Is it Time to Put My Dog to Sleep?

I want to begin this article by disclosing that every sentence you will read here is my opinion. I have no solid research to back up anything I say. There was no peer review of the validity of this article before I published it. I wrote this article for you because a dog that has been in our care at Kelsey's Dog House for a long time concluded his stay with us this week. We will never again see him. He was laid to rest by his veterinarian. His owner's decision to put him down was an extremely hard one to make, as it is for most of us.

Dogs Live Fast

Dogs live very fast lives. They gestate quickly. They mature quickly. During mid-life, they perform to a very quick beat. Their hearts beat rapidly, even at rest. Food goes down in very few gulps and then comes out the other end in a very short time. They focus on one thing for only a few seconds, and then they are on to something else. Their sleep-wake cycles are generally much shorter than our own. Even their normal body temperature of 99 to 102 degrees indicates their physiology is running in overdrive. It's no wonder when dogs reach the late stages of their lives, their batteries run down very quickly.

The problems of old age for dogs generally mirror our own. Blindness; deafness; and lack of mobility due to arthritis; loss of muscle tone; and faltering balance are all part of the old age equation. Fittingly, a dog seems to retain his sense of smell right to the very end. What distinguishes old age in dogs from that of humans is the speed at which dogs deteriorate. While many humans take decades to show the wear and tear of a long life, dogs, which live life in the fast lane, seem to reach a point at which their health falls off a cliff.

An Old Dog

At this late stage, a dog is no longer himself. For example, although he may have been 100% reliable in doing his business outdoors, reduced mobility and incontinence may cause him to relieve himself indoors. He can no longer play, in the traditional sense, or even explore because getting around is a chore. He may be disoriented most of the time because his senses no longer give him the feedback he needs to navigate. Or, he may simply be too tired or ill to move around very much.

Many dogs develop serious disorders and illnesses in old age. A dog with serious health issues will need to make frequent, expensive, and stressful visits to the vet's office. Old dogs with various disorders may experience varying degrees of chronic and acute pain. Pain medication may alleviate the pain but further dull a dog's already reduced senses and alertness.

Before I go further, I want to re-emphasize that what I am writing here is only my opinion, especially with regard to suffering. I do not believe dogs suffer in the sense we humans would describe suffering. A dog in discomfort does not carry on a verbal dialogue with himself about his poor condition. He does not feel self-pity, nor does he agonize that his condition will worsen. I believe a dog does feel pain; and chronic pain does debilitate a dog. It makes him more inclined to hide, sleep, or act out of character. Having said that, I will also say a dog does not assign an emotional value to its pain as we humans often do. When we say, "That dog is suffering," we are falsely assigning a human attribution to the dog.

What it All Means

What does all this mean for a dog and our bond with that dog? As each of us has our own unique set of behavior we call personality, each dog has its particular identity. Additionally dogs, like humans have a role to play, a purpose, if you will. I believe each dog has a job in this world, whether it is guarding a herd, watching the backyard, or simply sitting in your lap to comfort you. Some of these jobs are formal and trained, and others are assumed by accident or good fortune. In any case, dogs are generally their happiest when they play a role that seems to fit their identity. When your dog has reached a point at which he can no longer do any of the things that make him a dog, when he cannot do his job, then he becomes a shell of what he once was. He may still be physically present, but his spirit is gone. To compound the problem, when his poor health causes him to do things he never did before, such as accidentally peeing in the house, this causes him some degree of stress. A dog knows what he knows. When what a dog knows no longer applies, or something happens that seems beyond his control, he cannot rationalize to make sense of it.

Let's throw you into the mix. You remember your dog as a happy, vital companion. Your positive energy and approval was food for his soul. When all you can do for your dog is fret over his deteriorated condition, you send wave after wave of distress and worry in his direction. If you become frustrated because your old dog is soiling the house or acting strange, that also sends a message. Your dog looks to you for safety and comfort. Although you will certainly do everything you physically can to make him comfortable when his health fails, you may also be inadvertently sending emotional signals that make your dog's situation worse.

When It's Time

There comes a point in a dog's life when it is time to say goodbye. We would love to hang on to our best friend forever, but we know that is not going to happen. Your dog, though he may be ravaged by blindness, deafness, illness and other disorders, still looks like your dog. He is still warm and furry and his tail still wags when you pet him. Your memory of what he once was may fill in the details of a dog that is no longer there. He may not be suffering, but he is no longer fulfilled. It does not matter that he still looks and feels like your dog, because the dog you knew has departed.

Many of us take a long time to reach this conclusion and it's understandable. Any decision to put a dog to sleep is difficult, feels premature, and is often tainted with guilt. Perhaps you feel your dog has brought you years and years of pleasure, and now you owe it to him to comfort and sustain him for as long as he is willing to carry on. Again, this is a perfectly understandable and completely rational thought from a human perspective. Consider everything I have written here about how it looks from the dog's perspective.

Once your dog's heath slips off the edge, nature has no intention of restoring him. His senses have dulled. His mobility, as he knew it, has gone. He struggles to orient himself. He may be in pain, or so diminished by pain medication that he cannot do any of the things he once loved to do. The feedback he receives from you is laced with pity. He cannot do his job. He cannot even do normal body functions correctly. Worst of all, none of this makes any sense to him. The kindest, most loving act you can do at this point is to gently help him find everlasting peace.

Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices

A man's home is his castle, as the saying goes. But homes today don't normally feature ramparts, drawbridges, moats and six-foot thick stone walls to keep out unwanted visitors. Today, a house alarm, and preferably a managed home security system, is needed to ensure your home's security. Not only does installing a home security system improve the safety of your family and possessions, but it can also decrease your home insurance costs. The Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices list highlights ten devices and features of home security systems that can make your house a safer place.

The Top Ten

10. Talking Devices help you to understand the status of your home and monitoring as well as program the system. Some security systems feature talking master control panels, key pads or remotes. The talking feature may not result in great conversation, but it will help you understand your system a little better.

9. Some home alarm systems include extras like Key Fobs and Remotes to control the system at a distance. Somewhat similar to a car's key fob, home security key fobs include buttons to activate and deactivate the house alarm system. Some even include a "panic" button that activates the house alarm and alerts the proper authorities in the event of an emergency. Remote controls are similar and often larger. The features of remotes vary greatly and can include a full key pad, a talking feature and a panic button as well.

8. Yard Signs and House or Window Decals advertise your home's protection. The Greenwich Study of Residential Security found that homes without alarms were 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be burglarized, and that the most effective deterrent was the alarm monitoring company's yard sign (SIA Research Update, Security Industry Association, October 2001). Some choose to post the signs to deter possible break-ins without actually installing a home alarm system. While this effort will lower the odds of an attempted burglary, a yard sign alone cannot fully protect your home.

7. A Back-Up Power Supply is important in maintaining home security even during a power outage, when the risk of break-ins and looting is increased. Your home alarm should be effective even when your power is not. The easiest to maintain back-up power supplies use standard size batteries. Look for a model that uses rechargeable batteries to lower your maintenance costs.

6. Smoke Detectors add another layer of protection to your home, especially when they are integrated into the home alarm system. Not only do smoke detectors indicate a fire and give you time to escape safely, but when included in a home security package, they automatically notify the managing company and the fire department. Some systems even integrate the power supply to the smoke detectors. That means you don't have to change the batteries ever!

