The Downfall of Easter Island

When David Suzuki visited Hamilton College at the beginning of the semester, his main focus was on “foresight.” The intelligence and cognitive ability that human’s posses in order to exhibit forward thinking are unique and helpful for the individual and for society. David Suzuki expresses concern that we have lost the ability to use foresight and are on an unsustainable road towards disaster and crisis.

Jared Diamond, in his book Collapse, tries to identify the reason behind the collapse of many societies. One of the societies he looks at is Easter Island. Easter Island’s culture collapsed because they didn’t use, as David Suzuki would say, their “foresight”. Easter Island was a small island inhabited by about 800 South American Indians. For traditional and religious ceremonies, the Eastern Islanders used their resources to construct enormous, impressive statues. The ability to make these statues documents the high functioning level of their society.

Yet the abandon Easter Island was left as a barren landscape with few resources. So why did Easter Island collapse. Diamond has many interconnected reasons for the downfall of this isolated, advanced community. First, the Islanders overexploited their resources. The area was heavily deforested and the ground lay barren and infertile. This overexploitation was the key to their economy. Island economy consisted of deforesting the area to create large statues. However, when faced with these terrible environmental problems, the political order was thrown out and chaos ensued. In the end, instead of saving their resources in the time of the environmental disaster, the people cut down the last tree and made more statues in hope that the religious structures and god would save them. In the end, this over consumption, the very reason their society was successful, caused the Islanders society to disintegrate, “that leaves two main sets of factors behind Easter’s collapse: human environmental impacts, especially deforestation and destruction of bird populations; and the political, social, and religious factors behind the impacts…Easter’s isolation, a focus on statue construction…competition between clans and chiefs driving the erection of bigger statues requiring more wood, rope, and food”.

David Suzuki visited Hamilton College with a message. His warning and the cautionary lessons from Easter Island are strikingly clear. As aware, intelligent individuals in a high functioning society can we employ the “hindsight” of Easter Island’s fate to activate “foresight” and avoid the path to self-destruction or will we deplete our precious resource in order or worship our gods --- ego and materialism?

Hutton films

Last night, we viewed three Hudson River Valley films by Peter Hutton. I was nervous when Scott MacDonald told us that the first two films, “Landscape for Manon” and “Study of a River,” were fifteen minutes each, in black and white, completely silent, and very slow. I did not expect to enjoy them, and so I was surprised when I did. I was enchanted by the changes in light and movement in each carefully framed shot of the films.
Seeing these two films changed how I viewed and experienced the third film we watched, “Time and Tide.” This film is probably much slower than what I am used to seeing on the screen, but with the first two films still in my mind, I felt that we were moving at an almost overwhelming speed. I also appreciated the colors in “Time and Tide” more than I would normally have. I found myself both enjoying the intense and vibrant colors and missing the lack of color which allowed me to just focus on the light and how it changed the landscape. During the third film, I still thought of light and movement, but I also though of point of view. There were, for example, many shots of different ships on the Hudson. Hutton, the camera, and the viewer were at different times on, above, directly next to, far away and higher than, or far away and at the level of these ships. Each shot was a new experience.

Environmental Protection and Growth

In Chapter Nine, “The Great Outdoors”, of The Hudson River Highlands, the author, Frances Dunwell, includes an interesting quote that captures American realizations at the end of the nineteenth century concerning the natural world.

“Americans were bumping up against the reality that there were limits on the Earth’s capacity for renewal and those limits were being reached.”

As this quote indicates, at this time in the Hudson’s history, there was a great social change stirring in America. It was an era of protection – many national parks were created, and environmental groups formed to expand protection to valuable natural treasures like the Palisades and Hudson Highlands. As in the mid-1800s, the era of Romanticism, large numbers of people displayed a great concern for nature. Two movements emerged at the end of the nineteenth century – one pushed for the preservation of wild spaces because of their intrinsic spiritual value, and the other pressed for conservation of natural resources.

Returning to the aforementioned quote, Americans seemed to forget that business expansion had limits as the 1900s moved onward. In the mid-twentieth century, pollution was rampant, and many businesses engaged in what we now know to be environmentally-detrimental practices. In the 1970s and again in the 1990s, however, new laws were passed to further conserve natural resources and preserve the environment. Under the Bush administration, environmental protection has again been loosened so that businesses may grow uninhibited.

I think that most people can agree that business growth is optimal, but such growth does not have to come at the expense of the environment; sustainable growth should be the current target for businesses and communities alike. In this vein, many businesses are today choosing to adopt environmentally-friendly policies that foster business growth. A pro-environment mindset fosters innovation and economic growth in areas yet undiscovered, especially in the realm of alternative energy sources. Despite the insistence of many major oil and coal companies that oil and coal are still in great abundance (which they may or may not be), the fact remains that oil and coal are nonrenewable resources. On the other hand, wind and solar power are potentially limitless, and, as research continues, we may find other energy sources to continue the growth of the American economy, albeit at a sustainable level.

