Essential Tips To Avoid The Daylight Savings Headache

Daylight Savings Time is like the in laws at Christmas, it causes a lot of headaches and no ones certain who invited them. This year,the pain in the ass is even greater! Great news, DST is coming three weeks earlier than usual this year, thanks to a law passed by the U.S Congress in 2005 and Canada`s follow `Big Brother`attitude. The idea: Extra daylight will conserve energy by curbing the need for electric light.

So in the early morning hours of Mar. 11, clocks must move forward an hour. That means we all can enjoy more outdoor activities on Sunday as the sun will now stretch into the early evening, but of course that means it`s time too go to bed an hour early. This also means we are back to getting up for work in the dark. Of course, these not the only inconveniences inherent in springing forward this year—computers and electronics of various stripes have long been programmed to change the time according to a schedule that has been in place for decades.

No big deal right, wrong! It`s not just the alarm clock that has to be set, your computer might need a patch update to reset the time if your using an older platform, if you have a Palm, Trio or Blackberry device, that needs a download, ditto for your mobile, and if your old VCR actually has the time set correctly, that will need to be addressed.

So, feel like going to bed and hiding under the covers and calling into work Monday saying you have DST flue (not to be confused with a STD).If your boss falls for it let me know. For the rest of us, here's a quick rundown of what you need to know from
BusinessWeek.com

Managing Microsoft

If your PC is running the most recent version of Microsoft (MSFT) Windows, known as Vista, you don't need to do anything. The new operating system was programmed with the new time-change schedule in mind. Prior versions, however, need an update, which can be downloaded.

See Microsoft's Daylight Saving Time Help & Support Center for more information on versions of Windows going as far back as Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4. Versions of Windows that are even older, including Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 95, need a little more help. Your best bet is to use a utility called tzedit.exe, which can be found either on the Windows installation CD or downloaded from Microsoft's Web site.

Managing Macintosh

If you're an Apple (AAPL) user, most Macs bought during the last two years and running Mac OS X should be fine, provided you've been regularly updating your software. Updates have already been issued for Mac OS X version 10.3 (Panther) and 10.4 (Tiger).

Not sure if you're appropriately updated? While connected to the Internet, pull down "Software Update" from the Apple menu. If they're needed, the required updates will install automatically. If your Mac runs any version of OS X prior to 10.3, you'll have to adjust the time settings manually. In "System Preferences" find the "Date and Time" icon, and deselect the option to automatically adjust for Daylight Savings Time. If your Mac runs Mac OS 9.2 or earlier, you'll have to find the "Date and Time" control panel and uncheck the option to change to Daylight Savings Time automatically. Then set the time yourself.

Handling Handhelds

Most mobile phones automatically set their own clocks based on the time settings of the nearest cell-phone tower. But this year, smartphones including BlackBerrys, Treos, and those running Microsoft's Windows Mobile aren't quite as sharp as they should be. BlackBerry devices from Research In Motion (RIMM) all need an update to their internal software, which you can get either from your wireless service provider or from RIM's Web site: Using your BlackBerry's Web browser, go to www.blackberry.com/dst2007/patch and follow the prompts to download and install the patch. The process requires a reset, so it's worth backing up the contents of the device to your PC before starting.

Palm (PALM) devices like the Treo line of smartphones—including those running the Palm OS and Windows Mobile, as well standalone PDAs such as the LifeDrive, Zire, and Tungsten—all need an update that must be downloaded to a PC and then installed on the device while it's connected to the computer. The update can be found at the Palm Web site.

On other Windows Mobile devices, you can use the device's Web browser and go to the Windows Mobile site and follow on-screen instructions for installing the necessary update.

Retro-Fitting

Now, for those of you who still own a VCR—assuming you managed to set its clock in the first place—there's a good chance it's too old to have an updated, preprogrammed Daylight Savings Time schedule. So you'll have to break out your owner's manual and change it manually. (If like many machines, your VCR is still flashing 12:00, the time change won't make much difference).

Some models that support VCR+ will automatically be updated. But if you do a lot of timed recording and aren't sure, it's worth checking in with the vendor by calling the support phone numbers in the owner's manual—lest you miss that recording of Battlestar Galactica by an hour.
For Your Consideration

Finally, you may not think it's necessary to change the clock settings in a digital camera or camcorder—but these devices have small computers in them too, many of which were programmed before Congress mandated the time change. And don't forget the time stamp in the corner of photos and videos. Having that off by an hour can foul up organization later. Most will let you set the time manually.

Later,
Kenaz

The Use of Colour In Your Home

The first step in the use of colour is to understand the psychological effects it has on us. Red is known to stimulate the appetite - so it’s an excellent colour for dining rooms. Both blue and green are fresh and calming. They are the colours of nature and could be popular choices for bedrooms. Yellow and orange are energizing like the sun, so are good choices in rooms where your energy may need boosting - the kitchen perhaps. Orange in its toned down terracotta form can be ideal in a home office; it has the energizing effect of both red and orange but isn’t so bright that you won’t be able to stay at your desk!

