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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Good Morning. I slept like crap worrying about my Mom. She actually told us “I’m ready for the Lord to take me but even He doesn’t want me”. Today I am grateful for you, this online community and the precious gift of life itself. God bless you, your family and our still great but troubled country

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Michelle Styles's avatar

One does get this from the elderly, particularly the v elderly at times. My grandmother used to say things like this to my sister who would ask her if she wanted to be like her brother whom she loathed.

The answer imho is that God isn't finished with you yet and it is not up to you to know or seek to circumvent when he will be done with you and allow you to go to your rest. You are still playing an important part in his plans even if you don't want to see that.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

I had a great Aunt Elizabeth. When she was in her mid 90s she said to me "I'm ready for God to take me." I replied something along the lines of "Don't talk like that, it isn't your time." Her response has always stuck with me. She asked, "Bruce when you wake up are you ready to go back to bed?" I replied, "of course not, it's morning and I have the whole day ahead of me." She replied, "Exactly, you're young and that's how it should be. But I'm old and my day is done. I'm tired and I want only to rest." I never forgot that exchange. Such wisdom from a German farm girl who never even had a high school education.

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Gladys's avatar

Wisdom is not taught, it is a life apprenticeship.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

Thoughts of you Ken and hoping your troubles are eased.

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ExCAhillbilly's avatar

❤️🫂

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Jen Todd's avatar

Yes, a hug!

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Pamela Christiansen's avatar

Take care of yourself.

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JBell's avatar

My Mom has been struggling mightily with my Dad's passing. She'll call me and start to cry and say she doesn't want to cry. Of course, I tell her its okay and expected for her to cry, but I also have started to share memories with her that make her smile or laugh. I can usually get her laughing pretty good after about 10 minutes. I think this is helping me grieve and carry on, as well.

Just lighthearted conversation to steer away from the subject can possibly get her re-directed. Best wishes and much love your way!

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Celia M Paddock's avatar

*hugs*

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Danny H's avatar

Some of the most difficult conversations I had with my mom came from her last 3-4 months with us. She was deeply religious, and as she got closer to the end she started asking very difficult questions. I'll never forget these conversations, although they were pretty disconcerting at the time.

My prayers are with you and your mother, Ken.

d

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Rainbow Medicine-Walker's avatar

Heartfelt blessings to you and your family Ken. So many I know have had experiences with aging parents saying some pretty difficult things. My mom sure did. I have this idea that maybe towards the end the mind does some serious housecleaning in preparation for transition. I feel like my own mother was expressing things towards the end which she had suppressed her entire life. With her it came out in some pretty disjointed ways, but was very reminiscent of how her own mother had acted. The nursing home director kept telling us that this was not how my mother normally acted and both my aunt and I, who were not in close contact with each other, told the director in almost the same words---that is exactly how her own mother acted. I think my mother suppressed parts of her own mother which she had internalized and that stuff finally popped out when she was letting go. After she left her body, I felt she was entirely free of that. I do not believe that God holds our flawed humanity against us.

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Sea Sentry's avatar

My dad’s cousin died the perfect death, if there is such a thing. At 88, she was found in her garden, sitting in her chair, with her gardening gloves on, no less. Her last moments she was surrounded by the things she loved. Her plants, bees, butterflies and birds.

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Rainbow Medicine-Walker's avatar

What a lovely memory to cherish!

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Brian Katz's avatar

❤️

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Billiamo's avatar

🙏

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Alex K.'s avatar

So sorry. May God give you and your family comfort during this difficult time.

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John Anthony's avatar

It’s hard no matter what, Ken. I have tears for you regardless of how little someone might judge our relationship. Here, you are my kin.

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Alan's avatar

Prayers for you and your mom. Being mortal is hard. My grandpa used to send emails out to all eight kids and 22 grandkids with two running themes: hatred for Obama, and his desire to go home and be with the Lord and reunited with his wife.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

So Alice Sullivan has released the 2nd part of her report into barriers in academia surrounding Gender Critical beliefs. Even the Guardian had to put out a decent article about the research https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/02/uk-universities-have-failed-to-protect-gender-critical-academics-report-finds

This is the actual research (433 pages of it) https://www.sullivanreview.uk/documents.php

Palestinian Action should be proscribed today but there are people like Diane Abbott in Parliament. She described the IDF as the Jewish Defence Force before deleting the post on TwiX yesterday. Abbott along with Corbyn and john McDonnell voted against proscription of Al Qaida https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/07/01/labour-diane-abbott-brands-idf-the-jewish-defence-force/ or https://archive.ph/Xtrgi

Lord Walney has done a thread on why they should be proscribed. https://x.com/LordWalney/status/1940308490591117374

The BBC remain under pressure for their Glaso antics.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

And if you haven't seen this satire on Glastonbury, you will enjoy it. Skewers a certain type of person. https://x.com/intel_lady/status/1939671705724875254

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

The gender crazies and Palestinian apologists tend to have the same mindset. Excusing inexcusable behavior to advance their highly questionable “cause”. I remember reading Theodore Herzl’ History of Zionism which fixed the Jewish v Zionist distinction in my mind, I’m actually a Zionist, more than some of my liberal Jewish friends. I’ve seen Diane Aboott as I sometimes watch Question Time on C Span (I’m a secret nerd) and she comes off as not very bright

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Michelle Styles's avatar

She is a known quantity of 'not very bright' and has worn 2 left shoes in the past.

