Teacher of the Year

I don't understand what the big deal is. After all, I thought this took place every day in New Jersey. All this teacher was doing was showing the students how the real world works. If she was a member of one of the prominent South Buffalo political families, everything would be swept under the rug and she'd probably end up getting transferred to a better school or working at the board of education.

You know, substitute teachers have access to grades too. We know where to locate all the important passwords. A D can very easily be turned into a B. My favorite part of the story is that she told all the students the money was going to charity. She forgot to tell them that charity begins at home. Let he amongst us who is without sin, cast the first stone.

NJ teacher accused of selling grades for $1,400*

Senator Stachowski Uncomfortably Poses With Kids He Would Never Live Next Door To

Please click on picture for a closer view.


State Senator William Stachowski appears to be getting quite desperate. After 29 years of doing nothing but collect a huge paycheck, he now realizes people are starting to ask questions of him. Local developer and civic activist Carl Paladino has publicly called for his resignation. Stachowski is a coward amongst cowards. He will wait until the higher ups tell him what to do. Just like he has for the past 29 years. Widely regarded as being borderline disabled, Stachowski somehow manages to keep getting reelected.

Local Leaders Pose For Idiotic Photo Opt-Again

Please click on picture for a better view.



Local leaders showed up for a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new People, Inc. house over on Indian Church Rd. Is that all they ever do is show up to these photo opts? Tim Kennedy makes $43,000/year to do absolutely nothing. His talent for kissing up to local leaders has helped him avoid his rightful vocation of pumping gas.

Last Week's Crime Report

Don't ask me how, but our local IT department figured out how to send them. If you see my name under any of the arrests, please ignore it. It's a misprint.

Monday August 17th

South Park/Trowbridge--man with a gun---1 arrest---Michael McCrayer....Dartmouth ave--poss of weapon,menacing,drugs.
62 Good--larceny--blak murray bike stolen
2389 Seneca--UUV
103 Weimar--Burglary--cash stolen.
431 Abbott--larceny--CD's stolen from car.
155 Bailey--shoplifters--2 B/M's did steal berr/food--fled in tan van NY reg CGV-676
1111 Fuhrman--crim mis/larceny from car---window broken--GPS stolen.
47 Shenandoah--larceny--purse stolen from car
88 Fields--larceny--IPOD stolen from car.
59 Pries--larceny--money order taken from nightstand
1929 Clinton--larceny--money removed from purse while at Library
34 Alleghany--larceny--laptop stolen.
60 Richfield--larceny--Girls 20" huffy bike & helmet stolen from hall
Marilla st--RUUV
West Seneca Pd--man on Buffalo warrant--1 arrest
86 Troupe--crim mis--bleach thrown at wall--suspect listed.
85 Hayden--larceny--credit card used without permission--1 arrest---Stephen Boylin..
26 Glendhu--crim mis--broken items in house--suspect listed.
78 Kimberly--ID Theft
1450 Seneca--susp vehicle--2 arrest--marijuana--Michelle Turton..Hansen dr....Krystal Piatek Benson..West Seneca
Seneca/Duerstein--2 arrests--Dis con---James Boyer..Duerstein...Brian Szpadell Nugget ave ..Cheek

Tuesday August 18th

46 Densmore--crim mis/larceny from car--door damaged--IPOD stolen
240 Scott--crim mis/larceny from car--window broken--GPS stolen.
519 S Division--larceny--2 bikes stolen from garage
412 Louisianna---crim mis--brike thrown thru rear window.
Louisianna/S park--1 arrest--David Tyes..Newburgh St..marijuana
117 Norman--assault--warrant card issued.
325 Louisianna--harassment---suspect listed2140 Seneca--1 arrest---Sean Darling.....Obstruction/Resisting arrest.
22 Leaminton--threats--1 arrest---Jason Shaul300 Fulton--assault--1 arrest---Clyde Hightower

Wednesday August 19th

105 Riverview---Burglary--entry thru rear window--cash stolen.
215 Scoville--Burglary--while victim was out of town .rear door entry---whole house of items stolen.
827 S Division--Burglary--rear door pryed open---50" TV,Dell computer,playstation stolen...posible suspect listed.
2199 Seneca--larceny--$400 removed from ATM without victims permission.
150 Peabody--larceny--Mongoose--BMX bike stolen
2133 South Park--(NOCO) larceny--safe entered by W/F,cash removed.
40 S Ryan-UUV/RUUV--vehicle recovered down street damaged.
72 Aldrich--larceny--orange & silver mountain bike stolen.
172 Ladner--loud party--1 arrest---Joseph Bialaszewski..criminal nuisance/disorderly conduct.
146 Seymour--crim mis--4 car tires slashed
15 Latona ct--viol of court order--suspect listed.
417 Fulton--harassment--1 arrest--Steven Cassenti..OConnell st
346 Hopkins--narcotics--1 arrest for crack pipe---Anthony Woodward...Electric ave --Lackawanna
110 Hopkins--RUUV
114 McCamley--harassment--suspect listed.
1 Cazenovia Pkwy--1 arrest---Nicholas D'Alessandro...S Park..lackawanna..for harassment
100 Dingens--susp person--1 arrest--Aaron Thomas...10 W Woodside..drugs

