How2Day: 5/1/11

5/7/11

How to Install JVC Update on My LCD

A JVC LCD flat-panel TV can be updated to include new features. You can update the firmware on the JVC LCD yourself. The firmware update can be downloaded from JVC without cost and transferred to a flash drive. The flash drive can then be connected to the JVC LCD, and the firmware uploaded to it. The procedure does not violate any warranty that might be in place and does not require any special skills to execute.

1

Download the appropriate firmware for your JVC LCD flat-panel TV from the JVC website (See Resources). Double-click the file once downloaded to decompress it onto the desktop.
2

Insert the connector of a USB flash drive into a USB port on the computer. Drag the decompressed firmware file onto the icon of the USB flash drive when it appears on the desktop. A copy progress bar will appear, fill in from right to left and then disappear.
3

Right-click the icon of the USB flash drive. Select "Eject" from the pop-up menu. Remove the USB flash drive from the computer's USB port.
4

Plug the USB flash drive into a USB port on the JVC LCD flat-panel TV --- the USB port might be on the front, beneath a hidden panel, or on the side or back.
5

Turn on the JVC LCD with its remote. Press "Menu." Select the "System Setup" menu. Select "Firmware Update" or "Update Firmware" from the list of choices presented. Press the "OK" button on the remote when the new screen appears. Select "Yes" on the confirmation window that appears to begin the firmware update.
6

Press the "OK" button on the remote when the confirmation window appears that states that the firmware update is done. Turn off the JVC LCD TV with the remote.

How to Plant Apple Trees in Oregon

Apples grow statewide in Oregon, according to IPMCenters.org, but Umatilla County, Hood River and Wasco counties, which border the Columbia River, grow more apples than any other area of the state. While the whole planting process is very important to the success of your tree(s), take some time to study proper pruning techniques and pest and disease prevention.

1

Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and three times as wide. Leave the soil unamended. Nicole Montesano explains that too many amendments tempt the roots to remain within the amended zone. Soil that is slightly less perfect and less nutrient-rich will encourage the roots to penetrate deeper and become stronger.
2

Loosen the soil on all sides of the hole and build a small mound in the middle, about the size of the root ball.
3

Set the root ball on top of the mound and gently spread the roots over the mound.
4

Replace the backfill, watering it in as you go. This will remove air pockets. It may help to have someone hold the tree while you do this. When you've finished, the root collar should be at or slightly above ground level.

How to Wire a DSL Filter

A DSL filter is designed to keep the information being transmitted by your modem and the information being transmitted by your phone separate. This is necessary because both devices use the same phone line at the same times, and digital noise can interfere with your Internet connection without a proper filter installation. These DSL filters can be wired and installed on the phone lines in your home in just a few seconds.

1

Connect the plastic clip on the end of your DSL filter to a phone jack in your wall. This phone jack should be one that is used by a home telephone. If you need to, unplug the telephone's phone cable from the jack so that you can plug in the DSL filter.
2

Insert your telephone's phone cable into the opposite end of the DSL filter. The DSL filter is now installed on your home telephone.
3

Repeat "Step 1" and "Step 2" to install a DSL line filter on every other phone jack in your home that is connected to a home telephone. All phone jacks will need to be wired with DSL filters to ensure that your DSL modem is able to transmit information to and from the Internet properly.

How to Boost Your Phone Signal

Weak cell phone reception can really be annoying. In emergency situations, poor signals can even be catastrophic. Anyone using a cell phone has probably experienced phone signal strength changing as you move around. It can get a sudden temporary boost, and just die down the next moment. However, there are a few tips that will solve the low signal problem on most occasions.

1

Keep your finger off the phone antenna. Mostly, cell phone antennas are located on the top of the phone, so make it a habit to hold the phone from the base. If you cover the antenna with your hands, the phone will not be able to catch signals and thus will decrease the signal strength.
2

Change your position while you're on the phone. You don't know where the network carrier's base station antenna may be located. To get your phone to the best reception point, rotate your body and keep looking at the phone's signal bar. Stop where you find the best position.
3

Don't stand or sit close to a piece of metal, especially any big steel structure. Metal can interfere with cell phone signals.
4

Keep your phone fully charged. Some phones deliberately weaken the signal to get the battery to last longer.
5

Move to an open space while talking on the phone. If you are inside a building, move toward an open window. An obstruction of any kind is the worst enemy of cell phone reception.
6

Buy a power booster (also called an amplifier) plug for your cell phone. These power boosters can be attached to any electrical outlet or a car cigarette lighter for amplifying the cell phone signal. However, they affect a cell phone's mobility since you will have to plug a cord into the outlet to get better reception.

How to Use U740 on a PC

The U740, also know as the Champagne, is a clam-shell cell phone by Samsung. It supports various types of media files, such as image and audio, and features a 1.3-megapixel camera, which allows you to take your own photos. To back up the files on your device, or to transfer new ones to it, it is best to establish a phone-to-PC connection.

1

Download and install Samsung PC Studio--see Resources for a link.
2

Plug the USB cable into a free USB port on your PC. Plug the other end of the cable into the phone.
3

Open Samsung PC Studio; there are various icons available to use. Select "Manage Messages" to manage the SMS/MMS messages on your device.
4

Select "Manage Contacts" to update, add or remove contacts from your device.
5

Select "Synchronize" to sync personal information on your phone and computer.
6

Select "Transfer Files" to open a window that allows you to manage the files on your device alongside the files on your computer. In this interface, you can transfer files between the two.
7

Select "Manage Internet Connections" to use your mobile phone as a modem for the computer.

Shrubs for Seaside Planting

One of the main concerns of landscapers living near the sea is that the species they plant will succumb to the effects of the salt in the ocean spray. A number of native and nonnative shrubs, however, can survive near the ocean. These species have features that make them appealing as landscaping choices.

Native to Japan and hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5, the shore juniper, or Juniperus conferta, fulfills many landscaping needs. You can plant it seaside in your planters, as a ground cover, in small groupings or as a way to prevent erosion. Shore juniper is a low shrub, usually growing to just 2 feet but capable of expanding out to 9 feet. Shore juniper has overlapping, sharp, blue-green needles, and its flowers produce plentiful blue-black cones. Shore juniper will adapt to sandy soil in full sun but does poorly in wet areas. Cultivars include Blue Pacific and Silver Mist.

The best aspects of the Peking cotoneaster, or Cotoneaster acutifolius, are its colorful fall appearance, pink-white spring flowers and blackish fruits. This shrub from northern China will grow from USDA zones 4 through 7, but it will perform better in the colder areas of that range. Peking cotoneaster is tolerant of salt spray and of pruning, so you can trim it into a hedge. Growing to 10 feet when left unabated, Peking cotoneaster makes a reliable privacy screen. Keep in mind that for those with allergies, bees will swarm to the flowers during May and June when they blossom.

Suitable for use as a hedge, screen or specimen plant in USDA zones 8 through 10, Japanese mock orange, or Pittosporum tobira, grows to 15 feet in its native China and Japan. Japanese mock orange is very tolerant of salt. Featuring shiny, leathery, evergreen foliage, Japanese mock orange comes in a dwarf cultivar, Wheeler's Dwarf, which you can employ as ground cover. Japanese mock orange blooms in the late spring, getting its name from the aroma of its blossoms, which smell like those of the orange tree. Japanese mock orange grows in a number of soil conditions, but you should refrain from placing it in your wet spots.

Summersweet clethra, or Clethra alnifolia, will tolerate seaside plantings, notes the University of Connecticut Plant Database. Summersweet clethra grows to 8 feet, producing white flowers in summer that look like long bottlebrushes, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. The species is useful as a foundation plant, a privacy screen, and a hedge or alone as a specimen planting. In the wild, even away from the coast, summersweet clethra typically grows near water. Keep the plant away from dry, hot sites. Hybrids of summersweet clethra, also called sweet pepperbush, include such types as Ruby Spice and September Beauty. An eastern United States native, it grows from USDA zone 4 southward.

Hotels in San Juan, Washington

San Juan Island is off the coast of Washington state and a 90-minute ferry boat ride from Anacortes on the mainland. Most of San Juan's hotels are in Friday Harbor, where the island's ferry terminal is located. Tourists can swim at Friday Harbor's beaches, and hiking paths are available at San Juan Island National Historical Park. Fishing spots include Roche Harbor on the northern end of San Juan Island and Smallpox Bay on the island's western coast.

The Bird Rock Hotel is in the heart of Friday Harbor and is within walking distance of the city's ferry pier. This terminal offers rides to Anacortes on mainland Washington and Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. The hotel is also within walking distance of Friday Harbor's waterfront restaurants, which include Downriggers -- located by the ferry pier -- and Place Bar and Grill.

Another Friday Harbor restaurant, Backdoor Kitchen, provides room service for guests at Bird Rock Hotel and serves steak and seafood entrees for lunch and dinner. The hotel prepares breakfast for its guests every morning. Each of the guest rooms have European antique-style furniture, and the hotel can arrange for you to stay in cottage units, referred to as the hotel's "studio" rooms.

Earthbox Motel is a boutique accommodation in Friday Harbor, and it features a traditional, one-level motel structure, where the guest rooms have outdoor entrances. Guest room features include hardwood floors, kitchens, sitting areas and earth element-themed décor, such as "Wind Place" and "Sea Place." The motel's day spa, Lavendera, offers massages and body treatments. Other hotel amenities include a year-round indoor swimming pool and fitness center. Packages are available from the motel that include spa treatments and room rates.

The motel is less than a 10-minute walk from the San Juan Island ferry terminal and local eateries in downtown Friday Harbor, such as Jimmy's Paradise Cafe and the Coho Restaurant. Jackson's Beach is approximately 10 minutes from the motel, which offers bicycling paths and swimming in North Bay.

Situated in northern San Juan Island, the States Inn and Ranch is a 62-acre countryside accommodation that includes walking and bicycling trails on its property. The hotel also allows guests to have "close encounters" with alpacas and horses, and guests can even feed the alpacas. The nine guest rooms and suites are in the States Inn, a converted schoolhouse built in the early 20th century. One of the rooms, the Southwestern Suite, has two bedrooms, a bathroom and a living room with sleeper sofa. A gourmet breakfast is prepared by the hotel's staff every morning, using farm-raised ingredients.

The hotel is a 20-minute drive from San Juan Island National Historical Park. This recreation area offers boating and fishing opportunities in Garrison Bay, and it affords visitors the opportunity to watch orca whales from its beaches. Beaches and boating docks are also available at Smallpox Bay Park, which is a 30-minute drive south of the hotel.

How to Attach a Tub Spout

A worn tub spout can lead to a variety of problems including leaks and weak shower pressure. Replacing a tub spout is inexpensive and easy, and doesn't require any special tools or plumbing experience. Tub spouts are available in a wide variety to match many decors; however, almost all tub spouts attach using one of two simple methods.

1

Remove any caulk around the existing tub spout. Use a putty knife and work carefully to avoid gouging or scratching the surface of the tub or wall. Determine if the tub spout is a slip-on type by looking for a small Allen screw on the bottom of the spout.
2

Remove the Allen screw by turning it counterclockwise with an appropriately sized Allen wrench, and pull the spout off the supply pipe.
3

Slide the new tub spout onto the supply line and tighten the Allen screw.
4

Caulk around the base of the spout and smooth the caulk with a damp finger. Clean up any excess caulk and allow the caulk to cure according to the manufacturer's directions. Turn on the water and check the spout for leaks.
5

Repair any leaks by loosening the Allen screw, pressing the tub spout firmly onto the supply pipe, and retightening the screw while maintaining pressure on the spout.

1

Use a putty knife to remove any caulk around the existing tub spout. Work carefully to avoid gouging or scratching the surface of the tub or wall.
2

Remove the tub spout by turning it counterclockwise until it comes off the supply pipe. Clean the threads of the supply pipe with a wire brush to remove any PTFE tape, pipe dope or corrosion.
3

Wrap the PTFE tape clockwise over the threads of the supply pipe until all threads are covered in two layers of tape. Alternatively, you can lightly coat all threads with pipe dope.
4

Slide the new tub spout over the supply pipe and turn it clockwise to screw it onto the threads of the supply pipe. Tighten the tub spout until it is hand-tight and the opening is facing down.
5

Caulk around the base of the tub spout and smooth the caulk with a damp finger. Clean up any excess caulk and allow the caulk to cure according to the manufacturer's directions. Turn on the water and check the spout for leaks.
6

Repair any leaks by firmly screwing the tub spout onto the supply pipe.

Sonic Advance Level Mod Tools

While Sega continues to put out new "Sonic" games, fans continue creating hacks for each game to manipulate them and create all new games. Today, instead of having to know every intimate detail of coding, users can download software that takes care of the hard part. With the use of these programs users will be able to create new games in a short time.

The Sonic Advance Editor was made specifically for hacking the Sonic Advance games. It is a multipurpose tool that can edit and view color palettes and tile sets, allowing you to change levels in any way you would like. It also gives you the ability to change the music and sound effects.

The Esrael Sonic Editor II is an updated version of a program with a similar name. It gives the users the ability to edit levels, art and title cards. The editor even comes with a built-in Hex editor for more advanced features.

This tool isn't actually a program, but a flash file. As Game Boy Advance (GBA) games have a different way of coding color values if you wanted to input new colors into the game you'd have to know how to code them. This file takes your RGB value and converts it to the decimal value used by GBA games.

Once you've created your hack, you will need a way to apply it to the original file. StealthPatch is the program to do that. It works with Windows and is able to increase the file size of a game file or create another file with the additional information.

Are No Smoking Signs Required in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts enacted the smoke-free workplace law in 2004 to protect employees and the public from secondhand smoke. According to the law, a no smoking sign must be posted in all workplaces.

A workplace is defined as any location having one or more employees. The smoke-free workplace law applies to restaurants, bars, schools, private offices, taxis and government buildings. Designated smoking areas are prohibited under the law.

You can get no smoking signs free of charge from the state's Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. Decals and signs can be ordered online from the Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse. Slogans include, "this is a smoke-free building," "smoking is prohibited in restrooms," "welcome to a tobacco-free school," and "it is illegal to smoke in this establishment."

Smokers who violate the Massachusetts law may be fined $100. Employers or business owners who permit smoking may receive fines ranging from $100 to $300. In general, the law is enforced by local boards of health and the state Department of Public Health, but business proprietors may call the police when patrons refuse to stop smoking.

How to Grow Home Vegetables and Food for Survivalists

In the 1960s, fear of nuclear fallout helped create interest in the survivalist movement. These early survivalists built bomb shelters and horded canned food. Today, instead of nuclear fallout, survivalists focus on coping with potential disasters that range from viral infection to nationwide computer crashes by living off the grid and becoming self-sufficient. One major way to do this is to grow as much of your own food staples as possible.

