stalking the earth

Hemlock, New York: An Unequivocal Exclamation!

2010-03-15T19:24:00.006-04:00

Originally published @ Yorkstaters in 2006, (republished here because that site is dead, and this text is alive!)

By Phaedo of the Land of Whiskey and Pumpkin Pie

“-Suddenly, as if a whirlwind had set down roots in the center of the town, the banana company arrived, pursued by the leaf storm. A whirling leaf storm had been stirred up, formed out of the human and material dregs of other towns, the chaff of a civil war that seemed ever more remote and unlikely. The whirlwind was implacable. It contaminated everything with its swirling crowd smell, the smell of skin secretion and hidden death. In less than a year it sowed over the town the rubble of many catastrophes that had come before it, scattering its mixed cargo of rubbish in the streets. And all of a sudden that rubbish, in time to the mad and unpredicted rhythm of the storm, was being sorted out, individualized, until what had been a narrow street with a river at one end and a corral for the dead at the other was changed into a different and more complex town, created out of the rubbish of other towns.” -Gabriel Garcia Marquez; Leaf Storm, (p. #1)

Hemlock, New York - The fall comes and the leaves slowly begin to fall to the ground in the Western Finger Lakes region of Upstate, New York. Hemlock is one of those little such towns that populate the maps of this often mysterious region. There are many secrets about this old town that only a few people know, just like so many other places throughout the entire world. To say that Hemlock is rural would not be an exaggeration, however at the same time to say that Hemlock is undeveloped and untouched by humans would also be an understatement. At the risk of drawing attention to this sleepy little hamlet, I move forth - in hopes of sparking the passion and desire of those who realize the need for conservation and preservation.

Hemlock is an old town, with a long history of importance dating back before the conquest of what is now known as America and moreover as the United States of America. It is said that a long time ago, a glacier covered most of what is now Western, NY and as this glacier retreated it dug, what much later came to be known as the Finger Lakes. Although, it is believed that even before helicopters and planes started flying, and even before map makers made maps that one could buy and sell in a store, the native inhabitants of Western, NY knew that these lakes resembled the fingers of a hand way before Columbus started a genocide upon them.

Welcome to Hemlock, NY - officially known as the Hamlet of Hemlock, which to my understanding is actually (governmentally) a part of Livonia, NY. This place has had many names over time, but the name Hemlock has been the one history [sic] has favored. Some of the other names have been - Holden, Slab City, and perhaps something like O-Neh-Da Te-Car-Ne-O-Di, which means Up and Down the Hemlock. The name was given to this area from none other than the relation of Hemlock trees and the logging industry that developed along the shores of Hemlock Lake. No, these trees are not to be confused with the famous Hemlock poison of ancient Socrates philosophies. Hemlock trees are conifers, not plants like the one that eventually killed Socrates, but supposedly the tress are named Hemlock because of the resemblance of the smell between the poison and what later came to be known as Hemlock trees.

One of the main reasons why Hemlock, NY is such an important location is because it encompasses Hemlock Lake. If Hemlock Lake were a finger, it would be the second most western Finger Lake with the most western being Conesus. Hemlock Lake is only about a 5-10 minute drive from Conesus Lake, but it in reality they are worlds away. Conesus Lake - is like a human water park, similar to a theme park, i.e. Disney Land. Conesus Lake is a creation and test of a dense population living excessively around an important eco-system, this being the western most Finger Lake (okay, so maybe Disney Land is a little different, I actually don’t know because I’ve never been to Disney Land, nor plan on it). On the other hand, or should I say on the other finger (sorry for the lame pun), Hemlock Lake is almost completely untouched by humans destructive habits, making it one of only two Finger Lakes that are undeveloped. The other being, the neighboring Canadice Lake, which is about a 5 minute drive from Hemlock Lake and shares Hemlock Lakes astounding natural characteristics, with the exception of a couple of human blunders. The history of the area goes a little something like this.

D. Byron Waite, writes in O-Neh-Da Te-Car-Ne-O-Di or Up and Down the Hemlock, published in 1883 (p. #1, ):

“There is no lake in Western New York that has greater demands for our consideration, or is faster gaining notoriety as a summer resort than this. Its cool, refreshing air, its pure waters, its lovely scenes; its beautiful points and picturesque nooks, and these old hills,all unite in one inviting, persuasive voice for man [sic] to occasionally step away from the tiresome routine of life and enjoy more of Nature inher pristine beauty and healthfulness.”

Waite is never short of talking up Hemlock Lake, making him seem to my modern eyes, like a property agent or advertiser from the late 1800's. He also goes on to say that Hemlock Lake is the “Most attractive of all the beautiful chain of lakes which adorn Western and Central New York.” In my opinion, he might just be right, but that is probably because I’m a native of Hemlock and take great pride in this area.

Furthermore - while, the idea of beauty is in the beholder, Waite’s idea of Hemlock has seemed to stand the test of time, unlike many of the other Finger Lakes. As stated earlier, Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake are two of the only undeveloped Finger Lakes, making them the diamonds in the rough of the Finger Lakes. However, they are not without their faults inflicted upon them by human beings: for instance, in the middle 1900's, Canadice Lake was heavily polluted by the smelting of batteries (basically, melting the battery in order to obtain the metal, while dumping the remains). The fish and surrounding environment have always been known to carry small doses of pollutant, perhaps due to this smelting process (notice: this is not to be confused with smelting; as in netting smelt [fish] from a creek or body of water). Hemlock Lake was also known to once house over 200 cottages on its lake front, however this all changed when the City of Rochester forced the removal of cottages along the lakeshore in the 1920's. Now a days, no one lives there - and you’re not allowed to swim in the lake, take a boat over 16 feet or so, an engine over 10 horsepower, and even access the property without a permit from the City of Rochester, among some of the few regulations pertaining to this area. On the other hand, the permits are free and easy to obtain and serve more as an informational resource to strangers than seeming like an unwelcome letter.

Why is Hemlock Lake undeveloped? Well, the City of Rochester has the rights to the land and water that make up Canadice and Hemlock Lake, owning more than 7,000 acres in the surrounding area. Since 1876 the two lakes have been a steady source of drinking water for the City of Rochester, with a January 24th, 1876 newspaper headline reading "Glory! Hemlock Water at Last!" Thus, one can realize the sheer importance of protecting these vital sources of water from our often dangerous hands, for not only do the organisms who currently surround Hemlock Lake depend on its strength, but almost an entire city also depends on it for clean drinking water, among other things.

Not only is the water a symbol Hemlock Lake, but there is also a somewhat recently discovered old growth forest along the south-western shores of the lake. According to research, this is possibly one of the oldest and largest remaining old growth forests in all of North Eastern America, with some of the trees dating to more than 400 years old! As with all good news, there is the negative and this old growth forest is worth a lot of money in the eyes of capitalist loggers; after all how else did Hemlock receive its name. I have heard that around the year 2000, this forest could be logged for up to $8 million - but should one really put a price tag on something like this? In my opinion, the answer is clearly no. What will be the future of this old growth forest? Well, unfortunately I’m currently unable to tell you, because it seems that in my ever present attempts to dig up information, no one is responding to what is actually happening to the trees at Hemlock Lake. When, the old growths came to public knowledge in 2001 - logging was being planned and implemented in the area, but the City of Rochester did agree to a two-year moratorium on logging 212 acres of trees along Hemlock Lake, but this was back in 2002. So, what is happening now? Good question, I wish I knew - when this all started, if I remember correctly, I wrote to the president of the USA, and multiple government representatives urging them to protect Hemlock Lake, but as usual I only received a form letter in return, in some instances I received nothing at all. While this is sad, it is even more shocking to find out that when I wrote to local groups this past summer, who have worked on preserving Hemlock Lake, I didn’t even receive a form response letter of concern, but rather nothing! Meaning, that they either don’t know what is going on, don’t care to respond to my letter, didn’t receive it, or are just taking their sweet old time (being about 3 months now, perhaps more).

Hemlock will always hold a dear spot in my heart for I have spent the majority of my life searching, adventuring, and finding the hidden joy of life within the wilderness of Hemlock. There are many things to hold dear - some of the few I’ve found about this small town have been: 1. the fact that 15 years ago one of, if not the only place to find a nesting Bald Eagle in New York State was at the south end of Hemlock Lake, now there are a couple more and they are moving to places outside of Hemlock 2. The series of three large waterfalls that run into Hemlock Lake 3. The black bears that lurk through the night and are said to inhabit the area surrounding Hemlock 4. The coyotes that howl in the night, unfortunately folks in Hemlock have been known to shoot them 5. The old ghost town that is behind the town of Hemlock, known as Jacksonville 6. The buried treasure of 1777, General Sullivan’s March Through Hemlock (George Washington ordered this march, resulting in the genocide of the natives) and the buried treasure remains, or does it? 7. The Catacombs that are hidden within the hills of Hemlock 8. More secrets than I wish to share

I’d like to spend the rest of my life living in Hemlock, New York - but we shall see what happens - writing from the hidden barn of desire amongst the burned out district of Hemlock, New York, I - Phaedo of the Land of Whiskey and Pumpkin Pie extend our greetings to you.

Hemlock and Canadice for $13 million

2010-03-07T20:52:00.004-05:00

Sale of Hemlock, Canadice lakes could go to city council this week from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

To sum up, legislation may go forth in the Rochester, New York City Council authorizing the sale for around $13 million worth of city-owned land surrounding Hemlock and Canadice lakes to the State of New York.

Looking forward to writing some thoughts down on all of this soon in the coming week...

Age of Ice

2010-02-07T21:19:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note on Hemlock and Canadice Lakes

2010-01-27T19:19:00.005-05:00

[Hemlock Lake, close to north end, looking south]

In not so shocking news the City of Rochester and State of New York are in the last stages of finalizing the sale/purchase of 7,100 acres in and around the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes of Hemlock and Canadice.

Anyways, there should be some more news to come regarding this in the not-so-distant future - and hopefully a larger dissection and analysis of everything surrounding this from yours truly.

Until then, you can always look at the largest online photo gallery of the Hemlock and Canadice region on the Internet (photos also by yours truly) [shameless self-promotion I know]

Hyrdo-frac'd Up[state]! New York Water

2009-12-24T12:59:00.006-05:00

Recently, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) of New York State released its draft "Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement" (SGEIS) for drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale.

Here are three timely links that I like, discussing the extremely negative effects this process has on the environment.

***Damning New Evidence Raises Concerns About Threats to New York's Water From Gas Drilling
- A very informative piece, touched with personal experiences, about New York possibly becoming the next state to become embroiled in a mess of litigation and public outcry over a controversial drilling technique.

***Frac Attack: Dawn of the Watershed
- An 18-minute movie, that you can watch online, with zombies, bad water, and some violence about a frac'd up situation. From the movie page:

"When the town of Ithaca, New York gets fracked by natural gas drilling, the water goes sour and the citizens start craving human flesh. Anna and other survivors band together to save their community."

***Can you do this with your drinking water? [15 second movie clip] (spoiler, the water from the tap catches on fire! still gotta see it to believe it)

Poop Water

all our comrades!!!

2009-12-19T00:32:00.005-05:00

"How did I get out alive?"

get ready for the most proper english ever.

i've been on a break from this blog. call it retirement #3, if you are really keeping track, which i bet most of you are not. so, anyways - sorry if you really got by on this each day, you should have left me a message here, and perhaps i would have made a post just for you, maybe even about you. though, i guess you still have your chance in the long run, go ahead and try, i'd be delighted.

but, things have been a little bit busy for me, not crazy - just busy... mostly with things that i would rather not necessarily be doing. plus, i've moved - and lost my favorite spot of reflection... though, i'll always be back home.

anyways, overall. i do have a new blog now. i will also continue to update this blog, mostly with photos and maybe if you're (un)lucky, some random thoughts. in terms of the new blog, it is a different direction - that some will expect from me, and in terms on being somewhat anonymous still, just ask me in person if you are curious. reasons for new blog: 1.) google is [has] taken over the world 2.) facebook is crazy 3.) myspace is 1995 4.) i'm somewhat of a solitary being, but i also like to share my thoughts with the world, and most of the time i'm not too shy about it 5.) exciting things 6.) we shall see where they lead 7.) more focused writing, to a more focused crowd (?) 8.) less pictures vs. more pictures 9.) learning to write again 10.) anarchy planet! 11.) nos vemos (c-ya)!!!

love you still, even though we don't talk

- wild turkey desire

ontario lake bluffs against all odds: new texas hold'em poker tourny

2009-11-02T00:39:00.005-05:00

Drifting Through the Fall

2009-10-23T11:54:00.004-04:00

Some pictures of Fall in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate, New York:

Underneath the Pavers!

2009-10-12T19:29:00.002-04:00

[underneath the paving stones, the beach!]

[someone likes videogames a little too much...]

[kind of coolio]

["dance you fools" - so true!]

On the Reorganization of Images

2009-09-27T12:03:00.004-04:00

After waging an epic battle against the Google image database known as Picasa, I've finally managed to break the strangle hold it has had over my organization skills. For your viewing pleasure, I've reorganized most of the images that I've uploaded online into some more defined areas. There are still some older images from Blogger that have not made the jump onto the Picasa database, but for the most part I think the majority of images should be somewhere on there. So, technically - if you want to see everything, just start from the beginning of this blog and go a whiles in (because I had this blogger account before Picasa was used to store the images).

Canadice and Hemlock photo gallery

To my knowledge I believe this is the largest collection of images from the Hemlock and Canadice region of Upstate, New York. Currently there are 235 up, and this is the gallery that will always be growing the most. Hemlock and Canadice are the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes, making them especially lovely places to photograph. Should be more news about these two places up and coming soonish...

Cuba photo gallery

These photos are mostly from La Habana, but there are also some from Santiago de Cuba. There are currently 45 images here.

Mexico photo gallery

These photos are from all over Mexico. I might try and tag these photos a little better to shed some light on locations. Currently there are 17 images here.

and of course there is still the large collection of all the images mashed together into one album, plus many more that currently have not been organized.... Stalking the Earth images

How Alienated are You?

2009-09-18T21:38:00.003-04:00

Please, feel free to share your alienation responses...

From the back inside cover of "Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed" #59, POB 3448 Berkeley, CA 94703.

to the daring belongs the future

2009-09-17T17:41:00.006-04:00

photo by Ananah Miss
Usually, I never really do "other peoples blogs", but I guess I have let that slip a few times in the past... so here is another set of blogs from some good friends of mine.

You can add these fine writing friends of mine to my dossier of something good to read on a Sunday. First up, is the daily mango by ironbeard. If you're very observant, you may recognize that ironbread beard fartucci has created numerous images that have been posted to my blog (well, more than a couple).

Next up - who needs god, when you've got dogs? (dude, don't get it? just reverse the spelling and you will find my pathetic attempt at a joke, thanks to Jack Kerouac and being a teenager) Anyways, Sticks and Stones by Ananah Miss. Perhaps, you may notice that the photos in this blog post are actually from Ananah Miss, meaning that I no longer have any good photos to post because Ananah will be doing it all! (just kidding, soon I will reorganize my photos a little differently for easier browsing). Anyways, you probably know the old saying that "sticks and stones, will break my bones, but words will never hurt me" - so think about that. Hopefully I don't get beat up for posting Ananah's photos, Ananah is a brawler... ;-)

Besitos!

photo by Ananah Miss

and if you've been wondering why infoshop.org is always down, please look no further...Kayne West takes over infoshop.org

or you can let me google that for you to find the answer (not that you should expect a real answer or deserve one dear reader) [in the best sense of (bad) humour, heres to you!]

the secret is to really begin

2009-09-07T14:27:00.006-04:00

So, I've moved!

And while it is really exciting, it is also never fun to leave a place you love so dearly. I have been having brief moments of nostalgia and fond memories of my old little town in the middle of no where.

Anyways, things are changing - and I'm looking forward to the fall leaves changing as well. I think fall is one of my favorite times of the year, just something about it, that brings a smile to my face. And then the winter! Goodness, I'm not really looking forward to 5 months of overcast weather and little to no sun, but I think we can handle it, especially if we have tons of snow (which I love). A couple of years ago, after living in the tropics for a while - I came up with idea of a "cold climate perspective of the body" - which means, well, basically that I like cold weather a lot more than warm weather. At least, not breaking into a full on sweat after walking for one minute down the street in your shorts and t-shirt.

Lots of good friends here, and things to be excited about, like interesting projects to work on and all that jazz. So, I'll stop talking about my life, and you can tell me about yours, dear reader, if you so please.

P.S. this was my moving song, plus song about lovin'. So if you dare, have a listen and a little peak into my so-called life... You better get your move on!

P.S.S. on second thought, the majik 8-ball was right! Which is scary because, how do computers know so much about me!!!? Well, more exciting posts to come sooner or later. Chao picos!

We're Mostly Made of Water

2009-08-16T19:37:00.007-04:00

[Hemlock Lake (Finger Lakes, Upstate - New York)]
An interesting article from a couple of days ago asks the question - Should Water Be Legislated as a Human Right? Here is an excerpt from the article:

The U.N. says that close to 880 million people - mostly in the developing world - lack adequate access to clean water. By 2030, close to 4 billion people could be living in areas suffering severe water stress, mostly in South Asia and China.

