clearmymindplease asked:


I have 2 (tall and narrow yet very heavy) bookcases just moved to an area with extra thick carpet padding. They easily tilt back and forth with ease. I need to anchor them to the wall but how? I take it that I will need to screw conecting hardware in to the wall and bookshelves, but I do not know how to and with what hardware. Please help I do not want my kids and/or pets to get crushed accidentally!

Rheem Gas Furnace

Glenn Downer asked:


Does your Xbox 360 have some problems? Well you’re not alone, but don’t despair, because you can fix them rather easily if you know how. Are you getting the dreaded three red lights of death.

The reason for this is usually caused by your console overheating. Be sure your console is out in the open, and not in a bookcase, or cabinet. You can blow compressed air on the unit if you have it, or use a vacuum cleaner, with the hose attached to the discharge, and blow cool air on the unit to make the lights go out.

There is an optional fan assembly that can be purchased and mounted to the top of your unit, to help prevent the overheating problem. It does involve removing the cover to install, but is actually quite easy.

The Xbox 360 problems have also included reports of units freezing during use. This is also caused by the unit overheating, and causing the motherboard to freeze the unit. If you are having this problem, simply cooling the unit will not make it go away.

What happens is the motherboard vibrates when the unit overheats, and will need to be adjusted internally. Once it is corrected the problem will not return again.

To fix the red ring of death or the motherboard, on your xbox 360, you should have a guide to show you step by step how to easily fix these problems.

I have reviewed many of these programs, and have found one I feel is very informative, and has a money back guarantee if your not satisfied. It also promises that you can repair your xbox 360 problems within one hour.

The program comes with a guide as well as videos so you can actually see what they are talking about. That’s why I prefer it over all the others. There is nothing worse than reading instructions, and having no idea what they are trying to say. I have been there, and done that, too many times. Video’s are the way to go.

Also be aware that if your xbox is under warranty, Microsoft should fix it for you, but it may take a few weeks. If this is not an option, then I recommend this repair guide, which you can download to your computer in just a few minutes.

 Xbox 360 Problems

 



Heat Pump Ratings

Bill William asked:


Bookcases, by name, are meant to house books of all shapes and sizes. They come in all sorts of styles, including Barrister, Cubed, Corner and Kids size. They can be black or white or patterned or wood finished. They can be open-face or covered in glass. They are often the centerpiece of a living room, and as such, can act as a central place to exhibit not just books, but their own interesting design.

Funky bookshelves, bordering on the impractical, can keep a room upbeat and interesting. There are ones shaped like [square brackets] and {braces}; others in the shapes of pianos and accordions. Asymmetrical options, made of conjoined cube units, house CDs, DVDs, folders and books all at once. Coming in all sizes, these bookcases can take up the entire height and width of the wall. Want something s little toned down? Separate out the individual cubes to create smaller shelves in different parts of the room. Hexagonal pattern bookcases can house the occasional book, as well as toys and for-fun objects on display, while metal modular racks can create a multi-functional exhibit space for all your precious wares. When space is limited, and if contextually appropriate, a bookcase can be built into the lofted ceiling space above a den or bedroom.

Skateboard shelves can be hip with the kids of the house and help them put away their notebooks, while cases with integrated nooks for reading can give the kids an interesting place to do their homework. You can organize you books by color to create a rainbow affect, though the time it would take to do that could be outside of the realm of possibility. However, on a rainy day, instead of watching TV all afternoon, perhaps color-coding books could be the perfect project to brighten up your time inside. And while you are at it, take advantage of having empty shelves and (finally) dust and clean them.

If you are renting an apartment and can’t nick the walls or hang objects, use two tall narrow bookcases on either side of the window to hang a curtain rod in between. In one “unit” you will have shelf space and a window covering! Have household goods that need a little hiding? Fill your shelves with pretty baskets, which can hold items like remote controls, cleats, plastic bags, and so on. And if you have items that you wish to show off, ditch the baskets and give your books a run for their money; pair them with your trophies, photo albums, framed art, or toy trains. Use the tops of arm-level shelves to place your keys, wallet, or purse when you first walk in the door. Having a space where you can always put down your personal belongings will help prevent misplaced items and hopefully keep you from having to crawl around the entryway in search of your keychain.

Though sometimes relegated to book storage and nothing more, bookcases can actually work as central design features for any room in your home, and display a variety of prized possessions. Modern updates leave you with tons of options to choose from, ranging from sleek and module to a traditional open-faced wood-finish. Choose according to your style and don’t be afraid to take advantage of every shelf, nook, and cranny.



