we have had Amazon Prime from the start and so far we've been renewing under DH who was a graduate student till last May. We buy stuff every single week there! This past Christmas I got all of my niece & nephews gifts there, in Feb all of my DH's gifts, his Valentine's Day gifts etc... On a weekly basis we get things like dental chips for our furkids, half off from what our vet charges + free shipping and get it in 2 days. I use it at work for tech toys for my sales people. Christmas 2011 we got a HUGE home theater system from Amazon at an even better price than I could find in stores even on Black Friday. DH does use the movie/TV benefits on his tablets too...I get some ebooks but mostly we shop there for everything we can ~ liz

I was quite a bit disappointed in the whole affair, and wrote so in the other thread. The online comments and twittersphere seem to agree. However, it was a huge revenue day for Amazon, so I'm guessing they were pleased. We bought some stuff that we needed and that was at a decent price -- small discounts and items already in our queue. They upped their check out offer for prime -- by waiting four days for shipments you get a $5 credit that's good for select merchandise, not just downloads. Various things like a walnut cutting board, yoga mats, underwear, kind bars, and USB cables will be arriving over the next week. Nothing major. The best part of the hype was the fact that other sites responded with coupons and sales. The best was Zwilling (owner of kitchenware lines like Demeyere, Henckels, Miyabi, Staub, etc). They have some excellent clear deals on their US site, well below retail. Valid through tomorrow.

I keep my FP in my house and have had it precititate. My lowest temp might have been 55F. Somewhat related question-- I am now using Peter's HP. Have mixed up a few batches, and it's always been the same 'color'. Last one I made was a different shade of blue. Not darker, just different, and I'm sure I mixed it right. I believe checking the EC would tell me the concentration, but I don't have a meter. Just wondering if the differing color is a known issue with this product. I am storing a portion (of the dry mix) in the house in a plastic tub, and the rest is in the garage. Also, does anyone know if prilled ferts that have been stored for years outside ( dry but hot) are still good?

I know that the $15 is an enhanced wage at the low end, but still. Perhaps in lower cost parts of the country an individual (not supporting a family) can get by on $30K per year ($15 x 2000 hours) but there are many places where it's not possible. There's a minimum wage dispute that appears to be tinged with racism going on in Alabama, maybe you've heard of it? The prevailing minimum wage level in the state is the federal amount of $7.25. The City of Birmingham (the population of which is more than 50% African American and whose politicians are majority blue in a red state) passed an ordinance to raise the minimum wage in the city to a bit over $10/hour. In response, the state (with a majority Republican political power base) passed a law preventing localities from enacting their own rules. The city won a federal appeal to overturn the state law. I don't know if the case is still open but what a situation that is down there.