Sorry, mrlike, but I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. The wording is clearly not just so they can protect themselves from others using your pictures. It says that they can use your images for monetary gain however they wish. Also, there's a clause that says that visitors can use your work, but only for personal use, not commercial. Here's the part I'm talking about, I think it's obvious that they're not just protecting themselves from the actions of others: By submitting content, which shall include your member name, to any "public area" of the GardenWeb Network, including, but not limited to, the forums and your personal website, exchange page and journal, you grant iVillage a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right (including any moral rights) and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, sublicense, assign, derive revenue or other remuneration from, communicate to the public, perform and display the content (in whole or in part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, for the full term of any Rights that may exist in such content. If you are not the creator of such content, you also warrant that the holder of any Rights, including moral rights in such content, has completely and effectively waived all such rights and validly and irrevocably granted to you the right to grant the license stated above. You also permit any visitor or member to access, display, view, store and reproduce such content solely for personal, noncommercial use. As an aside, that's a beautiful plant! What is it? Here is a link that might be useful: Terms of Service

First, I want to state that I have no intention of ever making pickles with a mix but that answers a question that popped into my head last night. I was opening a new box of lids and the "recipe" on the back was for pickles. Just the mix and cucumbers, no vinegar. I was wondering how in the world that would work, so now I know. I agree with Carol and with Melissa, I haven't seen any credible source that addresses the issue of refrigerating an item overnight or longer. In addition to stock (which is in my refrigerator right now and will be canned tonight, well within 24 hours but still..) I also cook and peel beets for pickled beets or for pressure canning. I even macerate fruit for jam for two or three days, depending on the recipe. As Carol pointed out, the refrigerator is not an anaerobic environment, not even in a sealed Tupperware container or whatever. You have to expel the oxygen and seal the container to create that environment, so that argument is moot. In addition, if 10 botulism spores are destroyed by pressure canning then why aren't 1000 destroyed by pressure canning? That's why we have those guidelines for processing, it's the point at which the organisms are destroyed, so "more organisms" is also an irrelevant argument. So, if the stock isn't spoiled, as evidenced by the people saying "freeze it", why can't it be safely pressure canned? One of the direct quotes above is: The processing times in these guides [that] ensure destruction of the largest expected number of heat-resistant microorganisms in home-canned foods. Properly sterilized canned food will be free of spoilage.... OK, so if I process the food properly, according to the guidelines, and it isn't spoiled, it's fine, at least that's my interpretation. "the processing times ensure destruction of the largest expected number of heatresistant microorganizms". It doesn't say it destroys some, or enough to reach a specific level, it says it destroys them. If the "expected number" in a product is destroyed, then they are destroyed. I tend to be extremely careful when I can, using high quality produce, an impeccably clean kitchen and I probably actually over process many items. I don't see any reason to make more rules, however, when the rules that exist are sufficient to keep us safe. I do realize that the USDA guidelines are developed using the lowest common denominator, that is the person in the dirtiest kitchen making every mistake possible and that's because of the liability factor. I'm glad they've done that and given us guidelines for safe procedures but those guidelines were either written by or reviewed by the government lawyers because of those liability issues. Having spent 30 years interpreting "legalese" I've learned to read and interpret exactly what's written, and not read anything into it that isn't specifically spelled out. If if it were an issue, it WOULD be spelled out because that's the way our government works. Annie

Good suggestions Laura12. They have been easy to work with up to this point. I think that's what threw us for such a loop when we started reviewing the addendum. I'm typing up a letter right now requesting a face-to-face meeting asap and am outlining the changes we are requesting and the issues we would like to discuss before signing. Dekeoboe, we did not put a specific completion date in the contract. Our builder is paying the interest on the construction loan so it is in their best interest to finish sooner rather than later (they told us four months - I'm assuming it will be five months and will be pleasantly surprised if we close earlier). I see your point about the other subs needing to be able to start on schedule so maybe rather than striking that completely we can ask them to rewrite it giving us a couple of days grace before the fines begin. That seems like it might be a fair compromise. DH is just annoyed that they are already a week and a half behind the schedule they initially gave us so he had to rearrange a business trip once and now it looks like he is going to have to do that again. Since he had to change plane tickets and hotel reservations he was mad that they would try to charge him for causing delays that may be beyond his control. That's the part of it that bothers me the most - being penalized for weather delays or etc.

I agree you should go the lawyer route. At least call and find out the fees. I was quoted around $1200 and that included writing up a custom contract, reviewing everything, etc. I also would not hesitate to ask your buyer's agent for your new home for advice. She wants your deal to go through so she can get her comission on your new house. She may even be willing to charge you a small fee just to help with the paperwork.