"God Bless America and Wal-Mart" written by Libertad on estrip.org

05/29/06 08:39 - 80ºF - ID#25754

God Bless America and Wal-Mart

Today I went to Super Wal-Mart with my mother. She buys EVERYTHING there! It's Memorial Day so they had this TV broadcasting Wal-Mart propaganda about how we need to support our troops.

My question is if I hate Walmart, does that mean I hate America?

God Bless America, God Bless Wal-Mart.

mrdt writes at 12:02:04 06/02/06 - Comment #8414: dear uncut,

I understand you and Libertad are seperate people, I just assumed each of you would walk away with your respective parts.

Getting back to my original question, "if you hate large globalized department stores shouldn't you also hate other large and diversified brands like LG, General Mills, The Limited, Sony, Boeing, Prentice Hall Pub. and Darden Restaurants??? Or did Sam Walton step on your toes or something??"

This is what I wanted to know. AM I comparing apples to oranges, maybe but that's irrelevant and not what I'm getting at. I offered a broad range of businesses to see where Libertad stood on them hoping to understand where his hate comes from.

Sony and LG have brick and mortar retail stores all over the globe not-to-mention full service internet stores available 24/7. The Limited brand can be found in 5 different retail flavors in the malls of America and beyond. Darden restaurants owns many of America's favorite corporate restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Smokey Bones and Bahama Breeze).

So to answer your question, I wanted to know if Libertad hated big business and the cookie cutter concept in general or was it just Walmart.

uncutsaniflush writes at 05:24:10 06/01/06 - Comment #8395: mrdt,

just to be absolutely clear, libertad and I are two different people. And I am not the one that has said that he hates Walmart.

As to my feelings on LG and Sony, perhaps that subject deserves a journal entry of its own.

But I do have a question for you, why are you comparing a retailer with manufacturers? As far as I know, neither LG nor Sony have thousands of big box stores located across the U.S. Though I must admit that I have see a small Sony electronics boutique store or two over the years.

So aren't you really comparing apples to oranges? A way better question to ask those who dislike Walmart is "Is Target or Kmart any better? than Walmart?"

But that is just me, as always I could be wrong.

mrdt writes at 04:16:31 06/01/06 - Comment #8390: Yes, I knew about Hillary but what does that have to do with disliking Walmart???

Yes I knew LG was a S Korean Brand and Sony in a Japanese brand with diversification in electronics, movies, television and music. So you should hate them too, right???

I like watching No Reservations and a Cook's Tour and have read 3 or 4 books from Anthony Bourdain. Actually I have all the episodes DVR'd and after I read the books I give them away as rewards to young, dedicated, hard working cooks for inspiration. Anthony definately praises the Mexican workforce. They do not demand high wages that the Americans do and they are not working to achieve high recognition or rank. Compared to kids coming out of culinary school they work a lot harder for a lot less and don't showboat. They do there job day in and day out as cheap labor, which in a NYC restaurant is good because over head is high and profit margins are low. Unfortunately they are draggin down cooks wages. But on the plus side they do disappear as I stated and have a higher rate of absinteeism. One day they work for you the next day they work for your competitor for 15 cents more an hour with out any notice.

uncutsaniflush writes at 01:26:06 06/01/06 - Comment #8383: yes, I know about Hillary and Walmart.

If memory serves she was on the Board of Directors of Walmart when Bill was the gov of Arkansas and she resigned in the early 90s when he decided to run for president

libertad writes at 01:03:34 06/01/06 - Comment #8382: Did you all hear that Hillary was a key player at Wal-Mart before Bill took office?

uncutsaniflush writes at 08:46:39 06/01/06 - Comment #8377: Libertad,

I thought you were being sarcastic but I wasn't absolutely sure; ironically enough I was being sarcastic or at least sardonic with opening "funny you should mention". As you pointed sometimes it is hard to tell if someone is sarcastic if you don't know them well.

But at any rate, I figured that putting in a good word for Mexicans couldn't hurt.

mrdt,

Since I have no idea what kind of chef is an American chef like you, I can't really comment on your assertion.

However, in my personal experience, the cooks and chefs and kitchen staff that I known and met outside of the internet speak highly of their Mexican co-workers. So, I am led to believe that the American chefs that I know are not like you since your experience doesn't mirror theirs.

Hell, Anthony Bourdain praised his Mexican kitchen staff in one of his "No Reservations" shows.

I shop at Walmart. And Sam Walton has been dead for a number of years. I doubt that he is stepping on anyone's toes anymore.