The Domestic and International Balancing Act

The North Fork of the Flathead River begins in Canada, and flows south from there to the United States (Montana, specifically). As this Field & Stream photo essay states, British Columbia's government plans to allow a mining company to dig a massive coalmine along the Canadian portion of the river. The photo essay shows, quite plainly, what the proposed mine would do to the river. As this Washington Post article details, both the Governor of Montana and President Bush have raised serious objections to the mine, expressing fears that mining along the river in Canada would destroy the American stretch of the river as well. A conservation group, the North Fork Preservation Association, has a blog about the conflict that contains yet more information.

The actors in the conflict find themselves forced to answer the two central questions posed in our class today: how can we balance energy needs and environmental protection, and do we need to co-ordinate our environmental protection efforts with other nations?

While the world is still grappling with the former question, the North Fork example provides a particularly clear answer to the latter question. We absolutely need to co-ordinate our conservation efforts with other nations. If Canada opens the Canadian portion of the river to mining, any conservation efforts along the American portion would be shoveling against the tide. That said, the failure of other nations to act is never an excuse for our own inaction. We're a global leader economically and politically. We have an obligation to act as a global environmental leader as well. We're failing to meet that obligation.

China's Environmental Problems

China has directed its policy to achieve both unimpeded economic growth and improved environmental protection. Maintaining economic growth through urbanization and a consumer society is at the expense of the environment. The consequences of ignoring the environment will incur significant social and economic costs in the future. Economic productivity and a high standard of living ethically conflicts with maintaining the delicate balance of the earth. The Chinese government and its citizens must increase environmental awareness and perspective in order to avoid a global environmental crisis.

Today, urbanization, one of the results of China’s rapid economic and industrial growth, is at the root of some of the most complex environmental problems facing China today. China’s population today is 1.3 billion, and is still rapidly expanding. Although China’s population is currently 38% urbanized, it is expected to increase 1.5% annually. It is expected to increase to 50% by 2010. China’s urbanized population is lower compared to developed countries. In 2002, the United States was 77% urbanized. China is currently about twenty years behind the United States in terms of percent of citizens living in urban areas. If China were to urbanize to current U.S. levels, without strict environmental regulation, the negative environmental impact on China and the world would be enormous.

There are two main consequences of urbanization: rapid economic growth and environmental degradation. These two consequences exist in conflict with one another, thus making the solution to China’s environmental problems more complex. In order to stop environmental degradation, economic growth must be slowed. These environmental problems are overwhelmingly problematic not just for China but the world. The dramatic increase in air pollution as a result of rapid industrialization is one of the most prominent environmental problems China facing today.

China accounts for six of the ten most polluted cities in the world as a result of their heavy reliance on coal as a major fuel source. China uses coal, a nonrenewable resource, for producing 75 percent of the country’s energy supply. The inexpensive price of coal does not take into account the external cost of environmental damage. According to recent World Bank estimates, air and water pollution costs China 8-12 percent of their GDP. “Because coal is too cheap and users do not pay these costs themselves, they tend to overuse the energy resources” (Dollar 1).

The coal industry is not the only major contributor to air pollution in China. Industrial polluters release 78.9 percent of China’s SO2 emissions. The discharge of SO2 causes acid rain, which affects the quality of the air as well as the condition of the water supply by increasing Ph levels that can disrupt natural aquatic ecosystems. Acid rain affects thirty percent of China’s total territory and has become a serious environmental problem in the central and the southeastern regions of the country (Acid Rain in China 1). While China possesses technology that can limit the amount of pollution released, these machines are often extremely expensive to install. Machines that are environmentally friendly are costly and could therefore lead to closed factories and loss of jobs, thus stifling economic growth. This blog only discusses the problems with China’s air pollution. China also has water and land pollution issues, just to name a few.

Especially in Beijing, the automobile has become the most desirable consumer product and a symbol of a rising middle class. In 1998 60% of commuters used bikes in Beijing. That number dropped to 20% in 2002. Today, the local government reports that 80% of all registered vehicles in Beijing are on the road every day. As a result of China’s growing economy, the cost of owning a car is less expensive than it has ever been for the average person. Convenience, freedom, and lack of environmental awareness produce some of the worst traffic pollution experienced in the world.

China is not pursuing a more environmentally stable society because it believes that economic growth will help with environmental issues. The influence of technology would allow China to be more environmentally friendly without halting economic growth. China’s mindset is demonstrated by this quotation, “pollute first, pay later”. Many Chinese leaders are faced with an ethical dilemma. They cannot focus on environmental issues when poverty remains eminent, “Poverty and eradication and economy development are still the overriding priorities in China”. To many people it is not possible to justify fighting environmental problems when many Chinese citizens still face dire economic and social burdens.

