For the record I am a delivery driver. I am driving on the roads of Memphis at least seven hours a day. I obey all the rules of the road. Not because I have to, but because it is proper. The speed limit is the speed limit for a reason. It is a safety procedure. If you want to race your car then take it to the track and get off of the street.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal recently wrote an article on how many tickets the Memphis Police are giving out on the interstates. The Commercial Appeal quoted one enraged citizen saying police resources should not be used for pulling people over for speeding. Coming from someone who is driving all day for a living, this is exactly what the Memphis Police should be pulling people over for.
The speed limit is a law that should be followed regardless of your personal life or situation. Surprisingly nine out of ten people will not go the speed limit. I travel down two lane roads with a posted speed limit of 35MPH all day long. Every day someone makes an illegal dash around me on these roads because they are too important to go the speed limit and have no concern for the laws of the road. Laws of the road are not rules you can bend or break whenever you want. Like I said before, "If you want to race, take it to the track and get off of the street".
You may think you have a fast car and can go 5 or 10 miles over the speed limit since you are so cool in your fast car. News flash - you still have to go the speed limit. I have a 2011 Nissan Versa with under 10 thousand miles. I go the speed limit. I also have a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire GT 2.4L DOHC that I have turned into a racing beast that smokes every Mustang GT in it's path. I go the speed limit. The Memphis International Raceway offers you a chance to take your car as fast as you can get it in a safe environment. So stop speeding and obey the laws of the road.
If you get pulled over for speeding than you can only blame yourself. You should thank the officer that pulled you over for making the streets a safer place to drive. I have always believed this. I have seen some stupid drivers in my 10 years of driving in Memphis and those stupid drivers don't seem to care about anyone other than themselves. These are the people that I have trained myself to spot and to avoid on the road.
How do you avoid the drunks, texting idiots, and late for work "rushers", on Germantown Parkway going 50MPH? Skill. Within two seconds of looking at a person and how they are driving I can determine their whole driving style and know to stay clear of their death machine on wheels or stay near them.
Speed limits, blinkers, smooth braking, proper trailing distance - These laws have become rather guidelines to modern drivers who seem to be unimpressed with their importance. They are laws for a reason. We as citizens follow laws to uphold a decent society. Police enforce laws to uphold a decent society. We all work together. Idiots break the law and continue to break the law everyday.
I agree that Police should not waste their time pulling people over for traffic violations because there should be no violations in the first place if people would just follow the laws. I wish there were traffic cops driving around all day catching people doing illegal things on the road. Maybe that would stop the speeders on Walnut Grove who seem to go 20 miles over the speed limit and don't care.
All types of people speed in their cars. I say "Boys race on the street, Men race on the track". However there is one stereotype that I have come to conclude in my everyday observations. Fat people speed the most. My theory for this is that fat people cannot walk fast, run fast, or do anything fast, so they feel the need to speed in their vehicles because it's the only way they can be fast. It's just a theory but I will leave it to you to decide.
However you look at it, speeding is speeding. One or two miles an hour over the speed limit could be an accident. As soon as you hit five miles an hour over the speed limit then it is premeditated and intentional speeding. Most people say they always drive five miles over the speed limit on a normal street and ten miles over the speed limit on the highways. My question to those people is "Who the hell do you think you are?". You are not above the law. Follow the rules or take it to the track. You can argue but I'm right and you know it. If you don't think I'm right than your perspective on right and wrong is skewed and you should enroll in a local elementary school for summer classes to learn basic principles of morals.
There are two sides to this story you can choose to support. You can support the police and the laws of the road or you can support the speeder. All of this blog article is because of an article I read from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, "Memphis police crackdown on interstate speeders draws anger, relief from drivers". The article chose to lean on the side of the speeders in stead of supporting the local Police in this controversial issue. This is an outrage when I would see the day the local newspaper did not support the Police upholding the law. That's how routine the average person makes speeding. This must change.
To all the speeders out there I say this one more time, "take it to the track and get off of the street". To all the police giving speeding tickets I say "thank you and could you please post up on Walnut Grove, Dexter, and Macon by Houston Levee". Follow the laws of the road and you have no issues getting pulled over.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Forget Burning Candles - Just Warm Them Up
Everyone likes to come home to a nice smelling apartment or house. No person would want to be embarrassed by a funky odor in their home. The truth is people smell, trash smells, pets smell, food smells, and everything else in your home smells. You fight to cover up the smells by taking out the trash regularly, showering, cleaning, and other odd chores to keep a tidy home. Sometimes it just isn't enough for a fresh smell and you turn to air fresheners and candles for a joyful boost in the atmosphere.
Many options exist for freshening your home. The most common options are spray air fresheners and candles. Potpourri isn't that common anymore yet it still exist for an additional option. Oils with diffusers are a constant nuisance to keep a powerful scent. Candles are quick and easy however the cheap candles are not that powerful for covering scents.
Forget burning candles and start warming them. Candle warmers are beginning to become a new craze among many homes. The option to warm the candle eliminates the accidental fires from knocking over candles. Yes that is still a problem in many homes. Although there are several brands on the market these days for candle warmers, one particularly stand out among the rest. ScentSationals Wickless candles are the best option in my opinion.
The ScentSationals brand has succeeded in making a quality popular product. They have multiple size options to suit the fashion of the room you wish to enlighten and freshen. ScentSationals has also succeeded in making many styles for modern homes. Their designs are far superior to the bland, plain, and ugly candle warmers the competition offers. ScentSationals also offers a huge variety of scents to chose from for your warmer. The compact and affordable wax will last for days.
