text:
Part of the Series
"First, it is too early to tell, second, it is too late to do anything about it." -Ernest Fitzgerald
There has been a flurry of articles in the defense press Tuesday about an internal Department of Defense (DoD) report on how the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's newest attempt to buy a fighter jet, is skating toward potential mechanical and monetary disaster. The DoD top civilian weapons buyer put together a team to do a quick look at how the fighter was doing in its journey to become the next main fighter in the DoD arsenal. The report has the usual DoD hedge wording and qualifiers, but the answer is: not too good. There must be some panic and buzz in the Pentagon hallways since the last attempt of making a fighter, the F-22, was surprisingly canceled by the Obama administration and some brave members of Congress. Now, the newest fighter is falling under its own bloated procurement weight. Is the system, which has given us generation after generation of overpriced and technically dubious fighters, tanks, and other weapons finally succumbing to its own folly? This new report, which was leaked to the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) and some reporters, is now posted at POGO's web site. (Full disclosure: I founded POGO and still serve as treasurer and on the board of directors.)
Bill Sweetman, who writes the Ares blog for Aviation Week was not impressed with the F-35's progress:
When the Joint Strike Fighter team told Guy Norris about the jet's first run to its Mach 1.6 design speed, a couple of minor facts slipped their minds. Nobody remembered that the jet had landed (from either that sortie or another run to Mach 1.6) with "peeling and bubbling" of coatings on the horizontal tails and damage to engine thermal panels. Or that the entire test force was subsequently limited to Mach 1.0.
But selective amnesia is not even one of five "major consequence" problems that have already surfaced with the JSF and are disclosed by a top-level Pentagon review obtained by Ares. Those issues affect flight safety, the basic cockpit design, the carrier suitability of the F-35C and other aspects of the program have been identified and no fixes have been demonstrated yet. Three more "major consequence" problems are "likely" to emerge during tests, including high buffet loads and airframe fatigue.
To understand why this keeps happening to our weapons acquisitions and to try to change it, you have to know some history on how the system works and what has happened in the past. It is a sad tale of déjà vu all over again.
Ernest Fitzgerald, the well-known Pentagon whistleblower who fought the bureaucracy in hand-to-hand combat for better weapons and realistically priced weapons from the 1960s to 2006, came up with a simple law of why this sordid history keeps repeating itself. Fitzgerald's first law of weapons procurement is: "First it is too early to tell, second, it is too late to do anything about it." I have found that this is the way that the DoD, the military services and the defense contractors squeeze every last dime out of the procurement budget and then even more, while making sure that their weapon doesn't get so obviously gross as to go on the rare weapons' chopping block.
Fitzgerald blew the whistle on the C-5A cargo plane in the late 1960s because of technical problems of the plane and that it had overrun its budget by $2 billion – a huge sum at the time. Lockheed, the manufacturer of the C-5A, had made the plane too heavy to meet its specifications. They, with the tacit blessing of the Air Force, took weight out of the wings of the plane to meet the requirements. Everyone knew that this most likely would affect the service and life of the wings, but it was paramount that the C-5A got into the fleet before someone suggested that the C-5A production run could be lessened or cut. It was important for all sides who were interested in the money flow of this plane, including the Air Force, the DoD, Lockheed and the Congress, to keep it going for jobs, profits and future retirement jobs for the military and civilians who were overseeing this plane.
Besides, even though the laws of physics would tell you that taking weight and strength out of the wings of a big heavy cargo plane would lead to problems, wasn't it really "too early to tell"? Or, as the military called it, the unknown, unknowns or unk-unks. Many a career was made or saved by the mysterious unk-unks where bad things happened, but you couldn't get blamed because the unknowns were unknown.
I came into this picture in 1979, when the Air Force "discovered" that cracks were developing in the C-5A wings, threatening the safety and life of the planes. Everyone acted surprised even though there were plenty of internal oversight reports warning that this might happen if weight was taken out of the wings in the production process. So, the Air Force told the Congress that there had to be a "wing modification," a nice word for wing fix, and it was going to cost $1.5 billion to fix the wings of the current fleet. In the non-Pentagon normal world, logic would tell you that Lockheed had the liability to pay for this "mistake" because they took the weight out of the wings and the engineers at Lockheed and in the government said, at the time, that the wings would begin to crack. But when I began to investigate this fix and uncover all the evidence of why the taxpayer should not have to pay for this, especially since the plane had already had the largest overrun at that time, the Air Force said that they were responsible to fix the problem because of all the unk-unks at the time. People in the DoD, the Congress and Lockheed all bobbed their heads in unison and insisted that it needed to be done and the government should pay for this mysterious problem because the planes had been bought, the system was counting on them and "it was too late to do anything about it."
This law became even more perfected when the DoD began to use "concurrency" as a regular way of procuring a weapon. Logic would tell you that you build a prototype for a weapon; do developmental testing on it to fix the technical bugs; start an initial, low rate of production after the fixes; and test this small production run with operational testing, using real troops in wartime type situations. Once you identified and fixed problems that showed up when you used the weapon as planned in a war and you made sure that the weapon was truly effective for the troops and not just a box of new gee-whiz technology for technology's sake, you would decide to go to full production with a set blueprint for the weapon. Of course, logic would also tell you that, in these stages toward full production, you may find that some of the technology would never work and if the weapon was only good because of these technologies or that the technologies could not realistically work in a war, it was far better for the troops and the taxpayers to cut the losses and cancel the weapon before sinking any more costs into the project.
However, concurrency blows this logic out of the water. The DoD has increasingly, over decades, blurred the logical lines of production that is used by most of the world. Instead, the bureaucracy finds a way to continue to push the weapon into large production while trying to fix the technical bugs and see if the weapon would truly work on the battlefield. This concurrency of development and production helps to make sure there is never a moment, not even a nanosecond, between "too early to tell" and "too late to do anything about it." This makes sure one is never vulnerable to having the weapon cut back or canceled, threatening one's career in the DoD, the defense company's profit, Congress's access to defense jobs in each district and state and one is more likely to find a nice retirement job because the weapon got through.
As you can imagine, this concurrency has caused weapons failures in the battlefields, technical and expensive nightmares in trying to maintain these weapons and costly fixes for these so-called unknown unknowns leading to astronomical overruns. There have been dozens and dozens of reports and testimony by government oversight agencies on how this is a bad idea and doesn't work, but the beat of the military procurement culture goes on. And as I mentioned in a past column on weapon costs, these overruns and fixes become the historical costs on which all new weapons are priced, so that the waste and disaster of concurrency goes on as high procurement costs and high maintenance costs for each generation of weapons.
In the late 1980s, I was investigating the technical problems of the radar systems on the B-1B bomber. The radar jamming system was jamming the B-1's own radar, rather than the radar on the enemy plane, along with several other problems. I came to a part in the DoD report where the author cheerfully predicted that, even though each radar built and put on production planes was different because of rolling modifications, the radar design would be finally set at the hundredth unit. It took me a minute to realize that we were only buying 100 B-1B bombers, thus, plaguing the fleet with planes where each one would have a unique radar to maintain. What would Henry Ford with his standardization of parts on the Model T think of us now? I wondered at the time.
The Air Force is now scrambling to make sure that it is too late to do anything about the F-35 production in this atmosphere of defense budget cuts. Top DoD officials have been arguing that maybe the costs and the effectiveness of the F-35 should lower the production rate of the plane, and senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee were trying to make sure that the next buy of the F-35 was not cost-plus as in the past, but fixed price where there would be a chance to try to control costs. Reuters reported:
Lawmakers inserted the fixed-price language into the bill after learning about Lot 5 contract [Pentagon had quickly approved it to be cost-plus], angered that the decision had been taken even as the Senate was debating whether or not to require the deal to be a fixed-cost contract.
Senator Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he and the panel's top Republican, Senator John McCain, were upset that the Pentagon had acted even though it knew lawmakers were looking at the contract language.
McCain and Levin have expressed discontent with previous "cost-plus" contracts that paid Lockheed's costs for producing the aircraft plus a profit margin on top of that.
They believe the contracts have enabled the cost of the F-35 program, the Pentagon's most expensive procurement program, to balloon over the years.
"We take umbrage at the idea that they would proceed on Lot 5 while we are negotiating whether or not there should be a prohibition on a cost-plus contract on Lot 5. So what we did is we said no cost-plus starting on Lot 6," Levin said.
Maybe the F-35 has finally come to that magical moment between "too early to tell" and "too late to do anything about it." With the threat of large budget cutting, there has been more scrambling going on than business as usual with all the parties involved. Defense contractors are beginning to squeal that they are getting cut to the bone and Secretary of Defense Panetta, who has only had the job for six months, has been a disappointment for becoming part of the Pentagon's usual hallelujah chorus despite his past cost-cutting career. This most recent report, even though they hate to say it, is committing a lot of truth about the failures on this plane that are just now starting to come out. Winslow Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project, has been exposing this game longer than I have. He had some tough comments on the F-35 based on this newest report:
The new revelations are numerous and significant enough to call into question whether F-35 production should be suspended – if not terminated – even in the minds of today's senior managers in the Pentagon. The revelations include, but are not limited to "unsatisfactory progress and the likelihood of severe operational impacts for survivability, lethality, air vehicle performance and employment." Performance vis-à-vis so called "legacy" aircraft is seriously questioned and the individual deficiencies are sometimes so remarkable as to call into question the competence of the designers at Lockheed-Martin, to say nothing of the cost to repair the deficiencies. For example, the naval variant is now incapable of landing on carriers due to the inability of the arresting hook to capture an arresting cable on the carrier deck. And, there are more hard to conceive deficiencies, including airframe buffeting at different angles of attack. Moreover, as the report points out, these problems are appearing only after the easy phases of the test flights. The more exacting/demanding test flights are yet to even start. What unpleasant surprises do they hold?
The report frequently repeats the assertion that nothing so serious was found to "preclude further production." Read the report and decide for yourself if the report supports that conclusion, or actually the reverse. In fact, the oft repeated assurance that nothing too serious is uncovered was, in fact, added on by some in a rather pathetic attempt to convert this report into mush.
So, how can we retire Fitzgerald's law? It won't be easy, but the first place to start is to get rid of concurrency for everything other than the simplest of technologies. We have to go back to logic and not try to develop a weapon while also trying to use it at the same time. It would be crazy to do this in the automobile industry and it doubly more dangerous for our troops that rely on these weapons. Don't allow any full production until standards are set for manufacturing or we will be paying billions of dollars later to fix it. One of the best ways to retire Fitzgerald's law is to make the politically hard decision to cancel early weapons that can't realistically be fixed technically or won't work in real combat. There has to be a tolerance for failure and cancellation at the early stages of a weapon without fear of recrimination by the bureaucracy so that the weapons procurers and engineers can move on to a better and more realistic design instead of spending decades defending bad ideas at great cost to the taxpayer and the troops.
Countdown is on: We have 24 hours left to raise $22,000
Truthout has launched a necessary fundraising campaign to support our work. Can you support us right now?
Each day, our team is reporting deeply on complex political issues: revealing wrongdoing in our so-called justice system, tracking global attacks on human rights, unmasking the money behind right-wing movements, and more. Your tax-deductible donation at this time is critical, allowing us to do this core journalistic work.
As we face increasing political scrutiny and censorship for our reporting, Truthout relies heavily on individual donations at this time. Please give today if you can.


