Your Fireplace: Is It Ready for Santa's Visit?

When you hang those stockings from the mantel, you�re calling even more attention than usual to the natural focal point of your room, the fireplace. Especially at this time of year, you want your fireplace to look its best. Here�s a quick fireplace checklist to help you prepare your hearth for the Christmas season:

Who knows, this Christmas maybe Santa or one of his helpers will bring you the new fireplace accessories you need!Firewood HolderIs your log holder serving you or are you serving it? If you have to sweep up bits of bark each time you bring in a load of firewood, you might want to consider a style that allows a tidier hearth. Some log holders have space for both kindling and firewood and are great for keeping the hearth neat and tidy.How do they look? Are the handles secure and safe? Do they just need cleaning or are they rusting? If the time has come to replace them, you might be quite pleased with the range of styles now available!The iron in fireplace grates is constantly being oxidized by the heat of your fire. That explains why the grate in your fireplace, after a few years of use, may have significant rusting. A grate that�s losing its integrity can be unsafe if it fails and drops its burning logs.Is your fireplace screen still attractive and functional? If you are tired of having to move the screen each time you tend your fire, consider getting a new fireplace screen with access doors. They are available in both three-panel screens and in single-panel screens. Searching for the newest look in fireplace screens? Consider a flat, single panel screen. They fit up against your fireplace and instantly update the look of your hearth.Also, check that your fireplace grate is the appropriate size for your fireplace. If you have a medium or larger fireplace, you don�t have to settle for a small grate that you have to refill frequently with logs. A grate better sized to your fireplace will serve you more efficiently.Fireplace Screen�What�s a fireback?� you may ask. A fireback is a traditional fireplace accessory that is returning to hearths as fuel costs rise. Made of either cast iron or stainless steel, a fireback leans against the back wall of your fireplace or sits there in braces. Its purpose is to radiate the heat of your fire into your room, thereby giving you more warmth for the same amount of wood or gas. The cast iron firebacks, available with classical or modern motifs, have a decorative as well as functional aspect. If you don�t yet have a fireback, this might be the winter to add one to your hearth.Fireplace GrateFireback

Who knows, this Christmas maybe Santa or one of his helpers will bring you the new fireplace accessories you need!

Author: Susan Penney

Custom Door Installations: Part Of A Cost-Effective Home Maintenance Plan

In a slow housing market with limited economic opportunity, you're probably eager for ideas to lower your monthly bills and preserve the home you have.

One: Protecting the home from sparks is the critical reasoning for using a fire place screen. The screen acts as a barrier to help contain flying sparks or embers from entering the room. Thoughtfulness to the screen density is paramount. The tighter the weave the better it �knocks down� sparks from a fire. While all screens help, those with dense weave will perform the best. The best for stopping sparks coming into the room is a glass fire place screen.To weatherstrip the top and sides of a custom door, you'll need to purchase lengths of self-adhesive foam. To weatherstrip the bottom of a door, you should purchase a door sweep. These weatherstripping materials are not expensive, and can be measured and cut to fit the dimensions of any door frame. Large national home improvement chains like Lowe's and Home Depot can provide weatherproofing installation tips and assistance.Because wood doors are resistant to weathering, they provide better home insulation. Thick, solid doors can actually lower heating and cooling bills. They prevent hot or cold air from entering the home, and reduce strain on home heating and cooling systems.Three: Protect children from potential injury. Kids love to be around the fireplace. The fire is almost a living thing. Sounds, movement of the flames and smells all attract children to the hearth. While parents try to keep an eye on their kids constantly, kids play and move around all the time. One wrong move could result in injury. Fire place screen like the heavy wrought iron or a complete enclosed spark guard would serve well; there are child guard screens or fences on the market that keep children back from the hearth a prescribed distance.Tip 3: Weatherproof your custom door with add-onsFour: Protecting pets from harm is important too. These pets are family and deserve to be looked after. With the kids playing and the family pets in the mix, accidents can happen and the last thing we want to do is make a trip to the vet emergency room. This is where a before mentioned child guard or fence is the best precaution.Consider installing a well-fitted custom door. A well-crafted door can improve your home energy efficiency and raise its value. But read this guide before you buy. Selecting the right kind of custom door and pairing it with energy-efficient accessories now will save money later on.A custom door installation can be very cost-effective if it is paired with weatherproofing add-ons. One add-on to consider is a thermal glass door. Thermal glass enhances the R-value of an exterior door by blocking further heat flow. Typically, the glass door is placed between the exterior door and the inside of the home. In warmer weather, the top pane of glass is replaced with mesh-like screen material to promote air circulation.SAFETYAll building materials are graded according to how well they resist the transfer of heat. Before purchasing a custom door, ask about the R-value of the wood used to make the door.Tip 1: Invest in a pure wood doorTip 2: Invest in a custom door with a high R-value

When performed correctly, a custom door installation can add value to your home while reducing energy costs. More importantly, a quality door installation provides a great return on your investment for decades.

Author: Jane Muder

Fire Place Screen : The Top 5 Reasons for Needing One.

A Fire Place Screen may not get a lot of thought; there are many reasons to have a fire place screen and to use one. The first primary incentive is safety. Too many times the fire department comes in the middle of the night to a house fire as a result of a fireplace? There are many first lines of fire defense; smoke alarms, fireplace rugs and a fire place screen. All working together to let you heat your home with wood in a safe way. Another consideration for a fire place screen is the decorative element. Safety and elegance are both fundamentals when looking to use a fire place screen.

Another cost-effective addition to a custom door installation is weatherstripping. Weatherstripping a wood door seals off the gaps between the door and its frame, and acts as a second barrier to moisture and extreme temperatures.Another reason wood doors are smart investments is their durability. Solid wood doors don't warp or crack when exposed to rough weather conditions; the same cannot be said of doors made from false wood or synthetic materials. A custom door made of wood might cost more initially, but is the optimal investment because it will outlast any synthetic door.Five: Adding a touch of elegance to any room for little cost and getting safety at the same time is a wise move. Fire place screen comes in a great variety of styles and looks. Fire place screen is becoming a big decorative statement to your living space. Whether polished brass, bronze, pewter, stainless steel or stained glass, fire place screen bring attention to a focal point in your room.When performed correctly, a custom door installation can add value to your home while reducing energy costs. More importantly, a quality door installation provides a great return on your investment for decades.Wood doors are smart choices for several reasons. First, they're easier to customize than doors made from synthetic materials � and when making home improvements to add value, aesthetics are important. Custom wood doors can be carved, painted, stained, or outfitted with ornate hinges and knobs to match any type of period architecture. A custom door will look great on a home from any historical period, and can increase the resale value of the house, too.DECORIdeal building materials (including top-grade hardwoods) have high R-values, meaning they're very effective at preventing heat from leaving or entering the home. Remember that doors with gaps or cracks � which most synthetic custom doors will develop after only a few years' time � have substantially lower R-values, and thus, don't provide adequate home insulation.

Fire place screen is a great way to serve a dual purpose, safety and elegance. Fire place screen is an added layer of protection for your largest investment, and a statement of design d�cor of your home.

Author: James Dahlberg

Captive Marketing - What Will They Think of Next?

Every once in awhile a light bulb goes off in someone's head and a new marketing concept is born. One of the more recent "opportunistic" marketing methods is marketing to you when you have no choice.

So how do you escape all of this advertising if you just can't take it? Next time you're golfing, just walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or ride a bike instead of taking a cab.Of course, the best home security tip available is to combine all of these safe practices with a home security system. Those who have many measures of safety in place are the most likely to prevent criminals from taking advantage of their homes.Another area of vulnerability in a home is the doors themselves. Having a lock on doors and using them is invaluable for petty thieves who are deterred by such security measures.Another home security tip revolves around windows. Windows are very easy to break and are a preferred way to enter a home. If windows are left unlocked, burglars have even easier access because they do not have to worry about the sound of breaking glass alerting neighbors to potential trouble.Advertising above urinals might be a rare occurrence, but the trend of advertising and transportation is becoming more evident and technology is playing an ever-increasing role. If you've ever been on a subway or seen a bus, you've no doubt seen a billboard as well. Cars are often plastered with graphics for any given local company or even a simple bumper sticker with a website. And now, in over 400 taxicabs in New York City, the passengers are treated to a video monitor as the meter runs and they are transported to their destination.An alarm system installed in your home, especially if you live in a secluded area or high-crime neighborhood, can provide needed residential crime prevention. To achieve effective residential crime prevention, you first need to evaluate your home's needs. Your home's location and surroundings determine the level of residential crime prevention you need.Many homeowners do not consider what is outside their home as easy targets for burglars. For example, many home owners park lawn mowers outside of their garages or leave their garage doors open for convenience.One great item to have on the outside of a home as a measure of home security is a dog. Even if the dog is in a fence, the warning barks of a canine not only deter would-be thieves, but they also alert neighbors and let them know that something is amiss.

Well, they pretty much got you on that one!

Author: David Badurina

Residential Crime Prevention Starts With Taking The Proper Steps To Secure The Outside Of Your Home.

Common sense dictates us to lock our doors at night and when we are away from home, but residential crime prevention comes in many other shapes and sizes. Effective residential crime prevention depends on everything from properly fitted doors to stopping your mail delivery when away on vacation.

In both of these instances, home security can be violated. It is all too easy for criminals to disguise themselves as maintenance or lawn personnel coming to take a piece of expensive equipment to be repaired.Astute home owners will always keep home security in mind when approaching and leaving the home. For example, when pulling in the driveway, home owners should check to see if anything looks different or out of place.Home security is of top concern to all families today. Help keep your family and belongings safe by practicing general safety guidelines and installing a home security system.Well, they pretty much got you on that one!Captivate Network has installed over 3,000 flat-panel video monitors in elevators across the country. Business professionals use these elevators every day and while in that big metal box with nothing to do, a video screen flashes to life and sales pitches fill the room. After all, what are they going to do? Haul up 60 flights of stairs? Likely not.To go along with lighting, home security will be improved as home owners leave their outside lights on all night. Those who would attempt to invade a home in the cloak of darkness will find their task much more difficult if there are lights at every entrance.

