The John Tesh Blog

New Uses for Old Things in Holiday Style

If you're getting filled to the max with holiday things (and your spouse is threatening to toss them with the approach of a new year!), try giving your keepsakes and favorites some new life by making them useful with some ideas hatched up by Real Simple:

Cookie Cutters and Ornaments as Window Decor

When you just can’t bake another batch of holiday cookies, turn the tin cutters―angels, bells, stars―into sun catchers. Mix shapes and sizes, string them with various lengths and colors of ribbon, and tack the ribbons to the window casing. Same for all those old ornaments that have been getting passed down through generations of your family: string some favorites on holiday ribbon, staggering them 4 or 5 inches apart per ribbon, giving them a place of honor this year as a new, festive window dressing.

Red Ornaments as Hungry Bird Deterrents

Hang unbreakable ornaments on tomato plants early in the season. When pesky sparrows or blue jays come to peck, they’ll find the hard bulbs (instead of juicy treats) and abandon their attacks by the time the real fruits ripen.

Candy Canes to Decorate Your Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Stow some candy canes away in the freezer to use for a whimsical touch for your sweetheart come Feb. 14th. Remove the cellophane wrapping from the canes and form hearts by placing them hook to hook and tail to tail on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 2 to 4 minutes (depending on the canes’ size) or until they stick together when you pinch the ends lightly. Cool thoroughly and remove with a spatula. If you want to make flat hearts with psychedelic stripes, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Use Ribbons as Dresser Pulls, for Your Cuff Links, or to Tie Hang Your Shower Curtain

Don’t let all those scraps you've been saving from the holidays go to waste. Transform a  child’s bedroom by tying colorful ribbons around the knobs on a chest of drawers. In your bathroom, an easy and inexpensive way to hold up your shower curtain and give your bathroom a jolt of color is to lace a ribbon through each hole and tie it in a knot, as shown. Snip off the ends at an angle.

Muffin Tin for Your Table Centerpiece

A centerpiece of mini muffin tins filled with tea candles turns a simple dinner into a special occasion. Mix in a few Christmas ornaments that have lost their tops to add splashes of shiny color.

Foil Cupcake Liners Can Decorate a String of Lights

For a string of mini lights that takes the (cup)cake, poke the pointy bulbs through foil cupcake liners. Use them for the tree or around your little girl’s bedroom mirror to make her feel like a holiday star.

Last Year's Christmas Greeting Cards Become Gift Tags, or Favorite Wrapping Paper Is Now This Year's Table Runner (works best under a glass tabletop.)

Artificial Holly as a Table Centerpiece

Plastic greenery tends to look, well, plastic. But place boughs of holly, evergreens, or mistletoe in clear glass jars or vases and they make for a glossy yet understated table decoration. Group various sizes and shapes together for a stronger statement.

Any ideas you have for new-using holiday decorations? Get creative (and maybe you won't have to send Aunt Jennie's old plastic wreath to the "scrap heap" this year!)

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Put a patch on what ails your car- you can, you know, all on your own!

So you've decided to hang on to your car, and get every single mile out of you can. Good for you- but it's going to cost you! Relax- probably not as much as if you decided to buy a new car, but what you can't afford to do is ignore repairs- sometimes you don't have a choice! But repairs don't have to be costly- in fact, many can be patched yourself! How?- Charles Pluddeman writes for MSN Autos- it's not as hard as you might think!  In the military, it's called field expedience: making do with what you have available. If you're driving an older car or truck, the application of a little field expedience could just save you a few bucks — maybe more — in the short term. No military experience? Were you a Girl, or a Boy Scout? Ah-ha- now that motto is coming back to you: Be prepared.

If you are keeping a clunker on the road, make that motto yours. A few basic tools and materials stashed in your vehicle's trunk will greatly enhance your field-expedience success rate. If your odometer is reaching, or is passed! the 200,000 mile mark, better put together a do-it-all-just-in-case tool kit that stays in your car, and includes in it some basic hand tools, like a multitip screwdriver, locking pliers and an adjustable wrench. Other good ideas for your kit: a wire cutter, plastic zip ties, a few feet of mechanic's wire, a small multi-tool and, of course, a roll of duct tape.

