...Babies, children and (semi-)nude photography...

Why do the media show nude pictures of children? Why is it considered 'normal' and 'common' to share a picture of a child on social media, when the child is hardly ever dressed?

Why do you all do this? 

Seriously, don't you think that sharing a picture of a semi-naked child with your friends:

a) is utopic? 
Because most of these pictures show beautiful babies, with beautiful eyes! Have you ever seen a picture of an unattractive baby dressed in pretty clothes? Or a similar picture of a baby that lacks his/her hands or feet?  Or a picture of a blind baby?

These pictures have gone through a photoshop process. The babies look gorgeous, but in truth not all babies are beautiful, not all babies are healthy. This is simply a matter of propaganda: these pictures 'sell' the view that all babies are gorgeous, and that YOU should also become a mother / father and get a gorgeous baby like these. 

But expectations may be deceiving. Your kid may be no-oil-painting, suffer from poor health and disabilities, etc.

Babies are no photographic trophies - so stop sharing these pictures! 

b) Have you ever though that all these pictures of semi-naked children could be the apple of the eye of paedophiles? Every time you share these pictures on facebook, the paedos rejoice! In fact, in my opinion, more and more people get sexually attracted to kids simply because the media show way too many semi-naked kids.

Would you share a semi-naked picture of your kid on your social media? Then why would you share a semi-naked picture of other kids? Don't you CARE about other people's kids the way you care about your kid?

...How to chit potatoes for planting...

Simple. Place them in a dark dry place and wait for them to chit. It should chit pretty soon (1-2 weeks) but it is ready for planting in 4 weeks time. 

Some store-bought potatoes may take longer to plant as they are sprayed with chemicals to delay chitting.

Don't wet your potatoes as they will go mouldy. That's why it's important to store them in a dry place and wait for them to chit. 

When your potato tubers have long sprouting buds (by long I mean over 2 cm) they are ready for planting. 

Why is it important to chit your potatoes before planting?
Because you get harvest earlier if you do so. In fact, this is up to 3 weeks earlier... 

When you chop your chitted potatoes for planting, make sure you use a clean knife washed with antibacterial. You want to give your potato plants a great start. 

Lastly, people ask me: can I chit a potato now, and harvest at Xmas time? 

Τhe answer is no. If you chit your potatoes now, and you grow them in bags inside, then you may get your first potatoes in early February. 

Potatoes hate frost. It's not a good time to plant them outside this time of the year. But there's nothing stopping you growing them inside the house.

...Xmas is coming and...

Frankly, I don't give a poop? (see 'Atheist')

But... potentially I could make some money. Because You have to SPEND. And I am willing to take your money. Yes, I do!

How much do you parents spend on your children's Xmas presents? 

Let me guess: a fortune?

To paraphrase Father Xmas: 'Ha ha ha'! 

NB: If you don't get a season's greetings card from me this year is because I don't like you. You are not worth the price of a stamp. Chiaro?