Overcoming Internal Barriers to Your Goals

If you're like I am, you don't see yourself as having any fear of success. In fact, it's likely that you actively strive for success.

So despite this confidence, why do you find yourself plagued with self-doubt sometimes? Or, occasionally, you just don't feel motivated to work on your goal. Worse yet, sometimes you do things that actually impede the achievement of your goal. Are these signs that you'll never achieve that goal or is something else going on?

One way to solve this puzzle is to ask yourself some key questions:

Are you taking on too big a goal?
Sometimes when there's too much to do to attain a goal, we can't focus on what needs to be done and we become overwhelmed. Rather than focusing on the big goal, focus on the smaller steps that need to be accomplished one at a time in order to accomplish the big goal.

Are there signs that you are progressing toward your goal?
It can be discouraging to feel as though you're not getting closer to your goal. It's easy to lose the initial enthusiasm and motivation once the work gets going. It's especially easy to lose the initial excitement and anticipation if you don't see any results from your efforts. If the steps toward your goal don't provide rewards, build your own. Treat yourself to a special dinner, a night out, or whatever you want, after making a significant step toward your goal.

Are you having to make too many sacrifices to achieve your goal?
If you're a single parent holding down a full-time job, you may be sacrificing sleep or time with your children to get that Ph. D. Most goals demand some kind of investment of scarce resources (i.e. time, energy, money). For some, these resources are a small investment and for others they are major investments. Make sure your investment is worth your goal.

Now that you've started working on your goal, is this something you can accomplish?
Some self-doubts are realistic and some aren't. Make an assessment of the skills and resources needed to accomplish this goal. Next, assess your skills and resources. It may be helpful to ask a friend who can be objective and honest with you to help you with these assessments. If your skills and resources are less than what is needed and will never be enough to reach your goals, then your self-doubt is an inner sign of reality (like wanting to be the next "American Idol" despite being only an adequate singer). However, if your skills and resources match or will match the skills and resources needed to accomplish your goal, this exercise should help eliminate some of your self-doubt.

Is accomplishing your goal too far out in the future?
When goals take a long time to accomplish, we can find ourselves working on things that have nothing to do with our goals, and in effect, wasting our time and making the achievement of our goals take that much longer. In this case, it may be helpful to make the halfway point to your goal the new goal instead. For example, if your goal is to lose 40 pounds in 40 weeks, make a new goal of 20 pounds in 20 weeks. At the end of 20 weeks, when you've lost 20 pounds, create a new goal of 20 pounds in 20 weeks. Break up your goal whichever way works best for you and keeps you focused on the end result.

You may not always be able to handle external obstacles toward your goals, but you do have control over your internal obstacles!

I have been helping people reach their personal and professional goals for the past 14 years. There's nothing more satisfying than helping someone reach their potential for success. I would like the opportunity to help you reach your goals. I am a Professional Coach with a Ph.D. in Psychology and a specialty in Goal Achievement and Transitions. Check out my website: http://www.ParamountTransitions.com then call me for a free consultation.

Learn How to Communicate With the Younger Generation

Before I became a senior citizen, I thought I was keeping up fairly well. Then, after retirement, I began reflecting on how few actors and singers and other popular icons I knew by name any longer. I also became aware that I had allowed technology to outrun me. When observing video games, I remembered how much fun PONG used to be. Magazines became suddenly overrun by teen driven products and jargon and styles.

The sad part of all of this was that I was failing to learn the language my son and my grandchildren were speaking. And, when you don't know or can't speak the language, communication becomes severely limited. The good news was, in my case, that the younger ones are and remain very tolerant of their dad and granddad. But, with my own inabilities I still suffer some inferiority in trying to stay current.

Perhaps, some of my own experiences will speak to yours:

*Whatever you do, don't try to fake it. You will get caught every time. They can sort out sincerity and honesty very quickly. They had rather respect you than for you to think you are cool.

*Spend as much time with them as you can. That is a tall order. The "children" (and don't ever call them that) in your life have overwhelming demands, but they will always find joy in having time with you. So, work at making it happen.

*Communicate by phone and email. Not easy, because of distractions, but give it a try and don't give up.

*When together, give up your own need to dominate the conversation and the directions it takes. Ask questions, seek explanations out of their experience and from their world.

*Avoid being judgmental. This is probably the toughest task of all. It is also the one that will earn the most respect and camaraderie. I wish I had learned this one at age 25.

*Be sure to find out what their interests are, what turns them on, what dimensions of life and the universe they live in gives them the most satisfaction.

*Be sure to demonstrate interest. Don't feign interest, be interested!

*When possible, and invited, include their friends, so that you can learn by observation and participation what their life is all about.

*Don't be easily offended. You will only lose.

*Check your embarrassment quotient at the door.

Most of us senior citizens know how special it is to be with children and grandchildren and to learn from them. They will want to be with you more! You both win!

Article provided by Dr. Jerry D. Elrod. For information on retirement, Baby Boomers and everything related to Seniors, please visit my blog at http://seniorcitizenjournal.blogspot.com

Salt Water Pool Treatment Facts

While they were once only used sporadically, today, salt water pools are becoming more and more popular for homeowners. However, although many salt water pool manufacturers promote the ease of converting your pool to a salt water system, the pool treatment methods are not any easier than those of a typical pool. Before your convert your system, it is important to understand how it works and why you should (and should not) consider converting.

Salt treatment begins with understanding exactly how salt water pools' chlorination systems work. The basis behind this system is that you do not have to add chlorination for this treatment. However, that does not mean that there is no chlorine. That's actually a common misconception. There are chemicals in a saltwater pool. Treatment is still necessary, and although you do not have to manually add chlorine (in most cases), there is still chlorine in the system. The chlorine, however, comes from the salt itself.

A salt system is not the same as swimming in the ocean. In fact, the water in a pool system is actually still considered fresh water because there is only a very low level of salt in it (there's more salt in your eyes). However, this amount of salt, when put through a control box, can create enough chlorination to keep your pool clean, blue and safe for swimmers.

The control box on a salt water pool treatment system is a device that actually sends electricity through the sale. The longer the electricity runs through the salt, the more chlorinated the water will be. The pool treatment system should automatically control this, but you'll still need to use test strips to test for chemicals often. You can control how chlorinated the water is using the salt control knob. In addition, with the control box, you can tell when you need to add more salt to the system.

Although you will not have to add chlorine as part of your salt water pool treatment program, you will have to continuously check for alkalinity and pH level. It is a good idea to check your water once a week if you use it moderately and even more often if you use it often or get a lot of rain, which can affect the acidity levels. As part of your pool treatment plan, you also need to check the calcium levels in your pool. With too much calcium, your pool water will be "hard" and may leave unsightly build up along the steps and tiles. In addition, excess calcium in your salt water can clog the pump and control box system.

Salt water pool treatment is, for some, a better option than a typical chlorinated pool system. Keep in mind, however, that there are other options as well, and that natural pools are also becoming more popular. Pool treatment is an issue no matter what kind of pool you have, so don't make the mistake of thinking there is no work involved with having a pool.

Please visit us to see the problems with salt water swimming pools and having a chlorine generator

Foundation Repair Choices

This day and age homeowners have many choices when faced with a structural foundation problem. The choices include helical piles, push piers, helical tie-back anchors and plate anchors. Each one of these solutions should only be implemented under the supervision of a qualified engineer and foundation repair contractor. Foundation repair is not a do-it-yourself home improvement project. Intimate knowledge of structures, soils and available products are necessary requirements before repair design can be implemented.

Homeowners must educate themselves to keep ignorant or slick talking salespeople from selling them a bill of goods. Many times the salesman does not represent all of the products that your structure may need to completely solve your foundation repair needs. If he only does waterproofing he will, at best, only slow down or prevent further problems. If he is only a pier guy, he may not have the knowledge of what caused the problem (i.e. water). This is why contacting a qualified foundation engineer is a form of checks and balances to allow for the best possible solution.

Foundation engineers will give you a written assessment of your structure including a recommended procedure to solve your homes issues. This evaluation is conducted on site and usually takes over an hour to complete. The written assessment involves an examination of the interior and exterior of the home, interior floor elevations, load calculations and recommendations on repair methods. The written report should include an imprint of his seal with the date and signature across the seal. Many times the engineer will recommend a foundation repair specialist, that he has worked with before, in his report.

You first must understand what different foundation repair methods can and cannot do to determine if they are the correct method of repair for your home. There is no such thing as one size fits all in foundation repair. Each has their place and their benefits, so make sure that the tool that you pick is the correct one for your job.

