Month: January 2016

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Report: Fully 88% Of Hoverboards Sold This Christmas Are Dangerous and Defective

Ever since “Back to the Future Part II” hit theaters in 1989 with its campy depiction of 2015, Americans have been obsessed with hoverboards. So it’s fitting that during Christmas 2015 “hoverboards” were the number three top search on Google for toys, although these so-called hoverboards don’t quite live up to the name.

Although they most definitely have wheels — that most definitely do not hover off the ground — these futuristic devices became a trending item in 2015. They operate like a Segway scooter but resemble a large skateboard, and the boards became an overnight sensation.

Unfortunately, a number of Chinese manufacturers in Shenzhen capitalize on trends like this by quickly pumping out bargain versions of consumer products, only without the regulations, standards, and oversight that Western consumers take for granted. Already, Shenzhen manufacturers have shipped millions of hoverboards, including 400,000 in October ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Some of these hoverboards ignite when overheated, posing a serious risk to their owners. Airlines banned the products from their planes, Amazon and other retailers restricted sales, and regulatory bodies in the U.S. and U.K. are sounding the alarm.

In December, the U.K. National Trading Standards service reported that fully 88% of the 17,000 hoverboards assessed at U.K. border crossings were deemed unsafe and detained.

According to a statement from the regulatory agency, “Officers from National Trading Standards Safety at Ports and Borders Teams and trading standards services in Scotland have detained the boards — a ‘must-have’ on Christmas lists this year — due to a range of concerns, such as safety issues with the plug, cabling, charger, battery or the [thermal cutoff switch] within the board, which often fails. Many of the items detained and sent for testing have been found to have noncompliant plugs without fuses, which increases the risk of the device overheating, exploding or catching fire.”

Thermal cutoff fuses are a single-use device designed to automatically cut off electrical flow in the event of overheating, and they’re required by regulators in countries around the world.

And according to Quartz.com, “Hundreds of makeshift entrepreneurs, many of whom have no engineering or technology expertise, are doing deals with white-label Chinese manufacturers to make hoverboards. They then re-sell them using names like Phunkeeduck, Swagway, Fiturbo, Hover Booster, Galaxy Board, and Cyboard.”

That means many of the hoverboards sold in U.S. stores or bought online were designed with faulty or counterfeit thermal cutoff fuses.

“All the hoverboards in the US are sold by importers, who barely even know the factories they are buying it from,” Andrew “Bunnie” Huang, a hardware analyst in Singapore, told Quartz in December. “In a hyper-competitive market that’s driven by a fad, taking six months to do a comprehensive testing program for safety means you’re missing out on a lot of business.”

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Clothes donations Clothing donation pickup Red cross pickup

Helping Your Community With Your Used Clothing

Clothes donations

Every parent knows the frustration of how quickly their kids tend to grow out of their clothing. It seems as if every other week, your kids are growing out of their shirts, sweaters, shoes or pants. You have to run to the store, getting them more clothing; and spending more money, only to have them grow out of those items just as quickly. It is frustrating, but what about those parents who cannot afford to continuously purchase new clothing items for their ever growing kids? That?s where great places, various charities come in to donate clothes to these children. These charities rely solely on the donations of clothing from others, to provide these necessities to in-need families.

Americans consume nearly 20 billion garments a year. That?s 68 garments and 7 pairs of shoes per person or more than one piece of clothing purchases per week! An even greater statistic is the fact that according to the EPA; American?s throw away an average of 10 pounds of clothes per person per year. Those discarded clothing items could be recycled and provided to families and children in need. A small 3% of American income is given to charities each year. This small amount could be increased by simply donate clothing to the charities that are providing to the homeless or those in need.

