"Am I going to die without rice?" written by Paul on estrip.org

Category: food

04/23/08 08:49 - 57ºF - ID#44119

Am I going to die without rice?

Being someone who is possibly not able to eat anything but rice when it comes to grains it makes me so nervous to thing we are going to go into some sort of shortage. Maybe I should really horde a huge amount of it.

Imagine what its going to be like when we start having food shortages again. As someone who eats such a weird diet, I am terrified of that realty.

Wal-Mart's Sam's Club Restricts Purchase of Some Rice
...The limits on jasmine, basmati and long-grain white rice, a response to "recent supply and demand trends," will be put into effect in all U.S. stores where allowed by law and are effective immediately, Sam's Club spokeswoman Kristy Reed said today in an e-mailed statement.

Some consumers have started hoarding rice, the food staple for half the world as prices soar and supplies shrink. China, Vietnam, India and Egypt have curbed sales abroad to safeguard domestic supplies and cool inflation. Thailand also may restrict shipments, a World Bank official said today.

metalpeter writes at 05:25:38 04/24/08 - Comment #34357: I have heard that the shortage isn't really one here. It is that since the price went up everyone just freaks out thinking there is a shortage in rice. The reason to not sell more then a few bags is for two reasons. One they don't want people buying a bag for say $20 (times 10 or even 20) Then the price goes up to $40 but since everyone hoards them no one can offorid to buy them. The other thing to is that if you buy a lot of them now you could resell them later for a profit and undersell them but still make money, that is illegal by the way. The second reason is that assume there is enough rice for everyone in america to have 3 bags each well when people panic and buy 8 or 9 not to mention places that sell food then that would cause a shortage for other people, or that is my theory at least. In terms of the ethonal thing I say people should use Pure Alcohol. In terms of corn why can't people make a sky scrapper and grow it hydroponicly? The other way of making it is by taking oil from places like McDonalds after it has been used and then it can be filtered and that should be looked into more.

drew writes at 01:46:27 04/24/08 - Comment #34348: If you inherit the land Janelle, I think you should start growing tortillas on it. We need more tortillas.

carolinian writes at 11:07:47 04/24/08 - Comment #34342: (e:dcoffee), I suspect that as gas prices get higher and higher, the market will probably price subdivisions on farmland out of existence.

janelle writes at 10:29:06 04/24/08 - Comment #34340: I grew up in the midwest. In a subdivision that sits on what used to be farmland. Everytime I go home there's a new subdivision cropping up on what used to be corn and soybean fields.

It's such a complicated situation. The farmers' children grow up and don't want to farm; land and farming equipment is too expensive for the rare young farmers who actually DO want to farm, so they end up sharecropping in a sense; the farmers grow old and don't know what to do with their land and the developers beating on their doors offering millions for the land seem like a good way to go after years of barely making a living off the land.

My family owns farm land planted with soybeans, canola, and corn by farmers in the area. We've held out on selling it to mega hog farms and developers. When it's mine, I'll keep holding out. But I wonder if our children will do the same.

dcoffee writes at 10:02:04 04/24/08 - Comment #34337: Let's stop building sub-devisions on farmland. And lets stop using corn and sugar cane to make ethanol, People and farm animals eat that stuff, and when the price goes up we have big problems. Instead we can fuel our cars with Switchgrass and Hemp. This is one of those problems created by lobyists who want the price of corn to go up, so they bully the government into subsidizing corn ethanol more, and ignoring innovation on other renewable fuels.
Tiburon, that was a grade A rant. I wonder, would China stop giving us money if we made it more difficult for our companies to move our manufacturing jobs there?

fellyconnelly writes at 10:11:34 04/23/08 - Comment #34319: uh seriously? man i stopped watching the news because i was sick of the obama hillary battle and now we are out of rice and tortillas. This blows.

chico writes at 09:54:33 04/23/08 - Comment #34317: Actually that tortilla shortage started last January: :::link:::

But the global food crisis is deadly serious and getting worse. For a long and occasionally technical (a few economics concepts) overview, the Economist has this piece this week:
:::link:::

Watch the news for all of the poor, underdeveloped countries experiencing civil strife as a consequence.

jenks writes at 09:44:17 04/23/08 - Comment #34315: someone at work today said that mexicans are starving to death b/c there is a tortilla shortage, secondary to a wheat shortage due to ethanol production for cars.