Closet Storage Systems

Karen Cole Peralta asked:


William Steele, the Seismology Lab Coordinator at the University of Washington Geophysics Program, has a son, Chris, who goes to elementary school. “He comes in sometimes and he loves to do stuff.” It seems he’d recently put a sticker on one of the lab’s monitors, and his father had some trouble accessing the equipment. “What an excuse!” Steele never did get into the program he’d wanted to show me.

December 4th of last year there was a magnitude 5.1 quake in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Aftershocks were felt in Washington State. I had headed out to the UW in search of information on recent earthquake activity in the Puget Sound region.

“Oregon is relatively quiet next to Washington. But this year, we’ve had an enormous amount of activity in Oregon, counter to past patterns.” Klamath Falls couldn’t be noisier, said Steele, ticking off the numbers: September 4th, 5.9; Sept. 20th, 5.9, 5.0, 4.3; Dec. 4th, 5.1; and Christmas Day, 4.0, 3.4.

Most of our local activity in the Puget Sound region is recorded by the UW’s lab equipment. They have an emergency preparation computer program called “Beat the Quake,” hailing from the land of quakes, California, which has suffered through quite a lot of severe earthquake damage lately. That’s the program Steele had trouble running on his computer. Fortunately, the UW’s Seismology Lab has far more emergency preparedness information “so we don’t have to begin from ground zero” in the likely event of an earthquake. Steele is also the Public Information Officer covering quakes through the UW. “We have 135 seismic stations throughout Washington and Oregon, currently operating, and we’re expanding. We really cover a tremendously broad area.”

They locate quakes precisely, then determine the magnitude (quantity of total energy released by the quake), location (area affected by the quake), and epicenter (location on the surface directly above the focus, or place where an earthquake originates.)

They collect data about the geology of the region as well. “It’s critical data. This lab is an educational center for graduate students in geophysics.” They also educate citizens. School groups bring in students, and Steele speaks at civic organizations, encouraging people to take action and make themselves safer from earthquakes.

Of course, the big question everyone asks is, “When?”

“We’re not able to put down a date. It’s more complicated because three types of quakes occur in the Puget Sound region. The most common are deep earthquakes.

“Signals travel through the planet’s crust, sometimes all the way from the other side.” Events from anywhere show up on their helicorder sheets, making an analog, a 24-hour record, of every quake. For example, the Klamath Falls quakes, which are very near California on the Oregon coast.

“We cover the Cascade Range, and have multiple stations on every volcano. We have a good station at Mt. Baker, adequate to cover the region.” Earthquakes around volcanoes are very common.

The lab shares data with California for quakes occurring on the border of California and Oregon. “We’re part of the Washington Regional Seismic Network.” Steele showed me a map of Pacific Northwest Seismicity, 1969-1991. There were huge blue clusters in Puget Sound. What are those, I asked. “Moderate, shallow, and deep quakes. The deep clusters are in the Puget Basin.”

Deep earthquakes, the ones you really tend to write home about, are the largest in magnitude as measured on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. The values usually range from 1.0 (not felt) to 7.0 (extreme damage to buildings and land surfaces). They can go even higher, as they have in recent deep quakes in Alaska.

Here’s what’s happening in Puget Sound: about 300 kilometers or more out from the coast is where the deep quakes are generated. There’s a ridge 500 to 700 kilometers out called the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and new material, new sea floor, is being deposited all the time along it. It pushes the Juan de Fuca plate toward the North American plate underneath the Seattle area. The Juan de Fuca plate moves an average of two inches a year, towards us, lifting the other plate.

A border zone locks it up, an interface between the two plates that stops the oceanic plate, making it subduct beneath us, forcing the ocean plate down into the mantle of the Earth. This boundary is called the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and extends from the middle of Vancouver Island in British Columbia down to Northern California.

The Earth’s mantle lies beneath its brittle crust. It’s semi-solid, due to tremendous heat and pressure. “Our Cascade volcanoes are probably there because of plate subduction beneath us. The push deforms the crust and builds up tremendous stresses. Right now, the coast of Washington is rising. It’s bulging up.” The oceanic plate is “cold rock” and the shock of the two forces meeting leads to deep earthquakes. Washington has recently experienced two large ones, in 1949 and 1965.

A flyer from the lab states that roughly 1,000 earthquakes per year are recorded in Washington and Oregon. “Between one and two dozen of these cause enough ground shaking to be felt by residents. Most are in the Puget Sound region, and few cause any real damage. However, based on the history of past damaging earthquakes and our understanding of the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest, we are certain that damaging earthquakes (magnitude 6.0 or greater) will recur in our area, although we have no way to predict whether this is more likely to be today, or years from now.” Steele thinks it will be soon.