5. Wireless Systems protect your home without adding extra cords to trip over or extensive installation of in-wall cords. In wireless house alarm systems, each sensor or keypad communicates with the master control panel via radio frequencies or existing wiring in your home. A burglar will never be able to disarm the system by snipping the wires. This ensures the system is fully integrated and monitoring all parts of your home without using up your outlets or creating an obstacle course of wires for you.

4. Extra Key Pads are also important. Exterior mounted key pads can provide secure keyless entry to your family. Some systems also offer remote control key pads which are lightweight and portable. A home alarm system that features a security code with a key pad increases the security of your home. A monitored system can also lock down entry after several repeated, failed attempts at entry which indicate a possible break-in attempt.

3. Key pads may not always be enough to keep burglars out. Sensors on Windows and Doors reduce the risk of a burglar entering undetected and are a key part of a home alarm system. Motion Detectors within the home also increase the level of security. The most sophisticated motion detectors include a feature to ignore pets' movement to avoid constantly setting the alarm off inadvertently.

2. Installation, Monitoring, and Repair Services increase not only the level of safety but the convenience of keeping your home safe. A house alarm alone cannot notify the police or fire department in the event of an emergency. The most complete systems include buttons to notify police departments, fire departments and medical help instantly. Another advantage offered by the best monitoring companies is live customer support and full service installation and repair of the system by employees who have been background checked, licensed and drug tested to ensure your safety. Finally, some companies even offer relocation services to keep you secure even when you move.

1. The classic Master Control Panel is vital to any home alarm system. The central hub of the system, the control panel is usually wall-mounted in an easily accessible place. The panel receives information from all other sensors and key pads, computes it, and transmits relevant information to the monitoring company. If you choose to arm the system from the panel when you leave the house, the master control panel also receives the disarm code when you return home. Some can even be disarmed by telephone!

Of course, this list is not comprehensive, and the needs of every home and homeowner are different. For more tips on choosing the right home alarm system and features to protect your house, I recommend visiting alarmoneinc.com.

3 Important Reasons to Go Eco-Friendly

We hear it every where - reasons to go eco-friendly, green products, save the environment and recycle. But what does it all really mean and why do we need to become more eco friendly?

1. One obvious reason is so that we can save our planet. Just thinking about the stash of plastic bottles that are thrown away every year which cannot disintegrate into the land.

2. Saving animals from extinction is another reason. So many of the various breeds of animals and insects and all manner of living creatures are becoming threatened because of our habits.

3. Greener, environmentally friendly products are kinder to our health.

For example when using plastic bottles the likelihood is those dangerous chemicals will leech into the liquid inside. We don't know that it is happening because it neither discolours the liquid (even if it is transparent like water) nor has a nasty taste.

The manufacturers of these products do not put any warnings or labels on the bottle stating this fact and the poor unsuspecting customers (us!) are the innocent victims.

Chemicals such as phenynol A are toxic and can cause cancer. These bottles and food containers may be lighter in weight and cheaper to produce but is it worth the possibility of using something that could cause you to become ill?

I always buy stainless steel drinking and food containers even though they do weight slightly more and they do cost a bit more. I am more concerned with the health of my family.

But another reason to go eco-friendly is to be able to use organic fresh foods that will not be tampered with in any way. There is absolutely no point in having a environmentally friendly product and filling it with junk food or ready made meals that already contain certain chemicals and additives.

The same applies to drinks. I first filter my water from my own filtering system at home and I then fill up the children's school bottles. I know that I am doing all that I can to keep my family safe.

I know that you too, wouldn't want to see your family suffer with painful, life threatening diseases just because you didn't make some changes.

It is very important to keep your water pure as this is a liquid that we use on a constant basis and without filtering it you have no idea what chemical compounds are being put into your body.

Be safe, be healthy and filter your water today. For more information on how to filter your water and the very best filters for giving you healthy mineralized water visit my website http://www.clean-safe-filtered-water.com today. And find your reasons to go eco-friendly.

Best Laptop Computers for College Students

1. Overview

Before we look at the laptops most suitable for college students, we should understand what makes a good student laptop. Typically, a student would want a laptop that's lightweight and comfortable enough to lug to and from their various classes. In addition, the laptop has to have great battery life and performance. And price is sometimes a concern, so the above features need to be packed into an affordable package.

After considering the types of laptops suitable for college students, I've decided to split them into three categories: budget, thin and light and ultraportable. So let's take a look at them now ...

2. Budget Laptops

For a college student who is short on cash, a budget laptop is a good buy. Some of the best budget laptops include those from Dell, Toshiba and HP. I personally find the Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 to be a great budget laptop. You get an AMD based dual core CPU, which perfroms very well with most applications. You also get a huge 200GB hard drive and a large number of peripheral ports.

There's also a nice Sony VGN-NR160E/S model that is (surprisingly) within the budget category. Out of the box, this machine gives you the Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, 1 GB of RAM and a large 160GB hard drive - that's a lot of computing power at budget price.

3. Thin and Light Laptops

If you prefer a more powerful laptop and don't mind a little bit of weight, then try going for a thin and light laptop. Some of the models I can think of include those from Lenovo, HP and Sony.

The Sony VAIO VGN-FZ280E is a pretty good choice for a thin and light notebook. This system comes with a Bluray compatible writer that can also burn CDs and DVDs. You also get an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz CPU, 2GB RAM and a very large 250GB hard drive.

Another model I'd consider is the HP Pavilion dv6675us. You will get an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz CPU, 4GB RAM and 250GB of hard drive space. The 4GB of RAM is a great feature which will come in handy if you're a student of finance or science and need to run intensive computational applications.

4. Ultraportable Laptops

If the size and weight of the laptop is of high importance to you, then go for an ultraportable laptop. These laptops give very good computing performance in a very small, compact package.

In this category, I think the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 is a great choice for students. It is slightly pricey (but not outrageously so) but it is one of the best performing laptops around. It weighs only about 3 pounds and is hence an extremely portable piece of hardware. You also get an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz CPU, 2GB RAM and an ample 100GB hard drive. You don't get a built-in DVD writer though - that unit is external to the laptop.

Another good choice is the Toshiba Portege R500-S5001X. It weights 2.4 pounds and is less than an inch thick. This is one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks you will find in the market. It's also very reasonably priced.

Conclusion

Well! I hope this article has shown you the various types of laptops which are suitable for college students. Regardless of your needs and budget, make sure that you do proper research before shelling out any cash. Until next time, best of luck and happy shopping!

HHO Gas Car Kit Conversion For Browns Gas - Do It Yourself And Convert Your Car To Burn On Water

HHO gas is the latest innovation to increase gas mileage, increase power and improve emissions. Your car will not be totally dependent on water but will be a hybrid of sorts by utilizing water as a catalyst once it is broken down to HHO also known as browns gas. By using HHO gas one can expect to see and increase in gas mileage of 20 - 50%. This is not new technology but is starting to get rediscovered as gas and diesel prices continue to increase.

You can find HHO gas car kits online for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Believe me they are worth every penny! The key here is that if you have a vehicle and you would like to make your own HHO or browns gas kit for your car or truck there is a lot of information online.

