John Boyd Thacher State Park, is situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations in the world. Even as it safeguards six miles of limestone cliff-face, rock-strewn slopes, woodland and open fields, the park provides a marvelous panorama of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. The park has volleyball courts, playgrounds, ball fields and numerous picnic areas with nine reservable shelters. Interpretive programs are offered year-round, including guided tours of the famous Indian Ladder Trail. There are over 25 additional miles of trails for summer hiking and mountain biking, and winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and snowmobiling.
That’s an interesting question as it really depends on how you define blue states.
If you define a blue state as one won by Biden in 2020 then yes by far.
If you define a red state as one won by Trump in 2016 then red states have lead the nation in population and have been growing in percentage of the US population since 1970.
However, if you define a red state as one won by Trump in 2016 and 2020 and a blue state as one won by Clinton and Biden in 2016 and 2020, then in 2022 for the the first time since 1943 more American live in red states then blue states.
And let’s say you define a purple state as any won by a a combination Democrat and Republican presidential candidates since 2000, then more Americans have lived in purple states then blue states, starting in 2019, the first time that’s happened since 1917.
I’ve done my research and made peace with what I’m going to spend for either a good quality used or new bicycle preferably from the local shop. Like anything it’s a big purchase and it might get broken, stolen or destroyed two days after purchase and there is depreciation but it’s worth it for a good reliable ride to get me around town potentially for years to come. I’m so much thinner and more responsible then in my twenties.
Good morning! Mostly sunny ☀ and 64 degrees in Delmar, NY. Calm wind. The dew point is 59 degrees. The air quality remains poor from the wildfire smoke with an AQI around 155 and visual haze around.
Out for the morning walk a bit late 🚶 and then I will shower 🚿 and the head to the bicycle store. 🚲 I’m really hopeful that I can find something that will work for me and provide years of reliable service now that I’m in my forties. Then I want to drop the used worn out clothing 👚 in the recycling ♻ dumpster, go to the Farmers Market for fresh tomatoes 🍅 then over to Rennselear County for sparklers 🎇 and fireworks for next week camping ⛺. Then get groceries.🛒 A busy day indeed.
Today will have widespread haze from the wildfire smoke. Mostly sunny ☀, with a high of 87 degrees at 4pm. Four degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 66 at 12pm. Light south wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. It was somewhat humid. The high last year was 95 degrees. The record high of 99 was set in 1913.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:00 pm with sun having an altitude of 70.5° from the due south horizon (-0.3° vs. 6/21). The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:55 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (296°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (303°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:38 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 27 seconds with dusk around 9:11 pm, which is 7 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the south-southeast (148°) at an altitude of 13° from the horizon, 231,656 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:58 pm. At sunset, look for mostly cloudy skies ☁ and temperatures around 78 degrees. The dew point will be 64 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 9 mph. Today will have 15 hours and 18 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 38 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Widespread haze before 9pm. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 64 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 64 at 6pm. South wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies. It became sticky as the night progressed. It got down to 62 degrees. The record low of 40 occurred back in 1978.
On this day in 1963, ZIP codes are introduced for United States mail. If you get a zip code wrong, the best thing that can happen is you have a very scornful postal clerk, and the worst thing that can happen is your mail isn’t delivered. ✉ Don’t ask me how I know. Always double check zip codes. Also in 1968, the UAW becomes a seperate entity from AFL-CIO over policy disputes. 🚘 The UAW would rejoin the AFL-CIO 13 years later in 1981.
Looking ahead, there are 2 weeks until Cow Appreciation Day 🐂 when the sun will be setting at 8:33 pm with dusk at 9:05 pm. On that day in 2022, we had mostly sunny and temperatures between 86 and 57 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 84 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1997.
After almost getting stuck on the elevator again on Monday all week I’ve been taking the stairs. 18 floors up and down twice a day. I never knew it was an option, I always had this idea in my head that we weren’t allowed to use the stairs from the lobby though I’ve seen other people use them but never from my floor except going between the 17th and 18th floors.
Probably because 18 floors is a long ways up. That said, being of good physical fitness it really isn’t bad, especially after doing it a few times – twice a day since Monday for a total of ten times in both directions. The stairs take about four minutes to climb compared to probably a minute or so on the elevator depending on the delay. I do admit the stairs make you hit sweaty and I might start to keep deodorant in my office and probably won’t do the up on session days when I’m in my suit and tie.
Who knows what will stop me from doing the stairs but I’m notconvinced I’m breaking any rules but what is a in my head, as my ID card works. I would think they would actually want people to choose the healthy option. Maybe my ankle will give out or it’s extremely hot out or I’m running very late but for now I’m going to try to make as many days long run as possible doing the stairs. And if I have to temporarily break the run, go back to the stairs as soon as possible.
Probably by tomorrow or the day after the air pollution will move on, my eyes and throat will stop burning. At least for a while. The hell of it is we are electrifying things and switching to renewables which will clean the air about the time climate change is polluting the air.
Good morning! Where did June go? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, or at least is lost in the smoke. I’m getting used to the sore throat when I go outside. It’s kind of like after a hard night drinking and smoking back in the day minus the hang over. Haze and smoke 🌫 and 60 degrees in Delmar, NY. Calm wind. The dew point is 59 degrees. The air quality index is 114, unhealthy for sensitive individuals due to Cannuks burning their forests. I’m sure the Trumpster would say that.
Lately I’ve been starting my morning with a hard boiled egg 🥚 and a cup of black coffee ☕ before my morning walk 🚶. I appreciating the power of protein in eggs to get me going in the morning. 11 ½ miles walked yesterday. 36 floors climbed up and down. I’m really getting to prefer the stairs to the elevator at work. I got to bed 🛏 before nine o’clock last night and got a good night’s sleep and feel great. After the morning walk it’s pancakes 🥞 and strawberries, the pancakes made out of bananas 🍌, whole grain oatmeal and water run through the food processor. It’s good.
You’d think you’d need flour and sugar to make good pancakes 🥞 but truth be told, since I’ve been milling the whole grain oatmeal and bananas into a slurry in the food processor to make pancake mix I can’t imagine going back as it’s so much better tasting and filling. I’ve been thinking 💭 maybe I can tweak the recipe adding raisins and possibly honey 🍯 for more stickiness to make oatmeal raisin cookies in the oven minus all unhealthy crap. 🍪
Today will be widespread haze. Patchy dense fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny 🌇, with a high of 86 degrees at 3pm. Three degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 65 at 10am. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the morning. It would be hotter if not for the smoke. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 85 degrees. The record high of 98 was set in 1964.
Yesterday I was noticing how thin I actually look when wearing clothes at actually for myself. 🍏 It’s actually amazing what eating good food plus a little exercise can do. I wonder if I’m actually a healthy weight but I don’t know, I don’t own a scale. Now just to figure out the bicycle 🚲 thing and start riding to work, saving bus fares 🚍 and getting more exercise doing what is otherwise wasted time on the bus.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:00 pm with sun having an altitude of 70.6° from the due south horizon (-0.3° vs. 6/21). The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:55 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (296°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (303°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:38 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 27 seconds with dusk around 9:11 pm, which is 6 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the south-southeast (160°) at an altitude of 20° from the horizon, 234,231 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:58 pm. At sunset, look for partly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 80 degrees. The dew point will be 63 degrees. There will be a south-southeast breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 15 hours and 19 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 35 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌃, with a low of 62 degrees at 6am. One degree above normal. Maximum dew point of 63 at 8pm. South wind around 7 mph. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies. It became humid as the night progressed. It got down to 68 degrees. The record low of 45 occurred back in 1978.
On this day in 1971, Ohio ratifies the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, reducing the voting age to 18, thereby putting the amendment into effect. Also in 1934, 🗳 The Night of the Long Knives, Adolf Hitler’s violent purge of his political rivals in Germany, takes place. Fortunately, we only have obnoxious rhetoric to that impact in our country today. 🗡 That said, I like my big knifes for chopping vegetables. 🥕
Tomorrow will have a slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny ☀ 👉 🌦, with a high of 85 degrees at 3pm. Two degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 64 at 10am. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 95 degrees. The record high of 99 was set in 1913.
Tomorrow’s goals are quite simple but important steps forward. 🥅 It is to first and foremost either get a bicycle 🚲 or at least have one ordered and paid for at a bicycle store either new or preferably used. Something good and reliable. Drop off my worn out clothes and boots 👢 for recycling ♻. Get sparklers 🎇 and ground fireworks either in Greene or Rennselear County. Go grocery shopping 🛒 for a few supplies. Decide if I want to go out to Schoharie for camping 🏕 Saturday evening through independence Day. 🇺🇸
Looking ahead to Sunday, a chance of showers before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, 🌥 with a high near 80. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Maximum dew point of 69 at 1pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 83 degrees.
Frankly, Sunday doesn’t look great. 🌦️ I am inclined to stay in town, maybe get some books at the library 📚 as I’m not crazy about the books I have remaining tonight. But WRGB keeps swearing this weekend won’t be a wash out 📺 but based on statistical analysis of Nate Silver 🔢 I’m not sure I believe television metrologist over the National Weather Service. But I will keep Schoharie County in my back pocket, for a potential trip with Monday spent fishing 🎣 and swimming at Mine Kill Pool and camping at Burnt Rossman State Forest, hitting up farm stands 🍓 on Saturday afternoon.
For Monday a chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%. 🌦️ Doesn’t sound wonderful. And Independence Day, 🎇 hot and very humid with a chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. ☀ Dewpoints pushing seventy. Sticky. 😰 Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Maybe independence Day I’ll head to an undisclosed location with a flashlight 🔦 to watch July 4th fireworks. 🎇 And then save the sparklers 🌟 and ground fireworks I get for the following weekend potentially for a trip to the Potholers spent floating on the tube ⭕. Assuming it’s hot and sunny. Or a future 🔮 July weekend. I’m planning the last two weekends of July at Finger Lakes National Forest where fireworks are mostly prohibited so I don’t think I’ll bring many there. I actually kind of want sweet corn 🌽 to be out first so I can enjoy that with clams 🦪 at the Potholers though.
Looking forward, there are 2 weeks until National Nude Day 👱 when the sun will be setting at 8:33 pm with dusk at 9:06 pm. What can I say, skinny dipping is fun especially after dark in an Adirondack swimming 🏊 hole. On that day in 2022, we had partly cloudy and temperatures between 85 and 65 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 84 degrees. We hit a record high of 99 back in 1995.
I tell you those are fighting words. The guy warns he lost a lot of weight only to put it back on. And asks how much I’ve lost. Truth is I don’t know, I don’t have a scale and only have a vague idea from my online medical records. I’ve been focused on nutrition and eating healthy whole foods not counting calories or limiting portions and walking.
Good morning! Happy Smokey Thursday. Mostly cloudy and 60 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁ There is a west breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 58 degrees. The air quality index has fallen to 83 due to wildfire smoke, it’s worse out in Western NY and expected to decline through the day. The skies will clear around 10 am. I guess it depends on the smoke.
Black beans are cooking down on the stove this morning 🍲 for some good cool lunches and dinners in the coming days. They’re great with some good chopped red onions 🧅 and maybe peppers 🫑🌶️. Especially with warmer weather ahead and I’m getting tired or the rice, peas and lentils even if I’m mixing them up with other ingredients. Cooking now, I plan to have them for lunch.
Today will be partly sunny 🌞, with a high of 81 degrees at 6pm. Assuming we can see the sun through the smoke. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 23rd. Maximum dew point of 62 at 11am. Northwest wind around 6 mph. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The high last year was 85 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 1944.
Walked 🚶 11 ¼ miles yesterday including doing the stairs to the 18th floor both ways at work twice. It’s great cardio and avoids the risk of getting trapped in the elevator again. I’m not really afraid 😨 of elevators, I’m sure if I got stuck they’d send a technician quickly. I just like feeling good.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:59 pm with sun having an altitude of 70.6° from the due south horizon (-0.2° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.1 foot shadow today at solar noon. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:55 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (296°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (303°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:38 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 27 seconds with dusk around 9:12 pm, which is 3 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Gibbous 🌔 Moon in the south (172°) at an altitude of 26° from the horizon, 237,068 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:58 pm. At sunset, look for partly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 76 degrees. The dew point will be 63 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Today will have 15 hours and 20 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 31 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌃 , with a low of 59 degrees at 6am. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around June 22nd. Maximum dew point of 63 at 8pm. Light and variable wind. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies. It got down to 56 degrees. The record low of 47 occurred back in 1938.
On this day in 2006, in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld the U.S. Supreme Court rules that President George W. Bush’s plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in military tribunals violates U.S. and international law. ⚖ Seems like ancient history now.
Hasthe Independence Day weekend improved? 🌥 Still looks fairly cloudy with potential smoke and air quality issues. Saturday, a chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 66 at 12pm. Sunday, a chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Maximum dew point of 69 at 12pm. Monday, a chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Independence Day, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Typical average high for the weekend is 83 degrees.
Some models seem more positive for the weekend, 😀 and I will decide on Friday night if I am going to head out of town. I probably won’t leave until mid-day Saturday if I decide to head out of town as I want to look at bicycles. 🚲 I might have something to do the following weekend, and this is a four day weekend, 🏕 plus I want to get sparklers, so this would be a good weekend to get out of town. 🎆
Looking ahead, there are 3 weeks until Ugly Truck Day 🚚 when the sun will be setting at 8:29 pm with dusk at 9:01 pm. On that day in 2022, we had hot, humid, mostly sunny, thunderstorm and temperatures between 97 and 72 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 84 degrees. We hit a record high of 97 back in 1991.
