Renting an apartment is a great idea. Here are some of the steps to take and possibilities to consider if you’d like to rent an apartment.
1. Narrow down your search by location. Where do you want to live?
2. Come up with a wish list. List the things that are important to you, then try to order them by importance. Do you need to live on the top floor? Can you deal with carpets or do you need hardwood floors?
3. Does the landlord allow pets? If you have a pet, do you want to live with it?
4. Is smoking allowed in the apartment? If you are a smoker, make sure the apartment will allow smoking.
5. Is the apartment furnished? Do you need furniture in the apartment?
6. Only look at apartments you can afford. Otherwise you are wasting your time. can you afford that apartment?
7. Look online. for the apartment.
8. Scour the newspapers. look in the newspapers for the apartment.
9. Determine the ideal duration of your lease. Do you want a year-long lease? Are you planning to buy a ‘home’ relatively soon and only want an ‘apartment’ for a brief period of time? Are you healthy?
10. Sign the lease. Once you find the perfect apartment, it is time to sign the lease.
11. Put utilities in your name.
12. Move in.
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Monday 14 May 2007
How to make a disco ball.
1. Get a ball.
2. Paint the ball.
3. Use your mirrors.
4. Use your cement.
5. Use a motor to make it spin.
2. Paint the ball.
3. Use your mirrors.
4. Use your cement.
5. Use a motor to make it spin.
How to find a lost dog
No matter how careful we are, sometimes a pet can slip away from us and become lost. There are several things you can do to ensure that if your dog becomes lost, he will be returned to you quickly.
1. Notify your neighbors. As soon as you realize that your pet is missing, let your neighbors know. Very often a dog doesn’t get too far from home before being spotted. Letting your neighbors know to be on the lookout gives you a better chance of having him returned to you none the worse for wear.
2. Do a meticulous search of your own home and yard. Look everywhere, even if it’s a spot that seems too small for your dog to have gotten into or a place your dog has never been before. Your dog may have gotten stuck under the porch or slipped into your swimming pool. He can be under your car or in a closet. Be sure you search every inch of your property.
3. Do a thorough search of your neighborhood as soon as possible. If your dog isn’t found on your own property, it’s time to set out through the neighborhood. Walk up and down streets and check any spots he could possibly be hiding or stuck. Leave your name and number with your neighbors so they can get in touch with you if they spot your dog. Leave pictures with them as well if possible.
4. Go to local animal shelters and humane societies. It’s important that you visit these places yourself rather than simply place a call. You may even need to visit each place more than once. The reason for visiting rather than calling is that your description of your dog may not match the description the shelter has at the desk. If you call and say you lost your brown boxer and lab mix, they may not associate him with the tan pit bull mix they just brought in, even though you are both talking about the same dog. When you make your visit, bring a picture along to leave with them.
5. Make flyers with full color pictures of your pet and post them around the neighborhood. The full color picture can help people quickly identify your pet. Make sure your phone number is on the flyer. Post as many flyers around town as you possibly can. People’s eyes might slide past one poster, but if they see your pet’s image over and over again, they are more likely to take note of him if they see him.
6. Check with local veterinarians to see if any unidentified pets have been brought in for treatment. If your pet was injured, someone may have brought him to a local vet. If they have any unclaimed pets, don’t rely on the phone call for identification. Go to the vet’s office in person to see if your dog is there. You can also leave pictures with local vets to help in identifying him.
7. Place ads in your local papers, and read the “found” ads. Most newspapers have lost and found sections where people can place ads about pets they’ve lost or pets they’ve found.
8. Don’t wait for your pet to get lost to take measures to ensure his return should he become missing. If your pet becomes lost, his return is far more likely if you have taken some steps beforehand. Make sure your pet is wearing an identification tag with your contact information. You can also have your pet microchipped. With this process, a microchip is implanted under your dog’s skin by a veterinarian. If your dog becomes lost, a shelter or veterinarian can use a scanner to get your contact information from the chip. Keep clear, up-to-date pictures of your pet around. Take your dog on walks through the neighborhood. In this way, your neighbors will get to know him, and will recognize him immediately should he get away from your home.
Losing a dog is an upsetting experience, but by thinking clearly and acting quickly, there is a good chance that he’ll be home safe and sound before you know it.
1. Notify your neighbors. As soon as you realize that your pet is missing, let your neighbors know. Very often a dog doesn’t get too far from home before being spotted. Letting your neighbors know to be on the lookout gives you a better chance of having him returned to you none the worse for wear.
2. Do a meticulous search of your own home and yard. Look everywhere, even if it’s a spot that seems too small for your dog to have gotten into or a place your dog has never been before. Your dog may have gotten stuck under the porch or slipped into your swimming pool. He can be under your car or in a closet. Be sure you search every inch of your property.
3. Do a thorough search of your neighborhood as soon as possible. If your dog isn’t found on your own property, it’s time to set out through the neighborhood. Walk up and down streets and check any spots he could possibly be hiding or stuck. Leave your name and number with your neighbors so they can get in touch with you if they spot your dog. Leave pictures with them as well if possible.