Please remember to exercise as many safety precautions as possible when attempting any repairs on your vehicle — even the most minor ones. Autos are heavy machines, so chock a tire to keep the car from rolling, take care around belts or other moving parts, and let engines and mufflers cool before touching them. Consult an auto repair manual for any further safety precautions. 

Here are 14 patchwork repairs anyone can accomplish:

Blown Hose

While generous wraps of duct tape can be used to patch a failed radiator or heater hose temporarily, you need to get a new hose pronto, since the heat will deteriorate the adhesive quickly. Another adhesive on the market is called Rescue Tape- much more expensive than duct tape, but another option. It's a self-fusing silicone tape specifically designed to withstand extreme pressure and temperature, and used in place of duct tape for other repairs/fixes you might have. If the hose has failed close to its end, it may be possible to unclamp the hose, cut that portion off and reattach the remainder. A blown hose usually means a loss of radiator fluid, so remember to top off the cooling system with a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water as soon as you can.

A Squeaky Belt

Try a dab of a non-abrasive cleanser to quiet a squealing serpentine belt, which drives the alternator and other accessories on late-model engines. One mechanic says he puts a few drops on the inside of the belt where it goes around the lowest pulley, and the mild abrasive removes the shiny glaze from the belt. Of course, you do this while the engine is off. Otherwise, this is a dangerous repair.

Hanging Exhaust Pipes...

The exhaust pipes of most late-model vehicles are made of stainless or coated steel that resists corrosion, but the fasteners and other components that hold it up can still fail, leaving your muffler dragging on the pavement. The pipes are often hung from the chassis with rubber donuts or straps that can break. You can secure the pipe to this hanger with wire — a piece of coat hanger will do the job. (Coat hanger in the kit: check.)

Or a Noisy Exhaust

An exhaust pipe that has broken or has a hole in it can often be mended with a soda can and a couple of stainless-steel hose clamps. Cut the ends off the can, and then cut it lengthwise (scissors can cut an aluminum can). Wrap the can around the affected section of pipe, and secure it on each end with the hose clamps. A thicker piece of metal, such as an old license plate, will last longer. This should always be a temporary repair, of course, since any exhaust leak under the car can be dangerous.

No Brakes

A professional mechanic tells the story of how he once got home after a brake line failed. When the brake pedal went to the floor, he discovered one of the steel brake lines had failed near a back wheel. He cut the line, bent it over itself, and crimped it tight with a vise grip (yep- so go ahead and include one of those in your kit.) This left him with brakes on three wheels and, after topping off the master cylinder to replace the lost fluid, he was able to limp to a shop.

Dead Battery

Without jumper cables or an emergency jumper battery, you are stuck. That is, unless your car or truck has a manual transmission, in which case you can practice the ancient art of "bump starting." You'll need a hill to roll down, or friends to push the car. The driver turns on the ignition key, puts the transmission in second or third gear, and holds in the clutch. Get the car rolling, and then let out the clutch. The car's momentum turns over the engine, and it will start. This almost always works on older vehicles with carburetors. Cars with fuel injection need to generate enough electrical charge to energize the fuel system, and if the battery is stone dead a bump start might not work. It's easier just to carry jumper cables.

Frozen Door Lock

If moisture from rain or the car wash gets into the key slot of the door lock (and you don't have remote entry), you could be locked out on a freezing morning. First, of course, try another door if that's an option. If not, try warming the key. A pocket lighter can be used — the key does not have to be red hot, just warm. Slide it into the lock and wiggle it a little. The warm key will thaw the moisture, and you're in. Later, shoot a little WD-40 into the lock to displace the moisture.

Locked Out

It used to be easy to break into a locked car with a coat hanger snaked past the window frame. But it's even easier to simply unlock the door with a spare key you've stashed someplace on the car, like a tie wrap under the right, or left, front bumper...or someplace else, since that location is now "out there"! For late-model cars, get a duplicate made of the key that opens just the door (not the $150 microchip-equipped ignition key). If your car door can only be unlocked electronically, you'd probably be wise to practice some with that coat hanger.

