9-things-didnt-know-little

Little Debbie Snack cakes are an American tradition that have been a mainstay of sugar and cake addicts pantries since the 1960s. The company that makes Little Debbie snack cakes was born during the heart of the Depression era, and the family-owned business continues to sell its original Oatmeal Crème Pies, Nutty Bars and Swiss Cake rolls to the masses. Here are just nine interesting things you may not have known about the Little Debbie brand and snack cakes:
1. Little Debbie snack cakes were the first to be sold in family packs. McKee Foods, the parent company of the Little Debbie brand invented the idea of selling multipacks of the individually-wrapped snack cakes in a family size. This helped to stimulate more sales and made it easier for consumers to fuel their Little Debbie addiction.

2. Over 157 billion Little Debbie snacks have been sold since 1960. The company launched with Oatmeal Crème Pies, but many people are eating up other favorites including Devil Squares, Fudge Rounds, Honey Buns and the Star Crunch Cosmic Snacks.

3. Little Debbie is still family-owned. Little Debbie is still owned by the original family that invented the snack cakes, and according to FundingUniverse.com, is showing no sign of selling the company to competitors such as Nabisco or Intersate Bakeries.

4. The Oatmeal Crème Pie was the original Little Debbie Snack Cake. This sweet and wholesome snack continues to be a lunchbox favorite among kids of all ages, and over 14 million cakes were sold within 10 months of their introduction, according to LittleDebbie.com.

5. There are now 75 varieties of Little Debbie snacks. From the 100-calorie gingerbread cookies to the peanut butter toasty cracker sandwiches, Little Debbie fans from around the world can enjoy all types of fun and tasty snacks.

6. Kids can make Play-Doh snacks of Little Debbie sandwiches. The Little Debbie Snack Cake Kitchen is a complete kit that contains a mold tray, snack plate, crème and chocolate extruder and shapemaking rail so that kids can make five different Little Debbie Snacks out of Play Doh. It's available from the Little Debbie store online.

7. Little Debbie is on Twitter! You can keep up with the latest Little Debbie treats and company factoids by following Little Debbie on Twitter.

8. The brand is a leading sponsor of Nascar competitions. In 2009, Little Debbie Snacks is a sponsor of Marcos Ambrose and JTG Daugherty Racing team. The company has even created a plush Koala bear named Sydney that wears a Little Debbie-emblazoned racing suit.

9. McKee Foods sells over 200 million cartons of its top selling products every year. Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies, Swiss Cake Rolls and Nutty Bars Wafer Bars are the top three selling products in the world, and continue to drive the majority of sales for the company.

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:11

9-interesting-things-our-constitution

A friend of ours recently visited Ft. Knox where all the gold is supposedly stored and safeguarded by our government. Some conspiracy theorists claim that the gold is no longer there, but I and most people want to believe it is, do believe it is, and do not abide by such theories. While discussing this visit, I remembered that I read somewhere that our United States Constitution, the original, was transported to Ft. Knox in Kentucky after the attack at Pearl Harbor in WWII. This made me wonder what other unusual things have happened to or been part of the history of this remarkable document.

1) The Constitution was kept on display at the Library of Congress in the 1920's and 30's and when it needed to be moved somewhere, the librarian would merely place it in his Ford Model T truck and take off. Then, yes, our incredible Constitution was, indeed, housed at Ft. Knox after Pearl Harbor. It is as precious, and more, than gold itself. Then it was returned to the Library of Congress. Following negotiations between the congressional librarian and the US archivist, the original document was by 1952 moved for public display at the National Archives. This move was not in a Model T. It was more complicated, as is our world today. Packaging including helium-filled cases packed in wooden crates atop mattresses. An armored Marine Corps personnel vehicle accompanied by ceremonial troops, two tanks, and four submachine gun-carrying servicemen drove the document down Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue (how appropriate!) to the National Archives. Protection at the Archives is provided by titanium-framed thick glass for each of the 4 pages. Argon gas and a constant 67 degree F. temperature with 40% humidity protects the paper and ink for future generations.

2) The original constitution was the Articles of Confederation. Instead of enriching this document as our Constitution, our forefathers started from scratch to write the foundation of our country's documents. There were 4,543 words including the signature portion of the document, without counting any amendments.

3) The location for writing the constitution was a room that became steamy hot for 100 days during which the constitution was drafted, argued over, and written. Why? Because the sessions were considered so important that the meetings demanded secrecy and unopened windows and guarded locked doors that blocked out and locked out eavesdroppers.

4) Our country is a republic; clearly written in the constitution. My husband has oft said that in a democracy the people serve the government; but in a republic the government serves the people. Another way of looking at this is that in a republic the sovereignty is based in each and every individual while in a democracy it is in the group. In a pure democracy, 51% wins and 49% loses. There are no minority rights; there are only majority rights. In a republic, power is directly held by the people or through their chosen representatives who have specifically assigned power. A republic honors "liberty and justice for all" and the individual rights as natural rights. In a jury for example, it is not a 49/51% decision, but one juror can stop a decision to find guilt on behalf of a single defendant and a 100% majority is required for conviction.

5) Per Constitution Facts, when it came time to sign the document, 81-year old Benjamin Franklin had to be assisted due to his declining health. As he signed the U. S. Constitution, "tears streamed down his face." Franklin was the oldest signer; Jonathan Drayton of New Jersey was the youngest at 26. Note: Active in mind, but not in body, Franklin suffered gout pain and had a stone in his bladder. He was unable to walk but was carried in a sedan chair daily. Four Walnut Street Jail (Philadelphia) prisoners lifted him. Benjamin was known as the sage of the convention.

6) Per ConstitutionCenter.org, "More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Thirty-three have gone to the states to be ratified and twenty-seven have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution."

7) My ancestors were Mayflower passengers and their descendants. We as a family always think solely of our thanks and of our Mayflower heritage on Thanksgiving, but when George Washington was President he proclaimed a national holiday in 1789 to honor our constitution. I shall now honor this at Thanksgiving, very much so, even though since 2004, September 17th is now our official Constitution Day.

8) George Washington was the first to sign the Constitution.

9) The Constitution does not grant the power to print money to the government but instead says they may "coin money," the thinking being that the coins would be created from precious metals such as gold and silver. Wonder if they considered copper precious?

This leads us back to that theorist claim. Is the gold still in the well-guarded Ft. Knox? I have no idea, but I will stand up and fight for my republic rights granted through the United States Constitution. Every individual is honored and protected, rightfully.

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:07

9-11-ten-years-no-progress-thoughtful

Much of the fanfare over the 9/11 10 year anniversary had many New Yorkers flustered for sure. I spoke with several friends who expressed the usual litany of remorse and reflection, but there was also an undertone of anger from many friends. Anger from the feeling that we were being told "how" to feel and "when" to feel it.
My friend Jenn from Brooklyn echoed it first. When I asked her how the 9/11 anniversary had made her feel she said "angry." When I asked her to elaborate she said that she was less interested in what happened ten years ago and more interested in the here and now.

"I'd like to know what's happening TODAY. What's going on in Egypt? How's Afghanistan? Anyone ready to "honor the people of 9/11" by paying for their health care when they get cancer?"

