#Great Salt Lake State Park

[rabbitcruiser]

The Lucin Cutoff, a 102-mile (164 km) railroad line in Utah, was opened on March 8, 1904.  

[immaculatelyamiss]

Storm over Great Salt Lake

Antelope Island State Park

[vestaignis]

Каинды - 400 метровое озеро в Казахстане, в долине Тянь-Шаня, в 129 км от города Алматы. Оно расположено среди хвойного леса на высоте 1667 метров над уровнем моря. Озеро Каинды образовалось после землетрясения 1911 года, которое вызвало большой оползень, заблокировавший одно из ущелий горного хребта Кунгей Алатау, образовав естественную плотину. Впоследствии, дождевая вода заполнила долину и наполнила озеро.

Озеро славится своей красотой подводного леса. Макушки самых высоких деревьев поднимаются прямо из воды. Средняя глубина составляет 20 метров, а в некоторых местах доходит до 30 метров. Вода в озере настолько холодная (даже летом температура воды не превышает 6 градусов), что могучие сосны по-прежнему остаются полузамороженными на своих местах, даже 100 лет спустя. Благодаря чистой горной воде, можно увидеть глубины озера. Вода в озере пресная, практически не содержит растворенных солей и идентична той воде, которая подвергается многоуровневой очистке в лаборатории.Зимой поверхность озера замерзает и становится прекрасным местом для ловли форели и подлёдного дайвинга.

Этот природный объект внесён в список особо охраняемых природных территорий со статусом природоохранного и научного учреждения, а также входит в Государственный национальный природный парк "Кольсайские озёра".

Kaindy is a 400-meter lake in Kazakhstan, in the Tien Shan Valley, 129 km from the city of Almaty. It is located among a coniferous forest at an altitude of 1667 meters above sea level. Kaindy Lake was formed after the earthquake of 1911, which caused a large landslide that blocked one of the gorges of the Kungei Alatau mountain range, forming a natural dam. Subsequently, rainwater filled the valley and filled the lake.

The lake is famous for its underwater forest beauty. The tops of the tallest trees rise straight out of the water. The average depth is 20 meters, and in some places it reaches up to 30 meters. The water in the lake is so cold (even in summer the water temperature does not exceed 6 degrees) that the mighty pines still remain semi-frozen in their places, even 100 years later. Thanks to the clear mountain water, you can see the depths of the lake. The water in the lake is fresh, contains practically no dissolved salts and is identical to the water that is subjected to multi-level purification in the laboratory.In winter, the surface of the lake freezes and becomes a great place for trout fishing and ice diving.

This natural object is included in the list of specially protected natural territories with the status of an environmental and scientific institution, and is also included in the Kolsai Lakes State National Natural Park.

Источник://discoverynn.ru/blog/kazakhstan/ozero-kaindy-neobychnaya-dostoprimechatelnost-na-yuge-kazakhstana/ , ://newtimes.kz/obshchestvo/155196-podvodnyj-les-ozera-kaindy-udivil-kazahstancev,//tourlenta.com/blog/316-podvodnij-les-na-ozere-kaindi,m.vk.com/wall-222521402_9950,//www.stena.ee /blog /zatoplennyj-les-odno-iz-samyh-krasivyh-mest-kazahstana,//dzen.ru /a/ZOZQ8LxcWxUAPkQe,aveneerdmc.com/ru/inspiration/kaindy.

[deadpresidents]

President Rutherford B. Hayes (far right), First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes, and their party visiting Yosemite -- which was still ten years away from becoming a National Park -- on October 21, 1880. President Hayes was not only the first President in American history to visit the West Coast of the United States while in office, but he was the first incumbent President to travel west of Salt Lake City and only the second to travel west of the Rocky Mountains (his immediate predecessor, Ulysses S. Grant had visited Utah in 1875).

The President's "Great Western Tour", which lasted from August 26-November 6, 1880 took the Presidential party through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming Territory, Utah Territory, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington Territory, Arizona Territory, New Mexico Territory, Colorado, and Kansas en route to the Hayes family home, "Spiegel Grove" in Fremont, Ohio in time for Hayes to cast his ballot for fellow Ohioan James Garfield to be his successor.

[heavenlybackside]

Evening ease

Great Salt Lake State Park, Utah, 🇺🇸

[myemuisemo]

Suddenly, Letters from Watson dumps us in the middle of the Great American Desert (part 1 of "On the Great Alkali Plain," 2/7/24). This is not anywhere I expected to be transported from London, and the contrast makes the Mountain West feel exotic for a minute.

The Great American Desert -- stretching from about Grand Island, Nebraska to the Sierras and pretty much the entire north-south length of the U.S. -- had become a thing of legend since explorers' accounts in the 1820s. When Dad and I drove across it in 2022, we talked about how incredibly daunting it must have been for emigrants seeking their land of milk and honey on the Pacific coast.

The way we went, out I-80, Nebraska shifts from green to gray as it rises toward the Rockies. After a while, the wind picks up as you go uphill into Wyoming. There's a lot of Wyoming, and after Cheyenne and Laramie (both of which would be small towns in most states), it's very, very empty. When we finally started the descent toward Salt Lake City, and the little valleys beside the road turned green with running water, it was truly like entering paradise.

