Due to the war in Iran, gas prices have risen - one would think it was because gas companies have to pay more for the oil themselves, but in fact they are making a bigger profit than before the war (have a bigger profit margin than the same time last year). I suppose this is because we are already expecting prices to be high, so they are making a higher profit off our willingness to pay these high prices. This higher profit is not going towards increasing oil supply (e.g. expanded drilling). If you like this, how do you see it benefiting us? If you dislike this, do you have an opinion on what Trump should do about it? (and do you think he will do anything?)

Source: here is one that is not pay walled, but you can google for other new stories about it: https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/08/11/theyre-making-record-profits-but-oil-companies-still-wont-drill-baby-drill/

I am growing 9 sungold tomato plants in 9 in wide planters, and they are going absolutely bananas - I see a lot of fruit. I am not big on ai but was in my “let’s see see what this thing does” phase. Claude insisted I should be planting 1 plants per 2 ft sq planter or something like that. I saw some photos on Google of people growing huge plants out of houseplant pots so I just went with it. Take that, robots!

I did use Coast of Maine tomato-specific soil mixed with compost and some potting soil for aeration. I sometimes water with tomato fertilizer added. I pruned leaves off the bottom for airflow as others suggested, but left the ones on the top when I realized it was vining all together into a sort of self-supporting structure. More leaves does mean more photosynthesis, so more sugar for energy and fruit.

This is a raised bed on a 2nd story porch in RI. Also very few bugs and no bunnies, due to the height. I still see bumblebees pollinating the tomato so I know they can get up here.