The Tower of London 

When's the last time you saw a memorial to animals in war?  

The view from the London eye 

The 10 Crappiest Things About Downtown Buffalo

I think this piece in the Buffalo Beast just about nails it on the head. Especially numbers 10 - 7, 4-2.

The Apprentice

Sir Alan Sugar: the British Donald Trump? The show was actually rather good. Too bad we can't see it here.

Mark Poloncarz For Erie County Comptroller

Hell yeah, I endorse Mark Poloncarz For Erie County Comptroller

Vacating

This morning’s weather – sunny, cloudless & 44 degrees – is a carbon copy of the weather in London yesterday - the Royal Borough of Westminster, to be exact. Needless to say, I didn’t want to leave. I have wanted to visit London since before I was a teenager, and finally did so this past week. My wife and my intrepid, tireless and fearless 4-year-old enjoyed it, too. Last Thursday, we drove out to Toronto’s Pearson Airport for a 6-hour hop across the pond. We lucked out with the weather, which cooperated most of the time, and was gloriously perfect about half the time. We saw all the major sights: British Museum was awe-inspiring; Tate Modern was fascinating; National Gallery was beautiful; Tower of London was entertaining; London Eye was phenomenal; Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s were like stepping into history. The prices, however, were abominable. The dollar trades at about $1.95 per pound, but the British prices are equivalent to American ones; a grande coffee at Starbucks might cost $2.00 here, but it’s £2.00 there; so it was close to $4.00. I’m lucky I didn’t rent a car, since gas costs the equivalent of $6.50/gallon. When’s the last time you spent $40 for pancakes, yogurt, and an omelette at a diner? Anyway, food-wise we enjoyed Pret a Manger, Eat!, Belgo Centraal, Yo! Sushi, Square Pie, and S&M Café near the Spitalfields market. We also ate at a few pubs, etc. Shopping? Harrod’s is a tourist trap. Selfridges was really a beautiful shop, and the best food hall. Fortnum & Mason was kind of like a museum. Marks & Spencer was somewhat uninteresting, but did have a good food hall – everything is sold under their own brand. Spitalfields Market was really cool, and Portobello Road on Saturday was crowded and nutty, but the side streets are worth exploring, too. I was sorry I missed Borough Market, though. It’s bittersweet coming home, really. In many ways I envy their lifestyle. I wouldn’t mind if Paris was a 3 hour train ride away, or the Alps were a 1 hr flight. But it’s good to be home.

Cheers

Cheers to Craig formerly of Buffalog, currently of North Coast Online for his kind words. The site looks great, Craig.

I'm baaack

D'ja miss me? Is there still a budget crisis? Has Joel resigned yet? Is Holt under indictment yet? Coming back from the airport today, WBEN at the top of the hour had as its top headline some murderer in Florida who had been a sex offender had confessed. The third story was local, involving local gangs having a couple three shootouts involving AKs and the like. Seems to me the latter is the bigger local story.

Holiday!

This is it. I'm going on hiatus for about a week, starting today. I'm going to try to run a feed or two on the site, so at least some content will change. I am not bringing a computer, so I doubt that I'll be posting much of anything over the next week. So, enjoy the week. Don't break anything while I'm gone.

Dead Horses

David Torke from Fix Buffalo says that I should stop beating a dead horse. This coming from a guy with a one-issue blog. It is wrong to detain American citizens simply because they (1) look Muslim; (2) have Muslim-sounding names; or (3) attended a conference in Canada on religion. It's a shame that this sort of abuse of civil liberty is considered a "dead horse" by some. Pastor Niemoeller on dead horses:

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Kommunist. Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat. Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter. Als sie die Juden holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Jude. Als sie mich holten, gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

When the Nazis arrested the Communists, I said nothing; after all, I was not a Communist. When they locked up the Social Democrats, I said nothing; after all, I was not a Social Democrat. When they arrested the trade unionists, I said nothing; afterall, I was not a trade unionist. When they arrested the Jews, I said nothing; after all, I was not a Jew. When they arrested me, there was no longer anyone who could protest.

All in all, to me, these sorts of dead horses are a bunch more important than a vacant house.

Downtown livin'

Let's not dwell on the negative, 'kay? Lest anyone think we're all about doom, gloom, etc., here's some great news for downtown Buffalo.

: "An independent analysis of the downtown Buffalo housing market predicts that the urban core could support 1,900 new residential units over the next five years. 'Believe absolutely that Buffalo is at the beginning of what is possible in terms of downtown housing. You have enormous possibilities and potential,' said Laurie Volk, lead researcher for the report on the future of the downtown residential market. "

How do we help this market grow? We need more condos to sell, and less rentals. Also:

Offering gap financing to assist developers who take on projects that require hefty upfront costs and lengthy payback periods. Marketing aggressively to boost awareness of downtown housing opportunities. Targeting surface parking lots in emerging urban neighborhoods as building sites. Making city permit and inspection processes developer-friendly to encourage creative reuse of existing downtown structures.