My previous luck with candle warmers has not been satisfying by any means. The warmers I bought would only last a couple months. I was very upset about the short life span of the product compared to the price that I paid for it. When it came down to buying refills I was always frustrated with the price. I ended up throwing away my last warmer after it broke and went back to basic candles.
I couldn't be happier to escape the flames of the candles burning in my home for a while. Candles to have a certain magic about them alone but don't cover up the everyday scents I'm looking to avoid in my home. The SentSationals candle warmer I bought, that plugs into the electrical outlet like a night light, keeps my home smelling fresh and however I choose. I say however I choose because the prices are so great I can have a stock pile of scents on hand for different moods. Forget spending twenty dollars a month on candles, now I'm spending five dollars on scented wax.
Don't just take my word on this, go spend twenty dollars and try one out. Twenty dollars will get you a warmer and enough scents for two months. I am not being paid to write this. I only want to give advice on things I know. I know this product works better than candles, air fresheners, and wick diffusers combined. I am beyond satisfied with this product. Sometime I forget I have three cats, one dog, and three roommates.
Many options exist for freshening your home. The most common options are spray air fresheners and candles. Potpourri isn't that common anymore yet it still exist for an additional option. Oils with diffusers are a constant nuisance to keep a powerful scent. Candles are quick and easy however the cheap candles are not that powerful for covering scents.
Forget burning candles and start warming them. Candle warmers are beginning to become a new craze among many homes. The option to warm the candle eliminates the accidental fires from knocking over candles. Yes that is still a problem in many homes. Although there are several brands on the market these days for candle warmers, one particularly stand out among the rest. ScentSationals Wickless candles are the best option in my opinion.
The ScentSationals brand has succeeded in making a quality popular product. They have multiple size options to suit the fashion of the room you wish to enlighten and freshen. ScentSationals has also succeeded in making many styles for modern homes. Their designs are far superior to the bland, plain, and ugly candle warmers the competition offers. ScentSationals also offers a huge variety of scents to chose from for your warmer. The compact and affordable wax will last for days.
My previous luck with candle warmers has not been satisfying by any means. The warmers I bought would only last a couple months. I was very upset about the short life span of the product compared to the price that I paid for it. When it came down to buying refills I was always frustrated with the price. I ended up throwing away my last warmer after it broke and went back to basic candles.
I couldn't be happier to escape the flames of the candles burning in my home for a while. Candles to have a certain magic about them alone but don't cover up the everyday scents I'm looking to avoid in my home. The SentSationals candle warmer I bought, that plugs into the electrical outlet like a night light, keeps my home smelling fresh and however I choose. I say however I choose because the prices are so great I can have a stock pile of scents on hand for different moods. Forget spending twenty dollars a month on candles, now I'm spending five dollars on scented wax.
Don't just take my word on this, go spend twenty dollars and try one out. Twenty dollars will get you a warmer and enough scents for two months. I am not being paid to write this. I only want to give advice on things I know. I know this product works better than candles, air fresheners, and wick diffusers combined. I am beyond satisfied with this product. Sometime I forget I have three cats, one dog, and three roommates.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Best Place to Buy a Fan
Summer is here and it's a hot one. The most important item in a southern home is the air conditioning unit. Around here in Memphis, air conditioning units break often and fans are used in their place. So where should you go to buy a new fan to help keep you cool this summer? The answer is Walmart. Or you could just pay an over priced fee at your local hardware store for a fan you don't like.
Fans are used for different reasons in different areas. The main purpose of a fan is to cool things down by blowing air around. As fan technology has improved so has our understanding of air movement. Fans don't just blow air anymore, unless you want a fan that does just that. What do you want your fan to do? Simply push air in your face? Move the air around? Create ripples throughout the air moving around? Do you want the fan on your desk? Do you want it in the corner of your room? These questions will help you decide what type of fan you want.
The question of what fan is suited best for you can only be answered by you. The classic twenty inch box fan is a powerful choice for air movement but it is very limited in the area it covers. An elevated oscillating fan would have a wider area it could cover with air movement but that's all it will be is just movement. A desk fan may be suited for you as long as you don't keep paperwork on your desk. The standing tower fans provide a more comfortable breeze like feel due to the angles of the separate vents on the fan. This is the preferred choice for modern households because it will do more for your cooling comfort than to just push air at you. You also have the option to purchase multiple blade oscillating fans which will enhance the breeze like feel of the air.
If those choices aren't good enough for you then you need to take the next step up and purchase a portable air conditioner or window unit. Look for a later article on how to purchase those and feel confident about it working all summer.
So where will you get the best deal on your future fan? Maybe you are like me and had your air conditioning break at a most unfortunate time and need a fan as soon as possible. Save the time it takes driving around and just go to Walmart. Unless you are fine overpaying for a fan, in which case go anywhere and buy anything.
Fans are a seasonal item but that doesn't mean you don't have your options. I recently went to multiple stores and was seriously disappointed in selection before I just went to Walmart and left satisfied with a new fan. Where is the first place you think to go for a home appliance? Lowe's or Home Depot. I was furious with the home improvement super failure Lowe's when they had exactly five different fans to chose from, all of which were overpriced. I was not as mad with Home Depot because I had just left Lowe's and it really couldn't get any worse than their selection. I stopped at Walgreen's for a drink and looked around there for fans. Surprisingly they had more fans than Lowe's and at better prices. If they were a little lower than I would have bought one. I went to my local Walmart where it seems I get everything and found a whole aisle of fans at amazing prices.
