I downloaded f.lux for my computer. It's a program that adjusts the color temperature of your computer screen as the time of the day and position of the sun changes. Because blue light prevents melatonin, which helps you fall asleep, from being produced, the program gives your screen a warmer color temperature as it gets darker/later.

Download it here.

I used to have it on my Windows computer but it's much better now. It takes into account your location, the time of day you want to wake up, and generates an graph overlay of the required color temperature on the amount of potential sunlight for the day.



I've already noticed a difference in the past few days in how long it takes me to get ready to sleep. There's even a version for android phones but unfortunately it requires you to be rooted. So I downloaded a similar app called twilight. You have to make sure to turn down the brightness on OLED screens like the Note, otherwise you may get burn in.

An amazingly awesome time with all the peeps. I can't believe how many people we managed to fit on the roof with the solar panels, with no chimney damaging humps. I can't believe we ended up on the roof with the ladder in that state. I can't believe (e:paul), (e:terry), (e:uchina) and I survived after being up til 5:30 the night before.



Even Daniel and Mary showed up!




The feeling of the parade always seems to border on drunk riot.







How's the pizza (e:mike)?
Do you know how expensive pizza is now?!

Up on the rooftop with the panels. It was beautiful and sunny.






On a semi-related note to some of the smokers, thanks for throwing your gross butts on the porch and in the garden. So disgusting. I'm thinking the porch should be smoke free.

Nothing better than some latvian food. Seriously the best food of all my people. We went to Mezza with my family because my brother is home for spring break. Terry and I split a gigantic vegetarian platter with falafel, grape leaves, a fatayer flat bread with spinach on it, fattosh salad and hummus. Healthy piggies.



Afterwards (e:paul) and I napped while we all waited for (e:uchina) to come in for the strange allure rave. It was in this warehouse on Winslow street, by East Ferry and Filmore.

I'm usually not excited for house music but the atmosphere and mood was pretty good Should have listened to you (e:paul) ;). The light show was crazy with flashing LEDs - you never knew where (e:uchina) was until you were touching her head.

We didn't get home sleep until 5:30 despite the parade the next day.

It looks like (e:paul), our coworker Patrick and I are officially business outside of Roswell. We'll be doing custom development work, system integration and IT consulting.

Yeah it's a corny name - hopefully just a placeholder while we find a much better name to DBA.

We're approved for outside activity by RPCI leadership, and (e:terry) has registered us with the state. And we already have two potential jobs lined up!

So much talk for a long time - I can't believe it's actually happening.

Last week the county executive announced that he was going to pursue a ban or tax on plastic bags in Erie county - finally. Sometimes I feel like we live in an open air trash dump with the amount of plastic that blows around - down the street, stuck in trees, clogging up the storm sewers, floating around in the water at canalside. People throw their bags out the window, stores forcing you to take bags for items that don't need it. I know (e:libertad) says his 7-11 makes him put a 6 pack in a plastic bag - WTF, it's already in a container? This is how everyone ends up with a plastic bag full of bags in their house.



I would 100% support an outright ban, if not a tax of $0.50. If they tax it I think all the money should fund a litter pick up program.

I went out to the backyard today and picked up some of the trash that blew in/was thrown over the fence this winter. Just 11 plastic bags alone, plus the usual chip bags, Tim Hortons cups etc. That's not even counting the 5+ bags I pick up a week on our front lawn.



You can email your county legislator and the executive and tell them that you want the study on the ban funded, and a law passed.

If you live in Allentown or anywhere on this map

your legislator is Barbara Miller-Williams at BMW@Erie.gov

Mark Poloncarz can be emailed at countyexecutive@erie.gov

You can find all the rest of the legislators on this page: