"Matthew!!" written by Heidi on estrip.org

Category: birthday

03/18/09 12:48 - 43ºF - ID#48104

Matthew!!

Happy 28th birthday, (e:Matthew)!

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

Category: parade

03/17/09 07:35 - 48ºF - ID#48092

St. Patrick's Day parade!

Thanks to (e:libertad) and (e:lauren) for trying to coordinate hanging out - I had no idea of the scale of the parade, and then the cell phone network crashed. I eventually found (e:lauren) & (e:felly).
I got a txt from (e:terry) at 7:30 that he had sent at 5! (must be before he passed out?)

Since the parade has been well covered by several others, I'll just post a few shots that I really liked.

I stood next to this sweet dog for much of the parade. I was in front of 570 Delaware, just north of Delaware & Allen on the west side. (There was room to move around and I could see the parade really well.)

After the parade, we were feeling left out because we had nothing to drink, so we visited the old pink for a beer

then went to the convenience store and got 40s and some sunchips. We're so cool.

We did finally figure out that we should be outside with our discreet paper bags.

and we watched the scenery from my sunny front stoop

(e:Felly) thought this was the best Guinness hat of the day.

But wasn't so impressed with this one.

My classmate Paul stumbled by

And this pretty one gave us a nice homecoming queen wave.

Thanks to (e:paul) & (e:matthew) for letting me hang out for a bit, much after the party had ended.

Permalink: St_Patrick_s_Day_parade_.html
Words: 269
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: pets

03/16/09 07:30 - 56ºF - ID#48076

time at home!

I had a lovely spring break last week and spent time here in Buffalo and at home. (e:Janelle), thanks again for taking care of China Cat. I have to post these pix before I can get to the St. Pat's pix.

Nisha was a grubby, stinky mass of poodle fur - her last haircut was 9/28 ((e:heidi,45816))

She's much cleaner now

My dear Uncle Dudley ((e:heidi,46397)) and her boyfriend have started a company that makes decoration holders for headstones. They're called Headstone Halos (TM, patent pending). Eventually I will need to make a website for them, so I took some pictures this weekend.

I've passed by these signs several times, the last time I was home - in JANUARY, and several times on this trip. There is a pair of them just south of the Presho exit on US Rt. 15, one for northbound traffic, one for southbound traffic. This isn't anywhere near the Canadian border, the near-unanimous language of choice in the area is English, and even though the sign reads KM/H, it's tracking in MPH. WTF??

A's gig was pretty successful. They opened for a popular Corning-based blues-rock band, the Brainbell Janglers.

And finally, the sunset Saturday on my way back to Buffalo was gorgeous.

I was reading (recently, not while driving) about taking great sunrise/set photos and the author suggested turning around. Here's what i saw

Okay, prolly shouldn't be taking pix while driving, but it was just so pretty... notice the star (planet) in the middle. [edit: okay, you can't see it in the shrunken version, but trust me, there's a cute little white dot.]

Permalink: time_at_home_.html
Words: 292
Location: Buffalo, NY

03/14/09 02:56 - 40ºF - ID#48050

Drug decriminalization in Portugal

Saturday March 14, 2009 06:19 EDT
The success of drug decriminalization in Portugal

In 2001, Portugal became the only EU-member state to decriminalize drugs, a distinction which continues through to the present. Last year, working with the Cato Institute, I went to that country in order to research the effects of the decriminalization law (which applies to all substances, including cocaine and heroin) and to interview both Portuguese and EU drug policy officials and analysts (the central EU drug policy monitoring agency is, by coincidence, based in Lisbon). Evaluating the policy strictly from an empirical perspective, decriminalization has been an unquestionable success, leading to improvements in virtually every relevant category and enabling Portugal to manage drug-related problems (and drug usage rates) far better than most Western nations that continue to treat adult drug consumption as a criminal offense.

by Glenn Greenwald

Read more

Permalink: Drug_decriminalization_in_Portugal.html
Words: 148
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: holiday

03/10/09 02:54 - 39ºF - ID#48006

St. Patrick's Day parade?

