I thought it was quite interesting to read this story about how the Holland School Board actually cut $1 million from their budget. Their reason? Simple.
Welk said the goal to cut 5 percent from the budget stemmed from a shrinking school population that had shrunk from 1,450 to 1,050 over recent years — [...]

From the Barenaked Ladies official website:
A MESSAGE FROM BARENAKED LADIES
By mutual agreement, Steven Page will be parting company with the remaining members of Barenaked Ladies. Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart will continue recording and touring together as Barenaked Ladies. Steven Page will pursue solo projects including theatrical opportunities while the band [...]

Ariella got a new toy yesterday, and it’s bigger than her. She seems a little… anxious about it.

Ok, I admit it – it was just an opportunely timed shot. She really is just as happy as ever.

Although… she did keep waking up every few hours last night. Hmm… [...]

Every day I’ve been driving by the slowly demolishing Aud, and keep seeing the old, cigarette smoke-yellowed sound baffling cans hanging from the ceiling and envisioning this shot:

Luckily, Sara Etten snapped it, along with a series of other great shots, available here.

While using National Fuel’s online account services I got this fabulous error message:
Error ! The current browser is either too old or too modern (usind DOM document structure).
Thanks, National Fuel. I’ll be sure to upgrade or downgrade my browser so I can continue using your site.

(Derek’s Note:  Amanda won the Buffalo.com/Buffalo News Classifieds Love Poem Contest with this entry.  I’m posting it here for her.)
What You Are to Me
What you are to me is
one million Springtimes.
A walk in the park hand in hand.
Sharing moments no one else will share.
Calling just to say ‘Hello’.
Saying ‘I Miss You’ in that way
that makes [...]

All day long, like most WNYers I’m sure, I have been watching the news about the horrible plane crash in Clarence.  I can imagine what the families and friends are going through right now, only because I too have been through personal tragedies of my own.  Both friends, both lost senselessly.
But what goes through my [...]

Some people want to believe that our country’s economic crisis is so complicated that mere mortals cannot understand it. Only economists and politicians (hah!) have the brain power and education to decipher the complexity of how subprime mortgages and tightening credit markets have caused this unprecedented crisis. Don’t believe them.
You see, in actuality, [...]

Ariella was in for her 4 month doctor’s visit today. She’s 12lbs 11oz and ~25″ tall. Here she is sleeping off her two shots.

The absurdity of appointing someone to become Treasury Secretary who can’t figure out how to pay their taxes correctly seems to be lost on most of America. I mean, this is “Change we can believe in?” How does failing to correctly pay your income taxes not once, not twice, not three times, but [...]