text:
Sea Dragon Charters
- 6373 Bruce Street
- West Vancouver, BC V7W 2G5
- Phone: 604.329.3486, Toll Free: 1.855.732.3724
Sea Dragon Charters is delighted to offer exciting snorkeling and kayaking excursions just minutes from Vancouver! Adventurers will travel by boat to the nearby seal colony while taking in the striking ocean and mountain scenery of the Sea to Sky region. Snorkeling with seals is one of our star attractions! Our Snorkel and Kayak Adventure is a multi-activity adventure where guests can snorkel and kayak with seals in their natural marine environment, as well as sightsee Howe Sound! If you don't want to get wet, that's OK! Join the adventure by sightseeing from on board, while enjoying a hot cup of soup. Our Snorkel Adventure is a great excursion for families, groups, and individuals of all ages and abilities. Please contact us for prices and availability.
- Hearing Accessible:
- Partially Accessible:
- Group Bookings:
- Group Rates:
- Guide Services:
- Maximum Group Size: 20
- Parking:
Seasons Of Operation:
- All

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Playhouse in Security-widefield CO
Get Playhouse cost estimates from professionals in Colorado, Security-widefield.
Use our convenient online price quote service to get playhouse cost estimates from professionals in Security-widefield, CO. Simply fill out the form below and see how much you can save.
Get Playhouse Quotes Now!
What is usually included in the cost of building a playhouse:
The cost of a playhouse will depend on materials, design and size. If buying a playhouse kit, everything needed to build a playhouse might be included. Other kits may not include certain components, such as paint and other supplies. If using a contractor, the cost typically includes labor and materials needed to design and build the playhouse. Installation may also be included when hiring a contractor.
The all-new ESFS Playhouse Quote Service
The playhouse quote service from ESFS is designed to get you the best playhouse prices in Security-Widefield. Just fill out the quick form above to get competitive prices from approved local companies who are capable of doing reliable, efficient and professional jobs.
You'll be amazed how much you can save!
One simple form
Our service is designed to match what you need against Security-Widefield's best local suppliers and tradesmen.
Please enter any relevant information about your requirements into the 'Details' section of the form above. This can include the size of the project, an idea of your budget and any details of your specific requirements. Once the form as been sent, it will be quickly matched against approved local Security-Widefield companies to get you the best possible job at the lowest cost.
What does it cost?
We don't charge you for this service and there is no obligation for you to use any of the companies and contractors who send you an estimate.
Local, Professional, Reliable Playhouse Quotes
The online estimate service from ESFS takes the hard-work out of shopping around for the best prices and services. Your requirements will be automatically forwarded to a number of local companies to help ensure you get the lowest possible cost. This service from ESFS only uses approved and professional companies, ensuring that all playhouse quotes are competitive.
People who used our Playhouse quote service were also interested in home additions.


text:
Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.
Included for free with this service
Online Booking
Mechanic comes to you
12-month / 12k-mile warranty
Free 50 point safety inspection
Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.
On average, the cost for a Fiat 500 Oil Pan Replacement is $636 with $202 for parts and $434 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.
Car | Service | Estimate | Shop/Dealer Price |
2013 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo | Service typeOil Pan Replacement | Estimate$884.94 | Shop/Dealer Price$997.21 - $1308.91 |
2016 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo | Service typeOil Pan Replacement | Estimate$1088.79 | Shop/Dealer Price$1253.53 - $1734.96 |
2012 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo | Service typeOil Pan Replacement | Estimate$857.01 | Shop/Dealer Price$963.88 - $1271.54 |
2015 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo | Service typeOil Pan Replacement | Estimate$1088.79 | Shop/Dealer Price$1253.60 - $1735.09 |
2017 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo | Service typeOil Pan Replacement | Estimate$1088.79 | Shop/Dealer Price$1258.17 - $1743.08 |
2014 Fiat 500L4-1.4L Turbo | Service typeOil Pan Replacement | Estimate$857.01 | Shop/Dealer Price$964.31 - $1272.29 |
The oil pan holds all the motor oil that keeps your engine lubricated.
The oil pan tends to be a durable part that can last the lifetime of the car. However, a sharp impact with a hard surface at high speed can easily cause the oil pan to start leaking. This condition gets worse as the pan deteriorates.
If you start seeing oil puddles instead of small drips, you're on borrowed time. The oil pan gasket can also wear out. That gasket which keeps the oil pan sealed can easily get aggravated by a rock or a direct impact with the pavement that is due to the suspension bottoming out.
Repairing an oil pan is a dirty and often complicated undertaking. In many cases, there are items that need to be removed in order to fully access the oil pan. This can even include your suspension sub-frame which can take several hours to fully disassemble and put back together.
A lot of people assume that since oil pans only require a single bolt to be moved for oil to be drained, replacing the entire pan is an easy job.
It's usually not. Along with the repair issues, there are also many items that can go bad well before the pan needs to be replaced. This includes the oil plug which can become stripped. the oil plug gasket which can break or fall apart, and the oil pan gasket which can wear away and begin leaking due to your engine's heating and cooling cycles.
If you recently went over a bump way too fast or a hard object hit the underside of your car, let one of our mechanics have a closer look.
You should have it inspected by a professional mechanic who can avoid the catastrophic outcomes that can come with an oil pan that dislodges on the road. One small part that weighs a mere two or three pounds is a lot less expensive to replace than an entire engine.
Oil leaks underneath your car where the oil pan is located.
Streaks of oil underneath your vehicle that are right behind your oil pan.
A stripped oil drain plug that can't be replaced either due to it already being oversized or because the oil pan is made out of aluminum instead of steel.
Ignoring a leaking oil pan it can lead to you paying thousands for a new engine, or even having a repair that may cost more than your entire car.
In the long run, cars last when their owners solve the little problems before they become expensive. So if you see oil leaks underneath your car, get one of our expert mechanics to check that issue.
Fast and easy service at your home or office
Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee
Real customer reviews from Fiat owners like you.
Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.


text:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho continues to change the lives of its readers forever. With more than two million copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has established itself as a modern classic, universally admired.
Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found.
The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories can, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.


