Archive for October, 2009


Portable mp3 players are taking the music world by storm. They offer convenience, portability, and ease of use, all in a small, feature rich package. There’s not much to not like about them. But mp3 player models are constantly changing. Therefore it’s a good idea to know what features are most important when you are trying to choose a portable mp3 player for your own use. Here are some tips to consider:

* Consider how you plan to use your mp3 player before buying it. Will you be using it on very long trips where you have no access to your computer song collection? If so, you may want to opt for a portable mp3 player that uses a hard drive to store songs as they can hold thousands of songs at a time and you can go for a long time without hearing the same song twice. In many cases you may be able to have your entire song collection on your mp3 player that way. However, most people will probably be using their portable mp3 player just for a few hours at a time on shorter trips. In that case a flash memory player should work just fine. They can usually handle 50- 75 songs at a time and that may be all you need.

* The best portable mp3 players also allow you to be able to upgrade the operating system of the unit whenever needed. This can be very important as the mp3 player equipment is changing constantly because it’s still a relatively new technology. So you want to be able to keep up as advancements are made, and newer file formats or compressions are introduced. Otherwise you could wind up with an obsolete player very quickly.

* Before you buy any portable mp3 player be sure that you personally physically inspect it. This is especially critical for smaller players as they can be so small and compact that some folks with larger hands have a difficult time operating the controls. You also want to be sure that the display will meet your needs too, as some players display more information at a time than others do, and some are more readable even in low light situations than others.

* The best portable mp3 players conserve power well too. This can be an important issue as you will most likely not have a permanent power source when you are on the go, so your battery is all you have to power the unit. Some players can go for days on a set of batteries and others can only go a few hours. So make sure that the player you choose will fit the way you intend to use it. Also be aware that some players use a battery that is rechargeable but also can’t be removed, and so must be sent back to the factory for an expensive battery replacement. The best portable mp3 players use batteries that are easy to find and change, such as AA or AAA batteries.

Since mp3 players are still fairly new to the marketplace, many people are not as familiar with them as other pieces of electronic equipment like CD players. So it’s good to understand what features are important in the best rated mp3 players in order to make the best choice. Hopefully, the tips above can help you make the best choice.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about best portable mp3 players and best rated mp3 players by visiting our Home Theater website.

When considering any electronics purchase there is usually more than enough brands and models to choose from and it can even start to get confusing for the average person who is not an electronics equipment whiz. Fortunately, the internet is a vast storehouse of independent consumer ratings and if you do some homework you can usually spot the top products very quickly.

When looking for stereo receivers these days there are a few features that come to mind that should be included on the latest models to really give you the most for your money as the digital entertainment age comes into it’s own. One is that unlike receivers of the past, today’s stereo receivers need to incorporate video into the mix as well as audio capability. For years a home receiver was used mainly for the home audio system, but now a typical home entertainment setup requires a receiver to process video signals as well.

A modern receiver would also be able to decode and process both Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround sound and support the 5 speakers and subwoofer that is required for creating a true surround sound experience. The receiver should have plenty of inputs for the audio/video devices that will be used with it and a variety of connections for those devices to insure the best audio and video quality.

With all of that in mind, we have found that two digital receivers have the features and positive reviews that we like to see to be able to meet the needs of most people. And here they are:

1. The Yamaha RX-V650 is a great receiver that produces clean, crisp sound and can actually function well with either 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers, which can be important if you aren’t sure what your speaker setups’s ohm rating is. It also develops plenty of power, being rated at close to 100 watts per channel. That amount of power will fill even the largest rooms with sound. The rear video inputs are: Composite: 4, Component: 2, S-Video: 4, and the video outputs are Component: 1, Composite: 2, S-Video: 2. There are 4 rear audio inputs and two outputs. This receiver will also support on up to Dolby 7.1 surround sound. It costs just under $400 online and is a great piece of equipment for most home theater needs.

