"Lower Niagara River" written by Vincent on estrip.org

10/13/10 08:29 - 54.ºF - ID#52946

Lower Niagara River

When I was bored last week and had more spare time I decided to take some pics of Niagara on the Lake and the Lower Niagara River.

Permalink: Lower_Niagara_River.html
Words: 45
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 10/13/10 08:29

Category: casino

10/07/10 12:02 - 53.ºF - ID#52910

Shut 'Em Down!

So the casinos in Western New York days may be numbered:

To be honest it couldn't happen to a better group of people. They ran the place like Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Waste Management ect.

What kind of controls did they have in place to prevent being defrauded in the Golf Course Deal?

They have liens filed as they stiffed contractors

and I have first hand knowledge of them treating their employees like utter shit.

Do you think that a place that is being investigated by the IRS for numerous violations is going to just easily fork over the 200 Million that the state is asking for?

They should have hired Harrah's or Penn National to run their casino back in 2002. Mickey Brown and his team did a fantastic job in building up the brand and getting the hotel project started. Instead they ran it like a lemon-aid stand with a cigar box as a cash register.

It should be interesting to see what happens. The only reason why the state entered into this agreement was due to the fact that the State needed cash desperately after 9/11 and passed the compact in the middle of the night. Without the 200 Million, What's the point of allowing it to operate especially with the cigarette issue still at the forefront?

Nothing good ever came out of that place, and I won't shed a tear if the state troopers/National Guard surround the perimeter and not allow anyone in/out of their territory in downtown Niagara Falls.

I guess after all Joel Rose was right after all.

vincent writes at 11:03:21 10/07/10 - Comment #58806: If they had an issue with VLT's they should have brought it up back in 2005 When Buffalo Raceway/Fairgrounds/Hamburg Casino and Batavia Downs installed them. Why did they wait 5 years to make a stink about VLT's Oh yeah the Cig issue.

metalpeter writes at 06:34:55 10/07/10 - Comment #58800: This issue is so complex really. The Claim by the natives is that slots at racetracks violate the deal they made with the state and my guess is, that it does. What started this entire thing is that Albany is corrupt that money just vanishes. Well the other thing is that western NY pays for the city tax wise. So then they go and try to tax the gas and cigs. Now here is the thing yes it is true that the natives don't have to pay sales tax but that doesn't mean the white man doesn't have to. If you go into say Canada you have to pay a duty. How would you enforce tax on mail orders though. This entire thing with the Casino didn't become an issue until the cig tax was one. I'm not anti casino but the deals that where made for the native ones where bad. They tried to make them legal before the Falls in Canada even had any but it got voted down (the rumor at the time was trump through money at it to make it fail). See if you had legal Casinos then you get all the tax money and you could get companies like the Hardrock Cafe (in Canada) or other companies who would run them, then you could have had multiple ones that would bring people from out of town.

I have another theory as to way that didn't happen. It would hurt the states real casino the lottery. No one really knows how much money goes into that and how much comes out. Yeah you can claim you loses on your taxes but not sure how many people really do. I think the lottery hurts way more people then a casino can. So many people with out money play it on a daily, they win a bit and think great now I have money, but if they just kept that money they spent they would have more then they won, but when cash goes away quick I get why they play.........

Permalink: Shut_Em_Down_.html
Words: 291
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 10/07/10 12:02

Category: vacation

10/04/10 08:22 - 47.ºF - ID#52900

So Cal Vlog #3

I actually took the time to throw some iMovie effects for this one. My apologies for not stabilizing the video drive through Topanga Canyon.

Permalink: So_Cal_Vlog_3.html
Words: 26
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 10/04/10 08:22

Category: vacation

10/03/10 08:41 - 45.ºF - ID#52894

So Cal Vlog #2

Pretty much my day at Epicenter 21 2010

Permalink: So_Cal_Vlog_2.html
Words: 10
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 10/03/10 08:41

Category: vacation

10/02/10 11:13 - 46.ºF - ID#52885

So Cal Vlog #1

So I went out to Southern California for a week. I have a couple more videos to edit but I'm going to post this one here just to get something out there.

I traveled with a friend o fmine and hung out with a friend of mine who works in Santa Monica with whom we stayed at his townhouse. The air on the pier is just refreshing and amazing. I didn't feel too well when I went out there (maybe I was sick of work) but I felt like a million bucks after being in the sun and heat of Southern California for a week. We then hit the Hollywood Bowl for the Sound of Music Sing along, which apparently is a big event. Honestly we just went to see the venue as it is a legendary art deco historical place and bought tickets off of ticketsnow.com at the last minute. We ended up getting box seats and had a blast.

The next day we went to the Epicenter 2010 concert festival.

I went to see really to see Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendencies, Rise Against and Blink 182. Seeing Blink in SoCal was just a perfect thought. I was a bit disappointed with 30 secs to mars. Jared Leto just rubs me the wrong way as he just seems like an out of control ego manic controlling freak. I came to hear you play, not order everyone around.

