all I have to say...

So many Democrats say that Bush fooled them and the American people into thinking we went to war in Iraq in search of WMDs and that there was a connection to UBL.

In saying that, these political figures like Kerry, Clinton and so many others are saying they admit they got fooled by an idiot, because at the same time they say they got fooled....they call Bush and idiot...so they are dumber than the idiot? ahhh haaaa. EXACTLY.

Now I have been watching politics for years, and have never heard something this stupid...if you voted for something and then blame someone else because you actually think they fooled you...you are the idiot, even 15 years ago this would have never happened because political figures had a little more honor...but jesus, to admit you got fooled by a proclaimed idiot...wow (go dems....doing good)

its' like watching the retards at the track meet...everyone wins right? lol

I know you guys hate Bush, thats okay...he won, and he is laughing now...it just so happens I laugh with him at you guys trying endlessly to take control of what you think is a mess and how all the answers are in the liberal books of knowledge (which is complete bullshit)

Declare Bush the worst president ever, text books are going to remember him as they will, and I find it very ironic that so many of you are against him...I just don't know why.

It will all be better when RUDY is President. :)

oh, and gas prices are beginning to dive...as predicted, does not look good for the blue boys in this election.First of all , it seems we are all in
agreement that Jr. Bush is an Idiot. Having that out of the way, Buff City, if the info was ONLY coming out of Bush's mouth at the time, many would have dismissed it. Especially the Democrats. Don't forget that our Intelligence community, as well as Colin Powell gave legitimacy to the WMD fiasco. We are finding out just this week, through the Vallery Plane issue, that she in fact played a BIG part in the fabrication of the WMD story, as she was the supervisor in charge of WMD info. That whole crew of Libby, Abramoff, and Plane were up to their necks in bullshit. Bush gave the order to Tennet to "find" WMDs, Tennet placed Plane in charge, and told her to deliver. She did. Of course, the question is "Was what she delivered manufactured in Quantico"? and How far does that worm whole go? Chances are, we're never going to find out, because, the decision was made that all of them would not be questioned by the Grand Jury. So, you see, it really has nothing to do with Kerry or Clinton. These people work for The Idiot in charge, and when you're in charge, what goes wrong on your watch, you get blamed for.:stupid: :rofl: :wtf:

That's the fiery and ideological BuffCity I haven't seen in a long time!!! I think you're just trying to defend Bush tho because you voted for him and can't admit it may have been a huge mistake. I didn't vote for him in '00 or '04 so I have a clear conscience and can sleep easy at night knowing this.

all I have to say...

So many Democrats say that Bush fooled them and the American people into thinking we went to war in Iraq in search of WMDs and that there was a connection to UBL.

In saying that, these political figures like Kerry, Clinton and so many others are saying they admit they got fooled by an idiot, because at the same time they say they got fooled....they call Bush and idiot...so they are dumber than the idiot? ahhh haaaa. EXACTLY.

Now I have been watching politics for years, and have never heard something this stupid...if you voted for something and then blame someone else because you actually think they fooled you...you are the idiot, even 15 years ago this would have never happened because political figures had a little more honor...but jesus, to admit you got fooled by a proclaimed idiot...wow (go dems....doing good)

its' like watching the retards at the track meet...everyone wins right? lol


I think most people at the time of 9/11 were really looking for leadership and trust in our President. So people were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust that our leader, regardless of party, was acting in the best interest of America. Clearly it didn't pan out that way. Bush has kind of seemed like Tom Donahoe to me, he keeps suckering people (mostly in the south and midwest) over and over again just to sell tickets (win elections) i.e. Rob Johnson, "Greatest D-fense" in NFL, J.P. Losman, Mike Williams...War in Iraq, horrific domestic policies, refusing to protect our borders/nuclear plants/infratructure.


I know you guys hate Bush, thats okay...he won, and he is laughing now...it just so happens I laugh with him at you guys trying endlessly to take control of what you think is a mess and how all the answers are in the liberal books of knowledge (which is complete bullshit)


There is not a lot of time to laugh when you (bush) have to (eventually) take responsibility for starting a bunch of wars and forgot that you've sent real people with real lives and real families over to one of the worst regions like a video game, for causes that turned out to be a bust.


Declare Bush the worst president ever, text books are going to remember him as they will, and I find it very ironic that so many of you are against him...I just don't know why.


Yeah only time will tell how he is viewed, maybe he'll be viewed as greatest ever. Won't know for atleast 30 years. And are you serious, you're asking why 65-70% is against him? Where do I begin. From miserably failed foreign policies to tragically failed domestic policies to dividing the nation to acting like the President for only a very small segment of the population (oil execs and radical Christian extremists, that is it!).


It will all be better when RUDY is President. :)


It certainly would...finally a President in touch with the American people.


oh, and gas prices are beginning to dive...as predicted, does not look good for the blue boys in this election.

So what, still doesn't look good for the Repubs. The Dems are on pace to pickup 6-8 Governships, 4-6 Senate Seats, and 10-18 House seats. Remember there are more registered Blue voters in the USA than registered Red voters, so if Blue gets good turnout they'll pick up a good amount of seats.

oh, and gas prices are beginning to dive...as predicted, does not look good for the blue boys in this election.
Yeah, funny how that happens, huh? Kind of like the STAR property tax rebates.

I find it ironic how it's the republicans who are always saying "they are underestimating the intelligence of the American voter" and stuff like that, yet they are the ones who prey on the uninformed and attach themselves to gimmicks like this just like the next guy.

Of course they're going to say the average voter is intelligent. It's the ignorance that keeps them in power and keeps the money floating their way. Educated voters are not in their best interest, so of course they're not going to say it's a problem. Kinda like Wal-Mart not prosecuting shoplifting charges under $25 now, so now crime isn't a problem around Wal-Marts any more!

well I guess I'm not going to get many votes from this crew when I run for Governor in a few years...shit.

I said what I can, I'm not gonna turn you guys into Conservitives so I'll stop throwing wrenches in your big liberal machine here.

Well, Atleast you guys let me post my photos...otherwise I'd be fucked. :)

Buffcity,

It is not a matter of being fooled. Fooling someone is a game. This is serious stuff. The Bushies did not "Fool" us...They lied to us and continue to do so in order to bring the country to WAR...Too bad the republicans are not as concerned about lies of this sort...the way they hounded Bill about his little sex lies. No, it is more interesting to waste the taxpayers time investigating where Bills equipment was used. Isn't it funny how the republicans with all their high moral standards are always so interested in other people's sex lives.

well I guess I'm not going to get many votes from this crew when I run for Governor in a few years...shit.
Hey, in all fairness I never said that I wouldn't, nor have I said I disagree with any of your "policies". I know I could be shot in this country for saying this, but I don't vote down ideological party lines.

I just don't like the "my way or the highway" mentality in supporting Bush's policies.

Just some food for thought...
http://vfvs.com/photos/nurembergPrinciples.jpg

Scary, eh?

Pro-union bills prompt spate of Pataki vetoes (http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060915/1026279.asp)


-------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis finds measures would have cost $1 billion

By TOM PRECIOUS
News Albany Bureau
9/15/2006

ALBANY - Gov. George E. Pataki has vetoed another round of union-backed bills that would have given state and local government workers everything from bigger pensions to more power at the negotiating table.
In all, Pataki on Thursday announced the vetoes of 37 measures that critics say would have driven up the costs of running everything from the state government to City Hall in Buffalo to school districts.

The latest vetoes follow his rejection of 34 union-backed measures in August and 16 in July.

A Buffalo News analysis earlier this year found that the 100 pro-labor bills approved by the Senate and Assembly this year would, over time, cost governments across New York state in excess of $1 billion. Nearly all of those measures have since been vetoed by the governor, who was elected with help from unions but who is now trying to burnish his conservative credentials as he mulls a 2008 presidential bid.

The state's top labor leader on Thursday was already talking about trying again next year with some of the measures Pataki vetoed.

"What we're going to have to do as a labor movement is work very hard with the incoming governor - to make this system work," Denis Hughes, president of the state AFL-CIO, said of measures he said would have leveled the negotiating playing field between public employees and their government employers.

