So, a new idea is being floated for the Harbor, and the Bills. And, it's an idea I happen to support 100% (Which is a big deal, since I don't follow football at all): A domed stadium on the outer harbor.
Usually, when I hear something about the Bills, I roll my eyes, and before they get a chance, I try to guess how much more money they want from us. Apparently, $60 minimum priced tickets, paid syndication of games (Whether or not they can actually be shown to the fans at home), and $400 team jackets don't pay the bills (Haha, pardon the pun).
But, this is a new idea: Instead of just renovating a crap stadium, in the middle of podunkville, build a NEW one on the harbor. While, I don't like the idea of handing any private organization $200 million in tax dollars, when they do no service for the public good; I like the rest of the plan.
Yes, it would need more infrastructure. I'm good with that: The construction of the infrastructure will put MANY people to work. If we ignore the possibility of a Super Bowl game, this alone would be a much-needed injection into our economy.
Now, if we take a Super Bowl into account, wow! The economic impact will pay for tenfold over the investment by the taxpayer.
So, for the first time, I actually agree with a plan to keep the Bills here. Let's hope our politicians don't screw this one up. They're trying though. Already, "We don't want it at the harbor, it doesn't need water access, and wont be enhanced by it..." Hopefully, we'll just get those people to shut up, and just make it as easy as possible for the Bills, the NFL, and the developer to do this. All they need from us is the land, and they can make it happen. Let's just not stand in their way on this, for ego's sake.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Politics of Food Production and Food Distribution
Here are some figures that will shock most Americans:
* 350 billion pounds of food are produced annually in the United States.
* 140 billion pounds of food are lost to waste annually in the United States at the retailer and consumer level.
* The United States spends about $1 billion annually to dispose of food waste.
* 12 million children in the United States are either going to go hungry today, or are in danger of doing so.
Startling. If we were to somehow be able to distribute the food that will be wasted among all children who might go hungry today, we could give each child about 11,000 lbs of food each year. That would far exceed their own needs.
Many of our legislators think that to solve the issue of poverty and hunger by throwing money at the problem. However, the problem has it's roots in money.
Food has been turned from a source of life, into a commodity. We no longer have the innate knowledge that it took life to make food, and food will in turn provide life to us. And, no, I'm not talking all vegan here, every face is sacred. I like meat. I'm talking about the sweat and blood that goes into producing food. You waste a pound of food, you've wasted 8 hours of an individual's life. If 1 pound of pork goes wasted, you've wasted about 16 hours of a person's life.
Thankfully, Clinton signed the Good Samaritan Act into law, which prevents retailers who donate food from being sued for it. However, there's a definite shortcoming somewhere here. We still have tons of food being wasted, and tons of people who need that wasted food.
What's the answer? I don't know a complete solution, but I do know a few ways to cut back on food waste:
* Shop from local farmers. By doing this, you are enabling farmers to accurately gauge demand, and tailor supply.
* Grow your own food. When you see and feel the amount of work that goes into food, it will change your attitude on how you approach food, and food waste. It will stop being a commodity.
* Compost. This is another way to get some bang for your buck. I don't consider anything going into a compost pile as "wasted". You are producing a product (Soil amendment), and you are diverting it from the land fill.
* If you grow your own food, promote gleaning. Gleaning is a term used in the Old Testament, which described the practice of harvesting only once, and leaving the hard to harvest areas alone. And, it also allows for travelers and indigents to harvest what has been left.
These three things wont solve the problem, but it will reduce the amount of waste.
* 350 billion pounds of food are produced annually in the United States.
* 140 billion pounds of food are lost to waste annually in the United States at the retailer and consumer level.
* The United States spends about $1 billion annually to dispose of food waste.
* 12 million children in the United States are either going to go hungry today, or are in danger of doing so.
Startling. If we were to somehow be able to distribute the food that will be wasted among all children who might go hungry today, we could give each child about 11,000 lbs of food each year. That would far exceed their own needs.
Many of our legislators think that to solve the issue of poverty and hunger by throwing money at the problem. However, the problem has it's roots in money.
Food has been turned from a source of life, into a commodity. We no longer have the innate knowledge that it took life to make food, and food will in turn provide life to us. And, no, I'm not talking all vegan here, every face is sacred. I like meat. I'm talking about the sweat and blood that goes into producing food. You waste a pound of food, you've wasted 8 hours of an individual's life. If 1 pound of pork goes wasted, you've wasted about 16 hours of a person's life.
