The perfect metaphor.

[OldWiseGuy]

Here in Dane county Wisconsin we have a chain of four lakes, plus another not connected, that are choked with invasive weeds and algae for much of the year. Beaches are routinely closed because of dangerous levels of toxins and pollution. Shoreline residents complain about the perennial weeds and the foul smell. Several agencies, that employ HUNDREDS of highly paid experts, have charge of the health of the lakes including: the Dept. of Natural Resources, the County lakes and wetlands commission, the Limnology Department of the University of Wisconsin. Visiting scientists also study the lakes and consult with the various agencies. Oh yes, and because of budget cuts, there are only three full time staff to operate the weed harvesting machines. Yup, I said THREE!........ Now isn't that the perfect metaphor for the way we do things?

 

[Blayz]

Produce a laundry list of unevidenced assertions?

yes, yes it is indeed a perfect metaphor.

 

[quatona]

Now isn't that the perfect metaphor for the way we do things?

I don´t know who you guys are and how you do things.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

Here in Dane county Wisconsin we have a chain of four lakes, plus another not connected, that are choked with invasive weeds and algae for much of the year. Beaches are routinely closed because of dangerous levels of toxins and pollution. Shoreline residents complain about the perennial weeds and the foul smell. Several agencies, that employ HUNDREDS of highly paid experts, have charge of the health of the lakes including: the Dept. of Natural Resources, the County lakes and wetlands commission, the Limnology Department of the University of Wisconsin. Visiting scientists also study the lakes and consult with the various agencies. Oh yes, and because of budget cuts, there are only three full time staff to operate the weed harvesting machines. Yup, I said THREE!........ Now isn't that the perfect metaphor for the way we do things?

Would you please reference this?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Produce a laundry list of unevidenced assertions?

yes, yes it is indeed a perfect metaphor.

It's actually worse than I described. I've only presented a small part of a really bad larger picture.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Would you please reference this?

Pick one, and I'll post the documentation.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I don´t know who you guys are and how you do things.

I think you know. 'I have seen the enemy, and he is US.' (Pogo)

 

[AV1611VET]

Here in Dane county Wisconsin we have a chain of four lakes, plus another not connected, that are choked with invasive weeds and algae for much of the year. Beaches are routinely closed because of dangerous levels of toxins and pollution. Shoreline residents complain about the perennial weeds and the foul smell. Several agencies, that employ HUNDREDS of highly paid experts, have charge of the health of the lakes including: the Dept. of Natural Resources, the County lakes and wetlands commission, the Limnology Department of the University of Wisconsin. Visiting scientists also study the lakes and consult with the various agencies. Oh yes, and because of budget cuts, there are only three full time staff to operate the weed harvesting machines. Yup, I said THREE!........ Now isn't that the perfect metaphor for the way we do things?

I think I might know the source of the residents' complaints, but I'll keep it to myself --

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

Several agencies, that employ HUNDREDS of highly paid experts,...

This one.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

I don´t know who you guys are and how you do things.

I second this. I have no idea what the OP is on about. Is it a metaphor for the Trinity?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

This one.

I'll let you prove me wrong. Search UW Zoology and Limnology Depts. and count the faculty and research staff that are involved in studying Lake Mendota ecology. I counted 80 just in those two departments, not counting any paid student research assistants. The Dane County Lake and Wetland Commission has 10 members plus paid subcomittee staff. Unable to get an exact count of DNR personel involved with the lake and watershed, but it is a substantial number of positions. I didn't bother to peruse the Ag Dept.,which would also have a large number of experts involved in studying farm runoff, erosion, monitoring fertilizers, etc. into the lakes. In short 'hundreds' may be a conservative number. Also the City of Madison and the Dane County Board have been heavily involved for years in the construction of a large manure digester that was 'sold' as a way to help clean up the lakes. (It cost $18 million and will do NOTHING to clean up the lakes. This is also part of the metaphor. ) The County Parks Division that does the actual weed harvesting has 8 full time employees. They try to keep 6 harvesters going during the season, but as I said, budget constraints cut their operating personel to just 3 last year. If there are more this season it will be good. When I called their info number all I got was the starting date for seasonal weed harvesting.

 

[Biker Angel]

I second this. I have no idea what the OP is on about. Is it a metaphor for the Trinity?

You may be reading more into it than you need to. I think the OP may be referring to the way we Americans do things.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

You may be reading more into it than you need to. I think the OP may be referring to the way we Americans do things.

By Jove! I think he's got it!

 

[quatona]

By Jove! I think he's got it!

Ok. In an international forum, however, you better had explained that from the start.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Ok. In an international forum, however, you better had explained that from the start.