This blog only skims the surface of Chinas environmental problems. Could the world still exist if China reached the urbanized rate that the United States has today? What is the next step for China?

Acid Rain in China. Industrial Pollution. 28 Oct. 2005.
Dollar, David. "Environmental taxes mean healthier China." CHINAdaily . 25 Oct 2005 .

Hudson River Paradox

The paradox of the Hudson River Valley is its ability to industrialize and modernize while maintaining a strong conservationist and preservationist sentiment among its people. This idea fascinates me and The Hudson reading emphasizes that this is truly embedded in the history of the Hudson River.

We think of the construction of the Erie Canal as one of the greatest and most significant economic developments for the region, its effects rippling beyond New York and impacting both U.S. and world trade. Less intuitively, The Hudson River also provided a challenge to cross its waters and rather than to passively float within them, a not so subtle symbol of human ingenuity triumphing over nature. It was only a matter of time before someone engineered the “biggest” and the “longest” structure in order to allow New Yorkers to free themselves from the constraints of the Mighty Hudson. The early 20th century marked a revolution in transportation by automobile, and with this came the building of the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Holland Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Mid-Hudson Bridge, George Washington Bridge, George Washington Bridge, Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Tappan Zee Bridge, and Varrazano Bridge. The Bear Mountain Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in 1924, and the tunnels were considered engineering marvels. These developments in transportation greatly increased the flow of people from New York City to surrounding areas, revolutionizing the way people lived in the Hudson Valley. Humans and steal conquer the mighty Hudson, but as we know all too well, not without consequences.

The 1960s marked the beginning of the environmental in the Hudson Valley, with the famous Storm King Mountain controversy. A group of concerned citizens were able to win over major corporation Con Edison to preserve Storm King from becoming a mechanism of power production through due process of law. This was a landmark decision. This case has helped to shape environmental policy and set a precedent of people having a say about their environment. There is a paradox within this statement also- the people of the Hudson River, the same ones who encouraged the development, gave power back to nature. One thing is clear from all of this- the Hudson Valley has always been a place where ideas flow freely, and this has supported one of the most progressive areas in the world.

Hudson Ice

Ice harvesting on the Hudson during the 19th century fascinates me because, unlike any other industry I can think of, no groups or individuals in society seem to have been disadvantaged by it. Its beauty was in how perfectly it worked out for so many; as naturalist John Borroughs put it, "No man sows yet many men reap a harvest from the Hudson." Farmers harvested the ice in the late winter when there was a lull in their normally busy lifestyles. They cut ice with an horse-pulled saw; the equipment was cheap given the large volume of ice they could sell, mostly to tenements in New York City. Ice was a commodity that everyone wanted and nature made it available with little investment.

Ice harvesting was different from other resource harvesting in that it didn't have a significant negative impact on the environment. While logging and mining destroy the landscape, pollute groundwater, and take many years to regenerate (if ever), harvesting ice capitalized on a resource that didn't pollute, had little impact on the ecosystem, and renewed itself each year. The concept of working with nature instead of against it is an idea that we should take a lesson from. For example, though we will run out of oil and coal, wind is a resource that will remain bountiful for as long as we can conceive. The cost of fossil fuels will inevitably increase as supply gets smaller; it is in our best interest to invest in wind now because we are sure of its long term availability.

The information in this post about ice harvesting is from "The Hudson" by Tom Lewis.

Wrath of the Hudson

A recent news article I found described the chilling tale of a man, who without the help of a New York firefighter, would have lost his life to the waters of the mighty Hudson. The twenty three year old was spotted just before midnight and luckily was rescued by a John Rizzo of the FDNY. Insured by a harness and rope, Rizzo located the victim and pulled him to safety.
Reading this article revealed to me a more dangerous side of the Hudson that I had failed to recognize. Although many of our readings have described the Hudson as a beautiful wonder of nature, I was reminded by this article of the danger inherrent in natural forces and made me consider the Hudson as something much more sinister. The thought of someone drowning in the Hudson can portray it as a vengeful force waiting to lash out at the beings that threaten its purity. If the Hudson could forgive I wonder if it would ever express these sentiments to mankind after the years of abuse and burden we have forced upon it. Either way the Hudson is a powerful and merciless body of water. I now better appreciate its power and shudder in knowing that it would take a life regardless of an individual's political views or feelings about the river itself.

