{"conf": "home", "generated_at": "2026-04-26T08:00:02.954878Z", "threads": [{"num": 1, "subject": "home conference introductions", "response_count": 24, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Sep 24, 1997 (12:56)", "body": "RENTING! ie: pissing money away!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "yves", "date": "Sun, Jan  4, 1998 (15:11)", "body": "Owning is WORK. But a long term placement. My present house is now paid and I wouldn't have that money under me if I didn't buy it long time ago."}, {"response": 3, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (00:50)", "body": "Some people say that I'm no more a young man. It's not true. :o)), I'll get retired of job in a couple of years. I had two houses. The first one was an inexpensive one, and I scraped off all the inside and rebuild it. I've sold it with a small profit, and bought my present one. I don't have any major repair to do on it, just maintenance, or building the pool patio, making rooms in basement etc. Now I plan to build my next one on a land that I bought 4 years ago. It's in a wild place, have 2 small lakes beside and a other the other side of the road. Its only 45 minutes from Montr\ufffdal, 5 minutes from ski centers, golf courses.... For this year I only want to put up the structure, with the outside finished."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (11:34)", "body": "Looking forward to talking to you about the details of this new structure."}, {"response": 5, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (03:40)", "body": ""}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jan 28, 1998 (19:37)", "body": "talking to realtors of late... looking for properties in old Littleton -- Hyde Parkish for you Austinites -- with a bit more age and a much better view!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jan 28, 1998 (22:17)", "body": "Just missed a property in Hyde Park tonight. Went by to make an offer and they were just putting out the \"sold\" sign. Close, but no cigar."}, {"response": 8, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (10:32)", "body": "(smacks head) *argh*"}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (19:55)", "body": "I'll try not torture myself any more. Arghh is right, Stace."}, {"response": 10, "author": "mikeg", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:02)", "body": "\"If you don't know me by now...you will never never never know me...ooooo...\" Well, not entirely true, but if you don't know me then get to know me. I dropped by over here cos I felt that a \"home\" conference would be kinda...well, you know, \"nice\" :) I'm gonna go check out the topic list for stuff now!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (15:55)", "body": "Come in Mike, take a seat...."}, {"response": 12, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (20:19)", "body": "Well, you guys have definately seen me running around wildly... buying my home, would love it to be tons bigger (kids do grow, if you don't know) need a garden room or something (plants are taking over my living room). kitchen is too small, bathrooms too small, living room laid out poorly IMMHO. Shall I go on? Can't complain, it was a repo and we got a good deal. Am in the process of refinancing and refacing. Besides, it's home *smile*"}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (00:11)", "body": "Slaps wolf a high five. Way to go, wolf! A new era for you!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (18:07)", "body": "happy home... *smile*"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:26)", "body": "well, if we could just get through the refinancing (think we're almost there, though)"}, {"response": 16, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Apr 19, 1999 (15:54)", "body": "I would like to invite regulars of this conference to visit the International Conflicts conference here on the Spring: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/browse/InternationalConflicts/all This conference is dedicated to the disputes between groups all over the world, be that social, cultural, political or ethnical differences."}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (19:32)", "body": "Mine is all paid for...finally! Of course, now it needs constant repairing. *sigh*"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Tue, Sep 21, 1999 (12:44)", "body": "Would that be (a) home, (b) world, (c) InternationalConflict or (d) none of the above?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Sep 23, 1999 (17:17)", "body": "(a) home"}, {"response": 20, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Oct  3, 1999 (17:28)", "body": "Isn't it wonderful to have your home paid for? Not having a mortgage means going out for Chinese food anytime you feel like it!"}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct  3, 1999 (17:34)", "body": "You're in great shape if you have a home in Hawaii paid for Marcia, how many years have you lived there?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Oct  3, 1999 (17:36)", "body": "If I tell you that I shall be telling you more than I want some people to know right now...but I raised that son from infancy in Hilo. (It was a 30 year mortgage, if that helps!)"}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Oct  3, 1999 (17:42)", "body": "....or was it 25?....a long time by Ree's standards, anyway!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Jan  4, 2002 (20:48)", "body": "yeah, my house is paid for too, unfortunately, it belongs to someone else! home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 10, "subject": "pests - bugs, termites, fire ants, rats, mice, lice and more", "response_count": 19, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (02:25)", "body": "Try keeping them out off the house, pets excepted (I have a dog an she sleep in or bed :o)."}, {"response": 2, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (03:44)", "body": "I have a question that may be ridiculus but if I want to know, I have to ask. Is there a lot of reptiles in Texas and if so how do you live with that. I'm terribly scared by these animals."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (23:37)", "body": "There are snakes, but I don't see 'em too often. Maybe a couple a year at most. Insects abound. Fire ants, fireflies, etc. Texas is bugs."}, {"response": 4, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (02:51)", "body": "Snakes are mortal isn`t it? I don't know fire ants. In june whe have lot of black flies."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (21:17)", "body": "Not knowing fire ants is a good thing."}, {"response": 6, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (04:36)", "body": "Why?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (08:45)", "body": "Because if you put stand in a mound of them you'll get stung all over. One of the candidates for Agriculture Commissioner in Texas put his hand in a mound of fire ants during a press conference to show how harmless they were and they ended up taking him to the hospital. Needless to say, they guy lost the election."}, {"response": 8, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (14:19)", "body": "Ooops."}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (22:24)", "body": "I think he said more that ooops when I put his hand in that mound!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan 14, 1998 (02:00)", "body": "Could be unwritable :o)"}, {"response": 11, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jan 14, 1998 (02:00)", "body": "nice thing about Colorado... no mosquitos! We have the occassional hungry bloodsucking mama but, for the most part, they don't survive the chilly nights AND it's so dry, they find it difficult to find a stagnant pool of water to replicate in! and no fireants either!!!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan 14, 1998 (02:00)", "body": "Even in wild forest? Is it that dry that you don't have any \"water head people\"?"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan 30, 1998 (18:51)", "body": "\"water head people\" (?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?) huh? and, yes, it's pretty dry!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sat, Feb 28, 1998 (19:39)", "body": "ya'll need to get the orkin man. he comes by my house once a month and zero bugs!! the spray is house safe-no need to remove the wild life......."}, {"response": 15, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (21:55)", "body": "I don't know how safe that spray is--the guy that used to come around here looked like someone out of \"Deliverance.\""}, {"response": 16, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:32)", "body": "LOL!! This dude is alright, likes to talk, and i just wanna stay outta his way!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (10:09)", "body": "I don't like to have the house done because I'm afraid what the chemicals will do to the cats. It attacks the CNS in bugs so it can \u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[A\u001b[B\u001b[C't be all that safe!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, Sep 25, 1999 (14:16)", "body": "Get this topic into SpringArk?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Sep 29, 1999 (19:50)", "body": "as my ex, the entomologist said, if it kills one life-form it cannot be that good for the health of the others. You are wise to be concerned about your cats! home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 11, "subject": "insurance - gotta have it", "response_count": 13, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (02:31)", "body": "It cost too much and when something hapen, there's always a small phrase writen in tiny tiny caracter that exclude you from it...."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (11:37)", "body": "Did something bad happen specifically that you know about that makes you say this?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (04:17)", "body": "Not to me but we have a consumer protection show on TV. and they ofen relate situations were people were sure to be covered by their insurance and it wasn't. Situations as water fulling inside the basement, or people who rent their house, have been vandalismed(?) and weren't cover, cause the damages didn't been made at the same time. For each dammage, a claim.(cigarette burn, a clain, dammaged wall, a claim...). And for each clain you have a deductible amount, so..."}, {"response": 4, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:10)", "body": "My 2 year-old nephew knocked the iron off the ironing board, which landed on the carpet and made an impression--you can imagine! (Thank God he wasn't hurt and the house didn't burn down.) Their homeowners' insurance replaced about 750 square feet of carpeting for a 2x2 burn spot (of course my brother had to pay a small deductible). It's nice to use your policy under non-catastrophic circumstances."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (00:14)", "body": "Whew! I'm glad for the happy ending, Autumn."}, {"response": 6, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (02:36)", "body": "Lucky he didn't have the iron on him. Deductible, thatword wake up a souvenir. I owned a 16' plastic (light weight) canoe. Somebody robbed it. As I purchased it directly from the manufacture at a good price, $250. My deductible was $200, and the canoe wasn't no more available. I had to buy a 14' fiberglass (heavier) canoe for $350. If my memory's good, I prononced words that arn't writable..."}, {"response": 7, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:38)", "body": "Wow, you really got a raw deal on that one...although if memory serves, they have to pay you the current market price for a similar item, not simply refund the purchase price. Maybe it depends on the insurance carrier (mine is \"like a good neighbor\"!)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Feb 26, 1998 (03:24)", "body": "At that time there was no \"similar\" canoe, that was the hic. It was hard to put a price on it."}, {"response": 9, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (23:05)", "body": "Ah, that's what you get for being unique!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Feb 28, 1998 (03:53)", "body": "Loyds maybe??? But I doubt that they would be interested on a $250 canoe :o)"}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Feb 28, 1998 (13:49)", "body": "I just paid my home insurance a year in advance. I hate monthly payments, which are a credit pitfall."}, {"response": 13, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (21:58)", "body": "I didn't even know you could pay homeowner's insurance on a monthly basis. Why would you want to? Frankly, mine's nothing compared to auto insurance. I don't think Lloyd's would insure Yves' canoe, but they might insure your master chef hands, wer!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (14:37)", "body": "Hmmm, maybe some others can assist you in that endeavor..."}]}, {"num": 12, "subject": "fire safety", "response_count": 6, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (05:05)", "body": "First of all, smoke detectors with fresh batteries in them.Second, extinguisher in kitchen and basement. Else, prevention."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (05:05)", "body": "smoke detectors!!! knowing how to remove your screens!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (05:05)", "body": "In winter we double lock or windows to force het to stay in... Screens? why if you don't have any bugs?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan 30, 1998 (18:51)", "body": "so the birds don't come in and the kittens don't go out!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:13)", "body": "Mr. Safety (my husband) has equipped us with 3 fire extinguishers, 3 smoke detectors and 2 carbon monoxide detectors. We are prepared! How are the kittens doing, stacey?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (15:15)", "body": "growing, growing next month they get 'fixed' but right now we are in between heats! home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 13, "subject": "tools", "response_count": 103, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "McBruce", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (05:13)", "body": "What tools are my favorite? Usually the ones I can't quite afford to buy now! Actually, after years of trying to rip, miter, etc. hardwoods using everything from handsaws to wormdrives, I finally found a good deal on a used 10\" Rockwell tablesaw complete with Unifence. The blades alone were worth almost the price I paid for the whole setup. That's my favorite at the moment. Not the one I use the most. That has to be my cordless Makita drill. Makita makes good stuff."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Feb  2, 1997 (17:29)", "body": "I'd love to find a good Rockwell, they're the best!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (02:49)", "body": "I have a 10\" Rockwell/Beaver tablesaw drive by a 2 Amps. motor. It's long time it's paid by the work i did with it. I've bought a carbon teeth blade. Just great. I even equiped my hand saw with that kind of blade. Never have to sharpen it even after touching a nail. I have a 7.5 volts Skill cordless hand drill with 2 batteries. It's a bit weak but I always have it in my hands, it's realy a must, but maybe with more volts."}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (02:49)", "body": "i like EXACTO knives *scary grin* *giggle*"}, {"response": 5, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (02:49)", "body": "To cut your nails? Are they batterie powered?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan 30, 1998 (18:52)", "body": "no and no. To cut letters/words/stencils out. not much in my house is battery powered! *giggle*"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jun  5, 1998 (13:43)", "body": "Got me a dynamite Makita Cordless drill, 12 volts. hefty thing. For poking holes in my walls for ethernet hookups. I'm sure I'll find other uses for it. Got it at Home Depot last night and I can't wait to get home and find it all charged up!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jun  5, 1998 (17:55)", "body": "WooWoo! go paul, go paul..."}, {"response": 10, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Jun  6, 1998 (01:02)", "body": "yeah, hurry up and get that ISDN in already!!!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jun 11, 1998 (19:30)", "body": "Got the isdn going just now. It came up immediately after I configured the Pipeline 50 router. Works like a champ."}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  9, 2000 (22:05)", "body": "Choose Slant Instead of Straight Bristle Sash Tool? Novice painters frequently want to know whether they should buy a sash tool with slanted bristles or one with straight bristles. A sash tool is the brush painters use to paint windows. It is most commonly two inches wide with a long slender handle. A sash tool with slanted bristles is easier to get into the nooks and crannies when painting the components of windows. The slanted bristles, however, do not work as well as the straight bristles on flat surfaces. The advantages and disadvantages of each sash tool offset one another, so you might as well take your choice. http://www.emazing.com"}, {"response": 13, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  9, 2000 (22:09)", "body": "I'm gonna be posting tool tips as often as I get them - is this the right place?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (07:31)", "body": "Yeah, great place for tool tips."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (14:03)", "body": "How about household ones like: Leaky Skylight Skylights have a bad reputation when it comes to leaks. To set the record straight, skylights seldom leak. Roofs leak due to the improper installation of a skylight. When installation instructions are followed, there should be no concern about leaks. Another case of misdiagnosed skylight leaks is the interior environment. High humidity levels in the house can cause considerable condensation on the interior of a skylight. The resulting drips resemble a skylight leak. - Stephen Corwin Or Interior design tips: Drapery Tricks Are you wondering how designers got those draperies to look so perfectly \"placed\" and hang just right? Here are a few tricks for you to use to achieve the same results. If you want your drapery to \"puddle\" on the floor, just thread a narrow ribbon through a narrow pocket in the bottom and pull tight: a beautiful puddle! To achieve a \"poufy\" balloon shade or bishop sleeve, you need to stuff it with plain newsprint instead of tissue paper, which will give more fullness and last longer. And finally, to make your drapery panels look their best, they need to be lined and interlined with flannel, which adds body and makes them hang better."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 10, 2000 (14:05)", "body": "Right Tool Depends on Which Glazing Points You Use When glass is installed in a window sash, the glass is held by both glazing points and glazing compound. It is possible to install the common small diamond-shaped steel glazing points with a screwdriver, but that is risky. Using a screwdriver or similar tool makes it all too easy to slip and break the glass. It is best to use a tool specially made for installing glaziers' points. Unfortunately, such a specialized tool is not a practical purchase for most craftsmen or women. If you don't have this specialized tool, it is better to buy the more expensive patented glaziers' points that can be easily pushed in with a screwdriver."}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (15:10)", "body": "Carbide Saw Blades Next time the need arises for a circular saw blade, consider a carbide-tipped blade. Carbide is a hard alloy that holds a sharp edge much longer than steel. Carbide tip blades can cut an occasional nail with little consequence. Although a carbide tipped blade costs approximately twice as much as a steel blade, a carbide blade will generally last four times as long. Carbide tip blades must be sent out for re-sharpening. Small-diameter economy blades are often thrown out rather than re-sharpened, but large blades with high-quality tips can be re-sharpened numerous times and may last a lifetime. Brad Driver is a Practical Tool to Own It is difficult to install very small nails, called small brads, with a hammer. The fingers that hold the brad get in the way of the hammering. Instead of driving by hammering, a brad driver drives the brads into the wood. Since soft wood is commonly used for trimming in home construction, great strength is not required to push the brads into the wood. A brad driver has a slider which holds the brad while it is being driven, making it a much easier task than trying to push the brads in with a screwdriver or similar tool."}, {"response": 18, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (16:24)", "body": "I had to struggle without a brad driver today, I ended up using some tiny screws and a tiny screwdriver instead of brads to mount a doorbell."}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 11, 2000 (17:24)", "body": "Definite 'must add' to your tool box - and they are not all that expensive! Teeny screws can be a pain...but you know all about teeny screws when it comes to circuit boards and such...!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (13:25)", "body": "Tack Hammer is a Basic Tool A tack hammer is a basic tool in a well-equipped toolbox. For specialized jobs, it has several advantages compared to a common carpenter's hammer. Its small head can get into places a larger headed hammer cannot. Its light weight makes it more controllable when nailing in delicate areas. Of course, a tack hammer is ideal for driving tacks, since one end of the head is magnetized. This end is used to hold the head of the tack so it can be stuck into the wood with the first hammer blow without having to hold the tack with your fingers. After the tack is stuck in the wood, it is driven home with the other, non-magnetized, larger end of the tack hammer head."}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (13:57)", "body": "Joist Hangers Joist hangers, those little metal brackets, have become ubiquitous on job sites both commercial and residential. Often the term is used to refer to a broad range of connecting hardware. While they seem simple, joist hangars are structural fasteners and must be used for their intended application. Follow manufacturer recommendations. One mistake frequently made by the novice is using common nails when fastening the hangers to the framing. Common nails may not provide the shear strength required in a structural situation. Use only nails recommended for use with joist hangers."