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Libertad's Journal

libertad
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08/06/2007 16:24 #40411

Land for sale--cheap
They are selling more of the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works (LOOW) Site in the towns of Lewiston and Porter. The LOOW, if you do not know, is the land that the government stole from local farmers during WWII. After this beautiful and fertile land was destroyed from the production of TNT, they secretly began storing and dumping radioactive effluent at the site and later began selling the land. Over the years the US government has continued to lie repeatedly about the land and its use. Lewiston/Porter School District is situated on a portion of the LOOW. Besides the polluted soil, imagine what kind of air those kids are breathing right next door to Chemical Waste Management which was also part of the LOOW site. Maybe now that they want to sell more of the land, we can get even more toxic waste trucked up into our area and they can discharge even more treated effluent into the Niagara and Great Lakes. As the article states the government says the land is fine besides some pesky asbestos. Does anyone really believe that? Sadly I think people do. People are so willing to put 100% trust into the government despite years of deception. There are people that live right next door to toxic and radioactive waste but refuse to think they are in harms way. I talked to one woman with kids who lived next door to the LOOW and refused to believe what I was telling her.

I'm glad the article was published, but how could they not even mention this site's dark past that continues to kill people with cancer? The only thing the article mentions about the LOOW is that it once was a military testing area. What about all the radioactive waste they dumped into marsh area?! If you want to see my original journal with pictures click here:

Nike missile launch site up for auction in Niagara County

Town of Porter parcel advertised on Internet
By Sharon Linstedt
Updated: 08/06/07 8:29 AM


Sam Kolich/Buffalo News
The mothballed site covers 98 acres off Balmer and Porter Center roads.


"For Sale: 98 acres of mostly undeveloped, treed property in rural Niagara County. Amenities include six underground missile silos."

That could be the federal government's ad for an unusual piece of property located in the Town of Porter, which it is auctioning off via the Internet. The U.S. General Services Administration opened online bidding July 12 for the long-idle Youngstown Test Annex, ocated at the corner of Balmer and Porter Center roads.

"It's certainly a different kind of property," said GSA spokeswoman Renee Miscione. "But the federal government sells and disposes of a very wide range of properties. It's everything from office buildings and military residences to post offices, lighthouses and missile sites."

The GSA, which disposes of properties for the federal government, offers the lands and buildings to various levels of government before putting them on the auction block.

The Youngstown Test Annex was originally part of the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works, which included about 7,500 acres across Niagara County used for military testing. The Army acquired the Youngstown Test Annex property in 1955, developing it as a Nike missile launch site.

The Cold War-era defense system was designed to protect major urban areas and strategic assets, such as power plants, from air assaults. The Nike missiles were secured in underground silos, at the ready in case of attack. At the height of the initiative, there were more than 200 installations around the country, including nearly a dozen in Western New York.

The Air Force took title to the Town of Porter location in the mid-1960s, converting it to a Tropospheric Scatter Radar communications network site.

The property, which has remained under military control, was mothballed in 1990.

In its description of the site, the GSA notes the property includes about 45 acres of wetlands. In addition to six missile silos (which are empty and have been welded shut), the parcel also comes with a handful of outbuildings in "various stages of deterioration." The GSA warns potential buyers they could face asbestos-removal issues. However, the government indicates that the site does not contain radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals.

To date, no one has stepped up with the required $100,000 minimum bid.

Miscione noted it took 21 days for the first bid to be registered in last summer's online sale of the Thaddeus J. Dulski federal office building in downtown Buffalo. That 15-story, 470,000-square-foot tower saw a brisk bidding war in the final days of its auction, attracting a winning bid of $6.1 million.

Of the eight former Nike sites sprinkled across Niagara and Erie counties, this is the last one to remain under federal government ownership. While a few are now privately owned, most have found new life as town or village-controlled parks, recreation areas, senior housing or local government offices.

slinstedt@buffnews.com


libertad - 08/07/07 18:40
That's it metalpeter, I'm calling homeland security.
metalpeter - 08/07/07 17:54
This is why I don't understand our government. How can you sell land that has missle silo in it. If I was a terrorist I would buy the land and I'm sure even though they are welded shut that could be reused or retro fitted to shot what I want. If I had the money I might buy it just so no one else would and maybe even do some stuff that wouldn't be considered ethical like have people in Protective suits raise animals on the land and see what happens. Or maybe see if there is any way to reuse the silos in some way.
libertad - 08/07/07 17:19
The link that I provided in the first post is now a dead link. The school district has removed the info from their website, however, they do have a link to the NYS sex offender registry. I suppose they think child molesters are a bigger threat to the children than the toxins? I think it is important not to have an over-reliance on science. Commonsense based on one's personal observations using their senses will tell you that it is unhealthy to be close to the LOOW. Science takes too long to produce results and scientific reports, like I have said before, can only be read by other scientists to be understood. I have seen volumes and volumes of scientific data regarding the LOOW but it is all meaningless, at least to me. I believe that the Lewiston-Porter school should be closed asap. This conclusion is based on how I felt while visiting the area, this includes nausea, numbing of the senses and burning eyes and throat. Tomatoes nor children should be cultivated so close to this contamination (or should I say on top of the contamination?).

