By John Ballard
This is symbolic of politics in Washington..
Something is better than nothing.
We were cautiously optimistic that our hoop houses would protect the crops and were pleasantly surprised. All told we harvested just under 50lbs of produce. A modest harvest compared to what the summer had brought, but it is exciting to have been able to produce food during a long harsh winter. The lettuce and spinach are particularly sweet and delicious. We also learned a few things. For example, we planted our carrots a little too late. They were not as big as we had hoped, but the little things are tasty! We also discovered that the beds to the north side of the garden get considerably more sun the beds that the beds on south side. The sun is much lower in the sky and late in the day the southern beds are shadowed by surrounding trees. Next year, we will be sure to put plants that need more sun on the north side of the garden. Good lessons to learn, but all together a nice surprise.
I guess you've never had a garden. You're always learning something.
ReplyDeleteAnd...you would prefer nothing to something???
And...you would prefer nothing to something???
ReplyDeleteHuh?
I wrote that something IS BETTER THAN nothing, which means I PREFER "something" to "nothing."
Is English your mother tongue? I know the language can be confusing for newcomers.
The "something" to which I was alluding was a health care package which avoided single-payer and excluded any public option. A big argument is whether the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is better than nothing at all, which I reluctantly concede it is.
This language from the winter garden description is a perfect analogy.
A modest outcome harvest compared to what the election summer had brought, but it is exciting to have been able to produce something like a reform bill food during a long harsh August recess winter. The insurance limitations lettuce and spinach are particularly sweet and delicious. We also learned a few things. For example, when momentum is strong, don't take a break we planted our carrots a little too late. They were not as big as we had hoped, but something is better than nothing the little things are tasty!
Does that help?
Ah, perhaps my sarcasm detector was working overtime on the subhead: This is symbolic of politics in Washington..
ReplyDeleteSomething is better than nothing. Given the generally sour Newshoggers approach to politics, one might take the second sentence to mean its opposite if it were being said sarcastically.
And the reality of gardens is that fresh produce is delightful in winter! I was just at the Farmers' Market yesterday, sad to find that my favorite carrot vendor had run out of the winter-protected crop, so I had to go to the second-best carrot vendor. Everything one gets is a joy!
So I guess you can be sarcastic and analogical, but then you must expect your writing to be taken sarcastically and analogically. The use of sarcasm in your response reinforces the sarcasm in the original post. Plus the context of Newshoggers generally.
I know that subtleties like this can be confusing to newcomers to the English language, and are particularly hard to deal with in writing, when voice tones are not available. I hope that you can continue the garden analogy and learn from what didn't work so well.
Thanks. Then we're still friends!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to have a good attitude about this emaciated bill. When I think of what it might have been the images range from lipstick on a pig to silk purses from sows' ears.
Or acorns and blind hogs.
I'll keep rooting...
A GREAT initiative by the first family to have a garden, we should all be taking heed and digging up and planting, good for the pocket and very healthy too.
ReplyDeletematuredatingonline.org
What a beautiful garden! I would have loved to walk there, and see all the gorgeous flowers! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete