Opinions

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Wind power turbines too noisy for sensitive ears

As many countries scramble to find a plausible solution to the global energy crisis, many individuals across the United States find themselves unable to deal with the side effects of renewable energy resources and their means of production. A popular form of renewable energy, wind farming, seems detrimental only to those who live in proximity to the insistent hum of the turbines and within eyeshot of offshore wind farms. Though only measured at a noise level just above that of a humming refrigerator, wind-power turbines often frustrate residents of rural areas that have agreed to host wind-power facilities, as many of the dissenting voices claim that the turbines mar the otherwise natural vista and that the noise disrupts the area's otherwise noiseless tranquility. To city residents, such an enthusiastically negative reaction to a little bit of white noise seems absurd, as main road residents train themselves to sleep through fire truck sirens and street sweepers.

Paladino's opinions on homosexuals turn heads

In the realm of current political gaffes, Joe Biden takes a big bite of the pie, having most notoriously told a man in a wheelchair to stand up and take a bow while he spoke publicly on the campaign trail with President Obama. But Carl Paladino's comments on homosexuality, made earlier this week in response to fellow gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo participating in a gay pride parade with his family, seem to go beyond something that we can simply set aside as a campaign hiccup. As an editorial board, we would like to believe that his remarks were brash efforts to accommodate the politics of a conservative group of Orthodox Jewish leaders.

Texting ruining relationships

When was the last time you were able to go through a day and not touch your cell phone or have someone text message you about absolutely nothing? In today's society, cell phones are attached to consumers' hips and sometimes even their hands.

Best in the West?

The San Francisco 49ers were everybody's sexy preseason pick. With fiery coach Mike Singletary at the helm, an aggressive defense featuring linebacker Patrick Willis, a high-powered running game led by Frank Gore and offseason addition Brian Westbrook, and downfield threats Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, the 49ers looked like they would trample over the rest of the weak NFC West and make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Right now, though, they are one of only three winless teams in the NFL, sitting at 0-5 after Sunday night's loss to the Eagles.

Yankees continue to cash in

Derek Jeter gets all the credit. But when you step back and look at the success the New York Yankees have had over the past 15 years, you may be surprised to find out who is really responsible. Now, let me be clear right off the bat.

No break for New Yorkers

What's going on in New York? The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has just dropped another bombshell for New York City inhabitants. The MTA recently voted to raise the transit fare once again.

Yet another showdown between state and Senecas

New York State Governor David Paterson again finds himself in a battle with the Seneca Nation, a Native American group that enjoys special treaty rights and considers itself separate from the state. The latest issue between the two groups is the state's claim that the Senecas owe over $200 million in revenue-sharing payments.

Senate bill to blacklist Internet is unwise

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, also known as Senate bill 3804, was introduced last month and is now causing an uproar in the online community. The bill, if passed, would not only give the Attorney General the power to remove from the Internet any website that contains copyright-infringing material; it would also grant him the right to remove the entire domain associated with that website. For example, we've all experienced the following problem: The new hit song comes out, and we all want to listen to it, but we don't want to pay for it to hear it just once.

Lessons from Grilled Cheesus

Halladay is sunny in Philadelphia

Bloomberg seeks to prohibit sale of soda with food stamps

Warring between parties is getting out of hand

Ignorance vs. safety

I was there Monday night, on the fourth floor, when the Clemens' fire alarm started blaring, telling us to get out of the building.

UB campus police become state-accredited

The campus police department here at UB recently became the first police force in the entire SUNY system to become accredited by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Has equality become fashionable?

Supreme court begins new term with new justice

The Supreme Court began another term on Monday with a different look. Following the retirement of John Paul Stevens, who had the longest tenure among the justices, President Obama replaced him with former solicitor general Elena Kagan. As solicitor general, Kagan served as the government's top lawyer in Supreme Court cases.

Now an embarrassment

Tragedy strikes at two large public universities

Felix is clearly tops in the AL

When looking at the battle between Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez and New York Yankees pitcher C.C.

Collins cuts cultural institutions

Erie County, like most everything else in New York State, is currently in a huge budget crisis. To keep taxpayers' enormously high rates from rising even further, County Executive Chris Collins is trying to limit government spending. In a drastic measure, Collins has decided to cut all but 10 of Erie County's various cultural organizations from next year's county budget. Collins says he is keeping the top 10 ? which includes the Buffalo Zoo, the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and the Historical Society ? because they each bring in outsiders and tourists from around the country, while the others do not. Collins' logic is suspect; it looks like he may care more about tourists and outsiders than he does about the people who live in Erie County year-round. Among the institutions that will not receive any money from the county next year (money that they usually do receive) are Shakespeare in Delaware Park, the African American Cultural Center, the Irish Classical Theater, and the Music is Art Festival.