The Dutch Corner Tavern

10/31/2024

My personal YouTube Algor found this for me last night. The film is 3 hours long and I've only started, but I recommend that you start at around 01:00 and watch for 5 or ten minutes.

Phillipe is interested in how architecture can provide a glimpse into how people live all around the world. He travels to some of the most unique spots and ...

10/31/2024

"As tune allows," I say. Well, very little more of this will be built before winter -- unless a homeless horde arrives.

I make a very hurried video to see if I can still use my chalkboard as a "performance venue". This is hurried because I want to get it uploaded before that ...

10/30/2024

It's that time of year when the two dawn redwoods every day become more "flamboyant" (to name another tree.)

10/29/2024

It would be best if this upcoming presidential election is NOT a close one, but that rather that one candidate or the other wins by a "landslide".

If Trump were to so win, that would indicate that the United States has truly changed its identity to one of hate, fear, greed, division, and violence-loving.

If Kamala were to so win, it would indicate that the United States resounding rejects hate, fear, greed, division, and violence-loving in favor of civility, knowledge, hope, charity, and pursuit of joy.

In either case, our attention will, whether we like it or not, be drawn to what I call "the giant on the beach" -- global warming -- and the vast cultural and economic change coming.

10/28/2024

I'm sure you all know how fond Trump is of giving people names. I am thinking of the man he called "pencil neck". Pretty low, but that's Trump's world. Well, I don't do that EXCEPT this once I can't pass it up. Has anyone else noticed that Vance does not seem to have a chin? Vance the Chinless.

10/28/2024

Last night I did a lot of research on the degrading? composting? burning of? different kinds of plastic. This because of the extent to which I have seen that sunlight breaks down plastic feed bags. I have a lot more to learn, but I came across a video showing meal worms eating styrofoam. That reminded me of a video of my own that I made four years ago in which I marveled to watch two of my chickens -- free range and not hungry -- regularly eating styrofoam panels on my basement wall -- a material I have since removed.

Here's the meal worm video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_KljXRXV8E

And here's my video:

https://youtu.be/EPSn6I424Z0?si=mBID1DYQFw77kviC

I find it interesting to also consider that chickens LOVE to eat meal worms.

I thought I should document this. They have been doing it for about a year and seem quite healthy. They are free range. That is their choice.

10/27/2024

In this picture, taken a little before the sun rises you can see the shine of water. That spot is becoming especially valuable now that it is getting so dry -- historically dry -- here. It is a small, currently not though formerly I believe, developed. As long as a see that water, I know the pigs have unpumped water in addition to the pond (which is actually a little lower in elevation and getting lower.

10/26/2024

This year's view of "my" two dawn redwoods.

10/26/2024

Unafraid of what most people think of as nastiness. Old, used, dirty bale wrap for under my roof garden.

I show very old and used bale wrap that has long been exposed to ultraviolet light which I intend to try as the impermeable barrier needed under the soil of ...

10/25/2024

Amish Repartee

Yesterday, on my way to town I stopped by Elam Fisher's farm to explain about some books I was lending him. I saw him working at one of his barns and headed up.

There, along with Elam there was another Amish man whom I didn't recognize. He said, "Hi, Frank," (Elam must have told him my name.) and I said "Hi, ... ) which pause he filled in with "Henry".

I asked if he was related to Elam, and he replied that he was his brother.

Knowing that Elam has 10 siblings that live about 100 miles away, I said, "Then one of eight (guessing high). How did you get down here from Loganton? "(The Amish don't have their own cars.).

Then Henry explained that he was not Elam's blood brother.

"We're all brothers," explained Elam, trying to make an excuse for Henry's earlier comment.

We had our book talk, and then Henry asked me if I could work hard. I hesitated, then said, "Yes, do you need help with something heavy?"

"No, not really, well..."

"Frank is on his way to town and has work of his own to do," said Elam.

Well, I learned that Henry lives on his dad's newly bought farm here in Dutch Corner and that he had arrived in his buggy.

"Want a ride?" he asked.

"Sometime, sure, but not now, thanks."

And so the little conversation ended.

What struck me about it was the, what I call the "bu****itting" nature of it -- so like some of the carpenters I worked with in New England.

10/25/2024

It just occurred to me that if the phrase "decent housing" were used instead of "affordable housing" virtually ALL modern American housing would come up as "indecent" considering what that housing has done and is doing to the future.