She went on to say that; "People (politicians) like to talk about "the terrorists winning," and when I watch the news and listen to the radio and realize that our lives have been put on hold for the last few weeks, well, isn't that what they wanted--to disrupt our society and our way of life?"

My friend Damian from Manhattan also told me he'd opted out of the 9/11 event saying, "I actually chose to leave the city for the weekend and was on Fire Island with friends. I've been so busy with work and planning upcoming travel that the 10 year anniversary, while heavy, was lower on the priority ladder than usual. I tried to mentally avoid it, not because of the memories of that day (which as a NYer I get to relive every day, and every anniversary since), but mostly because it frustrates me. I am saddened that as a nation we are paralyzed by that day, and have not taken the right road since. The more we hang on, the worse things seem to get - the economy is in the same place it was a decade ago, the DJIA is in the same place, the middle class is fewer in number, and we are still at war."

With all this anger and all this confused, prolonged sorrow and all this stifled everything, it is easy to see how something like the 10 year anniversary of September 11 can effect us all differently. New York City is sadly still a giant vulnerable pinata with a big red "X" on it. Many New Yorkers who are fed up with the lack of forward progress in a decade have a right to be angry and a right to demand answers from the sobbing masses and the fat-cat politicians who have nothing to say but nothing much at all.

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:02

9-11-six-years-later

I have moved down the Atlantic coastline from Cape Cod Massachusetts to New York and it is every bit as exciting as it is on television. Time Square, Madison Square Garden, Wall Street and its bronze bull representing the stock market, the amusement of Coney Island, and Lady Liberty of Liberty Island where the ferry boat journey is still waiting for new visitors daily.
These are just a few of the reasons why New Years Eve is not the only time of year you will find the streets crowded with tourist and residents. There is a lot to see in New York and for starters the home of the world's strangest things any family would ever want to see is right in the heart of Manhattan and I'm talking about the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, it is highly recommended and simply amazing.

In the spirit of the Labor Day Weekends with added attractions such as parades, great food and entertainment for every personality the mood quickly changed with the remembrances of September 11, 2001 when attack on the World Trade Center Twin Towers brought the Nation great grief over the thousands of lives that were lost.

It's been six years and the tensions in New York are still high and the wounds from the deeds of 911 have not healed with the continued intimidations of the news reports combined with the failure of the Authorities to apprehend of discover the where about of the main plotters of the events topped off with a news release of a video tape of the infamous Osama Ibn Laden. His message is always viewed as a renewed threat by the people of New York.

The local Muslims seeking to open schools have been taunted as a result of the activities of the Al Qaeda group lead by Osama. Fears of terrorist camps being formed on American soil has surfaced and the challenge of proving peaceful intent to educate people on the language and culture of the Islamic people does not include raising gangs or terroristic organizations.

They have been moved to a peaceful retreat of one location of the school to another location which is also under fire by the scrutiny of the zealous Christian Groups. Religious competitious personalities have surfaced and the Freedom of Religion in practice and in expression has been crippled and all groups and denominations have been struggling to retain each their own freedoms of expressions.

As for the Atheist in New York their presence has not yet surfaced or been discovered by me I believe that the split in the whole of religion is so deep they are standing in the wings waiting for it to self destruct.

The Political unrest in the Middle East has given the Muslims of America the burden of building a bridge of peace and acceptance between the two worlds where American can be accepted abroad and like wise have Muslims be accepted all over the world without the remnants of terrorist threats being held over their heads by those driven into hiding or those hurt by those who are truly terrorist.

In spite of it all the unveiling of the new plans for the World Trade Center sight was revealed and with all it's splendor heralding New Yorkers determination to move forward, rebuild and multiply their resources although the lives lost can never be replaced with the drawing of not one , not two, but four Towers. I wonder if they are going to call them quadruplets!

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:00

9-11-conspiracy-theories-case-us-govt

September 11th 2001 was one of the worst days in American history. Over two thousand people killed in the worst terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history. Terrorists working under the supreme command of the terrorist Muslim extremist leader Osama Bin Laden simultaneously hijacked four jetliners and deliberately flew them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. And the Pentagon. Three of the four jets reached their targets with the fourth crashing in a field following a revolt against the terrorist by the passengers. The attacks caused the collapse of the Twin Towers and the death of over 2,000 individuals trapped inside. This is what the authorities would have you believe. However this is a very different picture then the one the conspiracy theorists would paint for you. It was brought to my attention that the conspiracy theorists at InfoWarz.com had created a documentary film about 9/11 highlighting their evidence for the "real story" about 9/11 and if they are right I would say that we all should take heed and perhaps call for revolution. But this article will not support nor will it denounce the conspiracy theories of the film. It merely will highlight some of the "evidence" displayed in the film and theories that have taken the Internet by storm.

September 11th 2001 was one of the worst days in American history. Over two thousand people killed in the worst terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history. Terrorists working under the supreme command of the terrorist Muslim extremist leader Osama Bin Laden simultaneously hijacked four jetliners and deliberately flew them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. And the Pentagon. Three of the four jets reached their targets with the fourth crashing in a field following a revolt against the terrorist by the passengers. The attacks caused the collapse of the Twin Towers and the death of over 2,000 individuals trapped inside. This is what the authorities would have you believe. However this is a very different picture then the one the conspiracy theorists would paint for you. It was brought to my attention that the conspiracy theorists at InfoWarz.com had created a documentary film about 9/11 highlighting their evidence for the "real story" about 9/11 and if they are right I would say that we all should take heed and perhaps call for revolution. But this article will not support nor will it denounce the conspiracy theories of the film. It merely will highlight some of the "evidence" displayed in the film and theories that have taken the Internet by storm.

September 11th 2001 was one of the worst days in American history. Over two thousand people killed in the worst terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history. Terrorists working under the supreme command of the terrorist Muslim extremist leader Osama Bin Laden simultaneously hijacked four jetliners and deliberately flew them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. And the Pentagon. Three of the four jets reached their targets with the fourth crashing in a field following a revolt against the terrorist by the passengers. The attacks caused the collapse of the Twin Towers and the death of over 2,000 individuals trapped inside. This is what the authorities would have you believe. However this is a very different picture then the one the conspiracy theorists would paint for you. It was brought to my attention that the conspiracy theorists at InfoWarz.com had created a documentary film about 9/11 highlighting their evidence for the "real story" about 9/11 and if they are right I would say that we all should take heed and perhaps call for revolution. But this article will not support nor will it denounce the conspiracy theories of the film. It merely will highlight some of the "evidence" displayed in the film and theories that have taken the Internet by storm.
September 11th 2001 was one of the worst days in American history. Over two thousand people killed in the worst terrorist attack on American soil in our nation's history. Terrorists working under the supreme command of the terrorist Muslim extremist leader Osama Bin Laden simultaneously hijacked four jetliners and deliberately flew them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. And the Pentagon. Three of the four jets reached their targets with the fourth crashing in a field following a revolt against the terrorist by the passengers. The attacks caused the collapse of the Twin Towers and the death of over 2,000 individuals trapped inside. This is what the authorities would have you believe. However this is a very different picture then the one the conspiracy theorists would paint for you. It was brought to my attention that the conspiracy theorists at InfoWarz.com had created a documentary film about 9/11 highlighting their evidence for the "real story" about 9/11 and if they are right I would say that we all should take heed and perhaps call for revolution. But this article will not support nor will it denounce the conspiracy theories of the film. It merely will highlight some of the "evidence" displayed in the film and theories that have taken the Internet by storm.

