From: http://www.newser.com/story/166430/blast-rocks-fertilizer-plant-near-waco.html
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Some Tips For Growing Kohlrabi
By Stephanie
Kohlrabi is an interesting vegetable to grow. It looks like an above ground turnip with stems and leaves growing from it. People who are unfamiliar with it are often unsure of what part to eat and what part to discard.
Kohlrabi is common in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, and in Asia. It is not as common in North America. No one is exactly sure where kohlrabi came from, but most scholars agree it is a cross between a turnip and a cabbage. It was known from 1500 forward in Europe and spread all over the globe from there. It reached America about 1800. Kohlrabi is officially a member of the cole, or cabbage, family. Often erroneously classified as a root vegetable, the part you eat is actually the swollen stem, not the root.
Kohlrabi are heavy feeders so compost should be worked into the soil ahead of planting. Mix in three inches of compost and till the ground six inches deep, mixing the compost and soil.
Kohlrabi can be grown from either transplants or seeds. Seeds should be planted when the soil is 50-65 degrees F. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in rows twelve to eighteen inches apart. Thin the kohlrabi to 4 inches between plants. You can use the thinned plants as tender greens or transplant them to another row of the garden.
Kohlrabi can be started indoor in flats by planting the seeds three to four weeks before it is warm enough to place them outside. Plant transplants four inches apart on rows twelve to eighteen inches apart.
There are two varieties of kohlrabi, the apple green with a white interior and the purple with a white interior. The purple variety is supposed to be a little sweeter than the green variety. However, they can be inter-planted to create a splash of color in your garden. Plant a group of green, then a group of purple, then repeat. Or, you can mix the seeds and plant the different colors spaced together.
Kohlrabi need an average amount of water for vegetables and should be watered one inch of water once or twice a week, depending on the temperature and the drainage of your ground. Keep them moist but not soaked.
Kohlrabi should be harvested when they are about two and a half inches in diameter, or about the diameter of a tennis ball. This is about 60 to 65 days from first seeding. Allowing the plant to grow any bigger also causes it to become woody and fibrous, which is not good to eat. If harvested at the proper time, the plant is then prepared by cutting off all the stems from the swollen part. The stems and leaves can be chopped up and used in salads or stir fries. The swelling can be sliced and eaten raw, cooked and mashed up with potatoes or put in cole slaw.
If your kohlrabi get a little too big, say 4-5 inches in diameter, you will have to peel it to eat it. You will also
From: http://www.weekendgardener.net/blog/2013/04/some-tips-for-growing-kohlrabi.htm
Kennedy discusses road to success in Chatting Cage
By Zachary Finkelstein D-backs right-hander Ian Kennedy stepped into the Edward Jones Chatting Cage at MLB.com headquarters on Tuesday morning to field questions from fans on social media and around the country.
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130416&content_id=44960140&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Unofficial iPad Cases Reveal Upcoming Redesign
Earlier this year images of what may be the next 9.7-inch iPad surfaced, revealing a new design that closely resembles the iPad mini. TechCrunch has now discovered a slew of new cases for a product referred to as the iPad 5 through online retailer Alibaba. Like the previous leak, the mock ups show a thinner bezel, once again suggesting that Apple’s next round of tablets will feature a more svelte body.
From: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/16/unofficial-ipad-cases-reveal-upcoming-redesign
Braves may be best in franchise history
By Terence Moore Everyone knows the Braves are on an incredible hot streak to begin the season. But perhaps take it a step further: Can they have the best season in franchise history?
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130416&content_id=44954430&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Cubs shake up bench, 'pen, add Ransom, Loe, Gregg
By Carrie Muskat The Cubs claimed Cody Ransom off waivers, designated Brent Lillibridge and Hisanori Takahashi for assignment, and added reliever Kameron Loe and selected former closer Kevin Gregg to the bullpen on Tuesday.
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130416&content_id=44959460&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Notebook: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 91
THE FACTS: Power forward Carmelo Anthony and shooting guard J.R. Smith each scored 31 points as the New York Knicks cruised to a 101-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Anthony added a game-high 14 rebounds and two assists in 30 electric minutes, while New York small forward Iman Shumpert chipped in eight points and a career-best 11 boards. Point guard Kyrie Irving paced Cleveland with 31 points and six assists, but only made 11-of-27 field goal attempts. The Atlantic Division champion Knicks hold a three-game lead over Indiana in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference with three contests to play.