Of course, in 1847, Salt Lake City was just barely being settled, as Brigham Young led his Latter Day Saints west from Council Bluffs, and its location wasn't part of the U.S. yet.

The Mexican-American war had started the prior year, 1846, and was still going. Spring-summer of 1846 saw the Bear Flag Revolt in California, followed by the U.S. just annexing the state. Gold wouldn't be discovered at Sutter's Mill until 1849, so while emigration to California happened -- the Donner Party made their ill-fated trip in 1846-47 -- it wasn't anything like the scope of movement along the Oregon Trail.

As far as I can tell, "Sierra Blanco" is not a real place. There's a Sierra Blanca in New Mexico -- which would fit with all the specific landscape, plus White Sands National Park in New Mexico specifically has alkali flats. Last time I drove through New Mexico on I-40, in late 2018, it was delightfully desolate, so I can buy that in 1847, it seemed completely empty, with even the native peoples avoiding some stretches.

Why anyone would be crossing New Mexico is a mystery, since neither Arizona nor southern California were much settled by Americans. There was some sort of wagon route across New Mexico used by U.S. soldiers during the Mexican-American War, so if I'd expect anyone to be about, it'd be the U.S. Army.

Utah, now, is downright famous for its salt flat, but that's west of the site of Salt Lake City.

Regardless, parties screwing up their trip to the west by taking an imprudent shortcut or mistaking the route was definitely both a thing that happened and, thanks to the Donner Party, a trope. Our haggard and starving traveler sounds about right.

Then he reveals a Plucky Innocent Victorian Child.

That "pretty little girl of about five years of age" is the absolute ideal of Victorian childhood, being perfectly behaved, utterly imperturbable, determined to see the best in all things, sweet, trusting, and looking forward to being reunited with her mother in heaven.

This kind of child is why Louisa May Alcott was seen as innovative for writing Little Woman about girls who worked on their character flaws. (This is also the ideal the March girls were being aimed at. Polly in An Old-Fashioned Girl comes closer, but even Polly would have been upset about being hopelessly lost in the desert with no water.) Contrast this with the street urchins that Holmes employs in his investigation, who are good enough sorts but scrappy, resourceful, and street smart.

Ordinarily, a Victorian child who was utterly sweet and pious would be a cinnamon roll, literally too good, too pure for this world, and thus would die beautifully but tragically before long. Being lost in the desert seems ideal for this, but --

She turns to prayer, and since someone must survive in order for this scene to be relevant,

Yes, darn it, I am on the edge of my seat to know what happens. I'm also grateful that crossing the Great American Desert in 2022 was a quicker process. I've been reading Carey Williams' old-but-interesting California: The Great Exception, which has a lot to say about how 19th century isolation shaped California's economy and power structure, not always for good. But that's neither here nor there -- I don't think we're headed to California.

[syn4k]

an impassioned debate about the validity of sand as a spice

It was a cloudy Saturday night, and a well-worn but well-kept car pulled out of the parking lot of a bar. Switching its headlights on, it turned east, headed down the dark and empty stretch of road that it inhabited to brighter and gentler habitation somewhere beyond.

In the car sat four people. Three were various levels of drunk. The fourth was driving silently.

"Man, those burritos tasted like sand," sighed Jimmy, jammed into a corner in the backseat with his head tilted towards the ceiling of the car. "Crunched like sand too."

"The burritos were great," said Fwhip, sitting next to him. "Your taste buds are just malformed."

"That's it," said Jimmy, sitting bolt upright with sudden fervor. He held out one slightly sweaty palm. "Give me that twenty dollars back. I'm revoking the fact that I paid for your drinks."

"No way in hell I'm letting your sweaty mitts get onto my precious tender," said Fwhip, leaning away from him. "Calm down, dude."

"Do you want to go?" demanded Jimmy. "Do you want to fight? Because I can fight you."

"Dude, you know the rules. If anyone starts a fight in here, they get kicked out of the car."

"Then I'll fight'em too!"

"Don't. Your drunk ass would not make it out of there alive."

Joel, riding shotgun, sat up a little straighter and rubbed his eyes blearily. "If you can eat sand," he mumbled, "then does that make it count as a spice?"

"What?" asked Jimmy incredulously, all thoughts of violence pushed out of his mind by the question. "Dude. You can't eat sand."

"Yes, you can," said Joel. "That makes it edible."

"I've eaten sand before," added Fwhip helpfully. "And I'd do it again for a bet. It has a nice crunch to it. Also, Joel's right. Everything's edible technically because if it fits into your mouth and you swallow it then you ate it."

"What if you die, though?" said Jimmy.

"That's just a casualty."

"Sand is edible and you can sprinkle it onto things, which makes it a spice, right?" asked Joel. He cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes again with a groan. "Holy god. I am so going to regret this tomorrow."

"You're going to regret this right now if you keep talking," said Jimmy. "Sand isn't meant to be eaten, so it's not a spice."

"Sand is basically tiny rocks," said Joel, turning around to look him in the eye. "So is salt."

"Your point is?" asked Jimmy, arms defensively crossed.

