Happy Groundhog Day

It's Groundhog Day! You know what that means.  If State Senator Tim Kennedy comes out and sees his shadow, he will be Pro-Life for another six months. If he doesn't, then he might switch back to being Pro-Choice. Or maybe, he will be both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. You see, it depends on what stance he is told to take.

Be very careful in watching the way The Buffalo News is treating this issue. They are CLEARLY in the pockets of Tim Kennedy and more specifically, Congressman Brian Higgins. They are totally downplaying Kennedy's switch as if it were a personal decision and not based on politics. The switch was made based on Kennedy losing the support of the Conservative Party  and his attempts to gain favor with Governor Cuomo. Things were a lot easier for Tim Kennedy when all he had to do was lick envelopes and put up campaign signs for whatever machine backed candidate he was told to. That's what happens when we allow unskilled political frauds to get elected.

Put aside your feelings on abortion for a minute and ask yourself this question? Do we want to be represented by a leader who bases his stances solely on which lobbyist puts money in his pockets? I believe Tim Kennedy is underestimating the old Catholic ladies at Bingo. As soon as the word gets around about his change in policy, these women and their husbands will crucify Kennedy in September. But, as the Buffalo News seems to believe, Kennedy will only be facing one primary opponent this September, Betty Jean Grant.

This shows once again how clueless and out of touch the Buffalo News is. They have no idea what goes on beyond East Amherst and Williamsville. I'm hearing several unconfirmed reports of a third potential candidate emerging. A dark horse. A shadowy figure. He has no connection to the greedy lobbyists, but does possess the ability to think for himself. He has little money, but plenty of access to the voters through social media. So he's got that going for him, which is nice...

Artificial stupidity

As if you're weekend coming to an end wasn't bad enough, now there's this: Google Director Ray Kurzweil predicts that in 2029 robots will officially become smarter than humans...

The 66-year-old entrepreneur and futureologist believes that in 15 years' time machines will be able to crack jokes, tell stories and even flirt.

He also predicts that robots will be able to hold conversations and learn from experience. That's scary because most of us can't do half of those things now. 

Scientists say Kurzweil's prediction echoes the plot of the Oscar nominated film Her, in which some loser falls in love with his computer operating system. However,  the phenomenon can actually be traced back to this pivotal scene from Rocky IV...


Check out the full article at this link...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2565948/Computer-robots-outsmart-humans-15-years-Google-director-claims-giant-laboratory-artificial-intelligence-planned.html

West Seneca group home protest

It's always nice when neighbors get together to engage in peaceful protest. And I think the best way to get their message heard is through homemade signs displaying subtle messages...

Be careful what you wish for

You have to love when a guy lobbies Albany to create a new law and then is one of the first people arrested and charged with breaking his own law. It must feel like when you step on a metal rake and the wooden end pops up and hits you in the face...

  Dwayne Ferguson was among local activists who stood with Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes last year lobbying for a law that would make possessing a gun on school property a felony. Prior to New York State’s adoption of the SAFE Act last year, in response to the Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut, it was a long-established state law that guns could not be brought onto school property. The only difference was that the crime carried less punishment as a misdemeanor.

In an ironic turn of events, Ferguson was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon under that law for Thursday’s incident. The law carries a maximum sentence of up to four years in state prison.  

In fairness to Ferguson, he has a valid permit for the gun and I don't believe he had any malicious intent. Someone, probably a political foe, knew he carried a weapon and "dropped a dime" on him. I don't think what he did warrants a felony, but that will be up to Judge Wapner to decide.

An old man turned 98

He won the lottery

and died the next day...

You can read the full article here...
Associates defend man who had gun in school* 

West Seneca sex offenders

Many West Seneca residents were shocked to hear that a house for developmentally disabled adults on Leydecker Road was being used to house seven registered sex offenders. The state was in error for not notifying residents as to who their new neighbors would be. However, had they notified them, the residents would never have allowed it to happen. The bigger question is, why did the state decide to place the seven men in such a residential location in the first place? I have to side with the neighbors on this one.

Having said that, I don't think it was necessary for the Front Page newspaper to post their pictures on the front of this week's paper. One of the guys had a huge smile, as if he was getting his picture taken for his birthday. 

I've worked with developmentally disabled adults for the past twelve years and I believe I know the population pretty well. The seven from this house are different than the pervert down the street who knows what he is doing and plots his illicit activities. The developmentally disabled are often unaware of the severity of their actions, until they are caught and punished. Then, they find out real quick. In fact, at my last agency, there was a house like this way out in a rural area. Everyone wanted to work there, because they had extra staff and there were hardly any behavior incidents to deal with. The residents were well behaved and it was an easy gig. But this house wasn't near any schools or parks, which made it a good location for the agency.