I was a little vague. Sorry.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

I'll let you prove me wrong. Search UW Zoology and Limnology Depts. and count the faculty and research staff that are involved in studying Lake Mendota ecology. I counted 80 just in those two departments, not counting any paid student research assistants. The Dane County Lake and Wetland Commission has 10 members plus paid subcomittee staff. Unable to get an exact count of DNR personel involved with the lake and watershed, but it is a substantial number of positions. I didn't bother to peruse the Ag Dept.,which would also have a large number of experts involved in studying farm runoff, erosion, monitoring fertilizers, etc. into the lakes. In short 'hundreds' may be a conservative number. Also the City of Madison and the Dane County Board have been heavily involved for years in the construction of a large manure digester that was 'sold' as a way to help clean up the lakes. (It cost $18 million and will do NOTHING to clean up the lakes. This is also part of the metaphor. ) The County Parks Division that does the actual weed harvesting has 8 full time employees. They try to keep 6 harvesters going during the season, but as I said, budget constraints cut their operating personel to just 3 last year. If there are more this season it will be good. When I called their info number all I got was the starting date for seasonal weed harvesting.

You're funny! Don't be lazy and ask others to research your claims.

YOU made the claim, YOU back it up! I really don't give a rat's back side, but if you were exaggerating just to make your point more salient, just man up and say so. No big deal.


Care to take another run at it?

"Several agencies, that employ HUNDREDS of highly paid experts, have charge of the health of the lakes including:"

You should provide a link showing hundreds of employees, their credentials qualifying them to be experts, and their salaries.

 

[freezerman2000]

Why don't they just stock a bunch of weed eating CARP?...a lot less expensive than experts...

 

[Jro]

Why don't they just stock a bunch of weed eating CARP?...a lot less expensive than experts...

Impact of Introduction: The common carp is regarded as a pest fish because of its widespread abundance and because of its tendency to destroy vegetation and increase water turbidity by dislodging plants and rooting around in the substrate, causing a deterioration of habitat for species requiring vegetation and clean water (Cole 1905; Cahoon 1953; Bellrichard 1996; Laird and Page 1996). Available literature indicates common carp may destroy aquatic macrophytes directly by uprooting or consuming the plants, or indirectly by increasing turbidity and thereby reducing light for photosynthesis. Bellrichard (1996) found that alterations in macrophyte biomass are due more to direct effects of common carp. In their review of the literature, Richardson et al. (1995) concluded that common carp has had noted adverse effects on biological systems including destruction of vegetated breeding habitats used by both fish and birds, and an increase in turbidity. It stirs up the bottom during feeding, resulting in increased siltation and turbidity (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.). This feeding behavior also destroys rooted aquatic plants that provide habitat for native fish species and food for waterfowl (Dentler 1993). There is also evidence that common carp prey on the eggs of other fish species (Moyle 1976a; Taylor et al. 1984; Miller and Beckman 1996). For this reason, it may be responsible for the decline of the razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus in the Colorado River basin (Taylor et al. 1984). In another case, Miller and Beckman (1996) documented white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus eggs in the stomachs of common carp in the Columbia River. In California, carp have been implicated in the decrease in water clarity in Clear Lake, Lake County, and in the gradual disappearance of native fishes (Moyle 1976a). McCarraher and Gregory (1970) wrote that in 1894 there was documentation that Sacramento perch Archoplites interruptus were becoming more scarce because carp were destroying their spawning grounds. Laird and Page (1996) stated that common carp may compete with ecologically similar species such as carpsuckers and buffalos. Because this species has been present in many areas since the first surveys, its impacts on many of the native fishes are difficult to determine. Once established in a water body, common carp are difficult and expensive to eliminate (e.g., Cahoon 1953).

common carp (Cyprinus carpio) - FactSheet

Easy answers aren't.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

You may be reading more into it than you need to. I think the OP may be referring to the way we Americans do things.

Ah, you crazy Canadians!

(see what I did there? Huh? Huh? Oh I just slay myself )

 

[Warren Clark]

Here in Dane county Wisconsin we have a chain of four lakes, plus another not connected, that are choked with invasive weeds and algae for much of the year. Beaches are routinely closed because of dangerous levels of toxins and pollution. Shoreline residents complain about the perennial weeds and the foul smell. Several agencies, that employ HUNDREDS of highly paid experts, have charge of the health of the lakes including: the Dept. of Natural Resources, the County lakes and wetlands commission, the Limnology Department of the University of Wisconsin. Visiting scientists also study the lakes and consult with the various agencies. Oh yes, and because of budget cuts, there are only three full time staff to operate the weed harvesting machines. Yup, I said THREE!........ Now isn't that the perfect metaphor for the way we do things?

Metaphore to what exactly?