Given the amount of work he put into his role, one would think he’d want to share in Phantom Thread’s near-universal acclaim: As part of his preparation for the role of Reynolds Woodcock (the character of which he named himself), Day-Lewis learned to cut and sew a Balenciaga dress as part of an apprenticeship to the New York City Ballet’s costume designer. A film is usually a collaboration between a director and his crew, but for Phantom Thread Day-Lewis figuratively drew the carriage while Thomas Anderson eased the reins.

But weeks after announcing his retirement, Day-Lewis was in a painful motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his arm. He made an early exit at Phantom Thread’s NYC premiere, and at the Golden Globes he hovered like a sad-smiling shadow. Anyone who’s seen the film recognized the look drawn over his face: At its heart, Woodcock’s story is a fairy tale about the power of love warming even the most shriveled of hearts—a complicated hero wrestling with and besting the curse that bestows him with genius and existential dread. Given the toll some roles have taken on the actors who have performed them, it’s not entirely unfair to ask if the curse hovering over Phantom Thread’s plot came over the actor himself.

A note on curses—whether you believe they are mystical truths, self-fulfilling prophecies, or dogshit. My extremely fundamental definition comes from Norman Mailer’s Ancient Evenings, which states that a curse is as such: “an unfair theft of strength. Whatever is attempted in the way of improving your position brings back less than the effort exerted.” Can’t succeed even when your aim is true? There might be a curse on you.

What is the curse, and where did it come from? The film’s first few minutes shows Woodcock after the successful debut of a new dress—but all he can talk about is the presence of death, looming over him. At his sister’s request, he takes a journey to his house in the country where he encounters Alma, the waitress who will become his model, muse, and eventually the mother of his child (that is, if we can trust the film’s final few moments, but more on that later). Throughout their honest attempts at courtship, they’re constantly thwarted by his thanatic restlessness; in the canvas of a wedding dress for a foreign princess, he sews the words “Never Cursed,” a blessing for her good fortune—and a longing after his own.

This angst is visible in Day-Lewis’s expressive features, so that when he and Alma first lock eyes, it’s as if the sudden psychic shift in the weight of his heavy heart moves the room, causing her to stumble. From the simple directions given in Anderson’s screenplay (“He looks at her. She looks at him.”), we know not whether the stagger—an exclamation point mark in a film of flowing gestures and punctilious edits—was staged, improvised, or accidental until we witness the breaking of what we might call the film’s sixth wall: The appearance of Woodcock’s mother’s ghost in a wide, static shot of his bedroom clues us into the fact that there’s indeed another plane of existence in Woodcock’s world—a land of the dead superimposed over that of the living, one that’s been having its way with him.

To any Paul Thomas Anderson fan, a ghost story might sound like unusual territory for the resolutely earthbound director, whose closest previous flirtation with the supernatural came in the form of Magnolia’s infamous storm of frogs. But taboos and superstitions are all too common in the world of the real-world fashion designers who inspired the character of Reynolds Woodcock. “I do think fashion people are naturally superstitious and definitely very spiritual, much more so than any other industry,” Kristin Knox, author of Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation, told the New York Post in 2011.

Beyond McQueen—who’s rumored to have secretly sewed the words “I am a cunt” into the canvas of a coat made for Prince—there’s also Christian Dior, who had perhaps the most notorious superstitions in fashion and whose real-world death took place only two years after the events contained within Phantom Thread. There’s Charles James, the openly gay British courtier whose last words to paramedics included one of the best humblebrags of all time: “I am what is popularly regarded as the greatest couturier in the Western world,” he told paramedics, before dying relatively friendless and six months behind on rent; the French designer Paul Poiret once said to James, “I pass you my crown. Wear it well,” dying penniless a few years later.

Andy Warhol—whose documented frailty mirrors that of Woodcock at his most vulnerable—had a curious relationship with death; an emotional turn that has been said to be the impetus behind the birth of Pop Art as a form, he “gave up caring” after the sudden passing of a beloved cat he and his mother cared for early on in his career.

“To hear him tell it, the death-by-surgery of a female cat spayed him of tender feelings,” according to Andy Warhol: A Biography author Wayne Koestenbaum—but it also gave Warhol the ability to imagine “an afterlife in which Julia Warhol and their beloved kitties survive.” And Julia Warhol’s death was also a major traumatic event for the artist, to the point where he neither attended her funeral nor even admitted it took place. (He later told companions that his mother had simply gone shopping.) Warhol himself would later pass due to complications related to a botched operation.

These artisans who made an indelible mark on fashion each shared a canny connection to the afterlife—a relationship all creators share with the work that lives on long after they do. Perhaps this is the true fiber woven into Phantom Thread: an invisible line that stretches from our ancestors to our children’s children—a deeply Anderson-ian conceit—that goes beyond the constraints of the corporeal. “Sometimes I jump ahead in our life together and I see a time, near the end... I can predict the future... and everything is settled,” Alma says after the film’s theoretical curse has been broken, and the narrative timeline is broken. “I finally understand you—and I care for your dresses, keeping them from dust and ghosts and time.”

In conjuring Reynolds Woodcock, it’s possible that Daniel Day-Lewis grasped a strand from the tapestry of touches and tastes that makes Phantom Thread transcendent, affixing it to his own theoretical suit. In “Powers of Horror, an Essay on Abjection,” philosopher Julia Kristeva writes, “In psychoanalysis as in anthropology one commonly links the sacred and the establishment of the religious bond that it presupposes with sacrifice.” One doesn’t need to believe in superstition to witness the impact it can have on others—so what if Day-Lewis quit acting because he believed that pushing himself any further into character would have cost him his own life?

Anything could’ve ultimately led to Day-Lewis’s decision to retire from acting; on a practical level, it could be that both the acting world and the real world have lost their sparkle; it could be that the burden of negativity that comes with rejecting what comes naturally is weighing particularly heavy at this point in his journey; or it could just be dogshit, as Anderson himself hopes. But by quitting acting, Day-Lewis is challenging his mortality—his curse—by charting a quest to find meaning beyond life after death. If he does find it, we should all hope he’s as willing to share the secret as he was with his own soul in Phantom Thread.

Unnamed aides on the Hill told Axios the 80-year-old tends to nod off in the sit-downs pretty regularly, a habit the president can't stand. According to one former administration official, "Wilbur is good until about 11 AM"—which, apparently, is right around the time Trump actually starts working.

His rumored low energy performance was even caught on camera back in May, when the commerce secretary appeared to be taking a power nap during his boss's address in Saudi Arabia.

Trump has reportedly been ticked off at Ross since about halfway through 2017, when the president tore him apart for botching his trade deals with China—negotiations the former Wall Street tycoon had taken the lead on.

"These trade deals, they're terrible," Trump reportedly said to Ross in a meeting. "Your understanding of trade is terrible. Your deals are no good. No good."

The White House has denied the beef, but Trump's reported roasting of Ross doesn't seem too surprising, considering he reportedly once ordered his former chief of staff Reince Priebus to off an annoying fly during a meeting. Now it looks like Priebus's replacement might be on the outs, following a Vanity Fair report that Ivanka is on the hunt for someone to take John Kelly's job.

It doesn't seem like anyone in the White House is safe from Trump's, uh, fire and fury. Rex Tillerson was rumored to be on his way out after the secretary of state allegedly called Trump a "fucking moron," and Trump has publicly shamed Attorney General Jeff Sessions so many times it's a wonder he's still around.

Ross is apparently hoping to save himself from going the way of Steve Bannon, the Mooch, Omarosa, Sean Spicer, and a whole lot of other folks who found themselves up against a guy who made a career out of firing people on TV.

"Wilbur’s been sucking up for months, trying to get back in the president’s good graces,” a source told Axios.

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The free seminar is the final installment of BCN’s year-long series designed for breast cancer survivors. Funded by a grant received from the New York State Department of Health, the programs have focused on wellness activities and integrative therapies that can be used to complement traditional health care practices.

BCN Executive Director Rob Jones said, “For breast cancer patients, so much of their time is spent with doctors and getting treatments. They aren’t always aware of complementary care and the different ways available for them to take more control of their lives.” By presenting information on topics such as nutrition, meditation, yoga, integrative medicine, chiropractic care, and genetics, Jones feels that the seminars met that need, stating, “The overall response has been very positive and we are in the process of putting together similar programs for the upcoming year.”  Jones also cited collaborations with local providers and speakers as a direct benefit of the programs, “We were able to partner with Catholic Health System, Windsong Radiology, Cancer Care of WNY, and Roswell Park to help us host and co-promote the programs. And the experts who spoke at the programs were all outstanding and very passionate about sharing their expertise with others.”

The Breast Cancer Network of WNY, founded in 1988, is dedicated to the education, support, and advocacy for breast cancer patients and survivors of WNY. It is a local, volunteer driven organization offering a full schedule of support groups, restorative health classes, education programs, and outreach for survivors and newly diagnosed patients. BCN can be contacted on the internet at www.bcnwny.org or by calling 716-706-0060.

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Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main Street, Buffalo
A National Historic Site, this 1926 movie house has been restored to its original splendor. A theater scene anchor, it’s also a destination on its own for architecture fans. Remarkably, it is one of the country’s only theaters with a Tiffany designed interior. The Metropolitan Museum of Art calls Shea’s “a baroque confection of rich colors and textures.” What to see: big touring Broadway musicals, a la Lion King and Annie, plus top acts and artists (2017 shows included Bill Maher, Nick Offerman and Bob Dylan).

Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo
Kleinhans is a designated National Historic Landmark, and home to the Grammy-award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Designed by Finnish father-and-son architects, Eliel and Eero Saarninen, it was completed in 1940. Since then it has become a touchstone for Buffalonians, and internationally renowned for both its simple beauty and its amazing acoustics. What to see: The orchestra offers a variety of performances, from classical to pops and family-oriented concerts.

Photo of Asbury Hall courtesy of Babeville

Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo
Also known as Babeville, this downtown arts hub is on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. A former Methodist church, it’s constructed out of Medina sandstone (completed around 1874). In the mid-‘90s, under threat of demolition, singer/songwriter/activist and Buffalo native Ani DiFranco, along with a business partner, purchased it. The building’s main performance space is in the former church sanctuary. What to see: All kinds of touring and local bands, larger acts like comedian Paula Poundstone, and intimate shows in the basement cabaret space, the 9^th Ward.

North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo
Another 1920s grand movie palace lovingly restored after years of underuse. The original Art Nouveau murals on the ceiling and proscenium glow with pride; the stained-glass design above the front marquee is a beacon. What to see: an array of movies including new titles and smaller releases.

Silo City, Silo City Row, Buffalo
This partially renovated grain elevator complex, part of Buffalo’s rich industrial heritage, is being put to a wide range of uses. There is no denying their dramatic presence; you may find them beautiful, eerie or a bit of both. They’re even being used as a film location in Buffalo’s increasing role as a movie production destination. What to see: live music performances and festivals, poetry readings, immersive theater performances. (Insider tip: Wear sturdy shoes.)

Albright Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo
The internationally respected modern and contemporary art museum’s auditorium is a serene and lovely space. The room, within 1962 addition by Buffalo-born architect Gordon Bunshaft, seats around 350. It’s elegantly raked, with walls of floor-to-ceiling windows that highlight the museum’s setting on the border of Delaware Park, part of Buffalo’s famed Frederick Law Olmsted park system. What to see: Jazz, chamber music, films and lectures.

Photo courtesy of Riviera Theatre

Riviera Theater, 67 Webster Street, North Tonawanda
A glamorous and beloved renovated 1926 movie house, this worth-the-trip venue is on both the National and New York State Register of Historic Places. In addition to its glorious interior, one of its main attractions is the vintage Wurlitzer organ, in good working order and frequently featured. What to see: Large scale tribute shows honoring artists including Sinatra, Ozzy Osbourne, Journey, Cher, etc.; magic shows, concerts, and silent films accompanied live by the mighty Wurlitzer.

The post See a Show at These 7 Iconic Buffalo Venues appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

Releases report detailing internal county efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change through local actions

Erie County greenhouse gas emissions decrease 26% from 2005 – 2014; county will join with partners to promote wider community participation

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Participation in six-week, community-wide health and wellness initiative continues to grow; Tonawanda resident awarded grand prize trip for two to Nashville

Orchard Park, N.Y., January 24, 2018 – The Independent Health and Buffalo Bills Health & Wellness Challenge continues to inspire Western New Yorkers to become more engaged in their own health and well-being. More than 21,000 individuals – including 1,950 new participants – were registered for the most recent Health & Wellness Challenge, which ran last fall from October 9 through November 19.

As with past Health & Wellness Challenges, participants were once again challenged to integrate physical activity and good nutrition into their daily lives. In turn, on average, each participant logged more than seven hours of physical activity, while consuming 62 servings of fruits and vegetables and 102 glasses of water during the six-week initiative.

The Health & Wellness Challenge was designed to help motivate adults of all ages to live healthier lives by offering them opportunities to win prizes. The first initiative kicked off in October 2014 and drew 2,300 participants. Since then, six more rounds of the Challenge have been held, with participation steadily increasing each round, bringing the total number of registrants to 21,047.

“We are thrilled that more than 21,000 people have now registered for the Health & Wellness Challenge and are taking the steps to adopt healthy habits and achieve healthier lifestyles,” said Michael W. Cropp, M.D., president and CEO, Independent Health. “In partnering with the Buffalo Bills, we have been able to offer the entire community a health and wellness program that is easy, fun and rewarding. While participants may initially sign up in hopes of winning some great prizes, it is overall improved health and well-being that is truly the real reward in the end.”

Variety of prizes awarded, including grand prize trip to Nashville

By meeting daily goals and completing health and wellness challenges for points, all Challenge competitors were eligible to win a variety of prizes. Neil McGillicuddy, of Tonawanda, was chosen as the lucky winner of the Fall 2017 grand prize – a trip for two to Nashville, Tennessee. The grand prize included roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations for three nights and a VIP experience at Black River Entertainment.

Five participants were also selected at random each week to receive a prize, including signed Bills memorabilia, Bose® wireless headphones, fitness trackers, gift cards and autographed Black River Entertainment merchandise.

In addition, participants were once again able to synch their compatible fitness tracker to the Health & Wellness Challenge website and track their steps. For every 5,000 steps walked, participants earned an entry into a weekly drawing to win two tickets to the Bills home game against Indianapolis on December 10.

How the Health & Wellness Challenge worked

Participants in the Health & Wellness Challenge earned points by meeting three main daily goals:

• 20 minutes of physical activity
• Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink eight glasses of water

Participants could also complete one “extra points” challenge each day to gain more chances to win. New for this round of the Challenge, each participant who recorded at least 20 minutes of activity during the initiative received 25 additional points because a Community Goal of 1,000,000 fitness minutes was reached. As an added bonus, individuals who referred their friends, family and co-workers were awarded 10 extra points for each person who registered.

Participants kept track of their progress and learned about that day’s “extra points” challenge by logging-in at buffalobills.com/thechallenge. The number of points earned throughout the Health & Wellness Challenge determined the number of chances participants had in the weekly and grand prize drawing. To be eligible to win a prize, participants had to be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of New York State at the time of entry.

To keep the drive toward a “One Healthier Buffalo” alive, Independent Health and the Buffalo Bills are planning to kick off an eighth Health & Wellness Challenge in the spring. Until then, participants are encouraged to continue to visit buffalobills.com/thechallenge for new wellness tips and message board updates that will help them stay motivated.

The post Independent Health Buffalo Bills Health and Wellness Challenge appeared first on Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine.

Standard tee is $13.00 and special women’s tee is $14.00.

Want to order one?

Follow this link for more info—>

https://teechip.com/nazdrowiebuffalo

Na Zdrowie!

If you’ve been naughty, St. Nicholas won’t be visiting you but Krampus, the Bavarian Christmas devil, will be. The AMLDC share a sample of our favorite punch recipes with you and hope you share some with us. A nod to our Teutonic/Scandinavian neighbors from Europe featuring a Swedish Julbord, the Jul Lads, the Jul Cat and the man of the hour: Krampus. Free admission. Light fare

Facebook event page—>

https://www.facebook.com/events/1102198033124078/

Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle, 612 Fillmore Ave – Buffalo, New York

(716) 847-0839

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“In each of these case files you have pictures of people who have overdosed and died, along with comments from their family members, and lots of them were people who were dying alone,” recalled Gur, an assistant professor of criminal justice at the Penn State Abington campus. “A big part of the problem is people using alone, and therefore nobody was there to help them.”

In addition to the legal issues, the heavy stigma around heroin and other opioids driving the nation's overdose crisis can push individuals into the shadows where they are most vulnerable. Officially, at least 91 die people every day from opioid overdose nationwide, a number that likely undershoots the true total due to underreporting.

Aiming to stem the ever-rising number of deaths is a push for supervised injection facilities, spaces where people can test their drugs, use them in a clean and safe area, and access medical and addiction services if necessary or desired. “Having a place where people can go to use with other people and provide each other with supervision and help would address a big part of the problem,” Gur told me.

There are still no sanctioned injection facilities (though at least one exists in secret), also known as comprehensive user engagement sites, in the United States, despite more than 100 examples of success in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Seattle is making strides toward opening the first, with other cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia tentatively poised to follow.

"These are platforms where people can make different or better decisions about their health," said Sarah Evans, former manager of InSite in Vancouver, the first supervised injection facility in North America, at a recent meeting in Philadelphia. "These people are outside. We need to bring them inside."

Since its opening in 2003 through the end of last year, clients had injected drugs at InSite 3.6 million times and experienced 6,440 overdoses—and zero deaths. In addition to effectively eliminating fatalities on their premises, injection sites have shown a number of other benefits, including reducing transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C as well as lowering the chances for bacterial infections and abscesses caused by non-sterile injection.

Evans said many of the fears people in Vancouver originally expressed about the facility never came to pass—the site didn't lead to an increase in crime or drug use in the community, nor did it entice new users to start injecting. “Harm reduction and treatment and recovery are all on a continuum,” she added. “They aren't opposites.”

The issue is especially acute in Philadelphia, where overdose deaths are projected to hit an all-time high of 1,200 for the year, largely driven by the prevalence of fentanyl products, opioids 50 times (or more) as powerful as heroin. This year, the city closed a number of areas where people gathered to use drugs—most notably, "El Campamento," a makeshift camp along old railroad tracks in the Kensington neighborhood on a landscape strewn with garbage and needles. When the media published reports on other spaces where drug users congregated, such as a library lawn and an abandoned church, they were swiftly shut down as well.

While the gathering spots were an embarrassing look for the city, advocates say they were also places where people could keep an eye on each other, not to mention where outreach workers could make contact and offer services. Notably, only 17 of the city's 907 overdose deaths in 2016 were near El Campamento, despite its reputation as the epicenter of injection. Now drug users are more dispersed on the streets, many sleeping under bridges, seeking out privacy where they can inject from the public eye. That means alleys, bathrooms, and abandoned tracks, where they are extra vulnerable to theft, attack or lonely death.

Prevention Point, a harm-reduction organization in Kensington, has filled some of the need for life-saving services by training hundreds of community members on the administration of naloxone, the medicine that reverses opioid overdose, as well as having staff serve as de facto first responders when an overdose occurs in the neighborhood. “If we don't address this issue in a harm reductionist kind of way, we're going to continue to see an increase in overdose deaths,” said Jose Benitez, the group's executive director, in an interview with VICE earlier this year. “As far as safer injection sites, we think they would save lives.”

Where Philadelphia goes next is an open question. A special task force earlier this year suggested that the city continue to explore user engagement sites, among numerous other recommendations, but officials have not committed yet. Alicia Taylor, a spokesperson for the city's Department of Health and Human Services, said in an email, “We are actively working to consider the feasibility of such a site as quickly as we can,” noting that a team of city officials had recently visited Vancouver to explore the InSite facility.

“A secure consumption facility (SCF) raises a host of challenging legal and law enforcement issues, and no American city has been able to implement one yet, but we are committed to fully exploring the possibility,” Taylor wrote. “We are seeking an independent party to do a review of the challenges and opportunities, and we will be consulting with national experts.”

A number of obstacles loom—reluctance by some officials, opposition by residents in the neighborhoods hardest hit by the epidemic, and a legal gray area that could put operators in danger of violating federal law. While injection facilities are not explicitly banned by the US government, they could possibly violate certain sections of the Controlled Substances Act, depending on how they are interpreted.

Temple University law professor Scott Burris, however, said during the meeting in Philadelphia that given the immediate need, the city should plow forward anyway, just as it did for a needle exchange program more than 25 years ago despite its prohibition under state law. "I think we should dare the feds to shut it down and not worry about their legal opinion one bit," Burris said. "Tell Jeff Sessions to bring it on."

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Garcia Zarate had been deported from the US to Mexico five times and was due for a sixth deportation—on a 20-year-old marijuana charge—three months before Steinle was shot. After being released from jail in March 2015 under San Francisco's sanctuary city policies, Garcia Zarate allegedly shot Steinle in the back with a stolen US Bureau of Land Management gun while she was walking along one of the city's piers with her dad.

Prosecutors in Steinle's case argued Garcia Zarate used the stolen pistol to intentionally fire into a crowd on San Francisco's Pier 14, killing Steinle. The defense insisted Garcia Zarate had stumbled across the gun, which was cloaked in cloth, and accidentally set it off while he was unwrapping it, sending a bullet ricocheting off the ground before it struck Steinle.

The jury exonerated Garcia Zarate, 45, of murder, manslaughter, and assault with a firearm Thursday, though he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, the New York Times reports. President Trump—who made Steinle's death a centerpiece of his anti-immigration platform—condemned the verdict just hours after it was handed down, calling it "disgraceful."

Trump and other leading Republicans have used Steinle's death as ammunition in their war on illegal immigration, sanctuary cities, and the fight for a border wall. In a 2016 speech, Trump called her one of "countless Americans" who "would be alive today if not for the open border policies of [Obama's] administration." Republicans in the House even passed a bill named after Steinle—"Kate's Law"—that would strengthen penalties for convicted criminals who enter the US illegally, though it never made it through the Senate.

Garcia Zarate could serve anywhere from 16 months to three years for unlawful possession of a firearm—and potentially even more time if the Justice Department makes good on its promise to file federal charges against him. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has vowed to deport Garcia Zarate, and Trump said he'll continue to hammer away at the Steinle case as an issue in the 2020 race, whether her family supports him or not.

"If you're going to use somebody's name and you're going to sensationalize the death of a beautiful young lady, maybe you should call and talk to the family first and see what their views are," Kate's brother, Brad Steinle, told CNN in 2015. "I don't want to be affiliated with someone who doesn't have the common courtesy to reach out and ask about Kate, and our political views and what we want."

