Western New York State of Mind Archives - Page 9 of 16

I’d Rather Have A Bottle (of Diet Pepsi) In Front of Me…

By Chris Carosa on June 25, 2019

Those of a certain age remember Dr. Demento. Those who aren’t of a certain age should discover Dr. Demento.

Dr. Demento was what might be called a “free range” DJ in the waning days of AM music. He didn’t fit in any acceptable genre. He played novelty songs no one else would play. In doing so, he popularized Elmo and Patsy’s “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and would help launch the career of Weird Al Yankovic.

It wasn’t all about the music. Dr. Demento’s shows featured oddball skits and comedy routines. In the late 1970s and early 1980s it was likened to an audio version of Saturday Night Live. (Those of a certain age know that was Saturday Night Live when it used to be Continue Reading “I’d Rather Have A Bottle (of Diet Pepsi) In Front of Me…”

Posted in Memoir of a Real Life, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged architecture, Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, Buffalo State Hospital, Dr. Demento, Dr. James W. Watts, Dr. Rock, Dr. Walter Freeman, Elmo & Patsy, Existential Blues, Glenn Close, Gothic, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, Hotel Henry Urban Resort Conference Center, Kim Basinger, Lena Carosa, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, NSNC, Patsy Carosa, Randy Hanzlick, Robert Duvall, Robert Redford, Romanesque Revival, Saturday Night Live, The Natural, Weird Al Yankovic, Wizard of Oz

The Fantastical (Real-Life) Time Machine

By Chris Carosa on June 11, 2019

I had the pleasure of being invited to perform for Living History Day at SUNY Fredonia a couple of weeks ago. The all-day event features dozens of “acts.” It’s offered to hundreds of 7^th graders from throughout the Greater Western New York region. They’re bussed in early in the morning and attend live demonstrations of everything from Seneca Indian dances to artillery cannon fire.

These 12-year-olds watch as regiments from the Revolutionary War (both sides), the War of 1812 and the Civil War (both sides) conduct their drills. They see real-life colonial cooking, frontier gaming, and homespun crafts. The learn from medicine women, Suffragettes, and military historians. They discover 18^th century artifacts, 19^th century women’s fashions, and 20^th century genealogical grave hunting.

All this is done in period dress. Not just generic period dress, but actors dress as actual historical characters. I walked in with Harriet Tubman. Later I saw her talking to Abraham Lincoln. I could have sworn I saw a British general drinking coffee with Susan B. Anthony.

And they were all in costume. Even the civilians wore clothing of the era they represented. You can see from the pictures from the event. Everyone donned the fashion of the time from which they spoke and lived.

All except me.Continue Reading “The Fantastical (Real-Life) Time Machine”

Posted in Gray Matter Musings, Great Speaking Tips, Memoir of a Real Life, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Greater Western New York, Harriet Tubman, Konstantin Stanislavski, Living History Day, Method acting, Rankin/Bass, Revloutionary War, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Seneca, SUNY Fredonia, Susan B. Anthony, Time Travel, War of 1812

This is Why New York State Needs an Electoral College

By Chris Carosa on April 9, 2019

The war had been going on for the better part of a year when John Adams wrote, “The blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of government.” Shortly thereafter, on May 10, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution recommending the thirteen colonies “adopt such Government as shall in the opinion of the Representatives of the People, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their Constituents in particular.”

In a letter to his brother John Augustine Washington dated Philadelphia, May 31, 1776 George Washington issued this prophetic warning: “To form a new government requires Continue Reading “This is Why New York State Needs an Electoral College”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged 13 colonies, Alexander Hamilton, Articles of Confederation, Federalist, Federalist No. 10, Federalist No. 68, George Washington, Greater Western New York State, James Madison, John Adams, mob rule, New York City, New York State Constitution, New York State Senate, Revolutionary War, Robert Yates, tyranny of the majority, United States Constitution, Whig

5 Reasons Why Splitting From New York Would be a Bonanza for Greater Western New York

By Chris Carosa on March 19, 2019

A few weeks ago a Syracuse media outlet published an article denouncing the idea of splitting New York into multiple states. It is recommended that you read that article before reading this one. The article was entitled “5 reasons why splitting New York would be a disaster for Upstate,” by Mark Weiner. It appeared on March 5, 2019 on the NYUp.com website. [The on-line version of this Carosa Commentary contains a live link to that article.]

