VirtualeHowTo

How to Avoid Getting Swine Flu

2009-05-04T03:40:00.001-07:00

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily by: Simon DodererThe guidelines state: INFORM / THE HIGHEST LEVEL / BASIC HYGIENE SOLUTIONS Swine Flu: The current issue of the swine flu, this is caused by an Influenza A type virus. This determines the characteristics, such as shape and make up of the virus. Byotrol from Northern Environmental kills this type of virus. It is the infections that are caused by the swine flu virus that are difficult to control/treat. Byocare Handmousse used on hard surfaces or hands kills the virus it does not treat the disease. Byotrol helps ‘prevent’ and protect – EN1500 with 30 minute and 16 hours control! This may not be as direct proof as we like but we can be very confident that Byotrol is effective against flu virus Below are some guidelines on our website – I have highlighted in red several of the many key features whereby simple, back to basic measures underpinned by the Byotrol Technology can help. Swine Flu - Byotrol Publishes Guide Lines To Help Businesses 27th Apr 2009 Pandemic Flu Policy & Contingency Plan 1. INTRODUCTION A Swine Flu ( influenza) pandemic has the potential to severely affect UK Business, employees and their families, and requires specific planning over and above that made for disasters It is recommended the planning focuses on: • Raising employees awareness of the threat of a pandemic and testing staff preparedness: • Maintaining health surveillance and hygiene measures: • Producing action plans that are specific to each of the business’s locations, taking into account local healthcare provision and regulatory systems governing drug licensing and stockpiling : and • Enhancing protection for high risk and vulnerable employees. 2 Background Pandemic influenza (flu) is a type of influenza that occurs every few decades and which spreads rapidly to affect most countries and regions around the world. Unlike the “ordinary” flu that occurs every winter in the UK, pandemic flu can occur at any time of year. Pandemic flu is much more serious than “ordinary” flu. As much as a quarter of the population may be affected – possibly more. Pandemic flu is likely to cause the same symptoms as ordinary flu but the symptoms may be more severe because nobody will have any immunity or protection against the particular virus. Swine influenza or “Swine Flu” is a contagious disease caused by mutation in influenza A viruses. Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily 3 Planning for a PANDEMIC 3.1 The CEO should be the business’s designated pandemic coordinator and a pandemic response team from across the business should be set up and trained in clearly defined rolls. 3.2 The functions of the pandemic response team includes • Maintaining the team’s own awareness of global developments in Swine Flu (including guidance on containment strategies and vaccines) • Developing training and awareness materials for the business • Briefing the Management Board • Ensuring links are maintained with external stakeholders in planning for a pandemic flu (e.g. suppliers, customers and where relevant the Public) PANDEMIC RESPONSE Working practices and social distancing • Employees who are fit to return to work following an absence due to pandemic flu (and who have therefore developed immunity to the disease) might be considered for high-risk, essential roles. • The company should establish flexible working policies, enabling line managers to agree home working, different shift patterns, or relocation to a site more local to the employee’s home where appropriate. • Employees will be required to work at least one metre away from colleagues to ensure social distancing and managers will reconfigure work-site layouts to enable this to take place • Other social distancing responses are likely to include: o Absolutely no shared use of Telephones and mobiles o Advising employees to avoid face-to-face meetings and to use telephone and internet services instead, where possible o If this is not possible, meeting only in a large room and maintaining a distance of at least one metre between participants o Advising employees to avoid crowded places (lifts) or heavily populated gatherings (e.g. sporting events) o Advising employees to avoid travelling at busy periods on public transport • Essential workers who are totally reliant on public transport may be offered dedicated transport to and from work Infection Control • During a pandemic the business should seek to reduce the overall and specific risks to members of staff by taking appropriate infection control actions (e.g. strengthening guidance on hand washing, unnecessary contact such as hand shaking and isolataion of any member of staff with symptoms such as coughing) • Basic health protection advice including the following guidance: o Avoid close contact o Staying at home when sick or sickening o Covering completely with disposable tissues mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing sanitising hands afterwards o Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth • Additional protection measures will be taken to ensure that influenza does not spread through contaminated objects and surfaces, such as handles, railings and counters. Surfaces touched by hands will be cleaned at least daily using Byotrol products. • Staff with flu-like symptoms will be required to stay at home until the symptoms disappear and will be allowed in the workplace only in extreme circumstances • Staff developing symptoms at work will be accommodated in a designated isolation room while arrangements are made to transport them home. Precautions will be introduced for all those entering and leaving this room. • Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily Staff at risk of developing influenza-related complications (e.g. pregnant workers and those with compromised immune systems) will be reassigned from high-risk work sites and locations in the event of a pandemic. Business and personal travel • Only essential business travel should be considered during a pandemic and procedures for approving travel need to be tightened, requiring authorisation from a senior manager • The pandemic response team should monitor travel plans and new procedures for notifying employees’ location during periods of business travel will be introduced in the event of a pandemic • Staff required to visit pandemic-affected areas on business will be provided with appropriate health advice and personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, Byotrol based handwipes) and employees will have the right to refuse to travel to such areas • Staff visiting affected areas for non-business purposes during a pandemic may need to be required to stay away from work for a period of quarantine on unpaid leave. 3.3 Goods services and functions of the business that are essential to its operations and survival will be defined and the Business will: • Carry out devolution planning: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by other sites: • Develop an order of succession: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by personnel other than those who normally given the task and train non-essential back-up staff to perform essential tasks • Stockpile small quantities of essential supplies, materials and equipment • Ensure that maintenance plans are up to date to guarantee that all equipment essential to the business’s operation is capable of sustained operation in the event of a pandemic • Prepare time lines for how long it will be possible for the Business to carry out its essential functions without critical supplies, personnel and equipment • Produce forecasts of employee sickness absence during a pandemic flu • Put in place policies to enable flexible working (e.g. home- working ) in the event of a pandemic flu: • Put in place a pandemic response team that will take steps to heighten awareness of the Business infection control procedures, particularly provisions covering hand hygiene: • Provide specific training for all employees and students on personal, workplace and family protection and actions to take as a pandemic develops; • Prepare employee support services, including grief counselling and psychiatric care ; • Ensure that adequate supplies of infection control materials (Byotrol mousse for hand hygiene, surface sprays, wipes, gloves and masks) are held in preparedness for a pandemic. The Byotrol hand hygiene programme is just one element of our ‘Hygiene Revolution’ whereby we can challenge and manage the Critical Control Points within food processing / preparation / service: Floors / Food Contact surfaces / Hands Product offering: Hand Hygiene / Skin care Unit Pack End user unit price Byocare Mousse 50ml 30 x 50ml £2.99 Byocare Mousse 600ml 12 x 600ml £8.50 Byocare Mousse 5L - re-fill 4 x 5L £16.00 Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily FOOD MANUFACTURING For Food-processing, food-preparation and food-service there are complex hygiene issues such as:  Food preparation: deli, bakery, on site food prep: sandwiches etc Floors: HD Food Safe Degreaser/ food contact surface Byosan, Cleaner Sanitiser + (Ready for use), Byowipe (Byosan liquid inside)  Food storage, display and check out – floors, shelving, check-out conveyors Broad spectrum usage: Byowipe – kills and protects / multi surface usage People ‘hands’: one of the major contributing factor for food spoilage and pathogens – some statistics claim upto 80% can be attributed to poor hand hygiene (General public: circa 40% of men and 20% of women do not wash their hands after using the toilet) (Catering workers: circa 50% do not wash their hands prior to preparing food) Byocare – hand hygiene programme: soap, sanitiser, dispensers, training programme Prepared by Simon Doderer – http://www.nenviro.com with content from Byotrol PLC. Call 0800 808 7887 or email Info@nenviro.comAbout The AuthorSimon Doderer is managing Director and founder of http://www.nenviro.com. Dedicated to commercial solutions for the Environment.Visit the author's web site at:http://www.nenviro.com

My BMW has no REVERSE!

2009-03-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

BMW "No Reverse" Transmission Problem by: Joe Sirugo

An automatic transmission is just that- automatic, consequently most people tend to pay very little attention to it until a major problem rears its ugly head. Picture the scenario- you are driving along in the lap of luxury, the satellite radio blaring and the heated seats on. You’ve become accustomed to the comfort level and great driving experience brought to you by BMW. You decide to stop at the local convenience store on your way home to grab some ice cream for the kids and a bottle of water for yourself. Upon returning to your car, you start it up, check your rear view mirror, put the shifter in reverse and then the unthinkable happens- the engine just revs as if it is in neutral and the car goes nowhere! This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or “steptronic” transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years. To eliminate confusion, this doesn’t apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of it’s own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another. The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by. Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up. Reverse is typically a major feat for any transmission to accomplish- imagine the demands that are placed on a gearbox as it is asked to reverse the torque of your engine so that you can back up your nearly 4000 pound vehicle. By far, the most common cause of the reverse problem in BMW’s is the failure of the “D-G” clutch drum. Specifically, the snap ring that retains the D or reverse clutch breaks out of the clutch drum resulting in an inability for the clutch pack to apply. The good news is that there is hope in regards to a proper repair. The factory has released an updated part that so far appears to be a permanent fix for this problem. In our testing and in conjunction with several hundred successful repairs at our facilities, the new part seems to be metallurgically superior in several ways. We have found that there is an improved radius area as well as slightly thicker casting. In addition to this, the grove that retains the snap ring is also relocated further away from the edge of the drum. With this issue addressed and attention to detail in several other areas of the ZF5HP19 unit, the transmission can be repaired to “better than new” condition by a competent transmission rebuilder / remanufacturer. In fact, when properly repaired, the ZF gearbox becomes quite robust and can provide an almost indefinite service life.
About The Author
Joe Sirugo o is co-owner of Trans Specialties and has been in the transmission repair industry for over 20 years. Visit his website- http://www.autotransparts.com for more info

The Neighbors' are Aholes!

2008-12-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

Difficult People: Harassing Neighbors by: Dr. Mark Lauderdale

“My neighbors are harassing me. How do you deal with difficult people like these?” I’ve been asked this question SEVERAL times now, so I thought I’d write an article on the topic. The word “harassment” is a very broad term. For different people it can mean anything from neighbors who are verbally abusive and deflating your tires to people who are just plain nosey. It’s a little like saying, “My dog is misbehaving”. You wouldn’t start right away by working on your dog’s “misbehavior” in general. You’d want to focus on the SPECIFIC forms of misbehavior that are causing a problem, such as jumping up on people, or barking too much, etc… So, the first thing to do is to identify the specific type of harassing behavior that is causing the problem. For the sake of discussion let’s say that your neighbors are frequently rude or disrespectful to you and your family. They use a "hit and run” form of verbal abuse. The next thing to do is… talk to them? (I can already hear you saying, “I tried that and it didn’t work!”) Let me clear about this… NO! The next thing to do has NOTHING to do with talking to them. In fact, jumping into action too quickly is often where people go wrong right off the bat. It’s almost guaranteed that you will DO or SAY the wrong things, which just make things WORSE. No, the next thing to do is IMAGINE… more specifically, to visualize the way you’d like things to be with your neighbor instead of the way things are. In other words, set your goal and visualize it. You might want to turn them into friends or you might want to have infrequent but respectful interactions. That’s ok. Just be very clear about your goal – as long as it’s constructive. So, let’s say that you don’t want to move away from the neighborhood and that what you REALLY want is for your neighbors to talk in a respectful way to you and your family. Now, since THIS is what you really want, you should make a conscious decision that everything you say or do from now on will move things toward this outcome… and furthermore, that everything THEY say or do ALSO becomes an opportunity for you to take things closer to that outcome. After you’ve imagined what a positive outcome might look like, you should then eliminate your anger, frustration and stress about the situation and feel calm, strong and confident about creating a positive change. You can’t produce a positive outcome if you’re sitting on negative, angry or hostile feelings. To shift your emotional state into strength and confidence, you can use the Wellspring Method at http://www.shrinkinabox.com/difficult-people/creating-change.htm which I created to help you successfully deal with difficult people and situations like this. Armed with a feeling of confidence and determination to produce a positive outcome with the difficult person, start imagining what would happen if you were to meet with your neighbor… play out ANY scenarios that come into your mind. There is not just ONE RIGHT WAY. You know your situation far better than I do and how your particular neighbor is likely to respond. You might start off by paying them a visit and saying, “I noticed that you seemed unhappy about something when we last spoke, so I thought I’d come over and find out what it is that’s bugging you…” It’s quite possible that they may not believe you and you may just get another rude response. But, you can persist… “Clearly something was bothering you and I’d really like to know what it is so that we can address the problem.” You want to persist and be genuinely concerned and curious, so that your neighbor actually starts to feel that you are interested in what their issue is. Persist until you REALLY understand why they are feeling the way they are… even if their concern is based on misinformation or an immature way of seeing things. Once you understand what their concern is (no matter how rudely they expressed it), you can then start to think of a solution that could address that concern. Of course, if you are addressing their genuine concern, then they will also become more receptive to a friendlier relationship without the disrespectful language. If there is really no underlying issue that is bothering them, or at least none that they will divulge to you, and they persist with rude language, you can take the approach of paying them a visit each and every time a rude episode occurs… each time approaching them with the same calm and genuine curiosity about what it is that is bugging them. The more rude they are, the more concerned and curious you can be. Of course, you would need to be able to do this calmly and confidently because pushing your buttons and getting you to react is what they are TRYING to do! If you continue with repeated discussions over an extended period of time, never retaliating or getting drawn into an argument and always pursuing the issues in great detail, the act of being disrespectful towards you will start to become a bit of a nuisance to your neighbor who will think twice about being rude next time. He’ll know that hurling another negative comment your way is just going to result in yet another long drawn out discussion in which the things that are bugging him will be put under the microscope for examination. There are only two outcomes… Either your neighbor will eventually reveal what is really bugging him or her, which you can then address through some kind of win-win solution, or, they will change their tune and avoid being rude in order to avoid another discussion with you. Learn more about dealing with difficult people and problem situations at: http://www.shrinkinabox.com/difficult-people/
About The Author
Mark Lauderdale MD FRCPC is a psychiatrist and author of “Secrets of Dealing with Difficult People” http://www.shrinkinabox.com/difficult-people/ which provides expert ideas, insights and tools for dealing with all types of difficult people confidently and effectively. Copyright 2008 Wellspring Personal Effectiveness Inc.

How to Clean and be Green

2008-05-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

Finding A Family-Friendly Degreaser Cleaner by: Vincent P Platania

Super dirty, grimy, and filthy ovens complete with built-up slime and heavily encrusted gunk requires an intensive, heavy-duty cleaning device. The problem is that many oven degreasers contain poisonous and even toxic chemicals. Moreover, most of these brutal chemicals do not, in fact, make a product’s cleaning power much better than those containing safer substances. Degreasers filled with harmful ingredients will not necessarily clean better than its less toxic counterpart, but they will make your home less safe, especially for small children. Manufacturers of cleaning products include harsh chemicals in order to please consumers who have been lead to believe that those very materials are needed to clean powerfully and effectively. Moreover, these harsh substances cause Unfortunately, many of these harsh chemicals produce several intolerable side effects. Many of these toxic substances emit intense odors generating indoor air pollution. For this reason, consumers need to ventilate their houses when cleaning as recommended on the products’ packages. Such pungent smells often leave consumers with such symptoms as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Several studies have indicated that chemical inhalation can lead to serious, long-term health problems. Pregnant women should avoid using these poisonous products since these fumes may harm the fetus. Such harsh chemicals are not only harmful to people, they are damaging to the environment. In fact, many toxic products include government-sanctioned instructions on how to dispose of them. Heaven forbid if these unused substances leaked into our soil and water. To use such products, you need to wear rubber gloves to avoid skin contact. Rubber gloves are not biodegradable, and languish in landfills when thrown out. On an up note, citrus degreasers and other natural ingredients are just as effective cleaners as toxic chemicals, and do not have any harmful side effects. Safe, biodegradable, Degreaser cleaners are currently available. While you must still take some obvious precautions like keeping the products out of the reach of children, citric cleaners are nevertheless much safer than their chemical-laden counterparts. And many of these natural cleaners are packaged in biodegradable and recycled packaging. Most corporations manufacture citrus degreasers and other biodegradable degreaser cleaners not only because they help our health and the environment, but because they work extraordinarily well. Citrus cleaning products are usually made from corn with orange oils added for extra cleaning power and an agreeable scent. These ingredients enable the degreaser cleaner to lift and dissolve dirt and grime. Because citrus degreaser cleaners are safe and biodegradable, they can be used to clean more than just ovens, barbeques, or engines. Such products can also clean carpets, counters, stovetops, etc. Yet, you must always first read the directions on the label. Some of these instructions will tell you how to dilute the cleaner so that it works on bathtubs, showers, toilets, floors, grouts, tiles, and glass. The uses for degreaser cleaner are endless. You can be assured that effective and environmentally friendly degreaser cleaners will be around for a long time. Visit http://www.stanley-home-products.com/
About The Author
Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit http://www.stanley-home-products.com/

How to Celebrate World Toilet Day

2007-11-19T06:50:00.000-08:00

In order to properly celebrate World Toilet Day, one must flush an object of your choice down a toilet while making a video.

Our Tribute to World Toilet Day. We flushed smilin' Bob down our local gas station toilet as our way of joining the celebration. So here is to Jon Crapper, the potty, the can, the commode, De Latrine. Later, historians may revere this as the porceline throne of modern man.

How to Cook a Turkey

2007-11-16T14:56:00.001-08:00

How to Cook a Bird This Thanksgiving
How to Prepare and Cook the Perfect Chicken and Turkey by: Kevin McCarthyPeople want to eat healthy foods today, and a good way to accomplish that is through poultry. There are some chicken cooking tips that can help you in the kitchen and protect your family as well. Here are a few of the best chicken cooking tips available. • You must take care to always wash your hands, knife, and cutting board in hot soapy water after preparing raw poultry. • You should never use the same utensils and cutting board for other ingredients without thoroughly washing them first and after use. This prevents cross contamination. • You should always marinate poultry in the refrigerator. Never leave it out in the open. • Do not use the poultry marinade for basting. • If the marinade is to be used for the basis of a sauce, bring it to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. • Never put cooked poultry on the same plate that was used to transport raw poultry. Again, this prevents cross contamination. Here are some chicken cooking tips for storing your poultry: • Fresh poultry is a very perishable food. You should not leave it out in the open air. Instead, wrap it in plastic as soon as you get it home from the store and always store it in the coldest part of your refrigerator. You should use it within two days; if this is not possible, place it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. You should always freeze giblets and livers separately from the whole bird. • Cooked poultry dishes can be frozen. However, you should not freeze poultry dishes that contain mayonnaise or hard-boiled eggs. • Allow small poultry dishes to cool completely before wrapping and freezing them. Allow larger items to cool in the refrigerator and then wrap airtight and freeze. • You should never freeze stuffed poultry. Some of the most important chicken cooking tips involve proper thawing of the bird. It is especially important that the poultry be properly thawed before cooking. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator while it is in the original wrapper. You can place it on a tray to catch any drips that may fall as it thaws. When thawing in the refrigerator is not possible because there is not enough time, there are two other alternatives. For rapid thawing, you can put the bird in watertight wrapping and then submerge in cold water. You should change the water frequently as this will help quicken the process. Smaller birds require about one to two hours. The other alternative is to leave the bird in its wrapper and put it into a heavy paper grocery bag. Close up the bag and put it into a cool room. You will need to check it frequently, and once the bird is thawed, you must cook it immediately. Now for the Turkey! Turkey is a long time favorite of many families and now there are some great cooking tips tricks that anyone can learn and use to better prepare these wonderful birds. Selecting the proper size: You should plan on about 3/4 pound per person for generous servings. You should understand that this will not leave much in leftovers. If you like to have more leftovers, plan on 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per person. Hens or Toms: It may surprise you but the only real difference between a hen and tom is the size. Hens are classified under 16 pounds and toms are over 16 lbs. A somewhat secret cooking tips tricks is that both will be a young turkey, just a few weeks old at the time of processing. They will be equally tender and moist. Roasting your bird: Remove the neck and giblets from the neck and body cavities. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. If you want to stuff the bird, you should loosely stuff the body and neck cavities and then fasten the leg clamp back onto the legs. Cooking tips tricks: Place the turkey in a roasting pan with the plastic timer unobstructed. Cover with a lid, or fashion your own cover with a loose tent of foil. Remember to remove the cover for the last hour for browning. Cooking tips tricks for Roasting Times: Roast in a preheated, 325 degree Fahrenheit oven. Roasting will take about 15 minutes per pound if the turkey is not stuffed. Stuffed turkeys require an additional 1/2 to 1 hour cooking time. However, it is always best to follow the instructions that come with the stuffing and the turkey. You oven temperature may vary as well which will require you to adjust your time, either upward or downward. Cooking tips tricks for Basting: One of the most useful tools you can have is a suction basting tube. These inexpensive tools can make basting your turkey a snap and they can also help decrease the time that the oven door is open, which leads to losing oven heat. Baste your bird about every hour or so. This will help make it brown and tender.About The AuthorKevin McCarthy If you enjoyed this article then have a look at =>http://www.heavencooking.com/ for more cooking articles, information, tips & tricks. There’s even a free report on Master Chef insider tips for saving money on your cooking utensils and equipment.

