"Byron" writes: > Almost, If you live in Taxachewsits, Dukakas (D-MASS) > eliminated the County Agent system ( But this was part of > the Land Grant College system from Abe Lincoln) Almost. I take it that you're "living free" in one of those towns that have lower property taxes, with the school system to prove it. In 1994 the County Form of Government was abolished in Massachusetts. Not that it matters, but the Governor at the time was William Weld. Republican. A pretty good governor too, especially in comparison to the last couple. But I digress. The impact on the Cooperative Extension Service? Nil. That's right. It's always been run, not by County Government, but out of Amherst. Originally out of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, nowadays out of UMass-Amherst. Not that there's much of a difference as Stockbridge is right in the middle of Campus. There may have been a time in recent history when you couldn't get your soil tested in State, but I don't recall, and I think I'd need a better source than some hillbilly from a subpar school district. The Morrill Land Grant Act was signed by Lincoln, but it was fathered by the guy it's named after, a State Rep from Vermont. But, hey!, he was a Republican, if that's important to you.

Well, let's see, we have three "yeas", zero "nays," and one doubting Thomas who have weighed in. :) INK, I can't promise that a name change will reinvigorate the forum, but is there a real downside to trying? As I think you've been trying to suggest, any forum is only as good and as active as the people who participate. The object of the name change is to try to draw more participants, perhaps with additional perspectives to contribute. It would be a relatively simple change for Garden Web to effect, and worse case scenario is that the name change has no effect on the current pace or nature of dialogue on the GW forum, so we're no worse off from where we started. I didn't mean to turn this into a rigidly parlementarian exercise. Reading over all of the posts above and on the earlier thread, I'm struck by the fact that everyone seems to agree that the GR forum has been fairly inactive lately, a number of people would welcome more historical discussion, and not a single person has weighed in to oppose a name change. On that basis, I'm ready to send an e-mail to GW management and see if they'd go for the proposed name change. I'll wait until Monday in case anyone wants to weigh in further here. Best to all -- Kate

Jason, I went to the Wikipedia and put a link to this forum a while back. I too was reluctant to put what I "know" since I am a relative newcomer. Wikipedia allows the editing of the page by anyone provided that it doesn't violate copyright laws. Also it must state facts and be verifiable and from a credible source or it may be subject to deletion or editing. It would be a good place for the subject matter due to its permanency. Chuckii, I wasn't sure why Moni posted another new discussion either when she had already had a topic called easy searching on the 12th she could have appended her helpful tip. It would have bumped up the easy searching or she could have added her facts to your FAQ's... a statistical history google post and it would have bumped itself up. I don't believe that this forum is in dire need of a FAQ. I just thought it would be nice to have another resource for those newcomers who would probably find it easier to read a compiled FAQ than do a search for (get OR getting OR "how to") start and have to review 214 (215 when this one gets added) discussions. Either an FAQ or the "bumping" would be a major benefit if the posts do drop off the forum like I fear they do. I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers in this forum which has always has friendly and helpful people in it. I thought that a FAQ for the Vermicomposting forum would be a helpful addition for commonly asked questions and answers in one place in a logical format. I'll drop the FAQ issue. I do plan on making one for my site later on to share with others. We're looking for a new home right now so time is limited. I still think it would be good to go through the good posts and bump them to keep them active so they won't drop for those newcomers who don't have access to a hardcopy printout of the good stuff in this forum. There is a caveat to bumping. I was looking at the Gardenweb User Agreement and it may be against their policy for anyone to "bump" reference no 13 on the GardenWeb User Agreement: "Posting merely to manipulate the position of a message is forbidden." But I think GW would let the bumping slide due to the intent of preserving some good information unless we had alot of posts being bumped. That's why I suggested a compilation similar to a FAQ, but I'll drop it since there doesn't appear to be support from the regulars and the grizzled veterans here. Just my 2 cents. Happy Holidays everyone, Charles Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia - Verifiability

Thank you all for your many suggestions of type of info available and where to look. Would any of you be willing to speculate what might be going on in the following situation: A major developer bought a parcel of land for a major development (several hundred single family homes, some multi family units and rec facilities.) A gravel road to the parcel had a couple homes on it The developer is currently putting in the roads for the development and has paved the gravel road. This road will be the entrance to the development. The developer has recently bought (for about 150,000) and torn down one of the existing houses. The other existing house has been on the market for over a year (listed for 160,000 for a year reduced to 130,000 a few months ago). In speaking to the listing agent he said the developer had made a verbal offer in the past but never followed through on a written offer. I do not understand given they bought and tore down the house across the street for close to the original listing price of this house why they aren't buying this house. Any ideas why the developer is not buying this house or of a way to find out?