Resistance piers, also known as push piers, steel piers and Micropiles. This type of pier is an end-bearing pier that does not rely upon, nor requires, skin friction to produce support. Each pier is field load tested after it is installed. The piers are able to develop a factor of safety because the piers are installed and load tested individually using the weight of the structure as the reaction force. Unlimited lifting capability is offered in continuous lift systems. These lifts should only be performed with a manifolded hydraulic system using single or double acting hydraulic cylinders.

Steel push piers are best suited to any structural problem that requires a large lift. No other system is as suited for these large lifts. Due to the fact that these resistance piers are an end bearing pier, thus developing their support from solid contact on a load bearing stratum. Continuous lift type steel piers are the best of the steel resistance piers due to the fact that they can support and lift a structure to unlimited heights.

Helical piers are an ideal choice when you are supporting or lifting a light structure. They are the ideal choice for light structures due to the fact that they do not need the structures weight to advance into the soil. Helical anchors are screwed in the soil with a hydraulic torque motor as opposed to be pressed into the soil like steel push piers. Like the resistance piers you should only lift the structure with a manifolded hydraulic system using single or double acting hydraulic cylinders.

Helical piers consist of a shaft fabricated from either solid square steel bar or tubular steel. Welded to the shaft are one or more helical plates. Typically the plate diameters increase from the bottom of the shaft upward and vary in thickness from 3/8" to ". The torque required to install the anchor correlates to their capacity. When used to support or lift light weight structures, helical piers are an excellent choice, due to their many benefits. These benefits include the ability to be quickly installed with little or no disturbance to the site and soil removal is unnecessary, they don't require a reaction force and are extremely versatile in their applications.

While steel resistance piers and helical torque anchors are excellent choices for supporting sinking foundation elements, helical tie-back anchors and plate anchors are just as able to support or straighten concrete or block walls. When a basement wall or retaining wall bows inward one must resist this inward movement to maintain the integrity of the structure. If such a system is not installed catastrophic consequences are forthcoming.

Tie-back anchors and plate anchors resist the lateral soil and water forces exerted on basement and retaining walls. While both systems have different advantages they both provide the same function. They use the surrounding stable soils to resist the pressures of unstable consolidating soils near the foundation.

While one or more of these systems my be needed to fix your foundation problem, understanding each method is the key to determining the solution that best fits your situation. The hiring of a foundation engineer is the most effective method of making this determination.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here.

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site.

The Gospel of Judas - "Jesus Was Not Crucified"

The Christian Gnostic (Knowledge) Gospel of Judas was made public this week and Judas was the hero not the betrayer. This was just the tip of the iceberg - The Christian Gnostic Gospels also tell us that Jesus was not crucified. The Christian Gnostic Gospels pre date the 4 Gospels kept in the New Testament. The Gospel of Judas was one of the Christian Gnostic (Knowledge) Gospels burned by the Church Fathers at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and discovered in Egypt in the town of Naj Hammadi by a peasant in 1945. The numerous Gnostic Knowledge Gospels of Christ were burned by the Church Fathers because they made the 4 Gospels which they put in the New Testament in 325 AD look ridiculous. In the Gospel of Judas, Judas was the hero and most trusted disciple doing the will of Christ. Pope Benedict looked like the boy putting his thumb in the hole in the levee this week when he called Judas a Double Crosser, sticking to the party line despite the new evidence to the contrary.

Well, this revelation about Judas is nothing compared to the others in the Christian Knowledge Gospels. In the Koran, (Sura Chapter 4:156) the angel Gabriel who brought Mary the good news tells the Prophet Muhammad that in fact Jesus was not even crucified, a likeness, an impostor was, because this was the story in the Christian Knowledge Gospels which were burned by the Church Fathers forever (they hoped) 1,700 years ago.

The Gnostic Gospel of Judas never mentions the crucifixion or the resurrection. Seth was the third child of Adam and Eve. There was a group of Gnostic (Knowledge) Christians named after Seth, Sethians. In the Christian Gospel called "The Second Treatise of The Great Seth", 56.6-19 in NHL 332, Jesus Christ told Simon, "It was another...who drank the gall and the vinegar; it was not I... it was another Simon, who bore the cross on his shoulder. It was another upon whom they placed the crown of thorns. But I was rejoicing in the height (the hills) over their error. And I was laughing at their ignorance. (for thinking it was I who they were crucifying)". The Christian Gnostic Knowledge Gospels contradict the 4 Canonized Gospels in the New Testament endlessly. The 4 New Testament Gospels contradict themselves endlessly. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

One need only look right in the Holy Bible to see what is really going on. God the Father said through Prophet Isaiah that the Bible writers, the Priests and Prophets who wrote the Bibles, the scribes were creating for the people a shelter, a refuge, of lies and falsehoods, (Isaiah 28:14-15) which would cause the people to fall backward and be broken and ensnared and taken. (Isaiah 28:9-13). God the Father called the Holy Bible The Word of Satan! God said to the scribes, "You prophesy by Baal, Beelzebub, Satan!" (Jeremiah 2:8). God the Father said, "They (the scribes) say, 'Says the Lord', when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word!" (Ezekiel 13:6). Jesus launched into an absolute diatribe in Matthew 23 calling the Bible writers, the scribes, lying venomous snakes who spewed their own divisive racist deadly hateful lies right into your Holy Bible and signed them, said God, and said Jesus. Jesus lambasted the scribes and those who followed the same Old Testament followed by Judaism, Christianity and Islam today.

In fact, Hell itself is an invention of the modern Bible Writers. In the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible every time Hell is mentioned there is an asterisk beside it. The Bible was written in Greek, and every time that Jesus says Gehenna or Sheol your modern Bible Writers substitute their own word, Hell. Gehenna was a place outside of Jerusalem where the Jewish and non Jewish people sacrificed their children on fire altars to the God Baal, Satan. Sheol was a place underground where both the good and the bad spirits dwelled together after death. Jesus spoke of Sheol all the time. According to Jesus right in the Bible, everyone goes to Hell, Sheol, after death, both the good and the evil spirits. How long can Christianity survive on a foundation of what God the Father endlessly calls lies right in the Holy Bible? Hasnt it caused enough suffering, or will you all allow it to now lead you all into extinction in Nuclear World War 3?

The Temple of Love The World Peace Religion unites Christianity Islam Judaism and everyone else and the countries they all live in by tying them all together with their common threads and resolving all of their differences once and for all, including setting the record straight about the passion of the Christ. Come on in and get the whole story with Biblical citations and new evidence. Come help save the world with truth, love, God of Mount Sinai, and by following the real Word of God, 10ve, the 10 commandments, once you see what they really mean, and how powerful they truly are.

Karen Fish is a writer currently living in Los Angeles California. The Temple of Love http://www.thetempleoflove.com/ The World Peace Site

Building Codes Won't Insulate the Homeowner

Wasting the hard earned money that the average homeowner takes home is not a fact that should be taken lightly and yet the majority of homeowners are losing money every day without even realizing. Even while sleeping, money is flying out the window unless the insulation in the attic has been upgraded using a radiant barrier.

Most building codes are in place to ensure the minimum requirements. Unfortunately the "minimum" building codes are laughable and poor at best. These codes provide just enough assurance to the homeowner that the structure won't collapse and will keep the rain and wind from rushing throughout. This may sound like an over simplified extreme, but essentially it's true.

Insulation in stock houses is the minimum that most builders can get by with and in some cases, depending upon how thorough the building inspector, many roofs, attics, and ceilings may not have adequate insulation throughout the entire structure. A radiant barrier is the perfect solution to help reduce the problem of excessive heating and cooling costs. With a radiant barrier lain on top of any existing insulation in the attic, temperature fluctuations can be reduced.

Many radiant barriers available, like many products now, can have their origins traced back to space age technologies and military research. The same science that has been used by NASA for astronaut's space suits is present in these radiant barriers for home and commercial buildings. This radiant barrier insulation doesn't allow heat to penetrate and pass through into the living area like traditional spun fiberglass insulation. It actually reflects the outside temperature allowing the interior temperature to be maintained with minimal heating or cooling.

This will be of great benefit for anyone concerned with saving money and electricity or gas. By reducing the need to cycle your heating and cooling system on and off as often, the homeowner will save wear and tear on the equipment as well as their hard earned income. Over a year's time and with energy costs consistently on the rise, the savings will add up. This will be an investment that will truly pay for itself with savings.

For more information and guidance about energy efficiency and radiant barriers such as Temper Shield, visit http://www.utilityimprovements.com. Utility Improvements specializes in exceptionally effective thermal radiant barriers and demonstrates how they work via videos on their Website.

Daniel Elliott is an independent contractor who authors articles and media on a variety of topics for diverse audiences. WebDrafter.com, Inc. (http://www.webdrafter.com) produces Website design, hosting, and search engine marketing services for many of the clients, industries and markets related to the articles and media authored by Dan Elliott. If you would like Dan Elliott to ghost write or pen an article for you or your company, please contact him with your specifications.

