Come out come out wherever you are

Remember way back in 2010 when a HUGE deal was made about census participation? Results may seem dubious, but methods seriously suspect.

NYC? Despite setting a record for its population, the Big Apple feels under counted. So New York.

Nationally, the neon sign outside check-in blazes VACANCY at (mostly secondary) homes all over this land. Overall, 13% of US homes are vacant, with the states of Vermont (20.5%), Florida (17.5%), Arizona (16.3%) and Alaska (15.9%) propping up that average.

Crushingly for TCD, Maine lead all states with a vacancy rate of 22.8%. However, that figure is misleading, as are many in the final results. The census lumps together second/summer/ski/beach homes with all others, including homes that have been sold but not occupied, empty homes for sale or rent, and homes used by migrant workers. Basically, anything other than a primary residence is considered vacant and thus counted in the same way, regardless of the difference between a foreclosed property and one that simply isn't someone's permanent residence.

When the second home phenomenon is adjusted for, Maine is reasonably on par with the least vacant state (Connecticut at 6.1%) at 7% vacancy. The left tail is comprised of California, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia and Washington, all at 9.2% or lower.

Interesting article on it all here. And if you think Maine has it bad, check out the story from a little place called Asssssspen.

Cougars no more

Not those kind of Cougs. The real ones. Eastern, to be specific. Wednesday was a sad day for anyone who even remotely associates themselves with anything badass. The US Fish and Wildlife Service declared the most badass animal of modern memory, the Eastern Cougar, officially extinct. While this has long been expected among wildlife enthusiasts, the confirmation means that the largest member of the cat family once found East of the Mississippi is off the Endangered Species list and onto the officially no long with us list. Read more about it here.

USFW officials determined that the few sightings made East of the Mississippi River since 1990 have been of escaped or released Cougars, and that not a single wild breeding pair exists on the right side of the Mighty Mississippi. In the chart below courtesy of the Eastern Cougar Network (bet they filed for that domain name early on), blue dots mean confirmed sightings beyond a reasonable doubt, red are probable sightings and yellow represents unconfirmed sightings. Suspicious Michigonians. The green swath in Florida represents Florida Panther populations, an animal not officially a member of the Cougar family. RIP, big cat.

The best description of Glenn Beck I've ever read

“It’s like someone found a manic, doom-prophesying hobo in a sandwich board, shaved him, shot him full of Zoloft and gave him a show.”

- The Buffalo Beast