Every so often during an election year when I get tired of spin, mudslinging, and negative campaign ads, I need to remind myself that these sorts of things have been a part of American politics since the inception of the country.

Today's latest murder was 0.2 miles away from our apartment.



I don't have anything to say other than "that's fucked up". Especially since the people it happened to have the same basic living situation as my family.

Ari Met his first wikipediable person today at the Literacy Volunteers appreciation dinner.



Two weeks ago grandma and grampa took us to the Buffalo zoo.



He slept virtually the entire time.





Except when he's hungry.



They're finally cleaning up Beth Jacob Cemetery in the east side. The last several weeks I've been volunteering to help restore the cemetery (as best we can). It's good to get outside of the house and use my muscles a little. This sunday we're meeting their again, and we might just get to expose a few overturned monuments!






Of all the monuments, this one gets to me the most, especially since I now have a child of my own. The last time I saw it this winter, it was barely visible under the substantial brush and thorns. The area's been cleared enough that the Jewish custom of placing a rock on it can be observed again.



I never thought I'd see the day where there'd be real living people in the cemetery.



A slightly better shot of overturned monuments.