North Coast Cafe

Water Levels in the Great Lakes (Ontario)

Water levels in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River have been a complicated and contentious issue ever since the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway which officially opened in 1959. Before then, water levels were determined by nature and the seasonal cycles of rain and evaporation.

Water from all five Great Lakes flows into Lake Ontario and eventually out to sea through the St. Lawrence River. It was only with the Seaway dams built to improve navigation through the St. Lawrence that water levels became a serious public policy issue because, for the first time, water levels could be mechanically manipulated. The earliest plan to artificially regulate and control water levels was implemented in 1958.

Since then, conflicting interests have competed and sometimes quarreled over too low or too high water levels. Commercial navigation - shipping - wants high levels to maximize the number of days ships can pass throughout the St. Lawrence River. Hydro electric power producers prefer a constant level in order to most efficiently produce electricity. Fishermen and marina owners generally like high water levels, lake front property owners want low levels so as to protect their shorefront property from erosion and damage, and environmentalists are concerned about either too high, or too low levels that endanger wildlife and the natural habitat that is the breeding ground for flora and fauna.

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Lake Effect

On the North Coast one hears the term "lake effect" related to the weather year round.

But, in winter lake effect is demonstrable because of the snow fall.

It has snowed every day for the past twenty days breaking previous records for the most consecutive days with measurable snowfall.

I am amused when I hear 'lake effect' used in discussing North Coast weather; I imagine it also being used to discuss my mood, traffic, the economy or why there's nothing good on TV these days.

Granted, there may be some kind of meteorological influence on air masses passing over huge bodies of water with different temperature, but that's all too technical to appreciate.

I much prefer the mystical, cosmic, transcendental, booga-booga 'lake effect.'

"I wonder why the bread didn't rise nicely like it usually does?" Lake Effect.

Canada, Robert Bateman & The Walrus

Burrowing Owl by Robert Bateman

I have long been a student of Canada. My interest no doubt was spurred by the proximity of Canada to the North Coast, but in addition, there are so many things to admire about the country, not the least of which is its exquisite and dramatic beauty.

Ever been to Banff?

The 'Canadians are so polite' canard is tiresome, but true. I have often observed the cosmopolitan nature of Canadian society, an immigrant nation that seems to have a racial harmony, tolerance and celebration of ethnic diversity other nations could only hope to achieve.

Despite what Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield and Wolfowitz would have us believe Canadians are not cousins of cheese- eating surrender monkeys. In my view, they have an attitude about society and international relations more realistic, humane and wholesome than the regrettable neo-conservative vision we are saddled with today in the USA.

That I seem to share Canadian values helps me to say this. Who knew?

One of my very favorite Canadians is the naturalist / artist Robert Bateman. As an aspiring, untalented watercolorist, his skill at painting awes me while putting my sketches to shame.

But, we seem to have very similar ideas about what it means to be a conservative. I love his critique of the American tax cut for the rich economic policies which he dubs Salvation Through Shopping.

And now, news of a new Canadian magazine called the
Walrus which shows promise covering interesting international news and analysis with a typically Canadian perspective.

Regional Pronunciation

Anyone who's seen Fargo will know what fun listening to regional dialects and variant English pronunciation can be.

The French, ever the language snobs, cackle when they hear French Canadians speak their language, and English speaking North Americans are at no loss finding humor aboot their spoken word either, don't 'cha know? Ay?

I am amused when I hear local North Coast folk mention "bag-ells" an imported bread product introduced, mainly as a frozen odditya decade ago, and first known as a freshly baked local product only in the last few a few years. You may know them as a Eastern European Jewish delicacy known as a 'BAY-gell."

Ditto 'pop', meaning soda, as in Coke or Pepsi. We are not alone in this regionalism. Pop vs. Soda has a long-standing regional variance best explained by those who've studied the regional nomenclature reference in depth. In the South, all soft drinks are called 'cokes." Go figure.

Viewers of the classic Saturday Night Live's sketch featuring those Chicago sports fans fond of "da bears" will know what North Coast speech often sounds like. Broad, nasal aaaaa sounds predominate.

Crap is a favorite word on the North Coast. It can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, invective, or insult without the onus of profanity. "What a load of crap, that crappy man said. It's crap! Plain and simple, you crap-for-brains crap monger!

At my local supermarket, I went through the check out with a fennel bulb which on the North Coast they call, inncorrectly, anise. The 17-something checkout girl ask me, 'Is this anus?' I failed the test, what my friends call, 'a teachable moment,' and rudely told her, "No, anus is what you sit on, this is fennel."

She was not amused.

Talking About the Weather

The first storm of Winter 2003 hit the North Coast last night. This morning 60-mph wind gusts knocked down powerlines, the transmitters for local TV and radio stations. When I went out with Riley, the Golden Retriever, the traffic lights and signs hanging across the road were floating horizontally. The National Weather Service predicts by the end of the day 2-5 inches of snow will have fallen and is likely to stick which is unusual for the first snow of the season. There's something exciting to me about a storm, especially the first one of the season. But I know after about three weeks I'll already be tired of the cold and wet. If it weren't for the beauty of it all I'd think about moving to Sante Fe, San Miguel or .....

The big black crow I saw windsurfing this morning was really fun to watch. He didn't seem to be trying to go anywhere. He'd lift off the fence he was perched on and using his wings maintain a position about 20-25 feet up in the air untiil he tired and fell back to his perch. Then he'd do it again. I watched him do this 3-4 times before moving on with a small smile on my face. Isn't nature wonderful?

The Erie Canal

The North Coast owes whatever prosperity and growth it's enjoyed since it was first settled in the 1790s to the Erie Canal. The canal was a monumental engineering feat, a tremendous boost to commerce in 19th Century America and, today, a delightful natural resource used recreationally by residents and tourists alike.

When completed in 1824, the Erie Canal opened the West to pioneer settlers giving them a way to prosper by shipping at an affordable price farm produce, grain, lumber etc. to the large urban markets in the East.

Hurricane Isabel Strikes North Coast

Can you see me? I'm the fellow wearing the black socks.

August

The North Coast

See me? I'm the fellow wearing the black socks.