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☆ Opinion | Who Collects Nazi Memorabilia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “What Kind of Person Spends $1,000 on an SS Bowl?,” by Menachem Kaiser (Opinion guest essay, Oct. 1):Objects by themselves have no meaning. Context — the story the thing tells — transforms an object into an “artifact.” Trading in Nazi memorabilia is trading in Nazi history and ideology, an ideology of hate and violence whose foundational tenet was (and is) antisemitism. Ruth BergmanFarmington Hills, Mich.To the Editor:As the former executive director of the Buffalo Holocaust Resource Center, I am well aware of the thirst for Nazi paraphernalia in Western New York. Area antique marts often sell Nazi Lugers, swastika flags and used Nazi pearl-handled knives. Many U.S. veterans of World War II from Western New York returned home with spoils of war, and some family members brought in horrific concentration camp liberation photos and Nazi flags found in the attic after their parents died.

Persons: Menachem Kaiser, Ruth Bergman Farmington Organizations: SS, Buffalo Holocaust Resource, U.S Locations: Ruth Bergman Farmington Hills, Mich, Buffalo, Western New York, Nazi

NEW YORK (AP) — Salman Rushdie has a memoir coming out about the horrifying attack that left him blind in his right eye and with a damaged left hand. “This was a necessary book for me to write: a way to take charge of what happened, and to answer violence with art,” Rushdie said in a statement released Wednesday by Penguin Random House. The 256-page “Knife" will be published in the U.S. by Random House, the Penguin Random House imprint that earlier this year released his novel “Victory City,” completed before the attack. Political Cartoons View All 1206 Images“'Knife' is a searing book, and a reminder of the power of words to make sense of the unthinkable," Penguin Random House CEO Nihar Malaviya said in a statement. Rushdie wrote at length, and in the third person, about the fatwa in his 2012 memoir “Joseph Anton.”“This doesn’t feel third-person-ish to me,” Rushdie said of the 2022 attack in the magazine interview.

Persons: — Salman Rushdie, ” Rushdie, Rushdie, Hadi Matar, Ruhollah Khomeini, ”, Booker, Nihar Malaviya, David Remnick, “ Joseph Anton, “, that’s Organizations: Penguin Random, Chautauqua Institution, Random House, Penguin, PEN America, Random, Yorker Locations: New York, U.S

☆ So long, computer science — Chaos Studies is the hot new college degree
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Tiffany Ng | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"I remember joking about majoring in puzzles as a kid, never imagining that such a thing was possible until my mom discovered the individualized major program," Shortz said. Between 2019 and 2021, there was a 3% increase in the number of students graduating with individualized studies degrees. With majors like Chaos, Human Computer Interaction, and Architecture and Food Theory, students aren't just crafting these degrees for fun. In 2020, RIT renamed its individualized major the New Economy major and highlighted the need for students to "adapt to evolving career fields." Adopting a rather divergent approach to the same goal, New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Studies frames its approach as honing the "management of knowledge."

Persons: Will Shortz, Shortz, — Shortz, He's, we're, Oluwaseyi Onifade, Onifade, James Hall, they're, Makini Beck, SOIS, he's, Ben Papernick, Papernick, haven't, Peter Rajsingh, Gallatin, Kahrej Ahluwalia, Ahluwalia, Rajsingh, Tiffany Ng Organizations: Dell, Indiana University, The New York Times, National Center for Education Statistics, Rochester Institution of Technology, Oluwaseyi, RIT's, Society, Jobs, RIT, Genesee Community College, Applied, University of Texas, Austin, University of Southern, New York University's Gallatin School, Baseball, Gallatin, Schools, NYU Locations: RIT's, Western New York, University of Southern California, New York, Gallatin

☆ A fire department clerk in Buffalo reportedly was paid more than $500K over 7 years – even though she didn't show up for work and actually had a second job
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Buffalo fire department clerk was reportedly paid more than half a million dollars despite not working. Jill Repman collected checks for 7.5 years while on administrative leave after being accused of tampering with payroll, Investigative Post reports. She was working another job while she remained on the city's payroll, per Investigative Post. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe City of Buffalo has paid Repman $572,067 since 2016, the Investigative Post reported, citing state payroll records compiled by government watchdog The Empire Center. The matter of so-called "fake work," referring to employees being paid to do little or no work, has also made headlines this year, primarily in the tech sector.