An alarm system installed in your home, especially if you live in a secluded area or high-crime neighborhood, can provide needed residential crime prevention. To achieve effective residential crime prevention, you first need to evaluate your home's needs. Your home's location and surroundings determine the level of residential crime prevention you need.

Author: Ralph Winn

Home Security Tips

Home security is of top concern in the United States today. The culture of crime that has arisen internally is cause for concern in every modern household.

Sound like a nightmare (or Marketing Executive's dream, perhaps)? Well, it's actually reality; it's your experience if you use an elevator in any one of a few hundred buildings across the United States.To keep windows safeguarded, be sure that they are clear of shrubbery. If shrubbery is well maintained and lower than any windows, criminals will not be able to hide behind them while breaking into a window.The BasicsHowever, if a more sophisticated criminal targets a home, home security may very well lie in the strength of the door and doorframe rather than the lock. If doors and their frames are not sturdy and well made, a criminal can easily kick through the door and frame, granting open access to the home.This mix of "marketing through a necessity" isn't restricted to affluent business-people inside of office towers, however. The television network Comedy Central has placed over 500 advertisements in bar bathrooms in order to promote one of their new shows. Talk about a captive audience! When nature calls, advertisers listen ...Imagine yourself in a very small metal room with 10 other people. The doors close and you have no way of escaping this room for a minute or two. While locked in with these strangers you are exposed to various commercials for different products appearing on a video screen right in front of you. The doors finally open, and you are allowed to leave.Not every intrusion can be prevented. Knowing what to do when faced with different situations not only protects your possessions but can save your life. Ask all service and delivery people for proper photo identification, do not enter your home if something looks questionable, such as a broken window, opened door, or slit screen and leave your home immediately if you suspect someone is breaking into your home, and if you can't leave safely, lock yourself in a room and call 911.Doors and LocksAnd if you're in a bar at 1:00AM and you've got to go?Alarm SystemsFor example, if a screen door is ajar, was it that way when the home owner left? Are all the windows closed and intact?Does the concept of captive marketing frustrate you almost as much as sinking a little white golf-ball into a tiny hole 400 yards away? Then you should avoid the nearly 25,000 golf carts across the United States outfitted with video monitors touting all sorts of products to help increase your frustration and mock your futility ENHANCE your game.

Home security is of top concern to all families today. Help keep your family and belongings safe by practicing general safety guidelines and installing a home security system.

Author: Chris McElroy

5 Ways to Deal With Lady Bug Infestations

Every fall, millions of lady bugs (or what seems like millions) swarm around my house here in west central Wisconsin, looking for a place to spend the winter.

Ferrets are very curious and love to explore their environment. Ferrets need daily time outside of their cage to play and exercise. Ferrets can get into trouble with basic things found around the average home. It is a good idea to ferret-proof your home before bringing you pet ferret home.I've got hundreds of them crawling on the walls and across the ceiling.Even if you do everything in your power to keep bugs out, some are bound to get in. In most cases, swatters and traps will do the job. If insects get into clothes or stored food, simply seal the items in plastic and place them in a freezer for a few days. Only when these courses fail should pesticides be considered.Thousands of the bugs also find ways into my walk-out basement. I have swept them up by the snow-shovel-full (literally). My basement faces south, and the insects are attracted to light-colored structures with southern, sunny exposures that are on a hillside.When the beetles are present in large numbers, you can also smell them. The odor is a little like burned rubber or hot asphalt. When the beetles are threatened, the odor is particularly strong. They apparently view being swept off the walls (or vacuumed off) as a threatening situation. Sometimes when threatened, the beetles ooze an orange liquid, as well. I have read that the liquid can stain walls and fabrics, although I have not yet seen any evidence of that around my own house.Ferrets make great pets for people of many ages. Just a little time and energy can help ferret-proof your home and provide a safe environment for your friend.How can you tell the difference between native lady bugs and the multicolored beetles? Lady bugs are bright red. The multicolored lady beetles come in shades of orange, from light to dark. They also have many variations of patterns of spots. Some have almost no spots at all, and some have many spots. When you look closely at the multicolored lady beetles, it doesn't seem much of a stretch to say that no two are alike.� Spray around door frames and window frames with a bug spray containing pyrethrins or permethrin.Next, remove all sources of food. Clean up crumbs and beverage spills, sweep regularly behind and between appliances, store food in tight containers, take your garbage out frequently, don't let cat or dog food sit out all day, and wash and dry your dishes as soon as possible.� Learn to tolerate the Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles.When it comes to your lawn, pest control gets a little more complicated. Weeds can normally be dealt with by hand weeding, and many tools are available to make this job easier. Proper fertilization will also help keep weeds down.The beetles come in around the screen door upstairs, too, and the next thing you know,Kitchens and bathrooms are difficult to fully ferret-proof due to all of the electrical wires and plumbing used in these rooms. It is usually recommended to keep your pet from entering these areas for their safety, as well and yours.In the spring, when it warms up, the beetles emerge from their winter hiding places. Beginning in March, dozens of beetles crawl around my home office, the kitchen, the dining room, the basement and in other parts of the house, looking for a way to get outside.Although the beetles are not necessarily harmful if they're inside the house, when they swarm in the fall, they can create problems if they crawl into furnace vent pipes and plug them up. I have heard of them plugging attic vents, as well. And one woman reported to my husband (he is an Internet technician), that a lady bug crawled inside of her computer and shorted it out.I keep telling myself that the Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles are swarming around my house because they are only trying to survive the winter � just like all living things try to survive.Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles are not harmful when they are inside the house, although they can be annoying if present in significant numbers. It's a little disconcerting to pick up your coffee cup and almost swallow a beetle that has landed in your coffee or is crawling around the rim of the cup. And two or three lady beetles landing in your bowl of soup can definitely make you lose you appetite. If you have company coming, you also don't want guests to find lady beetles in their food or beverages.Copyright 2004 LeAnn R. RalphIf you aren't up to preparing your entire house for your new friend you can focus on one room and keep him or her in that room during play time. One room is enough space for a ferret to explore and run around.� Seal up cracks or spaces around doors and windows, if possible.Here are five ways that I've found to deal with lady bug infestations:In the fall, when the beetles are crawling on the outside of my house by the hundreds of thousands (sometimes it's almost difficult to see what color the house is because there are so many beetles), I take the garden hose and use the sprayer attachment to spray them off the side of the house. To make an impact, this must be done two or three times a day on days when the swarms are active. I have also used an attachment for the garden hose that allows me to spray a soap-and-water mixture on the house. I haven't noticed that a soap solution is really any more effective at knocking the beetles off the house, although the exterior walls are cleaner when I'm finished!Outdoors, as with indoor bugs, prevention is always the best option. Keep your lawn healthy by mowing and fertilizing regularly. Minimize bright light sources and damp environments. And don't kill bugs that eat other bugs, like ladybirds, praying mantis, and lacewings.In the case of insect infestation, you should identify the pest and pick the right pesticide for the job. Talk to a qualified Home Hardware or Home Hardware Building Centre associate and make sure you use a product that is specific to your problem.

Copyright 2004 LeAnn R. Ralph

Author: LeAnn R. Ralph

Improve Your Pest Control

(NC)-Pests come in a variety of forms, from mice, earwigs, ants and grubs to invasive weeds. They can trigger allergies, carry disease, contaminate food and even damage our possessions. But a few simple preventative measures can stop pests before they pester.

Unfortunately, on warm, sunny fall days, the swarms of lady beetles are so thick around my house that in the afternoon, I hesitate to even go outside to get the mail. The beetles land in my hair, crawl behind my glasses and work their way down the collar of my shirt.Whether you are going to keep your ferret in one room or let him roam the house it is important to identify any places that a ferret may be able to get out of the house. Ferrets can escape through holes in screen doors or windows, dryer vents, open doors, and space around plumbing. Ferrets have been known to find ways into walls and under floors, as well.I have discovered that the beetles will avoid crawling across bug spray with pyrethrins or permethrin, or if they do crawl across it, they die in a short while. I don't particularly like to spray bug spray inside my house, but when it's a matter of spraying or letting thousands of lady bugs into the house, spraying seems like the lesser of the two evils. I don't like killing the beetles, either, and would just as soon "live and let live," but I draw the line at a house-full of beetles.Actually, they are not "true" lady bugs. They are "Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles." The beetles are beneficial to the environment because they control aphids. And from what I've read, the multicolored lady beetles are much better at controlling aphids than the 'real' lady bugs.This may be somewhat time-consuming but it is a non-toxic and safe method to remove the bugs. As far as I'm concerned, time-consuming doesn't seem so important when thousands of lady beetles are invading my house.

Outdoors, as with indoor bugs, prevention is always the best option. Keep your lawn healthy by mowing and fertilizing regularly. Minimize bright light sources and damp environments. And don't kill bugs that eat other bugs, like ladybirds, praying mantis, and lacewings.

Author: News Canada

Preparing for a Ferret

If you are thinking about getting a pet and are considering a ferret you will need to prepare your home for the new addition.

********************In the insect world, the beetles are known as predators because they eat aphids and other plant pests. A few years from now, the beetles may be in a low cycle, and then, perhaps, I will wish there were more of them when the aphids begin attacking crops, gardens and flowering plants. (I still don't want the beetles invading my house by the thousands, though.)You may find that your ferret likes to climb up into furniture. Recliners are a favorite hiding places of many ferrets so use care when using your favorite chair while your ferret is about. They can be crushed by recliners and rocking chairs. A few ferrets will also try to climb curtains and chew on cushions so it is best to keep an eye on them while they are outside of their cage.� Use the garden hose to spray the beetles off the side of the house.� Vacuum up the beetles with the vacuum cleaner attachment.

Ferrets make great pets for people of many ages. Just a little time and energy can help ferret-proof your home and provide a safe environment for your friend.

