Critics have been worried that the economic recovery program Obama is proposing has been too focused on government spending.  On Sunday his advisers said he plans to include about $300 billion in tax cuts for workers and businesses in his economic recovery program.

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The legislation Mr. Obama is developing with Congressional Democrats will devote about 40 percent of the cost to tax cuts, including his centerpiece campaign promise to provide credits up to $500 for most workers, costing roughly $150 billion. The package will also include more than $100 billion in tax incentives for businesses to create jobs and invest in equipment or factories.

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A helicopter simulator in the Army Experience Center at the Franklin Mills mall in Philadelphia. The center is part of an experiment to bolster urban recruitment.

The Last Starfighter was a film about a young man who was recruited by aliens from beyond our world to help them win a war in their world light years away.  They picked him because  he did an amazing job on a video game here on Earth.  Far fetched right?  Not so much.  They US Army is doing similar things.  Coming to a mall near you.

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At the Franklin Mills mall here, (Philadelphia) past the Gap Outlet and the China Buddha Express, is a $13 million video arcade that the Army hopes will become a model for recruitment in urban areas, where the armed services typically have a hard time attracting recruits.

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The Army Experience Center is a fitting counterpart to the retail experience: 14,500 square feet of mostly shoot-’em-up video games and three full-scale simulators, including an AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopter, an armed Humvee and a Black Hawk copter with M4 carbine assault rifles. For those who want to take the experience deeper, the center has 22 recruiters. Or for more immediate full-contact mayhem, there are the outlet stores.

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Whenever a new technology comes on the scene it’s always interesting to watch what happens.  Sit back, relax and keep an eye out.  Will it catch on?  Is the exorbitant price worth the investment?  Many times it pays to wait.  Last January Blu-ray looked like the heir apparent to HD DVDs.  This year, maybe not so much.

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“On Monday the Korean television maker LG Electronics plans to announce a new line of high-definition televisions that connect directly to the Internet with no set-top box required. The televisions will be able to play movies and television shows from online video-on-demand services, including Netflix.”

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Tryout Jobs- Hong puts on the hard sell

By Victoria Hong

• Posted by Emma Orn and Emily Lenihan

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - When 97 rock had it’s radiothon benefiting Make-A-Wish, Ch. 4 donated a Tryout Thursday segment.

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There was a bidding war between Simply Certificates and a hair salon, and in the end, Simply Certificates reached deep in their pockets and won the segment.

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Thursday, News 4’s Victoria Hong puts on the hard sell for Simply Certificates, the perfect holiday gift.

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What makes Simply Certificates the perfect gift?
How do I count the ways? 182 restaurants in western New York.

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Chop House very popular, Chefs, Protocol, Fanny’s, as well as in thousands of restaurants across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Boston Massachusetts.

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Chris Drongosky, Simply Certificates said, “Someone could buy certificate in Buffalo send to someone in Albany and they can use at that marketplace.”

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Chris Drongosky is a managing partner for Simply Certificates.
With many looking for ways to save, he says the certificates are doubly appreciated.

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“People have cut back, not eating out as much, maybe not going to spa or golf, this nice gift to give this time of year.”

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The certificates can also be used at various spas, golf courses, and ski areas.
You can buy them on-line, at AAA, and at three local malls, Eastern Hills, Boulevard, and McKinley.

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“If looking for that hard to find person, we make it easy.”

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Back in September, 97 Rock auctioned off a Tryout Thursday segment on it’s annual radiothon for Make-A-Wish. Chris was driving to Ohio at the time and got into a bidding war with a local salon for the segment.

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“I think my foot was getting heavy our accelator as price going up.”
It’s no wonder, he had the winning bid at $1,200.

“The concept of having you come out and tryout and make contribute to make a wish is a win win for everyone.”

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So the least I could do was try to help sell some certificates.
As in anything, preparation is key.

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Victoria was in retail for quite some time, so she knows one key to good sales is fresh breath. Next, was the sales pitch. She asked Chris “What are points should hit on selling to customer?” He said, “First thing explain what great gift idea it is.”

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After telling three mall visitors, “It’s a perfect gift for anybody who has everything,” without any success, Victoria finally said to a customer, “Listen, it’s my first day on the job, I gotta give you the speal, 180 restaurants in area.”

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She went on and on and finally made a sale that she ended with hugging the customer out of gratefulness. Then it was back to the sales floor. One potential customer was from Long Island.

