It's Friday...

...and I don't really have any news today, so I am giving you this.





Have a good weekend, everyone.

Smile for the Camera!

A reminder to the Spotted photographers...when you go to events, you are still expected to pursue "Smile for the Camera" photos, you are expected to attempt to adhere to the 60-40 rule, and you are expected to take 50+ total photos.

I know that these are not a hard-and-fast rules, and different events have different circumstances, but some of our recent galleries are getting away from these guidelines...and when a couple people start to slip, the entire group sometimes slides along with them. Let's tighten up!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly, or share them in the comments area here at the blog.

Editing admin functions on Spotted

Buffalo.com photo by Marc Wierzbowski.

There have been some questions in the last couple weeks about how to use some of the admin functions on We Spotted galleries once the photos have been posted. It is indeed kind of a counter-intuitive pain in the neck to figure out, so I thought I would post instructions here as a reference anytime you get stuck.

To add tags, rename a gallery, add/edit a description, add/edit categories, or reorder your photos:

• Go to the We Spotted home page. Make sure you are logged in!
  
  
• Check the sub-navigation area in red and click the Photographers link on the right-hand side. This should open a page that shows an alphabetical list from which you can view the various We Spotted photographers. Select the letter that corresponds with your FIRST name. When this page opens, click on your name.
  
  
• This will take you to your We Spotted profile. This is a different section from your My Spotted profile. You should see your most recent six We Spotted galleries (or all of your galleries, if you have posted less than six). At the bottom of these galleries is a link that reads "See All." Click this link.
  
  
• You are now redirected to a page where you will see thumbnail versions of all of your galleries. Beneath each thumbnail will be red commands for ADMIN, EDIT, and REORDER. Use EDIT to change add tags, rename a gallery, add/edit a description, or add/edit categories. The REORDER tool will allow you to move around the photos within your gallery.

If you have additional questions, just let me know!

Penguin photo contest!

Just got this from the Aquarium of Niagara...thought some of you might be interested...

Aquarium contest seeks amateur photos of penguins

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2009 – The Aquarium of Niagara is sponsoring its inaugural Amateur Photo Contest as part of the upcoming Penguin Days weekend. Area residents are invited to submit their original photographs of penguins, whether from the Aquarium of Niagara or other places.

The first place winner will have a chance to meet a penguin at the Aquarium. The second and third place winners will receive art created by the Aquarium’s penguins. The winning entries will be displayed during Penguin Days, the Aquarium’s annual celebration of penguins, which will be held March 28-29.

Each entrant may submit between one and five photographs, either in color or black and white, before March 20. Slides will not be accepted. All entries will be returned after April 30.

To receive the official rules and entry form, contact the events department at 285-3575, ext. 206, send an email to aquariumnf@aol.com, or stop in to the Aquarium at 701 Whirlpool St.

A local musician performs in the city

Buffalo.com photo by Danielle Crino.

Some of you folks have attended performances by Stacy Clark in the past...we've had a couple photo galleries featuring Stacy's shows around the area. She is a WNY native, and is carving out a relatively successful national music career.

Anyhow, she is performing at Mohawk Place on Sunday, if anyone would like to do a story or take some photos...let me know if you're interested.

Some tips for photo freelancers from ESPN

Buffalo.com photo by Scott Gorenflo.

Happened upon this article on ESPN.com. While it deals mostly with submitting freelance work to a particular BMX magazine, it includes hints that you may want to file away for your own personal use at a later date...just thought you photogs might be interested.

NFRCC Spring Convention info

Buffalo.com photo by Matt Brown.

Darleen Stry, a photographer in the Spotted program, is also a Niagara Frontier Regional Camera Clubs member, and she asked if I could post some info on that organization's upcoming conference...so here is a teaser:

The 2009 Convention will have something for everyone, from Michael Reichmann all day workshop for the Advanced about Printing, Raw And Fine Art Photography to Rick Sammons Workshop on learning Digital Photography Basic's from Camera to Elements and Photoshop Editing The 48th Annual Niagara Frontier Regional Camera Club Convention will be held March 20, 21, 22, 2009. at the Holiday Inn, Grand Island, NY...

...and for more info, you can click here.

Heads up, soccer enthusiasts...

Buffalo.com photo by Don Nieman.

...you might get a "kick" out of this event, ha ha. Let me know if you'd like to write a story or take some photos.

Buffalo City Football Club would like you to join us for an introductory press conference Thursday, February 26, at 3:15 p.m. in the alumni room in Bennett High School. This will be the first opportunity to meet our first signings: UB's Bob Shuttleworth (Nichols), Alexander Marrello (Canadian Under-20 National Team), Rich Wilson (Jamaican Under-20 National Team), and Penn State's Casey Derkacz (Hamburg). Attached is a media advisory with all the specific details.

CFC MEDIA ADVISORY
Buffalo City Football Club
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Frauenhofer, 716-860-3115, sfrauenhofer@buffalocityfc.com

NEWS CONFERENCE 3:15 P.M. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 BUFFALO CITY FOOTBALL CLUB FORMAL INTRODUCTION

• WHO
Mike Share, Head Coach/Technical Director
Scott Frauenhofer, Media Relations Director
Casey Derkacz, Penn State, Hamburg High School Graduate
Bob Shuttleworth, UB, Nichols Graduate
Alexander Marrello, UB, Canadian Under-20 National Team
Rich Wilson, UB, Jamaican Under-20 National Team

• WHAT
News conference announcing Buffalo City Football Club, new entrant into the National Premier Soccer League

• WHEN
3:15 p.m. Thursday, February 26, 2009

• WHERE
Bennett High School Alumni Room
2885 Main Street, Buffalo

Buffalo City Football Club is Buffalo's premier soccer organization. Combining a commitment to entertaining sport on the pitch with a standard of excellence within the community, BCFC is the pinnacle of achievement in professionally run amateur sport.

A couple more events

Dug these out of the ol' mailbag today...let me know if you are interested. I'll do the necessary contacting if you'd like to attend.

1.) 155th Civil War Ball
I would like to know if we could have a photogragher present at The Buffalo Irish Center on February 28 Saturday,for our annual 155th Civil War Ball?

Please contact me at 997-1150.

Thanks,

Mary Mahques
mcatherineq @ aol.com

2.) East Aurora's Largest Disco with The Village People
East Aurora Largest Disco 2 and Taste of East Aurora sold featuring THE VILLAGE PEOPLE - The RoyCroft, East End Grill, Pizza Plenty, Starbucks, Arriba Mexica Restaurants.

