I use to have a cleaning business = Love Care Cleaning, Inc locally here in Pittsboro, NC.  Try saturating a small area (TO TEST) with:

Several things should work: such as vegetable oil, WD-40, Goo Gone, De-Solv-It, Avon Skin So Soft, or a pre-soak laundry spray.  Saturate the TEST AREA and let stay about a hour and then mop off with very hot
plain water and let the floor dry on it’s on.  See if that will remove the pattern left by the carpet.  If not, call me and we will try Plan B!

Servants of Jesus,

Mark and Beth Morton
Co-Directors The Kid’s Warehouse/House of Israel Mission

Contact Information:
(919)542-6159

Regarding the engine where the purchaser won’t let you see what’s going on….tell him it worked fine before it left, and that refusing to let you see it as installed is a complete deal breaker. We’ve had many customers pull the bogus “but I can’t trust you anymore so I don’t want to bring it to you, just refund the money” card in the past, but that’s unreasonable to say the least and displays bad faith on the part of the purchaser.

The simple answer is: you don’t let me help you figure out why my product or service isn’t working as expected? That’s fine; expect the same amount of cooperation from us in return…especially since the people who pull this card are usually trying to get something for nothing. We’re actually about to sue someone for stopping payment on a check and then pulling this same “I can’t trust you” stunt, defrauding us out of both a brand new part and the labor for the requested services. Sometimes you have to stand your ground and demand fair play. If the other party is being unreasonable, you have every right to refuse to be helpful until they are reasonable again.

It’s quite possible that they screwed up the product and don’t want you to see it because of that.  (That may be what happened in our case too.) What motivation does a reasonable customer have to hide the product and problem from you if the goal is for the product to work as described?

Hope this helps you, Mark. I’ve met you and I know you aren’t the type to screw someone over.

Only received postings up to 37…I am assuming another second part will be going out later?

Thanks.

**********************************************************

Michelle et al -

The entire list of posts went out in one Chatham Chatlist.

If for some reason, you are not able to see the entire Chatham Chatlist you can click on the link at the top of the chatlist that says “View it in your browser”

Hope this helps.

Gene Galin
Chatlist moderator
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We would like to respond to Virginia Mary Jacks’ strategy for managing fire ants and her wish that “the extension office would remind us of our options to go green!!”  We’re pleased that she has found the pleasure of watching her rooster’s amusement with fire ants.  Our sign-in records don’t give any indication that she attended our program on fire ants last week, so she may not be in the best position to evaluate whether any of the options we suggested are green.  But she does open the door for us to reach a broader audience via the Chatlist.  Those who joined us last week, may have heard us suggest that:

-Most fire ants do not merit human concern.  In the 80 or so years red imported fire ants have been in North America, one of the things we have learned is that we will not eradicate them.  We learn to accept them and deal specifically with those that are likely to cause problems for humans, pets, or livestock.  While most mounds are not

worthy of our attention, for about 1% of our population they are a deadly threat.

-Fire ants are beneficial insects that feed largely on other insects.  Perhaps not an extremely efficient means of insect control but like all other animals, just one more with whom we share our world.

-Perhaps the most valuable control that we enjoy is the fact that native ants prevent as many at 80-90% of mated queens from getting a mound established.  Native ants defend their territory and food supply by attacking and killing these invaders.

-Because product oriented strategies may affect all ants, the more we use these products the more likely we are to lose native ants and have to do more of the work ourselves.  We can protect the native ants by avoiding broad spectrum treatments.

-When speaking of fire ants in pastures we suggested to farmers (perhaps light-heartedly yet with research based merit) spending up to $20,000 for equipment that allows the producer to work through mounds without damaging equipment and avoiding the need to do anything about the fire ants.

-All the product oriented strategies have advantages and disadvantages.  We suggested repeatedly that one of the most effective products bears the seal of the Organic Materials Review Institute.  Another of the active ingredients is routinely used directly on pets to prevent infestation by ticks.  The amount of active ingredient that goes

directly on pets is more than 600 times more concentrated than the same material when used for fire ants.  Most pet owners seem to think the disadvantage of tick infestation outweighs the disadvantage of applying an insecticide to their pets.

We don’t know if any of this is green.  Our job is not to persuade you of any particular strategy but, as suggested, to remind you of the options.  One of the challenges we face is limiting ourselves to research based information that can be predictably replicated rather than passing along anecdotes that may work occasionally.  For instance

research suggests that when birds eat fire ants, stings received in the throat or crop may cause them to go “off feed” for long enough to affect economics of production.  Those who depend on raising a flock of broilers produced for meat or for egg production and sales may consider that a disadvantage.

We are also challenged by the fact that many of our family, friends, neighbors, and critics seem to want a product that they can apply and be done with a problem.  And while we spend a lot of time suggesting to these folks that most products have advantages and disadvantages and are a short term solution to a long term problem, people

who don’t attend our programs seem to think we must be encouraging use of a “chemical cocktail.”  Critique by persons not attending may unwittingly make our job more difficult.

Nevertheless, we’ll continue to offer options and hope you’ll join us for a future program.  North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran’s status. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Sam Groce, County Extension Director at 919.542.8202 or sam_groce@ncsu.edu<mailto:sam_groce@ncsu.edu> or in person at the County Extension Office at least 15 days prior to the event.”

