It's awful.

May 16

our vegas trip was fun

We stayed at the NY NY hotel which I had pricelined for about $100/night (regularly about $160 but you can probably get it for $100/night on discount frequently without using priceline). I was a bit disappointed to get the NY NY to be honest, the last time we stayed at the Venetian which I had liked fairly well and I was hoping to get something higher end, like maybe the Bellagio or Mirage. On our last trip we had walked through the NY NY so I knew it was in a good spot at least, with access to some of the other nearby hotels. 

I actually ended up liking the NY NY way more than I thought I would. The room was decent but not huge, but the bed was nice and the linens on the bed were nice. The room was a good size. The bathroom was about 1/3rd the size of the one at the Venetian but nice enough. The shower was amazing, tons of water pressure. The faucets were weird and you could turn them either direction to get the water on, then kind of balance it in the middle to shut them off. The NY NY has a nice arcade we played in often, and the casino is fairly small (compared to the Venetian, imo) but it didn’t really feel like it was missing anything. You can also take the pedestrian bridge right from NY NY to MGM or Excalibur/Luxor, which is nice if you want to go to a different casino (they are all part of the same group I think though). I would definitely stay at the NY NY again but I’ll probably priceline our next hotel because I do like trying different hotels.

We ate at 2 pizza places at the NY NY, the one upstairs is definitely better as they heat up your slice instead of giving you a display piece. The pizza is really good, we had gotten a slice on our last trip. We went to the pinball hall of fame for a few hours and had memphis bbq at an off-strip place. Our friends had rented a car and one of my friends went to school there and is really familiar with Vegas so it was nice to get away from the strip a bit. We ate at the burger bar and nine fine irishmen, also at chin chin on our last day. We did the roller coaster at NY NY and I hated it so much, I guess I have developed quite a fear of them, I wasn’t too worried before we did it, but as soon as we started climbing the first slope panic took hold. I think I will never go on one again. It was so scary to drop so much and go upside down, etc. I know some people love roller coasters but not me. I have never had a problem with other kinds of rides. Lesson learned I guess!

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This morning somebody rang the doorbell while I was sleeping - as I stumbled to put on a robe they apparently decided I wasn’t moving fast enough and started loudly pounding on the door. By the time I got there the person had left and was at the end of the walk, with his back towards me, so he didn’t notice that I had opened the door. An anti-muslim and anti-gay brochure fell out of the door when I opened it. 

So this is actually pretty common, but man I don’t know you and I don’t want to, why do strangers think it is appropriate to start pounding on my front door and expect someone to answer it and be nice? I only decided to go to the door because I thought it might be my landlord stopping by. He has a right to expect me to answer, I guess, and maybe my friends do (though if you were really my friend you would know how much I hate pop-ins without a call first), and the police MAYBE, but strangers handing out hateful brochures, you don’t get to just pound on my door and expect me to be happy to see you.

I’m a bit worried for after we move, because the new front door has a lot of leaded glass in it - our current front door has a big window which I have covered up so no one can see inside, but that’s not really possible with the new house. (which we signed the lease for yesterday!!)

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May 15

we found a place to live!

We’re moving to a 3br/2.5ba condo/townhouse in Erie! So excited, it’s super nice inside.

gastrogirl: sour cream rice bake.

gastrogirl:

sour cream rice bake.

thedailywhat: Lunchtime Links: Today on The Daily What Geek: An MIT grad student has invented a real-life Mario Kart Elsewhere on the Internets: Crazy: True Blood season 5, as evidenced by a new trailer Over: Ron Paul’s campaign for the GOP nomination… sort of Scrambling: JPMorgan, after a $2 billion loss on a risky bet Fined: 117 Fort Lee, NJ, residents, under a new law that prohibits texting and walking Rebutted: The Obama camp’s new campaign targeting Romney on the economy, by the GOP Lectured: The women of Barnard, by Obama, at their commencement today Screwed: People on the kidney transplant list, since many Americans are now too fat to donate Recognized: Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, by the state of Rhode Island Lunchtime Leisure: Live Forever!Lunchtime List: The 7 Most Awkward Mark Zuckerberg Moments [image: corgieseverywhere]

thedailywhat:

Lunchtime Links:

Today on The Daily What Geek: An MIT grad student has invented a real-life Mario Kart

Elsewhere on the Internets:

Lunchtime Leisure: Live Forever!
Lunchtime List: The 7 Most Awkward Mark Zuckerberg Moments

[image: corgieseverywhere]

“The press still thinks [global warming] is controversial. So they find the 1% of the scientists and put them up as if they’re 50% of the research results. You in the public would have no idea that this is basically a done deal and that we’re on to other problems, because the journalists are trying to give it a 50/50 story. It’s not a 50/50 story. It’s not. Period.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson, podcast interview (via dionthesocialist)

