Slow day online, literally

Hey, Twitter is the victim of a DoS attack right now, which is slowing down Facebook, and in turn is slowing down other sites, as well...so if your Internet is slow today, that might be why. We didn't do it, I swear!

"Say Cheese," win cash and acclaim

Buffalo.com photo by Jeff Noto.

Photographers - you probably have more "smile for the camera" shots than anyone else in Western New York...this contest is right up your alley. Thanks to Darleen for sharing this!

Let the world see Buffalo through your eyes by capturing the city’s people, places and things with your camera and submitting them to the “Say Cheese, Buffalo!” photo contest.

The contest was created by the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau to capture the essence and beautiful sights of the Buffalo Niagara region. If you love Buffalo and like taking pictures, then this is the contest for you.

“We are always looking for fresh images to sell Buffalo to the world. Who better to help us than our own residents? By recruiting local ambassadors we are actively getting them involved in helping market Buffalo with their creative images,” said Drew Cerza, interim president of the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Say Cheese, Buffalo!” is open to photographers of all ages. It’s is an on-going contest that has four periods of entry that correlate with the change of season. Each of the four periods will have a 1st place $100 prize that will be given to the photographer who can best capture the beauty of the Buffalo Niagara region.

Each photo submitted has the chance to be used in various CVB publications and on its website, to promote the area as a fun and exciting place for out-of-town visitors and locals. Judging will take place shortly after the ending date of each contest period.

Contest dates run from July 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009 (summer), October 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009 (autumn), January 1, 2010 – March 31, 2010 (winter) and April 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 (spring).

Dust off your tripods and use your imagination to help capture the beauty of the region to let others know how wonderful the Buffalo Niagara area is. For more information about the contest visit www.visitbuffaloniagara.com and look for the “Say Cheese, Buffalo!” logo.

Notes & Events for July 28 - Aug. 2

Buffalo.com photo by Ray Milkowski.

How's it going this week? Good, I hope. Everything is OK here in Buffalo.com Land. We continue to negotiate our way through the new MyBuffalo site and some of the pitfalls - this past week it's been passwords and registration confirmation emails. Good times. We keeping trying to squash these bugs as they pop up...be sure to let me or Deanna know any time you have an issue.

A couple notes:

• Bulk uploader is coming ("whatever," I can hear you saying). Our vendor, KickApps, is supposed to release the code that will let us put the Sets tool right in there shortly. Then - quick uploads...automatic set-making...easy to find galleries...it will be like the old days. The Old Days!
  
  
• We're getting some bang-up photo work from a lot of people lately - nice work, gang. Also, we've seen a bit of a renaissance in the article department - let's keep those stories coming! I know summer is a busy time for everyone, but if you see events that look good to you...let me know. We'll get you booked.
  

Lots of good stuff on the list this week! Music, football, stuff at the Central Terminal and the Zoo...even modern dance. Great photo and story opportunities. We'd love to get you out there! I'll be picking up a couple myself...maybe I'll see some of you out there "in the field," so to speak.

I haven't heard from some folks in a while, by the way - let me know you're still alive! Even if you are busy, we consider you part of the team, and want to make sure you're doing OK out there.

Anyhow, if you ever have any questions, please let me know.

Events:

· UB on the Green: Neville Francis & The Riddim Posse. Buffalo’s favorite reggae artist takes the stage at UB’s South Campus for a relaxed concert on the lawn. 6 PM, UB South Campus (front of Hayes Hall), Main Street, Buffalo.

Wednesday

· 34th Kensington Lions All-Star Football Classic. Some of the top high school football players in Western New York take the field in this traditional preseason football showdown between North and South. 7 PM, North Tonawanda High School Stadium, 405 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda.

· Wines in the Wild. A great night at the Zoo – this event is already sold out! Live music and visits from some of your favorite animal ambassadors will highlight the event. Enjoy a balmy summer evening in one of the most unique environments around. 6 PM to 9 PM, Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo.

· Wednesdays at the Gorge: The Trews. The Trews' reputation is built on buffed and visceral rock songs. And the group's musical breakthrough has certainly been noticed by others, including shock rock legend Alice Cooper, who christened The Trews "A great young band with a Zeppelin feel." 6:30 PM, Artpark, 450 South 4th St., Lewiston.

Thursday

· Thursday at the Square: Avett Brothers. The last TATS show of the summer! The Avett Brothers are a folk-rock band from North Carolina, who blend bluegrass, old-time country, punk, pop, folk, rock n’ roll and ragtime to create a sound that is all their own. And while only two musicians in the trio are actually brothers – you wouldn’t notice after attending one of their intense and passionate shows. 6 PM, Lafayette Square, Buffalo.

