An Open Letter to Mayor Bill Martin of Greenfield, Massachusetts

Mr Mayor:

I used to be from town, and was always VERY much in favor of development of the industrial park, favored WalMart, Target, BJ's Gas station plan, Retail rezoning, development of land west of Home Depot, development of land west of Staples, favored the use of the Mackin Land for retail, and (generally) could not stand the tactics, the tone, and the attitude of those few who seemed to know better than anyone else about what was better for Greenfield.

You know those folks. They're the ones currently engaged in putting up "Biomass? No Thanks!" signs everywhere.

This time, I think they're right.

I thought the biomass plant was a good idea. A 'renewable' energy resource! Sounds great! Electric generation! Tax Revenue! All good!

Then, I did some research.

• A wood burning plant needs tons of wood to keep going. EVERY DAY it literally needs TONS of wood. No, I'm not worried about air pollution -- the EPA is pretty good at regulating that. I think. However, where's all that wood going to come from? When Cersosimo gets more for wood chips than for milled wood, how long do you think their mills will stay open? (They're not, by the way -- they've got one mill still operating, and have moved everything else to a wood-chip process.)
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• What will that level of forest harvesting do to the regions forests? What will we see in erosion, loss of natural habitats, landscapes? And (selfishly) what will that do to the supply (and cost!) of firewood that I need for my winter heat?
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• The use of the town's wastewater treatment plant to process the cooling water is foolish. If the plant dumps contaminants (such as oil-based solvents, cleaners, or fuel) through that pipeline, back to the plant, how long would the wastewater facility be shut down by the EPA for a cleanup? To be blunt, how long can the town cross its legs and hold it? How long can suburban Greenfield survive without a waste-treatment facility?
• The dumping of heated, sterilized water back into our rivers could forever corrupt the biology of the Green and Connecticut rivers. Temperature variation of only a few degrees could cause irrevocable harm to local wildlife, both in and around the river.
• The use of chlorine to treat that water, ALSO going into the rivers is a frightening prospect. Worse yet: Putting it into the groundwater? Thank you, but no.
• Absent the town-water supply, the plans call for cooling water being drawn directly from the aquifer in enormous quantities. That could not only change the water table, corrupting and/or disabling countless private wells, but also change the output of local springs, change the levels of brooks and streams, and further damage an already strained ecosystem.

Mr. Mayor, to my untrained mind, the risks that this project present, in exchange for a measly 1.5 Megawatts is TOO much for TOO little.

Mike Perry, former VP of Yankee Candle, once told me, "Don't ever complain to me about a problem without bringing a possible solution to the table."

Well, I learned well. Here's one possible solution: Consider putting out an RFP for a solar or wind power plant instead. Where? The roughly 10-acre capped landfill.

Let's run the numbers:

• A solar array, covering only half of those 10 acres would produce an average of 116,000kw per day, with no 'sightline' views, no exhaust component, no sound or light pollution, and one hell of a PR benefit. An RFP for such an array would surely bring in a few takers. And, yes, there would be jobs created.
• You could also put out an RFP for a series of electric-generating windmills, also placed on the capped landfill. No, not those huge towers that no one wants, but a series of several smaller ones (17-20-foot diameter blades, towers staggered in height between 20 and 40 feet, 1.5kw - 3kw generators on each, each costing about $20,000 to build (tower included), and generating a total output of at least 160,000 kw per day.
• Or, try this: Do both in the same space -- it's possible, given proper design, and it's practical: At night, in cold cloudy weather, there's most likely wind to drive the windmills. In warm still weather, there's often sun to drive the solar array. On a warm sunny day with a breeze, you have a conservative output of about 280kw (enough energy for 100 homes) per day (and probably more) -- with NO exhaust, very little noise... and no political backlash.

No, it's not the 1.5 MW promised by the biomass plant. However, You wouldn't be using up industrial land. You wouldn't be using town water resources. You wouldn't risk the health of the local aquifers. You wouldn't risk the quality of our air. You wouldn't be fighting with people -- nearly everyone agrees that solar is a good idea, and wind (without the 180 foot towers) could be a benefit.

And before you ask, yes, you can design solar and wind facilities that would rest, anchored, on the surface of the capped landfill, without disturbing the encapsulation of the landfill itself.

Would it take some work? Yes. Would it take some engineering? Probably a lot less than a five-mile long underground water pipe, I'm sure. But it can be done. And it's the smarter choice.

