We're getting another hot one today, the National Weather Service tells us, but how hot depends on where you are. In and around Buffalo, high should be in the low to mid-80s, thanks to the breeze off Lake Erie. Head down the Thruway to Batavia or Rochester, or the State Fair in Syracuse, and it'll be more like 90.

     Don't be surprised if there's another air quality alert.

     If you love the heat, you should be happy all the way through Thursday because we're due for some of the steamiest temperatures of the summer. Forecasters say it may even reach 90 degrees in Buffalo Wednesday and Thursday, while folks further inland could see readings in the mid- to upper 90s.

     It won't be like this on the weekend, however, meteorologists reckon. Refreshingly cool is what they're promising after a cold front arrives with a few showers on Friday. Temperatures should settle back into the 70s for the Wing Fest on Saturday and Sunday. As for Hurricane Earl, apparently that's no problem. The experts say the big storm shouldn't affect us at all.

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     Today's showdown among the four candidates in the hard-fought Democratic primary for the 58th District State Senate seat may turn out to be the best debate of the whole campaign. Squaring off at 2 p.m. in YNN studios, 795 Indian Church Road, West Seneca, will be the incumbent, Lake View Democrat William Stachowski, and his challengers -- Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy, Common Council aide Michael Kuzma and former education activist Thomas Casey. The proceedings will be broadcast on YNN -- Time Warner Cable's local news channel -- at 7 p.m.

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     Know somebody who's looking for a job? Look no further than the Connecticut Street Armory, 184 Connecticut St. More than 50 employers will be on hand for the first Western New York Job Expo, sponsored by the soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade. Open to soldiers and civilians alike, it offers a lot of stuff for free -- free admission, free classes in financial advice and resume building, and free parking in the nearby D'Youville College parking garage. It opens at 2 p.m. with an address by Col. Geoffrey Slack, commander of the 27th, and closes at 7 p.m. with a talk by County Executive Chris Collins on the future of the local economy.

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     Burning the midnight oil is going to be easier this semester at Buffalo State College. Officials are cutting the ribbon at 12:15 p.m. today for an all-night study area in the E.H. Butler Library, which has been set up in response to requests from the students. The new QuietQuad lab and StudyQuad lounge, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, feature comfortable lounge areas, quiet study spaces, additional computers and printers, an assistive technology center and a presentation room. The study areas have their own well-lighted entrance on the south side of the library building.

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     Speaking of the State Fair in Syracuse, today sees the championship round of the 2010 New York State Drinking Water Taste Test, which determines which of the 10 regional winners has the most pleasing public water coming out of its taps. Among the contenders are the 2007 winner -- Albany -- and 2008 champ -- New York City. Last year's titlist, Schenectady, didn't make the cut. Representing Western New York is the Chautauqua County community of Clymer.

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     Starting time has been pushed back half an hour to 7 p.m. for the final concert in the Tuesday in the Park series at Artpark in Lewiston. Tonight's attraction -- the veteran New York City-based Pink Floyd cover band, The Machine -- wants to get rolling a little later so that their lasers will be more dramatic. There's no opening act. This summer the band has been celebrating the 35th anniversary of the "Wish You Were Here" album. Admission is free. Parking in the Artpark lot, which helps them pay the bills, is $10.

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     Back in session for the fall semester are the Buffalo Film Seminars, hosted by University at Buffalo professors Bruce Jackson and Diane Christian at 7 p.m. in the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. First up is a silent classic, "Our Hospitality," a 1923 comedy written, directed, produced and starred in by Buster Keaton. A spoof on the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys, its cast includes Keaton's father, his wife and his infant son. Providing accompaniment on electronic piano is Philip Carli. There's a discussion of the film afterward. Tickets are $9 adults, $7 students, $6.50 seniors. Season tickets, which give you a 15 percent discount on the remaining films, also are available.

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     Rolling into town on a nationwide tour in their colorful Gypsy Wagon Bookmobile are Peter and Donna Thomas, who make gorgeous miniature artist's books that are no bigger than the palm of your hand. They give a free talk at 6 p.m. in the Western New York Book Arts Center, 468 Washington St. at Mohawk Street, then hold a 7 p.m. workshop in making scrolling books, which is $30 plus a $10 fee for materials. To pre-register, visit www.wnybookarts.org.

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     For Buffalo Bills fans and head coach Chan Gailey, today's trimming of NFL rosters will be the easy part. Everybody has to reduce to 75 players. The tough part comes Saturday, when teams have to shrink further -- down to 53. For better than 25 percent of the team, their performances in Thursday's final preseason game against the Detroit Lions will be crucial.

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     We used to think of extra innings as a baseball bonus, but not at the moment, not after the Bisons lost in overtime Monday night at Coca-Cola Field. Here's hoping they can put the Syracuse Chiefs away in regulation when they meet again at 7:05 p.m. Meanwhile, tonight is the team's Great Gift Shop Giveaway. Free stuff from the gift shops will be given to the first 3,000 fans through the turnstiles. Fireworks will follow the final out. If you can't be there, listen on WWKB 1520 AM or watch on Time Warner SportsNet.

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     Movies coming out on DVD today include  "Harry Brown" with Michael Caine and "Marmaduke" with Emma Stone and Ron Perlman. Over in the music racks, there's the long-awaited new CD from the Goo Goo Dolls, "Something For the Rest Of Us," and fresh releases from Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket ("All Birds Say"), Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice as Jenny and Johnny ("I'm Having Fun Now") and the English-language version of the Japanese all-girl punk group Shonen Knife's "Free Time." Shonen Knife's revival comes to us courtesy of the Goo Goo Dolls' Robbie Takac, who's bringing them to town for a show Oct. 2.