text:
Recent Posts
- Our Shelley Stocken
- Area shitbags boast of flouting airline mask mandates during Melbourne COVID outbreak
- Australian Vaccination-risks Network posts anti-vaccination billboard in Brisbane
- Unconscionable: Australian Vaccination-risks Network promotes convicted criminal
- The Drs. Wolfson – Incomprehensibly Cruel 2 – Light for Riley responds
Reasonable Hank Facebook
Subscribe to Blog via Email
- abuse
- Andrew Wakefield
- Anti-Vaccination Australia
- anti vaccination
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- Australian Spinal Research Foundation
- australian vaccination network
- Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network
- Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network - HCCC Public Health Warning
- AVsN
- Billy DeMoss
- Brian Martin
- Chiropractic Board of Australia
- Chiropractors' Association of Australia
- Chiropractors' Association of Australia Victoria
- conspiracy
- dishonesty
- Greg Beattie
- harassment
- Health Care Complaints Commission
- hypocrisy
- Jennifer Barham-Floreani
- Judy Wilyman
- meryl dorey
- Nurse
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
- registered nurse
- Sherri Tenpenny
- Simon Floreani
- Stephanie Messenger
- Tasha David
- Tim Shakespeare
- University of Wollongong
- Vaccine Free Australia
- Vaxxed
- vilification
- July 2021
- May 2021
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
Tag Archives: Greg Wilson
Embedded in the hive-mind of the anti-vaccination 'cult'
Okay, it is not strictly accurate to call the anti-vaccination movement a "cult". One of the main features of a cult is the existence of a supreme leader; anti-vaccinationism is a many-headed beast, with many charismatic leaders – such as … Continue reading →
Posted in abuse, anti-vaccination, anti-vaccination dishonesty, australian vaccination network, AVN, hypocrisy, Immunisation, meryl dorey, public health, skeptic, vaccination, Vitamin K
Tagged abuse, Adam Crabb, Adam George Crabb, Aleena Noad, Allison Walker, Allona Lahn, Amber Borsotti, Amy Danec, Amy Daniels, Andrew Wakefield, anti vaccination, Anti-Vaccination Australia, australian vaccination network, Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network, Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network - HCCC Public Health Warning, AVN, AVsN, Ayla Mills, Bouamama Jazil, Bradley Dobson, Brianandtracey Simpson, Brittany Smith, Brittany-j Toretto, Bron McAllister, Caroline Duffy, Cat Wilson, Christine Phethean, Clair Berry, Clare Bailey, conspiracy, cult, Dan WF, Daniel Whitelock, Danielle Thompson, Debi Leeper, dishonesty, Dr Kevin Coleman, Emma Gibney, Emma Wiseman, Erica French, Erin Anne, Georgie Rush, Gloreen Andersen, Greg French, Greg Wilson, Hanan H Saleh, harassment, Health Care Complaints Commission, hypocrisy, Jason Wood, Jennifer Barham-Floreani, Joanna Mander, Julia Gilby, Kathy Matthew, Kayla D'Assumpcao, Kelli Hurley, Laura Leslie Murphy, Leisha Allen, Leisha Smith, Lina Minawiyeh, Lo Mong Bridge, Louisa Kenzig, Lucia Guzzardi, Lulu Langford, Lynette Kennedy, Lynne Hopewell, Marc Andrew Garibaldi, Margherita Ghezzi, Maria Murphy, Mark Krinkel, Mark Zuckerberg, Matthew Stewart, Meg Rhiannon, Megan Johnson, Melissa Grainey, meryl dorey, Miriam Baxt, Nikki Cornish, Nikki Louise Cole, Pavel Kalinov, Persephone De Kari, Persephone Rose, Ramana Braye, Refutations to Anti-Vaccine Memes, Renata Bialkowska, Rixta Francis, Robert Thompson, Rodolfo Plasencia, Sarah Foskett, Sarah O'Reilly, Sharon Heilbronn, Sissi-Rae O'Brien, Sophia Constantine, Sophie Krokos, Steph Brill, Stephen Exeter, Steve Kefalinos, Sue Davis, Suzie Connelly Robertson, Tami Perrin, Tara Brown, Tiana Theoharris, Tony Ciniglia, Trent Wiseman, Trevor Simons, Tristan Glenn, Tristan Wells, Unvaccinated Australia, Vaccine Free Australia, vilification, Wayne Baird, Zili Lau
12 Comments
Anti-vaccinationists attack the parents and the memorial page of a baby boy
Baby Riley Hughes died on March 17 2015: one month ago, today. He was 32 days old. He died from whooping cough (pertussis). Riley's mum and dad, Cath and Greg Hughes, immediately set about ensuring that no other parents have to … Continue reading →
Posted in abuse, anti-vaccination dishonesty, australian vaccination network, AVN, meryl dorey, skeptic, stop the australian vaccination network
Tagged abuse, Aidan Blanch, Alex Masko, Alex Smith, Alicia Mullins, Amber Grace, Amy Kaal-Stork, Amy Kelly, Andre Colbert, Angelic Cooke, Anita Theriault, Anna Horvath, Anna Kaszonyi, Anna Munro, Anna Patel, Anna Sikes, Anna Stancombe, Anne Mitchell, anti vaccination, anti-vaccine trolls, australian vaccination network, Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network, AVN, AVsN, Belgin Colak, Belgin Sila Colak, Belly Belly Kelly, Ben Grassham, Bernadette Harrison, Beyond Synchronicity, Breanna King, Breanna Stanley, Bruce Meers, Butterfly Dawn, Candice Gallagher, Cass Rowe, Chantel Galwey, Chris Savage, Clarice Larson, Clarice Sutterfield, Claudia Gata, Connie Wilson, Cori Walker, Daielle Seymour, Damien Poulsen, Danielle Jupp, David Gajic, Debbie Titanahley, dishonesty, Dorothy Cooney, Elena Kardash, Elena Rouge, Elizabeth Summer Kaye, Em Taylor, Emily Batchelor, Emily Zelig Barr, Emma Cameron, Eric Watson, Felicia Beaumont, Fiona Smith Henderson, Francis Vazquez, Francisco Joseph Vazquez, Frank Vazquez, Frankie Vazquez, Gavin Rider, Gemma Clarkson, Greg Wilson, Hayley De La Rue, Heidi LaRue Wubbels, Helena Denley, Hur Ka Ahmed, hypocrisy, Ian Hastings, Ian Smith Sapere Aude, immunisation, Irina Berryman, Ishmi Bohn, Ivan Bortic, Jacqui Soliman, James Gilbertson, Jamie Taylor, Jane Wilson, Jarl Nieminen, Jasmine Aslanides, Jasmine Corbett, Jason PIlnt, Jason Richards, Jason Van Krieken, Jenna Dallos, Jennifer Claire Rodda, Jeremy B Bowers, Jillian Seger, Jo Ferguson, Joanna Castro-Micos, Joanne Abela Akom, Johanna Holland, John Banks, John Drakos, John Wong, Jon Stroud, Jordan Marks, Joshington Braham, Julie Black, Julie Ford, Julie Mansfield, Julie Santall, Karli G Oodall Karli Goodall, Karyn King, Kate Hollingsworth, Kate Larvin, Katherine Wendel, Katie Williams, Kayla Shields, KaylaJerry Sears, Keith Kelley, Kelleigh Rae, Kelly Winder, Kristy Anne, Kristy McCarrick, Krystal Reid, Kyla Davis, Lacie Parker, Laney Lex, Laura Leslie Murphy, Leigh Martin, Light for Riley, Lina Torkington, Linda Racey Bogle, Louisa Smith, Lynne Hopewell, Maria MacDonald, Mark Mcdougall, Marnie Newton, Mel Issa, Mel Leicester, Mel Thornburg, Meli Wallace, Melinda Kennedy, Melissa Dunn, Melissa Mccudden Ipswich, meryl dorey, Michael Wolny, Nadia Rosen, Nell Jones, Nicholas Moore, Nick Waterhouse, Nikki Ivess, Nikki Vaughan, No Jab No Pay No Way protests, Ofé Ly Massilia, Olga Feschuk, Olga Szewczuk, Olya Szewczuk, Persephone De Kari, Persephone Rose, Queensland Education Department, Rachel Ann Elizabeth, Rachel Perkins, Rebekah Mae Parker, Rhiannon James, Ripoff Report, Robyn Jameson, Rolf Haugen, Rose Sutherland, Roslyn Ross, Roulf Commandeur, Ryan Alamein, Sacia Edwards, Sandra Ganey, Sandra Vilosky, Sarah Cole, Sarah Deacon, Sarah O'Reilly, Sasha Jelacic, Sasha Masko, Scott Mcgahey, Shari Letchford, Shari Smoker, Sharon Lee Berg, Shaun Mcdonald, Shawn Dhu, Shell Wellington, Shelley Thomas, Smith Satya, Stacey Golley, Stella McLeod, Stephanie Messenger, Steve Durmaz, Stuart Everson, Tami Mays White, Ted Wozniak, Tegan Dwyer, Tim Doult, Tonya Grant, Tracy Maynard, Tracy Nicole, Trevor Simons, troll, trolls, vaccination, Vaccine Free Australia, vilification, Warren Denley, Wayne Armstrong, Will Edwardson, Zoe Lee Hall
20 Comments


text: George Condos & Towns is a new condo and townhouse development by The Rockport Group currently under construction at 1331 Queen Street East, Toronto. The development is scheduled for completion in 2018. Sales for available units range in price from $469,900 to $649,900. George Condos & Towns has a total of 88 units, sizes range from 525 to 718 square feet.


text:
On a very Friday edition of "The View," the panel addressed a previously unmentioned side-effect of Donald Trump's election in 2016: Is Trump ruining the sex lives of Americans? Joy Behar opened the topic by asking the men out there: "Have you noticed that your wife is disgusted by the sight of you lately? Would she rather get a root canal than see you naked?"Women dig men who supported Trump. Because real men did. It's the limp-noodled "yes, dears" who dutifully produced their feminist cards by supporting Hillary who turn women off on sight. Feminists never seem to grasp the idea that women are attracted to men, not to other women, much less men who act like women.
"Well, you shouldn't have voted for Trump, okay?" she said. Behar cited one therapist who said her clients have "lost their sex drive since Trump won." The therapist called it "Trump bedroom backlash."
"Is Trump causing electile dysfunction?" she asked.
"I think that the sex drive does die and, you know, we are building a wall around our vaginas," she continued. "The guy [Trump] says it's okay if he would grab a woman by her you-know-what, and women are either a 10 or a one, or this one's fat, and you voted for that schmuck?"
"You voted for that? I'm not sleeping with you," Behar said. "That's what's happening," Sunny Hostin agreed.
One exception to the female advice rule is Dr. Helen. Because she's right.
If this is a girlfriend or fiance, get rid of her now. A person who would treat you this way and use sex as a weapon against you is not your friend.


text:
Inheritance is the movie's fueling idea. Contrary to the title's suggestion of a sweeping, societal portrait of venality run amok, the action is restricted to a single Melbourne family of rampaging crooks — and the cops who want to kill them. The alienated teen is Joshua Cody (James Frecheville), who, with nowhere else to go, calls his garrulous grandmother somehow nicknamed Smurf (Jacki Weaver), and is accepted into her roiling nest of pathology. This chintzy suburban house is where up to half of the movie plays out, dominated by Smurf's three sons: Darren (Luke Ford), a surly post-teen visibly uneasy with following the family line; Craig (Sullivan Stapleton), a tattooed coke brute with azure eyes to die for; and Pope (Ben Mendelsohn), the oldest, a bank robber off his meds and hiding out from the fuzz.
A heist buddy looking to straighten up (Joel Edgerton) tops off the testosterone, which heats up a bit in the face of Joshua's uncertain presence. With Joshua's narration, the template is GoodFellas but without the crescendos. We're experiencing the Cody clan essentially post-felony — they're all already hunkered down and waiting the law out. The first crime we see is a parking-lot assassination perpetrated not by a Cody but by a band of rogue narcs.
No speeding bullet, Michôd's film is kind of languorous, luxuriating in its own exaggerated sense of tragedy, observing the family as it self-destructs under pressure. Joshua becomes a pawn between his cousins and the police (fronted by Guy Pearce as the only reasonable voice in earshot), forced even to escape protective custody because the cops can be bought, too. The movie maintains a low boil, marbled up with a portentous liturgical score, but meanwhile, eggs do get cooked: Michôd's portrait of Melbourne's low-rent outlands is convincing, Mendelsohn's flabby jerk emerges as a fresh kind of sociopathic menace (not the kind that announces his madness with bulk physicality or glaring eyes), and Weaver's bubble-headed mom morphs into a back-stabbing Ma Barker. When the SWAT team does finally descend, it's silently, suddenly glimpsed crossing a hallway in the background behind Joshua's back.
That opening moment, though, when Joshua glances from his dead mom to the TV — there's nothing else like it. Michôd's strenuous efforts to accumulate tension are often only just that. His movie pales beside the uneasy charge delivered by another recent-ish Australian film about three criminal bros: Rowan Woods' The Boys (1999), a nightmarish, neo-Cassavetes bolero also set largely in the mother's house, with David Wenham's wrecking-crew nutcase ex-con inciting a nerve-wracking degree of dread. Woods wasn't focused on much besides the purgatorial space between people, whereas Michôd wants a Greek epic but doesn't have the material. Animal Kingdom is a work of obvious ambition, and seeing a debut filmmaker swing for the fences like this is its own kind of moviehead satisfaction. Maybe he could redo it down the road, pull a Mean Streets on this Who's That Knocking at My Door.


