"Run Away to Palestine?" written by Mike on estrip.org

06/14/06 11:48 - 65ºF - ID#28998

Run Away to Palestine?

Have you guys read about the like 13 year old girl or something who got her parents to get her a passport saying she was going to Canada but secretly fled to Palestine to meet the guy she met on the internet? Who does that? Ok it is kinda cool but a lot of crazy. Like I think Palestine is probably the last place I would run away too alone without telling anyone if I was a 13 year old girl. There is soo much wrong with this situation. Luckily the parents caught her when she landed in Beirut (maybe the second last place I would run away to alone as a 13 year old girl). My question is, how do you punish a daughter who did this? Or namely how do you punish yourself for letting your preteen trick her way over to Palestine?

Permalink: Run_Away_to_Palestine_.html
Words: 142
Location: Kenmore, NY

06/13/06 05:11 - 71ºF - ID#28997

Main Street

Reading (e:chico)'s writing about where to get an apartment got me thinking about Buffalo and Main Street. Main Street definetley is sketchy but also I don't think it needs to be aovided like the plague. I do a limitied amount of things on Main Street, the bank, Hyatt's, hmm i guess that is probably about it. But Main Street really is a world away from (e:strip) even though it is so close. Even though numerous people here that live on Linwood, it is a whole different world. Linwood is/is becoming a haven for people with lots of expendalbe income, wanting an old, mansion for a low price. Getting in on the cusp of revitalization, though it is quite revitalized already (as compared to 1980's for instance).

How many of us have ever looked at an apartment on the other side of Main Street or Main Street itself? Probably very few. How many of us have ever even walked on Main Street really? Sure we can all talk about destigmatizing it but I don't know that a new person moving in should really try and tackle that by moving in there when noone here seems to want to.

For what you pay in rent in an elmwood apt you could buy a house a few blocks away and what you pay for a house around Elmwood/Linwood you could probably buy an entire block across Main Street. That is crazy.

This all became very rambly and maybe made no sense, maybe I wlil edit it later. I don't know, I just think everyone always talks aobut the stigma and trying to change it but it actually is within all of our power to do that but not one of us does, myself included. I don't know, that's all for now....

Then I also think about like gentrification. So what, do we want everywhere to be like elmwood/linwood? Once people with money move into those areas, then the people who live there now can't afford it and just have to move on. Is that really better? Does it really help the people there? I don't know, its all very confusing, and not really sure what I wanted out of this post.

ladycroft writes at 09:31:42 06/13/06 - Comment #8890: regular beach clean-ups had mass turnouts down in corpus. i'm sure a similar community based cleaning campaign is viable here.

kara writes at 09:05:40 06/13/06 - Comment #8888: Once TPTB complete the massive debacle masquerading as a road improvement project on my neck of Main Street, I will feel a lot better living in the city.
I walk and bike down Main Street frequently, and of all the places in Buffalo to be, I've never felt threatened there. Compare that to the sketchy guys on Elmwood who hang out outside the co-op asking for change, and I'll take the bleak landscape of Main any day.
As for places to live (along with (e:chico)'s post), just don't be stupid. Lock your doors, have renter's insurance, and don't leave things like gigantic cardboard boxes for your newest plasma TV at your curb.
I'd be with you, (e:matthew). Can we do it on a weeknight?

matthew writes at 06:42:44 06/13/06 - Comment #8883: i think i just did, post to follow soon...

mike writes at 06:33:51 06/13/06 - Comment #8880: sounds like a good idea Matt, why don't you start it.

matthew writes at 06:11:48 06/13/06 - Comment #8879: "everyone always talks about the stigma and trying to change it but it actually is within all of our power to do that but not one of us does"

That's what i'm saying. We all could make bigger strides to change our city for the better. I truly believe it all can start with a positive (yet not ignorant) attitude.

