Original photograph was unceremoniously ganked from Marianne's blog: Art is the Handmaid of Human Good. I just randomly came across this blog, but it seems pretty cool! Marianne is a 30-something woman living in my neck of the woods. Check her out!
24 December 2006
Happy Holidays!
Original photograph was unceremoniously ganked from Marianne's blog: Art is the Handmaid of Human Good. I just randomly came across this blog, but it seems pretty cool! Marianne is a 30-something woman living in my neck of the woods. Check her out!
23 December 2006
Lowell Immigration Study [article]
[source]
A three-year, $100,000 grant from the Lowell National Historic Park has set into motion an ambitious, historic study.
Using archival materials, hundreds of hours of oral histories, extensive interviews and participant observation, a team of researchers intends to illuminate Lowell’s global history and its contemporary cultural geography.
The Lowell National Park was founded more than 30 years ago, building on the ethnic experience of immigrant groups at that time. The exhibits and archives don’t reflect the newest waves of immigration from Southeast Asia, parts of Africa and Brazil, so an ethnographic study was proposed.
“It’s great that the researchers (who won the grant) are local folks who already know where Merrimack meets Central,” says Mehmed Ali, director of the Mogan Cultural Center, who will advise and review the project along with Park Superintendent Michael Creasey. “Although one outcome of the study will be updated park exhibits, the larger goal is to inform the park on how better to interact with the community.”
Tracking and describing current patterns of immigrant populations in Lowell is just one part of the picture the study will portray. The history of the place dates to Native Americans and the research will place Lowell’s history within the context of globalization — with the understanding that globalization is nothing new.
“We tend to have a short-sighted view of globalization,” says Asst. Prof. Christoph Strobel of the History Department, a co-principal investigator on the project. “Global forces in the past have had an impact on trade, immigration, colonization and the movement of disease. It’s a ‘current-centric’ view of the world to think globalization is only happening now.
“Lowell is a great microcosm of these forces. Immigration has always shaped the city and tensions have erupted between ‘natives’ and ‘newcomers.’ Even the very early manufacturing history around the falls reflects global influences — German glassmakers worked there, the British bought beads from Venice and sold them to Native Americans — and understanding this enriches our cultural perspective on the present, adds to our own sense of place.”
Prof. Robert Forrant of the Regional Economic and Social Development (RESD) Department is principal investigator of the study, which will fund two graduate students for two years. RESD Prof. Linda Silka is a co-PI and collaborators are drawn from the departments of Political Science and Art, the Mogan Cultural History Center, Middlesex Community College, the “One Lowell” cultural association, the Registry of Deeds and Lowell High School.
Forrant is particularly excited about working with UMass Lowell students who share an immigrant story. He will teach an undergraduate and graduate seminar in the spring on globalization and immigration.
“We are fortunate in having a rich diversity on campus,” says Forrant. “Brazilian, Portuguese, Cambodian students have contemporary stories to tell; it will be very interesting for the students to compare their experiences with the histories and recollected stories we have dating from the late 1800s.”
With so much material to work with, the team will pick four long streets in Lowell to study. Archival records, census data, material from the Registry of Deeds, the National Folklife Center and the Center for Lowell History will help in creating a series of overlay maps to show the changing populations over the long sweep of history.
Involving current students in the research is also interesting to Dr. Susan Thomson of Middlesex Community College, cultural anthropologist for the study.
“I’m personally excited because a lot of my students are from these newer immigrant groups,” says Thomson. “We also are looking to the community to be involved in an integral way with the research, to participate in discovering what is meaningful.”
Neighborhood history-writing projects and engagement of high school classes will help to round out the project over the three years. But, the hope is that National Park programs and outreach will be changed and enriched for years to come.
22 December 2006
Global Warming [article]
Some politicians came to UMass Lowell last week to discuss global warming. Here is a Lowell Sun article about it.
Meehan, Patrick call for curb to global warming
From the Lowell Sun
By JENNIFER AMY MYERS, Sun Staff
LOWELL -- If Massachusetts were a country, its greenhouse gas emissions would rank 15th among industrialized nations worldwide, U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan told a stunned crowd of 1,000 yesterday morning.
The standing-room only crowd packed UMass Lowell's Durgin Hall as the mercury soared to an unseasonably high 54 degrees outside, to learn more about the threat of global warming and what can be done to curb its dangerous consequences.
And to get a look at Gov.-elect Deval Patrick.
Meehan sponsored the panel discussion, titled "Climate Change: Local Solutions to a Global Crisis," which he said was inspired by former Vice President Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
The audience was welcomed by a video message from Gore, calling global warming, "the most serious crisis we have ever faced."
Patrick, who inspired three standing ovations from the crowd, expressed his support for the proposed Cape Wind wind farm off of Nantucket and vowed to make the creation and implementation of renewable energy technology and products in Massachusetts a priority of his administration.
He also said he supports RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative), a regional pact aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions that Gov. Mitt Romney withdrew the state from in September.
"I used to work for Texaco," he said, wincing and giving the crowd a chance to groan. "What I learned there is that oil and gas reserves all over the world are diminishing."
"I see this as an economy opportunity," Patrick added. "If we get this right, the whole world will be our customer. We can be green and wealthy too."
He said that Ian Bowles, who was tapped as the Patrick administration's secretary of energy and environmental affairs on Friday, will be included in all discussions of economic development.
Paul Epstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School said that the most noticeable effects of the rising global temperatures are in our own backyards.
He said that as carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere, poison ivy grows faster and its toxins become more powerful. The same conditions have contributed to a 60 percent increase in pollen distribution, causing more cases of asthma and allergies.
