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It’s a sarcastic question, but one that is true. I was sitting on my porch, enjoying the nice weather and a girl passed by screaming as loud as she could into her cell phone at her boyfriend. You see, I knew all of her “business” because she was announcing to the general public that he (quote) shouldn’t have left her. As she’s passing by and having this conversation with someone else, she sees me sitting there looking at her, she actually has the nerve to give me a dirty look (like I’m all up in her business) when I was just sitting there on my porch… minding my own business. I mean to say, if she really wanted to have a private conversation with her bad ass boyfriend, she’s the one who should have kept it private, right?

Another time I’m walking down the street and a guy is passing by…. do I really wanna know that his girlfriend is a “trampy ho”?

Do I wanna know … someone on their cell phone is talking about where their rent money is going to come from while I’m standing in line at the store? Since when is someone else’s personal finances anything 20 strangers should know about?

Do I wanna hear someone yelling very loudly on their cell phone “dude, I can’t hear you in this stupid place!” ?? Is the place really “stupid” or they’re PO’ed because the call on their Cricket has been dropped?

Working in customer service, the last thing I’d like to hear is a person talking on a blue tooth telling their party to “hold on” ….like me telling them how much they owe is too much of a bother during their conversation when they were the one who stepped up to the counter where I work at. WTF would they think if I was on my cell giving them the same “hold on” attitude they’re giving me?

Do I really want to hear a guy saying “I told you not to call me on this number” ???

Do I really want to hear an over reacted drama (teen) queen talking about how Snookie did Poopsie wrong???

People, if you’re on your cell phone and you’re out in the public…. I don’t want to know your personal problems because you don’t have enough common sense to keep your private conversations PRIVATE!

People, if you’re out in the general public, don’t get all pissed off that others have no choice but to listen in on your conversation….. because you’re the one announcing your intimate affairs to everyone around you.

Remember the simple days of putting some music on the home stereo?

© 1972

My age is showing

Another installment of: Home of The Screwed! This one at a local level.

In today’s Buffalo News is a story about Erie County Legislator Timothy Kennedy who while lobbying for Motorola, accepted campaign contributions toting up to $1,250.

State Board of Elections records indicate Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat, received a $1,000 donation from Motorola Inc. last year and another $250 from its local dealer after he launched a loud campaign against a technology competing with Motorola’s.

Kennedy believes it isn’t a conflint of interest because he accepted money more than 5 months after:

“The fact that individuals gave to me more than five months after I began shouldn’t raise any eyebrows. It’s not a story,” he said. “Those who gave to me believed in what I was doing.”

Um, does anyone know how to spell KICKBACK???

We all know that New York State is no stranger to the aged-old concept of “you do for me, I do for you“, but for a local politician to flat out deny any impropriety to the News is 110% arrogant, IMO.

Asked if had considered not accepting the contributions, Kennedy said only that he had been consistent in his arguments and anyone is free to give to his campaign.

“I work in the best interest of taxpayers,” he said. “If I had taken contributions prior to this or had changed my tune, then I believe this would be a conversation worth having.”

Only a true politician will leave his treasure chest wide open for anyone to toss their contributions in and then look the other way when such money is put into question. That’s not what’s in the best interest of the people he represents… it’s putting his election cycle first, plain & simple.

You’re only as good as not getting caught with your hands in the cookie jar.

… is in this picture

Erie County Executive Chris Collins says that by cutting the number of cell phones it saves the County $150K. Being one of 921,390 residents in Erie County, I feel I am owed a grand total of 16¢ when all’s said and done.

Pay up Mr. Collins! If you’re going to talk about saving within the County, I want to see what’s going to happen, I’d like it to be in the form of what I can put back into my own pocket.

I don’t suppose you’re going to do anything about the County/government taxes that’s on my cell bill every month since talking about “savings”, are you? Um, I didn’t think so.

For my 16¢, I’d prefer it in cold hard cash in my hand. One dime, one nickel, one penny. And you can ignor the the $2.61 that I pay in Government fees to At&T each month.

Home of the screwed indeed!

I know this is a little late, but I hadn’t knew of the whole story until now (life gets in the way of news). To be perfectly honest… I’m still shocked as all hell though.

For a diehard like myself who not only exercizes my rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and my responsibility to question our elected leaders from time to time… all I can say about Tom Christy being forced off the air is WTF?

This is just another fine example of “Managed Media” by elected officials whom feel they are above being questioned by the people in a Country designed for the people.

The station said in the Buffalo News:

“During the past several months, Mr. Christy has begun interjecting his personal opinions, which have often been critical, about government activities, particularly those of the Niagara County Legislature and the Niagara County Industrial Development Authority. This has resulted in complaints from viewers, and several officials, including the county manager, will no longer agree to appear on the program,” wrote Thomas Riley, LCTV’s executive director.

While the Constitution of the United States of America says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It’s a sad day in America when one is stripped of their First Amendment right for the appeasing of a TV station’s ability to indecently protect the people we elect into office.