Anyway here is the first video.

Permalink: So_Cal_Vlog_1.html
Words: 250
Last Modified: 10/02/10 11:13

Category: movies

10/01/10 11:42 - 52.ºF - ID#52875

the social network

Wow! What a great film. It just shows what really drives the internet after all, love/sex and other raw volatile emotions.

I hate to say it but I really feel for Mark Zuckerburg. I guess it was the opening scene after getting dumped by Erica Albright when he starts drinking and blogging on Livejournal. Who knew that is how to become a Billionaire is to: (Have ZERO ZLICH NADA Social Skills or Game with the Ladies) Thus fueling your sexual frustration and then not only flaming her, but taking it to an exponential level!

But yea, you have to give him credit for rising above the pecking order of society and becoming CEO, Bitch!

There were also some great references in this movie. One to Niagara Falls and the other one to the Original Karate Kid, which was too funny given the prototype of the members of Harvard Crew.

Did I also mention that the sound track is totally kick ass?

How can you go wrong with Trent Reznor. Some great pick for songs included California Uber Alles by the Dead Kennedy's. Also whatever electro/trance song that they were playing in the club when Mark is having an Epiphany with Sean Parker Mr Napster is just plain SICK!

Plus it was also a fun time seeing it with great company, someone who could also relate to references "back in the day" (e:theecarey)

In the end just go and see it. It's dark, yes but at the same time brilliant.

Permalink: the_social_network.html
Words: 257
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 10/01/10 11:42

Category: people

09/22/10 11:34 - ID#52809

Why I hate this area

This is how rich white people really are deep down inside.

I seriously bet that if it was a dog on the side of the road in pain 10 people would stop, call 911 or the SPCA. What is scary is that he was a middle aged white guy with money. GOD Forbid if it was a scruffy homeless looking minority dying on the side of the road in Lilly Rich White Lewiston. Notice it was a guy NOT from Lewiston that stopped??? This says a ton about the demographics in this town but I'll keep this post short, it doesn't need further explanation as you can draw your own conclusions.

Permalink: Why_I_hate_this_area.html
Words: 115
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 09/22/10 11:34

Category: hipsters

09/21/10 10:52 - 63.ºF - ID#52798

F'ing Hipsters

I have to agree with this guy.

They totally stole Solid Frame Glasses, Zombies, Pirates and Heroin. I really don't care about the aweful haircuts for abviousl reasons.

But I need heroin addicts to be like Layne Staley from Alice in Chains or Renton from Trainspotting. Not some twerp with a shitty superior attitude in skinny jeans, neon socks, solid frame glasses drinking a PBR.

He's on to something I actually prefer to be down south among rednecks than hipsters up North. Their attitude is a bit better IMHO than some pussy hipsters up here on Elmwood.

Permalink: F_ing_Hipsters.html
Words: 106
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 09/21/10 10:52

Category: self perception

09/19/10 11:08 - 52.ºF - ID#52784

Nutshell

I went to see Deftones and Alice in Chains last night in Toronto. It was a great show and I'll post more in the future from it. But I need to get this off of my chest now.

For me I've had self love / self esteem issues for most of my life now. When I saw this song last night it has basically opened up the floodgates. I haven't listened to anything from Jars of Flies for years as I never bought the CD even though I should. I've always had more of an emotional connection with Alice in Chains than any other "Grunge" era band. Dirt embedded itself into my mind right when it came out. I don't want to get into details about it from back in the day but it fired on all cylinders. So needless to say I've been crying uncontrollably since I got back from Toronto tonight. What's even crazier is I had a total heart felt breakthrough conversation with them as I'm just in a very vulnerable place right now. Anyway here it is music starts at 1:20

Here is a the facebook update that I never bothered to post:

Holy Shit! This song last night just took me to an emotional place that I've been avoiding for a decade. It was the one spiritual experience that I've been seeking all this summer concert season. Sorry if it's TMI but I've had self love issues for most of my life, Lane so tapped into how it feels even though I guess he was writing about his addition. Plus I haven't listened to anything off of Jars of Flies for years.

If you want the original version with Layne

Lyrics

We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home

Oooh...Oooh...
Oooh...Oooh...

My gift of self is raped
My privacy is raked
And yet I find
And yet I find
Repeating in my head
If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead

Oooh...Oooh...
Oooh...Oooh...

Permalink: Nutshell.html
Words: 372
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 09/19/10 11:37

Category: urban exploration

09/14/10 12:00 - 58.ºF - ID#52731

Abandoned Amusement Park

I came across this randomly tonight and thought that it was pretty cool. It kind of reminds me of Crystal Beach and Olcott Beach. I have no idea why I am so drawn to abandoned amusement parks. Maybe it was abandoned around the time I was born and just slowly decayed or something along those lines. But WOW!

Permalink: Abandoned_Amusement_Park.html
Words: 59
Location: Youngstown, NY
Last Modified: 09/14/10 12:00