Blogs List
The Hall Chronicles
 Ray Hall |
Moral DeficiencySat, October 31, 2009 @ 10:24PM For what now seems a remarkably short span of time all of America stood united and defiantly proud after the attacks of September Eleven. We rightly felt the shock and horror of a brutal massacre and together we grieved the loss of innocent lives abruptly snuffed out by the acts of a band of morally deficient misfits leading some sort of holy war. During those few months we were united in thought and deed; we shared a common a loss. Americans would have paid any price, gone to the farthest corners of the earth all to bring to heel those responsible for the wanton destruction that visited our shores on that fateful day. During those months we were determined, a moral nation, a nation that not only grieved but cared for survivors. Alas, that feeling, that unity, that sense of brotherhood, that moral indignation for such wanton loss of life has faded.
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The Dean's List
 Nick Dean |
Election Day/Night PlaylistTue, November 3, 2009 @ 5:21PM It's shortly after 5 p.m. and people all throughout Chautauqua County are presently leaving work to get home and have dinner... and maybe vote in today's local elections if they haven't yet already. I haven't voted yet, but before I head out to the polls, I figured I'd post a few of the songs which have so far soundtracked my day today. Then it's off to the after-parties! Err, not after-parties, but the "official partisan places for congregating as the returns arrive." Ahh, screw it. Who am I kidding. I've got a full dance card tonight! The Democrats will be at the Ironstone and the Republicans will be at The Fenton Grill. It's like a Hollywood-style awards event happening here in Jamestown, but with politicians instead of celebrities and elected positions instead of awards! Acceptance speeches! Red carpets! Underdogs! Tears! Hugs! Laughter! Drinks! Papparazi!!! Nick Dean's Election Day/Night Playlist Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2009 Green Day - "F.O..
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Views from the Copy Desk
 Dave Emke |
More Hrabosky Than EhmkeMon, October 12, 2009 @ 4:23PM I am often asked about my last name. I need to get this out in public, once and for all, so I never get asked about it again -- I am not, never have been, and never will be related to Ehmke Well Drillers in Silver Creek. It's not spelled the same. I've never even met the guys. I have probably been asked that question a thousand times in my life. It's actually quite tiresome -- but, hey, what else are people going to ask me when they first meet me? I'm not that charismatic of a guy. This also means I am not in any way connected to 1929 World Series hero Howard Ehmke. This was the first question The Post-Journal's sports editor, Jim Riggs, asked me when I started working here. He was the first to skip right over the well drillers and assume I was a distant relative of a baseball player. I had to let him down gently. I also often get asked if I am related to Emkes from Randolph, Cassadaga and other places in between. My answer to those questions is usually "I don't know.
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My Two Cents
 Kristen Johnson |
Oh, The Stupidity ...Wed, October 21, 2009 @ 4:49PM More often than not, I find myself amazed at the sheer stupidity of people. After eight years in the news business, you'd think I'd be done being surprised by anything people do – but just when I think I've seen or heard it all, something else happens. The latest debacle happened Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 21) when a small fire broke out in the Hotel Jamestown on Third Street. The building had to be evacuated while emergency personnel worked to extinguish the fire, ventilate the smoke, and make sure there was no major damage. A colleague and I took the opportunity to get some caffeine while taking a gander at the hubbub. In the middle of Third Street at the Washington Street intersection, there was a fire engine parked with lights flashing. In front of Hotel Jamestown, also in the middle of Third Street, was one of the city's ladder trucks, parked with ladder extended and lights flashing.
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The Whitless Wonder
 John Whittaker |
The Case To Suspend Daniel SnyderFri, November 6, 2009 @ 2:37PM In 1990, with the New York Yankees mired in the midst of a 67-95 season, George Steinbrenner was suspended by Major League Baseball for hiring a gambler to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield. It might be the greatest suspension ever. Suspending Steinbrenner meant Gene Michael and Buck Showalter were free to remake the Yankees in their own image. They were free to let young players make youthful mistakes without being sent down to AAA or traded. It meant they could trade a "star" player like Roberto Kelly for a Paul O'Neill who had trouble hitting his weight in Cincinnati. When Steinbrenner returned from his suspension in 1993, the Yankees were rebuilt and ready to be championship contenders. As the Yankees celebrate their fifth World Championship in the 16 years since Steinbrenner's suspension ended, I'm wondering when Roger Goodell finds a reason to suspend Daniel Snyder, who is killing the Redskins in much the same way Steinbrenner killed the Yankees in the late 19.
