Zippyt got it right off. That's my father-in-law, demonstrating the correct method for consuming ripe persimmons right off the tree.

DO NOT....I REPEAT....DO NOT attempt to eat a persimmon that is not ripe. You have to be there. :shocking:

Personally, I'd recommend not eating the ripe ones either. I hate persimmons.

What does a persimmon taste like? Are they sour?

As my father in law said, in answer to the exact same question, "They taste like persimmons."

I would characterize them as an almost-citruslike (but not quite) apricotish flavor...sorta. They have very large and numerous seeds for such a small fruit. The ones in the picture are about 1" across. When ripe, they are rather sweet, but not gloriously so.

I am told that an unripe one will shrivel your mouth up instantly, not unlike the effect produced by alum.

Hmm.... sounds like a rose hip. A rose hip is about the size of the persimmons in that picture. The flesh/ meat is only about 1/8 - 1/4" thick, and the center is filled with seeds that have a prickly feel to them.
An unripe rose hip will certainly give your taste buds a jolt!

According to dictionary.com, a persimmon is "the usually orange several-seeded globular berry of a persimmon that is edible when fully ripe but usually extremely astringent when unripe "

Must be an aquired taste :greenface

I just got a terrible chill. Spooky. It re-ran down my spine as I typed this.

The Church of Scientology, for which I have zero respect, has a "secret" landing strip and vault in the New Mexico desert. Boing Boing just had a post about it, with links to aerial photos.

The vault apparently contains the writing of Hubbard and is there as a meeting place for the souls of the faithful after they die. In order to make it easier for the spirits to find, a rather large symbol of scientology is carved into the side of the mountain.

I'd guess that "our brothers and sisters are off in the Middle East risking their lives to secure America's fossil fuel future" is tongue in cheek, referring to the probable pro-war views on the part of H2 owners.

in the old days everybody could get a hummer if you could talk your girlfriend into it.

In my house you don't get a hummer while "pissing away" anything, that's for damn sure. :eyebrow:

Mama scorpion (Emperor scorpion) and the babies, of course.

I hate bugs. The way Indiana hates snakes.