byte&chew

Consequences of "Feelings"

These days it’s next to impossible to have a conversation with anybody where the conversation doesn’t include Laidlaw or Clean Power Development. With the topic of biomass power on the front page for the past couple years, people have been saturated with a whole lot of information about the subject, but I question how much the average citizen really understands what the debate is all about. To some of us who have elevated the subject of biomass to the level of a hobby, we throw acronyms around like it was part of everybody’s lexicon. In reality most folks don’t know the PUC from the SEC. I believe that the last election in Berlin is living proof that people don’t understand and maybe don’t care about the details of the subject. They know that the economy stinks, they see empty stores and houses and they’re concerned about their jobs and making ends meet, period. People in that frame of mind come to conclusions about issues at the gut level and they vote at that same level. The problem is that collectively too many of us have formed opinions based on how we “feel” about things rather than on the reality of the situation. Having feelings may be a plus when choosing a mate, but it’s not a great way to pick a mayor, senator, governor or president. I believe that most of us have a hard time looking at issues without letting our “feelings” highjack our thinking process. Clever politicians have come to know and exploit this phenomenon and, they not only say what we want to hear, but use slogans and words that reinforce how we “feel” about issues. That’s why at political rallies people quite often will cheer as if rooting for their favorite team when a politician will say something catchy but without intellectual merit. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, yeah we want jobs!  It “feels” good screaming those words, but where are these jobs going to come from and at what price? The “where” and the “what” of the job situation is not going to be resolved by our “feelings”, as a matter of fact, our “feelings” may very well confuse and misdirect us. Gambling would bring jobs, prostitution would also bring jobs, but as you can see, after thinking about it, the price may be too high. Another example of our “feelings” interfering with our thinking is how we “feel” about the mill property. We cling to those “feelings” of success and prosperity from years of heavy industrial activity on that site, those “feelings” cloud the way we think about the potential and future use of the mill property. Our gut feeling is that it’s a mill site and we never took the time to look at better and more rewarding uses of the property. I’ve heard of concepts for the mill site that could create hundreds of jobs, but we haven’t taken the time to seriously explore those possibilities. So the next time somebody turns the conversation to the wonders of the Laidlaw project, ask them what they really know about Laidlaw, what the company has accomplished over the past 10 years and ask them if they know what the impact of that large biomass plant will have on our community. I bet you hear a lot about how they “feel” about things, but that they know very little besides the rhetoric that makes them “feel” good. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs…. Now everything will be alright and I “feel” much better.

The inmates run the institutions

I just finished reading an article by Mr. Ray Anderson, (http://rayanderson.com) a very successful businessman who you might say, "has seen the light". If I could, I would bring Mr. Anderson to Berlin for a speaking engagement and I would find a way to get Mr. Grenier and other kool-aid drinking Laidlaw supporters to attend a lecture on the whole notion of sustainability and how the Laidlaw project is an affront to all who take the time to think matters of energy and sustainability seriously. Mr. Anderson is not from some environmental group or fringe lunatic sect, he heads a very large corporation, he's the type of guy that wears a tie and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Anderson can see the lunacy of doing certain things "a certain way" either because they've always been done that way or because we've been too lazy to learn new and better ways of doing them. He talks about the lunacy of producing electricity through  systems that throws away 75% of its value while spending more scarce resources building transmission lines to move those electrons around where we lose another 15% going from point A to point Z. (Sorry Fred King, Paul Grenier and associates)  Mr. Anderson has come to understand that there's more value to a tree than chopping it up and burning it! It's a lesson we should all learn if we're to leave our children and grandchildren a world that you and I recognize and appreciate. The battle over Laidlaw in Berlin is in a way just a sample of the bigger mess and challenge the country and the world faces today. I hope it doesn't shock you when I say that the economic catastrophe we're in is not about to go away and projects like the Laidlaw biomass project just adds to the mess. People who don't know any better keep pushing us closer and closer to the abyss while they don't even recognize the role they're playing in their own demise. To paraphrase Einstein, don't look for solutions from those who created the problems to begin with.