1

Create compost by digging a pit in your garden in fall before spring planting. Fill this pit with dead leaves and garden refuse. By spring, your leaves will have decomposed into compost. Compost keeps your soil healthy in lieu of commercial fertilizer.
2

Break your garden up in spring with a spade and rake to a depth of 12 inches. Spread the compost over your soil in a 4-inch layer. Mix the amendment into the soil. The amendment not only improves the soil, but by piling the compost on top of the soil, you create a temporary raised bed, which improves drainage and plant health, reducing your reliance on commercial products such as pesticide or fertilizer, which you may not be able to obtain in the event of a disaster.
3

Select garden crops based on their nutritional content and suitability for long-term storage as well as whether you will be able to save seed for future crops. In the event of a disaster, you may not have access to electricity to power a refrigerator or freezer. Fruits like apples and nuts, as well as root crops like potatoes, save for longer periods of time. Small fruits such as strawberries and blackberries may be made into jam and jelly. Gourd vegetables and cucumbers have increased pest resistance due to their harder skins and may stand a better chance of survival if your access to pesticides is limited. Select perennial vegetables such as herbs to season your food or for medicinal purposes, wild rice and wild greens can provide variety for your diet and will do well with little attention. If you have no access to commercial groceries, you may also have to grow cereal crops such as wheat, hominy and corn meal as well as beans and sweet corn for canning and dehydrating. In parts of the northern United States where poor road conditions limit access to grocery stores, landowners grow these crops on a regular basis.
4

Focus primarily on crops that will grow well in your area. While citrus is a good source of vitamin C, citrus trees will not grow outdoors in northern states. Instead, grow cabbage and preserve it as sauerkraut for a good source of vitamin C.
5

Choose heirloom vegetables for your garden instead of hybrids. Hybrid vegetable seeds cannot be saved because they do not produce true to type, which means that the plants do not produce seed that grow into plants like the parent hybrid plant. If you save heirloom seed over several seasons, you will develop your own heirloom seed that is adapted to your regional conditions.
6

Plan your garden's layout so that you can inter-plant vegetables. Inter-planting is the process of growing two plants closely together. For example, you can grow beans in between stalks of corn. The beans grow up the corn stalks as if they were trellises. Peppers can grow in between rows of tomatoes. The tomatoes act as windbreaks for the peppers. If you are reduced to hand weeding and cultivating, inter-planting will save space in your garden.
7

Open a furrow to plant your seed that is three times as deep as the seed at its widest point. Place the seed into the soil and cover with soil. Water the soil so that it is as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Plant fruit and nut tree orchards within 200 feet of your home along the north and west sides of a home to provide windbreaks as well as food. Select two of each type of tree for cross-pollination purposes. Open planting pockets in the soil for these trees that are twice as wide as the tree's root ball, but no deeper. Place the tree's root ball within the soil and fill in around the sides of the root ball with soil.
8

Cover the soil of your garden and the roots of trees with a mulch of compost. Compost mulch adds nutrients to the soil, holds in moisture and blocks weeds.

What Is a Payday Loan Company?

In times of emergency and utter need, you can ask the help of a payday loan company to cover your expenses. Loans are usually up to $1,000, and the repayment is your next payday. Without the need for a credit check, all the loaner needs is a bank account from which the payday loan company can debit the repayment amount.

When you have to augment your finances quickly due to emergencies or bills that you must pay immediately to avoid interruption of service, you can contact a payday loan company for assistance. Keep in mind, though, that repayment of the debt is almost immediate, usually spanning 30 days from the time of the loan. Together with the finance charges, the company will debit the loaned amount from your bank account. It is imperative that you have the funds for repayment available in your account on the scheduled date. If funds are unavailable, more finance charges and other fees will accrue.

Apart from a cash advance or a payday loan, payday loan companies offer different services such as prepaid debit cards and gift card services. The amount that you spend depends on the amount that you deposit; and you avoid overdraft fees if you spend within the amount you deposit. Gift cards work almost the same as prepaid cards, but instead of spending it yourself, you can give the prepaid card as a gift for special occasions. Check-to-Card services, on the other hand, send your payroll or other checks to a prepaid card, saving time and effort in cashing checks. Some companies also offer money transfer services.

Usury laws govern the lending rates and terms of payday loan companies. These laws also check on the allowable amount that companies can lend to consumers and limit the fees that the lender can charge. Some states such as Delaware and Idaho have no limits on the amount the lender can charge, and some states such as Pennsylvania and Vermont "have usury laws or small-loan rate caps that would make payday lending illegal under the rates usually charged," according to Bankrate. Arm yourself with knowledge of your consumer rights and ask for more information from a lender before binding yourself in an agreement.

Payday loans usually cost more than a normal loan or using your credit card. Consider if there truly is a need for a cash advance before applying for a payday loan. Check on other alternatives that you may have, say a credit card emergency fund instead. If the bill can wait or can be funded by other sources, check on those available options. Payday loans are best for one-time emergencies only and should be immediately paid.

Intrest rates at a payday loan company is about 400 percent of the amount you borrow per year. Considering the 400-percent rate, you should think twice before using payday-loan services. Weigh your options with other alternatives other than asking for the services of a payday loan company. Also, check the credibility of the company and see if they can offer lower interest rates. Be sure to read and thoroughly understand the fine print of the contract before signing the agreement.

How to Pull Phone Records

You might be prepping for an upcoming court case, or just checking to find out who is calling/texting your child. When you need printed records of all incoming and outgoing calls, there are a number of ways to get them, depending on your service provider's legal requirements. While some phone companies will provide a call detail history once annually to customers upon written requests, others may require a subpoena--even if you are the account holder.

According to both FCC rules and the Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006, the only times when the law allows pulling another person's telephone records are: 1) with a subpoena for a relevant court case, 2) in law enforcement investigations, and 3) by the account owner's written authorization.

1

Sort through your phone bills. A call detail page is part of each month's statement. If your phone company doesn't provide a call detail page or you have paperless billing, move on to step 2.
2

Sign up for online account management with your phone service provider. Log in with your password and search for your past billing statements. You can narrow the search by date then print the call detail record for that specific date range.

If you don't have Internet access or your phone company does not offer online billing, proceed to step 3.
3

Call your phone service provider and request hard copies of your previous monthly billing statements for the time period in question. Be prepared to verify your identity and legal ownership of the account or that you have written authorization from the actual account holder to access the records.

1

Log in to your wireless provider's online account management system and review past billing statements. Several cell phone companies provide detailed call history records online, making it simple to search for and print what you need.

If your wireless phone is prepaid (such as TracFone or Net10), proceed to step 2.
2

Call your prepaid wireless phone provider and ask it to send you a request form for your past phone records. Ask what, if any, other documents will be required from you to prove legal ownership of the phone. The requirements of various prepaid service providers will vary based on the company's customer privacy policy.
3

Fill out the request form and/or prepare a notarized letter with the following information: your name, account holder's name (if different), billing address, cellular phone number, the phone's ESN/IMEI and a statement that you are the legal owner of that phone or the account holder's authorized representative. Enclose a copy of the letter of authorization from the actual account holder.