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Related: Murder at America's Border: The Story of an Anti-Immigration Vigilante

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has formally signed two local laws that respect and honor the service of Erie County veterans. The first, Local Law Intro. No.

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Castle by Candlelight – Photo courtesy of Old Fort Niagara

18th Century: Old Fort Niagara was an integral part of Western New York as the region changed hands from French to British and ultimately American control. The fort’s centuries-old buildings and grounds are decked out  for its Castle by Candlelight Tour on Dec. 9, complete with a rifle salute and historically accurate characters.

19th Century: Early settlers built homes and communities across the Niagara frontier, including the countryside of the town of Amherst. Homes and businesses from that era now form the present-day Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village. On Dec. 9, take a lantern tour of the village and feast on food and drink from yesteryear at the village’s Taste of Christmas Past.

Victorian Luncheons at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

1901: President Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office in Buffalo at the Wilcox Mansion. For the last 40 years, the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site has decorated the mansion as it would have appeared in that Victorian era. Take one of the regularly offered tours to see the home decked out for the holidays during the site’s Victorian Christmas.

1931: Buffalo’s boom of magnificent American architecture was in full swing.  This is the year Frank Lloyd Wright completed the Graycliff Estate in Derby for Buffalo’s wealthy Martin family. See the estate during a Graycliff Holiday tour, offered on Saturdays in December and from Dec. 26-29, complete with a complementary glass of mulled cider. Or stop by the recently restored Martin House Complex to see the “Tree of Light” in the plaza adjacent to the house.

It WAS a Wonderful Life at Forest Lawn Cemetery

Timeless: Take a tour through several eras of Buffalo history by listening to the stories of some of the famous residents buried  over the last 165 years in Forest Lawn Cemetery.  For the next several weekends, Forest Lawn is bringing back its “It WAS a Wonderful Life” play at the cemetery chapel that glimpses into the Christmases past lived by some of the cemetery’s residents.  Then take a self-guided walk around the cemetery to see where those residents are buried today.

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“We’ve come a long way in understanding, treating and helping people live full lives with HIV thanks to investments made in programs across the nation and right here at ECMC in Western New York,” said Congressman Higgins.  “These resources support critical services at ECMC’s clinic which provides a continuum of care for patients.” 

“We greatly appreciate the support from Congressman Higgins in receiving these critically important federal funds,” said Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, President & CEO, ECMC. “These monies from the Ryan White Outpatient Early Intervention Services Program enable us to meet the needs of the patients that seek our services and receive the care they deserve.”

ECMCʼs HIV/AIDS and Immunodeficiency services are the largest comprehensive care center of its kind in Western New York, which includes an immunodeficiency clinic that is also a PCMH Level 3 Certified Clinic. ECMC strives to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS with physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, case managers, nutritional consultants, drug counselors, and mental health counselors on its staff and also through partnerships with a myriad of community agencies. In providing care, the Immunodeficiency Services group aims to meet several important goals: improving quality of life for HIV-positive patients through early intervention and optimal care; providing HIV/AIDS clinical education and consultation to providers; offer advocacy and case management services for HIV/AIDS patients; and establish HIV prevention as a top priority.

The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, authorized by Congress in 1990, provides resources to communities and health providers throughout the nation toward the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.  Thanks to the Ryan White Program and the Minority AIDS Initiative, people with HIV are living longer than ever before. New HIV infections are down 35% since 2000 and AIDS-related deaths have decreased 48% since 2005.  Today 36.7 million people around the world are living with HIV.  

Each year December 1st is recognized as World AIDS Day to raise awareness of the fight against HIV/AIDS.  The theme for World AIDS Day 2017 is “Increasing Impact through Transparency, Accountability, and Partnerships.”  For additional information and resources visit: www.HIV.gov. 

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My biggest worry right off the bat was that this season is going to become the Trixie Mattel Show. She’s arguably the most successful of the cast, and I feel like the producers need to make amends for her season seven loss, much like the first two seasons of All Stars were consolation prizes to Chad Michaels and Alaska after their undeserved defeats. From the moment she came barreling in looking like a Roller Derby Bratz doll, Trixie was absolutely brilliant. “I’m the only one here,” she said. “It’s like a Morgan McMichaels meet and greet.” Zing! Yup, there would be no show without our darling Trixie.

Next up was Milk, looking like Pinocchio in a Canadian tuxedo and a Peter Berlin wig, followed by Chi Chi DeVayne looking like an extra in a Zatarain’s commercial, and Thorgy Thor in a tinsel wig and some Ms. Frizzle cosplay. Then, speak of the devil, came Morgan McMichaels, who reminded us that she was the mean one way back in season two (because other than Jujubee’s mom, hardly anyone remembers all the way back to season two).

I hardly remember Kennedy Davenport, either, even though she’s only returning from season seven. She had an afro wig cinched up to look like a palm tree made out of hair and was doing the absolute most. She was doing more than a one-man band trying to solve world hunger, cure AIDS, and take a hit of poppers simultaneously. Her highlighter yellow dress was bad enough, but she also whipped out a disco ball purse and had mirror tiles glued to her face. “Kennedy is Chi Chi from the future telling her she’s not going to win All Stars,” Trixie said. Zing! Welcome to the Trixie Show.

Aja rolled in looking just like her namesake in Jem and the Holograms, and BenDeLaCreme looked exactly the same as last we saw her. Last but not least was Shangela, popping out of a box and shouting “Halleloo.” Just for extra measure, she had “Halleloo” written on her skirt as well. Apparently she took an online course in marketing before returning to the series for the third time.

RuPaul showed up to introduce one final queen: BeBe Zahara Benet. I remember nothing of her except that she shouted “Camerooooooon” all the time and won the first season of the show. RuPaul pointed out that no one watched it back then, Bebe won a measly $20,000, and that she deserves a shot to reintroduce herself to the audience. It’s not like this show is some sort of bastion of integrity, but I always liked All Stars’ policy of not having contestants who had won Drag Race. It keeps everyone on a level playing field. Why not save BeBe for the “all winner’s season” of All Stars after we decide who wins season 10?

The queens then immediately launched into the classic Reading Challenge, where the library opens and the girls trade filthy barbs, which is always fun but becomes difficult when the contestants know each other intimately and have been touring the world together for years. Some of the reads were so self-referential to the show that I’m not really sure what they were talking about. But some were as faithfully vicious as ever: “Big and Milk-y,” Chi Chi said to Milk. “Just like the drink, you give me the shits.” Milk, for her part, went in for Shangela: “I always thought her name was Angela,” she said, “and people were telling her to shut up.”

Ben was the well-deserved winner of the Reading Challenge for a performance that was both mean and sweet and made everyone feel warm inside. It’s something only his character could pull off. And I appreciated Ben taking the time on this episode to discuss how devastated and depressed she was when she lost her season of Drag Race. Usually, reality show contestants only wax positive about their experiences, and nobody looks past the smile to deal with what a real bummer losing a competition like this can be. Kudos to Ben for being honest and showing us the darker side of Drag Race.

But it was Morgan McMichaels who really turned this into a reality show. Between the Reading Challenge and the talent show competition that followed, most of this first episode was filled with Morgan going around being a bitch and talking a big game. It was obvious from how much time the editors dedicated to Morgan’s smack-talk that she’d either end up in the top or the bottom of this episode—and Morgan, of course, was a bottom.

Like so many other queens, her talent show entry was just some typical lip sync drag number to an original song of hers whose lyrics kept asking, “Why you mad though? Why you mad though?” She should be mad, because her wig kept getting caught on her giant feathered shoulder pads, and she looked like a shambles. Thorgy and Chi Chi also wound up on the bottom for their performances, but at least their skills were a bit varied; Thorgy sapped the room of all of its energy playing the violin while dressed as Phyllis Diller, while Chi Chi did a baton-twirling number that would have been cute if she hadn’t worn your cousin Jeffrey’s church shoes and an outfit she bought on sale at Zazzle.com.

Shangela and Aja did a lip-sync performance, but the high energy and flair they brought to it landed them in the top. Ben did a comedic take on a burlesque number that was by far the best of the night, not only for its originality but also because it showed off her individual character more than anyone else’s. If anything, this first episode proved it might not be the Trixie Show much longer.

But of course, at the end of the day, it was Morgan McMichaels and her too-contoured nose that ended up going home. She didn’t have the goods to back up all her bullshit bluster, and her “I’m not here to make friends” reality show clichés were sure to send her packing.

Her elimination made one thing clear: Drag Race is no longer a place for villains. These are cutting-edge artists, after all, expressing themselves through makeup, costumes, comedy, dance, better-than-mediocre violin playing, and whatever it is that Chi Chi does. This is a place for friendly competition, not one for backstabbing and manipulation. Sure, Ru may ask them to insult each other in the reading challenge, but the girl who wins is the one who does it with heart. Though Drag Race has ensured that everyone in America knows what “spilling the tea” means, the first girl on All Stars who starts drowning people in it won’t be long for this world herself.

Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter.

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One morning, I am woken up by an officer telling me I’m scheduled to be on a bus ride to the hospital with other prisoners, also known as a “medical chain,” the next day. Lately, I’ve been experiencing a series of irregular heartbeats that cause me to pass out and become a burden on the staff, which apparently has become enough of a nuisance for them to refer me to a cardiologist at a hospital in Galveston, Texas.

As I rub the sleep from my eyes, I begin the task of strategically packing my property into potato sacks, otherwise known as “chain bags.” I dread the misery of the next three days: seemingly endless riding on a cramped bus; suffering from motion sickness while handcuffed to an inmate with bad breath; having to use the on-board toilet while trying to keep balanced; and, worst of all, strip-searches and an inventory of my property each time I enter or leave a facility.

On about four hours of sleep, Day 1 begins with the Blue Bird’s departure (that’s the type of bus), transporting myself and about 25 other female prisoners. Our first stop, after an hours-long drive, is a men’s prison, which just so happens to primarily house sex offenders.

We are offloaded behind two sets of fences lined with razor wire and escorted to dirty segregation cells where we will stay for a few hours so the drivers can change shifts. The male prisoners stare at me like I am a piece of fresh meat; one of them grabs his crotch, and the officer escorting us orders him to face the wall as we pass.

By 2 AM, we are on the bus again, after having a total of seven hours of sleep in the past two days. Soon, we arrive at the hospital’s waiting area, and for another eight hours we sit on benches so narrow it’s impossible to stay upright.

After all that, I meet the cardiologist, who seems awful rushed. He administers an EKG—the same thing the unit healthcare provider at the prison had done—and confirms, “Yep, it’s beating too slow…” (duh) and then, “We will have you brought back here in two weeks for some more tests.”

And then he was gone. Five minutes later I am back in the waiting area watching the clock for our departure.

On Day 3 at 2 AM, on a total of nine hours of sleep, we are back on the Blue Bird again, and this time we’re not stopping—not for a person in need of medical attention, not even for a fight. Their reasoning is that a “situation” could be a decoy for an escape attempt; if anything does happen, the bus driver must wait to pull into the next closest prison, which could be anywhere from five to 50 miles away.

All I want is to be back in my bunk in prison. At once, the irony of it all hits me: For years, all I’ve ever thought about is getting out. Now all I want is in!

I sit back in my seat and observe the free world out of a quarter-sized hole in the metal that covers the bus window.

There is not enough moonlight to show the clouds. We could be at 2,000 feet or 22,000, which is also how I feel in relation to my past and future: unanchored, floating between them. How did I get to this point? What good will this dreadful experience do for my future?

Outside I see people under streetlights, pumping gas into their vehicles; a man on his cell phone who looks lost; a worker passing bags of burgers through a drive-thru window. At a red light, I see a woman—who appears to be a prostitute—jump out of one car, straighten her mini-skirt, and hop into another. Later, I see homes and businesses in various stages of construction, taco stands, and a couple on the side of the road assessing a fender bender they just got into.

What catches my attention the most are the children. When you live in a place where they are absent, they seem suddenly strange, with their short little legs chasing their mothers into stores. If they only knew the value of the freedom they possess.

I think back to driving to work, paying the bills, the free world in all its normalcy.

I think back, also, to a decade ago, when I sobered up just in time for my daughter to be born. I remember watching her finish her bottle, before reaching her tiny fingers toward my face. I’d thought about how perfect she was.

But I couldn’t wait to get high once she was born. Two months after that, I was 30 pounds lighter and would soon stand before a judge and a caseworker to determine the placement of my child. My cousin offered to be an adoptive parent, wanting nothing more than the chance at what I had been so freely given, yet so easily taken for granted: motherhood.

My daughter, with her big, forgiving eyes, deserved so much more than I could give her, and it would only be a matter of time before my unwillingness to change, to get sober, would taint her perfection. To continue holding on felt selfish.

Finally, one day, I handed her small squirming body to my cousin as a tear slipped from my eye.

Who knows what could have become of my daughter had I dragged her through a lifestyle of drug-induced dysfunction? Maybe one day she will appreciate what I did and want to get to know me.

As the wheels on the bus go round, my mind spins, thinking about the many mistakes I’ve made. The memories serve several functions; one is to dampen the longing for freedom that is stirring in my soul because I didn’t cherish my freedom when I actually had it.

Some incarcerated people say it is easier not to think about freedom at all.

Suddenly the ride is over. I step off the bus and the early morning sunlight assaults my eyes. With one last look at the Blue Bird, I realize that I will never forget this trip. And I don’t want to forget: It reminds me that no matter how painful, I cannot forget that time is valuable, and that I may yet become a free bird again.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not respond to a request for comment on "medical chain" bus conditions.

Deidre McDonald, 34, is incarcerated at the Carol Young Complex in Dickinson, Texas, where she is serving a maximum sentence of 30 years for forgery offenses stemming from a drug addiction.

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The bad news is that legislators have yet to rally around even the outline of a plan to keep the government going past next Friday. There’s a good chance, the experts I’ve spoken to agree, that we’ll still manage to avoid a shutdown—but the country could be looking at weeks of short-term fixes, brinksmanship, and stress.

The government was initially set to run out of funding on September 30. But at the start of that month, Donald Trump struck a surprise deal with Democratic leaders in Congress to fund the government through December 8. The plan at the time was ostensibly to free up time to work on tax reform, handle any other pressing issues, and gradually work out a deal to fund the government through September 2018. Then Republicans wasted September on a futile attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and tax reform got complicated real fast.

Those big-ticket items mean that other priorities are being pushed aside in the hope that they could be wrapped into a funding deal. That includes: funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has been running on fumes since Congress failed to renew it in late September; restoring protections that Trump scuttled in September for around 800,000 ”Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as children; stabilizing the ACA’s individual markets after Trump said he’d stop paying a key subsidy to insurers in October; providing a third tranche of disaster relief funding for communities hit by the summer’s hurricanes and wildfires; and reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, a major National Security Agency surveillance program, and a number of other federal programs.

“The more that you add to it, the bigger these bills get,” said Georgetown University budget politics expert Mark Harkins, “and the harder it’ll be to get an agreement.”

Despite this pileup, until a few days ago observers were optimistic about the funding process. Negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, who need at least eight Democratic votes to pass funding legislation in the Senate, were moving along. Some involved in the process hoped the two parties would agree this week on top-line spending numbers, always a point of contention since Democrats demand parity in funding increases for defense and nondefense spending. They might not have a final deal by December 8. But they could pass a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at the same levels and maybe knocking out one or two other priorities, like disaster relief. They could use those weeks to work hash out deals on the remaining issues and have a full funding bill for 2018 passed before leaving for the holidays.

That seemed to fall apart on Tuesday morning. Just before a major negotiation session between Trump and congressional leaders from both parties, the president fired off a brash tweet saying that he didn’t see any possible deal and insulting the Democrats. The Democrats pulled out of the meeting, and now even progress towards an agreement on top-line spending numbers has stalled out.

“There’s still a chance that senior staff can do what they have to behind the scenes, just get the numbers they need,” said Harkins. Then they could pull together legislation within a few days and let party leaders sign off on it quietly. “But I don’t know if that’s what’s going to occur.”

Instead, Republican leaders now seem to accept that they’ll need a longer CR, pushing off a full funding deal into mid-January or even early February. Republican leaders weren’t jazzed about this, as ending the year on a band-aid solution doesn’t speak well to their governing skills. But others in their party like this solution. It freed up bandwidth to keep focusing on taxes through Christmas and gave them more time to strike deals with the Democrats.

But pushing a final funding bill into 2018 just increased pressure to tackle controversial issues by December 8. Many Democrats and some Republicans are unwilling to end 2017 without fixes for CHIP, protections for Dreamers, and disaster relief. They do not trust Trump or Republican leaders to make good on any promises to handle those issues without the pressure of a CR to attach it to.

Republican leaders seemed willing to play hardball with Democrats, especially when it comes to protections for Dreamers, which they do not want to wrap into a funding bill. The Democrats, meanwhile, are openly worried if they threaten a shutdown, they could be blamed for it. Threats might also help rally the GOP around a hardline conservative funding bill in January. But their fears are likely misplaced, says Steve Bell, a longtime budget Senate staffer and now an economic policy wonk at the Bipartisan Policy Center. With Republicans controlling all three branches of government, the public is likely to blame then. Then again, GOP approval ratings haven’t suffered too much from previous shutdowns.

Harkins suspects one side will eventually back down, because “you don’t cut off paychecks to millions” of federal employees “just before Christmas.” For all the rhetoric about forcing a Dreamers fix by year’s end, he points out, the real deadline to fix the program before all Dreamer protections go up in smoke isn’t until early March.

Bell told me the Democrats might be the ones willing to stand firm and shut down the government on Friday over Dreamer protections as well as CHIP reauthorization and a few other issues. Acting on multiple issues, he thinks, would blunt criticisms that they were just being obstructionist or jeopardizing the government for the sake of a few undocumented youths.

A further wrinkle: As of Thursday, Republicans have realized that defense hawks in their own party might not be willing to wait until January to tackle funding because it’d leave the military planners too uncertain going into 2018. So now there’s another plan on the table: Passing one CR to fund the government until December 22, at which point they can finalize at least military funding figures and knock out a few other issues. Then passing a second CR delaying a final funding bill until mid-January.

That would relieve some of the pressure, at least temporarily. Legislators would still have to tackle CHIP and disaster relief, as well as a few program reauthorizations, in their December 8 CR, said Harkins, as these issues can’t be delayed to the end of the month. But these are easier issues to hash out than Dreamer protections. Even if deals on these priorities can’t be struck, legislators may be willing to let them slide for a few weeks, as they’ve long been willing to convince themselves that CHIP in particular isn’t in as much danger as the experts say.

“If Congress is not able to take care of those two priorities by next Friday,” though, said Harkins, “the ability for Congress to legislate truly has come to an end.”

This would only delay a standoff over protections for Dreamers by a few weeks. Furthermore, kicking the can down the road won’t solve the fundamental problems facing a funding agreement, and could add one more: By mid-January, the Treasury Department will likely be out of tricks to keep the country from hitting the debt ceiling again. So that debate will become a part of funding negotiations, along with any priorities that don’t get resolved in December. And whatever happens with the Republican tax plan, the Alabama Senate race, or any number of other factors could change the strength of either side’s negotiating positions. “We don’t know all of the issues we’re going to be facing in the middle of January,” said Harkins.

Nothing about the upcoming funding slog is certain. Everyone I’ve spoken to agrees we will only get a decent idea of what deal will be on the table for next Friday by Monday. Or maybe not until Wednesday. If then.

As usual, no one really knows how Trump will react to all this. The president seems more willing to risk a shutdown than almost anyone in DC. He seems to believe he risks more by striking deals with the Democrats, like he did in September, and that he can fully blame any funding shenanigans on the Democrats. “The president in these processes is a wildcard,” said Harkins.

The only thing we know for sure is that the coming weeks will be a rollercoaster of uncertainty. “Anyway you cut it,” said Harkins of the coming funding negotiations, “it’s a mess.”

Follow Mark Hay on Twitter.

Read WNYmedia Network's original article that sparked the investigation of the WNY Progressive Caucus

The situation is dark for Democrats right now. Early Saturday morning, the Senate passed a rushed-through tax bill that disproportionately benefits the wealthy and corporations, the first major legislative achievement for Donald Trump and the Republicans. This bill will have to be reconciled with a House version of tax reform before it becomes law, but thanks to GOP majorities in both chambers of Congress, Democrats are utterly powerless in these negotiations. What's a liberal to do in the face of such adversity?

Laugh, apparently.

The good news for the anti-Trump camp came Friday, when it was announced that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was being formally charged with lying to the FBI as part of a deal to cooperate with Robert Mueller's investigation. It quickly became clear that he was planning to implicate members of the Trump transition team, who apparently told him to make his controversial contact with the Russian ambassador before Trump took office. (Those conversations, when revealed in February, led to his abrupt resignation.) This may eventually result in to charges against White House officials, possibly including Trump, and more possibly including Trump's preppy son-in-law Jared Kushner. This brings Democrats a baby step closer to their dream of impeaching the president, and liberals like Joy Behar popped the champagne and yukked it up:

While Trump clearly has fresh reasons to worry, and Democrats clearly have new reasons to be optimistic, that optimism should be tempered. Early reports saying Flynn was directed to contact the Russians "as a candidate," were apparently off base. ABC News later amended (or, arguably, retracted) that story, clarifying that Flynn says Trump directed him to chat with Russia during the transition—when the election was over and done with. That's a far cry from the smoking gun of collusion during the campaign that Democrats so crave.

But never mind all that if you're a committed member of the #Resistance. In all likelihood, I lost your attention somewhere in the middle of that last paragraph, because the idea of Trump's personally being a pawn of Russia is too tantalizing to pay attention to fine-grained details. That's a problem on the left—though there are plenty of serious critiques of Trump and the GOP, there's also a lot of very silly nonsense out there spread by people who will believe anything as long as its unflattering to Trump or his subordinates.

Here are a few more examples of liberals jumping the gun:

Melania wishes you a scary Christmas

There's a real news item here, and don't get me wrong, it's funny. The first lady's communications director did tweet about Melania Trump's Christmas decorations, and there was an extremely grim photo attached.

So for a while, Twitter acted like the first lady had revealed herself to be Queen Bavmorda, and all was levity and mirth. There were also goofs about a video posted around the same time of the first lady imperiously taking in a ballerina performance. It was weird but true, and a good time was had by all. Then the humorous troll account Pixelated Boat tried a more subtle brand of satire, later calling it "a fake tweet that a depressing number of people think is real."

Most people got the joke, but a ton of people apparently thought this was real. One Twitter user pointed out the religious contradictions. Another was mad that Republicans tolerate her paganism but smeared Barack Obama as a secret Muslim. Some even criticized her for doing paganism wrong. The idea that the first lady was making Christmas pagan again even jumped from Twitter to Facebook, where the notion of Melania's "hallway of great darkness" continued to pop up days after the fake Boat post.