}, {"response": 22, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:24)", "body": "Good advice on joist hangers."}, {"response": 23, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:39)", "body": "Thank the service who sends me these little goodies. Glad they are useful!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (12:27)", "body": "Nail Puller is an Essential Tool Nails can be pulled with hammers, pliers, or many other common tools. However, a nail puller, a tool especially made for pulling nails, will extract nails where other tools fail, and will pull nails more quickly and with less effort than a claw hammer or other tools. There are many types of nail pullers. If you haven't tried one, it'll probably be best to buy one of the standard models. They are relatively inexpensive, so you won't be out much money if you decide later that another model works better for you."}, {"response": 25, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (12:29)", "body": "Flex Duct This heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning product is most often used as a supply duct or exhaust fan vent duct in an unconditioned space. It is fast and easy to install and is fully insulated. However, these qualities cause some people to use it improperly or too often. Flex duct is best used in attics, where it is most often laid in place. When hanging flex duct, proper support is critical. Keep in mind that flex duct offers much greater resistance to airflow than conventional ducting, so long runs are not advisable. Finally, flex duct will degrade in the presence of sunlight. Make sure it is shielded from direct light coming in an attic or basement window."}, {"response": 26, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (12:31)", "body": "Cozy Nook Do you have an extra large closet or very small room not being used? Why not create a cozy, comfy nook to curl up and read in or talk on the telephone? Remove the front wall completely and build a raised platform about three to four feet off the floor. Then place a mattress on top with a sheet and add lots of pillows and a nice soft comforter. You'll need light on one wall and maybe even a little privacy wall or drapes to create a cozy nook for those special breaks. Your kids will want to spend time there doing homework or reading. It's a fun idea that you won't find in most homes."}, {"response": 27, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 16, 2000 (14:44)", "body": "Pry Bar is a Much-Used Tool In construction, there are always boards to pry and nails to pull. Fortunately, there are many types and sizes of pry bars you can use to do this task. Probably the most useful is a flat pry bar, approximately 14 inches long, bent up on one end, with nail pulling slots on both ends. The bar can be hammered if necessary on the bent end. This type of bar is so rugged it is unlikely to break or bend, even when abused. Story Pole Simply put, a story pole is a stick with marks on it. This simple tool is used as, or in the place of, a measuring tool. When you're installing paneling, rather than measuring for window, door or receptacle cutouts, hold a long stick or narrow board against the wall and mark the board where the cutouts will go. Now move the board to the paneling and transfer the marks directly to the paneling. This method avoids mistakes often made when reading a measuring tool. Siding installation typically benefits from the use of a story pole, as does bricklaying. In fact, you'll find many situations where repetitious measuring can be avoided by measuring once to the story pole and then transferring thereafter."}, {"response": 28, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 17, 2000 (17:39)", "body": "Cordless Tools -- Is Bigger Better? Cordless power tools are mainstream tools found anywhere that construction, remodeling, or home repair takes place. Some have all but replaced their corded predecessors, while others still fall short. Cordless technology is rapidly advancing, with new models introduced all the time. Figuring out what is right for you can be a bit confusing when faced with all the choices. Apply the same logic to buying a cordless drill as you would to buying a new computer. Is bigger and faster what you need, or is it just bigger and faster? Cordless tools are distinguished by voltage. They range from 9.6V to 24V. Generally speaking, the higher the voltage, the more powerful the tool. Also, the higher the voltage, the heavier the tool. Run time may be a factor in the type of work you do. Higher voltage doesn't always mean longer run times. Just like with computers, as new models are introduced, the older ones get discounted. There are some great buys on 9.6V and 14.4V tools that would suit the homeowner well."}, {"response": 29, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 17, 2000 (17:41)", "body": "Check the Tips of your Phillip's Screwdrivers Experienced craftsmen know that driving a Phillip's head screw when the screw is difficult to drive can result in stripping the slots on the screw. The shape and condition of the Phillip's head screwdriver tip have a lot to do with how easily Phillips screw slots are stripped when driving the screws. Check whether the tip is chewed or gouged. If so, you may be able to dress the tip into shape. Note the end of the screwdriver tip. On cheaper screwdrivers, the tip may be pointed. True Phillip's head screw slots have a flat, non-pointed bed. To match the bed of Phillip's screw slots, the tip of Phillip's head screwdrivers must also be flat and non-pointed."}, {"response": 30, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (12:28)", "body": "A Duster is a Basic Painter's Tool It is impossible to do neat or long-lasting paint jobs if you paint over dust. Professional painters use dusters to dust surfaces before painting. A professional painter's duster is usually a paint brush, approximately three inches wide, used for dusting. Dusting cloths are rarely used by professional painters, although one could be used where conditions call for wiping a surface. For most work, a brush is faster for dusting, and a brush won't get caught on splinters, screws, or other protuberances as you dust."}, {"response": 31, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (12:34)", "body": "Alley Cruising Many cities have alleys. Most also have junk pick-up days. Many people clean out the basement or attic or garage and put doors and window sashes and old molding and plumbing fixtures in the alley. Get the picture? If you are remodeling and trying to match the original style of your house, alley cruising may be the answer. The truly resourceful remodeler will find stuff free in the alleys. Others pay big prices for their finds at the \"architectural antique store.\""}, {"response": 32, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (22:25)", "body": "Not too many alleys exist in this town, they're a rarity."}, {"response": 33, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 18, 2000 (23:27)", "body": "Hmmm....and our are usually eaten by termites before anyone can get anything useful out of it. *sigh*"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (13:54)", "body": "Three-Inch Broad Knife Most Practical Scraper There are many kinds of scrapers, used mostly by home craftsmen for scraping paint. The most practical scraper for all around use is a three-inch wide broad knife. The better quality broad knives have full tangs, which means the metal of the blade continues up the full length of the handle. Scraper handles may be wood or plastic--most scraper handles are plastic. For scraping, the broad knife blade should be stiff. Test the stiffness of the broad knife blade by flexing the blade in your hand before you buy it."}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 19, 2000 (13:55)", "body": "Toilet Repair Toilet repair or replacement is a common homeowner task. The toilet may be pulled when replacing floor covering or to replace the wax seal. Whatever the reason, when the toilet goes back down the question often comes up about whether or not to caulk the bowl to the floor. There is no obvious right answer. Caulking is recommended for sanitary and aesthetic reasons, and in some areas it's a code requirement. The main point made by those who don't caulk the bowl to floor is that if there were a leak it would not be readily visible and might cause considerable damage before it's discovered. Code restrictions aside, the decision is yours."}, {"response": 36, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 22, 2000 (14:39)", "body": "Floor Refinishing Floor refinishing is an ambitious undertaking for many homeowners. If you are one of them, here are a couple of furnace-saving tips. If you are sanding floors, shut off your furnace or air conditioner. The dust you create will quickly clog up any filters and may bypass them altogether. When you're finished sanding, vacuum as far down in all ducts as possible before turning the equipment back on. Replace the furnace filter even though the equipment has been turned off. When applying the finish, shut off your furnace or AC again. Circulating air will deposit dust on the wet finish, and the fumes from the drying finish can be corrosive to the heat exchanger in the furnace, especially in high-efficiency condensing models. Bonus tip. Regardless of how much ventilation in your house, wear a respirator with cartridges appropriate for the type of finish you are applying. ******* Miter Gauge Play If your miter gauge has any side-to-side play in its slot, you will never be able to make accurate cutoffs. Fortunately there is a very simple solution. Take the gauge out of the slot, clamp it on its side, and using a metal bunch and hammer, apply a series of dimples about an inch apart along the length of the blade. This will usually create just enough extra width to get a snug fit. If you should happen to overdo it, just use a file to reduce the dimples a bit. Use a little wax in the slot for smoother sliding. ******** Broad Knives There are many tools for applying drywall compound, but the basic tool is a three- or four-inch wide broad knife. The broad knife blade should be flexible. Stiff-bladed broad knives that look identical to drywall broad knives are sometimes sold, but these stiff-bladed knives are for scraping. If you are buying a broad knife to apply drywall compound, be sure to buy a flexible knife. Smoothing drywall compound will be much more difficult if you try to use a stiff broad knife."}, {"response": 37, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May 22, 2000 (19:07)", "body": "I know about broad knives."}, {"response": 38, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 22, 2000 (19:52)", "body": "What a straight line you just posted, but I am not going to say anything.... *muffled giggles*"}, {"response": 39, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (14:22)", "body": "Testing Tools Testing tools are used to test or check your work and make sure it is straight, level, and square. The tools are called squares, levels, and straightedges. We rely on these tools to tell us the truth, but how do we know they are accurate? Stop occasionally and test your testing tools. To check a square, draw a straight horizontal line longer than the edge of the square. Align one edge of the square with the line, and then draw a line along the vertical edge of the square. Now flip the square over, keeping the vertical edge aligned with the original line. If the vertical and horizontal edges are still aligned with the lines, the square is accurate. You are checking the tool against itself."}, {"response": 40, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (14:26)", "body": "Dry Wall Trowel A mason's square trowel and a drywall square trowel can look alike and be mistaken for one another by the uninitiated. The drywall trowel blade has a slight bevel. When the trowel is used, this bevel is concave to the surface on which the drywall compound is applied. When drywall compound is applied over sheetrock, where either or both drywall edges are not tapered, the bevel of the drywall trowel facilitates feathering, or gradual tapering, of the drywall compound. Feathering helps hide the buildup of compound in the joint so the joint is smooth when the surface is painted."}, {"response": 41, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 23, 2000 (15:44)", "body": "Side Grind Never grind on the side of a grinding wheel unless the manufacturer has specifically designed it for that purpose. Although this might seem like an excellent shortcut to producing a flat chisel back, or a bevel without a hollow grind, it can be dangerous. The side pressure could cause adhesive that bonds the grit in the wheel to fail and shatter, sending sharp, high-speed shrapnel in all directions."}, {"response": 42, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May 24, 2000 (16:16)", "body": "Jointer Tear-Out If you're trying to joint a difficult edge or face, and are getting some tearout, here are a few things to try. First, if the blades aren't sharp, it's probably hopeless. Remove them, get them professionally sharpened, and reinstall them according to your owner's manual. Second, take multiple light cuts, rather than one heavy cut. Third, make sure that you are cutting \"uphill\" with the grain. You can usually determine the grain direction by looking at it on the perpendicular side of the board, or feeling with your fingers. You want the grain to be pointing in the same direction that the blades will attack the board, so that it leads them to go up and out, not dig in. Finally, on some jointers you can adjust the fence so that you will be pushing the work at a slicing, rather than perpendicular angle to the blade. Just like working with a handplane, this action will tend to give a smoother cut because it shears off the fibers cleanly. Expansion Building materials, especially wood, move around. We think of our homes as strong and sturdy, which they are, but they still expand and contract a lot. Of course \"a lot\" is a relative term, but it is not uncommon for materials to expand and contract as much as a quarter-inch. Combine this with movement in adjacent materials and it's easy to see that you must allow room for this movement in your measurements. For example, hold subflooring back from the wall a quarter-inch and cut window glass 1/8\" small. Dissimilar materials must have space for differential movement. Plywood sheeting should have small spaces between sheets. The list is long. Next project, keep in mind that all materials move around and plan accordingly. Several Sizes of Pry Bars Recommended A large flat pry bar is the basic pry bar in a carpenter's toolbox. For the serious craftsman or woman, several pry bars of varying sizes are recommended. Two or three sizes of pry bars should be considered the minimum for serious workers to have. The largest pry bar should be about 14 inches long, with the next size smaller being 10 inches long, and the next most useful size being approximately seven inches long. For the smaller sizes, rigidity and thinness of blades are paramount for maximum durability and usefulness. Unfortunately, some smaller pry bars are too flexible or too thick to be very useful."}, {"response": 43, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (12:20)", "body": "Measurement Since measuring is the language of construction, there are many measuring tools available. Picking the right one will help ensure easy, accurate measurements. Use common sense: A 12-inch rule would be of little use when building a house, and a 50-foot tape would prove difficult to use for small, accurate measures. Measuring into a corner is difficult with a tape measure, so stop short and mark a whole number, then measure out of the corner to the mark and add the two for a more accurate reading. Always use the longest measuring tool possible to avoid marking and moving the tape. Every mark and move introduces an opportunity for error. Try to get a feel for degree of accuracy. An eighth of an inch in a 50-foot measurement might not matter as much as it would in one-foot measure. Finally, you can sometimes avoid measuring if you use direct marking. Materials can be held in place and marked for length or cutouts using this method, and you avoid mistakes of measuring, marking and transferring altogether."}, {"response": 44, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (12:22)", "body": "Ball Peen Hammer is the Basic Hammer for Metal Work Ball peen hammers are the basic hammers for working with metal. The ball peen refers to the ball on the opposite end of the striking face of the ball peen hammer. Hammering with the ball end peens, or shapes, soft sheet metal. A bowl, for example, can be made out of a sheet of metal by peening the metal into a bowl shape. Twelve- and sixteen-head ball peen hammers are the most practical sizes. For casual metal work, the 12-inch size may suffice. The lighter hammer can also be useful when you need a lighter hammer than the normal 16- to 18-ounce head carpenter's hammer, and you do not have a lighter one."}, {"response": 45, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May 25, 2000 (12:23)", "body": "Router-Table Jointing If you don't have a jointer, your router table can be used very effectively for producing straight edges. Use a straight bit, protruding a bit more than the stock thickness. Set the fence so that the blade extends out about 1/16 of an inch, and then clamp a 1/16-inch thick board to the outfeed side of the fence. Adjust the fence so that the outfeed board is exactly even with the outside edge of the blade. Then simply push the work through, maintaining firm pressure against the fence to get a smooth, straight edge. Take multiple passes if 1/16 inch isn't enough to straighten your board."}, {"response": 46, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (12:25)", "body": "Router Lettering There are a number of ways to do sign lettering with your router. For an informal, rustic look, you can simply work freehand. Outline the general spacing with a pencil first. Another approach is to use your computer to design the text you want to cut. You can use Word or any other graphics or word processing program to lay out the lettering, control the fonts, adjust spacing, etc. If you don't have a large format printer, you may have to print on several pages with registration marks to realign them on your workpiece. You can then transfer the design to the wood and cut freehand, or use them to cut templates for pattern routing, allowing for the thickness of the template guide. If you're willing to live with a restricted set of fonts and sizes, you can buy a commercial set of lettering templates. A more complex option is to use a pantograph with a smaller router, such as a Dremel tool. A pantograph uses a set of rigid arms to allow you to trace a design off to the side of your work, while the cutting tool makes the identical shape."}, {"response": 47, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (12:30)", "body": "Rubber Mallet is a Useful Tool A rubber mallet has a hard rubber head and a long handle, usually made of wood. For casual work, a rubber mallet is used on those occasions when you want to strike something and not leave a mark. A rubber mallet is commonly used in automotive repairs. There are many times in general work when you want to force something into place, and not mar the surrounding area. A rubber mallet is a most useful addition to a toolbox."}, {"response": 48, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (14:09)", "body": "Tape Marks The measuring tape is the most common measuring tool used in construction. Besides the usual feet, inch, and graduation marks there are other things going on with the tape. Pull out a tape measure and look at the 16-inch mark. It will be red or distinguished from the other numbers in some way. Keep pulling and notice the 32-inch mark is the same. All the multiples of 16 will be marked. So much measuring and marking in construction relies on multiples of 16, tape makers decided that it was better to look for red marks than learn the multiplication tables. On newer tapes you might find another mark just past 19 inches. Using these marks, actually 19.2 inches, saves one framing member every eight feet. When building nonstructural walls this spacing should be fine, but for structural applications, better stick with the red marks."}, {"response": 49, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (01:09)", "body": "Hand Planing Thin Stock Have you ever tried to use a hand plane to work on a quarter-inch-thick piece? If so, you've probably been frustrated. All of the normal techniques for holding the work, with a bench hook or dogs, or directly in a vise, don't work well. Either you can't get clearance for the plane all the way around or the workpiece tends to get bent under pressure. Here is a simple technique to the rescue. Just clamp your handplane upside down in the wooden jaws of your bench vise. Make a small push stick with a notch in it, and use it to push the work over the plane blade, which should be dead sharp and set for a light cut. Just make sure to keep your fingers well away from the blade! - Michael Natkin"}, {"response": 50, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (14:59)", "body": "Extension Cord Storage If you have a collection of light-weight extension cords for various uses around your home, try this method of storing them: Loosely fold the cord, then slide it into a cardboard paper towel or toilet paper roll. If the cord has a specific use, label the roll."}, {"response": 51, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (14:59)", "body": "Weight of Maul is Important The weight of a maul is important for two reasons. You want a maul that is not so heavy you cannot swing it easily. On the other hand, a maul that is too light will have a head that will not hit with sufficient impact to split tough wood. The head of a lighter maul is smaller, meaning that the wedge on the end of the head of lightweight mauls will be narrower than mauls of normal weight. It is the breadth of the head's wedge that gives the maul its ability to split wood. Unless you cannot swing it, opt for a maul with an eight-pound or heavier head."