Category Archives: General

Apr 06 5 comments
General, Real Estate

The town tax assessor came ’round the other day

I feel like I’ve been robbed.  You know how real estate prices have been dropping, the bubble has burst, etc.  Apparently the tax assessor missed that memo, our value went up by nearly $30K.    Frankly, I’d like to see the rational for it.

If it is the solar systems, then they are supposed to be tax exempt for ten years, according to this New York State real property law.  So, I suppose it is time to mosey on down to the town hall and see the tax assessor, find out were all that value has come from.  Honestly, the outside of our house looks the same way it has for the last 3 years.  I have done very little to make it look better or even good, for that matter.

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Feb 15 1 comments
General

The Miracle on Ice was 30 years ago

I was a teenager in upstate NY.  The 1980 Winter Olympics were taking place in Lake Placid, NY.  Not exactly next door to my house, but much closer than most large world events.  The cold war was really in full swing, Carter was in office, the Hostages were still in Iran.  Eric Heiden seemed like superman.  The US Hockey team was doing better than expected in the round-robin play and made it into the metal round.  They pulled of a stunning upset of the Czech team, then considered to be the second best team behind the Soviets.

The Soviets where the world’s preminent hockey team.  The US team was a bunch of college kids and amateurs and where not expected to win.  As the New York Times Opined:

Unless the ice melts, or unless the United States team or another team performs a miracle, as did the American squad in1960, the Russians are expected to easily win the Olympic gold medal for the sixth time in the last seven tournaments.

ABC decided to tape delay the afternoon game and broadcast it in prime time.  I remember the Albany TV newscasters could barely contain themselves during the 6 O’clock news.  And so we dutifully tuned in and watch the US team hold it’s own through almost three periods of play.  It was not the blow out that everyone had predicted.  With 10 minutes left in the game, the US scored the go ahead goal.  The next ten minutes were the most tense ten minutes of my life.  Each Soviet shot on goal was agony, for almost ten minutes all of the staking was on the US side of the ice.  Then, Al Michaels called the final eleven seconds of the game:

Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? YES!

Pandemonium!

Since then, I have watched the Olympics from time to time, but I have been disappointed with the comercialization of the entire proceeding.  I have not been enthralled with the games, nor that much with the athletes.  Yet, the other night I watched the short track speed staking and was excited to see the S. Koreans wipe each other out and Apollo Ono take the silver.  Perhaps, just perhaps there is something to watch after all.

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Feb 10 2 comments
General

Pictures of snow…

Must resist temptation to publish pictures of snow… Must Resist Temptation to Publish Pictures of Snow…

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Oct 29 3 comments
General

Things to ponder

I think Congressmen should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could identify their corporate sponsors.

Or have term limits.

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Oct 13 3 comments
General

Walkway over the Hudson pictures

From last Sunday, October 11, 2009.  I though for sure that there would be a good amount of color along the Husdon River, however, likely due to the micro climate induced by the warmer river water, the trees were mostly green.  Around the Casa De Catskill, everything is bright orange or yellow.

Anyway, here are a few pictures from our walk:

Entrance to the pedestrian bridge from the Highland side

Entrance to the pedestrian bridge from the Highland side

We all have our eyes closed

We all have our eyes closed

Western shore of the Hudson River north of bridge

Western shore of the Hudson River north of bridge

shadow bridge good look at steel support structure

shadow bridge, good look at steel support structure

shadow bridge on the water with sky relected below

shadow bridge on the water with sky relected below

Looking south about mid river at the Mid Hudson bridge

Looking south about mid river at the Mid Hudson bridge

walkway over the hudson little guy looking north

We went out to the half way point and turned around because Eliza was tired and hungry, at one point laying down and insisting that she could not continue one step further until she has something to eat.  The poor dear.

I am very glad we got there a little early, as when we were leaving there was a traffic jam of people looking for parking spots.

This Saturday, October 17th, the bridge/state park is being named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, which is quite the thing.  The leaves along the Hudson should be peaking soon, so if you are planning the trip, better make it soon.

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