“In 1949, there was a severe earthquake in Olympia, 7.1. Eight people were killed and there was millions of dollars worth of property damage. The quake was located 70 kilometers deep.

“In 1965, there was a magnitude 6.5 quake between Seattle and Tacoma.” Both earthquakes were felt as far away as Montana. But there were no aftershocks, as is usual during a deep quake. The infamous aftershocks, known to catch people in the middle of recovering from a bad earthquake, happen during land-based shallow earthquakes. The ocean-based shocks occurred once, causing ground tremors that lasted several minutes. “The 1965 quake killed about five people, and again there was millions of dollars of property damage.” Other deep events, difficult to calculate from records of the times, occurred in 1882, 1909, and 1939. “Every 35 years or so a 6.0+ magnitude quake occurs beneath Puget Basin. The whole region along the coast will shift at once. When it finally builds up enough pressure to kick up, it’ll be a big one.”

Eighty percent of the quakes on the planet happen along the Pacific North West Rim, which is referred to as “The Ring of Fire” because of all our volcanic activity. In 1964, one year before this area’s last big event, south-central Alaska generated a monster 9.3 quake, shaking the ground for twenty minutes, generating tidal waves that decimated Seward’s coast, affected 34,000 square miles, and killed 143 people. And there’s been recent large quakes in Cape Mendecino, California, and Parkfield, California, infamous for ground shaking, in 1992.

Brian Atwater of the USGS (United States Geological Service) and the UW geology department has done studies along the coasts of Washington and Oregon. He’s found a kind of layered soil…”what he found…ghost forests killed by the last big quakes. Subduction zone material covered by coarse black sand.” A layer gradually turned into forest floor and then the sand layer. “As bulging continues, coastline rises, and low-lying areas are flushed clean by salt water. Stress released during the quake makes the coastline subside by seven or eight feet. It ‘drops.’ If you’re living at five feet above sea level, it’s not a very comfortable thing.”

Earthquakes also generate large tsunamis, or tidal waves; the biggest ones, generated by larger quakes, can rip up an entire coastline for miles, wiping out bridges, roads, and buildings. The really great subduction zone quakes, 9.0 or more, only occur about once a century on the face of the planet. Strangely, a big quake may result in only about three-and-a-half minutes worth of strong ground shaking, which doesn’t sound like much. “One recent California quake was only seventeen seconds of strong ground motion, a 7.1 quake. A 7.0 quake releases the equivalent of 199,000 tons of TNT in energy; a 9.0 releases 200 million tons, or 17,000 atomic bombs’ worth of force.

“The difference between an 8 and a 9 is greater than the difference between a 2 and an 8, because of the logarithmic scale. The force increases exponentially. It gets 30 times greater each time.” I wondered if it ever goes up to 10.0.

By carbon-14 dating organic matter in ground and sea levels, “scientists can determine approximate dates for events going back 10,000 years.” Finding clues about these earthquakes involves both painstaking research and educated guesswork.

Research has recently identified a Seattle fault which generated a large quake between 1,000 to 1,100 years ago. “There were landslides, and a huge seiche-when something big falls in the water, creating waves like tsunamis. Large block landslides occurred in forests. Restoration Point on Bainbridge Island rose twenty feet from Puget Sound in seconds during that event.”

Buildup from glacial ice sheets once covering the continent make it difficult to analyze shallow crust faults. But geologists are pretty sure there are two major Seattle faults. The biggest one runs from the north tip of Mercer Island through Eastgate to the Kingdome, just north of West Seattle. The other fault runs through White Center, parallel to the bigger one. In 1872, an estimated 7.3 shallow quake caused what seismologists call “felt reports” from observers, the only evidence of some older quakes. Native Americans tell legends about what must have been some very sizeable earthquakes and tsunamis.

Nowadays, all the real-time telemetry (automatic transmission of data from a distant source to a receiving station) comes through in the back of the lab, where Steele poured me a cup of Starbucks coffee at their metal sink in a very equipment-crowded space. “Relays ‘zap’ activity energy in nanoseconds to the lab. Before people in a region know what’s going to hit them, we do.” The helicorders monitor 23 stations on analog. “We focus on volcanoes. All stations, including the ones on helicorders, go onto the computer system in the next room. The discriminator in the back takes FM carrier signals and separates them from seismic signals, leaving an amplified seismic signal. It goes to the front room, changing into digital information the computer can read.