The process to donate clothes has only become easier over the years. Many of the charities have set up the process to ensure it is quick and easy, hopefully encouraging clothes donations. Many charities have an actual clothing donation center. This is a physical location, where you can easily drop your clothing items off. This might also be a place that those in need can go to for help. They can often either purchase clothing for very cheap, or they can receive free clothing, if needed. Additionally, there are also clothing donation pickup centers available. These are services that some of the larger charities can offer for convenience. They will send a truck to pick up the clothing items or any additional items that you wish to donate to charity. The process is extremely easy, with the workers doing all of the hard work for you. Finally, many charities have drop off points or boxes located throughout the city, allowing you to drop your donated clothing items off while getting your gas or grocery shopping.

Donating your used and unwanted clothing items to charities has many advantages. When you donate clothes to Red Cross or other places, you are helping in more ways than one. You are providing those in need with clothing that they might not otherwise be able to afford. You are also providing a type of income to provide other needed items. When you donate clothes, you are helping out your community in many ways.

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Comfortable bed Motorized bed Recliner beds

6 Benefits of Getting Decent Sleep

Adjustable mattresses beds

Most Americans do not get enough sleep. While the National Sleep Foundation recommends people get at least seven hours of sleep each night, few of us actually do. Somewhere between 50 and 70 million American adults suffer from chronic sleep problems. Some research shows that at least one quarter of all Americans suffer from insomnia. This costs the United States economy at least $63 billion every year in lost productivity. This makes improving the quality of your sleep not just good for you but for all of us.
The 6 Benefits of Getting Decent Sleep

  1. You will live longer. People who sleep as much as they should live longer. New studies shod that in people aged 50 to 70, more deaths are recorded for those who get less than five hours each night.
  2. Better sleep will improve your memory. The quality of your sleep can help improve your memory. A lot happens while we are asleep. You may not realize it but your brain is very active during the different stages of sleep. This can help you learn a new skill or sport.
  3. Better sleep can help reduce your stress level. Watching the quality of your sleep can help other aspects of your life. By sticking to a sleep schedule you can improve the quantity and quality of your sleep which can lower your stress and help lower your blood pressure.
  4. Sleep helps prevent depression and irritability. People who get more and better sleep are less likely to suffer from depression. Long nights awake make people irritable, grouchy and just unhappy. Pay attention to the quality of your sleep and you will be a happier person and ore fun to be around in general.
  5. Lose weight and keep it off with better sleep. People who do not sleep enough weight more than those who do. This is not just because of all of the late night snacking they do but their bodies have higher metabolisms than their sleep deprived friends and family. Well rested dieters have been known to lose up to 56% more than people who do not get enough sleep.
  6. Have less problems with inflammation. Many people suffer from inflammation in their joints. Some studies show that people who get less than six hours of sleep a night have more C-reactive protein, which leads to inflammation, than those who get more sleep. This can be a problem that will lead to a host of medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and premature aging. Avoid these, or lessen your risk by getting more sleep.

Getting the right amount of sleep every night is the key to getting these health benefits. This means that you cannot skip sleeping during the week and then hope to catch up on it over the weekend. Many studies have shown that people can get themselves into a situation where their a “sleep deficits” cannot be cured with a long weekend of sleeping in.
It can be hard to get a good night sleep every night. It is important to develop good sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time every day. Even on the weekends. This gets your body used to going to sleep at these times and will become a real routine. You should also avoid looking at television or other screens right before you go to sleep as the kind of light they produce makes your brain release chemicals that will keep you awake. If you want to read before bed, try a real book or magazine. That will prevent you from having the light source also be the reason you do not get to sleep.

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Background check dating New dating website Single dating site

Online Dating How To Make It Safer

Safe online dating sites

Surveys show that 23% of online daters say they have met a spouse or long term relationship through a safe online dating site. Dating websites have grown in popularity, with 59% of all internet users expressing their belief that that “online dating is a good way to meet people.” Among those Americans single and looking for a partner, 38% have utilized online dating sites or mobile dating apps.

But with over 54.25 million singles available and able to tell you anything they want to about themselves, it’s a good idea to ask yourself the question, “Are dating sites safe?” And the answer is a qualified “yes”. They’re perfectly fine for the most part.