"You assume that sand isn't meant to be eaten," said Joel. He pointed at him. "But if I pick it up with the intent to put it into my mouth and then eat it, that makes that argument completely null, innit?"

"You always get so philosophical when you're drunk," said Jimmy with an eye-roll. "Go back to sleep, Joel. Sand isn't a spice."

"It could be used as one, though, for sure," said Fwhip with a shrug. "Like, I have no idea why you'd want sand as a seasoning for your steak or whatever, but it can definitely be done. Wait, hold on. I kind of want to try that now."

"Fwhip, you'll die," said Jimmy, deadpan.

"Will not," said Fwhip. "I've eaten this stuff before, remember? I'll be fine. Wait, hold that thought, we're like hours away from the nearest ocean. Nevermind. Where's the closest lake?"

"Fuck if I know," muttered Joel from the front. Jimmy shrugged assent.

"Wait," said Jimmy, sitting up again after a brief period of silence. "Joel, you're not driving right? Please tell me you're not driving."

"Nope," said Fwhip. "You're visiting the States, remember? The steering wheel's on the other side here. You're fine, buddy."

"Jim got so drunk that he teleported to another country," said Joel with a snort. "No, I'm not driving. We'd all be dead right now if I was driving."

"But wait, hold on," said Jimmy, a note of panic entering his voice, "if I'm not driving and Fwhip's not driving and Joel's not driving, then who's driving the car??"

"Pixl is," said Fwhip patiently. "He agreed to just drink water tonight so that we didn't have to pull an Uber. We figured it out beforehand and everything."

"Okay," said Jimmy. "I forgot. Sorry Pixl."

"You're fine," said Pix from the driver's seat.

"Wait, hold on. Pix, you know stuff about like, earth and rocks and shit, right?" asked Joel.

"You could say that, yes," said Pix, still not taking his eyes off of the road.

"You are the one sober person in this car right now. Oh my gods, I should have just asked you this but whatever. Is sand a spice?"

"Spices are made from plants, if I remember correctly," said Pix, looking behind him briefly. "Sand is rocks. So no, whether you intend to eat it or not, sand is not in fact a spice."

"Here's the real question," said Fwhip. "Sand's not a spice, we've established that. However, technically, it could be a seasoning if you do it right." He said it like a statement, but it was really a question.

Pix just shrugged. "I'm an archaeology major, not a culinary arts major. Not my area of expertise. No idea about that one, chief, you'll have to decide for yourself."

"Okay, then," started Fwhip with a shit-eating grin.

"Please, let's not," begged Jimmy. "Please. Just don't."

"If you don't like the discussion, just stay out of it," said Fwhip with a shrug. "Anyways, Joel-"

"Nope, you keep me out of this one," said Joel with a yawn. "I'm going back to sleep. Someone shake me when we get back to the hotel."

"Pix?" asked Fwhip, slightly desperate. Pixl did not respond. "Okay, then. Guess I'm just going to be having these really cool and philosophical thoughts all by myself, then."

"Then perish," mumbled Joel from the front seat.

The car was quiet the rest of the way back.

[flagwars]

People’s Flag Wars 2: Round 3, Bracket 4

See the symbolism below.

The unnamed flag was made by eth317.

City flag of Syracuse, NY titled The First Light flag is the official flag of Syracuse by Eric Hart.

Symbolism: “Through the use of simple color and shape the First Light flag shares a complex story of our people and personality, our geography and weather, our past and future, and our relationship to our surrounding area.

Six-Pointed Star: Symbolizes the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, of which the Onondaga Nation plays a central role. It symbolizes the six historical names by which Syracuse has been known: Salt Point, Webster's Landing, Bogardus Corners, Milan, South Salina, and Cossits' Corners (not incl. Corinth). It is the sun, a guiding light. Its central placement on the flag marks Syracuse's central location in New York State.

Mirrored triangles: Symbolizes the hills of Onondaga. The word onoñda'gega' means, "people of the hills" in the Onondaga language. The left triangle is the hill westward toward Hiawatha Lake. The right triangle is the hill eastward toward Thornden Park. The space between the triangles is the Onondaga Valley.

Star set between triangles: Symbolizes the sunrise over the Onondaga Valley.

This is described in a line from Syracuse University's Alma Mater, ". where the vale of Onondaga meets the Eastern sky." Represents a new day, a bright future, and good fortunes ahead.

Orange Star on White: Symbolizes our history of using the sun to pull white salt from our salt springs. It also represents the sun warming us during our cold, white winters.

The Chevron: Symbolizes the Roman numeral "V" indicating the five Syracuse Common Council Districts. It also represents "The V-Sign," international symbol for peace and friendship.

Three Distinct Triangles: Symbolic of the city's past, present and future. The left triangle points to the past. The central triangle points to the present. The right triangle points toward the future. It represents Syracuse across the ages. Syracuse: for now and forever.

Orange Symbolic of: The Sun, Regeneration, Restoration, Courage, Passion, Creativity

Azure Blue Symbolic of: Onondaga Lake, the Erie Canal, Perseverance, Intelligence

Navy Blue Symbolic of: The hills of Onondaga, Trust, Loyalty, Industriousness

White Symbolic of: Salt, Snow, Peace, Purity”

Kairouan, Tunisia is a flag proposal by Gargari.

