Where is Your Fitzpatrick now?

House Intel Chair suspends staff member - Yahoo! News

Partnership objects to passport card - Business First of Buffalo:

The Partnership misses the big picture. This shouldn't surprise anyone, but it really points out this areas desperate need for enlightened business leadership. Our elected leaders couldn't get much worse, but these guys aren't much better.

Anderson Cooper

This guy is shameless. My favorite part is where he describes their attempt to bring "the unvarnished truth". Give me a break. These soldiers are dying, protecting their right to abuse their freedom. Shameless...

Shhhh...

The economy is rocking, but don't tell anyone.

Priest tells of Foley relationship

You know, I think I can see how Foley "might perceive this as sexually inappropriate" but I wouldn't want to judge.

More Hypocrisy

Let's see if the same forces who pushed tom Delay out will be equally engaged in seeking Harry Reid's ouster.

Reynolds Haters are Getting Giddy!

Here’s an idea: Let’s lay out the rules for this point forward, and let’s hold everyone to that standard. Let's call out those who have been given a pass up until now.
A) When there are rumors that someone is sending homoerotic emails to an underling, anyone who hears the rumors should___________.
B) When someone has sex with an underling while in office they should______?
C) When someone in congress has a gay prostituion ring running out of their house they should_________?
D) When a sitting congressman actually has sex with a page (not just emails, but actual man-boy sex, those sitting in congress who know about it should_______?

If you are willing to fill in the blanks and live by it in the future, and take a stand on the past, then by all means we should condemn Reynolds for “not doing more”.

New Record for the Stock Market!

It is getting tougher for people to deny the economic recovery...

Now HERE"s Something to Add to Your Resume!

Here is a group of proud women!!

Interesting Dichotomy

Perhpas nothing sums up the differences between the two major parties than this. Scour the web, and look for quotes about the Foley issue that decry the behavior of a grown man having sexually related discussions with a minor. Put those in one pile. Then look for quotes about a "cover up" - you know, the "what did they know, when did they know it?" stuff. The look at the political party to whom the quotes are attributed, and then decide which is the party of politics, and which is the party of issues.

Wow!

This will give me pause next time I am cutting the lawn in my shorts and dark socks!

Something for me to keep in Mind for When I Cut the Lawn in my Black Socks and Shorts!

Bloggers ogle at Google Earth's topless sunbathers | the Daily Mail

Will "unreliable" or " battery sucking" Be next?

Apple will go to war over 'pod'

October's Must SeeMovie!

With Jon Heder

A Reform Proposal

After yesterday's election, and the abysmally poor choices we were given I would like to make the following reform proposal:

Abolish the set salaries for our elected officials and replace them with a formula that would set their salaries at a level 10% higher than their last private sector W-2 form.

The current system, has given us politicians who are motivated by the money - the opportunity to earn a salary higher than they could ever earn anywhere else. People with talent find that the salaries are lower than what they can make in the real world, and noblesse oblige notwithstanding, they simply choose not to become involved in politics.

Let's look at our judges. I am not a lawyer, so I don't know who was on law Review etc. etc. but most of our judges are making more as judges than they were as attorneys. On the other hand, some of the people who I, as a pedestrian observer, would look to as the better legal minds in the community (Cambria, Condo, Vilardo, Dimitroff, Greene, Attea, Lippes, etc.) never throw their hats in the ring.

Our elected officials are the same. Think about all of our elected officials and ask yourself what was the last private sector job they had. Personally, I would rather have my taxes raised to pay $1,000,000 for someone like Bob Wilmers, Donna Fernandes, Carl Paladino, Don Boswell, Bill Greiner, Marsha Handerson, Danny Wegman or Tom Golisano, that pay for just about any of the people who "represent" me.

Before the election we would be informed what each of the candidates would "cost" us, and we could vote based on that knowledge. But why overpay for someone whose last real job was (fill in the blank with your favorite politician's background)when we could get them for pennies on the dollar based on this new system?

