Open Thread – Tomatoes
Before agriculture became widely industrialized, a much larger diversity of vegetables and fruits were grown. Now, after the advent of monoculture and hybridization, plant foods were tinkered with to produce varieties that look the same, withstand the assault of machine picking, tolerate intense use of pesticides and herbicides, hold up for rough and tumble cross-continental shipping, and yield more produce per plant. This is not all good. Because when you eat something, you’re not worried about how it holds up during machine picking. You’re concerned about how it tastes.
We are so used to tomatoes that are all perfectly red, perfectly shaped, and perfectly the same, that we don’t even think about it. So, when I get the chance to scarf up some heirloom tomatoes, it’s like Christmas in July. Heirloom tomatoes come from seeds of old, and are open-pollinated. These are the tomatoes of yore that existed before we were all told what a tomato should look like. My favorite of this batch, which ran the range of colors, was the green one. If you had a blindfold on, you’d think it was the most dead ripe amazing red tomato you’d ever had. It took one bite to get over the greenness, and sink into tomato bliss.
And to think that once upon a time tomatoes were banned in Italy because they are members of the nightshade family of plants and people were worried about being poisoned. So Italy traded tomatoes for “La Cosa Nostra” and Italians have been living happily ever after.From my time working as an understudy to a retail grocery chain’s print ad department,I learned that the word ketchup was a registered trademark of Heinz,Inc and other makers of ketchup had to spell it catsup to avoid trademark violations.This may or may not be gospel. Just what I remember from my hormonally charged teen years, As an aside-n if any people of Italian heritage take offense,I will agree to set aside one day in the near future so you can flog me to your heart’s content.
my cherry tomatoes are ripening this week – so enjoyable: that sweet, meaty, sun-warmed flavor – I know I recognize it in pumpkins and certain beers (Midnight Sun Pumpkin Porter, anyone?) but oh, my, homegrown tomatoes… no comparison
Good rant !
1) Murdoch won’t go to jail, but his iinfluence and power will be sharply curtailed. His last years on earth will be spent in court. His son may not end up with his dad’s empire.
2) mass produced veggies feed lots of people; diversity is already assured with the seeds stored in Iceland ( I think that’s where the cold storage facility is at, maybe it’s Greenland ?) Those of us able to grow some for fun and immediate use are , of course, vainly proud that we can actually grow SOMETHING… but I doubt we could survive on our growing skills ! 🙂 Science is a wealth of knowledge, and makes living easier for all of us, there are safeguards that should be adhered to in the use of that knowledge, so that we don’t “piss in our own homes” – energy production all have issues with safety and enviromental impacts of some sort, even wind mills have impact issues- we, as a race have to ultimately decide what energy sources are acceptable for us to conntinue out life styles… but, we are slow to change, slow to accept something that changes our daily lives, unless there is instant gratification from that change.
3) As for the dunderheads in Congress, we have no one to blame but ourselves, for electing the id-jits in, or letting others elect them in. We do wake up sometimes; Wisconsin has learned the hard way, Minn will be more aware their next election cycle, as will most Americans when it’s time to vote for our national reps… education, communication and resolve will be needed, let’s hope we have the wherewithal to help make changes in whom we send to DC this time around…
Warning, swallow liquids before reading.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/07/sarah-palin-film-the-undefeated-opens-in-orange-county-three-pay-to-attend.html
Lovely and typically diverse, interesting, mudflats thread, really enjoyed reading everything up to post 30 where I commence to respond and volunteer the weird perspective I have of things.
First and foremost I’d like to talk about the News Corp dustup at the top of the thread. This thing is big, very very big. Murdoch has enormous influence of the media in the three main english speaking countries in the world, don’t forget Australia where he got his start. I’ll try to be concise but it will mean leaving out a whole lot of details, for those interested in the OZ side of things take a look at the Deltoid blog on scienceblogs to get a whiff of how Murdochs press has distorted the politics of AGW there. But for this let me just point out that the investigation into the phone hacking in the UK has shown that for about 5 years he successfully prevented the disclosures which have just come to light. Payoffs, threats, bribes, blackmail, dirty tricks and most of all relentless harping propaganda in favor of his agenda are the hallmarks. The formula for his success has been to run a tabloid rag as if it was legitimate journalism, fair and balance, we report, you decide bull pucky. The absolute freedom to lie and obscure the truth. He makes Goebbles look like a piker. His interests are not the only interests at stake. The anti-AGW propaganda is bought and paid for by the huge energy conglomerates that have a major stake in seeing to it that we remain dependent on fossil fuels for as long as possible and are forced, by the lack of any alternative to pay whatever the market will bear for them. The demand and supply of fossil fuel is not much changed from what it was at the end of the last century, yet the price of a barrel of oil is ten times higher than it was then. Do any of you think that is a coincidence? The second largest stock holder in News Corp is a Saudi. Enough of that rant.
