-northeastern292.blogspot.com
-twitter.com/northeastern292
-facebook.com/northeastern292
-Instagram: Northeastern292
-Pinterest: Northeastern292
-Flickr: Northeastern292
-Flightaware: Northeastern292
-Steam: Northeastern292
-Tumblr: Northeastern292
-and many, many more!
And why do I use Northeastern292 as my online screename? I once had a (since scrapped) idea for an airline, Northeastern Airlines. Turns out the name has been used before and some other issues. So that flunk. And the number 292 I just so happened to like.
But I also believe in standardization. Some things I don't standardize, but my online presence is one I do. Sure, it would be more professional for me to use something like @SashaIvanoff, but @Northeastern292 is what I use. It's simply Sasha!
And plus, I'm not the only person who has a different screenname in contrast to their real name. Rick Snyder, the governor of Michigan, uses @OneToughNerd as his screenname, at least on twitter.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Exploring the (weird parts of the) Human Mind
*NOTE: This post will be very trippy.
I've been told that's it's taboo to discuss who you would be like if you were born a member of the opposite sex...well, forget that! Okay, turns out I'm not alone in this.
While I'm very happy being a guy, I do wonder what life would be like if I were Alexandra Ivanoff. I've gotten a taste of what that would be like through seeing what my friends are like (yes, I have some friends of the opposite sex who are a lot like me) and I'll say I like it.
A few things I question:
-What would I look like? Would I look like my mom, except with a few of my dad's features? (which is what I look like now?)
-Would I have, as a high schooler done some really stupid stuff?
-Would I dress like a girlie girl or like a tomboy?
-Would I in high school and college had been a cheerleader? It's a sport that has always fascinated me. And before we start asking questions, there is such a thing! Actually, this is why I started the post, as some things are better left off Twitter and on a personal blog. I probably would have done it to prove a point.
-and much much more.
At the end of the day, I'm happy and content as a guy, maybe other than that I don't have an easy time dating. Oh well, I hope that I'll be more out and about this summer, so maybe dating will be a reality.
I've been told that's it's taboo to discuss who you would be like if you were born a member of the opposite sex...well, forget that! Okay, turns out I'm not alone in this.
While I'm very happy being a guy, I do wonder what life would be like if I were Alexandra Ivanoff. I've gotten a taste of what that would be like through seeing what my friends are like (yes, I have some friends of the opposite sex who are a lot like me) and I'll say I like it.
A few things I question:
-What would I look like? Would I look like my mom, except with a few of my dad's features? (which is what I look like now?)
-Would I have, as a high schooler done some really stupid stuff?
-Would I dress like a girlie girl or like a tomboy?
-Would I in high school and college had been a cheerleader? It's a sport that has always fascinated me. And before we start asking questions, there is such a thing! Actually, this is why I started the post, as some things are better left off Twitter and on a personal blog. I probably would have done it to prove a point.
-and much much more.
At the end of the day, I'm happy and content as a guy, maybe other than that I don't have an easy time dating. Oh well, I hope that I'll be more out and about this summer, so maybe dating will be a reality.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Sasha's non-commentary for March 18, 2014: NYSDOT High Speed Rail Open House
On Wednesday March 12th, I took a day trip to Poughkeepsie to view and give feedback at the New York State DOT's open house. To make a long story short, it was a success, even though I didn't quite network to the extent I wanted.
The morning didn't start out too great as I had in general a hard time getting out of bed. And to make matters worse was the tragic news out of East Harlem, where a building explosion had killed eight people and closed the Park Avenue Viaduct in and out of Grand Central Terminal. So may day became more complicated: I would now have to travel to the new Yankees-East 153rd Street station to catch what I thought was going to be a shuttle train at Croton Harmon. As it turns out, the train to Poughkeepsie was a ways behind us.
The weather was just nasty and raw and not long after I got on the train, it started raining. What was supposed to be an interesting trip to Poughkeepsie became a hike. By the time I got to Croton Harmon, the platform was packed. While I'd assume something similar is normal during the peak of rush hour, this had to be the exception. Boarding the "shuttle" (which turned out to be a through train which originated in the Bronx and was packed) took longer than expected.
While spring is on its way (it's also, despite my November birthday, my favorite time of year), the Hudson River is still frozen. The train passed by the ruins of Bannerman's Castle, an important landmark along the Hudson Line.
As it turned out, I had a nice surprise on my hands: the ticket from East 153rd to Poughkeepsie had not been collected, and so I went to the ticket clerk to see what I could do. Her advice was for me to use the ticket and pay an additional $2 on the train. Since I didn't have cash, I was able to use my bank card to "extend" the ticket. And that's why I'll never take the ticket booth for granted. Next time I take the train, I'll be sure to get it for the full length of the trip, as you never know!
The open house, held at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, was a low-key event, almost like a small local government hearing sort of event. I believe the low turnout was a consequence of the weather, Metro-North's earlier in the day issues, the Hudson Valley's familiarity with Metro-North, and the fact that most of the improvements are west of Albany. Several questions I asked were able to be answered: for instance, there are five choices: a base alternative (which means on minor improvements and none of that is speed related), two which allow for a 90MPH top speed (one of those includes 250+ miles of dedicated passenger track), a 110MPH option (which adds more track and gentler curves) and a 125MPH dedicated right of way from Buffalo to Albany (which is useless for local service). I'm siding for the time being with the 110MPH option, as while it's $750 million more for extra track and improvements, also offers the least subsidy demands. The problem? $750 million is a HUGE chunk of change for a state dealing with public education issues.