Forked tongues

Although the latest news of the lay-offs by Fraser should not surprise too many of us, it's still a very troubling situation, one that I'm sure kept some of our residents awake this week-end.  The last thing Berlin/Gorham needs at this time is another blow to its economy. With winter bills of heating and electricity running at their peak, this can become the straw that will certainly break the economic back of some people. This event will raise the level of anxiety of the residents even higher and the danger of making irrational decisions more probable. It's obvious that the rhetoric of JOBS JOBS JOBS of the last election rings hollow at times like these, it's not that the need is false. it's the false promise of Laidlaw jobs and hypocritical actions since then.  Isn't interesting that those who chanted "JOBS" the loudest 3 months ago are now working to delay the Clean Power Development project, a project which will be ready to break ground in the spring!  Here's a project that is well proportioned to the needs of our communities and is well within the available resources of biomass and transmission line capacity,  with added benefits such as steam to the Cascade Mill, being delayed by the special interest and influence of those supporting Laidlaw. The citizens of Berlin/Gorham should be outraged by the self righteous attitude of Danderson and others who are playing politics with economic survival of our communities!  I personally find their actions revolting!  Don't you think that it's time that the majority of us speak up?

Question levels of Ultrafine Particles

Microscopic Pollution May Trigger Heart Attacks And Strokes By Spurring Blood Clots

ScienceDaily (Sep. 26, 2007) — It was a murder mystery playing out in major cities across the country and perplexing scientists. Thousands of people were dying from strokes and heart attacks within 24 hours of a spike in microscopic pollution -- tiny particles that spew from the exhaust of diesel trucks, buses and coal-burning factories.

But scientists didn't have a smoking gun. They couldn't figure out why the pollution was triggering the deaths. All they had to go on was a vague lead: the particles -- too small to be filtered by the nose or mouth -- caused inflammation of the lungs. But what was the link between particles trapped in the lungs to the strokes and heart attacks?

New research from the gumshoes at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine has solved a key piece of the mystery. The study identifies how these tiny pieces of soot -- called particulate matter air pollution -- kill people at risk and tells how they can protect themselves from these pollution-related strokes and heart attacks.

Northwestern researchers have discovered that this microscopic air pollution -- smaller than 10 microns or less than one-tenth of the diameter of a human hair -- spurs hyperclotting of the blood. The study found that lungs inflamed by the pollution secrete a substance, interleukin-6, which causes an increased tendency for blood to coagulate or clot. This raises the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke in people with cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure or a history of stroke.

Previous epidemiological research has linked the pollution to cardiovascular death and disease, but this is the first study to show how it actually happens in an animal model.

"This is a critical missing piece of the puzzle that has eluded scientists for decades," said Gokhan Mutlu, M.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Feinberg School, and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Now we know how the inflammation in the lungs caused by air pollutants leads to death from cardiovascular disease."

The doctors also warned that heart attacks and strokes occur at relatively low levels of particulate matter pollution. "We haven't found a safe level yet," Mutlu said. He hopes the study helps encourages the EPA and local regulators to reduce the limits on particulate matter levels.

The risk of dying from a heart attack or ischemic stroke jumps a whopping 30 percent with each additional 10 micrograms of pollution. medicine, and David Green, M.D., professor of hematology and oncology, both at the Feinberg School and physicians at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The paper will appear on-line Sept. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and will be published in the print issue October 1.

In the study, researchers used particles of pollution collected by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, mixed them into a saline solution and injected the pollution cocktail into the lungs of mice. The blood of the mice exposed to the pollution clotted faster than mice not exposed. Researchers observed a 15-fold increase in interleukin-6 24 hours after the mice were exposed to the pollution.

In people, interleukin-6 also raises the levels of a substance called CRP, which is correlated with death from cardiovascular disease.

Particulate matter pollution is highest near expressways or truck routes. It's hard for commuters to escape. People are exposed to the pollution inside a car (even with the windows rolled up), a train or walking outdoors, Mutlu said. The only safe location with lower levels is indoors.

People with previous blockages in the coronary or carotid arteries are at the highest risk. "It's important to get screened to see if you have one of these conditions. If so, when there are high levels of particulate matter, you should try to stay indoors and limit your exposure to the outside air," Budinger said.

Exercising hikes the risk because it floods the lungs with more polluted air. "If you're sitting down, the amount of air you get into your lungs is about five to six liters per minute, but if you're running the amount is 20 to 25 liters," Mutlu noted. "If you're close to an expressway, you're actually breathing more particulate matter into your lungs."

The doctors also warned that heart attacks and strokes occur at relatively low levels of particulate matter pollution. "We haven't found a safe level yet," Mutlu said. He hopes the study helps encourages the EPA and local regulators to reduce the limits on particulate matter levels.