· Rise Against & Rancid. A punk rock extravaganza! One of the hottest young bands in the land (Rise Against) teams up with one of the most popular punk groups of the 1990s (Rancid) as part of this colorful and LOUD tour. 7 PM, The Agri-Center at the Fairgrounds, Erie County Fairgrounds, 5820 South Park Ave., Hamburg.

· Patty Silver Sings! Variety Show. How fun is this? A variety show with talented local entertainers like Patty Silver, Quincy G., Cori, and Johnny. Apparently there is a free pizza and chicken wing buffet, too…not a shabby perk. 7 PM, Desi’s South, 3036 Seneca St., West Seneca.


Friday

· Molson Canal Concert Series: Queensryche. The award-winning progressive metalheads from the 1980s and 1990s are back! Queensryche provided some of the top heavy hits of the era, and now the band is back on the road – and paying a visit to the Lock City. 6 PM, Ulrich City Centre, 2 Main St., Lockport.

· Buffalo Bisons Baseball: v. Pawtucket. A fridaynightbash! celebration with live music and fireworks, and a visit from the powerful affiliate of the Boston Red Sox make this a special night at the ballpark. 7:30 PM, Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo.

· Cursive. The popular and influential indie rockers from Omaha, Neb. rock out in the heart of downtown Buffalo. Rolling Stone writes, ‘“Where other indie-rock lover boys are content to play cute, he asks questions, makes demands, promises impossibilities, exploring the ugly places in the heart. But that’s why he’s an original, testifying about love with the conviction of a young indie Springsteen.” 8 PM, The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St., Buffalo.

· BPO SummerFest: Video Games Live! Video Games Live is a complete celebration and multimedia concert experience featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Video Games Live features a pre and post show festival celebrating the exciting world of video games! 8 PM, Artpark, 450 South 4th St., Lewiston.


Saturday

· The Little Italy Niagara Italian Festival 2009. Good ingredients and good neighbors make good meals, and good times. Tradition trumps adversity, yes the Pine Avenue Little Italy Niagara Italian Festival festival is in full swing despite a rocky start. Many people have gotten on board to bring this wonderful Niagara Falls tradition back for another year. 10 AM to 11 PM, Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls.

· Blues Brews and BBQ @ The Central Terminal. The name says it all – live blues by local favorites like Jony James and 12-Pack Jack, beer from local microbrewer Flying Bison, and BBQ from 4 Aces and Gran Gran’s at one of the most interesting venues in the city. 3:30 PM to 11 PM

· Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor: Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers with Martin Sexton and Samantha Stollenwerck. The far-out pianist who has recorded big Billboard hits – think “Watertown” and “That’s Just The Way It Is” – and jammed with bands as diverse as The Grateful Dead brings his stunning live show to the waterfront. Gates open at 5 PM, Erie Canal Harbor, Buffalo.

· Buffalo Dance Festival. The inaugural festival will feature LehrerDance and Configuration Dance Theatre. These two professional, Buffalo based dance companies will join forces to create an exciting and dynamic performance. 8 PM, UB center for the Arts, UB North Campus, Amherst.

Sunday

· The Little Italy Niagara Italian Festival 2009. Good ingredients and good neighbors make good meals, and good times. Tradition trumps adversity, yes the Pine Avenue Little Italy Niagara Italian Festival festival is in full swing despite a rocky start. Many people have gotten on board to bring this wonderful Niagara Falls tradition back for another year. 10 AM to 9 PM, Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls.

· Draizefest Benefit Concert. Over a dozen local bands perform, including well-know up-and-comers like Cry The Union Forever, Standard of Living, Kindergarten Crush, and many more, in support of a sick local youth. Show begins in the early afternoon and runs all day long. 2 PM, Stephen Sikora Post, 950 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda.

· Pine Grill Jazz Reunion. One of Buffalo’s most popular annual jazz celebrations, the Pine Grill Jazz Reunion draws together hundreds of fans and the best local jazz artists in WNY. 4 Pm to 10 PM, African-American Cultural Center, Martin Luther King Park, Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo.

· Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor: Govt. Mule and Ben Kweller. A Buffalo favorite! The Allman Brothers are big in Western New York, and Allman guitarist Warren Haynes’ side project, Govt. Mule, always draws a big crowd in the Queen City, Check it out! Gates open at 5 PM, Erie Canal Harbor, Buffalo.

