HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Only a year ago the children were out and about collecting bags of candy and goodies being very wary of branches, limbs and twigs left from the “Surprise October Storm.” What a different day this is. Beautiful weather, no piles of debris and loads of characters going door to door. Have a wonderful day and enjoy the fun of the evening with all the little-ones going about.
YOU’RE PLAYING KINDERGARTEN, HE’S PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUES
Running an independent media outlet is a daily adventure. When Marc and I wake up in the morning, we’re never sure what kind of political rumor we’ll receive in our Inboxes. As a matter of course, we leave the rumor mongering to the less ethical corners of the Buffalo Blogosphere while we wait for hard evidence of someone being a jackass. This is why I don’t get to print half of the cool gossip I’m privy to…Marc being a real journalist and Alan being a lawyer tends to kill all the fun.
So, what did I find in my Inbox this morning? Firm evidence of Candidate for Erie County Clerk Bill O’Loughlin’s social grace, panache, and penchant for hissyfits over perceived indiscretions.
Enjoy.
by ~ Christopher Smith
[Listen to both voice messages] Push play button at bottom of article
ONLINE MARKETERS JOINING INTERNET PRIVACY EFFORTS
Most people are aware of the do-not-call lists. They have called in and asked that their number be blocked from telemarketers. That same idea is blossoming for computers.
“People will soon be able to sign up for do-not-track lists, which will help shield their Web surfing habits from marketers eager to deliver specific ad pitches to them.”
“Such lists will not reduce the number of ads that people see online, but they will prevent advertisers from using their online meanderings to deliver specific ad pitches to them.”
“Today the AOL division of Time Warner will announce a service of this type, which will be up and running by the end of the year. Other programs are likely to be articulated soon, as online advertisers prepare for a two-day forum on privacy to be held by the Federal Trade Commission.”
[read whole story]
A MESSAGE FROM SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Dear Constituent:
As the first session of this Congress draws to a close, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the progress we have made together standing up for New York in the United States Senate. As your Senator, I have worked hard to change the direction of our country and address the concerns of New Yorkers from one end of our state to the other. I hope you find this information helpful. If you would like to learn more, you can always visit my website at http://clinton.senate.gov.
As always, joined by Senator Schumer and the entire New York delegation in the House of Representatives, I am working hard on the issues that affect our families. Whether on matters of national security or retirement security, rising gas prices or rising health care costs, I have stood up for New Yorkers and proposed practical solutions that rise above partisanship. I am proud of what we have achieved together.
Sincerely,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
HIGGINS VOTES FOR EXTENSION OF INTERNET TAX FREEDOM AMENDMENTS ACT
Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives to approve H.R. 3678, a bill placing a seven year extension on the Internet Tax Moratorium. The legislation approved by Congress continues the moratorium on state taxation of Internet access and electronic commerce.
“This is a victory for consumers and the growing small business community reliant on web-based sales for economic success,” said Congressman Higgins. “In addition, this bill keeps the cost of using the internet down making this technology and source of unlimited information affordable for seniors and families faced with limited incomes and increasing expenses.”
The Internet tax moratorium was first enacted in 1998. Congress has extended the moratorium twice before, in 2001 and 2004. The Internet Tax moratorium was set to expire November 1, 2007. H.R. 3678 extends the moratorium until 2014. The bill was approved by the Senate on October 25 and will now go to the President’s desk.
GOOD WAY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
SOMETHING COOL THAT XEROX IS DOING
If you go to this web site,
you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them…
2008 AMHERST TOWN BOARD BUDGET PASSED BUT. . .
There were 37 resolutions the Town Board had to vote on before voting on the 2008 budget. During Monday’s budget session money was added and money was taken out of this confusing budget.
Council member Ward submitted a resolution which would create a $500,000 contingency fund in the event the Town faces unforeseen emergencies. The fund balance, which would have been the money source for such emergencies, was lowered when the Supervisor took 6.5 million out and transferred it to the revenue side of the Town budget ledger to help balance town spending and it lack of sufficient revenue.
The actual total of the 2008 budget isn’t known at this time. A good guess is it’s between $115 million and $116 million. The tax levy will roughly drop by 1.5% to 2.5%.
The Comptroller pointed out that the Highway Department needs $500,000 more added to their budget to pay the Highway Department’s workers their Retro pay for the last 2 years.
The Supervisor’s request for a Superintendent for the Waste Water Treatment Plant and a centralized Purchasing Agent passed.
Dr. Mohan wasn’t happy with the Republican controlled Town Board’s generous spending the taxpayer’s money. The budget was passed by 4 Republican Town Board members without any knowledge of its final cost or what the tax levy will be for the Amherst taxpayer.
Our town now has a budget which the Republican block on our Town Board passed with the exception of Republican Shelly Schratz.
The 4 members of the Town Board who voted to accept the budget were Republicans Mohan, McGuire, Kindel and O’Loughlin.
The 3 Town Board members who voted against the budget were Shelly Schratz(R), Dan Ward(D), and Debbie Bucki(D).
774 ARRESTS IN CHINA OVER SAFETY
OK. Chinese officials have been cracking down on the production and sale of tainted food, drugs and agricultural products. They report that there have been 774 people arrested over the past two months as a result of this. Whoopie! Is that supposed to change everything? Are you kidding me?
“Government regulators hailed the arrests as a major step forward for food and drug safety, and said the “criminal suspects” were detained during nationwide inspections of thousands of restaurants, food and drug production plants and wholesale food markets.”
“Determined to counter accusations that it has been producing and also exporting tainted goods, China has vowed to revamp its food and drug safety regulations and to close illegal manufacturers and exporters.”
[read whole story]
A PRINCIPAL WHO CRACKS DOWN ON STRESS
If you have children you may be one of those over-scheduled families. You want your child to be successful in life so you have them involved in several after-school activities and sports. This will lead to a well rounded child. Right? Yes, and well stressed as well.
“It was 6:30 p.m. The lights were still on at Needham High School, here in the affluent Boston suburbs. Paul Richards, the principal, was meeting with the Stress Reduction Committee.
On the agenda: finding the right time to bring in experts to train students in relaxation techniques.”
“Don’t try to have them teach relaxation in study hall, said Olivia Boyd, a senior. Students, she explained, won’t want to interrupt their work. They were already too busy before or after school for the training.”
[read whole story]
IN STUDENTS’ EYES, LOOK-ALIKE LAWYERS DON’T MAKE THE GRADE
I’ve watched Boston Legal. There are men and women, blacks and whites, even one fellow suffering with Asperger’s syndrome practicing in that office. They seem to make big bucks. According to a bunch of Stanford law students handing out “diversity report cards” to the big law firms, many of the biggest firms have atrocious, appalling records on diversity.
“A bunch of law students at Stanford have started assigning letter grades to their prospective employers, which pretty much tells you who holds the power in the market for new associates. It’s not easy to persuade new lawyers from the top schools to accept starting salaries of only $160,000.”
“The students are handing out “diversity report cards” to the big law firms, ranking them by how many female, minority and gay lawyers they have.”
““Many of the firms have atrocious, appalling records on diversity,” said Michele Landis Dauber, a law professor at Stanford and the adviser for the project, called Building a Better Legal Profession. The rankings are at www.betterlegalprofession.org.”
[read whole story]
