See behind the scenes of HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ filming in Upstate New York (photos) – syracuse.com

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See behind the scenes of HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ filming in Upstate New York (photos) – syracuse.com

If you visited Troy, New York recently, you may have walked into a time warp as HBO has been filming their new TV series “The Gilded Age.” in their historic neighborhoods. The series is the next creative project of Julian Fellowes, best known for creating, writing and executive-producing the award-winning “Downton Abbey.” According to the HBO website, Christine Baranski, Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Den?e Benton, Louisa Jacobson, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson, Simon Jones, Harry Richardson, Thomas Cocquerel, Jack Gilpin and Jeanne Tripplehorn have all signed on to the production.

Trail work is uncertain this summer, as groups await guidance

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Trail work is uncertain this summer, as groups await guidance

The Adirondack Explorer repeatedly sent questions to the state Department of Environmental Conservation from the ruling’s release on May 4 through May 24. Questions included what would come of the 19 or so miles of snowmobile trails already built; how the decision would affect other trail work; how the DEC was interpreting what constituted a constitutionally protected tree; whether the DEC would pursue a constitutional amendment specifically to authorize the snowmobile trail; and what guidance the department was providing to trail crews heading into their summer season.

A spokesperson wrote back on May 25 to say that “DEC remains committed to thoughtful stewardship of the Forest Preserve for the use and enjoyment of the public and protection of this resource. DEC is carefully and thoroughly analyzing the Court’s decision and determining the implications for DEC’s varied and complex work.”

The Adirondack Park Agency also did not respond to a similar list of questions, except to say that the state attorney general’s office was reviewing the decision.

Ben Brosseau, director of communications for the Adirondack Mountain Club, said last year’s DEC guidance held that trail crews were not allowed to cut trees on the forest preserve while the case was pending. By the Explorer’s press deadline, ADK had not received any updated guidance, but Brosseau said “we expect new guidance for hiking trail work to come out by mid to late summer.” josh willson of BETABETA Executive Director Josh Wilson skis in the Saranac Lake Wild Forest, where a trail project for mountain biking and skiing has been delayed by the tree-cutting lawsuit.

Why renewables can’t save the planet | Michael Shellenberger | TEDxDanubia

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Environmentalists have long promoted renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind farms to save the climate. But what about when those technologies destroy the environment? In this provocative talk, Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment” and energy expert, Michael Shellenberger explains why solar and wind farms require so much land for mining and energy production, and an alternative path to saving both the climate and the natural environment. Michael Shellenberger is a Time Magazine Hero of the Environment and President of Environmental Progress, a research and policy organization. A lifelong environmentalist, Michael changed his mind about nuclear energy and has helped save enough nuclear reactors to prevent an increase in carbon emissions equivalent to adding more than 10 million cars to the road. He lives in Berkeley, California.

Personally, I think the way to go is with cleaner natural gas plants, along with some renewables where they make sense and conservation efforts -- and realize that most of climate targets are jokes -- and that we are all going to have to suffer from whatever climate instability is out there. Nuclear is a dying technology, not only is it dangerous, expensive, and silly compared to just burning the fossil fuels directly. But he does make a good point about renewables and the problems they can pose.

Today’s Almanac

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Today’s Almanac

Night before dawn is 4 hours and 42 minutes,
Dawn starts at 4:42 am and runs for 34 minutes,
Sunrise is at 5:16 am which is 6 hours and 43 minutes before noon,
High noon, the transit of the sun, is at 12:56 pm,
From twelve noon to the sunset at 8:35 pm is 8 hours and 35 minutes,
Dusk lasts for 25 minutes concluding at 9:10 pm,
Leaving 2 hours and 49 minutes until midnight.