Leaking Fuel Tank

This one is absolutely a temporary repair. A small fuel tank leak caused by a rock or other sharp impact (perhaps you've been off-road with the Corolla) can be fixed by placing a rubber washer over a sheet-metal screw, and then turning the screw into the hole. You'll need a screw big enough to fit tightly in the hole. Look in the plumbing-supplies aisle for the washer. This works on steel or plastic fuel tanks.

Smearing Windshield Wipers

Wiper blades can often be renewed by scrubbing them with some window cleaner and a rag, or the abrasive side of a kitchen sponge. This removes the oxidation, dirt, oil and dead-bug residue that causes the blades to leave streaks behind.

Stuck Lug Nuts

It's impossible to change a flat tire if you can't loosen corroded or overtightened lug nuts. Too many cars come with dinky lug wrenches that do not provide much leverage. Try this: Place the wrench on the nut so its handle is horizontal at the 9 o'clock position. Then stand on the wrench. Try bouncing a little. If this does not work, get someone heavier to stand on the wrench.

Stuck Wheel

In regions that get lots of snow, road salt and de-icing chemicals can cause the center of an aluminum wheel to fuse to the steel or iron hub behind it. If the lug nuts are off but the wheel is stuck to the car, try this: Thread the lug nuts back on, but leave them loose. Lower the jack so the car's weight is back on the wheel. Then, give the side of the car a couple of good shoves. This should break the wheel free, but the lug nuts will keep it attached to the car. You could also try driving the car a few feet on the loose lugs if pushing it doesn't work, but don't go too far.

Broken Antenna

Radio reception can often be restored by inserting a length of wire cut from a coat hanger into the remains of a hollow antenna that's been snapped off. Secure the wire with a little duct tape. Bend the wire into a clever shape for a custom look.

Broken Window

Some heavy plastic and duct tape can be used to make a surprisingly effective repair over a broken window or one that's stuck in a down position. NASCAR pit crews use tape to secure fenders on cars that can travel at 200 mph, so it should also work for you. For plastic, a garbage bag will work in a pinch, but heavier-gauge sheeting from a home-repair store will last longer and, if it's clear, probably offer better visibility. Cut the plastic to a shape slightly larger than the window opening, and secure it with tape around the edges. After you get the window fixed, WD-40 will dissolve the adhesive residue left behind by the duct tape.

Harder work than you might be used to when it comes to your car? Well, yes. But it's better than paying a whole lot lot of money that you might just care to use for something else- hello, holidays!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Hackers are becoming stronger- keep yourself protected with stronger passwords

Keeping yourself protected online becomes a larger issue year by year, as hackers who want to steal your identity seem to stay ahead of the game in coming up with new ways to do it! Put that against a backdrop of economic uncertainly and losses everywhere, and it's a recipe, potentially, for your disaster!  Experts say the stronger your personal passwords you use for online accounts, the better.  Unfortunately, the same experts find that, sadly, most of our personal passwords are way too easy to crack. Here's a beautifully crafted set of guidelines to help you create beautifully crafted passwords, from PC World's Michael Scalisi:

When it comes to password strength, educating users is just as important as enforcing policies.

While security has never been more important than it is today, the fastest way for an IT professional to become the most despised person in the company is to start enforcing a strong password policy. A policy perceived as overbearing may cause people to write down their passwords on a sticky note near their computers, circumventing its very purpose. Your policy will be ineffective if users don't know how to create strong passwords that are easy to remember.

Left to our own devices, Scalisi says people will choose passwords that are simple for them to remember. They'll use their spouse's name, their dog's name, their favorite sports team or a recent vacation spot.

Scalisi also reports that occasionally while working on a user's computer, he'll need to log on as that person after a computer reboot. But maybe by that time, the user has wandered off, not wanting to hover over the IT guy. He says that, generally, he prefers not to know other people's passwords, so he doesn't usually ask. In this situation, he'll take a guess at the password, and has been right a surprising number of times- even dealing with the most powerful people in the company! It's easy for him to guess simply glancing around the offices and note what users obsessions are- what their interests are. Clearly, password policies are needed.

By using the following tips, people will be able to create easy-to-remember passwords that follow these typical requirements: at least eight characters long and with at least three of the following character types: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.

