Update: I have made the selections and planted the garden on May 11. I am seed sowing Muncher variety cucumbers in a large container with a trellis and a couple of side pots of marigold.
The container is a 36x17x15 rectangular plastic storage tub. I placed it on a 36x22x3 pallet, and dropped a tarp in it to cover the sides (both inside and outside tub walls). I filled it with 100 pounds of topsoil prepped with some miracle grow liquid. The trellis is nothing too pretty. Old pallets broken down for a 60x36 wood frame leaning against the house on a 60 degree angle. I have some poly rope to use as lattice and can adjust on the fly.
I selected the Muncher variety for it being good on a trellis, its burpless and resistant to a lot of disease. A local to my area grows these every year in a raised bed with trellis. I planted (3) groupings of (2) seeds for (6) seeds total. I will trim to 3 at some point. I plan on adding some mulch when the plants take hold of the vines. I'm capable of pollinating them manually if I have to.
I should get 2 hours with the sun obscured by trees followed by 6 hours of unimpeded sun before it disappears behind the house. It will not get direct sun for the last 3-4 hours.
The marigolds are to attract insects and for their odorous protection. Dunno. He works at a place that sells marigold seeds. I wonder if he jive talked me. Sounds sus, but I had soil left over and thought what the hell.
Wish Dales cucumbers luck and thanks for the replies. I'll post a final update in a few months (because I hate leaving things unfinished).
Just west of Pittsburgh, PA - Region 6. I was pretty young but my grandfather's garden and orchard were legendary.
The garden bore nothing too exotic. Tomato, cucumber, zucchini, beans, cabbage, potato, lettuce, carrot, onion, radish. The usual suspects.
His apple trees (maybe 12) did fantastic. Unsure of type but it was a baking apple. There was always a glut of apples in the fall. They had a grainy flesh as compared to a non-baking apple. They were still quite delicious to eat right off the tree.
He also had a plum and a pear tree that both did well for many years. Again, I am unsure on the breed. The pear I remember in my head looked a lot like a bosc. It bore pears that were smaller than a grocery stores. They were brownish not the standard yellow or green. Very sweet though.
Not trees, but Pennsylvania grapes, rhubarb, black raspberries, red raspberries, blackberries and strawberries were also quite productive for many years. Particularly the red raspberries of which he had like 30 bushes, so you could eat your fill and take a to-go bag. Mind the Japanese beetles. So good and such a good memory.
Peaches though wrecked my grandfather. If it wasn't blight, it was disease, birds, bugs, bores or drought. All he wanted was an unmottled peach. Never did ever happen despite his best efforts.
Cherries did a number on him too. The birds were just too hard to beat. Chaotic little shits would eat the unripened fruit.
Oh, and I wanted to ask you a specific (or anyone else for that matter). Feel free to tell me to pound it sideways if you don't know.
When I was looking up the Port Albert, I also discovered a sort-of kin to it called a 'Lemon Cucumber'. Are they any good?
This is the other variety that keeps coming up. Straight 8 is also on the list. I'm working in a grocery store right now and have access to people who SHOULD be in the know. I've been told that the ones readily available to my Pittsburgh region are the seedless hybrids trucked in and 30 days between picking and slicing.
Sadly, the guy I spoke with knew a fair amount about the differences in cucumber varieties. He advised I seek elsewhere as to how best grow them. I truly don't need another chore to do after work and don't want to prune either.
Yes, this is one I hear a lot. It's likely going to be a finalist.
I was able to find the Port Albert seeds for sale to my region. I'm unsure if it's lineage is purer than yours, but it had the right name. The crystal apple was another one that made the initial list of breeds to pick from. I can't say if I've ever had a sour cucumber or not. It's one of those fruits that always kind of tastes the same to me, watery and earthy with a pinch of salt. If its a drastic difference, then I maybe haven't had that honor.
I've never eaten one but have seen them at the grocery store before. I had no idea it was a cucumber variety. I thought it to be along the lines of a sweet fruit (like starfruit or dragon fruit).
