Thanks for writing. I will answer your questions, although I am scratching my head when it comes to the tone. I promise to respect your point of view and your take on any subject we discuss on this site, even if the subject is Jason.

1. Essentially what I am getting out of this is, "If you don't like it, leave." How very cruel. I will help you to understand. I don't want to leave. I like it here. With the exception of frothing at the mouth fanaticism, I find Elmwood to be the best place to live in WNY by far. The best food, the best cultural activities, the parks, the beauty of the neighborhood - I could go on and on about how great it is. I tell ALL of my friends (at least those who reside in Buffalo) they should live here. Believe me, if I felt compelled to leave I would have already been gone. I've lived on Elmwood for 4 years now.

You state the obvious when you say that I will never change the political slant of the neighborhood. It was not necessary for you to tell me that. It is not my intention to change the political slant of the neighborhood, nor have I ever said a single syllable to that point. You've misunderstood my message entirely. When I first came here I said it was the HOSTILITY which was objectionable, plain and simple, not the Liberalism itself. Luckily there are a few of you who can tolerate Republicans on Elmwood, otherwise I would feel unwelcome enough to move away.

2. Look, Paul, I've gone out of my way to say multiple times now that it i's not the Liberal slant that I dislike about the alternatives. I can't make it any more clear than I already have. I said that they are not to be taken seriously. In fact, I haven't even had the chance to line up point-by-point my argument. That would be in Part 2 of my Alternative Shitrag series which remains unwritten.

It is also more than a little presumptuous to think that I want to only hear the conservative agenda. Notice how some of the lefties on this site line up some of the farthest of the far left media sources in the book under their links section (this is not a criticism so please don't take it as such). Susceptibility to brainwashing and myopia cannot be claimed as only conservative traits. I have no such list in my links section. You can come over to 750 any time you like (seriously) and I will show you what is in my book case. We can have a beer and talk about what media sources I check out regularly. You might be surprised by what I have to say, and by the questions I might ask you.

3. You know what...I have a lot more faith in our species than that. I am going to have to disagree with you on this point. I believe that the far right does not have all the answers. I believe that the far left does not have all the answers. Anyway more emphasis is placed on who is right and wrong, and who wants to keep/acquire power, than actually coming up with solutions we all have faith in. We have wasted an inexcusable amount of time. Decade after decade we have seen arrogance, greed and hunger for power stop us from becoming a more civil, educated, medically and technologically advanced society. You say it can't be done, but I believe (or at least hope) that one day it all can be done with the right focus, and with a properly framed dialogue.

4. You say this is your most important point. Unfortunately you've mistaken a blog discussing why I think the alternative rags should'nt be taken seriously with a political discussion. Sadly I didn't even get to finish it before A) the topic was changed into a media bias discussion (not a political discussion, again), and B) You impatiently decided that you've had enough of me. I said this before, and I will repeat it - I am not here to discuss political issues. I already know how I will be treated, on here and in the street if I voice my opinion on political issues. I already know that most people around here don't know the
first fucking thing about your average Republican, which is why
I
have heard "You're too cool to be Republican" from people who have given me a chance. I only wanted to voice my opinion on how I think the alternative rags are failing you. I will save that opinion as well.

Jason

(e:matthew) - I sense a bit of a condescending dismissal on your part in regard to the problems I have with some of our local bird cage liners. I promise you this - I'm no idiot, despite what 99% of the people in our friendly neighborhood might say about people with different philosophical viewpoints. If you wish to discuss the general media bias question I am more than happy to participate - even when I know that there are dozens of people here waiting to nickel-and-dime me, cherry pick things and get away from the real discussion. I didn't get to finish my post (I was in a rush so I decided to split it into parts), so I can understand that the lack of completion meant that the main thrust of it wouldn't be effectively communicated.

Let me then be VERY clear - I never incinuated that these messages shouldn't be out there for people to absorb. Although I disagree with the, um, "authors" (most of the time anyway) I agree with (e:rachel) that it would be beneficial to everyone if all viewpoints were more readily available. I would also like for the "media watch" people to be far less transparently disingenuous in their work. Of course this is asking too much, so I can only hope for us to be able to take baby steps.