Port Liberte

Slabsides

Hudson Valley Ruins

The Greatest Irony

The Hudson River has long been considered an essential piece of the puzzle in the establishment of New York as an industrial powerhouse in the late 19th century and earlier. Contributing economically as both a means of transportation and a source of merchandise (i.e. ice harvesting), the Hudson played an important role in the growth of New York City and the subsequent social structure that came to dominate urban society during the late 1800's. The business the Hudson provided stretched far beyond the borders of the state itself, as it indirectly contributed to cotton trade with the South and the shipping of textiles overseas. Yet despite the positive effects of big business on the region and the rest of the country, the rise of industry left a devastating mark on the environment surrounding the Hudson.
During the last few months we've studied numerous aspects of the Hudson from its history to the topographical makeup of the river floor, and yet one irony seems to present itself again and again: The entrepreneurs and opportunists who made a fortune off the services of the Hudson did little to protect their capital. In their haste to make a quick buck, they overlooked the lasting environmental effects their actions would have on the region. As an economics major, I can't help but look at this from an economic standpoint. If a business-owner operated a factory that produced 200 cars a day at maximum efficiency (i.e. maxed out labor force, all machines in use, etc.), wouldn't he do all in his power to make sure his factory continued to operate at maximum efficiency? He would certainly take all the necessary precautions to ensure that his machines didn't break down, that his workers had incentives to continue to produce at their maximum output and so forth. Yet the robber barons who capitalized off the fruit of the Hudson did little to protect it. Now, a number of wealthy businessmen took precautions to protect against certain developments along the coast of the Hudson in regions where they tended to have lavish residences by buying tracts of land to prevent drilling for clay and other forms of scenic destruction. In Tom Lewis' The Hudson, the author describes the ice industry as an extremely profitable, albeit short-lived economic venture, yet the icehouses that operated right on the shores of the Hudson belched out smoke that tainted the surrounding environment. Other industries established along the coast like steel-manufacturing polluted the waters of the Hudson, and in turn decreasing the quality of ice drawn from the Hudson, killing fish and the livestock that fed off them, and damaging the overall efficiency of flora to flourish. Wouldn't it have made more sense for business-owners of the time to take the necessary steps to protect the Hudson so that they could continue to exploit it to it's full potential for years to come? Or was American greed simply so overwhelming that it blinded industrialists who profited off the waters of the Hudson?

Pharma part of post-industrial Hudson?

Indian Point

Should nuclear power be part of a strategy to reduce greenhouse gasses? Click on title for story about nuclear power on the Hudson River.

Robert Fulton

Article notes that in 1860 Albany NY was larger than Washington DC.

Population Change

Counties in the Hudson Valley are among the fastest growing in New York. Population declines continue in some other parts of state. Click on title for story.

More condos?

Pigeons on the Hudson River

Over spring break while lying in bed trying to close my mind off to any Hamilton related content, the last program I expected to see on TV was a segment on pigeon racing in the Hudson Valley. The topic of pigeon breeding spotlighted by Charles Osgood on CBS Sunday Morning shook my prolonged vacation snooze into a wake-up mode. Osgood, with his low, monotone voice often finds the strangest, most unique stories that offer content interesting enough to hold attention, but at the same time totally irrelevant to any useful information for a person’s life. The quirkiness of this segment can be demonstrated by one Hudson Valley pigeon lover’s comments. He compared pigeons to homeless people! Explaining that pigeons, just like any other bird, are beautiful and unique, this advocate of feathered friends claimed that once removed from the streets and cleaned, pigeons join the ranks of attractive, intelligent birds.

The Hudson Valley Pigeon Association offers a program that encourages people to appreciate, protect, race and breed pigeons as a hobby. The Association presents a show every year where people bring the different types of pigeons to be judged and awarded prizes. On their website http://www.pigeonclubsusa.com/hvpa.htm pictures of the varieties and subgroups of pigeons abound. Although pigeons seem like a worthless, unappealing and even annoying bird, in the Hudson River area, these birds are highly esteemed as the center of these hobbyists’ worlds. So next time you see a pigeon, don’t run straight to scare it away, but take in the beauty of these creatures (and if you really want, to give it a bath!)

Hudson River Radio?

While exploring the great invention of Al Gore, the internet, I stumbled upon an fantastic website and resource from another local liberal arts college. http://www.hudsonriver.vassar.edu/Index.html Vassar College had a radio program during 2003 that is described as “[The Episodes] celebrate the nature and culture of the Hudson River from its source in the Adirondacks to its mouth in New York City.”(from the above link) I think that this is a very neat idea. During the first episode Robert Boyle, the author of The Hudson River, was interviewed. Another episode featured an interview with an endanger species expert form the NYSDEC about the bald eagle population along the river. Zebra mussels were featured during another installment. Annea Lockwood the creator of A Sound Map of the Hudson River, was even featured during one chapter. Over the course of the 16 broadcast series many other great topic and speakers were highlighted. Possibly the most valuable items that we could use from this website would be the soundscape that was featured during each of the episodes throughout the series. We could incorporate these songs into our final presentations to add to the audio experience. Another possibility could be the use of some of these interviews that were conducted for the series. Many topics that we have already touched on during class are feature during some point of their broadcast. Everyone sound take a listen to their work. http://www.hudsonriver.vassar.edu/Archives.html is a list of the 16 episodes that aired. You can listen to any of the 16 episodes, each are broken into 2 segments and are commercial free.