Give Your Bathroom a Facelift Instead of Moving

Are you looking for a way to make your bathroom better? With the economy being slow, many homeowners are opting to stay in their older homes and improve them rather than buy a new house. The bathroom is the second most popular room to remodel, because we all spend so much time in there every day. Since we spend a lot of time in this little room, it's quite nice to bring some creature comforts or a touch of luxury to it, because we know we'll enjoy it everyday. Here are a couple ideas for beautifying your bathroom.

1. Invest in a great bath tub. Although this may sound a little trite at first, you'd be amazed at how soothing whirlpool tubs or clawfoot bathtubs improve your bathroom. They not only upgrade the look of your bathroom immensely, they are wonderfully soothing and relaxing space for you to take that bubble bath. Whether you choose a built in model or a free standing type of tub, an antique style or modern design, whirlpool bathtubs are a sure way to upgrade the luxury of your bathroom, and increase your enjoyment of your time there.

2. Get a bathroom vanity to match that new bathtub. You use your bathroom vanity everyday to brush your teeth, fix your hair, and put your makeup on. This is the space we make ourselves look presentable, but if we have an old vanity without enough cabinet space, cracked counters, or a peeling finish, it's time to upgrade! Go ahead and get a nice new bathroom vanity to match your snazzy new bathtub, and your bathroom will be like an entirely new space.

3. Replace the linens and towels. This may seem like a small thing, but it will make you feel like you're staying in a luxury hotel. There is nothing better than a brand new big fluffy towel to wrap up in after your whirlpool bathtub session, and it will upgrade the way your bathroom looks as well. You don't want to have a new tub and vanity installed and then keep using old ratty towels that work, but don't really look nice. Remember, you are taking on this home improvement project to make your bathroom feel like new, so go the whole nine yards and complete the makeover!

If you would like more information on whirlpool tubs or where to find clawfoot bathtubs, please visit the Simply Bathtubs website.

How Essential is Fire Safety Awareness

Thousands of fire incidents happen every year, especially in the workplace. Lives, money and businesses are lost; with lack of knowledge about preventive measures, it's the same thing as letting a thief inside. People always assume it can't happen to them, but there's a saying that it's better to be safe than sorry right? Why risk everything when you can prevent it to happen.

Here are few important safety and prevention tips everyone needs to know:

1. Proper training- Before we can use an extinguisher, we must have a proper training on how to distinguish and operate a fire extinguisher. First aid training is also a must.

2. Proper storage- Some chemicals are flammable, we must place it in a proper storage away from areas vulnerable to fire.

3. Proper garbage disposal- We never thought garbage can start a fire, but yes it can. We should be very cautious in throwing anything in our garbage can, such as used batteries or cigarettes, because it can start a fire. Garbage must be cleaned and disposed regularly and properly.

4. Malfunctioned electrical wiring- Instead of buying a substandard wiring, we must buy those that are highly recommended. We always think of buying the things where we can save money. This is very understandable. However, we shouldn't take the risk when it comes to things like this because if fire occurs due to faulty wirings then you will lose everything and all you could do is regret.

5. Fire exit- Every workplace must have a fire exit that every employee should know.

6. Fire alarm and fire hose must be properly installed.

7. Fire department's telephone numbers must always be posted near the telephone to easily contact them while the fire is just starting. This will help them respond on time before the fire gets bigger.

8. Inspection of wirings on regular basis is also important. By doing this we would be able to identify which wirings could possibly cause fire in the future.

9. Conduct safety measures- Discuss to everyone important safety measures that should be done when a particular situation arises; this is to prevent possible injuries or death to workers. Daily safety tool box talk can be also done by the workers to discuss and share solutions to a possible problem that might happen in their workplace.

10. Putting of signboards can also be done, like the signs that indicate escape routes and exits.

11. There should be a smoke detector in every workplace. Make sure you change the battery every six months. Install one battery operated and one powered by electricity so that when battery operated fails to work properly, there wouldn't be a problem since you have installed one that is powered by electricity, and vice versa. Test each installed smoke detector every month. Remember smoke detectors have saved lives!

12. Rechargeable lights are safer to use than candles during power outages. But if you don't have one, you can use candle with precautions. Candles shouldn't be left unattended and it should be kept away from anything that can easily start a fire such as curtains, papers, gas stoves, among others.

13. Never try to repair any electrical appliances if you don't have the right training, just so to save money for the repairs. Let the service technician do the job instead.

14. Always unplug any electrical appliances that are not in use. Not only does it consume electricity, but it can also be a cause of fire. Use extensions temporarily and not permanently. Make sure it is working properly and carries its proper load.

Near-miss incidents should always be recounted to the persons involved for them to acquire fire safety awareness and also to prevent those incidents from happening again.

Jo is a writer for 'Phoenix Safety Services Ltd' (http://www.phoenixsafety.co.uk), a well-known consultant in personalized Health and Safety Training that are given to various customers throughout UK and Europe. If your company requires you to attend a Fire Safety Awareness Training or would like to train you and your co-workers with the basic useful information and skills in knowing the fundamental dangers of fire and fire deterrence measures then have a look at Phoenix Safety Services Ltd.

Option of Built in Or Stand-Free

When you have made up your mind to redecorate your bathroom the most important thing you have to consider is what kind of bathroom vanity are you going to use. After considering all the choices available decide on the one that is suited to your style of bathroom and your taste. You will find two types of bathroom vanities and they are either the fixed kind or freestanding.

The built in kind is one that stands against the wall and has a solid counter top and looks a part of the bathroom structure. If you are looking to give your bathroom a modern look then the option of free-standing vanity is ideal. There is a wide variety of contemporary designs available which are unique and suitable for people who want a more sleek look. One advantage is that you get visual space if you go for free standing ones.

The most commonly used bathroom vanity top comes in marble, ceramic, or granite. The sink and the top are combined into one unit which is the most common of all styles.You also find vanity tops that come with a cut-out so that you can fix a sink according to your choice. Some manufacturers offer custom made tops at reasonable prices This gives you the freedom to place the sink where you want besides the shape of the bowl.

If you decide that you want to do it yourself then you would have to consider the hassle of connecting the supply lines and the drain, etc. Although the modern sink and faucet are easy to install oneself but still connecting to the exact supply points could be a difficult part.. In fact you can face a problem while fixing because the base of the vanity cannot be moved in order to reach the water lines and you might find yourself not able to move so easily even for tightening a nut.

Before you go to make purchases for your bathroom vanity it is important that you take the time out to look around all the stores in your area that sell bathroom accessories to know exactly what common options are available. If you are not satisfied by what the stores have then you you can check online to look for more variety of styles. But if you have already purchased then you would be stuck unless you decide to spend some extra for something more. So it is better to be careful how and where you choose from when you want to buy bathroom vanity.

Adam Peters is a syndicated columnist on different resources like http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Read additional info on bathroom design ideas or discount bathroom vanities

Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Design

Remodeling the kitchen has become one of the most popular projects that home owners undertake to improve their home. One of the reasons is that, along with bathrooms, redoing a kitchen has the highest return on investment of any home improvement project. There are many parts of a remodeled kitchen that a home owner can manage themselves. All it takes is a little research and a little knowledge. However, although hiring an independent contractor is risky and expensive, there are some things best left to a professional.

What You Should Leave To The Pros

There are some parts of remodeling a kitchen that are NOT recommended for the DIYer. One main component is any electrical work. Not only is electrical work difficult and dangerous, improper wiring can lead to fires and can damage expensive appliances. You also risk voiding the warranty on many electrical items if they are not completed by a certified electrician. Be sure and see your warranty for details. Planning with electricity is simply not for the amateur, not even for a contractor who is not a certified, licensed electrician. This isn't to say that your general contractor or even you cannot handle the job. In many cases the work is not really that difficult. It just simply isn't worth the risk and liability involved.

While some plumbing can be easily tackled by an amateur, such as replacing an existing faucet, rough-in plumbing should also be handled by a professional. If you are relocating a sink or adding a dishwasher, soldering of the pipes may be required. This task is technically difficult and potentially dangerous. Incorrect soldering can even lead to a fire. Working with installing or replacing PVC pipe is also tricky business. If not installed correctly, you could have potential leaks that can cause significant damage as well as costly repairs.

Most other jobs that will be required in a kitchen remodel are easy enough to handle yourself. Even difficult installations such as cabinetry can be tackled by the do-it-yourselfer who is motivated and educated. Hiring a contractor is going to cost you at LEAST as much in labor as you plan to spend on materials, and quite possibly more. Do some research, take your time, and you can actually enjoy creating a new kitchen by yourself.

Simon Burke has worked in the home decorating field for many years and loves to share his interior design experiences and ideas with home owners everywhere. Another article on do-it-yourself kitchen design - click here.