It's not clear that everyone passing this notion off as true actually believes it, but some certainly do—or at least didn't think too much about it.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried to pass off a stock photo of a pie as her own

Just as there are plenty of real reasons to denounce the first family, there are real criticisms to be made of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who turned the Thanksgiving press briefing into an angry, dysfunctional family dinner. She also made what appears to have been an exquisite chocolate pecan pie for her family.

The pie photo was taken against a white backdrop, and the pie itself was lovely, so yes it did look a little like a stock photo. No one could find the photo in any stock photo databases, so it's safe to say the simplest explanation is that Sanders is a capable baker.

That didn't stop her detractors from filling the reply thread on her tweet about the pie with stock photos—the implication being that Sanders's pie was fake. Many of the responses went semi-viral.

Consequently, it might be considered a little intrusive of April Ryan of Urban Radio Networks to press Sanders to demand evidence that the pie was real while Sanders was probably in the middle of serving it to her children or something. The White House falsely accuses the press of lying all the time, even though quite often it's the administration (especially the president) creating and spreading hoaxes. But in this case, the pie seems real, and those getting hysterical about it look unhinged.

The pee tape has been found

This transparently fake tweet about "the Trump Pee Tape" was an experiment, according to its creator, the mysterious lefty troll known as Respectable Lawyer. The whole saga is fascinating, and worth your time, but I'll try and sum it up:

In an effort to ask, "Are nominally information literate centrists any better than pizzagaters at the end of the day?" Respectable Lawyer (RL) lifted a clip from Kanye West's "Famous" music video (that's the one with the fake, naked celebrities in a giant bed). Then, in a long tweetstorm written in the style of left-leaning twitter conspiracy theorists—the crew VICE contributor Paul Blest once called "The Infowars of the left"—RL tried to sell the clip as a section of Trump's infamous Russian blackmail tape, which supposedly includes Trump paying prostitutes to pee on a Russian hotel bed.

It was retweeted hundreds of times, and while I'd love to say no one believed it, it's my sad duty to inform you that there are extremely gullible people on Twitter:

To be clear, RL didn't make much of an effort to pass this pathetic fakery off as the truth, and just about everyone who responded got the joke. But when something is this fake, it's discouraging when anyone shows so much as a hint of credulity, and RL got much more than a hint. It was discouraging when many people seemed ready to believe it, but had doubts. It was also discouraging when others, including left-Twitter conspiracy theorist Louise Mensch, responded in ways that saw through the video itself, but hinted that it the joke tweets were part of some larger conspiracy theory.

In short, it was a good snapshot of a desperate, tragic crowd that's hungry for hope. Some of them will eat fake hope, and depressingly, some will even eat bullshit with the word "hope" written on it.

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“We are happy to see inclusionary zoning included as one of the recommendations,” said Aaron Bartley, executive director of PUSH Buffalo, which has been campaigning for an inclusionary zoning law. “We look forward to working with the City to quickly pass and implement the best possible law.”

Longtime west side resident Maxine Murphy said, “inclusionary zoning is a necessity to alleviate the suffering of renters in Buffalo. New developments should be required to have affordable rents in at least 30 percent of their units.”

Franchelle Parker, executive director of Open Buffalo, was pleased that community land trusts are prioritized.  “It is great to see the consultants recommending that the City transfer some of its vacant lots in the Fruit Belt to a land trust.  Residents there have recently incorporated the City’s first community land trust, FB Community Land Trust, and they are eager to work with the City on that.”

Community land trusts are a widely recognized best practice for preserving affordable housing, and there are now over 220 community land trusts around the nation.

To offer the City additional tools, a local think tank, the Partnership for the Public Good, today released a report titled “Affordable Housing Strategies for the City ofBuffalo.”  The Partnership’s executive director, Sam Magavern, explained that its report should be viewed as a complement to the Housing Opportunity Strategy.

“The draft Opportunity Strategy is excellent,” Magavern said.  “But housing is a big topic, and we wanted to offer some additional data and tools for the City to use.  We also put more emphasis on how fast rents are rising in the City and how unaffordable they are becoming, especially when combined with high utility bills.”

Michael Riegel, president of Belmont Housing Resources of WNY, said, ““Over the course of the last year, Section 8 voucher-holders have found it increasingly difficult to access decent affordable housing due primarily to rapidly rising rents.”

The Partnership’s report notes that according to Rent Jungle, a survey of roughly 80% of on-line rental listings in the city, whereas in 2011 the average rent advertised for a two-bedroom apartment in the city ranged between $678 (March) and $940 (November), in 2017 the average rent for a two-bedroom has ranged between $1,226 (January) and $1,355 (April).  Among metro areas nationwide, Buffalo experienced the seventh largest increase in rental affordability burden between 2015 and 2016. Homelessness in Erie County rose 10 percent from 2015 to 2016 – a strong indicator of the devastating impact of unaffordable housing on vulnerable families.

The PPG report also states that in Erie County energy costs represent an astonishing 76.6% of household income for those who are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level.  According to Magavern, that is one of the reasons that energy efficiency is such an important piece of the puzzle in Buffalo.

In addition to tools listed in the Opportunity Strategy, the Partnership’s report recommends changes to the City’s tax foreclosure policies, more repair funds for low income homeowners, eviction protections for tenants, tax deferrals for owners in fast-gentrifying neighborhoods, and a green and healthy neighborhood revitalization program.  It calls on the City to be much more aggressive in transferring the abandoned houses it owns to non-profit developers and responsible homeowners through its Homestead program.

“It costs the City an average of $20,000 to demolish a home.  Why not give that home to a non-profit developer with a grant of $15,000 instead of demolishing it,” asked Magavern.  “The City saves $5,000 and gains another unit of affordable housing.”

Teresa Bianchi, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Buffalo said, “"I was pleased to see that the Partnership's report identifies the City’s Homestead program as an important tool for non-profit housing developers to increase their build rates. Habitat for Humanity of Buffalo has put over 300 houses back onto the city tax rolls and helped over 300 families own their own home in part because we bought affordable properties through the Homestead program. This year, however, our build rate has been cut in half because we can't afford to purchase rehabs or lots any longer."

DeAnna Eason, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), said of the Opportunity Strategy, ““We waited a long time for this and are pleased that it includes Inclusionary Zoning.  We were disappointed that housing choice voucher mobility programs and fair housing enforcement were not included in the City’s report, but this report, in combination with the PPG’s Affordable Housing Strategies for the City of Buffalo, is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Also highlighted in the PPG report are several state and county initiatives that the City could advocate for, including a state bill for a Home Stability Support initiative to combat homelessness with new rental assistance vouchers.

Dale Zuchlewski, executive director of the Homeless Alliance of WNY, said, “the Home Stability Support initiative sponsored by Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi is a potential game changer for those experiencing or about to become homeless. Most affordable housing options are developer driven. but this initiative gives the renter more options to choose where they would like to live and better quality housing for their families.”

India Walton, a Fruit Belt resident and member of the Community First Alliance, said, “Affordable housing and investment in community resources will allow me and my children access to affordable activates and basic amenities we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. I spend 40 percent of my income on housing. On housing that doesn’t have access to grocery stores, transit, or community centers. How disgusting is that? 40 percent that I could be saving towards my children’s education. 40 percent that I could be saving to someday own my own home. My children deserve the same access to education, the same access to healthy food, the same access to transportation, the same access to jobs, the same access to fun activities as any child in this City. But if we can’t afford to live in the Fruit Belt, where will we move? If we move to the suburbs my children won’t have access to the Say Yes program anymore.  We won’t be a part of the community who shares the same values as us.”

The PPG report is available at www.ppgbuffalo.org.

Maine’s Second Congressional District (Northern Maine)

New York’s 21st Congressional District (North Country)

New York’s 19th Congressional District (Hudson River Valley)

New York’s First Congressional District (Eastern Long Island)

New York’s Second Congressional District (South Shore)

New Jersey’s Third Congressional District (South Jersey)

New Jersey’s Second Congressional District (South Jersey)

Illinois’s 12th Congressional District (Metro East)

Iowa’s First Congressional District (Northeast Iowa)

Iowa’s Third Congressional District (Des Moines and Southwest Iowa)

Minnesota’s Secod Congressional District (Southern Minneapolis/St. Paul Suburbs)

The western region of New York state is reporting more flu cases this year than at the same time last year, according to Univera Healthcare’s review of New York state health data. As of Nov 18, the western region of the state (including Western New York and parts of the Finger Lakes Region) has so far reported around 0.8 flu cases per 100,000 people. By the same week last year, the region had reported less than 0.1 flu cases per 100,000 people.

“Most of the flu cases being reported now are from the Influenza A strain, which is a component of this year’s flu vaccine,” said Richard Vienne, D.O., Univera Healthcare vice president and chief medical officer. “The annual flu vaccine is designed to protect against three or four flu strains during a season.”

According to Vienne, different flu strains can circulate at different times during a flu season that can extend to as late as May, so he advises that it is never too late to get a flu shot.

During the 2016-2017 flu season in New York state, only half of the population ages 6 months and older got the flu vaccine. The health of the community hinges on increasing that percentage, especially this year, when the number of reported flu cases is on pace to exceed last year’s total.

“A flu shot not only protects you from getting the flu, but also it protects others from catching the flu from you,” said Vienne. “There a community benefit to an individual getting a flu shot.”

Statistically, every 100 people who get the flu will infect 127 others. One person with the flu can infect other people one day before any symptoms develop, and up to about seven days after they become sick. The virus can spread to others up to about 6 feet away, mainly by microscopic droplets expelled into the air when people cough, sneeze or even talk.

For some people, the flu results in a fever, the chills, body aches, cough, and a runny nose. But for the very young, the very old, women who are pregnant, and individuals with compromised immune systems, catching the flu can place them at high risk for much more serious complications, including death. And, it isn’t always obvious who among us is most vulnerable.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the 2015-2016 flu season, the flu vaccine prevented approximately 5.1 million cases of the flu in the U.S., 2.5 million influenza-associated medical visits, 71,000 hospitalizations, and an estimated 3,000 pneumonia and influenza deaths.

The CDC recommends annual flu vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. It takes about two weeks after being administered for the vaccine to provide protection. Call your doctor or visit vaccinefinder.org to find a flu shot location near you.

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The juiciest implication was that, in exchange for an extremely generous plea deal that left out a bunch of other plausible charges, Flynn was ready to sing about his old boss. Trump's impeachment, it seemed, was more plausible than ever—his downfall within reach.

But liberals are hardly rejoicing. Instead, they spent the weekend despairing at a comically rushed and incredibly malignant tax bill sailing through Congress. This was on display at my favorite neighborhood bar in Brooklyn around 2 AM Saturday morning: When word came in that a version of the toxic legislation had passed the Senate, the already-dire mood soured even more, with any jubilation at Flynn's conviction quickly forgotten. The commentary was downright apocalyptic on social media, with plenty claiming that the GOP was literally "destroying America."

As the New York Times reported, this isn't just a corporate tax cut, but legislation that has the potential to reshape America for decades to come. The likely winners? The militantly religious, the superrich, and the shadowy corporate interests who saw Trump as a useful lackey and are now milking him for as much as he's worth while they still can. Taken in tandem with Trump's quiet campaign to stock the federal judiciary with ideologues, it looks like no matter what Mueller does, digging out of this mess could be a decades-long affair.

In other words, even if Trump were to get tried, impeached, and convicted, he's already changed the country forever.

"He's deregulating many areas of American life," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, who compared Trump's ability to change America in the face of an existential legal threat to another notorious president's. "Nixon did a lot in terms of public policy even as the [Watergate] scandal unfold[ed]," he told me. "It's not as if the president was totally impotent because the scandal unraveled and you had these investigations—he still was accomplishing a lot, even after 1972. It's not an either-or proposition with presidential politics."

Last month, Trump mounted a quasi-legal coup of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, installing a loyalist with flagrant conflicts of interest in a key watchdog role responsible for keeping tabs on student loans, home mortgages, and other easily abused financial products. He's likely to continue to inch closer to passing a budget eviscerating agencies that are already enduring immense neglect—and, in some cases, outright destruction—from within. And before Mueller even began his investigation, Trump successfully got Neil Gorsuch—a hard-right conservative who even other Supreme Court justices think is a preening nerd—installed to a lifetime gig on the highest court in the land.

Trump isn't likely to put his agenda on hold just because his closest advisers face the prospect of federal indictment. In fact, Republicans in Congress seem to just be moving even more quickly on their biggest priorities in order to stay ahead of Mueller's investigation.

"As a practical matter, [Trump] has as much time as Republicans in Congress give him," Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, told me, adding Republicans could be moving extra aggressively on key legislative items like taxes because "they sense this administration may not have a particularly long half-life." (Some legal experts think Mueller could indict Trump without the cooperation of Congress, but that would be messy, to say the least.)

Even if things go as Democrats hope and Trump were to be removed by impeachment, it's not like the the Resistance would immediately gain some major new foothold in the government. Mike Pence, as plenty of smart people have pointed out in recent months, is not exactly a pragmatic alternative to Trump. Democrats are almost certain to pick up some seats in the midterm elections after an historically dysfunctional first year for the incumbent president and his party, but gerrymandering and shadow money will make it an uphill battle.

"The Republicans in Congress are not going to get any less conservative either way, and if they control the chambers, you're still looking at a very conservative landscape," Zelizer told me. "That's also what protects the president in a way that Nixon was more vulnerable—right now, you have a Republican Congress that is loyal, most of all, to their partisan interest. They are not willing to do anything unless forced to tamper with that. Roy Moore is a great example of how far they will go.... They will protect the president until they no longer can."

And unlike Nixon, Trump enjoys the fruit of decades of institution-building by the far-right and its biggest donors. Media outlets like Breitbart, corporate-funded think tanks that will produce reports saying whatever their donors want them to, and hyper-aggro activist corps with no qualms about going all the way on behalf of their guy—he's got a lot of support for the long haul.

Democrats "will have to crack all these barriers to get to the president," as Zelizer put it.

None of which is to say Mueller's work isn't important, or that Trump might not launch a constitutional crisis by firing him any day now. Democrats can (and probably should) use convictions of the president's henchmen in campaign ads and on the stump. Scandals like the private jet fetish that forced Tom Price to resign as Health and Human Services secretary may come in handy. And it's practically guaranteed that Trump's anemic approval ratings will drag down some Republicans with him.

But if the legal fantasies keeping liberal podcast listeners warm at night do pan out, will they recognize the America that's left when the dust has settled?

As Theda Skocpol, the Harvard political scientist who did pioneering research on the Tea Party movement Trump weaponized last year, wrote to me Sunday, "I don't think I want to weigh in on the Mueller probe. The Trump presidency is a disaster for America no matter what happens with that."

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Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued the following Budget statement today:

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“Niagara Falls is an iconic tourism destination, known for its natural beauty and multitudes of visitors,” said Congressman Brian Higgins.  “It can also be the catalyst to a vibrant tourism economy where visitors experience the many natural, cultural, and historic assets Niagara County has to offer.  Connecting visitors to these assets via the Discover Niagara Shuttle and further developing authentic experiences that highlight our heritage is an investment in our communities and a sustainable tourism economy.”

Congressman Chris Collins said, “I am pleased to see that the results of the Discover Niagara Shuttle’s pilot program are so positive. The shuttle is responsible for an impressive economic boost to the Niagara County economy, and the area’s destinations are expected to see even more reward in the coming years. This public-private partnership promotes Niagara County’s rich history and culture while enhancing the tourism economy in the region.”

Sara Capen, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, which oversees Shuttle operations said, “The significance of this project to our region in extending the stay for visitors and generating economic impact for our community cannot be understated. The shuttle integrates local businesses and restaurants with our cultural and natural assets. In partnership and with long-term investment, tourism development initiatives like the Shuttle will reap dividends for our economy and continue to unify our region.”

“The most difficult task for an individual or family when visiting a new destination is making sure that you are able to see the most important and unique aspects your destination has to offer,” said New York State Senator Robert Ortt. “The Discover Niagara Shuttle has taken the hassle of planning out of the equation. It has tied together all that the greater-Niagara region has on display with one convenient route and has stimulated an economic boom for our area’s economy. The ease and comfort that the Discover Niagara Shuttle provides allows visitors to extend their stay in Niagara Falls and the greater-Niagara region and experience the vast amount of culture and history in our part of the state. The easier we can assist our guests in finding what makes Niagara County so special, the better the result for all of the parties involved.”

“Anyone who’s visited Niagara Falls knows it stands alone as one of the most beautiful sites in the country,” said New York State Assemblymember Angelo Morinello. “The Discover Niagara Shuttle offers visitors a chance to experience the gorgeous landscape of Niagara County in an unprecedented way. This shuttle has proven to be a remarkable investment in our community that offers endless benefits to both local residents and visitors. If we advance this shuttle service, it will surely continue to benefit the economy and drawing in tourists from all around the world.”

Assemblyman Michael J. Norris said, “The positive impact of the Discover Niagara Shuttle has reached beyond Niagara Falls and into other parts of Niagara County, including Old Fort Niagara.  I look forward the success and growth of this project and will work with my colleagues to ensure the continued support for this initiative.”

"From Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara the mission has been simple: preserve, protect and promote,” added City of Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster.  “Over the course of the past two years, the Discover Niagara Shuttle has gone above and beyond that mission, connecting thousands with the historic, cultural, and natural resources our region has to offer. Continued and longer term investments into proven programming like the Discover Niagara Shuttle and visitor app will no doubt broaden the visitor experience and bolster our tourism economy for many years to come."

Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University said, “The Discover Niagara Shuttle is a critical component to our collaborative, ongoing enhancement of the tourism economy in Western New York – and Niagara County, in particular. Through the partnership that is embodied in the Discover Niagara Shuttle, we are reestablishing the Niagara region as a destination where visitors can be seamlessly connected to our bountiful natural attractions, educational, historic and cultural sites as well as our emerging and dynamic hospitality infrastructure. Establishing this bastion of hospitality to our guests will assuredly make a lasting and measurable economic and social impact in our communities.”

Since 2011, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA) has been a catalyst to designing and developing tourism experiences that showcase Niagara’s tremendous heritage. These attractions extend the stay for visitors and build pride within our local community.

Recently, the NFNHA, in partnership with many local agencies and organizations, completed a two-year pilot program of the Discover Niagara Shuttle, which connected visitors and residents to 14 cultural attractions along the Niagara River corridor from the “Falls to the Fort.”  With nearly 70,000 riders in the pilot program, the Shuttle generated significant economic impact within Niagara County.

Tripp Umbach, a nationally recognized consulting firm, conducted an independent study of the Shuttle’s economic impact in Niagara County.   It found that operation of the Discover Niagara Shuttle injected $35 million into the Niagara County economy during the 2016 season. 

For the two-year pilot, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) has committed $500,000, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation provided $400,000, with an additional $100,000 from the New York State Legislature. The National Heritage Area and Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation (NTCC) each supplied $100,000.  Niagara University provided $30,000.  With increased partnerships, funding, and marketing, the study projects the Discover Niagara Shuttle will have a potential $70 Million economic impact by 2020. 

Furthermore, more than 50% of Shuttle riders were influenced to visit the Niagara Falls region due to the presence of the Discover Niagara Shuttle, as indicated by an intercept survey of 310 riders this summer.

“The New York Power Authority is proud to partner with organizations like the federal Niagara Falls National Heritage Area that help bolster tourism and economic development in New York State,” said New York Power Authority Board Chairman John Koelmel. “When we embarked on the renovation of the Niagara Power Project’s admission-free Power Vista in 2015, we planned additional enhancements to entice visitors to extend their stay. With the addition of easier access provided by the new Discover Niagara Shuttle, center attendance has increased and indeed more shuttle riders are staying in the area longer.  Going forward, we are confident the shuttle will continue to inspire visitors to stay in town and visit all the fun attractions the Niagara area has to offer.”

New York State Office of Parks Western District Director Mark Thomas said, “New York State Parks is proudly a financial partner of this successful project that easily moves visitors throughout Niagara Falls and the Niagara Gorge area. This public transportation link has shown to deepen the visitor experience while extending the length of stay in this world class tourism destination.”

Robert Emerson, Executive Director of Old Fort Niagara said, “The Discover Niagara Shuttle provides our region with a competitive advantage over many alternate destinations.  By taking the shuttle, the visitor can truly enjoy Niagara’s natural, historical and cultural wonders without the hassle of driving. Amenities like the shuttle not only attract more visitors to the region, they also extend their stay and generate positive reviews, encouraging others to make the journey.  Shuttle riders who visited Old Fort Niagara grew by 50% in 2017 and we are confident this trend will continue.”

By providing connectivity to the magnificent landscape along the Niagara River from Niagara Falls to Youngstown, and the places that define our cultural heritage we are creating a destination that attracts visitors to come, to stay, and to return again. 

In addition to connecting people to places along the Niagara River corridor, the Discover Niagara Shuttle reduces congestion in downtown Niagara Falls, wear on roads, eliminates sources of pollution, create jobs and enhances local and regional economic viability.

The Discover Niagara Shuttle fleet is comprised of two trolleys and two smaller buses which are ADA compliant and equipped with bicycle racks and complimentary Wi-Fi. Riders can download the free “Discover Niagara” mobile app that shares the history and culture from “Falls to the Fort.” The Shuttle stops at the following locations.

Niagara Falls:

Niagara-USA Visitor Center

3rd & Old Falls Street

Niagara Gorge Discovery Center

Aquarium of Niagara

Niagara Arts & Cultural Center

Oakwood Cemetery

Niagara Falls Train Station / Underground Railroad Heritage Center    

Whirlpool State Park

Lewiston:

Castellani Art Museum/Niagara

University

Niagara Power Project Power Vista

Lewiston Center Street/Business District

Lewiston Waterfront

Village of Youngstown

Youngstown Center

Old Fort Niagara

The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is one of 49 National Heritage Areas in the United States.   Designated by Congress in 2008, its mission is to preserve, protect and promote the historic, natural and cultural resources of the area stretching from Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York.  The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, Inc. is leading the coordination and contracting effort for the shuttle service and visitor app.

For more information visit: www.discoverniagara.org or follow the Discover Niagara Shuttle on Twitter @niagarashuttle, and Facebook and Instagram @discoverniagarashuttle.

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged New Yorkers across upstate to prepare for winter weather, plan ahead, and drive with caution, as heavy lake-effect snow is forecast in Western New York, Central New York, and the North County beginning late Tuesday through Fridaymorning. Due to the forecast, Governor Cuomo directed the New York State Emergency Operations Center to operate at Level 4 enhanced monitoring and directed all state agencies to take precautionary measures and stand ready to mobilize personnel to respond to the storm. Heavy lake effect snow, especially downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario will be especially difficult.