Mosquitoes Suck..You!

2007-09-24T05:53:00.001-07:00

Bug Off: Protecting Your Garden from Mosquitoes by: Jennifer Jordan
For those of us who enjoy gardening, mosquitoes are a frequent pest. As they aim to feed on the nectar of flowers, gardens, to mosquitoes, are like all-you-can-eat buffets: we are open, come on in. This not only hurts your landscaping and ruins your garden, but it can also be detrimental to your health: mosquitoes are well known for spreading disease. You could ignore these facts, of course, and go on with your gardening and with your life in some kind of West Nile denial. But, when ignoring mosquitoes and the problems they cause proves futile, you may find yourself in need of a solution. Luckily, there are natural ways to get rid of your problem. Fill your Water with Fish and Frogs: Water, particularly stagnant water, is highly attractive to mosquitoes; it's where most mosquitoes lay their eggs. For this reason, having water in your backyard, such as a stream or a fountain, can leave you wasting away in mosquito-ville. Removing water from your backyard is one solution, but if you can't part with your pond, try adding in frogs, toads, and fish. These creatures feed on mosquitoes and larvae, helping to rid your water, your yard, and your garden, of these pests. Activating the food chain, this way of extermination is completely natural; many aquatic creatures dine by the mantra "mosquito, its what's for dinner." On shore, setting up a bird house or a bird feeder may also help control the mosquito population: mosquitoes make great snacks for our fine feathered friends. Use Garlic Spray: Just like blood sucking vampire, blood sucking insects also hate garlic. Perhaps they don't like the taste, perhaps they don't like the smell, or perhaps they once had a very bad run in with a pasta dish. Whatever the reason, garlic is one way to send mosquitoes on their way. Planting garlic, or showering your garden with garlic sprays and powders, might not deter every mosquito from entering your yard, but it's sure to discourage some. Just the presence of garlic has the potential to let mosquitoes know your garden is cloved, er, closed. Plant Marigolds: These vividly colored flowers are a beautiful and lively addition to any garden. But, unlike some flowers, they also have bug fighting characteristics. Marigolds produce an odor that mosquitoes don't like, and aim to avoid. Marigolds are very easy to grow and can thrive in any environment, with exception of the extreme cold. Yet, they aren't alone in their mosquito fighting mission: catnip, rosemary, and citronella grass are other plants known for telling mosquitoes to bug off. The above ideas should help you control your garden's mosquito population at least on some level. Wearing repellent, long sleeves and long pants can also aid your own personal protection. If all else fails, and you find mosquitoes just won't go away, you can find relief by simply taking your hand and relying on your own version of the SWAT team.
About The Author
Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.etodoors.com. Someone who changes her mind every five minutes, her house is in a perpetual state of home improvement.

Removing Hail Damage From Your Car Body

2007-09-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Mobile Paintless Dent Removal: The New Age Miracle Cure by: Steven Magill
PDR paintless dent removal: AMAZING miracle cure for dents. Ever had a hailstorm only to discover that it's taken its toll on your car via tiny dents all over it! Yes, time and again we have all faced some form of damage to the surface of our cars – and each time it happens, our heart breaks a little more. After all, we're all possessive about our cars – it's personal. It's yours. So what do you do next? So now you've had this dent in your car and you're looking for a method of fixing it. You could go the conventional way and call up the standard dent removal companies. But then imagine what your car would look like with varying hues of the same color at different places on the car surface? Hideous, right? That's where modern day technology comes to the rescue – it's called mobile paintless dent removal. It's efficient, effective and best of all you don't need to even lift a finger! This is a new technique that is slowly catching up among dent removal companies. It involves gentle massaging of the dents without any damage to surface paint. Why is mobile paintless dent removal so great? One reason why this new age technique works so great is because it never hurts the paint on your car! With highly sophisticated tools, the damage is addressed from its root cause – from behind the paint. That means no more sanding, no more painting over the surface and definitely no body filling needed! Mobile paintless dent removal involves carefully working upon each dent to restore it back to its original shape and size. In fact after the repair no one would ever be able to tell that your car suffered a dent! This technique is a highly skilled art – one that necessitates in-depth expertise and qualifications. Very few companies have the necessary expertise to carry it off but the few that do – they're well worth spending on. The best thing about mobile paintless dent removal is that these technicians will come to you – you will never need to go to them for repair work on your car. Origins of this method It all started in the early 1980s – when mobile paintless dent removal was still at its fledgling stages. In those times, it was restricted to only very small dents that could easily be removed. However, as this technique began to gain popularity, the PDR or Paintless Dent Removal technicians began trying it on bigger dents. Very soon they found that even huge dents could be completely eliminated without leaving a trace behind! Exceptions to the rule: scenarios where mobile paintless dent removal may not work Just as in any other case, even in this dent removal technique, there are certain situations where the method may not work as well as expected. The technique will not work if there happens to be a crack on the surface paint. It may be possible if there are edges. Most of the automobiles are suitable candidates for mobile paintless dent removal.
About The Author
Steve Magill, the managing director of DENT MASTERWALES LTD, believes that mobile dent repair services will take away your stress when you dent your car. Our services will help save you time and money, and at the same time provide complete satisfaction through an effective dent removal process. You can find more information on how to save money through PDR and dent repairs and at http://www.dentmasterwales.com

How to for Sprinkler Systems

2007-08-25T05:59:00.001-07:00

Sprinkler Layout Design With Spray Patterns by: Erik Zetterberg
So have you finally have given up on hand watering and want a in-ground system? Designing a sprinkler system may be easier than you think. In this short tutorial you will learn how to create a simple garden plan and then estimate how much conduit and sprinkler heads you will need for your project. Plotting your garden area First, find a some graph paper. If you don't have any you can Google "printable graph paper" and prnt the example images. Depending on the size of your yard, establish the scale by referring to each square as 2 or more feet. Next, you will want to measure and draw your house and patio areas. Be sure to include side walks and other obstructions like trees and garden borders as well. Locating your water source Once you have define these areas and your garden boundary you will need to locate your water source. For this DIY project we will be using your outside spigot as the water source. Locate these on your plan with an "X". Choosing a sprinkler head Now we will need to decide on what kind of sprinkler head to use. In this tutorial we have selected Rotors for our project. These are a rotating gear driven heads and are a great choice for large lawn areas. Rotor heads silently spray a water stream out to an average distance of 20 feet. They will minimize the amount of conduit required for you project. Creating spray templates Next, we will create a spray template. On a separate peice of graph paper draw 4 circles with a diameter (width of the circle) measuring 40 feet. Then cut each circle out with a pair of scissors. (note: see our predrawn sprinkler templates to skip this step) Then we need to cut one of the sprays in half and another in quarters for smaller areas. Since our Rotors allow adjustable spray angles we can keep certain areas dry by simply spraying outward. Tracing your spray patterns Start with areas like the edge of house, patios or edge of street and use the half circles. With the spray templates simply trace around them using a pencil. Each spray pattern should overlap at least 30% to ensure no areas in your lawn or garden will become dry. Once all half circles are drawn, fill in middle areas with full sprays and quarter spays where needed. Defining your watering zones Lastly, we need to draw in the conduit and create watering zones. Starting at your spigot, draw a gradual curve from one head to the next, making sure your conduit never overlaps. Be sure to avoid tight turns in your design. For this tutorial we will use 3 heads for each zone. By connecting a series of 3 heads together you are establishing one watering zone. Repeat this process to the remaining heads on your plan. Checking your Psi and Gpm You will also want to check your Psi and GPM levels. A call to your water company will give you a good idea of how good your water coverage will be. Other methods include using a pressure guage (it easily attaches to your faucet) and a gallon bucket (For example if it takes 7 seconds to fill a gallon bucket then divided 60 by 7 .. or 8.6 GPM) In Conclusion We hope this tutorial has given you a better understanding about DIY Sprinkler Irrigation Design and Planning. You may have discivered that planning for a sprinkler system is much easier than you had originally thought.
About The Author
Erik Zetterberg is the webmaster of http://www.lawnbeltusa.com - a Sprinkler Site for the DIYer.

Changing a Flat Tire

2006-12-15T03:56:00.000-08:00

What To Do When You Have Tire Blowout On The Road And How To Change A Flat Tire? by: Wil Yeo
Having flat tires is one common problem encountered by almost every car owner. As tires are your only contact between the car and the road, flat tire is something that you want to guard against. The major root cause of flat tire is the under inflation of the tires which is often a result gradual loss of tire pressure and on some instances, rapid loss of pressure due to impact or penetration of hard and sharp objects into the tires. The danger of having flat tires is that your vehicle may becomes wobbly and you may lost control of it and thus the possibility of encountering serious accidents. Following are some tips that will help you when your tire blowout: * First and foremost, when the tire blow out - you'll have to remain calm and do not panic. * Next, make sure that you grip your steering wheel firmly to gain better control of your vehicle. * Decelerate your vehicle and let it slowly comes to a halt, this is done by simply taking off your feet from the gas pedal. * Make sure you do not force the vehicle into going the direction you want by making any sudden turn of the steering wheel. Go along with the flow a little, slow down, turn on your signal light and work towards going to the break-down lane or to the side of the road as swiftly and as safely as possible. * Brake lightly to bring your car to a complete halt. * Once your car is stationary, turn on the hazard lights and / or lift up your car boot and hang a white clothe to warn other road users that your car is experiencing problem. * If you have the triangular reflective warning sign, place it at a distance (about 50 meters) behind the vehicle. Make sure this is carried out safely. By following the above steps, you have gotten yourself to a point of safety where you can calmly survey the situation and decide on the best actions to be taken, while making the road safer for other users. You now have two choices - seek professional help or do the tire change yourself. a. If you have a mobile phone - use it to contact your mechanics or get in touch with one of your friends to help you get the professional help that you needed. b. And if you prefer to change your tires, here's the guidelines: 1. Be very sure that there are more than enough safety distance between your vehicle and the road. If this is not possible - DO NOT PROCEED with the tire change. Stay away from your vehicle and put yourself in a safe place. You will be much better off in getting a tow truck to tow away your vehicle and replaces your flat tire. 2. Have a brief check on your spare tire - make sure that it is good enough for use. Make sure that your car is on firm and level ground for safety reason. 3. Take out your car jack and lug wrench from your car boot and read the instructions given on how to lift up your vehicle. 4. If your car comes with a wheel cover, remove it with a metal object like a screwdriver or your key to expose the lugs nuts of the wheel. 5. Loosen your lug nuts of the wheel before lifting up your vehicle - do the same for all the nuts for the affected wheel. Remember - clockwise direction to tighten and anti-clockwise to loosen. 6. Once all the nuts are loosen somewhat, it is time to jack the vehicle up at the recommended location where the jack can be placed to lift up the car, this piece of information is available by in the car owner's instruction manual. Now, totally loosen all the nuts and your wheel is ready to be removed from the car. 7. Remove the punctured wheel from your vehicle and replace it with your spare tire, and tighten the nuts - tight enough without having the wheels turning, further tightening will be done after the car jack is being removed. 8. Remove the car jack - further tighten the lug nuts using the lug wrench. To ensure that the nuts are properly tighten and maintain the right balance, make sure that you tighten the nuts in a sequential manner, and repeat the process. 9. Replace the wheel cap and keep your equipment and the blown tire. You are now done. Drive slowly to the nearest tire shop and have the tire replaced. Depending on how well worn are your existing tires, you may choose to replace two tires or all four tires as it is always a good practice to change all tires for better balance. Make sure you ask your mechanic to check the alignment of the car to ensure that there is no residual effect from the blown tire. Remember, never compromise safety. Getting into your car with the right mindset and with responsible behavior will serve you well a long, long way.
About The Author
Wil Yeo is a mechanical engineer by training and maintains the site http://www.avanigroup.com which features a unique patented anti theft tire pressure valve stem cap product. There site also gives away a handy guide entitled: Tire Maintenance Guide at http://www.avanigroup.com/Thanks.html. He can be contacted at wil[at]avanigroup.com.

Christmas Decorating

2006-11-28T00:54:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Christmas Decorations by: Adam Peters
Simpler is better when it comes to decorating outdoors. Outdoor Christmas decorations should be centered around your theme, rather than picking and choosing among several themes. Decorating outdoors can be done many different ways. The choices in outdoor Christmas decorations are overwhelming and you can see this in many people's outdoor displays. When it comes to decorating outside, sometimes you need to remember that less is more. Fo example, you will be overdressed if you wear your formal gown along with seven diamond bracelets and four diamond necklaces. In much the same way, you want to refrain from overdoing your yard during Christmas. Showing your Christmas spirit is great, but too many Christmas decorations can possibly detract from your outdoor decoration. It begins to be a problem when you start picking and choosing among all of the different choices available. It is best to have a few related outdoor Christmas decorations than many unrelated items, because it makes the whole yard look uncluttered and too busy. I have seen yards with revolving reindeer, Santa, his sleigh, lighted palm trees, icicle lighting, and even several of those blow-up decorations. This yard was overshadowed by all of these outdoor decorations and ended up looking busy and disturbing, rather than giving you that Christmas spirit. You may want to jump into your decorating with both feet, but with outdoor Christmas decorations it is best to refrain. You can use restraint in your outdoor Christmas decorations choices and help to make your yard festive, without turning it into the brightest spot in the neighborhood. To help yourself stay on track it is best to choose a theme and then stay with it. You don't want to put the Grinch on top of a manger scene. If you choose the nativity as your theme then choose traditional decorations over the characters. It will make the yard more cohesive and more interesting to your friends and family. Another thing to remember is that just because you have a certain decoration does not mean that you have to use it every year. You may love the Nutcracker fiber optic Christmas decoration that you have, but you want to do your yard in a more traditional nativity theme. You can just not use the Nutcracker set this year and save it for another Christmas. It is very exciting to decorate for the Christmas season. It can be difficult to tone it down because all of the decorations are so fun and interesting to look at, but you need to keep it simple. Keep in mind that the people passing your home only have a couple of seconds to see your entire yard. Simpler is better, especially when we are discussing outdoor Christmas decorations.
About The Author
Adam Peters is an online entrepreneur and writes for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . A free online magazine that carries articles on Christmas decoration, and a guide on xmas ornaments here http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com/magazine/christmas-decorating.html.

Using Miter Saws

2006-11-27T15:05:00.000-08:00

Miter Saws Framing The Way We Cut by: Jack Blacksmith
Back in the old days a miter saw held a blade that was attached to a box. The blade was perfectly angled to create 90 and 45 degree angles with a simple adjustment. This manual tool easily cut through frame, crown, or chair mouldings. It even made the cut when it came to exterior corners on baseboard mouldings. Perhaps that is why there are some people who still own and use this type of manual saw and find it perfectly acceptable. It’s All About the Power Today, it seems that power is where it’s at, even when it comes to basic tools. The greatest advantage to using a power saw is the cleanliness of the cut. A hand saw, no matter how skilled the craftsman is, still leaves the cut wood a bit more ragged than a power saw. And with the rising popularity of all power tools, there is not a significant cost difference between a manual miter saw and a basic power miter saw. When it comes to fancier versions of the miter saw, then you must have power. In general, a miter saw or radial saw with allow users to adjust the degree of the cut relative to the fence which guides the wood by a single degree. There are standard stops at the most common settings of 15, 30, 45, and 90 degrees. When wood is securely anchored against the fence, a 45 degree cut will perfectly match a corresponding 45 degree cut going in the opposite direction for the perfect mitered corner to frames or window mouldings. Another Angle to Miter Saws Beyond picture frames and crown moulding, there is a whole new angle to miter cuts that make table tops, counters and other furniture safer and more appealing. It is the compound miter saw. A compound cut gives counters and table tops a unique bevelled edge that rounds the sharp corners and makes them less likely to snag or scratch someone walking by. The gradual angles of the cut shape the edge and a little sanding smoothes it to perfection. Radial arm saws can create a similar effect. It just requires a couple of passes of the blade at different angles to complete the look. The Dewalt radial arm saw was a good model, but is no longer manufactured in the U.S. (Production stopped in 1985). However, this workhorse found in many of the best workshops can still be serviced throughout the country. A panel saw is the first step in projects such as cabinetry. It is designed to cut the face and sides of the cabinet by cutting large panels of plywood into the rectangles. Then the miter saw would be used to frame and face the front of the cabinet door or draw, usually made of a fine hardwood, so that there were bevelled edges and a complete decorative front. It is easy to see that a number of saws are used to make up a complete workshop. If you have to substitute a miter saw for another, then make the radial saw your choice.
About The Author
Focusing on news and information about power compound miter saw, Jack Blacksmith wrote mainly for http://www.insidewoodworking.com. You might come across his work over at http://www.insidewoodworking.com/mitersaws/index.html and various other sources for saws news.

Kitchen Remodeling

2006-11-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Use A Contractor For Intricate Kitchen Remodeling by: Rob Carlton
ALmost everyone who undertakes some sort of improvement project on their home will end up using a contractor at some point. Although most of the jobs may be manageable by a handy individual, at some point expertise is going to be called for. Take, for example, kitchen remodeling. Although some jobs such as installing new sinks and new tile can be handled quite easily by the average handyman, installing cabinets is something that requires the sure hand and experience of a pro. The rigth contractor is worth every single penny she charges, but the wrong one can turn your project into a money draining nightmare. Here are some ideas when it comes to selecting a good contractor. Most really good contractors also obtain a lot of business skill. They may not handle the financial and accounting aspects of their business, but they do have very good managemenn skills and are able to find the right people to assist them with big jobs. They will also be able to provide fair and reasonable estimates for the job that you are looking to have done. The first place to look for a reliable contractor is through your friends and family. Ask them if they have had any work done recently, and who they used to do it. Find out if they were happy with the job. There are many people who will not be able to ask friends or family about recent contracting work, since they haven't had any done. In this case, you will have to start from ground zero. Before you hire the contractor you find in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet, make sure to ask them for a list of references. Don't worry about seeming suspicious; this is an expensive thing that you need to get done and you don't want to waste your money on subpar work. Good contractors are never shy about their past clients either; they will have a solid customer base that offers positive reviews. Referrals are the way they grow their businesses, and that is always in the back of the mind of every contractor. Before you contact the former clients, make sure to prepare a list of questions you would like to ask. Find out about the size of the project that was done, and what the budget was like. Ask if the person who did the work stayed within this budget or went over; if they went over, by how much? Also, be sure to inquire as to whether the schedule was met on time in a satisfactory manner. Remember that this is your project, and in most cases there will be no obligation to hire a licensed contractor. In fact, some of the best contractors out there do not have a license. If you do hire a licensed contractor, though, get the license number from them and do a background check. Contact business groups such as your local Better Business Bureau and see what they have to say. Check with city and state agencies and see if there are any outstanding complaints or impending actions against the company. Remember that it is not only contractors who are dishonest if you find some complaints, though; many clients are trying to get away with paying as little as possible and so will go to great lengths to get a deal. When interviewing the contractor, trust to your instincts. Remember to treat the individual as a professional, but watch for warning signs. Evasive answers to questions or a lot of excuses and explanations should set off warning bells in your head. Despite the bad press that is given broadly to a few individuals, the fact is that most contractors are upstanding and want to do the best job possible. Taking care in how you hire them will ensure that you have a good experience.
About The Author
Concentrating on the area of cabinets, Robert Carlton published primarily for http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com. Sharing his passion in works (such as http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com/kitchen-remodeling.html on kitchen remodeling ) he expressed his capability in the area.

Tropical Fish Tanks and Care

2006-04-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Tropical Fish : Tank Basics by: John Mallon
Tropical Fish : Tank Basics
Aquarium fish are like pets and you have to know what you're doing and this article will cover one of the basics : what to look for when buying tropical fish, this article will cover the tank. Look for a tank that is big enough to store the tropical fish you want (keep note that some fish need bigger tanks as they need more place, so do your homework !) I'd suggest to go for a bigger tank because having some extra room for your tropical fish always a good idea. When you're in the store make sure to take some extra equipment with you cause you'll need it. I suggest getting the following equipment for your tank:
1. Heater
The heater is the most important part of a tropical tank. For most tropical fish, 25C is a good average. 4 watts per gallon is ok, but each heater will state the size aquaria it accommodate for. For the larger aquaria, it is often best to have two smaller heaters for a couple of reasons, one because should one break, u still have one to keep your tank going until u can replace it, and two should you have 1 big heater, and the thermostat got stuck on, it would raise the temperature of the tank far more and in less time than a smaller one would. All heaters now have a built in thermostat which turns the heater on and off when needed to keep the tank at a stable temperature, the heater should never be un-plugged.
2. Filter.
Best to check if the filter fits your tank. this is very important !.The size of the filter depends upon 3 factors :
- The tank size
- Number of aquarium fish
- Plants planted in the tank
There are lots of different types of filters available : internal filters, external filters, gravel filters and box filters (I advise to skip this one cause they only work for small tanks).
3. Gravel
The gravel is mainly for aesthetic purposes, but it also is vital if you are keeping live plants as they need a substrate of some sort to anchor them selves down with.
If you have a planted tank, then 2-3inches of gravel is advised, but if u have an unplanted tank, then u may use ½ - 2inches of gravel.
The gravel also holds some of the bacteria in the tank, and if the tank has an under gravel filter, then the gravel will contain nearly all of the bacteria in the tank.
These last 3 points are the basic equipment parts you’ll need to keep your fish healthy in your new tank. In my following articles I will cover the fish themselves and their basics.
I hope you learned something here and I will see you in my next article or on http://fishtropical.blogspot.com.
About The Author
John Mallon is a fish fanatic who has been taking care of them for over 15 years.

