"Here we go" written by Libertad on estrip.org

10/09/08 08:53 - 61ºF - ID#46031

Here we go

I have already been touched by the "economic crisis". My hours at work have been cut 8 hours a week. While this won't put me under because I have a diversification of income, it is certainly an indication that our futures are looking darker. As an employee of the state, my position did not look good but since the fall of the stock market it looks much bleaker. I *believe* that I will have a job and health insurance for at least a year.

One good thing is that my private student loan's rate will go down even further as result of knee jerk rate cuts. I have been paying more than my minimum payment and will do my best to continue as I am afraid of the rate going back up. I'm wishing that somehow the government might come and bail me out but I'm not holding my breath. I think that the "bailout" is really not going to help me at all. The news blames all of this on irresponsible lenders and irresponsible borrowers but I blame the entire system. I blame our war spending and allowing capitalism to rage out of control. I also blame our country for this crisis. This whole problem is that we never think of the future only of the moment and what will make us most comfortable in that moment. I guess I do it too, I am just as much a part of the problem.

Well here we go. The fall in services to our country is almost certainly going to snowball this into a full-blown depression. We seriously need drastic change to help pull us out of this. The change we needed was not to give those greedy bastards a bailout. It is not going to work! We needed that money they gave to bail them out to apply to services to put people to work. Recession my ass.

metalpeter writes at 06:18:51 10/10/08 - Comment #40028: I'm not saying Bill Maher says everything I agree with, but two points he does bring up is that if we weren't in this war we would have money to spend on other things. Yes that is true but we wouldn't have as much as people think. We are spending more on the war then would get spent on other things that are not a war, and some of that money goes into the military anyways that is counted. His other point (this is kinda true and kinda not true) is that America Doesn't make anything anymore. I think there is a lot of truth to that. The reason for this is the same reason for the crash...............................
Greed. What Happens is companies out source, or have parts of what they made produced in other countries where it is cheaper. Yes profit is the goal but in the words of Steven Segal "how much is enough" (if you know the movie then you know what I mean). In other words Profit should be balanced what is good for the company, the workers and the country. Maybe the United States should close itself off like China Did in the past. The problem with the global economy is if a slave in a South African Jail can make 1,000 for the price it costs to make one some place else the prison label will get used by the greedy. So what happens is some country with low standards brings everyone else down them, I know it isn't that simple but I think it is very true.

vincent writes at 09:40:44 10/10/08 - Comment #39998: I'm sorry to hear about you losing a good amount of hours. The problem is that this state is a one trick pony economically speaking, living and dying with what Wall St makes or loses. It was fine when things were flying, but in lean times we're scrambling.

gardenmama writes at 09:09:36 10/10/08 - Comment #39996: Sorry to hear about your work - unfortunately, they almost always go after the part-timers first. I think sometimes that's a union issue - not sure though. I'm a city (Board of Ed) employee and they operate the same way. I imagine with the way things are going in the financial and political arenas, once the budget cutting starts to trickle down further, the District will likely start to have some fall-out from this too.

Job uncertainty sucks, at best. Good luck.

libertad writes at 08:56:11 10/10/08 - Comment #39995: tiny, no it wasn't just me. They cut all part-timers who were working more than 20 hours a week down to 20 (minimum number of hours). I'm pretty sure they are cutting down some team lead hours too, but I'm not really sure as they all are full-time.

imk2 writes at 09:56:52 10/09/08 - Comment #39969: wow, i should have gone out there and been even more irresponsible than i am right now. i could have gotten a nice house that i couldnt really afford paid for by the government. what a way to teach greedy, glutonous, wannabe's that they shouldn't behave that way.

(i know, i know, they're not paying for people's homes, but you know what i mean)

tinypliny writes at 09:42:53 10/09/08 - Comment #39964: :( Did they cut hours from everyone's shift?

jason writes at 09:09:34 10/09/08 - Comment #39952: PS - The "are you shitting me" was just a general outburst, and not aimed at you personally. Ehehe. You know how internet context goes sometimes...

jason writes at 09:08:06 10/09/08 - Comment #39951: First off, I'm really sorry to hear about your hours cut at work. I hope you can replace that income with something else in the meantime. With our state having such a deficit I'm sure this isn't the first time people are going to feel the pain, and on top of that, like a sledgehammer we have this crisis to deal with.

