The Weekly Watch
Learn and Grow
It is a new year and time for new growth. When I arrived (like the shipwrecked person floating on the C99 sign) on this site, I was hopeful. I thought Bernie was destined to the presidency and our nation was going to move in a better direction. As Bernie was being cheated from the nomination illustrating the impotence of politics, we had the Standing Rock protest which I saw as a powerful statement about many things from environmental justice, indigenous rights, and citizen movements to fossil fuel's dominance, climate chaos, and complete corporate control... including mercenary domestic policing. I continue to study and learn of our situation...social, political, and ecological. Perhaps there are answers and political paths toward peace and prosperity, but I personally don't see a political way forward. I come more and more to the conclusion of my youth - to be a gardener, a naturalist, a musician and enjoy my corner of the world - the biologically rich eastern deciduous forest. So I want to shift the focus of this column to look at stories about people and communities that are living at peace and harmony with the planet while maintaining an eye on the news of the day.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w77zPAtVTuI]
Some people continue to see a political path forward. Ralph Nader suggests it isn't as difficult as people think. He's written a new book "How the Rats Reformed the Congress", that recomends building district level congressional watch groups https://ratsreformcongress.org/
Jimmy had an interesting series of interviews with Ralph this week...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOUbphasEnM (14 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVHaIzewFPg (18 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQpdVWuWs80 (30 min)
The 3rd interview lays out Ralph's concrete plan.
If you are a fan of Ralph like me, you might enjoy his podcasts (now with transcripts) and his website...https://nader.org/
It may be possible to reform the system (and I may have sunk into cynicism as Ralph suggest), but there are many obstacles to dismantling the global corporate oligarchy. The CIA, NSA, FBI, other other deep state organizations are among the largest roadblocks to progress. They are pervasive across the media, embedded in peoples movements, and have become essentially rogue agencies fomenting war and instability...a taxpayer funded mafia.
Consider these stories...
Jimmy covers "New Knowledge" and their senate report on Russiagate. Ends up they are ex- NSA spooks ginning up the new cold war for their own profit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqLIJznUNVw (30 min)
https://grayzoneproject.com/2018/12/25/senate-report-on-russian-interfer...
Jimmy and Stef cover another story about MI6 placing an agent in Bernie's campaign.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OFkgEPyRo (28 min)
Max Blumenthal co-wrote the article Jimmy cites...
Recent hacked documents have revealed an international network of politicians, journalists, academics, researchers and military officers, all engaged in highly deceptive covert propaganda campaigns funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), NATO, Facebook and hardline national security institutions. This “network of networks”, as one document refers to them, centers around an ironically named outfit called the Integrity Initiative.
https://grayzoneproject.com/2018/12/17/inside-the-temple-of-covert-propa...
Operation Mockingbird is alive and well...which is evident from today's stories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDCfTIapds0 (3 min)
https://popularresistance.org/operation-mockingbird-cia-media-control-pr...
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRBm5eiBQIs]
COINTELPRO tactics included discrediting targets through psychological warfare, planting false reports in the media, smearing through forged letters, harassment, wrongful imprisonment, extralegal violence and assassination. Sound familiar?
So this week NBC/MSNBC reporter, William Arkin, longtime prominent war and military reporter, blasted the networks in a Monday email for becoming captive and subservient to the national security state, reflexively pro-war in the name of stopping President Donald Trump, and now the prime propaganda instrument of the War Machine’s promotion of militarism and imperialism. https://theintercept.com/2019/01/03/veteran-nbcmsnbc-journalist-blasts-t...
Jimmy, Stef, and Ron talk about the story...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlb-DZpyFOw (26 min)
While the Wall and the Shutdown are 24/7 here's a good example of stories that are rarely covered which explain the source of the problem...US meddling in Latin America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P9yaYMoUFA (11 min)
These stories illustrate my point. The US public is misled, distracted, and propagandized to create an indebted, obedient, and quiescent citizenry. It is by design. Both corporate and deep state interest maintain this control. We talk of revolution. Nothing would please me more, but I don't see how we organize and promote with salaried spooks, trolls, and spies embedded online and in real life organizations. So what to do? Sidestep government and politics, minimize your carbon footprint, and work with nature to absorb carbon...