“If it picks up a ‘jump’ (a skip in the needle on the helicorder) on a station, it checks other stations and records all data, whether there’s a signal or not. If it’s a big quake, it does estimates of the magnitude etc. via programs, beeps the people (like Steele), and sends information to seismologists around the region.” Steele might hear a “beep” anytime.

As I drank my coffee, Steele told me he’s a grad student, his life’s partner works, and together they support their family, renting a house in Wallingford and raising two kids. “It’s a rewarding job, but…the rewards are not monetary.” Nonetheless, he feels treated as a colleague by everyone, and has a good working relationship with all his “fellows at the lab.”

About earthquake preparedness, Steele is adamant. “The secret is not fear and loathing in Seattle, and that we have to hide under our beds. Let’s get ready. Our schools need to get to the point where we can withstand a 7.4 earthquake. How many little bodies do we need under bricks before we start spending some money?” Right now, there are no definite laws enforcing earthquake building codes, “if the building code years ago said you could pile bricks without mortar on top of each other.”

Unreinforced masonry creates structures that fall during even moderate earthquakes. “The entire wall of a school can fall down and kill students. A brick that falls three stories doesn’t slow down,” he said, referring to the death of a boy during the 1965 earthquake. Steele is certain such deaths are preventable.

At least six schools in Oregon have unreinforced structures, bricks that can fall and fill a doorway, blocking the exit. “Retrofit them, or tear them down and build another school. If a school has been considered unsafe for a quake lately, they can sell it, and it becomes a senior center. No laws stop that. These buildings need to be brought up to code or taken down. Deaths will happen unless we act. India just had a 6.8 quake…tens of thousands dead. There needs to be water and food stored away to last 72 hours. You need to get under a table and ride it out; get down on the ground, under something; check to see if you smell gas, and turn it off; electricity, too.”

You should get to know your community resources, Steele said. And in case of severe aftershocks, if you’re in a building “you should wait until the shaking stops, and then get out.” Lots of people are killed by falling debris while evacuating buildings.

The number of FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) in Woodinville, headed by Chris Trisler, is (206) 487-4645. It’s their job to assist people with earthquake preparedness.

What does Steele see in the immediate future? “I expect more of the same. Probably some quakes greater than 4.0 in the Puget Sound area. While we’ve been talking, there’ve been events in Klamath Falls,.” As I write this, there are aftershocks east of the Dec. 4 “sequence” starting in Klamath Falls. “The question is, are we going to recognize the danger and do something about it, or are we going to wait until we have an adequate death toll? I’d like to see a dedicated plan and some leadership from the state. It’ll be a lot of money.”

Steele said a colleague of his said it best: “The next great disaster will happen as soon as we forget about the last one.”

Some of the information in this article is from “Washington State Earthquake Hazards,” by Lawrance, Qamar, and Thorsen, 1988.)

WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN SCREAM YOUR LUNGS OUT - FALL DOWN!

Apparently, you may hear a very loud, building sound before the frenzy begins. The below is from “How to Survive in Earthquake Country,” a FEMA pamphlet. Find out about your risks, at home, and in your workplace. Get more specifics from the American Red Cross, or FEMA.

Learn what causes injuries: parts falling off building exteriors and interiors; flying pieces of broken glass; overturning bookcases; unanchored water heaters; storage facilities; anything made of glass; fires from damaged gas lines; electric lines; wood stoves; chimneys; toxic fumes.

Create emergency preparedness plans: find safe spots in your home; identify escape routes; plan two ways out of each room; pick two places to meet, outside your house and outside the neighborhood if you can’t return home; show everyone how to shut off water, gas and electricity; practice your plans, now.

Read “Your Family Disaster Plan,” and “Emergency Preparedness Checklist,” which you can get from FEMA.

Reduce earthquake hazards: evaluate your home; strap water heaters and gas appliances down; remember, stiff items snap; place heavy objects on lower shelves; anchor everything heavy; anchor hanging objects; support community earthquake preparedness.

Businesses, schools, daycares, neighborhoods, churches, clubs: hold workshops. Assemble a disaster preparedness kit: store food, water, clothes, a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, and batteries, good for 72 hours of use, in your car trunk, home, and office. For more details, consult the FEMA brochure, “Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit.”

During/after an earthquake: stay calm; don’t panic or run. Earthquakes are usually preceded by loud sounds, so take quick action. You actually have about two seconds, so get ready for that earthquake now to protect yourself and others. Stay where you are: drop, cover and hold something solid, or take immediate cover under a heavy desk or table, in a doorway, hallway, or against inside walls. Turn away from glass. Keep away from chimneys, windows, tall bookcases, and objects that might fall.

