K-Gun
July 11th, 2005, 12:20:45 PM
The newest addition of Listen Up features one of our favorite armed posters, and Left Coast Officer of the Peace — none other than mighty peace warrior. Mpw has been a consistent voice on the Range for sometime, despite taking a lot of flack from numbskulls and jokesters alike (you know who you are.) So without further ado, here is:
Listen Up! with mighty peace warrior
How long have you been a Bills fan, and what are your ties to the area?
mpw: I have been a Bills fan since 1982 or 1983. My father was in the Air Force and when I was 12 (1982.) He was stationed at Griffis Air Force Base in Rome, NY. I lived in several towns upstate in Jr. High and my first 3 1/2 years of High School. I went to Columbus Ohio for a year and a half, and moved to Schenectady NY where I lived until I went in the Army. My mom still lives in a small town near Albany.
When I moved to New York most people in the area I had lived in were Giants/Jets fans so I picked the Bills to be different. I liked the Cowboys (because R. Staubauch had been in the Air Force) during the Cowboys/Steelers years, and when I moved to NY it was the first place I had lived with an NFL team so I adopted the Bills. I hate the cowboys now for what its worth.
In your estimate, how does the West Coast stack up to NY, and what do you miss most about "back east?"
mpw: Well to illustrate what I like most about it.... When I got out of the Army in March of 1996 I visited my mom in Schenectady, I drove out to Portland to visit my Dad who had moved here. I drove from Schenectady to Mecca (or Orchard Park) the first night on a clear day. I woke up to over a foot of snow and very cold temps. When I got to Portland it was 55 and drizzly. Needless to say I hate being cold. On a side note the summer here (late June through September) is amazing.
If I miss one thing more than anything about NY it’s the food (and not having to pay to see the Bills, Knicks and Rangers (ok they were on cable sue me.))
What are your favorite moments as a Bills fan?
mpw: Well I guess like many people the comeback game in the playoffs sits right up there. I was in Egypt doing a peace keeping mission and had worked the whole first half at the front gate with no clue what had happened. I was confident the Bills were going back to the Super Bowl and I had talked much smack. I got back to the barracks at half time and I was hearing an earful. I told everyone that would listen the Bills were going to come back, and I honestly believed it. I started to waiver a little in my head when Houston scored to open up the second half...but no one was more elated when they won. I couldn't believe what I had witnessed (and I may have talked a little more smack).
I also enjoyed last years Seattle v. Bills game. 10 friends and my wife watching the Bills spank the Seahawks. Seeing my kids become Bills fans is pretty special as well. Nothing like my 5 year old saying "Dolphins stink" every time she sees Miami on TV.
Give me your best estimate for the upcoming season. What do we have to excited about, and what areas worry you?
mpw: Well I am always excited and optimistic when it comes to the Bills. I can't wait to go to the San Diego game and I am going to try to go back to Buffalo for a game. My only real concern is the whole offensive line other than Villarrial. I have hope for Big Mike as well but he hasn't been consistent yet. If one of our tight ends gets healthy we should score some points.
I think Defense and Special teams will be great again and Willis is special. I don't think JP needs to be a pro bowler, but eventually he will be. We have plenty of weapons and if the line is even decent the team easily makes the playoffs. I could kick TD right in the sack for basically ignoring the O-line all these years, but he has made some great choices as well.
On a more personal note, I’d like to ask you a little bit about your career, and how that has shaped your social and political views? From your time in the army, to your current role as a police officer, what ways have these aspects of your life shaped you as a person, as well as your views about society at large?
mpw: My experiences have definitely had an effect. They have definitely jaded me a little and sometimes I forget most people are good people. I also have more and more confidence in my belief that most people are not too bright. I don't mean just citizens but my fellow soldiers and cops. I have sort of a strange mix of beliefs because of where I have been and my parents. My dad is pretty conservative and my mom is definitely a hippy. This question is pretty difficult to answer I did a crappy job of it, I apologize.
What are your general thoughts on the Iraq situation? Are you hopeful for democracy to take root, or are you more pessimistic? How do we get out of this mess, or are things going just fine?
mpw: I don't think I have a good grasp on the actual situation there, nor does anyone else. When I was in Iraq the first time, people were so genuinely happy to see us there and thought we were going to remove Saddam then. I think we lost much of their trust when we didn't do what they expected. Of course I am hopeful democracy can take root but I have my doubts, the culture there is so much different than ours that I am not sure it will work. I don't know how we get out; we are there and can't just leave. I know people think a more "international" approach is best but that is usually just a show. Look at the Sinai Peninsula; yes its "multinational" but its 80 percent US.
Who did you support in the last election and who do you believe would make a good President next time around?
mpw: Well to be honest I didn't much like either candidate, I hoped for someone more honest. I voted for Kerry (and it just took 5 minutes for me to remember his name) because he was the lesser of two evils. I have hope for McCain; he seems like a straight shooter (well for a politician.)
Are there any specific issues you have a personal attachment to, one’s that you may not have had the opportunity to share with the board?
mpw: I think our country would be a better place if kids and adults (partially kidding) went outside and played. People nowadays are so afraid of each other they call the police when a neighbor’s music is too loud because they think they will get shot. Kids need to socialize and not be afraid of everything; they can’t do anything without padding anymore. Parents need to get involved with their kids, volunteer at school, coach, hell just hang out with them on occasion. Go outside and make your kid a go cart it’s a blast.
Speaking of kids, when people talk about socializing medicine I think about the crappy education my kids are getting at school ( I hired a tutor), and wonder why anyone would want the government in charge of the doctors as well.