The increase in climate has also led to additional cases of mosquito-borne illness such as West Nile Virus.
"We are in a crisis of climate," Epstein said.
Unfortunately, said Lee Ketelsen, New England director of Clean Water Action, the typical American is not motivated to make a change.
"You are sitting here on a Saturday morning with nine shopping days until Christmas, you are considered the nuts," she told the crowd. "The oil lobby is strong, we are going to need massive citizen pressure. Instead of a chicken in every pot, how about a solar hot water heater on every roof?"
Meehan has proposed legislation to give business and homeowners a financial incentive for "green" practices.
The Climate Change Investment Act would repeal the tax breaks given to oil companies in the Energy Bill passed by the last Congress, and replace them with a 50 percent tax credit for any investment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or conserves energy.
"I will fight for even more incentives for investment in innovative new technologies." Meehan said. "Things like green chemistry, solar and wind technology and fuel cells, pro-environmental technologies where Massachusetts companies and universities are already on the cutting edge."
He is also co-sponsoring California Rep. Henry Waxman's Safe Climate Act that would cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and continue to cut levels an additional 80 percent by 2050.
From the Lowell Sun
By JENNIFER AMY MYERS, Sun Staff
LOWELL -- If Massachusetts were a country, its greenhouse gas emissions would rank 15th among industrialized nations worldwide, U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan told a stunned crowd of 1,000 yesterday morning.
The standing-room only crowd packed UMass Lowell's Durgin Hall as the mercury soared to an unseasonably high 54 degrees outside, to learn more about the threat of global warming and what can be done to curb its dangerous consequences.
And to get a look at Gov.-elect Deval Patrick.
Meehan sponsored the panel discussion, titled "Climate Change: Local Solutions to a Global Crisis," which he said was inspired by former Vice President Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
The audience was welcomed by a video message from Gore, calling global warming, "the most serious crisis we have ever faced."
Patrick, who inspired three standing ovations from the crowd, expressed his support for the proposed Cape Wind wind farm off of Nantucket and vowed to make the creation and implementation of renewable energy technology and products in Massachusetts a priority of his administration.
He also said he supports RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative), a regional pact aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions that Gov. Mitt Romney withdrew the state from in September.
"I used to work for Texaco," he said, wincing and giving the crowd a chance to groan. "What I learned there is that oil and gas reserves all over the world are diminishing."
"I see this as an economy opportunity," Patrick added. "If we get this right, the whole world will be our customer. We can be green and wealthy too."
He said that Ian Bowles, who was tapped as the Patrick administration's secretary of energy and environmental affairs on Friday, will be included in all discussions of economic development.
Paul Epstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School said that the most noticeable effects of the rising global temperatures are in our own backyards.
He said that as carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere, poison ivy grows faster and its toxins become more powerful. The same conditions have contributed to a 60 percent increase in pollen distribution, causing more cases of asthma and allergies.
The increase in climate has also led to additional cases of mosquito-borne illness such as West Nile Virus.
"We are in a crisis of climate," Epstein said.
Unfortunately, said Lee Ketelsen, New England director of Clean Water Action, the typical American is not motivated to make a change.
"You are sitting here on a Saturday morning with nine shopping days until Christmas, you are considered the nuts," she told the crowd. "The oil lobby is strong, we are going to need massive citizen pressure. Instead of a chicken in every pot, how about a solar hot water heater on every roof?"
Meehan has proposed legislation to give business and homeowners a financial incentive for "green" practices.
The Climate Change Investment Act would repeal the tax breaks given to oil companies in the Energy Bill passed by the last Congress, and replace them with a 50 percent tax credit for any investment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or conserves energy.
"I will fight for even more incentives for investment in innovative new technologies." Meehan said. "Things like green chemistry, solar and wind technology and fuel cells, pro-environmental technologies where Massachusetts companies and universities are already on the cutting edge."
He is also co-sponsoring California Rep. Henry Waxman's Safe Climate Act that would cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and continue to cut levels an additional 80 percent by 2050.
17 December 2006
Snow Update
Wow, my last post was ages ago. Sorry to leave everyone (all 2 of you!) hanging with such a boring entry about my rental woes. (The problem still hasn't been fixed, by the way; I am putting a complaint in writing... right before I skip town for the holidays.) Anyway, since I only have a couple of minutes today, I'll just touch upon winter 2006.
Winter?
It has been a very warm winter, with high temperatures ranging from mid-30s to mid-60s. We had our first dusting of snow late December 7 into the morning, but by noon it had all but melted away. It's strange to see photographs of places like Montana that are having a real winter, while we here in the greater Lowell area are still basking in comfortably cool temperatures.
Do I mind? Yes and no. I think this weather is perfect, and if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that the warmth was due to a massive environmental problem, I would be especially pleased. But it is the middle of December, and having heard so much about this "white Christmas" hoopla, I want to have a bloody white Christmas, damn it! If I wanted a temperate, snowless Christmas, I'd have moved to Georgia.
Don't get me wrong; I'm glad that I can still wear skirts (as I have been since about March), and I never enjoyed excavating my car from the heaps of snow, but there should be snow on the ground. According to the 10-Day Forecast on Weather.com, we're looking at rain, not snow, for Christmas.
Advice
As mentioned in a previous post, winter brings heaps of unexpected, unwanted advice from people. Don't be fooled into thinking that unseasonably warm weather will hold back those comments.