Some prepaid wireless companies such as TracFone will also require you to send a photocopy of the back of the phone itself, showing the ESN/IMEI sticker. This is most often found underneath the phone's battery compartment. If your phone was stolen, provide a copy of the police report instead.
4

Specify clearly the time period you need call history records for in your written request. If the records are more than a year old, allow some extra time for processing the request. The company may need to pull older records from the archives.
5

Send the documentation to your wireless provider via fax or postal mail. Most phone record requests are processed within 30 days. Reports are provided only by mail, not email or fax, so make sure you have at least a month's lead time if you need the call records for an upcoming court appearance.

Life Insurance Vs. Accidental Death and Dismemberment

When it comes to insuring your life, you have the option between purchasing traditional life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. While these options are similar and they do provide a death benefit, there are some key differences between them. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance only pays as a result of accidents, while life insurance is a broader coverage.

Life insurance is a type of coverage that pays a lump sum of money to a deceased's beneficiaries when they die. This type of coverage pays out to your beneficiaries for any type of death that occurs. You could die from natural causes, an accident or from a terminal illness and still receive the same benefit. Some life insurance policies also provide a payout if an insured is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance is a different type of insurance policy that only pays when an accident occurs. If a policy holder dies as a result of an accident or is dismembered, the insurance will pay a lump sum. The money will be paid to the beneficiary of the policyholder. With this type of insurance, nothing is paid if the policyholder dies from a terminal illness or from natural causes.

Besides getting a policy that covers accidental death and dismemberment, you could also add this type of coverage as a rider to your traditional life insurance coverage. This can provide double indemnity if you were to die in an accident that is covered in your policy. If you die in an accident with this type of rider, the benefit of your policy doubles. For example, if you had a $500,000 policy, your family would then get $1 million instead.

With accidental death and dismemberment insurance, you get part of the benefit from your policy if you are dismembered. This type of policy will generally pay you half of what your total policy is worth for each member that is lost. For example, if you lose an eye, you would get half of the policy payout. The rest of the policy would then pay out if you lost another part of your body.

One of the differences between these two types of insurance policies is the cost. Life insurance is generally more expensive than accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Insurance companies have to charge more for traditional life insurance because this type of policy has a broader type of coverage than accidental death and dismemberment. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance only covers accidents, and accidents only account for a small percentage of deaths when compared to other types of death.

How to Drain a Fuel Tank

Draining a fuel tank varies little from vehicle to vehicle. The gas tank is connected to a carburetor or fuel injector by a hose. The hose will be connected to the bottom of the gas tank by a metal hose clamp. You will need a gas drain container large enough to hold the tank's contents.

1

Park the vehicle on level ground and set the parking brake. Raise the rear end off the ground using a jack and lower it onto jack stands.
2

Get under the vehicle on your back so you're looking up at the bottom of the gas tank. Position the drain container under the tank.
3

Compress the hose clamp using pliers. Pull the hose from the valve and allow the gas to drain into the drain container.

The Drawbacks of Telephoto Zoom Lenses

Telephoto zoom lenses are used to photograph subjects that are very far away, making them appear closer. Many photographers use telephoto lenses for shooting wildlife and nature, because it is often difficult to get close to animals in the wild. Telephotos are also used in sports photography for shooting action from the sidelines. Telephoto lenses are practical for certain types of photography, but they have several drawbacks for standard shooting.

Telephoto zoom lenses are very large, heavy and cumbersome. They are not generally considered "portable" and can be difficult to carry around and store. Heavy lenses can often result in camera shake if you are not able to brace your arm. The large size also makes it very difficult for you to shoot discreetly; people tend to notice someone shooting with a gigantic lens, which makes telephoto zoom lenses a poor choice for street shooting.

When people talk about a "fast" lens, this refers to the smallest f-stop number on the lens. The lowest f-stop number is also the largest aperture, which means it has a larger opening in the lens and allows more light to your film or digital sensor. Telephoto zoom lenses are generally manufactured with a high f-stop range and are therefore referred to as "slow." This is a drawback for two reasons: one, slow lenses do not work well in low lighting conditions and two, the limited aperture range of telephoto zoom lenses gives a shallow depth of field.

Unless you are specifically shooting wildlife or sports, photographing with a telephoto zoom lens separates you from your subject, which can have a result on your overall style and composition. Photographs are much more interesting when the subject is engaged or participating; shooting with a telephoto zoom lens is not interactive. When you shoot with a telephoto lens you are simply observing, not enticing a reaction from your subject to capture a moment. Some of the most dynamic street photographs are shot with wide angle and portrait lenses from a very close distance.

One of the major drawbacks of telephoto zoom lenses is their hefty price tag. Buying a cheap telephoto lens will result in images that lack sharpness and clarity, but buying a quality telephoto zoom lens could run you several thousand dollars. The prince range for high quality telephoto lenses make them an impractical choice unless you shoot primarily subjects that are far away.

What Types of Jars Can Be Used for Jelly?

Canning is growing in popularity with people looking to save money and keep their pantries stocked with wholesome foods. Among the tastiest preserves are jellies. The jars you use are important to the success and safety of your jelly making. You will want heavy glass jars that can stand up to temperature changes and can be safely sealed with a lid. You don't want to use jars with mouths that are cracked or chipped, which will prevent a proper vacuum seal, but you will want jars with wide mouths, which make it easier to fill with preserves.

Mason jars were the first preserve jar with a threaded mouth, which allows for easier preserving. First developed by John L. Mason, the initial Mason jar included a cap lid with a sealing compound around the edge that screwed down on the jar. This design was improved on by other companies with a two-piece lid consisting of a lid edged with a sealing compound and a screw-on ring. The types of jars available today in this style include Ball, Kerr and Jarden. Most Mason-style jars are available in decorative, smaller sizes for jelly as well. This jar is recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for preserving because the lid pops to indicate it is properly sealed.

Weck jars, developed by a German company in the early 1900s that still produces the jars today, use a similar sealing method as lightning jars, but, instead of a glass lid held on by a metal cage, these jars have a clear glass lid with a rubber seal and two side springs that clamp the lid down during the heating process. The clips are removed during the cooling process after the seal is created. Many prefer Weck jars to Mason jars because there is no possibility of metal contamination in the food. The only setback is that these jars, unlike Mason jars, have no indicator the jar is sealed properly.

Lightning jars, or bail-wire-clamp jars, have a glass lid with an attached metal clamp that pushes the lid down on the jar and creates the seal. There is usually a rubber ring placed around the lid before the jar is sealed. These jars are not recommended for preserving food because there is no indicator the jar has properly sealed.

Leifheit jars, also made by a German company, are designed to increase the amount of preserves you can fit in your pressure cooker. Their sides aren't round but are angular instead. Their unique shape is popular among canners. The jars use a similar sealing style to the Mason jar with a metal lid and ring. They also offer smaller sizes appropriate for jelly.

Uses for Water Jet Cutting Machines

Water jet cutting machines use a high-pressure stream of water to cut and shape materials ranging from steel to titanium. These machines differ from other machining centers in that they minimize the effects of heat on a material and cut with high accuracy. Water jet cutting machines are versatile and can be used on a variety of applications in all industries.

While some machining centers are only designed to cut specific metals, water jet machines are able to cut virtually any material, from rubber and foam to stone and metal composites. This makes the machines a viable resource in the automotive, aerospace and medical fields. According to Jet Edge, the only materials that can't be cut with the water jet technology are glass, diamonds and ceramics.

Water jet machines are able to cut parts based directly from computer-aided design (CAD). According to Omax, the machines are also ideal for quickly creating short-run applications, like prototypes. Prototypes are test products that are created prior to manufacturing that designers and engineers analyze to determine potential improvements. Because water jet can quickly create these one-off parts inexpensively, they can be utilized for prototyping purposes.