Author: Derrick Anderson

Sifteo Announces Upcoming Availability of Sifteo Cubes, the Intelligent Play(TM) Platform

Sifteo, Inc today announced the upcoming general availability of its Sifteo cubes to U.S. and Canadian customers. Sifteo cubes are motion-aware 1.5-inch blocks with full-color screens that wirelessly connect with a personal computer during play to create unique interactions when shaken, tilted, rotated and neighbored next to one another. With Sifteo cubes, the company is pioneering the concept of Intelligent Play™, an evolution of entertainment and learning that combines familiar physical interactions, innovative technology and engaging titles, opening the door to new fun and social play experiences.

How To Play with Sifteo Cubes To play with Sifteo cubes, users first install Siftrunner (Sifteo's desktop application) on an internet-connected computer, then buy and download games and apps from Sifteo's store. A USB wireless link connects Siftrunner with Sifteo cubes during play. For best performance, users should play within a few feet of the USB wireless link. In optimal conditions, the range may extend up to 20 feet.Light, long-sleeved clothes and mosquito repellent lotions go a long way towards preventing bites. If you're wary of the ingredients in commercial repellents, there are natural alternatives, such as catnip oil, more unusual alternatives, such as rubbing dryer sheets all over yourself, and tiring alternatives-mosquitoes are less likely to hassle you if you're active and sweating. If you're dining alfresco, citronella candles, incense, and (again) mosquito nets can help you avoid being pestered."Sifteo has designed an educational play platform that relates extraordinarily well to children of all ages," said Dr. Victoria Matthews, founder and former director of the Montessori School of Ojai, California. "There is no limit to how parents and educators can use Sifteo cubes to combine fun and learning in a unique way that engages today's digital kid."If you don't want mosquitoes to live on your property, don't make space for them to breed on your property. This means eliminating any sources of standing water, such as in bird baths, garbage cans, flower pots, wading pools, watering cans, etc. Mosquitoes will mate and lay eggs around sources of water, meaning that you will have to deal with legions of young blood-suckers once the eggs hatch.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineSifteo has also announced the availability of the Sifteo Creativity Kit™, which is included with the purchase of every Sifteo Pack. The Sifteo Creativity Kit enables Sifteo users to customize an endless array of gameplay experiences for themselves and others using their Sifteo cubes. The Sifteo Creativity Kit lets users easily create a range of mini-games tailored to their unique interests, from learning foreign languages and ordering chemical elements by atomic weight, to word play games and number puzzles.For information on how to get rid of these insects, visit http://www.pestproductsonline.com.2. Screen Them OutFortunately, the companies that make domestic pesticides have found safer ingredients for their potions in recent years-ingredients that don't skimp on effectiveness. Black Flag, America's oldest pesticide manufacturer, has a range of Backyard Foggers that minimize your yard's exposure to harmful chemicals, but show no mercy to mosquitoes. Their Mosquito Spray and Mist can also be used to treat bushes, shrubs, tall grass, and other places where mosquitos might nest. With these products, you can enjoy your summer-not spend it scratching bites.Check around your windows for cracks in the caulking and where the window fits into the frame. If the caulking is old and weathered and it is no longer keeping the air from coming into the home, you should scrape out the old caulk and put in a fresh new coat. Any number of insects can scale your home, even to the second story, to get in through a crack in the window.If you are purposely collecting water for gardening purposes, or if you have a pond on your property, you can purchase "floats" or "dunks" that release bacteria into the water. The bacteria kill the mosquito eggs, and often black fly larvae as well. Obviously, you won't want to use these products in any water you plan to drink.4. Use Personal Protection

Media Contact: Colin Crook Voce Communications (for Sifteo) Email Contact 650-269-5235 @colincrook

A Wonderful Season For Bugs

Fall is a wonderful season with the beautiful foliage, clear skies, and cooler temperatures. It�s a great time to be outdoors. While, you might be looking for outdoor activities this time of year, bugs are looking for the indoors. During the fall months, insects begin looking for warmer places to spend the night and where they can spend the winter. The place they find may be your home.

Mosquitoes are most active during the cooler daylight hours-in the early morning and in the late evening. While this is inconvenient for morning exercisers and hosts of twilight garden parties, most people can plan picnics, weddings, and other summer outdoor events to avoid the mosquito rush hours. If you have to be outdoors then, you can always�Summer has returned to North America. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are climbing, days are lengthening, and-in most parts of the United States-bugs are breeding. While not all insects are harmful (honeybees, anyone?), many are pests that can bite, ruin plants and crops, or carry disease. For most people, the mosquito is the all-star summer pest: a nighttime bloodsucker that can ruin your camping trip or backyard barbeque. Here are some quick tips for protecting yourself and your family from mosquitoes and their bites.Sometimes your mosquito situation can be so dire that chemical warfare is justified. Backyard foggers and sprays are very effective at killing and repelling mosquitoes. Just make sure you've taken steps to keep them from coming back by breeding. Also, choose your sprays and foggers wisely: the ingredients in some pesticides are downright harmful not only to you and your family, but also to friendly bugs and animals that live in your yard and garden. Your neighbor's cat and the ladybugs that keep your roses free from aphids don't deserve to be collateral damage in your fight to be mosquito-free.A software development kit (SDK) will be available at launch, giving developers the freedom to create interactive games and applications for their Sifteo cubes. Game programmers, interface designers and hobbyist developers can utilize the Sifteo SDK to imagine and build new interactions that bridge physical objects and digital content, and they can soon share their creations online through the Sifteo store. Developers can engage with Sifteo here: https://www.sifteo.com/developersMany insects enter your home by crawling or flying in through cracks in the doors. If you use a screen door during the cooler, fall months, make sure the door fits well and that you don�t have holes in the screen. A door, screen or solid, that has cracks along the sides, bottom, or at the top, not only will let air in, but it also lets in tiny insects. Check along the edges of your doors to make sure the weather stripping is in good shape. If it is old and doesn�t seal your door any longer replace it with new weather stripping. You can buy weather stripping at nearly any hardware or home maintenance store.5. Secure The PerimeterSpatial Reasoning: Understand relationships between objects in terms of distance and orientation Strategy and Planning: Hone higher-level thinking and problem solving skills Patterns and Perception: Sort and classify items to understand trends and develop hypotheses Cooperation and Collaboration: Build and refine social skills to solve problems with other people