Bio-diversity and crop availability. Well, yes, industrial agriculture is not necessarily a good thing across the board. It certainly has its downside from the standpoint of human satisfaction. But what exactly sustains this trend towards greater and greater homogenization of food crops? Demand. It is all well and good to decry the loss of diversity in our choices for foods, actually a century ago we probably had much less choice than we do now, albeit that limited choice might have been a good deal more nutricious and mature. But it is our own fault that these trends have arisen, it is our own behavior, namely increasing population that drives the development of industrial agriculture. There is also a severe disconnect in discussing these issues. While it may be admitted that the motives of a Monsanto or Du Pont are less than pure, do we not collectively support those motives under the almighty rubric of free enterprise and capitalism? You can’t have it both ways. And in my humble opinion, the worst effect of this kind of disinformation is the spreading of the idea that science is somehow to blame for the greedy choices of capitalists. For those who are not very familiar with how biology actually works, and I am one of those, I am a geologist not a biologist, but I have a certain trust and respect for the integrity of my colleagues, that is incidentally always tested and questioned, I would have to ask, is next years crop of heirloom tomatoes genetically identical to this years? What about ten years down the road? Let us take another example, is the genetic diversity of Canis familiarus due to random selection or selective breeding and how exactly does selective breeding differ from genetic engineering? Are we to abandon stem cell research? Are we compelled because of the awesome implications to abandon cancer research because we just might discover genetic complexities and can be exploited for ill purposes? Science is just human behavior that is organized and systematized and happens to have a built in system of self evaluation. Do any of you have that level of organization in your lives? Science can be USED for good or ill, but it never is directed towards one or the other, it is just profound and incredibly detailed curiousity. Yes, it can be corrupted just like anything else, especially the precious superstitions that virtually everyone seems to cling to. Does anyone here think that the apostolic reformation church to which the palin pathogen belongs is the true way forward to manage the real world?
Finally as to diversity, it is still out there, in Peru for example there are more than a hundred varieties of potato that you can buy in any market, in Lima or Trujillo, or Cuzco. The world is still out there if you go look for it.
The world is also a house of cards, constructed due to the demands of capitalism, such that everything may freeze up and die in the next month or so because a few score of utter morons were elected to high office because millions of us so called right-thinking people simply did not bother to cast a vote.
I’ll eat a few tasteless and tough tomatoes in the gap, while watching in curious immunity whether or not a few severely deluded fools are willing to plunge the world into chaos. We actually know that they are are of course quite willing to do so because it will fullfill their ultimate fantasy of being heavenized. What we are seeing is the willingness of people who are so deluded that they think there is a profoundly fine life waiting for them and only them, that they are willing to commit suicide.
I should restate that, systemic suicide.
While I too have a certain fondness for the unique qualities of the small details of our lives and would like very much to live a world that was so constituted that we could trust the overall governance and function of society was assured, that is not the case. There are lunatics running the asylum, at all levels and in every branch of government and in every agency of government.
They are the deluded cult members who think that the 400 richest MEN in the world deserve to determine the fate of the 7 billion vermin.
“What a piece of work is man”…
Found this web site where Christie Vilsack could be running against Steve king. WOW!
Also heard on the WHO evening news tonight that the Vilsack’s are buying a house in this district——soooooooo King could find himself OUT!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/christie-vilsack-likely-to-run-against-iowa-rep-steve-king/2011/04/20/AFLGWYDE_blog.html
Dang, AKM, this is where I like the system that gives the newest voice first instead of having to go all the way to the bottom to comment – those tomatoes are AWESOME! I love the green one, then the red/yellow one, and my absolute favorite one is not pictured but is an almost black/red one. A true tomato is a bit of food bliss – mmmmmmmmm! Love your picture!
Now I will go back and read the comments in the correct order 🙂
Am just starting to get ripe tomatoes in my Vermont garden – the orange cherry called Sun Gold. It’s not an heirloom, but has all the characteristics – soft skin, complex flavor, sweet enough to be fruit. I love summer!
Lennie 17@ 24
I agree about Steve King from Iowa. Nut case. I see on the Iowa news, he is running around Iowa with M. Bachmann. They make a good pair.
I don’t know when King will run again, but the Democrats should go after him–hot and heavy.
King runs in 2012 as do all House of ill repute members and a third of the Senate-you know-the greatest deliberately condenscending bunch of Jehus ever assembled under one roof.
so i can’t spell.
It’s about time…CBS publishes a story about the Palin family vacation paid for by PAC $s:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20079880-503544.html
Perhaps the FEC should look into this and get a clarification from SarahPac, which they can make public. If it was a family vacation then she is in violation…if she was in a presidential type campaign she is also in violation.
