essays | Page 19 | Andy Arthur.org

Why I’m Rarely Ideologically Consistent

Andy | April 4, 2012

“Calling yourself a liberal or conservative, is kind of like saying, I’ve made up my mind, don’t confuse me with the facts.” — Governor Nelson Rockefeller

People sometimes like to point out to me on Twitter that I re-tweet and bring in information from a variety of perspectives. Most of the time I actually agree with the stuff I am re-tweeting, other times it’s informational.

Yet, most of time what I share is from a variety of perspectives, as I’m hardly one of a solid ideological camp. I am pretty independent, picking what I want from materials generated by the Democrats and Republicans, Conservatives and Liberals, Urban-folk and Rural-folk. I simply try to share what I believe is right.

I always keep several principles in mind when it comes to defining what I think is right:

Urban and Rural Communities are Very Different – Impacts of population multiply effects more quickly in urban areas, more nuisance possibility, more possibility of conflict
Regulations on individuals should be minimized, corporations and business activities more generally ought to be regulated to serve the public good – civil liberties and general freedom should be upheld for individuals

I believe my views are actually quite consistent when it comes to context. I just believe in maximum individual freedom, and maximum freedom for those who live rural areas, while appropiate restrictions for urbanized areas where large groups of people live.

Camping Plans Delayed Another Couple of Weeks

Andy | April 3, 2012

The past couple of years, I have gotten out camping either the last weekend of March, or the first or second weekend of April. Now it looks like I won’t be camping for a couple more weeks, waiting for my truck cap to be installed.

It’s really not a big deal, I guess. I can go tent camping during the weekend of April 12-15th, at least for part of the time if the weather cooperates. But I really want to go truck camping.

I’m hopeful that next week I can get my truck wired. Then at least I will have relaible power for the campsite, so I don’t have to worry about my starting battery going dead. But once I do my cap, I will be pretty much ready to travel and explore — that is once I get the “shoes” for the kayak to sit in.

But so be it. The summer is certainly not even underway, and not over. And with the new cap, the reliable electric system and 4×4 drive, I expect to be camping well into December this year.

Places to Roadside Camp in Early Spring in Adirondacks

Andy | April 2, 2012

The two longest back country roads in Adirondacks — Cedar River-Limekiln Lake Road and Piseco-Powley Road — are generally closed during mud season. Other dirt roads like Moose Club Way tend to be muddy, and their is a risk you’ll get stuck back there.

It’s always a good idea to bring extra weight in your truck bed, a come-a-long or whinch, and snow shovel. You might not be far from a blacktop road at these campsites, but that is no guarantee you won’t get stuck.

1) NY Route 8 / East Branch of Sacandaga River

The campsites are all off NY 8, an all season plowed and maintained asphalt road. Some sites are reinforced with gravel. Be aware some sites may be plowed full of snow from the winter clearing of NY 8. Roughly 15 campsites along this road, however some may be too muddy for this time of year.

2) South of Arietta Town Line on Piseco-Powley Road

There are 7 campsites along Piseco-Powley Road, north of Stratford, prior to the Arietta Town Line gate, which is near the Potholers on East Canada Creek. This road is well packed dirt, reinforced with gravel up to gate, and should be accessiable year round, minus the snow.

3) NY 421 at Horseshoe Lake

NY 421 is an asphalt road, and there are 4 campsites prior to the gates for Horseshoe Lake Road and Lows Lower Dam Road. These gates will be closed, but the sites along NY 421 before the asphalt runs out should be good as long the snow is off of NY 421..

4) Mountain Pond

Mountain Pond Campsites are on an old routing of NY 30. While now unplowed in the winter, the road is mostly hard asphalt, asphalt chips, and gravel. Many of the campsites are reinforced with gravel, but be careful with some of the sites.

5) First Campsite on Wolf Lake Road.

There is a campsite on Wolf Lake Road, right before the parking area and winter road gate for Wolf Lake Road Extension. This campsite is grass, however if it’s relatively dry, snow and mud free, this is possiblity.

6) Reeds Pond Campsite.

Before the black top runs out, there is a campsite along Reeds Pond, which is nice for it’s solitude, but nearness to a dirt road. The campsite may be muddy, depending on the conditions.

Delmar Crime Wave

Andy | April 1, 2012

It’s warm weather once again. Crime is spiking through the roof, even coming to the comfortable suburbs that are widely viewed as being safe compared to living in cities like Albany. Today’s incident shocked the conscience of all residents in Bethlehem, after Margie Smith is alleged to have parked her car at a bus stop. The incident was first reported to the police by an anonymous tipster. A blue Toyota Sienna mini-van was seen parked, illegally, in a bus stop. Thanks to quick action by the local police, all five police cars responded to the scene and ensured no unsafe conditions beyond the illegally parked car where to break out.

