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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Genius Ideas
Subject: Fw: Genius
ideas
Friday, August 24, 2012
Excavation Area Flags
Do you ever wonder what those little flags around proposed excavation sites mean? You can tell what is buried below by the color of the flags. Here are the flag colors and what they mean:
- Red - Electric
- Orange - Telephone, communications, TV
- Blue - Potable water
- Green - Sewer/drainage
- Yellow - Gas/oil/petroleum pipeline
- Purple - Reclaimed water
- White - Site of intended excavation (black when snow is present)
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
One Person's Trash
Before you shell out money for a new item, see if there is anybody in your community getting rid of what you need. Please check the following sites for possible free or bargain prices for what you are looking for:
- Freecycle.org
- Craigslist.org
- FreeSharing.org
Computer Cloud Storage For Free
Instead of an external hard drive to back up your files, you could for free do cloud storage of your files. Most free storage sites provide around 5 gigabytes of storage room for free. You can open multiple accounts and cobble together a completely free system. The disadvantage of this idea is that your data is spread out, but you can download a free app from Otixo.com to help manage it all. In any event, you can use just one site and keep your most important files on that one site. Following is a list of sites showing how much free space that you get and what that site is best used for:
- Google Drive (drive.google.com) - 5 GB - For documents
- IDrive (idrive.com) - 5 GB - Documents
- Amazon Cloud Drive (amazon.com/clouddrive) - 5 GB - Music
- Dropbox (dropbox.com) - 2 GB - Photos
- Microsoft SkyDrive (skydrive.live.com) - 7 GB - Microsoft Office Projects that you use from multiple computers because the site syncs automatically
- SugarSync (sugarsync.com) - 5 GB - Documents you are collaborating with others on since you can password protect public files
Monday, August 13, 2012
Credit Card Extended Warranty ProtectionBenefit
When you buy an item, the item usually comes with a warranty. The Extended Warranty Protection, which is an added benefit given to you by your credit card company, extends the free repair time period under the original manufacturer's written U.S. warranty. This extended period of warranty coverage is usually up to one additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less when an item its purchased entirely with your eligible credit card. There are exceptions to this rule for select items. Gifts and purchases made outside of the U.S. should be covered. You must keep copies of your receipts and the original manufacturer's written U.S. warranty and any other applicable warranty in order to file a claim. You need to look at your extended protection plan which is incorporated in your benefits guide that you should have received with your credit card. If you do not have that guide, just call the credit card company and they can direct you to the department that can help you.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Credit Card Insurance For Accident With Rental Car
If you have an accident with a rental car, you can have secondary coverage with your credit card company if you charged your rental car use with a credit card and turned down the optional insurance with the car rental company. Credit cards give you secondary insurance coverage after your primary insurance company covers what it will cover for your accident. So, the credit card company should at least reimburse you for the deductible that you have to pay with your primary insurance company. Different credit card companies have different time limits, coverages, etc. You should check out each of your credit card coverages, and select the best one for your current needs before charging on one of your charge cards.
I personally had an accident in Arkansas, and my VISA credit card reimbursed me for the deductible that my primary coverage charged me, and also reimbursed me for the balance of the damage to the rental car that my primary insurance did not cover. So, the bottom line is that I ended up not paying any net out of pocket cost for this rental car accident.
I personally had an accident in Arkansas, and my VISA credit card reimbursed me for the deductible that my primary coverage charged me, and also reimbursed me for the balance of the damage to the rental car that my primary insurance did not cover. So, the bottom line is that I ended up not paying any net out of pocket cost for this rental car accident.
Fix-A-Flat
People use fix-a-flat to inflate tires that have gone flat or need some additional air, and they do not have a readily accessible means to fix or inflate a tire. It is usually recommended that people not use fix-a-flat any more especially if they have a tire pressure monitor system on their car since the product will ruin the sensor. You may also ruin the tire beyond repair if you use the product. Plus the repair tech taking care of your car will not be too happy to have to clean the tire rim.
However, not all canned air inflation products ruin the tire pressure sensor. If you buy only products that specify that they are safe for tire pressure monitor system cars, that product should be safe to use. Still, even this product is not great and should be used as a last resort, which may be less costly and quicker than road service. The tire ultimately should be repaired or replaced, and not driven as though it was fine. Also, today's products of this type are nonflammable.
However, not all canned air inflation products ruin the tire pressure sensor. If you buy only products that specify that they are safe for tire pressure monitor system cars, that product should be safe to use. Still, even this product is not great and should be used as a last resort, which may be less costly and quicker than road service. The tire ultimately should be repaired or replaced, and not driven as though it was fine. Also, today's products of this type are nonflammable.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Mobile Banking Safety
Malware to hack your mobile does exist with Android phones being the most vulnerable now. Malware for Apple's iOS apparently does not exist as of now. However, malware problems are expected to worsen in coming years. The most realistic threat is that your phone will be lost or stolen, and end up in the wrong hands. There are steps that you can do to reduce the risk of mobile banking fraud as follows:
- Password protect your device.
- Tend to bank by apps which are usually more secure than web or text messaging, but download only from the official app store and verify that the developer's name matches the name of your bank.
- Do not save your user name and do not use the same password as on other apps in case they store it.
- If your phone is lost or stolen, try to wipe all personal data from it, if possible (some devices can be remotely reset to factory settings.
