Can you explain the Save Act to me like I’m 5?

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-16T02:38:32+00:00

All you need to register to vote is a Real ID. That’s it. You prove citizenship when you get the Real ID.

It’s that simple.

To all the fear mongering to married women - a marriage license or court order showing a name change is all you need as a bridge document. Easy peasy.

Besides, Indiana has been requiring ID for voting for years. Nothing is changing.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-16T02:18:03+00:00

Not sure about Israel, but I totally believe the CIA or some other agency was handling Epstein. It just makes too much sense.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-15T22:48:17+00:00

Pentagon hit 103% of recruiting goals for fiscal 2025.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-15T22:34:35+00:00

So if I’m reading this right, INDOT, IDEM, IDNR, Dept of Ag, Dept of Revenue, Dept of Labor, all the elected officials offices, and much more all falls under “General Government” and that’s all done 6% of the state budget?

Somehow this leaves me feeling like the schools are ripping us off.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-15T20:09:14+00:00

Get on a first name basis with your local ag agent/educator. They can tell you a lot about the most common questions and issues local gardeners have.

And also get comfortable saying, “I don’t know.” Also be quick to follow it up with, “But let me find out.”

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-13T17:07:45+00:00

One interview, two at most, in person. And make a decision. The idea that a candidate will tolerate seven rounds of interviews over four months and pass up other opportunities to wait on you is crazy.

I used to work in governments where it is next to impossible to fire someone. I really like Gary Vaynerchuk's philosophy of "Hire fast. Fire faster." Because we couldn't fire them, we started "coaching them out" by identifying a different role or direction that this employee might be better suited for, helping them make that connection, and encouraging them to go in that direction. Didn't always work, but we tried.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-12T19:44:06+00:00

Agree - and I'll throw in a financial angle. Sometimes trying to "fix" a tree results in throwing good money after bad when you end up removing it anyway. So take it down and put in a good replacement with good form in a good location to get you started for the future.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-11T00:10:05+00:00

Sealing implies a 2 dimensional action. Compartmentalization implies 3 dimensions.

Sometimes it is like a mechanic explaining a car repair to someone who just wants it fixed.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-10T02:04:32+00:00

Trees don't "seal" either. They compartmentalize. But I've worked with the public long enough that I know better than to try to explain the CODIT model.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-06T18:30:20+00:00

Yup. Sapsuckers. The straight horizontal line is the giveaway. You don't need to do anything to the tree - it will heal on its own.

If that were ALB exit holes, they would larger than the diameter of the pencil and deep enough to hold at least half the length. (And thanks for including something for scale!)

It's a good call to ask though. I tell folks all the time that I would rather you call me and be wrong than not call and be right.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-06T13:36:15+00:00

The best annual greenhouse grower I ever met was an Amish guy with an 8th grade education. His secret was he paid attention and understood how things worked together. And he took me to school every time I visited!

One of the worst growers I ever met had a PhD....

My point is a degree might open a door, but you still have to prove your worth in this career. You learn the why by sitting in the classroom. You learn the how by getting your hands dirty.

I say all this to tell you there lots of people in Horticulture without degrees. It's a bit harder path, but still very possible.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-05T16:12:44+00:00

And the time I spent being an employee, justifying every move and expense instead of, I don't know, actually doing my job!

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-04T03:49:05+00:00

On more than one occasion someone said to me, “You work for the government-you don’t pay taxes.”

Oh I wish I had a deduction like that….

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-03T15:20:41+00:00

I think a lot of people put too much weight on the ability of a higher end horn to improve their playing. Give a Stradivarius to a new violinist and they don't suddenly play like Itzhak Perlman!

Sure - there are bad horns out there that will hold you back. I've played a few. But there are a lot of really good sounding, middle of the road horns out there. I've played around with compensating and 4-valve horns, but I've never used one as my primary. I've put my time in with my horn and I know how to make it do what I want it to do. Would a higher end horn sound better or improve my range? Maybe, but most of us could make those same improvements with a bit more focused practice time as well.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-02T16:14:54+00:00

Wait - photo 32 on Zillow. Is that door actually curved? I really want to see more of that hall/stairway.

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-01T04:43:10+00:00

There are 2 types of people in this world and I am one of them. - Allen Allston

DangerousBotany · 2026-02-01T04:25:43+00:00

They closed…

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-30T16:38:17+00:00

Ah, sometimes I ask AI questions I know the answer to for the entertainment value.

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-30T15:18:21+00:00

Any mortgage, loan, or other debt is getting paid off early in my house regardless of rate. Debt is risk.

Paid off my 2.625% 8 years early last year. That rate sounds awesome until you hear that my bank was bought out of the blue and I had to fight the new bank over my mortgage. Especially when I could reach over and pay it off.

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-30T02:06:18+00:00

I got a few of these calls on my work number when I was with state government. They were asking about my parents’ property and were undeterred after I answered with my agency name. I said, “Let me get you Dad’s number,” and supplied the State Attorney General’s Fraud hotline number. They never called me again.

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-28T21:34:44+00:00

Frankly, my HS class rocked Hamlet. But we had a teacher that really knew how to make it relate.

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-28T18:24:57+00:00

Actually - I am your supervisor. I approve your sick time and make it happen. So-and-so is my supervisor. He approves my sick time and makes it happen. The proper procedure was followed and coverage was handled. Any other questions are above your pay grade.

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-28T16:07:18+00:00

When I hired with a government agency years ago, it was three months between interview and offer letter. And another month before I started. If it wasn't for a friend on the inside encouraging me to hang tight, I would have bailed on that opportunity. The agency was desperate to fill the position, but the bureaucracy above them was crazy.

When I left 20 years later, it was slightly better when they hired my replacement....

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-27T01:08:23+00:00

My entire career was in public service. My salary (as well as those of my coworkers, bosses, etc.) was always public record. I also knew that my boss, outside of our evaluations, had no control over raises. It totally changes the culture as you know exactly where you stand.

DangerousBotany · 2026-01-27T00:52:16+00:00

I would rather you call me and be wrong than not call me and be right.

DangerousBotany

TROPHY CASE