As of this evening, I surpassed the 100,000 grabble mark! Through winning a Loner Pong tournament, I went from 99283 grabbles to 104,058. First time ever in my Grab career ;) After a good 4 1/2+ years...

I gotta figure out what I'm going to do to celebrate now, heh.

Well, it's time for a new blog post. Haven't done one in a while. I never have any idea what to blog about because my life is pretty boring, so how about another wikiHow article like I used to do? I took some time to go through hundreds of the 57,000 articles on wikiHow to find a good one to ease back into for this blog post. Since it's summer for North America, I think something to do with the outdoors will be good. What better thing to do during the summer than to be creative and plant some plants at the same time? This article might have helped more during spring and early summer, but it's still pretty cool.

How to Make a Tire Plant Pot

from wikiHow rel="nofollow"- The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Have old tires in your yard?...Want to make something useful for your garden? Here is the brand good idea...

Steps

1. Take an old tire that is still mounted to the rim. This method will not work if the tire doesn't have a rim on it, as the rim is what holds it together.
2. Make zig-zag or scalloped cuts approximately eight to twelve inches from the rim on one side of the tire, depending on the size of the tire. (Note that these cuts are only on the flat part of the tire near the rim, not onto the area where the treads are.) Make the cuts all the way around the tire so that the tire is separated into two pieces, held together by the rim. Remember, do *not* take the tire off the rim.
3. Turn the tire inside-out. The easiest way to do this is to put the tire on a stump (or stool or something like it), with the cuts facing up. Take the outer part of the cut tire, and pull it out and downward to turn it inside out. It's hard at first, but once you get it going, goes fairly smoothly.
4. Once you've turned it inside-out, you should wind up with one very large section (which becomes the plant holder part of the planter) and one very small tire section (which becomes the base of the planter). The holes in the rim become the drainage holes for the plant.
5. At this point, if desired, designs can be painted on the outside of the large part of the planter. Tole designs work nicely on this.
6. Put some dirt or fertilizer inside the large section of the tire.
7. Plant your little plants or flower plants in it. Water it.
8. Enjoy

Warnings

• Don't cut your fingers in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Old Tire(s) - still on the rim(s)
• Sharp razor or Knife
• Small Flower or vegetable Plant(s)

Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Can Flower Pot

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Tire Plant Pot. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

During my time searching the Internet, I found a neat and creative game called Trukz, located at trukz.com. It's a trucking simulation game, played via a few online applets on their website, where you can virtually drive cargo on tractor trailers to a chosen destination. You choose what cargo you want to take, and have to "drive" the route, resting for real-world periods of time as necessary. It's a pretty interesting game and a good place to spend extra time. You can click the banner below to check out the website - In the game, my "drivers"'s name is Krypton; I just joined a few days ago.

One more for the New Years...

How to Make and Keep New Year's Resolutions

from wikiHow rel="nofollow"- The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Like most people you've probably made resolutions in the past that went unfulfilled. Don't be so hard on your self. Here are some tips to make realistic New Year's resolutions for your lifestyle and great tips on keeping them up throughout the new year.

Steps

1. Find a place where you can sit and reflect. Have a pen and paper available.
2. Think about changes and improvements you'd like to make. These can be about anything. Start a list and jot down some notes. Ask yourself the following questions to get you started and then add questions of your own:
   • What can I do to improve my health?
     • Drink more water?
     • Quit smoking?
     • avoid unhealthy food? Avoid all fast food? Fried foods? Red meat?
     • Eat fish twice a week? How about more fiber, beans, whole grains?
     • Take vitamins each day?
     • Go to the gym? How often? Maybe start off going once a week but increase by one day each month for the next few months.
   • What can I do to be a better parent?
     • Can you attend a sporting event or other activity each week?
     • Can you proofread papers or help with homework?
     • Take you kids on an educational trip over the summer? Take a weekend and see a historical location or museum? You don't have to travel far and it could just be a day trip.
   • What can I do to be a better friend?
     • Make a list of everyone's birthday and address to send cards?
     • Contact or visit a friend you haven't seen in years?
     • Are there "friends" you need to get rid of? Are they unhealthy or negative?
   • What can I do to be more successful at work?
     • Can you keep your files and desk more organized?
     • Get up 20 minutes earlier to get to work on time?
   • What can I do to be happier at work?
     • Learn to say no to the procrastinators?
     • Don't skip lunch no matter how busy you are?
     • Take your vacation days instead of putting the company first?
     • Get some exercise or networking in during lunchtime.
3. , volunteer or just recycle a little more.]]What can I do to improve the world?
   • • Change the light bulbs in the house to the energy efficient bulbs?
     • Choose a hybrid or high-mileage car?
     • Get the best gas mileage you can out of the car you have?
     • Reduce waste?
     • Are you recycling as much as you can?
4. Look over this list and see what items are most important to you.
5. Don't just address the big battles. Think of the smaller habits that turn into big problems when left un-addressed.
6. Try to be realistic and adjust any goals that may be too hard to tackle. You can break them down into smaller pieces. For example: Instead of resolving to lose 30 lbs. you can resolve to cut out fast food, soft drinks, sugar snacks and drinks, drink more water and walk three days a week until March and then add in two days at the gym. Before you know it your 30lbs will be gone. Instead of having the 30 lbs goal looming over your head you can chip away at it by achieving your smaller resolutions. In the long run you'll be much healthier.
7. Make your list of resolutions. Don't make a short list of huge goals. Make a list with many smaller goals. If you need to put down 20 resolutions, go for it!
8. Sit down with your family and friends and discuss your goals and why you made them. Ask for their support on these goals throughout the year. If possible, team up and visit the gym or shop at the health food store together. Ask them to speak up if you slip and order a Diet Coke instead of a water or forget another goal on your list.
9. Print copies of your resolutions and save a copy on each computer.
   • Email a copy to your work address.
   • Make a smaller copy and keep it in your wallet.
   • Post a copy on the outside of your refrigerator! Use bright paper so it catches your eye and don't let it get hidden behind coupons and artwork.
10. *If possible, post a copy at the office. Consider sharing your list with an office friend. You'll have that support system everywhere you go.
11. Congratulations! Your resolutions have been made. Keep checking back to your list daily to keep your eye on the ball. Don't be afraid to add new goals throughout the year.
12. Keep at it. The best goals in the world will do no good if you don't follow through.

