I took my work laptop with me when I last went to PA because, ya know, i was working... When I got back to Buffalo, the screen stayed dark instead of lighting up on boot. However, I could still see the images; they were just very faint. I googled up some answers - most likely cause: inverter board failure. Since my laptop is about three years old, I didn't want to invest a lot in a repair, so I found a used board on ebay and also got a new battery because mine's no longer holding a charge for more than 10 minutes of use. $80 for parts and I'll have a functioning laptop for at least a few more months.... or so I thought.

The package came Tuesday and I tried the battery - wrong battery. The list of compatible Toshibas on the ebay listing was huge and mine wasn't specifically excluded... :-(

I installed the inverter board Thursday night because Drew needs something that's stored on that computer and I was going to the church on Friday... 6 screws and two small pin connectors later, I had it installed... Boot up... yea! lights! for 10 seconds. WHAT??? 10 seconds?? try again. same result. #$*!*#$ not just an inverter board problem, it's also a backlight problem. So screw it, I need a functioning laptop for finals, I need a functioning laptop for work... I gotta buy a new laptop.

I'm posting all this just to make sure it is reasonable...

How's this Toshiba look to you geeks?

I like this Sony Vaio but an extra $250 for a better processor (and admittedly excellent sony hardware) doesn't seem worth it.


I'm very hard on my machines so I don't want to spend a lot on them for them just to break because I'm clumsy and dangerous.

(1) The idea that Specter is a "liberal" Republican or even a "moderate" reflects how far to the Right both the GOP and our overall political spectrum has shifted.

Consider Specter's most significant votes over the last eight years, ones cast in favor of such definitive right-wing measures as: the war on Iraq, the Military Commissions Act, Patriot Act renewal, confirmation of virtually every controversial Bush appointee, retroactive telecom immunity, warrantless eavesdropping expansions, and Bush tax cuts (several times). Time and again during the Bush era, Specter stood with Republicans on the most controversial and consequential issues.

Read more at

The dandelions at UB North today looked like they were cultivated.

Every office needs hot young chicks, right? ;-)

I visited my office last weekend to work on the skatepark project with Jill & Kelly. Nisha wasn't allowed at the office this weekend because of its new residents - and she had liked the bunnies too much when they were visiting. They had a rooster in a crate outside, but he slipped out when Shane was trying to feed him and has taken up residence across the road near a pile of corn intended to feed deer and turkey. (Why did the chicken cross the road?) The possum's gone ((e:heidi,47567)). The eastern box turtle is still in its tank.

when you put a $1.25 on the bar for a beer at the Bear Ass in Blossburg.



A and I went to the Dead show at HSBC last night - stayed out dancing until nearly 4am at Nietzsche's :-) (Of course the property maintenance people decided 9:06 this morning was a good time to check out the water damage from Monday's rain.)

We went to Pearl Street for dinner. We shared the sampler - I liked the Sabre's Edge double IPA and he liked the Lighthouse and Raspberry Stout:



Cute bear cookies available in Shakedown



I'm so pleased to have finally gotten a picture of the Peacemaker first aid bus.



And the show was great!


I tweeted the set list (but this is just a copy from the email I get with the set list the morning after every show)

The Dead (Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart,
Bill Kreutzmann, Warren Haynes and Jeff Chimenti)
HSBC Arena, Buffalo NY
Tuesday April 21, 2009

Promised Land
They Love Each Other
Mama Tried
Loser
Smokestack Lightning ->
Stella Blue
It's All Over Now
Big River

Playing In The Band ->
Me And Bobby McGee
Loose Lucy
Ramble On Rose ->
Drums ->
Space ->
Maggie's Farm ->
Eyes Of The World ->
Playing In The Band (reprise)

Donor Rap
Truckin'

I can't make it to this, but thought some folks here might be interested...

--
I've been working so hard at writing this month's report & putting
together the panel, that I didn't really consider advertising. Anyway,
if you have some free time tomorrow afternoon (4-5.30) by 237 Main St
- 12th floor tomorrow, it's the April forum for the Partnership for
the Public Good. It's going to be on the downtown Erie Canal Harbor
development project, & reps from the development authority will be
there to face the firing squad.

Steve Marshall.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Erie Canal Harbor Development
How Will the Community Benefit?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
with panelists:
Julie Barrett O'Neill, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Amy Kedron, Buffalo First
Lou Jean Fleron, Cornell ILR

moderated by:
Aaron Bartley; People United for Sustainable Housing - Buffalo

and featuring a presentation by:
Matt Davison, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation spokesman
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Can a developed Erie Canal Harbor help to improve our local economic
conditions, bridge social divides, and better our own impression and
the national reputation of our city; while embracing aesthetic design,
providing a home for local entrepreneurs, providing quality
employment, and without damaging the riverfront environment?
To what other goals should such this project aspire? What can be
learned from the waterfront projects of other cities that have come
before?

Join our panel in discussing the Erie Canal Harbor Development
project.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PPG Tuesday Forums are free & open to the public.

A companion report will be available at the event, and at

that red-roofed, round building that sits out in the river south of the Peace Bridge? (see map)



Thanks!

Patterson to submit bill allowing same-sex marriage


I'm kinda fascinated by this new feature at Crooks & Liars - it's clips of old video - Three Mile Island as it was happening, for example, mixed in with clips from concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.


Here's one of Reagan on Meet the Press in 1974:


With commentary:



While I was waiting for (e:PMT) to pick me up to go to (e:Jim)'s party, I noticed that the bush next to the front steps of my building is a forsythia!



(e:James) expressing his enjoyment of the evening:

To add a little to (e:tinypliny,48229) ...

A law school friend said she had been to Merge twice, had the opportunity to sample several dishes and her analysis was "The food was bland." The polenta squares themselves were a little bland, but the sauce & onions were really good, and the one I had that was drenched in balsamic vinegar was yum. Everything else was really delicately flavored - the broccoli with "liquid aminos," the kale with pine nuts and cranberries, they let the natural flavors of the green stuff shine. The apple pie was very very good.

Merge advertises as "comfort food" and it's kind of modeled on the standard diner menu - french fries, mac & cheese, lasagna, grilled cheese - similarities but new interpretations. Jicama on grilled cheese? Hell, yeah. And really, how spicy or intense is diner food?

The Francis Bacon Players (improv troupe) were lots of fun. The cell phone company that has only one tower... on Mars... was my favorite skit. The power charades we lots of fun, too. The crowd filled in Mad Libs, two people acted out the concepts and the one guessed. Watching her guess this stuff so quickly really helped diffuse my stress about the oral argument hazing ritual I had the next day - if she had to guess skiing using french fries as poles, with ducks strapped to her feet in place of skis on the spot, I could discuss the first amendment rights of high school students - at least I got to prepare and use cheat sheets! She also guessed blowing up marshmallow peeps using crayons instead of dynamite and a pogo stick for a detonator. Another involved drooling while watching penguins have sex but I don't remember the rest. I think they're at Staples on Allen the 3rd Thursday of the month or something.

(e:tinypliny), I had a most wonderful awesome time with you, too! We have to do it again soon!!

--
I made Tops-brand Texas Garlic Toast with cheese as part of my dinner tonight. I think it's the only product I've ever seen that has a baking temperature of 420 degrees F. Hmmmmm....





--

Some posters I've seen along Allen St. recently:

In Full Swing, an interdisciplinary performance - poetry by Shawnell Tillery and jazz by the Clarence Lott Sextet - BYOP (poetry). This Saturday, 8pm, Colored Musicians Club.


Stephane Wrembel & The Django Experiment @ Nietzsche's 4/11, Babik opening. I love Django Reinhardt and I'm really annoyed that I can't go.


Dining Out for Life, 4/28, fundraiser for AIDS Community Services of WNY


--
I've introduced China Cat to the windowsill. I've also started teaching her to work for her treats but so far no acceptable photographic evidence.


Gorgeous foyer @ the Stillwater (but they need to windex the door)

Ya know those cool "Nonviolence begins with me" yard signs? Well, here's your opportunity to know more about the project behind them.


Alternatives to Violence Project Level I Workshop
Positive * Productive * Experiential

April 3 -- 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
April 4 -- 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

$30 - Scholarships may be available
Dinner, snacks & lunch provided

Workshop is held at and sponsored by the SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence, 80 Durham Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215. Make check payable to AVP Niagara Frontier Council and send to the Sister Karen Center. For more information, contact Audrey Mang at peacemanga@aol.com or 716-633-1140 (or me). Scholarships may be available.

Advance registration is required. Please contact Vivian at 716-362-9688 at minimum!