So 23 North is gone for good. The claim according to this Buffalo News article is that a lightning strike did it in. They also day it was *just* about to be redeveloped.

But if if the disqus comments by benfranklin are to be believed:

StrikeNet provides lightning strike data for the insurance industry. The last bolt of lightning in that area, was July 7 at 11:29 PM, with a latitude of 42.90457, longitude -78.87158, which is about 2 tenths of a mile a way. The strike was -19.3 kA, making it a less than average strike.

Stand at the corner of North and Main, and you can see the buildings being demoed near the church, and also this property on North. The property is within a few hundred feet of the Medical Campus. I'm all for them doing what they want with their property, this just seems a bit too convenient, and flies in the face of the facts (facts they probably didn't realize are readily available)

(yeah dubious whatevs), there was no lightning strike at the property. According to the comments StrikeNet, an application used by insurance agents to determine lightning strikes, says the nearest strike was on Summer Street 4 hours earlier. Its easier to avoid the preservation board when the building is half collapsed.

So fuck you First Amherst and fuck your demolition by neglect. I hope lightning burns down your offices.

Maybe if we plant enough in it, it'll start reproducing enough trash to reforest Buffalo.

At work there is a convenience store in the building next door. It's manned by a guy who is completely blind.

I went with Paul yesterday and today for snacks. He knows (or at least I think he does) every price on every item in the store, but you have to tell him what you are buying. You also have to tell him how much money you give him which seems like a gaping hole for scammers, which he puts into a talking cash register.

I want to ask him how he ended up this job but that's probably not PC. Its so strange if its a program match up the visually impaired as cashiers.

The competition kind.

As of yesterday, the 43 North submission ("Docugen") that (e:terry), (e:heidi), (e:yesthatcasey), (e:paul) and I are on together is a semifinalist.

We started with 6,932 applications from 96 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
That got boiled down to 2,603 qualified submissions.
Now, we're excited to announce our 113 semifinalists!

There's a single million buck prize, 6 $500,000 and 4 $250,000. And one of them has to go to a Buffalo idea, which there are about 30 of. It definitely could happen. It's so freaking awesome I can't believe it.

The downside is the second application is due August 15th, and the presentations would be in October. It's summer and we're all supes busy. But how can you pass this opportunity up?

Even if we don't win I think that it made it to the top 100 is a pretty good indication it's a viable idea. Look at us, all entrepreneurial and shiz.

After the taste of Buffalo, (e:Paul) got to show off his new Provincetown shorts.




It was a really amazing day for biking over for swimming. The water has warmed up a lot and is so clean compared to the lake. You're now allowed to swim until 9. I'm really surprised its not more popular.



We may have found a even more deserted quarry to swim in



Paul freaking out about this mole on his head