I hope he was joking.

tiburon1724 writes at 09:28:44 04/23/08 - Comment #34314: what the hell is going on? Shortages of gas, wheat, rice, everything! Our money isn't worth crap, we're borrowing $2billion from the Chinese to give tax rebates which won't do any good, we're like $7 trillion in debt, it just doesn't end :(
We desperately need some radical action...stop giving out aid, stop sticking our noses in other nation's affairs, mind our own business, and stop pissing off the rest of the world! Basically, we need to be Canada. They should attempt a buyout of us.
whew, sorry for going into a rant there!

paul writes at 09:12:09 04/23/08 - Comment #34313: I don't like quinoa a tenth as much as I love rice.

tinypliny writes at 09:05:05 04/23/08 - Comment #34310: I meant can't substitute for rice, not can't play nice... but maybe I did.

Can you eat barley or oats?

tinypliny writes at 09:02:01 04/23/08 - Comment #34309: Can't

james writes at 09:00:51 04/23/08 - Comment #34308: Paul, Quinoa.
Quinoa, Paul.

Now you kids play nice.

hodown writes at 08:57:52 04/23/08 - Comment #34306: how scary is that? NPR did a week long series on the rice shortage. maybe the end is near. if that is the case im totally moving into the masion. i feel like a pmt/ho army could kick some serious ass. id consider including mike visco if jill is included too.

tinypliny writes at 08:51:53 04/23/08 - Comment #34304: Just get multiple bags of basmati from the Indian store. They get tastier as they get older and drier.

Permalink: Am_I_going_to_die_without_rice_.html
Words: 187
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: food

04/22/08 03:11 - 71ºF - ID#44101

Yum, yums for Paul and Basra

After all of (e:fing,44075)'s talk about eating crab in Maryland I had to have some myself. I guess this also means I am on the mend. I made some crab and asparagus soup for (e:matthew) and I for lunch yesterday. Who would have thought that crab and asparagus would be a great combo. Well, the vietnamese did or maybe the Thai because I had it at Saigon Bangkok and it was incredible. Then I tried to make it at home. It was not exactly the same, but the additional crab meat made it on par.

Here is a recipe from cooks.com

I did not use this recipe, but just went with my own, chicken broth, plus rice, eggs, crab, asparagus, and sesame oil. There's is below.

VIETNAMESE CRAB-ASPARAGUS SOUP

4 c. chicken broth
1 can white asparagus
2 egg whites
1 lb. fresh crab meat
1/4 c. cornstarch
Salt to taste
1 tsp. sugar

Simmer broth. Add crab meat. Cook 15 minutes. Add asparagus, cut in 1 to 1 1/2 inch julienne pieces. Add salt and a bit of sugar. Mix cornstarch with enough liquid to make it smooth and add to soup. Beat egg whites slightly and sieve into soup, stirring constantly.

The next day, Basra had his own surprise when I chucked papaya and watermelon around the yard for him to find. I don't think I ever saw him "run" that fast before. Apparently, tortoises can gallop.

Permalink: Yum_yums_for_Paul_and_Basra.html
Words: 247
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: scientology

04/22/08 02:06 - 71ºF - ID#44098

Real LaPlaine - The Scientologist

It's not your beliefs, it is the actions of the freakin' practitioners themselves and their aggressive, obnoxious street mission tactics. I have become increasingly afraid of them, one in particular. In fact I often find myself having to run across the street to avoid them.

I have no idea what the Scientologist's really believe nor do I care. I didn't really look it up until just now when I found

My problem with the group stems specifically from the practitioners at the Church of Scientology Building on Main Street.

They are constantly getting in my face on the way to my work and have harassed me numerous times at my home. That is totally unacceptable behavior from any group of people. They are a plague to my neighborhood and honestly I hope their whole building collapses, taking the congregation with it.

Sorry, it is hard for me to separate my feelings for that group from you as a person. I recognize that is a personalty flaw I have, and I thrive on it. If you were just a practioner I would feel different, because I would probably just feel sorry for you, but the fact that you are a large scale persuader, makes me feel uncomfortable supporting your message with my software.

So yes, please stay away from this site and tell all of your Scumbagtologist friends that they are not welcome here either - not for what they believe in, although I hear it is quite sketchy, but rather for the way they have treated me in my hometown neighborhood. They alone have made it a far less pleasant place than before they arrived. Not to mention the outrageous amount of paper wasted taping up those damn posters on ever light post and window around for the last two years.

I hope estrip makes scientologists feel just as uncomfortable as I feel on that part of main street near your church and that you return to LA.

Paul - I find it interesting that because of my association with Scientology, that you now go from friendly and open, and this site is for anyone, to antagonistic. Do you do that with other people who study other philosophies or practice other religious beliefs? Is this site only for "conventional" beliefs?

Besides, read a book on Scientology. If you are a graduate of university they should have taught you to keep your head open to new thoughts.

And yes, I did head up the entire Volunteer Ministers program at one time. I have friends who also headed up different church around the world - they never had a problem with Scientology - because I also respected their beliefs and their religions.

