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Libertad's Journal

libertad
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03/28/2009 23:11 #48224

Grandparents and Earth Hour
My Grandparents came to visit for my Dad's birthday. Mike got to meet them for the first time and he took the photo of all of us. I like this picture of my Grandfather driving. He's 84 now and I am starting to get a little worried about his driving. It's fine now but it seems like it is just slightly off which Mike noticed too. I think he will stop driving when it is time but it must be hard for people to give it up when it comes to it.

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I took my first shots of Hoyt Lake this year yesterday. I'm looking to expand my horizons with photo taking this spring/summer. This also involves expanding my cycling geographical limits. I'm planning on going down to South Buffalo to go to the Botanical Gardens and to making a trip across the Peace Bridge.


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As per my last post, I turned off the lights for an hour this evening. Actually I was late doing it but I still turned everything off for an hour. I'm glad that I didn't let myself get all hung up on the fact that I was late because really it didn't quite matter. I chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for an hour by candle light for the earth. This symbolic gesture I am sure will have an impact on the UN Climate talks that begin tomorrow. It would be awesome if there was similar events targeting vehicles. It would be awesome if we could just have a moments peace from the buzz of all the engines.


mike - 04/03/09 10:55
i'm surprised that picture of your family actually came out really good. I am usually so bad at taking pictures and i get so nervous when they are for other people. i was totally like thinkig "his grandma is gonna hate me for ruining their photo with my terrible skills!"
metalpeter - 03/29/09 13:24
Nice Pictures. I don't know what you have and haven't taken pictures of, but if you go out that way you might want to go to the Basilica also. I'm not sure if you can get pictures inside or not, I'm guessing there is some way to. In terms of the lights out for an hour thing. I get the point, but for most people it seems like a silly idea. Yes it worked for you. Before you bash me here is why. If you turn of the lights then that means you also don't use anything with power other wise what is the point of having 3 TVs going. But since there is no light and no power what are you supposed to do. No TV, NO Phone, No Internet, If you sleep it would last for more then an hour. Do clocks count? How would you know when the hour was over. Since there is no light you can't read. Most people don't have candles. Yes I guess everyone could ponder things for an hour but most people can't do that. I'm glad things went well for you and those who did it, I'm just wondering what other people who did it, wound up doing for that hour.
tinypliny - 03/29/09 10:41
Nice photos. I need to get to Hoyt lake this year. I didn't turn off my lights at the appointed hour but I did sleep for 12 hours to get rid of my sleep deficit (which hopefully is down to a few hours now). I do think global warming is a reality and gestures such as these will go a long way in improving overall knowledge. However, unless we change our car culture and realize that the future is safer with public transport, we will not get anywhere. :/

03/27/2009 18:39 #48215

Earth Hour 09
Tomorrow at 8:30 people around the globe will be turning off their lights for one hour in order to vote for action to be taken against global climate change.

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VOTE EARTH
YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world's first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote - Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you're from, but instead, what planet you're from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.



Interestingly enough there is at least one grumpy old man in PA that intends on counter-protesting and getting people to turn on all of their lights. He believes that global warming is false science.
james - 03/27/09 19:36
Last week, the city council passed legislation to participate this year and every year. I don't think the mayor has seen it yet though...

03/25/2009 13:59 #48198

Netty Petty adventures
I know I have raved about the netty pot before but I have a new experience with it. For some reason I have been very congested. Not sure if it is lingering from the cold I had or if it is allergies or what. This morning I gave it a try thinking that I wouldn't even be able to get the solution to flow through my sinuses as I was so clogged but it worked! After flushing through one time with the pot all of this stuff came right out all at once. It was the best feeling ever. I want to do it again tonight.

I lifted this pic off of flickr.


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03/23/2009 13:25 #48164

Vomit worthy
So (e:mike) and I went out to eat yesterday at a certain BBQ place and I got a tenderloin tip sandwich. It tasted kinda funny but I thought it was all the oil in it. Then I ended up pulling out this huge piece of melted plastic out of my mouth. It was so freaking gross. It was saran wrap that had been toasted and was all melted into the cheese. I was very polite about it and they gave me another sandwich and didn't charge me but needless to say I didn't enjoy my meal and probably won't go back.


On another note Nelnet, my student loan provider, sucks. I just got this notice that I am no longer going to get reminder emails from them. It's OK in that I always remember anyways to send it but this is just so shady.


Coming Soon: You will receive your Nelnet statements and correspondence through "My Secure Messages," Nelnet's new convenient and secure online message center. Stay tuned for more details!




libertad - 09/29/10 21:09
I still have never gone back to this restaurant and Nelnet is shadier than ever.
tinypliny - 03/23/09 21:42
Oh, that's awful. I don't like Saran wraps.
jbeatty - 03/23/09 20:31
That is really awful. I have to tell you there is nothing more embarrassing as a waiter than having to apologize profusely for such a preventable circumstance. In most cases I would have to say it was a freak accident. Then again I have seen plenty of stoned kitchen staff over the years.
libertad - 03/23/09 20:19
I couldn't decide either so I left it out. If anyone has arguments as to why I should say which restaurant it is I would consider. I'm hoping it was just a freak thing and they did rectify the situation so I didn't want to say something bad about them.
chico - 03/23/09 16:57
I can't decide whether it is charitable and fair of you to withhold the name/location of said restaurant, or whether your viewing public has a right to know...

03/20/2009 22:40 #48142

Allergies are back
My allergies are so bad all of a sudden. They haven't been this bad in a long long time. Years actually. I looked it up and there is a pollen alert for our area. It appears I have trouble with Maple trees. My allergies I thought I was growing out of but now they seem to be coming back and now earlier in the year. I used to get allergies in June and had trouble when it gets really hot out. We shall see this year.


Local Pollen Alert for Buffalo, NY
Tomorrow's Forecast Levels
Type     Level
Tree     High
Type: Maple
Grass     None
Weed     None

High pollen levels affect most people who suffer from seasonal allergies. Symptoms may intensify on high-pollen days.
For a list of all the U.S. locations forecast to have high pollen, visit the Pollen Hot Spots page.




paul - 03/21/09 13:19
I am super allergic to maple according to my allery profile but I'm not having any yet. I saw the thing about the pollen count online but I don't get how when there are no flowers yet. I think tree mold is big this time of year too.