If you give a shen a fishing artcle you're going to get a blog about fishing.

Prof. Eismeier's posted article on the opening of striped bass season along the Hudson River and the effect that the ban on the sale of bait fish has had on both fisherman and fishing tackle stores, caused me the need to inform you all about the problem. The reason the sale of live bait is being banned is one that is frightening to many fisherman, viral hemorrhagic septicemia better knows as VHS, not the video tapes, is known to be a fish killer. The New York State Department of Environmental conservation has published an informative report on the spread and outlook for VHS. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/vhsv.html has a signifacant amount of information about VHS as well as more than a dozen external links to provide even more information about this problem. Sapir's article is strictly explaining the problems that fisherman and bait shops are facing in terms of obtaining bait fish to catch the elusive striped bass. The article fails to address the fact the VHS is a disease that will kill many fish species, “Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus is a serious pathogen of fresh and saltwater fish that is causing an emerging disease in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. VHS virus is a rhabdovirus (rod shaped virus) that affects fish of all size and age ranges. It does not pose any threat to human health. VHS can cause hemorrhaging of fish tissue, including internal organs, and can cause the death of infected fish. Once a fish is infected with VHS, there is no known cure. Not all infected fish develop the disease, but they can carry and spread the disease to other fish. VHS has been blamed for fish kills in Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair (MI), Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and Conesus Lake (Western NY). The World Organization of Animal Health has categorized VHS as a transmissible disease with the potential for profound socio-economic consequences. Because of this, they list VHS as a disease that should be reported to the international community as an exceptional epidemiological (study of diseases in large populations) occurrence.”(from the above DEC link) another topic that is omitted from Sapir’s article is the first occurrence of VHS, “In 2005, a very large die-off of freshwater drum in Lake Ontario and a muskellunge kill in Lake St. Clair were linked to VHS, representing the first documentation of the disease in freshwater in the western hemisphere.”(from the above DEC link). The reality of VHS is something that has affected every fisherman in NYS, whether he/she is unable to buy their favorite bait fish or if there home water has been infected with VHS. And perhaps the scariest part is NYS has no idea how to cure the disease…

Preserving Farm Lands in New Paltz

In this article, Duncan writes about an effort by citizens of New Paltz to preserve two historic farms. The Walkill Valley Land Trust and Open Space Institute were able to raise $962,000, enough to keep both farms. These two farms are the last remaining pieces of a once thriving agricultural base surrounding Stone Houses of Huguenot Street in New Paltz. The first of these farms, now owned by the Khosla family, is a community farm operated by about 200 members. The second, the Jewett farm, produces hay and corn, and is preparing to now grow Christmas trees.
Over 400 people donated to the effort to preserve the farms, and last April, a concert titled “Two Farms Benefit Concert” was created as a fundraiser for the cause. The widespread participation by the New Paltz community should serve as an example to other preservation groups. With all of the controversy surrounding development today, particularly along the Hudson River region, many people complain about the overgrowth, but are not willing to join any cause or donate money. The community of New Paltz, along with the Walkill Valley Land Trust and Open Space Institute, believed in the importance of preserving the Khosla and Jewett farms, and saw that they were preserved. Although many people argue that development is the key to economic revitalization, it is possible that having an “old-fashioned” feel could make a community more desirable, and increase property value in that way.

Newburgh Housing Market Not So Hot

From Stables to Chelsea Park

From Railroad Bridge to Walkway Across Hudson

More Koolhaas

Saving Anaconda?

Should this factory in Hastings, which was a major source of pollution, be saved as a relic of industrial past and as a means to block overdevelopment of riverfront? Click on title to see story.