How is HHO gas utilized in your gas or diesel engine. When you convert your car to burn on water you are converting water to a gas that you engine can use. Some even refer to this as hydrogen on demand. Through a process of electrolysis water that is in a sealed container under your hood is converted to hydroxy also known as browns gas or HHO gas. This gas is then introduced to the airflow in the intake manifold using your engines vacuum. This gas is then mixed with the gasoline providing better gas mileage.

The process is so amazingly simple and the parts to build the system can be found around home or in your shop. This homemade hydrogen generator is easy to build. What you are looking at is a sealed quart size container, electrical wiring, baking soda, an automotive fuse and some vacuum hose. There is a handful of other parts but if you are wanting to make such a system it can be made for under $100 per vehicle! What is nice is it requires very little modification to your vehicle and can be removed within minutes and no one would even notice you had it installed.

There are forums online that focus HHO gas or browns gas technology as an alternative energy to reduce car emissions, increase gas mileage and improve power. HHO devices for cars are starting to get noticed. This technology has even been brought up in th news for improving gas mileage.

Preparing For a Pre-Sentence Investigation Interview

The Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) and the subsequent Pre-Sentence Investigation Report (PSR) is without a doubt the most dominant and definitive document used by the Court in determining a defendant's federal prison sentence. The PSI is the defendant's "Bible", his life history as seen through the eyes of the probation officer authoring the report in concert with the Assistant United States Attorney, AUSA, prosecuting the case. Besides being instrumental in determining his federal prison sentence, the PSI is vitally important with respect to BOP federal prison designation, security level, custody level, work assignments, bunk assignments, furlough eligibility, restitution issues, community custody placement, inmate quality of life enhancements, ability to self-surrender, and admission into the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program to name just a few.

These are the very issues that each federal defendant must be vitally concerned about. The importance of the PSI cannot be overstated. It follows the defendant throughout his whole period of federal prison incarceration. Anyone who thinks the PSI is impartial, fair, and provides an accurate unbiased accounting of the defendant is grossly mistaken.

The Pre-Sentence Investigation Report is written by a Probation Officer working for the Federal Government. How can a defendant expect to get a fair and unbiased report? The PSI is often slanted against the defendant in favor of the government and the prosecution. It is not only the obligation of the defendant and his attorney to make sure that any mistakes, inaccuracies, and untruths are corrected, it is their duty. All of these corrections must be completed prior to the PSI's final submission to the Court and the Bureau of Prisons. Unfortunately, many attorneys do not take the time and provide the scrutiny necessary to fully correct a defendant's PSI. This may have far-reaching undesirable effects on the defendant's length of sentence, program eligibility, facility designation, security level, eligibility to self-surrender, and so many other factors that an inmate faces every day in federal prison.

The solution to this dilemma is for the defendant to hire someone who is very knowledgeable in Federal Prison issues, programs, policies, procedures, and who has actually experienced life in a federal prison. The defendant should hire someone who has actually gone through the whole process. This is someone who knows the "ins" and "outs" of the federal prison system. The solution is to hire a competent, experienced, and knowledgeable Federal Prison Consultant. A competent Federal Prison Consultant will prepare the defendant for the all important Pre-Sentencing Investigation Interview and even accompany him if his attorney cannot. It is vitally important that the defendant does not go alone to this interview.

The defendant must be knowledgeable, honest, have a complete control of the facts, and not leave out any required information. The Probation Officer will ask for personal information including the defendant's full name, aliases, social security number, date of birth, current and previous addresses, family history, medical history, educational history, degrees earned, schools attended and educational associations. He will ask about his professional associations, civic life history, civic organizations, physical and mental well being and substance abuse history detailing drug and alcohol use. He will ask about his current offense and will verify everything that he is told. He will investigate any previous criminal history, DUI's, and even speeding tickets. He will investigate family relationships by talking to the defendant's sons, daughters, spouse, mother, and father. He will review relationships with therapists, clergy, professional and financial associates, and friends. He will want current financial information including all assets, bank and savings accounts, brokerage accounts, property owned, cars driven, IRA's, 401-K's, business ownership information, and business partners among other things.

A good Federal Prison Consultant knows the type and extent of information that the probation officer asks and requires in writing the PSR. It is always the same. Every PSI interview, regardless of the federal district in which it is conducted, follows a very similar pattern and direction. The information requested is always the same. A knowledgeable Federal Prison Consultant prepares the client for this all important interview. They know what will be asked and they prepare their clients for those questions. The information that is given to the U.S. Probation Officer must be complete, truthful, and factual. Knowing in advance the questions you will be asked allows you to prepare complete, truthful, and factual answers. There are no surprises.

Life in a federal prison is hard enough. There is no reason to make it harder by allowing an inaccurate, incomplete, biased, and slanted Pre-Sentence Investigation Report to be submitted to the Sentencing Judge and the Bureau of Prisons.

Electric Fireplace With Sound Effects - Snap Crackle Pop Isn't Just for Breakfast

What better way to complement the warmth and beauty of an electric fireplace than with the sound of live crackling flames? Especially when the flame displays of some recently introduced models approach the realism of actual flames.

The choices for an electric fireplace with sound effects aren't exactly abundant but they do exist. The first two models I found are from Classic Flame - as are the following product descriptions:

Classic Flame 18DM2105-M319 Martha's Vineyard Electric Fireplace with Slim Remote (The effect is complete with wood crackling and chimney sound effects.) $600

Classic Flame 28WM184-T408 Gossamer Electric Fireplace three crackle settings: (off/crackle/crackle with wind). $1120

Both of these units receive high praise from their owners but I discovered instances where these fireplaces, with identical model numbers, were being sold with and without the sound effect. Usually a model number is modified slightly to indicate the inclusion of a special feature such as sound, but that isn't the case here.

By way of explanation I can only assume the retailer has a choice of ordering a specific model fireplace with sound or without, or the manufacturer has discontinued the sound effect and you're purchasing an older model.

Either way, if the product description doesn't specifically mention the sound effect, it probably doesn't have it.

The third model I found is the Reflections Electric Fireplace model LSE-36R. This one comes with an "adjustable digital audio soundtrack of a real fire." For the princely sum of $3632 I would expect no less.

A fourth option is the FIRE/FX also from Classic Flame ($529). Not only does it have the sound of crackling flames - they're heard in unison with the flame display. The FIRE/FX also offers a very realistic flame display incorporating the latest LED lighting technology.

The FIRE/FX is a plug in fireplace, not a complete mantel package. It can be used as a portable stand alone fireplace, as an insert for a wood burning fireplace, or as the fire box for a custom made mantel piece.

Since it's difficult to find an electric fireplace with sound effects, much less one that also mirrors your taste and budget, you might want to consider an accessory such as the Fire Crackler Sound System; a 3" x 3" battery powered unit, or the Kracklebox Fireplace Sound System which runs on household power.

Florida Statutory Rape Laws - Ignorance Of Age Is Not A Legal Defense

Sexual intercourse in which one partner is an adult and the other a minor is legally referred to as statutory rape. In the case of one Florida sexual offense law, an adult is defined as someone aged 24 or older. A minor is defined as anyone under the age of 18.

Florida Statute Title XLVI Crimes Chapter 794 Sexual battery 794.05 - Unlawful sexual activity with certain minors. This law makes it a felony for anyone 24 years of age or older to have sex with a 16 or 17 year old. Ignorance of age cannot be raised as a defense for this crime.