10/24/2024

Here, again, is something I posted for the group "Water and Climate". Do you think it will be approved? Do you think I will be "remanded"?

"Two days ago I posted about the need for narrative artists to influence people about "climate and water". There was little response to (or perhaps understanding of) what I was saying.
Let me try some narration, a little story, here -- a true one.
After Hart posted about something he was doing in his backyard, I got very curious, and he even messaged me with what I needed to see his backyard on Google Earth. I took a look, and that reminded me of back at the worst of COVID when I got worried about my first wife and if where she lived she was "stuck" in a city. She gave me her address and I looked. Her property in Richmond, VA, is a little like Hart's take away the trees.
Not to worry about her being "stuck". But then I started thinking, what would I do if I lived in a nice place like that and, say, was not able or allowed to leave? A character I had once created named Wedge, spoke to me and said, "Frank, why don't you write a story about what you would do in that case. I'll help you."
And so, Wedge and I began a VERY long work of fiction called "The Pergola Pump". It absolutely applies to "Water and Climate"."

10/24/2024

I like to refer to Harris as Kamala because I get a little boost out of knowing that I can pronounce her name and Trump with his "KaMAla" can't.

10/24/2024

Kamala campaigns partly on the need for "affordable housing". It is a major issue, to be sure; but what can't be and isn't being said yet is that the very concept of "housing" has to change dramatically. I can SOOOO cheaply, and if necessary single-handedly, build permanent, safe, dry, warm, out-of-the-wind "housing" for hundreds of people. But would it be considered "housing". Are dormitories considered housing?

10/22/2024

Another post from "Water and Climate".

I have recently offered quite a few non-English words regarding water and climate for group members to be aware of. I THINK I included the Portuguese word "socalcos" in that list, but just in case not, here it is again and it can show us what a landscape can look like if it is developed fossil fuel free and with an awareness of keeping water on contours. This video is NOT showing Tibet, China, or Peru, nor rice patties or the vineyards of Douro but rather showing polycul… See more
Socalcos de Padrão e Porto Cova | Sistelo
youtube.com

10/21/2024

Here's a post I just made for the FB group "Water and Climate". Some of you may be able to guess where I am headed with this.

A factor in improving our relationship with "water and climate" and with Gaia in general is to take into account what what I call "artists" can do. I DON'T mean simply those visual artists who can make stunning and influential paintings, posters, and advertisements. I more especially mean those artists who can tell stories and sing songs. (This dark side of this group might be called "bu****it artists", and we all know at least one.)
Such narrative artists can shift whole paradigms much faster and more completely than politicians or scientists. But where are they? I have watched for their work and pursued various leads to possibilities, but have so far come up practically blank.
I would like to mention a few of the leads I've followed and to hear about others that people know of, but not in this post. Here I want to just say that with Hart Hagan's sending me a way to zero in on what he has done in his "back yard" (as he posted), I was reminded of the way a fictional story was born. With just a little encouragement or show of curiosity, I will go on.
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10/21/2024

Taking a step closer to experimenting with a living roof by seeing if bale wrap might work as the impermeable layer.

I start to explore a new use for , used, wrap and "feed sacks.I also show some of the "furniture" I will be using in the (bath...

10/20/2024

In the novel that I am telling online, "The Pergola Pump", and the to the telling of which I will soon return, there is a character that I fear could be equated with Donald Trump. The character's name is Essex Teydis Crow II, and I admit that he shares some of Trump's characteristics -- certain speech patterns and seeming lack of empathy, among others.

To make sure that my listeners would realize that this is NOT Trump I am also giving the character certain "un-Trumpian" ideas. Teydis despises resorts, calling them the "sad attempts for the rich and super rich to find the happiness that their wealth prevents" (Teydis can be eloquen at times.) Even more passionately Teydis HATES golf, calling it at best a game and certainly not a sport or an athletic activity -- and again for the sad rich.

Well, Donald Trump just made that distinction between himself and Teydis much easier and clearer with his proclaimed idolization of Arnold Palmer.

They say that the upcoming presidential election will be very close. Do you suppose that, with Trump's so clearly revealing a glimpse of the depth of his vulgarity, he has managed to defeat himself?

Could it be that Trump has beaten himself with his adoration of Palmer's imagined big dick?