}, {"response": 52, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (15:01)", "body": "Saw Blades When buying saw blades for jigsaws or reciprocating saws, you may find the choices are overwhelming. In addition to tooth configuration and size, you get to choose between high carbon steel, high-speed steel and bimetal. High-carbon steel blades are the most economical and are good for general woodcutting. High-speed steel blades cost more than twice as much but last ten times longer. In addition, they can be used to cut plastic and nonferrous metals. Bimetal blades combine the strengths of both high-carbon steel and high-speed steel. A high-carbon back is attached to the cutting edge of high-speed steel to achieve a blade that is tough, holds an edge and resists overheating. Expect to pay three times more than the least expensive alternative. But you get what you pay for."}, {"response": 53, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May 30, 2000 (15:06)", "body": ""}, {"response": 54, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  1, 2000 (15:29)", "body": "Metal Wedges Necessary for Splitting Wood The ultimate experience when splitting wood is for the wood to split all the way down the butt with a single swing of the maul. Alas, that doesn't always happen. Certain species of wood, especially if knotty, are particularly difficult to split. When several tries with a maul don't split the wood, it is time to use a metal wedge. The most practical metal wedge size is five pounds. If you are going to split wood, you might as well buy a wedge at the same time you buy a maul. You'll need the wedge at some time when you split wood."}, {"response": 55, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  1, 2000 (15:30)", "body": "Matching Tile Replacing damaged ceramic tile is a fairly straightforward task for the homeowner. The difficulty arises when you're seeking replacement tile. Unless your tile was installed fairly recently, finding matching tile may prove impossible. Tile sizes vary, styles change, and colors seldom match. Start your search in the basement, attic or garage. There is usually leftover tile from the original job, and often these tiles get stashed for the future. Try asking neighbors. Similar building materials are typically used throughout a development. If all else fails, consider using a contrasting tile and creating a pattern by replacing a few extra tiles."}, {"response": 56, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (14:08)", "body": "Square Blade Here is a simple way to test whether your tablesaw blade is set up at 90 degrees to the table. Simply take a piece of 3/4-inch scrap, about 2 inches wide, and crosscut it in the middle. Turn the piece from the right hand side of the blade over, and butt the ends together. If there is any gap showing at the top, the blade is tilted too far to the left. Now turn both pieces over. If there is a gap showing now, the blade is tilted too far to the right. In either case, adjust the angle stop on your saw and try again until you get a perfect, gap-free cut. Only then will your saw be reliable for joinery."}, {"response": 57, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (14:14)", "body": "Engineer's Hammer is a Very Useful Tool An engineer's hammer can be called a baby sledge hammer, since it looks like a miniature sledge hammer, weighs about three pounds, and typically has a short, eight-inch handle. The engineer's hammer has two advantages for general work. It is heavy, and this heaviness makes driving heavy spikes or wedges easier than using a lighter carpenter's hammer. The engineer's hammer has a second advantage: its short handle. The short handle allows it to be swung in spaces where there is insufficient room to swing a hammer with a longer handle."}, {"response": 58, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun  5, 2000 (15:42)", "body": "Mapp Gas Burns Hotter Mapp gas burns hotter than propane. This makes soldering with Mapp gas faster than soldering with propane. However, Mapp gas requires a specially designed burner head. Even so, the cost of Mapp gas tanks are comparable to propane. Once you buy the Mapp gas head, there isn't much difference in expense between using Mapp gas and propane. If you need a propane torch, consider getting a Mapp gas torch instead. You may find the hotter Mapp gas torch saves you time soldering, especially if you have a lot of soldering to do."}, {"response": 59, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  9, 2000 (13:07)", "body": "Sparkers Are Nice To Have Anyone doing general work is going to have occasion to use a propane or Mapp gas torch. A propane torch can be lit with a match, but a sparker is nice to have. Sparkers are really nice to have when matches aren't up to the job--for example, a breeze prevents matches from being readily lit, or hands are too wet to handle matches. There are many varieties of sparkers. Perhaps simplest and least expensive is the type where one pushes a flint in a bowl across steel with a scissors action. The flint can be replaced, and it is good idea to have extra flints on hand. It is suggested that a sparker be included in your toolbox. Even if you use it only occasionally, a sparker can be handy to have on hand."}, {"response": 60, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (23:29)", "body": "The TrippLite PowerVerter APS Power for your gadgets is important, and we are always looking for new ways to guarantee an uninterrupted flow of electrons. This gadget addresses all the basic power supply problems. The unit contains a DC-to-AC inverter for powering line-powered equipment, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for back-up power, and a battery charger for charging smaller equipment. There are several models available depending on amperage requirements. The system has two AC outlets and status LEDs. The TrippLite PowerVerter APS retails for prices ranging from $279.99 to $389.99. They are available from Overton Discount Boating Accessories at (800) 334-6541 or on the web at http://www.overtons.com . TrippLite is at http://www.tripplite.com/ ."}, {"response": 61, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Jun 10, 2000 (23:29)", "body": "Inductive Voltage Tester If you're tackling home electrical repairs, consider the inductive voltage tester. It indicates the presence of voltage without making electrical contact. When working with old wires it is often difficult to determine which is wire hot and which is neutral. This tester will simplify the task. Bring it near the circuit, and it will buzz or light up (depending on the model) when voltage is present. Like all test instruments, you should test the tester on a known source of electricity to verify that it is functioning. - Stephen Corwin"}, {"response": 62, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (16:21)", "body": "Underground Splice Sometimes you'll hit a wire or cable when digging around a building or in the yard. Wires to pole lights and outbuildings are sometimes installed without regard to regulations covering depth and protection. If you hit a wire when digging, hopefully it wasn't damaged. Even slight damage can compromise the wire. In many cases a simple underground splice kit will do the job. These kits can be found at home centers or electrical supply houses. They consist of a connector and a heat shrink sheathing. Use them to repair a break or replace a section of wire. As always, if you are unsure about electricity, get help!"}, {"response": 63, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (17:09)", "body": "And for Terry, who can solder his fingers together with the best of them: A Solder Gun Gives Precise, Intense, Instant Heat A solder gun is good for jobs where you need precise, intense, instant heat. The first two qualities can be met by a soldering iron, but a soldering iron doesn't give instant heat. It must be warmed up. A soldering gun often also has a light which shines where you are soldering. Another advantage of a solder gun is that it cools rapidly after being operated. This mitigates a soldering gun not in use touching somewhere other than where you want heat, and doing damage."}, {"response": 64, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (17:18)", "body": "Gadget of the Day: Insector The Bug Collector This gadget looks like a piece of artwork that is just for decoration. Bugs find out quickly that this stylish piece is not where they wanted to end up. Insector uses blue light to attract bugs. When a bug arrives it is caught in a severe downdraft that pushes it into a trap from which there is no escape--kind of a black hole for your back yard. Bugs just expire from natural causes. No chemicals or adhesives are used, so there is no mess. Just unscrew the base to empty the effluent from the trap. Insector The Bug Collector is a Sharper Image Designs product available from The Sharper Image. They can be reached on the web at (800) 344-4444 or on the web at http://www.sharperimage.com ."}, {"response": 65, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun 12, 2000 (17:20)", "body": "Using Epoxy Filler For carpentry repair jobs, epoxy-based wood fillers can be a real lifesaver. For example, suppose you have an old door where a loose hinge has damaged the jamb. You can simply chisel out all of the damaged area and fill it with the two-part epoxy. Press firmly to make sure it fills the whole area and bonds well, and leave it a little above level. After it sets, you can sand it flat and smooth, paint to match the surrounding wood, and re-mortise and install the hinge. The epoxy is very strong, and able to endure weather easily."}, {"response": 66, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (16:22)", "body": "A Spreader Is A Good Addition To A Propane Torch Propane and Mapp gas torches normally come with a cylindrical head, not much larger in diameter than a crayon. For some heating operations, such as lifting floor tiles, a head several inches wide would be better. There are spreaders that clip onto a propane torch head and defuse the heat over a wide area. You'll find a number of uses for the spreader if you add it to the accessories you use with your propane torch."}, {"response": 67, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (16:23)", "body": "The AC Circuit Breaker Locator Figuring out which circuit breaker controls a particular light or outlet can be tedious. Just running down the box throwing switches can lead to crashed computers, VCRs flashing 12:00 and other madness. Add some finesse to the process with the AC Circuit Breaker Locator. Just place the transmitter unit in an empty outlet or light socket. Go to the box and run the receiver down it until you hear a beep and see a red light. The AC Circuit Breaker Locator retails for $29.99 as item number 101444 from Improvements. They can be reached at (800) 642-2112 or surf to http://www.improvementscatalog.com ."}, {"response": 68, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (16:24)", "body": "Bevel Square The 90-degree angle is the most common square used in construction and home repair, followed by the 45 and 22 1/2. There are a wide variety of tools called squares that help us determine 90 degrees, but what about all those other odd angles? The tool of choice for odd angles is the T Bevel square. It is a square that is not square. The T Bevel consists of a handle with an adjustable blade that can be set at any angle. There are no marks or graduations. Transferring or comparing angles is where this tool excels. Typically the T Bevel is set to the target angle and then transferred to a board to duplicate the angle. The angle itself is irrelevant. Similarly an angle can be transferred to a saw to duplicate a cut."}, {"response": 69, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (20:53)", "body": "The \"speed square\" is an indispensible tool for doing any kind of framing work. It's got a 45 degree with other degrees embedded in it."}, {"response": 70, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jun 13, 2000 (22:01)", "body": "Yup! The house male has one...a great little invention!"}, {"response": 71, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 14, 2000 (20:15)", "body": "A Heat Gun Is A Practical Paint Remover One might say that no method is better for removing paint. For removing paint from wood siding, for example, a heat gun may be your best choice. Heat is a long-established method of removing paint. However, open flame heat, such as provided by a propane torch, can be dangerous to use. Houses have been set on fire using a propane torch to remove paint. The best heat guns for removing paint are those that are made for professional use specifically for removing paint."}, {"response": 72, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 14, 2000 (20:16)", "body": "Cleaning Concrete Tools While concrete is not considered a sticky material, if you've ever worked with it you've discovered that it sure sticks to metal tools. Measuring, mixing and placing concrete almost always involves the use of metal tools. Wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, and hoes all come in contact with wet concrete. If left for only a short period of time the concrete and tool become one. To avoid this problem, hose off your tools immediately after use. If a hose is not handy, put the tools in a bucket of water until they can be cleaned properly."}, {"response": 73, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jun 19, 2000 (17:44)", "body": "Deck Protection Many people have the idea that \"treated lumber\" commonly used for deck construction needs no protection from the elements. The treatment protects the wood from insects and mold but not from the weather. The main enemy is the sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation slowly deteriorates the wood. There are various coatings that can keep decks in top shape. Transparent coatings are common and allow the natural wood to show. They should be renewed yearly. Semi-transparent and pigmented coatings offer a little more protection and give some color to the deck. They should be renewed every two or three years. Painting offers good protection but shows wear faster than other coatings. Beware of manufacturer claims--they assume ideal conditions. Be sure the product you choose blocks ultraviolet."}, {"response": 74, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 22, 2000 (14:41)", "body": "An Ax Stone Is A Good All-Around Sharpening Stone An ax stone, used for sharpening axes, is typically round, palm-sized, with different grits on each side. It is, of course, ideal for sharpening axes. For best results, the ax would be first filed or ground smooth, and then sharpened with the ax stone. The sharpest edges are produced by the finest grit sharpening stones. The fine grit side of an ax stone is apt to be finer than other sharpening stones. This makes an ax stone ideal for finely sharpening knives and other cutting tools."}, {"response": 75, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun 22, 2000 (14:42)", "body": "Vent Ducts When installing or replacing an exhaust fan, the material the vent duct is made out of can be important. If the duct is running through conditioned space (heated or cooled), any sturdy duct material will perform well. Rigid metal duct, flex metal or plastic are the most common types. If the duct runs through an unconditioned space (attic or crawl space), an insulated duct material should be used or you'll get condensation in the summer, when cool air runs through ducts in the warm attic, or in winter, when the ducted air is warm and the attic is cold. As always, be sure to seal all connections between ducts and exhaust fans and vent hoods so the vented all gets outside."}, {"response": 76, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 23, 2000 (19:14)", "body": "Metric Wrenches First Choice The United States is going metric, albeit slowly. While metric measurements and tools are here to stay, there are still many fittings that need English, inch-sized tools. If you are just starting to collect tools, which should you buy, a metric tool set or an English tool set? Buy metric tools first, as metric sizes should become increasingly important. For English sizes, where there are no equivalent size metric tools, buy combination tools, such as crescent wrenches, where those combination tools will work. Buy the English size tools as last choices."}, {"response": 77, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 23, 2000 (19:15)", "body": "Hanging Ceiling Fans Hanging a ceiling fan in the place of an existing light fixture is a straightforward job that most folks with average skills can handle. First take the light fixture down. Before proceeding with the fan installation, make sure the ceiling box is adequate. Fans weigh more than most light fixtures, and not all ceiling boxes will support the added weight. A metal box mounted to wood framework is best. Plastic boxes are generally not strong enough. If you are unsure, check your local home center or electrical supply house for retrofit hardware made especially for this purpose."}, {"response": 78, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 28, 2000 (15:57)", "body": "Nut Drivers Handy For Electronic Work Nut drivers are socket drivers with screwdriver-type handles. Nut drivers can have individual handles or one handle with interchangeable sockets. Professionals will probably prefer separate handles. Separate handled tools are usually stronger and save time from not having to interchange sockets. Either type of nut driver is intended for light work, the type of work found in electronic servicing. Heavily rusted nuts, for example, may be beyond the strength of nut drivers to unfasten. For their intended light duty use, however, nut drivers are very practical."}, {"response": 79, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun 28, 2000 (16:02)", "body": "Rubbing Alcohol When caulking, sealing, or gluing surfaces such as glass, ceramic, plastic laminate, and other composition materials, the biggest challenge is getting things clean. Caulks, sealants and glues will not stick properly to oily residue or dirty films. Clean up as usual -- wipe both surfaces down with rubbing alcohol before applying the sealant. Rubbing alcohol will cut any films or residues and evaporate quickly, leaving a perfectly clean surface ready for joining."}, {"response": 80, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun 30, 2000 (22:28)", "body": "Shaft Length Of Screwdrivers Important Common screwdrivers, such as slot head and Phillips screwdrivers, come in a number of shaft lengths, from stubby to very long, for the same size screwdriver tip. The shorter the screwdriver shaft, the stronger the shaft. However, sometimes you need a long length screwdriver to reach the screw you are working with. Medium length screwdriver shafts are the most practical for general use. Very long screwdriver shaft lengths are commonly used in electronic work where extreme screwdriver shaft strength is not essential."}, {"response": 81, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul  4, 2000 (16:51)", "body": "Square Screwdriver Shaft Has A Purpose Some may think the fact that some screwdriver shafts are square and some are round is matter of style preference. The square shafted screwdrivers have square shafts so that a wrench may be used on the shaft for more power when loosening recalcitrant screws. Square shafted screwdrivers are commonly chosen for automotive work, as that is an area of work where rust in screws maybe found. For general home use, round shafted screwdrivers are by far the most common variety."}, {"response": 82, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jul  5, 2000 (13:57)", "body": "Razor Scraper A common variety scraper uses a razor blade as a cutter in a holder. This type is commonly used for scraping decals off glass, for example. For its purpose this type scraper does a good job. Care needs to be taken, as the razor blade is very sharp. When not in use, always retract the blade into its holder so that no blade shows. If you accidentally get paint on the glass when painting a sash, a razor blade scraper is the preferred tool to scrape off the excess paint and leave a nice, clean painted edge."}, {"response": 83, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul  7, 2000 (17:51)", "body": "Line Level This inexpensive tool is a welcome addition to any toolbox. As its name indicates, this small level hangs from a string or line pulled tight between two points and gives a pretty good indication of level. While not accurate enough for finish work or establishing grade, this handy level will get you in the ballpark. Use it for fence work or a walkway where relatively level is good enough, or use it for initial layouts when adjustments for more accuracy will be made later."}, {"response": 84, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul  7, 2000 (17:53)", "body": "Rolling Wheel Measurers Handy, But Expensive A rolling wheel measurer is handy, if you can afford one, if you are measuring distances inside on floors or outside along the ground. The rolling wheel measurer is definitely faster than using a tape measure, although a tape measure may be more accurate. The rolling wheel measurer's wheel is calibrated to measure distances on a counter as you walk the wheel along the line you want to measure. If buying one, look carefully at how the handle is attached to the body, as this is an area of failure. If you are using a rolling wheel measurer outdoors, opt for one with a large wheel. A large wheel measurer will roll better over uneven surfaces."}, {"response": 85, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul  7, 2000 (19:37)", "body": "Choice of Hatchet Heads Depends on Use Hatchets are sold with hammer or ax head ends opposite the blades. If you expect to do construction jobs which include nailing along with hatcheting, a hatchet with a half hammer head is a good choice. For general light wood splitting, trimming branches, and shaving wood with a hatchet, the ax head type hatchet is practical to select. You probably will not go wrong with either choice, but choosing a hatchet head is something you have to do when buying a hatchet."}, {"response": 86, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jul 10, 2000 (13:23)", "body": "Soldering Copper Tubing Soldering or \"sweating\" copper tubing is straightforward and easy. If you've had trouble with it, this tip may help. All connections must be clean. Wire brush the inside of fittings and use fine emery to clean the outside of the tube. Shiny bright is the objective. Don't touch the cleaned parts with your fingers. Apply flux to the cleaned surfaces with a clean flux brush, and assemble the parts. Apply heat with a torch. Allow the tube and fitting to become hot enough to melt the solder. Apply solder to the connection opposite the heat. The solder should flow into the joint. Remove the heat and run the solder around the joint. When soldering a 1/2 in. tube about 1/2 in. of solder is all that's needed."