As for Dale, I'd have to be over cautious. I'm unfamiliar with it and it has a known hazards entry regarding the seeds. I'd have to defer to Dr. Mike (his vet) to be sure it's not the last thing he eats. I give him other fruits that have toxic parts, and I remove those parts, but it's a fruit I'm familiar with and am comfortable doing it. as an example, cherries are one of his favorite fruits, but the pits are deadly if he eats one. Grapes on the other hand, I'm not sure. I won't give him one. Not worth the risk in my opinion. Leeching can occur from the seeds and even seedless grapes can have small underdeveloped seeds.
On that note, chocolate, caffeine, avocados, tobacco and any fruit pits are all deadly. Alcohol, salt, oil, honey and fake sugars should be avoided. As part of his daily diet, he eats a serving of fresh fruit/melon for breakfast and steamed veggies at night. He eats most of whatever I eat for dinner as well. Especially chicken. He LOVES chicken. We tell him it's his cousin Arnold or aunt Ruth. It seems to make him happier.
Hollywood is NOT cranking out original movies. They follow formulas and reuse them at nausea. It's kinda annoying actually. Everything about it has become lazy and unimaginative
So before I listen toi him whine anymore, did Christopher Landon even make a free Beehaw account and, like, make a post about it? He could have teased it a bit, did an 'ask me anything' or some shit. I actually enjoy a good thriller. I hadn't heard there was a new one out.
Request: Cucumber Breed
My bird loves a good cucumber, one that has a really goopy center. The problem I'm having is the store bought cucumbers in my area are pathetic even when they are in season. They consist of mostly the white firm flesh with very little goop or seed in the center. Additionally, at 22yo, My friend is running out of summers and I always promised him we would try to grow a good cucumber one day.
I'm not exactly a gardener but this seems easy enough. My grandfather gardened and I remember him going out of his way to get certain breeds of seeds to get the precise genes he wanted. I'm trying to do that with cucumbers, and I'm looking for that goop.
Any cucumber enthusiasts able to recommend a brand? Planting and growing tips are welcome as well, but I'm not trying to turn this into a large project either.
I'm in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I have several areas to plant for adjusting sunlight duration. Soil is poor and a bit swampy. I could probably use a container. Unsure what's best yet.
You should cease eating them over their inclusion of GMO ingredients alone, but that is just my opinion.
That condition is a despotic red-flag deal-breaker that should be countered with epic abandonment. Let them know this is not OK. If I hadn't uninstalled it years ago, I would have already. Lots of better browsers out there.
HP was great in the 90's. They made quality stuff back then. My HP4MV's were like a tank. They built a great name for themselves legitimately. That all changed in 2000 when that dingbat took over as CEO. Everything they made became ultra cheap. When I'm out shopping, I've been known to approach random strangers that I observe looking to buy a printer just to tell them how bad HP is.
I personally stopped using them in 2002 after a brand new HP-5610 multifunction doc center cockblocked itself from windows 98 because I plugged in the usb data cable that connects the computer and printer without installing their bloaty software FIRST. It was a long night reinstalling the OS I had just reinstalled the week prior. Their helpdesk was so infuriatingly dumb and unhelpful I made it a goal to steer anyone away from them that I can.
The Brother laserjet I purchased as a replacement in 2007-ish is still going strong as well. I've never even serviced it (other than replacing toner and paper). Admittedly, it's getting tired after 18 years.
You do not need to support a company that treats its customers as badly as HP does, and never support anyone or anything that thinks you deserve to stand there like an idiot for 15 minutes before they can do their job for you. That, kids, is called neglectful and disrespectful.
Major food recall last month effects 2,017,614 cases of product due to possible contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes
That may not have been the flu that you caught back in late December. FGF Foods decided to go all 'Boars Head' for the holidays is all.
The Food and Drug Administration quietly announced a recall last month involving more than two million cases of doughnuts and other baked goods sold under various brand names, including Dunkin. Data from the FDA says 2,017,614 cases of products are part of the recall and involve doughnuts, fritters, and cake rings.
The products were distributed and sold nationwide. While the recall was issued on Jan. 7, the FDA never made a public announcement regarding it.
The recall involves any of the items listed “within e
7th Saga. It's a turn based top down RPG (similar to Final Fantasy 1 or Dragon Warrior 1). The games AI sometimes just kills you (and takes great delight in it). Easily the most frustrating RPG I've played.
