Hello Marshall, Brandan and others, Thanks for your interest in Whole Systems Ag and I am glad you enjoyed Dr B's paper. I think it's one of the best I've seen on oaks. Yes, I've visited the Santa Barbara museum many times when my family was living in Thousand Oaks. The botanic garden was a particularly nice attraction because, at the time, I was doing a lot of work with native plants. I checked out the PGI and that looks like a kind of Jungian place. I had a big interest in that stripe of psychology at that time too. At present, my work on the farm and with the tasks in front of my nose keep me from the more academic pursuits I once enjoyed. The garden at Pacifica sounds like a wonderful endeavor. Indeed, I'd be delighted if you should come for a visit. I seldom leave the farm so one time is about as good as another. It's easy to find just 6 miles or so north of the San Joaquin River on Highway 41 toward Yosemite. Send me a personal email at daddyoat@netptc.net and I'll return detailed directions.

Oh, how fun! If I need to sleep on an overnight flight I find Nyquil works. Also, as you may have heard, the most important thing is to spend the first day out in the sun and stay awake as long as you can. If you can power through day 1, and not go to bed until dark, you should be on track the entire balance of the trip. Make sure you wear something very comfy on the plane to promote sleep, and if you are not in class of service with amenities, bring your own eye shades, etc. You also may want to take Heathrow Express to Paddington and get a taxi from there. It's quicker and if you are arriving midweek, avoids a nice chunk of the horrible London traffic. It is very easy to do and a very nice way to travel, just ask. As far as London things that might not already be on your list, you may want to do a tea somewhere. I like the Savoy for that but there are many great choices. If you want to grab something quick, Pret A Manger is not bad for lunch etc. As far as a daytrip, I would choose to add Bath or skip Stonehenge. Stonehenge is not far off the motorway and to me its setting diminishes its power. By contrast, Bath is an entire, lovely city, and of course has the lovely Roman ruins. Far more interesting to me. To me the best part of Scotland is the gloaming! Having now been to Alaska too I guess it's really the same thing. But the light is so beautiful. epsecially in the country side. We had a late night tour of the castle, which made it seem more romantic and was certainly less crowded. You have to take the boat at night in Paris, the Bateau Mouche (?), but don't do the dinner cruise. Even though its touristy the boat is the best vantage point for the buildings and the bridges, too. My fave bistro is Balzar, just because I know how to tell the taxi that it is "pres de la Sorbonne". There is hardly a bad bistro in Paris I suppose. Get a picnic and take it to the Bois de Boulogne's little park called the Bagatelle, with tulips the size of a dinner plate. Definitely get hot chocolate at Cafe Flore, where they serve a pot of hot chocolate (unsweetened) and a pot of hot milk and you mix it yourself. Nestles Quik it isn't. Shopping for food in paris, especially Laduree, or Mariage Freres, is a delight. But I also love the restaurant supply store Dehillerin. A wonderful place to buy mementos of Paris. I guess one has to see Versailles, but it is kind of an eyesore inside. The gardens are the real treasure, and the small accessory buildings. I preferred out day trip to Chartres, lovely little town and cathedral.

Although they purposely made some questions harder, like any multiple choice test they designed some answers to trip people up (just like an SAT, GRE, etc). But you could arrive at the answers from elimination. I think the Korean question was also quite tricky -- I have some in my fridge so I know it's fermented :). Regarding tartare, I've seen it in many fish forms (salmon, tuna) in the US and Europe, although I personally mostly associate it with beef, horse (ugh) or other red meat (just saw lamb on a menu in Nice). OpenTable seems to have lifted their definition from dictionary.com (sourced from Webster's).

The following was stated: " From what we know, up to now, no sample of the genius Rosa has been found positive to Xylella fastidiosa in France or in Europe." H.Kuska comment: Rosa canina L. is listed in the last three updates of: Title: "COMMISSION DATABASE OF HOST PLANTS FOUND TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO XYLELLA FASTIDIOSA IN THE UNION TERRITORY – UPDATE 9, 10, and 11" They were updated on July 28, 2017, Feb 15, 2018, and Sept 19, 2018 respectively https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/plant/docs/ph_biosec_legis_emergency_db-host-plants_update11.pdf In the Dec 21, 2015 update (labeled update 1) Rose floribunda Steven (syn Rosa multiflora Thumb) was listed. In updates 2 through 8 rosa X floribunda was listed. These updates were Feb 3, 2016; April 18, 2016; May 30, 2016: June 27, 2016; July 15, 2016; Nov 11, 2016; and Jan 11, 2017 respectively. Is it possible that the original assignment of a floribunda was changed to rosa canina L. between updates 8 and 9? Or is it just a coincidence that one rose was removed and another separate rose was found in the same time interval? https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/legislation/emergency_measures/xylella-fastidiosa/susceptible_en