What do you think?

Primary Day

It is Primary day here in WNY.

If I could vote in every race:

Senate (D) Clinton (See, there is a scenario where I could vote for her)
(R) Spencer

State Senate 59 (R) Roberto (Is there ANY incumbent who deserves re-election?)
60 (D)Write in for ANYONE...I can't remember a time when there were three choices that are so poor.

Assembly 138 (D) Tough to say, but given the fact that DelMonte is an incumbent . . . not her...

City Court (D) Kuniniec

Astronauts Lose Bolt During Spacewalk

As a guy who spent plenty of time this weekend looking in my lawn for a bolt for the trampolineI imagine thus must be even more frustrating...k

Bird's Eye View of Harbor

I had the opportunity to ride on the HM Cotter and it was extremely educational. The Cotter is an amazing piece of firefighting equipment.

Seeing the remnants of Buffalo's thriving economy were awe inspiring.

But perhaps nothing summed up the neighborhood better than this.

The Buck Stops Here

Although I am not cheering for it I can't imagine this story ending with Ralph walking upright out of the woods.

Trust Funds set for Two Troopers

Please consider supporting a trust fund for the surviving wife and child of Joseph Longobardo.

Lockport Locks and Cave

Took a tour of the Lockport locks and underground cave.  Sometimes it can be a little depressing to live life in the past lane. The tour of the cave was fun. They do some haunted cave tours in October.  For more information, click here.

Memories of Leslie Nielsen

A CNN reporter does her best Naked Gun impersonation.

Higgins Speaks out on International Affairs

Brian Higgins whose previous experience in International Affairs was a combination of trips to the International house of Pancakes and once for Chinese food in Fort Erie, has spent a couple of days in Africa and the Middle East, and has an approach that will solve the problems there. Thank God. He has done so much for the City of Buffalo, and the State of New York. With his track record, put him in charge of Iraq, and people will be moving out in numbers similar to what he did for us here.

Eliot Camera Shy?

I have never seen camera within a mile of Spitzer that he hasn't run toward, but all of a sudden he is sending his "Spokesperson" (Compare the number of quotes attributed to her in 2005 and compare to his - like he needs a spokespserson) to talk about his defense of the State putting it to WNY commuters. I get "attorney client privelege", etc , but what is his stance as a candidate?

Eating Bugs will seem like nothing after this!

CNN.com - 'Survivor' sent to Oklahoma prison - Jul 24, 2006

Paul Tokasz sticks it to the area one last time!!

In typical fashion, Tokasz works the system so that there is no opportunity for anyone but the handpicked party hacks to succeed him. IS THERE NO LIMIT TO THE CONTEMPT THIS GUY MUST HAVE FOR THE VOTERS?

You have new Picture Mail!

And the...

And Then...

Written in Soap? on the Windshield and on the Passenger Window: Don't Forget to Turn off Lights!.

More than once has this thinker had to have her car jumped because of a dead battery...

Here's another Great one!

OK - This one says "I Think, Therefore I'm Liberal"...

Population losses are widespread across WNY - Business First of Buffalo:

This is not encouraging...

Let's See How The Story Plays out

Yesterday, the story was This race has been seen as a referendum on both the Republican Congress and a Republican president whose popularity has been sinking, reports CBS News correspondent Jerry Bowen. Now that the election is over let's see if the report who won the referendum. Don't hold your breath.

Schumer & Clinton Stand Up For Identity Theft

Wile this legislation is part of the immigration debate it is also worded so that someone could collect Social Security by commiting identity theft. Even if they reworked the law to take identity theft out of it, how could anyone vote to table a bill like this?

