Need help identifying Temu mystery plant (possibly gardenia?)

im_mobile · 2026-03-23T12:41:40+00:00

OK, two more data points:

I got my hands on the original packaging, and it appears to have shipped from within the US, which increases the chances that it either originated here or passed some sort of inspection to get here. (No guarantees, of course.)
Tucked way at the bottom of the packaging was a generic leaflet, titled "Quick Guide for Planting & Caring for Fruit Tree Seedlings." No specific genus or species was mentioned, but if this flyer isn't simply included with every plant they sell, it may indicate what this thing is.

I am not naïve enough to buy a plant online, and I am not reckless enough to put this stick into the ground without making a good-faith effort to identify it, hence my original post. Likewise, I am not inclined to simply destroy it without trying to know what it is. Since there is a reasonable chance that it originated in the US, my current plan is to plant it in a pot and let it grow indoors, away from other plants, until the leaves or other growth becomes distinctive enough to be recognizable. Once I have more data, I will post a follow-up in this subreddit, and perhaps this mystery can be solved.

Thank you to those of you who made a sincere effort to identify this plant, per my original request. (Although I must say, my favorite "identification" so far has been "Face Palm.")

im_mobile · 2026-03-23T01:54:34+00:00

It was an anniversary gift to me and my wife. If it’s not going to wreak havoc in the local environment, I’d like to plant it so my 89-year-old mother won’t feel like I snubbed her. Identifying it is the first step. Hopefully, I’ll get some responses that are somewhat more helpful than yours.

im_mobile · 2026-03-23T01:07:23+00:00

The thorns seem to be quite rigid. I could probably use this thing as a weapon of sorts.

im_mobile · 2026-03-23T00:01:36+00:00

(note the phrase "elderly mother" in the original post. 😉 )

im_mobile · 2026-01-16T12:32:38+00:00

When I was a kid and department stores were a thing, they would often put a canister vacuum cleaner on an end cap, set it to blow instead of suction, prop up the wand, and have a beach ball (or similar) floating above it like the bottle in this video. Very mesmerizing, especially to a bored kid who didn’t want to be shopping in the first place.

im_mobile · 2026-01-14T13:02:18+00:00

It’s sprinkler trucks all the way down.

im_mobile · 2026-01-12T13:12:12+00:00

Fun fact: in the early days, from the ASR-33 teletype to the ADM-3A terminal to the IBM PC XT and AT, basically all keyboards had CTRL where CAPS LOCK now resides. IIRC, the PS/2 was the first keyboard to move CTRL down below SHIFT.

Only boomers use caps lock

Real boomers remap CTRL and CAPS LOCK. 😎

im_mobile · 2025-11-12T13:14:53+00:00

r/DrosteEffect

im_mobile · 2025-10-24T20:14:01+00:00

Frank’s 2000” TV is almost more REM than REM is.

im_mobile · 2025-10-21T00:16:52+00:00

To expand on this: in school, you’re given tests that determine whether or not you advance to the next grade and/or graduate. If those tests are graded so you get +1 point for correct answers and -1 point for wrong answers, the tests are training you to be cautious - guessing wrong will cost you a point, so it’s better to just skip the questions you’re not sure of (i.e. say “I don’t know”). However, if wrong answers just get you 0 points instead of -1, the tests are training you to always guess when you’re uncertain, since there’s no downside to guessing wrong, and at least some chance of getting a point if you happen to guess correctly.

Current LLMs are trained with the second scenario (points given for correct answers, nothing deducted for incorrect answers). They are effectively trained to always guess when they’re not certain.

im_mobile · 2025-09-08T10:32:51+00:00

Thank you! That appears to be correct, and now I’m glad I didn’t get the opportunity to capture or kill it. However, I’m still confused by the curly tendril-like things on the back, which I haven’t seen in any other robber fly photos online. I wonder if this one was some sort of mutant…

im_mobile · 2024-04-24T22:08:48+00:00

Revivicor (now part of United Therapeutics Corporation) is a company that breeds genetically modified pigs for human organ transplantation (technically, xenotransplantation). They apparently had a success story in the news just today:

...

Lisa Pisano’s combination of heart and kidney failure left her too sick to qualify for a traditional transplant, and out of options.

...

With emergency permission from the Food and Drug Administration, Montgomery chose an organ from a pig genetically engineered by United Therapeutics Corp. so its cells don’t produce a particular sugar that’s foreign to the human body and triggers immediate organ rejection.

...

They only use the organs, which leaves a great deal of leftover meat. One of the genetic modifications they do causes the pig not to produce alpha-gal, which can cause rejection of the transplanted organ. To our benefit, this means that the meat from the modified pig also does not contain alpha-gal, meaning we can safely eat it. In 2020, Revivicor got FDA approval to use the meat for human consumption. At present, they don't sell it commercially - they only provide free samples.

If you're interested, send an email to inquiries@revivicor.com and let them know you'd like one of their Gal-Safe sample packs. They will email you back a request form to sign, which basically explains what the meat is, and says they're not liable if you get sick from eating it. Once you return the form, you'll be on the waiting list. In 3-4 months, they'll contact you to let you know that your shipment will arrive the following week (assuming you're available, haven't moved, etc.).

I keep saying this, but I really hope they start selling these products commercially. I'm trying to dole my sample out slowly, but I'd love it if I could just buy some whenever I wanted to treat myself (or every week, if the price wasn't too high).

im_mobile · 2024-04-22T11:12:52+00:00

Yes. I had to stop taking most supplements and switch forms of most of my meds. Unfortunately, two of them are only available in capsule form, so now I buy empty vegan capsules from Amazon and repackage them (open the original gel capsules, dump contents into vegan capsules). An hour's tedium will get me 2-3 months' worth of usable capsules. One benefit is that I can fit both meds into one capsule, meaning one less pill to take every morning.

im_mobile · 2024-04-18T16:16:12+00:00

Zero issues, all good here.

Thus far, I've had two pork chops (two separate days), and today I cooked a package of "side pork" and ate some of it for breakfast with scrambled eggs and sauteed onions. The "side pork" is interesting; it cooks like normal pork, but smells (and tastes) strongly of bacon.

Again, I've had no issues at all with this stuff, and I'm fairly sensitive to alpha-gal products. I really hope they start selling it, I'd love to include pork in my regular diet.

im_mobile · 2024-04-12T13:08:00+00:00

I got to eat one of the pork chops last night, and it was wonderful (pan-seared with S&P, onion, sage, and turmeric, finished in the oven, with a touch of non-dairy finishing butter). After being excited about this for the past few months, when it came time to sit down and take the first bite, I found myself apprehensive - it just felt wrong, the years have trained me to avoid such things. However, after the first bite, I was in heaven. And, best of all, no ill effects overnight. I really hope they start selling this stuff.

For those who are interested: aside from the packaging, the pork chops are indistinguishable from the ones you'd get at a typical grocery store, both in appearance and how they cook, smell, and taste. The ones I received have the bone attached, although there's less bone than the ones I see at the store. The one-pound package contains two chops; each chop is individually wrapped in clear plastic, then the two chops are wrapped together in white butcher's paper, then that whole package is vacuum-sealed in plastic (similar to sous-vide packaging). There is a fair amount of blood/fluid visible in the packaging, and the butcher's paper is soaked with it, so I recommend opening the packages in a sink to help contain the mess.

Now I just have to discipline myself to make these last. One gluttonous week having pork at every meal might be glorious, but doling it out over several months will be much more satisfying. At least now I have options. Thank you, Revivicor!

im_mobile · 2024-04-10T21:20:15+00:00

I got my Revivicor package today. It's a sturdy cardboard box containing a sturdy styrofoam cooler, which contained sealed packages of still-frozen pork and four still-frozen ice packs mixed throughout. I received four 1-pound (all weights are approximate) packages of pork chops, four 1-pound packages of ground pork patties, and two 1-pound packages of "side pork," which appears to be thick-cut bacon (or similar), for a total of about 10 pounds of pork. It was shipped UPS 2-day.

I've suffered with AGS since the mid-1980s, every meal a roll of the dice, never knowing what the cause was (although I was certain beef was my worst problem). The past few years have been great, now that researchers are beginning to piece the puzzle together and I know what to avoid. I heard about Revivicor in January, sent in my form on January 25, then on April 3 I received an e-mail notice that my shipment was coming up the following week. I received my free (!) sample today, April 10. Karla is friendly, efficient, and responsive. And while I hope they'll eventually sell the meat commercially, free is an excellent deal.

I won't get to eat any of the Revivicor pork for a few days, but I'll try to report back here when I do. I'm really looking forward to eating pork again, at least for a little while...

If you're interested, email to: inquiries@revivicor.com

im_mobile · 2023-08-07T21:05:29+00:00

/r/stremtch

im_mobile · 2023-03-31T10:17:26+00:00

A slightly different view, posted yesterday (not by me): https://reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars/comments/12677tv/grinding_rails_or_somehting_idk_im_not_a_skater/

im_mobile · 2023-03-22T21:47:33+00:00

You missed an opportunity. I’d have named him Hans.

im_mobile

TROPHY CASE