2. The Panasonic SA-XR50 – This is a less expensive digital receiver that still delivers great value and performance by all accounts. It supports up to 6.1 surround sound and puts out 100 watts per channel of power making it an easy choice to power speakers effectively even in large rooms. The audio inputs are: 4 A/V, 1 coaxial, 1 optical; and the video inputs are 3 composite, 3 S-video, 2 component. This receiver often sells for under $300 online making it a great bargain.

Either receiver mentioned above would no doubt make a fine purchase for either your home stereo or home theater needs as both are highly rated in most online stereo receiver reviews. There are also other fine receivers available though, and it’s always good to make a thorough search to find the one that fits you best.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find free stereo receiver reviews and the best stereo receivers by visiting our Home Theater website.

There are literally hundreds of accessories for any swimming pool, from basketball hoops and floating chairs, to beach balls and snorkels. But without question the single most popular accessory for any pool is the slide. And why shouldn’t they be? Since you yourself were a child, going down the slide has always been a source of fun for children everywhere. Making the fun ride down the slide at a swimming pool seems like a natural choice. However, what kind of slide should you look for, and how should it be used? These are important questions to consider when looking for the perfect slide for your pool.

The first thing you should know is that there are many different kinds of slides. Some are designed for in-ground pools, others for above-ground. Be sure you’re buying the right kind of slide.

In-ground pools come in two general makes: mobile and stationary. Mobile slides are those that you assemble and can set-up in about fifteen to twenty minutes. You can set them anywhere around the pool, and they are easily movable. When you’re done with the pool, you can just as easily disassemble the slide and put it away in your shed until the next time you want to use it. A stationary slide, on the other hand, is a slide that is permanently fixed to the ground, most likely bolted down. Each type has their advantages and disadvantages. For instance, while mobile slides can easily be moved around the pool area, they are more flimsy than bolted slides. On an especially windy day, your mobile slide may blow over while the stationary is almost guaranteed to stay standing. Stationary slides on the other hand cannot move, and can get in the way when you’re doing yard cleaning.

Above-ground pools, on the other hand, are almost exclusively mobile due to the nature of an above-ground pool, and how they are often times taken down at the end of the summer.

There are also many different styles of slides to choose from. While a straight, downward slope is all good and fun, a few twists and turns can add an extra bit of excitement to the slide down. Some slides can have you doing up to three rotations before splashdown, and almost all pool slides are water slides.

Safety on these slides should be first and foremost in both the construction of your slide, and the use of your slide. Many slides nowadays include enclosed tubes and deep, curved bed ways to ensure that there are no accidents. Tell your kids not to goof around while either climbing the latter or going down the slide, and unless the slide is at the absolute deepest end of the pool don’t allow your child to slide down head first. Sliding head first into the pool is always a risk, as the child could hit his head either off the pool floor or a wall, or could sustain other neck injuries from hitting the water awkwardly. Making sure everyone follows the safety guidelines is always a wise decision.

Pool slides are a great buy for anyone looking to add some extra excitement to the pool time fun. Sturdy and safe, they can be used by the whole family. However, you should be sure to look for the perfect deal, and know what you’re buying before you make any kind of investment.

Please visit us to learn about chemical free pools and natural pools.

Swimming pools, like any other man-made object, will fall apart without regular maintenance. Simple maintenance of your pool will help to prolong its life and delay any need for repair. There are many little things you can do to keep your swimming area well maintained, and in the process keep both yourself and others safe.

There are many things you can do every day to ensure your pool is well maintained. Listed below are just a few of the daily things you can do:

Add Chlorine – Be sure to add chlorine to the pool daily to make sure all those pesky bacteria that can cause sickness are sanitized. While many pools use chlorine as a sanitizer, bromine is an acceptable substitute.

Adjust pH levels – If you have an automatic balancer in your pool this step is already done for you. If not, be sure to adjust both your pH and Alkaline levels. This helps make sure your water does not turn an undesirable cloudy, or irritate your skin when you go for a swim.

Clean your skimmer – Your skimmer should be cleaned daily to make sure your pool water stays fresh, and can circulate around the pool.

