Free Satellite TV - Is it a joke?

Free satellite TV is the biggest myths on the internet, is this statement true? Read the insider's view on this issue.

Free satellite TV doesn’t mean you can get a TV for free. Free satellite TV doesn’t mean that you can watch satellite TV’s program for free. Free satellite TV doesn’t mean that you can get everything on your TV set for free. Hence, I would say it’s true! Yes, free satellite TV is a big big myth if you DON’T understand correctly the word ‘FREE’ in this offer!

So, what do free satellite TV means?

Free satellite TV, or free satellite TV system, or free Dish Network, or free DirecTV (the list goes on here) means that you get the free satellite system, including one to four satellite signal encoders, a satellite dish, and a satellite TV authorization card for free.

Always, these free satellite TV deals also comes with the free installations as well as the free HDTV upgrading. These offers are valid for Dish Network and DirecTV. All these are valid for you IF you are the first timer for satellite TV deals. YES, these free DirecTV and free Dish Network offer are only for people who never subscribe to satellite TV service before. This is why, again some folks out there are claiming free satellite TV is a lie when they fail to get another free set of satellite equipments.

Some of you might get into this article during the search of authorized sites offering real free satellite TV deals – if so, I would suggest you this authorized site: http://www.satellitetvissue.com; some might be looking for information on pirating DirecTV signals, if so, I would recommend to not do that, its will cost you even more with the pirating cause those people that code program your satellite TV cards will charge you every two-three months for re-program fees, its illegal and its not worth it at all.

So lets forget about satellite TV deals? DON’T!

The satellite TV deals are still very good bargains as they are providing very top level of product and service. Lots of program to be watched, A++ customer service reputations, topnotch picture quality, full control on the TV with DVR or TiVo systems, pay-per-view package that give you extra savings on your home entertainment systems … all these are something that other entertainment network can’t give you. Think of your experience with cable TVs, think of your experience with the big dish TVs, free satellite TV deals apparently are still the best choice among all.

Free satellite TV is the biggest myth on the internet? Who cares! I am going for it as long as it provide the best bargains.

Cable TV or satellite TV... which is better?

Cable TV and satellite TV - which is the better system? There's a battle going on between Cable TV and Satellite TV. Today, consumers have a choice between conventional cable TV, digital cable TV, and all-digital satellite TV. Do you want to know which of the TV system is best for you? Lets compare cable TV and satellite TV head-to-head here.

First, some general things about Cable TV and Satellite TV:

Cable TV & Digital Cable TV

It is obvious that the conventional cable TV are by far the least advanced. Compare to satellite TV, cable TV provides limited features to their customers. Hence, most cable companies now are pushing hard to get their customers on their digital systems in order to compete with satellite TV providers in the market. Digital cable television has many advantages over conventional cable. Through digital cable signals, consumers are able to get high-speed internet access and video on demand, as well as hundreds of cable channel choices.

Satellite TV

Most of the features offered by digital cable TV are offered by satellite TV. Example? Major dish networks offer their own version of high-speed internet through broadband. DirecTV has DirecWay , and DISH Network has partnered with EarthLink to bring high-speed internet to their customers. Besides, satellite TV providers also provide electronic program guides, parental controls, and automated timers.

Here are major comparisons of cable TV and satellite TV:

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Popularity

Both Cable TV and Satellite TV are popular. Although cable still is more popular overall, satellite TV has made huge gains on cable TV. Equipment Cable TV systems require a cable to be installed from the network to your house. If your street has no cable you may need to wait a while before it is available in your area. Besides the cable you need a receiver. With digital services you need an additional box. Satellite TV requires a satellite dish, a receiver and a cable from the dish to your TV (no digging in your garden).

