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If you’re a resident of upstate New York, you know all to well the struggle we face when it comes to securing permanent, secure employment. Buffalo, New York, previously known as a blue collar town, is now a college town, with little to no jobs for the numerous graduates it spews out.

Granted, the employment situation, or lack thereof, is a national crisis but I was curious to know what things we as everyday people could do about it. I came to the conclusion, it’s time to stop waiting for the government to create job opportunities, and instead create our own. One way of doing that is going to the job instead of waiting for it to come to you.

Relocating, of course, is easier said than done, but one model I always live by rings true in true in this case -“When you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Here are five tips that will get you started in the right direction:

Research

Google must become your best friend. Think of places you may be interested in moving to. Look into compiled reports of the best places for job growth or economic development.

Develop a plan and goals

Once you’ve decided where you would like to go, orchestrate a way on how to get there! Set goals, such as giving your self a timetable as to when you would like to be gone or how much money you want to bring with you.

Execute that plan and STICK TO IT

This is probably the hardest part. As with anything in life, great things can be achieved through hard work and dedication. Make sure if your goal is to fill out five job applications a day; that you apply to those five jobs a day!

Purge

While preparing for your new start in a new city, get rid of the unnecessary baggage you have in your current place. This could be small credit card bills, old couches, or even unsupportive friends. Whatever doesn’t make your move easier, needs to go.

Have Faith

It may seem like a daunting task at first, but as time goes on everything will start to fall in to place. You will fail, and have setbacks, but that is a part of life. What you do when you get back up is what counts the most.

Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Historical Society

The Darkest Africa exhibit at Buffalo’s 1901 Pan American Exposition consisted of 62 people representing a variety of African tribes. They were transported to Buffalo to demonstrate weaponry, handicrafts, songs, and dances. They were promoted as peculiar, childish in habit, and dangerous. Cannibalism, witchcraft, and savagery were portrayed while their actual skills and knowledge were ignored and overlooked.

Opposite Darkest Africa was the “Old Plantation” which supposedly represented the life of African Americans in the Deep South. The Plantation depicted Black American life in a stereotypical manner and promoted the people as jovial, content, and careless. These qualities showed how “good Negroes” could endure hardship and survive despite their racial limitations. Both exhibits were used to underscore the need for white intervention and domination of a race that they saw as clearly inferior and intellectually inept.

Article courtesy of the Buffalo Historical Society

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The world is filled with terrible news, so it’s nice for us to find a story with a happy ending once in awhile.  Not that type of happy ending. Pervert. Here is an amazing story about a Swedish man who was stranded in a snow drift for 61 days.

Snowmobilers came across the car thinking it was wreckage. They peeked inside to find someone wrapped in a sleeping bag in the back seat.  Rescuers dug the 45-year-old man out of the car, and he was so weak he could hardly speak–yet alone explain what happened.  He said he’s been in the car since December 19th. Probably hiding out so he didn’t have to buy his family Christmas gifts. The man survived by eating snow and icicles.

Humans can last up to four weeks without food, so its plausible that the man was stranded for as long as he said he was.  His body temperature was around 31 degrees Celsius when he was brought into the hospital.  With his body temperature so low, he wasn’t using much energy.  This also helped him to survive. Like bears, humans can also go into a dormant-like state (especially during football season).

[Via Yahoo]

Source: 1

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Remember Chris Brown‘s Twitter feud with pro wrestler CM Punk? It just got deeper. CM Punk just released a TwitVid slamming Brown.

“I’m not here to start controversy, or to gain publicity, or anything like that,” pro wrestler CM Punk said in the clip (could’ve fooled us). “And now that he’s thrown accusations my way of using steroids, I feel the need to reply.” And reply he did.

Some background: On Sunday night (Feb. 19), CM Punk tweeted, “I would like @chrisbrown fight somebody that can defend themselves. Me curb stomping that turd would be a #wrestlemania moment.”

