Visit Danomanno Radio
Posted by forsythkid on February 19, 2010
Posted in Danomanno, Danomanno Radio, Internet Radio | Tagged: Danomanno, Danomanno Radio, Forsythkid | Leave a Comment »
Lettuce seed germination requirements
Posted by forsythkid on March 15, 2010
Here is a piece of information concerning lettuce seed germination I came across some time ago.
In related research, plant physiologists wondered why people have trouble with seed germination of lettuce in their vegetable gardens. They knew that seed germination was very high in Petri dishes in the laboratory.
It turns out that in lettuce seeds, unlike barley, a critical step in triggering seed germination is photo-activation. The seeds need to be exposed to light in order to germinate. I hope you are wondering, immediately, how germination responds to photon flux and wavelength of light!
Lettuce responds well to very low photon fluxes…it is not a photosynthetic process!
The wavelength of light is critical. The seeds germinate well in white light, but also to single “colors”…particularly red light (660 nm). On the other hand, far-red light (730 nm) strongly reduces lettuce germination.
It took a long time to identify, isolate, and characterize the photoreceptor. It is called phytochrome. Phytochrome exists in two different chemical forms: Pr and Pfr. Phytochrome in its Pr form absorbs light maximally in red wavelengths…hence Pr. Phytochrome in its Pfr form absorbs light maximally in far-red wavelengths…hence Pfr. The name of the form of phytochrome is determined by the color of light it absorbs maximally. What made characterizing phytochrome difficult was the fact that the two forms interconvert. As Pfr absorbs far-red light, it changes chemically into Pr! Similarly, Pr absorbs red light and changes chemically into Pfr.
If you think about how you might analyze a pigment (as you have done several times in lab!), you generally put an extract into a spectrophotometer and measure the absorbency of a wavelength at which the pigment maximally absorbs light. With phytochrome, this is almost impossible…the light you would use to measure it, causes it to change to the other form! It is elusive!
Back to the lettuce, obviously the garden problem is planting the seeds too deep (in the dark!). Without light to photo-activate seed germination, the seeds fail to germinate to their potential. In the dark, the ratio of Pfr to Pr determines whether each seed will germinate. If exposed to red light, the phytochrome is all converted into Pfr and the seeds germinate. When the seeds are exposed to far-red light, the phytochrome is all converted into Pr and the seeds fail to germinate. Obviously the active form of phytochrome is Pfr.
Posted in Gardening, Spring gardening, Uncategorized | Tagged: Danomanno, Forsythkid, Lettuce germination, Romaine lettuce | Leave a Comment »
A new generic name for Viagra!
Posted by forsythkid on March 15, 2010
Posted in Humor | Tagged: Danomanno, Drugs, Forsythkid, Viagra | 1 Comment »
So, that’s where Hell is!
Posted by forsythkid on March 13, 2010
Posted in Humor | Tagged: Danomanno, Forsythkid, Hell, Humor | 1 Comment »
Real Life Stimulus Money Beneficiaries. Are You Out There?
Posted by forsythkid on March 13, 2010
If anyone has seen a single penny of any of the trillions of dollars recently spent, please leave a comment. While I’m sure that some good has come of it, I have to wonder if maybe it’s like pissing on a building on fire. Ion order to make my point, let’s do a little simple math work concerning something that has been puzzling me lately. As you may have been aware, our government has recently passed numerous spending measures that were designed to get the economy going once again. I’m pretty unclear as to the exact amounts, however. What has it been now? One trillion? Two? Three? Well, for the sake of argument, let’s say that Uncle Sam has spent one trillion in his effort to help us all out of the hole we find ourselves in. So, if you take $1,000,000,000,000 (that’s a trillion dollars baby) and divide that equally among the estimated 250 million adults over the age of 18, you get $400 each! (Sorry, but you teens will have to get a job at McDonalds).Now, if we also assume that all you good people were to save the money or pay off real debt like mortgages, then as a country, our financial liability that is currently at $349,045 each (as of march 13, 2010) would now be minus $400 or $348,635. This is the money still needed fro each of you to get out country out of a debt for which we the tax payers are responsible. That was what… a tenth of a percentage reduction? Well, maybe Aunt Edna has a little ‘sock’ money stashed somewhares around here…
So, perhaps spending even a trillion doesn’t seem to have done very darn much in the long term. Maybe my math is wrong. Oh, wait a minute! I forgot that we also need to add fifty billion each month to cover the interest charges on this money. And, let‘s not forget the 1.7 trillion the president recently had to borrow just to keep the government running for another year. My oh my. .well there’s always China. They’ve bailed us out in the past.
Please take a moment to view your National Debt Clock in action. Real time! Next time you vote for a representative or senator or president please go back and take a hard look at what these folks are doing to this country.
