The Hosta Handbook by Mark Zilis is a masterpiece...and it will always be popular and will never get outdated IMHO. Simply because it contains so much info...notes, observations, personal opinions of the "Master", etc. It's as if Mark Zilis has put on paper his technical notes and knowledge. It's not as fancy and as well presented as Diana Greenfell Color Encyclopedia but to a guy like me, I prefer the Handbook anytime. I have both books. Greenfell's book is on my coffee table in the living room for people to look at...and my visitors appreciate the 'nice' pictures in the encyclopedia. On the other hand, I have increased my knowledge of hostas 1000 folds more by referencing to The Hosta Hankbook by Mark Zilis. Papou Here is a link that might be useful: Papou's hosta website

Personal preferences aside, there are probably only 5-10 or so Mangos that "COMMONLY" get named as being the #1 best tasting. Carrie is probably the BEST tasting Mango that has been the most widely "sampled" by a lot of Mango lovers that they have tasted at least once and that also often gets top billing. Many people have never had the opportunity to taste an Edwards, Maha Chinook or Lemon Zest, etc. Using Carrie as the base and assuming Carrie is a "9" how do these other Mango's rate that are also COMMONLY listed as being the best or peoples favorite compare to Carrie? Please give each one a numerical score and whether they are better or worse than Carrie. The only thing that you're grading on is flavor nothing else. Edwards - 2. Carrie - 9 (when properly ripened) 3. Maha Chinook - 4. Lemon Zest - 5. Coconut Cream - 6. Kent - 7. Other - ?? (anyone who says Haden is automatically disqualified for being an inexperienced Mango noob)

@lazygardens You're probably right about the officers, all the letters seem to work. From my first bit of research it looks like the Masons used a pigpen cypher though, in which the final product is symbols, not letters. Hmm...the mystery deepens. The Hugo Antl you guys found is probably the right one, because I live in Minnesota!

logic wrote: "dreamgarden, great article....brings a whole new meaning to "what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive".... And there you have it in a nutshell. However, I can see why it is more comforting for all too many to simply blame the lowly homebuyer....as one can then continue to remain in denial that of the fact that in essence, our entire finance system is one HUGE scam. Thanks. The more I read about the subprime mess, the more I realize what a "shell game" the bigger interests are playing with everyone's money. Even UK chancellor Alistair Darling has joined growing calls for a probe into the role that credit agencies have played in the world financial crisis. Darling censures rating agencies news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6995699.stm Its too bad the U.S. didn't follow Canada's example for insuring mortgages. "All high-ratio mortgages in Canada Ñ those with less than 20 per cent down Ñ must be secured by mortgage insurance, through, for example, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In addition, Canadian financial institutions do not finance more than 100 per cent of a home's purchase price, and that value must be verified with a separate appraisal." marys1000 wrote: "Is there going to be a run on banks? Are banks going to fail? All my mother's money is in one bank." If you have all of your money in ONE bank, that could be a problem. I don't know if there is going to be a run on banks in the U.S. or not, but DH and I are NOT waiting to find out. We have already moved some of our investments into T-bills and CD's. The last time we talked to our banker, he told us we didn't have any sub-prime investments and tried to convince us to keep everything in the market. When I asked him to tell us which part of our portfolio was FDIC insured (or if he would be willing to support us if the market drops), he was silent. Never suggested T-bills or CD's either. I guess he is only interested in our "welfare" as long as he (and his employer) stand to gain. Now I understand why the Russians stuffed money under their mattresses after their banks failed so many times. Time-The Last Sacrifice- Dec. 22, 1947 The Soviets had spiraled into economic trouble similar in some ways to capitalist inflationary difficulties. The ruble, officially valued at 20 U.S. cents, was worth no more than three in actual buying power. Illegal speculation by bureaucrats, collective-farm bosses, store and factory managers and others had become a lively menace to state planning. Peasants, and some city dwellers, had also accumulated hoards of rubles largely because too few of the things they needed, or wanted to buy, were available. Never knowing when deposits might be frozen, they distrusted banks, kept their hoarded money at home. Rationing controls could not be lifted until this money was destroyed, and its destruction was Zhdanov's principal aim.