text:
Ongoing through November 14th – Shoebox Orchestra at Ampersand International Gallery: Shoebox Orchestra marks the reopening of the Ampersand International Gallery under the direction of Theodora Mauro. The exhibition looks at the lasting impact Ampersand has had in the Bay Area arts community through the work of artists who were included in past shows including Lauren Davies, Lori Gordon, Amanda Hughen, Jeff Morris, Sarah Smith, Andy Vogt, and Arngunnur Yr. The gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays from 12 pm to 5 pm and by appointment. Ampersand International Arts is located at 1001 Tennessee St, San Francisco.
Ongoing through November 1st – William Swanson: Subsurface Continuum at Eleanor Harwood Gallery: William Swanson's new paintings use a variety of methods of mark making to depict manipulations of terrain and architecture. The work explores the collapse of time on a geologic scale through forms and shapes generated by his discoveries in the topography of the paint. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 1 pm to 6 pm and by appointment. Eleanor Harwood Gallery is located at 1295 Alabama St, San Francisco.
Ongoing through November 21st – Yinghua Zhu at Headlands Center for the Arts Project Space: As part of the Headlands Center's Artists in Residence Program, Project Space features artists whose work is designed to be socially engaging. Yinghua Zhu seeks to evoke a sense of "searching" by creating site-specific installations in which she alters commonly understood space and objects, causing viewers to question physical functions that are often taken for granted. Project Space is open Sunday through Thursday from 12 pm to 5 pm. The Headlands Center for the Arts is located at 944 Simmonds Rd, Sausalito.
Saturday October 11th – San Jose ICA 34th Annual Art Auction Silent Auction Party, 6PM: The 2014 ICA Auction Exhibition will be on view at the museum from September 27th to October 25th and includes a variety of events featuring work by over 200 contemporary artists from throughout the country and around the world. The Silent Auction Party is a great opportunity to view and purchase available work, proceeds go to help support the museum. Admission to the auction party is free, find a full list of events here and a preview of art work that will be for sale can be found here. The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art is located at 560 South First Street, San Jose.
Thursday, October 23rd – Root Division's 13th Annual Art Auction, 7PM: This year's Root Division Art Auction will feature work from over 100 established and emerging Bay Area artists. Root Division is a community arts and education organization and proceeds from the event directly benefit local artists, free art classes for Bay Area youth, and the continuation of Root Division's unique model for keeping artists in San Francisco. A VIP Preview will be held at 6:00 PM followed by a silent and live auction later in the evening, tickets and more information can be found here. Root Division's Pop-UP is located at 1059 Market St, San Francisco.
Thursday, October 23rd – Kalassal, Kala's Annual Half-Off Art Sale & Fall Fundraiser, 6 PM: For the first time ever Kala Art Institute's annual half-off fundraiser KALASSAL and the Artists' Annual Exhibition will open on the same night. Proceeds from the fundraiser allow Kala to help artists sustain their creative work over time through its Artist-in-Residence and Fellowship Programs, and to engage the community through exhibitions, public programs, and education. A Members Preview will be held at 5:00 PM followed by an opening party, admission to the event is free. There will be additional viewing times on Friday and Saturday as well as a free Family Art Making Day on Saturday. Kala is located at 2990 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley.


text:
Crompton Lamps
Part Number:
Crompton Lamps LED Candle 2.2W B22 Filament Warm White Pearl (25W Eqv)
Part Number: 8614
Crompton Lamps LED Candle 2.2W B22 Filament Warm White Pearl (25W Eqv)
Crompton Lamps
Warm White
FREE UK Delivery on orders over £50 (Standard delivery)
- Glass Type: Pearl
- Rated Life: 15,000 hours
- New 2021 Energy Rating: E
- Energy Saving: 91% saving on a 25W traditional candle
Bulk Discount Qty
Crompton Lamps LED Candle 2.2W B22 Filament Warm White Pearl (25W Eqv)
- Cap type: BC-B22d
- Power Consumption: 2.2W
- Equivalent: 25W Traditional Candle
- Colour Output: Warm White
- Dimensions: Diameter=35mm Height=91mm
This Crompton Lamps 2.2W LED candle light bulb with a BC-B22d bayonet (22mm) fitting is a direct replacement for a traditional 25W light bulb, but has the potential to reduce your home lighting bills and reduce the frequency of needing to replace your light bulbs.
LED filament technology is much more energy efficient than traditional light bulb technologies such as incandescent bulbs. This not only helps you save on your energy bills but also helps the environment too.
Whereas a traditional light bulb would use 25W to produce 250lm, this LED version uses just 2.2W equating to an energy-efficiency of 114lm/W.
The beauty of LED filament light bulbs is truly enchanting, seamlessly blending vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge technology. The LED filaments within these bulbs mimic the classic look of incandescent bulbs, casting a glow that exudes nostalgia. Furthermore, LED filament bulbs extend beyond their aesthetic appeal by providing both energy-efficient operation and long-lasting durability, thus positioning them as a sustainable and environmentally friendly lighting choice.
With a long life of 15000-hours, this LED candle light bulb boasts an incredible 8.2-year lifespan if used for 5-hours a day. These light bulbs don't need to be replaced as often which results in less money spent on replacement bulbs, and less time spent replacing them, too.
Combine this superior longevity, negligible maintenance and replacement costs with the LED light bulb's notable energy efficiency then the savings gleaned from each light bulb has the potential to reduce your lighting costs by up to 91%.
Warm white (2700K) bulbs produce a warm, yellow light which is comparable to traditional incandescent bulbs and are most frequently used to create a relaxed atmosphere. This makes them great in any room in your home, but especially in rooms such as the living room or bedroom where you would like to create a comfy atmosphere.
Unlike older other energy-saving technologies, LED bulbs light up instantly, with no waiting time to warm up to full brightness.
With a size of 35mm diameter with 91mm height, this LED candle light bulb will retrofit directly to any existing BC-B22d fixture; whether that be smaller domestic light fittings such as chandeliers or wall sconces or up to large-scale commercial installations.
Need more help in choosing a suitable light bulb? Read our guide What is a Candle Light Bulb.
Here at Lightbulbs Direct, we want you to be able to buy with confidence both in ourselves and the products we sell. With this in mind, a number of our bulbs carry a specific warranty that ensures you can do exactly that.
Any LED or LED Smart light bulb bought from Lightbulbs Direct carries a 24-month warranty.
If you should purchase an LED light bulb from Lightbulbs Direct and have it fail, break or develop a fault at any point within the timeline stated above from the date of purchase, we will happily replace the item or offer a full refund, depending on your wishes.
In instances where large numbers of bulbs fail within a relatively short period of time, we may ask you to return them to us so that they can undergo testing to identify any potential issues.
Manufacturers Warranty
This product is also covered by a manufacturer's warranty for a period of 2 years from date of purchase. Please visit the manufacturer's website for further details.
What doesn't our warranty cover?
In any instance where your bulb has developed a fault, we will do our utmost to replace it or offer a full refund (provided the item is still within its stated warranty period). However, if it becomes apparent that the product has been misused, tampered with or modified in any way, we will view this as having voided its warranty.
'Misuse" includes, but is not limited to, incorrect operation by the user, use of non-dimmable bulbs on a dimmable circuit or connection to or operation with an unsuitable power supply. 'Tampering' or 'modification' can be interpreted as any activity designed to alter the product in such a way that it can be used in a manner that wasn't intended by its original design. This can include rewiring, removing plugs, home repairs or changing components. Unfortunately, we won't be able to replace any item that has undergone any such process.
If you have any further questions about our Warranty or Returns Policy that aren't addressed on this page, please feel free to contact us.
Attribute | Value |
Barcode | 5055579315784 |
Equivalent | 25W |
Technology | LED |
Cap | BC-B22d |
Shape | Candle |
Colour | Warm White |
Manufacturer | Crompton Lamps |
Cap Type | BC-B22d |
Voltage | 240V |
Power Consumption | 2.2W |
Dimmability | No - Not Suitable for Dimming |
Total Lumens | 250lm |
Equivalent Wattage | 25W Traditional Candle |
Colour Temperature | 2700K |
Colour Description | Warm White |
Colour Rendering | RA >80 |
Glass Type | Pearl |
Warm Up Time | <0.5 seconds (0-60%) |
Mercury Content | 0mg |
Average Rated Life (L50) | 15,000 hours |
Switching Cycles | 20,000 |
Lumen Maintenance Factor | 0.93 |
EEI 2021 Energy Rating | E |
Diameter | 35mm |
Height | 91mm |
Estimated Running Cost | £1.16 per year based on 5-hours per day @ Jan 24 Price Cap (29.0p/kWh) |
Estimated Running Cost Saving | £12.07 per year based on 5-hours per day @ Jan 24 Price Cap (29.0p/kWh) |


text:
Knowledge base
Enter your search term here...
Welcome to the
support portal
Click through our support articles in the categories below, or search here using key terms.
Enter your search term here...
Support articles
BCCVL: How-to Guide
A simple guide
General Modelling Information
Information on Modelling
Algorithm Information (SDMs)
Information about SDM
Biodiverse Information
Dataset Information
Information about Dataset
BCCVL Procedures
Frequently Asked Question
BCCVL Ouputs
BCCVL Knowledge Base
BCCVL: How-to Guide
Log In
Find or Upload Datasets
Filtering data in ALA and export to BCCVL
Pick an experiment type
Species Distribution Model Experiment
Multi Species Distribution Experiment
Migratory Modelling Experiment
Species Trait Modelling Experiment
Climate Change Experiment
Biodiverse Experiment
Ensemble Analysis Experiment
Visualising your results
Downloading your results
Sharing your results
General Modelling Information
Introduction to Species Distribution Models
Ecological theory of species distribution models
Data for Species Distribution Models
Setting the constraint area
Interpretation of model outputs
SDM - Interpretation of model outputs
Climate Change- interpretation of model outputs
STM - Interpretation of model outputs
Variable Importance
Model evaluation
Ensemble- Interpretation of model results
Absence Data
Algorithm Information (SDMs)
Overview of SDM methods in BCCVL
Surface Range Envelope
Generalized Linear Model
Generalized Additive Model
Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines
Flexible Discriminant Analysis
Classification Tree
Random Forest
Boosted Regression Tree
Generalized Boosting Model
Artificial Neural Network
Convex Hull
Geographic Distance
Inverse-Distance Weighted Model
Voronoi Hull Model
Biodiverse Information
Dataset Information
Summary of datasets in BCCVL
Worldclim Collection
Australia Climate Collection
National Soil Grids Australia Collection
Gross Primary Productivity Collection
Australian Water Availability Project Collection
National Scale Vegetation Assets, States and Transitions Collection
Ridge & Valley Flatness Collection
National Dynamic Land Cover Collection
Global PET and Aridity Collection
Australian Living Atlas Species Occurrence Collection
BCCVL Procedures
BCCVL Procedures
Why did my experiment or model fail?
Can I share my experiment results?
Who has access to my results?
I can see an experiment in my list that I did not run. Why does it show up in my list?
My experiment has completed, but when I try to view the maps nothing shows. Why?
What are the system requirements for the BCCVL?
How much does the BCCVL cost to use?
What is the Australian Access Federation (AAF) login?
What type of datasets does the BCCVL have/accept?
Why are there less occurrence points when I download a species from the ALA than was originally displayed when searching the species?
GBIF search function does not show results?
It looks like there are a lot of pseudo-absence points on the map. Is this correct?
How is all provenance information of experiments and datasets captured within the BCCVL?
BCCVL Ouputs