Symbolism: “It shows a camel with the city's name calligraphically written on it. I made this choice because the name literally translates to caravan, or military column. The colours green and yellow are taken from the current coat of arms of the city. Also taken from there is the dome of Kairouan's great mosque, which also represents the camel's hump here. The additional colour purple is used for lines not part of the calligraphy but vital for making it look like a dromedary. The colour represents the wealth of the history of this noble and old city.”

[laundrybiscuits]

(Hanahaki AU tag)

They pull out of the parking lot in a kind of nearly-comfortable silence, the radio crackling with some Heart song. It’s not Eddie’s favorite, but it’s a hell of a lot better than Madonna or the Bee Gees, so he finds himself humming along. He drums on the steering wheel a little, letting the I-43 take up all of his conscious mind for a spell. 

The road curves, and they’re out of the suburban sprawl, nothing but scrubby green trees and long gray warehouses on either side; it’s a straight shot all the way to the hazy hills on the horizon. Eddie takes a deep breath, and it’s like his lungs are expanding all the way up to the sky, like he can breathe in the slick blue heavens and the road dust being kicked up in their wake all at once, like the whole sun-baked world is flowing through him.

It’s a beautiful day, he thinks, and then scoffs at himself, at how mundane a thought it is. This could be—this is the last summer he’s ever gonna see. Every day had better be fucking beautiful. He’ll wring the beauty out of the world with his last breath.

———

They get far enough out, eventually, that the wildlife starts to look a little different. Eddie’s gotten a lot better at identifying Indiana wildflowers over the last few weeks, but he’s seeing more and more stuff he doesn’t recognize. He always sees black-eyed susans before too long, though. Seems like they grow wild pretty much everywhere he looks, like they’re following him around or something. He doesn’t stop to pick any more, even though the ones in the van—the ones not coated in spit and bile—are starting to get a little funky. It was such a dumb idea to have them around, like that would help at all.

They stop for the night in Salt Lake at a motel for once, because they really can’t go too much longer without showering, and Eddie chucks out whatever plant matter he can find in the van. Maybe he’s ruining the local ecosystem or something, but he doesn’t care.

Steve helps. He’s obviously a little bemused by this development, but he doesn't ask any questions, just fishes rotting stems out of the footwells before they head over to reception. 

The woman behind the desk is probably thirty or so, with a dirty blonde ponytail and an ankle-length skirt; she looks deeply unimpressed with two grubby young men showing up in a beater van around sunset. Too late, Eddie thinks he probably should've sent Steve in alone to work whatever vestiges of charm have survived through the funk of having slept in a van for the last few nights. Even in a pretty innocuous t-shirt, faded enough that the ACCEPT logo and tour dates are barely legible, disreputability wafts off Eddie. The long hair, the visible tattoos, and something indefinably Munson is more than enough to make the clerk's face twist like a skunk just wandered in through the door. 

"Hi," says Steve, bright and oblivious, somehow coming across as clean-cut country club despite the stubble growing in. Definitely should've sent him in solo. "Can we get a room? Two queens, if you've got 'em."

The clerk looks them up and down, taking her time about it. "You boys know where you are?"

"...Salt Lake City?" Steve looks adorably confused. "We're just passing through, ma'am."

"Might be worth passing a little faster. We don't have any vacancies right now."

Steve very obviously leans back to glance at the lit VACANCY sign outside and the utter dearth of other vehicles in the lot. "What, seriously?"

"Sign's broken," she says, cool as ice.

Eddie rubs at the bridge of his nose and pushes in, leaning his elbows on the counter. "Listen, lady, we're just. Two pals on a little roadtrip through these great United States, trying to see some nature and shit, okay? We just want a couple beds for the night, that’s all. Not looking for any trouble.”

He sees the instant the penny drops for Steve, because Steve’s face goes all flushed and scandalized and kinda mad. Eddie kicks his ankle, hard, so Steve doesn’t get all bitchy about it. 

The clerk can’t be more than ten or fifteen years older than them, but she sniffs like she’s some kind of embittered dowager empress. 

“Maybe I can find something,” she says. “But I hear even one single complaint, you two are out. No refunds.” 

"Copy that, yep, won't be anything to hear." Eddie counts out the cash quick before she changes her mind, and steers Steve back out by the shoulder, nice and neutral. 

"What the hell was that?" Steve bursts out as soon as they clear the door. "What was—"

Eddie drops his hand from Steve's shoulder and squints at the chipped number on the keychain. "You see a Room 5 around here anywhere?" 

"Eddie."

"Steve."

"I'm serious."

"So'm I. Gotta pull the van around once we find it."

Steve subsides grumpily, folding his arms and peering around in the growing dusk for the door numbers. The lingering glow of the blood-orange horizon picks out the contours of his face in a hundred warm caresses, brushing copper along his cheekbones and igniting molten honey in the depths of his eyes.

Eddie will say this for Utah: it sure does have some pretty sunsets.

[mariacallous]

On September 12, 2023, Brookings Metro Senior Fellow Jenny Schuetz testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs’ Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, for a hearing on housing supply and innovation.

