"That's why I can't say enough times, whatever love you can get and give, whatever happiness you can filch or provide, every temporary measure of grace, whatever works." - Boris Yellnikoff (aka Woody Allen)
Good Friday Morning,
Not only is it snowing again but it's going to get cold, again. The forecast for the weekend is for a high of 22º tomorrow (Saturday) and a high of only 20º on Sunday with lows around 5 below zero. Monday's high is said to be 13º. Yes, that's the high temperature for the day.Things get back to normal on Thursday, the 27th where projected highs are to reach the mid-30's.
As I'm always saying, standard rules apply: check on your neighbors, even those you think don't need checking on.
Oh, and if you pets that you keep outside, please consider another hobby or start spending these days and nights out there with them, especially the nights. I am sure they could use a warm body to snuggle up against and you could use the experience of being out there.
To the drivers on Route 301 this morning: Thanks for being mensches. Thanks for not tailgating. Thanks for clearing off your cars. Thanks for using your headlights. Thanks for taking your time.
To the driver on Route 6 in Carmel: This isn't NYC. If a car doesn't move the moment before the light changes to green it's not a valid reason to honk at them.
To the garbage truck driver on Route 52: Honking at the car in front of you as he's getting ready to make a turn onto an unplowed road is not a reason to lean on your horn like that. Okay? He had his directional on and that should be warning enough. Maybe, just maybe, if you weren't so close on his butt you would have seen that.
If anyone is coming down Miller Hill Road later today and heading towards Route 52 in Carmel, I could use a lift.
Dear Mr. Mailman:
I understand that the USPS has been relegated to be the Official Carrier of Junk Mail of the Junk Mail Marketing Association of the World but I wish you'd reconsider and allow me to OPT THE HECK OUT of receiving a mailbox filled with garbage twice a week in which important mail gets buried and lost.
Sincerely,
Jeff
This image shows the nitrogen dioxide pollution levels for the area yesterday, January 20, 2011
 Wikipedia says, Nitrogen dioxide is toxic by inhalation. However, as the compound is acrid and easily detectable by smell at low concentrations, inhalation exposure can generally be avoided. One potential source of exposure is fuming nitric acid, which spontaneously produces NO2 above 0 °C. Symptoms of poisoning (lung edema) tend to appear several hours after inhalation of a low but potentially fatal dose. Also, low concentrations (4 ppm) will anesthetize the nose, thus creating a potential for overexposure.
"They believe in communism. They believe and have called for a revolution. You're going to have to shoot them in the head. But warning, they may shoot you." - Rush Limbaugh, June 10, 2010
Of those, 35% were experienced soldiers having served two years or more. 17% were expelled during boot camp or their first three months in the service.
Everyone I know who has served recently (mostly in the Marines) all knew of at least one service-member who was gay and who managed to duck under the radar so it appears to be more an issue of being "outed" than anything else. Perhaps those who do the outing should come under investigation themselves. You know, those repressed feelings about sharing a foxhole on a hot, sultry summer night with 60 testosterone-fueled men while enemy fire keeps them pinned to the ground must be too much for them. Honestly, if all they're thinking about is sex at a time like that maybe they're just not good soldiers.
Movies For a Very Cold Weekend:
Fido: A 2006 Canadian zombie film with a technicolor vibrancy that shocks the eye. Yes, you heard that right. In an alternate 1950's style universe where radiation from space has turned the dead into zombies, one company has solved the problem... or think they have. This reworking of the zombie genre is cute as all get out and funny as hell. Watch it with the kids. It's references to the Lassie series (of which you need to be a certain age to appreciate) are uncanny and clearly intentional, right down to the boy named Timmy and his pet zombie, Fido.
The film cost an estimated $8 million and garnered only $300,000 in box office receipts in a limited commercial run but it's certain to become a cult classic.
