First of all I put this in entertainment instead of TV because I have a bunch of TV stuff. Plus I hope to write more about Maher. I want to write about faith but it isn't so simple so that is a post I have been holding off of. This weekend I hope to buy his new movie that is on DVD. Yes I have seen it, but I'm hoping it has a lot of great extras. The reason I want to see Bill's show that starts tonight is that I do agree with a lot of what he says, but not all of it. The other reason is I want to see how he treat Obama. I just wish I had my own computer so I could go on line after and watch the extra stuff, sorry I can't remember what it is called, I'm still I little messed up. I tried this stuff Called Joose and it is pretty strong like 9.9% alcohol by volume as opposed by weight not sure what the differance is there. I also would like to see a movie on Saturday so maybe it might all become one post who knows. Yes I do like Bill's comedy and I think that is good. I do agree with some of his stuff but not all of it, so tonight could be interesting.

Well there where supposed to be pictures with this post but I'm having an issue with getting them onto the computer so hopefully maybe this post might get an update, we shall see. On Saturday I bought my self some food for the house I really needed it. One thing I bought was a Michael Phelps box of Corn Flakes. For those of you who may not know Kellogg's dropped him from his deal. They claim they didn't resign him, I call "Bullshit" it is because they don't want a weed smoker associated with there brand. That is funny for some reason I think a lot of people who smoke up eat their products. There have been some people who because of this decision are now boycotting Kellogg's . I'm sure a web search would pull up lots of stuff.

So then later on for Valentines day I went to the Bandits game. It was such a great game. Buffalo beat Toronto by 15 goals. Buffalo out shot Toronto, and played better in goal. Oh yeah it was a hard hitting game with lots of fights. If memory serves there was one that was kinda a draw and then Buffalo won the fights. They play again on Friday in Toronto that could be an interesting game. The Bandits now Have a 3rd Jersey and I thought it looks pretty cool, and since it went on sale I bought one. Yes there are better ways I admit to spending money, but I wanted to treat myself to something nice. So I had two great Valentines days in a row. Then last Night I got the WWE Pay Perview that was pretty good and a lot of fun to watch. Today for presidents day I got to work, hey the money will be nice.

So this morning about 5am I leave the house to go to work. The rain is pouring down with a nice wind so I get pretty soaked, mainly the outside of me. So then I get down town and it was pretty interesting the street is soaked and the wind blows one way and then another way and it was pretty nasty out. But as I look closer what appears to be rain is blown inside the bus shelter and it is really snow but on the ground it looks like rain. By the time I get out to work everything has changed, you have this heavy wet snow that is sticking to everything and this wind that moves you a bit. So on my walk to work I kind pick up my feet in little like gliding steps and let the wind kinda push me it was a cool feeling and kinda different. So I get home today and you can't really even tell that it ever snowed at all, very weird day.

A lot of people have been writing about the flight that crashed and it is all over the news. But I think that what I read about today in the news is pretty interesting about The AUD. I admit that I think it is to bad that over all these years no one could find a good use for the AUD, it really is to bad. It is to bad that is has to come down. It is to bad that the only seats that got sold where the blue seats. I know the other ones where to messed up. I think it is sad. Yes I like the New Arena but if I could it would be great to change them. Of course you can't do that. The article I read has a website where you can watch the AUD being torn down. That brings me to a question. Why when you tear something down it is called raze and when you build something like when you raise a house (think a barn or habitat for humanity where you see people lift an entire wall ) and they are both said the same way? I haven't checked out the website yet but it sounds like it is pretty good.

Updated: 02/13/09 07:43 AM
Aud rubbernecking just got a lot easier
Camera lets public watch razing on Net
By Sharon Linstedt
NEWS BUSINESS REPORTER


A live, bird's-eye view of the demolition of Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium is now just a mouse click away.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has launched "Harbor Cam," a video camera mounted on the top floor of the HSBC Center that looks down on the Aud and the Buffalo waterfront.

"It's a really cool way to let people see what's going on down there," said Jordan A. Levy, chairman of the harbor development agency. "Seeing is believing, and we're making progress."

Images from the camera can be viewed, starting today, at www.eriecanalharbor.com . The camera, located outside Levy's office window on the 38th floor of Buffalo's tallest building, can be zoomed in on the Aud or refocused to take in the entire Erie Canal Harbor neighborhood. Users will be able to pan across the waterfront area from the Cobblestone District to the east over to the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park to

the west.

That viewable swath of the downtown waterfront includes the 20-acre site that will be redeveloped as the $325 million Canal Side project. Demolition of the Aud is the first critical step in that effort, clearing the way for construction of a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store, Great Lakes Museum and public green.

