"surf bot" written by Drew on estrip.org

08/30/08 03:25 - 79ºF - ID#45510

surf bot

Permalink: surf_bot.html
Words: 8
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: house

08/29/08 03:42 - 76ºF - ID#45501

Ladder?

If anybody wants to lend us an extension ladder, that would be nice.

Permalink: Ladder_.html
Words: 13
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics

08/29/08 08:22 - 66ºF - ID#45494

Dream come true?

This morning I heard an NPR commentator ask if Obama's candidacy meant that Rev. King's dream had been fulfilled.

The guy that they asked didn't say yes or no, but instead hemmed and hawed about how this is historic but really there is a long way to go.

I wish he would have said: "Has the dream come true? What are you nuts!? King said, "we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

The candidacy is great. The election will be a major step forward. But we have a LONG way to go.

More on the dream, still deferred, not only for black Americans, but for most Americans:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

metalpeter writes at 02:16:11 08/30/08 - Comment #38368: Sorry to be the voice of doom but we don't know if this is really progress. If he lives through the entire Campaign yeah then it is but that hasn't happened yet. If he wins and makes it all 4 years then yeah it is progress. All it takes to stop progress and destroy this country is one sniper bullet. That would start race riots and then the supresion of them it could even start a race war. I'm not saying that will happen but Barrack Running isn't success yet.

joshua writes at 12:01:37 08/29/08 - Comment #38319: I'm glad you mentioned this, but am simultaneously disappointed at the thought that you may have missed the comments Benjamin Todd Jealous made on the subject on PBS. PBS - for my money the best coverage of all. Of course, stocked with sympathetic commentators (minus one David Brooks) but all were very erudite and had thoughtful things to say.

Ben Jealous, if you do not know, is the President-Elect of the NAACP and is a fascinating figure. He's an extraordinarily accomplished guy and has managed to become the next President of the NAACP by the age of 35. Ivy League educated, etc. - in many ways identical to Barack Obama.

Anyway, the significance of the event and the date in the past was incredibly inspirational to him and he was visibly emotional while talking about it. He said that regardless of whether or not Barack Obama wins, he sees the nomination of an African-American for President as an enormous step made all the more significant because of the date of the convention, as if it were one of those amazing and perfect moments that we rarely see. He's right.

I should remind everybody that this isn't 1962 in Alabama anymore. Vast improvements in race relations have occurred in our country since that time and people need to acknowledge it if they want to be considered intellectually honest on the subject. People always mention that there is a long way to go, as a caveat after every single step large or small made towards racial equality. There is still work to be done, but I think at times the steps being made are often downplayed, particularly by the likes of Jesse Jackson. Not that he is relevant anymore. I wonder if the full impact of an African-American nominee will be felt in its entirety only years from now. I wonder if people fully realize how monumental an achievement Obama has made for African-Americans. I have to say though, it didn't seem lost on Ben Jealous.

dcoffee writes at 09:31:53 08/29/08 - Comment #38308: Wednesday night was when it finally hit me, that this was a big step. It's definitely not the end, but it's a big step toward racial equality. Whatever millions of little things and big things people have done over the years to achieve a more equal nation, they have been successful in creating a better country for the next generation. Children are not born racist, and the younger generation has proven that they care more about the content of someone's character than the color of their skin. I think people didn't really know how much they had accomplished, this is their proof.

I watched congressman John Lewis on Wednesday night, he was interviewed on MSNBC. This man marched next to MLK, he was beaten in the streets by police, he marched all over the nation, and now he is a respected congressman. This nomination vindicates his struggle. I'm so glad he got to see his life's work rewarded in such a way. He deserves this, and so do all the others who struggled for equality.

tinypliny writes at 08:46:45 08/29/08 - Comment #38305: That's a nice dream. I hope its not just a dream. The colour thing is so silly scientifically that it makes no sense. Did you know, for instance, that even being a caucausian, you might actually have >40% African ancestry (according to your genes)? "Race" as a concept should never have been defined the way it was. According to modern genetics, skin colour means next to nothing. That dream requires people to change their cultural perceptions. I think paying more attention to science can pave the way. We do NOT need people who insist on teaching special creation in schools because the whole idea is laced with irrational prejudice against modern science.

Must. Stop. Ranting.

Permalink: Dream_come_true_.html
Words: 381
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

08/27/08 10:41 - 67ºF - ID#45477

The secret plan.

It's a simple plan, but the best ones are.

Somebody goes to a Trader Joe's in another town, and buys one or two hundred of their re-usable bags.

Like this one:

Then, said person re-sells them to people who want Joe's in town, and asks them to email pictures of them shopping with them. Later, all the future joe's shoppers assemble for a group shot.

You call the media, you encourage people to keep using the bags, you keep sending pics to joe's, basically, telling them, again and again and again that there are shoppers just waiting to spend money at their store.

I think it might work! I know it would be worth it.

Permalink: The_secret_plan_.html
Words: 117
Location: Buffalo, NY

08/27/08 04:41 - 76ºF - ID#45471

My cousin died.

He was kayaking, which he loved. More details, if you want them:

It was always a joy hanging out with Isaac. He was full of joy. Isaac always put relationships first, and always gave fully of himself. Radical in politics, faith, and life (and all of them were completely intertwined, which I love), Isaac lived more in his 26 years than many people do in 80. He will be missed dearly.

Permalink: My_cousin_died_.html
Words: 77
Location: Buffalo, NY

08/26/08 03:18 - 72ºF - ID#45461

The Place. The Diner Dash.

The place has finally reopened. It has been closed since before (e:Janelle) and I moved here (almost a year and a half), but is finally open.

I have no idea what it will be like--I've heard mixed reviews, but it looks like the kind of place I might enjoy, and it is literally a block from my house, so it seems like I have no choice but to give it a try.

I will be going tonight after we take our animals to the vet. After getting three animals in and out of the vet's office, I will be ready for a drink.

If you would like to join us, just comment. I would imagine we will arrive around 8, but I don't know for sure. It's at the corner of Lexington and Ashland.

Also, if any of you are runners, I will be running four miles in the diner dash, to benefit Loaves and Fishes Dining room. Go here

to find out more.

Permalink: The_Place_The_Diner_Dash_.html
Words: 168
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

08/24/08 06:13 - 72ºF - ID#45442

Jbeatty's list.

This was a long assignment.

Only had to strikethrough two, I think.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (does alligator count??)
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth �60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
~~65. Durian~~
66. Frogs' legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
~~70. Chitterlings, or andouillette~~
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Permalink: Jbeatty_s_list_.html
Words: 268
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: pittsburgh

08/23/08 09:55 - 73ºF - ID#45418

Pittsburghers are everywhere

Notice the Terrible Towel in the background? in Bejing? at the Olympics?

(Picture found at post-gazette.com)

for more on the towel:

Go Stillers!

Permalink: Pittsburghers_are_everywhere.html
Words: 35
Location: Buffalo, NY

08/19/08 10:12 - 62ºF - ID#45373

10 Things I like about August

1. Vacation.

2. NFL Training Camp.

3. Catching the last of the outdoor concerts.

4. Elmwood Ave. Art fest.

5. The Olympics (this August, at least)

6. Not too hot, not too cool.

7. A lot of monthly meetings that I have don't meet in August.

8. Baseball's playoff race.

9. More time to blog (whoops! First post of the month. Sorry estrip.)

10. All of the good stuff that comes up in the garden (soon, I hope).

Permalink: 10_Things_I_like_about_August.html
Words: 68
Location: Buffalo, NY