(Source: wiredforlight, via mmmm-brains)

babetron: newwavefeminism: cognitivedissonance: kymm-seabiscuit: I’ve been seeing this image pop up now for awhile and it irritates the shit out of me. I’ve never received food stamps, but this image is just stupid for a few reasons: 1. The iPhone. A pretty nice phone and it can be pretty expensive. However, it is a one-time purchase. Some people get them at pretty low cost for renewing a contract. AT&T sold 3GS models for $50. (I’m not sure if they still are.) Secondhand iPhones can be purchased for dirt cheap via craigslist. Monthly contract prices vary with the type of plan you have, but it can also be reduced to a fairly reasonable price. Finally, the iPhone could have been purchased prior to a food stamp recipient having the need to use food stamps. But did you think of any of that? No, because you’re too busy thinking of ways to fucking judge people. As an addendum, I’ve heard people say that the poor “shouldn’t even have a cell phone.” Are you fucking kidding me? How is an unemployed or underemployed person supposed TO FIND A  JOB WITHOUT A PHONE? 2. Multiple tattoos. Again, one-time cost for tattoos. Could have been done before a person lost their job. Maybe it was a gift. But no, poor people shouldn’t have tattoos, piercings, or nice clothes. The clothes weren’t mentioned here, but that’s another stupid thing people say. I have a pretty nice closet of clothes I’ve built up over the last six years (since I stopped dressing grunge shortly after high school). Purchased a little bit at a time. So if you see someone wearing a decent outfit using food stamps maybe you should keep that in mind. Also, one can find pretty nice clothes at Goodwill for really, really cheap. I’ve found sweaters that would normally retail for $40 for $2. 3. Seriously, a mani and pedi? I had that done for my brother’s wedding last summer and it cost less than $20. Granted, I didn’t go to the most fabulous salon, but…really…you’re going to bitch about that?In conclusion, fuck you for judging someone when you don’t know what circumstances led to their need for assistance. I’m sure there are people out there that abuse the system, but you don’t fucking know that just because they’re wearing a nice sweater. May you never have the misfortune of losing your job and not knowing how you’re going to make rent or feed yourself. and the reagan legacy of the demonization of the symbolic welfare queen lives on! The fact of the matter is, the majority of the American poor population is on welfare and it is no secrete the abuse that they subject that system too. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/25/us/20090126-welfare-table.html - Here are some recent rates of individuals on food stamps. The numbers are astronomical. I am not against those who cannot sustain themselves because they’ve lost their jobs, however I can be against those who abuse the system and this photo easily demonstrates the abuse of the system. 1. An iPhone is one of the highest costing phones on the market. Not just in the “one time” cost that this above individual argues for, however, all iPhone providers require a data plan…one that allows for internet browsing and messaging. As one who has recently been apart of the job searching market….you don’t need internet browsing nor messages on your phone in order to receive information about possible jobs. With that being said, do not even begin to entertain the idea that there are not cheaper phones than an iPhone available in order to help you get a job. 2. I’m not arguing that poor people should not or or not allowed to have tattoos however if you’re struggling month to month and are unable to buy groceries to feed your family, yet your paying a “one time fee” for a fucking tattoo…let this please serve as a public service announcement….your abusing the system that is in place for those who are conning the government for money. My boyfriend and I can spend around 300 bucks a month for groceries, however we buy a lot of organic foods and this amount can obviously be avoided in buying less organic or no organic at all. A tattoo can range from anywhere between 100 bucks or so and more….so what this original poster is telling me is that it’s okay to skip a months worth of food for your family just so you can get some fucking ink on your arm?! Wow….nice priorities….please don’t procreate. On the point about clothing…I totally agree. I find some banging shit at the Good Will and I’ve personally never heard anyone complaining about the attire of individuals being on welfare. Finally, 3. Twenty bucks may not go very far these days, but I do know that it can at least provide  for probably three children a day in terms of food. Less if the child is special needs or requires some kind of special attention. Please do not forget that a lot of children who come from families on welfare are in fact special needs whether it be because they suffer from genetic diseases, birth defects, or learning disabilities. Wasting money on a manicure or pedicure devalues a child’s importance in your life when one is on welfare. You need to put your priorities in check if this is the type of shit your pulling.  Also, boom. Additionally, please for the love of the Gods, educate yourselves.  Actually the point is that you don’t know how that person got the iPhone - maybe they bought it when they had a job, maybe it was a gift, maybe their parents even cover the monthly bill. You don’t need the internet on your phone to get a job - this assumes that you have internet access somewhere else. The fact is that most people do need the internet, and they do need a phone. Maybe they got tattoos when they were employed - the OP never says, skip paying for your groceries so that you can get tattoos. 