I hope to see/hear Tom Christy on the airwaves some time very soon in the future. He’s too good of an interviewer to be held down when “accountability” means so much, especially in a place like Western New York!

They’re fedup, and they have every right to be. From here in Buffalo throughout the entire Country, today’s protest is no April Fool’s. Truckers are taking a stand by shutting their trucks down, a stand that is fully moral of supporting, especially in this time when the cost of everyting keeps rising. We have state and federal leaders who continue ignoring the people of whom they are to represent.

Some truckers hit brakes to protest gas prices

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - - At Jim’s Truck Stop in Cheektowaga, Sammy Johnson is parking his rig for the day, not hauling freight to protest the cost of deisel now well over 4 dollars a gallon.

Sammy Johnson, trucker, “We all stick together it might work, but a couple trucks ain’t gonna do it. It’s gonna take all America, all the drivers to shut it down to get fuel rates that we want it to be.”

But on the cb radio it was hard to find many other independent truckers doing the same.

Sammy Johnson, trucker, “How many of you drivers gonna strike today.”

Ron Mumme, trucker, “There’s a lotta talk about it, talk of violence, and that’s childish and ignorant.”

Ron Mumme decided not to protest, but agrees with the reasons for it.

Ron Mumme, trucker, “It’s about rates, it’s about us getting what we need to get to keep our trucks on the road.”

Tim Francis, trucker, “Everything’s gone up, tires, oil fuel.”

Tim Francis, trucker, “Everything goes up but the rate and Buffalo is the worst place in the world to get a decent rate.”

This was the scene in Chicago this morning, where some truckers parked their rigs in protest on a busy highway. In New Jersey some truckers proested outside of a service stop and then slowly drove down the new jersey turnpike, but around here, by talking with truckers in Cheektowaga and Pembroke we found most trucks were on the road.

Although you are not protesting today, what would you want the general public to know?

Dee Francis, trucker, “They can expect their prices in produce and groceries in general, everything’s gonna continue to rise simply because we can’t afford to be out here at these prices.”

Story by George Richert (WIVB)

This is a serious question that has to be asked. I was at a community meeting tonight in South Buffalo. There were about 80 people attending including mostly block club leaders whom were prepared to address their concerns with Mayor Brown. A camera crew from Channel 2 showed up. Sounds like it would make a great “community involvement” story for the 10 & 11 O’clock news right?

Not a chance… (pause to roll my eyes). They remained outside for the Mayor to arrive, asked their question and left while the Councilman, Legislator, Chief of A District Police and many others representing the City of Buffalo also attended. To put it mildly, Channel 2 news never entered the meeting room where block club leaders were awaiting the Mayor so they can ask questions, express their concerns, voice their frustrations, etc.

I have often expressed distaste of Channel 2 news in the past, but today’s ignoring of neighborhood interest was the limit. Now I really know, they are NOT on the side of which they announce to the public that they are.

Betcha they’ll air a “shocking video” not from our area as a “news extra” at some point tonight though. (pause to roll my eyes again).

A serious warning from Channel 2 news:

Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson has issued an alert tonight for anyone traveling through Buffalo and Western New York.

Gipson says his department recieved credible information about a possible gang initiation on Wednesday evening. Gipson says the gang members may drive around the community and hit drivers from behind. If this happens to you, police ask that you stay in your vehicle, drive to a well lit area and call 911. Gipson suggests you ask for a uniformed police officer when calling. If you do not have a cell phone, you are asked to drive to a nearby police station.

Gipson says he has informed other police agencies about this warning and will have the Buffalo Police task force on patrol Wednesday evening.

When is the madness going to end? I think my picture says it all…

Western New Yorkers speak up about thruway toll hikes

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - Western New Yorkers finally got their chance to speak up about planned toll hikes along the thruway.

News 4’s Melissa Holmes has more from the south Grand Island tolls.

The price of tolls, like the ones at the Grand Island Bridge, are a huge subject of debate these days.

Supporters and opponents of the toll rate hikes came face to face Tuesday night in downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo developer Carl Paladino said, “They’re using money that is sent to operate upstate New York Thruway down to New York City. That’s wrong.”

Western New Yorkers didn’t hold back during Tuesday night’s public hearing at the Buffalo Public Library.

Some drivers are furious over the Thruway Authority’s plan to raise tolls another five percent each year over the next two years.

Some local lawmakers say the authority is not using enough federal money given to the state for road maintenance. Most of that money stays with the State Department of Transportation.

At the same time, some drivers say they are willing to pay a little more if it means roads will continue to be maintained.

Ron Klinczar said, “For the reason of continued safety, for me as a motorist and everybody out on the highway, I support the toll increase.”

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer said, “We have been trying to develop a plan that’s fair, to provide a safe transportation facility.”

We want to know what you think about the rising toll prices. Leave your comments below the story.

Tolls at the Grand Island Bridge are now a dollar, and Thruway Authority leaders say these will not go up.

They also say they are looking into the idea of creating discount programs, especially for commercial truck drivers.

Story by Melissa Holmes, WIVB.