My Sagely Advice
At this time of year, the sun sets a little after 4:00pm. This means that you begin to lose sunlight at about 2:00pm. If you enjoy that big mass of incandescent gas in the sky, plan your day between the hours of 7:00am and 4:00pm. Include a trip to your local hardware store to pick up those nifty lightbulbs that are supposed to imitate sunlight. I can't say they make me feel any better about living in so much darkness, but hey, it might help.
Another thing to keep in mind is that 30 degrees in the sun is not the same as 30 degrees in the shade or at night. Keep that in mind if it's going to be cloudy or if you have to be somewhere beyond 4pm in winter.
Now I'm off to a holiday party that I'm not entirely excited about, but hey... Free food and possible alcohol. How can I say no?
Winter?
It has been a very warm winter, with high temperatures ranging from mid-30s to mid-60s. We had our first dusting of snow late December 7 into the morning, but by noon it had all but melted away. It's strange to see photographs of places like Montana that are having a real winter, while we here in the greater Lowell area are still basking in comfortably cool temperatures.
Do I mind? Yes and no. I think this weather is perfect, and if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that the warmth was due to a massive environmental problem, I would be especially pleased. But it is the middle of December, and having heard so much about this "white Christmas" hoopla, I want to have a bloody white Christmas, damn it! If I wanted a temperate, snowless Christmas, I'd have moved to Georgia.
Don't get me wrong; I'm glad that I can still wear skirts (as I have been since about March), and I never enjoyed excavating my car from the heaps of snow, but there should be snow on the ground. According to the 10-Day Forecast on Weather.com, we're looking at rain, not snow, for Christmas.
Advice
As mentioned in a previous post, winter brings heaps of unexpected, unwanted advice from people. Don't be fooled into thinking that unseasonably warm weather will hold back those comments.
At this time of year, the sun sets a little after 4:00pm. This means that you begin to lose sunlight at about 2:00pm. If you enjoy that big mass of incandescent gas in the sky, plan your day between the hours of 7:00am and 4:00pm. Include a trip to your local hardware store to pick up those nifty lightbulbs that are supposed to imitate sunlight. I can't say they make me feel any better about living in so much darkness, but hey, it might help.
Another thing to keep in mind is that 30 degrees in the sun is not the same as 30 degrees in the shade or at night. Keep that in mind if it's going to be cloudy or if you have to be somewhere beyond 4pm in winter.
Now I'm off to a holiday party that I'm not entirely excited about, but hey... Free food and possible alcohol. How can I say no?
07 November 2006
Vlog: How can I fix this dripping faucet?
Today, I thought I would utilize video blogging technology to present a problem I'm having in my apartment. I apologize in advance for the amateurish-ness of it! I really should take notes and read off those, rather than do it on the fly. Some parts of it don't make sense, and I had to clarify with captions. Still, I don't think it's a complete failure! Maybe you'll see more of these "collaborations" in the future.
In a future blog, I will list a number of assumptions I had made when renting for the first time.
My Sagely Advice
I think it's a good idea to aquire as much knowledge as possible. Anything from how to install new doorknobs to replicating your mom's meatloaf -- learn it. You never know when you'll have to use that information. Right now, I wish I'd sat and watched the plumber work on the tub last time we had a problem (however creepy that might be), so I wouldn't have to wait around for someone else to fix it. "Someone else" won't care about it as much as you do.
In a future blog, I will list a number of assumptions I had made when renting for the first time.
I think it's a good idea to aquire as much knowledge as possible. Anything from how to install new doorknobs to replicating your mom's meatloaf -- learn it. You never know when you'll have to use that information. Right now, I wish I'd sat and watched the plumber work on the tub last time we had a problem (however creepy that might be), so I wouldn't have to wait around for someone else to fix it. "Someone else" won't care about it as much as you do.
28 October 2006
Hey! Did you know it got cold in winter?
Southern people often have to fight negative stereotypes. Floridians have the added trouble of not being considered "Southern" by hardcore peach-cobbler eating elitists. However, like it or not, Floridians are Southerners, and it's really all the same to inhabitants of the chilly North; you come from south of the Mason-Dixon line, and therefore you are a complete moron.All right, maybe Northerners don't really feel this way about Southerners. Still, the amount of absolutely ridiculous advice that a Southerner will get is astounding. Southerners might as well have come from Mars, apparently, since we don't know the most basic facts about living up north.
Climate in South Florida
I won't speak for the rest of Dixie, but South Florida is a place that boasts summerlike temperatures almost all year long. During what should be summer/fall, we experience the "wet season", which is extremely hot, humid climate wherein we can go a week without seeing the sun. Thunderstorms are a daily occurance, and the occasional hurricane will pop by to throw in some excitement. During what should be winter/spring, we experience the "dry season", which is still hot and humid, but instead of the monsoon, we have drought. During the dry season, Floridians can expect to have 2-6 weeks of Florida Winter, when the temperatures fluxuate from 50 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
These temperatures, despite objective warmth, are freezing by South Floridian standards, and while many people simply put on a (rare) long-sleeved shirt and are just dandy, other folks go the whole nine yards and don parkas, scarves, heavy coats, gloves, closed-toed shoes... This, naturally, sets us up for much ridicule from people who know what it's like to live in a place with the traditional 4 seasons. In fact, during one particularly cold Florida Winter (temperatures dipped into the high 30s!), a family from Wisconsin took a refreshing dip in the beach and proceeded to walk around in shorts and t-shirts, while natives were shivering in their 10 layers of clothing. Naturally, this gained attention from the local media. That's how much South Floridians are ill-adaped to non-tropical temperatures. Wisconsonians make the news.