Passengers who might normally have boarded the bus at this stop where directed by a combination force of the Bethlehem Police and CDTA supervisors. These people stood by to ensure if any passengers sought to board the bus that they would be directed to board the bus not at the curb-side but near the traffic lane. Thanks to the supervision of the CDTA, it was ensured that no bus passengers’ lives where put in risk by waiting closely by passing traffic. Many commuters may have been tied up for a number of minutes getting past this vehicular infraction scene. To compensate for this lost, CDTA President Ray Mellady is offering free one-day CDTA trip passes, that anybody effected by the incident may obtain by calling the CDTA central headquarters and explaining their situation. He also apologised for people’s inconvenience, and reminded people of the importance of obeying traffic laws.

Police told News 10 that Margie Smith was issued an appearance ticket to Bethlehem Town Court. In addition, her car was impounded waiting further analysis of tire track prints left near the bus stop. The Bethlehem Police Forensic Unit has fully investigated this traffic infraction, and has taken pictures detailing the illegal parking, including aerial photography. Pavement samples where taken for further analysis in the crime lab. D.A. P. David Soares has this to say about the traffic infraction, I am awful sorry that this had to happen. Yet, people where inconvenienced and lives where put at risk by the choice of illegal parking by Ms. Smith. Other politicians, including Bethlehem residents Assemblyman Tim Gordon and Senator Neil Breslin also stated their shock over this callous incident of illegal and dangerous parking.

Ms. Smith referred all questions on this alleged crime to her lawyer, Mr. Terry Kindlon. He described the incident as little more then a careless mistake caused by a quick run to the coffee shop to purchase a cup off coffee. He also questioned the legality of the law, noting that the signs did not mention no parking, but only No Stopping Except Buses. Ms. Smith did not stop her car here to let out passengers, she only parked it. A hearing over this parking ticket is set to occur on Wednesday. The maximum penalty Ms. Smith faces is a $40 fine for parking in a bus stop. It is widely believed that this fine will be reduced and that Ms. Smith will plea to a reduced charge rather then be convicted of illegal parking in a bus stop.

Why I Don’t Really Mind of Paying for Parking in Albany

Andy | March 29, 2012

For many years I have worked downtown and ridden the bus downtown most days. Some days when I have to work late or are planning on heading out of town I drive downtown to work. It’s not a particularly common thing, maybe two or three times a month.

I used to park on the street, but now I park in an Albany Parking Authority lot. Why park in a lot, when one can park on the street? Simple: I don’t want my new truck, “Big Red”, to get hit or damaged, and I figure the back corner of a parking lot is a lot safer. Big Red is also a bitch to park on the street, being so long, even though I am pretty talented at parallel parking it.

It also is a powerful discouragement against car commuting. Somehow it’s more difficult to visualize $4 one burns driving in and out of work, or the wear and tear it means to your car, compared to paying the $3 for the parking lot — a top of the gas and wear and tear.

It makes me pause and think, do I really need to drive into the city? Can avoid it, and all of the pain of driving in the city. I really don’t like the kind of driving that involves stop lights and traffic. I have much to short of a fuse to enjoy such an activity. But so be it.

So at the end of day, I don’t really mind pay for parking, the few times I actually drive downtown. It just another good reminder that driving into the city rarely pays or is necessary with public transit..

How’s Your Luck? Hike to Good Luck Lake or Bad Luck Pond.

Andy | March 23, 2012

In the Adirondack Park there is a Bad Luck Mountain and Bad Luck Pond, along with a Good Luck Mountain and Good Luck Cliffs. I have only been to later, but maybe sometime I will get a chance to visit the much more remote Bad Luck Pond as described by CNY Hiking.

If you are not feeling particularly lucky, consider visiting Big Bad Luck Pond, off of NY 28, roughly halfway between Northville and Indian Lake. It’s a little too far to carry a kayak back into, but it is a 3 mile hike from the trailhead to the pond, passing over the col of Bell Mountain, and several other small ponds. There are some designated campsites near the lake, and it’s below Bad Luck Mountain.

Alternatively, if your feeling lucky, consider visiting Good Luck Lake. Located north of Caroga Lake on NY 10, there are 12 paddle-in or hike-to campsites along the lake, which is located below Good Luck Mountain. It is a delightful paddle on in, but if you go, make sure to visit Good Luck Cliffs and Good Luck Mountain above it.

Does the US Senate or US House Represent Rural Folks More?

Andy | March 18, 2012

That’s an interesting thought. The United States Senate has two senators for each state, while the US House is propotionally represented. While an urban state like New York State recieves 29 representives, we only get two senators, a rural state like Vermont recieves only 1 representive and 2 senators.

In theory, that would mean a rural state like Vermont, Wyoming, North Dakota, or even Iowa would have have a disproptionate impact on the legislation through the US Senate. While it’s true that such states have more of a voice in the US Senate, it’s not clear rural residents get more representation in the US Senate.

Why not? For one thing, US Senate districts are larger. Much larger, typically covering whole states. The problem is that by representing complete states, every senator represents both urban and rural areas, and in most states, urban populations outnumber rural portions of states.

If any thing, urban consituencies have more power in the US Senate then the US House. There are representives in US House Districts that are predominately rural, in contrast to even rural states, where population is dominated by urban centers — such as Burlington, Vermont.