Day: July 1, 2012

Dog Safety Tips for Fourth of July

Dog Safety Tips for Fourth of July

While we might associate the thump and boom of fireworks with festivity and a  great display, many of our canine companions are completely freaked out by  Fourth of July noises. Some dogs cower and shiver, some panic and try to escape  from their homes.

We checked in with the The Humane Society to gather some advice for the  pooches, here’s what they had to offer:

1. Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

2. Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a  car, your pet can suffer serious health effects–even death–in a few short  minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do  provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

3.  Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals  can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items  that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed.  Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while  you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

4. If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like  thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help  alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks  displays.

 

 

Top 4 Things That Interfere With Central AC

Top 4 Things That Interfere With Central AC

 

By Carl Seville, Networx

Plenty of people who run central air conditioning systems in Houston (and other cities where  hot weather dominates the calendar) complain  about how their air conditioning  doesn’t do a good job keeping their  home comfortable, and, in most cases, they  are probably right.  There  are so many things that can and do go wrong  with central HVAC systems  that it’s tough to know where to start, but I’ll give  it a shot.

1. Leaky ducts

Probably  the single biggest cause of poor AC performance is leaky  ducts.  Ducts  are kind of like pipes – they move air through them and  deliver it at  the end.  We notice when our water pipes leak because we see  the damage  immediately, but we rarely see the effects of leaky ducts directly; rather it sneaks up on us over a long  period of time, and  many people never figure it out.  When ducts leak,  they let cool air out  into whatever space they are in, often the attic, which,  in case you  haven’t noticed, can get pretty hot in the summer.  Ducts need  to be  sealed at all the metal-to-metal and metal-to-flex connections – not at   the insulation.  Have someone pull back all the insulation and put a  nice  thick layer of goopy mastic at all the joints, then replace the   insulation.  Don’t use duct tape. It won’t work, and the metal tape   designed for ducts doesn’t do a whole lot better.

2. Too much or too little refrigerant charge

Something  else that can make your AC inefficient is the refrigerant  charge.   Traditional AC uses a refrigerant that transfers the heat between  the  inside and the outside.  Every system is designed to work efficiently   with a specific amount of refrigerant, and too often there is either too  much  or too little in the system.  A  good HVAC contractor can check the charge and either add or remove some to  make sure it is  set correctly.  A wrong charge can decrease the efficiency  by 20-30%, so  checking and fixing this can make a big difference.

3. Installing the wrong filter

Make sure you have the right filter installed.   Most HVAC systems  were designed to use one of those cheap fiberglass  filters to clean the  air.  Unfortunately, they don’t do a very good job  at it, so many people  go to their local hardware or big-box store and  buy a super-duper high  efficiency pleated paper filter GUARANTEED to  keep their air cleaner.  It  might actually keep the air cleaner, but it  also cuts down on the air flow,  making the whole system less efficient.   They can make the cooling coils  freeze, creating even bigger problems.   If you really need a good filter,  first seal the ducts to keep the air  in and the nasty stuff out, then get a 6  inch thick pleated filter which  fits into a special cabinet which your HVAC  contractor can install for  you. They do a good job filtering the air and don’t  cause the same  problems with the air flow.

4. Not enough return ducts

The  last thing I’m going to talk about is return ducts. Lots of HVAC   systems are installed with a single, large return somewhere in the  middle of  the house.  Each room has its own supply, but the air is  supposed to, sort  of magically, slide under the door and get back to the  big return duct to be  cooled again.  The problem is that the space  under the door usually isn’t  big enough, so the air doesn’t flow through  the whole house well enough to keep  things evenly cooled.  Some rooms  are hot, some are cold, and none are  just right.  Consider having an  HVAC contractor add some extra return  ducts in bedrooms and other rooms  with doors (except for bathrooms) to give you  better air flow and  increased comfort.

Notice that I haven’t said anything about  equipment efficiency.  That’s  what the manufacturers and installers talk  about, because they can make a lot  of money selling you fancy,  expensive air conditioners that are super  efficient.  The problem is, if  you put one of those on a system that is  otherwise pretty crappy, you  have wasted most of the super-duper efficiency you  paid for. Take care  of the more boring, tedious, and important things like  these first,  before you install new equipment.  You’ll be much happier,  and more  comfortable.  Then when you want to put in that super duper  equipment,  you’ll have a really good HVAC system.

