Keeping firewood safe and dry

One of mankind’s earliest learned achievements was the ability to make fire around 800,000 years ago. Although many varied alternatives to creating heat and light have been invented, the fire remains prevalent and is used both practically and to entertain.

Along with oxygen and heat, a burning material is needed for fire to take place and the most common material is wood. Once chopped, firewood needs to be stored in a cool and dry place to ensure that it burns to its optimum ability. Inside the home this is easily achieved as it is sheltered, but when stored outside a problem arises.

There are several designs of outdoor log storage devices on the market ranging from wicker baskets to wooden racks and covered compartments. All styles can be used both indoors and outdoors to protect the wood from mould and damp adequately although wicker baskets should be kept under a shelter.

Firewood racks are typically two planks of wood which make up the base, with supporting ‘book end’ style planks at either edge, which allow the logs to be stacked up the middle. With no sides, a through breeze can be created, which stops the wood suffering from a stuffy environment and stops fungi and mould particles from settling. These styles of firewood storage are usually made from woods such as cedar or cypress as they contain their own natural resins and oils, which protect the wood from weathering and repel pests such as termites and moths.

It may seem as if the properties of a wood rack are not particularly important considering its’ structure is open plan, but this is not the case. If the firewood that you are storing develops mould or fungi then the solution is simple - just throw it out. However, if the firewood rack itself becomes infested with bugs or mould then the problem is permanent, and will transfer onto any wood that you store inside it.

One way to fully ensure that a firewood rack remains durable and dry is to treat it with a specific varnish. This seals the wood from the elements and is for best results repeated every couple of years.

Non-wooden firewood racks are also a popular choice, made from steel tubing which is light yet just as strong as wood. This choice doesn’t look natural as wood does, but it does fit in with modern surroundings and doesn’t require treatment. Racks are available in all sizes, from small which suits an average living room fireplace to industrial.

Specially fitted canvas covers are available to fit neatly over a firewood rack so that rain, sleep, snow and hail simply rolls off the top leaving the wood underneath untouched. Each corner of the canvas slots over the corners of the rack so that it doesn’t slip off.

Whether you have an outdoor fire or indoor furnace, a firewood rack is incredibly useful in keeping the fuel neat and tidy, saving the user the hassle of making sure they stack up properly.

Defensive driving tip on merging into another lane

Driving safely on the highway takes a lot of concentration, knowledge and effort on everybody’s part these days. Knowing the meaning of traffic signs is a very important part of defensive driving, and not knowing the meaning of any one traffic sign should be an important reason to stay off of the road and retrain your ability on understanding what each and every highway sign means for the sake of your well being and others.

I do a lot of highway driving and it sure gets pretty scary out there. I’ve been driving for over thirty-five years, 18 professionally, and it’s not getting easier. As a matter of fact, drivers are getting bolder. According to the dictionary, yield means to give up to another and or give up to pressure. I think a busy highway or any traffic would be reason to yield to others coming from behind at a higher speed that is carrying 2,000lbs or greater of moving pressure. I really never did stop and calculate exactly how many tons of moving metal could possibly be coming your way, if you know what I mean.

Merging onto a highway with flowing traffic can be a very dangerous maneuver, especially if you do not know what the meaning of a yield sign is, or what one looks like. The last time I looked in a defensive driving book, and I’m sure they are not out to trick us on any changes. It means yield for other traffic (give up to another and or give up to pressure.), or stop if necessary! So why do a lot of vehicle drivers assume that highway traffic has to let them in if they run out of roadway when they’re trying to merge on?

The key to safe driving is not to assume anything. The proper way to merge onto a highway should be a quickset plan. The path ahead of you should be clear and have a long enough roadway to allow you to get up to the speed of highway traffic. The following is a defensive driving procedure on merging into traffic safely.

When the highway traffic coming up along side your vehicle is behind you, put your signal on and quickly accelerate your vehicle up to the same speed if the path ahead of you is clear. The goal here is to get up to the same speed as traffic so they cannot catch you. If you’re doing the same speed as the traffic behind you, they can’t catch you unless they’re speeding and or your slowing down. If you think you cannot accelerate to their speed, ease off the gas pedal and let the vehicles go by, then quickly pick up speed again to stay ahead of the traffic coming up from the lane you want to merge into, if it is clear ahead of you.