Persons: Jill Repman, Jill Parisi, Repman, Jill, —, Keith Rabois, Thomas Siebel, Rabois, Britney Levy Organizations: Service, Security, Empire Center . Buffalo City Hall Locations: Buffalo, Wall, Silicon, Buffalo's City, New York

A new accounting shows that at least 523 institutions were part of the sprawling network of boarding schools for Native American children. ‘War Against the Children’ The Native American boarding school system — a decades-long effort to assimilate Indigenous people before they ever reached adulthood — robbed children of their culture, family bonds and sometimes their lives. “The government was not done with war, so the next phase involved war against the children,” said Mr. Sherman, 83, a former aerospace engineer. Now 76, his voice grows shaky when he recounts the punishments children received — and how children were turned into punishers. Library of Congress, Chronicling AmericaA precise accounting of how many children died at Native American boarding schools remains elusive.

☆ Overview of recent US mass shootings motivated by hate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The rampage, which ended when the gunman killed himself, is the latest mass shooting in recent years that appears to have targeted victims based on their race, religion or sexual orientation. Prosecutors said the gunman made the attack in the name of Islamic State, although his motivations for choosing Pulse remain unclear. Before the shooting, the gunman, who was shot and wounded by police, described his antisemitic feelings on social media. He awaits trial on four other murder counts in Atlanta where he faces the death penalty if convicted. Georgia prosecutors have said they intend to designate the case as a hate crime based on race or gender.

Persons: EMANUEL CHURCH, Rich McKay, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Prosecutors, Islamic, Nazi, Mother, AME Church, Thomson Locations: Jacksonville , Florida, U.S, ORLANDO, Orlando , Florida, United States, New Orleans, Islamic State, PITTSBURGH, BUFFALO, New York, Buffalo, CHARLESTON, Charleston , South Carolina, ATLANTA, Atlanta, Georgia

☆ Sam Kerr: the superstar carrying Australia’s hopes on her shoulders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Even as a 15-year-old, Sam Kerr had the weight of a nation on her shoulders. Fast forward to 2023 and Kerr is one of best players in the game and a global star. Kerr has had to wait longer than expected for the honor at this tournament having been forced to miss Australia’s opening two games because of injury. But a surprise defeat to Nigeria in the Matildas’ second group game have left their hopes hanging by a thread. Kerr takes a selfie as she celebrates with her Chelsea teammates after winning the Women's FA Cup in 2022.

Persons: Sam Kerr, Kerr, Alyssa Mautz, ”, Tony Gustavsson, Don Arnold, Tony, it’s, I’m, ’ Kerr, Daniel, Bobby Despotovski, “, ” Despotovski, Nicola Williams, ” Williams, Williams, Mautz, ” Mautz, she’s freakin, ” Kerr, Ryan Pierse, Western New York Flash, Rich Barnes, Vanessa DiBernado, Vanessa, ‘, ’ ”, …, swag, Michael Regan, –, Eddie Keogh, she’s, She’s, soccer’s Organizations: CNN, Australia, Perth Glory, Chicago Red Stars, National Women’s Soccer League, FIFA, reining Olympic, Canada, coy, Sydney Opera House, Getty, Reuters, West Coast Eagles, Australian Football League, Glory, AFL, CNN Sport, Western New York, Sky Blue FC –, NY Gotham FC, Western New York Flash, Perth, Sky Blue, Chelsea, Super League, Red, League, – Chelsea, EA Sports Locations: Canberra, Italy, Australia, Brisbane, New Zealand, South Korea, Nigeria, Western Australia, Chelsea, NJ, Rochester , New York, Perth, Illinois, –, Chicago, London

☆ Wildfire smoke hits New York again: 'We are truly the first generation to feel the real effects of climate change,' Gov. Hochul says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A screenshot of a map from AirNow.Gov shows air quality and smoke plumes on June 28, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. The AirNow Fire and Smoke map is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service. Kathy Hochul tweeted Wednesday afternoon that air quality health advisories were in effect for the state. City administrators will be working to alert residents of the hazardous air conditions on public transit and via cell phone alert systems. But Hochul advised residents to look up their zip codes on AirNow.gov for localized air quality readings.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Hochul Organizations: U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Forest Service, New York Gov, Western Locations: Canada, New York, U.S . Forest Service ., York, Western New York, Central New York, Eastern Lake Ontario

☆ Tour Boat in Fatal Capsizing Was Unregulated and Had Tipped Before
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After a tour boat capsized in a tunnellike cavern in western New York this week, killing a man and injuring nearly a dozen others, officials said they were investigating when the boat had last been inspected. The 300-foot canal in the dimly lit cavern, the Lockport Cave in Lockport, N.Y., is privately owned and is not a navigable body of water. As such, the narrow, flat-bottomed boat that was carrying 28 people on Monday operated in a regulatory limbo, officials said. Kathy Hochul directed her administration to “look at all possible ways to prevent future tragedies,” a spokesman said on Tuesday. But the governor’s spokesman, Matt Janiszewski, said that no state agency has jurisdiction over vessels in nonpublic, nonnavigable waterways.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, ”, Matt Janiszewski Organizations: U.S . Coast Guard, Buffalo News Locations: New York, Lockport, N.Y, U.S, Niagara Falls

☆ One Dead After Boat Capsizes on Underground Cave Tour, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ed Shanahan | Lola Fadulu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One person died and more than a dozen others had to be rescued after a tour boat capsized Monday morning while carrying passengers through an underground cavern in western New York, prompting an all-out rescue effort, officials said. Twenty-nine people were on board when the boat tipped over at the Lockport Cave in Lockport, N.Y., Luca Quagliano, Lockport’s fire chief, said at a news conference. Emergency workers rescued 16 people from the water, Chief Quagliano said; the rest were able to get to safety on their own. In addition to the person who died, eleven people were hospitalized with minor injuries after being pulled from the water, Chief Quagliano said. The city’s police and fire departments and other public safety agencies immediately began rescue efforts, officials said.

Persons: Luca Quagliano, Quagliano, capsizing Locations: New York, Lockport, N.Y, Niagara Falls

☆ Buffalo’s Blizzard Response Had Numerous Failures, Researchers Find
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Hurubie Meko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Emergency warnings from city officials did not adequately convey how life-threatening the storm would be, the report said. City officials didn’t spread the word about the county’s travel ban for cars quickly enough and didn’t adequately stress the dangers of walking outside. And as the storm raged on, coordination between city, county and state officials became strained. The more than 100-page study by a team of researchers at New York University dissected the city’s actions before, during and after the blizzard, pinpointing failures and offering recommendations. The report was requested by the mayor, Byron Brown, in the days after the storm as residents voiced frustration at what they said was a slow and inadequate response.

Persons: didn’t, Byron Brown, ”, Sarah Kaufman Organizations: New York University, Rudin Center for Transportation Locations: New York, Buffalo

☆ Despite Hochul’s Pledge, Her Policies Have Helped Husband’s Firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Jay Root | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At issue is a renewal of the Seneca Nation gaming compact, with billions of dollars at stake. The governor says she is recusing herself from the matter, as is her husband, whose $650,000 in compensation last year helped push the Hochuls’ combined income to just under $1 million. Mr. Hochul has signed his own recusal policy with Delaware North on matters concerning the company’s New York operations. Delaware North was founded more than a century ago in Buffalo, beginning as a peanut stand run by L.M. Jacobs and his brothers, and eventually expanding to stadiums and horse and dog tracks all over the country.