Walmart shocked me being the best place I had visited for fans. Especially since I just left two home improvement stores empty handed. True the more impressive fans were higher priced but I had options here. You name the price and Walmart had a fan. Whether you wanted to spend 5,10,15,20,50, or 60 dollars, they had a fan for you. I ended up spending sixty dollars on a nice tower fan with a remote. I am happy I had multiple options to chose from and ended up finding the right fan for me. The fan is just temporary until my air conditioner is repaired but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't have options. This day and age you should not settle for anything other than what you want.
Save yourself the time in looking for a fan and take my advice. The best place to go is Walmart. The worst place to go is Lowe's. Or you could just shop online, but when you need the fan immediately online shopping just doesn't seem to cut it no matter how good the deal is.
Fans are used for different reasons in different areas. The main purpose of a fan is to cool things down by blowing air around. As fan technology has improved so has our understanding of air movement. Fans don't just blow air anymore, unless you want a fan that does just that. What do you want your fan to do? Simply push air in your face? Move the air around? Create ripples throughout the air moving around? Do you want the fan on your desk? Do you want it in the corner of your room? These questions will help you decide what type of fan you want.
The question of what fan is suited best for you can only be answered by you. The classic twenty inch box fan is a powerful choice for air movement but it is very limited in the area it covers. An elevated oscillating fan would have a wider area it could cover with air movement but that's all it will be is just movement. A desk fan may be suited for you as long as you don't keep paperwork on your desk. The standing tower fans provide a more comfortable breeze like feel due to the angles of the separate vents on the fan. This is the preferred choice for modern households because it will do more for your cooling comfort than to just push air at you. You also have the option to purchase multiple blade oscillating fans which will enhance the breeze like feel of the air.
If those choices aren't good enough for you then you need to take the next step up and purchase a portable air conditioner or window unit. Look for a later article on how to purchase those and feel confident about it working all summer.
So where will you get the best deal on your future fan? Maybe you are like me and had your air conditioning break at a most unfortunate time and need a fan as soon as possible. Save the time it takes driving around and just go to Walmart. Unless you are fine overpaying for a fan, in which case go anywhere and buy anything.
Fans are a seasonal item but that doesn't mean you don't have your options. I recently went to multiple stores and was seriously disappointed in selection before I just went to Walmart and left satisfied with a new fan. Where is the first place you think to go for a home appliance? Lowe's or Home Depot. I was furious with the home improvement super failure Lowe's when they had exactly five different fans to chose from, all of which were overpriced. I was not as mad with Home Depot because I had just left Lowe's and it really couldn't get any worse than their selection. I stopped at Walgreen's for a drink and looked around there for fans. Surprisingly they had more fans than Lowe's and at better prices. If they were a little lower than I would have bought one. I went to my local Walmart where it seems I get everything and found a whole aisle of fans at amazing prices.
Walmart shocked me being the best place I had visited for fans. Especially since I just left two home improvement stores empty handed. True the more impressive fans were higher priced but I had options here. You name the price and Walmart had a fan. Whether you wanted to spend 5,10,15,20,50, or 60 dollars, they had a fan for you. I ended up spending sixty dollars on a nice tower fan with a remote. I am happy I had multiple options to chose from and ended up finding the right fan for me. The fan is just temporary until my air conditioner is repaired but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't have options. This day and age you should not settle for anything other than what you want.
Save yourself the time in looking for a fan and take my advice. The best place to go is Walmart. The worst place to go is Lowe's. Or you could just shop online, but when you need the fan immediately online shopping just doesn't seem to cut it no matter how good the deal is.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Where is the Best Place for an Oil Change
Who doesn't dread the time to change your motor oil and filter? I used to love it before my life became too busy for me to enjoy working on my car. So where is the best place to get your oil changed? Some people say a dealership, while others believe the quick service stations are the best choice. How do you decide which is better? Let me decide for you.
Quick service stations are convenient however there are just more negatives than positives for them. Many horror stories are passed around on how a quick service station forgot to put the oil cap back on or didn't fill the oil back up and blew the engine. Yes this kind of neglect still exists in modern society. Mistakes will happen. It will more likely happen at a quick service station than a dealership though.
Quick service stations hire the trained and continue training their employees. I cannot speak for all quick stations in general but a few things to consider when choosing a shop are the management staff, the amount of employees, the age of employees, and is there a master mechanic. Most small time shops have bad answers to these questions.
If the manager continuously curses then find a new shop. When working on cars, things go wrong. "Having the right tool is everything.". Everyone curses but continuous cursing is a sign things are going bad and lack of knowledge is the culprit. Knowing how to fix spontaneous problems is a blessing in the auto mechanic world.
The amount and age of employees is another factor when choosing a shop for your vehicle. Several employees is a good sign jobs can be accomplished in a timely manner. With only two employees working the time it takes for a simple oil change could take hours if there is a wait. Spontaneous problems do happen everyday when working on cars. Even the simplest jobs could turn into a giant nightmare for the trained professional mechanic due to complications. Age and experience help tremendously to overcome those issues. Young mechanics could get the job done just fine. I was working on cars at a young age. However mistakes do happen.
