Recent Articles
Auto repair without the uncertainty
Feb 23, 2010 Sponsored Posts Leave a comment
It happens to all of us eventually, and usually at the worst possible time. Our car breaks down, leaving us with the difficult task of choosing an auto repair shop that will do the job right without breaking the bank. Thankfully, there is a wonderful online service that makes the process of finding the best repair shop in your area fast and easy.
RepairPal is a one-stop website where you can compare auto repair shops by location. For example, for Houston auto repair you would simply visit RepairPal.com and click on “Find a repair shop”, then enter Houston, Texas in the box and the make of your vehicle (Acura TL for instance). You would then be presented with a list of repair shops in the Houston area along with their addresses and ratings. What could be simpler? Need an estimate? The RepairPrice Estimator is just as fast and easy to use.
Whether you need a brake job, an oil change or any other repair or maintenance task, RepairPal is the place to start. With RepairPal, you can find the best deal on your auto repair job while resting assured that you’re dealing with a highly rated and trustworthy shop.
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A fast and easy way to capture a screenshot
Feb 20, 2010 Technology Leave a comment
If you use Microsoft Windows, there are probably times when you would like to capture an exact image of the screen. Luckily, Microsoft has made it extremely easy to create a screenshot in any version of Windows. Here is the simple procedure:
1 – Arrange the open windows on your screen however you want them to appear in the screenshot. You can maximize or minimize certain windows or move them around by clicking on the title bar and dragging them into the desired position.
2 – When the screen looks just the way you want it to, press the Print Screen key. This will save an exact image of your computer screen to the Windows Clipboard.
3 – Open a blank document in your favorite image editing program (I use Adobe Photoshop Elements but most any program will do, including Windows Paint).
4 - Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the blank document. Edit to your heart’s desire, then save the image. Congratulations, you have now a shiny new screenshot!
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Fallen sycamore branches
Feb 20, 2010 My thoughts on... Leave a comment
The last round of heavy snow that hit our area was preceded by some pretty stiff winds, but the damage they caused were quickly covered under several inches of the white stuff. Now that the snow has melted, the aftermath of the strong winds is absolutely covering our back yard.
Much to our chagrin, hundreds of broken branches have fallen from our large sycamore trees, and of course they are scattered over a huge section of our lawn. Every spring we find ourselves picking up broken sycamore branches for at least a couple of hours before the first mowing, but this year it will probably take at least a couple of days. Sometimes I wish our beautiful sycamores were mighty oaks instead!
Those massive sycamore trees with their beautiful and intriguing bark were a major factor in our decision to purchase this place instead of one of the others we looked at, and I wouldn’t get rid of them for anything. But it sure would be nice if they would stop shedding so much.
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“Sunshine”
Feb 20, 2010 Things I like Leave a comment
After slogging through the better part of what has turned out to be the harshest winter in decades, we here in southwestern Virginia are enjoying the second day in a row of sunny skies and temps in the 40’s! While winter isn’t over by a long shot, spring is waiting just around the corner. And it simply cannot get here fast enough for me.
As I look out the window and see the warm sunshine transforming the last of the residual snow into water, I’m reminded of the John Denver classic “Sunshine on my shoulders”. If you like that song as well, you’re sure to like this video.
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A basic lesson in Civics (from a simple country boy)
Feb 20, 2010 My thoughts on... 1 Comment
Somewhere along the way our schools must have stopped teaching civics. After all, how else can one explain the fundamental lack of understanding of our American principles of government? On pretty much a daily basis I read an article or hear an interview in which a person demonstrates unbelievable ignorance of our Constitution and workings of the government.
As a perfect case in point, I refer you to an article entitled “What Ever Happened To Candidate Obama?” by Katha Pollitt. The article is little more than a rant about the President’s inability to get health care reform passed in a timely manner, but the most telling passage reads as follows:
“Thank you, founding fathers, for setting up the Senate so that white, rural, conservative states with the population of Staten Island get the same two senators each as multiethnic urban powerhouses like California and New York. That little gift to the slave states of 1788 continues its antidemocratic work today.”
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America at its best
Feb 19, 2010 My thoughts on... Leave a comment
If you know someone who has forgotten what America is all about, ask him/her to watch this video from ABC News. It just might make a difference in their outlook on life. There is no explanation necessary as it pretty much speaks for itself.
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The rise of Samsung
Feb 19, 2010 Technology 1 Comment
Back in my youth the South Korean company Samsung was best known for producing 2nd tier electronics items such as radios and TVs. If you had enough money to buy a “good” TV you bought an RCA, Zenith or other American name-brand set. If not, you paid considerably less for a Samsung unit and lived with a poorer quality picture and sound. And of course you knew that your brand new Samsung would eventually “tear up” long before a comparable name-brand unit would have.
But in the last couple of decades Samsung has made tremendous strides in the quality of their products. Today the massive company is a world leader in all things electronic. Whether it’s a radio, television, cell phone or computer component, if it has the Samsung name stamped on it you probably feel pretty good about your purchase.
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Learn how to play accompaniment piano
Feb 19, 2010 Sponsored Posts Leave a comment
If you have ever taken piano lessons and failed, it’s probably because you found the rote exercises uninteresting, and perhaps even a bit boring. At least that’s what happened in my case. When I began taking piano lessons as a youngster, I quickly discovered that I enjoyed playing baseball and participating in other “kid’s activities” a lot more than spending hours practicing on the piano. I soon gave the lessons up, and I have regretted that move ever since.
To the delight of children and adults alike, master pianist Yoke Wong has created a wonderful multimedia series of piano lessons that are fun, as well as easy to follow and master. Gone are the days of boring drills that never seem to end (or even work). These wonderful online and DVD-based tutorials make it easier and more fun than ever to learn how to play accompaniment piano, in your own home and at your own pace!
If you have ever had a desire to take up the piano, why not give it a try? These great multimedia lessons are very affordable, and they come with a host of free extras to get you started out on the right foot in your quest to learn how to play this beautiful instrument.
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