text:
Victor Davis Hanson
Victor Davis Hanson is a contributing editor of City Journal, the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, a professor of classics emeritus at California State University at Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services.
Hanson writes weekly for National Review Online and Pajamas Media and is also the Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History, Hillsdale College, where he teaches courses in military history and classical culture. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 and the Bradley Prize in 2008 and was a recipient of the Eric Breindel Award for opinion journalism in 2002. Hanson has written or edited 17 books. He holds a B.A. in classics from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in classics from Stanford University.


text:
Event Description:
Manzanar will host four days of bilingual tours and film screenings during Latino Conservation Week. The special events titled "Echoes of Resilience/Voces de Valentía" will highlight inspiring stories about some of the people at Manzanar whose courage and resilience helped them navigate through a difficult time in our nation's history. One of the featured stories will be of Ralph Lazo, a 16-year-old Mexican-American who chose to live within Manzanar's barbed wire to be with his friends. His story is told in Stand Up for Justice: The Ralph Lazo Story, produced by Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR) and Visual Communications in 2004.
Rocio Gomez, a Latino Heritage intern, will lead the "Echoes of Resilience/Voces de Valentía" site tour of Block 14 starting at 9:30 a.m. and introduce the film Stand Up for Justice: The Ralph Lazo Story at 12:30 p.m.
These special events are free and open to the public. Visitors interested in the walking tours should meet in the Visitor Center lobby shortly before 9:30 a.m. to sign up. The first ten visitors to sign up for each bilingual tour will receive a Manzanar souvenir water bottle.
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. There are no food services at Manzanar; bring snacks and water. There will be places to refill water bottles on the tour.
Manzanar History Association, National Park Service, Hispanic access Foundation, Latino Heritage Internship Program
Date & time:
July 18, 2017
Manzanar National Historic Site


text:
Open Broadcaster Software is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming. Supported features include: Encoding using H264 (x264) and AAC. Support for Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV) and NVENC. Unlimited number of scenes and sources. Live RTMP streaming to Twitch, YouTube, DailyMotion, Hitbox and more. File output to MP4 or FLV. GPU-based game capture for high performance game streaming. DirectShow capture device support (webcams, capture cards, etc). Windows 8 high speed monitor capture support. Bilinear or lanczos3 resampling. Syphon in and out https://obsproject.com
information for all kinds of studio work from all studio areas at the Slade School of Fine Art


