So Today I went to the 3pm Trans-Siberian Orchestra It is a good time... Yes it is over the top I admit... Christmas Music and or Classic music with rock and lots of electric violin and local musicians but it is a lot of fun... Not sure how many pictures I will post going to try and slide them over so you get a sense... Yeah some new music and a new show......

Oh Plus if my info is correct one of the guitar players was DonnyZ .. I forget his band's name but they where good he was on this funny show about a metal or rock band depending on what you call it... That to make money also has a kids band and that band does better it was really funny and he is pretty talented .....

Yeah each show $1 of the ticket goes to a charity ....
































































So I wish I could take credit for photos that look great... I pretty much turned off the flash and let the camera do everything... To be honest a lot of it is just luck... I missed a lot of the fire... But it is kinda a 3 ring circus on stage up in the air some times and the lights being lit up are part of the show.... Fun times but a lot of over load.......












On my way out Hope I didn't over do it on the photos....









I was in the 14th row in the middle of the floor... With a camera that is the snow camera as a test... It was nice to go around Christmas with them on tour some cities get them like in early Nov. sometimes... Also they have many very talented singers ... Love the rock singer chick she was awesome then they do back up with the other singers as well....

So I'm sure everyone knows about the shootings in Newton.. Now the first thing that comes up is the gun issue if you are for them or anti gun or somewhere in the middle what we can all agree on is that it is a tragedy and that shouldn't happen of course how to stop it is where we disagree but this ins't really what the post is really about.....

I don't know where Webster is other then it is near Rochester some place.. This story made national news... I guess that is a good thing.....Now both Things have a few things in common.. Other then it seeming like the guy who did this was a crazy and that someone who got guns shouldn't have been able to but there is a 3rd thing and I'm not counting that one of the people shot had the same type of gun as the shooter in Newton....

I think when we look to what causes this kind of thing there are many factors but I think we need to go back and look at the news.. The glamourize this kind of thing and make people famous.. Now not saying that caused this directly.. But when news is also entertainment it does mess with people a bit.... I'm sorry but they shouldn't be doing stories on the funerals of the people who died... Leave the families alone... Don't put all there names in the paper just say how many move on... Want to call them 26 angels fine... But reading all there names is to much..... That leads into my next thing...

The Westboro Baptist Church (yes there is an online petition to make them a hate group as much as I think they are I don't agree whom is next if we allow this) Protested at The Funerals or at least some of them .. Saw a picture on facebook where a bunch of Bikers became angels and blocked the protester ... Now I can't confirm that this will happen for sure but they are supposed to protest at the dead Fire Fighters funerals this is so bad......

Now if I understand the way they think ... They think what I would call old testament... They think that when we sin.. Or go along with sin... Or allow sin... Or say sin isn't sin (Currently gay sex) ... That god Punishes us ... I know it seems a bit crazy but it really isn't... If one believes the Bible is true ... Then what happened to plagues where are they.... So it would make sense that the new way is to make bad things happen... I guess HIV fits right in with that... Now of course they could just be really good at getting their name out there and might not believe this....

But you know they do have a bit of way of thinking that kinda makes a bit of sense... What we do does cause things to happen... You don't need faith to think that way... Karma is an example you know what comes around goes around... So it is a common way to think....

Again I don't agree with them... I'm talking about a kinda way of thinking... That what we do causes other things to happen... But see I think us not treating people the same is what causes the shootings, us not accepting people... Some often Christians don't act like "Real Christians " they want to judge and hold people down but "Real Christians" may not agree with you but they don't judge and treat you any different... They with out sin cast the first stone... Again though you don't need faith for this thought tough ... I think if we all treated people better we wouldn't get crazy people like this... How many times are people mean (Think back to being a kid) and everyone laughs ... Most comedy works off of different norms of societies .... I'm not saying to ban comedy ... But there is a big part of it that here I am I'm better then that person.. Lets laugh at that fool of course you can laugh with them also....

