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Post by stepper on Sept 20, 2015 17:21:47 GMT -6
It's just that when I go to work (which means it's dark) I dislike all the crunchies under my shoes.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 22, 2015 6:07:33 GMT -6
Maybe a little change of perspective would help. Since it is your intent to kill them, you can get satisfaction from every crunch under your feet.
Every year, Step, we have at least one conversation about the decline of Monarch butterflies, and you mention seeing fewer and fewer of them, or not any at all in your yard. It's because they transmit warning messages through their antennae, "Come into Stepper's yard and die!" It'd be cool if it worked that way.
I won't even mention how criminally irresponsible Scott's, Ortho's parent company, is, their falsifying of documents, the Federal lawsuit against them, or the millions of dollars in fines they had to pay for knowingly coating their bird seed products with an insecticide labeled "extremely toxic to birds".
Oops, I just did mention it, didn't I?
Not saying you should go all gung-ho organic-environmentally correct-earth friendly-save the butterflies!!-save the bees!!-save-the-world!! But considering using something less toxic than a broad spectrum insecticide would be a good thing.
After-all, even Xena ended up regretting her battle-cry, "Kill them all!!!!"
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Post by stepper on Sept 22, 2015 19:52:24 GMT -6
And she meant it when she said it. The primary concerns are ants, and the ants, and the other ants, and the fleas - and now Chiggers. Grubs need to go too - they eat the grass roots that have been growing all summer and you end up with big round brown spots in an otherwise green yard.
I was going to tell you I haven't seen a bee since spring but for the past two days "A" bee has been helping itself to the fresh water in the bird bath. Since something pollinated my few veggie plants, I figure a free drink is worth it.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 23, 2015 6:09:09 GMT -6
It most likely died shortly afterward.
Since you've treated your yard with something that kills chiggers, how can there still be chiggers in it?
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Post by Spock on Sept 23, 2015 14:08:14 GMT -6
stepper, You do realize you are never going to win this. Just apologize abjectly, promise you will never do it again, and go on your way.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 23, 2015 16:04:09 GMT -6
Ah, but Spock, that would be very patronizing now, wouldn't it?
I'm not out to win an argument just to prove him wrong. I know my points are valid; there is no argument to be had. There are different options, though - better options - than what he's doing. It's part of my job to educate people, and I do take it seriously - and so do my co-workers. If we didn't we'd work at a box-store, ring up a bottle of kill-all, take their money, and let them "go on their way" possibly without knowing there are better methods.
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Post by stepper on Sept 23, 2015 16:12:52 GMT -6
I doubt it. It would have been flying and the bug killing goodness is ground level, or it will be when it's not so darned hot. Best affect is achieved after mowing and it's too blamed hot for that. I think they're mostly next door. I don't normally treat the whole yard - I have been spot treating as necessary, primarily for ants. Given the choice between my arm, and getting some sleep in spite of the itching, and killing some innocent bugs...I'll kill everything in every yard in the freaking block. I value my arm more. (Can you tell I'm running out of patience?) Spock Not going to happen Spock. I'm not trying to win anything. She has a point of view that isn't invalid, but I have to resolve this problem somehow and that means killing bugs.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 23, 2015 16:24:30 GMT -6
Psst, Stepper...I have never once said not to kill bugs.
Later, Tater. I've got a turkey calling.
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Post by stepper on Sept 23, 2015 21:03:55 GMT -6
Oh goodie - now dismiss your work related prejudices and join with those fighting the bug battle.
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Post by stepper on Sept 23, 2015 21:04:58 GMT -6
I can't imagine what inspired that, but it's such a good idea!
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Post by Spock on Sept 23, 2015 22:11:33 GMT -6
Hope she wasn't talking about her husband ...
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Post by stepper on Sept 24, 2015 16:23:44 GMT -6
I don't think so, they seem to get along. And if it was my house we'd be feasting on turkey again.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 25, 2015 6:35:59 GMT -6
When I do battle, I do so responsibly by treating only for a confirmed problem, using a narrow spectrum insecticide for the targeted pest, and only when that pest is active. Step, you're a military guy - you know that any good battle strategy involves knowing your enemy, and knowing where and when to strike to do the most damage to the enemy while at the same time minimizing casualties to your allies (in this case, the beneficial insects) and innocent civilians (fireflies, for example, which have never hurt a soul, begin their lives as grubs, but those grubs aren't considered lawn pests). And a great big Yay! and a hug for you from me! Spot treating is a great, and a responsible decision. Using an ant killer rather than a broad spectrum would be better. Chiggers - check here for how to get rid of them. insects.about.com/od/ticksmites/a/How-To-Get-Rid-Of-Chiggers.htmOne last bit on this topic, I promise (is that a collective Hallelujah! I hear? Don't answer; it'll only egg me on). Not quite the same as Ortho MAX, but another broad spectrum insecticide is Sevin - we pulled it all from the shelves before we opened for the season this spring (dust, RTU, and hose-end spray). It was a big decision for a family-owned business - we are in direct competition with three other local independent garden centers, not to mention the box-stores. Our regulars were informed via Facebook, and e-mail newsletter - and the response was overwhelmingly positive. We always advised customers to use the less toxic insecticides, and now that they can't just automatically reach for a bottle of Sevin, it's sparked some really great conversations...and not a single customer has walked out the door because we didn't have a broad-spectrum kill-all. It's been a cool thing.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 26, 2015 6:30:00 GMT -6
Nope, never called Hubs or anyone else a turkey (uncool term even way back when it was cool). I do though, on occasion, use some pretty fowl language in reference to him - Chicken Legs. (They're skinny.)