Here's a great story about side stepping the system...
In the 1970s the fascist Franco government was still in power in Spain. A pro-democracy movement in Barcelona was gaining strength, and they invited Pete Seeger, America’s best known freedom singer, to perform there. Thousands of people were in the stadium. Rock bands had played all day, but the crowd had come for Seeger.
As Pete prepared to go on, government officials handed him a list of songs he was not allowed to sing. Pete studied it, saying it looked a lot like his set list. But they insisted that the must not sing any of those songs.
Pete took the list and strolled on stage. He held it up and said, “I’ve been told that I’m not allowed to sing these songs.” He grinned and said, “So I’ll just play the chords. Maybe you know the words. They didn’t say anything about you singing them.”
He strummed the banjo to one song after another, and the people all sang the songs they knew and had been singing in secret circles for years.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01N-kBSdiZI]
The clip is a bit of an advertisement for their classes and consulting service, but it is also a good introduction to the nature of permaculture
I think a collapse of the financial and ecosystem is already occuring. So we all need to think about how to cope with the deepening crisis. The previous clip illustrates a way to live in harmony with the planet. The next clip provides evidence that we can create and co-exist in cooperative communities...(26 min)
It is important to me to be around growing living things. It seems to me the natural system has the ability to absorb (perhaps relieve is a better word?) human stress and angst. I live in a forest, but deserts, oceans, and other natural systems provide me the same sense of peace. For most of human existence we have been close to the Earth. Over time we have become more and more removed from the natural world, spending most of our time in weather controlled boxes staring at screens. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/environment/...
A meta-study (a study of studies) involving 290 million people in 20 countries has concluded that “Living close to nature and spending time outside has significant and wide-ranging health benefits.” Science Daily announces, “It’s official — spending time outside is good for you.” https://crev.info/2018/07/nature-improves-health/
Gardening has the same sorts of stress benefits, and the advantages of better fresher food.
https://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2016/07/22/benefits-of...
https://growingorganic.com/how-gardening-can-improve-your-health/
There are many approaches to gardening...container or window boxes for those with little room to crops and trees for folks with a yard or acreage. The techniques also vary depending on location, weather, soils, and so on. So a nearly endless conversation is possible...one perhaps more productive than a sole focus on politics. However politics is part of the gardening/farming story and can't be totally dismissed. Like today's column I'll include the stories which call to me....and I hope you'll continue to do the same. Gardening isn't for everyone, and I don't want to imply it should be. It is a joy in my life and I want to spread more joy and less angst. Besides I feel like I know something about growing plants, soils, and ecosystems...and I tire of the endless frustration of the intransigent corporate political duopoly and the dead end it offers.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMK-BKUYM0s]
Comments
Good Sunday morning, Lookout ~~
I scanned the essay and cannot wait to go to the Nader segments. Any opportunity to hear or read him is high on my list. I appreciate and value his wisdom.
My last day of vacation, sigh. I’m thinking of going half-time in July, the new fiscal year. It’s looking more and more attractive.
We’ve had snow on the ground for a week, now. That’s how cold it’s been. We need the moisture, so I’m okay with it, but the older I get, the less winter I’d like in my life - in many ways. I’m working on it.
Have a beautiful Sunday, everyone!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Time is our most valuable commodity
However a pension makes it more enjoyable, or at least easier.
Glad you had some time off at the holiday. Being around young folks at university helps you stay young too I bet.