Would any (e:strip)pers like to coalesce for the St. Pat's parade? It's my first time and I would love a tour guide.

tinypliny writes at 06:26:26 03/15/09 - Comment #46512: Man - I missed you all at the parade. I was there a whole 2 hours.

metalpeter writes at 07:35:31 03/11/09 - Comment #46342: One other thing even though (e:James) makes puking on the street fun, it isn't, but I guess it is better then say doing it in the bar and all over people.

metalpeter writes at 06:46:16 03/11/09 - Comment #46335: I admit that I plan on going no plan as where to be. I don't know as I would make a very good guide. I don't know as I have ever watched it from Allen before it sounds like an interesting place to watch it from though.

lauren writes at 03:00:54 03/11/09 - Comment #46331: sounds good...by the looks of (e:paul)'s picks i should not bring my dog :)

heidi writes at 01:54:49 03/11/09 - Comment #46319: (e:Lauren) - The parade starts at 2 from downtown and comes up Delaware to North, so Delaware & Allen is a great place to catch it, I hear.

lauren writes at 12:36:43 03/11/09 - Comment #46313: we definitely plan on being there. dunno exactly what the route is though...couldn't find it anywhere. but text/call/whatever. :)

james writes at 12:29:08 03/11/09 - Comment #46312: Oh my god Paul. You are so much bigger now than in the photo in the journal you linked to.

paul writes at 12:41:24 03/11/09 - Comment #46304: I can't wait. We will definately be at the Allen and Delaware intersection, feel free to join us. Its the best place to celebrate. St. Patty's day is my fav day of the year. Here are some pics from last year (e:paul,43734)

james writes at 09:13:42 03/10/09 - Comment #46300: I plan on throwing up in the streets too.

libertad writes at 08:36:21 03/10/09 - Comment #46295: I know Mike and I are going to the parade but I'm not sure what the plan is yet. I'll send you my phone via post it so we can meet up. I'm looking forward to watching others throw up in the street. Maybe I'll end up joining them this year!

Permalink: St_Patrick_s_Day_parade_.html
Words: 23
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: pets

03/09/09 11:33 - 33ºF - ID#47994

Kitty sitter? Drumline ticket?

I need to go home this week - would anyone like to come visit my sweet purry China Cat Sunflower? Three visits would ensure her happiness.

Back when I bought a ticket to DRUMLine Live (

based on the movie

) at UB North Center for the Arts, I didn't realize I had spring break this week. So, anyone want a ticket? 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 Orchestra Row H, Seat 112.

Searcher, there is no road. We make the road by walking.

--Antonio Machado, Selected Poems

Permalink: Kitty_sitter_Drumline_ticket_.html
Words: 95
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: social networks

03/02/09 12:51 - 17ºF - ID#47920

growth of Facebook

I've befriended the neighbor kids' grandmother and father, my aunt's best childhood friend, A's aunt, a former landlord, and my dad's cousin in the past week on Facebook. It's freaky.

# 45% of Facebook's US audience is now 26 years old or older.

The fastest growing segment in the US: Women over 55, up 175.3% in the last 120 days. Facebook growing faster with women than men in almost every age group.

At least one person attributed some of the growth to 25 things meme (see (e:lauren,47634) and (e:metalpeter,47564)).

Why now? Why facebook?

I much prefer estrip.

Permalink: growth_of_Facebook.html
Words: 109
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: birthdays

02/21/09 05:07 - 34ºF - ID#47852

Drew!

Happy birthday, (e:Drew)!!

Permalink: Drew_.html
Words: 7
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: programming

02/19/09 11:21 - 23ºF - ID#47808

usability on mobile phones

I thought (e:jim) and (e:paul) and maybe others would find this article interesting, Mobile Web 2009=Desktop 1998

Summary:
Mobile phone users struggle mightily to use websites, even on high-end devices. To solve the problems, websites should provide special mobile versions.

Permalink: usability_on_mobile_phones.html
Words: 43
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: photos

02/15/09 11:04 - 23ºF - ID#47758

Riverwalk pix

Bird Island Park, Broderick Park and Squaw Island

See googlemap:

Tiny Buffalo Rising article

Little more historical bit:

What is the "railroad swing bridge"? Is that the thing you go over from West Ferry across Niagara to the park? Is the railroad bridge between Canada & US still in use?