Comment Archives: stories: News & Opinion: News Blog
Re: “A new CO2 record”
What will I do now? I will shine a harsh spotlight on the staggering hypocrisy of the moonbats and ideologues who whine about CO2 but at the same time delay the inevitable exploitation of our abundant natural gas resources.
This planet is a trivial dust speck whose only significance is as humankind's point of departure into the cosmos. As a concession to the weepy sentimentalists, perhaps we can turn it into nice little museum when we're done with it.
Re: “Beebe will challenge Reilich for Greece supervisor job”
Beebe is a good and honest man. Unfortunately he is a Democrat, which in Greece is code for electoral target practice by the Grand Old Party. There hasn't been a Democratic supervisor in Greece since the Great Depression and there hasn't been a Democrat on the town board in decades. Good luck!
Re: “A new CO2 record”
People, whether they are elected officials or regular citizens, are remembered for both what they do and what they do not do.
When I remember President Ronald Reagan, only one thing comes to mind. When faced with the emerging HIV/AIDS crisis, he did absolutely nothing.
Just recently, the world was presented with information that the concentration of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere had reached a distressing milestone of 400 parts per million. The question I have is this: What will YOU do now?
Honestly, I contemplate environmental issues every single day and ask myself what more I can do to help. And honestly, there is not much more I can personally do. My carbon footprint is small. I have been on a self-imposed gasoline limit of 5 gallons per week for over two years.
But there are bigger questions looming right now that must take into consideration the 400 ppm milestone. In light of this milestone, considering development of new fossil fuel resources is nothing short of insane. President Obama needs to stop Keystone XL and Governor Cuomo needs to ban fracking in NY. Elected officials in general need to stop lying. There is not such thing as clean coal. Natural gas via hydrofracking or other means is not a bridge fuel to the future. Natural gas is a detour around efforts to develop and convert to renewable, sustainable and truly clean energy sources. Natural gas is also a U-turn to old thinking. Gas companies and their spokespeople in elected office repeatedly tell us we are sitting on huge reserves of cheap natural gas and this in turn leads back to thinking Americans have energy to waste.
400 ppm is serious. Elected officials and citizens must take decisive action now and demand even more action be taken by all around the world. How we respond to the news of 400 ppm will decide what type of future Earth will have...or whether we have a future.
Re: “A new CO2 record”
This evening Bill McKibben, founder of climate-change activist group 350.org, spoke at the commencement of UB's College of Architecture and Planning. He told us that he got word that the 400 level was exceeded this afternoon. Needless to say, we were all deeply disturbed by that, but also very moved by his inspiring speech. These students will never forget what they heard today, and I know that all of them will be very cognizant of the implications of their work on the planet.
Re: “Possible delay in controversial University Ave. apartment application”
I'm waiting for someone to tell us why we should trust the Eastman House gang given the way they stiffed the Monroe Voiture vets the last time.
Re: “Wages only part of 'frackonomics' picture”
Oh, okay. The point is that it's a big economic boost in regions that need it, and the only reasons to procrastinate any longer are superstition, hysteria, and mindless ideology.
Re: “School board and Vargas have last-minute budget fight”
The situation that happened at last night's meeting is why I call for a budget that outlines EVERY DOLLAR SPENT BY RCSD. I call for a community effort that will help develop and manager the districts budget. It's not enough for the Board members to question it now (especially in the heat of a democratic endorsement process). These questions should have been raised and reviewed all along with the help of a Community Budget Review Committee; a year-round effort by Board, community members and RCSD staff to find the best programs and best budget possible to give our children the best chance at a quality education in Rochester.
It's implausible that data is not available- it is there but you have not looked at it or recorded it because the Board has never before pressed for you to actually account for the money that is spent. "Small" contracts (under $35K) that are unregulated, and go unaccounted for, yet continue to take dollars away from the classrooms are unnecessary. How can we continue to allow money to be spent money without Board approval, yet there are cuts to programs that are deemed important like summer reading. (Center for Youth budget was slashed over $750K in the proposed budget- yet will still work without the district's support to help prevent "summer slide".)