QUESTION: Does this mean that anyone between the age of 18 and 24 can have sex with minors under the age of 18?

ANSWER: No, it does not.

Florida Statute Title XLVI Crimes Chapter 800 Lewdness; Indecent Exposure - 800.04 Lewd or Lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age: This law makes it a felony of the second degree for "A person" 18 or older, to engage in sexual activity with a person 12 years of age or older, but less than 16 years of age.

Florida Statute Title XLVI Crimes Chapter 827 Abuse of Children 827.04 Contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child; states that a person 21 years of age or older who impregnates a child under 16 years of age commits an act of child abuse which constitutes a felony of the third degree.

Statutory rape laws are meant to protect young people.

Knowing that jail time is a possible consequence deters many (but unfortunately not all) adults from becoming sexually involved with minors. When the act on a minor has already been committed, protection comes in the form of punishing the offender, usually with a felony offense.

Problem is, most minors that have sexual relations with adults rarely feel victimized and therefore don't feel the need for protection. As a result, parents who suspect their underage children of being sexually active with older adults face a dilemma. If they report their suspicions to authorities, the report sets in motion a long and complex legal process which usually alienates them from their children.

If they don't report their suspicions, they may feel they've failed in one of their primary responsibilities as a parent: Protecting their child from potential danger.

Do you suspect statutory rape?

If you're a parent and suspect your minor child is sexually involved with an adult you have every right to decide how to handle the situation. Depending on your child's maturity level, you might decide to speak frankly about the possible consequences and then allow some time for them to seek a resolution themselves.

Or you may feel it necessary to take legal action. If so, start gathering evidence of the relationship now. Read your child's journals, dairies, text message logs and email and make copies of any relevant information, especially anything that is dated, before your child has a chance to destroy evidence. If you think there's evidence on a computer, be sure to make a backup copy of the hard drive, too. If you don't know how to do that, find someone who does.

Reporting statutory rape in Florida

The general procedure for reporting suspected cases of statutory rape in the state of Florida is as follows:

Start by reporting the suspected statutory rape violation to the Sheriff's office or local police department. Based on the evidence provided, the law enforcement agency usually will either dismiss the case if insufficient evidence is provided; place the case on hold until resources can be devoted; or initiate an investigation right away.

An investigation entails gathering the names of and interviewing everyone involved including witnesses and following up on leads and any new information learned as a result of the interviewing process. A review of all evidence is also undertaken.

If this investigation is inconclusive, the case likely will be dropped at this stage. However, if the investigation determines that a violation of Florida statutory rape laws has taken place, the case is forwarded to the appropriate district office of the State Attorney for prosecution.

Once under the jurisdiction of the State Attorney's Office, district attorneys take sworn testimony from all witnesses. From there they will make a determination as to whether charges should be filed. If warranted, the specific charges are determined next. The district attorney's office then files a case with the Clerk of Courts, an action that signifies the start of the prosecution phase.

No one really wins in court

If all this sounds overwhelming, remember there is a better way. Keeping the lines of communication open may help prevent statutory rape from developing in the first place. So do the right thing and talk openly, honestly and regularly with your child.

Speed Up Laptop - 3 Quick Steps to Speed Up My Laptop Computer

Are you wondering "why is my computer so slow"? Looking to speed up laptop computers overall performance? Well you have come to the right place. All computers and especially laptops slow down when they get a little wear and tear on them. Unfortunately instead of adjusting a few things, people believe they need to buy a new computer in order to increase laptop speed. This just isn't true. You can actually speed up your laptop with these three quick steps. I will also recommend a program that can perform all three automatically for you. Speeding up your laptop was never this easy!

The first step is to run a disk defrag on your system. What a disk defragmenter does is increase the speed in which you can access information. Whenever your computer processes information it needs to jump from place to place and this takes time. Defragging your system allows your computer to stream information through one path. This will speed up laptop computers ability to access and run different programs.

The second step is to eliminate as many unnecessary startup programs as possible. Anytime you install a new program it will try to automatically start itself every time you power your computer on. This will dramatically slow down the speed your computer can start up or shutdown. These programs also eat up valuable RAM which causes the computer to be very sluggish. Eliminate all but the necessary programs and feel the incredible difference in your laptop processor speed.

The third step is to clean up registry congestion. This is without question the most important step you can take to speed up your laptop. As we download new or remove old programs our registries get congested with useless and redundant files. This clogs everything up and leaves you asking why is my computer slow? Getting rid of those unnecessary files will not only speed up your computer but prevent it from crashing in the future.

These are three steps you can do right now to get your computer running like it did out of the box. If you are a computer novice and want a program to do the work for you I highly recommend visiting the link below. Instead of spending hundreds on new upgrades or thousands on a new laptop, why not just optimize your computer to reach it's peak performance for a fraction of the cost? Give it a try.

Pick of the Week: Artic Cat 400 4x4

Generally speaking, Artic Cat ATVs have a huge market share as far as mid-range ATVs are concerned. Combine their affordability with high quality parts - they have gained good ground on the ATVs that they produce and thus far, have a lot of ATV fans hooked. The 2007 model comes in three versions to meet the different needs of different ATV riders. The good thing is that there's an option for you to purchase the Arctic Cat ATV which is a single-seater or you can pick the Artic Cat that is a double-seater - the choice is yours to make. Accordingly, the price difference is roughly $1,000. The other Arctic Cat 400 versions are ones with and without automatic transmission.

Other features of Arctic Cat 400 4x4 ATV

o Suzuki-built engine

o Engine is air-cooled, four-stroke, four valves and one overhead cam

o Manual is five speed with high and low range; comes with reverse

o Option: two or four wheel drive

o Locking front differential

o Ten inches of travel at both ends; twelve inches ground clearance underneath

What others have to say about Arctic Cat 400 4x4 ATV

This ATV is more comfortable than we first expected it to be - the seat is extremely soft and comfortable to ride on making every ride you have on the ATV a smash! Most Arctic Cat fans say that the thing that they were most impressed with were the fact that it had a front lock differential - it's almost impossible to get stuck in this ATV. "One time, I was ready to bring on the winch but then I suddenly remembered that my Arctic Cat had front differential feature and within a heart beat, I was out. It was amazing", says Kenneth Mahon (35), a satisfied Arctic Cat ATV fan.

Cody Zimmerman (22), is absolutely in love with his Arctic Cat 400 and says that it's an AWESOME machine to have simply because of it's ground clearance. It's fast enough, safe enough, fun enough and can go just about anywhere a two-wheeler and four-wheeler can go. And Cody reckons that Arctic Cat gives good pricing for an ATV like this too!

Other reviews of Arctic Cat 400 4x4 ATV

However, it's not all beds and roses with the Arctic Cat because one problem we found was that the gears were set too high. For instance, the reverse gear was set so high that if you tried to reverse yourself out of the mud, you won't be able to because it won't have enough power to get the ATV out. Perhaps a change of tires would do the trick, so, it's all trial and error here.

Arctic Cat 400 is probably not the best machine to race on but it is definitely one of the best ATVs to own if you love get a little muddy! It's got the power to get the machine out of anything if you get the right tires and it's decently fast. But we reckon it's nothing a little modification can't fix. And for that price? Come on!

