Recent comments

  • How to Make Moonshine   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Zorcy, "Guest", ColinB, etc,
    I'm still having a small bit of difficulty here with the interchangeable american/european terms. When you all say 85%, and after that it's all tails.................????? Do you mean 85 DEGREES proof? Not 85 percent alcohol? It'd take a damn sight lower than 85% alcohol around here to qualify as "tails"! In this neck of the woods we all usually just keep collecting it in a demi-john, or "mason jar" , testing it for strength at intervals until it hits , say 50% alcohol, (100 degrees american proof..... about 85 degrees european proof). That's what we'd call "whiskey" or poteen. Distilled to the strength you drink it at. What we call "vodka" is a different thing altogether. Has to be distilled to at least 85 % by volume and then cut down with distilled water. And when it gets down to 50% while distilling it, we just switch jars and keep collecting the weak stuff down to about 20% and run it with the next batch. Different customs, I suppose.

  • 10 Examples of Shockingly-Excellent Customer Service   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Great stories! "Do a good deed daily" isn't just for the Boy Scouts. Its something everyone should try to incorporate into their lives.

  • Make Your Own Moon Sand, Dirt Cheap   16 years 5 weeks ago

    I want to save you all some grief because my first mixture was a disaster. First of all, when you buy play sand it is damp, so you cannot use the amount of water in this recipe. Second, it asks you to first mix cold water with starch - this is a mistake. It is so hard to mix - almost like mixing taffy that is almost hardened. Plus, you have already committed to the amount of water you're putting in, so to fix it you would have to add more sand and cornstarch to fix it. I did this and ended up with moon goop that would not hold its shape at all. I also tried the Kool Aid idea. Not only did it not color the sand (it would have taken tons of packets to get a good color since sand is brown), it made it smell disgusting (I used grape). This mixture was pretty solid by the next day and was very difficult for me to dig out of the tupperware container and throw away.

    It does get better....My next run went very well and this is what I did: I mixed the sand and cornstarch first. Then, I prepared some fabric dye (I used one of those Rit dry packets with one cup of hot tap water). I dribbled it into my mixture and then mixed it with my hands till the dye was mixed in. Then I added some more. I ended up being able to add the whole cup of water, but if you're in doubt, prepare the dye mixture stronger (like one packet with 3/4 or 1/2 cup hot water). You can always add more water if necessary without the dye. I checked on my moonsand the next day and it was fine - I just needed to spritz it with a spray bottle and we were ready to go. I also added 1 TBSP + 1 TSP cream of tartar for preservation to the recipe listed here.

  • Home Delivery: Local and Long Distance   16 years 5 weeks ago

    While home delivery of goods may have dwindled, I think there's a uptake in service delivery.

    Interestingly, the dry cleaning market is using home delivery to pull in new clients at a time when less of our clothes require dry cleaning (since we're not nearly as much a "slacks & jacket" kind of workforce as we used to be). My dry cleaner picks up and delivers twice a week, so a bag of clothes placed on my porch on Tuesday is brought back to me, cleaned & neatly pressed, on Friday. And they do this at no additional per item cost to me.

  • How About a Price List at the Hospital or Doctor’s Office?   16 years 5 weeks ago

    I had sex change surgery in Bangkok, Thailand and the doctor I went to see had a price list on his website. I want to get natural breast augmentation, it's only offered here in the United States and there's no pricelist on any doctor's website. They say it is dependent on how many points they have to perform liposuction. Well, then, tell me how much it would cost per point and then the base cost. Hell, if my surgeon in Thailand did that surgery, he would likely have that info on his website.

    *sigh* Why are doctors so afraid of quoting us prices so we know how much we have to pay?

  • The Real ROI of Social Media   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Social media...? Worst case ever of the Emporor's new clothes. So may people falling for so much rubbish

  • How to Afford Payments on Your Adjustable Rate Mortgage   16 years 5 weeks ago

    If there is one golden rule to apply above all others it is...pay your bills on time every time. Every lender looks at this as one of the main lending criteria.

  • Volunteer to Travel: 11 Opportunities for Free or Very Cheap Travel   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Another great Volunteer abroad opportunities provider is Disaster Volunteers of Ghana.Check them out also.They have very cheap projects in areas of orphanage and child care,construction,IT and computes and programs for families as well.

  • 10 Examples of Shockingly-Excellent Customer Service   16 years 5 weeks ago

    I work for CVS and have never heard of the "Samaritan Van".
    While I can see how these vans can provide a valuable service, they seem more "good publicity" than "excellent customer service"

  • The First Time Home Buyer Credit: How Big of a Deal Is It?   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Now that the tax credit is over, do people out there think it's still a good time to buy? After all, mortgage interest rates are at an all-time low. I was reading this article about whether or not people should buy now that the bonus expired-- some pretty great insight here. I found it on the Equifax Personal Finance Blog: http://bit.ly/axxTvb

  • Should You Choose a Roth 401k or a Regular 401k?   16 years 5 weeks ago

    There are many pros and cons to converting to a Roth IRA. I just read this awesome blog post on this new Equifax personal finance blog that lists reasons why you should or shouldn't convert. Hope this helps! http://bit.ly/bSUnh8

  • 4 Tips to Save on Car Insurance   16 years 5 weeks ago

    This is a great article on how to save on auto insurance! I know with my family it's hard because we have 3 cars and we don't always use all of them but need them from time to time. My dad usually turns to canceling the insurance on two cars during most of the year when my brother and I are away at school and then just share a car to work.

    I found this great article with 7 ways to save on insurance on this new Equifax Personal Finance Blog. Check it out for more tips: http://bit.ly/brlOTO

  • The Real ROI of Social Media   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Scott,

    Social media ROI is difficult, if not impossible, to define because it means different things to different people and companies. For some companies, it's all about more sales or a stronger brand, while other companies are looking for improved customer service or better relationships with customers, employees or partners. In many respects, ROI depends on how success is defined, and that can be done in a variety of ways.

    cheers, Mark

    Mark Evans
    Director of Communications
    Sysomos Inc.

  • Travel Fees: Get Over It and Purchase the Right Bag for a Low Price   16 years 5 weeks ago

    A great idea but a poorly written article. First, a 30" tall bag is too big and would be gate checked (which is now charged by Delta and others). Second, alternatives to wheels are bags like the eBags Weekender, Tom Bihn bags, OPEC, MLC and other bags that are "convertible" to a backpack or over the shoulder and these are much lighter weight than the "super light weight" 6 lb mentioned above. These types of bags also allow both hands to be free - much easier to carry that coffee and answer that email than holding a handle! Third, help your readers to PACK these smaller bags - onebag.com and 1bag1world.com are great resources to pack light and efficient.

  • Frugal Gluten-Free Living: Easy Pizza Crust   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Thanks! This is the best pizza crust recipe I have found since switching to gluten free! My family it thrilled with it, and the fact that we can still have pizza!

  • Ask the Readers: To Garage Sale or Not? (Chance to win $20)   16 years 5 weeks ago

    No I don't hold garage sales, I have gone to sell at the flea market though. I much prefer something like craigslist, I don't like having strangers come to my home, prefer to sell items at a well populated locale. Have even sold small items this way, arrange multiple sales around the same time, etc

  • 51 Uses for Coca-Cola – the Ultimate List   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Greatpost.Many usefull info at once. Wish all the best.

  • Ask the Readers: To Garage Sale or Not? (Chance to win $20)   16 years 5 weeks ago

    I am addicted to them (Thanks to my late grandmother). I am out am 7:00 am everything Saturday morning searching for a bargin.

  • 21 great uses for beer   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Try it at the beach. Spray or pour beer on hair and lay in the sun. Let your hair soak the beer and sun. After your hair is nice and toasty head for the water. The combination of sitting in the sun and then rinsing it off in the salty water seems to take the smell away.
    You might night see the highlight-ing affects instantly..

  • The Real ROI of Social Media   16 years 5 weeks ago

    OMG! I'm sorry I didn't believe you! I'm sorry I didn't take your warning seriously! I should have known, what with the sorts of things you DO happily post, that anything that warranted that kind of disclaimer...

    I may not sleep tonight! People be warned... it really is that horrible... don't click and never get a baby-shaped baby cake... ever!!!

  • Ask the Readers: To Garage Sale or Not? (Chance to win $20)   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Love garage sales, yard sales, tag sales, rummage sales. I've gotten some great stuff at them, and I'm usually able to resist buying excess junk -- or at least talking the seller down, so it's not a huge waste if I end up donating them item sooner rather than later.

    My husband and I spent many, many Saturday mornings driving around yard sale-ing when we were first courting. We still enjoy it, especially when we don't have kids in tow. It's a pretty cheap form of entertainment, and you never know what you might find!

  • Ask the Readers: To Garage Sale or Not? (Chance to win $20)   16 years 5 weeks ago

    Love garage sales, yard sales, tag sales, rummage sales. I've gotten some great stuff at them, and I'm usually able to resist buying excess junk -- or at least talking the seller down, so it's not a huge waste if I end up donating them item sooner rather than later.

    My husband and I spent many, many Saturday mornings driving around yard sale-ing when we were first courting. We still enjoy it, especially when we don't have kids in tow. It's a pretty cheap form of entertainment, and you never know what you might find!

  • Free Food in Your Yard: Edible Weeds!   16 years 5 weeks ago

    japanese knotweed in particular is such a yummy ingredient its just knowing how to cook it. I've put an easy and yet delicious ingredient list for a japanese knotweed crumble below, i definetly recommend you try it!

    500g young knotweed shoots, including leafy “spears”, lower sections peeled, sliced into 8cm pieces
    50ml water
    100g caster sugar
    200g plain flour, sifted
    100g cold butter, cubed
    125g brown sugar

    It such a nice ingredient to work with, i think it needs to be made more aware to the public as eradicating this annoying weed just became easy!!

    Thanks for the post, will be making the olive oil, kosher salt and cracked black pepper version soon :o)

  • 10 Examples of Shockingly-Excellent Customer Service   16 years 5 weeks ago

    I've had similar experiences with The Parking Spot airport parking, with the exception of the umbrella if it's raining. If you arrive to park in the morning, they will give you a free USA Today. And, for a while, they also gave out a little bag of cookies along with the (cold) bottle of water when you exited.

  • Ask the Readers: To Garage Sale or Not? (Chance to win $20)   16 years 5 weeks ago

    I love to host garage sales.. They are a great way to make money and get rid of things that are filling up your home.. I also love to shop at garage sales.. I wanted the game Taboo but not willing to pay the 30 at Walmart. Got the complete game for 1 at a yardsale. Was thrilled