Substitute numbers for letters and vice versa.  (o instead of 0, 4 instead of A, 1 instead of L, E instead of 3)

• Substitute words for numbers (one, two, three...)
• Combine both of the above (0ne, thr33, flve)
• Use capitalization in random places (bLue, happY)
• Use special characters (!@#$%^&*(){}[]) to punctuate and separate words
• Create passwords out of words, numbers or phrases you'll remember
• Misspell words

Using these tips, you can create memorable passwords that will be nearly impossible to guess. Here are some examples of converting memorable information into a complex password

We'll start with some easy ones:

• Friday becomes frYday!
• Robert becomes #robERt#
• 867-5309 becomes 8siX753o9

More complex passwords:

• 19 Peach Place becomes: 0ne9peacHpl!
• I love Jill becomes: eYelov3Jill
• My dog Fritz becomes MeyedogfrltZ

While some of these examples look nearly indecipherable, it's also obvious that they're not difficult to memorize -- as long as you know the originating word, number or phrase and the basic methodology used to create it. By educating users on how to create strong passwords, the security of the company is stronger, and users will benefit additionally by have safer personal experiences with online banking and social networking.

Ready to bolster a few passwords now?  Gr8!  hAve a souper weakEnd!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Your game plan for car shopping

To buy, or not to buy...a car.  Is that your question?  Well, there are many reasons to hang on to "old reliable", we've talked about this before, but maybe, just maybe the time is right.  Cash for Clunkers is now off the table, but recent news from the auto industry is pretty good, and there are some great deals available- if you've decided it's right for you.  There- that's one hurdle.  Now...the car salesman.  Look, they're people, too!  But a little extra ammo in the way of automobile purchasing is never a bad thing, and AOL lines it up, so you can be ready to go in a make a great deal on "new reliable"!

1. Greet the car salesman warmly.

Smile and shake his hand. Be friendly. You want him to like you so that he'll work harder for you.

2. Get his attention by telling him what he wants to hear.

Tell him: "I'll be buying a car very soon." If after this introduction, you find the salesman rude or unwilling to help you, ask to speak to his Sales Manager. Tell the manager that you'd like a more helpful salesman.

3. Tell the car salesman exactly what you want to see.

Be specific as possible. For example: "I'd like to see what you have in a compact car with automatic transmission and a window sticker price of around $18,000." If you're not sure what you want or you're confused by all the choices, then tell him those things that you know are important to you, such as: "I need a four-door car with lots of cargo space and a window sticker price of around $18,000."

Under the guise of trying to help you, the salesman is going to ask you lots of questions. Do not discuss your monthly payments with him.

Then turn the tables on him. Ask him questions about the cars, the dealership and his business. Play dumb and try to learn as much as you can. Get him to like you by pumping his ego: compliment him on what a good job he's doing.

4. Check out the vehicles that he shows you.

When he shows you a car that you like - and that fits your needs and budget - look it over. Do you like the styling of the car? Can you see yourself driving it?

5. If it is a new vehicle, look at the factory window sticker.

The factory window sticker tells you all about the car. Read it carefully because it contains a lot of important information.

The window sticker will give you the predicted gas mileage for both highway and city driving. It will also list all of the equipment that comes standard with the vehicle and then, in a separate column, the options that have been built into the car at the factory with the price of each listed. Look for an "equipment package," a group of discounted options.

At the bottom of the sticker will be the asking price for the vehicle called the "M.S.R.P." which stands for "Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price". Be sure that this price fits your budget.

Some dealerships add a second window sticker called a "Dealer Addendum" in an effort to widen their profit margin. If you see one of these stickers, ignore it for now.

6. Ask about other versions of the same car.

Most vehicles come in several different equipment levels usually designated by a letter code such as DX, SE or XL. You might be able to get the same car with the equipment you want on a less expensive version.

7. If you like the car, sit inside.

Is the interior comfortable? How does the interior "feel"?

8. Ask the salesman if you can test drive the car.

He'll be happy to take you for a test drive.

Notice what's happening here: you're allowing the car salesman to breeze right through the steps of his game plan. He wants you to test drive that car. He thinks he's doing great and that he's in total control. What he doesn't know is that you know exactly what you are doing. In fact, you are in complete control here.

9. Drive the vehicle as you normally would.

Don't "baby" the car. If you normally accelerate hard, then drive it that way. If you normally brake hard or corner fast, then do so. Try to drive on the types of roads you normally drive. Be sure to turn the air conditioning on and off to see how it affects the performance of the engine. And don't forget to ask lots of questions.