Things that need work

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst.

This line of thinking began in the comments section of a previous entry, and I wanted to address this directly.

Here is the list of what I consider the biggest issues that need to be fixed at MyBuffalo:

• Bulk uploader. Uploading five pics at a time is a royal pain in the...neck.
  
  
• "Most Recent Sets." People are legitimately having a difficult time finding their photos. If photos are posted Friday, and you check the site Monday, you may have to flip through 20 pages of pics to find your photo. That can't be helping traffic.
  
  
• Old photos are missing. The 2007-2008 photos are not uploaded yet. When are they going to be added? No one (myself included) wants to lose their old work.

The bulk uploader and the sets are intertwined in my mind - when we provide a bulk uploader, we need to add a way to put bulk photos into sets, or else it doesn't really make life any easier for you - once you bulk-upload your pics, you'd have to go in separately and make sets (well, you wouldn't HAVE to, but if you didn't, we would be back to square one, where no one could find photos).

I think that if we get those three issues addressed, we would go a long way towards solving a lot of contributor discomfort at the site. Deanna and I have a meeting scheduled with our tech team this week to address these specific issues. Hopefully we will have a timeline for solutions soon.

I know some of you may think I am blowing smoke - "Why isn't this stuff done yet? You've promised it for weeks!" - and well, I would have to admit you may have a point. However, it's one of those situations where some other major issues projects have also been taking up a lot of time, and our needs get bumped...not a great excuse, but that's what's happened. BuffaloNews.com is launching article commenting tomorrow, for example - a huge step for the paper - and that has been a big priority.

Anyhow: I can only plead now for patience...Deanna and I are advocating for changes, and we will be successful. Everyone at Buffalo.com wants the project to succeed - and it is doing well - but time and resources are always issues. We will continue the battle for change - hang in there with us!

This week's events list and other swell news

Buffalo.com photo by Jeff Noto.

Here is this week's events list. You may notice that it is short - being a holiday week, there is not a ton of organized activity in WNY - but each event is a potential goldmine in terms of popularity. Check the list closely! Also, you are always welcome to suggest your own stuff...in fact, I recommend it.

• I just wanted to take a quick second to thank everyone for the outstanding transition you're making to the new site. I know everything doesn't always work perfectly, and that the learning curve can be a pain in the neck, but by and large you are all getting a hang of everything and powering through. Fantastic work, everyone. And if you haven't been active...get active! There's a few of you I haven't heard from in a while. It would be great to get everyone back into the flow.

• I want to organize some kind of social event so the Buffalo.com team can hang out once again - anyone have any suggestions? The Bisons seem like an idea, but people weren't exactly swiping tickets out of my hand last year to sign up. Want to go to a bar? The beach? The Square? Let me know you suggestions and I will see if we can get something planned.

• I have been a bit of a slacker lately, but I do try to update the blog - http://buffalospotted.blogspot.com/ - make sure you're checking it every day or couple days, new stuff does float in there from time to time...

• Deanna is on vacation this week, so I am your man if you have any questions.

Alright, that's all for now - please let me know about this week's event, some volunteers would be great - and have a terrific week.



Tuesday


· Bisons Baseball: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Erie County’s 6th Annual Night at the Ballpark. A great event – support our hometown ball club and the hard work of the BB/BS team all at one event. A fun and fulfilling night of professional baseball with one of the hardest-working agencies in town. Plus, you get the experience of roaming the ballpark as an accredited media member. The BB/BS party begins at 6:30 PM, first pitch is 7 PM at Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo.

· Elmwood Village Free Summer Concert Series: Neville Francis & the Riddim Posse. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Neville Francis and his outstanding reggae band perform live in one of the funkiest, coolest parts of the city. Expect a fun, eclectic crowd and some genuinely groovy music from Francis and company. The show is slated to begin at 7 PM in Bidwell Park, which intersects Elmwood Avenue, in Buffalo.

· Summer in the Parks 2009: Maestro Paul Ferington and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Catch a performance by the acclaimed Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra out of doors at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The concert begins at 7 PM.