In addition to these things that you can do on a daily basis, there is more you can do. You don’t have to do these every day, but rather only every one to two weeks, and this can go a long way to adding years of functionality to your pool’s life.

Shocking Your Pool

Shocking your swimming pool is where you add a concentrated amount of chlorine into the pool water for a short time. The chlorine levels become so high that any organic organisms (mold, algae, and bacteria) are completely destroyed. You should shock your pool at least once a week, but may have to do so more than one time per week depending on how often the swimming area is used. You may also need to add algaecide to kill any remaining algae that the chlorine did not already destroy.

Adding Metal Out and Clarifier

You will have to add other chemicals into your pool on a weekly basis, with clarifying and anti-metal agents being chief amongst them. Metal Out agents are used to eliminate the tiny particles of metal that escape your pool filtration system. Clarifier, on the other hand, is used to prevent your water from turning cloudy. It also helps to remove those particles of matter that are too small for the pool’s filter to catch. The Clarifier makes it so that these particles cling to each other, making them large enough for a vacuum or your filter to catch.

There is still more you can do to keep your pool well maintained. Vacuuming your pool from time to time will help keep your water clean, as will skimming the surface of your pool water for leaves. Every winter (or every six months if you live in a warmer part of the country) you will want to drain your pool and scrub your pool walls and floor. This may also be a good time to check your railings and bolts on accessories, like diving boards or step rails to see if they need to be tightened or replaced.

Please visit us to learn how to have a chlorine free pool and to learn more about the problems with having a saltwater pool.

Let’s face it, the water we drink is as important as the air we breath.

This is why I want to discuss why I don’t use the reverse osmosis water filter.

Water is essential for life! We can’t be without it. If we didn’t have water, we would parish!
That is why I have such a passion for finding the truth about how we can improve the quality of the water we drink and bathe in. Water is priceless. I want to try to educate you about water filters, and in particular, the reverse osmosis filter.

This system of water filtration was very popular at one time. People were so determined to make the water that they drank safe, that companies worked hard to meet those consumers needs.
Thus the advent of the “Reverse Osmosis Water Filter”. Another term you could use is water
distillation processor. The end result is distilled water.

Man went centuries drinking pure, fresh water from our lakes and streams. That is until industrialization, and common practices of farming which introduced chemicals, fertilizers and other bad things into our water systems. Man reaped the rewards of not only hydration, which is essential for life, but also took in much needed trace minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium, which our bodies need naturally. Nowhere in history or science have we read about our bodies need for distilled water.

Distilled water even has a different PH than regular water, making is slightly acidic. Studies show that if we consume an acidic based substance, we produce more hydrogen in our bodies. This results in pulling minerals from our bones and teeth to produce bycarbonate to neutralize the acid.This compounded with the affect of drinking already de-mineralized water can make this a serious situation.

Nowhere on earth do we find naturally distilled water. Why do you think we should drink it on a regular basis? I know my answer to the question.

I already mentioned there are numerous toxic chemicals, fertilizers and other bad things found in our water supplies. For our health, we do need to try to filter them out and make our drinking water safer. I did a lot of research on the different water filter systems and concluded that there aren’t any really bad systems, other than the before mentioned product.

Some do nothing more than take out chlorine, rust and lead, making the water more pleasant to drink. But we need to do more than that. We need a system that will do that, plus remove the toxic substances that threaten our health every day. They also need to leave behind the trace minerals that our bodies need to function on a daily basis. Multistage water filtration systems seem to perform the best in all cases.

In conclusion, you don’t need to spend the most to get a good system. There are many choices, and many comparisons available to the consumer via the internet. Take advantage of that. Be educated, but if you are like me, steer away from the “Reverse Osmosis Water Filter.

Jim Riley is a passionate spokesman about the health benefits of purified drinking and bathing water. Visit his site now at http://www.water-purification-site.com to discover the purification system he endorses and why.

