Tinypliny's Journal
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05/01/2009 22:49 #48562
Soldier's GirlCategory: opinion
Hatred - the single word that defines people who cannot see point of views other than their own.
I am not sure why we are still in a society that makes sections of people fight for their right to a life of their choice. When exactly did we decide that we needed to be homogeneous in our preferences? Have we learnt nothing - absolutely nothing from the sheer variety of life around us? Don't we know that the key to life on this planet is diversity - not just superficial skin-deep diversity, but diversity right up to the last single nucleotide in our DNA?
Surely, we are not that brainless? Or are we? Maybe I should stop seeing features that really dehydrate my faith.
04/25/2009 23:08 #48507
Food Inc. Paranoia or the truth?Category: science
I have been thinking about this topic a lot lately. (e:Jason)'s obesity Vs. smoking posts are not really "out there". These two diseases have more parallel atherosclerotic rotten little end-arteries in common than we can ever imagine.
Since its easier to examine oneself than generalize by poking into what a whole population is doing, I am going to be taking a microscope to my eating habits starting today. The idea is to take concepts from nutritional sciences and turn them on their head. Over my own head.
It's very fashionable to make resolutions to eat right. What is eating right, exactly? With the level of additives and ingredients in all kinds of food nowadays, does "eating right" mean the same thing as it did a few decades or even a few years back? Though the definition of "eating right" might have changed, the effect of "eating right" remains the same. The ultimate goal is to reach the peak of the human lifespan on this planet without diseases cutting short your stay or making it miserable in the last few years.
Can we attain this goal with the food that we consume? Is it the food alone or some kind of an additional psychological attitude that contributes to who ends up on what side of the hospital bed? All of them - fascinating questions with almost no definite answers.
tinypliny - 05/01/09 22:41
I agree, (e:metalpeter). It's not a simply assignable blame game. We hold collective responsibility for individual sick habits.
Smoking became "cool" because a nice chunk of our artsy folk played up that image through mass-media. Obesity became an "epidemic" because our societal values and lifestyle requirements have changed radically over the years.
The question is, in the midst of the immense and almost an overwhelming environmental influence on people's behaviour, can individual free will assert its teeny voice? How can we awaken this voice?
I agree, (e:metalpeter). It's not a simply assignable blame game. We hold collective responsibility for individual sick habits.
Smoking became "cool" because a nice chunk of our artsy folk played up that image through mass-media. Obesity became an "epidemic" because our societal values and lifestyle requirements have changed radically over the years.
The question is, in the midst of the immense and almost an overwhelming environmental influence on people's behaviour, can individual free will assert its teeny voice? How can we awaken this voice?
metalpeter - 04/26/09 11:10
I will admit I eat lots of tasty stuff that I know is bad for me. I don't know to much about the stuff they sell in stores. What I will say is this. It seems over time that profit used to be important but that now greed has taken over and that growth % of profit on a yearly basis is what is the most important thing. So if you are KFC the quality of the Chickens don't matter Hey once they are fried up they all taste the same so what if they are deformed and beaten, from their standpoint. In terms of Fast food I think the culture has changed. At one time fast food was like a weekly thing. Maybe you go to the movies and eat out or you go to McDonalds for a Birthday or something. Yes the prices have gone up recently so it isn't as true any more. But fast food was fast and cheap. Hey if "A Mom" is running around taking kids to soccer or some other activity and is running all over the place with different kids she doesn't have the time (or atleast doesn't feel like she does) to try and get everyone all at the table at the same time and make them lunch and then dinner at night also so from one place to another hit up that drive through, or even sit inside and eat and let the kids play in the play land or what ever. I do think fast food has taken off because of society changing and people always being on the move and being more mobile and using cell phones to go meet up with friends and do stuff........
I will admit I eat lots of tasty stuff that I know is bad for me. I don't know to much about the stuff they sell in stores. What I will say is this. It seems over time that profit used to be important but that now greed has taken over and that growth % of profit on a yearly basis is what is the most important thing. So if you are KFC the quality of the Chickens don't matter Hey once they are fried up they all taste the same so what if they are deformed and beaten, from their standpoint. In terms of Fast food I think the culture has changed. At one time fast food was like a weekly thing. Maybe you go to the movies and eat out or you go to McDonalds for a Birthday or something. Yes the prices have gone up recently so it isn't as true any more. But fast food was fast and cheap. Hey if "A Mom" is running around taking kids to soccer or some other activity and is running all over the place with different kids she doesn't have the time (or atleast doesn't feel like she does) to try and get everyone all at the table at the same time and make them lunch and then dinner at night also so from one place to another hit up that drive through, or even sit inside and eat and let the kids play in the play land or what ever. I do think fast food has taken off because of society changing and people always being on the move and being more mobile and using cell phones to go meet up with friends and do stuff........
tinypliny - 04/26/09 08:51
It's easy to see all of this as a huge big conspiracy, throw up our hands and declare that we have been victims of the greed of corporations. Though its completely true that corporations are greedy and have done everything in their power to make profits at our expense, I think we can (and should) flex our puny wills and take a stand by working out ways around their monopoly.