Last thing, how do you make all those cool graphics, and are you thinking of going pro soon?
mpw: I wish I was even close enough to being good enough to do it for money. I liked the analogy Mouldsrocks used to the Di Niro’s character in Showtime and me. I use Photoshop and practiced with lots of tutorials. If people have the program and want to learn try www.good-tutorials.com and www.pixel2life.comListen
Listen Up! with mighty peace warrior
How long have you been a Bills fan, and what are your ties to the area?
mpw: I have been a Bills fan since 1982 or 1983. My father was in the Air Force and when I was 12 (1982.) He was stationed at Griffis Air Force Base in Rome, NY. I lived in several towns upstate in Jr. High and my first 3 1/2 years of High School. I went to Columbus Ohio for a year and a half, and moved to Schenectady NY where I lived until I went in the Army. My mom still lives in a small town near Albany.
When I moved to New York most people in the area I had lived in were Giants/Jets fans so I picked the Bills to be different. I liked the Cowboys (because R. Staubauch had been in the Air Force) during the Cowboys/Steelers years, and when I moved to NY it was the first place I had lived with an NFL team so I adopted the Bills. I hate the cowboys now for what its worth.
In your estimate, how does the West Coast stack up to NY, and what do you miss most about "back east?"
mpw: Well to illustrate what I like most about it.... When I got out of the Army in March of 1996 I visited my mom in Schenectady, I drove out to Portland to visit my Dad who had moved here. I drove from Schenectady to Mecca (or Orchard Park) the first night on a clear day. I woke up to over a foot of snow and very cold temps. When I got to Portland it was 55 and drizzly. Needless to say I hate being cold. On a side note the summer here (late June through September) is amazing.
If I miss one thing more than anything about NY it’s the food (and not having to pay to see the Bills, Knicks and Rangers (ok they were on cable sue me.))
What are your favorite moments as a Bills fan?
mpw: Well I guess like many people the comeback game in the playoffs sits right up there. I was in Egypt doing a peace keeping mission and had worked the whole first half at the front gate with no clue what had happened. I was confident the Bills were going back to the Super Bowl and I had talked much smack. I got back to the barracks at half time and I was hearing an earful. I told everyone that would listen the Bills were going to come back, and I honestly believed it. I started to waiver a little in my head when Houston scored to open up the second half...but no one was more elated when they won. I couldn't believe what I had witnessed (and I may have talked a little more smack).
I also enjoyed last years Seattle v. Bills game. 10 friends and my wife watching the Bills spank the Seahawks. Seeing my kids become Bills fans is pretty special as well. Nothing like my 5 year old saying "Dolphins stink" every time she sees Miami on TV.
Give me your best estimate for the upcoming season. What do we have to excited about, and what areas worry you?
mpw: Well I am always excited and optimistic when it comes to the Bills. I can't wait to go to the San Diego game and I am going to try to go back to Buffalo for a game. My only real concern is the whole offensive line other than Villarrial. I have hope for Big Mike as well but he hasn't been consistent yet. If one of our tight ends gets healthy we should score some points.
I think Defense and Special teams will be great again and Willis is special. I don't think JP needs to be a pro bowler, but eventually he will be. We have plenty of weapons and if the line is even decent the team easily makes the playoffs. I could kick TD right in the sack for basically ignoring the O-line all these years, but he has made some great choices as well.
On a more personal note, I’d like to ask you a little bit about your career, and how that has shaped your social and political views? From your time in the army, to your current role as a police officer, what ways have these aspects of your life shaped you as a person, as well as your views about society at large?
mpw: My experiences have definitely had an effect. They have definitely jaded me a little and sometimes I forget most people are good people. I also have more and more confidence in my belief that most people are not too bright. I don't mean just citizens but my fellow soldiers and cops. I have sort of a strange mix of beliefs because of where I have been and my parents. My dad is pretty conservative and my mom is definitely a hippy. This question is pretty difficult to answer I did a crappy job of it, I apologize.
What are your general thoughts on the Iraq situation? Are you hopeful for democracy to take root, or are you more pessimistic? How do we get out of this mess, or are things going just fine?
mpw: I don't think I have a good grasp on the actual situation there, nor does anyone else. When I was in Iraq the first time, people were so genuinely happy to see us there and thought we were going to remove Saddam then. I think we lost much of their trust when we didn't do what they expected. Of course I am hopeful democracy can take root but I have my doubts, the culture there is so much different than ours that I am not sure it will work. I don't know how we get out; we are there and can't just leave. I know people think a more "international" approach is best but that is usually just a show. Look at the Sinai Peninsula; yes its "multinational" but its 80 percent US.
Who did you support in the last election and who do you believe would make a good President next time around?
mpw: Well to be honest I didn't much like either candidate, I hoped for someone more honest. I voted for Kerry (and it just took 5 minutes for me to remember his name) because he was the lesser of two evils. I have hope for McCain; he seems like a straight shooter (well for a politician.)
Are there any specific issues you have a personal attachment to, one’s that you may not have had the opportunity to share with the board?
mpw: I think our country would be a better place if kids and adults (partially kidding) went outside and played. People nowadays are so afraid of each other they call the police when a neighbor’s music is too loud because they think they will get shot. Kids need to socialize and not be afraid of everything; they can’t do anything without padding anymore. Parents need to get involved with their kids, volunteer at school, coach, hell just hang out with them on occasion. Go outside and make your kid a go cart it’s a blast.
Speaking of kids, when people talk about socializing medicine I think about the crappy education my kids are getting at school ( I hired a tutor), and wonder why anyone would want the government in charge of the doctors as well.
Last thing, how do you make all those cool graphics, and are you thinking of going pro soon?
mpw: I wish I was even close enough to being good enough to do it for money. I liked the analogy Mouldsrocks used to the Di Niro’s character in Showtime and me. I use Photoshop and practiced with lots of tutorials. If people have the program and want to learn try www.good-tutorials.com and www.pixel2life.comListen