I'm constantly shocked by how many people don't know the basics of dressing for warmth in the outdoors. Even more people aren't equipped with the basics for sleeping warmly on a cold night. It's all simple and cheap, read this and make no more excuses.
Giving advice can be a sticky situation. You want people to act on your advice, but you also don't want to come across as a know-it-all . Here are three main factors to consider when you really want someone to heed your words.
We've all been there—one accidental email, and suddenly your entire organization is filling your inbox with angry replies. Gaffes at work happen to everyone, but you can learn how to navigate the politics of your workplace to keep your cool and avoid drama.
If you're seeking an enclosed structure for your greenhouse that can withstand wind, rain and snow, but also can be built for cheap, consider a geodesic dome.
Portable belt sanders are common among avid DIYers, as they have a multitude of uses around the shop and your home. But the typical standalone edge sanders, like this one from Jet, can run North of $1,000. With a little work, though, you can transform your hand-held belt sander into a usable edge sander.
Great teams don't just happen. Those teams that fit together like puzzle pieces are the result of hard work and thoughtful leadership. But what exactly are the things you need to look for when putting together a highly effective team?
Stretching has long-been many people's favorite warm up activity before working out. The truth is that low-intensity workouts are better.
Wet swimsuits can be bothersome. Perhaps you don't want it dripping or leaving a wet spot in your car. Or maybe you need to put a cold, wet swimsuit back on for another swim. If you need a quick way to dry your swimsuit, try a salad spinner.
Who wouldn't want a custom branding iron? Whether you're embossing leather, branding woodworking projects, or even searing your sign into baked goods, this little gem helps you give your creations that little extra bit of personalization.
Bread machines are useful for a lot more than just making bread. After all, you've got a single device that can both stir and heat and even do it on a schedule. So if you have a bread machine sitting on a shelf gathering dust, clean it up and put it to use.
Pontiac G8, model years 2008 and 2009: Keys can accidentally be knocked out of the ignition, shutting off engine and airbags in the middle of the road.
Chevrolet Caprice (police version), model years 2011 through 2013: Same issue as the G8. Between the two models, a total of 46,873 vehicles recalled. No known injuries or deaths, but one crash attributed to this defect.
Cadillac CTS-V, model years 2004 through 2007; Cadillac STS-V 2005 through 2007: Overheating fuel pumps, total of 10,005 vehicles. No known crashes or injuries.
Chevrolet Sonic: Loose electrical connection in the steering column that could keep the airbag from deploying in a crash, 304 vehicles total. No known crashes or injuries.
This makes a grand total of 74 recalls, totaling around 30 million vehicles. It would almost be simpler for GM to issue a notice saying which cars haven’t been recalled, though they would end up amending it repeatedly.
Latest GM recalls cover 57,000-plus vehicles [Reuters]
Teaching is one of the most challenging, underrated, and yet often deeply rewarding professions you could go into. There's a lot you can learn from trying to teach a room full of (mostly) disinterested students. Here are some of the biggest lessons I learned and am still applying today.
I love finding new uses for tools that I already own, and a rotary tool—very often referred to as a Dremel (which is actually a brand name, not a type of tool)—has a ton of attachments and potential applications. Here's an overview of the types of attachments available and some potential uses.
Whether emailed or handwritten , a quick thank you note sent to your interviewer after the interview could improve your chances of getting the job. Even if you don't get the job, though, it's smart to send a note of thanks.
Tackling some DIY projects can be daunting, but there can also be a payoff both in knowledge and cost. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether doing it yourself or hiring a project out is right for you.
To deal with a meddlesome squirrel stealing seed from his garden’s bird feeder, the wife of YouTube user Robert Krampf slathered Vaseline on the pole supporting the feeder. The result: A squirrel’s profound existential crisis.
We're told from a young age to not talk to strangers. While that's great advice in many circumstances, it's not a perfect rule. Sometimes, talking with the occasional stranger can have surprising benefits to your well being. Let's take a look at some of them.