First, the conspiracy theorists suggest that the "jet" that hit the pentagon was in fact not a jet at all but a cruise missile. They attribute this because there is a visible lack of airline wreckage outside the impact zone. As well as the fact that the impact hole is inconsistent with the crash of a airplane given there is no impact points that would show wear wings or tail fins of any play would have hit, only a single whole whose dimensions are consistent with that of the impact of a cruise missile and not a airplane. Also they believe that the alleged stories of the witnesses that the jetliner that hit the pentagon flew over their vehicles before impact are obvious forgeries. Due to the fact that if a airplane flew over ones car missing it by feet as the witnesses allege the car would be blown off the road by the jet blast from the engines of the plane.

Second, the conspiracy theorists allege that the Twin Towers were not brought down by the impacts of the planes that hit them but instead by internal implosions. This is due to the way the towers collapsed. Anyone who views the news footage of that day can plainly see the towers come straight down in a pile, eerily similar to controlled demolitions. The conspiracy theorists attempt to destroy the governments assertion that the burning jet fuel in the planes that hit the twin towers melted the steel support beams which caused the buildings to collapse. The conspiracy theorists state that jet fuel cannot reach the necessary temperature needed to melt the support beams. Therefore it was scientifically impossible for the planes to take down the towers alone. The conspiracy theorist suggest that the controlled implosions can be seen in every video of the WTC collapse as small implosions 30-40 floors below the destruction wave.

Third, Building seven of the world trace center also collapsed on September 11Th. The official explanation for this was that fires from the collapsed twin towers ignited smaller fires in the building causing it to collapse straight down as well some hours later. The conspiracy theorists point out that if this explanation was true that would mean that building seven would be only the third building in history to collapse via a fire the first two were the twin towers. The conspiracy theorist also find it very "convenient" that building seven housing tenants such as: The secret service, The CIA, Mayor Guliani's emergency bunker, and the FCC was using it to store three to four thousand files related to various wall street investigations.

Fourth, Perhaps the most shocking allegation made by the conspiracy theorists is that nine of the nine-teen hijackers of 9/11 that supposedly perished with their victims are in fact still alive! And that the video tape released by the government in which they assert that Osama Bin Laden accepts responsibility for the attacks is a fake! Due to the fact that the picture quality makes it difficult to determine if the man in the video is in fact Bin Laden. Also because the man in the video looks and acts nothing like Bin Laden, according to the FBI's web site Bin Laden is left handed but in the "confession" video he is writing a note with his right hand. The Bin Laden in the video is also wearing a gold ring and watch. This is forbidden in Bin Laden's strict interpretation of Islamic law and is also never mentioned in the FBI's description of him.

Fifth, The Loose Change documentary brings to light several interesting things to note before and after the terrorist attacks.
- During the attack on the pentagon Donald Rumsfeld was safe in his office on the opposite side of the pentagon far away from the blast.
- A mysterious white marking appears on the lawn on the pentagon marking off almost the exact trajectory that the "plane" took when it hit its target.
- A mysterious white plane of a military configuration can be seen and was reported by witnesses circling the Pentagon before and momentarily after the crash.
-The area of the Pentagon that was struck was the only sections designed to withstand such an impact.
-Cameras from several different locations that would have captured the entire event of the attack on the pentagon were immediately confiscated by shadowy federal officials and anyone in the immediate area was warned by said officials to stay quiet about what they might have seen. And to date none of these tapes have ever been released to the public.
-The black boxes from the hijacked planes of 9/11were claimed to have been damaged beyond repair by the FBI however the FBI claims to have found the passport of one of the hijackers in near perfect condition which managed to fly through the explosion and wreckage down to the streets of Manhattan.
-It was reported that in the weeks before 9/11there were numerous unusual and unannounced drills where sections of the twin towers and building seven were evacuated for "security reasons".
-A guard in the north tower reported that security details were running 12 hours shifts in the two weeks leading up to 9/11 but on Thursday the 6Th bomb sniffing dogs were abruptly removed from the building.

Conspiracy theories and derivatives thereof are now all over the Internet. They often do a fine job at pleading their case and I would be lying if I said that they don't give a person some things to think about. But where there is evidence pointing in one direction there is evidence pointing in another. I would suggest the open minded individuals view Loose Change and documentaries the likes of it and then review the government explanations for the discrepancies and then make up their mind of what they choose to believe. But one thing is certain until the government chooses to disclose any and everything it knows about 9/11 and stops using the barrier of national security then conspiracy theories will continue to flourish.

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:00

9-11-conspiracy-theories

On November 10th, 2001, President George W. Bush, in his address to the United Nations, blasted the emerging "outrageous conspiracy theories" that "attempt to shift blame". Indeed, there are countless strains of conspiracy theories surrounding the horrific events of 9/11. But, for the most part, they all descend from several key ideas:
The idea that the US government either planned 9/11 or allowed 9/11 to happen in order to facilitate war with Iraq (presumably for oil?) and to stir up trouble in the middle east, effectively skyrocketing the profits of oil companies. There is the idea that Osama bin Laden is being used as a scapegoat for the US government, or that he and the US government are working together; this would effectively explain why he hasn't been caught yet, and why, when the military reportedly had the opportunity to, they didn't take him out - granted, however, that this was during Bill Clinton's presidency.

David Schippers, who was the chief prosecutor in the impeachment attempts on Bill Clinton during his presidency, stated that the government had been warned in and after 1995 that a terrorist attack on a government building was impending or highly likely. He claims that he was later contacted by three FBI agents, who spilled minor details about a potential terrorist attack on Manhattan.

David Schippers claims that, "Five weeks before the September 11th tragedy, I did my best to get a hold of Attorney General John Ashcroft with my concerns." Says Schippers, Ashcroft replied that they "do not start investigations from the top".

Meandering away from that, it is interesting to look at the potential for profit from the 9/11 attacks. In a statement made my Mindy Kleinberg, of the 9/11 Family Sterring Committee, to the 9/11 Commission in 2003, "Never before on the Chicago Exchange were such large amounts of United and American Airlines options traded. These investors netted a profit of at least 5 million dollars after the September 11th attacks. Interestingly, the names of the investors remain undisclosed and the 5 million dollars remains unclaimed in the Chicago Exchange account".

Indeed, this is very interesting. Whether or not the Commission wants to accept it, they do not seem to be able to explain world-wide, highly suspicious, trading patterns immediately before the 9/11 attacks.

There is further theory that explosives were planted inside the WTC. Girders with weight up to 4 tons (8000 pounds!) each were projected from the WTC at impact, and found 600 feet from the World Trade Center during the investigation. Supposedly, the ejection speed needed for the girders to land that far away supports the idea that explosives were detonated inside the WTC at the same time as the collision of the hijacked planes.

