I see pies in my future, I just have to get up the motivation to bare the heat and pick some before the birds get them.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Cherries
I see pies in my future, I just have to get up the motivation to bare the heat and pick some before the birds get them.
Planting Pictures VIII: Heat Stroke
Tori was doing well this morning, but when I came home I found that every leaf had wilted due to the heat. Immediately I snapped into action and rushed to research on the internet to find the best method to proceed. I watered Tori with a half gallon of water which largely flowed through the bucket and watered the area under the deck... but with in 2 hours she perked up and seemed to be in a stable condition. I (with D's help) moved Tori to a new spot on the deck where she will stop getting sun around 3. I will also water her tomorrow morning in an attempt to stave off some kind of plant heat stroke.
Steve and Jeff are doing well, with Steve (as always) the healthiest.
The largest plant turned out to have a far different leaf structure then catnip so it was culled. The rest remain nervously ambigious enough to avoid execution.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Iran
[Reprinted from a letter dated 6.15.2009]
I am sure you have seen the news.
There is such a disconnection between what actually happens in the world and what we see on TV. I suppose with the creation of the internet and the rise of “social media” that gap begins to close, but I still feel that even though I have been reading about the civil disorder in Iran for days; I know nothing. I have seen pictures, and that helps. But some of them seem selected for publication (as we know they are) and contain pictures of beautiful people in western clothing fighting against the dehumanized police forces, nameless behind their polarized helmets. It’s not that I think the photos are staged or some such nonsense, it is just that all information that we get is filtered through some content middle manager somewhere (whether a blog, or traditional print media) who obviously selects the most palatable pictures. I think some of the grittiness is lost, the fear, and with those a touch of reality.
The videos that are shot from cell phone cameras and merely uploaded to you-tube probably offer the best chance to understand the severity of the situation. One of the videos show a series of motorcycle cops charging into a crowd. As the video starts, there is only a widescreen shot of a street that is packed with people. Then, as if by magic, the crowd begins to part, people find space where once was none. A series of motorcycles in a v formation cut into the crowd, each loaded with two officers one driving and the other hitting people with a baton. The video ends there, but eventually through a series of pictures one can see a motorbike on fire and a captured police man pulled to safety by members in the crowd.
I talked to C R about this. I wondered about the amount of courage needed by both sides: first the crowd to stand up to a rather despotic government and second the officers to charge a seemingly solid wall of people. She noted that some governments have been noted to give soldiers or riot control troops drugs to make them more effective. According to her it happened in China during the Tiananmen Square protest. Normally, I am skeptical to such notions, but it did remind me of a conversation I had with someone who had survived the Yugoslav war.
I remember, when I was so much younger, during the Balkan conflict most of what I heard was very clean and censored. Some people were causing genocide and war and NATO forces were eventually dispatched to the region to retain some modicum of stability in the area.
I had a friend who had lived through the crisis, and she looked like she was 45 even though she was only twenty or so. One day I had asked her what had happened. What she said through broken English was literally incomprehensible. Murder. Rape. Crazy soldiers on drugs. The lack of understanding didn’t come from a language barrier, but came from the way that she strung together such a series of brutal words that, even though I could understand the grammatical structure and the individual definition of each word, I could not possibly comprehend what had happened.
I did what any normal seventeen year-old would do when confronted with something that he doesn’t understand. I dismissed the whole thing.
I suppose that the most chilling thing about this is discovering how brutal people can be, and how unbelievable it is to people who spend their lives is very comfortable, uninteresting times.
I am sure you have seen the news.
There is such a disconnection between what actually happens in the world and what we see on TV. I suppose with the creation of the internet and the rise of “social media” that gap begins to close, but I still feel that even though I have been reading about the civil disorder in Iran for days; I know nothing. I have seen pictures, and that helps. But some of them seem selected for publication (as we know they are) and contain pictures of beautiful people in western clothing fighting against the dehumanized police forces, nameless behind their polarized helmets. It’s not that I think the photos are staged or some such nonsense, it is just that all information that we get is filtered through some content middle manager somewhere (whether a blog, or traditional print media) who obviously selects the most palatable pictures. I think some of the grittiness is lost, the fear, and with those a touch of reality.