Woodworking

2006-04-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Get the Most from Woodworking Tools with Some Useful Tricks of the Trade by: John Mann
Many of the great woodworkers have become skillful because they have had the opportunity to watch and learn from a pro. Undoubtedly, serving as an apprentice under a professional woodworking expert is the best way to hone your own skills but not everyone has this opportunity. However, if you have the drive and passion for woodworking, it is entirely possible to become highly skilled by simply reading about the subject. The following includes some useful tricks of the trade that will surely help you to get the most out of your woodworking tools. A woodworking expert is not born; it takes time and some useful hints.
Wood is the woodworker’s most important tool. Without wood, your woodworking tools would have no job and there could be no end product. The first trick to woodworking is knowing how to properly cut plywood, and that involves using the right tools and manipulating the wood in the appropriate way. Different cutting jobs require different blades. Blades differ depending on the number of teeth, the width, angle and the rake of the blade. Before cutting, assess which blade best suits your cutting needs and which one will help you to produce the cleanest cut possible. When you are ready to cut, score the cut first by running the plywood through your saw once, removing only a small piece. The next cut that you make will be much cleaner. To keep a clean line in your cut, use a router. Make sure that your router is fitted with a straight bit as this will help you to achieve a clean line. A pilot bit and a straight edge will also help produce a clean line. You may also want to consider purchasing a panel scoring setup. Some saws can be fitted with a plywood panel scoring setup that is most useful if you cut a lot of plywood. This setup consists of a smaller blade that first scores the surface of the plywood before the wood reaches the cutter.
Once you have your wood cut, it is necessary to sand down the rough edges. You may not realize it, but sandpaper is one of your important woodworking tools. Here are some helpful wood sanding hints. For easy handling, some woodworkers cut their sandpaper into smaller pieces if they have a sanding block or a finishing sander while others fold the sandpaper to rotating sides as it wears down. However, make sure that your sandpaper is not folded so that two abrasive sides touch as this will wear down the paper against itself during use. To prevent this, fold the paper so that the abrasive sides contact only the non-abrasive sides. This simply requires a single cut along half of the sheet.
Once all your wood is cut and well sanded, you are ready to build. Handling wood is not always easy though, but there are tricks that can help you to do the job right. Anyone who has ever tried to nail into the end of board knows that splitting can happen because as the nail is driven into the wood, the wood fibers are forced apart causing the grain to split. Experienced carpenters will flatten the tip of the nail with a hammer before driving it into the wood because a flattened tip will slice through the wood and crush the fibers rather than split them. This woodworking trick is most useful when installing molding and trim.
There are so many tricks of the trade to be learned when it comes to woodworking. You will find that as you begin to amass a larger knowledge of woodworking tips, your projects will start to look better, and you will be well on your way to becoming a woodworking expert. Woodworking professionals will tell you that there exists an important relationship between the tools you use and the wood you handle.
About The Author
John Mann is an experienced home renovator and webmaster. Visit his website Workbench Ideas (www.workbench-ideas.com) for workshop tips.

Training Dogs

2006-03-25T13:44:00.000-08:00

Dog Training Tips that Work! by: Armen T. Ghazarians
Dog training, the most simple acts often produce the best results. In any dog pack, the alpha sets the rules and the rest follow. Therefore, by establishing yourslef as the alpha, you can be sure that your obedience training sessions will be that much more productive. The following is a list of 8 simple things you can do to teach your new puppy or unruly dog that you are the alpha in your pack.
1. Never feed your dog from your plate while you're eating. A dog must learn that your are the alpha and that it can only eat when you are finished with your meal.
2. Never allow your dog on the sofa or on your bed. And if your dog sits on your path, gently shove it out of the way with your foot. By setting boundaries, you will instill in your dog that it must obey the alpha.
3. Never allow your dog to chew on your towels, socks, shoes, or clothing. Use bitter apple to discourage these behaviors.
4. NEVER HIT YOUR DOG FOR MISBEHAVING. Instead use the tone of your voice and a collar/leash to teach and make corrections.
5. Never allow a puppy to chew on your fingers. Otherwise, it will become a habit that will be very hard to break when it becomes an adult. Spray you hands and fingers with bitter apple and then allow the dog to proceed. The dog will learn not to bite your fingers without associating any negative thoughts about you as the alpha.
6. Never leave a hyper dog unexercised. Playing ball before you leave for work and after you return can help alleviate your dog's pent-up energy.
7. Never keep your dog alone in a yard for days at a times. Without proper socialization your dog will become aggressive towards other dogs as well as other humans. A dog needs contact with its own species in order to learn how to behave in a dog pack equally as well as it must learn to behave in a human pack. A dog left alone for long periods of time will believe itself to be the alpha and try to dictate to its master instead of the other way around.
8. Never allow your dog to jump on you or your guests. Its fun when your dog is a puppy, but it isn't fun when it becomes a 100lb behemoth. Practice with a collar and leash and set up situations where a neighbor rings your doorbell while your dog awaits their entrance. Make a sharp correction and command your dog to "sit" when as your neighbor enters the house. And, of course, don't forget to praise the dog as soon as it follows your command. Once the dog knows what to do, try the same thing off leash, but this time use a water spray bottle and spray your dogs face with water as punishment for jumping with a stern vocal correction of "NO". Proceed to praise your dog once again when your dog obeys your command. This way, it will learn to associate praise with correct action.
By following these steps, you will establish yourself as the alpha. And, you will have a head start in trainig your dog because it will have already learned to respect your authority as its leader.
About The Author
Armen T. Ghazarians offers advice and articles for those interested in training their dogs like the professionals. His blog http://www.newdogtrainingsecrets.com offers information regarding many aspects of professional Dog Training for anyone who is not a professional dog trainer.

Fix or replace bathtub?

2006-03-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

Bathtub Repairs FAQ by: Claire Bowes
A bath tub is a relaxing thing to have in one’s bathroom. After a very stressful day at work or at school, a person could just retire and relax at the comfort of his/her bath tub. It has proven its usefulness and most people who have it will spend a lot of money to make sure it is working properly and that it stays that way.
However, even if these people loved and took care of the tub, there will still be some problems as the bath tub grows old. Stains and cracks will show. Leaks will appear and faucets will not work. While some of these can be remedied easily, others will require help. Here are some questions most bath tub lover will ask about repairing their bath tubs.
Why Repair a Bath Tub When You Can Just Buy a Replacement?
This question is the most frequently asked question by most bath tub users. Bath tubs costs just around $100 and most of them can afford it. However, when they consider the cost of the demolition, removal and disposal of the tub plus plumbing then add the cost of setting tiles and flooring/carpentry involved, they might have an estimate of about $2000. This cost is too much when a repair will just cost them much less than that.
What is Bath Tub Restoration?
During years of use bath tubs tend to have stains and will probably have scratches here and there. Bath tub restoration includes taking those stains and scratches out. These can be done either by hired help or by yourself. Even though this can be done by untrained people, it is recommended to hire a trained person to do this for your bath tub.
Bath tub restoration involves washing the surface and applying a solvent. It will then be neutralized, etched and sandpapered. Bath tub restoration, when done properly will give your bathroom a new glow, making it look cleaner and brighter.
What is Bath Tub Refinishing?
After bath tub restoration, refinishing must be done to make it last longer and to require you to restore it less than necessary. Refinishing should be done by trained craftsmen as they use a special chemical called Aliphatic Acrylic Polyurethane Enamel. This job can be easily finished in a day so you should have your bath tub in less than a day.
What are Bath Tub Liners and Why Should I Think of Using Them?
Bath tub liners are custom-made to fit your bath tub. These liners will make sure that chipping and scratches on your tub is already history. A new bath tub liner is installed on a bath tub and it can be done a matter of hours. There is no additional cost as the plumbing, flooring and tiles are completely untouched.
Should You Do the Job Yourself or Should You Hire a Specialist?
A specialist will cause you more but repairs on your tub will last longer. Unless you do a very satisfactory job, it is recommended to ask for a specialist’s help as the cost of hiring one is worth than the cost of doing it again and the inconvenience it will bring you.
When Should I Consider Buying a New Tub?
Buying a new bath tub is only recommended when the total cost estimated by the specialist will cost you more than buying and reinstalling a new tub, then go for a new tub.
About The Author
Claire Bowes is a successful Webmaster and publisher of bath tubs & bathing. Claire provides more information on her site about Bathtub Repairs that you can research at home.
cbowes999@yahoo.com

Git 'er Done!

2006-03-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

How to Clean Your Bathroom in 15 Minutes by: Martha Matthews
I used to absolutely loath cleaning my bathrooms. It was so much work (or so I thought) that I would procrastinate until my husband would threaten to call the health department. One day, a friend of mine showed me this routine that has helped me maintain my sanity by getting this dirty job done quickly. She introduced me to the “15 Minute Bathroom Cleaning Routine” and my life has never been the same.
I was finally free from the drudgery of mildew and soap scum buildup. No more tooth paste petrified on my faucets. Gone was the black ring around the tub that looked like a well placed pinstripe. I was finally free to let the door stay open when company came over. Wow! My family didn’t even recognize the room. They were stunned. I can honestly say that this room is now my pride and joy. Now my friends marvel at my cleaning prowess.
My bathroom was so bad that it took a little extra effort the first time I used the routine, but after the initial deep cleaning, it was a breeze. You too can overcome the bathroom blues by following these simple and effective twelve steps.
1. Remove the knick knacks and place them in the hallway.
2. Remove the throw rugs and shake them out. Put them in the laundry to be cleaned if needed.
3. Sweep or vacuum the floor.
4. Spray the counter top and let your cleaner do the work.
5. Spray the mirror and wipe it down.
6. Spray the toilet with cleaner inside and out. Let the cleaner sit.
7. Go back to the counter top. Scrub and wipe it down.
8. Spray the bath tub and shower down (you may not need to do this every week if your bath tub doesn’t get that dirty).
9. Scrub the inside of the toilet with a brush. Flush the toilet to rinse the bowl. Wipe down the seat and rim of the bowl. Don’t forget the place behind the seat and the outside of the toilet bowl and base.
10. Scrub the tub down and rinse.
Hint: if you want to clean the shower curtain you can wash it by itself in the washing machine in cold water on the delicate cycle. Throw in a bath towel to help scrub the curtain clean. Remove it promptly and hang it back up in the shower to drip dry. Never put it in the dryer.
11. If you have linoleum or tile, mop the floor. If the room is small, you can spray your cleaner directly onto the floor and wipe it up with a sponge or cleaning cloth. Let dry for ten to fifteen minutes.
12. Put back the rugs and knick knacks. Check your toilet paper supply. Put out fresh towels.
The whole process should take fifteen minutes, not counting the time to let the floor dry. It will take even less time if you don’t have to clean the tub and shower. I only clean ours once a month because it doesn’t get that dirty because we use an after shower spray that keeps the soap scum from stick to the shower surface.
There are two keys to a fast clean up: 1) Let the cleaner sit long enough to loosen up the dirt and disinfect the surface. 2) Clean the bathroom every week. Pick a day that is your bathroom cleaning day and just do it. When you keep up on your cleaning it doesn’t become such an insurmountable project.
Cleaning supplies.
1) Utility caddy to carry your supplies. The dollar store usually has these.
2) Rubber cleaning gloves.
3) Scrubber and sponge combination designed for cleaning the bathroom.
4) Window cleaner.
5) All-purpose cleaner.
6) An old toothbrush to get at those hard to reach areas.
7) One roll of paper towels.
8) Pumice stone for hard water build up in the toilet bowl.
9) Toilet brush (unless you keep one in each bathroom like I do).
That’s it. Happy cleaning!
About The Author
Martha Matthews is the Executive Director of Christian-Homemaking.com, a web site with resources dedicated to helping Christian Homemakers organize and manage their home.

Summer Water Garden Plan

2006-03-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Start Planning for Your Backyard Garden by: Gerry Fung
Water gardens are great focal points for any backyard.
With spring in the air, now is the time to start planning for your backyard garden. For many homeowners, a backyard pond is a perfect supplement to your existing layout. The trickling of water in the background is the ideal way to supplement the natural, serene and relaxing atmosphere that the outdoors should offer.
A pond or water garden will likely become the focal point for your entire backyard. Backyard ponds and water gardens will attract birds, butterflies, wildlife, and family members. Ponds are usually small and no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter, and often can be used to raise fish. At night-time, a garden pond can be lit up with both surrounding and submersible lighting. An extravagant light show can be produced by projecting underwater lighting directly onto trickling or falling water.
In the past, the installation of a water garden was a convoluted process that either involved the expense of a landscaper, or trial and error to perfect the art of pond installation. However, preformed pond kits are now available that can make pond installation relatively straightforward. Preformed pond kits are affordable, lessen the risk of mistakes, and come complete with all the accessories that you will need to complete a garden pond installation.
Before purchasing a preformed pond kit, make sure that it fulfils all of your requirements. How large of a pond are you looking for? Do you want to raise fish? Would you like water to trickle down a waterfall? How long is the warranty on the pond kit?
One preformed pond kit that comes highly recommended is the Algreen 180 gallon folding preformed pond kit. New to the Algreen line of products, this kit includes easy-to-follow instructions. The instructions minimize the effort required to install the pond, after a hole is dug. The pieces in the kit fit easily together and leave you ample flexibility to creatively position and landscape the area around the pond, according to your heart's desire.
The 180 gallon kit comes complete with both a preformed pond shell and a preformed watercourse that is manufactured from a revolutionary rubber/plastic composite (this composite material is guaranteed to be more durable and resist wear more than any other existing preformed pond kits). The kit includes a powerful 792 gallon-per-hour SuperFlo pump with flow control; this pump is used to feed varying flows of water to both the watercourse and the built-in fountain. The pump is purposely oversized to allow it to channel water to your watercourse and fountain, and to accommodate fish in your pond.
Up to 4 fountain heads are included with the kit, to allow you to vary your fountain according to your mood. An underwater light is also included free with the kit. This underwater light utilizes colored filters to shine luminous light from the bottom of your pond to accentuate the falling water from your fountain and/or your waterfall.
Small backyard garden ponds are usually low maintenance. The occasional debris from your pond can usually be trapped with a mechanical pre-filter, which is included with the SuperFlo pump. However, if you decide to raise fish in your pond, it is recommended that you increase your filtration capacity. Because the pump is purposely oversized, this can be easily accomplished by upgrading your pre-filter to a larger filtration device. Optional filtration devices include the mechanical and biological SuperFlo submersible filter, or the Algreen pressurized filter.
You will need to start planning for your water garden now in order to have it completed by spring. Before commencing any project, it is always recommended that you conduct research to learn as much as possible about the topic. Therefore, it is recommended that you use the early part of the season to read more about pond construction.
Read more about the 180 gallon granite preformed pond kit.
This article was provided courtesy of GardenSM.com.
About The Author
Gerry Fung is the Vice President of of GardenSM.comGardenSM.com.

Your Teenage Boys and That Drywall Repair

2006-03-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

Repairing a Hole in Drywall by: Andrew Seltz
I received a call this week from my church’s office manager saying we needed to have some repairs made before a visit from the building inspectors next week. One of the repairs was a hole in the drywall where a door handle had punched through the wall. The doorstop had broken and next thing you know there’s a repair job for the Go-To Guy.
Knowing how to do a patch like this is handy even when you’re not repairing damage. The first time I did one was when I installed phone and cable television service into an older home that my parents had purchased. My brother and I cut holes at the top and bottom of the wall to fish through the new wire, and then I patched up the holes and repainted and you’d never know the wall had been repaired. The same goes for running a new electrical wire or anything else that requires getting inside the wall.
If you don’t already know, a typical wall is mostly air. It is either 2×4 wood studs or metal studs that are placed every 16 inches on-center (when building walls you measure from the center of each stud and not the edges.) The surface is covered with drywall (a gypsum board covered with a heavy layer of paper) which is screwed or nailed to the studs. It’s quick to build and looks great, but can be easily damaged - especially when the builder uses 1/4 inch thick drywall instead of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch (these are the standard thicknesses.)
When you have a damaged wall you need to replace the broken area with new drywall and then patch the seams and paint.
The supplies you’ll need for this project are:
* Drywall Saw * Utility Knife * Drywall piece large enough to fill the hole * 1×3 inch Lumber or pieces of Scrap Plywood for supports * Drywall Screws * Joint Compound * Mesh Fiberglass Drywall Tape * 6 inch or larger Spreader * Fine Grit Sand Paper or Drywall Sanding Screen * Drill with Drywall Bit
All of these supplies can be found at your local home center in the construction materials area near the drywall. If you have a small patch, they may give you a scrap of drywall so you won’t have to buy a full sheet. There are usually plenty of scraps laying around in various thicknesses.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
1. Cut a hole larger than the damaged area. Make the corners of the cut as square as possible to make it easier to cut the replacement patch. Use a drywall saw cut the hole
2. Cut several pieces of 1×3 inch wood or plywood scraps that are several inches taller than the hole. Place them in the wall near the edges of the hole and use drywall screws to secure the wood to the exisiting wall. (Tighten the screws until the heads are slightly below the surface but don’t completely tear through the paper. A drywall bit for your drill is designed to prevent overtightening. It’s not essetial, but recommended.) The point here is to create a good solid surface to attach the patch too. If you have a large opening you can put an additional support in the center.
3. Using a utility knife, cut a new patch piece that is slightly smaller than the hole. (To cut drywall, cut the paper on the finished side and then bend the board backward until the gypsum ’snaps.’ You’ll want to support the back along the cut so it breaks evenly. Once it has snapped, use the utility knife to cut the paper on the back.)
4. Insert the patch into the opening and securely attach it to the supports you installed using drywall screws. One screw at the top and bottom of each support should be sufficent. (Don’t put the screws too close to the edges or the gypsum will crumble.)
5. Now that the hole is filled you need to cover the seams. Apply fiberglass mesh tape over the seams. (The joint compound used to fill the seams is not strong and will crack if not reinforced.)
6. The last step is applying joint compound to the seams with a wide spreading knife Spread the joint compound over the screw holes and tape creating the smoothest surface you can. Don’t get too fussy at this stage. Just get it close. Let this dry overnight and then put on one more light coat. After this coat dries, smooth out any surface bumps with a light sanding.
Your wall is repaired, good as new. Put a coat of wall primer over the patch to seal the surface and then paint it to match the rest of the wall. It’s important to put on the primer, because raw drywall and joint compound, when painted, will dull the finish of the paint and give away your patch job.
Happy home repair,
The Go-To Guy
About The Author
Andrew Seltz's wide range of interests and experience have given him the reputation of being a Go-To Guy for his family, friends, and co-workers. Through his website, www.AndrewSeltz.com, he shares some of what he has learned through the years - from home improvement to video production.

Note: Try placing a wooden board at the same level as the doorknob hole left in the wall and just make it look like trim, or use steel or composite material if you have more than two boys in the house.

