Buffalo.com's Super Bowl predictions

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst.

In an effort to have a little Friday-afternoon fun, Deanna and I went around and asked our co-workers who they thought was going to win the Super Bowl. We took photos and posted them at Spotted and put up a short story on YourHub, too.

Check it out if/when you have a chance...at the very least, it's an opportunity to see some of the handsome devils we work with.

Some good links for us

This has to be quick because I was an hour late for work today courtesy of the awful, awful traffic on the 219, but I wanted to share a couple nice notes about recognition our interns have recently received.

• Rachelle Roberts had her article from the Steve Winwood concert posted on Mr. Winwood's MySpace page. You have to be a "friend" of Mr. Winwood to view it, but if you have a MySpace account, I don't think he is real picky about who wants to "friend" him. The article has received 15 Kudos from other MySpace users. Nice work, Rachelle!
  
  
• Bill Parker had some nice words posted about his work at the Star 102.5-FM 80s party posted by DJ John Anthony at Mr. Anthony's blog. Way to go, Bill!

If you ever see you work linked on the Web, or if you get some recognition for your work...let me know.

Coke Zero is good

I try to live a healthy life. I smoked for about 13 years, but quit three years ago. I used to enjoy more than my fair share of adult beverages, but I have become far more moderate. I exercise regularly, and try to avoid junk food - or, at least, I don't kid myself that the junk I do eat is anything but junk.

I do have an out-of-control vice: Coke Zero. I drink this stuff constantly. I only allow myself to drink two 20-oz bottles a day at work because I know I could easy drink four or five. I drink it straight from the 2-L bottle at home (luckily, my wife doesn't drink soda. Lucky for her, that is). I drink it in the morning, I drink at lunch, I drink it before I go to bed.

I think Diet Coke tastes like medicine. Coke Classic actually hurts my teeth. But Coke Zero...I'm hooked. The only substitutes I accept are Pepsi Max or Diet Pepsi.

I have read some awful things lately about the health effects of diet soda, and I'll probably have to quit this stuff pretty soon, too. It seems like growing older is a steady process of quitting the things you enjoy.

Buffalo.com Intern Tour: Feb. 16

Buffalo.com photo by Matt Brown.

On Monday, Feb. 16, we are going to host a tour of The Buffalo News for all of the Buffalo.com writers and photographers.

The tour will begin at 10 AM and we will provide refreshments. You will have an opportunity to see the inner workings of The Buffalo News, and talk to a Buffalo News staff reporter and a staff photographer. If you have any questions about "the business," this would be a great time to ask.

We need to keep this tour to a manageable level, so we can only accept 30 or so signees...so if you are interested, please email Deanna or me ASAP.

Thanks!

Still looking for photographers/writers for some of these events

Buffalo.com photo by Bonecrusher

If you have some free time and want to get out on the town over the next four days, just let me know...I'd love to see these events get covered:

(PS - Remember to get your pets photos into the "Puppy Love" community gallery when you have a chance!)

Thursday

• Psychobilly Record Hop. A “dance” with tons of 50s, honkey tonk, rockabilly, and punk music. 9 PM, Club Diablo, 517 Washington St., Buffalo.

Friday

• Bunkers in Baghdad benefit party. A happy hour event for Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc, a Buffalo-based not-for-profit that collects and sends new and used golf balls, clubs and equipment to our troops currently serving in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan for recreational purposes. 5:30 PM to 8 PM, Club W, 199 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

• Canisius hockey: v. Sacred Heart. 7 PM, Buffalo State Ice Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.

Saturday

• Live recording session with Gruvology. Buffalo-based jazz-funk favorites offer a live recording session. 7 PM, Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

• Canisius hockey: v. Sacred Heart. 7 PM, Buffalo State Ice Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.

• Rooftops. An up-and-coming Buffalo band performs live. 8 PM, Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St., Buffalo.

• Melissa Lussier. The local singer/songwriter performs live and celebrates the release of her new CD. 9 PM, Cabernet Wine Café, 9 PM, 9 N. Ellicott St., Buffalo.

Sunday

• Hunt Real Estate Art of Jazz Series at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery: Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio. From his roots in the legendary jazz clubs of Buffalo’s East Side through recordings and tours with such luminaries as George Benson, Lou Donaldson, and David “Fathead” Newman, Dr. Lonnie Smith is an authentic master of the Hammond B-3 organ. 3 PM, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.

Get your pet's pics in The Buffalo News with Puppy Love contest

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst

Get your pet's pic in The Buffalo News...how you ask? Just read on:

"We all love our pets, and in February, the Pets Place banner in The Buffalo News Classifieds is getting Puppy Love.

Post your pet photos to our special Puppy Love community gallery, and your furry friend may end up in The Buffalo News! We'll be picking pets to show off in the photo banner in The Buffalo News classified section.

Visit the Puppy Love gallery to post your pet photos, or to check out the area pets we love so much.

Want a new friend? head to The Pets Place at Buffalo.com to get a new pet for your home.

The Puppy Love contest begins on Tuesday, Jan. 27 and will run through Saturday, Feb. 28."

Ah, winter in WNY

Buffalo.com photo by Deanna Russo.

I am not a fan of winter. I do not like the cold, or the snow, or inching along in traffic at 10 MPH, as I did this morning. I live in Orchard Park and take the 219 to the 90-West to the 1-90 North to get to work in the morning, and the fastest I went today was probably 20 MPH. And that was for about 20 yards...and I almost got drilled by a tractor-trailer on the 1-90 merge because this guy almost missed his exit, so he decided to drive across two lanes of barely-moving traffic to make the turn. Good times, people.

Anyhow...my Buffalo.com "Good Soldier of the Day" award goes to Galina Tolmacheva, who braved the weather this morning to go to the Albright-Knox to take photos of an art installation that was canceled due to the weather. Sorry, Galina!

It's been rescheduled for tomorrow, so we'll see what happens...in the meantime, if you see me, I will probably be shaking my fist at the sky.