☆ Why Doesn’t Oak Hill Produce Bigger Champions?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Paul Sullivan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Oak Hill Country Club in western New York, the site of the P.G.A. Championship that begins on Thursday, has hosted a dozen major or national championships, including United States Opens, previous P.G.A. On paper, Oak Hill looks great. Championship there in 2003, for his only PGA Tour victory. there in 2013, has won five PGA Tour events, but has a reputation for being ultra relaxed during play.

☆ Americans Along Canadian Border Fume Over Ottawa’s Housing Tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Paul Vieira | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Canada’s annual underused-home tax is set at 1% of the assessed value or most-recent sale price. Photo: Ben Nelms/Bloomberg NewsOTTAWA—Americans who own property and vacation homes in Canada are furious over Ottawa’s plan to tax real estate that is not occupied year-round. Some Americans are considering selling their Canadian property. One member of Congress, representing western New York state, is pushing the Biden administration to file a trade complaint under the terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade treaty, or at least to persuade Canada to carve out an exemption for Americans.

☆ Hacker Stole My Phone, Credit Card, Identity. I Set Out to Find Them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

They left the Verizon store and went to a nearby Apple store, where they used my Chase credit card to spend $6,370. And two, because a physical credit card had been used to make the purchases, even though I was still in possession of my card. Typically, when your credit card is about to expire, as mine was, the bank sends you a new card a few weeks ahead of time. All told, the gang allegedly stole hundreds of identities and defrauded retailers and credit card companies of $1.3 million. Whoever hacked my identity, it makes sense that they started with my credit card.

☆ Iranian foundation offers land to Salman Rushdie's attacker - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - An Iranian foundation has praised the man who attacked novelist Salman Rushdie last year, leaving him severely injured, and said it will reward him with 1,000 square metres of agricultural land, state TV reported on Tuesday through its Telegram channel. Some Muslims saw passages in the novel about the Prophet Muhammad as blasphemous. Khomeini's successor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was suspended from Twitter in 2019 for saying the fatwa against Rushdie was "irrevocable." The man accused of attacking the novelist has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted murder and assault charges. Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Michael Georgy and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tesla accused of firing union supporters days after organizing effort starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Tesla has fired more than 30 supporters of a nascent union at its Buffalo facility, just days after the organizing effort was announced, according to the union. The union, Tesla Workers United, has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the company illegally fired its supporters. “I feel blind sided,” said Arian Berek, one of the fired employees quoted in the union’s statement. Starbucks Workers United’s first victory came in Buffalo, and it is particularly strong in Western New York. In the past, Tesla has been accused of illegally firing union supporters at its plant in California, its first to build cars.

Thirteen relatives of victims spoke during the hearing including Simone Crawley, who called Gendron, 19, a "cowardly racist." The sentence, which was expected because the state does not employ the death penalty, was given by Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown called Gendron's apology too little and too late. "I anticipate what he said today was to save his life in federal court," Flynn said after the hearing. His lawyers have sought a plea deal relating to these in an effort to avoid a possible death sentence.

☆ I followed Nancy Pelosi's diet of breakfast ice cream and hot dogs for a week, and I ping-ponged between euphoria and the depths of despair
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Sophie Kleeman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

My research found that Pelosi eats ice cream for breakfast, hot dogs for lunch, pasta, and chocolate. Chocolate ice cream for breakfast, rich and creamy pasta, and lots of snacking chocolate. She claims she does not exercise; her daughter once arrived home to find her mother eating chocolate ice cream while using a stationary bike. I save the ice cream for later to avoid a massive sugar crash and start out with a cup of black tea instead. However, I don't want to slack off after the ice cream episode, so I slather it on.

