United is untied., originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

I’m so crankypants, I don’t care that ixould have tried taking a
better “we hate flying” photo. We’ve been on the plane, on the ground,
for two hours now. We were delayed by an air-conditioning problem that
involved turning the heat on us

We’re heading back for more fuel and a full explanation, according
to our pilot.

Bonus: a guy sitting ahead of me was on that famous flight (I learned
about it from Clay Shirky) that was grounded for hours and hours, and
resulted in the Passenger Bill of Rights. He’s not in a bad mood, so
maybe I’ll take my cue from him. Or maybe he’s a hollow shell from his
previous experience.

More crankypant posts to come!

Antron, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Hanging out at home.

‘Twaseeo, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

I’d like road think this is a word. I’d use it at the end of a song
line.

Wisconsin woman, 20, arrested for two overdue library volumes

Basically, she borrowed two novels and didn’t return them. The library sent letters to her house, which she ignored. That’s when the Failure to Return Library Materials ordinance made it possible for police to go to her house and arrest her.

I’m not aware of the varying levels of procedure found at libraries around the country, but I was under the impression that at the very worst, someone would have their account frozen and a collection agency brought in to try to collect the amount (it would have to be a large amount to warrant the cost of the collection agency).

I don’t think this was covered anywhere in the classes I took - what do all y’all librarians know about this?

I’ve made it through maize, past McDonalds, and into the beef industry. Having grown up on an Iowa beef (and corn and soy) farm, I have personal experience with Pollan’s subjects. It seems that the farmers he interviews and what he chooses to include in the book does not always reflect my family’s farm, but that is to be expected. It does ring true enough, when it counts.

My reaction as I’m listening has mostly been mute awe at the industrialization and commodification of food - and all the ills and boons that come with it.

The last time I was home to visit my family, I got up the courage to ask my dad why he didn’t farm something other than corn and soy. He said there was no other crop (or crops) that would allow him to be as successful, as a one-man operation.

I took this to heart - letting go of the fantasy of starting an organic vegetable farm with my brother, which would service the Quad Cities (a mere 30 miles away).

This morning, as I was listening and pulling crab grass out of the walkway that separates my garden plot from my neighbor’s, I learned about farmers who have eschewed industrial farming AND organic farming, electing instead to find a sustainable balance instead (neither industrial or mass-farming organically are doing this). Pollan describes a farm in Virginia that rotates cattle, chickens, and various other animals over grassland, in such a way that benefits each animal species as well as the grass (and dirt).

Granted, I get excited about things easily (look! a sign that reads ‘puppy sale’!), but I really feel that there is some answer for how to use the land my family already has once the only farmer working it is retired. Sure, we could rent it to someone else, we could even sell it. I prefer to scheme ways to keep it going with Greens (my dad is the fifth generation).

Now I just have to stop loving living in Boston, and convince Jason to move to Iowa. I think my dad would like to retire some time, and I think taking over a farm and successfully keeping it isn’t outside the realm of possibility. It makes my heart ache to think about it.

These photos were taken during the floods in June. The first is the field across from the house, and the second is my father, during one of the last days of rising water.

The garden this week, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Swiss chard, an explosion of Sweet 100 tomatoes, Empress beans, dill,
one Brandywine tomato, and two romas - one red, one green (oops).

1-up, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Best cupcake assist ever.

Acquired., originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

I may be a Jacob fan, but I’m about to ravage this book.

Unfortunate signage, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

Jason ordered the hash browns, so I’ll aak him about it later.

Who has brown hair and goes num num num?, originally uploaded by sundaykofax.

I do.