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Today’s Buffalo News has an article about a group of Western New Yorkers who have penetrated Spitzer’s inner circle.  These are the go-to guys when Eliot needs advice.  The News refers to the group as “Friends of Eliot.”  A more appropriate name would be “Enemies of the State.”  Spitzer is rapidly proving the old adage, “if you do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got.”

Western New Yorkers who have penetrated the new governor’s inner circle include Robert G. Wilmers, chairman and chief executive officer of M&T Bank; Mayor Byron W. Brown; Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo; and former Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz of Cheektowaga.

Others include Larry Quinn, managing partner of the Buffalo Sabres; attorney Arnold B. Gardner, a member of the Board of Regents; Kenneth A. Schoetz, chief of the attorney general’s Buffalo office; Leonard R. Lenihan, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party; and Denise E. O’Donnell, the former U.S. attorney for Western New York whom Spitzer on Thursday named director of the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Several sources say Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, also is frequently consulted, as is Andrew J. Rudnick, president of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

What we need are some fresh faces with some fresh ideas.

As official “Friends of Eliot,” the group has not voiced much criticism of Spitzer. Most are Democrats, all are campaign supporters, and some have served on various transition committees.

The previous statement says it all.  No criticism, no surprise, and no progress

Source: Buffalo News - Spitzer looks to WNY for advice

[tags]Eliot Spitzer, status quo, democrats, New York, Governor, friends of eliot, Byron Brown[/tags]

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Yes, I know that I’ve been writing multiple posts on this subject for the past few days.  Can you blame me?  Everybody who values individual liberty over collectivism is absolutely giddy about the prospect of a Ron Paul presidency.  Ron Paul has a couple of traits that separate him from the mainstream politicians.  He has a core set of principles that guide his decisions, he doesn’t waiver on them for the sake of votes.  He enjoys strong support throughout our country.  Ron Paul’s supporters are knowledgeable about economics and know where he stands on issues.  The status quo politicians might have a higher name recognition at this point, but not the quality of support Paul has earned throughout his stellar career in Congress.  Below is an excerpt from an editorial published by the Free-Market News Network.

Many in the free-market world are joyful over the (leaked) announcement that Ron Paul (R-TX) is going to run for president of the United States. Maybe politics does have a place in the free market after all? Possibly, so. Certainly, we will likely not live to see a purely free-market society. But we can certainly do better than what we have, and Ron Paul may be the man to get us there.

Ron Paul is known to many in the free market world, for his Constitutional rigor and principled stands in an unprincipled environment (the U.S. House of Representatives). He is a previous presidential candidate for the Libertarian party, and I am especially pleased he said of my book, “High Alert,” that he wished he could send a copy to everyone in Congress.

Here’s part of what the great, free-market movie maker Aaron Russo had to say recently about Ron Paul.

You may have heard that the Honorable Congressman Ron Paul is exploring running for the Republican nomination in 2008. Congressman Paul will be the only uncompromising defender of the Constitution in the race. I can’t tell you how grateful I felt, how full of heartfelt joy, and how much enthusiasm I felt when I heard the news of his Candidacy. I am 1000% behind him! Ron Paul has stepped up to the plate because he knows what we all know: the noose is tightening, and there isn’t much time if we hope to restore to Constitutional Government.

I called Ron yesterday to tell him I am on board to do ANYTHING it takes to support his campaign. NOW is the time for the ENTIRE Freedom Movement, all Third Parties, ALL GOOD AMERICANS EVERYWHERE, from all political stripes and persuasions, to unite to overtake the weakened Republican Party. Stand firmly behind Ron Paul, and work to restore our Constitutional Republic.

Continue reading: Ron Paul for Pres - Today’s High Alert

[tags]ron paul, president, republican, free-market, libertarian, libertarianism, politics, election, freedom, liberty[/tags]

Dr. Thomas Szasz is the critically acclaimed author of The Myth of Mental Illness.  His common sense approach to both topics, shown below, is very enlightening.  He discusses the common, but mistaken, diagnoses of ADD.  Parents everywhere should take a look at the video.

The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct (Revised Edition)

Our Right to Drugs: The Case for a Free Market

[tags]Thomas Szasz, drugs, psychiatry, liberty, mental illness, drug war, libertarian, freedom, youtube, medicine, government[/tags]

Are your digital photos unorganized and hard to find on your computer?  If you answered yes, you are not alone.  Check out the free online course offered by CNET by clicking the link below.  I’ve taken a couple of their classes and they offer many helpful tips.  The classes are not time consuming and can be fit it to virtually any schedule. 

Google’s free photo software, available below, will let you easily organize your photos and perform many editing tasks without becoming a software expert.  The photo at the right was edited with Google’s software using the easy special effects tools.  The original is below it.  It is FREE, check it out!

This course teaches you how to organize your images so that they’re easy to find, safely backed up, optimized for printing and much more. Once your digital photographs are transferred to your PC, learn how to “process” them for the best possible results.

In this course, you’ll learn:

• Camera settings for better images
• Workflow strategies for saving, editing, and organizing your digital photos
• Software tools and file naming conventions
• Printing and online sharing options

Source: CNET Online Courses: Print, Save & Organize Your Digital Photos - Digital Photos Tips, Tricks, and How-tos at CNET.

[tags]digital photography, CNET, edit, organize, software, free, Google software, Google, picassa, special effects[/tags]

This is both bizarre and a terrible tragedy.

Jennifer Strange, 28, was found dead Friday in her suburban Rancho Cordova home hours after taking part in the “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” contest in which KDND 107.9 promised a Nintendo Wii video game system for the winner.

I thought standing in line all night outside in the cold was extreme, this is just awful.

“I was talking to her and she was a nice lady,” Ybarra said. “She was telling me about her family and her three kids and how she was doing it for kids.”

Read the rest: Beyond Wisconsin » Water intoxication blamed in death of woman who competed radio station drinking contest

[tags]Nintendo, Wii, radio, contest, death, water[/tags]