To further support this theory that explosives were involved, William Rodriguez, who worked at as a janitor at the WTC for twenty years, claimed that when he was in the basement of the North Tower, he heard what he describes as a large explosion on the B3 sublevel, mere moments before hearing the impact of the planes.

Also, regarding the video aired on various news stations of Osama bin Laden claiming responsibility for the attacks, there is speculation that the bin Laden in that video is not the real bin Laden and that that individual was a government actor, lookalike, or imposter. This may actually make some good sense; if you compare the features of the 9/11 video's Osama to the videos and photographs of Osama shown before and after, you will notice several differences. In the 9/11 video, bin Laden's cheeks seem puffier, skin seems darker, facial hair seems heavier. Unless Osama went on a horrifically crashed diet immediately before the attacks, and immediately underwent repairative surgery afterwords, there can be little or no logical explanation for this.

In the wake of 9/11, oil prices are at an all-time high. Oil companies are making extraordinarily more than they were before the attacks, ushered on by the instability in the middle east, even as they claim that they can't make it any cheaper. Billions and billions of dollars are being paid by the American people to companies that may have been involved in the premeditated slaying of three-thousand of our friends, family, and neighbors.

What is really going on?
Were the events of 9/11 a terrorist attack, a government attempt to facilitate war, a combination of the two, or something more? Perhaps one day we will discover the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. As for now, there is compelling evidence that the government is not telling us everything they know.

Publisher: uuibbui - 03:59

8-tracks-part-one

Oh, not another 70's flashback, please. Okay, how about a "totally" 80's moment?
Like any other kid I was fascinated by music from the moment I heard the radio. In fact, one of my first Christmas presents was a small red phonograph and three 45 r.p.m.'s. I was a happy camper. As I became a little bit older my tastes in music weren't much in the early days.

It really didn't take off for me until I discovered the 8 track tape in the summer of 1989 when I was just twelve. I found my first 8 track player discarded in a box that my grandparents were going to throw out. I felt sorry for the little machine and retrieved the LLOYD'S player. I brought it in the garage and asked my grandpa if I could have it.

If I can get that machine working, then I could have it. He plugged in the unit and nothing. At first, my heart sank. The track lights didn't illuminate, the headphone jack was a foreign size that it required an adapter to make it compatible with the smaller (newer) headphone jacks. The speakers... oh, man... I had never seen the "prong type" jacks. I termed the notched speaker adapters "prong types" because standard speakers didn't hook up to the machine.

Oh, and cartridge tapes. Where on earth was I going to purchase those? I knew that 8 track tapes went by the wayside and couldn't be purchased new anymore. Regardless if I could get the machine to play or not, I was determined to learn all I possibly could about the 8 track player.

My grandpa scrounged through the garage to scare up some 8 tracks without success, then had my grandma looking for the cartridge tapes in the house. They located a few tapes and I could only have one cartridge tape I was told. My choices were: Elvis, Charlie Rich, Alice Cooper, and... who or what is this Kiss? I was perplexed, then instantly fascinated by their mysterious grease-painted looks. Needless to say, Kiss won in a landslide victory for musical superiority. My twelve year old opinion of Kiss was "awesome". I didn't care for country or the mellow sound of Elvis. The likes of Alice Cooper were too creepy for me at the time and I just didn't connect with his style of music yet.

Yep, today its that rock group. Tomorrow, my parents will find a roller disco in my bedroom. The fascination with this particular rock group was very innocent and a lot of their excesses and infamy went over my head anyway. It was a novelty that lasted two years, almost. That was two years that my bluegrass parents had to hear endless renditions of 100,000 Years, Love Theme From Kiss, Nothing To Lose, Kissin' Time (a then unknown cover of a 1959 Bobby Rydell song of the aforementioned title), and of course, Black Diamond.

Nowadays I'd best describe Kiss' sound from 8 track tape: "[They] have a quality about their early music that has this certain energetic 'punch' that I can't hear from any new band. The closest band would be Metallica, but they're thrash metal, not hard rock n' roll and they weren't on 8 track tape. Heavy metal music was all new to me when I was twelve and there were many other bands that had heavy metal roots that could be found on 8 track tape that I either didn't hear about, or simply couldn't find like that of The New York Dolls, who would have been in question concerning their gender-bending looks and early punk music."

From my [then] twelve year old perspective: I would have classified every heavy metal act as "cool", (80's slang for "neat", "fantastic", "super"), regardless if they were veteran rockers or just new on the current music scene that would be here today, gone tomorrow.

8 track tapes didn't make me unpopular in the fifth grade. I was a prior Learning Disability student that was starting over fresh in a regular classroom setting. It was a special time in my young life. I had discovered music in an old format that none of my peers knew about. Life was good despite there was talk of sending me back to the learning disability classroom (my teacher's decision), and that hovered over me like a haunting stigma that I wanted to break free from.

What made this year special: my mom instituted a "reward" program for good grades on our report cards. Instead of money for grades because of my academic shortcomings, my parents decided on a cassette tape (within budget), used album (LP, 33 1/3), and for me, an 8 track tape since I was happy to find those in the thrift stores. Slim Whitman and Engelbert Humperdink become the running jokes because that's all I seemed to find at the time on 8 track.

I kindly accepted any group on 8 track tape even if I wasn't fond of the band. My parents selected most of the choices they thought I might like that geared around my new musical interests. With all good intentions, some of their picks didn't make a lasting impression on my young ears. I had ZZ TOP on 8 track, but didn't know how to classify their music when I was twelve.

I loved late folk singer, Jim Croce. I forget which album of his I had at the time though. 38 Special- Rockin' Into The Night. Now that album had a good album cover. Song-wise, not so great. Kiss: self titled, Alive vol. 1 & 2, Ace Frehley 1978, Dynasty, Love Gun, Destroyer (tried to repair two tapes myself. The Destroyer album unraveled from the spool and was history. The Love Gun 8 track played, but not very well. The electrical tape splice repair I did became stuck in the capstan of the machine. To Be Continued...

Publisher: uuibbui - 06:46

6-months-desert

Dust, sand, everywhere...hot sun beating down on the insects, scrambling to find a stone.

Small colonies, rising up to meet the sky, hide whats left of the life remaining.

Old buildings filled with images, smoke, and remnants, leading visions to the third eye.

Translucent makeup mask adorn the women's faces, attempting to cover the death behind.

Men in Armani, Gucci, and Klein, pockets with billfolds and gold money clips..itching to be converted into shiny plastic chips.

I find myself older, yet younger in heart.

The mountains beyond represent the boundaries so hard to penetrate. A city in the middle of desolation and dryness, dependent on the outside to give supply to the psyche.

'Is the cost of happiness worth the frustration?'

To take a life in a drunken rage, leaves forgiveness hard to swallow.

Sugar coated cyanide...little, white, effectively deadly.

I serve the people their caviar and wine, catching two minute glimpses into their private lies...lives.

My love lies disjointed, I hurt with silent pride, yet sworn to self preservation, the facade comes on.

Same shit-different day.



'God I like you so much'

"I don't know why"

'cause you're a freak.'



Shady people walking on thin ice, cracked at the seams, teeter ever so gently please. The barracuda glaring up at you through the glass...little sharp teeth in a fishy smile. Bite your tongue, grit the sh*t and walk away.



