Monday, February 26, 2018

What is this called?


19 comments:

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    1. Here you go, listener; I had the Devil’s own time finding your flower; but I know I have seen it. Aechmea fasciata Variegata[Click] Common names:Silver Vase, Urn Plant, Silver Urn Bromeliad
      Family: Bromeliaceae

      —Alan

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  2. From the Washington Post:

    It’s time to say last rites over American conservatism
    By E.J. Dionne Jr.


    --Alan

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  3. Looks like some sort of cactus with a pink flower. As is true of most plants, identification is actually primarily based on leaf and stem characteristics. Leaves look like succulents with minimal prickles. The Spanish bayonette has much longer leaves with just a needle at the tip. The tip keeps potential nibblers at a distance. LOL Here in Georgia, we have black needle rush, which grows about three feet high. If it pricks your midriff, as you wander by, you may well get an allergic reaction as from a bug bite.

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    1. Thanks, Hannah! I was wondering if it was a cactus or a hosta. Cactus it is!

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  4. listener—I just read this article[Click] about Vermont dairy workers’ battle, and their victory over the modern corporatized Ben & Jerry’s. Can you offer any information about how they are doing with Cabot Creamery? I ask because I recently bought a piece of Cabot Creamery cheese and don't want to do so again if they are enemies of working folk (and small farmers).

    —Alan

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    1. "Despite its hippie origins, the famous ice-cream company was sold in 2000 to the multinational food conglomerate Unilever."

      They're not enemies, but they're too big. Vermont now has 92,000 acres that grow GMO corn and dairy cattle eat it. People are working on the problem. Unilever is finding that it didn't just buy a name, but the people of Vermont hold their feet to the fire about the origins of B&J's. The dairy farms are under huge economic pressures and all it takes is one issue like glycosphate to put the farm under.

      I buy very little dairy these days, but anything I do buy is from grass fed cows. Pasture raised cows are healthy and the milk they give is good for you. We have some wonderful small farms still, in Vermont. We need the large farms to go back to small.

      If you are looking for great Vermont cheese, though, look for Shelburne Farms cheese instead of Cabot. It's far superior anyway!

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    2. Thanks for the tip, listener. When I bought that Cabot cheese, it was a choice between that or cheese from a cooperative up in Humboldt County, Calfornia, where I come from. If I see Shelburne I may well check it out.

      Alan

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  5. On my Representative's FB page, I commented about Australia doing well after banning assault rifles. Someone commented:
    "Australia never had the God given right of the 2nd Amendment. That Shall Not Be Infringed. By anyone."

    My response:
    God did not write the Amendment, so as a person of faith I ask that you not blame God. But, since you suggest it, let's take a look at the 2nd:

    "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    I am fine with anyone who wishes to own a musket or the modern equivalent, as long as they are doing so to belong to a well-regulated Militia. Of course, since we now have a Standing Army with tanks and Blackhawks and rocket launchers, a Militia is no longer necessary.
    That said, there's nothing wrong with a hunting rifle or a handgun, but let's be clear. The Second Amendment never mentions hunting, and only refers to the sort of safety needed by the Free State, not the individual. Moreover, anything or anyone which even smacks of being for a Militia is expected to be well-regulated.

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  6. These days we have a standing Army, a Navy, an Air Force, the Marines and the Coast Guard. We have no need of a militia. And with today's weapons if the government comes after you you're finished. You have a gun? They have tanks, drones and bombers.

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    1. Oh, I forgot we also have the National Guard.

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  7. A few gleanings over lunch, and back to work.—Alan


    Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Trump Challenge on DACA[Click]

    Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) confronted President Trump over his proposal to arm educators in order to prevent future school shootings, The Hill reports.[Click] Inslee stood and objected when Trump raised the controversial idea: “We need a little less tweeting, a little more listening.” Trump crossed his arms and changed the subject.

    Trump Says He Would Have Confronted Shooter[Click] Comments include videos of Captain Bonespurs in action!

    From behind a paywall: One likely reason Trump approval has not been lower since January is that Gallup discontinued its (live phone) daily poll. Rasmussen, however, has continued its daily (automated phone) poll, which runs about 10% more favorable for Trump.

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  8. I think virtually every state in the union has a militia. Called the National Guard. I have no objection to them having guns.

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    1. Yeah, but you know puddle, when gun nuts cite the 2nd Amendment they're not thinking about joining the National Guard. They're picturing themselves as Rambo.

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  9. BROMELIAD! *That* is the word I was looking for! They also remind me of this. . . . https://www.amazon.com/Cast-Iron-Plant-Aspidistra-elatior/dp/B003ADRAVQ

    Growing up, virtually everyone's mother had one. But turns out they're related to lilies.

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    1. I understand that the cast iron plant (so named because it is so durable) was extremely popular in the late 19th Century and into the 20th; the people who were growing up then must in many cases have kept them. Naked ladies were also very popular and durable; to this day they can be seen where houses used to be--often the only remaining sign. We have some. Flowering quince, too! (Flowering quince is very durable because it puts down an incredible taproot. I know because I once took one out.)--Alan

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