Tips

• Don't try to plan your resolutions when you're in a bad mood or pressed for time. Taking time to make a thoughtful list will make your goals easier to achieve.
• Consider setting up a little competition with your family or friends to keep focused on a tough goal. Does the loser buy a healthy lunch? Maybe take a family vacation to a great beach if everyone hits their goals by July.
• Don't get discouraged if you slip. By checking your list frequently you can stay on track or refocus after a bad spell.
• Try to volunteer each year. Whether you volunteer alone or with your family it sets a good example.
• Here's a great resolution: Purge your closets of all those clothes you haven't worn in years. Donate it to a charity or donate the appropriate clothes to a homeless outreach facility. (See your local VA hospital.)
• It can be hard to maintain your motivation and dedication to making a change in your life. When you fall off track with your resolution, whether it be to try and quit smoking or to lose weight by exercising and changing your diet, use the next Monday as the day to recommit. Healthy Monday, a non-profit national public health campaign association with Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, encourages people to use Monday as the day for health and disease prevention. If you have a weekly chance to get back on track with your New Year's Resolution, you'll have a greater chance of success.

Warnings

• Picking unrealistic goals can really lower morale when you can't meet the goals. Start small.

Things You'll Need

• Calendar
• Support group of friends or family
• Paper
• Pen or pencil
• Computer
• Email
• Resolve

Related wikiHows

• How to Have a Good Family Life
• How to Accomplish Your New Year's Resolutions
• How to Choose Healthy Snacks
• How to Eat Healthy for Life
• How to Have a Healthy Relationship
• How to Achieve Short Term Goals
• How to Set Goals
• How to Drink More Water Everyday

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make and Keep New Year's Resolutions. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

I guess I haven't done any of these in a while, so here's one that will hopefully help for the new year...

How to Save Money

from wikiHow rel="nofollow"- The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Saving money is one of those tasks that's so much easier said than done. There's more to it than spending less money (although that part alone can be challenging). How much money will you save, where will you put it, and how can you make sure it stays there? Here's how to set realistic goals, keep your spending in check, and pay yourself first.

Steps

1. Set savings goals. For short-term goals, this is easy. If you want to buy a video game, find out how much it costs; if you want to buy a house, determine how much of a down payment you’ll need. For long-term goals, such as retirement, you’ll need to do a lot more planning (figuring out how much money you’ll need to live comfortably for 20 or 30 years after you stop working), and you’ll also need to figure out how investments will help you achieve your goals.
   • Kill your debt first. Simply calculating how much you spend each month on your debts will illustrate that eliminating debt is the fastest way to free up money. Once the money is freed from debt payment, it can easily be re-purposed to savings.
2. Establish a timeframe. For example: "I want to be able to buy a house two years from today." Set a particular date for accomplishing shorter-term goals, and make sure the goal is attainable within that time period. If it’s not attainable, you’ll just get discouraged.
3. Figure out how much you’ll have to save per week, per month, or per paycheck to attain each of your savings goals. Take each thing you want to save for and figure out how much you need to start saving now. For most savings goals, it’s best to save the same amount each period. For example, if you want to put a $20,000 down payment on a home in 36 months (three years), you’ll need to save about $550 per month every month. But if your paychecks amount to $1000, it might not be a realistic goal, so adjust your timeframe until you come up with an approachable amount.
4. Keep a record of your expenses. What you save falls between two activities and their difference: how much you make and how much you spend. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it's wise to take a critical look at your expenses. Write down everything you spend your money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Assign each purchase or expenditure a category such as: Rent, Car insurance, Car payments, Phone Bill, Cable Bill, Utilities, Gas, Food, Entertainment, etc.
   • Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Get in the habit of recording every expense and saving the receipts.
   • Sit down once a week with your small notebook and receipts. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program.
5. Trim your expenses. Take a good, hard look at your spending records after a month or two have passed. You’ll probably be surprised when you look back at your record of expenses: $300 on ice cream, $100 on parking tickets? You’ll likely see some obvious cuts you can make. Depending on how much you need to save, however, you may need to make some difficult decisions. Think about your priorities, and make cuts you can live with. Calculate how much those cuts will save you per year, and you'll be much more motivated to pinch pennies.
   • Can you move to a less expensive apartment or house? Can you refinance your mortgage?
   • Can you consolidate your debts so that you're not paying as much interest?
   • Can you save money on gas, or give up a car altogether? If your family has multiple cars, can you bring it down to one?
   • Can you drop a land line and only use your cell phone?
   • Can you live without cable or satellite TV?
   • Can you cut down on your utility bills?
   • Can you restrict eating out? Buy food in bulk? Cook more at home? You might be able to save a lot of money on food.
6. Reassess your savings goals. Subtract your expenses (the ones you can't live without) from your take-home income (i.e. after taxes have been taken out). What is the difference? And does it match up with your savings goals? Let's say you've decided you can definitely get by on $1500 per month, and your paychecks amount to $2300 per month. That leaves you with $800 to save. If there’s absolutely no way you can fit all your savings goals into your budget, take a look at what you’re saving for and cut the less important things or adjust the timeframe. Maybe you need to put off buying a new car for another year, or maybe you don’t really need a big-screen TV that badly.
7. Make a budget. Once you’ve managed to balance your earnings with your savings goals and spending, write down a budget so you’ll know each month or each paycheck how much you can spend on any given thing or category of things. This is especially important for expenses which tend to fluctuate, or which you know you're going to have a particularly hard time restricting. (E.g. "I will only spend $30 a month on movies/chocolate/coffee/etc.")
8. Stop using credit cards. Pay for everything with cash or money orders. Don't even use checks. It's easier to overspend when you're pulling from a bank or credit account because you don't know exactly how much is in there. If you have cash, you can see your supply running low. You can even bundle up the predetermined amount of cash allocated for each expense with a label or keep separate jars for each expense (e.g. a bundle/jar for coffee, another for gas, another for miscellaneous). As you pull money from a jar for that particular expense, you'll see how much remains and you'll also be reminded of your limit.
   • If you need to have credit cards but you don't want the temptation of having them available to use day-to-day, restrict that section of your wallet with a note or picture reminding you of your savings goals.
   • Credit cards are not inherently evil; it's all about your self control. If you use them responsibly (i.e. completely pay them off every month), you can benefit from them. But the reason most credit card companies make money, however, is because people end up spending money that they don't have. Unless you are one of the people who can religiously pay off the balance in full every month, you're better off foregoing the promotions that credit card companies use to lure you in (cash back, introductory APR, airline miles, and so on).
9. Open an interest-bearing savings account. It’s a lot easier to keep track of your savings if you have them separate from your spending money. You can also usually get better interest on savings accounts than on checking accounts (if you get interest on your checking account at all). Consider higher-interest options such as CDs or money-market accounts for longer savings goals.
10. Know where your money is. And how much of it, too. If you accidentally overdraw your bank account, you will incur hefty bank fees; worse yet, the place you paid with that check may slap a bounced check fee on top of that, and send the check in again, resulting in a second overdraft fee from the bank! So just a few cents missing to cover that check could result in over $100 in fees. To avoid that, you should always know how much money you've got in your account(s), so you never cut a check for more than what you have.
11. Pay yourself first. Savings should be your priority, so don’t just say that you’ll save whatever’s left over at the end of the month. Deposit savings into an account (or your piggybank) as soon as you get paid. An easy, effective way to start saving is to simply deposit 10% of every check in a savings account. If you get a check or sum of cash, say 710.68, move the decimal point one place to the left and deposit that amount: 71.07. This works well and requires little thought; over several years, you've a tidy sum in savings. Over decades, you'll be a millionaire.
    • You can set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account.
    • Many employers allow you to deduct savings from your paycheck. The money is directly deposited in your savings account so you never even see it on your paycheck.
    • You can also have investments for retirement taken directly out of your pay, and the taxes may be deferred with this option.

