Watchin’ “Weeds” In Da Hood

The IP can’t get over the beautiful carpet of purple that is transforming the meadow outside his abode.  

The plant is called Deadnettle because, although it has some characteristics of a true stinging nettle, it doesn’t really sting, so it’s “dead.” Get it? Deadnettle. Otherwise known in Latin as Lamium purpureum. It’s in the Lamiaceae family which includes mint. It has rather attractive, bilaterally symmetrical flowers and loves moist soil. It’s also an indicator of high nitrogen content in the same, so it’s often found among crop plants and is considered by many to be a “weed.” WTF?

OK. Now that your little botanical lesson has concluded, The IP just wants to say that he doesn’t give the term “weed” any credence. The term weed in its general sense is a subjective one, without any classification value, since a “weed” is not a weed when growing where it belongs or is wanted. The IP also rejects, much to the chagrin of many of his colleagues, the whole notion of “invasive” species; that’s like saying such plants have actual intentions, evil volition. Plants are plants. People are stupid for trying to anthropomorphize plants and animals.

Now if The IP could just get rid of that careless Kudzu; It’s growing like a damn weed!!

SPECIAL IP ALERT!! YOUR HELP NEEDED!!

The IP and a friend up in NH are trying to find a recording of the Dave Dinger jingle. You folks up in Mass (or those who once lived there) know what he’s talkin’ about:

“How does Dinger do it? Come on and see, off of route 128 in Braintree.”

The first pithecanthrope to find a digital file with the jingle gets a prize. This is really important, so please try to help.

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