Master mechanics are the elite of the auto mechanics. They always have an answer to any problem. Like when a mistake happens during an average oil change. How hard is it to change oil? It is a simple process. What happens when an inexperienced mechanic gets distracted and drains the transmission without noticing then proceeds to fill the oil with more fresh oil which over fills the space forcing its way past the piston rings and they don't tell you? It's time for a master mechanic then.
You could always monitor the whole situation at a quick service station and save yourself a little money. The average amount after shop and disposal fees is around thirty dollars for an oil change at a quick service station. About one hundred twenty dollars a year for your oil changes from a quick shop. But you run the risk of mistakes happening at a higher rate than with dealerships.
The average perception is that a dealership will charge an overpriced fee and a longer wait for a basic oil change than a quick service station. That perception is a notion of the past. Generally a dealership has multiple mechanics on duty during service hours allowing them to easily accomplish multiple oil changes every hour. Since the perception that dealerships are overpriced is widespread, they seemed to have dropped their prices tremendously.
For a decent price, a dealership is the best option for oil changes on your vehicle. For an average price of forty five dollars you get the satisfaction of knowing everything went smoothly. Mistakes are less likely to happen due to the amount of training and the level of detail in the inspections that the dealerships make. Dealerships normally have a long list of critical inspections points to check the safety of your vehicle. Stats don't lie and they are good at recording stats so you can make an informed decision on if you need new brake pads or not. Why would they check that during an oil change? Because they are awesome and check that plus much more for free.
The benefits of using a dealership out way the price difference in their price versus a quick change shop's prices. They are more likely to find anything wrong with your car that could become an issue quick. Some dealerships provide incentives for loyal customers. Something more than just a coupon in the mail that expires one week from when you get it. The dealership I take my vehicle to promises a free oil change after three previous oil changes plus a free car wash every time.
I am a very busy person and know the proper way to prolong the life of a nice looking paint job is to wash it. I don't drive around in the shiny brilliant red car I wish I could because I don't have time to wash it regularly. I do rinse it off every three weeks but I know that is not adequate and must find time to wash it more often. So a free premium car wash right after an oil change is just perfect for my busy schedule.
So for about the same price per year, which one is better? Clearly going to a dealership would be safer for your vehicle. Free incentives such as a car wash could help prolong parts of your vehicle including the paint job. Qualified mechanics reduce the changes for unseen accidental disasters during routine maintenance. Not all dealerships are the same such as not all quick service stations are the same. Judge them all on their own accord and look openly upon them before evaluating them. I happen to be fortunate to have a local dealership that provides quick service, free premium car washes, buy three get one free incentives, and no lies mechanics. It is all possible at Jim Keras Nissan on Covington Pike in Memphis, TN.
I financed my first brand new car from them and as a stipulation in my warranty I cannot perform the oil changes and routine maintenance myself so I must visit a qualified facility. They seemed like a proper place to start my maintenance with my first oil change. That was the first time I have paid someone to change my oil in several years. However I did leave very satisfied having a clean shiny car, no worries about voiding my warranty, and absolutely no worries that someone forgot to put the oil cap back on. All for about ten dollars more than it would cost me at a quick service station. Took about the same amount of time. I also got to watch a big screen tv while I waited in a very comfortable waiting chair. Trust me, taking your vehicle to a dealership is the best option. You win in the long run.
Quick service stations are convenient however there are just more negatives than positives for them. Many horror stories are passed around on how a quick service station forgot to put the oil cap back on or didn't fill the oil back up and blew the engine. Yes this kind of neglect still exists in modern society. Mistakes will happen. It will more likely happen at a quick service station than a dealership though.
Quick service stations hire the trained and continue training their employees. I cannot speak for all quick stations in general but a few things to consider when choosing a shop are the management staff, the amount of employees, the age of employees, and is there a master mechanic. Most small time shops have bad answers to these questions.
If the manager continuously curses then find a new shop. When working on cars, things go wrong. "Having the right tool is everything.". Everyone curses but continuous cursing is a sign things are going bad and lack of knowledge is the culprit. Knowing how to fix spontaneous problems is a blessing in the auto mechanic world.
The amount and age of employees is another factor when choosing a shop for your vehicle. Several employees is a good sign jobs can be accomplished in a timely manner. With only two employees working the time it takes for a simple oil change could take hours if there is a wait. Spontaneous problems do happen everyday when working on cars. Even the simplest jobs could turn into a giant nightmare for the trained professional mechanic due to complications. Age and experience help tremendously to overcome those issues. Young mechanics could get the job done just fine. I was working on cars at a young age. However mistakes do happen.
Master mechanics are the elite of the auto mechanics. They always have an answer to any problem. Like when a mistake happens during an average oil change. How hard is it to change oil? It is a simple process. What happens when an inexperienced mechanic gets distracted and drains the transmission without noticing then proceeds to fill the oil with more fresh oil which over fills the space forcing its way past the piston rings and they don't tell you? It's time for a master mechanic then.
You could always monitor the whole situation at a quick service station and save yourself a little money. The average amount after shop and disposal fees is around thirty dollars for an oil change at a quick service station. About one hundred twenty dollars a year for your oil changes from a quick shop. But you run the risk of mistakes happening at a higher rate than with dealerships.
