Arcade Digital is proud to launch WWW.CFDBLAZE.COM

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by John Sostak

The CFD Blaze

The CFD Blaze are the Chicago Firefighter and Paramedics Football Team.  They play in the NPSFL, which is the National Public Safety Football League.  Arcade Digital is very happy to take their new site live.  Click here to experience the CFD Blaze.

Arcade focused on the user interface, and back-end functionality developing a very sophisticated content management system (CMS) and Wordpress blogging platform.  The site is an Arcade custom web design and user interface built open source with WP 2.9.  Although not completely populated, is still a fun site to visit.  Like the team, the website has a strong blue-color feel, and an intuitive navigation and user interface.

This site will be rich in media,  These guys are not only football players, but firefighters, so they have great media content and a fabulous story.   We wanted to make compelling galleries and video as accessible and easy to share as possible.

Marketing needs demand social media integration, and with compelling media, we can use social media websites and Internet sharing as a low cost marketing solution.  By using YouTube and Flickr, we have social media partners that also contribute to the reach of this first year football team.

The 2010 season will be the first year the Chicago Fire Department fields a team in the 14 year old NPSFL.  A 1st year not-for-profit is as; or more, challenging then a young entrepreneurial for-profit start up.  Arcade wants to make sure that the compelling message of the firefighters and paramedics that compete in the NPSFL is well spread online.

Each of the players, coaches and administrators in the NPSFL, and the CFD Blaze are volunteers.  No one involved in NPSFL Football receives a salary, and they play for charities.  The Chicago Fire Department charities include The Burn Camp, which is operated by the IFSA and has been renamed Camp I Am Me.  It is a summer camp for Illinois children that have been scarred, and is a place where these children can interact without feeling uncomfortable because of the injuries and scars they have sustained.

The CFD Blaze are also playing for the Gold Badge Society, and Ignite the Spirit.  Ignite the Spirit is a very high profile organization, responsible for the annual Chicago Firefighter Calendar as well as the annual Chicago Firefighter-Paramedic Ball.

The Blaze are playing their first official NPSFL Football game on April 10th in Chicago.  They CFD Blaze will be playing the seasoned CPD Enforcers.  The CPD Enforcers are the Chicago Police Department’s NPSFL team.  I am certain that from game one, this will be a fun rivalry.  They play each other in baseball every year, and it is a great game, held at Comiskey Park (US Cellular Field).  Keep track of the Blaze on their site.

Some modules that will be introduced on the Blaze site very soon will be the Blaze store, which will make posters and t-shirts available.  The current store link on the site is merely a redirect to the Ignite the Spirit website and store, which has a few Chicago Firefighter calenders remaining.

The Blaze site will also offer ticket sales.  They will play 2-4 Chicagoland area games annually, as well 2-3 road games.  Our online ticket process will make it easier to lock in game tickets.  The men are playing stadiums that will be crowded, so as family, friends and fans, we want to insure we are in the arena.  Online ticket sales also allows for more efficient Internet marketing, with clear conversion statistics, which benefits the club, and the charity.  To be able to clearly predict what a game or fundraiser will generate allows the CFD Blaze to more accurately sponsor charities in need of benefactors.

Arcade Digital is looking forward the CFD Blaze season, and I hope everyone who reads our blog commits to helping the newest team in the NPSFL and the Chicago Fire Department Charities.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, CPD Enforcers, flickr, football, Internet Marketing, NPSFL, social media, youtube

Tiger Should Just be the Bad Guy-Crush Golf Balls, & Ass, & Don’t Apologize for it.

Posted on February 21st, 2010 by John Sostak

Elin and Tiger Woods

Whether or not you’re a fan of Tiger Woods or golf, if you turned on a TV Friday, there was no escaping his announcement. It was talked about on CNN, Fox, ESPN, MSNBC, AP newswire, even NPR, and every blogger on the planet.  Now his speech/apology is being played around the world. They even noted that trading on the Stock Market slowed down while the speech was on live.

I was watching it at Lottie’s, golf on one TV, ladies curling on another, then Tiger apologizing on the rest of the television’s.  I watched with Joe, who is an enormous golf fan.  Joe even caddies part time in the summer.  He noted Tiger was not wearing a wedding ring, and could name everyone in Tiger’s audience, which included Elin’s mom.

Why is this deemed worldwide top rated news?

Who does Tiger really owe an apology to?

His wife, because they did make vows to each other, which I’m sure included he would not cheat.

His family, for the embarrassment.

Possibly his employees, because people like, Steve, his caddy, need Tiger to play to make a living.  That one is a stretch, since they have done well because he is the best golfer in the world.  If they feel they need to move on because he has sat out a few tournaments, buh bye.

He does not owe the world an apology.  He does not owe his sponsors an apology.  In my opinion, if he now has a “tarnished” image, he may as well embrace it.  Be the bad guy.  Tell the media when he comes into their town, he’s gonna crush golf balls, and ass.  Pop pain killers, get great ass, and win golf games.  Let’s keep in  mind that if he never has a sponsor, he still earns millions of dollars every year.  He is the greatest golfer alive.

But we have hoards of people critiquing his apology on sincerity and authenticity, whereas I don’t want to waste my time with this nonsense- and it is a WASTE OF TIME.

This is one of the big things I hate about Main Stream Media. They have to be EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE. 24 hours-365 days a year with about 50 stations, and millions of websites competing for our attention.  Years ago, before the Internet, this would be considered entertainment news.  Tiger’s exploits would be reported on a sports or entertainment news show, not prime time news, and every media outlet.

Instead of following the latest star gossip, why don’t the mainstream media run bios of the American soldiers that died in the line of duty, TODAY?  Why not spend time explaining the environmental dangers we are overlooking, and help motivate people to turn lights off, and recycle their beer cans?  If it bleeds it leads, and everyone loves to hear about a villain, especially a famous golfer that we are all jealous of.

Tags: golf, Tiger Woods

Save March 5th, CFD Blaze Fundraiser at Murphy’s Bleachers in Wrigleyville

Posted on February 16th, 2010 by John Sostak

The CNA building in Chicago paying tribute to the CFD, Chicago Fire Department

The motto of the Chicago Fire department is “We’re there when you need us”. We don’t just say that motto, we believe it. Our charities need us, but we can’t support them without your help.

The Blaze, the CFD football team is hosting a fundraiser at Murphy’s Bleacher Bar, in Wrigleyville, Chicago, March 5th.  Tickets are $30.00 and include all domestic beers, drinks, wine and appetizers.

Parking is included, but no need to drive. Murphy’s is conveniently located one block from the Addison Red Line stop.

Get excited, we will not only have booze, and friends, but you can WIN cool prizes! Raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win (among other items) a 40″ flat-screen TV and four rooftop tickets to a Cubs game.  I am certain it won’t take a lot of arm twisting to get a split the pot raffle going.

We will have CFD Blaze t-shirt’s for sale. Show off your team spirit!  Buy a few shirts for yourself, and your friends and family.

The Blaze’ first game is April 7th against the Chicago Police Department. Purchase space in the ad book.  Real estate is going fats, and this is a great way to reach a lot of police, firefighters and family members of City of Chicago employees.

Murphy’s Bleachers March 5, 7-10pm
3653 N. Sheffield
(Parking Included)
Conveniently located one block from the Red Line (Addison stop)

Proceeds from the evening will go to support several amazing organizations including The Gold Badge Society, Ignite the Spirit and The Illinois Burn Foundation.

Tags: CFD, CFD BLAZE, Charity

Super Bowl Saints vs Colts! Good enough excuse to put up a picture of Kim Kardashian & Reggie Bush.

Posted on February 7th, 2010 by John Sostak

Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian, Reggie is famous for being a New Orleans Saints Running Back. What is Kim famous for?

Today is February 7th, 2010, which means we are all watching the Super Bowl 44 in Miami.  It is also an excuse to post a picture of Reggie Bush with his big bootied girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.  Another in the recent celebrity phenomenon of Hollywood women putting out a sex tape, and becoming famous for being famous, thanks to shitty reality TV.

The Indianapolis Colts are favored by 5 points over the New Orleans Saints.  The official line at the moment is the Colts -5 and the game total is 56 1/2, which is the highest over-under ever on a Super Bowl.

I became sick of the NFL entering the playoffs.  Teams like the New York Jets limped in because the Colts decided that an undefeated season doesn’t matter.  The Colts sat it’s starters against the Jets in week 15, which allowed the Jets to win.  This win eliminated teams, and kept the playoffs a possibility for the New York Jets.

The Super Bowl is an enormous media event, and everybody has plans for the game, and tomorrow an enormous percentage of our population will call in sick to work.  I am working at the firehouse, and a sick day is not an option as a Chicago firefighter, we don’t get them.  I take this as a sign to watch the game at home with my dogs.

I suspect the Colts will win and cover, but I will be rooting for the Saints.  I’m still disappointed the Bears lost to the Saints in Super Bowl 41, after a Devin Hester 91 yard kick return for a touchdown started the game, and gave the Bears a 7-0 lead.  Bears went on to lose 29-17, and the game wasn’t as close as the score makes it appear.

I am laying off the play, but will lightly tickle the over so I have a rooting interest.  Colts are better, but they have not been easy to bet on.  New Orleans Saints have an amazing offense, that was lucky to beat the Vikings to make it to this game.  The Saints defense, and the Vikings turnovers are why this team is on the field, instead of in the stands at Super Bowl 44.

One of the most annoying Super Bowl traditions is the halftime show.  The Who are performing, and I just need to say, so what!  I hate the halftime show.

So, beer and pizza are on the menu, and I hope the game is a shoot out.  As the Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson would say, “sit back, relax and strap it down.”

Tags: football, Kim Kardashian, Reggie Bush, Super Bowl

I can finally piss in peace on a golf course, thanks to a stupid ass invention, the UroClub.

Posted on January 23rd, 2010 by John Sostak

A duffer enjoying a piss on a golf course thanks to the Uroclub.

The UroClub is not a Northwest Side bar filled with Polish guys in Affliction shirts and gold jewelry puffed up for virtually naked Polish girls primping and praying someone can rescue them from a future that may include housekeeping.  It is a golf club you can pee in.

OK, I cannot make this up, maybe because I am not creative enough, maybe because I have the filter that helps me understand when something is ridiculous.  If you click here, you will find a real website, that is selling a hollow golf club.  This hollowed out golf club is called the UroClub, and has been made to piss in when you are on a golf course.

Excerpted from the UroClub website:  “How many times has this happened? You’re playing 18 holes with your best buddies, drinking sport-“ades”, water, beer, etc. You’re coming up to the 3rd hole with no rest room in sight. There are no trees or bushes around and you just have to go, what are you going to do?”

I need to interject right here with a quick answer.  Never.  I always need to pee, but haven’t been stuck with nowhere to urinate.  Unless you are on a links course that is busier then a City of Chicago downtown subway station at rush hour, and populated by women, children, and nuns, you haven’t had a hard time taking a leak on a golf course either.

The websites home page continues, “The UroClub™ is the discrete, sanitary way for your [sic] urgent relief. Created by a Board Certified Urologist, it looks like an ordinary golf club, but contains a reservoir built into the grip to relieve yourself. The UroClub™ is leak proof, easy to clean and no more embarrassing moments.”

Maybe I should try the “uroclub” before I knock it.  I have vowed to remain away from golf until Tiger Woods returns, so when I do return, I hope one of the guys I play golf with has a UroClub I can borrow.  It’s not that I do not want to drop $25 on a new one, I just don’t want to sacrifice one of the clubs in my bag to a hollowed out piss receptacle.

“Doc, mind if I use your Uro Club?, I need to piss bad, and I don’t want to offend Uncle Frank or Bookmaker.”  A reasonable request from John?

“Fuck you, get your own.”  The Doc.

Tags: golf, uroclub