Tablet PC Comparison - What Is the Best Tablet PC to Buy?

Tablet PC Comparison: Apple iOS vs Google Android

Although there are a number of different companies, utilising different operating systems (OS for short), now creating brilliant options for tablet computers, the chief tablet PC comparison for almost all consumers still boils down to the Apple iPad's iOS and different Google Android tablets. So which choice of these two systems (or any other) is the correct one for your needs?

Look and feel: Most industry experts largely agree that Apple's iOS works extremely well both as a smartphone and a tablet PC operating system. The system works very intuitively on the iPad - particularly if you've used an iPhone or iPod Touch before. The interface can be said to be iOS's best benefit, which no other tablet currently on the market can match.

Apps: In addition to the look and feel seniority, Apple also have a major marketing point with their App Store. There are currently over 350,000 apps available to download for free or buy for a small price from the Apple Store. It's a certainty that when a new app is created by a company or developer, the first version is for the App Store and after that it is ported to other platforms. However, Apple's store is not the sole player in the arena - the Android Market is rapidly growing, passing the 100,000 apps mark in early 2011.

Android has one major advantage on the competition when it comes to apps: it's far more open and has more of a laissez-faire policy to the Market, whereas the App Store exercises very tight controls on every application, particularly in regard to adult content. The Android market allows developers much more creativity and flexibility.

There have also been complaints from some developers about Apple's rigid marketeering, with Apple requiring developers to remove any links from inside apps to the developers own websites. (The benefit to Apple is that they keep 30% commission from every app sale, whereas previously customers may have upgraded from free to paid version from within the developer's own site.)

Hardware: One major difference between iOS and Android is that iOS is exclusive to the iPad, while Android is open source and is being used by a number of different companies. This effectively means that the iPad and iOS are joined at the hip - you can't run the iPad without iOS. The iPad therefore has much more restriction of choice than other tablets, and much tighter pricing. However, those choices that are on the market are all good quality, and the hardware and software do work together harmoniously - crashes are very rare on the iPad.

Android, by contrast, is used in many different tablets from a large number of makers. From Blackberry to Samsung, you have a much wider choice of tablet PC to suit your budget and particular needs. However, you do need to do your homework. Some companies have customised Android and improved it, but some may not work as well and might still be based on older Android releases.

Conclusion

Right now, the iPad is still the most well-known and iconic tablet PC on the market. However, popularity is growing with a number of other tablet PCs. The choice is certainly good news for customers, who now have much more availability to get their exact requirements from a tablet computer. A lot of people still favour the Apple iOS, particularly if they have used other Apple products, but in the end it comes down to doing a tablet PC comparison yourself, by researching, checking them out, testing some in store, and selecting the one that feels like a good match for you.

The DIY Way To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades

Is your lawn mower tearing of the lawn grass blades instead of cutting it? Does your lawn look like it has been eaten by a goat, in spite of being cut by the lawn mower? Wait; do not pull your hair by the root. Help is at hand. We will teach you how to sharpen the lawn mower blades at minimum price and effort.

Your Manual Lawn Mower - The Faithful Walk Behinds

Tools: The tools that your will require for doing this job are

You and your time of about 2 hours or less

A bastard file of about 12" long

A small crow bar to prevent movement of rotor of lawn mower.

A worktable will be useful for dong the job comfortably.

Procedure: You can use the following procedure as a general guide and make changes to it to suit you. Remember the procedure is not sacrosanct. The results are important, not the procedure.

If possible, remove the handle of lawn mower and place lawn mower on the table.

Secure it if possible in the clamps. If you do not have clamps, do not bother, secure it against any block, so that the movement away from you is restricted.

Fix the crowbar in the blades so that it will not rotate

With the help of the bastard file, file the edges of blades so that they look sharp. Work at an angle of 45 degrees

When one blade is sharpened, remove the crowbar and turn the rotor to work on another blade. Repeat the procedure until all blades are sharpened.

If you have a flexible shaft grinder in your DIY workshop, you will be able to complete the work within 5 to 10 minutes per blade. Make a template of blade profile before you start your work and compare frequently. This is necessary to ensure that you do not over cut at a place.

Safety Tip For You

While sharpening the blades ensure that the stroke is not too long otherwise, you may injure yourself.

Sharpening Blades Of Power Mower

Depending upon the lawn mower the procedure may vary. We have included general statements in this procedure; you would have to change the procedure slightly. Keep the maintenance manual of lawn mower handy if you have one.

Tools required.

Siphon hose and clean container

Heavy work gloves and goggles

Double-cut (medium-rough) flat file

Lumber scrap

Socket wrench set

Rubber mallet*

Bench vise or C clamps

Rotary blade sharpener accessory

Electric drill*

Screwdriver, or 1/4-in. rod or bolt*

Blade balancer

Replacement blade*

* Only if required

The list may look formidable, but tools are generally available with every DIY enthusiast.

Procedure:

The procedure is given for the simple single blade lawn mower, but the same will apply to all types of blades, whether single or double

Wear hand gloves and clean the engine and the gasoline tank from outside

Remove spark plug from the engine

Remove all the fuel from the tank of the gasoline engine. Use the siphon hose so you do not spill gasoline on floor.

Completely empty out the oil from gearbox if you have one

Invert the engine and have access to the blade.

Clamp the engine so it does not move and clean the blade area thoroughly

With help of a box spanner, remove the nut holding the blade. Usually the nut will be unlocked in the reverse to direction of rotation of engine. You may engage the screwdriver in the cooling fan of engine to stop rotation of engine.

If you find that you are using too much force to unlock the nut, put one or two drops of rust removing chemical, and try after 30 minutes

After you remove the blade, clamp it in the bench vise and sharpen it with a file or a grinder. Sharpen only the outer 2 to 3 inches. The area to be sharpened will be known if you see the blade.

Sharpen only to the required extent. Too much sharpening is not necessary. This is not the knife. It works at the speed of the engine

After sharpening, check with your thumb. Be careful not to cut thumb. If you have done sharpening before, or seen some one doing it, you will know what we mean by this.

Balance the blade with help of a small balancing tool on VEE blocks, or even on two foot rulers placed side by side

Refit the blades, refill engine oil and gasoline and test the sharpness of blades on uncut portion of your lawn

Safety tips:

Always use safety goggles and hand gloves when working with power tools.

Be sure to remove the spark plug before starting. Serious accidents can happen if you do not do this.

2012 Survival Kit

If you trying to assemble a small 2012 survival kit, good luck. Your 2012 survival kit is going to be more like a 2012 survival list. Your 2012 survival list needs to be comprehensive and cover all areas of concern - food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation and any miscellaneous items you feel are necessary.

2012 Survival Concern #1 - Food

You need food to last you for about a year. Yes a year. And this is only food for yourself, if you are with family each person needs enough food to last them a year. Dried vegetables, meats, fruits, nuts, and seeds are a necessity. You also need food seeds to start a garden if the soil permits it. Carrots, celery, cabbage, eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. Are all necessary. If you want to think longer term get seeds for fruit trees.

Hunting equipment will also be necessary here. I wouldn't recommend getting fishing gear, as most of the water will most likely be too polluted to eat from for a while. Gear for trapping small to large animals is essential.

Basic kitchen utensils, storage containers, pots and pans are also needed.