The harder thing today was Rachel Reeves crying (I suspect that there is something else going on and not that the economy is so terrible and she is about to be sacked.) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/07/02/reeves-cries-pmq-starmer-cannot-guarantee-stay-job/ or https://archive.ph/itBMW

Rachel is in charge of the Labour Friends of Israel btw.

All Zionist means is that you believe Israel has a right to exist and to be a haven for the Jewish populace in times of trouble. To my mind given what the Jewish population went through, they need a safe haven but they also need to know that the safe haven is not really required because countries believe in enfranchisement.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

Good morning from Budapest Hungary. A beautiful nation almost destroyed by communism. The Hungarian people are restoring their culture and history slowly and carefully. Never forget the liberty we have and the evil of socialism. Resist and fight it with every sinew of your soul. The vermin who push it would steal the liberty and prosperity from the children you adore. Call them what they are - the enemy.

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NCMaureen's avatar

Bruce, I’m envious. I want to see Hungary too. Rod Dreher moved there and says it’s wonderful.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

I think the local Hungarian beer is called Dreher. I had a few last night and they were very good.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Awesome. That’s on my bucket list. Have a brew for me! 🍻

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BD's avatar

How's the sausage?

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Bonnie Hamilton's avatar

Enjoy! Such a beautiful city.

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Barry Lederman, “normie”'s avatar

Right on! I remember growing up in Poland when my friend’s dad returned in 1956 from Hungary. He drove medical supplies on behalf of Red Cross and came back with stories and pictures of Soviet tanks on the streets of Budapest. That’s the story of every Socialist system that murders its own people. My 2nd eBrief from Life “Empty Shelves” got now great response from subscribers on Matt’s substack. It was a warning where NYC will wind up if they elect a privileged “half baked” Socialist for Mayor.

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B.'s avatar
7dEdited

An old friend was one of those adventurous Americans sitting on high haystacks calling out to guide fleeing Hungarians crossing the border at night into Austria.

I used to teach a short story about that to my sixth graders. Sadly, I forget the title. One of the refugees left her seat at the opera and teetered across in her fine clothes and high heels. A terrific bit of non-fiction.

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Barry Lederman, “normie”'s avatar

So many stories about escaping the Stalinist regime of Rakosi in 1956. My running coach in Los Angeles was Laszlo Tabori who defected in 1956 to US during the Olympics in Melbourne. He had set a world record in the 1,500 meters and become the third miler to break four minutes. He used to tell me about competing in Poland and how the Polish runners tried to get him drunk the night before the meets; they were like brothers.

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PhDBiologistMom's avatar

I knew a guy in grad school whose grandmother was shot and killed trying to run across the border from Hungary to Austria.

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Jen Todd's avatar

'40 Autumns' by Nina Willner is a great true story about the stark difference between life in the west v life in the east. Of course, shooting people attempting to leave their country tells you all you need to know.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

Would you be surprised to see Zohran the Mohran give shoot to kill orders to those trying to flee the socialist republic of Noo Yawk?

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Bruce Miller's avatar

I was wondering what would have happened if we had had the courage to stand up to the Soviets in 1956 and rescued the brave Hungarian people

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B.'s avatar

Ha! Got it! Pesky brain.

The non-fiction story was actually a chapter from "The Bridge at Andau" by James A. Michener.

Were sixth graders ever able to enjoy such writing? Mine were, decades ago.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

I was reading 1984 in 6th grade but I’m a weird outlier

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Bruce Miller's avatar

Animal Farm a bit easier for kids.

In fact ask any kid the following, "what if I gave Jimmy and Janie all the ice cream they wanted but everyone else had to work for theirs?" They'd all yell "no fair!!" Well....no shit. That's why socialism is a joke. But a particularly deadly and unfunny one.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

Funny, you should mention that Barry. We just finished viewing the museum of terror about the socialist regime. The underground cells in police headquarters starkly brought home to us how evil socialism is. Left me feeling that I wanted to put a bullet in that New York socialist’s head

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PhDBiologistMom's avatar

Was about to recommend that museum: https://www.terrorhaza.hu/en/about-the-museum

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Berlin also has a Stasi museum I visited. Highly recommended

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Louisa Enright's avatar

I am frustrated with all the predictions that this lightweight child of Hollywood and academia could get this kind of purchase. I'm ferfantly hoping that he is just a momentary distraction from other issues--like Trump's latest successes. What we are seeing is the same kind of crap from media that we got with Kamala. No depth. No research. No questions. But what disturbs me most is that some of the conservative folks I follow are falling into this fear pit and saying he can win. No one is discussing how he will fare against an actual competitive candidate. Well, in the end, the Dems are going to have to OWN this guy they have produced. Just like they did with Kamala and all their other crazy ideas. Childers noted that he will have to go up against moderate Dems, conservatives, etc., in the actual election. And, I guess we'll add WHITE billionaires whose economic policies he has don't benefit them. Markets don't like instability.