Be bold. Be a leader. Blaze a new path, instead of just saying 'yes' to a corporate money-making scheme, lead the way to a better future for Greenfield -- as well as the entire region.

With respect,

Douglas Finn

Wendell, Mass.

Diversity As A Strength

A link on Facebook led me to this article. I just finished the thing. I'm stunned.

I don't disagree with the concept of 'diversity' being overused, being cliche, or being outdated. That's like saying "Fairness? That's so yesterday", or "due-process? that's so last century..."

Her assumption that diversity as a negative in the US Military is, generally, wrong.

Her commentary is divisive: describing a suburb of L.A. as a third-world country? Well, Ms. Coulter, how about Detroit? or New Orleans? or Harlem? There's a lot of black people living in rundown neighborhoods in those places; are they 'third-worlds', too.

Her quote of General George Casey is incomplete, and out of context:

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's program "This Week", the question was raised that, while there is a definite need for muslims in the military right now, perhaps some examination of those muslims who volunteer to serve might be in order, based on recent events....

GS: "...this is not the first case we've seen of fratricide by someone with a Muslim background in the military. How do you deal with this challenge?"

Gen Casey: "I think that is something you need to be very careful about, and I think that speculation could potentially heighten backlash against some of our muslim soldiers; and what happened at Ft. Hood was a tragedy, but I believe that it would be an even greater tragedy if our diversity becomes a casualty here, and it's not just about Muslims; we have a very diverse Army, we have a very diverse society; and that gives us all strength; so we need to be very careful about that."

General Casey goes on to talk about the need to re-examine Army policies on the mental health of the force, and to look at ways to work with members of the military to deal with mental illness, shellshock (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for all you liberals out there), and other conditions suffered by some of the military.

As an independent thinker, I concur with Gen. Casey. I agree with his comments. His love for those he commands is evident, and I support whatever actions he sees fit to take.

- - -

The heart of her article, Ms. Coulter denounces the choice of a civilian trial for an individual who planned an act of mass murder.

I agree. Stunned?

However, I believe that a war crimes court - preferably one outside of this country, governed by international law, overseen by a multi-national judge and jury - to be more appropriate, not a military trial where silence, secrecy and closed doors are de rigor.

Ms. Coulter berates the fact that a civilian trial would grant the defendant the right to representation, the right to face your accuser, the right to examine the evidence against you, and several other Constitutional rights that we US Citizens enjoy, and take for granted. Many of these rights would also be granted in a war-crimes tribunal.

The accused should and, in my opinion, MUST be granted these rights. Without an open, deliberate process, without those rights and processes, the entire thing devolves into a show-trial, a drumhead, a presentation on MSNBC brought to you by Cheverolet and Tampax, and the outcome will forever be suspect, regardless of the strength of the evidence presented.

The only objection to allowing this process, and granting those rights, are people who believe that the case against the individual would not hold up to public scrutiny.

(A related note: the lunacy of assuming New York to be a fair venue for that trial should be self-evident to anyone with half a brain. What was Obama thinking?)

In the end: Ms. Coulter's article demonstrates a journalistic simplicity, colored by a divisive political and social philosophy. Ms Coulter has shown us, through her article, an underlying negativism (at best) of muslims, particularly those who live in this country, and require her to judge people based on their individual merits, instead of their ethnic heritage -- which is the underlying through behind the celebration of 'diversity' espoused by that hated faction of our nation, those, those, 'liberals'

Finally: The fact that Ms. Coulter's vitriol is published in the "Jewish World Review" is appalling. The fact that they printed it is telling of that particular organization. I pray to God that her opinion, or their decision to publish it, is not representative of the broader Jewish community in this country. If it is, then the promise of Lady Liberty, indeed the promise of all of America has "jumped the shark", and the true message of Ms. Coulter's much berated 'liberals', those insane Americans who continue to extol the virtues of diversity, is needed now, more than ever.

A member on Facebook, also a Mason, recently invited me to become a member of what he called the "Conservative Old Guard". Somehow he thought I'd be interested. The invitiation read:

"Are you a Conservative? Are you tired of being branded with labels like "Nazi" and "Fascist" just because you believe in Freedom, Tradition, and Patriotism? This group is YOUR group!"

I almost posted -- then thought better of -- this response:

Just remember: Conservative is defined as "one who conserves"...