Carrie-Anne Moss is a ringer with a gun and a wonderful mother. Billy Connolly plays the perfect pet zombie and grunts his lines with the best of them, Dylan Baker rules as a dysfunctional father and young actor Kesun Loder as Timmy, well, you're going to be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
Bill Robinson: I'd say I'm a pretty darn good father. My father tried to eat me, I don't remember trying to eat Timmy.
Helen Robinson: Bill, just because your father tried to eat you, does that mean we all have to be unhappy... forever?
Whatever Works: The latest from Woody Allen has the feel of a stage play where the actors are *acting* and the dialog is as Allenesque as it can get. And yes, it's filmed in New York. Starring Larry David, an amazing Evan Rachel Wood and Ed Begley Jr., this movie has twists and turns galore - and a happy ending.
Boris Yellnikoff: Can you believe this cracker, this red state Neanderthal, this mindless zombie of the National Rifle Association?
John: My shrink says that the guns were all a manifestation of my sexual inadequacy.
Boris Yellnikoff: Yeah, if it wasn't for sexual inadequacy the National Rifle Association would go broke!
Melodie St. Ann Celestine: Do you really think I'm beautiful?
Boris Yellnikoff: I admit that I didn't give you you're full due at first - physically. However, as only a great mind can do, I've reassessed... my... position, and uh, changed my mind.
Melodie St. Ann Celestine: So you could, you could never think of marrying me?
Boris Yellnikoff: Have you lost your mind? Why on earth would you even fantasize about such a thing. What could I offer you but a bad temper, hypochondriasis, morbid fixations, reclusive rages, and... and misanthropy. And what could you offer me? A character out of Faulkner, not a unlike Benjy.
What's going On?
Friday, January 21 AFA Battle of the Bands AFA Recording Studio Battle of the Bands - Day Two. 11 great bands will be competing for the grand prize of recording time with AFA. Looks like it's gonna be a GREAT show. Support your favorite band.
At Arts on the Lake, Route 52 in Kent.
5:10-5:30 - The New Youth
5:40-6:00 - Don't Say I Quit
6:10-6:25 - The Knox Sisters
6:30-6:50 - Since When
7:00-7:20 - The Semi-Revolutionaries
7:30-7:50 - Hot In The Pocket
8:00-8:15 - Sleep, Sheep
8:20-8:40 - Thollum
8:50-9:10 - The Gathering
9:20-9:40 - City At Dawn
9:50-10:10 - Parting Seas | Tickets: | | | $8.00 | General Admission | | $5.00 | Member Admission | Saturday, January 22 Residential Energy Savings Workshop 1PM - 4PM - at the Fishkill Recreation Center, 793 Route 52 in Fishkill. Homeowners & Renters: Plan now for a more affordable year! Come learn about: Low Cost - Do it Yourself Energy Upgrades, Free Energy Audits, Low-interest Financing, Rebates for New Appliances, Renewable Energy: Solar/Wind, Low-Income Programs ...and much more! *Refreshments provided by the Town of Fishkill* Free, but registration required. Contact Meridith Nierenberg, Coordinator, Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities at 845-331-2238 or meridith.nierenberg@gmail.com
The Magic of Imagination  8PM - Arts on the Lake proudly presents The Magic of Imagination with David Morey on Saturday, January 22, at 8:00 p.m. Morey and the audience will journey through a wonderland of magic, experiencing all types of magic, from illusion to storytelling, from sleight of hand to mind reading—a journey that will take the audience beyond the bounds of its imagination.
David Morey understands what it means to know his audience, to stay ahead of them, to read their minds. Evident of this understanding, his international business and political consultant work has helped elect twelve presidents on four continents and increased the revenue of Fortune 500 companies by the hundreds of millions of dollars. The connection between business and magic is simple, Morey says: “Frankly, the magicians I know, who are some of the best in the world, are the most innovative people I’ve ever met…. The higher forms of magic elevate you, take you to a higher plane, and, at least temporarily, heal what you are going through and what is challenging you.”