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Reception Quality

Cable TV and satellite TV used totally different systems for signal transfering. Cable TV has analog channels and even though you can upgrade to digital services, analog channels will still be analog, meaning an often fuzzy picture. Satellite TV is completely digital, which gives you all the advantages of digital systems. Very heavy rain or snow can obstruct reception briefly, but generally this happens very rarely. Reception quality is much better with Satellite TV.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Programming

Cable TV and satellite TV both served high quality programming channels. Cable TV can handle up to 260 channels. Satellite TV can handle more channels. Also, Satellite TV is more advanced in HDTV (High Definition Television) services.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Pricing

Pricing for cable TV and satellite TV have huge differences. Satellite TV is less expensive than Cable TV due to many additional costs that are related to Cable TV: franchise fees, taxes, plus costs for any pay per view services, and equipment costs. Dish Network Programming Package starts at only $29.99 per month.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: Interactive Services

In general Satellite TV has more interactive services than Cable TV. Digital services like Dish Network's DVR (Digital Video Recorder) which gives the option to rewind while recording even in live broadcasts, EPG (Electronic Program Guide), Instant Weather, video on demand, etc. are all available on Satellite TV, but not all are available on Cable TV.

Cable TV vs Satellite TV: High Speed Internet

Cable has high speed broadband internet services. Satellite has this too, but is somewhat slower. DirecTV: offers Direcway High Speed Internet, which is ultra fast but somewhat expensive. Overall conclusion: Satellite TV is less expensive, has better picture quality (digital signal) and gives you more channels and programming options than cable TV.

I believe that currently satellite TV providers are giving a better services with a lower price. Satellite TV apparently is a must if you want excellent picture quality, fantastic value with excellent features and varieties in TV programming. There are lots more of satellite TV benefits to be talked about, in case you want to find it oput your self, I suggest this site to be viewed: http://wwww.satellitetvissue.com

Decorating your home for less than $50

Do you dream of adding style to your home but don’t have a lot of money? Don’t despair! There are 5 things you can do that will help your house look beautiful without spending much money.

1. Declutter your home.

Nothing zaps a great look like clutter. Look around you. Do you have paper plies or mail stacks? Do you just add to your knickknack collection rather than rotate your select favorites? When was the last time you saw the front of your refrigerator? Simple solutions that cost very little money are to invest in nice office trays, pretty bulletin boards and frames for your child’s artwork. Make the trash can handy to immediately toss unwanted mail. Taking away the clutter will make your space appear larger and help your treasured objects be emphasized rather than lost.

2. Make display surfaces pretty.

A key element in houses that are decorated by a professional rather than want-to-be is the art of accessorizing. Flat surfaces such as mantels, bookcases, and coffee tables are the perfect places to restyle for less. The one important point here is to keep it simple. Bookcases should only be 2/3 full. A mantle should not have mirror above it (a very dated look) – choose artwork instead. Place no more than three items on an end table – cluster these varied but related items together for more impact.

3. Paint to Impress.

Paint, as you know, makes the most dramatic change for the money. Be bold, be daring and most importantly -- don’t do white! Choose a complex color. This simply means if you would use several different words to describe the color than it is probably complex. For example; if you said it was a kinda “gold, straw, beige-y color” than it is probably a complex color. If you said “just yellow” - it probably is not a very inspiring look. A beautiful color on the walls can make the room go from ordinary to extraordinary in less than a day and usually for less than $50.

4. Make it personal

Decorating your house is a job but styling your home is fun. Personalization is putting your interests, hobbies or values into your décor to really make it your own. Buy simple – read inexpensive - curtains at your local big-box store and then buy exquisite wide ribbon to hot glue on the edge. Use your grandson’s first sneakers to tie back the den curtains. Use some family photos but just promise not to use too many. A guest coming for a visit may find all those staring eyes unnerving.

5. Change with the seasons.

You know the drill – lighter brighter for spring/summer and darker richer for fall/winter. This easy task of changing the fabric items around the home can help you make it seasonal. Change out placements, bath towels, and accent pillows. The final touch is to purchase a seasonal bouquet of flowers: fresh or fake- these centerpieces can add punch to a room.

Decorate your home by spending time not money in decluttering, painting and accessorizing. By following these simple tips, you can make a huge impact by bringing your home from average to spectacular for very little money.

How to get rid of Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is found throughout southern Canada and most of the United States except Alaska and Hawaii. It is readily found along road sides, fences, railroads, and streams. But it can also be found in your own back yard. It is planted there in bird droppings from the birds who eat the berries of the plant.

