How to Achieve the Impossible  

January 29th, 2012 Posted in Beauty & Personal Care
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How to Achieve the Impossible
By byRohit_9nizeast
It is the 1% inspiration that makes the author do the 99% perspiration.”I had a dream” so said Martin Luther King and after 50 years his fight against apartheid has become an enormous success. So try, fail, and try again, until you succeed, because God made man trying to achieve the impossible!

Topic To Achieve the Impossible:

  • Achieve the Impossible

To Achieve the Impossible Difficulty:

  • Moderately Easy

To Achieve the Impossible You’ll Need:

  • None

To Achieve the Impossible Instructions:

  • Remember what Confucius said” If you can’t beat them, join them”. Sometimes you are on the wrong path and can’t see the light inspite of lot of effort. It is then that you must think again that what you are doing may not be the correct direction. A little change therein, will bring success.
  • Try something new every so often.It may bring in hundreds of people who want to pull you down.
    • Do a SWAT analysis: What are your strengths & weaknesses, and what are your opportunities & threats? If you link your strengths to the opportunities, you will easily see the light.
  • Make your own choices. It is you who is doing it and you must take credit for success or failure. In the Geeta, it is said that”Each person comes alone in this world and goes also alone. Nether mother , father, sister , brother or friend goes with you when you die! Nether does your bungalow go along with you, you came alone and you will go alone. Only your good deeds will go with you. So make the utmost of it”
  • Start a business. Businesses require capital. See what most of what you have. If you want to earn money through dishonest means, you may succeed but you will lose the purity that you were born with and you may have to sell your honesty in the market.So be careful Not to compromise on Values, Ethics-because a business based on Value Management will be for everyone to wonder about and soon you will be in the limelight.
  • Try not to mix friendship with money.If you do, it will soon spoil the beauty of friendship (which may be your only asset).
  • Take some time out to yourself. Nature is the best teacher.
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How to Make People Think You’re Immortal  

January 29th, 2012 Posted in Beauty & Personal Care
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How to Make People Think You’re Immortal
By Brielle4eva
As a human, you are most definitely mortal. Unfortunately, there is little you can do to change the fact that your body will some day grow old and die. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t give the impression that your longevity is somewhat greater than that of your fellow mortals.

With a bit of mystery, maturity, and reliance on the things that give an impression of a lengthy life, you may succeed in convincing the less skeptical around you that you are truly able to live forever and for everyone else, you can at least present the aura of being timeless. If you’re interested in creating a romanticized Victorian-era style of immortality, read on!

Topic To Make People Think You’re Immortal:

  • Make People Think You’re Immortal

To Make People Think You’re Immortal Difficulty:

  • Moderately Easy

To Make People Think You’re Immortal You’ll Need:

  • Romantic style clothing, good quality
  • Copies of the classics for reading and listening to
  • Dictionary for older words
  • To learn how to do an accent (British etc.)

To Make People Think You’re Immortal Instructions:

  • Dress in old-fashioned clothing. The exact era does not matter, but the quality is very important. A subtle Victorian fashion is ideal for giving the impression that you’ve already been around for some time. You can find little pieces of Victorian style garb at thrift stores like Goodwill, or you could always buy online. Don’t forget to use your creativity to vamp up clothing in the Victorian style – think lace, brooches, brocade, velvet, etc.
    • Cameos are perfect for giving any outfit a subtly Victorian air.
    • Look for vintage brooches, particularly cameos. They can go on sweaters, dresses, and more to give the impression of an earlier age.
    • Sweaters and shawls are great, because they look old-fashioned and they match perfectly with vintage brooches.
    • Wear older style dresses and frocks.
    • A skirt should at least come close to touching your knees.
    • Don’t forget your old-fashioned modesty! People of your time didn’t wear super-tight tank tops or skimpy little cut-off shorts. Why, back in previous centuries, baring your ankles was unheard of! Of course, after living through different eras, you’ve probably modernized a bit, so it’s no big deal to wear a skirt that reaches your knees rather than your ankles, or to wear a top that doesn’t touch your collarbones; just remember to dress somewhat modestly.
  • Become familiar with classical music. Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach… all the greats. It’s impressive and unusual when a young person has an intimate familiarity with music from eras passed long before his or her own, so people will most likely pay quite a bit of notice to your extensive (and uncommon) interest.
    • Couple this interest with clear and verifiable knowledge about the composers. Depending on how good you are at storytelling, you might even like to sprinkle your conversation with anecdotes about “the time that Beethoven did X”, or “the time that Mozart really moved me most was when…”.
  • Take up hobbies from eras long past. Hobbies that have less appeal today but were once thriving are excellent ones to take up and learn, and the more intricate and labor-intensive, the more likely that your skills will astonish people. Think about hobbies such as lace-making, tatting, building exquisite wooden toys in the Victorian style, embroidering wall tapestries, etc. In addition, a number of hobbies that have a fresh revival can also be relied upon but take an old-fashioned slant on them rather than the more modern versions, with such hobbies as knitting, taxidermy, and tatting.
    • An old-fashioned tennis costume

