Category: buffalo
06/12/07 09:58 - 69ºF - ID#39626
We could never incorporate the burbs
I think it is a great idea to incorporate the suburbs into the city of Bufflao proper as has happend in many other cities that are growing.
However, I know people from Kenmore would probably fight to the death before they let it happen. Which leads me to think - why not just declare war on Kenmore and Amherst.
Having been born in Buffalo and raised in Kenmore, I fully see what is going on. My parents left Buffalo for Kenmore the year I was born. The real reason most people in the suburbs would never allow this to happen is because:
1. The school system of Buffalo cannot compete with the suburban ones.
2. The police don't come when you call here. I have experience this twice.
3. Many suburbanites are totally freakin' racist/classist and can't stand the thought of mixing their kids with american black, hispanic, arab, somali or poor kids. I know people are going to harp on me for this but it is true - so why not talk about it.
When I first moved to Linwood, everyone was like I cannot believe you are going to live that close to Main Street, and let's be honest - you all know what they meant. I can't believe you are going to live that close black people.
The other option is to be really wealthy and stay in the city on a street like St. James and send you kids to private school for between $5000-$30000 a year. I definately think a lot more people are taking that route than before.
Permalink: We_could_never_incorporate_the_burbs.html
Words: 269
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: buffalo
06/11/07 11:47 - 72ºF - ID#39619
Another Day On Linwood
The woman who runs the Washington Market sounds like such a tool. She really needed to rehearse better before her embarrassing interview.
Screenshot from their video
I am all about new buildings being built downtown, although, a part of me wonders whether or not they will just end up being empty. I mean how many $300,000+ condo laden sky scrapers can you build in a city. like Buffalo As (e:matthew) said, is the problem really that we don't have enough desirable housing for rich people? It seems that anyone spending $300,000+ could get a lot better deal than the same thing they already have in every other big city.
I wonder if they will all just end up out competing themselves.
The Deer In My Yard
This is pretty crazy. This morning there was an adult deer freaking out in our backyard. (e:matthew) saw it while I was in the shower and the neighbors called 911 and the SPCA, neither of which came. It eventually got out and took off down Linwood going north. When I talked to my friend Robert today, he said that he saw in last week on Linwood. I wonder where it came from and how long it has been here.
He thought this mirror in the back of the yard was a way out. He smeared his nose all over it and broke the frame.
I wonder how long it will be before the lion crumbles off this building.
Permalink: Another_Day_On_Linwood.html
Words: 320
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: hiking
06/11/07 11:46 - 72ºF - ID#39618
Another Day In Western New York
Permalink: Another_Day_In_Western_New_York.html
Words: 61
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: housing
06/09/07 08:14 - 72ºF - ID#39594
After The Allentown Art Festival
Sadly, my camera is not acting properly, look at what happens to its ability to focus. Thankfully, I had a contact at Nikon who was willing to help me out. He also mentioned they have a new camera that looks totally amazing, the P5000. It is a similar form factor but its 10MP and takes interchangeable lenses. I am kind of sad because we are off to Zoar Valley Again in the morning ;(
After the Allentown art festival, I came home and tried to vacuum out the hot tub to dispose of it. It was just nasty trash that came with the house. I couldn't find the hose attachment for my second favorite vacuum although I know I spent at least $30 on it.
So I spent like 2 hours emptying the hot tub by filling the vacuum and carrying it over to the garden 5 gallons at a time because of the missing hose attachment.
I want a tool room so bad. I have like 3000 tools and they are strewn all over this house, the garage, the rental property, the basement and attic, the car, etc.
I always find the wrong parts and end up using either the axe or a butterknife for every task. The frustrating part is that I own the tools, they are just in too many places and the multipart tools like the interchangeable screwdriver handle will be found but all the bits will be missing.
Once I got it emptied I wanted to take it apart but I couldn't find metric measured alan wrench? So I decided I would just beat the fuck out of it with the sledge hammer ( I know anger management) anyways that was missing! so I moved on the the axe and cut my finger. Then I decided I would go through every room of the house one by one till I found the sledge hammer.
It worked and I found all of these missing vacuum attachments which was a bonus.
