"spring holidays" written by Museumchick on estrip.org

Category: photos

03/23/08 06:44 - 32ºF - ID#43771

spring holidays

So I've been on vacation since thursday. I'm here in Jimmytown for a few more days.

Friday was Purim:

(for the megillah reading, people often dress in costume and boo/cheer with noisemakers.

(Hamantashen... a really good pastry that is often made at Purim).

My mom, who went to temple with me.

My sister, who I think is beautiful:

Last night, I hit the local bars with Roberta. The funny thing is that we didn't really drink anything-we just met up with our friend Matt and some people that we know. It was pretty fun. We also went for coffee at this fun greasy spoon place near my house and talked about old times. Her baby has grown so much. I've only been gone a few months, but she's already walking and has teeth now.

Today, I went to church with my dad. I'm not too much of a church person, but it was nice going with him.

Crazy Me:

Permalink: spring_holidays.html
Words: 172
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: albany

03/14/08 05:40 - 44ºF - ID#43669

what we all do behind your back

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit this, but once in awhile, I look up my students on facebook.(Hopefully, that doesn't make me some horrifying stalker type). I think its mostly because I am curious who they are. You only see such a small slice of them in class (usually of being disinterested). So it's kind of interesting seeing aspects of their actual personalities and interests that I wouldn't get to otherwise.

It does surprise me a little just how much information some of them put out publically about themselves. It seems unsafe to me to put information such as your address, phone number, workplace, class schedule, etc. public for everyone to read. Plus, I wouldn't put stuff about drinking and/or sex out in the open like that when I know professors or employers could read it. maybe I'm just paranoid about stuff like this.

Permalink: what_we_all_do_behind_your_back.html
Words: 145
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

02/28/08 04:22 - 13ºF - ID#43500

american prisons

1 in 100 US Adults are currently behind bars:

That does not seem like a good thing for the most part, on many levels.

Oh, and I agree with you (e:metalpeter) about "Across the Universe". I love that movie, and thought the music and the visuals for it was awesome. They should have nominated songs from it, but I think it had to be an original song.

metalpeter writes at 09:12:25 02/28/08 - Comment #32232: I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought about that for across the universe and Now that you say it you are right that it was for best song.

In terms of the race thing. I think the numbers speak for them selves they really do. I hate to say it but race is a factor, it isn't the only factor but it is a big one. Lets face it if "Mr White boy" gets a black guy who is accused of something and a white guy accused of the same thing even if he doesn't want to he will fight harder (even if he is a shitty lawyer with shitty pay or maybe he is good) for the black guy. Deep down he doesn't care if he is innocent cause if he is locked up he can't sell drugs to his cousin or break into his house. I'm not saying that he thinks these things but they are ingrained in there. But the reason that the % is so high for blacks (when you take in there % of society it gets really scary) is because of Poverty. Then when Dad goes to jail and never see his kids guess what happens son is fucked up and becomes a criminal and the cycle continues. But you just can't say race isn't a factor it is a big one. But poverty is why most people go to jail. Oh wait I forgot they did a crime. But why most people get away or don't get away with something does have a lot to do with the legal team and if they can pay for jury experts and the poor can't.

james writes at 08:29:36 02/28/08 - Comment #32229

What amuses me about these statistics is that they always, always, always break them down by race. As if helping blacks and hispanics is suggested as the cure. They never do these stats by class.

America has been playing the race game to death and aren't getting anywhere because we refuse to talk about class.

gets off soap box*

museumchick writes at 07:44:01 02/28/08 - Comment #32221: (e:tiburon1724) -I edited the one comment I had out, because I didn't mean to make it sound the way it came out probably sounding. It really bothers me that there is such a high prison rate from a lot of perspective- a moral and ethical one, as well as a financial one. I'm also strongly against the death penalty.

tiburon1724 writes at 05:55:35 02/28/08 - Comment #32217: send 'em all to the chair...imagine the savings

ajay writes at 05:46:41 02/28/08 - Comment #32216: If we stop criminalizing marijuana possession, this number may come down dramatically.

There is *no* reason to lock up a person for possessing a piece of a plant that grows wild in some areas.

Permalink: american_prisons.html
Words: 95
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

02/25/08 10:34 - 26ºF - ID#43452

primaries and oscars

Thanks (e:ladycroft) and (e:leetee) for the comments from my last post. I'm doing okay. I was kind of sad for the past couple of days, and really missing somebody- but I'm feeling better today.