So my question is this? Is your site now off-limits to me? Let me know and I'll bail now if that's the case and I'll know that the Elmwood district is not all that it is being punched up to be.

Real

Real Laplaine @ 1-800-334-5433 or email atinfocenter@scientology.net.

Real Laplaine
Senior Consultant
Dianetics Information Center
1-800-367-8788
6331 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, California, 90028
infocenter@dianetics.org

Real Laplaine (Volunteer Minister Program In Charge)

imk2 writes at 05:13:17 04/23/08 - Comment #34261: i have finally been accosted by the scientologists too, and so has faben. seriously, do they think that constantly harassing people in the neighborhood will get them more members?

i was in the middle of a conversation with (e:tinypliny) and this crazy looking dude comes up to me, interrupts our conversation ,doesn't even say excuse me....just walks up and butts into our convo and says "hi" and just stands there glaring at me like he (or i) am crazy.

and i'm like "um....dude....wtf?" after he left, tiny reminded me of how (e:enknot) started screaming at them and wigging out and then i regretted not doing the same.

god, they're so fucking creepy.

stress test my ass.....leave me the fuck alone when i'm walking on the streets of my neighborhood, ok? don't you people see how fucking weird you all appear to be? stop molesting people on the street and come up with a different tactic if you want your recruitment numbers to increase. i doubt your current strategy is working very well.

maybe you should throw in some oral action from tom cruise as an incentive. i'd actually consider joining if that was part of the deal.

jenks writes at 10:08:30 04/22/08 - Comment #34257: omg i'm a little buzzed but these comments are cracking me up. I love you guys.

hodown writes at 09:28:00 04/22/08 - Comment #34255: oh right and the anti drug thing. for reals- zanax is your little yellow friend.

paul writes at 09:02:25 04/22/08 - Comment #34254: Ya, I am not sure if there could be a worse combo for me than a commercial, anti-drug religion with a cat entity.

hodown writes at 08:50:24 04/22/08 - Comment #34252: im making a comment to get closer to 10k or whatever, but in realtion to this post i loved tom cruise so much until he joined the cult known as scientology. any religion that involves cat aliens freaks me the fuck out.

metalpeter writes at 07:07:04 04/22/08 - Comment #34238: The thing that I'm going to say is coming at this with a slightly different view. I'm not defending or attacking anyone so please no one take it this way, on a side note it has been a long time since there has been any (e:strip) drama and I often seem to miss it some how.

The stress test thing really freaks me out and they even have it every year at the same place at the Erie County Fair, and that is deceptive it really is. But lets be honest they are not the only people who do this. Army Recruiters do this all the time and often I won't say lie but don't tell the entire truth and go after kids (poor areas) at malls and say stuff like wow your pretty good at that game I always die on level 15 and then they talk about how they could shoot people for real. Again at the fair the army often has a place to play a shooting simulator. There are people who hand out little bibles at festivals and go door to door trying to convert you to there way of thinking ( 3 different churches)that I can remember. You see this even on some of the political news shows on TV. It is a common practice that these guys really have perfected to an artform. I think when you are passionate it is very easy to go from Come on in and have your questions answered and we can't make you life better to harrasement.

I think that he is trying to sell a book. I think he is trying to convert people. However that being said I think that he has a right to write here. No one has to read his journal. I think that he should be given a chance as long as it isn't spam and he doesn't only write about the book.

On a side note I'm not a Budhist (sorry about the spelling). But one thing that I do like about them expect for the entire Tibet thing as the exception to this. Is that they don't come up to you and tty to tell you there beliefs unless you of course ask. As prof of this I had no idea that there where different kinds of it until (e:libertad) joined the site and I still have no idea what the differences are. Again it is a fine line between sharing ideas and trying to push them off on someone else and I think the cult that they are (christans started out as one to though a long time ago ) over the line the way they try to get people into it. But my point is they are not the only ones who are that way.

paul writes at 06:05:58 04/22/08 - Comment #34232: I was thinking more along the lines of a free pepper spray taste test.

fing writes at 05:02:11 04/22/08 - Comment #34227: Agreed Paul. I hate it how belligerent they are sometimes. I was walking with a coworker last summer and one of them came up and tried to hand us a card. He (my coworker) was on the phone at the time and he just kept talking to him so he finally just said "I am on the phone!!" and we kept walking. I think we should get some estrip.org cards made up and we can talk to them about Estripology. We can show them a free movie or do a free stress test.

hodown writes at 04:28:14 04/22/08 - Comment #34222: Agreed. Scientology is sketch-o-rama. Really aliens who died a long time ago and then their spirits got trapped in volcanoes or some shizz. And I don't like their high pressure sales tactics. And lastly any "religion" that requires you to pay to get closer to their form of a higher being is highly suspect.