The average perception is that a dealership will charge an overpriced fee and a longer wait for a basic oil change than a quick service station. That perception is a notion of the past. Generally a dealership has multiple mechanics on duty during service hours allowing them to easily accomplish multiple oil changes every hour. Since the perception that dealerships are overpriced is widespread, they seemed to have dropped their prices tremendously.
For a decent price, a dealership is the best option for oil changes on your vehicle. For an average price of forty five dollars you get the satisfaction of knowing everything went smoothly. Mistakes are less likely to happen due to the amount of training and the level of detail in the inspections that the dealerships make. Dealerships normally have a long list of critical inspections points to check the safety of your vehicle. Stats don't lie and they are good at recording stats so you can make an informed decision on if you need new brake pads or not. Why would they check that during an oil change? Because they are awesome and check that plus much more for free.
The benefits of using a dealership out way the price difference in their price versus a quick change shop's prices. They are more likely to find anything wrong with your car that could become an issue quick. Some dealerships provide incentives for loyal customers. Something more than just a coupon in the mail that expires one week from when you get it. The dealership I take my vehicle to promises a free oil change after three previous oil changes plus a free car wash every time.
I am a very busy person and know the proper way to prolong the life of a nice looking paint job is to wash it. I don't drive around in the shiny brilliant red car I wish I could because I don't have time to wash it regularly. I do rinse it off every three weeks but I know that is not adequate and must find time to wash it more often. So a free premium car wash right after an oil change is just perfect for my busy schedule.
So for about the same price per year, which one is better? Clearly going to a dealership would be safer for your vehicle. Free incentives such as a car wash could help prolong parts of your vehicle including the paint job. Qualified mechanics reduce the changes for unseen accidental disasters during routine maintenance. Not all dealerships are the same such as not all quick service stations are the same. Judge them all on their own accord and look openly upon them before evaluating them. I happen to be fortunate to have a local dealership that provides quick service, free premium car washes, buy three get one free incentives, and no lies mechanics. It is all possible at Jim Keras Nissan on Covington Pike in Memphis, TN.
I financed my first brand new car from them and as a stipulation in my warranty I cannot perform the oil changes and routine maintenance myself so I must visit a qualified facility. They seemed like a proper place to start my maintenance with my first oil change. That was the first time I have paid someone to change my oil in several years. However I did leave very satisfied having a clean shiny car, no worries about voiding my warranty, and absolutely no worries that someone forgot to put the oil cap back on. All for about ten dollars more than it would cost me at a quick service station. Took about the same amount of time. I also got to watch a big screen tv while I waited in a very comfortable waiting chair. Trust me, taking your vehicle to a dealership is the best option. You win in the long run.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Urgent Healthcare for Your Pet
How many people have pets? I know I do. Are you prepared for your pets emergency healthcare? I know I'm am, but I was not prepared for an emergency until earlier today. I have three adorable cats and one very loyal dog. My first cat, Java, I acquired when she jumped into my arms and attempted to climb into my shirt for warmth during thirty degree weather. She happened to come across me in the middle of a gang fight. My second cat, Lucifer, was given to me by my girlfriend. My third cat, Sade, I found in the gutter during freezing rain. My dog, Hero, was brought over by my girlfriend. Needless to say I love all my pets and treat them as family and not pets. They are my friends and I am proud to have them in my family. That being said I would do anything to keep them healthy. So how prepared are you for your pets medical needs? I was sorely unprepared for the recent emergency that affected my family.
I may have been brainwashed by society into getting my pets fixed but that's about all the vet experience that they have had. They have never been sick or needed special attention. So when my cat Lucifer gave signs of a UTI, urinary tract infection, I immediately jumped on the internet and started research. If you are fortunate enough to have a vet friend then you could skip the hours of mindless bland information that appears on the internet. If you don't have a vet friend then good luck sifting through all the information to find possible answers for your pets sudden illness.
Within two minutes of online research I was frightened that the term "fatal" occurred frequently. How can this happen? My beloved friend and family member was going to the doctor immediately. By immediately I meant the next afternoon when I got off work. Or could it not wait that long? This is the main point that I am getting at. How many people know where the local animal emergency center is? How many people know a twenty-four hour vet? How many people know where to get fast food after midnight? If you are like me, you could only answer one of those questions and it has nothing to do with your beloved friend and pet.
Right now even though your pet may be healthy and happy, you still need to know where to take them in case of an emergency. I live in Memphis where emergency pet centers and twenty-four hour vets are not common. Most of the vets located in Memphis do not have a website or an answering machine to give you any information on hours or prices. Of course you can never put a price on your pets health but you only have limited funds to work with. I just left my local vet's office and spent right over one hundred dollars for medicine to clear up Lucifer's UTI. But if it came down to it I would sell everything I have for his health. After I heard his painful cry meow I knew I would do everything in my power to give him the care he deserves.
So now I ask you and all other pet owners to find your local animal emergency center and twenty-four hour vet and save their number into your phone. I currently have every auto parts store within five miles programmed into my phone. I can make room for some new important numbers. I guess it just never crossed my mind to put these numbers into my phone. That may sound immature and unprepared but I guess I was. There is no excuse for not being prepared for an emergency. Technically a UTI is not a huge emergency to most people, but my friend and pet being uncomfortable and in pain IS an emergency to me. (So why didn't I call in to work instead of taking him to the vet after work? I make cash everyday and needed to make some money to pay the vet.)