Video

Tips

• Always OVER estimate your expenses and UNDER estimate your income.
• If you can afford to share things you have, from food to living space to appliances, try to do so. What goes around comes around when it's between close friends, soon enough, you'll find your friends doing the same, and everybody benefits.
• Have a professional shopper go through your closet before you hit the mall. They will help you assess what you already have and what timeless items you can invest in to create more looks from those you already have. There are services that do this (e.g. Visual Therapy in NYC and TimePros in Los Angeles). Remember that this service can cost a pretty penny. Don't use this method unless you have a tendency to make $250 - $400 shopping trips!
• Have a hobby? Match your funds. One important habit for saving is if you have a hobby, such as model airplanes, scrapbooking, dirt biking, scuba diving, etc., set a hard and fast rule that whatever you allow yourself to spend on your hobby, you match those funds to your savings. For example, if you buy yourself a $45 pair of riding gloves, another $45 goes to your savings. Serious about saving? Try doubling your matched funds! These savings plans will do two things: Save money regularly and quickly, and really show you how much you are spending on your hobby, when it costs you twice as much.
• If you receive unexpected cash, put all or most of it into your savings, but continue to set aside your regularly scheduled amount as well. You’ll reach your savings goals sooner.
• If you vacation normally, use the web to search for affordable vacation deals instead of paying full retail price. Some sites offer very discounted vacations by partnering with resorts across the country. Essentially, you are required to go on a 90 minute sales-pitch to buy a timeshare at the resort, and in exchange you receive an extra cheap luxury vacation and often freebies like theme park tickets, gas, or dinner certificates.
• Make purchases with paper money, not exact change, and always save the change. Use a piggy bank or jar for your coins. Coins and change may look insignificant but when accumulated over time they can help you save. Some banks now offer free coin counting machines. When you redeem your coins, ask to be paid by check so you won't be tempted to spend your newfound cash.

Warnings

• Do not go out "window shopping" with any money on you. You will only be tempted to spend money you cannot afford to lose. Only shop with a predetermined shopping list.
• After a long week of working, you may want to indulge in some luxury, telling yourself, "I deserve this". Remember that the things you buy are not gifts to yourself; they are trades, products for money. Say, "Of course I deserve this, but can I afford it? If I can't afford it, I'm still a worthy person, and I still deserve to meet my savings goals!"
• Unless you're in truly desperate financial straits (like 10 seconds from eviction and your three children are starving) don't try to cut corners connected to health. Basic preventative care for yourself, your family, and your pets might cost you a $60 office visit or a $30 heartworm pill today, but the skipping it will contribute to expensive problems and heartache down the road.

Related wikiHows

• How to Buy Nothing
• How to Retire in Your 30's
• How to Teach Your Child About Budgeting
• How to Wake up from the American Dream
• How to Save Loose Change
• How to Start Saving Using a CD Ladder
• How to Reduce Expenses

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Save Money. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Remove Pet Hair

from wikiHow rel="nofollow"- The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Hair on your pants from a loved animal could be very frustrating. It could also make you so annoyed with your pet that you would avoid them at all costs when you're about to leave for a special occasion. It finds its way deep into carpets, furniture, and car upholstery as well. This article provides information on how to remove pet hair from clothing, carpeting and/or upholstery.

Steps

1. Weigh it down. Lightly dampen the palm of your hand. Wipe the pet hair off in a downward motion. The hair will ball up and stick to your damp hand.
2. Barely dampen a clean, regular kitchen sponge (or sponge mop if you're removing pet hair from a low-pile carpet, in which case the floor should be thoroughly vacuumed first). Rub the fabric, upholstery, or carpet with the sponge. The fur should roll up into clumps that you can pick off by hand.
3. Put on a latex glove. Rub the surface with it on. The pet hair should stick to your glove. This also works with rubber gloves or cloth gardening gloves with a rubber coating on the palm. A rubber bristle push broom can work in the same way on floors. Dampen the glove or rubber section of the glove for increased effectiveness.
4. Inflate a balloon and rub it across the surface that has pet hair on it. The static on the balloon's surface will attract the hair (works on yours, too) which you can collect and then re-use the balloon to get more hair.
5. Rub hook-and-loop (e.g. Velcro) curlers on the surface to catch the hair. If the curler has a metal inner form, it can be bent to reach corners.
6. Apply fabric softener. A fabric softener sheet that normally goes in the dryer can be used to pick up pet hair. You can also mist the surface with a mixture of fabric softener and water to "prep" the area before removing the pet hair using any of the other methods.
7. Consider preventive measures.
   • Place your clothing in an area isolated from your pets.
   • Groom your pets regularly to reduce the amount of loose hair on them.
   • Vacuum carpets and furniture regularly (chairs/couches and cat carpet towers), and wash whatever throw rugs and linens on which the pets sleep or have contact.

Tips

• Rolling, sticky lint removers work, as does a piece of duct tape wrapped around your hand with the sticky side out, but after one swipe you must move onto the next piece, which is more wasteful than the above methods.
• Use masking tape. It's relatively cheap and you can tear off a piece, tape the ends together, and then rotate the tape while removing pet hair from clothing, etc.
• Clothing can be put in a washing machine and into the dryer with a static sheet. Once it's cleaned, hang it up. Be careful, though, because dark solid colors tend to spot (almost looks like grease spots) when they're the only clothes in the dryer with a dryer sheet
• In the office, the sticky sided clear label holders shipping companies provide make an excellent hair removal glove.