MARCH 7TH 7-11PM
LOCATION: EAST AURORA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

suto252 @ aol.com

Feb. 24 to March 1 events

Buffalo.com photo by Kathi Ross.

Tuesday

• “Nationally Ranked Night” at Buffalo State. The men’s hoops team plays NCAA Division III’s seventh-ranked SUNY Cortland, while the men’s hockey team plays USCHO.com’s #3-ranked SUNY Geneseo. Feel free to cover either game, or both. Both start at 7 PM at the Buffalo State Sports Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• 92.9 JACK-FM’s 2nd Annual 0K marathon. From the folks at JACK: “JACK FM’s Fat Tuesday Zero K Marathon to benefit The American Heart Association is quite frankly a marathon for lazy people and an excuse to get out of the house for Mardi Gras. No need to worry about hitting the wall, as the marathon will likely take no more than 40 seconds.” 8 PM, Jack Astor’s, Walden Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga.
• All sorts of Mardi Gras stuff. Pretty much anyplace you’d want to go in the city is having a Mardi Gras party. Check out www.artvoice.com for a full listing of events.

Wednesday

• Sabres Alumni Basketball: vs. Lew-Port Faculty. Our favorite Sabres of yore are back on the hardwood, and they’re taking on Lewiston-Porter’s faculty. 7 PM, Lew-Port High School, 4061 Creek Road, Youngstown.
• UB Women’s basketball: v. Bowling Green. 7 PM, Alumni Arena, UB North Campus, Amherst.
• Catholic High School Hockey playoffs. 7 PM: St. Joe’s v. Timon; 9 PM: Canisius v. St. Francis. Some serious rivalry action here. Both games at the Pepsi Center, Millersport Highway, Amherst.

Thursday

• Aaron Lewis of STAIND. The hard rocker performs live. 7 PM, Bear’s Den Showroom, Seneca Niagara Casino, Niagara Falls.
• UB men’s basketball: v. Akron. 7 PM, Alumni Arena, UB North Campus, Amherst.
• The Sam Roberts Band. Canadian rocker plays first of two-night stand in Buffalo. 7 PM, Town Ballroom, 68 Main St., Buffalo
• William Cepeda. World-renowned Afro-Caribbean jazz artist performs live. 7:30 PM, Niagara Falls High School, 4455 Porter Road, Niagara Falls.
• Greater Buffalo Youth orchestra Concert. “Side by Side” concert with Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra. Concert event is part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra. 7:30 PM, Kleinhans, 1 Symphony Circle, Buffalo.

Friday

• Buffalo Corporate Ski Challenge. Businesses around WNY hit the slopes to support the Children’s Growth Fund. 10 AM to 10 PM, Buffalo Ski Club, Sitzmarker Lodge, 7595 Lower East Hill Road, Colden.
• The 3rd Annual Art of Beer Festival. A beer and food tasting event with live music - the Niagara Arts and Community Center’s premier annual fund raising event. Live music by The Lakeside Blues Band and The Twigz. 6 PM, Niagara Arts and Community Center, 1201 Pine St., Niagara Falls.
• Red Cross: “A Vintage Affair.” A wine-and-hors d’oeuvres party to support the American Red Cross. Red Cross Mansion, 786 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.
• A Black Tie for Black History Extravaganza. Hosted by Marnetta Malcolm of 1400-AM “Solid Gold Soul,” a special event celebrating Black History Month at one of the city’s favorite upscale lounges. 7 PM, The Stillwater, 481 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.
• Mickey Kearns Fundraiser with JACKDAW. A local politician fills his war chest with the help of Western New York’s most exciting Celtic-rock band, Jackdaw. 7 PM, The Buffalo Irish Center, 245 Abbott Road, Buffalo.
• Niagara men’s basketball: v. Siena. This is a huge MAAC game with national postseason implications for both teams. 7 PM, Gallagher Center, Niagara University, Lewiston.
• “The Wake.” An annual fundraising party for the Irish Classical Theatre Company featuring live music and good times. 7 PM, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 453 Porter St., Buffalo.
• Lockport Exchange Charity Ring Circus. This is the 49th Edition of the Lockport Exchange Club Charity Ring Circus. It is a family event with many professional acts for children as well as a lot of clowns for entertainment. 7 PM, Kenan Arena, 433 Locust St., Lockport.
• Canisius men’s basketball: v. Marist. 7:30 PM, Koessler Athletic Center, Canisius College, Buffalo.
• The Glamour Girls Show. Local performers Amanda Nagurney and Melanie perform hits of the 80s and 90s with, in their words, “style, class, and a little bit of sass.” 8 PM, Pietro’s, 5841 Transit Road, East Amherst.
• Joe Bonamassa. A Blues/rock guitar genius, vocalist and songwriter, Bonamassa was voted the Best Blues Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine’s readers and brings a mix of heavy Blues, big rock and textured acoustic tracks. 8 PM, Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• Gaelic Storm Live. The only WNY appearance of this nationally renowned Celtic group that is sure to have you dancing away the night with their high spirited acoustic sounds. Or so I’ve heard. 8 PM, Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.
• Free Music Fridays at The Hard Rock Café: The Soul Providers. Local rockers take the stage for one of the Hard Rock Café’s popular Friday events. 8 PM, Hard Rock Café, 333 Prospect St., Niagara Falls.
• The Studio 54 Dance Band. It’s a party out in Blasdell. 10 PM, Club Paradise, 3950 McKinley Parkway, Blasdell.

Saturday

• Orchard Park Community Marketplace. The 27th Annual Orchard Park Community
Marketplace features over 70 businesses showcasing all they have to offer. 10 AM to 5 PM, Orchard Park High School, 4040 Baker Road, Orchard Park.
• Buffalo Home and Garden Show. Someday it will stop snowing and freezing and you’ll actually be able to work on your home and garden…10 AM to 9 PM, Buffalo Convention Center, Franklin St., Buffalo.
• National Girls and Women in Sports Day/UB women’s basketball: v. Akron. At noon, Ann Meyers Drysdale, nationally recognized athlete and wife of Don Drysdale, will speak at UB’s Center for the Arts, as will the Varsity Student-Athlete and Sport Club Student Athlete, as well as the UB Recognition Award recipient Sister Maria Pares, Coach and Administrator at Sacred Heart Academy and Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer. The UB women’s game begins at 2 PM in Alumni Arena.
• Canisius women’s basketball: v. Niagara. Another big rivalry game. 2 PM, Koessler Athletic Center, Canisius College, Buffalo.
• West Seneca Band Boosters 4th Annual Night Out. A special evening to help benefit the band music program at West Seneca schools. 5 PM to 11 PM, The Chicken Coop/VFW Post 8113, 299 Leydecker Road, West Seneca.
• Time of the Season with The BBC Band. A charitable concert to support the Riviera Theatre and other organizations struggling through the recession with music from a great local British Invasion cover band. 8 PM, Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.
• An Evening with Alec Baldwin. Road Less Traveled Productions presents a very special evening of theatre, as Alec Baldwin reads David Mamet’s Tony-nominated play Speed the Plow. 8 PM, Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.

