If you haven't been reading (e:maureen)'s journal relating to her two soon-to-be-if-not-already-former elderly neighbors and how she is helping them, you should check it out. You are a sweetheart! I wish you were my grandma's neighbor. My grandma is an absolute gem - just watch out for the occasional backhanded compliment. She has no inner monologue at all.

Before I get into my journal I wanted to also mention what I *just* saw on Channel 4 news (see, I watch your stuff when I can Jerry!). Friends and neighbors, in light of the recent upsurge in "vigilance" that our friends at the City of Buffalo Police Department have been displaying over the course of the past few months I know that this will warm you down to the depths of your souls. Apparently the downtown BPD HQ is completely infested with cockroaches - they are appearing everywhere in the building. I tried to tell you fucking guys! Karma is a boomerang, bitches!

I've been home this past week - not "home" as in being at the office for 40+ hours either. Home as in - take my sweet time waking up, grabbing coffee at Spot, walking to Globe for lunch, doing absolutely nothing that my heart doesn't desire kind of home. While there are times that I do bitch about my job (and who doesn't?) I do have to admit that there is no other job that would allow me to have a week off here and there, non-vacation related. As you might imagine, I'm very grateful because it allows me the opportunity to get centered and back in balance. You all well know that if you don't have the proper work/home/social balance it does damage.

I've mainly been acquiring some new music - I've been focusing mainly on the mid to late 60's, early 70's folk rock. I've also gotten a copy of the new Thom Yorke "don't-call-it-a-solo-album" thanks to somebody who leaked it, the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album and also a megaton of Oasis' backlog.

Anyhow, buh-bye now.

Sorry for the delay - I'm a busy guy. Greetings from New York - today I learned some Chinese and took the longest subway ride EVER. I'm watching Larry King; I want to vomit. My only regret this week is having three opportunities to see a Mets game and not doing it.

1. How did you find out about/why did you become of estrip?

(e:jason) was a member and I watched his participation, then decided that I wanted to. (e:jason) begged me not to because he thought my personality would be too gruff. While at times I am definitely an asshole, (e:jason) cannot sensor me. If he can't, nobody else has a shot in hell at it.

2. How "out" are you about having a publicly accessible online journal. Do your friends know? Does your family know? Do your co-workers know? Does your boss know? Do you use your real name? Do you use your real photo?

Friends know and occasionally lurk around here and read it. I use my real name and photo because I'm not shy about those things.

3. How many epeeps have you met real life?

Several - between 12 and 24 different 'strippers.

4. How has estrip changed the way that you meet people, on and/or off line?

Not in any measurable way. I consider my experience with (e:strip) to be an isolated instance of having met people from an online source. If y'all weren't my former, current or future neighbors (or friends of said neighbors) I probably wouldn't talk to you.

5. How has estrip affected you love life?

Um... not at all. While in general I'm a friendly and gregarious person, there are some things that I'm intensely private about.

6. How many of your friends have joined estrip because of your influence?

None. While I'm an influential person, for some reason my friends prefer MySpace.

7. Are you from Buffalo/do you live in Buffalo?

Not from Buffalo originally, although I'm in my 10th year of residence in the area.

1. What type of hardware or software purchases have you made as a result of using estrip?

Zero.

2. Have you used the mobile version of estrip? Why or why not?

No. Its an interesting concept, but at some point you really have to actually unplug from technology. Technology is great for documenting your life but much of what mobile tech has to offer is too extreme for any kind of mainstream use. I cite the unpopularity of the mobile (e:strip) site as evidence. Communication is good; constantly needing a mobile link to website is simply unhealthy. In the end, people have to use their own discretion with these things - whatever works for you.

1. In what way has estrip changed your Internet surfings habits? Describe the amount of time you spend on estrip, when you use it and about how long?

My participation on this site is more limited than it used to be. I read very few journals and most of my time on this site is spent constructing my posts.

1a. How many journals do you usually read per day?

5-10 per week. No idea how many per day. I usually check out Jason, the PMT love triangle, Ajay, the Ho sisters, and new people.

2. In what ways has estrip changed the way you perceive your local community?

If anything, it confirmed what I already thought about the community. I've always felt at home in the Elmwood Village. There is simply no other place in the Buffalo area that I would agree to live in. Far and away my experiences with my neighbors have been positive and in many ways we are as alike as we are different. I enjoy that aspect a great deal, and (e:strip) is definitely a reflection of that spirit.

3. How has journaling about your life affected the way you spend your free time?

My journal has definitely not affected my free time in any tangible way.

