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Category: issues

07/16/08 06:54 - 82ºF - ID#45040

Backward war on drugs and racism

First of all I hope that my general sense of being worn out doesn't make what I'm writing not make any sense. I'm not going to say that smoking crack is ok or that it should be legal, but maybe it should be. Oh when ever I saw drugs it will be short for illegal drugs. Tobacco, Alcohol, Caffene, and a few other are all have the good and there bad but none of them are considered drugs when they are discussed so to make things more simple they won't be counted.

I can understand that people can think drugs are wrong morally. It seems to me that is where most of the anti drug stuff comes from. I also think that since you come from it as a moral argument you can never end drug use (drug use and abuse are different but often people don't get that so for this they will be the same). See if it is moral issue then people who are on drugs aren't as good as you. Once someone isn't as good as you then the way you treat them changes. Instead of wanting people to get better just send the pieces of shit to jail. Even if you where to think that they should go to rehab if people think drug users are worse people that will sink in and they will pick up on that and no advice will ever work because it is done like preaching.

When I'm sick, do I care about being sick and that I don't move as good or that my insides are messed up, no I don't. I care about the fact that I don't feel good. So I take drugs that make me feel better (yes the sleep helps fight the cold) But I'm doing it to stop the pain. What I should do is take cough expecturent that will make me cough and get all the germs out. But again I would rather sleep and not be in pain. In America we do this with a lot of things we fight the symptoms in stead of what is causing the problems. The same is true about the drug war. We bust drug dealers and drug users and kingpins and gangs who fight over turf. But really what is that going to do? Well it makes Jails and the entire legal system huge and big profits for some people, and breaks up all ready broken families. But even if you got ride of all the drug dealers in a neighboorhood or a city how long would it stay that way. As long as there is a demand then those people who need drugs will get them someplace. Maybe it won't be on the corner maybe they will sniff gas, or snort aderlale (anti depresent that I guess gets up pretty high in powder form up your nose). As long as there is demand someone will supply something. That is why the war on drugs makes no sense. If you could spend the money on making sure society teaches people about how to deal with things with out using drugs then there would be no need to lock up drug dealers cause when no one smoked crack anymore they would have to do something else.

But there are other reasons this will never happen. First of all there is a difference between drug use and abuse. If I go to a rave or a dance club once a month and use e to have more fun then that is use but if I'm going out to the clubs every night and using it my brain is going to get fucked up. There is some thought that DNA, Abuse and Family history ties into why some people wind up abusing drugs and some don't. I also think that what you see as a kid is a factor. Hey if mom comes home from work and hates dad and drinks half a bottle of win, then you learn that is how you deal with things, instead of dealing with things in a positive way.

Another reason why the government won't stop the war on drugs and spend that money to try and help people not become addicts is because of drugs that are accepted. What if saying in first grade as part of health class you teach coping skills. Yeah that would be great. You could also teach kids that they should have some way to deal with anger. You could teach all this positive stuff and even tell kids about art and music or suggest hobbies to do as a way of escaping instead of drugs and give them ways to deal with peer pressure. But see if that where to work then what about beer, there would be no reason to buy it, same would be true with smoking. Oh we could never have that. Back to the moral thing again. It is ok to smoke and drink but smoking weed or doing a line of blow (not that I really would but I have all ways wanted to try a line of a striper's tit of course she was free and so was the blow) is wrong. I think because of that conflict the teaching of "life or coping skills" will never really be taught. I don't know if it is true or not but I have heard that "The capagne for a drug free America" is paid for by some Tobacco and Alcohol companies. As long as they have the money to through around then teaching people that drugs are not the only way to relax or speed up will never happen. I think that when companies like Redbull, Amp (part of mountain dew), Shark, Monster, rockstar and other energy drinks get smart they will add money to stop drugs. Why go get no doze or take uppers when you can have two cans of red bull. I can't say that they are currently helping to keep drugs illegal but if they are smart they will soon.

