A Yale Professor’s Investment Formula Says You Need More Stocks. See How It Works. – WSJ
Might be a while before I can ride on bike trial to work …
Based on current trail reports and the upcoming weather forecast for Albany, you can expect the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail to remain snow-covered or icy through late February, with a likelihood of being mostly clear by mid-to-late March 2026.
Current Trail Status (As of February 20, 2026)
- Conditions: The trail is currently in a “frozen” state with a mix of snow and ice.
- Maintenance: Albany County does not plow or salt the rail trail during the winter. This means snow removal relies entirely on natural melting, which is often slowed by shaded sections and the trail’s asphalt surface that can trap ice.
Short-Term Forecast (Next 7 Days)
The immediate forecast includes several “mix” events that will likely prevent the trail from clearing soon:
- Snow/Rain Mix: Light snow and rain are expected from February 20–22, which will likely lead to slushy or icy conditions rather than a clean melt.
- Temperatures: Highs will hover near or just above freezing (32°F to 40°F), which is enough to cause some melting during the day but will lead to refreezing at night, creating dangerous “black ice” patches.
When Will It Be Clear?
- Typical Timeline: Historically, the trail transitions to being “mostly clear” (at least 75% dry) in late March.
- Shady Areas: Sections of the trail between Delmar and Voorheesville that are heavily shaded by trees often retain ice and snow weeks after sunny sections have melted.
- Spring Outlook: Long-range forecasts for April and May 2026 suggest warmer and drier-than-normal conditions, which should lead to a relatively quick final melt once spring temperatures settle in.
Large banner of Trump unfurled at Justice Department headquarters
A banner featuring a photo of Donald Trump and the words “Make America Safe Again” was hung from the Justice Department’s headquarters in Washington on Thursday in one of the most public signs of the president’s influence over a department that once brought criminal charges against him.
Trump Says Shutdown Cost U.S. ‘At Least Two Points’ In GDP
President Trump said the record-long government shutdown in the fall had a sizable effect on gross domestic product, and repeated his call for lower interest rates.
"Democrat Shutdown cost the U.S.A. at least two points in GDP. That’s why they are doing it, in mini form, again. No Shutdowns!" he posted on his Truth Social platform.
Data due this morning is expected to show fourth-quarter GDP rose by 2.5% at an annualized rate, according to economists polled by The Wall Street Journal—almost two percentage points lower than the 4.4% rate recorded in the previous quarter.
Don’t you know March is coming when the auto dealers advertise blowing it out of your anus 💩
I don’t own one of those colored televisions but I am pretty sure that’s how they advertise it. I could make the appointment for Monday to make sure the SuperDuties I’m interested but that first week of March is probably better with my schedule, and then I’ll know March Madness incentives after the Pickup Truck Month incentives, or whatever bullshit of the month is that doesn’t actually matter as what does is the size of check you cut, the two not necessarily related despite what they commercials claim.
Happy Friday, it’s going to snow today or more likely slop as it will be too warm for snow to stick but they’ll put 10 tons of salt on every lane mile today to ensure your car trusts away and the roads are safe after drinking five beers at the bar tonight. ❄️ I think it will be wet for riding in, so I’ll be taking the yokel local bus to work, which of course stops every five feet and goes all of 0.0003 miles per hour on road. Get yelled at by the homeless bums and apparently DMV-worker rapists at the Plaza 👣 after I get my steps in at the Plaza. But just think if you had a 20-year old Honda Civic how different it could be? I am just glad it’s warming up so I can use less heat, though since I’ve been plugging my electric blanket into the kilowatt meter, I’m realizing how much power that truly draws – something like 1 kWH every three nights – which is real money these days with electric bills. 🔌 Okay, maybe not SuperDuty money, 💰 but yeah. But just think of all the money you could be spend on heating, if you owned your very own house with weekly garbage pickup and cable television and high-speed internet in every room. That makes my mind hurt, while I look at the price tags 🏷️ for those ginormous trucks. Did I mention the garbage pickup comes with a “free” included plastic recycling bin and you can feel green 💚 with grid-tied solar panels on your roof.
Truth is I am putting off test driving a truck, 🛻 because I don’t want to fall under the stealer’s spell after climbing up in the ginormous truck, and I want to make it through the process while avoiding the sales man’s questioning 🙋, noting that everything you say to the dealer will be used against you. You do have the right to remain silent, 😶 of course, the cops and their steealerships would rather you don’t. But I think it’s important I at least look up closely at the truck, and take a test drive before laying down an insane amount of cash for up to 15 years of problems and insanity due to my extreme mental illness. 💣 I still want to make the deal go down by the end of March, as by then the salt should be mostly off the roads, and I want time to order a camper shell for the rig. I also need to figure out what I’m going to insure it with, right now it’s a bit hard to calculate insurance rates online without actually having a make and model and VIN number to provide, though I guess I could use one from the dealer website and pad it with zeros and ones, to put it through, or call insurance companies.
