P1

                I usually watch most of my television on the weekends or in the evenings on weeknights. Although I should probably try and get outside or do something more productive, the television is always there and available at all times, which makes it hard to not use.  The majority of television that I watch is somehow sports related. Whether it is a live competition, a documentary, or the sports segment on the evening news, the majority of television that I watch is about sports. HBO is also big in the Steffan household, with shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and Game of Thrones a common sight in our living room.  Although I am a bit ashamed to admit it, I am a frequent viewer of programming on the morbidly obese on channels like TLC and Discovery.  Why I enjoy these shows so much, I have no idea, but for whatever reason I just do.  There are currently 4 televisions in my home. One for the living room, one in my parent’s room, one in my sister’s room, and one in mine.  The only time I use my TV is before I go to bed at night for about twenty minutes or so.  I think that there is clearly a longer list of negatives associated with television than there are positives, simply because of what people view on it. In general, most of what we watch is senseless programming, which does us no good. And although we don’t want to admit it; most of us do fall into this category. What people view on television can also strongly influence how they choose to dress, act, and appear. And with people like Snooki, and the Kardashian sisters ruling television sets all across America, that is a true shame.  I think that people should make an honest effort not to let these sort of figures influence them outside of the half hour that they view them on television each night.

N1

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/18620242/mara-suggests-kickoffs-will-go-away-heres-why-theyre-here-to-stay

In this article, the main issue being discussed is the prevention of head related injuries in professional football. I agree with the author of this article, that the only way that will significantly diminish this statistic would be to switch the game to two hand touch. The way I see it, is football is a game based around men colliding with one another, and kickoffs are certainly no exception. Eliminating an entire facet of the game in an effort to reduce a problem that is going to happen regardless, to me is insensible.  This author also said that he doesn’t think anyone will strongly pursue this idea, because of the increased number of touchbacks since just last season due to the kickoffs being moved up 5 yards. It is believed that teams will be looking to acquire and develop more big leg kickers like Sebastian Janikowski and Olindo Mare, to sort of nullify, but certainly not eliminate the injury results of the kickoff. And although kickoff return totals were at some of their lowest figures in NFL history this past season, there certainly is no denying that the kickoff is amongst the most exciting plays the game has to offer. There aren’t too many other times in the game where you are always given a chance to travel from end zone to end one on one single play. And although as a Buffalo Bills fan the bitterness of that infamous “Music City Miracle” play will always bother me, there is certainly no denying that aside from Buffalo, it was really something to behold for the rest of the league.  Also when you look at current game changing players such as Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs, who make a living off returning kicks, it would really be a shame to take the excitement that they bring to the game with their style of play away from the game completely. I think that the NFL damaged the kickoff enough by moving it up five yards, and that eliminating it all together would be a crime.

N3

Currently, I am unemployed. I did have one job in my life however, where I did pretty much everything you can do at Tim Horton’s at the thruway stop in Clarence. I absolutely hated it, and it has served as motivations to get a good education to ensure that I am not stuck in that line of work for the rest of my life. You can only fake diarrhea to get out of work so many times. And sooner or later, your managers are going to catch on to your extended “bathroom breaks.”  Also the fact that I was just expected to know how to make every sandwich on the menu on my own was extremely frustrating to say the very least. As far as my future career, at this point I am still trying to figure a line of work to get into. As long as I’m making decent money, and have weekends off, I would be satisfied. I don’t need to love whatever I do, but at the same time I don’t want to hate it. And although as I said before I am currently unemployed, my parent are urging me on more than ever to find one, as I need to start chipping in for gas money after getting my license. Some of my options include possibly John and Mary’s, Carbones, Tops, and McDonalds. All of which are within walking distance from my house, and I know people who work at all of these places. And I would probably only have to work weekends which isn’t really that bad if you ask me.  Plus having a job would allow me to put away some spending money for when I am away at college, which would be really nice. Also, I’ll need money for the cruise I’ll be going on in April, sop a job would be very beneficial for me at this point in my life.   

N1

I recently caught up with Kathleen Herter, of the Bulldog Student Newspaper. I really learned a lot about Kathleen and am truly grateful for such a unique experience.  I learned deep down, Kathleen actually has a burning desire for professional sports including the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Her favorite Buffalo Bills was quarter back Ryan Fitzpatrick. Kathleen said that the beard was a huge factor in making this tough decision. Nathan Gerbe ended up being her favorite Buffalo Sabre, mainly because of his height, or should I say lack thereof, and his scrappy attitude that he brings to each and every shift on the ice. It also turns out Kathleen is an avid Alden Bulldogs football fan. When asked her favorite player on that team, the answer was obvious.  It actually turns out Mike Steffan was her favorite Alden Bulldog, mainly because of his athletic ability and sideburns. Coincidentally, her favorite number was 71. Kathleen also loves all of the movies in the SAW series. Kathleen couldn’t remember off the top of her head how many there were in the series at this point, but claims that she just loves them all! Kathleen loves all kinds of music, and it was difficult for her to narrow it down to just one single band. After some long thought and consideration, it was easy for her to decide. Kathleen concluded that her favorite band was Evanescence. Some of her favorite songs included Bring me to Life and My Immortal. Also, when it comes to gum, Kathleen takes things very seriously. She said she can chew almost any brand if need be, but if given the choice, she prefers Orbit to almost any gum brand out there. However, she also likes to chew bubbilicous, but only when she’s working in the yard.