I honestly believe that if you fought the war on drugs from the prevention side it would do a lot more good then sending people to jail. I wonder if mostly white guys went to jail and broke up white families if the war on drugs would keep going this way. I kinda doubt it. I also think the war on drugs is a form of racism. I won't go as far as to say that the CIA put (forget the specific drug heroion I think) into the ghetto, but some people do believe that they did. I have not been to every city and I don't know about how things work in white hoods. But from what I seen the people who go to jail for selling drugs on the street are mostly black, and Latino (what nationality not really sure but does it really matter?). I don't think that it was set up as a race thing really it was more about who is poor, and where the poor people live. (hey or maybe I'm out of my mind from listening to both Public Enemy and Queensryche back in the day). But in general terms rich guys bring drugs into the country or grow it here in some cases. They have the least to lose also since they aren't selling it on the streets. There are way to many levels to really know but somewhere down the line you get to someone who sells or distributes drugs to an area or a bunch of people and maybe even some of those people resell it. As the amount of money people make gets lower the risks get higher and the skin gets darker or at least the people get poorer. No one when they are in 1st grade goes when I go up I want to by a drug dealer.

But at some point some kid who is in school, or who has maybe dropped out all ready see the glammour and the money of selling drugs. Hey if you want nice clothes and an x-box or money to drink or what ever you will get that cash a lot quicker then flipping burgers. it is all ways harder for the poor to get good jobs. The schools they go to aren't as good (hey all the tax payers moved to the burbs so how could they be as good), so there education isn't as good. If the home is broken (not saying there are not good single parents there are some really good ones) but that on top of being poor makes things tougher. Then if you ad in that you are black on top of that, it can be very hard to get a job. So instead of trying the lure of selling drugs is an easy one. I'm not saying everyone who is black is a a drug dealer, in fact most are not. I'm not saying you can't get a good job, you can get hired there and then if you are a good worker maybe even become a manager and then take some classes and become a district manager or something along those lines. But middle class (not even rich) families kids have an advantage and then if they are white it is a double adventage. Plus sometimes the cultural differences are just enough to scare away the guy who does the hiring. So there is often this perception that well I won't be able to get a job any ways, and even if I do It will be something nasty so I should sell drugs. Then if you sell drugs and that is what you are going to do why finish school anyways. Now if you get arrested for drugs or really anything criminal that makes getting another job even more tough. Once an ex-con allways an ex-con. The drug game is fixed game that hurts blacks and hispancs and favors rich with and maybe colubian men. That is reason enough to pay the DEA to go bust down doors and put "The Scum Bags who ruin our little angles lives by selling them drugs" in jail. But see if you where not on the higher moral ground and you taught you kids that they don't need to smoke up (kinda hard when you pop Zanak and they tried that first) t deal with being in high school, then there would be no drug dealers.

I wish I could really explain better how I think the war on drugs is racism. But it is kinda tough to do. What I do know is that it sure seems racist to me. It seems like no drug dealer makes people do drugs. Granted I don't think they should try to peddle there stuff to kids. It should be a if you need it you know where to get it type thing. As I stated before there are some pretty good single mothers. But I think that two parents do a better job with kids. I also think that when you take a parent away to jail it does have a bad effect on the kid. I can't say it makes them sell drugs. But it sure could cause them to if there isn't enough money in the household. I think that since the cops go after the sellers on the street (DEA supposidly starts on the street and then tries to move up the chain) that they do it this way because the sellers are minorites. Ok so you can't really go after people you don't see doing a crime (importers) [but how do they get that stuff in anyways, maybe some of it is by paying some people off not sure]. I think that minority sellers is a big reason for the drug war. Not only are you fighting the drug war but you are putting "the scum, Bad guys" in jail.

