Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
I know that the blog is experiencing quite a lull while I focus on plenty of things, including a revamping of this site. I apologize, but hopefully once I'm done, the blog content will pick right back up.
What are you thankful for?
Me . . . I'm thankful for the letter "o," without which I wouldn't be able to spell my name.
As I ranted for a bit last week about the election results in Buffalo and Erie County, I figured I would toss in this little update.
Today, the county legislators voted 10-5 to increase the sales tax by one half of one percent, thus increasing the sales tax in the county from 8.25% to 8.75%.
This isn't much of a surprise, particularly since they intentionally held these votes off until after Election Day. No shock here.
New York State previously dropped their sales tax by 0.25%, but Erie County quickly picked up that quarter-percent to claim as their own. Things are getting better and better around here.
For the latest Black Friday posts, check out blackfriday.smarmycarny.com
GottaDeal has now released Black Friday ads for three of the most anticipated BF sales: Toys 'R' Us, CompUSA, and Best Buy.
If you want the nearly complete list of released ads or if you're not sure about what Black Friday is, just read up at my original Black Friday post or go straight to Black Friday @ GottaDeal.
Before this year's elections, Buffalo and Erie County taxpayers finally got tired of all the wastefulness in government and organized the "Taxpayer Revolt." This resulted in Primary Challenge 2005, where two of seven candidates gained a spot on the ballot. Many people ran for office who were not lifetime politicians and who were interested in cutting spending and other fat in the county government.
After this year's elections, however, the results showed contrasting results. The Democrats not only gained seats in the county legislature, but they garnered enough seats to overturn any vetos made by the Republican county executive.
This basically results in what I consider an ideological "Taxpayer Retreat." No matter how upset taxpayers become over taxation in this area, the masses still remain mindless drones, voting for whatever their union or race dictates.
As things worsen, the people continue to flee the region. Here are some sunny statistics from a Buffalo Business First article:
The exodus from Buffalo is accelerating. The city's population declined by 2,600 between mid-2003 and mid-2004, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. That's its sharpest year-to-year drop since the beginning of the current decade. . . .
The new report pegs Buffalo's population at 282,864 as of July 1, 2004, its lowest level since the late 1800s. The city is now at less than half its peak of 580,132, set back in April 1950.
Buffalo, as a result, continues to sink in the nation's population standings. It now ranks as the 63rd-largest city in America, directly behind Aurora, Colo., and Riverside and Bakersfield, Calif.
That contrasts sharply with its position a century ago. Buffalo had 352,387 residents when the 1900 census was conducted — nearly 70,000 more than it does now — making it the nation's eighth most-populous city.
Is it any wonder that the masses are fleeing the region? Businesses and jobs languish as a result of the government continues to tax businesses and individuals more and more each year. Just when it seems as though the region cannot become any less business-friendly, the city and county governments pull through . . . and the voters continue to reward them with their votes.
I suggest that the Taxpayer Retreat continue on as a physical manifestation as well. Expect no changes in the population trends for Buffalo in the next few years. The situation will only worsen as fiscally mindful people leave the area for greener pastures, resulting in an even higher percentage of people who enjoy high taxation and bloated budgets. Perhaps the slogan should be changed to "Buffalo: A great place for your great-great-grandparents."
I recently discovered that there's a new reality TV show in the works: America's Next Muppet.
ABC ordered six scripts of the reality show spoof. Nothing is confirmed yet, but I would be surprised if this show (and all the buzz it has already created) does not make it to air. Tentative dates have been projected with a summer 2006 premiere.
From what I have read (and assumed), the show will attempt to find a new addition to the Muppet crew a la America's Next Top Model and American Idol. As usual, we would also get to see the backstage preparations (read: shenanigans) for the acts.
Muppets have always been wonderful at satire, and this will no doubt be a wonderful addition to the Muppet collection. Unfortunately, sources have referred to it as a "mini-series" instead of an actual series. Then again, one could consider all of these reality shows as "mini-series" because each series is basically a different show.
I can only hope that they can get Statler and Waldorf to be Simon Cowell characters! No, I take that back because I had it backwards. Simon Cowell is the Statler and Waldorf of American Idol.
For further developments, keep your eyes glued to Muppet Central News.
Families entered a New York movie theater with their children to see the latest blockbuster, Chicken Little.
The children didn't see the sky falling. They saw a boy falling . . . as he hung himself from a tree.
Due to a mix-up, the theatre started playing Andrea, a Spanish movie that opens with a boy hanging himself. Parents rushed out of the theatre with their crying children and started yelling at management.
Reportedly, the children's parents were given free movie passes to come back to the theatre . . . where they would, no doubt, spend plenty more money in the theatre on snacks and drinks. Yeah, that's worth the weeks of nightmares and the lost innocence.
And I thought cell phone talkers in the theatre were annoying . . .
I received my Lost Insider e-mail today, and there was one piece of news that caught my eye: Darren Aronofsky, the director of Pi and Requiem for a Dream, has signed on to direct an episode of Lost!
Too bad he wasn't on for the first episode of the second season. I can just see the fast-paced cuts from Requiem seeping into the episode when Desmond shoots whatever-it-is into his arm.
Here's the full quote regarding Aronofsky from the Lost Insider:
One of the more thrilling developments going on around here is that director Darren Aronofsky – the daring visionary behind such films as "Pi" and "Requiem for a Dream" – as well as the upcoming Hugh Jackman/Rachel Weisz sci-fi drama "The Fountain" – has just signed up to direct an episode of "Lost…" and you can bet that the blend of the mystery and drama of "Lost" with the visually innovative style of this maverick filmmaker is going to make for some truly awesome television.
Too bad he won't be directing more than just one episode, though.
There's also an episode coming up titled "The Other 48 Days," which I can only imagine delves into the tailies' experience during the 48 days since the crash. But, with Lost, I could be wrong.
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