Saturday

I'm going to need a ton of compost next Spring, so I packed away as much extra material this Fall as I could find. Thing is, it might not break down by next May. The answer? Generate heat. Marie was throwing away our pool's solar cover, so I used a chunk of it to cover my huge pile. It should definitely add a few degrees. We'll see. I've never tried such a thing before. * * * * * * * I know it's odd, but composting might be my favorite part of gardening: taking trash and making a highly-desired product (gardening nerds call it "black gold"). But I haven't totally lost my sanity because when I saw this, I nearly gagged: "Solar composting toilets work by converting human waste into nutrient-rich compost that is suitable for most gardens and small farms." Aesthetically, I could never do that. And as a practical matter, I couldn't: I love composting so much, I'd probably start subconsciously telling myself to eat more. * * * * * * * "An estimated 13,000 Northern citizens were detained for merely expressing opposition to the [Civil] war. This group contained hundreds of newspaper editors and owners. None of these people ever heard evidence against them and were never brought to trial." That and other interesting Lincoln facts here. It'll prepare you for the movie. I've always wanted to pick up a copy of DiLorenzo's screeds, but never quite got around to it. * * * * * * * Man, I'm hearing a lot of static from my bigger clients about looming rape and pillage of the rich. If their reaction is any indication of the wealthy throughout our land, I fear we have an Atlas Shrugged situation developing. * * * * * * * Funny Conan: "Arizona elected the first openly bisexual congresswoman. She's a lady promising to reach across the aisle and grab whatever's there." And "A prison inmate in Oregon who shot his own jaw off has demanded the state pay for his surgery. At least that's what I think he said."