When Brown saw the tweet he lashed out. Though the message has since been deleted, Brown wrote, “@CMpunk needs more followers. He’s such a leader! Not to mention the roids hes on has made it utterly impossible for him pleasure a women [sic].” This is the part that ticked CM Punk off.

“I’m a lifelong, proud, drug-free straight edge individual,” CM Punk said, “so Chris and I come from two completely different worlds.” What are you implying, CM Punk?

“I don’t hit women.” Oh boy. “You just don’t hit women, period,” CM Punk said. “In my world, women are to be revered and respected. I firmly believe that in this life there are consequences and repercussions for people’s actions,” he ranted on. “I don’t think Chris has paid for what he’s done.”

“Picking up trash on the side of a highway does not make amends for repeatedly striking a woman in the face and sending her to a hospital,” he said, growing visibly heated. “So Chris wants to throw stones my way now? I say, that’s fine. But put some gloves on and get in the ring.”

“I will make you feel as weak and as powerless and as scared and alone as any woman who has had the misfortune of knowing such a scared, cowardly little boy such as yourself.” Them’s fightin’ words! “All proceeds can go to a women’s shelter of my choosing, if you want to pick up more trash on the side of a highway to make some amends, that’s fine. Maybe you should donate some more time, telling kids that exactly what you did isn’t right.”

CM Punk recognizes that this may all be a pipe dream, however. “I’m also a realist,” he grumbled, “and I know none of these things will happen because Chris Brown isn’t a man. And that’s fine.” Daaaaaaaayum!

“But I know that someday, somehow, somewhere, somebody will put Chris Brown exactly where he belongs, and it honestly doesn’t have to be me,” CM Punk said, calming down. “I would just really like it to be.”

As righteous as CM Punk’s arguments are, his timing is awfully convenient for someone who claims to not want publicity. Here’s hoping Breezy takes the extremely high road here and doesn’t fight CM Punk. Either way he’ll get a nose bleed, but one will come with a lot better PR.

Watch CM Punk Threaten Chris Brown

Source: PopCrush.com

ABC

Mariah Carey, who looks as stunning as ever, appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ to talk about heart health month, Dem Babies, new music and of course, the loss of fellow diva Whitney Houston and her recently hospitalized husband Nick Cannon. Carey and Cannon had a serious scare when he went into mild kidney failure in January.

Carey was quite candid during her chat with Robin Roberts, speaking from the heart about the late, great Houston, who passed at 48 just over a week ago.

“It was great and I don’t think people could ever understand our relationship,” Carey mused. “There was this supposed rivalry in the beginning, then we did the duet and became friends. I loved her.”

It’s been a rocky month for people in Carey’s life. Roc and Roe’s mother also spoke about Cannon’s health scare, saying, “We didn’t know how big a deal it was at that moment” about Cannon’s first stay in the hospital. Then things got worse. She admitted, “It was a gradual thing. We ended up in a couple hospitals this year already.”

Carey voiced her support for Cannon, who quit his morning drive radio show last week, since he was working way too hard and neglecting his health. She said, “The best thing I think was the choice that he made to leave the radio show and just focus on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and ‘Up All Night.’ The thing is, he’s a young healthy person. It’s about changing the lifestyle and just an awareness of what can really happen to you no matter how young or in great shape you are.”

Cannon’s missus did express that she believes he will make a glass of lemonade out of this lemon, saying, “I think, like he always does, he’s going to turn something that happened into a positive thing.”

That’s great news.

Watch Mariah Carey on ‘GMA’

Source: PopCrush.com

Disneyland is supposed to be a Happy place for everybody why in the world would any one want to fight at Disney World ? Then to actually get beat up by Disneyland patrons and employees. Also I have an issue with any 52 year old man that is at Disney Land by his self with out the company of any children. What was he doing there any way ? Glenn Horlacher is a permanent FAIL at life, for that reason alone he belongs in the BIG DUMMY FILES.