Let's have a main street clean up day. I know, it sounds ridiculous (what's that gonna do?!?), but main street is covered with trash. (W. Utica and Linwood is full of broken glass, i popped a stroller tire the other day while walking, got me thinking.). Let's organize a day where buffalonians can get together and take a small step together in the right direction. whad'ya say?

chico writes at 05:16:08 06/13/06 - Comment #8877: I'm pleading (relative) ignorance on the Main St issue, I don't know Buffalo well enough to say much. But I am glad that the apartment hunt thread got people thinking.

Maybe it is all very confusing and difficult to sort out, but thinking about it is a good first step...

Permalink: Main_Street.html
Words: 373
Location: Kenmore, NY

06/13/06 11:08 - 65ºF - ID#28996

Welcome to the Internet Fast Lane

So my family is entering the 21st century and we now have Verizon DSL. This is my first time using speedy internet and (e:strip) at my house. I think it will probably make me check out estrip and other things more often because I won't have to wait to sign on and then wait 10 minutes for it to load and the such. I am so excited! My parents finally agreeed to get it when we offered to get it for them for my mom's birthday or was it christmas? I don't remember, we have a tendency of postponing holidays/gifts in my family. IF my mom ever cashes in al lthe things I owe her (like dinners and things made and jewelery we have said we would get her over the years but she has to help pick out) I will go bankrupt. WEll everyone, I'm glad to be reading you in highspeed. See ya more soon and often....

Permalink: Welcome_to_the_Internet_Fast_Lane.html
Words: 160
Location: Kenmore, NY

06/05/06 11:27 - 62ºF - ID#28995

Laguna Beach, am I 80?

First off (e:maureen) just alerted me to the fact that her and her boyfriend have to go to Laguna Beach for his work. For those of you who don't know, Laguna Beach is the home to the reality show called laguna beach that followed a group of highshcoolers around and then some of them when they went to college. The third season is starting this season as well as the spinoff, The Hills, which stars LC who starred in the first season. Anywho, going there and walking the streets they walk would be my dream. Not so sure (e:maureen)'s boyfriend is 100% thrilled with the idea of me going with them but frankly I gotta do it! I need to SEE LAGUNA!!!

On another note I hope this summer is fun. Last summer ended up being like super duper fun and overlapping into a fall of funness. LIke it just seemed to be constant fun. I have been waiting for summer to come again and now it is here and I hope it lives up to all the hype. last year I was forced to fend for myself and meet new people and try new tihngs more than I will this year so we'll see now if I'll fall back in to my old comfortable safe ways or have a crazy summer like last year! I hope for a litlel of both i suppose but a little heavier onthe crazy than the comfortable.

Permalink: Laguna_Beach_am_I_80_.html
Words: 244
Location: Kenmore, NY

06/03/06 12:21 - 60ºF - ID#28994

Street Interviews

As some of you may have seen, over the years we have done street interviews at Elmwood festivals such as Pride. So anyone up for doing interviews this Sunday? Jill was often my partner in crime, but alas (e:jill) is in Pittsburgh this weekend. So if we are going to do interviews, I need some backup. Let me know

Permalink: Street_Interviews.html
Words: 60
Location: Kenmore, NY

05/26/06 12:27 - 70ºF - ID#28993

Fun Summer Thursdays Are Back

So yesterday was the first Thursday at the Square and of course after all the fun had last year, me and (e:amanda) couldn't wait to go. (E:jill) and amanda's boyfriend nick went with us. It was a lot of fun. I love it because you run into so many people you wouldn't normally see. I ran into so many people I went to Canisius with and it was nice to see and chat with them.

Then we headed to McMonkeez hoping they had the 3 for 1 deal still. Well they did and the line was super long to get in so we just cut everyone and got right in and noone said anythying or seemed to notice. It was so weird cuz everyone was yelling at other people who treied to cut and made them go to the back of the line but noone seeemed to notice that we did. One thing was way too many people had sunglasses on inside at night. IT wasn't even that sunny out. And we all know I love sunglasses but this seemed a little excessive. Like everyone had them.

After a few drinks there we headed over to Cozumel to meet up with Jim and Jeff and another Jeff. It was getting a little chilly but luckily we go a spot right between two heaters on the patio so it was warm.

