"Grouponoids" written by Tinypliny on estrip.org

12/12/10 11:43 - 35.ºF - ID#53245

Grouponoids

I was wondering about just how many Groupon-like online daily discount deal websites exist for Buffalo, did a quick web-trawl and found five.

1. Groupon

2. LivingSocial

3. SocialBuy

4. Deal of the day

5. WGRZ discount deals

One of these days, I might be persuaded to get a mani-pedi and a swedish massage or maybe I could go y0ga-craZy and try out every flavour of class down Elmwood.

All of the other zillion grouponoids cater to posher cities and of course, NYC - regardless of wherever they are based. I even found some European ones from UK and Germany that had NYC listed as one of the deal cities! Buffalo doesn't seem to be that popular...

Permalink: Grouponoids.html
Words: 136
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/14/10 12:33

Category: the odes

12/11/10 04:33 - 38.ºF - ID#53237

The evil shadows of Facebook.

At my department party yesterday, someone from the department that I didn't know very well knew me from some of my pictures posted by her boyfriend's friend who is on facebook and went to the same baking workshop as I did. Minutes after the party, I ran into (e:enknot) who said he finds (e:strip) boring nowadays because it's the same old 5 people posting. And something to the effect of facebook being a much more dynamic connection to the planet.

On the detour-ridden walk home through smoky downtown, I really missed my dance class (we are on holiday break and classes resume January) and the absolute joy of salsa beats. To make up for the vacuum and erase an overdose of lady blabla and the impersonal nature of electronic music, I dropped by Club Barcelona hoping to catch the latin jazz project and Ibrahim Ferrer in the making. Turned out they had taken a leave of absence just for yesterday.

As I walked two other annoying points came to mind. My Ã¼bercool salsa teachers are on facebook and nowhere else. And not just that, my primary citation manager is now suggesting that I "like" articles and login with my facebook login. To give in or not to give in to facebook-it's-so-cool pressure? That was the irritating question.

I don't want a connection with the planet. I like my own little flow of thoughts here and I completely love the new interface of the site. Big thumbs down to Dr. Evil. I am not filling in the mini-me shoes anytime soon.

tinypliny writes at 10:23:49 12/13/10 - Comment #59716: THEY were right THERE in downtown on saturday. :::link:::

DAMN, you fb. Don't want to join you and yet everyone I am seeking is with you. Aaarrgh. Wish I had seen this sooner - I would have headed straight to the Pucho Olivencia Center on Swan after the party!

tinypliny writes at 11:52:13 12/12/10 - Comment #59658: haha - I think the dangers and distractions of joining outweigh the pleasure of stalking my teachers. I don't think I am quite at the desperate stalkerish level yet. May in a few months... :-)

I tried twittering and it totally wiped out my desire to write here for a bit. When I was twittering, I felt like I was frittering away my thoughts in 140 characters and being even more vain and trivial than I usually am... I see facebook as a similar, if not worse, experiment.

metalpeter writes at 11:38:31 12/12/10 - Comment #59657: I think you should join and also stay here. Maybe connect with the dance people and try to get them to Join Here?

metalpeter writes at 10:52:50 12/12/10 - Comment #59656: Well the thing that is funny about facebook is that I have friends on there that I have meet at (e:strip) parties that I'm not sure if they are on (e:strip). Or if they are I don't know there user names..............

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:53:40 12/11/10 - Comment #59634: (e:paul) - I think your analysis is spot on. If people put in as much energy here as they do on facebook, estrip would be a different place.

I'm a member of facebook but I don't really very much there at all.

I like the idea of a blog better than the idea of immediate social networking. The only places that I've blogged are estrip.org and wordpress. I like the control that I have over the look of the interface on wordpress. But I also really like the new estrip. I've decided that for the nonce if I'm going to blog only in one place, it will be estrip.

Ironically enough, as the internet has gotten more into the social side, I've become more of a recluse. I used to be on irc, on usenet, on aim, on icq sometimes all at once. It was great to be able to talk to someone half a world away. It seems less cool to talk to someone online that you just saw at work. But that is just me.

I've been thinking that I'm going to post links to my estrip stuff on facebook. Go figure.

I think that I might be a bit of a Luddite or some sort of dinosaur destined to die when the next social networking comet hits the earth.

tinypliny writes at 07:42:47 12/11/10 - Comment #59622: "you entire friends, family, and coworkers are here"

That FREAKS me out. I am SO glad I am boring and don't want to be poked or liked. I use (e:strip) almost as a personal reference. I wish I had kept a regular record even earlier when I was in med school. My life was so jam-packed with craziness then and now I can't really identify with that crazy person anymore...

paul writes at 05:19:37 12/11/10 - Comment #59619: You don't have to feel guilty and I don't think they are evil. (e:enknot) is right, estrip is boring now because no one posts anymore besides a very few of us. Its especially boring if you are the type of person who is always on the prowl for "La fille du jour" or the internet meme of the day.

For me I prefer the longterm journal nature of a blog than the immediate feedback of of a whole slew of semi random acquaintances feeding each other links and brief status updates. I mean its fun to have other people participate in your life but even if everyone one else left I would keep writing as I love in my blog as I love being able to flip back through my life.

At the same time, I can understand wanting move to a more immediate feedback environment if that is the type of thing someone is looking for - especially for more social individuals. There is really nothing estrip can do to compete with the "you entire friends, family, and coworkers are here" and they all want to "like" what you say and poke you to make you feel special that face book has. I guess unless that is what you were not looking for in the first place.

