I call this the Plastic Crisis. You might think this doesn't matter to you, but this is where we get our drinking water from. This is the beginning of the Niagara river. Our drinking water is pulled from the Niagara downstream from where these photos are taken, downstream from the sewage treatment facility, downstream from a waterway plagued by a history of industry. Plastic does break down. While it slowly degrades, it releases chemicals into the water. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces becoming greater and greater threats to our ecosystem. Every single piece of plastic counts and contributes to a huge environmental disaster. Again, as evident by the plastic tampon applicators, what you put down your drains will end up in our drinking water.







































































































This isn't exactly plastic but oil which is what plastic is anyways. There is some type of fish, maybe salmon, which are spawning here. People will eat these fish.























I plan on alerting you all to the next river clean ups which really do a great deal to combat this crisis. They clean up the nation's waterways twice a year but the amount of trash being added outmatch the amount of volunteers needed to clean it all up. The worst thing about all of this is that most of this could be prevented. So much of this trash is from ignorance and complacency. We all need to wake up.

This is for (e:lilho) and (e:jacob)

I got a new bike today! I didn't even realize this until after, but buying a bike today is significant because my last bike was a Technium 420 and today is April 20th! It made me feel like I made the right decision. My first ride was to the river where I got to see how the fisherman have already filled the pier with trash and it has only been three days since we cleaned it up. I like the new bike a lot and am excited to break it in. Right now ass is pretty sore because it hasn't been broken in yet.

Here it is, a Jamis Satellite...

(e:mike) and I just got back from cleaning up trash along the river. This is part of a nation wide effort to clean up America's waterways. We only worked for 2 hrs and 15 minutes but between us got 6-7 bags of trash and a lawn chair. At first we thought that we wouldn't even make a dent in the amount of trash but when we were done we could clearly see a difference.

It is hard for me not to hate the fisherman. I got to remember that not all of them litter but so many do. So much of the trash is clearly from them, mostly Styrofoam containers for their night crawlers. There are also tons of plastic and glass bottles, plastic bags, balloons, plastic combs, take out containers, shoes and fishing line.

I didn't pick up too many of the plastic tampon applicators that girls flush away. These end up all over the shore line. We really need some public service announcements. The amount of trash thrown about is so overwhelming. I definitely want to do it again. They do this bi-annually and now I'm on the mailing list so I will let you all know when the next one is. It is actually kind of fun and a great workout.

Just kidding! Who would want to kill the sweet little child over for his/her monthly weekend visit above my apartment? This time they are here since Thursday and I can't wait for it to be taken away. It is non stop pounding of feet on the floor (wood) and the sounds of things being thrown and dragged across it. I haven't complained because it is only once a month but it is seriously stressful when they are here. I know that children make noise and they have lots of energy and need to run and jump and get all that energy out but can't they take it out and go to the zoo or do SOMETHING? It also happens to be the weekend (e:mike)'s parents came over to my new apartment for the first time and also a weekend where I have barely left the house (not normal).

The dinner with Mike's parents was really nice. I made southern fried Chicken (ya'll), collard greens, macaroni and cheese, corn bread and banana's foster. Would have been nice to have the bro in laws over too but (e:paul) is super allergic to Coco which sucks.

I went to the bike auction with (e:mike), (e:jill) and Steve and that was interesting but we left with no bikes. I couldn't believe how much those bikes were going for. People could buy new bikes for the amount they were paying for them. We stayed for most of it but we gave up at the end. There were a lot of people there. I'm thinking about making a bid on (e:bay) for one. It has five days left of bidding so I am waiting it out to see if anyone bids first. This would be my first bid on something if I go through with it. ebay seems safer than bidding at the police auction because at least on ebay you have time to look at it and ask questions.

Yesterday, I watched Vera Drake as Mike slept next to me. It was about a woman in 1950s England who helped women terminate unwanted pregnancies. She eventually got caught after more than 20 years and sent to prison. We did both watch The Fluffer. This movie dates to the VHS and pager era. An aspiring film maker accidentally rents a porn when attempting to view a copy of Citizen Cane he instead finds a copy of Citizen Cum featuring "gay for pay" pornstar Johnny Rebel. He instantly becomes obsessed with "Johnny" and goes for a job at Janus Studios where Johnny is an exclusive. The film maker becomes Johnny's fluffer boy on set feeding into his obsession and causing him to go great lengths in order to full fill it.

In case you were wondering what a fluffer is:

(fluff*er, n): One who offers ego reinforcement; one who provides the necessary stimulation for a male porn star to perform.

We got this in our email at work. I think it is awesome!



I think (e:james) posted a youtube video in case you are in need of assistance.

Buffalo Police Bicycle Auction

Saturday, April 10th, 2010, starting at 9am.
Buffalo Police Headquarters Garage, 74 Franklin Street
There will be approximately 250-300 bicycles for sale.
At the last auction, bicycles sold anywhere from $1 to $100.
For more information contact 851-4567

I definitely plan on being there. IF any of you (e:peeps) bid against me, I kill you.

Maybe just maybe my bicycle will be there! I kind of doubt it but it would be awesome.

I have been searching for a new bike to replace my old one that was stolen in the Fall. It has been very frustrating because I am not finding what I want and it makes me realize even more how awesome my old bike was. I'm looking for a used bike, something that is high quality but something that is not too flashy. I'm hesitant to have a bike that looks expensive. I went to Rick's to look at his used bikes and there were only two my size and they were way too heavy for what he was asking. I'm also looking on ebay. Actually, every time somebody posts a Raleigh Technium I get an email alert. I usually get one about every other day but most of them turn out to be not what I'm looking for. I'm not really sure where else to look for a used bike. (e:mike) and I are going to Rochester today for my Dad's birthday...I wonder if they have any place that sells them?

IF I get a new bike, I want a Raleigh Grand Sport. I have been noticing this guy in the neighborhood with one and it always catches my eye. I can just barely afford it and would have to put half of it on credit. My main concern with this really is that I really like riding around on the West side and I don't want to be mugged. With my old bike I blended in but with this new one I feel like I would stick out a bit. Anyways, the nicer the weather gets the more anxiety I have about not having a bike.

Today I participated on being on a diversity panel for a local middle school. I got up on a stage and told a school full of 7th graders what it was like to be gay and have to hide it. It felt like I was giving myself advice on how to deal with being gay. The main message that we all got across was that it was not okay to hurt other people, that it causes real suffering. One of the panelists was John Steven from American Idol. He talked about being bullied in that very same school and how it affected him. John is a very good person, it must have been great for people who are being bullied to think that they can be successful like him too.

The kids were so great and respectful to me and to all of us. Reggie from Roswell was there, he is the Diversity Director at the hospital. Also, Cheryl, a mother of someone who was picked on at the school, and my friend Frances, a Latina who was able to achieve despite expectations. I was so happy to be able to talk to them and thought it was so great that the principal at the school has permitted this time be taken from instruction. It did not end or begin at the assembly. The kids have been prepped long before and were to use the rest of the afternoon to discuss what was bought up in the auditorium. My friend Cristina, a teacher at the school, along with a guidance counselor, Kim were the ones who started Diversity Day and the ones responsible for making it happen. The Wellness Committee, students at the school, welcomed us in at the door and showed us to the auditorium. It was so awesome.