Ronald Reagan on Immigration

This article is interesting. My take on this issue is that we should do the following in order:
1 - Secure our borders. Frankly I am less concerned about Schictel's migrants or the Irish bartenders but if they can get in, so can Al Quaida
2) Stop the laws that coddle lawbreakers. I believe we should provide free medical care for any illegals who are here and who need it, but all other benefits should be revoked. Send all of them home to their countries of origin.
3) Increase the number of H1-B visas granted - maybe double the number.
4) The immigrants (like my ancestors) who helped build this country had to work hard, and they had to assimilate to the American culture. Utility companies did not offer their instructions in any language other than English. We should do the same now.

BTW - the Canadian Border is just as porous as the Mexican border.

A Nice Story

We don't often get these kinds of stories from the downstream media.This story about a Mayor from Iraq is pretty moving.

Paging Milton Friedman

Whaddaya know - taxes were cut and yet tax revenues are up. Who'da thunk it? Tough news for the downstream media to incorporate into their zero-sum worldview, I am sure.

What is the president Thinking?

Here is, in my opinion, the biggest reason for the President's slip in the polls.

Steadfast

I thank God we have a President who is unmoved by polls. I disagree with him on some key issues, but I have a hard time reconciling this with this.

Lancaster schools get the most bang for the buck - Business First of Buffalo:

This research by Business First demonstrates that there is no simple cause-effect relationship between per pupil expenditures and results. It would be great if they included the Private Schools in these comparisons.

Leaks

Is it just me, or are there more leaks out of the Prosecutor's office than there were in the underlying case?

I always cry at weddings . . .

This story doesn't say whether Vice President Cheney was sitting on the Bride or Groom's side...

More Good Economic News

The legacy media have such a hard time reporting about the economic expansion.

Insulting?

I am not African-American, but if I were, I think I would be pretty insulted that a group of seemingly intelligent people are debating whether it is possible that African Americans would ever vote for the best candidate in a general election.

Nothing Beats Hypocrisy!

An interesting Combination of Bumper Stickers.
BTW, of course there was an Impeach Bush sticker as well...
So you can see it is the same car...


Obviously an animal lover...


Babies . . . not so much...

Good Riddance

I am not a big Tom Delay fan, but the ad hominem attacks from these wackos make me want to rethink my position. Their compilation seems to be made at least partially out of whole cloth. They quote each other, but then make it seem as if the quotes came from Delay when they did not (at least some). Most moving, perhaps, is the show of tolerance from one of the commenters:

"been smoking since age 6"
Posted by: rollo on Apr 4, 2006 4:17 PM [Report this comment]

The good news is, this greedy turd will die of cancer. K Street can't lobby the big C. You can't pray it away, and all your rich friends can't help you. He will be all alone with his God. Hope it works out, Hot Tub.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]

Nice...

Colorado Schools

OK - let me get this straight - Black Trenchoats are perfectly acceptable in Colorado Schools, but we need to ban flags "for student safety"?

Business First of Buffalo: NY 2nd in public school spending - 2006-04-03

If only NY were second in achievement! Bookmark this article for every time Phil Rumore or the Superintendant or anyone else says that the answer to pur problems is more money. Meanwhile, Catholic Schools with test scores way above their public school counterparts are closing because the death grip the unions have on state legislators. It is criminal . . .

What are they drinking in Hollywood?

Sharon Stone's dismal sequel is being blamed on Bush, McCarthy et. al. Could it be that people want better movies? How many weeks after the nonstop Brokeback chatter, and now the poor Box office numbers for an almost parody movie is beacause the country is Puritanical? Please.

Buffalo News - UB shifting back to unionized custodians

This is an interesting story. Some well - meaning (although a bit naive) students, and a mix of a combination of equally well- meaning faculty as well as some garden variety kooks (forget about spring ahead - their clocks are set to 1969)at alma mater have effected change. While the well meaning ones wanted to support the cleaning staff at UB (some very nice people, BTW) their actions will probably put those same cleaners on unemployment. While the result of this decision is that UB will now employ union custodians, the reality is that the people in those jobs currently have no guarantee of getting those jobs. With friends like those . . .