I can't really answer the question .... Micheal Moore tried 10 years ago and really didn't... Yeah our love of Guns and Genocide and violence for sure is a factor but the percentage of people who go out on mass acts is so small... But what about other murders (not in self defense ) ... See I think we have this Idea that yeah it ok cause we are right or in some cases just... Again maybe if we treated people better this wouldn't happen?

So I can admit that I do wish that for 40 I was able to do something that follows the over used term EPIC... But around Christmas can't really go to Cold NYC or the Bunny Ranch... Do to time and Location didn't make it to any of the Burlesque Acts.... But I thought I'd post a few pictures .....As I watch some of "A Christmas Story" as a side note saw a cool presentation of it in Buffalo Years ago.... Heard it got turned into a Broadway Musical I bet it is great.....








So There was just What I'll call the Santa Parade and it reminds me that Buffalo use to have what was the Toys For tots Parade ... It was on Grant St. but often not Advertised and over the years it got farther away from Christmas and have no idea when or if it stopped ...

So I posted Privately about how tough sometimes it is to deal with family... But did gifts at my mothers House .... Then the niece will do gifts with her mother at her house... Think that makes more sense then all of us doing gifts over there... I remember as a kid liking to go to aunts on the eve opening stuff at my place and then there was another place called down home or Open houses it was crazy but fun... See this way Maya can see her father and not worry time wise... Also if they want to do something else... So making cookies and the cat and stuff.....







Towne Above

























OH Yeah Merry Christmas it is odd that I want to put a hashtag in every where....:) Oh yeah or what ever holiday(s) you do... Even if that means you work for 7 days in a row and then go some place or take a trip or what ever enjoy.....

So I can admit that I should have posted these pix on Sat. After the open Practice but not sure what happened some how ran out of time argh and then with tweeting as I watched football on Sunday then Wrestling on Monday Plus all this mass shooting stuff trying to decide if I should really write a blog about it...

So These Pictures where taken After the Event at the Alumni Plaza.. Now When it first Debuted people did go and they had an event but do to the NHL it wasn't like how it could have been with a game and very special ... I believe the Yellow blocks are the people who paid for their name to help cover the cost .......















Now Last Year thing where a bit different they had the practice and then at the end they had everyone run out with the Anniversary Jersey on but this year the players started with them on... But the Bandetes hit the floor 1st... The odd thin is the software that goes kinda with the camera I have didn't put the pictures in the exact order so here goes think these might be in the right order....
















































So From here Some more pictures of the Open Practice but I like to try and put up what I assume are the best or most important photos first in a case like this... had some Youtube issues other wise I'd post a few videos ....



































I wasn't going to get a new Jersey but at 25% off hey why not Happy Birthday to me.. Now one way to go might have been to get white with no name but didn't want to miss any of the practice and then have people sign it.. I didn't want to get a name though and then not get that person to sign it so I skipped the signing ..... Now the white ones look better then the black ones they almost look like a racing jersey or something... What looks like grey and like Bs but keeping a black one clean will be tough enough.. OH yeah 23rd is my Birthday ... Yeah 40 means I ain't young no more and it ain't so easy.. On the Day I'll be Watching what ever Football is on... Think there might be a couple of (e:peeps) that are on here but aren't on Facebook if yeah know me slide on in to Casa on Elmwood at about 8pm... That may have missed the invite... Not saying anyone has to go or anything... Of course I wish I had the money to through my self a stag with Strippers Or even just Burlesque some place... To be clear that is the 22nd.... If it wasn't so close to Christmas A vegas trip would have been great also... If I had my Papers Toronto would have been great... Now lets just hope the Team is good this Year it should be we shall see...

So two quick things

Thank You LLoyd's cause they are how I found out about this cool event, Also nice to see you (e:MrMike) ... There was some really cool stuff those who get out to either of the Art Festivals would see some stuff you've seen before like the Robots Had to get 2 Shirts and Then those little monster things those are cool I just don't have an area for them to sit on or even for a tree for the cool ornaments also someone had some great skull ones also... I didn't take pictures of anyone's artwork... That being said some photos are from elmwood here they are....