A study commissioned by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), released in March, said the global market for water supply, sanitation and water efficiency is worth over 250 billion dollars - and is likely to grow to nearly 660 billion dollars by 2020.

[Ontario Lake (Great Lakes, New York)]
And another excerpt from the article as well:

Many municipalities worldwide are reversing the privatisation of their water services. The City of Paris, for example, is bringing its water services into the public sphere for the first time ever.

"We are also successfully introducing the notion of water as a public trust in political jurisdictions, asserting public control over this vital resource," Barlow said. However, she noted, "we must be ever vigilant as new forms of private control are being advanced: water markets, water banking, water trading and water speculation are all on the horizon for those who would impose a market model of water allocation in the place of the public trust doctrine."

[Ontario Lake (Great Lakes, New York)]
I share some of these thoughts, mainly as a way to break the silence of this blog, share some photos, and do some thinking surrounding water. Having grown up literally surrounded by lakes, rivers, streams (you name it) sometimes it is easy to take these things for granted. For example, here is an article from today's New York Times, River Basin Fight Pits Atlanta Against Neighbors about the long raging battle between the States of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida over the issue of water use.

Back in Upstate, New York it has been an incredibly rainy summer with the lakes brimming full. As readers of this blog may already know - perhaps, sometime later this summer (or perhaps who knows when) the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes of Hemlock and Canadice will more than likely be sold to the State of New York from the City of Rochester for millions of dollars.

Water! Sometime soonish, I hope to have a full-blown off the wall review and critique of everything having to do with this, in some form or another (as if you weren't already sick enough of this topic). But, don't hold your breath too long, I'm extremely curious as to other folks thoughts surrounding this subject as well, so please feel free to leave a thoughtful comment.

Drink up!

Spies Like Us": On Friends Becoming (in)Famous

2009-08-03T21:41:00.007-04:00

Immortalized by Googles Technique

Welcome back (or "wb" as many of you may already know). A lot has been going on, and I've been rather busy - so sorry if you really missed me updating this blog (it has been known to happen). But, I just realized that it is like four years or something that this blog has been "alive" with pretty much at least one post a month. I know, my back itches and I'm patting it... Still, my friends have not met the blog off challenge and victory has tasted ohhh soooo sweet. :-) [wtd: looks at friends and tastes the sweetness!] (admits defeat by some)

So, what are some things we've been missing? Hrmm, well - I'm not really sure they've been missed, but one thing for sure - some just might know this character who also happens to run into another character. It's it like a play, with your friend as one of the main characters and the other one has a famous song named after him, but he is just pretending to be it, hiding something. So, what is this you ask?

It even made this past Sundays New York Times, so how could you not know about all the news fit for print...?: Army Looking Into Monitoring of Protest Groups

Get this! (if you didnt just read that):

Brendan Maslauskas Dunn, Olympia-based activist with Students for a Democratic Society and Port Militarization Resistance. He submitted the Freedom of Information Act request that revealed his friend and fellow activist “John Jacob” was actually military spy John Towery.

- from Democracy Now! Broadcast Exclusive: Declassified Docs Reveal Military Operative Spied on WA Peace Groups, Activist Friends Stunned (includes hour long video of Maslauskas being interviewed with friends + other comments)

I love the part above where it says "Activist friends stunned". [Duh!] For me, the stunning thing is the way this was uncovered, freedom of information request about anachy / anarchism / anarchists, and then piling over everything that came back. Thanks to Brendan and friends for being some of the most interesting investigative journalists I can remember for sometime now.

Maslauskas went on to write some about the incident:

This information is perhaps the beginning of a larger network of surveillance across the nation.

- Spy for the US Military Exposed: Spent Last Two Years Spying on Activists

and here, a related post that is also worth the read, written by some other folks: Abrahadabra: A Collapsed Building In 4 Parts

Do You Feel Alive?

2009-07-02T16:33:00.005-04:00

[as the rain rolls in]

[the tree that is pretty much in every photo]

[somethings got to feed this beast]

[this leads somewhere...]

[note to builders - next time you might want to build it a little further away from shore, as you can partly see, this wooden structure is about to be eaten by the lake]

[this is what agriculture looks like 100 years on, be careful]

[and this is what a house looks like]

[the only thing that remained was this little table built between two trees]

[and another unnamed little waterfalls]

And now something to celebrate:

*****

A New Declaration of Independence
By Emma Goldman (1909)

When, in the course of human development, existing institutions prove inadequate to the needs of man, when they serve merely to enslave, rob, and oppress mankind, the people have the eternal right to rebel against, and overthrow, these institutions.

The mere fact that these forces — inimical to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — are legalized by statute laws, sanctified by divine rights, and enforced by political power, in no way justifies their continued existence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all human beings, irrespective of race, color, or sex, are born with the equal right to share at the table of life; that to secure this right, there must be established among men economic, social, and political freedom; we hold further that government exists but to maintain special privilege and property rights; that it coerces man into submission and therefore robs him of dignity, self-respect, and life.

The history of the American kings of capital and authority is the history of repeated crimes, injustice, oppression, outrage, and abuse, all aiming at the suppression of individual liberties and the exploitation of the people. A vast country, rich enough to supply all her children with all possible comforts, and insure well-being to all, is in the hands of a few, while the nameless millions are at the mercy of ruthless wealth gatherers, unscrupulous lawmakers, and corrupt politicians. Sturdy sons of America are forced to tramp the country in a fruitless search for bread, and many of her daughters are driven into the street, while thousands of tender children are daily sacrificed on the altar of Mammon. The reign of these kings is holding mankind in slavery, perpetuating poverty and disease, maintaining crime and corruption; it is fettering the spirit of liberty, throttling the voice of justice, and degrading and oppressing humanity. It is engaged in continual war and slaughter, devastating the country and destroying the best and finest qualities of man; it nurtures superstition and ignorance, sows prejudice and strife, and turns the human family into a camp of Ishmaelites.

We, therefore, the liberty-loving men and women, realizing the great injustice and brutality of this state of affairs, earnestly and boldly do hereby declare, That each and every individual is and ought to be free to own himself and to enjoy the full fruit of his labor; that man is absolved from all allegiance to the kings of authority and capital; that he has, by the very fact of his being, free access to the land and all means of production, and entire liberty of disposing of the fruits of his efforts; that each and every individual has the unquestionable and unabridgeable right of free and voluntary association with other equally sovereign individuals for economic, political, social, and all other purposes, and that to achieve this end man must emancipate himself from the sacredness of property, the respect for man-made law, the fear of the Church, the cowardice of public opinion, the stupid arrogance of national, racial, religious, and sex superiority, and from the narrow puritanical conception of human life. And for the support of this Declaration, and with a firm reliance on the harmonious blending of man's social and individual tendencies, the lovers of liberty joyfully consecrate their uncompromising devotion, their energy and intelligence, their solidarity and their lives.

*****

If you liked that (and are from Upstate), you also might like to check out:
In November, We Remember: Emma Goldman & Upstate, NY!!!
by Problema Goldman [who just so happens to be a friend of mine ;)]

Put that in your computer and smoke it!

First Day of Summer

2009-06-21T21:02:00.002-04:00

Something Good to Read on a Sunday

2009-05-31T15:15:00.008-04:00

The Biggest Thing Since Chopped Bread

If you like fresh air and clean water you'll probably love this project: (okay, okay sarcasm aside this really is an amazing thing, thank you for your hard work librarians)

We introduce, for your pleasure, The Anarchist Library, an archive of anarchist texts: books, essays, and articles. We hope that this archive grows from its initial selection of over 400 titles (books, essays, and articles) into a comprehensive textual library that spans the entirety of anarchist thought.

- continue reading at The Anarchist Library

Hemlock and Canadice: City of Rochester Confident of Sale to New York State

2009-05-29T15:08:00.010-04:00

A recent City Newspaper article, Lakes land deal may be near uncovers a little bit of interesting information surrounding the possible sale.

Basically, when City of Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy released released the annual 2009-10 budget proposal two weeks ago, he included a $2-million line that counts on revenue from the sale of the property. He also wrote in his budget introduction "I anticipate that the city will sell our watershed to New York State in the coming months and ensure this land will be forever wild,".

The article also goes on to say that the city and state appraisals of the land are very close to one another, even though no official appraisal has been released by either party. It also says that if the deal falls through, due to something like the economic crisis, then the Nature Conservancy is ready to step in and help the State obtain the properties.

What I'm curious about is if people are for or against this? And why? It seems overall, that a pretty nice picture has been painted by those involved and those that like to talk. How do you think the overall process has been? Has it been conducted behind doors or open for all? How much do you think these places are worth?

And to conclude, on an early conclusion... Not to brag or anything, but I think I've done a better job at overall reporting then all of the other news organizations involved. Given that, most of the time they are the ones breaking the news... it is just that I've dug deeper, went to the roots, live it daily, and constantly reported every single small piece of news I can find or make up about these places. Yes, I know what you're thinking - "Oh my gawd, this kid has a big head!" Think what you want, all I'm really saying is that what ever happened to being a journalist? And, that I like to type a lot.

Blame the 1960s

2009-05-21T20:41:00.005-04:00

Sometime ago, wandering around in some remote woods, I stumbled across this collection of rocks along the ground. Here is your 15 minutes of Internet fame, where ever you are...

Very close by the rock peace sign was this dare-devil of a rock sculpture right by the mouth of the falls. They must have been high or something.

From a little different angle. I think I'm onto something, I've been finding a lot of this kinds of rock creations around here. I think we have a serial rock artista on our hands, or perhaps a group... Who really knows these days?

Collective No Stress Makes No Sense

2009-05-17T16:42:00.006-04:00

You may remember a couple of months ago, there was a similar video posted here too...

The duo released a single entitled D.A.N.C.E.. The song is a simple fusing of old, simple pop songs. Countless people have heard this song alongside countless other pop songs. The duo also recorded a track called Stress. Knowing the song would never be played on the radio, a music video was made which was so disturbing it would not be aired on television.

In the video , a group of youths in the Parisian suburbs is shown walking out of a lifeless environment into the heart of Paris. They all wear the same black jackets. On the back of their jackets is a glowing golden cross. They are united in their urge to destroy the smooth-functioning world outside their prisons. The youths proceed to assault women, break kid's guitars, smash tourist's cameras, knock off car mirrors, smash up a white bar and knock out the owner, fight the police, escape, steal a car and then molotov it. All the time the youths are being filmed by a white camera crew, making the video appear to be real.

While driving away in their stolen car, the youths turn on the radio. D.A.N.C.E. is playing over the speakers. One of the youths smashes the radio in disgust and throws it out the window. After molotoving their stolen car, having nothing left to destroy, the youths turn on the camera men. The video ends with the camera on the ground, filming the flames of the burning vehicle.

(None of this has anything to do with anarchism, by the way).

The collective singularity of a gang is itself. It cares little for anything outside of itself. The gang in the video destroys the very thing rendering them into images. Their rage will not allow itself to be diluted by the common singularity the wealthy and privileged and thoughtful (YOU AND I) are mired in.

They will steal your Ipods and cameras and laptops. They will laugh at your hip clothing. When they come for you, they won't give a shit about anarchism. The more you try to be like them, the more pitiful you will look when they find you. Just as the video attempts to illustrate, what is coming will destroy what it wishes to and as it likes. What is coming casts no light. It is the black space after the collapse of the star. It no longer acts as a reflection. The mirror people have escaped their framed confines. The more you try to ask them to reflect your image, the more fervently they will break your cameras, smash your computers and burn your cars. The mirror people have no race, no nationality, no politics. They are not you. And you are not them. You have nothing in common with them aside from their reflection on your screen. No light escapes from a black hole. It replies to no questions.

- from Collective Singularity: A Musing On Paralysis

[ps. for the real video in the critique check here and another version that was previously posted at this site, now ---> here]

Property is Theft - Grand Canyon of the East

2009-05-04T20:16:00.013-04:00

every photographers wet dream

ever live within 10 or so miles of a huge tourist attraction, but never really visit it or explore around it in a most scientific manner? join the club de non-tourist exploristas! too bad, we just purged all our membership, and went on this adventure...

***

and some more, from different locations

Piloting the Sale of Hemlock and Canadice: The Last Two Undeveloped Finger Lakes

2009-04-23T20:19:00.012-04:00

Today on the front page of the Livingston County News there is an article about some unresolved tax issues surrounding the future of the possible Hemlock and Canadice Lake sale from the City of Rochester to the State of New York. The issue is over "payments in lieu of taxes" (PILOT) and whether the State will continue to pay them to the benefit of several local governments.

In the 1980s the deal was reached when the City of Rochester agreed to make yearly "payments in lieu of tax" to Livingston and Ontario Counties (the two Counties surrounding the lakes) and each of the towns and school districts in the watershed for the next 40 years (1988-2028). The local governments were also promised a discounted rate for water.

According to the article, the "big question" is who is going to continue the PILOT payments after a possible sale of the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes. Does New York State have an obligation to pay them until the contract expires in 2028 or should the City of Rochester continue doing so? It goes on to say that, if both parties are reluctant to do so, then the question may have to be settled in court.

On another related note, the article also mentions and discusses some opposition to the recent purchase of Hemlock Lake Park for $118,000 by the Town of Livonia. For once, I'm somewhat impressed with The Livingston County News, but not too impressed because somehow they still managed to have multiple errors in the mentioned article alone (does anyone proof for you?). But, it was a nice little piece of reporting that I have not seen mentioned anywhere else (cough cough Democrat and Chronicle). What I would really like to see is an full-on in-depth article with multiple color photos published in one of the newspapers about the subject of Hemlock and Canadice. I can write it for the small fee of $1,000... you can leave a comment below, if you so wish.

Concretion: A bulbous mineral concretion usually found within a layer of sedimentary rock, which are often called "turtle stones". They are formed by the minerals found within a rock layer precipitating towards a nucleus (mineral or bone) and under extreme pressure, in turn forming a rock, harder than the surrounding rock.

[Is this a turtle stone?]
You know what I hate? People who take turtle stones out of the local gullies and put them in their back yard. Screw your back yard!

[anyone know what kind of flower this is? and if it is native to Upstate?]

[this is a huge one from the underside looking up (duh!)]

[this is one of the most unusual fungi I've ever come across... anyone know what it is? Does it cure cancer?]

[unnamed, unmarked waterfall mapping project... coming soon?]

The Invisible City of the Northeast

2009-04-21T16:50:00.004-04:00

[overlooking the City of Philadelphia (Fairmount Park area)]

[a bridge connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania over the Delaware River, near the City of Philadelphia]

Someday You'll Be a Cookie Too!

2009-04-14T21:15:00.011-04:00

[Canadice Lake, south end looking north]
Ever wonder where stuff has been before you eat it? Like maybe, water...? Like, just maybe that water you're drinking, was actually dinosaur pee before that delicious refreshing cold glass touched your lips? Here is a story that has been blowing up on the Internet as of late. Supposedly, Leon Trotsky's ashes were stolen from their place of rest on the outskirts of Mexico City and then baked into cookies, and sent out to the media, Trotsky's followers, and anarchists around the world. Whether it is true or not, has yet to be proven... but, it could just be possible, then again it did happen awfully close to April Fools Day. Decide for yourself, here is some of the story:

Eighty eight years of the day Trotsky directed the suppression of the anarchist uprising in Krondstadt, a group of bandits scaled the walls of his former house in Mexico City during the late hours at night. We broke the lock on his mausoleum and we expropriate the content inside it: a silver large vase that bears the inscription of his name, wrapped in the red scarf that he carried around the neck, containing the ashes of the corpse inside. We replace with care the lock in the monument with a reproduction that was similar in the appearance and escaped into the night.

The vase along with its content then was taken far away to a place where the vase was discarded and the content (a combination of ash and bone) were baked in cookies. These cookies then were sent, along with a letter that explains our actions, to newspapers, to organizations of Trotskyists, and to the groups of anarchist around the world.

While we will not repeat everything of our full letter, briefly we propose to give new light to the idea that history does not end with the past and still a small group of bandits can give new direction to fights thought long to be frozen in the time. We want to expand the fight to include dead objects of the past that hold hostage us in the present.

Nevertheless, if Trotsky is right about the history, we do not determine anything, but we are only characters whose actions were written in the revolution of October. As was his destiny, coincidentally, to come to be a cookie.

The ones that receive these cookies have a decision. Through time, the act to consume enemies have been seen as a way to absorb their powers. On the other hand, consuming the body and the blood of the dead person as a sacrament have also been a form of worship. We would want to indicate that, at any rate, the result is always shit.

For those a little delicate, we have tried them, and although they be a little sandy, they are delicious. The green dots, by the way, they are just candies

- from Infoshop News (look at all those comments!)

ps. whoever said anarchists don't have a sense of humor?