Although water jet machines are more commonly used for industrial purposes, they can serve as a method of food preparation, like cutting bread. According to Michigan Technological University, the water jet's kerf, or cutting width, can easily be adjusted to cut smaller, more delicate materials. The small cuts are able to maintain accuracy, while wasting little of the food.

Pepper Plug Plants

Pepper plants need a long growing season which is sometimes impossible to provide when planting by seed. Peppers transplant well and can get a leg up on the growing period when they are started indoors. Plug flats are a perfect way to start vegetables. The cells are designed to optimize the way roots grow, and will provide you with a good head of greenery and a compact root system.

Bell or "sweet" peppers can be started in a plug tray with potting soil six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. The plants will grow big enough to be transplanted after all danger of a cold snap is passed and soils are warmed to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Bell pepper plants are heat lovers and will need to adjust to the cooler outdoor temperatures. The plug tray is placed outdoors in the sun for a few hours over the course of a couple of days to get the plants used to the conditions. Then they are planted in a garden bed and will produce glossy peppers by the end of summer.

Chile peppers must be started indoors in temperatures that stay around 75 degrees Fahrenheit . Chile peppers are smaller than bell peppers and usually pointed. They range from green to yellow and even fiery red. The heat level varies but they are usually considered hotter and spicier than bell peppers. Chile plugs should not go outdoors until temperatures are very warm. Night temperatures should be 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cherry peppers can be either hot or mild depending on the variety. The large cherries tend to be the hotter type. Cherry peppers are pretty and colorful and have a chubby round shape. The plugs need adaptive time outside before transplanting, and will need plenty of water and a sunny location. Start cherry peppers indoors in late winter and grow the plugs under a grow light or in a southern window. Temperatures should be warm and a soil warming mat is helpful when germinating the seeds in the plug flat.

What Is Papal Authority?

According to a study published by the Vatican in February 2010, more than 17 percent of the world's population is Catholic. That means that more than 1 billion people around the world are governed by the Pope, who has ultimate power in the Catholic Church through Papal Authority.

According to the "Catholic Encyclopedia," papal authority is the recognition that the pope is the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and control's the church's doctrine, or teachings. Catholics believe the pope to have ultimate power granted by God and believe his decisions regarding faith and morality come from God.

The "Catholic Encyclopedia" offers insight on the history of the papacy by going back to early Bible times and Jesus' disciple Peter. In the Book of Matthew, Jesus commands to Peter "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." This is known as the Petrine Guarantee and Catholics believe Jesus gave Peter special power over the church. While Peter never actually served as a pope, Catholics acknowledge him as the first head of the church and believe each pope is a direct successor of Peter. The new pope is also said to carry an amount of the power that Jesus gave to Peter, which gives him papal authority.

During the First Vatican Council in 1870, the Bishops approved the Decree of Papal Infallibility. This decree says that the Pope is infallible, or never wrong, regarding issues of faith and morality. According to the decree, the pope has been given special powers by God to see the correct way to guide the church.

How to Make a DVD From a DV Tape

One of the best ways to preserve and share your treasured memories is by recording them to a DVD. Because of the digital video revolution, this process has never been easier. Both of the major operating sytems, MacOS and Windows, now come with built-in capturing, editing and DVD authoring programs. Making a DVD from a DV tape is as easy as plugging in your DV camera.

1

Insert the DV tape into a DV camera. Plug in the DV camera to an electrical socket or ensure that the battery is fully charged. Locate the DV camera near the computer that you will be capturing the footage with.
2

Insert a DV cable into the DV socket on the camera. Plug the other end into the DV socket on the computer.
3

Turn on the DV camera.
4

Start your DV editing and capture software. This could be either iMovie (MacOS) or Windows Live Movie Maker (Windows). In addition, there are a number of other freeware, shareware and commercial editing and capture programs available on the Internet.
5

Capture your DV footage. How exactly this is done depends on your program. In Windows LIve Movie Maker, click on the "Import from Device" button and then select your DV camera. In iMovie, ensure that the camera button is selected and then click "Import". There are a couple of different ways you can import your footage. You can either import selected bits of your DV tape, by using the VCR controls on the bottom of the capture screen, pressing "Record" and then pressing "Stop" when finished, or by clicking on the "Capture Entire Tape" feature, which will rewind the tape and capture everything.
6

Drag your imported footage from the capture area down to the time line in the bottom of the program window. Once in the time line, you can edit your footage, add tiles, music and other effects.
7

Open your DVD drawer. Insert a blank DVD.
8

In your editing program, select "Export" or "Output to DVD". The system will render out the needed files and prepare them for transcoding to DVD. The system will burn the DVD and alert you to any problems.

Fungus in Tree Stumps

Fungus growing on the trunk or branches of a living tree is usually a sign of fatal disease. Seeing fungus on a dead tree stump is a healthy indication of a natural decay process. Along with insects and bacteria, fungus helps break down dead wood and returns its nutrients to the soil. Don't be in a hurry to replant on the same spot, though. Some types of fungi will infect the roots of whatever you plant with hardy spores for several years after the stump is gone.

Trametes versicolor is commonly called "turkey tail fungus" because of its brown and tan-colored, fan-shaped growth pattern that resembles a turkey's tail. According to the University of California Davis, this fungus can invade a great number of deciduous and evergreen stumps, and can even kill living trees when they pierce bark and reach the cambium layer. Appearing in groups and measuring 1 to 4 inches across, this fungus can quickly reduce a stump to deep, rich soil.

Heterobasidion annosum attacks evergreen stumps, though it can occasionally be found on deciduous and fruit trees as well. According to the University of North Carolina, it's a sneaky killer, and symptoms often don't appear until the tree is deeply affected. The first symptom is often the presence of small, tubular-shaped fruiting bodies that appear at the base of the trunk. Recommended treatments for killing this fungus include apply borate and urea to the stump.

Ganoderma lucidum, also called varnish fungus for the shiny, brown crust of its shelf-like form, attacks drought-stressed, deciduous trees like willow, hackberry, apple and redbud. Annual fruiting bodies can be up to 14 inches wide, according to the University of California Davis, making this a truly interesting and quick dissolver of tree stumps. It's an equal-opportunity eater, too, attacking both the roots and the body of tree stumps.

Stereum sp., known as "parchment fungus" for its papery, thin skin is most often found on dead branches stumps of dead deciduous trees like magnolia, tulip, catalpa and elm. It is rarely active enough to kill a living tree. Fruiting bodies appear in clusters and are only about an inch across, with a gray-brown surface and a brown underside. According to the University of California Davis, some species of this fungus ooze a red fluid when pierced.

How to Repair a Toilet Bowl Flange Seal

If you smell an unusual odor in your bathroom or see water seeping out from underneath your toilet, you most likely have a bad flange seal. The flange (also called the "closet flange" or "toilet flange") is a metal ring that connects your toilet bowl to your home's sewer system. A wax ring, or seal, sits between these two pieces, sealing the toilet connection water and air tight. Over time, these seals can disintegrate. The procedure for how to repair a toilet bowl flange seal is fairly straightforward and can be done by the DIYer.

