Let Your Mouse Do The Walking

I sometimes use Google or the white pages to find a business I am looking for. Unfortunately, I get very frustrated sometimes. The searches on both sometimes pull up irrelevant results. The White Pages pulls up businesses that are on the web, but do not have a local presence. I suppose companies pay for that placement. It is even more frustrating when you look for businesses in a town where you will be visiting. I went to Buffalo, NY and of the stores I had on the list in my hand, nearly half no longer existed.

I recently discovered JustClickLocal.com. The list of businesses may not be vast, but it is very well edited. I was able to quickly find a nice list of thrift stores in Atlanta, GA. The difference is that businesses add themselves. It is not some aggregated list that is pulled from a database that the websites pays for, or vice versa.

When some friends of mine were going to St. Louis, MO, they used the site to find some interesting restaurants. The restaurants are divided up by type. They were very surprised to have found a number of French restaurants that they didn't expect. Personally, if I went to another part of the country, I would want sample the local fare, but others may want something more familiar.

If you are looking for a new site to try, I would definitely give it a shot. I happened to find a shop just two miles from my house that I never knew about before, and I am looking forward to checking out.

The Finishing Touch: Planters

Many of my readers are restoring homes to the Victorian, Tudor, or Bungalow splendor. One of the easiest ways to push your renovation from just simply "cleaned up" to "a walk back in time" are the living elements of the home. Your decorative planters, both indoor planters and outdoor planters are going to really give your home authenticity.

The terrarium is a popular indoor planter choice for a variety of eras. The Victorian and deco area models looked like little greenhouses or castles. The 1970s versions sometimes were mirrored. Either way, they create a lot of visual interest, and allow the right plants to be easy care.

Window box planters with daisies or wildflowers evoke an cottage look, while trailing planet vines bring "Ivy League" to mind in more ways than one. Ivy clinging to the side of a stucco home is stately and beautiful, but it also does a lot of damage to the structure over time. Just a little ivy in a planter that can climb in a controlled way can give the same feeling in a more manageable form.

Good luck on your project and remember a few natural touches can really transform the look of a home.

The Finishing Touch: Planters

Many of my readers are restoring homes to the Victorian, Tudor, or Bungalow splendor. One of the easiest ways to push your renovation from just simply "cleaned up" to "a walk back in time" are the living elements of the home. Your decorative planters, both indoor planters and outdoor planters are going to really give your home authenticity.

The terrarium is a popular indoor planter choice for a variety of eras. The Victorian and deco area models looked like little greenhouses or castles. The 1970s versions sometimes were mirrored. Either way, they create a lot of visual interest, and allow the right plants to be easy care.

Window box planters with daisies or wildflowers evoke an cottage look, while trailing planet vines bring "Ivy League" to mind in more ways than one. Ivy clinging to the side of a stucco home is stately and beautiful, but it also does a lot of damage to the structure over time. Just a little ivy in a planter that can climb in a controlled way can give the same feeling in a more manageable form.

Good luck on your project and remember a few natural touches can really transform the look of a home.

Supersized Satellite

There are various deals advertised for satellite television services. Did you know that there is also a large call for Commercial DirecTV? You may not realize it, but many businesses use satellite. The one that may come to mind right off the bat are sports bars. Also, did you know that the Beatles were featured on the first satellite broadcast ever, along with other celebrities around the world?

All of those extra channels come from somewhere. With a DirectTV for Business account, they are able to not only have all the monitors tuned to the same show, but every television can be on a different game or channel.

Another place that you may find Commercial Direct TV may be at a hospital. I have largely seen facilities that have their own station and very basic cable, but some specialty places have more. Hospitals that perform procedures that have extended stays of several weeks required typically have a little more to offer. Of course, you never want to go into the hospital for the selection of stations on tv, but some places find people recover faster if they are relaxed.

Would the local fire station have an account, as employees are What other places in the community can you think of that might have a Direct TV Business account?

Back In My Day...