"Whether driving to work, or preparing for the holidays, I urge anyone traveling to use extra caution and be prepared for this potentially severe weather," Governor Cuomo said.  "Give yourself some extra time to get where you're going, and monitor weather and travel conditions to avoid lengthy delays and  dangerous situations."

The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry has announced the return of Santa Land to Chestnut Ridge Park.

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Sanders ordered a single English muffin, lightly patting his belly as he remarked to the table, "I've been eating too much lately." In an hour, the 76-year-old was flying to Philadelphia, then going to Reading, Pennsylvania (in a county Trump won by 18,000 votes), where he would deliver his final speech of the weekend.

I began the interview by summarizing the last two days before asking, "So, uh, how do you do it?" He burst into a long, hearty laugh, bringing some energy to a table full of tired people who (him included) hadn't even had their coffee yet. "You know, I got a job to do, and I do it," he said matter-of-factly. "We believed the bill was going to be voted on Thursday night, and that’s why we arranged for Louisville on Friday evening and Ohio on Saturday and Philadelphia on Sunday... When I make a commitment I like to keep it, and we had a very good turnout in Louisville and thought we would in Ohio, so I felt it was important to keep that commitment, so I got up early and we did it."

Sanders's weekend tour, which had the hectic feel of the campaign trail, was just as much about pushing back against the Republican tax plan as it was about looking ahead, presenting voters with a platform that extended beyond, in Sanders's words, merely "saying no to Trump." He advocated for the policies that are familiar to anyone who followed the 2016 campaign: raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding Medicare to cover everyone, raising taxes on the wealthy, expanding Social Security, switching to clean energy, ending mass incarceration (which he pointed out disproportionately affects people of color), closing the gender pay gap, and standing with immigrants.

What was new, however, was Sanders's emphasis on extending compassion to working class Trump voters. The three states on his tour all went for Trump in 2016, and it seems likely that Democrats will have to take back at least Pennsylvania, and possibly Ohio, to win in 2020. After the Akron audience booed when he mentioned Trump voters, he said, "Let's not boo anybody. Maybe except Trump." (He was completely OK with the crowd booing Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, however.)

"The reason [Trump] won Ohio and many other states in this country... [is that] there are millions of people who are hurting," Sanders told the crowd, before emphasizing that Trump campaigned on bald-faced lies—but, hey, we've all been tricked before. In my interview with him the next day, he elaborated on why it's so important to him to address Trump voters with compassion.

"It is clear that there is an element of Trump supporters who are racists, sexists, homophobes, and there’s nothing I’m going to say that’s going to appeal to them," he said. "But I think that the vast majority of Trump supporters are people who are in pain, who are struggling economically, who are worried to death that their kids are going to be in even worse shape economically than they are, and they turned to Trump because Trump said things that made sense. He said he was going to take on the establishment and he was going to provide healthcare to everybody. You know what, it’s pretty much what I said."

The difference, of course, is that Sanders seems to have a plan to provide benefits like health insurance to large swathes of Americans. The question—which may not be answered until 2020—is whether Trump spoke to those voters because of his vague populist promises or because of his willingness to embrace the nastiest aspects of the culture war.

Sanders, evidently, thinks that it's the former. He has obvious compassion for subsection of Trump supporters, an undeniably practical perspective to have—while some on the left might be giddy about writing off the 62,979,879 Americans who voted for the guy, Sanders wants to win them over with his populist, anti-elitist platform.

“We are winning the fight for the future of America," he told the audience in Dayton. "Please never forget we’re the vast majority of the American people.”

It was a necessary reframing, at least for me. After I half-woke up at 5 AM Saturday morning, I made the critical error of checking my phone for the time, where I was rudely flooded with a slew of notifications informing me the tax reform bill had passed the Senate, something I assumed would happen when I fell asleep the night before. The magnitude of the whole thing hit me extra hard so early in the morning, and I went down a rabbit hole of despair I have learned to largely avoid as someone who writes about politics for a living.

The tax bill the Senate passed stands to disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans, lowers the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent, repeals the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, and would likely increase the national debt by $1 trillion over ten years. (It's not clear how closely the final bill passed by Congress as a whole will be to the Senate version.) The bill was unpopular, and the vast majority of economists said that it wouldn't grow the economy the way Republicans claimed. It was rushed through the Senate so sloppily that revisions were written in the margins of the bill's text. This seemed to be evidence that no matter what the left did, no matter what the American people wanted—only about a third of Americans are in favor of the bill, according to a recent poll—the right, funded by Koch brothers and other billionaires, would be able to advance a radical agenda.

But as Bernie addressed the crowded theater of 1,300 in Dayton, proclaiming, "This is class warfare and we're gonna stand up and fight!" I was like, OK, maybe we're not completely doomed. It's rare you hear any Senator talk about the extremism of the GOP as "class warfare," never mind calling his Republican colleagues "employees" of the Kochs.

I might've felt exhausted by the GOP's unabashed greed, but the crowds at the Sanders's rallies were bursting with energy. At each rally, activists from the surrounding areas spoke before Bernie. In Dayton, Portia Boulger, a Sanders delegate from Appalachia who self-identified as a "Bernie bro," bellowed, "Power to the people! No justice no peace!... We will not yield!" to uproarious applause from the audience, many of whom were supporting Bernie gear.

During his Dayton speech, Sanders warned that in the coming months, Republicans might suggest cutting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security in order to offset the billions and billions their tax bill would add to the national deficit. “One of their ideas is to raise the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare,” he said, prompting emphatic boos from two older people sitting a couple of rows in front of me.

"I could never understand, as the Koch brothers do, having $90, $100 billion and feel the need to lower their taxes," Sanders said in Dayton. “There is something weird and wrong about people who need more and more, and are willing to step over the elderly and the sick [to get it].”

In Akron, the crowd of 1,100 rose to their when Sanders proclaimed, “We have to guarantee healthcare to every man, woman and child in this country.” Half of them began chanting "USA! USA! USA!" while others began a "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" chant.

At breakfast, I asked Sanders how he avoids feeling demoralized when the Republicans control every branch of government. "What goes on in the White House and what goes on in the extreme right-wing leadership of the Republican Party concerns me every single day," he told me. "But we just don’t have the time to be demoralized. The stakes are much too high."

"I get a lot of very positive energy from these rallies," he told me. "As I have said many, many times, if we are successful, it’s not about one person, it is absolutely not about one person, it’s about millions of people beginning to stand up and understand that they have power in a democracy and they can make change. That’s what the goal is."

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As Treatment Center proposal stalls in Broome County, Erie County notifies state officials of local interest

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Bears Ears National Monument, which currently encompasses 1,351,849 acres in southeastern Utah, will be decreased by 85 percent; some 1,148,000 acres will be removed from the monument. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, established by Bill Clinton in 1996, was reduced by 896,000 acres. Bears Ears will be broken two much smaller monuments, Shash Jáa (129,980 acres) and Indian Creek (71,896 acres), while Grand Staircase-Escalante would be split into three—Grand Staircase (209,993 acres), Kaiparowits (551,034 acres), and Escalante Canyon (242,836 acres). Altogether, Trump’s action removes 2 million acres from the extra protection that comes with monument status. Environmental groups and tribes are already protesting and suing the Trump administration over the action, which many assume will lead to formerly protected lands being mined and drilled for oil.

Bears Ears holds great cultural significance to the Navajo and Hopi tribes, as well as the Zuni Pueblo, the Ute Mountain Ute, and the Southern Ute tribes, all of whom worked for the monument’s establishment in December 2016 by Barack Obama.

Most Native Americans are appalled at the action. Kenneth Maryboy, president of the Mexican Water Chapter (roughly equivalent to a county government) of Navajo Nation, said that Bears Ears is a key part of Navajo culture. “It’s a legacy that was left here for us,” Maryboy told me. “Chief Manuelito was born there. There are places where people go to pray.” It’s also tied to accounts of Navajo lore.

“As a Nisenan/Washo/Navajo woman I am continually sickened by the erasure, appropriation, destruction, and exploitation of not only Mother Earth but of our sacred sites,” said noted jewelry artist Liz Wallace, who currently lives in Santa Fe. “Our ancestors rest there, and unless this administration would drill in Arlington Cemetery if oil was discovered there, leave our sacred lands alone.”

Others were alarmed by Trump’s rhetoric in a Salt Lake City speech in which he referred to the land containing a “bounty.”

“The national monument land reduction of Bears Ears and Grand Escalante negatively impacts all Americans,” Arizona state senator Jamescita Peshlakai, a Navajo. “It allows freedom of access to natural resources that President Trump referred to as a ‘bounty.’ Although some Native Americans stood beside Trump, they will be more decimated than those that see their homelands behind entry fee stations and in federal control for preservation.”

“President Trump started his press conference citing religious freedom and the right of the people to their land,” said Peshlakai’s daughter, Jaime Lynn Butler, a youth plaintiff in the climate change class action lawsuit. “Then he referenced the bounty and natural resources of southern Utah. Who are these ‘people’ he refers to? Indigenous people first inhabited these areas, and they are aboriginal lands. Whose religious freedoms have the right to be protected?”

Natalie Landreth, a staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, which represents four of the five tribes that pushed for Bears Ears, tied in this recent executive action with pro-pipeline decisions and a revocation of an executive order that allowed tribes on Alaska’s Bering Sea to have a say in land management decisions. “These are a lot of actions directed against Indian tribes specifically,” she said. "People need to call it out for what it is.”

But some Natives applauded Trump’s move. San Juan County commissioner Rebecca Benally, a Navajo, said in a statement issued by the US Department of the Interior that she was “thankful” for the action to remove most of the monument. The southeastern Utah county of 16,000 currently has a 31 percent poverty rate and median household income is nearly 24 percent lower than the national average, according to the Census. The county is nearly 50 percent Native, and many residents have been opposed to the monument status for years, saying that their livelihoods would be wiped out or severely impacted by restrictions on cattle ranching, mining, and logging.

In a video statement from December 2016—shortly after Obama’s Bears Ears action—Benally, a Democrat, said that the monument decision was “another federal overreach with empty promises,” and that her constituents did not want the monument. She also said that Native people were barred from entering the monuments to gather traditional cultural materials such as medicinal herbs. Benally also noted that Grandma Betty Jones, a traditional Navajo elder, cried when she was told what the government planned to do.

Jones’s niece, Mary Benally (no relation to Rebecca), refutes that sentiment. “As far as I'm concerned, my aunt is misinformed by her children and her grandchildren,” she told me. Many Navajo elders have limited—or no—English proficiency. “People are confused because somebody is giving them a different message than what we’re trying to do,” said Mary. “It's really difficult to interpret when you don’t understand English or speak English.” (Rebecca Benally did not return numerous phone calls or texts asking for comment.)

Ed Singer, a Navajo who lives in Cameron, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation, told me that Benally does not truly represent her constituency’s wishes. “She doesn’t talk to any media except those whose opinions she likes,” said Singer, an artist and Navajo language interpreter who’s worked with the EPA and other federal agencies. “One of the reasons non-Indians in the area are opposed to the monuments is because they want to go back to ransacking the area for artifacts,” Singer added, referring to the 2009 indictment of more than 20 residents, including some prominent members of Blanding, Utah, who were convicted of federal charges resulting from years of stealing and selling more than 40,000 cultural and religious artifacts from the lands that became Bears Ears.

“Increased looting of the estimated 100,000-plus structures, sites and objects within every reach of the monument dictated the need for protections in the form of a monument designation,” said the Native American Rights Fund in a statement announcing that the group was suing to protect Bears Ears. Indeed, many significant cultural sites have been left out of the extra protection monument status provides.

Representatives of Utah Diné Bikéyah, an advocacy group, also disagree with Benally. “There were about seven or eight Native Americans standing with Trump on stage Monday,” said Gavin Noyes, executive director of Utah Diné Bikéyah. “It’s the same exact people that have been fighting this for the last two years.” Noyes told me that some 98 percent of all Navajos in San Juan County approved the monument’s creation.

Shaun Chapoose, a Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee member, stated at a press conference held by Utah Diné Bikéyah, “If it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they are going to get. They declared war on us today. When it’s all said and done, just remember this didn’t have to happen. You (the Utah delegation) could have honored our request to protect our heritage.”

Like other Natives across the western US, Singer also feels that this action is another attempt to revive the moribund coal industry as well as try to reopen a now-closed uranium mine just outside the current monument’s borders.

“It’s a fight to the bitter end to protect [the monument],” said Landreth, a member of the Chickasaw Nation.

NARF, along with Earth Justice, the Wilderness Society, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, and several other groups, filed lawsuits almost immediately after Trump’s announcement. Although the groups differ on who they represent—for example, Earth Justice’s main concern is conservation, while NARF’s is the defense of Native rights—they all agree on the legal aspects.

“No president has ever revoked and replaced a national monument before because it is not legal to do so,” the statement from the Native American Rights Fund said. “Only Congress may alter a monument.”

Peshlakai has a solution to monument reductions. “In 1924, the Peshlakais and other families were forced out of their homeland when Wupatki National Monument was designated a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge,” said Peshlakai. “If [Wupatki] is ever reduced as a national monument, it needs to be returned to the indigenous people that were forced out at gunpoint. The same goes for any and all national monuments,” including the Grand Canyon—and by extrapolation, Bears Ears.

Singer concluded, “Rescinding Bears Ears is the most egregious crime they could commit.”

“We get one Mother Earth; once we‘ve lost that, it’s gone,” said Maryboy.

While some of Weinstein's employees, like Emily Nestor, were allegedly direct victims of his sexual harassment, others were tasked with the uncomfortable job of stocking up on their boss's erectile dysfunction medication. Former assistants Sandeep Rehal and Michelle Franklin told the Times they had to go out and get the injections, which Weinstein allegedly paid for on his company card. Rehal told the Times she stored the shots at her desk and delivered them to Weinstein in brown paper bags, sometimes running them to hotels where he met with women—a job that apparently earned her a $500 bonus.

Franklin told the Times she often had to guide women to Weinstein's hotel rooms, but grew uncomfortable when she noticed they left the meetings looking disturbed. She says she was fired shortly after confronting Weinstein about the strange task, telling him "it’s not my job, and I don’t want to do it."

Rehal and former employee Lauren O'Connor claimed they also had to escort their boss to sex-addiction therapy in 2015. Rehal added that she had to rent Weinstein an apartment, personally keeping it supplied with lingerie, bathrobes, and flowers.

"You become more and more aware of everything going on, then you realize what it is you’re cleaning up, and you don’t ever want to tell anyone that—friends, family, my parents—what kind of job this is," Rehal told the Times.

According to former employees, the Weinstein Co. human resources department worked to protect Weinstein and shrugged off workplace complaints. Lawyers like Steve Hutensky (reportedly nicknamed the "Cleaner-Upper") allegedly drew up harsh nondisclosure agreements preventing employees from saying a word about Weinstein and his family, friends, and associates, at the risk of massive financial penalties.

Even when higher-ranking executives attempted to raise the alarm about Weinstein's behavior, they failed to make headway out of intimidation. Amy Israel, Miramax’s former co-head of acquisitions, told the Times Weinstein and his brother, Bob, used "fear, intimidation, psychological and emotional abuse" to keep their executives from addressing his behavior at the company.

"As a spectator to the abuse you were silenced by the fear that you would become the next target," she told the Times. "The only alternative seemingly was to quit—to throw away everything you had worked so hard for and walk out the door."

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The atmosphere still offers the formal dining experience, complete with tuxedo-adorned wait staff, but the ambiance is just as much comfortable and relaxing as it is fancy. The menu has evolved into what I would call sophisticated casual, with new takes on entrees and appetizers.

Photo courtesy of Salvatore’s Hospitality

And really, you could call it as much of a steakhouse as an Italian restaurant. I challenge you to find a better steak in town.

I’d also venture to say you wouldn’t think of Salvatore’s as the place to head to for a night of wine tasting and small plate samplings at the bar – but you should. The last time I was there I cozied myself up at the Chandelier Bar, ordered a great red wine and had the new “Salvatore’s Roll.” Served on a long plate with a sushi-like presentation, this compilation of orzo, pancetta, asparagus, mozzarella and chicken, wrapped with prosciutto and topped with red sauce, absolutely blew my mind.

The only appropriate Italian response I could come up with was “forgettaboutit.”

Beyond all this, today you can also call the Italian Gardens a hotel and a salon and a spa. Recent additions of the Delevan Hotel and Capello Salon & Spa have taken the already incredible space to another level (four if you’re counting floors).

Photo courtesy of Salvatore’s Hospitality

And if you happen to be paying a visit during the December holiday season, you’re in for a treat – an intricate, festive, decorative display that would give even the shops on 5th Avenue in New York City a run for their money.

From Santa’s workshop to winter wonderland and everything in between, you’ll immediately appreciate the six weeks of preparation it takes for Salvatore’s to kick off their holiday season.

The post Classic Buffalo Spotlight: Salvatore’s Italian Gardens appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

The idea with the initiative is open up an increase of exposure to science, technology engineering and math to those who may have never visited the museum.

The Neighbor Pass program was made possible through a gift from Ms. Deborah Goldman and Dr. Grant Golden.

If you are interested in the Neighbor Pass memberships, they can be purchased with proof of residency at the Science Museum (1020 Humboldt Parkway or call 896-5200 x 311).

http://www.sciencebuff.org/

Source

But their presence is felt even more in Buffalo, the city where the international headwear company once began as a small, family-owned hat manufacturer on Genesee Street. Their name now rests atop the home of the Buffalo Bills. And after nearly a century in business, New Era is approaching $1 billion in sales in 125 countries and has more than 1,200 employees around the world, a quarter of which are located in the company’s global headquarters in downtown Buffalo.

That’s not all Buffalo is home to. The city is one of two locations in the U.S. – the other being New York City – where you can find a New Era Flagship Store. The flagship stores carry exclusive products that can’t be purchased in other shops or online. The Buffalo store sits below the company headquarters at 160 Delaware Avenue near Niagara Square. Step inside and the first thing you will notice are a handful of customized, New Era-themed motorcycles. The bikes belong to CEO Christopher Koch and are a part of his personal collection.

Inside the flagship store you will find an array of caps and knitted hats for a wide range of sports teams. The Buffalo Bills and New York Yankees take center stage, though, and are the stores’ best sellers. The shop allows local fans to wear their red and blue in various patterns, including the Zubaz zebra-print.

An entire wall is dedicated to Buffalo-themed hats unique to the store. Caps are embroidered with Buffalo calling cards, from the chicken wing to shout outs to various towns and neighborhoods, such as Parkside, Cheektowaga, Kaisertown and North Buffalo.

And thanks to a number of partnerships, New Era also sells hats that feature your favorite heroes from the Star Wars franchise and Marvel and DC Comics.

The flagship store offers more than hats. The shop sells backpacks and through a collaboration with New Balance, a pair of New Era-themed sneakers. Although the store does not offer custom embroidery, the staff can add patches to any hat that is purchased. The store also houses special equipment that can stretch worn out hats back to life. The service is free as long as the hat is made by New Era.

Whether you are searching for a new hat to show your pride in your favorite team or looking for a Buffalo-centric gift this holiday season, the New Era Flagship Store is worth a visit for the exclusive gear. They are open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The post Made in Buffalo: Hats at the New Era Flagship Store appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

In a press release distributed by the Attorney General's office on January 25, 2009, Meza López was portrayed as one of the most ruthless drug traffickers in the game, and the official description of him suggested he'd be subjected to a severe sentence. Almost a decade later, the reality is quite different.

Information obtained by VICE News en Español via the Federation of Judicial Power —which is in charge of imposing sentences in Mexico—revealed that to date, Meza López still hasn't been formally sentenced, despite admitting to these horrible acts and being convicted of crimes.

For now, he remains incarcerated in the Almoloya de Juárez prison in the State of Mexico, where he finished a primary school education and learned how to write.

As can be read in his file, around mid-2015, a formal prison sentence was handed down due to Meza López's involvement in organized crime and illegal deprivation of freedom. But his defense attorney has managed to lodge various stays that have been accepted by judges, pushing back the official date for sentencing.

Nevertheless, in the northern part of the country—the farthest point from the capital—lies the border city of Tijuana, where human remains keep being dug out of the earth, presumably those that were dissolved by Meza López.

They appear every time it rains, every time the wind moves the soil, every time a group of family members of the disappeared shows up with a pick axe and a shovel to look for the remains of their children, fathers, and grandsons.

According to Fernando Ocegueda, president of the association United for the Disappeared (Unidos por los Desaparecidos, in Spanish), 16,500 liters of organic matter have been extracted thus far.

The most recent excavations were conducted between the months of August and October of this year, on the land where Meza López dismembered and dissolved in acid the bodies of people who were kidnapped by the Arellano Félix and Sinaloa Cartels, the groups that historically controlled drug trafficking in that city.

The most important excavation to date, which occurred in an area known as "The Chicken Coop," took place several weeks ago in a house just outside city limits. The event came eight years from the day that Meza López was detained, opening a new door for families of Mexico's disappeared. Authorities had informed families that DNA could not be extracted from the organic remains, but in mid-August, Fernando Ocegueda and other family members discovered new graves in the Chicken Coop, extracting 250 kilos of bones and bone fragments.

The Chicken Coop

The story of the Chicken Coop begins around 1996, when Meza López worked for the Arellano Félix Cartel, taking care of horses and doing masonry work.

Efraín Pérez and Jorge Aureliano Félix 'El Macumba', the heads of the organization, invited him to see an "experiment." They poured liters of water and other substances into a drum and asked Santiago Meza López to drop in a leg of beef. They told him he should let it sit for two hours. "Move it, and the meat dissolved," Meza López recalled himself.

"It was probably about six months later that they called me again and Efraín told me that now they were going to experiment with human flesh. 'I'm going to send some guys to train with you.' In other words, [so] that they learn the job," Meza López recounted in a statement to authorities.

The first body was dissolved one night in 1996, in a drum with 200 liters of water. They undressed him, put him inside, turned on the gas burner, and left it there all night.

"It left the water thick with foam," Lopez said. "We put the barrels in the pick-up and took them to throw them [away] in the canyon. It was still dark when we threw them in. Three months later, I did it again."

"I told them I didn't want to do it anymore," Lopez added in his statement.

Years passed and Santiago Meza López stuck with the job, and did teach the method to others; in his statement, he explained that, in one of the locations, which may or may not have been the Chicken Coop, he installed drainage where the dissolved human remains were dumped.

"It was the devil to move them (the human remains) because they weighed a lot. After everything was cleaned up, we stored the barrels. We also washed the drain with hot water because the remains stuck to the pipes," he recalled.

Meza López said he worked in the Chicken Coop itself for just a year and a half, and that, on some occasions, military forces showed up, but never discovered anything. He said the Cartel brought more than 70 bodies to that site to dissolve them in the caustic soda.