I sent an email to the FEC to ask them if using PAC money for personal things like family vacations was OK, sending them the CBS link above. If you’d all like to write your questions of comments to them please do so at info@fec.gov
If it’s okay, then I hope to see Stephen Colbert on a family trip soon with his new super PAC. 🙂
If she is allowed to get away with this then the flood gates will open. Newt will happily take his wife on another Greek cruise using other people’s money. Maybe Michelle and Marcus could plan a devil may care holiday in the lovely town of Mykonos (where gays and straights frolic freely) by using the millions in her PAC. And Tim Pawlenty can follow Lady Gaga around the world, attending all her concerts thanks to the dollars granted to him by his followers.
Apparently the National Park Service told CBS that the Palin visit was treated like a usual “celebrity” visit which means they got special attention. As a taxpayer (probably paying a higher rate than most celebrities or Sarah Palin, especially those in the 1 to 2 percent bracket) I resent ANY special treatment of ANY American citizen or foreign visitor. We should all get the same treatment.
Sarah obviously did not benefit from any of the special treatment she got because her understanding of US history was just as poor as it was before she left Alaska!
My mother used to serve big fat slices of tomato with SUGAR on them. It was years later that I discovered I prefer them with a little black pepper. I got two lovely tomatoes in my CSA box yesterday. I am having one for lunch today. Yum.
My dad always put sugar on his tomatoes, so I did too. Most people I know add salt. I now prefer mine just as they are – nice and ripe and juicy without anything else added.
I prefer my tomato with a slice of onion over it, a hamburger patty under it, and a bun above and below the whole thing.
and here I thought Alaskans had their tomatoes with salmon patties, as cows don’t graze too well up there….
Don’t forget the ketchup and a pickle! 🙂
I’m sorry, leenie, but it is an abomination to put a pickle on a perfectly good hamburger. You are scheduled to be burned at the stake a week from Friday.
Ketchup, however, is a basic necessity of life. I just might forgive you.
Sorry, Slipstream. (hanging head in shame) 🙁
Can I use the fire to make some s’mores before I get grilled???
S’mores are okay. Singing old camp songs from days long past (with hand motions) is verboten.
Don’t forget Beefsteak.
Too good not to share:
“Aging wizard Sarah Palin sets off in a gaudy vacation bus vowing to destroy the liberal media’s horcruxes, or whatever, also, but gives up halfway through her journey just because. However, by failing in the task she set out to accomplish, she manages to hold on proudly to her title as undefeated champion of Quittich. The end.”
Brilliant!
LOL! I assume you meant to type “Quittich”? Bloody brilliant, that. 🙂
“Quittich” – ? That was what was brilliant! Kudos to you, wish I’d thought of it! (gonna laugh on that one for a week)
The Republicans are publicly and proudly demonstrating how they have reached a level of complete and total absurdity.
Iowa Rep. Steve King is one more example of the absolute refusal of many Republicans to deal with the looming debt ceiling crisis like adults. He was interviewed by Scott Keyes from Think Progress who, just as a ridiculous example, asked him if he would support an agreement with $3 trillion in cuts and only EIGHT DOLLARS in revenue increases. King said he wouldn’t agree to ANY tax increases or revenue increases of any amount. EIGHT FREAKIN’ DOLLARS!!!
And these people have the sheer gall to claim Obama is being unreasonable!?!
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/15/270661/king-wont-accept-revenue-increases/
It makes me wonder how the President can listen to these idiots whine and blame every day without giving in to the urge to smack them upside the head. What amazing patience and self-control that man has!
patience and self control ?
interesting i do not see it like that. i think he should grow some cojones and stand up in a national press conference and call em out for being the hypocrites and obstructionists they are .. they need a good public chewing out and the President seems to be willing to let them have there way. i question his motives and his intentions. i voted for him , but i am very disappointed.
i mean be visibly angry and really bitch em out. this playing the nice guy thing is not doing anybody any good.
By remaining calm, the President is brilliantly showcasing the childish and obstinate behavior of the repubs. He does not have to do anything to point out how unreasonable they are.
that would by fine if he did not give in and let them have their way.
I agree.
It was reported yesterday that he walked out of the meeting. The press ate it up and made it seem as if he stormed out of the meeting. (See Jon Stewart’s comments on this). I think all the tough talk and the drama is just for the media and the base.
Near the end of the heatlhcare debate, we were unsure which way things would go and if there were enough democratic votes to pass the bill. After the bill passed, I read that the real cause of the tension in the final days was about which conserv-a-dem would take the hit and vote for the bill. I imagine the same thing is happening now with the republicans and all these statements being made is just theater.
At least that is what I hope.
Laurie and fishingmama-I agree with Ivan. Is this what our Nation has come down to? One side says they did this and the other side says nuh-huh,they did this. I want these people to sit and negotiate like the adults they are purported to be. I at least expect that from the Potus,Rethugs are a different breed of cat. Sound bites over substantive negotiations is not getting the job done. Must be time for serious political changes. We have got to do much better than whiny five year olds.