I first became acquainted with the notion of wearing working boots not because I had a job that required foot protection. In fact, I didn't have a job. I was just a student at the time, and Doc Martens and other heavy and substantial footwear was in style. Everyone just had to have them. In the beginning of the trend, or at least when the trend reached me, I couldn't afford the trendy brands, but I definitely could afford a pair of regular work boots that checked off all the boxes of color (black) and desired sole thickness. They were hiding all that time at the construction supply store, the motorcycle apparel store and even at Kmart.

A few of my friends graduated to steel toe boots not because they really needed them, but because it made them sound even loader when they clomped around. Besides, it prevented anyone from making the mistake of stamping their foot twice. I was a bit more practical and refrained from steel toes until I really needed them. They certainly came in handy around horses, and probably prevented several broken toes.

I have to admit that I am pretty much a diehard. Even though I do need work boots from time to time for practical reasons, I will admit making a pair of white stitched black boots my "go to" casual shoes. Perhaps it is sheer nostalgia and when I am 80 I will wear them with a comfy sweatsuit and talk about "back in my day."

Cheap Webhosting? Do Your Research

There are so many web hosts to choose from, and it is best to choose wisely. Everyone has different needs and different budgets. It is very important to note that while many webhosts offer the basic services, hosts with the same exact pricing plans are not created equal. Don't be lured by merely a cheap price for web hosting.

You might want to read various web hosting ratings to get opinions or reviews from other users. Keep in mind, however, the experience of the reviewer. Some low cost web hosts are great for people who have a good working knowledge and can independently build their online presence on their own. Some web hosts cater to beginners, or have packages for people who want a website or at least file space but don't know where to go from there.

For example, if your aim is to host an ecommerce site, you will have very different needs than someone wanting to maintain a family website. Although you don't want to pay for things you will never use, such as advanced info on cPanel software. nonetheless you want a webhosting that will provide what you need down the line as you grow with your interests and skill.

Betting On a Feeling

My dad and my uncle always wagered a friendly sports bet when football game day came around. Dad would always bet on the home team, where my uncle who was little faith got whatever team they were playing. The strategy proved fruitful, and only once or twice did my father have to buy my uncle dinner or give him a quarter. Most games, the bet was 25 cents, but it was dinner if dad was feeling particularly confident.

They later changed the game to streak betting. My uncle felt very sorry for dad. He was feeling guilty about emptying dad's pockets at the steak house, so he decided to bet the streak. Instead of betting on how many games the team could win in a row, it was how many they would lose. Optimistic, right?

Their wagers were all in fun, but there are folks who take sports gambling much more seriously. There are all sorts of variables they take into account such as player rosters and injury lists. Dad's betting was purely emotional, based on who he thought deserved to win. There are other kinds of emotional betting, and if you feel a relative has a gambling addiction and activity has gone beyond a friendly wager, please approach them with concern. There is help available for folks who have made gambling the lynch pin of their lives.

A Classic American Beach Town

Before sixteen and seventeen year olds wandered down to Cancun by themselves for Spring Break, Myrtle Beach Resorts were long the hot spot to go to. The weather is just as pleasant in the summer as it is in the Bahamas or Mexico, but you are still in the good old U.S.A.

Things have changed, of course, from the Myrtle Beach shown above. Now, Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Hotels dot the skyline . They are bursting at the seams on spring break, but remain fairly busy year round. An alternative that you may not have thought of is what is offered at the Horizon, a Myrtle Beach Accommodation. They don't merely offer hotel rooms; they have condos to rent.

Condos are a great alternative to choose for your Myrtle Beach Accommodations for several reasons. While relaxing, some folks don't like rushing out for the room to be done up. The greater benefit is being able to cook inside the condo, and to bring a larger number of people along. Sometimes it is just more economical for two couples or a family to share, rather than rent separate rooms. At the Horizon, you can stay right at a posh downtown location.

Are you planning to wander down, or up to Myrtle Beach this summer or fall? I would love to hear about it. Which Myrtle Beach Hotels were on your list?