- Contact your financial institution since 61% of them now let you deactivate their app from afar.
- In case money is stolen from your account as a result of mobile fraud, you should be liable only for $50 under current law, provided you contact your bank within two days of discovering the loss of your money. Most banks will waive even that $50 liability.
- To limit the amount that you could be out let your bank know ASAP if you discover a rogue transaction on your account or statement or if your phone is lost or stolen.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Excellent General Contractor
If anybody needs an excellent general contractor in the Chicago area, here is one to consider:
Tony Durand
Design Management Services LLC
32895 N. Meadow Road
Grayslake, IL 60030
Cell - 773-744-5825
FAX - 847-543-7927
Email - tony@dmsremodels.com
Web Site - www.dmsremodels.com
Tony Durand
Design Management Services LLC
32895 N. Meadow Road
Grayslake, IL 60030
Cell - 773-744-5825
FAX - 847-543-7927
Email - tony@dmsremodels.com
Web Site - www.dmsremodels.com
Central Furnace or Air Conditioning
If your central furnace or air conditioning will not turn on for some reason, please try the following before calling a repair person. Go to the unit that will not start and turn off the electrical switch that controls the electricity controlling the unit and then wait a minute or two and turn the unit back on with the switch. By doing this, it acts as a restart just as if your computer is not working correctly and you turn it off and back on again. I tried this procedure with our air conditioning unit just yesterday, and the unit kicked on and has been fine ever since.
Caulk Preservation
Caulk in a tube has a tendency to dry up if not properly protected. Try wrapping the open nozzle of the caulk tube tightly with duct tape. The tape creates a good air tight seal preventing air from getting into the tube and drying out its contents. After putting the duct tape on and around the nozzle of the caulk tube, put the caulk tube itself in a plastic bag and tie off the opening with a tie band or something to close up the plastic bag. I have tried other methods, but find that this method gives the best results so far.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Vitamins & Minerals Limits
Nutrient Recommended Daily Intake SAFE
UPPER
LIMIT
MEN WOMEN
Vitamin A 3,000 IU 2,300 IU 10,000 IU
Niacin (B3) 16 mg 14 mg 35 mg
Folate (folic acid) 400 mcg 400 mcg 1,000 mcg
Vitamin C 90 mg 75 mg 2,000 mg
Vitamin D 600 IU ages 19- 600 IU ages 19-70; 4,000 IU
70; 800 IU ages 800 IU ages 71
71 and up and up
Vitamin E 22 IU (natural) 22 IU (natural) 1,500 IU (natural)
33 IU (synthetic) 33 IU (synthetic) 1,100 IU (synthetic)
Vitamin K 120 mcg 90 mcg Not Established
MINERALS
Calcium 1,000 mg ages 1,000 mg ages 2,500 mg through age
16-70; 1200 mg 19-50; 1,200 mg 50; 2,000 mg ages
ages 71 and up ages 51 and up 51 and up
Magnesium 400 mg ages 19- 310 mg ages 350 mg
30; 420 mg ages 19-30; 320 mg (from supplements only)
31 and up ages 31 and up
Potassium 4,700 mg 4,700 mg Not Established
Selenium 55 mcg 55 mcg 400 mcg
Zinc 11 mg 8 mg 40 mg
SOURCE: CONSUMER REPORTS SEPTEMBER 2012
UPPER
LIMIT
MEN WOMEN
Vitamin A 3,000 IU 2,300 IU 10,000 IU
Niacin (B3) 16 mg 14 mg 35 mg
Folate (folic acid) 400 mcg 400 mcg 1,000 mcg
Vitamin C 90 mg 75 mg 2,000 mg
Vitamin D 600 IU ages 19- 600 IU ages 19-70; 4,000 IU
70; 800 IU ages 800 IU ages 71
71 and up and up
Vitamin E 22 IU (natural) 22 IU (natural) 1,500 IU (natural)
33 IU (synthetic) 33 IU (synthetic) 1,100 IU (synthetic)
Vitamin K 120 mcg 90 mcg Not Established
MINERALS
Calcium 1,000 mg ages 1,000 mg ages 2,500 mg through age
16-70; 1200 mg 19-50; 1,200 mg 50; 2,000 mg ages
ages 71 and up ages 51 and up 51 and up
Magnesium 400 mg ages 19- 310 mg ages 350 mg
30; 420 mg ages 19-30; 320 mg (from supplements only)
31 and up ages 31 and up
Potassium 4,700 mg 4,700 mg Not Established
Selenium 55 mcg 55 mcg 400 mcg
Zinc 11 mg 8 mg 40 mg
SOURCE: CONSUMER REPORTS SEPTEMBER 2012
Medicare Card
A better alternative to always carrying your Medicare card in your wallet or when traveling is to make a photocopy of your Medicare card, and then cut or black out the last four digits of your Social Security number. The photocopy shows that you are a Medicare patient but protects you from identity theft should your wallet be lost or stolen. Even without the card you should be able to get emergency medical treatment. You can carry the original on days when you visit a doctor if that gives you any extra added comfort. You can orally give the medical care provider the last four digits of your Social Security number when you are being provided services. I and my wife have personally used this method for many years without any problems. This is a very good deterrent to identity theft of your Social Security number.
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