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“They have restaurants all the state as well in NJ and MA.”

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“Can I interest you in Simply Certificates?”

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The hard work paid off.

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“I’m ready to buy some,” said one nice customer. Victoria: “Easiest sell.” With confidence now, she approaches another customer. “Can I interest you in Simply Certificates?”

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The answer, “Yes.” Victoria: “That was just too easy.”

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Simply Certificates, a business that also supports the community.

The Buffalo Bulls lost a very tough football game against University of Connecticut (U Conn) in the 3rd annual International Bowl.
.The score was 38 to 20, but Buffalo did put up a dam good fight.  Nice job.

The inauguration of Barack Obama is going to be very different for the residents of Washington DC.  They have hosted such special events for hundreds of years however this one is unlike any other.  One resident said this inauguration is less like hosting a visiting official and more like throwing a homecoming party for a family member.

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Normally the inauguration was an exclusive black-tie affair.  This time it feels like the city has taken ownership of what is becoming a people’s party.

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The day ushers in hopes and expectations for a president who speaks to local residents and brings with it the excitement of a predominantly black city welcoming the nation’s first black president.

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What would you have done?  You board a plane to Orlando and in the process you overhear a conversation between two women wearing traditional Muslim headscarves who talk about which section of the plane would be safer to sit in.  Do you report it to the stewardess/steward or keep it to yourself?  This is the dilemma passengers on a recent flight faced.

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The incident occurred Thursday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after members of a Muslim family boarding a flight to Orlando, Fla., had a conversation about the safest place to sit in the event of an accident. Other passengers reported the remarks as suspicious to a flight attendant.

The S.& P. 500 jumped 3.16 percent Friday. Above, traders at the New York Stock Exchange.

2008 tried the patience of everyone.  Money lost on Wall street was monumental.  People are trying to hang on for dear life waiting for things to turn around.  On Friday the NY Stock Exchange closed higher and In 60 of the last 80 years, the performance of the S.& P. 500 in January has accurately predicted whether stocks would end higher or lower for the full year.  Will that hold true this year?

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Among Wall Street’s many proverbs, traders say one stands above the others: “As goes January, so goes the year.”

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Though it has been trotted out at the start of virtually every year since it was first popularized in the 1970s, the saying has a special resonance for many traders and investors this new year given the 38 percent drop in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index in 2008.

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Mark Manna, popular new Amherst Town Board member, is considering switching back to the Republican party.  Sources on the street appear to be reliable. They made this call by reviewing his voting history.  Seems he switched in title only, not changing his basic Republican point of view.  Mark has said he’s, “voting for the individual, not the political party the candidate belongs to.”

2009 is going to be a very rough year for the people and businesses of this country.  Our local government has been cut close to the bone.  There have been many good people let go.  Our national, state, county and local taxes are going to take a good sized bite out of our paychecks.  Families will be deeply upset because of money and job losses.

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People who had good paying jobs will have to settle for lower paying jobs to keep paying their bills and health insurance.

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Amherst has stood static in many ways due to our history of electing people from the same families or who hold the same political beliefs.  Our town needs to look at different groups and people who will find ways to bring jobs and business to Amherst.

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The Amherst IDA is a huge failure with a leader for the past 20 year named Jim Allen.  He is a dictator who tells the members on his board, who serve seven year terms and then they can appointed for another seven years, how to vote and how to think.

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These people can serve for 14 years.  Yes 14 years and look at the results.  They have produced little or no result.  I have studied our Amherst IDA for 15 years.  I’ve attended several of the meetings.  This group works from the top to the top.  They are given a report on a project and then they vote.  The vote never goes against the wishes of head honcho Jim Allen.

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Instead of members starting at the bottom of a project and try to understand it, they open the file the morning of the meeting they are to vote.  They know very little about the project, are given snowball facts of pure fluff, with no challenges come from the members.

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These people shouldn’t be allowed to serve 14 years.  I believe that if they can’t show their ability in seven years they should leave.  There should be a one term limit.

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This Monday Town Board meeting, the first meeting of the year will start at 7:00 P.M. on Jan.5^th. The political minded members who feel they should reappoint the same chairman of the Amherst IDA, for another seven years should be confronted by the truth.  That “leader” is a do-nothing.  If they do vote him back in we know they are good politicians, not HONEST politicians.  Most members know very little about him except that he has influence which will help them in their future races.  He pockets are deep and he can give financial support for their campaigns.