Classic Gaming Fun
UNITED STATES─There are people out there who are gamers and there are people out there who are really gamers. During my younger years, I was without a doubt a gamer, as an adult not so much. It’s impossible with my crazy work schedule and personal life. If there was any solace that I obtained it comes directly from classic...
Improvise While Flowers Are Scarce
UNITED STATES—Much of the color in the garden through autumn and winter is provided by foliage. Some foliage turns color as the weather gets cooler. Some had been blue, gray, gold, red, bronze or variegated all year, and just happens to get noticed more now that there is not much other color provided by flowers. There are a few...
Farmer’s Markets Are Undervalued
UNITED STATES—Jeez, it is hard to fathom sometimes just how beneficial your local Farmer’s Market can be. I don’t go to my local farmer’s market as much as I should simply because it is not close to me. However, this past weekend I did visit my local farmer’s market and I was stunned with all the opportunity sitting right...
Tropism Gives Plants Some Direction
UNITED STATES—When a seed germinates, the roots know that they want to go down, and the new stem knows that it wants to go up. Going up sounds simple enough. Stems just go towards the light. How do they know where the light is while they are still under the soil? Well, new stems go upward for the same...
Chained
UNITED STATES—The advent of the chain store, Long’s, just a block from his Main and East Lake corner, caused my dad a great deal of worry. His confrere, Harry Johnson at Steinhauser & Eaton got a chuckle out of his anxiety, mimicking my dad: “The sky is falling, Long’s is coming.”
It was this big, uncontrollable, nameless, faceless thing coming...
Arroyo Seco Festival A Hole In One
PASADENA—Summer means hot dogs, sweltering heat, pools and Rockin' music festivals across the USA. The new fest on the block is the Arroyo Seco Festival, in its sophomore year, the Brookside golf club, mere steps from the iconic Rose Bowl. On the weekend of June 23 and June 24, the lush and spacious greens welcomed luminaries Jack White, The...
Sustainability Is A Contradictory Fad
UNITED STATES—The original Dodge Dart, with the slant-six engine, was not much to look at, but was built to last. While cars were expected to last 10 years or a hundred thousand miles, Darts easily lasted twice as long or twice as far. A few are still going now! Such resiliency really made a reputation for Dodge. The problem...
Citrus Fruits Ripen Through Winter
UNITED STATES—Winter seems like an odd time for fruit to ripen. Winter weather is cool enough to inhibit vascular activity in plants. That is why most plants are dormant to some extent through winter. Most familiar fruit trees are deciduous, some defoliate in winter chill. Stone fruits ripened through early summer. Pome fruits ripened through late summer and autumn....
Some Weeds Can Hurt Pets
UNITED STATES—Weeds always have unfair advantages. They grow fast enough to bloom and disperse seed before the rain of early spring runs out, so they do not need any supplemental water. They seem to be able to grow anywhere. Their abundant seed seem to be able to get anywhere. Many produce seed with creative tactics for hitching rides on...
Old School Gaming: “Super Metroid”
UNITED STATES─After last week’s column where I discussed in detail my fondness of retro gaming and how it allows me to have a moment of peace and clarity when I need it most, I decided it was time for me to discuss some of my favorites games in hopes of others rekindling great childhood memories or doing something that...