Although I'd bet these seven men are not as dangerous as advertised,  I wouldn't want them to live next door to me, either. All it takes is one incident. The agencies are always saying that the developmentally disabled are people like everyone else and should be treated the same. This works both ways. Society would never approve of non-disabled sex offenders living in their neighborhood. Why should disabled sex offenders be treated differently? Although their intentions might not be as malicious as the former, the result could end up being the same. It's not an easy group to place, but these are decisions that the higher ups get paid the big bucks to make. I think it's best to error on the side of caution. 

Thinking outside the box

The three most important rules of setting up a business: location, location, location. This old adage was proven correct yet again when a 13 year old Girl Scout sold 117 boxes of cookies after setting up shop across the street from a San Francisco medical marijuana clinic. The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco...

Thirteen-year-old Danielle Lei was certainly ‘thinking outside the box’ when she set up her cookie stall outside The Green Cross marijuana dispensary in San Francisco.

Entrepreneurial Miss Lei sold 117 boxes of Tagalongs and Thin Mints in two hours, the proceeds of which benefits charitable organizations.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2564740/Shes-one-smart-cookie-Girl-scout-13-capitalizes-munchies-sells-117-boxes-snack-outside-medical-marijuana-clinic.html#ixzz2u0YyUnda
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Bishop Malone: no fan of Tim Kennedy

Looks like we can add Bishop Malone to the ever growing list of former Tim Kennedy supporters. From today's Buffalo News...

“For anyone to say that he or she is a faithful Catholic and to be pro-abortion/pro-choice rights is totally inconsistent with Catholic teaching, which is clearly articulated in the catechism of the Catholic Church,” Malone said.

Meanwhile, the disingenuous Kennedy responded with the typical, tiresome BS response that while he personally is Pro-Life, politically he is Pro-Choice...

“I maintain my personal views on this issue, but my decisions in the State Senate impact about 300,000 individuals who live in my district and over 19 million people who live across the State of New York,” he added in the statement.

This is why people can't stand career politicians. He says in essence, "I'm against it, but I'm voting for it." He should be a man and stand up for what he believes in regardless of the issue. I don't care whether someone is Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, however, decide where you stand and stop the tap dancing nonsense.

I'd like to tell Bishop Malone this: I live in his neighborhood and Tim Kennedy isn't for or against anything. He was against abortion originally (because it sold to the elderly South Buffalo Catholic voters in his district and guaranteed him the coveted Conservative Party endorsement.) Then, when the gay marriage issue came about, he had no idea what to do. Eventually, he was told by the people pulling his strings that he had to support it. He received a great deal of financial support from groups supporting that piece of legislation. But this led to him losing the Conservative endorsement. Now that he knows he won't be getting the Conservative endorsement, he will support Cuomo's Bill (and I'm sure Kennedy was offered something nice by the Governor's people to do so). But don't worry. If our next governor is Pro-Life, I'm sure Tim will change "his" views once again.

The idea that Kennedy stands for anything is laughable. All you have to do is look at his track record and follow the money. The problem for Tim is that the number of people he's turned off is growing every day. The voters (young and old) are becoming on to him. A dark horse awaits...




http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/kennedys-flip-to-pro-choice-on-abortion-issue-draws-ire-of-buffalo-bishop-20140219

Justice delayed

This is not a joke. A South Carolina woman spent the night in jail after police discovered she failed to return a VHS tape from 1995. In other news, apparently people still use VHS tapes. 

Finley, 27, was arrested Thursday in Pickens County, South Carolina, on a misdemeanor charge of failure to return the video, according to CNN affiliate WYFF-TV.


The movie she failed to return was Monster in Law, starring Jane Fonda and J-Lo (16% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes). Didn't she already suffer enough just by watching this piece of crap? Wondering if she'll get an additional day in jail when they discover she also failed to rewind the tape? You can read the full story here...

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/17/tech/web/video-rental-arrest/

Cuomo's latest bad idea

I tried to warn you about this guy before you elected him. Governor Cuomo today announced a statewide initiative to provide free college education at 10 New York State prisons. His is the liberal argument that giving inmates a free education is cheaper than incarcerating them and is a benefit to society. I disagree, and think this sends a terrible message to the working, law abiding citizens of the state.

Society already gives free rent, free heat, and free everything to those who cannot or will not work. Many people are in jail because they choose to commit crimes. People aren't shoplifting because they don't have food on the table. In most cases, it is a lifestyle choice. Why work for nicer clothes when you can just buy them with someone else's stolen credit card? What kind of message does Cuomo's plan send to a college student with $20,000 (or more)  in student loan debt? High school students are already offered a free education. Many families simply do not appreciate it or value education in general, and that's why they end up choosing a life of crime over hard work. 

I think Cuomo has lived such a privileged life that he doesn't even stop to think about who will foot the bill for the free prison colleges. That money will come from taxpayers, including the working poor. Now, if all New York state public colleges offered free tuition to New York residents, I would have no problem with giving prisoners the same benefit. However, that is not the case. While I get the concept, I view this as another slap in the face to the middle class. Judging from the comments I've read on Facebook and elsewhere regarding this plan, Cuomo is going to face some harsh criticism from his constituents.