Swimming Against Time

2009-04-10T18:55:00.005-04:00

[Hemlock Lake north end looking south]

I would like to swim against the stream of time:
I would like to erase the consequences of certain events
and restore an initial condition.
But every moment of my life brings with it an accumulation of new facts
and each of these new facts brings with it its consequences;
so the more I seek to return to the zero moment from which I set out,
the further I move away from it;
though all my actions are bent on erasing the consequences of previous actions
and though I manage to achieve appreciable results in this erasure,
enough to open my heart to hopes of immediate relief,
I must,
however,
bear in mind that my every move to erase previous events
provokes a rain of new events,
which complicate the situation worse than before
and which I will then,
in their turn,
have to try to erase.

Therefore
I must calculate carefully every move
so as to achieve
the maximum of erasure
with the minimum of recomplication.

- An excerpt from If on a winter's night a traveler
By Italo Calvino

Stolen Blogs

2009-04-08T20:26:00.004-04:00

Play me a stolen blog... sooner or later, we just might steal them all, who cares if they know...?

[that's alright]

everything should be free!

Que Cosa?

2009-04-04T16:13:00.006-04:00

[grapevines, liberate your mind?]

Top Ten List
one. spring (the sun and warmness)
two. and then, summer (more sun, and more warmness)
three. soon to be unemployed
four. making choices, large and small
five. good vibes, especially music with it!
six. friends, only get better with time, just like wine
seven. some wine just sucks though
eight. make your own wine
nine. hooping on the wine-less wagon, or any break, forever long
ten. living life and being happy with what you're doing

The Lower Gull, Lowest of the Low

2009-03-29T18:53:00.004-04:00

[lower Reynolds Gull, close to where it runs into Hemlock Lake inlet]

[close to the shore of the South end of Hemlock Lake (inlet), next to the Gull]

[the lower Gull, before it joins the inlet/Lake]

Town of Livonia Buys Hemlock Lake Park

2009-03-26T21:08:00.006-04:00

[North end of Hemlock Lake, looking towards the Park]

The Town of Livonia has just announced that they have bought the 23 acres of Hemlock Lake Park for $118,000. In the big picture, this small purchase of land around one of the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes can be seen as a sign of the larger pieces of the puzzle coming together in the overall sale of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes.
***
(Food for thought: Can a blog really break news on the Internet? Obviously, someone is slacking if I have beat you to the punch line.... or maybe I'm deep up in the loop?)

Turn Up the Headphones

2009-03-25T23:37:00.003-04:00

Justesse No Stress (Parodie du clip de Justice)

Come Up With a Definition

2009-03-20T20:51:00.006-04:00

Fill in the Blanks, and Debate the Answers
These are some of the "categories" in the soon to be officially anounced and upcoming ADS (Anarchist Decimal System). Looking for more thoughts and comments on your ideas of the definition, please feel free to also share your own ideas...
- The Anarchist Library

* anarcho-communist:

* anti-civ: relating to the idea that civilization (broadly defined) is a (or the) major source of our problems today

* anti-work: relating to the idea that work is one of the main ways that people are oppressed today, that work (as opposed to labor) is unnecessary to human happiness and can be done away with

* art/aesthetics: relating to an aesthetic sense, beauty, sensory experience of pleasurable or stirring nature

* biography: giving information about someone's life, the events they lived through, the trajectory of their thought as it related to things that happened to them, etc.

* classical: the body of anarchist thought that happened before the Situationists, including Proudhon, Berkman, Goldman, De Cleyre, Bakunin, Makhno, Kropotkin, etc. or that is based on that body of thought, for example the Platformists.

* critical/critique: questioning premises and assumptions that might otherwise be taken for granted, asking difficult questions of other anarchists as well as of non-anarchists

* dual structure: the idea that people can and should be building alternative institutions within the hegemony of the current order, as a way to dismantle current power structures, create better new ones, and prefigure a revolutionary (and post-revolutionary) context

* economics: relating to markets, exchange, and how people get their material needs met

* egoist: relating to Stirner's emphasis of the individual as being the source of all goodness

* green: relating to the natural world, an emphasis on our relationships to land, water, air, and animals (including each other)

* history: historical events and their relationships to each other (vs philosophy)

* identity: thought about how people identify themselves and how that relates to how they think and what they do

* individualist:

* insurrectionary:

* introductory: texts that are useful for people who have not previously read much (or anything) about anarchist thought or action

* mahknovist:

* marxist:

* mutualist:

* nihilist:

* platform:

* post-anarchist:

* post-left: critical of the Left as being no more than loyal opposition to the current state of affairs, including moralist, democratic, and representational, etc.

* psychological: relating to how people think and feel, specifically how that relates to anarchist philosophy and goals

* red: relating to marxist thought, specifically the role of working people (of whatever denomination) in creating fundamental change in society

* second wave (roughly post-sit):

* situationist:

* syndicalist: promoting the idea that labor unions are a significant force for revolution and that democratic worker self-management should replace what currently exists

As the Waters Rise...

2009-03-09T20:35:00.009-04:00

[Hemlock Lake freezing over]
For Sale: Hemlock and Canadice

Rochester and New York state officials say they're progressing toward a state purchase of 7,100 city-owned acres around Hemlock and Canadice lakes, though questions remain about timing and funding for the long-discussed deal.

An Albany advocacy group said last week that the state Environmental Protection Fund, which would supply money for the land purchase, is "virtually insolvent." That would seem to rule out any acquisition in the current fiscal year, which ends March 31. Officials had said they hoped to consummate the deal before then.

No decision has been made yet how much money will be placed in the fund next year, or which projects will get priority.

- read the rest of the story here: N.Y. state money woes plague Finger Lakes land deal with Rochester (March 9th, 2009)

Wait and see what happens... But, someday soon I will try and have my own analysis of the situation, from the place I've always considered home.

Upstate: Can you even remember / Breathing freely at all

New York: From Rochester with Love
Rochester Students for a Democratic Society has been very active in the past few months since forming. They've had at least two successful solidarity actions – one in support of the uprising in Greece and another for Oscar Grant (see Oakland on Fire, front page). Currently, they are organizing a Do-It-Yourself Festival and March 19 anti-war activities, among other events.

New York: IthAca Update
IthAca is staying warm this winter with a turbo boost of kick-ass projects and community building. While there are many exciting things happening around here in this small, hilly city, the anarchist folks (us) here at the local radical distro have some very specific updates from the Silent City. Read this like newsflash headlines. If you want more, you’re gonna have to get our zine.

and... save the best for last

Announcing the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed
By far, one of my favorite magazines. And not only that, but one of the best out there. Tremendous love - someday soon I will submit something to AJODA and you will never be able to read it on this blog - the only way to read it will be through AJODA!!!

All I have to say is more "salacious letters" that we all love! Can't wait to read the new issue. If you're my friend, and currently steal "my" copy of AJODA, may I suggest that you get a freaking subscription already($20=5 issues). Plus, this is the last newsstand issue, only subscriptions from now on...(?) Get it while anarchy is still hot for the spring season.

On Finding Hidden Treasure

2009-03-04T15:04:00.010-05:00

Today I went exploring, it takes up a lot of my time. But, today was unique because I found something unusual - a hidden treasure.

In a secret location, which I will not reveal I stumbled upon this old ammo box. It looked curious, and pretty old. Hrrrmmm... So, I opened it hoping not to find some litter critter waiting to spring out at me or an actual box of ammo hidden in the woods.

My eyes must have lite up when I saw what was actually in there. A bunch of little things, with a small notepad filled with notes from the others who have also found the hidden treasure.

The notepad was in a little sealed plastic bag, so I took it out and opened it up. Inside, there was a bunch of little funny notes from everyone who has found the box also. I didn't read them all, but perhaps I will return at a later date and read up. I might have also left a little note...

On the very first page was the date 8/3/03, so I'm guessing this box has been hidden around there since then, it is now 2009. I've been in this area many times before, but never found the box, only by chance did I find it this time, which made it kind of special.

The above picture may or may not be a little hint as to the location of the hidden treasure. Of which, I took the liberty to re-hide in a different spot for the pleasure of those in the future who may also come across it.

Spring: The Retake

2009-03-02T18:03:00.005-05:00

[getting an early start]

[ever so slowly melting]

[looks more fun than it actually is]

Our epoch is an epoch of decadence. Bourgeois-christianplebeian civilization arrived at the dead end of its evolution a long time ago.

Democracy has arrived!

But under the false splendor of democratic civilization, higher spiritual values have fallen, shattered.

Willful strength, barbarous individuality, free art, heroism, genius, poetry have been scorned, mocked, slandered.

And not in the name of "I", but of the "collective". Not in the name of "the unique one", but of society.

Thus christianity---condemning the primitive and wild force of the virgin instinct-killed the vigorously pagan "concept" of the joy of the earth. Democracy-its offspring-glorified itself making the justification for this crime and reveling in its grim and vulgar enormity.

Already we knew it!

- from Towards a Creative Nothing by Renzo Novatore

Spring is Almost Here

2009-02-27T18:16:00.005-05:00

Review: Letters of Insurgents

2009-02-22T11:28:00.001-05:00

Letters of Insurgents. By Sophia Nachalo and Yarostan Vochek (Fredy Perlman). Published by Black and Red in Detroit, 1976.

Drawing a Line Between Love and (anti-)Politics

"the only meaningful human activity is to destroy capitalism in all its manifestations, in every way possible."

- Sophia Nachalo

For sometime now, I've found myself enveloped in the 831 pages of Letters of Insurgents by Sophia Nachalo and Yarostan Vochek. It is a book of postal letters and correspondence by two former lovers who now live continents away; imagine the East meets West - Old World meets New World. Sophia and Yarostan are actually the pseudonym of one person - Fredy Perlman, who brilliantly weaves together the vast moments and situations of their respective lives, including that of their family, friends, and enemies. It is a remembrance of their past, a dialogue of their success and failure, and a sharing of the unknown present experience. To be completely honest, Letters of Insurgents (from here on in referred to as Letters) is by far one of the greatest books I've ever had the chance to read; it is up there with One Hundred Years of Solitude and Finnegan's Wake for me. I only hope I can describe a little bit of the magic it brings to me for you in yet another "brief, yet triumphant review." One thing for sure, I will be reading more Fredy Perlman in the future.

Letters is an enormous book, which took me many quiet, long, cold and snowy winter nights and days to read. Is that why winter is nice? It is so big in fact, I think to truly grasp everything in it, I'm going to have to give it another read, sometime in the distant future. What kept me going and constantly putting off, perhaps more important matters in my life, was the feeling of connection the book gave me, including now wanting to try and share that something with my friends again, even if through a different medium. It is a beautiful story, at times heartbreaking and tragic, while at other times inspiring and full of awe. Published in 1976, the book has been around longer than me and I figured that as such, it would already have a glorious review - but, alas it is intimidating to think that this effort is perhaps, the first of its kind. The one commentary that I found very insightful is from Having Little, Being Much: A Chronicle of Fredy Perlman's Fifty Years by Lorraine Perlman (pages 91-92), of which a small excerpt follows below:

Fredy loved words, appreciated the diversity of languages, liked to mimic vocal patterns, to insert Serbian or French words into commonplace English expressions, to devise multi-lingual puns. His playful use of words appeared rarely in his writing, and then mainly in the choice of names for his characters.

Fredy was also awed by the power of words and knew his life had been deeply affected by thoughtful writers from his own and earlier eras. The shrinking arena for meaningful political activity in the early 1970s led Fredy to see himself less as an "activist" and more as a "rememberer." Fredy particularly wanted to "remember" the rebel, the individual who resisted the limitations imposed by his or her society. In Letters of Insurgents, his contribution to a history of the period in which he lived, he recorded various forms of rebellion; he was acquainted with many of them first-hand. He also recorded the dead ends, the co-optation and the thwarting of rebellious projects. The 830-page book, all words, was completed in 1976 and was a synthesis of most of Fredy's forty-two years; it follows fairly closely Fredy's physical and intellectual journeys, reporting the upheavals which had affected him, his family and his comrades in the middle third of the twentieth century.

Much of Fredy's own biography was given to Sophia, one of the correspondents, whose life was punctuated by the peaks of enthusiasm and depths of disillusion as she repeatedly embraced a political/philosophic outlook and came to see its flaws. Sophia's first name denotes "wisdom," her last name is Nachalo, meaning "beginning," and despite her repeated disillusion with firmly-held tenets, she remains undaunted in her search for a new beginning.

By endowing certain characters in Letters with a fixed ideological perspective, Fredy evaluated many of his own and his comtemporaries' philosophical and political tenets. Triumphant victorious armies who imposed the "people's will" on a subjugated population had never beguiled Fredy, but advocates of this form of "revolution" - fans of Castro, Ho, Mao, Lenin, among others - had long practiced their persuasive techniques on Fredy. Already in the 1950s he had rejected the possibility of enlightened statesmen charting global policies in the interest of all humans, and his critique of the desirability of such a leader holding the reins of power grew more focused and forceful. The villain of Letters is a humble bureaucrat who, believing he knows what is in his friends' best interests, assists them; a harmful, if not tragic, outcome is the inevitable result of his aid. Fredy's Yugoslav experience had discredited socialist planning from above and he caricatured its advocates in his account of Eastern European career-seeking. The brief sojourn in a university soured Fredy irrevocably toward that institution and his scorn for the system's ignominious mind-police pervades Sophia's account of her American experience.

I think the above quote sums up some of the main ideas of the book in a very lovely manner, so I'll try and touch on some of my more interesting personal experiences having to do with the book that have made this review interesting.

Overhanging Night Stars at the Entrance of Home

It all started about a year or so ago, when I hand wrote and mailed a letter to Little Black Cart (LBC), a distributor of the book, with 20 cold hard dollars enclosed. Bad idea - because someone decided to open the letter before it arrived to the intended guests, and they made off with the $20. Later, I received a very nice postcard from LBC, informing me of this. So, I waited for months until I had enough money to again order it - but, this time from Black and Red, the original publishers of the book. This time, I also hand wrote a note, but instead included a check for the payment. The letter and check arrived and all was well, but when the book was sent - it mysteriously disappeared down the memory hole of the postal system. All I received was some of the other Perlman writings I had ordered, along with a note from the post office telling me that perhaps, some the contents of the package are floating around somewhere in the system, so I should come talk to them. I laughed at the thought of speaking with the post office workers, telling them I'm looking for a book called Letters of Insurgents and wondered what they would think of that... Eventually, third time being a charm and all - and the fact that you should never give up, I was finally able to read a copy of the book, thanks to the kindness of Black and Red for resending another copy - that made it through! I share this story only because I feel it is an ironic experience to go through in reading a book, that details similar experiences of letters being intercepted.

Many of you may know, but just incase the secrets not out there - I used to live in La Habana, Cuba and still have some friends there I communicate with. However, I've found that being from the USA and all can make communication to Cuba a little difficult. We are friends living across border, nothing more, nothing less. In the early December of 2008 I sent a small book and letter to my friend in La Habana - we communicate through electronic mail frequently, and I was skeptical to send something through snail mail (the real post); the book and letter has yet to arrive two and a half months later to my friends in Cuba. From my understanding, it usually takes a month and a half to mail something to Cuba from the United States of America (USA). [updated] About three months later, it finally arrived, we never thought it would, but it did! Never lose hope, failure is the greatest success.

On another related note, it is only a small wonder about who really reads this "blog", and perhaps even as far as my electronic mail these days. Googles' "Blogger" is far from ideal. Sometimes, I also find it interesting to check where the hits (readers) of this blog have been coming from... What is up with the recent interest with readers from McLean, Virgina? Who really knows? I think we all experience different levels of this surveillance in our everyday lives, some much more than others. The pseudonym Wild Turkey Desire has been far from undercover since the very first day, and if anything it is mainly for laughs.

Likewise, in Letters one gets the feeling of the ever-so-possible anticipation of constant tanks arriving, neighbors spying on each other, a letter intercepted, amongst the many others. An example of, this world we live in, is almost like the television many find themselves glued to; ever watching - numbing, and mind fucking (to name just a few). Another thing I've always wondered about, is if the overall quality (generally speaking) of hand-written letters has declined by many of todays writers who prefer e-mail? Throughout Letters, Sophia's and Yarostan's notes to each other demonstrate a quality and feel that made me wonder why my friends and I don't write like that.

Fredy and the Rest of the Book

[Fredy Perlman, 1934-1985]

What's a book? Is it a self-realization as a closed compartment, for example an "insurgent," a category that remains separate from all the other separate categories?

-Sophia Nachalo

There are a lot of different interesting things I could talk about with this review, but for now, I'll only touch upon a brief few. If you would like to discuss parts of the book, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will try and respond, perhaps even others will respond. I also don't want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read it yet. One thing I do want to discuss though, is - not very often do I pick up a book and feel a connection, see something in the characters that I could never really understand before, see friends and situations change with the seasons, and learn things one never could inside of an institution. Sophia and Yarostan, once briefly partners in love and "revolution" become separated for twenty years. Yarostan spends a good deal of time in prision, while Sophia moves to the West. Their letters, spanning some time, is their first communication with each other since being separated twenty years ago.

They talk of unions, strikes, popular armies, militia, insurrection, councils, organization, collectives, class struggle, individuals, print shops, factories, suburban life vs. rural vs. city, success(what is it?), "making good" (what society is all about), and work to name a few. I even found a "self-styled radicals" quote from Fredy in there. If you have some time on your hands, perhaps it is winter where you live, or perhaps it is so hot out that you'd rather not move, or maybe it is just right - anyhow, this is an excellent book no matter the conditions. Please feel free to also share your thoughts on it, I'm still digesting many of my thoughts.

