I haven't seen this for years. I remember when the results were first being mentioned... and then there was a lot of hoop-ta-do of scoffers vs believers, and then enough other folks tried it... and then the scientists more-or-less explained the effect... and then it was mostly forgotten. I see that new book has been published on this and related subjects, but I haven't read it. Yet. The effect is a sublimnal (non-conscious) influence. Some reports claim the effect is short-term, but the definition of short-term varies considerably. There are also reports that it calms the color-blind. If you become interested in learning more, be very, very, careful that purported tests/reports used the specific shade; many claims and counter-claims are based upon other distinctly different shades of pink. Even the sample WG posted seems to me to be a bit off on this monitor -- and no doubt varies depending on your particular monitor.

Most of you don't know me or remember me because I have been absent from GW for a while because of personal reasons. Hello to all who remember me... To address the main issue of this post I would like to say, although I have only been to 2 swaps one in my area and the one there that John hosted in the fall of 2005. So I guess I am still considered a newbie. I for one LOVE SWAPS...OMG they are GREAT!!! >>>>> FREE PLANTS....wow what could be better? I came mainly for the plants, but the people and the food was great too. I drove all the way from the NC/SC line to get there, was it worth it? Absolutely, I picked-up some plants that I would have never been able to get here in this area. So yes, the main reason was for plants. But how can you put a value on being able to spend hours with people who share your enthusiasm for gardening as much as you do. As the other poster stated, as gardeners most of us want to share plants with the WORLD, but not everyone gets it. Being able to meet with a whole group of people who "get you" is incomparable. Swaps are the only way I know this could come about. I am thankful for GW, and all of the people I have shared plants with through this place and the swaps. My budget doesnt allow me to splurge on plants that I want. Without the generosity of the people I traded with at the swaps I would not have the beautiful plants I got. I had been looking for a Chocolate Vine forever; thanks to the sweet lady at the swap I was able to get one. And it looks great; I hope it blooms this year. I would love to be able to come to another swap, when I am able to yes I will be right there with you all. I had a blast! Although I would have liked to talked to a lot more of you I wish they could last longer. (BEFORE YOU READ THE NEXT CLAUSE: NOT TRYING TO UPSET ANYONE OR HURT ANYONES FEELINGS, JUST STATING WHAT I AM JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE, NOT TRYING TO START AN ARGRUMENT so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Do NOT be offended, I am a parent too, mine are just grown now) ....Just my own observations and opinion.... As for the issue of children: Personally, I think they should be left at home ONLY because I need grown-up time :)Âlol, but I understand that a lot of parents donÂt leave their children with other people, I didnÂt (Where I went my children went, if they couldnÂt go I didnÂt go) or they may be using this as a learning tool, or a vacation. That said, I donÂt have a problem with well behaved ones.What I do have a problem with is those children who are allowed to run around uncontrolled, screaming, and interfering with adult conversations (just for attention, not ones who truly need something from their parent) If children are not made to behave they shouldnÂt be allowed to come to a grown-up function. Everyone knows exactly what I am talking about. I am not trying to be rude or hurt anyoneÂs feeling, just stating a fact...Unruly children are more apt to be hurt, which would be a liability to the sawps in general. On that note, however, the children I remember from the swap I attended where well-behaved. And not getting in the way of the adults. I know Tammy brought her children, who where well-mannered, kudos Tammy for having those kind of kids, even when I followed you home, they did not interrupt our conversation, which is very impressive now-a-days, people just donÂt make their children mind anymore. (AGAIN, NOT TRYING TO UPSET ANYONE OR HURT ANYONES FEELINGS, NOT TRYING TO START AN ARGRUMENT so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Do NOT be offended, I am a parent too, mine are just grown now)....Just my own observations and opinion..... I am sorry Dana was made to feel like folks had a problem with her daughter, I think she was with her at the swap I attended I would be willing to contribute to a childÂs table for those who are interested in their own plants. Again as the other poster stated for children say under age 10 or 12. BUT those over the age limit everyone agrees should be the "ChildrenÂs section" there is a simple solution for this problem, since everyone seems to be in agreement with the statement that everyone should we name tags and list their GW name on their plants, let those children sign-up with their own GW id. Then they can participate just like ever other GWer member, that way they would be considered a swapper too! As for spouses and "extra-hands" I think in the later rounds I personally think they should be allowed to grab too, especially if they garden too. Heck, I am sure they helped purchase a lot of the plants that contributed to the memberÂs garden who is the actual trader/swapper. As mentioned above, I saw the extra-hands going on at the swap I attended and thought it was unmentioned acceptable behavior too. I, too, asked my helper to get a couple of plants I wanted because I was going to be on the other side of the swap. However, in my case, these where plants that had lasted through several rounds and was unclaimed AND I brought my mother along, who although doesnÂt have a screen name here I had set a few special trades up for her myself, didnÂt participate in the swap outside of her special trades but did bring along extra plants from her garden to put on the tables. So I didnÂt think anyone would mind if my helper grab a plant or two extra because of the extra plants my mom brought, and the two plants he grabbed my mom had been eyeing too, but she would not pick-up for herself, because she kept saying she didnÂt need anymore plants, BUT guess where those ended up at when we got home? You guessed itÂand they look great in her yard! I personally donÂt care what everyone brings their plants in, heck, it is a plant swap. I know a lot of people do not have nursery pots to put their plants in. I had a few of them to use, but most of mine came to the swap in red and blue solo cups. If this bothered anyone, well, I am sorry. It is the only thing I could afford to use, since I brought a lot to the swap. I thought the 20 oz cups would be better then the 8/12 oz Styrofoam cups. I also donÂt mind picking plants out of a bucket of water, I am a true gardener and as long as I can keep them wet for the trip home I am happy. I do agree with the other posters and suggestions posted here (some are good suggestions) for the most part. Anyway, just my two cents, not intended to upset or hurt anyoneÂs feelings, statements are my own opinion. I enjoyed meeting everyone I met at the swap, and hope they continue to participate. I canÂt wait until I am able to attend another swap, I miss having all that fun. Happy Gardening EVERYONE, may this year be super! ;) NCGardengirl