}, {"response": 87, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Jul 10, 2000 (17:21)", "body": "Metal Keyhole Saw is Handy A metal keyhole saw is a metal saw that is different from a hacksaw. The blade on a metal keyhole saw is smaller, typically seven and a half inches long, and wider, with a slight taper. The handle is usually stamped metal, and is much smaller than a hacksaw blade handle. Hacksaws are designed to be used with two hands. Metal keyhole saws are designed to be used with one hand. A metal keyhole saw can be used in tight places where you can't use a hacksaw, and a metal keyhole saw takes up less room in a toolbox."}, {"response": 88, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul 11, 2000 (16:13)", "body": "Stripping Tool is Used to Strip Wires It doesn't take long for the craftsperson doing electrical work to find that stripping the insulation off wires is a hit or miss proposition, if a proper tool is not used. An accidental nick in a wire caused by poor stripping can weaken the wire and lead to wire failure. Professionals may use complex, expensive wire strippers. For home use, one popular wire stripper consists of stamped wire cutters, with a wheel that can be rotated and tightened to adjust the cutters for different wire sizes. Some type of dedicated wire stripper should be included in every well-equipped toolbox."}, {"response": 89, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jul 12, 2000 (14:09)", "body": "Bituthene Bituthene, traditionally used in northern climates to protect against ice dams on the roof, is becoming more available and is finding applications other than roofing. This building product is a bituminous membrane that adheres to most surfaces and provides protection against water penetration. Newer applications include flashing around windows, doors, and sills, and flashing in conjunction with skylights and subgrade waterproofing. This product excels in applications where nails must penetrate the flashing. Bituthene naturally \"heals\" around nail penetrations due to its tarlike consistency. Look for Bituthene in the roofing materials section of lumberyards and home centers. Always cover this material with an exterior finish as it will degrade when exposed to the sunlight."}, {"response": 90, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jul 12, 2000 (14:13)", "body": "Bastard Files Used for Initial Cutting In filing metal, bastard files are used for rough filing, before smooth filing with finish files. The bastard files are easily distinguished from other flat files by their having double rows of cutting teeth, one row slanting one direction, and the other row slanting in the other direction. These double rows of cutting teeth allow the bastard files to file down metal twice as fast as finish files. For serious metal work, bastard files should be included in one's collection of files."}, {"response": 91, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jul 13, 2000 (19:41)", "body": "Work Smart People working in the construction trades expose their bodies to stresses and strains that many people don't normally face. To last in their chosen fields they must learn to work smart. Working smart involves ergonomics -- the postures, positions, and techniques that eliminate or minimize stress and strain. Many home repair projects subject the homeowner to the same stresses and strains faced by those in the trades. Just because theses activities are less frequent for the homeowner doesn't mean the consequences are any less serious. When bending down to perform a task, bend the knees and not the back. If working on your knees, put on kneepads. When working with hand-operated tools, try to keep the wrist in the neutral position (hand in line with the forearm as if shaking hands). Work smart when tackling home repairs -- an injury takes all the satisfaction out of an otherwise successful project."}, {"response": 92, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jul 13, 2000 (19:42)", "body": "Warding Bastard Files are Interesting Files Warding bastard files are flat, tapered metal files that are unusual in that they could be bent with effort. The fact that they are bastard files, with double rows of cutting teeth, means that they can remove metal quickly. There are times when the slight give of warding bastard files can be advantageous when filing. Two groups of craftsmen who have used warding bastard files are locksmiths and ski tuning technicians. Warding bastard files are not essential files, but they are interesting files that the curious crafts person may wish to purchase and try."}, {"response": 93, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul 14, 2000 (13:17)", "body": "Brace and Bits Good For Drilling Large Holes Beginning carpenters who are used to drilling all holes in wood with power drills are surprised to find how difficult it is to accurately drill large holes with electric drills. The lighter, smaller drills the home craftsman is apt to use can wobble when used with oversize drill bits. A brace and bit is easy to control when drilling large holes in wood. Professionals will have powerful, heavy electric drills for drilling large holes in wood. The home carpenter, who may not wish to buy an expensive, heavy electric drill for drilling large holes, may discover drilling holes more than 3/8 inch in diameter in wood is practical to do with a brace and bits."}, {"response": 94, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jul 14, 2000 (13:22)", "body": "Photoelectric Controls Photoelectric controls have been used for many years and are common around the house. A photoelectric control is simply an on/off switch activated by light. Pole lights and landscape lights are typically controlled by photoelectric switches. If an outside light stops working, it may be the photoelectric control. To test a photoelectric control during the day, locate the control (usually mounted on the light) and cover the sensor (a small lens). The controls have a built-in delay, so wait 30 to 60 seconds and the light should come on. If you know the bulb is good and the power is on, then the sensor is bad. Some sensors are plug-in modules, while others are wired in. Most hardware stores and home centers stock replacements. When possible, take the old one with you, as there are many to choose from. If you need to adjust the time of day the light comes on and off, look for a small shutter that can be positioned over the lens. Covering more of the lens increases the amount of light required to turn the fixture on."}, {"response": 95, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul 18, 2000 (00:01)", "body": "Tips For Water Filter Care Water filters can develop several different problems throughout their useful life. Here are some tips to keep them pumping smoothly. -Wrap the pre-filter in an unbleached coffee filter when pumping water that is thick with suspended solids. -Never drop a water filter. The impact of the fall can cause cracks in the filter element that could allow little nasties through the filter. -In cold weather, avoid allowing the water filter to freeze and allow it to thaw completely before pumping if it does get frozen. -Regularly backwash and/or clean the filter element per the manufacturer's instructions. -Store your water filter in a mesh bag so that water can evaporate and bacteria and mold do not build up. -Occasionally run one capful of household bleach combined with one quart of tap water through the filter. Following these simple tips will improve the useful life of your water filter and the filter elements. - Chris Robb"}, {"response": 96, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul 18, 2000 (00:01)", "body": "Screwdriver Bits Worthwhile Addition to Brace Drill Bits If you buy a brace with a set of bits, you might as well buy a set of screwdriver bits for the brace. Next to using a screw gun, a brace and screwdriver bit is the fastest way to drive screws. For the professional who owns a screw gun, the brace's screwdriver bits may come in handy, and for the homeowner without a screw gun, a brace and screwdriver bits will greatly speed driving screws. Two sizes flat and Phillips head screwdriver bits for the brace are recommended."}, {"response": 97, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul 18, 2000 (00:02)", "body": "Smoke Detector Maintenance Smoke detectors have become commonplace in most residences and are required by law in many jurisdictions. Regardless of the power source, battery or AC, smoke detectors should not be ignored. Batteries should be replaced yearly. Periodic maintenance is required. Test smoke detectors monthly by pushing the test button. All though hard to find, canned smoke is available to simulate real conditions for testing. Periodically vacuum smoke detectors as dust buildup can impair their function. Finally, their lifespan is about ten years. Don't trust your life to a smoke detector that has not been maintained or is beyond its functional life."}, {"response": 98, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul 18, 2000 (19:57)", "body": "Ice Maker Hookup Adding an icemaker to a refrigerator doesn't have to mean a visit from a service technician. If your refrigerator is icemaker-ready, the installation and hookup are easy. The project will require the purchase of the icemaker and a hookup kit. Install the icemaker following the instructions provided. Hookup kits come with copper tube or plastic tube. The plastic tube is easier to route to the refrigerator, but many feel the copper is less prone to leaks. Regardless of type selected, be sure to use compression fittings appropriate to the type of tube used. Do not use copper compression sleeves on plastic tube. The supply tube is easily connected to the refrigerator and then routed to a cold-water pipe. A saddle valve clamps around the water pipe and pierces its own hole in copper pipe. If the water pipe is galvanized, the water must be turned off and a hole drilled in the pipe before the saddle valve in installed. For the best long-term performance, install a filter in the icemaker supply line."}, {"response": 99, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Jul 18, 2000 (19:59)", "body": "Eyeglass Screwdriver May Come in Handy It is not unusual for the small screws holding the eyeglass frame temples to the frame to become loose. These screws are very tiny. It would be a good idea to include a small screwdriver that will fit these tiny eyeglass frame screws in a well- equipped toolbox. If you need one of these tiny screwdrivers, there's not much you can do to create a substitute."}, {"response": 100, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, Jul 19, 2000 (13:27)", "body": "Walmart has a good eyeglass repair dept, they fixed my glasses for free last time I took them there, and it only took about half an hour. They did it while I did a bit of shopping."}, {"response": 101, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jul 19, 2000 (15:15)", "body": "Yes, they do, but i use tiny jewelers tools for lots of things. A Screw Extractor Can Save the Day One wants to tighten bolts tight enough so they won't come loose. However, if the bolts are tightened too much, they could break. There it is, a bolt broken off, with none of the bolt threads remaining above the surface. How do you get the broken stud out? A screw extractor will do the job. A hole is drilled into the broken stud, the screw extractor is placed into the hole, and the screw extractor is tightened in the broken stud with a left-handed motion. The reverse threads on the screw extractor back the broken stud out of the hole. It would be better to have a screw extractor set on hand than have to rush to buy a screw extractor when you need one."}, {"response": 102, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jul 19, 2000 (15:15)", "body": "Epoxies Epoxies are a somewhat mysterious class of material that home repair enthusiasts should be familiar with. They can be used to bond, fill, patch, and repair a wide range of materials. Typically they come in two parts that must be mixed together, starting a chemical reaction that yields a tough material that can be cut, drilled, or sanded when fully cured. Epoxies come in a wide range of consistencies and curing times, and the one you choose depends on your project. One common application in home repair is the filling and repair of rotted windowsills. Rather than remove and replace sills, they can be repaired in place with epoxy fillers and sanded and painted to match the original. Repair and rebuilding of decorative trim pieces is another application for epoxies when replacement parts are not available."}, {"response": 103, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Sep  9, 2001 (10:24)", "body": "Here's a tool! A framing hammer for sale on Amazon. Features: 21-ounce milled face Framing hammer 18-inch hickory handle Magnetic nail holder Superior balance Note: Giftwrapping not available for this item. Packaging: This item may be delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging, which could reveal the contents of the box. Shipping: Currently, this item can only be shipped within the continental United States. Shipping weight: 2.05 pounds. ASIN: B0000224VR"}, {"response": 104, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Apr  1, 2006 (11:22)", "body": "on http://www.athome-tv.com episode 102 I saw an incredible tool. You've seen the simple mitre box and back saw. There's an electric miter box version of this. You can cut 45 degrees. Well, combine this with a radial arm saw and you have a \"rail saw\". Add dual compound to that and you have the next grade up. Dual Slide Dual Compound Mitre Saw is the final evolution of this. Makita makes it and it's $699. Now, that's some tool. home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 14, "subject": "pools", "response_count": 28, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (18:01)", "body": "and what temperature is the water in yours, Terry?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (18:03)", "body": "and can I come splash around in it??!?!?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (18:05)", "body": "(I hope somebody calls and lets me know...)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (18:16)", "body": "whether or not I have permission??"}, {"response": 5, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (18:46)", "body": "everyone has permission...some people just have potentially different receptions...besides, I have a cell phone now (although it's not as cool as Paul/Terry's or Ray's...)"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (21:07)", "body": "temperature.The temp. is 66 right now. It's climbing every day with this warm spell and these sunny days. When it gets to 68 it will be Barton Springs temperature."}, {"response": 7, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (21:42)", "body": "speaking of swimming pools (which we were speaking of, right?) mine is full of allygaters, i'm sure. it's an above ground, so how they get in there, i don't know. the one thing that's been a problem for us is nut grass growing through the thick and expensive liner we have. we also dug down about a foot and put grass/weed killer down. this darned nut grass comes through anyway. any ideas? (i think the next time i have a pool, i'm gonna be able to afford the pool maintainers to stop by and do all the bl sted work)......"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (07:20)", "body": "Two days of 80 degree weather forecast. Maybe my pool will hit 70 degrees and it will be swim season again! That would be great! I don't know what to do about them allygators and weeds, maybe get a better liner? And hire an allygator wrestler. Your pool area must resemble that Rousseau painting I posted in art, \"The Jungle\"."}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (10:08)", "body": "COOL! Gator wrestling at Wolf's!!! whaddaya want me to bring?!?!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "wolf", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (21:00)", "body": "skewers? we could have a gator roast!!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (21:56)", "body": "Let's call that guy from Animal Planet! You know, Steve, the crocodile hunter! Too cool!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (10:38)", "body": "think we could just heat the pool up enough to have a gator boil?"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (16:20)", "body": "only after I see some wrestling going on... or should I say Wrastlin'?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "wolf", "date": "Sat, Mar  6, 1999 (16:56)", "body": "wrastlin is bamer talk *hehe* i don't know how we'd get that pool up on a burner, wer, but if you gots any ideas, let me know.....should we throw in some taters and corn?"}, {"response": 15, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Mar  6, 1999 (20:59)", "body": "We could steam some Maryland blue crabs..."}, {"response": 16, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Mar  8, 1999 (01:19)", "body": "okay...Autumn's got the crabs...I get to build the fire... the correct spelling would be \"wrasslin',\" Stace, and I think you get to bring the vegetables...what are we missing? well, besides the beer (and whatever Wolf drinks...)"}, {"response": 17, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar  8, 1999 (08:40)", "body": "Who's bring the crocs?"}, {"response": 18, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  8, 1999 (18:38)", "body": "missing the point Paul.... Wolfie's already got em... in her POOL!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Mar  9, 1999 (09:07)", "body": "Uh huh."}, {"response": 20, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar  9, 1999 (12:23)", "body": "she DOES!!!!! I swear it! (based on the information she has shared with us, her dear springuers.."}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (11:09)", "body": "So you're promising us crocodiles!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (13:22)", "body": "i said I \"swear\" not \"promise\"...."}, {"response": 23, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Mar 10, 1999 (23:27)", "body": "Um, I think she actually said alligators, not crocs. But it doesn't matter! They still like to wrassle!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar 11, 1999 (08:40)", "body": "Is there a chance you could post a picture of this, wolfie?"}, {"response": 25, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar 11, 1999 (16:56)", "body": "just attend the party, Terry, and webcast it!!!!!!!!!!!!!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar 12, 1999 (18:48)", "body": "yeah, they're gators. got a freshwater pool, you know and i don't think the freshwater crocks would care for the weather we're having to make the trip up...."}, {"response": 27, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, Jan 30, 2001 (14:39)", "body": "Some thumbnails of our recently finished pool. http://www.wholetech.com/images/pool.html"}, {"response": 28, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May  1, 2001 (07:23)", "body": "That's changed, it's now http://www.wholetech.com/pool home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 15, "subject": "Floors and carpeting", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 16, "subject": "water conservation", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (05:18)", "body": "Drink it slowly :o)"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (05:18)", "body": "LOL! There are plenty of attachments (!?!?) to help you conserve water. For your shower, your sink, your sprinkler system... I've even known people who (not being able to afford a new fangled water friendly toilet) have put bricks in the resivor of their toilets to safe half a gallon everytime they flush!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (20:42)", "body": "Now you know one more! (Actually, the bricks were there when we got here 9 years ago) :-) home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 17, "subject": "Central air and heat - the hvac topic", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 18, "subject": "appliances", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 26, 2000 (12:37)", "body": "I have the standard one washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave oven, range, fridge, and a countertop toaster oven which I use a great deal. Also have a bread maker and a convection oven which is a glass deal which stands on a counter and cooks things in speedy time - have never used it - did not want it. May get up the courage to try it... Gadget of the daya; The Record-A-Call Handset Be prepared for the day one of your friends calls to talk about his or her affair with a politician! The Record-A-Call Handset is new approach to the problem of recording phone calls. This unit replaces your existing standard handset with one that also has a microcassette recorder built right in. No more messing with telephone pickup coils or annoying taps and transformers. The unit can record up to three hours on a standard MC-90 microcassette. All the controls are easy to operate. Be sure to check the law in your state regarding recording of two-party conversations. The Record-A-Call Handset retails for $69.95 as item number ES179 at Herrington. They can be reached at (800) 622-5221."}, {"response": 2, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 17, 2006 (16:25)", "body": "home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 19, "subject": "Martha Stewart", "response_count": 32, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Donna", "date": "Sun, Jan  5, 1997 (20:48)", "body": "I don't loathe Martha,just that I was very disappointed in \"Living\"magazine. Everyother page is an ad. One thing I do have to say is she saved me from throwing away bakeware that I thought was junk. I found out that this \"very small\" piece is worth $50.00. I still watch when I have a chance. Terry nothing is that perfect. She does admit that herself. What I have noticed on her show is she is having other people demonstrate their talents. All I know is that I really wouldn't mind having a kitchen like Martha's."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Amy", "date": "Sun, Jan  5, 1997 (21:23)", "body": "I agree Donna. She has become such an industry."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Anna", "date": "Sun, Jan  5, 1997 (21:36)", "body": "would anyone actually want things to actually be that perfect? All your friends would desert you, and it would be nerve-wracking to live is such a place. Imagine spilling red wine on the carpet."