Thursdau August 20th

40 Geary-larceny--bike stolen
291 Seneca--crim mis/larceny from car----broken window on vehicle--garage remote stolen
347 Woodside--UUV
1176 South Park--Burglary--buisness enterd with code...monet stolen
197 S Legion--crim mis--window screen cut .
105 Arbour lane--Burglary--basement locked room entered--tools stolen
268 Miami--Burglary--purse stolen/jewelry stolen.
858 S park--1 arrest--poss of stolen property...Jerry Luce..warrant
76 Lockwood--crim mis--vehicle keyed and damaged.
356 Hopkins---Rec UUV
58 Remoleno--crim mis--1 arrest--Brian Jaglowski..Remoleno
169 Fleming--V&T/Drugs--2 arrests---George Richter..Arnold..Lackawanna...Kelly Sullivan...Metcalf

Friday August 21st

1570 S Park--Burglary--suspect listed.
2133 S Park--(NOCO) 1 arrrest for report from 8-19-09---Michelle Pinkowski..Gorski st
726 Exchange--crim mis/larceny from car--pass window broken--Alpine car stereo/tv monitor stolen
1620 S park--Fraud--credit card used without permission
71 Juniata --larceny---wallet stolen--suspect listed.
25 Kenefick--larceny--un-employment card stolen.
139 weaver---larceny--plates taken off vehicle--suspect listed.
567 Exchange--larceny--purse stolen from truck
96 Stevenson--public lewdness--suspect at this location exposing himself to neighbors.
1 Fulton--crim mis--damage to slot machine--suspect listed.
139 weaver--assault--1 arrest---Jospeh Smietana
Cazenovia Park--assault--victim attacked from behind---suspect listed

Saturday August 22nd

341 Cable--larceny--purse stolen off table in yard.
699 McKinley Pkwy--larceny--ex boyfriend stole several items.
556 Abbott--larceny--bike stolen
1028 McKinley--larceny--condiment center and lid shelf stolen
A District--1 arrest for assault---Juvenile suspect...victim assaulted with crowbar at Ludington/Greene--C District
111 Walter--threats--suspect listed.
44 Aldrich--assault----suspect listed.
114 Aldrich--threats--warrant card issued.
422 Louisianna--assault--suspect listed.
435 Bailey--threats witha knife---suspect listed.
A District--report of sexual abuse of a minor on Aldrich st--suspect listed.
286 Fillmore--1 arrest--drugs---Desmond Wakefield...Fillmore ave
Foot of Smith--2 arrests---Joel Jakubowski..Columbia Depew....Denise Bernardi...Fillmore ave...Patronizing a prostitute/Prostitution..drugs
565 Abbott--assault---1 arrest---Jennifer Backus Woodside ave
104 Fillmore--susp vehicle--2 arrests--DWI/Drugs --Patrica King...Alamo st....--Drugs,Patrick Byrne..Cemetary rd ..Belmont NY

Sunday August 23rd

302 Bailey--RUUV
2140 seneca---Burglary--apartment entered and damaged.
613 Fulton--stabbing--suspect listed.
942 McKinley(Advanced Auto Parts)---shoplifter--H/M stole several items and fled store.
1989 Seneca(TOPS)--shoplifters---stole meats.
65 Roanoke--larceny--money.camera stolen--suspect listed.
28 Kamper--larceny--money stolen--suspect listed.
206 Altruria---assault--1 arrest---Jamie Janinga
88 Weaver--RUUV
53 Armin--harassment--suspect listed.
268 Miami---Burglary from 8-20-09--1 arrest--Louie Rogers..Red Jacket st
118 Krakow--harassment--1 arrest---Gregory Guiga..Seneca/Kingston---Poss of forged instrument----Joseph Krempa...Huessy/N Ogden...fake $100 bills.
21 Alamo--susp person---2 arrests---Marylou Umar,Malik Taylor Obructing officers/disorderly conduct....Alamo st
57 Zittel--harassment--1 arrest---Joseph Ray

Was This the Mayberry Police Department?

This was an interesting story out of California. I'm sure you've heard about it. An 11 year old girl goes missing in 1991 and turns up this week. So many strange things in it, I don't know where to begin.

-When I saw that neighbors referred to the suspect as "creepy Phil", I thought it was just another local news story about Bflo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore. Turns out this guy was actually a registered sex offender living in California.

-Now, they think he might be responsible for serial killings of several prostitutes (that were coincidentally taking place near his place of work). Have they ever heard of DNA testing in California? I thought California was supposed to be ahead of everyone else on cutting edge technology.

-The suspect had an elaborate set up of tents in his back yard where he kept his victims. With him being a convicted kidnapper and rapist, why would authorities not bother to check out his tents? It's not like neighbors didn't alert the authorities that Phil was a "foul ball".

