When Music Mattered - Paul's Boutique (1989)

If you have never listened to Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys, then go listen to it on YouTube right now. I'll wait.

I Wash My Hands

It seems that I have written a column similar to this in the past and then I changed my mind. This time, it isn't so much that I will never change my mind. It is simply that you have beaten me into submission Lockport. You seem resigned to relying on public officials who don't care and police who are overworked to solve problems that the citizens could help to solve. But instead of working together to solve problems, you want to complain. So I wash my hands of the whole thing.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: East Bound and Down

Have you ever watched a movie as a kid and had it pop into your head later in adulthood? That’s what happened this week for me. Luckily, I own said movie and was able to get my fix in. The best part was that I was able to share the experience with my 17-year-old niece, Brianna. She’s in town visiting after her high school graduation. She was looking to relax a little bit after the long drive from Indiana.

And Here We Go Again, On Our Own

Whitesnake played Artpark last night, and then today Lockport finds itself on its own, again. How many times does this have to happen before someone in charge of something decides to make a stand? I'm not sure what we can make a stand against, but somebody has to say something before the city becomes a ghost town.

Old Fort Niagara French & Indian War Encampment July 2-4

It's an exciting time at Old Fort Niagara as they prepare to welcome thousands of visitors to the French and Indian War Encampment, July 2, 3 and 4.  Hundreds of French, British and Native re-enactors will realistically recreate the events of the 1759 Siege of Fort Niagara.

 

Literally the Best Reviews: Fortunate Son -- John Fogerty

Fortunate Son -- John Fogerty

Little Brown & Company

416 Pages

It seems like we’ve had a run on nonfiction books during the last few weeks. We had the Lafayette story, the lost books of the Bible story, and now the memoir of John Fogerty with the new book, Fortunate Son. I guess it’s just a phrase that I’m going through. I almost always read fiction books, but there was have been some very interesting nonfiction selections lately.

So We Was Talkin' And...The NHL Draft & Free Agency

In a return of our chats, George, Howie, and Craig talk a little about the recent NHL draft and the upcoming free agency period. Well, it's mostly George and Howie with Craig just along for the ride. We get a little off track once in awhile, but the main idea stays constant. What do you think is in the near future for the Buffalo Sabres?

Looking at Movies (First Run) - Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

I waited until my son saw this movie before writing this review because he has a tendency to see things in movies that I miss. He was able to make some sort of sense out of that mess that was the last Terminator movie, so I figured he could help the old man out with Independence Day: Resurgence. While my boy was able to clarify a couple of thing for me, even he was disappointed at this movie. My son hates to speak ill of action movies with big special effects because that is the kind of movie he loves to watch. But after getting past the first one or two good points associated with Independence Day: Resurgence, even my son had a really hard time finding anything redeeming about this film.

Genealogical Society Hosts Polish Genealogy Program

The Niagara County Genealogical Society will be hosting the free program "Polish Genealogy" on Wednesday, June 29th at 7pm at 215 Niagara St., Lockport as Dave Newman speaks about Polish History, Understanding Polish Surnames, Polish Genealogical References, Polish Genealogical Society of New York State (PGSNYS) and PGSNYS Databases.  

REMINISCING: Graduation

Two weeks ago we revisited prom season and how awesome (and cheesy) that time of our lives was. This week, as we celebrate another round of graduations, I thought it was time to take a look back at that special event. Generally, when we see graduations in the movies or on TV, we see the most fantastic of events that go off with nary a hitch. Reality, as is usual, is far from the sparkles and fairy tales that we see. Still, it is one of the most incredible times of our lives.

Spotlight on Independent Films - Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Some weeks we will have interviews with influential people in the independent film world in this column, and other weeks we will spotlight independent movies that had a profound effect on the movie industry. This week, we discuss George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, because it is an independent film that had a significantly profound effect on the entire movie industry. That, and it is the best movie ever made in Evans City, Pennsylvania.

Original Versus Cover - Stairway to Heaven

Those who know me will understand why I toyed with the idea of doing an Original Versus Cover this week that involved Spirit and Led Zeppelin. The whole idea of suing Zeppelin over a riff that not even Spirit invented seemed silly to me. But it was nice to see Zeppelin getting some press after all of the years that have passed under the bridge. All that is left now is for Led Zeppelin to do an impromptu concert of one song - performing Stairway to Heaven on the back of an 18-wheeler in front of the houses of the remaining members of Spirit. Besides, the original writer of Taurus had no problem with Stairway.