So how does one get rid of the rash producing plant? Here are some tips:


Poison Ivy control is most effective May through July while the plants are flowering.

Pulling out the plant with rubber gloves is temporarily effective but the plants roots will regrow.

Never burn it as the smoke from the burning plant can cause very serious respiratory and eye problems.

Mowing the plant will eventually kill it but be sure to use a mower with a collection bag and don't touch the remains when emptying it. This method will take several years to completely eradicate the plant from your yard.

Don't use a weed-eater as that will only spread the broken pieces of the plant everywhere. Dried poison ivy is just as poisonous as fresh. It is said that even 100 year old leaves can still cause a reaction.

Suffocation with black plastic has been known to work. This too takes time.

An organic method consists of spraying the plant with salt water. A ratio of one cup salt to a gallon of water with a few drops of liquid soap added to help the mixture adhere to the plant.

Broadleaf herbicides work but will kill any neighboring plants. Usually poison ivy is intertwined among plants that you want to keep, including trees. Using selective herbicides like Roundup can be applied to the plant stems as they are cut off to prevent resprouting.
No matter what control method you use, be careful to avoid exposing your skin to the plant. Wear gloves, long pants, socks and shoes, and a long-sleeved shirt.

For more information about ridding your yard and garden of this pesky plant:
http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/poisonivy.htm

Home improvement loans to build your very own comfort zone

Home is your sanctuary. The place you go back to every night and somehow it doesn’t seem right. Your home is an expression of who you are and if you walk out each of a place that you does not seem to belong to you then probably your home needs improvement. You are probably guessing how you are going to make the payments for your home improvement. Your home remodeling plans are no longer to be restricted to the thought stages. Let them see the light of day. Home improvement loans will provide you with a dependable groundwork to build on the home you have a vision of.

Home improvement is predominantly triggered by the desire to own a comfortable home. Home improvement can be slightly difficult, if your financial position is tight. This is where home improvement loans have a function to perform. Being a homeowner you could not have been in a better position to apply for a home improvement loan. Home improvement loans are functional for any kind of improvement or home extension. Home improvement loan is available for double glazing, new conservatory, heating system, new kitchen, rewiring and plumbing or any home remodeling that you can think of. The cost of home improvements is generally paid by savings or revolving credits like credit or store cards. Credit cards imply no borrowing. In many ways it is idyllic for there are no repayments to be made. But credit cards can be an expensive option especially if the borrowing extends beyond the credit limit. Store card interest rates are as high as 30%. In every circumstance a personal loan for home improvement is a more disciplined and cheaper option.

Home improvement plans can be funded by means of a secured loan, unsecured loan, remortgaging or taking further advance on your mortgage. Unsecured home improvement offers a typical flat rate of interest 12-14%. But a little bit of research will get you an unsecured home improvement loan for 10%. A secured home improvement loan indisputably attracts lower rate of interest. APR of a secured loan is around 7%. You can borrow anything from £ 5,000 to £ 75,000 for home improvement. The repayment term can be extended from 5 years to 25 years depending on the loan amount, your available income and the amount of equity in the property.

In the contemporary context, one of the ingenious thing one can do with a home’s equity is to put it right back into the home. Home improvement is besides providing you with the much needed changes, increases the equity of your home. There has been a rise in home improvement loans in the past decade. If the property cannot be sold then home improvement is the answer. Home improvement is remarkable if your primary motive is to raise large amounts. But not every home improvement will improve the resale value of your home. So it is recommended that you stick to those home improvement plans that give you the maximum returns. It is important to remember that over enthusiasm with improvement won’t lead to any gain. It is difficult to recover investment in a home that is already more valuable than those in the neighbourhood. And keep your whimsical tastes to respite for there might not be many mainstream homebuyers for them.