-It says he served only 10 years on a 50 year sentence for the kidnapping and rape in 1977. That seems fair. Who presided over the case? Judge John Curtin?

Gone 18 years, girl found but questions remain*

Williams/Kane's Salary Remain a Secret

This article was in today's paper regarding salary data for the Buffalo Board of Education. Superintendent Williams is reluctant to put this information on the city of Buffalo website. I was glad to see a link to another website wwwseethroughny.net, where some of the information was found.

On that website, I found that Bflo Director of Physical Education (East Amherst resident) Dave Thomas made $115,796 last year. With a sectional record of 2-699-0, I can see his pay was not based on performance. The Buffalo athletic programs have been a complete joke under his leadership (for lack of a better word). He mentioned once that Buffalo schools would someday have field hockey programs. Have you purchased the skirts yet? It also shows that his entitled son made $50,199 despite being a newer teacher. Must be nice when daddy hands you every coaching opportunity there is. I hope the retirement rumors about Thomas are true for the sake of all scholastic athletes in Buffalo.

Noticeably missing from this data was Dr. William's salary as well as the salary of West Seneca resident and William's chief of staff James Kane. What are these guys trying to hide? We will have to conduct our own independent investigation to uncover their salaries.

I remember when Williams tried to sneak out of Buffalo for a job in Memphis, Tenn. He was a serious candidate until the Memphis papers found out the Bflo schools were on the brink of disaster and people were trying to run Williams out of town. Then, he quietly withdrew. Looks like Memphis' gain continues to be our loss.

City schools’ payroll data won’t be going online*

Your Bingo Money at Work

Nobody likes neighborhood gossip, except me of course. Looks like some financial irregularities were going on over at St. Teresa's (on Seneca St.). So let me get this straight. We put thousands of dollars in cash in front of parish priests and then tell them they're not allowed to drink, gamble, or have sex. And we're surprised when this stuff starts happening why???

Some of the greatest men I've ever met have been priests. I feel bad for these particular priests because they do great work.Then, there were some that I and many others could see right through. I don't know the people involved in this case. They very well could be innocent. Perhaps there was no wrongdoing. Time will tell.

In the meantime, the diocese has asked me to hear confessions over at St. Teresa's until the matter is resolved. We will have live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 PM followed by jugglers, folk dancing,a tai bo class, and then the confessions. Believe me, we will get things turned around over there in no time.

Diocese ousts St. Teresa’s priest and finance chief*

Taxi Driver

Here is Robert De Niro's famous "you talking to me?" scene from the dark movie Taxi Driver. Deniro played the character of Travis Bickle, a lonely Vietnam vet suffering from insomnia who cruised the mean streets of New York City in his taxi cab night after night.

The movie was directed by Martin Scorsese. Scorsese said the movie was meant to depict alienation. It became an instant classic with loners and other antisocial types that contacted Scorsese, convinced that he had them in mind when he created the Bickle character. In fact, it is believed that John Hinckley, Jr., the wackjob that tried to assassinate Reagan,was highly influenced by the movie.

In this scene, De Niro has already lost it. He is in his apartment rehearsing for a yet to be determined confrontation with a pimp after realizing his efforts to kill a presidential candidate aren't going anywhere. If you are offended by foul language, please do not watch the video. I'm not a fan of foul language in film but in this scene it is used to depict the rage the character was feeling. After watching this scene, it's a good thing the Kane boys didn't get picked up by this guy.

How Does This Guy Keep His Seat?

It seems like every day there is a new story about Ellicott Councilman Brian Davis. He writes one bad check after another. He lies on his resume and claims he graduated from college when it is not true. We now find out he was "managing" the failed One Sunset restaurant. Doesn't a councilman have other things to do besides manage a restaurant? My favorite line during the whole One Sunset fiasco was when Mayor Brown's Deputy Mayor (also named Brown) said she was aware that the restaurant was having some "hiccups". That's has to be the understatement of the century.

I don't understand why there appears to be no outrage among Davis' constituency. This guy is no good. I'm certain there are very good people in his district that would love to take his place and actually serve the public. Someone powerful has to be protecting him or he would have been led to resign some time ago. The whole thing would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that Davis is in a position to make decisions that affect the whole city. Where are the leaders on the East side of Buffalo? Davis needs to step down.
Davis hasn’t made good on check, landlord says*