Wednesday

· Shakespeare in Delaware Park: The Tempest. One of William Shakespeare’s most beloved plays comes to life in the heart of Delaware Park for a mellow crowd of pleasant outdoor theatre-goers. Expecting a stuffy theater crowd? Think again – Shakespeare in the Park is all about lawn chairs, blankets, and a couple bottles of wine under the warm evening sun. Check it out for Buffalo.com – shows begin at 7:30 PM, and the best way into the area is heading into the park by the Rose Garden behind the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

· Gateway Harbor Park Concert Series: Scott Celani and The Boys of Summer. Two of the area’s favorite local musical acts take the stage in North Tonawanda – singer/songwriter Scott Celani starts off the show at 6 PM, while The Boys of Summer take over at 8 PM. The shows will be at Gateway Harbor Park, Sweeney and Webster Sts., North Tonawanda.


Thursday

· Thursday at the Square: Zappa Playing Zappa. Dweezil Zappa’s project performs the work of his father, Frank, in this high-energy concert that is sure to be packed with thousands of Zappa fans and the usual assortment of party people. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain this week! Deanna is on vacation and I would welcome some help with this show – I’ll be shooting video and will do photo if needed, but it would be great to have a couple photogs and a writer on hand, too. Free concession tickets can be yours! Let me know if you can make it. Meet at Lafayette Square, Buffalo, at 6 PM.

Friday

· Lockport Molson Concert Series: Our Lady Peace. One of the most popular Canadian acts to crossover into the American market in the past 20 years, we here in Western New York were some of the first fans to latch onto OLP – and now they’re coming back with a free concert at the always-popular Molson series in Lockport. Great event for photos, should also be an interesting story opportunity. Gates open at 5 PM, Ulrich City Centre Courtyard, Lockport.


Saturday


· Buffalo’s 4th of July Celebration. Live music, vendors, fireworks, and thousands of people getting together to celebrate this wild place we call America. The city of Buffalo will begin its celebration at 5:15 PM at the Erie Canal Harbor site, but feel free to get there anytime before dark.

Also – if you are attending 4th of July festivities in your own hometown, but don’t necessarily want to write a comprehensive story or take dozens and dozens of photos – please feel free to a.) compose a blog on your own thoughts of the events and your feelings about the USA as we enter its 233rd year, or b.) bring along your camera and shoot some photos of the event, or even c.) break out the video camera and take a half-minute of fireworks or something along those lines. Relax and enjoy – it’s a holiday – but feel free to share some of your Independence Day with us at MyBuffalo, too.


Sunday


· Kiss 98.5 Beach Party/Beauty & The Beach Bikini Contest. And so begins the hardcore beach season in Western New York – the annual bikini contest and WKSE parties are staples at the Sunset Bay Beach Club. Feel free to head on down for the sun, the sand, and to represent Buffalo.com at what is always a wildly entertaining event. The bikini contest usually begins around 4 PM at Sunset Bay Beach Club in Irving. Oh, and the Malibu Rum Mod Squad and Sue O’Neil from 102.5-FM will be at Cabana Sam’s (right next door) from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Miscellaneous

I don’t specifically endorse this event – I’ve heard mixed reviews – but if you are interested, the Friendship Festival takes place throughout the week. Let me know if you’d like to go…

Creative gala, new cards, uploader update and The Square

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst.

A few quick notes -

1.) We FINALLY have new cards. I'm going to start mailing them out later today. Let me know if you want to pick them up from me directly.

2.) The folks at Camp Good Days have specifically requested a photographer for their Creative Gala at The Hyatt in downtown Buffalo on Saturday night. The theme is Star Wars. Although it is a black-tie event, there will be folks in costume, and you personally will not be required to wear a tux or an evening gown - although if you go, please dress appropriately (business style). This is a great cause, these people are good sports and they like getting their pictures taken...so please feel free to volunteer if this seems interesting or important to you. They'd love the coverage.

3.) An update on the bulk uploader: well, there are a couple things holding it back right now. First of all, we're abler to make it work on our network and some outside networks...but not all outside networks. Obviously, that is a problem.

Second, we want to make sure all of the proper functionality is built into the uploader because it doesn't make much sense to release it to you incomplete.

Anyhow, I believe that is all...just a reminder that we will be at The Square tonight, rain or shine, and all are welcome to come hang out and help us with photos, contests, handing stuff out, etc.

We have new cards

The new cards are in - I repeat, the new cards are in!

So are the new stickers with the MyBuffalo logo...

If you have an event this weekend and need cards (and won't see me at The Square tonight), let me know ASAP and I will see about getting them to you tomorrow...otherwise, I will mail them out to you. I'm going to have to order another batch - we only have 1K right now - so if you don't get any in the first wave, I'll get you in the second.