Great Stair Building Books Can Make The Difference

Where do we go to buy stair building books? Do we go to the major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble? I have found over the years the information in most of these books I have purchased from these stores has a lot of fluff with very little common sense stair building application.

I bought one stair building book that had information on handrails. The front cover looked great and I thought this was going to be a great book reading the reviews from Amazon. When I finally got the book in the mail, I would say about one third of it was math tables for building elaborate wooden hand railing's. These tables were not easy to understand along with the rest of the book.

Back when I bought the book on building stair handrails it dawned on me that most of the construction workers I have met during my 30 years of working in the field were not very good outside of basic math. Now I knew a lot of carpenters that could read a measuring tape and use a framing square pretty good. But when it came to advanced geometrical construction projects like a stair hand railing system this was out of our league.

Reading this book or should I say parts of it gave me an idea to write a book of my own, starting with basic stair building I took all the fluff or the hard to understand advanced stair building applications out of my book, How to Build a Straight Set of Stairs.

I put a lot of time into creating an illustration for every possible part of building a simple set of stairs. I have probably built over 2000 sets of stairs during my lifetime and have explained and taught basic and advanced stair building to other carpenters. Understanding what parts of the stair construction process they understood, I was able to improve my skills as a stair building teacher.

Most people do not need advanced stair building skills to construct a simple straight set of stairs. If you are building a straight set of stairs and would like a stair building book with lots of easy to understand illustrations along with simplified directions you have found it.

We're building more stair building books to help contractors, carpenters, handymen and homeowners understand the stair building process.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

How Thieves Steal Identities Legally

So, there you are sitting at home, working or who knows where patting yourself on the back because you think you know everything there is to know about protecting your identity. You brag to your family and friends you know all the tricks of the trade associated with criminal identity theft. That's right, your not going to become a victim because you know all about the scams and tactics such as Dumpster Diving, Retrieving, Stealing payment or identification cards, Phishing, Changing Your Address, Pretexting, Remotely reading information, Advertising bogus job offers, Browsing social networks, Old-Fashioned Stealing, Keylogging and a 100 other things. Well, all your knowledge is great for the 20 percent of your personal information you actually have control of!

When a criminal gets your Social Security number, name, date of birth, etc. it is like handing them a bar of gold and it is all over but the shouting in there minds eye. Do you really have control of company or corporate Phone lists, Memos, Policy manuals, Calendars of events, System manuals, Print outs, Disks, Organizational changes and everything else that (despite laws to prevent improper disposal of information) - ends up in the trash and dump sites constantly. Face it you do not!

So, now you already have two strikes against you. One - you can control personal information on the home front so you think but that home front information has more leaks than you think and two - unless you liquefy everything leaving every business in the United States, you have personal data out in the public domain waiting for criminal harvest as well. This country has done and continues to display your personal information everywhere despite our knowledge that identity theft is the number one white-collar crime plaguing its citizens.

Yes, we are making progress with laws, security measures, counter-measures and consumer awareness programs but, your Social Security number is still out there and can be obtained legally by the average person and professionally by criminals, investigators, journalists and about every other source you can think of. Following are just a few examples on how your SSAN is exposed by public and private records;

Driver License abstracts - in some states the SSAN is used for the license number or is listed as well as the license number. Some states allow the use of a SSAN to be optional but despite this, only 15 percent of applicants request a non-SSAN drivers license.

Income Tax Records - Tax records are sometimes made public (commonly in divorces where there are issues of alimony, child support/custody, property division, etc. where tax returns are case filed as key evidence, disputes with the IRS eventually find their way to Washington where the IRS Form 7249-M can list detailed info about a subjects' salary, income streams, assets and other liabilities, a person involved in a civil litigation could find their personal tax records enclosed in a publicly available documents attached as pre-trial discovery or evidence at a trial.) Anyway, your tax documents contain your SSAN/TIN taxpayer identifier number.

Application for Jobs, Housing and Court Records. - Name, date of birth, SSAN is almost always required information to obtain a bank account, apartment, job, loan , mortgage or credit card. It is not at all difficult for law enforcement, lawyers, investigators, journalists (people posing as same) to get access/copies of apartment rentals or job applications. Apartment applications are common civil court records normally found attached to recorded landlord/tenant cases or personal bankruptcy files and criminal court files as an exhibit to a motion or affidavit.

Voter Registration Records - Voter registration records in some areas are maintained at the local board of elections and are almost always made public record. Many contain the SSAN to preclude voter fraud. This inclusion of the SSAN has declined over the years but was commonly listed on older records still available.

Military Records - Military members are identified by their SSAN and despite the fact that the Privacy Act of 1974 prevents the government from releasing the SSAN a request for a persons service record could find that SSAN listed on discharge papers (DD Form 214) filed at the county courthouse.

These are but a few examples of some accessible public methods to dig up pieces of persons present or past records of their SSAN, date of birth, full name and other data that is leaked to the public.

I am not trying to be a fatalist but rather; a realist. If you do not have the time or expertise to put measures in place to protect you and your family's identity consider visiting a credit protection service that can put the appropriate measures in place to preserve your good name, credit and assets readily available to criminals. Like it or not a good measure of your identity is in fact a matter of public record or a result of computer hacking, unlawful or failed disposal of employee records and company or corporate information. You can find some highly recommended criminal detection services at www.registryfixing.com under the Identity Theft, FREE People Search or Child Safe Surf Navigation Buttons.

Ronald Hudkins administers a site dedicated to software downloads that primarily focus upon PC registry repair, optimization and security. He sponsors programs, services and resources dedicated to protecting consumers from identity theft. His site gives away free Books on vital consumer awareness issues. For more information visit http://www.registryfixing.com

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The Chinese Dragon Tortoise

Dragons and tortoises are two of the most powerful symbols in Chinese mythology. The Dragon itself stands for many things. Wealth, fertility, positive energy and immortality are but a few of the symbolic meanings. The Dragon is a positive influence, most often a benevolent creature in Chinese mythology, unlike the fire-breathing evil dragons as portrayed in Western mythology.

The tortoise represents longevity, of steadfast effort, of deliberate action that inevitably leads to success. The combination of the Dragon and Tortoise combines the qualities of both animals into a potent symbol of success and longevity.

The Dragon tortoise is portrayed with the head of a dragon and the body of a tortoise. There is usually a small turtle on the back of the tortoise shell, and the dragon tortoise is standing on a pile of coins and precious metal ingots. There is very often a coin in the dragon's mouth.

This symbol is used in Feng Shui for decorating homes and offices. Because of the incredible energy this symbol represents, it is recommended that it not be placed in any room of rest, such as a bedroom. Have the painting or figurine of the dragon tortoise hanging on or near the east wall of the room it is used in. Any area that is used as an office is a good place for a dragon tortoise. Also any area that creative work or research is done is a good place for one.

Whether represented in a painting, or a figurine of wood, metal, crystal or stone, the Dragon Tortoise symbolizes good fortune and longevity.

Alan Beggerow is a free lance writer. Visit his writing services website, Ghostwriter, at http://www.ghostwriterboo.blogspot.com

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A Runnable Feast

For many people what we are may be what we eat, which is why so many phobias revolve around food. Caste taboos in India often determine what we eat and who we eat with. Now councillors in Italian cities are banning new outlets for foods considered foreign, kebab shops being a primary target of their ire. If authorities in Lucca or Milan are to be believed, a citizen biting into a succulent kebab has some part of his Italianness taken away.

It's not enlightened to look at citizenship this way. Food could be the area where parochialism is least applicable. Look at pizza and pasta, considered quintessentially Italian foods. The idea of spaghetti used in pasta came from China, while the humble tomato, a staple in the preparation of both pizza and pasta, came from Peru and Mexico. Hernando Cortez, the Spanish conquistador, brought the tomato from Mexico to Spain, from where it moved to Italy. The range of foods made available by the discovery of the New World is astonishing. It includes the tomato, the potato and the chilli. Indian food, which relies heavily on these staples, wouldn't have been what it is had the Spanish and Portuguese not journeyed to Latin America in the 15th and 16th centuries and conveyed what they found there to Europe and Asia. Or, conversely, taken Indian spices around the world.

Tea comes from China, coffee from Ethiopia. That doesn't mean one can accuse the young urban professional sipping mocha or latte at a cafe anywhere in the world of worshiping alien, Ethiopian gods. Tea and coffee are now universally consumed, as are pizza and pasta. Think how ridiculous it would be if, in reaction to Italian cities clamping down on 'ethnic' eateries, other countries were to abolish pizza and pasta from their menus because of the Italian connection these foods have.