What are the most desired characteristics of people you might encounter at safe online dating sites? Statistics reveal that 30% of those revealing a preference cited personality, 23% went with smile and looks, 14% said a sense of humor and 10% found career and education to be most important.

Nice guys finish first with 38% of women, and 42% of males prefer career women. And 71% of singles believe in love at first sight.

Online dating is entrenched as part of our culture now and will likely continue to become more popular. Already, 42% of Americans know someone who looks for potential dates online, and 29% know a person who has found a spouse or other long-term relationship online.

Even when you’re pretty sure you’ve found a wonderful potential partner, consider having a background check performed, just as a precaution. Make sure whomever you choose to do the job has a military, law enforcement or private investigator background. Remember – you’re meeting someone you know nothing about except what that person has told you. People with less than a clean background are not likely to provide details on a dating website. It’s far better to know for sure who you’re dealing with, to avoid any possible problems.

Yes, there are safe online dating sites, but as you probably know there are also plenty of horror stories. So be smart. It’s okay to hope for the best, but do take precautions.

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Area rug cleaning services Commercial carpet cleaning Upholstery and carpet cleaning

How Clean is Your Carpet? Probably Not as Clean as You Think

Carpet cleaning services in chicago

Carpets can offer a comfortable, even luxurious feel to any home. They’re easier to maintain than most styles of flooring, and are often less expensive as well. However, as any homeowner knows, carpets are a magnet for dust, animal dander and other household debris. While vacuuming regularly can help, hiring experienced carpet cleaners to sanitize and revitalize your carpets will make your home feel like new.

If you’re still on the fence about whether you need to have your carpets cleaned, read on to see if it’s the right service for your home.

Why should I have my carpets cleaned?

While it’s common knowledge that carpets collect dust, not many people are aware of exactly how much dust they collect and the associated pests the dust attracts. Just about 2,000 dust mites can easily subsist on just an ounce of dust from your carpet. Dust and dust mites are a very common allergy source and a trigger for asthma and other respiratory issues, which children an elderly people can be more susceptible to.

There’s also aesthetic considerations as well. Carpets, particularly light colored carpets can show stains and discoloration throughout the years, which a carpet cleaning service with experienced carpet cleaners can remove through spot treatment.

How does it work?

Commercial carpet cleaners each have their own process to cleaning the carpets in your home. However, most will first come in for an inspection of your carpets to judge soil levels. When they come in to do the work, they will vacuum, spot-treat, and condition the carpet, then groom it to loosen up the accumulated dirt. This is followed by rinsing or steaming, applying a cleaning product, and then drying. This process is the same whether you scheduled an area rug cleaning or a cleaning for your whole home. Check services in your area to find the best residential carpet cleaners.

How often should you have your carpet professionally cleaned?

The answer depends on your lifestyle. If you’re a smoker, have children or pets (good luck if you fit all of the above!, or lots of foot traffic for any reason, you should consider getting your carpets professionally cleaned two to four times per year. It’s a good idea to at least have any high-traffic area such as your living room cleaned on a quarterly basis.

Whether you have a big job or a small job, it’s important to find experienced carpet cleaners who will get the done for a good price!
Good references.

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Characteristics of claysoil Perennials Pink climbing roses

Four Surprising Facts That Might Change Your Mind About Gardening

Climbing roses red

Landscape design can have a major impact on not only how your home is perceived by strangers, but how you feel about your land yourself. Looking out at your yard or garden can be either extremely satisfactory, or a little disheartening. Even if your landscape design wasn’t at the top of your priority list, it’s hard not to be a little embarrassed when your grass is yellow instead of green, or when what once was a garden is overrun with weeds. Plus, there’s a lot more to keeping a beautiful landscape than simply planting seeds and trimming hedges. Your landscape is a living, constantly changing thing. And there are plenty of ways that it can benefit you — and plenty of secrets you probably don’t even know about landscape design and gardening.

