Wow, no posts in over a month. That's pretty bad, but more or less normal these days. As always, there have been a number of things on my mind lately. My primary concern has been my impending unemployment. I had an interview last week but I didn't hear back on Friday, the day that I figured they would have called (if they were going to). I'll keep my fingers crossed but it's not looking good. I don't see any way that we could get by on one income next year...
Well, in the past month we've had one of the warmest Mays recorded, punctuated by the latest snowfall in 30+ years and four seasonably late frosts. Twelve of May's 31 days were in the 80s, which is pretty warm for this time of year. Rainfall, though irregular, has been adequate.
I continue frequenting the Free State Wyoming message boards, a big part of me would love to sell out, use some of the gains to pay off some debt, and go buy a small place in Wyoming somewhere. However, my wife would never go for that. I, too, have reservations, but I'm not sure they're enough to hold me back. Freedom is a very powerful lure...
05 June 2010
03 April 2010
Weather Update
I guess you could call this a "Summer Weather Update." The weather has been positively summer-like the past few days. Since the second week in March it has been an extremely warm Spring. The daffodils began blooming today, and the grape hyacinths and tulips aren't far behind. Thursday's (April 1st's) high temperature was 79 degrees Fahrenheit - a cool 31 degrees F. above normal. Friday was 85 degrees Fahrenheit - nearly our first day at or above 30 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees above normal! Today's high temperature was a mild 81 degrees Fahrenheit - still 32 degrees above normal. This happened last April as well, but it was even hotter then. Amazingly, it looks like were in for at least another week of temperatures in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit. While it feels nice, such weather can make for a horribly destructive frost down the road. We still have more than a month before the average last frost, but buds are popping everywhere.
Oh, I meant to mention the fact that last Tuesday's (March 30) high temperature was 38 degrees Fahrenheit. It even snowed for a couple of hours that day. Friday's high temperature was 85 degrees Fahrenheit - a 47 degree swing in just three days!
Oh, I meant to mention the fact that last Tuesday's (March 30) high temperature was 38 degrees Fahrenheit. It even snowed for a couple of hours that day. Friday's high temperature was 85 degrees Fahrenheit - a 47 degree swing in just three days!
27 March 2010
Too many good things tonight!
First of all, I came across this delightful blog via a link on TheGeekWithA.45's blog. A line from the author's biography struck me because I had the EXACT same thought a couple of weeks ago:
"The AR-15s of today are the Brown Besses of 1776."
I honestly think that the author may be a long-lost sister separated at birth, because she seems to convey her identical thoughts using the exact phrasing and syntax that I do (rather, would, if I wrote more often).
Before I found the "Politics, Guns & Beer" website, I had been checking out TheGeekWithA.45's blog when I came across this quote:
"As a libertarian, it is my view that people are free to fling themselves off cliffs all they want, but they aren't allowed to tie ropes around my ankles so as to take me with them."
Well said.
It's moments like this that help me get through these political times without becoming a news story. Thank God that there are others out there like me. It gives me hope for the future.
"The AR-15s of today are the Brown Besses of 1776."
I honestly think that the author may be a long-lost sister separated at birth, because she seems to convey her identical thoughts using the exact phrasing and syntax that I do (rather, would, if I wrote more often).
Before I found the "Politics, Guns & Beer" website, I had been checking out TheGeekWithA.45's blog when I came across this quote:
"As a libertarian, it is my view that people are free to fling themselves off cliffs all they want, but they aren't allowed to tie ropes around my ankles so as to take me with them."
Well said.
It's moments like this that help me get through these political times without becoming a news story. Thank God that there are others out there like me. It gives me hope for the future.
21 March 2010
28 February 2010
07 February 2010
Winter Weather Update
Though it has been the coldest winter in quite some time, it has been a very dry winter. (Those two things go together if you live in an area that is normally below freezing in the winter.) Through more than half the winter, we have had only 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) of snow.
15 December 2009
Wow. That's definitive.
As I have gotten closer to purchasing a "man rifle" (as opposed to a "deer rifle"), I have been trying to find any and all information available on the couple of weapons that I am considering. AR family rifles seem to be the most popular "man rifles" out there for a variety of reasons, but they have always been nagged by questions of reliability under adverse conditions. I LOVE the idea of an M14/M1A, but I have found a number of sources indicating that M14s have their own reliability questions. In fact, I was beginning to wonder if M14's benefit from their "reputation" as much as ARs are hurt by their's...
Then I came across this post, which pretty much confirms my suspicions. It's pretty definitive.
Then I came across this post, which pretty much confirms my suspicions. It's pretty definitive.
13 December 2009
Hole version 2.0
I don't know if you can see it, but there's a brown dot in the middle of the lightest shade of blue on the map. That represents less than two inches of snow cover. Guess where I live? That's right, the least snowiest part of Upstate New York (along with the area around Fort Niagara). It sucks. Warmest part of Upstate New York, least snowy part of Upstate New York... How the hell is it that my wife's family is from here?!?
09 December 2009
Global Warming
"Global Warming! Global Warming! Ahhhhh!"
Admittedly, I believe that global warming is occurring. I also believe that it is, to some unknown extent, affected by human activity. With that said, I am sick and tired of reading about global warming like it's a killer asteroid hurtling at us from space. I am also sick and tired of people blaming every abnormal weather development - be it snow in Texas or warmth in New England - on "Global Warming." It's bloody irritating.
In the past, I've been guilty of blaming "Global Warming" for epically-sucky winter months (see A.D. 2006 December). In addition, I've written about how global warming could affect the climate here in the Finger Lakes region of New York. I think I've written about its potential effects elsewhere, too. However, despite my occasional descents into Chicken Little-type hysteria, most of my writings discuss the potential FUTURE effects of global warming. Why the future? Because most of the weather events that get attributed to global warming - dramatically-warmer-than-average temperatures; snowfall droughts - are simply normal variations in the weather. Global warming is not to blame for these regular ups and downs. Instead, global warming threatens to raise average temperatures over a long period of time. To put it another way, don't blame "Global Warming" for the warmest November on record. Blame global warming for the fact that in fifty years, average temperatures in November will be slightly higher...
Okay, where am I going with all of this? As a few people know, I've been scheming to build the perfect hockey pond for going on a year now. In searching for information on the internet, I came across a web page today that blamed "Global Warming" for the fact that "the few community lakes or ponds that do still exist [in southern Ontario] they [sic] don’t freeze over until the end of January due to global warming." To say that I was beside myself would be an understatement. What an asinine comment!
I live in one of the warmest areas of Upstate New York, which, last I checked, is warmer than ANYWHERE in Ontario. (Yes, even you, Windsor, Hamilton, and London.) Despite "Global Warming," our ponds always manage to freeze over during the winter, providing us with at least three weeks of good skating in all but the most abnormal years. During most winters, there is approximately a week of skating in December, all but a few days in January, and three weeks or more in February. We have skated as late as the third week in March. For anyone to suggest that "Global Warming" is threatening southern Ontario's hockey traditions is ridiculous. To date, global warming has had a minimal impact on skating in southern Ontario and across the northern tier of American states. In the future, global warming may dramatically reduce skating opportunities in these areas, but to say that it has already done so is ridiculous.
To the Chicken Little Canuck who thinks global warming has turned Ontario into Southern Ohio:
Don't be a hoser. Think before you write.
Admittedly, I believe that global warming is occurring. I also believe that it is, to some unknown extent, affected by human activity. With that said, I am sick and tired of reading about global warming like it's a killer asteroid hurtling at us from space. I am also sick and tired of people blaming every abnormal weather development - be it snow in Texas or warmth in New England - on "Global Warming." It's bloody irritating.
In the past, I've been guilty of blaming "Global Warming" for epically-sucky winter months (see A.D. 2006 December). In addition, I've written about how global warming could affect the climate here in the Finger Lakes region of New York. I think I've written about its potential effects elsewhere, too. However, despite my occasional descents into Chicken Little-type hysteria, most of my writings discuss the potential FUTURE effects of global warming. Why the future? Because most of the weather events that get attributed to global warming - dramatically-warmer-than-average temperatures; snowfall droughts - are simply normal variations in the weather. Global warming is not to blame for these regular ups and downs. Instead, global warming threatens to raise average temperatures over a long period of time. To put it another way, don't blame "Global Warming" for the warmest November on record. Blame global warming for the fact that in fifty years, average temperatures in November will be slightly higher...
Okay, where am I going with all of this? As a few people know, I've been scheming to build the perfect hockey pond for going on a year now. In searching for information on the internet, I came across a web page today that blamed "Global Warming" for the fact that "the few community lakes or ponds that do still exist [in southern Ontario] they [sic] don’t freeze over until the end of January due to global warming." To say that I was beside myself would be an understatement. What an asinine comment!
I live in one of the warmest areas of Upstate New York, which, last I checked, is warmer than ANYWHERE in Ontario. (Yes, even you, Windsor, Hamilton, and London.) Despite "Global Warming," our ponds always manage to freeze over during the winter, providing us with at least three weeks of good skating in all but the most abnormal years. During most winters, there is approximately a week of skating in December, all but a few days in January, and three weeks or more in February. We have skated as late as the third week in March. For anyone to suggest that "Global Warming" is threatening southern Ontario's hockey traditions is ridiculous. To date, global warming has had a minimal impact on skating in southern Ontario and across the northern tier of American states. In the future, global warming may dramatically reduce skating opportunities in these areas, but to say that it has already done so is ridiculous.
To the Chicken Little Canuck who thinks global warming has turned Ontario into Southern Ohio:
Don't be a hoser. Think before you write.
14 November 2009
Weather Update
Six of the last eight days had high temperatures at least eight degrees Fahrenheit above normal. The other two had high temperatures that were exactly the historical average. Seven of the next nine days are forecast to have high temperatures at least eight degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Two days are forecast to have high temperatres three degrees above normal.
I know, I know, the weather forecast could change dramatically. However, if the weathermen are anywhere near accurate, we will have thirteen out of seventeen days with high temperatures signficantly (at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, fifteen out of seventeen above average, and 0 out of seventeen below average. November is usually one of my favorite times of year because it is usually the month in which we begin to have regular snowfalls. Not this year. It has snowed for twenty minutes in November, and that didn't accumulate. I know the forecast only goes to November 21, but there is a real possibility that this November could be the first November without snow accumulation since I moved here.
All I know is that one of my favorite times of year is disappointing. I sincerely hope the situation improves.
I know, I know, the weather forecast could change dramatically. However, if the weathermen are anywhere near accurate, we will have thirteen out of seventeen days with high temperatures signficantly (at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, fifteen out of seventeen above average, and 0 out of seventeen below average. November is usually one of my favorite times of year because it is usually the month in which we begin to have regular snowfalls. Not this year. It has snowed for twenty minutes in November, and that didn't accumulate. I know the forecast only goes to November 21, but there is a real possibility that this November could be the first November without snow accumulation since I moved here.
All I know is that one of my favorite times of year is disappointing. I sincerely hope the situation improves.
08 November 2009
Winter Weather Update
For the most part, we've had slightly above average temperatures since the unseasonable cold in mid-October. Today was extremely warm, with high temperatures reaching the mid-60s F. Tomorrow promises to be even warmer, with possible record-high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s F. Despite the warm weather, we did have 20 minutes of intense snowfall last Thursday, A.D. 2009 November 05. One cold day (high temperature of 34 F.) followed before we resumed our above-normal temperatures.
15 October 2009
Snow!
Incredibly, it began snowing this morning! This is the earliest that anyone in my family can remember it snowing in this area (my in-laws have lived her since 1977). Not only is it snowing, it's accumulating! I took the above picture this afternoon about 13 km (8 miles) from my house. At 16:00 it was already accumulating on the hilltops. (The spot in the picture is about 610 m/2000 ft. A.M.S.L.) It started accumulating at my house (about 350 m/1150 ft.) around 19:30. We're expecting about 1 cm tonight - not much, but more than we're used to this time of year!
03 October 2009
First Hard Frost?
Well, we had another frost on A.D. 2009 October 02. This time the temperature was 33 degrees Fahrenheit and somewhere between 50 and 85 percent of the lawn was crunchy from ice. I decided that I would call it a "hard" (killing) frost if the tomatoes were dead when I got home. Well, two of the four lost their tops, and all of them had a little browning at their leaf tips. My wife says that constitutes a killing frost, but I was hoping for something a little more definitive. I'm still thinking about what to call it...
26 September 2009
The time has come...
...to fire up the wood stove. Mom and sister are here from Georgia, and they're complaining that the house is too cold (61 degrees F.). ...So is the wife, for that matter. Tomorrow morning I'll start a fire, making A.D. 2009 September 27 the first fire of the season.
20 September 2009
First Light Frost
The growing season is still going (strong), but it nearly ended this morning. It was 35 degrees Fahrenheit (about 1.6 degrees Celsius) this morning, and there were patches of frost throughout the landscape. Our backyard was particularly frosty after having been mowed yesterday afternoon. I was very pleased to see some ice again (my favorite season is winter), and I look forward to even colder dips in temperature (and the subsequent killing of the pollen-producing weeds that are currently plaguing me) in the near future.
09 September 2009
Wanted:
A place to live and be free. Requirements include a limited government, individual freedoms, gun rights, and the lowest taxes reasonable. Countries led by arrogant Marxists need not respond. In return for a chance to live and be free, you will receive two (2) hard-working rural Americans with graduate educations. Interested parties should leave comments at the end of this post.
A place to live and be free. Requirements include a limited government, individual freedoms, gun rights, and the lowest taxes reasonable. Countries led by arrogant Marxists need not respond. In return for a chance to live and be free, you will receive two (2) hard-working rural Americans with graduate educations. Interested parties should leave comments at the end of this post.
01 September 2009
Autumn is here! (at least temporarily)
Wow! Autumn came in like a rocket! Sunday, August 30 was chilly by late August standards with a high temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit. The following day was also autumn-like, with sun and a high temperature of only 63 degrees Fahrenheit. This morning was the coldest since May with a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius). Awesome stuff!
23 August 2009
Browning Hi-Power
While in Pennsylvania over the weekend, I went to a wonderful gun shop and was able to handle a Browning Hi-Power for the first time.
(I have NEVER seen a Hi-Power for sale at any of my local gun shops, and have been told that they're almost impossible to get. That must not be true elsewhere, because I saw half a dozen new and used models at two gun shops in PA.)
In any case, I had pretty much narrowed my pistol interests to 1911s and the Hi-Power. I LOVE 1911s, and I hope to always have a few around. The Hi-Power is the only other pistol in which I'm seriously interested, so I was eager to check one out.
After getting over the excitement of actually coming across a Hi-Power, I asked the attendant to pick it up and...
...it didn't feel right. The grip was too thick. The blowback would take a bite out of my fleshy hands. Having had such high hopes for the Hi-Power, I was disappointed. I really had hoped that it would be a nice complement to the 1911. Unfortunately, that was not going to be the case. Right then and there I came to the conclusion that the 1911 is "my" gun. It would've been nice to find another handgun to love, but I'm a one pistol man.
(I have NEVER seen a Hi-Power for sale at any of my local gun shops, and have been told that they're almost impossible to get. That must not be true elsewhere, because I saw half a dozen new and used models at two gun shops in PA.)
In any case, I had pretty much narrowed my pistol interests to 1911s and the Hi-Power. I LOVE 1911s, and I hope to always have a few around. The Hi-Power is the only other pistol in which I'm seriously interested, so I was eager to check one out.
After getting over the excitement of actually coming across a Hi-Power, I asked the attendant to pick it up and...
...it didn't feel right. The grip was too thick. The blowback would take a bite out of my fleshy hands. Having had such high hopes for the Hi-Power, I was disappointed. I really had hoped that it would be a nice complement to the 1911. Unfortunately, that was not going to be the case. Right then and there I came to the conclusion that the 1911 is "my" gun. It would've been nice to find another handgun to love, but I'm a one pistol man.
A few thoughts on Pennsylvania
I was in Pennsylvania the past couple of days for a family reunion. This trip, there were a few things that struck me about Pennsylvania:
1. Once you get off of the unglaciated sections of the Allegheny Plateau, both the physical and cultural geography change considerably.
2. The differences between the governments of New York and Pennsylvania are evident in the prevalence of billboards, poor road quality, and hideous sprawling development that is so common in Pennsylvania.
3. While Pennsylvania's government has created some less-than-ideal situations, it has also created some positive ones: gasoline was less expensive, sales taxes were lower, firearms and ammunition were readily available, and there fewer general restrictions on behavior.
My conflicting feelings about Pennsylvania illustrate perfectly the conflict that exists in my political and philosophical beliefs. I strongly promote the rights of individuals above the interests of the community; I adhere to Ayn Rand's notion that "[t]he smallest minority on earth is the individual," and that "[t]hose who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." At the same time, I strongly support the protection of agricultural and undeveloped lands from residential and industrial development. For years I have tried to reconcile my beliefs, but I don't know if I'll ever succeed in doing so. I am, for the most part, a libertarian. However, supporting restrictions on private property is about the least-libertarian thing you can do.
I'd like to hear from others who may struggle with this same issue. Is there anyone out there who believes in a VERY limited government, but also seeks to protect the countryside from randomly-placed businesses and McMansions? Drop me a line to let me know how you reconcile your conflicts.
1. Once you get off of the unglaciated sections of the Allegheny Plateau, both the physical and cultural geography change considerably.
2. The differences between the governments of New York and Pennsylvania are evident in the prevalence of billboards, poor road quality, and hideous sprawling development that is so common in Pennsylvania.
3. While Pennsylvania's government has created some less-than-ideal situations, it has also created some positive ones: gasoline was less expensive, sales taxes were lower, firearms and ammunition were readily available, and there fewer general restrictions on behavior.
My conflicting feelings about Pennsylvania illustrate perfectly the conflict that exists in my political and philosophical beliefs. I strongly promote the rights of individuals above the interests of the community; I adhere to Ayn Rand's notion that "[t]he smallest minority on earth is the individual," and that "[t]hose who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." At the same time, I strongly support the protection of agricultural and undeveloped lands from residential and industrial development. For years I have tried to reconcile my beliefs, but I don't know if I'll ever succeed in doing so. I am, for the most part, a libertarian. However, supporting restrictions on private property is about the least-libertarian thing you can do.
I'd like to hear from others who may struggle with this same issue. Is there anyone out there who believes in a VERY limited government, but also seeks to protect the countryside from randomly-placed businesses and McMansions? Drop me a line to let me know how you reconcile your conflicts.
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