Other then that, it’s just looks like another cold and sloppy weekend. 🌧️ Probably just mostly stay home, but I may need to run to the store for a few things, though right now I think my pantry is fairly good shape, 🐮 though I will need milk for coffee tomorrow. Other then that, whatever, it’s winter and it’s creeping away week by week. I still want that bike trail free of snow but I don’t think the melt down will progress quickly with the current forecast, but it’s only going to get warmer. The weekend after this weekend is March 1st, so I’ll want to study the Ford Manufacturer’s Incentives on Sunday, so I know about them when I go to test drive on March 2nd, assuming the weather is okay though March 3rd also isn’t a session day, so that could be a good day too. 🏢 And maybe by then my mental illness will be more in control, and I’ll just be fine with a 20-year old Honda, or maybe I don’t need a automobile living in city. That said, I know the test drive is mostly pro-forma, not necessarily a requirement as I am pretty sure I know what I want and it has 34-gallon fuel tank. ⛽ Now if they could send gas price prices spiraling by bombing Iran, so I could use that negotiation point. 😂
So yeah, one more weekend and then it’s crunch time on the truck. ⌛ I mean I don’t have to buy the truck in March but I kind of want to as I think I’ll get a better deal while inventories are good before the spring rush. Good ol’ month when the shit spreaders are back out in the field, when Madison County and Schoharie smells well like money in the springtime. Cows poop and make hay which makes more poop. 🐮 And some delicious milk and beef 🥩 on the side. I doubt I’ll do any camping before I have camper shell 🏕️ but who knows if there is a nice weekend I can load shit in the bed and try out the new truck. I should get in the shower, 🚿 and I’ll probably catch the earlier bus and shuttle 🚀 to the Enterprise. Have a good day, and remember it won’t be long before it’s time to hit up your favorite trout holes. 🎣
In coda…
Goddamn, well, I declare
Have you seen the like
Their walls are built of cannonballs
Their motto is “Don’t Tread on Me”
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
One of the areas I’m interested in exploring in Michigan this summer once I get the SuperDuty truck and camper shell set up. I asked Google AI for some highlights on the area which I am sharing on my blog this evening.
The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is a 3,450-acre federally protected wilderness on the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan, located between Ludington and Manistee. It is the only designated wilderness area in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and is famous for its 4,000-year-old sand dunes that rise up to 140 feet.
Hiking Trails
The wilderness features approximately 15 miles of trails that are minimally marked and can be challenging to navigate without a GPS or map.
- Nordhouse Dunes Loop (5.7 miles): A moderate trail that is highly rated for its mix of forest and lakeshore views. It typically takes 2–2.5 hours to complete.
- Nordhouse Dunes Extended Backpacking Loop (14.2 miles): The longest trail in the area, popular for overnight trips. Large sections are unmarked and require route-finding skills.
- Algoma Ridge, Middle, and Nipissing Trail Loop (4.5 miles): A moderate route through wooded areas leading to a wide sandy beach.
- Arrowhead Trail: Located adjacent to the Lake Michigan Recreation Area, this trail is better marked than those deeper in the wilderness.
Things to Do
- Backpacking: One of the most popular activities, offering a rustic experience where you pack in all gear and camp along the bluffs.
- Beach & Swimming: Visitors can swim in the clear waters of Lake Michigan or lounge on the undeveloped shoreline.
- Nature Study & Wildlife: The area is a nesting site for the endangered Piping Plover and is home to deer, fox, coyote, and porcupine. It also contains the world’s largest area of freshwater interdunal ponds.
- Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the area offers exceptional views of the night sky, often compared to dark sky preserves.
Dispersed Camping Nearby
Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the wilderness area and in several nearby national forest locations.
- Wilderness Dispersed Camping: You can camp anywhere in the 3,450-acre wilderness as long as you follow strict regulations:
- Distance: Campsites must be at least 400 feet from Lake Michigan and 200 feet from Nordhouse Lake and marked trails.
- Fires: No campfires are allowed on the beach or dunes; they must be kept back in the tree line.
- Group Size: Limited to a maximum of 10 people.
- Green Road Dispersed Camping: Located just outside the wilderness in the Manistee National Forest, Green Road offers numerous free pull-off sites accessible by 2WD vehicles (though 4WD is recommended for deeper spots).
- Lake Michigan Recreation Area: For those preferring facilities, this adjacent campground offers 99 rustic sites with flush toilets, fire rings, and water for a fee (approx. $27-$40/night).
Essential Information
- Fees: A $5 per day recreation fee is required to park at the Nurnberg Road or Lake Michigan Recreation Area trailheads.
- Water: There are no water sources in the wilderness; you must carry in all your drinking water.
- Connectivity: There is little to no cell service in the area.
- Pets: Allowed on-leash in the wilderness and on the beach.