Pataki's rejection of the union-supported measures is giving 2006 a clear title for Pataki's final 12 months in office: the Year of the Vetoes.

Excluding budget line-item vetoes, the governor has so far this year vetoed 210 legislative measures. That is the greatest number of nonbudget vetoes of his three terms and the most going back until at least 1983, according to the Pataki administration.

Credit the labor-supported bills for the sharp increase in vetoes. The most nonbudget bills he rejected before this year was 124 in 2004.

Critics say the measures would have fueled additional property tax hikes at the local government level and higher costs for the state.

"What these bills share in common is supporting the public employee unions at the expense of the taxpayers," said Robert Ward of the state Business Council, the chief corporate lobby organization. "We are glad the governor has vetoed them and we hope the Legislature will leave the matter there."

Most of the bills were approved overwhelmingly by the 212-member Legislature, whose members are up for re-election this November. That opens the door to a possible veto override showdown with the governor. The Senate is due back in town today, but a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said no overrides are expected in the one-day session.

Despite the vetoes, labor leader Hughes was not deterred.

"I don't feel betrayed," Hughes said of Pataki, who was a regular benefactor of union political help over the years.

He said he believes Pataki either strongly opposed the measures, or that with less than three months left in his term, "he just wants to let the next governor and the next Legislature deal with these situations."

The most controversial measure vetoed this week would have required that the final, best offer made by a public employee union during contract talks would kick in if the employer is found by an outside panel to have negotiated in bad faith. Pataki last month vetoed another measure giving automatic one percent raises to all affected government workers if the employer negotiated in bad faith; the pay raise would have been on top of whatever final salary increase the sides agreed to.

Pataki called the "best offer" bill he vetoed this week "seriously flawed" because it would create an incentive for unions to propose a contract they know the employer won't accept and then help delay talks that could lead to the automatic pay hike.

"The result of the bill would be to destroy the level playing field required for fair negotiations and impose new fiscal burdens on state and local governments, as well as New York's taxpayers," Pataki said in his veto message.

He said 85 percent of public employee contracts are resolved without mediation.

Other measures vetoed would have boosted the pensions of certain government workers, required binding arbitration hearings for groups of other employees, and required that health conditions of some workers - from heart disease to some cancers - be considered to have been caused by their jobs, thereby increasing retirement payments. The dozens of bills would have benefits for police, firefighters, bridge workers, teachers, and thousands of other state and local government workers.

Critics have said they have never seen state lawmakers pass as many bills at the behest of unions as in 2006.

The measures would have affected not just tax levels, but also public services, said Ward, the Business Council official.

"Erie County being the best example of when compensation costs go up you usually lose some services - because you are paying more per unit of service instead of providing more services," he said. "If Buffalo and Erie County have to pay more in health care costs, for instance, there are fewer dollars for libraries, sheriff patrols and child care workers."


e-mail: tprecious@buffnews.com
Holy Jumpin' Fuckin' Jesus!!!

It will all be better when RUDY is President.


Poor Buffy, 'tis a shame that all those Bible thumpin' Southerners that keep your Republicans in power would never vote for Guiliani with all of his prior "indiscretions." Such is the price to pay for their support.

I also find it quite odd that most who enter the military are brainwashed to be conservative. It's also quite amusing that hard line conservatives think if you are not a fellow hard liner you are automatically a flaming liberal. Ahh, yes... there's no room in the middle, is there?



---

Also, quick question for you NYers - on my Jeep that I purchased last week, I am starting to have exhaust problems. Per NYS law, the car comes with a 30 day, 1,000 mile warranty. Should I contact the dealerthat I purchased the car from to get it fixed? Or should I go ahead and get it fixed and pursue reimbursement from the dealer?

I'm not familar with your warranty/lemon laws - AL was a caveat emptor state.

Last weekend I went to Rochester to see my best friend's band play a "gig" (note gratuitous use of rock and roll lingo to make myself sound cool). I got there early so we could catch up, and maybe get to hold the tambourine for a few minutes, then that thing happened where they saw my camera and said "hey, can you take some band shots?" and my heart sank because I knew I couldn't possibly deliver what they were hoping for. Still, I gave it the old college try and here's one of the shots. My friend is on the left in the green t-shirt.

http://www.realdreamcabaret.com/0906eos17l.jpg

I came across this Free Buffalo (http://www.freebuffalo.org/) release (by Jim Ostrowski of course) on another forum a few nights ago (don't remember which site linked me to these files), and they struck me as interesting. Especially in the context of a regional goverment/annexation in WNY. This particular article highlights the difference in stances between the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (http://www.thepartnership.org/) and Free Buffalo:

The Partnership Goes Far, But Not Far Enough (http://freebuffalo.org/articles/policyreports/partnershipfinal.pdf)

The part that interested me:

Regionalism is not the Answer

In recent years, the Partnership has advocated regionalism or the centralization of government power. However, a proper insight into the nature of government leads one to the conclusion that government should be decentralized. Small, local governments are by no means perfect. They do, however, have the vitue of being close by and subject to periodic housecleaning by the people. Also, they have the attribute of being escapable. You can vote with your feet by moving into the next town or city and thereby cast the deciding "vote" for a new set of policies and a different level of taxes. This introduces an element essential to keeping government small and responsive: competition. In a decentralized political regime, local governments face at least some pressures to keep costs down so as to retain existing residents and businesses and attract new ones.

The one apparent virtue of regionalism, sharing costs and economies of scale, is largely illusory. You don't need a central government to achieve such savings. Rather, you need incentive to do so. Centralized government lacks such incentives, which is why our highly centralized and "streamlined" county, state, and federal governments are massive in size and wasteful in their spending habits.

If regionalism means local goverments voluntarily sharing costs and functions, hardly anyone opposes it. But if it means it means shifting real political power to higher and larger government levels, it makes no sense in theory and fails in practice. In this area, support for top-down regionalism is very low, thanks in part to Free Buffalo which has led the way in explaining its failings.

I never really thought of it that way, but it makes just as much sense. The number of governments isn't what matters, but rather the size and oversight. Obviously, when you need Village, Town, County, State, and Federal approvals for a bridge project (Glen Ave in Williamsville, and then they all pat themselves on the back at the ribbon cutting for being 'instrumental' in the project), yeah, it's a pain in the ass. But it's not supposed to be like that, either. Maybe that's why Long Island has 700+ (?) jurisdictional entities, but for whatever reason, you don't hear about it too often (with the exception of Nassau County re: Suozzi)?

Some other articles of interest that I found that have various degrees of relation to the topic of regionalism:
Public Authorities Have Failed the Public (http://freebuffalo.org/articles/newsalerts/Free%20Buffalo%20News%20Alert%20No.%206--authorities.pdf)
Economics in Five Lessons: Power and Market Don't Mix (http://freebuffalo.org/articles/policyreports/Economics%20in%20Five%20Lessons.pdf)

In the context of the second link (which I totally subscribe to and I think BuffCity would as well), one would have to wonder what benefits regionalism may bring us, but what the opportunity cost of just fixing our existing system would be. After all, it served us well when we were prosperous.

I don't know Sargent, I gotta go with the least amount of politicians the better... I am all for regionalism IF we get rid of all the towns villages cities etc. and end up with one body of like 20 politicians total. I think we would all be better off with like 20 politicians making like $20k a year part time and thats it. Limited buracreacy. Of course it would never happen like that and I am being way too much of an optimist, but one has to think outside of the box once and a while.....

Definitely. It was just another aspect of it that I had never thought of before and I certainly think it has some points worth considering - especially the "closer to the people" power aspect and the competition introduced. I think it goes without saying, however, that these micro-governments would still need to be slashed and burned. And if you kept the governments but made the cuts correctly, I think that take care of eliminating the duplication of services by itself.

Or how about dissolving the county? From my experience in NH, and then again I never paid as much attention to local politics (and go figure, I was a state employee and probably should have), but there, county government seems to be very small and has little influence in most matters - it's mostly a town/city government game and they're doing well enough. Then again, it's a significantly smaller state than NY (in both physical size and population) and therefore probably somewhat easier to manage from a more localistic standpoint.

