Health

23 ½ hours was a very insightful video. It is amazing to think of all the health benefits that can be accomplished with an act as simple as walking. There is no need to join an expensive gym or go out and buy a high price home fitness center. All that is needed is to get up for sitting or sleeping and walk. It seems to me that walking is something that most of us take for granted. We live in a world that does not encourage walking. Everything is built around convenience. Drive thru windows at fast food restaurants, banks, and post offices. Corporate America has also become the land of sitters. With a large portion of the job market working in white collar jobs, physical activity is very minimal. Technologies like computers and cell phones has made it possible for people to conduct business, pay bills, and socialize all without leaving their seat.

In the video Dr. Mike Evans gave examples of how 30 to 60 minutes of walking each day had several health benefits and improved the over all life experience. With one hour of walking three time per week people with knee arthritis experience 47% less pain and/or disabilities. That is amazing to think that walking for 3 hours a week could reduce the amount of discomfort that a person experiences. Depression decreased by 47% in people that walked for longer periods of time weekly. Dr. Evans calls walking a medicine. I think that is a perfect definition for walking when used in this term. One thing that is interesting to me is the fact that the medical field is so based on money. How many commercial do we all see on a daily bases that talk about the benefits of prescription drugs? These commercials talk about how the drug can relieve the user form what health issues that they have. At the end of these commercial they speed through a list of negative side effects that are sometimes more hazardous then the original health concern. Now let me ask you this, how many commercials have you seen encouraging you to get up and go for a walk. Why aren’t hospitals and health care providers pushing the word about the positives of walking. The bonus of walking is that there are not negative physical side affects. You may have to wash clothes more often or spend more money to purchase proper shoes, but the results are outstanding.

I’m going to take the challenge of getting my daughters more active each day. They already go will beyond the 1 hour a day recommendation and I go to the gym on a consistent bases, but this will be something that we can do together. Starting a routine now will hopefully help them in future years to be sure to incorporate walking into their daily life even if not required/provided during school/work.

City Manager of Saratoga County, New York

As City Manager of Saratoga County, New York I would focus on the the strengths that my community has from an economic stand point. Having access to capital, in place infrastructure that can support industrial or manufacturing, centrally located from communities and places of work, great access to leisure activities, and a top ranking educational system. Being home to industry leaders such as IBM and GE are just part of the reason that Saratoga County is considered to be one of the technology hubs of the world. Providing ample leisure activities such as dinning, theater, skiing, night life, and open spaces allows not only for individuals to advance career wise, but to also get a sense of community.

As City Manager, I would propose to create a strong presents of milt-use developments in the center of this area with a preference of dinning, entertainment, and shopping. We currently have a great infrastructure of educational institutions and corporations. However, employees have to leave the area to engage in activities ranging out side of work. By focusing on multi-use development we are able to accomplish two objectives at the same time; bringing a diverse economic funding source to the area, and eliminated the need to individual to take their purchasing power out of the region. One type of development could be a partnership between a hotel chain and condominium developer. Workers that desire to be in close proximity to their work place could purchase the condominium and visitor to the area could stay at the hotel to take advantage of the ski slopes and local rivers. With the decline of the industrial age and the rise of the post industrial society, services are the economic future for cities (Euchner and McGovern pg.99). By concentating our efforts into creating zoning that is condusive to multi-use developments, we can provide the existing industrial ecomonic development with the diversity that is needed to sustain the economy of our county.

I would also support applications for the HOPE VI grant program. I feel that this program will not only insure greater living condition for the individuals of our community with lower income, but will also show our dedication to having a functional diverse community. This program well allow the county to focus on the down trodden areas that have been neglected. Improving these areas will have a positive impact on the surrounding areas and may also increase property values. Building new residences with community based amenities will promote a stronger sense of responsibility for the tents of these developments and will hopefully reflect in the preservation of these developments. It is important to focus on the counties entire region to encourage the best citizen experience possible for all residences.

High Speed Rail

The video against the construction of high speed rail was very interesting.  The concept of billions of dollars being spent to shorten travel times for existing AM Track passengers was an eye opener.  Not to say that all high speed rail systems are just modifications of existing light rail/train system.  The main speaker spoke about the concept of the fix risk and cost associated with the development of high speed rail.  One example of this was, if the new rail system is underutilized the tracks or rail cars could not be reused in another location or the rails be used for another function.  He also spoke about the concept that the US is following the pattern set in Europe and Asia.  The major factors that impact the use of rail in these locations oppose to here in the US are; most roads in these area are pay for use (toll), and gas taxes are on average three time the taxes that we pay here in the US.  Another thing that was pointed out was the fact that in these area the rail systems are not experience growth at a notable rate, but automotive and air travel are increasing at a quick pass.  The second speaker spoke about the stance that is being seen from the policies President Obhama  is pushing for.  This speaker stated that individual drivers are being pushed to paying for items outside of the realm of highway and streets.  Drivers are being pushed to pay for regional transportation and alternative transportation measures.

I have mixed feeling about what the above video spoke about.  The other two videos showed great examples of high speed rail systems that not only serve a purpose of commuting, but also the experience that it provides the passenger.  Unlike the speaker in the first video, I feel that people will use the high speed rail to travel to places they would normally drive, even if there is not a large amount of time savings.  As the state of our economy changes, so does the way the people spend and save money.  If people can save on gas cost, vehicle maintenance, and not increase commute times by large amounts people will utilize the system.  Pushing drivers to get out of their cars and use forms of public transit are extremely critical to the future of this nation.  I think that the long term benefits of rail systems will not only help the environment but will also revolutionize the way that economies are form.  Works with less disposable income would be able to live further away from their place of work and commute to those locations.  There are several other benefits to moving towards this change, but I would like to hear what you think about it.