It's easy to see all of this as a huge big conspiracy, throw up our hands and declare that we have been victims of the greed of corporations. Though its completely true that corporations are greedy and have done everything in their power to make profits at our expense, I think we can (and should) flex our puny wills and take a stand by working out ways around their monopoly.
tinypliny - 04/26/09 08:46
That was a very interesting and thought provoking interview. I am not sure that I agree with the claim that the fast food industry is taking away our freedom entirely. I think, as individuals, even through the veil of choices that have been taken away, there still are choices we might make consciously. Not eating fast food, for example, is a choice we can make. Its almost similar to making the choice of not smoking.
That was a very interesting and thought provoking interview. I am not sure that I agree with the claim that the fast food industry is taking away our freedom entirely. I think, as individuals, even through the veil of choices that have been taken away, there still are choices we might make consciously. Not eating fast food, for example, is a choice we can make. Its almost similar to making the choice of not smoking.
heidi - 04/26/09 00:50
I think I'd add in ethical and environmentally sustainable as part of the goal.
Schlosser's book is very good :::link:::
I think I'd add in ethical and environmentally sustainable as part of the goal.
Schlosser's book is very good :::link:::
04/24/2009 21:48 #48495
Buffalo Wings?Category: the odes
tinypliny - 04/25/09 06:01
I know! Nobody wants that sort of fate. :/ That is from the movie "Baraka". Completely awesome, but somewhat disturbing (especially the sections from India).
I don't know why exactly it is that non-Indians have to focus on the negative with almost a compulsive obsession. Tarsem's "The Fall" was inspired by this movie, but thankfully that translated into some of the most beautiful shots ever.
I know! Nobody wants that sort of fate. :/ That is from the movie "Baraka". Completely awesome, but somewhat disturbing (especially the sections from India).
I don't know why exactly it is that non-Indians have to focus on the negative with almost a compulsive obsession. Tarsem's "The Fall" was inspired by this movie, but thankfully that translated into some of the most beautiful shots ever.
04/24/2009 10:35 #48488
Morbid QuestionCategory: flat hunt
Do you ever check if people were murdered or committed suicide in the flat you want to rent? If you find out that a homicide/suicide did happen sometime in the past, in the very flat you are considering, would you back out? Is it odd to scour police records for homicide as a background check for your future flat or home?
I was looking at news reports for the Ambassador building on North Street and found someone had reported a murder in #402 back in 2000-2001. I am speculating about what I might do if I do come across a situation where the flat I am interested in turns out to have a grisly past.
EDIT: I stepped up my flat hunt and posted on craigslist. Does anyone even read the "wanted" section? I wonder...
I was looking at news reports for the Ambassador building on North Street and found someone had reported a murder in #402 back in 2000-2001. I am speculating about what I might do if I do come across a situation where the flat I am interested in turns out to have a grisly past.
EDIT: I stepped up my flat hunt and posted on craigslist. Does anyone even read the "wanted" section? I wonder...
uncutsaniflush - 04/24/09 22:15
I always figured that the longer a place existed, the more likely it was that people died of causes natural or unnatural.
Death is Death. Other than from a safety standpoint - i.e. if the person murdered was in some sort of gang, cartel, or organisation, would the murderer and his/her comrades think I was associated with the viction - or morbid curiousity it doesn't really matter to me how someone may have died.
If I was to worry about stuff like that, I would worry more about disease more than murder.
I always figured that the longer a place existed, the more likely it was that people died of causes natural or unnatural.
Death is Death. Other than from a safety standpoint - i.e. if the person murdered was in some sort of gang, cartel, or organisation, would the murderer and his/her comrades think I was associated with the viction - or morbid curiousity it doesn't really matter to me how someone may have died.