Downtown has so much potential, and it's so very ripe for the picking.

The Political Class

Jim Ostrowski: A Milovan Djilas for our time?! The self-important Mr. Ostrowski responds to non-existent rumors that make him feel important, and says this:

"Here's the bottom line. Free Buffalo's agenda is opposed by, you guessed it, the political class. These people have been living high on the hog for 45 years at our expense. There is little they won't do to keep their hold on power. They'll lie, cheat, defame, corrupt justice and God knows what else. Mendacity is the foundation of their entire enterprise. I know. I've been on the receiving end of their malice for 27 years. The irony is that their bitterness betrays their own estimate of what privileged lives they lead. They realize how difficult it is to make a living in this town in the non-union private sector. They are so bitter and fight so hard and viciously against us because they don't won't to be private sector saps like us! What's the matter, people, don't want to work the nightshift at a convenient store for seven dollars an hour? Neither do we, but that's the economy you gave us. Free Buffalo!!!"

I didn't know all of you worked the night shift at the convenience store! I ought to tell my boss about that - I've been neglecting my convenience-store duties. I also didn't know that every person who is not a member of Free Buffalo is a member of the political class. Heck, I guess I'm a member of the political class. Pundits of the World, Unite!

Amazing Race

As always, Waveflux has the scoop. Brilliant as ever. My comments are there.

Who needs Primary Challenge, anyway?

Many of you are aware of Primary Challenge, which was set up recently to run primary challengers against Erie County incumbents. So far, they have yet to announce any candidates, and their rules are somewhat restrictive. If you have ever been a committeeman of any established political party, you are barred from participating in Primary Challenge. Seems like a rather idiotic and short-sighted rule which might very well exclude qualified and interested candidates. According to WNY Media Network, several candidates have already announced that they're challenging incumbents.

"Kenmore Town Board Member Michelle Ianello, Kris Powers announced their candidacies today. It also looks more and more likely the 'Chicken wing King' Drew Cerza, will also throw his hat into the ring sometime this week. So far all this without the help of a Political action Commitee, who has yet to file proper paper work with the Board of Elections. "

Volker swings back

WNY Media Network has the full text.

"First, in partnership with Thomas Suozzi (President for the NYS County Executives Association and County Executive of Nassau County), Joel Giambra traveled around the state pushing for Medicaid Reform, specifically a cap on this health program for county governments. Last week, the State Legislature did just that and placed a cap on the Medicaid Program. In fact, the same Thomas Suozzi who Joel Giambra likes to mention in his reform movement recently sent me a letter thanking me and the members of the State Legislature for passing a cap on the Medicaid Program (See Attached Letter). It is obvious that Joel Giambra and Thomas Suozzi are not on the same page. "

Volker calls Giambra's sudden embrace of Suozzi's movement a marriage of convenience. He's right. It must be KILLING HRH Joel I that he has to share the spotlight with Suozzi, who has OWNED the Medicaid/reform Albany issue for over a year.

Gotcher passport?

You're gonna need it. By 2007, each and every person crossing the US border at any of the WNY bridge crossings must show a valid passport or NEXUS card. No more drivers' licenses, no more birth certificates. You're going to have to bit the bullet and pay the feds $50 for your passport if you want to cross the border. Canada is likely to do the same. I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing, however. A passport is really the only document that constitutes proof of citizenship. I'd actually prefer a national id card, if only because it fits in your wallet, and you don't have to remember where you put your passport. Maybe they could lower the price for people who live within 50 or 100 miles of the border. (It'll never happen). $50 is probably kind of steep for a lot of people, and the application process can be time-consuming. Anyway, here's your NEXUS application form for quick border crossings between CDN & USA; Here's your passport application form. To our Canadian friends, here's YOUR passport application form.

NYS Thruway Authority: Bleeding you since 1954

What do you get when you combine a bureaucracy with cold, hard, cash? Business as usual in New York State. The Thruway sent in its executive director to tell us why the Thruway needs higher tolls. Most people didn't buy it. Although the toll hike would be the first since 1988, it'd be 25% for cars. Leave it to a NYS Authority to eff up the timing on something like this: gas prices are already at all-time highs, and taxes from gas sales in NY already go to pay for road maintenance (supposedly).

Several trucking officials said their rates will increase far more than the 35 percent - some said it will be close to 100 percent - claimed by the authority, once the various classifications for weights and number of axles are taken into consideration. Fleischer acknowledged that is true and said the authority is studying recalculating and simplifying the toll schedule for trucks.

I-80 is free, and it runs parallel to the I-90, only about 200 miles south. What do you think the truckers would do if tolls increased here by 100%?

