What's the Buzz?

...Tell me what's a-happenin'. I figured I should jump on any Sabres-related news since it's few and far between at this point in the offseason and who knows when I'll be given another opportunity!

The Sabres announced a few days ago that they signed Cody McCormick. I don't know much about him, but from doing a little research on the internet and blogs, apparently he's a fourth-liner grinder who likes to fight. He signed a 2-way deal with the team, so it remains to be seen if he'll be spending more time in Portland or in the Buff.

It's clear that the front office is trying to add a little bit more grit and physicality to the line-up, which I can't say I disagree with. Although there are the fans out there that are saying that Darcy is an idiot and wasting all his time signing these no-name players while he should have been busy going after Bouwmeester and Hossa. Of course these are the same fans that complained during the season that our team is full of wimps and sissy boys who are too afraid to fight or stand up for each other. Some fans must really take pleasure in always complaining and being negative...but what can you do?

Teppo Numminen also announced to a Finnish magazine that he is retiring (the article is just translated by Google, so it's pretty rough). I know most fans expected that Teppo would take this route, but it's still a little sad considering he's been in the league for so long. I've always liked Teppo and I've respected the type of game he played. He seems like a good guy and he should be proud of himself for lacing up the skates and getting back into NHL action after having a serious heart procedure. I hope the next chapter in his life is fulfilling and relaxing. Cheers, Teppo!

I also wanted to comment a little bit on Ryan Miller's latest blog post...I mean if Puck Daddy is going to, then I might as well too. First I want to say that I disapprove of his editor making him censor out his sassiness. I'm sure everyone who has read my blog before has noticed that I love when people get sazzzy and Ryan really knows how to bring the sass. I guess his editor is worried about Ryan ruining his public image because he said Twitter is dumb. Let's be serious here now...a website with a name like "Twitter" where people send "tweets" to each other, must not be a website with a plethora of knowledge. Just sayin'.

I have to say that I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks Twitter is one of the most pointless websites ever. I remember when people started joining it and telling me about it, I didn't quite "get it"...and I still don't to be quite honest. Maybe it's because I barely update my Facebook status and that's essentially what Twitter is. I like Facebook because it's a great way to communicate with people that I don't usually get the chance to see on an every day basis. For instance, a friend from high school who is from Afghanistan just told me via Facebook that he's back in the area and would like to get together with me so we can catch up. But it seems that while that was Facebook's intention when the website was created, it's being used less for that and more for people posting pictures of them drunk at parties and updating their Facebook statuses informing people of what they just had for breakfast or what they plan on doing for the rest of the week. I think Ryan probably has a little more of a stronger opinion on these websites because of his position. He's a celebrity and a professional athlete. He's probably has had his fair share of stalkers and creepy situations and having Facebook and Twitter accounts would only stregthen the chances of getting stalked. But for us ~normal~ people, we don't really have to worry as much about it than someone like Ryan Miller (although I still don't understand why people have their phone numbers listed on their profile). Actually, the other day some guy from Dubai messaged me asking me if I could come live with him because I was such a "nice, pretty girl" and so I could teach him English. Awesome.

It's funny that he made a post about social networking sites because last semester I actually wrote a paper about social networking sites and just the rapid growth in technology in general and its affects on society for my sociology class. My point was that I think it's a double-edged sword. I like blogging and posting/reading on message boards because it opens doors and gives us access to communicate and exchange news from people from all over the world. Especially with hockey because it's not as publicized on sports media outlets as other mainstream sports. I've even met some really cool people through Sabres message boards and I consider them my good friends now. But technology can also detach us from real-life interaction. It's so common nowadays to see two people sitting down at dinner or something and both people have their cell phones out and they're just texting away. People have become really dependent on their phones and their Facebook & Twitter accounts and I just find it a little annoying and excessive. "Everything in moderation", ya know?

We all know that Buffalo summers are long enough, so I guess Mother Nature decided that rain and thunderstorms should overtake our 3 months of summer and cut it in half. I can't believe that it's already August...here's hoping for it being a sunny one and hopefully we have a warm fall. I have so much stuff to do before I go back to school on the 31st. So far this summer I've been working a lot, apartment hunting, and trying to get out when the days are nice enough. I still need to figure out a lot of stuff with school before I go back. My cousins were in from India this past weekend and I half jokingly said that I should take a semester off and live in India with them. I would love to go...but I don't know about an entire semester. Think about all the hockey I would miss! Speaking of which, I still need to figure out how many games I'm going to go this year with my mini-pack...and I'm still waiting for my renewal letter to come in the mail. This upcoming week I have a lot going on and I'll be away from Buffalo for a bit...it's coming at a really nice time because I could use a little getaway.