Included in the program was free water and cookies (a great thing as I eaten a quick lunch on my way to Poughkeepsie) and a brochure on the project which I will end up archiving in the future, once I have a safe place to put it. Several speakers gave their testimony, including myself. Each of us that gave testimony had good reasoning, including the vice president of the Empire State Passengers' Association, an organization I hope to join in the near future.
The importance of high speed rail to Upstate New York in the coming years is crucial to not just the survival of Upstate New York, but its recovery as well. I would like to plead to the DOT again to be prepared twenty years down the road for a dedicated right of way, because that day will come, so no matter what choice is made, keep all options on the table. I expect ridership in all cases to exceed expectations if the state can continue on the path to both fiscal sanity and stability, along with continuing to make New York an attractive place to live and also do business. I left knowing that if the state can get the funds for the project, higher speed rail in New York will be a true possibility. For that to happen the state needs to get its affairs straightened out, and by those affairs I mean fiscal stability for all state agencies and local governments. That includes Governor Cuomo listening to local governments, because in my opinion, they know best on what is needed.
While I was at the affair, I met a man not much older than me. His name was John, and despite being an evangelical small government conservative he is fully in favor of the project, although by what he told me, he might be back down South by the time the project comes to fruition. We chatted the entire way down to Grand Central. That was the surprise of the night, although not a big one. The trip was worth the slight hassle and it ended up costing less than I thought because of the issues Metro-North was having with operations that day.
*This post was rushed and I might edit it to add more content, clarity purposes, etc.
The weather was just nasty and raw and not long after I got on the train, it started raining. What was supposed to be an interesting trip to Poughkeepsie became a hike. By the time I got to Croton Harmon, the platform was packed. While I'd assume something similar is normal during the peak of rush hour, this had to be the exception. Boarding the "shuttle" (which turned out to be a through train which originated in the Bronx and was packed) took longer than expected. While spring is on its way (it's also, despite my November birthday, my favorite time of year), the Hudson River is still frozen. The train passed by the ruins of Bannerman's Castle, an important landmark along the Hudson Line.
As it turned out, I had a nice surprise on my hands: the ticket from East 153rd to Poughkeepsie had not been collected, and so I went to the ticket clerk to see what I could do. Her advice was for me to use the ticket and pay an additional $2 on the train. Since I didn't have cash, I was able to use my bank card to "extend" the ticket. And that's why I'll never take the ticket booth for granted. Next time I take the train, I'll be sure to get it for the full length of the trip, as you never know!The open house, held at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, was a low-key event, almost like a small local government hearing sort of event. I believe the low turnout was a consequence of the weather, Metro-North's earlier in the day issues, the Hudson Valley's familiarity with Metro-North, and the fact that most of the improvements are west of Albany. Several questions I asked were able to be answered: for instance, there are five choices: a base alternative (which means on minor improvements and none of that is speed related), two which allow for a 90MPH top speed (one of those includes 250+ miles of dedicated passenger track), a 110MPH option (which adds more track and gentler curves) and a 125MPH dedicated right of way from Buffalo to Albany (which is useless for local service). I'm siding for the time being with the 110MPH option, as while it's $750 million more for extra track and improvements, also offers the least subsidy demands. The problem? $750 million is a HUGE chunk of change for a state dealing with public education issues.Included in the program was free water and cookies (a great thing as I eaten a quick lunch on my way to Poughkeepsie) and a brochure on the project which I will end up archiving in the future, once I have a safe place to put it. Several speakers gave their testimony, including myself. Each of us that gave testimony had good reasoning, including the vice president of the Empire State Passengers' Association, an organization I hope to join in the near future. The importance of high speed rail to Upstate New York in the coming years is crucial to not just the survival of Upstate New York, but its recovery as well. I would like to plead to the DOT again to be prepared twenty years down the road for a dedicated right of way, because that day will come, so no matter what choice is made, keep all options on the table. I expect ridership in all cases to exceed expectations if the state can continue on the path to both fiscal sanity and stability, along with continuing to make New York an attractive place to live and also do business. I left knowing that if the state can get the funds for the project, higher speed rail in New York will be a true possibility. For that to happen the state needs to get its affairs straightened out, and by those affairs I mean fiscal stability for all state agencies and local governments. That includes Governor Cuomo listening to local governments, because in my opinion, they know best on what is needed.While I was at the affair, I met a man not much older than me. His name was John, and despite being an evangelical small government conservative he is fully in favor of the project, although by what he told me, he might be back down South by the time the project comes to fruition. We chatted the entire way down to Grand Central. That was the surprise of the night, although not a big one. The trip was worth the slight hassle and it ended up costing less than I thought because of the issues Metro-North was having with operations that day.
*This post was rushed and I might edit it to add more content, clarity purposes, etc.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Sasha's commentary for March 14, 2014: Youth of a Nation
Anyone who says that millennials are lazy and don't have ambition are sorely mistaken. We know how to get things done.
First, WPTZ in Plattsburgh/Burlington reported on Monday that over 500 Burlington High School (Burlington, VT) students signed a petition "demanding the city do more in negotiations between the Chittenden County Transportation Authority and the agency’s drivers." What's impressive is that the students are standing in solidarity with the drivers. Usually, students don't give a care in the world about whether or not their bus drivers go on strike: many would prefer to not have school. And the fact alone that the students arranged this themselves is impressive. And to boot, the students are concerned about the drivers' well being. And hand-delivering the petition to the Mayor? Impressive.
Second, a New York Times article caught my attention last night about Jilly Dos Santos, a girl from Central Missouri who was able to get her school board to change her high school's start time to 8:55. The article brings up some interesting aspects, including adding Wifi to school buses so students can get assignments done on the go.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Sasha's commentary for March 13, 2014: Plane Crashes and Other Scary Stuff
I was going to mention the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 tragedy, but we still don't WHAT happened.
