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It's that time of year: The sun is out and the dirt is calling. You gardeners will know what I mean--the siren song of the earth, and the deep need to get outside and plant, weed, and engage with the soil. My planting is finished, or at least it is until I get back to the nursery. I still have a few open spots in the garden and they'll just get taken over by weeds if I don't fill them in.
I've also been out on the mower. Not because of any vengeful need to make my remaining lawn look like a golf course, but because the clippings make the most awesome mulch. That's the only reason I broke down and learned to drive the riding mower (well, that and the temporary freedom from changing diapers, mopping up spills, and keeping peace between the kids. It's cheaper than therapy, anyhow.).
To my chagrin, I've become quite pragmatic about my garden space. If I can't eat it, I don't grow it, and vegetables that can be canned, frozen, or dried are preferable to the fleeting crops. Flowers? Phhht. And yet I admire floral gardens, and cut flowers, and the cheerfulness of a stand of sunflowers. I love the way that flower gardeners combine the natural with the designed.
Which may be why I find myself tickled by the idea of crop art, whether on a large or small scale:
From the amazing set of rice paddy pictures at Pink Tentacle:
Scene from the Corn Palace, in Mitchell, S.D.:
Go look at the whimsical work of Teresa Anderson (I think the Cheney and Bolton pieces are my favorites). Check out the other galleries at CropArt.com too, which includes many pieces that have been entered in the Minnesota State Fair.
And, of course, I like this one from PBS:
I would never have the patience to create crop art, but I thought this video (both time lapse and real time) was interesting. Its creator writes: "Time-lapse photography is a real heart-breaker. It makes everything look fun and fast. Crop art is more like fun and really slow."
I am tempted, however, to read "The Story of Crop Art and the Amazing Lillian Colton," by Colleen Sheehy. According to Wikipedia, Colton was "considered the Andy Warhol of seeds" (that wonderful appellation comes from the Minneapolis Star Tribune). Don't believe it? Take a look at her work. Me, I'm partial to her Willie Nelson. (Besides, who needs black velvet when you can have natural materials instead?
Fair season is coming, people. Go forth and enjoy.
Yours in affection for the quirky and home-grown,
--monkeybiz
P.S. A quick update. Should have mentioned a hot spot for a more serious discussion of seeds: Jill Richardson's La Vida Locavore. Search for "seeds" for some educational reading.
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Tonight's Mailbox
From MooseHB:
From GOP to USA: Drop Dead. bubbanomics strikes again (presumably having struck at least once before).
From Seneca Doane:
I can't resist sending this one in, even though it's nothing clever or brilliant or heart-warming.
A racist troll diary called "The Lies in Obama's Speech Exposed!" was posted just after midnight (Eastern Time). Evidently, longtime poster nolalily, who had the second comment in what was pretty clearly supposed to be a hit-and-run diary, had not gotten the news that automatic tip jars had been implemented. Her honest reaction to the fact that the diarist had for some reason apparently posted a tip jar is priceless. Much of the rest of the celebration, as the diarist desperately tried to defend himself, is also very funny.
Ed. Note: Eighty-one HRs? Excellent!
From puddytat:
This is from the FP story on Terry McAullife getting badly beat in his Virginia office attempt.
The best comedy is firmly based in truth and reality. Enjoy.
From DemocraticLuntz:
lineatus cracks about an Ayn Rand Institute fellow's name.
From noweasels:
In Great Lakes Gal's lovely diary in honor of slain security officer Stephen Tyrone Johns, this comment from p gordon lippy was so beautiful and sad.
In that same diary, mollyd proposes action that will make a difference.
From brillig (please go tip her for her Top Mojo magic!):
In clammyc's Good thing there is no right wing terrorism, la motocycliste reminds us where it all started in Rwanda.
OK, so it's editorial cartoons. But you need to see JekyllnHyde's comment in QuietObserver's diary FreeRepublic pulls thread from December praising James von Brunn.
From virgomusic:
Paul in Berkeley's comment on kos's front-page post, The wit and wisdom of Michael Steele, is just perfect.
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Did you spare some mojo today? Evidently so!
brillig has the details in tonight's Top Mojo...
Top 30 Comments excluding first comments, tip jars, and other stuff:
1) Irony by JekyllnHyde — 311
2) Lawrence O'Donnell is the best by Dallasdoc — 170
3) Be careful what you wish for, Joe by Dallasdoc — 156
4) Cramer had his credibility destroyed by Dallasdoc — 155
5) Domestic Terrorists by JekyllnHyde — 139
6) I hope to see all the Republicans by christine20 — 132
7) What's moderate about corporate whores? by Dallasdoc — 115
8) A kaddish for Stephen Johns by Red Sox — 109
9) Eh, this is just something fun by Muzikal203 — 102
10) Lost a Hero by Gangster Octopus — 98
11) Obama found himself a baby in France by Kitty — 93
12) I Don't Think That Slogan Means What We by Gooserock — 88
13) Well, it's only terrorism if scary brown men by DawnoftheRedSun — 87
14) You forgot to mention the WH position by Edgewater — 86
15) Poll after poll by Dallasdoc — 84
16) BS by Dallasdoc — 82
17) I'll delete mine...nt by grannyhelen — 81
18) If you continue posting by Its the Supreme Court Stupid — 77
19) O'Donnell on Mitt mormon by MD patriot — 76
20) I'm in favor. by albrt — 76
21) Dear Johns Family, If It Were in My Power by Limelite — 74
22) Mom works there... by vcthree — 72
23) Call their bluff, let them filibuster by Ohiodem1 — 71
24) How about refusing Social Security Hugh? by Dirk McQuigley — 71
25) He's a gutless Punk by Al Rodgers — 70
26) It's funny... by DawnG — 69
27) I am not linking them to today by clammyc — 68
28) I couldn't agree more. by Eileen B — 67
29) Here ya go! by Seneca Doane — 66
30) . by buhdydharma — 65
Top 30 comments with no exclusions:
1) oh wait, that's right.... by clammyc — 496
2) Tip Jar by QuietObserver — 389
3) Tip Jar by teacherken — 385
4) Tips Go Here by Muzikal203 — 384
5) Tip it for Lawrence Doing It Again by sluggahjells — 376
6) Tip Jar by Bob Johnson — 358
7) Tip Jar by RogerShuler — 355
8) Tip Jar by Vyan — 349
9) I say we rename it the Norma/Rae Bill!!! by buhdydharma — 341
10) Irony by JekyllnHyde — 313
11) Tip Jar by LaurenMonica — 306
12) Alms (tips) by Muskegon Critic — 290
13) Tip Jar by Ellinorianne — 279
14) Tip Jar by JaciCee — 263
15) Tip Jar by Great Lakes Gal — 245
16) Tip Jar by maryschoyc — 238
17) Tip Jar by slinkerwink — 233
18) Tip Jar by alpolitics — 206
19) What do you think? In light of recent events, by hungrycoyote — 193
20) Lawrence O'Donnell is the best by Dallasdoc — 170
21) Be careful what you wish for, Joe by Dallasdoc — 156
22) Cramer had his credibility destroyed by Dallasdoc — 155
23) Domestic Terrorists by JekyllnHyde — 139
24) I hope to see all the Republicans by christine20 — 132
25) What's moderate about corporate whores? by Dallasdoc — 115
26) A kaddish for Stephen Johns by Red Sox — 110
27) Tip Jar by Joe Trippi — 104
28) Tip Jar by TomP — 103
29) Tip Jar by plf515 — 103
30) Eh, this is just something fun by Muzikal203 — 102