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Congratulations to two of 93.7 WBLK’s listeners and Facebook friends, Karen Martin Kassem and Kind Deyus for submitting their BEST fan signs winning them FREE tickets to see Brian McKnight LIVE at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena this Thursday!

Would you like FREE tickets to see Brian McKnight?? Stay tuned to the People’s Station 93.7 WBLK’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/WBLKBuffalo for tomorrow’s contest!

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Join DJ Supreme live at Urban Fridays, this Friday starting at  11 p.m. located at Club Viva, 115 George st. Hamilton, Ontario CA. Must be 19 or older.

 Email Kole.Porter@townsquaremedia.com, to be added to the free guest list!

For more information call Kole Porter at 716-852-9393 ext.322

Upload a photo of yourself holding a creative Brian McKnight Sign and up to ten lucky fans will win tickets (for 2) to the concert PLUS THE BEST SIGN OF ALL will win FRONT ROW SEATS TO THE SHOW!!  You can post it to the WBLK Facebook page OR email it to Kole.Porter@townsquaremedia.com.  Well pick winners today (2/21/12) at 5pm!!!!

Call 716-852-9393 x322 for details.

Remember to be creative and unique and you could be one of ten lucky fans to win!!  Must be 18 and older to enter.  Only one entry per person per household.  Entries become the property of WBLK Radio.  Winners will be selected by WBLK staff members.  Transportation to and from Jamestown NY not provided by WBLK.  Winners will be notified via email and or via the WBLK Facebook page before close of business today.

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This was the bomb song back in the day.

The title alone spoke for itself; in fact it was the ladies anthem when they really wanted to send out a message to the fellas.

Do you remember this one from 1977?

Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Historical Society

From 1915 onward, large numbers of African-Americans left agriculture areas in the South to seek better paying jobs in the industrial cities of the North. The industrial boom stimulated by World War 1 and the steel plant in Lackawanna drew African-Americans to Western New York in large numbers. Buffalo’s African-American population grew 765 percent between 1910 and 1930 from 1,773 to 13,563. By 1960 it had grown another 523 percent to 70,904. Like all American citizens, African Americans were looking to better their lives in the North.

The steel plant in Lackawanna imported experienced black steelworkers from Baltimore. Fifty families arrived during the fall of 1904 with 200 more expected. Opinions about racial characteristics colored the recruitment policy. It was said that black men could stand the heat of the furnaces better than white men.

Article courtesy of the Buffalo Historical Society

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Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1848 – Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish ‘The Communist Manifesto’ (More info)

1878 – The first telephone book is issued in New Haven, CT (More info)

1948 – The National Association for Stock Car Racing, aka NASCAR, is officially incorporated (More info)

1965 – Malcolm X is assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City (More info)

1972 – President Richard Nixon arrives in China, becoming the first US president to visit to the world’s most populous nation (More info)

Scott Gries, Getty Images

The ‘Birthday Cake’ remix is three times the length of the original brief ‘Talk That Talk’ track. The raunchy bedroom anthem is extra steamy considering the couple’s rollercoaster history. Based on rampant rumors of their downlow hookups, when Breezy sings, “Girl I wanna f— you right now / It’s been a long time / I’ve been missing your body,” you believe him.

Rihanna is just as reminiscent, rapping, “Remember how you did it? / Remember how you fed it? / You still wanna kiss it? / C-C-Come and get it.”

Breezy’s own ‘Turn Up the Music’ remix was released today, also featuring RiRi. While critics and fans were both wary of the collaborations (and understandably so), from a purely musical standpoint, they duo makes an effective team.

Whether you believe or agree with the allegations of a reignited romantic flame, the heat between these two is undeniable. We blame the birthday candles.

