Good morning. Do you remember Phil Specht, the Iowa farmer? He's a prolific poster on Facebook. Found him as one of Charlie Grapski's friends. I try to limit my Facebook "friends" to people I know in real life. But Phil and puddle go back to the Howard Dean days. Charlie is still in Florida looking after his dad and grousing about politics. At the moment, he's in hospital with a busted appendix. The trauma has made him appreciative of life. LOL Not being good with symbols, I clicked on what turned out to be a friend request on Phil's image. Doubt that he knows Sidney Lanier (my facebook moniker) from Adam. He accepted right away, so it seems he's keen to proselytize the pursuit of agriculture without pesticides or artificial fertilizers. We had a field like his, welcoming to bobolinks, redwings, tree swallows and goldfinches, in New Hampshire, but it went with the house. My twelve acres of marsh on the Georgia coast are not comparable. The vegetation is very different and so are the birds. Found a large white feather beneath a cedar yesterday, along with a patch of white on the shrubbery from where some heron or ibis was digesting fish. It is the same stuff decorating the lily pads in our backyard pond from the green herons in the bamboo hedge.
Yes, indeedy! I too am friends with our Phil*in*Iowa. Back in the Dean days, when I was answering phones in VT at Dean HQ, my two eldest kids went to Iowa to canvas for Dean. They were there for the alleged scream event and were the first to tell me he had not screamed, but simply yelled into the microphone because the room was immensely noisy. I will always be grateful to Diane Sawyer for bringing that truth to the world. Phil put on a great Blogger Breakfast in Iowa and has been connected to us all before and ever since. I am so grateful for his generous heart and quick intelligence. It's amazing that Iowa, of all places, has him!
Good news here; an inspector from the state Dept. of Food & Agriculture just came through, looked at our tangelo tree, took samples, and told me it definitely didn't look like citrus greening disease. Said his mother has a citrus tree that is suffering the same way. Maybe I can save the tree by simply cutting out the dead wood; it is putting out some new shoots.
He was prepared to capture the insects that spread the disease, but didn't see any. Said they were recently found in the next county to the south. And he confirmed my recollection that there had been a quarantine near here about three years ago.
I like it. When I looked carefully this morning there seemed to be several more live shoots than I noticed a couple of days ago. Citrus tree trunks and limbs are subject to sunburn, but the trunk is protected from direct sunlight by the peach tree immediately south of it.
I pointed out what lies directly across the river--citrus groves as far as the eye can see, and beyond. The inspector said opined that "Those guys are rich--they take care of [citrus greening] themselves." And they must be; when the light is just right one can see the incredible number of wind machines they have installed to keep the air in the groves above freezing.
He has a great campaign slogan, too. Certainly Peru has deep-seated problems that can't easily be solved, but maybe a house cleaning is on the horizon.
Oh, yes, I saw something about that. With all those black holes can we set up, as Asimov termed it, a sort of cosmic subway system for zipping about the universe? Probably not,but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Investigations are in response to complaints. They are supposed to be confidential, but the complainants and contacts are not precluded from commenting. On the other hand, demanding answers to questions runs into the reality that even agents of government cannot be forced to testify against themselves. So, a subpoena to Dejoy is not likely to send him to prison, but a failure to be responsive may be cause for dismissal. There is a presumption that public officials who are hired are qualified for the job. Unfortunately, when status-seekers are in charge, that is often not the case. The past administration would seem to have demonstrated definitively that incompetents come in all genders, sizes and ages.
Now, *that's* interesting. Hadn't come across that theory. In either case, it is very dangerous to dismiss his monderings, since there are people who take his every word as gospel truth, to whit the Jan. 6 insurrection.
OTOH being indicted is a far cry from being tried and convicted, much less going to prison. In a practical sense, what do you suppose would happen vis a vis QAnon etc. were Trump to be indicted? Could there be more violence? I personally expect so.
Among the flags listed as on display at the Democratic action event, I noted that neither the IWW nor the anarcho-syndacalist flag was mentioned, more's the pity.
Good morning. Do you remember Phil Specht, the Iowa farmer? He's a prolific poster on Facebook. Found him as one of Charlie Grapski's friends.
ReplyDeleteI try to limit my Facebook "friends" to people I know in real life. But Phil and puddle go back to the Howard Dean days.
Charlie is still in Florida looking after his dad and grousing about politics. At the moment, he's in hospital with a busted appendix. The trauma has made him appreciative of life. LOL
Not being good with symbols, I clicked on what turned out to be a friend request on Phil's image. Doubt that he knows Sidney Lanier (my facebook moniker) from Adam. He accepted right away, so it seems he's keen to proselytize the pursuit of agriculture without pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
We had a field like his, welcoming to bobolinks, redwings, tree swallows and goldfinches, in New Hampshire, but it went with the house. My twelve acres of marsh on the Georgia coast are not comparable. The vegetation is very different and so are the birds. Found a large white feather beneath a cedar yesterday, along with a patch of white on the shrubbery from where some heron or ibis was digesting fish. It is the same stuff decorating the lily pads in our backyard pond from the green herons in the bamboo hedge.
Yes, indeedy! I too am friends with our Phil*in*Iowa. Back in the Dean days, when I was answering phones in VT at Dean HQ, my two eldest kids went to Iowa to canvas for Dean. They were there for the alleged scream event and were the first to tell me he had not screamed, but simply yelled into the microphone because the room was immensely noisy. I will always be grateful to Diane Sawyer for bringing that truth to the world. Phil put on a great Blogger Breakfast in Iowa and has been connected to us all before and ever since. I am so grateful for his generous heart and quick intelligence. It's amazing that Iowa, of all places, has him!