Winter in Lowell
This starts in November and doesn't end until May. After falling on your ass a couple of times, losing control of your car because black ice is hard to see on the road, showing up to places soaking wet because the snow has found a vulnerability in your clothes, dealing with the sun setting a 5 hours after it's risen, and having to take showers in a bath tub that refuses to warm up in the morning, you learn very quickly that winter is not as awesome as we misguided heat-hating Southerners think.
Native New Englanders vs Moi
New Englanders in general have some really weird ideas about Southern people once temperatures turn chilly. This is particularly true of Floridians. One of my jobs requires dealing with people, and some of said people will randomly complain about winter and fantasize about Florida. I will laugh at them and say that Florida is a horrible place to live, and I'd much rather be living in Lowell than Miami. This is never a good idea. Saying such things is apparently akin to saying, "When the power goes out, I just light a baby on fire for warmth."
I once had a woman demand to know my reasons for moving out of Florida in a very angry tone of voice, as though I'd offended her. Granted, we were in the middle of a blizzard at that point, so Communist Cuba probably sounded like a great alternative. Still, for a woman who knew very little about Florida, admittedly never having been, she was pretty judgemental about my decision to leave sweltering pastures for the frozen north.
More annoying than that kind of attitude is the idea that Southerners are complete morons when it comes to the winter experience... or the "below 50 degrees" experience.
Southerners: Take Heed
I urge Southerners who are taking vacations or are moving northward to read this section and make mental preparations. Attitudes like the one that woman displayed will not be an uncommon occurance for Southerners who are transplanted in the north. But even more common (and more annoying) are the double standards northerners will impose upon you.
Example:
It's chilly outside, and Southern Gal has on a pair of pants, turtleneck, and a jacket. She runs into a group of people she knows, so she decides to stop and talk. One person in the group, who just so happens to be wearing a jacket so thick it's probably bulletproof and is bouncing to generate body heat, turns to Southern Gal and exclaims, "You're already layering up? You'll never survive the winter!" Southern Gal resists urge to strangle. She has a short temper, you see.
I admit, that was probably the most extreme turd of crap that was hurled at me last year, and most people will never have to experience that. But it never hurts to be prepared! There is no limit to stupid, remember.
Now, I come to the absolute worst, most migraine-inducing fact of life that Southerners must endure: Loads of crappy, uncalled-for advice. Rather than try to remember every little irritating comment, I will provide this charming anecdote. It is, sad to say, all truth.
I once had an aquaintance who decided that I, as a Southerner, was completely unprepared for the change in seasons, and thought it would be a good idea to lend a hand. "Did you know it gets cold?" You mean snow isn't a myth? Where is my return ticket?!!
"You should get some long-sleeved shirts." Alright.
"You need to get a coat." ...alright.
"It's a good idea to layer your clothing when you go out." ...Yes, I know this already. My former home != under a rock.
I started to make excuses to cut our conversations short, but whenever I was fortunate enough to speak to him, he'd pick up right where he'd left off. Do any of you remember "The Song that Doesn't End"? It's so amusing for the first couple of minutes, and then you start to develop an insatiable hunger for lamb. Particularly Lamb Chop. Speaking to Mr. H. was like listening to the song that didn't end for about 5 hours straight. "Get a coat. It gets cold. Snow falls. Golden retrievers are good to have. Layer. Get a coat. It gets cold."
I eventually managed to lose him and haven't "found" him since. That did not mean that I escaped random advice from people that were every bit as useful as Mr. H's.
The truth is, every Southern person is going to have questions about Northern life. If the Southerner comes from a place that's too warm for snow or even cold temperatures, it's natural that the person will need to learn a thing or two about wintertime survival. Unfortunately, nobody is going to want to talk to you about snow tires, chains, dry fuel, the most efficient way to heat a home, seasonal vegetables, snow boots, how much extra time to allot yourself for a wintertime commute, and the funny (but normal) sounds your car may make during said commute. In other words, don't expect the majority of people to give you advice that will be of any use to you. Your best bet would be to go online and find any tipsheets you can about the issues you would like more information about. Read blogs or columns written by people such as myself who have recently moved to a chilly climate from a warm one. Find people in your area who have lived in both places, because they are most likely to understand where you're coming from.
In a few upcoming entries, I will talk about other fun and unexpected differences between Northern and Southern life, including dialect, domestic life, and food. I will also revisit the topic of cars, which will include sagely advice from seasoned New England drivers. STAY TUNED.
Volunteer opportunity
The following was published in The Lowell Sun earlier this week:
LOWELL -- The story of Lowell is the story of its canals.
The 5.5-mile canal system criss-crossing the city between the Merrimack and Concord rivers "is the reason for Lowell," said Michael Creasey, superintendent of the Lowell National Historical Park.
Lowell was built around the canals, he said. Their boundary marks the boundary of the park.
"We have incredible responsibility to the legacy of what history has left in Lowell," he said.
Protecting that legacy is the reason for a major canal cleanup scheduled forSaturday.
I'm going to stop there, but if you want to read the source article online, by all means, do.
The cleanup was moved to Sunday because of the crappy weather, but if you happen to be reading this and want to do some good, report to the National Park Visitor Center (246 Market Street) at 8:30am. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting filthy, and remember your work gloves!
What volunteers will be asked to do will focus on enhancing the appearance of the walkways along the canals, including weeding, raking, cleaning up graffiti, and painting.
Want more information? Go to http://www.nps.gov/lowe or call the National Park Service Volunteer Office at 978-275-1740.
My Sagely Advice
Every city and town has unique attributes and a rich local history that too many people either don't care about or take for granted. It's always a good idea to take a little time to learn about your place of residence and put in a couple of hours here and there to help preserve the very things that make it awesome.
