The main stem had a weak area and it bent and grew over the side. The plant's fine, just a little odd looking.
What's most exciting, is that a shoot has come out at the base of the existing stem and is also growing vigorously!
Lastly, it seems that the older the leaves, the more bitter the aftertaste. The youngest leaves have almost no aftertaste. Mmmm!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Potted Stevia rebaudiana
Started about a dozen from seed, two germinated, and one made it. Put it in a pot on my patio about a week ago and it's starting to really grow.
I pulled off one of the leaves to taste... has a sweet, delicate flavor that is much less bitter than the Stevia in packets. I think they will taste great steeped in tea!
I pulled off one of the leaves to taste... has a sweet, delicate flavor that is much less bitter than the Stevia in packets. I think they will taste great steeped in tea!
First day bike commute
Ride was great, residential neighborhoods were quiet and slow. One road with trucks and everyone drove respectfully around me. Only took 10 minutes longer than commute by car (25% longer). After I get in better shape, should be able to ride about twice as fast in areas I don't need to stop. I'm betting I'll get it to the amount of time it takes to drive!
Forgot: bike lock, belt for pants and deodorant.
Lower back is a little tender, but I figure it'll also improve as I get in shape.
Forgot: bike lock, belt for pants and deodorant.
Lower back is a little tender, but I figure it'll also improve as I get in shape.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Meltdown
Jefferson County, Alabama narrowly avoids bond default
The banks, short on money as pretend money disappears, and the civilian governments, short on money as tax money (jobs and property value) disappears, are coming to a "holy shit" kind of moment. Unbelievable amounts of money is at stake. It's all very smiles and handshakes at the moment but my question is, who has the bigger guns? Will the banks bring in hired thugs, or, do they own the federal political machine (and hence, US troops)? Will state and local governments raise militias to fight off the bank mafioso?
The banks, short on money as pretend money disappears, and the civilian governments, short on money as tax money (jobs and property value) disappears, are coming to a "holy shit" kind of moment. Unbelievable amounts of money is at stake. It's all very smiles and handshakes at the moment but my question is, who has the bigger guns? Will the banks bring in hired thugs, or, do they own the federal political machine (and hence, US troops)? Will state and local governments raise militias to fight off the bank mafioso?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
How our food is critically dependent on fossil fuel
The article Why Our Food is So Dependent on Oil, written in 2005, is a very thorough summary of my own ideas about how the American food supply is critically dependent on the cheap, uninterrupted flow of fossil fuels into this country.
Cut fossil fuel supplies and watch spot food shortages occur. Keep supplies up while prices go up and watch food prices increase beyond the reach of the poor. Do both? The system will seize and lots of people will starve.
I believe that renewable fuel sources like ethanol and biodiesel are important alternatives that can potentially provide additional resilience for our food supply. Unfortunately, significant acreage of arable land is being diverted to produce these biofuels. Since these biofuels, and especially ethanol from corn, provide only small energy gains while eliminating land used for food, our food supply is now even more vulnerable to disruption.
Cut fossil fuel supplies and watch spot food shortages occur. Keep supplies up while prices go up and watch food prices increase beyond the reach of the poor. Do both? The system will seize and lots of people will starve.
I believe that renewable fuel sources like ethanol and biodiesel are important alternatives that can potentially provide additional resilience for our food supply. Unfortunately, significant acreage of arable land is being diverted to produce these biofuels. Since these biofuels, and especially ethanol from corn, provide only small energy gains while eliminating land used for food, our food supply is now even more vulnerable to disruption.
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