When necessary, stop if you have to let all traffic go by and merge in only after the lane you want to merge into is clear. The vehicle traffic in the lane you want to merge into should not have to brake to let you in. Sometimes you will find a courteous driver easing back on the gas pedal to let you in. Quickly accelerate and move in, only if safe and clear ahead of your vehicle.

This maneuver should be practiced with a recognized driving school instructor, or an adult with a lot of driving experience. It is a very important part of defensive driving.

Sounds good to me - a bullied bully

All our lives we have lived under threat from government laws that supposedly are to be in our best interest. This government now needs to take an interest in a mightier force where we fear for our lives and confined to our homes because of the street Bully. A visit to the corner shop to fetch a pint of milk can lead to receiving a pint of blood in a casualty ward. If the government is to impose new laws in our best interest then that is to take action with a view on sentencing the Bully with an eye for eye attitude.

What is it going to take for the law to change and sort matters, how much more unnecessary blood spillage from innocent victims in hospital wired up to a machine acting as proxy for his/her last breath.

Yobbos/bullies will carry on with their tirade of abuse using their fists feet and weapons on the defenceless because of the recognition received after conviction. The reward for crimes committed a warm bed, 3 hot meals, a wage at the end of the week and no rent to pay for the roof over their heads. This isn't punishment for a Bully who cripple/maim or kills.

Sever punishment levels have to be administered on the Bully before the next victim is left brain dead fighting for his/her life for reasons unknown to them selves. Bring back the ball/chain, hit them where it hurts take away the designer gear and replace with the arrow suit.

However changing the laws for a stronger approach on sentences for the evil doer (Bully) is not enough if we can not catch them. First and foremost we need more law and enforcement patrolling our streets, how do you catch a criminal if sitting behind a desk. This government needs to double the number in boys of blue and get them out there saving the day (or a life) instead of wasting time on which politician is sleeping with who.

I say a prayer as I write, for those who may have lost someone close who was victimised by a Bully or still are; do not suffer in silence, please get help.

The Bully has to be stopped and quick, a Bully does not work alone without accomplices, his gang so as to speak. Give him the gang alright, The Chain Gang, as I stated earlier an eye for an eye how about throwing in a tooth for tooth as well.

How to schedule but not over-schedule your children

It is important to engage children in a variety of activities to stimulate their mind and body. It is also important however to as much as possible avoid over-scheduling your children if possible.

Many well meaning parents set out to interest their children in a few extra curricular activities aside from school and ordinary family fun stuff.

It’s natural to work hard to be the best parent that you can be. However, many parents so caught up in the chaos of ordinary busy life that they assume that scheduling their children for as many activities as possible is actually the best way to rear kids.

Realistically however, over-scheduling your children has the potential to impact your family in a negative way, preventing your child from enjoying quiet solitude and some occasional time to simply reflect on life and enjoy an ordinary, ‘lazy’ day.

Parents nowadays are excited to schedule their children for as many activities as possible, buy into the latest developmental tapes and do everything possible to stimulate early intellectual development and healthy habits.

Not surprisingly, this pattern of over-scheduling can backfire, and leave kids exhausted, confused, discouraged and un-motivated.

Remember in times of old scheduling activities was virtually unheard of. Parents traditionally have gone with the flow, encouraging their children to engage in active play as they see fit.

So how do you encourage your children to get involved without over-burdening them?

Here are some tips from experienced parents:

Schedule One Activity Per Season – if you are interested in getting your children involved in sports for example, schedule something for the spring and something for the fall. Don’t worry about having a plan for every season, or every weekend day. This one activity will be enough to stimulate your child’s development and encourage a healthy lifestyle without over-burdening them.

Allow Your Children a Choice – you want to try as best as possible to select activities your children will enjoy. To do this you should consider one or two different activities and consult with your child. If you register them for soccer but they hate soccer, you will probably only end up frustrated, and your child will not benefit from the experience.

Allow Quiet Time – allow some portion of the day/week/month where your children don’t have to do anything. Introspection and time for simply exploring are essential components of a child’s development.

We are all well meaning parents in the long run. Just remember that a good parent isn’t defined by how many activities they involve their children in each and every day.

A good parent is one that allows their children the opportunity to explore many different things without forcing many different things on their kids.

Wheelchair education 101 which one is right for you

Whether you plan on being in a wheelchair for just a short time or for the duration of your life, it is very important to pick the right one for you.

