"Built atop the North Hudson Sewage Treatment Plant in Harlem, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is the only park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan, this 28-acre multi-level landscaped recreational rises 69 feet above the Hudson River and offers a wide variety of recreational, athletic and arts experiences for all ages, interests and abilities.
Housed in five major buildings are an Olympic-size pool, a covered skating rink for roller skating in the summer and ice-skating in the winter, an 800-seat cultural theater, a 2,500-seat athletic complex with fitness room, and a 150-seat restaurant. Outdoor sports amenities include a 25-yard lap pool, a wading pool, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, a softball field, four hand/paddleball courts, and a 400-meter eight-lane running track with a football/soccer field.
Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park also boasts spectacular promenade views of the Hudson River, the Palisades and the George Washington Bridge. At water level, there is a 400-seat amphitheater. An educational greenhouse, two playgrounds, a water splashing area, a delightful kid inspired carousel and a number of picnic areas round out DF Riverbank's many offerings."
Predictions about the future often become outdated quickly. It’s like trying to hit a moving target – by the time you describe what the future will be, it’s already changed. It’s a combination of the pace of technological advancements or our limited ability to predict what’s next.
The Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine in Hibbing, Minnesota, United States, is the largest operating open-pit iron mine in Minnesota. The pit stretches more than three miles (5 km) long, two miles (3 km) wide, and 535 feet (163 m) deep.[2] It was established in 1895 and was one of the world's first mechanized open-pit mines.[3]
The mine, located in the Mesabi Range, supplied as much as one-fourth of all the iron ore mined in the United States during its peak production from World War I through World War II. This prodigious output made Minnesota the nation's largest iron ore producer and the U.S. the world's largest steel manufacturer.[3]
The Hull–Rust–Mahoning Mine was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966.[1] The city of Hibbing has long maintained a public overlook and visitor center on the rim of the mine, attracting tens of thousands of tourists each year. In 2019, the overlook was to be moved as mining operations expand.[4]
I just shared some articles about the March for Science. It’s an interesting movement, one I’m decidedly on the fence about participating, especially should I end up staying in town this weekend.
Science has an important role in society for sure – without it I wouldn’t be typing this blog post into a $40 Smartphone or sharing it on the web. Basic research, funded by the American government is essential for moving society forward. Everybody should accept facts based on the scientific method but realize that facts alone can not justify any public policy.
Science is good at quantifying specific actions, it can illuminate the likely outcomes of public policy. It can give us estimates of deaths caused by a specific action or predict lives saved. But science can not place a value on human freedom or choice, it can often not quantify the things that make us happy as humans. Science can never tell us what’s right or wrong.
I worry about people using science to create self evident truths. I am fine with accepting facts but facts must always be put in context and our society’s values considered in the bigger picture. Just because science suggests a particular bad outcome to a public policy, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.
We should fund public science and make sure that the knowledge gained by science is widely distributed. But we should also expect scientists to be non-political, abide by the Hatch Act, and provide nothing but the facts. Scientists who choose to include context to their research should always try to provide the widest context possible and present opposing views.
It’s important as a society to invest in science and use science to weight the pros and cons of public policy.
Climate change is a serious crisis. We’ve waited too long to take action, and as result to make the changes recommended by scientists, it’s going to threaten both democracy and environment. The truth is an expedited action means cutting corners, emboldening bureaucrats, fostering corruption and damaging the environment through poorly reviewed and thought out projects.
That said, is it worthwhile to take climate action? Of course, we should. But we should be cautious, take reasonable steps after thoughtful review. Science has to be based on reality, not a projection of world we want to live on. We should take steps to reduce climate change emissions that are protective of environment and not harmful. It’s better to be slow and cautious, and if we don’t meet emissions targets, we don’t meet them. It’s better to save democracy and our environment, then meet a set emissions target.