2012 Survival Concern #2 - Water

You must have a portable water purification system with many many filters. Clear water will be scare.

2012 Survival Concern #3 - Shelter

This is course depends on where you are. A high quality tent and a sleeping bag are excellent ideas as you will most likely be moving around a lot.

2012 Survival Concern #4 - Clothing

Depending on where you are, you may need a winter jacket, lots of sweaters, waterproof gear, high water boots, gloves, etc.

2012 Survival Concern #5 - Transportation

Again depending on where you are, your transportation needs will change. You may want a mountain bike, skis, a ATV, etc. Make sure you get plenty of fuel if you are planning to transport with anything that requires fuel.

Most people will want a unsinkable boat though regardless of where they are because of the high water levels.

2012 Survival Concern #6 - Miscellaneous Items

Miscellaneous items include a first aid kit, water-poof matches, candles, a lantern, flares, walkie talkies, batteries, etc.

Nokia C5-03 Review

It wasn't long ago when Nokia launched its new line-up of phones, the C-Series. Currently being the most dominant cell phone manufacturer, Nokia has already released quite a number of successful phones to this series, and has also just announced its latest addition to it, the C5-03. Now, it must be noted that the Nokia C5-03 is not to be confused with the previously released Nokia C5. In short, the device has quite some neat features which are simple to use but covers all of the essentials for modern-day phones and at the same time comes at an affordable price.

In terms of design, the C5-03 looks very stylish and comes in a number of vibrant & variant colours.

The C5-03 features a neat 3.2 inch TFT resistive touchscreen which features a resolution of 360 x 640 pixels. Although this display can't exactly match up to the ones on the latest smartphones today, but should be sufficient for the average user. There is also a Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate and Proximity sensor for auto turn-off.

The depressing part though, is that the operating system on the Nokia C5-03 is Symbian ^1 aka S60 5th edition touch edition. Nokia has already pushed some of their other smartphones to Symbian ^3, and is it hence disappointing that they did not do the same with the C5-03. Despite that, there's Nokia Messaging pre-installed, Mail for Exchange support, Ovi Mail, Ovi Store and Ovi Music Integration. Millions of other supported applications are also available from the Ovi Store.

The new C5-03 flaunts an impressive 5 Mega Pixel Camera, but it is of fixed focus and there is no flash to accompany it. The Image quality is what we can come to expect from an average 5 Mega Pixel Camera. A very nifty feature that's available though is Geo-tagging. Apart from images, video Recording is supported at an not so impressive resolution of 640x480 at 15 frames per second and save them in H.263 or MPEG-4 formats. Yet again, the lack of flash shows, as the video recording isn't exactly in top notch quality, even for the supported resolution.

Storage wise, the C5-03 is impressive for a phone with mid-range features. There's only 40MB of internal user memory, but there is a Micro SD card slot, hence it makes the memory expandable up to 16 GB with Micro SD Cards.

The Biggest Surprize is with the battery life. Nokia has outdone themselves in this department by offering a 1000 mAh battery to a phone that has controlled and limited battery consumption. The result is an extremely long standby time of up to 24-25 days. And a talk time of 11.5 hours on 2G networks and 5 hours on 3G networks.

Nokia has managed to offer quite some connectivity options on the C5-03 with support for quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, tri-band 3G with HSDPA (10.2Mbps) and HSUPA (2Mbps), A-GPS and Bluetooth 2.0.

Priced at a surprisingly affordable $237, the Nokia C5-03 is sure sell like hotcakes when it releases towards the end of this year. It might not be able to compete with the other smartphones in the market, but it definitely might be just the cheapest smartphone out there, with all the essential features.

Is This Why Your Vagina Smells?

Wanda The Fish. That was the most humiliating name any chick could get labeled at my middle school. Getting chastised as "Wanda" simply meant that your vagina reeked of "Tuna Of The Sea".

Understandably, girls, myself included, would go to extensive lengths to avoid this dehumanizing stigma.

So what do you do when your stinky midsection betrays an otherwise healthy vagina? The first step is to actually make sure that your vagina is in tip-top shape.

What's a Vagina Supposed to Smell Like?

Throughout your menstrual cycle, it's normal to have a variety of vaginal discharges. Vaginal discharge can take the form of the non-fertile, viscous- and sticky-type discharge to the very fertile, slippery- and clear-type discharge that occurs close to menstruation.

Abnormal discharges are accompanied by itchiness, raunchy smells, and/ or gray-, yellow- or green-colored discharges.

The second step to restoring your vagina to health involves to ruling out the possibility of having vaginal conditions like bacterial vaginosis, a yeast infection or trichomonas vaginitis.

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), while more common than yeast infections, doesn't get much attention in the media.

The cause of bacterial vaginosis remains unclear but this condition is linked to sexual activity and douching. According to a University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) study, a sexually transmitted virus that infects vaginal lactobacilli may cause bacterial vaginosis.

Vaginal lactobacilli are required to maintain a healthy pH and bacterial balance within the vagina. Once this balance is disrupted by a virus, the vagina no longer has a protective barrier and is more susceptible to infection.

In the 1999 UIC study, Sylvia Pavlova, senior research specialist, and Lin Tao, associate professor of oral biology, found that viruses may cause bacterial vaginosis. Moreover bacterial vaginosis could be sexually transmitted.

If untreated, bacterial vaginosis can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancy, or, pre-term labor if you are pregnant.

Only your doctor can diagnose bacterial vaginosis. Your doctor would prescribe oral antibiotics or antibiotic vaginal inserts to treat bacterial vaginosis.

What to look and smell for:

Increased vaginal discharge. A fishy vaginal odor and white or gray milk-like discharge.

Yeast infection

If you've used antibiotics, been pregnant, have diabetes, or wear tight clothing, chances are you've experienced an overgrowth of vaginal yeast. Overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans is largely blamed for causing yeast infections.

Most women find their yeast infection treatment in over-the-counter preparations at drug stores. Other times you can find yeast infection relief by moderating your sugar intake and supplementing your diet with more foods that contain Lactobacillus (L.).

Dr. Tori Hudson, who serves a medical director of A Woman's Time, recommends that you eat foods that contain at least three of the following forms of Lactobacillus when naturally treating a yeast infection: L. acidophilus, L. fermentum. L. plantarum, L bulgaricus, L. casei, or L. rhamnosus.

While a research war still ranges over the effectiveness of Lactobacillus against combating yeast infections, women still notice improvements with their vaginal infections after supplementing their diet with this probiotic.

What to look and smell for:

Symptoms include a white cottage cheese-like discharge, itching, redness, and irritation.

Trichomonas vaginitis

Trichomonas vaginitis comes in as the third leading cause of vaginal infections.

Commonly called "hooker", I mean "trick", trichomonas vaginitis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a tiny single-celled parasite. Like bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas vaginitis can be transmitted through intercourse.

Your doctor would have to test you to diagnose trichomonas vaginitis. She will prescribe antibiotics as a treatment.

What to look and smell for:

Increased amount of vaginal discharge. Possible itching. Itching and redness accompanied by a yellow-green discharge.

You know what the ironic thing about this smelly vagina business is?

It is that if you get bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas vaginitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, but after using the antibiotics, your chances of getting a vaginal yeast infection shoot up. Who designed this health scenario anyway?