Please consider this article when thinking of your own pets. Fear for the worst but always be prepared for it. That means owning a pet carrier too. I almost threw mine away last summer because I never needed it. Find a vet you trust and feel comfortable with. Keep in touch with the vet every six months to check on changing hours or just to say how much you appreciate them being there.
I may have been brainwashed by society into getting my pets fixed but that's about all the vet experience that they have had. They have never been sick or needed special attention. So when my cat Lucifer gave signs of a UTI, urinary tract infection, I immediately jumped on the internet and started research. If you are fortunate enough to have a vet friend then you could skip the hours of mindless bland information that appears on the internet. If you don't have a vet friend then good luck sifting through all the information to find possible answers for your pets sudden illness.
Within two minutes of online research I was frightened that the term "fatal" occurred frequently. How can this happen? My beloved friend and family member was going to the doctor immediately. By immediately I meant the next afternoon when I got off work. Or could it not wait that long? This is the main point that I am getting at. How many people know where the local animal emergency center is? How many people know a twenty-four hour vet? How many people know where to get fast food after midnight? If you are like me, you could only answer one of those questions and it has nothing to do with your beloved friend and pet.
Right now even though your pet may be healthy and happy, you still need to know where to take them in case of an emergency. I live in Memphis where emergency pet centers and twenty-four hour vets are not common. Most of the vets located in Memphis do not have a website or an answering machine to give you any information on hours or prices. Of course you can never put a price on your pets health but you only have limited funds to work with. I just left my local vet's office and spent right over one hundred dollars for medicine to clear up Lucifer's UTI. But if it came down to it I would sell everything I have for his health. After I heard his painful cry meow I knew I would do everything in my power to give him the care he deserves.
So now I ask you and all other pet owners to find your local animal emergency center and twenty-four hour vet and save their number into your phone. I currently have every auto parts store within five miles programmed into my phone. I can make room for some new important numbers. I guess it just never crossed my mind to put these numbers into my phone. That may sound immature and unprepared but I guess I was. There is no excuse for not being prepared for an emergency. Technically a UTI is not a huge emergency to most people, but my friend and pet being uncomfortable and in pain IS an emergency to me. (So why didn't I call in to work instead of taking him to the vet after work? I make cash everyday and needed to make some money to pay the vet.)
Please consider this article when thinking of your own pets. Fear for the worst but always be prepared for it. That means owning a pet carrier too. I almost threw mine away last summer because I never needed it. Find a vet you trust and feel comfortable with. Keep in touch with the vet every six months to check on changing hours or just to say how much you appreciate them being there.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Anti-Seize Spark Plug Lube - Is it Important?
Automotive tune-ups can cost you thousands or just a couple twenty dollar bills on parts and labor but every penny saved counts in this economy. Some jobs the average person who is mechanically inclined can perform with little research. Along with this new found ability to attempt a tune up on an automobile comes the unfortunate quality to be suckered into buying useless items you don't really need by the sales clerk at the local auto parts store. Some items you may actually need where as others are just gimmicks that are not important in functionality or performance. Refer to a previous post here( Light Bulb Grease ) to read about how you do not need to buy headlight bulb grease. So how do you determine what is important and what is a gimmick? The answer is research and experience.
Spark plug anti-seize lube is critically important and is in a rather unimportant spot at the auto parts stores. Spark plugs are usually the easiest tune up job the average and first time mechanic tackle. Spark plug anti-seize lube is usually located close to the registers next to the headlight bulb grease and candy bars, both of which you don't need. So the anti-seize seems unimportant where it is located. The clerk always offering it to you like a persistent salesman who works on commission also doesn't help the argument to spend the two extra dollars. Take my advice and spend the money and remember to use it.
Spark plug anti-seize lube is sold solely to prevent the metal seizing during dis-assembly. I usually change my spark plugs out every six months because I love the fresh power from new performance plugs. Most average people change their spark plugs every two to five years. So I ask my self how seized could the spark plugs get in six months? I can see how they may lock up after a couple of years but I would never let my car go that long without changing them. Average torque pressure for spark plugs is only twelve pounds of pressure. So ask yourself the question, "Are you strong enough to break twelve pounds of pressure?". That's what I asked myself when I bought to parts for my last tune-up and skipped over the spark plug anti-seize lube to save myself two dollars.
Now I will explain how it all went wrong. After six months had passed, I went and bought the performance spark plugs to give my car a tuneup. A little background information on the scenario is that it is winter and I have made several short trips in the car every day. That means the spark plugs were continuously heated and cooled multiple times a day. That means the spark plugs will naturally become tighter within the engine. This I knew would happen. This always happens. The day I decided to change my spark plugs was first thing in the morning on a cold winter's day. I did not start the engine to warm up the plugs to make them easier for removal. Make note of my mistake.
So I started to work on the car and got my torque wrench out to break the tension and remove the old spark plugs. The first plug came out easy, just the same as it always does. The second one came out a little with a little more difficulty. It actually made me a little nervous how hard it was to remove it. I'm not weak by any means but the threads could have broken. Then I put the wrench on the third plug, began to turn, and the unthinkable happened. The spark plug broke off with the threads still inside the engine. My heart sank. My world stopped. I was in trouble.
I instantly knew my only options. First option was to use a screw extractor. I didn't have one. The second option was to take the entire head off and take it to a shop where the broken plug would be removed and re-threaded. The third option was to try and JB Weld the spark plug together and try again. Yes, the third option is a stupid idea. And yes I tried it. No it did not work. I made several calls to shops who all told me I was out of luck and needed a new engine or to bring them the head and they could maybe see if they could fix it. My world was spinning. I needed my car for work. How did this happen? I was cheap and decided to save the two dollars on spark plug anti-seize lube. I never expected the spark plug to become seized within such a short period of time.
