I often find myself frustrated 😤 about all the things I can’t control in this world

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I often find myself frustrated 😤 about all the things I can’t control in this world

But in many ways I realize that I am blessed. I have a lot to look forward to, step by step I’m closing in on my goals. I live the life that live today, mostly by my own choice. I could do other things but I’m out there chasing the mighty buck, saving and investing for a better tomorrow.

While there is a lot happening locally that I do not agree with, I don’t have to stay forever, I don’t own land or a lot of material things I’d have to haul away. Truth be told, a lot of my stuff is old and worn and probably not worth much to me at all.

There are those out there that want to take a stand, be heard, post their thoughts all over social media, attend protests, write the newspaper editor and run for office. They will attend every community service day, town meeting and public hearing. But that ain’t me.

It’s not that I don’t feel the emotional gut reaction seeing what is happening. It’s not that I don’t have my own views on it all. But I don’t post about it on social media and if I say anything at all its on my blog where I have complete control of the context and any comments posted.

I do have a lot of reason for hope. I am well aware that there are many other communities out there with people who share my values. Places where conservation and morality have more meaning, where people live off and close to the land rather than consuming eco friendly styrofoam to fill their recycling bin while bragging about reducing their carbon footprint.

Really my focus now is work and making and saving money. While I’m always broke and the markets are down, it’s by my own choice. I’m pulling the long hours, making good money at work. By the standards of where I come from, really good money which I’m investing. Inflation is tough though – what was good ten years ago isn’t nearly as much today. But by consuming less, I’m saving more for tomorrow when I can own my own land in a freerer state.

At the same time I’m continuing to learn and educate myself. Getting nimble with R, Census Bureau data and other government data along with GIS and mapping is such a big part of my life these days. I think it’s a valuable skill, something I can use long into the future beyond my career today and my life here in New York State. I’m learning so much and I can see many ways I can put this into use in the future.

Special Master ADP

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Special Master State Senate Districts with 2018 ADP

The 2018 ADP shown in the lower right is calculated by 2018 Gov, US Senate, Attorney General, Comptroller, Congress (where D&R candidates), NY Senate (where D&R) and NY Assembly (where D&R). 

Special Master Congressional Districts with 2018 ADP

The 2018 ADP shown in the lower right is calculated by 2018 Gov, US Senate, Attorney General, Comptroller, Congress (where D&R candidates), NY Senate (where D&R) and NY Assembly (where D&R).

30 Zip Codes with the Fewest People Per Square Mile 📨

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30 Zip Codes with the Fewest People Per Square Mile 📨

1HamiltonHoffmeister 13353
2HamiltonPiseco 12139
3St. LawrenceChildwold 12922
4HamiltonLong Lake 12847
5EssexNorth Hudson 12855
6HamiltonRaquette Lake 13436
7HerkimerEagle Bay 13331
8UlsterClaryville 12725
9HamiltonInlet 13360
10St. LawrenceCranberry Lake 12927
11HamiltonBlue Mountain Lake 12812
12HamiltonLake Pleasant 12108
13St. LawrenceSouth Colton 13687
14EssexNewcomb 12852
15WarrenNorth River 12856
16EssexSaint Huberts 12943
17EssexMinerva 12851
18GreeneWest Kill 12492
19HerkimerOld Forge 13420
20OswegoRedfield 13437
21HamiltonIndian Lake 12842
22FranklinOwls Head 12969
23EssexNew Russia 12964
24OneidaForestport 13338
25HamiltonWells 12190
26FranklinSaint Regis Falls 12980
27St. LawrenceParishville 13672
28LewisGlenfield 13312
29St. LawrenceOswegatchie 13670
30St. LawrenceDegrasse 13684

Bird Flu Discovered in Wild Turkeys for First Time Ever | MeatEater Hunting

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Bird Flu Discovered in Wild Turkeys for First Time Ever | MeatEater Hunting

Wildlife managers across the country are wondering what’s next after a deadly strain of bird flu was discovered in wild turkey flocks for the first time ever.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza” (HPAI), caused by a virus known as H5N1, has been sweeping the continent since it first hit Canadian shores back in December 2021. From there, the virus made its way into a large commercial turkey operation in southern Indiana.

Since arriving stateside, HPAI case numbers have continued to balloon, and now, the U.S. is in the midst of its biggest outbreak of avian influenza to date.

The last big outbreak spanned the winter of 2014 and persisted until June of 2015, when temperatures in more northerly parts of the country finally warmed enough to stop the cold-adapted virus. Like the outbreak of 2014 to 2015, the current bird flu strain came to North America from China via migratory bird movement.

While the latest strain of HPAI is killing domestic birds by the tens of millions, it’s the toll that the outbreak is taking on wild birds, and wild turkeys in particular, that’s turning heads in the hunting and conservation communities.

The Great Replacement

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The Great Replacement

I’ve been thinking a lot about the theory of the Great Replacement that has been in the news a lot lately. The theory basically suggests that’s Democrats are encouraging a lot of immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, to move in an effort to tilt elections in their favor. But immigrants are hardly a monolithic voting block – as they come from all over the world with different political cultures.

Immigrants often are incredibly hard working, as often they come from places where life is more difficult then the life in laid-back America. As such, many immigrants go into business, and many business people are conservative, if not right-wing reactionaries. Many immigrants are fleeing socialist countries and dictatorships, and the last thing they want is an overbearing government to greet them in America. Most immigrants, while retaining their unique cultures, also want to integrate as quickly as possible into American culture. By a generation, few immigrants are much different then generations who have lived here for many generations.

I have my doubts that Republican Party is in much danger of becoming a long-term minority party. Republicans control 28 governorship’s in America, including 23 states where Republicans control all branches of government. The Supreme Court has an increasingly conservative majority, adjudicating laws in ways that favor more restrictions on abortion and less restrictions on gun ownership. With people unhappy with inflation and the COVID, the Democrats who control the White House and Congress are likely to get to voted out. Congress may be fully in Republican hands come 2023. In a few years, things will likely pivot back and forth again.

If anything, politics is healthy in America. Parties are and remain very competitive. New voices are always good, as are new perspectives, but I don’t think we should fear drastic change, as our country is diverse, and power is spread out. Immigrants aren’t a unified group, and they add perspectives but do not detract from our values as Americans.