Our Board members talk about not having "three to four years to turn the corner"... we have given you over 12 years Ms. Powell, and suddenly you're unsatisfied now?! I don't have one more MINUTE to see another dollar wasted on failing students, and failing programs.
Re: “Reading program helps stave off the 'summer slide'”
Yugoboy:
First, thanks for your comment. In answer to the question you pose, no one will like the answer, but money is an issue. Elaine Spaull went and shook the trees so to speak for more financial help this year, which is surprising since the program's coordinators have compiled some good research from the program that's quite supportive. Students from poor households are lucky to have one or two books in the home, while middle class suburban children are frequently provided with hundreds. And children who often don't receive gifts or items in the mail take a special interest in something that is addressed to them personally. It's hard to imagine that something so subtle can have such a big impact.
Tim
Re: “Reading program helps stave off the 'summer slide'”
Finally a reform I can get behind!
Why? It addresses one of the root causes of scholastic inadequacy and targets the fixes where they need to be: students and the families. If we can find a way to get parents on board this could really make a difference.
Will this solve all the problems? No.
If maintained beyond initial thrust, will it have a measurable impact? Probably - IF maintained.
Will it have a longer lasting impact on the people who actually need the help than current "reforms"? Absolutely.
Could a follow-up report possibly let us know how we as individuals can help move this forward to become available to children in all the city schools?
Re: “The D&C by the numbers”
No matter the format, the quality of the news coverage has declined appreciably in the last year plus. That's why I unsubscribed. Very little news left between the ads. Very little local coverage at all. Are there but two or three writers left?
Re: “Court says communities can ban drilling”
It seems humans are prone to losing their common sense. We either do not spend enough time noticing or understanding what is going on around us or we simply let ourselves say it does not matter.
Common sense tells me hydrofracking, when fully explained and understood, could not possibly take place anywhere. Surely, people would just say NO before it had a chance to get started. Fracking uses up millions of gallons of water and injects toxic chemicals into the ground....GAME OVER, right? But wait, there's more. JOBS! Economic prosperity will come to regions of poverty. Employed people spending their wealth means success and growth for businesses. The only loser is Earth.
There are examples besides hydrofracking. Back in 1938 a patent was issued for a new process meant to ensure coal mines shored up with wood could withstand the test of time. Pressure treated lumber was born. It almost makes sense that in the dark, dangerous depths of the coal mine, the combination of arsenic, copper and chomium did not seem much like an added threat. But soon, the toxic poison arsenic made a leap into the light...your new backyard deck, your garden shed, your picnic table and your child's jungle gym were all nearly indestructable and would last an eternity. All this time people knew that the pressure treated wood contained arsenic and no one set off the alarm bells. How could this be? How could we invite a toxic poison into our homes, yards and families?
It is happening again with hydrofracking. Concerned citizens are asking why fracking is being considered in New York. Some did not have the chance to ask this question before fracking was already in their neighborhoods. It seems we truly never learn from history. It seems common sense loses to the power of corporations and the greed of individuals. How many times must we suffer the consequences of our own making? How many times will we acquiesce because we still believe government and corporations are doing the right thing.
Common sense, history and science all say NO to fracking. What do you say?
Re: “The D&C by the numbers”
D&C circulation numbers by themselves, whether for print or digital editions, are in the end uninformative. Let's see some revenue numbers boys. What are your monthly earnings on the print edition over the past five years (realizing that you whacked your loyal print subscribers with a MASSIVE rate hike last year)? What about print edition advertising revenues for the same period? And what were the same numbers for you digital edition for say the past 12 months?
If you’re making more money or at least holding your own then your business plan was apparently correct. If not, maybe it’s time to stop waving around a bunch of useless stats and start re-examining your assumptions.