In this post I'm not saying you should make illegal drugs legal that is a different post at a different time. But I'm saying that if you really want to stop drug use and the crimes that addicts commit like stealing stuff and selling it cheaply on the street for drugs. Then you have to put the racism aside for a minute, and put away the high moral ground and think for a sometime. Then come to understand that just like Porn, strippers, street walkers, or high end escorts as long as there is a need for it people will find a way to get it, so you should figure out how to stop the need. Of course that is a bigger challenge then just putting everyone in jail and you really have to look at things and think about things but no one in this country of "I want it now" will really do that.
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Permalink: Backward_war_on_drugs_and_racism.html
Words: 2158
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: event

07/13/08 06:39 - 75ºF - ID#45007

The Taste Day 2

First of all Mike and other that I saw it was nice to see you all. For those of you that I know and didn't see I hope you all had a great time and found some food you liked and didn't break any of my rules from my previous post. It is amazing how many people don't get down on the right back on the right and don't walk towards traffic, with the exception of the circle cause that can be kinda confusing as to where to go. I have to give credit to anyone who is able to do the group thing. It is tough to wait off to the side when someone else is in a line for what can sometime be a long time. The weather was interesting I dressed for cool weather since it was and then it seemed like I was there for about 10 minutes and the sun came out and the wind went away so I was a bit warm. I got one chicken wing from the tap room and it was really good I should have got the bigger size. Then at Tandori I got there kind of wings (baked I think vs smoked and different seasoning) they where so tasty. I went to the Steer twice once to use up my last tickets for cinnamon ice cream and also for an apple crisp that was very good. I tried a lemonade Jack Daniels that was very good. I had Lemon Ice from Anderson's they where out of the loganberry one. I almost forgot this Irish place had Shepard's Pie that was very good. Friday's had some free drink mix that was very good, they mixed it with water or ice and it was very good I wonder what it would taste like with vodka or something else. I somehow all ways missed what ever Dunkin Donuts was giving out except for ice tea once that was good. I also had this Jerk Chicken on Noodles that was pretty good I think the place might have been called Jack's or something like that. I'm sure I'm forgetting something but I hope everyone had a good time and enjoyed there weekend, hey maybe next year they will extend it a block and add like two more booths and that will let there be more space for everyone.
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Permalink: The_Taste_Day_2.html
Words: 394
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: events

07/12/08 08:53 - 74ºF - ID#44984

A wicked Taste

First of all the taste of buffalo was a good time. That being said I'm glad I got some time in before wicked. Before wicked I got free pork, that is right pork for free it was pretty good. Then there where people handing out some Cereal that is in that middle section and that was pretty good to. I tried a small portion of this soup from Danny's I think that was like beef Kimmelweck that was very good. Then over by one of the stages there was this place Mobay I think it was called that was pretty good I got what was called mobay it was Jerk Chicken (very good) on this huge breed that was pretty tasty. I almost forgot there was a Ghirardelli place giving out free Chocolate how can anyone pass that up. After wicked I didn't stay long seeing as the rain came down in buckets and things where blowing over. It wasn't to to bad but with a paper bag and no one handing out plastic ones anymore I was in trouble quickly so it did wind up driving me home, I'm ok but my bag is pretty shreded. But I did get time to fit in a Chilli Chese Burger from Steer that was pretty tasty. I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the place that was giving out free ice tea but it was pretty good. Hopefully I will make it back on Sunday for more food seeing as there is more stuff I must try.

Wicked was fun to see. I did look up online and get the story. Sometimes stories in musicals can be tough to follow. I should not have read Act II it would have been better and then everything would have been a surprise story wise and it would still have been followable. Seat wise I was left of center about 4 seats in and 4 rows back so, I thought it was a pretty good seat. With out going into the story and telling spoilers for those who have not seen it, I won't really tell anything. I'm not a fan of love stories but there was a few love stories in there that was really good. All I will really say story wise is that it is the untold story of the wicked witch. If you take that story and then think about the story of the Wizard of Oz it is kinda not odd but changes you view on that movie. I thought the lighting effects where good and helped the story. I think all the actors/singers did a great job, it really was great, if it came back or if I went out of town someplace and it was playing I would go again.
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Permalink: A_wicked_Taste.html
Words: 463
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: events