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B.'s avatar
7dEdited

Well, look, Louisa, if the three other candidates don't decide which two of them should drop out of the race for New York City mayor so that they don't splinter the relatively sane vote out there, Mamdani will win.

Adams or Cuomo can beat Mamdani. The cat guy in the red beret, Sliwa, probably can't, but who knows?

The minority of Democrats who voted in the primary chose Mamdani, but he'll sweep into office because New York City politicians are incorrigible. Don't even speak to me about Gillibrand and Hochul.

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Louisa Enright's avatar

Thanks. Splintering the vote would be a disaster. Yes.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Kenstradamus predicts Mamdani will win and the capital flow from NYC will turn into a Mississippi of money

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Bruce Miller's avatar

Bottom line - he cannot be allowed to win. And if that means war, so be it. Socialists are vermin. Evil, destructive, venomous vermin. Once installed in power to only way to remove them is at gunpoint.

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Mark Adams's avatar

A big problem is New York’s ranked choice voting.

I saw a campaigner for Mamdani urging his followers to mark Mamdani #1 and to omit Cuomo entirely from the ballot. It’s a way to game the system. That, plus the oppressive heat on primary election day that kept older voters home, is why Mandami won IMO.

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Barry Lederman, “normie”'s avatar

I can understand with your frustration. However for some of us “silence is not an option” as Elie Weisel said. When they say what they will do, I rather be wrong by speaking up.

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Celia M Paddock's avatar

I am concerned that this is yet another example of the Left moving the Overton Window by standing firm on what ought to be considered beyond the pale. I think that the Woke are going to rally around this guy. The media is certainly encouraging that.

I hope that the majority of NYers will vote for Adams. But I very much fear that this Islamist socialist is going to win their imaginations with his promises of 'free stuff.'

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Sea Sentry's avatar

I’m not concerned either. As you say, Louisa, the Dems will own this guy and his policies. It will further split the Democrats apart as Americans realize how unhinged the Democratic party has become.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Mr Lederman Your experience under Communism is so valuable to share with the younger generation who don’t remember any of it. I hope you continue writing your memoir. Peace

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Barry Lederman, “normie”'s avatar

Thank you for the encouragement. Soon I will be done with the spring/summer crop and putting the earth to rest so I will have no excuses to have time to write. Peace, Shalom.

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Sea Sentry's avatar

I was in Hungary under Soviet occupation in 1974. It was extremely depressing. I had to present myself to the police, who assigned me a place to stay in the Buda hills. I was watched like a hawk the entire time there. So sad. These young American luxury Marxists have no clue.

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Barry Lederman, “normie”'s avatar

We had similar experience traveling from West Berlin to Poland through East Germany. We then went to Munich Olympics but that’s another story of contradictions.

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Brian Katz's avatar

Safe travels, enjoy !

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Notes from the Under Dog L.'s avatar

Will you partake of the medicinal waters doled out under the bridge? https://tastehungary.com/journal/the-drinking-cure-mineral-water-straight-from-the-source-in-budapest/

This reminds me of a kerfuffle with a Cuban refugee on FB. In a long discussion last night on my youtube channel, Unfriended, we touched on how the left leaves out vital details in order to preserve their "arguments."

This guy was a baby when his parents fled Castro's Cuba in the late 50s.

I had posted Michael Moynihan's amusing comment that 'At 100 degrees, NYC feels like Cuba, and New Yorkers are voting to turn NYC into Cuba.'

This guy gets on and says, What's wrong with Cuba?

I ask, Why did your parents leave?

He responds: The US Embargo fucked people over. My parents had to leave because they couldn't find jobs.

Lie of omission: They fled the communist regime. Never mind that the US offered you a place to escape! Never mind that you're a US citizen in a free country with new cars produced every year!

Add to this his straw man that I was insulting his "blood." I mean it doesn't get any more ridiculous than that.

When I offered an analogy, e.g. So you're saying that the US embargo caused your parents to flee Cuba. Is that insulting my blood? Or a country's political issues?

He then called me an asshole.

So...in this week of reflecting on 250 years of the United States of America, I'm musing on how fractured we are as a society, how in bad faith so many people operate -- but -- but -- "LIA THOMAS has been called out! Has to return his ill-gotten swimming medals!