paul writes at 04:11:01 04/22/08 - Comment #34218: Thanks all for your feedback.

tiburon1724 writes at 03:57:41 04/22/08 - Comment #34216: Scientologists are trained very well in how to manipulate others. After all, according to them, we are all one. Re-read his post, it's clearly phony. I think it's every month that there is a worldwide protest at Scientology headquarters, including here in Buffalo. They will say things to purposely make the protestors react in an aggressive manor, so they can point the finger and say we are the problem, not them. (passive aggressive behavior at it's max?) NOTHING they do or say can be taken at face value, there is always another agenda. I love the booth at Blvd Mall that says "Free Stress Test" when it's actually a Scientologist recruiting station. If you're not sketchy, why not have it say "Free Scientology Info" instead???

jon writes at 03:54:40 04/22/08 - Comment #34215: Here is just a sample of the beliefs in their CULT, fyi:

"Various writings and recordings of Hubbard claim: that Christ was a myth fabricated by space aliens to deceive Man from realizing his true nature; that Christ was a child-molester; that Blacks are genetically inferior to Whites; and in the 'free personality test' women are scored lower than men." - JDRAKE :::link:::

Actual sound bites of Hubbard concerning some of the above... :::link:::

Also how they deal with crtics...

"Scientology had an official, formal policy, written by L Ron Hubbard, for dealing with critics, which urged filing harassment lawsuits, digging up or making up embarrassing personal problems about critics and then publishing them, trying to get critics fired, picketing their homes, and threatening critics with bodily harm. It stated 'always attack, never defend' and 'the purpose of the lawsuit is to harass, not to win.'"

They are just a CULT, albeit a very well funded one.

libertad writes at 03:48:10 04/22/08 - Comment #34213: I didn't see this persons journal, but I do think that is acceptable that paul does not want to allow the site to be used for the Scientologist agenda. These people take advantage and use people who are desperate or suffering.

drew writes at 03:19:13 04/22/08 - Comment #34211: Three things:

1. Let the record show that, although Paul and I disagree on many (most?) things religious, he has been nothing but hospitable to me.

2. Although I have no love for Scientology, and believe it to be misleading. It is my preference that everything be allowed, save obvious spam. We are obviously smart enough to not be misled.

3. Point 2 doesn't matter so much, because it is not my hard work that makes (e:strip) happen. Paul is the boss in this here land.

brit writes at 03:06:07 04/22/08 - Comment #34209: they go after vulnerable juniors on our campus who just moved away from their families really aggressively.... I agree with you Paul...what they believe is neither here nor there, they recruit like an evil cult

paul writes at 02:47:20 04/22/08 - Comment #34208: I just want to re-iterate - this is not even about the religion - for me, this is really about the dudes on the street annoying me.

lizabeth writes at 02:28:16 04/22/08 - Comment #34207: Ooh man, Scientologists are creepy. I got a weird feeling when I saw L. Ron listed in his post, too.

james writes at 02:26:40 04/22/08 - Comment #34206: Return to LA? Did he even leave?

lilho writes at 02:21:12 04/22/08 - Comment #34205: i don't care if people want to speak their beliefs, but i feel it is totally disrespectful, aggressive and offensive to push your philosophies or religion on anyone.

religion is a personal choice, something that should be for you, and kept sacred in that way. when people start whoring their religion and beliefs out to everyone else, it just seems really wrong.

i agree with you paul.

this site is to connect and talk about buffalo, life events, and anything really. it is not to try and sell anything or convince anyone of anything.

i used various forms of the word, "any", way too much.

paul writes at 02:13:13 04/22/08 - Comment #34204: You don't have to blame all of the Elmwood District for my feelings. I have no idea how the entire district feels about Scientologists.

Permalink: Real_LaPlaine_The_Scientologist.html
Words: 537
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: hospital

04/21/08 03:44 - 64ºF - ID#44084

Medical Records at Buffalo General...

... are a freakin joke. So I decided to get some exercise as I was told by the doctor that walking and deep breathing is good for healing. I walked three blocks to Buffalo General in order to get a copy of my medical records to review. I had no idea how unorganized that part of the hospital is. I find it hard to believe that anything works well in the hospital if the information infrasctructure is such an unorganized system. I am not talking about medical records from ten years ago, I am talking about medical records from the last couple months.

The medical records system at Buffalo General is not completely electronic. There is this ellusive paper copy that has info that is not available everywhere else. The day I was in the hospital getting my appendix out I was supposed to be getting my Tissue Transglutaminase IGG and Transglutaminase AB (IGA) test to check for gluten intolerance at Quest Diagnotsics. So I figured, while I am already in the Er giving them blood, why not ask them to carry out the test as I was supposed to have the results for a April 24th doctor's appointment. My mother called and get the test names, we gave them to the doctor, he agreed, the nurse drew blood. Now there is no record of the test.

