Saturday we did a little more gardening and trimmed the rose bush way back. I think next year I want to clean up the driveway side and then put a trellis for something creepy. Then the bricks wouldn't soak up so much heat in the summer.

Afterwards we went to "House of Hummus" on Hertel for lunch. It's in the same spot that used to be "Mankeesh and More" and a million other of the same restaurants with different names. I don't know if that's a bad sign but oh well.

The falafel was OK but I really think I like a turkish style better, with cabbage and sauces, lots more vegetable options and the thicker doener bread.

Later at night, (e:terry) went to Squeaky Third Party, and (e:paul) and I went out to bike smut with (e:mike), (e:libertad) and (e:chris). Well, we got to Hot Mama's at ~8:30pm for something that was supposed to start at 9. It didn't start until 10:45(!!). Wtf?

The videos were good but definitely not as amazing as last time. Maybe it was because they were almost entirely lesbian oriented. Anyways we left at the end for The Third Party, I almost wish we had gone to that. The Agway warehouse space was awesome and the music was decent when we got there. Afterwards I hung out with (e:yesthatcasey) for a bit.

Tonight (e:paul) and I went with some of our coworkers to the Beakers and Beers event at coco. I normally hate networking and forced socialization with colleuges but this wasn't too bad. The fact that I got three free beers and unlimited frittes didn't hurt either.

I saw this "Between Two Ferns" video of Hilary Clinton today. It's pretty hilarious. It actually humanized her a little. (I don't actually care if our president is "humanized", I'd rather they be rational. Even robotically so.) (e:terry) discussed why she is criticized for being so robotic or bad at speaking. I wonder if it's just because she doesn't have a more masculine or forceful voice like many politicians.


I also read the fucking ridiculous and disgusting statements by a Trump campaign manager in Ohio. A billion words have been spilled about Trump and his supporters but I wouldn't hesitate to think many think this way.


Kathy Miller says

"I don't think there was any racism until Obama got elected. We never had problems like this. I'm in the real estate industry. There's none. Now, the people with the guns and shootin' up neighborhoods and not being responsible citizens—that's a big change. And I think that's the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America. I think that's all his responsibility. And if you're black, and you haven't been successful in the last 50 years, it's your own fault."
...
"I think you have a real advantage because you had all the advantages—going to college. You had all the advantages because they got into schools without the same grades as a white kid. So I think that when we look at the last 50 years, where are we and why? We have three generations of still having unwed babies, kids that don't go through high school. I mean, when do they take responsibility for how they live? I think it's due time, and I think it's good that Mr. Trump is pointing that out."

I was talking to (e:paul) today about how so many people who were previously just racist beneath the surface are straight up openly racist now. Maybe I just notice it more on the news and reddit, but I don't remember seeing anything like this before. . A lot of it seems to get teased out and encouraged by astroturfing and sockpuppeting from stormfront/other neo-Nazi sites. Makes me want to vomit.

On the day Louis P. Ciminelli gets a day in court to face charges of state briber -

I had to take these pictures. They have a $375 million project and they can't spring for a real garbage and recycle can for their employees and contractors?

Instead they leave a little bucket that overflows on High Street in front of the Langston Hughes building. The rest of the garbage from lunch and breakfast just gets left in the street and blows around for over a year now.

I wrote an email to their PR department, let's see what happens. If they don't answer me within a day or two I'll share this post with them.

On Sunday I tamed some of the out of control garden, like this rose bush. Apparently it's from (e:paul)'s nonna's house?

It reached the second floor. I like the look of the roses when it has them but it's too big. Next target, butterfly bush, after the bees are done with the flowers.



We walked downtown with (e:chris) and (e:mike). Main Street is too busy for (e:mike) now.

First we stopped at the Soda Jerk store in the 500 block. The milkshake I had was pretty good. They also were trying out a loganberry IPA float that was not so good.

On the walk down to Canalside we saw this sign advertising poloroid rental. I didn't even know they made that film anymore.

Jeremy joined us for the Tour de Farms last Saturday.

It poured almost the whole day, but it was warm. Once I got soaked I really didn't care about the rain.

Although I've seen the urban farms 3 times now, and the ride is slow-rolly. I think I'll just skip those for the lunch and end party in the future.

The food on the ride is amazing. Some sort of califlower mash, a purple and green bean potato salad, the best corn on the cob and a tofu burger.

(e:paul) and terry took the bus back with Jeremy, but I rode with some of the other bikers. It rained even harder on the way back.

We rode through Alden into Lancaster, down the heritage trail, down to Como Park Boulevard. Como Park has huge 10 ft bike lanes on each side.

At this point we stopped at Hotel Bellevue. No good beer but a Yuengling was $1.75!

Still pouring but we continued down to Union, where a rail trail took us all the way to William. So now I know you can get to country roads avoiding almost all traffic. I think I rode about 75 miles for the day.