text:
TOM: Coast to coast and floorboards to shingles, this is The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show on air and online at MoneyPit.com. I'm Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I'm Leslie Segrete.
TOM: Standing by to take your home improvement questions, to solve your do-it-yourself dilemmas. The number is 1-888-MONEY-PIT, 888-666-3974. What are you working on this weekend? Are you tackling a home fix-up? Getting ready for all of the visitors that are going to come see you over the holidays? Give us a call; we can help. The number is 888-MONEY-PIT.
Are you planning a project for next year? We can help with that. 888-666-3974. Do you need to put together a home improvement resolution list, like a New Year's resolution that will actually last past maybe the first week of the new year? Well, give us a call; we'll talk you through it. 888-666-3974.
Well, the holidays might be filled with the colors of red, gold and green, Leslie, but they do tend to generate more waste than just about any other time of the year which, I guess, makes the holiday season not very environmentally friendly at all.
And that's why we've put together a list of Earth-friendly ideas to help you truly go green for Christmas and beyond. We'll have that, in just a bit.
LESLIE: Alright. But I'm not ironing out the wrapping paper after we unwrap this year.
TOM: Probably be a bad idea anyway.
LESLIE: It's not happening. It's not happening.
Also, this time of year presents a real danger of carbon-monoxide poisoning. We're going to have some simple steps that you can take to keep your family safe from this very potential killer.
TOM: And speaking of danger, that beautifully decorated Christmas tree can pose a hazard if you're not careful. This is a time of year where there are just so many more risks around your house for kids. So we're going to talk about how you childproof your home, especially over the holidays, in just a bit.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. And also this hour, you know, nothing can spoil your holiday faster than water leaking into your basement or pretty much any other place in your home that you don't want it. Not your bathtub. Like a room, on the floor.
Well, one caller this hour is going to be able to prevent that. We're giving away the liquid rubber, Blue Max, by Ames Research Laboratories. Now, you can just paint it on a wall or any other surface and then it instantly becomes waterproof.
TOM: We've got a 5-gallon container to give away. It's worth $180. Going to go out to one caller drawn at random at the end of today's program, so let's get to it. The number is 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: Joe in Georgia is on the line with a cooling situation. Tell us what's going on at your Georgia home.
JOE: I purchased a 1,700-square-foot ranch.
JOE: And it has a 3-ton air conditioner now. The owners put on an additional sunroom about 220 square feet but really didn't upgrade the air-conditioning unit.
TOM: OK. Hmm. Yeah.
JOE: So in the summer, when it comes time to air-condition the whole house, that room never gets cool.
TOM: I bet. Yeah, not surprising.
JOE: It gets very warm out there.
TOM: Yeah.
JOE: There's a lot of windows and our options are going to a bigger unit of 4½ tons to cool the whole house or some people have suggested to me that there is an individual unit that you can put out there with its own compressor.
LESLIE: Joe, do you have an actual wall or is everything all glass?
JOE: There's a space on the bottom, under the window, and there's a space above it. I've measured it and from what I can find online, I think the unit would just about fit on top of the window spot.
TOM: Well, here's what you would do, Joe. I would definitely recommend that you use a separate system for the sun room and here's why. If you get a 4½-ton unit, you're going to have to run that unit all the time, whether you need the extra cooling power or not, and that's going to really run up your electrical cost.
A 3-ton unit rule of thumb – and you're in Georgia, so I would be on the extreme of this – is you would figure 600 to 800 square feet per ton. You're in Georgia, so I would figure 600. That's only 1,800 square feet. And believe me, there's a lot of other things that calculate into this: how much insulation you have, how many windows you have facing south and so on.
TOM: So your system is right where it should be, at 3 tons.
TOM: If you were to make that bigger, it would be wasteful for the rest of the house. I would look at a product called a Mitsubishi Mr. Slim. This is a split-ductless system, so there's no ducts to install. You put the compressor outside, the refrigerant lines get run to the inside. They hook up with an air handler that essentially hangs or is mounted right to the wall. I would put it on the exterior wall of your house facing into the sunroom.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. And they're like, what, 18 inches by – no, 12 inches by 30 inches?
LESLIE: They're not gigantic.
TOM: I had to turn around and look at the one that's hanging from my studio. That's how quiet it is. Yeah, it's probably 16 inches tall by maybe 2½ – yeah, 2½-foot wide.
LESLIE: Two or three feet.
TOM: And they're great. They're real efficient and …
LESLIE: Super-quiet.
TOM: You can get them in just the air-conditioning mode or you can get one in air conditioning and a heat pump. In case you want to use that space in the wintertime, you could just switch it into the heat mode.
LESLIE: And they heat super-fast.
JOE: That might be a good idea, because it does get – it does stay cooler and I guess that must be because of the large, expansive windows that are in that one room.
TOM: Absolutely. Yep.
JOE: So it probably stays cooler, so we do find that we don't even use that space once it starts to drop. But the temperatures don't get extremely cold in Savannah here but still …
LESLIE: But it gets chilly.
TOM: And it's perfect for that, because it'll really just sort of take the edge off. Go to the Mitsubishi Electric website and check out Mr. Slim.
TOM: That's the product. It's a good product; it works well. And I think it's the perfect solution for your sunroom in Georgia.
JOE: I'd been leaning towards what you just said. I actually looked at another brand but if the Mitsubishi is good, I'll pull that up online and kind of look into that one, also.
LESLIE: It's the one that Tom and I both have personally in our homes and we've got one in the studio. And it just worked out that way, not for any reason sponsorship-wise or anything. And we both love them.
JOE: OK. Alright. Well, I'm going to do my homework on it and I appreciate all your help.
TOM: You're very welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: You are tuned to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show on air and online at MoneyPit.com. Now you can call in your home repair or your home improvement question 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
Up next, the average family generates more waste during the holidays than just about any other time of the year. We're going to help you cut down on that clutter with holiday-friendly recycling tips, after this.
TOM: Making good homes better, welcome back to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show. I'm Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I'm Leslie Segrete.
TOM: Hey, pick up the phone, give us a call. We are standing by to talk with you about your home improvement project. The number is 1-888-MONEY-PIT. And if you do make that call, you might just win a 5-gallon container of Ames Research Laboratories' Blue Max Liquid Rubber.
This is a super-easy-to-use product. You just paint the Blue Max on practically any surface and it makes its way into the cracks and crevices. And when it dries, you are left with a totally waterproof surface. It's worth $180. Going to go out to one caller drawn at random from those that reach us for today's show. The number is 888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: Renee in Texas, you've got The Money Pit. How can we help you today?
RENEE: Yes, mine is kind of like a double question. I have about a 30-year-old, connected-on-both-sides townhome, two levels.
RENEE: And I heard a crack a couple months back. Well, you know, it was one of the support beams had just – like a big, strong branch just cracked.
TOM: Huh. Did you actually see the cracked beam somewhere?
RENEE: No, I didn't see that but I have begun to have cracks along on that same side of the house, in the corners of the wall?
RENEE: Down the corners where it's breaking apart. But at the same time, I've noticed that the house has become unlevel. And that's a little part because it's old and it's connected on both sides but I'm in Texas and we have big droughts and it kind of shifts a little bit.
RENEE: My concern is when I get the support beam fixed and the foundation fixed, I've seen on the DIY shows that suddenly they go back and they look and the house or the chimney has just been trashed. What can I do to prevent that?
TOM: Why do you say it's been trashed? Because it shifted?
RENEE: Right. When they did the – when they put in – when I've watched the DIY shows, they go and they fix the foundation and the foundation's fine. And of course, they shift everything up and now there is …
TOM: Yeah. That's why you have to be very, very careful when you do anything that changes the angle that the house has sort of settled into. Because if you don't, once you bring a foundation up, everything else moves. In a wood house, if you try to straighten a slopy floor, for example, all the wires and the plumbing get stretched and twisted and so on. So it's not just foundations that are of concern.
I'm concerned, though, about this crack that you say that you've heard. But you've seen cracks in your walls but you've not physically seen the structural crack, correct?
RENEE: Correct.
TOM: Alright. Now, you said it's a townhouse. Is there an association that …?
RENEE: Yes.
TOM: OK. So in an association form of ownership, typically you don't own the structure. So the structure – if the structure was to fail, that's typically the responsibility of the association to address. Is that your understanding?
RENEE: I can double-check on that.
TOM: But in a typical condominium form of ownership, what you own is inside wall to inside wall. In some cases, you own the …
LESLIE: And then what's beyond that wall is not yours.
TOM: Right. In some cases, you own the drywall; in some cases, you don't. So, for example, if there was a fire, God forbid, and the whole place burned down, you would be paying for the drywall, the kitchen cabinets, the appliances, stuff like that. And the association would be rebuilding everything else, including the related infrastructure.
So you need to figure out if there's a structural problem, who's responsible for it. I suspect you're going to find it's the association that's responsible for it, which is good news for you. And then I would bring that to their attention and ask them to address it.
Now, as far as the cracks in the corners of the wall are concerned, I have to tell you that that's pretty typical and that by itself doesn't necessarily mean that you have a structural problem. The way to fix that, though, is important and that is that you want to sand down the drywall in that area. And then you want to add some additional tape and the type of drywall tape you use would be the perforated type. It looks like a netting; it's like a sticky netting. You put that on and then you spackle through that three coats: one, two, three coats; each one thin but three coats. And that type …
LESLIE: And allowing each one to dry and be sanded in between.
TOM: Yeah. And that type of repair typically will last.
Now, after you do the spackle repair, you'll have to prime the wall. You can't just paint on top of it; you'll have to prime it and then paint it.
TOM: So I would address the structure with the association, I would fix the cracks on your own and then see what happens.
RENEE: OK. So just one more question. Let's say that if it's not in the association, that I do have to go into it, not only am I concerned about my roof but how much of a problem will I have with my neighbors on both sides of me?
TOM: Depends on where the crack is, if it exists at all. If that's the case, then I would suggest you hire a professional home inspector and have the inspector do what's called a partial inspection, which is usually a single-item inspection, and investigate this crack and see what's going on in the structure. And then we'll know how far it's gone and what needs to be done about it.
RENEE: Yeah, that's cool. Thank you, guys. I appreciate your time.
LESLIE: Well, with all the festivities that occur this time of year, there is a downside: waste. In fact, between the Thanksgiving holiday and the new year, the average household's use of waste or the amount of waste, rather, increases by 25 percent. And that's why it's important to make recycling a big part of your holiday tradition.
For example, if you're getting new electronics this season, recycle the old ones, please. This could include your laptops, your e-readers and any game systems. Now, you can find a local recycling center for those electronics that will accept them at Earth911.com. Also, Best Buy stores will take electronics to recycle no matter where you bought them.
TOM: And if you plan ahead with your holiday decorations, you can also cut down on waste there, as well. So, think about using natural decorations that could be composted, like poinsettias and evergreens. And don't forget to recycle the wrapping paper. It takes no time for a family of four to really fill several garbage bags with all of that gift wrapping. You can save it, you can reuse it.
And if you want some more tips on how to do just that, just search "holiday recycling tips" at MoneyPit.com.
LESLIE: Now we've got Virginia on the line who needs some help with a basement-flooring project. Tell us what's going on.
VIRGINIA: We want to finish the basement floor.
VIRGINIA: And in the – it'll be like a kitchen area. And we want to put in – it's kind of like a laminate wood-type flooring that you put in sections. Is that a problem? Like somebody said something about – you need a moisture barrier? Is there an issue with that?
TOM: Well, first of all, it's a good choice for a basement, because it is very moisture-resistant. The way you install it is going to depend specifically on the manufacturer's recommended instructions for it, Virginia. So, it's really critical that wherever you buy this, you follow their specs because each one's a little bit different.
But conceptually, it's not hard to do. I mean in some cases, they're going to want you to put down a vapor barrier first. In other cases, the vapor barrier could be attached to the bottom of the laminate. The underlayment could be pre-attached to the bottom of the laminate and so on.
So, I would follow the manufacturer's instructions but it is a perfect choice for a basement. It's real durable stuff and gosh, today it could look like anything. It could look like hardwood, stone, tile, you name it. It's a good product and it's a good application for it.
VIRGINIA: Oh, thank you very much.
TOM: You're welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: Now we've got Dave in Ohio who's dealing with some seams in the drywall. Tell us what's going on.
DAVE: Well, my garage – my attached garage – is finished but I've noticed that in the wintertime, the seams will pop and crack. And then over the summer, I retaped and respackled and repainted and that was in May. And then by December, they had popped again and it's getting really frustrating. It's also uninsulated. It's unheated and uninsulated, so I'm trying to figure out what I can do to fix this permanently.
LESLIE: Well, the issue that you're dealing with, primarily, is that you've got drywall in an unconditioned space. So you're getting a lot of movement throughout the seasons, which is causing those seams to sort of open up and become visible for you.
Now, when you're repairing them, are you using traditional drywall tape or are you using that mesh tape?
DAVE: I've been using – I used the mesh tape this last time.
LESLIE: OK. And still it popped open again?
DAVE: It still popped, yes.
TOM: Did you remove the old tape before you put the mesh tape down?
DAVE: Yes, yes.
TOM: How many layers of spackle did you put down?
DAVE: After the tape, I believe it was one.
LESLIE: OK. You're supposed to do three.
You want to start with one that's approximately the size of the tape, smooth it out, let it dry, sand it down. Put another layer, get a little bit wider, feather out, let it dry, sand it down and go with your widest, let that dry, sand it. And that really seals the tape in and allows for a smooth transition. You're dealing with a finished garage but it's still a garage space. You want it to look good but you're putting an awful lot of work into it.
TOM: Yeah.
DAVE: Yes.
TOM: This is like Groundhog Day Home Improvement: every day you wake up, you've got to do it all over again.
The thing is that when builders construct these spaces, they're not required to put more than one coat of spackle on, because it's just for fire resistance. So we end up getting stuck with these houses that have tape that fall off over the years because it just wasn't finished/spackled. So, the key here is to remove the old, loose tape; sand the area so you have good adhesion. Not aggressively but just lightly sand. Use the perforated tape that's like the sticky-backed perforated tape, kind of looks like netting. Three coats of spackle, prime, paint and that should be permanent.
DAVE: OK. That sounds great.
LESLIE: Mark in South Carolina is on the line with a showerhead question. What can we do for you?
MARK: Yes. My wife has been after me for several years. She said that the pressure coming out of our shower nozzle just can't get the shampoo out of her hair. And I put four different shower nozzles on there. I had a plumber that actually went out to the line out at the street, where we tapped into the line, and they're all saying there's nothing I can do. Do you have any suggestions for me?
TOM: Mark, do you have hard water?
MARK: I don't know. How do you know if you have hard water?
TOM: Because you have hard water, that's exactly what it would feel like: it would feel like you can't get your …
LESLIE: It makes it feel like you can't get the shampoo or the soap off.
TOM: Yeah, exactly. Do you have well water or do you have city water?
MARK: City water.
TOM: Are there any other showers in the house that she uses and seems to work fine?
MARK: No. She went to the other shower and said that didn't work either. So I kept changing out the shower nozzles. Nothing seems to work.
TOM: Yeah, you might want to get a water test done, because that's exactly the symptom of a hard-water problem that you described.
MARK: Hard water. OK.
TOM: Yeah. And then you could – there's a number of ways that you could put water softeners in and that will make that go away.
Now, in terms of the showerhead itself, yeah, the newer, water-efficient showerheads, there are some folks that complain about not having enough water in there.
MARK: Yeah.
TOM: But I will say that the better ones seem to have engineered that out.
Like, for example, I know Moen has a couple of different ones that are available, that have multiple settings. And they've engineered these so that you get a good spread of water across the showerhead but you still have the water savings.
MARK: OK. Moen. Got that.
TOM: Yeah. Check the hardware out. Then take a look at the better showerheads, like the ones by Moen. Those are really terrific. And I've got one, actually, in a shower upstairs that's like a rain shower, kind of wide head. And it works great.
LESLIE: You are tuned to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show on air and online at MoneyPit.com. Well, unfortunately, deaths from carbon monoxide go up a lot this time of year. We're going to tell you how to keep your family safe from this very dangerous and undetectable gas, after this.
ANNOUNCER: The Money Pit is brought to you by Roxul, manufacturer of fire-resistant, water-repellent and sound-absorbent home insulation products. Keep your home efficient and comfortable this winter and all year long with Roxul ComfortBatt and Roxul Safe'n'Sound insulations. www.DIYWithRoxul.com. Roxul. That's R-o-x-u-l.
TOM: Making good homes better, welcome back to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show. I'm Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I'm Leslie Segrete.
TOM: Give us a call right now with your home improvement project. The number is 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: Cecily in Iowa is on the line with a wallpaper conundrum. What's going on at your money pit?
CECILY: Well, I have a probably 24-year-old townhome that I think the paper has been on the wall since – for that long.
TOM: It was popular back then.
CECILY: Yeah, yeah. Back then.
I'm just wondering – person I had in here tried to, where the wallpaper butts up against the ceiling, there's – it looks like a bad job and there's some marks. And he thought he could wipe it down and everywhere he wiped it down, there's like a watermark all along where he – looks like icicles: an uneven line of watermark.
And I don't know if it can – I've been told you can paint over it. I mean we have vaulted ceilings; it's a lot of paper. And I don't know how you would – if what – they took it off. There's actually some posts papered with it and I don't know what's underneath.
TOM: I think the answer is you can remove it. It's a lot of work, like any type of wallpaper.
CECILY: Right.
TOM: If you want to paint over it, it's going to look like the wallpaper underneath.
LESLIE: Textured paint.
TOM: It's going to look textured underneath. So, if you want to do like a really inexpensive, short-term fix, you could paint over it. I would recommend that you use a very thick roller on that because otherwise, it's going to be very hard to get the paint in where it has to go. And maybe you might even need to use a slitted roller: the kind of roller that we use on textured ceilings where it has actually sort of slots in it. Because it really gets in and around and thick and will sort of fill out that whole surface with paint.
CECILY: Mm-hmm. Is it terribly difficult to remove?
LESLIE: It depends on how long it's been there, what the prep process was to the wall below the paper. All of those can add up to an easy job or a tremendously difficult job. And it's one of those things that you don't know until you try. And there are ways to do it.
Now, with a textured wall covering like this, whether it's grass cloth or the string cloth, you can try to use a store-bought wallpaper remover, you can use a steamer, you can do homemade concoctions. One is white vinegar and hot water, another is fabric softener and hot water. Both situations, you super-saturate the walls and just sort of let it sit there for a few minutes. I've even heard of clothing starch with hot water and making a paste onto the wallpaper.
And I've used the fabric softener and that does work. That was a traditional vinyl, which I had to score first. But I've also heard with grass cloths, that you can take a paint scraper and scrape the actual string cloth or the grass cloth off of the backing, so that might make it easier to remove. Either way, it's going to be a lot of work and you never know what's behind it. You could get everything off and the wall could be so textured and dinged up that you end up having to put a layer of drywall over it anyway.
CECILY: Ah, OK. Alright. Well, thank you very much. That's very helpful and I'm glad I called.
TOM: Well, you can't see it or smell it but according to the EPA, hundreds of people die every year from carbon-monoxide poisoning, which is caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances like your furnace or your space heater or something like that. And that number does go up around the holidays, so we want you to think about the simple steps that you can take now to make sure you keep your family safe from CO poisoning.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. First of all, you really need to make sure that your family has your heating system tuned up every single year. Now, that needs to include a combustion analysis, which is really important because that's how you're going to detect a leak.
Another source: portable generators. You never ever want to run a portable generator inside your home or even in an open garage. It's super-dangerous. And also, this time of year, some people tend to warm up their car inside the garage. Don't do it. Even with an open garage door, that carbon monoxide can leak right back into your home. So be smart, guys.
TOM: For 24-7 protection, the best thing to do is to make sure that you have carbon-monoxide detectors installed on every floor of your home. You can pick them up at any home improvement store.
For more tips on carbon-monoxide detectors, including a list of the different types and which makes the most sense for your particular situation, just search "detectors" on MoneyPit.com.
LESLIE: Tankless water heaters are certainly very popular and Victor in Maryland has some questions on them. How can we help you?
VICTOR: Yes. I'm a blind homeowner and I have some aging appliances that I'm hanging onto because they've been labeled in braille for me.
VICTOR: One of them is the water heater and I know that's going to go sooner or later and I'm just curious. About maybe five or six years ago, all you heard on the radio were commercials for tankless water heaters, how great they were. And now you don't hear anything about them at all. Have they just disappeared or people just don't want them anymore or what?
TOM: Well, actually, no. They've become more of the norm and so that's why you don't hear about them as much anymore. But tankless water heaters are here to stay. They're super-efficient; they deliver more hot water than a typical tanked water heater, for a lot less cost. They are more sophisticated, they are more expensive but they do last a lot longer. And so I think it's a real good idea to have a tankless when your current water heater leaks. It may be time to think about changing over to tankless.
Do you have gas?
VICTOR: Yes.
TOM: Alright. So, then, as long as you have gas, then I think it's a good idea to use a tankless water heater.
VICTOR: OK. So, is there more maintenance involved? Because I flush it …
TOM: No, not really. There's really no maintenance involved except for there would be service with your heating system every year, just to make sure it's burning correctly and not getting dirty. But there's no tanks to flush or anything of that nature.
VICTOR: OK. Because I do it as a matter of course because there's sediment in the water.
TOM: Sure.
VICTOR: And especially during the wintertime, with all the salt that they put on the roads and stuff, it ends up in the water. And I was told to flush it at least twice a year.
TOM: Yeah. But that's not an issue with tankless water heaters, because it's tankless. There is no tank for the water to sit in, so there's no sediment for it to form and it's just going to work for you.
VICTOR: OK. Well, when the time comes, I will definitely look into it. Thanks a lot.
TOM: Alright, Victor. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: You are tuned to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show on air and online at MoneyPit.com. Well, we all love a well-decorated Christmas tree but do you know who else does? Every toddler and their very curious hands. We're going to give you some tips on keeping the holiday safe, with childproofing tips for kids, after this.
ANNOUNCER: The Money Pit is brought to you by Stanley Tools, your trusted name in quality hand tools. To learn more about their complete line of quality tools and to find the perfect holiday gift, visit StanleyTools.com.
TOM: Making good homes better, welcome back to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show. I'm Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I'm Leslie Segrete. Pick up the phone and give us a call at 888-MONEY-PIT, because we are answering your home improvement questions but we are also giving away a great way to waterproof. Now, one caller is going to get a 5-gallon container of Blue Max. It's from Ames Research Laboratories and it's their liquid rubber. It's non-toxic, it's super-adhesive and it's non-permeable. That means that anything you paint it on is going to become waterproof. It's worth $180, so pick up the phone and give us a call at 888-MONEY-PIT for your chance to win.
LESLIE: Well, whether you have children at your own home or you're expecting children to visit you over the holidays, it's really important that you take the time now to childproof for this time of year.
TOM: That's right. And pediatricians say that this is a really busy time of year for injuries. And one big hazard is the holiday tree. It's gorgeous, it's sparkly and there's a lot of fun stuff on it.
LESLIE: Are you kidding? It's everything they want.
TOM: So it's everything that a kid wants and it's a big tip-over risk. So, don't forget to secure it to the wall with an eye hook or some twine so you can keep it kind of tied off. Or just block it off with a child gate. I mean good luck with that; they could knock it right over. But really, get that thing secure any way that you have to. Just make sure it can't fall over on kids.
And also, with trees, you want to remember that the ornaments are super-attractive and very inviting to toddlers. And every year, there are dozens of emergency-room visits because these kids actually try to eat the ornaments off of the tree. So, hang them up higher on the tree. Make sure you use the not-so-tasty-looking ones for the lower portion of the tree. And better yet, make sure you have some break-proof ones that they really can't harm and they can't get in their mouths and don't look like food.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's what we do even now. Henry is four. It's like everything on the lower part of the tree is non-breakable. And of course, with Charlie's new arrival, next year we're going to have to do this all over again.
Now, it's also really important, guys, to avoid wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, because they can be a choking hazard to kids and of course, a trip hazard for you. So, it's best to throw them out immediately after you open your gifts. You know, keep your recycling bag right next to you as you're unwrapping. Put it right in there.
And also, this is a great time of year to make sure that your TV is secure and can't tip over. Now, if you don't have kids in the house, you might not be thinking about this but you don't want to put TVs on anything other than furniture that was specifically designed to hold it. And if you've got a flat-screen TV, you want to make sure that it's mounted to the wall with kits that were especially designed for the size and the weight of your specific TV.
TOM: Finally, be careful with toxic plants that are all about the house this holiday season, like poinsettias and mistletoes. Make sure your holiday is safe and emergency room-free. And as always, you can check on MoneyPit.com for more specific holiday childproofing advice.
LESLIE: Kathy in South Carolina, you've got The Money Pit. How can we help you today?
KATHY: I have a problem with the squirrels chewing into my roof.
KATHY: And I was wondering, how can I – what can I repair this with and what can I put in there to keep them out?
TOM: Now, where are they chewing? Are they chewing through the trim or the soffits trying to get into the attic space? What's the story?
KATHY: Well, they have gotten into the attic space.
TOM: The holes. Are you repairing those holes or what are you doing?
KATHY: No. I was calling you to see how you could help me, because I listen to your show all the time and you give such good advice.
TOM: Well, if they get into your attic, you can trap them and release them. You can use something called a Havahart trap. And this is a trap that is a wire cage with a trap door. And the way to bait it is to take an apple and put it in the far end of the cage and wire the apple to the cage; don't just put it in there. But usually, I'll take a hanger or a piece of picture-frame wire or something like that and I'll thread it through the apple and wire it off so that it can't bounce around.
And if they're in the attic, they'll come looking for that food. They'll get trapped in there. Then you can pick the whole cage up and take it far away from your house and then release them. And believe me, as soon as you lift the door up, they're like out like a light.
LESLIE: They're gone.
TOM: They just fly right out there and they'll take off. They want nothing to do with you, so it's completely safe.
Now, in terms of those holes, you have to repair them. Now, you can put – if it's a small hole, you can put steel wool in it or something like that. But if it's a bigger hole, you really should simply rebuild it or repair it, whatever it takes. So if it's wood or if it's vinyl or if it's metal soffit material, you really just need to completely rebuild that.
And then, the other thing I'll mention that seems to have been pretty effective over the years and that is if you were to put moth balls down in your attic, that does seem to have a deterring effect on the squirrels, as well. So if you spread them …
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. It will, though – that odor does seep into the house, so don't go crazy with it.
TOM: Yeah, right. You sprinkle them in there, yeah. Especially along the eaves.
KATHY: But is there anything else I can put up there to keep more from coming in?
TOM: Well, we want to identify the holes and get those fixed. It's really an entry issue. You've got to basically close the door on them here. And so, if we can identify those holes and those entry points and seal them up, then you shouldn't have a problem with squirrels. They don't naturally live in the attic but they're obviously finding a way into your house.
If you're not quite sure where they're getting in, you obviously can't get in there – up there – to kind of look that closely, then work from the street level, walking around the outside of the house and looking up. Try to get a pair of binoculars or borrow one and see if you can spot the holes where they're getting in. But that's what has to be closed up.
KATHY: OK. Thank you so much. I'm so grateful.
TOM: You're very welcome.
LESLIE: You are tuned to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show on air and online at MoneyPit.com. Well, if you feel stressed over the holidays, imagine how your fridge feels. We're going to give you some tips on refrigerator maintenance, after this.
ANNOUNCER: The Money Pit is brought to you by TotalProtect Home Warranty. Get total protection against unexpected home repair or replacement costs for appliances, air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical. Visit BuyTotalProtect.com to see if you qualify for a special offer. That's BuyTotalProtect.com.
TOM: Making good homes better, welcome back to The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show. I'm Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I'm Leslie Segrete.
And hey, you guys, Tom and I get lonely when we're not with you every weekend. Why not take us to go with you everywhere and then we'll always be there saying, "Hey. Here's a project. Do this. Let me help you."
But literally, guys, we've got a great iPhone app. It's The Money Pit iPhone app. You can download it for free. Head on over to MoneyPit.com. And also, while you're online, you can get connected with so many other Money Pit fans when you visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. So much great home improvement information, great contests that are exclusive to the online community, so head on over there today.
And if you want, you can post us a question, like Bradley in South Dakota did who wrote: "Can I use ceramic floor tiles for my kitchen counter? The tiles are sealed. I know I" – oh, wait, these sounds like they're used. "I know I can disinfect the tiles but what about the grout?"
Gross. I don't …
TOM: Well, I think he's saying they're sealed tiles as opposed to unsealed tiles, like a terracotta tile. So as long as it's a glazed tile – I think that's the word you're searching for, Bradley.
LESLIE: So you don't think he's taking dirty floor tiles and putting them on the counter?
TOM: I know. I'm hoping not, I'm hoping not. But even if, you know – even if he is, I don't necessarily think that ceramic floor tiles are a good idea for a countertop, for a number of reasons.
First of all, you're not going to find the matching pieces that you need to do the edges and that sort of thing. If you use wall tile, you're going to find corner pieces that you can use over the front edge and it's just going to be a lot nicer and neater job. If you use big floor tiles or even ones that are maybe as small as 9×9, you're going to have to really press them tightly together. Because you don't want a wide gap, you don't want a wide grout line, because it's going to be that much more work to maintain.
LESLIE: And it's not going to be very interesting; it's going to take up so much space, each tile.
TOM: Yeah.
LESLIE: And it's just going to be like one big tile and then a half-a-tile.
TOM: Yeah. And the difference would be that you wouldn't be using sand grout, which is what you'd normally use on a floor; you'd be using regular grout. And you would want to use grout that has a mildicide in it.
So I think you're going to end up with a project that doesn't look quite right and when people see it, they're going to be like, "That's odd," and they won't know exactly why it's odd. But an experienced eye will see that you don't have the right components to be able to do this and have it look good.
So I would recommend against it. There are a lot of other options for building a nice counter than using floor tile. If you want to do it, use the proper type of tile and have it come out good the first time.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm. And you don't have to spend a ton of money. You can get creative. You can use simple ones to cover a large portion of the field and then add in some decorative ones and really create a striking countertop.
TOM: Well, with all the cooking, the baking and the guests that have been coming in and out of your house this time of year, you might be building up quite a few leftovers. Leslie has got some refrigerator maintenance tips that'll help you keep it all fresh, on today's edition of Leslie's Last Word.
LESLIE: Yeah. This time of year really can put a great strain on your refrigerator. Leftovers, drinks and all of those goodies might mean that your fridge is working double-time. So this is a good time to make sure that it's up to the task.
First of all, you want to clean the coils. Now, most people don't even realize that dust collects on the coils on the back of the fridge and they really need to be vacuumed. If you've got an older refrigerator that has a drain pan underneath, you want to make sure that you take it out and clean it so that you avoid mold growth. And if you've got a fridge that's got a water or an ice dispenser, that pan should also be cleaned to avoid mold. Now, many of those dispensers also have a filter that needs to be changed. This could be the perfect time of year to do so.
If you want some more tips, head on over to MoneyPit.com, search "refrigerator maintenance tips." Because you want to make sure it's running in tip-top shape, because you're going to have lots of little storage containers in there with tasty goodies and raw food and things that need to be cooked. And it's going to be stuffed to the gills, so you want it to work, especially this time of year when you've got a big dinner prepared for the next day. So, head on over to MoneyPit.com and search "fridge maintenance tips."
TOM: This is The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show. Coming up next week on the program, it's green and it grows and it can make you really sick. We're going to have tips to help you mold-proof your home, on the next edition of The Money Pit.
I'm Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I'm Leslie Segrete.
TOM: Remember, you can do it yourself …
LESLIE: But you don't have to do it alone.
(Copyright 2012 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc. No portion of this transcript or audio file may be reproduced in any format without the express written permission of Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.)


