Summer is at its peak. Everything that grows is coming to its maturity. It is the time for sunflowers and Queen Anne’s Lace. I had several sunflowers come up where the birds had dropped seeds.
The cicadas are loud and the lightning bugs are making the tall trees light up at night. Bats are flying low, gobbling up insects. Spiders are building fortress webs that will catch you in the face when you walk out your door.
Farmers markets thrive as people attempt to capture all that is good about fresh produce. Corn and tomatoes seem to be favorites.
Homemade green beans just don’t taste as good as they used to. Watermelon also has changed its flavor. It just isn’t as good as it used to be. I don’t think it is me. I think it is watermelon.
What is the best corn to buy this summer? How about the peaches? One week they are great. The next week I couldn’t give them to my dogs.
What are the readers finding good out there?
My garden’s been great, thanks to a grad student who is home for the summer and took on the project. We canned peach salsa (a first, and fantastic!) with homegrown jalapenos and red peppers, and now we’re canning jalapeno relish. I bought a pickling crock last year for all the cucumbers I’ve got climbing up a trellis, and the tomatoes are starting to ripen now.
Otherwise, I’ve been in paper-writing hell.
I didn’t realize you could grow cukes on a trellis.
When do you finish graduate school?
Hiroshima Day tomorrow – August 6 (1945)
I would like to take this moment to commend President Obama on his public statement showing his compassion, grief and condolences for 2 star general Major General Harold Greene. The highest ranking member of the military to die in a combat zone in some 44 or so years.
Truly horrible incident. Information is still sketchy.
Hold on… I have just been notified that the President was busy and could not have possibly given any statement. My apologies to everyone. He was actually very busy this evening with a Lionel Richie performance at the White House and could not be bothered.
I’m sure a press conference is going to be held first thing tomorrow morning… stay tuned.
He is hosting heads of state from over 50 different African countries. Information is still coming in on the Afghanistan incident. Lastly, is a general’s life more important than a private’s? Not really. A general just has a higher pay grade. I don’t think a press conference is really necessary.
I understand that, when the crowds demonstrated in places in Europe against the Israeli efforts to strike back at Hamas rocket attacks, some in the crowds could be heard yelling: “Gas the Jews!” A Jewish citizen of France remarked that he felt like he had gone back 70-80 years.
And in Chicago, Illinois, at a high school in the ritzy Gold Coast, a Jewish boy of 14 was handed a photo of a big brick gas oven by some of his classmates, who suggested that he change into a striped suit and crawl in. His 8-year-old brother at the attached elementary school was asked to join a game in which his side would be called something like “Jewish Incinerator.”
Screw all these bastards. Never Again!!
I think we have to figure out who the bastards are first.
Israel needs to also make certain it is playing by the rules. Perhaps what I am suggesting is better staging. More footage of those damn tunnels needs to be shown on TV. Those tunnels are scary and represent the death of Israel if allowed to go on unchecked.
No one likes seeing pictures of dead women and children. Perhaps those same people need to beat down Hamas . It really boils down to dead Israeli women and children or dead Gaza women and children. If this continues, there WILL be dead women and children. Whether the dead are Israeli or Arab really depends on who has the most fire power.
I also saw one where orthodox Jewish boys were standing outside yelling Kill the Arabs. The Israeli policemen told them to stop it immediately.
Human nature is ugly, isn’t it?
Can’t walk and chew gum at the same time?
Why do things have to be done on YOUR time table?
“is a general’s life more important than a private’s?”
Apparently not… wonder if the Taliban thinks the same?
Why do you care what the Taliban thinks? Do they even think?
15 other people were wounded, some extremely seriously. Are you just looking for things to take personal swipes about? Apparently. Do it somewhere else. You are attempting to politicize terrorism. I am just not going to subsidize it here.
Have something legitimate to say or leave.
Someone had better learn that, when you try to punch a tiger in the nose, you are liable to lose an arm — or worse. Stop launching rockets into Israel and stop digging tunnels to ambush Israeli troops and civilian kibbutzers, and no one in Gaza will be killed. Personally, I think we ought to have taken the Western journalists who delighted in endless photos of the devastation in Gaza and made them live in a nearby Israeli town where the alert sirens give you just minutes to head for the shelters and where you pray to God that Iron Dome continues to pitch no-hitters. Thank the Lord that no missile hit that Israeli nuclear plant.
I think that is one of the tragedies of all this. Women and children have no power and yet they are the ones who are getting the worse end of tiger’s wrath.