Have a great day and week!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Student Lunch Debt...You read that right.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAgKraZErpM]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
I remember student teaching
...which was a pretty miserable experience. I had trouble paying for lunches too, but they wouldn't let you get a lunch on credit. In fact I don't remember any school where I taught that let you charge your lunch. I often had to loan my students lunch money. Sometimes they paid me back...sometimes they didn't.
More evidence of the collapse of our system.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Yeah Lookout!
Appreciate your move away from the gloomies. Becoming more of an emotional drain as time passes. imo. Most thinking folks are already aware of the rigged game. Devil in details, despondency destroys hope. We need to work above the 'covert propaganda'. Thanks for showing the way!
Zionism is a social disease
I used to listen to that album a lot
Thanks for the reminder.
As for the column, I got to feeling like I was chasing my tail around the news cycle. Same ole crap every week. I felt the need to use my skills to move forward rather than spin my wheels hashing and re-hashing the crisis de jour.
I hope folks will find the discussion of interest and want to participate.
Glad you came by!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Trying to get out of the system is interesting.
Because the PTB will fight you tooth and nail to make sure they can watch you.
Get a pension/Disability? They will constantly scream at you about the need for a bank account. They will bald faced LIE that you must have an account to receive payments. They will not mention the exceptions that are built into the law, or the fact that the law has an opt-out provision. They will immediately retreat to "Policy" and "Why don't you trust banks?" as if handing a corporation your money is NORMAL.
I don't know about you, but I trust my pocket more than a vault with thousands and thousands of people accessing it daily. But hey, I'm the paranoid one, Right?
What's very frightening to me is the system seems to be trying to co-opt every possible human activity into a product. Hence even disconnecting is sold as a product, and the parks are closed if you don't pay! Fandom has become a method of social control rather than a gathering of like minded individuals. And if doubt me on that one, I remind you that there are MULTIPLE public schools that use "Harry Potter" houses for their students in order to keep the students under control.
Killing social media was easier. Since my social activities for the most part are in person, not being worried about the drama helps. They're integrating that too, of course, but everybody at my dojo just thinks of me as the crazy old guy who doesn't do facebook. I also don't do lyft or uber, and ride the bus. Who knows, maybe I'll end up going Mennonite/Amish, just to spite the technocrats. Not really a fan of the bible though. I just worry about going pagan because that gives the pigs an excuse.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
I'm faceless and quite happy to be...
I also carry cash rather than a card. However, I have a card and I do buy things from Bezos. Hey it's him or the Waltons...choose your oligarch.
I do drive. Our 80's and 90's vintage vehicles still get about 30 mpg. I would like to upgrade to an electric car and may do so if one of our current vehicles die. Since retiring from the band I don't get out much. Many days I never leave the place.
Well hope you have a good one. I'm glad your judo and metal interests provide you some joy. Hope the kids are doing well and having a good school year! All the best.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thanks!
Kids are doing good... Son is finally out of that gawdawful program he was stuck in. Overall, progress towards a goal. Nothing earth shattering, just success.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
The bible is as good or bad as any other book.
people have done with it and used it for that is disgraceful. I read (that is past tense) the King James version (original, not revised) a few times. I like that because the language is of the Shakespearean area and therefore seems more poetic to me. Some interesting stories in the bible too. For me, the biggest revelation, no pun intended, was what the Bible does NOT say. Here's a New Year wish for you from me, with a big assist from the Bible. For me, this is one of the most loving, and therefore most lovely, parts of the Bible:
III John, verses 2-4
And, this one inspired folk singers.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 King James Version (KJV):
See? Not such a bad book. If someone uglies it, blame that person, not the book.
Thanks for the kind words.
I admit that growing up with it I still find it moving.
Especially Church of England/Episcopal services. Ritual and rite do have a place in society, but honestly, I part ways with Christianity the moment they claim that there's no other divine but theirs and if you claim different it's SAYTUN...
I must admit that my religious views are very COE in general, at least as far as moral behavior goes, but tinged with quite a bit of Cynic philosophy, which I find far more familiar and natural. Hell, some people have started a religion on a copyrighted fairytale...
