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Paul's Journal

paul
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04/14/2007 22:14 #38892

Chicken legs both fried and chocolate
Category: food
First off, there is this hole in the ground behind HSBC on main street near Allen that sees to go nowhere. At first I saw it in the dark and it seemed to go on forever. When I saw it in the light it had an end, sadly as I was hoping it was a portal to fraggle rock.

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On Wednesday night we went out to eat with (e:jenks) and (e:imk2) at Trattoria Aroma on Bryant near elmwood. My artichocke and mussel appetizer was amazing but the risotta was too crunchy (pronounced: undercooked) for me.
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The next morning when I woke up, the Latina's shopping cart that was parked across the street from us at the Lin-nor was parked on our lawn with the garbage bins. Did anyone think that the garbage an was going to take the shopping cart with them. (e:matthew) moved it back across the street. I am all about the new law that would fine stores for their stray shopping carts even though I know it isn't exactly their fault that the shopping carts are such attractive possessions.

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Golombek maintains that stray shopping carts have become a public nuisance and an eyesore, blocking sidewalks and impacting quality of life. He wants to ban abandoned shopping carts, and target enforcement of the proposed new statute at what Montague refers to as "the Source"-that is, the supermarkets which provide carts to customers. Golombek suggests the city ought to impound the offending carts and fine the supermarkets from which they came. In Tuesday's session, Golombek said that between 50 and 100 carts are discarded per week in his district alone. (Though Golombek would not name the principal culprit, he indicated that Wegmans on Amherst has been a "good corporate neighbor." That, of course, leaves Tops.)



The other night after the gym (e:lilho) and I saw this sign which she kept talking about. Look at the date on the billboard for the event at level. I can't believe they still bother lighting it up considering it is over a year old. Isn't it a high value spot being right at the corner of Franklin and Chippewa.

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The weekend started out with an easter basket from my mother that included toxic waste and chocolate chicken legs.

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Toxic waste candy - she knows me well (e:paul,30660)
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Chocolate chicken legs made me want real fried ones.
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That led to a day of grocery shopping with the ho and finally some fried chicken with sausage gravy which really ups the anti for the new fruit fly position (e:paul,38465)
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Here she is before getting ready to go out, the after pictures are going to wait until after.
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chico - 04/15/07 15:41
On the topic of stray shopping carts:
:::link:::

paul - 04/15/07 12:23
I like the idea of a mandatory pickup service you could call - that is a great idea. All the stores could pay a tax to keep it running or they could implement their own cart pickup system. Either way it should create a couple extra jobs. Someone already took the cart away otherwise I would have called Latina's.
metalpeter - 04/15/07 12:03
The thing about the cart law that I don't like is it is another attack on the poor. Ok well at least people with out a car. If you don't have a car and you have multiple people in your house how are you supposed to carry all of that food home. So what do you do, you put 10 bags in the cart and then take them home. Hopefully you secure the cart and take it back the next time you go and keep reusing the same one. I'm guessing the people who leave them only use them the one way, leaving the store. They are also great for moving stuff or maybe even collecting stuff people are throwing away. The point is that they are a great thing for someone who doesn't have a vechile. What I would like to see is phone number on all carts so that if you see one you just call the number and the store comes and picks it up. Maybe you could have a city or county or state wide system where when you leave your message it is also automaticly sent to a government office that way if tops or Latinas or whomever is picking up there carts then they will know and can step in with fines. It isn't all the stores fault and they shouldn't be fined cause someone is taking there carts. But if they are unwilling to pick them up then that is a different story.
carolinian - 04/15/07 00:31
It might not lead to Fraggle Rock, but I wouldn't be surprised if it lead inside John Malkovich's head for a brief period followed by being dumped somewhere in New Jersey. Or Lackawanna.

04/14/2007 11:51 #38883

Morocco and the boom boom
Category: travel
Back in 1997 I spent October in Morocco. Recently, I was saying how I did that at just the right time before it seemed especially scary but the person I was telling said, Morocco is not the middle east. After giving me a cup of mint tea and a cigarette, I remember one of the merchants in marakesh telling me that I had nothing to worry about because they had a law that if someone messed with a tourist, they would be executed. While I thought it sounded quite extreme, I guess I felt safer in a way.

That kind of law means nothing to the kind of people that actually blow themselves up as happened this week in Casablanca.

By JOHN THORNE AP Writer. © 2007 AP. RABAT, Morocco - Two brothers strapped with explosives blew themselves up near an American cultural center in Casablanca Saturday, and police arrested another three suspects - including one wearing ... explosives.



