"Minimum wage hike gets un-vetoed" written by Terry on estrip.org

12/07/04 05:32 - ID#35670

Minimum wage hike gets un-vetoed

The NY Senate and Assembly have managed to override Pataki's veto on an increase of the minimum wage.

Some good news to tide us over until we get our bad new here in a couple hours. More sales tax or no libraries. What a choice. How is it that these have become (seemingly if not truthfully) our only options? A lack of creativity and, dare I agree with (e:Jason)!?! a same-ole-same-ole stick to the status quo attitude. Let's fire the lot of 'em (both those voted-in and appointed) and hire one for every two currently in power. But back on planet Earth we sit and await our binary fate.

Permalink: Minimum_wage_hike_gets_un_vetoed.html
Words: 118
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/04/04 08:42 - ID#35669

Future home found?

We've seen about 10-15 places so far. A bunch of duds, a couple gems, and the one we want.

The applications are filled out and will be handed in tomorrow. Now we just have to hope that our current landlord doesn't screw it up for us by saying mean things about us. We had, shall we say, not the nicest parting discussions. But we lived here for over two years and the apt. still looks very nice (about 10x nicer than when we moved in) and our only crime was using the heat that was included in our rent. But, hopefully we'll know in a couple of days and ya'll can come to our fancy new place for our homewarming. Cross your fingers for us.

Permalink: Future_home_found_.html
Words: 125
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/03/04 10:28 - ID#35668

Bad Joke

The Yes Men

played another one of their usually very funny jokes yesterday on the BBC. It was the anniversary of the Bhopal disaster [inlink]terry,267[/inlink] which killed (and is killing) thousands in India, with so far no restitution offered to the victims. The Yes Men have operated a site mimicking Dow's (something like this one

) for a while (and even talk about it in their movie), but apparently one BBC reporter hadn't heard of it and went looking for Dow's comments. Well they got the Yes Men's Andy Bichlbaum online who offered an interview claiming that Dow had decided enough was enough and were going to liquidate assets in order to provide compensation to the victims of Bhopal. Now enough people believed this that Dow's stock price actually plummeted

which is funny. What's not so funny is the poor people in and around Bhopal who also heard the news and had their initial elation turned to tears of disappointment and rage.

A jokes a joke, and I'm all for giving it to the corps. but this one seems to have caused more harm to first the victims themselves and second to the reputation of a news organization that does seem to give at least a slightly impartial slant to its news. So go on, and have your fun Yes Men but try to keep your real targets in sight.

Permalink: Bad_Joke.html
Words: 254
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/02/04 10:04 - ID#35667

phone phun with strangers

I spent hours today talking to strangers on the phone (and anyone who knows me can tell you just how much I love talking on the phone), looking for a home.

Aber Erfolg!

Well not in finding a place but in setting up a battery of apartment showings, and yes (e:Ajay), thanks to the kind ad placed in Artvoice by Bing (who wouldn't want a landlord named Bing?), we will be upstairs from you at 2:30 on Saturday.

We will also be viewing 6 other places on Saturday, and 5 more on Friday! Fun Fun Fun! And if after 14 apts. if we can't find one we like then I guess there's always that cozy little niche under the bridge in Delaware park (just me and my echoes...).

Permalink: phone_phun_with_strangers.html
Words: 125
Location: Buffalo, NY

12/01/04 03:09 - ID#35666

Soon to hear voices

According to a new study

smoking marijuana during early adulthood increases the user's chances of developing "psychotic symptoms." Watch out you pot-head mofos. Makes sense to me. Makes your mind free and such, you think of different things along different pathways. But who's defining psychosis anyways? What if you hear a voice and it tells you where a pot of gold is. Are you psycho only if the gold really isn't there?

sidenote: we're moving, anyone have any suggestions of where to?

Permalink: Soon_to_hear_voices.html
Words: 91
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/24/04 08:22 - ID#35665

laid off and laid back

As of yesterday 4:00 I became officially laid off. I am seasonal so it's not a horrible thing and wasn't unexpected. Now I sit back and collect my unemployment for a couple months. This is the first time I've been laid off for the whole winter though, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with myself. Today I slowly let the hours waste away. Played some video games. Made some food. Left the house to take Paul to work. Left the house to get Paul from work 5 minutes later cuz he didn't really have to be there. Responded to some long overdue emails. Exhausted my Bookmarks. Ate some more food. Well I guess you get the picture. In summer I would have at least wandered around for awhile or gone on a bikeride. But it's cold and raining now, and oh god this is inevitably turning into a fuck-it's-winter-in-Buffalo entry, sorry.