There is HOPE! Thanks to the brave souls who had the courage to throw the trans tea overboard! We are approaching sanity again!

If anything, the past ten anti-American years (plus) have restored my patriotism!

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Taking the waters is something I’ve done in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and elsewhere. So healing

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Bruce Miller's avatar

What commie has ever told the truth? A political philosophy that is inimical to human nature can only prosper through lies.

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DMang's avatar

Budapest is a lovely place.

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Billiamo's avatar

I’d love to be immersed in that beautiful language someday. It looks terrifying at first introduction but is remarkably logical.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

It’s driving me crazy. But fortunately, most people speak English.

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Billiamo's avatar

I hope you had a comfortable flight on your repülőgép. 🙃

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PhDBiologistMom's avatar

Was not the case the first time I was in Budapest about 20 years ago. We rented a basement apartment for a few days from a guy whose English was about as non existent as our Hungarian but we muddled through. There was one of those old radios where the tuner only let you dial in to approved stations: Prague, Warsaw, and of course Moscow.

Linguistically it’s where I’ve felt most at sea in Europe. No cognates with any of the language families I’m actually familiar with (Germanic, Slavic, Romance). A handful of loanwords in the menus are recognizable (gulyás, yum!) but that’s about it.

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Celia M Paddock's avatar

Hungarian is not an Indo-European language, but has its origins in north central Asia (where Hungarian mythology also places their origin). That's why there are so few similarities to other European languages.

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Bruce Miller's avatar

I think I once read it might be similar to Finnish.

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PhDBiologistMom's avatar

“Similar” only in that Hungarian and Finnish (and Estonian) are part of the Finno-Ugric language family, as distinct from the Indo-European family that Celia mentioned. So knowing Finnish may be as useful for understanding Hungarian as, for example, Spanish would be to Polish.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Ah. I KNEW someone here would know!

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

I have a vague memory it’s a hodge posted of linguistic influences but not a Romance language. I have a lot on my mind but know someone here will know.

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Billiamo's avatar

It has about 18 cases and definite and indefinite conjugations, but no gender and few irregularities.

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B.'s avatar
7dEdited

Here's Google AI; I looked up "indefinite conjugation":

"In Hungarian grammar, indefinite conjugation (or undetermined conjugation) is a form of verb conjugation used when the object of the verb is not specific or known. It contrasts with definite conjugation, where the object is a specific, known entity. Indefinite conjugation is used with verbs that have indefinite objects, intransitive verbs (verbs that don't take an object), or when the object is a first or second person pronoun."

Thank you! Nice to have to look up something I don't know anything about. English grammar's my thing.

Interesting that it's AI that said it's a Hungarian construction. Smart creature, AI.

Love grammar.

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NCMaureen's avatar

Having recently and suddenly been widowed I’m not spending a lot of time on the news. I’ve become a 70 yr old single mother of a rambunctious 3 mo old Golden Retriever puppy who I have no idea how to train. Shouting No! all the time is exhausting and ineffective. Signed up for obedience training, just one more thing on my list. Any thoughts of how to teach a dog surrounded by chew toys not to chew on the edges of my rug or go behind the coffee table and pull on the cord to the lamp? How many hundreds of treats must I give to teach her not to jump up on me?

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Read Pippa Mattinson. She wrote Total Recall which worked for Paddy and his recall, but her speciality is gundogs, including Labradors. https://www.thelabradorsite.com/# is her site for labs.

Re treats -- it is about proofing and using high value treats, plus the whole jackpot principle as dogs are gamblers.

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JBell's avatar

I found obedience training to be an excellent choice ( I used a company called Sit Means Sit). I spent 14 years with my black lab, she was the Best Dog in the World (Really!).

There is no breaking the chewing - they MUST do it. To survive, remove the things you cannot bear to have destroyed - and give alternatives (chew bones are not treats - they are required for labs). I used to get mad when she chewed a pair of shoes, then I realized that it was my fault that they were where she could get to them.... changed my life and saved my sanity.

Note: this obsessive chewing lasts mostly for only 8 months !

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NCMaureen's avatar

I have sprinkled cayenne pepper on the edges of rugs and around cords on the floor.

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Bonnie Hamilton's avatar

JBell is correct..they just have to chew for a while. I have Giant Schnauzers who, as puppies, loved to jump. I found a gentle knee bump to their chest and a firm "no" breaks that fairly quickly. Obedience training makes them much more enjoyable. I wish more ppl would send their human children...joke. Whatever, she will be a lot of joy and company for you.

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NCMaureen's avatar

yes, she’s surrounded by chew toys but prefers the edges of my rugs. A dab of cayenne pepper seems to have discouraged the interest.

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JBell's avatar

You may find it easier to just roll up the rugs and put them away for 6 mos.

You won't miss them as much as you think .... and they'll look fabulous (like you've re-decorated) in a few months!