To make matters worse the desk clerk in medical records was this 20 something total bitch. She looked like and acted just like Karen from Will and Grace. If you ever read this, I hate you you mother fucking bitch, I hope this golden skanky, pointy shoes you have give you bunions and hammer toes.

I was nice because I was trying to keep stress to a minimum but I wanted to reach across the window, grab her hair and slam her face into the counter repeatedly.

All I asked her to do was print out my medical records for my and she kept gasping and saying how annoying it was. And the printer wouldn't work. It got jammed twice so she stopped and told me to come back in a week. Seriously, I can understand a printer malfunction, but the customer curtousy thing to do we be to offer to mail them to me, or say I am sorry about the inconvenience, not just get all angry with me for asking for my medial records.

It was totally ridiculous. Then I explained to her how every time I come to the hospital they have the wrong primary care physician for me. She said that she can't do anything about it, I have to see this woman named April down the hall.

So I go down the hall and enter Aprils office and this (sorry this is so unPC) extremely retarded looking woman acts like I couldn't possibly do such a crazy thing as change my primary care physican on my medial record. Right now I could swear she was drooling while telling me this, but maybe now I am blowing it out of proportion due to PTBGE Post Traumatic Buffalo General Exposure.

She seriously tried to convince me that I need to just tell them the new doctor' name every time I come to the hospital. So I ask for April and she starts howling, "April, April - this patient has a problem" - who is like 15 feet away. Could she not just get the fuck up or point to April so I could approach her politely.

I explain the situation to April and she says that she cannot do it and she has no idea why the Karen look alike down the Hall would have sent me there or how to change it. Finally, some other girl overhears and says I should try admissions.

So I go to admission and register and wait in line to be "admitted" and then finally there was a gay guy, who could communicate properly with a patient and was able to handle the change professionally, quickly and courtesly - shouldn't they all be that way. He also took the time to confirm my other information to make sure everything was right. I think his name was Paul too.

So you might be thinking that maybe I was mean or something that prompted all this. But I swear I was so super nice. I as in such a good mood, I could finally move around and it was sunny out, etc. It was really one of the worst customer service experiences I ever had. They really need to read, "If Disney Ran Your Hospital." In fact I am considering bringing my copy down next week when I stop at medical records and throwing it at "Karen's" face, lol.

And for some comic relief. I know I don't have a huge one, but they didn't have to call it "grossly negative", lol.

Permalink: Medical_Records_at_Buffalo_General_.html
Words: 815
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

04/20/08 06:36 - 70ºF - ID#44070

My main interest

I just wanted to thank the universe that my main interests are computers and cell phones. Had it been mountain climbing or running, all these set backs would have ruined my life. Then again maybe the fact that my interests were cell phone and computers has ruined my health, lol. No i do seriously move around a lot and it sucks that I can't move as much as I want right now.

Permalink: My_main_interest.html
Words: 72
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: elmwood

04/20/08 05:10 - 71ºF - ID#44068

elmwood cameras part two

So I have been trying to think of a way to make the buffalo police observation cameras (e:paul,44064) less hateable. What if instead of having to have auditors of their use and abuse, they just dump all the live feeds to the web. That way everyone can see what the police are looking at and it keeps it more legit. I mean if they are so understaffed with people to view the cameras, this would also create a larger net of people watching the data being gathered.

metalpeter writes at 07:05:18 04/21/08 - Comment #34154: I'm not sure if there still is but there are webcams around buffalo and there used to be one in Half & Half. I don't know as it was live I think it was live then self updated every 15 seconds. I think the web idea is a good one. That being said I think there is a bad aspect to it. If people can watch on the web then it could be come a place for shows. For example all the workers from some place where they where a uniform go out and play a game of hackey sack, or other things. Or what if it leads to Vigilante isim or hate crimes. The two girls holding hands or the 3 black guys who look like a gang get attacked once off cameras cause people who hate them just saw people they don't like live in their nieghboorhood. I think it would have to be a back up cause you never know no one might watch it.

zobar writes at 08:56:37 04/21/08 - Comment #34118: Hmmm. I don't even know what you could use to deploy these. 3G would be the easiest network to tap into, but you'd probably need extra hardware for that & it would probably get pretty expensive. Traffic lights are already wired to something, but you can't really pull an Ethernet line very far. Wi-fi is even more limited, and you'd still need to get a data line nearby. And as long as you're pulling lines you might as well go with analog composite video over coax.

There's a plethora of Wi-fi networks at Hertel & Colvin, but it's also a heavy office-retail-residential intersection, so that doesn't mean much.

