Tuesday Morning Roundup


Because, sometimes you need to know stuff.

Cantor: No tax increases
Richmond Times-Dispatch
“We are not going to raise taxes. The votes aren’t in the House to raise taxes,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-7th, told reporters Monday. “If they want to vote on the debt ceiling, they are going to have to come meet us, and we are going to have a package that does not have any net new revenues.”
Read more.

Don’t tell me what to eat, Michelle…

Michelle Obama orders 1,700-calorie meal at Shake Shack
The Washington Post
A Washington Post journalist on the scene confirmed the first lady, who’s made a cause out of child nutrition, ordered a ShackBurger, fries, chocolate shake and a Diet Coke while the street and sidewalk in front of the usually-packed Shake Shack were closed by security during her visit.
Read more.

JK Rowling ‘writing hard’ on new work
UK Guardian
Harry Potter author says the end of the film series is ‘a new beginning’
Read more.

‘Man-cession’ Ends as Males Learn New Job Skills
Michael Barone, Human Events
What I see beneath these data is something like this: a picture of men hustling to acquire new skills and learn how to do different jobs than they have in the past, while many women sit back and accept whatever the macroeconomy doles out.
Read more.

Top 10 Richmond Slogans
Richmond.com
It’s clear there’s money in tourism, and it’s time Richmond went out of its way to get it … the best way possible, with a handy little city slogan.
Read them…

Born On This Day
1817 – Henry David Thoreau, American writer and philosopher (d. 1862)
1864 – George Washington Carver, American botanist (d. 1943)
1895 – Oscar Hammerstein II, American lyricist (d. 1960)
1908 – Milton Berle, American comedian (d. 2002)
1934 – Van Cliburn, American pianist
1937 – Bill Cosby, American comedian and actor
1956 – Sandi Patty, American singer

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (NIV)
Ephesians 5:15-16

Not in My Back Yard

“Oui, monsieur, but that is not my yard.” ~ Inspector Clouseau (paraphrased)

Three weeks ago, I admitted that “The Old Gray Man, He Ain’t What He Used to Be” after getting overheated while trying to reclaim a long neglected yard.

Today is the first day I’ve had to be back out there since I’ve been traveling, okay visiting family and then sunning on the beach, for the better part of the last week and a half.

While we were gone, Richmond got some significant rain. So much so that it’s still too wet to mow this morning. So, I attacked some weeds in the driveway, launched a counter attack on Japan (or at least their beetles) and did some general picking up in the yard.

It’s a bit discouraging.

I know, I know. I keep telling myself that it’s going to take time to get this yard back in shape. My like the time that it’s taking to get me in shape.

But it’s frustrating that I spend so much time out there and make so little progress.

It’s frustrating that the best growth in the yard seems to be in the driveway. And now that the old dog thinks that’s his new restroom rather than heading out to the back woods, the growth there often gets fertilized before I can get out there with a shovel.

It’s frustrating that my tomato plants died, and that I may or may not have a cucumber growing. On that one, I think it’s the location of the square foot garden. It’s a logical place, but not the best place for sun. I either have to move it, or win the lottery so I can have $10,000 worth of tree work done.

In case you’re wondering, I prefer the latter.

so, I fight on.

I’ll get back out there either later today or tomorrow.

Or, next Saturday.

If it doesn’t rain.