I agree. Certainly there are times when I’d like to see him show more emotion and rip their nasty little lungs out. However, in this situation he’s making them look like a bunch of toddlers throwing a temper tantrum, holding their breath and kicking their feet until they get their way. Since 80% of the country supports a combination of spending reduction and revenue increases like he’s proposing, he’s in a very good bargaining position. The Republicans know they HAVE to raise the debt ceiling and it seems like their corporate financial overlords are starting to put some heavy pressure on them to prevent economic meltdown.
I’ve heard several people in Washington say that he’s very often playing chess while the Republicans are playing checkers. Hopefully, he will stand strong and call their bluff.
He is doing a magnificent job in making them look like idiots and all out for themselves vs the “American people” as they so much like to say. Good job President Obama!!!
Did you know that Eric Cantor’s high school year book gave his favorite quote as ” want what want when I want it”. Seems to have followed him into his political life.
The Republicans are afraid to give in, they promised their peeps during the elections or by pledge they would not vote to increase taxes. If they agree to it, they would lose face, and it seems more important for them to stand their ground than to agree on raising the debt ceiling. I find it amazing they are willing to risk our country over their stupid campaign promises.
i think it has more to do with them wanting to do everything they can to make the president and the dems look bad for their own political gain. doing whats best for the country is not important.
It’s a mixture of both, with a bit of hidden racism tossed in.
I promised to love,honor and obey when I got married. I knew she would never leave me because she couldn’t bear the thought of kissing my ugly mug goodbye. She left anyway.
🙁 hugs to you!
See Wednesday’s Stonekettle blog. He says it so well.
He is very eloquent – and true! With all the Pledges that repubs are supposed to sign now, it is becoming very evident that they do not care about Americans, but about their own personal beliefs.
I heard about the pledge on Washington Week tonight. Apparently close to 200 members of the house actually signed a pledge not to vote for any tax increase. No wonder why they can’t get anything done. What idiots!
Despite Obama tempting them with the red meat of potential Medicare and Social security cuts to do a big debt reduction 4 trillion dollar deal they refuse to come out of the corner they have backed themselves into.
Now I understand why O’Connell came up with a way for them not to vote for a tax increase. Obama is not letting them change the rules just to avoid pissing off their base.
Does he get any credit for that?
Yup!
Left a couple of ‘s out -this keyboard will drive me nuttier than I am. Should have been “I want what I want when I want it”.
We get our summer veggies from a CSA (community-supported agriculture) farm; tomatoes will appear in August. Thinking about the lovely lettuce and veggies helps us through the winter.
We are eagerly awaiting our tomato crop. Such a variety of them I can’t even remember all the names without checking out my planting notes. Same for peppers. A number of green fruit on both…just waiting for ripeness,a variety of colors promised, to hit.
Between unusual breaks in fishing, Bristol Bay has been odd this year, there have been moments for ‘gardening’ leading to fresh salads, veggies in stir-fry and all sorts of neat additions to the regualr table fare!!
Thanks AKM for reminding people that food can be different than the local grocery store!!
UGAVIC – Please explain “unusual breaks in fishing” A friend of mine just got back from fishing in Anvik and is going back on the 30th. Not too much luck the first time. I told him there was usually someone commenting on fishing here on the Flats, but haven’t heard much this year.
Normally most of the 5 rivers in the Bristol Bay fishery start fishing and have the fish pretty much follow a bell curve in how the fish come into the rivers, where fishermen are allowed to catch them.
Our river, the Ugashik, historically has a two peaks curve/run, but this year ALL of the rivers have had a gap with little to no fish coming in. The has been up to 6 days of almost nothing fishing in some areas. It finally looks like it has picked up again.
From what we have heard from biologists no history of this type of season in the bay in the past. Also the catch so far is down from expected and some rivers are STILL trying to reach their escapement numbers but not sure how it will all end up.
Also the word is the King/Chinook runs continue to be dismal at best in the bay….not a good sign.
Is the low number of salmon from commercial overfishing?
Not on the normal Sockeye runs. The state of Alaska conducts what they call a terminal fishery in Bristol Bay, which means that fisherman do not get to fish out in the bay but instead inside a very restricted district at the mouth of each river. The fish for each river are heavily monitored and fishermen are only allowed to fish when the biologist feels that enough fish are making it up river to spawn.
Why the run has been this way is something that has the biologists concerned and talking so far.
Thanks, UGAVIC for the info. It was passed around the good ole boys table at breakfast this morning. That, of course, started the biggest fish stories you ever heard!
National Geographic had a nice article recently on the problem of the loss of crop diversity as a part of industrial agriculture:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/food-ark/siebert-text
notice, the sponsor of that natgeo piece is dupont.
dupont is contributing to the GMO problem.
http://www.gmofoodforthought.com/2008/07/dupont_gains_approval_for_modi.html
really lowers my respect level for National Geographic.
using global population growth as scare tactic to make GMO foods accepted.
Isn’t Rupert Murdoch involved with National Geographic too and also?
Those tomatoes look yummy, lovely. I’ve been snacking on my sweet million cherry tomatoes this week. What a wonderful time of year it is.