Rediscovery of a Cole Masterpiece

Ginsburg Plan (response to link posted by TJE)

In this article, Ginsburg states that creating an expansive ferry transportation system in the Hudson River Valley would be extremely beneficial for the area. An architect and founder of a development company, he could not be any more correct. The ferry system installed in Hudson County, New Jersey, helped fix up Hoboken, Jersey City, and other cities in the area, turning them from run-down inner city ghettos into trendy neighborhoods appealing to young commuters. The short ferry ride is far more convenient for these commuters than a drive into the city.
Spitzer should seek to develop a ferry system similar to the one Ginsburg is calling for. As Ginsburg writes, it would help in transforming these cities from their industrial past. It would help expand the tourist industry incredibly. People could travel up and down the river, seeing New York City, West Point, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, and numerous other sites, all in one easy trip. This would be far more convenient for tourists than driving up Route 87 and making the same trip.
A complex ferry system would also help raise property values in the cities along the Hudson, as a short, cheap commute to the city would attract many people who now crowd inside the city and inner suburbs. To give evidence of the affect of a ferry system, one can look at Atlantic Highlands Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Once a run down, lower-middle class beach town, Atlantic Highlands experienced an incredible growth shortly after building its ferry system, which allows commuters to reach New York City in about 45 minutes. In 2000, the average residential assessment for the borough was $167,873. This figure jumped to $347,411 in 2004. (www.app.com/legacy/taxmap)
By looking at the success of projects such as the Highlands Ferry, it is evident that a complex ferry system would greatly benefit the Hudson River Valley. Not only would it raise property values and allow workers to commute from further distances, but it would ease traffic and environmental damage by encouraging mass transit. If Spitzer truly seeks to help rebuild the area, an expansive ferry system would be an immense step forward.

A Case for More Piers and Boats

Preserving a 19th Century Suburb?

Governor's Environmental Advocate

ILZ in Rockland

Riverfront Development in Rensselaer

Kayaks or Restaurant?

Rhinecliff Walkway

Most Important Day in American History?

Lighthouse Landing

Politics and Riverfront Development

Stripers

New Use for Old Factory

NYC Under Water?

Suburban Crawl

PCB Dredging In Massachusetts

Radioactive Remains of Cold War

Will 21st Century Erie Canal be a Computer Chip?

Palisades

Quadricentennial

Revival of Troy?

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=570361&category=RENSSELAER&BCCode=&newsdate=3/9/2007

Renaissance of Beacon

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/ENT01/703090302

More on Bacterium and PCBs

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18053498&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6

Hudson Valley Wine Industry

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070308/BUSINESS/703080334

Bacterium Removes PCBs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070307-14183200-bc-us-pcb.xml

Preserving Hudson Landmarks

http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-landmark0307,0,4079306.story?coll=am-local-headlines

Do the people make the place?

For a long time I've debated the timeless question of whether or not it is the people that make the place or the place itself that makes an experience special. It seems that Wendy Bounds, author of "Little Chapel on the River" and Glenn Reynolds, author of "An Army of Davids" have competing views on the issue. Wendy Bounds' book about a riverside bar that earns a special place in her heart after 9/11, seems to argue that it is the place itself that creates a memorable experience. Now Ms. Bounds does remark on the people who frequent the bar, but the overtones of the story tend to suggest that she believes if the bar were closed down and the people relocated, the experience would be lost. I tend to feel that this view is a bit pessimistic. Glenn Reynolds, who believes that mega-bookstores and coffee shops like Starbucks are replacing the general stores and town bars of old, argues that it's really the people that make the place special. As we discussed in class, there is nothing preventing a customer from striking up a conversation with the barista or the cashier. Even though the employees might not live in the community, there's no reason why it should be difficult to establish a friendly relationship. I also believe that if a few good friends have a great time hanging out together in a bar or restaurant and are forced to relocate, they'll still be able to have just as good a time. When I was younger, I went to a sleep-away camp every year in Maine with the same kids for years. I became great friends with many of them as we shared a variety of experiences only summer camp could offer us. But when we were too old to go back, we didn't lose touch. We didn't stop talking to each other or accept that since the place was gone so were our good times. Instead, we sought out new experiences together, made new memories and continued to develop our relationships. While I love the idea of a Guinan's, I'd have to agree with Glenn Reynolds assertion and others who believe that it is the people who make a place special.

Comparisons with Massachusetts

Link below takes you to a report by MassInc about uneven development in Massachusetts-- lots of job growth in Boston, job loss in many other cities. The Hudson Valley and upstate New York face similar challenges.

http://www.massinc.org/index.php?id=216&pub_id=2061

Hudson Valley Hollywood

Aticle from Hudson Valley Magazine. Part of a strategy for a post-industrial Hudson Valley?

http://www.hvmag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=C32038EA3FD54EB99484E0207589561C

New Biography of Washington Irving

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/03/06/reawakening_the_multifaceted_man_behind_rip_van_winkle/

Hudson Valley Vodka

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=569283&category=BUSINESS&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=3/6/2007

Image of Koolhaas Building

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/realestate/04NjZo.html

The 'Third Place'