Warnings

• Some people are allergic to pet dander, which flakes off along with their hair. If you are one of these people, use caution and limit contact with both pets and items covered in pet hair.

Related wikiHows

• How to Remove Pet Hairs from Clothes
• How to Remove Dog Hairs from Stair Carpet
• How to Keep Lint off Clothes in the Washing Machine
• How to Prepare a Guestroom for Guests Who Have Allergies

Sources and Citations

• The Dollar Stretcher - Removing Pet Hair
• Thrifty Fun - How do I remove dog hair from car upholstery?
• DIYnetwork.com - Removing Pet Hair from Furniture

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Remove Pet Hair. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Mmm...cheesecake! A good American tradition, and a great treat for those outside of the USA, too!

How to Make American Cheesecake

from wikiHow rel="nofollow"- The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Cheesecake has been around since at least the first century, A.D., when it was described by Roman politician Marcus Porcius Cato in De Agricultura as libum, a small sweet cake often given as a temple offering.[1] Today this sweet, cheese-based dessert is made in many parts of the world and in as many different ways. American cheesecake is usually made with cream cheese, although recipes vary distinctly by region (New York style, Pennsylvania Dutch style, Ann Arbor style, etc.). Here's one way to make a cheesecake with a distinct American flavor.

Ingredients

• 10.5 oz (300g) butter cookies, finely crumbled
• 3.85 oz (110g) melted butter
• 1.3 lbs (600g) cream cheese
• 1.15 lbs (520g) quark cheese (or any low-fat, soft white cheese)
• 10.5 oz (300g) sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
• 6 eggs
• 14 oz (400g) sour cream
• raspberries
• sprig of mint
• icing sugar

Steps

1. Preheat the oven and set the oven to 300ºF (150ºC/ gas mark 2).
2. Add the melted butter to the crumbled cookies and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour the mixture into the baking ring and use your hands to press it all down evenly. Place it into the fridge for between 5-10 minutes to stiffen.
4. Put the cream cheese into a mixing bowl. Follow with the quark cheese, sugar and vanilla. Start to fold and mix with the spatula, then continue with the whisk and stir vigorously until everything is evenly blended.
5. Add an egg to the mixture and stir it in thoroughly. Repeat for each of the other eggs in turn.
6. Put the sour cream into the bowl and stir it in thoroughly, but again, take care not to beat the mixture.
7. Pour the mixture slowly and evenly into the baking ring. It is now ready to go in the oven.
8. Place it into the lower part of the oven and let it bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
9. Watch to see if the cheesecake is ready it should be cooked but have a slightly wobbly consistency. Take it out, let it cool down and place in the fridge to set, for a minimum of 4 hours.
10. Slide a knife all around the edgeof the cheesecake to free it from the sides. Release the spring of the baking ring and take it off.
11. Dust the cake with some icing sugar and slice it into portions. Place a portion onto a serving plate and garnish with a few fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint

Tips

• Stir, but don't beat the mixture so as not to whisk in air, and make it too light in texture.
• Cooling a cheesecake too quickly often results in cracking. It is usually better to let it sit in the partially-opened oven for a few hours before moving it.

Warnings

• Cheesecake is tasty, but high in fat and sugars. Watch how much you are eating if you are trying to lose or maintain weight.

Things You'll Need

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Spatula
• 26cm, spring baking ring
• Knife

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Banana Raspberry Pie
• How to Make Pumpkin Pie
• How to Make Carrot Cake
• How to Make Walnut Carrot Cake

Sources and Citations

• Videojug Used with permission. Pictures are screenshots from the video.

1. ? http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Cakes/Cheesecake.htm

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make American Cheesecake. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Happy Easter to everyone on Grab. And how better to celebrate Easter than with a cool Easter wikiHow article? Heheheheheheh...

HOW TO MAKE A FUN EASTER BASKET

How to Make a Fun Easter Basket

from wikiHow rel="nofollow"- The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Easter is a fun time of year for the children. There is nothing like crafting an old-fashioned basket by hand to get their Easter off to a good start. This is an easy and very traditional Easter project.

Steps

1. Set you up a work area, and assemble the Things You'll Need.
2. Cut a piece of construction paper to wrap around the box; hold the paper up to the box and mark it with a (pencil or pen) to show how much that needs to be cut off. Cut the paper and glue it onto the box.
3. Draw and cut out some paper Easter eggs; use crayons or colored pencils to draw some designs on them and set them aside.
4. Cut a strip of construction paper to make a handle. Be sure that the handle strip is long enough; it is better if it is too long than not long enough, as you can always cut more off. Set aside.
5. Glue the eggs onto the side of the box. Add decorative stickers if desired, including such designs as Easter chickens, rabbits, chicks, bows etc.
6. Glue the handle onto the inside of the box. Glue one side at a time.
7. Add the Easter grass to the Easter basket and fill it with jelly beans, tiny chocolate eggs, etc.