Before you curse, Wanda, let me offer you these tips for vaginal health to use at you own discretion:

The vagina needs to breathe, so let it. Wear pantyhose less often. Use knee-highs or thigh-highs instead.

Wear cotton underwear instead of synthetic underwear.

Use condoms during sex. Even though the theory that sex can cause a vaginal infection remains contested, use a condom is a preventative until the infection gone.

Add one teaspoon of boric acid or a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide to two quarts of warm water. (For the boric acid to mix well you need to make sure the water is warm). Use the boric acid or hydrogen peroxide douche for two weeks and stop. The boric acid and hydrogen peroxide should increase the amount of lactic acid within the vagina. This increased amount of lactic acid within the vaginal helps restore the proper bacterial balance within the vaginal and reduces the chances of re-infection.

Eat less sugar so that you don't feed the yeast.

See a doctor if you still have doubts. The Mayo Clinic Women's "HealthSource" newsletter has cautioned women against hastily self-diagnosing vaginal problems and labeling every smelly vagina issue as a "yeast infection". This may not allows be the case.

Ok, I hope you smell better now and if in doubt, check it out.

OBD1 Codes Secrets for Domestic Vehicles

For vehicles made after 1996, retrieving the codes of the check engine light in your dash panel is simple. All you need to do is find your diagnostic connector located under the dash by the driver side. You can then hook up a scanner and the codes will be displayed for you. If you don't have any scanner like most drivers, you can bring your vehicle to any local automotive parts store and they will usually scan the codes FREE for you. However, for vehicles made on or before 1995, there is only one cheap way to get it: You do it yourself!

On board diagnostic (OBD) was designed on vehicles equipped with electronic fuel injection so you can generally retrieve the codes yourself. No need buying a scanner or running to any parts stores to check the engine light. This system is called obd1 and applies to most vehicles made before 1995 for domestics and 1993 on imports. In this article, I will discuss the methods used by domestic vehicle manufacturers on how to check the engine lights in their cars and trucks.

For GM domestic vehicles made before 1995, the diagnostic connector is located under the dash panel by the driver side. To get the check engine codes to flash in your dash panel, use a jumper wire or a paper clip and connect terminals A and B of the diagnostic connector. Turn your ignition key on with engine off and the codes should start to blink. All codes should start with code 12 which is one long flash followed by 2 short flashes. This code 12 means the diagnostic system is normal and will repeat itself continuously if there are no trouble codes. Otherwise, code 12 will flash 3 times before flashing the fault codes.

Ford owners can check their check engine light using the diagnostic connector located at the engine compartment by the fender near the battery. Getting the obd1 codes need a couple of tools: a 4 inch long gage 16 jumper wire and a 12 volt test light.
Both tools are hooked up to the diagnostic connector and when the ignition key is turned on (without starting engine) the codes will begin to flash in the test light, not in the dash panel. If there is no code, you will normally get code 11 or 111. On Fords, there are 2 test modes, the KOEO (key on engine off) and the KOER (key on engine running). Both test modes should be used to get the accurate evaluation of the stored fault codes.

Of all the 3 domestic vehicles, the easiest method to check the engine light is Chrysler products. Why? Because all you need is to turn the ignition key on and off a within 5 seconds and the codes will start to flash in the dash panel.

Counting the codes being flashed is almost the same for these 3 domestic vehicles and most of the codes can be erased or cleared by disconnecting the battery negative terminal for 1 minute and reconnect. Just make sure to check your service manual in case you have electronic equipment such as radio or clock that needs reprogramming in which battery disconnection is not recommended. Finally after performing repairs on the culprit code, always go for a road test to confirm if the problem is fixed.

If you want a detailed way on how the above procedures are done, please visit my blog: http://check-engine-light-codes.blogspot.com . This blog offers free info on how to check engine light codes with color pictures and regular repair tips so you can save money next time you see your check engine light.

Can I Retrieve Deleted Photos From My iPhone? - Get Your Lost iPhone Pictures Back!

Did you accidentally delete some important pictures of your iPhone? Are you wondering Can I retrieve deleted Photos from my iPhone? If so then you've come to the right place as in this article I will show you exactly how to retrieve deleted photos and get your lost iPhone pictures back. So continue reading below to learn more.

Now you are probably wondering how its possible to retrieve photos off your iPhone that you've already deleted. Well to give you a quick answer, your iPhones hard drive is very similar to a computer's hard drive. And just like a normal hard drive the iPhone doesn't delete media or pictures off its hard drive permanently, instead when a file is deleted its space is just listed as available and new re-usable space.

Now until that space is overwritten by new data, such as pictures, music, videos etc.. that you recently uploaded your old files and pictures are still there and can be recovered. In order to recover them you will need to grab the right tools and do so fast, because essentially you only have a small window of opportunity to get your files back.

The program you will need to download is called stellar photo recovery, it is a specific data recovery program designed to retrieve deleted photos from iPhone, digital camera's, usb cards, sd cards and many other devices. It is free to download so you can check to see if your photos are actually recoverable first.

Hence if you managed to accidentally delete some photos off your iPhone and are left wondering Can I Retrieve deleted photos from my iPhone then rest assured there are ways to get them back. Retrieving deleted photos is a task that can be carried out very easily with good photo recovery software. One particular program that will get the job done is stellar photo recovery; it is free to download so check it out below.

Wheat Grinders - Types, Prices, Usage, Recommendations

If you are anything like me, the idea of buying, let alone actually USING a wheat grinder can be pretty intimidating. I am determined to accumulate a healthy-sized food storage and wheat is going to play a big role in that. I am also a fan of the mantra "store what you eat and eat what you store". Thus it quickly became apparent to me that I needed to do some heavy duty research in order to uncover all the mysteries surrounding "wheat grinders" or "grain mills" as they are officially called. With the help of internet research, some hands on research at several neighbors' houses, and multiple failed attempts in the kitchen, I have come up with a pretty good summary of what you need to know.

Types of Wheat Grinders

Manual Wheat Grinders

Pros

Inexpensive
Can be used with no power source
Small to store

Cons

SLOW to grind (mine took 6 minutes to grind one cup of flour)
Except for the very high-end models, you cannot grind a fine flour
Inconvenient (messy and hard to fit a large bowl underneath)

KitchenAid Attachments

Pros

Less expensive than an electric grinder
Small to store
Convenient to use and then mix bread in the same machine

Cons

I have heard from multiple sources that these units will BREAK your KitchenAid mixer
Not as fast at grinding as electric grinders

Electric Wheat Grinders

Pros

Grinds very fast
Useful for many types of grains, beans, nuts, etc.
Easy to select how coarse or fine to grind, and has a large range

Cons

Fairly expensive, even for the lower-end models
Must have a generator or battery pack to use with no electricity (unless you buy a high end model that comes with a manual crank)
A large appliance to store in your kitchen

Prices of Wheat Grinders

Manual Wheat Grinders

Low: $20-30 models will not grind flour, only coarse corn meal, etc. Not very useful.
Medium: $75-$175 is a good price range. Back to Basics Grain Mill is $75. It can grind fine enough for bread flour but not for very fine cake flour. Wonder Junior is higher-priced at $169 but it can grind into cake flour.
High: Up to $400 for the Country Living Grain Mill. It is quicker than other manual grinders and is able to grind a fine cake flour.