What follows is meant to mimic Weiner’s article by using the same data and quotes to reach a 180° opposite conclusion. It starts with the very title. Weiner concludes “studies show the split into two states would likely be an economic disaster for Upstate New York, experts say. The region simply depends too heavily on taxes and fees paid by wealthy residents and corporations in New York City and its suburbs.” I’ll present his very same arguments, with very little additional information, and come to a completely Continue Reading “5 Reasons Why Splitting From New York Would be a Bonanza for Greater Western New York”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Albany, David Friedfel, E.J. McMahon, Empire Center for Public Policy, Falconer, Jamestown, M&T Bank, Mark Weiner, Mark's Pizzeria, minimum wage, New York, New York Association of Counties, New York City, Preemption Line, Rockefeller Institute of Government, SUNY, Truck-Lite

Sorry, Mr. President, It’s Not “Flee” New York, It’s “Free” Western New York

By Chris Carosa on February 12, 2019

If you’re from Greater Western New York, you love it. That makes you part of a long tradition. American patriots felt the same way during the Revolutionary War. In 1779, George Washington dispatched General Sullivan to thwart the British and their Iroquois allies based in Western New York from continuing their lethal terror attacks on the small towns and settlements along the edge of the then New York frontier. When Sullivan’s troops first laid eyes on the beautiful landscape, they immediately knew where they wanted to spend the rest of their lives: Western New York.

Why would you be any different? And yet, living in Western New York too often becomes a burden. Although not as bad as it was decades ago, outsiders continue to disrespect our region. We’ve been the butt of late-night TV jokes. Organizations routinely bypass our bounty, lured by promised riches from others. Even our own state leaders forsake us. We’ve seen this as recently as when the New York-Albany axis decided to use our Continue Reading “Sorry, Mr. President, It’s Not “Flee” New York, It’s “Free” Western New York”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Amazon, Andrew Cuomo, Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, General Sullivan, George Washington, Greater Western New York, Joseph Griffo, New York, New York-Albany axis, Queens, Ronald Reagan

Cuomo Courts Amazon with Our Money

By Chris Carosa on November 20, 2018

Let’s get this disclosure out of the way first. We use Amazon. We’re Amazon Prime members. Our parent company, Pandamensional Solutions, Inc., uses Amazon print and distribution services for the books it publishes. In all, we spend a lot of money at Amazon and Amazon generates revenue for us. We have certainly benefited from Amazon.

That being said, we don’t think New York State taxpayers will benefit from Andrew Cuomo’s terrible deal to bring Amazon to his state. Enough was revealed when Amazon announced its decision to “split the baby in half” and create two “second headquarters” instead of one. The “lucky” winners were Long Island City in New York and Arlington in Virginia. Amazon promises to hire 25,000 employees at each location. In addition, the on-line retail behemoth also declared it would open a smaller regional hub in Nashville, Tennessee (where they will hire 5,000).

As we said last year (“This is How the Greater Western New York Region Should Respond If Amazon Picks Another Option,” Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel, October 26, 2017), bowing to Amazon’s extortion-like tactics was absolutely a terrible idea. We stand by our Continue Reading “Cuomo Courts Amazon with Our Money”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Alexandria, Amazon, Andrew Cuomo, Donald Trump, facebook, Greater Western New York, Inc., Jeff Bezos, Long Island City, Nashville, New Headquarters' Curse, New York State, Pandamensional Solutions, Queens, Richard Thaler, Winner's Curse

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part VII: Those Amazing Menches Boys

By Chris Carosa on September 18, 2018

(The seventh part in a series of seven)

Brothers Charles and Frank Menches were prolific concessionaires. They didn’t start that way. By the time he was twenty, Charles had a “successful season” with the Bob Stickney circus. Contemporary reporters called him a “thoroughly proficient” trapeze artist.¹ After spending several years as a high wire and trapeze artist with the Bob Stickney circus and the Old John Robinson circus, Charles decided to enter the concession business full-time with his brother Frank in 1884.²

Frank, six years younger than Charles, was no slouch when it came to athleticism, either. He was an award-winning bicycle racer, competing into his early twenties.^3,4

Born in Canton, Ohio, the brothers dove into multiple business ventures at an early age. While working with the circus, Charles began dabbling in concession sales. Very quickly, he Continue Reading “Hamburger WhoDunIt Part VII: Those Amazing Menches Boys”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, Bob Stickney circus, Charles Menches, Civil War, Corn and Cone Company, Crackerjack, Frank Menches, Gee Whiz, ice cream cone, Liberty Theater, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Menches Brothers, Norhtern Ohio Traction, Old John Robinson circus, Orrin Barber, Premium Candy, Premium Candy and Corn, Stark County Fair, Summit County Fair, Summit Lake Park, William McKinley

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part VI: A Day In Hamburger History – September 18, 1885 – Everything is the Same, Except, “You Are There!”

By Chris Carosa on September 11, 2018

(The sixth part in a series of seven)

“What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times… all things are as they were then, and you were there.”

– Walter Cronkite, at the conclusion of each episode of the CBS Series You Are There

On this day, September 18^th, 1885, the last day of the Erie County Fair, Hiram P. Hopkins woke up to threatening skies. While the weather appeared ominous, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t see the clouds as presaging rain. Rather, he saw the southwesterly breeze as ushering in unusually warm temperatures. In exchange, he’d accept the oppressive humidity.