You can find Cuomo's press release on this plan at the following link:
http://bit.ly/1bVwT4M

“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” 
-Apple, Inc.

So, what's the rule to run for office in Erie County? You have to have the blessing of one of the major parties? Your father had to have been a judge, Councilman, or Dogcatcher? None of the above. The system works best when regular people throw themselves into the fray.

Did you ever notice how crazy the career politicians get when challenged by non-politicians with nothing to lose? It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's great and usually pretty entertaining...

Would you like fries with that?

After receiving an anonymous tip, authorities in Nigeria discovered that a hotel restaurant was serving human meat in their hamburgers. 

The grim discovery was made after police officers in Nigeria found two human heads wrapped in cellophane at a hotel restaurant. They had raided the hotel in Anambra in southeastern Nigeria after receiving a tip-off.

The hotel owner and 10 others have been arrested,

I don't know what's scarier. That people would serve human flesh for lunch or the fact that human remains are so readily available in Nigeria to do so?

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/nigerian-hotel-serves-human-meat-report-article-1.1616311#ixzz2tVZavkYk

2014

"Fall seven times. Stand up eight."
-Japanese Proverb


I think one good personality trait is to look at the past and be able to admit when you were wrong about certain things. For example, one regret I have about the Blog is that I oftentimes disliked certain individuals, and subsequently ripped entire families for their unethical political manipulations. Then later, I would think about certain individuals I liked within those families. (And believe it or not, there were many). Some of those friendships may never be replaced, and that's my doing. But what's done is done, and we all have to live with the consequences of our actions. 

How many times growing up, did we hear, "so and so" made this team or that team because of who their father was? Usually they were the kid sitting on the end of the bench, waiting for the score to get out of hand, so the coach would find the courage to get them into the game. My response to the slighted in these scenarios is always, "If you would have been on the end of the bench, you really didn't work hard enough in the off-season to make the team anyway." Because, I'll tell you what, if you're one of the top three players on a team, you won't have to worry about getting cut. No coach in their right mind would let go of a difference maker. 

Having said that, I wish sometimes I would have followed my own advice in this regard. Instead of complaining about not getting this job or that job, or even an interview, maybe I should have simply tried harder to become the difference maker. Hindsight is 20/20. Although a few of the politically connected may have benefited from being such, I probably let my frustrations get the better of me. But I have a feeling 2014 is going to be a year to remember. I do not believe in revenge and I do not waste time making predictions. I've seen too many people seek revenge and fall flat on their faces. Eddie Vetter said, "The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself." Most of the people I wrote about our irrelevant, anyway. They're the ones sitting on the edge of the bench waiting to get in the game in mop up time. They had an opportunity to achieve greatness, and instead settled for mediocrity. The mistake I made was being a little too impatient. When opportunity knocks, a true leader lets him in. All I can say is I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a memorable one. The stage is set. I have to go. I hear someone knocking on the door...

We didn't think it was possible: A new low for Tim Kennedy

State Senator Tim Kennedy is getting to the point now where he is starting to embarrass himself. According to the Buffalo News, Kennedy has taken to attending mass each Sunday at two black churches, in addition to his own Catholic Church. Does anyone remember when going to church had something to do with fulfilling one's religious obligations? Now, it is just another campaign stop for the shameless Kennedy. But would we expect anything less from this sinking ship, in the last, dying gasps of his political career? From Bob McCarthy's Buffalo News article...

State Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy found himself in the front row of Bethel AME Church on Sunday morning, clapping in time to the joyous hymns rocking through the historic congregation at Michigan Avenue and East Ferry Street.

Could you imagine seeing this Casper-the Friendly-Ghost-looking fool dancing with the congregation in an effort to win a few votes? If they allow cameras in these churches, someone needs to film this. I think I've come up with a good campaign slogan for Betty Jean Grant: "Hi. I'm running against Tim Kennedy." I mean, really, what more would anyone have to say? These days, Tim has the Deer caught in headlights expression on his face, not seen since the last days of Chuck Swanick's career.

We have found some rare footage of the moment Tim was told the news that he is actually white and is probably going to stay that color...


Kennedy will clearly stoop to unbelievably low depths in an effort to revive what was once a promising career. Unfortunately for him, he has managed to irritate even his most ardent supporters with unparalleled arrogance. I can't tell you how many calls and emails I've gotten in the last few weeks from people I thought supported Kennedy. He's even managed to anger Brian Higgins' team from what I've been told. I mean, the only reason this guy even has a career is because of Higgins and his supporters! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Does he think there is some sort of Tim Kennedy fan club out there waiting to emerge? Has he gotten that full of himself to think it is he who got him where he is? Tim couldn't run a lemonade stand on his own, and pretty much everyone knows this. 

It's a good idea by Kennedy going to the black churches, though. It's a great strategy and it's going to win him a lot of votes, said nobody ever. I can almost hear Timmy saying the Hail Mary, like Fredo on the boat in the Godfather II, right before he gets his comeuppance...


 Maybe they can play this song during Tim's concession speech in September...