Aquariums

2006-02-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

Five steps to success with Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums by: Chris Knowlton
Do you dream of watching the natural beauty of the undersea reef life while sitting in your living room?
Whether your goal is a nano reef tank or a 150 gallon aquarium with an ecosystem of coral and saltwater fish, the following five steps will lead you on your way to success.
1) Commit! Decide you are going to spend the $$ it takes to make a proper go of it. At a minimum, most tanks, (from 10 gal to 55 gal) take between $250 and $500 to get going. Can you do it cheaper? Yes, but usually not your first one. You have to know what you are doing and understand how things can and will go wrong before you can choose less expensive husbandry options and/or equipment. Save up if you have to, but count on that first tank being expensive.
Realize that this is not a short term commitment. And as much fun as it is to collect the coolest coral fragments out there and show them off to your friends, there WILL come a time when you are hauling all of those same 'frags' out of the tank and into temporary storage when your six year old cracks the side of the display tank with a pool ball or some other calamity occurs.
2) Study! Spend time on the internet, in books and watching nature shows on reefs BEFORE you get your animals. Understand the animals that you are going to keep and how they interact with each other. If you count on the LFS (Local Fish Store) or your buddy down the road to keep you out of trouble and don't do your homework.. You will fail. That is the one guarantee in this hobby. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
The only way around this is to be able to afford to pay someone else to set-up and maintain your tank.
3) Mingle! (see 2 above) There are plenty of reef-keeping societies out there with lots of experience to help you along your way and teach you what you need to know. As long as you are doing your own homework, they are usually happy to help!
4) Keep an open mind! There is not just one way to keep a reef tank - no matter how loudly people on the various bulletin boards and forums out there might shout that there is. 5) Share! It is amazing how much help people are willing to give when they realize that you are offering a particularly nice specimen that they have always wanted. Equipment that they didn't even remember they had may magically appear or they might be willing to share a very nice piece of their own reef frag with you.
Trading frags not only is a great way to increase your variety, but it helps maintain genetic strains of corals (frags are also known as 'clones') that might otherwise die out in a single tank struck by the calamity mentioned in 1 above.
You can read 5 more Steps to Success by visiting www.KnowltonsReef.com (archive: June, 2005).
About The Author
Chris Knowlton is an avid fan of reef keeping and propagation. He maintains a nano tank and several large saltwater reef aquariums. Visit his blog at www.KnowltonsReef.com.

Beginners Acrylic Painting

2006-02-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

Beginners Guide on Acrylic Painting – How to Set Out Your Equipment for Easy Acrylic Painting by: Catherine Calder
OK you have all the things you need to begin acrylic painting, right? You have acrylic paints, brushes, painting surface, palette, and a container of water. Well, by taking a minute to set out your acrylic painting materials in an organized manner you will enjoy your painting session even more.
Ideally when you begin acrylic painting you will have a work space that is level and in a good light. Artificial light can make the colors look different when compared to natural light. It is a good idea to get full spectrum light bulbs from an art store if you have to paint in artificial light. This is a worthwhile investment.
Layout you palette, paints, brushes and water to the right hand side if you are right handed – or left if you are left handed. It is handy to have some paper towels too.
Acrylic Painting Tip
Try to get into the habit of placing the paints in the same position on the palette every time you paint. This will save you time – you wouldn’t be searching for a color if you always put it in the same position.
I like to group colors, like having all the blues together. It is most important to always put the white in the same place.
Tips on Placing Your Painting Materials
I position the palette next to me – I am right handed so it is to the right. Then the tubes of acrylic paint to the rear of the palette. I use a reservoir palette that has a space for the brushes, but if I didn’t I would have the reservoir for the brushes to the right of the palette.
I store the dry, clean brushes I’m not using in a jam jar – with the brush handle ends down so that the tips do not get bent out of shape. This is to the far right of all the other equipment.
I place the water container(s) to the rear of the painting area but within easy reach. The paper towel is there too.
Be sure to cover the work surface as any acrylic paint that dries on it will be difficult or impossible to remove.
And my Top Tip is to put any drink on the opposite side - away from the palette and paint. Otherwise you will end up cleaning your brush in your drink – and believe me it won’t add to the flavor!
About The Author
Catherine Calder is the author of The Acrylic Painting Course. The beginners guide on acrylic painting with step-by-step painting instructions and a free preview to completing your first painting.
Visit http://www.learnanddo.com/acrylic.asp to find out more.
ads@learnanddo.com

Making That Backyard Garden This Year

2006-02-14T06:38:00.000-08:00

How to Create a Backyard Oasis by: Kristen Fischer
As every homeowner is surely aware, a backyard can be transformed into a relaxing outdoor retreat. With some hard work and dedication, you can turn your simple backyard into a garden of delight. A garden pond is a wonderful way to bring new life to your yard and garden.
Garden ponds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The size of your garden pond will very much depend on your personal taste. While they do differ in shape and size, most garden ponds have similar components such as aquatic plants and fish. There are countless ways to approach your garden pond maintenance. In our experience, the best way to ensure the success of your garden pond is to strike a delicate balance between nature and technology.
While many people have elaborate pumping systems and waterfalls, they are not entirely necessary. For instance, certain types of fish can minimize any issues you may have regarding algae. Goldfish are extremely popular in outdoor garden ponds. There are over 100 varieties of goldfish to choose from, many of which have delightful colors and markings. Japanese Koi are also commonly used in garden ponds, but keep in mind that they need a lot of room.
The golden rule for introducing fish into your pond is to ensure that you have established all of the plant life first. Also be sure that the water is clear and balanced before you introduce the fish. There are many types of aquatic plant life that you can use in your garden pond, and they are divided into distinct categories. Oxygenators are essential, as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as they grow. Water lilies can add some wonderfully beautiful colors to your pond. The other types include floaters, marginals, and marsh plants.
Nature itself can pose certain problems for outdoor garden ponds. For example, a neighborhood cat could easily make a meal of your prized Koi. More often than not, animals will use the pond as a source for drinking water only. Frogs and toads can also make a home in your pond. This is generally not a problem, unless they begin breeding. This can create a population explosion that your pond is not able to sustain. If this does happen, you should receive some professional advice. Alternately, you can visit our website for more information.
About The Author
Kristen Fischer is an avid gardener and garden pond enthusiast. When she is not singing to her flowers, she writes for gardenponds101.com – a wonderful online resource for information about garden ponds( http://www.gardenponds101.com/ ), pond fish( http://www.gardenponds101.com/options/pond-fish.aspx ), aquatic plants( http://www.gardenponds101.com/options/aquatic-plants.aspx ) and more.

How to Keep Your Car Like New

2006-02-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

Car Care Tips – How to Keep Your Car in Immaculate Condition by: Paul MacIver
There are several things you must do to keep your car in immaculate condition and retain its value. Apart from regular mechanical servicing and maintenance, your car must also be groomed regularly to keep it looking like new. This means more than simply putting it through the carwash each week. Although it takes a bit longer, you’ll find that hand grooming your car achieves a far better result. There’s no need to spend a lot of money on car care products, however you will need to buy a few. These are some tips I use every time I clean my car.
Exterior
Rinse your car down to get rid of excess dirt, and then wash it with a sponge and soapy water. Once you’ve washed the whole car, rinse it off and then dry it with a soft cloth. If you don’t dry your car afterwards, water droplets gather dust, and when they dry out, you’re left with many spots all over the body of the car. This is especially noticeable with dark colored cars.
Every month or so you should use a bug and tar removal product on the body of your car. There are many of these types of products available at most car care stores. A great product to go for is one which removes bugs, tar and other spots, while polishing the car’s surface at the same time.
Polishing and waxing your car regularly maintains the “shiny look” and also protects the paint from being damaged by the sun.
Always clean the wheels and shine the tires. If your car has alloy wheels, dirt shows up more easily and makes them look dull. You can buy wheel cleaning products which remove the build up of brake dust, but if you clean them each time you wash your car, you should only need to use water and a cloth. When shining the tires, I always use a spray-on tire shine which is quick and easy to use. This not only keeps them looking like new, but protects them from the sun and makes the whole car look magnificent.
For other external areas, use a surface protecting product which is designed to protect rubber, vinyl and plastic from the sun’s UV rays. This can be used on bumpers, rubber seals around doors and windows, and for the interior as well.
Interior
Purchase some car seat covers to protect your seats from getting worn out. They can easily be taken off and washed once in a while. I vacuum the seats and carpet every time I clean my car. Dirt and grit which falls deep into the carpet causes it to wear out quickly, so regular vacuuming is the best way to prevent this. Buying a set of floor mats will keep the majority of dirt from getting into your carpet.
Clean the inside of your car’s windows with a glass cleaning product and a soft cloth. I use a normal household glass cleaning spray for this and it seems to do the job. When cleaning the dashboard and other interior surfaces, be careful you don’t use a product that will damage them. Some vinyl and plastic surfaces can be ruined simply by using the wrong product when cleaning. Once cleaned, you can use a surface protecting spray on these areas also.
When you aren’t using your car, park it in the garage. This not only keeps it out of the weather, but also prevents it from getting dirty. If you don’t have access to a garage, consider buying a car cover. Protecting your car from the weather as much as possible will ensure it remains immaculate.
Go to http://seatcovers-online.info for information on car seat covers, car detailing products and vehicle covers.
About The Author
Paul MacIver is a car enthusiast, and writes about various vehicle-related topics for http://www.vehicle-covers.info. You are welcome to reprint this article only if this resource box is included, and links are intact.

How to Lower Your Utility Bill

2006-02-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Save Money Cutting Your Home Energy Bill by: Dr. Deepak Dutta
Heating bills are rising up in every part of the country and the trend will continue because of World energy demands. The average US household expense on energy bills is estimated at 6% of the income in 2005, compared to 4% in 2003. Owners of efficient new houses spend considerably less than the people living in old houses. Financial burden due to increased energy expenses can be reduced by weatherizing and conserving.
Your house can be energy deficient in plumbing, insulation or heating. In many old houses, the biggest problem is not the cold air coming from windows but the air filtration from the basement due to floor joists and the structures supporting the floor. In an average American home, 50%-70% of the energy used goes to heating and cooling. If your house is built before 1980, it may no have adequate insulation. While most owners focus on attic insulation, they should not ignore the basement ceiling. Fiber glass is not a good insulation material as air flows right through it. Use spray foam or cellulose as an insulation materials for proper insulation.
Caulk and weather-strip all doors and windows that leak air. Look for all plumbing, ducting and electrical wiring the penetrates through exterior walls and seal those to prevent hot air leaking out. Keep the flue damper tightly closed when the fire place is not in use. If you are planning to change windows in your house, shop for insulating windows and install them as tight fitting as possible. You can use heavy duty clear plastic sheet to the inside of your window and seal them properly to prevent any leak.
Another areas where home owners can focus to reduce their energy bill is conservation. If you have an old thermostat, replace it with a new electronics control thermostat with digital readouts.. An electronics control thermostat is more precise than an dial type thermostat. Better, yet, is a programmable thermostat that you can program for the different hours of the day and night. Replace air filters regularly. If your house has a hot water radiator, bleed it once or twice during the winter season. If you don’t know how to do this, search in the Internet or get the help of a professional.
When you buy new appliances, look for the “Energy Star label. Energy Star labeled appliances are certified to be energy efficient. Most appliances now display a bright yellow and black Energy Guide label. These labels will tell you the average energy consumption cost of the appliance. While shopping for any appliance, do not forget to take into account this cost as another factor to evaluate before you make your final decision. You can find more energy tips at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips.
About The Author
Dr. Deepak Dutta is the creator of http://www.semanticbay.com - an interactive social network website based on user shared text and picture contents on any topics. Website creators, publishers, and maintainers can promote their website at SemanticBay.com using website articles. Users can join for free, invite friends, maintain buddy lists, rate contents, comments on contents and earn points.

Working on Your Putt

2006-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Basics Of The Game – Putting by: Edwin Shackleford
Putting is an essential, if not the most important, factor in playing golf. This is where the game is decided. Nerves of steel and lots of practice are needed to master the art of putting. Even professional golfers feel the pressure when it’s time to putt and the game is on the line. Here are some tips to learn and improve on your putting.
First thing to do would be to take practice strokes next to the golf ball. This would help you feel the needed rhythm in putting the ball. You will need to do this as you don’t want your shot to be too awkward or too strong.
Try to have some marker to help you focus and help you with proper alignment of your putt. A marker is where you will aim the ball as you putt. The position of this marker is dependent on the terrain of the golf course.
When getting ready to putt, be sure that your eyes are focused on the golf ball itself. It will help in lining up the putter with the golf ball. You must remember not to focus on the marker but more on how you will make your shot.
Proper putting stance is needed when putting. You don’t want your balance disturbed by a sudden gust of wind. First thing to remember is that you should be comfortable with your stance. One way to do this is to separate your legs with about the same width as your shoulders. This is a standard stance and it should give you a comfortable and balanced posture for your putt.
You could try a wider stance as it will be more balanced but you would be less comfortable. Remember that the wider your legs are apart, the more balanced it is and the less comfortable you are. Just try to find your balance as you make your shot. If you feel you have to sacrifice your comfort zone to have more balance then do it.
You should also remember that your shoulders should be parallel to the direction of the putt. Your arms should just be dropped down straight from your shoulders. Your feet can be open or closed, depending on where you are most comfortable. Remember that the more comfortable you are, the more natural your shot will be.
Remember that all putts are straight. It is your aim that will change. When aiming at a flat green just aim straight to the hole. You should practice so that all your putts just follow an imaginary line. When aiming in an elevated green, you should just putt the same. The difference is that you will aim directly at a point above the hole. What you want to happen is for the ball to stop at one point and to let gravity take your ball directly to the putt.
Long putts are more complicated but if mastered will help tremendously with your game. You should remember that a great long putt will eliminate the need for you to do short putts. The first thing to do is to sit down behind your ball and facing the hole. From that point of view you’ll get to see the low and high points of the green. If it’s a fairly straight green, you can just shoot a straight putt like the way you’re shooting for small putts. If it’s not, then try to evaluate whether to divide your long putt to smaller putts and putt accordingly.
Dividing a long putt depends on the terrain of the golf course. If you see a combination of straight and elevated terrain, dividing it would be better than trying to make your putt in one try. Try to eliminate the elevated terrain so you will just have to create a straight shot putt for your last shot.
Remember that nerves will always come into play when shooting your putts. Just stay relaxed and focused on your shots and you’ll do fine. Don’t blame anyone when you miss your putt, stay focused and just prepare your next shot as if it’s your first putt. Take a deep breath and don’t let your anger get the best of you.
About The Author
Edwin Shackleford has been helping individuals improve thier golf game for years. Try his Free Online Training Today! http://www.improve-your-golf-game.com.

Keeping Your Steering Systems Safe

2006-01-29T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ball Joints and Your Car's Suspension System by: Matthew C. Keegan
An important part of your car’s suspension system is its ball joints. Made of extra tough steel, ball joints act as the pivot point between two parts: the suspension and your car’s tires. Ball joints help support your car’s weight and, as is the case with some vehicles, ball joints may be used to help set the alignment. Let’s take a closer look at this key component of your car’s suspension system.
Enclosed in a steel housing, ball joints are used on the front end of almost every car, truck, SUV, and minivan. As might be expected, ball joints are subject to a lot of wear and tear, so to properly protect them ball joints are housed in an enclosed boot to keep dirt away from the joint assembly.
There are two types of suspension systems that use ball joints. The first is a conventional system that uses an upper and lower ball joint. The second is called a MacPherson strut system that uses a single lower ball joint and an upper strut bearing. No upper ball joint is needed as the upper strut bearing does the job instead.
Maintenance for ball joints has changed over the years for most cars. Many vehicles come equipped with ball joints that are permanently lubed, so lubrication is not necessary nor is it even possible as the pack that holds the lubrication is permanently sealed. When ball joints wear out or are damaged, you can find replacement ball joints that come with lubrication fittings; in this case you would need to lubricate your ball joints on a regular basis as in when you change your vehicle’s oil.
When performing an inspection of your car’s suspension, your ball joints should be looked at too. Have a complete wheel alignment performed and make certain that the ball joints are not worn. If the ball joints wear out and are not changed, you will soon experience uneven tire wear or unreliable steering, such as wandering. Clearly, worn out ball joints are a safety issue that must be tended to and fixed immediately.
Ball joints are developed for the specific make/model of your vehicle. Many models share the same suspension system as other models within the brand, but to be sure check your vehicle’s repair manual for the right replacement ball joints. Certain manufacturers, such as Moog, develop ball joints for many makes/models and can be used by mechanics that prefer this particular product. Check online to find out more information about Moog ball joints and whether they are right for your car.
Remember: ball joints are an important part of your vehicle’s suspension system. Annual check ups of the suspension can head off costly problems which can also impact your safety.
About The Author
Copyright 2006 – Matt Keegan is a freelance writer covering important automotive topics and products including:
ball joints: http://www.weknowballjoints.com
Moog ball joints: http://www.weknowballjoints.com/moog.html
Ford ball joints: http://www.weknowballjoints.com/ford.html

Editors Note: This is a very typical problem to find when looking at used cars, always check for loose or slack steering. Clanking or loud metallic clicking when rapid steering manuvers are made are a sure sign of either ball joints, bushings, wheel bearings or in most newer cars, struts (~$300 each end of vehicle to replace!). Just take it to a front end alignment shop and they can tell what is wrong in less than 15 minutes for all the above problems.

Power Steering Problems

2006-01-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

Power Steering Pump Failure…or is it the Steering Rack? by: Matthew C. Keegan
Has your car’s power steering suddenly quit working? If so, it could be that your power steering pump has failed. The unit itself may be shot or it could be a loss of steering fluid through a bad hose that is causing the problem. Regardless, you better tend to the problem now or you will soon be struggling with steering a car that seems to be working against you, not with you.
Before pump failure becomes obvious, you will usually hear buzzing or whining noises coming from underneath the hood. On the other hand, if you notice a gradual loss of power as evidenced by an increasingly difficult time moving the steering wheel [as when attempting to parallel park] or if you notice the problem when you first start up your car in the morning, then your steering rack may be going.
Steering racks fail gradually, but when they do you must take action before total failure occurs. Otherwise, control of your car becomes impossible and failure could then happen at any time, as in those times you are on the interstate. A real threat to your safety and to the safety of other drivers!
To find out if it is the steering rack causing the problem, check the power steering fluid closely to see if you notice small metallic pieces of metal floating around in it. If you do, then your steering rack is wearing out and the metallic pieces are the evidence that the rack is coming apart piece by piece.
Either way you slice it, you can expect that a major repair bill is looming for you. Not the news you want to hear, but not the news you have to hear either. Yes, taking your car in to your local garage or to your dealer’s repair department will cost you dearly. You will pay a mint for labor and pay a premium for a replacement steering pump or steering rack. High labor costs and huge replacement parts price mark ups are all part of the equation.
Fortunately, if you are even somewhat handy you can do either job yourself. Many weekend mechanics love grabbing a hold of their Haynes repair manual and with the replacement part at their side, go after the job. Of course, where you buy the replacement part can really matter, but strong savings can be gained if you shop online. Yes, auto parts wholesalers such as the Steering Rack Pros have what you want and at deep, discount prices. Reputable online wholesalers buy directly from the manufacturers and pass on big savings to you. No dealer mark ups, no third party charges. Just every day low prices on the parts you want and need.
So, go ahead and replace your power steering pump or steering rack today and save big on labor costs and replacement parts. There isn’t much better in life than to do a job yourself and gain a strong sense of satisfaction when you know you have successfully overcome a challenge and saved a bundle of money in the process.
About The Author
Copyright 2006 – Matt Keegan is a freelance writer covering important automotive topics and products including:
Rack and pinion steering: http://www.steeringrackpros.com
BMW steering rack: http://www.steeringrackpros.com/bmw.html
Honda steering rack: http://www.steeringrackpros.com/honda.html

How to Clean and Watch the Game

2006-01-28T00:08:00.000-08:00

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, Sit Back, Relax And Let Them Do The Work by: Richard Gazzo
As technology continues to develop, life becomes easier and there are more choices. Not only are computers developing at breakneck speeds, but even household appliances such as vacuum cleaners are evolving. Have you even heard of a robot vacuum, well you will soon enough. What are robotic vacuum cleaners, these battery powered creatures roam the floors of your home or office looking for dust and debris. They are designed to make life easier for you by vacuuming any dirt in its path.
Robot vacuums were invented by Electrolux and introduced into the consumer marketplace in 2001, then came Roomba vacuums, they perfected these cordless vacs and took them to the next level. So what can these types of vacuums do for you? Imagine this scenario, you come from a hard day at work, the kids come home with dirt all over their shoes tracking it all over your clean carpets. That would drive most parents crazy, but with the help of the Roomba vac you can read your newspaper and lets the robot do all the work for you.
Your'e probably wondering how this all work? Roomba's vacuum cleaners use a 3 stage cleaning system, that are designed to clean the edge of your walls, under neath all types of furniture and anywhere else it detects dirt. That's right these robots can actually detect dirty areas on your carpet or floor and do extra cleaning in those areas to clean it effectively. And these vacuums actually have a brain, they can detect areas such as stairs and actually avoid them! They use infrared sensors to detect the stairs in your home and stay away from them.
And after the room is cleaned, Roomba goes back to a recharging station to charge its battery for the next time you have a family disaster. You should know that Roomba isn't the only company manufacturing robotic vacuum systems, other models you might want to check out include, Electrolux Trilobite, Karcher RC 3000, EVac and the Samsung VC-RP30W. The most popular of all robot vacs is the Roomba Discovery SE.
Why stress out if you don't have to, let the robots do the work for you. Long gone are the days of vacuuming after the children. Oh, and if you're wondering about the price of a robot vac it will run you about $350. Check prices out online to find the best deals and cheapest prices on all your cleaning needs.
About The Author
Richard Gazzo is a writer, providing articles on all types of vacuums, such as Miele vacuums, Electrolux vacuum models , Panasonic vacuum. and even central vacuum systems. http://www.best-vacuum-cleaners.net/.

How to Avoid Water Damage in Basements

2006-01-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Preventing Water Damage in the Basement by: Leo Nov
A wet basement can quickly develop into a complete disaster. Many maintenance systems are installed in the basement. These systems generate moisture leading to potential water related problems. A periodic inspection will provide accurate indications for a water problem somewhere else in your home and can help preventing a much bigger damage.
Heating and Air Conditioning System
HVAC systems must be regularly inspected if located in the basement. Check the drain pans and remove debris to allow it to flow. Do not overlook the filters and replace when needed. When inspecting the HVAC, take a close look at the ductwork. Deteriorating insulations must be treated and sealed.
Ceiling and Walls
Moisture walls are a red flag for a water problem in the basement and may be a hint for internal leaks. Take a look at the walls and search for stains. If visible, follow the trails to locate the source of the problem and fix it. Even the smallest sign for a leak in the basement must be treated promptly.
Pipes
A common problem is pipes condensations caused by pipes sweating. This problem promotes mold and corrosion if ignored. To reduce condensation, consider installing insulating on all pipes.
Sump Pumps
Sump pump assist in keeping unwanted water out of your basement. When checking the pump, make sure the outlet pipe is not clogged and that it directs water away from your home. Test the pump by filling the pit with water to make sure the pump is working. Check that the pump is running and that it is actually pumping out water. Clean the air hole in the discharge line. Make sure that the motor is running well and that there are no strange noises. If you own a battery operated pump, check the battery and replace when needed. Keep in mind that all problems must be fixed immediately.
About The Author
Leo Nov is the editorial director of http://restorationsos.com, a leading restoration services provider for water and fire damages.
To learn more about water damage restoration, visit http://restorationsos.com.
leon@restorationsos.com

How to Childproof Your Home

2006-01-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

Childproof Your Home to Keep Your Little One Safe by: Alli Ross
Parents and caregivers want to provide a safe place for their children to live and play but too often child proofing these areas gets put off. This has caused thousands of household accidents that could have easily have been prevented. The good news is that child proofing is not difficult and can easily be completed in one day.
It is important to protect your child from common household dangers before you bring your newborn home from the hospital. If you wait, things can become hectic and easily get put off until later. Below are some of tips on how to childproof your home.
On your first visit to the store you will likely be overwhelmed by all of the products on the market designed to child proof or baby proof your home. There are literally hundreds of different choices.
Some child proofing requires no devices, just common sense. Other areas definitely require the use of a child proofing device. Not all children are the same. If you feel a certain product would help protect your child from a situation they are more likely to get into, you may consider adding that to your arsenal as well.
Here are some basic steps for child proofing your home.
Move Cleaners, Medicine and Other Poisons
You need to move any poisonous substance out of the reach of your children. A common mistake is to keep cleaners under the kitchen sink or bath products on the ledge of the tub. While you might think that child resistant caps will protect your children, you should be aware that the requirements for a child resistant package may mean that at least 80-85% of children couldn't open them. That means your child might. All poisons and medicines should be stored in a high cupboard or locked area.
Block Stairways
Not surprisingly, falls are one of the biggest causes of injury to young children. Stairways are particularly dangerous and should always be properly gated. Never use pressure mounted gates at the tops of stairs since your child may be able to put enough pressure on them to give way.
Despite having a gate it is important for parents to keep a close eye on children around staircases. No safety device outweighs the importance of adult supervision.
Keep Children out of Dangerous Rooms
The bathroom, garage, and office can all be dangerous areas for you child. To keep them safe, use door-knob covers and door locks. Place a slide lock or hook-and-eye latch hign on the door, out of child's reach.
Keep Windows Safe
Lock windows or use guards to prevent them from opening too far. Screens will not keep your child from falling out of a window.
Make sure that blind cords are out of reach and the beds, cribs and other furniture are moved away from windows where a child could climb up and reach. You'd be surprised what they are capable of.
Outlets, Drawers and Cupboards
There is a huge assortment of products aimed at protecting your children's fingers from being caught in door hinges, slammed in drawers or by closing cupboard doors. Test out several products in a children's store that demonstrates how different products are used. The main purpose should be to prevent an accident but if you find the products difficult to use you may end up not using them at all.
Small Toys and Other Choking Hazards
Another major cause of hospital visits for small children is choking. Small toys, batteries, buttons, coins and other objects go straight into the mouths of babies and toddlers (and even some preschoolers). Prevention is the key. If you have older children they should be taught to keep small toys out of the reach of younger children. Keep a keen eye for objects on the floor where your baby is present.
Monitor New Dangers
You will need to be constantly aware of what your child can get access to. As you child grows and develops they may suddenly be capable of reaching or pulling down items you didn't think of.
Don't forget that most child proofing devices you can buy are temporary solutions to prevent the most disastrous accidents. Your children should also be taught how to behave and where to be especially careful. After all, your children will likely be in many homes that are not child proofed like yours and their safety will depend on understanding what's not safe.
Brought to You By: http://www.babynamebox.com
About The Author
Alli Ross is the hip granmamma at BabyNameBox.com, where you can find over 20,000 baby names and their meanings as well as parenting info and advice.
granmamma@babynamebox.com

Using VOIP Phones

2006-01-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Using VoIP With Your Cell Phone by: Mark Woodcock
Before many of us came to rely on cell phones to make long distance phone calls, our only option was to commit to a long distance phone company. Long distance carriers charged what were at times exorbitant by-the-minute fees to make calls to friends and loved ones often living only a few hours away. When cell phones came into prominence, they brought with them service plans that gave us such luxuries as free night and weekend calling anywhere domestically. Alas, even cell phones had their drawbacks, in that their reception was often broken up, and calls could be dropped unceremoniously. When along came VOIP, a new choice in long distance phone calling was on the horizon. VOIP has many different options, and now it seems that we have the choice of combining VOIP technology with cell phones. The prospect of VOIP cell phone service brings with it the potential for even more freedom and convenience, along with lower prices. Or does it?
Normally, VOIP service is available in three modes: ATA, IP phone, and computer-to-computer. All of these services are common and available for use at your home computer. ATA, or analog telephone adapter, lets you connect your regular home telephone to your computer and use it for VOIP service by converting analog sound bits into digital data. IP, or Internet protocol, phones are telephones that are specially designed for use with VOPI service. These phones look just like a standard home phone, but are wired differently to be VOIP capable. You can have a cordless IP phone that allows you to move freely through your home or office as you talk. Computer-to-computer VOIP is achieved by installing software that you can get through a provider. You make long distance calls from your computer, and talk through a microphone that is hooked up to your machine. All of these services are convenient in their own ways, but do not have quite the portability that cell phones offer. That is why the idea of VOIP cell phones is so appealing. Potentially, it is the best of both worlds: portability and low cost phone service.
Cost savings is by far the most attractive aspect of VOIP. With typical VOIP, you can expect to pay anywhere from $19.95 to $34.99 per month for a service that consists of many features, including free domestic calls, dirt cheap International calling rates, Caller ID, Call Waiting, 3-way Calling, among others. This, of course, is in addition to your current monthly ISP charge, which for broadband is usually around $40 per month. The combined cost for your ISP and VOIP services is likely to still be less expensive than if you were to remain in service with a traditional telephone company. However, this is not necessarily the case if you were to switch your cell phone over to VOIP as well.
Providers that offer VOIP cell phone services usually charge a monthly fee in addition to a per-minute fee. If you don't use your cell phone often enough to meet or exceed your current allotted plan minutes, then it is simply not cost effective for you to subscribe to VOIP cell phone service. VOIP and cell phones go well together for those customers that regularly exceed their plan minutes or make International calls on their cell phone on a regular basis. And, if your Internet connection if prone to outages, you could experience the same dropped call occurrences that you might often get with a standard cell phone service.
There is no doubt that VOIP is a reasonably priced and convenient way to bundle all of you communications together. VOIP service is improving all the time as technologies moves forward, which will allow providers to offer more reliable and even more affordable service down the line. Currently, VOIP cell phone service is in its infancy, and the kinks are being worked out. If you do the math, and feel that your monthly cell phone bill would benefit from a reasonable VOIP service plan, then it is worth the switch. If you do not make International calls on your cell phone, and you rarely or never go over your plan's allotted monthly minutes, then you are probably better off sticking with your traditional cell phone service for now than putting out more money for VOIP cell phone service.
About The Author
Mark Woodcock is a director of 3 Internet Companies, is a published author and has written many articles on a widespread number of topics. All his articles may be reproduced provided that an active link is included to http://www.voip-services-provider.com.

How to Reduce Your Taxes

2006-01-11T13:25:00.000-08:00

How To Minimize Your Taxes On Wealth by: Jakob Jelling
Taxes on wealth or simply wealth tax is the tax levied on the value of wealth owned by a person. As the term ‘wealth’ carries with it a broader meaning, generally capital transfer taxes (which include inheritance tax and gift tax), property tax, and capital gains taxes are some times invariably referred to as wealth taxes.
Taxes on wealth were first introduced in Europe, aimed at reducing the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor. It was meant to raise revenue for addressing pressing social requirements and also to discourage the attitude towards amassing wealth.
Still, in countries across the world, majority of wealth is concentrated at the hands of fairly small number of people. Ideally taxes on wealth cuts down the disparities in wealth rather than the income, which actually is the determinant factor on how the scales are weighed for the next generations.
Also, taxes on wealth can bring about vertical as well as horizontal equity, which income tax fails to achieve. For example, neither a wealthy person nor a poor one with no income will pay income tax. But the wealthy ones need to cough up wealth tax while the poor need not.
But, as critics puts down, taxes on wealth can actually cause inefficiency by discouraging wealth producing economic initiatives. Also, the revenue generated by imposing taxes on wealth may not be that productive as the theory suggests. The wealthiest form only a small percentage of the population and by nature they are adept at avoiding taxes while remaining themselves within the contours of law.
Taxes on wealth comes in two forms – the capital transfer taxes that are levied when wealth change hands and the annual wealth taxes. Capital transfer taxes can occur either at death – also called inheritance tax – or via donation (gift tax). Some people tend to believe that Capital Gains tax to be a form of taxes on wealth. But in realty, capital gains tax is the taxation on the income obtained on capital and not a wealth tax on the capital.
Ideally, taxes on wealth should not be severe on the tax payers even if they have lots of wealth. Instead, after the minimum slab of no taxation, the taxes on wealth percentage should increase at increments, depending on the value of wealth in dollars. Such a fairer taxation not only increases the revenue but also goes a long way in bringing down the inequality aspect as well.
But with intelligent investing, one can save a lot that other wise goes as wealth tax. But that requires careful thought and advanced planning. May be a tax professional could help one in this regard.

About The Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.
ArticleCity.com - How To Minimize Your Taxes On Wealth

Buying a Used Car

2006-01-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

Buying Used Car Tips by: Gregory Ashton
Scouting for price-cuts is a smart habit. And buying used cars is no exception.
No wonder why many people are enticed to buy used cars. In fact, statistics show that the number of people who buy used cars is three times more than the number of people who buy new cars.
But then again, not all used cars are maintained equally by their previous owners. Hence, it is important for those who wish to purchase used cars to consider the different factors that might affect the performance and the condition of the car.
Here is a list of some tips that will help buyers in choosing their used cars.
1. Safety features should not be taken for granted.
Being old is not an excuse to justify the used car’s lack of safety features. Every car, whether old or new should have safety features in order to prevent some possible accident while driving.
Every used car should still have its anti-lock brakes working properly and airbags that are still intact (for cars made after this requirement).
2. The mileage is important
This is because the amount of mileage reflects the way the car has been used by the previous owner. Moreover, the mileage will denote the used car’s age.
Normally, an average driver will drive 12, 000 to 15, 000 miles in a year. In this way, the buyer will be able to estimate how old the car is.
3. Over-all check up is important
Before buying the car, the buyer should first conduct an over-all check up on the condition of the car, from its exterior parts up to the very detail of its interior portion.
Being old does not mean any signs of wear and tear will be an excused. Hence, people should be aware what they are paying for.
4. Test drive
There is no better way to know the condition of the car until it has been test-driven. Hence, a buyer should make all the effort to do a test drive first before he or she jumps into conclusion.
5. If possible, the over all service history of the car should be checked.
This will provide the buyer solid information regarding the true condition of the car. Here, the buyer can detect if the car has so many technical problems before, if it has been into an accident already, or if the owner was good enough to provide the proper maintenance for the car.
Knowing these things is extremely important to avoid possible risks in the future.
Boiled down, inspection is mportant especially if the transaction concerns money. Cheap is no substitute for being a smart buyer.
About The Author
Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. http://www.best-car-buying-tips.com.

How to Fix a Broken Pipe

2006-01-04T17:47:00.000-08:00

Repairing a Frozen Pipe by: Mark J. Donovan
In just a matter of a months winter will be upon us. Besides bundling up from the cold and shoveling snow, homeowners sometimes have to deal with the additional task of fixing frozen pipes.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
The best way to deal with frozen pipes is to prevent them in the first place. If you have the luxury of participating and/or overseeing the building of your home, make sure the plumber does not run any plumbing supply lines in the outside walls of the home. Even if he indicates he will wrap them in insulation, do not accept this compromise. I have seen even insulated pipes in outside walls freeze.
If, however, you have an existing home and there are plumbing supply lines running on the outside walls that you have access to, then insulate these pipes with pipe insulation. It is better than nothing.
How to Fix a Frozen Pipe
If in the event you do find yourself with a frozen pipe, then I recommend the following:
• Close the supply line valve and open the faucet at the end of the pipe.
• Examine the entire length of pipe looking for cracks, breaks or holes, particularly focusing on the suspect cold areas, e.g. crawl spaces and outside walls.
Thaw Out the Damaged Pipe
• Once the crack, break or hole has been identified, use a hair dryer to heat up the surrounding pipe area to get the water flowing again through the pipe. Check the faucet regularly to see when the water begins to flow again. Once the water begins to flow it is time to move on to the repairing phase.
Note: The amount of water flowing out of the faucet will be limited as the supply line valve was shut off.
Repairing the Damage Supply Line
• Once the damaged pipe area has been thawed out, using a hack saw or pipe cutter, remove a section of pipe that includes the broken section.
• Replace this section of pipe. Use a propane torch, solder and flux to sweat the new joints.
• If you are not comfortable cutting and replacing the damaged pipe, pending the size of the crack or break you could simply wrap duct tape or electrical tape around the affected area for a temporary fix. However, a plumber should be brought in as soon as possible to fix the leak permanently.
• Once the pipe has been repaired, turn the supply line valve back on, run the faucet and check the repaired site for any leaks.
• Finally, apply some pipe insulation and/or electrical pipe-heating wire around the repaired area to prevent the problem from occurring again.
About The Author
Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com.

Wood Furniture Care

2006-01-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

Caring for your Wood Furniture by: Batsheva Vaknin
There is nothing like wood furniture to add elegance and beauty to a home. Whether it is a thick, all-natural butchers block table, an Art Deco wooden dresser, a simple mahogany dining room table or a sleek, modern coffee table, wood furniture is a staple in homes across America and the world. Make sure your wood tables, vanities and dressers stay gorgeous for generations to come with these simple solutions and guidelines. Stain, Stain, Go Away! Ever gasped after a child inadvertently left a giant scratch in the surface of your dining room table? Or cringed when a well-meaning adult accidentally knocked over a drink onto your beautiful wood coffee table? Well, fear not. One of the best attributes of wood furniture is that it is simple to touch up or renew its original luster.
Small nicks and scratches can usually be disguised with the help of a store-bought scratch cover product. For larger scratches, try using a felt tip pen or shoe polish in a color closely matched to the finish of the furniture piece. Shoe polish applicator bottles filled with the stain work well for the cover-up job, as do Sharpie markers. Coloring in the scratch is easy and surprisingly effective.
Get rid of pesky water spots on your wood furniture by allowing the spots to dry completely, then rubbing real mayonnaise onto it with a soft cloth, until the spots disappear. Erase color rings left on tables by cups and glasses with a homemade mixture of cigarette ashes and cooking oil. Prep the stain first by scrubbing it with an abrasive pad or sandpaper. Then, rub the oil and ash concoction into the wood.
And what about candle wax, marring the beautiful finish of your wood dining room table? Wait until the wax cools, then apply ice. Once the wax becomes extremely hard and brittle, gently scrape it off with a plastic spatula. Finally, polish the table with a rich cream polish, and buff away any residue.
Remove or Disguise Scratches and Stains Problem: Solution:
Nicks, Scratches Magic Marker or Shoe Polish
Water Spots Mayonnaise
Color Rings Sandpaper, Ashes and Oil
Wax Ice
An Ounce of Prevention, a Lifetime of Protection
Prevent serious damage to your wood furniture by taking care not to position it in direct sunlight. Unless you are going for the weathered picnic table look, shield all wood furniture from the drying influence of the sun. Also, protect your dining room table’s finish using an inexpensive table pad when the table is not in use.
When eating a meal or entertaining guests, use a tablecloth or placemats to protect the finish of a wood table, especially when serving hot food. Place hot serving dishes atop a hot pad and candle holders over a large felt protector with a plastic top, since plastic prevents wax from running.
Use coasters beneath all glasses and mugs to protect your coffee table, dining room table and wood dressers from unsightly rings and water spots. Beware, because not all coasters are created equal. Metal coasters can sweat onto the wood, and plastic coasters can react with certain finishes on some wood furniture pieces. So consider choosing wooden coasters with felt backing and a waterproof material on top to further ensure the longevity of your wood table tops. The best coasters are those that taper up on the sides, preventing leakage.
Protect Your Wood Tables from Damage Protect From: With:
General Harm Table Pad (when not in use)
Sun Damage Location out of Direct line of Sun
Heat Damage Tablecloths, Placemats, Hot Pads
Wax Felt Protector with Plastic Top
Water Damage Wood Coasters with Felt Bottom
and Waterproof top
Proper Care and Cleaning
Polishing wood furniture every week goes a long way toward protecting the finish from damage and helping your wood tables, chairs and dressers look their best. Beware, though, of cheap polishes, or any polish that contains silicone or alcohol. Alcohol can do permanent damage to a wood surface, as can any household cleaner that contains ammonia. An excellent polish can be easily made at home, by combining lemon oil with 3 parts olive oil.
Now that you know about polishes, don’t forget to clean your wood furniture as well. Regular cleaning is especially important for coffee tables and dining room tables where food and drink are daily staples. Use a very mild soap, such as a diluted mixture of hand soap and water, as a cleaning agent for your wood furniture. And if you really want to ensure your dining room table or heirloom wood desk stays beautiful, have your wood furniture buffed and polished by a professional service once or twice a year.
Make Your Own Polish and Cleaning Agents Type: Mixture:
Homemade Wood Furniture Polish = 1 part Lemon Oil + 3 parts Olive Oil
Homemade Wood Furniture Cleaner = Hand Soap + Water
*Stay away from Alcohols and Ammonias
Now you are fully armed to properly care for your wood furniture. And don’t be disheartened if you are unable to make a nick or small stain disappear completely. Signs of use can add character to a piece of wood furniture, and are often barely noticeable. Whether it is a dresser, coffee table, bookshelf, desk, or dining room table, wood furniture is the perfect addition to any home.
About The Author
Batsheva Vaknin
Please find the original article and more information about this subject at http://www.homeandliving.com/DesignAdvice.aspx?Category=WoodCare
When Yale graduate, BatSheva Vaknin is not writing helpful and insightful articles like the one you just read for www.homeandliving.com, she writes plays, screenplays and short stories. In fact, she has just completed her first novel.
If you would like to publish this article on your own site, please feel free to do so. Please let us know the URL of the posted article by emailing the URL to customerservice@homeandliving.com. All we ask is that you include the whole article, without changes, including the link to the original article location, author information, this disclaimer and the following link.
Find great home furniture online at www.homeandliving.com...

Changing Oil : How Often?