Two children, playing in the sand, digging for skeletons to stash into their young closets..they didn't see the black death crouching beneath the weed. It was just a quick sharp pinch..the tender calf flesh just grazed by the scorpion...

"Maria!"...

One child playing in the sand...burying bodies to turn into skeletons, to add to the closet of the mind.

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:26

Keep the betta fish in its own tank

People love aquariums not only for the beautiful fish you can keep inside, but also for the ease with which you can take care of them all. In addition, aquariums are popular because they reduce stress and relax the human mind. Watching the fish swim, eat and otherwise exist can be quite fulfilling. Fish lovers often go to great lengths to choose the perfect fish for their aquariums. Beauty definitely plays into the selection of certain fish. Others are chosen because they are unique in shape or they have a particular talent. For example, fish that eat algae are a great asset to the aquarium, even if they aren't the most gorgeous of the bunch.
Some fish might be beautiful but it's important to know the history of the breed. One example is the betta fish. These are beautifully colored fish that are often known as "Siamese fighting fish". Some people consider the betta fish one of the most beautiful of all the freshwater fish. This particular fish has long, flowing tail and fins with colors of red, blue and purple. Although the female betta fish is not one to start trouble her male counterpart definitely will. He is aggressive towards his own kind as well as the other species in the tank. If he is confronted by a male fish of any type he will generally fight to the death. Some people selling betta fish will assure you the one you purchase is a female but don't take chances! By the time you find out it's really a male you could lose him or other fish in the tank. Keep the betta fish in its own tank or just pass it by altogether.

Piranha are extremely dangerous but you wouldn't believe how many people keep them in their homes. They're considered novelties and fish owners like to show them off to fellow enthusiasts. They're sold in some pet stores but they're generally very small. That doesn't matter! The one-inch fish will chew up the others, eat the small ones, and even bite the fingers of the owner. If they're really well-fed they can get much larger, very rapidly. When they grow bigger they can catapult themselves into the air to bite someone feeding them. Their toothpick-like teeth can do some serious damage! Keep them in their own tanks no matter how small they are. Never put them in with other fish - not even for a few minutes.

As a matter of opinion, it's best not to own them at all

Oscars are popular fish that you'll find at most any pet store. They're cute and small and inexpensive. But, many people don't understand the growing cycle of an Oscar. Although they start out very small they can easily grow to ten to twelve inches. As they get rather large they can be a threat to the much smaller fish in the aquarium. Oscars will do okay, though, with other large fish in a huge aquarium. Overlook these fish when stocking a small or medium aquarium.

Lionfish are colorful and gorgeous but not one of the best choices for your home aquarium. Although they aren't generally a threat to other fish in the tank they can be dangerous to humans. Each of the ribs on the fin of the fish contain a barb that is poisonous. If you reach into the aquarium, and come in contact with even one of the barbs, you could go into shock - or even die. Although you might know better than to reach your hand in the aquarium containing lionfish that doesn't mean all your guests do. You'd be surprised at how many people reach inside aquariums without thought. Don't take a chance; choose fish other than the lionfish to stock the aquarium at your home or office.

Although the boxfish is not aggressive, and will get along well with most any other fish in the tank, if they get scared they can kill the entire aquarium. Startling the boxfish is not a wise idea. It can release a toxin that will kill itself as well as all the other fish. Once the toxin is released there is nothing you can do to save any of the fish. Steer clear of this fish which can cost you a fortune in the long run. The cowfish is similar to the boxfish in its use of toxic poisons. They, too, release the toxin if frightened or startled. It only takes a couple of minutes to lose every fish you have if the cowfish gets upset.

If you love aquariums you'll really enjoy watching the lives of the fish you've hand-selected. If you don't know too much about fish you can trust the suggestions of the person at the pet store or go online to find varieties that get along well, don't grow too large, and pose no danger to you or the other fish. Fish can live quite a long time if they're happy and well taken care of. Yours will be, of course!

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:20

5 good reasons why you should use a gas grill

If you're anything like me then you love to barbeque on the gas grill. There is nothing that tastes better than foods off the grill, and a gas grill is the only way to go when it comes time to cooking out.
It has been estimated that 75% of all people use a gas grill to cook-out with. That number really doesn't surprise me when you take a look at all of the advantages. Here are 5 good reasons why you should use a gas grill for all of your backyard barbequing:

1. Convenience. This is reason enough for most people to use a gas grill. Think about it for a minute. With a gas grill you simply turn on the propane tank, push the starter button and you're ready to go. It doesn't get any easier than that.

With a charcoal grill you have to buy charcoal, get dirty by having to stack it into a pile in the grill, pour out gobs of lighter fluid, light it up and then wait for 30 minutes before you can even think about starting to grill with it. That's not my idea of a fun time.

2. You can grill out at anytime. With a gas grill you can cook out during any time of the year. It can be 0 degrees outside in the middle of winter and you can still fire up your gas grill. And if you happen to be grilling when it suddenly begins to rain, a gas grill won't go out on you. It will still be burning and allow you to finish grilling your foods.

3. Another great thing is that most every gas grill has a built in thermostat so you know what temperature your food is cooking at. You can adjust the heat up or down accordingly. With a charcoal grill you usually never see this feature, and you certainly have no way of adjusting the cooking temperature.

4. You have the ability to cook different foods at the same time. This is a major point. With a gas grill you can cook several different kinds of foods at one time. You can have meats on one side of the grill cooking at a higher temperature, and you can have potatoes or vegetables cooking on the other side at a much lower temperature. This is due to the fact that a gas grill will have separate temperature controls for each side. Some gas grills even include controls for the front and back in addition to side to side. On many models you will also have a pot warmer to heat up foods like beans if you desire.

5. Clean up. Gas grills can easily be cleaned after using. Unlike a charcoal grill, there are no messy hot ashes to have to deal with. You can simply clean off the grates after cooking and wipe the area down for an easy clean up. And because a gas grill will cool off much faster, this can be done quickly after finishing your dinner. Try doing that with a charcoal grill. They will stay hot for hours afterward and you have to keep the kids away from getting burned.

I think you can see the many conveniences of using a gas grill. There is one word of caution I will give. Because a gas grill uses propane, you need to exercise caution. Follow all safety instructions when using the tanks. Always check for cracks in the line leading from the tank to the grill. If you notice a problem fix it immediately. The last thing you want is a fire on your hands. Be sure you are using tanks that are meant for gas grills. I have even seen people try to rig up a homemade job. Obviously, this is not a good idea.

Gas grills are quite safe as long as you follow precautions. But, the best thing of all about using a gas grill is that the food tastes great! Are you hungry yet?

Publisher: uuibbui - 06:37

5-alternative-uses-of-petroleum-jelly

Petroleum jelly is something that most households have on hand. It's pretty cheap to buy if you don't have any of this on hand. There are many different uses for petroleum jelly around your house so I would most defiantly go purchase some right away.

Here are some simple things you can use this stuff on around your home.