Home improvement loan might seem like an unreal thing for many homeowners. But the newer more sophisticated home improvement loan options are very easy to adjust to. They are designed to keeping in mind the conditions and status of every homeowner. The ever expanding mortgage market gives you an opportunity to apply for a mortgage for home improvements and that too in the most uncomplicated manner. More and more homeowners are administering for remortgage to raise capital for home improvements. By completely remortgaging the consolidated loan, the entire mortgage market is assailable to the loan borrower. If you care enough to shop around then you can find a very reasonable and cheap mortgage loan for home improvement.

Home improvement loans are a package that includes any kind of meliorations that you can think of. It is your home and you have every right to improve it the way you want to. Contrary to accepted conviction home improvements are vital and absolutely necessary. Why home improvement? If that is what people ask when you suggest it then they probably don’t know what is the meaning of comfortable living is. Home improvements improve the quality of life. We work hard and save money to buy personal satisfaction and comfort. If the house that we have build does not provide the relief then perhaps home improvement is what you need.

House plans; where to start

You have found the perfect lot on which to build your new home. Now you have an abundance of decisions to make. Where will the house sit on the lot? You will have to decide this based on the total square footage of the house. What kind of features are you hoping to have. These are the things to consider, storage, a laundry room, a home office, a bathroom downstairs, a full bath upstairs, and a family room.

Consider the future? Are you just starting out and planning a family? Do you need a guestroom for visitors? Flexible house plans are probably the best option for you. You don’t want your house to end being too big in the future. If it starts getting small, make sure you allow for expansion if necessary, and make sure it is according to your local zoning laws.

How does the house plan you have chosen fit on the lot? If the lot is deep and narrow you don’t want a shallow and wide house plan. Where will you place the house so that you get the maximum exposure to sunlight in the morning and in the evening? Make sure the windows are where they are supposed to be.

Check the zoning laws where you are building your house. There may be a limit in the height of the house or on what percentage of space your house can take up on the lot. Be open to suggestions. You can go with a pre-drawn plan or a custom plan that is drawn to your specifications. Another important item is how water drains off of your property. You would want to build the house on the rise of a hill rather than at its base. At the base the run off could do damage to the house.

When thinking about your house in general, does the house style fit in with the neighborhood? You wouldn’t put a large Victorian house in a neighborhood that had ranch style homes and vice versa. Find out if there is an agreement with your city or town regarding the type of houses that is acceptable for that area. The size of the house is important. If it is too large or too small it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Will a lot of changes have to be made? There will be changes at some point to add a garage or change the size or shape of a room is fairly easy but you had better be prepared to pay a lot more for custom plans.

When you are thinking of the rooms determine what percentage of total square footage will this room take u p. If the master suite takes up twenty percent of total space is okay if you are also going to use some of that space for a reading area. If not consider a plan with a smaller bedroom. In order to determine the total space of any room you multiply the length times the width and divide that by the total square footage of the home.

You may want a dishwasher or an island in the center of your kitchen but sometimes you have to do a trade off. For example, if you want a dishwasher but will have to lose some cabinet space you must decide which is more important cabinet space or the dishwasher. The colors inside the house are most definitely important. If you want each room to have its own color the best plan for you would be a closed plan which would create separate individual rooms. If you are going to have a solid color throughout an open floor plan might work for you.

If you want the space consider planning a room switch. A room that is now being planned as an office can become a guestroom or a nursery. An extra bedroom could be come a work out room or a family room/library. If you are building a garage consider adding an extra bay and making that a workbench or a potting bench. Once you figure all of this out and you have the plans all set you can if you haven’t already choose a lot. With an organized search you could find a plan that comes very close to your ideal home. Once you get the plan you can make any necessary last minute changes.

Building a home is probably the most complicated decision you will ever make. The plan for your new home can be either custom or pre-drawn. Custom plans are more expensive but the expense of pre-drawn plans could be as well if you request any modifications to them. Check with your city or town for their zoning laws. You will hopefully be in your new home for long time so make it what you want it. Enjoy your new home.

Waterproofing your foundation.... what is the right choice?

What is foundation waterproofing?

Waterproofing is Protecting your property foundation – be it residential or commercial – from cracks due to natural processes such as water damage, thermal movement, shrinking, settlement and other causes.

