Vegetable Soup

I'll post the final photographs for the Daucus carota experiment. Yep, we only talk about vegetables on this blog, be they carrots, peppers, or zucchini. The carrots got pretty disgusting and looked like they were moulding by the end of it; I think the difference between them became more pronounced. I did make vegetable soup, but not with the experimental carrots. Nope, these babies went to get composted.

I found out recently that Superman's Metropolis was based on the city of Toronto, even though it's often represented as New York, or maybe sometimes Chicago or somewhere in Kansas. Apparently, the original artist was from Toronto, and worked at The Toronto Daily Star which The Daily Planet was based on.

I've been wondering lately if ideals are dead in this world. Does anyone really like having an idealist around? What a drag. Who wants to be reminded of such lofty principles when they have to face a grim reality? Perhaps it's futile to think that ideals could ever have a place.

The Great Unwashed

Latest Results from Daucus carota research

Hour 93: Superman visits my laboratory and commends me on my research, then insists on posing for a picture with the infamous carrots. Superman remarks on how powerful his muscles are to be able to bend the carrots with only one locomotive hand. For the sake of his ego, I neglect to mention my observation that both carrots are considerably flexile. Surface of W carrot appears quite white and wrinkled, with little vibrant orange colour. Dirty carrot's skin is still orange with sporadic white spots.Hour 148: W carrot is developing dark streaks along with increased white wrinkles on skin and is getting quite soft and spongey. Dirty carrot has dry white spots and is becoming less rigid. Both are distinctly unappetizing.

Both my lab assistant and I conclude that the washed Daucus carota is more shrivelled than the dirty one. The dirty root matches the firm. Mr. Scientist admits defeat.

Next up: Carrot soup taste test.

The Carrot Experiment

I am undertaking research on the effects of dihydrogen monoxide on the Daucus carota. Do the unwashed survive longer than the washed? Does cleaning hasten the effects of old age? Basically, my friend Mr. Scientist, bet me that a washed carrot does not shrivel up faster than an unwashed carrot.

Materials:
Hydrogen oxide
Two whole samples of Daucus carota of approximately equal size, from the same source
Sharpie black permanent marker

Procedure:
1. Wash one specimen in dilute hydrogen oxide.
2. Label both specimen.
3. Store both in same location and record results.

Observations:
Hour 0: Both carrots similar in appearance. Lab Assistant labels control specimen "Dirty" and washed specimen "W" near tops.

Hour 45: Skin of W carrot has light white lines on the surface and appears a bit dry. Dirty carrot appears fresh on the surface. Both carrots fairly firm.

Hour 72: W carrot looks dry, with more whitish lines crossing the skin. Skin of W carrot feels soft and wrinkled to the touch. Dirty carrot remains firm.

[to be continued]

Blame it on the Jalapeno

The season's over and the garden was a miserable failure. Out of all the jalapeno plants, I only got one stunted little pepper out of it. But, I have to admit he was a hot little guy -- Spiced up an eggplant dish all by himself! For the second year in a row, I couldn't get any tomatoes to ripen, even though I think I started the tomatoes early enough this year. I seeded them indoors, and then transplanted the seedlings. I got numerous green tomatoes but was too tired of them to even enjoy the ones I did harvest, so most of them ended up rotting. I got one or two yellowing-to-light-orangey tomatoes late in the season, while it was starting to get frosty, but the squirrels had taken big chunks out of those before I could beat them to it. Maybe I'll do better next year, if I don't give up on growing veggies during our balmy 10 degrees Celsius summer season.

I have started an experiment based on a bet with my friend who is getting his Ph. D. in Chemistry. I mentioned that a washed carrot will shrivel up faster than an unwashed carrot and Mr. Scientist disagreed. The bet is on: Two carrots marked, one washed, both placed side-by-side back in the fridge. More to come!