    • Sports hobbies that were once very popular but are less so now include badminton, croquet, and side-saddle riding. For sports such as tennis, resort to wearing older style fashions and playing only on grass courts. Hold garden parties with badminton and croquet as major forms of entertainment; movies like Merchant Ivory’s “Room with a View” will help give you a good sense of such events in the past.
    • Chess is a good old-fashioned boredom buster!
    • Prefer card and board games over video and electronic games. Hunt through antique or secondhand stores and look for original versions of board games (with wooden, bakelite, and glass pieces), chess sets, and cards, etc.
  • Read classic novels from different historical eras. Some favorites include Pride and Prejudice, The Scarlet Letter, Little Women, Wuthering Heights, Leviathan and Rebecca. Vampire fiction is a very Victorian romantic choice, but avoid Twilight and all of the recent vampire novels written especially for teenage girls; instead, opt for vivid, horrifying vampire fiction like Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. And any Shakespearean literature will do.
    • Line the walls of your shelves with old, dog-earred books. Many old books are sold very cheaply or even tossed away at auctions, antique stores, and used book stores. They look amazing when filling a bookshelf and will definitely give the impression you’ve been around for a time. Funk it up with a mixture of books in between the beautiful of old books, such as interestingly covered books from the 30s, 50s, 60s, 80s, and now, to give the impression you’ve been an avid reader for decade after decade after century…
  • Take up calligraphy. Fancy penmanship is generally associated with past eras, when people were taught to write in elegant scrolls using quills. Learn a penmanship suited to your style and personalize it with little loops here, and dashes there. This might require some practice on your behalf before you settle on a style that works best for you.
  • The fleur-de-lis makes a lovely envelope seal, as shown here.
    Write letters by hand. Letter writing, in lieu of text messaging or emailing, is a very immortal-like pastime. You can put your newly learned penmanship to good use too! To really enhance the immortal effect, you can even seal your envelopes with red wax seals and write with a feather quill, as many people did in past eras.

    • Be sure to use very formal forms of address. This links back to an era when formality and manners were deeply observed. Read an old etiquette book, such as an early version by Emily Post, to get a good idea of the more formal types of salutations and content.
  • Develop a profound fascination with art and architecture from across all different ages. An eye for true art is a skill that many young people do not yet have, and so, your maturity of taste will most likely strike others as odd but intensely fascinating.
    • Borrow books on art and architecture from the library. Study as many images as possible and become familiar with the terms associated with specific eras of art and architecture so that you can use them with ease. This can be great when traveling through Europe and you can point out the architectural styles effortlessly!
  • Develop an accent. As an immortal, you may very well be an immigrant; a subtle ‘accent’ will show this. If you’re American, try to add a slight British or French speech pattern to your pronunciation. Pronounce your vowels slightly differently and try your best to subtly imitate an aristocrat in your speech. Alternatively, use the next step to make your English sound old-fashioned.
  • William Shakespeare’s works greatly enriched the English language.
    Improve your vocabulary. As an immortal who has seen much of the world, you most likely know and use a lot of uncommon words and phrases. Reading Shakespeare or Jane Austen will help you to become familiar with terms that are less common in modern speech. Shakespeare coined words like “ghastly” and “tongue-tied”, and phrases like “All that glitters is not gold.” Incorporating obscure, complicated words and phrases into your speech will make you seem wiser and, therefore, older, depending on where you live.