"Conserve:

-- To protect from loss or harm; preserve: "calls to conserve our national heritage in the face of bewildering change."

-- To use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste: kept the thermostat lower to conserve energy.

-- To keep (a quantity) constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary changes.

Most self-labelled 'conservatives' of the past hundred years, in this country, and around the world, have done little to no true conservation of old ways, old traditions, but have shown gross neglect, have wasted valuable social and economic resources, have changed entire political and social systems in order to meet their personal goals, and have espoused isolationism and fear.

And, neither nazis nor fascists are labelled as such, simply because they believe in Freedom, Tradition or Patriotism. They're labelled Nazis because they believe in the primacy of the Aryan race, and they're labelled fascists because they believe in the justice of a dictatorial system, or the restriction of civil liberties

This individual then stated (in their blog) that a man should strive for honor, for only through its attainment would he command the respect of his neighbor.

My response: Honor?

It is not "honor" for which a person should strive, for such a pursuit is selfish and without any social impact. Service should be our goal -- to promote the goodness of our our fellow citizens, to share in their passions, to extol their happiness, to console their miseries, to restore peace to their troubled minds.

HUMILITY, and SELFLESSNESS, not "honor", should be our only aim. Through selfless contribution to our neighbors, and our society, we become worthy of the honor - and respect - of others.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

MV Trip, Final

TAUNTON, 10:18 AM Monday -

First leg of the trip home worked out; but Friendly's failed me -- their WiFi is down! Will ask the waitress if she can help.

Figured out how to get from 28 to 44; want to check to see if there's a different way home other than through Worcester -- but, to do that, I need WiFi! Rats! Will continue to check...

Passed by just the kind of place that I hope to find for lunch -- an old 'worcester' diner, like Miss Flo's before the renovations;

A nice ride so far, but I've not hit the lunch crowds; I hope to be west of Worcester before 2 or 3 today, just to avoid the after-school crap, and the end-of-shift drive home.

The bike is running well; will gas up at the Hess next door before hauling out on the road again. The butt really HURTS! Maybe will look at a wider, or broader saddle, or check to see if there's any other way to put my weight somewhere other than on the back / bottom of my hipbones. Hope to do a lot of work on the bike this winter -- will talk to Jonathan about some custom paint, airbrush designs and the like; will also look into the rest of the parts that I want / need to put on the bike - crash bars, fog-lights, floorboards, forward pegs, heel-toe shifter, the works. Did I mention a new leather jacket?

Have to price it all out, and then figure out where to get the cash. We'll see...

Heading off from here, back onto 44 west, looking for 140 north, then 122 north / west. Whee!

More soon...

(Posted from the road, delayed upload to log).

LATER THAT DAY...

Home again, home again.

Took 44, west, found 140 North. Stopped in Grafton to look at a map, but couldn't find a Wifi hotspot. Went to the library, and they had public access computers. Yeah! A quick look at Google Earth, and I decided to take 140 North to Route 9, then cut over to Route 122 from there. Saved a LOT of heartache in the long run, and I still made it through Worcester without too much trouble. An hour or so later, and I was back on home turf, crusing through Orange and Erving.

Home now, and tired. Laundry, some cleanup here, then relaxing!

MV Trip, Part 4

Not sure where I left off.

Sunday was a nice quiet thing; slept in (to almost 7:30!), raining like crazy, and that continued to 9:30 PM or so.

We had a fabulous breakfast of cubano sandwiches, courtesy of Janice's kitchen, then lounged for a while. Bek left at about 11:30 (I dropped her off at the ferry, round then, at least); from there on in, the afternoon was without incident.

Then, it was football. It was interesting watching this sunday afternoon ritual in Brown House. Pats, mostly; but a lot of switching channels to see what was going on with other games. One channel, in particular: "The Red Zone", only broadcasts during football season, and only from 2 to 7 PM; it exist solely to replay (or play live) the exciting moments of any given football game -- the plays made in the 'red zone'. Interest idea -- a televised version of the sports page, only in real life.

Anyway; Football for most of the afternoon, so I watched the pats with Janice and Jeremiah, then retired to catch up on e-mail and watch a few movies that I had on the laptop. One was Battlefield Earth -- it was, in fact, as bad as they made it out to be -- but not really. I wish there was more to it, and a lot less John Travolta; That was, I think, the failure of the film -- putting a name star in the role of the villian. It would have been better to have no-name villians, and no-name heroes; then develop the heroes so that I actually CARED about what they were doing. I really didnt'. The rest of the film would have carried it.

