03/24/04 12:09 - ID#22169

a wide range of tactics

hey zack, im glad you pointed that out, bc i hear about stuff like that often enough that i decided to put a link to the defn of xerocracy (http://www.bikerev.org/xerocracy) in my post. thats the one thing many and most people don't know or realize about critical mass is how it works. the nature of the ride and organization is to let people have room the space to (or not to) organize stuff or say stuff.

anyways, critical mass brings anything from 2 to 20 to 100+ bikers. the times I've been on it, ppl scream jovially to drivers to get out of the car, and get on a bike. people in cars constantly honk, not in anger, but in support, with smiles on their faces and give us the thumbs up sign. if youve ever been yelled at, it may possibly been in fun, not to be mean. and then, there are some people who are more forthright than others on the ride and maybe they were yelling at you, but it is NOT indicative of the ride or the people on the ride. plus, there are a variety of reasons why ppl do it. some are out to build support for biking in bflo, for some people, that's not their primary reason for being out there.

the comments i hear about why people don't come discourages me. the mass is really what the ppl who are participating make of it. if you decide to come, you would have more effect on changing peoples attitudes about confronting drivers, than by not coming. if there were enough ppl with the same idea, there could be a movement within cm to faciliate or address some of the kinks. i remember a time when a few ppl would organize maps and corking and more.

i could go on and on about this topic, having been a rider for a few years now and being fascinated with the history. if you want to chat more on this, email me or somethin. anyways, i plan on being there, and hope some of yall (e:strip)pers might too.

thats a really fancy graphic btw, where did that come from?
later

Permalink: a_wide_range_of_tactics.html
Words: 366
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/24/04 03:35 - ID#22168

all i wanna do is see you again

the overconsumption ends here

i managed to get rid of a load of things today, adding them to the free pile downstairs. everyone was going through the pile and finding fab stuff. whoo! i feel so good with less stuff in here, with every item that i give away, the better i feel. i like it when someone else is pleased to get it. hopefully theyre not adding it to their own nest of clutter.

is there anyone out there who would like an old 8 mm projector? it needs a little oil and love. a super8 thats has melted eyepiece but is brand new otherwise? a frame for a papasan? (sorry, the cushion is long gone). maybe you know someone whos shorter than 5'1" and wants a cute orange ten speed. help..

speaking of bikes

don't forget critical mass (http://www.scorcher.org/cmhistory/insideout.html) this friday, be there 5ish or 530 pm at city hall. its great fun, and if you don't think so remember it operates under xerocracy (http://www.bikerev.org/xerocracy). one less car!

i bet you don't know who you are surrounded in

im such a bad friend, for being so bad at being a friend. it takes two to tango..

Permalink: all_i_wanna_do_is_see_you_again.html
Words: 206
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/20/04 06:22 - ID#22167

look at me i'm em-ily

yes, thats me that you see sometimes when you drive down elmwood, i always walk around my house in my pink bunny costume and dance around in mike's room. in front of the window. in between the window and the curtains. yup, thats me.

Permalink: look_at_me_i_m_em_ily.html
Words: 44
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/19/04 04:35 - ID#22166

why are you so far away she said

everything feels disjointed. there are too many pieces of me, too much going on and i can't put them all together.

still up. i hate this, everyone here is asleep and it feels like no one else is up. whos awake at this hour and is out there?

Permalink: why_are_you_so_far_away_she_said.html
Words: 48
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/18/04 06:59 - ID#22165

show me some citations

what a crock

bush administration officials claim they never used the term 'immediate threat' in reference to iraq, and can't just admit they lied, misled the public, or were wrong. this clip is from 'face the nation' last sunday. (http://www.moveon.org/censure/caughtonvideo/) the guy with the citations is a reporter for the ny times, i think.

Permalink: show_me_some_citations.html
Words: 59
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/18/04 03:15 - ID#22164

hey

happy birfday matthew*

friends just want whats best for you, and maybe can't believe you wouldnt want to do anything to celebrate. take it as flattery that they care. celebrate, don't celebrate, do whatever you want, theyll still be your friends (like it or not) either way.

Permalink: hey.html
Words: 47
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/20/04 06:19 - ID#22163

challenges in the belly of the beast

this is a picture of rome in the slideshow from the nytimes site of protests today around the world (http://nytimes.com/slideshow/2004/03/20/international/20040320_PROTESTS_SLIDESHOW_1.html) (note: keep clicking if you see repeat slides, it will go to other photos)

anyways, this picture from rome reminded me of being at a march in brazil. i was surrounded by thousands, not just a couple of hundred people. and it was so energetic, everyone was singing and dancing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

greenpeace activists scaled big ben in london and hung a sign that said 'time for truth'. not a huge banner drop, but a good juxtaposition nonetheless. theres a pic in the same said slideshow.

ding*

i started to write something about my own frustration with fragmentation of messages, and i stopped myself. but looking at stickboy's entry, i came back and wanted to say more.. partly bc i was one of the people there who talked to him about his dog at the rally and not about anything important. the funny thing is that i spend a lot of time on organizing, spend a lot of time on issues like these that i never spend time at rallies talking about it. its so tough in the belly of the beast, for so many many reasons. but im curious.. whatd yall think of today? email me if you don't want to post..

Permalink: challenges_in_the_belly_of_the_beast.html
Words: 230
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/20/04 12:37 - ID#22162

the world still says no to war.

check out terry's journal for info on the rally (http://www.elmwoodstrip.com/linkme.php?u=terry). i hope to see yall there...

for everyone who is critical of bush and the current administration and wants them out this november, come out to this. last year feb 15 was HUGE. make this march 20 huge too.

this is a global day of action, and all over the world millions of people will be out in the streets. talk about 'writing history,' especially a history that often doesn't get written up in the papers.

"Freedom from Fear" antiwar rally/march
Saturday, March 20th, 2 PM
Lafayette Square, Downtown Buffalo

The Bush administration has manipulated post-9/11
fears to justify wars abroad and abuses at home. On
March 20th, Western New Yorkers will join together to
reject the politics of fear and say:
No more war and occupation
No more anti-Arab discrimination
No more anti-immigrant policies
No more violent policing in our community

For more info, or to get involved, call 894-2013 or
email colin@wnypeace.orgcolin at the peace center

you can read more about it on the United for Peace and Justice site (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/)

Permalink: the_world_still_says_no_to_war_.html
Words: 199
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/17/04 01:36 - ID#22161

hey stickboy

you are the first real person from this site that i knew as a real person before (e:strip)ping it up. i just tried testing an email to myself and it didn't work. it sounds like your prose was lost, too bad. but no lamentations..

ding*

did you know... (drumroll) that the central library has beckett on film (part of the pbs stage on screen series) on videos? i know a couple of kids who would wanna watch it...its ok to hang out without the presence of that whatshisname-- saul?.

i was gna email all of this to you, but then thought of how beautiful it was that elmwoodstrip was reuniting people, and wanted to share with the whole wide world. or at least the rest of our elmwood strip community.

cheers,
lady e

Permalink: hey_stickboy.html
Words: 135
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/17/04 12:56 - ID#22160

boring dumb and blind its been a long

time my friend

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
-- U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864

mighty taco here we go

Permalink: boring_dumb_and_blind_its_been_a_long.html
Words: 87
Location: Buffalo, NY

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