10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.

10 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.

By Brian Merchant, TreeHugger

There’s a pretty good chance you live in a city with air that’s so polluted it’s often unhealthy to breathe. Yes, you. Forty-one percent of Americans do. That’s 127 million people. That’s way too many.

The American Lung Association just released its annual ‘State of the Air’ report, which breaks down the most polluted cities in the nation. As usual, most of them can be found in California’s Central Valley. Here are the three different ‘top ten’ lists, according to the different kinds of pollution:

Cities with the Most Year-Round Particulate Pollution

#1: Bakersfield-Delano, CA
#2: Hanford-Corcoran, CA
#3: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
#4: Visalia-Porterville, CA
#5: Fresno-Madera, CA
#6: Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA
#7: Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ
#8: Cincinnati-Middletown-Wilmington, OH-KY-IN
#9: Louisville-Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN
#10: Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD
#10 (It’s a tie!): St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL

Cities with the Most Short-Term Particulate Pollution
#1: Bakersfield-Delano, CA
#2: Fresno-Madera, CA
#3: Hanford-Corcoran, CA
#4: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
#5: Modesto, CA
#6: Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA
#7: Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield, UT
#8: Logan, UT-ID
#9: Fairbanks, AK
#10: Merced, CA

Cities with the Most Ozone Pollution

#1: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
#2: Visalia-Porterville, CA
#3: Bakersfield-Delano, CA
#4: Fresno-Madera, CA
#5: Hanford-Corcoran, CA
#6: Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Yuba City, CA-NV
#7: San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
#8: Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX
#9: San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
#10: Merced, CA

Hey, strong showing in all three by Bakersfield, L.A., and Hanford-Corcoran—nice work fellas; way to hustle.

If you’re looking for a silver lining in a report as inherently depressing as this one, at least there’s this: 22 of the 25 most polluted cities showed signs of improvement from last year’s report. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we need tough air quality standards and plans to reduce traffic congestion—they work!—and we need them to keep getting stricter and more progressive, until 41 percent of the country isn’t breathing polluted air.

So How Do You Know If Your Computer Is Infected?

By visiting this site sit up by the FBI. It will tell you whether your computer is infected or not. But my understand (and remember this is what I have gathered from reading up on this), if you have a “good,” “good” anti-virus you should be safe. But if you are concerned as I was, you can visit the following site and it will tell you if you are infected.

DNS Changer Check-Up

July 9 could be ‘Internet doomsday’ for some (so check your PC or Mac)

July 9 could be ‘Internet doomsday’ for some (so check your PC or Mac)

Suzanne Choney

July 9 might be “Internet doomsday” for PC and Mac users who haven’t taken steps to make sure their systems are not infected with what’s being called DNSChanger malware.

That’s right: Your Internet connection may not work that day because the safety net now in place from the FBI against the malware will be removed then, and if your computer is infected, you won’t be able to get to the Internet. Read More……

Lighten Up – Redneck Charge of the Goddess

Redneck Charge of the Goddess

 

(Tune:  The Beverly Hillbillies by E. Scruggs) (Lyrical adaption by Hare)

Now listen to the words of the Great Star Mother, In days long past called by one name or tuther, “I am your Mammy, Queen of Earth, Air, Fire, Sea, So you better quit your yappin’ an’ listen to me.”

(Isis that is, Astarte, Cerridwen)

“Now y’all listen up, ’cause I’d hate to be a bitch, When we have our shindigs t’aint none should wear a stitch. Y’all will eat an’ drink an’ dance an’ love, to show that you’re free, ‘Cause all acts of pleasure are sacred to me.”

(Skyclad that is, Great Rite, Cakes an’ Wine)

“If you wanna know my secrets, then look in your own hide, ‘Cause if what you seek aint there, well, it won’t be found outside. The greatest Mysteries t’aint really dread nor dire, I’m with you at the start, and at the end of desire.”

(That’s right, listen to your heart. Y’all will come back now, y’hear?)

