It seems that our government can’t give food away quickly enough. After all, a lot of federal jobs are at stake if they don’t keep the tax ante up to pay for those jobs.

While I was stopped at a traffic light yesterday, I was greeted with this sign on the back of a metro bus. It is nice to know the government spends our money advertising free food to tax us more so other people don’t have to work.

I looked up the phone and it is for the New York State office for the WIC program. Luckily, the following statement was included on the WIC website:

WIC is not an entitlement program as Congress does not set aside funds to allow every eligible individual to participate in the program. WIC is a Federal grant program for which Congress authorizes a specific amount of funds each year for the program. WIC is

• administered at the Federal level by FNS
• administered by 90 WIC state agencies, through approximately 46,000 authorized retailers.
• WIC operates through 2,000 local agencies in 10,000 clinic sites, in 50 State health departments, 34 Indian Tribal Organizations, the District of Columbia, and five territories (Northern Mariana, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands).

Not only do we subsidize the hell out of public transit, we must pay for advertising on the subsidized transit to ensure that we are paying enough money for the government to hand out free food.

The sign on the bus refers to an additional program under WIC called the Summer Food Service Program.

Welcome to the Summer Food Service Program! SFSP is the single largest Federal resource available for local sponsors who want to combine a feeding program with a summer activity program. Children in your community do not need to go hungry this summer. During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. But those programs end when school ends for the summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program helps fill the hunger gap.

Technorati tags: WIC, government jobs, government waste, food, agency, advertising, entitlement, grant, Congress

Government Waste, National | 3 Comments »

You can clean out the crapware that slows down your PC quickly, easily and for free!  You might even end up with it running better than when it was new.  Many manufacturers load up new PC’s with useless crap that slows down the system.

Check out this link for the instructions and download the 2 free programs you will need.  I ran through the process on my PC and am very pleased with the results. 

Techie Stuff | No Comments »

Today, Tony Blair hands over Number 10 Downing Street to Gordon Brown. Blair has served 10 years. Blair has been at the helm during 2 major tragedies. The first was the untimely death of Princess Diana. Tony Blair gained immense popularity following Diana’s death by healing the public’s perception of the Queen following that tragedy. In terms of public relations, his handling of the Queen and Diana’s death was probably his greatest victory.

The next tragedy, 9-11 and the subsequent war in Iraq, did irrepairable harm to Tony Blair’s stature. Tony Blair not only concurred with George Bush’s overt deceptions that led to the war, he even joined Bush in pushing the disatrous agenda to topple Saddam Hussein.

In light of Blair’s role in Iraq, I believe it is a huge mistake picking Blair to lead the peace effort in the Middle East as the envoy for the US, Russia, the UN and the EU. Not only has Blair contributed to the bedlam in the Middle East, Britain, historically, has intervened greatly in the policies of the Middle East countries. Tony Blair represents the oil interests who have affected the unrest in that area for the past nearly 90 years.

I will miss watching the Prime Minister’s questions with Tony Blair. If nothing else, Tony Blair has always been an eloquent spokesman for his country.

[tags]Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, Britain, envoy, Middle East, George Bush, Iraq, war, Princess Diana, Queen[/tags]

World | 1 Comment »

Should a robber break into my house, and with a dagger at my throat make me seal deeds to convey my estate to him, would this give him any title? Just such a title, by his sword, has an unjust conqueror, who forces me into submission. The injury and the crime is equal, whether committed by the wearer of a crown, or some petty villain. The title of the offender, and the number of his followers, make no difference in the offence, unless it be to aggravate it. The only difference is, great robbers punish little ones, to keep them in their obedience; but the great ones are rewarded with laurels and triumphs, because they are too big for the weak hands of justice in this world, and have the power in their own possession, which should punish offenders.

— John Locke, The Second Treatise of Civil Government [1690]

Musings, National | No Comments »

Unfortunately, he wrote a dissenting opinion for the Bong Hits for Jesus case.

