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.
Lately I’ve been quite interested in vegan cooking mostly because its often rich in fiber, vitamins and protein without the saturated fats, especially the Omega-6s which are so problematic from a health perspective.
But gets werid so quickly as it’s not just a way of cooking but also in many cases a doctrine as most vegans have ideological reasons against eating all meat and dairy, and to a lesser extent fish. Vegans don’t necessarily oppose processed foods or excessive salt and sugar. Yet, I do appreciate their creativity at cooking and how much different than the unhealthy crap so many Americans eat these days and a great way to introduce yourself to new foods.
The internet advertisers have discovered my interest in vegan cooking and I’m now getting served up a steady series of advertising for ultra processed vegan food, which is basically the standard unhealthy American fare loaded with sugar and salt and made to look like traditional foods. Probably with half the taste and even more unhealthy then traditional American fare due to processing to make crap ingredients taste like meat and dairy.
I’m not a believer in orthodoxy, my diet included. Even some bacon in moderation is a good thing. But it should be a treat, not an every day or even every week thing. Just like it used to be back in the day of the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich before it became an unhealthy kitchen stable mostly due to the push of the hog farmers.
I just shared some articles about the March for Science. It’s an interesting movement, one I’m decidedly on the fence about participating, especially should I end up staying in town this weekend.
Science has an important role in society for sure – without it I wouldn’t be typing this blog post into a $40 Smartphone or sharing it on the web. Basic research, funded by the American government is essential for moving society forward. Everybody should accept facts based on the scientific method but realize that facts alone can not justify any public policy.
Science is good at quantifying specific actions, it can illuminate the likely outcomes of public policy. It can give us estimates of deaths caused by a specific action or predict lives saved. But science can not place a value on human freedom or choice, it can often not quantify the things that make us happy as humans. Science can never tell us what’s right or wrong.
I worry about people using science to create self evident truths. I am fine with accepting facts but facts must always be put in context and our society’s values considered in the bigger picture. Just because science suggests a particular bad outcome to a public policy, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.
We should fund public science and make sure that the knowledge gained by science is widely distributed. But we should also expect scientists to be non-political, abide by the Hatch Act, and provide nothing but the facts. Scientists who choose to include context to their research should always try to provide the widest context possible and present opposing views.
It’s important as a society to invest in science and use science to weight the pros and cons of public policy.
Climate change is a serious crisis. We’ve waited too long to take action, and as result to make the changes recommended by scientists, it’s going to threaten both democracy and environment. The truth is an expedited action means cutting corners, emboldening bureaucrats, fostering corruption and damaging the environment through poorly reviewed and thought out projects.
That said, is it worthwhile to take climate action? Of course, we should. But we should be cautious, take reasonable steps after thoughtful review. Science has to be based on reality, not a projection of world we want to live on. We should take steps to reduce climate change emissions that are protective of environment and not harmful. It’s better to be slow and cautious, and if we don’t meet emissions targets, we don’t meet them. It’s better to save democracy and our environment, then meet a set emissions target.
While it is possible to convert electricity into other forms of energy like chemical or physical energy, your not actually storing electricity – your storing another form of energy that can be converted back to electricity. ⚡
Capacitors do store small amounts of electricity temporarily but inductors actually convert electricity to magnetism temporarily so they don’t count. So some of the rules of electricity don’t always apply.
One of the most entertaining parts of voir dire at jury duty is the way some people either try to get on or off the jury. Retires and blue collar union and state folks like jury duty.
While juror numbers are picked at random there many things a potential juror can say to be instantly disqualified and many ways to explain away potential disqualifiers.
My number was never called but I spent two days listening to people’s excuses and figuring out the best disqualifications – usually showing knowledge about the case’s subject matter, personal emotional experiences, and suggesting that your blatantly prejudicial towards one side.
On the other side, there was folks who had a way to explain away anything. Those folks who were determined to get on the jury usually did. Apparently if people express and interest and profess a view that they are non-biased get on, despite mitigating factors.
If you haven’t served on a jury (actually served, not just called) within 6 years , you can request to serve on a jury by calling the commissioner of jurors. Some seniors do this — because if your called in and even if you don’t serve, you can get $40-80 for the time you sit waiting to be interviewed.
The scriptures define it that way, it doesn’t matter if calendar spring is on March 19, 20, 21 or 22nd.
The earliest Easter can occur is March 22 if the full moon is March 22, which means Good Friday is on March 20th.
The latest Easter can occur is April 25th.
In 1943, the first full moon after March 21st was Tuesday April 20th which put Easter on April 25. That’s because the March full moon was on March 21st and the scripture says the full moon must be after March 21. This will happen again in 2038.