- Z

paul writes at 10:31:07 04/20/08 - Comment #34113: Ya, we have very similar cameras at Roswell in the OR and I have worked with them before. I would not be surprised if the buffalo ones had the default setting. Are they wired or wireless?

zobar writes at 08:48:03 04/20/08 - Comment #34111: That's probably more plausible than you think â€¦Â a lot of cameras like this are Internet-based, and they don't bother to password-protect them :::link:::

There's one at Hertel & Colvin too, real high-crime neighborhood over here. I was under the impression that they were for traffic enforcement.

Glad to hear you're out of the hospital, that sounds terrible.

- Z

paul writes at 06:00:00 04/20/08 - Comment #34108: They are on Main Street too. I wonder if they have a map of the cameras.

uncutsaniflush writes at 05:57:21 04/20/08 - Comment #34107: Great idea, (e:paul). Most of the time, the live feeds would be no different than live traffic cam feeds.

(e:fellyconnelly) - there is one of those cameras on Grant between Bird and Garner on a block that has shootings and a killing or two in the last couple of years.

fellyconnelly writes at 05:32:57 04/20/08 - Comment #34105: where else are there cameras in buffalo? are there any in high crime areas?

Permalink: elmwood_cameras_part_two.html
Words: 88
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: elmwood

04/20/08 11:22 - 56ºF - ID#44064

Eyes In The Elmwood Skies

Well I am feeling better enough to start hating again. This article

is why I now officially hate Queenseyes, Newell Nussbaumer of Buffalo Rising, and his vision of the city. If you are reading this, don't feel too special, I hate a lot of things. I cannot believe he wrote that article applauding the surveillance cameras being put up and down Elmwood. I guess at this point there are three but it surely is a sign that more are to come. I thought they were bad enough on Main Street but Elmwood?

What is the next step? A gated community where the suburbanistas use a chips implanted in their arm to get into what used to be an interesting and diverse neighborhood. I don't think our long term freedom is worth attracting more suburban customers to your upscale dining facilities and niche stores. Let them stay on Transit. What is going on with Elmwood? Is the crime really that bad? I doubt it is a terrorist target. The cameras sure make it seem that way. Nothing screams high crime neighborhood more than surveillance cameras on the street.

What exactly triggers a camera watching police officers to take to the street and check out the scene. Maybe a black man talking to a white woman at night time - is that what is next. Maybe two gay guys holding hands that make the suburbanite shoppers uncomfortable. That is the problem. It doesn't prevent any crime, it can't make you any safer, it just makes it easier to catch a perpetrator later and that frankly doesn't help you very much if you are being raped which brings me back to who is getting raped on Elmwood?

Does no one see the disgusting freedom eroding potential of these cameras. Maybe not right now, but times change and laws change and once the cameras are implanted they become acceptable features of the urban landscape. If they ever planted one of these out front of my house I would move out of the city to the country or suburbs where I was not under video surveillance. To make it really scary they should just put up a video screen with giant police eyes looking back the other way.

My question is WWe:DD - what would (e:drew) do - now that you are on the elmwood board what is your feeling on these cameras? Did you guys vote on this or did the police just bring them in. As to what am I going to do. I am going to spend all my lifestyle attributable expendable income elsewhere and boycott shopping on Elmwood while I see how this develops.

I am glad to see most of their commentors disagree with his article. Maybe he only knows how to write positive reviews of everything.

I love this comment from their site.

I counter with ...bring 'em on. The more the better. If we can't have a cop on every block to nab thugs, vandals, litter bugs, etc., then I'll settle for eyes in the skies. If you've ever been to Singapore the place is totally safe and spotless. Like a dream. If you're not doing anything illegal, what's to fear. by UrbanBody of Buffalo Rising

To bad being gay and chewing gum are both illegal in singapore. For that fact I refuse to capitalize their name.

I think the most important comments on their site are these two:

The city has never described any protections on how the cameras are used, or abused. These cameras have incredibly far range and quality. What would prevent someone from aiming the camera into the window of an apartment bedroom? by 300 Miles of Buffalo Rising

We used to live right on elmwood, if there were cameras in light posts outside our bedroom windows they could easily be pointed inside with no problem. Who is to prevent this type of abuse. Is there an auditing committee?

The city is in over their heads and running a half assed operation. They are installing 100+ more cameras and do not even have a staff monitoring the ones that have been in place. I know many with the BPD and was told on the busier nights there are 2 people monitoring all of these cameras- do the math "slow nights" the monitoring room lays empty- waste of money as urbanesque stated "These are a poor substitute for 'feet on the street' police patrols and community policing. " that about sums it up by dbpflo of Buffalo Rising

So no one is even watching them. What is the point then.

drew writes at 11:06:17 04/21/08 - Comment #34122: I was out of town.