You say you're an optimist, and so do I - but did you read that "Economics in Five Lessons" pdf? Man, that makes the whole situation seem dire and hopeless, and what's worse, not just for us but the entire country more of less. Not a happy bedtime story!

I think WNY's biggest hope could very well be its largest demographic nightmare - when all these boomers retire to Florida. We might get whacked worse than ever in the census (though so will many other northern cities), but it could be a total population "flush".

I don't know Sargent, I gotta go with the least amount of politicians the better... I am all for regionalism IF we get rid of all the towns villages cities etc. and end up with one body of like 20 politicians total. I think we would all be better off with like 20 politicians making like $20k a year part time and thats it. Limited buracreacy. Of course it would never happen like that and I am being way too much of an optimist, but one has to think outside of the box once and a while.....

To me the issue isn't saving the salaries of part time politicians (tho it is a part of it). Its to combine services and be more efficient, remove layers of beurocracy, and have a more regional attitude rather than every little town in it for themselves.

Buffalo board game:

http://buffalobeast.com/107/images/Buffalo_the_board_game.gif

That's pretty cute.

My only exception with it, is if you use a U-Haul, you won't make it to Raleigh, you'll die in a freak single-vehicle accident somewhere in the hills of Pennsylvania.

Use Penske instead.

OMG, how dare you insult Buffalo like that! It's people like you who make the city so horrible, God.

OMG. The White Ninja! I saw her/him just yesterday!! I never know he/she had a nickname!

That must have been from the Beast... yes? I want a copy!

OMG, how dare you insult Buffalo like that! It's people like you who make the city so horrible, God.

I thought it was pretty funny actually...I printed out a bunch of copies and gave it to everyone at work. I like the white ninja and the Eliot Spitzer reference.

I did just realize, however, that Jimmy Griffin and Goldie Gardner are absent.

In protest, I'm not looking at it again until they're added.

Also, a nice "Tom Jolls' Weather Word: Salubrious - move forward 2 spaces" would have been nice. Then put the Blizzard of '77 on that second space, instructing the player to move back 2 spaces. Buffalo weather - either love it or get the hell out of here. :)

I thought it was pretty funny actually...I printed out a bunch of copies and gave it to everyone at work. I like the white ninja and the Eliot Spitzer reference.

You must hate Buffalo. People like you insult the legacy of this great city with your cheap jokes.

For shame.

Does anyone know the full story behind the white ninja? It's usually around allentown. And is always in white. that's all i've seen.

^^ Nothing beside what I've seen on here (including a photo thread by was it WSJ?).

I can say if I had ever seen this person before I was aware of him/her, I would have wondered if I wandered onto the set of Outbreak II or something.

Hey, every village worth it's salt has its idiot (notable exception of Crawford, TX, which 'only' has one 3-4 months a year), evidently Buffalo has a germophobe instead. I wonder if any other cities have exceptions to this rule as well.

"The White Ninja," as you call her, has been known as "The Lady In White" for many years. I remember hearing about her as far back as the late '90s, but she might have been around ever earlier than that. She is a black woman who used to be only semi-covered, but over the years she is more and more covered up, to the point now that you can't tell that she is black, or even a woman. I guess I have always assumed she has a mental illness, but I suppose she might have a physical medical problem too, such as an alergy to sun or other environmental elements. (Or both mental and physical issues going on; who knows?) The thing I cannot believe is that she has been starting to get written about in local publications (ArtVoice, I think, and the Beast) and now her fame is going global on the world wide web!

"The White Ninja," as you call her, has been known as "The Lady In White" for many years. I remember hearing about her as far back as the late '90s, but she might have been around even earlier than that. She is a black woman who used to be only semi-covered, but over the years she is more and more covered up, to the point now that you can't tell that she is black, or even a woman. I guess I have always assumed she has a mental illness, but I suppose she might have a physical medical problem too, such as an alergy to sun or other environmental elements. (Or both mental and physical issues going on; who knows?) The thing I cannot believe is that she has been starting to get written about in local publications (ArtVoice, I think, and the Beast) and now her fame is going global on the world wide web!

I saw her a bunch of times a few years ago when I used to do traffic counts in the summer time. She carries around what looks like a baby, which is also covered in white. When I first saw her, I thought she looked like a storm trooper from Star Wars...I thought I was gonna get mugged, but then I realized that she just walked back and forth all day.

OK... WTF is the deal with this SSC site? It seems like it's down most of the time now or very slow at best.

If this keeps up I say all Buffalo posters should migrate back to SSP. At least that site doesn't crash and it loads quicker.

Since this site is crapped out most of the time these days I was wondering if you guys wanted to join me in taking over Urbanplanet.org . They still have search function. you can even search within threads. Right now it is mostly southern chain restaurant talk over there. It needs a good infusion of Buffalo Love.


Check out my new post over there: http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?

My quest for a Pulitzer prize is foiled again. Yesterday I came out from dinner and saw the White Ninja. I needed a walk, so I followed. She walks very slowly, and it didn't take long for me to pass her. I tried to be discreet because I'd hate for her to know I'm taking her photo. I stopped at the corner, waiting. My plan was to say "hi" when she caught up, and see how she reacted. When she reached the corner "I thought oh God, my chance has come at last, but then a strange fear gripped me and I just couldn't ask." Then as I was getting my courage up, a friend across the street called out my name and I was totally busted.

http://www.realdreamcabaret.com/0906eos27a.jpg

http://www.realdreamcabaret.com/0906eos27b.jpg

http://www.realdreamcabaret.com/0906eos27c.jpg

Ahh well, until another day, huh?

Since this site is crapped out most of the time these days I was wondering if you guys wanted to join me in taking over Urbanplanet.org . They still have search function. you can even search within threads. Right now it is mostly southern chain restaurant talk over there. It needs a good infusion of Buffalo Love.

Check out my new post over there: http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?
I think I had bookmarked urbanplanet a few years ago and then completely forgot about it. It looks like the NYS thread is pretty much owned by Buffalo with NYC using subthreads (interesting because it's usually the other way around!)

Anyway, that site is good too. Although it looks like you can't post images (?) I suggested SSP only because I know many of us already have profiles setup there and the Buffalo Dev thread is already established... just less used than here. But I'd be cool with other forums too.

But I'm serious about migrating, regardless of which site. This SSC site has become very unreliable over the past few months.

Does anyone else (of the usual Buffalo forumers) support a mass migration for the development thread?

p.s. the first time I tried to post this I got a Server Maintanance error! Grrr.

UP sucks, unless you're from Charlotte.

I think I bookmarked UP way back when I was in the midst of my SimCity BAT overload, when I found some good pictures.

As for migrating, I've already "diversified my portfolio" of internet forums since this one has become terribly unreliable, and a bit one-dimensional. There aren't many I haven't been to, although several of them are quite dead.

Speaking of "BAT", BuffCity - I'm afraid I'm going to be further delayed in getting back up and running, the NYS Education Department actually recommended my admission to the April '07 PE exam (after a 1-1/2 year apparent nitpicking power play, it took 2 years for my colleague from CA with a PE to transfer his). So needless to say most of my free time is going to be spent hitting the books.

Pass = I don't need to take it again = last major career step = greater job security (or easier to get another job) = ability to go into business myself if I want = massive pay raise = buy a house = horde more retirement money = etc. You get the point, SimCity can wait.

Edit: Database Error lol. Good thing I make a habit of copying posts greater than a few lines, a habit I started orginally, I think, because of this site!

WSJohn-
Do you know that white-lady's story? I saw her walking down Allen in late August.

UP sucks, unless you're from Charlotte.

I like how every state in the Northeast is somehow represented except for Delaware.http://209.85.12.232/5359/75/emo/thumbdown.gif

I never heard of this site until now, doesn't seem interesting to me since I'd only be talking to myself about Delaware. Of course, none of this matters to you guys since you have no reason to care about Delaware.

Delawhere?

