Spring! And thoughts turn toward. . . The Home Depot!

Or Lowes, or The Tractor Supply Company, or wherever else you may find yourself this time of the year. Actually, this is an anxious time for me. Spring is getting on. . . some of the trees are already in leaf. The potatoes are already in. I need to prepare the other garden beds, put the deer fence back up and, most of all, make sure the mowers are all in working condition. I have one of those properties that some dismiss as “too small to farm, too big to mow.” But I find it comfortable- large enough for as much garden as I want, not so much that I can’t handle the mowing.

And, this is the time of year I spend almost as much time at the local home supply store as at my job. There’s mulch and grass seed to buy, tools to replace and one can never never have too many long wooden stakes or too much wire fencing (very useful stuff).

I have heard said that it is plant the main season crop when the “oak leaves are as big as squirrels’ ears.” I’ve been watching closely and it looks as if it’s almost time. I mostly grow tomatoes and tomatillos, but also grow peppers, corns and cucumbers. My goal is to bring in the first ripe tomatoes around July 4^th.

The first round of seedlings is ready to go into the ground. Here are the seedlings, ready to go outside and “harden off.”

And here are the same seedlings after four days of “hardening off.”

I don’t own a cold frame (yet), so I place the seedlings outside during the day and bring them in at night. Once the weather turns and the nights stay above the thirties, the seedlings will stay outside until they are planted.

Seven Habits for Not-So-Effective People

Saw a poster of the "Seven Habits of Effective People" the other day. Don't remember what they were but immediately thought of a rebuttal (why I am always trying to argue?). And here it is- seven habits for not-so-effective people:

1. Be Late: if they can’t find you, they can’t bother you with their silly little problems.

2. Delegate: a task delegated is a task completed. Now, someone else has to worry about it.

3. Equivocate: Motto “They won’t be able to pin that on me.”

4. Objurgate: Often, you can argue your way out of an action item.

5. Complicate: If they can’t figure out what the problem is, maybe they’ll forget there’s a problem.

6. Obliterate: If you can’t beat it, have some plausible deniability.

7. Celebrate: The end of the day! Another day, another delay.

Arcadian Bliss?

Ever walk into someone’s home when no one was there? Even though there on legitimate business, it’s an absolutely eerie feeling: Everything is still and dark and quiet. Any moment I expect the homeowners to come bursting out, demanding to know why I’m there. It’s even eerier being on a farm when no one’s around. As far as the eye can see are fields. And it is absolutely quiet. The house is empty and quiet. The goats in the next field are quiet. The cattle in the far field resemble an oil painting. Even though I am there on business, all the while I feel like a trespasser and am filed with disquiet. At the same time I marvel at the beauty. I am fortunate that I can work in (and partake in the delights of) an urban area and live in a rural one. Many days I can hear cows lowing and roosters crowing. There’s a horse farm down the street and a National Forest less than a mile away. Many times, my co-workers express desires to live in such a place.

But, I warn these urbanites, there are many things they don’t tell you about life in a rural area. Now, a disclaimer- some may feel that this small town is not “really rural” (whatever that means) but I offer the following evidence: More than a few neighbors have chickens, goats, or horses in their yards, there are at least 3 farms within a short walk of my house and we don’t have a Wal-Mart yet. Ok, that last one may not count.

Anyway, I was raised in suburbia and I learned a lot since I’ve moved out here. The things they don’t tell you about living in the country:

1. Be prepared to deal with the occasional loose cow, horse or whatever that comes wandering across your property.

2. Bear sightings are not uncommon.

3. Look out for the ATVs. They are immensely popular and seem to be required equipment for every 10 year old.

4. Look out for the Sunday visitors: the number of cars (and especially motorcycles) doubles on nice summer days when city folks come out to enjoy the scenery.

5. The sound of gunfire- all year, but especially shortly before the general deer season.

6. Pitted gravel roads will ruin your alignment.

7. Wells can go dry.

8. Bugs the size of Unmanned Ariel Vehicles.

9. It gets really really (really) dark at night.

10. Burning piles of brush (and trash)- something I had never encountered before.

But all in all, when I see the rising sun light up the mountains, or smell the green smell that rises in the woods at dusk I recall:

The heavens are telling the glory of God

And the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Psalms 19:1

Watch out for that first step. 