Listen to Rihanna feat. Chris Brown ‘Birthday Cake’ Remix

Source: PopCrush.com

The envelope also contained threatening written messages indicating that black men who marry white women should be lynched and that white women who marry black men will share Nicole Brown Simpson’s fate. Glenn who’s black and describes himself on his Twitter profile (which is now defunct) as an activist, educator, entrepreneur, journalist, writer and founder of the National Black Men’s Education Association (NBMEA). There is something obviously wrong with Glen. Blacks have been the victims of many years of hate crimes but what is the point of hating someone of your own race ? This guy spent time and money on making nooses and harassing people who were minding their own business. Welcome Glen to the BIG DUMMY FILES

Black On Black Hate Crime Baffles Local Couple: MyFoxDETROIT.com

After a total of five games as a starter Jeremy Lin has made the cover of TIME magazine. This is supposed to be a statement as finally being successful in whatever field your involved in. Here are a few interesting stats about TIME magazine covers: Kobe Bryant has never been on the cover of Time. Same goes for Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning and just about every other active athlete in professional sports today. LeBron James made the cover as part of Time’s preview of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Amazing right here are some more fun facts about a TIME cover the Olympics are one of the only time that Time puts a sports subject on the cover with Bode Miller, Magic Johnson (twice) and Carl Lewis making the magazine cover.

That is great company for Lin to be in considering he hasn’t really won a championship or really had a successful season yet. I don’t think the reason for him making the cover of TIME has anything to do with his skill it all has to do with him crossing racial barriers. The continent of Asia has over 2 billion people on it what a great audience for basketball, and if every Asian person buys a TIME magazine it equals money. Lin is having a great season but he should also makes sure he shouts out Wataru Misaka, the FIRST MINORITY to play in the NBA.

Not only is he of Asian decent he is the first non white to play in the NBA in 1947. The Knickerbockers drafted Wataru Misaka, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound yes he was only, 5-7, 150 pounds point guard. Congratulations to Lin he has been on the TIME cover as many times as Michael Jordan, I hope he can live up to his legacy matter of fact No I don’t I’m a BULLS FAN FOREVER.

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Today’s 1 Hit Wonder at 1 is from a group of guys out of the Windy City of Chicago name Faze-O.

They were considered a funk outfit that did this very smooth funk release in 1978 called “Riding High”.

Check out this Flash from the past by clicking the video below.

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After being caught allegedly inhaling last week in New York, R&B singer Robin Thicke decided to cover Whitney Houston‘s 1995 ballad ‘Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)’ from the ‘Waiting to Exhale’ soundtrack. The song was Nippy’s 11th No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won her a 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Song.

On Thicke’s stripped-down version, he simply croons the song’s uplifting lyrics in his whispery falsetto over soft piano keys. “For every win / I’m going to fail / But there comes a point when / When I will exhale,” he sings. Thicke concludes the song with a beautiful piano solo and stirring gospel-esque refrains of “shoop de shoop.”

If you are familiar with Whitney’s original version, the ballad is about never letting your failures impede your path in life. Thicke’s rendition gives the song a much somber tone about love and heartbreak.

“This is my tribute to the great Whitney Houston,” he told fans on his Twitter page. “Sending my prayers to her family.”

Great work, Mr. Thicke.

Listen to Robin Thicke, ‘Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)’

Source: PopCrush.com

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If you love to cruise like I do, get ready for the “Soul Train” cruise set to sail in 2013.

As you know Tom Joyner does an annual cruise loaded with a host of entertainers, actors, and comedians. Although I have never attended a Tom Joyner cruise, people I know that have, say they love it and some have made a promise to attend every year!

The Soul Train cruise is already loaded with some of the biggest names in R&B like The O’Jays, Patti Labelle, The Spinners, Jeffrey Osborne, and George Duke with more artists yet to be announced.

So if you want to get your boogie on to the sounds of some of the legendary groups of all time, get on the Soul Train cruise; and in the words of the late Don Cornelius: “you can bet your last money it’s gonna be a stone gas honey”!