Last year, my first trading, I did over 80 trades, including many SASBEs. After a couple of round robins I had some seeds to trade and would offer to trade when I responded to the SASBE. Most did not want more seeds but some responded turning the SASBE into a regular trade. With encouragement from other posters I started collecting seeds which enlarged my exchange list. This year I have done only 20 trades as now have more seeds than I can ever use in my own gardens and share with family, friends and neighbors. I have also responded to a couple of SASBEs for specific seeds that I wanted. Occasionally I will initiate a trade after reading a posting regarding seeds that I would like. Bakeman, though I did not get seeds from your Newbie project, (I was no longer a newbie by the time I found out about trading) I do admire you for all the time and efforts that you spend in the Newbie Seed Project. Thanks to those of you who share your bounty through SASBEs. I have not offered general SASBE but have privately responded to those in need/Newbies to share, passing it on.

I am a merchant who accepts credit cards. On this end it's pretty cut and dry. I get a notice of a chargeback and I must produce my copy of the credit card receipt with their signature on it. It must be either imprinted or through a terminal. With online sales I must produce the hard copy of the order. I have 5 business days to either send or fax my copy proving the charge, or the money is automatically deducted from my bank. Plus a $25 fee. I get chargebacks because I'm an artist who does art and craft fairs throughout the northeast and there are times people in say, New Jersey see a charge from a company they never heard of in Vermont. "I've never been to Vermont!" So they challenge. I produce the receipt and a note they made a purchase at such and such craft fair, and it's done. Go to your credit Union in person and talk to someone who can actually help you. Have someone with some authority help you. You're finding out phone tag doesn't work. Go up the chain of command at the CU to get things done. You have 24 months from the date of the alleged charge to challenge it. The merchant has 5 business days to answer.

I had an experience in recent months where I offered to help my friends do some work on their house. After a visit one evening where we discussed dreams they had for their house, I offered to come help them work on a project. They were initially surprised and thought I might be just talking, but I maintained I was serious. We spent a week working on their house and they were really pleased with the results. I'm so happy we did that, because it turns out it was just the thing that inspired them to start working on other projects. And they're really happy and feeling good about it. So, I like to think that being a little pushy can be helpful, but I would only do it if I knew someone very well. I've had friends and neighbors over who tell me our place looks nice and how organized I am. They ask if I would help them do this or that, and I tell them I'd be glad to do it and to just call me and make plans. It's come up more than once with some, and I've repeated my willingness to help. But I leave it at that, because it's not my job to make their project a priority. This last experience annoyed me. I had someone, more of an acquaintance, ask for help with selecting something for their home. They were at a loss for ideas and asked me what I thought. I made a couple of suggestions, and the person actually responded with "ew". Yes, ew. Not, "I don't think I'd care for that" or something polite in response. I decided I didn't need to knock myself out for "ew". Tina

I am sorry but I don't think (16) supersedes (11)... A registered architect or engineer acting within the scope of his or her practice or any person exempted by the law regulating architects and engineers, including persons doing design work as specified in s. 481.229(1)(b); provided, however, that an architect or engineer shall not act as a contractor unless properly licensed under this chapter. The question becomes what is in the scope of an architect's practice vs. what is not. While G.C.ing is not allowed, supervising demolition for the purpose of furthering the design is allowed, and I can find cases for you if you want. This was actually tested in Florida courts a few years ago, laws and regulations are simply not the black and white things that people want them to be. In other words, an architect in Florida may supervise any work incidental to the creation of plans. What is, and isn't, incidental to an architect's practice is a gray area, and you can't read the wording of the regulation to find the answer, you must go to the case law to find it.