Think of foundation waterproofing as a long term solution for protection of your property.

Did you know that 44% of new homes have leaking basements without 3 years of completion? And the warranty on dry basement on a new home in USA and Canada is only 1 or 2 years?

Think of what can happen if you don’t pay attention to properly seal your house foundation.

It not only causes countless damage to your property it also decreases value of your house, costs money to repair, wastes time, not to mention various health and life hazards.

So what is the Solution to this problem?

Waterproof your property the right way as you build it!

There are many products on the market and it is difficult to choose at times, but not all are the same quality.

The easiest, simplest and smartest way is to apply rubberized liquid membrane. Liquid rubber membranes are elastomeric polymerized coatings made from liquid rubber – the same quality tough material your car tires are made from.

Advantages: They are easiest to apply, quick to dry, cold applied. You can do it by yourself, by using sprayer, roller or trowel. The liquid cures into an elastic rubber coating on the wall, able to fill up eventual cracks in foundation wall because of its flexibility. They also come with a long warranty and are very cost effective.

If you want the best ones you should aim at the ones which are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, non-flammable, also VOC compliant, offer superior vapor and water barrier protection, and no priming is required before installation.

Disadvantages: Possibility of inconsistency in coverage, but the newest liquid rubber foundation waterproofing membranes will help you to determine the "right" thickness by intensity of color f.e. the Gray Coat All Seasons Formula from Aquasealusa.com blends in with the concrete foundation, so over-spraying is no longer a problem, making it much easier for the applicator to apply.

There are of course other products on the market like sheet membranes, cementitous waterproofing, hot tar or bentonite, but they either don’t offer such a long warranty, are labor intensive or low quality, or you have to use company employees/certified technicians who are the only ones allowed to apply their product which will cost extra money.

Basically it comes what your needs are and how much money your are willing to invest to protect your property properly.

What seems to be cheaper at the beginning can be Very costly later on if you don’t do it right the first time.

© Dagmar Rakos
Waterproofing-foundation-guaranteed.com

Can you buy luxury home brands online and save - worry free?

Are you frustrated with the high prices you've been quoted for luxury home decor?

What if you could safely take advantage of the great selection and value of online shopping for home decor items that are normally $1,000, $5,000, even $10,000?

Here's some great news for people who need to bring their new dream home or home renovation costs under control.

Multitudes are making the most of their dollars by shopping for bathtubs, bath fixtures, fireplaces, and kitchen fixtures online with "customer first" outlet sites.

Buy only from outlet sites that have taken extra effort to make you feel comfortable ordering upscale home decor brands online.

What you should look for, beyond the great prices, to ensure your high-end brand home decor purchase is hassle and risk free?

Having a clear understanding of the return policies before you buy can make a big difference in your experience.

Luxury Home Decor outlet sites that are looking for lifetime customers have clearly written policies and specified services in these key areas. This information can easily found on their sites under "our policies" type links.

You should also see BBB (better business bureau) and "Verisign" banners on any outlet site you buy from. "Authorized Dealer" is another important statement to look for as you can be assured the manufacturer will honor the warranty.

There is a big advantage to buying luxury bathtubs, kitchen wares, fireplaces, and home decor items online - to find exactly what you need at an affordable price.

It is also great to get a comparative price when you already know exactly what you want based on in-store shopping.

Remember that however great a price may be online, it isn't an apples to apples comparison unless the shipping and return policies are comparable - or better online!

Go to http://luxury-home-decor.maxsvr.com/ for more tips and information.

Can you buy luxury home brands online and save - worry free?

Are you frustrated with the high prices you've been quoted for luxury home decor?

What if you could safely take advantage of the great selection and value of online shopping for home decor items that are normally $1,000, $5,000, even $10,000?

Here's some great news for people who need to bring their new dream home or home renovation costs under control.

Multitudes are making the most of their dollars by shopping for bathtubs, bath fixtures, fireplaces, and kitchen fixtures online with "customer first" outlet sites.

Buy only from outlet sites that have taken extra effort to make you feel comfortable ordering upscale home decor brands online.