Boy's Blue BedroomOnce you’ve bought your young son some rugged wood bedroom furniture like an wood beds or dressers then you have to decide on decorating them that will keep them happy and entertained. If it’s time to think about redecorating your little boy’s room, rest assured: there are plenty of great unique decorating themes to choose from. Remember when selecting your theme to be sure it’s something that can grow with him through the next several years. The following themes can be adapted to ages ranging from two to ten. Consider these unique decorating ideas to get you started on creating a fun and engaging décor for your boy’s room.

The Firehouse Bedroom

If your little boy is enamored with firefighters, then a firehouse theme would be perfect for his room. You should have no problem finding a firefighter wallpaper border to hang on the walls. For those who have the talent, you might go even further and draw or paint a firefighter scene or fire truck on the wall. You can choose from a wide variety of accessories that will really make the room fun, such as a fireman’s hat, a hose hanging on the wall, a fireman’s pole, and fire truck bedding. For those who dare, you can even give your boy a siren for his room.

The Bedroom from Outer Space

For those little boys interested in the night sky, try an outer space theme. Outer-space and star wallpaper borders can decorate the walls, or you might even be able to find star and planet decals. Again, those artists out there can even look for spaceship or planet templates that you can trace and paint on the walls.


To really make the room look cool, paint the ceiling black and then use glow-in-the-dark paint to add stars and planets to the ceiling. With the addition of a couple of Martian stuffed animals, your little boy’s room will be deep in outer space.

Pirate Themes for Bedrooms
Depending on your little boy’s age, you can get inspiration for a pirate theme from movies such as Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean. Start by painting the walls blue for the ocean. If you’re really ambitious, you might paint a pirate ship on one of the walls or an island, complete with an overflowing treasure chest on the shore. With accessories such as nets, portholes, treasure boxes with booty, and a couple of pirate hats, your boy will be ready to hit the South Seas.

A Favorite Animal Theme

What’s your little boy’s favorite animal? Is it monkeys or lizards? Consider decorating his room with his favorite animals. This is a broad theme that can be customized to fit your little boy’s preferences. For those boys with pets, the theme of the room can be built around that pet, complete with a special place for the pet to live. If your little boy is old enough, consult with him as to which animal theme he’d like best in his room. Don’t just choose an animal theme for him.

Other Decorating Themes

Some other decorating ideas for a little boy’s room that are both unique and fun include:

· cowboys

· dinosaurs

· race cars

· military

· jungle

· sports

· construction

· licensed characters and cartoons

· haunted house

· bugs

· the wild outdoors

The best way to find the perfect decorating theme for your little boy is to involve him in the process. Allow him to help choose what he wants in the room and help set it up.

Let’s face it, a human body and many of its organs consist of at least 70% water. Water and its purity, has a major role in the proper and healthy functioning of the body. When the body is dehydrated, it affects nerves, the brain and prevents proper digestion and absorption of nutrients from the foods we eat. So given that water with toxins/contaminants in it could prevent longevity, wouldn’t it be great to create a home made water purifier that could make our tap water healthier?

While it might seem economical to find a way to remove contaminants from water in the home on your own, you may be surprised to know that there really isn’t a way to construct one that meets all the criteria of eliminating harmful toxins from the faucet’s tap water. Unfortunately, the sophisticated amount of technology it would take to make the perfect prototype would be both difficult and expensive.

It is basically a fact that in the industrialized world, that all humans are literally exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals on a daily basis. It’s simply shocking if you think about it. With this in mind, instead of creating a substandard home made water purifier it would be wise to look into an economical appliance that could meet all the needs of human and home.

So what would you look into when searching for one? Well, the most important thing in choosing the right product for your body would be a unit that purifies the water yet leaves vital traces of minerals in it. Some of these include calcium, magnesium and potassium. It is a fact that if you search anywhere on Earth for naturally occurring de-mineralized water you just will not find it. So it should not be surprising that scientific research shows that there are dangers in consuming de-mineralized water over an extended period of time.