Honestly, I still felt uncomfortable there and wore one of those traditional, hooded, one-piece outfits the whole time. It was dark brown, I was really tan and had a full beard so I blended ok. It's sad to think I would never visit there again, but I really don't think it is worth it.

04/10/2007 18:46 #38839

I still say tear down the terminal
Category: buffalo
We went to dyngus day the Central Terminal. It was kind of a stupid place to be in freezing cold weather and I can't believe it is "safe " - I had figured they had cleaned it up more until I got inside. When I saw asbestos wrapper furnace piping all shredded up in the ceiling of the room that had food I knew it was as craptastic as ever.

I still think they should just knock it down, even though I got a death threat (e:paul,31900) for saying it before (e:paul,31144) . To me it represents one of those absurdities about Buffalo. I am all about preserving history, living in the city, preserving architecture, etc but I think you have to also learn to say when its too far gone. I still cannot believe they let kids in paper masks clean that nasty shit up.

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::Download Flash Video::



Okay, on to other topics.

Like snow in April

::Download Flash Video::



The day before easter, (e:lilho) tried to kill us with a heart attack. This was the second breakfast for the day that came before noon.

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Easter night I tried to punch a hotel in the wall of my office closet to see how much bigger it could be. I want to put a bathroom there this summer so that we can open up the space under the foyer stairs and return it to its free standing glory. That way (e:terry) can have a piano underneith it, but we can still have a bathroom on the first floor.

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(e:lilho) tried to pretend to be Dolly Parton and (e:matthew) took pictures of it, I wish we had a video instead it would have been much more entertaining.
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On the way home rfom lunch today I saw this dolly in the window in one of the closed down shop fronts on main street near Allen. What is up with that building, why are all those store front vacant and why did they leave just this doll in this awkward position and is it black or tan?

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metalpeter - 04/11/07 17:58
I will admit I have never been to the central terminal but I think that it would be a great location to film Movies. It looks like the type of place that when the world end would still be standing. I will admit that I'm not sure how it can be reused but I think it should be reused in some manor.
jenks - 04/11/07 16:31
Ok, must admit I don't know what or where central terminal is (was), but just from those pix it looks like a gorgeous building! Why tear it down??
joshua - 04/11/07 16:11
They just need to find a purpose for the place that would justify such an outlay of money to restore it, although I think that if people are waiting for public money to restore it for the sake of preservation... they better not hold their breath long.
imk2 - 04/11/07 10:48
wait a minute.....you guys were at the terminal too on dyngus day? wtf? we were there...how come i didnt see you? and why didnt you guys come to the other places to party like real polish people do?
uncutsaniflush - 04/10/07 20:59
And I still say that the Central Terminal is wonderful and should be restored.

I think your qualms about the project would be non-issues with better funding.

james - 04/10/07 20:29
As no one has reissued a death threat yet... wait... ya know what. Just be careful opening up your mail. Especially the large ticking boxes.

Capisce?
tina - 04/10/07 20:02
Hey paul! this is really funny, because i 'm having my senior thesis art show at Central terminal this sunday from 2-6 pm and i was just there today to install then i read your journal

but nevertheless you guys should come see me at the show! even though its old and cold there, but it'll be a cool art show!
paul - 04/10/07 19:32
I added your credit. Do you want me to erase them?
matthew - 04/10/07 19:13
You stole the "Dolly Ho" pics I took! and you didn't even credit Me for them. Bastard!

04/08/2007 13:21 #38803

Computers For Children
Category: business
I was just driving by Computers for Children on Delaware on the way to Easter Dinner at my cousins inlaws and saw that it had a "space for rent" sign.

I wonder if that means they closed, or moved or just have some space for rent. Does anyone know?
mrmike - 04/08/07 13:36
They have building space to rent to help pay for the new building

04/08/2007 20:44 #38807

Call For Action Volunteers
Category: volunteer
I saw this online tonight and thought seeing as my mother is the director of Call for Action, I should probably also advertise their call for volunteers here.

Call for Action is seeking volunteers for one day a week commitment from 10 am to 1 pm. Volunteers are especially needed on Monday. Basic computer knowledge is necessary. Call for Action is a non-profit network of consumer hotlines affiliated with local broadcast partners. Contact: Maria Visco at (716) 879-4968



On another note I have no poctures of easter food this year. I forgot to bring my camera ;( I think it is the first holiday I haven't taken pictures of the food in like 5 years. We celebrated at my cousin's inlaws and had traditional polish food, yum.

Is anyone else going out for Dyngus Day tomorrow?
imk2 - 04/08/07 22:08
I think we are going to the central terminal also.
zobar - 04/08/07 21:08
I think one way or another (e:dragonlady7) and I will end up at the Central Terminal tomorrow evening.

- Z