1. Flowers Help Cure Depression

We often see flowers as somewhat superfluous. They’re beautiful, it’s true, and some of them have health benefits and are even edible. But the fact is that they don’t have the practical applications of fruits and vegetables — or do they? Your flower nursery may be able to help cure your depression. On average, seniors observe an 81% reduction in depression after simply receiving flowers — imagine how much your depression will reduce once you start working with them on a regular basis. Flowers are beautiful, relatively simple to care for, and give a visual result for people working with them. Adding flowers to your landscape is included in some landscaping packages, meaning that you don’t even have to tend to the initial, more difficult growth yourself.

2. Gardening Betters Your Health

Experienced landscapers will be the first to admit that if you want to get a workout out of gardening, you can. This isn’t for everyone, but gardening can be an easy way to achieve the two and a half hours of weekly exercise that most people should aim for. Unlike the treadmill, however, gardening has a clear and enjoyable result. The beautiful appearance of your garden is your reward for exercising, and a great one at that. A Stockholm study even reported that regular gardening cuts your risk for heart attack or stroke after 60 by 30%. It can even reduce the risk of dementia by 36% — with some studies increasing that estimate to 46%.

3. Grapes Have A Storied History

Yes, we all know that grapes are not just fruit — they’re how we get wine! But the fact is that wine isn’t something we started enjoying within the past few centuries. According to archeologists, grapes were grown to make wine as far as 8,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. The process wasn’t recorded, however, until Ancient Egyptians began doing so 5,000 years ago. It’s no wonder wine is so culturally important today — we’ve been enjoying it for longer than anyone could ever remember.

4. Trees Are Borderline Immortal

Maybe “immortal” is stretching it. But if you plan on contacting your landscape services about having trees planted, you may want to consider a type of tree with greater longevity. That way, it will be enjoyed by generations to come. And immortal or not, trees do live for a very long time. The bristlecone pine is the longest lived tree in the world, with the oldest growing to elevations of 10,000 or 11,000 feet high. The oldest of these trees, “Methuselah”, is 4,789 years old.

5. Bamboo Could Change Your Garden’s Entire Look

Did you know that bamboo can grow 35 inches a day? It’s the fastest growing woody plants in the world, and it can change the entire look of your garden. Can bamboo be a challenge? Yes — it may be a good project for an advanced gardener. But once an experienced landscape designer shows you the ropes, you should be good to go. Bamboo will make your garden look a little more creative, and a bit less like every other boring, “English countryside” garden on the block.

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Mortgages rates No deposit home loans Reverse mortgage advantages

Low Mortgage Rates Make This a Good Time to Buy a Home

Tennessee home mortgage

Given uncertain economic conditions, many people believe that buying a home is no longer with in their reach. But they could be wrong. With long term home mortgage rates falling as low as 3.31% in 2012, this is actually a good time to buy a home. A reliable firm of direct mortgage lenders can not help you find low interest home loans, they can also help you with other financial services such as refinancing a loan or consolidating debt.

Home buying 101: A good credit score

In general, according to the Home Loan Learning Center, the majority of commercial mortgage lenders will not approve jumbo loans for people with a credit score of less than 680. For FHA mortgage loans, a minimum credit score of 620 is needed. Buyers should also expect to have to make a down payment of around 3.5% of the value of the home, though this might vary a little for different direct mortgage lenders.

Sometimes, buyers can make up for a low credit score by making a larger down payment. In general, though, it is a good idea to maintain a good credit score. This involves cleaning up credit history and making sure that any errors are corrected by credit reporting agencies.

Making the mortgage process easier

In the world of home buying, low rate mortgages are the Holy Grail. When looking for home loans, finding good mortgage rates is key. Experts advise that buyers should lock in a rate as soon as they are find the numbers they are comfortable with. Financial experts also advise that total household monthly debt payments, including mortgage payments, should be around one-third and no more than 36% of gross monthly income.

Getting a good mortgage rate is only the first step. Buyers should keep in mind that there will be costs like closing costs; they may also be called upon to pay for points. It’s a good idea to hold off on any other major expenses when buying a home. Experts also caution that any changes in employment status or income can delay or even half the mortgage process. So it’s best to stick with your employer until the contract is signed.

