"in class today..." written by Heidi on estrip.org

Category: school

11/30/10 10:11 - 55.ºF - ID#53183

in class today...

I brought up an article I read this week about Tea Party members being against sustainable development efforts, or most zoning in general, that they think it's to create "human habitation zones" and it's a UN plot.

Later, someone else brought up about the new food safety bill that passed today and he thought it was a good thing because of the salmonella and e-coli breakouts in peanut butter and cilantro and whatever.

The bill gives the FDA more power over food inspections.

A classmate got REALLY upset and ranted about the FDA doing more harm than it's ever done good, citing an example of the FDA raiding a raw food coop in California

and you know, people have died waiting for drug trials. She then essentially said I was calling the Tea Party people crazy and that they just want smaller government and government is so bad, and then quoted Glen Beck to support her argument.

blink*

Do people really believe that the FDA is bad? I'm not very interested in the topic outside of appreciating that they do recall drugs that kill you or make you fly airplanes into houses on suicide missions. In general, it feels like a "too little too late" kind of agency.

The prof was very very diplomatic in calming the ruffled feathers.

jason writes at 06:42:36 12/01/10 - Comment #59507: Ok, sorry for the MJ rant. I'll just drop it as it isn't pertinent to your post. I'm honestly sorry for that, even if I really do hate them.

Appeal to authority is always a logical fallacy, regardless of whether it is Glenn Beck, Noam Chomsky, the Cookie Monster, or whoever else. Your classmate made a bad argument worse (Died waiting for drug trials? Ridiculous, and comparable to people claiming if only GWB weren't President, Michael J. Fox would be cured).

I, for one, am thankful that the FDA exists. I'm glad I have clean water and safe food. I can go through life and feel satisfied, without having ever eaten unpasteurized Brie. That's an agency I like in general.

jason writes at 05:32:24 12/01/10 - Comment #59505: A Tea Partier wrote an analysis of Agenda 21, and came up with some reasons they find it objectionable. I talk with Tea Party types every day, unlike their critics, and this is the first time I've even heard of this so called issue. The part of MJ's article I find suspicious is the idea that it constitutes some kind of "threat". Against what?

It is reminiscent of another bullshit "threat" Mother Jones wrote about earlier this year - the idea that soldiers are lining up to wage war against the Obama administration.

The cover had a mean-looking soldier, with AGE OF TREASON next to him. He's not alone! Watch out! But what did the STORY say? It was about the Oath Keepers, another thing MJ said was a "big deal" among people they don't understand or communicate with. The story was meant to scare gullible progressives into thinking that there was violence afoot, and the cover was meant to blur the distinction between regular American soldiers and the Oath Keepers.

Not only were they dead wrong on the threat and the importance of Oath Keepers to hard core conservatives, the only violence from soldiers was at Fort Hood, the kind of violence Mother Jones types want to pretend isn't a threat.

So, yes. I advise you guys take anything Mother Jones says about people they hate with two giant, heaping spoonfuls of salt.

heidi writes at 04:28:28 12/01/10 - Comment #59502: Um... sure (e:jason), here's what the Tea Party is saying: :::link::: or :::link:::

(e:jbeatty) - I thought her argument was stuipd, too. And you're right... I don't think I really meant that the FDA is too little, too late. Thanks for your input.

jason writes at 03:26:42 12/01/10 - Comment #59501: I would take anything Mother Jones says about Tea Party members with giant scoops full of salt.

jbeatty writes at 10:05:01 12/01/10 - Comment #59500: What bothers me about people who want smaller government at all costs is the elimination of agencies like the FDA. I can't comment on the food inspection side of things because I have no familiarity on the subject. I am however a drug manufacturer. I'm regulated on a daily basis by the USP and FDA on how I compound drugs. I don't see them as a "too little too late" sort of agency. They are very proactive about making sure the drugs you get are safe and efficacious. I have drugs fail quality control on a monthly basis. Believe me it would be much more cost effective to release a drug that didn't meet strict guidelines than it would be to re-synthesize them. Your classmates argument that "people have died waiting for drug trials" is quite frankly stupid. Drug trials take a long time for a reason. The last thing anyone wants to see happen is another thalidomide being approved.

tinypliny writes at 10:40:43 11/30/10 - Comment #59494: I don't think the FDA is bad, in general. It has several merits as a regulating authority. (Seriously, raw milk enthusiasts need to get most of their facts straight and look at food poisoning statistics in less fortunate countries around the world before crying blue murder.)