“Even in high school, a rule that permits only one point of view to be expressed is less likely to produce correct answers than the open discussion of countervailing views. … In the national debate about a serious issue, it is the expression of the minority’s viewpoint that most demands the protection of the First Amendment. Whatever the better policy may be, a full and frank discussion of the costs and benefits of the attempt to prohibit the use of marijuana is far wiser than suppression of speech because it is unpopular.”

National | 1 Comment »

As of 2006, the Episcopal church can claim membership of the most U.S. Presidents and Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.

Musings | 1 Comment »

An attorney is caught ripping off the taxpayers during his course of employment by the New York State Power Authority.  Who would have thought such a thing could happen from a self-serving Public Authority that wastes vast quantities of our money!

In this case, justice is not only blind, but also stupid.  The punishment was a slap on the wrist, restitution, a fine and an agreement never to seek state employment.  Pretty rough for a 64 year old attorney considering he carried out his crime for a measly 6 years.

[tags]Carmine Clemente, scumbag, thief, New York, Power Authority, NYSPA, government, public authority, Andrew Cuomo[/tags]

Government Waste, New York State | No Comments »

Our phones are tapped by the government. We are subjected to potential searches just to ride the metrorail. Carrying an economy size tube of toothpaste on a plane is a federal crime. The constitutional right to habeas corpus is no longer valid, if Bush says so! The Vice President claims that orders pertaining to the Executive Branch of the Government don’t apply to his office. The government decides which medicines are OK for you to use, even if you and your doctor don’t agree. Soon, all drivers licenses will be linked to a national database, even though several states are opposed to this invasion of privacy.

The list goes on and on. Now, the Department of Homeland Security wants to require tracking devices in all pleasure boats, require proficiency tests for boaters and require carrying a new government issued ID. What I find truly unbelievable is that the majority of people just keep going along with each new assault on our rights. It is time for the citizenry to say, loudly and clearly, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!! What’s next? The introductions of gulags? I forgot, we already have a gulag, it is spelled GITMO.

[TAGS]Homeland Security, rights, privacy, constitution, boating, borders, passports, drivers license, prisons, gulag, gitmo[/tags]

Rants | 2 Comments »

The next time someone tries to tell you the Riverwright Project is good, tell them to watch this!

[tags]ethanol, Riverwright, Buffalo, grain elevator, pollution, government, waste[/tags]

Buffalo, Government Waste | 4 Comments »

Following is commentary written by Larry Quinn on the Canalside project. My comments are inserted in red.

A handful of project detractors have assigned all variety of sinister actions and motives to “Quinn and Company.” I’d like to set the record straight.

“Quinn and Company” is actually the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), which is a subsidiary of New York State’s economic development agency. The Governor appointed members to the corporation board two years ago in the hope that local citizens could finally reignite development of the Buffalo waterfront.

The ECHDC is another Public Authority, in the long line of Authorities, that have subjected the people of New York State to publicly funded projects with virtually no accountability to the public. Many of these projects fail because the money used is YOURS and the Authorities have no actual financial stake.

After six decades of neglect and inactivity, the Governor was rightfully concerned that recent waterfront projects on the boards were also stalled and heading towards failure yet again. The Adelphia tower was dead, the Bass Pro project was stalled, the Opus project on the outer harbor was teetering and even the much-vaunted Canal project had not attracted a single private investor. The Governor correctly determined that a fresh approach was needed.

The Governor recruited seven people to the “public service” of figuring out what was wrong and fixing it. I was honored to be selected and serve along with such fine people as Chairman Tony Gioia and public officials Mayor Brown, Congressman Higgins, County Executive Giambra and others. It took us about a year and a half, countless meetings and discussions and thousands of volunteer hours, but I think we have come up with an opportunity for Buffalo to make a better future. And here is the opportunity: Remake downtown as the true retail and business center of the region.

A fresh approach was not needed. A plan was, and still is, in place. The failure was in the unsuccessful attempt to locate Bass Pro in the Aud, despite approximately $100 million earmarked for the project. Now, the unelected Authority is determined to land Bass Pro by giving them a free building, rent & property tax free for a minimum of 20 years, control of the public Marina and locating them on prime property adjacent to the canal. Obviously, someone’s agenda includes landing Bass Pro at any cost.