From: http://www.nba.com/data/html/nbacom/gameinfo/20130412/0021201182_notebook.html?rss=true
Wide-scale attack against WordPress blogs reported
Unidentified hackers are said to have have launched a large-scale attack against WordPress blogs and any hosts using weak passwords are urged to update them immediately.
Security firms have been tracking an escalating number of “brute force” attacks against WordPress installations, which have been trying out logins such as “admin” and then running through thousands of commonly-used passwords to try to break in.
“One of the concerns of an attack like this is that the attacker is using a relatively weak botnet of home PCs in order to build a much larger botnet of beefy servers in preparation for a future attack,” security and website performance firm CloudFlare said in a post Friday.
Security firm Incapsula told security blog KrebsOnSecurity that infected sites are seeded with a backdoor that gives the attackers remote control of the site. “The infected sites then are conscripted into the attacking server botnet, and forced to launch password-guessing attacks against other sites running WordPress,” the site reported.
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Quentin suspended eight games for Greinke incident
By Corey Brock Padres left fielder Carlos Quentin received an eight-game suspension Friday for his part in Thursday’s benches-clearing incident with Zack Greinke and the Dodgers.
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130412&content_id=44611124&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Remorseful Quentin defends actions against Greinke
By Corey Brock After a night to reflect on the events of Thursday’s benches-clearing incident at Petco Park, Padres left fielder Carlos Quentin sounded equal parts repentant and resolute Friday about the role that he played in the episode.
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130412&content_id=44595070&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
Yanks receive gift, turn triple play for wild win
By Paul Casella It wasn’t ideal baseball weather, but the Yankees finally returned to action Friday night after consecutive rainouts and picked up right where they left off with a wacky 5-2 victory over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_12_balmlb_nyamlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=nyy
Masterson superb, Swish hits winner vs. White Sox
By Jordan Bastian Justin Masterson finished off the final frame for the Tribe, and then watched from the dugout as his teammates rallied for a 1-0 walk-off victory over the rival White Sox at Progressive Field on Friday.
From: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_12_chamlb_clemlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=cle
How to Make a Removable Rabbit Proof Fencing
If you live in an area like I do where the rabbits (and other pests) are
a plenty, then you already know the pain of trying to keep them from
eating your garden.
Normally you would put up some poultry (or other type) fencing to keep
them out, attaching the fencing to posts. What happens is, over time,
that fencing will break down and have to be replaced, which could be a
pain.
Here is a great project where you can section off your fencing, and over
time, only replace the sections that are worn down, as opposed to
having to replace the whole thing, or doing any fancy fence mending.
These Stocks Could Gush — Some Already Have
By Selena Maranjian, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you’d like to add some global energy stocks to your portfolio, the iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF could save you a lot of trouble. Instead of trying to figure out which companies will perform best, you can use this ETF to invest in lots of them simultaneously.
The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The iShares ETF‘s expense ratio — its annual fee — is a relatively low 0.39%. The fund is very small, though, so if you’re thinking of buying, beware of possibly large spreads between its bid and ask prices. Consider using a limit order if you want to buy in.
This ETF is too new to have a sufficient track record to assess. As with most investments, of course, we can’t expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.
Why energy?
Energy is a defensive sector, as demand for it doesn’t drop by a lot when economic times get tough. Interest in alternative energies is definitely growing, but we’re still quite dependent on good old oil and gas. Thus, oil and gas exploration and production companies are worth considering — and some of them have been getting involved in alternative energies, too.
Some energy companies had strong performances over the past year. Phillips 66 has been profiting by processing cheap U.S. oil and then selling it at higher prices in Latin America and Europe — thereby helping keep fuel prices in the U.S. high. Phillips management recently signaled confidence via a dividend hike of about 25% — its yield is 1.9% now. The stock took a bit of a hit recently due to proposed sulfur-reduction regulations from the EPA that would result in greater expense for the company, in order to comply. Meanwhile, Phillips is spinning off a master limited partnership.
Other companies didn’t do as well last year, but could see their fortunes change in the coming years. Apache , yielding 1.1%, shed 19% over the past year, in part due to lower-than-hoped-for production levels. But that’s due to the company investing capital in projects that won’t immediately bump production much. Only 11% of Apache’s revenue last year came from natural gas, and unlike some peers, it’s cash-flow positive as well. It hiked its next dividend by a big 18%, and its plans to drill more wells are also promising. On various counts, the stock seems inexpensive. Meanwhile, a board member recently bought some $740,000 worth of shares.