Blaster Master for the Nintendo (NES) as well. Instead of evil AI you get evil level design that wants to kill you.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a sandwich and play some Leisure Suit Larry 3.
Permanently Deleted
Iced Earth's debut album was called Night of the Stormrider. It weaves a pretty dark tale of a mans betrayal by religion, subsequent turn to the dark side and final regrets over the course of nine tracks (46 minutes).
Queensryche's (arguably) best album Operation: Mindcrime. It tells the tale of a young malcontent who becomes involved in an underground revolution as an assassin. This is another that is not just one song, but a story that spans fifteen tracks. One of the best rock operas that was ever pulled off in my opinion.
Manowar's album The Triumph Of Steel has a first track called Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts. It is essentially a telling of the tale of Hector and Achilles. It's nearly 30 minutes over the eight unique sounding parts.
Ice Nine Kills has now (2) entire albums with tracks inspired by horror movies, but I wouldn't call them long. Their song Meat & Greet would be a great example. It's a retelling of "The Silence of the Lambs".
Animals Without Leaders has a song called CAFO that I just adore. Its pretty long and although it speaks no tale, it's so sonically unique that it feels like it does. Some of those ultra technical metal bands feel like that (to me at least).
You know, I left Reddit because I didn't like what was going on. Banning US presidential election posts to a political forum makes me not like what's going on. What's next on the ban list?
You may want to opt out of those services. Even LinkedIn seems to know it's got potential to be a flaming hot train wreck, apparently to the point where they desire no responsibility for the public messages made by their machine that they own, train, and qc.
I've been killing an easy 50 a day (maybe more) for at least a month and not really gaining any ground at all on them. I live next door to a conservation area in the Pittsburgh, PA subarbs. Killing them on Grapes, Virginia Creeper and some ash looking weed.
Just to share it, I've noticed at this point that if disturbed, the bug will try to leap away. If it is successful, it seems to return to that very same point in space.
Its a real shame too. I'm a pro bug guy. I really wish I didn't have to kill them, and honestly, they are kinda dapper looking.
Ahh, I was mistaken. Libre is open source.
Having used autocad for nearly 40 years, I will say they stick it to their customers pretty fiercely. I still use 2010 with 3rd party software to get it to run on win10 at home. I do a lot of solid models and assemblies as well as technical 2D drawings and renderings.
FreeCAD is impressive, but it lacks an easy to use interface. NanoCAD and LibreCAD are not open source but are free and are both better 2D alternatives.
Edit: LibreCAD is open source.
Volcanic Eruption in Iceland (2-8-2024)
The lava is flowing again after a third volcanic eruption. The placement appears to be a good ways to the north of Grindavik as of yet. Multicam view.
Iceland erupts again (1-14-24)
Looking towards the eruption near Sundhnúkagígar, north of Grindavík, from Mt. Þorbjörn. The eruption started December 18th at 22:17:17. Watch live feeds from our webcams with spectacular views of Iceland. Our streaming cameras are placed all around Iceland and broadcast 24/7. The ultimate slow TV!
Iceland erupted again this morning at 7:57am Grindavik Time. The eruption was captured in real time. It again is a northwest linear fissure and is located west of Hagafell and a bit south of the prior eruption site in December.
While the locals had built a huge rock berm to protect some of it's infrastructure, the fissure formed and spread underneath the berm, circumventing its protection. Everyone has been evacuated, though there are reports that despite being told not to bring any previously evacuated animals back to town, some may not have obeyed and now the animals may be locked up and in harms way.
Additionally, a second fissure opened on the north edge of town. You can see this in real time on Professor Shawn Willsey's live update from early this morning. This southern fissure is much smaller but is much closer to town. It h
Icelandic Eruption 1-14-24
The magma chamber threatening the grindavik area has erupted again just before 8:00am.
Savatage - Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12-24
Savatage - Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12-24 [ American Heavy Metal ] [ Christmas Metal ]
From the album 'Dead Winter Dead'.
They say music tames the savage beast. This is one of those few songs that stops my world dead in it's tracks whenever it comes on. All I can ever do is remain still and silent as I soak it in.