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Running Burning Man's avatar

You have a Golden ... The Best Dogs in the Universe! Take heart, puppies just want attention. First, get rid of the word "no". The more you say it, the louder you say it, the more the pup responds ... it is attention seeking behavior. Just pull the puppy away from any object it chews that is not permitted. Go on Amazon and buy a pack of the small breath mint squirt bottles. Mint. Dogs hate that. When the pup starts to chew something not permitted, take the dog's snout - gently - and squirt the mint spray into the mouth. Dogs hate that stuff. But be gentle, not angry and not loud. Also, teach pup to sleep in a crate. Crates can be effective places for when the pup just has too much energy for bad behavior. If the pup whines a lot, smack the top of the crate. That is The Hand of God. Stay with it, get lots of outside time, lots of exercise, lots of attention when the pup is doing well and proper behavior. Encourage good behavior and tricks (like "sit", "stay", "come" - by rewards of slivers of hot dogs - just hold in your hand, push off a small - tiny - piece from the end of the hot dog with your thumb. About half an inch is sufficient. The dog will learn that your hand has food and that good behavior gets that food.

Hang in there and you will be happy with your Golden.

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JBell's avatar

Great tips and advice!

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Timothy G McKenna's avatar

The Monks of New Skete wrote a series of books on how they train guide dogs - really good reading and helpful

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Current Resident's avatar

We used buffalo hooves that we got on Amazon for the chewing. They smell disgusting, but they last a long time and are safe for puppies. You also might consider limiting the puppy's range using gates.

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Notes from the Under Dog L.'s avatar

We have a book lying around the house called "Golden Retrievers for Dummies."

My partner used to walk Jimmy Fallon's golden retriever. She wouldn't go potty on the walks, but would wait until she was returned to the Gramercy Park mans. Would get my partner in so much trouble. He had to go to great lengths to get this dog to cooperate!

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Louisa Enright's avatar

Puppies are a total handfull. Total. My sympathies. You might try the old book that I adore: SMARTER THAN YOU THINK. But... puppies require a TON of attention and excercise. Would you ever consider rehoming this little dog? Right now, for you, that might be the best thing. Just saying... Long story, but when I left Maine after spraining my ankle badly while dealing with a new to me puppy, I eventually decided I had to rehome that sweetheart--who came to me with hookworm and tons of vet bills--and he went to a family where he got all the love and attention he needed. It was the right thing to do for him and for me.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

LAST partner adopted a wiener dog for a while. She kept pooping all over til one day she stepped in it dressing for work and gave her to her daughter that night. Of course I wrote a song “Penelope the Puppy/She ain’t been house trained/The cats and I just wonder/ what the hell is going on/Inside her doggy brain” 🐕

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

My Mom forbade us from having a dog. My a-hole older brother complained constantly. As the youngest, I just adapted and became a cat person 🐱

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

Sorry, I do cats. And they’re bad enough.

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ExCAhillbilly's avatar

It occurred to me yesterday, talking about financial literacy, that our Government could use a course. Maybe a Constitution refresher course too.

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Dunboy2020's avatar

Amen. I imagine a founding father saying at some point, “what would we ever need a balanced budget clause for?”

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Jen Todd's avatar

When you are spending other people's money, who gives a shit. When it's your own money, well, that's a whole different story.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

Yep. And if you’re grifting it as well, better for “normies” not to know

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Danny H's avatar

And always remember, the Boston Tea Party happened because the British put a tax on tea. That tax rate? About 3%.

Obviously that isn't an income tax, but still. 3% made the history books.

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Brian Katz's avatar

When federal reserve began printing money, all sense of fiscal responsibility went out the window. Resulting in boom / bust waves driven by inflation. Best we can do is to eliminate the federal reserve, turn off the printing press.

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Sea Sentry's avatar

I disagree. Who would make monetary policy? Politicians? You can’t have a fixed level of currency, it has to be adjusted for inflation and economic growth. The problem is politicians enabling continual borrowing. A balanced budget amendment might be a step in the right direction. After all, every family and business in the country has a self imposed balanced budget requirement.

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Brian Katz's avatar

Anything we can do to reduce printing money and spending, I am in favor of.

We still want the mighty green back to be “sovereign” and used for global oil purchases. If we need monetary policy for that, ok. I can see how a balanced budget amendment would go a long way to achieving this.

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B.'s avatar

Many years ago, a friend of ours was given a golden retriever puppy some months after finding herself widowed and alone. It was hard going. Shouting "No!" was indeed both exhausting and for a long time futile. But the dog did grow up to be a beauty and did moderate her exuberance.

I'd go with a circa 1950s book on How to Train Your New Puppy, written at a time when both puppies and children were well trained (if you can find one online or in a used-book place).

Our schnauzer puppy ate Mom's good dictionary over 60 years ago, and one of our cats in the last few years chewed on an antique candlestick table. I still have the remnants of the dictionary, and a little Old English Scratch Cover for Dark Woods made the teeth marks negligible.