History's instrument was a firing squad!

- Yarostan Vochek

Further reading and listening

Black and Red Books (publisher since 1968!, you can order it from them, Perlman's started it too! [Michigan])

Little Black Cart ("Against the Anthropomorphization of books", and you can also order it from them [Cali.forn.i.a.])

Audio Anarchy: Letters of Insurgents audiobook (all 31 hours of it!)

Fredy Perlman Reference Archive (some info and some works digitized)

Fredy Perlman (Infoshop Open Wiki)

Black and Red Press design

Capital is not a natural force; it is a set of activities performed by people every day; it is a form of dialy life; its continued existence and expansion presuppose only one essential condition: the disposition of people to continue to alienate their working lives and thus reproduce the capitalist form of daily life.

- an excerpt from The Reproduction of Daily Life, by Fredy Perlman; (Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1969.)

ps. this review just might appear in the soon-to-come 8th issue of The Canary, a print zine (for those of you who appreciate that medium still) straight outta the little port town/city of Oswego [!us we go / viva oswegas!] - Upstate, New York.

Exploring in the Woods During Winter

2009-02-21T18:52:00.004-05:00

Amazing Kids, Doing Amazing Shite #1

2009-02-17T18:20:00.006-05:00

[photograph by L., hope you don't mind me using it, this one goes out to you, you're awesome! and i love you! (caption: written on the tray table of my seat while riding the bus from glasgow to edinburgh, scotland]

Herro Internet. I've been doing a little bit of traveling recently, visiting some friends in places across the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Being on the road gives you a lot of thinking time, which is nice. Sometimes, it helps a lot just to go out and adventuring, experiencing different places, traveling... I learn so much from you.

And, on that note -

Amig@s recently spotted on La Internets

The Canary Zine blog - so much more pleasurable than myspace for some reason

Run of the Mill - a hero of mine

Those Days, Too - knu friends!

Ted - that barn silo poster does it for me!

Polar Blog Club - oh my goodness.

Uninspired Ramblings from an Uninspired Rambler - calling in sick today?

it went like this - do i know you? ;)

strange gravy - lets hope it doesn't have meat in it!

The Epicarrion - what does that mean?

Yorkstaters - who are you? and why don't you post anymore?

So, there you have it. This is only the beginning. Sweet dreams...

And some musica too...
Currently listening to: (myspace links...)

No Connection [sexwerk]

The Nojons [philly girl]

Review: The Canary

2009-02-09T16:40:00.006-05:00

[the color cover of The Canary, #six (art by Jonathon)]

We give flight to thought through self-expression, we give change to consistency through self-expression.

-Jules, The Canary, issue #7

Gotta love those Oswego kids. Not so long ago a rag-tag bunch of friends started The Canary 'zine out of the Great Lake of Ontario port city Oswego, New York - the upstate mecca for dirtiness (second only to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica [fathom that!]). So far, the 'zine has published seven different issues, absolutely free, at a somewhat steady rate. It's quiet lovely to find projects like this growing amongst your friends, and I can only hope it continues... so, with that in mind I bring you another brief, yet triumphant review of some past issues of The Canary 'zine from an upstate Finger Lake! analysis.

First, here is a little bit of info about Oswego. It is a lovely little port town/city located along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The Oswego River pretty much bisects the town/city into two different parts, the east side and the west side - connected by two bridges - with the west side being the college town of sorts, and the east side being more residential, if you will. The area has quiet a history and fame due mostly in part to the port and river (location along the lake), the crazy weather, early military outposts, the WWII refuge camp, three nuclear power plants, the university, the amount of drinking establishments, the fishing, and an almost-complete unwritten past before Europeans arrived, plus a lot more that I'm leaving out. Interesting to note among other things, the neighboring town of Fulton was home to the first ever Nestle(tm) USA factory, though like many other capitalist ventures, it too is now closed. And with that, Oswego and the surrounding areas move forward every day.

Sound the Alarm: Not Another Hope Bloc

[Always overcast, Oswego Port and Lighthouse during the winter months]

One thing I have been trying to concentrate on these days is the actual idea of Spring, not just the season. Impossible as it may seem, it's important to try to capture that feeling of excitment to get out of the house and do something, to somehow capture that in a jar and keep it on a shelf, set away for those cold dark days when all seems lost... to be able to open up that jar, take a whiff, and get reinvirgorated, ready to take on the world; to see all of our projects through to the end, and to give life to all of those unrealistic, outlandish and seemingly impossible ideas and dreams that we all harbor within. I guess spring means hope, and with it somewhere out there on the horizon, almost within reach, well, that makes it easier to trudge through all of the shit and evil in this world that we are constantly assaulted with. Sometimes hope is all we have, but that's a whole hell of a lot better than nothing.

- Colin, The Canary, issue #7

And with that issue #7 of The Canary starts. It is a wonderful beginning to a promising continuation. With all honesty, I was about to review of issue #6 of The Canary a while back, but lost the writing touch. And, pretty much have been waiting for something to wake me out of my slumber... from them (and who?). Anyways, it seems like that of many projects, they start off with a head full of steam; then, things happen, folks move away, other stuff; and everything fades into time... (once upon a time). Though, it is understandable, and with great pleasure to have patience; being able to wait is something, very important. And, that is why I loved being able to read issue #7 of The Canary. It brings a smile to my face to read things from my friends; to see this sharing of personal reflections/stories/poems/letters/rants/raves take place. With the death of the newspaper industry and print as we know it, (so it seems), along with what has always been a struggling economy in Upstate... smiles come when friends do it themselves [do it yourself].

It seems that, early on, The Canary started filling pages with top 10 lists... So, in response, here is my current top 10 list -

my top 10 early febrero list:
1. Us We Go! [Oswego, and Upstate all together now, i know, i know... the economy sucks, but it always has, let us forget all that, and have good times]
2. Friends
3. Undevelopment, throw everything away
4. Water, straight from the lake
5. The Finger Lakes, especially Hemlock and Canadice
6. Traveling, vs. staying in the same spot
7. Living outside Rochester, and talking to folks from the Rock, not knowing where we're at
8. Being lost
9. Love, falling in
10. At first sight, hear again, touch and smell
ps. post scripts are the best means to convey true love, or are they...?

So much of a better review waits for the future! What else can be wrote? Sure, a lot. Go ahead, let us get it started. start today.

Check out The Canary here (myspace link)...
or drop them a line at thecanaryzine [at] gmail [dot] com

...And in other news...

Everything is abandoned, everything is falling apart- and we are dancing in the ruins

Modern life as war in nothing new to some of the folks living in Upstate, New York. As the foreclosure crisis continues in New York and across the country, groups of individuals are collaborating across Upstate, New York to "squat one, two many squats". Recently, some housing advocates noted that everyday their are around 157 new housing foreclosures in New York State. And according to RealtyTrac, about 14,000 foreclosure filings were registered in New York during the first three months of 2008. Time to get your grove back, and squat the planet!

[Youtube movie of abandoned houses in Buffalo, New York]

Some other related notes

The Get Free Times is Oswego's finest retired 'zine (2002ish-2006ish), from some mutual amig@s

Bryan with a why? - Bryan Mcpherson's blogspot

Oswego Shows Forum - shows and other online silliness

Run of the - kato with a capital C

Uninspired Ramblings from an Uninspired Rambler - Don't forget to Colin Sick once in a while, por favor

US WE GO!

The Air, Up There

2009-01-28T20:52:00.006-05:00

The Deep Freeze Around Town

2009-01-18T09:21:00.001-05:00

Two Bright Lakes

2009-01-09T00:30:00.002-05:00

Some friends from down under provide a soundtrack to your life...

Two Bright Lakes

Enjoi.

Another Cinema (Whooa)Manifest-toe

2009-01-06T18:04:00.008-05:00

Some folks from fridge Upstate, New York put out this manifesto of sorts...

Every breaking away from the conventional, dead, official cinema is a healthy sign. We need less perfect but more free films. If only our younger film makers–I have no hopes for the old generation–would really break loose, completely loose, out of themselves, wildly, anarchically! There is no other way to break the frozen cinematic conventions than through a complete derangement of the official cinematic senses.

- Jonas Mekas

Syracuse Experimental Film & Media Workshop is a newly formed cooperative of artists, programmers, and educators working to promote and encourage the creation (through experimentation) of film and media as an art form.

- from there's more to film making than making films by Syracuse Experimental

Some previous thoughts

Cinematic Theory of Flow

Manuel of the Zoo... [For Animals Not at the Zoo]

And some previous reviews

The Idiots

Wall Street and Blade Runner: The Cyberpunk-Luddite Complex

Do the Right Thing: By Any Means Necessary, or As Your Promised?

Roger & Me: Capitalism Gives Flint the Jolly Roger

The Haunting Spectacle of Capitalism: "Ha! You think it's funny? Turning rebellion into money?"

Music Rap Up for 2k8

2008-12-29T19:17:00.004-05:00

Another one bites the dust.

The above live music video is by a band called Vessel and the song is called "Home Made Maps". I have to admit, they are my friends. And, honestly who doesn't like home made maps? Tonight was the first time I heard the above song, and it just kind of struck a note in me with everything currently going on in Palestine and Israel. For me, this is a bit of a deeper, darker, and slower song for them; as I think they usually like to sing about ships, the sea, and beerskis (do i generalize much? i think so).

One of my other favorite songs of theirs is "Steel Reserve" about blown amps and rowdy all-week long, leading into the week-end rage, at least I think so... I had the pleasure of seeing them play a month or so ago with a couple of other great bands like Bread and Roses, Mayflower, Goodnight Neverland, Byran McPherson and The Color Wheels...

Some of these kiddos I've known for sometime now. And I'm very impressed. All, I know is that they are some real genuine dudes and now one of my other favorite musicians from an infamous "not punx" band has started playing with them. None other than Jeff from Tomorrow the Gallows, even though I'm still waiting on the Tomorrow the Gallows reunion show with Bert preferably in Oz before everyone sets sail. You gotta!

Anyways, I recommend you check out their website, which has two free EPs for download. Or if you're part of the myspace crowd, check out Vessel.

Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria and the...

And with every good end, comes another bad introduction note. More knarly dudes called Mayflower from (mostly, at some point) Oswego (but, not for long!). I must admit again, these are also my friends. Shameless promo?

I heard they played a show with Bouncing Souls a while back because they are that punk. Ha, just kidding buds! Anyways, I've known the kiddos in his band to play in a multitude of other bands, and this is definitely one of my favorites. At the last show I heard them play some really shredding new song(s?), of which one can only hope will be recorded and passed along... Good job mates! Too bad they are breaking up... (who actually reads blog entries anyways?) They really aren't. But, I've heard some are migrating out of Upstate, which sucks for us"... more good kiddos moving away... sigh.

Anyways, that is my music round up for 2k8. Yes, I know it is only two bands, well for the most part... Ha. Jokes on you.

Dandelions?

2008-12-29T18:58:00.003-05:00

Does anyone know what this is? I guess I should probably look it up...

Through the Hawk's Eyes

2008-12-25T21:16:00.007-05:00

County Line Falls & Hemlock Lake

2008-12-16T14:34:00.006-05:00

Here are some shots from County Line Falls along with some video. It's a really good walk in the woods through public a trail and land. The basin of the upper falls there is really difficult to climb down into, unless of course you're crazy (or maybe brought some rope and spikes). But, walking into the basin of the lower falls is quite easy for exploring. I find these falls interesting because they both kind of have a bowl like shape to them, especially the upper one. Unfortunately, it might not be the easiest thing to decipher from my photos because I didn't climb down into it (to be eaten alive). The last video is from the North end of Hemlock Lake, looking south. Salud!

Upper County Line Falls
Lower County Line Falls

Upper County Line Falls

Lower County Line Falls

North-west end of Hemlock Lake, looking south

Canadice Lake Zoning Update

2008-12-16T09:41:00.006-05:00

The Canadice Town Board amended its zoning law Monday to help pave the way for the sale of Rochester-owned land in Ontario County to New York state.

The five-member board voted unanimously to add a section to the zoning law that does not apply to any specific property.

-an excerpt from Canadice amends zoning laws to expedite sale of Rochester-owned property to state

& also:

Canadice, N.Y. — New York could end up with 8,435 acres around Canadice and Hemlock lakes, if two major land deals are sealed.

The Nature Conservancy will offer to sell more than 1,000 acres in Canadice and Hemlock to the state after New York completes a long-anticipated deal to buy the Canadice and Hemlock lakes watershed from the City of Rochester.

- an excerpt from Non-profit group to offer land to state

Hemlock Lake, north-west side looking south (yeh, I know it's not Canadice)

The Hemlock

2008-12-10T19:37:00.004-05:00

Not the Stuff of Socrates Philosophies
But, rather the always green tree

Life Outside the Office

2008-12-08T16:11:00.014-05:00

The first set of pictures is all of the same gull up to the ice falls. The first video is of those ice falls. The second video is of a less cold different falls from the previous week, before the freeze. These pictures are from the Finger Lakes, but I can't tell you exactly where because of the buried treasure.

Update: Canadice and Hemlock Lakes

2008-12-07T08:49:00.004-05:00

North end of Canadice Lake, looking south
Here is an excerpt from a recent article surrounding the sale:

Canadice is ready to adopt a new zoning law this month with the hope that it be completely forgotten five minutes later.

It’s all part of the last-minute red tape before the state can buy the 7,100 acres of land around Hemlock and Canadice lakes from the city of Rochester. The last wild Finger Lakes would then fall under the stewardship of the state Department of Conservation, protected from development for all time. “We’re hopefully in the home stretch,” said town Supervisor Kris Singer. “The bottom line is, Canadice is trying to help the DEC transfer this property and preserve it.”

*Read the rest of the story here:
Closing in on a lake deal
By Morgan Wesson, from the Daily Messenger

There will be a public meeting to discuss this subject:
WHAT: Public hearing on planned residential development district law
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Canadice Town Hall, 5949 County Road 37

Also worth noting, the Town of Livonia is considering changing some of the zoning regulations for the Hamlet of Hemlock - however, this is not related to the sale of the lakes. It seems to be the town trying to create (see also: sneak by) some more areas for "development"... Who actually reads the zoning laws section of the newspaper anyways?

Here is another article about the zoning law issue in Canadice that is also worth checking out:
Zoning rule threatens Rochester's sale of Canadice and Hemlock lakes

The Ultimate Slip and Slide

2008-12-04T22:46:00.009-05:00

Here are some photos from a rather slippery climb. Around here in the Finger Lakes, there are a lot of ravines just hiding around the corner waiting to be explored, some of them with lovely hidden wonders, like this one I stumbled upon. You can tell you've reached a good spot, when the trees start to get thicker and are green year round. It seems like most of these ravines lack names, or at least, the names have long been lost down the memory hole. So, as part of reclaiming the local past, I hereby bestow this ravine the "Little Big Rock Shale Gull". However, it's location will remain hidden from the modern totality, until again, possibly someday in the future, it is renamed... possibly having something to do with buried treasure.

"Flying Rats" and others Headed North

2008-11-19T18:20:00.007-05:00

You Can't Take Words into Space

2008-11-11T15:31:00.015-05:00

The days of this society are numbered. Its reasons and its merits have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; its inhabitants are divided into two parties, one of which wants to build its own spaceships and leave this world behind.

- a quote from the Association of Autonomous Astronauts

Some Thoughts on the Association of Autonomous Astronauts

Space is the place, or so says the Association of Autonomous Astronauts. For those of us who can still see the stars at night (sorry to those of you living in cities), ever look up at them on those clear nights and wonder what else is out there? I'm willing to bet, even though I don't gamble - that you have. It's one of those great questions that usually fascinates ones mind. Nowadays, it seems like you always hear about the United States of America, Russia, or China making leaps and bounds in the "space race", but what if a "group" of individuals working outside of the government, military, and corporations of the world launched their own "space race"? Wouldn't that be something? Perhaps more realistic, what if they launched their own satellite? What if meetings were held? What if, all of this started in 1995 and ended in 2000 (but still carries on!)?

Here is an introduction to an international "association" of collaborators who insightfully dream about someday reaching the stars without the help of the government, military, or corporations - but, rather with their own autonomy. They're called the Association of Autonomous Astronauts and there are various chapters of the "association" that exist around the world - some more dream-like than others. Here is a quote from one of the associations chapters that lays out some of their ideas:

From Kennedy's 1960 claim to put a man on the moon till the International Spacestation (ISS), all calls to head out into space have been the offspring of the nineteenth century North American settlers cry to Go West! Their conquest of the American West being the ultimate model with which space exploration has been endlessly compared. But, it's a comparison which cuts both ways. 'Cause, just as the reality of the colonization of America was far removed from the romanticized idea of Manifest Destiny, a critical reading of the politics of spacetravel will uncover that behind the images of objective scientific research, acts of heroism, and the good for all mankind, there are political and economical processes at work which draw a completely different picture. It shows how, from the start, the space industry has been co-produced, co-financed, and co-starred by the military, the weapon industry and multinational cooperations.

from the Jungle Association of Autonomous Astronauts: Go West!