}, {"response": 4, "author": "Inko", "date": "Sun, Jan  5, 1997 (23:43)", "body": "I agree with the above comments. When I occasionally see Stewart on some show or other, I think \"what a good idea\" and then five minutes later I forget all about it. Can't say I'd want to be that domesticated, but her kitchen does look heavenly. Wonder if she actually uses it every day? ;-)"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Cheryl", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (04:39)", "body": "Inko: \" her kitchen does look heavenly. Wonder if she actually uses it every day? ;-)\" Yeah right! And Sue Ann Nivens used her real kitchen for her TV show too! ;-)"}, {"response": 6, "author": "mrobens", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (07:20)", "body": "My favorite Martha Stewart moment was the first time I saw \"her\" calendar in the front of Living. The entry for October 10 said, \"clean around the furnace\". I had quite a clear picture of Martha down there in her basement in her grubbies, cleaning around the furnace. And Sue Ann Nivens used her real kitchen for her TV show too! ;-)"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Zimei", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (10:17)", "body": ":I don't loathe Martha,just that I was very disappointed in \"Living\"magazine. Everyother page is an ad. I read from WSJ a while ago that the entire Martha Stewart enterprise is actually loosing money, including the magazine, mainly because she wants everything to be so perfect and the cost becomes really high. For example, if she needs to have a pillow picture in the magazine, other magazines will just go out find a nice fabric and make it or even a ready-made one, but Martha has to have the whole thing custom-designed and custom-made starting from the fabric. Being perfect do comes with a price. Zimei"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (21:25)", "body": "You know that show Sunday Morning on CBS? They had a guy review Martha Stewart as if he were Martha Stewart. They showed him making a wreath out of beer cans, bubble gums wrappers, etc. while juxtaposing shots of Martha's picture perfect wreath made out of handpicked items out of her gorgeous formal garden. Is she married?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Donna", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (22:15)", "body": "I saw that same show Terry. I think she is single at the moment,Terry."}, {"response": 10, "author": "Amy", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (22:19)", "body": "Terry loves geeks?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Donna", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (22:37)", "body": "Martha Stewart is a geek? I think the guy on CBS is a geek."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (23:31)", "body": "Single? Amazing."}, {"response": 13, "author": "Lin", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (23:35)", "body": "terry, I know for sure that she is single at the moment. She was married at one time but got divorced. She also has one daughter. Gosh, she's not as perfect as we think she is!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Amy", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (23:38)", "body": "] was married at one time but got divorced. She also has one daughter. Gosh, she's not as perfect as we think she is! __ And precisely what is that supposed to mean?"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Kali", "date": "Mon, Jan  6, 1997 (23:46)", "body": "Janet Rossman, where are you? Janet wrote a great Martha spoof at Amy's old board...I wish she would bring herself to register at Spring! Janet! COme back!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan  7, 1997 (00:25)", "body": "I want this! Come back Janet! (anyone know how to get in touch with her?)"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Lin", "date": "Tue, Jan  7, 1997 (19:57)", "body": "]] was married at one time but got divorced. She also has one daughter. Gosh, she's not as perfect as we think she is! __ ]And precisely what is that supposed to mean? ___ Just saying that she's not perfect! (like the rest of us)"}, {"response": 18, "author": "Kali", "date": "Wed, Jan  8, 1997 (09:19)", "body": "Terry, Janet is a chat regular who is currently in Disneyworld. Unfortunately, she is still mourning the loss of Amy's old board and can't bring herself to post here...perhaps we could break the ice for her by persuading her to share her Martha-P&P parody? ;) I will e-mail her about it!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "kendall", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (01:15)", "body": "\"...was married at one time but got divorced ... Gosh, she's not as perfect...\" Amy - not to offend all the divorced people in the world (who are often only admitting they had better sense at 30 than at 22) but there is a delicious current of irony in the woman who has somehow become a national icon of gracious living being unable to achieve perfection in the basic unit of social living."}, {"response": 20, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (23:56)", "body": "Has anyone else heard the stories that she is a very wild woman?"}, {"response": 21, "author": "Donna", "date": "Fri, Jan 10, 1997 (00:25)", "body": "Wild in what way do you mean Terry?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "Kali", "date": "Fri, Jan 10, 1997 (05:16)", "body": "Yeah, did you guys know that Martha was raised in a fraternity house? ;)"}, {"response": 23, "author": "mrobens", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (08:27)", "body": "Yeah, did you guys know that Martha was raised in a fraternity house? ;) Is that like being raised by wolves?"}, {"response": 24, "author": "mich", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (12:16)", "body": "LOL! Myrette, LOL!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "Lin", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (14:35)", "body": "]but there is a delicious current of irony in the woman who has somehow become a national icon of gracious living being unable to achieve perfection in the basic unit of social living. Thank you, Katy! I couldn't have said it better myself!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "Anna", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (17:10)", "body": "]gracious living The 'a place for every cushion and every cushion in it's place' effect would probably be easier to achieve living alone; it's not got much to do with real life after all."}, {"response": 27, "author": "del", "date": "Thu, Jan  9, 1997 (21:08)", "body": "Recreation: Home and Garden: Martha Stewart : Parodies"}, {"response": 28, "author": "Kali", "date": "Mon, Jan 13, 1997 (20:55)", "body": "Right on, Myretta! Very much like the wolf thing, I'm sure - but obviously much more strict an upbringing...otherwise, how would she have so completely and successfully rebelled? ;)"}, {"response": 29, "author": "alix", "date": "Fri, Jan 31, 1997 (19:08)", "body": "One just can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she drove her husband away? I mean, perhaps all those four A.M. wake up calls and re-modeling the interior of the birdhouse pushed him over the edge. Oh, and did anyone see her reciepe(?) fof wrapping paper? Gingerbread. So, do you open the gift one bite at a time with a nice white?"}, {"response": 30, "author": "kendall", "date": "Fri, Jan 31, 1997 (23:03)", "body": "' ... re-modeling the interior of the birdhouse ... \" PERFECT - MAD MAGAZINE DOES MARTHA STEWART!"}, {"response": 31, "author": "alix", "date": "Sat, Feb  1, 1997 (20:12)", "body": "Thanks, now I know the one place that I can get a job! ;)"}, {"response": 32, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 17, 2006 (16:27)", "body": "http://www.trystancraft.com/martha/ Gothic Martha Stewart home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 2, "subject": "straw homes", "response_count": 11, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Feb 17, 1999 (11:54)", "body": "What's the difference between a straw bale house and a cob house? Straw-bale is perfect for keeping uniform temperatures. Essentially it's pretty simple a funciton of very thick walls (resistance to heat transfer) and substantial internal thermal mass to store warmth or \"coolth\". The thermal mass creates what's known as \"the flywheel effect,\" i.e., slow changes in temperature. Terry, I don't know specifics on cob walls, but I suppose they're made from corncobs packed together in some form or other. Our place is made of bales made from rice-straw. The bales are 4 feet by 2 feet, 15 inches high. - Roger Karraker No, cob is as Becky Bee author of The Cob Builders Handbook says, \"a house made out of mud...Cob is sand in effect 'mortared' toegther with clay and strengthened with straw...\" and you sculpt with it. She uses different size pieces of loose straw. There are several articles in The New Settler Interview on building with cob. - lmonte There's a nice cob house in Occidental at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. - Marge Wright And finally, there's Laura De La Garza's cob house, and I've invited her to comment."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  1, 1999 (14:29)", "body": "There is a man who works here (where I work) who is in the finishing stages of building his straw house. He and his wife are going to retire there. Amazing structure from pictures and stories... he has wanted to do this for over 15 years!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar  1, 1999 (14:47)", "body": "It's a great idea. Do you know the difference between a cob house and a straw house?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  1, 1999 (14:51)", "body": "nothing more than I've read from inside this topic..."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (01:59)", "body": "I'm still trying to figure it out also, I'd like to visit Laura de La Garza's place out on the Blanco River and check out a cob house first hand. Maybe later in the season, when swimmin' season starts."}, {"response": 6, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (16:47)", "body": "Yeah, you definitely need another house to manage, Terry."}, {"response": 7, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (16:49)", "body": "cob houses are like adobe... that was the extent of my knowledge gleened from talking with Bill (owner/builder of the straw bale home) today."}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Mar  2, 1999 (21:15)", "body": "I wonder if there are multistory straw houses?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  3, 1999 (11:08)", "body": "yikes... dunno"}, {"response": 10, "author": "wolf", "date": "Mon, May 31, 1999 (11:35)", "body": "how do they keep them (straw) from burning up? and can you keep varmin out?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jun  2, 1999 (18:29)", "body": "it's all stuccoed home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 20, "subject": "Home Improvement - the tv show", "response_count": 23, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 16, 1997 (13:16)", "body": "Tim Allen is going to get 1.25 million per show next season. Pretty good handyman's wages, for a guy who rehabbed himself from a federal prison."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Oct 16, 1997 (13:31)", "body": "did not know that. what was the crime?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 16, 1997 (14:34)", "body": "I found this on Geocities: TIM AT THE TOP With a No. 1 movie, a No. 1 TV show and a No. 1 book, Tim Allen is having an unbeatable year BY RICHARD ZOGLIN Tim Allen is still learning the protocols of stardom. On a promotion tour for his new book earlier this fall, he went on a talk show and laughed about the private plane that his publisher, which is owned by Disney, was flying him around in. Known for its thriftiness, Disney hates being made to look like a typical, money-burning Hollywood studio, and a few days after Allen made his remarks, he received a curt memo from headquarters. Never brag about Disney's use of corporate jets, the company's biggest star next to Simba the Lion was told; don't even mention corporate jets and Disney in the same sentence. Now, some stars might have thrown a fit - or got their agent to do it for them. But Allen reacted like a chastened fifth-grader; he told Disney it was just a joke. Good thing Allen didn't mention the new four-wheel-drive Porsche the studio just bought him. But then, the Disney comptroller can hardly complain. Allen has made a pirate's galleon of loot for the company during a year in which he has pulled off an unheard-of triple play. Home Improvement, his ABC sitcom now in its fourth season, is TV's No. 1-rated show, earning Disney $400 million thus far in the sale of reruns. His jokey autobiographical book, Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man, reached No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list in October and is still riding high in second place (trailing only the Pope); it is the most successful book yet published by Disney's 3 1/2-year-old book division, Hyperion. Now The Santa Clause, Allen's first movie, is the surprise hit of the Christmas season, earning $71 million in its first 17 days and jumping to No. 1 at the box office over the Thanksgiving weekend - surpassing Tom Cruise's fangs, Schwarzenegger's pregnancy and both generations of Star Trek. It's a success story as heartwarming as one of those sentimental father-son talks on Home Improvement. Allen, 41, is hardly the most brilliant comedy star of his generation, though some might call him its most brilliant example of multimedia Hollywood marketing. But few superstars seem less inflated by their success. Allen still keeps a home in an unpretentious neighborhood in suburban Birmingham, Michigan, where he retreats for holidays and other family gatherings. He has been married for 10 years to his college sweetheart, who waited for him while he served more than two years in a federal penitentiary on drug charges. And when he throws temper tantrums on the set of his TV show - \"My set! My camera! My props!\", he's been heard to shout - everybody knows it really is a joke. In contrast to stories about some other sitcom stars, like Roseanne and Grace Under Fire's Brett Butler, those about Tim Allen's rampaging ego are all but nonexistent. \"He just never lost perspective,\" says Bruce Economou, an old friend from Michigan. \"When he first went to the Home Improvement stage, where they were building the sets, and the people from Disney were walking him through, they told him, 'This is all for you.' Tim looked at it and said, 'Well, if this show doesn't work, can I have the wood?\"' Now Allen can have almost anything he wants. After the success of The Santa Clause, Hollywood insiders predict he will command upwards of $8 million for his next movie (on top of the $5 million he reportedly made this year from the TV series). But talking in his TV dressing room last week, in between bites of a tuna-salad sandwich, Allen said he'd be happy with a small token of his achievement. \"It's so cheesy,\" he says, \"but I just want a little plaque that says, no. 1 tv show, no. 1 book, no. 1 movie. Just something for me, because I worked so hard I almost died: 18-hour days getting in and out of a fat suit, typing ((my book)) on my laptop. I looked forward to this day, right before Christmas, when it would all be over.\" Or maybe just starting. With The Santa Clause, Allen has joined the tiny fraternity of stars (John Travolta, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey) who have successfully made the leap from TV to movies. Many more - including the two most dominant prime-time stars of recent years, Bill Cosby and Roseanne - have conspicuously failed to transfer their popularity to the big screen. Perhaps they are too closely identified with TV roles in which they essentially play themselves. Perhaps their very living-room familiarity makes it impossible for them to be fully convincing on the larger-than-life movie screen. For whatever reason, the stars with whom viewers get cozy around the TV hearth are rarely the same ones they surrender to when the lights go down at the multiplex. Yet with his white-bread affability and a face as wide open as the Great Plains, Allen seems at home everywhere. On Home Improvement he plays Tim Taylor, a father of three and host of a TV fix-it show. Tim is a guy's guy who gets excited about playing with power"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 16, 1997 (14:42)", "body": "Ooops, that was a bit long, I should have put out a warning first."}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Oct 17, 1997 (12:12)", "body": "NO KIDDING! that's EXACTLY what I was saying, spam man!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "riette", "date": "Tue, Jun  2, 1998 (07:14)", "body": "I can't believe there's a topic on Home Improvement - I just LOVE the programme. I love the jokes about Al's mum and his shirts. And Wilson is great too."}, {"response": 7, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jun  2, 1998 (10:12)", "body": "What other shows do you like, Riette?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "riette", "date": "Tue, Jun  2, 1998 (13:39)", "body": "I don't watch that much TV, because I'm with the kids during the day, and work at night. But the girls and I never miss and episode of The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman series - in German, that is. It's a SCREAM!!!!!!! When the naf sounds come on the kids cheer and I crawl around on the floor with laughter. We adore it. What's your favourite?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jun  2, 1998 (15:04)", "body": "(where do you work Riette, what do you do?) no tv. i've seen the Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman MANY times! Ever watched The Incredible Hulk or CHiPs (two of my favorites!)"}, {"response": 10, "author": "riette", "date": "Tue, Jun  2, 1998 (16:36)", "body": "I work at home. I'm an artist. Have an (for me) important exhibition together with three other young artists coming up in August, and a solo of 30 pictures the end of the year, so I use my sleepless nights well! What do you teach, Stacey? I would have loved to have been a teacher; I like kids . . . some of the time! Well, perhaps someday I can teach art, who knows. Yeah, I saw the Incredible Hunk, and Chips when I was a young girl, not to mention Buck Rogers in the 20th century - those were cool programmes, I tell ya! Oh, and my sister and I used to run in slow motion and fight over who is the REAL bionic woman. But we were disgusted when we found out that Lindsay Wagner, the TV bionic woman was as old as our mother!!! The programmes one gets now are so dry and realistic - no fantasy at all!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jun  2, 1998 (18:03)", "body": "sadly enough, some are straying into the world of anti-imagination. Occassionaly my students are simply too lazy to use that part of their mind. I am a special education teacher. I have a self-contained ED (emotionally disturbed) classroom. I teach English, math, reading, writing, science, social studies and art but the concentration for these kids is on how to get along in the real world and overcome some of their anger. Anger management, appropriate socialization skills, acceptance, responsibility and (the MOST important) self-respect. Wow! and artist. An Arteeest?!?! pictures? photography, drawing, painting, mixed media???"}, {"response": 12, "author": "riette", "date": "Wed, Jun  3, 1998 (02:25)", "body": "Wow. I'm really impressed - now that's what I call a real job. A job where one can actually make a difference to people's lives. What a responsibility. It must be wonderful and very difficult at the same time. It must also take alot of commitment, hey? You think and artist is wow? Not really. I'm getting more and more frustrated with the profession, because half of all well-known recognised artists are a bunch of thieves. They have the right contacts and family money, then they promote themselves to stardom and sell their pictures for millions to get even richer. Never mind the fact that there are people dying of hunger and illness in this world. That stinks. I don't see why art should not be available and affordable for everyone. So I'm having difficulties because the gallery where I'm doing my next exhibition wants me to put my prices up by about 200 percent, and ask around 15 000 per paintinc, and I'm refusing to do that. I mean, just 2000 already covers my costs - so, what the hell is the other 13000 for? Even if I give half of that to the gallery as a commission fee (which would be proposterous), I'd still sit with 6500 which I don't need. I think my art is already too expensive and am not budging - which means I could get thrown out for not going along with the rest. But I don't really care. I have no intention of getting rich, it's far too much fun to be poor like most people. And I think it grossly unfair that only rich people should be able to afford art, because often it is poor people who can appreciate it best. Oh, and yes, pictures (man, I always have to get argumentative, don't I?? Sorry.) I paint in acryllics, because it dries fast, and the style is . . . well, imagine African ethno meets baroque stained glass . . . Luv-it-or-loathe-it-art! Ha-Ha!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jun  3, 1998 (16:19)", "body": "the 'wow' part is admiration and a little bit of envy for having the 'guts' for lack of a better word, to put your images out for all to see. I love to fiddle around with multi-media projects, junk sculptures and collages because they make me feel better (usually theraputic processes) and I enjoy fiddling but I only have two that I've actually displayed in my home. I've made a few for friends who have come over and asked me to but I don't have the 'guts' to present my 'stuff' to the public. Smae problem with poetry. I write a lot but publish/share very little. There are only a handful of people who I feel comfortable showing my work to, I wish I knew how to improve the confidence level (without taking the obvious first step!) hold fast to your principles... they are one of the few things that are uniquely yours!