Do you realize that LG is a South Korean corporation? Or are you saying that Mr. Kim is just like Sam Walton, except for the dead part.

libertad writes at 11:56:03 05/31/06 - Comment #8371: uncut,

I'm not sure which of my previous posts you have read, but if you did read them all, I think it would be obvious that I was being sarcastic with my lazy mexican comment. Maybe because you don't know me and because of my wording that you failed to see my sarcasm. Just to be clear, in no way do I think Mexicans are lazy, in fact I believe the opposite.

Mrdt,

I'm too tired right now to even begin with a response to your comment.

mrdt writes at 11:15:03 05/31/06 - Comment #8369: In restaurant kitchens mexicans work there ass off, most of the time. The rest of the time they disappear (get high, phone home, phone mexico, long shit break). But I tell you what, I never stop from the second I walk in the door. Mexicans hate working with American cooks like me cause we make them look lazy.

Also, if you hate large globalized department stores shouldn't you also hate other large and diversified brands like LG, General Mills, The Limited, Sony, Boeing, Prentice Hall Pub. and Darden Restaurants??? Or did Sam Walton step on your toes or something??

uncutsaniflush writes at 10:36:51 05/31/06 - Comment #8367: funny you should mention the words "lazy" and "mexican" in the same sentence.

No one that I have ever met who has actually known, worked with and/or employed people from Mexico thinks they are lazy.

Even the racist crackers in the deep South that I have known say Mexicans "are good enough to hire but not good enough to marry."

And for a cracker, a lazy person just ain't good enough to hire.

Thanks for the Walmex link. I wasn't aware that Walmart did anything other than Sam's Club and Walmart in Mexico. Apparently, they do a clothing store called "Suburbia" (is that store a plot to make Mexicans into Stepford Americans?" and a restaurant chain as well.

I wonder if Americans would think less of Walmart if they knew how many stores Walmart has outside the U.S.

I think that in some ways it is walmart's dirty little secret. I don't think they mention their foreign stores on the U.S. website.

libertad writes at 09:40:14 05/31/06 - Comment #8365: uncut,

Wal-mart de MÃ©xico. :::link:::
I found no evidence of any mexican flags at the Walmex doing a google search. I did see on their site "Por quÃ© trabajar en Wal-Mart?" (why work in walmart) I think the appropriate response from the company would be; you have no other choice, now get to work you lazy mexican!

uncutsaniflush writes at 07:30:30 05/31/06 - Comment #8356: hating walmart is no more unAmerican than is eating a sandwich cubano. lol

Since walmart is a multi-national corporation with stores in Germany, Brazil, Mexico and who knows where else, it's a bit funny to me that it wraps itself up in the American flag.

I wonder if it wraps itself in the Mexican flag in Mexico?

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05/29/06 08:05 - 67ºF - ID#25753

Jimmy Hoffa and Joel Giambra

This nightmare I had this morning was cwazy! I have been thinking a lot about Jimmy Hoffa, because they are looking for his body underneath this barn. Anyways, I was walking downtown with my ex, ex, ex (yes dreams are random). These mafia guys asked if I knew about the murder. Of course I did, but I said which one, because there are murders happening all the time. They were referring to the murder that happened in front of my car. I acknowledged that I knew about it and then they offered me a pack of cigarettes to come and talk to them, which I declined. We departed ways, but eventually I ended up in some Guercio type place and the mob guys saw me. They were really mean to me and made me take off my shirt! I don't know why they care about me, I didn't even see the murder that happened in front of my car. Joel Giambra was there. He was wearing a police uniform and was connected with the mob, cause he didn't do anything to help me. They were so going to kill me, maybe even torture me and then I woke up. I like dreams, even the scary ones.

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05/25/06 12:29 - 64ºF - ID#25752

News Flash

I wish I had a police scanner right now. Just about every cop in Buffalo just raced down to the Psych Center at about noon. I was driving down Richmond and was almost hit by a cop car head on!

Just a heads up to pay attention to the News today. I'm off to sunny FL, will return on Tuesday.

Libertad

Here is a photo I shot last summer of the HH Richardson Complex.

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05/24/06 06:45 - 62ºF - ID#25751

What's cookin good lookin?

What is (e:mike) cooking?

It smells good. I'm a little nervous because he keeps screaming in the kitchen and I can't hear what he is saying cause I have the music too loud.

Permalink: What_s_cookin_good_lookin_.html
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05/24/06 04:16 - 66ºF - ID#25750

Not guilty!

