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.
Friday, March 7, 2014
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:
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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.
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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.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Sasha's commentary for February 10, 2014
Why we can't have nice things in New York: a committee assembled by Governor Cuomo in regards to the handling before, during and after Superstorm Sandy points fingers at none other than the governor's office itself! One of the reports is loaded with negative feedback. And the conservatives blame Democrats for government incompetence. Apparently, they've been right all along. Somehow, Governor Pataki kept a good running ship.
I am convinced of one big thing: this state I love so much and would do a hell of a lot for, New York, apparently is unable to have nice things because our leaders make poor decisions at times and us New Yorkers do not get involved in our state's government.
And this shows through with other state agencies. Apparently, the state of New York State's DOT is troubling: the draft environmental impact statement I've been reading for the last week should have been completed months ago. The worst part about this? There's skepticism that true high speed rail can come to New York, even higher speed rail. But I'm an eternal optimist. My job is to believe there will be a better and brighter future. But still, I have written to the NYSDOT about my concerns and will voice them at a meeting.
But then again, New York at times can have nice things: two brothers outside of Albany built a ski resort literally in their own backyard.
This is one of those "happy" sad stories: a couple married for 67 years dies a couple days apart: the wife died a few days before her husband did. But here's the boring part: both were in their 90s.
I have utmost sympathy for Alicia Payton, as my parents are in the same boat that she is in: struggling to not just make ends meet, but pay the bills. It seems that it costs money to stay out of poverty. Americans are living closer and closer to the edge. It's not healthy, both physically and emotionally.
United Airlines has a list of cities they are axing service from Cleveland to as part of their hub closure in that city. Big business in this country has something against the Rust Belt.
I'm going to argue this: we need a statewide public advocate. New York City has one, and it's worked very well for them. Bill de Blasio used to be the public advocate, and now he's mayor of the city. And if it weren't for that he's from the city AND is overly liberal, he'd make a good governor.
I am convinced of one big thing: this state I love so much and would do a hell of a lot for, New York, apparently is unable to have nice things because our leaders make poor decisions at times and us New Yorkers do not get involved in our state's government.
And this shows through with other state agencies. Apparently, the state of New York State's DOT is troubling: the draft environmental impact statement I've been reading for the last week should have been completed months ago. The worst part about this? There's skepticism that true high speed rail can come to New York, even higher speed rail. But I'm an eternal optimist. My job is to believe there will be a better and brighter future. But still, I have written to the NYSDOT about my concerns and will voice them at a meeting.
But then again, New York at times can have nice things: two brothers outside of Albany built a ski resort literally in their own backyard.
This is one of those "happy" sad stories: a couple married for 67 years dies a couple days apart: the wife died a few days before her husband did. But here's the boring part: both were in their 90s.
I have utmost sympathy for Alicia Payton, as my parents are in the same boat that she is in: struggling to not just make ends meet, but pay the bills. It seems that it costs money to stay out of poverty. Americans are living closer and closer to the edge. It's not healthy, both physically and emotionally.
United Airlines has a list of cities they are axing service from Cleveland to as part of their hub closure in that city. Big business in this country has something against the Rust Belt.
I'm going to argue this: we need a statewide public advocate. New York City has one, and it's worked very well for them. Bill de Blasio used to be the public advocate, and now he's mayor of the city. And if it weren't for that he's from the city AND is overly liberal, he'd make a good governor.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Sasha's commentary for February 6, 2014: The Short Month
Since tonight is the night the Sochi Olympics open, I thought I'd take some time to make note of a couple of things going on currently in regards to the games...and I'll need to fix this!
With that said, here are some things I've found on the web:
Thinkprogress.org has a wonderful article on how the Northeast could cut carbon pollution by 75%. I was surprised to find that the Northeast already has a significant level of clean energy, as I thought we still had a boatload of dirty plants. This might prove an incentive for the New York State DOT in considerations of building a high speed rail line here in the state. Electrified track might be the way to go, but then again, an electrified right of way doesn't benefit smaller communities.
Supposedly, Russian wedding photos are weird. As a proud Russian-American, I can attest to the fact that Russians are an unusual bunch. Wonderful people, just an unusual bunch, but I say that with affection.
Apparently, Kim Jong-un is a fan of the Mac. I don't think that's what Steve Jobs had in mind as his user base: dictators of isolationist nations. How badly does the North Korean dictator love Macs? The North Korean government is working on a MacOS look-alike.
With both sarcasm and concern in my tone, the Republican Party still is lacking in knowledge of history. That bothers me, but then again, we have a governor in New York who says things that might be condescending to particular groups. On the other hand, unlike the GOP, we teach high school students the horrors of the Holocaust in New York
There are a thousand reasons why I want to date a girl who travels. The most obvious reason is that I enjoy exploring the world also. I enjoyed reading the article, but the article had a feel of snobbishness. It's also a strongly written article, and I mean that it's short and to the point. It makes unemployed individuals feel unworthy of affection.
Here's another one of those "old fashioned dating tip" articles. I thought the term "going steady" was for high schoolers. I thought the twenty-something used "We're an item" or "We're involved." Some of these are really obvious: asking permission for something should be a given.
And finally, I'm glad my generation is doing whatever it takes to be less car dependent. It's obvious that the government has a lot to why we're an automotive-centric nation. I wish every small community in the United States could have bus or train or light rail access.
With that said, here are some things I've found on the web:
Thinkprogress.org has a wonderful article on how the Northeast could cut carbon pollution by 75%. I was surprised to find that the Northeast already has a significant level of clean energy, as I thought we still had a boatload of dirty plants. This might prove an incentive for the New York State DOT in considerations of building a high speed rail line here in the state. Electrified track might be the way to go, but then again, an electrified right of way doesn't benefit smaller communities.
Supposedly, Russian wedding photos are weird. As a proud Russian-American, I can attest to the fact that Russians are an unusual bunch. Wonderful people, just an unusual bunch, but I say that with affection.
Apparently, Kim Jong-un is a fan of the Mac. I don't think that's what Steve Jobs had in mind as his user base: dictators of isolationist nations. How badly does the North Korean dictator love Macs? The North Korean government is working on a MacOS look-alike.
With both sarcasm and concern in my tone, the Republican Party still is lacking in knowledge of history. That bothers me, but then again, we have a governor in New York who says things that might be condescending to particular groups. On the other hand, unlike the GOP, we teach high school students the horrors of the Holocaust in New York
The Republican National Committee today excitedly announced the launch of a new startup lab to bring techies and creatives together, Silicon Valley-style, to get Republicans elected. Oh, and they named it for a Nazi gun, a type of ammo, and a philosophy that puts war before peace.Only the Republicans, only the Republicans. The Para Bellum Labs? Doesn't have a good ring to it either. Then again, Gawker is a left-wing site, so it's a partial overreaction.
There are a thousand reasons why I want to date a girl who travels. The most obvious reason is that I enjoy exploring the world also. I enjoyed reading the article, but the article had a feel of snobbishness. It's also a strongly written article, and I mean that it's short and to the point. It makes unemployed individuals feel unworthy of affection.
Here's another one of those "old fashioned dating tip" articles. I thought the term "going steady" was for high schoolers. I thought the twenty-something used "We're an item" or "We're involved." Some of these are really obvious: asking permission for something should be a given.
And finally, I'm glad my generation is doing whatever it takes to be less car dependent. It's obvious that the government has a lot to why we're an automotive-centric nation. I wish every small community in the United States could have bus or train or light rail access.
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