crime stats 8/17-8/23

Monday August 17th
South Park/Trowbridge--man with a gun---1 arrest---Michael McCrayer....Dartmouth ave--poss of weapon,menacing,drugs.
62 Good--larceny--blak murray bike stolen
2389 Seneca--UUV
103 Weimar--Burglary--cash stolen.
431 Abbott--larceny--CD's stolen from car.
155 Bailey--shoplifters--2 B/M's did steal berr/food--fled in tan van NY reg CGV-676
1111 Fuhrman--crim mis/larceny from car---window broken--GPS stolen.
47 Shenandoah--larceny--purse stolen from car
88 Fields--larceny--IPOD stolen from car.
59 Pries--larceny--money order taken from nightstand
1929 Clinton--larceny--money removed from purse while at Library
34 Alleghany--larceny--laptop stolen.
60 Richfield--larceny--Girls 20" huffy bike & helmet stolen from hall
Marilla st--RUUV
West Seneca Pd--man on Buffalo warrant--1 arrest
86 Troupe--crim mis--bleach thrown at wall--suspect listed.
85 Hayden--larceny--credit card used without permission--1 arrest---Stephen Boylin..
26 Glendhu--crim mis--broken items in house--suspect listed.
78 Kimberly--ID Theft
1450 Seneca--susp vehicle--2 arrest--marijuana--Michelle Turton..Hansen dr....Krystal Piatek Benson..West Seneca
Seneca/Duerstein--2 arrests--Dis con---James Boyer..Duerstein...Brian Szpadell Nugget ave ..Cheek
Tuesday August 18th
46 Densmore--crim mis/larceny from car--door damaged--IPOD stolen
240 Scott--crim mis/larceny from car--window broken--GPS stolen.
519 S Division--larceny--2 bikes stolen from garage
412 Louisianna---crim mis--brike thrown thru rear window.
Louisianna/S park--1 arrest--David Tyes..Newburgh St..marijuana
117 Norman--assault--warrant card issued.
325 Louisianna--harassment---suspect listed2140 Seneca--1 arrest---Sean Darling.....Obstruction/Resisting arrest.
22 Leaminton--threats--1 arrest---Jason Shaul300 Fulton--assault--1 arrest---Clyde Hightower
Wednesday August 19th
105 Riverview---Burglary--entry thru rear window--cash stolen.
215 Scoville--Burglary--while victim was out of town .rear door entry---whole house of items stolen.
827 S Division--Burglary--rear door pryed open---50" TV,Dell computer,playstation stolen...posible suspect listed.
2199 Seneca--larceny--$400 removed from ATM without victims permission.
150 Peabody--larceny--Mongoose--BMX bike stolen
2133 South Park--(NOCO) larceny--safe entered by W/F,cash removed.
40 S Ryan-UUV/RUUV--vehicle recovered down street damaged.
72 Aldrich--larceny--orange & silver mountain bike stolen.
172 Ladner--loud party--1 arrest---Joseph Bialaszewski..criminal nuisance/disorderly conduct.
146 Seymour--crim mis--4 car tires slashed
15 Latona ct--viol of court order--suspect listed.
417 Fulton--harassment--1 arrest--Steven Cassenti..OConnell st
346 Hopkins--narcotics--1 arrest for crack pipe---Anthony Woodward...Electric ave --Lackawanna
110 Hopkins--RUUV
114 McCamley--harassment--suspect listed.
1 Cazenovia Pkwy--1 arrest---Nicholas D'Alessandro...S Park..lackawanna..for harassment
100 Dingens--susp person--1 arrest--Aaron Thomas...10 W Woodside..drugs
Thursdau August 20th
40 Geary-larceny--bike stolen
291 Seneca--crim mis/larceny from car----broken window on vehicle--garage remote stolen
347 Woodside--UUV
1176 South Park--Burglary--buisness enterd with code...monet stolen
197 S Legion--crim mis--window screen cut .
105 Arbour lane--Burglary--basement locked room entered--tools stolen
268 Miami--Burglary--purse stolen/jewelry stolen.
858 S park--1 arrest--poss of stolen property...Jerry Luce..warrant
76 Lockwood--crim mis--vehicle keyed and damaged.
356 Hopkins---Rec UUV
58 Remoleno--crim mis--1 arrest--Brian Jaglowski..Remoleno
169 Fleming--V&T/Drugs--2 arrests---George Richter..Arnold..Lackawanna...Kelly Sullivan...Metcalf
Friday August 21st
1570 S Park--Burglary--suspect listed.
2133 S Park--(NOCO) 1 arrrest for report from 8-19-09---Michelle Pinkowski..Gorski st
726 Exchange--crim mis/larceny from car--pass window broken--Alpine car stereo/tv monitor stolen
1620 S park--Fraud--credit card used without permission
71 Juniata --larceny---wallet stolen--suspect listed.
25 Kenefick--larceny--un-employment card stolen.
139 weaver---larceny--plates taken off vehicle--suspect listed.
567 Exchange--larceny--purse stolen from truck
96 Stevenson--public lewdness--suspect at this location exposing himself to neighbors.
1 Fulton--crim mis--damage to slot machine--suspect listed.
139 weaver--assault--1 arrest---Jospeh Smietana
Cazenovia Park--assault--victim attacked from behind---suspect listed
Saturday August 22nd
341 Cable--larceny--purse stolen off table in yard.
699 McKinley Pkwy--larceny--ex boyfriend stole several items.
556 Abbott--larceny--bike stolen
1028 McKinley--larceny--condiment center and lid shelf stolen
A District--1 arrest for assault---Juvenile suspect...victim assaulted with crowbar at Ludington/Greene--C District
111 Walter--threats--suspect listed.
44 Aldrich--assault----suspect listed.
114 Aldrich--threats--warrant card issued.
422 Louisianna--assault--suspect listed.
435 Bailey--threats witha knife---suspect listed.
A District--report of sexual abuse of a minor on Aldrich st--suspect listed.
286 Fillmore--1 arrest--drugs---Desmond Wakefield...Fillmore ave
Foot of Smith--2 arrests---Joel Jakubowski..Columbia Depew....Denise Bernardi...Fillmore ave...Patronizing a prostitute/Prostitution..drugs
565 Abbott--assault---1 arrest---Jennifer Backus Woodside ave
104 Fillmore--susp vehicle--2 arrests--DWI/Drugs --Patrica King...Alamo st....--Drugs,Patrick Byrne..Cemetary rd ..Belmont NY
Sunday August 23rd
302 Bailey--RUUV
2140 seneca---Burglary--apartment entered and damaged.
613 Fulton--stabbing--suspect listed.
942 McKinley(Advanced Auto Parts)---shoplifter--H/M stole several items and fled store.
1989 Seneca(TOPS)--shoplifters---stole meats.
65 Roanoke--larceny--money.camera stolen--suspect listed.
28 Kamper--larceny--money stolen--suspect listed.
206 Altruria---assault--1 arrest---Jamie Janinga
88 Weaver--RUUV
53 Armin--harassment--suspect listed.
268 Miami---Burglary from 8-20-09--1 arrest--Louie Rogers..Red Jacket st
118 Krakow--harassment--1 arrest---Gregory Guiga..Seneca/Kingston---Poss of forged instrument----Joseph Krempa...Huessy/N Ogden...fake $100 bills.
21 Alamo--susp person---2 arrests---Marylou Umar,Malik Taylor Obructing officers/disorderly conduct....Alamo st
57 Zittel--harassment--1 arrest---Joseph Ray