I unfriended someone on Facebook because I got tired of seeing pictures of the maiming–pretty much agreeing with what you said, Wolve.
I saw one story in which the action was described by a young Israeli assigned to Iron Dome. The Iron Dome has a tracking system for incoming which is pretty precise. Anyway, they detected a rocket headed for the center of Tel Aviv. Iron Dome fired 1. Missed. Iron Dome fired 2. Missed again. Last shot. Last chance. Suddenly, according to the Israeli soldier, the wind shifted and the incoming rocket went off course and landed harmlessly in the sea. Said the shaken soldier: It was like God himself had reached out a hand to help us.
@Moon-howler
I will finish in May 2015. I’ve registered for two courses as well as my capstone project for this fall, which should make for a lot of fun for the next few months while I balance work and everything else. Gotta get it done. Hoping for a lot of crappy Fall weather, so I won’t feel like I’m missing anything.
“War is the unfolding of miscalculations.”
The Guns of August
by Barbara Tuchman
Watermelon flavor was sacrificed to produce seedless varieties. The sweetest, most flavor-able ones had thousands of black seeds and hundreds of white ones.
The seeded flavor of watermelon is the one I remember. I would rather have good taste and seeds.
@Moon-howler
Moon, you can grow cukes, zucchini, tomatoes, pole beans, gourds and summer squash on a trellis–makes them much easier to pick. Native Americans planted corns and beans together, not to make succotash but so beans would climb up the corn stalks making the beans easier to pick-before the days of bush beans. sMany years ago when I lived in California, farmers still grew these “pole beans.” After the first pick of the beans, the were “deposed” and gleaners (including me) would come in to pick the remaining beans.
“I didn’t realize you could grow cukes on a trellis.”
This is the best way to grow them. They tend to grow more straight, and you don’t have to hunt for them quite as much, increasing your chances of picking them at the peak of ripeness. Been experimenting with some heirloom varieties, such as lemon, Armenian varieties, and for the first year, Mouse Melons, which are tiny cucumbers that resemble little water-melons.
My tomatoes and raspberries have been fantastic this year. Just the right amount of sun and rain, and we haven’t had any periods of long scorching heat. This is the first year that I am all heirloom varieties on my annuals. Been harvesting seed for next year. Mr. Stripey, Lemonboy, Blue Beauty, Black Russian, Blueberry-Cherry, Sun-Sugar Cherry…all producing aplenty, and outstanding flavor. Sliced, grilled, or made into gazpacho…been a tomato summer.
The cucumbers have been okay. Quality of the fruit has been excellent, but the combination of humid days and cool nights has causes some of my cucumber vines to get hit with powdery mildew. Once that stuff sets in, it’s just a matter of time before the plants die for lack of foliage. Same for my squash. Here I thought it’d be a great year, since the harsh winter really hit the squash/stink-bug population, but the powdery mildew hit the plants early, and hard. I over-planted in succession on the cucumbers, so I have a fair supply for slicing and gazpacho.
Grapes should be OK, but yield will be lower since I did some necessary heavy pruning last February. The few apples the squirrels left for me were good, but they completely wiped out the peaches this year.
Heirloom Emperor pole beans are just starting to get to the picking stage. Best pole bean I’ve ever grown or eaten.
Peppers have been slow growing, but this has always been the case. First year of all-heirloom here, so the first fruits will go to seed harvest. Have to wait for some for eating.
I’ve left the rest of the garden fallow this year, preparing for a major expansion this fall.
Also, I am putting together a seminar to be given at the Manassas Museum, on 19th century kitchen gardens, which will include a discussion on the techniques used, and best of all, attendees will leave with a selection of heirloom seeds and plants for their own gardens. Hope to give this in the Late March-Early April timeframe.
Wow Steve. You have a regular farm going over there in the city. How about a few pictures? I will post.
Exactly. Hybrid varieties were developed for seedless, disease resistance, and appearance. Unfortunately, taste and texture were sacrificed. Want a great watermelon? Grow heirlooms.
@George S. Harris
“Native Americans planted corns and beans together, not to make succotash but so beans would climb up the corn stalks making the beans easier to pick-before the days of bush beans.”
Beans and Corn were called the “three sisters”, with the third being squash. Native Americans planted squash at the base of the corn, to repel deer and shield the roots of the corn and beans. The beans climbed the corn and also helped anchor the stalks.
Corn does not grow in the wild – it is dependent on humans to cultivate it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(agriculture)
It’s National Farmer’s Week!