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Charlotte luxury home builders Custom home builders in ohio Tampa bay custom home builders

How to Upgrade Your Home to the Level of Luxury in 4 Steps

Custom home builders in ohio

Luxury home models that sell for $1 million or more aren’t uncommon in today’s designer home market. With price tags of seven figures or more, luxury home buyers have high expectations for the luxury home designs they purchase. If you’re contemplating listing your home on the luxury market or perhaps building luxury custom homes from the ground up, consider these 4 tips on how to help your home compete with the luxury home models on today’s market:

  1. Go green

    Luxury home designs are often criticized for being extravagant and wasteful, but today’s environmentally-conscious home buyers have more than good looks on their minds. Elevate your home with energy-saving and eco-friendly upgrades that go beyond solar panels with these additions:

    • Proper weather stripping: According to Energy Star, air leaks account for up to 40% of heating and cooling losses in homes which aren’t weather stripped. This is particularly important if your home is in a climate with extreme weather conditions.

    • Reexamine your windows: Double-paned wood- or vinyl-framed windows can reduce costs by 18 to 24% during summer and winter months.

    • Spray foam insulation: Consider spray foam insulation for added savings up to 50%. Most spray foam insulation ranges from $0.44 to $1 per board foot. Your custom home builders or contractor can give you a more exact estimate.

    • Install a geothermal system: By utilizing the natural stability of subterranean temperatures, geothermal systems can cut costs by 25 to 50% while also reducing emissions as compared to conventional systems. They’re clean and sustainable and sure to catch the eye of eco-friendly home buyers.

  2. Upgrade your kitchen and bathrooms

    Designer home builders are upgrading the amenities in their luxury home designs to appeal to today’s buyers. Custom wine cellars with tasting rooms; full outdoor kitchens, including wood-fire ovens for homemade pizza; professional, deluxe at-home spa rooms; and private vineyards are all gracing today’s luxury home models. In addition to installing energy-saving features, ask your luxury home builders about adding a popular amenity such as a stone bathtub or infinity pool to your home.

  3. Consider future guests

    With their grand size, luxury home floor plans often contain an abundance of bedrooms. In 2013, 569,000 single-family homes were built. Of those completed homes, 251,000, or approximately 44%, had four or more bedrooms. Only 59,000 had two or fewer bedrooms. Homeowners are looking for room to spread out and entertain.

    Guest cottages are a welcoming addition to many luxury home models. At only around 1,200 feet with one or two bedrooms, a guest cottage adds appeal without greatly increasing the cost of maintenance to future homeowners. Instead of building an extravagant pool, you may want to consider adding a guest cottage to your luxury house plans.

  4. Security

    For those looking at luxury custom home designs, the home itself is only the beginning of their valuables. While you can’t necessarily control the security of your neighborhood, you can take steps to increase the security of your home. Home buyers today are looking for security systems that are fully-integrated and controllable from their smart devices. They want to be able to check-up on things at home no matter where life may take them.

Talk to your home builder today about upgrading your home to the level of luxury home models.

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Adjustable double beds Feeling tired Twin adjustable bed

What Does Your Sleeping Position Say?

Adjustable bed mattresses

Your sleep quality could be being hindered by your sleeping position. Getting undisturbed sleep is very important to falling into those sleep realms that will help you to feel well rested and ready to tackle life without feeling tired. So, just picture it, climbing in to your comfortable bed, cuddling down under the blankets, closing your eyes and falling asleep. Only to wake up hours later feeling groggy, irritated and tired. So, let’s talk about your sleeping position and how that might be hindering you from getting a proper nights’ sleep.

There are three main positions that we sleep in. Within those three that are some variables but for the most part we will stick to the main types.

Sleeping on your side
This is the most highly recommended sleeping position. It has been proven to help with insomnia and also with chronic sleep deprivation. The best way to sleep on your side is to bend your knees a little as you are laying down. If you have back problems, you can put a pillow or cushion between your knees and this will help to take the pressure off your hips and back.