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "riette", "date": "Wed, Jun  3, 1998 (17:07)", "body": "Hmm. Well, I think it's just great that you recognize your own creativity, and that you do something with it. I don't think one must necessarily exhibit to be an artist - as long as you use the talent to serve yourself more than anything or anyone else. So don't stop, okay? Same with writing. I never even consider sending the things I write to publishers, because they make me happy, and I need nothing more. I became an artist quite by accident after I came to Z\ufffdrich. I did voice work between the ages sixteen to twenty when I came here permanently (radio drama and reading and stuff like that), and actually, although it is also a kind of 'performing' art, it was much 'easier' than this, because I know exactky what the voice sounds like, I have the control over how other people will perceive of it. With art it's different - to do it professionally you can't just do it for yourself anymore, you also have to go for what will appeal to the people outside your studio. That's difficult. Some of the 'realness' of expression gets lost, and it's difficult staying true to yourself and trying to make a success of it. But the upside is - the more success you have, the more you can dare to be yourself. Know what I mean? The past two years have been difficult and unsatisfactory, but this year I'm getting a little interest in things I like too, so I'm feeling a little more optimistic; I've seriously been considering falling back on the old smoker's talking organ for lack of guts to carry on. Oh, and I must confess - for the life of me I'm totally hopeless with collages; I'm just far too damn clumsy to stick those bits of paper and stuff onto something else. Always end up on the verge of having to go to hospital to remove all the objects sticking to my face. So I've given it up. And I wanted to ask: would you like for more people to see your work? Because a good way of starting out is to find a restaurant that does exhibitions. It's not all that personal, and a little informal, and yet the kind of restaurants who do it are kind of fancy - it's a good beginning, in case you ever should consider the possiblility."}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jun  3, 1998 (17:48)", "body": "thanks for the suggestion. and the support. no, I don't think I'll ever stop 'making stuff' because, as you say, it just makes me happy. makes me feel good. gives me time to work things out in my head. makes my face all happy smiley (even if I'm working on something dark). not quite ready to share. it's that first step that's a doozie. i had a friend once who, at the onset of our relationship, i felt comfortable sharing everyhting I made with. sometimes it crossed my mind that perhaps he was a soul mate. i know i loved him (and even in that instant love you and jim sometimes speak of). i was not attracted to him and he drove me insane with all his probing questions. sometimes he irritated me because he tried to hard.... but i always shared with him. on some enigmatic plane, he and i were very close to being one. (Riette, I'm glad your here. you are easy to talk to and very sincere. i like you."}, {"response": 16, "author": "riette", "date": "Wed, Jun  3, 1998 (18:05)", "body": "Oh, I think there are many different sorts of soulmates one can have. I don't exclude women. My best female friend here in Z\ufffdrich (the one I go to Paris with every year) must be my soulmate, because we have nothing at all in commen, yet we can just talk in a way I can't even dream of talking with most people with the same interests as me. And my sister is a part of my soul as my finger to my hand - we 'probe' each other like that all the time, so forgive me if I do it with you and others as well. I think it has become a habit. My own husband finds some of my questions and statements akward and provokative. It's just that because of my sister, and our mutual openness, the way we love and lash out without holding back, I'm just so used to answering and putting questions that most people might find akward that I forget about it. But it's not an excuse, and for that I apologize, and if I should ever ask you an akward question, just say 'no'. No guilt, no evasion, no this or that - just NO. I'm sorry your friendship with your soulmate did not last - you talk of him in the past tense, so I presume it didn't. And you're really nice."}, {"response": 17, "author": "jgross5", "date": "Wed, Jun  3, 1998 (18:57)", "body": "my cat is very close to me. [maybe] his name's Jah. hi everyone, this is Jah. he's right here, licking himself pretty much all over. me and Jah talk alot. or i do and he doesn't walk off. he's one of those more detached cats. so i was telling him about some of my more deeper personal feelings. and Jah, he didn't even look at me when he said this: \"Jim, couldn't you try doing that just once with those of your own species?\" he said that to me about a week ago. i believe they were the only words he's ever spoken. took me 3 days to be able to talk to him again. as soon as I started talking, his eyes got depressed and sad. he walked off like he knew i'd just never really get the drift."}, {"response": 18, "author": "riette", "date": "Thu, Jun  4, 1998 (02:37)", "body": "Liar. If that were true you would not be here."}, {"response": 19, "author": "riette", "date": "Thu, Jun  4, 1998 (02:38)", "body": "Not angry, so don't sulk."}, {"response": 20, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jun  4, 1998 (10:29)", "body": "Tahja and Rafikki (the kitties) love to listen to me. I can tell them anything and they sit attentively for hours, purring their responses, licking on my hands and sometimes my face. I only realized recently that when I'm talking to them, I pet them out of nervous habit. Cats are good to have around. And I think cats must agree that people are good to have around."}, {"response": 21, "author": "riette", "date": "Thu, Jun  4, 1998 (10:43)", "body": "I'm sure. And it reminds me of a very funny incident in my kitchen with a Hungarian woman. See, Mr. C. is a music historian, but also an active musician as conductor, and so I get to meet some foreign musicians - pain and pleasure. Anyway so once we have this Hungarian couple over for fondue. Very decent people, and so, when the wild cat that always comes to me to feed him, comes in, he somehow senses that the woman likes cats. So he jumps into her lap and sits there. Sure enough she adores him. And says affectionately: 'Just like my pussy - all soft and warm and furry.' I could have died!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jun  4, 1998 (12:31)", "body": "lol!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 17, 2006 (16:28)", "body": "LOL indeed. home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 21, "subject": "remodeling the Spring offices", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "lee", "date": "Mon, Jun 23, 1997 (08:27)", "body": "Lee, what's on your list?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "mikeg", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:05)", "body": "Erm, what the hell happened here? Is \"Lee\" two people, or just one with a split personality? :) It would have been interesting to share in this project, had it ever happened.."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (00:16)", "body": "We finished the remodel several months ago. Now we're winding up work on our first \"cybercottage\"."}]}, {"num": 22, "subject": "wireless LAN for the home", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug 10, 1997 (00:14)", "body": "Topic 255 [homeowners]: help: wireless LAN for the home #88 of 92: Ivar Sanders (isanders) Sat Feb 1 '97 (19:04) 7 lines CB is probably the cheapest and most viable commercially available approach, with the bonus that you can, if you like, verbally add information about parking-spot location, etc. Radio Shack and others also have \"private\" paging systems that might do the job for you. Topic 255 [homeowners]: help: wireless LAN for the home #89 of 92: Paul Terry http://www.spring.com/yapp.html (terry) Sat Aug 9 '97 (12:48) 50 lines I'm perplexed and overwhelmed. And I'm looking for Dave Hughes and all for guidance. I have a whole website full of choices for wireless 2.4 gHZ and 900 mHZ etc. All I need to do is go from my T-1 8 miles from here (maybe less) to my LAN at my home/office. I need to create a 24/7 seamless ethernet link. I want to spend as little as possible. The future of my business depends on this. I have a 4500 sf office that is standing unconnected. I'm overwhelmed at the choices listed at http://hydra.carleton.ca/info/wlan.html Oh, and the Bastrop school district needs to be connected which is 7 miles further down the road from my home/office and I could potentially be a link from the T-1 to them for Internet connectivity. As far as \"line of sight\" I have \"near line of sight\" but not perfect visual line of sight. There's a bit of a hill in the way. My T-1 site is totally line of sight to all of Austin so I have potential to become a wireless isp for Austin at some point. Austin is about 8 miles from this site which is opposite to the T-1. Let me use the whiteboard for a minute: Austin -------- T-1 ------- home/office ------- Bastrop ISD I'm looking at C-SPEC, Digital Ocean (the rep was going to meet me for lunch this week but he canceled out, bigger fish somewhere else), KarlNet, Persoft, OTC Telecom, and others in the 900 MHz arena. I'm looking at 2.4 GHz solutions from Breezecom, Clarion, C-SPEC, KarlNet, NetWave, Proxim, RadioConnect, Solectek, TAL, WaveAccess, Wave Wireless, Wi-LAN, Windata, and others. Dave, which of these should make the final cut and which should end up on the cutting room floor? Should I even consider 5.8 GHz from Western Multiplex, Cylink, Windata and RadioLAN? Further adding to my frustration with all these choices is that I left my file box with all my product literature from all these companies at the hamfest last weekend and I'm having to re-send for this information via email. I need some advice. It would be most appreciated in this crucial decision making process. Topic 255 [homeowners]: help: wireless LAN for the home #90 of 92: Dave Hughes (dave) Sat Aug 9 '97 (14:50) 61 lines Yes, it can be complicated. But you are putting your energy at the wrong end of the problem. If you are going to try and do this as a do it yourself project, then you have to: 1. Do a 'site survey' with some exactitude. 'About' 8 miles is not good enough. 'Exactly' 7.3 miles is. And just how clear the line of sight is, is crucial at that distance. Either a hill blocks the line, or it does not. And, at that distance, exactly where you are going to have to put a directional antenna - on a roof? How many floors above? With what path for either an RF cable, or an Ethernet cable from the vicinity of the radio/antenna to the exactl slot on your computer. And how many feet? 2. Define your requirement, short range and long. Big difference between 'just' connecting up your office to a T-1, and 'serving Austin as an ISP,' and 'extending to a distant school' or'all of the above. At what true thruput speeds? With how many seperate connections? To whom? Now. Later. 3. Define your limits - total $$$ for just your T-1, the 'whole city', the School. 4. Put it all in *real* perspective by toting up all the costs for each of three wireless solutions and one or more telco solution, over 2, 5, 10 years (low startup with telco, but recurring costs till hell freezes over, versus higher startup with wireless, and no recurring local loop cost). Do a graph. That will put the cost/benefit in perspective. 5. *THEN* compare radios that meet your specs and limits. (When you talk to a Persoft saleman, say 'what speed will I have at 7.3 miles with your radio and a proper antenna - at both ends?' Discount what he says by 25-50% and you will be close. 6. Then decide 'who' is going to install the radios, solder the RF cables, if needed, bore holes in your roof, sealing behind them, mount the antenna, and test the installation? The most important item above is the Site Survey. Do that right (or pay for someone to do it right) and your ulimate costs will be lower while the performance will be there. In any case, don't guess and just buy a radio pair and hope, based on specs. See if you can do it on a money-back basis, or 'loan' of a pair, or a field test by the sales/installation folks. Remember the old story of the falling-down-building guy, who was hired by a family whose building was creaking and about to fall. He show"}]}, {"num": 23, "subject": "Two projects, bill and the cottage", "response_count": 6, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Aug 27, 1997 (16:06)", "body": "Topic 272 [homeowners]: Two projects, Bill and the cottage #6 of 10: Paul Terry http://www.spring.com/yapp.html (terry) Tue Aug 26 '97 (19:15) 31 lines Then I got this email some days later: X-Originating-IP: [206.160.219.168] To: terry@barton.spring.com Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 09:06:33 PDT Terry I am very sorry I do not like Micheal Yes I have your tools I been under to much stress from linesting to Michel I don.t have an excuess for my actions as soon as I got in town I departed from him I had to have time to get my thoughts back together I still want to in San Antonio. We got this email: To: terry@spring.com, terry@www.spring.com Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 09:16:10 PDT Terry I only have 30 minutes on this computer per day I have garret bike it is safe, I put it in pawn because I don't have a lock for it If you want to pick me up it is better on wendsday because my appt. with SSA is tuesday at 10:30 am I just sume to get it out of the way thank you guys for careing I am not use to it please forgive my actions. Thank you Bill ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Topic 272 [homeowners]: Two projects, Bill and the cottage #8 of 10: nesting (isa) Tue Aug 26 '97 (21:24) 3 lines Sounds like this labor isn't turning out to be so cheap. of coating, the job tools ended up in a pawn shop somewhere. Topic 272 [homeowners]: Two projects, Bill and the cottage #10 of 10: an aye for an eye (airman) Tue Aug 26 '97 (22:56) 1 line As cohost, I have frozen this topic. Response not possible. (Return) or (?):"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Sep 24, 1997 (20:34)", "body": "Response is possible."}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Jul 28, 2000 (05:38)", "body": "The latest pix: http://cybersubdivision.com/pix0727/ The project is moving along. We're remodeling the kitchen and getting the cottage ready for some folks to rent. The legend for the above pictures is: ef efficiency co cottage nc new construction or retreat center/conference center oh old house These are the prefixes for the picture titles."}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Jul 28, 2000 (05:39)", "body": "The big issue is how to finish out this massive south second floor wall."}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Jul 28, 2000 (05:40)", "body": "That wall is 24' tall and the room itself is 18 x 24."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May  1, 2001 (07:23)", "body": "Update on http://www.wholetech.com home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 24, "subject": "rats.  What to do about 'em", "response_count": 13, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (11:06)", "body": "One word. Cats. Look up Health, in your county agency directory; there will be people whose business it is to eliminate rats from the neighborhood, most likely. And from bubba: If you poison rats they tend to die in the walls and you have to put up with the smell or rip open the walls. Rats are _smart_ and trap shy so lay some traps with bait but not set, when you see that they are taking the bait set the trap. You may also want to use different kinds of bait, I have found that peanut butter works very well."}, {"response": 2, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (03:25)", "body": "I used peanut butter last summer and it's work. But first of all you have o find by where they get in. Every hole in witch the rat or mouse can put is head, will be an introduction door."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (03:25)", "body": "yuk! Hope I never have to deal with this problem!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (20:48)", "body": "We just got rid of these unwelcome guests by using the poison, and let me tell you, the house positively reeked for 2 weeks. Next time I would definitely use a professional (or move). Nice to communicate with you en anglais for a change, yves!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Wed, Mar 17, 1999 (12:34)", "body": "Cats: decidedly the coolest way! Reasons: Obvious side benefits... Downside: some drag in mice to play indoors. Wouldn't be a prob, if they wouldn't occasionally lose them, and YOU'd have to catch 'em instead of ole killer paws! Also, sometimes they don't lose them, and you might notice it, becasue somebody didn't finish supper (for best effects, use wall-to-wall-carpeted homes...)."}, {"response": 6, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar 18, 1999 (00:44)", "body": "or, live trap them, butcher them, stuff them, wrap them in bacon, and slow roast them... when done, serve with a nice garlicky Hollandaise..."}, {"response": 7, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Mar 18, 1999 (10:45)", "body": "Well, Wer, you shoulda know me better by now - I'm not the guy to pounce on a mousie till it's flat as a stamp! Of course I catch 'em alive! But you can't eat 'em all - some are what we call a Spitzmaus, in these cases even Gartenspitzmaus, who are not tasting all that great, as they eat everything, incl. insects and rotting dead stuff. Cats wouldn't eat these either, just ferociously kill them, but never eat them. For a nice tasty treat, try the smaller Haselmaus-variety, which has the cutest round ears, a furry tail and pretty eyes (if you can get over this and kill them). Downside: Might gain you reputation as rather heartless chap with your guests, esp. the female, roundish eared, pretty eyed-sort). P.S.: Ever thought about how most carnivores wouldn't eat other carnivores?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Mar 19, 1999 (00:21)", "body": "hmmm...no...hmmm..."}, {"response": 9, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Mar 19, 1999 (03:37)", "body": "Well, give it some thought, and report back here! (See, I'd like to thing about it, but I am too busy today, so I have to, hmh, outsource this neuronal activity.)"}, {"response": 10, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Mar 19, 1999 (15:03)", "body": "mind if I add this to my resume?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Mar 19, 1999 (15:19)", "body": "What, something like this 1999 - today Neuronal Services Outsourcing Partner to Alexander Schuth, Spring ???? Or what do you mean?"}, {"response": 12, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Mar 20, 1999 (00:49)", "body": "yep, dat's what I meant, and you worded it so well!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sat, Mar 20, 1999 (04:23)", "body": "Well, go ahead, but don't think you'll impress anybody with that line! At least not in the culinary areas, where I have during my brave but disastrous attempts left a trace of victims... home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 25, "subject": "roads, short course in how to pave the planet", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Dec  3, 1998 (08:08)", "body": "Art Turner offers a unique solution: There is an alternative to asphalt that is worth considering for that situation: the end result is probably strong enough for residential use. You know those littl six-packs of plastic starter pots that they sell tomato seedlings in? Keep those in mind. When pouring a concrete sidewalk, the usual thing to do is reinforce it with welded wire mesh on a 6\" x 6\" grid. You've seen the stuff a million times, you know what I'm talking about. Someone came up with the idea of making something that's a lot like those plastic six-packs for starting plants, but you lay them down (upside down) on your crushed gravel concrete base. They're made so the 6x6 reinforcing wire fits right over. You place the reinforcing, pour the concrete, strike it even, and let it cure. Then, you just go over it with a blowtorch, and burn the tops of this cheap plastic formwork away, resulting in a grid of reinforced concrete. Fill the voids with soil. Sow grass seed, or just let the weeds grow up. This is similar to, but an order of magnitude cheaper than the precast grass pavers. Not as crisp, either, but you can't have everything."}, {"response": 2, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Dec  3, 1998 (08:08)", "body": "Wow, some people really know their infrastructure--have to admit I just take it for granted."}, {"response": 3, "author": "wolf", "date": "Wed, Dec 16, 1998 (16:36)", "body": "how about buying a home with a driveway already? home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 26, "subject": "household chores that I need to do", "response_count": 24, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (21:26)", "body": "I need an umbrella for the big plastic table by the pool. I need to pick up the little fridge from Cedar Creek to put out by the pool this summer."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Apr 27, 2000 (22:00)", "body": "Not stuff like having the house fumigated for termite? That's my next project and I cannot accomplish it till the house male takes down my trap dipole so they can tent the place."}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (08:52)", "body": "I'm also going to need the table saw to make a rack for all those computes I've been setting up in the machine room/library at Quail."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Apr 28, 2000 (14:06)", "body": "My entire life has been spent with men having table saws. I thought it came along with your birth certificate like a pair of ears, fingers and toes, etc."}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 30, 2000 (11:34)", "body": "STill gotta do this one, maybe Monday."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr 30, 2000 (15:59)", "body": "Want us to cheer you on? Encourage you? Keep you company while you do it? Fix you lunch? Help?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (09:45)", "body": "Today is rent day, so I gotta go around and pick up rent checks."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  1, 2000 (21:47)", "body": "That can be tedious if you have to accept excuses rather than bank drafts..."}, {"response": 9, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (01:32)", "body": "It was mostly excuses today. So maybe tomorrow will be a better day."}, {"response": 10, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  2, 2000 (17:50)", "body": "Oh Dear...I'm so sorry!