August 3-9
Old Town Manassas Market tomorrow 7:30 to 1.
I’ve enjoyed the cooler weather lately. I’ve been able to take walks at night without sweating.
If this is what global warming feels like, I kind of like it.
This weather reminds me of summers in Boston, when I was a kid. We thought anything above 90 degrees was life-threatening. Still, we had to wear jackets on the first day of school, and we had our first frosts at the end of September. But no complaining here about this summer weather. Long range outlook for this winter though…supposed to be much like last winter.
Last winter was obnoxious. This summer has been great. I love the cooler temps.
Squash borers have nearly destroyed my zucchini crop this year.
What are those? Bugs?
It’s a kind of moth that attacks vine plants.
Something did a real number on my sunflowers and basil. GRRRRRRRR
Virginia Republican Party Treasurer Bob FitzSimmonds has resigned after his latest offensive comment on Facebook, this time about Muslims. Perhaps Mr. FitzSimmonds should visit the U.S. Supreme Court and glance up at the courtroom’s south wall where the Prophet Mohammed has been looking down on the Justices for 80 years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-gop-official-resigns-after-controversial-facebook-post/2014/08/07/d41fcec0-1ddd-11e4-82f9-2cd6fa8da5c4_story.html?tid=hpModule_13097a0c-868e-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394
So he resigned. It’s about time. However, it’s really none of my business how the Republican Party chooses to use Bob FitzSimmonds.
Will he resign from his post as a deputy clerk of the court here in Prince William County? That is a public office. If he is unsuitable for the Republicans, how about Prince William County? Now THAT IS my business.
Just heard on the news.
Israel offered to extend the cease fire. HAMAS stated that they will resume firing rockets on Friday.
HAMAS wants the blockade dropped. Israel wants HAMAS disarmed.
A couple of tactical nukes would eliminate the need for the blockade and effectively disarm HAMAS.
@Mom
There is no precision in nukes….even tactical ones.
Israel is going to have to go in and do it the hard way if they want HAMAS disarmed.
In Germany last month, molotov cocktails were tossed into the Bergische synagogue in Wuppertal. That same synagogue was all but destroyed many years ago on Kristallnacht.
Wolve, have the authorities figured out who is doing this? I mean what group? It isn’t a lone wolf, obviously.
@Cargosquid
Precision was never a consideration nor was collateral damage.
Today kicks off the F-word!!!
Just a PSA for Moon.
I want to present a viewpoint here. Once that I believe, but haven’t repetitively stressed (as I have others).
The Democratic Party is actively flaimng racial anger, and separation of America into racial voting blocks. The Republican Party took a lot of heat for this in past generations – Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”, Bush’s Willie Horton ads. The Democratic Party is doing it right now, before our eyes. It makes America weaker and does the opposite of what we supposedly all want (integration, a “melting pot”).
A common-sense solution to the problem of illegal immigration is to enable a guest worker program. Republicans would vote for this. The American people would accept it – it preserves our right to soverignty and enables law and order. This issue could have been conquered years ago.
Democrats resist it – if they didn’t, it would happen, almost immediately. Because they know there’s political payoff for doing this, and it takes an issue that they enjoy “off the table”. Right now, most Latinos vote Democratic. Not because of the immigration issue, but because they’re liberal. Note this recent poll of California Latinos – http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/08/08/Univision-Poll-Immigration-Low-Priority-for-Latino-Voters-in-California
Because Latino voters are more liberal, it benefits Democrats to “enerrgize” them over some issue. The issue that currently lends itself is illegal immigration. No proposal can be considered “comprehensive” enough unless it gives some payoff of millions of new registered voters down the road – a political victory. Barring that EXTREMELY UNLIKELY occurrence, the issue stays on the table, and gives Democrats an increasing advantage in elections.
I think that’s all inarguable. If you got any group of non-partisan Americans to sit down at a table and work out a “comprehensive” solution, it would be one that enabled those here to live here and keep working, but not be enabled citizenship ahead of people who didn’t sneak in. The problem would be solved and we could all move forward.
Too often we all get pulled into the false narratives the two parties pump out. I really think that it would be best for all of us if well-meaning Democrats could see through partisan arguments and come to terms with the way that the Democratic Party has been shading this issue away from common sense, so as to energize voting blocks and triangulate the other party. If Democrats stopped enabling their officials to do this, we could enable a better climate in America where people could come here to work, but not line-jump into citizenship.
This is my plea for some of you to stop enabling nonsense. If you must vote Democratic – I won’t vote for either major party, myself – please at least find a way to send a message to our leaders that you see through their nonsense.