"This camera will let the entire community witness what's going on at Canal Side. They'll be able to follow the project all the way through from demolition through construction," Levy said.

While today marks the first day of live Harbor Cam viewing, the camera has been in place and capturing Aud demolition action since late January. The harbor agency's Web site includes a feature that allows visitors to watch time-lapse shots chronicling the arena's exterior demolition.

The views are compiled in five-minute intervals and can be printed from the site. The time-stamped shots are accompanied by weather data.

As of Thursday, crews from West Seneca-based DEMCO Inc. had opened up a section of the north wall and roof where the main entrance lobby once stood. The selective razing is aimed at creating enough room to drive cranes, bulldozers and other heavy equipment inside the building.

The machinery will then be positioned on the basement level of the arena, with crane booms lifted up to begin removing the Aud's entire roof.

"They'll be taking down 21 trusses and pulling the whole roof down. That's going to be fun to watch," Levy said.

Once the roof is gone, DEMCO will drop the outside walls. In the next 90 days, the 69-year-old landmark will vanish.

Construction of the Bass Pro store and other developments on the Aud block are to start before year's end, pending the outcome of an environmental impact and design review.

Conversion of the adjacent Donovan State Office Building to a mixed-use complex with a totally new exterior is on a similar timetable.

slinstedt@buffnews.com

I just wanted to add that I hope everyone has a great Friday the 13th and watches some scary movies or something. I also hope Valentines isn't to bad for anyone. I Know I'll be at the Bandits game and I have to buy food for my place. I doubt I will do anything after the game. Some might ask how this relates to the story. Well I'm hoping that I Will be able to take some pictures of the AUD before I go to the game but we shall see what happens.

Some of you I'm sure all ready read this in the news or maybe even on face book. But I thought I would post it here since on one else has yet . I think it is an interesting article about the Elmwood strip and how they want to make laws about building there. Oh yeah and (e:drew) is "ed .

02/11/09 06:51 AM
Proponents push design standards for projects in Elmwood Village
By Brian Meyer
NEWS STAFF REPORTER


A plan that would impose strict new design standards on projects in the Elmwood Village was presented to Common Council members Tuesday, capping off a decade long effort by neighborhood advocates.

Speakers at a public hearing in City Hall said the effort aimed to prevent the type of "suburban-style" development that has occurred in some other areas, including the Delaware- Hertel corridor. The distinctive Elmwood Strip should never take on the aura of a Union Road, they argued.

If approved by city officials, new projects along Elmwood would have to be built close to sidewalks. Buildings couldn't have parking lots in front of their facades. The design standards also would favor mixed-use projects that would include upper-floor residences over businesses.

Before structures could be demolished, property owners would have to submit reuse plans for the parcels. The plan also would impose strong community- notification requirements, including signs on properties to alert people to development plans.

The proposed design standards were crafted with suggestions from 300 residents and business owners, said Justin Azzarella, executive director of the Elmwood Village Association.

Daniel Sack, an Elmwood Village resident who sits on the association's design committee, denied that the new rules could hinder economic development. He also highlighted figures showing that carefully planned projects along a business strip like Elmwood have greater economic value per acre than big-box developments or buildings with sprawling parking lots.

"It's not simply about aesthetics," he said. "It's about the . . . economic value of the land."

The Rev. Drew Ludwig of Lafayette Presbyterian Church urged city officials to adopt the new regulations. "These design standards will keep the Elmwood Village as the fantastic neighborhood that it already is," he said.

Every speaker at Tuesday's hearing voiced support for the new regulations. Some noted that in 2007, the Elmwood Village was christened one of the "10 great neighborhoods in America" by the American Planning Association.

Others underscored the importance of making sure that development on Elmwood takes into account pedestrians and bicyclists.

"This is a community [that ] likes to walk and likes to enjoy the vitality of the street," said Karl Frizlen, an architect and a member of the association's design panel.

Mayor Byron W. Brown recently announced plans for a citywide update of what some have branded antiquated zoning codes. But advocates urged Council members to approve the new standards for Elmwood, saying that waiting one or two years for a citywide revamping of codes makes no sense.

North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr., who represents part of the Elmwood Strip, predicted lawmakers will approve the plan, noting that the design standards have been thoroughly debated since the late 1990s.

"I'm embarrassed to say it has taken this long," he said.

Most of the commercial activity on what is considered the Elmwood Strip stretches from North Street to Forest Avenue.

bmeyer@buffnews.com