KitchenAid Attachments

$100-120, some may be used on any stand mixer.
Electric Wheat Grinders

Low: Under $200 for grinders such as the Blendtec Grain Mill. Its drawbacks are it is very noisy and cannot do very coarse grinds.
Medium: $200-$300 can get you a great grinder. The two most popular electric grinders are the WonderMill and the NutriMill. In my tests I found the WonderMill to be faster, quieter, cleaner, and easier to store. And priced at $239 it is even cheaper than the NutriMill which is $269.
High: Over $300 is an unnecessary amount to spend in my opinion. There are heavy duty models out there but you can get the job done with the mid-range models.

How To Use Wheat Grinders

Manual Wheat Grinders

Attach wheat grinder to your counter top
Place a bowl underneath
Pour the wheat in the funnel
Turn the crank (for a LONG time)
Wheat will filter into the bowl below

Electric Wheat Grinders

Select how fine or coarse you want to grind
Turn on the machine
Pour the wheat in the top
Wait for it to grind into flour (super fast)
Turn off the machine and pull out your canister of wheat

How To Use Fresh Ground Whole Wheat

Whole wheat bread can be delicious! I have gone through a lot of recipes trying to find the perfect balance of flavor, nutrition, texture, etc. for my wheat bread. Experiment with different recipes and types of wheat until you find what your family prefers. We liked using hard white wheat in a recipe that included gluten and oatmeal.
Pancakes even your kids will love! I took an IHOP corn cakes recipe and simply swapped all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour and it was amazing. My kids ate 3 each at one meal. They are delicious drizzled with honey over top.
Whole wheat oatmeal cookies you can't resist. I haven't tried any of these recipes yet but several of my friends said they prefer whole wheat cookies to regular cookies. Who wouldn't want an excuse to make cookies, hey it's rotating your food storage.
Much much more. I grind up a large Tupperware full of hard white wheat flour and store it in my freezer (it retains the nutrients that way). Whenever I do any baking I replace half or all of the flour called for with my whole wheat flour. If it is as good or better I add that recipe to my food storage recipe binder. It's a great way to experiment until you find what works for you.

My Recommendations

Emergency-Only Usage

If you are planning to use your food storage and wheat grinder only if an emergency situation arises, it is not worth the expense and hassle of buying and storing an electric grinder. At a minimum you should get the Back to Basics Grain Mill but I would highly recommend splurging for the Wonder Junior.
Every-Day Usage

If you plan to "store what you eat and eat what you store" I highly recommend the WonderMill Grain Mill electric grinder. If you are not planning to find an alternative power source for an emergency situation, then eventually pick up a Back to Basics Grain Mill as well. The price of these two combined are still cheaper than high-end electric grinders that have a manual crank option, and the functionality of the WonderMill is better for frequent usage.

Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL - A Review

The Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A was released on April 13, 2010. In this Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A review, we will tell you whether it is a machine that you should consider purchasing.

First off, let's talk about the aesthetics. When you receive this new Apple MacBook in the mail as I did, you will immediately notice how solidly constructed and elegant this little machine is. Often, when you receive the laptop equivalent in a PC, you can tell it is not all created in a unified manner. MacBooks simply feel extremely well-constructed and this MacBook Pro MC374LL/A is no exception. It is a sturdy machine and you can tell this from the first touch.

But, when we purchase a laptop, aesthetics are certainly not enough. So, let's take a look under this beautiful exterior and see what this new MacBook contains.

This Apple laptop features a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor which is extremely fast for a laptop of this size. The previous model contained a 2.26 GHz processor so this machine executes a small bit faster.

The screen on this laptop, a 13.3 inch LED-backlit display with 1280-by-800 resolution, is impeccable. Many people want larger screens in their laptops but it is amazing how this 13.3 inch screen serves your needs. I did not find myself wanting more screen real estate. Plus, for my uses, I want my laptop to be extremely portable and the smaller screens make for increased portability. Since this machine comes with an HDMI type adaptor, you can always connect laptop to TV when you want a larger screen.

And for portability, we also want long battery life as we find in many of today's top rated netbooks. The MacBook Pro MC374LL/A provides just that with battery life lasting for a good 9 to 10 hours, an improvement over last years Mac and much better than many PC laptops out there, except for the ASUS laptops which achieve that and a little more.

Now, as we investigate the memory and storage of this machine, we will be left both satisfied and wanting.

The machine comes with 4GB of DDR memory which allows us to have many applications comfortably running at the same time. If we want to expand in the future (which we probably will), the MC374LL/A is expandable to 8GB.

The storage space-the size of the hard drive-is the one area we found wanting for more. With this machine, you only receive a 250GB hard drive. In today's media rich environment, this is slightly less than we need. Here, there are two options. One, we can do an upgrade of the hard drive ourselves. Or, two, we can order a large external drive which is available for less than $100.

So, how do I sum up this Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A review?

It's an amazing little machine that packs a lot of punch. At a current price of just over $1,100, Mac enthusiasts will certainly love this machine. However, if you are a PC person, you can get a machine with similar characteristics for about half the price.

SkyCaddie SG5 Review - The Latest Golf GPS Device From SkyGolf

Attention: NEW GADGET ALERT!!!! The new SkyCaddie SG5 Pro is now available from SkyGolf, so before I went out and threw down my hard earned cash, I borrowed one from a friend and this is my short Skycaddie SG5 review. The latest unit from Skygolf boasts a new a large color display and a long-lasting rechargeable battery (hopefully the battery better than previous versions). Along with the patented Intelligreen Technology that was also on the previous SG4, the following are features of the new SG5 Pro.

Brilliant, outdoor-readable color display with automatic backlight
IntelliGreen technology
Rugged, water-resistant case
Drop-in lithium-rechargeable battery
LED battery charging indicator
Easy to use, one-handed operation
User-selectable color themes

I currently have the SG4 and the main complaint I have is that the battery only lasts for 2 full rounds. It doesn't appear that they have upgraded the battery for the SG5, because that's about the most life I got from the battery in that unit as well. Occasionally, the SG4 & the SG5 will take a long time to connect to the satellites. Even when it's showing that there are 3 or 4 satellites in the area, it can take a hole or more for yardages to show up. Because of this, I suggest that you fire the Skycaddie up as soon as you reach the course, to give it enough time to connect, before you tee off.

Honestly, the rest of the features on the SG5 are pretty much the same as the SG4. You still get yardages to objects such as large trees, bunkers, water hazards, end of fairways etc. With the Intelligreen system, you can move the flag position over the entire green to get accurate yardages to just about any spot they can think to put the flagstick. One of my favorite features on the Skycaddies is the ability to measure shot yardages. By simply pressing the "mark" button at your current location, and then again when you reach your ball, you will get accurate distances for the shot you just hit. This is a great way to learn how far you actually hit each club, and to have fun long drive competitions with your friends.

I never knew how off I was on my distances until I got a SkyCaddie and started hunting down pins. Other than the color screen, I don't see any huge benefit of the new SG5 over the previous models. MSRP on the SG5 is $429 on the SkyCaddie website, but you can still get the SG4 in the low $300's. I highly recommend a skycaddie to golfers of all levels. It may be the best piece of golf equipment you'll buy this year. Visit SkyCaddie SG5 Reviews for more information and pricing.