Many Latinos are very conservative–both the catholic ones and the protestant ones. Let’s look at what happens in Virginia rather than California. California is just strange.
A bit of humor in the McDonnell trial: A witness was asked if two people referenced in an email were Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli, which prompted the witness to inquire, “Mr. Cucci-cucci?” Turned out the two people mentioned in the email were Bob and Maureen McDonnell.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mcdonnell-witness-disses-ken-cuccinelli?utm_content=bufferfab42&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Jon Stewart lead with the McDonnell trial last night. Really eviscerated the McDonnells.
I’m not sure who it is exactly. There is a rather comprehensive article on this on The Guardian website for 7 August. European leaders recognize the role played by Gaza events in the rising anti-Jewish sentiment and claim to have seen it before whenever the Middle East erupted. But they are also saying that they have detected this time a much deeper and much older anti-Jewish sentiment coming forth from the non-Muslim sector. Moreover, they seem to have seen this even before the current Gaza dustup. Apparently, there have been Germans at diverse levels of society, for example, who have been writing some nasty missives to Jewish addressees for some time now, saying things they would not have dared to say 20 or 30 years ago, ostensibly so unafraid now of German law that some are even signing their names to the hate.
But, so far, none of the authorities, even while condemning it and promising to fight it, seem to put specific names on the non-Muslim perpetrators. The only one I have found so far is that increasingly troublesome neo-Nazi gang in Hungary, and that was long before the current Gaza events.
I guess some folks haven’t learned their lesson regarding genocide. Not sure what can be done about it either. Lets transport that nastiness here for the sake of argument. What could be done about it if the person lived here? They get watched is about all that happens without specific actions.
I agree with you though that the fact that this kind of ugliness is rearing its ugly head is very disturbing.
Is it that we expect better out of Europeans? I guess they can be just as tribal as the next guy…but still disturbing.
@Moon-howler
But they still vote Democratic.
@Cargosquid
Do you blame them? Why wouldn’t they vote democratic? Why would they vote for a party that basically sends a message ” I hate you!”
I don’t care how people attempt to justify or clean up the message, it still says I hate you.
Open thread, here are my movie reviews :
Lucy – really rocks. Does for an adult-oriented (R) comic book what the Marvel movies do for PG comics. Very stylish. A.
Get On Up – a dark movie. makes “Ray” look feel-good; James Brown’s life was no picnic. Well-dome, esepecially the music sequences, and interesting. B+
Magic in the Moonlight – good movie, very very old-fashioned; proves that woody Allen would have been a hit-s*** screenwriter in 1930’s Hollywood, as he is today. B+.
A Most Wanted man – Very enjoyable spy stuff, holds together well. B+.
What If – solid romantic comedy, manages to make you enjoy the formula even though you know what’s coming. B+.
Boyhood – overrated; shouldn’t be three hours long. But does have good segments in there. B.
The Purge : Anarchy – crazier and creepier than the first one, pretty enjoyable movie though I fear they’re going to keep these coming and have them get more and more anti-social; the killing takes a toll on the viewer. B.
Guardians of the Galaxy – big “Star Wars”/”Raiders” type semi-epic, but much more cynical, and with more emphasis on being funny. It takes so many elements straight from Star wars that it’s kind of a remix movie – again, mixed away from lightness and towards a large body count and cynical humor. B.
Thanks Rick. It sounds like you will be enterertained, whatever you chose.
On TV, is anyone watching Masters of Sex, Rectify or Man(hat)tan?
Oh, and the Planet of the Apes movie – takes the series back to its midnight movie roots; atmopsheric but not tightly written, with some charm in that it’s crazy enough to keep you guessing on what’ll happen next. C+.
Lot of good movies out right now. If you wander randomly into a theater you’ll probably see a good movie.
I haven’t watched those Moon. The show that ended its first season last week, that I enjoyed very much, was “Halt and Catch Fire” on AMC – a “Mad Men” show set in the trexas compurer industry, mid 80’s.
sorry, “Texas computer” industry.
Guardians of the Galaxy! WOOT! A+
It’s not cynical at all. Redemption isn’t cynical. Nor does it take from Star Wars. It is VERY close to the comic that spawned it. This is the movie that all the Star Wars “sequels/prequels” wanted to be.
Besides… Groot ROCKS! I AM getting dancing Groot when they come out. You KNOW that they will make one.
@Moon-howler
See…that’s the thing.
