George asks…
What is the best way to keep my kitten from climbing up my curtains and surfing my tables?
My kitten is 10 weeks old and he is driving me crazy. He climbs up my sheer curtains and peruses around on my dining room, coffee and end tables. I refuse to have him declawed due to the horrible possible outcome. I know he’s only playing and he has a cat scratching post, but he’s ruining my curtains. What else can I do?
GardenersCardiff answers:
How well I remember one of our present 2 cats as a kitten, he used to love running up the curtains but you know, kittens do grow up very quickly and it’s not the end of the world to have to buy new curtains.
I’m really glad you know how cruel declawing is, as claws are very important to the health of cats,they need them for everything they do,especially for exercising their leg, shoulder and back muscles, that’s why many declawed cats develop arthritis. You need a good tall strong scratching post,preferably with a platform on top and some catnip toys.You say he has a scratching post, but have you shown him how to use it ? Drag your own nails down while he watches, then gently lift his front paws up,so he has a go. When he runs up the curtains, don’t say a word, lift him to his scratching post, pop him on the platform and praise him. Cats just love to be up heights. When he jumps on tables, lift him off and throw him a toy, when he chases it, praise him.Cats are very intelligent, they soon learn what earns them praise. You should never ever punish a kitten or a cat, they don’t understand punishment and just become nervous of you. Some people ‘advise’ squirting water, that is pointless and unkind.
Kittens grow up very quickly, enjoy him being a kitten, relax and let him have fun within reason.
Susan asks…
How can i check if the Tax Return check is valid and not fraud?
Hi. I own a Check cashing company and i recently had one fraud tax return check. I was wondering how i could verify that the check is Legitament and not fraud? is there any way to verify the name and the amount with the tax check number??
GardenersCardiff answers:
What you could do is draw up some by-laws. Post a summary in a prominent place where you serve the customers, potential customers coffee. Among the policies, make it clear that one can check his/her credit report once a quarter for free {or is it once a year? Credit reporting agencies are scum, leeches and it certainly should be illegal for them to ask for your SS#}.
Another item would be that you need a copy of the customer’s eFiled, iFiled income tax return or mailed in return, Federal AND state. You’ll be able to verify quickly. If the potential was foolish enough to get a RAL, you will see a breakdown of his “gross” income tax refund, the bank thieving fees and the “net” income tax refund.
For those who only eFiled through software, have it posted that they must print out a copy of the 8879 with the fees, if any, that were deducted from the refund. Some snail mail in the fee or call to have their credit card swiped in order to pay for print outs, etc. Those will have a check from the IRS and the state for the amount that is on the income tax return they bring in.
Also, set up a rapid communique service with the banks the Treasury uses to issue the income tax refunds. That way, you can get verification in seconds. There’s also on the IRS website somewhere an address that you can write via postal mail to turn in tax frauds, forgers and those whom are manufacturing counterfeit checks. This has been a growing problem.
William asks…
How do I grind chili fruits?
I am growing my own chili plants. How can I grind the ripe fruits to get chili powder?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Everyone else is correct, they have to be completely dry. I get rid of the stems but I just leave the seeds in. I just bought a coffee bean grinder $10.00 or so and it works fine. I just made sure it was a different color than the one I use for coffee. I don’t need that much of a morning shock! 
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Mary asks…
Would there be a stealth tax on smoking turnip skins ?
Hi,
I am a naughty boy, in that I roll my own tobacco only cigs.
It is a leaf !
What next, the Boston “tea party” was about chucking leaves into the harbour to avoid tea tax.
What about a tax on allotments, for growing your own veg.
Better still, a tax on using the wind to fly a kite.
Or putting meters on urinals. Pay as you piss.
I am dismayed. I have returned from many a year working ex-pat in the Mid East, and am amazed at all the taxes.
My car. It had import tax added in, it needed a VAT payment, the fuel to make it go is heavily taxed, the road tax, etc. etc.
All that after paying income tax to start with.
I am worth half what I begin with.
Are you a bit suspicious of UK taxation ?
Bob
GardenersCardiff answers:
The Labour government have become very talented at throwing in and increasing these sneaky underhand extra taxes that tend to go unnoticed. Compare it to cutting the 10% rate of income tax which costs the full time worker on minimum wage only £86 a year or £7 a month (after taking into account increased income tax and NIC bands). That causes absolute outrage. But the sneaky taxes can cost the average taxpayer ten times as much if not more and people just don’t notice.
I think Labour has delightfully overcooked their taxation policy and haven’t a hope of getting re-elected as a result so hopefully the future will be brighter!
P.s. Any tips on how to actually smoke turnip skins?
Donald asks…
Christmas is SOON… What is on your list…..BQ…?
This is my list….. its like really long….
