Posts Tagged ‘how to’
Feng Shui for Beginners
Feng shui can change your entire life but a lot of people stay away from it until they have the time, money and knowledge to have it done in its most complete form. That is not necessary. You can benefit from feng shui immediately if you take some basic steps. For beginners, take it slow. Understand that it is all about balance and harmony in your surroundings. You are looking for the chi of the place, or its flow of energy.
Since clutter blocks the flow of energy, the first step is to get rid of clutter. There is no point rearranging furniture and buying crystals or candles until the clutter is gone. Dirt also causes energy to stick so the second step is to clean the area. Whether you are beginning with a house, an apartment or just one room, these two steps set you on your way.
Either open your windows to let fresh air in or install an air purifier. Provide light in your place. Your bedroom and bathroom are the first two rooms to feng shui. In your bedroom, do not have your bed pushed against a wall or in direct line with the door. Remove plants from your bedroom and remove windows that reflect your bed. In the bathroom, fix any dripping taps because the dripping water will sap your chi. Place a bowl of pebbles or fresh flowers above the toilet to safeguard chi.
You can find most items that you need to get started with at a good Asian decor store.
When to Ash a Cigar
Smoking a cigar is very unlike smoking a cigarette. The right time to ash a cigarette is when the ash becomes inconveniently long. The tobacco in cigarettes is cheap and hot-burning. Conversely, the tobacco in a cigar is expensive and burns best when it’s kept at a lower temperature. This ensures the very best flavor.
The ash is far more than a nuisance. It affects the burn rate of the cigar, the ease of draw and much more. Over time, a cigar smoker will develop the ability to determine exactly how much ash is the best on the foot of their cigar.
While a cigar is certainly hot, it should not be so hot that it affects the taste of the tobacco. This is why very powerful lighters, such as the various Lotus torch lighter models, are held a bit away from the cigar during the lighting process. To burn, fire or embers require fuel, oxygen and heat. The ash regulates the amount of oxygen the cherry receives and, thus regulates the overall temperature of the burn. As any smoker is aware, the first puff off of a cigar is usually the hottest. The temperature of the smoke mellows as ash is generated.
Too much ash, of course, will extinguish the cherry. Usually one ashes their cigar long before this happens but, if it happens to be set down in an ashtray, it will sometimes go out because of this effect. Generally, one wants to find the happy medium between a cool burn and having the cigar go out. This takes some experience but, like most things related to cigar smoking, the experimentation means nothing more intense than enjoying a good cigar! Be sure to take note of how much ash lends the right temperature to the ember at the foot of the cigar.
The only other concern of which one should be aware has to do with being outdoors. If one flicks their ash too early, it may pull the cherry, or part of it, off of the cigar along with it. This can result in a fire hazard and should be something toward which one should give proper attention. A longer ash will tend to drop off under its own weight. Let it detach a bit on its own before ashing to make sure none of the burning tobacco is pulled away with it when one is in a dry area.
Dave Sabot is the owner of an online specialty lighters store featuring windproof lighters and cigar reviews.
Stay Cool! Apply Window Tinting To Your Car
There’s nothing worse than getting into your truck or car after it has been baking in the hot sun while you have been shopping in a nice cool mall. You get into it and the heat literally envelopes you and you can’t even touch the steering wheel. Do you know that window tinting can make a huge difference?
Even if you have an air con in your car, in extreme heat it is going to labor hard with little effect. This is especially true if your car is steaming hot when you switch the air con on. Tinted windows will enable your car’s air con to function better by reducing the amount of the sun’s heat rays entering your vehicle.
Before going ahead with tinting, get clarification that your county or city permits window tinting. If so, find out what percentage of darkness is allowed. The tinting of windows is not permitted in certain countries. In the USA, a private vehicle is permitted to have a 20% tint, while vehicles used for commercial purposes are allowed a 30% tint.
One important advantage of tinting is that it allows the driver increased visibility because there will be less glare from the sun. This is vital when driving directly into the sun. Tinted windows are considered very trendy with young people. You’re just not cool if your car hasn’t got tinted windows!
Other people get windows tinted so that any would-be criminals cannot see how many people are in the car, and they will be less likely to approach it. But the most common reason is to keep out the sun’s beating rays so that you are more comfortable. Window tinting will also protect the upholstery in your car.
The material used to tint windows actually transforms ordinary glass into shatterproof glass. Therefore if the robber or hi-jacker is brave enough to try and knock a hole into your window, he will be unsuccessful. The shatterproof effect can also protect you and your passengers should you be involved in an accident.
The tinting of windows involves the application of an extremely thin film of waterproof plastic onto the windows. Tinted windows are very common in homes as well as cars for the same reasons. Windows that are tinted will reduce the temperature in your home and keep it well insulated.
Tinted windows have the ability to deflect the sun’s rays. This means that in the hot summer months less heat will enter through the windows. Tinted windows can also absorb heat which will keep your home warmer during the winter months. Window tinting can protect furniture and other items such as computers, TVs and home theater systems.
Looking to find the best deal on residential window tinting, then visit Jack’s site to find the best advice on tinting a window for you.
Solar Power Electricity-Is It Worth It?
