February 5, 2025 | Andy Arthur.org

I left the office right at 5 PM or maybe even a minute before 5, and I realized if I pushed it I would have enough light left in the evening to be to the top of the bike trail and on the suburban streets by dusk. Technically you not supposed to ride the bike trail after dusk, but I doubt they’d chase you off it much before 6 PM this time of year. Oops, I didn’t realize how fast it was getting dark, but who is going to be patrolling an ice-covered bike trail after dark in 20 degree weather. There was still light by the time I got to the suburban roads, and switched the bike light on. I am just psyched that now I can ride back and forth to work, weather depending of course, not having to deal with traffic or bus, a trip full of nirvana. Yes, it’s good to ride in but you get the real exercise climbing out of the gorge at the end of the day. The ice slowed me down but it wasn’t that slick and by the evening commute it really didn’t take much longer then it would have taken with the bike path free of ice and snow. Some parts are already free of snow and ice. I have been so manic lately and anything to burn off some energy the better.

Did my usual Wednesday newsletter to coordinators and other staff at work about the various things I’m working on Data Services. Sometimes I wonder if it’s more of annoyance then anything, but I like to share with people the things I’m working on and developing, in hope that the resources are useful. I have so many different projects I’m working on and I want to get people more engauged with data and doing things efficently rather then the old ways of doing things which I always thought were clunky back when I was a coordinator. I do worry i’m oversharing – maybe I shouldn’t have dropped the full voter file on server for everybody at the agency to use as needed but I thought it would be helpful. I am so excited but at times filled with such self-doubt. I do miss working face-to-face with the old team, and I just don’t want to be forgotten if though i oversee an agency that does important but often dull data work. But I see the power of data and can see it as potentially being more — much more.

You know, I often get tired of reading the same old posts about about seed oils, artificial colorings, PFAS and other supposedly quite dangerous chemicals that are destroying human health. There is a lot of focus on micro-harms, without equal acceptance that what is actually harmful is macro-harms — you know the hundred pounds of fats and sugars you eat over the year, the hundreds of cigarettes you smoked in past year or the lack of steps and exercise over the year.

I often point out days don’t really matter. Weeks slightly more, but years and especially decades are far more important. I think people like to point to short term events and acute hazards because it’s makes excuses for more systematic and more problematic behavior. It’s a lot easier to avoid seed oils and Teflon pans then to eat whole fruits and vegatables, and only eat meat sparingly, especially in contemporary society. It’s easy to stimgimize smokers and acts the others do, then take responsibility for own every day choices.

Day: February 5, 2025

Clear Day at Thatcher Park

West Branch Delaware River

Albany County Watersheds NAIP Imagery

Felt so good to ride my bike home tonight

Nearest New York City

North Albany

Toxic chemicals or toxic minds