    • Consider studying Old and Middle English. These originating forms of modern English contain wonderful words and phrases that you can add knowingly to your everyday conversations. They’re fun to learn, they increase your understanding of English grammar and they’re historically useful, enabling you to read old English texts such as Beowulf in the original English.
  • Be mature. If you want it to seem that you have lived through many ages, behaving in a mature fashion is a must. You have seen many things and learned a great deal, so aim to present an aura of wisdom without being arrogant or know-it-all. The longer you live, the more you learn how little you know!
    • Be thoughtful of others and listen to them with attentiveness.
    • Offer advice only when it is asked for; avoid bossing people around.
    • Be generous; someone who has lived a long time would know the value of giving back to others in order to lead a fulfilling life.
  • Seem to have been there. Try working extra hard for a history test that is about the place and time you were born. Try hard in history class to answer questions your teacher asks you, and if you really don’t know the answer, pretend that you know what happened. Act slightly confused when the teacher corrects you.
  • Act like you have many secrets. If someone asks to come to your house later than 7 o’clock, always come up with a hasty but believable excuse. Immortal people have many secrets that unravel after dark. Leave around some “accidental” clues so people will believe you are lying about where you are at night. Then deny it half-believably, but not so well that they will actually believe you. Slight suspicion is the key.
To Make People Think You’re Immortal Tips:
  • Mix up old technologies with the new. Have lots of classical music on your iPod, tons of classic books on your e-book reader, a collection of old videos next to your Blu-Ray Discs, or really old-fashioned shoes next to popping modern ones. Dress up your modern gadgets as old-technology “steampunk”[1] wonders. Tell people that you’re in the mood for “old” or “modern” technology today, and make a show of pushing aside the older or newer items when looking for the things you want.
  • Be mysterious and make people wonder about you for a long time to come.
  • Have a large collection of various items from throughout history. Anything from Old chess sets to Super Mario will do. The collection of items might give off the impression that you have been around for a long time.
  • Avoid the sunlight like the plague, and wear cold-packs in your clothing to keep your body temp lower. Therefore, you’ll a gross blueish look. Don’t forget the be obsessed with blood and death.
To Make People Think You’re Immortal Warnings:
  • Telling people that you’re 752 years old will bring about laughter or pity. The idea is to give the impression that you’ve lived over the the ages, not to actually spell it out.
  • When talking about people who lived in the past, be careful not to make it sound like you knew the person unless you’re a top rate story-teller with all the facts down perfectly. Even then, realize people will easily dismiss your fantasies.
  • Going overboard (i.e. “How do you do, guv’na?” every time you walk in a room) will not result in belief, but will be taken as humor, like you are joking or pretending.
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How to Clean a Leslie Steam Hot Water Generator  

January 29th, 2012 Posted in Healthy Living
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How to Clean a Leslie Steam Hot Water Generator
By James Clark
Leslie steam hot water generators boil water under pressure for residential heating applications, such as in radiators. With normal usage, the generator will need minimal maintenance and only exterior cleaning, according to the operator’s manual. However, there is a specific shutdown procedure to follow for safe maintenance of your Leslie steam hot water generator. Relieving pressure in the tank safely is crucial before undertaking any maintenance of the exterior unit.

Topic To Clean a Leslie Steam Hot Water Generator:

  • Safety Valve
  • Relief Valve

To Clean a Leslie Steam Hot Water Generator Difficulty:

  • Moderately Easy

To Clean a Leslie Steam Hot Water Generator You’ll Need:

  • Work gloves
  • Bucket
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Old towels

To Clean a Leslie Steam Hot Water Generator Instructions:

  • Turn the power switch on the pump control to the “Off” position.
  • Close the valves for the steam inlet/high temperature pipes by turning each valve knob clockwise.
  • Place a bucket below the pressure relief valve on the side of the generator. Put on work gloves then open the valve slowly to let the water drain out.
  • Wait until the tank is cool to the touch. Close the three remaining valves in this order: the hot water outlet, the cold water inlet then the condensate return line. Each valve knob twists clockwise, and all are labeled on the generator unit.
  • Place the bucket under the drain valve. Open the drain valve then slowly open the pressure relief valve as far as the knob will turn. This prevents an air vacuum from building in the tank.
  • Clean the tank exterior and the heat exchanger with a solution of liquid soap and water then wipe the unit down with old towels. Allow the tank to air-dry.
  • Start the steam generator by closing the drain and pressure valves then opening the water valves in the reverse order that they were shut down. Switch on the power once the valves are open.
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How to Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirement  

January 20th, 2012 Posted in Personal Finance
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How to Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirement
By Beverly Bird
How to Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirementthumbnail Start saving for retirement young.

Many adult Americans have inadequate savings to meet the needs of their retirement years, and their savings plans are not always on track to catch up. Many may have their hands full just meeting regular monthly expenses. However, you might actually need less than you think you’ll need for your later years.
Topic To Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirement:

  • Planner Retirement
  • Retire Income

To Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirement Difficulty:

  • Moderate

To Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirement You’ll Need:

  • None

To Calculate How Much Money You Need for Retirement Instructions:

  • Decide when you plan to retire. Some adults work into their 70s. Others stop when they turn 65 or earlier. If you love your job and prefer to keep active, you may want to continue working a little longer. If you have health problems that make it difficult for you to go to your workplace every day, you might desire to retire as soon as possible.
  • Anticipate your likely income from all retirement sources when they begin paying out, such as Social Security, pensions, retirement plans and interest on investments. This will depend on how much longer you plan to work and how much you anticipate contributing to these funds by the time you retire. You can access a benefits calculator on the Social Security Administration’s website. Find a link in the References section.
  • Examine your current monthly budget, then deduct the expenses that are likely to drop off by the time you retire. The expenses you can expect to lose by retirement age might add up to 40 to 60 percent of your current budget. For example, you might pay off your mortgage before you retire, so you would no longer have that payment, or you might decide to downsize to a less expensive home. Maybe you’ll pay your automobile off by then, too, and you don’t plan to replace it with a brand new model.
  • Add to your estimated budget any new expenses you can expect to take on as you age. For example, if you don’t upgrade to a new car with a monthly payment, figure on spending more for repairs and maintenance. Keep in mind that Medicare is not likely to cover all your medical expenses either. If you’re already paying your own health insurance premiums, this won’t make much of a difference, as long as you don’t deduct that cost from your monthly budget because you think Medicare will take over this expense for you. But if you’re currently covered by a policy provided by your employer, you may lose that when you retire. You’d then need to pay for your own policy, which can be a significant monthly expense. Basic Medicare covers only the costs of hospitalization and some nursing home time, so most people buy supplemental Medicare insurance to cover such things as doctor visits and drugs.
  • Calculate the difference between what you’re likely to spend per month when you retire and how much of that your retirement plans and Social Security will probably cover. Ideally, your anticipated income will be equal to or slightly more than your anticipated budget. If there’s a shortfall, you’ll need to save up the difference before you retire.
  • Estimate what you’ll need to cover the shortfall, if one exists. If it looks like you’ll be short by $500 per month, this adds up to $6,000 per year. Multiply the yearly deficit by the number of years you expect to live off your retirement plans and savings. According to Bank of America, the average man has a life expectancy of 82 years. If you retire at age 65, and if you live until age 82, you can expect to cover 17 years of retirement. Seventeen years times $6,000 per year comes out to $102,000. You’ll need to save this to make up the difference between your estimated budget and your projected expenses.
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How to Save for Retirement in Your Thirties  