Sunday

• Buffalo Home and Garden Show. Someday it will stop snowing and freezing and you’ll actually be able to work on your home and garden…10 AM to 6 PM, Buffalo Convention Center, Franklin St., Buffalo.
• Seneca Allegany Casino Bridal Show. The latest styles, and presumably lots of brides-to-be and their wedding posse. 11 AM to 7 PM, Seneca Allegany Casino, Salamanca.
• Spring Fashion Show. St. Gregory the Great HSA presents the Spring Fashion Show, “Surfs Up.” Noon, Brookfield Country Club, 5129 Shimerville Road, Clarence.
• 103.3 WEDG Cardboard Box Race. A box derby and party on the frozen slopes. Noon, Kissing Bridge, 10296 State Road, Glenwood.
• Polar Bear Day: Swim for Sight. A splash in ice-cold Lake Ontario to support the Olcott Lions Club – also an excuse to have a massive, village-wide party. Noon, Olcott Beach, Olcott.
• The Art of Jazz Series: Mulgrew Miller Trio. “Perhaps the leading pianist of his generation” (Boston Globe), Mulgrew Miller has showcased his dazzling eloquence and sophistication during lengthy tenures with legendary bandleaders such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, and Tony Williams. A pre-show talk will be held at 2 PM; the concert begins at 3 PM. Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.
• Niagara men’s basketball: v. Marist. 2 PM, Gallagher Center, Niagara University, Lewiston.
• Canisius men’s basketball: v. Siena. 2 PM, Koessler Athletic Center, Canisius College, Buffalo.
• Theatre in the Mist: Anything Goes. A production of the beloved Cole Porter musical. Closing performance, so it’s sure to be an emotional scene. 2 PM, Niagara Falls Performing Arts Center, Niagara Falls High School, 4455 Porter Road, Niagara Falls.
• Sweets and Treats Concert. Mount Saint Mary Academy concert band,jazz ensemble and string ensemble will be featured in concert at 7pm. During intermission there will be sweets and treats of all kind (hence the name). 7 PM, Mt. St. Mary Academy, 3756 Delaware Ave., Kenmore.

Writers: Join The Carnival

Buffalo.com photo by Darleen Stry.

...the blog carnival, that is. A local blogger is looking for blog carnival submissions on any and all topics...the only hitch is that they are due tomorrow.

What is a blog carnival, you ask? Click here and find out more.

PS. I found this on Twitter, so maybe you should use Twitter too!

(use Twitter)

That is all.

Thanks for all the volunteers!

Buffalo.com photo by Rick Penny.

I've lost track of how many people have volunteered, but thank you to all of the photographers who called/emailed about the Buffalo Bills photo op this morning. We were actually invited out there directly by the Bills, which is a great step in terms of relationship-building.

Jeff Poole was the first volunteer and he will be shooting the photos. Jeff does nice work, and I look forward to seeing his shots.

A new events list will be out later today...thanks again, everyone.

Bills event has been claimed

Just an FYI because I received a great amount of interest from the photographers: the Bills event has been claimed. Thank you to everyone who expressed their interest, I think five or six people have contacted me about it. It is greatly appreciated! Keep an eye out for similar events (I will, too) and Deanna and I will work to see that everyone gets a chance to be involved in this sort of thing.

Team-building (literally)

Buffalo.com photo by Don Nieman.

You all know (or know of) Deanna Russo, my fellow manager here at Buffalo.com. On Saturday, Aug. 15, Deanna's not-for-profit organization, Crusade Against Impaired Driving, will be holding its second annual one-pitch softball tournament.

A few of us put together a team last year...and I think we had 7 people show up (we were not very strong in terms of communication and organization). The tournament was a success, raising $3,000 to fight drunk driving, but our team got manhandled and was bounced out of the double-elimination event after two games.

This year, it would be nice to get a team put together well ahead of time...so if anyone is interested in playing, please let me know...it would be great to put together a Buffalo.com team of 12 or 13 people and to help support Deanna's cause (check out the Web site for the full story behind the organization).

I really don't care about winning or anything, but it would be a chance to have a little fun and for everyone to get to know each other better.

I was thinking about this a little bit, as well. We have occasional Buffalo.com events for the interns to get together - the recent tour, the holiday party, last year we had a mixer out at Ilio DiPaolo's...would you be interested in more stuff like that? It could be as structured as a Buffalo.com team in a bowling or softball league, or as simple as an email note for anyone who is interested to meet at a local watering hole to hang out. I am definitely open to suggestions on this topic, as well.

So if you're interested, or have any ideas...share your thoughts in the Comments section!

Out of the office today from 10:15 AM to 4 PM

Buffalo.com photo by Marc Wierzbowski.

Approximately, anyway. Deanna and I are giving classroom presentations at ECC South and will be away from our desks until roughly 4 PM. If you have an emergency, hit either of us by cell phone. Otherwise, we will get back to you ASAP.

Just wanted to make sure no one thought we were ignoring their email!

Disappointing to see...

Someone apparently took the time to go through and rate every Spotted video with one star. That's a little insulting...

Some people.

A couple interesting events for this week

Buffalo.com photo by Mary Mahoney.

Deanna is running the show in terms of events this week, so if you are interested, let her know...

• SUPER SUNDAY XXV TO TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 22 AT HSBC ARENA
  
  For the 25th year some of Western New York’s top high school hockey players will take the ice as the Super Sunday High School Hockey Championships returns to HSBC Arena this Sunday beginning at 9 a.m.
  