If I was to worry about stuff like that, I would worry more about disease more than murder.
tinypliny - 04/24/09 13:12
@(e:Leetee): Wow, where was this? In Buffalo? Personally, I am fascinated with homicides, intents, causes and circumstance. I mean - what a cool chance to spook everyone out by fabricated horror stories! (not to mention, plenty of blogging material)
@(e:Jason): Yeah, who wouldn't want to hang about in cheerleader locker rooms? According to Hindu myth souls are not touched by trauma. Trauma is a bodily ailment and the minute you are ready to leave, you leave trauma behind. The zombie mortal body might be prone to trauma imprints though. By that argument, maybe you can hang about in cheerleader vicinity in a zombie undead format but not in a soul torture format.
In an odd way, that makes sense, no? :)
@(e:Leetee): Wow, where was this? In Buffalo? Personally, I am fascinated with homicides, intents, causes and circumstance. I mean - what a cool chance to spook everyone out by fabricated horror stories! (not to mention, plenty of blogging material)
@(e:Jason): Yeah, who wouldn't want to hang about in cheerleader locker rooms? According to Hindu myth souls are not touched by trauma. Trauma is a bodily ailment and the minute you are ready to leave, you leave trauma behind. The zombie mortal body might be prone to trauma imprints though. By that argument, maybe you can hang about in cheerleader vicinity in a zombie undead format but not in a soul torture format.
In an odd way, that makes sense, no? :)
leetee - 04/24/09 11:32
I once rented a flat that still had the blood stains in it. The landlord promised to clean it up, and they did. Once all my shit was in the place, i completely forgot about the fact that there was a murder in that room...
I once rented a flat that still had the blood stains in it. The landlord promised to clean it up, and they did. Once all my shit was in the place, i completely forgot about the fact that there was a murder in that room...
jason - 04/24/09 11:29
Diabolical, Tiny. I'd be interested to know how that works out for you. I'm totally BSing here, just go with it hehe, but I would think that if you get offed in your apartment the trauma would bind your soul to the place where it happened. When you get over it someday you can leave. Who knows. If I got murdered and became a ghost I would sit down in a race car during a race, or visit the Dallas Cowboy cheerleader locker room.
Diabolical, Tiny. I'd be interested to know how that works out for you. I'm totally BSing here, just go with it hehe, but I would think that if you get offed in your apartment the trauma would bind your soul to the place where it happened. When you get over it someday you can leave. Who knows. If I got murdered and became a ghost I would sit down in a race car during a race, or visit the Dallas Cowboy cheerleader locker room.
tinypliny - 04/24/09 10:54
Also, why would any ghost want to stay on in cramped quarters when they are free to roam and haunt the finer Victorian mansions in this city?
Also, why would any ghost want to stay on in cramped quarters when they are free to roam and haunt the finer Victorian mansions in this city?
tinypliny - 04/24/09 10:47
Hahaha. That is somehow funny. I was not really thinking about ghosts. (Maybe I should? ;-) I was thinking more along the lines of asking for a rebate in the rent by claiming emotional disturbance due to past shared-space violence.
Now you know about my mercenary and evil streak. LOL
Hahaha. That is somehow funny. I was not really thinking about ghosts. (Maybe I should? ;-) I was thinking more along the lines of asking for a rebate in the rent by claiming emotional disturbance due to past shared-space violence.
Now you know about my mercenary and evil streak. LOL
jason - 04/24/09 10:40
I do think it is a little over the top, Tiny. You don't strike me as a person who is afraid of ghosts.
I do think it is a little over the top, Tiny. You don't strike me as a person who is afraid of ghosts.
04/25/2009 11:44 #48498
Buffalo Craigslist Credit Report ScamCategory: flat hunt
I advertised on the Buffalo Craigslist Apartments/Housing Wanted section yesterday I was somewhat doubtful about getting any results but I got a bunch of emails.
The first wave of emails read:
I thought it was worth a shot so I replied. In some cases I sent a blank email back just to check whether they were even reading my replies. In some replies, I wrote, "No, thanks." Regardless of what I wrote/or didn't write, I got these immediate canned replies from all of them in response to my blank/negative/postive email:
and
The whole lightening speed response thing unnerved me and I sent them an email back saying:
Hi Muirin,
Thanks for your email. My price range is anything less than $570 including all utilities. My current lease ends on Jun 30th. I am required to give my current landlord a 60 day notice before I move. Would you have places ready to move in by last week of June?
I have my current credit report from Equifax. Could you please let me know which office you are affiliated with - before I send you my report. Also, are you in the same office as Shareef Ennes?
Thanks,
TP
I didn't get a reply from any of them.
Later in the day, I got this email:
There were three more emails.
A typical credit report has all your:
- Former and current credit card details
- Last four digits of your SSN
- Your date of birth
- Your full address and past addresses
- Your current credit card balance and balance/payment histories.