4. Has estrip changed your living situation in any way?

My first reaction to this was "What a stupid question." I then thought about Timika, Jen and Ryan. In other words, not for me.

5. Do you find that you mediate/document more of your experiences now that you share them with others?

Definitely, which is the biggest draw of this site for me.

6. Has publishing on estrip affected the way that write?

Not particularly. This journal gives me the opportunity to write informally, which I appreciate a great deal. However, its no different than how I would write e-mails to friends or dialogue with people I know.

7. Do you have other online journals? If so, with what service and has estrip affected your usage of that journal?

I have a MySpace page. My usage of MySpace hasn't affected my usage of (e:strip) - I keep in contact with old friends through one, and I rant and occasionally espouse my political views with the other.

8. Have you ever gotten in trouble for using estrip at work?

Absolutely not. I do as I please.

9. If you have stopped using estrip, why?

I haven't stopped so this question isn't relevant for me. My participation has waned a bit though, mainly because I'm usually preoccupied.

I wanted to thank (e:ladycroft) for her cake, square thingies and other stuff she gave to Jason and I for our birthday. I meant to go to the square but as usual I was dragging ass and never made it. We went to Hardware and had a great time - I had to leave early because my ride had to be at work in the morning, but I still probably drank more than I needed to.

Timika you are the most thoughtful person I think I've ever met - if I could be 25% as thoughtful as you are I would be a much better person for it. Unfortunately thoughtfulness isn't one of my strong suits, but the least I can do is tell you that I think you are an absolutely beautiful person. Thank you for the gifts! I'm going to share the cake with Jerry.

Today has been an extremely long day. I got up at 5am to shower up and head to the airport for my 7am flight to Providence, RI. I picked up what might be one of the most expensive car rentals ever (if you count per hour anyway) and drove to Fall River, MA. fallrivahmaaaashavahdyahdchowahwhydidyouthrowthesliddietojetah. No shit - you guys know I travel and meet different people from A to Z. The chowd accent is un-in-fucking-telligible. Seriously - I understand broken English spoken by Asians better.

I left work at about 1:45pm, drove back to return the rental and paid $9 to take a shuttle to the Amtrak station. Then I paid $64 for a one-way train trip to Penn Station in NYC. I arrived in NYC at about 8:15pm, took the 1 to the 7 line and went to the hotel. I got to the hotel at about 9:20pm.

I actually kind of enjoyed the subway ride - our usual hotel in Long Island City and the super secret boutique hotel in Manhattan were both booked, and there is hardly any availability in NYC, so I was forced to stay in Flushing, in the shadow of Shea Stadium. It isn't as bad as I thought it might be - the neighborhood is more or less a Chinatown. The Mets were playing tonight, and there was a great view of the full Shea Stadium during the game as we rode past in the subway.

Honestly I am just glad that I am getting a chance to relax. Right now I want to poke my eyes out - the Canes are celebrating winning the Stanley Cup. Nah, I like my eyes - time to watch something else.

I'm not going to time for anything while I'm here, which sucks. Plus, I'm going to miss the US World Cup match against Ghana. (e:jason) you better DVR that shit for me!

First of all, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Al-Zarqawi Day!

Since I'm not staunchly anti-war by any means (there are some problems that can only be solved with a man and a gun) I've previously been falsely accused of making a "cry for death." Up until today that has been completely untrue.

As of right now, guilty as charged. I'm ecstatic, completely thrilled that this animal has been sent to Allah. This sub-human creature has gotten what we have been warning him about all along. This occured yesterday during a joint Iraqi-US raid in Barquba. Laughably, many Democrats are calling this a "stunt" and sprinkling their statements with caveats. My message to them is this - your careers will soon be over if you keep talking like that.

Of course, I've already heard today from various feeble-minded sources suggesting that killing him means nothing and that it won't stop the violence. While the violence may not stop at the moment, anyone that steps into his place now knows for absolute sure what the outcome is going to be - total and complete victory for the good guys. This, of course, is bad news for liberals, who desperately want America to fail simply to put egg on President Bush's face. Classy, baby. I want to believe otherwise but I'm waiting on the evidence that the left loves their country more than they hate the current elected leader.

On to the good stuff -

Before - an amazing view from an F-16



After - rigor mortis baby





Iraqi police celebrate in Barquba



On a lighter note, I realized while going through some old pictures that I had some gems laying around. Check it out -

Coincidence?





Some Jason-themed mancandy -



See you in Allentown this weekend - time to find something relatively cheap with a high kitsch factor for Ye Olde Crib.