What you should look for, beyond the great prices, to ensure your high-end brand home decor purchase is hassle and risk free?

Having a clear understanding of the return policies before you buy can make a big difference in your experience.

Luxury Home Decor outlet sites that are looking for lifetime customers have clearly written policies and specified services in these key areas. This information can easily found on their sites under "our policies" type links.

You should also see BBB (better business bureau) and "Verisign" banners on any outlet site you buy from. "Authorized Dealer" is another important statement to look for as you can be assured the manufacturer will honor the warranty.

There is a big advantage to buying luxury bathtubs, kitchen wares, fireplaces, and home decor items online - to find exactly what you need at an affordable price.

It is also great to get a comparative price when you already know exactly what you want based on in-store shopping.

Remember that however great a price may be online, it isn't an apples to apples comparison unless the shipping and return policies are comparable - or better online!

Go to http://luxury-home-decor.maxsvr.com/ for more tips and information.

Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Come to my garden

Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybirds, can be a gardener’s best friend. The ladybug’s bright coloring brings welcomed cheer to the garden, as well as helping with pest control. Since medieval times, ladybugs have been valued by farmers all over the world. Many believe that the ladybug was divinely sent to free crops of insect pests. In fact, that is how the ladybug got its name. People dedicated the bug to the Virgin Mary and therefore called it “The Bug of our Lady”, which was eventually shortened to the present name “ladybug”.

Adult ladybugs are usually oval or domed shaped and have red wings, yellow wings or shades and variations of these colors. The number of black spots can range from no spots to 15 spots and they are typically about one quarter inch in size or smaller.

The length of the life cycle of a ladybug varies depending upon temperature, humidity, and food supply. Usually the life cycle from egg to adult is about three to four weeks, and up to six weeks during the cooler spring months. During the spring the adult female ladybug can lay up to three hundred eggs in an aphid colony. The eggs normally hatch in two to five days. The newly hatched larvae feed on aphids for up to three weeks and then enter the pupae stage. About one week later, the adult ladybug emerges. There can be as many as six generations of ladybugs hatched in a year.

The ladybug enjoys popularity around the world. These pretty insects have long been considered a symbol of good luck and fortune because of their ability to eat an enormous amount of aphids. One ladybug can eat as many as 50 to 60 aphids per day. Aphids (also called plant lice) are herbivores and are one of the worst groups of pests on plants. They feed in colonies and damage plants by sucking the juice out of the leaves, stems, or roots. While aphids feed, they damage plant tissue creating a loss of plant fluids and the photosynthetic tissue needed to produce energy for plant growth. Some plants will show no adverse response to aphids, while others react with twisted, curled or swollen leaves or stems. Aphids also transmit many plant diseases from one plant to another.

Apart from aphids, ladybugs eat a variety of other insects and larvae including white flies, mealy bugs, spider mites, and other types of soft-bodied insects. They also require a source of pollen for food and for that reason are attracted to certain types of plants. Their preferred plants have umbrella shaped flowers such as dill, fennel, angelica, tansy, caraway, cilantro, yarrow, and wild carrot. Other plants that attract ladybugs include cosmos (especially the white ones), dandelions, coreopsis, and scented geraniums.

If your garden does not have adequate space to plant ladybug attracting plants, you can purchase ladybugs from numerous websites on the internet and most nurseries. Before releasing them into your garden, here are a few tips to help ensure that the ladybugs stay where you want them:


Release ladybugs near infested plants after sun down or before sun up. They navigate by the sun and are most likely to stay put in the evenings and early mornings.

Water the area where you are going to release the ladybugs. They will appreciate the drink and the moisture on the leaves will help the ladybugs to “stick” on the plants. If released in a dry garden, the ladybugs will most likely fly off in search of a drink instead of sticking around to eat.

In the warmer months, chill the ladybugs in the refrigerator before releasing them. This will not harm the ladybugs and they tend to crawl more in colder temperatures rather than fly away.
Another way to attract ladybugs to your garden is to place several ladybug habitation boxes around your garden. Fill the boxes with organic material such as peat or compost to encourage ladybugs to roost and lay eggs inside the box. In addition, the habitation box also provides protection for the ladybugs in the winter months.