Jesus, I like him very much but he no help with curveball
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
No argument but
Considering muggers, pickpockets, and just plain losing money, I trust FDIC more than my pocket. I did want to copy and frame my first SS check. No more checks. You either have an account or you get a reloadable debit card. Banks either way. I prefer the electronic deposit into an account vs carrying a debit card with every cent I own on it. I do wish the Postal Bank idea had flown, though. Especially in small towns, it would have been handy for seniors.
As for social media, I'm with you. Commercial social media, that is. I suppose blogs are social media too. The idea that Hillary lost because Russians (Russian corporations, not the government, although they may be fronts like the CIA uses) posted nasty things on Facebook -- ROTFLMAO.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
I hear you. I've just been robbed more times...
by banks than I have by random guys on the street.
And at least if a guy wants my wallet that bad on the street I at least get a description.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Bad things happen on the street.
Just last week, a carjacker shot a toddler because his mother didn't want to hand over the keys.
Can you imagine killing a toddler over a CAR?
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Some people . . . There are no words . . .
 :
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/young-boy-dies-in-carjacking/
Thanks lookout...
I like this shift of focus, back to things that are more in our control.
Here's my simplified version of the mess we find ourselves in:
Quid pro quo; corporate money = buying political influence = favorable legislation benefiting corporate bottom lines = screwing the 99%. Money is the common denominator. Remove the corporate money and that changes the equation, right? Yeah, I know, easier said than done.
One small way to fight back against the system is to disengage from the corporate cycle as much as possible. That idea is small in the micro sense of one individual, but huge in the macro sense of a large segment of people cutting back on the money they contribute to the corporations that essentially own us all. I hate the idea of being owned, but I also understand how long the corporate tentacles are.
One of the ways I fight the system is by gardening. There's nothing like getting your hands in Mother Earth, working with her and Old Sweet Sol to produce your own sustenance. It's an archetypal feeling that stretches out and touches humanity back many millennia. And it's a big FU to the stranglehold of corporate food production, not to mention how great it tastes and the health benefits. When you garden you control what gets taken up into the produce you'll be eating, and subsequently what gets taken up by your body.
A large garden is hard work but the benefits are more than worth it for myself and my family.
With all that said, this is the time of the year for planning the spring planting. My source of seeds, a local hardware store that after nearly a hundred years in business closed up shop last fall, so now I need to find an alternate source. I'm thinking of buying from the internet this year. Any suggestions?
Seed sources...
Is a topic which really needs an entire article, but here a taste of good sources -
Saving seed is a great way to preserve old heritage crops. There is a non-profit dedicated to saving and exchanging seed -
https://www.seedsavers.org/
I also like to use worker owned companies like...
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange out of VA
http://www.southernexposure.com/
Johnny's seeds
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/
and Fedco seeds both in Maine
https://www.fedcoseeds.com/
I used to use worker owned Seeds of Change (which still produce good seed from interesting varieties), but they were bought out by the Mars Company
https://www.seedsofchange.com/
There are small grower owned outfits too.
Baker Creek in Missouri offers lots of heritage seed
https://www.rareseeds.com/
Clear Creek seeds in OK has lots of heirlooms
https://www.clearcreekseeds.com/
Our left coast buddies might like
https://www.reneesgarden.com/ in CA
or
http://www.territorialseed.com/ in OR
Thanks for your comment JtC. I echo your sentiment...
Have a good one!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thanks...
for the sources lookout!
My pleasure...
I'll appreciate you expertise as we walk down the garden path.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Uh, you might
want double check Both fedco and johnny's seeds. I seem to recall both got bought out by a large seed company over a decade ago-I Could Be Wrong-so check them again(as will I).
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
not the last time I checked
...but as you know corporate greed has no end. Let me know what you find out.
Thanks
Edit to add. I had to check and they both appear to be worker owned...
