You nailed it. I come from Western MA (still lots of trees and green space) and I now live near Boston. Parts of my old stomping grounds are just now getting decent internet service. A few towns are still waiting. And guess which part of the state has the pickups with big flags and Trump stickers.
You nailed it. I come from Western MA (still lots of trees and green space) and I now live near Boston. Parts of my old stomping grounds are just now getting decent internet service. A few towns are still waiting. And guess which part of the state has the pickups with big flags and Trump stickers.
It's really complicated. I would be happy if Texas went back to Mexico. Except we have cousins we love who live in Austin. Florida is loaded with bigots and undereducated nutcases. But my wife's wonderful family lives there. Utah is the fastest growing state population wise and flips the bird at conserving water. They could secede for my money, buy my terrific brother in law and family live there. Oy, oy and oy.
There is so much work to do in terms of properly connecting with each other. What good is "remote working" if you can't connect? You are so right. We don't talk about this enough. But President Biden is. You go Joe.
For landscape, Utah is my favorite state (although there are a handful of close runners-up). I would not want our country to lose Utah. But they need to stop the growth of their population, as they DO'NT HAVE THE WATER, and with the huge vistas, they'll wreck the views. One town in Utah has actually banned new construction because of the water situation, and there was an article in the NYT about it last year.
Of course, there's a lot of western Mass that's quite beautiful, especially west of the Connecticut River. I love Rt. 2 from there to Williamstown. (And Williamstown has the one coffee house in the state where they've preserved espresso goodness for many years [Tunnel City Coffee].)
The same is pretty much true of every western state that is part of the Colorado River Compact, the basic terms of which were written in the 1920s when the river was at a 500-year high of flow. If every state in the compact took the water they are "guaranteed" by the agreement, it would be 500% of what is available. Arizona and California being the two biggestproblems - the Coachella Valley in California would be a desert, and no one wants to talk about spending all the money to set up drip irrigation, which would save them.
And at the same time, the Indians who once had a great water system have gotten their water rights back and rebuilt their 50-year old system and are experiencing great success. All those sprayers may be "cheap," but the price of the water wasted, even at the low federal rates, can pay for a drip system. But they don't want to know that. There is nobody in this country dumber than American farmers.
When we lived in Tucson in '76 it was easy to see the future dry up without new rules, controls and techniques of water and population management. Oh, well (no oun intended).
As I did say a number of places above here, Tunnel City Coffee in Williamstown has a long history of good espresso--since ~'04 in my experience. Now, I only get there a couple of times a year, but it hasn't disappointed.
None of the places I've frequented in the past have it--unless they've done a 180 in the last few years. The 1369, where I had some of the best of my life 5 and 6 years ago--I had to spit it out three years ago, I think it was. The Barismo in Arlington never has good espresso anymore. And the one in Cambridge never did have good espresso. I havne't tried Simon's in years--that IS a possibility. The Paradiso was closed a number of years ago, much to the chagrin of Taughm and Ray Magliozzi (I bumped into them one evening, sitting in front of the placed--boarded up--and mourning its passing.) Nero is mediocre--it's drinkable, but it doesn't give you any pleasure. Its sort of like driving an old Hyundai or something.
Now, there may be others. If you know of any, let me know! If you find any, you can contact me directly at supernova1@aol.com.
But high speed internet is not just for entertainment. It’s necessary for everything from doing your taxes to doing your homework to paying bills and making doctor's appointments.
And all those folks commuting 4 hours a day? Maybe some of them could work remotely with proper internet service.
You nailed it. I come from Western MA (still lots of trees and green space) and I now live near Boston. Parts of my old stomping grounds are just now getting decent internet service. A few towns are still waiting. And guess which part of the state has the pickups with big flags and Trump stickers.
It's really complicated. I would be happy if Texas went back to Mexico. Except we have cousins we love who live in Austin. Florida is loaded with bigots and undereducated nutcases. But my wife's wonderful family lives there. Utah is the fastest growing state population wise and flips the bird at conserving water. They could secede for my money, buy my terrific brother in law and family live there. Oy, oy and oy.
There is so much work to do in terms of properly connecting with each other. What good is "remote working" if you can't connect? You are so right. We don't talk about this enough. But President Biden is. You go Joe.
For landscape, Utah is my favorite state (although there are a handful of close runners-up). I would not want our country to lose Utah. But they need to stop the growth of their population, as they DO'NT HAVE THE WATER, and with the huge vistas, they'll wreck the views. One town in Utah has actually banned new construction because of the water situation, and there was an article in the NYT about it last year.
Of course, there's a lot of western Mass that's quite beautiful, especially west of the Connecticut River. I love Rt. 2 from there to Williamstown. (And Williamstown has the one coffee house in the state where they've preserved espresso goodness for many years [Tunnel City Coffee].)
The same is pretty much true of every western state that is part of the Colorado River Compact, the basic terms of which were written in the 1920s when the river was at a 500-year high of flow. If every state in the compact took the water they are "guaranteed" by the agreement, it would be 500% of what is available. Arizona and California being the two biggestproblems - the Coachella Valley in California would be a desert, and no one wants to talk about spending all the money to set up drip irrigation, which would save them.
And Arizona already has towns being denied water, and fighting over it. It's crazy. And the Colorado River has long ceased reaching the Gulf of Baha
And at the same time, the Indians who once had a great water system have gotten their water rights back and rebuilt their 50-year old system and are experiencing great success. All those sprayers may be "cheap," but the price of the water wasted, even at the low federal rates, can pay for a drip system. But they don't want to know that. There is nobody in this country dumber than American farmers.
Our country lacks a culture of conservation, alas.
No kidding, the assisted living facility where I live is the trashiest place I have ever lived, should be a crime…
This makes me sad.
And I always thought they were the smartest, maybe their vision is pointed down. Soon they will only see dust…
Oh I don't know. How about the Department of Agriculture?
When we lived in Tucson in '76 it was easy to see the future dry up without new rules, controls and techniques of water and population management. Oh, well (no oun intended).
P.S. President Carter was our champion then.
of course they do...there's an important college there.
are you including Boston? no good espresso in Boston??
Of course, I AM the World's Fussiest Espresso Drinker.
I sorta figured...
As I did say a number of places above here, Tunnel City Coffee in Williamstown has a long history of good espresso--since ~'04 in my experience. Now, I only get there a couple of times a year, but it hasn't disappointed.
my comment about plummeting quality notwithstanding, the Blue Bottle in Harvard Square is decent. Or it was when I was there last, maybe 4 months ago.
I'm telling you though--the quality has plummeted!
No shit!
None of the places I've frequented in the past have it--unless they've done a 180 in the last few years. The 1369, where I had some of the best of my life 5 and 6 years ago--I had to spit it out three years ago, I think it was. The Barismo in Arlington never has good espresso anymore. And the one in Cambridge never did have good espresso. I havne't tried Simon's in years--that IS a possibility. The Paradiso was closed a number of years ago, much to the chagrin of Taughm and Ray Magliozzi (I bumped into them one evening, sitting in front of the placed--boarded up--and mourning its passing.) Nero is mediocre--it's drinkable, but it doesn't give you any pleasure. Its sort of like driving an old Hyundai or something.
Now, there may be others. If you know of any, let me know! If you find any, you can contact me directly at supernova1@aol.com.
Hope somebody tells them, or proves it to them.
But high speed internet is not just for entertainment. It’s necessary for everything from doing your taxes to doing your homework to paying bills and making doctor's appointments.
And all those folks commuting 4 hours a day? Maybe some of them could work remotely with proper internet service.