The American Lung Association State of the Air: 2007 report said the most "ominous trend" in air pollution is the increase in particle pollution, particularly in the eastern United States. Among the metropolitan areas, Los Angeles has the most year-round particle pollution. Chicago ranks 11; New York, 17 and Washington D.C., 20. All received an "F" or failing grade for their pollution , which was in excess of the EPA annual average limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

The risk of dying from a heart attack or ischemic stroke jumps a whopping 30 percent with each additional 10 micrograms of pollution

The first of many

I believe that the rejection of the Laidlaw application placed before the State SEC is quite significant and follows the same pattern as was seen in Ellicottville New York.  Many thanks to the SEC officials who seem to be working in the best interest of the citizens of New Hampshire.  Thank You SEC

Good news?

The announcement today that Laidlaw has filed with the State Site Evaluation Committee for its operating permit will be seen in many different ways. Pro Laidlaw folks will jump with joy believing that it's a major step towards their riches while anti Laidlaw folks will mumble to themselves words not fit for print. Personally, I welcome the news! Finally the issues that concern many of us will be examined in detail by hopefully, people with the best interest of the State and Berlin in mind. Finally the professional community will have the opportunity to scrutinize the claims made by Laidlaw that this is a viable project. To date most of what we've heard about the project both pro or con has been more about the emotions of the issues rather than the facts surrounding those issues. Cleverly worded press releases by Mr. Bartoszek with the legal disclaimers on the bottom of every release have done little to shed light on the most important issues. The merits of the project will be under the microscope for the next few months, maybe for more than a year. Unfortunately one issue that won't receive its due share of consideration will be the negative impact on the quality of life of the citizens of Berlin or the negative impact the project will have on changing Berlin's image. For the moment I'm sure that Emperor Grenier has a broad smile on his face as he prepares to take credit for making "things happen". There may be a cold wind blowing out there right now, but there will be plenty of hot air warming things up over the next few months!

A chill in the air

As the end of the year draws near and I try to look into my crystal ball at 2010 I'm struck by the fact that it seems like yesterday when we were all concerned that at the stroke of midnight January 1, 2000 all of our computers were going to crash and the world come to an end, that my friends was 10 years ago! .....So what will 2010 bring us?  For one thing, it won't be as bad as we're making it out to be. So City Government will take a step backward with Emperor Grenier at the helm...without the cooperation of the rest of the Council, his 20th century approach to issues won't fly. I don't believe that we'll be going back to the days when the good old boys closed the door, shouted obscenities at each other and whoever shouted  the loudest won the argument. With the exception of the latest additions to the mix, we have some very intelligent and capable folks leading the City. The Emperor will soon discover that he has no clothes as he's about to get a chilly reception come January. Hanging his crown on Laidlaw was a good strategy to drum-up votes from his card carrying supporters, but it will be years not months or days before his promise of "JOBS" come true, if ever.  The Emperor does not have a kingdom and the turf he stands on is our turf and, he's here only by invitation. So you see, the future doesn't look as bleak as one would believe at first glance. While it's true that we've swaped substance for empty promises and rhetoric, sooner or later the Emperor's nudity will become apparent even if the court jesters that followed him into office attempt to distract us with their tactics.

A world of make believe

For the past 2 to 3 years I've been checking the goings-on on the Laidlaw I-Hub (LLEG) blog on a regular  basis. This is where investors gather to wring their hands and discuss all the ways they're going to get rich with Laidlaw. For the past couple months the conversations have revolved around Laidlaw's EFSEC application for "their" Berlin project. Believe it or not, yesterday one guy was talking about taking money out of his 401K to buy Laidlaw stocks. Lately everybody is on pins and needles waiting for the magic moment when Laidlaw files the EFSEC application in Concord because they're all convinced that it will drive the value of their shares upward. (This is what it's all about folks, not electricity) Believe me when I say that these people are totally obsessed with Laidlaw and, becoming rich. I often wonder about what else they do and, if they have a real life outside their investment life. Their view of Berlin is very negative and narrowly focused around the success of the biomass plant.  In their mind, their project is located in a community on the brink of collapse and where people are burning their houses down in desperation. I think it's safe to say that they also see the election of Paul Grenier and Bob Danderson as blessing, a guarantee that they're just minutes away from striking it rich. All negative issues facing the Laidlaw project are ignored, all challenges are seen as falsehoods being generated by nimbys and people with hidden agendas. It's a perfect example of people who "see no evil, hear no evil" and they can't imagine anything Laidlaw has done or is doing that isn't in their best interest. It's a world of "make believe"! 