10. After the drive, ask the salesman for a brochure.

He'll probably ask you something like: "Is there anything we can do to earn your business today?" or "If I could sell you this $18,000 car for only $12,000, would you buy it today?"

You must be firm and clear. Tell him: "I really appreciate all of your help but, as I told you at the beginning, I'll be buying soon but not today. I simply want a brochure and some information. If I decide to buy this particular car, then I will certainly come back to see you."

If the car salesman is a good guy, he'll get you the brochure. If not, he may disappear and then return with the "Sales Manager" who may or may not be the real Sales Manager. In any case, this new guy may try to "reason" with you, persuade you, perhaps even pressure you to buy today. Again, you must be firm. Repeat to him what you told the salesman.

Don't forget that they are playing a game. And you know exactly what game they are playing. So don't fall for their lines. Don't fall for their come-ons. And don't fall for their intimidation. There's nothing personal about this. It's pure business. That's how they see it. That's how you should see it, too. And don't forget that you have the final say. If they pressure you, you can always walk away.

If they won't give you the brochures you want, no worries. You can always get them direct from the manufacturer.

11. Ask the car salesman more questions.

Ask about factory rebates, the factory warranty, dealership service, local sales taxes, license fees and so on. When you're satisfied that you have the information you need, ask the salesman for his business card.

12. Thank the salesman politely -- then leave!

Whatever happens, under any circumstances, don't buy a car yet.

What should you do next? AOL recommends doing more research on the vehicle you drove, comparing it to others in its class and giving yourself time to think about it. As much as it feels like that one car won't be around if you pass it up, there's always another car. Or, you may decide, after some time considering the deal away from the dealership, that this, indeed, is the right car, at the right price, at the right time, for you.  In which case- congratulations!

Welcome to September!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Saying yes to back-to-school; no to impulsive back-to-school overspending

It's hard to say no- generally speaking, as parents, we don't want to say no.  You've probably been there- "Everyone has those jeans!" "I'll look stupid with this old phone!"  They wear us down!  But to the rescue- the support you need for staying your ground- here's some great "putting have to's in front of want to's" advice from makinglifebetter.com's Lian Dolan:

Before you hit the stores

Don’t make it about money; make it about responsibility. Think about it: even if you had all the money in the world, would you buy your daughter $250 jeans?  Probably not. Teach your children that the goal is to purchase what they really need, not what they simply want. Spending wisely and eliminating wasteful purchases is an earth-friendly, family-friendly policy. Use this shopping experience to establish good, lifelong financial habits. And don’t forget: be a role model yourself.

“Shop” at home first. Dig through desk drawers and closets, and you’ll probably discover half the items on your list: colored pencils, crayons, forgotten shorts, and books from older siblings. Throw last year’s backpack in the washer, add some cool patches from your summer travels, and voilá, new backpack! Money saved is money earned. The more you find at home, the more money you’ll get to spend on new items.

Delay, delay, delay. Wait a month to buy those gotta-have-it purchases, and the desire might just disappear. Ask your kids: Can you get one more season out of those cleats? Do you need the new sweater today when you won’t be able to wear it for months? How about that new phone for your birthday? Buy the minimum now and supplement later, if needed.

Checkout Lane Tactics

Stick with your budget. Obvious, but not always easy! Set a reasonable budget for the must-have purchases. For teens and older tweens, this may mean handing over a set amount of money for clothes or new electronics and letting them choose how to spend it. One designer item or several sale items?  Resale shop or department store? Give them the purchasing power, and let them live with their choices.  Look at it as providing an opportunity for natural consequences that don't really have the power to do any damage to your child, even if it doesn't take away his disappointment.  Expect more from your son or daughter!  You’ll be surprised at the thrift when it’s their money, or the ability to make better choices the next time around.

No negotiations. Once the budget is firm, no wheeling and dealing.  This, my sometimes weak-willed friend (we all are at times!) means that now's the time to remain firm. If you tend to cave, try a cash-only policy when shopping. That would be much better than simply promoting to your child that whining will eventually get them their own way.  And if the kids try to work that magic they have, that they’ll pay half for more expensive items, don’t agree unless they have the money on hand. No IOUs!