  Below is a schedule and times for Sunday’s championships (if you want to go at specific times or to specific games, that would be fine...just let us know):
  
  9 a.m. - WNY Mixed School: Dunkirk/Fredonia vs. City Honors
  11:10 a.m. - Southtowns Potter Division: Eden/Lakeshore vs. Cleve-Hill/JFK
  1:15 p.m. - Southtowns McAndrew Division: Iroquois/Alden vs. Canisius
  3:20 p.m. - Explorer League: Hutch Tech vs. McKinley
  5:20 p.m. - WNY Small Schools: Cheektowaga vs. Depew
  7:15 p.m. - WNY Large Schools: Grand Island vs. North Tonawanda
  
  
• The annual Super Sunday breakfast will be held Saturday, February 21 at the Hearthstone beginning at 9 a.m. Former Buffalo Sabres enforcer and current analyst for Buffalo Sabres home broadcasts on MSG, Rob Ray, will be the featured speaker.
  
  
• CAO Grand Opening of Martha Mitchell Community Center This Thursday at 10am
  
  Please join L. Nathan Hare, President and CEO of the Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. (CAO), Dawn E. Sanders, Executive Director of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA), and a host of community supporters for the official Grand Opening of our newest CAO Community Resource Center in Buffalo!
  
  This Thursday, February 19th at 10am, we invite you to take part in our ribbon-cutting and open house at the all new Martha Mitchell Community Center, Iocated at 175 Oakmont Avenue.
  
  Please mark this special day on your calendars and join the CAO family as we celebrate another great accomplishment for our growing agency.
  
  Meet staff and representatives from the CAO and BMHA and learn about the menu of programs and services now available at the Martha Mitchell Community Center!
  

Interning and tax liability

Buffalo.com photo by Matt and Angela Brown.

At yesterday's tour, Don Nieman asked a good question about the issue of tax liability and serving as an intern. Today, we received an official response from our legal department, and basically, this should not be an issue for the folks in the Buffalo.com internship program.

Before I go into the official explanation, let me explain the background for people who may not know what the heck I am referring to.

Last week, Lee Coppola, the Dean of Journalism at St. Bonaventure University gave an interview on WBFO-FM in which he discussed the possibility that citizen journalists who give their services to for-profit news organizations may be required to pay a "gift" tax on their work if they exceed a certain threshold - the threshold used in the interview is $12,000 annually. The interview, if you'd like to listen, is here.

The source of this line of thinking was a recent article at a Web site entitled stinkyjournalism.org. If you follow that link, you will go to the article in question.

First of all, if this were, in fact, the case, and the IRS was going to actively pursue citizen journalists - something that would seem to be very difficult, because determining the value of content and the work involved would be hard to pin down to a certain, universal standard - I do not feel that any of our contributors would be affected because, individually, there is no one who is doing $12,000 worth of work. This is not a statement on the quality of the work - there's just no one who puts in that many hours, takes that many photos, writes that many stories.

We posited this question to our legal team, though, and they noted that the work of an intern would only be a "gift" if the intern received nothing in return. Our interns, in fact, receive "something" in return - access to our platform, community recognition, etc. These are valuable commodities to many citizen journalists and photographers - exposure for work that would otherwise receive no similar publicity. As a result, it's a trade, not a gift.

And, of course, there are various freedom of speech issues involved, and it just seems like this would be an incredibly prickly path for the federal or state government to tread. I don't expect to see it.

I understand stinkyjournalism.org's concern about citizen journalism, journalistic standards, and free content in a time of recession, but I feel like this is a fringe argument that walks the line of fear-mongering.

Anyhow, I hope it didn't seem like I was skirting the question yesterday, as it is legitimately something to discuss, and I thank Don for raising the point. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Events list: 2-17 to 2-22

Wednesday:

UB Men’s Basketball vs. Bowling Green: 7pm, Alumni Arena

Thursday:

Creepshow at Mohawk Place: Canada’s own Rockabilly rockers The Creepshow come to Buffalo Thursday to the Mohawk Place. Also playing are The Inebriates, The Rabies and more. It’s an all-ages show. 7pm, 47 E. Mohawk Place, Buffalo

NU Theatre presents "Romeo and Juliet": When a classic play has been produced as often as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,it can be refreshing to reexamine it through a radically unexpected approach. 7-8pm, Niagara University’s Church, 415 Plain Street, Lewiston

Friday:

Relapse Records’ “Silent Night, Unholy Night” Holiday Bash: Featuring Misery Index, plus multiple CD release show for Avulsion, Victim of Sunday, and Unholy Sacrifice. 3pm, Club Diablo, 517 Washington Street, Buffalo

2nd Annual Mardi Gras Jam: The artists include the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a modern New Orleans brass band whose music is infused with everything from R&B to hip-hop to reggae, and Papa Grows Funk, who, though not from New Orleans might as well be, since they are a funky band that takes their styling directly from Mardi Gras tradition, 6pm, Town Ballroom

Buckin' Buffalo Happy Hour: Jickster hosts 97 Rock's Happy Hour party. 6pm-8pm at Darcy McGee's, 294 Franklin St. Buffalo

Todd Eberwine Band invades Hard Rock: 8:00 pm, Hard Rock Niagara Falls

Bacon Brothers: 8pm, Bear’s Den Showroom at Seneca Niagara Casino, 310 Fourth Street Niagara Falls, NY USA

NU Theatre presents "Romeo and Juliet": When a classic play has been produced as often as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,it can be refreshing to reexamine it through a radically unexpected approach. 7-8pm, Niagara University’s Church, 415 Plain Street, Lewiston

Gerry Temlin: A great favorite in the USA and Canada, this Pennsylvania based singer has enjoyed success all over the world. 8:30pm, Shannon Pub, 2250 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Guinness Toast: Irish band performs at…Buffalo Irish Center, Abbott Road, South Buffalo

Boys of Summer: 10pm, Club Paradise, McKinley Parkway, Blasdell

Saturday:

USASA Half Pipe Competition Half Pipe: Foxfire Half Pipe competition for all ages, 10am-2pm, Holiday Valley

Benefit for Lisa Pajak: Lisa has to have a double lung transplant at the Cleveland Clinic, 3-10pm, Sloan Firehall

NU Theatre presents "Romeo and Juliet": When a classic play has been produced as often as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,it can be refreshing to reexamine it through a radically unexpected approach. 7-8pm, Niagara University’s Church, 415 Plain Street, Lewiston

Gerry Temlin: A great favorite in the USA and Canada, this Pennsylvania based singer has enjoyed success all over the world. 8:30pm, Shannon Pub, 2250 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Blarney Bunch: Buffalo Irish Center, Abbott Road, South Buffalo