Random Thoughts From the Ghetto-Volume 2

-I don't care whether it's at an amusement park or the local mall, it's always funny when you see a child connected to their parents with one of those "kid leashes". Fast forward 25 years when the kid is sitting on a couch talking to a psychiatrist, "Well, then you see my mother put this rope around my neck when we were at the Galleria Mall food court and everyone began to stare at me...

-A woman (I refuse to repeat her name) recently started a rumor via the Metro Community News that everything at Cazenovia Park would soon be moved over to the Hopkins St. area. I don't know why she felt the need to broadcast this but I'm sure it is untrue. Everyone loves Caz Park and there are no plans that I'm aware of to move anything. It is centrally located and a beautifully designed Olmstead Park. This is the same woman who wrote to the Metro Community News last December to thank the local politicians for being so "generous" to her group. Her "group" consists of about three people. I can't believe any of our tax money is given to this person.

-I was surprised to see this week's hurricane was named Bill. Usually, they are given crazy names like Ike, Hugo, or Gustavo. In fact, I might be wrong but the last normal name I can remember for a hurricane was hurricane David in 1980. I'm still wondering why they give hurricanes people names in the first place.

-I send out the crime reports every week from the South District police station. Every week, I see that people's inspection stickers are getting stolen from the inside of their cars. I can't think of a more despicable crime. These people should get 10 years in jail... Come to think of it, my inspection is overdue and I don't think my car will pass the emissions test. Does anyone know where I can get one of those stickers?

-Something else that's always funny is when you see someone wearing a neck brace. If you're like me, you instantly think they might be wearing it to fake an injury in an effort to win a settlement. I think this originates from the Brady Bunch episode where Mr. Brady dropped the briefcase in court, which made the plaintiff quickly turn his head, thus exposing his evil plot.

-Speaking of the Brady Bunch, I still can't believe Mr. Brady was a homosexual in real life. In fact, he and Rock Hudson were two actors always given patriarchal roles in everything they did. Both were gay. Mr. Brady gave everyone a clue during the two part Hawaii episodes (where Greg almost died while surfing). In one part, he had normal hair. In the other, he had this crazy perm. This was not so much a hairdo as it was a plea for help. Looking back now in hindsight, was anyone really that surprised?

Wild Turkeys

There is so much wildlife close to the city. I am always looking for it. Please be careful when driving as I see deer all the time in places you wouldn't expect. I also see coyotes and turkey. Haven't seen a bear yet but I have a feeling that day is coming soon. Today, I saw 5 or 6 wild turkeys behind a veterans post on Electric Avenue in Blasdell. You can't tell from the video but these turkeys were huge and very fast. It was neat to see how they quickly disappear into the woods when they sense danger. I knew I could drive up very close to them with my reporter's camera rolling. Sorry about the grainy footage. If you click the icon on the bottom right corner of the video, you will be able to see it on the full screen.