Tonight at The Square

If you're going to help out at The Square tonight for the Robert Randolph Band concert, please send me a confirmation email...all are welcome! We have Joan Osborne concert tickets and concession tickets to hand out (and for you to enjoy), so that should make the whole "smile for the camera" process a little easier...so come on down.

Here are the instructions for this evening:

1.) Meet me at the merchandise tent by 6 PM. I will give you your cards and giveaway items there, and you can go take photos from there. This will also be our staging area throughout the night.

2.) If the weather is bad, you can skip the event...although I will note that they will hold the concert, rain or shine, unless it is a lightning storm. We'll tough it out as best as we can for as long as we can if there is going to be a concert - but I certainly do not expect you to put your camera (or health) at risk by traipsing through the rain!

3.) I usually park on Broadway on the east side of Michigan Street. It's tough to find close parking, to be honest, unless you want to pay to be in one of the lots on Washington or Ellicott - and I hate to pay to park, personally.

I'm heading over there around 4:45 - 5 PM, so if you have any questions, call me on my cell at 244 2557.

Thanks everybody! I hope to see you tonight!

Bulk uploader is almost done...

...I just finished writing some instructional text for the bulk uploader...it's thisclose to being finished. Keep your fingers crossed, maybe it will even be done today...

Hey, by the way, thanks to everyone who has been posting at the site. My challenge to you - get active! Friend each other, post to the discussion forums, comment on other people's stuff. It's like a snowball...the more we do it, the more other people will, too.

And remember - tomorrow night - we will be out at Thursday at the Square taking photos and giving out free Joan Osborne concert tickets and concession tickets...so even if you aren't volunteering to write or take photos, track one of us down and we'll hook you up!

...and here's the storm

I have already received some feedback on MyBuffalo - some good, some...constructive (ha ha), and as you may imagine, we are a little overwhelmed with all of the little fixes and details and issues that come out of any Web site launch. If contact is a little spotty today, I apologize in advance.

Anyhow - the most important message I can give you right now is this:

What you see is NOT the finished product.

We will be rolling out new tools and features daily - including the bulk photo uploader that you may have noticed is currently missing.

Hang in there - it's a big change for everyone - and we will make this transition as a team.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, email me or call me - but I'd really like it if you messaged me through the MyBuffalo site! I'll try to get you answers as quickly as possible.

Calm before the storm

Buffalo.com photo by Sean Rudyk.

Well, this is the last day for Spotted and YourHub. I am tempted to get sentimental and think about all the fun stuff and interesting experiences I've had as a result of these two Web sites. Instead, I will refrain from boring you with tales of my drives through eastern Niagara County and visits to Southern Tier high schools and will look to the future, instead.

Here are some things to keep in mind as we transition to MyBuffalo tomorrow:

• There will be a learning curve for everyone. I am still learning all of the ins and outs of the MyBuffalo site, and it will take all of us a few days to really get a feel for the new project. I am humbly requesting your patience while we get the wrinkles ironed out. That being said...
  
  
• Please be active at the site. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow contributors a little better. In fact, in some ways, this is a real opportunity to cut out the middleman (me) and really connect with feedback, ideas, meet-ups, and the like. Please don't cut me out too much, though, as I would like to be a part of the action, too!
  
  
• The functionality is definitely different than Spotted and YourHub. Tomorrow, I will discuss some of these differences - doesn't make much sense to do it before it launches - but bear in mind that it is NOT going to look or feel like the tools we are used to using. I again humbly request that you are patient and that you have an open mind about using the site.
  
  
• We'll be a little light on events this week. There is probably a lot going on around Western New York this week - I would wager on it - but we're going to be doing a lot of sitework and not quite as much "booking" for the next few days. If there are events you are interested in attending - and there are some good ones, like the Rev. Horton Heat at Artpark, Thursday at the Square, the Allentown Arts Festival - let me or Deanna know, and we will get you out there...but the list itself will probably be pretty slim.
  

Anyhow, I hope you are having a great weekend, and I look forward to your feedback on the new site.M

Photo contest in Brant

Buffalo.com photo by Sean Rudyk.

Hey, here's something pleasantly unrelated to all of the changeover talk...a chance to win some prizes for your pics. Check it out:

The Town of Brant is having a photo contest as part of their Summer Fest on June 21. The cost is $5/photo to enter. 8x10's are suggested but not required. The categories are Faces, Places, Children & Community Life (doesn't need to be the community of Brant). A panel of judges will choose a winner in each category. There will also be a popular vote in each category. The back of the photo needs to have the photographer's name, address, phone # & Category.