Yesterday's trip to Poughkeepsie was marred by tragedy. A gas line exploded in East Harlem, killing at least eight people, along with a destroyed building. Our twenty-first century world is literally built on shaky ground: our infrastructure is older than all four of my deceased grandparents. And for that, feel free to raise my taxes to improve them! I'll take my life over having a ton of cash to spend.
Ivanoff's something-th law of human nature: nothing should be left abandoned for more than ten years: any structure should not become a graveyard unto itself. While it's neat looking at Old Crow Cottage, first, it's surprising the thing is still standing and second, I'd rather live on the street than live in there. That thing was abandoned WELL before 2009. Is that thing even safe?
Another Ivanoff's something-th law of human nature: girls DO have more fun! These "prom" dresses are really cute! (I use quotes over prom because some of them are more cocktail dresses) Sully's outfit is not a prom dress, but something to wear to bed in -10F weather. Or is BuzzFeed overthinking things?
From the AV Club: Apparently, Neil Young has been working on (well, "endorsed" the device) a MP3 player, and it's DRM-free. I like this. Mom, can I have one for my birthday???
It's $320 billion for something most Republicans believe should be entirely privatized (of course, I'm exaggerating a little on that, but many of them are no fans of public transit). The Democrats (and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx) are up for the fight of their lives. But most Americans like public tranist, and I don't like driving. That's part of why transit usage is at its highest level in years.
I'm not the biggest fan of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, but I know one thing: the frontrunner to replace him (and the guy who probably will have his job next year) is no fan of the 99%. What bothers me is his arrogance about it. Rich people NEED to stay out of politics, for the sake of our country. Where's the French Revolution for America? We've muzzled American youth from protesting stuff like this. Youth resistance is essential for any good society.
No, I don't want to live on Mars. It's a one way trip, and getting there is a two year trip. Let's fix Earth before we start colonizing the solar system.
Matt Walsh has some good points, but I need to somewhat disagree with them. First, for even menial desk jobs, us Millennials are facing a nation-wide job shrinkage. And let's talk people heading into college to avoid the liberal arts, or at least for the meantime. While I have school loans which price tag could not pay for a brand-new car, many have $100,000 in loans. They need a job that not only can afford them a living wage, but on top of that pay their school loan. Otherwise you're going to have a country full of grads living with their parents. While I don't mind it, in fact, in my case, it's a win-win, many don't. And taking risks? Millennials are known for taking those, but I'd say we need to be smarter about them.
This political blog from Montana is interesting and brings up something disturbing: Democrat imposters trying to get on the ballot as Democrats and then voting like a Tea Partier. That's DISTURBING.
Gretchen Whitmer, although I am a man, I support your position on the "rape insurance" requirements that are heinous. The Michigan Legislature has lost its marbles. It's only continuing to turn women further into second class citizens. Well, here's something for Republicans: barring biological differences, I see women as my equal.
My problem with the Daily Kos? I agree with their positions. The library is one of the last bastions of American freedom, and the last great socialized institution, and we are indeed in danger of losing it. And we do need telecom oversight to ensure there is no abuse by providers. I don't give a darn, I want to live in the country and I want broadband! The wealthiest and most powerful Americans have done way too much damage to this great country.
Long Island sweet sixteen birthday parties are indeed loaded with material excess. I've seen the pictures.
And finally, I'm tempted to personally do something about the events in Ukraine and write a letter to Svoboda telling them that what they are doing and advocating is inhumane. I'm pretty convinced that Ukraine is incapable of handling their own affairs, and it's starting to affect the rest of the world. Four straight days of stock market losses. And yet they want to nominate Putin for the Nobel peace prize. Maybe globalization needs to take a step back, as worldwide growth is unsustainable and some economies growing at the expense of others. It's getting bad enough that stock market traders are committing suicide. And now people know why I want to go into politics: because I'm smart, have people's best interests in mind and don't have special interest groups in mind. I work for two special interests: causes I care deeply about and more importantly, the people I am elected to represent. I do know this: I am a critic of globalization and unrestricted free trade. In fact, I agree with this RT (Russia Today) article: Americans are overworked.
And there's another term for Negative Nancy's: concern trolls.
Yesterday's trip to Poughkeepsie was marred by tragedy. A gas line exploded in East Harlem, killing at least eight people, along with a destroyed building. Our twenty-first century world is literally built on shaky ground: our infrastructure is older than all four of my deceased grandparents. And for that, feel free to raise my taxes to improve them! I'll take my life over having a ton of cash to spend.
Ivanoff's something-th law of human nature: nothing should be left abandoned for more than ten years: any structure should not become a graveyard unto itself. While it's neat looking at Old Crow Cottage, first, it's surprising the thing is still standing and second, I'd rather live on the street than live in there. That thing was abandoned WELL before 2009. Is that thing even safe?
Another Ivanoff's something-th law of human nature: girls DO have more fun! These "prom" dresses are really cute! (I use quotes over prom because some of them are more cocktail dresses) Sully's outfit is not a prom dress, but something to wear to bed in -10F weather. Or is BuzzFeed overthinking things?
From the AV Club: Apparently, Neil Young has been working on (well, "endorsed" the device) a MP3 player, and it's DRM-free. I like this. Mom, can I have one for my birthday???
It's $320 billion for something most Republicans believe should be entirely privatized (of course, I'm exaggerating a little on that, but many of them are no fans of public transit). The Democrats (and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx) are up for the fight of their lives. But most Americans like public tranist, and I don't like driving. That's part of why transit usage is at its highest level in years.
I'm not the biggest fan of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, but I know one thing: the frontrunner to replace him (and the guy who probably will have his job next year) is no fan of the 99%. What bothers me is his arrogance about it. Rich people NEED to stay out of politics, for the sake of our country. Where's the French Revolution for America? We've muzzled American youth from protesting stuff like this. Youth resistance is essential for any good society.
No, I don't want to live on Mars. It's a one way trip, and getting there is a two year trip. Let's fix Earth before we start colonizing the solar system.
Matt Walsh has some good points, but I need to somewhat disagree with them. First, for even menial desk jobs, us Millennials are facing a nation-wide job shrinkage. And let's talk people heading into college to avoid the liberal arts, or at least for the meantime. While I have school loans which price tag could not pay for a brand-new car, many have $100,000 in loans. They need a job that not only can afford them a living wage, but on top of that pay their school loan. Otherwise you're going to have a country full of grads living with their parents. While I don't mind it, in fact, in my case, it's a win-win, many don't. And taking risks? Millennials are known for taking those, but I'd say we need to be smarter about them.
This political blog from Montana is interesting and brings up something disturbing: Democrat imposters trying to get on the ballot as Democrats and then voting like a Tea Partier. That's DISTURBING.
Gretchen Whitmer, although I am a man, I support your position on the "rape insurance" requirements that are heinous. The Michigan Legislature has lost its marbles. It's only continuing to turn women further into second class citizens. Well, here's something for Republicans: barring biological differences, I see women as my equal.
My problem with the Daily Kos? I agree with their positions. The library is one of the last bastions of American freedom, and the last great socialized institution, and we are indeed in danger of losing it. And we do need telecom oversight to ensure there is no abuse by providers. I don't give a darn, I want to live in the country and I want broadband! The wealthiest and most powerful Americans have done way too much damage to this great country.
Long Island sweet sixteen birthday parties are indeed loaded with material excess. I've seen the pictures.
And finally, I'm tempted to personally do something about the events in Ukraine and write a letter to Svoboda telling them that what they are doing and advocating is inhumane. I'm pretty convinced that Ukraine is incapable of handling their own affairs, and it's starting to affect the rest of the world. Four straight days of stock market losses. And yet they want to nominate Putin for the Nobel peace prize. Maybe globalization needs to take a step back, as worldwide growth is unsustainable and some economies growing at the expense of others. It's getting bad enough that stock market traders are committing suicide. And now people know why I want to go into politics: because I'm smart, have people's best interests in mind and don't have special interest groups in mind. I work for two special interests: causes I care deeply about and more importantly, the people I am elected to represent. I do know this: I am a critic of globalization and unrestricted free trade. In fact, I agree with this RT (Russia Today) article: Americans are overworked.
And there's another term for Negative Nancy's: concern trolls.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Sasha's commentary for March 7, 2014: Part II
Russia Today, the Kremlin-funded news network, has come under fire for its handling of the Russian invasion of the Crimean peninsula. Even the article I read from RT's website seemed harsh, and it's true, we don't understand the full scope of the conflict overseas. On the other hand, I've mostly disagreed with Russia's stance on Ukraine, while recognizing that Ukraine's minority groups need their rights protected. Much of the world sees Putin as a cold and distant person, indifferent to different groups of people.
And America is no saint either. We've interfered in at least thirty-five countries affairs in the last God-knows how many years, and we've supported the worst of the worst: terrorists, fascists, the worst of the worst, without learning what these groups were truly about. Ukraine this year is no exception to that rule. (See my earlier blog posts).
This is another burning question: what business does Facebook have for supporting CPAC? It goes against the website's support for liberal causes.
The fact that China is increasing defense spending scares me. Something about China and its government put me at unease, and I wish we could see some sort of revolt in China and democracy brought there. It would make me really happy. And let's not make the Japanese out to be the bad guys: they've been very peaceful since World War II.
Robert Gates is becoming the anti-Republican Republican. In an interview withavoid loose talk about military options."
And America is no saint either. We've interfered in at least thirty-five countries affairs in the last God-knows how many years, and we've supported the worst of the worst: terrorists, fascists, the worst of the worst, without learning what these groups were truly about. Ukraine this year is no exception to that rule. (See my earlier blog posts).
This is another burning question: what business does Facebook have for supporting CPAC? It goes against the website's support for liberal causes.
The fact that China is increasing defense spending scares me. Something about China and its government put me at unease, and I wish we could see some sort of revolt in China and democracy brought there. It would make me really happy. And let's not make the Japanese out to be the bad guys: they've been very peaceful since World War II.
Robert Gates is becoming the anti-Republican Republican. In an interview withavoid loose talk about military options."
Sasha's railfan commentary for March 7, 2014: Bullet trains and New York's high speed aspirations
Finally, after years of talking about it, the State of New York is finally putting its nose to the grinder in getting the Empire Corridor upgraded. I've had my issues with the project, but for the most part, it's a step in the right direction. I need to emphasize: I am against the Empire State Passengers' Association's support for the Alternative 110 plan if it means that future upgrades and a potential dedicated right of way are precluded. Overall, Alternative 110 is a start, and if all works out, we will need a dedicated right of way between Albany and New York City. We'll be back where we started twenty years from now. I am pretty sure of it. And $6 billion is far cheaper than $14 billion, and once ridership has demonstrated it can support that, we'll move to the next rung. I hope to head to Poughkeepsie next week to give testimony about the HSR project.
And I strongly disagree with Daniel Herrling. Driverless cars probably won't be perfected for another twenty years, will require more energy usage while high speed rail is environmentally friendly. I'd like to see the Northeast Corridor completely powered by solar and other forms of renewable energy. Also, there are tons of ways to make mass transit friendlier: for instance, making bus transfers simpler is a start. (The Post-Standard's web poll showed that a plurality supported high speed rail!)
In Texas, talk of high speed rail might finally be coming to fruition. The Texas Central Railway group is trying to privately finance a high speed rail system that would serve Dallas and Houston. In part because of Southwest Airlines, earlier initiatives in the early 1990s failed to get off the ground, no pun intended. There were some other reasons as well. However, the people at Texas Central seem optimistic, so I think they have a winner, hopefully. And I also hope that if Texas' project succeeds, California's high speed rail project will be restructured and will get back on track. High speed rail can be successful and profitable (or at least break even) if done correctly and with the right amount of frequencies.
I wish President Obama's mass tranist plan funded new (and more) railcars for Amtrak. Nothing about new Amtrak equipment. Overall, it looks good, but it's still lacking. It is however a step in the right direction. In general, the Republicans have become anti-infrastructure. Ukraine's infrastructure is lacking, which is part of why no one wants to do business over there. $302 billion. It's a steep price tag, but I'll be writing to elected officials on the matter. And it's $302 billion over four years, which is $75 billion a year.
Fred Frailey, one of the columnists for TRAINS Magazine, had a good article (and I agree with him) on why the Kansas City Southern Railway won't be purchased by any other railroad. And if there's merger talks, I'm going to write to my legislators about it. Too many big railroads.
And I strongly disagree with Daniel Herrling. Driverless cars probably won't be perfected for another twenty years, will require more energy usage while high speed rail is environmentally friendly. I'd like to see the Northeast Corridor completely powered by solar and other forms of renewable energy. Also, there are tons of ways to make mass transit friendlier: for instance, making bus transfers simpler is a start. (The Post-Standard's web poll showed that a plurality supported high speed rail!)
In Texas, talk of high speed rail might finally be coming to fruition. The Texas Central Railway group is trying to privately finance a high speed rail system that would serve Dallas and Houston. In part because of Southwest Airlines, earlier initiatives in the early 1990s failed to get off the ground, no pun intended. There were some other reasons as well. However, the people at Texas Central seem optimistic, so I think they have a winner, hopefully. And I also hope that if Texas' project succeeds, California's high speed rail project will be restructured and will get back on track. High speed rail can be successful and profitable (or at least break even) if done correctly and with the right amount of frequencies.
I wish President Obama's mass tranist plan funded new (and more) railcars for Amtrak. Nothing about new Amtrak equipment. Overall, it looks good, but it's still lacking. It is however a step in the right direction. In general, the Republicans have become anti-infrastructure. Ukraine's infrastructure is lacking, which is part of why no one wants to do business over there. $302 billion. It's a steep price tag, but I'll be writing to elected officials on the matter. And it's $302 billion over four years, which is $75 billion a year.
Fred Frailey, one of the columnists for TRAINS Magazine, had a good article (and I agree with him) on why the Kansas City Southern Railway won't be purchased by any other railroad. And if there's merger talks, I'm going to write to my legislators about it. Too many big railroads.
Sasha's commentary for March 7, 2014 (Part I)
The New York State Department of Labor released the statistics on employment in New York yesterday. The state only added 5,400 jobs this January. I was saddened to see that there were job losses in manufacturing, an (is and should always be) important sector of the New York economy.
I concur with Sergei Markov, to some extent. Civil war in Ukraine is inevitable because Ukraine truly is a fractured country (Crimea trying to be at peace with Ukraine is a lost cause). Of course, this is coming from the Moscow Times, so I'm aware of the bias. I do agree with his steps:
Climate change is real, and anyone who tries to deny it does not have our planet's best interests at heart. Infrastructure and climate change actually go hand-in-hand, and unless we as a species don't reduce our carbon footprint, infrastructure issues related could prove catastrophic. And I've been taking my own steps: I don't order as much meat when I'm dining out, I take public transit more often and I will never own a car with an eight cylinder engine. We need to prepare now, especially with the high price tags involved. Superstorm Sandy was an eery preview of what's to come.
And yet another reason I fear global warming: there are a ton of foods I like that might become wildly expensive or inaccessible if climate change gets any worse.
Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky was an amazing photographer at the turn of the twentieth century from Russia, and seeing some of these photos was truly a blast from the past. Those photos are part of a Russia that has not existed for ages. On another note, I forget the process used to colorize those photos. And his photo of Tolstoy in his final years is without words.
And I think the Huffington Post has given me an idea on how I should do my wedding invitations. Will I go for it? Heck yes, unless my bride would be against it.
While I will never regret my last romantic relationship, I should have known that it wasn't going to last forever, and if I did, it might have lasted an entire semester instead of just two and a half months. The signs were there: one being that her family received me a little chilly. And I did feel like I had to change, but then again, some of that change I could have pretty well used.
Oh, and there's a part II to this entry!
I concur with Sergei Markov, to some extent. Civil war in Ukraine is inevitable because Ukraine truly is a fractured country (Crimea trying to be at peace with Ukraine is a lost cause). Of course, this is coming from the Moscow Times, so I'm aware of the bias. I do agree with his steps:
There is a political solution to this crisis. First, create a coalition government in Kiev composed of all parties, including those from the east and south of the country. The current government is dominated by anti-Russian extremists from western Ukraine.Ukrainian and Russian should be both official languages of Ukraine. End of story. Simple! And let's not forget this: it's embarrassing that Ukraine is now being in part run by neo-Nazis. Ukraine has truly turned into the black sheep of European nations, and as a Ukrainian-American, it's really embarrassing. Paranoia and fear accomplish nothing positive. There is no Jewish mafia running Ukraine. There are Jewish oligarchs who hold much power, but I wouldn't say they are unilaterally running the show. The eastern part of the country back in 2011 was more powerful than it had been in in years.
Second, Ukraine needs to draft a democratic constitution that has guarantees for Ukraine's Russian-speaking population that would grant official status to the Russian language and establish the principle of federalism.
Third, presidential and parliamentary elections must be held soon. Independent election observers must play an active role in ensuring that the elections are free and fair. There is a real danger that they will be manipulated by the neo-Nazi militants who de facto seized power in a coup.
Climate change is real, and anyone who tries to deny it does not have our planet's best interests at heart. Infrastructure and climate change actually go hand-in-hand, and unless we as a species don't reduce our carbon footprint, infrastructure issues related could prove catastrophic. And I've been taking my own steps: I don't order as much meat when I'm dining out, I take public transit more often and I will never own a car with an eight cylinder engine. We need to prepare now, especially with the high price tags involved. Superstorm Sandy was an eery preview of what's to come.
And yet another reason I fear global warming: there are a ton of foods I like that might become wildly expensive or inaccessible if climate change gets any worse.
Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky was an amazing photographer at the turn of the twentieth century from Russia, and seeing some of these photos was truly a blast from the past. Those photos are part of a Russia that has not existed for ages. On another note, I forget the process used to colorize those photos. And his photo of Tolstoy in his final years is without words.
And I think the Huffington Post has given me an idea on how I should do my wedding invitations. Will I go for it? Heck yes, unless my bride would be against it.
While I will never regret my last romantic relationship, I should have known that it wasn't going to last forever, and if I did, it might have lasted an entire semester instead of just two and a half months. The signs were there: one being that her family received me a little chilly. And I did feel like I had to change, but then again, some of that change I could have pretty well used.
Oh, and there's a part II to this entry!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
A Response: "Gov. Cuomo's Approval Sags, But He Maintains Large Re-Election Lead: NBCNY Poll"
From NBC New York (WNBC-TV)
The problem that County Executive Astorino has is this: Cuomo knows that New York State still is far from perfect and has a lot of work to do: and the tax pledge? Cuomo is already ahead of Astorino. Since day one, his administration's number one priority has been cutting taxes, and they've made a point of it. Heck, they've slashed bridge tolls, something I disagree with as those tolls fund mass transit. And when it comes public that Astorino is a card carrying Catholic (yes, he has a radio show on a Catholic radio station) in a religious but still secular state, that might do some damage. And New Yorkers are generally liberal on social issues. For instance, most New Yorkers don't want the Marriage Equality Act overturned. New Yorkers support a right to an abortion under many, but not all circumstances. Nearly 3/5ths of voters support abortion access, and 3/4ths support birth control.
And let's not forget the spoiler in the race: Carl Paladino, who has support from the Tea Party and conservatives in Western New York. Quoting the Journal News:
And New York's problems are compounded-when there's Florida and the rest of the Sunbelt with lower taxes and better weather, people are going to gravitate towards that. New York might be a beautiful state, but it's geography isn't the best. The state is in a colder climate and has funny looking borders.
Cuomo does have some demons to deal with:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the views of Alexander Ivanoff and do not reflect the views of any organization. This blog post is an op-ed.
For the most part, I support Governor Cuomo's policies. He's realizing that New York's government is too large, too complicated and does not promote a business friendly environment. Many of the goals he had as a candidate for governor have gone through: there's a new Tappan Zee bridge in the works, marriage equality exists in New York, certain industries are thriving here (New York is America's yogurt capital, not just Greek yogurt) and the state's budgetary affairs are looking better, including for the potential of a balanced budget. The state has a good credit rating again. But there's still work to be done.Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s job approval rating has slipped, but he remains popular and enjoys a comfortable advantage in his quest for re-election, according to a new poll.
The problem that County Executive Astorino has is this: Cuomo knows that New York State still is far from perfect and has a lot of work to do: and the tax pledge? Cuomo is already ahead of Astorino. Since day one, his administration's number one priority has been cutting taxes, and they've made a point of it. Heck, they've slashed bridge tolls, something I disagree with as those tolls fund mass transit. And when it comes public that Astorino is a card carrying Catholic (yes, he has a radio show on a Catholic radio station) in a religious but still secular state, that might do some damage. And New Yorkers are generally liberal on social issues. For instance, most New Yorkers don't want the Marriage Equality Act overturned. New Yorkers support a right to an abortion under many, but not all circumstances. Nearly 3/5ths of voters support abortion access, and 3/4ths support birth control.
And let's not forget the spoiler in the race: Carl Paladino, who has support from the Tea Party and conservatives in Western New York. Quoting the Journal News:
Carl Paladino, the Buffalo businessman who was took on Cuomo in 2010 on the Republican line, has said he may run on a third-party ballot line if the GOP's nominee doesn't denounce the Republican legislative leaders in Albany.Astorino isn't going to denounce the Republican legislative leaders. That would be political suicide. Heck, he'll need Brian Kolb and Dean Skelos's support to win, because he's not getting Jeffrey Klein's support (Klein is the Democrat who heads the Independent Democratic Caucus, whose members caucus with the GOP). Nor will Astorino get Al D'Amato's support, as he's endorsed Cuomo, which only adds to Cuomo's legitimacy. Ironically, it was the former US senator who destroyed the career of the father of the current governor, Mario Cuomo, who is despite his faults is still popular, and even I like him. I view his Cuomo Sr's administration as one that was passive and generally neglectful of the state's slow decline at times, but did introduce some great laws and did at least get the shine back to New York City.