However, the FDA is only as good as the people who run its offices. If they are non-scientifically inclined, then decisions that pass through them are bound to be stilted and ridiculous. What it probably needs is a rotating non-biased external scientific advisory expert body/panel that assesses key issues before major decisions are set in motion.

Permalink: in_class_today_.html
Words: 241
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/30/10 10:11

Category: comedy

11/30/10 06:14 - 53.ºF - ID#53180

Dykes of Hazard: It's not easy being white

I was at this show and I'm in class at the moment, but this tune was freakin' hysterical live. so hopefully it comes across just as awesome on vid:

I think too few people in my facebook friends list would get this - thanks, (e:peeps)!

Permalink: Dykes_of_Hazard_It_s_not_easy_being_white.html
Words: 57
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/30/10 07:08

Category: holiday

11/27/10 02:41 - 36.ºF - ID#53171

A happy thanksgiving!

I had a wonderful thanksgiving in maryland at my best friend's mom's :-) here's a picture of felicia in her thanksgiving apron and one of michelle and her cousin's 5 year old. So cute! Hope you all had a great time also!

Permalink: A_happy_thanksgiving_.html
Words: 43
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/28/10 12:32

Category: gas e&p

11/20/10 01:19 - 47.ºF - ID#53139

Petition to extend NYS fracking moratorium

The NYS Senate passed a bill Aug. 3 to extend the DEC moratorium on high water volume, horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing for natural gas extraction until May '11. The Assembly hasn't acted and the session is getting very short. Petition:

AND/OR:

Call Assembly Speaker Silver (212-312-1420), assembly member Robert Sweeney (631-957-2087), and Buffalo's Sam Hoyt (716-885-9630). Tell them to vote â€œyesâ€ on this moratorium (A11443), as well as asking that they recommend this to their fellow assembly members, and tell them to bring this moratorium to a vote AS SOON AS THEY RETURN! We cannot wait on this! Tell Governor Paterson (518-474-8390) to support this legislation and sign it as well!

Also, don't believe the "natural gas is cleaner than coal" crap. If you only look at the moment of burning, yes, it's cleaner, but if you take into account the whole process, it could be dirtier than the entire coal extraction & burning process, according to the

(PDF)

We urge caution in viewing natural gas as good fuel choice for the future. Using the best available science, we conclude that natural gas is no better than coal and may in fact be worse than coal in terms of its greenhouse gas footprint when evaluated over the time course of the next several decades. Note that both the National Academy of Sciences and the Council of Scientific Society Presidents have urged great caution before proceeding with the development of diffuse natural gas from shale formations using unconventional technology.

Permalink: Petition_to_extend_NYS_fracking_moratorium.html
Words: 277
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/20/10 01:19

Category: stuff

11/19/10 08:23 - 38.ºF - ID#53133

Lampshade... Success!

Not a bad lampshade... Found it at target for about $16.

(followup to (e:heidi,52761) and (e:heidi,52973))

Permalink: Lampshade_Success_.html
Words: 18
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/19/10 09:23

Category: apartments

11/16/10 10:03 - 48.ºF - ID#53113

I hate Kissling Interests

This is an anti-Kissling Interests rant. ((e:peeps), no need to read, it's just for potential Kissling Interests renters.)

Do not rent from Kissing Interests. Do not rent at 131 Allen Street, the Aldor Apartments. Kissling is a money-grubbing evil corporation. If you are not an absolutely perfect person and tenant, you will pay lots and lots and lots of extra money. They do not repair important things like WATER LEAKING INTO YOUR APARTMENT. My apartment leaked for two years and they gave me $100 off one month's rent for it. That barely covered all the extra laundry costs I incurred. Thank goodness none of my electronics were near the windows. I cleaned the apartment thoroughly when I left - it was cleaner than when I moved in, it was clean enough for someone else to move into immediately, it was spotless, and they still took $40 out of my security deposit, and if I want to contest it, I have to hire a lawyer. I had a parking spot in a lot at 175 North and once they towed my truck without notifying me because they were repaving, not because I hadn't paid or was in violation of any lease provision. The lease does NOT say that no dogs are allowed on the premises. Nisha came to visit and I got charged $250 and was not allowed to keep her there at all. My apartment was very cute, but overpriced for the amount of space, amount of noise on Allen and the lack of maintenance. There was no way to control the heat so my windows were wide open in the middle of winter. Once a window shattered on my head while I was trying to open it. I got charged $180 AND got an eviction notice when I didn't pay within three days. They charge tenants $50/mo extra to have an air conditioner in their windows - according to the notice it's to defray extra costs, but tenants pay for electric!! Cats are allowed but only with a NONREFUNDABLE deposit. This is why the building was more than half empty for over a year. For comparison, the apartments above Colter Bay at Delaware & Allen have central air, controllable heat, are much more spacious, have modern large kitchens, allow dogs & cats with no deposit, and are fully rented, even with the same noise issues.