He described the Chicken Coop as a very rural place that "was along the free highway to Tecate (a neighboring city of Tijuana), I don't know in what kilometer; a path went up past the front of a gas station and led to a brick wall. We called it the Chicken Coop because they raised chickens there."

VICE News en Español was at the most recent excavation at the Chicken Coop. Here's what we saw.

A view of the Maclovio Rojas neighborhood, where the spot known as The Chicken Coop was found. Photo by Joebeth Terriquez/VICE News

A man leaving with his wheelbarrow, which was used during the excavation of the site. Photo by Joebeth Terriquez/VICE News

Behind this wall is the entrance to the area where the so-called "Well Man" dissolved the bodies. Photo by Joebeth Terriquez/VICE News

Entrance to the Chicken Coop, guarded by Mexican police. Photo by Joebeth Terriquez/VICE News

The periphery of the Chicken Coop was cordoned off so that nobody entered the site during the excavation. Photo by Joebeth Terriquez/VICE News

Wall surrounding the location where 250 kilos of bones were found. Photo by Joebeth Terriquez/VICE News

Excavations began in August, eight years after the detention of the Well Man. Photo by Fernando Ocegueda/Unidos Contra los Desaparecidos

The graves where human remains were found. Photo by Fernando Ocegueda/Unidos Contra los Desaparecidos

Among the stones and rocks, there are small pieces of bone fragments. Photo by Fernando Ocegueda/Unidos Contra los Desaparecidos

Since 2009, it's estimated that more than 16.500 liters of organic matter have been discovered. Photo by Fernando Ocegueda/Unidos Contra los Desaparecidos

“This new system will be a useful tool in the recruitment of qualified pilots and is the latest airline safety measure made possible thanks to the tireless efforts of the families whose lives have been forever changed by the crash of Flight 3407,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. 

“This is a common-sense resource that will allow airlines to quickly and easily check the qualifications and background of pilots before they are hired,” said Congressman Chris Collins. “The families of Flight 3407 have worked tirelessly to make sure important reforms are put in place to keep our skies safe. The launch of the beta test is a reflection of the significant progress that has been made to make sure all pilots are well-trained and fit to fly so that we can keep preventing senseless tragedies.”

"The release of the FAA's online Pilot Records Database is an important step forward in making our skies safer for travelers. This is a direct result of the tireless advocacy of the Flight 3407 families, who have never stopped courageously turning their tragedy into meaningful action, often at great personal expense. It is because of their advocacy that we passed into law new pilot safety standards and we haven’t seen another fatal regional airline crash since. I'm proud to have worked alongside them to make air travel safer for passengers nationwide," said Congresswoman Louise Slaughter.

Through the PRD, a commercial airline will be able to see information regarding employment history, training, certifications, and status of national driver registry records. The beta release is open to any commercial airlines interested in participating. For more information, click here.

“Mr. Speaker: The Republican corporate tax cut bill is a massive takeaway from middle America and a massive giveaway to corporate America. 

“The Treasury Secretary says that these tax cuts will pay for themselves and more.  Newsflash for the Treasury Secretary: tax cuts don’t pay for themselves, they never have, not once in human history.  

“What does pay for itself are federal Historic Tax Credits.  Historic tax credits are used to renew historic buildings; $1.20, for every $1 tax credits, are generated. 

“When historic buildings are renewed, including in my community of Buffalo, New York, Main Streets across America are restored, jobs are created, and business, income and property tax revenues are generated. 

“The federal Historic Tax Credit does in fact pay for itself and more by helping cities and communities to become economically independent and self-sufficient.”      

According to a National Parks Service report, in FY 2015 Historic Tax Credit-related investments generated approximately 86,000 jobs, were responsible for $4.8 billion in GDP, and generated $3.5 billion in income nationwide.

In 2016, New York State led the nation in utilizing federal Historic Tax Credits with investments totaling $748 million.  And over the last five years Western New York has led the state in approved Historic Tax Credit projects – 88 in total representing over $532 million in historic rehabilitation. For an interactive map go to: http://bit.ly/2yAJCwO.

Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) reports the Federal Historic Tax Credit has created 4,897 jobs, generated $394 Million in household and business income, and $88 Million in local taxes for the City of Buffalo alone between 2002 and 2015.  PBN’s 2016 Survey of Area Developers found that without the Federal Historic Tax Credit and its matching State Historic Tax Credit, historic building rehabilitation and reuse would not happen.

Broadway Fillmore Alive (BFA) couldn’t attend the meeting. We reached out to Chrissy Lincoln of Fillmore Forward and Beverly McLean from the Friends of the Broadway Market District and neighborhood resident to give us their perspective on the meeting and some thoughts on the potential creation of a historic district.

Here is what I asked them with their responses:

BFA: How do you think making part of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood a historic district will impact the area?

Christina Lincoln: The hope is that by making Broadway Fillmore a certified local district, it will curb the number of demolitions in the area and help to retain its urban character and the density that remains. The community has already lost so much but there is still great architecture here. I absolutely love the housing stock in the neighborhood, and another goal with the certified local district, is that it will raise the rehab standards for absentee landlords, while giving owner occupants the ability to apply for a 20% historic tax credit to care for their properties. This can be used in conjunction with other housing programs offered by the Matt Urban Center and NHS. It has been shown that historic districts stabilize housing values, and some residents at the meeting expressed their desire to see the neighborhood designated to assist with that. 

Beverly McLean: A historic designation has the potential to bring positive recognition to Broadway-Fillmore. The neighborhood often is not recognized for its uniqueness. Preservation Studio pointed out the area is home to some the most significant religious and social architecture in the region such as Corpus Christi Church, Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle, and Dom Polksi. An overlooked asset is the neighborhood’s vernacular workers cottages not found in other Rustbelt cities (Cleveland and Pittsburgh).

A certified local historic designation along with National Park Service recognition would help protect the neighborhood’s historic legacy. Since I have moved into the neighborhood seven years ago, demolitions are a frequent occurrence due to arson, neglect and abandonment. Some demolitions have been warranted, others have been questionable. A stricter review of the save or demo process has the potential to protect the integrity of neighborhood fabric.

An advantage of a historic district designation is another development tool for developers and local agencies. Forty percent tax credits would be available for commercial projects and twenty percent for residential properties (this varies by income). This could provide agencies an additional tool for promoting development in the neighborhood and potentially spur more rehab that could potential stabilize neighborhood housing values.

From my involvement with Broadway Market, I view this is the opportunity to bring back the Broadway Market commercial district.

BFA: What are your biggest takeaways from the community meeting?

Christina Lincoln: Although it seemed that most at the meeting were in support of the district and taking advantage of the tax credits, there were a couple of concerns. The Broadway Fillmore neighborhood is one of the most impoverished in Buffalo and there were worries that a historic district would put housing repair costs out of reach for most residents. Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the Historic East Side Neighborhood Initiative are working on a case study with concerned local residents to weigh what those costs might actually look like.

Another concern was gentrification. While diversity is a good thing, displacement should be avoided. There is no direct correlation between historic districts and gentrification, but it is a legitimate fear for those that aren’t upwardly mobile. Historic commercial buildings traditionally offer smaller spaces and more affordable rents and no one argued that Broadway couldn’t benefit from an increase in local businesses. There are measures outside of preservation that could address those concerns, if the district were to be approved.

Beverly McLean: More works need to be done to move forward a historic designation. Some participants at the public meeting brought up the issue of economic hardship. The neighborhood is economically distressed with limited resources available to undertake major rehabilitation projects. Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services and Lt. Matt Urban Center representatives, however, mentioned they are considering how their home repair programs could help low-income homeowners.

A historic district designation applies just to exterior repairs. A requirement to get tax breaks is at least five percent of the project focus on the exterior. This involves windows, siding, roof material, and porches. The requirement is historic repair must be done with kind material. However, if someone’s current house has vinyl windows, one can replace with vinyl windows. The issue is if the windows are wood framed. But if replacing wood framed windows with kind material will be an undue hardship, this potentially can be waived–but depends on the particular project and circumstances of the homeowner or developer.

To address concerns, it was recommended to reach out to the Hamlin Park Taxpayers Association to see how their historic designation impacts their neighborhood. What advantages and disadvantages did the designation bring to homeowners or developers.

A second issue raised was presenting an example of cost for rehabbing prototype properties under the historic designation guidelines versus without the historic designation guidelines.

A future meeting is planned for January to address these issues. Without consensus of property owners within the designated area, a recommendation for a historic designation is not feasible.

BFA: Anything else you would like to share?

Christina Lincoln: I think it’s important to note that the neighborhood has a voice. Talk to your Councilman, call Preservation Buffalo Niagara if you have questions. Hamlin Park is the only other east side preservation district and it has helped strengthen their community, stabilize housing values, and retain a neighborhood that’s important to our city. Local designation is the only way to prevent needless demolitions, and being certified would give residents access to those tax credits. But we must balance these benefits with the concerns of those that live here, and by working together we’ll set an initiative that works for everyone.

Beverly McLean: As a person who rehabbed a historic property without any tax breaks or public assistance, I welcome the idea of more tools available to save the unique fabric of the neighborhood. I undertook my project because I really loved the house. I still have a lot of work to do. And, I would love to see others who like a unique structure in the neighborhood have tools available to make it possible.

Thank you, Beverly and Christina for taking the time to offer your point of view.

As this initiative moves forward and develops, BFA will try to provide as much information as possible. If done right, this could really be something huge for the neighborhood. Broadway-Fillmore has lost many building over the last few decades, it’s important to preserve the heritage, legacy and architecturally significant for the future.

Broadway Fillmore Alive (BFA) couldn’t attend the meeting. We reached out to Chrissy Lincoln of Fillmore Forward and Beverly McLean from the Friends of the Broadway Market District and neighborhood resident to give us their perspective on the meeting and some thoughts on the potential creation of a historic district.

Here is what I asked them with their responses:

BFA: How do you think making part of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood a historic district will impact the area?

Christina Lincoln: The hope is that by making Broadway Fillmore a certified local district, it will curb the number of demolitions in the area and help to retain its urban character and the density that remains. The community has already lost so much but there is still great architecture here. I absolutely love the housing stock in the neighborhood, and another goal with the certified local district, is that it will raise the rehab standards for absentee landlords, while giving owner occupants the ability to apply for a 20% historic tax credit to care for their properties. This can be used in conjunction with other housing programs offered by the Matt Urban Center and NHS. It has been shown that historic districts stabilize housing values, and some residents at the meeting expressed their desire to see the neighborhood designated to assist with that. 

Beverly McLean: A historic designation has the potential to bring positive recognition to Broadway-Fillmore. The neighborhood often is not recognized for its uniqueness. Preservation Studio pointed out the area is home to some the most significant religious and social architecture in the region such as Corpus Christi Church, Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle, and Dom Polksi. An overlooked asset is the neighborhood’s vernacular workers cottages not found in other Rustbelt cities (Cleveland and Pittsburgh).

A certified local historic designation along with National Park Service recognition would help protect the neighborhood’s historic legacy. Since I have moved into the neighborhood seven years ago, demolitions are a frequent occurrence due to arson, neglect and abandonment. Some demolitions have been warranted, others have been questionable. A stricter review of the save or demo process has the potential to protect the integrity of neighborhood fabric.

An advantage of a historic district designation is another development tool for developers and local agencies. Forty percent tax credits would be available for commercial projects and twenty percent for residential properties (this varies by income). This could provide agencies an additional tool for promoting development in the neighborhood and potentially spur more rehab that could potential stabilize neighborhood housing values.

From my involvement with Broadway Market, I view this is the opportunity to bring back the Broadway Market commercial district.

BFA: What are your biggest takeaways from the community meeting?

Christina Lincoln: Although it seemed that most at the meeting were in support of the district and taking advantage of the tax credits, there were a couple of concerns. The Broadway Fillmore neighborhood is one of the most impoverished in Buffalo and there were worries that a historic district would put housing repair costs out of reach for most residents. Preservation Buffalo Niagara and the Historic East Side Neighborhood Initiative are working on a case study with concerned local residents to weigh what those costs might actually look like.

Another concern was gentrification. While diversity is a good thing, displacement should be avoided. There is no direct correlation between historic districts and gentrification, but it is a legitimate fear for those that aren’t upwardly mobile. Historic commercial buildings traditionally offer smaller spaces and more affordable rents and no one argued that Broadway couldn’t benefit from an increase in local businesses. There are measures outside of preservation that could address those concerns, if the district were to be approved.

Beverly McLean: More works need to be done to move forward a historic designation. Some participants at the public meeting brought up the issue of economic hardship. The neighborhood is economically distressed with limited resources available to undertake major rehabilitation projects. Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services and Lt. Matt Urban Center representatives, however, mentioned they are considering how their home repair programs could help low-income homeowners.

A historic district designation applies just to exterior repairs. A requirement to get tax breaks is at least five percent of the project focus on the exterior. This involves windows, siding, roof material, and porches. The requirement is historic repair must be done with kind material. However, if someone’s current house has vinyl windows, one can replace with vinyl windows. The issue is if the windows are wood framed. But if replacing wood framed windows with kind material will be an undue hardship, this potentially can be waived–but depends on the particular project and circumstances of the homeowner or developer.

To address concerns, it was recommended to reach out to the Hamlin Park Taxpayers Association to see how their historic designation impacts their neighborhood. What advantages and disadvantages did the designation bring to homeowners or developers.

A second issue raised was presenting an example of cost for rehabbing prototype properties under the historic designation guidelines versus without the historic designation guidelines.

A future meeting is planned for January to address these issues. Without consensus of property owners within the designated area, a recommendation for a historic designation is not feasible.

BFA: Anything else you would like to share?

Christina Lincoln: I think it’s important to note that the neighborhood has a voice. Talk to your Councilman, call Preservation Buffalo Niagara if you have questions. Hamlin Park is the only other east side preservation district and it has helped strengthen their community, stabilize housing values, and retain a neighborhood that’s important to our city. Local designation is the only way to prevent needless demolitions, and being certified would give residents access to those tax credits. But we must balance these benefits with the concerns of those that live here, and by working together we’ll set an initiative that works for everyone.

Beverly McLean: As a person who rehabbed a historic property without any tax breaks or public assistance, I welcome the idea of more tools available to save the unique fabric of the neighborhood. I undertook my project because I really loved the house. I still have a lot of work to do. And, I would love to see others who like a unique structure in the neighborhood have tools available to make it possible.

Thank you, Beverly and Christina for taking the time to offer your point of view.

As this initiative moves forward and develops, BFA will try to provide as much information as possible. If done right, this could really be something huge for the neighborhood. Broadway-Fillmore has lost many building over the last few decades, it’s important to preserve the heritage, legacy and architecturally significant for the future.

“Man the fuck up!” I told myself, staring at my reflection in the mirror of a men’s bathroom at the Kings County Supreme Criminal Court in Brooklyn.

The date was November 6, my 35th birthday. But I wasn’t in any mood to celebrate, because I’d just seen Victor Dempsey crying like a baby.

On July 4, 2016, Dempsey’s older brother, Delrawn Small, was fatally shot during a road-rage encounter in Brooklyn with NYPD officer Wayne Isaacs. Small was unarmed during the altercation. Dempsey had been weeping in the courtroom because 12 Brooklyn jurors, five of whom were black, had just acquitted Isaacs of murder and manslaughter charges.

I wasn’t surprised Isaacs walked. Intellectually, I know it’s extremely rare for officers to be charged with a crime for fatal civilian encounter; it’s even rarer to see a conviction. That tends to be true regardless of whether the person the cop killed is unarmed, underage, or in wheelchair. But despite everything I knew, hearing the result of Isaacs’s trial still sent me into momentary shock.

In my eyes, this was another glaring case of the institutional racism that inordinately affects black people. It didn’t matter that several of the jurors or the police officer were black. They all were role players in a judicial system set up to protect police officers who disproportionately target, abuse, and kill black people.

But the lethal impact of institutional racism doesn’t just stop with policing. The harsh reality of American life for black people infects our health in insidious, covert ways.

“When you start to worry about something, whether that's race or something else, then that initiates a biological stress response,” Berkeley School of Public Health researcher Amani M. Nuru-Jeter told NPR in November. “Prolonged elevation [and] circulation of the stress hormones in our bodies can be very toxic...It just gets us really out of whack and leaves us susceptible to a bunch of poor health outcomes."

Black journalists like myself who cover social justice beats experience that toxic stress like second-hand smoke. It hits me every time I write another story on extrajudicial murder, or police misconduct, or a Trayvon Martin Halloween costume. I certainly felt its pangs when I heard the “not guilty” verdict in that Brooklyn courthouse.

Christina Carrega

New York Daily News reporter Christina Carrega shared my feelings of frustration and despondency at the Isaacs trial. The 32-year-old veteran court reporter was sitting in front of me, documenting the case when Small’s family erupted in anguish and anger.

“The wailing of Small’s sister, Victoria Davis, hit the back of my throat and caused my hand to shake,” Carrega recalled to me.

Later that night, Carrega did her usual post-work routine to cope with the pain: She smoked a Black & Mild on the balcony of her Manhattan apartment.

“That’s my way of dealing with it,” Carrega said with a laugh. “I have a bar in my apartment, but I don’t even touch the alcohol because I feel like that could easily become a bad habit.”

Mother Jones scribe Jamilah King has a different approach. “I allow myself to binge on episodes of Blackish or Living Single,” she told me. “I cherish my friends who make me laugh and can sit with me in silence.”

King was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, where Mario Woods was killed by police in December 2015. She detailed the aftermath of the tragedy for Mic.com.

King didn’t know Woods, but they were both 80s babies and had mutual friends. And while covering his story, she realized they were also distant relatives.

“I struggled with reporting on his life and being part of a media that his family had grown to distrust,” King recalled. “His death made me understand that the stakes are much higher for black reporters who do this work. That’s a huge responsibility. It’s also a privilege.”

Lee Merritt

Dallas civil rights attorney Lee Merritt’s burden is even heavier than many journalists’.

The 34-year-old is the last hope for justice for many black families. For example, he currently represents the parents of Jordan Edwards, the unarmed black Texas teen who was fatally shot in the head by a Balch Springs police officer on April 29.

While Merritt’s mission in life is to help families like Edwards’s seek justice, the work has taken a great toll on him. “Before I got into this line of work, I was really into fitness, leisure reading,” Merritt told me. “Now I have high blood pressure. At 34, that’s kind of a big deal.”

Merritt’s prominence in the civil rights community has made him a highly sought after attorney when police are accused of brutalizing or extralegally killing black people. Being there so often for other people of color—up to 15 hours a day—often prevented Merritt from being there for his ex-wife. The couple’s six-year marriage ended in divorce in 2015.

“My work didn’t allow me to focus on home the way she anticipated or expected,” the father of four said.

In 2015, Merritt founded the American Black Cross charity initiative, in part, because helping folks like needy Hurricane Harvey victims offers more instant gratification than waiting years for police-related court cases to play out. But outlets like this come with racially-charged stresses as well.

“We get a lot of hate and hostility from conservatives and people who for whatever reason don’t appreciate our work,” Merritt said. “But the Black Cross allows us to go out and do things directly. It’s almost like a built in vacation. It is work, but it’s gratifying work.”

WATCH: Charlottesville - Race and Terror

Due to the rise of racial tensions in recent years, journalists from all walks of life are forced to address these issues in their reporting. Fortune Magazine senior editor Ellen McGirt covered personal finances for two decades before her editorial team asked her to write about race and diversity in the businessworld beginning in 2015.

McGirt’s first major story, on what prevents black Americans from becoming executives, ended up with her being hospitalized for two days.

“I had a massive stomach attack,” McGirt recalled. “It was halfway through the assignment, it became this sort of soul crushing, yet exhilarating exercise of reporting. I talked to several black men who were very different from each other about what it’s like being a black man. It wasn’t until later that I realized the enormity of the question.”

Her story, “Leading While Black: Why Race and Culture Matter in the C-suite” was so popular, Fortune asked her to continue writing a daily email newsletter on race and diversity in the workplace titled raceAhead.

McGirt said the steady stream headlines of about tragedies like the police massacre in Dallas last year, debates over confederate statues, the Trump presidency, and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia, have made talking about race at work a huge issue in the corporate world.

“One of the things I was not prepared for as a business reporter was actually litigating the personality of Robert E. Lee,” McGirt said, referencing her November 1 column responding to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s defense of the oft-excused Confederate general. “I’m proud of the fact that I haven’t been in the hospital for two years,” she added, jokingly.

At times, the intractable nature of American racism can sometimes be too much for the people I spoke with to want to carry on in their work.

At one point in 2016, McGirt contemplated quitting her column.

“I had viewed so many actual videos of police violence that I said, ‘I don’t think I can continue,’” she told me. “Nothing in my background had trained me for this. At that point, I did everything I could to make sure I’m as healthy as I could possibly be.”

To ward off her stress, McGirt took up healthy exercise habits, like hiking through the scenic terrain of the parks near her St. Louis, Missouri home.

“I find the only thing that really breaks it for me is moving,” she said. “I do yoga and pilates… Moving is essential.”

After my moment in that Brooklyn courthouse in November, I’m beginning to realize a little more routine cardio is probably not a bad idea.

Follow Chauncey on Twitter.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, I spent part of my childhood in foster care, as my mother struggled with drug addiction. Without support or guidance, I turned to the streets for belonging. I looked up to a lot of the older guys and wanted to fit in.

When I was 16, a group of us took part in an armed carjacking, and I was tried and sentenced as an adult and sentenced to 12 years in prison. But because the District has no prisons of its own, they could send me to any federal penitentiary in the United States.

I was transferred to a Bureau of Prisons-contracted juvenile facility in Montana. Outside, through my small, cloudy window, there was nothing but mountains, and 18-wheelers driving by. All you could smell was manure—very strong. Cows used to step right up to the fence.

I was the only black person, period. There were no black inmates, no black COs.

For my birthday, my mother mailed me some sneakers. I had just put them on when this guy came up, picked his nose, and wiped it on my shoe. Before I could react, he ran and told an officer that I’d threatened him.

There was no questioning; I was immediately sent to the hole. I had no say in my defense, no chance to explain what truly went down. I was transferred from the facility the very next day—it felt like they’d been planning to get rid of me.

Then I was sent to Seattle, Washington, for six months. Then to Oklahoma.

Then, soon after I turned 18, I was transferred to an adult federal prison in Springfield, Missouri.

On the plane to Springfield, everyone was herded together like cattle, both males and females. They looked confused when they saw a baby-faced kid walk down the aisle in shackles and an orange jumpsuit.

“You sure you on the right plane?” one of the marshals said, trying to crack a joke as he asked for the last four digits of my Social Security number. But soon he saw that I had just come of age.

I’d been sent to Springfield to work in a medical prison. The place looked like a hospital, with green and white tiled floors and white walls. Even though it was kept clean, it smelled awful, like urine and feces.