Johnny's 100% worker owned and fedco says..
We are a cooperative, one of the few seed companies so organized in the United States. Because we do not have an individual owner or beneficiary, profit is not our primary goal. Consumers own 60% of the cooperative and worker members 40%. Consumer and worker members share proportionately in the cooperative’s profits through our annual patronage dividends
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Cool!
I just remember a dust up involving some kind of buyout, glad it DIDN’T happen.
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
I've bought from Johnny's seeds and Fedco
Nice to know that they are worker owned. Fedco has scion wood and grafting supplies too. Maybe rootstock. I buy my rootstock from a gardening club that gets volume discounts.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
I hope you'll chime in...
On your grafting experiences. Is it primarily fruit trees? Pruning is a worthwhile discussion too.
Your comment below about the shutdown effecting real peoples lives, especially the workers, is correct. I thought they might a strike, but remember the air traffic controllers strike? T-rump would fire them all just like Ronnie did the in the 80's, and install who he wanted into those jobs (ie loyal to T-rump). My speculation anyway.
Hope you'll add to the discussion as we go along.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Yes, primarily fruit trees.
Pears are easiest, then apples. Stone fruits are difficult, peach trees most difficult.
Each species has a range of temperatures that the graft can heal in. Pears have the widest range and apples are pretty easy too. Peach trees have such a narrow range (80-90 F IIRC)
that unless you are on the West Coast it's pretty much impossible. Maybe some areas in the South. A lot of commercial grafting of peaches occurs in Michigan, but it's in temperature regulated greenhouses. Grapes practically graft themselves, but it's super easy to root them from cuttings. I grafted a local heirloom grape once on a California phylloxera resistant rootstock. It took well and grew well for two years, then died in particularly harsh sub-zero winter. The self-rooted cuttings from the same vine came through OK.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Sounds like we should talk orchards/fruit trees ...
in the future. Great topic. Thanks!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Fascinating subject, also preserves biodiversity
Commercial orchardists want uniform ripening fruit and pesticide tolerance. Most people in the US (Europeans are smarter) want big pretty fruit and don't mind if it tastes like cardboard. Backyard orchardists preserve old varieties that don't ripen at the same, often look muddy or misshapen, but have wonderful flavor. Last March, I grafted Roxbury Russet and Ashmead's Kernel, apples from pre-Revolutionary times. Really Ugly but very tasty. I also grafted White Doyenne Pear, once (early 19th Century) the most common pear in the USA. It dates back to at least 1500 and an Italian monk, a pear expert, believed it is actually an old Roman variety. That was last year so I haven't tasted it yet.
I have a Carter Blue apple (really more purple) that originated in Alabama, died out in the USA and survived in a tree museum in the UK. I grafted two more and sent them to my daughter in Alabama. They are growing much better in Illinois than Alabama where they are struggling with fireblight. Maybe that's why they died out in Alabama.
My oldest grafted tree is a Hudson's Golden Gem, another russeted apple that was found growing wild in Oregon early 20th Century. My wife never remembers the name. She calls it "those ugly apples that taste so good". They have a nut-like flavor superimposed on the apple flavor.
My hands down favorite is Esopus Spitzenburg from Esopus NY colonial era. Thomas Jefferson ordered twelve trees for Monticello and said it was his favorite. Spitzenburg was the farmer's name. apparently another seedling. I got my scion from a friend in Crystal Lake IL along with a half bushel of apples. Incredible wine like flavor (everybody struggles to describe it and wind up saying "wine like"). He grows them organically so they can't be too susceptibility to disease and pests. When you think about it ALL the old time apples had to be resistant because pesticides hadn't been invented. But, as I said above, modern agriculture only wants uniformity, dependability, and uniform ripening so that they can send one crew in and pick all the apples at once.