Gary Hoey - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
Gary Hoey - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas [ American Guitar Virtuoso ] [ Christmas Metal ]
From the album 'Ho! Ho! Hoey'.
Merry Christmas Beehaw Music. Start adding genre tags please.
Lords Of Acid - Pussy
Lords Of Acid - Pussy [ Belgian/American Electronic Dance Music ]
From the album 'Our Little Secret'.
I'm a big metalhead and EDM isn't really my thing ever, but an ex girlfriend turned me onto this nearly 30 years ago. It still makes me laugh whenever it comes on. Who would have thought a silly song about her playful kitty cat would be so timeless and enduring.
Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree [ American Comedy / Folk / Storytelling ]
From the album 'Alice's Restaurant Massacree'.
Have a happy and wonderful holiday that can't be beat.
Historic volcanic event occurring in Grindavik, Reykjanes Iceland
For a week now, the town of Grindavik [Google Earth] in Iceland has been ravaged by underground volcanic activity. It's a fishing town situated southwest iceland along the coast. It's on the Reykjanes peninsula which is the youngest area of Iceland formed 2000-3000 years ago from volcanic activity.
In early November, uplifting occurred to the northwest of Grindavik. On Thursday November 9th, larger quakes were recorded to the northeast of Grindavik. These earthquakes spread to the southwest through the town and out into the ocean. At the same time, a noticible depression was now present.
Scientists concluded that a new magma chamber had formed. It was 9.5 miles long at ~1/2 mile below the surface [15 kilometers at 800 meters]. A large portion of it was centered directly underneath Grindavik's western edge, its residential district.
A sta
Major volcanic event occuring in Reykjanes, Iceland
A barrage of hundreds of earthquakes, including two exceeding a magnitude of 5.0 and at least seven topping 4.5, rattled Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula on Friday. The seismic swarm suggests the eruption of an area volcano in the hours or day ahead and has prompted the Icelandic Meteorological Office to declare a Civil Protection Emergency Level.
The Fagradalsfjall volcano is in Iceland’s southern peninsula region, about 25 miles southwest of Reykjavik, the country’s capital. A number of tremors have shaken the city, and the famed Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Grindavik has been closed. It was initially unclear whether Fagradalsfjall was responsible for the increased seismic activity or whether an eruption was brewing elsewhere within the Reykjanes volcanic system.
Shortly before midnight local time, all of Grindavik was asked to evacuate. At 11:30 p.m. local time, the Meteorological Office warned that volcanic fissures could open near or within the town.
“Based on how the seismic act
Wojciech Kilar - Soundtrack For Bram Stokers Dracula
Wojciech Kilar - Bram Stokers Dracula (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [ Classical / Instrumental ]
From the album 'Bram Stokers Dracula (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'
The crunching of leaves and shortening light cycles are making me pull this CD from it's slumber today. Superb Halloween music and makes for great Tabletop RPG gaming music as well.
This work is exquisitely dark and dreadfully brooding. The last song ('Love Song For A Vampire' featuring vocals from Annie Lennox) is quite pretty as well.
Link goes to full playlist.
Prong - Non-Existence
Prong - Non-Existence [ American Heavy Metal ]
From the album 'State Of Emergency'.
RPG Sprite Making - Advice
I really dislike the modern look of RPG sprites. They all have a blended look of cartoon and cutsie. A double-sized head with gigantic pie-sliced eyes and crazy stupid weird colored hair. I really can’t stand it. I could go on for hours about how I dislike them. Suffice to say I’m seeking alternatives.
Anyone know of any artists that make and sell a different look? I don’t mind dropping a few bucks for art if it’s worthwhile. Its very frustrating that everything I find has gigantic heads with more @$#%^ eyes. It doesn’t need to be lifelike but I would want it to be better proportioned.
Anyone know of any good software for making the animated spreadsheets yourself via posing a 3D model? I tried Easy Pose last month with low success, though it was my first attempt and arguably there’s a learning curve here. There is a disconnect between the style of the clothed sprite and the style of my other tiles (world, furniture, etc) so I must redo them. I’m considering using them as a base under
RPG Sprite Making - Advice
I really dislike the modern look of RPG sprites. They all have a blended look of cartoon and cutsie. A double-sized head with gigantic pie-sliced eyes and crazy stupid weird colored hair. I really can't stand it. I could go on for hours about how I dislike them. Suffice to say I'm seeking alternatives.
