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06/05/06 07:30 - 72ºF - ID#25759

The Beautiful Colors of Pride

The Beautiful Colors of Pride

On Sunday, June 4, 2006 I marched for the fourth consecutive year with The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) a worldwide Buddhist group striving for peace and happiness. The Buffalo chapter of the SGI is admired throughout the organization including New York City and San Francisco for their amazing ability to unite and show the community the values we stand for. Every year we have faced adversity and been shown signs of resistance and hate. I'm happy to say that this year was the best, in that messages of hate were at a minimum. The first year that we marched was 2003 and a much larger group seething with hatred immediately bombarded us. They were taken by surprise by an overwhelming opposing message of happiness and respect for others. In Buddhism we make our lives more aware of the nature of cause and effect and I truly believe that our organization has had a positive affect on this city. That first year we took all of Buffalo by surprise, as we were the largest contingent in the parade! This year we were awarded best walking contingent!

Today, June 5, 2006, I was deeply saddened to hear the president address the people of our country with his own message of hate. He is using the GLBT community for political purposes. Recently, it has become a crime to protest at US military funerals. I think that is great, people should have the right to grieve in peace, but shouldn't the same right be awarded to those grieving at a GLBT funeral? He packed the room where the address took place with supporters of his agenda to make a Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, not allowing for the many who disagree with such a ban for their voices to be heard. In the front row, two black men sat applauding the president's speech. The president claimed that the majority of the country's people supported defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Since we live in a 'free' society congress should ratify the amendment to the Constitution. Would those black men sit there and applaud the President if he were asking for an amendment to the Constitution denying citizenship and freedom to black men because the majority of the people wanted to enslave them? Is that freedom?

For next year's Pride Parade, I would like to propose that Pride Buffalo open up the march to all who would like to participate regardless of whether they associate with a group or not. We need everyone who supports the GLBT community to march especially the members of that community. We still have not reached equality and the Pride Movement is still as important as the day it began. It's time for all of us to unite together at the parade and demand our freedom.

Libertad

Enjoy the photos!

Thanks for marching with us (e:ladycroft) and Dan!
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This is a bad pic of Jennifer. She didn't march with us, but I think she supports our group
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Wendy
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Maimi
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Isabel
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Jane
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Andrew
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Mike
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Jeanette and Mike
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Jeanette's mother
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Steve
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Beauty Queens
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Supporter
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Buddhist Messages
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Colors of Diversity
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Beautiful Day
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United
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Marching Band
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Steve made his shirt
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SGI member representing Canada
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Jay
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Beat to a different drum
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Lisa
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Blue is from 2003, yellow 2004 and Red 2005. The three colors are the colors of the SGI
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Star Power
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What a smile!
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Michael
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Christina
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Families supporting
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Kim, Moonjung, and Wendy
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Mitzi
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Jennifer
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Bidwell
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Lisa
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We won!
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Love
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Performance
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Estrip Models
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06/02/06 10:42 - 61ºF - ID#25758

Why I hate Big Business

So call me a commie bastard, but yes I do hate big business. They are destroying the beauty of this country, not to mention what they are doing abroad. Why did I focus on Wal-Mart? The answer is because Wal-Mart covers their business practices up with excessive false patriotism. I find this ridiculous and a slap in the face to our intelligence. Patriotism is not about waving a flag around a reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, it's about doing what is right for your country and for it's future. A patriotic company isn't just concerned with the bottom line, but for the environment in which it operates, the welfare of its employees and the image they are portraying of their country. I do not criticize people for shopping at Wal-Mart. How could I criticize someone for trying to get the cheapest price when people are struggling to pay their rent, their heat etc. I criticize Wal-Mart because they are the most visible and they deserve every bit of negative publicity they get. They dehumanize their employees by making them wear ugly blue smocks that say "How May I help You." At least if you work at Target you can retain at least some shred of dignity. (Please don't hate me if you work at Wal-Mart) I could go on and on about this and that about this company or that, but I will save my breath. There is plenty of information available to those who want to find out why Wal-Mart or any other company out there sucks. They may teach in business school why a particular company is considered a perfect business model, but maybe they should teach a thing or two to future business leaders about compassion.
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06/01/06 02:45 - 73ºF - ID#25757

Justice Please

Word on the street is that Lon Coldiron, owner of Coffee &, was found guilty of insurance fraud after he burned it down. He wasn't convicted of arson, but insurance fraud? How can this be? I wanted to testify against him, but the investigators never contacted me even after I made an attempt to contact them. He faces 8-12 years of pound you in the ass prison. Good you stupid fuck.

Lon,

You are so selfish. I truly think you deserve your fate, not only for this, but for all the terrible things you have done. It is my hope that you have ample time to think of all the people you have used in your life. When I saw that beautiful house completely destroyed on my way to school in the fall of 2004, my most immediate concern was for your safety, because I knew that you lived in the attic, which was practically non-existent after you torched it. There was a look of absolute horror as I drove by that morning. I thought oh no, it finally happened, an electrical fire. See, if I knew that you had insurance, I would have thought that you had done it right away, but I didn't learn that until later. I got out of the car practically in tears; I thought that you could be dead. Why did I even care about you then? What have you ever done for me? You stole my tips, you left me alone to work, and when I was finally assaulted because I was working alone, you couldn't come to help me because you were in Niagara Falls gambling. You used Nikki as if she were disposable, pillaging her retirement, working her to death as you sat on your big fat ass. You sexually harassed me, as if I were some cheap whore that would have sex with you for money or so that I could become a manager like I would really be moving up in the world. Have you always been like this Lon? Did you ever have any morals, any decency?