07/10/08 07:09 - 74ºF - ID#44921

Wicked taste up coming

So in Buffalo during the summer there are lots of events and things to do. This weekend is the taste of buffalo. I know it is all about the food for most. But there are also prizes to win at places and sometimes a company will hand out new stuff like last year those chips made from fruit or was that the year before, very tasty. Then they have that section for kids and lots of other stuff. Yes the portions are small but they are small on purpose. 1) If they where large then they would cost more and then people would buy less. 2) If they where larger you would get full and not try other things. Besides you have to have enough money to get a nice stack of multiple color cups those that drink know what I'm talking about or have at least seen it. I just wish that all these walkers would understand the rules of the road, and why are they not posted.
1) If you want to look fine walk slow don't stop completely
2) Get food on your side only (none of this walking across 400 people getting in everyones way.
3) You wana talk fine walk and talk no standing in the middle of the road
A. No circles with air in the middle
B. If this must be done and you see someone get off to the side of sidewalk
4) Walk down the street on your right and back on your right (none of this walking into people coming your way bullshit)
5) groups walk single file not side to side blocking everything
6) wide body strollers never side by side and all the storage secure, if you kid can't hold onto there cup or teddy bear then they shouldn't have it.
7) no stopping when walking in people traffic
8) except in lines if you don't move you will be moved or kicked by the person or people behind you


> It is fine to move slow and look and talk and decide what you want, what isn't ok is to clog everything up and cause traffic jams if you did that in a car you would get flipped of or in LA get shot. A little common sense people is all I fucking ask for.

I forgot two
9) if you are hot show off that body
10) if you are showing it, it is so people look if you don't like your cleavage, tattoos or crazy hair looked at then don't show it off.
11) Have fun and don't get in others way and everything will be fine


I forgot that Wicked was still in town. I will going on Saturday afternoon and then assuming the weather is nice or at least not a down poor the taste of Buffalo. I'm looking forward to wicked I have heard from two people that it is very good, but the one person thought it was too long. I will be in the side ochestra in the first 10 rows. But I'm a little scared there might be lots of kids because of the show time but it should be a lot of fun. On a side note there is a new show starting on HBO on Sunday that looks really good (mini series) called Generation kill. Has anyone else on here seen wicked and what did you think? Yes I like both Musicals and Cartoons about Metalbands my interests very a lot and sometimes that makes it tough to do what you want or really get into stuff. I didn't get them but I can't believe there wherer $125 dollar tickets to wicked. I'm sorry that is just to much pressure. What I mean is a musical that is good at 30 or 50 or 70 has to be like twice as good based on how much you are paying for it. If I run into any (e:peeps) I hope I don't break any of my own rules, and maybe I'll remember to snap a picture of you. One day early hope everyone has a great weekend.
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Permalink: Wicked_taste_up_coming.html
Words: 672
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: tv

07/07/08 06:31 - 85ºF - ID#44894

Summer TV

So it used to be that in the old days of when I was young or a kid that summer was all repeats on TV. But now stations know that people still watch TV in the summer so they bring out summer shows. I'm not sure who started that Idea really. I remember that Fox started with different seasons like with the OC and then they would have fall shows but I can't give them credit. So hey if it is to hot stay inside and watch some shows or maybe some shows you didn't see last time. There are some shows that are pretty good on Showtime Weeds (great), that call girl show is great and she is so hot, Penn &Teller, and why am I still single. Then On Thursday on USA Burn Notice starts up again, it was so good last year hopefully it is just as good this season. I love 30 days (one person lives as a person who is different from them or in an oppisite sitiuation ) it is really good. They have been showing mini-sodes of rescue me before it. Then of course there is last comic standing. Granted they can't be dirty since it is on NBC but you can still do sex jokes just not graphic. If you like MXC then you might like wipeout (Tuesdays I think) and that is followed by a pretty good reality/game show called "I survived a Japanese Game show" that is pretty cool it really is. I'm not saying people shouldn't go out side and enjoy the weather but if you work someplace hot like where I do you may just want to chill in side.
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Permalink: Summer_TV.html
Words: 282
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: photos