DeleteGood news here; an inspector from the state Dept. of Food & Agriculture just came through, looked at our tangelo tree, took samples, and told me it definitely didn't look like citrus greening disease. Said his mother has a citrus tree that is suffering the same way. Maybe I can save the tree by simply cutting out the dead wood; it is putting out some new shoots.
ReplyDeleteHe was prepared to capture the insects that spread the disease, but didn't see any. Said they were recently found in the next county to the south. And he confirmed my recollection that there had been a quarantine near here about three years ago.
DeleteGreat news! Hope you can save the tree.
DeleteI like it. When I looked carefully this morning there seemed to be several more live shoots than I noticed a couple of days ago. Citrus tree trunks and limbs are subject to sunburn, but the trunk is protected from direct sunlight by the peach tree immediately south of it.
DeleteI may have to put a new chain on my [electric] chain saw; I think I have a spare.
DeleteGood news is good news.
Delete*YES!!!*
DeleteI pointed out what lies directly across the river--citrus groves as far as the eye can see, and beyond. The inspector said opined that "Those guys are rich--they take care of [citrus greening] themselves." And they must be; when the light is just right one can see the incredible number of wind machines they have installed to keep the air in the groves above freezing.
DeleteLeftist teacher takes on dictator’s daughter as Peru picks new president [Click] Great lead photo—candidate wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat to symbolize his peasant origins, and brandishing a huge pencil as a symbol of his support of education.
ReplyDeleteHe has a great campaign slogan, too. Certainly Peru has deep-seated problems that can't easily be solved, but maybe a house cleaning is on the horizon.
DeleteFBI Investigating Postmaster General Louis DeJoy [Click] Interesting. . .
ReplyDeleteTook them long enough. I don't suppose that means he's going to be fired any time soon?
DeleteDark Matter findings suggest Einstein’s Theory of Relativity “may be wrong” - BBC News - Click
ReplyDeleteAnother current theory is that the universe contains huge numbers of primordial black holes, small ones formed at the time of the Big Bang.
DeleteOh, yes, I saw something about that. With all those black holes can we set up, as Asimov termed it, a sort of cosmic subway system for zipping about the universe? Probably not,but it doesn't hurt to ask.
DeleteInvestigations are in response to complaints. They are supposed to be confidential, but the complainants and contacts are not precluded from commenting. On the other hand, demanding answers to questions runs into the reality that even agents of government cannot be forced to testify against themselves. So, a subpoena to Dejoy is not likely to send him to prison, but a failure to be responsive may be cause for dismissal.
ReplyDeleteThere is a presumption that public officials who are hired are qualified for the job. Unfortunately, when status-seekers are in charge, that is often not the case. The past administration would seem to have demonstrated definitively that incompetents come in all genders, sizes and ages.
If stories are true that Donald Trump believes he’ll be “reinstated” as president in August, it could just be a sign that he’s living in a fantasy world.
ReplyDeleteAn alternate theory is that Trump thinks he’ll be indicted soon. [Click]
Now, *that's* interesting. Hadn't come across that theory. In either case, it is very dangerous to dismiss his monderings, since there are people who take his every word as gospel truth, to whit the Jan. 6 insurrection.
DeleteOTOH being indicted is a far cry from being tried and convicted, much less going to prison. In a practical sense, what do you suppose would happen vis a vis QAnon etc. were Trump to be indicted? Could there be more violence? I personally expect so.
I agree, cat.
DeleteHow the Covid shock has radicalised generation Z [Click] Sounds reasonable to me. I hadn’t previously heard of Andreas Malm’s “climate Bohshevism;” follow the link to a dandy [IMO] interview.
ReplyDeleteThe once-beautiful streets San Francisco ruined [Click] Oh, boy—I am old enough to recognize a number of the “before” photos.
ReplyDeleteVT June 3rd: 24,240-24,232 = 8
ReplyDeleteActive Cases:777
Deaths:255(x16d)
Recovered:23,208(95.7%)
Hospital:3(-1) ICU:0(-1)
Tests:394,682(+287)
Our two eldest grands (in ME and VT) AND my younger sister (in MA) all got their second vaccine shots today!!!
Excellent! Their antibody titers should be up in a few weeks.
DeletePBS: Socialists, Proud Boys, and anti-maskers: The political establishment struggles to keep up in Nevada [Click] Gee—sounds like all sorts of political fun in the Silver State! I remember hearing about the institutionalist Dems getting their shorts in a knot and walking out, but this continues and expands the story!
ReplyDeleteAmong the flags listed as on display at the Democratic action event, I noted that neither the IWW nor the anarcho-syndacalist flag was mentioned, more's the pity.
DeleteI like that photo.
ReplyDeleteNeil Sedaka: Caribbean Rainbow - Click
Upcoming eyes on the sky:
ReplyDeleteWebb space telescope [Click]
Rubin observatory [Click]
Roman space telescope [Click]
Such interesting links today! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteHere's another:
DeleteA corporate tax reset by the G7 will only work if it delivers for poorer nations too [Click] I did not know that the current system for taxation of cross-border business was set up by the League of Nations. Small wonder it is no longer fit for purpose.
ReplyDelete