text:
The UCommunity supports nonprofits in the United States with quality printing expertise. It's UPrinting's way of giving back to the public. Your commitment to serve the community inspires people. We are here to support that mission of building a better, happier, socially responsible community.
The UCommunity helps nonprofits inspire and change the world by providing quality printing and professional print expertise.
UPrinting supports several causes through the UCommunity, including Children's Welfare and Education, Environmental Sustainability, Animal Rights, Health, and Domestic Violence Awareness.
"UPrinting was very helpful with our order for map prints. They helped me walk through the ordering process when I ran into some hiccups with the uploading my artwork. Plus, it only took a week to have in hand and the high quality of printing was as equal as their service."
"The UPrinting Kids4Trees banner was admired by all for its quality and clarity. The UPrinting website made design simple; and, their service personnel were readily available for patient assistance. We look forward to more reasonably priced Kids4Trees banners in the future produced by UPrinting"
"Plant With Purpose is a sustainable development organization that understands the value of eco-friendly printing that is both high-quality and cost-effective. Thanks to UPrinting, we receive constant praise from our supporters about the look and quality of our promotional collateral."
Nonprofit organizations in the US with 501(c)(3) status are eligible for the program. UPrinting approves applications that meet all requirements and criteria for NPO sponsorship.
Complete the form below and submit your 501(c)3 Determination Letter. You will receive a response within 24 hours of evaluation.
Sponsorship is applicable to the printing and finishing costs. All nonprofit organizations who submit their 501c3 determination letter will enjoy a 10% discount on all orders with UPrinting. Once approved for a sponsorship package, the sponsorship amount will take the place of the 10%. As a UCommunity partner, you will have a dedicated account manager to assist you with your print requirements on top of all the benefits UPrinting offers to all its customers: free proofing service, affordable quality printing and great customer service.
Sponsorship does NOT apply to shipping costs, mailing service fees and postage as well as design fees.
The sponsorship period is one year from registration date.
Yes. Download a USPS Form 3623 from the USPS website, process this with USPS and provide us the approval copy.
We observe a one-discount policy. Sponsorship discount cannot be applied on top of current promotions on our website.
If you have questions please contact: email@example.com