Anyway - I have a LOT of stuff to do at work lately, which is why Part 2 hasn't been posted yet. I am not finished expressing my gripe with the local alternatives, and I would like to finish that before we decide to divert the discussion in any other direction. I guess it will have to wait until this weekend sometime because I have already wasted too much time here wriiting this interlude. I didn't want you guys to think I was ignoring you. :)

The local alternative shitrags are becoming more similar and more difficult to take seriously. To be honest, I wish they would focus more on the subjects in which they have any kind of competency - like (gasp!) art, music, theatre, food, local happenings and the like. I am not someone whose mind is closed to new ideas. I think we need a lot of fresh ideas and fresh blood in American politics. Watching this presidential campaign has been revolting. However, people who so consistently weave their flimsy emotional bias into their writing cannot expect the fair minded among us to receive their message. What is their responsibility? Is it to dutifully echo the extremist liberal agenda to the believers, cleverly labeled as "truth" while at the same time crucifying anyone who doesn't share 100% of their glassy-eyed view of the world? Is it to try and convert the unbelievers? Is it to justify their own jobs? It is a shame that otherwise decent publications I used to enjoy reading have become nothing more than "journalistic" bullhorns for the radical liberal cause. They have every right to say what they say, of course I know that. But in using such language, they choose to alienate and condemn anyone who doesn't subscribe to such a fringe political ideology. But of course they are wildly popular because everyone in our neighborhood with the exception of me, my brother, Jessbob and one of the guys from Lazlo Hollyfeld is a lib. Perhaps they see no value in honest political discourse, or in working together to find real solutions to our problems. Perhaps they wish to infiltrate our minds and make us conform into one collective consciousness a la the Borg. I for one don't care for it. Put some logical, coherent, sane thought into it and I'm willing to give it a chance. My ears are open.

More thoughts on this later - work is over and I'm gonna puff a doob before the Bela Fleck show. Look for the guy that vaguely resembles the photo if you are going.

Jason

Well I just found out my best friend's girlfriend dumped him out of the blue. That guy is beside himself with grief right now. He actually really liked her and was happy being with her. I actually feel sick about it....poor bastard. This also means that she probably won't be trying to hook me up with her sister any more. I guess I don't care about that anyway.

You know what makes me even more sick to my stomach? I have been too busy/tired/selfish to pick up the phone the last few days. He needed someone to talk to - he needed help - he needed me to talk him up. Of course if I had seen this situation coming I wouldn't have left the phone alone. Bottom line, I failed him, I flat out failed him. This is not like me, and not like the guy I want to become. This burns me. I am seeing red right now. I wasn't there for my best friend when he needed me the most. What a horrible piece of shit friend I have been to him this week.

My man, if you can read this - I am truly sorry. This is not how a friend treats a friend. I try very hard to be the best guy I can be, but I fell very short this time. I am imperfect. I will put my face on the net and say it where dozens and dozens of people can read it - I have been a Grade A fuckup. I will do whatever I have to do, sacrifice whatever I have to in order to make this right. Hopefully you can forgive me - I know I would be super fucking pissed right now if I were you. You will be cool - girls come and go, and you have had some great ones. I would give years off of my life to be able to have some of the experiences you've had. I envy you. I can't say that some chick won't do the same thing someday, but I can say this - I won't fail you again.

(e:lisa) - I didn't know you wrote about my situation. I would have responded if I had read your entry. It's not like I'm dirt ass poor or anything, I am a college grad and hold down a decent job. It's just that I don't have enough. Hell, I can exit my apartment, walk by Kuni's or Brodo and see dozens of similar chicks every day of the week. She is not the bitchy type though - very pleasant to be around like I said before. You know what, you're right, if I can't afford her then I don't want her. Maybe I should find out for sure. I've gotta call her sometime anyway. I'm overthinking it probably, stupid brain.

By the way, I would give an honest take on your hair color but you've got a skully on. Also how did gumby get stuck in your nose? Do you teach young kids? Hehe

(e:sqb) and (e:hodown) - there is a problem in the situation. I found out she has a man already. Anyway maybe it's just stupid to think that anything would happen. She has em lined up already. The thing is that I do feel bad that I haven't called - I don't want her to think I'm an asshole but at the same time I know I can't be her friend because I dig her - last year I learned a lesson when someone asked me why I was so distant from them - I confessed to her that I couldn't be friends with someone that I wanted to be with so badly. So I lost a friend - don't want that to happen again either. I don't even know why I'm thinking about this crap. I'm a guy. Maybe my horniness is clouding my thinking. I'll probably call the girl anyway and hope she doesn't answer, so that way I'm not an asshole and at the same time I don't have to actually follow through with hanging out with her. I hope that doesn't sound bad but it's the truth.

Hmmm....lately I have had something on my mind. Well, really it's someONE. An Elmwood resident and former high school classmate. I've always thought she was beautiful. And a sunny disposition, too - the kind of chick that makes you happy to be around her. She's called my bro and I a couple of times to meet up at Cozumel but it's never worked out (we always had previous plans). My buddy says I'm crazy not to call her but there is one significant problem here - I don't think I make enough $$ to date her. That really sucks. But what are you going to do? Maybe get my MBA or something and eventually get enough money to date a cool girl like she is.

Okay, enough of the sentimental BS - Back to being a guy - Buddha and football this weekend! At least I won't have to suffer through yet another pathetic showing by the Bills offense. Finally work is back to normal and I can spend more time doing stuff I like to do, or just relax. I'm pretty damn happy.

Jason

Well, today my Doctor told me that I have to cut out the booze. Not completely, but for the sake of my health I can only have a beer or two every now and then. So, no more drunken BBQ's for me. No more getting blasted during tailgating before a Bills game. Think of every party situation, or going out for beers with your friends. I can only do that once in a blue moon now. Don't get me wrong, I never was an alcoholic, I never went and got drunk or had excessive amounts on a daily basis, but I liked to go out and have fun and party just like everyone else did. That is no longer possible. I think I'll end up a healthier and happier dude anyway as a result of it - so there aren't too many negatives. I can live with this - will have to stick to the herbals if I want to party. =P

On another note - I can't believe that there is another movie about a social climber coming out. Social climbers portray the kind of greed, self-indulgence, and lack of respect for other people that makes my blood boil over. Only in the USA is this kind of behavior glorified. I didn't read the book but I hope it's satire.

Jason

This isn't a political post, but it does have some political angles to it. This is partially tongue in cheek, so no flaming me okay!!

I have been a mean, cynical bastard lately. Part of it is because lately my job is killing me. Can anyone think of a better way to work off stress? Maybe I'll attend the Anti-Bush rally someone else was talking about. There are bound to be girls there. At Taste of Buffalo there was a very cute Kerry supporter who handed out voter registration forms. I told her I couldn't in good conscience vote for Kerry, and that was that baby, my chance blew up in my face. There is a girl I went to high school with who I think is so beautiful and so nice, but she is a super environmentalist and I doubt she would be down with such a heartless man as yours truly. I am neither rich or sharp dressing enough for the suburbanite girls who flock to Kuni's, Globe and Brodo, nor am I alternative or liberal enough for most of the girls here.

I can't exactly fake having a BMW or a Benz. So.... I am going to have to (a HA!) pretend to be a Kerry supporter if I'm going to have the best chance at success. I Googled "how to impress a liberal" to see if I could find ways to get a liberal girl, and this is what I found:



Obviously the Dick Chainey is a gag, so my search was fruitless. Help me!

Jason

Let's see, what does being a Republican mean to me? I suppose nobody has asked me that question before. I said I probably wouldn't be writing any more politically motivated posts, so I'm going to have to decline to answer. As I said before - I already have had bad experiences with people being actively intolerant of me. Now that I've shown my face it is even more important to know when to shut up and when to speak out around the hood. There are a million and one Niman disciples out there who want to snuff out all voices except the ones which most resemble themselves. Being a Republican is only a small portion of who I am - and not nearly the most important part. I'm not here to convince anybody of anything. I wish to (hopefully) communicate with neighborhood people, and vent every now and then about my own unimportant life. One thing is certain - being a Republican means it's tougher to get dates around the hood. Hehe - unless you can be a wolf in sheep's clothing like my brother.

However, I will say this much - I haven't yet decided who will get my vote. I am a moderate, and have voted for Democrats before (both Clintons, the second one I regret). I'm stuck with two particularly odious choices here. That's part of the reason why I wrote "No matter who wins, we've already lost."

JessBob - Good to see another Satan is around! That makes, what, about a half a dozen of us in the neighborhood? Thanks for the welcome.

Soyeon - Hang in there. Lately I want to get on a train and run away too. Gramma told me that how I deal with the difficult times in life will determine what kind of man I will become. If you believe in yourself and your ability, and do your best, then you cannot possibly fail. I do not know you, yet I admire your risk taking. Best of luck!