bits and bobs: A random assortment of things; small remaining pieces and things
I have no idea who this guy is, but I’ve always wondered how much less products would cost if the marketing budget didn’t include athletes or celebrities.
I mean really, how many more batteries do they sell with this guy’s picture on the package?
What does one make with squid chunks?
He rinses his dishes and leaves them in the sink. It makes me crazy. I don’t rinse my dishes, but I put them in the dishwasher. It makes him crazy.
I spotted these Japanese beetle trap bags in someone’s cart at the nursery and asked about them. She said they are AMAZING. And that they really do work.
Have you tried them?
No beetles in the garden yet {knock on wood!}.
$6.99 for a box of mac and cheese. Crazy.
That’s it. That’s all I’ve got for today.
Have a good one,
~Mavis
Renee says
Those bug traps will only attract more beetles. They will not go to your trap but your garden. It’s best to hand pick and squish or toss in soapy water. My chickens love them so I toss them in their area.
Tara says
1000% agree, we had a neighbor that put traps in their garden years ago and withing a week the beetles seemd to multiply by a 100….I did some research and learned that unless a whole neighborhood sets traps out it just makes the issue worse. Milky Spore will take a couple of years, but it gets rid of the grubs….works great for us and when needed we “spot” treat with neem oil and blue Dawn and/pr diatomatious earth.
Lana says
I agree with Renee, the traps attract beetles.
Cindy R says
I watched the DC 250th 4th of July fireworks on tv. The Army Navy Band was performing throughout. I said to my husband the band and the singers were delightful. I would much rather watch the Army Navy Band than one of the overpriced top celebrity diva performers strutting around a stage. Same thing with the batteries, who cares who is on the package, that’s not why I am buying it.
Andrea says
Ditto!
Heather says
I could see the squid chunks being good in a pasta dish with garlic, parsley, olive oil, and lemon. If they were bigger chunks, they would also be good breaded and fried. Or, marinated and skewered with vegetables and grilled.
Deb from Ohio says
We tried the bug traps, they def attracted beetles but I think we ended up with more of them overall and more plant damage. If you do use them, put them away from the flowers or veggies. We also hand pick and toss in a bucket of soapy water
Nancy Settel says
Oh my goodness I did the stupidist thing with those beetle traps I put one in our garden (we had 2 acres right smack in the middle of a 120 acre golf course). I put one there by the lilac bush which was over 12 feet tall and a very old Rose of Sharron bush. Every single day sometimes 2 times a day we had to go and empty that darn trap it attraced that many beetles! I mean that bag would be full it just attracts them so fast. Our rose of sharron bush that was eons old died as a result of this. I was so sad about this. I vowed never again to use one of those things.
Kim says
The traps definitely work, but like others have said, it will attract beetles from the whole neighborhood. We will get them and put them in the corner of our yard that is far from the garden/flowers.
Dianne says
Yes, the traps attract the beatles using a pheromone. It’s best to set it up in an area of your yard farthest away from the plants you want to protect. You’re doing better in the dishwasher department than I am. 80% of the time my husband puts his unrinsed dishes on the counter above the dishwasher. I wonder if there is something wrong with the dishwasher door but somehow I’m able to open it and place my dishes in it
Mona McGinnis says
I travelled with a chuckwagon driver who put his dirty clothes on the floor beside the hamper. “How is it that you can get 4 thoroughbreds around the track but you can’t get those pants in the hamper?” to which he replied with a shrug.
Laura says
Omg…you have clearly not been bitten by the World Cup bug! That guy is Lionel Messi the goat of soccer. We’ve been watching all the games and even went to downtown Seattle to join in the USA fun. You can watch him in the World Cup final on Sunday and you should. He’s amazing!
Tracie says
Yes! It has been amazing. Cannot wait for the weekend to see the final two games. ❤️
Carla says
I go out every morning and late afternoon and check my grape vines (Japanese Beetles love them!) I tap or flick the beetles into a sour cream sized container half full of soapy water. So far, I’ve been able to stay on top of them, but we don’t live by woods, so I think that helps. I get 30-70 beetles so far every day. I have heard those traps attract them and if they get out of hand here, I’ll consider it, but definitely put it far away from my garden area.