On the Homefront: Playing the Game -- Losing Terribly

There are days when I'm working in and around my house and I feel a strong sense of accomplishment. Why? Because I've managed to finish cleaning a room without my youngest following behind me.  It means the room can be avoided for a day before I have to go back in there. Or maybe I was left alone long enough to wash, dry, and fold a load of laundry.

When Music Mattered - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

You do not need an eclectic taste in music to be able to enjoy Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. If you listen to real music (stuff written before 1990), then you have heard at least one tune off this record. This is a double record that has hit after hit on all four sides. The songs that are not hits are great, and I find it difficult to point to any track on this record as a throw away track. From start to finish, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of the finest classic rock albums ever made and it stands the test of time.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Days of Future Passed

I’m calling the second audible of the week today. I was supposed to write about some neighborhood groceries. Instead, my walk on Wednesday morning generated a new idea for this column. Sometimes things like that happen, and I just have to write about them before the previously scheduled program. So, think of this as “Breaking News.” Also, the title this week has nothing to do with the X-Men movie.

The Divide States of America

Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates. - Gore Vidal

Gore Vidal was one of those guys who seemed miserable and cynical, but it was only because he was miserable and cynical. He was also right, almost all of the time. At one point prior to World War II, Vidal saw the potential for greatness in American society. Once the first atom bomb went off, Vidal watched as American society systematically turned into everything that cynical writers like him feared it would turn.

In Response to Disney Channel Buffoonery

I want to start off by saying that our household does not have cable or satellite television. We have Netflix and Amazon for our viewing pleasure. We really don’t watch a ton of TV, but what we do watch is limited to whatever those sites have streaming at any given time. While I am not one for censorship, I sometimes find that I have to control what shows the kids are watching. This seems appropriate when you consider what is on general network television, but when I have to start censoring Disney Channel, a so-called children’s channel, there is an issue.

Literally the Best Reviews: Renovating the Richardsons

Renovating the Richardsons -- Virginia Smith

Harvest House Publishers

226 Pages

I hope some of you were paying attention yesterday as I posted the review for the first book in this series, The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade by Virginia Smith. Today’s review continues that story. Again, I found myself looking through the “Inspirational” section of the “New Releases” at the Lockport Library. Once I saw the thin, purple cover of Renovating the Richardsons, I grabbed it before anyone else could. The continued adventures of the people of Goose Creek beckoned me to the pages.

Review Rehash: The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade

Editor’s Note: The following review was previously published at: http://www.eastniagarapost.com/2016/01/its-novel-idea-most-famous-illegal.html

It is being re-published here as part of my normal Tuesday review. Tomorrow’s review is the continuation of this series, and I thought it would be prudent to give everyone a refresher on the first book in the series in preparation of this new volume. I would like to thank the original publisher for the opportunity to present it originally. --CB

Looking at Movies (First Run) - Finding Dory (2016)

I have to admit that I was taken aback at how popular Finding Dory has become. I had no idea the hype machine behind this movie was so strong and it brought out crowds far larger than the ones that went to Captain America: Civil War. It is always touchy when a movie has so much hype, because extensive hype always creates inflated expectations. Luckily, Finding Dory lives up to those expectations and delivers a fun night at the drive-in.

My Imperfect Plot: A Time to Grow

Today I picked.  Rather I cut the first of the fruits of our labor from the little garden plot here in our yard.  I love gardening!  Well, in theory anyway.

In my utopia, it’s a family thing, a way to spend time together, to work together; it’s a way to teach the girls (our 4 crazy children) how to care for things, how to nurture a plant, and to appreciate nature.  What I tell them though is that it helps us eat healthier.  We know what is in our food if we grow and can it ourselves; we are not poisoning the earth with unnecessary chemicals.

Gardening Column to Appear on Sundays

Niagara's Watercooler, in that ever-present, self-serving need for more content, has once again resorted to nepotism. That's right, just when you thought you were getting all the content you could from either George or Craig, we've asked a member of our family to give you just a little bit more.

REMINISCING: On Father's Day

If any of you were paying any attention to last week’s column, you would have noticed that today’s subject was supposed to be about graduation. Well, two things happened. First, I looked at the calendar and realized that graduation is next week. Secondly, it’s Father’s Day, and that opened up a whole different state of mind when I was trying to write the graduation article. So, without further ado, here’s this week’s “Reminiscing.”

Watercooler Exclusive: Sal Stalteri Interview

After a season in which Sal Stalteri played between the pipes for the Lockport Express, it was soon revealed that he had made a commitment to attend SUNY Morrisville and play for their Divison 3 hockey team. Craig had a chance to ask Sal a few questions about that decision and what it was like to play hockey at the new Cornerstone Arena for the Lockport Express.

