One of the stupidest things Iโve read in a while is an article in Sunday New York Times, that floated the idea of bailing out various oil companies who a struggling once again with a glut of oil as the global economy softens and foreign nations are suddenly less interested in importing US-extracted oil and gas due to the Trump Administrationโs tariff policy. The article primes the public to be ready for taxpayers to bail out the oil companies, so they donโt go broke and abandon their wells, lest that lead to shortage of oil and gas in coming years.
But thatโs pure insanity. We should be getting away from oil and gas, itโs the heroin that powers modern society. Quitting the habit is going to painful, but distributed generation with renewables is a much more stable and sustainable way to power society. Will it require changes and some pain? Absolutely, but we are smart creatures, and weโve already overcome many of the limitations of renewable energy โ the variability in production, the difficulty in storage and distribution. Is the technology perfect today, without limitations? Absolutely not, but if we never try, then weโll never get where we need to go.
Itโs stupid to bury our head into legacy technology. Typewriter and horse and buggy manufacturers had to go out of business, when computers and automobiles came to be. These new technologies laid to lay-offs and they required new skills and new ways of doing things. But they were so obviously superior, even if they did come with certain limitations. Itโs just stupid to think we should be powering Artificial Intelligence and next-generation cities with coal.
Itโs raining, itโs pouring, the old man is snoring. That said, they are much too gleeful about that line in song on this ever so wet Monday. Maybe because itโs a Monday, and rain is a good thing, so things will green up and not burn well except for those things we want to burn. Fuck the liberals and the Trumpster.
Up early this morning, busing it in with the rain. I might catch the early express downtown so I can walk laps on the Plaza in the morning before work. I figure with the rain I wonโt be able to ride in or even walk around the neighborhood without getting wet, so itโs best to plan to do it inside. Carrot pancakes with blueberries and bananas, sleep pretty well though I did wake up pretty early but I was asleep before 8 PM last night. Early in the morning, a whole bunch of pollen came in with breeze and it stunk briefly. I donโt have allegeries, as I spent so much time hanging out in barn and in woods as a kid but it was pungent briefly. Not too achy from the rain, so thatโs good. In a decent mood too, and my goal is not to fuck too many things up at work this week. No pushing mystery buttons on software programs like last week. It all worked out fine, once I apologized to deputy head programmer and explained I actually didnโt need that report printed.
Yesterday was fine, I got out to Five Rivers, did some reading and visited the folks. Emptied out the slop bucket full of compost, washed my clothes. Tacos at the folks house. Came home and got my winter clothes put away and my summer clothes out, though I really need to go through the stuff in the attic and get rid of some of the worn out clothes and stuff that donโt fit โ either the clothing recycling dumpster or donate the stuff that is in good shape. I also went through the box of stuff I hauled out of my old office last year and some of my old files, and pulled out the paper an old records that I plan to recycle into carbon dioxide that next time I have a fire. Maybe this weekend.
That said, next weekend is looking increasingly crappy, especially Friday night but weโll see. Might still want to do a hike in Catskills then camp overnight somewhere. I donโt have to be back any time in particular on Sunday, so I can have a full day of adventure then. Nature Bus starts up on Memorial Day Weekend, so every other weekend Iโll have the option of spending the day at Thacher Park for free, assuming that I donโ t break shit on my bike riding trail up there.
Good morning, May the Forth Be With You. Not owning a television Iโve never gotten into Star Wars but I know Speaker Heastie is big into that. Iโm out at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center for a ride and a bit of a walk before the rain. Going to be a wet few days so best to get out when I can. Iโll probably do some walking next week in the Empire Plaza before and after work.
It was nice exploring the Pine Hollow Arboretum last night. Itโs such a hidden jewel in the suburbs and unlike later in the summer not terribly buggy. Those magnolia trees were spectacular yesterday. Spring has definitely arrived and with the mild temperatures and rain even the mountains should green up soon. Rain most of the first half of the week but itโs expected to improve come next weekend.
Iโm really thinking about hiking next weekend in the Catskills but I also kind of want to camp two nights. So many different options it would seem. Gas is cheap and summer is not long but I do have to deal with black flies. Rennselaerville is always an option as is Burnt Rossman. I donโt know, Iโm not sure if the Forest Service roads in Vermont are open yet. Could still turn to rain by next week. Sunday is Motherโs Day and Mom is going to dinner that day with Dad so Iโll have all weekend to do whatever I want. And absolutely no idea what to do on Memorial Day Weekend.
The life I really enjoy is up in the wilderness. Not in a place with other people and houses nearby but instead in the wilderness โ much like where I often camp on the dirt roads up in the state and national forests. Out of eye shot and ear shot of anyone else.
The thing is there really is few places like that anywhere within commuting distance to Albany. It seems like ever house and property I look at has neighbors just down the road. Zillow keeps suggesting more properties in the city and suburbs. I guess thatโs where most people live. But itโs not for me.
I do want that cabin in the woods, in the mountains up a dirt road. And maybe that has to wait until Iโm closer to retirement. I guess it could be a weekend residence but I really want a place closer to work where I can call my everyday home. A place made of natural materials where I can live more sustainably and independently on my own. Off grid, simple as possible.