LOWELL -- The story of Lowell is the story of its canals.
The 5.5-mile canal system criss-crossing the city between the Merrimack and Concord rivers "is the reason for Lowell," said Michael Creasey, superintendent of the Lowell National Historical Park.
Lowell was built around the canals, he said. Their boundary marks the boundary of the park.
"We have incredible responsibility to the legacy of what history has left in Lowell," he said.
Protecting that legacy is the reason for a major canal cleanup scheduled for
I'm going to stop there, but if you want to read the source article online, by all means, do.
The cleanup was moved to Sunday because of the crappy weather, but if you happen to be reading this and want to do some good, report to the National Park Visitor Center (246 Market Street) at 8:30am. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting filthy, and remember your work gloves!
What volunteers will be asked to do will focus on enhancing the appearance of the walkways along the canals, including weeding, raking, cleaning up graffiti, and painting.
Want more information? Go to http://www.nps.gov/lowe or call the National Park Service Volunteer Office at 978-275-1740.
Every city and town has unique attributes and a rich local history that too many people either don't care about or take for granted. It's always a good idea to take a little time to learn about your place of residence and put in a couple of hours here and there to help preserve the very things that make it awesome.
25 September 2006
What's happening in the Land of LOL
I haven't updated in awhile. I meant to, but with classes starting up again, I haven't had much time. Now that I'm settling into things, I'm just now experiencing the yearly illness that's going around LOL Land. Nausea, headaches, general achiness... Great fun, I assure you.
This reminds me of one really awful thing about living on one's own -- the lack of parental health insurance. Mine runs out in a few months, after which time I'll have to battle my diseases on my own or pay a hefty medical bill. Being a poor student is rough.
This reminds me of one really awful thing about living on one's own -- the lack of parental health insurance. Mine runs out in a few months, after which time I'll have to battle my diseases on my own or pay a hefty medical bill. Being a poor student is rough.
14 September 2006
This is pretty "LOL", I think.
Last week, I was informed in class that there is a Lowell Master Plan. I have been living in Lowell for over a year now, and I'd never heard of this. Today, based on show of hands, it became apparent that I was far from the only person who hadn't. This is typical, of course, for all seemingly important piece of information; nobody effin' knows it exists. Simply knowing it's there isn't much help, either, as it's a pain in the butt to find on Lowell's website.
So, if you have several hours of free time and are tired of watching paint peel, here is the comprehensive Master Plan. Bookmark it; you'll probably never find it again!
So, if you have several hours of free time and are tired of watching paint peel, here is the comprehensive Master Plan. Bookmark it; you'll probably never find it again!
02 September 2006
Streets: Miami vs Lowell
Because I know that driving chatter gets boring after… two minutes, I suppose, I’ll keep these short and sweet.
MIAMI VS LOWELL IN STREET BATTLE. FIGHT!
As I implied in the last post, Miami’s street layout is a lot more organized in comparison to Lowell’s. Everything in Miami is on some sort of grid, whereas Lowell’s streets can be a big old mess. Not every street ends in disaster, but a lot of them do. They split or converge with different streets; sometimes the street seems to disappear for awhile. I also implied in my last post that it would be nice to have more street signs up, but that is misleading. Street signs won’t help all that much.
An interesting aspect about this area is that there are a total of 10 street names, and they are recycled endless amounts of times. This W-shaped road you are driving on may be Pine Street, but cross over a couple of streets and you'll run into Pine Avenue, Pine Boulevard, Pine Lane, and if you're not careful, Pine Tree. You may pass streets called Church, School, Market, Central, Cabot, Stevens, Westford, Smith, Plain, and Chelmsford while still in Lowell, but as soon as you cross into the next town or city, you'll see those same names again. Keep driving, and you'll see them yet again. Whoever thought up this area of Massachusetts certainly can't be called creative.
NOTE: Not an actual map of Chelmsford/Lowell
The other major difference is (are?) the road conditions. Besides the fact that there are things in New England called "hills", there is also something called "winter" in which water that seeps into cracks in the road freezes, causing cracks to form/worsen. As Florida (like many of the southern states) is bathed in nearly year-round summer, this kind of thing doesn't happen, and roads can maintain their quality for years.
NOTE: Not actual pictures of Miami and Lowell
Driving through parts of Lowell is kind of like driving through a mountain path that is littered with rocks. This doesn't help with the street sign problem. And adding to all this, people like to park their cars on the street, leaving just enough room for an average sized car to squeeze by (with or without mirrors still attached afterwards).
That is not to say that driving in Lowell is necessarily worse than driving in Miami, because although it boasts wider roads with fewer cracks and potholes, it has the problem of Crazy Miami Drivers. Those in the greater Boston area may claim to be among the worst/rudest drivers in the country, but I think Miami takes that prize home at the end of the day. In Miami, you have to have road rage, and you have to swear in at least two languages to ensure the moron you're yelling at can understand you. Impolite hand gestures are a must, and I believe that the act of punching an offender's car originated in Miami. It is a city of INTENSE RAGE. I'm angry just thinking about it.
Aside from the aggressiveness, we're also known for pulling really stupid stunts on a whim (e.g., cutting people off with about an inch of room to spare, taking left turns that probably shouldn't have been taken). Everyone who has ridden shotgun in a car with me has experienced what is affectionately called "Miami Driving" or "Miami Maneuvers". In my defense, I think this so-called Miami driving is just general aggressive driving behavior that transcends city lines. Agree or disagree? I'd like opinions from both Miami and non-Miami drivers.