I don't know if the bailout is going to help us or not. Certainly I think the system has failed, no doubt, after all what is the point of regulation if it isn't enforced? I totally agree, the system has failed us, and to make matters worse the people in charge are the most self centered generation in American history.

So you and I are going to have to, and I'm sorry I have to use this phrase again, wipe their asses. We have to clean up this mess in the long run. You're damned right I'm angry. And you are a million percent on point with your observation about how we don't plan for the future. Our parents are flipping us the bird, and I hope we don't make the same mistake with our kids.

I know one thing, my confidence isn't high right now. I don't think the war spending is to blame, although we should be pissed we have to shoulder that burden as well, but how can we trust the government when they are in cahoots with the crooks?!? Are you shitting me??!

Permalink: Here_we_go.html
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10/03/08 09:36 - 47ºF - ID#45914

58 Degrees

58 Degrees is the temperature in my house right now and I am freezing. I have known this was coming all summer and have been thinking about how to make my home more efficient.

I want to have my furnace serviced. Does anyone know of a good service person to do this? Is this something I should ask the landlord to pay for? If not I would rather just pay it myself because I'm sure it hasn't been done in years and I want it to be safe and efficient. I did have a carbon monoxide issue in my last house!

I also want to have vent-less gas fireplace logs installed in the fireplace. There is a gas hook up already. Do you think this is something that the service person could also connect or should I just do it myself? The gas key is kind of old and when I put my nose down to it you can sometimes smell a tint of gas coming from the key.

I have three large windows I want to cover with plastic. The window sills are wood so I don't want to ruin them. I'm thinking of making wood frames and covering those with plastic and inserting them into the window frame. I don't have a saw and am not so handy but am usually willing to try new things so I might give it a shot. I'm just wondering if this will be much more of a task than I can handle. I don't know what would be the best wood for making such a frame. I'm also wondering if making these inserts would be cost effective. Of course a saw would be an investment. I don't need a power saw of anything.

I'm also looking to buy at least one other electric space heater. I saw one at Lowes that uses radiant heat.

Not sure how I feel about that. They also have electric fireplaces. I saw one for about $80.

So hopefully it will be warmer in here soon. For now I refuse to turn on the heat!

metalpeter writes at 07:44:16 10/03/08 - Comment #39632: The only thing I can say is I wouldn't do the gas thing your self, some stuff is fine but you don't want to make a tiny mistake with gas that could be deadly or if there is even just a small leak get you sick.

libertad writes at 06:52:19 10/03/08 - Comment #39626: Thanks for the recommendation guys. I checked out their website and they do seem to be a decent operation. They even have pictures of the workers. I'm going to contact them.

dcoffee, that thing that Paul has is a ventless gas stove which is more or less like the logs. These ventless systems have some device on it so they don't emit dangerous amounts of co2. They actually use up oxygen in your home and at the same time produce moisture. They say it is best to crack a window slightly while using them. Teh benefit of ventless systems is that they are very efficient. I'll have to check out that Am 1520, I usually listen to 970.

joshua writes at 05:07:09 10/03/08 - Comment #39621: If it helps, since for a lot of people this means a lot - the guy that came up to the office to speak to my boss looked clean and seemed experienced and professional. They have nice, fully equipped trucks they ride around in as well so it is no cracker jack operation.

joshua writes at 05:00:57 10/03/08 - Comment #39620: My boss just had a Reimer guy in this week. I heard about a $79 furnace tune-up deal on the radio also - maybe that is up your alley?

dcoffee writes at 03:00:25 10/03/08 - Comment #39619: I always hear about this Wizard of comfort guy, Reimer Heating and Air Conditioning, not sure if that is spelled right. They always advertise on am1520. But I'm going on advertising, not personal knowledge, so I don't know. But they claim to be inexpensive and professional. Change the filter too, that improves the efficiency, apparently you should do it every year. We have one of those radiant electric heaters, it works well. You can turn it on high to warm it up, then lower it just to keep it hot. Not sure about the efficiency since electric is included in our current apartment. About plasticing the windows, sometimes there is a draft that comes from the outside of the window frame. Check it on a breezy day to see if you need to tape the plastic to the wall and cover the whole window frame. I wanna know what Paul has in that one fireplace. I was there last Halloween and that heater was nice and warm. Is that the zero emissions Natural gas heater? We may be buying a house soon, so I'm keenly interested in this topic too.

libertad writes at 02:19:44 10/03/08 - Comment #39618: I actually haven't ever turned on the furnace. I'm definitely changing the filter it is gross, but from what I have been reading you should have your furnace serviced every year. They clean out the parts and adjust the flames to make it more efficient. They say this alone can save you 10%.

paul writes at 10:03:08 10/03/08 - Comment #39599: Did you try changing the furnice filter. That usually makes a difference.