I actually watched the Oscars last night while I worked on some school stuff. It wasn't bad. I mostly wanted to see it because Jon Stewart was hosting the show. The Oscar Orchestra is annoying, though. I hate how they cut into people's speeches.

I think the primaries have been the real entertainment this year. It's been the most interesting primary season that I've seen in my lifetime (granted, I was born in 1982).

Permalink: primaries_and_oscars.html
Words: 109
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: poems

02/23/08 09:30 - 23ºF - ID#43440

turned to blue

"My life has turned to blue" Maya Angelou

Our summer's gone,
the golden days are through.
The rosy dawns I used to
wake with you
have turned to gray,
my life has turned to blue.

The once-green lawns
glisten now with dew.
Red robin's gone,
down to the South he flew.
Left here alone,
my life has turned to blue.

I've heard the new
that winter too will pass,
that spring's a sign
that summer's due at last.
But until I see you
lying in green grass,
my life has turned to blue.

Permalink: turned_to_blue.html
Words: 96
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

02/13/08 09:20 - 19ºF - ID#43317

a freeby divorce giveaway

Oh, man... a radio station in West Virginia is having a contest to give away a "free divorce" for Valentine's Day:

Because nothing says "I love you" like a divorce contest. Anyway, I hope all of you will have a nice Valentine's Day. I realize the contrived nature of the holiday, but I guess I still have a soft spot for it. I'm not really doing anything special tomorrow, but hopefully, Aaron may be able to come up on Sunday for a visit.

Permalink: a_freeby_divorce_giveaway.html
Words: 97
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

02/03/08 07:37 - 31ºF - ID#43162

football and politics

I guess I have to go with (e:lilho) about the whole superbowl thing. I don't really have anything against it, it's just that I'm not a football watcher in general. I never got into sports much. If I do watch sports, it will be hockey, and that's only because people in Buffalo got me into the Sabres. Either way, though, I hope it's an exciting game for anyone watching it.

I hope (e:James) won't be too appalled that I forgot to register to vote for the primary on tuesday. I'm registered in Buffalo, but I forgot to register when I moved here. I promise I will register soon!

Permalink: football_and_politics.html
Words: 110
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: albany

01/29/08 03:08 - 45ºF - ID#43082

some people

I read that the Kennedyâ€™s are endorsing Obama. That surprised me a little bit, as I thought they were friends of the Clintons. Obamaâ€™s run seems slightly reminiscent of JFKâ€™s, in my opinion. In both cases, it seems that both run on a message of hope and optimism for the future, without outlying concrete steps to achieve it. Both were/are relatively young and charismatic. I definitely like Obama, but Iâ€™d also like to have a more solid sense of what he stands for.

Work is going well. I really like the Professor that Iâ€™m working under this semester. We are doing a general US History II survey, and itâ€™s been interesting getting a review of a lot of things that I had long forgotten, such as Reconstruction. Iâ€™ve been to one class so far- a seminar class on the Civil Rights Movement. Tonight, I have a reading seminar for the history of public health.

Permalink: some_people.html
Words: 162
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

01/22/08 04:33 - ID#42986

roe vs. wade

I'm back in Albany. I start work tommorow, and class on thursday. I'm looking forward to it. I've been feeling blue lately about having to leave my family and friends back home. I also miss Buffalo. I've been feeling pretty homesick. I am thinking about going to see Ani Difranco in concert this week, as she is playing downtown. I probably shouldn't go because I shouldn't spend the money on the ticket. On the other hand, she's one of my favorite musicians, and I always wanted to see her a second time (I saw her back in 2002).

Today is the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. I was reading about how abortion rates have been decreasing:

I'm pro-choice, but I've always felt uneasy about the fact that I am pro-choice. I feel as though I should not have the right to tell another woman what to do with her body, especially when I've never walked through her shoes. Had my life turned out differently in certain points, I might have made the choice to terminate a pregnancy. I never became pregnant, but I've become aware of how quick your life can become permanently changed from another person's actions.