Original Versus Cover - Mah Na Mah Na

I really thought that the best version ever of Mahna Mahna was the one done by the Muppets for Sesame Street in 1969. All of that changed when I heard the version the band Cake released in 2002. Cake is known for its eclectic approach to music, and they are known for giving unique spins on other people's songs. Cake is also known for its ability to create a groove, and that is what makes their version of Mah Na Mah Na stand out.

Spotlight on Independent Films - Jerry Hartke and Nicholas of Myra

I am very excited to finally launch this new weekly feature, and I expect to have movie people that you guys will want to read about. I "met" Jerry Hartke on Facebook a few years ago, and was immediately impressed with his dedication to his craft. Jerry has a passion for making movies, but he admits that he never expected his passion to turn into the types of projects he is currently working on.

When Music Mattered - Foxtrot (1972)

I could have reviewed Selling England By The Pound, or I could have reviewed Foxtrot. I chose Foxtrot this time based almost solely on the strength of "Supper's Ready." My love of "prog rock" includes the bands that found a great deal of commercial success later in their careers. Pink Floyd, Rush, and Genesis all exploded when that one album launched them into the stratosphere. I am not sure that Foxtrot is that one album for Genesis, but it is definitely one album worth listening to.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: The Sidewalks of (Lockport) New York

I’ve been going for morning walks for about two months. This week has been a little off from normal. I’ve been slacking. Hopefully next week I’ll get back in the groove of my morning walks. Still, I’ve had a lot of time to basically daydream. And that’s what we get each Thursday with “These Old Walkin’ Shoes.”

These Times are Confusing

Anyone who reads my rantings knows that I place most of the blame for society's ills on social media and the 24-hour news networks. To me, social media gets crazy people all riled up, and then the 24-hour news networks make them famous. Albert Einstein predicted that we would all be much worse off if a universal form of communication was ever invented, and he was right. Apparently, Einstein saw enough of the real American public to realize that certain factions should never meet and the only way they would meet would be through expanded communication. Well, here we are and Einstein was right.

Trio of Lockport Express Players Make College Commitments

Three Lockport Express players have made commitments to play college hockey in the past few days. Anthony Merante, Daniel Golba, and Ryan Logar have announced their intentions to play hockey for various college programs. The three players were teammate on the inaugural 2014-2015 team, with Logar playing a second year this past season.

Lockport Express to Hold Main Camp July 23rd and 24th

The Lockport Express will continue their off-season training with a High Performance Main Camp on July 23rd and 24th at the Cornerstone Arena. Camp on both days begins at 4:20pm. Players should report for both sessions. The cost for the camp is $40 per players.

Literally the Best Reviews" The Lost Book of Moses

The Lost Book of Moses: The Hunt for the World’s Oldest Bible - Chanan Tigay

Ecco Publishing

368 Pages

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed a history book that pained me to actually read. This week, I went back into the history section of the new releases to give another shot to some of the books waiting for a friend to take it home. I settled on The Lost Book of Moses by Chanan Tigay. It was one of the best choices I could have made. Where the previous book fell short in my expectations, this book exceeded those same expectations. In all honesty, I wish more history books were written in the way this book was.

Looking at Movies (First Run) - Warcraft (2016)

In this review, I am not going to discuss actors or directors because they were insignificant in the telling of the story. What I do want to talk about is when movie studios decide to make movies based on wildly popular video games, and then don't let the rest of the world in on the story. If you wanted to enjoy the movie Warcraft, you must have experience with the game World of Warcraft for at least a little while. The fans of the video game will argue that point, but that is only because the game is second nature to them.

REMINISCING: It's Prom Season, and You Look Wonderful Tonight

You know what time of year it is? That’s right -- it’s prom season. It that time where taffeta and pastels rear their ugly heads, and limousines are booked months in advance. I always used to say that more condoms were sold in the days leading up to prom than at any other time of the year. I have facts to prove that. It’s just conjecture. And it sure didn’t happen for my prom. Just saying. Actually, most of the area schools probably already had their prom, so maybe this is old news already.

On the Homefront: Trying to Remember the Moments

These past two weeks since I last shared my thoughts with you, the readers of this website, have seen some crazy headlines. And each one carried with it even crazier online "takes" by people seemingly too happy to offer their unsolicited two cents. Whether that opinion was about how a zoo should handle wildlife, or where a sitting US president should visit and when, or how despicable certain crimes and ensuing sentences are, it seemed everyone had something to say.

Original Versus Cover - Shameless (1989)

I like the song Shameless and I like the way Garth Brooks sings. Shut up. Actually, I am not ashamed of the songs I like, nor am I ashamed to admit that I find certain singers talented. When it comes to the song Shameless, it is a song that will forever be associated with two artists in my mind because of how close together both releases were. Billy Joel released the original version of Shameless in 1989, and the Garth Brooks put out his version in 1991. It is a great song that will forever be associated with two iconic artists, but which version is better?