Tips

• The handle is mainly for looks. Unless the basket is filled with lightweight stuff, such as jelly beans, or marshmallow eggs, do not carry it by the handle.
• Coat the construction paper wrapping the box with glue; smooth it out and evenly coat the remaining items, such as the eggs and handle, before applying.
• When you put the Easter grass inside the box, be sure that some of it is left showing to make the basket more appealing.

Warnings

• Do not use too much glue; it will show and detract from the overall look of the basket.

Things You'll Need

• Small empty box (recycle a used one, such as an oatmeal box)
• Construction paper (yellow for Easter or your choice of color); pinks and yellows are good Easter color choices
• Bright color or pastel color paper for Easter egg shapes
• Scissors
• Paper glue
• Craft grass
• Easter design stickers
• Crayons or art pencils

Related wikiHows

• How to Grow a Spring or Easter Basket
• How to Make Glow in the Dark Easter Eggs
• How to Make a Queen's Nest for Easter
• How to Choose an Easter Outfit
• How to Create Easter Decor Confetti
• How to Celebrate Lent

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Fun Easter Basket. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Most of us rent cars now. Be it on vacation, a business trip, or something similar. This how-to from wikiHow.com will assist you in finding not only a good rental car, but a good price as well.

How to Get the Best Deal on a Rental Car

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Finding the best deal on a rental car can be a frustrating experience with all of the different options online. If you are like many travelers, it is not unusual to find yourself clicking around the web for hours chasing the best deal and finding a never ending set of offers. There are some short cuts that can help you cut through all of the clutter online and get you on the road quicker. These tips should help you discern what a "deal" really is and how to avoid common mistakes.

Steps

1. Join one or more of the rental car loyalty programs like National's Emerald Club or Alamo’s Quicksilver Club which can earn free days or, as an alternative, earn points or miles in your favorite rewards program. The car rental's programs sometimes give preferred deals that are not available in other channels.
2. Know your providers. Not all rental car companies are created equal and it is important to understand how each are unique and how they can serve you best. For example, National and Budget allow you to rent one way while most others insist on returning the car where you picked it up. Meanwhile, Enterprise is known for offering an extra level of service which picks you up before and drops you off after your rental which none of the other companies do. They have many locations in urban and suburban areas which is extremely convenient for people who do not have a car. They are also not affiliated with any one manufacturer like the others, so you get lots of choices. They seem to be moving into the Airports and can be found at most of the major one in the US and Canada now.
3. Search consolidators and the online travel agencies including Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak and others. The major online agencies negotiate with the car rental companies to offer competitive rates and are always competing for your business. Orbitz is particularly good because they allow you to add discount codes to your search and get even lower rates. The meta-search engines like Kayak and Mobissimo may help you to figure out which agent or company has the best deal but this is just one step in the process.
4. Look for a discount code at your favorite rewards program, credit card site, association, etc because most of them either have discounts or miles or points that you can earn. These companies and associations work hard for you to keep you loyal and they always have a steady stream of new offers, discounts and rewards to save you money. Often times they make a small percentage on the deals you take through them so they are always incentivized to negotiate good deals for you. If do not want to go to all of these sites individually, DealMine.com has many of them searchable all in one site so you can compare the best deal for you based on where you belong.
5. Contact barter marketing companies who occasionally sell bulk rental car packages to consumers in exchange for cash upfront. This is not always available but the super-aggressive deal hunter may find some great deals if you put in the time.

Tips

• American Express cardholders should never buy collison damage waiver from rental car companies. If you pay with the Amex card, you are covered. You should only take liability coverage. Other credit cards may have similar coverage and you should check your agreements or call customer service to confirm before counting on it. If you have car insurance for your regular car, you may be covered and not need any of the insurance provided by the rental car companies.
• New York City residents are often excluded from many discounts and deals when renting in Manhattan. To find the best deals in the area, consider taking trains to the surrounding areas in NJ, CT or NY including airports where rates may be the best.
• Besides New York City, Airports have the highest rates. If you plan on staying in an area for a long time, consider taking a shuttle to town and then rent from an agency in town. The rates will be considerably less. Keep in mind that returning to this location means you have to take a cab or shuttle back to the airport. The price and hassle may not be worth the effort on a short rental.

Related wikiHows

• How to Become a Wholesale Car Dealer in California
• How to Become a Car Dealer in California
• How to Know Which Insurance to Take on a Rental Car

Sources and Citations

• Enterprise Rent-a-Car - http://www.enterprise.com
• Orbitz - http://www.orbitz.com
• National Rental Car - http://www.nationalcar.com
• Alamo - http://www.alamo.com
• DealMine.com Car Rental - http://www.dealmine.com/deal-directory/Travel-discounts/Car-Rentals/49

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get the Best Deal on a Rental Car. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

This article helps anyone to remove window tint, especially from a window of a car. Enjoy.

How to Remove Window Tint

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All window film deteriorates with age and eventually have to be removed. Two of the most common symptoms of dying film are the dreaded "purple film" and the "bubbling film". Purple film is caused by non-metallic dyes in the film breaking down and changing color. Bubbling film is a sign that the adhesive used to apply the tint to the window is failing. After a single bubble appears, many more will follow. Original article can be found at Remove Window Tint

Steps

1. Cut a garbage bag in roughly the shape of the window, spray soapy water on the outside, cover it with the black trash bag and smooth the plastic flat. Most window tint is constructed of multiple layers of film. When left under the hot sun, the garbage bag will absorb heat, helping the film peel off in one piece.
2. Protect all inside surfaces near the rear window with a tarp: speakers, rear light, and upholstered surfaces, then spray the entire window film with undiluted ammonia. Undiluted ammonia has a strong smell. It is recommended that you hold your breath or wear a face mask.
3. While the ammonia is still wet, trap the ammonia against the window film with another trash bag or plastic wrap. Park the car with the rear window facing the sun for an hour to soften the tint's adhesive.
4. Now we can start peeling the window film. Use your fingernail or razor blade lift the window film in a corner of the window, and try to peel the film off in one entire piece. Keep the tint moist with ammonia as you strip. Use a razor blade to scrape off any tint that did not peel. Be careful not to cut the defroster lines.
5. Remove the any residual adhesive with ammonia and Super-Fine steel wool, wiping with paper towel before it dries. Remove the exterior trash bag, and clean window thoroughly with glass cleaner.

Things You'll Need

• Black Trash Bags
• Ammonia (undiluted)
• Super-Fine Steel Wool
• Razor Blade or Sharp Knife
• Windex Glass Cleaner
• 3 hours of time
• Nice hot sunny day

Related wikiHows

• How to Clean Headlights
• How to Do a Good Base Coat Clear Coat Paint Job
• How to Replace Drum Brakes
• How to Make Your 4 Cylinder Run Faster

Sources and Citations

• Window Tint Info
• DIY Window Film

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Remove Window Tint. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Make Office Darts

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A boring day at the office can be remedied by an impromptu game of darts during coffee break, but your boss probably won't be receptive to your bringing a dartboard to work. Instead, you can make darts and a dartboard out of common things found on or around your desk, get a few of your co-workers together, and enjoy a good old game of office darts.

Steps

1. Gather your supplies, as listed in the Things You'll Need section below. All of them should be within reach of your desk, but you may have to take a stroll to the office supply cabinet if your own supplies are scarce.
2. Find three unsharpened wooden pencils.
3. Tape a push pin to the end of a single pencil.
4. Fold a small post-it in half, taping the loose ends onto the eraser end of the pencil. Repeat this with two more post-its, spacing them out so they make an even wing on the end of the dart.
5. Make darts out of the remaining two pencils by repeating the process.
6. Search for a picture of a dart board, or a picture of your nemesis, print it out, and pin it up on a bulletin board or soft cubicle wall.
7. Now you are ready to Play darts!

Tips

• Do not add any more weight to the dart by using heavier objects than listed. Using too much tape can weigh the darts down, too.
• You can use a hollowed out pen for this as well.
• Do not use the regular size post-its as they will be too large to make a correctly sized wing.

Warnings

• Be careful when assembling and using darts in the office; this may be grounds for discipline or termination.
• Further, if you are terminated for this practice, rejoice and find a job that actually has a dart board in the break room.
• Be careful when throwing the darts; you want to aim at the dart board, not a co-worker!

Things You'll Need

• 3 Wooden Pencils (unsharpened)
• 3 Push Pins
• 9 small size post-its
• Tape
• Computer with internet
• Computer paper
• Printer

Related wikiHows

• How to Play Darts
• How to Throw Darts
• How to Look Busy at Work Without Really Working
• How to Make Better Office Coffee
• How to Choose a Good Office Plant

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Office Darts. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

This article should help many. It is the 18th most popular article over at wikiHow, with 602,049 views to date on the page.

How to Save a Wet Cell Phone

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Ever dropped your cell phone in the sink, or even worse, the toilet? Did you ever leave it in your pocket and run it through the washer? It usually means you have to replace your phone, but sometimes if you're fast, you can save the phone!

Steps

1. Get it out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone over time. But this time may be quite short - 20 seconds or less. So grab your phone quickly! If you can't get to it in time, your best bet is to remove the battery while it is still under water. Water helps dissipate heat from shorts that can damage the phone, so most damage occurs when the inside of the phone is merely wet and there is a power source.
2. Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when wet.
3. If you have a GSM carrier, remove your SIM card. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. To some people this could be more worth saving than the phone itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the following steps are unnecessary i.e. don't heat it. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step does not apply to CDMA carriers such as Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, etc.)
4. Dry your phone. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as possible, so you can save it from getting into the phone. Use a towel or paper towel to gently remove as much of the water as possible.
5. Use a hair dryer on air or lowest heat to dry out the phone. Do NOT simply "allow the phone to dry" as the prolonged presence of moisture can damage the phone. Remove cover(s) and open slots to gently dry as much as possible. You can also leave the phone in a bowl of uncooked rice over night. The rice would absorb any remaining moisture .
6. Prop the phone on the openings for charging, headphones, etc. Prop it on a facial tissue or paper towel that will show any moisture that drips out. Check each hour for 4-6 hours. If moisture is evident, repeat the hair drying step.
7. Test your phone. After you have waited a day or so, make sure everything is clean and dry looking and re-attach the battery to the phone and see if it works. If your phone does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery, if this works, you need a new battery. If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet. There are internal indicators that prove moisture.