And New York's problems are compounded-when there's Florida and the rest of the Sunbelt with lower taxes and better weather, people are going to gravitate towards that. New York might be a beautiful state, but it's geography isn't the best. The state is in a colder climate and has funny looking borders.
Cuomo does have some demons to deal with:
- Schools in New York are in rough fiscal shape. The Gap Elimination Adjustment and Common Core, along with the new teacher assessments, have pushed schools to the financial brink. New York State needs massive education reform, and Cuomo has made mistakes on that end. I expect the NYSUT (New York State United Teacher's, the state's teacher's union), to endorse Astorino or make no endorsement. While the Gap Elimination Adjustment looks good on paper, it is terrible in practice.
- The Medicare burden is still present in counties across New York.
- Taxes are still high, even with the tax caps.
- Upstate New York is still losing jobs, even with Governor Cuomo's plans. However, to blame him entirely isn't fair, as technology has rendered many jobs obsolete. Also, the price of energy in New York is steep. One thing Governor Cuomo could do is push for renewable energy.
- The SAFE Act still has some people up in arms.
- And one that's personal: his lack of commitment to public transportation. He's made statements, but it's going to take groups like the Empire State Passengers' Association to get Cuomo to make moves.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the views of Alexander Ivanoff and do not reflect the views of any organization. This blog post is an op-ed.
Sasha's commentary for March 5, 2014: Old News
The Democrats are finally figuring out that moderate candidates are exactly what the party needs to make inroads in districts where there is a Republican slant. And why not a former Republican? Michael Parrish has all the right qualifications: small business owner, military background. In fact, Charlie Crist, despite now being a Democrat, still is popular among Floridians and his conservative aura will prove valuable. Even if he doesn't win, he'll still do well.
Putin a better president than Obama? Both aren't the greatest, but I'd still rather have Obama over Putin. The Russian president seems not only cold, but brings religion into his politics. America has been diminished because we have a president who is partly weak, a Congress that is run by ultra-nationalists and we're still reeling from the Bush era. I disagree with Governor Romney on this issue.
Bonnie Rochman might be one of the smarter moms-and although I don't have kids (I hope to one day), I would get my daughter's ears pierced at a tattoo parlor, of course not a shady one. Their equipment is sterilized, and they don't use piercing guns, which apparently aren't all they are cracked up to be. And tattoo artists and professional piercers are professionals.
2014 has turned out to be the year that Bill de Blasio has proven to be so far a so-so mayor, while Governor Cuomo, who had a rotten 2013, has made a comeback, even with a strong challenger in Westchester County executive Rob Astorino. While I understand why Mayor de Blasio wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay for universal pre-K (and I side with him as with Governor Cuomo's tax cut frenzy, how will the state pay for it?) Each student will cost the state over $10,000. Is there a way to bring down the cost of education in New York without sacrificing pay? It's now March, and there's little progress.
Cuomo (and to a lesser extent, de Blasio) need to find a way to shrink New York's government without ruining things in the process. And at the end of the day, the problem is this: what would it take to bring private sector jobs to New York without sacrificing the state's way of life, or better yet, bringing those jobs while improving the quality of life? I want to know. Someone who comes up with a legislative effects simulator would be ROLLING IN THE DOUGH.
I was not surprised to see the Washington Post report in January that Americans see the Democrats as more bipartisan than the Republicans. What bothered me is how this is not translating into electoral success (predictions) for the Democrats, as the generic Congressional ballot favors Republicans. Hopefully some state-level blunders will help some Democrats, including the West Virginia chemical spill. And the Daily Kos says that Obamacare will actually benefit the Democrats in November. Interesting to say the least. I believe the time for term limits is now.
Putin a better president than Obama? Both aren't the greatest, but I'd still rather have Obama over Putin. The Russian president seems not only cold, but brings religion into his politics. America has been diminished because we have a president who is partly weak, a Congress that is run by ultra-nationalists and we're still reeling from the Bush era. I disagree with Governor Romney on this issue.
Bonnie Rochman might be one of the smarter moms-and although I don't have kids (I hope to one day), I would get my daughter's ears pierced at a tattoo parlor, of course not a shady one. Their equipment is sterilized, and they don't use piercing guns, which apparently aren't all they are cracked up to be. And tattoo artists and professional piercers are professionals.
"Committing to Play for a College, Then Starting 9th Grade" was the headline from a New York Times from January that had me asking questions. Haley Berg, a girl not much older than the older of my two half-brothers (both younger than me) who already had chosen a college to play soccer for. Why do I feel that is ridiculous? I'm glad the NCAA does not allow this, but it seems coaches know the loopholes or the rule is poorly enforced. And "elite colleges"? Can we do away with elitism, or at least make the playing field a little more level (and I say that pun free, and as a general, not for sports).
2014 has turned out to be the year that Bill de Blasio has proven to be so far a so-so mayor, while Governor Cuomo, who had a rotten 2013, has made a comeback, even with a strong challenger in Westchester County executive Rob Astorino. While I understand why Mayor de Blasio wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay for universal pre-K (and I side with him as with Governor Cuomo's tax cut frenzy, how will the state pay for it?) Each student will cost the state over $10,000. Is there a way to bring down the cost of education in New York without sacrificing pay? It's now March, and there's little progress.