☆ Snow go: New York City's winter is missing the white stuff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Christine Kiernan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A woman walks by the sculpture "Witness," installed by Pakistani-American artist Shahzia Sikander, in Madison Square Park in New York City, U.S., January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon StapletonNEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Winter is well under way in New York City and the holiday celebrations are fading into the distance - but there has still not been a proper snowfall. Although an epic blizzard hit western New York state just after Christmas, the Big Apple itself has gone 230 days without snow, according to the National Weather Service. It is now approaching the record latest snow for the city - Jan. 29, which dates back to 1973. "February is actually our snowiest month here in New York City, here in Central Park," Kruczkiewicz said.

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Embattled U.S. Representative George Santos said he had no plans to heed fellow New York Republicans' calls to step down, a plea they made on Wednesday due to what they called "lie after lie after lie" about his career and history. The New York Republicans made their plea at a news conference two days after a nonpartisan watchdog accused Santos of breaking campaign finance laws in a filing with the Federal Election Commission. "It's just lie after lie after lie. Republican Representative Nick Langworthy from western New York and Representative Anthony D'Esposito, who represents a district next to that of Santos, were also among those calling on the first-term congressman to step down. During the news conference, officials said they would direct Santos' constituents to Representative D'Esposito in some cases, who had agreed to help residents of Santos' district.

☆ Buffalo stores' shelves are bare as people try desperately to restock groceries and essential items after deadly winter storm
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Buffalo grocery stores are struggling to keep up with heavy demand after reopening in the wake of Winter Storm Elliott. Local outlets reported bare shelves and a lack of items including fresh produce, bread, and eggs. Response to the storm, and lack of access to essential items, has shed light on structural inequality in the city. Unfortunately they ran out of lunch meat, brown beef, bread, but hopefully we can find everything we want," Carl Phillips and Sandra Jackson told WIVB Buffalo. WIVB Buffalo reporter Sarah Minkewicz shared photos of the empty shelves on Twitter.

☆ Fact Check-Clip of ransacked Walmart store predates December 2022 winter storm
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A video clip of a ransacked Walmart store has been miscaptioned by social media users online, with false claims that the video was filmed during Winter Storm Elliott in Buffalo, New York, in December 2022. Examples of the miscaptioned clip shared online in December 2022 can be viewed (here), (here) and (here). Although a reverse image search did not reveal the exact clip, key word searches revealed a YouTube video uploaded in October 2020 showing a ransacked Walmart store in Pennsylvania (bit.ly/3jzic69). A spokesperson for Walmart said the clip shared in social media does not show a looted store in Buffalo, New York, and told Reuters that it pre-dates the 2022 winter storm. The spokesperson also said that as of Dec. 28 no Walmart store in Buffalo had reported looting during the winter storm.

☆ New York prepares for possible flooding from snowmelt while the West girds for heavy rain and snow
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kathryn-Prociv.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Kathy Hochul on Wednesday directed state agencies to prepare to respond to flooding caused by the snowmelt. And the Buffalo Airport — where nearly 52 inches of snow fell during the storm, according to the weather service — reopened Wednesday. Moderate to heavy snow could also fall across northern Nevada by Friday night, the agency said. On New Year’s Eve, heavy rain will fall in the Southeast up to the Ohio Valley during the day and the mid-Atlantic into the Northeast during the evening, while the West will face a flood risk and continued heavy mountain snow. On New Year's Day, lingering rain showers are expected in New England, above-average temperatures are set for the South and rain and snow are expected in the Southwest.

☆ Travel ban lifted in Erie County as road conditions improve
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Claire Cardona | Claire Cardona Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In Texas. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A travel ban has been lifted in New York’s Erie County, days after it was put into place as a deadly blizzard swept across the region, at times reducing visibility to zero. Though the ban has been lifted, a travel advisory was in place for Erie County as cleanup continues and a county-wide state of emergency remained. At least 76 people died in the storm, according to an NBC News tally. Erie County accounted for 37 of the deaths, 29 of which were in Buffalo. In Erie County, 17 of the people who died in the blizzard were found outside and four were in a vehicle, according to County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

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