Studio 54: Disco songs, 10pm, Club Paradise, McKinley Parkway, Blasdell

Sunday:

USASA Half Pipe Competition Half Pipe: Foxfire Half Pipe competition for all ages, 10am-2pm, Holiday Valley


13th Annual Polar Bear 5K Run: Polar Bear 5KOlcott Volunteer Fire Company Hall (OVFC Hall), 11am, Lockport-Olcott Road, Olcott, NY

The 15th Annual Dr. Andy’s Day for Kids: The annual “Doc’s Day for Kids” is a yearly charity event started by Dr. Andrew M. Gage where doctors serve up suds to help babies born prematurely or with other health problems. The money earned goes to help fund the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sisters Hospital.12:00pm-12:00am, Buffalo Brew Pub, 6861 Main Street Williamsville

Canisius Women’s Basketball vs. Iona: 2pm, Gallagher Center, Canisius College

NU Theatre presents "Romeo and Juliet": When a classic play has been produced as often as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,it can be refreshing to reexamine it through a radically unexpected approach. 7-8pm, Niagara University’s Church, 415 Plain Street, Lewiston

A Handsome Bunch

Thank you to everyone who came out to the tour this morning. Our guide did a great job, quite informative, I thought. It ran a little long, but I think everyone seemed to get something out of it.

The tour and a long 1 PM meeting have put me dramatically behind schedule for today, so I need to hustle...so this is a little short. If you have any questions for me or Deanna, though, feel free to email (or use the comments below).

Flocking

This is a test - I am posting this via Flock, a new social networking browser that we recently stumbled across.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

The plane crash, and the follow-up

Well today has been a different kind of day here at 1 News Plaza. Obviously, the big news of the day is the plane crash in Clarence that tragically killed 50 people. The newsroom is chasing the details of the story, while we at Buffalo.com have been working to get the story online in as many places as possible.

I don't write news, of course, but I can aggregate it, to a certain extent, using Internet tools like Facebook, Twitter, Digg, del.icio.us, and other, similar sites. My role has not been to create content, but to find some of these new methods of pushing eyeballs to our site.

I will be the first to admit that there does seem to be a sort of mercenary quality in this, a feeling that we are using a tragedy to push traffic. However, this is how it is done - people are looking for news, and we believe - rightly, I am confident - that The Buffalo News is the best source for this information. So we go after that audience.

Some of you may be wondering if I am "disappointed" that none of the home video or photos from the scene of the crash ended up at our Spotted site. I will admit that, early this morning, I was kind of hoping to be on the cutting edge of this scoop. However - when I realized what I was hoping for - photos from the scene where over four dozen people lost their lives - I felt guilty and ashamed of myself.

So no, I am not disappointed we don't have Spotted photo or video. If someone posted it, I would leave it up, of course, but I am not "rooting" for it.

My condolences to all of the families and friends of those who lost someone in this tragedy.

Twitter continues to grow

Deanna is now on Twitter, too...follow her at russo24.

Tour Update, and Events for the Weekend

Buffalo.com photo by Erica Morano.

The Tour - Yes, it is happening as scheduled

After careful consideration, we are going to go ahead with the intern tour of The Buffalo News on Monday, Feb. 16 at 10 AM.

We didn't get the 20 signees we wanted, unfortunately - but we didn't want to cancel the event on the people who were interested.

S0 yes, yes there will be a tour on Monday, and if you signed up, please come. In fact, please feel free to bring a guest - a spouse, a son or daughter, a friend - just drop me or Deanna a line to let us know who you're bringing.

In other news...

Synchronized swimming and other stuff!

One of my co-workers is actually an assistant coach of the Canisius College synchronized swim team, and she asked if any Spotted photographers were interested in covering the team's meet against Incarnate Word on Saturday at the Koessler Athletic Center.

The meet starts at 11 AM, but she suggested that a photographer arrive closer to noon - the final events, featuring the team competitions, will be a lot more photogenic, with swimmers getting thrown and performing flips and whatnot. If anyone is interested, let me know!

Here are a couple other interesting and as-yet-uncovered events...

Friday

• Free Music Fridays at The Hard Rock: The Bleeding Hearts Band. Live music and good times at the Hard Rock Cafe. 8 PM, Hard Rock Cafe, 333 Prospect St., Niagara Falls.

Saturday

• Buffalo State basketball doubleheader: v. New Paltz. 2 PM (women), 4 PM (men). You don't have to go to both games if you don't want to, but one would be nice! Buffalo State Sports Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.

Sunday

• Dream Girl. The Playhouse of American Classics presents a "chamber theater" production of an Elmer Rice play. 2 PM, Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Terrace, Buffalo.

Quick hitters

Had a meeting in Cheektowaga this morning so I am a little behind schedule, so I gotta make this fast...

• If you have not RSVP'd for the tour and would like to do so, we need you to sign up ASAP. If we don't get about 8 - 10 more signees by tomorrow, the tour will be cancelled...which would be a real disappointment. Come on, everybody! I promise doughnuts and witticisms!
  
  
• I just dropped this in the comments section, but I wanted to add: if you decide to sign up for Twitter (please sign up for Twitter), my username is BK77. Friend me, and we can exchange "Tweets." I added my Twitter feed to the blog...look down and to the right.
  

That is all for now...

New event: realty award dinner

Buffalo.com photo by Tom Kuenzi.

Hey, here is an event that may be of interest...if fancy steakhouses and the "who's who of commercial real estate" get you moving, then this is the event for you. You'd probably only need to be there from about 6 PM to 7 PM, and if you wanted to stay for the awards, that would be up to you.

Anyhow, let me know if you're interested...


NEW YORK STATE COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® TO HOLD EIGHTH ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER


The Western New York Chapter of the New York State Commercial Association of REALTORS® is pleased to announce its Eighth Annual Awards Dinner and installation of officers’ ceremony.

This year’s event will be held on Thursday evening, February 12, 2009 at the Buffalo Chophouse Restaurant, located at 282 Franklin Street, Buffalo with a cash bar at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m. sharp. The swearing in ceremony of new officers will be followed by the presentation of several awards. Tickets may be purchased at a cost of $75 each by contacting any of the co-chairmen below, on a first come-first serve basis, as seating capacity is limited. Checks payable to WNY-NYSCAR. Valet parking will be available at the entrance of the Chophouse.