That day was a very dark and troubling time for me and my car. My good friend Michelle knew a mechanic who offered to attempt to remove it for me. He showed up drinking a beer and ever so nonchalantly removed the seized thread like it was no issue at all. I immediately grabbed a new plug and threw it in anxious to hear my car's engine roar with life again.
Though my situation turned out with a happy ending where I didn't need to replace my engine or spend hundreds of dollars removing the head to be re-finished, most people have a sadder ending. All of this could have been avoided if I would have bought the spark plug anti-seize lube. It took me eight days of searching for someone to fix my car. That was eight days off of work I couldn't afford all because I cheaped out on a two dollar package of spark plug anti-seize lube.
Take it from me, always use spark plug anti-seize lube. I keep two extra packets in my tool box just in case I run out of money or I am working on a friend's car and they forgot to purchase some. Learn from my mistake. Everyone makes mistakes but it's the understanding that makes us better prepared. I didn't think my one of my spark plugs would seize in six months, but it did. I didn't think spark plug anti-seize lube really matters, but it does. I didn't think a guy holding a beer could fix my car with one hand but it happened, and I'm happy with it.
Here is a picture of one old plug and the broken spark plug covered with JB Weld. Remember the JB Weld did not work. It was an epic failure so please do not attempt this method when it comes to removing a broken spark plug.
Spark plug anti-seize lube is critically important and is in a rather unimportant spot at the auto parts stores. Spark plugs are usually the easiest tune up job the average and first time mechanic tackle. Spark plug anti-seize lube is usually located close to the registers next to the headlight bulb grease and candy bars, both of which you don't need. So the anti-seize seems unimportant where it is located. The clerk always offering it to you like a persistent salesman who works on commission also doesn't help the argument to spend the two extra dollars. Take my advice and spend the money and remember to use it.
Spark plug anti-seize lube is sold solely to prevent the metal seizing during dis-assembly. I usually change my spark plugs out every six months because I love the fresh power from new performance plugs. Most average people change their spark plugs every two to five years. So I ask my self how seized could the spark plugs get in six months? I can see how they may lock up after a couple of years but I would never let my car go that long without changing them. Average torque pressure for spark plugs is only twelve pounds of pressure. So ask yourself the question, "Are you strong enough to break twelve pounds of pressure?". That's what I asked myself when I bought to parts for my last tune-up and skipped over the spark plug anti-seize lube to save myself two dollars.
Now I will explain how it all went wrong. After six months had passed, I went and bought the performance spark plugs to give my car a tuneup. A little background information on the scenario is that it is winter and I have made several short trips in the car every day. That means the spark plugs were continuously heated and cooled multiple times a day. That means the spark plugs will naturally become tighter within the engine. This I knew would happen. This always happens. The day I decided to change my spark plugs was first thing in the morning on a cold winter's day. I did not start the engine to warm up the plugs to make them easier for removal. Make note of my mistake.
So I started to work on the car and got my torque wrench out to break the tension and remove the old spark plugs. The first plug came out easy, just the same as it always does. The second one came out a little with a little more difficulty. It actually made me a little nervous how hard it was to remove it. I'm not weak by any means but the threads could have broken. Then I put the wrench on the third plug, began to turn, and the unthinkable happened. The spark plug broke off with the threads still inside the engine. My heart sank. My world stopped. I was in trouble.
I instantly knew my only options. First option was to use a screw extractor. I didn't have one. The second option was to take the entire head off and take it to a shop where the broken plug would be removed and re-threaded. The third option was to try and JB Weld the spark plug together and try again. Yes, the third option is a stupid idea. And yes I tried it. No it did not work. I made several calls to shops who all told me I was out of luck and needed a new engine or to bring them the head and they could maybe see if they could fix it. My world was spinning. I needed my car for work. How did this happen? I was cheap and decided to save the two dollars on spark plug anti-seize lube. I never expected the spark plug to become seized within such a short period of time.
That day was a very dark and troubling time for me and my car. My good friend Michelle knew a mechanic who offered to attempt to remove it for me. He showed up drinking a beer and ever so nonchalantly removed the seized thread like it was no issue at all. I immediately grabbed a new plug and threw it in anxious to hear my car's engine roar with life again.
Though my situation turned out with a happy ending where I didn't need to replace my engine or spend hundreds of dollars removing the head to be re-finished, most people have a sadder ending. All of this could have been avoided if I would have bought the spark plug anti-seize lube. It took me eight days of searching for someone to fix my car. That was eight days off of work I couldn't afford all because I cheaped out on a two dollar package of spark plug anti-seize lube.
Take it from me, always use spark plug anti-seize lube. I keep two extra packets in my tool box just in case I run out of money or I am working on a friend's car and they forgot to purchase some. Learn from my mistake. Everyone makes mistakes but it's the understanding that makes us better prepared. I didn't think my one of my spark plugs would seize in six months, but it did. I didn't think spark plug anti-seize lube really matters, but it does. I didn't think a guy holding a beer could fix my car with one hand but it happened, and I'm happy with it.
