The main problem (for me) is understand. Figs normally sprouts its leaves on begin of April. Here in Italy, (Z9b) !!!! the leaves are NOT yet. Which thing you want in Florida? a miracle ? You are not able to change atmosphere, but may be possible to you change the soil: make as possible of small hilloch, sandy and poor soil, and put on this the trees of fig. Soil very well drained. NOT NEAR THE HOME. If there arent all round fig trees, may be that you are crazy (80%), or that you are a clever innovator (a good 20%). Do not spray absolutely, I've seen a tree in Londond (UK) in a park, (not sprayed) and there climate was NOT mediterranean. Take me informed !! I'm curious in wich percent you are, however I like crazy in this. Sergio from Italy

Again, great to see so many of you on this forum voting. Hopefully those of you who are casting write-in votes are helping to get some of your newer favorites on the "Top 100" list for your respective regions for next year. In our region at least, any cultivar that gets at least 2-3 votes has a good chance of being listed in the top 100 for the following year. Sometimes there are 1000 or more cultivars in each region that only get 1 vote each. Any of you who are AHS members, please take a minute to vote before Sept. 1st! Maybe the percentages will be up from the tiny minority who usually votes. That is why you don't see so many new ones on the list - because so many people don't bother to vote! Several of you have made good comments and suggestions for changes you would like to see in future Pop Polls. If anyone (who is an AHS member) sincerely wants to suggest a change or make a comment about the Pop Poll to the person who can actually do something about it, the person to make the comment to is the AHS Director( Board Member) for your region. These folks are all listed on the AHS website and all have e-mail addresses. The Fall Board meeting is the last weekend in October, so if you have comments or suggestions, please send them to your regional directors before then so that the subject can be brought up at the meeting. The AHS Directors are the folks who have a vote and can make changes to existing policies and procedures!

I finally saw it, late last night. I felt a knot in my gut get tighter and tighter as the scenes passed and the drama of desperation accumulated. But other than that, the movie did not cause any intense or unusual emotional disturbance in me. I thought it was exceptionally, commendably well done. DW even went with me, and for once, we both came through about identically, emotionally. DW was offended because it seemed to her like the military characters were singled out for put-downs. It looked to her like there was an imbalance of portrayal of the military folks, compared to the other responders, as the least intelligent, most disorganized and otherwise most inept. I didn't take it that way, although I understand why she would. But really, the attacks were not something anyone was well-rehearsed in responding to. (Who's all set to execute plans to respond to an earthquake in Chicago? Or a bee swarm in a shopping mall, for that matter?) There probably would have been unnecessary shootdowns if the President's orders had been passed. That's the kind of thing that happens simply because of the "fog of war," absent any blood lust, overreaction, or insubordination. I thought the commanders' declining to pass the shootdown orders was as brave and admirable an action as the passengers' revolt. I guess I brought that up because I'm familiar with air-to-air scenarios. For irony in personal experience, just this past week I watched The Godfather Part III on DVD. Weird movie, but I suppose it was a way to bring some kind of closure to the first two parts. Anyway, one very good line in it was: "Don't hate your enemies; it clouds your judgment." I think United 93's most clever quality was its portrayal in a way that did not strive to focus viewers' empathy toward either hijackers, or passengers, or other responders, or other less involved characters. Portrayal with any hint of "partisanship" would have disserved the public and cheapened the movie. The media are already far too full of historical portrayals that stoke already existing hatreds (and create new ones), such that too many people are fighting the war we are in with clouded judgment. It's one thing for combatants to adopt, or reject, one another's strategies, tactics, methods, ideas or styles. But it's self-defeating to the warrior who lets propaganda affect how he "feels about" his enemy. I ached after the movie, not because of it, but because there aren't more like it, especially covering the current war.

It wasn't great, but okay. It is truly scary that 4 or 5 companies in the USA control 98 percent of what we (or the vast majority) of us eat. Annie has the right idea. I am reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and it is a real eye opener and very entertaining at the same time. Food inc. was a bit on the dry side, but educational. We should all try to eat more locally grown food as much as possible and grow/raise our own food if possible, at least to some degree. I was amazed last year how one 20 gallon container supplied us with enough fresh carrots for the entire end of summer and fall. I'm looking into having my own flock of chickens for eggs and meat (Through a nearby farm which will sell me the chicks and food and take care of them when I cannot). Anyway, enjoy the show! Duane