the walkway or the buildings, but OMG look what happened to that truck.

Smoke from truck fire; with a little imagination, the scene almost resembles a small-scale terror attack (car bomb or something)

The remains of the truck (Kelley Blue Book value = $0.00)

Photos courtesy of a coworker of (e:chicoschica), please do not reproduce

Permalink: Roswell_BGH_Truck_Fire.html
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Category: educational

03/19/07 02:35 - 32ºF - ID#38520

Human Rights Student Conference

For interested (e:strip)pers -- this event/series is open to the public.

5th Annual Human Rights Student Conference

March 20th through March 22nd
Canisius College, in the Richard E. Winter Student Center

This conference is an opportunity for students, professors and community members of Western New York to gather and exchange information about international human rights issues. This year's conference includes presentations on conflict diamonds, child soldiers, torture, the rights of women and the veil, human rights abuses in Kashmir, poverty and race, and the situation in Darfur. We also have a keynote speaker this year from Mauritania.

Tuesday March 20
The Human Rights Dinner with guests from the WNY refugee community. Catered by Kabab & Curry. The dinner is free, but we will be accepting donations for Journey's End Refugee Services.
Grupp Fireside Lounge, Student Center, 6:00 pm

Wednesday March 21
Student Presentations on international human rights issues, 5:30 pm.
The presentations will be followed by a screening of "Sometimes in April," a film about the Rwandan genocide at 7:00 pm.
Regis South, Student Center. Snacks and beverages will be served.

Thursday, March 22
Student Presentations will begin at 5:30 pm followed by our keynote speaker at 7:00 pm, Abdarahmane Wone, the North American Communications Director for the African Liberation Forces of Mauritania (FLAM) and a speaker for the American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG), speaking on "Repression & Modern-Day Slavery in Africa: A Perspective from Mauritania." Regis South, Student Center. Snacks and beverages will be served.

Please RSVP (or direct your specific inquiries) to ias@canisius.edu.