Dr. Zolton Rona, author of The Joy of Health, stated that “the longer one consumes distilled (de-mineralized) water, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and an acid state.” And a World Health Organization research study went on to find that “drinking water should contain minimum levels of certain essential minerals.” Without them, water becomes more hydrogenised creating acid and a lower pH level. This forces the body to absorb minerals from our bones and teeth to compensate and neutralize this acid. Also, there is increased risk of cancer when body fluids convert from alkaline to acid as more free radicals are produced.

Obviously, filtration must also be able to remove all contaminants from the taps, showers, etc. However, not all systems are the same. It’s really important when selecting, that you choose one that utilizes multi-stage filtration. This is truly critical if you are looking to prevent ingestion of toxins such as VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) like pesticides/herbicides, chlorine and lead. Unfortunately, this is a process not achieved by other systems such as Reverse Osmosis, Point-of-Use Distillation, Carbon and Carafe-Style filters.

So, now that you know this, instead of spending your valuable time, money and energy on creating a home made water purifier it would be wise to spend quality time looking into an economical product on the market that meets all the criteria to make the water in your home the safest possible.

Laurel Tevolitz is a dedicated researcher of critical issues that affect health and well-being. Visit her water purification blog now at http://www.safewaterpurifier.com/ to discover which water purification system she recommends after extensive research.

When you decide to paint your kitchen cabinets it is not only one of the best projects you can do for your kitchen, it is also important to do if you plan on selling your home. Kitchens are one of the most judged rooms by prospective buyers. Painting your kitchen cabinets is easy and affordable to do. There is no need to remodel your entire kitchen. A simple change to the cabinets and wall colors can do wonders.

Before you repaint your cabinets there are a few details you need to think about.

If your cabinets are already painted, you will have to decide if you would like to paint them the same color, or choose a new color. Before you begin to paint take the time to visualize the color and look you would like in your kitchen. Doing so will ensure you will be satisfied with the results.

After planning and finding the perfect color, you will have to clean the cabinets. This is one of the most important steps to painting the cabinets because the surfaces may have food particles, grease, and grim on them which you will not want to leave on. It may be easier to take the cabinet doors off so that you can clean them with a rag on a flat surface.

Once the cabinets are free of any gunk, you can begin sanding. A piece of grit sand paper will work well. It only takes a few passes over the doors and the cabinet boxes. This might be one of the longest parts of the painting process, but it is for the benefit of the cabinets. Having them fully sanded will help the paint last long. You could always ask someone else to join in and sand with you so it gets done quicker.

The next step is applying a primer. The purpose of primer is to hold the paint better so it will not chip and peel. Regular paint alone will not last as long. There are different types of primer to choose from. It depends on what type of paint you are going to use.

The cabinets are ready for painting after you applied the primer. There are a few ways to painting the cabinets. One way is with a pneumatic sprayer. This sprayer will give the paint a glossy and smooth coat. It is fine if you do not have one because a brush can get the same look. The best way to get a professional type paint job is by applying the paint in think coatings. You do not have to lay heavy paint right away so you are done. It will take longer, but doing different layers of coats will give your cabinets the most durable and attractive look.

After letting the doors dry, hang them back in your kitchen. You will be amazed at what a simple and easy painting can do to renew your kitchen space. It will look like you remodeled, so keep the secret to yourself.

For more information on how to avoid making discount kitchen faucets buying mistakes by visiting http://www.remodelingkitchenguide.com, a popular website that offers kitchen remodeling tips, resources and thrifty refinishing kitchen cabinets ideas that will save you a bundle.

Painting Tips For Your Apartment

Typically, many Apartmentites don’t spend a ton of time worrying about color in their apartment, but color is the key to emotional response in the place you love!

The color that you paint your walls can help promote certain moods and can reflect on your decorative capabilities in huge ways. But the mood that you wish to create can vary from room to room. It’s important to remember to connect the colors from room to room to make sure they flow together.

How do you do that? Easy!

Select A Carry Through Color- One important rule to remember in making a variation of colors work in different rooms yet flow together is to make sure and give each one originality that doesn’t clash with a common color. Select one color that you love that will run throughout each room to combine them with a common thread. You could do this with more than just paint. If you want to be subtle, make the common color come out in your fabrics, blankets, candles, and accents.