Unplug the lamp for a while, or plug it into one of those rocker-switch gizmos turned to "off" when you're not home and using it, just for safety's sake. I have most of everything (TV, toaster, stereo) on power strips turned to "off" because I'm a bit pyrophobic and besides, it saves money on electricity.

I hope you're doing okay, okay as possible right now.

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B.'s avatar

This comment was meant for NCMaureen. I am not sure why it's not attached to hers.

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Dunboy2020's avatar

So your erstwhile intrepid financial literacy teacher (me) has been making a monumental blunder in thinking about and opining on the OBBB and its impact on the national debt. And the correct result is not good.

The drumbeat of the media is that the OBBB will raise the debt by $3.3 trillion over 10 years. I didn’t think that was too shabby considering it had gone up $18 trillion over the last 10 years. But an alert commenter, (thanks Lanny), shook me out of my fog. The $3.3 trillion increase is ON TOP OF the already planned for increase in the debt of $19.5 trillion. So over the next ten years the debt will balloon by $22.8 trillion to about $56 trillion.

It really is unconscionable.

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JBell's avatar
7dEdited

I think those estimates are greatly exaggerated. They do not take GDP growth in the equation. Keep in mind, that the plan is also to get a bunch of repeal bills signed all the way up to the midterms, hoping we get more leverage in the House - then the Great Big Repeal can happen.

Trump had to have the budget for the border and deportations .... it may be kicking the can down the road .... but this can has a string on it! 😁

Edited to add:

Take this into account as well:

https://donsurber.substack.com/p/trump-sets-tariff-revenue-record?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1115457&post_id=167267786&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=15nx69&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

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Dunboy2020's avatar

Yes. I think the CBO growth estimates are almost mysteriously low. The tariff income is very intriguing and based on Milton Friedman’s thinking, I’m poo–poo-ing the idea that the tariffs are inflationary (so far they clearly haven't been.) (And Powell looks increasingly stupid saying he won’t cut interest rates because of tariff inflation.)

I hope you are right and they are setting the stage for real budget reform, but I don’t think they have the moral fortitude to do it.

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JBell's avatar

Trump is setting it up so that moral fortitude is not necessary.

It will come down to him having the power and approval of the people!

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Jen Todd's avatar

How about a 25% rate cut? 25% is just enough to pretend that he gives a shit about encouraging growth. Is that too much for a hack like Powell to manage? Those that continue to hamstring success because of their commitment to derangement need to be removed. The losers and fools that cheer for and encourage failure are anti-American.

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Brian Katz's avatar

Powell is showing his political color, that’s for sure.

Rates should be lower and will help reduce the cost of refinancing our debt.

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Jen Todd's avatar

It's absurd. All the schmucks carrying on about debt seem to be clueless as to how impactful a rate cut can be.

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Brian Katz's avatar

I agree.

Big impact.

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

But if millions of illegals flee the country or exiled to alligator Alcatraz before deportation, and if they can get off Medicaid and food stamps, and hospitals don’t have to treat them nor schools educate, and if the recissions take place, that will cause spending to decrease.

I don’t think the CBO is either competent or non partisan. Congress could ditch it ans save money right there.

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Jen Todd's avatar

I'd kinda enjoy finding out how an escapee fares out in the swamp. There's a reason dems here in Florida are crying about "it's cruel". Of course, there's the option of not trying to escape.

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Celia M Paddock's avatar

It's interesting that the Leftists treat escaping as the natural default that should happen.

Of course, the very best option is self-deportation. No detainment at all.

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Jen Todd's avatar

Yes! It's bizarre. Self-deportation would be the best option. I'm still thinking about man v alligator or python or some other creature or swarm. It probably wouldn't be pretty. Mosquitoes!

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

I was a Milton Friedman fan boy after reading Free to Choose and watching the PBS series in high school. The monetarists were proven correct when Volker and Reagan crushed inflation then the economy roared back with tax cuts and deficit spending. The currently ascendant Modern Monetary Theory is INSANE. I saw the woman who champions it interviewed.

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Dunboy2020's avatar

I followed the same fanboy path!

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Sea Sentry's avatar

If I were Powell I wouldn’t change rates before fiscal policy direction, especially with regards to tariffs, becomes clear, absent some compelling reason which I don’t see today.

Spoiler alert. I don’t think we’ll see 3% mortgage rates for the foreseeable future, absent a severe recession.

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Dunboy2020's avatar

Yeah, and inflation hasn’t actually got down to 2% so he has an excuse.

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Sea Sentry's avatar

True. The range of GDP forecasts is very wide this year. If it comes in on the low end of things, the Fed will have an excuse to ease. I suspect it will come in higher than expected, assuming the BBB passes.

