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The following photos were enclosed in an email I received today from a list group I belong to.  After doing a bit of web searching, it appears that the pictures are authentic.  Today, it is virtually impossible for the Falls to freeze due to the installation of the ice boom.  Click any of the photos for a larger version.

[tags]Niagara Falls, frozen, 1911, ice, snow[/tags]

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Below is an excerpt from today’s Buffalo News describing the proposed contract for Buffalo Firefighters.

Buffalo firefighters would see their salaries increase by more than 30 percent over the next 5½ years under a proposed contract settlement that will be sent to the Common Council and control board for immediate consideration.

In return, negotiators said firefighters would agree to numerous cost-saving concessions, including insurance givebacks, changes in injured-on-duty policies and a rule that all firefighters hired in the future live in the city for their first 15 years on the job.

Mayor Byron W. Brown said the contract will save the city $7.5 million by 2011.

(Click the chart for a larger version.)

The entry level salary will increase about $6,326, or 18.61% on Feb 1, 2007.  The top pay grade will increase about $6736, or 13.19% on Feb 1, 2007.  All grades will then receive 5 annual 3.4% increase beginning this year on July 1.  The final salaries will be about $47,463 for entry level and $68,327 for the top pay grade.

The Mayor claims the city will save $7.5 million by 2011.  The contract includes “give backs” such as:

• Switching to a single provider health care plan.
• Surrendering 48 hours of paid vacation time and one personal paid day off.
• Changing management rights provisions governing scheduling and overtime.
• Requiring all new hires to be subject to a minimum 15-year residency in Buffalo.
• Loss of the cosmetic surgery coverage.

In light of the current economic conditions in our area and approximately a 28% difference in Public and Private sector salaries and benefits, do you think this is a fair increase for the taxpayers?  I have a new poll posted in the top right column for you to vote.

Source: Buffalo News - Firefighters, city near 5&1/2-year accord

[tags]Buffalo, New York, Firefighters, salary, contract, pay, raise[/tags]

I have closed the poll on banning trans fats.  The overwhelming majority of the people voting are against a government imposed ban.  46 people voted against the ban, 16 people voted in favor and 2 people were undecided.  Below are the final results expressed as a percentage of votes.

Polls

Should the government be able to tell us what we can eat?

• No - people are capable of making their own decisions (72%)
  
• Yes - we are to stupid to decide ourselves (25%)
  
• Undecided (3%)
  

Total Votes: 64

[tags]trans fat, ban, Buffalo, New York, Common Council, Demone Smith, liberty, freedom, choice, libertarian, health[/tags]

Only an AH (ass-hat) or an AG (Attorney General) would deny that the Constitution guarantees a right to habeas corpus.  I first read this ridiculous assertion on the Free New York Blog.  Below is a video of the U.S.A.H. U.S.A.G being grilled by Arlen Specter.

[tags]United States, Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez, Arlen Specter, habeas corpus, Senate Judiciary Committee, Constitution[/tags]

LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST THIS EVENING
UNTIL 12:45PM EST
Urgent - Winter Weather Message National Weather Service Buffalo NY 445 AM EST Tue Jan 23 2007
Northern Erie- Including The City Of… Buffalo
… Lake Effect Snow Advisory In Effect From 1 PM This Afternoon To 7 PM EST This Evening…
The National Weather Service In Buffalo Has Issued A Lake Effect Snow Advisory… Which Is In Effect From 1 PM This Afternoon To 7 PM EST This Evening.
Disorganized Lake Snows Over The Southern Part Of The County Will Drift North And Become Better Organized By Early Afternoon. A Well Developed Band Of Lake Snow Is Then Expected Across The Northern Half Of The County During The Afternoon And Evening.
Snowfall Rates Of An Inch An Hour Will Likely Produce 3 To 4 Inches Of Accumulation This Afternoon… With Another 1 To 3 Inches Possible This Evening Before The Band Shifts Back To The South.
Since The Bulk Of The Snow Will Fall During And Just Prior To The Late Afternoon Rush Hour… Commuters Should Plan Accordingly.

[tags]snow, winter, Buffalo, New York, weather, alert, advisory[/tags]

Check out this unique Presidential Election Poll. It uses range voting, giving you the opportunity to rate a long list of candidates. Over 2500 people have voted and the results are illuminating, to say the least. You can access the poll here or by clicking on the page I have listed for it in the right sidebar.

Ron Paul has the answer below.  Besides being unable to force peace on other nations, we are throwing away billions of dollars each year and contributing to the buildup of weapons in a turbulent region. 

It is time to challenge the notion that it is our job to broker peace in the Middle East and every other troubled region across the globe. America can and should use every diplomatic means at our disposal to end the violence in the West Bank, but we should draw the line at any further entanglement. Third-party outsiders cannot impose political solutions in Palestine or anywhere else. Peace can be achieved only when self-determination operates freely in all nations. “Peace plans” imposed by outsiders or the UN cause resentment and seldom produce lasting peace.

The simple truth is that we cannot resolve every human conflict across the globe, and there will always be violence somewhere on earth. The fatal conceit lies in believing America can impose geopolitical solutions wherever it chooses.

Read it all: Can We Achieve Peace in the Middle East? by Ron Paul

[tags]foreign policy, Middle East, Israel, Muslims, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Ron Paul, commonsense, United Nations, nonaggression[/tags]