Reconditioned power tools are essentially a like-new tool with the same one year manufacturer's warranty, and a much smaller price tag. Some recons do come out of the factory with a small cosmetic blemish or two, but this is a very small price to pay for a new tool, with a perfectly running motor, at a fraction of the cost. Aside from price, the “R“ at the end of the tool's model number, and the slight difference in packaging (box [...]
If your house were to burn to the ground or get completely flooded, would your vital documents go up in smoke or become otherwise illegible? Fortunately, you have many options for keeping birth certificates, passports, and other vital documents safe including safe deposit boxes and fireproof safes check out the selection from Stacks and Stacks.com In addition, it's not a bad idea to keep electronic copies of these and other important documents. If you have a scanner, scan your documents [...]
Are the type who used to build robots out of cardboard boxes, tin cans, and anything else you could get your hands on as a kid? Robotics has come a long way since then. Today, they're capable of just about anything including playing games. Case in point: FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) recently kicked of this year's Robotics Competition called ULTIMATE ASCENT. It's a game played between two Alliances of three teams each. Each Alliance competes [...]
Identity thieves target mailboxes for a simple reason: They're typically unsecured and they contain letters filled with valuable information such as account numbers and personal details. They often contain bank cards, blank checks, and pre-approved offers for credit cards in your name. Some letters even contain cash. No wonder mail is such a target. Below are a few tips to protect yourself from mailbox thieves: Never send cash. Use checks, money orders, or a service such as your bank's online bill [...]
Believe it or not, but dumpster diving has become an acceptable way of life for some. The "freegan" movement may be contributing to this growing acceptance of rooting through other peoples' trash in search of perfectly good, reusable stuff. No matter how you feel about this, you may want to take a few precautions to make sure that your personal information remains safe. For example, credit card statements, utility bills, insurance and medical forms, and other documents containing sensitive personal [...]
Does your neighborhood have a neighborhood watch? A new social networking site, NextDoor, serves as a virtual neighborhood watch system. It's an interesting system where you can only join your specific neighborhood (you must prove you live there). Once the network is built, neighbors share information about suspicious activities in an effort to keep the neighborhood safe and build a stronger sense of community. In addition to joining a physical or virtual neighborhood watch group, it's not a bad idea [...]
"Hands only" CPR has become an increasing popular alternative to traditional CPR. It's easy to learn and there's no mouth-to-mouth contact required. The American Red Cross can teach this technique in as little as 30 minutes. Instead of memorizing complicated compressions to breathe ratios, students use the Bee Gee's song Staying Alive as a guide. The beat of the song is roughly equivalent to the required compression rate of 100 compressions per minute. Here's a handy reference sheet showing [...]
Are you into geocaching? If you like the idea of a modern day treasure hunt, you'll love this concept – and you may already have all the gear you need to play. In the past, geocaching required investing in a handheld GPS device. Today, most smartphones have GPS features and apps already installed, allowing to join the fun. If you don't have a GPS device, TigerGPS.com offers big GPS deals at the lowest prices – guaranteed. Here's how to play: Get [...]