Here is a picture of one old plug and the broken spark plug covered with JB Weld. Remember the JB Weld did not work. It was an epic failure so please do not attempt this method when it comes to removing a broken spark plug.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Healthcare Options for the Poor Man
Everyone gets sick now and again. Maybe you can manage to make it through your work shift. Maybe the sickness is too bad to make it to work. As fortunate as I am to have a job, I have to work seven days a week to maintain enough income to support myself and my family. For the average poor American like myself, the options for healthcare are severely limited.
So how do you get back on your feet? How do you beat the cold, flu, or other sickness to get back to your daily lifestyle? No one can afford to take several days off of work, so time is precious and limited. If you have health insurance then you don't need to read this, but for the rest of us who can't afford health insurance and are the wrong type of person to receive help from the government this advice is for you.
Action needs to be taken immediately when you notice signs of a cold or illness. First start to drink more liquids. Drinks with added vitamins are instantly helpful at this time. Emergen-C, Sunny D, Orange Juice, and other fruit drinks with added vitamins are highly recommended. Just watch out for the amount of sugar in the drinks you choose. Next start to take vitamins. You should take one multivitamin and several vitamin C pills per day until you regain your health. I recommend buying the gummy vitamins for adults and take two when you wake up, two with every meal, and two before bed time. Yes that is more that the average daily value but when you are sick you need more than the average amount of vitamins to regain your health. Finally try and calm your symptoms with over the counter medicine such as sinus pills or cold/flu medicine. This part is where most people get carried away. You cannot depend or rely on over the counter medicine. It will not heal you, it will only calm your symptoms.
Eating healthy is also a major contributing factor in fighting off a cold or flu. I have had colds so severe that I can't seem to keep any food down much less keep trying to eat. Your body needs the nutrition in food to provide assistance in fighting the cold or illness that you are faced with. Try and only eat healthy foods during your sickness. There will be plenty of time for junk food and sodas after you get over your cold but during try and stay eating healthy.
If your sickness is so severe that you believe you need a doctor then by all means go. Sometimes it's not that easy. If you have no money at all you can go to the hospital but they will send you a bill for over one thousand dollars. My bill from St. Francis Bartlett was over twelve hundred dollars for them to see me for twenty minutes when I was sick. You could always go to a minor medical center but be prepared to spend around two to three hundred dollars just on the initial visit. Then you still have to buy prescriptions, vitamins, healthy food, etc. You have probably already taken off work for a day or two so all this money is almost impossible to come by. The only other option in Memphis is The Little Clinic in Kroger's grocery stores. The initial visit at The Little Clinic is only eighty dollars and is the cheapest doctor you can find to prescribe you the precious antibiotics you need to fight the cold.
I can't afford a doctor every time I get sick and really can't afford one when I need one so I have this way to fight my colds. I recommend drinking plenty of fluids, Emergen-C vitamin drink, adult gummy vitamins, herbal tea, health foods, and over the counter medicine. This routine should help fight the cold or sickness you are battling and get you back on your feet for your busy lifestyle.
So how do you get back on your feet? How do you beat the cold, flu, or other sickness to get back to your daily lifestyle? No one can afford to take several days off of work, so time is precious and limited. If you have health insurance then you don't need to read this, but for the rest of us who can't afford health insurance and are the wrong type of person to receive help from the government this advice is for you.
Action needs to be taken immediately when you notice signs of a cold or illness. First start to drink more liquids. Drinks with added vitamins are instantly helpful at this time. Emergen-C, Sunny D, Orange Juice, and other fruit drinks with added vitamins are highly recommended. Just watch out for the amount of sugar in the drinks you choose. Next start to take vitamins. You should take one multivitamin and several vitamin C pills per day until you regain your health. I recommend buying the gummy vitamins for adults and take two when you wake up, two with every meal, and two before bed time. Yes that is more that the average daily value but when you are sick you need more than the average amount of vitamins to regain your health. Finally try and calm your symptoms with over the counter medicine such as sinus pills or cold/flu medicine. This part is where most people get carried away. You cannot depend or rely on over the counter medicine. It will not heal you, it will only calm your symptoms.
Eating healthy is also a major contributing factor in fighting off a cold or flu. I have had colds so severe that I can't seem to keep any food down much less keep trying to eat. Your body needs the nutrition in food to provide assistance in fighting the cold or illness that you are faced with. Try and only eat healthy foods during your sickness. There will be plenty of time for junk food and sodas after you get over your cold but during try and stay eating healthy.
If your sickness is so severe that you believe you need a doctor then by all means go. Sometimes it's not that easy. If you have no money at all you can go to the hospital but they will send you a bill for over one thousand dollars. My bill from St. Francis Bartlett was over twelve hundred dollars for them to see me for twenty minutes when I was sick. You could always go to a minor medical center but be prepared to spend around two to three hundred dollars just on the initial visit. Then you still have to buy prescriptions, vitamins, healthy food, etc. You have probably already taken off work for a day or two so all this money is almost impossible to come by. The only other option in Memphis is The Little Clinic in Kroger's grocery stores. The initial visit at The Little Clinic is only eighty dollars and is the cheapest doctor you can find to prescribe you the precious antibiotics you need to fight the cold.
I can't afford a doctor every time I get sick and really can't afford one when I need one so I have this way to fight my colds. I recommend drinking plenty of fluids, Emergen-C vitamin drink, adult gummy vitamins, herbal tea, health foods, and over the counter medicine. This routine should help fight the cold or sickness you are battling and get you back on your feet for your busy lifestyle.
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