Windows 8's "Windows Store" is a great idea, but unfortunately, it's a disaster. It's full of scam apps, designed to trick you into buying an app you don't need.
Reusable water bottles are great, but even with the help of soapy water and a bottle brush, they can be difficult to clean. When you're finished with the brush, fill your reusable bottle with water and pop in a couple of denture cleaning tablets. Let it sit overnight, and the bottle will be as good as new.
Rain barrels are everywhere these days, and while they are great for providing water for your lawn or garden, what about drinking water? This plan for a carbon filter was pulled from a 100 year old homesteading handbook.
One of the most helpless and frustrating moments as a parent is when our kids have irrational fears, and nothing we say seems to help them cope. It's perfectly natural for a child to be afraid of the dark, of course, but how can we help them overcome these fears?
To err is human, and sometimes when we realize we've goofed something bad at work, we find ourselves at a loss to how we should handle it. Here are the steps you can take to pick up the pieces and limit the long term damage as much as possible.
Garage sales are a great way to pare down your excess stuff and make some quick cash in the process. However, you can make more money with a few little tricks. For example, consider not pricing your items to get more cash for them.
So what will make this Black Friday (11/28, for those who haven’t marked their calendars yet) any different from ones that came before it? The folks at DealNews have some predictions, including:
1. More Price-Matching
It’s no longer enough for retailers to rely on those shoppers who line up early to take advantage of doorbuster deals. Many consumers who previously waited for the Black Friday hullaballoo to calm down before hitting the stores are now just shopping online and staying away from the melee altogether. So retailers will need to follow the lead of Walmart, Best Buy and others who price-match Amazon and its ilk.
“Expect to see many more price match announcements as Black Friday approaches,” writes DealNews’ Louis Ramirez. “And as always, make sure to read the store guidelines as not everyone will offer no-questions-asked price matching.”
2. More Discounted Shipping Offers (But Be Warned!)
There’s good news and bad news about a recent decision by the U.S. Postal Service to cut costs for certain businesses. On the one hand, you can expect more online retailers offering cheaper or free shipping. But then you also have to worry that USPS might become overloaded with parcels, leading to late deliveries and other messes. Additionally, the USPS parcel tracking system is all but useless for anyone actually trying to determine the status of an impending delivery.
Writes Ramirez, “Your best bet — shop early and keep an eye on those tracking numbers.”
3. Expect More Staffers At Stores
With retailers opening earlier and earlier — to the point where most major Black Friday participants are now opening on Thanksgiving — many employees and worker advocates have complained about employers’ ruining staffers’ holidays. But the complaints haven’t stopped shoppers and you can expect some stores to have more checkout lines open to deal with the Black Friday crowds.
In August, Walmart announced that it intends to have all of its registers staffed during the busiest days and hours of the holiday shopping season.
4. More “Guaranteed” Doorbusters
Every year, retailers advertise $25 computers and other effectively free “doorbuster” sale items, many of which are gone almost immediately (even though they’re sometimes outdated junk that the stores couldn’t give away during the rest of the year). And with stores opening around the same time as Uncle Paul is doing his annual job of insisting that he crudely carve the turkey, some shoppers have stayed away from Black Friday because they know those doorbusters will be long gone by the time they tuck the kids in bed and hope they don’t wake up in the middle of the night wondering where mommy and daddy went.
So DealNews predicts that more retailers will follow the lead of Toys R Us and offer “guaranteed” doorbuster deals, where shoppers eligible for the promotion receive wristbands or vouchers that guarantee they’ll eventually get the coveted item, even if supplies run out. You might not get the item on Black Friday, but at least you won’t pay more for it elsewhere. More importantly to the retailer, you’ll probably snap up a few other items while you’re in the store.
For more Black Friday predictions, including thoughts on 4K TVs, smartphones, and credit card safety, go to DealNews.