Anyone know of any artists that make and sell a different look? I don't mind dropping a few bucks for art if it's worthwhile. Its very frustrating that everything I find has gigantic heads with more @$#%^ eyes. It doesn't need to be lifelike but I would want it to be better proportioned.
Anyone know of any good software for making the animated spreadsheets yourself via posing a 3D model? I tried Easy Pose last month with low success, though it was my first attempt and arguably there's a learning curve here. There is a disconnect between the style of the clothed sprite and the style of my other tiles (world, furniture, etc) so I must redo them. I'm considering using them as a base under
Jackyl - Never Gets Old
Jackyl - Never Gets Old [ American Rock ] (Upcoming)
From the album 'Breathing Fire' (to be released November 10, 2023).
Here Come The Mummies - Pants
Here Come The Mummies - Pants [ American Funk ]
From the awesome album 'Single Entendre'.
We all have our passions in life. Things we adore more than most. For me, it's metal. I love it. I can rarely get enough of it. Occasionally though, you get blindsided by something you never realized you were missing. For me, it was 'Here Come The Mummies'.
If you would have known me when I was younger and told me that I would eventually promote playfully dirty funk songs performed by people dressed up as mummies, I would have called you a liar, yet here I am. These guys are good. So very good. World class good. I originally caught them one day performing live on the Bob And Tom Show, and I was an instant fan. Their genre ranges through funk, jazz, blues, southwest rock.
Guaranteed to put a smile on your face. If you haven't heard of them, they are well worth checking out. This album in particular stands out as one of my favorites.
Podcast recommendations
Looking for podcast recommendations on geeky topics of paranormal, science and technology. I get afflicted periodically with stress-related insomnia and listening to topics within my interest quiets my mind and helps me fall sleep.
Would want something that is downloadable for my MP3 player. I'd prefer it audio only if it's possible but will rip audio from video files if its worthwhile to do so and if the lack of video doesn't make the audio useless.
I currently enjoy The Why Files on youtube for it's very straight forward presentation and broad range of topics.
In the past, I've enjoyed Midnight In The Desert (Art Bell), Darkness Radio (Dave Schrader and Tim Dennis), Coast To Coast AM (Art Bell, George Knapp).
I'm totally OK with paying a subscription as long as there is value in it.
If you have any good recommendations, I'd love to hear them.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27 - Buffalo Bills 15
The Pittsburgh Steeler starters looked to be quite sharp yesterday, beating up on the Bills.
The offense saw good performances from all three quarterbacks. The starters would get two touchdowns before the first quarter was halfway over, second string would get another in the third quarter followed by (2) field goals in the fourth quarter.
Special teams pinned Buffalo behind their own ten-yard line not just once but three times following kickoffs/punts.
The defense, Pittsburgh's long time centerpiece, performed quite well. Having said that, their zone defense is still ineffective against a passing offense.
Their running game again looked sad and pathetic. Taking away Jaylen Warrens (62)-yard barely touched touchdown sprint in the first quarter, the remaining (9) runners combined for another (59) yards from (32) attempts. That's just over half a yard a carry kids.
The center made a few bad snaps for the second week in a row, one resulting in a turnover.
The Buffalo Bills did not
Dive Bar Chili
A guy walks into a seedy dive bar feeling a little hungry. He orders a beer and a bowl of chili from the bartender.
The bartender replies, "Sorry my friend. The guy next to you ordered and got the last bowl." He looked to the man sitting next to him, the bowl is still steaming, full, and he's just sitting there looking drunk and not eating it.
"Excuse me, if you're not going to eat that, can I buy it off of you?," he asked.
"Ah, I'm done with it. Keep your money, it's yours if you want it." the other guys says.
The man thanks him and gleefully starts eating it. It's delicious. The perfect spice, flavor, heat, everything.
About halfway done though, his spoon hits a solid object. Scooping it out, he finds it's a dead mouse at the bottom of the bowl.
Seeing this, he gripped the bowl and immediately threw up into it. He groans, pushing the now refilled bowl forward and the other man says, "Yeah, that's about as far as I got too."