For information on how to get rid of these insects, visit http://www.pestproductsonline.com.

Author: Dennise Brogdon

Win the War Against Mosquitoes

Win The War Against Mosquitoes

Note: Most chlorine-treated swimming pools are inhospitable to mosquitoes. Just make sure you keep the chlorine and other chemicals at appropriate levels to discourage them from breeding.Check the gable vents in your home. Bats, birds, and flying insects love warm attics during the fall and winter months. The air vent screens should be of a small mesh and should not have any holes. Remember, the mouse and the dime here too. Mice are known to scale walls, and they could enter your attic very easily if the screen is old and worn enough that they can chew through.Mosquito netting can also make a difference to your comfort at night. In developing countries, simply distributing mosquito nets and encouraging them to be put up around beds has slowed the spread of diseases like malaria and West Nile encephalitis. While these diseases are very rare in the US, it's proven that the nets do cut down the number of bites people receive while sleeping. This can be especially helpful if you have a baby or toddler in the house-in the rare event that disease-carrying mosquitoes are present in your area, babies and young children would be the hardest hit if they were infected by a bite.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1698724 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1698727Media Contact: Colin Crook Voce Communications (for Sifteo) Email Contact 650-269-5235 @colincrookDid you know that mice can squeeze into an area the size of a dime? They can, and with that in mind, you should take a close look around the outside of your house. Keep a dime in your pocket so you will remember just how small the holes can be. Often, you will find holes around outside water facets, next to windows, doors, and where electrical and cable enters your home. You should seal these areas with foam insulation, caulking, wood putty, or a small patch of concrete, depending on where the holes are found. Check the areas around the foundation of your home especially, because at the foundation is where weather could have caused some damage over the past year or so, and it is a good place for pests to enter. When sealing the holes, keep in mind that you may not be keeping out just a mouse. You may be keeping out carpenter ants, beetles, spiders, and a whole list of other insects, so you probably want to seal these areas even if they are smaller than a dime.Parents and educators have also hailed Sifteo as a compelling education platform that promotes learning while having fun. Sifteo cubes and games encourage the development of core thinking skills -- for example:Ladybugs, spiders, crickets, roaches, box elder bugs, millipedes, and many more insects begin their search in the fall for a warm place to make their home. Before you are overrun with these tiny little creatures, you might want to try some prevention techniques.About Sifteo Sifteo, Inc is building the world's first platform for Intelligent Play. Sifteo has designed Sifteo cubes, a next-generation play system consisting of physical blocks with full color graphics that sense each other and their motion. Sifteo is dedicated to producing applications and games for adults and children, encouraging development of key thinking skills through fun, engaging and social games. Sifteo is located in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit Sifteo at https://www.sifteo.com/ .The highly anticipated Sifteo cubes were first previewed in prototype form at the TED Conference in February 2009 ( https://sifteo.com/ted_2009 ) by David Merrill, Sifteo co-founder and President. After debuting the product at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the company launched an Early Access program last January, resulting in several design awards and critical praise from enthusiasts and influencers alike. The company has since improved the gameplay experience, developed the Sifteo Creativity Kit, and forged partnerships with leading game and interface designers such as Scott Kim, Tyler Hinman and Stimulant, a San Francisco-based interaction design consultancy.3. Time Your Day RightHome maintenance professionals recommend a maintenance plan for your home to help you save energy during the cold months of winter. But, many of the same techniques the maintenance professionals recommend also help in keeping out insects, mice, birds, and bats.Pricing and Availability The Sifteo Pack includes three Sifteo cubes, a Sifteo charging dock and a USB radio link which wirelessly connects the cubes to any Windows or Mac computer, enabling users to download and play the latest Sifteo games. The Sifteo Pack, priced at $149, and additional Sifteo cubes, priced at $45 each, are available for U.S. and Canadian customers to pre-order at Sifteo's website ( www.sifteo.com ) and will begin shipping to customers in September 2011. The Sifteo store contains a collection of fun, social and engaging titles across a spectrum of arcade, strategy, language and puzzle games, priced at $5 or less.1. Get Rid of Standing Water

Fortunately, the companies that make domestic pesticides have found safer ingredients for their potions in recent years-ingredients that don't skimp on effectiveness. Black Flag, America's oldest pesticide manufacturer, has a range of Backyard Foggers that minimize your yard's exposure to harmful chemicals, but show no mercy to mosquitoes. Their Mosquito Spray and Mist can also be used to treat bushes, shrubs, tall grass, and other places where mosquitos might nest. With these products, you can enjoy your summer-not spend it scratching bites.