My Sagely Advice
If you've grown up driving in relatively flat territory, do not be alarmed when driving up a hill. Your car will shift into gears previously unknown and make different noises. This does not mean that you should fly into a panic and assume your car has driven to the great road in the sky. Trust me. The locals will laugh at you. They will do this unceasingly.
If you plan on staying up in Lowell territory, apparently the folks up here have to get their cars inspected annually. This means that you drive your car to Sears and get overcharged for stuff that doesn't even need to be done, so you get a nifty sticker, which obviously means nothing, as the car will give you the finger a month later. Don't take your car to Sears.
As I implied in the last post, Miami’s street layout is a lot more organized in comparison to Lowell’s. Everything in Miami is on some sort of grid, whereas Lowell’s streets can be a big old mess. Not every street ends in disaster, but a lot of them do. They split or converge with different streets; sometimes the street seems to disappear for awhile. I also implied in my last post that it would be nice to have more street signs up, but that is misleading. Street signs won’t help all that much.
An interesting aspect about this area is that there are a total of 10 street names, and they are recycled endless amounts of times. This W-shaped road you are driving on may be Pine Street, but cross over a couple of streets and you'll run into Pine Avenue, Pine Boulevard, Pine Lane, and if you're not careful, Pine Tree. You may pass streets called Church, School, Market, Central, Cabot, Stevens, Westford, Smith, Plain, and Chelmsford while still in Lowell, but as soon as you cross into the next town or city, you'll see those same names again. Keep driving, and you'll see them yet again. Whoever thought up this area of Massachusetts certainly can't be called creative.
NOTE: Not an actual map of Chelmsford/Lowell
The other major difference is (are?) the road conditions. Besides the fact that there are things in New England called "hills", there is also something called "winter" in which water that seeps into cracks in the road freezes, causing cracks to form/worsen. As Florida (like many of the southern states) is bathed in nearly year-round summer, this kind of thing doesn't happen, and roads can maintain their quality for years.
NOTE: Not actual pictures of Miami and Lowell
Driving through parts of Lowell is kind of like driving through a mountain path that is littered with rocks. This doesn't help with the street sign problem. And adding to all this, people like to park their cars on the street, leaving just enough room for an average sized car to squeeze by (with or without mirrors still attached afterwards).
That is not to say that driving in Lowell is necessarily worse than driving in Miami, because although it boasts wider roads with fewer cracks and potholes, it has the problem of Crazy Miami Drivers. Those in the greater Boston area may claim to be among the worst/rudest drivers in the country, but I think Miami takes that prize home at the end of the day. In Miami, you have to have road rage, and you have to swear in at least two languages to ensure the moron you're yelling at can understand you. Impolite hand gestures are a must, and I believe that the act of punching an offender's car originated in Miami. It is a city of INTENSE RAGE. I'm angry just thinking about it.
Aside from the aggressiveness, we're also known for pulling really stupid stunts on a whim (e.g., cutting people off with about an inch of room to spare, taking left turns that probably shouldn't have been taken). Everyone who has ridden shotgun in a car with me has experienced what is affectionately called "Miami Driving" or "Miami Maneuvers". In my defense, I think this so-called Miami driving is just general aggressive driving behavior that transcends city lines. Agree or disagree? I'd like opinions from both Miami and non-Miami drivers.
If you've grown up driving in relatively flat territory, do not be alarmed when driving up a hill. Your car will shift into gears previously unknown and make different noises. This does not mean that you should fly into a panic and assume your car has driven to the great road in the sky. Trust me. The locals will laugh at you. They will do this unceasingly.
If you plan on staying up in Lowell territory, apparently the folks up here have to get their cars inspected annually. This means that you drive your car to Sears and get overcharged for stuff that doesn't even need to be done, so you get a nifty sticker, which obviously means nothing, as the car will give you the finger a month later. Don't take your car to Sears.
A little maintenance.
No, this isn't about driving. This is about blog maintenance. I've swtiched to the beta version of this blog host, and I'm trying to get a feel for it. Let me know in the comments if something goes terribly awry... It may also be nice to tell me how to fix it, because this site is all kinds of confusing.
That's about it for now. Back to your regularly scheduled blog.
The Management*
* I'm thinking I'll need a snazzy pseudonym, as well. Leave suggestions!
That's about it for now. Back to your regularly scheduled blog.
The Management*
* I'm thinking I'll need a snazzy pseudonym, as well. Leave suggestions!
23 August 2006
Getting around
Before I moved to Lowell, I made sure that I had some bases covered. I called AT&T to set up my phone and internet service, which was to be ready a few days after my move. I also printed out the directions to several places of interest, so I could get by without Mapquest and Google Maps at my disposal. I thought I was good to go! That was before I realized that not every city was a grid. Lowell's streets pretty much look like this:
Not to mention, many of the streets are one way, and there is a severe lack of street signs. I was used to seeing street signs at every corner. You never had to guess where you were. Even little cowpaths got street signs. 90%* of Florida's budget goes into ensuring that, no matter what, motorists would know what street they were on. Lowell has a full 60 years on Miami as a city, but people began to settle in present-day Lowell in the 1600s. The transition from horse and buggies to cars was not the easiest, as streets were so narrow, which led to the really crappy "traffic circle" downtown, an overabundance of one-way streets, and near impossibility to get from point A to point B. Some real-life examples:
The arrow is supposed to be pointing at the center of town, so let's pretend it is. The two major highways that converge in Lowell are Route 3 and I-495. A short drive down 495 will take you to I-93. The other highway is the Lowell Connector, which is a mini-highway that runs through part of the city. If you follow it to the end (Exits 5A-C, I believe), you get dumped out near downtown. It's fun, because two lanes end up becoming one with very little warning, if any. It's also supposedly the most dangerous highway in the United States. I'd like to meet the person who decided that and bring them to Miami so s/he can take a trip down the Palmetto Hwy at 5pm.
