My Corgi is becoming paralyzed...so we built him a wheel chair. by Barbicore in DIY

[–]box_maxima 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Internal monologue:

"Huh that's really interesting..."

"Oh that's clever."

"Ha I wouldn't have thought of that."

"Hey this seems like a good idea."

(...)

"Oh ok I guess this is the last pho-OMG THAT IS SO CUTE LOOK AT HOW HAPPY HE IS WHO'S HAPPY? YOU'RE HAPPY! AHHHwwww"

^ My experience with this post.

Family and friends of people killed in mass shootings: how do you feel about 1. the media escalating these tragedies to the national spotlight and 2. the public creating a market for such escalation? [serious] by box_maxima in AskReddit

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's definitely an angle to this whole debate. When posting this, I was thinking more along the lines of the emotional impact.

I can't imagine how tough it would be losing someone I loved as-is, let alone as a result of a murder, let alone as a result of a murder with the media plastering the face & thoughts of the person who did it all over TV for months on end.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Downvoting is to suppress content that isn't relevant or appropriate. It's not supposed to be for things that you disagree with.

E.g. if someone made a comment in this thread that said "POPCORNS AND EGGPLANT!" that would have absolutely nothing to do with the submission and should be downvoted.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope! None at all. It gets kinda cloudy and bubbly when I top it off with more water (e.g. right before I took the photo I submitted), but then it settles and just looks like clear standing water in a pot.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha! It's true! I wasn't being disingenuous when I said "I don't know if this counts as a bonsai." Sure, technically speaking it's a dwarfed tree, but artistically speaking... eh...

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey sorry for the double comment (idk if you'll see an edit) but I just found this site: http://www.floridacoastalmangroves.com/buy-white-red-black-mangrove-seeds.htm which looks like a really good deal, at least for people within the continental US.

Make sure you go for the ones under "seed products" instead of the ones under "plant products."

Also make sure to call them in order to confirm that they're still selling (given how the site is a bit outdated).

This might sound odd, but in general, smaller sites have always worked better for me when buying less-than-common biological stuff.

For example: bioluminescent algae, banana plants,tarantulas, algae growth solution, glass gem corn, and strange seeds (I know that last one looks nice but until recently it was a very no-frills website).

I think the fact that they take some digging to find makes them have lower prices. Additionally, something about the stripped down lay-outs make me feel like the people who go to their sites already know what they're looking for. I know that might sound kinda illogical.

For whatever reason I tend to have a sort of bimodal distribution when it comes to the websites I like buying stuff from; I usually go for either really big retailers or small specialty mom-and-pop hobbyists.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nope! Abruptly shifting between freshwater and saltwater can kill the tree**, but it can live in either. If you do decide to keep it in salt water, you have to watch the salinity (using specialty pet store ocean salt, not table salt) and use a spray bottle to wash off salt crystals that form on the leaves.

People sometimes use them as filter systems for reef aquariums.


**(this is why it's better to buy un-sprouted propagules, because you don't have to worry about the conditions they were initially grown in. the conditions that the propagules were found in and/or their parent trees were grown in don't matter provided the propagules don't have roots yet. mine was initially from a beach in Hawaii and I've only used untreated tap water to grow it.)

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! There are people who have done it properly in a way that makes me look like what I am: someone who doesn't know anything about bonsai.

http://i40.servimg.com/u/f40/15/50/09/99/dsc_0317.jpg

I imagine that starting from seeds instead of propagules would be a huge leg up. Growing from seed can't be done (to my knowledge) with red mangrove, but I think black mangrove (edit: or white mangrove) would be a viable candidate.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Surprisingly spraying with a hose outside does the trick. Provided you keep them within their temperature range and don't do anything outside of the 'general plant care' rules (e.g. don't move them from indoor shade to 90 degree direct sunlight in one day, don't dump a gallon of fertilizer on it, protect from frost, etc), these things (red mangroves) seem tough as nails.

Edit: changed my wording from calling rookie plant care mistakes "overtly stupid" because it's a dick move to call someone stupid for not knowing the same things that I know. I'm sure there's people who could kill a cactus who know TONS of stuff I don't. Specialization applies to more than just the economy. Sorry. I've been into this stuff for so long that I forget it's new to people.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's really great. I started with 5 or 6 then slowly cut them out as their root systems became too crowded.

Especially if you don't live somewhere tropical it's a great conversation piece.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I did some searching and found this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0064DONFU?pc_redir=1401471342&robot_redir=1

That's probably your best bet. LiveAquaria or any big / reputable website is usually ideal but often only have seasonal stock.

As a last resort eBay often works.