Then Inside Yes the light is a little funky turns out better to not use the flash kinda odd but.....



















As Much as I love Lloyd's I haven't had Amy's Yet so I tried their Wet Shoes it was good ......

So I've never lived in NYC, LA, Toronto or a major city but to me Murals at least are part of living in the city... Or maybe just when I was a kid growing up poor there where a couple famous ones on The "West Side" (IN LA Voice) .. The Buffalo News has a story about a Movie that they had at a Gallery and I guess some Taggers are upset about it...

When I went to share the movie it gave me link and so copy pasted it not sure where it takes you ....



You might need an account to the service to see It?

The Link to the Buffalo News Article



Now the next thing I'm doing did Is doing the copy and Paste thing and then put it in " " cause last time the box thing didn't work ... My mother pays for the Sunday Paper someone at work gets it every day so....

'Nickel City Vandals' stirs controversy on Buffalo's graffiti scene
December 6, 2012 - 2:09 PM

Nickel City Vandals from Aaron Ferguson on Vimeo.

Last night, I stopped by Daddy's Garage (a sweet new graffiti gallery and shop on West Ferry Street) for a packed screening of Aaron Ferguson's new film "Nickel City Vandals." which Ferguson was kind enough to let us embed above.

(I had to miss this panel on the future of culture in Western New York at Daemen College in order to attend the screening. But this look at a small subsection of Buffalo's active street culture that's just beginning to inch out from the underground turned out to be well worth it.)

The documentary project, completed as a part of Ferguson's studies as an MFA student at the University at Buffalo, considered this moment on Buffalo's graffiti scene. The filmmaker and many of his subjects -- including the hilarious and insightful legit graffiti artist known as Brakes as well as Sam Lunetta, director of the city's anti-graffiti task force -- painted a picture of a graffiti scene in a kind of holding pattern. The scene lacks the artistic sophistication of some years ago, the film suggested, but was beginning once again to pick up steam as a crop of new graffiti artists with unique styles beginning to rise through the ranks.

But not everyone agrees with Ferguson's portrayal of the Buffalo scene. At the screening, which drew a large, diverse and curious crowd, representatives of the hard-core BF (or Buffalo's Finest) graffiti crew handed out a strongly worded statement calling the film's integrity into question. Below is a scan of the letter, which was handed to me in an envelope by a very serious-looking girl after the screening ended. At the bottom of the sheet is a graphic representing legendary Buffalo graffiti artists known by the tags "ATAK" and "HERT." The latter of these has been claimed by Buffalo-born Ian Deeber, a graffiti world cause célèbre who pleaded guilty to graffiti charges in Pittsburgh and was sentenced to prison in 2010.

The distribution of the flyer created a bit of a stir at the screening, but the filmmaker and the subjects in attendance seemed relatively nonplussed. "The graffiti scene can get wild sometimes with others trying to hate on and degrade people who are trying to do positive things for the community," Brakes wrote after the screening.

Controversy and all, the night seemed to both signal and encourage a new and broader appreciation for graffiti, as has the recent mural tribute to the late Spain Rodriguez painted near Buffalo's Central Terminal. We're entering a new era when it comes to how the public views street art and graffiti -- whether legal or illegal. And from where I'm standing, films like "Nickel City Vandals," which will always raise the ire of underground artists who would prefer to remain so, are a welcome addition to the city's broader culture.

--Colin Dabkowski

So my take is kinda this I've gone past the trains and them past me more times then I can count (Work near the tracks so)... I've seen the out line bubble letters and some bad tagging in my hood just hand written names that sorry isn't art... The stuff on the trains is... Of course there are different styles (People who type would call them Fonts) so with shadows some with pictures.. I saw one that was amazing (Wish I had my camera) where the person as part of their name had bricks it was really cool... Of course everyone has a different version of art.... I can see why if I had a nice building and someone tagged it I would be pissed... But Again there is another movement that they just touched on that to me is different and that is Street Art... Some of that is really amazing... They didn't show it directly they showed pictures of it in a gallery.... Maybe if I get my papers together when it gets warm I can go to like Toronto and look for some and try to get photos and not get killed... Cause I know I'm not treking around not only bad areas but some of them are with a camera to take photos....

