Day: October 19, 2023

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Why I take exception to labeling people or groups as “evil” 👹

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Evil is a very problematic word in my mind. When you call a person or group as “evil” you dehumanize them. The concept of evil makes it acceptable to abuse and denegrate the people or group you have labeled as “evil”. If something is evil, then that’s a justification to attack it no matter the costs.

A lot of good people get swept up in label of evil.

Downtown Syracuse Traffic Counts

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With talk of removing the Interstate 81 viaduct through downtown Syracuse, I thought it would be interesting to see how much traffic goes through the city.

Shots – Health News : NPR

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More than one serving of red meat a day may drive up the risk of Type 2 diabetes : Shots – Health News : NPR

People who routinely eat a lot of red meat may be increasing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. Processed meats, like bacon and hot dogs, are linked to an even higher risk.

Researchers tracked the eating habits of more than 200,000 people enrolled in long-term health studies for up to 36 years and found that those who regularly consumed a lot of red meat — more than a serving per day — had a significantly higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Experts say soggy summer to blame for washed out colors of fall foliage

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Experts say soggy summer to blame for washed out colors of fall foliage

Even though many spots in our region are now at or approaching peak fall foliage, this year’s display isn’t as vibrant as many of us are used to.

The bright yellows, rich oranges and vibrant reds have largely been replaced by muddy yellows, pale reds and some leaves are just turning brown and falling off.

While there are many factors that influence fall foliage, UVM Forestry Professor Alexandra Kosiba says this year’s soggy summer likely played a big role. The wet, cloudy days reduce a tree’s capacity for photosynthesis in the summer which impacts the sugar reserves in the leaves going into the fall. She says the wet summer also created prime conditions for a fungus called anthracnose.

“So if you look at the leaves, they have brown spots on them. They might be kind of crinkled, dropping early, and that’s just because the leaves were wet for a lot of the season, and that’s a great breeding ground for leaf fungi, and if you walk in the woods, you’ll see a lot of mushrooms. It’s the same idea,” Kosiba said.

Autumn leaf discoloration – MSU Extension

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Autumn leaf discoloration – MSU Extension

As the summer gradually moves into the fall season, the leaves of many tree species will prematurely turn brown. A variety of leaf fungi are especially common when associated with cooler and moister conditions. Different fungi are associated with different tree species. Few of these leaf fungi present a health threat to individual trees or forests.

Trees began physiologically preparing for the winter season in early August. They’ve been vigorously photosynthesizing for months. Leaf and flower buds are set for 2018. Flowers and fruits are mostly done for the year. Carbohydrate reserves have been translocated to root systems and other storage areas. The shorter daylight hours will drive the color change. The early leaf-changers have already begun their color season.

It’s common to see browning leaves that present little or no health threat to trees. A number of Anthracnose species will cause the leaves of oaks, maples and other tree species to turn brown. Areas of leaves will turn brown, usually in the lower part of the crown where the air is more humid. This can be particularly common with golf courses and manicured landscapes that utilize watering systems.