It is intriguing to look at the audience Glenn Reynolds is writing for in An Army of Davids. He is clearly directing this chapter to the middle class of the United States. While most of the Starbucks, Barnes and Nobles, and Borders are relatively new phenomena, so is the distinction of a middle class. America is the land of the self made businessperson and a beacon for a new start. However, these new stores were created to cater towards the middle class citizens who have the extra capital to relax on their comfy couches, eating and reading the day away. When I looked at the stores he mentions as our new ‘third places’ they are relatively high priced shops.
With a community fostered around high priced retailers you lose the people in the community who do not have the money to purchase items from these stores. Even if Glenn argues that they do not have to buy anything to just ‘hang out’, there is still a pressure from the store to purchase something. I think the reason Guinan’s does so well is that it caters to the entire community no matter their income. Since I am not a resident I know there may be people it does exclude, but from what I read they have a large range in customers. Governor Pataki can come in and sit around chatting with the patrons and think nothing of it; I cannot imagine that happening in a Starbucks.
If the community begins to form in these stores and moves away from the mom and pop shops and bars then I think it will drive a greater rift into our communities. We already have distinctions in the size of our houses, number of cars, and clothing, in a place like Guinan’s we lose those distinctions. “The General” Frederick Osborn and Jim Guinan are clearly from different economic backgrounds, but they can come together and help each other in the name of the small community business. It would be hard to find that same connection with a corporation. I do understand where Reynolds is coming from in his belief that our society is moving towards these new ‘third places’, but I am also worried about what that will mean for divisions in our society.

Hangout

After reading Glenn Reynolds idea of a “hangout spot”, I have to disagree with his ideas. Reynolds talks about the new trend of stores having hangouts. He states, “By becoming a place to hangout, a store can sell both the experience and the goods.” Reading about Guinan’s as this unbelievable bar with a great atmosphere to hang out, how can that even be comparable to sitting in a comfortable chair at Hollister & Co or having a coffee at Borders Books? Guinan’s is a place where the people can come for a friendly atmosphere and talk to great people. It is the intimacy in this bar and community oriented atmosphere that make it such a great hangout. However, the markets do not mix. The idea of a general store is for convenience, not to stay for an elongated visit over a drink. Guinan’s also singles out those who are not of age to consume alcoholic beverages, or those that do not receive pleasure for drinking or engaging in conversations while running errands. Sure one can “hangout” in a department store, but it’s not the same, for some.
Most of the time when one sits in a Hollister, it is to get off your feet after a tiring day of shopping. These types of stores offer a retreat from the current “go, go, go” capitalistic society. Rather, these companies try to re-instill a passion for intellectual stimulation and reading. The ability to sit and browse what catches one’s eye complements the product of these stores. One does not go and sit there to share life stories and converse with others.
Personally, I do not consider these places as hangouts. I consider them an amenity the store provides to get people to simply take a seat from their normally hectic life of running around. In addition, these amenities are offered in hopes of maximizing their profits by making the consumer comfortable. As for myself, I am not one that will sit in a bookstore and tap away at a computer and drink a coffee. I think these amenities are catering to few groups. Reynolds says “But if you become somebody’s hangout, you don’t just sell the suggestion of a kind of lifestyle, you’re selling a particular way of life.” Hanging out at a bar like Guinan’s is a lifestyle for those people. It is the family style atmosphere that provides it; not just the physical manifestations that make up the hangout (chairs and building itself). The people that are present mostly determine a hangout. Thus, I have to disagree that one can find these close primary relationships between consumer and firm at a large department store or bookstore (which is about the individual’s tastes and interests).

NJ Landmark

I've always wondered about the history of this boat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/nyregion/05ferry.html?ref=nyregion

Taking Time to Slow Down

Wendy Bounds, the author of Little Chapel on the River has a way with words. Her story of Guinan’s is artfully crafted so that readers can identify with her experience even if they do not have a Guinan’s of their own in their hometown. Bounds’ book is also a subtle critique on American consumerism and today’s fast-paced society.

In anecdotes at the end of each chapter, Bounds gives readers snippets of information about her own past and wisdom she has learned along the way. Before discovering Guinan’s and the slow-paced town of Garrison, New York, Bounds admits she was living in the future and not concentrating on the present. She writes about feeling “as if a clock were ticking in [her] brain during [her] late teens—as if there would never be enough time to finish all the things I should do professionally”. I think most of us can identify with this viewpoint – there is constant pressure from ourselves, our family, and societal ideals to be thinking about the future and how everything we do (or don’t do) will affect us later in life. Life is becoming more and more structured with less and less free time, and this schedule is starting earlier and earlier. Today, even elementary school students are often overbooked with extracurricular activities, and the pace only increases as time goes on.