Author: Kate Whitely

WE MAY BE SMALL ..BUT WE THINK BIG

THEY'VE starred in Hollywood blockbusters, Shakespeare plays and TV commercials - but you probably wouldn't recognise Max Laird and Karen Anderson.

Max suffers from achondroplasia, a bone-growth disorder responsible for 70 per cent of dwarfism cases. It means the trunk of his body is of average size, but his limbs are shorter than they should be. Karen is not a dwarf because her body and her limbs are all in proportion and her condition has never been officially diagnosed.She added: "We've never seen our size as a disability and we have always enjoyed life to the fullest. And believe me, if anyone told me they had a problem with the way I looked, I'd chew them up and spit them out."she added: "We've never seen our size as a disability and we have always enjoyed life to the fullest. And believe me, if anyone told me they had a problem with the way i looked, i'd chew them up and spit them out."Max added: "We want the programme to educate average height people and show them we're no different to them.But finally, after years in showbusiness, 4ft 3in Karen and 4ft 2in Max are set to become stars in their own right in Channel 4's new fly-on-the-wall documentary seven Dwarves."Both Max and i were in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Part 2, and i've played a witch in Macbeth at london's globe theatre."But there are some jobs that the couple do turn down... no matter how much money they're offered.Max suffers from achondroplasia, a bone-growth disorder responsible for 70 per cent of dwarfism cases. it means the trunk of his body is of average size, but his limbs are shorter than they should be. Karen is not a dwarf because her body and her limbs are all in proportion and her condition has never been officially diagnosed."i've also appeared in shows in Holland, France and Belgium as well as playing a piece of gum in a listerine advert, which was a bit weird." Karen, who has two average height daughters Amber, 17, and Molly, 10, from previous relationships, also had a great time working on the party island ibiza.Max, who has a twin sister who is average height, said: "i would never do dwarf tossing and i'm always being offered work entertaining at stag dos.Although acting is their passion they both have regular jobs. Karen works as a nursery assistant and Max has a job in telesales."i've also appeared in shows in Holland, France and Belgium as well as playing a piece of gum in a listerine advert, which was a bit weird." Karen, who has two average height daughters Amber, 17, and Molly, 10, from previous relationships, also had a great time working on the party island ibiza.Karen and Max, 31, met 10 years ago on the set of the first Harry Potter film when they both played goblins. they grew closer working on the Christmas panto circuit before Max finally moved in with Karen in surbiton, surrey, a year ago."At the moment Karen's filming snow White and the Huntsman with ray Winstone, Bob Hoskins, Charlize theron and lily Cole."And if it helps other little people - especially kids going through puberty - then that will be really satisfying." ?SEVEN Dwarves starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm.Max added: "We want the programme to educate average height people and show them we're no different to them.

"And if it helps other little people - especially kids going through puberty - then that will be really satisfying." ?SEVEN Dwarves starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm.

Author: WILL PAYNE

WE MAY BE SMAll ..BUT WE ThINK BIG

THEY'VE starred in Hollywood blockbusters, Shakespeare plays and TV commercials - but you probably wouldn't recognise Max Laird and Karen Anderson.

But finally, after years in showbusiness, 4ft 3in Karen and 4ft 2in Max are set to become stars in their own right in Channel 4's new fly-on-the-wall documentary Seven Dwarves."And if it helps other little people - especially kids going through puberty - then that will be really satisfying." ?Seven Dwarves starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm.Despite their upbeat attitude, life hasn't always been easy for them. Max said: "It was tough at school... and I still get stick from people on the street. But my parents taught me to be comfortable with who I am so I try not to let it bother me."Although acting is their passion they both have regular jobs. Karen works as a nursery assistant and Max has a job in telesales."At the moment Karen's filming snow White and the Huntsman with ray Winstone, Bob Hoskins, Charlize theron and lily Cole.The show hits our screens next week and follows the lives of seven "little people" as they work together on a Christmas production of Snow White.But there are some jobs that the couple do turn down... no matter how much money they're offered.Both are happy with the TV show. "We wouldn't have done it if we felt it was going to be all about laughing at us and make us feel like a circus act," said Karen. "We've seen the first few episodes and it shows us just as what we are, normal people.""And if it helps other little people - especially kids going through puberty - then that will be really satisfying." ?SEVEN Dwarves starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm."Between the two of us we've worked with some really big names in showbusiness, like Daniel radcliffe, robbie Coltrane and ross Kemp," said Max.Despite their upbeat attitude, life hasn't always been easy for them. Max said: "it was tough at school... and i still get stick from people on the street. But my parents taught me to be comfortable with who i am so i try not to let it bother me.""Between the two of us we've worked with some really big names in showbusiness, like Daniel Radcliffe, Robbie Coltrane and Ross Kemp," said Max.the show hits our screens next week and follows the lives of seven "little people" as they work together on a Christmas production of snow White.Both are happy with the tV show. "We wouldn't have done it if we felt it was going to be all about laughing at us and make us feel like a circus act," said Karen. "We've seen the first few episodes and it shows us just as what we are, normal people.""At the moment Karen's filming Snow White and The Huntsman with Ray Winstone, Bob Hoskins, Charlize Theron and Lily Cole."Both Max and I were in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Part 2, and I've played a witch in Macbeth at London's Globe Theatre.""Between the two of us we've worked with some really big names in showbusiness, like Daniel radcliffe, robbie Coltrane and ross Kemp," said Max."Both Max and i were in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Part 2, and i've played a witch in Macbeth at london's globe theatre."