;)

No, sorry I don't know her story at all. I mean, everyone has a theory - germaphobe is the one I hear most often - but I have no idea what the truth is. One story I always tell (I've probably told it here already): I was at a Halloween party and someone came dressed as the lady in white. Everyone who lived in the city was rolling on the floor and everyone who lived in the suburbs was standing there going "what's so funny?"

Delawhere?

;)

you know, the corporate tax shelter in the northeast. ;)

No, sorry I don't know her story at all. I mean, everyone has a theory - germaphobe is the one I hear most often - but I have no idea what the truth is. One story I always tell (I've probably told it here already): I was at a Halloween party and someone came dressed as the lady in white. Everyone who lived in the city was rolling on the floor and everyone who lived in the suburbs was standing there going "what's so funny?"
WSJ that's hilarious.
to me, she's still a myth until i see her :P j/k

The legend certainly seems to be growing larger than life.

P.S. it took about 3 minutes to load this page, all 9 posts of it. We'll see how long it takes to post...

...only 2 minutes! Then another 3 to get back the the edit screen. I assume everyone is now getting the "Redirecting... Thank you for posting!...Click here if your browser does not automatically redirect you." message for every post?

Delawhere?

;)

I hate when people say that; of course, you're joking, but some people are serious when they say that and Delaware is the butt of many of their jokes.

The funny and sad thing is that the phrase is true: if you asked 10 people from around the country where Delaware is, 9 of them would not get it correct. Are these people even American? :?

^^ That's not alarming though, really, considering how notoriously poor Americans are at geography. They also can't find New Jersey, sometimes not even Texas, and they think Alaska is a small state on the west coast of Mexico (since it's usually printed that way on maps).

People do not know where Buffalo is either:

DT thought he was moving to metro NYC when his BF told him that Cheektahoogy was right next to The City. Boy was he shocked when he found out that Buffalo was the city and that NYS was very very big

^ Yeah most people don't know Buffalo's geographical location on a blank state of new york map. But if you think about it, nobody knows where 99% of american cities are located in whatever state that city is in.

Since this site is crapped out most of the time these days I was wondering if you guys wanted to join me in taking over Urbanplanet.org . They still have search function. you can even search within threads. Right now it is mostly southern chain restaurant talk over there. It needs a good infusion of Buffalo Love.


Check out my new post over there: http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?

well if we make the move...we all have to make the move or atleast the full timers.

I'm for it, even though I like SSC...perhaps someone should PM Jan and see if the issues are going to continue or if he has it all upgraded.

hey did the number of posts next to our avatars change? or am I just crazy?

You guys are all lame. None of you have gone over to my new Buff picture thread http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=396927

Well lah-tee-dah. I'm expected to venture out into the vast, lawless reaches outside of the NE forums?:eek:

Oooh, new text editor with added features. And it took less than 8 hours to load. I like.

UP sucks, unless you're from Charlotte.

How ironic.

By the way I just realized something...... I have about 1000 less posts than I did a few weeks ago! What the hell are they doing in this modification?

lol. why are you worrying about that

I don't know. I just feel like sounding pissed off I guess lol. It's true though, I had over 4500 posts before, and now all of a sudden I'm down to 3600. It's not a big deal, just wondering why.

Yeah I lost 100 or 2 and about .5 per day. Oh well.

What I really don't like are these redirect screens after posting/editing.

The multi-quote function is nice though, I might add. Now, maybe when any of the chief offenders (I can think of a few offhand) of posting 4 times in 2 minutes decide to post, they'll avail themselves of this feature.

I went to the Curtain's Up festivities last night...they were going on right in front of my apt, how could I not...Had a nice chat with Byron Brown, wouldn't say anything about what's going on with the casino tho.

just playing with the new multi-quote feature :)
I went to the Curtain's Up festivities last night...they were going on right in front of my apt, how could I not...Had a nice chat with Byron Brown, wouldn't say anything about what's going on with the casino tho.
We were at Curtain Up too... I believe the theme of the night was "drunken older couples making out like horndogs". The event was awesome and lots of fun... but if I had to endure one more 65 year old couple sucking face I was about the lose my lunch. :O

By the way I just realized something...... I have about 1000 less posts than I did a few weeks ago! What the hell are they doing in this modification?
I have no idea what my total posts were, so can't tell.

You guys are all lame. None of you have gone over to my new Buff picture thread http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=396927
If this site wasn't down every 5 minutes we might get a chance to see it. Maybe now things will settle down?

well if we make the move...we all have to make the move or atleast the full timers.

I'm for it, even though I like SSC...perhaps someone should PM Jan and see if the issues are going to continue or if he has it all upgraded.
SkyScraper page doesn't have any problems usually, and many of us already have accounts there. Although they don't have this nifty multi-quote widget yet
:)

How ironic.

How is that ironic, teen girl squad?

People do not know where Buffalo is either:

DT thought he was moving to metro NYC when his BF told him that Cheektahoogy was right next to The City. Boy was he shocked when he found out that Buffalo was the city and that NYS was very very big


eww, I'd never live in NYC. Chicago is more my style.

BTW, are any of you interested in a meet? I got this via my corporate intranet on Friday in an e-mail. If y'all want, we can go up to one of the rooms on the 35th or 32nd floor. I would have posted this here earlier, but... you know what happened. Anywho.

Cheryl DEARMYER on 09/27 at 03:46 PM
Category: Operational Circular


OC OPS 06-0122
SEPTEMBER 27, 2006

OPERATIONAL CIRCULAR
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE
CONFERENCE ROOM AVAILABILITY - ONE HSBC CENTER, BUFFALO


PURPOSE
Corporate Real Estate has recently completed an inventory of available conference rooms at One HSBC Center in Buffalo. Effective immediately, these rooms have been added to the Lotus Notes Reservation System and are now accessible for booking.

Conference rooms are intended for the use of all HSBC employees. All conference room reservations should be booked via the Lotus Notes Reservation System. All previous manual booking procedures are to be discontinued.

Please note certain floors have limited or restricted access, which can only be accessed by certain departments, individuals or floor occupants. If you do not have access to those floors, your request will have to be approved by the designated approver for that room. Designated approvers are identified in the Reservation System. Floors that have restricted access are designated in the Lotus Notes Reservation System in the room name, e.g. CTR 9C (Restricted Floor Access).

Break Out Rooms
Additionally, floors in One HSBC Center that have been designated as part of the HSBC@Work Program, have "break out rooms" that are for the use of the occupants of that floor only. These rooms are not to be used as conference rooms for individuals from other floors. Appropriate signage is displayed identifying these rooms.

INSTRUCTIONS
Please share with all appropriate staff.

EFFECTIVE DATE
Immediately

QUESTIONS
Please contact the North American Help Desk at (888) 685-4357 with technical questions.

I think I bookmarked UP way back when I was in the midst of my SimCity BAT overload, when I found some good pictures.



sarge, are you responsible for the niagara mohawk building for the diagonal corner over on sim city exchange?

that building is quite nice.

I'm assuming you mean this from Simtropolis:

http://stex.simtropolis.com/lots/sargeantcm/sargeantcm_niagara%20mohawk%20building%20buffalo%20ny/NIMONITE%2Ejpg

Yeah, it's mine. I did upload that to the SimCity official site (the only one with which I did so) so yeah, that's mine too. I'm a little more skeptical of that one though since plagarism is rampant there - but whether or not I created the upload, I did create the model.

I've also done: HSBC, HSBC Arena, City Hall, Liberty Building, and Niagara Square. I'll get Rand, Tishman, and Main Place finished (all works in progress) once I get my PE. Link (http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?page=1&Keyword=sargeantcm&view=all) (you may need a username to access)

There was a thread with all these in it a while back on here, try about a year ago.

I think a meetup like DT is talking about would be sweet, esp. high up in the hsbc tower!

I would definitely be up for a meet, especially up in the Tower! :)

let's do it up

hey i'd be willing to go as well

Okay, when? Let's get a date so I can see what reservations are open. Let's do it before it gets too cold (which was two weeks ago :D).