Mechanical picking works too because there is no need to evaluate which are ripe and which should stay on the tree longer. They just pick all the apples.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
We have a local fermenter...
who grows many old apple varieties. Not sure if he has Carter Blue, but sounds like he should. Maybe I should too although we do fight fire blight especially in pears. It is a bacteria disease, whereas most plant diseases are fungal.
I look forward to more discussions about fruit trees. Thanks for your comments.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
You are welcome. What area do you live in?
I live in the Chicago suburbs, about 20 miles due West from O'Hare airport. No problems with any pears here.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
I'm in NE AL
where waist are wide and minds are narrow. But it is biologically diverse. More species of trees grow on Lookout Mt than all of Europe. We never had glaciers here and the tropics, deserts, and boreal forests of the past all left remnants.
So politically weird, but folks are nice and helpful. If you have a flat tire, folks (usually trumpeteers) stop and help. We do have a developing community of young farmers here which I'll write about as we go along.
Hope you'll stay tuned!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Ah! I understand the fire blight!
Lots of rain and no deep freezing to kill the bacteria.
Good for peaches though, I would imagine.
Sorry about the Trumpeteers. Brainwashed I guess. Like my sister brainwashed by the Dems. She still believes in Hillary and Pelosi.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Brown rot is the bane of peaches here
From the civil war through 1900 our place had a peach orchard or so the old timers tell me.
I set out some peaches 30 years ago, but between teaching and gigging, I didn't do the maintenance needed. I plan to plant more and use more resistant varieties.
I'll appreciate your expertise as we go along.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
All my peach growing has been in IL and VA
Northern Virginia near Dulles Airport to be precise.
Different varieties have different problems. You have different varieties down there (very yummy ones). I've never had brown rot, but I have had peach leaf curl on Red Haven. Early White Giant hasn't given me any problems. I usually spray with Copper, Soap-Shield from Gardens Alive! in particular. It is considered an organic spray. I see someone recommending it for fire blight on apples also. I have sprayed it on the trunk of an apple tree with shelf fungus. It didn't eradicate it, but it controls it.
You might research varieties to find a more resistant one. I assume Georgia varieties are best for your region. Not sure if mine require more chill hours than your climate gives.
I'm also growing one of the new hybrid cherries from U of Saskatchewan, that are a cross between commercial sour cherry and a dwarf Siberian cherry. It's growing like gangbusters here, bigger than the catalog claimed. My daughter has the same variety but it just barely stays alive. Don't know if it's too far South in AL for a variety with Siberian ancestry bred to grow commercially in Canada or the soil is poor. Mine's growing in good Illinois black loam. Her soil is kind of orangey-tan and sandy.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Thank you, lookout! I love your posts, as I do all the open
threads and posts of regular posters.
The first time that the shutdown affected me personally was yesterday, when I googled something and landed on a federal government website. I was informed that, because of the government shut down, the website was not being updated. I just hope those on OASDI are getting their checks. And I feel bad for people who may have planned vacations around visiting places run by the feds.
Other than that, the shutdown may be affecting those inside the Beltway more than anyone else.
Cynicism is fine if it keeps us from doing something ill-advised. If it debilitates us, we need to re-assess and re-direct. Sounds as though you may be fulfilling the directive to "Think global, act local." And I think that is a good thing.
I can garden only on my terrace, but I am grateful for that. I use the terrace to ensure that I see beautiful flowers when I look out and to make sure I have fresh basis and mint whenever I want them. I love both the visuals and the usefulness, especially as to basil, which goes bad so quickly once it is picked. I cannot get enough of tomato, basis and mozzarella "salads" during the summer. And the fresh basil in quantity is always a joy.
Great to see you!
As we go along we could discuss ways to maximize your patio production. As I prepared this piece I too thought about Bucky's advice to "think global, act local" Used to have a poster of Earth with that saying in my classroom.
As to the shutdown...garbage is piling up in DC (as though it wasn't full of garbage to begin with). They will cave in one way or another. I heard the deal being discussed is DACA (the dream act) in exchange for wall funding. We'll see what we see.