I want one of those peg board work rooms so bad, but anyplace I could have one, I would have to do so much work before I could make it, and I can't do all that work while the tools are all over the place and missing. It is a horrible vicyous circle.
Like the garage. Seems like the perfect place for a workroom, but it is full of so much of (e:lilho) 's trash, a nasty old refrigerator that needs to go out, a wheelbarrow full of stic, the chiminea, the power washer, and about 6000 cans of toxic chemicals that I don't what to do with. I inherited them from the previous owner. How do you get rid of old paint?
Okay, this is redic. I was just looking at camping equipment for our annual camping trip and saw that they have the camping equivalent of a craftmatic adjustable blow up matress
Permalink: After_The_Allentown_Art_Festival.html
Words: 519
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: buffalo
06/09/07 06:45 - 72ºF - ID#39593
The Allentown Art Festival 2007
Does anybody know the story about these chairs on Franklin? What was the place, a coffeshop?
People seem to love police horses. You could even buy mounted police souvenirs.
Afterwards we toured the church next to our house. I know I said that they sold their pews before, and everyone asks me what it looks like, but I didn't know they really sold them all. It looks so strange.
I cut my hair when not wearing classes which turned into me needing a buzz cut. I didn't notice I wasn't using the safety guard.
Permalink: The_Allentown_Art_Festival_2007.html
Words: 125
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: buffalo
06/08/07 07:38 - 87ºF - ID#39583
Not feeling so pro buffalo
The thing about this year is that I can't believe my allergies. Like I don't think I can live here anymore if it is like this from now on. The last week has been hell for me, but the last three days have been the worst.
Since yesterday afternoon my nose has just been dripping water. Like not even snot. It just drips and drips and drips. My eyes are swollen shut and I have itched my throat and nose raw.
Going outside makes it even worse. I just want it to be winter again, and that is so sad. I mean I always had allergies before but not like this. Maybe I live near something particularly allergic to me.
I am so strung out from being on allergy medicine. Clariton always worked for me before. Like 95% allergy free when I would take it but this time I am so allergic I decided to try benedryl, which did nothing but make me a zombie.
To make it worse I decided to cut my hair but being blind without my glasses on I forgot to put a safety on the razor which led to me cutting a stripe in my hair. Now I am completely skin head. I guess itis the right time of year.
I ended up just carrying around a hanky.
Permalink: Not_feeling_so_pro_buffalo.html
Words: 287
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: health
06/07/07 10:13 - 81ºF - ID#39576
Getting a Massage at the massage studio
I didn't know what to expect as I have never had a massage before. When I went in the room I felt nervous because I took my glasses off and put them on the table so I couldn't see the guys face as he was talking. Damn, I really need Lasik.
Then the guy said to put my clothes on the chair and get under the sheets, which left me wondering how much of my clothes I was supposed to remove. I didn't want to remove all my clothes and seem like a freak, and I didn't want to leave my socks and underwear on and feel like I was being shy, as we all know that isn't me.
I ended up keeping the underwear and regretting it as the band kept annoying me when he was massaging my back. I mean it's not like you are naked anyways, you are wearing a sheet. Next time looser fitting band or nothing.
It was freakin fantastic. If you never had a massage there are so many parts of your back that you have no idea how much tension is in.
I can now look to the left again!
Permalink: Getting_a_Massage_at_the_massage_studio.html
Words: 270
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: gay
06/06/07 11:18 - 53ºF - ID#39560
Photos From The Week
These totally disgusting chicken wings came this way from Casa Di Pizza on Elmwood. Normally, I like this place - but this is fuckin' sick. Look at them, when did they incurr this damage, while they were still chickens or after? I like to call them sickenwings.
(e:eknot) and I saw this major accident residual near the Scientologist Church Look at that bent stop sign.
Has anyone gone to a chiropracter. I hurt my neck on a ladder and want to go to one. Tomorrow night I have an appointment with a massgae therapist. I wonder if that will help/
Hm, why does Hyatts have 24 hour video surveillance now
(e:ladycroft) 's party was nice, we had a fire and I got to talk technology with the estrip guys.