I didn't get the address for where you submit the photos, but you can click over to the Town of Brant Web site and I am sure you can either find the information or find someone who can get you that info...

And by the way, I saw something online about this being "Free Doughnut Day" at Dunkin' Donuts. Is this true?

Some more news and info on the site changeover

Buffalo.com photo by Erica Morano.

Because we will be changing over from Spotted and YourHub to the new MyBuffalo.com site on Monday, please keep the following issues in mind as you post content to our sites this week:

• If you post any content, please hold onto your original copies.
  
  We will automatically upload all content from the Spotted and YourHub sites through May 31 to MyBuffalo.com , but photos and stories from this week will not be automatically loaded.
  
  Please load (or re-load) your content from this week onto MyBuffalo.com on Monday, June 8 - it will be a great way to get a hang of the new site.
  
  
  
• Please stop distributing Spotted and YourHub cards - we don't want to send people to sites that will no longer exist in five days. I will have MyBuffalo cards for you in the very near future...when they come in, I will either mail them out to you or arrange a way to get them to you.
  
  
• If you have a Spotted and YourHub ID card - let me know and I will get you a Buffalo.com ID, instead.
  
  
• If you have any questions for me, please let me know!
  

I know this is a somewhat hectic and confusing time for our contributor program, but things should settle down after we get the new MyBuffalo site launched...and thank you for your patience.

The cards....

This probably goes without saying, but please stop using the Spotted and/or YourHub cards after this weekend at events...we'll have new cards on the way. I will mail them out once they arrive.

MyBuffalo, the internship, and moving forward

The Big Change
As you should know, on Monday, June 8, Buffalo.com will eliminate Spotted and YourHub. We will be replacing those projects with MyBuffalo.com, a social network that will combine the most important functions of the Spotted and YourHub sites (photos, videos, blogs) with a dynamic social network.

You will be able to make more robust profiles, add friends, message users, use better video tools, upload audio tracks (any podcasters out there?), share content directly on Facebook, MySpace and 20 other popular social sites, and much more. It's a powerful tool and it will be a lot of fun to use - and will eventually stretch into every aspect of Buffalo.com.



What about my stuff?
All Spotted, YourHub, and Buffalo.com email users will automatically be given an account on MyBuffalo.com. Behind the scenes, we are currently in the process of transferring all of your Spotted and YourHub content over to the MyBuffalo.com site.

Keep an eye on your email, too - I will be emailing you your new MyBuffalo.com username and password in the near future. When I do so, I will put up a note on the intern blog.

But the bottom line is that your content will not be lost, and you will be able to access it with your own MyBuffalo account.



Is this going to look/feel just like Spotted and YourHub?
No. It will take some getting used-to. We are still hammering out gallery functionality on the photo section, for example. There is no "admin" section, like We Spotted, either. MyBuffalo.com encourages interactivity and connections between users - it's not as much of a "stop, stare, click" site like Spotted and YourHub.

Anyhow, we ask for your patience and open-mindedness as we introduce the new site.



How about the internship program - will that still exist?
Yes. However, we feel that it is time to make some changes.

In the past few months, Deanna and I have grown increasingly concerned with some of the problems we've seen at the site. We have seen an overall increase in apathy - fewer sign-ups, a decrease in the quality of galleries, and - quite frankly - a little bit of attitude directed towards us, our collaborators, and the venues at times.

As we bring in the new site, we are also bringing in new standards. Since we are starting a new project, we also want a fresh start to our internship program.



And how will you change the program?
Glad you asked.

1.) First of all, some of the old standards apply - 2 events a month, 60-40 on "smile for the camera" for photographers, 3 quotes per story for writers.

On the new side: A MAXIMUM of 60 photos per event. Photographers will be required to include a 100-200-word event summary in their blog after an event (written in your own voice; it doesn't have to be "newsy," but a brief summation of the event). Writers will be required to post 5 photos from their events.

2.) A 30-day limit on requesting events. A common complaint has been that the "big" events are claimed up too quickly. We will honor the current requests we have received, but beginning June 8, we will only accept event requests from activities coming in the next 30 days.

3.) The events list will be shorter. You are welcome to find events that are not on the list, but Deanna and I will be selecting the Top 20 events each week that we would recommend considering...no more massive, sprawling, esoteric events lists. I will miss writing them!

4.) "Interns" are now known as "contributors." Semantical, perhaps, but a change nonetheless.

5.) We reserve the right to remove contributors from the program for failing to meet any of the standards above.