N2

Spring is easily one of my favorite seasons. Spring, unlike summer, fall, and winter is full of life and energy. I love the smell of the air and the sound of the birds chirping more than anything. After a long cold winter in western New York, spring is always gladly welcomed by all. Also, spring is the time of year when the NHL playoffs start, which I am an avid fan of. I really became particularly fond of the spring season back in the spring of 2006 when the Sabres came within one game of reaching the Stanley cup finals. But besides the NHL playoffs, there are so many other things about spring that I like. Spring is the season when my friends and I really get into playing street hockey. Ever since about 6^th grade, every sunny spring day in Alden has been spent at the Alden town park playing hockey with my friends. It seems as the games get tighter down the stretch run of the regular season and into the playoffs, the more intense our games of hockey seem to get.  However, with all of the good, there is always some bad. Spring weather is a surprise every year, and you never seem to know what know expect around here, which I really dislike. For example, we seemed to break multiple records in the rainfall category, and things never seemed to dry up until late May. Then you look at this Spring so far, which has been the warmest and most bizarre one to date.  I find this aspect of Spring extremely frustrating, and it makes outdoor activities hard to plan during this season. It will be 80 degrees and sunny one day, and then the next day it we might be hit by a surprise snow storm. You just never know with the weather around here.  

M3

                When I think of embarrassing moments in my life, to be perfectly honest, not much comes to mind because I don’t get embarrassed that often. But the one single moment that does come to mind left me downright mortified.  It all happened back in my youth, 5^th grade to be exact. I was over at the Boling’s residence in the morning before school as usual, because for some reason I was afraid to stay home alone in the morning. So I was just sitting in the backroom like usual, minding my own business, watching cartoons, no big deal. Everything was just perfect. Until the moment I began to feel a rumble in my tummy. However, this was no ordinary rumble. This rumble meant business, and boy was it potent. The “rumble” got so bad to the point where I began to sweat profusely and my heart began to beat rapidly. It was essential that I “relieve” this rumble ASAP, or else the Boling’s might have found themselves in search of new furniture. Like most people I generally like to “relieve” myself in the comfort of my own home. However, this was not an option, so to the bathroom I went. Apprehensive as ever, I did what had to be done, and to say the least, it was bad. So bad that when I jiggled the handle on the toilet, the water stayed still as a statue. Panic soon set in and decided to flee the scene. I told the kind and gracious Mrs. Beverly Boling that I decided to head into school an hour and a half early today, to get “extra help.” This should’ve been an immediate warning sign that something was up, but thankfully I was able to avoid colossal embarrassment, that is, until tomorrow morning. 24 hours came and went and I spoke nothing of the issue, though it was obvious that it had been discovered. I initially tried staying home by myself at first, but my imagination began playing tricks on me as usual, and I was convinced that the house was haunted. Therefore I had no choice but to face my inevitable doom, the Boling’s.  As I entered the scene of my crime, I began to play various scenarios through my head of what they might say about me.  However, to my surprise, they were very understanding of the issue, and simply got a good kick out of the whole thing, but I’d imagine their toilet thought quite the contrary.

M4

The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in 11^th place in the eastern conference, and find themselves in the midst of a nightly battle for the 8^th and final playoff spot in the eastern conference. After a dismal start to a season that began with such high hopes under new ownership which has given the team all of the tools needed to succeed. The team was projected to finish in the top 3 in the conference by all. However, the team did not show up until after the NHL all-star break, and are looking to be the first team in NHL history to sneak in after being in the position they were in just a few weeks ago.  In order for the team to clinch its 3^rd playoff birth in 4 years, they will have to do a few key things. Number one is get solid goaltending from Ryan Miller. Miller has been up and down for the most part of this season, but if the teams recent west coast swing is any indication of things to come, the former Vezina winning trophy has nothing to worry about. After posting back to back shutouts against Anaheim and San Jose and another solid effort against the top team in the league in Vancouver, Miller comes into tonight’s action coming off the teams only speed bump in their tear across the west coast against Winnipeg. Miller can and I believe will put the team on his back over these next 5 weeks to get his team to the playoffs.  The next most important task for this team is to continue to get the consistent second ary scoring from players like Ville Leino, Drew Stafford, Cody Hodgson, and Nathan Gerbe. Both players need to put their best foot forward for this final stretch to take some of the load off of consistent scorers like Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville.  Finally, special teams are going to make a huge difference in the team making the postseason or not. If the Sabres convert on their power play chances, and stay out of the box, they will be put at a significant advantage. If the Sabres can do all 3 of these things successfully, I think that we could see the team play well into April and perhaps even May.