To further promote ladybug populations, consider cutting back on spraying insecticides in your garden. Ladybugs are sensitive to most synthetic insecticides and if the majority of their food source is gone, they will not lay their eggs and therefore will not continue to populate.

Here are some interesting ladybug facts:

There are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide and 400 which live in North America.
A female ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime.
A ladybug beats its wings 85 times a second when it flies.
A gallon jar will hold from 72,000 to 80,000 ladybugs.
Ladybugs make a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other predators won't eat them.
The spots on a ladybug fade as the ladybug gets older.
Ladybugs won't fly if the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ladybug is the official state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Tennessee.
As you can see, the ladybug is one of the most effective and economically important insects to have in your garden. In some cultures, seeing ladybugs in gardens indicates a bountiful harvest, an indication of good weather or a good luck omen. Create an alluring environment for ladybugs and they are sure to provide charm and pest control in your garden for years to come.

Air conditioning maintenance

The average age of an air conditioner is 10 years; some units can run longer than that, some run with a much higher cost after 10 years. If not maintained correctly it can cost you double the operating costs without reducing comfort. Today’s technology has allowed us to achieve better performance without sacrificing efficiency. In fact, today’s models are much cheaper to run than that 10-year-old model gulping up your hard earned money.

I recommend to solve this problem of high energy bills is to upgrade to a Coleman 14 Seer Air Conditioning System through Yours By Design Heating and Cooling.

If for some reason you want to spend more money (up to 40%) than necessary and not buy the upgrade do yourself a favor and

Clean your Air Conditioner before the season begins.

Foreign material on the condenser coil reduces the system's capacity to remove heat from the house so your air conditioning system must run longer, increasing energy (up to 2X) consumption.

Check voltage and amperage on motors

Improper voltage and amperage can reduce significantly the life of the compressor, evaporator and the condenser motor. 80 % of all air conditioner compressor failures could be eliminated if the problems that lead to the failure were corrected.

Check and adjust blower components

Proper adjustment, cleanliness of blower and components are necessary for adequate airflow to assure proper capacity and equipment reliability.

Check condensate drain (clean if necessary)

A clogged drain can create considerable water damage, as well as affect indoor humidity levels.

For the full article click on http://www.ybdhc.com/faq.htm

Wash your windows like a pro

Have you ever wondered how those professional window washers move so fast with the squeegee, and the windows turn out perfect? Well, there really are some tricks to it that are simple to learn, and once you do, dare I say it, you may even enjoy washing windows? It is possible!

The first trick is to invest in a good squeegee. They aren't expensive and they are worth every cent! Those $1.99 ones just will not do. A professional squeegee has a very soft, rubber blade with no imperfections in it. You can also get extra rubber blades and simply replace those when they wears out. There are probably many sources to get one, but a source I like is The Clean Team. http://www.TheCleanTeam.com.

Secondly, do your windows on a cool, or cloudy day. If you have to do it in the sun, do it in the morning. What you want to avoid here is heat. Heat works against you.

Get a bucket of lukewarm water (not hot), and add 2-3 tablespoons of plain ammonia. Use a sponge that has a white scrubber on the other side. Wet your window with the sponge side, then flip to the white scrub pad side, and scrub the window. You'll be able to "feel" when it's clean. You'll feel rough patches, etc when it's still not clean. This is a step most people fail at, if the window simply isn't clean, it's going to look cloudy when done. Scrub well.

You'll also need lots of clean, white cotton rags towels/cleaning cloths. Diapers work great here. Dry by hand a 1-inch strip at the top of the window. The trick for no streaks with the squeegee is placing the dry rubber blade on a dry window.

Take the squeegee now and place it at the top of the window in that 1-inch dry strip. Pull down smoothly. Dry your squeegee blade with between each sweep. Finish window, if need be do one last sweep left to right at the bottom of the window.

Take a dry, clean cloth and run with your finger down each window side and across the bottom to clean and dry the edges. They should look perfect! And you'll feel great having clean windows.