6.) I also can not stress enough that a.) contributors must follow media instructions at events and b.) contributors are not to "book" their own events. We will immediately remove a contributor from the program for failure to comply with these particular guidelines.

7.) Term limits. As of the relaunch, all contributors will be 6-month terms. After 6 months, we will perform an joint evaluation with you, and as a group we will determine whether we all want to move forward.



Lot of rules, man!
Well, we are going to be doing more recruiting and we want everyone to be on the same page - the new contributors and veteran contributors will need to use the same playbook.

When we relaunch on Monday, I will send you a formal list of these guidelines. If you do not agree to the guidelines and would like to exit the program, please let me know.



And finally...
I don't want to come off like Johnny Rulebook. I am genuinely pleased with a lot of what I've seen at Spotted and YourHub. But I also think we have a real opportunity to revitalize the program and make MyBuffalo.com one of the biggest Web successes not only in Western new York, but in the entire nation. I'm serious - it could be that big.

I want you to be a part of a site we can all be proud of, and I hope you stay with us during this exciting time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me immediately.

Thanks, everyone

Buffalo.com photo by crspwr.

Thank you to everyone who responded to my email request regarding the t-shirt. The results were quite interesting (see below...and please don't be offended by the "Old" categorization, because I fall into that category, too). The "Walking Buffalo" won't necessarily be around forever, but it will probably be a part of the first campaign...and then we'll change things up after a couple months.

Have a great weekend!

“Young” (30 & under)

Yes: 10

No: 6

Yes, with qualifications: 3

Comments:

“its great!”

“I think it is a pretty cool design”

“No...I dont get the whole red circle? I can see the Buffalo on the leash... but it is missing something. It may need some wording.”

“Its kind of neat.....looks a little like a street sign......from the front you have no idea what it really means without the web address......the phrase "Where Buffalo Roams...Online!" is a little contradicting to the buffalo being on a leash not really "roaming".......But I like it enough to wear it :O)”

“I don’t like the front….but I do LOVE the back…maybe put the front design in a much smaller size on the back near the neck (top middle) make the front more artsy”

“No, I'm pretty confident I wouldn't. My reasoning is simple. The slogan "where Buffalo roam...online!" doesn't exactly ring true to me when someone is leading the Buffalo around in a noose. Now if the Buffalo was leading a group of folks, it might be more appealing to me. I'm not real keen on the red over black design either, but that's just me. A little color would show off the true "Buffalo.com" in a more exciting and vibrant way.”

“The front - yes The back – no”

“Yes, I like the design. :)”

“No. makes me think of hunting. Target etc. I think there are some other directions to go with this, if you would like help with some designs let me know.”

“That's great!”

“I like it I think people would try and look more into and would attract them to ask questions and learn more about Buffalo.com”

“HAHAH! YES!!!! I LOVE IT!”

“yes I would wear it . IT MUST BE BIG FOR ME XXXL !!!!!”

“No. I don't get the sort-of-but-not really "no x" (as in no smoking) symbol on the front. I don't like people looking at words on or near my ass. I want them (women specifically) looking *at* my ass.”

“Old” (Over 30)

Yes: 4

No: 8

Yes, with qualifications: 6

Comments:

“First thought off the top is that it's a little vague. I almost expect there to be a red bar through the circle, to conote something you're not supposed to do. If you want a YES or NO response, I'd have to say NO. If the buffalo were a little more buff looking, more action-packed looking, or if its relation to the city of Buffalo was more obvious, I might go for it. The logo on the back doesn't bother me, and I would have no problem with it being on the front.”

“possibly. That probably was not the answer you were looking for.”

“why don't i get it :o( its cute, but i don't get the drift of it.”

“I’d wear it, but I don’t particularly like the logo. Maybe if the logo was smaller and up by a pocket I would more appreciate the design of the T-shirt”

“No. I understand the concept of the leash equating to "MY" buffalo however, it demeans the beast.”

“On side B in my opinion, I would move the mybuffalo.com up more to the shoulder area because I sometimes tuck my shirts in. Other than that I would wear it.”

“I was not thrilled with the design, no offense to the creator. Just and idea would be, keep the Buffalo and just put the word MY above it.”

“NOT FEELING THE RED CIRCLE. THE REST, OK.”

“I would wear the shirt but honestly I don't think the message is very clear. How about a buffalo with photos on it in a spotted effect. and it could be My Spotted Buffalo. The photos would be the spots. We could then get some of those buffalos that have been around WNY for the last few years and place them at different locations to get the two ideas in one thought. When some one sees a buffalo they would think of MYSPOTTEDBUFFALO.com. I think it would be easier to remember than buffalo.com/spotted I am always getting people that can't remember the site name.”