As soon as I can afford one, I will be purchasing a real video camera. So, if you work for the city or the Buffalo Board of Education, don't be surprised if you have a visiter outside of your suburban home when you come home from work someday. I can film turkeys going into their houses in Amherst, West Seneca, Hamburg, etc. as easily as I can film turkeys going into the woods in Blasdell...

Please help me promote blog

I'd just like to ask that you bookmark this site and forward it to your friends in your address book. Sites like this spread through word of mouth. I really have no money to spend on advertising. I truly enjoy blogging and commenting on current events. I like all the comments I've received (even the negative ones).

I am looking for advertisers for the blog. If you know someone who runs a business that depends on word of mouth advertising (ie. landscaping, roofing, snow removal, etc.). I don't care if they sell stolen property out of their car. Send them my way! (For all of you politically correct people out there, that was just a joke.) If they have a website or even a phone number to plug, I can put them on here. Because my site is new, I will do it at a very affordable rate.

The way this site looks now will probably be much different than the way it will appear in the future. I welcome all suggestions with the exception of "drop dead Mike!" Thanks again, and here is the link if you'd like to copy and past it to send in an email: http://mikeblake-myopinions.blogspot.com/

Wackjob Student Living in Woods at UB

This was the only interesting story I saw in today's paper. A 21 year old UB student is living in the woods behind campus to avoid paying dorm fees. Shockingly, he's a philosophy major. Now, when he graduates he can count on being homeless as well as jobless. He better watch out. I hear Governor Patterson might be proposing a "cabin tax" soon.

Come on, Bro! Why don't you just apply for student loans like everyone else? I can't blame the guy if he doesn't, though. Frostbite and wild animals can't be any worse than the harrassing phone calls you get from student loan officers these days.
Roughing it on campus*

That's a man Baby!

Here is a bizarre story out of Berlin. IAAF officials are publicly questioning whether 800 meter winner Caster Semenya of South Africa is a man or a woman.
Scientists studying Semenya are split on the issue. Those that think Semenya is a man point out that he(?)likes to hog the remote control, leaves the toilet seat up, and refuses to ask for directions. Those defending Semenya say she(?)loves the Lifetime network, Rosie O'Donnell, and screeches every time a spider comes into the room. Stay tuned for future updates on this developing (maybe that's a bad choice of words) story.
Gold has its price for runner*

International Update- Libya

Other countries like to say the USA thinks they are better than them. Quite frankly, we are. Here's a prime example. Libya wants our respect and a place at the international table. Yet it's people cheered wildly for Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the terrorist convicted of killing 270 people (mostly college students ) on Pan Am flight 103 in 1988. In fact, Moammar Gadhafi's son was there to greet him at the airport. Normal people don't cheer for mass murderers. I don't care what culture you are from. It was a classless act.

Why he was released also needs to be investigated. I don't care what they claim about compassion (the terrorist has terminal cancer). Scotland was given something by Libya (probably tons of cash) to release him. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton need to do something about this atrocity. Maybe Clinton will look into it after she brings the 200,000 jobs she promised to upstate NY. While they're at it, they should arrest the two Libyan terrorists that killed Doc Brown in Back to the Future.

Lockerbie bomber freed, returns to cheers in Libya*

Sun Sets on One Sunset

These articles were in today's Buffalo News. I don't remember when it became government's job to fund new businesses. I guess it's a tough call because people will complain to politicians if there are empty storefronts or they'll complain if they try to jump start new businesses. However, money is no substitute for good business sense.
Talk to any successful small business owner and they'll tell you great stories about how hard it was to start their business and how many long hours it took them in the early days. The successful ones don't need much to start with except a good product, great customer service, and a willingness to work long hours. I look at the Wayside Restaurant as a prime example. That restaurant has flourished because they serve very good food at a reasonable prices and the husband and wife that run it(Dennis and Clare) spend countless hours doing so.
I hope it does well, but the new restaurant on Seneca St. (Francesca's) doesn't need $70,000 of our money to make it look like Salvatores. It needs good food at reasonable prices. If you build it, they will come.
Looks like in the case of One Sunset, the BERC (see useless government agency) gave tens of thousands of dollars of our money to a politically connected former basketball player with no previous business experience. Needless to say, the restaurant failed and now at least $90,000 is "unaccounted for". The woman behind the mess (Michelle Barron) was praised by city hall officials a few months ago and labeled as a scapegoat. Today, she was quietly fired by them. I wonder what Dennis and Clare from the Wayside would think about all the free money they were given.
Auditors can't find $90,000 in aid given to failed restaurant*

Barron fired from city post*

Random Thoughts From the Ghetto- Volume 1

- I know it happened about 15 years ago but I'm just now getting over the shock that such an absurd event even took place. Did we actually witness someone lie down in front of a garbage truck to get elected to the Buffalo Common Council?