I am so excited that Thursdays are back. THey were so fun last summer and I hope they are even better this year. As mine and (e:amanda)'s slogan went last summer "If one of us didn't balck out, it wasn't a good nihgt!"

P.S. Stepmom is the saddest movie ever! and i mean EVER! Mom's hosuld never die in movies!

Permalink: Fun_Summer_Thursdays_Are_Back.html
Words: 292
Location: Kenmore, NY

05/24/06 11:11 - 60ºF - ID#28992

1 Year Anniversary

It's been 1 year since Nonna passed away. I can't believe it has been a whole year. So much has happened and I can't believe she hasn't been there for it. It seems crazy!!! I tried to visit her at the cemetery today but her mausoleum was closed when I got there because the person who was supposed to relieve me at work was late. It stunk! Cemeteries should always be open. So it was a really sad day but it got better at night with some cheering up help from others. Thanks! Love ya Nonna!

Permalink: 1_Year_Anniversary.html
Words: 95
Location: Kenmore, NY

05/22/06 10:44 - 46ºF - ID#28991

Patricia Arquette....

....is a terrible actress. Yet somehow I am so drawn to her tv show Medium. It is one of the only shows I basically make a point of watching every week. She is so bad at emotion/talking/crying/laughing/looking good yet somehow it works on the show. I LOVE IT! And i guess lets of other people do cuz the ratings are good and she won an Emmy....maybe she is some kind of witch doctor that has cast a spell on America...cuz really she can't act...she might be the worst Arquette...and this family includes David and Alexis or whatever the transvestite Arquette from Surreal LIfe's name is.

Permalink: Patricia_Arquette_.html
Words: 113
Location: Kenmore, NY

05/21/06 06:21 - 47ºF - ID#28990

Davinci Code and Soap Opera

So last night we went to see The Davinci Code and it was ok. Like it was good but TOm Hanks wasn't perfect for the part and it wasn't super good. But it was good. I didn't read the book though I plan on it but I think like some parts may seem better in the book. Like the whole ending thing, like to actually see the ending seems kinda funny/stupid but reading it would seem better I would think. I don't want to give anything away so that is all I will say.

Ok so lots of people want to be in my soap opera which is super awesome. I am currently turning it into offical script format for taping. I think I am gonna keep each episode short, like 15 minutes. This way like I can actually get some whole episodes done but also so that maybe we can post the episodes on (e:strip)? (e:paul), would that be possible? I will talk to you about it in person.

Permalink: Davinci_Code_and_Soap_Opera.html
Words: 172
Location: Kenmore, NY

05/20/06 12:51 - 54ºF - ID#28989

Need to be Judged?

So last night I get a call from (e:mk) that she needs another judge for a highschool battle of the bands at Lancaster Highschool. Let me tell you, I dropped everything for the chance. It was like a dream come true. I felt like a celebrity all set up at my table with the score sheets and being served drinks and knowing these bands fate (well five hours of recording time in a proffessional studio) rested in my hands. Years from now if they become famous I could be on a VH1 special, being like yeah I judged them in their first battle of the bands which was really the beggining of their bright future. Without me they probably would have never made it.

So we went and except the fact that it was so freakin cold in the auditorium/cafeteria it was fun. We got to judge the bands on things such as tightness (at first, I thought, um what? do we personally test that out?, i guess it is a musical thing). overall sound, entertainment and other things. And then we could make comments, such as "I like your shirt but your music is stinky". or "wow your songs seemed to drag on but the crowd seemed to like them". Its hard for me to sometimes judge something as good if it isn't my style (aka just screming at the top of your lungs like a dying cat). Like if I don't like the music, it is hard for me to say it is good, but I did, I was very impartial.

I think the best part was all the free food. We got pizza, wegmans subs, chips, chococlate chip cookies and so much other good stuff.

Needless to say my favorite band won, so like whoa I know what I am doing. So now I kinda want to make a career out of judging talent/battle of the band concerts, anyone in need of a judge?