Personal Responsibility

Here is another perfect example of the mind of the Democrats. In this case, a Congresswoman was mistreated "because she is black". It apparently had nothing to do with the fact that she avoided the metal detectors wearing no identification that she is a member of Congress, failed to stop after being called three times. She also apparently punched the officer as a "natural reaction".

Please . . .

Anyone wonder why the new York Times' Readership is Falling?

The New York Times seems to think that it is a recent development for CNN personnel to show their bias on an issue. Does the name Eason Jordan ring a bell?

You Have got to love this guy!

I am not sure anyone gives the downstream press agita like Antonin Scalia!

Luckily Sharon Stone didn't have any quarters . . .

They say you can't turn your head from your kids for five seconds and this story would seem to back that up. It would seem like it would take a little time for this boy to crawl up the toy chute, I won't comment on the parents as i have had some nighmarish experiences at Chuck E Cheese myself.

Be Careful Where You Shop

If you are at the mall with your daughter and you see Sharon Stone - my advice - walk the other way.

Charlie Sheen

After a while, you wonder why the press even cover these people whose only known expertise is an ability to effectively pretend (Lie is to harsh a word) so that we can believe for two hours (or 30 minutes) that they are someone else.

No Link

So much for the conventional wisdom that there was no link b/t Saddam and Osama...

Hey, when he's wrong I'll admit that too....

Port Disaster.

There WAS Election Fraud After All

Although I doubt Frank Clarkwould have had the guts to prosecute, but more than a year after the fact, there will be convictions of election fraud and tampering from the 2004 elections.

I know he's not terribly bright but . . .

Wouldn't you think someone would whisper to
Ted Kennedy that he might want to name his dog something other than "Splash"?

Sad Day for the Old Grey Lady

The New York Times sunk to a new low, even for "Mainstream Media". One of their reporters got front page placement for a story in which he quotes CIA officals, (breaking national security laws) saying that the President acted within the law. And the Times conveniently fails to poitn out - oh yeh, the reporter has a book deal. Whatever shred of credibility they had is gone for good.

NPR

I was interviewed for a piece on NPR this morning.

The CIA IS Like a Sieve

I hope there is a prosecutor that will go after the CIA leakers. This is getting ridiculous.

Good News for the Region

While this puts our job growth at 1/2 of the state's rate of growth, the fact that private employers added more jobs in Buffalo has got to be seen as good news, particularly since it happened concurrently with a reduction in public sector jobs.

Kruly Update

Yes - he was tried by an administrative law judge, and was removed from his position.

This is our solution?

Maybe my memory is foggy, but didn't Ken Kruly resign in the midst of a scandal to avoid prosecution?

Snowden For Senate

Bob McCarthy reports that Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno is encouraging ick Snowden to run for the soon to be vacant Byron Brown seat.

There are few details, however I hear the evidence is the large number of dollar bills with Bruno's fingerprints found in Snowden's garter...

An Imperial Presidency ?

Fareed Zakaria shows that he is not much of a student of history. While characterizing the Bush Presidency as "Imperial" he shows little historical perspective. He compares Bush to Clinton, and seems to begrudgingly admit that Clinton too, traveled with a large entourage. Citing "conventional wisdom" he clais that Bush does not genuineky communicate with people, but that Clinton did. Not much reporting there.

There are few world leaders that have the stature of President Bush. Should he be admonished for not having heart to heart talks with Chirac? Hardly.

He is a forceful presence who seems to have deveoped strong ties with Fox, Blair, Howard and Berlusconi. He appears to have a strong record of communicating with Putin, Zedong and Sung.

Bush's style, if I had to characterize it is less PR person and more CEO. He is a "get down to business" type of guy who does not appear to relish the limelight or the soireees.

Imperial? Not the word I would choose.

