The fence that may have discouraged trespassers in the past is trampled on the ground. Rusty, mangled gates are stuck in open position and overgrown with brush. An "accident" waiting to happen?

St. Lawrence Resin Products Cayuga

There is zero indication that any of the court-ordered August deadlines for security, cleanup and identification of on-site substances will be met.
The fence that may have discouraged trespassers in the past is trampled on the ground. Rusty gates are stuck in an open position and overgrown with brambles.
Graffiti is sprayed on the walls. There is evidence of dumping.

We don't as a rule publish negative news; however, a contentious issue has once again reared its ugly head for the small town of Cayuga. For larger images, click on photo. (We welcome media use of our photos.)

The abandoned St. Lawrence Resin Products site should be of concern to every citizen in Cayuga. We are asked where the site is located. It is on Fishcarrier St., NE corner of residential Cayuga, bordered on two sides by homes. The plant was abruptly abandoned in the nineties after an explosion and fire.

Ever wondered why some books seem to self-destruct?

"Into Thin Air," Chapter 8 in

A SPLENDOR of LETTERS*, has a comprehensive explanation. "The transition to lesser-grade stock began around the time of the American Civil War (1860s), when increasing demand hastened the development of a cleaner process. To improve strength and to prevent ink from being too readily absorbed by the pulp paper, chemicals such as aluminum sulphate, known as alum, were added to the mix, with the result that documents exposed to humidity produced sulfuric acid, and the molecular structure of the cellulose was weakened. Further deterioration of the fibers was caused by bleaches that were used to brighten the sheets."

*Nicholas A. Basbanes, Perennial/HarperCollinsPublishers, 2003.

Caught on film by a disposable camera! For those who doubt the halo...!

Photo: Our friend, Judy.

Smile for Today:

"It was regretted that the advertised event (free-fall parachuting) could not take place due to problems with the aircraft. But the most spectacular event of the day was the collapse of the beer tent." (Daily Bugle)

~ Ben Wicks, More Losers, McClelland and Stewart, 1982

Conversation Face-to-Face

Conversation Face-to-Face.

Photo by:


VAVOOM PHOTOGRAPHY ~ Lisa Pielechaty

Search VAVOOM PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook.

The End of Conversation?

The virtual world ~ T.V., radio, Internet, i-pods, cell phones, Black Berries ~ has to a great extent replaced one-on-one, face-to-face conversation. The New York Times ran an article announcing that soon one can have a virtual girlfriend on one's cell phone ~ that is, "a computer-generated woman who can converse on thirty-five thousand topics."*

We frequent the pubs, churches, cafes, bookshops ~ the community centers for the most part with the expectation that we will get into an interesting conversation with someone but how many places are conducive to good conversation? Loud music, crowds, multiple big screens ~ all compete for our attention.

A Neat Little Bookshop customer, while looking for books on humor, revealed that he is in Toastmasters International. One of the requirements of members in their quest for good communication is a series of speeches on humor.

We believe the real world is still out there. One just has to take the time to find it!

*Stephen Miller, Conversation, A History of a Declining Art, Yale University Press, 2006.
http://www.toastmasters.org/