The magic of David Morey is woven throughout the fabric of his life. Since he was a young boy, when he saw his first magic show on the Ed Sullivan Show at four years old, magic found its way into his own imagination and heart. And after a 25-year break, Morey returned to his first love and has been performing at major venues—The DC Fringe Festival, President Obama’s Inaugural Ball, among others—ever since.
Tickets ($ 15.00 -- $10.00 [members]) to The Magic of Imagination with David Morey may be purchased in advance on the Arts on the Lake website: www.artsonthelake.org and reservations may be made by email to rsvp@artsonthelake.org or by phone: 845-228-2685.
Sunday, January 23 Talk on Nobel Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo 3PM - "Who Is Liu Xiaobo?" Gene Damm, Educational Director of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association Northeast New York Chapter, will discuss the background and writings of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner who is now serving an eleven year sentence in China for subverting state power. Sponsored by: US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Northeast New York Chapter. USCPFA is a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization; whose goal is to develop and strengthen friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and the People's Republic of China. Free. At the William Sanford/Town of Colonie Library, 629 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville, NY 12211. Call Gene Damm at(518) 482-7675 for more information.
Into The Future
Tuesday, January 25 Green Building Update: What to Expect for 2011
6PM - The Green Building industry is undergoing dynamic and sometimes controversial changes. In this seminar, Rick Alfandre and Cliff Cooper will present an overview of updates to rating systems, the regulatory environment, training systems, technologies and practices that will affect green building projects in the coming year.
At the: Eleven 11 Grille 1111 Main Street, Fishkill, NY
For more information click here.
About The Presenters: Our speakers will be Cliff Cooper, President of Cooper Associates, and Rick Alfandre', President of Alfandre Architecture.
Rick Alfandre', AIA, LEED AP-BD&C: Rick Alfandre, President of Alfandre Architecture, has been specializing in the field of environmentally responsive planning, solar design and energy and resource efficient building techniques for over 30 years. Rick is a Board member and Treasurer of the U.S. Green Buildings Council New York Upstate Chapter and is a founding member of the Hudson Valley Branch. In addition, Rick is a member of the SUNY New Paltz Business School Business Advisory Council (BAC) and is past president of the New Paltz Rotary Club.
Cliff Cooper, MS, CIH, LEED AP-BD&C: A board certified industrial hygienist, Mr. Cooper, President, Cooper Associates, is a specialist in building ventilation and indoor air quality and provides a range of consulting expertise from forensic investigation of building failures to ventilation and indoor air quality design in high performance and sustainable "green" buildings. In addition, Mr. Cooper routinely provides impartial health and safety evaluations involving chemical exposures, biological exposures, mold in buildings and occupational safety.
Tickets are $10 for advance sales to Chapter Members and Students, $15 for Members and Students at the door, and $20 for Non-members.
Putnam County Term Limits 7PM The Putnam County Legislature has proposed a two-term limit law for the County Executive's position and CE Paul Eldridge will be holding a public hearing this evening on the matter at the County Office Building. You can attend in person or you can send the CE an email [paul.eldridge@putnamcountyny.gov], a fax or a letter. Wednesday, January 26 The Economics of Happiness 7PM - Join us for an evening with internationally recognized cultural commentator, author, and filmmaker, Helena Norberg-Hodge, as she presents her latest film, "The Economics of Happiness." After the film Norberg-Hodge will discuss how rebuilding smaller scale, ecological, local economies can help us rediscover those essential relationships, both with the living world and with one another, that ultimately give our lives meaning and joy.
The evening is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30pm, event begins at 7pm. No reservations required, but we ask that you RSVP so we can anticipate attendance. For more information or to RSVP, please call 845.424.4800 or email garrison@garrisoninstitute.org.