A Step Too FAr

I don't have any interest in or opposition to casinos, eminent domain should not be used to take these people's homes.

The Importance of Filling out those Change of Address cards

nbc4.com - News - Report: Alleged White House Jumper Wanted Chelsea Clinton

A Bigger Boondoggle

This news is greeted like it is great for the community when once again, the home and business owners in the community are being bent over for another government boondoggle. This money, if it was returned to the ratepayers in the form of reasonably priced power would have a much greater multiplier for the economy. It shows how little we have grogressed from the days of Lauren belfer's book City of Light - where a small number of people with dull intellects controlled the course of the city.

Can Someone Explain This?

As I went into Lord & Taylor, I had to wonder how many of these things will sell. Then again, I have always been surprised that someone would open a women's clothing store called "Dress Barn". But really - what woman wants to wear anything that brings to mind cows?

Tell Cindy Her 15 Minutes are up.

Regardless of what the MSM want.

Know The Enemy

Let me know if you hear Sean Penn, Madonna, Gallagher, Carrot Top Charlie Sheen , Ted Kennedy or any other liberal speak out against how the terrorists behave.

Do They Sell Tinfoil hats in Utah?

This guy thinks the Towers were "blowed up" on 9/11.

Reap What You Sow

Well, the results are in and the "taxpayer revolt" claimed the careers of most of the legislature. Now we have a Dem (registered as GOP) as CE, another as Comptroller and 12-3 Dem edge in the legislature. We have a Dem Mayor, Comptroller and 9 Dem Councilmembers (0 GOP).

If things get better, I will switch to Dem.

If things get worse, I sure hope the voters in this area will wake up.

Fernanades II

Sadly for them, our gain is Fresno's loss.

My Book broke B&N's top 200,000 again!

Barnes�&�Noble.com - Job Search Handbook for People with Disablilities - Daniel J. Ryan - Paperback Damned Harry Potter for boxing me out for so long!! ;-)

Stone Tablets from "La Nez"

Barbra Streisand Thanks Babs. I am glad you are keeping yourself busy with efforts other than paining us with another one of you cimatic masterpieces! How is Dr. Welby's assistant, by the way?

The Best News to Hit Buffalo In a Long, Long Time

Donna Fernades has decided to return to Buffalo and the Zoo. She has been the one bright star in our firmanenet since she arrive 5 years ago. She took over a zoo with a board that thought it would be a good idea to gut a cultural mecca by taking the zoo and moving it to reclaimed toxic land along the Buffalo River, and she brought them along to see a vision of an improved zoo in its historic location.

I have never seen a person who has more people claiming to be the President of her fan club (including my bride). Countless people have spoken of her and included, almost as a throwaway line, "if only we could get her to run for x". He rbrand of collaboration, leadership and stewardship should be a model for the community.

Welcome back Donna!!

Disappointment

Byron Brown won in a landslide yesterday, and to me it is just another in a long line of missed opportunities for this city. It was a missed opportunity for Republicans to have a solid candidate who for some reason was kept in a bottle for four months focused on winning the Conservative primary because of some 20th century mentality that this would "give Democrats some place to vote for him". The truth is that line cost him the election (opportunity cost). By focusing on that they missed the chance to introduce him to voters as a real choice for change. Instead, they passed, and Brown was able to successfully introduce him as one of the Giambra crowd. The Conservative line netted him fewer votes than Einach or Flynn got. Thank God for the control Board.

Chamber of the Tonawandas

Well you never know where true leadership will come from. The Chamber of the Tonawandas has stepped up and asked for the obvious - that the state relicensing result in cheaper electricity rates for the region. It has always been a joke that we have a neighbor producing some of the highest number of killowat hours, and yet we have the second highest electricity rates in the country.
Where can I sign up for an amicus brief? Bravo Tonawanda! It is great to see real business leadership in this community.