I do believe this:  you'll all be better off for setting limits, and sticking to them...hard as it may be to do when you son just has to have the turbo-charged backpack that doubles as an iPod charger.  Cool.

Stay connected with your tween or teen- TEXT THEM.

Our wireless world has created new opportunities for parents and their kids to connect; texting your tween, or teen, is one of them!  For many youth, texting is a primary form of communication.  There is enormous potential to connect with your child, and also an opportunity to talk to your older teens about its potential danger as well:  texting while driving.  First, let's highlight the very positive aspect of texting:

Summer is here, and studies show "out of school" as being one of the highest times of substance experimentation and use.  But you've got a cell phone!  With the help of Know!, we, as parents of teens or tweens, know the time to connect with your young adult is now.

So why text? 

• It's quick, easy and private.
  
• It's casual and non-confrontational
• It can bridge the generation gap
• It's how you can talk your teen's language, which
• Can set the stage for communication

How about this texting scenario?

You:

Wanna chat?  Ice cream's on me!

Your tween:

I do need U.  Thx 4 note.

Texting is a great way to not only monitor your child, but it shows your support, and opens a new line of communication.  It will never replace fact-to-face interactions, but it can help you stay connected.

Next, the talk you must have with your teen (and if you're the parent of a tween, your time is just around the corner- arm yourself now):

Talking on your cell phone or texting while driving is dangerous.  But do you, or your teen, know just HOW dangerous? According to WebMD, a new study found that driving while text messaging or fiddling with an MP3 player is even more dangerous than talking on a cell phone. Researchers at Eastern Virginia Medical School had teenagers take part in a series of driving experiments. The tests were done in a simulated car, and each teen drove through simulated rural and urban scenery. There were three simulations:

• First the teens drove through each scene without any distractions.
• Then they drove while talking or texting on a cell phone.
• Finally they drove while operating an MP3 music player.  

According to Dr. Donald Lewis, co-researcher and chief of Eastern Virginia Medical School’s department of pediatrics - the findings were frightening. While the teens were talking on the phone or texting, they steered the vehicles erratically, and wove in and out of lanes. They even ran over virtual people! Their driving was the worst when they were texting. Lewis says that’s probably because it forces people to look down, plus move their fingers, and the more finger movement involved, the more distracted and dangerous you are.  

All of the teenagers had at least six months of driving experience, and the researchers excluded teens with attention deficit disorder, or anyone who used drugs or alcohol. Lewis said the study proved that if you talk on a cell phone or text while driving, you’re hazardous to yourself and everyone else on the road. So PUT AWAY the gadgets! You wouldn’t get behind the wheel if you were drunk, so don’t get behind the wheel “technologically” distracted.

You'll both enjoy the lazy, hazy days of Summer, and be relieved, perhaps, to do without the crazy!  Enjoy your weekend-

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Fire up, friends! Grilling season is here.

Ahh...remember last Memorial Day?  Gorgeous day, the yard looked great because the family worked tirelessly, and agreeably for once! to make inside and out look festive and welcoming.  You cooked and prepared.  Finally, time for the guests, and everyone's having a fabulous time!  Your in-laws are all speaking to one another.  What could go wrong?  Well, you found out, didn't you?  Got the dogs and burgers on the grill, turned them after a few minutes, and then...nothing.  That's when your spouse asked you if you'd checked the propane tank earlier that day.  Oops.  OK- lessons learned, right?  Not going to happen again- no sir, not on your watch!  How about if we make sure of that before this upcoming, unofficial start to Summer, holiday weekend arrives, bringing your chance for redemption.  Real Simple magazine's going to walk you through it, with the tips you need to have your grill- gas or charcoal- in top condition, ready to go, and set to make you King or Queen of the Grill!

Clean the burner and tubes. Make sure the propane tank is turned off. Remove the briquettes and cooking grates, and carefully detach the gas tubes and burner. Clean the tubes with warm, soapy water and towel dry. Wipe the burner clean with a damp cloth. Towel dry the gas ports on the burner, then clean out each one with a toothpick.