With so many wheelchairs on the market today, it can be a tough task to undertake; but you can easily purchase the right wheelchair for you by becoming knowledgeable about your choices. Before you buy your new mode of transportation, it is best to have an understanding of the different types of wheelchairs.

Manual wheelchairs are wheelchairs that need to be controlled by the person in the wheelchair, or by somebody pushing the wheelchair. There are a few different types of manual wheelchairs – lightweight or sports chairs that roll easily for those with upper body strength and are designed for every day use; standard manual wheelchairs that have the traditional cross brace frame and added support, child or youth wheelchairs that grow with a child and come in a variety of colors and styles; specialty chairs that are specifically designed for a variety of wheelchair lifestyles and needs and institutional wheelchairs that are the most affordable, but designed only for minimal wheelchair use – commonly used for transporting people in hospitals and nursing homes. They are most suitable for short-term use, for those who don’t use a wheelchair too often or for those who have upper body strength. Those who have limited movement or a weak upper body may need someone to push them, or may want to consider the electric wheelchair.

Electric wheelchairs are wheelchairs powered by a motor. They were created especially for those individuals with limited or no body mobility, or for those who use wheelchairs as their primary source of getting around. They are pricier than manual wheelchairs, but the cost is definitely a wash when considering if your wheelchair needs are substantial.

Electric wheelchairs come in a few styles – the traditional style electric wheelchair resembles a manual wheelchair with the exception of the motor, battery and controls; and the platform electric wheelchair look more like a seat placed on top of the motor encasement.

The motor is often placed below the electric wheelchair in order to minimize any noise. The electric wheelchair controls are usually to the right or left of the arm rests, and can even be repositioned based on your wheelchair needs. People who enjoy outdoor activities regularly may need to be careful in an electric wheelchair – most models are designed for indoor use and can crack or become faulty over time. But, there are some indoor/outdoor models marketed today, and may be the outdoor enthusiast’s best electric wheelchair bet.

Sports wheelchairs differ from the traditional manual wheelchair – they are very lightweight and designed to withstand the normal wear and tear that goes along with a number of sporting activities. Sports wheelchairs use lightweight metals that can withstand a beating like titanium, chrome, aluminum and steel tubing.

The base of a sports wheelchair is wider than other traditional wheelchairs in order to support different sporting activities, and the center of gravity can be adjusted for the individual using the sports wheelchair. The sports wheelchair is generally affordable, but the more custom features it contains, the more expensive it will be.

Getting to know more about the newest insect control innovation making your tailgate party insect-free

Football equals Party, no other sport is so related to a party. Superbowl weekend attracts no American like any other sport event can. So its no wonder that many people don’t care if they don’t even get inside the stadium, having a tailgate party would be enough. A TV showing the action could spark the emotions in people just like watching the game itself.

When you say tailgate party the first thing that comes to mind is football and beer. But anyone could do that. To make a party that everyone remembers is to make a party that’s a cut above the rest. The first thing to consider is having a party that’s extremely comfortable. That includes having a party that’s insect free.

Insects can be a nuisance when your having fun, its not enough that they're irritating, they have to get into the food.

There’s no other party spoiler as devastating as the invasion of insects. They get into the food and ruin everything else

This is a party buster that can ruin a heck of a good time.

There are certain measures that a good tailgate host can do to make a party error and pest free.

One of the most reliable insect control innovations is having the electronic insect zapper. They emit a sound and light that’s attuned to the insects and diverts its attention to the device and away from the party.

Usually, this is battery powered and emits a light that’s virtually extremely attractive to insects. Once they get near, they get zapped with a small electrical discharge that eliminates the insects and pests.

There are also some innovative scientific insect control gadgets that rely on sound waves that deflect the incoming wave of ants. Ants can be the bane of any outdoor party. Just leave a dish uncovered and you could find a swarm of ants covering it.

Fight fire with fire. Innovative small spurting canisters emit controlled fire to eliminate pests and insects. Take out your mini tank and extinguish the insects and pests that can eventually ruin your party. Just do this before your guests arrive.

But most importantly, keep your food properly enclosed. Closing it eliminates the escape of scent, which attracts the insects and pests. If they don’t know there’s a treat for them, they wont bother you. Prevention is still the best control over pests and insects.

The next time you plan a party or picnic, make use of odor-free, no leakage food containers. Also keep that insect at a distance and away from the food. Don’t let your parties ruined by a bunch of insects.

The internet is still your best source for the newest insect control innovation.