It is important to take a step back every so often to “put [our] busy little existence in perspective”, as Bounds says. For Bounds, Guinan’s was able to help her to live in the present and not think about all the things she “should” be doing. I believe it is important for everyone to find that special place where they can free their minds. This place is not be the “third place” that Glenn Reynolds writes about in “An Army of Davids”. The “third place” is where people go to “hang out”, often while working or being connected to society with cell phones, laptops, and other technology, but the place Bounds writes about is a place where one can feel at peace and relaxed.

For me, this place would be Dippikill, a camp run by SUNY Albany in the Adirondack mountains. There are miles of trails, a serene pond, and several cabins, so people can escape to this mountain retreat. When I am at Dippikill, I feel at peace with the world and can appreciate the natural quiet and beauty of my surroundings. Even if I cannot get there often, I take comfort in knowing Dippikill’s existence, just as Bounds takes comfort in the thought of Guinan’s.

Koolhaas

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070305/LIFE/703050372/1005

Bars and Starbucks: Finding Your "Third Place"

The town of Garrison, in the book Little Chapel On The River, seems tiny and old fashion compared to my big Chicago suburb of Wilmette Il. Surrounded by malls, Starbucks, fancy restaurants and even more malls the idea of an old-fashion bar seems almost foreign. Why go to a bar, when you can get a nice bottle of wine and dinner at a luxurious restaurant?

In the article “An Army of David’s” the author Glenn Reynolds discuss this issue of place. Places like the bar in Garrison are unique. Americans are turning more towards Starbucks and Borders to fulfill the “third place” as Reynolds calls it. The Borders hangout “illustrates how capitalism, combined with personal technology [such as laptops and cell phones], can promote community”. Americans need this designated “third place” because there is a “push” to get out of the office and a “pull” that allows people to be productive through technological advancements. The town of Garrison along with crowded Starbucks and Borders demonstrate that people need a common place just to feel part of a community.

Life After the Paper Mill Closes

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=568715&category=REGION&newsdate=3/4/2007

The Hudson River Almanac

I stumbled across The Hudson River Almanac while on the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website. The almanac is comprised of volunteers’ observations about the river and is bound and printed annually. This might be an interesting thing for members of our class to do on our field trip.
Description: “The Hudson River Almanac is a natural history journal that covers the Hudson from the High Peaks of the Adirondacks to New York Harbor. It seeks to capture the spirit, magic, and science of the river by presenting the observations of many individuals who delight in the diversity of nature in the Hudson Valley.”

Website: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/hudson/alm.html

Ice Breaker

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=568723&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=3/4/2007

State of the Hudson Valley Economy

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/BUSINESS/70304003&theme=BANDI2007&template=theme

This link takes you to special report by Poughkeepsie Journal with many articles about various issues.

Commuters

Article shows daily number of commuters. Big increases in places like Beacon and Poughkeepsie are evidence of the spread of suburbia. Others are commuting by car.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070304/NEWS01/703040398

A Night for John

http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/NEWS04/703030346/1234

River Real Estate

The $3.3 million price for this 3 bedroom house is an indication of how the revived Hudson is drawing people back to its shores. So too are the million dollar condos popping up on both sides of the river. Is this trend a good thing?

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070303/LIFESTYLE01/703030306/1067/BUSINESS02

Pimping Out Pier 40?

http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_199/dontpimpoutpier.html

Third Places: Community Lost or Found?

In "An Army of Davids", Glenn Reynolds writes of a revolution he observes in America's "third places." Reynolds outlines Ray Oldenburg's definition of the "third place." He defines the third place as a physical place in the community that is "free or inexpensive", "accessible", "draw[s] enough people to feel social", "foster[s] easy conversation", and serves food and drink. He argues that while America may have lost many local "third places" with the rise of consumerism in the second half of the twentieth century, consumerism has actually produced new “third places” in recent years. Reynolds points to corporations such as Starbucks, Borders, and Hollister Co that design comfortable lounges into their stores that include amenities such as magazines, plush chairs and couches, and food.

Strange as it the idea sounds, in many ways Reynolds may be right. Maybe the new, corporate third places don’t offer the same sense of community as the corner stores that used to dot America. Maybe people don’t often communicate on the same level in the new third places that they used to in corner stores. But still, these new, corporate third places do offer some sense of place and community, and the creation of new third places is a dramatic improvement over the rapid loss of third places.

More importantly, places are what people make them. I spent the summer commuting on the train. My morning commutes were fairly quiet – I didn’t particularly want to be riding a train at 6:30 AM, and I don’t think any of the other passengers did either. However, my evening ride home was usually fairly friendly. Quickly, I found myself the member of a small group that would always sit and talk together during rides. In that regard, although it didn’t serve food, the train home became a sort of third place – a place where the members of the group and I felt comfortable relaxing and engaging in casual conversation. In truth, potential third places are all around. It’s what we make of them that matters.