Something equally ridiculous happens in India when politicians rise against 'pub culture' because of its supposedly foreign origins, despite a hallowed tradition of drinking places in India. Thus we have health minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who likes to appear in public wearing western-style suits, pontificating about how alien 'pub culture' is to the Indian ethos. The crudely sexist subtext of this kind of warped nationalism was exposed by the assault on women, in the name of defending Indian culture, by right-wing goons in Man galore. Globalization started several centuries ago, with the trading of spices across continents. It's too late to roll it back now.

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Grandparents and Child Custody Rights

Grandparents often feel out of touch when it comes to issues of child custody and divorce. While they undoubtedly love their grandchildren, the tension involved with a divorce can cause them to be overlooked by the natural parents. But what many grandparents don't know is that they too have a say in the custody hearings. Every state now recognizes grandparents as immediate members of the child's family. This means they can fight for things like visitation rights if they don't feel like they have been treated fairly.

In cases where both parents are dead, or for instances neither parent can provide a suitable home, grandparents can be considered for legal custody. The court always looks to place children with a blood relative whenever possible. The process gets slightly more complicated when there are multiple siblings and grandparents who qualify, and in these cases a formal custody hearing with all parties is conducted. Parents who would prefer to have their parents look after the children in the event of death should make sure they have the proper legal documentation in place to expedite the process.

Visitation for grandparents after a divorce is an issue is much more common these days. Many spouses will try to use the children as bargaining chips for their own selfish desires. There are cases where the grandparents are blocked from seeing their grandkids only to spite the other family. Not only is this tactic immoral, but it is also illegal in most circumstances. Grandparents who feel like they have been unfairly excluded should research their rights and get involved with the agency who is handling the divorce case. By making the court aware of the situation in the early stages it is possible to avoid long-term problems down the line.

Petitioning for grandparents custody or visitation rights requires that they show a history of involvement with the child as well as sufficient means to care for them. While visitation rights are rarely denied in court, they can be granted with restriction. For example, the judge may require a parent be present for all custodial sessions or they may grant partial custody, which allows for unsupervised visitation for a certain amount of time each month. If the grandparent believes there will be issues with securing visitation time then they should make it a priority to seek involvement with the custody hearing. In the event they get resistance from either parent then the next step is to hire an attorney and file their own petition for custody.

There are many different types of child custody situations, but the one that receives the least amount of discussion are those that involve grandparents. Most people would agree that the love and nurturing of a grandparent is an important part of a child's development. Having exposure to the experiences and knowledge of our elders helps us to navigate the through the peaks and valleys of life. Unfortunately there are rare scenarios when one or both parents try to prevent the grandparents from seeing their grandkids. This can be a stressful situation to deal with, but the grandparent should recognize that they do have rights, and they are entitled to use these rights to gain visitation privileges.

No one should keep you from participating in your grandchildren's life. Learn more about custody rights for grandparents by visiting ObtainCustody.com

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Investing in a Commercial Grade Ice Machine For Your Food Services Business

Buying an ice machine for your restaurant, bar or catering business is a wise investment.This investmentwill pay for itself very quickly when you no longerare purchasing premade cubes for your customers.Additionally,you now have the tremendous advantage of being able to meet yourcustomers drink needs instantly.As a business owner it is always important to look at your bottom line and when purchasing major appliances you must learn to choose wisely.

A commercial grade icemaker is an absolute must have and one of the smartest investments you will make for your business.Serving drinks is a major portion of the food service business and it is very important to your success to always have a readily available supply of fresh cubes for drink preparation.There can be no greater dilemma for a food service business than running out of cubed or crushed ice and not being able to prepare drink orders for customers.Make sure this does not happen to you by making the intelligent decision to investment in a qualitymachine.

Commercialgrade machinesare in great demand and account for approximately 20% of all commercial refrigeration purchases. A great advantage of purchasing your commercial grademachine is in knowing you can produce large quantities of clean, pure ice. To create 200 poundsyou will need about 24 gallons of water. Depending on the model, you can purchase a machine that makes up to 22 poundsper hour.

There are a variety of commercial grademachines available for you to choose from for your particular business needs. Themachines are quite easy to use.They are automated so that once the ice is pushed out of the tray the machine is automatically signaled to start theprocess again. Some of the most popular brands include: Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Follett and Kloppenberg. You should make sure to purchase a quality machine that is also energy efficient.Allmachines that have the "Energy Star" Seal are approximately 15% more energy efficient than machines that do not bear this seal.

There are two major trends that have occurred within icemachine design. The first trend is in reducing the size of the machine. Today's machines have a cost effective footprint without compromising the quantity or quality of the product produced. The second trend is to reduce the overall energy cost.Cube quality is essential for food service businesses. The highest quality cubes are "crystal" cubes. Commercial grade machines can create both crystal clear cubes as well as ultra hard cubes. Crystal clear cubes are ideal for drink preparation while the hard cubes are used for sculpting figurines as they do not melt very quickly.

Machine maintenance is another important factor for you to understand.Because themachine is running all day, a maintenance schedule is a must to ensure that it is operating at peak efficiency, producing pure ice at all times.If your food service business involves catering you may want to consider purchasing a portablemachine as well.These devices can produce on average, up to 5lbs ofcubes per hour, making it ideal for small catered events. There are many types of portable machines to choose from.

Owning your own commercial grademachine is truly a smart investment that will greatly enhance any food service business.With a large variety of models to choose from you will certainly find one that best fits your needs.Some of the most popular brands include: Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Follett and Kloppenberg.

For the most extensive list of the highest quality ice machines available, please visit: http://www.icemachinesplus.com

To learn more about ice machines visit: http://www.IceMachinesPlus.com IceMachinesPlus carries all the top brand name ice machines and is your premier source for all of your ice machine needs. The most popular brands IceMachinesPlus carries include: Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Follett and Kloppenberg.

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The Pure Water Benefits Of A Water Filter

Water is the main element in our body which we need to survive. Doctors recommend eight glasses of water a day, at least sixty-four fluid ounces. Our blood contains 83% water, the brain 74%, the liver 90% and our muscles around 75%, which makes water a must in our routine diet. The tough part is that the water we get at our taps is not as clear as we think it is and often carries bacterium along with diseases that can cause severe illnesses therefore installation of water filters is a necessity.

Clean Water Available Every Day All The Time

One of the biggest benefis of water filters would be the ability to drink uncontaminated water any time of the day or night without having to prepare or acquire long procedures to get it such as, boiling or buying it in a multitude of bottle sizes. There are water filter types for just about any use in your home from tap substitution water filters, to the shower heads and refrigerators; they all are extremely beneficial and provide a cleaner, fitter way of life for you and your family.

Inexpensive And Extremely Effective

If you dont want to make the investment by installing water filters for your whole house, you can get the substitute water filters that can be situated on any tap you want when you need it; in fact they are best left on kitchen taps where you need drinking and preparation water all the time but remember to turn it off when washing dishes or when in use for other purposes other then drinking.

Water Filters For A Better Skin

While the first thing that comes to mind when we think about water is using it for drinking purposes, water is ill-used for cleansing ourselves as well and it can be very damaging to the skin when contaminated by causing dry, cracked and an itching sensation to the skin. You can find water filters for your shower as well and assure that your skin receives uncontaminated water from the outside as well as from the inside; you will also sustain a great change in your hair as you do away with the severity of the water and the bacterium found in it.

Helpful Water Filter Tips

Help yourself, your family and the environment by filtering the water you use from drinking and cleaning; even your appliances will last longer especially the washing machine, dish washer and coffee maker when you use water that is free of bacterium and other grating substances.

You can find more information by browsing through our other articles about water filters.

Water filtration is so important for everyones health. Show your family that you care by visiting Water Filter Types.com

Learn more and see what is available when it comes to choosing a new water filter system. Water Filter Types.com will help you along the way.

Motivation and Running a Home Business

It is often difficult to keep motivation while working from home. Do you find yourself getting up in the morning with the best intentions but then get side tracked on "home" duties and not invest your time into effective business building?

This is costing your business and is detrimental to its development. In order to grow your business and ensure its success you need to be certain you have sufficient time allocated to complete development tasks as planned.

Sometimes the best place to work from "home" is actually not in your own "home" that is full of distractions but you may need to find yourself an office away from your own home. Now I am not saying that you need to run out and hire an official office somewhere or rent some floor space to achieve this. I know many people who work out of coffee shops and cafes regularly. I personally allocate 2 days out of every week to sit at my favorite cafe for a few hours to complete a number of activities that I find usually get interrupted at home. I find on the days that I work from here that I have a stress free day, but most importantly I achieve all of what I plan plus more!