If you have been researching forms of alternative energy then you have obviously either read about or heard about Solar Power Electricity. Even though this is one of the most popular forms of electricity, it is also one of the most misunderstood. By the time you are done reading this report, you will learn exactly what solar power is and how it works. Once you are done reading you should be certain whether or not it is right for you.
If someone asked you what solar power electricity is, what would you say? Chances are you would give an answer like this. “Solar power turns sunlight into electricity” Yes, that is a correct answer, but there is more to it than that.
There are many components that are involved when transferring the sunlight into electricity, but the most important component is called “solar cells.” These cells were developed to be able to catch as many rays from the sun as possible. Most people ask how many cells they actually need, and the answer is dependent on how much electricity you need and what your budget is. Obviously, if you need a lot of cells it is going to be way more expensive.
The converter is also extremely important when it comes to solar energy. If it weren’t for the converter, the cells would mean nothing. It is actually really simple, the cells capture the rays, but the converter is what generates electricity. With the new solar panels, the converts actually have an incredible ability to hold electricity, this means that even during bad weather, you can still get a few days of electricity.
But is solar energy actually worth it? You will save money when using solar power electricity but unless you have a lot of money it can be tough to afford. If you are trying to save money right away, this is not going to happen with the use of solar energy. The chances are it will take you a very long time until you are able to actually save the total amount you paid for it.
Also, with solar energy you are very dependent on the weather. Yes, some of the newer panels can store electricity for a while, but if you are going through a storm you will be without electricity for a while.
Another downside about solar energy is the fact that pollution in the air can have a huge impact on the amount of energy you will receive. The rays of the sun will be blocked if the air is just a bit polluted.
So is Solar Power Electricity worth it? Truthfully, probably not. If you are looking for an alternative source of energy you need to check out the proven Magnetic Energy. Click Here To learn more
Hints And Tips For Preventing Motor Oil Or Other Chemicals From Leaving Gross Stains On Your Garage Floor
I’ve written quite a few articles pertaining to garage floor coatings and coverings, but many people, I know, really don’t have much money to spend on things like that. Those of us without money, though, are the ones that are likely to be changing our own oil, which is a very easy way to stain garage floors. Some car manufacturers aren’t exactly helpful, either; I can think of a certain Subaru that I once had on which there was a plastic cover over the oil pan that was near impossible to get off without removing the front bumper cover. Of course, they included a space for the drain bolt, which made it really easy to get the bolt off, but the oil would never actually drain through that little hole, instead spraying the flooring with a nice, thick coat of used motor oil. You can imagine the mess.
Preventing Garage Flooring Stains From Happening In The First Place
Had I been smart, I probably would’ve spent the money to buy a garage floor mat for under the car, or at least a compartment mat for when I did oil changes, though I don’t know that they make compartment mats big enough for the type of spillage I encountered. Either way, I ended up with a very stained floor, which would make it quite difficult to apply any kind of garage floor paint.
Clean The Spill ASAP!
One of the main things you can do to help remove the stain is to remove the oil as soon as you can once it spills. Believe me, the longer it’s sitting there, the harder the stain will be to remove. Have a roll of paper towels or stack of rags for this purpose, and you’ll be glad later. Don’t think that only a small amount of oil is safe, either, because even a little dot will make a bigger, darker stain the longer it is left on the concrete. This is because concrete will soak up anything liquid like a very slow sponge, but a sponge nonetheless. There are products that are designed to soak the chemicals up, often called concrete crystals or something similar, but those can get very expensive very fast if you’re very spill-happy. If you can afford them, though, they would certainly help since they will absorb much of the spill, but never all of it. To use them, you just set them on and in the spill for however long they’re supposed to sit, then sweep them with a broom that you don’t mind getting nasty, and throw them away. I’ve heard people say they use kitty litter, and I did try that, got the type that doesn’t clump and everything, but I still ended up with stains and some really gross, gummed up kitty litter.
You Can Always Try Garage Floor Stain Remover…
For some garage floor finishes, yes. Although I haven’t used many, the general consensus is not good for most garage floor stain removers. Most anyone will tell you that they only sometimes work, and none of them work on everything. Even the ones that do the best job usually leave a lightly colored stain in your concrete garage floor, and I, personally, don’t feel like that’s worth it. You can usually pick up a small bottle of the stuff for about ten dollars, but if you have a really big oil spill, you might need to aim larger.
If You Can’t Remove The Garage Floor Stain…
Although it’s obviously not the ideal solution, don’t forget that a garage floor covering can always be purchased later on down the road when you have the funds. They are expensive, though, but aren’t going to be affected by the same limitations as garage floor finishes. In some cases you can still use an epoxy garage floor coating as long as the floor has been cleaned to the specifications of your particular garage floor paint kit, but good luck finding one that says you can use it on stained concrete. Alternatively, there are many garage floor mats out there, and you can get some snap-together garage floor tiles, and never have to worry about the existing or future stains since all of these solutions are resistant to staining. Keep in mind, though, that peel and stick garage floor tile should not be used if you have a large stain since the stain will sweat oil that will eat at the adhesive. The oil certainly won’t come out when you want it to, but it will come right up to eat a garage floor coating or garage floor covering.
For more information on garage flooring, check out Sweet Garage Floor.