Check out this vid

http://www.wrightnowinbuffalo.com/BAT.cfm

Too cold? I say perfect. No heat and no AC is good enough for me. I wish we had more than just 2 months of this stuff.

BTW, are any of you interested in a meet? I got this via my corporate intranet on Friday in an e-mail. If y'all want, we can go up to one of the rooms on the 35th or 32nd floor.
Don't do it!! It's a trick!! DT wants to get all the buffalo forummers in one room and do some cheektovoodoo on us all!!

;)

Nonsense! But... there just might be some conveniently placed InterestPLUS Checking and Smart Package brochures sitting with a representative from New Accounts ready to sign people up sitting in the corner.

:D

I see... Discuss "business" as a passing comment and write it off as a business expense. But hey, far worse has happened!

My 401(k) is through you guys.

this site is still to damn slow...wtf!!! :dunno:

How funny. My 401k through HSBC is managed by Vanguard. lol

BuffCity, why do you have an electrified booger as an avatar?

Also, who thinks the Republicans are toast this election? Thanks, Foley... you perv!

Ahh, but you see he "came out of the closet", so to speak. So in Republican-ese, gay = pedophile. That's what it'll be, the Beltway Spin just hasn't reached these parts yet.

Speaking of toast, I just drove by a bunch of protesters at the intersection of Millersport and Flint in front of the Marriott in Amherst. I'm assuming that's where Laura Bush (the Bush with half a brain) was supposed to be stumping for the loser [Reynolds] today?

I don't mind the "electrified booger", though I wish it had legs. Actually, what bothers me the most is the uniforms, there's too much of a vast expanse of nothing under the logo. It needs some horizontal stripes or something to fill the void.

I am goin ta see da beears vs da Billsz dis weeken. Tree hunert dollar tickets!

Should be a good game. I think the bills will hand the bears their first loss. It will crush the city becasue Chicago already thinks they are going to the SB.

They still talk about the 85 Bears SB champs as if they won it last year

^^^^^
I hear that!:cheer: have fun, da Bills 120, da Bears -3!

Does anyone else here get the feeling that Hamilton is going to be getting the Pittsburgh Penguins, now that the founder of RIM industries (makers of the blackberry) which is in Hamilton?

I don't think I'm the only one who thinks this, but that might affect the Sabres and their current drawing power in Canada.

Who knows, but it may help make up some of the loss in North/Central PA if marketed properly to displaced fans. Given that the last thing on the NHL's mind should be expansion, IMO it can't survive another round of it.

I'm all for moving the Pens as long as there's a rider that an underperforming southern team be relocated to Pittsburgh by 2010 or something along those lines. Enough alienation is enough, re: my comment above about expansion.

As for the Bills, come on. Haven't da Behrz actually been pretty good this year? The reasoning I hear is that this has the potential to be the toughest game, especially for the offense.

NMO and myself are walking Bailey, Kensington, Grider, Fillmore, E.Ferry, Jefferson, Best, Masten, Mullberry, Carlton, Grape, High, Main...and MetroRail.

photos soon!

:nuts:

we are nuts, yes we are crazy train station rock throwing genesee county living white boys who love Buffalo and all its grit...join us and learn.

NMO and myself are walking Bailey, Kensington, Grider, Fillmore, E.Ferry, Jefferson, Best, Masten, Mullberry, Carlton, Grape, High, Main...and MetroRail.

photos soon!

:nuts:

we are nuts, yes we are crazy train station rock throwing genesee county living white boys who love Buffalo and all its grit...join us and learn.

Buff - I have an assignment for you -

I was driving westbound on I-90 about 7:20 today, and the part where it goes over the William St railyard gave probably the best skyline view I've ever seen. I've seen it many times before, but this time there was the most beautiful clear, bright orange sky behind it, I've never seen anything like it in my life. Heads up for the next time we get a nice night like this and you're oot and aboot...

Today was quite beautiful, wasn't it?

Its supposed to snow in Chicago this week. Well at least I will be watching the game in 80 degree weather tomorrow.

Today was quite beautiful, wasn't it?
Yes it was, I spent most of the early part of the day on my deck doing some staining as well as sanding paint off a rocking chair which should never have been painted in the first place (gf's parents to blame). Perfect day for it, though I managed to get an uneven sunburn.

Then I spent the late afternoon, early evening in Cheektowaga. Went to the hobby shop to start gearing up my brainstorms for a basement-wide train set once I buy a house.

The Sabres game capped it off nicely. F'ck the Yankees, I didn't watch it and honestly don't care. Go Tigers!

I challenge you to put such a day to better use lol.

Well, I have to go down to work this afternoon for a few hours to do some filing since we're closed tomorrow. Bah. Once I get home though, I am so totally painting my front door and sealing the driveway. Gotta get ready for winter, ya know ;)

Another great day for it. I was doing more sanding but once the sun came over the trees it got too hot and I don't need more sunburn - wait until the sun goes over the building and I'll resume.

I hate Columbus Day, and I'm glad I've never gotten it off. The guy was an asshole personally, and it's not like America wouldn't have been discovered eventually. It's like if the Midwest had a holiday commemorating the discovery of the Mississippi.

Technically, he didn't even do the discovering. Credit the Vikings with that some 400 years prior.

The event (columbus' landing) is significant nonetheless.

Had he not found america when he did and where he did, the current cultural makeup of the western hemisphere could have been very different than what it is today.

Another great day for it. I was doing more sanding but once the sun came over the trees it got too hot and I don't need more sunburn - wait until the sun goes over the building and I'll resume.

I hate Columbus Day, and I'm glad I've never gotten it off. The guy was an asshole personally, and it's not like America wouldn't have been discovered eventually. It's like if the Midwest had a holiday commemorating the discovery of the Mississippi.

Technically, he didn't even do the discovering. Credit the Vikings with that some 400 years prior.

actually there have been findings lately using gene research that Caucasian northern europeans happened to be in north america thousands of years before the Indians came across from asia...there was an ice bridge from scandinavia to canada that allowed the passage.

Guess the white man was here first...hmmm

Stuck thousands of miles in the air, they are the perfect captive audience: airplane passengers. This month, four million of them will reach into that seat pocket and pull out a 10-page article praising Buffalo... or at least Buffalo food.

"Spirit", the in-flight magazine for Southwest Airlines, features the queen city in its October issue. Author Paul Goldsmith says, "It may surprise some to see the blue-collar likes of Buffalo on my short list of America's greatest food cities."

In three days, Goldsmith eats everything "Buffalo": beef on weck from Charlie the Butcher's, homemade ravioli from Left Bank, wings from Gabriel's Gate, hot dogs from Ted's, and custard from Anderson's (and that's just day one and two!).

In the end, Goldsmith and his photographer, Randy Duchine, come away loving Buffalo. X-Cel Producer owner, John Darowz, says one of the men came back the next weekend on his own time because he was so impressed with the city.

Of course, the 10-page article focuses mostly on Buffalo food and is sure to leave you drooling. Still, Goldsmith finds time to gush over Buffalo in general. At one point, he writes, "From the world-class collection of modern art at the Albright Knox Gallery, to its pristine Olmsted-designed park system, to the art deco masterpiece that is City Hall, the Nickel City has always been, for lack of a better word, underrated."

"Spirit" publishers say the article will reach 4 million viewers, and some of the featured restaurants say they're already getting bedazzled tourists wandering in looking for "you know, that beef sandwich, on the funny roll."

Cool. Birmingham was Spirit's "city" in July. I saved the article from one of my flights ;)

I found these nice pics on the internets

http://www.mjfreedman.org/NYLASunydestn/images/NYLABuffalo1006_jpg.jpg

http://www.mjfreedman.org/NYLASunydestn/pages/NYLABuffalo1007_jpg.htm

http://www.mjfreedman.org/NYLASunydestn/pages/NYLABuffalo1002_jpg.htm

http://www.mjfreedman.org/NYLASunydestn/pages/NYLABuffalo1004_jpg.htm

yea, so Batavia has had its first murder since 1999, funny...I feel safer in city of 290,000 than a city of 16,000.

over drugs, money and blasted in a dense neighborhood (plenty of kids)

I have no problems with drug dealers and crack heads shooting each other...infact its a self-cleaning system, but so many time innocent lives are taken because somebody had to act like a fuckin jerk.