The Express and Watercooler Say Goodbye to Mr. Hockey

On behalf of the Lockport Express organization and Niagara's Watercooler, we would like to send our sincerest condolences to the family of the late, great Gordie Howe. He earned the nickname Mr. Hockey, and he blazed trails that young players today are still following.

Rest in Peace Mr. Hockey, and thank you for turning the NHL into the league that we all love today.

Sincerely,

Craig Bacon & George Root

Niagara's Watercooler

Frank Vecchio

Lockport Express

In Search of the Square Ponds -- Day One

Yes, I’m going to be one of those guys. You know who I’m talking about -- the people who go on vacation and then force you to sit through boring stories and interminable photos of things you absolutely cannot relate to. To be fair, this column is less along those lines (although there will be just a little of that) and more to do with trying to drive 350 miles with four girls ages 12 and under. There are always adventures. At the time they’re not always funny, but in retrospect, they kind of are.

When Music Mattered - Master of Puppets (1986)

It was 1986 and I was a freshman in college writing a music review for the school newspaper. For some reason I cannot remember, I had purchased the new cassette by Metallica called Master of Puppets. I had heard bits and pieces of Metallica's stuff before Master, but I wasn't the hardcore fan I was to become. In my review, I panned the record for its unnecessary aggression and seemingly endless songs. This is my attempt to make up for that horrible error in judgment.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: An Educating Stroll

If any of you have ever read any of my earlier “Reminiscing”articles that appear each Sunday, you’ve probably seen my take on the closing of Washington Hunt and how it affected me and my family. We get attached to things we know, and don’t want to let go as time comes a-knockin’. But, let’s face it-- we Washington Hunters were not the first to go through this. Even the folks from DeWitt Clinton, John Pound, or Charlotte Cross weren’t the first.

Barge Canal Optimists Host Bike Safety Rodeo

All children ages 2-12 years old are invited to Day Road Park on Monday, June 13 from 6:00-8:00pm to participate in The Barge Canal Optimist Club bicycle safety rodeo.

Children should bring their bike and helmet.  Once they are registered for the safety program they will be challenged to prove their riding ability and maneuvering skills at six different safety activities.

Soo..When Do We Get To Decide?

On June 6, 2016, the Associated Press released a statement saying that they had talked it out with the Democratic superdelegates and Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for president. The next day, six states were scheduled to hold their primaries to decide on 694 delegates. Without those tasty superdelegates in the mix, Bernie Sanders was only 274 delegates behind Hillary in the actual delegate count (you know, the delegate count determined by the voters and not some panel of mystery delegates that no one gets to talk to except really important people). The superdelegates don't actually vote until July 25th at the convention, and they have to actually be there to vote. Or do they?

So We Was Talkin' And...: Wading Into the Memorial Fountain Debate

Craig and George generally chat every day about something. Usually they're funny little bits that fly off into tangents that probably no one could actually follow. We thought, wouldn't it be cool if people got a glimpse behind the insanity that runs Niagara's Watercooler. So, we decided that we would test it out. It just so happened that this week's chat was a tad more serious than our normal chats. Stay tuned. These things may pop up occasionally. And they more likely than not will be something that's completely irreverent, and definitely full of tangents.

Literally the Best Reviews: This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance

This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance -- Jonathan Evison

Algonquin Books

308 Pages

Does anyone remember the old Ralph Edwards’ show, “This Is Your Life?” Popular back in the 1950s, the show would bring a contestant on and surprise them with family and friends that had an impact on their lives. Surprise visits from nearly forgotten friends brought back memories of earlier days in their history. This is Your Life, Harriet Chance, by Jonathan Evison, neatly follows that reality show, mixing in events from Harriet’s early life with the events taking place in modern times.

Looking at Movies Double Feature Review (First Run - Kinda) - 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) *SPOILERS ALERT!*

I really, really wanted to see 10 Cloverfield Lane when it was announced because I am trying to trust that J.J. Abrams will keep his promise of delivering an American Godzilla-type franchise. Abrams did say that 10 Cloverfield Lane is in the same universe as Cloverfield, and I would even go so far as to say that 10 Cloverfield Lane is a sequel to Cloverfield. But if Abrams is trying to create a monster franchise, he is doing it wrong. These movies are good, but they are not establishing the idea that some new monster is going to dethrone King Kong as the great American kaiju.