Alternative Use #1- Squeaky Hinges-

 If your house is like mine then something around it tends to squeak. I know my doors tend to do this all the time. Coat the hinge with petroleum jelly and open and shut the door a few times in a row so the jelly can get inside the cracks and you will notice the squeak sound went away. It's great to because it won't drip which means no messes on your floor afterwards.

Alternative Use #2-Car Batteries-

If you have ever looked at an old car battery what do you see on the terminals? Rust and corrosion is what you see. This can eventually mess with your battery causes your car not to run. This is because it reduces the battery flow. In the end your corrosion could leave you stranded somewhere which won't be very fun. Get out side with a wire brush and clean them battery terminals. When you're done and its clean, coat the battery terminal with petroleum jelly and you will see how well it prevents the corrosion from coming back.

Alternative Use #3- Painting-

If you are going to paint a room in your house, grab the petroleum jelly out before you paint. You can place a coat of this around the edges of your windows and your floors. This will stop the paint splatters from sticking. You can also place a coat of this on your hands so the paint won't stick to our hands when painting.

Alternative Use #4- Gum- 

If you find Gum stuck on a table, carpet, clothes, hair or any other place you can find gum then you know just how hard it is to get gum unstuck. If you have petroleum jelly, use it. Place a good amount over the gum and let it sit for a few hours. The Jelly will start to disintegrate the gum which makes cleanup a breeze. If you find it in the hair, you can work the gum out with the jelly or you can let it sit like above.

Alternative Use #5- Key Locks- 

If you live in a state like I do that gets really cold in the winter and frozen locks are not a surprise then you should use petroleum jelly the day before. Simply place some petroleum jelly onto your key and insert it into the keyhole several times. This will work the jelly into the grooves of the keyhole. The next morning when you go to get inside your car, no more frozen locks. The petroleum jelly will protect your lock from the cold.

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:49

4th-july-denver-more-than-freedom-year

This year in Colorado, the 4th will be not just about freedom and patriotism, but also about what wonderful and caring people Coloradans and Americans are especially in times of trouble. The wildfires that have dominated the news are the largest in recent history, and the second largest in recorded state history. Because of the tremendous toll taken by these fires, private fireworks have been banned statewide due to fire danger. That means that municipal celebrations will be bigger and more well attended than usual. There are a lot of great municipal celebrations planned, so have a great 4th at any one of these fun, and free, events in the metro Denver area!

Independence Eve Celebration at Civic Center:

 There will be a free concert by the Colorado Symphony, who will play patriotic classics as well as a selection of classical and contemporary music. A lights show and firework display will complete the evening, but the best part is the show this year is dedicated to all those who protect our wonderful country, and especially the firefighters who have fought so valiantly and bravely to keep Colorado safe this summer. An uplifting and moving event like this will help bring Coloradans together, and strengthen their sense of community and resolve to help one another. In light of that indomitable spirit, Anadarko, one of the annual sponsors of the Independence Eve event, will match all mobile donations made that night, up to $25,000, to benefit the Colorado Fire Relief Fund.

Another great way to celebrate this 4th is at the Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration at Denver's Four Mile Park.

This all-day activity will have plenty for the family to do and see.
There will be a Civil War Encampment and Firing Demonstration, old-fashioned crafts demonstration, and numerous children's activities including gold panning, games, and crafts. Wagon rides can be purchased as well as museum tours. See an old mountain man camp, and authentic Native American exhibits. There will also be concessions including old-fashioned kettle corn, wood stove cookies, and ice cream.

It's been a tough year so far in Colorado, but if there's anything, that Colorado's own history, as well as the United States' history, has taught us, it's that we can overcome almost any obstacle with our fierce determination, strength, and endless supply of goodwill and caring. And there is no better tradition to celebrate this year than that!

Publisher: uuibbui - 04:21

4-shows-check-out

Glee
Fox, Wednesdays 9/8C

We actually got our first glimpse of Glee earlier this summer. I wasn't sure about it when my husband suggested we watch but it turned out to be creative, unique, and funny. The main character is a Spanish teacher, Mr. Schuester. The highlight of his life was the Glee Club in high school. When the chance comes to save it from budget cuts, he pays $60 a month for the opportunity to resurrect it. The only kids to sign up are the misfits and losers. At least as the popular kids see them. Rachel Berry is a neurotic girl in search of fame who usually ends up getting protein shakes dumped on her head. Kurt Hummel is a flamboyant fashionista afraid to tell his dad, and anyone else, that he's gay. Arty Abrams is a geek in a wheelchair who play a mean guitar. Mercedes Jones is a "Beyonce Knowles wanna-be" struggling with an inferiority complex. Tina stutters when she lacks confidence but sings with full force. Mr. Schuester frames Finn Hudson, the quarterback on the football team, into joining Glee. Though his teammates tease him, he finds he really loves it.

Sue Sylvester is the ex-Green Beret cheerleading coach, who took her squad to the championships and has it in for Glee. When Finn and Rachel are caught making flyers on the Cheerios copy machine, she demands the kids be hobbled in punishment. She gets a spot on the local news show and advocates caning.

It's a fun show. The music is really great. The kids can sing and dance. Even the football team, but that's spoiling. I do not like Schuester's wife. She's a taker, spending beyond her means and lying to her husband about being pregnant. Four episodes in, I do think they are trying to soften her to make her more likeable, so we'll have to see.

Of course, I don't like Sue. But we're not supposed to like Sue. Or Sandy. I do like however, that they've begun to focus on some of the other students in Glee where the first couple of episodes were heavily on Rachel and Finn. Mercedes built a friendship with Kurt. Tina gets the lead in a West Side Story song, and Kurt joins the football team to convince his father that he's not gay. They are beginning to flesh out even seemingly minor characters, like Puck, Quinn, and Marty, the football coach.

Community

NBC, Thursdays 9:30/8:30C

Community follows Jeff Winger as he goes back to community college when it is found out his law degree "from Columbia" was not valid...outside of Columbia. He's a fast-talking swindler, looking to get his way no matter what he has to lie about. He accepts Abed's friendship for the information he can provide, especially about Britta, an attractive woman in his Spanish class. He lies about being a tutor and creates a study group to get close to her. Abed invites the others: Pierce, a womanizing manufacturer; Troy, a high school football star; Shirley, a middle-aged divorcée going back to school, and Annie, a perfectionist. The Daily Show's John Oliver cameos as a professor of Psychology and old friend of Jeff's who manages to swindle the swindler into taking school a bit more seriously.

Jeff looks down on these others as tools for his objectives, but little by little they are pulling him into real relationships. Imperfect as they are, they are laying a moral groundwork for him.

I admit I watched the first episode because John Oliver was in it. But I watched the second because it was witty and offbeat. The characters are both likeable and not-so-likeable. They're real. Who among us is as perfect as the characters we see on TV? As with Jeff, these characters are going to grow on us.

Modern Family

ABC, Wednesdays 9/8C

We saw a preview of Modern Family, showing three families, each different from the other. There's the husband and wife with three kids, the older man with the younger Latina wife and stepchild, and the gay couple who just adopted a baby. With the first episode we got to see a bit deeper into their lives. Claire and Phil have their hands full with careers, a teenager, and two other kids. Jay is trying to do better in his second marriage, to the much younger Gloria, a Columbian immigrant, and her son Manny. Especially with Manny, there's an age gap and a cultural gap. Mitchell and Cameron have just adopted baby Lily from Vietnam. Mitchell is a bit uptight and hasn't told his family for fear of their reaction. Cameron is more of a drama-queen and invites the family to dinner. The family, it turns out, his Mitchels's sister Claire and dad, Jay and their families. The families in Modern Family are all one extended family.