Schuetz opened her testimony by exploring long-term trends in housing supply and affordability, both on a national and regional scale. The main takeaway from these trends is that the nation has an alarming shortage of housing—a gap of approximately 3.8 million homes, as the years after the Great Recession saw home-building failing to keep pace with population growth.

This shortage has hurt housing affordability, both in large, high-opportunity cities such as New York and Boston, as well as in previously affordable places such as Nashville, Tenn. and Salt Lake City, which saw their populations increase due to the prevalence of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Between 2020 and 2023, nominal housing prices increased by 37.5% and rents in professionally managed buildings increased by nearly 24%,” Schuetz testified.

To alleviate this crisis, local and regional governments have been experimenting with innovative, pro-housing policies to boost supply and improve affordability. These include revising local zoning laws to permit higher-density housing; reducing minimum lot sizes; increasing building height limits; and reducing off-street parking requirements. And, as Schuetz testified, there are significant ways that the federal government can encourage such policies. To that end, Schuetz recommended:

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could organize convenings among between state and local policymakers and other stakeholders to share their experiences on pro-housing policies and identify knowledge gaps important for policy design and implementation.

HUD and other federal agencies should publish guidelines for local and state policymakers on how to design pro-housing policies. This would be especially helpful for smaller communities with limited staff capacity.

Congress, HUD, the Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies should create financial incentives for local and state governments to integrate investments in housing, land use, transportation, and other infrastructure.

To read Schuetz’s full testimony, click here. To watch the testimony video, click here.

[rabbitcruiser]

Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state on January 4, 1896.

[franklupelchiaro]

The Best Winter Destinations in the United States in 2023

As winter approaches, the United States transforms into a wonderland of diverse landscapes and thrilling activities. Whether you seek powdery slopes, serene hot springs, or sun-drenched beaches, the country has it all. Here’s a guide to the best winter getaways in 2023, offering something for every type of traveler.

Dunton, Colorado:

For a relaxing winter escape, Dunton’s hot springs and wooden lodges offer a serene retreat. Dating back to 1885, the area’s mining history adds a touch of authenticity to the experience, making it an ideal spot to unwind.

Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada:

Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, offers a mesmerizing winter scene with its frozen alpine lake surrounded by snow-covered pine trees. Boasting an average snowfall of 400 inches, it’s a top-notch ski destination. Beyond skiing, enjoy activities like ice skating, sleigh riding, and tubing.

Asheville, North Carolina:

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Asheville provides a captivating winter landscape. Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, embark on bird watching tours, or enjoy a cozy bar hopping experience in the town.

Sedona, Arizona:

Escape bone-chilling temperatures in Sedona, where milder winters offer a unique desert landscape cloaked in snow. Hike through crimson rock formations, take a hot air balloon ride for a bird’s-eye view, and explore Tlaquepaque Village.

Minneapolis, Minnesota:

Minneapolis, often overlooked, comes alive with winter festivals like the Great Northern and the USA Pond Hockey Championships. The city’s culinary scene thrives in winter, offering tasty delicacies and hot dishes. Explore the hidden winter wonderland with activities like ice skating and snowmobiling.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming:

Jackson Hole’s picturesque setting, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, makes it a haven for winter sports enthusiasts. With an annual snowfall of 458 inches, it’s a paradise for snowy adventures and ecotourism, allowing you to witness impressive wildlife in untouched wilderness.

Vail, Colorado:

Surrounded by alpine slopes, Vail beckons with exciting ski adventures on Vail Mountain. The powdery trails also cater to snowmobiling and snow tubing enthusiasts. Stroll through Beever Creek Village’s classic wooden houses, illuminated with warm lights, and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.

Kauai, Hawaii:

For a warm winter getaway, head to Kauai, Hawaii’s picturesque island with year-round sunshine. Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, whale watching, and beach hopping, surrounded by jungle-clad mountains and brilliant blue oceans.

Salt Lake City, Utah:

Nestled in the Wasatch Range, Salt Lake City is a winter haven with storybook houses adorned in white snow. World-class skiing at Deer Valley Resort is a major draw, but if the outdoors isn’t your calling, the city offers diverse alternatives. Indulge in shopping, relax in hot tubs, or savor local cuisine.

New York City:

Experience the vibrant winter vibes of the Big Apple, from Rockefeller’s Christmas tree to open-air holiday markets like Bryant Park Market. Whether you prefer ice skating, cafe hopping, or holiday shopping, New York City offers a mix of indoor and outdoor winter delights.

Burlington, Vermont:

Embrace the freezing winter in Burlington, where European-styled buildings and twinkling lights create a charming atmosphere. Explore Church Street, a four-block pedestrian market, and indulge in the town’s hospitality. Venture out for ski trips to nearby resorts for added winter excitement.

Anna Maria Island, Florida:

Escape to Anna Maria Island for a sun-soaked winter retreat. With powdery beaches, palm-fringed shores, and laid-back beach vibes, it’s the perfect destination for beach hopping, swimming, and witnessing dazzling sunsets.

Originally posted on frankchiaro.net.

[cleanwaterchronicles]

Road salt, a stealthy pollutant, is damaging Michigan waters

In a dim hangar outside of Traverse City, towering piles of white crystals cast a glow in the twilight. 