With all these highways within reach, it's no surprise that they're such an important part of the commute up here. But, for a Newb Englander such as myself, I found it a bit strange that every: "How can I get to [place] from here?" was met with "Get on the highway". "Where is the laundry room?" "Just get on 495..." It was as though back roads were nonexistant. Everything was off the highway. You couldn't just drive down the street; you had to get on the highway and off at the next exit. It was so ridiculous that, in order to get to the aforementioned Walmart, I was getting on the highway, when all I had to do was take a left from my apartment, follow that street til the end, and then make another left. What should have been a 5 minute drive was taking me 15 minutes. Of course, gas prices had hit record highs in Massachusetts at that point; it was something like $3.15/gal.
Some of my agony could have been avoided had AT&T actually set up my damn phone/internet, so I could have looked at a map. (I couldn't even figure out where the tourist center was so I could pick up one of their maps.) No, instead I was given excuse after excuse as to why I was not getting my service started. I was starting to get rather ticked off. Then, the worst happened -- my cell phone died. YES! Cut off from all communication! Exactly what I needed in a strange place where I knew nobody! It wasn't the best cell phone in the world; it had lousy reception and was way behind the times. (Prior to that one, I had one of those giant carboard boxes with a huge antenna that didn't work. I just had to shout really loudly.) Still, that warbly old hunk of junk was my only means of communication. Without it, I couldn't even bitch out AT&T. Turns out, my mom had cancelled it without forewarning me. She did, however, make up for it by sending me an updated cell phone (still with bad reception) and bitching out the telephone company for me. A month after moving in, I finally had a telephone.
Once the internet setup kit arrived, I was back in business. I was able to access Google Maps and realize just how much more work I was making for myself when it came to driving. I didn't have to take the highway to get to my next door neighbor's house after all! My life became much easier... in that sense, anyway. And it's not as though dealing with the zany Lowell roads was all bad; I gained a sense of direction and the ability to read a map.
My Sagely Advice
Before setting foot in the city, make sure that you have a map already onhand. It won't be enough simply having written directions, unless you're already used to navigating the place. Make sure said map has close-ups so that street names are visible. If you're new to the area, drive around well before 7pm, when you can see where you are and before everything starts to close for the night. If you get lost and end up in New Hampshire, stop for gas there. It's usually 2 cents cheaper.
* Completely made up figure.
Next time: More about driving!
Not to mention, many of the streets are one way, and there is a severe lack of street signs. I was used to seeing street signs at every corner. You never had to guess where you were. Even little cowpaths got street signs. 90%* of Florida's budget goes into ensuring that, no matter what, motorists would know what street they were on. Lowell has a full 60 years on Miami as a city, but people began to settle in present-day Lowell in the 1600s. The transition from horse and buggies to cars was not the easiest, as streets were so narrow, which led to the really crappy "traffic circle" downtown, an overabundance of one-way streets, and near impossibility to get from point A to point B. Some real-life examples:
- Using my printed-out directions, my parents and I set out to find the local Walmart. We ended up in Salem, NH. My dad rarely gets lost, even if we're in another country.
- I tried finding the university (2 minutes from my apartment) and ended up downtown.
- My fiance and I went out for dinner and ended up finding a Walmart in Tewksbury.
The arrow is supposed to be pointing at the center of town, so let's pretend it is. The two major highways that converge in Lowell are Route 3 and I-495. A short drive down 495 will take you to I-93. The other highway is the Lowell Connector, which is a mini-highway that runs through part of the city. If you follow it to the end (Exits 5A-C, I believe), you get dumped out near downtown. It's fun, because two lanes end up becoming one with very little warning, if any. It's also supposedly the most dangerous highway in the United States. I'd like to meet the person who decided that and bring them to Miami so s/he can take a trip down the Palmetto Hwy at 5pm.
With all these highways within reach, it's no surprise that they're such an important part of the commute up here. But, for a Newb Englander such as myself, I found it a bit strange that every: "How can I get to [place] from here?" was met with "Get on the highway". "Where is the laundry room?" "Just get on 495..." It was as though back roads were nonexistant. Everything was off the highway. You couldn't just drive down the street; you had to get on the highway and off at the next exit. It was so ridiculous that, in order to get to the aforementioned Walmart, I was getting on the highway, when all I had to do was take a left from my apartment, follow that street til the end, and then make another left. What should have been a 5 minute drive was taking me 15 minutes. Of course, gas prices had hit record highs in Massachusetts at that point; it was something like $3.15/gal.
Some of my agony could have been avoided had AT&T actually set up my damn phone/internet, so I could have looked at a map. (I couldn't even figure out where the tourist center was so I could pick up one of their maps.) No, instead I was given excuse after excuse as to why I was not getting my service started. I was starting to get rather ticked off. Then, the worst happened -- my cell phone died. YES! Cut off from all communication! Exactly what I needed in a strange place where I knew nobody! It wasn't the best cell phone in the world; it had lousy reception and was way behind the times. (Prior to that one, I had one of those giant carboard boxes with a huge antenna that didn't work. I just had to shout really loudly.) Still, that warbly old hunk of junk was my only means of communication. Without it, I couldn't even bitch out AT&T. Turns out, my mom had cancelled it without forewarning me. She did, however, make up for it by sending me an updated cell phone (still with bad reception) and bitching out the telephone company for me. A month after moving in, I finally had a telephone.