Felons in Buffalo

Not to be outdone by Iowathere are those in Buffalo who would like to see felons be able to vote while still on parole. Any party that gets on board (self serving as they all are) clearly thinks that the felons will most likely be voting for their candidates. Isn't that a bit telling?

Separated at Birth? Nice Pants Brian!

Power Play Scam

The power authroity is taking tens of millions of doallars in profits fromn this area. Instead of patronage and pork boondoggles the money should be distributed to residents and business owners in the form of lower rates. Period.

If You Can't get regular Americans to vote for your candidates....

The left would like to stand up for all of the poor murderers, rapists, arsonists and embezzlers so that they can help us choose our elected leaders. Please . . .

Putting the Lie to the "Big Lie"

Wall Street Journal takes on the Dems for their tinfoil hat view about "lies" prior to the war with Iraq.

Will Chirac See the Light?

All of France's involvement in the graft and corruption of the Oil-For - Food programdidn't seem to prepare Chirac for the post 9-11 world.

Is the Wind out of Their Sails?

It is interesting to see that the confirmation of Judge Alito is almost two weeks away, and yet some of the MSM libs like Eleanor Clift are already backing off the Alito battle. Clift, while echoing the standard "Bush Lied" BS is trying to keep her powder dry given the awaited retirement of John Paul Stevens.

She is right on some of her points, but I don't think she or her ilk are going to have any more luck when the Stevens vacancy occurs, perhaps as soon as this summer.

The President now be at a low point in terms of his popularity, but that has much more to do with the drumbeat in the MSM about Iraq as well as non-stories like Libby, oil profits, etc. He is still spot-on when it comes to issues relating to SCOTUS vacancies.

The Kevin Helfer Podcast

Download the Kevin Helfer podcast and decide for yourself. This man should be the next Mayor of Buffalo. Thanks Buffalo Rosing!

Control Board Whiffs

The control board missed the chance to cause change last night. It is hard to believe that people aren't rising up against the sham of the legislature ducking their responsibility until after the election.

Stop the Budget Ammendment!

Five The Business Council of New York State is taking a lead role in trying to beat back the "runaway spending ammendment" that the legislature would like to pass. How fortunate I am to live in the most dysfunctional city in the most dysfunctional county in the most dysfunctional state in the country!

It All Depends on Whose Ox...

This Maryland race show that the race card can only be played by the "right people". I am sure it would have been different if instead of calling him an "Uncle Tom" they had said that he "runs with the wrong crowd".

Shameful Legislators

Now the majority weasels in the legislature want to hold off on making any decisions until after election day. Go to the WBEN poll to show your displeasure.

Another County Scandal?

I don't know who Rus Thompson is, but it sounds like he has some new details about the County computer rumors. Here is an email I received through SPeakup:

Rus Thompson "write-in" candidate for the Erie County Legislature in the 10th district, will be holding a Press Conference on Wednesday Nov 2, 05 at 10 AM in front of the County Hall. Rus is co-founder of Primary Challenge, Free Buffalo and has had an intregal part in the Tax revolt.



The subject will be a multi million dollar scandal in County Government.

Details will be forth coming and a detailed list will be handed out at that time.

My friend and inside source Mike will be there to answer questions from the press.



This will ROCK county hall, Joel, kaiser, iannelo and the computer department at CPS. Like I said before, this story involves millions of dollars of taxpayer money.



Please be there if you can, we will need support and people holding signs and handing out flyers.



Thank you and I am looking forward to seeing you there.



Rus Thompson

Grade 8 Math

And finally the numbers for eighth grade math

Grade 8 Math Proficiency (%)

St Mark 89
St Agnes 89
St Martin 88
Nardin 83
St Joseph 83
St Stan 83
Mt St Joes 82
St Ambrose 67
St Bernard 67
Westminster 64.2
St Rose 58
St Tommy 56
Our Lady Black Rock 56
S Buffalo 55.1
Catholic Academy 50
Applied Tech 39.8
Holy Spirit 29
Stepping 25
Buffalo Public 24.3
Acad Science 14.8
Enterprise 8.3
Catholic Central 0

Too many people are out to protect an antiquated system of education instead of protecting our children. If parents had a choice to send their children wherever they wanted, and money was not an issue, clearly the market would dictate that instead of schools like Holy Spirit and the Mount closing, it would be schools that are failing.