babetron:

newwavefeminism:

cognitivedissonance:

kymm-seabiscuit:

I’ve been seeing this image pop up now for awhile and it irritates the shit out of me. I’ve never received food stamps, but this image is just stupid for a few reasons:

1. The iPhone. A pretty nice phone and it can be pretty expensive. However, it is a one-time purchase. Some people get them at pretty low cost for renewing a contract. AT&T sold 3GS models for $50. (I’m not sure if they still are.) Secondhand iPhones can be purchased for dirt cheap via craigslist. Monthly contract prices vary with the type of plan you have, but it can also be reduced to a fairly reasonable price. Finally, the iPhone could have been purchased prior to a food stamp recipient having the need to use food stamps. But did you think of any of that? No, because you’re too busy thinking of ways to fucking judge people. As an addendum, I’ve heard people say that the poor “shouldn’t even have a cell phone.” Are you fucking kidding me? How is an unemployed or underemployed person supposed TO FIND A  JOB WITHOUT A PHONE?

2. Multiple tattoos. Again, one-time cost for tattoos. Could have been done before a person lost their job. Maybe it was a gift. But no, poor people shouldn’t have tattoos, piercings, or nice clothes. The clothes weren’t mentioned here, but that’s another stupid thing people say. I have a pretty nice closet of clothes I’ve built up over the last six years (since I stopped dressing grunge shortly after high school). Purchased a little bit at a time. So if you see someone wearing a decent outfit using food stamps maybe you should keep that in mind. Also, one can find pretty nice clothes at Goodwill for really, really cheap. I’ve found sweaters that would normally retail for $40 for $2.

3. Seriously, a mani and pedi? I had that done for my brother’s wedding last summer and it cost less than $20. Granted, I didn’t go to the most fabulous salon, but…really…you’re going to bitch about that?

In conclusion, fuck you for judging someone when you don’t know what circumstances led to their need for assistance. I’m sure there are people out there that abuse the system, but you don’t fucking know that just because they’re wearing a nice sweater. May you never have the misfortune of losing your job and not knowing how you’re going to make rent or feed yourself.

and the reagan legacy of the demonization of the symbolic welfare queen lives on!

The fact of the matter is, the majority of the American poor population is on welfare and it is no secrete the abuse that they subject that system too. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/25/us/20090126-welfare-table.html - Here are some recent rates of individuals on food stamps. The numbers are astronomical. I am not against those who cannot sustain themselves because they’ve lost their jobs, however I can be against those who abuse the system and this photo easily demonstrates the abuse of the system. 1. An iPhone is one of the highest costing phones on the market. Not just in the “one time” cost that this above individual argues for, however, all iPhone providers require a data plan…one that allows for internet browsing and messaging. As one who has recently been apart of the job searching market….you don’t need internet browsing nor messages on your phone in order to receive information about possible jobs. With that being said, do not even begin to entertain the idea that there are not cheaper phones than an iPhone available in order to help you get a job. 2. I’m not arguing that poor people should not or or not allowed to have tattoos however if you’re struggling month to month and are unable to buy groceries to feed your family, yet your paying a “one time fee” for a fucking tattoo…let this please serve as a public service announcement….your abusing the system that is in place for those who are conning the government for money. My boyfriend and I can spend around 300 bucks a month for groceries, however we buy a lot of organic foods and this amount can obviously be avoided in buying less organic or no organic at all. A tattoo can range from anywhere between 100 bucks or so and more….so what this original poster is telling me is that it’s okay to skip a months worth of food for your family just so you can get some fucking ink on your arm?! Wow….nice priorities….please don’t procreate. On the point about clothing…I totally agree. I find some banging shit at the Good Will and I’ve personally never heard anyone complaining about the attire of individuals being on welfare. Finally, 3. Twenty bucks may not go very far these days, but I do know that it can at least provide  for probably three children a day in terms of food. Less if the child is special needs or requires some kind of special attention. Please do not forget that a lot of children who come from families on welfare are in fact special needs whether it be because they suffer from genetic diseases, birth defects, or learning disabilities. Wasting money on a manicure or pedicure devalues a child’s importance in your life when one is on welfare. You need to put your priorities in check if this is the type of shit your pulling. 

Also, boom. Additionally, please for the love of the Gods, educate yourselves. 

Actually the point is that you don’t know how that person got the iPhone - maybe they bought it when they had a job, maybe it was a gift, maybe their parents even cover the monthly bill. You don’t need the internet on your phone to get a job - this assumes that you have internet access somewhere else. The fact is that most people do need the internet, and they do need a phone. Maybe they got tattoos when they were employed - the OP never says, skip paying for your groceries so that you can get tattoos. 

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