Permalink: 58_Degrees.html
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10/01/08 10:28 - 52ºF - ID#45885

Grifis' Sculpture Park

Permalink: Grifis_Sculpture_Park.html
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09/27/08 08:49 - 70ºF - ID#45811

The free hand

Today we learned a new strategy of interviewing at the smoker's quitline. It gives us a lot more control of what we ask and therefore more of a challenge to both the quit specialist and the caller. I think that it will be good if I am good.

So more work equals more money which I am would be thankful for. As it is, I need a lot of things. When I say "need" I definitely mean that I can't go without them. The only answer is to work more, so getting the extra hours in this week is a good deal.

I am very worried about our economy. It really is serious as you all know. The fall of our economy I would say is not totally surprising but nonetheless still shocking. I knew that it was coming but I didn't really think it would be me even though it was happening all along. I'm glad that the start of the fall happened while Bush was still in office, otherwise I don't think many would have correlated it with him and his giveaways, deregulation and irresponsibility. I think that everyone that regularly has posted on this site gets it, but I don't think that most of the population in this country would have been able to make the connection if the downward spiral happened in the next administration. Look at what our education system has done. No Child Left Behind is the biggest freaking fraud besides the patriot act!

The proposed bailout seems to me like a huge freaking gauze pad to stop the bleeding. Not sure if this gauze pad will be sufficient to prevent a further collapse. I haven't quite figured out the answer but I think that our predicament proves that the free hand won't cop an inappropriate feel when given the right conditions. The right conditions would be when no one else is looking.

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09/14/08 08:22 - 78ºF - ID#45673

Yay for Tina Fey!

Sorry guys they took the video down because of copy right infringement. Oh well. At least I got to see it this AM!! I replaced the video with a pic.

In case anyone missed this Saturday Night Live skit like I did. She did a great job with the Sarah Palin's voice. Clearly she already had the looks! How awesome.

Permalink: Yay_for_Tina_Fey_.html
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09/13/08 08:52 - 70ºF - ID#45669

Rain, rain go away

I'm so sick of the rain and dampness. Everything feels so wet in my house.

We are forecast to have sunny days this coming week but it doesn't seem like it with that map. It looks like we are just going to be pounded with more and more rain. Even if we do have some sunny days coming up it looks like we will be hit with the last of Ike unless the jet stream changes dramatically.

Northern and Southern Erie counties are under flood watch right now.

Permalink: Rain_rain_go_away.html
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09/11/08 09:57 - 66ºF - ID#45649

Spiders

So I have a problem with spiders in my house and I was looking for a way to fix it naturally and I found this....

It is from ehow.com

Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Things You'll Need:

* plastic spray bottle - garden type
* large canning Jar (glass or plastic with lid)
* old blender
* spiders (fresh and dead)
* Water
* Pantyhose
* Funnel

Step1
Capture spiders or kill and place in a jar. Get as many as possible from your immediate area as those are the ones you want to repel. 15+ is a good number.
Step2
Add warm water to the jar so that you have at least 3 cups of water covering.
Cover and swish lightly.
Step3
Now the tough part.
Pour spiders and liquid into the blender.
Puree on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute
Step4
Place panty hose (or long cut off toe section) ovee the top of the blender after removing the lid.
Step5
Place funnel into mouth of spray bottle and slowly pour the blender contents in. This will leave remains in the stocking and allow all liquid to pass to the spray bottle.
Step6
Discard stocking and place sprayer onto the spray bottle.
Step7
Mist along all windows, doors, attic vents, porch under roofing, attic spaces, boat spaces -- anywhere you want the spiders to find new places to live.

Normally within a week you'll be virtually if not fully spider free.

libertad writes at 08:36:30 09/13/08 - Comment #38868: Just so you all know I am not going to try this remedy. I don't know if you all think I am so heartless jerk or not! You might love spiders but I am sure nobody would like the ones that I have found crawling all over the place. The spiders in my back room look like the ones that are only around lakes and other water. Truly shocked at their size! I did get a spider bite once and it stayed for probably two months. This one woman I knew she got one and her whole arm turned leathery and gross. Anyways, I probably won't do anything cause there is only so much time in the day to do all the stuff that needs to be done. There are more remedies I haven't shared but seem interesting and much more pleasant. Probably they will just go away for the winter. I haven't seen any spiders at Roswell. Paul is probably right that there is food for them to eat so that is why they are here. The bugs fly in from the gaps between my screens and windows. My apartment really seems cottage like to me and I am not so surprised by the spider infestation.

imk2 writes at 08:15:51 09/13/08 - Comment #38865: i think it's the season for spiders or something. we have a ton of spiders in our house too, and at roswell. do they hatch at the end of the summer? didn't charlotte in charlotte's web take place during the summer and didn't she die at the end of the summer right before her babies hatched?

metalpeter writes at 05:53:37 09/12/08 - Comment #38850: Just so you know in some cultures spiders are considered lucky.

tinypliny writes at 11:03:57 09/11/08 - Comment #38831: How weird. And somewhat evil. What if someone did that to humans. I bet that would work very well.

paul writes at 10:32:44 09/11/08 - Comment #38829: I love spiders. If you have a spider problem, it probably means you have a bug problem, otherwise they would move. If they leave you might end up with a bug problem, which I think - is way worse.

james writes at 10:24:17 09/11/08 - Comment #38828: what the heck?

Please photo document this and let me know how it works.

janelle writes at 10:15:57 09/11/08 - Comment #38827: I have happily switched to vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, but I absolutely could not do that.

So happy I don't have a spider problem.

Permalink: Spiders.html
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09/01/08 04:50 - 81ºF - ID#45532

St. Pete Pride 6/28

The UGLY
"I can justify myself before God" Larry Keffer Telephone:
813-376-8888

See who is the man behind the hate.

He is the same man that is responsible for spreading hate in Buffalo at Thursday at the Square and at the Pride parade.

Now the good...

The pride parade starts at 10am because of the heat. It was very hot anyways even at 10am.

My Mom and her husband Joe.

I have more pictures but they are getting an error message when I try to load them. I'll try again later to get the rest of them out.

This is the error message I am getting.

name = IMG_0420.jpg
size = 384070
type = .jpg
error = 500
errorType = 1

The pics i'm having trouble with are one's that I took on my mom's camera. Didn't have any trouble with the ones I took with my own.

Permalink: St_Pete_Pride_6_28.html
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09/01/08 02:20 - 64ºF - ID#45527

Mikey's birthday

I had such a great weekend celebrating his birthday. Packed with fun and ended in both he and I winning big at the Seneca Nation Casino in Niagara Falls. I won $20 and he $26. This is the first time that we both won. Dinner with his parents and (e:paul), (e:matthew) and (e:terry) was really great. Of course Mike's mom put on quite a spread.

Happy Birthday Mikey! A Lion King was born 8/31!

The lion seen on Virginia at Delaware was commissioned by (e:mike). I framed it for his birthday and it looks pretty good framed. Mike loves this lion and it is very close to being lost forever.

This is Tran Zoo Vania also commissioned by (e:mike). This I made for his birthday card. Does anyone know what this place was??

Permalink: Mikey_s_birthday.html
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08/24/08 05:40 - 72ºF - ID#45441

Cell phone outage

The storm we are having is so great. My cell phone has been working for about a half hour or so. I do hope everyone is OK with the lightning striking and everyone being out. Luckily did not get soaked.

Went with (e:mike) and his mother to the Elmwood Ave art festival. That was so much fun hanging out with the two of them. His mom came and sat on the porch for a while too and saw my new place. Also went again to the festival with my friend Justin whom I haven't seen in forever. It was nice to see him again. The festival was excellent. The garden parade was one of the best parades I have seen. Music, dancing and the scary masks were all so awesome.

(e:mike) so if you see this you know why I can' t call you. Sent you an email.

Permalink: Cell_phone_outage.html
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