MsKreed

On 6/29/2024 at 11:40 AM, Twin Tiers Living said:

We work hard to live up to our Mission and Values every day and represent the values of the communities and customers we serve. We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart. 

Yeah. I believe this is an honest statement. 

I'm sure most of demographic they serve really does prefer not to have rising costs compounded by resources and expenses supporting symbolic gestures and virtue-signaling about "causes" that don't affect them as a consumer.    

The manufactured outrage I've seen from a few people is just dumb.

It's doubtful that most of the pearl clutching bunch avowing to "boycott" them have even ever visited a TSC store. 

10 hours ago, command_prompt said:

Can we try moving the glider to the right side of the sun, and see how the avatar would look like then? 

Just a trivial aesthetic thought.....I like the glider facing upward rather than down.

I don't know why that struck me as relevant (perhaps a little subliminal reaction since the soaring eagle in the first post was rising).

57 minutes ago, Chris said:

Keep in mind there needs to be some color filled in around the bridge and train. This is just roughed out. 

Only a little contouring needed.

On my phone screen it's actually pretty close.

Since the original has white space delineating the elements already, the bridge and train should too.

10 minutes ago, Chris said:

That said, adding a town is problematic, because it has to be to scale with the hills, the train, etc. and to have it off in the sunset would be so small it's just a dot, at least so far. Same thing with anything else with any detail. I'd prefer to leave it out, with civilization already implied. 

Oh yes....I think trains & gliders imply people and civilization just as well as buildings. 

In a logo like this the main image is still recognizable when cropped to a thumbnail avatar....since the added elements with finer detail are around the perimeter,  

I like #2 better than #1

I also really like the idea of simplicity that both offer. However -- they encapsulate the geography, but not the people. 

They both look so....uninhabited. 

I feel like some "signs of life" could give it a more welcoming feel.

On 6/26/2024 at 6:10 AM, Twin Tiers Living said:

Here’s the unofficial primary results for Chemung County:

Those look like early results. The total votes are very low. 

Maybe absentee ballots before "live" votes were counted?

The BOE (this link) has these numbers published:

I remember our house having an endless supply of towels that were free swag from Breeze Laundry Detergent.

8 minutes ago, command_prompt said:

Who was it?

Craig Colwell...12th district.

The only reason there was a primary for Ackerman to write himself in was because Colwell filed Opportunity to Ballot (only to be later informed that only write-in for registered REPs were valid). 

5 hours ago, Kevin said:

(full disclosure I like Bill)

I don't know how anyone could possibly not like Bill. He's thoughtful, fair and a humble & sincere public servant.

The fact that blew my mind was the REP candidate came within 100 votes....after he got there by accident when he put his own name as a write-in, and that single vote won the primary. 

I also respect the Libertarian candidate that ran for that seat, but Bill's earned the respect he has. 

30 minutes ago, Hal said:

Yes Rodney does put out a Great deal of information on a broad range of topics around the County , not just his District. Says a lot about his character! 

For sure!

Strange truly represents the whole county! He's one of the few that I feel term limits may be less applicable. The "non consecutive" clause will allow him to run again if (after 2030) his predecessor doesn't meet that district's needs.

Speaking of 80s album cover art....

Quote

Duran Duran released their album, Rio, on May 10, 1982. Since its release, its cover has been both iconic and a bit of a mystery. After all, who was the woman who inspired the bold cover art drawn by artist Patrick Nagel? Over 40 years later, the woman’s identity has finally been revealed.

Source

,

1 hour ago, command_prompt said:

The best we can do is to attend a funeral/memorial, face the bereaved family, and tell them "let me know if there is anything I can do." We are not good at following-up, dropping a note, picking up the phone, or stopping by (I would not want to describe this as a "welfare check," but that's the closest description I can think of now.

Platitudes like this can create a paradox for both the person receiving the condolence and those offering them.

When my husband passed away three years ago, I heard that from dozens of people.  Unfortunately, it felt impossible to just “let them know” when it’s was left up to me to decide when/what support they might be willing and able to provide. And if I were to get the courage to make a straight forward ‘request’, then they’d be on the spot (if the timing, etc wasn’t good for them, they get to feel like a real jerk if they have to say ‘no).  