Here is a quote from the Oakland, California chapter of AAA that was published in issue #61 (2006) of Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed, the infamous long running anarchist magazine now published out of Cali-forn-i-a:

Let's make clear to readers that the mission of the Oakland Chapter of the Association of Autonomous Astronauts extends far beyond planting oak trees on the moon. We are not simply tree-hugging lunatics. Our ultimate aim is space exploration in the widest possible sense of the term. We want to pose the question: can any meaningful distinction be made between anarchist and statist conceptions of space?

A little further in, the article goes on to comment about the ever-so-controversial issue of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs):

The first director of the CIA assessed the situation in 1960 as follows:

Behind the scenes, high-ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs. But, through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense... to hide the facts, the Air Force has silenced its personnel'. The Condon report also added to the problem, since it demonstrated that men of science could simply allege that witnesses are mistaken or dishonest and they would be believed by most of their colleagues even though they had no evidence to back up their allegations. This in turn led to greater reluctance on the part of witnesses to come forward. As a result, 'the most credible UFO witnesses are often those most reluctant to come forward with a report of the event they have witnessed'...

[from Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed, #61]

Interesting... But anyways, think about the time you saw the stars the clearest? Where were you? Have you ever seen the Milky Way up close? I've always heard of the milky way, and thought I saw it before with my naked eye, but when I moved to Mexico and traveled to a remote mountain ghost town above the desert, I saw the Milky Way in the most spectacular way I can ever remember. It was like it was right there, you could almost touch it, right in front of you - strikingly amazing. Certain monumental events, always seem to stick out in ones mind, ones that can never be forgotten. I'm from Upstate, New York - we get the Aurora Borealis up here, not so much the Milky Way.

Then, after you have that in your mind - think about sex in space. Hasn't everyone always wondered about this? Why? Leave it up the AAA of Oakland once again to look for the answers:

Can we talk about a reality that isn't happening

A recent wired editorial "The Uncomfortable Reality of Sex in Space" leaves us scratching our head.

Naturally the geekerati are fascinated by the possibility of someone, somewhere "getting some". Add in NASA to the picture and you have a dork aphrodisiac. But the article itself is as solicitous as dry bread. The idea that human experimentation could, or should, lead us all to orbital encounters begs questions about "the uncomfortable reality" but a NASA spokesperson talking about psychological health?

Nothing sexy about that.

- an excerpt from the Oakland chapter

All Systems are Nominal
And one is lead to wonder if, the AAA is still around? What are they doing these days? Accordingly,

The Association of Autonomous Astronauts (AAA) has arrived at the climax of its Five Year Plan. We have now successfully established a world-wide network of local, community-based groups dedicated to building their own spaceships.

On April 23rd 2000, which marks the fifth anniversary of the official launch of our independent space exploration programme, the AAA will spontaneously dissolve itself in order to initiate a new phase of self-historification. We will enter the realm of myth, an inspiration for the Next Generation of space explorers. Those who wish to engage with the possibilities that open up when we leave this world behind can now utilise the diverse experiences of the participants in the AAA project.

from The Final Declaration 23/04/00

Much more could be said about the Association of Autonomous Astronauts, but I will leave that for you and the future to find out. Below are some links to start/continue your journey upon the electron and wire known as the Internet. Curiously enough, recently SpaceX made literal leaps and bounds in the self-proclaimed "privately funded space race" [See also: Paypal]:

"I don't know what to say... because my mind is just blown," said Musk [Paypal], during a brief address to his staff after the successful launch. "This is just the first step of many."

The feat is a giant leap forward for privately-funded space ventures, and follows the spectacular 2004 suborbital flight of SpaceShipOne.

Musk seemed almost overcome with emotion. In the coming years, his company will try to make space transportation ten times cheaper and more reliable.

After making a fortune as the co-founder of PayPal, he recruited some of the best aerospace engineers in the world and challenged them to build a launch vehicle from scratch.

-from:
SpaceX Did It

ps. what is that you say about the black flag to space?

pss. finally, welcome home, mis amig@s, at last! (Or, at least our home for now): [disclaimer: following quote taken completely out of context]

It's an all or nothing struggle. Anarchy is just a name for those who embrace its promise of redemption and wholeness, and try to face up to how far we'll need to travel to get there. We humans once had it right, if the anthropologists are to be believed. Now we'll find out if we can get it right again.

Quite possibly our last opportunity as a species.

- from Twilight of the Machines, by John Zerzan

Stairways to the Shoreline & the Cars End

2008-11-03T19:27:00.007-05:00

Desire in Wild Turkey Explained

2008-10-30T18:56:00.002-04:00

What I desire is a return to the profundity of experience. I want a society where everyday activity, however mundane, is centered around how incredibly profound everything is. I want that profundity to become so immense that any mediations between us and it become totally unnecessary: we are in the marvel. When I am in that awe, words are so irrelevant, I don't really care if you call my experience "God" or not. All I know is it is the greatest pleasure possible: to hug a tree, to jump up and down at a beautiful sunset, to climb a magnificent hill, to take awe in what surrounds us. I am a hedonist, and I will have these pleasures; neither the religionist nor the atheist shall lock them away from me!

-from Wildflowers: A Bouquet of Theses (idea)

What's Up with Hemlock and Canadice Lakes?

2008-10-22T16:42:00.007-04:00

[plants growing out of an old break wall at Hemlock Lake]

Sometimes... well on most days I wake up and go downstairs and hope to find something, anything in the news about the sale of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes. I'm a life long resident of the area, unlike all those folks who are making the decisions. As I speculated back in late September of this year, it seems that the economic crash we are experiencing may have some effects on the sale. But how so? I really wish, the State and everyone else involved in this would be more open about what is going on. Please drop me a line and let me know what's up!

And capitalism falls apart again... ha!

[house fireplace ruins along Canadice Lake]

Additional links and resources:

Hemlock and Canadice Lakes photos by yours truly

Hemlock and Canadice for $10 Million also by yours truly

Nuclear Power Jump Started in Upstate, New York

2008-10-09T17:25:00.013-04:00

[the above design is by Iron Bread Beard Fartucci]

A new nuclear age on the way? On September 30th, 2008 after several talks and a public meeting held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), UniStar Nuclear Energy submitted its combined license application (COL) for the proposed nuclear power facility at Nine Mile Point, just outside of Oswego, New York. In all, UniStar is proposing four potential sites across the United States of America. COL's have already been submitted for Calvert Cliffs, Maryland and Fulton, Missouri. They are still preparing the last COL for submission in mid-October for a site in the State of Pennsylvania.

Now that the appropriate steps have been followed and initial paperwork submitted, the application process will take 36-42 months for the NRC to complete. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with other regulatory agencies, will also be brought in to evaluate various aspects of the application.

A final decision on constructing a new plant has yet to be made, but Unistar has submitted its application in the event that they do decide to go through with the proposed plant at Nine Mile Point. The application seeks approval for a 1,600-megawatt plant, which will employ Areva’s U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor (USEPR). Both Barack Obama and John McCain have expressed their support for nuclear technology.

[ Lake Ontario trees growing near the shoreline ]

Those advocating for the new nuclear plant outside Oswego say:

”It could create 4,000 construction jobs that would last for about four or five years, and also once the power plant is up and running it would create another additional 400 relatively high-paying jobs,” says George Vanderheyden, UniStar CEO and President. [2]

It is also important to note that:

On Lake Ontario there are currently sixteen nuclear power plants. Of those sixteen, twelve of them are located on Canada’s side of the border, leaving the remaining four on the United State’s side. Lake Ontario is also home to an uranium refining plant, two low level radioactive waste disposal sites located along the shoreline, and it also sits down stream from the high level rad waste site of West Valley located in Western NY. These nuclear plants and components make Lake Ontario one of the largest nuclear zones in the in the entire world. [3]

The Citizens Awareness Network of Central, New York believes that:

One of the reasons the industry is almost exclusively targeting existing sites for new nukes is that so many reactor communities are already beaten down and compliant. Nuclear power is unaffordable, unsustainable, and dangerous. But the issue of nuclear power at the local level is about community economics and power -- not subsidies, but the fact that reactor communities are mostly poor and rural, in cases like Oswego desperately poor, and people have been conditioned to see no other options for survival than the good-paying jobs at the nukes. That fear is compounded by the fact that they feel they have no power to change things -- the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is on the industry's side, their local officials are in the pocket of the company, their neighbors work at the nuke, and the state and federal governments have abandoned them. [1]

Some of you older readers may remember the "anti-nuclear movement" from the late 1970's. In the essay, The Shock of Victory by David Graeber he discusses some of the successes and failures of the "anti-nuclear movment" that may be worth checking out.

The issue of nuclear power has always been a controversial one in Oswego. Interestingly enough, in my own opinion I've found that a lot of the college students who attend Oswego University don't know about the presence of the nuclear plants until after living there for some extended amount of time. Perhaps, in part due to the fact that the college and community forget to tell the perspective students that they will be living right next to three nuclear plants (and now possibly a forth). Though, this is far from an accurate measure of peoples knowledge and opinion regarding the plants, I do feel it comments on the times we are living in.

One final thing that I would like to comment on and suggest for those of you involved in the field of health is that:

It is difficult to analyze and prove scientifically that
the nuclear reactors on Lake Ontario have negative effects on the environment. This is due to the fact that health studies don’t incorporate specific enough data to pin-point possible linkages with the patient’s environment.

[ Lake Ontario, almost looks like the ocean, eh (Canada)? ]

In all of this there is the public and its influence over the future. However, in the case of nuclear power - the public’s comments usually have taken little priority and instead the decisions affecting the industry have been left up to those with the money to privatize the reactors and the government. This is where there is a drastic conflict of interest, since both the government and the private companies want to maintain ‘business as usual’ while disregarding input from the public sector. Largly due to the fact that, in a capitalist market, environmental concerns are frequently overlooked in desire for greater profits. [3]

***
Information about the companies involved: [4]

About UniStar

UniStar Nuclear Energy, a strategic joint venture between Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) and EDF Group, is powering the nuclear renaissance in North America through industry leadership, disciplined business practices and effective risk-management. Based in Baltimore, Md., UniStar Nuclear Energy provides the licensing, construction and operating services needed to support the expansion of nuclear energy in the United States.

About Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com), a FORTUNE 125 company with 2007 revenues of $21 billion, is the nation’s largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation’s largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

About EDF Group

The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the energy market in Europe, is an integrated energy company active in all businesses: production, transport, distribution, energy selling and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 95 percent of the electricity output involves no CO2 emissions. EDF’s transport and distribution subsidiaries operate 1,246,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to more than 38 million customers around the world, including more than 28 million in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of € 59.6 billion in 2007, of which 44 percent in Europe excluding France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

[ Lake Ontario skyline on a crisp fall day ]

***
References and additional sources:

[3] Nuclear Power and its Effect on Lake Ontario: Better Turn Up the AC!*
(some prior history and knowledge by yours truly)

[1] Citizens Awareness Network, Central New York
(a nuclear awareness network in the area)

[2] Hundreds at meeting on Scriba nuclear plant proposal
(about a previous public meeting on the subject of nuclear power plants)

[4] UniStar Nuclear Energy Submits License Application to NRC for Potential Third Nuclear Reactor at Nine Mile Point
(and the official license for the new nuclear plant has been submitted, please also see the end of this article for information about the companies involved)

UniStar Energy submits license for new nuke
(another story about the license being submitted)

Canadice Lake (it's about time!)

2008-10-07T21:19:00.008-04:00

[north end looking south - canadice lake]

[north end looking over at the east side - canadice lake]

[southish end looking over at the east side - canadice lake]

[southish end again looking over at the east sidaz - canadice beer]

[south end looking north - canadice lake]

County Line Falls

2008-10-05T18:49:00.005-04:00

please see also:
County Line Falls

Hello, World

2008-10-01T19:57:00.009-04:00

Their aim was to Civilize this continent, to introduce to it a cycle of activities never before practiced here: Working, Saving, Investing, Selling - the cycle of reproducing and enlarging Capital. [1]

As settlers moved into the deliberately vacated lands where the very air they breathed gave them a taste of the recently eliminated freedom, they transformed vast woodlands into enlarged replicas of the hell they had left behind. The enjoyment of trails and forests ceased; the forests were burned; the trails became obstacle courses to be traversed as rapidly as Capital made possible. The variety of hundreds of cultural forms was reduced to the uniformity of a unique routine: work, save, invest, sell, every day from sunrise to sunset, and count money after sundown. Every previous activity, and scores of new ones, were transformed from sources of joy to sources of profit. Corn, beans and squash, the “three sisters” respected and loved by the region’s previous inhabitants, became mere commodities for sale at food markets; their sowers and harvesters no longer grew them to enjoy at meals, feasts and festivals, but to sell for a profit. Leisurely gardening was replaced by the hard work of farming, trails gave way to rails, walking was superseded by the locomotion of gigantic coal-burning furnaces on wheels, canoes were swept aside by floating cities which stopped for no obstacle as they filled the air with burning embers and black smoke. The “three sisters,” along with the rest of their family, were degraded to mere merchandise, as were the trees that became lumber, the animals that became meat, and even the journeys, the songs, the myths and tales of the continent’s new inhabitants. [1]

Militant and courageous though many of them were, the struggling farmers rarely placed enjoyment and life above work, savings and profit, and their movement was derailed altogether when radical politicians infiltrated it and equated the desire for a new life with the desire for a new Leader. [1]

Twoscore years ago, the researches of physical and chemical sciences at the disposal of Capital led to the discovery that the gross substances above and below the soil were not the only substances exploitable for profits. It appeared that the “liberated” nuclei of certain substances were eminently exploitable by Capital. The destruction of matter at the atomic level, first used as the most hideous weapon hitherto wrought by human beings, became the newest commodity. By this time the interest payments, freight fees and equipment purchases of farmers, as well as the long-vanished trees and forest animals, had ceased to be interesting as sources of significant profits. Energy companies interlocked with uranium and oil monopolies became empires more powerful than any of the states which served them as trouble-shooters. Within the computers of these empires, the health and lives of an “acceptable” number of farm and city dwellers was balanced against an “acceptable” gain or loss of profits. Potential popular responses to such calculations were controlled by judicious combinations of platitudes, promises and police. [1]

***
[1] from Progress and Nuclear Power: The Destruction of the Continent and Its Peoples (.pdf) by Fredy Perlman [1979]

Underneath the stone beach, the bricks

2008-09-24T19:58:00.007-04:00

Introducing, the newly created - 116 strong and growing Hemlock and Canadice Lake photo gallery brought to you by yours truly... It basically contains a bunch of photos that I've taken around the Hemlock and Canadice region of upstate, New York. If you're a fan, you might like to know that I still have a lot more to include and new ones are always in development.

Keep on pushing grasshopper!

Land for Sale

2008-09-23T21:06:00.006-04:00

With capitalism reaching new all time lows, one has to wonder how this will "trickle down" (ha!) and effect things like the planned sale/purchase of Hemlock and Canadice Lake. Here are some pictures to help you think:

South wetlands/inlet Hemlock Lake

Iron pools? There are a lot of these pools scattered around the inlet areas of both Hemlock and Canadice Lake.

Some Close Ups of Stuff Growing

2008-09-13T13:47:00.009-04:00

Translating the Wake?

2008-09-11T20:22:00.001-04:00

and other untranslatable works...

that lead to one making up a new story or getting lost in one.

Truly anything has become possible, with one example being the many different translations of James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, a work of which I have always thought untranslatable.

Here is an introduction to an essay on two of the Japanese translations:

This paper aims to introduce and examine two Japanese translations of Finnegans Wake which has been considered to be "untranslatable" or one of the most difficult books to translate. But now we can enjoy it in many languages-- French, Italian, German, Hungarian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, etc. The basic language of FW is doubtlessly English, and most of the dominant languages are European. [1]

see also if you dare:

and just when you thought nothing else was possible, please check out the translation of the wake to google spanish (tm)...

From High Rocks Sprang Hemlock and Canadice

2008-08-30T21:51:00.002-04:00

The rapidly mounting toll of modern life is worse than we could have imagined. A metamorphosis rushes onward, changing the texture of living, the whole feel of things. In the not-so-distant past this was still only a partial modification; now the Machine converges on us, penetrating more and more to the core of our lives, promising no escape from its logic.

- John Zerzan, Seize the Day

Captive of Civilization

I recently read an interesting old newspaper article surrounding the past of Hemlock and Canadice, New York. Hemlock and Canadice are the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes and the City of Rochester is in the mist of a deal to sell them to the State of New York for millions of dollars. some property it "owns" 30 miles south of the city. The City of Rochester , whereas selling them off to the state, in reality changes little for the moment.

The article is by Arch Merrill who was considered by many to have been the "Poet Laureate of Upstate New York", mainly because he was quite the prolific writer of sorts. It's an old story full of language from the back-in-the-day, which paints a lovely picture of the time and place. Here in, I will deconstruct parts of the article and attempt another brief, yet triumphant review.

First, some well-known facts about the area.