Many contemporary television programmes have made a virtue of the use of bold colours in wild combinations: violet and lime green; turquoise and red-orange; orange and fuchsia. But before you splash out on several gallons of grapefruit yellow and olive green paint for the bedroom, consider carefully whether a violet and lime green living room is something you can live with.

Many new and traditional homes are decorated in various shades of beige (I think "taupe" is the current fashionable term), Subtle, muted wall colours (like off white and taupe) are fine, and very easy to live with. But you can still enliven them with bright highlights in your accessories and upholstery. Consider a multi-coloured rug, candles, some coloured ceramics or glassware, vivid prints or paintings, or squashy cushions in jewel tones. The overall effect will be airy and soothing yet the flashes of colour can bring in your personality and be your signature touches.

You don't have to be afraid of colour, even a person who lists "black" as their favorite colour like me, will find that introducing a burgundy valence and candles into a computer room can open a wave of creativity. Here is a list of colour options and how adding each to your home will influence its positive energy. For how to use colour in combinations pick up a cheap colour wheel in your local art supply store and have fun.

Check out my previous post entitled "HOW TO USE THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF FENG SHUI TO CREATE HARMONY IN YOUR HOME" for more help with deciding what colours are best for what rooms.

White- Innocence, peace, protection, purification, purity, sincerity, truth

Red- Courage, exorcism, health, lust, passion, protection, sex, strength, vigour

Dark Red- Mental power, thought

Pink- Femininity, friendships, honour, love, morality

Orange - Adaptability, attraction, authority, changes, courage, encouragement, luck, peace of mind, power, strength, stimulation

Yellow - Attraction, concentration, communication, confidence, creativity, divination, imagination, intellect, learning study, wisdom

Green- Ambition, employment, fertility, financial matters, growth, luck, money, nature, prosperity, rejuvenation, success, wealth

Light blue- Happiness, healing, patience, relaxing, serenity, soothing, tranquility

Deep blue- Change, flexibility, healing, psychic powers, relaxing, soothing, the subconscious

Dark Blue (Navy)- Banishes depression, relaxing, soothing

Purple- Ambition, healing severe diseases, home protection, idealism, meditation, power, spirituality, success, wisdom

Lilac- Tranquillity, the astral plane

Brown- Animals (especially healing), concentration, conquering indecisiveness, emotional stability, practicality, study, the home

Grey- Neutrality, privacy, removal of negative influences, stability

Black- Absorbing and destroying negativity, banishing evil, banishing negativity, breaking curses, healing severe diseases, resilience, self control,

Silver- Intuition, Moon magic, the Moon Goddess, visions

Gold- Attraction, charm, confidence, cosmic influences, intuition, life force, longevity, magnetism, persuasion.

Kenaz,

Tips For Turning Your Concrete Jungle Into A Paradise

'Tis the season to get out into the garden and pick out the weed that are threatening to kill all your annuals and perennials that you worked so hard planting in the Spring.

Although this year I decided to say enough is enough with spending a bundle on flowers that I can only enjoy for maybe three month of the year. Southern Ontario is a zone 5 so it gets a little cold for all but the heartiest of native plants by early October (if your lucky).

This year I found a couple of great deals on Ebay for Cotton and Polyester flowers, although they try to sell them as Silk. I don't know why they do this, but it's better that the Tiger and Water Lillies, Orchids, Roses and the two Palm trees (a Yucca and a Phoenix Palm) that I bought are made from this durable blend.

I did a little research and found out that this type of artificial plants are guaranteed for six or more years depending on location and climate. I sprayed a liberal coating of an acrylic lacquer, resistant to water and staining on them, which should extend their wear. Note, test your lacquer out on the underside of a petal or leaf first.

The artificial along with the row of Pine trees lining one side of the yard, the late blooming Lilacs to the rear, and to my pleasant surprise, a large flowering shrub has sprung up on the remaining side camouflaging to an extent an eye sore weed tree that is growing through my fence from a neighbors side who repeatedly states that he is planning to cut it down; all help to provide a little escape from the ugliness of my inner city surroundings.

Any way I digress, I would love to find out what this flower is. I never planted it and nobody I've talked to knows who or when it was planted. I would best describe the flowers as reddish orange bell shaped. Anyone who knows the name of this, please drop a not, I would be happy.

I don't have a camera so I don't have any pictures, if I remember while I'm out I'll pick up a disposable and snap some shots and post them later.

Any who, here is the recipe for my homemade weed killer that is 100% good for the environment and guaranteed to turn anything organic brown and dead so be careful around the grass,

This is for a 10 Litres (2.5 US Gallons) batch that will easily cover an average size garden or yard.

All conversions are ballpark

10 Litres (2.5 US Gallons) of Water
1 Litre (32 Ounces or 4 cups) White Vinegar
283Grams (10 Ounces or 22 Tbsp) Regular Table Salt

Boil water in a large pot, add vinegar and salt. Pour HOT liquid on weeds to be killed. BE CAREFUL how you pour the water as not to burn yourself and I repeat don't let the water run on top of the soil because it will kill what ever it touches.