With the east coast slogging through a heat wave that has daytime temps approaching 100 degrees, trying to stay cool outside has become a daily struggle. Well, after a little experimentation I have discovered a trick that works pretty well…

Take along a large container of ice cubes that are small enough to fit in your mouth comfortably, then keep one or two of them in your mouth at all times. As they melt, the ice cold water will help cool your body’s core. Give it a try. It really works.

If you own a website that was built by someone else, do you really “own” the domain name? Chances are you do not. One of the most common errors people make when hiring web developers to build their websites is allowing them to register the domain name on their behalf instead of registering it themselves. Why is this important you ask? Because the person/company that registers the domain becomes the “owner” of the domain for all practical purposes.

It all boils down to this: When a domain name is registered, the person or organization  listed as the “Administrative Contact” has complete control over the domain. This means that unless that person agrees, the domain cannot be renewed, transferred or even sold. Even changing the DNS settings to point to a new web server (in the event that you change web hosts) will not be possible without the consent and approval of the person listed as the Admin Contact.

If you plan to use the services of your web designer forever, there will probably never be a problem with the domain. But should you ever decide to take your business elsewhere, there probably will. Fortunately, there is an easy way to avoid this problem from the outset. All you need to do is register your domain name yourself, then update the DNS settings to point to the server that will be hosting your website. Then you’ll be able to “fire” your web designer at any time without having to try to talk them into relinquishing control of your domain. After all, managing a domain name is ridiculously easy, but gaining control of YOUR domain when it is being held hostage by a bitter web designer is not.

There are a number of domain registrars you can use to register your own domain names, but I always use Godaddy.com because of their low prices and ease of use.

These days it’s harder than ever to buy something without having to listen to a sales pitch for an extended warranty, and many consumers are confused about whether it really makes sense to buy one. I’m certainly not an expert on consumer affairs, but as someone who has both bought and sold extended warranties in the past, I do have an opinion. Read on if you would like to hear it…

Retail outlets are pushing extended warranties harder than ever, and with good reason: they are both extremely profitable for the company and rarely used. Depending on the product, an extra 2-4 years of warranty coverage can cost upwards of 50% of the purchase price. As an example, an acquaintance of mine recently purchased a Panasonic 50″ Plasma TV for $1,900, and before the salesman would even head to the back to get one he spent over 20 minutes trying to convince my friend that he should shell out an extra $879 for a 4 year “replacement warranty”. The offer was ultimately declined, but my friend left the store wondering if he should have accepted it. My thoughts? No, for three reasons:

1 – The TV came with a one year manufacturer’s warranty already on it, so the “4 year” extended warranty was really only good for three years. Any problems that occurred during the first year would have to be handled by Panasonic – and that doesn’t necessarily mean getting a new TV as a “replacement”. More likely than not, the defective TV would be sent out for repair.

2 – As with most things electronic, any problems with the TV would probably show up during the first year, thus allowing the retailer to avoid having to make good on the extended warranty.

3 – If my friend had placed that extra $879 into a savings account, he would have that money to apply to the purchase of another brand new TV should this one die two or three years down the road. And judging by history, by that time he would probably be able to buy a much better TV at a lower price than he paid for this one WITHOUT having to deal with the hassle of trying to make the retailer honor the replacement warranty. And believe me, if his experience turned out to be anything like some of the ones I’ve had with extended warranties, there would surely be a hassle. Better yet, if his new TV keeps working for several years, he would still have that original $879 (plus interest) to spend on something else!

The last extended warranty I purchased was for a Canon Powershot S3 IS digital camera from Best Buy. After succumbing to a painful arm-twisting by the salesperson, I purchased a “4 year replacement warranty” for $89 (the camera only cost $349 to begin with). This turned out to be a huge mistake. To make a long story short, although the camera failed with two years left on the extended warranty, we never received a new camera from Best Buy even after sending the camera off for repair FIVE times (the warranty stated that a replacement would be provided after the 3rd repair). In the end we ended up with a $249 Best Buy gift card. Being determined to NEVER buy anything else from Best Buy that isn’t expendable, we spent the entire $249 on a generous supply of ink and photo paper.