There was a psych-ward block, which housed mentally-ill inmates, as well as those who couldn’t handle the prison environment and had broken down. There was also a block for inmates who needed surgery; a block for inmates with chronic and terminal conditions; and a block for inmates in the work cadre unit, meaning those who were sent to this place to work and help run the building, like me.

On the work unit, we had all sorts of different jobs (housekeeper, medical-records clerk, dialysis attendant, and more), and I applied to be a nurse attendant, because that paid the most. I wasn’t licensed for it or certified in any way. I was trained by another inmate and got paid 71 cents an hour.

For other teens, McDonald’s is their first job. This was mine.

After working there for awhile, I started to realize I was doing the majority of the nurses’ work, even though I was only supposed to assist them. Every time someone asked for help, they’d call for a nurse attendant. They had us do everything except pass out medicine.

I gave men showers, changed their diapers, and wiped their asses. I made a connection with the sick inmates, and they appreciated me, offering to buy me commissary or pay me every month to keep helping them out. (I didn’t accept.)

Still a kid, I witnessed many inmates die during my stay, from four to ten every month. Pictures hung on the wall of the ones who had recently lost their lives—not sweet remembrances or anything like that, just photos from when they had first come to Missouri, with the date they arrived and the date they passed.

The pictures often looked awful, showing men with sunken, hollow eyes.

One of the first inmates I treated was called Ziggy, and he was from the same neighborhood as me in DC, facing life in prison. He loved to sing, and had been part of a Go-Go band before his arrest. At 35 years old, he was dark-skinned, with his hair cropped close to his head like mine, and he weighed 230 pounds. He said he’d gained weight because, in his wheelchair, he didn’t get much exercise.

Ziggy was paralyzed from the waist down and struggled to move both his arms. He told me he’d gotten into a conflict with a prison guard and was beaten by several of them. At first he couldn’t move his hands at all, but with physical therapy, he could use them some. Until he regained his ability to walk, though, I helped give him showers, changed his diapers, and fed him many of his meals.

Ziggy was loud. As much as he loved to sing, he joked even more. Since his arms weren’t strong, he’d creep up on me real slow in his wheelchair, and when he was right behind me, he’d scream, “Ha, caught ya!”

He also used humor to hide his embarrassment. Sometimes when I was carrying him to the shower or changing him, he’d say, “I know you like what you’re looking at, but you know I don’t go like that!”

One day, I walked into his room in a playful mood, but it became clear that he wasn’t up for joking. He was sitting in his wheelchair with his head down and his back turned to the door. As I peeped around to look at him, he tried to use his hand to cover the tears rolling down his face.

“Homie, why you crying?” I asked him, thinking someone had died.

Ziggy looked up at me, frustrated. “Man I can’t take this shit no more,” he blurted out.

He told me that a nurse had just told him that he should kill himself, and that he needed to stop being a bitch.

“Oh, shit,” I told him. I didn’t really know what else to say.

In my time at the medical center, I saw mentally-ill inmates kept in a room all day, some strapped down on a sheetrock bed, nude with the AC on blast.*

Eventually I left that job, because I needed a certification I could use on the outside, and became a cook.

Every once in awhile, I’d see Ziggy rolling around in the hallway. When I told him that I was leaving the facility and being transferred to New Jersey—my first time back on the East Coast in eight years—he didn’t really say much. He just told me to be safe out there, but I could see on his face that he was sad and didn’t want me to leave.

At least, after everything that had happened, Ziggy was still capable of getting sad. The place hadn’t taken that away from him yet. Everyone else around me acted as if it was all a normal thing—the dying we saw all too often, the abrupt transfers that take people away from friends and their community with little warning or care.

Later, in a book club, I would read War Child by Emmanuel Jal, about child soldiers in Sudan. I couldn’t believe how much that story felt like mine. War makes you do things you don’t want to do, and prison makes you become things that you’re not.

I saw grown men commit suicide because they couldn’t handle it. If prison does that to an adult, what does it do to a child?

The author, 27, who asked that his real name not be used while he rebuilds his life, returned home from prison in 2016 after serving ten years of his 12-year sentence. He works as a behavioral aide to an autistic young adult, a clerk at a grocery store, and a writer and community outreach facilitator for the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop in Washington, DC.

*The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) did not respond to a detailed request for comment on the allegations made in this article.

This Dark Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Cheesecake is a holiday dream! Beside being naturally vegan, it’s gluten-free and grain-free, paleo-friendly, yet still epic enough to please the masses. Coated with a layer of peppermint-infused dark chocolate to bring the holiday vibes, this creamy, rich, decadent treat will be a show stopper at any holiday gathering. Right, so…

On Friday, CNN dropped a bombshell report with major implications for the Trump-Russia scandal. Anonymous sources claimed that members of the Trump campaign, including at-the-time candidate Donald Trump, and his son, Donald Jr., were emailed credentials allowing them to access a stockpile of hacked documents secretly held by Wikileaks—documents that most likely originate with a Russian state-funded hacking operation.

Hours later, however, the Washington Post blew a huge, embarrassing hole in that version of events.

To make a long and convoluted story short, the crucial email that supposedly suggested a secret relationship between the Trump campaign and someone affiliated with the Russian hackers actually came after the information had been made public. In other words, the email was just letting the campaign know about something anyone could already look at. CNN has amended its story, but a retraction is arguably necessary, since the correction of that one detail downgrades the CNN story from "bombshell" to "barely newsworthy." A generous reading of what went wrong is that multiple people misremembered what had happened and gave faulty information to CNN reporter Manu Raju. A less generous explanation is that CNN rushed a sensational story into publication without properly fact-checking other people's statements.

I wrote last week that ABC News had botched a timeline in its coverage of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn taking a guilty plea in exchange for agreeing to testify against his former coworkers in the Trump White House, and made it sound like Flynn's would soon testify that Trump had colluded with Russia during the campaign. Since Flynn's actual testimony will center on events that occurred during the transition period, he probably won't testify to anything as earth-shattering as what ABC initially implied.

Large news organizations generally act in good faith and work to correct errors. But the Trump-Russia affair is sprawling, complicated, and potentially the most important story in the country. Errors made by outlets that Trump and his supporters already decry as "fake news" just magnify the distrust that already exists and allows the pro-Trump camp to dismiss the entirety of the scandal that has already resulted in Flynn's resignation and several indictments.

Here's some more bullshit from this week:

One of Roy Moore's Accusers Forged Evidence

On Friday, defenders of the Alabama Senate candidate Moore latched onto a real statement from one of Moore's accusers and distorted it until it became fake news.

Beverly Young Nelson, one of the numerous women who has accused Roy Moore of sexual misconduct—in her case, she says that he assaulted her when she was 16—clarified to a group of assembled press on Friday that the yearbook she claims Roy Moore signed 39 years ago contains his note and signature, but that the text scrawled underneath about the time and place of the signing was her own addition. Nelson explained that it was there to remind her who Moore was.

But when the story got filtered through the editorial departments of America's illustrious right-wing news publications, the takeaway was that the yearbook note was "forged," and Moore was vindicated. "WE CALLED IT! Gloria Allred Accuser **ADMITS** She Tampered With Roy Moore’s Yearbook ‘Signature’ (VIDEO)," said right-wing blog and absolute garbage pile Gateway Pundit. "Roy Moore Accuser Beverly Nelson Admits She Forged Yearbook," wrote Breitbart. Even Fox News accused Nelson of forgery in its headline, but later walked back the intensity of its story (though the url of the story still uses the word "forged").

Moore, by the way, is looking increasingly likely to win Tuesday's election.

A man was burned to death while napping in a crematory

@NasMaraj has a lot of followers on Twitter. It's one of those accounts that blasts out platitudes and viral memes with a heavy dose of future horror. The trouble with following fun accounts like these is that they're trying to gain followers for followers' sake, and that usually means occasionally barfing out trash content from the hoaxosphere. In this case @NasMaraj barfed out a hoax from February about a morgue worker falling asleep inside a crematory, and being accidentally incinerated. (The fake news site is mocked up to resemble ABC, making it more difficult to spot.)

For a while on Thursday morning, it felt like the story was everywhere. I even spotted Chapo Trap House co-host Will Menaker sharing it, but he has since deleted his tweet. @NasMaraj, however, hasn't deleted the original tweet, and it's gotten 90,951 retweets as of this writing. Since that's effectively a reward for lying to people, one cool thing Twitter might want to try when users don't delete hoaxes is deleting them for them.

Palestinian leadership has recognized Houston as the capital of Mexico

If there's one thing I've learned from writing this column, it's that satire is overrated.

The Beaverton is a satire site, and, viewed through a fairly sophisticated lens, its story on Wednesday, in which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had recognized Texas as part of Mexico, was a pretty sick burn in response to Trump's announcing that the US embassy would move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The piece also noted that Palestinian diplomats in Mexico would be moving to Houston.

On one hand, it works on multiple levels: It helps illustrates why Trump's decision would be infuriating if you're Palestinian, and it zings the United States for causing problems. What's more, it's not as farfetched as it sounds: some Mexican activists are actively (if somewhat trollishly) building a legal case that their country deserves a chunk of US territory, including Texas.

But on the other hand, it works on zero levels. The annoying thing about satire is that even if your heart is in the right place, Facebook distributes it too widely and indiscriminately to make sure the people reading it actually get it. On its way to getting 1.3 million Facebook shares, The Beaverton's story crossed what I'll call the Facebook Grandpa Threshold, and started getting debated as fact. Then it was getting shared with no indication of the source:

Eventually, the piece was awarded the ultimate trophy for excellence in bad satire: a Snopes.com article debunking it.

Follow Mike Pearl on Twitter.

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(narrator: it won’t happen)

Gather ’round the fire, grab a web-enabled device and read what the staff thinks of the upcoming game!

Evan, @evancdent, 7-6. Colts 20 – Bills 17

I think Peterman is starting? Yeesh. The Colts are bad, but a Peterman led offense is badder. I don’t think Peterman’s going to have as ghastly a game as last time, but mark me down for some ill-timed turnovers – a strip sack, anyone? – that flip the field for the Colts and allow them to bank some easy points, even against a defense that has looked better the past couple weeks. I would normally expect Shady do have a big day against the Colts, but the combo of Peterman and Rick Dennison’s play-calling will once again hold him back. At least the game will look cool in the snow. Pretty funny that the Bills are offering anyone who shovels for four hours a free ticket when they could shovel for one hour and get a ticket with 7 bucks still left over.

Also, keep in mind during the game, as Peterman struggles, that – and here I have to contort my brain above and beyond the bounds of language as we understand it – there was never a Pro-Peterman movement in Buffalo.

Mike Migliore (@mmigliore) 7-5

It’s sounding more and more (as of Friday) like Tyrod Taylor is not going to be able to play Sunday against the Colts. McDermott said Tyrod could be the backup on Sunday (ok?) before praising the “poise” and “core values” (actual thing he said) of Nathan Peterman. So yeah, best of luck guys.

If that’s it for Tyrod and he never plays another down for the Bills, he finishes his Buffalo career with 8,148 passing yards and 49 touchdowns in 41 games as Bills’ quarterback. He also compiled an adjusted yards gained per pass attempt of 7.4 (that’s good). By comparison, Drew Bledsoe posted an AY/A of 6.1 during his three years in Buffalo (while completing less than 60% of his passes). Ryan Fitzpatrick had an AY/A of 6.0 during four seasons as Bills’ starter.

The point I’m trying to make is that Tyrod is the best starting quarterback the Bills have had during the Drought years. Actually, he’s probably the best QB they’ve had since Kelly.

Let’s compare TT to Buffalo folk hero Doug Flutie. No. 7 was here in WNY for three seasons and completed just 56.3 percent of his passes (Tyrod completed 62.8%) for 7,582 yards and 47 touchdowns. His AY/A was 6.7. So while Tyrod made 11 more starts in Buffalo than Flutie did to boost his overall numbers, he was simply better on a per-game basis.

This again makes me incredulous as to why there has been such a frothing at the mouth to see Tyrod replaced by Peterman. A town that has been starved for good quarterback play has been getting it. And yet, it’s not good enough. The simplest explanation is that Tyrod doesn’t throw for the yardage totals fans want in a fantasy football era where the best QBs easily reach 4,000 yards. It’s hard to defend 56- and 65-yard passing efforts, which Tyrod had against New Orleans and New England. But the deep-rooted issue here is a poorly constructed offense centered around horizontal passing routes run by a group of wide receivers who simply can’t get open and can’t be counted on to routinely make catches, contested or not. I compared the Bills offense to trying to take a jog in a phone booth the other day.

Look, the Bills offense has been very bad and needs to be overhauled in the off-season. Drafting a quarterback in the first round is probably the right move. I just want the narrative on Tyrod to be much different than what it has been. I want him to get the recognition he deserves for being a good quarterback for this team. You’d think he’s the second coming of Todd Collins listening to some fans speak about him. Naw man, this guy has played at a pretty high level for offenses that have been stripped down little by little each of Tyrod’s three seasons here. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and I hope for the sake of all of us that the Bills draft a great quarterback in April because more likely than not, they’ll wind up with a guy we wish was as good as Tyrod Taylor.  Prediction: Colts 17, Bills 9 

Mike McKenzie (@mack10zie, 6-6)

We are about a week away from the who cares portion of the season.  On paper, the Bills have to beat the Colts, and Dolphins twice to get to 9-7 and have any hope of a playoff berth.  We have no idea who is starting at QB.  We either get Peterman, or a hobbled Tyrod who likely has top stay in the pocket.  Indy’s pass defense is awful, but I don’t know if Buffalo can take advantage of it.  Indy had been playing hard for their lame-duck coach, until last week when they clearly quit on him.  Buffalo put what seems like a third of their team on IR this week, and I just don’t like the mojo coming from Orchard Park right now.  Colts 17 Bills 13.

Ricardo (@rcanepac, 7-5)

Colts 17: Bills 20

I’m sorry. No matter who our QB is, the bills aren’t losing to Jacoby Brissett in Buffalo. If he didn’t beat the bills in Gillette Stadium, I don’t anticipate him doing much against buffalo in New Era Field.

I think Peterman will play and he won’t be good. But I think our defense will bail him out since the bills are not facing Rivers or Brady.

Yes, our misery and hope will continue for one more week.

My prediction for the week? A Charles Clay TD and the running game continuing to improve (160 rushing yards) if Glenn plays and if Tolbert keeps being on the sidelines.

Then, five days before the opening came the announcement that President Donald Trump would accept Governor Phil Bryant’s invitation to attend—an invitation that surprised both lawmakers and museum staff.

John Lewis, a Georgia congressman and Civil Rights icon who was severely beaten during the march on Selma and who has clashed with Donald Trump, recused himself from speaking, as did Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson and former Mississippi governor Ray Mabus. A coalition of women-led groups organized a protest, and Jackson mayor Chokwe Antwar Lumumba announced an alternative press conference that featured NAACP leaders.

The public outcry over the invitation was as predictable as it was strident, not only because of Trump’s history of racist statements and dismal civil rights record as president, but because Bryant is best known for a discriminatory "religious freedom" bill.

As the city scrambled to put together a security plan, press releases from the museum went out sometimes twice daily. In the end, what had been planned to be an entirely public event was split in two: Trump would arrive, tour two large, information-dense museums in “17 minutes” and speak to about 200 members of “select” press, officials, and civil rights veterans. (According to a museum source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Bryant had promised Trump a “friendly” reception, so once a known protest was in the works, Trump’s public address was cancelled.)

Around 10 AM Saturday, while community leaders (most of them white) heard Trump label “the fight to end slavery, to break down Jim Crow, to end segregation” as “big stuff,” about 150 mostly black community leaders were crowded into a much smaller museum, the Smith Robertson, housed in a building that was once the first black school in Jackson. They were listening to San Francisco NAACP president Amos Brown talk about organizing Mississippi’s first NAACP youth council, after seeing a photo of Emmett Till’s bloated corpse in Jet magazine.

Another group, racially mixed, would swell to about 200 over the next hour. They lined a main thoroughfare near the museum, holding handmade signs. (“Alt Right DELETE—you too, Donnie!”)

“In Mississippi, the only voices that get broadcast are white conservative and/or white racist narratives, and there are other people that live here… a whole lot of us,” said Laurie Roberts, a protest organizer and founder of the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund. Jackson, Mississippi’s state capital, has a 79 percent black population and consistently votes Democrat.

“Not only is Trump dividing this country, he’s going abroad and dividing other places, in declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel. He’s not a peacemaker,” said Marietta Carter, 61.

She remembers using back doors, not using public restrooms, and the day a white man shot at her and other students because a girl didn’t call him “sir.”

Talamieka Brice, 37, the founder of Pantsuit Nation Mississippi, told me she spearheaded the protest because, “I have children. Because my mother went through the whole process of school integration. Because my grandmother was a maid who slept in a bed with white children but couldn’t use public facilities.”

Drivers honked and shouted support as they passed, and a woman distributed tickets to the museum among the protesters—a quiet nod of support. When she discovered the tickets had been ordered by Dennis Dahmer, organizer Lori Gregory wept. Dahmer was 11 in 1966, when his father, voting rights activist Vernon Dahmer, died after Klansmen bombed their house.

There was a lone counter-protester, Shelby Rayner, a 24-year-old from Jackson, who held a Confederate flag poster. (Mississippi is the only state to still fly the battle flag.) “My president’s coming into town, and I knew there were going to be some anti-Trump people, so I’m standing up for what I believe in,” he said.

Most of the protesters skipped the official ceremony, which was held on a grassy outdoor plaza. But Quantico actress Angenue Ellis, who lives in McComb, Mississippi, was among the roughly 1,500 attendees. She and about ten other people stood on a wall near the stage with confederate flag stickers plastered over their mouths.

Choirs sang hymns, Civil Rights veterans sat up front, many white men sat on stage, and about a third of the audience chairs were empty. A couple of men wandered around the plaza in Trump/Pence shirts. One of them was a construction worker who helped build the museum. The other, Phimon Williams, is black, but came out to support the president, not the Civil Rights museum.

He said he’s not bothered by August’s white supremacist rally in Charlottesville “because that’s in South Carolina, not Mississippi.” While he couldn’t or wouldn’t discuss the president’s policies, he told me he knows “Trump’s a good guy.”

A lone woman sitting on the back row, Mary Ann Hudson, told me that as a Jackson State University student in the early 60s she worked with Medgar Evers on voter registration. Her husband went out one night to do movement work and never came home. The next day, she and Evers went looking—“Police stations, hospitals and funeral homes,” she said. They found him in a county jail.

Bryant spoke. Ninety-four year old William Winter spoke, followed by 84-year-old Myrlie Evers-Williams. “It is left to each one of us here… and those who hear our voices… that you will realize that freedom is not free,” she said. “It takes people of goodwill, people coming together, people reaching into their pockets and coming up with the money and saying this is my state, this is my country, and I refuse to turn it over to anyone who dares to challenge that.”

I was reminded of earlier that morning, when a garbage truck slowed past the protesters, the black driver grinning and honking enthusiastically. The words on the side of the truck—standard Waste Management branding—read, “Land of the free, because of the brave.”

After Evers-Williams, many people left. It wasn’t as deliberate as a protest. It was more of a trickle. But it resounded. There were speakers to come, but they were mostly white, male politicians. The people came for Myrlie Evers-Williams, not for them.

Cheree Franco is a writer and photographer, mostly working in Arkansas, Mississippi, New York, and Pakistan.

1) The Bills are the shittiest 7-6 team ever. Alright, that’s an overstatement. This team drives me bonkers when it comes to really taking them seriously, especially  with what they’ve done over the last 7 weeks or so. Yet, I think back to August and how I felt the Bills would be lucky to win 4-5 games. Well, here we are, the Bills have almost doubled the amount of wins I thought they’d get, but there are still things that piss me off about them. My heart wants to say this is the beginning of something good for years to come as they’ve exceeded my expectations.

However, I remember those pesky Dick Jauron teams that were short on talent, but would always get 7 wins (See: 2007 season). This is also the 12th time the Bills have been 7-6 or 6-7 during the drought, so, spare me with the “Things feel different” narrative. When you look at the stats, outside of McCoy’s season and a few of the DBs making plays, they don’t pop off the page. Heading into this game, they were 27th in defense and 26th in offense. So, again, I don’t know how they are 7-6 and still in the hunt.

So, I’m happy we can still scoreboard watch as they are still in the hunt, but, man, there’s some boneheaded decisions they’ve made. I think the hardest part is that outside of the 2017 draft class, I just don’t think the players we are watching will be here long term. They’ve done alright with a not so talented team, but how much should their success have to do with their schedule and how much should your faith for the future be when the roster probably changes majorly next year? In the end, this season may not mean shit in the grand scheme of who McBeane really are.

2) LeSean McCoy is money. I wish the Bills could freeze him in carbonate and wait to thaw him in 2019 when they are hopefully a legit team. McCoy had  32 carries (career high) for 156 yards (6th best for career and most as a Bill) and seemed to do most of his damage between the tackles. Also, he did it when it mattered most as 78 of his rushing yards came on the Bills only two TD drives and that came on just 4 carries. He’s over 1000 yards rushing on the season and he’s the first Bill to hit that mark in back-to-back seasons since Marshawn Lynch in 2007/2008. Just remember those early season struggles when McCoy had 169 yards rushing in a 4 game stretch (game 2 to game 5). He’s turned it on as in his last 4 games, McCoy has 411 yards rushing. The offense only goes as far as McCoy carries it.

3) Let’s talk about the McDermott call to punt in OT from the Indy 41-yard line on 4th and 1. It was fucking stupid. Anyone trying to defend it is currently drunk.  The Bills gained like 10 yards on field position since the Colts drove the ball to the 31-yard line. It was dumb. The Bills lucked into Joe Webb chucking a wounded duck to Deonte Thompson and McCoy busting out a TD. McDermott should kiss Thompson and McCoy’s ass for that final drive or that would have lived on in infamy for the drought’s history. This isn’t the first time McDermott has made some 1982 game management moves and we will probably see it again.

4) I thought Nathan Peterman made two nice throws and that’s it. Sorry, but if you think I’m going to give him the Bills QB job because he completed two decent passes to Kelvin Benjamin that you can add to your GIF collection, you are crazy. In fairness to him, it was almost impossible for any QB to look good in that weather and for me to give some sort of rights of passage to be an NFL starter. The bigger issue is that if Joe Webb is your QB going forward, you are going to have serious issues. At this rate, they may have to run the option with Webb. I’m serious.

5) Zay Jones was targeted zero times today, while Benjamin was targeted 8 times.