4. Go to local animal shelters and humane societies. It’s important that you visit these places yourself rather than simply place a call. You may even need to visit each place more than once. The reason for visiting rather than calling is that your description of your dog may not match the description the shelter has at the desk. If you call and say you lost your brown boxer and lab mix, they may not associate him with the tan pit bull mix they just brought in, even though you are both talking about the same dog. When you make your visit, bring a picture along to leave with them.
5. Make flyers with full color pictures of your pet and post them around the neighborhood. The full color picture can help people quickly identify your pet. Make sure your phone number is on the flyer. Post as many flyers around town as you possibly can. People’s eyes might slide past one poster, but if they see your pet’s image over and over again, they are more likely to take note of him if they see him.
6. Check with local veterinarians to see if any unidentified pets have been brought in for treatment. If your pet was injured, someone may have brought him to a local vet. If they have any unclaimed pets, don’t rely on the phone call for identification. Go to the vet’s office in person to see if your dog is there. You can also leave pictures with local vets to help in identifying him.
7. Place ads in your local papers, and read the “found” ads. Most newspapers have lost and found sections where people can place ads about pets they’ve lost or pets they’ve found.
8. Don’t wait for your pet to get lost to take measures to ensure his return should he become missing. If your pet becomes lost, his return is far more likely if you have taken some steps beforehand. Make sure your pet is wearing an identification tag with your contact information. You can also have your pet microchipped. With this process, a microchip is implanted under your dog’s skin by a veterinarian. If your dog becomes lost, a shelter or veterinarian can use a scanner to get your contact information from the chip. Keep clear, up-to-date pictures of your pet around. Take your dog on walks through the neighborhood. In this way, your neighbors will get to know him, and will recognize him immediately should he get away from your home.
Losing a dog is an upsetting experience, but by thinking clearly and acting quickly, there is a good chance that he’ll be home safe and sound before you know it.
how to boil an egg
How do you boil eggs? The answer to this is carefully. What we need to do first of all is memorise a few very important rules. Don't ever boil eggs that have come straight from the refrigerator, because very cold eggs plunged straight into hot water are likely to crack. Always use a kitchen timer – trying to guess the timing or even remembering to look at your watch can be hazardous. Never over-boil eggs (you won't if you have a timer) – this is the cardinal sin because the yolks will turn black and the texture will be like rubber. If the eggs are very fresh (less than four days old), allow an extra 30 seconds on each timing.
Always use a small saucepan – eggs with too much space to career about and crash into one another while they cook are likely to crack. Never have the water fast boiling; a gentle simmer is all they need. Remember that eggs have a pocket at their wide end where air collects and, during the boiling, pressure can build up and cause cracking. A simple way to deal with this is to make a pinprick in the rounded end of the shell, which will allow the steam to escape.
Soft-boiled eggs – method 1
Obviously, every single one of us has a personal preference as to precisely how we like our eggs cooked. Over the years I have found a method that is both simple and reliable, and the various timings set out here seem to accommodate all tastes. First of all have a small saucepan filled with enough simmering water to cover the eggs by about 1/2 inch (1 cm). Then quickly but gently lower the eggs into the water, one at a time, using a tablespoon. Now switch the timer on and give the eggs exactly 1 minute's simmering time. Then remove the pan from the heat, put a lid on it and set the timer again, giving the following timings:
• 6 minutes will produce a soft, fairly liquid yolk and a white that is juset set but still quite wobbly.
• 7 minutes will produce a firmer, more creamy yolk with a white that is competely set.
On the subject of eating soft-boiled eggs, I personally am willing to take the risk. As a general practice, though, it is not advisable to serve these to vulnerable groups, such as very young children, pregnant women, the elderly or anyone weakened by serious illness.
Soft-boiled eggs – method 2
I have found this alternative method also works extremely well. This time you place the eggs in the saucepan, cover them with cold water by about ½ inch (1 cm), place them on a high heat and, as soon as they reach boiling point, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and give the following timings:
• 3 minutes if you like a really soft boiled egg
• 4 minutes for a white that is just set and a yolk that is creamy
• 5 minutes for a white and yolk perfectly set, only a little bit squidgy in the centre.
Hard-boiled eggs
Some people hate soft-boiled eggs and like to eat them straight from the shell, hard-boiled. All well and good, but if you want to use hard-boiled eggs in a recipe and have to peel them, this can be extremely tricky if the eggs are too fresh. The number one rule, therefore, is to use eggs that are at least five days old from their packing date. The method is as follows:
Place the eggs in a saucepan and add enough cold water to cover them by about ½ inch (1 cm). Bring the water up to simmering point, put a timer on for 6 minutes if you like a bit of squidgy in the centre, 7 minutes if you want them cooked through. Then, the most important part is to cool them rapidly under cold running water. Let the cold tap run over them for about 1 minute, then leave them in cold water till they're cool enough to handle – about 2 minutes.
