Fear of Clowns

Update on the carnivores.

The cat ate the Sarracenia psittacina, so I reordered that.

I scored a used aquarium for my terrarium, 24"W x 12"D x18"H for $20 bucks. This will hold 15 of the 4" pots I'm using, which is about the number which will fit vertically in the terrarium.

Here's some new growth. S. leucophylla,

S. alabamensis,

S. purpurea,

// posted by Erik @ 3/31/2008 11:09:00 PM
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I intend to collect all species native to North America in the following five genera: Darlingtonia, Dionaea, Drosera, Pinguicula, and Sarracenia. Blue means I have it, purple means I've ordered it.

• Darlingtonia californica
• Dionaea muscipula
• Drosera
  • D. anglica cp, BT, RES
  • D. brevifolia BT
    • D. annua (pink flowers)
    • D. leucantha (white flowers)
  • D. capillaris
  • D. capillaris "gulf giant"
  • D. filiformis var. tracyi
  • D. filiformis var. filiformis
  • D. intermedia
  • D. linearis
  • D. rotundifolia
• Pinguicula
  • P. caerulea
  • P. ionantha
  • P. lutea
  • P. macroceras cp
  • P. planifolia
  • P. primulifora
  • P. pumila
  • P. villosa
  • P. vulgaris RES
• Sarracenia
  • S. alata
  • S. flava
  • S. jonesii (S. rubra subsp. jonesii) cp, ecp, lsh
  • S. alabamensis
  • S. leucophylla
  • S. minor
  • S. oreophila hcp, ecp, RES, BT, lsh
  • S. psittacina
  • S. purpurea
  • S. rosea (S. purpurea subsp. venosa var. burkii) lsh
  • S. rubra ssp. rubra
  • S. rubra ssp. gulfensis

Labels: botany, carnivorous plants, gardening

// posted by Erik @ 3/31/2008 02:15:00 PM
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Tuning the cave.

// posted by Erik @ 3/30/2008 12:03:00 AM
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Continued from here, comments on a few more expert scientist global warming skeptics lauded by easily influenced Republican sympathizers.

• Dr. Nathan Paldor. Among the important body of research Dr. Palador has produced is the scientific study of God's parting of the Red Sea, as revealed by the Prophet Moses in Exodus 14.
• John McClean, cited by the document as an "Australian climate researcher" has a website where he describes himself as an "Computer consultant and occasional travel photographer".
• Dr. Eigil Friis-Christensen - a real scientist - is quoted in the offending document,
  
  
  The sun is the source of the energy that causes the motion of the atmosphere and thereby controls weather and climate.
  
  
  Here is a statement by Dr. Christensen in which he specifically objects to the use of of his data to imply solar variation is the only cause of climate change,
  
  
  Although solar variations seem to be a major cause of climate variations on centennial and millenial time scales in the pre-industrial era ... there are certainly other natural sources of climate change. For the industrialised period, ... results do not exclude an effect from man-made greenhouse gases.

Labels: climate change, Republicans, right wingers, science

// posted by Erik @ 3/27/2008 09:31:00 PM
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In comments to a post over at 5ft3 referencing a report by Senate Republicans claiming there is no consensus on global warming between

Al Gore (who let us remember is NOT a scientist) and actual scientists

I mercifully pointed out that,

Seems to me you're chasing your own tail when you point out Gore is a politician not a scientist, then turn around and support your case by referencing a political document.

Beth responds,

It was from a Senate Report about 400 scientists who are coming out to say that the global warming alarmists are nuts, how is this not a commentary on scientific thought?

What would make me feel better is for you to address the content and not the source.

Among the leading scientific minds Beth is staking the future of her descendants upon are,

• Georgia D. Brown, an instructor at a technical college offering 2 year associate degrees and High School GEDs.
• "Dr." Hans HJ Labohm, who does not claim to be a "Dr." of anything. Indeed he doesn't claim he has a diploma in anything, only that he "studied Economics and Economic History at the University of Amsterdam". He is employed by NRSP, a Canadian lobbyist group that does not claim or deny whether it is funded by energy companies.
• Paavo Siitam doesn't claim a degree of any kind either, and describes himself as a "retired teacher of biology, chemistry, physics and general science". Sounds like a 7th grade general science teacher.