One of my best Friends manages a multi-million dollar sales company out of his favorite local coffee shop. He tips all of the waitresses and keeps to himself and has become like part of the furniture. He started using the coffee shop when his office was renovated and decided to never go back! To be honest I borrowed his idea for my own and now I am sharing this with you... Working out of these locations is not without cost or inconvenience. To be efficient you will need to ensure you have to following:-

• Mobile Phone with Adequate Service
• Laptop Computer
• Mobile Internet Connection (We do live in the 21st century!)
• Notepad and Pen
• Business Cards (To make opportunity of interested patrons/staff)

One last thing, Make sure when you work from these places you purchase something worthwhile. It would consider it rude if you entered a cafe brought a bottle of coke and proceeded to work out of their premises for 8hrs. Common courtesy goes a long way to ensure your business success!

You can view an example of the above home office away from the home by visiting MyWorth.Biz.

Make Today Count!

Simon Maselli
Personal Development Associate
MyWorth.Biz

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Achieving Exterior Home Renovations Yourself

If you are focusing upon DIY renovations around the home then one place which you might be reluctant to touch is your home's exterior. However, when it comes to DIY exterior projects, they really don't have to be as challenging as you would first imagine. As long as you have the right tools and a good level of knowledge on the job in hand then that is all that matters.

It all really depends upon how much you know about exterior home improvements as to what you can actually do yourself. So it could be that you can install new guttering, do a window trim or add new sliding to the home. Or perhaps you would love to add a patio or a pool to the garden? Whatever you want to achieve you can do it yourself just as long as you take the time to learn how.

How to Remodel the Exterior of Your Home

The first step to getting any DIY project right is planning. You need to understand the task in hand and you also need to look at every angle of the project. Break it down into steps and ensure that you understand exactly what it is that you will be doing. Remember to get all of the tools that you will need. If you are not sure what tools to purchase then it would be a good idea to pop into your local DIY store and ask a member of staff. They will be able to give you advice on the job you are planning to complete and point you in the right direction with what you need. If you find that the equipment needed is a little on the expensive side then you could always rent the equipment instead of purchasing it.

Generally painting the outside of your home is one of the easiest jobs you can do. However before you can paint it you will first need to prepare by cleaning it. As long as you take the time to prepare the wall before you apply any paint, you will end up with a nice, smooth, even finish.

One of the biggest mistakes which people tend to make with exterior home improvement projects is that they try and do far too much too soon. Ideally you will need to break everything down into small steps. That way the task will not seem impossible to finish and it will be a lot more enjoyable to complete. So set up everything well before you start and try and complete everything in baby steps. This will save you time in the long run and it will also be a lot less hassle.

Overall exterior home renovations really don't have to be overly difficult. Just as long as you do not try to attempt to do more than you can handle, you should easily be able to complete basic remodeling jobs by yourself.

Vince Paxton's long articles can be found on many online sites tied to information on vinyl garden windows. His comments on garden replacement windows can be encountered on his webpage and also different websites.

Tub and Tile Reglazing Advice

With the current strain on the economy and the housing market , it is becoming more and more common to "make do with what we have" which means instead of remodeling we are restoring.

The question lies here, is it cost effective? Is it going to last? What is the maintenance involved? Why are you going to charge me $450 to re-glaze my tub when I can buy a new one for $200? These are all quality questions which deserve quality answers.

Let's start with cost. First of all, the average cost of a tub install is anywhere between $1,400 and $2,500 and that does not factor in the tub surround. When your old tub is removed the tile at the base of the tub must be demolished. It is possible that a "good" installer can demo in such a way that you only have to repair the first row or two of tile. The reality is if it is older than 10 years finding a match for the tile will probably be impossible and will lead to a complete re-tile. Now, you are looking at about $4,000 to $8,000 just to replace the tub and is this cost effective for you? Be prepared from the moment you decide to dress up that tub to make this decision.

Now, a good re-glaze can last better than 10 years if done properly and there is a process which will ensure this. Preparation, product and technique are the key to a long lasting finish. If this technique is not followed your re-glaze will last anywhere from 1 day to 2 years. Two years may sound like a lot but when another company has to go in and strip the old finish off add another $500 to the re-glaze for a total of $950 to have it re-glazed again. This is not cost effective. If you're going to do it, do it right the first time and you will pat yourself on the back 5 years later when your tub still has a shine and is not peeling. Now let's get down to process.

The re-glazing process can be six to seven steps.

1. Removal of any caulking materials. Silicone is a contaminant and will cause the finish to fish eye. It is important to remove all traces of this by means of a silicone digester
2. Next, the old porcelain needs to be etched by means of an acid paste. This process will prepare the surface for the primer
3. When the acid etch is complete the surface must be wiped down with a solvent de-greaser to ensure that there are no more contaminants left behind
4. Primer - The surface must be primed with an epoxy primer to ensure proper cross hatching of compounds (i.e.-porcelain to primer, primer to finish, finish to clear coat)
5. Finish - The surface is then sprayed with an acrylic-urethane resin which can be tinted to any color you desire. It comes in two types, 24hr cure and 72hr cure. The 72hr cure is best if you don't mind waiting the extra time but the 24hr cure is good too.
6. Clear coat - The surface is then sprayed with an acrylic urethane clear coat which will kick up the gloss a bit and provide protection from common household chemicals
7. If you are refinishing from a previous re-glaze, the finish must be stripped. If this is the case, add this step before the first.

When these steps are followed, you can be sure your re-glaze is going to last for years. A good refinisher will give you at least a 10 year warranty "in writing", now that is cost effective! You will be happy and have just saved at least 70% of the cost of replacement.

MAINTENANCE

With the process you have just done, maintenance will be a breeze. You may also use rubber mats which many re-glazers will not recommend simply because they know it will peel. You will be able to use soft scrub and a white 3M cleaning pad without harming the surface. You will also be able to safely dye your hair without the fear of staining your finish providing the clear coat was used. With this in mind, re-glazing is not only practical but a very cost effective solution to replacement.

Your project when complete will look as though it was installed yesterday saving you $1000s on an install.

My name is George Piccot and I am the owner of Southern California based AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems (http://www.regroutpros.com). I have been in the restoration industry since 1989 and have seen every possible scenario and I hope this article serves you well in your endeavor.

AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems

Log Home Preservation Methods - Borate Wood Preservatives

Log Home BorateTreatments - the options and how and when to use!

One of the most important ways to protect your investment, your home, is to use a wood preservative on your logs. There are only two times that you can effectively use these products on your logs. When the home is built, before it is stained, or after cob blasting a finish off of your logs, before you re-stain. The wood preservative must be applied to raw wood, so it can soak in and dry underneath the stain.

All wood faces the possibility of rot and insect infestation, even in dry climates. Fungi and insects actually consume the cells of dead wood, often causing severe structural damage that often requires log replacement-a costly repair. We use Penetreat to help protect your home from costly damage of rot and insect infestation. Penetreat is a borate based wood preservative. Borates are well known across the world for their protective qualities. Penetreat provides a protective "shell" coating which helps defend your home against dry, wet, and brown rot, as well as termites, house borers, powder post beetles, and carpenter ants, (to name a few).

Borate is not toxic to people and animals. It will not harm you or your pets. Borates do not affect the natural color or strength of wood. They are completely odorless, and are not corrosive to metal fasteners, nails or screws. When a "Penetreat" home is properly sealed against moisture, the borates can provide many years of effective protective.

Impel Rods are a highly concentrated solid form, water diffusible borate rod. They are ideal for both preventative treatments of high risk areas and remedial treatments in areas with existing decay. Because Impel Rods stop decay when properly used, there is no need to replace decay damaged, yet structurally sound logs! Decay prone and rot hot spot areas at greatest risk include: base logs, corner construction, exposed rafters or overhangs, and below windows, doors, and dormers.

Impel Rods depend on moisture to work. When moisture contents of wood reach levels suitable for decay attack, i.e. (around 25 percent) Impel Rods slowly dissolve and begin to diffuse throughout the moisture saturated wood. The preservative will migrate into the areas of highest moisture, which are at the highest risk from fungal decay. The diffused Impel Rod will adequately and effectively prevent the wood from rotting and decaying because it will not allow the fungus that causes rot to grow. When moisture levels drop below 25 percent, the preservative becomes dormant and provides a reserve, ready to reactivate should decay conducive conditions reoccur. We feel that Impel Rods are an essential part of the protection of your log home, and include them as part of our prevention and restoration system.

We hope this article has been helpful and look forward to giving you much more information in future articles to help you preserve your log home dream!

Jamie Fonder

Top-Coat Log Home Restoration LLC

http://topcoatloghomerestoration.com/

Foundation Maintenance Repair

The most important and most commonly ignored type of maintenance repair in the home deals with the foundation. Ignoring this part of your house can be a very dangerous, as well as costly mistake. Proper maintenance will prevent costly repair work in the future.