Where are the prophets?

The other day I saw a teaser on the local news for an interview with a crime solving psychic . Apparently, this woman can “read” objects and interpret the images to solve crimes. I wonder- are there really people who can sense such things? Are there people who can see beyond this physical world? We hear that there were prophets once- in the distant past. Where are they now? If there are prophets in the world today, where were they before September 11th? Almost 2,000 people died. And where were they on December 26th 2004? Almost 200,000 people died. If such disasters, which are almost beyond imagining, don’t solicit warnings from these gifted people I wonder if there are any left at all.

Europe, the US and China

The US President made a visit to Europe last week, the first in this new term. Both “Old” and “New” Europe were included (I see that the Administration isn’t using that terminology any more). No, we’re all friends here the press conferences seemed to say. Despite such differences over Cuba, Iraq and potentially Iran and what really makes a good cup of coffee, Europe and the US aren’t in completely opposite corners. But another issue has come up: Sale of European arms to China. The pundits have kicked this issue around the columns and the talk shows but Europe and the US (as well as other concerned parties such as Russia/Japan) haven’t yet a sit down on this issue yet, and we may need to.

As the pundits tell it, the foremost issue is the potential for US forces to be facing such weapons, probably over Taiwan. And there is general agreement on why Europe is making a move to lift the embargo now- money.

As I see it, there are two potential areas of conflict: Transmission of controlled technology and potential for conflicting alliances.

First, if the US makes any sales of arms to Europe, that technology could be transferred right over to China (and anyone China re-sells to). While European arms dealers may not wholesale hand over US made weapons to China (at least not legally), parts of these weapon systems or the technology may be transferred. And with no agreement to control this technology, China would be free to transfer the technology as well. And while any country has the right to arm itself as it sees fit, some states are much more unstable than others. If any unstable country becomes a failed state (e.g. Syria, North Korea), that technology would be out there.

Second, despite whatever agreements Europe enters in with China, China is going to pursue its own interests. And what is their most prominent concern? Oil. And where do they get their oil? Domestic production, and from Russia. In fact, China recently entered into some sweet trade/resource development deals with Russia.

I have heard some speculate that what Europe is actually trying to re-create a bi-polar world: US and China. However it may be more like US/Japan/(Europe) vs. China/Russia. With European arms and technology, China may feel more emboldened. They may strike against Taiwan (although I think that unlikely) or they may strike out for the Spratley islands (more likely) or they may put the squeeze on oil supplies to Europe and Japan from Russia (perhaps most likely) in exchange for sweet trade deals. In the mean time I expect the US will keep a major presence in the Mid-East, after all a region with ample oil reserves.

Attention Product Designers

I know there is a product problem when the simple gas can becomes an exercise in complex problem solving. I needed a new gas can. So I trotted down to my local national retailer to pick one up. A fifteen minute trip- so I thought. They had two sizes: small and very large. The small was rather small (I have a lot of gas-powered equipment) so I considered the large size. It looked satisfactory until I took out the spout. Instead of the usual spout arrangement, this one had a scary looking plastic assembly. No spout. No matter how hard I tried, I had no idea of how to make it work. There no instructions or helpful pictures. A sales clerk came over and gave it a try. In the end, it took me and three sale clerks to figure it out. Turns out the user has to tip the can and pull the apparatus back to get the gas to come out. This arrangement is touted as “leak-proof.” Now, how I am to do this pushing and pulling lifting a large gas can to shoulder height while filling up a lawn tractor is beyond me. So I ended up buying the small can. Even with a child resistant cap it is much easier to use. Please product designers- keep it simple.

When news is really not

North Korea has officially announced they have nuclear weapons. Now, is anyone surprised? (deafening silence) Now, the question is “Does North Korea have the capability to launch these weapons any distance?” I bet this is a question Japan is most eager to know.