Nowadays, the City of Rochester owns the area, has used the lakes of Hemlock and Canadice as a municipal water source since 1876, having gained the right to do so by New York State law in 1873. Currently, the city is allowed to take 37 million gallons of water per day from the two lakes, which travels by gravity downhill to the city (Canadice is around 11.5 billion gallons total volume; and Hemlock is around 29 billion gallons total volume). It has been rumored that the two lakes provide some of the cleanest drinking water within the entire United States of America.

Interestingly enough, the Genesee Brewery was founded in 1878 in Rochester, most likely upon Hemlock and Canadice lake water, even though the name invokes visions of the mighty river. The Genesee Brewing Company has since become America's largest family-operated, regional brewery, with their beer being sold in half the country, ranked as the 7th overall largest brewery in the United States. Genesee beer(I agree, Genesee Cream Ale is a dividing line). It seems that perhaps, back in the day the beer was named after the Genesee River, maybe the water was originally from the river, but switched over when the city did.

And now on to some things from the old newspaper article that only old language can capture-

The Elves

She is a wild and elfin child of the hills and forest. None of the slim blue lakes of the Genesee Country has more physical allure. As you climb upward from the Springwater Valley along the wide, straight road that leads from the Southern Tier to Rochester, you catch your first glimpse of Hemlock's slender grace. Sometimes the trees on the steep banks momentarily hide her from view. She is the more beautiful for her elusiveness.[1]

Invasion...

When in long gone autumns, the Senecas came to hunt and fish around the inlet of the lake, with them, year after year, glided a wilderness belle who was known as the handsome squaw and whose pulchritude became legend in pioneer days.

But in the fall of 1779, there were no warriors or savage beauties at Hemlock Lake. The Yankee army of General John Sullivan was on the march, ravaging the Seneca domain and sending the tribes fleeing befor the awesome boom of his cannon. Sullivan's army on Sept. 12 marched over the steep hills and dragged its guns through the narrow defiles from Honeoye, over the old Indian trail, made nearly impassible by rains. They stopped at what later became known as Short's Flats to destroy fields of Indian corn, then forded the lake at its foot and ascended the rugged slopes between Hemlock and Conesus. [1]

Fields of Harvest

Back in 1943 it was reported that the City of Rochester was in the farming business, with 325 acres of hay, 75 acres of oats and 22 acres of wheat, located mostly in the Springwater region at the south end of Hemlock lake. These crops helped feed the horses that pulled the city's garbage wagons.[1]

Oldest of the Old

An ancient legend clings in the little lake in the woods. In the Fifteenth Century, the Munsee, a peaceful, little people, dwelt on a hill on Canadice's western side. A fierce and warlike tribe, the Mengwees, raided the Munsee settlement and killed every member of the tribe save Onnolee, the beautiful wife of a leading chief.

The fair prisoner was tied to the red belt of the Mickinaw, the fierce chief of the invaders and was dragged away from her ravaged home. When the chief relaxed his vigilance for a moment, Onnolee, quick as light, seized the hunting knife from her captor's belt and plunged it into his side.

Then knowing her life was forfeit, and while arrows wizzed past her head, she ran to the lakeside and chanting the death song of her people, "from the high rocks sprang."

They say that in the time of falling leaves, when the moonlight on Canadice water, a plaintive song is heard in a strange tongue.[1]

Lonely Old Guy

In 1880 a hermit named Meloy lived in a lonely log hut on the west shore of the lake. He hunted and fished all his waking hours and spoke to no one. One morning when rowing home after a fishing foray, he encountered a bear along the edge of the lake. The bear was hungry and went after the hermit. Bruin upset the boat and started to mount it. There ensued a strange sparring match. Meloy, wallowing in the water, would strike the bear with his oar and the animal would swing back with his paw. Finally the hermit drowned the bear and there was plenty of meat on the lonely table for many a moon.[1]

Sell, Sell, Sell, Buy!

When in the early 1890s, Rochester embarked on a vast water expansion program, began raising the level of the lake and building a new tunnel and conduit, besides acquiring more and more land around the lake, Hemlock as a summer resort was doomed. Some of the old-timers up there have never forgiven the city for that. But in the next breath they will tell up about the high prices the city has paid for the land.

Hemlock regards the city as an arrant spendthrift. They raise their eyebrows up in the hillcountry at the thought of a hydraulic expert, no matter eminent in his profession, receiving $100 a day for his services - - on the days he works. [1]

Religious Winos

On a hill high above the west shore of Hemlock Lake, a square, staunch, four-story stone building stands out in bold relief against the woods. It is St. Michael's Mission House, where for ten years have dwelt and labored members of the order known as the Brothers of the Divine Word. The order was founded in Holland and has few branches in the east. At St. Michael's high school pupils and graduates receive preparatory training for mission fields.

On the grounds of the mission house the good brothers have carved out of the rocky soil two grottos that house statues of the saints. They are the result of many hours of devoted toil. The dim light in the caves, the sacred shrines - there is a medieval air about this mission overlooking Hemlock water.

The site was once the country home of the most Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, first bishop of Rochester. There he planted a vineyard on the slopes along the lake to provide the sacramental wine for the diocese. The Borthers of the Divine Word have expanded this vineyard until today they have a flourishing commercial wine business, besides supplying churchly needs.[1]

Introducing the Slab City Squat

The settlers at the head of the lake tired of this and urged that the dam be removed. The mill owners were deaf to these demands. One summer's day 200 farmers mobilized and came down to the foot of the lake, with axes, crowbars and ropes. They proceeded to dismantle the dam and gates. The Slab City mill owners came to protest and remained to beg. The farmers yielded, the work of destruction halted and the "army" dispersed. But the next year they got permission from the state to remove the rest of the dam.

In 1866 a horde of squatters settled on the Springwater flats. The landowners forced them to leave. A riotous time ensued, with barns burned and stock slaughtered. Finally the two forces met in pitched battle. The landowners won and the squatters' war went into history.[1]

And now on another, more recent note

Dear Eliot - Thanks for the Money

Below are the words to the song 'Dear Eliot Spitzer' by the Ithaca, New York folk-singing-song-writing Joe Crookston, urging Gov. Eliot Spitzer to preserve the Hemlock and Canadice lakes watershed by buying the land from the city of Rochester. Obviously, he must have written the song before Spitzer got the boot from office, perhaps the songs changed to reflect the times, I'm not sure... ask Joe. In the song, Crookston draws connections to Woody Gurthrie, a la traveling folk music sponsored by the government as Woody once was, even though Gurthrie was also known to write "this machine kills fascists" on his acoustic guitars (sometimes I guess you just gotta get paid and make a living).

Dear Eliot Spitzer
I'm writing this to you
To thank you, Mr. Governor
For all the things you do

I live in Tompkins County
In the hills near Cayuga Lake
With my daughter and my wife
I've grown to love New York state

In the payola scandal
Involving Sony BMG
When you fined them $30 million
Some of that money came to me

So I could travel with my guitar
Just like Woody Guthrie did
And listen, learn, and sing
About the place where I live

So I traveled all around
This beautiful Empire State
From Onondaga County
To the tip of Keuka Lake

I walked up Bald Hill
Looking down on paradise
I was amazed by the beauty
Of the lake called Canadice

And so I learned all about
This New York lake further west
And the old growth hardwood
Where bald eagles nest

Seven thousand acres
Where the black bear is seen
And the water is crystal
Undeveloped and pristine

Then I learned that the city
Of Rochester owns the lake
All seven thousand acres
But now it’s future is at stake

For a hundred years or more
They've been stewards of this land
But now they need the money
And big investors have a plan

Dear Eliot, I know
That big money talks
And I know it's complicated
It's not about who's at fault

You've had brilliant solutions
Like with Sony BMG
You've had vision and persistence
Despite all the powers that be

So I urge you to consider
This rare gem that we've got
We don't need more condos,
Jet skis and parking lots

So I'm asking you directly
Eliot, will you take a stand?
It'll be a part of your legacy
If you help preserve this land?

It takes a million years to become a gem like this
And a tragedy if it is gone …
Dear Eliot, thanks for funding it
And listening to my song

Definitions
Finger Lakes region- a sign you see while driving on the thruway in Upstate, New York on your way to and from New York City. Rumor has it that the certain folks living there speak in a funny accent and also make delicious pumpkin pie.

Further Reading...

[1] Beautiful Hemlock - - - Captive of an Industrial City ...an interesting article, that supplies some tasty little tidbits from The Democrat and Chronicle Sunday Magazine, November 21, 1943.

other related articles

Hemlock and Canadice for $10 Million

New York State Plans to Buy Hemlock and Canadice

Ghost Town in Upstate! (What Else is New?)

Hemlock & Canadice: An Appraisal

Hemlock, New York: An Unequivocal Exclamation

Favorite Hate Mail

2008-08-13T21:05:00.009-04:00

All you, young anarchists, when you get married, you will attend a family ceremony (probably at the church), you're going to have pretty blond children. You will work wearing suits and play in the stock market,and you'll say to your grandchildren.

In my youth, you know, I was an anarchist!

What was that, grandpa?

Ok, some riotous philosophy of the past.

Really?

Yes, but now I'm not an anarchist anymore.

***

[this hate mail comes straight from la habana, cuba... of all places. and i'm not blonde, but nice try. but, please send more mail, thanks.]

Shite 2.0

2008-08-03T18:01:00.013-04:00

The internet is horse-pucky. Even worse, the young'ins who use it, who may very well have been half-way decent people before they learned to type, don't take any time at all before they become total idiots while using the internet.

and with that I bring you...

Hidden Ponds and Streams in the Woods

The mysterious Wild Turkey Desire is seductively beautiful, magnifying the danger of this inveterate enemy of mankind. Our counsel to the inhabitants of this joyous Mountain (Mount Lake) is to reject the insidious teachings of this anarchist and heretic and to burn the creatures books, that the doctrines may not lead the innocent astray. We have read amor fati redux... and stalking the earth and found them to be honeyed poison.

Taking a Breath

2008-07-31T18:33:00.011-04:00

Perhaps, it's about time to take a break from this whole blogger adventure and wade into some other, more interesting waters.

cya there! Well maybe... Who knows? Though, if something interesting comes along, I just might comment on it here. Basically, I'm just trying to steer away from Google and everything that comes with it - and into more like minded projects.

Black Bears vs. Civilization

2008-07-28T20:52:00.010-04:00

[Black bear cub climbing a tree]

"And when a society is in great danger, we're likely to sound the alarms." - Kurt Vonnegut

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is currently seeking public input on a proposed expansion of hunting areas for black bears in Upstate, New York. It is believed that there are currently around 6,000-7,000 black bear residing throughout the state - mainly in the the Adirondack region, followed by the Allegany and Catskill regions. The proposal is to expand the bear hunting season to 13 additional "Wildlife Management Units", which include parts of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Wyoming, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins, Tioga, Cortland, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, and Otsego counties.

The DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposals until August 9, 2008. To send written comments on the proposals, go to www.dec.ny.gov/ and select “Proposed Regulations” from the left column, or mail to: Gordon Batcheller, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. They are hoping to have all of this finalized by this coming fall.

What do you think? Let them know if you think it'll make a difference... or share some thoughts here.

Days of Wandering...

2008-07-24T21:38:00.004-04:00

stalking the earth

2008-07-23T14:39:00.007-04:00

stalking the earth vs. amor fati redux... round one.

Up and Down the Ga-ha-to

2008-07-16T22:01:00.009-04:00

also known as the Cohocton River here in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate, New York.

Hemlock and Canadice for $10 Million

2008-06-29T16:03:00.010-04:00

[Hemlock Lake (eight miles), south end looking north]

Lately, there has not been a lot of new information regarding the possible sale of the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes in Upstate, New York - Hemlock and Canadice. However, this past Friday one media outlet from Rochester, New York chimed in with an video/article that claims the lakes and surrounding lands have been appraised for $10 million dollars. Though, there is still no official report on what New York State, the City of Rochester, the Nature Conservancy, and others have all appraised the land for. It goes on to say that debate and discussion surrounding these matters are set to begin at the end of this summer between the interested parties (most likely behind closed doors).

[Hemlock Lake, still waters of the south end]

The video/article mentioned above is interesting for a number of reasons.It's a great example of shoddy reporting, yet it reports figures that are supposedly "common knowledge". Perhaps, I'm being too picky, but for instance - the article is titled Hemlock Lake for Sale?. When in fact, it's not just Hemlock Lake they are talking about (or is it?), because what about Canadice Lake and the ghost town lands? Then the kicker, the picture they use is not even of Hemlock Lake, but of the unmentioned Canadice Lake. Okay, so perhaps it's really not that big of a deal, but still, do they pay people to do this stuff?

[Hemlock Lake, as the north end is about to freeze over]

The lands that are now formally known as Hemlock and Canadice have a lot interesting history. Canadice means "long lake" in the Iroquois language (even though it's only three miles long). Hemlock was named after the coniferous tree, where a popular logging community sprung up at the end of the lake, which used the waters for easy transportation. Way before that, the places had a different names, now (possibly) forgotten to time, but still these waters and the surrounding environment provided the necessary resources for the inhabitants known as "the keepers of the western door", or the Seneca. Before he was even the first Presidente of the United States of America, George Washington gave orders to extinguish by any means necessary the resistance of native rebel tribes and peoples in Sullivan's march through upstate. (Why do people still think this jerk was a good dude?)

The 1779 Sullivan Campaign emerged as one of the larger of the Continental Army's offensives during the American Revolution, yet remains relatively unknown. It was an act of reprisal to break the Iroquois Confederation, a Native American political and military alliance that included the Seneca, Cayuga, Mohawk, Onondaga, 0neida, and Tuscarora tribes. The Iroquois, with the exception of the Oneida and Tuscarora, openly sided with Great Britain to protect their homelands. Together with Loyalists forces, they had ravaged the Pennsylvania and New York frontiers. The bloodiest of these attacks occurred in 1778 in the northeastern Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley and the Cherry Valley of New York. [1]

Sullivan marched right through what is present day Canadice and Hemlock, making it a little further on - before turning back. A scouting party that he sent out in the neighboring town of present day Conesus, never returned... and was later found with their guts wound around "the torture tree" (Groveland, New York). Interestingly enough, recently:

The Interior Department [USA] issued a Record of Decision May 20, [2008] announcing it would act on a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recommendation to place 13,086 acres into trust for the Oneida Indian Nation. Interior´s final decision excludes an 81.76-acre parcel of the nation´s land the BIA had recommended in its preferred option from among nine alternatives.*

[Hemlock Lake, north end frozen solid with snow]

Sometime later, Hemlock and Canadice became quite a spot for swanky city folk (mostly Rochester) to escape to during the summertime with a mixture of year round residents. A road of wooden planks ran pretty much all the way out of Hemlock towards Rochester, thus the name "Plank Road" which is still in use today. From this the area florished as a little small town - that was probably pretty fancy - with steamboats, houses, bars, hotels, and 100 cottages popping up all over the Hemlock. Perhaps indeed, a land of whiskey and pumpkin pie. Times changed, and the City of Rochester came to be caretakers of the area, and in an act of "eminent domain" demanded that every resident living on the lake move elsewhere, in turn demolishing or leaving for ruin all previous developments on the lake. A slow process of eventually restricting swimming, the size of boat and motor, with restricted areas has turned the area into what it is now.

It has been reported, but has also been questioned by some - that there is also a very large old growth forest in an area abutting Hemlock Lake, possibly one of the largest tracts in all of the north-east. Interestingly enough, a place named after a logging community may have some of the oldest trees around. How is this possible? One simple explanation, is that the area was too difficult to log, due to the steep slopes and ravines found throughout the area. Nowadays, there are some bald eagles that soar through the area, building huge fortresses in the sky.

The areas past is rich with lore of buried treasure, lake creatures, and so much more that multiple old dusty tomes could be filled to the brim with whimsical country words. For now, we can set that aside - and contemplate the present key moment in the unwritten future of the lakes. How much can capitalism offer up for these magical places? How much are these places worth to you? And can anyone in the media do a decent job of reporting on these matters?

*Special note: (I'm sorry that I don't have more pictures of Canadice Lake, but for now, just imagine a somewhat smaller Hemlock Lake that is just as cool, or you can check out the incorrectly labeled photo of Canadice from the first article mentioned).

air, trees, water, animals, and other wild creatures!

***
Please see also:

New York State Plans to Buy Hemlock and Canadice
[Article explaining some past, with some pictures and links to other related materials]

Coalition to Save Canadice and Hemlock Lakes
[a wide coalition of folks who want to preserve the area]

Some Hemlock History from wild town folk

Some Notes on the War of Language

2008-06-03T22:42:00.025-04:00

***Random Notes and Thoughts***

- whale songs and ocean radar

- animals and swarm theory, other communication forms/methods/techniques/ways (ants, bees, dolphins, ect.)

- definitions of vocab: strawman, dialect, slang, jargon, language, trolls, simulacrum, spectacle, ect...

- the medium is the message, the message is the medium ?

- war and peace in the global village and the wake, joyce and war, can the wake be translated (or even read)?