That was not your house to burn down! It was part of Elmwood, part of history. You stole that from us. That house was not Coffee &, it was not yours! I have heard so many people tell stories about their experiences in that house. A couple came in once, they were so happy. They told me that they had gotten engaged there when it was previously a restaurant, can't remember which one. Christina Ricci supposedly vomited there all over the clown face mosaic on the floor. Oh my, that clown was evil looking wasn't it? I remember when I would close at night, in the beginning; there was one single light above the clown face that never shut off. That was until you couldn't afford to replace the light bulb. Everything would be dark after closing except that clown. If you stood on the clown's face you could see yourself in the mirror with that one single light shinning down on you. I loved that! I never had a run in with the ghosts that occupied that building, but I knew there was something there. I wonder what has happened to them? Do they haunt Cecilia's stupid patio now?

You did not pay your sales taxes; you did not know how to run a business. You made everyone else pay, because you are fat and lazy. I met someone very special in that house. He was so cute...Mocha Jet Café Please! There were lots of special people I met there, including the guy who made the mosaic clown. I hope that the dog you loved so much that you killed in the fire haunts you in your sleep. Really more than anything I just want you to be sorry, to finally take responsibility in your life and to apologize to the people that you have hurt so badly. You let all those people raise money for you after the fire, because you are not a man.

Libertad

If anyone has any photos of the house please post them! Maybe someday I'll find out his address in prison and send this to him.
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06/01/06 02:37 - 73ºF - ID#25756

Diverse Videos

I happened upon this blog by accident. It's in Spanish, but you don't have to read it. The videos this guy has are a diverse collection of different bands that I though different (e:peeps) might enjoy. They are from utube.com, which I'm really starting to get into. If you have some time, check a few of them out. He also posted some nice photographs.

One of my favorites is dated "jueves, Mayo 25, 2006" title "Si pudiera decirle a Tim" it's called "Corpse Bride Duet"
Libertad

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Permalink: Diverse_Videos.html
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05/31/06 04:28 - 86ºF - ID#25755

SSSumer SSSomethings

End of May 2006

Light Colors
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Painted Toes
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This gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), lives in my mother's backyard.
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This cage keeps the creatures out.
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You aren't anyone if you don't have a cage.
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Animal Sanctuary. Rabbits, coyotes, and tortoises.
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SSSlipery SSSeal
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SSSlithering SSSwimer
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SSSleeping SSSweeties
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SSSoothing SSSlumber
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SSSumer SSSomethings
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SSSuny SSSmetry
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Libertad

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05/29/06 08:39 - 80ºF - ID#25754

God Bless America and Wal-Mart

Today I went to Super Wal-Mart with my mother. She buys EVERYTHING there! It's Memorial Day so they had this TV broadcasting Wal-Mart propaganda about how we need to support our troops.

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My question is if I hate Walmart, does that mean I hate America?

God Bless America, God Bless Wal-Mart.
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05/29/06 08:05 - 67ºF - ID#25753

Jimmy Hoffa and Joel Giambra

This nightmare I had this morning was cwazy! I have been thinking a lot about Jimmy Hoffa, because they are looking for his body underneath this barn. Anyways, I was walking downtown with my ex, ex, ex (yes dreams are random). These mafia guys asked if I knew about the murder. Of course I did, but I said which one, because there are murders happening all the time. They were referring to the murder that happened in front of my car. I acknowledged that I knew about it and then they offered me a pack of cigarettes to come and talk to them, which I declined. We departed ways, but eventually I ended up in some Guercio type place and the mob guys saw me. They were really mean to me and made me take off my shirt! I don't know why they care about me, I didn't even see the murder that happened in front of my car. Joel Giambra was there. He was wearing a police uniform and was connected with the mob, cause he didn't do anything to help me. They were so going to kill me, maybe even torture me and then I woke up. I like dreams, even the scary ones.

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05/25/06 12:29 - 64ºF - ID#25752

News Flash

I wish I had a police scanner right now. Just about every cop in Buffalo just raced down to the Psych Center at about noon. I was driving down Richmond and was almost hit by a cop car head on!

Just a heads up to pay attention to the News today. I'm off to sunny FL, will return on Tuesday.

Libertad

Here is a photo I shot last summer of the HH Richardson Complex.

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05/24/06 06:45 - 62ºF - ID#25751

What's cookin good lookin?

What is (e:mike) cooking?

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It smells good. I'm a little nervous because he keeps screaming in the kitchen and I can't hear what he is saying cause I have the music too loud.

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05/24/06 04:16 - 66ºF - ID#25750

Not guilty!

This is an update regarding my previous post "Parking Tickets" see

Today I got another ticket. It was so shitty. My friend that is moving to Phoenix gave me some things, so I parked my car in front of my house on Elmwood to run the things inside. All I did was bring the items in and go right back down to take my car to get it inspected, so I wouldn't get any more parking tickets! Of course there was a parking ticket on my car after coming back down the stairs! I was so upset, I was practically in tears. I could see the ticket Nazi ahead of me at the next corner. If he were just a little bit closer I probably would have been arrested for assault.

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Anyways, after I learned that i need $200 in repairs to get my car an inspection sticker to avoid more tickets, I decided to fight both of them at city hall. Let me tell you it wasn't easy, but I was found not guilty on both charges! I won! My defense was that they don't give as many tickets on the East Side because they are too scarred of getting shot. I think he agreed with me. He was going to give me just one ticket, but I was relentless and wouldn't give in. My efforts paid off. He seemed to think that I chose to live on Elmwood because its the "cool thing to do." I was like look I'm poor, I'm a student and its not fair I have to pay for the cities problems. I live on Elmwood because I happen to have an affordable apartment, not because its cool to live on Elmwood. I'll have to admit its nice, but it comes at its price. Anyways, things are looking a little bit brighter now. I was just around the corner from having a complete emotional breakdown.



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