Tips

• Excessive heat can damage your phone even more! Most phones have warnings about leaving them in your car or exposing them to heat. The main point is to completely dry the phone before applying power. Be patient!
• If your phone falls in the ocean or other salt water, rinse with fresh water before crystals can form after removing battery.
• If your phone has been subjected to salt water crystalizing, gently tap the board and the chips with a plastic object (back of the small screw driver for example). The vibration of the taps will set some of the foreign objects free and they will fall out. Be careful and don't smash the board or the chips. A sharp enough blow will break the chips. Tapping very gently multiple times in multiple locations, especially around the chips, is a preferred method.
• Try opening your phone if you can. You'll probably need a TORX screwdriver for that, but it's worth it. This may void your warranty, but it is likely the water damage already has.
• If you know someone at your local high school's physics department, try putting your wet cell phone in the vacuum chamber at 2 psi for 1 hour. That will dry out parts you can't access.
• Try holding a compressed air can STRAIGHT (upside down, sideways, or at an angle will shoot out a freezing liquid) and shoot into the crevaces, speaker, mic, and keypad. Any exess water stuck should come out. If the can gets cold and you're not done, let the can sit a while before continuing, as cold air could make excess moisture condense onto parts.
• Since your warranty is void anyway, buy (RAZR needs Torx #4, #5, and #6) screwdrivers to open your case, since these are almost always specialized. Pick up a can of Contact Spray (electric contact cleaner)and douse the inside. It dries rapidly. Scrub any residue with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Spray with compressed air, and put it back together. See link below for a purveyor of RAZR tools. Google anything else you need.
• In most cases, if you pulled the battery out in time, cleaning the inside with alcohol or contact spray will fix your problem. If there is even ONE drop of water left inside, it can ruin your phone by making the wrong contact. If your phone is still acting strange after you have cleaned it, then you've missed some liquid. (I have repaired MANY Motorola products just by cleaning the boards with contact spray, a toothbrush, and compressed air.)
• Place the phone in a vacuum chamber and active the chamber. Typically universities and specific industries will have a vacuum chamber available if you happen to know the right person. Water "boils" at room temperature, given enough time, meaning that it evaporates through bubbles even though it isn't heated. This method should be successful when the vacuum is maintained at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• In case your phone won't dry, call your carrier (Sprint,Nextel, Verizon, etc.) for a new phone.
• Be patient!

Warnings

• Don't heat the battery or it could leak or explode. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive. If you use an oven or hairdryer, make sure to remove the battery first.
• If you use alcohol make sure to do so outside, and do not apply heat in any form, not even the gentle heat of a monitor. Do not hook up the battery until the alcohol smell dissipates.
• Do not apply too much heat to your phone, as mentioned above. You don't want to melt or burn your phone.
• Most modern phones have more than one liquid damage indicator (stickers that change color when wet) on them, only one visible to you (and sales/technician agents), and chances are, if the sticker under the battery is triggered, then the odds are that the internal stickers you can't access are tripped as well. This will still result in you paying a voided-warranty fee in the long run. Warranties don't cover water damage, insurance does. And not all insurance companies or plans will honor water damaged phones.
• Even if all these steps are followed, minerals dissolved in the water can precipitate on solder and component pins, causing corrosion or shorting. Components pins are packed so closely together in a modern cell phone that even a small encrustation can create a short, rendering the phone inoperable.
• Be warned that manufacturers place stickers that will display "void" once peeled and some will change colors in the presence of a liquid (usually turns blue or red). This helps techs know that you have dropped it in the water, as most cell phone insurance coverage policies don't cover water damage. Also note that these stickers have been known to change colors in extreme humidity as well.
• Do not put the phone (or any electronic or metal-containing object) into the microwave. You will destroy electronic components and potentially the microwave.
• For the semi-mechanically inclined remove screws and as a minimum crack the case open to allow moisture to escape. Cell phones are normally somewhat water proof so they can be used in the light rain and humid environments. This means that once moisture has entered the phone it is very hard for it to dry out. Getting the phone out of the water and IMMEDIATELY REMOVING THE BATTERY gives you the best chance of success.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get out of a Cellular Service Contract
• How to Find the IMEI Number on a Mobile Phone
• How to Make SIM Card Earrings
• How to Dispute Your Cell Phone Bill
• How to Get a Surf Report from a Cell Phone

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Save a Wet Cell Phone. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.