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Jen Todd's avatar

A 25% reduction in rates would play into confidence. A little lagniappe. A little goodwill goes a long way. But I don't think that's Powell's agenda. That would play too much into a Trump success.

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Sea Sentry's avatar

Could be. I don’t know Powell’s mind re Trump. The Fed’s job is to ignore politics and focus on the economy. He’s not my favorite Fed Chair, but I have no reason not to believe he’s trying. When you consider how much the markets gyrate with tariff announcements, it underscores how important settling these policies is to both monetary and fiscal policy.

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Jen Todd's avatar

Trade deal settled with Vietnam.

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Dunboy2020's avatar

A big question is what is the ideal interest rate level? Supposedly it is something called R*(?) which is a nominal rate of about 2.5% to 3% (all other things being equal.) The effective Fed Funds rate is 4.33% lately so there is plenty of justification to cut at least a half point given inflation and unemployment being stable.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

THAT is the real problem with the Big Beautiful bill. We need to cut the debt and the interest on it ASAP

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NoreenL's avatar

I was reading all these comments this morning and a song popped into my head. 🎶 time keeps on slipping,slipping, slipping into the future 🎶. Steve Miller song. Don’t know why or what that means. I guess you just have to keep movin on. Have a wonderful day.

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Brian Katz's avatar

Now I’m going to be stuck on that one. Thanks.

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NoreenL's avatar

Sorry for the earworm.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

I have a lyric called “Earworm” but I need someone who writes real hooks to help with the music

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Brian Katz's avatar

No worries, it’s a great song.

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PhDBiologistMom's avatar

Or as Dory says in Finding Nemo, “just keep swimming, swimming, swimming”

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PH's avatar

Hello JiP friends!

Does anyone have recommendations for a religious or Bible based podcast that they like?

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ScoobyDrew's avatar

Try bishop Barron. I get daily readings and Sunday sermons. He’s more of a thinker than most, which I appreciate.

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PH's avatar

Listened a bit so far today. So far, so good; I like him.

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Mark Adams's avatar

I’ve moved away from liking Tucker Carlson, but he did a long interview with Bishop Barron that’s quite good.

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Alex K.'s avatar

I'm not Catholic but Father Mike Schmitz' Bible in A Year is Excellent. He also has another podcast where he shares thoughts on various things. Episodes are short. Most of them quite interesting.

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Pppt42NPK2XzKwNIoW7BR?

https://open.spotify.com/show/2oQATctoAaFiS8bT596v9G?

I also listen to Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton's podcast. He's left leaning so not sure if that would be an issue with you. But I'm not right wing or left wing. I keep my ears open to sane, reasonable people of all stripes. He's a fantastic pastor and he tries so hard to keep his congregation open and welcoming to both liberals and conservatives, some of whom (leftists) don't seem to actually listen to his many many calls to not be jerks to others whose politics differ from their own.

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L2cDc61WHeXDyfoohtvy9?

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L2cDc61WHeXDyfoohtvy9?

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PH's avatar

I will give anyone an initial try. I find most of the left leaning religious people to not really be following the Bible. I have a cousin who attends Crossroads (one of those big box churches) that is generic, we just love everyone, Christian. She put out a diatribe the day after the election about the “unknowing” people who voted for Trump.

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Carter Crain's avatar

https://overcast.fm/+ABBsedu0aFg

Ask NT Wright anything.

https://overcast.fm/+ABBvr4ehnc0

Interview on Jerry & Stacy Kramer who are spreading the gospel effectively in Africa and the Middle East, including Iran.

https://overcast.fm/+AAAAEpwm4OQ

Sermons of Timothy Keller. This has been important to my spiritual maturity over the last few years.

Are you looking for any particular approach or issues?

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PH's avatar

I want something truly Bible based; like the actual word of God/Jesus. Not the random interpretation that suits someone’s feelings.

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Alan's avatar

I would second Timothy Keller. He incorporates what the original Hebrew says often and provides alternate ways you could translate it. He's incredibly knowledgeable about what the Bible actually says in it's original language, and it shows in his sermons. He also did a sermon series one time with his wife on marriage and the Bible based difference between men and women that was fantastic.

https://gospelinlife.com/series/marriage/

I think I've also shared Bible Project with you before maybe? A very deep dive into the Bible also with a lot of incorporation of original language texts. I remember this series being really helpful for me.

https://bibleproject.com/podcast/series/how-to-read-the-bible-series

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ExCAhillbilly's avatar

You might do a double take at this, but jw.org has a free app and library. No preaching, just information. It's also easy to use. You just type in a subject. Someone showed it to me and I used it for the prophecies of Daniel, which I always found very hard to access. There is no politics, but addresses real news items, like the Uvalde school shooting and other current events in rapid time. Sorry if this is intrusive.

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PH's avatar

Funny you should mention JW. I have their app downloaded already because my in-laws are all Jehovah’s Witnesses and my husband is an ex JW.