Camera (Olympus FE-4020 Digital Camera in Blue or Pink)
Blue Netbook (Notebook)
Blue Dsi
Ipod
Guitar
Nail Polish
Lucas DVD
Sandlot DVD
Matilda DVD
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging DVD
Drake- Thanks Me Later CD
P!nk- Funhouse CD
Ke$ha- Animal CD
Britney Spears- Circus CD
Songwriting Material
Clocky (Alarm Clock/Chrome)
Love Bunny Necklace
Stylish Script Vinyl Crush
Name Necklace with Charm( Alexis)
Our Daughter Our Pride Sterling Silver Birthstone & Name Ring (Alexis, July: Ruby)
70s Happy Candy Grab Bag
Oh Deer Super Dooper Pocket Pooper Keychain
Weather Station Keychain
Claddagh Little Irish Luck Keyring
Etch- A- Sketch Keychain
Stewie Keychain
Rubik’s Cube Key Chain
Slinky Dog Keychain
Keychains
Real Money Tree
Mascara
Target Gift Card ($75)
Pre Paid Visa Card ($200)
Aeropostale ($100)
Hollister Co. Gift Card ($100)
Abercrombie& Fitch Gift Card ($100)
Old Navy ($100)
Toys R’ Us ($50)
Why You Waste Money Wallet
Personalized Rainbow Bottle Cap Necklace
Sterling Silver “My Precious Daughter” Birthstone Heart Ring (July: Ruby)
Retro 90’s Candy Gift Box with Year of Birth Highlights
Hershey Bar Candy Cake Bouquet
Kokeshi Doll
Momiji Doll
Tamagotchi tamawalkie
Tamagotchi v4.5,v5 and v6
Nano Baby
Candy Bar Cupcake
Brew It Yourself Cave Man Cola
Mega Bruiser 3.38 Inch Jawbreaker
Gourmet Popping Corn
Back to School Skin Care Set for Teens
Clackers
Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips
Sound Machine
Sterling Silver Trinity Knot Earrings
Irish Tin Whistle
14K Tri-Color Gold Trinity Knot Earrings
Claddaugh Engraved Handmade Wooden Pen
Irish Cable Knit Santa Hat
Hot Peppers Terrarium Kit
Salsa Garden Terrarium Kit
Make your own Chewing Gum Kit
Brew your own Root Beer
Dad’s Root beer Barrels
Mr. Root beer Kit
Brew your own Ginger Ale Kit
Make your Own Tooth Paste Kit
Soda Pop Science
Rock Candy Crystal Growing Kit
Claeys Hard Candy Assortment
Make your own Candy Set
Retro Cotton Candy Machine
Bubble Gum Factory
Grow- A – Head
Christmas Crackers
Cloud- Flite Exploding Joke Ball
Bulls Eye Nostalgic Candy from Ireland
Jumpin Banana Shocking Gum
Mini Universal Prank Remote TV Controller
Dirty Japanese Book
70 Japanese Gestures Book
Clothes- Kimono Robes( Blue Crane Yukata Robe ), Socks, Snack Attack Pant, Hot Mess Melt Pant, Canadians Know Their Eh-B-C’s T-Shirt
Spy Gear ® Lie Detector
Personalized Mug Shot Coffee Mug
Snooki Talking Wacky Wobbler
Facial Steamer Spa
Ultimate Gum Kit
Strawberry Eggling
Fashion Colour Frame Sunglasses
Shoes- Converse, UGGs, Cowgirl Boots, Japanese Sandals
Bento Box
Happy Panda Kotobuki2 Tier Bento Box
English Tea
World Tea Sampler Gift Set With Chine and Japanese Teas
English( United Kingdom Candy)
Pillow Pet
Japanese Washcloths
Crumpets
Chinese Candy
Japanese Tea
Japanese Soda
Japanese Candy
German Candy
French Candy
Cinq Delices Japanese Butter Cookies( Yoku Moku )
Wasabi Gumballs
Wasabi LipBalm
Chopsticks- Engraved Japanese Wood Chopsticks
Edamame Growing Kit
Money( foreign also)
Canadian, European And Japanese Stuff.
Games-
Fantasy Aquarium, Aquarium, Driver’s Ed Portable, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, My SAT Coach, Future U, America’s Next Top Model, C.O.P. the Recruit, Urbz Sims in the City (DS), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized, CSI Deadly Intent, Call of Duty: World at War, Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams, My FunFacts Coach, HiHi Puffy Ami Yumi: The Genie and the Amp, Guinness World Records: The Video Game, Pac-Man World, SimCity DS, SimCity DS2, Sims 2, The Sims 2: Apartment, The Sims 2 Castaway, Theme Park, Thrillville: Off the Rails, Toy Story 3: The Video Game, Petz Nursery, Trauma Centre: Under the Knife, Trauma Centre: Under the Knife 2, Travel Coach: Europe 1,2,3, Travel Games for Dummies, Hello Kitty Party, Astrology DS, Crime Scene, Unsolved Crimes, Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns.
BQ: what would you recommend for a 14 year old girl??
GardenersCardiff answers:
I’m 14 too!
I really really love animals and this is my list
A donation the the humane society
A Pet smart gift card
A golden retriever christmas ornament
A dog pillow pet
A dog poop scooper to make it easier cleaning up after my puppy
tennis balls for my dog
Golden retriever webkinz!