- rememberance of things past

- computer language / codes / hackers

- nuclear disposal and understanding language 1,000 years from now (compare Shakespeares English to English nowadays, then think about how you write instructions for such things)

***Defense Language Transformation Roadmap (January 2005) [Dept. of Defense (USA)]***

- "improved organic capability in emerging languages and dialects, a greater competence and regional area skills in those languages and dialects, and a surge capability to rapidly expand its language capabilities on short notice."

- "language transformation"

- "warfighting in the 21st century will require forces that have foreign language capabilities beyond those generally available in today's force." (navajo code breakers in WWII)

- language as an important weapon system, "Language skill and regional expertise are not valued as Defense core competencies yet they are as important as critical weapon systems."

- "language skills capable of responding as needed for peacetime and wartime operations with the correct levels of proficiency."

- "The total force understands and values the tactical, operational, and strategic asset inherent in regional expertise and language."

- goal, "publish a strategic language list annually"

- "outline prioritized languages for which DoD has current projected requirements and for which training and testing will be provided, incentives applied, and other resources allocated."

- obtain speakers of heritage language for recruitment, university students, civilian language pool

- "establish "crash" or "survival" courses for deploying forces."

- immediate translation, "establish "reachback" capability for deployed forces; i.e. call-back to interpretation/translation centers."

- relationships, "higher level of language skill and greater language capacity is needed to build the internal relationships required for coalition/multi-national operations, peacekeepings, and civil/military affairs."

***James Joyce notes***

- "There is no agreement as to what Finnegas Wake is about, whether or not it is "about" anything, or even whether it is, in any ordinary sense of the word, "readable." Conceived in 1922 and meticulously composed over a seventeen-year period extending through 1939, it preoccupied Joyce throughout half his literary lifetime, absorbing his creative energies between the time of the publication of Ulysses and his death in 1941. It is, perhaps, the single most intentionall crafted literary artifact that our culture has produced; the work which Joyce considered his greatest, and on which he rest his reputation; and certainly, one of the great monuments of twentieth-century experimental letters. According to the evidence of Joyce's numerous surviving notebooks and manuscript drafts - a body of materials that in itself has generated a specialized subdivision of the Joyce industry - the book began inauspiciously enough, as Joyce began jotting down and compiling, in English discrete phrases and sketches without fully knowing where they would lead him. Over the ensuing seventeen years, as his materials coalesced and a book took gradual shape, it evolved under the name of work in progrees and grew more and more strange and obscure as Joyce made decisions to write it in a language of "punns and reedles"; to darken it by mixing words from sixty or seventy other languages into its "basically English" vocabulary and to adapt an incessantly allusive style that refers to everything..."

- "crossmess parzel" - as an immensely entertaining compilation of puns, riddles, word games, linguistic curiosities, and bits of cultural trivia that everywhere yields, at the least, the pleasure of a "crossword puzzle" (or, since there's something for everyone, a "Christmas parcel").

***Language of War blog notes***

- the idea that each war generates its own lexicon, some of it military, some of it political, and from that vocabulary we define our own views and those of others about the war

- "Language has always had a power that tilts toward those who define the terms. Journalists interested in maintaining their independence - real and perceived - have to pay attention to the difference, say, between a war and a 'campaign'; between 'collateral damage' and the killing of innocent people." - Keith Woods, Poynter Institute

- "recapture the language with specifics and precision"... "as people die and buildings fall and the unpredictable future unfolds, remember that the words you use to tell the story will tell a story of their own."

-'shock and awe' first mentioned in 1996 Pentagon report

***Language as War Harvard shite***

- "How does the strategic violence of war affect literary, legal, and philosophical representations?"

- "During war, the effect of violence upon language is amplified and clarified: language is censored, encrypted, and euphemized; imperatives replace dialogue, and nations communicate their intentions most dramatically through the use of injury rather than symbol; talks are broken off, ambassadors are withdrawn, and threats and lies are elevated to the status of communicative paradigms. As war reveals, violence harms language; it imposes silence upon groups and, through trauma and injury, disables the capacity of the individual to speak effectively."

- "In prison camps and tortute blocks, the achievement of communication and recognition through an undetected note or an answered whisper is the first step in rebuilding the world."

- "Recent theorists of democracy have figured language and violence as existing on a spectrum: on one end unconstrained violence, on the other unconstrained language, and in between an ambient blending."

-"language as a property of human behavior (within a historical horizon) helps to construct and is constructed by the larger rule system of intersubjective discourse that, according to Habermas, reveals the regulative ideals of sincerity, consensus,
and equal access to speech."

- "In wartime articulation, the United States is repeatedly depicted as an experiment to determine whether or not a liberal democratic state can maintain order and prevent violence simply through the constent of a written contract."

***Max Stirner***

- "This rejection of conventional forms of intellectual discussion is linked to Stirner's substantive views about language and rationality. His unusual style reflects a conviction that both language and rationality are human products which have come to constrain and oppress their creators. Stirner maintains that accepted meanings and traditional standards of argumentation are underpinned by a conception of truth as a privileged realm beyond individual control. As a result, individuals who accept this conception are abandoning a potential area of creative self-expression in favour of adopting a subordinate role as servants of truth. In stark contrast, Stirner insists that the only legitimate restriction on the form of our language, or on the structure of our arguments, is that they should serve our individual ends. It is the frequent failure of ordinary meanings and standard forms of argument to satisfy his interpretation of this criterion which underpins Stirner's
remorselessly idiosyncratic style." from The Ego and Its Own

***Deconstruction***

-"Whenever deconstruction finds a nutshell -- a secure axiom or a pithy maxim -- the very idea is to crack it open and disturb this tranquility. Indeed, that is a good rule of thumb in deconstruction. That is what deconstruction is all about, its very meaning and mission, if it has any. One might even say that cracking nutshells is what deconstruction is. In a nutshell. ...Have we not run up against a paradox and an aporia [something impassable]?...the paralysis and impossibility of an aporia is just what impels deconstruction, what rouses it out of bed in the morning..." - from John D. Caputo

***Hard-Boiled Wonderland***

- "In other words, we all carry around this great unexplored 'elephant graveyard' inside us. Outer space aside, this is truly humanity's last terra incognita."
"No, an 'elephant graveyard' isn't exactly right. 'Tisn't a burial groud for collected dead memories. An 'elephant factory' is more like it. There's where you sort through countless memories and bits of knowledge, arrange the sorted chips into complex lines, combine these lines into even more complex bundles, and finally make up a cognitive system. A veritable production line, with you as the boss. Unfortunately, though, the factory floor is off-limits. Like Alice in Wonderland, you need a special drug t'shrink you in."

***Psycholinguistics***

- "Many of the terms in court as not plain English, but Latin (e.g. mens rea, nulla bona, res judicata) or French (e.g. voir dire, chose in action, fee simple). Without some education in law, the language of the law makes little sense to many Americans. Legalese in contracts, hearings, and courtrooms also seems wordy in violation of Grice's maxim of conciseness. The language of the law has the effect of separating the activities of everyday life from the activities of the courtroom. From time to time efforts are made to convert legalese into common language. This would not be an easy task because the use of the layman's terms would alter the legal history of the words. Nonexperts fail to grasp the intricacies of the words of the law."

- "some use dialect differences to make false assumptions about language, as if one dialect were superior to another."

- pidgins ---> simplified mixed languages used for communication in a diverse speech community. A pidgin is usually the accepted language for conducting business and conversation between language groups who don't speak a common language.

- Around 386 BC Plato examined the relationship between words and objects to which they refer to in his work,

Cratylus.

- Is language a product of operant conditioning, or is the potential for language innate? Do infants have some sort of language acquisition device like Chomsky thinks...

- In 1755 Samuel Johnson writes dictionary of English

- jargon ---> is theidiomatic speech of a special activity or social group. Jargons are created to facilitate with-in group communication - members of a group can also use jargon to distance themselves from others or to make themselves feel superior
to non-group members.

- slang ---> is an informal, nonstandard lexicon used between members of a speech community to mark membership in that community, to affront authority, to lower speech standards, or to preserve secrecy.

- slang? is such a thing even real? some say there is no such thing as slang...

***CrimethInc. notes***

- "When poets and radicals stay up until sunrise wracking their brains for the perfect sequence of words or deeds to fill hearts or cities with fire, they're trying to find a hidden entrance to it."

- "attack the average, deny the universal, and nurture the anomalous."

- "Culture is made up of languages - languages of words and numbers, of concepts and assumptions, of conventions and expectations, of problems and solutions, of answers and questions. Languages write our lives: they set the options whenever we make a choice, however free we may be in selecting. At the same time, it is our use of them that makes them what they are and reproduces them. Terms in languages work only because we hold them in common; language writing is the ultimate collective activity, the common denominator of all social activity. To be free of language is impossible in human relations - as we know it, that universe not only is described by language but exists as language."

- "Languages enforce their constraints upon us - that is to say, those constraints are us - but every time we adjust a concept or subvert an expectation, we remake ourselves. It is in this constant redefining of terms, the ongoing creation and negation of forms and assumptions, that freedom becomes possible."

- "Ultimately, all conflicts come down to relations of force - even those known, up to this point, as revolutions. Our dream is not to win another war, but to stage a total revolution, a war against the condition of war, on behalf of those beautiful
moments when we can be thankful for each other's existence."

***George Orwell: The Principals of Newspeak***

- "The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the worldv-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ign Soc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible."

- "vocabulary was so constructe to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning... excluding all other meaning and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods."

- "done partly by the invention of new words, but chiefly by eliminating undesirable words and stripping such words as remained of unorthodox meanings."

- "In addition, any word - this again applied in principle to every word in the language - could be negative by adding the suffix -un, or could be stengthened by the affix plus-, or for still greater emphasis doubleplus."

- "All that was necessary, in any case where two words formed a natural pair of opposites, was to decide which of them to oppress."

- "also certain irregularities in word-formation arising out of the need for rapid and easy speech."

- "ease of pronunciation"

- "words which had been diliberately constructed for political purposes: words, that is to say, which not only had in every case a political implication, but were intended to impose a desirable mental adtitude up to the person using them."

- "bellyfeel, which implied a blind, enthusiastic acceptance difficult to imagine today."

- "words which [like free] had once borne a heretical meaning were sometimes retained for the sake of convenience, but only with the undesirable meanings purged out of them."

- "All words grouping themselves round the concepts of liberty and equality, for instance, were contained in the single word crimethink"

- "all words grouping themselves round the concepts of objectivity and rationalism were contained in the single world oldthink."

***George Orwell: Politics and the English Language***

- "Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse."

- "an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing, the same effect in an intensifed form, and so on indefinitely.

- "English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the solovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts."

- "staleness of imagery; the other is lack of precision."

-"mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the most marked characteristic of modern English prose, and especially of any kind of political writing."

- "dying metaphors"

- "operators or verbal false limbs"

- "pretentious diction"

- elitism of words, "foreign words and expressions such as cul de sac, an cien r&eqcutgime, deus ex machina, mutatis mutandis, status quo, gleichschschaltung, weltanschauung, are used to give an aire of culture and elegance."

- coining of new words, "normal way of coining a new is to use Latin or Greek root with the appropriate affix and, where necessary, the size formation."

- meaningless words, "fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies "something not desirable", "

- "whole tendency of modern prose is away from concreteness."

- "modern writting, "It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug."

- "using stalte metaphors, similes, and idioms, you save much mental effort, at the cost of leaving your meaning vague, not only for your reader but for yourself." = "The Fascist octopus has sung its swan song."

- tendencies of good writers deconstructing sentences "1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

- two more, "1. COuld I put it more shortly? 2. Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?"

- "political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudly vagueness."

- "when there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and

exhausted idioms, like cuttlefish spurting out ink."

- dictarorships lead to a decline in language (usually), resistance sprouts new languages (minority)

- "This invasion of one's mindby ready-made phrases (lay the foundations, achieve a radical transformation) can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard against them, and every such phraseanaesthetizes a portion of one's brain."

- Newspeak

- never surrender to words, "What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way around."

- rules of english (as goog writers and speakers) "1.) Never use a metaphor, similie, or other figure of speech which you are

used to seeing in print. 2.) Never use a long word where a short one will do 3.) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out 4.) Never use the passive where you can use the active 5.) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargo word if you can think of any everyday English equivalent 6.) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous"

- thus we must define it, "Since you don't know what Fascism is, how can you struggle against Fascism?"

- politics of language, "Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

***Johnny Z. Language: Origin and Meaning deconstruct*******************

- "Language may be properly considered the fundamental ideology, perhaps as deep a seperation from the natural world as self-existent time. And if timelessness resolves the spilt between spontaneity and consciousness, languagelessness may be equally necessary."

- Nietzche says.. "words dilute and brutalize; words depersonalize; words make the uncommon common."

- "It may sound positivist to assert that language must somehow embody all the "advances" of society, but in civilization it seems that all meaning is ultimately linguistic; the question of the meaning of language, considered in its totality, has become the unavoidable next step."

- Gadamer says... "Admittedly, the nature of language is one of the most mysterious questions that exists for man to ponder on."

- idealogy and language... "a system of distorted communication between two poles and predicated upon symbolization."

- "symbolizing power... made possible by concealing, and ultimately vitiating, the participation of the subject in the physical world."

- "The carving up of nature, its reduction into concepts and equivalences, occurs along lines laid down by the patterns of language."

- language reproduces the "society of subjugation"

- much earlier on... "a plethora of terms for the touched and seen."

- Sapir noted that humans are very much at the mercy of language concerning what constitutes "social reality."

- language determines todo.. "To use language is to limit oneself to the modes of perception already inherent in that language. The fact that language is only form and yet molds everything goes to the core of what ideology is."

- George Steiner says... "Human speech conceals far more than it confides; it blurs much more than it defines; it distances more than it connects."

- "the essence of learning a language is learning a system, a model, that shapes and controls speaking."

- on learning a language... "The unnatural is imposed, as a necessary moment of reproducing an unnatural world."

- "language effects the original spilt between wisdom and method."

- "freedom of speech" does not exist; grammar is the invisible "thought control" of our invisible prison.

- "Reification, the tendency to take the conceptual as the perceived and to treat concepts as tangible, is as basic to language as it is to ideology. Language represents the mind's reification of its experience, that is, an analysis into parts which, as concepts, can be manipulated as if they were objects."

- Horkeimer says... "people experience everything only within the conventional framework of concepts."

- Ancient Maya book burning... "language enables accumulated knowledge to be transmitted forward, allowing us to profit from other's experiences as though they were our own."

- "life has moved progressively farther from directly lived experience."

- on reading... "reading opens doors. But once, those doors are open, it is very difficult to see the world without looking through them."

- "The process of transforming all direct experience into the supreme symbolic expression, language, monopolizes life. Like ideology, language conceals and justifies, compelling us to suspend our doubts about its claim to validity."

- "language stands behind all of the massive legitimation necessary to hold civilization together."

- on lying... "since all intentions and emotions are involuntarily expressed by gesture, look, or sound, voluntary communication, such as language, must have been invented for the purpose of lying or deceiving."

- on false truths... "truth... is a comparative latecomer on the linguistic scene, and it is certainly a mistake to suppose that language was invented for the purpose of telling it."

- Primary paradigm... "Every step in the advancement of civilization has meant added labor, however, and the fundamentally alien reality of productive labor/work is realized and advanced via language. Ideology receives its substance from division of labor, and, inseparably, its form from language."

- more critically... "the artificial communication which is language was and is the voice of the artificial separation which is (division of) labor."

- "Language was elaborated for the suppression of feelings; as the code of civilization it expresses the sublimation of Eros, the repression of instinct, which is the core of civilization."

- Tower of Babel... "splintering of an "original language" into mutually untintelligible may best be understood as the emergnece of symbolic language, the exlipse of an earlier state of more total and authentic communication."

- on naming... "naming is an act of domination."

- Dufrenne thinks... "man became master of things only because he first named them"

- Spengler thinks... "To name anything by a name is to win power over it."

- Gospel of John thinks.. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

- what is the problem... "the problem of language is the problem of civilization"

- and the answer is...

- Pei comments... "Nowhere is civilization so perfectly mirroed as in speech"

- "language has not only reflected but determined shifts in human life."

- "language deforms thought by its inability to describe things directly."

- "the old dream of a lingua Adamica, a "real" language consisting not of conventional signs but expressing the direct, unmediated meaning of things, has been an integral part of humanity's longing for a lost primeval state."

- "Language, myth, relgion and art thus advanced as deeply "political" conditions of social life, by which the artifical media of symbolic forms replaced the directly-lived quality of life before divion of labor. From this point on, humanity
could no longer see reality face to face; the logic of domination drew a veil over play, freedom, affluence."

- "creation of a symbolic world was the condition for the existence of time"

- thus one can ask... "whether time exists apart from grammar."

- Derrida thinks... "language as the origin of history" thus without language all of history would disappear.

- "Pre-history is pre-writing; writing of some sort is the signal that civilization has begun."

- on the end of the world... "Without language all of history would disappear."

- time begins with... "Pre-history is pre-writing; writing of some sort is the signal that civilization has begun."

- "By about 10,000 B.C., extensive division of labor had produced the kind of social control reflected by cities and temples. The earliest writings are records of taxes, laws, terms of labor servitude. This objectified domination thus originated from
the practical needs of political economy. An increased use of letters and tablets soon enabled those in chage to reach new heights of power and conquest, as exemplified in the new form of government commanded by Hammurabi of Babylon."