The videos that are shot from cell phone cameras and merely uploaded to you-tube probably offer the best chance to understand the severity of the situation. One of the videos show a series of motorcycle cops charging into a crowd. As the video starts, there is only a widescreen shot of a street that is packed with people. Then, as if by magic, the crowd begins to part, people find space where once was none. A series of motorcycles in a v formation cut into the crowd, each loaded with two officers one driving and the other hitting people with a baton. The video ends there, but eventually through a series of pictures one can see a motorbike on fire and a captured police man pulled to safety by members in the crowd.
I talked to C R about this. I wondered about the amount of courage needed by both sides: first the crowd to stand up to a rather despotic government and second the officers to charge a seemingly solid wall of people. She noted that some governments have been noted to give soldiers or riot control troops drugs to make them more effective. According to her it happened in China during the Tiananmen Square protest. Normally, I am skeptical to such notions, but it did remind me of a conversation I had with someone who had survived the Yugoslav war.
I remember, when I was so much younger, during the Balkan conflict most of what I heard was very clean and censored. Some people were causing genocide and war and NATO forces were eventually dispatched to the region to retain some modicum of stability in the area.
I had a friend who had lived through the crisis, and she looked like she was 45 even though she was only twenty or so. One day I had asked her what had happened. What she said through broken English was literally incomprehensible. Murder. Rape. Crazy soldiers on drugs. The lack of understanding didn’t come from a language barrier, but came from the way that she strung together such a series of brutal words that, even though I could understand the grammatical structure and the individual definition of each word, I could not possibly comprehend what had happened.
I did what any normal seventeen year-old would do when confronted with something that he doesn’t understand. I dismissed the whole thing.
I suppose that the most chilling thing about this is discovering how brutal people can be, and how unbelievable it is to people who spend their lives is very comfortable, uninteresting times.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
...in bed?
This just in from a fortune cookie:
YOU'RE CAREFUL NATURE WILL BRING YOU FINANCIAL SUCCESS
YOU'RE CAREFUL NATURE WILL BRING YOU FINANCIAL SUCCESS
Monday, June 15, 2009
Planting Pictures VII
Tori is doing quite well. I shifted her around because she was encroaching on the nearby hosta. I wonder exactly what the tendrils are that are shooting out of the main vine stalk.
Desperation for light caused Jeff to explode to the right. Both are doing quite well.
I do not know if any of these things are cat nip or just some other weed. One can hope... Perhaps I should test some on Elliott the cat.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Hippie reflections on a fine Iowa day
It’s nice outside. This is one of the few times that I am completely alone and the weather doesn’t completely suck. I have to admit the back yard is in pretty good shape noting that there is absolutely no maintenance work done out here by the new owner besides mowing. It is homage to the previous owners of the house. On the deck, yet above me rises a tall apple tree and behind me is the house flanked by a cherry tree. Not to mention there are various bushes, shrubs, and flowers still alive. This is all framed by a background of a static grey sky. Iowa overcast. I remember a weather fact from when I worked at public radio that during the spring and fall months in Iowa, the sky was overcast something like 3 out of every 4 days.The cat looks outside from the sliding door. Sorry kid, your clock is punched. You have a habit of eating anything that can kill you. I wonder how your genetics managed to not get filtered out of the kitty gene pool thousands of years ago.
There is enough coverage around this area that the wind is never strong unless it is storming.
Also there are birds. They are drawn by the cherries no doubt; and I am sure they will eat all of them again this summer. That is one of the things that I miss from my child hood home. We had a cherry tree that produced so much that the birds could not consume all of them. There was always fruit left over. My dad would set a ladder to the tree and pick as many as he could, throwing the cherries into reused walmart plastic shopping bags. I would then have the glorious job of pitting the damned things.
The pies were worth it though.
The tree at my old home has since split and died. Oh sure, it still has leaves and occasionally produces fruit, but it is dead. It is just too stupid to know it.