1

Turn off the water supply for the toilet where you want to repair the flange seal. Look behind the toilet to locate the water supply shut-off valve. These are typically mounted on the wall underneath the tank. Turn the knob on the end of the valve clockwise to shut off the water.
2

Flush the toilet to remove all the water in the tank. Continue pressing on the handle and allow all the water inside to escape. Lift the lid off the tank. Wipe up any remaining water with the sponge.
3

Unscrew the water supply hose from the underside of the tank. Use the adjustable wrench to remove the tank bolts on the bottom of the tank. Lift the tank off the back of the toilet.
4

Insert the edge of a flat bladed screwdriver underneath the plastic caps on the sides of the toilet bowl and pop them off. Unscrew the flange bolts with the wrench. Run the utility knife along the caulk at the base of the toilet. Gently pull the toilet bowl off the floor. Lift it up and move aside.
5

Use the putty knife to scrape away any old remnants from the wax ring. Clean up any stubborn pieces with the isopropyl alcohol and rag. Insert new flange bolts into the flange. Secure with the plastic washers. Press the new wax ring into place around the flange.
6

Turn the toilet bowl over upside down. Some water may run out, this is normal. Clean off the underside of the toilet of any old wax with the alcohol and putty knife as you did around the flange opening.
7

Turn the toilet bowl right side up. Slowly lower the bowl over the flange. As you do so, align the flange bolts with the holes in the base of the toilet. The outlet in the bottom of the toilet should line up with the flange opening as well. Once the toilet bowl is in position, press down to seal.
8

Insert the plastic and rubber washers over the flange bolts. Thread the flange nuts into place. Tighten with the wrench, slowly, one side of the bowl at a time, until the bowl is secure.
9

Place the tank on the back of the bowl, ensuring that the cone gasket in the bottom of the tank lines up with the inlet on the back of the bowl. Insert the tank bolts into the bottom of the tank. Secure with the tank nuts from the bottom.
10

Wrap the inlet on the underside with plumber's tape. Connect the supply hose coupling. Turn the water supply on by rotating the knob at the end of the valve counterclockwise. Allow the tank to fill.
11

Flush the tank. Check for leaks. Tighten any nuts or couplings, if necessary. Replace the tank lid.
12

Saw off the flange bolts above the nut with the hacksaw. Press the plastic caps into place over the bolts. Insert the silicone caulk into the caulk gun. Trim off the end at the 1/4 inch mark at a 45-degree angle. Caulk around the base of the toilet.

How to Save in a Growth Money Market

No matter what you do for a living or how much money you make, you need to set up an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. One of the best ways to build an emergency fund is with a growth money market account. A money market account pays a competitive rate of interest, while keeping your money safe from loss. A growth money market pays an even higher rate of interest, helping your money grow more quickly. With the current limit for FDIC coverage set at $250,000, you can save plenty of money and establish an automatic savings habit.

1

Shop around for the best growth money market account. Since all bank money market accounts are FDIC insured, you are free to shop around and look for the best possible yield. Check the minimum balance requirement and make sure you are able to meet it before establishing your account.
2

Ask your employer for a direct deposit form. Fill out the form using the routing number and account number from your new growth money market account. Direct part of each paycheck to the money market account. Direct the rest of your paycheck into your regular checking account.
3

Deposit any extra money into the money market account as well. If you get a bonus or a raise, immediately direct at least part of that extra money into your money market account. This will force you to save and help you establish the savings habit that will help you build a large nest egg.

Signs That a Company May Go Bankrupt

If you are considering investing in a company, you will inevitably do some research on it first. During your research, there are several warning signs to look for that could tell you that a company is going out of business. Looking at financial ratios and business strategies can tip you off that a bankruptcy may be looming.

When evaluating a business, looking at the amount of positive cash flow that it has can be very telling. Regardless of how profitable a company is, it needs to have a steady stream of cash flow to keep the doors open. If a company is not good at collecting invoices, it could hurt the long-term prospects of the company. A negative cash flow tells you that the company is losing more money than it is gaining. After a certain amount of time, the company will burn through its savings and go out of business.

Some companies rely on a few customers for the bulk of their business. If a company has shifted all of its efforts into pleasing a single customer or a small group of customers, this could be a bad sign for longevity. If the customer switches suppliers or goes out of business themselves, it could be enough to close the business that you are thinking about investing in. Ideally, you should invest in companies that have a diverse customer base.

As a stock investor, you should be familiar with using financial ratios to evaluate companies. There are a number of financial ratios that you can use that will tell you if a company is close to bankruptcy. One of the most common ratios used for this process is the debt-to-equity ratio. This takes a look at the total amount of debt of the company in relation to the amount of assets that it has. If the debt-to-equity ratio is somewhere between .5 and 1, you have a company that could be headed toward bankruptcy. The interest-coverage ratio is another indicator that is often used to gauge the financial health of a company. To calculate this ratio, you can take the operating income of the company and divide it by the interest payments that it is has made. If you have a number below four, you may want to be concerned about a potential bankruptcy on the horizon. Companies could bounce back from a negative ratio, but it does not always happen.

How to Establish a Case for Laches for Back Child Support

Establishing a case for laches against back child support can reduce or eliminate your past obligations but is sometimes difficult. Laches is a legal doctrine that asserts a person may be able to diminish or avoid a civil liability due to the actions of the other party involved. You must prove the other parent knew the reason behind your laches defense, intentionally delayed getting a back child support order, and injured you as a direct result.

1

Gather evidence that the other parent knew or should have known the reason for your assertion of a laches defense. Locate the original child support agreement if you were relying on the repayment terms in the document.
2

Prove that you looked for your child if you were unable to pay support because the other parent moved and did not inform you of the new address. Proof of your search may include fees paid to private investigators, private investigator reports, communications with your child support unit and court records from actions you brought against the other parent for denial of visitation or modification of support. Contact the private investigator you used if you no longer have documentation and request a copy. Visit the family court office where you filed any actions and request a copy of your court records.
3

Document how the other parent delayed obtaining a back-due support order. Some of your other proof may serve for establishing an unreasonable delay, as required under a laches defense, like a letter from the support unit indicating the other parent has been located but is refusing to communicate or cooperate with the support proceedings and payment.
4

Write down the ways you were personally damaged by the parent's delay in getting back support. Include how having to pay the back support amount, interest and collecting fees will hurt you financially, such as forcing you into bankruptcy.

The Average Salary for a Diagnostic Radiologist

Diagnostic radiologists are specialized physicians who are trained in the use of radioactive substances for imaging and treatment purposes. While these medical professionals may be involved with obtaining and interpreting medical imaging through the use of x-rays, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they should not be confused with radiology technicians, who have much less training and are typically not medical doctors. Diagnostic radiologists are highly trained and are well compensated for their skills.

Doctors and surgeons are among the most highly compensated professionals in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median income for primary care physicians was $186,044 in 2008 while those working in medical specialties, such as diagnostic radiology, received a median compensation of $339,738. Salary.com places the median annual salary of radiologists at nearly $402,000. According to the American College of Radiology, approximately 1.2 percent of American physicians choose radiology as a specialty.

Experience plays an important role in determining the total compensation for diagnostic radiologists, according to PayScale.com. As of October 2010, diagnostic radiologists can expect to earn a minimum of $45,000 during their first year in practice. Those with more than five years on the job average a minimum annual income of more than $145,000. Diagnostic radiologists with more than 20 years in practice may average between $192,971 and $294,791.

The part of the country where a diagnostic radiologist chooses to practice can affect her income. According to PayScale.com, as of October 2010 diagnostic radiologists practicing in California earned the lowest average salary with incomes ranging from approximately $100,000 to $247,344. Pennsylvania offered the highest average salaries for diagnostic radiologists with salaries ranging between $160,000 and $365,000.

