Oh my gosh, I just read your food poisoning story. I'm literally here right now in the office rolling at my desk. The picture in my head of you just stopping your car and falling out of your car which just rolls away (in my head, anyway) and collapsing into Burger King. Aw, you crack me up!

Love and miss Paul, Terry and Matt. Had a great time in Bflo and the party. Great to meet new people and friends! Later!

Hola y'all.
I remember discovering that, what seems like a really long time ago, when I walked the streets of buffalo and it was my home. What's the street called, right by McKinley high school - I think it's Fordam - if you go down that about half-way you'll be at the spot McKinley was shot. It was at a building called the Temple of Music, and that, and many other of Delaware Parks more esteemed looking buildings, were built for I think the Pan American Exposition in 1901 (wow, I just looked it up to be sure, and I was right - that's a surprise - good to know some of my brain cells still work). Interesting that you would bring that up!
As always, I miss my three boys...

Okay, so I started to put this in the profile section under "about you" and rambled enough for it to turn into something completely different....

First of all, I think you should be able to type in more letters in the boxes. People can't tell you who are from these things, but they would've found out a lot by reading my mental side-comments or jokes about some of the questions, which I tried to type in but was limited in characters..... sounds like censorship to me Paul - it's like, we'll let you answer, but not explain. Ha ha.
That doesn't really tell you about mw, but neither do the questions, hmm?
Buffalo by growth, san diego by, I guess, fate? My actual birth age is 27, but really sometimes I am stubborn like a 16 year old, but most of the time, I feel like I'm more 35 or forty. Sometimes I look at dumb-ass 40 and 50 year-olds, and I feel rather like a 100-year old sage on the hill.... such is the balance. I have a 5-year old son, who is awesome.
I miss new york, and buffalo, in ways I never thought I would. That just goes to show that no matter what, there's no place like home, and there's no one in the world that can know you like family.... like, let's say I knew this guy for 25 years, now. The first time I met him I was four. He was a catholic republican italian boy, my first memory of him was having my skirt looked up while at a birthday party. In wholesome years, we watched, and sang along with, Mary Tyler Moore. The next thing I knew, ten, well, maybe twelve years later, he comes to my house in faux-fur bellbottoms the size of, I don't know, hakama pants, with an 8-sizes to small bright yellow t-shirt, and a 3-foot long plastic wallet chain, on his way to a rave (one of the changes I still don't get - such is life!). I thought to myself, where did my little brother go, with the plaid shirts and ties, and the little elephant pin? He taught me how to go out and do things, even if you didn't' know what to do, or you didn't know how, or even if people said that idea was crazy. Now, he's gay, atheist, technologically enslaved to a point that it worries me for his soul (gosh you're almost a hermit, if you count time at the computer-master, even if you are out of the house), even 3000 miles away, and will do any drug you put in front of him. Unless he's around a cat, such that no physical attibutes work well enough...with no nose, you can't snort, with no lungs, you can't smoke, with a brain primed for hypochondria, you live in paranoia. I tell you, it started with the "brain tumor" in 10th grade. Before that, the hypochondria was limited only to allergies, I can tell you accurately. Oh, he's also now pretty close to being a left-ist anarchist than a republican for sure - definately one of the changes I would agree with! Through all these fundamental things, attributes, which we like to think make us the person we are: faith, political views, sexual orientation, whether you'd rather hike or type, these are the things that I think we like to feel pride in, when it comes to thinking and feeling about who we are and what we do (although you certainly can never categorize people fully or accurately, whether it's your own self, or some one you don't know - perspective, it's a mind fuck, no?) My point is, in my best friend, my little (but older) brother, smarter than me (but less wise in the way of like, people and life), all these things have done an absolute 180 in that same profile from 24 years ago for my best friend, mi mejor amigo. There are few people I know in the world that are truly always the same. Some argue that who you are is who you are, and that's it, and although periferal things may change (where you live, who you hang with, etc) you're always the same. But I think in this way, we can categorize it in to two groups, those who are conscience of themselves, and other peoples's opinion of them, and those who don't. I definately belong to the first category and probably in an extreme (no coincidence, this type of personality "trait", is what leads me to being a "changling", a phrase I relate with, and feel that I am. I think I was 23 or 24 years old before I actually realized that it didn't matter a fucking damn what any one else thought of you, it only really matters what you think of you. I've always known that's how you should feel, and think, but I never really got it. Well, I could write a whole novel about my "issues". My point is to illustrate the contrast, in the person who is my best friend. I know a few people like this, and I am at times a little envious, particularly when I was younger and more insecure; these are those who no matter what, stay completely naive, and in fact, self-sheltered and totally unbeknownst, to the world around them. And I think because of this, they don't really ever change. Except for whatever the few things are that they are focused on. And in the few people I know like this, their focus on these things that make up their world, they are absolutely focussed, genius, understading and interactive with. Anything else, it might as well not even exist, for all they can see. Might as well not even exist, think about that. My best friend is this way, so is my son. These are the people that truly are always the same, regardless of when or what situation. When my parents, or Elijah's dad, or other friends, ask about the welfare and goings on of my best friend, I always feel the same response. Well, you know ________, he's always the same. I envy them, although I do see a lot of things a lot differently through different situations and experiences, than they do. I see a lot of things that these people missed. And I'm sure, if this person was into cars, (which he's not, but it's an easy example) and we walked around town, he would come away having remembered probably 100 different models, maybe the years, would've noticed any that had body work, the ones that are classic, etc. Like walking around a construction site with a carpenter, I would just see a bunch of framing. Much more intracate than that, in reality. Ah, the balance of life. But the observations that I might come away with would be totally different. I might notice language of the signs about town, or seeing couples can see which ones are happy or unhappy, and why. People, reactions, etc. That's what I see.
But regardless of these very fundamental differences between my best friend and I, he truly is my best friend. I read his journal, and to be entirely honest, I understand about 3% of it. It's like reading something in a different language, because I don't understand computers. All these people he mentions, are in a context related to something computer.... now, I'm not saying that these interactions and relationships or any less valid than having something "in person", as it were. But to me it is, and to him it's probably more real, because of the language he speaks. Such differences. He is the one person, seriously, in my whole life, even besides my parents, and I'm one of those that have a very honest and communicative relationship with my parents, my best friend is the one and only who always understands me automatically without my needing to explain a word, who's never judged me regardless of the dumb-ass things that I do, and the vibe between us is always the same: acceptance and love.
Many of you, if you've read this, know who I am talking about. And I think you would agree. I do worry, though, Paul, that you will be in another 20 years, someone whose only friends are robots that you've created, the only contact you have with the outside world (outside your head, I mean) is through your computer. I just love you.
My ode to you.