07/06/08 02:29 - 80ºF - ID#44879

Wanted 4th of july Waterfont Jackdaw

Before I get into the 4th of July I wanted to mention I saw Wanted yesterday. I thought it was very good. Yes at the beginning the story did start out a little bit slow. But that part of the story was pretty important because it shaped a lot of the movie. For some of the boys and some of the girls yes Angelina looked amazing in this film. I think all the Tattoos helped. Of course it was a shot um up kind of movie so the action part of it was pretty good. I won't say what the plot twist was (isn't there all ways one in the good action movies) but I liked it and thought it was pretty good. Hey if you like That kind of movie or Angelina you should like the movie. Before the movie there was a preview for the new Mummy movie. I'll admit when I heard that their was a new one I thought "Why" but after the preview this one looks pretty good, oh yeah and Jet Li plays the "Bad Guy" it looks pretty sweet.

So on the 4th of July I did make it down to the Marina. I wanted to get there before I did. I would have like to find some food and check everything out and hear more then just Jackdaw, who where pretty good by the way. I like that he did something with the words about the marina and the fire works. A day or two before that they had the "Grand Opening" where they had all the people down there and ribbon cutting and stuff like that with Clinton and the Mayor. But I had seen it before all that. But it was really cool in person to see ship docked down there and over by the waterfalls and under the bridge. I still had a good time and the fire works where great and Jackdaw was great and I'm glad Riverside Park isn't the only place to see fireworks anymore. I still don't think they will ever beat the old days of the LaSalle Park days but maybe in a few years when everything down there is finished up maybe they will.

The Marina
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Jackdaw

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Hey Here are some Fireworks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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congratulations on making it to the bottom I hope everyone had a nice holiday and enjoyed the weekend.
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Permalink: Wanted_4th_of_july_Waterfont_Jackdaw.html
Words: 477
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: holiday

07/04/08 01:35 - 72ºF - ID#44860

the 4th on the 3rd

HAPPY 4th of JULY !!!


Ok so now that the screaming is over I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight. I'm thinking I might go down to the waterfront and go see some more fireworks. I wonder where they shot them off from and what spot would give the best view if I go? So last night I got to go to the Bisons game. Rochester got a big rally and went into the lead late in the game and the bisons did come back with a rally and only wound up tying it and couldn't win the game, so extra innings it was. Bisons wound up losing in the 13th inning hey one more and it would have been like a double header. It was a fun game to watch. I think it was the biggest crowd I have seen there, if it was soldout it was pretty close. Do to the length of the game the BPO shorted what they did. I was behind home plate (hey free tickets can't complain) so seeing the game was pretty good but not the view of the BPO. They did do stuff on the field to match the music like they had people in Star Wars outfits to match that music and they had girls doing handsprings and other types of flips when they played some music from the olmypics and then they had a nice part with a flag and different people from different branches of the military all in all I had a great time but my pictures on the camera don't look so good. The fire works where nice but I was surprised that they didn't end with like 100 fireworks going off at once to a "Supper American" Song. All in all it was a great time I would pay to go next year, but that is like a year away so lets not get that far ahead. Oh on a side note maybe after the weekend I'll put up fire works pictures, and if you want to see pictures of Ashville NC I have them up on my webshots page.
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Permalink: the_4th_on_the_3rd.html
Words: 352
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: travel

07/02/08 07:29 - 80ºF - ID#44842

Biltmore Estate vacation



Hopefully the above link should lead you to all the pictures that I posted of the Biltmore. I wish i could explain all the detail that goes into the wood inside and how huge the dinning room is and all the cool old books they have and there is a pool inside. The place is really amazing inside. Then of course there is the outside as well and the gardens. There really is a lot to see there, not to mention we just went to the one area. I know I can't post all the pictures here but here is what I hope will be a good random sampling with a bunch of pictures.


