Thursday, March 29, 2007
Coal mining in PA
I work as a landscape photographer in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania to monitor the changes in landscape over time. Last summer I took over six hundred pictures and after analyzing them, found that there was heavy tree clearing on many of the hillsides and mountain tops. This area does not, as far as I know, have heavy mining activity, but it makes me wonder if the excavations and hilltop removal will spread into the Northeast portion of the state and also if there are old mining tunnels in the county. How would I go about looking into this? These lectures on Pennsylvania coal mining though, might help me identify some key conservation target areas and watch for the spread of mining into the communities. I think it is useful to realize that the academia culture can make connections to other cultural areas (i.e. environment, historical, community, photography, etc.) and by watching for these linkages we can find out how they impact the work we do or the livelihood of others or even our own views we hold. Lately, these connections have been much more apparent, probably because of the links we make in class. Just an interesting observation.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Niagara Falls
Over spring break, I visited my sister in Buffalo, New York. One of my friends from Cornell came with me. During the stay, we brought him to see Niagara Falls (I've seen it a few times before then). I think taking all these Nat Res classes changed my view on the falls. I didn't see it as "epitome of the sublime" this time. They did not seem to impress me as they once did. Then I came home and read "Constructing Nature." Now I think I like Ithaca Falls better. The control of water flow, erosion, rocks, etc does not bother me. And I do like the parks alongside the Falls and on Goat Island (in between the American and Canadian Falls). What bothers me is the development surrounding the falls. The falls seem to be placed in the middle of a small city. "Constructing Nature" said that in the late 1960's/early 1970's a Commision "recommended that guidelines be set to prevent the 'intrusion of.... towers... and commerical features whose appearence on the skyline will result in an articifial encirclement that will overshadow and stifle the magnificence of the Falls." This is exactly what it is like now. What happened to this Commision and their recomendations report? Niagara Falls is a slum of casinos, bars, and chintzy shops. And these things are here to stay.
Steve Zelno
Steve Zelno
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
PA Coal Towns
On my ride home from Ithaca to Maryland for Spring Break I traveled through the old coal town of Wilkes-Barre, and as a result of reading Chandler's article on anthracite coal's role in industrilizing the US, I became more intrigued by the region's history. After a little research, I found that true to Chandler's accounts Wilkes-Barre's industrial foundations were based on the "big three:" manufacturing, coal and railroads. The town's population exploded due to the discovery of anthracite coal in the 1800s, which gave the city the nickname of "The Diamond City." And these events brought in thousands of imigrants seeking work. So, it became clear that Wilkes-Barre was no exception to Chandler's hypothesis, and was another blatant example conradicting the premise of Winpenny's hypothesis (that anthracite coal was not as big of an economic stimulus as Chandler made it out to be). Nevertheless, despite these two professor's disagreements and the history of the Pennsylania coal fields that brings them together, I would like to present an issue that has not been touched on so far in the readings or in class, which is the future of the numerous post-boom coal towns of PA, and similar scenarios that are playing out all over the US. Upon further research I discovered that despite surviving several mining disasters, the mines of Wilkes-Barre (and other towns) could not survive the gradual switch to other energy sources. And subsequently, most coal operations left Wilkes-Barre by the end of the 1940's. So, with that said, my question that I pose to the class is: despite this regions prior reliance on mining, industry and the railroad, what is the economic future of its towns, and other towns that have undergone similar fates all over the Northeast and the rest of the US?
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Logical Positivism!
In the review session, someone raised the question "What is logical positivism"? My seat-of-the-pants definition was a bit off... So for the sake of correctness, here's the actual definition (in a nutshell):
Logical Positivism is a school of thought that holds that knowledge can only be obtained through direct observation and experience; logical positivists subscribe to verifiable science rather than theology.
Think about how this philosophy relates to the readings, especially Marx and Proctor. Congrats on stumping the undergraduate TA.
-Max
Logical Positivism is a school of thought that holds that knowledge can only be obtained through direct observation and experience; logical positivists subscribe to verifiable science rather than theology.
Think about how this philosophy relates to the readings, especially Marx and Proctor. Congrats on stumping the undergraduate TA.
-Max
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Gaston Phébus v Disney's Gaston
I have yet to uncover any hard data to prove that the two men are one is the same, however, while searching the web I did come upon an interesting finding...
http://ia.ec.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/41/94/55m.jpg
(You will have to copy and paste the link; I can't get the picture onto the blog)
This photo is the poster for the 1978 French movie "Gaston Phébus". I think it is hard to deny the resemblance the man in the bottom right corner has to a certain Disney character named Gaston. He has the classical long red shirt, with an over sized belt, black leggings, and the high boots that are the defining clothes of Disney's Gaston.
PS. As most of you already know Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast" was not released until 1991.
http://ia.ec.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/41/94/55m.jpg
(You will have to copy and paste the link; I can't get the picture onto the blog)
This photo is the poster for the 1978 French movie "Gaston Phébus". I think it is hard to deny the resemblance the man in the bottom right corner has to a certain Disney character named Gaston. He has the classical long red shirt, with an over sized belt, black leggings, and the high boots that are the defining clothes of Disney's Gaston.