God, the disdain I feel for Americans.

I've always been one to feel shy waving any flag, and instead bring up the negative about America. But I'll tell you what, this past four years, seeing the last election go so wrong, and now this war business and halliburton and the school of the americas alumni and all that.... My patriotism was awakened through all this, because I finally felt something to get pissed about. Paul and I have had this conversation so many times, that we've had it so good, how can they (the elders) expect us to give a damn about a thing when we get to play on our computers and watch our survivor (sorry, paul, there not too much different, not that I watch survivor, as I digress), why the fuck should we care what's going on in the world, even so a different state or maybe the next county over. Well, then 9/11, and the fear factor involved with which W got just about all america to side with him in Iraq (ok, I could go off for 20 minutes here, but I won't). I saw something going on in type my country type that I couldn't understand, something that poked at the part inside me that said "wait a minute, this isn't what america is to me... freedom, truth? any of that? I don't see it, this isn't how it should be". I feel more anger for this foolish american idiot mentality than I do the terrorists. After all, we pretty much invented terrorism, don't you think? who can really blame them... Think of all the people over all the years in countries all over the world that have grown up to the sight of smoke and blood, the sound of bombs and mortar shells, and our pretty flag rolling past them.... hm, yet they hate us because of cable TV? Hmm, no... But now after all this, when we as americans had a chance to check ourselves and say, wait a minute, what kind of road are we on here, man...
I assumed that the "regime" wins because the people who are out there that think like me don't vote enough... Well, here we are, record turn outs and look at that.... more than half you fuckers out there are totally not in sync with what I call my "american" ideals, and yeah, even morals, if I can even use the term american morals without heaving anymore.
Instant karma's gonna get us...
Damn you morons...
Wednesday morning I cried, not because Kerry's not our president, I never liked him all that much anyway, but because it's absolutely true that I am no longer an american. It'd be like someone telling me I didn't belong in Buffalo anymore (which I prolly don't, fucking southern californian that I am), but it would still blow my fucking mind. That's how I feel today. I just can't even believe it's true.....Yet I know it is.
Here's a quote from our fine-tarred and feathered president:

(wow, I'll probably get on some CIA watchlist for threatening to tar and feather our president. That's right, while you're watching, I'm talking about that red-neck motherfucker from Texas, GW. Is that the FBI knocking even now as I type?)


For the second straight day, he pledged to reach out to those who opposed his re-election.
"The campaign over, Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results. I will reach out to every one who shares our goals," he said.

Um, Sorry, George, I don't share your goals of world domination and oil for all. Clearly he's done reaching out to me, oh, wait, he never did.

Sickened is how I feel.



On a lighter note, I thought paul might be excited about this:



TOKYO (AFP) - Giving a new meaning to the term grassroots music, Pioneer Corp. said it had developed a next-generation disc made of corn to let the eco-conscious consumer dispose of data in the soil.

The Japanese electronics maker said the Blu-ray optical disc, which can be written once and stores 25 gigabytes of data, is 87 percent natural polymer derived from corn and biod
egrades.

"If the starch polymer is incinerated, it will not emit dioxins and any other harmful chemicals," the company said.

While the disc can theoretically be eaten, it is coated by a 0.1-millimeter (0.004-inch) thick layer of resin and is too hard for even the strongest teeth.

Pioneer has yet to decide when to market the disc.

Earlier this year Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news) (news - web sites). and another Japanese company Toppan Printing said they had developed a paper disc that can be destroyed with scissors for fool-proof data security.

Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well, it's you girl and you should know it
With each glance and every little movement you show it
Love is all around why don't you taste it
You could have a chance why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all

Here are what appear to be the known facts, laid out recently in considerable detail and documentation by retired pilot and Air National Guard First Lt. Robert A. Rogers, and in a 2003 book, “The Lies of George W. Bush,” by David Corn.

1. George W. Bush graduated from Yale in 1968 when the war in Vietnam was at its most deadly and the military draft was in effect. Like many of his social class and age, he sought to enter the National Guard, which made Vietnam service unlikely, and fulfill his military obligation. Competition for slots was intense; there was a long waiting list. Bush took the Air Force officer and pilot qualification tests on Jan. 17, 1968, and scored the lowest allowed passing grade on the pilot aptitude portion.

2. He, nevertheless, was sworn in on May 27, 1968, for a six-year commitment. After a few weeks of basic training, Bush received an appointment as a second lieutenant – a rank usually reserved for those completing four years of ROTC or 18 months active duty service. Bush then went to flight school and trained on the F-102 interceptor fighter jet. Fighter pilots were in great demand in Vietnam at the time, but Bush wound up serving as a “weekend warrior” in Houston, where his father’s congressional district was centered.

A Houston Chronicle story published in 1994, quoted in Corn’s book, has Bush saying: “I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes.”

3. Sometime after May 1971, young Lt. Bush stopped participating regularly in Guard activities. According to Texas Air National Guard records, he had fewer than the required flight duty days and was short of the minimum service owed the Guard. Records indicate that Bush never flew after May 1972, despite his expensive training and even though he still owed the National Guard two more years.

