Category: cars

12/07/14 04:45 - ID#59642

Paddock Chevorlet scammers

We finally got the car's recalled parts replaced at Paddock on Friday. I went with (e:paul) to pick it up in their asphalt ocean in Kenmore.

When we went told them we were there to pick up the keys for our car. The desk clerk told us it was going to be $70 - wait what? It's a recall. When we called her out on it, she said "Oh, it must be our new computer system. Let me go check on this". What a scam.

We ended up paying $50 for a second key. Turns out we could have gotten one online for less than $10, and gotten it programmed and cut for another $10.

Another reason not to trust anyone involved with cars.

Permalink: Paddock_Chevorlet_scammers.html
Words: 133
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/07/14 05:05

Category: bikes

12/07/14 04:44 - ID#59641

Buffalo bike plan

The city's comprehensive's bike plan meeting was last week. I was suprised, but glad with the turn out - it was a full house at the DIG space in the innovation center.

At first, the consultant outlined their methodology for coming up with the inital outline for Buffalo's bike future from the first meeting. They said they kept in their design in line with the best practice of bike infrastructure within 0.5miles of every Buffalonian. From there, they divided up bike infrastructure to classes on different locations, from serious riders on Delaware, to riders who only would ride on separated paths with no car traffic.

After this, the 100 or so people broke out into groups of 10 to come up with 3 priorities and critiques of the consultants plan. One thing a lot of people noticed is a focus on high traffic roads, especially in North Buffalo, when there are huge lane and a half lanes like Starin that could support protected bike lanes.

We also noticed the consultants neglected the east side - Bailey and many far east N-S routes were almost completely ignored, while the near and far west side were soaked in proposed bike routes. East-west routes were also named as a high priority - I can't think of a single good bike route that crossed Main right now. I will say, of the participants there, most were from the west side below Hertel.

The entirety of the plan is available at buffalobikeplan.org. There will be more plans in the spring - but in the mean time they are still welcoming feedback. Give it.

Permalink: Buffalo_bike_plan.html
Words: 278
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/10/14 11:58

Category: bikes

12/04/14 12:11 - ID#59640

Bike highways

Bike highways are probably the only types of highways I can get behind. I was reading about a 100 km bike highway in Germany that's going to be built. The path is going to have priority at every crossing it meets, or a separated right of way if it's possible. It sounds amazing, I want to ride on it.

It also made me think of the Erie Canal trail that I've never taken before, from Buffalo to Glen Falls. (e:yesthatcasey), when are we going to ride this?

Also there is a city bike planning meeting down at GoBike's offices in the innovation center today at 6pm! So ride your ass down and get involved.

Permalink: Bike_highways.html
Words: 133
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/04/14 12:32

Category: buffalo

12/04/14 12:02 - ID#59639

Only in Buffalo

Are the streets are paved with chicken wings. Gross.

Permalink: Only_in_Buffalo.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/04/14 12:02

Category: work

12/04/14 12:01 - ID#59638

Full time life

Last week I started my new full time job on the clinical IT team at Roswell - sad to not be working with Paul anymore, but it's freaking awesome that I am working at Roswell full time.

There's already so many interesting projects lined up. It sounds like even the projects are going to have more programming that I initially thought. I even am getting a Mac computer to work on - that's a first. And I get to keep the longer 4 days, half day Friday schedule.

Looks like the civil engineering books did come in handy

Fancy Cisco IP phone also - no second monitor yet though

Someone even left an early Valentine at my desk

Permalink: Full_time_life.html
Words: 120
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/04/14 12:07

Category: linwood

12/01/14 11:23 - ID#59635

Millard Fillmore and a craft show

(e:paul), (e:terry) and I decided to go for a walk - we needed a destination so we chose a craft show at a church in Parkside. Give me another 60 years before I do that again. Too many decorative soaps and useless pottery.

The walk was nice. I notice new things every time we walk down the street.

Eternally under construction

It's a long way from Los Angeles - how did it end up at this house?

We stopped to check out the ultra creepy and abandoned Millard Fillmore. The inside looks straight out of a horror movie.

This old house across from the hospital is also run down - I'm guessing the hospital owned it?
It is pretty cute on the inside though. I can't believe how they're letting it go

We kept on going through the cemetary when (e:yesthatcasey) and Masumi met up with us. In a car :(

Resting places

Permalink: Millard_Fillmore_and_a_craft_show.html
Words: 192
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/04/14 11:40

Category: family

11/30/14 11:24 - ID#59633

Extended family

On Friday night I stopped home at my parent's house for pizza and Thanksgiving leftovers. My mom's old student teacher, Janis, came to visit from Singapore with her husband Joachim and his sister Auerial, who is visiting from Finland. It's probably the most geograhic diversity that's ever been in that house.
Greg, who I went to grade and high school with came over as well. My mom claims Janis is her new favorite daughter.

A pie for every person

Demonic dog eyes

Permalink: Extended_family.html
Words: 94
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/01/14 12:25

Category: thanksgiving

11/29/14 01:38 - ID#59629

Double Thanksgivings

I got to do two thanksgivings for the first time this year. The first at Paul's parents, the second at mine. The food at both were amazing - especially Maria's risotto and my mom's falafel (turkey substitute for me). Somehow despite this I only went from 157.5 to 161 lbs. I wish I could have done both with (e:paul) and (e:terry) - maybe we'll figure something out another year.

I didn't take too many photos but there were over 18 people and three dogs at my parents house. It was a little crowded.

Daniel brought Kool Aid Jammers to have with dinner. Paired with some white wine in a Budweiser cup.

The head chef

Laser-like focus on the turkey

Permalink: Double_Thanksgivings.html
Words: 137
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/01/14 11:22

Category: random

11/29/14 01:32 - ID#59628

Tongue sizes

Look at all these big healthy tongues.

Permalink: Tongue_sizes.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 11/29/14 01:32

Category: going out

11/29/14 01:29 - ID#59627

New Skateland Buffalo sucks - Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving eve, we went out with Jeremy to the Well Rounded People's roller skating party, and then to the Give Thanks and Rave event at Milkie's.

The roller skating was great. The music was good and we saw tons of people there. (e:paul) and I were entranced by a long haired, roller skating Jesus - I wish I were a tenth as good as he was. He could skate backwards, on one leg, on two wheels, in spirals and every combination at 10x the speed of everyone else. It was really magical to watch.

(e:terry) is still the best skater I know - by the end could skate backwards. Maybe we can practice ice skating this winter.

My take on the event was soured by a fucking ridiculous old man who checked out lockers for Skateland (you can read about the conversation at (e:paul,59625)). I walked into the conversation a little after (e:paul) did - exactly in time to hear him refer to lesbians as "cats fighting for a rose on a silk blanket" and gay men as "two dogs fighting". Almost glad I wasn't around to here his suggestion about sending gays to an island. I had to walkout because I couldn't even process what i was hearing.

I found it disgusting as Skateland's unsprayed shoes that anyone thinks that way and it makes me never want to go there again. Even if you think that, why do you ever think this is okay to say to your customers?

Anyway, after we headed home to sterilize ourselves from the roller rink, it was off to Milkie's (with the bear costume). The music for the most part was good - a lot of drum and bass and hardcore. Lindsay even joined us for a bit. The sound wasn't too loud and we got a ton of dancing in.

We left just in time to leave the death metal EDM and get some Lloyd's. All in all a good night.