Salary only represents a little more than 80 percent of a diagnostic radiologist's total compensation, according to Salary.com. Paid time off accounts for an additional 10 percent of compensation. The remaining 10 percent is made up of bonuses, employer contributions to health and disability insurance, and employer contributions to private and government retirement programs.

The demand for physicians and surgeons in both primary care and specialty fields is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018 according to the BLS. Growth in this employment sector is expected to be fueled by increased demand for health care services due to the aging of the population along with an anticipated higher-than-average number of physician retirements. The demand for specialties such as radiology is expected to increase due to the increased risks for heart disease and cancer associated with an aging population.

Water Park Hotels Nearest St. Cloud, Minnesota

Waterslide at the water park Under the Waterslide image by Kimberly Wickerink from Fotolia.com
Minnesota may not be "top of mind" for sunny aqua-focused entertainment but it has ways of making you forget its sometimes chilly weather. A multitude of indoor water park hotels are near the city of St. Cloud, where it's always summer. These facilities, within about an hour's drive of St. Cloud, provide a welcome reprieve for overnight guests.

Approximately 40 miles from St. Cloud, the Wild Woods Water Park at Holiday Inn takes guests on a journey back in time with its "old river town" design. The 30,000-square-foot water park has four-story water slides, an old-fashioned "log walk," the basketball court in the activity pool and Buddy's Playland for toddlers as primary attractions. Pub 'n' Grub Snack Bar provides sustenance for all-day aqua entertainment.

The water park is open seven days a week in the summer and on weekends during the fall and spring. Park passes are complimentary to the Holiday Inn's guests. And the hotel may cater to families and fun with Wild Woods, but its rooms and suites also can accommodate the business traveler with event and meeting spaces, as well as a dedicated corporate floor. The Mississippi Valley Grill & Bar is Holiday Inn's on-site casual dining destination.

Just a few minutes from Minneapolis in Maple Grove, about an hour's drive from St. Cloud, the Venetian Indoor Water Park is a festive attraction at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at Arbor Lakes. The 25,000-square-foot water park, only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, packs in lots of splashes and a touch of Italian flavor with decor inspired by the streets of Venice. Four-story water slides, a 20-person spa and the Bambini Piscina pool for tots ensure that the whole family can enjoy the park.

Like the water park, the Holiday Inn is also Venetian-themed with smoke-free king or queen guest rooms, along with a fitness center, a 24-hour business center and 1,900 square feet of meeting space. Hotel dining options are Italian-inspired and include Palazzo Ristoranti, serving breakfast and dinner, and the Sala Lounge for cocktails.

Situated in Minneapolis, approximately one hour from St. Cloud, the Grand Rios indoor water park is inside the Ramada Hotel and offers recreational opportunities to the general public, as well as overnight hotel guests. The Grand Rios highlights that it is home to the Midwest's largest "Hurricane Plunge" attraction and also has a 500-gallon "Big Splash Dumping Bucket" and a four-story water tower, complete with body and tube slides.

Water park prices and hours of operation are seasonal, with admission based on availability, but Ramada's hotel guests are always guaranteed entry. The hotel features 224 over-sized guest rooms and suites with amenities like wireless Internet, a fitness center, an indoor pool and complimentary parking. As for dining, the hotel's on-site Beach House Bar and Grille offers surf and turf favorites, while Grand Rios' Coconut Charley, located on the mezzanine of the water park, has casual dining covered with menu items like sandwiches, pizza and ice cream.

About an hour outside of St. Cloud, in the Baxter/Brainerd area, The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes houses 102 cabin-like rooms in four stories. Accommodations include standard king or queen rooms with separate living areas, as well as even larger suite options for groups up to eight. The lodge points out its casual grill and bar, with daily lunch and dinner specials, and its Gold Mine Arcade, clocking in at 2,400 square feet of gaming activities and prizes.

The real attraction is the 30,000-square-foot Paul Bunyan Water Park with a holographic tube slide, body slide, log walk, lazy river, zero-depth entry pool and an indoor/outdoor hot tub. Non-corporate rate guests at The Lodge can enjoy complimentary admission to the water park, open daily.

Freeze Protection for Fig Trees

Figs originated in the Mediterranean basin, kin to rubber, mulberry and Osage orange trees. Fig trees thrive in dry, temperate climates similar to their native land. If your climate is cooler, protect your fig tree from winter frost.

Many growers plant fig trees adjacent to a building or wall to protect them and provide radiant heat. For further protection, construct a frame over the tree, and cover the frame with a swath of heavy carpet in winter. Thick mulching serves as a warm blanket for shallow roots.

Fig trees can be grown as bushes or potted plants. building detail and fig tree image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com
You can limit frost damage by reducing the size of your fig tree. In northern climates, fig trees die back each year, then regenerate sufficient growth in the spring to produce fruit. If you want figs more than a fig tree, select this option yourself, pruning the trunk to near ground level at the end of the second year.

In very cold climates, grow your fig tree as a potted plant and move it to an inside location in winter. Replace soil in the pot every three years and, in the summer, provide some shade to the pot to prevent overheating in sunlight.

How to Transfer Equity on a Car Title

A transfer of equity can only be done when there is an open lien or loan on the vehicle in question. The equity refers to he difference between the value of the item and the amount left on the lien. The owner wishes to sell the car but all parties must be made aware of the lien. This situation tends to occur when you have more debt on the vehicle than the vehicle value. This transfer of equity does not remove the lien.

1

Contact the lien holder to obtain her permission for the transfer of equity and car sale. This permission should be in the form of a document. The lien holder permission will substitute the lien release paper normally used when transferring a title. For permission to be granted, the buyer must pass a credit check and be approved by the lien holder, as if he were applying for a car loan.
2

Sign and date the car title. Have the buyer sign and date the car title as well. Have a witness sign the title. The lien holder may require that all paperwork be signed at the lien holder's place of business. Ensure that everyone involved in the transaction has a copy of the signed paperwork.
3

The lien holder, seller and buyer must fill out a transfer-of-equity form. Alternatively, the new buyer can sign the original security agreement.
4

Submit the transfer of equity form and assigned title to the clerk of courts in the buyer's county of residence. For a successful transfer, the deputy clerk will stamp the transfer of equity or security agreement. This step is normally done by the lien holder.
5

When the sale goes through, the new owner will take over paying the lien. Once the equity has been paid off, the lien holder will release the title to the car owner.

How to Remove Spy Sweeper From the Programs List

Webroot designed Spy Sweeper as an application you can use to remove malicious spyware programs from your computer. If you decide to use another anti-spyware program, you will need to remove Spy Sweeper from your computer's list of installed programs. You can use the Add/Remove tool in Windows to remove Spy Sweeper from your system.

1

Click "Start" and select "Control Panel."
2

Click "Programs and Features" or "Uninstall a program" if you use Windows 7 or Vista. Double-click "Add or Remove Programs" if you use Windows XP.
3

Scroll down the list of installed programs and right-click on "Webroot Spy Sweeper." Click on "Uninstall" or "Remove" from the drop-down menu. Click "Yes" on the pop-up window confirming you want to remove the software. The Webroot Spy Sweeper uninstall wizard will appear.
4

Follow the instructions from the wizard to uninstall the Spy Sweeper application. Click the "Finish" button when process completes. Follow prompts to restart your computer, if necessary.