Several speakers brought up the fact the Thruway was supposed to have been toll-free by now and said if the authority hadn't been given the responsibility for the State Barge Canal, perhaps it wouldn't need an increase. 'We were clearly hoodwinked' by the promise the road would be toll free by 1996, Bill Joyce of the New York State Motor Truck Association said. Thruway tolls 'should be a pure user fee. The canal should not be supported by higher tolls,' he added. He and other truckers said the toll increase amounts to a $6-an-hour hike in operating costs. Mark Janis of Path Truck Lines said his firm is just emerging from bankruptcy and the increase will jeopardize more than 100 jobs.

Hoodwinked is a good word for it. Same thing happened on the Mass. Pike, which was supposed to be free by 1986. At least Bill Weld abolished tolls West of Springfield, and removed toll barriers on the Pike extension in Newton. But a certain group is all for higher tolls. Can you guess which group that might be? Come on, I know you can do it! That's right:

But Mark Kirsch, business agent for Operating Engineers Local 17 representing 1,400 construction workers, said the construction project will create jobs. But, he said, the tolls need to be a true user fee 'and not disappear into the general fund.'

"We're for higher tolls, but only if they go directly into our members' pockets." Michael Leydecker of the American Council of Engineers said investing in the Thruway will be good for the economy as well as maintaining safety and speed of travel. Dave Swarts, Kathy Hochul, Marc Coppola, and Richard Fontana all called for the removal of the insidious 50-cent tolls in the City of Buffalo, as well as moving the Lackawanna barrier further West. When you exit the Thruway in Albany, Rochester, or Syracuse, you do not get hit for another 50 cents on the 690, the 490/590/390, or on the 787.

Fascism

I commented on it some months ago: back in January, a group of Americans of the Muslim faith traveled to Toronto for a conference entitled "Renewing the Islamic Spirit." To our government, that conference was a suspected terrorist recruitment drive. But instead of sending some undercover officers to attend the conference, they merely detained any and all Muslim-looking people who crossed the Q-L bridge that day, as well as people who declared to US Customs that they had attended the conference in Toronto. Law-abiding American Citizens who had done nothing remotely wrong were detained at the border for hours, and fingerprinted. They want answers, and rightfully so. The feds sent some poor prick up to Buffalo to calm the restless. He didn't do shit.

"About 50 people assembled for a forum at the University at Buffalo to hear a top adviser on civil rights with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security address their concerns about that incident and to clarify U.S. policies. Daniel W. Sutherland, officer for civil rights and civil liberties, spoke at length on the government's good intentions but said he was unprepared to address specifics of the incident. 'There are multiple pieces to that puzzle,' Sutherland said. 'If you're looking to me to give you the answers from A to Z on that, you're going to be disappointed.' Indeed, Dr. Sawsan Tabbaa, a Syrian-born dentist and UB instructor who was among those stopped and fingerprinted when returning from the Toronto conference, was not mollified. 'After four months, I was expecting an answer to the main question: Why?' Tabbaa said after the 90-minute forum. 'I thought he should be more prepared, I guess.' "

If Mr. Sutherland had been more informed, he would have given away state secrets, Dr. Tabbaa. The detention of people based on their religion or attendance at a conference in Canada isn't based on anything resembling probable cause or reasonable suspicion. I know the rules are different at the border, but I don't think those rules permit the government to trample upon the freedoms of speech and assembly, as occurred here. Hopefully, the government will get smart and give these people the answers they're looking for. I hope they've retained counsel.

They were asking for it

As much as the right-wing echo chamber insists, INSISTS that dems denounce, DENOUNCE lefties like Ward Churchill, who have the audacity to espouse controversial and oft-idiotic opinions, there seems to be no counter to that. Of course, Ward Churchill is merely a professor at a University, which is supposed to stand for the free exchange of ideas - no matter how loopy. The problem is that the right's loopiness extends to our United States House and Senate. Having learned that people in general don't like the federal intervention in the Schiavo matter, and its concomitant assault on family and states' rights, the right-wing is now gunning for "Activist Judges" - the flip-side of "trial lawyer", I suppose. Texas Senator John Cornyn gave a speech on the floor of our esteemed United States Senate, commenting negatively against the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the execution of people between the ages of 0-17. Arguing that the criminal justice system of the United States should be more like that of Sudan and Saudi Arabia, Senator Cornyn said this:

It causes a lot of people, including me, great distress to see judges use the authority that they have been given to make raw political or ideological decisions...sometimes, the Supreme Court has taken on this role as a policymaker rather than an enforcer of political decisions made by elected representatives of the people. I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. . . . And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence. Certainly without any justification, but a concern that I have."

What this patent asshole is saying is that the Brian Nichols - the murderer-rapist who shot Judge Rowland Barnes and three others in Atlanta last month was merely blowing off some righteous steam and expressing his distaste for activist judges. Only one other such shooting made headlines in the past year; a disgruntled plaintiff in Chicago shot the husband and mother of a federal judge who had ruled against him in his medical malpractice suit. So, it's now acceptable to murder judges because it's their own fault: much like the chick who wears a mini-dress to a frat party, they're just asking for it. The right-wing is all for personal responsibility, unless it's against it. Sickening.