I am sure there is a 'perfect' frequency at which to water each individual plant... but I have many dozens of plants in pots (well over 300) so I don't have the luxury of time to feel each one's soil. However I do find that most succulents are incredibly forgiving (obvious exceptions) and seem to do well no matter how often a feel like watering. I am off two days a week, so I water 2 days a week... but sometimes, particularly in the long summer days, I have opportunities to water more often so I do... sometimes every day to every other day. So far, with the few exceptions I did not specify above, 99% of my plants do great with whatever they get. Exceptions in the past have been plants in too much shade, or the super touchy things like Mesembs and caudiciforms. Those have to be set aside and watched a bit more closely. Thankfully, of the about 50 species of cacti I have in pots, none seem to care if they get watered once a day or once a month (some I neglect for months on end). I just notice that sometimes the ones getting more water flower more and grow faster. That's about it. I have had cacti sitting out of a pot for over a year (no soil, no water) and they still look fine (these are columnars or barrels... not small mammillarias). So with most plants, I think you can pick your own schedule and go with it... in most cases, as long as the soil drains well, they will manage. Just be sure you water watering them thoroughly when you do, especially if there is peat in the soil... peat soils often never get wet at all if you dont' water thoroughly and the plants do die of dehydration. Of course all this is from someone living in a dry climate (southern California) that is fairly warm year round. Those growing stuff in humid climates might have to be a bit more careful I suppose.

First you need to find out if your problem is actually Late Blight, or if it is something else. Good Late Blight pics: http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm Pics and/or good descriptions of multiple diseases: http://kdcomm.net/~tomato/Tomato/d_out1.html -- take a look at B. and C. http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomWlt/TomWiltKey.html -- Begin with the green chart. Look at the diseases which have an X in the "Stem" column and also say "leaves" in the right-most column. Do they match your symptoms? http://vegdis.cas.psu.edu/VegDisases/Identification_files/tomatoleafspot.htm#septorialeaf

I think there has to be some sort of equalibrium point below which the price of sheet rock or a 2x4 won't drop. A point where everyone along the chain is making enough money that it makes more sense to keep going than to close shop. Prices can go below that for limited periods when shifts in supply and demand make it more important to move inventory than make money, but it can't stay below it for long. Flgargoyle is certainly right that energy is a big part of the equation. The oak veneer ply I bought yesterday was made of trees grown here, shipped as logs to China, milled and shipped back. And people worry about locally grown produce...

Voting is another topic on which I have very strong feelings. I firmly believe if you live in this country you have, not a "right" since we determined that there are no "rights" only privileges! ;) or a "privilege", but rather a duty. You have a duty to vote in my mind. It bugs me so much to hear people complain and then say they didn't vote. I've quit being "nice" about it. I tell them if you don't vote, don't complain. Simple as that. The, er, privilege to complain comes only with performing your duty to vote. There's all kinds of excuses not to vote but it comes down to convenience and laziness it seems. But interestingly the same inconvenience and laziness disappears for other things. I'm stepping down off my rickety soap box now. Be sure to vote. I'm very proud that Minnesota is a leader in the voter turnout and almost always is one of the top. "Minnesota 'Nice'" or "Minnesota 'Living Up To Our Duty'"?? :) Vote. It's very important. Have a say in your future. And I hope you'll be an informed voter and use more than just commercials. Compare and contrast. Sometimes the decision is easy, sometimes not so easy. But that's all part of the duty. Looking for 100% "I Voted" in the forum! And yes, I'm looking forward to the end of the campaigns!