There are some statistics collected by NYS's cancer registry that are interesting, but of course don't paint a complete picture especially when dealing with sparsely populated areas. :::link:::

There is nothing specific I am looking for, but any news articles or new information you find I would be interested in. I have copies of articles going back to the early 80's, thanks to the Niagara Public Library.

On another note, I have seen pages of research on how government and private industry use public meetings and public knowledge to actually keep citizens from mobilizing. They learned a lot from Love Canal about what motivates people to take action and have continued to study ways to prevent mobilization ever since. It has been very effective.

I agree with you about getting involved. If you would do it with me, I would picket in front of the school urging them to shut it down. We could dress up in those white radioactive contamination suits. Maybe they have them at a costume store? I think the first day of school would be great. That's when the most parents drive their kids in. I'm not as courageous as that guy in Buffalo that always pickets alone. I think I just read somewhere that they want to expand the school? Maybe it was in (e:zobar)'s Artvoice links, I can't remember. I don't think the reaction would be very positive though. People don't like to hear these things.
theecarey - 08/07/07 12:00
not everyone is trusting and sitting back.

:::link:::


Have to dig for certain ones, but here are numerous reports and articles out there-- but not exclusive to the internet. A lot of this ^^ (RRG) information gets circulated to homes throughout Youngstown and Lewiston (and parts of Ransomville, I think). By law we receive the analysis reports (for water anyways). There are the town meetings, district meetings, and somewhere, there are book publications. Its a messy situation with a long history. As with anything, people need to get involved, stay involved, get educated and question everything, even there own conclusions.

which reminds me, I'm about due to renew my RRG membership.

From the link to your older post, did you ever get a chance to read through the health analysis reports?

Is there anything specific you are looking for?

zobar - 08/06/07 17:49
2007-07-26 :::link:::

2007-08-02 :::link:::

- Z

08/05/2007 22:22 #40395

Self Portraits
image

image

image

image

image

image


Maybe it's weird to take lots of pictures of yourself, but sometimes thats all you have.


lizabeth - 08/13/07 19:55
Heheh - well, I'd say it's not weird, because I take pictures of myself all the time... But the fact that I do it all the time clearly means that it is weird.

But at least you're not the only one. :)
mike - 08/07/07 23:47
muy caliente
chico - 08/06/07 15:35
I like the second one and the fourth one (from the top).
ladycroft - 08/06/07 13:51
i miss you lib :) you're so handsome!

07/31/2007 21:50 #40332

Electric blue wine

image


image
flacidness - 08/01/07 18:21
you actually had me fooled. I was going to ask you where you get the wine from. And try and buy a bottle.
ladycroft - 08/01/07 16:01
I was just going to ask if it was a light from your computer :)
libertad - 08/01/07 12:01
The only thing I know how to do in Photoshop is resize pics. The electric blue light comes from my computer speaker which is directly behind the glass of white wine.
mrmike - 08/01/07 09:27
Hope it doesn't do that after you drink it
tinypliny - 08/01/07 01:01
How did you do that? Is it photoshopped?
james - 07/31/07 23:19
super awesome.

I took a bunch of photos of a glass with a dot of red wine in it. They came out cool, but not nearly as TV static glow creepy awesome as yours did.

:::link:::
mike - 07/31/07 22:44
that's cool looking/i would never want to drink it/i would prolly drink it anyway

08/04/2007 15:30 #40379

Why recycle?
This video is of all these kids telling us why we need to recycle. It is the cutest video ever! There are two people who I think of while watching it. (e:matthew) and (e:mike). Remember when Matthew did the reduce reuse recycle user sound? Of course I think of Matthew when I think of kids but I also think about Mike. He is definitely a kid at heart until he dies. He wants to have kids so much too. I know he will, and they will be the cutest/craziest. He could be my baby's Daddy any day. OOh, my baby's Daddy!





I made an honest mistake in my recycling habits and included dry cleaning bags along with grocery bags for recycling in the "blue bin". Anyways, the recycling people put the entire bag of plastic into the trash bin. The only way I was alerted to this was because I opened the can to see if they had taken it yet. I'm really sad that they would throw it out rather than leave it in the bin so I could see that it isn't recyclable. Wegmans takes back plastic bags so I would have continued to bring it there. Luckily I savaged the bags and will bring them there.




image

My other problem is that I left a cardboard egg carton to be recycled and they left it in the bin. Buffalorecycles.com which is supported by the Mayor, Byron Brown, clearly states that it accepts them. I assumed that they won't take the styrofoam ones, but was shocked that they won't take a cardboard one. So why does there website say that they will recycle them?

Does anyone else have problems with their recycling? I would like to contact the mayor with as much info as possible. Why does Buffalo make recycling so hard when as Joel Giambra clearly states

"Recycling is a matter of importance, not just in Buffalo, but throughout Erie County. Your efforts reduce our reliance on area landfills, which cuts expenses and creates local jobs, and you'll be helping to preserve our beautiful landscape.