It's a funny show that stretches the sitcom boundaries with gay parents, older man-younger woman and the modern "nuclear" family. I'm not ready to put in my favorite shows category but I'm willing to see the second episode and I've got a feeling I'll end up liking it all the more.

In fact, none of those three shows fit the normal sitcom parameters. Glee's not Fox's High School Musical. Kids don't just go singing in the hallways. Okay, Rachel did once but it was more wishful thinking. Community isn't your normal college show. It's community college, the oft-maligned minor leagues of colleges. And Modern Family is, well, more modern than Leave It to Beaver or Growing Pains and is more realistic than Two and Half Men.

NCIS: Los Angeles

CBS, Tuesdays 9/8C

NCIS: Los Angeles is a spin-off of the popular NCIS. In fact, its pilot was two episodes of NCIS last season. They've changed things a bit with the premiere. The location, for one. In the 6 months G Callen has been convalescing from being shot multiple times in the pilot, the office moved to a new fancier location. And the Operations Manager has changed. She used to be Claire Masey, played by Louise Lombard and is now Heddy, played by Linda Hunt. Masey was believable in the part. She'd played a CSI who became a detective on CSI. In NCIS: Los Angeles, she was ex-Marine or ex-Navy. Either way she had worked with Gibbs before. She looked like she could be an agent and kick some butt herself. Heddy is a very short, older lady. It isn't believable in the least that she was ever in any branch of the military and I can't see her being a cop either, though I suppose it's possible. Worse, in the premiere, the sense is that she's been there for years. She's not a replacement for Masey. It's more that Masey never was.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I like the show in spite of Heddy. Just as I like Glee in spite of Schuester's wife. Chris O'Donnell plays G, a tough agent with a soft smile and an understated, tortured background. LL Cool J pulls off the role of former Seal Sam Hanna. Agent Kensi Blye is beautiful but no shrink when it comes to fighting. New to the team is Agent Dominic Vaile, a young guy trying not to make too many mistakes. There's good chemistry between the team members-except Heddy. The action is good, as we'd expect from an NCIS. It's not as witty as the original but then most spin-offs aren't. NCIS: Los Angeles has a lot more cool tools than our guys back in DC, like a huge touch-screen they can seemingly toss pictures onto.

And the one you might have missed, but I hope you didn't:

Warehouse 13

The Scifi Channel, Tuesdays 9/8C

Warehouse 13 is imaginative and put together really well. The CGI looks pretty real and the characters are fun. In 12 episodes, we really grew to care about the characters and even still they managed to throw us for a big, big loop and leave us with a gut-wrenching cliff hanger. And we have to wait until next summer! Secret Service Agents Myke Bering and Pete Latimer are suddenly reassigned to the mysterious Warehouse 13 where they meet the seemingly down-to-earth Arty Nielsen who manages the place. Pete is a fun-loving kind of guy who doesn't take too much seriously. He gets vibes that warn him of danger. He never really took those seriously but Mrs. Frederick, the head of whatever agency Warehouse 13 belongs to, does. Myka has an eye for detail. She's the type to read every page of the Warehouse Manual. Together they make a great team, though they bicker and squabble. When push comes to shove they look out for each other.

The premise is really unique, as far as I knew anyway. I hear there's some controversy about this being done before. Anyway, various objects in history have been found to have some sort of power. They need to be sequestered away as they can be quite dangerous in the wrong hands. Lucretia Borgia's hair comb makes people fall under the power of the wearer. Edgar Allen Poe's pen allows someone to write what they want to happen. The word "Wall" on a piece of paper causes a wall to open up and swallow a teacher. An Italian Bell causes people to literally die laughing. Others are funny. A dodge ball doubles if it hits someone. And it only hits someone when they are looking at it. So Pete and Myka get hit with one ball, then two, then four, etc, until finally Pete catches one and stops the dozens of others threatening to beat them to a pulp.

It's a fun show, with likeable characters, not your usual mysteries, and fun artifacts from history. Wish I'd thought of it. I can't wait for next summer. I hope you'll tune in, too.

Publisher: uuibbui - 00:19

4-great-guitar-tremolo-pedals

Tremolo is a unique guitar effect that basically lowers and raises guitar volume quickly to create a cool rhythmic sense, and it's been used on countless rock, country, funk, and even punk recordings. Finding a good pedal to provide the tremolo effect is crucial, though; bad tremolo can do a lot of damage to your guitar's tone and to the overall song that you use it on.
Here's a look at some of the best guitar tremolo effect pedals available.

1. Rocktron Pulse Tremolo - The "pulse" in the name comes from how this guitar pedal creates its tremolo, using light rather than traditional digital circuitry, which gives it a nice tube emulation sound. I worry that it may be more fragile than some of the other tremolo pedals out there, but it's $120 and comes with a manufacturer's warranty, and the sound of this guitar pedal is pretty unforgettable.

2. Boss TR-2 - A great tremolo pedal that won't set you back too much at $80. It's only got a few controls, and no lights to let you know where the beat is, so it's not the most customizable of tremolo guitar pedals, but it's got a classic tone without too much digital overhead and it works very well for what it claims to do. Since it's a Boss pedal, it's very hardy, compact, and great for stage use.

3. MXR 159 Stereo Tremolo - This tremolo pedal has a cool stereo setting that can pan your guitar's sound, giving it a cool sense of depth if you've got the capability to output to stereo in the first place. This will be a superfluous feature for most guitarists, which would bite if this wasn't also a great standard tremolo with responsive controls and a low-noise design, although it does run off of 18V rather than the standard 9V, so take that into consideration. Retails for about $170.

4. Tone Factor Empress Tremolo - For a subtle yet powerful tremolo effect, nothing sounds better than this pedal. I can't be more clear than that. It doesn't sound heavily digital like many of the tremolo pedals out there, it's nearly endlessly customizable, and provides fast, slow, deep and shallow tremolo effects that are equally at home with a rockabilly band or a standard pop tune. This is one of the best tremolo pedals I've ever heard, with the only caveats being its large size and its large price--it's $250, which is pretty high for most musicians.

Do you know of any other great guitar tremolo pedals? Post in our comments section below.

Publisher: uuibbui - 00:07

3-ways-landscapers-save-money-plants

Ever wonder how landscapers save money on plants? If you need to cut back on your budget, you can soon find that keeping your yard looking nice and affording plants is not possible. However, from my experience with growing up on a farm in western Kentucky, I know about ways you can stretch your plants based on our experiences with extreme droughts.

These are common practices among corporate landscapers that do large gardening projects at places like the mall. At least one of these tips will be the budget savings salvation that you have been looking for to decorate the outside of your home.

