an update on my tree-growing ventures

I posted a blog awhile ago about how I've started growing trees in my back "yard"--an area that is really just a patio with a fence around it--about 12' x 20'.

Well, the biggest tree I had was a Japanese Maple that I dug up from my grandparents' house. It was about 4 feet tall. I took a picture of it and put it on the blog, and it looked nice. But, then it started to die. I cut the top foot off of it the day after I planted it. It kept dying. For the last month and a half, it's been a green stick with a bunch of brown leaves on it.

Last week I gave up on it ever making a comeback.

But there is great hope! Today I noticed new leaves. The picture at left shows you the resurrected Japanese Maple. The old leaves are starting to turn green again too, which is crazy, since they were dead and crinkled up.


This picture is of my little avocado tree, grown from a pit. It looks great. Unfortunately, I was reading yesterday that it's very easy to grow avocados from a pit, and then just have them die on you as soon as winter hits. The best part was that I was reading an article by the bassist for the David Crowder Band in the magazine that came with their new CD for all of the people who preordered it. It was the perfect magazine for someone like me--about a band I like, with articles on theology, music theory, gardening, etc., and ads for keyboards and guitars. Hopefully my tree makes it.

The other trees in the previous picture can be seen better in the one on the left. There are two little Japanese maples that I dug up from my parents' house when they were about an inch tall. They're over a foot now. I had to duct tape 2 kebab skewers together to keep the trees growing straight. There's also a little Silver Maple in there. It's growing well too.


The Japanese Maple on the left, the avocado tree, and one of my redwood trees are finally starting to look a little bit like wood instead of just like sprouts. That is promising.

I know that not very many people out there care much about my trees. But hopefully it's interesting reading anyway. Well, maybe interesting is a bit of an overstatement.

The Media: Information, Entertainment, or Comfort

I've been thinking about the news media a lot over the last week or so. While we were on vacation, we watched "The Soloist," and then the other night, Julie and I watched "State of Play." Then last night, I went and saw "The Informant!" The first two really dealt with the media, and then today, I was reading about the true story behind "The Informant," and it turns out that different journalists have portrayed the protagonist very differently.

I was reading the news the other day, and discovered the usual pro-conservative terminology on Fox News' website that you would expect.

I usually try to read a bunch of different news sites, so I am hearing what a variety of people think. I like to read what the Chinese (state-run) press has to say, and what Al Jazeera has to say. It's good to know what your adversaries think of you.

I also think it's valuable to watch CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. I don't particularly respect either the Drudge Report or the Huffington Post, but I'll check them out occasionally.

Now, I'm mostly surrounded by conservatives, who I'll overhear raving about how Fox News is the only legitimate station because there are things they report on that everyone else covers up. Did you ever stop to think that maybe sometimes they're spinning things, and that's the only reason the other stations aren't covering them? Or maybe the reason the other stations aren't covering something is because it legitimately isn't that big of a deal to a sensible person?

I'm sure the same goes for liberals who love MSNBC and hate the other stations. I just haven't been around that side as much.

I do think there are times that those stations report things that other stations might be hiding.

But, in reality, if you are picking sides politically, you need to understand that the big Cable News outlets don't care about your cause. The only reason they're using their dialogue and hiring talking heads you like is to get you to watch. That increases their rating, which in turn increases their advertising dollars.

So, maybe you love Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly. Maybe you love Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow. And they may even legitimately be conservative or liberal. But, their bosses, who actually determine what the network says, they're just using you. They're just using you to make a buck.

I'm not saying "don't trust the media." I'm just saying that the "information" industry is really more concerned about making you feel entertained and comfortable. Their hope is that by the time you get up off your couch, you will feel like you were right all along. You'll feel validated in your staunch anti-liberal or anti-conservative beliefs. They want to strengthen your allegiance to your own position, and entrench yourself against the other side.

Not because they think the other side is wrong morally or economically, but because that creates brand loyalty, and higher advertising profits.

Just realize that whenever you pledge allegiance to a talking head or news outlet.

Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM1f5xrOfGU