It is the press, which the GOP cannot fight, that puts out the false message of “We hate you.” It is the Dems and the press, but I repeat myself, that puts out a false message of racism.
Demanding the rule of law is not hate. Wanting a smaller nanny state is not hate.
They vote for Democrats because they like a bigger nanny state with more benefits.
You are living in an alternative universe. Have you ever listened to Faux News? Have you ever heard how they talk about illegal immigrants? Jesus. It ain’t luv, I can assure you.
You can say whatever you want. It doesn’t make it true. The GOP/Conservatives have a great deal more press than the Dem/Liberal or the moderates and everything that comes out of it is not favorable to immigrants, especially those from south of the border. Every policy that comes out from Dreamer to refugees says I hate you.
Spin it anyway you want. It just looks foolish after about the first 30 seconds.
“Nor does it take from Star Wars. It is VERY close to the comic that spawned it.”
You have GOT to be kidding. It seems to take even more elements from “Star Wars” than Lucas did from Kurosawa’s films – which is to say, a lot. Are you saying the movie is like the comic’s original run pre-Star Wars, or the later one post-Star Wars?
If it really resembles the earlier version of the comic, then I would assume that George Lucas copped from it, as he did from other comics. Darth Vader was a cross between Jack Kirby’s “Darkseid” (pronounced Dark Side) from his DC New Gods series, and Dr. Doom. There was a character called Mark Moonrider in New Gods. And one character with virtue was secretly the son of the evil Darkseid, but didn’t know it. Supposedly jack Kirby was a very embittered man every time he walked through a toy store and saw all the Marvel Comics characters whose visuals he designed being merchandised, and then Star wars stuff.
Shocking video has emerged of Presidents Obama and Bush candidly discussing illegal immigration – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz4UgnJo6AM&list=UUgrxYdfdXP3a2wkNh1FcBWw
Watched a great documentary, “Maiden Voyage” (available on Netflix) regarding Laura Dekker, the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate the globe, in a sailboat. After having to battle Dutch Social Services, who tried to prevent her from attempting the trip, she set off from Gibraltar, solo’d across the Atlantic, and then started the circumnavigation from Saint Martens, at age 14. The trip, with stops, took 2 years, and was completed when she landed again in Saint Martens. Originally born on a sailboat in New Zealand waters to Dutch parents, she grew up in Holland. During the voyage, she reflagged her 38 ft. sailboat from Netherlands to New Zealand, signifying her rejection of Dutch Social Services attempted control of her life. Once the trip was completed, she sailed on to New Zealand, and now resides there, aboard her boat. Fascinating documentary, which was mostly filmed by Dekker herself.
Hm, I haven’t seen that.
One doc that I watched on Amazon Instant recently, that was great, was “Marley” about Bob Marley. I am not into the cult of Marley; I think his music kind of sucks (lame, watered-down, druggy) and that his popularity is all about image. However, it was a great documentary and his story and likeable personality really emerges. Now I do feel at least that I know why he’s popular.
I also watched “Life Itself” on there, the recent doc about Roger Ebert. It pretty effectively showed who Ebert was at the phases of his life. From hard-drinking bachelor to successful and frustrated TV co-host to family man. To poor guy without a jaw who kept writing film reviews to the end, because it’s what he did. (I miss his reviews. Whether I agreed with his judgement or not, from knowing him I could get a pretty good idea what the film was like). It was a great documentary in that sense, though probably a bit dry for a mass audience.
@Rick Bentley
I think Lucas took from it. I don’t think Vader is anything like Darkseid…but Dr. Doom…… I can see the resemblance. He sounds like I imagine Doom would sound. I LOVED the original Star Wars. the second one was decent. The rest all descended into crap and toy marketing.
Guardians is Star Wars if Han Solos ran the universe, not the Jedi.
Kirby got screwed. If Marvel was smart, they would gain great PR if they made a deal with his family.
Robin Williams is dead. Died early this afternoon.
I am shocked into silence. What a wonderful human being. It makes you wonder how powerful the illness of depression really is if a person as well loved as Robin Williams is depressed to the point of bringing about such a violent death for himself.
I’m amazed at the reaction to Williams’ death. It’s all over
the news; even on BBC. I never took to him because he seemed
to always be “on”; frenetic and never relaxed.
But that’s just me!
Was he a wonderful human being, Moon? If so, in what way?
The people I have seen on TV who knew him said yes. He was warm, personable, cared about his fellow man. When he was with you one on one you felt like you were the only person in the world.
He lifted others up.
And he offed himself. Go figure.