Remember that a commitment to our recycling program is a promise made to this region's future. Recycling-it's easy and it's necessary. Together we can make it work.



Buffalo needs more education on recycling. I would love my full-time job to be on community recycling education.
libertad - 08/05/07 15:17
I found a recycling hot-line number that I am going to call with my questions. Their number is 858-6996 and is good for Erie County. I suggest you call them (e:tinypliny). My good friend next door lives in an apt complex and has the exact same problem. This program needs to be accessible to everyone. In addition, everyone needs to know what is recyclable. I do everything, including separating paper and cardboard in separate bins to have my recyclables included, but somehow I still have a problem. I'll update when I get a response from the recycling hotline.

Did anyone watch the video? It's so cute! I'm glad that (e:leetee) hasn't had any problems, but what about the rest of you? I really am curious about Buffalo's program. It seems like it could be so much more successful if everyone knew the details. So many people just get frustrated and give up.

btw. my mother said she brought reusable bags for grocery shopping. That is great, I haven't even done that yet. As soon as I can, I will.
leetee - 08/04/07 23:22
We don't have problems with our recycling. We separate all the paper type things (newspaper, egg cartons, food boxes, scrap papers and doodles) in a paper bag, and then all the other things loose on the other side. i don't think we have ever had anything left in it or thrown into our trash bin.
tinypliny - 08/04/07 18:40
I have a huge problem. My dear building - the Mayflower, doesn't recycle at all. It has 90 odd households and doesn't have a recycle bin!

They have a grey bin right by the elevator in the basement where people put in their newspapers and things which are supposed to be recycled, but an inside source told me that they just have the things put in this grey bin "taken away". I am not sure having it "taken away" by some random agency is equivalent to recycling.

I have been hoarding my recycling for nearly a month now. Paul and many others suggested that I get a bin from the city office and put down the recycling bin near the trash can, on garbage days.

There are two problems in carrying this out.
1. I work the whole week and the office where I am supposed to get the recycle bins isn't open on weekends.
2. If there is no recycling in my bulding - how can I be sure that the contents of the recycling bin I put out will be taken by the recycling chaps? What if its taken away by the garbage chaps? That will defeat the whole purpose. :/

I am somewhat annoyed by the whole non-recycling mentality of my building. I feel so guilty throwing away recycle-able things in the garbage, so I have been collecting them and the corner of my apartment where its all been piling up, looks awful. :/

08/02/2007 16:56 #40358

I ran
Today after leaving the gym on my bike I got hit In the eye by a huge flying bug. I think it actually was a bumble bee. It really hurt like being punched right in the eyeball. I'm used to those gnat like bugs that get stuck in my eyes, but after all the years of biking I have never hit such a big bug and right in the eye ball.


And I ran, I ran so far away.

image



I forgot to mention my thoughts on the Bridge collapse. Isn't that just about one of everyone's worst fears? I think about all the times I go over the Peace Bridge which has been exposed to extreme weather conditions and for many years. Anyways, the worst would be going head first into the raging Niagara. During rush hour too. It would just be hell. I'm probably going to freak out the next time I'm on the bridge, even though there is not much of a chance that I would be on the bridge that one moment it just snaps.
james - 08/05/07 00:22
lol, that is the funniest thing ever Tiny. And after I showed you the Daler Mehndi dance I thought we connected on a pan-cultural level ^_^

Don't worry about it. Flock of Seagulls hasn't been popular since the early 80's. Not much of a cultural reference at all.
tinypliny - 08/03/07 17:52
I just wikie'd them and they are indeed a band. And damn, this was a pop-culture reference all along. And to think, I revealed my deepest darkest secret over a misunderstood culture reference...

Welcome to being from the other side of the pond, some mountain ranges and a cold desert away.
tinypliny - 08/03/07 15:38
Oh wait, is "Flock of Seagulls" some sort of band??
tinypliny - 08/03/07 15:36
I am not sure if (e:James) was serious, but I *actually* enjoy watching seagulls and hearing their weird cries. :) I know its probably a commentary on some part of my life, buy hey, I am not going to take that back. So there!
james - 08/03/07 00:09
If it makes you feel better that bridge passed inspections in 2006 and 2005. So, just put your faith in the randomness of existence and you wont have to worry about anything.

And can I say that I love Flock of Seagulls? LOVE them. It is very sad.
ladycroft - 08/02/07 18:54
yep, everytime i got stuck in traffic crossing into Canada i thought, don't let today be the day this bridge decides to buckle. i don't want to experience that sense of helplessness, ever.
metalpeter - 08/02/07 18:09
You ran and got a picture of one of those birds, um wow. So I guess that means besides the pain you are ok. I terms of the bridge I don't know much about that story. I being a rider and walker have a different take on it. Yes there is the entire car falling in water fear that you have to open the windows and hopefully the open all the way if you go under cause if you open the doors to much water gets in and the car takes you deeper (or so I have heard) and pop off the seat belt and all that crazy shit. But for me the big concern is being under a bridge or crossing when it happens. Cars flying by and the overpass shaking is kinda weird but what if it shakes to much and something snaps.