Are these people sending anonymous unsigned emails cheeky enough to believe that suckers would send them their credit reports and literally invite them to an identity theft party??! What is this - the Buffalo Craigslist Apartment Wanted version of the big Nigerian I -have-embezzeled-funds-give-me-your-bank-account-number email scam?
There is NO such thing as a free credit report from anyone other than the Federal Trade Commission's single authorized website: www.annualcreditreport.com/ stated clearly here: (which, in turn directs you to three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and Trans Union to request your once a year free credit report)
I did get my current Mayflower flat from craigslist, and no one asked me my credit scores then. Are all these people identity theives? Why would anyone want a credit score from you EVEN BEFORE they show you a flat? If they are Buffalo residents wouldn't their names turn up on the white pages? They are unlisted, anonymous, un-"google-able" and downright dodgy.
The lesson: Avoid the housing/apartment wanted section on Buffalo Craigslist.
I was somewhat doubtful about getting any results but I got a bunch of emails. The first wave of emails read:
From:
Shareef Ennes <eshareeflecontesmills@gmail.com>
Hi do you still need a house?
Muirin Seaver <seaverm3174@gmail.com>
Hey, do you need housing still?
Loviise Blackwood
<blackwoodloviise0523@gmail.com>
Hi, I just saw your CL ad. Do you still need housing?
Greer Rowley <rowleygreergh40@gmail.com>
Hi, I noticed your ad. Are you still looking for a place?
Milena Dodd <mdoddvotaw@gmail.com>
Hello, are you still looking for housing?
jennamasters.masters674 <jennamasters.masters674@gmail.com>
Hey are you still looking for a place to stay?
galegdwn <galegdwn@gmail.com>
Hi there. I was just reading the Craigslist Ads, are you still looking for somewhere to stay?
- That is starting to look like a hundred ways to say the same thing. Heh.
I thought it was worth a shot so I replied. In some cases I sent a blank email back just to check whether they were even reading my replies. In some replies, I wrote, "No, thanks." Regardless of what I wrote/or didn't write, I got these immediate canned replies from all of them in response to my blank/negative/postive email:
Shareef Ennes <eshareeflecontesmills@gmail.com>
Greer Rowley <rowleygreergh40@gmail.com>
Loviise Blackwood <blackwoodloviise0523@gmail.com>
galegdwn <galegdwn@gmail.com>
Hi there, nice to hear from you. Well that's good because I have many places available for you in the area. What's your exact price range? How soon were you looking to move? Before I show you any listings I'd like to get a feel of what you'd qualify for, we can do this by getting your credit score. Our office has a relationship with a credit report company to give our clients free credit reports, if you'd like to get one through our partner go to http:// creditreport365.net/?clientID=232842 or you can get one through your own means, just please get this to me and we can get you into something. I look forward to speaking with you.
and
Muirin Seaver <seaverm3174@gmail.com>
Milena Dodd <mdoddvotaw@gmail.com>
jennamasters.masters674 <jennamasters.masters674@gmail.com>
Hi, thanks for messaging me back. I'm a realtor and have a decent amount of listings in the area in your price range. How soon were you looking to move? Before I show you any listings I'd like to get a feel of what you'd qualify for, we can do this by getting your credit score. Our office has a relationship with a credit report company to give our clients free credit reports, if you'd like to get one through our partner go to http:// creditreport365.net/?clientID=232842 or you can get one through your own means, just please get this to me and we can get you into something. I look forward to talking to you and getting you situated.
The whole lightening speed response thing unnerved me and I sent them an email back saying:
Hi Muirin,
Thanks for your email. My price range is anything less than $570 including all utilities. My current lease ends on Jun 30th. I am required to give my current landlord a 60 day notice before I move. Would you have places ready to move in by last week of June?
I have my current credit report from Equifax. Could you please let me know which office you are affiliated with - before I send you my report. Also, are you in the same office as Shareef Ennes?
Thanks,
TP
I didn't get a reply from any of them.
Later in the day, I got this email:
From:
sun kratzhoefer <sun.kratzhoefer@gmail.com>
Hi
Just saw your advert on craigslist buffalo looking for studio/1 br
late may/early june.
I hope you dotn mind me mailing but I wish someone told me this before, I was looking for an apt for me and my kids in buffalo but kept getting turned down.
My friend told me it was a good idea to get a credit rep'ort done and take that along when you view the appts. This shows them you are serious about renting and puts you aheadof the other people in the list.
Anyway she showed me this site where you can get a fr#ee report done and it worked wonders, me and the kids are happy in our new appt.