(e:Drew) knew nothing of this until reading this post. This was not an EV decision (as far as I know), and I don't believe that any resident or merchant asked for this.

And for the record, I think surveillance cameras are almost always a bad idea, and they are an especially bad idea on Elmwood.

I also think, however, a boycott is a bad response. Why should the merchants have to pay for the bad decisions of the city? A better response would be a letter to the mayor and/or police department. If that doesn't work, further action should target the cameras and the people behind them, not the neighborhood that has to deal with them.

If, for some reason, the EVA is behind these cameras, than it is a different story, but I really don't think anybody asked for them, and we certainly don't have the authority to put them up on our own.

uncutsaniflush writes at 05:54:47 04/20/08 - Comment #34106: I think that (e:metalpeter) is right the cameras are there to make us "feel safe" and not to keep us safe. In the U.K. public surveillance cameras are ubiquitous and the punters still commit crimes. All it means is the perp has a bit better chance of getting caught.

Consider this, if mere camera surveillance was enough to deter criminals, banks and convenience stores would never get robbed.

As to the "safest" part of the city, since there is such a camera on Grant between Bird and Garner, does that mean that Elmwood is as unsafe as Grant. Or contrariwise, does it mean that Grant is as safe as Elmwood. The mind boggles.

james writes at 04:27:34 04/20/08 - Comment #34103: Our mayor sure is tough on crime. Putting security cameras in the safest part of the city... is he almost up for reelection or something? -.-;

metalpeter writes at 01:15:33 04/20/08 - Comment #34093: The Camera Issue is much more complex then what the the from Buffalo Rising is talking about. I think there are many issues. First of all there is a lot of crime in our city of Buffalo. I'm not sure how much there is on elmwood really. That being said I think that Cameras Can be helpful to catch drug deals, and beatings and panhandlers and other things. But that being said someone has to watch them at all times and have a line to get cops there if 5 thugs decide to rob some one walking out of a plus or use a baseball bat on people at the pride parade. There are laws in this country that protect our freedom and there needs to be oversite and a monitor of the monitors to make sure they aren't using the cameras to look into a window and watch an "artvoice ad Call girl" or just a cute girl with her boyfriend with out a warrant for survallence. There needs to be someone making sure everyones civil liberties are not infringed on. I think a good place to Have one is in every block from summer all the way downtown, there used to be some shady people around there. My theory on the cameras is not that they are there to spy on us or to keep us safe but they are there to make us feel safe. That being said I think that all the empty properties on elmwood is a reflection of a down trend of the area and this country and that brings concern that more crime will take place on elmwood. That being said I'm sure that there are a lot of places that need the cameras more then Elmwood does like say the Universty Hights district oh and crime around there isn't new, you have all ways had some "eastside thugs" who come in and cause trouble or maybe it is the college kids who are in their neighboorhood and then the kids who get drunk and can't handle there alcohol and get in fights. If the cameras are used correctly they can be a big help as long as they aren't abused, that being said you can't have one on every cornor.

uncutsaniflush writes at 12:33:13 04/20/08 - Comment #34092: Based on the description, I think there is one of these around the corner from us on Grant. I've seen it blinking blue at night and wondered what the the hell is that. Both (e:leetee) and I concluded that it is some sort of police surveillance device. And, it seems, we are right.

Permalink: Eyes_In_The_Elmwood_Skies.html
Words: 774
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

04/20/08 08:34 - 71ºF - ID#44062

After a nights sleeps and some darvocet

I feel much better and will walk around a bunch today. The doctor said walking is good for healing, so is deep breathing. I feel a lot less bloated. It honestly felt like my veins might have exploded. I think it happed when my IV tube got stuck the night before and they thought I wasn't getting enough fluid because I wasn't peeing a lot so they made me do one bag real quick.

However, that is better now and my veins no longer look like the incredible hulks.

So I really want to know if I am allergic to the hydromorphone or not. Do they have some sort of allergy test for that? Look at this article

I wonder if I just had a side effect or a true allergy or if I was allergic to the antibiotic administered at the same time. Honestly, it would be good to know, because if I ever am in a horrible accident or need surgery again I don't want to forgo the pain meds because of an allergy I am not sure I really have. The nurse wrote my allergy on the bracelet because I was itching after both thing were administered. I didn't have asthma or anything which is a usual allergy symptom for me. I just itched and frankly compared to appendix pain, itching is quite acceptable. I think it was the owrst pain I ever felt. I mean I never had any problem with codeine before aren't they related?

Tests for IgE to specific opioids have been developed but are not readily available. Skin testing has been suggested before a structurally unrelated opioid is used in a patient with a serious opioid reaction.