Sleeping on your back
Sleeping on your back can actually cause lower back pain, especially if you use a lot of pillows under your head; it puts strain on the spinal chord. Sleep apnea has been known to increase and worsen when sleeping on your back. However, if you can not sleep unless you are on your back, try placing a roll pillow under your knees to help the spine feel more naturally curved.

Sleeping on your stomach
This is the worst sleeping position of them all. The strain that is caused on the spin and back is extremely bad for you. Statistics show that those who sleep on their stomach report the most restlessness throughout the night. If you still must sleep on your stomach, try not to use a pillow so that your neck is not propped up at a weird angle.

Sleeping is an extremely important part of our lives. Getting enough sleep during the night should be a priority. How you feel during the waking hours really depends on how well you have slept the night before.

  1. Sleep helps your brain to function properly. When you sleep, the brain also rests and prepares for the following day to help you learn and remember. Sleep deficiency hinders activity in some parts of the brain, making it difficult to make decisions and react properly to situations.


  2. Sleep can also effect your emotional well being. Not getting enough sleep has been associated with certain types of depression as well as suicide and risky behavior.


  3. Physical health is also affected by sleep. Sleep plays a big part is repairing your heart and blood vessels, thus making heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke a much higher risk when you have ongoing sleep deficiency.


  4. Not getting the sleep you need affects your ability to make rational decisions, as mentioned earlier. This can be unsafe for you and for those around you.

Overall, remember that you not only do you need sufficient sleep every night, but you need to lay down in such a way that your body can get the maximum rest it is capable of. You’ll be surprised at how much better your quality of life gets, after following these simple tips.

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Children in need clothing Organizations that accept clothing donations Organizations that help military families

How You Can Make a Difference By Just Giving Away Your Clothes!

Military support

If you’re looking for a way to give back, perhaps one of the easiest ways is to make charitable clothing donations. If you have kids, this can be made even easier for you — your kids are probably growing at a rapid rate, which leaves piles of clothing that are in perfectly good condition but that your child is now too big for. Instead of letting it pile up in your basement, attic, or garage, why not making a clothing donation to a charity in need? Almost every charity will take clothes, like veterans charities, homeless shelters, and children’s organizations. Not only are you cutting down on your clutter at home, you could be making a tremendous difference in someone’s life.
How Many People Are Making Charitable Clothing Donations? Are The Donations Used?
In 2011, around 2 million tons of clothing and other textiles were either recycled in some fashion or part of a charitable donation. In 2007, almost $6 billion in clothing donations poured into charities. The rate at which donated clothing is actually used is pretty good — in 2011, it was recorded at a little over 15%. Besides which, your average American will buy at least ten pounds of secondhand clothes annually — and with thrift stores being popularized in pop culture, that number is sure to have grown in the last few years. Additionally, around 80% of clothing that gets donated is really used by charitable organizations — either to clothes those who need it, or in sales to help fund their organizations.
How Does My Clothing Donation Help?
As with all donations, even the smallest amount can make a difference. Your donation could give someone a warm winter coat or put shoes on the feet of a child who needs them. They could be part of a first day of school outfit or what someone wears to a job interview, to try and turn their luck around. You’re impacting people’s lives by simply giving away what you don’t need. Donating and being generous also has proven to have good emotional effects on people as well.
Beyond that, you’re also helping the environment. Much of what gets thrown out can be recycled — especially with clothing and textiles. Those types of things can almost always be repurposed or given a second life. Instead, it tends to go in the landfill and take up space. Research has proven that around 12 million tons of clothing (and other textiles) are thrown out annually — far more than is being saved. Even worse, 90% of that could have been reused in some way.
Where Are Places I Can Make a Donation?
Many large organizations have websites where you can find a drop off site for your charitable clothing donations. Some churches or religious institutions may run a clothing drive or you may already be aware of some local charities in your neighborhood that take donations. No matter where you choose to donate, know that you’re making a difference in someone’s life and helping save the environment at the same time!