Contrast, but Include- Maybe you want to have two different rooms with very contrasting colors like pink and green. Great. Just make sure to accent the green room with the same color pink and the pink room with the same color green from the other room. This is a technique of basically cross-linking the two different colors and will still create a flow among the two rooms. For best results, use a common trim color for each. Painting this common trim white will create an awesome and easy way to connect every room in the apartment.

Limitations Are the Key- Don’t go overboard trying to mix and match many different colors. Pick two to four and stick with those. Otherwise your place may end up looking like a complicated, clashing rainbow….and nobody wants that.

Be Aware Of Lighting- Lastly, but very important is to be aware of the lighting that you have in an individual room. The same color orange can look very different in a room with several windows versus a room that is lit by lamps or an overhead light. Play with the color swatches that you can get from paint stores to find the right color for the right room.

Just remember that decorating, styling, and painting your apartment is FUN! So the most important rule in doing any type of decorating is to have fun doing it and always remember that if you end up not liking what you did…it can always be redone! Good luck!

Jeff’s just a regular guy with a funny goatee that really enjoys people and life. On top of that he is a bit of an expert on apartments, living in them, and getting the most out of the apartment living lifestyle.

As a Managing Partner of Apartment Home Living, Jeff wants to help you find the right apartment by getting to know you. Not only where you want to live & what you want to pay, but what you like. This way, we can help you find an apartment that fits your personality, not just your budget.

At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff’s entertaining blogs/stories, find Answers to a wide array of apartment related questions, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others. Don’t forget to go and set up your own MyPlace page to really get the full Apartmentite experience!

The colors you choose to use when painting the interior of your house can say a lot about you. Sometimes they say that you like things bright, sometimes they say that you like things dark, and sometimes they say that you are color blind. Whatever look you are going for, it’s important to take specific steps, steps that help assure the statement the interior of your house is making isn’t “Help me.”

With this in mind, it might seem easy to jump right in and begin painting: all you need is a can, a stirrer, and a brush, right? Well, not exactly. Though these may technically be all the items truly required, jumping right in can leave you with a finished product that’s anything but polished.

More often than not, painting goes awry because of a failure to prepare. It’s the preparation, and not the painting, that often holds the greatest importance.

For this reason, before you pick up a paint brush, take the following actions:

Take an inventory of the room you’re going to paint and remove furniture and other items that you don’t want to get paint on (i.e., the dog or your spouse). Place a drop cloth over large furniture too heavy to move, carpet, and tile floors. It’s also a good idea to lay an evenly spread drop cloth on the floor and place your paint bucket over it.

After you’ve removed things from the floor, continue the removal process by removing items on the wall. Pictures, nails, and even outlet and electrical covers all should be removed. Don’t worry, they’ll understand.

Next, patch up any holes, cracks, or breaks you find in the wall with caulk and run an electric sander over newly patched areas as well as unusually rough spots. If you don’t have an electric sander, a manual one will suffice. Doing this will give your walls a smoother look and keep paint from appearing clumped or broken.

After the wall has been sanded, dust and wash it. You don’t apply makeup to a dirty face, so why apply paint to a dirty wall? If your wall has wall paper, it’s best to strip it off. While it’s possible to simply paint over wall paper, getting rid off it completely prevents complications from arising.

The final step before “Operation Paint” can begin is taping. You’ll most likely begin your paint job with a roller or thick brush: these kinds of brushes aren’t good for the edging. Instead of attempting to paint around the edges, and risking that you’ll end up with a straight edge that is anything but, place an inch thick piece of tape around all edges, window sills, and baseboards. After you’ve painted the large parts, go back to the edges with a much finer, and smaller, paint tool.

This might all seem like a lot of work, but taking the lid off your paint bucket before proper preparation can leave you taking the lid off a whole can of worms in the process.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.etodoors.com. Someone who changes her mind every five minutes, her house is in a perpetual state of home improvement.

Powered by WordPress. Theme: Motion by 85ideas.