Apples and Oranges

I was comparing cable and dsl internet services recently, and I realize I had forgotten about dialup. Believe it or not, dial-up internet service is still alive and well. Copper.net offers a package at $9.95, or less if you prepay the entire year. Back in the 1990s, I thought my pokey dialup was lightening fast. I would surf onto a website, and go use the bathroom or fix a snack while I was waiting for the pictures to load. I didn't need to get anywhere fast and that was okay. I wonder how it stacks up today against today's cutting edge internet services.

From the website, it appears that the internet connection is 56K, but the true speed depends on your computer equipment and network lines. It may appear faster to you then "old" dialup as typically computer processors are faster. I really wonder how it compares to dsl . My conclusion is that dialup is a great alternative for people on a strict budget, or for those who don't rely on their connection for business. If the user solely uses the computer for checking their email and typing papers, it is a sensible product. If you play high graphic games online or work from home, you may want to upgrade to dsl for a faster internet processing speed.

I think dialup would be a great product for my parents who don't wish to spend $30-100 on internet service for something they use occasionally. With the escalating cost of internet service, accessibility decreases and occasional users excommunicate it from the budget. A family who is struggling to make ends meet could provide the internet for homework research just as friends who shell out $50 per month.

Myrtle Beach: Not Just for Spring Break

When I was in college, my younger brother went to Myrtle Beach with some friends of his. They shared a room at one of the Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resorts. They really wanted to go to Mexico, but our mom and the mom of the friends vetoed that. Of course, they weren't paying for the trip so had no financial say, but they sure would have made the boys' lives a living nightmare had they gone ahead with their plans. The thought of them possibly leaving the country was just a little too much for them.

I find that when people have gone to an exotic destination, unless they are interested in local history or touring ancient ruins, it is pretty much like going on a cruise or being at an all inclusive resort in the States. Myrtle Beach Resorts have the same atmosphere of surf and sun, without needing a passport to get there.

Since my brother went, I have gone and it is not the same. There are much better amenities at each Myrtle Beach Resort than there were ten years ago, when my brother and his friends mysteriously returned with pierced ears. Eventually, the trend was over and they let their ears close. The atmosphere of a posh tropical island has taken over the Spring Break beer fest atmosphere. Of course, everyone likes to have fun, but at the typical Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Resort, it will be the smell of the salt water, not the smell of kegs of beer that will first hit you.

Now that the weather is colder, I want to book a trip even more.

Tutors On Call

When I was a kid, I had trouble with my math homework. My parents could give me adequate Math Help when I was in grade school. They simple had me read and repeat the instructions so that I understood them thoroughly and encouraged me. However, when I got into abstract math, I wasn't the best Math Problem Solver. The instructions for each assignment weren't as explicit, so my parents' previous strategy did not work.

I really needed a math tutor. The trouble was that the only tutors around were kids in my own grade who mastered the material a bit better. That was okay, but they weren't available outside of school and it was sort of embarrassing to have kids in the same class helping me. The biggest issue for me is when someone tried to explain a problem, then switches gears and finds a different tactic midway through. It is hard for my brain to forget the incorrect info. Now there is such thing as an online tutor. While you don't have a person sitting down face to face with you, it sure can help out to be guided through math problems by someone who understands them. This way, if my parents were to help me later, we figured out the right way to do the problems.

Real Estate Simulus: Whether you move or stay!

Did you know that there are tax credits available that equate to a personal Real Estate Stimulus package? If you are a first time home buyer, you can receive up to a $8,000 tax credit if a contract on your desired home is inked before April 30th of this year and close by June 30, 2010. The better news is that you are considered a first time home buyer if you have not owned a home in the past three years. So, if you sold your home due to relocation and rented for several years to assess what side of town you want to settle on, this is for you.

If you are not planning to move, there is something in it for you too. If you have lived in your home for the past five out of eight years, you may qualify for up to a $6,500 tax credit. The five years must be consecutive. Income limits are $125,000 for singles, and $225,000 for married couples.


If you qualify for any of these credits, please pay attention and remember to apply for them when completing your tax returns. If you are currently house hunting and have the means to purchase now, it may be a good idea to turn up the heat and narrow down your choices by the end of April. The credits will not be extended.