Steps You Need to Take:

This type of work needs to be done with a trained professional contractor. You will need to call a few different contractors and have them first inspect the area and prepare am estimate on how much it will cost. Most contractors generally give free inspections to potential customers. Getting estimates from at least three different contractors, as well as have your home inspected by a professional engineer is the best way to accurately know what is exactly wrong with your foundations, in any at all.

An important thing you will need to know when dealing with these contractors is to never sign any contract without reading it first. Before you sign a contract you need to know exactly what is in it. If there are parts you do not understand you need to ask them what it means. Do not let anyone pressure you into signing without knowing all of the facts. They may add into the contract other expenses that you are not told about. You will also need to let the contractor know what exactly you want them to do.

This type of repairs can be a major inconvenience, as well as expensive expense for homeowners. However, this is necessary for the prevention of potential major problems with your home. Ignoring this type of maintenance will cause your home to be susceptible to major foundation damage. These types of damages will cost you more time and money to repair than the preventative maintenance, especially in older homes.

Foundation Repair provides detailed information on Foundation Repair, Concrete Foundation Repair, Foundation Repair Costs, Foundation Leak Repair and more. Foundation Repair is affiliated with Fine Home Buildings.

Acoustic Ceiling Removal - Popcorn or Texture?

The decision to attempt acoustic ceiling removal is not something most people jump into without a bit of forethought. There are both pros and cons to consider before making a choice to either keep that popcorn ceiling or scrape it off and replace it with some type of wall texture. I have tried to cover the most important issues in this article to help you make the choice best for your situation.

The Pros of Acoustic Ceiling Removal

• The money: Acoustic removal usually increases the value and marketability of your home, sometimes dramatically. A textured ceiling is by most opinions far more appealing and buyers will pay for what they like.
• Removal reduces the nesting places for bugs such as dust mites and spiders. In my experience, it is more likely than not to see spider webs on close examination of an older acoustic ceiling.
• Because the rough acoustic ceiling texture tends to trap light and create a shadowing effect replacing with modern knockdown or similar texture can make the room appear much brighter and more open.
• The new ceiling can be painted the same color as the walls or a different color if you desire. You are not stuck with an "acoustic white" or one of the shades of yellow acoustic tends to turn over the years.
• Cleaning the dust and dirt that accumulates around ceiling vents and ceiling fans is next to impossible with out damaging and/or creating a mess of acoustic kernels on an acoustic ceiling.

The Cons of Acoustic Ceiling Removal

• The money: Removing a popcorn ceiling, repairing the drywall, applying texture, priming and finally painting can be very expensive if done by a contractor.

• Sometimes acoustic is applied because that gnarly texture hides damage. Hidden drywall damage usually means more time needed from the crew's drywall patch masters, along with additional material which of course equals more money out of your pocket.

• The removal process can be a lot of work if done yourself. There is a lot of information out there on the web to help guide you through the process. In fact, our site, BigRehab.com, has a systematic manual on the process. Removal is hard work that requires a certain level of skill, skill that only comes with experience. Before taking on the removal of an entire home, I highly suggest you get started by doing a small bedroom or office to size up what you are getting into. Many errors in coating the drywall or applying the texture will not be seen until the paint is applied and has dried.

• Some popcorn/acoustic ceilings contain asbestos. If your ceiling contains asbestos above the threshold level you must follow your state and local laws regarding removal and disposal of this hazardous waste product. This will include multiple air samples, protective clothing and respiration gear, specialized sealers, portable showers, heppa air filtration, etc. Can you see the dollars piling up yet? Asbestos removal is very expensive.

Popcorn or Texture

As you consider these issues and come to a decision do not overlook one of the most important factors: You. Is looking at those ugly ceilings something you want to do for the rest of the time you own your home? Ultimately optional home improvement projects such as removing your popcorn ceiling come down to what your desire is for the home you live in.

For further information on acoustic ceiling or popcorn ceiling removal, visit the author's website. It is a wealth of information and includes free do it yourself manual that outlines the acoustic removal process in easy to follow steps.

Creating the Perfect Home Remodeling Priority List

Home remodeling is one of those projects that can be fun or a pain in the -- you know what. It is best to start your home remodeling plan with one room at a time and decide on the value of each room to prioritize where to save and where to spend. This article will look at the value of each room to help you deiced the type of home remodeling project you may consider.

The big debate on what room is the most used room in the house could go on forever. Some say it is the kitchen others say it is the living room while others say the master bedroom. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you can use some basic rules to see what the highest priority is for you.

If you have kids then you probably spend more time than you like in the kitchen cooking. If you have a smaller family maybe the kitchen is just a place where you are in and out. If you cook allot then the kitchen should get some very high consideration for your home remodeling project.

Do you like to play games and watch TV? If you find yourself or your family watching television often and you perhaps enjoy family night games then you should place the family room at the top of your list. Maybe it is time to add family room to your home remodeling ideas. Perhaps you could remodel a spare bedroom or add a new room to the house.

Do you have guest spend the night often? You may want to think about making a nice guest bathroom with all the luxuries of a five star hotel for your guest. Do not do this unless you love to have people stay awhile and come often. They are likely to really enjoy visiting you.

When planning your home remodeling ideas you will find that they become much easier with a good priority system. Once you know which rooms are the most important to you and your lifestyle then that is where the money should be spent on nicer upgrades. On rooms that are not high on the list, but still need some fixing you could use less expensive things to fix them up.

Find more helpful remodeling tips by visiting http://best-home-improvement-projects.com where you will find helpful remodeling tips, advice and resources to include Home Remodeling.

The Man Who Had Everything

In this text Mark does an excellent job of acquainting us with the dangers of wealth concerning Gods Kingdom even though there are several instances concerning wealth throughout the bible (e.g. Deuteronomy 8:18, Psalm 49:6, Proverbs 13:11, 1 Corinthians 10:24). However, if you explore deeper youll discover that wealth is representative of any vice that prevents us from a closer walk with God. Carpenter & McCown (1992) asserted To enter the kingdom one must die to self-autonomy and self-security (p. 865). Wealth in and of itself is not inherently dangerous but rather the strain that it put on our relationship with God. Leaders must constantly remind followers that there is something greater than ourselves.

The Quest for life

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

-Mark 10:17

This mans enthusiasm was readily apparent by his running. He had everything but eternal life but did not know how to obtain it. And his desire to enter into the kingdom of God was manifested in his inquiry for eternal life. What shall I do He asked as if it was something that is earned through a deed that must be accomplished. As if to say tell me what you did to obtain eternal life so that I can do it to. Eternal life equates to entering the kingdom of God. how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:23).

Its also clear that the man respected Jesus which is evident by his kneeling. But his use of the adjective Good when addressing Jesus as Good Master also sheds light on this mans understanding of Gods kingdom. In other cases in the bible only God is referred to as being good (i. e. Psalm 38:8, Psalm 73:1). Master was a term applied to men of high standing such as a priest, scholar, or teacher. Master alone would have been sufficient enough for this man to demonstrate the his surrender to the wisdom of Jesus. This man viewed Jesus as legendary and someone who achieved this status on his own. But this descriptive word Good implied that it was possible for the man, who considered himself a good man, to be like Jesus or in essence like God.

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.

-Mark 10:18

In this verse, Jesus corrects the man without rebuking him and reminds him that only God is good. Jesus was not denying his own divinity but rather reminding the man that he must not appeal to the humaness in Him but rather to God. Funk & Hoover (1993) suggested that this was Jesuss attempt to refocus attention on God, rather than on himself, as generally in line with Jesus disposition. (p. 91). Jesus may have been merely rejecting a compliment to prevent envy or maybe he wanted the man to understand that only God is good and this is not something that he could achieve. He was forcing the man to recognize that his only hope was in reliance on God alone and that eternal life was a gift from God.

Every manager has had a new protg that was eager and motivated to learn all that she could so that she could in turn contribute to the organization. Her motivation may be to win a promotion or the opportunity to breathe life into an organization. As a mentor, if you help mentees create a satisfying new vision for their life or work, mentees will do most of what is necessary to bring the vision to reality. (Shea, 2002, p. 44). Many people can visualize the goal to be obtained which in turn becomes their driving factor. However, many people get stuck in a rut or are unable to visualize the goal.

These emotions are often combined with thoughts or feelings such as disappointment, embarrassment, or dissatisfaction. Shea (2002) argued The capacity to detect the emotions and feelings of others and to respond appropriately is a critical art of mentoring. Overlooking the feelings that motivate people can limit a mentors effectiveness because feelings inspire people to get things done. Jesus recognized the mans passion for eternal life and therefore chose to handle the situation with caring.