If you need to get one done you can get a fr]ee one doen here http:// buffalo.noteunion.com
let me know how you get on.
all the best
Jamie Low
There were three more emails.
One from someone called: Enola Denney <enolax2pr@gmail.com> saying that she had some mystery location flat painted dark blue and if I minded that paint colour. (Also requesting a credit report from: http:// www.credit-report-syndicate.com/gwinodm ) for $3
A mass-email from someone from UB South Campus: Sounded genuine because there was no request for a credit report, just the location, email and telephone number. I am guessing this is a UB student looking to sublet his room in a shared house.
The most genuine email was from a former professor from Canisius who linked to a personal website and replied to each of my requirements. But alas, the flat he is renting out is a block from Niagara St. and quite a hike from Roswell.
A mass-email from someone from UB South Campus: Sounded genuine because there was no request for a credit report, just the location, email and telephone number. I am guessing this is a UB student looking to sublet his room in a shared house.
The most genuine email was from a former professor from Canisius who linked to a personal website and replied to each of my requirements. But alas, the flat he is renting out is a block from Niagara St. and quite a hike from Roswell.
A typical credit report has all your:
- Former and current credit card details
- Last four digits of your SSN
- Your date of birth
- Your full address and past addresses
- Your current credit card balance and balance/payment histories.
Are these people sending anonymous unsigned emails cheeky enough to believe that suckers would send them their credit reports and literally invite them to an identity theft party??! What is this - the Buffalo Craigslist Apartment Wanted version of the big Nigerian I -have-embezzeled-funds-give-me-your-bank-account-number email scam?
There is NO such thing as a free credit report from anyone other than the Federal Trade Commission's single authorized website: www.annualcreditreport.com/ stated clearly here:
(which, in turn directs you to three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and Trans Union to request your once a year free credit report) The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a prominent warning:
The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.
and even a youtube video channel:
I did get my current Mayflower flat from craigslist, and no one asked me my credit scores then. Are all these people identity theives? Why would anyone want a credit score from you EVEN BEFORE they show you a flat? If they are Buffalo residents wouldn't their names turn up on the white pages? They are unlisted, anonymous, un-"google-able" and downright dodgy.
The lesson: Avoid the housing/apartment wanted section on Buffalo Craigslist.
tinypliny - 04/25/09 23:09
You should probably post all their email IDs as well so that it will be easy to google them and define them as the scamsters they all are.
You should probably post all their email IDs as well so that it will be easy to google them and define them as the scamsters they all are.
libertad - 04/25/09 19:16
I have gotten weird scammy emails in responses to ads I have put up on craigslist too.
I have gotten weird scammy emails in responses to ads I have put up on craigslist too.
tinypliny - 04/25/09 13:44
LOL that was HILARIOUS, (e:vincent)!! So true, though.
Another email scammer just mailed me. I am going to add all these scammers and their emails to my blog post. Let's hope people have the sense to google these scamsters.
LOL that was HILARIOUS, (e:vincent)!! So true, though.
Another email scammer just mailed me. I am going to add all these scammers and their emails to my blog post. Let's hope people have the sense to google these scamsters.
paul - 04/25/09 12:53
Wow, what a scam.
Wow, what a scam.
I see this as a result of the acceptability of basing one's morality on disgust.
Really, that's all it is.
First of all I think don't ask don't tell, doesn't work because like the video mentioned how can someone who is being harased come forward. But the other problem is that it causes people to lie, they can't talk about when they get home how they want to go for a nice walk on the beach with their lover or what ever it also means they have to change things in the past. What the military should do is teach people how to work with others. Hey Baptists hate morons and morons hate Jews and the Jews and blacks fight over who have been more persecuted and gay women are angry and hate all the men in the army, this isn't true of everyone but it is true of a lot of people. What the army should do is teach people who would want to kill each other if they were outside of the military how to work as a unit and be merchents of death prepairing for war!!!!!!!!!! That way if someone is gay that isn't a hinderance or distraction.
In terms of your question. You have to think of it this way. To lots of people they don't get why anyone would be gay. They think it is a choice. You hear about people with families coming out and saying they are gay. To them it is all about nasty man on man anal sex. I will admit if women is what you like that is pretty gross. If you start from that point you get the thought process. I don't know what they are thinking but it does seem unatural. Then there is the thought was is someone gay into me? I don't think that way. Then there is that entire faith thing, I won't even touch on that. But to sum up. If you think that a certain act is wrong would you want some one doing that to have the same rights as you? If that same thing is something you don't like, would you want to Hear about it? I can't really speak for people who feel that way you really need to get the answers from them.