Again comments by those who know much more about this then me would be very nice.......

1. This Is a blog I've been meaning to write for a bit of time so sorry if it isn't what it should be... I'm sure no one will agree with me and that is fine... this isn't face book so you are allowed to tell me so (If anyone who read this one read the last one)

2. I honestly am not sure how much I can say with out getting into trouble or at least where the possibility of that starts or If I'm even high enough in the food chain for that to be an issue.. So I will say this.. Where i work we send product to many places Target, CVS and so on and so forth including Wal-Mart... No I'm not a pro writer but Need to toss that out there so anyone reading this or anyone whom you never know could share this knows....

There was a time when I thought Wal-Mart was evil and they may have done some bad things... But that isn't what this blog is about really Again this is a blog not a research paper or a piece that is running in the news in some form.. But I Like Wal-Mart and I do shop there... But also after work it is quicker to get to them then to Target and I can get home quicker also....

---Kinda a tangent but... The Reason I thought Wal-Mart was Evil is that they would show up in some small town. Then in these towns local places couldn't compete and they would close. Hey why go buy food then go buy wood then plants when you can get everything you need in one place..Not a new Idea Sears did this a long time ago... But see it isn't Wal-Mart's fault that people in town also think about prices and go there instead of the local flower shop or local record store... Price is a huge factor in where people buy stuff some times it is a choice and sometimes not... As a quick example that is why people go to Pricerite and not Wegman's ....

BLACKFRIDAY! Oh no we are all going to die Or get 3 TVs for the price of one depending on what facebook status you believe .... This is what got this post inspired was posts I saw after that... Now hey if after thanksgiving instead of sleeping or watching football you want to go get that huge Wal-Mart tv or what ever fine.... But posts (Something in the news i missed also) about low wages at Wal-Mart .. I didn't share them cause guess what I'm for them ...

Yes I support Low Wages for Wal-Mart workers... Again this is were research would be great to have the numbers to compare but would it be a blog any more? Target Doesn't have Lay-a-way and Wal-Mart does there is a reason for that... If you have the money to shop at Target you don't need lay-a-way (Or atleast during christmas not sure about all year like K-mart did)... So I'm saying Target it costs more or at least appears to at Target then at Wal-Mart and that is ok...

Yes some people just go where they think things are the cheapest.. But I believe that most people who go to Wal-Mart have to cause they don't have enough money to get stuff at Target or other high end places in the mall..

Now every business has a profit margin.. Now if Wal-Mart just went up and raised the starting wages of every worker and brought everyone else up accordingly since they would be paying out more money in wages they have to make that up someplace.. Now yes they could be nice with all the money they make and still have killer profits just not as killer .... But there are people who make money off of how much profit they make so.. The Natural thing to do is raise prices on everything.. Now what happens to the person who shops there for say food .... What bill don't they pay... Do they not do Christmas this year... Go Hungry ?

Now Granted there might be some places where there is only Wal-Mart and not Target so I'm not talking about those places... If you are a stock boy or Cashier or even management and you could pick a place to work Where would be better Target or some high end Retail place or Wal-Mart I doubt it is Wal-Mart .... Now I have no idea how they decide whom gets a job... But if it is true that places pay higher then those jobs must be tougher to get or should hold one to a higher standard .... The Wal-Mart near where I work is Near the Galleria Mall and Target also... So I'm contending that the people who work there couldn't get a job at Target so it is good they have a job if not for Wal-Mart they wouldn't .........

As an Example I've been to a few Targets and you all ways see people working and me at least (They think I'm a cowboy who is going to steal I guess... What never heard of a Metal band or watched Wrestling :) )They even come up and ask if you need help... But all wal-mart the people are talking to each other and you have to find someone one and half the shit has Keys so if you want to buy a memory card you have to get every thing else first... Yes Wal-Mart is aimed at the poor and that is ok....