Salts like those stored at the Grand Traverse County Road Commission maintenance facility keep Michigan roads, parking lots, and sidewalks clear of ice in the winter, a prudent safety measure for motorists and pedestrians. The mobility benefits of salt for a car-centric society, though, have an undesirable environmental side effect that has built up over decades of use: extensive damage to ecosystems and infrastructure.

Chloride -- the catch-all term for salts -- does not discriminate. It hurts mayflies and freshwater mussels, taking out species at the base of the freshwater food chain. It acts as a chemical instigator, loosening metals and nutrients that are otherwise bound in sediment and freeing them to flow downstream, thus feeding toxic algae in troubled places like Lake Erie. As with sun on skin, excess salt accelerates infrastructure aging. The metals and concrete in bridges, roads, and cars deteriorate faster when exposed to salts.

The state issued its first water quality standards for chloride in 2019. Not written with infrastructure in mind, the standards are intended to protect fish, insects, and other freshwater species. But the state has not yet translated those standards into a plan for limiting chloride in the eight stream sections that already exceed the limit.

Developing those pollution diets takes years. In the interim, state regulators this year are directly asking municipalities with storm sewer systems to outline steps for controlling salt runoff from roads. Roads, however, are only part of the problem. Salt applied to parking lots and sidewalks also enters streams and groundwater. But regulators say that municipalities do not have the staff or budgets to oversee salt application on private property. In part, this is a consequence of state court rulings that have deterred cities from creating agencies to manage pollutants that are flushed from paved surfaces.

The best way to deal with salt pollution is to bar it entry -- not to allow it in the water in the first place. By and large, that outcome will rely on the widespread and voluntary adoption of salt-reducing practices by road agencies, shopping mall owners, apartment complex managers, and homeowners. Reducing salt use also hinges on societal shifts: public acceptance in urban areas of slower winter driving speeds and less driving in hazardous weather.

“You can think of chloride as a permanent pollutant in the water,” said Christe Alwin of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “Once it’s there, there’s very little opportunity to treat it.”

 

(Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue)

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the landmark federal law that intended to give new life to waterways that were fouled by all manner of chemical and bacterial pollutants. The goal was to make rivers and lakes fishable and swimmable once again. The law, part of a package of national environmental reforms in the early 1970s, was transformative. By mandating pollution controls on wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities, it marked a new era of environmental stewardship -- an era in which rivers and lakes were viewed not as dumping grounds but as civic assets that fostered recreation, ecological rebirth, and economic development.

Despite undeniable progress, substantial impediments to clean water remain. The law did little to stanch the flow of dispersed pollution that comes from roads, lawns, and farms. More waters today are fishable and swimmable, particularly in major metropolitan regions. But many, especially streams and rivers that drain agricultural regions, still are not. The consequences are measured in toxic algal bloom dead zones, human sickness, and the rising cost of water treatment. 

Urban Areas on a High-Sodium Diet

A little salt can cause a lot of harm. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends water quality standards for rivers and lakes to prevent death and damage to fish, mussels, insects, and other aquatic species. For chloride, the EPA determined the threshold at which long-term damage could occur to be 230 milligrams per liter. That equals about one teaspoon of salt in five gallons of water.

Michigan has been slow to react to the salinization of its fresh water. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy finalized water quality values for chloride only in 2019, three decades after the federal EPA published guidelines. Based on the numbers, EGLE determined last year that eight stream sections exceed the state threshold for chronic exposure, which is 150 milligrams per liter. 

Those streams -- largely in the urban areas of southeast Michigan -- include the Shiawassee River (Genesee County), Thread Creek (Genesee County), Sashabaw Creek (Oakland County), Bishop Creek and the Upper Rouge River (Rouge River watershed), Belle River (St. Clair County), Rush Creek (Ottawa County), and County Line Drain (Arenac/Iosco County), which also exceeded the sulfate standard.

The next step for those stream sections is a regulatory tool known as a total maximum daily load, or TMDL, which caps pollution discharges. However, there is no timeline yet for developing the pollution diet for those streams, according to Kevin Goodwin, an aquatic biology specialist at EGLE.

It’s no mystery where most of the salts are coming from. Water softeners and fertilizers are sources of chloride, but the major contributor, Goodwin and others said, are the salts spread on roads, parking lots, and sidewalks to keep the pavement free from ice.

Salinization of streams is a problem across the United States, where at least 20 million tons of salt were used in 2021 for highway deicing. The U.S. Geological Survey studied 19 streams in eight states and the District of Columbia, including five Great Lakes states. The researchers found that chloride levels related to road salt increased in 84 percent of sampled streams. Increases were especially notable in urban areas with a large percentage of paved surfaces.

Those findings have been replicated at the state and local level. EGLE found chloride hot spots that align with high concentrations of highways and housing developments. The Huron River, a 900-square-mile watershed in southeast Michigan that flows through Ann Arbor, is one such area. For the last two decades the Huron River Watershed Council has tested streams for pollutants. Volunteers and staff now regularly take water samples from about 40 or 50 sites in the watershed, according to Ric Lawson, a watershed planner. 

“We see that we have much higher [chloride] levels in our urban drainages,” Lawson said. 

Following up on its stream samples, the Huron River Watershed Council did additional investigation at sites with abnormally high chloride levels. Were those salts coming from a particular source? Were there, as Lawson put it, any “smoking guns?”