This is an update regarding my previous post "Parking Tickets" see

Today I got another ticket. It was so shitty. My friend that is moving to Phoenix gave me some things, so I parked my car in front of my house on Elmwood to run the things inside. All I did was bring the items in and go right back down to take my car to get it inspected, so I wouldn't get any more parking tickets! Of course there was a parking ticket on my car after coming back down the stairs! I was so upset, I was practically in tears. I could see the ticket Nazi ahead of me at the next corner. If he were just a little bit closer I probably would have been arrested for assault.

Anyways, after I learned that i need $200 in repairs to get my car an inspection sticker to avoid more tickets, I decided to fight both of them at city hall. Let me tell you it wasn't easy, but I was found not guilty on both charges! I won! My defense was that they don't give as many tickets on the East Side because they are too scarred of getting shot. I think he agreed with me. He was going to give me just one ticket, but I was relentless and wouldn't give in. My efforts paid off. He seemed to think that I chose to live on Elmwood because its the "cool thing to do." I was like look I'm poor, I'm a student and its not fair I have to pay for the cities problems. I live on Elmwood because I happen to have an affordable apartment, not because its cool to live on Elmwood. I'll have to admit its nice, but it comes at its price. Anyways, things are looking a little bit brighter now. I was just around the corner from having a complete emotional breakdown.

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05/23/06 10:43 - 51ºF - ID#25749

A day in the countryside

Today I went to Alden to visit a friend of mine. It was so beautiful there. I miss the peacefulness of the countryside. His yard was amazing with all these beautiful birds that came to feed at the feeder. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera. Anyways, we drove around for a while and we came across someone selling things out of this shed that kind of looked like it could have been some old school house, except really tiny. She had some really nice things there, and her and her husband were so nice. It seemed like people were really nice out there, and laid back too. I always thought I was a city boy, but maybe I could live in the country. Here are some pics of my finds today. The first one is a ceramic ashtray made in Japan with a painted face. I love it! I think I'm going to plant some kind of herb in it so he can have green hair. It was only a dollar.

My next great find cost three dollars. It is a tapestry of JFK. It really is beautiful, the blue is so rich and it is made out of this velvety material. I wish I could drape myself with it!

What a great day! I'm sad that my friend is leaving for the summer. Another friend of mine is leaving for good to live in Phoenix. Good bye friends. I'll miss you.

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05/21/06 03:13 - 48ºF - ID#25748

Downtown Violence

Last night I was at Club Marcella and there was a lock down. Nobody was allowed in or out as there was a shooting or something. It either happened upstairs in the old Tralf or right in front of my car that was parked in front of a meter on Pearl directly in front of the club. Police were everywhere, and everyone was smoking inside because they weren't allowed to leave. We eventually left, but my car was completely surrounded in police tape. There were two black garbage bags on the street next to my car and police guarding the area. I assumed the bags were covering up evidence of some sort. The police said it would be several hours before I could get my car from the "crime scene". There was definitely a bad feeling in the air last night, and I was afraid to go into the Club in the first place. Finally, at about 4:30am I was able to leave. Of course it wasn't that simple. We had to stand and gawk at more violence. This girl got slammed in the head by this guy. The guy takes off running and some girl chased him down to beat him. Then the cops came and slammed the girl that was beating the bitch slapper into a cop car. Downtown area at night is like a crazy circus complete with all the animals. That's right, savage animals...

Bitch Slapper* The girl that was hit by the guy may or may not have been a bitch, but I coined the term anyways. I know its not politically correct, but I like it.

metalpeter writes at 05:44:16 05/22/06 - Comment #8056: Last night On Chanel 7 News thing got verry interesting did any one else see it? Basicly the Owner of (video went between him and the guy from the tralf so it could be out of context a little bit) Marcellos said "This dosn't have to do with race but I think this is the Wrong place for this it should be in the Ghetto". So I mean he was basicly saying he dosn't want blacks there and they should stay out and have there concerts in there hood, cause he dosn't want any of there problems. I find that kinda intersting cause I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't think he belongs downtown. I remember when it first openend they wanted to have all nude male stripers and they where told No, by I think the city. But to be honest nothing makes people move out of a nice Lofts and apartments quicker then crime or a killing. It may not be racial it may be a business thing from the guy from Marcellos in any event I wonder if there will be fallout from this and what will happen next if anything.

libertad writes at 02:30:32 05/22/06 - Comment #8050: uncut,

Thank you for providing the news story. I couldn't find one at the time of the posting. I can't believe that happened in front of my car...makes you wonder. We all should remember that there are real dangers out there and use caution. I'm certainly glad that I didn't see that tragedy.

paul writes at 11:10:41 05/22/06 - Comment #8040: Holy crap, I hadn't noticed this journal until my RSS reader picked it up this morning. I am so glad I decided not to go out that night after all. Was it gang related violence? I mean who goes up and shoots someone in the face?