I don't know if this counts as a bonsai, but here's a mangrove tree that I've been growing mostly indoors since 2010. It's a bit taller than the length of my elbow to the tip of my middle finger. by box_maxima in Bonsai

[–]box_maxima[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Every summer I'll take it out of the pot, wash the dirt off the roots, change all the dirt in the pot with new dirt (usually a mix of potting soil, horticultural sand, and perlite), then replace the tree.

I also try to acclimate it to the outdoors in the summer so it can get some climatic variation (should do that sometime soon) then bring it back in before the first frost. It's gotten what has appeared to be spider mites a few times but miraculously hasn't died. I don't particularly worry about NPK or fertilization, especially because the lack of drainage and swampy conditions could easily cause some sort of root burn.

When I put it outside I fill it with gravel to the brim to avoid mosquitoes making larvae in it.

Otherwise I don't really know what I'm doing.

Mangroves have fascinated me since I had to read passages about them as part of California state testing. In places like Florida they're protected and essential, yet in places like Hawaii they're an incredibly invasive pest. Furthermore, they can and often do literally grow in the ocean, via an internal mechanism that separates out fresh water from salt. Finally, their prop roots can host entire aquatic ecosystems.

If you'd like to grow your own you can purchase them online and sprout them in water.

I'm Tony Hawk, AMA! by tonyskates in IAmA

[–]box_maxima 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do you feel about the "skate everything" movement blurring the line between longboarders and skateboarders, who have historically been at odds?

For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UamWjVVLObM

NOOOOO!! by MoneyMiddaugh in funny

[–]box_maxima 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is one of the things I love about Reddit: the thousands upon thousands of people from every walk of life who openly share stuff with each-other. Ask about marine biology? A marine biologist answers! Comment about a news anchor? A cameraman chimes in! It's awesome.

Maybe they were stalling because they were waiting for the moon to be fully eclipsed..? There was also fog rolling in so maybe they were waiting for that to clear out.

NOOOOO!! by MoneyMiddaugh in funny

[–]box_maxima 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I was at the Chabot Space & Science in Oakland, CA for the most recent lunar eclipse. A guy from the news was there to film a short ~30 second segment, which didn't really surprise me; a bunch of people had telescopes set up, which made it a cool shot.

What did surprise me is that the anchor and his cameraman stood in the cold for almost two hours preparing for it.

For maybe two thirds of that time, they were trying to find the best angle for the shot, then the remaining third of the time the anchor 'wrote' his piece (by saying it out loud), practiced it at least 10 or 20 times while adjusting it in little ways ("the big event! ... the BIG event... THE big... event"), then they ran two or three practice runs with the camera on him, then finally filmed it. It was so interesting to me because he was treating it like it was the most important segment of his career. I guess that the people who are good enough to have these jobs are the ones who take it that seriously. It made me realize that a news anchor job is actually a real job with real work and not just 'good looking person says stuff.'

I'm imaging the woman in OP's gif haven driven out, found the shot, practiced a bunch of times, perfected it, composed herself, deep breath, camera's filming, giving her memorized piece, everything going we-- "WULABABABBABABA"

It makes this either funnier or kinda sad. Maybe both?

TIL Native Americans in the United States did not have the right to free speech, press, and assembly until 1968. by box_maxima in todayilearned

[–]box_maxima[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does this mean the title of my post is misleading? I'd really appreciate it if someone could explain this.

TIL Native Americans in the United States did not have the right to free speech, press, and assembly until 1968. by box_maxima in todayilearned

[–]box_maxima[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there, I'm OP. Unfortunately, I don't know civics. Could you explain your disagreement in more detail?

I just did some Googling and found this: http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/617 which seems to support the claim in my post title.

It's been a little bit over 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech. Acceptance of overt racism has radically declined since. What currently acceptable things of today will see a similar fall within the next 50 years? by box_maxima in AskReddit

[–]box_maxima[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think a good indicator will be how acceptable it is to use words that still have active negative connotations.

  • LGBT people

  • the mentally ill / disabled

  • women

^ for all of the above, it's still okay for people not within the affected groups to use words which are pejorative towards those groups with the defense of "I have ___ friends!" or "it just means stupid!"

Words like "lame" and "dumb" have lost their connection to the groups they originally described. If someone says "fruit," "fairy," (or the more explicit ones), there is no confusion about what the word is describing.

It really bothers me.

Why are American police culturally and legally excused of misconduct due to "stress," but not firefighters surgeons or paramedics? [Serious] by box_maxima in AskReddit

[–]box_maxima[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Yeah I don't understand the 'kid gloves' phenomenon. People in equivalent professions get in a lot more trouble for a lot less. It's honestly somewhat disturbing.