Cuomo (and to a lesser extent, de Blasio) need to find a way to shrink New York's government without ruining things in the process. And at the end of the day, the problem is this: what would it take to bring private sector jobs to New York without sacrificing the state's way of life, or better yet, bringing those jobs while improving the quality of life? I want to know. Someone who comes up with a legislative effects simulator would be ROLLING IN THE DOUGH.
I was not surprised to see the Washington Post report in January that Americans see the Democrats as more bipartisan than the Republicans. What bothered me is how this is not translating into electoral success (predictions) for the Democrats, as the generic Congressional ballot favors Republicans. Hopefully some state-level blunders will help some Democrats, including the West Virginia chemical spill. And the Daily Kos says that Obamacare will actually benefit the Democrats in November. Interesting to say the least. I believe the time for term limits is now.
Sasha's commentary for March 1, 2014: Thought I'd Get An Early Start
As many of you know, I've been following the situation in Ukraine very closely. Sadly, the situation there is beyond volatile.
A couple things have hit the news recently, and some is old news. Hayden Panettiere is engaged to Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother might be the next president of Ukraine. America has close ties to Ukraine (former president Viktor Yushchenko's current wife is from Chicago).
Ukraine, to retain itself as a nation will need to do some things: make Ukrainian and Russian the official LANGUAGES (not ONE official language) of the country. It's one of the things in Canada that keeps the peace. Also, the Crimea needs to go. Sure, I love that Ukraine has a resort region (and the visa free travel for Americans), but Crimea feels truly Russian, and even the Donetsk Oblast, which is quite pro-Russian and while facing its own turmoil, isn't in the same state that the Crimea is currently in. There's protests, yes, but there's currently no heavy military occupation, but a move to join Russia. My god uncle (if there's such a thing) Phil is right: Ukrainian nationalism is an abstract concept (not his words, but mine), as Ukraine has been in the past part of Russia and Poland. But Ukraine will need to retain intact. There's no way that Western Ukraine will be able to survive without the eastern half. And Kiev itself is in a tough state: it's also Russian speaking. There are some encouraging signs, at least one: Tymoshenko, as incompetent as she is, is a native Russian speaker from Dnepropetrovsk who is seen as a member of the opposition.
Regardless, the thought of having to get a visa and travel to Russia to visit my Ukrainian relatives is EERY. But I'll say this: I'll take the visa over a Ukraine controlled by Svoboda. Mila Kunis being called a "dirty Jew"? You're sure its not that she speaks Russian? She's from Chernivtsi, one of the hotspots of the Euromaidan. Bashing one of America's most well-loved Ukrainian natives is
This is my message to Putin: ease on your hard-line status, allow Americans to travel to Russia visa-free and MAYBE I'll be comfortable with Eastern Ukraine joining Russia. But as of last week, Putin was in favor of Ukraine staying Ukraine. Regardless, it's not going to end well and
There's some comfort in ways: all and all, Ukrainian youth are in favor of EU integration.
And since I can't have things I like work right (the state of New York as a whole? Ukraine? Stewart Airport in Newburgh, which can't have nice airline service) one of the presidents of the Buffalo Sabres, Pat LaFontaine is leaving the Buffalo Sabres. With star player Ryan Miller leaving the team, there is a sense of sadness in the Sabres camp.
NOTE: This was written on March 1st. Some of this is a little out of date.
A couple things have hit the news recently, and some is old news. Hayden Panettiere is engaged to Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother might be the next president of Ukraine. America has close ties to Ukraine (former president Viktor Yushchenko's current wife is from Chicago).
Ukraine, to retain itself as a nation will need to do some things: make Ukrainian and Russian the official LANGUAGES (not ONE official language) of the country. It's one of the things in Canada that keeps the peace. Also, the Crimea needs to go. Sure, I love that Ukraine has a resort region (and the visa free travel for Americans), but Crimea feels truly Russian, and even the Donetsk Oblast, which is quite pro-Russian and while facing its own turmoil, isn't in the same state that the Crimea is currently in. There's protests, yes, but there's currently no heavy military occupation, but a move to join Russia. My god uncle (if there's such a thing) Phil is right: Ukrainian nationalism is an abstract concept (not his words, but mine), as Ukraine has been in the past part of Russia and Poland. But Ukraine will need to retain intact. There's no way that Western Ukraine will be able to survive without the eastern half. And Kiev itself is in a tough state: it's also Russian speaking. There are some encouraging signs, at least one: Tymoshenko, as incompetent as she is, is a native Russian speaker from Dnepropetrovsk who is seen as a member of the opposition.
Regardless, the thought of having to get a visa and travel to Russia to visit my Ukrainian relatives is EERY. But I'll say this: I'll take the visa over a Ukraine controlled by Svoboda. Mila Kunis being called a "dirty Jew"? You're sure its not that she speaks Russian? She's from Chernivtsi, one of the hotspots of the Euromaidan. Bashing one of America's most well-loved Ukrainian natives is
This is my message to Putin: ease on your hard-line status, allow Americans to travel to Russia visa-free and MAYBE I'll be comfortable with Eastern Ukraine joining Russia. But as of last week, Putin was in favor of Ukraine staying Ukraine. Regardless, it's not going to end well and
There's some comfort in ways: all and all, Ukrainian youth are in favor of EU integration.
And since I can't have things I like work right (the state of New York as a whole? Ukraine? Stewart Airport in Newburgh, which can't have nice airline service) one of the presidents of the Buffalo Sabres, Pat LaFontaine is leaving the Buffalo Sabres. With star player Ryan Miller leaving the team, there is a sense of sadness in the Sabres camp.
NOTE: This was written on March 1st. Some of this is a little out of date.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)