Meanwhile, back at the mines…another tale from the trenches:
http://www.bentalaska.com/2011/07/on-being-a-greenie-gay-girl-1
“The economy has taken such a dip, that a multi-certified, CDL-papered, degree-carrying, enterprising individual such as myself could apply to thirty different jobs in a two-month period (yes, I counted), and hear back from no one. And then I was offered this position. I am a medic, in a camp of about sixty people, in the middle of nowhere, in Alaska. The catch? It’s a camp for mineral exploration. It represents everything that I’ve resisted in resisting Capitalism’s takeover, and many, if not a vast majority, of my fellow campmates hold worldviews that directly oppose my own.”
that’s a hard one Mo. i would say go for it but you will not be able to escape them or find friends to ease loneliness.
i did get a bit of info about jobs with Amtrak but i don’t know if there is
Amtrak in Alaska.
here goes. if you can’t use to info maybe someone else might be interested. good luck. wishing you the best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great jobs for young men who aren’t in college and strong young women also! This is President Obama money for “infrastructure” the jobs are located all over, paid training in Atlanta . This is an awesome opportunity, please pass this on These jobs pay good wages.
Training: You will attend two or three weeks of training at the Railroad Education & Development Institute in Atlanta , GA. CSX will pay for travel, lodging and meals as required by collective bargaining agreement.
Track Worker-030702 Job Summary: Work as a member of a crew to install new railroad track, maintain existing track and right-of-way. Replace or repair track switches with specific components. Slide and align tie plates. Drill holes through rails for insertion of bolts and tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends or rails together. Correct deviations in track surface, alignment and gauge
Cut rails to specific lengths etc.
Pay Rate Entry Rate $19.36/hour Full Rate $21.52/hour Promotional/ Advancement Opportunities:
Under Maintenance of Way Collective Bargaining Agreement, Track Workers may be considered for advancement
or promotion to other positions within the Engineering Department if qualified.
Mmmm, I love home grown tomatoes. The last time I had a really good tomato was in Kansas where there’s plenty of sun to make it tasty. Hubby and I and a neighbor in our four-plex when we were first married decided to grow some tomatoes. We had Big Boy, Early Girl, three cherry tomato plants. Everything grew and produced fabulous tomatoes all summer and into the fall. They weren’t heirloom tomatoes, but they were excellent.
I love heirloom tomatoes, eat them in season, and dry some for winter. I don’t mind the cracks some varieties develop, or their other idiosyncrasies. The depth of their flavors and colors make up for anything others might regard as “imperfections.”
I like them better than I do watermelons, and I love watermelon.
“Why aren’t you seeing Harry Potter?”
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/07/why-arent-you-seeing-harry-potter-.html
(I’m going to see HP this weekend!!!)
…..if there are still tickets left…..=S
I really, really, really want to $plurge and see it in 3D.
Aussiegal–I’ll do it if you do it (well, presuming the tickets remain).
I’m definitely gonna watch it but not in 3D sorry mate =( I….er….kinda….can’t stand 3D! Sorry!!! I would see it in HD though =D
Checked Sunday’s times and plenty of showings. Will have to see if we can get tickets online at lunch time =D
I am ready to leave now to see it at 10:45 this morning. It was killing me to not be at the midnight show, but I usually go with my daughters and one is home with her new baby (our first grandson) who was born last Friday and the other had surgery on her foot last Friday and can’t walk on it for at least another week.
So, it’s off to the movie theater for me. 🙂
Have fun! And….report back!! =D
I loved it. So much of what I liked about the movie (and all the books) was there and so well done. Everyone, especially Snape’s part of the story was outstanding. But then, as an avid Alan Rickman fan, I wasn’t at all surprised about that. I’m just glad that we finally got to see Snape’s story. I won’t say more, for those who haven’t seen it (or horror of horrors, for those who don’t want to 😉 ).
I’m betting you will besotted with this new grandchild by week’s end 🙂 Please send me a pic via email. I’d love to see him!
I already am besotted. I’ll try to send you an email sometime this weekend.
on a lighter note since this is an open tread i would like to make you aware of a fellow Alaskans blog.
my good friends are traveling around the world for a year.
Their son Rohan is writing a blog of his travel experience. he is quite articulate for his age and it is usually a short entry that is a joy to read with photos.
i know he would love to have some new and unknown ( to him ) followers.
the link is
http://www.rohangeographic.blogspot.com/
please say hello and wish this Alaskan Ambassador happy travels.
thanks.
most everyone in America that shops at a grocery store is eating some form of genetically modified food.( unless they are aware and vigilant.)
GMO corn and or its byproducts are in a significant majority of the food on the shelves in U.S. stores.
Monsanto owns the F.D.A.( you would be horrified if you knew how much power they have over seed stocks and food ). There is no studies to show if they are safe or what the long term affects may be. Many country’s have banned these GMO’S but the winds and the pollinators will still spread these frankenfoods. we are one big genetic experiment. check out the link bellow for more info.