2005-12-30T07:28:00.000-08:00

When Do You Need To Change Your Oil? by: Donald Buske
The most important service you can perform to maintain your vehicle is an automotive oil change. Engine oil is the life blood of your vehicle, and if changed on a regular three thousand mile interval, it will keep your automobiles engine running for years. While oil keeps things lubricated, the oil filter keeps out the impurities, so the oil filter needs to be changed at every interval. If you plan to perform an oil change on your own, you will need the correct auto repair manual. Always consult your repair manual for proper oil quantity, oil weight, and the proper oil filter when performing an automotive oil change.
Most automotive manufacturers will suggest that you do an automotive oil change between five thousand and seventy five hundred miles, but I would only recommend that interval for synthetic oil. The maintenance schedules that they publish have two options, standard and extreme. Most consumers think that the standard schedule is fine no matter where you live, but 75% of the world lives in the extreme, hot,cold,city driving,etc! Extreame heat as well as extreame cold, will break down engine oil viscosity and cause it to loose its lubricating properties. So lets stick to an automotive oil change every three thousand miles. Visit our site for advice on every other department of auto repair.
About The Author
Donald Buske
I have over 25 years of automotive repair experience. I know quite alot about everything that has to do with your auto. I am ASE certified as well as GM certified. I am originally from Wisconsin, born and raised, lived there for 38 years. I've spent many years in the summer-humid /winter-icy/snowy climate and have dealt with not only repair conditions there but also how to drive properly in those conditions. Fuel economy is probably the most important element to saving money today, and how you drive or how your vehicle performs plays a big part in that. I now have lived in Phoenix for the past 6 years, in the middle of the desert where it reaches up to 115 degrees on a summer day. I've seen it all as far as vehicle maintenance and care goes and can help with any problem by email or by visiting my website at http://www.your-auto-repair-help.com/automotive-oil-change.html

How to Build a Marshmallow Gun

2005-12-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

How to Build and Shoot a Marshmallow Gun by: Hunter Beck
Marshmallow blow guns are safe and fun for boys and girls of all ages. Even dads will enjoy this toy. A marshmallow gun or shooter is a terrific Christmas, birthday or anytime gift!
The first marshmallow blow gun I ever received was at a birthday party. We played “Capture the Flag” with marshmallow guns. After the party, we all received a marshmallow gun for a party favor.
If you want to know how to build and shoot a marshmallow gun, the plans are below. Learning how to build and shoot a Marshmallow Gun without plans can be tricky, so we are giving the Marshmallow Gun-Shooter Plans to you for free!
Building the Marshmallow Gun
1. Buy 1/2 inch PVC pipe, 2 PVC elbows, 2 PVC T's, 2 PVC end caps, spray paint, marshmallows (ammo)
2. Cut your PVC pipe however long you want the barrel.
3. Cut four pieces of PVC pipe 1/3 of the barrel, two for the handles and two for connecting pieces of PVC pipe together. Cut one piece 1/3 of your handles. Cut one more piece of PVC pipe 1/2 of your barrel.
3. Get two T's, two elbows, and two caps. Place the smallest piece of PVC pipe in between the two T's. Now put two of the PVC pipe (1/3 size of the barrel) on top and bottom of the T's. Place a cap on the bottom PVC pipe and an elbow on the top PVC pipe. Put the barrel in the t that's PVC pipe has a cap on the end of it.
4. Now, place the PVC pipe that is 1/2 of the barrel on your elbow. Put a PVC pipe (1/3 size of the barrel) in the other t. Place an elbow on the end of your PVC pipe that is 1/3 size of your barrel.
5. Place the last PVC pipe (that is 1/3 the size of the barrel) on the T. Place the last cap on the PVC pipe that is a 1/3 size of the barrel.
6. Now that the pieces are all put together start spray painting the marshmellow gun. The marshmallow gun can have designs. If you want designs, cut shapes out on a piece of paper, and spray paint through the paper on to the marshmallow gun.
7. Let dry overnight.
As a side note, you will have leftover materials since PVC only comes in ten foot lengths. Cutting the PVC may be a hassle, but painting the gun takes several coats and adult supervision. Some people choose to buy these guns completely made since you can find them online at inexpensive prices.
Shooting the Marshallow Gun
First, put a marshmallow in the beginning of the nozzle, the top piece. Do not put it in the barrel. Then blow one big breath of air, not a long weak breath. The bigger and harder the breath, the farther the marshmallow will go. To have even more fun, meet your friends at the park and have a really big marshmallow gun war.
Since you know how to build and shoot a marshmallow gun or shooter, run out to the store and buy your supplies. Before you know it, you will be shooting marshmallows with your own gun.
About The Author
Hunter Beck produces and sells his own line of unique toys by Ranger Press Toys. To see pictures and designs of a completed Marshmallow Guns, go to www.curriculumconnection.net/marshmallowgun.htm

How to Understand Us Southerners'

2005-12-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

Field Notes on Country Linguistics by: Nola L. Kelsey
As Suzy stammered, my ears perked up. For distraction I called out, “Hey Kathy, put on another pot of coffee.” Suzy spoke again. The fact is, gouging my own eyes out with a ketchup bottle would not have distracted me. A linguistic calamity was eminent.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up, then it ran from the room. I knew where Suzy was headed. Her speech was like watching a car accident. It all moved in slow motion. Every instinct in me said tear the phone from her hand before it's too late. But she had to learn to properly communicate with customers. Please Lord, I begged, don't let her say it. Then it happened. Suzy uttered the words, “We'll mam, I ain't fer sures on that.”
Across America, English professors collectively wept. My mind locked. How could she have said it again? She had been with our company four months. Still, there was hope. Okay, Lord, you're pretty funny, I sneered. Seriously, could her next words please be, “If you would not mind holding for one moment, I will find out the answer for you.” Ha! No such luck.
The gods hate me. After an awkward silence (while the caller and I shared an embolism), Suzy proceeded to take the customer’s order. Neither of them was any wiser for the experience. I stepped outside to meditate. Would I have to fire her? I was not fer sures on that?
You hear many endearing phrases in the county. I find, ‘a doins’ quite charming. Such as there's a doins at Bubba's tonight. Translated this means, festivities will take place at Bubba’s residence this evening.
‘Pert near’ is fun. Linguists translate this colorful twist on grammar as meaning, ‘almost’ not nearby. As in, pert near everybody ceptin that cidiot been told bout the rodeo. Meaning, almost everyone, except the new city idiot, was informed of the upcoming rodeo event.
Unfortunately, telling a high maintenance Dressage Equestrian (they are all high-maintenance), “Ya aint's fer sures on that,” translates as, “Hello, we are illiterate, so buy our product.” Following this with no offer to expand your knowledge and assist the customers says, “We may be illiterate, but that's ok. We also suck. Thank you and have a nice day.”
Tourists passing through this area have improperly translated another phrase. “What chya doin?” is often misinterpreted as the rhetorical “What's up?” or “What's happening?” Sadly, that is not its meaning. “What chya doin?” literally translates as, “What are you doing?" Confusion on this matter is based on timing.
“What chya doing?” is often asked when your activity could not be more blatantly obvious. For example: You're spreading cheese over flat dough topped with tomato sauce. Mountains of pepperoni are poised nearby. A stranger asks, “What chya doin?" Heads up: They literally have not connected the dots. Do not wisecrack, “Installing solar panels." Before you know it, you'll be explaining how green peppers affect your hot water supply.
Here in South Dakota low wages have brought in large numbers of Customer Service call centers. Airlines, finance companies, catalog sales, these types of companies coagulate around Rapid City. Lately there has been a lot of concern over competition from India. Apparently the population of India is highly educated and enunciates in a manner more understandable than that of South Dakotans. Americans, not having Hindi as the mother tongue, stand little chance. Still, there is a certain irony in residents of the Black Hills losing something to Indians. How many groups will that statement offend? I ain't fer sures on that.
About The Author
Nola L. Kelsey
Field Notes on Country Linguistics is an excerpt from the satire Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin' Country by Nola L. Kelsey. A free e-book copy of Bitch Unleashed is available on Nola Kelsey's web site at http://www.NolaKelsey.com or order it at your favorite bookstore.

Better Gas Mileage

2005-12-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

How to Obtain Better Gas Mileage by: Ken Reno
During the early years, ten dollars per barrel was just the price of oil, but nowadays, it has reached a staggering price that makes ten dollars per barrel prehistoric in proportion.
Everybody has heard the news, (if really it's considered news at all), that gasoline price is continually increasing, which brings us to the question: “Can we do something to prevent gas price hike?”
The world can’t do much to control the gas price increase. But being frugal and wise in consuming gas could help. Gas conservation not only safeguards our environmental resources, it will also keep our almost-empty pockets filled with few silver coins.
There are various ways that one may employ to help alleviate the discomfort that the increase of gas price brings.
The least that one can do is to maximize the gas his or her little amount of money was able to afford. So how does one obtain better gas mileage?
1. Don't consume it at all.
Combining all the little bills that are allotted for your gasoline consumption will may not buy you a new car, but it may be enough to buy you another gallon of gasoline when you need it most. Opting to walk can be a healthier and cheaper way to do it.
2. Check your air filter.
Always make sure that your air filter is in good working condition. If you need to replace it, don't put it off. Air filters are not that expensive and replacing them is easy. It is advisable is that you replace your old air filter at least once a year.
3. Check your oil's quality.
Another important thing that must never be overlooked is the quality of your car's oil. If your car's oil is dirty, your car consumes much more gas since the engine can't run more efficiently as it used to. Oil change is recommended every 3 to 5 thousand miles.
4. Check your tire pressure.
Driving on low pressured tires consumes more gas since it is exerting more effort than a car that has well-pressured tires. Secure a tire gauge for your car maintenance needs. You should always check your tires at least once a week Also, check the tire alignments regularly because correctly aligned car tires will make the car run much smoother and faster.
5. Check your carburetor.
Your car's carburetor should also be maintained well. It should also be tuned up well to ensure that you don't let your car consume gas excessively. Vehicles today have fuel injection as a replacement to the carburetor. It is wise to use a fuel injection cleaner when filling up your tank because it is a lot more convenient to use.
6. Check your exhaust system.
Make sure that your exhaust system has no holes, leaks or weak parts to ensure that you don't lose power because of its bad condition.
Those are just a few of the things that one can easily do to help in conserving gas. Making use of these tips will help you get more miles out of that expensive gallon of gas and all of these things will also make your car safer and last longer for you and your family to use.
You see, it's just a matter of discipline and sheer consciousness regarding your own gas consumption which can give you better gas mileage.
About The Author
Ken Reno is the owner of numerous websites, including http://www.CheapGasIsGone.com.

Selling Your House

2005-12-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

Sell Your House Fast by: Raynor James
There is nothing worse than putting house up for sale and watching it sit on the market. Here are a few tips to sell your house fast.
Sell Your House Fast
The following tips will help you sell your house fast, but we need to cover something first. If you have some type of defect with your house, it is going to have to be repaired. There is a difference between making small mistakes that prevent a sale versus having a major problem like a sliding foundation. These tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to those houses selling in your neighborhood.
The number one thing involved in selling your house fast is the price. The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth. Buyers simply don’t care about such things. To sell your house fast, you have to find a price that is attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Find out how much they sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses went for. If you are above those prices, you need to take a deep breath and lower your price. When it comes to pricing your house for a fast sale, do not try to recreate the wheel. Just follow the lead set by neighbors in your area.
The second thing you can do is deal with clutter. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken a buyer to a home only to be shocked by the amount of junk stuffed in garage, basement and rooms of the home. Whether you like it or not, you are selling a product. Clear out the clutter and make it look as nice as possible. Buyers will be much more interested in buying a sharp looking property.
Another tip is to let go of your emotional attachments in the home. A friend of mine recently sold a home and nearly had the sale fall through over four high quality bar stools. They were hand made and one of a kind. The buyer wanted them thrown into the sale and my friend refused. The deal eventually went through without the bar stools included. When my friend moved into his new home, he realized there was no room for the bar stools and ended up putting them on consignment! Don’t fall into this trap!
To sell your house fast, the number one issue is always price. Nail down the proper price and you should be able to move the property as quickly as your neighbors did.
About The Author
Raynor James is with the FSBO site - http://www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home" page - http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm - to sell your house yourself with a free 1 month listing.

Dog Tracking Systems

2005-12-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

Tips On Choosing The Best Dog Tracking System by: Jack Russell
Dogs are man’s best friend, and this is not an understatement. This is because man and dogs find things that they can both enjoy such as playing, wrestling, running, and even hunting.
There are people who bring their dogs along whenever they are out for a hunting activity. They do this because they find their dog’s company during hunting a worthwhile inclusion.
Moreover, there are dogs that are also adept in hunting activities especially those that were trained for specific types of hunting activities.
It is for this reason that certain devices were created in order to help hunters monitor the activities of their dogs. An example of these devices is the dog tracking system.
Basically, a dog tracking system is a device that is used by hunters to track the activities of their dogs while they are out hunting. These tracking systems are typically used to monitor dogs on their location, their current activity, or to check whenever dogs have already gotten its prey.
So, for people who are not aware of how dog tracking system works or why they are so important for some people, here’s a list of some facts regarding this marvelous device.
1. Dog tracking systems are used mainly by hunters like coon hunters, upland bird hunters, hounds men, etc. They use this system in order to monitor their dogs that are out on the field.
2. This particular tracking system is also used whenever the hunters can no longer see their dogs because of distance or terrain.
3. Dog tracking collars are great alternatives when hunters can no longer use their dog bells or their beeper collars.
4. With dog tracking collars, they can easily spot their dogs and call their attention. Best of all, dog tracking collars are also applicable in tracking numerous dogs in a certain hunting activity.
5. There are some dog tracking systems that allow the handler to verify or find out what the dog is doing. All they have to do is to use some performance systems that are included in the collar.
In this way, the handler can tell if the dog is currently walking, if it has stopped, if it is barking at something, or if it has already caught its prey.
Moreover, dog tracking systems are not only for hunting purposes. There are people who can make use of this device whenever their dogs are lost.
With dog tracking system, hunting can be fun for both dogs and their handlers.
About The Author
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/.

I found several stores for you that sell autos, parts, tools, appliances, furniture, hardware, gardening and pets!

Oil Painting Techniques

2005-12-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Introduction to Oil Painting Techniques by: Ralph Serpe
Oil paint is an amazing versatile medium. It can be applied in a thick buttery fashion or thinned down to a watery consistency. This versatility opens the door to a number of different painting techniques.
My personal preference is to begin my oil paintings by first sketching out the composition using acrylic paint or with water-soluble oil paints. The popular approach to oil painting is to thin the paint with turpentine to apply your initial layers. Turpentine is quite toxic and I prefer not to work with it. Acrylic or water-soluble oil paints can be thinned down with plain old water and are more pleasant to work with in my opinion.
You can also begin your oil painting by first drawing out your composition. There are a few drawing mediums that work quite nicely with oil paints. My two favorites are vine charcoal and water-soluble pencils. I prefer vine charcoal because it doesn't smudge like other charcoals and it can be erased easier. Water-soluble pencils are wonderful because they can be applied like ordinary colored pencils and can also be dampened with a brush allowing you to spread out the color.
If you are the impatient type, you may want to try your hand at the Alla Prima oil painting technique. The Alla Prima method is when you complete the painting in one sitting rather than paint in layers and wait for the paint to dry. Although I usually prefer to work out my paintings in layers, I occasionally enjoy this exciting and spontaneous approach to oil painting.
If you are the careful, patient type of painter, you may be interested in working with glazes. Glazing has lost popularity these days, partly because of the time needed to complete such a painting and it's difficulty, but the results are something truly unique to any other type of painting technique. The composition is first painted with an opaque monochrome underpainting, usually in shades of gray. After this initial underpainting is thoroughly dry, thin layers of transparent oil glazes are applied. Colors are not mixed directly but added in separate layers to get the desired color.
If you are the adventurous type, put the brushes aside and try a set of painting or palette knives. You can achieve some very interesting results with knives that aren't possible with brushes. The oil paint can be spread on thickly and scraped off with ease. What I enjoy most about using knives is the tendency to not focus on the small details. I am forced to paint in a more relaxed fashion that creates an impressionist style painting. Get yourself a set of painting knives and try to complete an entire painting with just the knives. It's challenging at first if you are used to brushes, but it's an enjoyable exercise.
Perhaps you would like your painting to have more body and texture. You could try the impasto technique and apply your paint in thick heavy strokes, leaving evidence of all those wonderfully artistic brush strokes. Take a look at a Van Gogh painting and you will see this technique in action.
It's really no wonder why oil painting is such a popular choice for painters. There is so much to discover in oil painting. You will never get bored trying out all the wonderful tools, mediums and techniques.
About The Author
Ralph Serpe
For more oil painting techniques, including free step-by-step demonstrations from experienced oil painters, head over to http://www.creativespotlite.com/oil-painting-lessons.htm today.

I was looking for gifts such as art, collectibles, crafts, books, baked gifts and I found them shopping online.

My wife always shops for clothes, shoes, makeup and jewelry online.

My kids said to go online for Christmas toys this year.

Most of the time I shop online for electronics such as audio, tvs, cell phones, wireless digital cameras and pdas.

I found all the furniture and hardware I needed online.

My friend the chef said to look online for kitchen supplies and recipes.

Battery Maintenance for Your Car

2005-12-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

Taking Care of Your Car’s Battery by: Matthew C. Keegan
Every car comes with one, but some motorists act as if this particular component is completely maintenance free. What am I talking about? Your car’s battery. Technological advances have made “maintenance free” batteries standard equipment on virtually every vehicle produced today. However, the term “maintenance free” is a misnomer, one that can leave you stranded if you do not perform proper and regular maintenance. Battery maintenance isn’t difficult to do, so let’s take a look at what you can do to keep your car running.
Before discussing battery maintenance, please make sure that your battery is, in fact, the sealed type. If it isn’t, then the “maintenance free” label certainly does not apply and you will need to add water on a regular basis. Unsealed batteries are easy to spot as they have small vent caps on top of the battery which can be twisted open. You will need to periodically add distilled water to maintain water levels; more so in the summer months as water tends to evaporate quicker. Do not let your battery run low or run out of water as the battery’s cells can be ruined.
If your battery is of the sealed variety, then the “maintenance free” label is still only partially true since the term only extends to you not needing to add water to the cells as you would with an unsealed battery.
With any type of car battery - sealed or unsealed - you must do the following to help keep it working properly:
1. Clean the cables. Disconnect the cables from the battery and clean them with a wire brush that has been doused in a home made mixture [the mixture combines one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water]. Use this same mixture to clean off the top of the battery; use a small and clean paint brush to apply the solution where needed.
2. Lubricate the posts. A small dab of petroleum jelly on each post will help keep your cables clean and free of corrosion longer. In addition, the jelly will make it easier for you to slip the cables back onto the battery.
3. Check connections. Besides the connection between the cable and the posts, make sure that the battery hold down bar is securely in place. Not all cars have or need a battery hold down bar, but if yours has come so equipped, you will need to put it back in its proper place.
That’s it! Car battery maintenance is an easy task and one that should be performed on an annual basis. If you keep your battery properly maintained, you will extend its life and greatly reduce the chance that your battery will fail you at an inopportune time. Yes, the “maintenance free” label is incorrect, so please don’t be lulled into forgetting to do something that should never be overlooked.
About The Author
Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the Race Pages: http://www.racepages.com/parts/alternator.html Retailer of vehicle headlights: http://www.racepages.com/parts/headlight.html and Honda fog lights: http://www.racepages.com/parts/fog_light.html

Choosing Carpet

2005-12-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Ten Tips To Ensure That You Choose The Right Carpet For Your Home Or Office by: Des Nangle
Buying a new carpet for your home or business is a decision that should not be taken lightly.
The right choices will ensure that your chosen carpet not only looks great but also proves to be a wise investment.
The wrong choices however can be costly in terms of money and time wasted.
The following ten tips should give you a head start when it comes to buying the best carpet for your home or office.
Top Ten Buying Tips
1) Suitability – Ensure that your carpet supplier understands how the carpet will be used in terms of location and potential for wear and tear. Carpeting for your stairs for example may well need to be different from that used for your bedroom. Ensure that you discuss how your chosen flooring will cope with the demands placed upon it with your carpet retailer.
2) Decoration – Your carpet should be a fundamental element of any interior decorating scheme and as such chose your carpet before you start decorating and install it after all the decorating has finished!
3) Style and Design – Carpet offers great versatility in terms of styling, colours and design. Ensure that you have really exhausted all options in terms of colour, style and design before finally picking your chosen carpet.
4) Longevity – What are your expectations of how long your carpet is expected to last? Different carpets will have differing levels of resilience to wear and tear so ensure that you have fully explored all of the options if your carpet is to match your expectations.
5) Budget – Budget is key. Buying a carpet involves additional costs such as getting it fitted, laying underlay and perhaps paying for furniture and other items to be moved or stored. Don’t forget to factor all of these elements into your financial plans.
6) Professionally Measurement – Buying a new carpet is a big investment and as such having your home or office professionally measured will ensure that firstly you buy the correct amount of carpet and secondly that the carpet purchased is suited to the role that it is being asked to perform. Good carpet retailers will offer this service for free!
7) Get a Sample – Samples allow you to judge how your carpet will fit into your home or office and should be viewed in natural and artificial light at differing times of the day. Again good carpet retailers will offer samples for free and ensure that you have the sample to hand when the carpet arrives and is being fitted to ensure that it is exactly what you have ordered!
8) Buy New Underlay - New underlay will extend the life of your carpet by up to 40%. For any size project, fitting new underlay will return the cost invested into it, many times over.
9) Employ a Professional Carpet Fitter – Fitting carpets is a skilled craft and offers of “free fitting” may well come back to haunt you. A well fitted carpet should be seamless and tightly stretched and only professional carpet fitters will achieve the maximum potential from your carpeting investment.
10) You Get What You Pay For – As with most things in life you really do get what you pay for with regard to carpets. Whilst cheap carpeting with recycled underlay and a non professional fitting may save you money initially, the rapid degeneration that you see with regard to your carpeting will soon ensure that more time and money is wasted on rectifying earlier mistakes.
Buy wisely, buy well, seek out professional retailers and fitters and your new carpet will return the investments that you have made into it many times over.
About The Author
Des Nangle is a director of Gilt Edge Carpets at www.giltedgecarpets.co.uk, a London Carpet Shop that supplies high quality wool and natural carpets to beautiful homes and stylish offices in West and South West London. They provide a full sales and fitting service to ensure that your London home or office is fitted with the best looking and most appropriate carpeting or natural flooring.