To be fair, I can’t say that all of my experiences with extended warranties were bad however. A few years back I bought an HP laptop from Circuit City for approximately $1,500 as well as a four year extended warranty for $229. The laptop died just months before the extended warranty expired, but since I couldn’t find my receipt or the warranty paperwork I figured I would never be able to talk Circuit City into honoring the warranty. I was wrong. Within 10 minutes after walking in the door with the dead computer, I left with a copy of the original receipt in my hand. Three weeks later the laptop showed up on my doorstep with a brand new motherboard, and I’m still using that machine today. Needless to say, my experience with Circuit City was a far cry from the nightmare I had during my ordeal with Best Buy.

I also have had great experiences with extended warranties from Lowes, but overall I would have to say that the cost/benefits ratio combined with the hassle of getting the service I paid for makes it highly unlikely that I’ll ever buy another extended warranty, especially on computers and other consumer electronics where prices keep dropping as quality and functionality continually increases.

Most modern lawnmowers will last for many years if they are properly cared for and maintained, and with winter quickly approaching it’s time to start thinking about storing them until spring. But simply locking your mower in a shed and forgetting about it until April isn’t good enough. Here are a few tips for properly winterizing your lawn mower:

1 – Use a leaf blower, compressed air, or a shop vac (in blower mode) to blow all of the dried grass and other debris from the top of the mower. If you have a riding mower open the hood and blow out the engine compartment as well. Also be sure to remove any grass lodged in or around the pulleys that drive the mower and the belts. This is also an excellent time to check the belts for signs of wear, cuts or abrasions. If you find any, the damaged belt(s) should be replaced.

2 – Replace the air filter with a new one, even if it appears to be clean. Most likely it won’t be after a full mowing season.

3 – Replace the spark plug.

4 - Remove all the gasoline from the tank by allowing the mower to run until the tank is empty.

5 – Drain the oil from the mower by removing the filler cap and tilting the mower on its side. Be sure to catch the used oil in a flat pan for recycling. If you have a riding mower / lawn tractor, open the oil drain plug and drain the oil, then replace the oil filter. You’ll find complete instructions for the process in your mower’s owner’s manual.

6 – Replace the old oil with new. It’s important not to overfill the mower with oil, so consult the owner’s manual to determine how much you should add. Most mowers nowadays come equipped with a dipstick for verifying the oil level. Be sure to use the type of oil listed in the owner’s manual.

7 – Remove the blade(s) and thoroughly remove any debris such as caked-on dried grass from the underside of the mowing deck.

8 – Sharpen the blade. You can do it yourself by consulting the owner’s manual and following the instructions to the letter. Alternatively, you can take the blades(s) or the entire mower to a repair shop and have them do it for you. If the blade is deeply pitted, bent, broken, or otherwise damaged, you should replace it instead of trying to sharpen it.

9 – Put just enough gas back into the gas tank to run the mower for about 10 minutes. Now the mower is ready for storage.

10 – After three weeks, start the mower and let it run until all the gas is used up. Then put in another 10 minutes’ worth of gas and put the mower back in storage. Repeat this process every three weeks until the first spring mowing.

Note: If you have lost your owner’s manual you can order a replacement from the manufacturer. Many manufacturers now place their products’ owner’s manuals on their websites as well, and many of them can be downloaded for free!

When Cheria and I purchased our current home we quickly agreed that mowing our 3 acre lawn with a push mower would be out of the question. With that in mind, off to Lowes we went to buy a riding lawnmower. The model we selected was a Husqvarna YTH-2448 with a 48 inch cutting deck, and we have been very pleased with its performance and durability during its first 3 years of use. But mowing 3 acres of grass virtually every week through 3 years of springs, summers and autumns is sure to take its toll on any lawn tractor even if it is well-maintained, and ours is no exception.