6) The Bills rush defense gave up 163 yards rushing against the Colts and have now given up 1,047 yards in their last 6 games. The first 7 games of the season they gave up 561 yards. In fairness, the YPA was really low against against the Colts (3.5), but the rushing defense has been on a downhill slope for awhile now.

7) Please throw the wildcat offense, Dick Rennison, and Mike Tolbert into the sun.

8) Sean McDermott needs to lay off the military valor shit. I like the military, but not everything you do as a football team has to do with the military. “This isn’t anything different than what our military has to deal with” in regards to the weather at halftime. Really? Dude, stop fucking shoehorning the military into everything. I’m glad you love them, but use that love when it really matters. Also, I must have missed the memo on the military siege of the North Pole.

9) Bills were in shotgun 14 times today and ran McCoy out of that formation just once.

10) Both these teams aren’t very good.

11)

Kyle Williams with a heartfelt thank you to #Bills fans. #BillsMafia #GoBills @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/OsJuu7tEy0

— Nick Filipowski (@NEWS4_NICK) December 10, 2017

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

INJECT THIS INTO MY VEINS! Seriously, godspeed to those crazy bastards who go through flaming tables and watched this game in the stands. Also happy for the players who seemed to have a ball playing in the snow. Snow normally sucks, but when you are playing football in it, it can be a wonderland.

Coalition members will be joined by local elected officials for a press conference at 7:00pm at the library prior to the film screening to call on Governor Cuomo to take action in early 2018 that sets NYS on its own path to an equitable 100% clean energy revolution. Specifically, coalition members will call on the Governor to commit in his 2018 State of the State address to passing the Climate and Community Protection Act, and funding a just transition to 100% renewable energy across every sector of the economy by making corporate polluters pay for the damage they're doing to our communities, the health of our families, and the stability of our climate.

In the era of Trump, NYS needs to go above and beyond to secure a safe, sustainable, and equitable future for communities like Buffalo, free from climate catastrophe. False solutions leave our communities vulnerable not only to climate catastrophe but to the predatory operation of market forces and the powerful influence of large corporations and investor-owned utilities on elected officials. Real solutions put the most vulnerable people and the planet first, create the conditions for energy democracy in our local economies, codify community control over decision making and resource allocation, and build community wealth where its been historically extracted. Only by pursuing real solutions can we achieve just transitions within our communities. The NY Renews policy platform is a just transition strategy, which, if enacted, would reinvest billions of dollars of new revenue in community controlled renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, and large-scale public infrastructure like upstate mass transit and vehicle electrification. These investments will create over 150,000 good paying clean energy jobs per year while setting NYS on a path to a 100% fossil fuel free economy by the year 2050.

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• Video by Dan Oshier
• Music: "White Christmas" by The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Now, in the company of candy kings like Switzerland, Germany and Hershey, Pennsylvania, Buffalo has been named among the Top 6 Candy Destinations Around the World by Smarter Travel.

“It may be famous for Buffalo chicken wings, but its lesser-known claim to fame is as the ‘sponge candy capital of the world,'”  Smarter Travel states of the unexpected candy hotspot.

Name-dropped in this sweet feature are legendary Queen City confectioners like Alethea’s Chocolates, Fowler’s Chocolates, Antoinette’s Sweets, and Watson’s Chocolates. But you can blaze your own sponge candy trail and try them all (and more) using our handy, dandy Sponge Candy Crawl. And don’t forget to pick up two boxes of this unique Buffalo candy this holiday season – one for under the tree and one for yourself.

You can read the entire Smarter Travel feature here.

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1. Inconsistency reigns supreme – It’s not that I feel the committee is inconsistent itself; it’s that the make-up of the committee regularly changes, and they value many different things.  The inaugural playoff took Ohio State because of their strength of schedule.  Last year (Washington) and this year (Alabama) it’s tough to make the argument that SOS is a huge metric that matters.  You can certainly make a case for both schools, but SOS is not one of them.
2. Group of 5 teams have no chance –  UCF was undefeated and won most game pretty convincingly and cam nowhere near the playoff.  They did all this in a season where there were only 3 one-loss conference champs.  If they can’t get in over a one-loss non-conference champ, or a 2 loss conference champ, it’s never going to happen.  I mean they were not even close, coming in at number 10.  It seems for consideration, a group of 5 team is going to have to aggressively schedule some top Power 5 teams, as in multiple teams per year.  However, would you want your favorite Power 5 school to play UCF?  I sure wouldn’t.
3. A bad loss matters, some of the time – It’s all in how you define a bad loss I suppose.  Losing by 30 to a .500 team is apparently enough to keep you out of the playoff.   Losing by 3 to a 4-8 team in a game where your QB gets injured isn’t.  Clemson 100% deserves to be in the playoff, but the message is misleading
4. Best versus most deserving – This is the million-dollar question.  Is it the committee’s job to choose the best 4 teams, or the most deserving 4 teams?  I absolutely believe the playoff has the best 4 teams in it.  Bama got banged up late in the year and lost a tough road game to a rival.  They will be healthy by New Year’s and will give Clemson all they can handle.  However, there is no case you can make to me that they are the most deserving.  They didn’t have a particularly tough schedule, didn’t win their division (or obviously their conference), and their loss wasn’t a last second FG situation.  Alabama got in because the committee thinks they are one of the 4 best, and for no other reason.
5. Scheduling – This is a very mixed message.  Previously, the committee has really seemed to value scheduling.  I ask myself this though, if Ohio State had beaten a MAC team, instead of losing to Oklahoma, is the committee taking a 1 loss Bama over a 1 loss, conference champ Ohio State, even with that Iowa loss?  I’m not so sure they would.  I therefore would say OOC scheduling only matters if you win.
6. Name Brands Matter – If the resumes were identical, but that was Texas A&M and Ohio State, I 100% expect Ohio State would’ve been the selection.  The committee had an out in that it was Bama. On the flip side, if it was Michigan State or Bama, is there a debate at all?  Again, I don’t think so.

So I do think the committee got the best 4 teams, and I’m really looking forward to these matchups.  However, there is definitely something that makes me a little uncomfortable here.  If Bama had been hands down the best team, I could kind of live with it, but Bama wasn’t any better than Clemson or even Oklahoma or Georgia this season.  To me, your conference should be essentially the first round of the playoff.  While I would not require a conference championship to be in, they mean a lot to me, especially when there are only 4 spots.

Now if a 3 loss team from the weaker division pulls an upset in the conference title game, that’s a different story.  That was certainly not the case this year.  Ohio State won what is arguably the best conference in 2017.  They beat Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, and challenged themselves OOC with Oklahoma.  That, in most season would be enough.  Certainly, the irony of Ohio State getting in over Penn State last year is identical here.  The truth of the matter is the committee values different things each year, so there is no sense trying to predict exactly what they hold most important.

I will be back prior to the holidays with a full preview of the college football playoff!

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To get a truly transcendent player – that’s widely seen as such – a big move will need to be made in the off-season.

How big?

Well, if you, like I thought trading a 1st and 4th rounder to move from 8 to 4 for Sammy Watkins was a lot – just wait.

If you want to do what the Rams did to get to number one (from 15th overall) The Bills will have to give up:

1st that year, 2 2nds that year, 3rd that year and:

1st and 3rd in the following year.

With their lowest 1st rounder, both seconds, and their third round pick, as well as 2019’s 1st and 3rd I would love to see the Bills make a move to get their quarterback and be done with it. You have all of them available, but to get Cleveland to part with that pick will be a possibility only if their brass, led by former Chiefs GM John Dorsey, thinks that they can get the QB they want (and they want a QB – just ask their owner!) with the 5th overall pick via Houston. If that is the case, Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott might be able to swing a deal that’s fair for both sides.

If you want to go with the Eagles’ route to the second overall pick, you can hop around a bit:

The Eagles traded their 13th overall pick and two players to Miami for the Miami 8th overall. Then, Philadelphia traded their 8th overall pick, a 3rd and 4th in 2016 as well as a 1st in 2017 and a 2nd in 2018.

Given the Bills mixed signals on Cordy Glenn, I would bet that’s the method they’re going to be more than willing to execute. Trading a Glenn and their lowest first, plus some sweeteners (1st in 2019 and probably more) would get them to San Francisco, Indianapolis or Chicago. However, given the competition for those spots, the question might become not what is “fair” – ala the jump from 10 to 27 with Kansas City. Rather, the question will become what is going to get one of those non-QB needy teams to say yes to a deal.

You also have to look at the decision makers making the picks for each team and see if there is an assumption currently in the blogosphere that may be different than the reality of draft day. Consider if you will, the New York Giants. Currently, the thought is that Eli’s days as lead signal caller are over. However, say rumored favorite to land the GM position Dave Gettleman gets the gig and thinks Eli has a few more years left in him. That adds another name to the pile – and one that has a close relationship with Bills GM Brandon Beane. Those are the sort of relationships, similar to the Chiefs – Bills trade this past draft – that can make such a big move as stress free as possible.

Personally? If they want a quarterback, and you know which one(s) are in the targeting sights – go after it with a ferocity unknown to man. Get into that top 2 and make sure you get your guy, and deal with surrounding him with a quality cast. And that cast needs to not revolve around never having any separation from your receivers, because you can use that to explain Taylor away, but when you get your new shiny toy and he can’t get a chance – good luck!

It's often as interesting to see what got snubbed as it is what got nominated—and this year's nominations are no exception. Let's dive into some of the more egregious snubs from this year's noms—and make sure to watch the Golden Globes at 8 PM EST on January 7. It's hosted by Seth Meyers this year, and I'm sure he'll do fine.

Twin Peaks: The Return

Critical adoration doesn't always translate to awards recognition—and if you need proof, just look at the Globes's overall snubbing of David Lynch's masterpiece Twin Peaks: The Return, the rare TV revival in a sea of them that not only worked, but added new and mind-blowing wrinkles to the existing property in question. Yes, Kyle MacLachlan snagged a nod for his three (four? five?) performances throughout the limited-run series, but Twin Peaks: The Return was conspicuously absent in the overall Limited Series category. I haven't watched The Sinner yet, and I hear it's good, but was it really better than Twin Peaks: The Return? These are the types of questions that the Globes makes us ask.

The Big Sick

Speaking of critical darlings getting cut out! The Oscar race has been weird enough this year that Kumail Nanjiani and Emily W. Gordon's heartbreakingly funny, ripped-from-their-real-lives tale of love's endurance in the face of hardship has been tipped for awards glory—and rightly so: Even setting aside that it's the rare critically adored romantic comedy (the genre isn't typically a well-reviewed one), The Big Sick features strong performances ranging from Nanjiani's persevering protagonist to emotionally devastating turns from Ray Romano and Holly Hunter. And yet: It was completely shut out of the Globes this year, even losing a spot in the Musical or Comedy category to, of all fucking things, Hugh Jackman's circus-musical The Greatest Showman. Lame.

Any Animated Film That Isn't The Boss Baby

There had to be other good animated films that came out this year that weren't The Boss Baby, right? Right?!? Listen, I'm an adult, and I saw The Boss Baby in theaters. It was not good. It wasn't the worst film I saw this year, but it was not good. Granted, I'm not the target audience—to wit, the Friday evening showing that two friends and I attended (sober, if you can believe it) was mostly children, three of them bringing dolls in strollers. So it's a movie for children and dolls. That's fine. Based on The Boss Baby's nomination for Best Animated Film, I can only assume, by extension, that the HFPA is solely comprised of children and dolls. Prove me wrong!

Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig

If The Big Sick is the potential crowd-pleasing wildcard in this year's awards season that was greeted by dead silence this morning, then Get Out—Jordan Peele's astounding horror film that doubles as the most trenchant social satire released on film this year—at least got its relative due: Along with nabbing a nom in the Best Picture - Comedy or Musical category, its lead Daniel Kaluuya scored a Best Actor nod as well. And Greta Gerwig's touching and funny Lady Bird is another potential awards heavyweight this season, with four extremely deserved nods picked up this morning. But the directors of both films—respectively, Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig—were both shut out of the Best Director category, all the more perplexing since they seem to be practical lock-ins for Oscar time. Does Ridley Scott really deserve his nom for All the Money in the World, a recognition undoubtedly awarded to him after the much-publicized about-face he had to do in recasting Kevin Spacey's lead role merely three weeks before the film was released? I guess we'll see, but in the meantime not nominating Peele or Gerwig seems like missed opportunities.

Steve Carell, Last Flag Flying

It's a shame that Steve Carell was nominated for his very, extremely Michael Scott-y turn in Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris's Battle of the Sexes—partially because his performance in the film represents the diminishing returns of a side of Carell we've seen one too many times, and partially because he had a much better showing in Richard Linklater's critically sniffed-at mid-aughts period piece. Last Flag Flying allows Carell to show his subtler side, as a Vietnam vet struggling with the death of his son serving as a soldier in the Iraq War; it's the type of performance we don't typically see from him anywhere, and even though Last Flag Flying was a bit of a dud even by Linklater's low-stakes standards, it would've been nice to see this impossibly sad and touching performance get some recognition.

Sufjan Stevens, "Mystery of Love"/"Visions of Gideon"

After years of reportedly turning down opportunities to write songs for films, Sufjan Stevens did a huge 180 in 2017: Not only did he recently share two excellent and empathetic songs about Tonya Harding that were submitted (and, bizarrely, rejected) for the Harding biopic I, Tonya, but he also contributed two aching and lovely new songs for Luca Guadagnino's aching, lovely Call Me by Your Name. "Mystery of Love" and "Visions of Gideon" are two of the strongest songs of the year, let alone two of the strongest songs of the year written for film—and yet, neither were highlighted in this year's Globes nominations. No matter: Perhaps the Oscars, which might show an overall greater warmth toward Call Me by Your Name in the end anyway, could rectify this unjust snubbing.

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The Erie County Veterans Service Agency is your local resource for all information pertaining to veterans, and as the first Agency of its kind created in New York State has been helping veterans an

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charitySTRONG is a new organization connecting talented individuals who want to help their communities with nonprofit board opportunities in New York State.

What We Do

We have two free, online programs: onBOARD and Directors U. onBOARD helps individuals who are interested in volunteering connect with nonprofits that are seeking board members. Directors U includes a short, online course to teach you all about nonprofit boards – so you know if board service is a fit and are ready to hit the ground running when you find the right cause.

Why It’s Important

Board service can help you give back in a meaningful way, take on leadership roles on behalf of an important cause and broaden your circle. Nonprofits in our network include arts, youth, education, health, environmental, and other groups and they are looking for new, engaged board members with a broad range of backgrounds and skills. By advancing effective governance, charitySTRONG’s programs will help these organizations deliver services that make a measurable change in the quality of life for communities they serve.

Western New York Results

Since launching a year ago, more than 930 candidates and 195 nonprofits in WNY have joined charitySTRONG; 500 have learned about nonprofit board governance and there have been 29 matches!

“Many great organizations have reached out to me since joining charitySTRONG… As a result, I am now a member of the Community Services Support Foundation Board of Directors… It has been very rewarding thus far, and it is likely I would not have been granted this opportunity were it not for charitySTRONG.”

—Justin Johnston, new board member

How to Join Us

Visit charitySTRONG to learn more about joining a board or go ahead and register for a free account. For questions, contact info@charitystrong.org

charitySTRONG launched in September 2016 thanks to support from the Office of the New York State Attorney General, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the New York Community Trust. For more information, contact charitySTRONG’s office at info@charitystrong.org or 646-861-3602 or visit www.charitystrong.org.

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Please join St. Adalbert Basilica for mass on Christmas Eve. This children’s and family mass is a beautiful tradition and church looks forward to welcoming old friends and new to celebrate with them!

Kolędy with special guest Ms. Brittany Mruczek will begin at 3:30 pm, with mass beginning at 4:00pm. Brittany will be singing at the mass as well.

Celebrant is Rev. Michael H. Burzynski.

All children are welcome to participate in the Christmas story; please arrive by 3:30 and check in and your child can be in the play!

St. Adalbert Church will also continue the tradition of their Memory Trees. Please contact the church if you’d like to hang an ornament on the tree for a recently deceased loved one.

Candles from from the Remembrance Mass will be lit at the mass, and of course the Basilica will be decorated for Christmas!

There’s nothing like Christmas Mass in the Old Neighborhood at one of the most beautiful houses of worship in all of WNY.

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/479863292414442/

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Planning for the synagogue began after the congregation’s former temple burned in 1961. (The Reform Jewish congregation, one of Buffalo’s oldest, has been in continual existence since 1850.)

Construction on the Abramovitz design began in 1965, and after its official dedication in 1967, it immediately became a prominent landmark; its scalloped external walls—of concrete and Alabama limestone—rise to heights ranging from 45 to 62 feet. The ten sections on each side, symbolizing the Ten Commandments, are angled, representing arms outstretched in prayer.

Because it is constructed in the round, the building has no traditional “cornerstone.” Instead, the cornerstone from the previous building has a place of honor inside, near the sanctuary ark.

One of the most striking elements of the building is Shahn’s art glass windows. Abramovitz selected Shahn to create the large-scale glass window walls, feeling that something special was needed to complete the project.

The huge windows depict symbolic scenes with spiritual messages and ideas, such as creation, suffering and praise for God. They are also meant to be meditative when seen from the inside, sending washes of shimmering color in the sanctuary area where services are held.

The building has recently been submitted for consideration to be included on the National Register of Historic Places. In the submission, Francis R. Kowsky, professor emeritus and architectural historian wrote: “This collaboration between a major American architect and major American painter underscores the vision of the building as an expressive, immersive work of art.”

Tours are available by appointment. To arrange one, call the main office at 716-836-6565 or email Amy Schaefer at amyschaefer@tbz.org. No fee is charged, although donations are gratefully accepted.

Temple Beth Zion Sanctuary, Chapel and Cofeld Judaic Museum
805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo
tbz.org
716-836-6565

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“Winter is here in Upstate New York and residents are looking forward to coming home to a warm fire and reaching for ‘Made in New York Craft Beers’. These beers represent a new and flourishing industry for New York State, and Upstate New York is increasingly becoming the Napa Valley of craft brewing. Not only do distilleries, and breweries pour local products and jobs into our economy, they also open new tourism opportunities throughout Upstate New York, which is why it is important we continue to support this industry and provide them with all of the available tools needed to succeed now and in the future. New York is on the cusp of a craft brewing renaissance which benefits our growers, our small business owners, and all those who call New York State home,” said Senator Schumer. “That’s why I am calling on the feds to endorse this enhanced insurance protection for malt barley in Upstate New York. These breweries are a reflection of New York’s entrepreneurial spirit and must be properly supported by growers who can supply them with the locally sourced resources they need.”

Source

We thank all of you for your concerns and for your support over many years. While the Diocese of Buffalo has succeeded in getting our original favorable judgment overturned at the Vatican Apostolic Signatura, we remain committed to attempting to prevent the cultural destruction that would occur if the interior of St. Ann Church were broken up and stripped out. The Diocesan press release announced their specific intention to strip out the interior.

The diocesan proposal to remove and preserve interior elements elsewhere seems to us to come from the same school of thought that has left us only a piece of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Office Building: “Let’s intentionally destroy the Statue of Liberty and put up an exhibit of one of its I-beams elsewhere.”

As a community, we are facing that sort of choice at St. Ann Church. Are we willing to work together as a community to come up with a more creative and less historically and culturally destructive plan?

Please consider what we have and what we stand to lose:

Do we want this?

Or this?

Original post from Saint Ann’s website:

http://www.saintannbuffalo.org/?p=1880

The 125th Anniversary Mass was held on Sunday, November 19th, 2017. The Mass and reception afterward were the culmination of a year-long celebration of the church’s anniversary.

Dr. Daniel P. Schaefer, M.D., F.A.C.S., an ophthalmologist with Atwal Eye Care, was nominated to serve as President-Elect of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).

Dr. Schaefer’s office is located at 4590 Main Street in Amherst. He graduated from University of Buffalo, SUNY School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 1981. Dr. Schaefer is also affiliated with the Sisters of Charity Hospital  Saint Joseph Campus in Buffalo.

ASOPRS is a qualified body of surgeons with a purpose of advancing education, research, and the quality of clinical practice in aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery of the face, orbits, eyelids, and lacrimal system.

ASOPRS is a global organization that trains qualified physicians and provides specialized fellowship training for postgraduate physicians who have completed an accredited ophthalmology residency. The organization prides itself at being at the forefront of clinical practice, education, and scholarly research. Members  are involved in a variety of activities to promote the society and its goals, including publishing the journal Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, attending several meetings each year, and training tomorrow’s leaders. Members are also involved in advocating the society’s national and international goals through other organizations dedicated to education and clinical care.

All ASOPRS members have completed post residency fellowships in Oculofacial Surgery. Completion of one of these competitive fellowships alone is not sufficient to gain entrance to ASOPRS. Applicants for membership are required to submit a scientific thesis of original research in a topic related to Oculofacial Surgery. When this thesis has been accepted after vigorous review by the Society, applicants are required to pass both a written exam and an Oral exam administered by the Society, to test the depth of knowledge and medical judgment of the applicant.

Only after all of these steps have been completed is a surgeon invited to become a member of ASOPRS. This ensures that ASOPRS members have the training, experience, and medical judgment necessary to provide state of the art care for all eyelid, lacrimal, orbital and facial plastic and cosmetic problems.

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“Consumers not corporations should be in control of individual internet access,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Fair and equal access to an open internet is a consumer right that deserves protection and one that maintains a level playing field for all, including those accessing the web for business and educational purposes.”

Existing Net Neutrality rules prohibit internet providers from blocking, prioritizing and charging extra for content or throttling back on the speed at which content is provided. The FCC is scheduled to vote on a roll back of Net Neutrality policies at its meeting on December 14, 2017. 

Higgins supported the FCC’s actions in 2015 to protect Net Neutrality.  In addition to supporting the Save Net Neutrality Act, Higgins co-signed a letter led by Congressman Mike Doyle, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee, calling for the measure to be removed from the FCC’s agenda. 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled the first proposal of the 2018 State of the State: remove all firearms from those who commit domestic violence crimes. Given the inextricable link between domestic violence and lethal gun violence, this legislation will require all domestic violence crime convictions, including misdemeanors, to result in the immediate removal of all fire arms and will add measures to keep firearms out of the hands of those who commit domestic violence with the goal of preventing additional tragedies. 

"This year will be remembered as the year of reckoning, when both the tragedy of mass shootings and cultural and institutional harassment of women became impossible to ignore," Governor Cuomo said. "Building on the Women's Equality Agenda, we are continuing our mission for progressive values and women's rights with this legislation to target the unquestionable relationship between domestic violence and gun violence." 

