Journaling on estrip is easy and free. sign up here

Libertad's Journal

libertad
My Podcast Link

05/21/2008 21:03 #44412

Shortwave radio
I just started searching for short wave radio stations with my new radio and the second station I found is a Cuban station. I love it. I think I need an even better radio to pick up the stations more clearly.

Does anyone know of any shortwave stations I can pick up?

Right now they are talking about the centenarios. Those that who have lived to be a 100 in Cuba. La mayoria las mujeres. The majority women. The station keeps on fading in and out. Now I know why people become addicted to this.

Now I am very sad that I can't return back to Cuba. I do think I will be there again before I die. I truly feel sad that I can't go again and live there for another 4 months. It has been three years this August. The program I went with is no longer running through the University at Buffalo and now it is even harder to go.

This shortwave radio is totally freaky.







jason - 05/22/08 14:47
China Radio International has some interesting programming. Yeah, The US and Cuba both have propaganda stations yelling back and forth, and that is fairly amusing.

I don't know how often this list is updated, but I found a list here: :::link:::

Hope it is helpful! Enjoy! I would like to buy a better radio.
libertad - 05/22/08 14:13
I got a Grundig Yacht Boy. I love it so far. I'm much more into radio programming and am bored by the TV. It is expensive though for a radio, but I think worth it.
tinypliny - 05/21/08 22:08
What kind of radio did you get? My $5 radio broke down finally (after serving for 2 long years). I think I want one that can at least get the classical station! I had to do some crazy circus contortions with the antenna for the $5 radio to catch the classical station even faintly. It was a loser radio.
libertad - 05/21/08 21:32
Raul has done some good things since taking power. Now it is time for us to respond in a manner opposite of what we have been doing since Castro. Clearly, it doesn't work.

james - 05/21/08 21:27
Really?

I hope Raul has a cache of houseboys then.
libertad - 05/21/08 21:24
Yup, I heard about that. They say that Raul himself is gay, except nobody really says it. So I just realized that I am listening to Radio Martí. They are totally US propaganda and Havana blocks the signal.
james - 05/21/08 21:21
The times they are a changin' I am sure you will be there again.

Did you hear about Raul's daughter? She has been campaigning for GLBT rights in Cuba. Dick Cheney's daughter should take cues from this classy gal.

05/17/2008 16:04 #44376

Paper or Plastic?
So actually I don't want either of those, but every time I go to Wegmans the cashiers do not understand this concept. When I give them my cloth bags they wrap things up in plastic bags that they don't think should touch the food. For example, my non-toxic cleaning supplies they insist on doing this with. Also, if I happen to need a bag because I have more stuff than cloth bags I sometimes ask for paper because it is a good thing to use in the recycling bin to separate everything. What they will do is put the paper bag in plastic. Do they think I am just trying to be trendy with my Lexington Co-Op bags or something, because I can assure you I am not enjoying walking around advertising anything. Why don't they seem to understand the point? Seriously, this last cashier seemed put off when I had to insist that I didn't want the plastic bags. I already feel so much pressure to put all my veggies and stuff in plastic bags because they can't handle it when there isn't a bar code on them.

So anyways, I have cut down my plastic use quite a bit, but still have a lot of room for improvement. IF anyone has seen a plate and silverware set that comes in a neat little carrying case let me know where I can find one. I would love to bring it in to work to use in place of Styrofoam.


tinypliny - 05/18/08 21:31
I think I have brought home around 10 plastic bags the whole of this year, starting January. I have some solutions that I follow religiously:

1. Take your own cart. Wheel it right in front of you, after you unload the groceries. Just let the cashier know that you don't want ANY bags. Instead of bagging stuff, they usually just place it in the cart.

2. Take small brown paper bags with you for the veggies and fruits. Put them in the paper bags you take, instead of the plastic bags they have on the rolls. Label them with the bar code. That will make the checkout faster and the cashiers won't be bothered by the fact that you have your own paper bags.