The fact is there are generously perhaps a dozen or so legitimate scientists in relevant fields who continue to challenge the consensus view on the anthropomorphic influence on climate change and several dozen more who's livelihoods depend on arguing against the consensus.

The last scientific association to officially challenge the consensus was the American Association of Petroleum Geologists which now appears neutrally agnostic ("Although the AAPG membership is divided on the degree of influence that anthropogenic CO2 has ... the AAPG believes that expansion of scientific climate research into the basic controls on climate is important") yet supports "reducing emissions from fossil fuel use as a worthy goal."

Still, there are the 400 or so deniers among high school teachers and college dropouts discovered by a Republican Senate aide using Google.

Labels: climate change, Republicans, right wingers, science

// posted by Erik @ 3/27/2008 08:29:00 PM
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Um,

When asked which candidate could unite the country if elected, 60 percent said Obama, 58 percent said McCain and 46 percent said Clinton.

// posted by Erik @ 3/27/2008 02:46:00 AM
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Charlie Rose conducted an uncomfortable but enlightening interview with two Iraqis on the 5th anniversary of the invasion. The narrative in the US media has been to "Where did it go wrong?". This interview reminded me that 5 years ago, lots of us saw clearly that the whole adventure was a bad idea from the start.

Also here.

Labels: iraq, war

// posted by Erik @ 3/27/2008 01:02:00 AM
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To measure Lux with a camera's light meter, use the equation above. Taken from this page.

Here are conversion factors from Lux to Photosynthetic Photon Flux for varius light sources.

Sunrise or sunset on a clear day - 400 Lux
Sunlight on a cloudy day - 5,000 Lux
Sunlight on an average day - 32,000 - 100,000 Lux

Labels: gardening, hydroponics

// posted by Erik @ 3/22/2008 12:28:00 AM
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Why Should God Bless America?

Why Should God Damn America?

// posted by Erik @ 3/21/2008 10:11:00 PM
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We're fostering a new cat, this one came with no name at all. She's friendly to the point of seeming shallow and nothing fazes her. The dog is after her quite a bit, sometimes she plays along, sometimes she just sits there and ignores him even after getting her ear nipped.

Labels: cats, foster pets

// posted by Erik @ 3/21/2008 09:12:00 PM
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My order of carnivorous plants came yesterday. The only one recognizable as such is the Venus fly trap,

The rest are in the genus Sarracenia (American pitcher plants). Most carnivorous plants live in low-nutrient acidic wetlands - thus their adaptation of acquiring nutrients from insects and other small animals digested in modified leaves. The bog-like environment is simulated by creating a peat moss and sand mixture which is kept wet by standing a pot in water, reversing the intended function of the pot's drainage holes.

The pitcher plants came as rhizomes with a small strawberry-like crown.

Labels: carnivorous plants, gardening, photos

// posted by Erik @ 3/21/2008 08:38:00 PM
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This is relatively long for a YouTube clip, but I find it nearly spot on and complete:

I disagree that we as a nation should demonstrate such reflexive support of Israel's foreign policy as Obama seems to advocate here, but given the breadth of the speech, I feel comfortable with the foreign policy he outlines.

That said, I've noticed no candidate expressing extended thoughts about the credit failure we've brought on ourselves. America has lived on credit for years, paying debts with refinanced mortgages. One of Bush's 2004 campaign sound-bites was that an unprecedented number of Americans owned their own homes. It was true at the time, but in retrospect a negative, not a positive. People during Bush's first term were able to get mortgages they couldn't afford.

So I'd like a 2008 candidate lay out what we should do about it.

Labels: 2008 elections, Iran, iraq, islam, terrorism

// posted by Erik @ 3/21/2008 12:32:00 AM
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Senator Vitter humbles himself by comparing his patronization of high priced prostitutes to Gov. Spitzer's more recent patronization,

"Anybody who looks at the two cases will see there is an enormous difference between the two of them. The people that are trying to draw comparisons to the two cases are people who've never agreed with me on important issues like immigration and other things."

Immigration, certainly - probably taxes and the Republican deficit too. Plus, of course, huge, huge differences between Vitter's sexual indiscretions and those of the liberals who brought Katrina to New Orleans. You know, the anti-family values contingent. He's not one of them, so there has to be some sort of enormous difference somewhere. Doesn't there?