Peeling hard-boiled eggs can be extremely tricky if the eggs are too fresh. The number one rule, therefore, is to use eggs that are at least five days old from their packing date. The best way to do this is to first tap the eggs all over to crack the shells, then hold each egg under a slow trickle of running water as you peel the shell off, starting at the wide end. The water will flush off any bits of shell that cling on. Then back they go into cold water until completely cold. If you don't cool the eggs rapidly they will go on cooking and become overcooked, then you get the black-ring problem.
The distinctive colour of quails' eggs makes them a beautiful alternative to hens' eggs, and they're just as simple to cook. For boiling, again, they should not be too fresh, and they are best cooked by lowering them into simmering water for 5 minutes. Then cool them rapidly and peel them as above.
Always use a small saucepan – eggs with too much space to career about and crash into one another while they cook are likely to crack. Never have the water fast boiling; a gentle simmer is all they need. Remember that eggs have a pocket at their wide end where air collects and, during the boiling, pressure can build up and cause cracking. A simple way to deal with this is to make a pinprick in the rounded end of the shell, which will allow the steam to escape.
Soft-boiled eggs – method 1
Obviously, every single one of us has a personal preference as to precisely how we like our eggs cooked. Over the years I have found a method that is both simple and reliable, and the various timings set out here seem to accommodate all tastes. First of all have a small saucepan filled with enough simmering water to cover the eggs by about 1/2 inch (1 cm). Then quickly but gently lower the eggs into the water, one at a time, using a tablespoon. Now switch the timer on and give the eggs exactly 1 minute's simmering time. Then remove the pan from the heat, put a lid on it and set the timer again, giving the following timings:
• 6 minutes will produce a soft, fairly liquid yolk and a white that is juset set but still quite wobbly.
• 7 minutes will produce a firmer, more creamy yolk with a white that is competely set.
On the subject of eating soft-boiled eggs, I personally am willing to take the risk. As a general practice, though, it is not advisable to serve these to vulnerable groups, such as very young children, pregnant women, the elderly or anyone weakened by serious illness.
Soft-boiled eggs – method 2
I have found this alternative method also works extremely well. This time you place the eggs in the saucepan, cover them with cold water by about ½ inch (1 cm), place them on a high heat and, as soon as they reach boiling point, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and give the following timings:
• 3 minutes if you like a really soft boiled egg
• 4 minutes for a white that is just set and a yolk that is creamy
• 5 minutes for a white and yolk perfectly set, only a little bit squidgy in the centre.
Hard-boiled eggs
Some people hate soft-boiled eggs and like to eat them straight from the shell, hard-boiled. All well and good, but if you want to use hard-boiled eggs in a recipe and have to peel them, this can be extremely tricky if the eggs are too fresh. The number one rule, therefore, is to use eggs that are at least five days old from their packing date. The method is as follows:
Place the eggs in a saucepan and add enough cold water to cover them by about ½ inch (1 cm). Bring the water up to simmering point, put a timer on for 6 minutes if you like a bit of squidgy in the centre, 7 minutes if you want them cooked through. Then, the most important part is to cool them rapidly under cold running water. Let the cold tap run over them for about 1 minute, then leave them in cold water till they're cool enough to handle – about 2 minutes.
Peeling hard-boiled eggs can be extremely tricky if the eggs are too fresh. The number one rule, therefore, is to use eggs that are at least five days old from their packing date. The best way to do this is to first tap the eggs all over to crack the shells, then hold each egg under a slow trickle of running water as you peel the shell off, starting at the wide end. The water will flush off any bits of shell that cling on. Then back they go into cold water until completely cold. If you don't cool the eggs rapidly they will go on cooking and become overcooked, then you get the black-ring problem.
The distinctive colour of quails' eggs makes them a beautiful alternative to hens' eggs, and they're just as simple to cook. For boiling, again, they should not be too fresh, and they are best cooked by lowering them into simmering water for 5 minutes. Then cool them rapidly and peel them as above.
Thursday 10 May 2007
how to economise
Depending on your car's make and model, driving with the windows down rather than using the air conditioning may cause increased drag, and therefore be less efficient than using the air conditioning with the windows up.
for example, the Seat 'Leon XL' will actually run more efficiently with the air conditioning on then if the front windows are more than 17cm open each
"Thats amazing, thanks Charles" -Liz Druthe, Seat driver
for YOUR 'window to A/C ratio' just contact Charles Boyer, or take a look at his new book- 'Charles Boyer's Window to A/C Ratio Guide' witch contains the ideal 'eco-ratio' for all the major makes and models.
for example, the Seat 'Leon XL' will actually run more efficiently with the air conditioning on then if the front windows are more than 17cm open each
"Thats amazing, thanks Charles" -Liz Druthe, Seat driver
for YOUR 'window to A/C ratio' just contact Charles Boyer, or take a look at his new book- 'Charles Boyer's Window to A/C Ratio Guide' witch contains the ideal 'eco-ratio' for all the major makes and models.
Wednesday 9 May 2007
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