Sincerely,

Sam Groce
County Extension Director
Al Cooke
Extension Agent
Samuel E. Groce
County Extension Director
Administration, Community & Rural Development, Livestock & Forages
Chatham County Center, NC Cooperative Extension
North Carolina State University
Post Office Box 279
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Office 919-542-8202, Mobile 919-548-2220
webpage:  http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/
e-mail:  sam_groce@ncsu.edu
Al Cooke
Extension Agent, Horticulture
Chatham County Center, N.C. Cooperative Extension
PO Box 279, Pittsboro, NC  27312
919.542-8202; Fax 919.542.8246
al_cooke@ncsu.edu<mailto:al_cooke@ncsu.edu>
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/staff/acooke/home.html

I am responding to Tony’s enquiry regarding wine pairing with Turtle. You do not say what your recipe is, so I am assuming it is turtle soup. If the recipe is calling for sherry or Madeira wine, then I would also serve either with the soup. However, I think wine is a personal taste and fully endorse the “drink the wine you would prefer” approach.

If you prefer white wines, then a chardonnay would go well, although I do not favor the chardonnay wine – but as I say, it is personal. If you would rather go for a red wine, then I have heard that a blended red is a good choice -  anything from a cabernet sauvignon/shiraz to a Malbec or a blended merlot. I must admit I would prefer that pairing, but have never had it served with turtle soup.

Hope this helps. Colin

Mold is a very tricky issue and one where you can spend lots of potentially unnecessary dollars.  In real estate transactions we sometimes see thousands of dollars in cost estimates to remediate a mold problem that could just as easily be remedied with an antifungal spray if its the garden-variety powdery mildew that lives in nearly every crawl space in Chatham County.

Sometimes a plumbing leak will result in mold growth and it is usually repairable without too much difficulty.

There are professional mold companies who will evaluate mold problems, but you may want to start with a more informal check by a qualified contractor who might be able to tell you whether the mold you have is the typical mold we see or the more toxic “black” mold.

Here’s a good site from the CDC that will help you to get started:
http://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm

If you want specific recommendations on contractors, please email me directly.

best wishes,
Lynn Hayes
www.lynnhayes.com

You need to call Ernie Brown the turtle man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn8EQ0azXpQ
 
Assuming you are not planning to take him alive try:
http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/ReptileArticles/02/027A8A8B43.html
BTW, I have asked this before; what kind of wine goes with turtle? Ernie didn’t know.

In response to the sighting of dead fish at Jordan Lake (said to be between Ebenezer Beach and Poplar Point)

In general, it is not a good idea to swim where there are many dead fish. If they died from a toxin you don’t want to also be exposed to it . If, as is most likely in this case,  they died from lack of oxygen, associated with high temperatures and algae blooms,  you don’t want to be swimming with bacteria and other microbes associated with rotting fish.

I have passed the information along to the State Parks folks at Jordan Lake – and also to the regional Division of Water Quality (both of whose budgets have been severely slashed by our current legislature in NC!)

Elaine Chiosso
Haw Riverkeeper
Haw River Assembly
P.O.Box 187
Bynum NC 27228
(919) 542-5790
chiosso@hawriver.org
www.hawriver.org

Thank you Thank you Thank you to all of you Chatlisters who wrote me with your wonderful ideas to keep the yellow jackets away from the hummingbird feeder. What a great resource this Chatlist is! 

 Here was the most repeated suggestion: Spray the feeder with PAM. The birds don’t mind it and the yellow jackets will stay away. So far, I have seen a Y.J. fly toward the feeder but veer off before trying to feed. I have not seen a bird as of this moment but maybe they learned to stay away in the past week, so as not to get stung. Hopefully, they will return soon. One thing, someone did mention was that the PAM melts in the sun and must be reapplied. (BTW, I did not have PAM on hand so I put veg oil on a paper towel and rubbed it on the surface of the feeder). I will keep an eye on the feeder and if the oil disappears, I will reapply it.

Thanks again you wonderful people!

Anne

I am finally taking the time to read all the many websites that folks  here recommended.  This paragraph below was quite upsetting.

 From  http://www.chimneyswifts.org/page22.html

“…… Chimney Swifts are protected by Federal Law under the  Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Unfortunately, some chimney cleaning  companies will still illegally remove active nests with young and discard them to die slowly in trash receptacles.  When hiring a professional chimney cleaning company, be careful to select one that is reputable.   There are many companies that now actively promote Chimney Swift conservation.  Always keep in mind that “Bird Removal” is a blatant violation of the state and federal laws that protect Chimney Swifts and other migratory birds.  Homeowners should inquire about a company’s policy regarding Chimney Swifts.  Any company that offers or advertises such a service should be avoided.”

In 16 years I’ve only had a chimney sweep in twice (my bad), but they  do send me an annual notice for a discount if I have it cleaned while they have others in my neighborhood lined up.  The trouble is, those times are always swift-nesting times.  I’m overdue now for a sweep.  But I will be sure, even if it costs more, to be sure NOT to have it done while the swifts are here.   (I do, at least, scrape as far up as I can every fall with the fireplace poker, to dislodge and knock down any creosote that I can reach… and hopefully that heat and flames would be able to reach.)

Kira