KISSLING INTERESTS SUCKS. Don't rent with them.

Love,

Heidi

heidi writes at 01:27:09 08/17/11 - Comment #64416: I got a private estrip message recently:

guest says: I wish I had seen your comment before I rented her at 175 North St. through Kissling Interest. I tried to comment directly on your post but was unable to perhaps you can add an update to try to keep the word out there. You are right about Kissling. I am that perfect tenant or so I was. I even have a letter from a company I used to rent from telling me that I could always use them as a reference. I have had so many problems with Kissling and I have only been here for 4 months. Warning to all future renters in Buffalo: Avoid this company at all costs. I hope you have moved on to a better and happier place. I know I can't wait to leave this apartment of hell.

She also wanted me to link to her blog post about it: :::link:::

tinypliny writes at 10:09:46 11/18/10 - Comment #59316: I am so glad you found a place that has a heart.

tinypliny writes at 10:09:08 11/18/10 - Comment #59315: Yikes, I almost rented one of their flats a couple years back. But then my inertia threw a spanner in the works and stopped me from moving.

lilho writes at 01:38:42 11/17/10 - Comment #59289: woah, this sounds horrible. you should start a facebook page and get other people to join. then get your money back. wishful thinking, but that whole experience kinda makes me cringe.

heidi writes at 11:32:40 11/17/10 - Comment #59286: When I moved in, the shower rod wasn't up, even though they had a month and half from when I signed the lease to my move in date to fix it. I spent 5 days without a shower and only a mini-clawfoot tub. Being all grubby from moving and not being able to wash property really made me angry. The apartment was dirty when I moved in. For all that trouble, I got $50 off a month's rent. Ridiculous.

heidi writes at 11:28:41 11/17/10 - Comment #59285: Thanks guys! It's currently #6 is my google search. I should add that the headquarters never ever ever returns phone calls and headquarters staff never answer their phones. The powerless property manager would usually call back or answer, but beyond that, forget it.

libertad writes at 10:38:32 11/17/10 - Comment #59284: I looked at an apartment by Kissling and was put off by extra charges that seemed unreasonable. Non-refundable pet deposit? What the hell is that about? Why wouldn't you refund it? I think that was the final factor in me not taking one of their apartments. I hope your journal comes up in top ten when searching for Kissling.

enknot writes at 10:06:15 11/17/10 - Comment #59282: It's soo true. they suck so bad. meanies.

Permalink: I_hate_Kissling_Interests.html
Words: 398
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/16/10 10:03

Category: tourism

11/06/10 02:14 - 40.ºF - ID#53070

Griffis Sculpture Park

Went to Griffis Sculpture Park back in September with the queer women's meetup. I loved it and can't wait to go back.

Permalink: Griffis_Sculpture_Park.html
Words: 66
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/06/10 02:14

Category: home

11/06/10 01:01 - 38.ºF - ID#53068

Blossburg Fall Festival

The 2010 Blossburg Fall Festival sponsored by Blossburg V.I.B.E. was very successful this year. I didn't get any good shots of Keith's hayride.

Jill's husband Shane, my brother Josh, his girlfriend Wendy, and my/Jill's/Shane's office manager Kelly staffed the V.I.B.E. hot dog contest registration table.

Dave & his blond son Tyson

Kelly's triplets - Emily is the one facing the camera, the boys are avoiding me.

Mikki & Kelli painted pumpkins

Hannah painted pumpkins

Dave (one of Shane's workers) & Gordy (one of Shane's relatives) waiting for the hot dog eating contest to start.

Winner's brother

Timothy Jackson (one of Shane's numerous cousins) - note Tommy Mac's face in the background!

Gordy

Skynner

Skynner stopped to take a call.

Jill tallied number of hot dogs each contestant ate.

Winner!! He's actually not related to any of us, he's from out of town! He and his brothers and his mom came to the contest from several counties away.

Brothers & Gordy

First place guy, second place Bryan "Big Sushi" Kinat (another of Shane's relatives), and third place Gordy

Blossburg's Top Dog. He got a trophy, a shirt, a medal, and $50.

Parents of one of my high school classmates eating leftover hot dogs.

I used to co-coach the Battle of the Books club with my friend Robin, an English teacher at the high school.

Sue makes filipino food and people are very intrigued.

We had a country/rock band.

Shane's cousin Michael is the drummer.

My high school classmate Annie's son Jarrod cooked baked potatoes for the Boy Scout troup.

Jarrod & his Boy Scout pals.

My dad trying out pies. Jackie coordinated the pie-baking contest...

That my mom & aunt took second & first prizes (respectively).

Yet another cute kid.

More pix at

More info at

Next V.I.B.E. project that I'll be photographing: Light Up the Holidays contest.

Permalink: Blossburg_Fall_Festival.html
Words: 384
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/06/10 01:19

Category: home

11/05/10 11:58 - 38.ºF - ID#53062

No FRACK!

9 minute video about the Pittsburgh protest against the Marcellus shale producers conference Wednesday. The conference featured Karl Rove as the keynote speaker, telling the gas companies that now we'll see an era of "sensible regulation". That's what Rove called the banking regulations before the banks took down the global economy.

The video includes several minutes of Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox. He's saying civil disobedience is going to be necessary to protect our homes, water, cities and forests. One person on a email list I manage called this "inspirational"... I'm sitting at my kitchen table crying because we're so fucked. The PA governorship is now held by Tom Corbett, who raised nearly $1M from oil & gas companies during his campaign. Thanks, Supreme Court, for Citizens United. Fuck you very much. The PA House, which passed severance tax legislation in the last session, is now held by Republicans, who are virulently anti-tax and pro-gas drilling, mostly unconcerned about the environmental and community impacts. The PA Senate was already held by anti-tax Republicans. PA Dept. of Environmental Protection already doesn't have sufficient staff to monitor gas wells and other gas infrastructure. With the US House turning Republican, it's really unlikely the FRAC Act will pass. The FRAC Act would make hydraulic fracturing subject to the Safe Drinking Water Act and give the US EPA authority to regulate fracing, eliminating the "Halliburton Loophole". Oh yeah, and Obama just came out for expansion of natural gas drilling as a concession to the new House majority.

The gas companies evidently think/hope we'll all move so they'll have unfettered access to our lands. Us pesky water-drinkers.

Permalink: No_FRACK_.html
Words: 282
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/05/10 12:27

Category: pets

11/05/10 12:49 - 42.ºF - ID#53060

Vet for China?

When I moved into my apartment, it had fleas. I immediately treated China Cat and they all died. However, she's super allergic to the bites and has itched so much that she's got scabs and bald spots two months later. Ew! I know, TMI. Sorry. I think I have a lead on an elizabethan collar for her, so that plus some neosporin might fix it. If not tho, I'm gonna take her to the vet. Anyone have recommendations for a gentle, reasonably priced veterinarian?

Thanks!

In other news, I'm working too much (regular work + this crazy research assistant position I took on for almost no money), have too many school responsibilities, an ethics exam Saturday, but my laundry's done... except for the two sets of sheets, blanket, and quilt that China's puked on this week. *sigh*

Ten things I like about my new apartment
1. I can have a kitchen table AND a couch!
2. Full-size freezers fit frozen pizzas.
3. Temperature control means not being so energy wasteful and preventing heatstroke by having windows open during sub-freezing temperatures. The furnace had a gas leak, but the property management took care of it. They also replaced the hot water heater promptly when it sprung a leak. The water was just warm before but now it gets HOT!
4. I have a full-size tub! Actually, the whole bathroom is full-sized. The bathroom is really cute and I got adorable towels with whales on them.

5. I have two walk-in closets.
6. It's quiet. I knew it would be quiet, but it's quieter than my bedroom at Uncle Dudley's in Pa. There you can hear the highway noise. It took me a bit to get used to.
7. I have a lovely east-facing double window in my kitchen that allows all the prisms to make beautiful rainbows.
8. The downstairs neighbors are Peter & Heidi.