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Simon Being Simon
 Simon Teska |
Blog Updating: FAIL!Wed, October 7, 2009 @ 2:54PM I know all five of my regular readers have lost interest by now, but I feel obligated to write SOMETHING here in the unlikely event new regular blog readers are looking for nothing insightful to read on an infrequent basis. Actually, I finally have free time. So much has happened since I last updated this thing that my topic pool is immense. The Canes are 3-1 and inappropriately ranked No. 11 dispite the hardest schedule in college football to date. (Who has Ohio State beaten to earn where ever they are right now?) Peyton Manning has already cemented the 2009 MVP trophy on his mantle and the baseball season came to a somewhat dull close (despite the AL Central). Let's start with Lebron James. While indulging myself in all things related to Panama Central School sports last night, I found myself in the middle of a playful debate over Kobe Bryant vs. Lebron James. In one word....it's a loaded question....okay that's four words. five if you take out the contraction...
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The Mac Blog
 Dave Hecei |
Mac mini ForeverWed, October 28, 2009 @ 9:22AM Last Tuesday, Apple released several product updates. One of these included an update to the Mac mini, Apple smallest and least expensive Macintosh computer. This update did not include any major design changes, just a bump in speed and capacity. But Apple did have a surprise up their sleeve. The Mac mini is the perfect ‘second’ Mac, or better yet an upgrade from an older Mac or switching from a PC. It does not come with a keyboard, mouse, or monitor. If you don’t have these, then you would be better off looking at an iMac, unless you need the mini’s form factor. The prices for the mini have not changed. The base model at $599 now has a Core 2 Duo Intel processor running at 2.26 GHz, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, 160 GB hard drive, GeForce 9400M graphics, and a dual-layer SuperDrive DVD burner. The top model at $799 has all this but with a 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo Intel processor, 4 GB of RAM, and a 320 GB hard drive. The mini can be custom configured with up to a 500 GB hard drive and a 2.
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CU Photo Tips
 Dave Hecei |
Ultra Wide-Angle LensesWed, October 28, 2009 @ 11:05AM There is a big disadvantage when shooting with an APS-C type digital SLR camera, like the Canon Digital Rebel series, Canon 10D through 50D, Nikon D40 through D90, etc. The APS-C sensor used in these cameras is smaller than a standard 35mm frame of film. Because of this size difference there is a multiplier factor to every lens used. Canon DSLRs have a 1.6x factor, while Nikons have a 1.5x factor. This multiplier makes it harder to shoot ultra-wide scenes. With a traditional 35mm film camera, an ultra-wide lens was in the 14 to 20mm range. The widest film lens I own is a 20mm. Multiplying 20 by 1.6 turns this lens into the equivalent of a 32mm on my DSLR. Not very wide. To compensate for these smaller sensors, camera and lens manufacturers have been recalculating and redesigning lenses and have come up with some pretty amazing super-ultra-wide zoom and single focal length lenses. Most of the camera makers now have zooms that start at 10, 11, and 12 mm.
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From Butler to Vanek
 Matt Spielman |
Start BelievingWed, October 14, 2009 @ 0:08AM BUFFALO -- "Don't Stop Believing" blared out of the stereo as the Buffalo Sabres locker room opened up to the media Tuesday night after the home team's 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings at HSBC Arena. It was a fitting song to be playing as the Sabres try to get their fans to start believing after two straight non-playoff years. Despite a 2-0-1 record entering the night, Buffalo looked to be offensively challenged on the young season. The Sabres proved to be quite the opposite against one of the NHL's premier clubs Tuesday. "We weren't getting the goals in the first few games, but that's what we're capable of in this system," goaltender Ryan Miller said. Only a few players have changed from the roster of the past couple of years, but management has put its faith in its core and that small group of players seems to have grown by leaps and bounds over the offseason. Gone are Maxim Afinogenov and Ales Kotalik, in are Mike Grier and Tim Kenned.
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