Awards will be given for Lifetime Achievement, Meritorious Service and for the Largest Broker Assisted Lease and Sale Transactions of 2008. We are very pleased to announce that the 2009 recipient for the Lifetime Achievement Award will be Merle Whitehead, President and CEO of Realty USA. This year’s Meritorious Service Award recipient will be Carl J. Calabrese, former Deputy County Executive of Erie County.

Do you use Twitter?

Are you familiar with Twitter? If not, it's basically a form of micro-blogging -- using your computer or, more likely, your mobile phone, you send "Tweets" of 140 characters or less to your Twitter account. These "Tweets" can be read by the network of followers you create, or aggregated into a larger search group - for instance, your Tweets can all be sent into the Buffalo search feed by typing a # before the word "Buffalo."

Why use Twitter? It's a way to send little updates about what you are doing throughout the day. If you are stuck in traffic, you can send a Tweet telling your friends to avoid the 1-90. If you are watching a movie and it's just garbage, you can send out a micro-review. If you bowl a perfect game, the world (or your network of friends, anyways) can know instantly.

Some people think this is the ultimate in narciscism. Others think that it is the coolest thing ever. Personally, my opinion is somewhere in between - I don't think the world needs to know every one of my profound thoughts, but it is kind of fun to share a few of them.

Plus, news-gathering organizations are starting to discover the power of Twitter -- the plane that landed on the Hudson a few weeks ago? The first photos to hit the Web were from someone's mobile phone - and were posted on Twitter. For years, reporters have sat around, listening to the police and fire scanners for breaking news - now, savvy reporters are doing the same thing with Twitter feeds.

Anyhow: I think it would be really cool to create a Buffalo.com Twitter group. Everyone could send in Tweets from their events, or just throughout the day...it would be interesting. Plus, it's like an instant survey - need some info, or an idea, or a tip, and you can find it from your network on Twitter. Oh, and there is an existing Buffalo Twitter group - check them out.

A lot of us spend the day in front of a computer...and all of us carry mobile phones. If this is something you would like to do, let me know, and let's get this started. Email me, or leave a note in comments.

A featured photo note

If you go to the Buffalo.com home page, you will notice that we feature 10 Spotted photos every day (or nine photos and one video, depending on how much new video content is floating around).

The tool we use to upload those photos favors horizontal photos: that is to say, "wider" shots.














Buffalo.com photo by Matt and Angela Brown.

Lately, a growing trend among our Spotted photographers has been to post vertically aligned photos.



















Buffalo.com photo by Dan Ruggiero.

This is not a problem on the actual Spotted site - we can crop and feature the photos on the Spotted home page using admin tools in the Spotted software. This is not the case in the Buffalo.com module (unfortunately).

Please make an attempt to post a decent number of horizontal photos with your galleries - photos and galleries featured on Buffalo.com get a lot more traffic than those that are not...and if we can't find any worthy horizontal photos in your gallery, we can't feature your photos on the home page, even if your vertical shots are fantastic.

Just something to keep in mind.

2-10 to 2-15 events

It was a slow Sunday at the Kirst house so I got a head start on the events list...will email it out tomorrow, too.

Tuesday

• A Celebration of Mark Twain. Little Theatre and Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions celebrate the writings of one of America's finest authors. 7:30 PM, Marie Maday Theatre, Canisius College, Buffalo.

Wednesday

• Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc. logo launch party. A hard-working not-for-profit reveals its new logo in a special launch party. 5:30 PM to 7 PM, Allen St. Hardware Café, Allen Street, Buffalo.
• HEART, Inc. Animal Rescue and Adoption Team benefit. 7 PM to 10 PM, Buckin’ Buffalo Saloon, 294 Franklin St., Buffalo.
• Night of 1,000 Divas. Charitable celebration of the 10th anniversary of O’Connell and Company featuring distinguished guests from dozens of local not-for-profit organizations. 7:30 PM, Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda.
• Big Band Dance with Jim Tudini. 7:30 PM, Kleinhans, 1 Symphony Circle, Buffalo.
• WBFO Wednesday Night Concert with Too Many Sisters. Local rockers perform live-to-air at WBFO’s Allen Hall performance studio. 7:30 PM, Allen Hall, UB South Campus, Buffalo.

Thursday

• The Music of Queen: A Benefit for the BPO. Live music from Black Widow and the sounds of the 1970s rock powerhouse in support of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. 6 PM, Hard Rock Café, 333 Prospect St., Niagara Falls.
• Hope for Cats, Inc. auction and vendor show. A benefit for local cat support organization. 6 PM, Magruders Restaurant, 4995 Broadway, Depew.
• Sabres alumni basketball: v. Frontier High faculty. Favorite Sabres from days past hit the hardwood against Frontier High’s faculty and staff. 7 PM, Frontier High School, 4432 Bay View Road, Hamburg.
• Canisius men’s basketball: v. Niagara. A fantastic basketball rivalry explodes in Buffalo. 7:30 PM, Koessler Athletic Center, Canisius College, Buffalo.
• Rated X: A Recital of Premieres. A night of new music with Jean Kopperud (clarinet) and Stephen Gosling (piano). 8 PM, Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall, University at Buffalo North Campus, Amherst.
• Distinguished Speakers Series: Donna Brazile. Former Clinton/Gore political manager speaks at UB. 8 PM, Center for the Arts, UB North Campus, Amherst.

Friday

• The Perfect Pair: Wine & Chocolate Tasting for Roswell. Chocolatier Dan Johnson will discuss gourmet chocolate-making techniques and innovations while guests sip red and white wine and sample premium handmade confections. 5 PM, Choco-Logo, 141 Broadway, Buffalo.
• Buffalo State basketball doubleheader: v. Cortland. Women’s game at 6 PM, men’s game at 8 PM. Buffalo State Sports Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• Buffalo State women’s hockey: v. Neumann. 7 PM, Buffalo State Ice Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• Wines of Chile dinner. An elegant social event with the UB Women’s Club. 7 PM, Buffalo Launch Club, 503 E. River Road, Grand Island.
• UB wrestling: v. Edinboro. 7 PM, Alumni Arena, UB North Campus, Amherst.
• The Trews. Canadian rock favorites perform live. 7 PM, Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo.
• Canisius hockey: v. American International. 7 PM, Pepsi Center, Millersport Highway, Amherst.
• Orchard Park Youth Symphony Concert. An annual event where members of the Southtowns Youth Orchestra and Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra have an opportunity to perform with the seasoned players in the Orchard Park Symphony. 7:30 PM, Orchard Park Middle School, 60 S. Lincoln St., Orchard Park.
• Free Music Fridays at the Hard Rock: The Bleeding Hearts Band. Live music and good times at the Hard Rock Café. 8 PM, Hard Rock Café, 333 Prospect St., Niagara Falls.
• Finally Friday Singles Dance. 8:30 PM, Hearthstone Manor, 333 Dick Road, Depew.
• 103.3 Sexy Snow Bunny Contest. A new promotion and party sponsored by Labatt’s and WEDG 103.3-FM. 9 PM to 11 PM, Buffalo Sports Garden, 2945 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park.
• Roger Bryan and the Orphans. Local singer-songwriter headlines a full bill of local musicians. 10 PM, Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St., Buffalo.

