Cafe Excreta

You coffee aficionados will certainly want to try this Indonesian variety with “the taste and aroma enhanced by the digestive system of palm civets, nocturnal tree-climbing creatures about the size of a large house cat”, according to this Reuters report. At $175. per pound I’m sure you’ll be rushing right out to get yours.
Apparently [...]

Dusty

I am caring for my next door neighbor’s dog, Dusty, while he is in Spain with his family for the holiday. Joel, as I’ve noted before, plays trombone in the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra. For the first few days Dusty was quite nervous with the change but has since settled in. Joel gave [...]

Ahpids

I am having a bit of an aphid problem on a couple of cantaloupe plants and one watermelon plant, reminding me that aphids are kind of interesting. I guess it’s not the aphids themselves that are interesting; but, rather, their relationship with ants.
Aphids exude a sticky liquid which literature on the subject refers to [...]

Congressman Ron Paul – One of Few True Conservatives

Those of you who have not read what Congressman Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, has to say, you should (please notice I’ve capitalized Republican, whereas I normally place in the lower case.)
Ron Paul is a conservative, not the run of the mill republican Bush Royalist or neo-fascist phony conservative.
If Ron Paul were running for president [...]

Friday Garden Report

In the foreground is the lettuce bed from which I’ve so far taken five cuttings. Just inside the bottom right of the fenced area you can see the little plants of the second crop of lettuce. To the left in the fenced area you can see coffee grounds lining two rows of onions. Just out [...]

You Can’t Know the Players Without a Program

The Washington Post has published a roster of the players related to the still unfolding investigation of the many crimes of Jack Abramhoff and his cronies, including Ralph Reed, Tom DeLay, and Grover Norquist, amongst many others.
Read the WP story here.

Nixon Redux – Vol. II

The NSA has reportedly been spying on certain of its own employees, journalists, and congresspersons. Nixon lives.
Read Wayne Madsen’s report here.
You may want to avoid visiting the NSA website as until Tuesday, when someone discovered the practice and complained, it put a “cookie” into your computer that allowed the agency to track you web [...]

Compost Report from El Gringo Loco

When composting, or so I’ve read, it is vital to have the correct nitrogen (generally green or wet materials) to carbon (generally brown or dry materials) ratio and the correct water content. Roughly 25 parts C to 1 part N, layered or mixed, and 60% moisture. With the correct proportion of ingredients the pile will [...]

Persecution of Iraqi Christians

One of the more ironic, and disturbing, results of the U. S. invasion of Iraq and the resultant disassembling of Iraqi society is the impact upon Iraqi Christians, many of whom are fleeing to Syria to escape the persecution they now experience in Iraq. During Saddam’s reign Iraq was a secular society where folks were [...]

Interesting Analysis of Presidential Authority

If anyone might be interested in reading an analysis of the opinions John Yoo produced for President Bush asserting that president may legally ignore treaties the country has ratified, that the president can authorize torture, and do virtually anything else he or she wishes during times of war, follow the link to an analysis, [...]

Christmas in Merida

The big Christmas celebration here takes place on Christmas Eve and involved lots of fireworks, lots of music and folks out on the street until late a night. Christmas Day was very quiet, with very little traffic aside from buses.
The Friday night of the weekend before Christmas the neighbors across the street had [...]

Colin Powell Again Talks Out of Both Sides of His Mouth

Colin Powell – “American Hero”. What rot. Powell once again exhibits his spinelessness by stating that it wouldn’t have been “that hard” for Bush to legally secure warrants for the illegal eavesdropping his administration has been doing but that he sees “nothing wrong” with the eavesdropping. Once again he talks out of [...]

Hoax Alert

I have been informed by “anonymous” that the story I referred to on Wednesday under, “U. S. Fascism on the March”, of a student who was visited by federal agents after checking out Mao’s Red Book from the library is a hoax. The student who reported the incident has admitted the hoax.
I thank [...]

Senate Majority Leader Frist – Crook

The fact that this slimy bastard is the Senate majority leader says loads about the sorry state, and pervasive corruption, of federal republican elected officials. Look for the republicans to defend themselves by asserting that the democrats were just as corrupt when they controlled Congress.
From the Associated Press
Frist’s AIDS charity paid $456,000 in consulting fees [...]

U. S. Air Operations Against Iran and Syria?

CIA director Porter Goss reportedly has informed Turkey that the U. S. will possibly launch “air operations” against Iran and Syria. Goss reportedly cited Iran’s nuclear developments and it’s support for terrorism. Sound familiar?
Why, I ask, do U. S. authorities think the U. S. has the moral authority to tell Iran, or any other nation, [...]

FISA Court Chided Ashcroft’s Justice Dept. in 2002 for Lying to It

Maybe this is why the Cheney administration chose to spy on Americans without FISA court approval. In May, 2002 the FISA court made it clear it did not appreciate being lied to by the FBI.
Secret Court Rebuffs Ashcroft.Justice Dept. Chided On MisinformationDan Eggen and Susan SchmidtWashington Post Staff WritersFriday, August 23, 2002
The secretive federal [...]

Remember "Enemy Combatant" Jose Padilla?

Appeals Court Slams Administration on Padilla Detention
By Fred BarbashWashington Post Staff WriterWednesday, December 21, 2005; 5:24 PM
A U.S. appeals court, acting in the case of alleged “enemy combatant” Jose Padilla, today rejected the administration’s move to avoid another Supreme Court review of its powers of detention, blasting the government in unusually blunt terms for its [...]

And Check Out These Watermelon Plants

First Cantaloupe Blossom

The blossom opened today, December 21, the shortest day of the year. Take heart you of the Northern climes, Spring is just around the corner.
Update 12-22-05: A second blossom opened today on the same plant.

U. S. Fascism on the March

Update: 12-24-05 – The student who reported this story has admitted it was a hoax. I am relieved that our federal agents are not wasting their time on such. Thanks to “anonymous” for alerting me to the hoax.
Book checked out of the library results in a visit from federal agents. What’s [...]