Evacuate only after the shaking stops. Use the stairs, not the elevator. Remember, aftershocks may occur at any time. Listen to a radio or TV for instructions. Outdoors: move away from buildings, trees, and utility wires. Sit on the ground until the shaking stops. Flee inland immediately when near a coastline. Check for injuries. Do not move seriously injured people unless they’re in danger. Indoors: evacuate damaged buildings, as aftershocks could cause additional damage, or buildings can collapse.

Do not re-enter a building until it’s declared safe by responsible authorities. Don’t use the telephone except for emergencies; stay off the phone. Check for fires. Have a fire extinguisher, and know how to use it. Check utilities: gas, electric, and water lines may be broken. Gas: do not use matches, candles, open flames or electric switches indoors, because of possible gas leaks. If you smell gas, open windows, leave, and shut off the main gas valve, which is usually outside.

Electricity: if wiring is broken, shut off electricity at the main switch. Don’t touch anything near downed or damaged lines. Water: if water pipes are broken, shut off the supply at the main valve outside. Use water from ice cubes, water heaters, toilet tanks (if they don’t contain chemical cleaners). Clean up spills. Attend carefully to spills of potentially harmful materials such as medicines, drugs, and household cleaners. Provide adequate ventilation, as chemicals may combine to produce toxic gas. Remember to assist others in need.

And also remember: it’s not your fault. (Sorry about that, I couldn’t resist the joke.)



Coffee Vending Machines

Sarah Johns asked:


1. Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.

* Say to yourself, “This is not my home; it is a house — a product to be sold

much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.

* Make the mental decision to “let go” of your emotions and focus on the fact

that soon this house will no longer be yours.

* Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance

warranties to the new owners!

* Say goodbye to every room.

* Don’t look backwards — look toward the future.

2. De-Personalize.

Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can’t see past

personal artifacts, and you don’t want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine

their own photos on the walls, and they can’t do that if yours are there! You don’t want to

make any buyer ask, “I wonder what kind of people live in this home?” You want buyers to

say, “I can see myself living here.”

3. De-Clutter!

People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven’t used it in

over a year, you probably don’t need it.

* If you don’t need it, why not donate it or throw it away?

* Remove all books from bookcases.

* Pack up those knickknacks.

* Clean off everything on kitchen counters.

* Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet

when not in use.

* Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need

to do anyway.

4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.

Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it

sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything

organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This

means:

* Alphabetize spice jars.

* Neatly stack dishes.

* Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.

* Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.

* Line up shoes.

5. Rent a Storage Unit.

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that

block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now

empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear

larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty

of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is

this room used for?”

6. Remove/Replace Favorite Items.

If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you,

remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great

grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won’t want it. Once you tell a

buyer she can’t have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those

items and replace them, if necessary.

7. Make Minor Repairs.

* Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.

* Patch holes in walls.

* Fix leaky faucets.

* Fix doors that don’t close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.

* Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown

accustomed to purple or pink walls.

(Don’t give buyers any reason to remember your home as “the house with the

orange bathroom.”)

* Replace burned-out light bulbs.

* If you’ve considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!

8. Make the House Sparkle!

* Wash windows inside and out.

* Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.

* Clean out cobwebs.

* Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.

* Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.

* Clean out the refrigerator.

* Vacuum daily.

* Wax floors.

* Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.

* Bleach dingy grout.

* Replace worn rugs.

* Hang up fresh towels.

* Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.

* Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

9. Scrutinize.

* Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside?

Does the house welcome you?

* Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look

to a buyer.

* Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it

makes sense.

* Make sure window coverings hang level.

* Tune in to the room’s statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and

pizzazz?

* Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You’re almost finished.

10. Check Curb Appeal.

If a buyer won’t get out of her agent’s car because she doesn’t like the exterior of

your home, you’ll never get her inside.

* Keep the sidewalks cleared.

* Mow the lawn.

* Paint faded window trim.

* Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying

emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.

* Trim your bushes.

* Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.



Heat Pump Ratings

Mondai W asked:


1) The force of the shelf holding it up, 2) The weight of the book, 3) The frictional force between the book and the shelf, 4) None of these, 5) The force exerted by the book on the earth? Which one?

Bamboo Water Fountains

LLG asked:


The side that would normally be up against the wall… I’m thinking of using it as a divider in the middle of a room. Does anyone know?

Gas Furnace Reviews

Andrew B asked:


appears to be oak with glass doors, the sticker on the inside says Hales interchangable bookcase

Collectable Kitchen Plates