One of the SuperDuty trucks I'm looking at is like this but with the 6.8 gasser - but the XL Off Road package which gives you the bigger 33" mud tires on small steel wheels, skid plates, off-road shocks and breather tubes for up to 30 inches of water. I like how it's basic, almost stripper truck, inexpensive to replace halogen lights, but you get the 8 foot bed with the extended cab. They're not that plentiful at dealerships though, so I'm not sure if I can get a good price and most of ones have Minizilla 6.8 rather then the Godzilla 7.3, which I don't need the power for towing but I would prefer the greater reliability of the bigger engine.
This has been a concern for some time. But it’s also hard to unlink sugar free sweeteners from the primary persons who are most likely to consume them.
Diabetics are at a much higher risk of heart attack, as are those who have a diet heavy in processed foods due to salt (raises blood pressure by causing more water in blood) and saturated fats (narrows arteries).
Like so many ingredients widely used in processed foods, the biggest risk with erythritol may be what the health claims mask – as it’s “crutch” in an otherwise unheathy diet with too much refined carbohydrates, refined sugars, salt, and saturated fats.
A lot of science opposing artificial sweeteners is put out by those with known links or sympathies with American sugar growers (sugar beat growers in the midwest and sugar cane growers in the south). Erythritol and other sugar alcohols also can make people quite gassy and upset stomachs, which is an entirely different issue.
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.
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.