(more…

Buffalo, Government Waste | No Comments »

Last night’s debate, sponsored by the WNY Coalition for Progress and WNYMEDIA.net, was very illuminating. You can read a description of the 4 panelists’ positions here. I’ve been opposed to the use of corporate welfare to lure Bass Pro since day one. My mind wasn’t changed by the debate, however, the information presented reinforced my position.

The argument was put forth that retail businesses, like suburban malls, receive subsidies because tax dollars are used for infrastructure improvements, such as improved roadways. As far as I’m concerned, that is nothing but a bunch of spin to try and make a comparison that is not at all valid. Suburban malls, and other private retail, are built with private dollars in response to market conditions. Infrastructure improvements are needed because people are free to make the choice where they want to live, shop and travel. Subsidizing Bass Pro denies us a choice and denies us the chance to vote with our wallets.

All the panelists basically agreed that government subsidies are not the ideal way to spur development. Those in favor of the Bass Pro plan wiggle out of ending subsidies by saying “if we don’t take the money, someone else will!” I was taught that if something is wrong, it is wrong and making the right decision is usually not the easiest thing to do. Someone has to be first and stick up for economic commonsense instead of going along to get along and perpetuating a system that is failing.

This isn’t just about Bass Pro. It is about the opportunity for government to take a stand and start moving in the right direction. Subsidizing Bass Pro is not going to “save” Buffalo or accomplish anything even close as long as we keep letting government take our money to spend as they see fit, with no real risk or accountability.

A frequent and valid complaint that was aired during the debate is that Buffalo is long on talk but short on actually finishing any major projects. That observation is spot on and building Bass Pro on the water’s edge only prolongs a project that has already been approved. Not only is there a plan in place, but it is underway right now. Dropping Bass Pro into the mix at this 11th hour will necessitate more delays to accommodate the need for architectural drawings and more environmental studies. We have a plan, it has been widely debated and is based on input from the public as well. Buffalo wants the waterfront development now . . .not a few more years down the road to accommodate a sporting goods store paid for with taxpayers’ money.

[tags]Bass Pro, Bass Pros & Cons, canalside, waterfront, development, inner harbor, Buffalo, ECHDC[/tags]

Buffalo, Government Waste | 1 Comment »

When

Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST

Where

City Hall

67 Niagara Square
Buffalo, New York 14202
United States

42.8897 -78.8842

Map: Google | Yahoo | MapQuest

See other events at this venue

What

Show your support for Ron Paul by attending a rally in front of the statue of Grover Cleveland, City Hall, Buffalo, New York. The rally will take place at 12:00 pm and will be filmed by WNYMEDIA.NET. A video of the rally will be posted on YouTube.

If you are available and within driving distance, please attend and show your support. City hall is located here.

See you there!

[tags]Ron Paul, rally, Buffalo, NY, City Hall, 2008, candidate, president, republican[/tags]

Buffalo, Events, National, Ron Paul for President | 2 Comments »

MONTANTE CENTER CANISIUS COLLEGE, originally uploaded by mike in wny.

The bass pro debate is in progress.

Uncategorized | No Comments »

Excluding Ron Paul from a “tax relief” candidates’ forum is like excluding Batman from an Anti-Riddler Convention.

-Thomas Woods

Read it all here. Click here to sign a petition protesting the blacklisting of Ron Paul from an Iowa presidential debate sponsored by the Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance.

[tags]Ron Paul, 2008, campaign, Iowans, Iowa, debate, Tax Relief, Christian Alliance, petition, blacklist, republican[/tags]

National, Ron Paul for President | No Comments »

As this wonderful almost summer weather rolls along, it was grill time again last night.  The star of the meal was Skewered Steak with Guava-Soy Glaze and Grilled Pineapples.  Wegman’s contributed 2 side dishes; Asian Cucumber Salad and Spicy Mexican Bean Salad.

Art & Photography, Food & Dining | No Comments »