And then the parade
You probably can't tell in this photo but this dudes back is scratched the hell up.
Clowns are scarry.
Drag Queens float by
Christians can help us. I remember the mormons sending me those books about getting healed.
Getting yelled at by "christians"
I tried like 600 times to get a pic of this guys eyes, they looked like the woman from the 80s national geographic cover. He must have thought we were insane because between me and (e:mike) there were about 30 pics of hi on my camera.
The festival was packed
I guess there are other gay catholics besides my brother.
I would be interested in working with the glbt archives someday. I am sure I have some useful technology for them.
This was hilarious to me. The gay marriage float was almost totally lesbians. What does that say? Guys just don't want to settle down no matter what their sexual preference.
Here is the videos of it.
The cutest guy in the parade was our very own (e:libertad) who (e:mike) rekindled with
Saw (e:matthew) 's twin again.
The roller dirby girls (e:dragonlady) and (e:rachel) along with (e:zobar)
(e:terry) being (e:terry)
An "awesome" woman giving into fashion and wearing a wool hat on what is the hottest day I remember for the summer so far.
Permalink: Photos_From_The_Week.html
Words: 448
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: accidents
06/06/07 10:05 - 56ºF - ID#39558
The Wedding From Hell
Permalink: The_Wedding_From_Hell.html
Words: 110
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: religion
06/06/07 06:44 - 59ºF - ID#39550
The book of visco
First of all I would like to say I totally support people's freedom to believe whatever they want as long as they don't get tax breaks on it and I don't have to pay for any part of it.
I hope this doesn't offend anyone but as an athiest, gay, polygamist my sheer existence is probably offense enough for most people, although, honestly - I think I pull it off with grace, pun intended.
I believe that religion does bring happiness, kindness, joy, compassion and union to many people. It standardizes and codifies the way that humans should act with one another.
It is not the only thing that can bring these emotions. Any group with a common belief system can share these feelings without a spiritual context. People having these emotions in a religious context often believe it is the spiritual aspect that causes it.
The thing about religion is that it also causes so many problems. People fight wars over religions and kill people in the name of jesus and other magicians. I know all you good christians can't believe it, but it is true. Other people kill other people for not believing in Jesus - not only that - they kill them for not believing in him, in prescribed way.
I am not the kind of athiest that screams about it. I am definitely not interested in converting other people to it, but that doesn't seem to stop so any people for trying to get me interested in their spiritual beliefs which offends the hell out of me.
That is why in fact I am an athiest, because I don't care about religion or the absense of it. I would rather describe myself as someone who never considers spiritual aspect of religion or the absense of it very much. If I never had to hear the word spiritual or religion one more time, I would not be athiest. I would be in perfect harmony, lol.
I read the bible, and I am over it - like I am over Alice and Wonderland and The Hardy Boys - learned some valuable lessons but the magic part is pretty hokey to me.
Okay, check this out - I am going to go get a random bible quote from the internet and see why I don't need the book. Here it is
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Seems reasonable, guess what - I could think of it myself. I pity the people that can't think of this but I know they exist. I guess I can consider myself luckily for having the education to even consider these things. Maybe in previous times, it was necessary to have these ideas given to you.
Then I roll the die again to find:
"Romans 12:13
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
Here we are back in magic land and there lies my problem with the book. Showing hospitality is a fine goal, contributing to the needs of the saints is questionable and sketchy. I mean who defines the needs of the saints.
Okay one more time this is too fun
Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
This one is great but once again, I could totally think of it myself. At least it is a noble goal.
And again.
Samuel 2:2
"There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God."
While this is freaky and dangerous. It is the basis of war.
I feel that I have the capibility to understand human interactions without guidance from people in an ancient world or divine intervention. In fact, I think it is a unfortunate that the book mixes these two messages together - the message of treating people kindly and that you need to believe in the power of the mighty magic wizard, his halfling son and their sidekick ghost. It seems like the message could be much more powerful divorced from the book. Why can't human interaction and social etiquette be secular? I mean why not distill the bible down into a smaller book of ways to live your life without the spiritual bullshit.