I want to find out where to get that now. I am going to ask the doctor during the follow up appointment because it would be good to know instead of having to get no pain meds after some health disaster.

imk2 writes at 07:30:03 05/03/08 - Comment #34687: paul, i came across this today and thought you might find it interesting.

"Codeine and morphine allergies are also commonly reported but they are much less significant with respect to actual allergic processes. Meaning that most reported "allergies" to opiates are actually sensitivities or intolerances. Many patients are quite sensitive to these agents and also to the noted side effects. Making them poor choices indeed in many cases. Other patients just don't tolerate them well at all. In terms of both physiological response and subjective response. But true allergies are not that common at all. As in the outcome of frank and severe rash or anaphylaxis. While itchiness is very common, as are nausea and vomiting and general dysphoria these are not immune globulin mediated problems. And while respiratory depression is also common it is a direct pharmacological effect and not an anaphylactoid response."

:::link:::

paul writes at 12:04:10 04/20/08 - Comment #34090: Ya, she said it was nearly perforated. I waited so long in the ER and everytime someone came to visit me in the ER then would push as hard as possible on it and I would whince in pain.

They seriously had to do that like 4 times which seemed like it would only make it explode. Why couldn't they just believe the last person.

I have to say I liked Dr F. a lot. I think I just like female doctor's better - that is accept for Dr. Combo who used to be my primary care. His office is on Lincoln Parkway past the park near Great Arrow and there was a Dr. Matthew Turner? at the hospital who also seemed really nice. There is definitely something to be said for bed side manor. Then again there is something to be said for doctor's like the one on House if you are in that kid of emergency. The guy in the room with me was. I couldn't wait to get out of there because his experience was making me paranoid.

james writes at 11:35:04 04/20/08 - Comment #34089: I don't think this is really an issue Paul, as you are not allowed to have another health disaster.

jenks writes at 10:39:47 04/20/08 - Comment #34084: well darvocet (propoxyphene/tylenol) is narcotic. So if you're ok with that, you do not have a debilitating allergy to all narcotics. And like you said, there s a difference between side effects and allergies. And you don't know if it's the pain meds or the abx.

A little nausea or something is NOT an allergy. Most people don't always understand that, which is too bad. B/c once you get an allergy stamped on your chart, it's hard to get it taken off, and the pharmacy will refuse to give you meds.

What people are afraid with with drug allergies is mostly anaphylaxis- when your throat closes up and you can't breathe. Because obviously that is a dangerous.

And the other thing is that often the first exposure isn't that bad- you might just get some hives/itching/rash etc. But then next time it's really bad. That happens alot with penicillin.

Rather than hard to find and probably expensive testing, I would say the best way to test it, is just to take it again in a controlled environment. So that if you DO have a bad reaction, it can be treated quickly. So if you're ever in a situation that needs pain meds, you can say "i might have had a reaction to dilaudid last time, but i'm not sure I want to try it again".

But again the fact that you're ok with the darvocet means you're not allergic to ALL narcs. So even if you can't have dilaudid, maybe you can have morphine etc. (and yeah, dilaudid is a lot stronger, but we don't give as much, so it ends up being essentially equal).

btw- where did they send you for follow-up? hopefully not the BGH D-3 surgery clinic. But I don't know where Dr. F does her clinic. Either way, I seriously doubt they will know anything about narcotic allergy testing when you go back- sorry. never hurts to ask though.

and lastly- I'm glad to hear you had a semi-decent doctor experience, after all your bad ones lately.

And I'm glad they took you to surgery instead of waiting til morning- I saw your CT report with said "possibly EARLY appendicitis of the tip"- and then when they got in it was nearly perfed.

Wow, sorry for writing a book here...

Permalink: After_a_nights_sleeps_and_some_darvocet.html
Words: 336
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

04/19/08 06:22 - 82ºF - ID#44056

I'm gonna pop

so the appendix came out , I went home but now I am so bloated that I weigh about 10 pounds more than before they removed a part of my body, hm. The wounds look fine and the appendix feels good compared to before. I have a feeling this would not be a big deal on a fatter person who lost weight and had some give but I look swollen like a boiled hotdog to the point it hurts my skin, argh. I hope it goes away soon. If it does go away soon my veins might really PPP.

It still better to have my own bathroom and no machine in my arm. They said ibwouodnt be able to do officecwork for two work weeks or four for "real" work. I really hope to feel better way before that.

Permalink: I_m_gonna_pop.html
Words: 137
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

04/19/08 09:13 - 65ºF - ID#44052

At noon

At noon I am going to rip this fucking IV out of my arm and just walk out. Hopefully, the doctor sees me before then. I want rice and my crohns medicine now.

The food was so bad.

Permalink: At_noon.html
Words: 40
Location: Buffalo, NY

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