But I also feel uncomfortable about abortion, because I do feel that there is a developing human life that is lost when someone has an abortion. I always feel that whatever position I look at the issue from, I'm a little bit in the wrong. So hopefully, my views here aren't too offensive to anyone on here.

jenks writes at 04:32:24 01/23/08 - Comment #30786: well first of all I think calling it 'infanticide' is a bit of a stretch.
But I think it's going to happen, whether it's legal or not, unfortunately. So we might as well make it SAFE. And obviously work on education etc to prevent the NEED.
I totally agree with 'safe, legal, and rare'.
I don't think pro-choice has to mean pro-abortion. And I hate the way people make it sound like it's the opposite of pro-life- It's pro-CHOICE not pro-DEATH. I think I should get to make the decisions about my body. That said- would I ever be able to bring myself to have an abortion? I dunno... Just b/c I'm pro-choice doesn't mean I think abortion is the only answer.

drew writes at 08:59:09 01/22/08 - Comment #30759: yeah, I don't think changing the question will lead to the perfect solution, I just think it will find us a better compromise.

jason writes at 08:44:04 01/22/08 - Comment #30758: Well, I guess I should elaborate further then.

What I mean by a perfect answer is a solution that 100% of the people are going to be happy with.

Now, that is not to say that it invalidates your question, which I think is exactly the right one to be asking. I care about results the most, not clinging hopelessly to ideology.

Nor does it invalidate your premise, which is to have people from two groups come together. I don't think you get 100% of the people, but you do get a huge majority, enough to find a solution that works for most. I'm willing to live with that.

I think our perspectives on it are basically the same, unless you think there IS a perfect solution out there (my definition) - in which case I am all ears, because I've tried like crazy to influence people based on an appeal to common sense - "What is worse to you, education, prevention, or an abortion?" - and some of them always want things on their terms.

drew writes at 07:50:56 01/22/08 - Comment #30757: I don't follow you Jason. It seems like you are criticizing my position as too idealist, and taking that same position at the same time.

jason writes at 06:20:14 01/22/08 - Comment #30754: Nothing you said is at all offensive, Museumchick. Leave that to me and Josh in these parts.

Roe v. Wade was, and remains of course, a shockingly bad legal decision, although debating the nerdy merits of a legal decision seems rather silly when you're talking life versus death.

To me, the fact that you feel uneasy about things does not reveal a lack of a spine - no - it means you have a better understanding than most that it just isn't a perfect world, and there are no perfect answers.

It is because we understand that while infanticide is not new to us, the technology has gotten much better, and so we can smile and feel better about ourselves than our barbaric ancestors.

(e:Drew)'s understanding of this, as a Christian, is not at all different than my Mormon Uncle's understanding of it. The words of my Uncle were, it is isn't a perfect world, Jason.

I completely agree that the answer is to have abortions be safe, legal, and rare - the Clinton definition - and that we can't afford to be choosy concerning methods of prevention.

metalpeter writes at 05:47:45 01/22/08 - Comment #30751: First of all for (e:drew) I wanted to say that there is a movement that tries to cut down on the amount of abortions. They are not pro choice or pro life they try to cut down on the number of abortions. I'm not sure how it works really.

In terms of abortions maybe they are not as bad as some people think. I'm not saying that Abortions should be encouraged. But what if teens who have no business having kids and who have sex as a way to find love that they never got cause daddy was never there might be better off. This way they don't have 4 kids and pull the community down. Then they have kids who they can't take care of who get screwed up and have a horid life. Again these are the kids that won't get adopted so they would just wind up being in foster care if they where given away.

My belief is that women should have a right to abort the baby. I do agree that once it is the 3rd trimester it should be illegal. I also think that any place that gives abortions should half to have information about other options like adoption. I do think that abortion clinics should be safe. Moraly it is up to the person who does it. I would rather it be safe for those people who decide to do it. The one thing I wonder is will there ever be a time that through science if a man wants the kid and the women doesn't if they will have some way to do that, the point can be made that the fathers have no rights here and that is kinda true but it isn't there body so.

james writes at 04:58:34 01/22/08 - Comment #30745: Jane Roe, of Roe V Wade fame, became anti-choice in the 90's. She today endorsed Ron Paul for President saying they both 'want to overturn Roe V. Wade'. which I found to be worth a giggle at least.

I think Drew has a good comment as well. After all, it isn't as if abortions didn't happen when they were illegal. The social conditions which drive people to it are around whether or not it it legal. Better to make the world a better place than to put a band-aid on it.

drew writes at 04:42:44 01/22/08 - Comment #30744: I've come to the conclusion that, "Should abortion be legal (or illegal)?" is the wrong question. A better question is, "How can we minimize the number of abortions?" People that are pro-choice and pro-life can work together on that one.

Permalink: roe_vs_wade.html
Words: 264
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

01/18/08 03:29 - 27ºF - ID#42938

solving the puzzle

This is a video of a guy solving a rubik's cube with a blindfold on: