Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
I was hearing on the radio that the second amendment is not applicable today with the overwhelming force of the US military. While this is true with against any individual or small group, the US military would be ineffective against any mass resistance using guerilla tactics.
Imagine the scenario that the federal government invaded New York City with the army. The state and city could respond by giving either official or implied immunity to those those who fought against the federal government. This could empower and encourage ordinary citizens to engage in gorilla tactics against the US Army with immunity from state prosecution.
The population numbers suggest serious problems for the invading US Army if there was significant civic resistance to the Army invasion. If one in 10 of the city’s population engaged in a gorilla tactics against the military – fire bombing army trucks, cutting brake lines or even improvised explosive devices – could be extremely costly to the US Army in both lives and equipment loses. Remember, 10 percent of the city’s population is 750,000 bigger than the America’s standing army at 470,000 persons and even if you called in the reserves of 190,000 your still talking one New York City resident against one soldiers.
Not to mention that citizens resistance against the federal invaders would be supplemented by local law enforcement and the state’s national guard and state police which have extensive military experience and a much better knowledge of the city then the defense department has. Other blue state national guards and law enforcement would come to the state’s defense.
So it is true that individuals are not particularly powerful but together they are a strong force. Guerilla warfare might be a far off possibility – most likely New York City and the federal government would resolve their concerns in the US Supreme Court or other democratic institutions but don’t think individuals, joined outside of official government channels couldn’t be incredibly different.
I often think Memorial Day is one of the most tragic holidays, as it’s one that honors the war dead, young men and women killed by the folly of our leaders.
Most war could be ended if our leaders had more of a calm demeanor, more of an ability to listen and to bridge differences through discussion and negotiations rather than violence.
World-wide the planet is making progress at ending war but its happening at much too slow of a pace. Fewer people are dying in modern times from war but its still not obsolete yet. But it should be as war and violence is totally unnecessary in modern times.
On Friday I went into the office rather than work from home with it being a cold and rainy day. I realize some days are going to be that way, but still it’s tough to be stuck at home in my relatively small apartment with not a lot of places to get up and stretch my legs. From a cleaning and maintenance perspective my apartment is too big, and indeed when I own my off-grid property I think I would want something smaller.
As a raw number, 500 square feet sounds big but it’s just 5 foot by 10 ft, in one direction too small for me to lay down. 750 ft is bigger than that, 7.5 ft by 10 ft but hardly expansive space. Even 1,000 ft is considered a tiny house by modern standards. But small is nice as it means less space to clean, less space to heat, and less room for clutter. If it can’t fit inside, it can fit in the burn barrel, the compost heap, the dead pit, the scrap metal pile or the landfill. There is just too much stuff in this world and industry is always pushing more on us.
If I had my way, I’d probably have a single room cabin which by definition is easy to clean, heat and maintain with no internal walls. Just room for a bed, a propane range and and oven, small refrigerator, woodstove, small wooden table and maybe my old rocking chair. A gun rack on the wall, a place for the solar batteries and maybe a dresser. And nothing more. A chest freezer for meat I’ve harvested is best stored outside in a shed with electric fence. Don’t need anything more. I’d rather do my business in a outhouse or external building incinerator privy with quick on propane heater, and likewise the same for showering. Keep the moisture and smells outdoors.
Space for stuff isn’t the issue. It’s space for stretching my legs on particularly cold and wet days that are inevitable in the woods. Wet days in the truck camper as claustrophobic, as the screen tent or under a tarp. I just like to have space to walk around indoors. Even my apartment seems too small to be cooped up all day. Maybe I’m just spoiled by downtown office hooked up to the Empire State Plaza and the half mile plus of tunnels. But I guess on a homestead there is always animals to feed and wood to split even on a rainy day.
While I get there is a lot of profit to be made by the media by covering sad looking victims, juxtaposed against strong military men dressed up as police officers in armor, the truth is such coverage is terribly unhealthy for society. Enhanced corporate profits and creation of additional patronage jobs in local police departments is not a public good, instead it’s harmful. While the television stations may love all the automobiles and laundry soap the are selling on backs of victims, and police departments love being flush with cash to buy fun-looking toys and weapons – along with the ability to hire their high-school drop out uncle billy to their force – it’s so incredibly harmful to society.
What’s the alternative? I don’t know, I always worry about the government getting too much into the censorship business. If government tells newspapers and televisions that they can’t glorify murder and violence on their airwaves, the next step is the politicians cracking down on negative reporting about themselves. A ban of glorifying violence could easily be used to prosecute those who report on corruption or publicly support positions other then the official state party line. Likewise, restrictions on police and authorities talking to the media could foster corruption, as any law that limits disclosure by the police allows government corruption to flourish.
I don’t know what the answer is. Maybe more disclosure and easier opt-outs could be a partial solution. For example, many television sets have the ability to block violent content if so rated. Certain news stories could be blocked out unless people requested such content. Likewise, parental controls could be added to web browsers to provide a similar form of blocking. Such blocking could be seamless – rather then blanking out screens, alternative content also able to sell advertising could be part of the answer. Likewise, disclaimer requirements could be imposed on the media – for example if they are going to promote mass-shootings on airwaves, they’d be required to provide information on mental health hotlines, and actively encourage people who are thinking of engaging in violent activities to seek help. Local police departments, who are flush with cash from existing the excessive taxation placed on individuals and businesses, could fund such mental health programs, so they are free to those interested in participating.
You know, I continue to really enjoy grapefruit. Maybe because I know it’s a special treat, denied to many Americans, especially older ones on statins. It’s something that I can have and enjoy when others can not have it. It’s not just a way to brag, but also a goal to maintain good health so once can continue to enjoy it unlike so many others. The fruit is tangy and not as sweet as oranges, it is a bit bitter – a taste that too often is missing from our diets these days.
As a child, the idea of liking Grapefruit seems hard on the imagination. I remember tasting it as a child, thinking this awful bitter and why would anybody want to eat it. Of course with all the health benefits of this red citrus fruit, and it’s rich variety of flavor notes including that often missing bitterness, it’s hard to imagine having to give it up. My parents always used to get a big box of it and enjoy it every morning until it molded up and the rest of it either out in compost pile or to the chickens.
Honestly, though I just used to think of grapefruit as something gross that adults, especially my grandmother from Florida ate. Something best mixed in with the chicken manure and compost, not something that you actually would pay for to at the store. But how times change as one gets older. Maybe I’m just becoming the person my parents were before they had to give it up! Just thinking that makes me feel so old!
Black flies — there really is only one solution to them: don’t be hanging out until they are gone for the night. That means waiting for darkness to come over the land. Then the party can get started.
Black flies aren’t out all night. So that’s the best time to up and own doing things. Like cooking dinner, drinking beer, and hanging out by the campfire. There is nothing wrong with staying up all night during black fly season, because the days really aren’t that wonderful, if you don’t like getting eaten alive.
Granted, in the darkness, you are somewhat restricted in what you can do. But bring a flashlight, and hell, maybe a bunch of Christmas lights, party lights, and big bright 100-watt equivalent florescent lights, and pretend it’s day light. It’s also cooler, and generally much nicer in then in the day time.
During black fly season, the whole purpose of the day is to be sleeping, and recovering from the hang overs of the previous night.
