Hard Rockin'

Peter: 21st Jun 2005 - 14:09 GMT

what are the "beaches" like on lake michigan? are there any? wonder what they look like under 5 feet of snow...

Bleeagh: 21st Jun 2005 - 21:31 GMT

When I was a kid, there were long stretches of gorgeous blonde sand nuzzling the pale grey and deep blue skirts of Lake Michigan. These days, the sand is rough and the waters turgid. Some sort of invasive algae coats the lake bottom near shore, where it dies and rots. The resulting odor is akin to hovering inches above a sewage treatment tank. So, I am sad to report that Milwaukee's beaches spend much of the season with water quality warnings and unbelievable stench preventing much enjoyment of the lake. It's tragic. Ironically, winter is the time to visit the beach, when huge ice heaves make amazing natural sculpture and sand swirls together with snow to create dazzling patterns!

jeeff: 22nd Jun 2005 - 04:39 GMT

i've seen photos of the lake in winter - really fantastic. i'm sad to add to your report that lake ontario is pretty toxic as well. most of our beaches are perpetually closed due to high bacteria counts, and the water just doesn't smell good even where you can swim. so toronto doesn't have a 'beach' culture at all.

on the bright side, lake erie is a lot better than a couple decades ago. there's been a real effort to clean it up. no more rivers catching on fire. lake huron's still pretty nice too. it's cottage country. my hometown is close to both lakes.

...and lake superior... is too cold for swimming.

elaine: 22nd Jun 2005 - 08:06 GMT

see, rivers catching on fire that doesn't sound so good... i always thought canada would be such an eco paradise, shaking it's head and tutting at america

Peter: 22nd Jun 2005 - 13:11 GMT

its probably not canada's fault that most of the great lakes are so polluted...

Peter: 22nd Jun 2005 - 13:47 GMT

interesting tangent re: river fires...

pratie.blogspot.com/2005/03/cuyahoga-river-fire-of-1969.html

Jamie: 22nd Jun 2005 - 13:52 GMT

yes dont they flow upwards from the us into canada?

Peter: 22nd Jun 2005 - 13:59 GMT

well, its like the bottom half of most all the lakes borders american states, which are most likely the source of most of the pollution, as they border industrial cities like chicago, detroit, buffalo, etc...

jeeff: 22nd Jun 2005 - 14:22 GMT

yeah, it was actually on the american side of lake erie that the river caught fire, not up here. but my hometown's drinking water came from the same great lakes, soooo....

jeeff: 22nd Jun 2005 - 14:31 GMT

it was recently announced that over 50% of toronto's smog is from the states. we've had 31 smog days so far already this year. our premier (provincial "governor" type) is thinking of suing the states because it is apparently costing us $5.2 billion yearly in health treatment and lost productivity, as well as 3000 deaths. welcome to the post-apocalyptic world.

however, the prevailing winds blow our smog south-east into upstate new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine and atlantic canada. so starting a round of lawsuits could open a pandora's box for us.

Peter: 22nd Jun 2005 - 14:43 GMT

im glad i dont live in this version of nyc:

elaine: 22nd Jun 2005 - 14:55 GMT

yeah, the equivalent here was called a 'pea souper' and although of course we now have minging invisible chemicals, paricuarly petrol and deisel, the pea soupers subsided after it became illegal to burn coal in cities. i would like an open fire, though, i wonder if this could be one of those laws that are really for other people?

Jamie: 22nd Jun 2005 - 15:14 GMT

i don't think i've ever heard of the phrase pea soupers before.

elaine: 22nd Jun 2005 - 15:24 GMT

no way? maybe it's because i'm a londoner? my parents are of an age to have experienced it, so that is how i know about it

Jamie: 22nd Jun 2005 - 15:31 GMT

damn right! a londoner and a milf

elaine: 22nd Jun 2005 - 15:36 GMT

bloody hell, i thought we'd seen the last of that. you really are a very naughty boy

elaine: 30th Jun 2005 - 12:31 GMT

the city is always a heaving and restless place... The sound of it's streets is like the murmer from a sea shell and in the great fogs of the past the citizens believed themselves to be lying on the floor of the ocean
Peter Ackroyd, London, The Biography
... which explains why i feel at home here...