I have seen so many people fall down the slippery slope of having their life suck because they were a bad person, then turning to church, the people they meet are nice and kind and then - bang they are in magic land and keep asking me to come visit it - when I wasn't having any problems in the first place.
CONCLUSION
I just had a brilliant realization while writing this. aybe I will change the world. I am going to create a new religion based on the Paul Visco interpretation of the bible. See, you think I am joking but what I plan to do is take the magic out of the bible. Same great book, less agic. That way the next time someone tries to tell me the magic book is really about a moral code about how to treat other people, I can say - no that book is full of magic sdtories, what you need is the Visco Bible.
Permalink: The_book_of_visco.html
Words: 915
Location: Buffalo, NY
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And Buffalo government isn't the only corrupt and incompetent thing. Gaugen's report shows that the whole system county wide is corrupt and incompetent. It is just a lot easier to hide it when you have a fantastically rich tax base to plunder.
Read what the researchers had to say about village governments. Some did not have budgets available to citizens, or did so at a price. Getting information required the consent of the government. Not to mention fantastic sums in hidden benefits for part time jobs. Some of these people get more money in health care than I make in a whole year.
To whit: we were promoting a bout for the Roller Girls when an esteemed local publication :::link::: informed us that since the rink was not within the city limits they weren't interested even in carrying a calendar listing. To someone like me who basically could give two shits, this was pretty shocking. But nobody in the city took them seriously when they were first getting started - their best, early community support came from North Tonawanda. So I'm kind of tempted to say if that's how it's going to be, fuck all yalls.
The punchline, and I agree with Gaughan on this, is that we're all in this together. It's not a matter of the economically fucked city bringing down the prosperous suburbs, because we're all kind of fucked. And it's not about the awesome city being way cooler than the lame-ass suburbs, because I have been just as bored on Allen St as I have on Transit.
- Z
MrDeadlier: #3 is a gross generalization. But classism is undeniable in both the burbs and the city. As a parent you have to do well by your kids, that is also undeniable. Buffalo also has a nationally top ten high school and elementary school. As the middle class left Buffalo they took the tax base with them, 60% of properties in Buffalo do not collect property tax income because they are city owned (the east side) or government buildings. Cloistered suburbs do not have this problem. Integration of the two would make city schools better and suburban schools more diverse in addition to the financial savings listed in the report.
I grew up in Clarence and heard a lot about "All the way into the City." There are people who haven't ventured into the city or out of their cul de sacs in years.
Sadly the needed intergration won't happen because all the burgs are afraid of the others. Everybody wants to protect their own in case a soul food restaurant opens up next to Applebee's.
As a parent I relish the idea of "mixing" my daughters with kids that are different ethnicities than them. It's the only way to ensure they don't grow up xenophobic (preaching at them won't work -- they need to be able to attach real people to their perceptions).
But sorry if I don't want them going to schools that annually are at the bottom of the barrel in terms of performance standards. There are various reasons why they're that low, but again, as a parent, I really don't care. My kids only have one go-round through schooling and I'm not going to be all idealistic and activist about it.
Look at a city like Los Angeles - LA County is completely integrated. Thats right - Compton High and Hollywood High are under the same school district, and the famously vigilant LAPD serve the same area. What frustrates me is that if a city like LA can find a way to do it, why can't we? Surely Beverly Hills High parents have more to worry about then those at Ken West or Amherst or Clarence.... right?
I would actually support area integration because it would save all governments an incredible amount of money and generally make area governments more efficient and streamlined. Far more needs to be brought under the county umbrella. The burbs, of course, hate the idea for the reasons you've laid out.
Its funny you mention this actually - today during the drive to work 970AM had a segment where they talked about a little unscientific experiment they did, asking various residents if they think the city is racist or not. I can't see how it can be said that this isn't a fairly racist area - Cheektowaga PD are famous for it (fair or unfair), parents and their kids in the burbs live there and get educated there in part because they fear black people (a girl from Clarence that my friend dated said to me flat out that she doesn't like black people, but that isn't unique), and hell - look at our city! Its as physically segregated as a city can get! Literally, Main St. divides the whites from the blacks. Linwood is unique because its the closest thing to a racial melting pot we have, with the possible exception of some areas in the east side.