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I guess I should try to explain that there are statues kind of next to the house and I forget what that is called. Then there was the italian garden where they had the stuff growing and different statues. Then there is also the walled garden and conservatory I think they called it. But Knowing how to take pictures of that is kinda tough. Do you take a long shot that shows everything or do you go for the close up on the flowers and plants. In any event it is a cool place to check out and have fun taking pictures. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get them all printed, HA, not to mention all the wedding pictures and pictures of the sky and from the plane, then post wedding pictures. Ok here are some more pictures.


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It was kinda interesting leaving Cary not Carey yesterday. I thought I saw a couple developments with her last name on them, or at least it looked like it was close enough at high speed. There are some really nice houses in that area. I do wish when in cary we would have done more like go to Durham or Reliegh but it was also nice to not do anything also. The first day with all the getting lost and travel would have needed to be mellow anyways. It was nice to run into (e:Libertad) it would have been nicer if I wasn't in the Baggage area, since the airlines lost my mother bag, it was found and delivered today. I thought I saw (e:matthew) going down summer on his bike but is was quick so I wasn't sure. All in all it was a good vacation when I have more time I would like to put up my cloud pictures from the plane.
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Permalink: Biltmore_Estate_vacation.html
Words: 524
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: travel

06/29/08 05:25 - 68ºF - ID#44820

I'm in Cary NC that is

So currently I'm relaxing in Cary NC relaxing about to go out to a Buffett. For those that read my previous Journal I got to the Biltmore eventully and we only went to the house. It is truely amazing. I can't really explain the detail of the wood and how fancy it is inside, and you can't take in door pictures but when I get back I will post the ones of the outside it really was amazing. Then later that night was my cousins weeding and that was pretty nice to. I don't dance so the after part wasn't as fun for me as it was for others but still had a good time. Then the next day there was a nice brunch and I enjoyed that and we got to see ashville it looked like there was a pride Celebration in one of the town squares but that isn't the only thing a rainbow means. Oh I think the most interesting or funny thing was a lady and guy who had cute little dogs at the builtmore and one had pearls and they shared their ice cream with the dogs wish I had a picture of that. Well hope everyone had a great weekend.
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Permalink: I_m_in_Cary_NC_that_is.html
Words: 206
Location: Buffalo, NY


Category: travel

06/27/08 10:34 - 72ºF - ID#44800

Posting when I don't want to be....

So I'm in Ashville NC for a weeding, well if we ever get there. The reason I'm on (e:strip) using the computer in the lobby is because the CAR died. I hate cars sometimes and don't even drive. We are waiting to see if someone from road side service shows up to check it out. Be are supposed to go to the Butimore (how ever you spell it) Estate and it looks pretty cool, but first they have to get here and see if they can get the car to work, maybe soon I hope. I hope it is something simple and can be fixed quickly so we can be on the way. It is odd that last trip we got locked out of the car so it is a little frustrating. But other then that so far NC has been good. Flying isn't to bad just going through security can kinda blow. Oh yeah they lost my bag but it was found and the airline dropped it off at the nice hotel free of charge. It is odd right across from the hotel there is a Church. That is not the odd part, it just sticks out with kinda the suburb feel of things to the left and right of it with lots of room and some crosses. I wish I was more clear kinda sorry. On the flying I just wish you where allowed to use electornic devices during landing and take off cause that is when pictures would be the best. Hopefully when I get back I will post pictures of some of NC. In terms of the built more I think out pictures are fine but not interior well we shall see. Well we shall see.
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Permalink: Posting_when_I_don_t_want_to_be_.html
Words: 291
Location: Buffalo, NY


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