Wash the grill. First, cover the gas valves with aluminum foil to protect the connections from corrosion. Wash the grill’s interior and exterior surfaces with a long-handled stiff-wire grill brush and warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry, then reattach the gas tubes and burners.

Burn off the grease. During the grill season, briquettes transfer heat to the cooking grates, leaving them coated with grease. Before firing up your grill for the season’s inaugural cookout, flip over the briquettes, close the lid, and heat the grill on high for 15 minutes.

Clean the cooking grates. Cool the grill after burning off the grease. Remove the briquettes and cooking grates and scrub the grates with a long-handled stiff-wire grill brush and warm, soapy water. Towel dry, then replace, along with the briquettes.

Stock fuel levels. Check and replenish your propane or natural gas supply as necessary.  Maybe we should move this one to the top of the list, huh?  Corroding and rusted tanks should be recycled; return your tank to a propane supplier or check local listings for tank recycling companies.

But maybe last year- the propane tank fiasco, has you convinced to go old school for the grill, with your reliable charcoal grill.  That's covered, too.

Remove any ashes. If any remain from last season, dispose of them in a noncombustible container.

Clean the grate. Before you have your first cookout, light a fire and heat the grate for about 30 minutes. Then scrape it with a long-handled stiff-wire grill brush to remove any leftover bits of food. If you don't have a grill brush, use a ball of crumpled foil held in long-handled tongs.

Wash the grill. Wash the outside of the lid and firebox with warm, soapy water; use a steel-wool soap pad for stubborn interior stains. Rinse and dry.

Stock charcoal. Start the season right with an ample supply of charcoal (the amount will vary depending on how often you grill.)

Food, family and friends, good weather (sorry, no tips on how to ensure that), and with this checklist, you, my Grilling Master Friend, are ready to go. 

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Bargains you may not have considered in a rough economy

Want some good news about the crummy economy? If you’ve got money to spend, you can find a lot of great bargains, because when buying slows down, prices drop. So, if you’re one of the 90% of workers who’s still employed – and you’ve got some cash on hand – here’s what to shop for, courtesy of the financial experts at Time magazine:

• Cameras. 77% of all households already have a digital camera,  and sales are way down. So, manufacturers are offering steep discounts to entice buyers to upgrade – or buy a second camera for a family member. Right now, you can find modest point-and-shoot digital cameras for less than $100, 10-megapixel cameras and camcorders are available at half price – which is less than $200, and high-end digital cameras with interchangeable lenses are hundreds of dollars less than they were just two years ago.  
• High-end clothing. Clothing orders were placed months before the bottom dropped out of the market. So you’ll find plenty of deals at every price point. However, you’ll find the biggest discount in  tuxedoes, formal dresses, and high-quality cashmere sweaters, scarves and blankets.  
• You can also find bargains on furniture and other items for the home. Tons of inventory reductions and “going out of business” sales mean you can find furniture and decorative items at 70% off – which is right around wholesale price. Some of the best bargains are high-end towels and bedding from websites like Overstock.com. Many flat-screen TVs cost half what they did two years ago.   
• One final great buy in a bad economy: Computer memory. If your computer’s more than two years old, it probably has less than one gigabyte of RAM, which can make it run painfully slowly with today’s more-demanding programs. Right now there’s a huge oversupply of computer chips, which means you can get 4 gigabytes of extra memory for $50 – down from $200 just two years ago. 

Of course, don’t splurge if you’re having trouble making ends meet, and don’t run up your credit cards on these things. If you have cash saved up and your job’s on solid ground, take advantage of these bargains, because once the economy starts to recover, these bargains will be history.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

The fun of gaming has come to a whole new group of people!

Wow!  Do you find yourself amazed from time to time with new developments in technology?  I definitely do, and I loved this:  Science Daily reports a new computer game developed by MIT and Singaporean students that makes it possible for visually impaired people to play the game on a level field with their sighted friends- joining in the fun of gaming! 

The game, called AudiOdyssey, simulates a deejay trying to build up a catchy tune and get people dancing. By swinging the remote-control device used by the Nintendo Wii, which senses motion, the player can set the rhythm and lay down one musical track after another, gradually building up a richer musical track.