As someone who’s been on the receiving end....when I have to offer condolences in the future, I will try to remember the approaches that I found more helpful and reassuring. A few people avoided those platitude traps and offered tangible support and/or specific ideas:

”When you’re ready, let me know if you want some help sorting through his belongings”.

Or even, “let’s have lunch, what days work for you?”

As for the Death Café, I’m not sure I’d participate. However, I do think people tiptoe around the bereaved and often make suggestions meant to be cheerful or uplifting, but instead imply that pain/loss are unhealthy feelings that need to be “corrected” somehow.

There’s book that I have not read, but I thought a few interviews and quotes by the author were strikingly true.

Quote

Most of what passes for grief support these days is less than useful. Because we don’t talk about loss, most people—and many professionals—think of grief and loss as aberrations, detours from a normal, happy life.

We believe that the goal of grief support, personal or professional, is to get out of grief, to stop feeling pain. Grief is something to get through as quickly as possible. An unfortunate, but fleeting, experience that is best sorted and put behind you.

It’s that faulty belief that leaves so many grieving people feeling and alone and abandoned on top of their grief. There’s so much correction and judgment inside grief; many feel it’s just easier not to talk about what hurts…

Megan Devine, It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay

10 minutes ago, Chris said:

Just pissy that it's been changed, "It's always been this and that's what I'm gonna continue to call it," type stuff. You know, run of the mill, Elmira-style ignorance. 

Right....do any of them have any idea what, why or who “Madison Avenue” even refers to?

Since there aren’t any “Madisons” associated with Elmira or Chemung County history, can we assume it’s a generic nod to the 4th US president – like every other Madison Avenue or Street in every other city across the nation?

Are there really a bunch of rabidly faithful James Madison devotees out there offended that his hallowed name will now only be associated with a 2 mile stretch of road, that just doesn’t include the bridge?

35 minutes ago, Chris said:

The amount of people getting their panties in a wad over this is astounding. 

I admit I don't follow a lot of social media drama.....what possible objections could any reasonable person have to commemorating local historical figures?  

There’s usually some element of “helping thy neighbors” in the teaching/faith of a religious upbringing. But there are also other reasons, (separate from theology or faith) why declining church attendance probably does have a lot to do with declining communities.

Houses of worship have historically been the location where gatherings occur in the neighborhood. Although not the same as daily social interactions at the grocery store (like Chris pointed out).

Church gatherings have some differences from retail/commercial gathering places. Whether it’s a Saturday/Sunday worship service or a bingo game...there are a few common factors.

- regularly scheduled; you’re not required to be there (like signing up to play a sport) but know you can attend whenever you are available

- low to no cost 

-inclusive of all ages from babies to elderly; and sometimes activities just for kids that parents can stay home from if they're busy 'adulting' 

-relying on volunteers;

Being (or even just regularly seeing and interacting with) a volunteer reinforces the sense of community. It counterbalances the kneejerk responses like refusing to step up because "that's not my job"....or assuming the reason others take care of something because "they're getting paid to do that". 

All of the above factors could take place anywhere complete outside of any church affiliation.....with the right people finding a suitable location. And patience. It could take months before many (or any) neighbors begin to stop by with any regularity. 

3 minutes ago, KarenK said:

I don't think there is much he can do about term limits.  That was voted on and approved by the voters at the last election.  Margeson did tell me that he was out (can't remember how long. 3 yrs maybe) due to term limits.  He can't wait.  lol

The Term Limits law is three 4-year terms (retroactive to the beginning of the current term) for both legislators and the Exec. So everyone currently in office is eligible to run 2 more times (2026 and '30).

Moss's first term (2018) election isn't counted, so he could keep running for a total of four terms. Since that's twice as long as the two terms that he said should be the Exec's limit when he first ran.

I was referring to whether he'd stick to what he used to think was appropriate, or try to stay almost as long as his predecessor did. 

