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