Labels: conservatism, right wingers

// posted by Erik @ 3/17/2008 09:37:00 PM
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Lordy, the names of these animals coming into our foster home are getting worse. Last week, we had "Baxter" for a few days, now this little monster.

He's a Boston Terrier / Chihuahua mix with a nervously bossy grumpy temperment.

Labels: dogs, foster pets

// posted by Erik @ 3/17/2008 11:39:00 AM
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Luna was adopted yesterday into a home where the woman has retired and claims to look forward to Luna following her everywhere. More than any other cat I've known, she always has to be where the action is. Sometimes she watches from a distance but is completely unabashed about the fact she's following you around.

She was a top-notch cat with flamboyant habits and although I'm sad to see her go (and she was difficult to get in the carrier) I'm sure she'll quickly fall in love with her new keepers, even though their house is jam loaded witrh knick-knacks of figurines and dried flowers and such.

Labels: cats, photos

// posted by Erik @ 3/15/2008 12:27:00 AM
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• Repotted sinicuichi and lagochilus seedlings
• Started kratom seeds on top of soil (I've twice failed to establish them on rockwool)
• Transferred 7 varieties of chili pepper sprouts, pesto basil, oregano and rosemary into a flood and drain system (lower right corner of photo)
• Started 6 salvia species on rockwool cubes - they get gelatinous like basil seeds. I'm intending to come up with an interesting hybrid.
• Fed the three flats of chili seedlings I'm growing 100% organic for sale on eBay.
• Transferred a few more chili sprouts and black tomato sprouts into rockwool
• Foliar feed everything with stinky Fish-Mix solution.

Labels: chili peppers, germination, hydroponics, peppers, photos

// posted by Erik @ 3/14/2008 01:55:00 AM
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She's been with us about a month. I call her Lulu as Luna is a stupid cat name. She's a real ham. One of her favorite tricks is crossing her arms in repose.

Labels: cats, photos

// posted by Erik @ 3/11/2008 07:31:00 PM
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No doubt about it, chili pepper seeds germinate quicker and at a higher rate with 6.0 pHed 100 ppm giberillin solution than with plain water when using the paper towel method. I used this method exclusively with 51 Dorset Naga seeds 10 days ago (2/26), as of today 46 have sprouted.

Side by side comparisons with many chili varieties showed similar results: greater than 90% germination a week or more earlier compared to about 75% germination with plain water. The most drastic example was with a variety I purchased on eBay as "Jamacian yellow Scotch bonnet": 8/10 in the group in giberillin solution had germinated by the 11th day, while 3/10 of those in plain water have germinated as of today, the 21st day.

The deluxe paper towel method:

• With water purified by reverse osmosis or distillation, make a 100 - 150 ppm giberillin solution. If you don't have a ppm meter, follow the mixing instructions on the label.
• Place seeds and the solution in a small and tightly covered transparent or translucent plastic container. Chili pepper seeds like light while germinating. I use the 1/2 cup kitchen storage containers with blue tops you can by in grocery stores. Some people use sealable plastic bags in which case you'll have to use a different container for soaking. Place the container in a warm area, ideally 85-95 degrees F. I use a seedling heating mat. The warmest place in most homes is on top of a water heater or refrigerator.
• After 24 hours, fold a single (or half) paper towel (called "kitchen paper" outside of the US) small enough so it provides a flat surface when placed in your container. Saturate the paper towel with the same solution you've been soaking the seeds in.
• Place the seeds on top of the wet paper towel and seal the container, returning it to the warm area.

Labels: chili peppers, gardening, germination, peppers

// posted by Erik @ 3/07/2008 07:06:00 PM
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Sigur Rós raids YouTube's home page today, screening the hour and a half Heima.

// posted by Erik @ 3/07/2008 12:11:00 AM
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I kept two strawberry plants from half a year ago to produce runners - just vegging under 18 hours of light a day. They simultaneously went into bloom without a change in the light/dark schedule. The fruit tastes nice!

Here's a close-up.

Labels: gardening, strawberries

// posted by Erik @ 3/05/2008 08:16:00 PM
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