 

Daily Feng Shui Tip for July 1 – ‘National Blueberry Month’

Happy July — it’s ‘National Blueberry Month!’ According to ancient tradition, the blueberry was considered more than just an antioxidant and anti-aging super food. Long believed to be a Native American fruit, the blueberry was thought to bring an arsenal of personal protection to whoever ate it with that same intention in mind. It is still believed by some to offset the negative energies associated with the ‘evil eye’ and magically enhance our own inner defense systems (when eaten with that specific goal). If you ever feel under attack, these fruity forces can bring that battle to an end. Crush some fresh blueberries, dip a finger into the blue juice, and mark a Star of David on a piece of plain white paper. Keep this talisman in the kitchen, and don’t forget to wash that finger right away!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Today’s Runes for Sunday, July 1 is Ger

Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement. Ger is one of the runes that touches on the cycles of the year, in this case the fall harvest. These cycles are eternal, which is represented in the rune by the fact that it is unchanged by reversal. Ger can represent pregnancy or other forms of fruitfulness, and is especially indicative of the cycles of providence and karma – that which has been sown is now being reaped. This rune can also represent the cycles of wealth, for crops were frequently a sign of wealth.

Today’s Tarot Card for July 1 is The High Priestess

Today’s Tarot Card

The High Priestess

This Tarot Deck: Fantastical Tarot

General Meaning:    Traditionally called the High Priestess, this major arcana, or trump, card represents human wisdom. She can be viewed as a kind of female Pope, the ancient Egyptian Priestess of Isis, the even older snake and bird Goddesses, the Greek Goddess Persephone, or the Eve of Genesis before the Fall.
For the accused heretics who were burnt at the stake for revering her in the 14th and 15th century, she symbolized the prophecy of the return of the Holy Spirit, which was perceived as the female aspect of the Holy Trinity.
In the sequence of cards in the major arcana, the High Priestess appears as soon as the Fool decides he wants to develop his innate powers, making a move toward becoming a Magus. The High Priestess is his first teacher, representing the Inner Life and the method for contacting it, as well as the contemplative study of Nature and the Holy Mysteries.

Venus Direct in Gemini

Venus Direct in Gemini

Jeff Jawer                Jeff Jawer on the topics of blogs
Sweet Venus, the planet of love, pleasure, art, beauty and self-worth, has been backpedaling in non-committal (or is it multi-committal) Gemini since May 15, and it finally turns forward on June 27.
We may have been spinning our wheels in relationships during this period, as finding traction to put a current alliance on track or to find a new one is often difficult during Venus Retrograde. The slipperiness of this cycle was greased even more in the adaptable sign of the Twins. Making serious choices in matters of the heart has been a confusing process.

Venus also relates to attraction, including money, making this another area of complexity since mid-May. Expenses and income may fluctuate wildly or, for those in more stable financial situations, attitudes about material resources may have been shifting from hope to doubt and back to hope again. One’s sense of self-worth, another Venusian subject, was probably also on a ferris wheel of ups and downs for the past six weeks or so.

There is a purpose, though, to retrograde periods. They provide a second chance to address matters that require further consideration. Experiencing a wide gamut of thoughts and feelings about relationships and resources may not appear to settle these questions at first, but it can broaden the range of inquiry, leading to better educated decisions later. Sometimes circling a serious issue several times is what it takes to see the whole picture before we’re able to make a meaningful choice.

Sociable Venus will be skittering along in Gemini — which is great for flirting — until August 6, when she enters cuddly, caring and self-protective Cancer. Until then, though, it’s worthwhile to taste various flavors of fun, explore entertaining ideas and start playing with diverse approaches to love. While these may still feel more like meanderings than meaningful activities, we’re expanding the number of ways in which pleasure and partnership can satisfying, even temporarily, our needs.

Choice is a particularly important subject now because philosophical Jupiter entered Gemini last month and will reside in this bubbly sign for a year. Usually, truth-seeking Jupiter prefers one overarching belief system or philosophy to answer life’s biggest questions. But now that it’s in the butterfly sign of the Twins, the road to wisdom is likely to branch off in numerous directions.

The downside of this is mealy-mouthed politicians and coy corporate shills, whose truths vary from moment to moment as suits their needs. Yet while we may mock them for the superficiality, it is a similar lightness that will help us discover new aspects of ourselves and ways to find love and purpose.