Eitan Glinert is a graduate student in computer science at the Singapore-MIT Gambit Game Lab, and says he noticed many newer groups playing Nintendo's Wii, like women, and older players.  It got him wondering what other groups of people are being left out, and it didn't take long to think of people with disabilities.  He started investigating what kinds of computer games were already available for the visually impaired and found about 200 games.  But he also made an interesting discovery:  as a sighted player, he wasn't able to play the games.  Because they were so specifically adapted for sound and touch playing, sighted players played at a distinct disadvantage- kind of taking the fun out of competition between 2 friends who have different sight abilities.  So Glinert set out to create a game that could be played by both, on an equal level, equally well.

At MIT, Glinert developed the prototype for AudiOdyssey in the summer of 2007, and has since been testing it with various groups of players. Since not everyone has access to the Wii controller, the game is also designed to be playable using a regular keyboard.  And though it's in its early stages, people seem to enjoy it, like Alicia Verlager, a recent grad of MIT, who is blind, and helped with the development of the game. 

"The element I probably most envy about gamers is just the way they hang out together and share doing something fun," she says.  It was this social aspect of sharing in the fun of gaming that Verlager wanted most to be a part of, and found that she could be with AudiOdyssey.

Interested in checking it out?  AudiOdyssey is available for free download (Windows only) at http://gambit.mit.edu/loadgame/audiodyssey.php.

I've talked several times on the show about the importance of kids not playing video games for too long  periods of time.  Kids do play video games, and in the right context- not too much time, and the appropriate maturity level of games- they can be a great source of fun.  How cool that kids with visual impairment can share in this, too! 

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Get More Use Out of Your Cell Phone

Is your cell phone doing more for you than just dialing and receiving calls and text messages?

I’ve got some great tips on how to put your mobile phone to work for you. Keep your cell phone handy because you’re going to want to put several phone numbers on your speed dial.

•First, before you do anything, place your family on ICE (In Case of Emergency).

Normally, your cell phone can be an indispensable lifeline during a crisis. With one touch of a button you make a single call and you’re instantly reunited with loved ones.

However, in the case of a serious accident or an urgent medical situation, emergency team members cannot waste time sifting through your phone’s address book to locate your next of kin.

To remedy this problem, cell phone users are being urged to insert the acronym ICE before the names of the people they want to be called in case of an emergency . . . as in “ICE-Husband” or “ICE-Mom.” Then police and emergency personnel can use your phone to quickly notify your next of kin if disaster strikes.

•Another important number to keep in your cell phone is 800-GOOG-411. That’s 466-4411. With this number Google offers you a free directory service.

Here’s how it works. Call 800-GOOG-411, state the location and business type you’re seeking and then connect to the business . . . for free.

Normally, cell phone companies charge anywhere from $1.50 to $2.00 each time you punch in 411 to find a number. If you’re like me, I not only want to hear the number from an operator, but I also want a text message sent . . . just in case I need the number at a later time.

•Your cell phone can be the source for a lot of fun punching in this next number: 866-411-SONG. Believe it or not, you can use your cell phone to identify a song playing on your car radio. You dial these 10 magic numbers and hold the phone near the speaker for 15 seconds. The service will I.D. your song using its 2.5 MILLION-tune database.

After the song is identified, you’ll receive a text message containing the name of the tune . . . and a $0.99 charge on your monthly bill. Of course, if you find yourself continually trying to “name that tune," you can pay $3.99/month for unlimited song IDs. For a music fanatic like myself, that’s not a bad deal.

•Visit this next website to use your cell phone to save a life: Wireless AMBER Alerts. According to the blog lifehacker.com, the first three hours after a child is abducted are the most critical in recovery efforts.

Now with Wireless AMBER Alerts, you enter your phone number and up to five ZIP codes (so the service knows which alerts to send you).

When an AMBER Alert is issued for your area, you’ll receive a text message including the child’s description, where he/she was last seen and any relevant vehicle data. This service is free of charge.

•Finally, you’ll want this handy number stored in your cell phone: 112. According to one blog, the emergency number worldwide for mobile phones is 112. If you’re out of the coverage area of your mobile network, and you face an emergency, dial 112. Your cell phone will search any existing network to establish an emergency number for you.

Now that you’ve found more uses for your cell, why don’t you give it a whirl?

John
Email: johnsblog@teshmedia.com