Example 2: Back in my old days before the (e:strip) I was a stock boy at what is now 7-Eleven when we where owned by tops... Yeah you do pay for things being a block away from your house and short lines... But again back then Wegman's was the Premium Brand.. Think the non management route after about 2 years there you still made less then to start at Wegman's ... I loved most of the people I worked with they where great.. Now granted that and a Grocery Store is different but a few people tried and Never got hired there... One Manger did but he got an entire section and it was a bit over his head even for the more money so think he came back... Great guy buy the way... Wonder how that crazy mother fucker is doing... Yeah I admit I wonder how a bunch of those people are .. No facebook back then... Ah good times man.... But it goes to the same point the high end places some people just can't work there...

So I think I kinda made my point that if Wal-Mart paid people more.. some of the people who work there wouldn't have a job there.... And with prices up what would people do who can't shop any place else go what would they do.............................

1. I admit writing a blog about facebook is kinda lame
2. All things (stole from Tony I think the term) The book of Face aren't bad
3. Been meaning to write this for like a week so it might be a little weak and not how I really want it to read

Yeah I can admit that I have found a little bit of Drama over there... Maybe I'm just use to the blog Style where ... You get to see others points of view and think about your own and not saying change but think about it another way or at least gain some knowledge ....Oh but on facebook forget about that.....I recently got into it with someone whom I thought was a friend what ever that is whom requested me and is now deleting people ... Why so angry cause I don't agree with that ? and try to hold you to a high standard .....

But see that is the thing with facebook is we all state our opinion in many ways some times those funny cards and there is what happens... People who agree we can like or we can share... And then when we share everyone else sees and people who agree share.. So what happens is we whom ever does that sharing the same idea so We have a little group of Conformity ? Now to disagree with ones ideas oh no on facebook you can't do that... People yell and tell you to stay out of it and it really ugly really fast and people want to delete you and all kinds of stuff ... Ok maybe over doing it a bit but that is the attitude .... This happens with music as well see a band and share the video and next thing you know all the friends who like that band like that it and you have another little circle of people who like the same thing....

The fact is that yes people can like and share what ever they want and be friends with whom they want... There are a lot of great things one can do on facebook but that isn't what I'm writing about... There is one of those little pictures that says something along the lines of it is my wall if you don't like it delete... Yes it is good to say that I post what I want if you don't like it or are offended it is easy don't report me just delete me.... But the under current is what bothers me... It implies that they only want to state their opinion and that your is unwanted at least if it is different .. If you conform to their ideas then great if not don't say anything ..........

TheNote: Yes on facebook if you are going to make something longer then a status update they have a note... Aka a blog ? Yes You can tag people in it but I think only once it is written in other words I can't write about cats and then Tag Say (e:TheeCarey) in one part and then ask someone else something in another part.... They just show up as part of the note.... But see it isn't right on the front page every where you go (some might say it is a programming thing but I don't buy it) You have all ways had to use a few clicks to get there.... And I think again cause facebook wants things to be shared and talked about that people agree on....

TheLikeButton: Of course you can post comments and still disagree but the like button tells everyone you agree with something and also now shares it before it went to like a little pop up if someone was on screen and they could find it... Now unless settings are changed you see what people like... Now I think this ties right into ads... Pepsi posts a nice ad and or coke and I like those cute little bears that if they could would rip you to pieces and let the penguins eat what ever is left..HA You hit like and everyone sees it...

---

>TheDislikeButton: That is correct there isn't one . This yells to me that you have to agree.. But what it really does is if you don't like something you just don't hit like instead of saying you don't like it... This helps the circle of people who agree on something to form again... Now I get that they don't want (I assume this is one of the reasons) people to dislike sponsors and ads and that kind of things like movies cause it could cause people (Yes Companies are legally people now aka Citizens United even though I don't completely understand) to not be part of facebook and not bring their movie clips and stuff.... The wanting for a Dislike got so bad that there was company that through Firefox gave you a dislike button.. If you disliked it , no one saw it other then the person who posted the thing they posted if they used firefox it might have even been a hack...

