Isn't it interesting the way the school system works. A couple of years ago before we moved, my nephew was getting himself into trouble at school. He'd just switched schools after his parents got divorced, was having trouble fitting in and had some outbursts. He got in a few fights and stuff and at one point they were threatening that he was going to be expelled if anything else happened. His teacher wanted him to be labeled as a problem student.

Cut to the present day. Outside of getting into one little tussle because he was standing up to someone who was making fun of my other nephew, he's been a model student. On top of that, earlier this year his current teacher suggested that he might qualify for the school's gifted program. Well, my sister just got the test results the other day and overall he scored in the 99th percentile and is judged to be very gifted! What a difference eh?

Yes he was acting up a lot at the old school and a lot of that probably had to do with his suddenly uprooted family situation. But you also wonder if his acting up didn't have something to do with the school? His teacher? Not being challenged? Makes you wonder how many kids don't get that second chance? How many kids get pigeonholed as a problem student and can never shake that label?

I see the pricing for the Bills games in Toronto has been released, and true to their word there are indeed some relatively cheap seats, $55 per game over the 8 games. Only problem? They are in the 500 level, in the shitty endzone on either side of the hotel which means no jumbotron and probably a crap view of the field itself. Yes, please let me pay $440 to sit in those crappy seats for 8 games! Oh, but they aren't completely heartless because contrary to original reports you do have another option than buying all 8 games upfront. Yes, you can instead buy a 3 game package (2 regular season, 1 preseason) for over the next two years. Hoo-fucking-ray.

What's the next price bracket? $85 per game in the back row of the 500 level in the other endzone. For the kind of seats that normally cost us around $45 per seat in Buffalo would cost $170 per game here in Toronto! Its absolutely insane. I also love this from their website:

Q: WHY ARE YOU SELLING ONLY MULTI-YEAR PACKAGES?
A: We believe this is the most efficient way to sell game tickets. While the games are spread over five years, they still amount to the equivalent of a full home season of football.

Uhh, no a full home season is 8 regular season games. Pre-season in most sports is a waste of time, but in football its particularly shitty. There's only one game where the starters play almost a full half, otherwise it may be one series or a quarter. That is hardly equivalent to a 'full home season'. This is such a ridiculous cash grab its disgusting.

I will be firmly planted in my basement for these Toronto games. Thanks but no thanks.