Kensington, Masten, Fruitbelt, Genesee-Broadway-Sycamore...they all impress me more than Batavia...ehhhhh I hate this city.:runaway:

OMG SNOWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

:dies:

It was practically a blizzard in Chicago this morning.

It's 70 in Birmingham right now.

grumble.

Soooo...

move.

It's plainly evident you'll never be happy until you return, so why may I ask are you fighting it? I was the same way in my later months in NH. Apparently my tolerance for these things is just less than yours since I was actually driven to the breaking point.

Depending on how you look at it, you've been bitching for longer than it took me to hatch the idea and actually follow through on getting a job and pulling the trigger. In a so-called shitty job market no less. While I actually kicked it off by taking a civil service exam in PA approximately 8 months before I actually moved (in order to get waitlisted at PennDOT if the right offer arrived; I was originally set on moving to the Scranton - Wilkes-Barre area) I didn't actually apply for any actual positions until early March. I unpacked the moving truck no less than 10 weeks hence.

Surely the 70° days, better job market, and witnessing interracial couples would make your daily life easier! Especially when you already have a good job and a significant other.

Soooo...

move.

It's plainly evident you'll never be happy until you return, so why may I ask are you fighting it? I was the same way in my later months in NH. Apparently my tolerance for these things is just less than yours since I was actually driven to the breaking point.

You've been bitching for longer than it took me to hatch the idea and actually follow through on getting a job and pulling the trigger. In a so-called shitty job market no less. Surely the 70° days, better job market, and witnessing interracial couples would make your daily life easier!

Plus he could go back to calling himself Bubba

Soooo...

move.

It's plainly evident you'll never be happy until you return, so why may I ask are you fighting it? I was the same way in my later months in NH. Apparently my tolerance for these things is just less than yours since I was actually driven to the breaking point.

Depending on how you look at it, you've been bitching for longer than it took me to hatch the idea and actually follow through on getting a job and pulling the trigger. In a so-called shitty job market no less. While I actually kicked it off by taking a civil service exam in PA approximately 8 months before I actually moved (in order to get waitlisted at PennDOT if the right offer arrived; I was originally set on moving to the Scranton - Wilkes-Barre area) I didn't actually apply for any actual positions until early March. I unpacked the moving truck no less than 10 weeks hence.

Surely the 70° days, better job market, and witnessing interracial couples would make your daily life easier! Especially when you already have a good job and a significant other.

There's more to life (for me, at least) than a good job and having a significant other. I feel like a fish out of water here. I would go into detail, but I don't feel like writing a novel tonight.

Secondly, even as much as I want to move, I have one thing here that is my ball and chain -- this house. Even though I put the down payment on it and have put thousands into it bringing it up to somewhat decent standards, I cannot sell it. Why? I was an idiot and put the SO on the deed and mortgage with me. I've talked to him about selling out early and simply refuses. He claims that if it was to be sold now he would take 1/2 because he feels entitled to it. Buying this place was the biggest mistake I've ever made in my entire life, because now, I'm stuck.

WOW...that relationship went downhill fast.

No, the foundation of the relationship is good. It's just living here that's eating me alive and causing the problems. I seriously wonder if I lived downtown if things would be like this.

Also, a tree fell on my Jeep. This storm is worse than anyone forecasted.

Fuck... as if things could get any worse.

sorry about the jeep dt....it looked good in pictures, we lost both of our cars in the ice storm of 91'

wow, and just a year ago you were telling me how glad you were to move here cuz you had always loved coming to Buffalo. Tho, I can say that I somewhat understand. When I moved to Cali two years ago I was so excited, I had visited before and loved it...but once I lived out there it was such a different lifestyle than I was used to, plus I was far away from my family and roots. So you still may deep down love the Buff (and won't admit it :) ) but would rather be in the 'Ham or in the ATL.

Surely the 70° days...

how the hell did you get that little degrees symbol after the 70? I don't see it on my comp, wtf.

Buffalo was deluged with snow, and I'm sure most of you don't have power right now, any word on tommorows Sabres game and what is going on with that?

Buffalo was deluged with snow, and I'm sure most of you don't have power right now, any word on tommorows Sabres game and what is going on with that?

Tom golisano announced that in a rare nhl event, the game will be played outside the arena on one of Buffalo's premier shovel ready sites in the cobblestone district.

Local utility is reporting 250,000 without power. From a quick survey of my neighborhood I don't think very many trees escaped losing limbs.

http://static.flickr.com/81/268786771_f047e789ef.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/96/268797227_e1b05c2019.jpg

More photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33546945@N00/

OMG, this storm has been AWFUL. We have been without power and heat for more than 24 hours, my Jeep's roof is bashed in, and we have over a foot of water in our basement. So much is ruined :(

I am thankful for our neighbors though - they have been fantastic. I'm also thankful for escaping to Niagara Falls, ON!

OMG, this storm has been AWFUL. We have been without power and heat for more than 24 hours, my Jeep's roof is bashed in, and we have over a foot of water in our basement. So much is ruined :(

I am thankful for our neighbors though - they have been fantastic. I'm also thankful for escaping to Niagara Falls, ON!

Interviewing for a job at a hotel there? =p

It might be refreshing to hear some stories about people who made it through the storm OK. We got tons of snow downtown, but I believe that once the fallen tree limbs are hauled away and the snow melts, people are going to feel much better. It sucks for the people without electricity, especially those who need power to pump water out of their basements. And to those people I can only say, why the fuck don't you have a back up generator?

My bf and I cooked chili yesterday, lit the fireplace last night, and snuggled under warm blankets on the sofa with our dog. It was kind of fun and romantic to be snowed in, no place to go (because of the driving ban) so we just watched old movies all night and didn't have to feel guilty about doing absolutely nothing.

My neighborhood came through this thing pretty well (though it sucks that we lost some trees due to the weight of the snow, ice, and leaves still on the trees) but I am feeling sorry for the people who were less fortunate. Does anyone know of any organized way that people can volunteer to help out? Now with the driving ban off, we could get out and maybe do something good for others. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that could move some stuff and/or people.

It might have been fun at first, but after two nights had passed without power, it got to be unbearable -- and that's when I left to go to a hotel.

Fuck romantic, I want power, heat, and a warm shower.

Cable TV and internet are kinda nice too ;)

if only the trees didn't have leaves on them, this horrible destruction in WNY wouldn't have happened.
My heart goes out to everyone who has been devastated by this natural freak occurence.
I'm lucky that I just rent in an apt. on the second floor not close to any big trees, and I had no classes on friday so headed out of town to my parents house in Ontario, and it looks like I'll be here until tomorrow due to not having any power at the apt.
and from what DT tells me, my neighborhood in Snyder is devastated. a good portion of those huge old trees gone.
but i suppose that is nothing compared to people who's homes, cars were destroyed or basements flooded and thousands of dollars of belongings ruined.
:(

in my hometown of Welland, Ontario we received nothing (minor damage) compared to WNY, but Port Colborne and especially Fort Erie were hit hard as well.

JUST GOT POWER BACK:)

All the bushes in my backyard and woods are crushed flat. About 40 trees came down in my backyard, 1 hiting my pool fence crushing it. 1 huge 75-100foot tree split in half but didnt hit my house. All the trees along the streets in my neightborhood are crushed. They look like they were peeled.

All trees in my backyard have lost atleast 2 branchs

Now we have to prepar for flooding. :(

It might have been fun at first, but after two nights had passed without power, it got to be unbearable -- and that's when I left to go to a hotel.

Fuck romantic, I want power, heat, and a warm shower.

Cable TV and internet are kinda nice too ;)

LOL...well because we don't have any high dollar hotels, you are gonna have to settle for Bob's roadside Motel and tire center...atleast it has a pay phone and diner near by. lol

what hotel did you end up at?

Cold showers are romantic...:dunno:

we'll get thru this...we made it thru everything else...so:scouserd:

They are doing f***g grid tests. Once they have a reading they shut your power off again so they can fix other areas and then turn your power back on.

