For those of you who know me, you know, I’m not a football fan. In fact, for years I’ve been an outspoken advocate of letting the Buffalo franchise slide, because I feel strongly that the investment that we — as taxpayers — make in football, is a loss-leader for the Western New York region.

In particular, my position had been fuelled by Jim Kelly, the former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. I found his self-absorbed and self-indulgent lifestyle to be repulsive and opportunisitic, always taking from the city, and giving back a pittance relative to what he gained from the city.

So, it’s unlikely that after 30 years of hating football that my opinion will change — BUT (and that’s a big one) — I have to say that I’m beside-myself-impressed with the new Bills quarterback, JP Losman. I have no idea how he preforms on the turf (or grass, or whatever it is now) but in his short time with the team, he’s been a true and self-starting Buffalo booster.

This past weekend, he marshalled over 1,000 people to hit the streets to clean up Buffalo. Not only did he design the BuffaloLives.org website on his own, but he bankrolled the entire operation. That’s impressive, and it’s really socially responsible — in fact, it’s more than responsible, it’s socially generous.

You can read all about the clean up at The Buffalo News.

Good work, JP. I’m impressed, and you’re one big reason that Buffalo is a Cool Place to Live.

Filed under: Place Branding, Sustainability

Mme. Beefeater

From the guardian.co.uk

11.15am
Tower of London gets first female Beefeater

Staff and agencies
Monday September 3, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

It may have taken over 500 years for feminism to breach the walls of the Tower of London, but visitors to the fortress are today being greeted by the first female Beefeater since the guards were established.
Moira Cameron, a 38-year-old from Argyll, Scotland, will serve as one of the Yeoman Warders, the body that protects the crown jewels. She will don the traditional blue-and-scarlet livery for her duties, which begin with opening the Beauchamp Tower and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula.

Ms Cameron has spent the past two months training intensively to learn the 21 separate duties the Beefeaters perform each day, and the ceremony of the keys. She was also required to become well versed in the history of the tower so that she can lead guided tours.
Ms Cameron is a warrant officer class two who joined the army at the age of 16. She was selected over five men who also applied for the vacancy.

Candidates must have been a warrant officer or senior noncommissioned officer, have served at least 22 years in the army, Royal Air Force or Royal Marines, and hold the medal for long service and good conduct.

As well as her salary, of around £20,000, Ms Cameron will have the use of a subsidised apartment in the tower itself.

On a day-to-day basis, she will wear the dark blue “undress uniform”, saving the £3,500 red-and-gold costume for special occasions.

The tower’s Yeoman Warders date back to 1485. They are thought to owe their nickname Beefeaters to the daily ration of meat they received.

There are 35 Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London, plus the Chief Yeoman Warder and Yeoman Gaoler.

Their full title is Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary.

Filed under: Interesting Stuff, Social Justice