By George Rossi

As a preamble, I’d like to share this recent article of news concerning the direction and movement of chess pieces, particularly the removal of Tony Hayward CEO of BP as the official American operations representative of the British multi-national corporation. (“Tony Hayward REMOVED from Gulf Spill Operations…” Huffington Post, 06/18/10)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/18/tony-hayward-removed-from_n_617543.html

I correctly predicted that the nano-second that Mr. Hayward uttered “I’d like my life back”, his days were numbered as the official public face of BP. His ridiculous performance before Congress yesterday was just the occupational hazard that he had to suffer, probably with a massive financial reward attached to have to suffer through it.

As previously contained in posts on YOU CAN’T DRINK MONEY on facebook, I alerted our readers to watch the personnel changes at BP following that now infamous insensitive statement made in the wake of the death of 11 workers, and the impending annihilation of an ocean, an eco-system, and countless inhabitants of the Gulf Shore, and possibly the entire way of life for a very large segment of our American citizenry ….

By George Rossi

In another life, I created a character called “Little Georgie”. A public persona to function as a suit… one that could be removed when going home to your private life.

I put that suit in mothballs in 1998, and when returning back to Skaneateles / Syracuse, I decided to pull the old suit out of the closet for one more try, just to see if I could still fit in it, and maybe to explore the possibility of wearing it as a career again in 2008.

In all honesty, I could, but after 10 years, it was a little tight around the middle, metaphorically speaking.

Going through the amount of work and financial resources to have that personal experiment was quite illuminating. It helped me to clarify what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, or better put, what I didn’t want to do. Juggling all those balls just isn’t intellectually, artistically, and more importantly, spiritually compelling enough to assume the role of “Ring Master” for me anymore. More than anything, it became painfully apparent that it was time for a third act. The “Little Georgie” Suit went back into mothballs, and probably for good this time.

Excerpt from Syracuse.com / The Post-Standard

I have vivid memories of September 11, 2001. As a third grader, I understood very little about the details of the situation, but I certainly knew enough to be afraid and saddened by the events. The losses were devastating, and to this day I grieve for the victims and their families.

However, we now find ourselves almost nine years into a war whose benefits remain questionable to me. The War in Afghanistan began when the United States stepped in to protect its citizens, to combat terrorism, and to capture bin Laden.

Read entire article here.

By Patrick Blackburn

Skaneateles Library Announces Launch of a Series on Social Media

The Skaneateles Library Association is announcing today that it will be launching a series of presentations called What is This Social Media and Why Should I Care? on March 10th and 11th, 2010. They will be given by Patrick Blackburn, an interactive arts consultant.

Social Media is a catch all name for many different internet and mobile tools designed for sharing information with other people. The sheer number of people now involved in these various applications is astounding and growing by leaps and bounds each and every day.

By: Laura Brazak

I am a woman of a “certain age”. I’m pushing 50 but feeling pretty good. Getting to a point in my life where I can really start working on my “self”, my career, my relationships and my house. I joined a gym last year, I’m in a relationship with an actual “nice guy”, getting excited about my city-we even have a woman mayor! I can finally afford to buy some expensive products for my skin and hair, can afford to shop for a new bag now and then (not COACH…yet!), was looking forward to working on my house and yard, maybe finally paint the kitchen after living here for 8 years.

By Laura Brazak

I am almost 47 years old and have lived in Syracuse for approximately 20 years but today was my first time seeing my County Legislature in action. I guess my days of allowing my government to decide my fate are over. Thanks to the spectre of hydrofracking, I am now more than ever, a fully functioning member of society who takes my civic responsibilities seriously. And it only took me being scared out of my wits to get involved.

By: George Rossi

Boring as it may seem, Modern Fracking technology probably isn’t as evil as some may think, nor as safe as others may want to lead you to believe…and it probably falls somewhere in the middle.

That said, there are major red flags associated with the process and methods, the industry, and the legislative agendas that remove oversight attached to that industry, that have caused me to take a more pro-active stance… because very few people in our area even know this is coming, let alone have access to enough information to make an informed judgment about the issue of Hydrofracking in watersheds that service a high density population.

By Laura Brazak

Believe me, I wanted to come right home and start frantically scribbling…ranting and raving. Thankfully, I talked myself down off the ledge and decided to sleep on it instead. Good thing, otherwise this would have come out an X-rated diatribe…unfit for public consumption. And this is too important an issue for me to go all crazy on somebody; even if that somebody is the Gas & Oil industry and they’re practically begging for it. I will show restraint and try to be calm, eloquent and reasonable.

By Laura Brazak

Maybe we could leave some of that gas in the ground if we didn’t need to make 8000 truck trips over the life of a single well? Driving around the water and the gas and the wastewater uses a lot of fuel. Couldn’t we just leave it in the ground and call it a wash?? Just asking…

And I’m not even going to wonder who is going to repair the roads after 8000 trips PER WELL. That might be considered “bad form” or “fear mongering”. So even in my current state of exhaustion, a little easy math is in order to clarify an eventual probable reality. 100 fracking leases have been signed around Skaneateles Lake. One active well equals 8000 trips, multiplied by 100. So, let’s see Skaneateles residents, that is potentially 800,000 smoke belching trucks rumbling by over the next few years, primarily within the village limits, tearing up and down Rickard Road, Coon Hill Road, and Pork Road…. and the residual radioactive, radon infused, chemically toxic 34,000 or so gallons of salty waste water (per well) being transported down Route 41 or Route 20, on it’s way to a treatment facility in Oneonta that isn’t remotely qualified to treat the sludge in the first place.

By: Laura Brazak

FRACKING FOR DUMMIES
(Yes, that means you.)

Everything you always wanted to know about Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing but were afraid to ask. As explained by yours truly. Who for the sake of full disclosure will admit right now that I am not currently, nor have I ever been: a geologist, a scientist, an oilman, an economist or Vice President. BUT I DO DRINK WATER and have a vested interest in my community, my city and my state. So, after immersing myself in the concept up to my eyeballs for the last month and a half, I will now attempt to answer some questions.

1. Why should I care?

You should care because the quality of the water that comes out of your tap is about to be compromised. The water that you drink, cook with and bathe in is at risk.