My backyard is flooding. We have a special drain ment to "help" my backyard and my neighbors backyard dry. It goes to the storm drain, and just our luck, he ground around the drain sinks from the snow and there is 1 foot of water around it. The creeks are so close to over flowing, and the snow is half way melted.

To make matters worse FEMA is coming in.

This cant get worse.

i had forgotten why i decided not to buffalo...but this storm jogged my memory.

They are doing f***g grid tests. Once they have a reading they shut your power off again so they can fix other areas and then turn your power back on.

My backyard is flooding. We have a special drain ment to "help" my backyard and my neighbors backyard dry. It goes to the storm drain, and just our luck, he ground around the drain sinks from the snow and there is 1 foot of water around it. The creeks are so close to over flowing, and the snow is half way melted.

To make matters worse FEMA is coming in.

This cant get worse.

Hmmm. If I lived in a soupy swamp, wouldn't a battery-powered sump pump be on the wish list? :dunno:

no, they are only for power outages that last a couple hours. I just got my power again. I bet they are playing around with my neighbrhood.

Amherst is a swamp too...I forgot.

well, 80% of Batavia was a swamp too...

fricken white people don't know where to settle! :)

how the hell did you get that little degrees symbol after the 70? I don't see it on my comp, wtf.
Hold down ALT while typing 0176 on your numeric keypad.

Check the 'Character Map' in your Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools (assuming you're running XP) for more goodies.

JUST GOT POWER BACK:)

All the bushes in my backyard and woods are crushed flat. About 40 trees came down in my backyard, 1 hiting my pool fence crushing it. 1 huge 75-100foot tree split in half but didnt hit my house. All the trees along the streets in my neightborhood are crushed. They look like they were peeled.

All trees in my backyard have lost atleast 2 branchs

Now we have to prepar for flooding. :(
Yeah, Amherst has to worry about flooding even in the good days.

Speaking of downed trees - a few of you may remember my posting of this pic back in the late spring - the 'lawn ornaments' of our abutting neighbor:
http://users.adelphia.net/~sargeantcm/ssc/11.jpg
That tree, I'd say, is about 60% obliterated, and it's pretty much surrounded by deadfall. Through the mess, however, I can still see the little boy standing (and I think I can see the girl too but it's far more obstructed). The guy also put a Mickey and Minnie Mouse thing in his front yard, the ones where the legs spin in the wind, I haven't seen those since (they'd be in the upper far right of this picture near the street). Hopefully they were destroyed. But the peeing boy, at least, stands, still proudly pissing away.

We will survive.

I was pretty pissed with the how the storm affected me downtown, one of my HD channels flickered on and off for a little while on Saturday.

Hold down ALT while typing 0176 on your numeric keypad.


omg that was amazing, i just tried it and it worked. ° ° ° °

We just got power back at the house, but... our basement had 4 1/2 feet of water in it. Our washer, dryer, furnace, hot water tank, and thousands of dollars of personal effects are destroyed.

I have so many emotions going through my head right now. I am angry, depressed, and in shock -- but I also feel good because our neighbors and friends really pulled together for us.

You were in Nashville back when they were getting all those tornados back in the spring, right? What a year.

We just got power back at the house, but... our basement had 4 1/2 feet of water in it. Our washer, dryer, furnace, hot water tank, and thousands of dollars of personal effects are destroyed.

I have so many emotions going through my head right now. I am angry, depressed, and in shock -- but I also feel good because our neighbors and friends really pulled together for us.

Hey DT, I hear FIMA is making cash available to the area...I dunno if this is good enough news, all the loss of personal stuff sucks and I hope you can save all you can.

I guess we take this risk with snow like Floridians take the risk with hurricanes and the people from the midwest with tornados.

If you need help cleaning up don't be affraid to ask for help here...I would be willing to help and I'm sure a few others as well.

Just don't let FEMA screw you over.

I know it's in vogue recently to rip on FEMA, but it's justified even sans Katrina. I've had to correspond with them on several occasions as part of my job (usually for FIRM flood mapping revisions) and I swear they are the biggest pains of a$$es to work with, they always lose submissions, ask for things you've already sent, etc., etc., etc.

It's mind-boggling how inept they can be. I almost wonder if they're actually a NYS government entity (and SEMO is just a pawn).

Interesting picture I found today. Well, maybe not interesting as just unique or new:
http://boatnerd.com/news/newpictures02/kenterprisetowb5-28-02-rl.jpg
From this site (http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/kenterprise.htm).

I actually saw a big inbound laker from the Skyway on Monday, the ship must've been miles out but still it looked huge. And speaking of ships, I saw another container ship both in the morning at the Bethlehem Steel site, later in the day leaving the site, and 15 minutes later headed towards Canada. I wonder if that had anything to do with the windmills?:dunno:

Sarge,

Was the ship you saw this ship:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/tshaw/Hamilton-Port.jpg


I found an inquery about it in the Hamilton Development Tread over at SSP. Someone thought that the windmills were to go up along Lake Erie, and well we know of one such windmill development...

Cool pictures.

I guess I can't take it anymore though... I'm flying to Tampa on Monday.

interesting, I have seen trucks going thru batavia that look just like the cargo on those ships...same size too

Sarge,

Was the ship you saw this ship:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/tshaw/Hamilton-Port.jpg
Yes, that may be it, though I think I recall seeing more blue on it. Either way, it had two rather large cranes, probably 2-3x the height of the hull freeboard. That would seem to agree with the photo, though when I saw it it was obviously unloaded and appeared to be headed towards, well, Crystal Beach, I would assume turning towards Port Colborne.

Those windmills are coming from the Netherlands, aren't they?

interesting, I have seen trucks going thru batavia that look just like the cargo on those ships...same size too
There's also a massive windfarm going up in Wyoming County, Noble Bliss Windpark or something like that. My office has actually done some preliminary design for all the improvements that need to be done to haul roads, etc., so they can be beefed up to handle the trucks. One of the guys in the office said he saw (this was a few weeks ago) piles of parts that appeared to be for windmills in a gravel pit or something off Genesee St, which I'm assuming would have to be somewhere between Lancaster or Alden.

Interesting stuff.

Cool pictures.

I guess I can't take it anymore though... I'm flying to Tampa on Monday.
Can't say I blame you. What a week.

Tuesday - Girlfriend misses the drive-by shooting in front of the library by 10 minutes. Later that night, have to take the cat to the emergency vet for a hypoglycemic episode (diabetic, well not any more she's been taken off the insulin - whippee!). Out $400. This carries into Wednesday.
Thursday night - Saturday (and in some respects ongoing) - 'Nuff said.
Today - Grand Jury Summons. ARGHHH!!! And they don't even send it to the right address, it goes to my parents', an address where I have never officially resided!!!!!

So boy what fun November is gonna be. I get to vote for shit candidates of no good choice on election day (unless I decide to do random write-ins for shits and giggles - might as well, that's all it's worth), and then I get to participate in a system in which I do not believe - trial by jury - it does not work. The idea of pulling random people with no knowledge of a case (which for some cases, must be out of a cave), so they can come to a random decision, I dunno. Pull the verdict out of a hat - same net result, and you save alot of taxpayer dough. Plus we all know of the documented success of these Banana Courts - OJ and Jacko ring any bells? I dunno, maybe it's just because I'm big on consistency, in some cases maybe even moreso than the actual results. Trial by jury does not provide consistency, by definition.

Ugh. Shoot me. Maybe my deep-seated political beliefs and intolerance towards human stupidity will get me out of it. Privilege and opportunity my foot.

It's a minor miracle I can live anywhere and be happy lol.

makes sense...the ones on the ship look fricken HUGE...maybe they are bigger than the ones on trucks

Okay, I am currently getting estimates for new furnaces. My current furnace was an older model (1995ish) and ran at 78% AFUE. I've gotten two quotes -- one for a model with an AFUE of 80% and another with an AFUE of 96.7% -- a high efficiency model. Of course, the more efficient model is much more expensive, but since I live in Buffalo and mostly use heat, I'm wondering if there really is a noticable difference in gas bills between the two and if it would eventually pay for itself.