In the early morning, before the expected thousands of fairgoers arrived, Hiram strolled the grounds. Just a day earlier, the place was packed, the crowd so dense it was difficult to move. This morning the only people Hopkins could see were the many vendors prepping their booths for the final day. Popcorn, peanuts and candy sellers had a brisk business the day before. The same was true of those selling lemonade, pop, and sandwiches.

As he passed close to the grandstand, he noticed two young men fretting about. It was Continue Reading “Hamburger WhoDunIt Part VI: A Day In Hamburger History – September 18, 1885 – Everything is the Same, Except, “You Are There!””

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Andrew Stein, Charles Menches, erie county fair, Frank Menches, hamburg, Hamburg Fair, Hamburger, Hiram P. Hopkins, Menches Brothers

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part V: CSI: Hamburg(er), N.Y.

By Chris Carosa on September 5, 2018

(The fifth part in a series of seven)

“Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk..”

– Henry David Thoreau

And then there was one. Charles and Frank Menches were born in Canton, Ohio. Their father, Jacob Menches, an engineer in Prussia, immigrated to America and became a grocer in Canton. Their mother, Charlotte Hahn Menches, was originally from France. As young men, both boys were quite athletic. Charles as a well-regarded gymnast who travelled with a popular circus as a trapeze artist and high wire walker before he turned twenty.¹ Frank, six years younger than Charles, was an award-winning bicycle racer.^2,3

While the brothers’ lives contain several amazing stories, our focus here is on only one: Their role as (potentially) the first to sell a hamburg sandwich. How this story became known is itself a story. The brothers’ claim was widely known (the headline of Frank’s 1951 obituary reads “‘Inventor’ of Hamburger Dies.”⁴ The real story, however, lay hidden for half a century and was published decades after the brothers had passed away.Continue Reading “Hamburger WhoDunIt Part V: CSI: Hamburg(er), N.Y.”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged 1885, and Ice Cream Company, Andrew Klein, Andrew Stein, Charles Menches, Corn, Crackerjack, Dan Rice, Domestic Hall, Erie County Agricultural Society, erie county fair, Frank Menches, Gee Whiz, grandstand, Hamburg Fair, Hamburg Sandwich, Hamburger, James Swinnich, John C. Kunzog, Liberty Theater, Menches Brothers, Octagon Building, Premium Candy, Tanbark and Tinsel, Waffle Cone, William M. (Pop) Robinson

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part IV: A (Swiss) Cheesehead Tale

By Chris Carosa on August 28, 2018

(The fourth part in a series of seven)

“…with each recollection the memory may be changed.”

“Memories don’t just fade, as the old saying would have us believe; they also grow. What fades is the initial perception, the actual experience of the events. But every time we recall an event, we must reconstruct the memory, and with each recollection the memory may be changed – colored by succeeding events, other people’s recollections or suggestions, increased understanding, or a new context.”

From Witness For the Defense: The Accused, the Eyewitness, and the Expert Who Puts Memory On Trial, by Dr. Elizabeth Loftus and Katherine Ketcham (St. Martin’s Press, 1991)

When you’re a reporter, you often find yourself interviewing sources to try to get a broader perspective on the story. Reporters will often Continue Reading “Hamburger WhoDunIt Part IV: A (Swiss) Cheesehead Tale”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries, Western New York State of Mind Tagged Charles Nagreen, Elizabeth Loftus, Hamburger Charley, Hamburger Charlie, Ira Parker, James Christensen, Katherine Ketcham, New London Fair, Oshkosh Fair, Quantum Leap, Seymour Fair, Swiss Cheese Effect, Winnebago County Fair Association

I’d Rather Have A Bottle (of Diet Pepsi) In Front of Me…

The Fantastical (Real-Life) Time Machine

This is Why New York State Needs an Electoral College

5 Reasons Why Splitting From New York Would be a Bonanza for Greater Western New York

Sorry, Mr. President, It’s Not “Flee” New York, It’s “Free” Western New York

Cuomo Courts Amazon with Our Money

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part VII: Those Amazing Menches Boys

(The seventh part in a series of seven)

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part VI: A Day In Hamburger History – September 18, 1885 – Everything is the Same, Except, “You Are There!”

(The sixth part in a series of seven)

“What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times… all things are as they were then, and you were there.”

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part V: CSI: Hamburg(er), N.Y.

(The fifth part in a series of seven)

“Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk..”

Hamburger WhoDunIt Part IV: A (Swiss) Cheesehead Tale

(The fourth part in a series of seven)

“…with each recollection the memory may be changed.”

Welcome to ChrisCarosa.com

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(The seventh part in a series of seven)

(The sixth part in a series of seven)

“What sort of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times… all things are as they were then, and you were there.”

(The fifth part in a series of seven)

“Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk..”

(The fourth part in a series of seven)

“…with each recollection the memory may be changed.”

Welcome to ChrisCarosa.com

Categories

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