Posted in Danomanno, Editorial, Political, Politics | Tagged: Danomanno, Forsythkid, National Debt Clock, Stimulus bill | Leave a Comment »
My Chicken Wire Spud Enclosure Thing
Posted by forsythkid on March 11, 2010
Posted in Gardening, Raised beds, Spring gardening, Vegetables | Tagged: Danomanno, Forsythkid, potatoes, Raised beds, Southwest Missouri | Leave a Comment »
The Second Amendment March in Washington
Posted by forsythkid on March 9, 2010
The Second Amendment March on Washington D.C. is scheduled to take place on April the 19th, 2010 and will not actually be a march at all. (After talking with the police and Secret Service, I think it has been decided to make this more of a gathering). But, it will represent citizens who are united to ‘galvanize the courage and resolve of Americans; to petition our elected officials against establishing anti-gun legislation; and to remind America that the Second Amendment is necessary to maintain our right to self defense.’
I will not be attending personally, but my heart certainly goes out to these brave individuals who are trying to protect what many feel is a fast eroding base of liberties that are guaranteed us in both the Constitution and in the Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment to the Constitution was ratified on December the 15th, 1791 and reads; “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Many feel it was placed high up in the list of rights for a reason. They feel it was written to insure, maintain and preserve the ability of the American people to take back control, by arms if necessary, of the government should anything go amiss. Now while I’m not an activist by any stretch, I can relate to the need for ‘We the People’ to have ultimate control when it comes to our manifest destiny. I would also take it very personally if any power took it upon themselves to change, alter or attempt to dilute the meaning of the Second Amendment. I think the vast majority of American citizens feel just as I do on this subject and will support the men and women who march on Washington in April.
God bless you all and may He keep you safe.
Posted in Political, Politics | Tagged: 2nd Amendment, Danomanno, Feedom, Forsythkid, March on Washington, Second Amendment | Leave a Comment »
Accuweather for Cell Phones
Posted by forsythkid on March 9, 2010
Today’s cell phones come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Many of them sport a plethora of functions or modules that can be added at some cost. Everything from video games to GPS navigators are now readily available. But of all of these, the one that I have found personally the most useful has been the Accuweather module that gives the user clear, real time radar along with forecasts and warnings.
If you are the kind of person, like me, that spends time in the great outdoors then you might want to check this out. Spring time, especially, can bring on a sudden thunderstorm that can catch many of us unprepared. Included are construction workers, boaters, hikers and even people who just like to walk once in a while. For just a few dollars a month, you can have live portable radar to help insure you don’t get caught out in the elements with no warning. I’ve had this service for two years now and it has come in very handy on my treks to the wilderness, even remote areas like Hercules Glades Missouri.
Posted in Outdoors | Tagged: Accuweather, Live radar | Leave a Comment »
The Up and Down the River Vote?
Posted by forsythkid on March 8, 2010
In spite of the mounting unpopularity of the Health Bill in its current form, the president is still calling for an up or down vote requiring just 51 yeas for passage. He also wants (demands) this vote to happen within two weeks (or else?). You paying attention Eric Massa?
Now that we have finally arrived at this moment ‘fatale’ for Obama’s raison d’etre, let’s all take a moment to reflect. Obama baby, I have to tell ya, you’re staring right into the jaws of a failed presidency. I will grant that you must have some major cohones, but man oh man – this is a deal buster move for sure. Lose this vote, Commander type person, and you walk away empty-handed after a year of failed promises. Bummer man! The Republicans, meanwhile are in the cat bird seat just waiting for the main course to be served. They feel that any Democrats who vote to pass the bill ‘up’ will shortly be looking ‘down’ the barrel of a gun come fall. And, if they vote no, the Red Party will be blathering about how ineffective the Dems (read as Dims?) are as leaders. Can you blame a single G.O.P. member for not sporting major smiles these days?
For my part, I’m kinda hoping the bill gets through. It will set the stage for the next great debate…how to pay for it. Even now, there are rumors circulating around Washington concerning the passage of a $7 a gallon tariff on Gasoline and other fuels. This would be in addition to mind numbing taxes that will be put forth as Capitol Hill now turns its attention to the passage of a Cap and Trade Bill. A bill that even the President himself admits will cause heating bills to sky-rocket nationwide.
I don’t know about the rest of my readers, but at least all this nonsense will make for good daytime TV. God knows we can use it.
Posted in Editorial, Humor, Political, Politics | Tagged: Danomanno, Forsythkid, Health Care, Massa, Up and down vote | Leave a Comment »
I Must Turn My Back!
Posted by forsythkid on March 6, 2010
Posted in Political, Politics, Sound off | Tagged: Danomanno, Debt, Deficit, Forsythkid | Leave a Comment »