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (05:41)", "body": "Or maybe tomorrow. The Quail house is doing well, the Cedar house is tough!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (17:00)", "body": "I'll catch flack for saying this, but I'll bet women are giving you the most trouble."}, {"response": 13, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (19:36)", "body": "No, not really, it's about half and half."}, {"response": 14, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (20:41)", "body": "..'twould be better if it were none at all, but... I am happy you are not being emotionally victimized by women. Beware, they are very good at it if you let them. I had two older sisters who were Past Masters..."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, May  3, 2000 (20:42)", "body": "(I love your pseudonym for this conference!)"}, {"response": 16, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (03:30)", "body": "Tops on my list for Cedar Creek 1. phone for residents 2. internet (isdn) 3. water cooler and water filter"}, {"response": 17, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (08:55)", "body": "I need to look up how to set a videotape on continuous play in my Sanyo manual, I know how to do this on my JVC. I wanted to play that Kileua tape today. I'll play it but it's still 8 am here."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (14:55)", "body": "Will we be able to access it? So far, other than your hill country trip, I have not been able to see anything on SpringCam. Will keep watch for it - or boot the w.3.1 so I can see it on the primitive 4 color (I kid you not!) lCD screen."}, {"response": 19, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (15:57)", "body": "It will be in a few hours from now."}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (19:49)", "body": "*sigh* run it again tomorrow - I will be at the All-Sports banquet with John..."}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May  1, 2001 (07:24)", "body": "About time for the all sports banquet again?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jul 15, 2003 (23:38)", "body": "chores... besides the mundane wash, dry, clean, vacuum, etc. Paint the dining room (yellow) Tile the kitchen (something other than the gawdawful linoleum that's there) Replace tiles in the laundry room Hang border on wall in basement playroom Put in new garbage disposal (enlist help of friend Cheryl for this!) Make curtains for aforementioned basement playroom blah, blah, blah... I'm considering just setting up the tent in the backyard and calling it good!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jul 16, 2003 (09:42)", "body": "What kind of border?"}, {"response": 24, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Aug  7, 2003 (22:53)", "body": "Looking for a cartoony bug border. Vibrant colors... fun... NOT a white background. I may end up stenciling like I did in the kids' room. I did paint the dining room (while Brandon was on a business trip! *wink*) but my list above still stands (with a few more additions even!) *sigh* home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 27, "subject": "Building a dream house in an exotic place", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, Mar 16, 2001 (10:21)", "body": "Diane Stanislaw (zzzcat@well.com) and her husband are building a dream house on Mauii. She's lived there for 24 years. She co-runs an art school there. She recently got a construction loan to build her dream house after 24 years of condo living. She picked a new development called Kahuna Ridge on west Mauii. Here's a photo of her lot. and the floor plans"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, May  1, 2001 (07:24)", "body": "Are these images showing up? home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 28, "subject": "Finishing the new home in Cedar Creek", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 26, 2002 (08:11)", "body": "Our first partial bid came in. From Mike and Heraldo. job hours cost start finish framing rough in ? ? ? ? plumbing 12 276.00 5/1/2002 5/4/2002 3\" pvc 200' 8 68.00 2 toilet lines in and 3 280.00 2 bath tubs 185.00 water heater 50 gal 28.00 10 cut valves 45.00 10 supply valves 1st fl elec ruff in 16 5/5/2002 5/7/2002 2nd fl elec ruff in 16 5/8/2002 5/10/2002 1st fl insul 8 749.36 5/11/2002 5/12/2002 2nd fl insul 10 969.00 5/12/2002 5/13/2002 1st fl sheet rock 25 714.00 5/14/2002 5/18/2002 2nd fl sheet rock 29 816.00 5/18/2002 5/21/2002 tape 10 rools 12 30.00 mud 5 boxes 1st fl 12 25.00 5/25/2002 5/26/2002 2nd fl mud 5/26/2002 5/27/2002 paint 1st fl 10 cans 16 150.00 5/28 5/30 paint 2nd fl 15 cans 18 225.00 5/31/2002 6/2/2002 tile 1st fl 55 boxes 16 840.00 6/3/2002 6/5/2002 tile 2nd fl 55 boxes 16 840.00 6/6/2002 6/8/2002 elec trim out 1st fl 16 6/9/1902 6/10/2002 elec trim out 2nd fl 16 6/11/2002 6/12/2002 int trim ext trim decks hvac misc 249 6,240.36 So we're missing the framing on this bid, but Mike's bringing his framer Saturday morning to complete the estimate. He only wants one floor but will finish the whole place in a month and a half. Which would enable us to rent out one floor. The costs look reasonable. He's showing us an 8,000 square job he did recently where he did all the electric, plumbing and sheetrock. We're waiting on four other bids."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 26, 2002 (08:19)", "body": "That looks bad. Here's a better view. http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/public/read/home/28"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Apr 26, 2002 (08:20)", "body": "I meant. http://www.spring.net/cottage/bidmike.html"}, {"response": 4, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 17, 2006 (18:57)", "body": "Wow, that link still works. http://austincast.com/homeoffice - appeal for geeks in residence. home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 29, "subject": "soundproofing and noise control", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct  5, 2003 (12:57)", "body": "http://www.nac-anti-fracture.com/sam.htm is good stuff I've heard. I'm trying to get a test roll of it. NCA Super SAM3 Fracture Control / Waterproofing / Sound control membrane (This is the extra thick, extra sound control version of SAM3) home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 3, "subject": "kitchens", "response_count": 26, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (01:24)", "body": "Ideal kitchen for me is one with space for two people working in it, lot of storage space, very good lightning, and a bottle of wine. I had a U type one, was great. The present one is too small (can't work two in it without fighting), it is a laboratory type (a counter between kitchen and dining room). The next one will be BIG, with alogene lightning, and lot of storage space."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (11:35)", "body": "How big? How many square feet? Have you made a floor plan yet?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (03:37)", "body": "My present kitchen is 70 square foot. The next one mesure 78 sq.foot. If I can add 4' it will be 114 sq.foot. That would be confortable.I didn't make floor plan yeat cause it's all speculation for now and. But when we'll stop or idea on a model, for shure I'll make some plan (I'm using Sketch, a small Autocad brother). I don't remember if I wrote it, but all what I'll do (contract) for this year is the fondations, exterior walls, roof, windows and doors and exterior covering. I have to finish the exterior look inside of one year, it's a municipal regulation. Then, I'll finish by myself the inside at the speed I want with the money I'll have."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (12:54)", "body": "My next project is to repair? or replace? my parquet floor. I'm not sure which yet."}, {"response": 5, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (02:46)", "body": "I have tiles in my kitchen. Love that. What kind of wood it is made off? What are the damages?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (23:35)", "body": "Water damage. Can you resand parkay?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "yves", "date": "Fri, Jan  9, 1998 (03:01)", "body": "You should be able to resand. but not with a ribbon sander. Maby a orbital one could do the job, (a big job) but I'm not sure."}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan  9, 1998 (11:54)", "body": "My friend Lakshmi, a remodeler, is coming out to assess the whole situation here, I'll have a lot better idea when she comes out."}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (10:33)", "body": "small kitchen... resanding and refinishing the butcher block table... looks BEAUTIFUL! and feels nice too."}, {"response": 10, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (11:33)", "body": "am trying to determine the purpose of blocking in the space above my cabinets. Have taken down one of the pieces of sheet rock, but can't determine if my cabinets will fall down if I remove all of it. (You know, to have a shelf above the cabinets to display stuff like my tins)"}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (19:56)", "body": "I have that in my kitchen, I find all kinds of uses for those spaces above the cabinets. Wouldn't think of blocking off any useful space."}, {"response": 12, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (20:11)", "body": "What I really want to do is to install some recessed lighting up there and among the tins, put some of my plants. Took a look-see at it again today and really couldn't tell if the sheetrock closing in the space was part of the support system for the cabinets. The house came with that space closed in, what a waste!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (20:11)", "body": "wolf, I doubt that it supports the cabinets as sheet rock is typically not used to support a great weight of anykind. Sounds like a fun project. Good Luck!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (20:11)", "body": "Check to see if there are any studs under the sheetrock and consult with a carpenter or builder first."}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (20:11)", "body": "I guess that would be the safe, intelligent way... Heck, I'd just tear 'em down!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sat, Jan 31, 1998 (00:15)", "body": "You see, there are 2X4s in place, but they look like they're more for holding up the sheet rock. The whole idea is to avoid having to hire a carpenter. Maybe I should read those time self-help books i paid so much for *giggle*. Thanks, though."}, {"response": 19, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (20:57)", "body": "My bulkhead has sliding doors which conceal all those wedding gifts which are gathering dust: ice bucket, corn popper, juicer, fondue set, dutch oven, wok... I desperately need a new floor. My girlfriend got a Pergo wooden laminate floor around Christmas, and it looks fantastic. I'm seriously considering this option because I'm so sick of vinyl and ceramic seems so slippery and unforgiving."}, {"response": 20, "author": "mikeg", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:08)", "body": "Pictures pictures pictures! That's what I first thought when I clicked on this topic. How about getting pictures of your kitchens and posting them here? I'd be happy to share ours :)"}, {"response": 21, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:42)", "body": "No scanner."}, {"response": 22, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (22:16)", "body": "no scanner here either. hey, maybe if we do post 'em, someone will give us a kitchen makeover *giggle* think to redo mine, my whole house would have to grow a bit!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (20:12)", "body": "especially when part of mine is in the bedroom, huh, wer?"}, {"response": 26, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:24)", "body": "We're not back on that melon baller thing, are we??"}, {"response": 27, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:27)", "body": "*giggle* (you make that slip/apron/bib contraption yet?)"}, {"response": 29, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 26, 1998 (21:00)", "body": "well, i'm working hard on mine......halloween is only 8 mos away *sly grin*"}, {"response": 31, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (17:18)", "body": "LOL!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 17, 2006 (16:04)", "body": "Four Kitchens. Question: how many kitchens at the new construction? home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 4, "subject": "building a house", "response_count": 58, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (01:41)", "body": "The only contractors that I had was the electrician, for insurances purpose. But for the next one all have contractors for fondation, structure, roof. The money will tell me what I can do this year."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (11:35)", "body": "What's your first step? And when do you start?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Jan  6, 1998 (04:06)", "body": "The first step will be shopping for prices. I didn't did that before cause we where planing to build in about 4-5 years. But now, we've changed or mind and see it as a money placement (diversification). But I don't want to put more than 30k. So I'll see what I can do with that money. I know where I'll put the house, in what direction (heating saving), will be a cottage. I have a house plan that could fit to me, with some modifications. But I have to know how much $$$. If I don't have all the answers to my questions, I'll wait next year. What and where are you building? P.S. Be patient if I don't write back quickly. I often have to consult my good friend the dictionary :o) (I have alot more to write down, later...)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan  6, 1998 (10:41)", "body": "I've got an 1100 square foot cottage under construction out in back of my present 3000 sf house. Check it out at http://www.spring.com/~house"}, {"response": 5, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (03:17)", "body": "I presume your present house is a comercial one? It's BBBBIG... and is my kind of house. Did you built it? Do you build yourself your new one? My present house is 3X smaller (about 945 square foot. 22X30, 2 levels, a cathedera roof in front). The one that I look at is the same size, but if I can affort it I'll make it 4' larger (for biger kitchen and bathroom)."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (12:56)", "body": "No, it's noncommercial, I built it with some subs for different jobs. The appraisal just came in at $155,000. I *almost* have the home improvement loan I took out paid for. What did you think of the pictures on the website, did they give you a good enough idea?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (03:39)", "body": "The pictures do give me a very good idea of the place. Someone seems to have been scanned at 16 million colors and reduced to 256 colors. All the definition in lightning is lost. The website look as an advertising site. Am I wrong? I don't understand \"I built it with some subs for different jobs\". (Did I mention somewhere that I'm french speaking, so I sometime have difficulties to read or write in English.) So if you built it you have a lot of experience in wood working! The house that is under construction must be the same looking. And at what step are you on the new building?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (23:36)", "body": "Just finished the framing, have a bit more interior framing to do. I'll try and shoot some video and capture some stills."}, {"response": 9, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (15:31)", "body": "What kind of fondation do you have to have? Do you have to dig?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 20, 1998 (09:25)", "body": "Pier and beam. No digging. I'm also checking out a house to move on to the land this week. It's $20,000 including moving it and it's about 1300 sf. Reminds me, I need to tell Garrett about it."}, {"response": 11, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Jan 21, 1998 (03:22)", "body": "So it'll be the third house on your land. Are you building a village? We have to dig 4' and have a cement fondation, to prevent the freeze lifting the house."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jan 21, 1998 (05:10)", "body": "Yep, a little cybervillage. All the places will have ethernet connections."}, {"response": 13, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Jan 22, 1998 (04:41)", "body": "Ok, now I understand the reason for all that places. Was thinking that you had a BIG FAMILY ;o)"}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan 22, 1998 (07:07)", "body": "I can get that house moved here, total cost ofhouse and moving is $20,000. Not too bad!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "yves", "date": "Sun, Jan 25, 1998 (02:59)", "body": "1300 sqf. on one or two floors? Is the house very far from your land?"}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jan 25, 1998 (16:29)", "body": "It's pretty far, about 20 miles. But the guy will sell it and move it for around $20,000."}, {"response": 17, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:01)", "body": "Terry, are you putting us on about the cybervillage part? Yves, does that mean you won't have a basement--just a foundation?"}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (00:12)", "body": "Nope, every place is going to be wired for isdn and hopefully some day T-1 or wireless. We are almost finished building our first \"cybercottage\"."}, {"response": 19, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (01:59)", "body": "Autumn, I'll have a basement. Didn't use the right word. As we have to dig 4', it doesn't cost much more to build a complete basement instead of just foundations. And as I never throw anything, I need lot of storage place :o)"}, {"response": 20, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (20:26)", "body": "You're a pack rat, huh? I know, if you throw it out, something will happen and you'll need whatever it was.... Must be nice to have such a big house Terry. Mine is a modest 1180, 3 bed/2 bath. Have a good yard too and it's in a very nice subdivision. Would love to build something that, maybe, I have a hand in designing the layout and stuff, but don't you have to be mega rich first? Oh, and I would LOVE a basement. As the water tables are so high around here the basement would always be flooded. Yves, maybe you can teach us some proper French. I pour through French dictionaries but it doesn't help with sentence structure and verbs and stuff."}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (00:12)", "body": "No basements anywhere to be found in Texas. We're just not a land of basements. I'm not sure why, they just don't happen in these parts. Maybe something to do with the soil??"}, {"response": 22, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (02:50)", "body": "A Basement would be a extra cost only to have more space? Better have a garage. Wolf, about the researches in dictionary, I know what your talking about. I ofen have to do it. No problemo giving you some help. P.S. Yes I'm a pack rat and love it. But when I have to repair something in the house and find the right bolt, on a Sunday morning, I take a great pleasure to show my trophy to my wife :o)))"}, {"response": 23, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (18:09)", "body": "no basements in Texas because of the coleche (sp?) the limestone rock that prevades all of Texas underground. And in San Antonio they depend solely on natural filtration through this rock to clean their water (no water treatment at all!) so basements and \u001b[1~screwing up the soil/sediment down there is a no no."}, {"response": 24, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:29)", "body": "Previous owners put on an addition to my house in the 70s without digging a basement, just \"crawl space\" (like who'd want to crawl around in there?) You can really notice the difference when you walk into this room, the temperature drops a couple of degrees. With no basement, where do you all keep your washer/dryer?"}, {"response": 25, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:30)", "body": "thanks, Yves. The stuff doesn't translate directly does it? That's the problem I have with German. Have to use software to write letters to my grandparents..."}, {"response": 26, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:33)", "body": "Autumn, I had to laugh at that, dunno why, just hit me funny. We've got a utility room off the kitchen. I do know life with a basement and running up and down the stairs to do laundry, to get stuff from the freezer (way back when I lived in Kansas). Really miss having a basement. This house doesn't have much for storage space. Like to do something with the attic, but it gets so muggy here."}, {"response": 27, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:47)", "body": "I'm always envious when I go in those new house models, you know, where they have the washer/dryer upstairs by the bedrooms in a hall closet? That's revolutionary to put the thing right where it's needed. Terry, you make sure to incorporate that into your cybervillage!"}, {"response": 28, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Feb 26, 1998 (03:59)", "body": "On my futur house plan the washer/dryer are on the main floor. This will gives me more space to put my \"pack rat\" things in the basement. But I'll have to buy a fitness machine to keep us in shape... Wolf, your right, direct translation's never a good thing, look at my writing style :o)"}, {"response": 29, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Thu, Feb 26, 1998 (21:04)", "body": "you're doin' well though Yves! Tres bon (?) Autumn, i'm always envious when i take a look-see at a new house. love to do it though cuz it gives me ideas on how to make mine look better."}, {"response": 30, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (02:19)", "body": "I talked to a lady tonight who said \"Don't, do not, under any circumstances, get one of those combination washer dryers. She knows wherefore she speaks, as she manages about 100 properties. Duly noted. As well the autumnal suggestion to locate the washer / dryer where they are most needed."