“I don't like the red circle, it looks too much like the "no" symbol. I think w/out the red circle it is very cool. Either way, I would wear it cause it's to promote the site.”

“wear that specific T-shirt? no. but wear something along those lines with someone 'walking' a Buffalo? absolutely... i think its a clever idea - cant quite put my finger on it with this shirt - something about the interaction between the buffalo, the leash and the person - its a little tough to figure out what exactly is happening... and the big red ring looks like it should have a slash through it - as though you were going to negate what was inside the circle....”

“Love IT!”

“NO!!If it was a real person and Buffalo then Yes!!”

Join The Buffalo News basketball team

Buffalo.com photo by Dave Marino.

Here's the deal - the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Street Basketball Tournament has a corporate mini-tournament each year. This year, there is no Buffalo News team...UNLESS we can round up four hoops-loving volunteers.

So if any of you like basketball and would want to play with me and three of your fellow Buffalo.com volunteers on the Buffalo News Gus Macker team...let me know by Friday at the latest.

It's free, and there's a t-shirt in it for you...

...and in case you were worried, winning is not a major issue. I'm more into the "having fun" aspect. I wouldn't complain if we won, but I also wouldn't cry into my pillow if we got destroyed, either. It's more for the sake of doing it...

Oh - and we would need at least one female on the team - so ladies, consider yourself invited onto the squad. I don't care what the gender breakdown would be - if it's me and four women on the team, fine, or if it's four guys and one woman, that is OK, too.

Let me know soon!

Things change

Buffalo.com photo by Ben Kirst.

A few days ago, I mentioned that a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT was coming. Well, this is part of it.

YourHub and Spotted are going away, a we're replacing it with a new project called MyBuffalo (more on that below).

We're sending out a similar email to all of the YourHub and Spotted users, but I wanted to make sure I told all of you first, since you are the most invested in the program...and I want you to know that we are going to save all of your old content. Your photos, your blogs, etc., are not going to disappear into the ether.

That being said, it may take a couple weeks for us to get everything properly migrated, but rest assured that all of your content has been backed up and will continue to exist, even if it is not accessible for a period of time.

Anyhow, the rest of this email is similar to what the general YourHub/Spotted users will see...but again, I wanted to make sure you got the news first.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas, please feel free to contact me immediately. Happy Memorial Day, everyone, and we'll be back in touch with you next week...

...and now, the rest of the story:

MyBuffalo will combine the tools from YourHub and Spotted - you'll still be able to share your blog posts, stories, events, photos, and videos with the community.

Plus, you will have access to some fun new options - dramatically improved video capabilities (including video blogging), more comprehensive personal profiles and "friending," instant messaging, discussion forums, the ability to upload audio files (any podcasters out there?), and more.

In addition, you will be able to easily share your content at MyBuffalo on other popular social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, etc.

And don't worry - we will give you the ability to migrate your old YourHub and Spotted content onto the MyBuffalo site - so you will not lose all of those blogs, events, photos, and videos that you previously posted. More info on the migration is coming very soon.

We are very excited about this new project, and we welcome your comments and questions - please feel free to email buffmail@buffnews.com with your thoughts.

Have a great weekend, and we will see you soon on MyBuffalo!

Today at noon: Ahmad Rashad, live on Buffalo.com

If you can be in front of a computer today at noon, check out Buffalo.com - Deanna is going to have Ahmad Rashad (yes, that Ahmad Rashad) as her guest in the weekly IMportant People live chat. He's going to host the Buffalo Fan Awards on Thursday, May 21, and he's going to talk about the event and all sorts of other good stuff during the hour-long online conversation.

All you need to do is go to Buffalo.com at noon and check out the IMportant People box - it's located below the Featured Photos - and you can either read along or send in your questions, comments, and opinions to the former Buffalo Bill and celebrity TV sports personality.

If you read this after the live chat - for shame, by the way - then you can check out the archived version on the IMportant People page.

Please check it out! This is a really big deal for Buffalo.com - we're pretty excited.

Dinosaur up in my face

I have to admit that I was a little freaked out when I shot this footage this morning at HSBC Arena...I mean, you know it's not a real dinosaur...but still.





Tom Kuenzi also shot a great gallery at a Walking with Dinosaurs press conference at the Buffalo Museum of Science this morning...check out his photos when you have a chance.