Not Just Hearers of the Law

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultry, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I obsewrved from my youth.
-Mark 10:19-20

Here, Jesus mentions all six commandments that prohibit wrong doing against another person (i.e. Exodus 20:12-16). The prohibition of fraud is representative of the tenth commandment against covetousness. To covet is to desire something with evil motivation. To defraud is to cheat, deceive, or beguile someone which is ignited by evil motivation. To break Gods commandments inwardly is equivalent to breaking them outwardly. Jesus was merely testing the man with the recital of the commandments. Funk and Hoover (1993) indicated that every Judean or Christian should know these commandments and that Jesus rehearsal of them was scarcely a distinctive statement. (p. 91). Being wealthy, one would expect that it would be easy for this man to follow the commandments known to everyone. The difficulty for this man was understanding that the kingdom of God is a gift that must be received after all obstacles have been removed.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

-Mark 10:21

In recognizing the mans enthusiasm, as any good mentor would do, Jesus did not shame the man by exposing is failure to grasp the spirtual depth of the kingdom of God. The mans problem was his wealth which prevented him from his spiritual walk with God. There is no indication that the command to sell all of his possesions was meant for all Christians but rahter it was the obstacle that prevented this particular man from trusting Jesus. This man needed to remove this vice from his life but the treasure of salvation is not something that can be earned by simply giving up your material goods but is also received by following Jesus; take up the cross, and follow me. Carpenter and McCown (1993) maintained that the mans great wealth is developed as a symbol of the problem of faith. (p. 865). The mans riches was his vice and he needed to remove it before he could enter the kingdom of God.

Leaders guide protgs in shifting their context to envision worthy goals and move toward their fulfillment. When a leader sees a circumstance in a larger, more meaningful context and is willing to explain it, that leader is in fact creating the context, calling everyones attention to the idea that the context is greater than what first appears. (Pearce, 2003, p. 94). When followers have an understanding of what the organizational context is and are able to put it into perspective, change is inevitable. When others havent considered the context that the leadership has considered; they must be properly informed so that they can make sense of it.
Vices & Wealth: Accumulation of Non-necessities

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possesions.

-Mark 10:22

The tragic decision to turn away reflected this mans greater love for his wealth than his desire for eternal life. Wealth refers whatever spiritual problem or vice Christians happen to be facing. Vice is the opposite of virtue. In this sense, the word vice comes from the Latin word vitium, meaning failing or defect. One way of organising the vices is as the corruption of the virtues. A virtue can be corrupted by nonuse, misuse, or overuse. Thus the cardinal vices would be lust (nonuse of temperance), cowardice (nonuse of courage), folly (misuse of a virtue, opposite of wisdom), and venality (nonuse of justice).

For people to listen to others without filters of fear or suspicion, trust is the fundamental requisite. If leaders want followers to take up the organizational banner and follow them, then they must build trust and commitment. Followers will give their hearts and souls to authority figures who say, You really matter, no matter how small the followers contributions may be. (Goffee and Jones, 2001, p. 171). The man had excellent credentials and moral character and he was expecting Jesus to compliment him for his diligence and hard work. The key for todays leaders is to offer constructive criticism in the form of positive feedback as evident in Jesus comment in Mark 10:21, One thing thou lackest, or in other words the only thing you lack. followership implies commitment, but never without conditions. The follower wants the leader to create feelings of significance, community, and excitement. When leaders herald the significance of an individuals work, they are rewarded with loyalty, even obedience. And after all that Jesus had said to encourage and engage this enthusiastic man, he still refused to let go of that which constrained him.

A Kingdom At Hand

Marks Gospel describe Jesus as proclaiming the Kingdom as something that was at hand, and about to break out at present, and not merely a future reality (see Mark 1:15). This might provide another reason why the man was running in Mark 10:17. He knew that the kingdom was at hand and wanted to reserve his seat. Mark clearly illustrates the care Jesus takes in addressing this man. Its obvious that the man is sincere in his quest for eternal life.

Finally, all that we do as leaders must be done out of love for the whole person. It is who we are and our interactions with others that will resonate throughout the organization. Jesus response to this man was prompted by Love Then Jesus beholding him [the rich young man] loved him (Mark 10:21). Mark is the only one who tells us this, as though to show that without love service is barren. (Pink, 1921, p. 34).

References

Carpenter, Eugene and McCown, Wayne (1992). Asbury Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michgan. The Zondervan Corporation.

Funk, Robert W. and Hoover, Roy W. (1993). The Five Gospels. The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus. New York, NY. Polebridge Press.

Holy Bible (1985). King James Version Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Michgan. The Zondervan Corporation.

Pearce, Terry. (2003). Leading Out Loud : Inspiring Change Through Authentic Communication. San Francisco John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Pink, Arthur W. (1921). Why Four Gospels. Grand Rapids, Mich. Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Shea, Gordon F. (2002). Mentoring: How to Develop Successful Mentor Behaviors. Menlo Park, California. Course PTR.

Goffee, Robert and Jones, Gareth. (2001) Followership: Its Personal, Too. Boston, Mass. Harvard Business Review On Breakthrough Leadership: Harvard Business School Press.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lieutenant Kenneth Rice is an Active Duty Naval Officer stationed in Norfolk VA. Lieutenant Rice is a graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia where he received a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership and an Education & Training Management Subspecialty. He is currently enrolled in the Naval War College completing the Joint Professional Military Education Phase I and at Regent University working towards a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership.

Stair Treads - Stair Building

If you've built as many stairways as I have, this is a very simple question to answer. Should I use 2 x 12 or 3 x 12 for my stair treads? Without a doubt I would use the 3 x 12 for a couple of reasons.

The thickness of the three by material gives it some additional strength and that strength could prevent someone from falling through the stairway and getting injured. Visually looking at the 3 x 12 it gives you the illusion that the stairway is safe. Once you start walking up the stairway and the stairs seem solid and well constructed, it takes the illusion and makes it a reality.

If you're walking up a poorly constructed stairway every day, not only is it a safety problem but it takes a little bit of effort as you walk up the stairway, holding on to the hand rail with a death grip, this can easily wear someone out physically and mentally, over time. Stairways should be constructed and maintained with safety as the main priority.

If you've ever walked up and older stairway that was built using 2 x 12 for the stair treads, you probably know what I'm talking about. Walking up and down the stairway, while the stair treads are moving, does not give you a strong sense that the stairway is safe. And of course sometimes the stairway isn't.

For example if you have a 3 inch knot in a 2 x 12 stair tread, over time as the wood expands and contracts, the knot can loosen up and fall out of the stair tread, often creating a weak spot in the step. With a thicker stair tread, it will take a little more expanding and contracting to create a weak spot in the stair step.

If you're building a stairway wider than 36 inches, with no center stair stringers to support the stairway, I would suggest using a 3 x 12 or 4 x 12 for your stair treads. 2 x 12 should not be used for stair treads on any staircase wider than 36 inches.

If you choose to use 2 x 12 for your stair treads, select premium grade lumber for safety. Try to avoid using center cut building materials and 2 x 12 with knots larger than an inch and a half. Large knots are one of the biggest problems in construction safety.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Learn more about the parts of the stairway, whether you're a experienced carpenter or homeowner. Stair building does not necessarily have to be as complicated as most people make it out to be. There's also a book on how to build straight stairs that can save you a lot of frustration, if you've never built a stairway before. Visit the website.

Feng Shui - Using Mirrors

According to Feng Shui principles, mirrors are often referred to as the Feng Shui aspirin. Here are 6 mirror tips for you.

1. Make sure that what your mirror reflects is positive. Pay close attention to what it's reflecting. Since mirrors expand and double whatever they reflect, you don't want to enlarge a big pile of clutter! If your mirror is reflecting a photo of you and your family having a great time on vacation, it's doubling the joy in that area of your home.

2. Hang a mirror large enough and high enough to reflect your entire head. You don't want to distort the image of your face. Make sure the mirror is hung high enough for the tallest person in your house.

3. Mirrors should be kept sparking clean, untarnished, and unbroken. Even though antique mirrors can be pretty make sure you're not staring into a tarnished reflection day in and day out.

4. Tiled mirrors present problems because they're literally slicing up your face and/or body. Subconsciously, they can have a disturbing effect on you. I know they're popular, but think twice before purchasing one for your home.

5. Mirrors expand and bring light into a room. They create a window effect and are great to use in a room with little light, small spaces, and few windows.

6. If you're having trouble sleeping at night and you have a mirror across from your bed, cover it up or remove it from the wall for a few weeks. See if your sleeping improves. Mirrors expand and activate energy and this is the opposite of what you want to happen while you're sleeping.

2008 Energy In Motion LLC. All Rights Reserved

If you enjoyed this article, you'll love "Feng Shui Made Simple: Room By Room" ebook. Since your home mirrors your life it's important to create an environment that supports your goals and dreams. You have the power to create your best life yet and this book will give you the tools. Click this link to read more about this book: http://tinyurl.com/98rtkb

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