We have actually had really good luck with our Husqvarna. Aside from routine maintenance per the owner’s manual and a couple of broken belts, the first real problem didn’t show up until just a few days ago when the blades refused to start turning when the blade engage button was pulled. Always one to look for advice when needed, I sat down at my computer and did an Internet search on the term “Husqvarna YTH-2448 blades won’t engage” without the quotes. I was given a number of web pages to consult, most of them being forums where regular users like you and me share their experiences and recommendations.

Overall, the forum posts about the blade problem seemed to suggest 3 possibilities: a bad switch, a broken belt, or a bad PTO clutch assembly. I knew the problem wasn’t a broken belt because I had checked the belts immediately after the blades stopped working. The other 2 possibilities ranged from relatively cheap to fix (replacing the switch) to relatively expensive (replacing the PTO clutch assembly).

Armed with this information, I headed back outside to take a closer look at the mower. I looked at the switch first and saw right away that it would be a snap to replace, even for me. Next, I took a look under the mower to check out the PTO clutch assembly, and what I saw wasn’t pretty. If it turned out to be bad, I would definitely need the assistance of a true do-it-yourself genius – namely, my brother Glen.

As I rolled over to get up from my prone position, I thought about the best way to attempt the repair. I decided right then and there that I would replace the switch first, then replace the PTO clutch assembly if the switch turned out not to be the problem. But as I got on my knees to stand up, I noticed a broken wire dangling in the cool October breeze. Apparently the pair of wires running from the blade engage switch to the PTO clutch assembly had come in contact with one of the pulleys that rotates the blades, and one of them was broken in two. After splicing the wire back together, the blades engaged and now the tractor mows like brand new.

I guess the moral of this story is that it’s always a good idea to check out the most obvious possibilities first. I had been so focused on determining how the clutch assembly mounted to the frame that I had looked right past the broken wire without even noticing it. If I hadn’t seen it while standing up I would have paid $20 to replace a perfectly good switch, and then Lord knows how much to replace a perfectly good PTO clutch assembly. My dad always said we learn by our mistakes, and I barely avoided making a big one!

Like me, you might be one of the millions of Americans who have persistent Tinnitus. I have spent quite some time researching ways to deal with the constant ringing in my ears, and this article details much of what I have learned.

The unpleasant and often debilitating ailment of Tinnitus can manifest itself in a number of ways. The most common symptom is some sort of ringing in the ears (I hear “crickets” chirping 24/7). Other symptoms include whistling, whining, whooshing or swishing noises. Whatever the case may be for you, it is most likely rather irritating at best.

There are a number of possible causes of Tinnitus, some of which can be either eliminated or reduced. Some medications are known to cause it, and simply asking your doctor to try switching you to an alternative drug just might work if you are lucky. Aspirin is probably the most common culprit, and if you take it regularly chances are you have at least some minor ringing in the ears as a result. If so, you might wish to talk to your doctor about possible alternatives. Important: ALWAYS consult a physician before making any changes to your drug regimen!!!

One of the most common causes of Tinnitus is irreversible, and that is prolonged exposure to loud noise. Remember all of that loud music you listened to as a teenager? Chances are your ears are ringing these days because of it. Using a lawnmower, chain saw, or other loud piece of equipment without adequate hearing protection can also cause long-term Tinnitus, and a single super-loud blast of noise such as an explosion can as well (in my case it was a grenade simulator exploding right next to my ear during Army training).

There are no known cures for persistent Tinnitus, but there are things you can do to help minimize the effects of it. If the noises in your ears are so loud and/or distracting that you have trouble sleeping, try running a fan or tuning a radio between stations to create an external source of “white noise” that will “overpower” the internal noises in your ears just enough to provide some relief. Having wax buildup removed from your ears can help as well. And for some people avoiding caffeine and other stimulants seems to have a positive effect. You should probably also consider consulting with your doctor to see if there is anything that can be done from a medical standpoint.

If you don’t currently suffer from Tinnitus, there are a number of things you can do to help ensure that you never do. First of all, always use hearing protection while mowing your lawn or working with loud equipment (or in a generally noisy environment). And if you enjoy listening to loud music, consider turning the volume down a notch or two. The enjoyment you receive from it today just might come with a high price in the not-so-distant future.