That is my list I won’t get everything on my list, they are just suggestions, my parents said I can get up to 3 things on my list!
Well if you mean gift ideas for yourself, you have quite a long list, but I understand they are most likely just suggestions, here are some ideas!
Gift cards! Then you can get whatever you want from your favourite stores, alothough you already had that on your list
Or:
wrist watch
necklace with matching earrings or bracelet
CD’s
DVDs
fluffy pillows
a cute wall clock
a lava lamp
a pillow pet (they are so cute, and they sell them at more malls)
a journal
maybe a bike… But that might be too much money
candy
a hair straightener
a curling iron
a hair dryer
a house coat/robe
hand lotion
perfume
a bed set
bubble bath
slippers
a nice snow globe
a jewelry box
A music instrument like a guitar or electric piano
nail polish
a key chain
a karaoke machine
a purse
a soft blanket
a plate set, with pretty colourful a plate, cup and bowl
a scrap booking kit
picture frames
a portable dvd player (they are really cheap!)
magazines
colourful pens
a bean bag chair for your room
an art kit, with like paint and glitter and other fun stuff
uggs
a coach purse (they are very expenisive but also super cute!)
I was going to say tamagotchi but I think you already had that down, right?
Anyways that’s all I could think of!
Hope I helped!
Merry Christmas!!
Xoxox
William asks…
Are You Willing To Do Your Part to End Socialism , Will You Take The Tea Party Pledge?
Will You sign this purity pledge before socialism creeps into your life!!
To all Tea Party members, I urge you to take the following pledge before it’s too late. Please pass it on to fellow members.
I do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall
abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:
•Social Security
•Medicare/Medicaid
•State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)
•Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
•US Postal Service
•Roads and Highways
•Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)
•The US Railway System
•Public Subways and Metro Systems
•Public Bus and Lightrail Systems
•Rest Areas on Highways
•Sidewalks
•All Government-Funded Local/State Projects
•Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)
•Public and State Universities and Colleges
•Public Primary and Secondary Schools
•Sesame Street
•Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children
•Public Museums
•Libraries
•Public Parks and Beaches
•State and National Parks
•Public Zoos
•Unemployment Insurance
•Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services
•Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)
•Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived >From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)
•Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)
•Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD’s ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking
•Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies
•Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies
If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care
I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to:
•Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History
•The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments
•The government-operated Statue of Liberty
•The Grand Canyon
•The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
•The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery
•All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC
I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.
I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America.
I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army.
I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees.
Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks.
Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.
SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ______.
______________________________________
GardenersCardiff answers:
Yes. On this 3rd day of April, 2010, Jeffery Lewbowski, being of questionable intelligence and a particularly warped mental state agree to the above.
I am a Tea Bagger and a complete idiot and should be institutionalized at my own expense.
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Paul asks…
What are the tax consequences of growing your own food?
If I grow food for my own personal consumption, do I owe federal income tax on that food? I would apreciate answers from those knowledgeable of the U.S. tax code.
GardenersCardiff answers:
As long as you do not sell it, it is tax free. The only way income tax plays a part of the equation is if you sell your produce, and gross more than $10,000. Food grown for personal consumption has always been tax free.
Lizzie asks…
How many of you will growing your own food to help keep your food costs down?
Or increasing your garden size. I sure am.
Because food prices have increased 24% in the past year and will continue to increase.
I don’t think a 24% increase is small but hey, your opinion.
I have 3 fruit trees too!
GardenersCardiff answers:
I grow a vegetable garden as a hobby not because of the small increases in food costs. Same reason I have fruit trees planted.
It’s just me, my wife and 3 cats to feed and I have yet to see anything close to a 24% increase in food costs.
The grain being used to make ethanol isn’t grain thats grown for human consumption, this still is used as feed grain for livestock and there’s more than enough to feed all livestock and still make fuel.
Mandy asks…
What are the advantages of growing your own food?
What are the advantges of growing fruit and veg in your garden?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Great question!
Here are my ideas:
1. Freshness and taste. This is the best reason to grow your vegetables and fruits. Have you ever tasted corn on the cob that was picked within an hour of harvesting? You won’t soon forget that experience, trust me.
2. No insecticides if you do organic gardening. Why not grow organically? There are ways to make it even easier than using those UGLY pesticide poisons. Try sheet composting, for example. Buy some hay bales and cover your garden with it at the end of the growing season. At the beginning of the next season the ground under the cover will be fresh and loamy. Keep the mulch on the garden year round and avoid weeding your fingers bloody.
3. Exercise. Gardening is a great way to get your much needed exercise. There are thousands of gardeners who are well into their 80’s and still growing great gardens. Perhaps this gives us a clue why we should too?
4. Price is not the issue. In fact, it is questionable if you can save money growing your own food. You will prbably come out even on a pure price comparison with your local grocer. But so what? The other reasons bury the price argument.
5. It is a lot of fun. We need more fun in our lives.
Go Garden has some great pictures of flowers;
http://www.go-garden.com
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