Using root tone to get free plants from neighbors

As a beginning gardener, it is interesting to take clippings from plants and see which ones will accept root tone and start producing a new plant. In general, any plant that has multiple leaves is likely to grow roots from the stem with the help of a rooting hormone. This $4.00 bottle will keep for years and help you to produce hundreds of plants for free.

Tip: Tiny single serving liquor bottles, are perfect for this project. Clean them of their remaining contents and place them in your kitchen window. Over time, you will learn which ones root easily. Also, be sure to label them and write the date that you started the rooting process.

Planting potted plants in the ground

As long as you can shelter the plants indoors during winter months, we all know buying perennial (lasts for more than a year) versus annuals (only lasts a year) potted plants saves you money. However, what if we took this potted plant idea outdoors in the summer? You can save yourself a lot of time, money, and stress by never taking the plant out of the pot. When you buy a plant from a nursery or gardening store, immediately place it in a much larger ventilated container with some extra soil and gravel in the bottom.

Most of the time, these cheap and flimsy pots are given away for free at the gardening centers. Then, instead of taking the plant and putting it directly in the ground, you will put it in a larger pot and finally place the pot in a hole in the ground. By covering the earth around the pot with some small rocks, you will have a beautiful presentation. When the plant is losing its color, you can simply remove it and replace that spot with another potted plant.

Tip: Instead of the plant dying in the ground, you will have a chance to save the plant and your money by giving it some TLC in another area of the yard or inside. This is also a great way to store plants over the colder months and plant them again next year without buying an expensive greenhouse.

Making coleus a bigger part of your plant budget

One of the brightest and most diverse looking plants that can save landscapers money are the coleus. Adding to their landscaping budget benefits, these are the easiest plants to grow in the shade that I have found. One of their budget saving abilities is the ease at which you can grow a coleus from clippings.

You simply take a large portion of the top of one of your coleus plants and put it in a glass of water. The roots will start to grow within a week or so. Clipping back a coleus is extremely important anyway, in order to keep it vibrant. You can also take a few clippings in the fall and keep them in the warmest part of your house over the winter in order to have new plants for next year.

Personally, I started with a variety tray of 25 coleus for $16. In the four years I grew them, I only spent $16 on plants, I had between 50 to 75 plants each year, and gave away over 400 clippings from those plants to friends.

Tip: The coleus grows a flower cone often. Check them every few days. If you pinch off these cones as soon as you see them, these plants will keep for years.

Publisher: uuibbui - 23:51

3-oddball-tourist-ideas-save-detroit

Can Motown survive this bankruptcy nonsense? As a lifelong resident of metro Detroit, the answer is 'Yes!"

"How?" you ask.

By turning Detroit into a money-generating tourist destination. No need for higher taxes or bailouts if we can lure people to the Motor City to spend their discretionary income.

But first things first, we must give people a reason to visit Detroit and buy a refrigerator magnet.

Here are three ideas to start the flow of tourists.

Twenty-Two Story Joe Louis Statue

Anyone who's visited Detroit has seen the giant fist of Joe Louis sitting in the heart of the city.

I admire the art, but to attract millions of tourists it needs one thing - the rest of his body!

Would anyone visit the Statue of Liberty if all you could see were a torch?

Probably not.

Once the statue is built, making money would be a breeze.

Visitors would buy tickets and ride an elevator to a platform where coin-operated telescopes overlook the city.

"Find Jimmy Hoffa," a sign would read, "He's out there somewhere!"

On the way down, they'd shop to their hearts desire in the souvenir store, located in the champ's shoe.

Who would underwrite the mammoth statue?

Talk to Don King - he's the promoter.

I'm just the idea guy.

Urban Area 51

People love UFOs!

With a little effort, Detroit may become a hotbed for extraterrestrial sightings, luring tourists from around the globe.

Do the accounts need to be legitimate? Ask the tourism officials at Loch Ness.

Interest may be stirred up by posting on Flickr, YouTube, and Facebook.

"Yikes!" a status may read, "a beam of light just hit me in the head and I can speak Mandarin - what's happening???"

But the sources would have to be credible.

I nominate Michigan Governor Rick Synder to make the first sighting. He seems to be the only person who really wants to help Detroit anyway.

His story of epic enlightenment aboard the mother ship may prompt hoards of people to flock downtown in hope of being vacuumed up into the vortex.

Hotel occupancy may skyrocket, along with the sale of cotton candy.

Running of the Mechanical Bulls

Don't ask me why, but every year thousands of people flock to Pamplona, Spain to have bulls chase them through empty streets.

Why couldn't we do the same thing in Detroit? We have empty streets.

As an animal lover, I wouldn't want to chance any mishaps, such as some buffoon from Terre Haute being gored. So instead of real bovine, mechanical bulls would be released for the trot.

The horn of the beast would stop inches before it entered a participant's kidney, because of a specially designed chip. The same technology that warns a Ford Edge it's about to back into a Honda Civic in the parking lot of Applebee's.

The point is, we've got the engineers to make this happen.

We put the world on wheels. We could certainly put bulls in the streets.

Publisher: uuibbui - 10:55

fun recycled tshirt crafts

Everyone has t-shirts that they love but they no longer wear. Maybe you outgrew your favorite t-shirt, or maybe it got a hole in a very unflattering place; either way there are some awesome ways you can recycle your t-shirt to make it last many more years. There are several fun ways to reuse old t-shirts, and this article will inspire you to bust out your old shirts and get crafting.

My favorite simple t-shirt craft is the t-shirt pillow; it is easy and a great item you will use for years to come. All you will need for this project is an old t-shirt, needle, thread, scissors, and some stuffing. Now simply cut the sleeves of the shirt and the neck of the shirt so it makes a square. Next you will need to turn the shirt inside out, and thread your needle. Start sewing at the left or right side corner of the shirt where you cut the sleeve off. Continue sewing until you have sewn completely three sides around the square. Now sew half of the final side, and turn the square right side out. Fill the pillow with stuffing until it is a good density, and sew until the square is completely sealed. This project makes an awesome pillow out of a shirt you might have thrown away.

Another fun shirt project is a shirt purse. This project is easy, and it is a good way to recycle; all you will need is a shirt, scissors, and needle and thread. Simply turn the shirt inside out. Sew the top edge of the shirt, where your head would go, shut. Next cut the sleeves off of the shirt, and sew the holes shut. If this shirt is long sleeved this is helpful, but you can use short sleeved shirts as well. If the shirt has long sleeves you can use them as a strap; if not you can use a strong ribbon or piece of felt. Just sew the sleeve ends to the sides of the bottom of the shirt, and you have an awesome bag.

Another fun way to save a t-shirt that means a lot to you is making a t-shirt pot holder. For this project you will need a piece of felt, an old shirt, scissors, needle, and thread. Now simply cut out the part of the shirt you like. If there is a picture or a fun pocket cut out a square that is suitable for a pot holder. Next cut a piece of felt slightly bigger than the t-shirt piece. Now lay the shirt on top f the felt, and sew around all of the edges. Cut a small strip from the felt and sew it to one of the corners of the square. Now you have completed your potholder, and you have recycled one of your favorite shirts.

There are many ways to recycle things found around your home into fun and useful craft projects. I hope these ideas have helped you to reuse some of the items you might throw out.

Publisher: uuibbui - 10:44