A "Grand" Conflict of Interest

 As I read about the accounts of various meetings around the North Country and try to understand what's behind some of the headlines and stories, I better understand why the majority of people don't bother to vote or become involved with their local governments. The events of just this past couple of weeks is enough to turn "OFF" anybody with half a brain. Looking at the regional issues, you have County Commissioner Tom Brady shouting "foul" because his family owned Six Gun City tourist trap in Jefferson was not crowned a "Grand Experience". Now I've been to Six Gun City and I thought it was a second rate experience, never mind a "Grand" experience. The real issue though is the fact that Commissioner Brady has the gall to use his elected position to damage the Branding and marketing effort because he's pissed that his trap isn't considered "Grand". If that isn't enough, his sidekick Commissioner & Emperor Paul Grenier who never misses an opportunity to grandstand, jumps on his soapbox to defame the whole Branding effort. This scene is a disgrace. Brady should know that he's is in a conflict of interest and, should just take the advice given him and spruce-up his tourist trap. Grenier should just shut up, (it's best to be thought a fool than removing all doubt) since it's obvious he doesn't understand this and many other issues. Beware Berlin, this is your Mayor Elect, a fellow that can't understand the simple issue of marketing the North Country even when presented in clear detail, but wants you to believe he's an expert on matters of energy and the value of Laidlaw. It's always interesting to see people who lack knowledge and credibility turn to arrogance in order to mask their ignorance. They shout, point fingers and bang on tables, a behavior they've perfected since the day when they were children and where they also did a little dance. This post is getting too long to go into other issues except to say that the Brady Bunch (Commissioners), in their infinite wisdom, also cut funding to the Coos Economic Development Corporation.  That's right, in the middle of the deepest recession since the Great Depession, they come to the conclusion that we need to get rid of any efforts at economic development. Come to think of it, I bet this whole recession was planned by CEDC in order to make the likes of Brady and Grenier look bad. (As if they can't do that on their own)

Looking foolish again

Yesterday I received a call from a friend who had attended a meeting at the T&C on Thursday night. The meeting turned out to be the Coos Economic Development (CEDC) Annual Meeting and I understand that there were some 50 to 60 people. First, I must say that the meeting was a pretty well kept secret because I never saw any news items about it in the local papers. Upon checking with CEDC I was told that invitations were sent out to a lot of people and to all the political types in the North Country. My buddy tells me that this was the most informative meeting he ever attended on the issue of energy and, that the invited speakers were from a wide range of backgrounds including PSNH who spoke about the High Voltage line of Canadian Power from Quebec to the Noble Wind Farm, to Clean Power Development, to the County Forester who spoke about the availability of wood biomass. These types of meetings take place quite often, sometime it's strictly about one subject or one issue and, those issues can also have a wide range from health-care to economics. To the point of this post. What was remarkable about Thursday's meeting I'm told, was not who attended, but who almost never attend these instructional meetings, our elected officials. I'm told that there was 2 to 3 State Representatives at the meeting, but absent was Senator Gallus, any of the 3 County Commissioners which include Mayor Elect Grenier. Why you might ask is that so important? For one thing I had just read where the County Commissioners voted to cut their financial support ($50K) to CEDC, this is the second year in a row they attempt to cut the support. Their claim is that the organization and it's Director are not doing enough for economic development. Sound familiar?  Isn't that the same line used by Grenier and Danderson during the elections in Berlin about the same issue.  I also question in what manner many of our elected officials inform themselves about the issues that they will be asked to vote on/decide?  These same County Commissioners are also trying to throw a monkey wrench in the Branding effort that's been going on for a couple years.  I understand the commissioners never attended any of the dozens of meetings that took place all over the County and, Commissioner Brady (who has a big conflict on his hands) is upset that his family's Six Gun City was not picked as a "Grand Place". (Sorry Mr. Brady, I've been to your place and it ain't grand) How long are the people of the North Country going to support those who govern by ignorance and arrogance?  Berlin is again on the verge of entering the dark ages of bully politics by Grenier and Danderson. If they really understood the challenges of the local economy and reflected on possible solutions, do you think they would have run a campaign of JOBS, JOBS?  I agree that we need jobs, but yelling "JOBS" from the roof tops won't bring jobs. Of course if you don't have a plan of your own and have no clue as to what the answer may be, you first blame someone else, then you high-jack somebody's else's rhetoric like Laidlaw's promised 40 jobs. Could it be that if Mr.Grenier, Danderson and Rozek would have been at Thursday's meeting they might have learned something? Do you think they want to know what the facts are?  Are they capable of understanding the complexities of the issues? You'd think that they would at least give it a try! Is this another case of the old saying; "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up". Governance through ignorance is not very productive. Slogans instead of informed discussions and plans is what the last election produced in Berlin. Thank God for the remaining folks on the council who will have to carry the burden of not making us look too foolish (again) in the eyes of the State.