Annette says
I must live under a rock because I have no idea who is on the pack of batteries.
I am glad that my husband rarely loads the dishwasher. When he does it looks like a monkey on crack did it.
Barb in CO says
That’s Lionel Messi!! He’s an extremely skilled and very humble Argentine soccer player who also plays for MLS in Miami – he’s 39 years old (ie, ancient for a soccer field player!!) and is kicking absolute butt in the FIFA World Cup which has been going on for a month and will conclude this weekend with Argentina vs Spain in the final game Sunday. ❤️⚽️
Virginia says
So the man on the Duracell package is Lionel Messi, considered by many the greatest soccer player of all time. As to how many more batteries they sell with Messi’s image on the packaging, I imagine it’s considerable. Duracell is a global brand and the number of soccer fans are in the multi billions. If you’ve never seen him, head to YouTube and watch a montage of him in action. His skill is incredible and exciting to watch.
Now, as opposed to Duracell’s savvy marketing tactics, whoever marketed squid “chunks” should have chosen a word like “pieces” instead.
Gwenn says
We’ve had horrible infestations (I don’t know what else to call it) of Japanese beetles for a couple of years. Last spring/fall and this spring we used Milky Spores in/on the ground all over the garden and this year we sprayed beneficial nematodes. It has made a HUGE difference so far. I’ve only had to flick a couple of the little beasties into soapy water so far this year and there’s ben only a little damage to my sweet cheery tree!!
As far as the traps, I’ve heard they do work BUT they attract the beasties from far and wide so you can end up with more because they are attracted to the bait.
Using milky spores & beneficial nematodes seems to be working not only on the Japanese beetles but on other beasties I don’t want in my garden as well.
Marti says
The traps are awesome but you aren’t suppose to put them right by your gardens but as far away as possible. I live in the country and put them on the edge of my property and as a result have NO beetles in the garden or on my flowers but the traps are full every day!
Betsy Hildebrand says
I’m pretty sure that’s Lionel Messi, star soccer player, on the batteries. Considering how soccer crazy we have become, it would not be surprised me if he actually does sell more batteries.
Cindy Brick says
It’s been quiet around here too, sort of. We keep getting pulled in other directions than we intended to. Somehow I have to get some work done around here!
Squid chunks are perfect for pasta dishes. They’re good in a hot dip, too, and cold salad. Use a shrimp salad recipe for the latter.
Still hot — and humid, by Colorado standards. (It would be considered ‘cool and refreshing’ in Michigan.) We’ve had our share of forest fires, too.
I’ve been putting little packets of strawberries and cherries in the freezer to make Future Smoothies. Prices are amazing: HAMBURGER cost a buck less than steak (both on sale) at the grocery store!
Life goes on, Mavis. Our garden planters are getting decimated by the heat. I wish I had your access to fresh veg.
SueD says
The traps, no matter where you put them in your garden, attract all the beetles in the neighbourhood. I save the sour cream containers, fill them half full with soapy water, and knock the beetles into it. Some people make a spray of the dish soap and water and spray, but I prefer my method.
Paula says
That guy on the battery package is Argentinian Lionel Messi – best soccer player in the world. He will play on Sunday for the final game of the World Cup.
Melissa says
The battery packaging is an example of the fallacy of illegitimate authority – that something is good because someone famous says it is. Does it really make the batteries any better because the GOAT of football is on the packaging – nope. I agree with you that we could save money getting rid of endorsements.
Grace says
I was on my way here to say that was Messi, but glad to see others are aware of who he is. I have known who he was for a long time, not because I’m so absorbed in soccer, but because he looks so much like my oldest son. Lots of folks have pointed that out. I don’t think his picture on the package is going to cause me to purchase those batteries, but I bet there are folks that will consider that, especially if they are in a hurry. The package with Messi will catch the eye of many & if they are in a hurry, they will unconsciously reach for those.