I often think New York State is bad with its war on conservation by the yuppie suburbanites and then I watch the shit going down in colorful Colorado.
Observation
Helldiver at Dusk
He sees his shadow
What is it, will rates change, and what economists think the risks are, explained – Vox
There’s a smallish but growing chorus of economists and policymakers sounding the alarm about inflation. They warn that a combination of government stimulus and the impending economic snapback will cause prices to overheat. A lot of regular people might be confused by this. After all, the country is still in the middle of the Covid-19 outbreak, the economy is far from back to normal, and we’re still millions of jobs short from where we were pre-pandemic. Many economists and lawmakers have spent months arguing that the risk is doing too little, not too much, to save the economy. Some say a little bit of inflation may be a good thing, especially given how low it’s been in the recent past.
At one level I'm a bit worried about inflation, as external economic disruptions can cause inflation but also America is in a much different place than in the late 1960s. There is no new Interstate system being built now, no major urban renewal projects or college campuses being built. No Vietnam War today.
On the other hand, oil and natural gas production fell dramatically during the pandemic, and suddenly the highways are once again packed bumper to bumper with fuel hungry cars and businesses are once again firing up their lights and cranking up the air conditioning. A significant spike in oil prices into the $200 plus range could certainly spark inflation in some parts of the economy, as could a spike in natural gas prices as the power plants has become very addicted to gas.
New York Lawmakers Finalize Cannabis Legalization Deal
New York state lawmakers on Saturday night put the finishing touches on a deal to legalize cannabis products for those 21 and older while allowing adults to maintain up to three mature marijuana plants in their home per person.?
Still thinking about bicycles and cars 🚲.
Still thinking about bicycles and cars 🚲.
I still often think about going car less for a few years and fixing up a good reliable bicycle to get around town. I often think it would be a great way to save money and get to know my community better and become healthier. The thing with owning a car is there is always a temptation to drive further than necessary, as much of the cost of motoring is sunk whether or not the car is parked or your on the go constantly.
I’ve long preferred to walk or take the bus around town. For a while I was big into bicycling until my bike kept breaking. In recent years when I camp I often will park, and stay at the same site for multiple days, instead preferring walks and activities close to camp, where I can get to know the land better, have less set up and take down and be more relaxed. I kind of like being a homebody more and more.
While I like traveling to the Adirondacks for weekends in the wilderness, the motoring habit is unhealthy both to my body and my finances. I am super attracted to the idea of saving an extra $100,000 or more if I gave up motoring for ten years. That extra money would boost my savings and get me closer to my off grid dream. It would reduce a lot of stress in my life and make me happier. But I don’t know, there is a lot of opportunity costs in giving up motoring – namely potential trips to the wilderness – but also real benefits to my stress that and sanity.