January 20th, 2012 Posted in Money, Personal Finance
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How to Save for Retirement in Your Thirties
By Nicole Schmoll
How to Save for Retirement in Your Thirtiesthumbnail How to Save for Retirement in Your Thirties

Retirement seems far off for people in their 30s; it’s easy for individuals in this age group to think that they don’t need to start saving. The daily pressure of providing for a growing family can also place the financial focus on the here and now. However, money will multiply, if invested wisely over a long period of time. By setting aside a small amount of money in your 30s, you can build a suitable retirement savings by the time you reach your 60s.
Topic To Save for Retirement in Your Thirties:

  • Retirement Fund
  • Early Retirement

To Save for Retirement in Your Thirties Difficulty:

  • Moderately Challenging

To Save for Retirement in Your Thirties You’ll Need:

  • Budget
  • Money to invest
  • Retirement plan

To Save for Retirement in Your Thirties Instructions:

  • Create a budget and control your spending. Use a spreadsheet to list your expenses and bills. Things such as your mortgage payment, phone, cable, electricity, utilities, and grocery expenses go on this list. Include your debt (credit card, auto payments and student loans). Determine your net income, or how much you have left over each paycheck after taxes. Subtract your expenses from your gross income to see how much money you have left over. This is where your retirement savings will come from.
  • Determine your risk preference. Decide how comfortable you are with the higher risk associated with higher returns. Historically, the stock market, and specifically the S&P 500 Index returns about a 9 percent rate of growth over time. This growth rate is high enough to outpace inflation. Consider investing in a mix of stocks, mutual funds and bonds. Bonds are more conservative than stocks. Mutual funds are collections of stocks that help expose you to more of the stock market, which may decrease your risk of loss. If you are uncomfortable with the stock market, there are other, more conservative options available to you in annuities and money market funds. Be aware that, in general, the less risky or aggressive a product is, the less growth it offers.
  • Contribute towards your employer’s 401(k) or retirement plan. If your employer matches employee contributions, contribute the required amount to receive the maximum match. Think of this as free money and take advantage of it. Consider investing your retirement funds in a tax advantaged vehicle such as a Roth or Traditional IRA account.
  • Practice diversification and reallocation, two investment strategies that will help your retirement savings grow over time. Invest in a variety of financial products rather than just one or two stocks to reduce your risk. Every six months, review the performance of your retirement saving accounts and transfer money from over-performing funds into under-performing ones to reset your investments to their original allocation.
  • Increase your savings over time. As you pay down debt and receive income promotions or increases, allocate all extra money towards retirement savings rather than spending it on frivolous items today. This will help you maintain your current standard of living during your retirement years.
To Save for Retirement in Your Thirties Tips:
  • If you are unfamiliar with the stock market and investing, hire a financial adviser to help you make informed decisions about financial investments that fit your needs, goals and risk preferences.
To Save for Retirement in Your Thirties Warnings:
  • If you are just starting to save for retirement and you live on a budget, set up an emergency fund. In the beginning, split what you are saving for retirement with a savings account until you build up at least three months of living expenses (mortgage payments, groceries, gas, utilities).
  • Remember that no investment is guaranteed to provide growth. Consider your objectives and the risks associated with each financial product carefully before you invest.
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How to Live on 80% of Your Income  

January 20th, 2012 Posted in Money
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How to Live on 80% of Your Income
By Nola Moore
How to Live on 80% of Your Incomethumbnail It’s never too early to begin planning for retirement.

When you begin to research retirement planning, the number 80 percent pops up frequently. Nearly every website and retirement expert suggests that you need about 80 percent of your current income to maintain your standard of living in retirement. For many people, this figure is also very close to what they should be living on now to save enough for retirement. Whether you’re close to retirement or just beginning to think about what happens when you stop working, follow these simple steps to live comfortably with less.
Topic To Live on 80% of Your Income:

  • Retirement Estimate
  • Investment Planner

To Live on 80% of Your Income Difficulty:

  • Moderately Easy

To Live on 80% of Your Income You’ll Need:

  • None

To Live on 80% of Your Income Instructions:

  • Track your cash flows. You’ll have a hard time spending less if you don’t know what you’re spending in the first place. Pick a method for recording your incoming and outgoing cash and make a habit of using it. Your tracking method doesn’t have to be fancy – just make sure the method you choose is something you’ll use consistently, whether it’s pen and paper or a smartphone app.
  • Make a budget. After you’ve tracked your cash flows for a month and before you transition into retirement, decide how much money you have to spend, and how you’d like to spend it. It’s very helpful to write down your goals – traveling, a retirement home on the beach or even just a worry-free retirement – so you remember why you’re being careful with your money.
  • Don’t bring the money home. If you’re still working, arrange to have your savings automatically deducted from your paycheck and deposited into your 401(k), IRA and bank savings accounts. If you’re retired, keep most of your money in your investments and savings accounts and set up monthly automated cash transfers into your main spending account. Make it as difficult as possible to spend your savings, so you think twice before going over your budget.
  • Analyze your purchases. Make sure you understand the difference between what you need to live and what you want to have to be comfortable. You can certainly have things you want, but consider any cost to your goals and make sure you make purchases that fit into your long term plans and truly enhance your quality of life.
  • Invest your savings. Your savings should be working on your behalf, both before and after retirement, even if it’s just earning interest in a savings account. Develop an investment plan – websites like Morningstar.com, SmartMoney.com, and the Motley Fool offer good investment strategy tools for do-it-yourselfers, or you can schedule a session with a financial planner. Whatever your method, make sure you review it regularly, on at least an annual basis.
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How to Clean a Bowflex  

January 20th, 2012 Posted in Healthy Living
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How to Clean a Bowflex
By Casandra Maier
How to Clean a Bowflexthumbnail Use towels or rags in lieu of paper towels to reduce waste when cleaning your Bowflex.

The Bowflex is a home exercise machine that provides a full body workout through strength training. The Bowflex operates without the need for electricity and it is the only single piece of home exercise equipment that works the entire body through resistance training. It is important to maintain and clean your Bowflex following your workouts to keep the machine in proper working order. Cleaning also keeps the Bowflex sanitary and looking new by preventing the build-up of sweat, dust and grime.
Topic To Clean a Bowflex:

  • House Clean
  • Clean Laundry

To Clean a Bowflex Difficulty:

  • Easy

To Clean a Bowflex You’ll Need:

  • Small plastic spray bottle
  • Non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner
  • Soft cloth or hand towel

To Clean a Bowflex Instructions:
Cleaning the Bench

  • Fill a small plastic spray bottle half-way with a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner. Store this bottle in the same room, within reach of your Bowflex. Having a bottle of cleaner on hand at all times ensures that you can easily clean your Bowflex workout bench after each use.
  • Spray a small amount of cleaner onto the Bowflex workout bench after each use. Use a soft cloth or hand towel to gently wipe the entire surface of the bench. Allow the surface to fully air dry before sitting on the bench again.
  • Launder the hand towels and cloths regularly to ensure that they are fresh and clean for your Bowflex. How often you need to wash the towels depends on how often you work out. If you work out every day, wash your cleaning cloths once a week.

Removing Dust and Build-up

  • Remove dust and build-up once a month to keep the Bowflex looking new. This is a part of regular maintenance for your machine. Use a clean hand towel or cloth to clean the machine.
  • Disconnect the cables from the power rods. Spritz a small amount of all-purpose cleaner onto a soft cloth or towel. Carefully wipe down each power rod before binding them together with the rod binding strap.
  • Wipe down all surfaces on the home workout machine. Continually shift your cloth or towel, and spritz on fresh cleaner, to ensure that you are working with a clean section of the fabric. Grab a clean cloth or towel if the one you are working with gets too dirty.
To Clean a Bowflex Tips:
  • Use a green, or environmentally friendly, non-abrasive cleaner. Non-abrasive soaps diluted with water can also work to clean your Bowflex.
To Clean a Bowflex Warnings:
  • Never use cleaners that are designed to clean automotive interiors to clean your Bowflex. These cleaners have properties that make the bench of the machine slippery, which can be dangerous while you are trying to work out.
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How to Split Succulents  

January 19th, 2012 Posted in Healthy Living
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How to Split Succulents
By M.H. Dyer
How to Split Succulentsthumbnail Succulents require plenty of sunshine and well-drained soil.

Succulents have thick, fleshy leaves that store water, allowing the plants to thrive in rugged conditions where most plants have little chance of survival. Versatile, low-maintenance plants, succulents are available in a range of shapes and colors. Succulents benefit from division when the plants become crowded or outgrow their boundaries, and the divisions are used to propagate a new plant. For best results, divide succulents in spring or early summer.
Topic To Split Succulents:

  • Planting Vegetables
  • Planting Seed

To Split Succulents Difficulty:

  • Moderate

To Split Succulents You’ll Need:

  • Clean, sharp knife (optional)
  • Potting mix
  • Container with drainage hole

To Split Succulents Instructions:

  • Lay the container on its side and slide the succulent carefully from the container. If the plant is stubborn, loosen the roots by thumping the side of the pot firmly but lightly with the heel of your hand.
  • Pull the plant apart at its natural divisions — where the plant has grown offshoots, or “pups.” Be sure the offshoots have at least three or four healthy roots. If the plant is difficult to divide, use a clean, sharp knife to cut the offshoots from the main plant.
  • Fill a container with a well-draining potting mix of approximately 20 percent commercial potting soil or compost and 80 percent pumice, perlite or coarse sand. You can also use a commercial mix for cactus and succulents. Set the container aside.
  • Replant the parent plant in the original container. Place the offshoots in a well-ventilated spot for for two to three days, or until the cut area creates a callus.
  • Plant the divided succulents in the container of prepared potting mix. Plant the succulent only deep enough to keep it upright, as planting too deep causes rot.
  • Place the newly divided succulents in bright, indirect light.
  • Water the succulents two days after planting. Water lightly so the potting mix is slightly moist. Water again when the soil is dry, which may be once a week or once a month, depending on the time of year, room temperature and the amount of sunlight available.
To Split Succulents Tips:
  • In-ground succulents are divided according to the same principle — carefully dig up the plant, and then remove the offshoots. Replant the parent plant and set the offshoots aside to calllus. Plant them in a sunny, well-drained location. Alternatively, plant the divisions in a pot, and then move them to a permanent location after a few weeks, when the succulents show healthy new growth.
To Split Succulents Warnings:
  • Always use containers with drainage holes, as succulents rot quickly in soggy soil.
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How to Estimate the Age of a Mink Coat  

January 19th, 2012 Posted in Family Health
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How to Estimate the Age of a Mink Coat
By Sara Ipatenco
How to Estimate the Age of a Mink Coatthumbnail Mink coats come in many styles.

Mink are small animals prized for their pelts that are used to make coats. If you have a coat that is made from mink, it can be quite valuable. Mink coats are often prized possessions and often are passed down from generation to generation. While the condition of your coat can affect its value, appearance alone will usually not help you determine the age of your coat. There are many ways to find out the age of your mink coat, however, and with the proper care and treatment, your coat might last your lifetime no matter how old it is.
Topic To Estimate the Age of a Mink Coat:

  • Fur Accessories
  • Coat Mink

To Estimate the Age of a Mink Coat Difficulty:

  • Easy

To Estimate the Age of a Mink Coat You’ll Need:

  • None

To Estimate the Age of a Mink Coat Instructions:

  • Examine the Label – The label on a mink coat reveals the manufacturer and the country of origin, and can provide you information about the age of the coat and the type of mink used to make the coat. You can start your search by looking for the date the coat was made. Certain mink coat manufacturers print or sew the year the coat was made on the label, but not all manufacturers include the detail. Some manufacturers include a serial number on their labels, which is another piece of information that can help you find out the year your mink coat was made. If the year or serial number is not included on the label and the manufacturer still exists, call the company and see if it can provide more detail about your coat. Otherwise, a fur expert or fur dealer might be able to help you place the age of your coat.
  • Visit a Fur Dealer – A fur dealer or fur specialist might reveal clues that help narrow down the age of a coat. Because United States law requires these experts to examine the fur in person rather than by photograph, you need to bring your coat to the dealer. He will examine the coat to find out if anything can be determined about the age based on the manufacturer. Fur experts might also use information, such as the inclusion of leather in the construction of the coat, type of buttons, embroidery or stitching details, to estimate how old the coat is. The phone book, an online search or a store that sells mink coats, can help you find a fur dealer in your area.
  • Use the Internet – Many online retail stores that sell used items might be able to help you estimate the age of your mink coat. Look for coats from the same manufacturer or that look similar to your coat, then examine the details to see if you can find any additional information about your coat. An online website dedicated to mink coats and their manufacture might also have additional information about your coat. The Fur Information Council of America and the International Fur Trade Federation each have several resources that you might check for additional information about your mink coat. Fur Commission USA is a website dedicated to mink farmers, and might provide additional information about the type of mink coat you have.
  • Research the Market – The color, style or make of your mink coat can be useful information about the age of your coat. For example, the shape of the collar on a mink coat can change from year to year, as can the stitching detail or style of buttons and other types of closures. The color might also provide details to help you estimate the age. Certain colors are often trendy for two or three years before another color becomes more popular. The International Fur Trade Federation provides information about mink coat trends by year, and includes pictures. Browse through the pictures to see if you can find a coat similar to the mink coat you have. You might be able to estimate the age of your mink coat from there.
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How to Get Rid of Ice Without Shoveling  

January 19th, 2012 Posted in Family Health
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How to Get Rid of Ice Without Shoveling
By Diane Perez
How to Get Rid of Ice Without Shovelingthumbnail Enjoy more free time by getting rid of ice without your shovel.

Slipping and sliding down the driveway is a fun activity for kids on a sled, but not for people trying to go to work or the store. Ice is difficult to shovel, as you first need to stab it with an ice pick several times to break it into manageable pieces. You can avoid this strenuous work and get rid of ice without shoveling.
Topic To Get Rid of Ice Without Shoveling:

  • Ice Dams
  • Roof Ice Damage

To Get Rid of Ice Without Shoveling Difficulty:

  • Easy

To Get Rid of Ice Without Shoveling You’ll Need:

  • None

To Get Rid of Ice Without Shoveling Instructions:

  • Fireplace Ashes – Fireplace ashes absorb sunlight to melt ice faster than sunlight alone. Once the ice has melted, sweep the soot into your garden to repel slugs in the spring. You can also add it to the compost pile or directly into the tomato patch. The ashes do not damage concrete driveways or sidewalks.
  • Calcium Magnesium Acetate – Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) is another environmentally friendly choice to melt ice. It does not contain the salt that damages plants and soil. Mix CMA with an equal amount of sand to increase traction while walking on the ice.
  • Magnesium Chloride – Magnesium chloride melts ice quickly and does not damage older concrete surfaces. Do not use it on driveways less than 1 year old as it might damage new concrete that has not fully cured. It can cause moderate damage to grassy areas, such as yellow patches where the mixture runs off the driveway. Magnesium chloride is not safe for brick or stone walkways.
  • Radiant Heat System – Radiant heat is an expensive, but completely labor-free, solution to get rid of ice without shoveling. You can use rolls of cable for sculpted or rounded areas and existing driveways, or radiant heat mats for newly constructed driveways and sidewalks. Some radiant heat systems have a snow sensor for automatic activation. You do not have to worry about chemical runoff into expensive or sensitive garden plants.
  • Heavy Plastic – Avoid slipping and falling as you leave the house by covering the step with heavy black plastic. If you cannot find a large enough plastic sheet, then buy the large, thick bags used in the construction industry. Cut it large enough that you can anchor the ends with a flowerpot on each side of the step. This will give you a good grip on one side to lift and flip the plastic to the other side of the step. This method only works in small areas due to the weight of ice.
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