Looking at Movies (First Run) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)

Let's start this off by reminding everyone that I am not a big fan of Michael Boom! 'Splosions! Bay. His directorial body of work is mindless garbage to me, but he seems to be onto something as a producer. Dave Green directed this Turtles movie, and if he doesn't sound familiar to you then he should. Green directed the movie Earth to Echo about that cute little alien robot that people refused to fall in love with. He is used to working with CGI and imaginary characters, and he definitely has more vision when it comes to a story than Michael Pow! 'Splosions! Boom! Bay.

REMINISCING: More Washington DC Stories

Last week, I had a special column for Memorial Day that honored the men and women of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice and never came home. This week, I am continuing kind of in the same vein with more adventures from our times in Washington, DC during Rolling Thunder. Last week, I skipped some of the funnier stories from our trips because it would have been out of place on that day. So, without further ado, here are some of the stories from a decade of travelling to DC with my dad and our friends.

Shedding Light on Monologues for the Blind

When I thought of what to write about this week, I really wasn’t sure. Maybe a heartfelt goodbye about my year away at college, seeing as I will not be attending again in the fall (more to come there). Or maybe I could write about how people interact with each other around different company. I’ve had what seems like a lacking week when it comes to being able to think, and so writing this week has seemed to be a difficult task. While I write for the readers — of course —  I also write to help myself articulate my own thoughts. But I haven’t had many thoughts recently. So maybe this is the place to have them, for everyone to see. Rather than write down my observations of others thoughts and my own after I filter through them, maybe I should let you observe mine as they come to me, and draw your own thoughts on it. A little experiment I guess.

Original Versus Cover - Higher Ground

One of the most difficult parts of writing this column is deciding if a cover song is better than the original recording that spawned it. Anyone who has read previous installments of this series knows that I have no problem calling it a draw if it comes down to a matter of style preference. I think with the song Higher Ground, it is going to be another one of those ties, but not for the reasons you may think.

When Music Mattered - Nevermind (1991)

Nirvana's second album Nevermind was more than just a spit in the face of hair metal and the boring revival of folk music that was going on in the early 1990s. It was a sonic knife that cut right to the heart of the music business and started to weed out the people responsible for the crap that had been circulating for years. When it was obvious that hair metal had run its course, the world was ready for something else. But it retrospect, the world never really was ready for Nirvana.

Lockport Library Presents Knot Tying Class, June 21st

The Lockport Public Library will present a Basic Knot Tying Class on June 21st in the Community Meeting Room. Join Jim Gates and create your own one-of-a-kind key chain. All supplies will be provided. A variety of basic knot-tying techniques will be demonstrated.

Free Kids Fishing Derby at Wide Waters

The annual Catch & Release Kids’ Fishing Derby will return to Wide Waters Marina on Sunday, June 19^th, 2016.  Hosted by Lock-City Moose Lodge #617, this free event is open to all children 15 years old and younger.  Participants do not need to be Lockport residents to join in the fun.  Although the derby has been held for many years, this is just the second year it is being hosted by the Moose Lodge.  Event committee member Phyllis Kelkenberg states “Many area businesses and volunteers have come together to help make this a great event which we are hoping to grow for many years to come.  We want to make it a Father’s Day tradition.”

These Old Walkin' Shoes: For Whom the Bell Tolls

This is a new thing for me. I’ve been walking every morning before work as part of my workout routine. I walk about 2 miles each morning, with Tuesday allowing me a longer walk than other days. Spending about an hour on these walks gives me a lot of time to think, and my mind really gets going. There’s a lot of ideas that have come from these walks. I thought it would be a wonderful thing to perhaps share them with all of you.

North Tonawanda Library Genealogy Club Celebrates 5 years

Little did Jeanette Sheliga know back in 2011 that her idea for a Beginning Genealogy Series at the North Tonawanda Library would celebrating five years as a successful club. When she approached the library about doing an informational series on four consecutive Saturdays, she expected 10-15 people to show up. On May 14, 2011, she had 35-40 people in attendance, and they kept coming back each week. By week three, people were excited to continue beyond the initial month-long commitment. Thus, the North Tonawanda Library Genealogy Club (NTLGC) was born.

YMCA Stingrays Hold Year-End Banquet

The Lockport YMCA Swim Team Stingrays celebrated a successful season at their end-of-season banquet, held at Becker Farms. All swimmers were recognized for their hard work and dedication this season.

A Divide So Distracting

To pee or not to pee. That is the question. When it comes to the transgender issue, I think it is more complicated than people are realizing. Transgender people have been using their sexual identity bathrooms for years, and most of us just did not know it. The problem I have is with the showers and locker rooms, especially in schools. But that is not what this column is about.