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/Home/index.cfm
When my friends blame the FDA for not preventing this or not doing something about that – I have this urgent need to LAUGH OUT LOUD then politely ask them who exactly think owns the FDA, please? It’s certainly NOT the US government. People here act like THE GOVERNMENT is all powerful. Ha! The US Congress is a hopeless gridlock of corporate interest and lobbying activities. Not to mention a complacent Press. But I guess that’s what happens when greed is the order of the day.
Can’t say it’s much different back home in Australia….
I’d love to be able to “like” somebody or “+1” so that I can give support without having to comment. Just a thought that you may want to check out AKM. Thanks!
Opps – meant to say my CONSERVATIVE friends…
Back home you have Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue and Elle Macpherson and Bolivia Neutron Bomb and the girl on the night mail-from the mini-series 1915 and Rachel Ward and they are all better than the FDA.
LOVE IT. And also…TRUE.
Don’t forget Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman =D
The girl from the nightmail-Sigrid Thornton-I’m still madly in like with her from the mini-series on PBS. Not familiar with Cate and Hugh is good looking,but,not my type.
I’m thinking you really like those Aussie gals mike!
I still feel anger when I remember how in Iraq they made the farmers destroy all the seeds that they had used for generations. They faced stiff fines if they didn’t buy and use GMO’s from American sources.
We are finally getting “real” tomatoes at the grocery. If the tomatoes are “home-grown”, I don’t peel them. All others get peeled. And yes——some taste like cardboard. We did grown tomatoes in a small garden next to our house, but since the deer come in the night——forget it!
Try a little watered-down tabasco sauce or wet the plants and sprinkle cayenne pepper on them. You’ll soon seperate the cajun deer from the pretenders in a night or two. Red peppercorns mixed in with bird seed is supposed to convince squirrels to find food elsewhere,because squirrels have taste buds and birds don’t.
I tried both cayenne pepper and chili powder in my birdseed. Somehow, I must have the only squirrels in western NY who were born in Mexico because it didn’t bother them a bit!
On the other hand, the squirrel-proof birdfeeder I bought myself as a housewarming present – never been breached by squirrels in over ten years. Because they were lighter, the chipmunks were able to sit on the spring lever, eat the sunflower seeds and put the shells back in the feeder (really annoying!). However, last year I moved the feeder forward so they can’t jump up from the arbovitae, so now they have to scrounge from the ground like the squirrels do.
I’ve only had deer problems one summer when they crossed a main road near my neighborhood. This year, however, the local deer population has exploded so I anticipate that I may have some problems come winter, unless the new coyotes in town get very busy!
I use rebar rods, bent over in a half circle, wtih PVC pipe horizontally and cover with deer netting , looks like a Quonsett hut . Easy to lift up and get the tomatoes out. the plants are in large pots due to gophers/moles, and I don’t have to fuss with weeding. auto drip system for watering , and once a week miracle gro. Although I’d LOVE to 12 gauge the deer, the “women” of the house would flay me alive if I harmed Bambi’s mom………. grumble, grumble, freaking deer , grumble grumble, eat my roses and veggies..grumble grumble… 🙂
I’ve got a new blonde girlfriend I’m itching to try out on local deer varmints. Best news of all is she is a 20 guage pump.not a twelve. You could probably sneak it past the womenfolks. With three inch shells it stills booms like a howitzer. Without my hearing aid,I hardly notice the noise. My shoulder can tell.
Mike – Cayenne pepper, red chile pepper, none of that stops the squirrel thugs at my place. they
even dug up new plants in pots. Did put lots of cayenne on the soil and that stopped them until it rained and then I had to repot and re-cayenne. As for the supposed weighted squirrel proof bird feeder, those varmints have that one figured out also too!!
Birdseed with cayenne pepper also works on moose! If you’re having trouble with a moose eating up your birdseed, let him have it! A friend did that–the moose licked up all the birdseed off the ground with one slurp, and suddenly his opened very wide and he sat down thump! Then up he got and raced to the nearest water source, which occupied him for a fair amount of time.
Since I moved to this house almost 11 years ago, I’ve been growing Early Girl tomatoes because we have a rather short growing season (without the perpetual sun you have in Alaska). Last year I tried Celebrity tomatoes too. The Early Girl came out all nice and round and even but, as usual, tasted only slightly better than the waxy fake things you buy in the grocery store. The Celebrity tomatoes grew all gnarly and bumpy and misshapen, but tasted wonderful…like sugar and juice and summer, all rolled into one.
At the end of the season, I asked myself why I was still growing a variety that tasted like I had bought them at Wegmans in February. This year I’m growing Celebrity and trying some roma tomatoes instead, along with my usual grape tomatoes. Because of all the rain we had this spring (which we could sorely use about now), I got a very late start and everything is running late, but I can’t wait until they start coming in. Yummm!
