After a career in public service, I regretfully say, I would not do it again. Philosophy and point of view led me to doing good instead of doing well, so I never expected to become rich. But now that I’m in my 10th year of a frozen judicial salary — less than summer students are […]

This lengthy New York Times article, looking at why many European nations (Italy, Germany to name a couple) have alarmingly low birthrates, might shed a little more light on population loss in Upstate New York. The factor that is most examined is why young people are leaving the area (and presumably having babies elsewhere, […]

Wild Bee Swarms Spur Hope of Rebound
What did I tell you? That’s where they all went — they’re in basic swarming at Fort Killer Bee in Merchantville, New Jersey. Wow, I totally called this.
As the late George Carlin predicted, “Everyone’s dead, and the trees are humming.”
Updated: Strike Force Alpha has already been […]

Dear IT Staff:
Why do you come around every summer and pull the rug out from under me? Suddenly, without warning, you appear and tell me my perfectly good computer has to be replaced, or that everyone’s got to “migrate” somewhere else. Last year, you took away the e-mail program I liked, and replaced […]

New York City is all abuzz with the latest giant public art installation, “The New York City Waterfalls.” These cost a whopping $15 million to create. From what I can tell in the comments at the NYT, the local peanut gallery is not very impressed. Having just spent a few weekends exploring […]

The Dow went down 350 points today. They’re callin’ it the worst June since the Depression!
Wal… shoot!

Anyone get the feeling that the props are being knocked out from under the decaying old manse? I’m talking about Empire — the Empire State, that is. Bruno’s retirement was surprising, but also not. The old structures are falling, with nothing to replace them. The Ithaca Journal, in its editorial on […]

Joe Bruno won’t be dying with his boots on: he’s not running for re-election. A post at TAP notes that it’s unclear if Bruno will even serve out his term.
I wish I could work up excitement over it all, but I mainly got into this state-political-blogging business in hopes of […]

For some people, a signpost of time’s passage is the death of a politician or a movie star, perhaps because they grew up in a time when politicians and movie stars mattered. For my generation, the signposts may be the passing of TV and standup comedians. Recently we lost Harvey Korman, and now […]

Frugal Upstate on a core concept of frugality: playing the hand you were dealt.
Everyone’s favorite punching bag, Richard Florida, gets a closer listen at CNY Ecoblog. (I wonder what Florida thinks about playing the hand you were dealt…) Quote:
Florida’s contributions to urban planning and economic geography are undeniable, but some of his ideas […]