3. I think even taking a plastic/Glass/ceramic lunch box would be fine in the cafeteria. You can just hold it out and tell them to serve the food in it. I did this with my plate last week, and they were quite okay with the idea. Pop the plate/box into a simple plastic/cloth/paper bag and wash it whenever you get the chance.
james - 05/18/08 17:38
I wish they charged people 5 cents per plastic bag. That way people would just buy their own, and get pissed as hell at the cashier who wraps every damn thing in them.
jenks - 05/18/08 14:37
I was in wegman's the other day and they had a sign about the NEW "hippo" plastic bags they're getting, and this big explanation of why they are better than paper. (take up less space --> less shipping costs, stronger, less costly/polluting to produce, recyclable, etc.)
makes me wonder.
I guess paper is 'better'- but personally i can't stand my groceries in paper bags. And I shop so rarely I always have WAY too much for plastic. But, I reuse my plastic bags, at least.
metalpeter - 05/18/08 09:57
Based on what you just wrote I called the store and talked to a cashier who said that they like Canvas bags but when they see ones from stores that aren't Their's that upsets them so that is why they do the plastic thing (dude I'm fucking with you of course just messing around). Seriously I'm not a cashier or bagger so I'm not sure why they really do it but I have 2 ideas.
1) If a paper bag gets wet from snow or rain or something leaks then they break and you lose everything.
2) I think it is a carrying thing. Paper bags with out handle are tough to carry most people can only do two but if you slide it into plastic you can carry more of them
3)routine I think they get into a routine and being asked to break that is tough
janelle - 05/17/08 17:21
Go to EMS or Dicks Sporting Goods or any place that carries camping equipment and you ought to be able to find a "mess kit" that will be like a couple of tin plates with a fork and spoon inside and a little clamp with a screw that hold it all together.

05/11/2008 16:14 #44309

Cleaning products
This mop is hard for me to get because they are for businesses. I plan on making a trip to get one for myself since I will have hard wood floors. Does anyone want one? The last one I got was about $30. It could be the last mop you ever buy. The pad is machine washable. I have been using one every week and machine washing it and it is still is in very good condition. Best for wood floors or smooth tile. I never used it on linoleum. If you want one just let me know and I will give it to you at the price I pay.

image

image

image

These are electromagnetic dust rags. They are $2.50 each last I knew. They are the best I have seen elsewhere. They are great for smooth surfaces and can even be used with method window cleaner for mirrors. Leaves no lint behind. These are exceptionally durable and I use them all the time. They pick up so much dust, but are best when washed frequently.

image

image


Also, I if you wanted a scrub brush with wooden handle those are great too. It is in the second picture. Those are probably about $4.


mike - 05/16/08 10:58
shipping, handling and don't forget a processing and check cashing fee. A boys gotta make his money!
libertad - 05/14/08 13:59
Oh did I forget to mention my shipping and handling charge ;) I am planning on going on Friday. I'm really hoping that I don't have any problems with this. It is always such a hassle, but worth it.
paul - 05/13/08 21:41
I want one of the mops. Wow, at cost - you bf would charge shipping and handling and I am his brother, lol.

05/09/2008 22:44 #44291

Fish Frenzy
On May 6th I went to Hoyt Lake and witnessed a fish frenzy. It kind of freaks me out a bit. Has anyone ever seen this before? it looks as if he water was boiling.

image


image


image




Look at how much algae there is. If these fish are here to say they are certainly going to die. When the algae bloom dies and all this extra bacteria are eating up all the oxygen everything will die.


image

I love all the different colors.

image

So this crane was trying to take advantage of the situation but didn't have much luck.


image





This frenzy occurred on both sides of the lake. I tried to find the goldfish I had seen previously, but was unable to find them. They were really kind of gross looking. I have never ever seen fish like them. They seemed like a disease or something.



paul - 05/10/08 11:13
That is totally freaky but smehow makes me hungry. If only they were doing that in wasabi/soy or tartar sauce.
tinypliny - 05/09/08 23:20
Wow. Maybe those fishes are actually robotic? In the crane video you posted, at around 0:39-0:40 seconds, you can see one streaking past the legs of the crane and the sound is of a car/motorcycle going by!

Or maybe someone dumped some dead pet/animal carcass/human body there, and the fish were just there to feast on the carcass. hey, don't give me that look. I am just saying, it's a possible explanation. Fish are known to actively eat carcasses.

05/02/2008 22:45 #44220

H. Potter

image
fellyconnelly - 05/10/08 07:28
he needs spectacles. Please put spectacles on him!
libertad - 05/04/08 15:41
I don't know if there is anything to get tiny. That is his name and his owner is a harry potter fan. she actually is going to a potter convention in texas soon. I don't read harry potter but I actually think it is a good name for him. he looks harrypotteresque.
tinypliny - 05/04/08 09:15
Okay, I don't get it (do people have to be Harry Potter fans to be able to? I am not.)