The Avenger

I had to laugh because this morning on NBC Boston local news they were talking about "redemption" for last night's game. Yeah, OK - you lost the Super Bowl but it sure must have been sweet, sweet redemption to win a meaningless preseason game last night...at home with almost nobody there - time for another duck boat parade!

I, too want to hang with you - awesome selections! Bleed the Freak is my all-time AIC favorite. I was in college radio when that album came out and that thing never left the CD player for about a year. I went to the college radio convention in NYC the year it was released and saw AIC's first ever show in NYC - at the Limelight, a old Gothic church 6th that became a nightclub. Band came on and me and my friends went crazy but nobody else cared - nobody had gotten into them yet - they were that new and everyone was there to see the headliner, Kings X (also a solid band). I had an interview lined up with Layne for that night but was unable to find the A&R guy in the crowd so it never happened - oh well...

First night of the second leg of the final Slayer tour was outstanding in Gilford, NH last night - never been there but it was pretty nice and completely packed. Played very similar to the show I caught on the first leg at Mohegan Sun but Anthrax came out playing Cowboys From Hell as a tribute to Vinnie Paul (the tour was on a break when he passed). No Chris Adler on the drum kit for Lamb of God - drums were good but not as tight as normal and when I looked at the drummer it definitely wasn't Adler - seems he'll miss all 20 shows on the second leg due to "unforeseen circumstances" - hope he's OK. Damn shame Slayer is hanging it up - they've been playing great this tour and Gary Holt really seems to have finally fit in tight with the band - Gary Holt and Keery King on guitars is sick and Tom looks 20 years younger this tour - lost weight and shaved his beard down...guess they will go out on top in a blaze or glory (oh, the pyro they have this tour!).

About 5 years ago I went to see a minor league game at Fenway Park in Boston and the skies just opened up - sheets of rain. I was covered by the overhang in the right field boxes and you could barely see the Green Monster it was coming down so hard. The rain washed down onto the field so fast that it was waist deep out by Pesky's pole and guys were actually swimming. Obviously the end of the game - no way you're going to restart a game after that sort of rain.

Alive and well and very busy - it's a huge operation now - they have the ice cream, a farm/gift store, a grill tent that does hamburgers/hot dogs or even full lobster bakes if you want to get fancy, mini golf, pitch and putt, bumper boats - that place is always packed....

Maiden always puts on a good live show - been going to see them since '82. They alternate tours between pushing a new album and playing more new tracks (like Book of Souls last summer) with tours like this where they're out playing primarily older stuff and the big hits the fans want to see (these are the tours I like to catch better) - doesn't surprise me that 2018 will have a great setlist. Slayer/Anthrax/Testament/Lamb of God/Behemoth doing the same thing this time for Slayer's farewell tour - everyone playing the old stuff the fans want to hear - can't wait to see that show on Friday! Edit - cool - they're back to playing Hallowed....was sad to see that shelved with the legal mess.....

Already saw: Judas Priest Jinjer/Cradle of Filth Springsteen on Broadway (one of these things is not like the others....) June: Slayer/Lamb of God/Anthrax/Testament/Behemoth - leg 1 of tour July: Slayer/Lamb of God/Anthrax/Testament/Napalm Death - leg 2 of tour October: Metallica in Buffalo 19/27 with follow-up MNF game 10/29 vs. NE - I have tickets to both so I'm hoping to plan a cool road tip

That's why it took so long - they actually approached him in 1988 and his schedule is just now freeing up....

That's the thing - when these things break you are done - there is no fixing anything anymore unless you somehow got a set that had problems and was covered by warranty (and you're going to deal with the hassle because the repairs won't cost you) - otherwise it's time to buy a new TV. I had a really nice fancy TV with 3D (never caught on but I liked it) that died after about 3 years. I told myself I'd be damned if I was going to spend a small fortune to get another 3-year TV, so when I did the research the TV that jumped out at me was the TCL because the value was there and I really liked the picture quality and features. If this set lasts me only 3 years I can't say I'll be happy, but at least I won't have blown a small fortune on something that didn't last long. I just have no faith that buying an expensive set is going to give you a longer life before it's time to have to replace.

I got one of these around the same time - the 55" TCL and have been really happy with it - great picture and features and fantastic price. Reviews have been extremely good - then again I'm not a huge audiophile/videophile and I don't care that this is a lesser known name - I just couldn't see spending twice the money on a set with a bigger name and only marginally better ratings....

Very strange but pretty cool - develops a bit slowly....

Not in a "fancy" Mexican restaurant where he is also the accordion player in the mariachi band.....

Refill of your margarita, sir?

My apologies for the duplicate thread - so many new posts today that I haven't kept up and didn't see yours.....

Anyone have strong feelings about what live draft coverage to watch tonight? ESPN? NFL Network? Other? I usually flip back and forth - wondering what others are doing.

That's brilliant - I have to find that. Right up there with the "Keys to the Game" where they actually list "score more points than X".

"We keep beating ourselves, but we're getting better at it" -Hank Bullough, Bills coach '85-'86 (4-17)

The whole 2006 draft was a disaster of trades.... Gave up 2nd (#42) AND 3rd (72) for John McCargo, and had previously traded Travis Henry for a third (#70) for Aston Youboty - yeesh........

A guy who continually held onto the ball way too long.....still holding a grudge? Shocking!

I agree with lots of what people have said - but a few I didn't see mentioned that Ill add: Amazon Women on the Moon Raising Arizona The Blues Brothers

I'd be very concerned with just Peterman and a rookie. Few rookies, even those at the top, can really come out and play well as a rookie (we could get lucky). That said, I've seen a ton of talented QBs get thrown into action as rookies and just get destroyed - they have their development stunted or destroyed because they haven't had time to adjust to the NFL and the weight or the world is on them as a very high draft pick. Unless Peterman has made tremendous strides you can start him all you want but if he does poorly they'll be too much pressure not to play the rookie and that could ruin him. I'm not saying you have to go sign Foles, just get someone who will be adequate so you can protect and develop your rookie.

Such an extraordinary life. Such a stark contrast between one of the best minds among us and a body that failed. I think it's a perfect illustration that it really is one's spirit that matters, not their physical being and I hope Hawking's spirit lives on.

Years later I still laugh uncontrollably at this one - the funniest ad I've ever seen.

Great scene, but at the 1:13 mark he throws a punch that misses by a mile and yet you see the head snap - one of my favorite movie flubs of all time.