To the left is my garden and it is doing very well. The only casualty so far is the basil which probably died of root rot. There was nothing to be done. The religious icon that was to bless the basil stands as a grim reminder of the precarious position of my potted plants.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Planting Picture VI
Steve and Jeff are doing quite well, Jeff has a few flowers even though his growth is stunted (I think he gets slightly less sun then Steve). Both have really done well since their planting though with minimal maintenance, hanging plants might be the way to go.
Tori is doing well. I believe this is the first shot of her flowers (the hussy). I still have to figure out what to do with her as she begins to grow all over the deck.
Still don't know if this is cat nip. But even if Paco is less then what we expect, we will still love him... for now.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Brewing I: Munich Helles
Seeping Grains:
Then remove the grains. Let the bag drain, we have to make sure we get all of the sugar.
Then the water is brought to a boil and we add the first round of hops. Go ahead and take a whiff... the first round of hops is boiled for an hour. This extracts the bitter flavor for the beer.
We waited for a while and then added the malt (the grain extract that is eventually converted into sugar by the yeast). If you add the malt right away it can caramelize the sugar and make the beer darker. Since this is supposed to be a lighter beer we waited until a half an hour into the brewing process to add the sugar.
Here are the other two packets of hops that we add. We add these 5 minutes and 1 minute before the boil is done. The short boil time ensures that flavor and aroma are extracted and the bitterness is kept to a minimum.
When the boil is over we use the wort chiller. An interesting contraption of rolled copper tubbing. Cold water circulates through and cools the wort at a far faster rate then the "ice bath" method.
The yeast. It even comes in a vial. It makes it look like we are doing ACTION SCIENCE instead of brewing beer.
We transfer the beer into a bucket and add the yeast and then wait for the magic to happen...
- 1 lb Crystal 15L
- 8lbs German Pilsner
- 4oz Maltodextrin
- White Labs Yeast - WLP800 Pilsner Lager
Then remove the grains. Let the bag drain, we have to make sure we get all of the sugar.
Then the water is brought to a boil and we add the first round of hops. Go ahead and take a whiff... the first round of hops is boiled for an hour. This extracts the bitter flavor for the beer.
We waited for a while and then added the malt (the grain extract that is eventually converted into sugar by the yeast). If you add the malt right away it can caramelize the sugar and make the beer darker. Since this is supposed to be a lighter beer we waited until a half an hour into the brewing process to add the sugar.
Here are the other two packets of hops that we add. We add these 5 minutes and 1 minute before the boil is done. The short boil time ensures that flavor and aroma are extracted and the bitterness is kept to a minimum.
When the boil is over we use the wort chiller. An interesting contraption of rolled copper tubbing. Cold water circulates through and cools the wort at a far faster rate then the "ice bath" method.
The yeast. It even comes in a vial. It makes it look like we are doing ACTION SCIENCE instead of brewing beer.
We transfer the beer into a bucket and add the yeast and then wait for the magic to happen...
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Would you invest in this company?
One activity in which I engage is the identification of securities, most of which are international funds/stocks/bonds/whatever. Usually there is no English translation and I have to rely on Google Translator. This comes up with some interesting results... This is better than most as I have no idea what they are referring to, but everything is so positive. You mean I make money when the market goes up, stays flat and/or slightly declines? Plus its tax free? BONUS? Sign me up.
Translation is as follows:
Shares will be for years by the leading experts for a successful wealth recommended because they are long-term is by far the best return opportunities. Profit opportunities that you as an investor should not be waived. Especially as the economy in Exxxxx and Gxxxxx remains stable.
Your advantages at a glance:
Unlimited odds: On the positive development of Exxxxx's shares may limit your participation.
Bonus Benefit: When is moving sideways or moderately falling stock prices, you can plant at the end of the period an attractive rate of return.
Reduce risk: When a correction to the xxxxx-country stock markets, you benefit from a direct equity investment by a safety buffer in the amount of approximately 40%.
Automatic Reinvestment: The cycle of 3 years, the automatic reinvestment of the capital invested, so that the long term the benefits of bonus strategy benefiting.
Fiscal Attractiveness: When timely start your income mostly tax-free collected.
Are you planning your long term returns.