 Helena Norberg-Hodge is an analyst of the impact of the global economy on cultures and agriculture worldwide and a pioneer of the localization movement. She is the founder and director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC). ISEC's mission is to examine the root causes of our social and environmental crises while promoting more sustainable and equitable patterns of living. Fluent in seven languages, Norberg-Hodge was educated in linguistics and has lived in and studied numerous cultures at varying degrees of industrialization. Her experiences in Ladakh, a remote region on the Tibetan plateau, were crucial in enabling her to understand the impact of conventional development and globalization on people and the environment. Ms. Norberg-Hodge founded The Ladakh Project and helped establish several indigenous organizations in Ladakh including the Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG) and the Women's Alliance of Ladakh (WAL). She is the author of Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh, based on her first-hand experience of the effects of conventional development in Ladakh. Ancient Futures has been described as an "inspirational classic" by the London Times and together with a film of the same title, it has been translated into 42 languages. She is also co-author of Bringing the Food Economy Home and From the Ground Up: Rethinking Industrial Agriculture. Friday, January 28 Snow is Good 7PM - CIES Talk. Most people pay attention to climate change in the summer, when faced with heat waves, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms. In the northeast, climate warming is actually more marked in the winter, and the loss of snow cover can have a ripple effect on tree growth and groundwater recharge. Cary Institute scientist Dr. Peter Groffman will discuss how mild winters threaten soil productivity, plant growth, and freshwater resources. Event is free. Location: Cary Institute's auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook, New York. Thursday, February 10 Forest to Faucet 1AM - Noon - What does a watershed need to produce clean water? The Hudson River Watershed Alliance and the Hudson River Estuary Program present a new Geographic Information System mapping tool that can help identify important watershed attributes. Donald Steinmetz of the Highlands Environmental Research Institute will present this new GIS tool, based on data developed by the US Forest Service. Fran Dunwell and Scott Cuppett from the Hudson River Estuary Program, and Jennifer Grossman from the Highlands Coalition and Open Space Institute will discuss the importance of clean water and watershed management in the Hudson Valley. To Register Contact Barbara Kendall, HRWA Coordinator: barbara@hudsonwatershed.org 914 474 2759
Snow Date: February 17
Location: Sterling Forest Visitor Center, 116 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987
Financing Education Through Income Taxes 7PM - 9PM State Assemblywoman Sandra Galef has invited Assemblyman Kevin Cahill to discuss his bill A447 which would shift the burden of school funding from property taxes to income taxes. Joining Mr. Cahill will be Frank Mauro from the Public Policy Institute, Edmund J. McMahon, the director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy and Martin Reid, Deputy Director of Government Relations from the NY School Boards Association. At the Desmond Fish Library, 472 Route 403 (at the intersection of Route 9D). Call 914 941-1111 for more information.
Saturday, February 12 Tom Chapin 7:30PM - Described as "totally captivating" by Billboard Magazine, Tom Chapin is a singer, guitar player, TV personality, concert performer, actor, composer, and recording artist. Tom's concerts span generations and stereotypes, and his recordings have earned him awards from Parent's Choice New York Music Awards, and Emmy and Peabody Awards for his work with ABC's Make a Wish. Tom is also renowned for carrying on the work of his brother, the late Harry Chapin, in combating world hunger.
For more than 30 years and through 20 CD's, Chapin has entertained, amused and enlightened audiences of all ages with life-affirming original songs told in a sophisticated array of musical styles. Tom's remarkable musicianship, great songwriting and personal warmth shine though whether he's performing in a concert hall, an outdoor festival, a school, in front of a symphony orchestra or in an intimate coffeehouse.
Tom Chapin's adult concerts and recordings are sparked by strong, intelligent songwriting with clear, engaging vocals and the intricate, melodic guitar work that has become his trademark.
The Coffeehouse takes place in Asbury Hall in Memorial United Methodist Church, located at:
250 Bryant Avenue, White Plains, NY
Doors open at 6:30 PM- Open Seating So arrive early, get yourself a cup of fair trade coffee, with some delicious cookies or cake and take part in our Informal Teachabout with Walkabout at 6:45 PM. Main Performance Starts at 7:30PM Tickets in Advance: Adults- $20.00; Children- 6-12 $10.00 - Door Price: Adults-$25.00; At Door with Student ID- $15.00
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