Once the internet setup kit arrived, I was back in business. I was able to access Google Maps and realize just how much more work I was making for myself when it came to driving. I didn't have to take the highway to get to my next door neighbor's house after all! My life became much easier... in that sense, anyway. And it's not as though dealing with the zany Lowell roads was all bad; I gained a sense of direction and the ability to read a map.
Before setting foot in the city, make sure that you have a map already onhand. It won't be enough simply having written directions, unless you're already used to navigating the place. Make sure said map has close-ups so that street names are visible. If you're new to the area, drive around well before 7pm, when you can see where you are and before everything starts to close for the night. If you get lost and end up in New Hampshire, stop for gas there. It's usually 2 cents cheaper.
* Completely made up figure.
Next time: More about driving!
14 August 2006
One year ago today...
This time last year, I was 23 years old and just setting off for the first time to make a life for myself. As I stepped off the plane from Ft. Lauderdale onto Boston tarmac, I was as wide-eyed and naive as they came. I had come with my dad and one of my cousins to scope out some apartments, and ended up choosing the first one I saw. I put down some money on it, signed some papers, and voila -- I had a place waiting for me.
I went back down to Florida, packed Luci(my car)'s trunk as full as possible, and paid a vehicle mover (classy name for "towing company") to bring my car up. Then, about a week or two later, I took a flight with my parents and a bunch of suitcases with the last of my belongings.
The first thing I noticed upon entering my apartment for only the second time was the smell. It didn't smell bad or anything; just... like it was still someone else's apartment. Also, some of the windows were broken, and a part of one of the heaters had fallen down. I tried calling the landlord, but it was a weekend, so I was on my own until Monday morning at least. Little did I know that my landlords tend not to give a shit about any problems that tenants may have with their living situations. Every issue is taken with a roll of the eye, loud sigh, and no attempt to conceal their annoyance. It didn't help that my parents forced me to call the empty office several times during the week to complain about the littlest issue.
The weekend pretty much went downhill from there. Apparently, Lowell has no concept of "street signs", so every time we hopped in the car, we got lost. Very lost. At one point, trying to get to the Walmart that was not half a mile away from the apartment, we ended up in Salem, NH... via the back roads... Yeah. We did find a Walmart, though! Finding the apartment again was a different story. It was probably 10pm before we found the damn place again, and it was by pure luck. We'd been lost for something like 3 hours.
By Sunday, my fiance had come to join us to help me get settled in. While it wasn't very warm out, we decided it would be best not to try and open the windows, so the air was incredibly stale. My mom ended up breaking my desk. The futon was missing a few bolts (but to this day, it's working nicely!). The kitchen floor was already filthy. My car had not arrived; the company had "gotten lost", and I was sure that we had been scammed, and I'd never see my car or most of my stuff ever again. The phone company kept giving me shit, too; they gave me one reason after another as to why I couldn't have my landline hooked up yet. My future university lost my medical records.
When my parents left Monday morning, it was a wonder why I was still excited and optimistic.
My Sagely Advice
Don't expect your move to go smoothly/as planned. Always have a Plan B... or Plan C.
Next Time: Getting Around
I went back down to Florida, packed Luci(my car)'s trunk as full as possible, and paid a vehicle mover (classy name for "towing company") to bring my car up. Then, about a week or two later, I took a flight with my parents and a bunch of suitcases with the last of my belongings.
The first thing I noticed upon entering my apartment for only the second time was the smell. It didn't smell bad or anything; just... like it was still someone else's apartment. Also, some of the windows were broken, and a part of one of the heaters had fallen down. I tried calling the landlord, but it was a weekend, so I was on my own until Monday morning at least. Little did I know that my landlords tend not to give a shit about any problems that tenants may have with their living situations. Every issue is taken with a roll of the eye, loud sigh, and no attempt to conceal their annoyance. It didn't help that my parents forced me to call the empty office several times during the week to complain about the littlest issue.
The weekend pretty much went downhill from there. Apparently, Lowell has no concept of "street signs", so every time we hopped in the car, we got lost. Very lost. At one point, trying to get to the Walmart that was not half a mile away from the apartment, we ended up in Salem, NH... via the back roads... Yeah. We did find a Walmart, though! Finding the apartment again was a different story. It was probably 10pm before we found the damn place again, and it was by pure luck. We'd been lost for something like 3 hours.
By Sunday, my fiance had come to join us to help me get settled in. While it wasn't very warm out, we decided it would be best not to try and open the windows, so the air was incredibly stale. My mom ended up breaking my desk. The futon was missing a few bolts (but to this day, it's working nicely!). The kitchen floor was already filthy. My car had not arrived; the company had "gotten lost", and I was sure that we had been scammed, and I'd never see my car or most of my stuff ever again. The phone company kept giving me shit, too; they gave me one reason after another as to why I couldn't have my landline hooked up yet. My future university lost my medical records.
When my parents left Monday morning, it was a wonder why I was still excited and optimistic.
Don't expect your move to go smoothly/as planned. Always have a Plan B... or Plan C.
Next Time: Getting Around
24 June 2006
LOL Massachusetts
What do you know? It's a blog! I bet you've never seen one of these before. This particular blog is run by a young woman in her early/mid-20s who, after graduating with a fairly useless Bachelor's degree, decided to go back to school... 1500 miles away.
This meant two things:
1) I had to deal with living independently for the first time in my life.
2) I had to deal with the completely foreign New England lifestyle, having come from the South... and Miami, no less.
Quite the adjustment, in other words. I thought that it might be a good idea to put my experience in writing. After all, I'm never going to move to Lowell again.
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