Permalink: The_evil_shadows_of_Facebook_.html
Words: 265
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/11/10 04:38

Category: dance

12/11/10 02:31 - 39.ºF - ID#53235

Who would I rather be?!

I do look a lot like that man on the right. In fact I know how to do that exact trick with the office chair. Learning to swirl-walk with my hands seems like a tall order.

Permalink: Who_would_I_rather_be_.html
Words: 40
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/11/10 02:31

Category: music

12/11/10 05:32 - 37.ºF - ID#53233

25 Delaware

YEah, that's the bus I love.

Permalink: 25_Delaware.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/11/10 05:32

Category: the odes

12/06/10 11:31 - 24.ºF - ID#53220

I spend 29 calories...

walking to work everyday.

Route Summary
Total Distance: 0.60 miles
Avg Speed: 3.2 miles/h
Estimated Time: 11m 19s
Start Elevation: 666.01 ft
End Elevation: 679.13 ft
Minimum Elevation: 652.89 ft
Maximum Elevation: 679.13 ft
Elevation Ascent: 45.93 ft
Elevation Descent: 32.81 ft
Estimated Calories: 29.37

That's even less calories than one of those teeny apples you get when you buy them by the bag.

Abysmal.

Permalink: I_spend_29_calories_.html
Words: 61
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/06/10 11:36

Category: buffalo

12/06/10 07:16 - 25.ºF - ID#53217

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

{For, I have a wonderful pair of snowproof boots this winter.}

And Prof. LÃ³pez-PiÃ±eiro is embarking on some really cool art with all that snow!

I have one question, though... Where exactly is this front park? Is it the same as the "park" near the boardwalk where we go to see the July 4 fireworks?
---
More info on the snow art:

Permalink: Let_it_snow_let_it_snow_let_it_snow_.html
Words: 73
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/06/10 07:17

Category: music

12/04/10 11:56 - 25.ºF - ID#53213

Rawwrrr Rawwwwr Rasputin!

Just want to never forget this song ever.

I would like to put some poison into the wine of the person who made that video though. UGH.

Permalink: Rawwrrr_Rawwwwr_Rasputin_.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/04/10 11:56

Category: music

12/04/10 11:05 - 25.ºF - ID#53211

More Popcorn...er. Penguins!

---
Thanks, (e:matthew), this was a wave of nostalgia! lol

Permalink: More_Popcorn_er_Penguins_.html
Words: 13
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/04/10 11:05

Category: buffalo

12/03/10 08:31 - 31.ºF - ID#53200

Braiding Specialist in Buffalo?

Does anyone know of any spectacular braiding stylists or salons in Buffalo who can do an especially good job of braiding really curly hair?

Will be eternally grateful for suggestions!!

Okay, I have some recommendations from people online, and people on the street.

Germa's African Hair Braiding
1231 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14216
716-986-1675
(Can't locate any reviews... To trust or not to trust?!)

Hair to go Natural
Main St. (Near Chow Chocolat)
(Disturbing review on yelp.com)

My.braids.com
Hair by Khaili

Apparently, this stylists travels to your place.
(Same situation... To trust or not to trust?!)

I have now registered on 2 African-American hair forums specially to ask for recommendations. Let's see what comes out of that.

And braiding is expensive! It can cost you anywhere between $150 and $250 for braids... which makes me think that if I put in some effort and practice, I could possibly do it for free.

PS: Image from Amanda Chronister's blog

Permalink: Braiding_Specialist_in_Buffalo_.html
Words: 171
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/10/10 10:20

Category: fashion

12/02/10 06:41 - 28.ºF - ID#53194

Wool and Lace - Part I

Alright! I am going to give this vintage winter wool coat sewing obsession a real spin and see where I get. (And of course, inflict all my non-progress on you.)

I see I am stuck in step 2. Researching fabrics has to wait because I am off to another exciting salsa class!

tinypliny writes at 05:17:46 12/04/10 - Comment #59542: Heh, it's not a lot of time but a chunk of mindspace. Salsa is one hour a week and fashion is ten minutes when I think of a direction. But you see, it *seems* like all of the time because at (e:strip), my mindspace expands to fill almost 100% of my journal. I write about 95% of my conscious work elsewhere. :-)

But I have to admit, I am fascinated with Salsa and the whole culture around it. I am drawn to the intensity of the dance and in love with how the music transports me to a very tropical beach when I am walking in a bleak landscape of snow. Its a way to reconnect with art physically - something which I have sorely missed for so many years now.

Fashion is a way of doing the same, in a more subtle way. I miss the wild colours, the mirrors, the embroidery and the precisely tailored clothes I used to wear. They were part of me and who I wanted to be everyday. I miss waking up everyday and knowing that I was not going to be worried about whether my clothes were depressing or not. So, I want to regain at least a minimal part of my expression. I think I now have a hang of how fashion works here. Since tailoring is so expensive, people find alternative ways of avoiding feeling like a dowdily dressed rag. Either they have lot of money (which, I don't) or they spend time hunting for the right fit, the right size and whatnot (which is a herculean task for me since I don't fit the population average and don't have a lot of time or the means of transport to do it anyway).

The only other alternative is pretty clear - personal tailoring. You might think that this coat is a complicated project (and it probably is, technically speaking). But it is just a way of trying to see if I can overcome the sense of being utterly plebeian and expendable - a feeling that I get everyday wearing clothes that clearly were not made for me. It's an experiment, in that sense. I may not necessarily finish this experiment or even get anywhere but atleast, it will have graced my mindspace as an art form!

It's strange that both the Salsa and this insane sewing obsession are really the same thing in a lot of ways...