Saturday

• Kiddie Character Carnival. Local kids meet their favorite cartoon characters and enjoy family-related fun. 9 AM to 11:30 AM, Boulevard Mall, 730 Alberta Drive, Amherst.
• Dash for the Dome 5K. A fun 5K and interesting after-party at one of Buffalo’s best-known landmarks. 10 AM, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo.
• Boarding for Breast Cancer. A fun day in the parks to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Special park clinic for women, pink ticket fundraiser, Burton Demos, Rail Jam and shopping reception party. 10 AM to 4 PM, Holiday Valley Ski Resort, Ellicottville.
• WNY Home and Garden Show. 10 AM to 8 PM, Agri-Center, Hamburg Fairgrounds, Hamburg.
• Canisius College synchronized swimming: v. Incarnate Word. 11 AM, Koessler Athletic Center Swimming Pool, Canisius College, Buffalo.
• UB women’s basketball: v. Northern Illinois. Breast Cancer Awareness/Pack the House Day for the Lady Bulls. 2 PM, Alumni Arena, UB North Campus, Amherst.
• Buffalo State basketball doubleheader: v. New Paltz. Women’s game at 2 PM, men’s game at 4 PM. Buffalo State Sports Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• Buffalo State women’s hockey: v. Neumann. 4 PM, Buffalo State Ice Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• Queen City Roller Girls: Valentine’s Day Massacre. The Devil Dollies skate against the Alley Kats. 7:30 PM, Rainbow Rink, 101 Oliver St., North Tonawanda.
• Buffalo State men’s hockey: v. Morrisville State. 7 PM, Buffalo State Ice Arena, Buffalo State College, Buffalo.
• Variety Club Dinner and Chinese auction. A special event for one of Buffalo’s hardest-working charities. 7 PM, Hearthstone Manor, 333 Dick Road, Depew.
• Canisius hockey: v. American International. 7 PM, Pepsi Center, Millersport Highway, Amherst.
• My Bloody Valentine’s Day 3. Big night of local rockers at one of Buffalo’s best music clubs. 9 PM, Soundlab, 110 Pearl St., Buffalo.

Sunday

• WNY Home and Garden Show. 11 AM to 5 PM, Agri-Center, Hamburg Fairgrounds, Hamburg.
• 16th Annual Cardboard Olympics. Creative cardboard sleds dominate the slopes in this good-time event. Noon, Byrncliff Ski Resort, 2357 Humphrey Road, Varysburg.
• Bored Games 2009. A festival of board games old and new – from Scrabble to Guitar Hero – and a qualifier for Scrabblefest 2009. 1 PM to 4 PM, Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga.
• Dream Girl. The Playhouse of American Classics presents a “chamber theatre” production of “Dream Girl,” a play by Elmer Rice. 2 PM, Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Terrace, Buffalo.
• High School Basketball: Canisius at St. Joe’s. One of the greatest hoops rivalries in Western New York. St. Joseph Collegiate Institute, 845 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo.
• Red Bull Snowscrapers viewing party. An exclusive viewing party of the "Red Bull Snowscrapers" event, Big Air in the Big Apple. 5 PM to 7 PM, Clubhouse Chalet East Bar, Holiday Valley Ski Resort, Ellicottville.

Phone = Dead

Here's one of the things I forgot: my work cell phone (390-2715) is dead and I left the charger in my desk at The News. Call me at 244-2557 if you have any urgent Buffalo.com needs this weekend.

Catching up for the weekend

Buffalo.com photo by Carey Colella.

I was out of the office today - had to go to Forestville for a funeral on my wife's side of the family. I apologize if I owe anyone an email or a return phone call, I will try to get to it ASAP.

A few notes:

• Please remember that we have a tour of The Buffalo News scheduled for the interns on Monday, Feb. 16 at 10 AM. Sign-ups have been a little light so far. If you can make it, it would be great to have you see the inside of 1 News Plaza.
  
  
• We are going to run some congratulatory advertisements for some of our 2008 intership award winners, so keep an eye on the print edition of The Buffalo News for to see some of your fellow writers and photographers (or yourself, depending on who is reading this). The ad schedule is as follows:
  
  Feb. 10 - Dawn Mongold
  Feb. 13 - Dan Ruggiero
  Feb. 15 - David Jarka
  Feb. 19 - John Kindelan
  Feb. 23 - Les Robinson
  Feb. 27 - Tom Proctor
  March 2 - Bill Parker
  March 6 - Lizz Schumer
  
  Now, there is a possibility that specific ads will be bumped if the paid ad inventory for that particular day's paper is sold out. If that happens, we will get you the new date ASAP. Congratulations again to all of our winners.
  
  
• Buffalo.com photo intern Nick Julian had a great idea a few weeks back - why don't we start a project where we photograph the sites of interest throughout Western New York and post the pics to Spotted? That way, anyone from outside of the community - or in WNY, for that matter - could get a good look at some of the great history and architecture of the region.
  
  Nick has already started with a gallery of photos from the Herschell Carroseul (sp?) Museum. They are kind of buried on the site right now, and I want to create a more prominent place for them...and for the other galleries we hope to get. Some places of interest could be the Central Terminal, the Richardson Towers...or any place you can imagine. I would love to get this rolling. Please let me know if you would like to be part of this project, and I can start working on booking tours for you.
  
  
• I feel like I had a bunch of other notes for you, but I am drawing a blank. If I remember what I was going to say, I'll type it up later.
  

Have a good weekend, everyone.

PS. Upload pet pics to the Puppy Love community gallery!

We have new ID tags

Introducing our new ID tags - they are smaller and a little more "official" looking than the current ones, which we have been distributing since the start of the program.

If you'd like a new ID tag, let me know and I will mail it to you.

