Category: money

07/29/15 02:31 - 72.ºF - ID#60139

Minimum wage

Ever since last week, when the NYS wage board recommended increasing the fast food minimum wage to $15 by the end of 2018, everyone online has been flipping out.t I've seen so much complaining on Facebook and Reddit that low skill jobs don't deserve to be paid that much, especially from other people who are in other low paying jobs (skilled and unskilled). Personally I think it's a step in the right direction but:

Seeing this reception makes me question why this wasn't across the board minimum wage hike. The conspiracy theorist in me would say it was aimed at rallying most workers against the idea of any hike (the thought process going "why should a Tim Horton's worker get $15 an hour, when I'm still going to make $10 as a trained paramedic paramedic?") The optimist hopes that it will keep drawing more people's attention to wage inequality - like how for anyone outside the top 20% (of household income), wages have not kept up with productivity and inflation since the 70's!

I've noticed a similar attitude with unions, even from normally liberal people. Those not protected by a union want to know why union workers should be compensated more than a non-union worker, when they also work over 40 hour weeks for no additional benefit. The real question they should be asking is why are they willing to do more for less?
At some point in time, it looks like every worker ended up in a bizarre race to the bottom, where the winner gets to brag about who works the most while getting paid the least.

Permalink: Minimum_wage.html
Words: 268
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/01/15 10:02

Category: bikes

07/29/15 01:53 - 72.ºF - ID#60138

Woodlawn Beach

We continued our bike exploration of Buffalo with a trip down Route 5 to Woodlawn beach. They were having a karaoke night - (e:Terry) was cringing to the JLo tributes going on.

The tiki bar area was pretty nice. I never stuck around for it when I worked next door.

Permalink: Woodlawn_Beach.html
Words: 53
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/29/15 01:53

Category: swimming

07/28/15 10:23 - 80.ºF - ID#60137

Quarry quickie

Yesterday I got home at 7:30 and booked it to the quarry. sorry (e:Paul), I know you were mad at me.

I got to swim for 20 minutes, but not before I heard the life story of the security guard and his immigration from Hungary. He met Sylvester Stallone in the 80s and was supposed to be his stunt man. But the US wouldn't let him in, so he got sent back to the Hungary where he had to flee the communists. After running across the border under gunfire, he made his way to France where he met his Canadian wife, who brought him to Montreal.

There was much more to it, but it was long and rambling. I felt bad walking away to swim, but he seemed so excited to tell his story. What else can you do?

Permalink: Quarry_quickie.html
Words: 148
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/29/15 01:50

Category: buffalo

07/26/15 10:24 - 75.ºF - ID#60132

Buffalo Irish Famine memorial and Riverworks

I kept up the bike death march with (e:paul), because (e:terry) broke his big toe on the stairs ;(

Have you ever noticed the maze of signs near Church Street and the 190 talking about the Irish Famine Memorial? I've seen them before but never thought about it. Paul and I decided to follow through with them.

Starting at South Elmwood and Church, you zip across the street down Lower Terrace. There, you're sent under the 190, west via Erie Street. The last one just points into the Synacor parking lot on the Inner Harbor.
Which is where the memorial actually is.

At first I thought this was the memorial - a sign and some flowers.

It turned out it was 20 feet behind it. A big stone fountain that wasn't filled with water. I wonder if it was there before Synacor's office? The whole Inner Harbor is a suburban mess if you ask me.

Anyway Paul wanted clams, so we went to the Hatch. He seemed to like them a lot. There were a ton of people hanging around and lots of mom and gramma booty shaking going on to Sweet Home Alabama.

Our last stop was looking at Riverworks. It feels like a crazy big city entertainment area. Even on a Sunday they had people rollerskating on a rink, a big snackstand and double decked restaurant etc. I wonder how big it's going to get. They had the remnants of a warehouse nextdoor with the old rebar all artsily layed out. I wanted to jump over all the concrete and explore ;( too late to do that in Buffalo anymore.

Permalink: Buffalo_Irish_Famine_memorial_and_Riverworks.html
Words: 290
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/29/15 02:09

Category: going out

07/26/15 10:22 - 75.ºF - ID#60131

Mark's birthday

The quarry trip was followed up with a große feier. We cooked out and had a nice dinner, when (e:flacidness) stopped by.

Mark was having a meetup at Q to finish celebrating his birthday.
We all went down, besides (e:terry). Things got cray at the bar, where everyone started showing up - Mike, Seth, Patrick. Half the bar ended up coming over to our house, and I ended up passing out immediately with Terry.

Permalink: Mark_s_birthday.html
Words: 79
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/29/15 01:59

Category: swimming

07/26/15 10:21 - 75.ºF - ID#60130

Windmill Point

We took a ride up to Windmill point quarry with (e:robert) and co. Lots of biking and lots of snacking.

The water was the perfect temperature - I didn't want to leave even after being in for two hours. (e:terry) and I tried to see how deep we could dive down. I get about 10 feet before it feels like my ear drums will burst.

I noticed they have a summer long beer pong tournament - could Terry beat out the Canadian DILFs?

The bike ride to and from was pretty sweet as well. I want to wander and frolick on my bike from Fort Erie to Toronto on all the country roads.

Permalink: Windmill_Point.html
Words: 122
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/27/15 12:50

Category: garden

07/26/15 10:19 - 75.ºF - ID#60129

Perfect blueberries

You could take a picture of these and put them in the freaking Wegman's flyer. Our backyard bushes are so good - I wish they grew more.

Permalink: Perfect_blueberries.html
Words: 29
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/26/15 10:19

Category: buffalo

07/25/15 03:34 - 82.ºF - ID#60128

Project Grant fundraiser

Friday night we headed down to the Project Grant fundraiser at Buffalo Iron Works. (e:terry)'s friend Tina had organized it. The space itself was real nice and had a huge patio, plus a garage door that opened up the whole bar. Music on the other hand was not my style.

Before the event we stopped at Canalside where a house music event was going on. There was a man with a pico projector pretending to be an old Irish cop, telling about the seedy canalside days. He had a picture of these big madams that used to live there.

Permalink: Project_Grant_fundraiser.html
Words: 106
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/26/15 10:17

Category: bikes

07/25/15 03:33 - 82.ºF - ID#60127

The Infringement parade

On Thursday we headed out on the Black Rock Roller's infringement parade. It started off at the Birchfield Penny, stopped at the coop house where a marching band led us down to Days Park.

Much frisbee and fire dancing happened before the ride kept on going down to Hop Inn in South Buffalo. It was full of ridiculously cute bro boys and the drinks were cheap. I think you'd love it (e:mike)

The weird part about this bar was all the publicly advertised bachelor parties. They have raffles, prizes, tickets and everything. Is this a South Buffalo thing?

Permalink: The_Infringement_parade.html
Words: 104
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 07/26/15 10:11

Category: buffalo

07/22/15 01:07 - 72.ºF - ID#60123

Parking lot Mary

Last night we rode around the city, mostly in South Buffalo. It's really it's own separate city. I've only been on Abbott near Caz Park once before but it's pretty nice.

On the way home we hit up Seneca, and passed this weird parking lot Mary shrine in Larkinville. You can see the location better at 849 Seneca on Google Maps

" >(MAP TO:

).

(e:paul) said she looks like some Judy Garland version of Mary. The shrine also has a million different little postcards and old photos of people.