4. On May 24, 1972, Bush asked to be transferred to an inactive reserve unit in Alabama, where he also would be working on a Republican senate candidate’s campaign. The request was denied. For months, Bush apparently put in no time at all in Guard service. In August 1972, Bush was grounded -- suspended from flying duties -- for failing to submit to an annual physical exam. (Why wouldn't he take this exam from a doctor?)

5. During his 2000 presidential campaign, Bush’s staff said he recalled doing duty in Alabama and then returning to Houston for still more duty. But the commander of the Montgomery, AL, unit where Bush said he served told the Boston Globe that he had no recollection of Bush – son of a congressman – ever reporting, nor are there records, as there should be, supporting Bush’s claim. Asked at a press conference in Alabama on June 23, 2000 what duties he had performed as a Guardsman in that state, Bush said he could not recall, “but I was there.”

6. In May, June and July, 1973, Bush suddenly started participating in Guard activities back in Houston again – pulling 36 days at Ellington Air Base in that short period. On Oct. 1, 1973, eight months short of his six-year service obligation and scheduled discharge, Bush apparently was discharged with honors from the Texas Air National Guard (eight months short of his six-year commitment). He then went to Harvard Business School.

Documents supporting these reports, released under Freedom of Information Act requests, appear along with Rogers’ article on the web at .

In the absence of full disclosure by the President or his supporters, only the President and perhaps a few family or other close associates know the whole truth. And they’re not talking.

Bush was apparently absent without official leave from his assigned military service for as little as seven months (New York Times) or as much as 17 months (Boston Globe) during a time when 500,000 American troops were figh
ti
ng

the Vietnam War. The Army defines a “deserter” -- also known as a DFR, for “dropped from rolls” – as one who is AWOL 31 days or more: www-ari.army.mil/pdf/s51.pdf.

How vulnerable are we, these human shields we carry? In the course of my evening, I've decided to write a quick note to an aquaintace of mine (my boyfriends old roommate), who I have definite respect for this person as a human soul. Perhaps not what I would consider fulfillment in my life, but I do not judge. But I know that he, like all of us searches and dreams of something more. In short, I was inspired to write this quick note.

I thought the quick notion to post on this site, because, like the choice between a hard-ass glare (because we're in a bad mood, or afraid) and a friendly smile (because we either feel joyously blessed in a good think to happen in a day, or feel free from the things that could make us feel bad, but we say fuck you negativity)...
Sometimes, we are the straws of the world changing broken back. A smile, could (you never know, I believe in energy) let someone have hope in humanity who might just about have been to kill themselves. A hard-ass glare could cause someone on the edge to go, "Fuck you bitch" and shoot up Jim's Steak Out, or We Never Close. Fuck.
Let's choose the former, the easy breed of positivity. I "Publish" this note for all who may hear and feel anything positive, and that you may carry that positivity to someone else. Paul, perhaps a home page greeting to all?



January 23, 2004
8:26 pm

O Ye Brother/Sister Soul of (that Power):

Hello Darling!

It is I and we, [those who care about you most, and those whose opinion of you that you care about most], hanging out. We were just speaking of you, & to sum up our conversation I will quote: “(

---

) is an absolutely right-on kick-ass mother fucker” (well, actually, that’s a paraphrase.

Anywho, just a note, a shout out, to say there are people out there who are thinking about you at a certain moment in time, decent people who care, and are taking time out of their lives to think “Gosh, y’know? That [---]’s a good dude, and I’m real glad to know him/her, and we wish you all the best, happiness, and fulfillment in life.

