Choose Hope over Fear

"fruit fly research in Paris, France . . . I kid you not."

Sarah Palin's War on Science

I think some think it's just easier to be stupid and perpetuate the myth that stupidity somehow makes you superior. Seems like a pain in the ass when you could just work the same amount at listening and learning and thinking.

Waaaaz uuuup?

Ahhhhhh

From Yes We Can Hold Babies

My God Is Bigger Than Your God!

Rev. Arnold Conrad spoke before a John McCain rally in Iowa saying, in part,

"I would also pray Lord that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their God -- whether it's Hindu, Buddha, Allah -- that his [McCain’s] opponent wins for a variety of reasons.

And Lord I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they’re going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens. So I pray that you would step forward and honor your own name in all that happens between now and Election Day.

Oh Lord, we just commit this time to you, move among us, make your presence very well felt as we are gathered here today in Jesus's name I pray."

Ivory-billed Woodpeckers

I wrote this poem for my friend and all of those people looking for "the bird."


The Bird

There have been reports of the thought
to have been extinct ivory-billed woodpecker
in a panhandle swamp. I have
submitted these reports. I have seen the end
reimagined without despair,
somehow, wheeling over me, slow
as the sun. The particulars
are for another place, one where much
is lost in footnotes and cavity calculations
and some may see something
besides the bird if that is how it comes out,
how the words sound to all these people
who remember the way things should be.
But there is a catastrophic name given
to them and their henchman, their skidders
and hard hats, and the way they step on light,
believing it can be crushed, bent
and yes I will speak, I will admit
to the curvature of time, I will admit
to the misfire of neurons, the wish fulfillment
of every nascent morning, but I will not say
the world cannot be refound,
that this bird cannot awaken
from a dark sleep, that we are not capable
of becoming our better selves.

See more Sarah Silverman videos at Funny or Die

Happy Birthday Bilbo and Frodo!!

Big Z Throws No Hitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Foxtrot and LOTR

The comic strip Foxtrot has some funny Tolkien references. Here is a collection of them at Tolkien Gateway.

This is me! Click on it for a better look.

Ki-Ki

poem

I have a poem up at Arsenic Lobster.

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

Skokie River Nature Preserve

Spent the morning at Shaw Prairie. Here are a few pics of Purple Prairie Clover.

North Pond

I work for The Lincoln Park Conservancy. I help take care of The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool and North Pond. I took some pictures of some of the flowers around the pond. There is a wonderful prairie we call the "West Prairie" that is full of good natives. It almost takes care of itself. It is probably my favorite part of North Pond.

The flower buds of one of my favorite plants, Prairie Dock
A wider view of Prairie Dock
Cardinal Flower, the only other red I can compare this plant to is a Scarlet Tanager
Joe Pye Weed and a view of North Pond and the Chicago skyline from the north end
Jerusalem Artichoke
The West Prairie
Wild Quinine
Purple Coneflower
Rattlesnake Master
Big Bluestem (Turkey-foot) reminds me of Kansas

The Garden

The garden looks good this year. Tomatoes are very late. I have only seen a couple ripe tomatoes in the community garden. We've had two cherry tomatoes ripen, but that is it. All of our Big Boys are still green. I've tried a new method this year of staking and pruning the tomatoes. I read that pruning might make fewer tomatoes, but better tomatoes. I liked the idea of keeping them in check and off the ground while at the same time getting better taste. We'll see. Gardening is always a work in progress. Our squash and zucchini look good, but I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop with these squash borer beetles! I see the little bastards, but I can't find their eggs. I also see and murder squash bugs and their offspring on a daily basis, but it may be a losing battle. Crossing my fingers right now. Here are some pics from today.

Okra Blossom!!
Cherokee Purple Heirloom
Drying onions
Squash and Zucchini Plot compared to then