Category: war

02/21/15 12:32 - 21.ºF - ID#59855

Delivering Freedom door to door

The other day I got this text from this army recruiter. I have no idea where he got my number from because I didn't go to a public school.

I tried not to hold being in the military against him because who knows his situatuon. Then I googled his name and saw this picture on his twitter. Its so clichéd I can't actually believe anyone thinks this is cool and would entice them to join. So fucking disgusting, SFC Fink.

Permalink: Delivering_Freedom_door_to_door.html
Words: 85
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/21/15 05:26

Category: computers

02/19/15 09:57 - 2.0ºF - ID#59849

New Mac

I got a new Macbook Pro for work, replacing (e:Paul)'s old Dell that I had been using. I have to say the computer itself is really amazing. The screen is so high res and bright and it's nice having a battery that lasts in hours and not minutes. My virtual machines start and suspend super fast and it's probably a quarter the weight and thickness of the old Dell.

Switching keyboards and commands from a PC Linux computer is driving me crazy - command + z, x, c, v are all so cramped and awkward to move to from the home keys compared to left control. I can't get used to command + R as refresh versus F5.

I also hate the Apple worship that I feel like is all over the internet when I look something up - if some decision made by Apple makes no sense they'll defend it to the death. IE hiding a "lock computer" function not in System Preferences->Security or Users or even screensaver, but you have to open Keychain->Preferences, enable "show keychain menu on menu bar". From there, you have to click the keychain menu and select lock the computer. How does this make sense?!

Permalink: New_Mac.html
Words: 205
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/20/15 09:53

Category: mardi gras

02/19/15 09:56 - 2.0ºF - ID#59848

Mardi Gras and a third place butt

For Mardi Gras, we headed out to Nietzsche's with Jeremy and our new friend Chris.

(E:paul) and I entered the butt contest. I made it to the final three with overalls and a jockstrap before I lost (consolation prize of a drink). One guy was super hot (didn't see his butt) but the other guy had a terrible butt. I'm going full out for next year. Start squatting.

Everyone was going freaking crazy when Chevon Davis came out to sing "Turn Back Time". We were all channeling (e:mike) a little bit. Apparently she was a dick to (e:dianne) though :(.

The night got so ridiculous. We saw emily, mike and a whole bunch of other people. By the end we left to try DBGBs but it was much more fun to go home.

Photo from the Buffalo news

Permalink: Mardi_Gras_and_a_third_place_butt.html
Words: 159
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/19/15 08:10

Category: skiing

02/16/15 01:53 - 0.0ºF - ID#59841

Cross country skiing in the city

On Saturday (e:terry) and I went cross-country skiing, while (e:paul) recorded his reel to reel tapes of his Italian family.

The last time I went cross country skiing was the back field of Lindbergh in 3rd grade. It took me a block or two to get going but I really love it. It's super schnell to get around Buffalo on skies, way faster than walking. Plus you don't have to worry about assholes not shoveling - you just ski right through. Despite it being near 0 I also was sweating almost the whoel time.

We skied down to the cemetery, down through the park and down the hills in Rumsey Woods. We skied over to Aroma and then (e:yesthatcasey)'s. And then we skied back home with a stop at the liquor store. It's how I want to get around now in the winter.

I only wiped out a couple times - once going down the hill in the park. Terry has a video of it.

Permalink: Cross_country_skiing_in_the_city.html
Words: 176
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/16/15 04:06

Category: food

02/15/15 07:16 - -3.ºF - ID#59840

Delicious eggy breakfast

Terry made us a delicious eggy breakfast with spargel, peppers, cheese, and some home fries. I love his breakfasts.

(e:paul) and I drank this crazy Chinese tea that blooms from a bulb into this sea-creature looking blob. It's really intense and floral but watching it unfold was cool.

Permalink: Delicious_eggy_breakfast.html
Words: 55
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/16/15 04:02

Category: going out

02/14/15 06:17 - 13.ºF - ID#59838

Shake it don't brake it

(e:terry) and I headed to the GoBike Valentine's celebration at Handlebar. We walked instead of riding though because we're lame.

The beer and chocolate fountain were delicious. Valentines were made for Paul. We saw Terry's employee Kelly there - she's a hardcore winter biker like I used to be ;(!

On the way home, we walked by the hostel where they were having a 110th birthday party for the building, complete with pinata.

One of the coop house girls had these cute dog gloves.

Inexplicable art.

Afterwards we we're supposed to meet (e:paul) for bear night but it turned out to be the wrong night. Instead we stopped at Fugazi and went home.

Permalink: Shake_it_don_t_brake_it.html
Words: 123
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/15/15 02:30

Category: birthday

02/14/15 04:52 - 16.ºF - ID#59837

Maria's birthday

Thursday night we went out to celebrate Maria's birthday at Oshun. They ordered almost one of everything on the menu.
It was a super fishy dinner but even the vegetarian sides were filling. Especially the orzo.

Afterwards we went to (e:mike) and (e:libertad)'s for dessert. I think Paul's dad's stories are the best I've ever heard.

]

Permalink: Maria_s_birthday.html
Words: 63
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/14/15 06:12

Category: internet

02/10/15 02:28 - 15.ºF - ID#59831

Dream networks

Speaking of net neutrality and real internet providers, when we were in Rochester, (e:masumibot) told us about a new ISP there called Greenlight Networks.

It's what Buffalo and every other place cursed with Time Warner deserves. Basically, it's a fiber ISP that taps into all the existing private fiber networks that were built in the in the late 90's and 2000's (often with government money) and resells service to small business and residential customers. You can see a map of just Fibertech's network here

, which includes a trunk right down Linwood and throughout most of the city.

For just $100 install and $50 a month, Rochesterian (? had to look that denonym up) can get 100/20Mbps internet.

For just $250 a month, they can get 1Gbps down and 100Mbps up.

This is in the same service area as Time Warner, who charges a fucking outrageous $250 for 35/5Mbps at Allen Street, with the worst customer service I have ever seen. For fiber service in the city, Fibertech wants over $1000/month for any sort of connection plus huge install fees.

I feel like we're in a internet desert, with a fiber oasis in front of our house that we can't reach.

In other internet news, there is a group trying to start an free, hyper-local, open access wireless mesh network in Buffalo. (e:paul) says he dreamt of this 10 years ago. The group, called Buffalo Mesh, meets at the Foundry, where they already started to build out their network. I wish I had more time and knew more about networking so I could get involved.
Buffalo Mesh

Permalink: Dream_networks.html
Words: 273
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/10/15 02:42

Category: birthday

02/08/15 05:01 - 16.ºF - ID#59829

Happy birthday Masumibot

Happy birthday (e:uchina). Your party was ridiculous and your friends are amazingly strange and fun.

Gummis were eaten, bottles were popped, and balls were compared.

Permalink: Happy_birthday_Masumibot.html
Words: 36
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 02/10/15 02:15

Category: internet

02/07/15 06:44 - 32.ºF - ID#59828

Net neutrality? For real

The FCC chairman Tom Wheeler published an editorial in WIred the other day calling for the FCC to regulate Internet to be regulated as common carriers, just like phone companies. This is going to be decided on by the FCC in the near future.

Everyone kept telling me he was from the cable industry - it turns out he dwasn't from Time Warner or Comcast, but he did run an experimental cable company in the 80's. Unlike dial up providers with phone companies though, the cable companies didn't have to give them access to their network. It's kind of awesome to find out someone regulating business that isn't from that big business.

He also was behind a recent FCC reclassification of broadband speeds from 4/1Mbps to 25. ISP's can no longer market anything else as high speed.

By treating internet providers as common carriers, they will no longer be able to shape or restrict traffic based on origin/destination. I'm sure they're going to fight tooth and nail against this but if this goes
Unfortunately the FCC will not be attempting to regulate pricing. ;(

't-destroying-the-internet/