Wow, I feel like that whole article could serve as an excellent metaphor for lots of modern policy debates.
The main reasons cukes get bitter, according to them:
1) "Too hot – One of the most common reasons why a cucumber is bitter is due to heat stress. If a plant is stressed due to heat, it may start producing bitter cucumbers."
So, stress. But, more specifically, stress from heat. Isn't that way of things? Our modern world, with it's frenetically hectic pace causes stress leading to all kinds of problems. And, of course, Global Warming is always there, making everything worse.
2) "Uneven watering – Another possibility for what causes bitter cucumber is if a cucumber goes through alternating periods of drought and overwatering, the stress from this can cause the plant to produce bitter fruit."
Inequality! The great bane of man & fruit alike. Sounds like our friend the cucumber would benefit from a little progressive attention to "dry up" (if you will) this pernicious inequality.
3) "Temperature fluctuations – If the temperature fluctuates dramatically from one extreme to another over an extended period of time, the plant may start producing bitter cucumbers."
Really, this is just Global Warming again, but this time updated to the more modern version, Climate Change, no?
4) "Heredity – Perhaps the most frustrating reason why a cucumber is bitter is simple genetics. There is a recessive trait that can cause a plant to produce bitter fruit from the start. You may plant seeds from the same packet and treat them all the same, only to discover one of the plants produces bitter cucumbers."
This one sounds a bit like racism, to me. I wonder if some evil right-wing fascist managed to slip this one in. I would think it common knowledge that cucumbers have not been around long enough for significant genetic variation to create wildly different breeds. Differences among cucumbers, though they may seem large, are really only skin deep. It is the pernicious effect of differing social expectations and early environments that cause some cucumbers to score below expectations on measures of bitterness.
Finally, we get some policy prescriptions:
"In order to prevent bitter fruit, you have to address what causes bitter cucumber fruit in the first place."
Absolutely. Most bitterness, in cucumbers and humans alike, is caused by the cruel shatterings of their noble dreams & aspirations by the heartless inequities perpetrated by evil plutocrats under the pretext of the "free market". Equality enforced by progressive policies is the cure in both cases.
Man, I'm seeing arguments for bold progressive thinking everywhere! Of course, as we know, all aspects of life are inherently political so from that perspective it makes sense, but from another, I might need to lighten up and have a pickle...
Wow, I feel like that whole article could serve as an excellent metaphor for lots of modern policy debates.
The main reasons cukes get bitter, according to them:
1) "Too hot – One of the most common reasons why a cucumber is bitter is due to heat stress. If a plant is stressed due to heat, it may start producing bitter cucumbers."
So, stress. But, more specifically, stress from heat. Isn't that way of things? Our modern world, with it's frenetically hectic pace causes stress leading to all kinds of problems. And, of course, Global Warming is always there, making everything worse.
2) "Uneven watering – Another possibility for what causes bitter cucumber is if a cucumber goes through alternating periods of drought and overwatering, the stress from this can cause the plant to produce bitter fruit."
Inequality! The great bane of man & fruit alike. Sounds like our friend the cucumber would benefit from a little progressive attention to "dry up" (if you will) this pernicious inequality.
3) "Temperature fluctuations – If the temperature fluctuates dramatically from one extreme to another over an extended period of time, the plant may start producing bitter cucumbers."
Really, this is just Global Warming again, but this time updated to the more modern version, Climate Change, no?
4) "Heredity – Perhaps the most frustrating reason why a cucumber is bitter is simple genetics. There is a recessive trait that can cause a plant to produce bitter fruit from the start. You may plant seeds from the same packet and treat them all the same, only to discover one of the plants produces bitter cucumbers."
This one sounds a bit like racism, to me. I wonder if some evil right-wing fascist managed to slip this one in. I would think it common knowledge that cucumbers have not been around long enough for significant genetic variation to create wildly different breeds. Differences among cucumbers, though they may seem large, are really only skin deep. It is the pernicious effect of differing social expectations and early environments that cause some cucumbers to score below expectations on measures of bitterness.
Finally, we get some policy prescriptions:
"In order to prevent bitter fruit, you have to address what causes bitter cucumber fruit in the first place."
Absolutely. Most bitterness, in cucumbers and humans alike, is caused by the cruel shatterings of their noble dreams & aspirations by the heartless inequities perpetrated by evil plutocrats under the pretext of the "free market". Equality enforced by progressive policies is the cure in both cases.
Man, I'm seeing arguments for bold progressive thinking everywhere! Of course, as we know, all aspects of life are inherently political so from that perspective it makes sense, but from another, I might need to lighten up and have a pickle...
Just stay away from the bitter almonds.
The praise and largesse heaped on broccoli.