PS. As most of you already know Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast" was not released until 1991.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Ancient, Biblical Concern for Animals
Today in lecture we talked about how it took Americans until the 1800s to get organized about animal welfare.
The following was written probably between 1400 and 1500 BC:
Deuteronomy 22:6:
"If you come across a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young."
And this was written around 10th century BC:
Proverbs 12:10:
"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."
The following was written probably between 1400 and 1500 BC:
Deuteronomy 22:6:
"If you come across a bird's nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young."
And this was written around 10th century BC:
Proverbs 12:10:
"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Westward the Star of Empire...
I have a comment on Melrose's painting, "Westward the Star of Empire..." that we looked at Friday in class. We discussed the fact that the train in the painting was heading directly toward the viewer, and we discussed the reading of the painting from left to right, and we discussed the obligatory stumps, etc. My comment (and question, should anybody desire providing me with some insight) is about the spatial orientation of the painting. It is not clear whether the painting is facing East or West. Does it depict a sunrise (East) or sunset (West)? If it depicts a sunrise, and is thus facing East, then the viewer is gazing 'back East', and effectively running opposite to the onward 'development' created by the railroad.
If the painting orients the viewer towards the west, then the train is heading East. I'm under the impression that moving back east is symbolically like moving away from the frontier, and thus away from romanticized social development. In this instance, the sun would be setting on the west, indicating a symbolic end of an era. Clearly, that wouldn't make a lick of sense.
Based on the title, I'd assume that the train is heading west, and the viewer is gazing (almost longingly) upon the maimed eastern boundary.
It all seems rather counter-intuitive, since the painting was done in 1867.
Any insight?
If the painting orients the viewer towards the west, then the train is heading East. I'm under the impression that moving back east is symbolically like moving away from the frontier, and thus away from romanticized social development. In this instance, the sun would be setting on the west, indicating a symbolic end of an era. Clearly, that wouldn't make a lick of sense.
Based on the title, I'd assume that the train is heading west, and the viewer is gazing (almost longingly) upon the maimed eastern boundary.
It all seems rather counter-intuitive, since the painting was done in 1867.
Any insight?
Friday, March 2, 2007
Asher B. Durand's Kindred Spirits
Today in class I mentioned Asher B. Durand's painting, Kindred Spirits, which has recently been purchased by the Walton Family Foundation from the New York Public Library. (I misspoke when I guessed the seller was either the Met or the New York Historical Society.)The painting is currently on loan from the Walton Family to the National Gallery in Washington DC, after which it will be displayed at the Brooklyn Museum from April to August.
To read about the 2005 controversy surrounding the painting's sale, check out the following article, "Kindred Spirits: Art and Money," by Jonathan Mandell.
The National Gallery link above has a high resolution version of the painting that allows you to study the painting closely.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Inuits in the news!!
Here's a great news story that goes right along with Krech's "The Ecological Indian." It's about the Inuits blaming the US for putting their way of life at stake because of greenhouse gas emissions from America. Just came out today.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/ap/tech/mainD8NJ8I880.shtml
Inuits Blame U.S. for Climate Change
Inuits of Northern Canada say carbon emissions from U.S. violate their human rights
As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States has come under heavy criticism, including from people who live almost on top of the world.The Inuits of Northern Canada and beyond are taking their case against the United States on Thursday to an international human rights commission. They have scant chance of a breakthrough but still hope to score moral and political points against the U.S. and its carbon spewers."The point here is that our way of life is at stake," says Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who was nominated with former Vice President Al Gore for a Nobel Peace Prize for their work on climate change.She was preparing to make the Inuit case at a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an arm of the 34-member Organization of American States.The Inuit population hails from Canada, Russia and Greenland, as well as Alaska, where they are known as Eskimos. They have been trying to tell the world for more than a decade about the shifting winds and thinning ice that have damaged the hunting grounds the Northern peoples have used for thousands of years.Watt-Cloutier spoke earlier this week in Iqaluit, the capital of Canada's Arctic Nunavut Territory about 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, before leaving for Washington.Simon Nattaq, a hunter, blames climate change for the loss of his feet in February 2001. He says his snow mobile and all his gear plunged through unusually thin ice, leaving him stranded for two days. He now walks _ and still hunts _ with prosthetic feet and believes God kept him alive to warn the world about global warming.Many researchers believe the world likely is growing warmer because of the heat-trapping, or "greenhouse," properties of carbon dioxide and other human-generated gases that are being emitted into the atmosphere.Scientists generally agree the Arctic is the first place on Earth to be impacted by rising global temperatures. They say that unless developed nations such as the United States _ responsible for one-fourth of world's greenhouse gases _ do not dramatically reduce their emissions within the next 15 years, the Arctic ice likely will melt by the end of the century.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/ap/tech/mainD8NJ8I880.shtml
Inuits Blame U.S. for Climate Change
Inuits of Northern Canada say carbon emissions from U.S. violate their human rights
As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States has come under heavy criticism, including from people who live almost on top of the world.The Inuits of Northern Canada and beyond are taking their case against the United States on Thursday to an international human rights commission. They have scant chance of a breakthrough but still hope to score moral and political points against the U.S. and its carbon spewers."The point here is that our way of life is at stake," says Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who was nominated with former Vice President Al Gore for a Nobel Peace Prize for their work on climate change.She was preparing to make the Inuit case at a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an arm of the 34-member Organization of American States.The Inuit population hails from Canada, Russia and Greenland, as well as Alaska, where they are known as Eskimos. They have been trying to tell the world for more than a decade about the shifting winds and thinning ice that have damaged the hunting grounds the Northern peoples have used for thousands of years.Watt-Cloutier spoke earlier this week in Iqaluit, the capital of Canada's Arctic Nunavut Territory about 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, before leaving for Washington.Simon Nattaq, a hunter, blames climate change for the loss of his feet in February 2001. He says his snow mobile and all his gear plunged through unusually thin ice, leaving him stranded for two days. He now walks _ and still hunts _ with prosthetic feet and believes God kept him alive to warn the world about global warming.Many researchers believe the world likely is growing warmer because of the heat-trapping, or "greenhouse," properties of carbon dioxide and other human-generated gases that are being emitted into the atmosphere.Scientists generally agree the Arctic is the first place on Earth to be impacted by rising global temperatures. They say that unless developed nations such as the United States _ responsible for one-fourth of world's greenhouse gases _ do not dramatically reduce their emissions within the next 15 years, the Arctic ice likely will melt by the end of the century.
Inuits in the news!!
Here's a great news story that goes right along with Krech's "The Ecological Indian." It's about the Inuits blaming the US for putting their way of life at stake because of greenhouse gas emissions from America. Just came out today.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/ap/tech/mainD8NJ8I880.shtml
Inuits Blame U.S. for Climate Change
Inuits of Northern Canada say carbon emissions from U.S. violate their human rights
As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States has come under heavy criticism, including from people who live almost on top of the world.The Inuits of Northern Canada and beyond are taking their case against the United States on Thursday to an international human rights commission. They have scant chance of a breakthrough but still hope to score moral and political points against the U.S. and its carbon spewers."The point here is that our way of life is at stake," says Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who was nominated with former Vice President Al Gore for a Nobel Peace Prize for their work on climate change.She was preparing to make the Inuit case at a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an arm of the 34-member Organization of American States.The Inuit population hails from Canada, Russia and Greenland, as well as Alaska, where they are known as Eskimos. They have been trying to tell the world for more than a decade about the shifting winds and thinning ice that have damaged the hunting grounds the Northern peoples have used for thousands of years.Watt-Cloutier spoke earlier this week in Iqaluit, the capital of Canada's Arctic Nunavut Territory about 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, before leaving for Washington.Simon Nattaq, a hunter, blames climate change for the loss of his feet in February 2001. He says his snow mobile and all his gear plunged through unusually thin ice, leaving him stranded for two days. He now walks _ and still hunts _ with prosthetic feet and believes God kept him alive to warn the world about global warming.Many researchers believe the world likely is growing warmer because of the heat-trapping, or "greenhouse," properties of carbon dioxide and other human-generated gases that are being emitted into the atmosphere.Scientists generally agree the Arctic is the first place on Earth to be impacted by rising global temperatures. They say that unless developed nations such as the United States _ responsible for one-fourth of world's greenhouse gases _ do not dramatically reduce their emissions within the next 15 years, the Arctic ice likely will melt by the end of the century.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/ap/tech/mainD8NJ8I880.shtml
Inuits Blame U.S. for Climate Change
Inuits of Northern Canada say carbon emissions from U.S. violate their human rights
As the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States has come under heavy criticism, including from people who live almost on top of the world.The Inuits of Northern Canada and beyond are taking their case against the United States on Thursday to an international human rights commission. They have scant chance of a breakthrough but still hope to score moral and political points against the U.S. and its carbon spewers."The point here is that our way of life is at stake," says Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who was nominated with former Vice President Al Gore for a Nobel Peace Prize for their work on climate change.She was preparing to make the Inuit case at a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an arm of the 34-member Organization of American States.The Inuit population hails from Canada, Russia and Greenland, as well as Alaska, where they are known as Eskimos. They have been trying to tell the world for more than a decade about the shifting winds and thinning ice that have damaged the hunting grounds the Northern peoples have used for thousands of years.Watt-Cloutier spoke earlier this week in Iqaluit, the capital of Canada's Arctic Nunavut Territory about 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, before leaving for Washington.Simon Nattaq, a hunter, blames climate change for the loss of his feet in February 2001. He says his snow mobile and all his gear plunged through unusually thin ice, leaving him stranded for two days. He now walks _ and still hunts _ with prosthetic feet and believes God kept him alive to warn the world about global warming.Many researchers believe the world likely is growing warmer because of the heat-trapping, or "greenhouse," properties of carbon dioxide and other human-generated gases that are being emitted into the atmosphere.Scientists generally agree the Arctic is the first place on Earth to be impacted by rising global temperatures. They say that unless developed nations such as the United States _ responsible for one-fourth of world's greenhouse gases _ do not dramatically reduce their emissions within the next 15 years, the Arctic ice likely will melt by the end of the century.
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