I just think that Facebook isn't set up for decent yes it can be used that way.. It is so that people can share interests that they share and that is fine.. But there is also a side of we are all going to agree and if you don't agree well fuck you... Oh yeah and don't tell me either...

Just read it and I guess I said what I wanted to say kinda of course over the time when I wanted to get here and really couldn't it has faded a little bit but......... Maybe I'll get some comments.... And maybe it made sense ?

So Friday and now Thursday is Black Friday ( in metal voice it really sounds cool :P ) . Now I think Saturday is some thing that is supposed to be small businesses ... Oh yeah and then there is also cyber Monday..

Now I don't know if this is the same Holiday but at one point it was started by American Express if they have gotten their name off of it that might be better then advertising it not sure not how wise or how much the public knows.. Yes it is good to go to small places and support them if they have a product someone wants or could use... But there is also an angle and that is what I will get into.....

There are places where you can use credit and debit cards and some places where you can't that is why if you are going to the bar tonight take cash. Nietches as an example doesn't take plastic .. Now they may have there own reasons in terms of how they want to do Business[like the clients don't like it, or they don't want to have pens at the bar?] for there are also business reasons....

In the past it was common for place to take only Visa and or matercard .. Now in terms of credit cards they charge interest when you don't pay it and that is how they make money.. But these came companies have debit cards. and they get a small % of the sales from the store charged to the card... So places have to decide do they want to take a slight cut so people can pay with these cards cause some people that is all they will use... When I had a discover card so many places didn't take it.. I think part of it was people didn't really know them.. Again they worked a little different they didn't use the master card and then say a bank and not sure what the percentage was... But this brings up American Express ... Yes I used to have one it was a pretty blue card it really was...

I don't know what the rates are now.. But back when I had a credit card the % that American Express got if you used their card someplace was a higher rate then the other two... If you except that card you had to give them that rate and a lot of stores it wasn't worth it... So if that was your card you where out of luck.....

So when I first heard about this Movement that was started by American Express or at least their name on it... It seemed like an angle here is a way to get into small shops who often won't take our card cause we take to much from them... Again though I'm not sure but seems like an angle to me.. Maybe the only small shops that get pushed when one looks deeper take their card?

So had to get a new phone so I had to go to target anyways but TV burned out last night it was very old so got a cheap new tv... With the connections is why I think the picture is liny.... But onto crazy elmwood.....

So Went up to Elmwood and this chick wanted to suck my cock.. Now don't get me wrong it might have been fun... but at least it could have been a hot tattoo girl... Or even the suburb look :) Now I was tempted would have been nice to see some big black tits and come all over her or in her mouth for like $10 .... Will I assume them things gotta be out :) Been some time since I've given :) I mean kidding gotten head.... but like where would she blow me on elmwood :) Be sides it wouldn't be safe where would we go... Might be dangerous now of course if I just had like a bill in my pocket :) I don't think it would be safe now if I had someone to watch then maybe :)

Yeah there is a lot of road work or is that side walk work that makes things kinda crazy out there....

Couple of things from the way back home... Right by Hoyt lake there is a highway sign and the back of it is Tagged.... They wouldn't put it up like that so I assumed some one climbed up and sprayed it... I think it would be cool to see a documentary following taggers I think it could be pretty cool... I like the tagging .... It isn't the same as like dead gangsters so... I think as long as it isn't on anything historical it kinda gives life to things it is organic... Now some taggers must go through a lot... What I don't like is they need to have some respect... For example The Livary that they tried to save or saved or what ever some how those windows got tagged would be cool to see how that happened though.....

I get it we are buffalo we are supposed to be hearty but if you need a hoodie or a jacket go sit in side not out side of the coffee place :)

Also right around that same area people out side where selling Girl Scout Cookies if I didn't need to get stuff I would have got off and bought some.....
well the area is allways interesting....