The more tragedies I read about, the more I am grateful for this very moment when all is well in my life. It is a helpless feeling to not be able to do something to prevent tragedies. A house was burglarized n my street a couple weeks ago, the first time this has happened on our street, although it does happen around us frequently. Our houses are smaller and close together, plus it is not a thru street. We all know each other and have felt like we were living in a safe bubble. It is very stressful to constantly be on guard, locking everything up. I used to run to the store and leave the door unlocked. No more. However, you just can't go through life stressing about things you cannot control. The news is awful any more and I don't listen. I do keep up on current events on the news web sites.

Thanks for that, Jasdip! I somehow figured that out right around the time I posted here last nite. I posted it over on my usual RMG forum so the folks over there can reclaim their "real" names too! But I also agree with Brandon about the graphics! And without the “subject” at the top of each reply, it’s difficult, at best, to quickly scroll down a thread and see the “individual” replies—they all just kind of “blend together!” (And in the past I used to sometimes have several threads open at the same time in different windows, and now, without the subject by each reply, the only way for me to figure out which thread I’m looking at is to scroll all the way up to the top of the window to look at the subject.) And ditto on the fact that you can no longer tell which threads you’ve already read! The “subject” used to “change color” after you had clicked on a thread, so you could easily “check in” and see if there had been any NEW posts since the last time you looked! Now you need to either click on the top thread and actually take the time to look at the last reply, or, I guess, you need to try to remember which thread was on top and “how many hours ago” the most recent post was! Say what? There’s no way I’m gonna remember “how many hours ago” the last post was—and, in any event, that CHANGES! It used to give the actual time (EST) when someone posted or replied, and that I could remember. More importantly, it gave the “number of replies” by each post, and that was fairly easy to remember for the most recent post, but since the “subject” changed color, you really didn’t even need to try to remember that—unless you had deleted your cookies! I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s just a lot harder to work with now—and takes a lot longer to try to see what you want to see. That, and a lot of other things, especially the fact that some old, long posts, that had a LOT of good info, are suddenly truncated, and all that good (and it took people a lot of time and effort to post it) info is now just GONE! I have a lot of good friends on GW, and I REALLY want it to go on—forever, but the more difficult and time consuming it becomes to use, I suspect more and more people will slowly disappear. That would be sad! Skybird