text:
Researching the history of vegetarianism, I quickly realised it was a much bigger and more exciting story than could fit into a couple of episodes. It needs a full on series, of at least ten episodes, full of interesting characters and amazing twists. To tell it properly is a much bigger project than The Vegan Option has ever done before. I can't do it without you.
So, for the first time, I'm offering you the chance to get financially involved by backing Vegetarianism: The Story So Far on Kickstarter. I'm offering some great thank you gifts – such as a postcard from one of the places where the story unfolded. Go to the project page to discover more, watch the video (with a glimpse of what the Vegan Option "studio" actually looks like), and help make history.
If this is funded, it will be a resource for vegetarians, vegans, and curious omnivores for many years. So it would be a pity if it wasn't.


text:
Your recent searches
If your mum ever said no, you know Grandma would say yes! Here you'll find beautiful personalised gifts for Grandma, Nana, Granny or Nanny! For cool Grans, hip Grans and glamorous Grans - You'll find her gift here!
She'll be over the moon with a personalised silver plated photo frame from the grandkids, stunning pewter bowl, or how about a personalised vase? Just don't forget to provide the flowers (and chocolates) too!
231 Products, page 3 of 5


text:
While U.S. home prices grew at record speed in December, rising mortgage rates threatened rapid price appreciation as buyers were sidelined by affordability concerns. S&P Case-Shiller's National Home Price Index reported 18.80 percent year-over-year home price growth in December.
The 20-City Home Price Index posted a year-over-year gain of 18.60 percent as compared to November's year-over-year home price gain of 18.30 percent. Home prices rose by 1.50 percent from November to December 2020. Phoenix, Arizona held on to first place in the 20-City Index with year-over-year home price growth of 32.50 percent; Tampa, Florida held second place with 29.40 percent year-over-year home price growth. The Miami, Florida metro area held third place with year-over-year home price growth of 27.30 percent.
Rising Mortgage Rates Impact Affordability for Prospective Homebuyers
Analysts predicted slowing home price growth as mortgage rates rise and affordability issues impact prospective home buyers. Danielle Hale, a chief economist at Realtor.com, said: "Home prices continued to surpass expectations in December, but a marked change may be ahead for growth as rising mortgage rates eat into buyers' purchasing power."
Ms. Hale described a trend that could signal slower home price growth. "While typical asking prices continue to accelerate, the pace of median sales price growth has slowed, signaling a potential gap between what buyers are willing and able to pay and what sellers are hoping to receive."
The quarterly report issued by the Federal Housing Finance Agency supported trends evident in the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. Prices for homes owned or financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rose by 17.50 percent year-over-year in December. The FHFA reported the strongest home price growth in Arizona, Utah, and Idaho during the fourth quarter of 2021.
The strongest state housing markets for FHFA were Arizona, Utah, and Idaho, while the weakest housing markets were in Washington, DC, Louisiana, and North Dakota. Homebuyers continued to seek homes in less congested suburban and rural areas due to rising home prices. This trend originally started as Covid-19 outbreaks and work-from-home opportunities prompted city dwellers to relocate to areas less affected by the virus.
Analysts recognized that rising home prices sidelined moderate-income and first-time homebuyers, but did not expect home prices to fall in the coming months.