Current one get wrecked in the deluge?

Well the more efficient one would theoretically use about 20% less gas than the lower one, and that probably accounts for 75% +/- (?) of your bill depending on how much you use. Being a thin-skinned southerner :) I would imagine the gas makes up a vast majority of your bill, whereas it only makes 40-67% of mine (being a thick-skinned old northerner and considering I live in an apt as well). All told it might cut your bills 10-15%?

Supposedly those AFUE ratings are the direct (average) efficiency of the unit over time, accounting for cold starts and constant running (much like gas mileage in a car). Knowing that and knowing your billing history, you should be able to figure out how much additional cost you can recoup per month (or by figuring the heated volume in your house, determining how much higher you can turn up the thermostat).

Mine's a 90.5%, I think it's a few years old. Probably not bad for an apartment.

I would imagine it would help your house's resale value as well.

Yep, mine got ruined... I just got my new hot water tank installed this morning but when I walked into the house about an hour ago, the whole place smelled of natural gas. I had to shut it off (and will be having the contractor visit me in the morning!).

I think it's funny how they always say natural gas has no odor. I smell it occasionally too (not from my heater but elsewhere occasionally).

Mine had that familiar smell of burning dust on Saturday when I fired it up for the first time after the power came back to get the place back up to temperature. Reminded me of the smell of the electric baseboard heat all my apartments in NH had (which let me say forced air/natural gas is wayyyyyy better).

One thing to be said about these natural disasters - they tend to move various home improvements up in the priority list!

They add a substance to the gas to give it its familiar smell. Its a safety feature.

hey guys...go over to the cityscape photo section to see some old buffalo sets of mine that I resurrected. Some of you probably never saw them before.

Well, I ended up getting a 96.7% AFUE furnace. Hopefully, I won't have high gas bills.

Well that depends entirely on your usage, obviously the efficiency is about as good as you're going to find...

I think I'm going to leave it on 66° this winter -- maybe 68° if it's mild out and won't have to run much.

I may be cold, but I am more cheap than anything :D

Hey, buy a few sweaters lol.

I'll put it up in the low 70s when it's on in the evening, but I don't use it at night or in the morning, so all told I probably average out in the mid 60s. I could go lower but it would draw some objections from the girlfriend. I already need to skimp because I was intent on trying not to use it before Thanksgiving. Damn snowstorm lol.

I remember my one apartment in NH where the heat was free - but I didn't use the heat all winter (and it was a cold winter)! Funny thing was, it was a first floor yet it never got cold. That place must have had one hell of an insulation job or something.

Just got home from work (doing some catch up from having to miss most of this week) and I got the letter... we were denied the claim on our homeowner's.

I am very angry and depressed right now. I am just thankful that we have the money to replace what was destroyed. Many others around here aren't so lucky :( Let's hope FEMA pulls through...

Let's hope FEMA pulls through...
Please tell me you're not resorting to that!?!? That's like your very own, personal, Buffalo Silver Bullet. I'm not holding out much hope for them, despite monetary costs/losses here being much higher than those in Hawaii, they received declaration within a day or so. Granted their damages were of a far higher percentage of infrastructural, but it was still less. Not to mention the whole 'ask New Orleans' factor. Though at least here, we suffered a natural disaster as opposed to a man-made one.

That sucks though. You are fortunate to still have the resources, and hopefully when all is said and done, you'll be better off than you were before. Maybe you should apply for food stamps instead, since the average middle class taxpayer now has to pay twice to replace their fridge (theirs and someone else's).

My company (GPI) made the news today as we won a bid for inspection services for the cleanup in Amherst...

Just got home from work (doing some catch up from having to miss most of this week) and I got the letter... we were denied the claim on our homeowner's.

I am very angry and depressed right now. I am just thankful that we have the money to replace what was destroyed. Many others around here aren't so lucky :( Let's hope FEMA pulls through...

justin, sorry to hear that, man.
i hope you upgraded your coverage to now include flood damage.

Just got home from work (doing some catch up from having to miss most of this week) and I got the letter... we were denied the claim on our homeowner's.

I am very angry and depressed right now. I am just thankful that we have the money to replace what was destroyed. Many others around here aren't so lucky :( Let's hope FEMA pulls through...


I would fight it. Your insurance may not include flooding but this is not necessarily flood damage. Your neighborhood was not flooded, the power went out and caused the damage. Unless it plainly says that water damage is not covered you might be able to force the issue.

If you fight and win you owe me a dinner in your favorite Cheektahoogy restaurant.

Our neighbors down the street have to replace EVERYTHING in their basement. That includes the carpet, dry wall, electrical wires, and insulation.

mardi gras ...bitches!

^^ As in paper towels? lol

Like the Simpsons episode where Marge used the 'Burly' brand paper towels to soak up an entire pond. That's what we need lol.

cotton balls...maybe even a giant squeegie?

WHEN is it going to stop RAINING? Gah.

when the bills win the super bowl :|

Screw the Super Bowl, how about when they play competitively? Sign/draft a good O-lineman or two or eight?

It'll stop raining when the Sabres lose a game. Rain, baby, rain!!!!! lol Hopefully we'll need an ark by spring!

According to weather.com yesterday, we were supposed to have a fairly nice end of the week. Of course now we're not. But then again, you can't take anything from them at face value; I don't think they can predict yesterday's weather with any accuracy.

The way I see it, it's October, it's supposed to rain. Besides, why do you care, I thought you were going to Tampa? In the "sunshine" err "raindrop" state...ehh never mind...

Though I would like some nice days so I could finish sanding that rocking chair outside, it's about 80% done now but it looks like it's been in a fire or something. I know I can't get it stained this year, but even unfinished for a while will still look better than the ghastly white it used to be.

eeeee, florida!!! I am leaving in just a few minutes... too bad I have to connect at BWI.

Gotta love this airport :D

Is it really going to snow tonight?

Whoopie ding. Hopefully I'm not supposed to be jealous?

I just don't get the appeal of Florida. So many other places with so much more to offer...

One state I'd love to visit is Alaska...though maybe not at this time of year.

I think it's supposed to snow in the southern tier, which is no real surprise, it's time. They didn't get anything last weekend either, so they'll handle it. I don't think anything appreciable is expected thru Erie Cty northward. But if it does, it does.

One state I'd love to visit is Alaska...though maybe not at this time of year.

Alaska is easily the most naturally beautiful state I have ever been in. I remember that I became self conscious of how many times I pointed at mountains and/or glaciers and said, "Wow!" Then I have this memory of deep sea fishing on a boat we chartered near Homer, AK. We were out in the bay, and you could see orka whales flipping and glaciers and a rainbow, and I felt like I was in a dream because it was just like being on one of those Travel-Channel TV shows, but even better. Go to Alaska; you won't be disappointed.

Of course, Florida has Disney!

I agree, AK is beautiful. I was fortunate enough to go there on a cruise in 1998 when my dad was still alive - I just wish that I was older so I could have appreciated it more. Pretty much all I have to show for my trip now is a snowglobe I picked up...

Whoopie ding. Hopefully I'm not supposed to be jealous?

I just don't get the appeal of Florida. So many other places with so much more to offer...


Nah, not jealous. I just always post right before I board the plane so in case it crashes y'all know that I am... well, dead. :D

Nah, not jealous. I just always post right before I board the plane so in case it crashes y'all know that I am... well, dead. :D


thats hilariously morbid.

BTW, I was able to read the article about Buffalo in Southwest's Spirit mag last night -- it really gave the city props. I found the article's tagline to be especially amusing:

"Buffalo: Not trendy, just good."

I just always post right before I board the plane so in case it crashes y'all know that I am... well, dead. :D
Not necessarily - you could be escaping the country to go live a hermit's life in rural Burkina Faso for all we know!

Unless of course we knew the flight number, etc., so we could put two and two together when we heard about it on the news.

What you need to do is post while the plane is going down. I'm sure you would be calm and collected enough to pull that off?

:)