I know when he first ran in 2018, Term Limits was among the things he promised: 

However....he was also campaigned on cutting the Executive salary. 

Quote

For a community, a county of 88,000....the County Executive and Deputy Executive salaries are ridiculous. They’re making more money than counties like Onondaga, Monroe, Westchester and those are counties with millions of people.

Source- WETM Video

And he did take a 15% cut, as promised. But then he did a 180 degree spin and argued that he needed consecutive raises to add back the 15% that he (now) says was meant to be "temporary".

And now he's back to the "ridiculous" salary.....making as much money as the Westchester County Executive, and more than the Monroe County Exec....so who knows whether he'll stick to his Term Limits promise?

🤷‍♀️

2 hours ago, command_prompt said:

No, it's not another riddle. Located behind HH Walmart, up the hill. This image is from 2006 (thanks, Google Earth), but it's still there now, although heavily overgrown. Ideas?

Good question....zooming out on Google shows it's substantial in size (close to the sq footage of the Walmart building itself)

Here's a postcard (circa 1970s) that I found of the original Ann Page Food Processing Plant. Amazing that the mystery structure (that's as big as WallyWorld) was dwarfed by the size of the old processing facility!  

Enlarged, it's somewhat clearer than current Google overgrowth, but still doesn't identify its purpose:

Since it's across the RR tracks from the plant with what appears to be an access road from the rail line, could it have been used for a some kind of hub to load shipments (of incoming produce and outgoing canned food)? 

My gut says someone still around who worked at A & P would have the best answer.

19 minutes ago, command_prompt said:

Great idea, housing-wise, but would you do to keep these folks busy/entertained/occupied? How would you get them to/from work, assuming they'd be interested in becoming productive members of our community? Would you work with C-Tran on designing a special route to the former correctional facility, so that its new residents can get to/from work on time? Who would pay for such route, if that was to happened? The campus is far from any main drag and/or any commercial activities. The homeless aren't wealthy enough to afford their own transportation. Would YOU like to live in a concrete block with very little sunlight? Methinks not. 

All good question!

Of course, it's also a challenge for any residency for the 'unhoused' to balance residents' freedom/independence against basic rules of safety and conduct. Many choose to remain unhoused rather than be subjected to policies that prohibit drugs/weapons, etc. (And no one can be forced to accept services for drug treatment or mental health).

Also, the fact that New York State own the property. Local communities have no authority to decide the fate of closed prisons....and NYS takes years and years to approve any use for them.

Bayview (prime Manhattan real estate off Chelsea Pier) has sat empty since 2012. Warren Buffet's family foundation couldn't get approval to invest $50M to use it to offer services for formerly incarcerated women.  

In our own backyard, Monterey Shock facility has languished to the elements since it closed in 2014.....with NYS declining all kinds of proposals over the years to purchase it for anything from rehab facility to tourism.

13 minutes ago, Pvt Snowball said:

My point is stop blaming the wrong people from getting things done 

The post you were referring to didn't "blame" any party for anything.  He simply pointed out that local elected officials have no influence over policies that define the national and state parties. 

Whether or not to fix a clock tower, hire a meter maid or clean feces out of the parking garage just aren't partisan issues.

🙄 

I'm lost here...

What power does the Elmira City Council have that overrides NYS abortion laws?

24 minutes ago, Chris said:

And if the prospective employees were able to pass a drug test.

While I agree with you wholeheartedly, some of the responsibility falls on the people themselves. Especially those who’d rather smoke marijuana than maybe get a better paying job that simply requires a clean piss test.

They should be penalized as well, but that’s another topic and I don’t want to derail this one.

Of course, you’re absolutely correct that those who are unemployable by choice will continue to create a burden on the state mandated programs that the County (taxpayers) shoulder.

But as long as the County’s ‘economic development’ agencies keep subsidizing low wage employers, they're proliferating the need for Medicaid and other assistance. Because even employable residents are stuck relying on those programs.

Promoting employers that offer more competitive wages (instead of a few dozen cashier jobs at truck plaza w/fast food) would at least bring the eligible recipients down to a more manageable level.