Maybe next year I’ll try some heirloom varieties!
I have three heirloom tomatoes in pots, and one New Mexico pepper plant- also in a pot. So far, so good– until yesterday afternoon when we got pounded… even more rain than the last 9 days. This has been an Early Mega-Monsoon for those of us living on the High Plains Desert. yikes.
I’ll go out and look when I put the ribs and corn on the grill (where is the smiley with scrunched-up eyes?) 😉
Not sure where you are, but I’ve had good results with Northern Exposure. It’s a determinate plant, medium sized, good fleshed tasty tomato. I start the plants a couple months before last frost and usually get ripe tomatos before frost.
Watch Guy Clark sing his song, “Home Grown Tomatoes.” Only two things that money can’t buy……”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caQalpjDqGg
🙂
Seeds of old? I thought they were from seeds of yor. : )
I thought you were going to speak to the Rotten Tomatoes rating The Indefatigable is rating.
I feel so sorry for those poor film critics had to Maalox themselves through.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WSreZV_lQS4/Th–_sqatwI/AAAAAAAABSw/Hou57n6u5YM/s1600/The+Undefeated+review+by+critics..JPG
This is a good review of the Palin film. The reporter went to the bastion of conservative thought in So. Cal with hopes of interviewing Palin fans as well as seeing the film.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/sarah-palin-movie-debuts-to-empty-theater-in-orange-county/241983/
On screen there were clips of a younger Sarah Palin helping to reform Alaskan governance. “In politics, you’re either eating well or sleeping well,” she said. I jotted this down: “And which of those are you doing now?”
Well, her Lower Yukon River constituents were doing neither, eating well or sleeping well.
I seriously dislike this woman in any iconic image she wishes to embody.
“It’s my experience that the grassroots doesn’t fit the caricature of its champions or its detractors.” – Conor nails it.
Oh, this is sad and hilarious! What great writing.
EXCELLENT review! It was funny when the young couple came in to an empty theater to make out… and left as Andrew Breitbart began talking about eunuchs. Ha! 🙂
Oh my- drooling- nothing beats the flavor of home grown tomatoes, just like candy for me! Can’t wait for my plants to start producing their goodness! Wishing tomato bliss to all!
Was you trying to sing Oh my drooling Clementine?
But of course dah-ling! 😉
Years ago in the 1950-60’s my father grew “Rutgers” tomatoes which were developed in Princeton, New Jersey and used by Cambells,Heintz and maybe Hunts. Haven’t been able to find plants, so this year I bought some seeds and a friend started them for me. I have 40 plants in my little garden, 100% organic. They are doing ok despite lack of oil-based fertilizer.
********************
from the Net:
You may not recognize the name, but you’re bound to know the legendary taste. The Rutgers tomato was first introduced by Rutgers University breeder Lyman Schermerhorn [MJP1] after World War I. It became one of the varieties used to breed the original tomato that went into Campbell Soup, Heinz and Hunt’s foods.
It was widely used in brand-name food products until the mid-20th century.
The Rutgers tomato tastes best when grown naturally and left unprocessed. That’s good for you, because you get tons of flavor when you use them on a sandwich, burger or snack!
The deep, rich red fruits are medium size, weighing 6–8 ounces, crack-free with thick walls and of course, an irresistible flavor. They’re meaty, mild and sweet with small seed cavities—one of the best tomatoes for use in thick sauces and rich soups. You’ll also enjoy them sliced.
There’s a local woman whose passion for tomatoes has turned into a business, and she’s recently expanded. She has JUST heirloom tomatoes, and sells the plants as well as the seeds – actually quit working as an attorney to do this full time; was located on the hill above me just drive in, pick up what you wanted and leave the $ in the box before leaving – she’s now in Scotts Valley – the Love Apple Farm…
Uh….who and where is Scott’s Valley? Just out of curiousity?
In the 60’s, home of some very profitable Mary Jane type ventures. Also used to be home to Santa’s Village, and really fun amusement park for children. All that’s left is Santa Claus Lane. I had a birthday party there about *^ years ago!
Really, Mike, anyone would think you were, like, from the midwest!
Try Scott’s Valley on google earth. It’s a lovely place. While you’re at it, try looking at Roaring Camp in Felton. Just having you look is, I’m sure, not going to grow my stock in the company, but that’s a pretty neat place to go. One of the things a person should see is an old growth redwood forest. You can’t imagine how big the trees are. Then, you can drive down the coast and hit Santa Barbara. I’ll take you body surfing. Or we can just hit a good restaurant.
You need to come out to CA for a vacation. Our ski slopes are higher. 🙂
Yum. Santa Cruz County, CA–that Scotts Valley?
YUP ! Just north of Santa Cruz, Ca. North end of Monterey Bay…
That’s a great place. A friend of mine took a tomato raising class there. Doesn’t she grow for some 5 star restaurants that only use organic?