Thankfully, Clinton signed the Good Samaritan Act into law, which prevents retailers who donate food from being sued for it. However, there's a definite shortcoming somewhere here. We still have tons of food being wasted, and tons of people who need that wasted food.
What's the answer? I don't know a complete solution, but I do know a few ways to cut back on food waste:
* Shop from local farmers. By doing this, you are enabling farmers to accurately gauge demand, and tailor supply.
* Grow your own food. When you see and feel the amount of work that goes into food, it will change your attitude on how you approach food, and food waste. It will stop being a commodity.
* Compost. This is another way to get some bang for your buck. I don't consider anything going into a compost pile as "wasted". You are producing a product (Soil amendment), and you are diverting it from the land fill.
* If you grow your own food, promote gleaning. Gleaning is a term used in the Old Testament, which described the practice of harvesting only once, and leaving the hard to harvest areas alone. And, it also allows for travelers and indigents to harvest what has been left.
These three things wont solve the problem, but it will reduce the amount of waste.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
More Faux Concern About Public Education, and Some Spin From the Left
Madigan is at is again. Pretending to be an ally of the public education system. His concern about public schools is so strong, that his plan to fix them is to destroy them.
Apparently, funding schools, and ensuring good teachers working free from coercion are on the bottom of the "solution pile"; while the only sound way (In Madigan's mind) is to remove the best and brightest from the public school system, and to cut funding, via a voucher program.
Sounds like a cure that is worse than the disease to me. How about a different solution? Here's an idea: Pay teachers a competitive salary, that will pull them out of the private sector, and into the classroom. Currently, we pay a paltry wage to our teachers, ensuring we get either a) Bottom of the barrel people, who couldn't hack it anywhere else or b) People who don't care if they eat ramen for their entire life, and are motivated to change if only one student.
I can tell you from experience. People in the "b" category can only take so much before they get burnt out, and call it quits. The only ones who stay on for a long time are those whose intestinal fortitude is equal to that of God's (A tiny minority), or those in category "a".
Here's another solution: Let's actually fix where the problem is. The Board of Education. The teachers are the ones in the trenches, doing what they're told, with the tools they have at hand. The Board of Education are the ones who are creating the failed policies and directives.
What won't work? Creating "vouchers". Why? Because the only parents who will try to get their kids into alternate schools, are the ones who are already successful. This will leave the public education system with minimal funding, and all the troublesome students. Public schools are the only ones that will take every student that walks in. These private schools? They can (And will) reject students that don't meet their standards. THAT'S why they appear so successful. They pick only the best. Public schools don't pick.
Another solution? Let's get the politicking out of the schools. When at every turn your party is attacking science, history, and math; why would we think you truly have education at the forefront of your concern? You picked your label (Republican), now, you've got the baggage to go with it. Let's get educators deciding how to educate, not politicos.
Well, enough of that. I bag on Madigan quite a bit... Now for the "Spin Zone". I'm hearing from some media outlets that Obama threw the debate, purposefully! I was like,"Wut?"
Come on guys. He didn't throw the debate. He was off his A-Game. Not shocking. Not a big surprise. Not unheard of. Even Reagan, the "Great Communicator" performed about the same on his first debate during his re-election run. It didn't cost him the election.
Come on... Don't resort to Faux News tactics of basically lying through your teeth.
Apparently, funding schools, and ensuring good teachers working free from coercion are on the bottom of the "solution pile"; while the only sound way (In Madigan's mind) is to remove the best and brightest from the public school system, and to cut funding, via a voucher program.
Sounds like a cure that is worse than the disease to me. How about a different solution? Here's an idea: Pay teachers a competitive salary, that will pull them out of the private sector, and into the classroom. Currently, we pay a paltry wage to our teachers, ensuring we get either a) Bottom of the barrel people, who couldn't hack it anywhere else or b) People who don't care if they eat ramen for their entire life, and are motivated to change if only one student.
I can tell you from experience. People in the "b" category can only take so much before they get burnt out, and call it quits. The only ones who stay on for a long time are those whose intestinal fortitude is equal to that of God's (A tiny minority), or those in category "a".