I can't remember where you are. Have you got anything growing on your terrace now?
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
My brother-in-law can't change banks
Because the Social Security offices are closed. What about seniors who are moving and can't move their autodeposit to a bank in their new town? What about people who want to retire but the SS office is not open to take their application?
What about the 800,000 federal workers who will eventually get paid, but now have nothing coming in? A big paid vacation you say? How do they pay their rent/mortgage, their car payments, buy food? All on the credit card with 18-33% interest? Surely they are curtailing their entertainment and restaurant spending, deferring auto maintenance, not trading in cars. In the DC area and probably others this is having a big impact on the local economy. Trump says months or years! How many bankruptcy's and forclosures? You can't borrow to pay your mortgage for two or more years.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
Good morning ...
Here's a pretty good interview, Larry King with Stephen Cohen:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bgJk-aA3_0 width:500 height:300]
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Thanks
I found that interview a little disappointing seemed like king didn't let cohen say what he wanted cause they had an old bone to pick between themselves.
I think Cohen is a knowledgeable Russian scholar who deserves respect. They want Rusia, Russia, Russia all the time....but not the truth about Russia. That ruins the narrative.
Thanks for coming by and leaving the link. I always appreciate your contribution(s) to the WW!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good Morning, Lookout, your introductory video
was the most beautiful and really emotionally uplifting one I have seen in a long, long time. Thank You.
What calms me down is that I watch people turn to gardening on their own to find peace and joy and the resolve it brings to feel your independence. Nothing feels better than eat the produce you planted yourself. My son does it a lot and it makes him very happy.
So funny, my son has no piece of land, but a landlord who allows him to garden extensively on his 'paradise' lot and he even appreciates his gardening work. My son almost eats only his produce and what he can steal from the trees in the wilderness. Avocado, mango, bananas yummy...I went stealing avocados with him, great fun. Next time (if there is one) I will be over there in HI I want to do my own coffee roasting.
I sit on a piece of land, I don't own, but somehow should and would and will, but I am not allowed to do anything with it and it itches in my fingers to do so. It hurts not to be allowed to use the land as one wishes. But in the spring I just sneak into it and plant something out of the sight of the master owner and darn it ... I will get my veggies and potatoes in my own hidden corners and be an subversive occupational no-man's landowner anarchist....
Occupy my veggies!.
Sigh. Have a good one and thanks for this beautiful weekly watch.
Can we have that again next Sunday?
So nice to hear that JtC is a gardener too. Woot. What a gang over here.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Sound like paradise in HI
Joni wrote this one about HI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmdbYSgGmXE (2 min)
May be there's a community garden allotment nearby? There's always containers and/or window boxes. Ideas to explore as we continue down the garden path.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
good afteroon lo...
and everyone...
Raining like crazy here. finally. happily. hope it does not flood, though. seems like the new modus operandi is a dumping water so we get a lot but a lot runs off. thanks for the shift in the ot lo. I need to get my garden growing again and this will help. I have moles now and nothing much makes them go away. ideas?
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moles...
are good and bad...
http://www.metromastergardeners.org/faq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=9&i...
We have moles because we have fertile soil and earthworms (one of their favorite foods). Some people put human hair clippings in their tunnels, others cayenne pepper to discourage them. They help aerate your soil, but can uproot plants as the eat grubs. http://www.howtogardenadvice.com/challenges/Pests/how_to_get_rid_of_mole...
At least they don't eat your crops...now voles are a different story.
https://www.favorablethings.com/how-to-get-rid-of-voles-in-your-garden/
They use the mole runs. We always have vole damage on our sweet potatoes...we just plant enough to share.
https://bonnieplants.com/gardening/keeping-voles-out-of-the-garden/
I thought this would be a good time to start the conversation cause it's time to get the plan together, order seed, and start to prep the soil. Glad you came by!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”