Re: “Blumenauer talks up investment in bike-pedestrian infrastructure”
I fall somewhere between Toby's pessimistic myopia and Scott's over-achieving optimism. . . but I did get to ride all 12 months this year. I will ride any day it's going to be dry on the ground. Could be 12 or 92 degrees, as long as it's not going to be wet/slushy - I'm pedaling.
There were definitely days this winter when a wider road would have been appreciated by both myself and the car traffic passing me (or trying to).
Re: “Blumenauer talks up investment in bike-pedestrian infrastructure”
Toby, in past years, you were right - I was part of a very small group riding in Rochester in the winter, and I did not do so consistently. However, that is changing - this year I commuted to work and ran errands almost every day on my bicycle, with studded snow tires. More significantly, I saw many cyclists out on the streets along with me. Not thousands, or even hundreds, yet - but dozens.
Rochester is not Portland, as you point out. We are much more like Minneapolis and Boston, two other very active year-round cycle transportation communities, in our winter challenges. (In fact, I would claim that Rochester is between those two cities in winter cycling environment.)
It is true that for Rochester to be a more attractive year-round cycling city some changes will have to be made.
Snow removal on major cycle routes must be done to accommodate bicycles as well as automobiles. Winter storms here result in snow and ice obstructing the parts of the road that cyclists normally use; we are forced then to occupy (legally, I might add) the same narrowed lanes used by automobiles. I really don't mind, but other cyclists may be intimidated, and automobile traffic is certainly slowed by my presence.
Traffic signals will need to be modified to be able to detect bicycles. While it is "feasible" (albeit awkward, inconvenient, and somewhat dangerous) for a cyclist to request a green light at a traffic signal by going onto the sidewalk and pushing the pedestrian cross button in the summer, it is impossible to do so in the winter when access to the pedestrian cross button is obstructed by a 6 foot wide, 4 foot high snowbank.
Bike-specific infrastructure will require winter maintenance. As with sidewalks, bicycle and multi-use paths must be plowed promptly with the intent that they be open when commuters need them.
So far I have avoided the rather cliche proverb, but I'll say it:
There is no such thing as bad cycling weather, only bad cycling gear!
-Scott Wagner
Re: “Local drone protesters arrested”
j.a.m.
Shame on me! Thanks for catching that.
Tim
Re: “Local drone protesters arrested”
"fermenting [sic] even more mistrust and hostility"?!? Oy. So now we have a problem with drunk droning?
"drones are responsible..." Uh, no. Drones don't kill people — people do. Specifically, Prof. B. H. Obama. Don't blame and harass the operators, who selflessly and patriotically do the work we ask them and pay them to do. If you're going to get up in someone's face, then follow the chain of command to Lafayette Park and share your feelings with the commander in chief.
Re: “Local drone protesters arrested”
Can't you journalists ever get over excluding men from being innocent? The article states "Critics say the drones are responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people, including women and children." Is it any worse to kill innocent women and children than innocent men? Are men's lives worth less? Or is it a given that 'innocent people' only means 'men' and you have to emphasize that innocent people can also be women and children? Why not just say "innocent men, women and children'? That should cover it.
Re: “Blumenauer talks up investment in bike-pedestrian infrastructure”
Rochester is NOT Portland. Even though Portland gets planty of rain, and cyclists there don't mind riding in it, they rarely get extremely cold weather or snow - unlike Rochester. Rochester can be a bike-friendly city as long as it's kept in the perspective that people will only ride bikes about half of the year and only in good weather.
Re: “Blumenauer talks up investment in bike-pedestrian infrastructure”
I heartily support any/every effort to get more people out of vehicles and onto their feet/bikes. I do my darndest to bike to work as often as possible. It's good exercise, as well as giving me time to get me head in the right place.
Anybody who's got eyes and has been paying attention is aware of our growing obesity problem. This would help with that also.
Re: “A new CO2 record”
Tom Janowski:
If we can't use oil, or coal, or natural gas, what do you suggest we use for energy, cow flatulence? By the way, that was quite a clumsy attempt at a completely irrelevant and gratuitous criticism of Ronald Reagan.