How to Solve a Numbered Magic Cube

A numbered magic cube is the three-dimensional version of a magic square. Set up like a Rubik's cube, you must rotate numbered disks so that every row and column add up to the magic number. The most common magic cube is a semi-perfect order three puzzle where each face of the cube comprises three numbers by three numbers, or nine numbers, per face. Unlike magic squares, not every diagonal line will add up to the magic number in a semi-perfect puzzle. An order three magic cube has 27 numbers (1--27) where one is hidden inside the cube.

1

Practice solving two-dimensional magic square worksheets first to become comfortable with filling in numbers so that all rows, columns and diagonal lines add up to the same total. With a 3-by-3 magic square, the central number is always 5 and the magic number (or sum of each row, column and diagonal) is 15.
2

Begin solving your 3-by-3 magic cube by knowing that the magic number, the total of each row and column, is 42. Space diagonals also add up to 42. A space diagonal is a three-dimensional diagonal that goes through the middle of the cube. For example, a diagonal line starting from the top right number on the top face of the cube, going through the inside of the cube and ending on the bottom face at the bottom left number is a space diagonal.Diagonal lines on each of the six flat faces of the cube do not add up to 42.
3

Arrange numbers bearing in mind that the center number inside the cube that you cannot see is 14. This will help you determine what the corner numbers should be. For example, the number on the top right corner of one of the cube's faces added to the bottom left corner of the opposite face added to 14 should equal 42, since the sum of space diagonals equals the magic number. Another way to put this is that the top right corner added to the bottom left corner on the opposite face should add up to 28. For example, if the top right corner is 19, the bottom left number on the opposite face must be 9, since 19+9+14=42.
4

Arrange the corner numbers so that each of the cube's faces have three even numbered corners and one odd-numbered corner.
5

Arrange numbers so that the central number of each face added to the central number of the opposite face adds up to 28, since when added to the invisible number 14, the three numbers would total 42.
6

Check to see if each row and column on each face adds up to 42. If you need to make further adjustments, write down the values of faces that are close to solved; this will help you remember potential solutions after shifting numbers around.

Beetles in Rose Bushes

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), rose chafer (Macrodactylus subspinosus) and Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera castanea) regularly damage and infest rose bushes in the spring and early summer months. The damage occurs predominately on the foliage, new growth and flower buds.

Asiatic garden beetles and Japanese beetles look similar. Both measure approximately 1/2 an inch and are brownish in appearance, but the Japanese beetle has a greenish metallic sheen. Asiatic beetles do not congregate in large numbers on the bush; they feed predominately at night, unlike the Japanese beetles, according to the University of New Hampshire. The rose chafer measures 3/4 of an inch, with a tan topside and a black underbelly.

The Japanese beetles cause round holes and chewing along the edges of the rose's foliage. The rose chafer causes widespread damage through feeding on the foliage, new growth and buds. The affected parts die quickly, or buds fail to open. The Asiatic beetle chews the edges of the rose's leaves, but does not do widespread damage to the bush or the foliage itself.

Handpick the beetles from the plant and drop them in a pan of soapy water. Pick Asiatic beetles at night, using a flashlight, when the beetles emerge from the soil to feed on the foliage. Spray the plants with an approved pesticide only if infestation is severe.

How to Grow Mushrooms in Holes in Canning Jars

Mushrooms occur naturally on rotting, dying surfaces in the natural environment. Despite their culinary love for fungi, when told that mushrooms feed on rotting materials, some gardeners may hesitate to recreate the same conditions at home. However, rotting doesn't mean smelly or disgusting. A controlled environment inside a canning jar will produce edible mushrooms. A substrate, the material that the mushroom grows on, is needed. It is important to keep the materials sterilized throughout the process to prevent the mushrooms from dying.

1

Place 3 1/2 cups of vermiculite in a bowl. Pour some water over the mixture while stirring it with a spoon until the material is moist but not soaking wet.
2

Add 1 cup of brown rice flour and mix it with the vermiculite until the mixture is thoroughly coated with the flour.
3

Fill six half-pint jars with the mixture, leaving 1/2 an inch at the top empty. Keep the mixture off of the lip of the jar. Wipe any off if you see it. Top off the jar with some dry vermiculite.
4

Place lids onto the jars and poke four holes into the top of the lid with a pin. Place a piece of foil over the lid.
5

Place the jars into a pressure cooker with a rack at the bottom and seal the lid. Using a stove, bring the cooker to 15 pounds per square inch (PSI) over a medium flame over a period of 15 minutes. Leave the jars cooking at 15 PSI for 45 minutes. Let the jars cool overnight after cooking.
6

Break up the liquid inside your spawn syringe by shaking it back and forth, and run the end of the needle over a flame to sterilize it.
7

Remove the piece of foil from the jar and put the end of the syringe into the holes in the top of your jar.
8

Push down the plunger to inoculate the substrate inside. Place the foil back over the jar. Use one syringe per jar, unless your spawn has multiple applications in one syringe. Inspect the packaging of the spawn to make sure.
9

Place the jars in a room that is 70 to 80 degrees. After three to five days, pass mycelium (a fibrous root) will appear. It should be white.
10

Examine the jar after five to 10 days for pin head mushrooms. Once found, moisten a paper towel and put it at the bottom of your clean plastic container. Place a 1/2-inch layer of moistened perlite over the paper towel.
11

Turn the jar over and empty the fruiting substrate into the plastic container and cover it with plastic.
12

Check the moisture of the perlite at the bottom of your container daily and moisten it whenever it dries out. This provides the mushrooms with moisture.
13

Harvest the mushrooms once the variety has grown to harvesting size.

Properties of Plastic Water Bottles

Pick the one that protects your health. Girl proposing a bottle of water image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
If you've had a grocery bag rip, you know why we love them: plastic bottles can take a beating. Versatile and durable, they're designed for reuse and recycling. However, the breakdown of plastic chemicals into the environment, a process called "leaching," is a legitimate health concern. Thanks to identification codes, you can stay healthy. The number on your water bottle -- the recycling code -- identifies the type of plastic used and its properties.

PET plastic is the most common type of disposable, single-serving water bottle sold. Do not reuse this type of bottle. The plastic used may allow germ growth or leach phalates, which are a carcinogenic chemical used to make the plastic flexible. One use won't kill you, but don't make a habit of it. A safe refillable bottle is a better bet for you and the environment.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles do not contain known carcinogens and are safe for reuse. This type of plastic is a good buy if you're investing in a refillable bottle.

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) bottles do not contain known carcinogens and are safe for reuse. This is also a good choice to go green.

Polypropylene (PP) bottles do not contain known carcinogens and are safe for reuse. Again, a safe purchase.

Do not use this type of plastic to hold drinking water. Bottles labeled #7, or unlabeled, may contain bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an endochrine disrupter and potential carcinogen. The EPA is studying this as a chemical of concern which may present "unreasonable risk" to the environment. WHO and the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are examining the human effects. They note that BPA does migrate to water increasingly as a container is reused and worn down, that it does cause cancer in tests on animals, but that is has not been shown to cause cancer in humans at the exposure levels likely to occur.

Purchasing #7 water bottles presents unnecessary risk since safer alternatives are available. Popular refillable bottle manufacturers such as Nalgene are transitioning to using #1, 2, 4 and 5 plastics in response to consumers' demand for non-BPA products. When it comes to your health, exercise caution.

5/7/11

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#1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

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