Here's another solution: Let's actually fix where the problem is. The Board of Education. The teachers are the ones in the trenches, doing what they're told, with the tools they have at hand. The Board of Education are the ones who are creating the failed policies and directives.
What won't work? Creating "vouchers". Why? Because the only parents who will try to get their kids into alternate schools, are the ones who are already successful. This will leave the public education system with minimal funding, and all the troublesome students. Public schools are the only ones that will take every student that walks in. These private schools? They can (And will) reject students that don't meet their standards. THAT'S why they appear so successful. They pick only the best. Public schools don't pick.
Another solution? Let's get the politicking out of the schools. When at every turn your party is attacking science, history, and math; why would we think you truly have education at the forefront of your concern? You picked your label (Republican), now, you've got the baggage to go with it. Let's get educators deciding how to educate, not politicos.
Well, enough of that. I bag on Madigan quite a bit... Now for the "Spin Zone". I'm hearing from some media outlets that Obama threw the debate, purposefully! I was like,"Wut?"
Come on guys. He didn't throw the debate. He was off his A-Game. Not shocking. Not a big surprise. Not unheard of. Even Reagan, the "Great Communicator" performed about the same on his first debate during his re-election run. It didn't cost him the election.
Come on... Don't resort to Faux News tactics of basically lying through your teeth.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Cat Licenses and Co-Mingling - Pridgen's Pet Projects
I find it amazing that Mr. Pridgen can get anything done. He seems to be overly concerned with things like licencing cats, and making sure nobody under 21 roams Chippewa.
I'm at a loss how the new law making sure nobody under 21 goes into any bar on Chippewa, but allows it anywhere else in the city can be in accordance with the equal protection clause. While, the motivation is sound, and I prefer a 21 and up atmosphere, doesn't he realize he just slammed one of the economic hubs in Buffalo? If the owners of the establishments want to keep it 21 and up, so be it. It's their choice. They sink, or swim. But the only thing this has done is move everything to Main St, Allen, and Elmwood. Didn't solve the issue of violence, Mr. Pridgen. Which, no offense, your district is the primary source of violence in our city. Maybe you should spend less time preaching that people are going to die in hell because marriage equality is embraced in NYS, and more time curbing the trend of violence in your district.
The same though goes with this cat licensing thing. Again, while I agree, the motivation behind it is sound, but the whole method is ridiculous. How many unlicensed dogs are roaming? Plenty, I'd bet. The only thing licensing does is generate revenue for the city, which I surmise is the same motivation for the cat licenses. If strays are the issue, then fund a program that does TNR (Trap-Neuter/Spay-Release), which is a true solution. Animal hoarding? Then fund more mental health programs. If you need funding for either? THEN suggest licensing to pay for it. Because right now, it just seems Buffalo is looking for a new revenue stream.
Mr. Pridgen, to take a quote from your "Hand Book": Remove the plank from your eye, before you try to remove the speck from your brother's.
I'm at a loss how the new law making sure nobody under 21 goes into any bar on Chippewa, but allows it anywhere else in the city can be in accordance with the equal protection clause. While, the motivation is sound, and I prefer a 21 and up atmosphere, doesn't he realize he just slammed one of the economic hubs in Buffalo? If the owners of the establishments want to keep it 21 and up, so be it. It's their choice. They sink, or swim. But the only thing this has done is move everything to Main St, Allen, and Elmwood. Didn't solve the issue of violence, Mr. Pridgen. Which, no offense, your district is the primary source of violence in our city. Maybe you should spend less time preaching that people are going to die in hell because marriage equality is embraced in NYS, and more time curbing the trend of violence in your district.
The same though goes with this cat licensing thing. Again, while I agree, the motivation behind it is sound, but the whole method is ridiculous. How many unlicensed dogs are roaming? Plenty, I'd bet. The only thing licensing does is generate revenue for the city, which I surmise is the same motivation for the cat licenses. If strays are the issue, then fund a program that does TNR (Trap-Neuter/Spay-Release), which is a true solution. Animal hoarding? Then fund more mental health programs. If you need funding for either? THEN suggest licensing to pay for it. Because right now, it just seems Buffalo is looking for a new revenue stream.
Mr. Pridgen, to take a quote from your "Hand Book": Remove the plank from your eye, before you try to remove the speck from your brother's.
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