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:51:06 05/22/06 - Comment #8036: This is what happened I think:

May 21, 2006 - Buffalo police are investigating a fatal shooting, a stabbing and an attack on a police officer after a wild night in the downtown club district. Police say the shooting happened around 1 am near the intersection of Pearl and Chippewa. The victim, 21 year old Lamar Williams died at the scene. Williams was behind the wheel of a minivan, stopped in traffic on Pearl Street, when the gunman came up to the vehicle and shot him in the face. It's believed the victim was either heading to or coming from the Tralf nightclub less than a block away.

A short time earlier The Tralf was the scene of a ruckus after a larger than anticipated crowd showed up for a concert by Hip Hop performer Jim Jones. "There were probably about a thousand to fifteen hundred people waiting to get into the club that couldn't get in," said the Tralf's Rohit Kapoor. He added that some people tried to rush the doors which were locked; Our first priority was to keep everybody inside the club safe." As locked out patrons spilled out in to the street, police were called. A female officer was struck on the head. As police made an arrest in connection with assault on the officer, the man they had in custody began complaining of a pain in his side. Police soon found out why--he'd been stabbed. 36 year old Lamar Williams was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery this morning. His condition was being characterized as Good.

more (including a video report) at :::link:::

metalpeter writes at 05:57:51 05/21/06 - Comment #8016: wow that sounds crazzy. Did you ever find out what was the first act of violance. To "" someone other post at least there warn't any "Danza Slaps".

lilho writes at 05:17:21 05/21/06 - Comment #8010: that's crazy! i like the term "bitch slap" as well.

Permalink: Downtown_Violence.html
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05/20/06 09:46 - 53ºF - ID#25747

Toxic Tourism

Passengers on Toxic Bus Tour

This was a true toxic bus tour taken here in Western New York. I wonder how long they were on the tour for at this point? They look kind of pasty and ill, but maybe they were indoors all winter.

To the left you will see one of the many brown fields plaguing the area. Notice the ooze leaking from that barrel over there

I'm almost ready for my own tour. Right now i'm in the process of listing toxic sites and mapping them out. After visiting Lewiston's nuclear waste repository/chemical waste treatment facility and feeling quite ill in the process, I don't believe its safe to visit these areas even for just a minute. Still I go....

For more pics of the Western New York Toxic Tour go to

Permalink: Toxic_Tourism.html
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05/19/06 01:20 - 56ºF - ID#25746

The Danza Slap

Last night (e:mike) mentioned the Danza Slap...I can't remember why. Maybe it was a threat or something?

Of course I wanted to see a pic of the Danza Slap, but a google search left me empty handed. I did find his classic nude but nothing else. Then I read that he went under the name Tony Nadz, but again, no luck. Here is a link to some celebrity nudes including Tony. My fav I think is Luke Perry. Does anyone know which of these pics are fakes? Can Dillon really be so huge? If you are over 18, please go to the link. If not, pretend you are, and just go in anyways.

The next link gives definitions of the Danza Slap.

DISCLAIMER* Libertad does not condone minors viewing Tony Danza or Luke Perry naked.

If anyone has seen footage of a Danza Slap....send me the link!

"The cock isn't a muscle so it doesn't grow in relation to the shoulders, say, or the pectorals. You can't make it bigger through exercise, that's for sure."

Hmmm, I wonder?

Is this for real? Has he appeared in porn?

Who's the Boss?

I'm pretty sure I have fantasized about this man when I was younger

Yes (e:jason), this is not appealing.

Permalink: The_Danza_Slap.html
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05/19/06 11:35 - 54ºF - ID#25745

Adopt a Pig

There is a lonely guinea pig up for adoption at Elmwood Pet Supplies. Can someone please take him? He breaks my heart everytime I see him. I think his name is Chucky D? Tricolor and unusually friendly. There must be someone somewhere that wants him? I have never seen one crave so much attention.

On a side note, I wish that people would spend more time considering pets before they get them. Like dogs and cats, small animals are often neglected. Once the initial "oh your so cute" wears off they get sick of the constant care they require and get dumped at the local shelter. That is if they are lucky....others just "release" them into an environment they can't live in. I heard one story where this girl didn't want her guinea pig anymore and threw the cage with the pig in it into the trash. Disgusting!

Permalink: Adopt_a_Pig.html
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