- Levi-Strauss thinks... "writing seems to favor rather the exploitation than the enlightenment of mankind... Writing, on this its first appearance in our midst, had allied itself with falsehood."

- CrimethInc. and others today... "In the contemporary world, the avant-garde of art has, most noticeabley, performed the gestures of refusal of the prision of language. Since Mallarme, a good deal of modernist poetry and prose has moved against the taken-for-grantedness of normal speech. To the question "Who is speaking?" Mallarme answered, "Language is speaking."

- "After this reply, and especially since the explosive period around World War I when Joyce, Stein and others attempted a new syntax as well as a new vocabulary, the restraints and distortions of language have been assaulted wholesale in literature.
Russian futurists, Dada (e.g. Hugo Ball's efforts in the 1920s to create "poetry without words"), Artaud, the Surrealists and lettristes were among the more exotic elements of a general resistance to language."

- Symbolist poets think... defiance of society also includes a defiance to its language

- language, which at any given moment embodies the ideology of a particular culture, must be ended in order to abolish both categories of estrangement

- literary texts (e.g. Finnegan's Wake, the poetry of e.e. cummings) breaks the rules of language seem mainly to have the paradoxical effect of evoking the rules themselves. Joyce spent 17 years working on the wake, highly edited

- towards more exciting words... today "incredible" and "awesome" are applied to the most commonly trvial and boring, it is no accident that powerful and shocking words barely exist anymore

- "Words bespeak a sadness; they are used to soak up the emptiness of unbridled time. We have all had that desire to go further, deeper than words, the feelings of wanting only to be done with all the talk, knowing that being allowed to live coherently erases the need to formulate choherence."

- "lovers need no words"

- "Only a politics that undoes language and time and is thus visionary to the point of voluptuousness has any meaning"

***Language Wars and Linguistic Politics**********************************

#Chap 1. Question of Origins

- history of language is a history of society

- violence intertwined with linguistic history

- languages possess characteristics towards regularization and simplication

- languages have not become more complicated, rascist theories regarding primitive vs. modern - simply codified

- evolution of skull and teeth making lanuage possible, social relations created need for it

- origins of languages exist within struggle for power relations

- language enables things tat arn't possible without it, tranmissions of techniques, narratives thus creating collective memory in societies with oral traditions.

- confronted by unknown langauges of the Other, a misunderstanding of meaning arose - comprehension vs. non-comprehension, this multilingualism leading to contempt for the Other

#Chap 2. Religions and Language

- origin of conflict lies multilingualism - necessary condition however not only condition necessary

- possible death on pronoucation of distinct phoneme(s), phonology as lethal distincition trait

- specific readings of the 16th Century Bible - trying to show ones own language closest to pre-Babel language specific reading of Koran - dominance of Arabic over other languages

#Chap 3. A Multilingual World

- humans are dominated or dominate by language

- diglossia - "brings together two varieties of a single langauage, where one has prestige, is standardized, and is the vechicle of respected body of literature, but spoken by a minority, while the other is believed to be inferior, but is spoken by most people"

- prestige and social functions develop from historic and socialogical reasons due to the form of power and organization of society

- languages of liberation vs. languages of oppression (possible to be both in the same instant / different areas)

- often no correspondence between dominant language and national (official) language, thus language knows no borders, and draws no lines...?

- Arabic owes status to the fact that it is a language of religion, the language of the Koran, and thus considered a language for unification of the world by the religions practicers.

- modern Arabic used primarily in the media and public life

- "multilingualism with minority dominant languages, in which the languages that are statistically dominant are in fact, languages that are politically and culturally subordinate."

- represents peoples system of communication / expression outside of state structures

- official language (clear functioning of state, schools, media, ect.)

- national language

- official language = language of power, better oneself possible - social factor key

- western culture spread through writing; fundamental in determining power relationships of language

- "the war of languages has its roots in multilingualism and in the way in which human cultures have analysed it."

#Chap 4. Ideologists of Superiority

- "you do not speak like me, therefore your speech is ridiculous."

- "barbarian" - particular way of treating Other, a translation from rascist Greek language, one who you can't understand (or they can't understand you appears even more ridiculous)

- development of state and languages as state-languages

- universal languages became idiom of liberty

- syntax order (subject, object, verb)

- "By converting differences into subordination, by considering the language of others as inferior (in general), even as a non-language (as with the Greeks), right from the begining human beings have laid down the premisses of a war of languages,
which religious and secular ideologies have continued. Quite a theoretical war, certainly, but one which, as we shall see, developed in different directions and was taken up in less Platonic fashion by the machinery of the state. The war of languages, therefore, seems ot be linked to multilingualism itself; we tolerate differences badly."

#Chap 5. Lingua Franca & Vernacular

- lingua franca - forms choosen to increase communication to as many people as possible

- vernacular language - form choosen to limit communication to a few people; define / register specifics / mark frontier

- form of language choosen registers where we differ and belong

- Often when languages meet in confrontation, one side has that of the state, law, power / force on its side

- sovereignty of language, seperation and unification, ideas of belongs vs. division

- vernacular indicates sense of belonging

- conflict between vernacular and lingua franca can lead to the disappearance of the Other - when belonging to the sub-group appears less important than belonging to the larger group

#Chap 6. Family as a Battlefield

- married couple with family names, dominant, show possession (in spanish "de..."

- social assimilation

- dominant language as practically obligation, opposite for vernacular languages

- language conflicts in multilingual families, perhaps foreshadowing society as a whole

- no mother tongues, only first tongues

- language of host country is the dominate language, therefore language of conformity to a dominant model outside of the family, the language of social prestige, belonging vs. difference

- alleged disappearance of language

- migrant workers

- "language changes through the influence of childern whose phonology, for example, often different to that of their grandparents, gives an idea of what the language will be like in twenty to thirty years time."

- language as the linguistic history of society

#Chap 7. Markets and Languages

- establishment of lingua francas sometimes languages only used in markets, also gaining use outside the commericial market

- multilingual communities developing ways to deal with language difference relationships

- even with language barriers - markets show people communicate, able to view power relations between human groups speaking different languages

- sometimes rejection of language due to hatred or reasons of prestige

- *stock market language* (below)

- apperance of money beckonss, necsitates use of language, discuss price, also, not actually spoken language - but money language (gestures, bells, sounds)

- markets promote rise of common language

- barter vs. exchange of money

-capitalism of languages

#Chap 8. Lingua Francas

- people often think languages are confined to states and borders

- "practically not one monolingual country" languages are not confined

- see emergence of lingua franca as a medium for communication, narrowing differences largely because of markets and sociological changes in society

- colonial oppression ( i.e. america latina

- language often controlled by geography (restricted), usually when languages giain ground due to natural routes, these geographic barriers often aid in the creation of lingua franca

- (natural routes) towns, ports, markets act as catalysts promoting spread of language especially merchants (roads, rivers, ports)

- religion: Sanskrit and Hinduism, Arabic and Islam, Hebrew becomes national language of Israel

- language policies decreed by state

- competition of languages leading up to lingua franca, establishing a hierarchy of functions

- lingua francas, rarely spoken in one territory, thus international languages

#Chap 9. Death of Languages

- dead language is a language which is no longer spoken, however can still be used in communities as a sociocultural way of

teaching, rituals (i.e. Latin and SATs [standardized testing])

- languages thought to be dead still exisit, except unrecognizable by first speakers, bastard languages

- latin is dead in sense, no longer spoken like Julius Caesar - alive in sense that continues on as romance languages whose

first speakers probably thought they were still speaking Latin

- languages that have died, leave only substrata, providing characteristics to language

- three types of disappearing 1.) disappearance by transformation 2.) disappearance by extinction 3.) disappearance by replacement

- continous process of change through absorption

- death of language non-language related to power relations

- language wars within language

#Chap 10. Language Policy and Planning: First Approach

- social relations and lanaguage connection

- direct, diliberate intervention in language by politics

- language and national life, language planning furthering language policy, standards

- policy in multilingual situations creating conflict in relationship of national languages

- "use of this term "planning" puts language in the class of things that can be planned, like schools, birth rate, development, construction, ect. in the class of phenomena on which those with power can act, which they can control and direct"

- totalitarian powers intervening in language = 1984

- Newspeak in order to build a new language

- "idea that speakers analyse their experience through words, and that any semantic modification will modify their experience of the world."

#Chap 14. - The War of Writting

- given a language that is not written linguists can study phonology and create an alphabet that is consistent to the language sounds

- graphic representation of language can be political / ideological

- different transcriptions of dialects for same language across frontiers leads to some being unable to read / write certain transcription, even though it is the same language

- Western influence in culture viewed as negative desire to retain individualty / specifics of transcription (english vs. local)

- although in China, the unity of writing protects the diversity of languages

- linguistic imperialism, different routes, school, university, policy, language planning, media, alphabet

- writing as conflict

- desire to break free from colonial orthography, creating / reverting to past, unify writing system

- imposing dominant writting system of dominant languge over subordinate, means of oppression

#Chap 15. War of Words

- lexical accession in response to threat

- lexical "purity" of language

- creation of new words in language through borrowing

- use of words, enter language, moral standards on language, "right vs. wrong"

- nationalism idea transposed onto language development / change

- imperialism leaves lexical imprint on language

- language planning through policy interupts languages, change through policy instead of social grassroots movement / product of the times

- "linguistic cannibalism"

#Chap 17. Pacificist Illusion and Esperanto

- as Latin declined among elites of Europe, emergence of "lingua universalis"

- attempt to resolve international problems invitro

- "idea of a universal language appears as a response to the national (and linguistic) division of Europe

- Esperanto dream: seeks to lay down nuetral foundation of which all peoples can communicate in peace and fraternity

- in vivo (in field) vs. in vitro (in lab)

- "a pacificist, idealist solution to the war of languages seems unlikely"

#Conclusion

- languages change as world changes, war in family, markets, routes developing lingua franca

- development of language, development of society

- multilingual world from beginning, creates semiotic conflict between group and what is common to all

- language of home vs. market, language of majority vs. minority

***Italo Calvino and Cimmeria***

Cimmeria is a fictional country in Italo Calvino's novel "If on a Winters Night a Traveler". The country is described as having existed as an independent state between World War I and World War II. The capital is Örkko, and its principal resources are peat and by-products, bitumonous compounds. It seems to have been located somewhere on the Gulf of Bothnia. The country has since been absorbed, and its people and language, of the 'Bothno-Ugaric' group, have both disappeared. As Calvino concludes the alleged, fictional encyclopedia entry concerning Cimmeria: "In successive territorial divisions between her powerful neighbors the young nation was soon erased from the map; the autochthonous population was dispersed; Cimmerian language and culture had no development (If on a Winters Night a Traveler, pp.44-45)"

Up the Gull

2008-05-19T22:34:00.010-04:00

[birds]

[old stone fence]

[upper gully]

[unknown]

[unknown]

[unknown]

[unknown]

Skateboarding in La Habana, Cuba - Otro Vez

2008-04-30T15:35:00.021-04:00

[photo taken in Parque 23 y G, Vedado Barrio, La Habana]

"I feel like I'm escaping out of prision"

Things are happening on the Caribbean island of Cuba and one of these things that has recently seen a bit of discussion is that of skateboarding. In 2007, Phil Brown, a documentary director from Bristol, England released an excellent short documentary about skateboarding on the island that touches on a lot of subjects. Then, this past April, the Subvert Cuba Project donated a plethora of skateboarding stuff they had collected from all over Europe to folks in La Habana and now the current May issue of Slap Magazine has "an undercover skate mission to the forbidden island of Cuba" from acclaimed skater, Steve Nesser from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Looks like a trend is starting.

I haven't had the chance to check out the Slap Magazine article yet, but hopefully it rules. I wrote Slap Magazine a letter asking them if they would put the article online, but so far all I've gotten is the cold shoulder (honestly, do you think news stands in Cuba sell Slap?). On the other hand, I do know for a fact that the documentary film The Cuban Skateboarding Crisis and the Subvert Cuba Project are pretty cool and worth checking out.

The Cuban Skateboarding Crisis

Following the success of his last film “Fuck Off”, a skate film about the D.L.H skaters from Bedminster, Bristol, Phil decided to take his camera to Cuba and document what life is like there for local skateboarders. Filmed on location in Havana the documentary illustrates the little known difficulties Cuban skaters face just to pursue their sport.

Watch the documentary below:

On the Skate Cuba: About the documentary website it says:

The Cuban Skateboarding Crisis reveals a side to Cuba and its people not often heard or seen in the west.

Cuba has a thriving skate community, founded on each individual's passion for skateboarding. However, there are no skate shops in Cuba and none of the skaters can get sponsored. Boards are almost impossible to come by, and spare parts are non-existent. Skating equipment is so prized that if anything breaks, it is restored, fixed and somehow made to work again.

Unlike western countries where there are plenty of skater shops, Cuban skaters have to be resourceful if they need any new kit. Due to trade blocks Cuban skaters can't even get products from mail order companies. The most common way of them obtaining boards is via friends they have made in other country’s carrying skateboards over for them when they visit.

Putting a good face towards the bad weather

I feel that skating is liberating in the sense that one is free to push wood anywhere in the city or out to the country and that this is a form of resistance, similar to riding your bikes places instead of taking a car. Given, it is not the same as other forms of protest/direct action, but it does help build communities and close-knit friends that otherwise may not have developed. From these communities and friendships so much more can come, so much more is possible. So, that is my romantic vision of skateboarding, but I must put a disclaimer here and say that the complete opposite could also be true, depending on the situation, however terrible that may be. In my humble opinion, I felt that the large group of friends in La Habana, from folks who had been skating their entire life to youths who are just starting, coming together to skate and have fun was pretty inspiring. The skate community in La Habana is one of those places I would consider my romantic vision to take hold.[1]

HAPPY MAYDAY AMIG@S!

***
Extra notes:

The political regime wants to show a more flexible face, but that doesn’t seem to be anything other than a self-preservation tactic; something that the stubbornness and pride of the “commander in chief” had not allowed up to now. The extensive network of State repression and control is intact but, even so, we must celebrate that in Cuba there is a healthy tendency to broadcast a discourse different from the official one: one with a different content, different shades, and different rhythm, via other media that are not those still strictly controlled by the government. For the time being, criticism of the complete control of the economy by the state and the mayhem produced during long decades by centralized planning as well as the radical feeling of alienation that the Cuban workers feel towards the “socialist” production structure have led some analysts to return to self-management proposals; about which we anarchists have something to say.

-Something Smells Different in Cuba (Cuban Libertarian Movement - May 2008 )

Other articles I've written about Cuba

[1]Skate or Die! Skateboarding in La Habana, Cuba

¡Hip Hop Cubano! ¿Acere, Que Vola?

New York, the anarchists, and José Martí

Americans Abroad: Viva la Ilusión - Cuba

*for those of you who may be wondering about the title of this article - "Otro Vez" is Spanish for "another time" (and may by a bad attempt at a Che joke)

Drink the Hemlock

2008-04-27T18:42:00.003-04:00

[a bald eagle, Finger Lakes]

The other day I saw the most amazing thing. I watched a bald eagle chase around a seagull and then, just when you thought the eagle was going to take out the seagull, another seagull came to the rescue. The eagle had to take a rest, and then it flew right over me with another bald eagle.

As for the above picture, I think this eagle is stalking the spawning suckers. Just a note, for you folks who see bald eagles on a regular basis... well, this is upstate, New York and 20 years ago there were basically no eagles anywhere in New York. So, I consider seeing one a pretty special event.

Also on an interesting note, the week before I saw a bald eagle swoop down at some kind of small animal in the middle of a llama pasture. It was kind of funny because there was a llama close by that must have seen the eagle and been like, "what the fuck is this?" It was pretty impressive to say the least.

Narcissus aka the Daffodil

2008-04-22T13:30:00.010-04:00

The spring is here and the daffodils are out. If you look very carefully, you might be able to see a little insect that looks like a bee wedged into the petals, probably gorging on pollen or maybe taking a little nap...

Well, it is certainly not the ivory billed wood pecker that Cornell saw, but somebodies been busy this spring.

Almost looks so good you want to eat it.

If there are any bats left around here they're probably becoming big fatties right now with all the bugs flying around... so many bugs that it makes the woods almost not fun.

Judging You, Judging Me...

2008-04-17T22:11:00.003-04:00

The medium is the message

Quick summary of chapter one - Language Wars and Linguistic Politics
#Chap 1. Question of Origins

- history of language is a history of society

- violence intertwined with linguistic history

- languages possess characteristics towards regularization and simplication

- languages have not become more complicated, rascist theories regarding primitive vs. modern - simply codified

- evolution of skull and teeth making lanuage possible, social relations created need for it

- origins of languages exist within struggle for power relations

- language enables things tat arn't possible without it, tranmissions of techniques, narratives thus creating collective memory in societies with oral traditions.

- confronted by unknown langauges of the Other, a misunderstanding of meaning arose - comprehension vs. non-comprehension, this multilingualism leading to contempt for the Other

Seminole Wind

2008-04-13T16:38:00.007-04:00