Under Governor Cuomo, New York has passed the strongest gun control laws in the nation. However, New York does not have sufficient laws in place that automatically mandate removing all types of firearms from individuals involved in domestic violence—an issue we know is closely tied to gun violence and gun violence deaths. In nine of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in United States history, including Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, the shooter had an existing record of committing violence against women, threatening violence against women, or harassing or disparaging women. In addition, when an abusive partner is permitted to access firearms, the risk that the other partner will be killed increases fivefold. In 2016, firearms were used in 25 domestic homicides in New York.

This proposal builds on legislation previously advanced by Assembly member Amy Paulin, Senator Diane Savino and other members of the legislature.

 All Domestic Violence Convictions Result in the Loss of Firearms 

New York law prohibits the possession of firearms for individuals convicted of felony or "serious" offenses. However, this excludes certain misdemeanor offenses involving domestic violence, such as assault and battery crimes or strangulation. To ensure that all domestic violence offenders are held to the same standard, Governor Cuomo will advance legislation to include all domestic violence misdemeanors on the list of prohibited offenses.

Rifles and Shotguns Are Also Required to be Surrendered to Law Enforcement

Currently, New York State requires surrender of hand guns for either (1) an order of protection issued by a judge or (2) a firearm license suspension/revocation due to a felony or "serious" offense conviction or a mental health disqualification by a health professional.  However, this surrender does not always apply to long guns, such as rifles and shotguns.  To correct this loophole, Governor Cuomo will be proposing legislation to apply the same surrender procedures to long guns.

For an Order of Protection, Judges Must Order a Defendant to Surrender Any Type of Firearm

Currently, judges issue orders of protection in domestic violence cases after an individual is arrested, but before they are convicted.  These orders result in the suspension of firearm licenses.  However, these orders are issued at the judges' discretion and may not be occur in every domestic violence case.  To ensure consistency, the State proposes legislation requiring that all judges mandate the surrender of all firearms - hand guns and long guns - and suspend any firearm license until the case is resolved.

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On Tuesday, NBC promoted Michael Che to the position along with his "Weekend Update" co-host, Colin Jost, Vulture reports. Che and Jost will serve as co-head writers, alongside the existing head writers, Bryan Tucker and Kent Sublette.

Jost and Che teamed up for "Weekend Update" back in 2014, where Che—who had a run on The Daily Show in Jon Stewart's day—has delivered some pretty sharp commentary. His segment on President Trump's response to the hurricane in Puerto Rico was particularly strong; a clip of the segment has more than 2 million views on YouTube.

Che has also had some success writing other hit sketches for SNL, including an episode of "Black Jeopardy" featuring Tom Hanks as a white, MAGA hat–wearing Southerner who winds up finding some common ground with his fellow contestants and the host, played by Keenan Thompson. The Washington Post lauded the bit as SNL's "best political sketch this year."

According to Vanity Fair, the move follows the exit of head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, who left the show last summer after one successful season. The show saw a nice ratings spike under what VF called the duo's "sharp, progressive, female-fronted millennial humor," so it'll be interesting to see how the show maintains that streak now that all its head writers are men. Che has gotten flack for sexist comments in the past and even addressed his unpopularity among white, liberal women in a sketch in which he impersonates one.

This isn't Jost's first turn as a head writer for SNL, having worked the job from 2012–2015 before stepping down to focus on "Weekend Update." The foursome will have their work cut out for them, following a standout season marked by Melissa McCarthy's Spicer impression, Alec Baldwin's take on Trump, and a shit-ton of Emmys.

Follow Drew Schwartz on Twitter.

Wonton Soup at Ming Cafe, 3268 Main Street:
Gingery broth, delicate plump wontons, and the untypical, but perfect addition of lots of vermicelli noodles, make this version of the common Chinese menu item uncommonly good. Its listed as an appetizer, but the large portion and huge quantity of noodles, make it a perfect light meal as well. Follow up with the moo shu chicken. You will thank me.

Tomato Basil Soup at Globe Market, 762 Elmwood Ave. and 1416 Hertel Ave.:
This creamy rich tomato soup, perfumed with basil, is the perfect accompaniment for a grilled cheese sandwich, which fortunately is also on the menu. A big step up from what Mom used to provide, but still the ultimate comfort food lunch on a cold day. Globe rotates their soup offerings, but Tomato Basil is usually one of the choices. The Beans and Greens soup is my favorite for runner up, and all soups come with a nice chunk of excellent bread for dunking.

Pho Tai Chin at Pho Dollar, 322 West Ferry Street:
All the pho offerings here come in a bowl bigger than your head, filled with rice noodles and accompanied by the usual pho condiments (basil leaves, greens, sprouts, lime wedges and jalepenos). The Tai Chin includes thin thin slices of rare beef and rich pieces of beef brisket, my personal favorite combination, though you can choose among many. The beefy broth is delicious on it’s own, but a couple of shots of sriracha sauce kick it up, as they say, a notch. Despite the enormous serving I never seem to come away with any leftovers… but arrive hungry!

Tortilla Soup at Cantina Loco, 191 Allen Street:
Creamy chicken soup filled with vegetables, hominy and chicken strips, and topped with avocado, this is a hearty first course, with just the right balance of richness and flavor. Fortunately you will still have plenty of room for the Koreatown tacos or at least some excellent guacamole.

Lentil Soup at Kostas Family Restaurant, 1561 Hertel Avenue:
Yes, it’s a Greek Diner, and yes they do have a very good traditional avgolemono soup that is probably a more unusual choice than just basic lentil. But this is what lentil soup is supposed to be, chock full of lentils, but not so thick that you can’t break up your saltine crackers. It’s just a perfect version of a very straightforward dish, and what’s more comforting than that?

Butternut Squash Soup at Rowhouse Bakery and Restaurant, 483 Delaware Avenue:
Just a perfectly delicious, creamy, butternut squash soup, served with a dollop of sour cream in the glorious setting of a converted nineteenth-century brownstone rowhouse. It’s so perfectly seasonal it’s like the Pumpkin Spice Latte of soups. And if you want a pumpkin spice latte there’s a terrific cafe downstairs where you can order one on your way out!

The post Soup, There It Is! 6 of Buffalo’s Best Bowlfuls appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

Food Provided by Chef Brian Marek founder of Pockets of Pride!

Polish Liquor Raffle!

50/50 Raffle!

Party starts at 8:00pm!

The library is located at 612 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14212

Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/317043088785892/

Hundreds of Toys Donated by County Employees, Visitors to Santa Land

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I was lucky enough to share one of those perfect days with my special holiday someone as we walked, shopped and indulged in East Aurora’s quaint village offerings.

We needed the right kickoff, and a breakfast at Elm Street Bakery is exactly the spot to help lay a hearty foundation. Just off Main Street, this bakery/café/bar (known for delicious wood-fire pizza) hits all the right notes with scratch-made breads, pastries, muffins and sandwiches as well as organic, steal-cut oatmeal and fresh fruit parfaits. Our choices included a salmon bialy on an onion bagel, an ESB breakfast sandwich and a flaky Pain Au Chocolate (chocolate-filled croissant).

The Hollywood Holidays Series at The Aurora Theatre is in full swing, so we caught a flick during our village stroll. As if we weren’t already in the spirit, an afternoon showing of Miracle on 34^th Street was a surefire way to turn up the festive dial.  From now until December 23 you can catch A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, and The Polar Express playing on the big screen. And as a special treat for the little ones, Santa will be making an appearance on Saturday mornings at the theater.

The only way to really explore the vast shopping experience East Aurora has to offer is by foot. You certainly can’t miss staples like Vidler’s and the village’s many art galleries, but if you’re moving too fast you might miss smaller stores like Toy Loft, Head Over Heels, Four Bees Cottage, Aurora Outfitters and so many more.  As an added bonus, not only are the shops decked out for the season; many have fantastic offers going on.

We properly capped off our visit by sharing a steaming mug of hot cocoa from Taste, Main Street’s bistro-style coffee house. If you want something a little higher-octane, try one of their seasonal lattes or mochas.

The Vidler on the Roof overlooking Carolcade – Photo courtesy of Vidler’s 5 & 10

Not to be missed is East Aurora’s annual Christmas Carolcade on December 16 from 7-8 p.m. A tradition that started in 1972, families and friends will come together on Main Street in front of Vidler’s to sing traditional Christmas carols, enjoy hot cocoa courtesy of Vidler’s and to see East Aurora’s historic Main Street adorned for the holidays.

East Aurora is one of those unique places that is even more beautiful when winter arrives, so embrace its incredible charm and festive spirit!

The post East Aurora: The Perfect Holiday Destination appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

(Family Features) Prescription opioid misuse and heroin use have reached epidemic levels in the United States. Now, students have the opportunity to compete for prizes as they engage in a national challenge to communicate messages to their peers about the dangers these drugs pose.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the DEA Educational Foundation and Discovery Education, a leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, have come together to offer the second annual Operation Prevention Video Challenge.

The challengeis an extension of Operation Prevention, a nationwide program that educates students about the science behind addiction and its impact on the brain and body. The program’s interactive, standards-aligned resources are available at no cost to help promote lifesaving discussions in the classroom and at home.

“Following the success of the first Operation Prevention Video Challenge, DEA looks forward to once again engaging youth in this creative opportunity to communicate anti-opioid messages,” said Sean Fearns, chief of community outreach, DEA. “This kind of peer-to-peer education has the unique ability to better resonate with teens, discouraging prescription drug abuse before it starts.”

The video challenge encourages teens to create a 30-60 second original public service announcement that warns other students about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse and heroin use. The challenge aims to inspire teens to research the opioid epidemic, identify its widespread impact on the country and the substances’ harmful effects on the body, and start a social movement that encourages authentic dialogue about this critical issue.

The top 10 finalist videos will be uploaded to the Operation Prevention website for a public vote to determine the People’s Choice winner, and the winning PSAs will be featured on DEA’s and Discovery Education’s digital and social media platforms. Winning submissions also will be eligible for cash prizes.

“We have seen firsthand the positive impact this program has had in our communities across the country,” said Kevin Hartmann, president, DEA Educational Foundation. “This contest gives students a chance to be a part of the solution in this nationwide epidemic. Their PSAs can help save lives.”

The Operation Prevention Video Challengewill close at 8 p.m. March 20, 2018. United States high school students, ages 13 and older, can register and find more information about the challenge at operationprevention.com.

SOURCE:
Operation Prevention

The post Anti-Drug Challenge Encourages Students to be Part of the Solution appeared first on Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine.

Today, with cannabis laws continuing to slacken around the world and the stigma and dangers once associated with getting high dissipating, pot smokers will soon have even more leeway to get creative with their fluid selections. And with more liquid options available to them than at any other time in history, there are likely to be more than a few sublime water substitutes out there waiting to be discovered. With that in mind, and using the suggestions of VICE’s sadistic editors, I assumed the role of human guinea pig and prepared to smoke from a bong filled with 11 unorthodox liquids.

The strain I used throughout, the all-around average hybrid, Gorilla Glue, was chosen partially because I knew it wasn’t too potent, but mostly because it’s what was on hand. To further keep some semblance of rigor, I vowed to take only one chamber-clearing bong rip per liquid and regain sobriety before attempting the next on the list. I’d also clean out the bong between tests, of course. I deluded myself into believing that these strictures were going to somehow elevate this from “cautionary tale” to “science.”

As I filled a shopping cart with the sundries needed for the coming week’s trials, the only question on my mind was “how many Pulitzers can one article win?”

HOLY WATER

I started my journey with a substance that I thought would offer both a palate cleansing baseline and a potential blessing upon the entire endeavor: holy water. Though I never learned the exact origin of the petite, corked bottle of sanctified water that my editor donated for the experiment, he assured me it was indeed blessed by a man or woman of some sort of cloth. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough water in the tiny vessel to adequately fill the bottom of the bong, so I was forced to top it off with some from the tap, crossing my fingers that this wouldn’t dilute the Lord’s powers in any way.

The hit was clean, albeit a bit mildewy—I think the bottle’s cork had begun to rot—but the ensuing high was disappointing in its secularity. I guess DMT’s still the tried and true drug route to meeting God.

LA CROIX

Still getting my sea legs, I chose a mango-flavored La Croix as my next water replacement. Though included on the roster primarily as a craven ploy for the kind of web traction that comes stock with any usage of 2015’s “it” beverage, this one turned out to be an unexpectedly pleasant experience.

The carbonation and hint of mango added some tropical fizz to the hit and the high was what I imagined Instagram celebrities must feel like 24/7.

HOT SAUCE

Now comfortable with the testing process, I took off my training wheels and picked one of the scarier contenders from the list. As someone who actually enjoys hot sauce, I couldn’t bear to part with any of my good shit for this escapade, so I dumped a bunch of Tabasco bottles into the bong instead.

Before I’d even had a chance to spark the bowl, the spicy fumes wafted up and filled my eyes with tears. I flicked the lighter and Inhaled deeply, taking in what felt like off-brand mustard gas before crumpling into a coughing fit. This was not an enjoyable experience.

MOUTHWASH

To give my lungs a bit of a reprieve, I poured minty blue mouthwash into the chamber and lit up.

Akin to a Camel Crush, this combination gave the smoke a menthol taste, with a nice and smooth draw. And for the first time in my life, I coughed zero times after a bong hit.

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

As ‘twas the season, I popped into my neighborhood Starbucks and picked up a piping hot PSL for the next round. Because I like neither lattes nor the now-ubiquitous “pumpkin spice” flavor, I had never actually seen the fluid outside of its opaque containers before and was somewhat disturbed at the orange bisque-like substance that poured into my bong.

Surprisingly, none of the cloying gourd flavor made its way into my hit. I only tasted the burnt weed, which was not dissimilar to the burnt coffee bean frequently found in Starbucks orders.

CASAMIGOS TEQUILA

Articles like this are as much about preparation as they are about the writing and, I’ll tell ya, my editor and I agonized over which alcoholic beverage would be the funniest for me to fill a bong with. After popcorning out-of-touch ideas like Fireball and Four Loko around, we finally settled on Casamigos tequila because George Clooney recently sold the company for a billion dollars and he looks kinda douchey in the ads for it. Hilarious, right?

The hit itself was robust, like licking the bar at Mexican restaurant. I kinda liked it. I also liked the hint of smoke that was infused into the gently-used tequila that I recycled from the bong into a cocktail.

COLD-PRESSED KALE JUICE

The next morning, to combat the hangover from my tequila-soaked night, I dumped a healthy cold-pressed juice into the pipe and took a draw while seated on the floor in the lotus position.

The juice bubbled like one of those algae-filled hot springs that look fun but actually give you a UTI. The hit itself was just as unexpectedly gross. The grassy juice flavor latched onto the smoke and gave me the kind of wet, stuck cough that comes with a black mold infestation.

Watch:

MOUNTAIN DEW

More of a punch line than soda at this point, Mountain Dew seemed an obvious, if not perfunctory sacrifice for the bong. I stuck with OG Dew, rather than veering off into its myriad permutations not just out of respect for the product, but also because the radioactive green sugar water in the clear glass made for some cool mad scientist imagery.

The smoke had a somewhat sweet aftertaste but, overall, this hit was unremarkable. As required by law, I spent the following high playing video games.

5-HOUR ENERGY

I had taken some unpleasant hits up to this point, but this was the liquid I was most afraid could actually do me harm. Though my caffeine tolerance is already way too high, I feared smoking pot through 20 hours’ worth of energy would somehow transmogrify the drug into a meth/bath salts hybrid and either send me on a nude rampage or explode my heart.

Fortunately, none of that happened. I just got high like usual.

RANCH DRESSING

What good would this whole ordeal be if I didn’t push my lungs and bong to their very limits in the process? In an affront to God that surely cancelled out the effects of the holy water I’d tested, I uncapped a bottle of Hidden Valley ranch and stuck that bad boy upside-down at the top of the bong's neck, letting gravity slowly pull out its viscous contents. Even as a fan of ranch, the acrid smell was making me queasy. Furthermore, I worried I wouldn’t have the required lung-power to pull smoke through so thick a fluid. After read a few motivational quotes and putting on “Eye of the Tiger” to pump myself up, I sparked the bowl of my experiment’s final boss.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” This quote—misattributed to Winston Churchill—ran through my head as I battled with the predictably stubborn dressing, struggling to spark the bowl. Try after try, my flame found no purchase on the green in the bowl. Onward I pressed, my alveoli on fire, until finally, with one big primordial bubble, the smoke broke through to the surface and rushed into my chest with the jolt of a defibrillator resuscitation. As I coughed for the next half hour, I noted that the smoke was surprisingly devoid of any additional ranchy zest.

SOMELLIER SUGGESTION

Days and countless dishwasher cycles later, with my bong finally purged of all ranch remnants, I prepared to fill the chamber one last time to conclude the trials.

In an effort to restore order to the universe, I reached out to famed water sommelier Martin Reise for his recommendation on the purest, most perfect water with which to fill my bong, hoping this recalcitrant overture would absolve my sins and restore order to the universe.

“I do not smoke, but I think a chilled Fiji would be an amazing bong water," suggested Reise. "The cold Fiji will chill down the smoke and the smooth and silky water texture of Fiji will give the cannabis flower a beautiful crisp and clean taste.”

When I expressed my shock that the man behind a $14 bottle of water and an expert on all the most obscure brands had chosen such an accessible bottle, Reise replied “Why should I recommend a water nobody can try out for themselves?”

I ended my journey with what was indeed a crisp and clean hit and the newfound knowledge I could have gleaned by simply talking to a doctor, scientist, or other professional with actual understanding of the subject: your bong’s fluid has no bearing on the actual high.

Follow Justin Caffier on Twitter.

Employees at the EPA headquarters in Washington, DC, discovered that sewage was literally spewing out of the water fountains, E&E News reports. They got an email at about 9 AM letting them know that there was a "water line back up" causing an "issue" with the fountains. According to the folks inside, "issue" was an understatement.

"A sewer problem at EPA HQ has resulted in poop exploding out of water fountains," Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, told E&E.

The poopsplosion pictured apparently detonated outside the EPA's Office of Policy, in a hallway nearby EPA administrator Scott Pruitt's office, Mashable reports. According to E&E News, a few other water fountains overflowed on the same floor, and the odor from the black sludge wafted into nearby offices. The whole thing might have caught some unsuspecting employees off guard, but according to one former agency official, the water fountains at EPA HQ have always been a little suspect.

"Sometimes there were some very odd smells coming out of those drinking fountains," he told E&E. "I can't imagine that anyone would actually drink out of those drinking water fountains. I think I used it to pour my coffee down."

Maybe the sewage misfortune was just a stroke of bad luck, or maybe Mother Nature was trying to mess with Pruitt, a guy who killed Obama's Clean Power Plan, didn't bother to mention climate change in the agency's four-year plan, and relies on oil and gas reps to help him do his job. Things have apparently been so bad under Pruitt that the agency has lost more than 700 employees under his tenure—not to mention, the office clearly has some issues with its plumbing.

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It absolutely must be Woyshner’s Christmas Shoppe, located in the friendly Buffalo suburb, Lackawanna.

Ok maybe not, but I dare you to walk into the shop (or “Shoppe”) and tell me they couldn’t masterfully decorate any holiday scene you demand. This place literally has everything you could ever possibly want to adorn your Christmas Lodge or Mistletoe Inn.

Want colored trees? Green is so last year.

Upside down trees? They’re hanging around.

Nutcrackers? You bet.

Elves on multiple shelves? They’re looking right at you.

Owls? Of course.

Irish Christmas? The place borders South Buffalo after all.

A NASCAR village? Start your engines.

Caroler figurines? Fa la la la la, la la, la la.

So whether you’re Coming Home for Christmas or just looking for an Enchanted Christmas this year, be sure to make your way to Ridge Road in Lackawanna. This place knows how to deck the halls – literally. And while you’re in the neighborhood, maybe catch a mass or a tour at the beautiful Our Lady of Victory Basilica, just down the road, or see the poinsettia show at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens.

With Love,
Christmas

The post Step Into a Christmas Wonderland at Woyshner’s appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

Ricardo (@rcanepac, 8-5)  Bills 27 – Dolphins 24

Tyrod is back! And it’s Dolphins game, so I’m expecting a good Tyrod game. I’m also expecting a BIG Charles Clay game: dude has been a monster against the fins.

But leaving my optimism aside, I’m really nervous for this game, specially because I don’t know which version of either team we’re getting!!! Both teams have been SO inconsistent that anything can happen. I wish we could win and continue our misery (that some call “hope”).

Go Bills!

Mike McKenzie (@mack10zie, 6-7)

As you can see, I have no idea what I’m talking about this year.  These teams are roughly evenly matched.  If the Miami that shows up on Monday shows, up, it’s a loss.  This game is extremely important as Buffalo has to win 2 of 3 to have a shot at the playoffs, and since NE is next week, the more likely scenario is trying to sweep Miami.  However, Miami has a similar scenario and they need to sweep Buffalo.  It comes down this, I just have no faith in the Bills offense right now.  I’m not sure if it’s the QB, the OC, or the personnel, but I don’t trust them, to score over 20 in a game right now unless the D is forcing turnovers.  I also am not sure how Buffalo stops Kenyon Drake.  Miami 23 BUF 17

Evan, @evancdent, 7-7. Dolphins 20 – Bills 10.

Just have a bad feeling about this one. Feels like a classic letdown game with the Bills actually in a decent position to make the playoffs. Kenyan Drake will run all over the Bills, Dennison will bungle up the offensive playcalling for Tyrod and co, and Coach Troops will mess up again – and this time he won’t get bailed out. It’ll stay close throughout, with a dagger Dolphins touchdown coming late.

Mike Migliore (@mmigliore) 7-6

Good God Almighty. That’s Tyrod Taylor’s music.

Tyrod returns this week and with him returns renewed optimism about the Bills’ playoff chances. Beat the Jay Cutler-led Dolphins twice and you end the regular season at 9-7, giving yourself a realistic shot at sneaking into a wild card spot. The Bills’ playoff chances are real and they are spectacular, but Buffalo does need to take care of business by winning these two games against the Dolphins, who are suddenly on a winning streak. Let’s not forget that we chalked up last year’s games against the Dolphins to be sure victories, only to see the Bills falter twice.

The Bills need to prove that they can score some points. They haven’t broken the 20-point barrier in a game since Tyrod’s second half heroics led the Bills to 24 points in their blowout loss at Los Angeles. With Tyrod back, their odds of getting to 20 points increase dramatically, but we need to see a better performance than what we’ve had for about a month now.

I don’t love this game for the Bills and maybe there’s some lingering scar tissue from last year’s Christmas Eve game against Miami when Rex punted in overtime (ring a bell?), but Cutler rarely strings two good games together and he’s just had two in a row, so he’s due to fall apart on a short week after a huge win against New England. I think Miami might be due for a letdown here and the Bills are due for a game where they receive a bushel of turnovers. I’ll say this is it, but you bet I’m skeptical and expecting an easy Dolphins win.

Prediction: Bills 24, Dolphins 10