ooh, yes... the sound of silence - that reminds me....I'm going to put on some classic Simon & Garfunkel when working on some slabs this week. For the slabs I'm using big pieces of slate from my mom's old dug up 1950's patio (beautiful red, blue variants, and black/gray slate)....... Ive been creating these miniature landscapes with muck, driftwood, some accent rocks, some real small jinned Japanese Junipers, and yes - moss. Collecting wild moss for my bonsai - I always make sure that I collect moss from areas that have similar soil to my muck for easier adjusting. I also only collect moss where it gets good sun exposure - this way I know the moss is sun tollerant, doesn't demand shade, and won't burn in the sun. A problem I've had for years with moss, is that bonsai fertilizer burns my moss brown. I've used 10-10-10 slow release pellets, and have also used 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer. I have to stick the pellets in the soil deep and away from the moss, or if using liquid fetilizer I water the bonsai trees around and away from the moss. Anyone else have problems with fetilizing their bonsai & it killing/browning their moss? I'll go post my question at the moss forum - http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/crypto/

We have audio books that we usually listen to in the car -- it didn't occur to me that these could be downloaded, so I'll have to look into that. The Harry Potter audio books, the British versions with Stephen Frye reading, are what we usually listen to when driving, if there's no good music on the radio. This past week I have been listening to recordings of four bible study classes Jimmy Carter gave in 1998, called "Leading a Worthy Life." Not a book, exactly, but interesting.

Show biz personalities don't interest me, I tend to turn off programs where one is featured. I think Brian Lamb of C-Span (yeah, C-Span) is as good an interviewer as I've ever heard. Now retired from being the company's CEO, he has a weekly one hour program, "Q+A", dedicated to interviewing "interesting people". Whether from government, the media, arts, or whatever. He has no agenda and is a master at coming up with thoughtful questions. Available on TV, the website, or as a podcast. I also like Lawrence Lopate of WNYC. Though he and the program are very New York-centric (which doesn't interest me), many of his interview segments are of broader interest and catch my attention. Like Lamb, he's a thought provoking guy who tries to bring out the best of his guests and topics. Because WNYC is the NY public radio affiliate, they have the right location and clout to get worthwhile guests. I listen to segments of interest in podcast form.

I keep meaning to Terry Gross's interviews because I only catch them now and then. I used to listen to Thom Hartmann on the radio until they moved his show to late night, darn it. So occasionally I listen to his podcast. This American Life and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me are both good.