The holiday sucidie nyth
Many people think that there is a spike in sucidies during the holiday seasons but that’s actually not true. Winter months actually have the fewest sucidies of the year – sucidies are most common during the summer months between May and August, a fact you can confirm on the CDC Wonder death database. More people are depressed in the winter but there are significantly fewer suicides.
People think that’s odd. But the Skeptics Guide to the Universe was discussing it over the weekend – depressed people rarely kill themselves as they lack the energy to do so. But bipolar depressed people in their maniac stages are much more likely to be violent to themselves or others.
If you look at the numbers, the times when homicides spike is the same time sucidies spike – in the warm summer months. Many researchers think that homicide and suicide is closely related – areas with high homicide rates have low suicide rates and vise versa.
That suggests cities should stop looking at homicide as a criminal justice and policing problem see homicide as what it really is – a mental health issue. It makes a lot of sense to shift money from police departments to more mental health counseling in cities – it would save lives and a lot of taxpayer dollars.
https://wonder.cdc.gov/
I keep thinking about taking a week to winter camp in the Finger Lakes in two or three weeks ⛺
I keep thinking about taking a week to winter camp in the Finger Lakes in two or three weeks ⛺
It’s kind of a crazy idea but it certainly wouldn’t have been the first time I’ve camped in the Finger Lakes during the winter – or for that matter in December or January.
Nights are long, the woods is cold. That’s a granted. But the propane heater is warm and with sufficient blankets I should have no problem staying warm in the tent. Often the woods is pretty around dusk as is the low sun angle. There may be opportunities to ski and enjoy the snow covered back country.
I have the time I can take off from work. I’m otherwise going to loose the time at the end of the year. The winter solitude and quiet would be nice. I am not opposed to the darkness. But the weather can be terribly variable this time of year and it can be snowy and icy. And gas is expensive as is food and the ever necessary propane.
It would be nice to get away, far from the tiny walls of my cold apartment in the city with its electric stove. Where I could have a fire every night, have a warm dinner in a paper plate then retire to the tent early and sit by the heater before killing it for the night and snuggling under the covers. Get away from the fake cheer of Christmas, the selling and the marketing.
Boquet River
Turned out to be a nice afternoon
All weekend seemed so cloudy and gray, kind of cold and December like. But this afternoon walking out to Five Rivers turned out to be pretty nice. Some loud and obnoxious children but also quite a bit of wildlife.
Taken on Sunday December 5, 2021 at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.Data visulations
Data visulations
I continue to be quite fascinated in new ways to look at and present data. There are so many great tools out there, so many interesting things to learn about – and the tools are only getting better.
Putnam Farm
No, this isn't George Pataki's farm.
Taken on Friday December 22, 2006 at Putnam.