Your Tires

2005-12-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

Tips On Tires by: Ali Moazami
Tire safety is very important. Here are some regular checks that you can perform on your tires to insure your safety:
Lumps or swelling. Any lumps or swelling that appears on the sidewall are signs of tire weakness. If not attended to, it can lead to tire blow out.
Irregular tread wear must be checked out immediately. One of the best ways to check your tread depth is to do a "Penny Test". Stick a penny into a tire groove by turning it upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to get new tires. You might want to check several tire grooves to determine whether one part of the tire is wearing faster than another. Inspect the sidewalls for any bulges, that indicate internal problems. Also, if you see any wires anywhere, it's not safe to drive, as the tire might explode at any moment.
Sidewall fractures.
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 miles.
Balance your tires regularly.
Buy and install tires in sets.
Keep the steering and suspension aligned properly.
Don't forget to check your tire pressure at least once a month. Change in temperature causes the tire pressure to drop. Use a tire-pressure gauge to set your tires to your manufacturer's recommended pressure. This information is almost always printed in your owner's manual.
About The Author
Copyright © 2005 AutoDiscover. All rights reserved. Ali Moazami owns and operates an auto consulting firm. The company was established to change the way the consumers buy and lease their cars by providing unbiased advice. For more information visit: www.autodiscover.com.

How to Start Your Own Website

2005-12-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

How To Start Your Own Website by: Jennifer Shircel
I’m one of those people that always wanted a website, but had no clue as to using the internet. I could check my email and that was about it. I never heard of ISP, FTP or all those other “words”.
When I discovered that I had the website making program Microsoft FrontPages I was determined to learn something about html. Then when I discovered I could earn some money by having a website I wanted to start yesterday! And here I am, still don’t know hardly anything, but I’m running a website! So believe me when I say, “if I can, you can!”
Here are some basics to get you going:
1.) Pick a topic. Decide what you want your site to be about. Be sure to choose something that is very interesting to you so that you keep your site new and exciting and your visitors returning. Research, research, research! Get a lot of information for your visitors to read. Add a lot of content to your site, not just link exchanges. Search engines (like yahoo and google) love content.
2.) Get web hosting and a domain name. The host is who holds your site on the internet and your domain name is www. What you want it to say .com. You can get free hosting, but these usually are not good for making money. They typically post their own ads and will not let you post any. But, if you’re looking for a free hsot to start with, I would check out Bravenet. They have a ton of freebies that you can use like web templates, visitor counters, chat rooms, guestbooks and a lot more. For inexpensive web hosting and domain names, I like 1&1. I purchased my domain name and web hosting from them for $4.99 a month!
3.) Design your site. This is the fun stuff (if you’re the creative type). You may either do it yourself or you could pay a professional to do it. If you don’t know any html then you can purchase a program like Microsoft FrontPages or Dreamweaver and do it yourself. These programs make designing a website a snap! You can also find free web templates out there which have the basic design, you just have to add the words.
4.) Get affiliates for your site. Now this is where the “make money” part comes in. Being an affiliate means that you are helping companies to sell their products. Typically they will either pay you a commission on a sale of their product or by a click on their link. Be sure to choose affiliates that coincide with your topic. Some great places to go for affiliates are Google AdSense, Commission Junction and Click Bank.
5.) Start Advertising. Add your sites url (the link to your site) to all of your signatures. Tell everyone you can about your new site; family, friends, coworkers—everyone! Add a link to your site in all of your emails. A good site to check out is www.MomPack.com You can find many other moms on there looking to help you advertise.
6.) Start Making Money!!
For more tips like these, visit us at www.MomOnABudget.com.
About The Author
Jennifer Shircel is the owner of www.MomOnABudget.com - an excellent resource for moms. MomOnABudget offers many money saving tips, work at home ideas, quick easy recipes, how to decorate on a budget and so much more!

Home Improvements

2005-12-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

Home Improvements – General Points by: Raynor James
Every home improvement situation is different. Still, there are some general points that apply to most projects.
Some General Points
When all the woodwork in a house is the same color (cream, white, and off-white work easily), spaces tend to visually “flow smoothly” even if the walls of rooms are different colors. Make sure you don’t break this rule.
The colors of all rooms, which can be seen at the same time, should look good together. Let’s take a typical center hall floor plan for a modern two-story house. The living room and dining room are to the right and left of the entrance. The foyer goes straight back to the family room, breakfast area, and kitchen across the back of the house. There is probably a deck opening off that area. Some part of all those areas can be seen from each room, and the foyer walls continue upstairs to a hall from which each bedroom is visible.
To continue our example with cream woodwork, the foyer and halls might be painted a pearl gray, light tan, soft gold, or deeper cream. The woodwork is probably a gloss or semi-gloss and the walls and ceiling a flat paint. Since ceilings reflect light down on people, they're usually best in cream or off-white. I once saw a dining room with an indirectly lit octagonal tray ceiling painted to look like creamy clouds in a peachy sunset sky that made every dinner guest look like he or she had a perfect complexion. It was wonderful.
The living room opening off our foyer might be a solid color (maybe sage green or deeper tan) or it might look very handsome with a vertically striped wall paper (cream and gray, cream and green, or cream and tan are good possibilities). The dining room is apt to have a chair rail. A darker color could look good below the chair rail (again sage green, gray, gold or tan would work) with a lighter tint of the same color above. If a solid color were chosen for the living room, the dining room could handle a deep red below the chair rail and a cream paper with a narrow red stripe above it. Lots of crystal and mirrors would look terrific in a room like that.
I’m sure you get the idea. Today’s open floor plans make it important that rooms work together.
About The Author
Raynor James is with the FSBO site - http://www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home" page - http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm - to sell your house yourself with a free 1 month listing.

Furniture Finishing

2005-12-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

Should I Finish My Log Furniture? by: Mike Messer
The natural look of log furniture is one of the reasons it is becoming a more popular home décor not only for the log home market, but other home styles as well. We are frequently asked this question. I want to keep my log furniture looking as natural as possible, should I have it finished? The answer to this is in our opinion is yes. Finishing can change the appearance somewhat depending on the type of wood or finish, but the rewards are well worth it in the long run.
The oils in our hands are easily absorbed by unfinished wood. Of course our hands are never perfectly clean and the dirt is also absorbed right into the wood with the oil leaving soiled areas where your hands frequently touch the furniture. On a bed this is usually either the headboard or the footboard. On dressers, of course the drawer pulls and the edge around the top gets the most handling. If an item is finished, washing is easy. It's another story on bare wood. Some folks have taken the furniture out to the shop to sand it down again, but most people don't have the proper tools or just don’t want to mess with it. It's easier to just have it finished to begin with. Finished log furniture will pass the test of time in keeping your furniture looking good for many years.
To keep log furniture looking as natural as possible, most manufactures use a clear finish. There are many types of finishes available on the market. Many retail stores use the term "poly" to describe their finish when in reality it might not be polyurethane at all. Polyurethane in its purest state is a very hard durable finish but doesn't adhere well to products. For this reason most "Poly" finishes are usually a combination of Polyurethane and Acrylic. Other types of finishes consist of Varnishes, Lacquers, etc. Some finishes are hazardous to your health not to mention bad for the environment. This is the reason we use a non-toxic water base Acrylic on our furniture. It is very durable, will not yellow with time, and even fingernail polish remover doesn't touch it!
Some types of wood used in log furniture construction such as Pine or Aspen will darken only slightly with the application of a finish. The exception to this is White Cedar. The finish on White Cedar will actually change this wood from a very light uniform color, to a very beautiful distinctive color variation between the sapwood and the heartwood. The heartwood will become somewhat darker giving it a very unique character.
Red Cedar is a different kind of animal. An oil base finish will darken the wood to a deep red or purple color, however a water base acrylic finish will leave it more of a pinkish color. You often have the option when ordering to purchase it unfinished and finish yourself or have the company finish it for you.
So, should you finish your log furniture? We strongly recommend it. We think you will be happier in the end.
Copyright 2005 Great Lakes Rustics LLC
About The Author
Mike Messer and business partner Dave Kondek have a successful business designing, building, and selling log furniture in the Continental US, Alaska, and Canada. Permission is granted to reprint this article, either online or in written publications, as long as a link address to the Great Lakes Rustics LLC website is contained therein. http://www.glrustics.com.

Make Your Own Christmas Wreath

2005-12-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

How to Make a Christmas Wreath by: Alice Stacy
One of the great joys of Christmas, is doing things together. That includes everything from shopping and wrapping gifts, to cutting a tree, baking goodies, and making your own special decorations, like wreaths.
Even the children can help gather fir tips, and with a little help from parents, and some simple accessories like bows, bells, candy canes and berries from a discount store, they have great presents for aunts, uncles, grandparents and teachers.
Wreaths are made on a steel ring, with a good gauge wire. Check with your local craft store to see if they carry the supplies you need, or if you'll need to order them online. This should be done a few months ahead of Christmas, in case it takes time to get the supplies.
However, the fir tips can't be gathered until late in the Fall. The needles on fir trees need to "set", and the tree must have stopped growing for the year. In northern states like Maine, it is recommended not to gather tips until at least early November, after three consecutive nights of temperatures that are 20F or lower.
Fir tips are literally the end of the tree branches. The actual tip is a center stem, with one to either side, growing from the base. As you go back up the main stem, you have stems growing off both sides, and the further you go, the side stems will have more stems of their own, which often branch off into secondary stems.
Tipping, is to cut the last 12-20 inches off branches from the middle of the tree. This is where you are more likely to find branches with needles all around the stems. Lower branches are older and have had more wear, and upper branches are newer, and tend to be longish.
From a 12" branch end, you can break 2-3 sections, each having a stem/branch of 4-6 inches, depending on the width of the wreath you are making. A standard wreath size is 16-20", and is made on a 12" wire ring. You will want to attach perhaps three pieces on each side of the ring, in order to give the wreath fullness.
First, attach the end of a roll of wire securely to the ring. Lay one bunch of tips on the wire ring, lining up the wooden stem with the ring. Wrap the wire around the stems, about 1/3 of the way up the branches. If your wrap it too low, your tips will flop off the wreath. Pass the wire around the fir tips and ring, twice, and pull tightly after each pass.
Turn the ring over, and attach a second bunch to the other side in the same way. When you become more skilled, you will be able to put a bunch on each side at the same time, being careful to wrap the wire tightly to secure both bunches at once.
Work your way around the ring in this manner. As you break your fir branches into smaller bunches, try to keep them about the same length, so your wreath has some uniformity. Little bits that stick out, can be trimmed off when you're done, with a pair of rose clippers.
When you come to where you started with the first bunch, it sometimes looks like there isn't enough room for more, but there would be a gap if you didn't add something. Take your last bunch, and insert the stems under the tips of the first bunch, lift the tips and pass your wire around that last set of stems. Wrap an extra time or two for good measure, then form a loop, twist the wire, and cut it. You're now ready to trim and decorate your creation!
About The Author
Alice Stacy
Love home decor? Why not make a career out of it by checking out the home decor opportunities at http://www.homedecorbusiness.com.

Your Bar

2005-12-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

Bar Furniture For Your Home by: Sari El-Dajjani
Looking for stylish bar furniture for your home? This article will provide you with information on picking the right barstools and bar table for your home.
Need home decorating advice? Looking for stylish bar furniture for your home? Then you have come to the right place. The addition of bar furniture in homes is becoming more frequent. Everyday people are looking for bar furniture to buy so they can add more fashion to their homes. What can bar furniture do for you? It could be a place where you can take a break from everything and relax with friends and family and enjoy a drink. Having bar furniture in your house, you will be able to entertain friends and guests more easily. Socializing becomes more fun, especially with a great bar table and relaxing bar stools for everyone to enjoy. The sheer beauty of bar furniture with stylish glassware and spirits will add class to your home for the holidays. Imagine stirring a martini in your home with the look of bottles and glassware all lined up on your bar table! Buying the right bar furniture for your home, will definitely keep you and your family entertained this Holiday Season. It would be perfect for the kitchen counter, the family room, game room or anywhere you desire.
How do you pick the right bar table and barstools for your home? Well, the size and the design of the bar furniture you are looking for should depend on the available space you have at home and the budget you want to spend on your bar furniture. If your looking for something simple, then a bar table with a couple of barstools would be sufficient. A bar table and a couple of barstools are not very expensive and they would make a great addition to your home. But how do you pick the right bar furniture? You can choose from contemporary, chrome, swivel, metal and more. What’s important is that it fits with the overall decor of your home. If you decide to set up your bar in the living room, then make sure that the bar table and the barstools don’t change the whole design of your living room. There are also several colors and styles to choose from, so finding the right one won’t be a problem. You just need to decide which style fits your home best.
Let me first start with the contemporary bar furniture. Contemporary bar furniture will add a modern look to you home because they are sleek and stylish. Usually contemporary designs can fit with the existing decoration of your home very easily too. Another advantage to contemporary bar furniture is that they are very easy to clean and because of the aluminum or chrome design, they always look good. So if you’re looking for something that is stylish and comfortable, then contemporary barstools and a bar table would be the right choice for you. Contemporary bar furniture will give your home an exciting and appealing look, creating a great atmosphere for the holidays.
What kind of barstools would one recommend? I would highly recommend swivel barstools because of their decorative element and sense of style. Swivel barstools are great for homes because they have a swivel mechanism in their design that allows for one to save on space by allowing the person to sit and turn in the stool very easily. They are lightweight, practical and durable. They are also built of the highest quality of metal and fabrics and best of all they are inexpensive when compared with our barstools. Finally height adjustable stools allows you to set the size you need. This way the adjustable stool can be converted from table height to bar height very easily. So if you need another seat at the table, you can easily adjust the barstool. Our Modern Barstool is a swivel barstool made of a chrome base, and a metal footrest. This barstool is ideal for your bar, kitchen, counter or table and is easily adjusted. We also carry the bar chair, contoured barstool, high back barstool, and L barstool. All our barstools are swivel barstools built to add joy and comfort to your homes. They also come in a variety of colors to choose form. So finding the right swivel barstool won’t be a problem.
What kind of bar table should one order? Since individual preferences differ, it is highly recommended that one measure the space available before ordering or deciding on a certain style. According to One Way Furniture, it is usually most comfortable to have between 9 to 13 inches of leg room space between your barstool and the height of the bar table. There are a variety of bar tables to choose from when shopping for bar furniture. We carry the modern bar tables that are sure to spice up any room. The mirror finish chromed metal base and high gloss tabletop enhance its beauty, making it perfect for game rooms, the bar, the kitchen or anywhere else you can imagine. If your looking for a bar table that will set your home apart with style, then the modern bar table is the right choice. The table is contemporary, versatile and sophisticated.
Our barstools and bar tables are innovative and stylish. The swivel barstool has an adjustable gas piston that allows you to adjust your seat easily. They also are available in several colors, so you can mix and match when picking out your bar furniture. Our modern bar tables will set your home apart by adding style and elegance to your home. Throughout our site, you will find a large selection of barstools and a couple of bar tables to compliment your home. Currently, our web site is running a promotion for the holidays. Buy a bar table with 2 barstools and save $50 off your purchase. Visit the special’s page for more information. If you do not find what you are looking for on our site, then shop around to constantly compare prices, in order to find the best deal. Good luck!
http://www.coconutzhomeandgarden.com
About The Author
My name is Sari El-Dajjani, marketing director for Coconutz Home and Garden, your source for inexpensive home and garden products from around the world at reasonable prices. I currently live in Orlando, Florida.
coconutzhomeandgarden@hotmail.com

Avoiding Water Damage to Your Home

2005-12-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

The Visible Causes of Water Damage by: Kimberly Duncan
In order to prevent water damage, you must first learn what causes it. This article will cover the visible causes of water damage, the ones that are easy to self-detect.
Rainwater:
Rainwater will accumulate along the foundations or beneath the floor during rainy seasons unless directed away by proper drainage.
Gutter & Drain:
Clogged gutters will push rainwater under shingles, or will cause water to travel down the walls internally. A lack of drains can cause an overflow. Gutters must empty far enough away from foundation walls or else water will accumulate, leading to damage and a wet basement.
Windows and Doors:
Unprofessionally installed windows and doors allow water to penetrate into the wall. Damaged seals around windows or doors can cause windblown moisture penetration.
Leaking Roofs:
Old roofing materials can expose the roof deck to water intrusion and damage especially around chimneys and exhaust fans. Old shingles will curl and crack, allowing moisture intrusion. Cracked chimney caps allow water into interior areas of the chimney. Flat roof drains can clog and hold water on the roof, increasing the risks of a leak and a possible collapse of the entire roof under the weight of the water.
Attics:
Improper attic insulation and ventilation allows heat to escape, turning rooftop snow into an ice-dam. Ice dams will force moisture under roof shingles where it can drip into the attic or walls.
About The Author
Kimberly Duncan is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS™, a leading restoration services provider for water and fire damages.
To learn more about water damage restoration, visit http://restorationsos.com
Information includes: How to prevent water damages? What are the causes of water damage? Best ways to deal with a water damage disaster.

Crafts - Needlepoint

2005-11-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

How to Learn About Needlepoint On The Web in 2 Easy Steps by: Roger Wembley
This may come as a surprise to you, but there are people other than your grandmother who enjoy needlepoint as a hobby. Needlepoint has been around since the beginning of time but that doesn’t mean that you can’t become an expert at it. In fact, we’re pretty sure that if you focus enough of your energy at a certain hobby you can become an expert in just about anything. You can find just about anything you want on the internet. In fact, if you think it might be an exciting hobby, chances are someone has thought that before you did. Let’s take a look at needlepoint and how to get acquainted with the hobby.
1)Use the major search engines to search for these phrases: “needlepoint beginner,” o “needlepoint tutorial,” or “how to learn needlepoint.” Be sure and use quotes for the last phrase- it makes all the difference in finding that exact phrase. There are people starting new hobbies all the time and you aren’t going to be the only one interested in needlepoint. In fact, a quick search for just the term “needlepoint” returns more than 2.6 Million results in Google. If term needlepoint has been written at least 2.6million times on the web, you can be sure that there are others that have written a basic tutorial in getting started on the hobby.
2)Use DMOZ. Here is a trick that not everyone is going to tell you because they just don’t know about it (and that I’ve taken from another hobby). Visit Dmoz.org. Dmoz is an Open Directory edited by humans. If a site has been included in Dmoz, that means that a human has reviewed the site and decided that it is good enough to be included in the Dmoz directory. Usually, only real quality sites are added to the Dmoz directory as all the editors work for free and pride themselves on only including the best sites on the web.
We’ve notice that when we are looking for something (in this case, needlepoint), nothing beat dmoz.org as a great place to start. Start your quest at dmoz, then visit our site to learn all about needlepoint in easy step by step tutorials.
About The Author
Roger Wembley is author of “Learn Needlepoint.” Grab your copy at http://www.needlepointastic.com

See more crafts at Virtual Directory.

Choosing a Bed

2005-11-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

Contemporary Bedroom Furniture: Planning A Bed by: Joel Walsh
Don't let your bed be an afterthought. Your bed will be the most prominent object in your room, so it has to go with your bedroom's theme, color-wise, size-wise, and style-wise. A huge bed in a small room will likely look out of place, as would a four-post bed in a room with sleek modern furnishings.
Bed Sizes
The most popular bed sizes are king, queen, twin and the increasingly popular California king. A California king is narrow and long, rather than the traditional king bed's square shape. Just make sure you have the exact dimensions of your bed before you go mattress shopping, since bed manufacturers sometimes don't follow the standard bed sizes exactly.
Bed Styles
Don’t confuse bed sizes with bed styles. Bed styles refer to the headboard and footboard. The basis of any bed is still the mattress and frame, which only vary outwardly in terms of the sizes listed above.
• Daybed. Daybeds are twin beds. What makes them special is that they can double as couches if you position them against a wall. Being compact and versatile, daybeds are great for small spaces.
• Platform. Platform beds are elegantly simple, fitting in with just about any style of decor.
• Sleigh bed. Sleigh beds have curved headboards and foot boards that look like, well…a sleigh. There are simpler and more modern sleigh bed designs, so you can get one even if you are going for a more modern-looking room.
• Four post bed. You know this bed already: it's the one with a post sticking up out of each corner. The posts can support a canopy, but the canopy is optional.
• Pencil post bed. Pencil post beds are like four-post beds, only the posts are tall and tapered like…well, pencils. Harking back to their heyday in the 1700s, pencil-post beds fit a room with colonial furnishings especially well.
About The Author
Joel Walsh is a freelance business writer. Check out more articles on buying contemporary bedroom furniture: http://bedroomfurnitureusa.com?%20contemporary%20bedroom%20furniture.