In times past, folks who traveled on business would use a desktop PC in the office and at home, while using a notebook computer when out on the road. But these days notebooks are faster and more powerful than even the most powerful desktops of just a few short years ago, so a growing number of computer users are using notebooks exclusively.

The problem with notebooks though are the small keyboards and cumbersome pointing devices that are so frustrating to use. If you find yourself in this situation, there is a cheap and easy solution.

You can buy a replacement desktop keyboard and mouse and plug them into your notebook’s USB ports. For a cost of around $25 you can make your notebook serve as a very adequate desktop computer. What’s more, if you feel limited by your notebook’s relatively small screen, you can also pick up a nice LCD monitor which plugs into either the notebook’s VGA connector or an empty USB port.

For the sake of convenience, if you purchase all three of these add-ons (keyboard, mouse and monitor) with USB connectors, you can plug them all into a single USB hub so that you can simply unplug one cord when you get ready to hit the road again.

You can place the keyboard, mouse and monitor on your desk, yet have the notebook itself sitting somewhere nearby, out of the way. I predict that in the not so distant future desktop PC’s will be phased out completely. The good news is you don’t have to be stuck with those frustrating tiny keyboards, non-intuitive pointing devices and miniscule screens.

Do you like tomatoes? Me too, especially the juicy, vine-ripened ones that can only come from a garden. I eat tomatoes year round, but every time I taste a “hothouse” tomato in the wintertime I’m reminded just how much better they are straight from the field. You might not be a farmer, or even have the inclination to “raise a garden”, but you can still enjoy fresh, home grown tomatoes if you live in a house that has a yard.

If all you want is a few fresh tomatoes every now and then throughout the summer, all you need to do is plant a few tomato plants around the perimeter of your yard. My neighbor Larry plants his right up against his cross buck fence, and he just brought us half a dozen of the tastiest tomatoes I have ever eaten. Another great place to put your tomato plants is right in your flower garden. The plants themselves have lovely yellow blooms, and nothing accents roses and other colorful flowers better than a dozen ripe, red tomatoes dangling in their midst.

It’s best not to plant all of your tomato plants at the same time. If you plan to plant 10 of them for instance, plant 3 of them in early spring, 3 more a couple of weeks later, and the last 4 two weeks after that. By staggering the planting times, you can extend the length of time during which you can enjoy your fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes! Until your area has seen the last frost of the season, be sure to cover your tomato plants at night to protect them from frostbite. An upturned plastic bucket works extremely well, but anything that will prevent the dew from falling on the plants will suffice.

It’s recommended that you fertilize your tomato plants early on using a fertilizer labeled 10-10-10. These numbers represent the ratio of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium nutrients contained in the fertilizer. Most local garden centers and many home improvement stores sell small bags of fertilizer that are formulated and labeled specifically for tomatoes. Simply follow the instructions on the bag for applying the contents to your plants.

As your tomato plants grow and begin to develop small tomatoes, they will often collapse under their own weight unless you “stake” them. As with the fertilizer, your local garden center or home improvement store should have stakes available for purchase. Alternatively, any sturdy stick or pipe approximately 3-4 feet long will do just fine. Simply drive it into the ground a few inches from the base of the tomato plant, being careful to avoid the roots. Next, loosely wrap a long, 1″ wide strip of cloth around both the plant and the stake and tie the two ends together. An old sheet or shirt cut into strips will make great tomato-staking “strings”.

When it comes time to harvest your tomatoes, you can either pick them when they are just a little pink and place them on a windowsill to ripen in the sun, or simply allow them to ripen right on the vine. The choice is yours, but I prefer vine-ripened tomatoes over those that were picked “green”.

Well, that’s all there is to growing your own home grown tomatoes. Enjoy!

If you find yourself clicking the little “Show Desktop” icon in the Quick Launch task bar several times a day, there is a faster and easier way to minimize all open windows at once to display the Desktop. Simply press the “Windows” key and the letter “D” at the same time (the Windows key is typically located between the Ctrl and Alt keys). When you’re finished with the task at hand, simply press “Windows / D” once more to maximize all of your active windows.