}, {"response": 31, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (23:01)", "body": "Ha ha, never saw my name in adjective form before! My brother works for one of the local builders (whose house models are gorgeous)--came in to work Monday to discover the builder had absconded with all the $$$ and fled. Needless to say, my brother's out of a job. :-( Hey Terry, need a general contractor for your village? Hell of a commute, though... :-)"}, {"response": 32, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sat, Feb 28, 1998 (19:36)", "body": "that's a rotten thing to do. is a manhunt out for him?"}, {"response": 33, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (09:49)", "body": "It would be a hell of a commute, not at that stage quite yet, right now I need an electrician to finish the cottage."}, {"response": 34, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (21:49)", "body": "They think he might be in Ohio (yeah, that's where I'd go!--does anyone know an emoticon that denotes rolling one's eyes?) Of course, the subcontractors and bank are hopping mad, not to mention all the prospective homeowners who put down deposits but didn't go to closing yet!"}, {"response": 35, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (10:08)", "body": "rolling one's eyes: exasperation, disgust, disbielf \u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[A\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[B\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[D\u001b[Der, disbelief. best I can do Autumn but not sure it fits the situation -- that sure stinks!"}, {"response": 36, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (21:13)", "body": "what is all that??"}, {"response": 37, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (14:32)", "body": "I don't have a key for the rectangles. Funny, it doesn't look like eyes rolling, does it? You practically need a legend for some of these cues. Someone needs to publish a list!"}, {"response": 38, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (18:34)", "body": "now I'm confused. did my words come out funny?"}, {"response": 39, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (18:40)", "body": "stacey, you can't see it? whatever you did came out in a bunch of squares!"}, {"response": 41, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Mar  4, 1998 (07:10)", "body": "Well, I made my offer and it was accepted. It's a 6 bedroom house with a huge pool, a 16' high frame around the entry doors, a sunken den with wall to wall fireplace facing the backyard and pool, and a huge living room. One of the folks living there now said when they first the place they expected to see a huge long table with a bunch of Vikings sitting around with big turkey legs, etc. They got that feeling from the long, long living room and the huge entry door. It's very open inside, and the backyard and pool are spectacular. I'm pretty excited that I've made a good find."}, {"response": 42, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  4, 1998 (16:37)", "body": "congratulations paul! sorry about the squares everyone!"}, {"response": 43, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (03:04)", "body": "Great news, Terry! When do you go to closing?"}, {"response": 44, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (04:22)", "body": "As soon as possible, I'm meeting with the lendor tomorrow, or I should say later today!"}, {"response": 45, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Fri, Mar  6, 1998 (21:09)", "body": "COOL!! Terry, my refinancing came through too, we close next week!!!!! well, as to the squares, guess i used web protocol, don't know how to do telnet."}, {"response": 46, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Mar  6, 1998 (21:32)", "body": "Lender meeting went well, inspection went well, we did a pit stop on my credit report, and I have a $20k offer for spring.com domain name, which won't hurt things."}, {"response": 48, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sat, Mar  7, 1998 (18:57)", "body": "now that sounds like fun *grin*"}, {"response": 49, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  9, 1998 (10:45)", "body": "i LIKE role playing!"}, {"response": 51, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Mar 13, 1998 (17:54)", "body": "*naughty grin*"}, {"response": 52, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Sep 16, 1999 (23:56)", "body": "The cottage is nearly finished. All that's left is the painting, plumbing, cabinets, septic tank, and trim. The electrical is all in, the plumbing is 75% complete, the painting is 33% complete, and I've got to put the end connectors on all the ethernet wiring, cable/satellite tv wiring and audio wiring. Oh, and there's the flooring . . . Well, maybe not \"nearly finished\"!"}, {"response": 53, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (01:57)", "body": "Terry, sorry to change the subject. But on the main page, there is a news anchor woman for News 8 Austin. I am wondering if that might be my old friend Leesa Clark? Do you know? And if it is her, might you know e-mail address for her or the station (call letters, website, anything?)"}, {"response": 54, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (09:09)", "body": "I'll try and find out."}, {"response": 55, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (09:18)", "body": "Nobody there named Leesa Clark, according to the receptionist, who I just called. http://www.news8austin.com/"}, {"response": 56, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (12:25)", "body": "Thank you. That woman on the screen could be her double."}, {"response": 57, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Sep 17, 1999 (13:13)", "body": "Could she have changed her name or gotten married? Maybe it's her clone? I need to get the screen refreshing again, it's stuck on that pic!"}, {"response": 58, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (04:18)", "body": "Anything's possible. Thanks, Terry. I'm going to do some of my own nosing around and see what I find. But I'm glad the screen was stuck because I saved the pic!"}, {"response": 59, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, Sep 18, 1999 (19:33)", "body": "wish I had thought to do that!!!"}, {"response": 60, "author": "mrchips", "date": "Sun, Sep 19, 1999 (01:50)", "body": "Marcia, will e-mail it to you."}, {"response": 61, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Sep 19, 1999 (02:29)", "body": "Thank you, John! home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 5, "subject": "buying a house", "response_count": 24, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (01:57)", "body": "As a married guy, it is very simple to buy a house. I drove her to. My job was to look at phisical or logical problems like beeing to close from a highway (too much noise) etc. The major tip that I could give to someone who're buying an existing house, is to pay a specialist to inspect the house. I have experience in home repair, but I'm NOT a specialist. I could'nt find hiden failures."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (11:36)", "body": "Good advice. I'm both buying and building a house right now and contemplating starting a little Internet village/subdivision next door to where I live."}, {"response": 3, "author": "conha", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (10:59)", "body": "Both suggestions are absolutly necessary. After buying a house 4 years ago it was discovered that abestos was used extensivly. There was no disclosure of that fact, so now expenes must be found to fight a battle that would not have been necessary with a good independent housing inspection."}, {"response": 4, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (15:20)", "body": "Was abestos used for insulation purpose?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (15:20)", "body": "File through the Manville Trust -- that's what all that money is there for!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jan 31, 1998 (01:55)", "body": "I'm thinking of buying a house on South Congress right across from St. Eds, what do y'all think of this neighborhood compared to North Austin or Hyde Park/University Heights. I'm torn because I like the house but I work and workout in North Austin around the Arboretum. It's a 5 bedroom 2 story 2800 sf house with no garage. Tough choice. This? Or a more modern house with a pool and two car garage and 3-4 bedrooms in North Austin. Or a smaller house in central Austin The advantage of the St. Ed's place is that I could rent out 4-5 rooms and have a real good income off the place with a ready supply of students right across the street. Is there any advantage to living this close to St. Ed's otherwise?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Feb  4, 1998 (15:53)", "body": "You've hit on my biggest reservation at this stage."}, {"response": 9, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (21:03)", "body": "Crime or wer's wife's psychic?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (00:13)", "body": "Crime, it's fine to have a psychic in the neighborhood. I have a \"short list\" of about 20 houses now, most with pools and views and at least 4 bedrooms."}, {"response": 12, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (21:31)", "body": "What's the view of? Here the bay view property is sought after (and priced accordingly)"}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (02:21)", "body": "The views are mostly of the City of Austin, which is the view I'm looking for, wouldn't that be paradise, a 5 bedroom place with a pool, hot tub and sauna with a view of Austin? I can dream. Maybe I can even realize it."}, {"response": 14, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (23:03)", "body": "What would you put in the other 4 bedrooms? (Or whom?)"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sat, Feb 28, 1998 (19:37)", "body": "i know what i would do with an extra bedroom or two......*wink*"}, {"response": 17, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (09:50)", "body": "room mates, to answer Autumn, to help pay the mortgage. Like I'm doing now in the Cedar Creek place."}, {"response": 18, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (21:52)", "body": "Ugh. I can't imagine living with anyone I'm not inextricably bound to. I guess because I never have."}, {"response": 19, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (21:53)", "body": "Found it today. The perfect place. Huge pool and backyard. Six bedrooms, and a gorgeous split level floor plan. North Austin."}, {"response": 20, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:00)", "body": "Washer/dryer near bedrooms??"}, {"response": 21, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:17)", "body": "did i hear 6 bedrooms? man....anything with 4 and any square footage runs in the mid to upper 100K's, way more than i can afford *boo hoo* one day, huh?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:19)", "body": "You need to get rid of that deadwood at your house and get you some payin' guests, Wolf!! :-)"}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:22)", "body": "There is a laundry hookup on the first floor but intentionally no washer/dryer so the room mates have to go two blocks to the laundromat. There reason was that it might be going and disturbing folks too much. I'll cross this bridge when I come to it. For now, I've got to make an offer and go through a lot of stuff. By no means a done deal yet."}, {"response": 24, "author": "Wolf", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:35)", "body": "so you really are making a community, kinda like those places in the netherlands, huh? i think that's where it was. dunno read about it a few years ago, they had a community kitchen and stuff and the families had their turns to cook and stuff. not a bad setup on the surface, but don't know how it would really work."}, {"response": 25, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (22:47)", "body": "Actually, there are lots of intentional communities all over the US."}, {"response": 27, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (01:29)", "body": "Not exactly that structured, structure follows personalities and such. By the way, I just did a bunch of host type stuff in the restaurants conferences, including making sure WER was set up as host, and played around with the various welcome and goodbye messages, which wer is now free to change."}, {"response": 28, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Mon, Jul 17, 2006 (16:04)", "body": "wer, are you accessing ok? home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 6, "subject": "electricity - wiring a house", "response_count": 21, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (03:03)", "body": "Here, were not suppose to touch electrical things, for safety purpose. But I have some basic knowledge about, so I do lot of electrical works in my houses. I have a 200 Amp. service box. We use 14/2 wire for 110 volts, and 12/2 for 220 volts. Black is live one and white is neutral. Plus the ground (nude wire). A 3 way switche is 2 switches in parallel feeding the same appliance. It's a OR logical state."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jul 29, 1998 (14:14)", "body": "gotta house problem... our wiring is all funky methinks. You absolutely cannot run the dryer and ANYTHING else, if you turn on a light downstairs the upstairs ones dim but if you turn on an upstairs light, the downstairs lights get brighter. Brandon tried to run an electrical edger while the dryer was running and it fried the UPS for the computer and now if you plug the UPS in (to recharge) even when everything is off, we hear these big BOOMs going on in the walls. (I know... scary stuff). Today I shut off all the lights to run the computer but it refused and flickered back and forth (we have NEVER blown a fuse... scarier!). Finally I turned the basement light on to fiddle with it and the computer came on no problem. But, if I shut the light off, the computer restarts itself. ANYONE have ANY ideas beyond, \"your wiring is screwed\"???"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jul 29, 1998 (18:25)", "body": "You need heavier duty breakers (one possibility). Maybe even a bigger distribution box."}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jul 30, 1998 (14:20)", "body": "and the cost of some such venture?????"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jul 30, 1998 (16:50)", "body": "Breakers are $5 to $20 or thereabouts. You'd swap 'em in one by one. Open the door of your electric panel and tell us what you see there."}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Aug 25, 1998 (09:55)", "body": "we saw a BIG mess and $2100 later, it could all be a bad memory"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Aug 25, 1998 (10:36)", "body": "You had to replace your panel?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Aug 26, 1998 (19:00)", "body": "shall have to... haven t yet (for financial reasons)"}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Aug 27, 1998 (13:39)", "body": "Well the panels are dirt cheap, it's the labor to wire them, I've been paying about $100 to have my electric crew wire it up from scratch."}, {"response": 10, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Aug 27, 1998 (14:17)", "body": "well, and to have licensed electricians do ANY work, they have to bring the house up to code... we are up to 1953 code NOT 1998. And so they'd have to replace the box, the aluminum wiring, move the box far enough away from the house... etc."}, {"response": 11, "author": "jgross", "date": "Thu, Aug 27, 1998 (22:53)", "body": "I am up to 1726 code. That means the electricians have stored me in a fireplug near the center of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in front of a store run by Eric the Red. This is miles and centuries away from my house. My TV signal only picks up Robin Hood singing Dartmouth campus songs written by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The panel in my fireplug is a self-styled ampere that never really passed the electric Kool-Aid acid test, at least I don't think it did. Well, maybe it did. I could be wrong. Right now I'm on a grain elevator in Funafuti, Tuvalu, with a freaky guttersnipe who's really turned on by the topping on my icecream cone, and we're like going down 5 feet at a time before I have to push the button again. It's a pretty long ways to the ground, actually."}, {"response": 12, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Aug 30, 1998 (16:32)", "body": "Yours is one house I'd love to see, Jim!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "jgross", "date": "Tue, Sep  1, 1998 (05:17)", "body": "It was built by 3 giants who kept bonking each other's heads when they'd bend over to build themselves a doll house for their pet flower. I only live there when I'm low on photosynthesis and need a greenhouse effect. There isn't any electricity to speak of, yet the 40 sacks of peat moss kept in the kitchen have all been sat on by the Pope. Alexander Pope. They're pretty old. Incidentally, Alexander's pretty young. He put out a rap record this year. All the songs on it were about the best way to get a Jiffy Lube. And I been driving his car crazy. He let me because he just likes to walk anymore. He walks on sunshine and it seems to really enhance my chlorophyll. Jonathan Swift and Anonymous stood on a chair in the livingroom this morning and waved the ghosts aside. I am frenzied by all this phenomena. I try to hide it with my thumb. No touch now except by my touch. The sheer detail was required mood setting. Description of it is a form of anticipation. No, but no, I say to you, I float away on a paper boat. It's afloat in its intimations. Its surgically removed plutonium tatoos and its super-slippery toilet seats. As you can probably tell by now, I am really tired of watching overpaid, renowned, highly gifted, x-ray visionless decorative candle setter-uppers wading out in the water over to where I exist with all my arteries. Such emotion is never absent. I love you even if I don't, I love you even if I do. I disagree with this, but I'm not sure if I do. I'm embarrassed by my own. And my own is owned by the giants. Could you please excuse me (they are giant, hear them roar?). ....puffy brother man..... *squish*.....*squirt*.....[that's it----no more me].....finally....at last...."}, {"response": 14, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Sep  3, 1998 (23:05)", "body": "(*triumphant smile*) It's just as I'd pictured!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "jgross", "date": "Fri, Sep  4, 1998 (12:46)", "body": "Donna just called me 'turtle breath'. she's the middle giant. i think she's really a witch doctor at heart. every time she talks, it doubles the size of the room she's in. i've always noticed when i look up her nose, i hear behind her the walla walla of many people. whenever i try to talk to her, she says this to me, \"move closer to the mic.\" when i do, she gets it wet and up jumps the boogie. a dramatic element alright, it's pretty electric. and that's really how my house got electricity. it works the lights and stuff and even some of the more galvanic pulsing vibrant magnetic pixie dust. but Donna really got all that pixie dust in Zoviet France; brought it back here. i hope none of these words are harming you too much. my bowling balls bounce alot during times like these. ummm, pretty intense."}, {"response": 16, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Oct  2, 1998 (17:27)", "body": "yes, it were. Our floating ground is more grounded now. I forget if I forgot to mention that the ground in our house was not floating very well or rather maybe too well. Anyway it was looking for a place to neutralize itself and, if'n it couldn't find the right white wire, it'd choose a light bulb *crack* or a stereo *pop* or and amplifier (What's that burning smell?) instead. One smart cookie of an electrician (who also happens to be a not-so-very-close- but-close-enough-not-to-charge-us friend) fixed it 'temporarily' until we can get an eight foot copper wire ground put in. So... Viola! No more blowing up stuff!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Jan  2, 1999 (11:08)", "body": "Always a good policy around the house..."}, {"response": 18, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sat, Jan  2, 1999 (13:28)", "body": "'cept in the kitchen right??"}, {"response": 19, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Jan  2, 1999 (15:00)", "body": "I do not have any inflatable kitchen help, thank you very much!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov  4, 2001 (10:49)", "body": "A great source: http://doityourself.com/electric/"}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Nov  4, 2001 (15:28)", "body": "Yes, this is fantastic. I have a resident self-proclaimed handy man, and my bedroom ceiling fan is making the nasiest grinding sounds. I fear it will grind through whatever is the problem and come down on me in the night. I sleep right under it. This entire website is good. It covers just about everything. Thanks! home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 7, "subject": "plumbing", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Feb  8, 1999 (14:24)", "body": "Philippe Habib provides some intelligent thoughts about hot water heaters. You're supposed to drain water heaters every month or so. That means you hook up a garden hose to the faucet on the bottom, put the end of the hose somewhere that hot water won't be a problem and drain out about 5 gallons of water. If you don't do this, the sediment builds up on the bottom and insulates the bottom of the heater from the flames. The other thing that happens is that water under the sediment layer boils since its trapped there and then the steam pressure makes it pop up. That's the big noises you hear from a WH that's gonna fail soon. Some water heaters have the inlet tube shaped to swirl the bottom of the tank with the incomming water. That prevents the sediment from building up. With electric heaters, the sediment buildup isn't a problem since the element is immersed in the water and not at the very bottom. If you've got the luxury of planning your water heater replacement rather than buying whatever the seller has in stock because you haven't had a hot shower in 2 days, you can save yourself some real money in the long run buy buying a more efficient device. About 1/4 of your gas bill goes to running your hot water heater. If you can cut that by a few bucks a month over the 10 or 15 years a good water heater will last, you've got a good deal. home conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 8, "subject": "security systems", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 9, "subject": "refinancing your home", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}]}