It's gonna be a weird one, folks. A Triple whammy coming up - full moon, Super Moon, and total lunar eclipse. The crazies are already crawling out of the woodwork. Should be a fun day at work today.
Later, Taters.
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Post by stepper on Sept 26, 2015 11:57:38 GMT -6
And this time, it's at a reasonable hour and we have good viewing weather too.
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Post by Spock on Oct 1, 2015 11:42:54 GMT -6
My father was a Life Member of the NRA. He passed away 10 August 2004 and I'm the one who notified their organization to discontinue his subscriptions. At the time I was considering joining the NRA but had other things on my mind at the time. I saw a recent post by Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell that decided me to go ahead and join the NRA. Better late than ever I guess. The main reason I'm posting in here is because stepper isn't that far from their Whittington Center. It looks like they have a lot of useful training there as well as a few nice extras. If I'm ever out that way to stalk stepper, I will have to visit the NRA as well. [Added] Hmm. I seem to be feeling a little off this month. Wonder if it's something I ate?
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Post by stepper on Oct 1, 2015 15:39:37 GMT -6
Amarillo isn't all that close Spock. Maybe the blueberries are in conflict with your green blood?
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Post by Mini Mia on Oct 1, 2015 17:57:31 GMT -6
Must be that time of the Month.
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Post by Spock on Oct 2, 2015 9:19:27 GMT -6
stepper: You're closer than I am and the distance is inconsequential to a transport beam ... @mini-Mia: That's why I made the comment added after my main post.
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Post by stepper on Oct 2, 2015 14:43:54 GMT -6
But line of sight is not and technology that works on bending a stream is iffy at best.
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Post by stepper on Oct 23, 2015 17:33:24 GMT -6
In case the weather guessers have guessed right, the additional precipitation from Patricia is going to make it a bit wet tonight and tomorrow - maybe Sunday too. They're saying minimum 3-6" with some areas closer to 12" or more. We need rain but getting it a bit spread out would be better; if I happen to end up in an especially wet spot I'll probably be off line a day or two.
See ya on the flip side.
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Post by Spock on Oct 23, 2015 18:13:44 GMT -6
Good luck. Hope everyone comes through with no problems.
[Added] GASP!
I don't remember coming out of the closet yet my Avatar seems to indicate something is wrong ...
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Post by Mini Mia on Oct 23, 2015 19:17:11 GMT -6
stepper: Hope all goes well your way.
Spock: I bet you'll be thrilled when this haunting is exorcised. Have you thought of calling a Priest?
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Post by Phalon on Oct 24, 2015 6:26:01 GMT -6
Stepper, hope you get the rain you need without all the added free-of-charge extra that you don't need.
Spock, I'd say pretty in pink, but...uhm...no. However, your recent ever-changing fashion choices are daring, your sense of style is bold, and the resulting look is oh-so uniquely you.
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Post by Spock on Oct 24, 2015 14:42:27 GMT -6
... Spock, I'd say pretty in pink, but...uhm...no. However, your recent ever-changing fashion choices are daring, your sense of style is bold, and the resulting look is oh-so uniquely you. It's not as if I were actually doing anything. I think I'm being haunted. My Avatar changes when it feels like doing so, almost as if it had a mind of its own ... hmm, perhaps if I attempted a mind-meld with the Avatar ...
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Post by stepper on Oct 24, 2015 20:50:49 GMT -6
Appreciate the good wishes, and you got your wish. We had 1" Friday and 2 3/4" Saturday. There's been some flooding and closed roads, but nothing serious happened here. They got more rain up at Dallas, and Houston always floods, but we're okay. My back yard flooded right up to the house - my drainage clogged up. Once I got it cleared out the water started running off more quickly and expect the standing water to be gone by morning.
With that said, we didn't get anything near what the locals said was possible. Patricia was ripped up by the mountains in Mexico by the mountains and I guess most of what was left went further south. We have a rain cooled night that reminds me of what fall should feel like – hoping for more of them.
And what ever is happening to Spock is scary. I'm wondering if his feminine side is taking over.
You have a strange and very scary closet!
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Post by Phalon on Oct 28, 2015 5:14:28 GMT -6
Spock, I am soooo confused...
I just can't decide which of your recent looks I like best.
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Post by Spock on Oct 28, 2015 10:29:03 GMT -6
I'm not sure I think any of them look all that good. I prefer my original image as being most representative of my self image. I can only hope that whatever is haunting the forum and causing the Avatar changes will resolve itself soon.
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Post by Phalon on Oct 28, 2015 11:56:22 GMT -6
<impish giggle>
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Post by stepper on Oct 28, 2015 18:05:48 GMT -6
It could be worse. You could start ripping through all the images like Joxcee does, or the Imp could threaten to lick you.
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