alaskanray responded to a discussion called EBT Card reform in life.
3 days ago
You are right on the money when you say that they just make it harder on the honest ones. A dishonest person will always find a way to misuse the system. The trouble is that the politicians make the welfare system out to be such a cesspool of miscreants and they make it out as way too important to the national budget. I don't know what the pie chart looks like now but a few years back I saw...

alaskanray commented in a discussion called So Much Fun in gardening.
6 days ago
It's always fun to watch the seedlings grow. There's just something about it...much more satisfying than to purchase the seedlings and plant them. Seeing a seed become a plant is almost magical.[em]w00t[/em]

alaskanray commented in a discussion called So Much Fun in gardening.
1 day ago
Did you know that radishes and garlic can be grown in containers? You could get some nice sized containers and put them on your balcony and grow all sorts of things...even tomatoes and peppers. Yum!

alaskanray commented in a discussion called So Much Fun in gardening.
1 day ago
Good luck. Let me know what you come up with.[em]thumbup[/em]

alaskanray commented in a discussion called One Step Closer in my home.
6 days ago
Oh, yes! I know what you mean. Countertops are so much different from floors. [em]rolleyes[/em]

alaskanray commented in a discussion called One Step Closer in my home.
1 day ago
Well, any trailer sold for under $20k is going to need fixing up so nothing I can afford is going to come without repairs needed. I don't mind fixing things up. It gives me a goal to look forward to. I'll be able to get the weatherization done in a few years but until then we're good enough to hold out. I'm happy with my place.[em]happy[/em]

alaskanray commented in a discussion called Poor Kitty! in cats.
6 days ago
Yes, spay/neuter and release is often the only thing we can do about some of these feral cats. Toby wasn't a feral cat but just a simple stray. His family had kicked him out when the family split up. Still, he was the best cat I ever had![em]happy[/em]

alaskanray commented in a discussion called Poor Kitty! in cats.
1 day ago
I know exactly what you mean. The strays are fairly easy to find homes for because they will accept human affection while the truly feral cats run from humans. Catzilla lets us pet him and he would be a good candidate for adoption but the black and white limper runs if I look at him cross-eyed so there's very little I can do for him. That's when it's really hard.[em]sad[/em]

alaskanray commented in a discussion called EBT Card reform in life.
2 days ago
The problem is not in the rules but in the enforcement of those rules. I totally agree that people need to be carded more. It bothers me that they don't require seeing some form of photo ID when I spend my food stamps. I don't know what these people are doing to avoid detection. If they are breaking the rules, they should lose their benefits altogether. What I find ridiculous is that if I f...

alaskanray commented in a discussion called EBT Card reform in life.
1 day ago
Wow, that is insane. I must say, however, that I don't think this is the norm, but the exception to the rule. I have seen the opposite, where folks were struggling and did qualify for benefits but because they were unaware or just too proud to apply, they continued to struggle. My sister, for example, should have been on disability years ago but until I became her advocate and did all the legwo...