I do like a lot of their stuff because they are very Bible based and they do keep politics out of it.

Unfortunately, there’s other aspects of JW that I don’t like so much like their shunning policy and the fact that they don’t vote.

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Carter Crain's avatar

There are all kinds of Christians unfortunately. I think each of these three meet your requirements, but you may disagree. My denomination has a facebook page that is so dominated by Trump Derangement Syndrome that I rarely look at it. I think it is important to have compassion for those people. Most of them are people of good will who have believed much of what the msm has been telling them for 20 years. They are really afraid. Sometimes I write that my prayer for all of us is that Trump accomplishes something that we are all grateful for.

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Brian Katz's avatar

The skies have opened up again with biblical rain fall here in NJ. This spring / summer is half over and we’ve not had a week of clear blue skies. Mother Nature is pissed about something. The good news is that my lawn looks awesome.

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JBell's avatar

Funny! I just remarked yesterday that we have had great grass growing weather in Ohio this year ... as well as garden. My herbs are fabulous and I'm on my 2nd harvesting. My sister's garden is already producing!

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

My garden looks fantastic as well but we are going to have really high temps for a while so I hope it holds. But I am waging a war against squash bugs. Between that and the oxalis in the lawn I’ve been fighting, it’s a tough row to hoe and a weed to dig out. Anyone have suggestions on what ammunition to use?

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JBell's avatar

I know that it's not PC - but I use Round-up 😁

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

Actually round up doesn’t kill oxalis. Arghhh. You think it would, but it doesn’t.

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JBell's avatar

🥲

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Jen Todd's avatar

Round Up kills everything. Use Seven on your squash bug problem. Don't mess around with Neem oil.

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

Can you eat vegetables after you spray sevin?

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Mark Adams's avatar

An effective, more acceptable substitute for Roundup is a gallon of white vinegar mixed with a cup or more of epsom salts. Add a tbsp of Dawn to help it adhere to the foliage.

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Brian Katz's avatar

I have been able to find organic fertilizer for the lawn and that does a good job of keeping everything out except the grass.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

So cool! Watching a garden grow and knowing you made that beautiful life happen must be very satisfying. My Dad grew tomatoes and peppers in our backyard. Enjoy!

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Brian Katz's avatar

My wife grows lettuce a few times a year.

So much fun to watch grow and then harvest.

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JBell's avatar

I used to grow lettuce, but the amount of work involved made me see that purchasing was worth the price !

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Brian Katz's avatar

Good to see that old cost / benefit analysis still holds.

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Brian Katz's avatar

That’s awesome !

What kind of herbs do you grow !

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JBell's avatar
7dEdited

I start my garlic in the late fall (november). I have Basil (my favorite because I use a lot of it) - 2 kinds (Genovese and Lemon Basil). Chives, Dill, Italian Oregano, Curly Parsley. That's all I put in this year. I do not like Cilantro, but sometimes I grow it for my husband who loves salsa. I didn't have room for Sage this year and I have a stockpile of Rosemary from years past.

OOpps ... forgot Thyme!

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Jen Todd's avatar

Herb butter!

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JBell's avatar

Yep! Herb compound butter and Pesto is my specialty!

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Jen Todd's avatar

Both in my freezer. Herb butter under the skin of any poultry. Garlic bread. Pie crust and biscuits. Vegetables. Such a wonderful thing!

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Brian Katz's avatar

Great stuff !

My wife grows basil and uses it in her sauce.

Oh my, so good.

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ExCAhillbilly's avatar

I got a very late start this year, bur made the effort. I have a little bit of all the above peeking out. I forgot I planted tomatoes until I noticed they were large enough to put cages around. If I can ever build the raised beds and clear the clover, I have an enclosed space already for a Martha Stewart herb garden.

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Louisa Enright's avatar

Send some of that rain down to coastal SC. Please! (Now I hope I don't get too much of that for which I wish!!)

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Brian Katz's avatar

It’s on the way.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

“Mother Mature is one pissed off bitch/She’s raging in storms with a seven year itch”

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Brian Katz's avatar

The quotes, I think, mean this is part of a song ?

No ?

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Brian Katz's avatar

Trump wins his settlement with Paramount / CBS at $16 million.

Good news.

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PoetKen Jones's avatar

I’ve been dealing with phone calls and texts about my Mom’s situation all morning but I wanted to log back on and thank everyone for your support and kind words. My “meat space” friends just used the news to bitch about their own parent care issues but y’all stepped up. What am amazing group of people Celia has assembled. Peace and Carpe Diem

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Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

UPenn is stripping Lia Thomas of his medals in the girls swimming events. As he never had a chopadickfromme but does have a girlfriend, what’s the over/under on his reclaiming his dead name and stops being a lesbian?

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Jen Todd's avatar

It'll be a miraculous reversal.

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ExCAhillbilly's avatar

I'd say 100% possibility. Being an ugly woman is very hard indeed.

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