-The Bflo Bills recently came out with their 50th anniversary team. I was happy to see they selected James Lofton. I always thought he was an unheralded player on the great Super Bowl teams. The selection of Reuban Brown on offensive line was a bad one in my opinion. I'm not too sure about the difference between a guard and a tackle but I think Reggie McKenzie, Will Wolford, and Joe Devlin were all better linemen than Brown, and none of them were selected. Brown was very good at getting flagged for holding and promoting himself off of the field. Maybe he should run for local office in a few years.

-If you're one of those people that buys lottery tickets at convenient stores while the line behind you increases, you should know that the people behind you are irritated at you. People who go to these stores are often in a hurry and really don't care what your lucky numbers are. Please do us all a favor and use a lottery machine to throw away your money.

-I know they were trying to make a political statement but the people that showed up outside Obama's rally carrying loaded guns in Arizona did more to harm their cause than help it. One guy even had a semi automatic weapon and it was all legal. I'm for the 2nd amendment but something needs to be done to get handguns out of the hands of criminals and drug dealers in this country.

-I'm not an expert writer by any means. No, really. But I'm puzzled as to why Donne Esmonde has a fascination with describing the physical characteristics of every male subject he writes about. Just an observation. This is the same guy that wrote a spiteful story about Jimmy Griffin two days after he died. Do you think he never got over the way Griffin used to refer to him as Donny Osmond.? Just a guess.

-Thank you to everyone that reads my blog. I'm getting comments from people out in the community that I never thought would be interested in what I have to say. Surprisingly, some don't even think that I suck. As the late Ray Hermann used to say in his columns, Go forth and sin no more.

Woman Claims to be Pregnant With 12 Kids

How come stories like this always seem to happen in countries like Tunisia? Some are already doubting it's validity.

http://www.newser.com/story/67211/officials-doubt-tunisian-woman-expecting-12-babies.html?utm_source=addthis&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=story

Goin' South Makes Today's Picture Page

Some conversations overheard at last week's Italian Festival.
(Please click on picture for a better view)

Let's See if Governor Pinocchio Has Any Guts

I hope governor Patterson signs this piece of legislation giving state authorities less power. Remember when people were calling for the elimination of the thruway tolls and all the thruway authority spokespeople were saying we needed the "revenue"? Be careful when you hear political people use that word. As most know, it's a safe way for them to say taxes. They got rid of a few tolls and then increased tolls on other parts of the thruway. Assemblyman Mark Schroeder and Congressman Brian Higgins are just two of many that have spoken out against these corrupt agencies. The agencies are out of control and need to go. Some important points to ponder. Will the governor sign this legislation or will he come up with some lame excuse not to? Will his approval rating continue to decrease to unprecedented levels? Will I order pizza for dinner tonight? Stay tuned. All of these questions will be answered shortly.

South Buffalo Soccer Club

There weren't that many interesting stories in today's paper. I didn't notice any pictures from the S Bflo News or Metro Community News worthy of scanning. Maybe, we'll all get lucky and the leaders will stop putting dumb pictures of themselves in print, thus unintentionally providing me with material.

I just wanted to take the time to mention Tom and Jean Finn and the work they do with the South Bflo Soccer Club. They've been running the organization for about eight years in addition to raising their six children. You wouldn't believe the amount of phone calls and emails they get. They provided great leagues this summer for children ages 4-16. Tom is always there to help the girl's travel teams also , especially in disputes involving Red (just kidding). Almost every night of their summer is booked with soccer events and games for the Finn family. I think sometimes people take what they do for granted. If they didn't run this stuff, it ends or gets taken over by overzealous people with limited soccer experience. I've seen it happen before. The group that suffers is the participants because they are given an inferior product. Tom never takes a break. He goes right to being the referee assigner for the catholic grammar school in the fall. So, congratulations to Jean and Tom. They might be the first people ever mentioned in a positive story on this blog.

Parent Gets Upset Over Son's Role With Team

Orchard Park High School football coach Gene Tundo settled for $50,000 after he received threatening anonymous letters from a parent upset that Tundo was playing his own son at running back over the parent's son. Tundo's son is widely known as one of the best athletes in the state. I'd say the parent went a little too far. This sounds like it could have been a Tanya Harding incident waiting to happen. If the guy was so upset, he should have just started his own blog.
Coach accepts payment to end lawsuit*

What Will They Think of Next?

This was sent to me by a friend. It is the story of a blind man fitted with a device on his tongue that allows him to see through his tongue. Please, no questions about how it works. Keep in mind, I'm a phys ed major. Amazing discovery, though.

