Not going to comment on most of this b/c why bother. No one's opinion is changing about anything political any more no matter what happens. But, regarding school shootings, this is a fascinating and frightening article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/19/thresholds-of-violence Also, recent NY Times article (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/us/school-shootings-columbine.html) about school shooters competing w/ each other. Media coverage most absolutely plays a role, as killers themselves have said: On Wednesday, the authorities in Florida released chilling cellphone video taken by the gunman in the Parkland school shooting. “I’m going to be the next school shooter of 2018,” he said. “My goal is at least 20 people, with an AR-15 and a couple tracer rounds.” He continued: “It’s going to be a big event. When you see me on the news you’ll all know who I am.” He then was shown laughing, and singing the words, “You’re all going to die.”

My apologies in advance for the length & tardiness of this post. " Out of the 3-5 seed suppliers that are on our shelves there isn't 1 bulbing onion variety being sold. (also known as yellow onion) For sake of argument, lets say there was a variety of a yellow bulbing onion I could actually purchase. Well there's a lot of variables involved, long day or short day? Maybe there's a short day version on the shelf but I needed long day for them to actually bulb, or maybe the strain itself is just limited to a certain size and can only get so big." It surprises me that there is no onion seed available where you are. If you are in Canada, perhaps the seed suppliers locally decided that sets or plants - which you have access to - are better suited. Perhaps past seed sales were so low that the decision was made not to continue carrying onion seed. But if there was seed available, it is unlikely that they would sell something inappropriate for your area... such as short-day onions for high latitudes. The same could not be said of mail-order seed, where the company may offer seed adapted to different climates, and rely on the buyer to make the proper choices. " Another example I'm seeing right now is for green onion. I see a lot of verities that are bunching types that produce small tops and are more for bunching. Well, I didn't want those, I wanted a strain that can grow bigger tops." There are larger bunching onions, some very large... with stalks over 1" wide. Some are perennial in milder climates (I grow several of those here) and some are best suited for use as annuals. I'm not sure what size you are looking for, but I would be happy to send you seed for two of the perennial bunching onions that I grow, both of which are as large - or larger - than supermarket green onions. Send me a PM if interested. I wonder if you have tried walking onions for scallions? They are very hardy perennials, multiply each year, and most (such as Catawissa or Egyptian) will produce green onions as large as those in supermarkets. Personally, I prefer their flavor to store-bought green onions. They are widely grown & often traded by other gardeners in the form of the bulbils which form on the flower stalks. "This might be limited to a Canadian thing or even a local thing but here are some more examples." Perhaps this is the missing context at the root of your OP. If you are in Canada, then chances are that the vegetables you see in stores, and the seeds being sold locally, are widely different. Just as it is here, much of your produce is brought in from warmer climates. There are a few parts of Canada that are warmer than here (in Wisconsin) but for most areas, short seasons would be the rule. That would explain why all you are able to find seed for are small, short-season hybrids for melons & watermelons. The larger watermelons are unlikely to mature there (I can't grow them here either). The same would apply to other long DTM vegetable varieties... I doubt you could find lima seed there either. There is truth to the suspicion that some "tried and true" varieties are being pushed out by hybrids & patented seeds. That transition has been happening industry-wide, and no doubt profit does play a role... but there are other factors driving that as well. Some hybrid breeding programs are intended to improve a vegetable, to increase its disease resistance, shorten its DTM, or otherwise make a vegetable that gardeners could grow reliably in a wide range of conditions. So one of the reasons that so much hybrid seed is being sold is that gardeners, rightly or not, are asking for it. For those gardeners who march to the beat of a different drummer, we might eventually find what we are looking for... but it won't be in the seed racks. ;-)

The one near me has always been what I consider on the high end of second hand pricing. Shirts range from $3.99 to $6.99. Jeans are in the $6.99 - $9.99 range. A few months ago, I was looking for a watering can and found one at GW. It was priced higher than a new one from Home Depot. It helps to have some knowledge of retail pricing in order to determine if one is getting a good deal in the thrift stores. I know that I can find new tshirts cheaper at Walmart and some of the other big retailers than I can at GW, but I also know that I will not be able to find a brand new, tags still on, leather jacket for $5 at any of the big retailers. Nor, will I come across a brand new London Fog down parka at WM for $5. Besides finding great deals like that, I enjoy the thrill of the hunt as well as knowing that thrifting helps keep perfectly good items from going to the landfills. In addition to shopping at GW, I also like to go to the smaller, more local shops. Based on how busy the stores are, it seems like there is room for both GW and the little guys, at least in my area. It's interesting - I go to the mall and it's deserted; I go to the thrift stores and they are packed with shoppers.

It's funny--I have some in the same bed and the ones on one side of the bed are amazingly lush and the other ones are 1/4 of the size. Same thing at my last house. I didn't think there was that much difference in the amount of light, but what else can it be? LOL - I saw on Dave's Garden website that they are prolific self-seeders. I can say that has never happened in my yard.