Autos: Air Filters

2005-11-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

How to Buy a Air Filter in 3 Easy Steps by: Ryan Tenney
I’ve got a confession to make. I don’t like shopping for car parts. In fact, I always see it as an unnecessary expense that should magically fix itself. Guess what? Cars need air filters every 30,000 miles or so. I’m not a mechanic so I don’t have a way to sell you an air filter over the web, but I can save you some bucks on either replacing or cleaning your air filter when the time comes. I’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
1) Compare offers online. Since you are most likely reading this over the web, you can certainly take a look through the various auto part retailing websites. Just enter you car make and model and you should be all set to get an air filter delivered to your house in a matter of days. Online retailers generally don’t pay for expensive real estate like other businesses do, so you might be able to get a good deal on one.
2) The junk yard. While you might think you are above visiting a junk yard, are you above saving a lot of money? Probably not. A quick stop in at the local junk yard might save you a lot of money compared to a new air filter. And, even better, this ties directly into point #1. A friend of my, Robert, needed an auto part so he looked online and found a junk yard. The junk yard shipped him a part that was almost new and he couldn’t have been happier. Just cause an air filter is used, doesn’t mean it’s very used!
3) Consider not buying an air filter and saving all of your money. Clean it. Yes, air filters can be cleaned. In fact, if you clean your air filter, you can pretty much forget points #1 and 2. Clean out your air filter the right way and save all the money that you were planning on spending on a new or used air filter. However, cleaning your air filter isn’t as easy as you might think it is. Find out how to do it once, and do it correctly.
About The Author
Ryan Tenney is author of “The Air Filter Cleaning Guide.” Grab your copy at http://www.airfiltermarket.com.

I found several stores for you that sell autos, parts, tools, appliances, furniture, hardware, gardening and pets!

Your Rose Garden

2005-11-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

6 Important Tips For Rose Care In Your Rose Garden by: Bob Roy
Many people could not resist a rose's beauty and scent. Imagine this coming from your rose garden. These flowers are known to be a bit complicated to grow, but anyone could start rose gardening in the comfort of her own backyard. Good rose care will keep it beautiful.
To make sure that your most prized rose garden is in the pink or even red of their health, simply follow these tips on rose care dealing with most of their health dilemma:
1. Black Spots on Leaves in Your Rose Garden
This disease is commonly known as black spot. Black spots appear as circular with fringed edges on leaves. They cause the leaves to yellow. The solution is to remove the infected foliage and pick up any fallen leaves around the rose. For the rose care artificial sprays may be used to prevent or treat this kind of rose disease.
2. Stunted or malformed young canes
Known as powdery mildew, this is a fungal disease that covers leaves, stems and buds with wind spread white powder. It makes the leaves to curl and turn purple. Spray with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease that could ruin your rose garden.
3. Blistered underside of leaves
A disease of roses known as rust, it is characterized with orange-red blisters that turn black in fall. In spring, it attacks new sprouts. This disease can even survive winter. What you can do is to collect and discard leaves that are infected in fall. Benomyl and Funginex spraying every 7-10 days may help.
4. Malformed or stunted leaves and flowers - not for your rose garden
What could have caused this is the presence of spider mites. They are tiny yellow, red or green spiders on the underside of leaves. They also suck juices from leaves. The application of Orthene or Isotox is good rose care and will help in treating this infestation.
5. Weak and mottled leaves with tiny white webs under them
This might be caused by aphids. They are small soft-bodied insects that are usually brown, green or red. Often clustered under leaves and flower buds. They suck plant juices from tender buds. Malathion or diazinon spray may help roses to survive these bugs.
6. Flowers that don't open or are deformed when they open.
The infestation in your rose garden is probably thrips. It is characterized with slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings thriving in flower buds. They also suck juices from flower buds. The rose care for this is to cut and discard the infested flowers. Using Orthene and malathion may also treat this health problem of your roses.
This valuable information regarding the diseases your roses are prone to have will prove to be very helpful in making your rose garden ever more inviting.
About The Author
Bob Roy
Sign up for tips in our monthly Orchid Newsletter and get your copy of "All About Orchids" e-book and your 10% Discount on an orchid. http://www.orchids-plus-more.com/orchidaceae.html

I found all the gardening, hardware, furniture and home decor stuff I needed online.

My kids said to go online for Christmas toys this year.

Most of the time I shop online for electronics such as audio, tvs, cell phones, wireless digital cameras and pdas.

Pool Cover

2005-11-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

How To Choose A Pool Cover? by: Marcus Grant
End of the swimming season? Now you need to cover your swimming pool with a pool cover and say a very good-bye to the swimming times. But the biggest problem that accompanies you after the end of the swimming season is how to maintain the swimming pool. The direct answer is 'use pool covers to maintain your pool in good conditions. For, pool covers shield the pool and protect it from unwanted debris and rain water.
So, choosing one apt pool cover becomes a must for you. Also, you need pool covers to block the pool while you are away from home so that the kids might not try swimming alone. Let’s take a peep into how can you shop at ease for pool covers.
There are different types of pool covers in the market place today. Firstly clearly make out your requirements before you look around for a pool cover. The normal pool covers are the vinyl covers that are laid on the pool and fixed with the help of sand bags or some other heavy objects on the corners of the swimming pool. They are temporary pool covers which can be removed easily as they are lightweight.
Though, safety covers are one of the most reliable covers when it comes to a season long covering for your swimming pool. They are like a barrier to the swimming pool. These covers prevent your children from slipping into the swimming pools. Generally the temporary swimming pool covers leave a little gap between the deck and the cover. It gets easy for the kids to slip through that gap and jump inside.
If you obtain safety net covers from the market for you pool, it would allow you to have a full view of the water inside the pool. It would make you enjoy the environment that pool has created in your backyard. The net of pool cover is a strong metal net that is finely woven into a swimming pool cover. Moreover, the cover can be removed with in 10 minutes. The automatic covers run along with the edges of the pool and get rolled inside the box on their own. You just have to push a button to do all this.
You can also use opaque swimming pool covers as well. But one of the major problems faced while using an opaque swimming pool cover is standing water. The rain water does not go inside the pool but it gets accumulated on the pool cover. So, you can use special pool covers with pumping system with it. For, the pump would effectively remove the water from your pool cover.
So make your choice after considering all the different pool covers in the market. As a pool owner, you can also engage a pool designer for your swimming pool cover. He will lay out the requirements of your pool according to the décor of your home. So you would obtain the required protection for your pool and a pretty back yard containing pool in your home.
About The Author
Marcus Grant, http://www.pool-pumps.org

Magazine Sale Nov 17 to Dec 31 2005;

Coupon code: MFL2010% OFF all orders of $20 or more
Coupon code: MFL50$5 OFF all orders of $50 or more

Christmas Decorations

2005-11-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

Holiday Decorating Tips: Christmas Candles by: Jeanette Joy Fisher
How to Light Up Your Home for Joy
Do you love the winter holiday season or does this time of year cause you stress? One way to lower your holiday stress, using fewer decorations, decreases your "just have to much to do" list.
However, you still want to display Christmas candles because these decorations bring smiles to you and your loved ones. As days grow shorter and cooler and the suns sets earlier, people naturally crave the warmth and comfort of light, especially natural sources such as a bonfire or the flame of a Christmas candle.
Christmas Candle Tips
Luminaries
Save your energy and your money. You don't need to line your entire sidewalk with luminaries. Get a similar effect with four large candles in clear glass containers near your front door. These glowing candles will welcome your guests without all the work of gathering bags, buying votive candles that just burn up fast, and shoveling all that sand.
Window Candles
Many cultural holiday traditions include placing a lighted candle in front windows to be seen from the outside. Pamper yourself. Place a candle in any dark window at night. Rather than peering into a dark void, you'll focus on the cheerful flame and feel comforted and uplifted.
Gift Yourself
Create a nightly quiet ritual for yourself in a quiet place away from distractions and the hustle of the holidays. Place candles around your bathtub and unwind, or by your favorite reading chair and instead of reading sit in the quiet and reflect upon the brightness of a single candlelight. Listen to quiet music or simply enjoy the peace and stillness. Ponder the joys in your life and express gratitude. This quiet time may be your most treasured gift to yourself.
Candlelight Carol-Sing
Recycle last year's greeting cards by cutting each into a disk or rounding the edges, punch a hole in the center, and slide a taper candle half-way through the hole. Gather your friends and family around the piano or hearth and sing familiar Christmas carols as each person holds their own candlelight. Pause to reflect upon the fact that each individual brings their own special light to the world and recognize the common spiritual light in each of us.
Candle Night-Night
When it's time to settle the children down to bed on Christmas Eve, calm them with a soothing candlelight ritual. My daughter’s children walk to bed, each carefully carrying a lighted candle through a dark hallway, singing "Silent Night."
Happy Holidays!
© Jeanette Fisher
About The Author
Jeanette Joy Fisher
Free holiday decorating ideas teleclass, "Interior Design Secrets to Glorious Holiday Decorating" and more holiday decorating tips Joy Holidays Decorating http://JoyHolidays.com.

I was looking for gifts such as art, collectibles, crafts, books, baked gifts and I found them shopping online.

My wife always shops for clothes, shoes, makeup and jewelry online.

My kids said to go online for Christmas toys this year.

Most of the time I shop online for electronics such as audio, tvs, cell phones, wireless digital cameras and pdas.

I found all the furniture and hardware I needed online.

My friend the chef said to look online for kitchen supplies and recipes.

Home Decor

2005-11-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

Use Geothermal heat To Save Money On Your Household Heating Bills by: Tony Luck
We are all looking for the cheapest electricity and natural gas prices, after all the less we spend on our fuel bills the more we have left over for the pleasures in life. So how attractive would it be to heat your home for free? It is possible by using geothermal energy.
The Queen of England is planning to cut energy bills at Buckingham Palace for centuries to come by creating an underground network to extract heat from the earth’s natural warmth. The pipes containing water and a refrigerant chemical will run from the palace to the 4 acre lake in the grounds. As the water runs through the coiled loops of pipe placed on the bed of the lake it is warmed to a temperature of around 55F/12C. When the water arrives back at the palace it will go through a compressor which raises the temperature to around 140F/60C, and then through a heat exchanger (metal plates) which warms the water used in taps and the heating system in the palace. There is of course considerable capital expenditure required to get the system up and running, but it is estimated that this will be recouped in 3 years by savings on the heating bills.
The liquid in the pipes can also be decompressed so that instead of generating heat, it can cool air for an air-conditioning system. This system was used in a small trial at the palace in 2002 when the Queen’s staff drilled 400 feet into the chalk aquifer under the palace grounds to run an air-conditioning system in a new art gallery. The results of this trial were reportedly so impressive that work on planning the larger scheme began soon after.
Other high net-worth people like the singer Elton John with large estates in the UK have installed a similar system. But can the ordinary householder tap into geothermal energy and save money on heating and electricity bills? Yes, for the price of a small car it is possible to drill hundreds of feet into the ground and you can not only reduce heating and electricity costs by around 70% but you can also benefit from a free supply of pure water.
About The Author
Tony Luck is an independent distributor of the cheapest electricity and gas in the UK, and great value in home and mobile telephone calls. Visit his site at http://www.u-save.org.

I found all the hardware, furniture and home decor stuff I needed online.

Photography of Trains

2005-11-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

Taking photographs of trains is relatively simple if you follow just a few rules.The type of camera used is up to the photographer, I have used cameras ranging from $20to $900 and many of the same rules apply to all. The main thing is to make sure that the sunis shining on the train from the same side as you are photographing. If the sunis on the opposite side, you will get a blacked out train with no readable logosand basically a wasted shot. Getting used to the horn and noises while you shoot picturesis just a mind of matter thing. Be extra careful in railyards and around crossings wherecars pass through. Most of the cars don’t even notice the train, so don’t expect themto watch out for you, that is your job. To get a larger than life looking shot, justsquat down and let the front of the train fill the viewer from one end to the other.Night shots can be done with lower f stops or shutter speeds. On the old cameras youcan use a tripod and the B setting as you count to 1, 2, or 3 full seconds. The B settingor a low shutter speed will either give a full nightime view of a stopped train orthe moving streak effect on a moving train. You could also get nothing, but it’s fun to try.
The final rule is patience, the minute you leave the tracks and give up on the arrivalof a train is one minute too soon.

Hardware Coupon

2005-11-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

New Coupons!
AcmeHardware.com
AcmeHardware is now until the end of the year we are offering $10 off on all orders of $80 or more. Simply type in DIYnow2005 in our checkout after you enter your credit card info.
Also,

Elegant-Living.com: Gifts to brighten up your days!
From now on until November 24th, 2005, we are offering a 10% OFF Site-wide Sale on Elegant-Living.com. This discount even applies to items already on sale!

How to get Free Perfume

2005-10-31T08:52:00.000-08:00

PerfumeNStuff has a new perfume to give away for the Month of November 2005: Win a Full Size Bottle of CURVE For Women By LIZ CLAIBORNE! LIZ CLAIBORNE designed CURVE in 1996. Its fragrant nature explores essences of citrus, freesia and lily. Blended with notes of sandalwood, moss and vetiver, CURVE is a casual type of fragrance. We only require you to enter your email address, NOTHING else!
Enter to Win Perfume N Stuff!
Jewelry
Fabulous Gifting Ideas at Emitations Holiday Gift Center.

Halloween

2005-10-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Costumes And Ideas For Halloween by: Hege Crowton
Halloween is just around the corner and preparations are in full swing all over the country.
Yards are being decorated with all the colors of fall, the scarecrows are coming out of the sheds and here and there we might already see huge spiders hanging. Resting in their cob webs hanging from trees in peoples front yards.
We all know what this mean. The scariest night of the year is almost here. The kids already know what they want. Pumpkins scarier than the neighbors Lanterns and costumes you would not even begin to dream of.
Wait a minute, isn’t that what Halloween night is all about? Candy, kids and costumes. It sure is, and guess what? A cool costume is a must, your kids will agree with that.
The question then is how you get away with getting them a cool costume for a reasonable price? Have you ever considered making them yourself? With some help and guidance it is not as hard as you think it is.
For kids, Halloween is all about costumes and pumpkins, even all the candy has to come second to this. Why not get a book with Halloween ideas and have your kids go thru it with you, that way they become a part of it all from the very beginning.
In other words, they will have a say in how their costumes, pumpkins and your Halloween decorations should be. Doing it yourself gives such a satisfaction.
Tell you what, you are running out of time. All you have is less than a month to get ready. Each day is a day lost if you are not prepared, so get some great ideas together and get started.
Along with costumes, there are also a lot of ideas out there when it comes to anything that has to do with Halloween. Such as: pumpkin carving, pumpkin recipes, Halloween decorations, treats and even cool ideas for trick and treaters.
Trick or Treat?
Happy Halloween.
Halloween ideas for both adults and children can be found at: www.costumecrow.com
About The Author
Hege Crowton is establishing her self as an expert copywriter. She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles. Many of her articles are posted on www.EzineCrow.com and she also does a lot of writing for www.Crowsites.com
Copyright 2005 www.CostumeCrow.com

Leaky Toilet

2005-10-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

Fixing a Leaky Toilet
Leaky toilets are usually caused by one of two things: One, a leaky seal at the base. A leaky seal at the base will usually make itself known when you flush, the water will surround the base of the toilet immediately. Two, a leaky flapper valve in the toilet tank. Lift the cover and note the water level, or mark it with tape or a marker, if the water level varies without anyone flushing the toilet, then it is the flapper. In the case of the flapper leaking, you will likely hear the toilet hissing and filling every few minutes or so, check your water bill for evidence as well.

Preparing Your Wood Stove For Winter Use

2005-10-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

Check the chimney for debris or bird nests. Most fires occur at first lighting of a wood stove in the fall. Looking up the chimney, you should see the cap or sky depending on your chimney type. Check and clear the flu, then pull out the ash pan shoveling or sweeping any ash build up. Next, of course, clean out the stove where the wood rack goes. Finally, check the exit pipe from the stove to the wall, remove any ash or wood debris. If you have children, look for toys and stuffed animals, ahh..there's that watch, some kid named Iduneo is always taking my stuff.

Great Deals on Computer Stuff

2005-10-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Check out these great deals I found at iSellSurplus.com:FREE Nero 6.6 Software Use Coupon Code: FREENERO Expires 10/19/2005 $4.99 Ground Shipping on All Orders - Use Coupon Code: 499SHIP - Expires 10/19/2005 10% off ALL Instock Motherboards - Use Coupon Code: MOBO10 Expires 10/19/2005

Your Website

2005-10-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

I found several articles on websites that are interesting. One article on webpages gives tips on what to do and what not to do. Another article about sitemaps was interesting and useful to me also, and finally, an explaination of keyword usage useful to any webmaster. Any tips from you are welcome, there is no registration to this site needed. I also found a great deal on webhosting at Midphase Services, Inc. , you get a free domain and it is only $7.50 per month for your website(s). Check it out!

Another Disaster!

2005-10-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

A major earthquake has killed at least 20000 in India, Kashmir, and Pakistan. The quakes' centre was located about 60 miles from Islamabad. At least 250 school children were killed when their building collapsed on top of them. Apartment towers made of reinforced concrete and steel are said to have collapsed in this violent earthquake. Already, twice the number of people killed in Katrina, these people will need your help. Please give to charities in order to help the unfortunate victims of this terrible disaster. Another incident in Guatemala occurred due to flooding and landslides, 1500 more victims there too. Please help if you can, or cut and paste the charity links at the bottom of this blog to your blog or site. Thank You.

Please Help

2005-09-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Please help the victims of Hurricane Katrina if you can. If you have no money, like me, please cut and paste my charity links to your website or blog. Also, give a link to my site as well if you can. Thank you and may God Bless all.

Charities

2005-09-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

Charity Links
____________________________________________________
GUIDESTAR - Charities research site
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PROJECT HOPE
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SAVE THE CHILDREN
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THE RED CROSS
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DIRECT RELIEF
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CARE
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AHH-USA
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MERCY CORPS
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The people at GeminiSoftwareSystems wish to express their sympathy for all the victims
of Hurricane Katrina. Guidestar will help you with your research as
you look for the appropriate charity for you.

Hurricane Relief Efforts

2005-08-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

If you would like to give to the Red Cross or other charities for the hurricane Katrina relief effort, just follow this link: Charities .

Getting Rid of Pests

2005-08-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Country Fried Tales!
The Unwanted Dinner Guests
My grandmother told me this story years ago. Apparently, some friends of my Grandmother had a pair
of house guests who only showed up for dinner, every night. These guests never brought any food or
offered any money, not even to help with the dishes! One night, they decided to trick the unwanted guests
into not returning. Placing all the dishes on the floor after dinner, they let the dogs lick all the dishware clean,
then simply placed it all back in the cabinets. The guests never returned...and yes, they took them back out
and washed them with lots of soap!

Planting and Care of Bulbs

2005-08-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Planting and Care for Bulbs EMAIL VirtualeMedia How To Page Link to a Friend Click Here!
Bulbs are a breeze if you take the lazy way out, like me. Plant the bulbs in an area that
will see at least half a day of sun. Now, leave..you are done. I know, there are those who will dig up
the bulbs once they have flowered. Then, they put them in a jar for the winter as a new plant is placed
in the place of the bulb. Next year, repeat. But, if you leave them, and don't even mow them, they will
double every year in numbers and grass and most weeds won't have a chance around the bulbs because
they hog most of the water and resources. Once the bulbs have thickened to your liking, you can either
dig some up and move them about the yard, or give them away. I got mine in 4 grocery bags full of extra
bulbs that had thickened at my folks place. If digging them up is also too much trouble, just mow them
once they have flowered, or whenever you want. Bulbs like iris' and the like are quite tough, don't worry,
they will grow and survive without any assistance.

How to Trim Rose Bushes

2005-06-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

Roses are actually quite easy to care for. The main thing is not to let the plant grow tall or elongated.
Keep in mind that each time your rose bush grows a new rose, it is because of the growth of a new limb.
So, to create more roses, you want to coax the plant into making new limbs, and therefore, new roses
for you.
Once a rose has died or been cut, most or all of that particular branch should be cut. Look down the
branch until you see the first five leaf cluster. Cut just above the cluster and above any new sprout
that will be just above the leaf cluster. Remove any dead or useless (elongated with no rose buds) limbs.
To protect from outside infection, pour wax over the open cut area on the live plant.