GRAB THE BULLHORN AND HAVE FUN.
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers…”
(TS Eliot, The Wasteland)
Spring has sprung hard this year, with violent, cruel force. April has been a series of shocks, of human challenges, of events that twist the gut and cause us to turn to each other and yell “What the hell is going on?!?”
The peaceful forgetfulness of winter is gone, but that does not mean that everything in spring, or in April, has been horrific. The focus is on the trauma, certainly, but there’s still a lot of good still happening in the world. It mostly just tends to go unnoticed when calamities strike.
It is still spring. Those dull roots are, as always, taking hold, and trust me folks, things are gonna’ bloom better again soon.
Here are a few good, smart things that you may have missed recently. And of course, don’t forget to keep an eye out for good, smart things everywhere and anytime – they’re around us every day.
Smart Thing 1: Buffalo Hosts a Solidarity Run for Boston – and Boston Takes Notice
In case you haven’t heard, a “Boston Marathon Solidarity Run” is being held this Sunday in Delaware Park. You may click on the link for more info (from the event’s Facebook page). It’s great medicine, of course, but the best part is that Bostonians are taking notice. From Jarret Izzo, over at We Love Beantown:
“From signs and cards, to television testimonials, to readers’ posts on social media, there has been tremendous support this week from the rest of the country for Boston and Bostonians.
I’m glad to recognize the denizens of Buffalo for that support. That city, my hometown, is known as the City of Good Neighbors, and Buffalo’s goodwill does not end with joining last night’s hockey crowd to sing the National Anthem. Buffalo runners Julia Burke and Beth Weinberg are leading the Boston Marathon Solidarity Run on Sunday in Buffalo’s Delaware Park.
Writing for Buffalo’s The Good Neighborhood, Burke said, ‘Runners are a compassionate bunch, and the Boston bombings shook our entire community to the core. When we’re feeling angry, or sad, or frustrated, or hurt, we all do the same thing: we run––ideally, together…We have a real opportunity to raise money for the bombing victims and the recovery effort, encourage folks to donate blood, and show Boston and the world how much we care. I’ve never been more proud to be a runner, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together on Sunday.’”
Runners in Delaware Park should have a little more spring in their step knowing that the people of Boston are cheering them on.
Meanwhile, feel free to send that ex-pat Jarret a friendly hello on Twitter, at @WeLoveBeantown.
Smart Thing 2: GripeO Gives Consumers a Real Voice to be Reckoned With
A Buffalo based startup, “GripeO” is a website and mobile app that is being made available to both consumers and businesses. In a nutshell, the app gives people an incredibly easy way to get a complaint across to a business, and it allows those businesses to quickly respond to the “gripes,” as well as sort and analyze their potential problems through the incoming bulk data.
Customers get a quick answer, and the product improves. Smart.
You can find GripO on Twitter at @GripeO, and also on Facebook.
Smart Thing 3: The Buffalo Sabres Will Simply Never Tank
We’ve all said it: “Man, why can’t they just lose out so we can get a top three pick?” Like it or not, Buffalo is not the kind of team (or the kind of town) to just lay down and turtle. Stick-taps to the Sabres for making a real run at this playoff thing.
And for those still wishing that the Blue and Gold had a shot at MacKinnon, Drouin, or Jones – stop it. This draft is deep. It’s being heralded as the best crop of incoming prospects since the legendary class of 2003, and hey, Buffalo has two first round picks. Playoffs or not, all signs point to Better Days coming back to the FNC.
PS – The Bills are going to get stuck with a guard with the 8th pick and then, as a run on QB’s begins, the Bills will be forced to trade up for a QB that most of you think of as hot garbage. Don’t like it? Too bad. Come at me in the comments section, bro (or sis).
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- Note: “3 Smartest Things” is being produced to go along with the “5 Dumbest Things” series here on TB. “Why three,” you ask? Well – far be it from me to break our time honored tradition of berating each other on the progress of our fair Queen City. Tell you what, when the new Peace Bridge goes up, we’ll go up to five. And of course, feel free to follow me on Twitter to discuss all things trending in Buffalo, and check out my blog “Buffalo Sabres Nation” when you’re bored at work. Your boss will appreciate your increased productivity afterwards.