We dig ya

Ok, So I was just going to Title my entry:
"What the Fuck I Just Have to Express My Rage", but (totally not connected to my original feeling, I was not allowed enough characters to say the whole thing - that goes with the mood - oh Webmaster Paul (I think I should have some in with the man in charge), (Ok, return to the original thought)

I'm at Bob's house, and I wanted to show Tracy my journal entries, and Bob has NetZero, because it's free, and because he is even more computer-illiterate than I (actually, compared to Bob I'm like Bill Gates, and if you'd compare Paul to me, He'd be Stephen Hawkins - ha ha ) So NetZero, It's this free shit, and no matter how big you make the window, or if you move the top bar around, to try to make the top tool bar (the netzero map, and whatnot) go up to the top, I can't fucking scroll down, and see the shit that's below the shit that fits in the size of the monitor? That's just wrong. Is it because of the free-ness? Fuck. Anywho, had to get it out... We're all fucked up, and I'm with two people: one who needs help to log on, and the other who wouldn't even know what "log on" meant. Thanks for the outlet!

As an aside:
Thank you Paul for finally being someone who has responded to something I've put in my journal. I'm not one who likes to share a bunch of my thoughts (particularly to or with people who may not respond, people I may not know (or people who may know me (that could be worse!)), people who may not even be listening), but on Paul's encourgement, and also my desire to keep up with the ins and outs of my friends Paul Terry & Matt (and also my love and yearning for Elmwood; since I was 10 I love that Strip - I spent Three Years of residence, and lots of crazy shit with that as my address - fuck Elmwood Elmwood Elmwood you know? Well, I guess considering this is the Elmwood STrip website journal yo do know. God bless you - that is a rare thing of which we are blessed. I live in San Diego, and, whereas there is one place in Buffalo to be as a young person reaching and looking, a place where shit is going down and happening, and you would always see something cool, or strange, or scary, or wierd, or dramatic, but sometimes you'd even be lucky enough to experience those insane and ridiculous things, and chalk it up as one of your adventures. In San Diego, there are a thousand of those places. But still, there is only one Elmwood. And I love it, and still crave it. I used to hate Buffalo, and think - fuck, can't wait to get out of this town, nothing going on, elders and authorities always selling us out, and taking shit in the pocket instead of good for the city - very little prospects of anything getting better, in a lot of ways people walking around with a chip on their shoulders because the Bills lost four fucking Super Bowls, or Bethleham Steel went down, or there's nothing to do, or because they lived in South Buffalo and had to look at rundown grainmills and factories everyday, or from Kenmore: the Prozac of suburbs, where there was nothing so fucked up we felt we had a right to be pissed, really, but sedated enough we had nothing at all to fight for, really either... It took tragedy and absolute humility to feel, and know the home of Buffalo, and understand the value and weight of the things I love there. Paul, remember the picture, just a couple of words: Burger King crown, Deleware Park Bridge, lighting fluid allowing us to cheat God and set snow on fire, or Allentown, and our Oregano? Or the footbridge which is really a dam in the lake when I fell through the ice, or being on the islands of the historical society for like 10 hours in the dead of winter - fuck. I love Elmwood.

Am writing this all in vain?

"hello, hello, hello
is there anybody in there
just nod if you can here me
is there anyone at home
ok, ok, ok
I do believe it's working good
that'll keep you going
f
or

the show
c'mon it's time to go

....there is no pain you are receiving
a distant ships smoke on the horizon
you are only coming through in waves
your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.


I have come comfortably numb"

or some such thing (I can't verify my accuracy).

So anywho, I read people journals sometimes just to check people out, and I wonder if all my energy is in vain, so to indulge me, all who read this please send a shout out in response, just for me to see who's hearing me.

Gracias,
Peace
Sara

Hi Chris,
I met you while I was home, although briefly.

In response, two things:

My friend Bob (the zig zag man - who I hope to post a picture of soon)was watching the state of the union address, and I was leaving. I said, "Honey, can I get you a heave bucket to release all the spew you're gonna ingest?" We all laughed. Also, I got this email some time ago, and it's really interesting (also I quasi-answer to the question of "Where is John Wilkes Booth when we need him?"