Buffalo Bills/Food Bank event on Friday

Here's an interesting event, if any photographers and writers are available tomorrow morning:

BUFFALO BILLS TEAM WITH CAMPBELL’S CHUNKY SOUP

TO DONATE 12,000 CANS OF SOUP TO FOOD BANK OF WNY

Bills finish second in NFL fan’s Click for Cans Championship with 163,011 votes

Who: James Hardy, WR, Buffalo Bills

Billy Buffalo, Bills mascot

Representatives from Food Bank of WNY and area soup kitchen agencies

What: The Buffalo Bills and Campbell’s Chunky Soup have teamed up to donate 12,000 cans of Campbell’s Chunky Soup to the Food Bank of WNY in recognition of the Bills runner-up finish in the Chunky soup “Click for Cans” online food drive. Bills fans once again showed strong support for their team throughout the season and finished second in the Click for Cans Championship voting with 163,011 votes, just behind the 187,640 votes registered for Green Bay. The cans will be distributed to various agencies in need – soup kitchen clients of the Food Bank of WNY. There will be photo and interview opportunities at the Food Bank of WNY. Various agencies will be picking up the cans from the Food Bank for their soup kitchens.

Where: Food Bank of WNY

91 Holt Street

Buffalo, NY 14206 (852-1305)

When: Friday, February 6, 2009

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

More: Each month, about 95,000 hungry Western New Yorkers turn to soup kitchens, food pantries, and other emergency food providers – 40% are children and 11% are seniors! The Food Bank of WNY helps to make sure that the soup kitchens, pantries and other providers have enough food to feed the hungry. The Food Bank ships about 1 million pounds of food every month to about 360 member agencies to help feed the less fortunate in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

The Food Bank of WNY solicits food donations from farmers, wholesalers, retailers and other members of the food industry. Additionally, community groups hold food drives to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food for the Food Bank. The WNY Community is also very supportive in providing cash donations to the Food Bank. These funds are used along with government grants to purchase food very efficiently. About 94 cents of each dollar goes directly to providing food to the less fortunate.

Welcome a pair of new interns

I would like to welcome two new Spotted photographers into the internship program: Leann Wagner and Elliot Johnston. Leann is a student at Maryvale High School and Elliot is a student at Nichols School. Both seem like very impressive young people, and I look forward to seeing their photos at the site.

If any of you grizzled veterans have any advice to share with our two newest photographers, please feel free to add it in the comments section.

Anyone want to cover a bridal event? (Please say yes)

Buffalo.com photo by Matt Brown.

Our BuffaloBrides.com site is going to be out at Pearl Street Grill and Brewery on Sunday from noon to 4 PM for the "Eat, Drink, and Be Married" bridal event. It's a bridal show in a more intimate setting, and it would be great if we could get a writer and/or a photographer out to this event. We could use these photos and the story on our BuffaloBrides.com site.

We are in the process of expanding all of the good stuff you folks do into our micro-sites, and this would be another good step in that direction...and a chance for you to get a little more exposure for your work.

Which reminds me:

• If you are interested in blogging about cars or any auto-related topics, let Deanna or me know. If you have friends who are interested in blogging about cars or auto-related topics - and I do mean anything from mechanics to classic cars to latest trends to driver safety - let me or Deanna know. We are searching for a good auto blogger (or two).
  
  
• Same goes for pets. If you or an associate are interested in blogging about pets, please talk to us. We could use a good pets blogger, too.

OK, I will be leaving for Bonnies within the next half hour...Please contact me at 390-2715 with any emergencies.

Busy day

Buffalo.com photo by Elizabeth Wagner.

It's been a busy day today. Meetings, lots of site work, so on and so forth. It's not even 4 PM and I am starting to feel kind of worn out, which is not good, because I have a bunch of stuff to do after work, too.

Just a note: Deanna and I will be out of the office for a good hunk of the day tomorrow. We are going to St. Bonaventure University to watch the students work on the IMportant People live blog, a project that we've outsourced to the students as a semester-long project. Call me at 390-2715 with any questions, but I am not sure how much email access I will have during the day.

Which reminds me...if you are near a computer tomorrow between noon and 1 PM, be sure to head over to Buffalo.com and check out our IMportant People live blog with presidential historian Phillip Payne. Bring all those burning questions about Martin Van Buren and Chester A. Arthur you've been dying to have answered!

Seriously, though, it would be great if you logged on and sent in a question or comment.

Thank you to anyone/everyone who's posted a pic in the Puppy Love contest so far...traffic and postings have been good. Special thanks to Marc Wierzbowski, who posted a number of really touching pics earlier this afternoon. If you haven't shared a pet pic yet...make sure you post a few to Puppy Love. I need to get my cats up on there, so I need to get on the ball, myself.

Oh - there is also a Love Poem contest at Buffalo.com/YourHub. The grand prize is pretty sweet - dinner for two and a night at the Millenium Hotel. Tres swank, yes? Share your purple prose for a shot at a lovely evening.

if you have any questions...let Deanna or me know.

Photo uploading instructions

Buffalo.com photo by Dave Marino.

It has come to my attention that the upgraded Spotted product has a slightly different method of uploading photos...here are instructions on how to get your We Spotted photos online.

1.) Go to www.buffalo.com/spotted. Make sure you are logged in!

2.) Go to the "We Spotted" section. Check the navigation bar (the red area beneath the tabs). Click on "Events I Can Post To."

3.) Find your event among the thumbnails. Click the "Create A Gallery" link. This will open a dialogue box that will allow you to fill in the pertinent info about your event. When you're ready, click "Add."

4.) This will take you to a blank page with just a single navigation bar. Click the "Upload Photos" option.

5.) You will now be taken to a page that our older interns will note looks remarkably similar to the old Spotted uploading tool (Spotted has apparently abandoned the Flash uploading tool in favor of our old friend Java). From here, the process should be pretty self-explanatory. If you don't see the uploader, you may need to update your Java settings - go to www.java.com to get the latest version of Java.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Nikon users of the world, unite

A message passed along from fellow intern Darleen Stry regarding an upcoming event for Nikon users...check it out if you're interested.

What: Nikon Digital Seminar. D40 AND D60

Where: Days INN Buffalo Airport, 4345 Genesee St., Cheektowaga, New York 14225

When: Feb. 19, 2009

Time: 6:30 PM -9:00 PM

More info: (716) 877-3317 or (716) 631-5600 (Delaware Camera)

Cost. $29.00/$19.00 (IF YOU PURCHASE OR HAVE PURCHASED A CAMERA FROM DELAWARE CAMERA)