Thank God for concerned parents like Steve Boyd who, along with other parents and concerned citezens helped save Mount St. Joes. (Disclaimer - Steve is a close friend, but his record in this matter speaks for itself, I think).

Grade 8 English

Eight Grade English


Grade 8 English Proficiency(%)

St Mark 93
St Martin 85
Nardin 74
St Joseph 74
St Rose 69
St Stan 67
Catholic Academy 63
St Bernard 62
St Tommy 62
St Ambrose 60
Mt St Joes 59
St Agnes 53
Our Lady Black Rock 53
Westminster 51
St MARGARET 46
S Buffalo 42.9
Holy Spirit 29
Applied Tech 27.3
Buffalo Public 26.1
Stepping 20
Enterprise 16.3
Catholic Central 14
acad science 13.6

Grade 4 Math

Here are the numbers for fourth grade math.

Fourth Grade Math Proficiency
Tapestry 100
Nardin 100
Catholic Central 100
Mt St Joes 93
St Joseph 92
St Tommy 91
S Buffalo 89.8
Westminster 89.4
St Rose 89
King ctr 88.2
St Ambrose 88
St Agnes 88
Catholic Academy 88
St MARGARET 88
Applied Tech 84.3
Our Lady Black Rock 83
St Mark 79
Bflo United 74
Enterprise 73.9
St Martin 69
St Stan 67
Holy Spirit 67
Buffalo Public 66.5
St Bernard 65
Pinnacle 58.4
Community 56.9
Stepping 34

More on The Schools

Yesterday's Buffalo News ran a front page story on how the Charter Schools are outperforming their Public School counterparts. I commented that it would be interesting to see such an analysis that included Buffalo Parochial Schools. Rather than lament its absence, I have created it.

I have no idea how this formatting will come out.

Grade 4 English Percent Proficiency
Nardin 96
St Rose 89
Tapestry 83.3
Our Lady Black Rock 78
Holy Spirit 77
St Mark 73
Catholic Academy 73
St Joseph 71
St Tommy 69
Bflo United 68
St Ambrose 68
Mt St Joes 67
St Stan 67
St Agnes 65
Catholic Central 65
S Buffalo 59.5
King ctr 58.8
Applied Tech 56.3
St Bernard 56
Westminster 52.7
St Martin 49
Buffalo Public 39.2
St Margaret 38
Enterprise 36.9
Community 32.5
Stepping 20.4
Pinnacle 18.4

Keep in mind that the Parochial School numbers are older as they came from the Business First rankings published earlier this year.

That is just Grade 4 English. It is sad to note however, that two schools - Holy Spirit and Mt. St. Joes were slated to close (Holy Spirit did) and yet they significantly outperformed the public and many of the charter schools.

Rebate Checks on The Way?

The spike in gas prices may have helped drive NY to a $1B surplus. I am sure we will be getting income tax rebates any day now . . . Don't count on it. I am sure they will hold on to this cash rather than decreasing gas taxes or any other form of subsidy to the gov't.

Bush Selects Alito

It appears that President Bush will announce his nomination of Samuel Alito later this morning.He appears to be a very strong pick. I suspect that he will cause the kind of debate that the President was trying to avoid with the Miers nomination. Personally, I look forward to it.

Buffalo News - Charters outperform Buffalo city schools

This is a good story by Peter Simon, but I am not sure how it warranted such a large banner headline. Is this news to anyone? Even more interesting would be for the city of Buffalo Catholic Schools to be in the mix.