In short, the council didn’t find any -- no leakage from a salt storage facility, no obvious surface runoff. No smoking guns. “So it does appear it’s been broad-based, long-term application,” Lawson said, referring to the salt source. “And probably, the salts moving through groundwater are how it's getting to the surface waters.”

Broad-based is the classic definition of non-point pollution. It’s the type of threat that the Clean Water Act, which focused on pollution coming from a pipe, is not at all equipped to address. The law exempts most sources of such pollution from regulation and oversight. That’s why non-point pollution is a long-term problem. Curbing it requires, in the case of salt, a voluntary change in practices.

Less Bounce, Less Scatter

Michigan’s ground transportation network is a lattice of roughly 122,000 miles of roads. To maintain these surfaces, the state’s road agencies balance three competing objectives, said Gregg Brunner, director of the Bureau of Field Services for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Mobility, cost, and environmental protection.

Salt -- the sodium chloride form, in fact -- is the cheapest, most effective deicing agent available, Brunner said. On that measure it beats out magnesium chloride and potassium chloride.

A non-chloride option -- calcium magnesium acetate -- is on the market. But it costs about 40 times more than sodium chloride, which is mined locally, from deposits beneath Lake Erie.

The primary objective for MDOT and other road maintenance agencies is to use less of it. In pursuit of that goal, they participated in a work group to help EGLE develop salt management guidelines. Published in 2021, the guidelines are a compilation of voluntary “best management practices” that road agencies should strive to implement. The County Road Association of Michigan, which represents the 83 county road agencies, published a similar guide based on a survey of its members.

Read the complete article here

Source: Bridge Michigan

[meadowbrookalabama]

Explore the Lifestyle of Meadowbrook Alabama

Meadowbrook is a small, rural town located in the Alabama. The town is known for its small town charm, friendly locals, and picturesque scenery. The lifestyle in Meadowbrook is relaxed and laid-back, with a focus on family and community. Residents enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting, as well as shopping and dining in the small local businesses in town. There are several local parks and recreation areas in the area, which provide residents with plenty of activities to enjoy. The town is also home to a few churches, schools, and other community services. Residents of Meadowbrook take great pride in their community, and are always willing to lend a helping hand to their neighbors.

The area has a bustling community that offers plenty of activities and amenities. Residents of Meadowbrook can enjoy three public beaches, an excellent school system, and a variety of restaurants. The town is also home to several boat launches, fishing spots, and an adjacent wildlife refuge. There are plenty of cultural attractions and events in the area, such as the summer Blues on the Water Music Festival and the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration. The city of Meadowbrook also has several parks, including a skateboard park, which are great for outdoor activities. Additionally, there are many unique stores and boutiques in the area.

Natural Beauty of Meadowbrook

Meadowbrook Park is an exquisite natural area located in Utah and provides wonderful hiking and outdoor recreational opportunities for visitors. From towering cliffs and dramatic landscapes to sparkling lakes and meandering streams, Meadowbrook Park is as beautiful as it is diverse. The park is home to some of the most stunning vistas in the state, and its sweeping views of the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake provide incomparable opportunities for exploration. With miles of trails, interpretive nature walks, and educational programs, Meadowbrook Park is the perfect place to visit for a truly extraordinary outdoor experience. With its majestic peaks and cascading waterfalls, Meadowbrook Park is no doubt one of Utah's must-see attractions.

It is known for its captivating landscapes and tranquil hues. The meadow itself consists of rolling hills, lush green fields, and a meandering river that flows through the area. Autumn brings an especially vibrant and colorful sight, with vibrant hues of oranges, yellows, and reds standing out and creating a calming atmosphere. Meadowbrook is also known for its panoramic views, making it a great spot for hiking and birdwatching. Wildlife, including deer, fox, songbirds, and hawks, can be found in the meadow. In addition, a variety of wildflowers, trees, and shrubs make Meadowbrook a great spot to explore the outdoors and to take in the beauty of nature. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll along the river, a challenging hike, or just a quiet spot to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, Meadowbrook offers something for everyone. If you’re looking for a truly memorable outdoor experience, Meadowbrook is the perfect place to experience the wonders of nature.

Explore Nature Trails of Meadowbrook

The Nature Trails of Meadowbrook have been carefully developed by local conservation groups and feature a variety of guided trails. Visitors are sure to find something interesting as they traverse meadows, wetlands and woods, taking in the sights and sounds of nature as they go. There is plenty to see and explore, including meandering streams, secret waterfalls, unique rock formations, forested areas with mature trees, wetlands, and open meadows. Stops along the trails feature benches, historical markers, and picnic tables, allowing visitors to rest and take in the views. Bird watching is a popular activity in the Nature Trails of Meadowbrook and the variety of birds is impressive. If you’re in the Framingham area, be sure to visit the Nature Trails of Meadowbrook. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk beside a stream, a hike up a hill or the opportunity to fish, there’s something for everyone in this unique outdoor space.

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[woodyshardwoodflooringut]

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[cksmart-world]

SMART BOMB

The Completely Unnecessary News Analysis

By Christopher Smart

September 10, 2024

“THE SECRET LIVES OF MORMON WIVIES” — OMG!