I have a couple of heirloom tomatoes in my mini-patch this year. Some yellow ones. Mmmmmm.
I heard an interview this past week on NPR with a guy ( sorry can’t remember the name ) that investigated the tomatoe industry in Florida. He wrote a book called Tomatoeland, I think – you know I should really look this stuff up on their website before commenting here – anyways as predicted by the interviewer it was an ugly view of how tomatoes are grown and shipped so that we can have perfect looking tomatoes in the stores year round. It was another one of those stories that makes you shake your head and wonder what the hell the factory growers are doing to make a perfect looking tomatoe but it tastes like cardboard. Bottom line – buy local, support your local farmer, know where your food is coming from.
I was talking to someone this morning about Tomatoland and I really want to read it. Local tomatoes are just starting to show up in our farmers’ markets and I am very happy!
Now THOSE are TOMATOES!
Moving on to the froth of the day:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics
Palin political committee spent tens of thousands on bus trip
[article follows]
Funniest commentaries so far after you read the article:
paris1969
Who are these people who are so foolish with their money that they give it to this shyster?
Today 7/15/2011 12:50:24 AM EDT
Watcher1
They are known by the name “goobers”. They inhabit the valley of the shadow of trailers.
This is starting to really hot up!
Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International, has resigned, the company has confirmed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14166162
It’s about time, but she’s falling on her sword to try to protect the Murdochs, I think.
Is the sacrifice big enough? That’s what I wondered.
I think so too…I wonder how much she is being paid to take the fall.
I wonder what Murdoch has up his sleeve. It is also getting interesting on this side of the pond with the Justice Debt. confirming that they are looking into the scandal. Can a cover-up be in the works? Have enough law enforcement officials been bribed to bury evidence? Has Ailes organization been guilty of any wrong doing (besides the obvious lack of journalistic integrity)?
I wonder when Fox will cut Sarah loose.
I wonder why Fox isn’t investigated for lack of journalistic integrity…I guess they don’t cross over the line of prosecution….but freedom of the press seems to mean the freedom of the press to lie.
I’d say we don’t know what Fox news has done or not done. The FBI is starting an investigation of possible hacking into phones of 9/11 victims. We will see what comes up. I personally think everything Murdoch has touched needs investigating.
I read somewhere yesterday that Murdoch cannot be forced to testify in England because he is now an American citizen (aren’t we the lucky ones?). Brooks is the highest ranking official in the company who IS still a British citizen so, in many legal respects, it’s her head on the chopping block.
Of course, now with the FBI and DOJ starting investigations, I’m not sure how Murdoch is going to try and squirm his way out of being held accountable here. Sorry, Rupert, old buddy…can’t have it both ways!
Couldn’t happen to a sleazier and more immoral group of people and I would pay to watch Faux go down with them. The timing of this whole thing has got to be making Republicans sweat bullets. It will be particularly interesting to see how this affects the 2012 election, with the right wing’s main propaganda network in deep water. How will all those RWNJs know what to think if Fox isn’t there to tell them?
Time to start popping that popcorn!
Here is a likely scenario(this happened during Iran Contra hearings and saved Ollie North’s backside). Rethuglicans in congress have control of congress which gives them subpoena power. They could conceivably subpoena Murdoch and then give him immunity from prosecution,which would allow him to admit to killing Mother Theresa and he would walk away a free man. Dems gave North limited immunity because they wanted him to squeal on Raygun,Bushwhack the first and CIA chief spook William Casey. After his testimony,North was charged with several felonies,but,skated on appeal because of immunity. Everyone knows North and Raygun’s gang are crooks.it will just never be proven.
Interesting idea but it seems to me that there’s a big difference between then and now. North was not the big dog and he was given immunity in hopes of nailing people over him.
There’s no one higher than Murdoch…the ‘apex predator’, so to speak. I would think they’re more likely to do that in reverse – give immunity to his underlings to testify against him.
But, then again, there are all sorts of political and financial connections that I am not privy to that will ultimately determine who’s charged with what.
My thinking is that Rethuglicans will give Murdoch immunity to prevent him from outing Rethuglicans. There are a lot of rwnj that owe their souls to Fake Noise. If they can protect him they can protect themselves. I also remember a big check kiting scandal under Raygun and the A.G. Ed Meese granted immunity to the big wheels involved and then they only prosecuted one underling for the whole scandal. In your world and my world the little guys take the fall and the consequences.
A correctiont to be made- check kiting scandal under Raygun was EF Hutton brokerage and they plead guilty to around 2000 counts with the stipulation that none of the 25 top execs involved would be prosecuted and the company would be allowed to stay in business. My apologies for failure to check resources first.
There is indeed something to be said for tomatoes raised in your own greenhouse.
If you want an eye opener when it comes to food, rent the documentary “Our Daily Bread.” There is no talking, but none is needed. It provides a snapshot of how beef, pork, poultry, and veggies are handled prior to making it to your plate. It’s pretty scary.