"And if it helps other little people - especially kids going through puberty - then that will be really satisfying." ?Seven Dwarves starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm.

Author: WILL PAYNE

WE MAY BE SMALL ..BUT WE THINK BIG

THEY'VE starred in Hollywood blockbusters, Shakespeare plays and TV commercials - but you probably wouldn't recognise Max Laird and Karen Anderson.

Both are happy with the tV show. "We wouldn't have done it if we felt it was going to be all about laughing at us and make us feel like a circus act," said Karen. "We've seen the first few episodes and it shows us just as what we are, normal people."Max, who has a twin sister who is average height, said: "I would never do dwarf tossing and I'm always being offered work entertaining at stag dos. The idea of going around with a load of p****d blokes doesn't appeal to me, especially if you're handcuffed to one - they think they can treat you like a toy."Max added: "We want the programme to educate average height people and show them we're no different to them.Max suffers from achondroplasia, a bone-growth disorder responsible for 70 per cent of dwarfism cases. it means the trunk of his body is of average size, but his limbs are shorter than they should be. Karen is not a dwarf because her body and her limbs are all in proportion and her condition has never been officially diagnosed."One of the biggest clubs, Manumission, needed some small guys to dance on stage and on a podium. i used to do five months at a time which was brilliant fun."But finally, after years in showbusiness, 4ft 3in Karen and 4ft 2in Max are set to become stars in their own right in Channel 4's new fly-on-the-wall documentary seven Dwarves."Our size hasn't held us back at all," said 43-year-old Karen. "If anything it's opened doors for us and we've travelled the world. I've played a racoon in a Kinder chocolate advert in Italy, as well as a bear in another one in Spain. I've been flown to Dubai and Kuwait and entertained royalty as well as spending time in Ibiza as a podium dancer.Karen and Max, 31, met 10 years ago on the set of the first Harry Potter film when they both played goblins. they grew closer working on the Christmas panto circuit before Max finally moved in with Karen in surbiton, surrey, a year ago.Although acting is their passion they both have regular jobs. Karen works as a nursery assistant and Max has a job in telesales.Max, who has a twin sister who is average height, said: "i would never do dwarf tossing and i'm always being offered work entertaining at stag dos.Despite their upbeat attitude, life hasn't always been easy for them. Max said: "it was tough at school... and i still get stick from people on the street. But my parents taught me to be comfortable with who i am so i try not to let it bother me.""Our size hasn't held us back at all," said 43-year-old Karen. "if anything it's opened doors for us and we've travelled the world. i've played a racoon in a Kinder chocolate advert in italy, as well as a bear in another one in spain. i've been flown to Dubai and Kuwait and entertained royalty as well as spending time in ibiza as a podium dancer."Our size hasn't held us back at all," said 43-year-old Karen. "if anything it's opened doors for us and we've travelled the world. i've played a racoon in a Kinder chocolate advert in italy, as well as a bear in another one in spain. i've been flown to Dubai and Kuwait and entertained royalty as well as spending time in ibiza as a podium dancer.Karen and Max, 31, met 10 years ago on the set of the first Harry Potter film when they both played goblins. They grew closer working on the Christmas panto circuit before Max finally moved in with Karen in Surbiton, Surrey, a year ago."One of the biggest clubs, Manumission, needed some small guys to dance on stage and on a podium. i used to do five months at a time which was brilliant fun."the show hits our screens next week and follows the lives of seven "little people" as they work together on a Christmas production of snow White.the idea of going around with a load of p****d blokes doesn't appeal to me, especially if you're handcuffed to one - they think they can treat you like a toy.""I've also appeared in shows in Holland, France and Belgium as well as playing a piece of gum in a Listerine advert, which was a bit weird." Karen, who has two average height daughters Amber, 17, and Molly, 10, from previous relationships, also had a great time working on the party island Ibiza. "One of the biggest clubs, Manumission, needed some small guys to dance on stage and on a podium. I used to do five months at a time which was brilliant fun."

"And if it helps other little people - especially kids going through puberty - then that will be really satisfying." ?SEVEN Dwarves starts on Channel 4 on Tuesday, August 16 at 9pm.

Author: WILL PAYNE