Gotta pick up my crocheting. And when it snows I'll start skiing. Cooking has already started coming back to the foreground (yay for hungry-tummies).

What am I doing tonight? The BIGGEST PARTY NIGHT OF THE YEAR!!! Will probably be out and about somewhere. Maybe I'll see some of yall. Have fun, and remember you have to be out of bed by noon to go and get stuffed.

Permalink: laid_off_and_laid_back.html
Words: 217
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/22/04 02:47 - ID#35664

Dancing backwards

Went to this funny rave-thingie sat. night with (e:paul) and jesse f. [inlink]paul,2438[/inlink] Danced my heart out. Yes, and if you look at those pics you will notice that we were on average 5-10 years older than just about everyone there. But, I say let the kids have their fun. And I'm still a kid right? Well I danced and danced and danced some more (decided that I really do like to dance, though I try to pretend I don't). It really is tremendous exercize if you really do it for a while (especially the type of freako-rave dancing that we were doing (ask (e:lilho) to demonstrate some time)).

Alas, it seemed to work backwards. I came back and noticed I had gained about 50 pounds. Not sure how it happened. Maybe the strange thing that was slipped into my drink had something to do with it... maybe not eating at McKeyD's...maybe not doing those handstand push-ups...who knows. So if you see me rolling through town, take it as a word of caution against extreme exercize. And get yo fat ass some double arch surprises.

Permalink: Dancing_backwards.html
Words: 188
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/20/04 04:24 - ID#35663

Not hampered at all

by beat box fiendsters
by empty ice cream
left upon the chair
melting as are we

coops still a coop
made from lively fowl
chicken little runs
and republicans beware

three toilets to choose from
beeboppin on the roof
mary ari jarel
maarijarel

buddha does as buddha is
lies atop his bosom buddy
sleepy stroking
halfelt tickles

remember the jazz
forget your friends
remeber the friends
forget the jazz

someone is watching over
maybe with a microphone
watchout don't eat those brains
stewarts here, look what i can do

Permalink: Not_hampered_at_all.html
Words: 89
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/16/04 09:00 - ID#35662

Louching away the days

I am so louche today! (said with the voice from that funny WTF movie, or Ali G's Borat or BrÃ¼no. It has suddendly become chorenight at 567. Got (e:matthew) and (e:lilho) gettin' jiggy wid da dishes and vaccuum respectively ((e:paul) is here too, doing the difficult task of drying the dishes). I am trying to not be drawn in. I took up a broom for a bit, watered the plants, and rearranged things slightly. Now I am hoping no one notices me here in the corner typing away. Thank you elmwoodstrip, take me away <zooooooom>.

Permalink: Louching_away_the_days.html
Words: 105
Location: Buffalo, NY

11/16/04 10:15 - ID#35661

Is this really going to happen?

Here is the Schedule of Service Impacts for B&ECPL Patrons Under Erie County's Proposed 2005 Red Budget:

Last day to borrow and renew materials
Tuesday, December 7, 2004

Return all B&ECPL materials by
Tuesday, December 28, 2004

All book drops will be closed after
Tuesday, January 4, 2005

Tell your elected officials how important YOUR library is to YOU. Without your support, public library service could end in Buffalo and Erie County! The Erie County Legislature has announced its schedule of 4 public hearings on the proposed 2005 Erie County Budget:

Monday, November 22, 6 p.m.
Lancaster Middle School Auditorium
148 Aurora, Lancaster

Tuesday, November 23, 6 p.m.
Erie Community College City Campus Auditorium
121 Ellicott, Buffalo

Monday, November 29, 6 p.m.
Erie Community College South Campus Room 5101
4041 Southwestern, Orchard Park

Tuesday, November 30, 6 p.m.
Clarence Public Library
Three Town Place, Clarence

Join advocates from across Erie County in a collective effort to keep OUR public libraries from closing in 2005!

Permalink: Is_this_really_going_to_happen_.html
Words: 157
Location: Buffalo, NY