The next was "Wing Commander" -- a film based on a video-game before video games became popular film material. I fell asleep about midway through it;

Slept fitfully through the night. Couldn't get comfortable. Will be grateful for home, and my own bed.

Got up this morning by 6:30 (thank you, free Alarm Clock applet!) and showered. Caught Jeremiah as he rushed out the door, was able to get a smooch from Janice as she also headed to work. Then, it was back to the boat.

The bike slipped on the wet road, then a second time. Freaked me out! Couldn't figure it out. Might have been a spot of grease somewhere, but it freaked me out. Will take it slow until I get onto open dry roads.

On the boat, hoping for WiFi, but no luck. Not sure if it's just not on, or what. rats.

A CRYSTAL clear day today.... Picture time... Tried to take a couple of pictures, but no real luck. Maybe I'll head up top.

Anyway. Route 28, to 44, to 140 to 122, then Route 2 home. Again, the slow roads, but I like 'em better.

MV Trip, Part 3

Did a lot of riding yesterday. Had a blast, and ate more than I should.

Bek got here at about 6 or so, with Gabe Coogan (they met up on the boat). We then had a fine graze for dinner, and a lot to drink. Too much, I think.

Woke up LATE this morning. Well, woke up several times, between 5 AM and 9 AM, but stayed in bed until about 9:30. Slowly got up, wandered up to Biga (or what is now where Biga was), and had a coffee and a bagel. Then, a bike ride with Jeremiah to the airport diner for lunch -- again, ate too much (is there a recurring theme, here?)

Now, thinking about a nap, while waiting for folks to arrive this afternoon / evening. Going to be a long fun night but have all day tomorrow to rest and recover. RAIN like crazy predicted for sunday -- looks like I'll be waiting until Monday Morning to head home. I still plan to take my time, relax, and take some back roads.

The Trip to MV, Part 2

Where was I last?

Well, I got turned around at the end of Route 140. I was supposed to catch route 28, but that never happened. Route 140 ended in New Bedford, and I was 20 miles off target.

A quick stop to check googlemaps, (thanks, Friendly's, for the free WiFi!), and I was back on the road. Route 6 East to 28, and then 28 to the island.

Got caught in what I thought was going to be a bit of rain, but it was a false alarm.

The ride across the Bourne Bridge was something. For those of you who have never ridden a motorcycle, it's just the best of all worlds -- breaking out of the 'frame' of the automobile windshield, and immersing oneself in the world around you is something. To look out, and look at the Massachusetts Bay Canal (is that what it's called?) is just SOMETHING. VERY exhilarating.

Stopped at a HD dealer just over the bridge, and picked up a 3/4 face shield for the helmet. Not only was it cheaper than other places that advertised it (other places that I could not find, by the way) the folks there were very friendly, and it was nice place. One sales guy did ask if I wanted to trade up -- I did, but not yet.

Then, on to Brown House. The ride over on the boat was nice. Very casual. The easiest time, by far, that I've ever had in getting on a ferry. Rode up, parked the bike, bought the ticket, they waved me on, and the boat launched -- all within about 7 minutes. PERFECT timing.

Beautiful afternoon, but the clouds were a bit tricky on the way over. By the time the boat docked at VH, it was sprinkling. By the time I passed through five corners, it was a downpour. By the time I hit BrownHouse, 5 minutes later, it was clear, the roads were dry, and I was soaked. Dem's the breaks.

Janice greeted me with a hug and a smooch, and Jeremiah greeted me with a manly handshake and a cup of Basil Hayden's. PERFECT.

Had a nice evening conversation, watched a nifty 50 minute documentary ("Alone in the Wilderness") and enjoyed a meal of Caeser salad, steamed mussels, roast chicken and warm baguette. THANK YOU JANICE!

An early night. in bed by 9:20 PM. Slept a bit fitfully, but slept.

Woke at 6 AM. Lounged in bed, watching "Jumper" (not bad, and Hayden Christensen did a lot better in this than in the SW trilogy.

Made myself some coffee, had an egg or two, and a tasty fresh bagel. Will need to wash the bike, and myself, before things happen. Jeremiah needs to attend to his new chicks, but then we're off on a bike-ride 'round island parts. More soon!