Dxxx 3y Bonus Strategy Fund is a concept that is in various stages of its market strengths ausspielt. This is especially true when rising slightly to moderately falling stock prices. Even if, for example, goes down easy times - with the bonus - you can still buffer positive returns. The fall of the underlying stock until the end of the 1st Investment Period by less than about 40%, are you with Dxxx bonus strategy 3y still in Plus. If this "air bag" during the term once violated, there for you until the end of each period, but the investment opportunity attractive to foreign exchange gains. Precondition is that the underlying stock recovered.
Moreover, Dxxx bonus 3y strategy through the reinvestment mechanism fiscally interesting: First, the money for three years. After this period, the capital invested in the fund automatically returns for three years. Your advantage: You know any time your payment of capital, that on the reinvestment dates at the current market conditions will pass. And in a timely entry you can use the proceeds mostly tax-free collected.
A strategy, which in almost any market situation pays.
With Dxxx bonus 3y strategy you are at higher rates the shares in question are always falling in and comfortably secured. Because of sharply rising or falling prices heavily in the stock markets behave like structures bonus shares. This means that you e.g. positive equity markets in high yield opportunities are without limit. And of course moderate price losses in the xxxxx zone shares allow ing you are still an attractive return. No matter in what direction the prices on the stock markets develop, with Dxxx bonus 3y strategy you have in almost all cases, attractive return opportunities.
Translation is as follows:
Shares will be for years by the leading experts for a successful wealth recommended because they are long-term is by far the best return opportunities. Profit opportunities that you as an investor should not be waived. Especially as the economy in Exxxxx and Gxxxxx remains stable.
Your advantages at a glance:
Unlimited odds: On the positive development of Exxxxx's shares may limit your participation.
Bonus Benefit: When is moving sideways or moderately falling stock prices, you can plant at the end of the period an attractive rate of return.
Reduce risk: When a correction to the xxxxx-country stock markets, you benefit from a direct equity investment by a safety buffer in the amount of approximately 40%.
Automatic Reinvestment: The cycle of 3 years, the automatic reinvestment of the capital invested, so that the long term the benefits of bonus strategy benefiting.
Fiscal Attractiveness: When timely start your income mostly tax-free collected.
Are you planning your long term returns.
Dxxx 3y Bonus Strategy Fund is a concept that is in various stages of its market strengths ausspielt. This is especially true when rising slightly to moderately falling stock prices. Even if, for example, goes down easy times - with the bonus - you can still buffer positive returns. The fall of the underlying stock until the end of the 1st Investment Period by less than about 40%, are you with Dxxx bonus strategy 3y still in Plus. If this "air bag" during the term once violated, there for you until the end of each period, but the investment opportunity attractive to foreign exchange gains. Precondition is that the underlying stock recovered.
Moreover, Dxxx bonus 3y strategy through the reinvestment mechanism fiscally interesting: First, the money for three years. After this period, the capital invested in the fund automatically returns for three years. Your advantage: You know any time your payment of capital, that on the reinvestment dates at the current market conditions will pass. And in a timely entry you can use the proceeds mostly tax-free collected.
A strategy, which in almost any market situation pays.
With Dxxx bonus 3y strategy you are at higher rates the shares in question are always falling in and comfortably secured. Because of sharply rising or falling prices heavily in the stock markets behave like structures bonus shares. This means that you e.g. positive equity markets in high yield opportunities are without limit. And of course moderate price losses in the xxxxx zone shares allow ing you are still an attractive return. No matter in what direction the prices on the stock markets develop, with Dxxx bonus 3y strategy you have in almost all cases, attractive return opportunities.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Planting Pictures V: The Final Frontier
Tori is growing fast. I have to figure out exactly what to do with the vine. I hear that these plants are pretty invasive and will grow everywhere I need to keep a watchful eye.
Steve is almost at tall as his bucket and is actually starting to produce tomatoes. Jeff is coming along as well but he still does not have any flowers or fruit.
Paco is STILL ALIVE. Which is amazing considering this is potentially from seed [and a real success story]. However I still have to identify this as actual catnip, meaning it still could be something entirely worthless.
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