Some presidential history. Look what happens when a President gets
elected in a year with a "0" at the end. Also notice it goes in
increments of 20 years.
> >
> > 1840: William Henry Harrison (died in office)
> >
> > 1860: Abraham Lincoln (assassinated)
> >
> > 1880: James A. Garfield (assassinated)
> >
> > 1900: William McKinley (assassinated)
> >
> > 1920: Warren G. Harding (died in office)
> >
> > 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (dies in office)
> >
> > 1960: John F. Kennedy (assassinated)
> >
> > 1980: Ronald Reagan (survived assassination attempt)
> >
> > 2000: George W. Bush ????????????
> >
> > And to think that we had two guys fighting it out in the courts to be
> > the one elected in 2000.
> >
> > You might also be interested in this.
> >
> >
> > Have a history teacher explain this

---

if they can.
> >
> > Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
> >
> > John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
> >
> > Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
> >
> > John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
> >
> > Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
> >
> > Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
> >
> > Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
> >
> > Both Presidents were shot in the head.
> >
> > Now it gets really weird.
> >
> >
> > Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
> >
> > Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.
> >
> > Both were assassinated by Southerners.
> >
> > Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
> >
> > Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
> >
> > Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
> >
> > John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
> >
> > Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
> >
> > Both assassins were known by their three names.
> >
> > Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
> >
> > Now hang on to your seat.
> >
> > Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
> >
> > Kennedy was shot in a car called 'Lincoln' made by 'Ford.'
> >
> > Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a
> > warehouse.
> >
> > Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a
> > theater.
> >
> > Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
> >
> >
> >
> > And here's the kicker...
> >
> >
> > A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland
> >
> > A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.
> >
> > Creepy huh? Inform as many people as you know, cause:
> >
> > Hey, this is one history lesson people don't mind reading .

I subscribe to MM's e-newsletters, and this is what I got this morning:

January 23, 2004

George W. Bush, A.W.O.L.

In last night's Democratic Presidential debate in New Hampshire, broadcast on the Fox News (Nusciance?) Channel and ABC's Nightline, Peter Jennings went after Wesley Clark -- and me -- because I said I want to see Clark debate Bush... "The General vs. The Deserter."

Jennings, referring to me as "the controversial filmmaker," asked if Clark wanted to distance himself from me and my "reckless" remark. Clark would not back down, stating how "delighted" he was with my support, and that I was entitled to say what I wanted to say -- AND that I was not the only one who had made these charges against Bush.

The pundits immediately went berserk after the debate. As well they should. Because they know that they -- and much of the mainstream media -- ignored this Bush AWOL story when it was first revealed by an investigation in the Boston Globe (in 2000). The Globe said it appeared George W. Bush skipped out in the middle of his Texas Air National Guard service -- and no charges were ever brought against him. It was a damning story, and Bush has never provided any documents or evidence to refute the Globe's charges.

George W. Bush was missing for at least a 12 month period. That is an undisputed fact. If you or I did that, we would serve time.

Senator Daniel Inouye, Democrat of Hawaii and a World War II veteran, joined with Vietnam vets Sen. Max Cleland and Sen. Bob Kerrey to challenge Bush on the gaps in his military record. "The question is, where were you, Governor Bush? What would you do as commander-in-chief if someone in the National Guard did the same thing? At the least, I would have been court-martialed. At the least, I would have been placed in prison," Inouye said.

The Washington Post, the New Republic, and others also presented the evidence that Bush had fled from duty.

The most comprehensive piece I've seen was on Tom Paine.com with all the relevant links and documents.

There are far more important issues to deal with in this election year. Poor Peter Jennings. What was he doing on Fox? All that seems left of his Canadianess is the way he pronounced my name ("Michael Moooore"). The question he posed to Clark was typical of a lazy media looking for a way to distract the viewers from the real issues: the war, the economy, and the failures of the Bush administration. But if they want to really get into the issue of Bush and his "service record," then I say, bring it on! The facts are all there, including the empty flyboy suit.
Yours,

Michael Moore

mmflint@aol.com

www.michaelmoore.com



PS: This is the second time I've been thrown into a New Hampshire presidential debate. Four years ago, Republican Alan Keyes was asked why he jumped into Michael Moore's mosh pit to the music of Rage Against the Machine. Now THAT was an issue of substance!