Suncor Energy shed 4%, and yields 1.8%. It’s Canada’s largest energy company, with expertise in deep oil sands. The company recently canceled its plans to upgrade its Voyageur plant in northern Alberta, due in part to competitive pressures. Thus,
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/12/these-stocks-could-gush-some-already-have/
Learn to Grow Pears-The Unsung Heroes of the Orchard
By Mindy
When one thinks of an orchard, the picture is normally one of apple and peach trees planted in rows across a perfect landscape. But did you know that pears are just as easy to grow as apples and peaches. Well, they are and with the hints described below you will be growing and harvesting pears before you know it.
Pear selection is very important and choosing the incorrect variety will affect your success rate. Two considerations one will need to look at include the number and location. First how many pear trees do you plan to plant? This is very important since pear trees can be either self-pollinating or requiring cross pollinating from at least two trees. Second where you are going to plant the pear tree is another consideration. If you are going to create a typical orchard, then you can use a standard size. If on the other hand, you are going to utilize a container as your garden space, then you will need a dwarf variety.
Garden selection is another factor that needs to be considered. Pears love to be in a well-drained soil that is located in bright sunlight but they do need some type of windbreak around them.
Once you have chosen your tree, the next step is to prepare the garden space. The hole will need to be dug so that it is as deep as the container the tree is in but twice to three times the width. After the hole has been dug, mix the remaining soil with a good portion of well-seasoned manure and/or compost.
Now you are ready to place your plant in the hole and backfill with the soil mixture described above. If you are planting more than one tree, space them 20 feet apart. After all trees have been planted, water in to settle the soil. Throughout the growing season monitor the soil’s moisture level and water accordingly.
If planting in a container, one will need to pick a pot that is at least 10 gallons. Once you have picked the container, wash and sterilize it, place drainage material in the bottom and fill with a combination of an all-purpose soil and aged manure and/or compost. Plant as described above.
Pruning is an important task that needs to be done to keep the pear tree healthy. Have said that, pruning should not occur until the tree has been in the orchard for one year and then at that point dead limbs need to be removed, suckers need to be cut away and the leader needs to be cut. The leader is the middle branch that if topped will encourage outward growth verses upward growth.
In about eight years, your tree will reward you with a beautiful crop of pears and will continue with this production for many years to come.
From: http://www.weekendgardener.net/blog/2013/04/pears-the-unsung-heroes-of-the-orchard.htm
How Firefox Is Becoming the TiVo of Internet Browsing
By Tim Beyers, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Pity this era’s ad men and women. Each day brings new ways that techies are limiting our exposure to their pitches. Witness Firefox, the Mozilla Foundation browser that now automatically blocks “cookies” from third-party websites.
For the uninitiated, cookies are small blocks of code uploaded to a browser upon visiting a site. Some are quite helpful, like the cookies that recognize you returning to a site you love and log you in automatically as a result. Others are like trackers that hope to understand you so well that targeted ads get through.
According to trade magazine Computerworld, the latest edition of Firefox (version 22) would only block cookies unrelated to the website you’re viewing at the time. Code related to sites you’ve already visited, and approve of, would also be allowed. Mozilla plans to formally unveil the new browser in June. Expect more than the usual rhetoric in the interim.
Advertisers hate the idea. At least two industry trade groups — the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Association of National Advertisers — strongly oppose the new setting, arguing that users of the browser will see more (and more irrelevant) ads as a result, Computerworld reports. Perhaps that’s why Apple , Google , and Microsoft haven’t taken similar steps with their own browsers?
Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova isn’t so sure, arguing in the following video that the pattern is eerily similar to the reaction TV advertisers had when TiVo first introduced time shifting and the ability to fast-forward through commercials. The industry has since adjusted, and it will here, too, Tim says.
Do you believe Mozilla is making the right move in blocking some cookies? Please watch and then leave a comment to let us know what you think of the plan and how you consume (or avoid) Internet advertising.
It’s incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out “Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?” in The Motley Fool’s latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.
The article How Firefox Is Becoming the TiVo of Internet Browsing originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the
Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Apple and Google at the time of publication. Check out Tim’s web home and portfolio holdings or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/12/how-firefox-is-becoming-the-tivo-of-internet-brows/