Hey Wilson, hold on to your socks 'cause this could blow them off — “soft swinging” among Mormon couples! What? Soft swinging? Holy word of wisdom! Is that what it sounds like? The Hulu miniseries, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Women” looks inside the activities of a TikTok group of LDS 20-something married women — #MomTok. Send the kids to bed 'cause this is not your bishop's road show. Taylor Frankie Paul, one of #MomTok's influencers, came right out and said that she and her husband decided to split after some soft swinging with other couples in their friend group. No Wilson, we heathens don't know exactly what is involved in this soft swinging stuff but it sounds a bit dicey, if potentially frustrating. All told, the women of #MomTok have over 11 million followers and have secured brand contracts and other money-making deals that made some of them the family breadwinner. Not bad work, if you can get it. Of course there's a downside — other Mormon moms had to go on the defensive, insisting they weren't into soft swinging. Then a year ago, Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested and charged with assault and domestic violence after an altercation with her new boyfriend. Darn the luck. Are they taking auditions at “Real Wives of Salt Lake?”

SHOCKER — TRUMP GETS AWAY WITH IT, YET AGAIN

Well Wilson, hope you weren't holding your breath waiting for Donald “I'm-A-Victim” Trump to be sentenced in the New York “Hush Money” trial surrounding a payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels where a jury found him guilty of 34 felonies. Judge Juan Merchan was slated to sentence the former president on Sept. 18 but pushed the matter back to Nov. 26, three weeks after the presidential election. The original sentencing date was July 11 — but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that as president Trump had immunity in cases of official presidential duties — which, of course, payoffs to porn stars is one. You see Wilson, Trump has never done a thing wrong in his entire life. He didn't have sex with Stormy soon after the birth of his youngest son. He never led an attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2001. He didn't take truckloads of top classified documents to Mar-A-Lago and he never tried to interfere with the election in Georgia. No, that stuff was all made up by Joe Biden and his deep-state storm troopers. See Wilson, it's like this: Biden weaponized the Justice Department against Trump because he would “make America great again.” But Trump's army of attorneys have outsmarted those bastards and so he will skate away, skate away, skate away...

UTAH BROKE ITS PARKS — NOW WANTS FEDS TO FIX 'EM

Where did all these damn tourist come from? All Utah did was spend millions and millions in a huge ad campaign to bring visitors from all over the country and the world to our “Mighty Five” national parks. But now they are overrun and Gov. Spencer Cox and the state tourist braintrust can't understand why the parks are packed like sardines. Where is the federal government, they want to know. And why isn't there more money for infrastructure. And why haven't the feds done more to spread out the tourists so there isn't overcrowding. “It is obvious to all of us,” Cox said, “that the federal government has increasingly failed to keep our lands accessible and properly managed.” Utah's national parks (who calls them Mighty Five?), Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands saw some 11 million visitors in 2023. Utah tourist gurus aren't suggesting that fewer people visit our parks — oh no, that would decrease private sector revenue. Utah law requires cities, like Moab, to spend hotel taxes on tourist promotion, even though local officials would rather not due to overcrowding. "In hindsight, I think tourism now is having more of a negative environmental impact on our surrounding areas," said Mary McGann, chair Grand County Commission. Clearly she doesn't understand progress.

Post script — That's gonna do it for another week of High Anxiety here at Smart Bomb where we keep track of the end of the world, so you won't have to. By the time you read this, the world may have come to an end. No wait — that's November 5. Ever get that helpless feeling, Wilson, that the future of mankind hangs in the balance and you are completely helpless. Yes, we know, you had a draft number for the Vietnam War and basically all you could do was go skiing, get high and listen to Bob Dylan and the Stones while pretending tomorrow wouldn't come. Well it did come and here we are. That ought to give you hope. Listen to this: sometime about 1,500 years ago Rome fell. If you go to Rome today, Wilson, you know what you'll find? Romans! OK, there were the Neanderthals, but that's a whole different situation — they didn't vote or wear togas. But still , Wilson, there are plenty of reasons to look on the bright side: we don't have to hate Dick Cheney anymore; a new film, “The Apprentice” is out, giving insights into the real Donald Trump; Justice Samuel Alito actually reported getting a gift; and there's a new Covid vaccine so we don't have to drink bleach. And if that's not enough, should the world end on November 5, the Utah Jazz won't have another losing season.

Shucks Wilson, we can't just throw in the towel because 46 percent of Americans live in some kind of an information vacuum. Yes, of course, it does make Portugal look better all the time. But let's not dither when we could be bucking up. So tell the guys in the band to put away the Five Wives Vodka and give us a theme song for the day:

From the dark end of the street To the bright side of the road We'll be lovers once again on the Bright side of the road Little darlin', come with me Won't you help me share my load From the dark end of the street To the bright side of the road Into this life we're born Baby sometimes we don't know why And time seems to go by so fast In the twinkling of an eye Let's enjoy it while we can Won't you help me sing my song From the dark end of the street To the bright side of the road From the dark end of the street To the bright side of the road We'll be lovers once again On the bright side of the road We'll be lovers once again on the bright side of the road

(Bright Side of the Road — Van Morrison)