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Opinion

Mother Nature interferes with warfare

Commentary

Sometimes we think that, as humans, with all of our technology, we can conquer anything. It just takes a hurricane or a flood to remind us of who really is in charge. The same is true in warfare. You can have all of the fancy software and technology in the world—but war still takes place over real terrain in real places. I was thinking of this recently when the war news came out that some 200 oil tankers were trapped, stuck in the Persian Gulf because of the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. Through that strait runs 20% of the world’s oil, so with its closing, oil prices jumped ...

Still working for fix to homeless problem

The OBSERVER’s View

Only in New York state is coming up with an acceptable letter to send to state officials about an unacceptable situation considered progress. But that’s the situation we’re in when it comes to housing the homeless in hotels. Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor put together a roundtable discussion with about 20 local elected officials, police officials and county officials to discuss alternatives to housing the homeless in hotels like the Quality Inn in Falconer or the Comfort Inn in Ellicott on the outskirts of Jamestown. Borrello said during the meeting he ...

State ignores wind, storage warnings

Commentary

County legislators are questioning the logic of the state energy policy that has been careening toward higher utility rates, higher taxes and the use of vast areas of agricultural land, wetlands and woodlands that are cleared for projects that make very little power. “Why does the state continue to push these things when there is so much scientific documentation that says there are harmful long term effects? There are so many related health concerns and public safety issues regarding new 600 foot wind turbines and battery energy storage installations. Don’t they negate each ...

The best way to support the troops

Commentary

My father Edward was quite the paradox. A self proclaimed pacifist, he could be quite scrappy when it came to issues of importance to him. When Gulf War I broke out in 1990, Ed saw the conflict for what it was. One larger more corrupt country trying to take over a smaller corrupt county and ...

A life in a collection of mugs

Commentary

I don’t know about you, but I have a collection of assorted mugs that, in their own quiet way, mark the moments of my life. They sit on a shelf like an unassuming timeline. To anyone else, they’re just ceramic. To me, they are chapters. Jim and I crewed for many years in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Every year, a converted tugboat entered the race as a schooner—the Norfolk Rebel—with its grumpy but lovable captain. It was salty and exhilarating and just a little bit ridiculous. And yes, I have the mug. Every time I see it, I can almost feel the wind and hear the ...

Energy policies insure affordability problems

Commentary

By now, people should understand the severe consequences of Net-Zero energy policies. By now, people should know that Net-Zero policies have destroyed the economies of England and Germany, while other countries are smartly turning away from Net-Zero policies. By now, people should understand that no “climate catastrophe” exists to justify Net-Zero mandates (see below). However, given the number of recent approvals for Wind/Solar/BESS installations across New York and in CHQ, it seems many of our legislators and board members are ignoring reality. Practically, Net-Zero ...