John Hughes (1950-2009)

John Hughes was an American filmaker responsible for such films as The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone, Vacation, Sixteen Candles, Planes,Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and many others. He was known for creating many memorable characters in his films and examining teen life in a way that had never been done before. He went out for his evening walk last week at age 59 and dropped dead from a heart attack. I never realized when he was alive how many great films he was involved with. Here is the ending from The Breakfast Club, a film about a group of high school students with very different lives that spend a Saturday together in detention at their high school. It's a very good ending scene to the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1I4q6lOpo

Suspect still at large in recent $700 theft

Police have not released a name yet in connection with a recent $700 theft on Oakmont St. They have a suspect in mind and have released this composite sketch. He is known to frequent several local fast food restaurants and all-you-can-eat buffets. If you see this person, please be careful and contact local police immediately. He will be incapable of making any decision on his own and will usually start every other sentence with the words Brian Higgins this... Brian Higgins that...
$700 worth of hot dogs and hamburgers stolen*

Name change

I never really liked the word unsolicited in the blog's title. Too fancy. Too dificult to pronounce or spell. An irate reader sent me a message recently and said I was "unbalanced". Although this person meant it in a negative way, I kind of liked it.

un⋅bal⋅anced 
–adjective
1.not balanced or not properly balanced.
2.lacking steadiness and soundness of judgment.
3.mentally disordered; deranged.

I guess I better get used to negative comments as the privileged band together to defend themselves and their relatives. Many of them keep saying I "don't know what I'm talking about." But when I ask them to tell me what incorrect information I have posted, they never respond about a specific post. I do my best to post accurately. Most of it is simply my opinion. It's hard to get all the facts when the powers that be work so hard to shield them from the rest of us. I don't know what they are so worried about. I'm just a soccer coach. A nobody. I don't know anyone. Why would anyone care about what I write anyway?

400 hits in the last few weeks with very little advertising
My Unbalanced Opinions- Bringing people together since 2009

When I started this, I thought it was going to be hard to find content. There's so much stuff out there, it's been like shooting fish in a barrel. In fact, it's been so easy, a caveman could do it...

To each his own, I guess

When someone is searching for faith, what would make them say, "I hear good things about snake handling." It's hard to believe these are Americans living in the same era as you and I. I wonder if they have weekly bingo in Jolo, WV? Hard to believe it is only 500 miles from Buffalo. I don't care if there is a desperate shortage of phys ed teachers there. This is one area of the country I will avoid. Check out the dancing guy's face at 0:17.

Lighten Up Francis

This is a memorable scene from the movie Stripes. It is where Francis, AKA "psycho" introduces himself to the rest of the platoon. Great movie until they captured the RV. It should have ended there. "You just made the list, buddy."

Where Do They Find These People?

Click on picture for a better view.

With a team like this, who needs waterboys?

Seneca St. Car Show this Sunday

The Seneca St. Car Show will be this Sunday 8/9 from 11AM until 4PM. It will be held between Mineral Springs Rd. and Cazenovia St. It is a nice event, organized by Linda Bain, that you can bring the whole family to. I predict my cousin Paul Blake is going to win with our grandfather's refurbished 1971 Thunderbird. Pictured here is a 1950 Studebaker chosen for regular blog reader and Studebaker enthusiast Sam Licata.

International Update

Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawhiri (he's Irish on his mother's side) came out with a statement today offering a truce with the US. I, for one, think we should pass. I hope people never forget the pain bin Laden inflicted on this country and the world on 9/11.

Seriously,everyone knows bin Laden is in a basement somewhere in Pakistan. The guy is anywhere from 6 ft 4 to 6 ft 6 in a country the size of Babcock where the average men's height is about 5 ft 3. Give me 4 kegs of beer, 20 drunks from Hoppers, and some plane tickets and I think we could track this guy down in a week.

al-Zawhiri is not a big fan of President Obama. He said, "Obama is like a wolf whose fangs tear your flesh and whose paws slit your face, and then he calls upon you to talk about peace." What a coincidence. I said the same thing last week about Assemblyman Mark Schroeder. I'd like to see al-Zawhiri's resume' as we may be looking for a writer's assistant soon.

http://www.uniphiz.com/faces/usama_bin_laden.htm

Amber alert! Please help us bring these people back to the city

An amber alert has just been issued for two city of Buffalo Commisioners , the Chief of staff for the Buffalo Board of Education , and the lead community superintendent of Buffalo. We are trying to locate these people and they are no where to be found. After they leave downtown at 2PM, they are rarely seen within the city of Buffalo:

James Kane- former S Bflo resident, chief of staff Bflo public schools. Last seen in West Seneca.


James Comerford, Commisioner of Permits and Licenses. Last seen in East Aurora.

Dave Thomas, director of Physical Education, Last seen in East Amherst.

Mark Frazier, Lead Community Superintendent at an annnual salary of $129,075. It doesn't say what community he leads. Last seen in Hamburg.

If you see any of these people within the city limits, please approach them with caution and contact the nearest residency officer immediately. They may be trying to get no show jobs or extra part time jobs for their kids and could be in an agitated state. James Kane just helped the entitled Comerford's daughter land a do nothing job with the Board of Education. Thomas has his son coaching three high school school sports teams. I don't know the East Amherst resident but a good source tells me he's not much of a coach. Kane's kids are too young but don't worry. Expect them to be handed something soon. These are the privileged elite we are talking about. They are better than us. We are of the lowly peasantry. I only hope to someday be mentioned in the same breath as them.