Spring break Info

Apartment Living-You Break It, You Buy It

Apartment Living-You Break It, You Buy It

by: Dan The Roommate Man

Some tenants are under the impression that anything needing repairs is the landlord?s responsibility. Be advised that the landlord is responsible for repairing problems affecting habitability--not your toilet paper holder.

In a recent interview, Oakland, Californian Property Manager, James Devonshire* told me about one of the unrealistic tenants he had. ?I arrived home from work, to find a letter from one of the tenants. Inside, it was addressed to me, the Housing Authority, and his Lawyer. It said that these items needed to be fixed and (that they were) about to impair his lifestyle:

1. Toilet is broken.

2. Toilet paper holder is broken.

3. Bathroom door is broken.

4. Refrigerator is no good.

5. Alarm (smoke detector) is broken keeps going off every 3 to 4 months.?

Translation of Submitted Letter:

1. I broke the seat on the toilet.

2. I leaned on the toilet paper holder, and it came out of the wall.

3. I fell into the bathroom door and it broke.

4. I want to complain about the appliances you've given me.

5. I forgot to replace the batteries in the smoke alarm.

With a laugh, he let the tenant know that these repairs were not his responsibility. ?You break it, you fix it. Even I, as manager, have to pay for stuff broken by myself in my apartment.? Mr. Devonshire understands that he is responsible for repairs specified in the lease i.e. plumbing problems due normal wear and tear, upkeep and safety of the building, etc.

?I am by no means a mean, thoughtless apartment manager. I spend a lot of my own money on extra plants for our swimming pool area. The owner isn?t required to do (that)... I also do most of the repairs, which keeps building expenses down and which helps keep our rent down.?

Mr. Devonshire points out that tenants will ?report broken things coincidentally around the time rent is due, and demand them to be fixed before paying.? Being sneaky will get you nowhere fast. Your landlord will notice if you suddenly turn gobs of ridiculous repair requests around the same time you need to hand him the check. If you think you can get away with it... think again. Your landlord might make the repairs for you... but (if the problems are your fault) he might also deduct repair costs from your security deposit. (Touche!)

Since 1989 dan the roommate man has helped 1000's of people find good roommates. Call him at 800-488-8050 or http://www.roommateexpress.com

About The Author

Dan The Roommate Man

Since 1989, Dan The Roommate Man has helped 1000's of people find goor roommates.

roommateexpress.com

info@roommateexpress.com

Award Winning Shade Garden Plant

Award Winning Shade Garden Plant

by: Doug Green

The 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year was Athyrium niponicum ?Pictum? or Japanese Painted Fern and this plant deserves to be in all shade gardens.

This hardy fern grows twelve to eighteen inches tall and slowly multiplies to form a large clump twenty four inches across. The fronds are approximately eighteen inches long and are a soft-grey metallic colour with hints of red and blue. The centre stem is red so the contrast is excellent. It is a lovely plant preferring partial shade rather than deep shade. It does best with regular watering rather than dry soils. The Japanese painted fern is native to Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan and once you see it unfurling its metallic grey frond in early spring, you?ll be a convert and want a bit of the oriental influence in your garden. This fern colouring lends itself to being an excellent contrast plant to other shade perennials such as Hosta and the new gold coloured Carex ?Lemon Zest?. Mature plants can be divided every three to four years to provide extra plants for zealous gardeners.

There are several new varieties of Japanese painted fern that you might want to search for at your favourite garden centre. ?Pewter Lace? has metallic pewter to mint-green fronds (two toned) with red stems and extremely lacy foliage. I saw this plant last year and I can tell you it will wind up in one of my garden containers this spring to fill a contrast plant role. The second new introduction is ?Ursula?s Red? and this variety has large silver leaves but the centre of each leaf is flushed with wine-red colour in the spring. It is a gorgeous fern.

When you add the award-winning ?Pictum? to the garden mix, you have an difficult choice to make. Which one to grow?

About The Author

Doug Green, award-winning garden writer answers gardening questions in his free newsletter at http://www.gardening-tips-perennials.com.

Bankruptcy Law And How To Get Your Credit Back

Bankruptcy Law And How To Get Your Credit Back

by: Derek Gardner

Personal Bankruptcy what is it?

Personal Bankruptcy is legal procedures that enables a debtor to for the time being or lastingly avoid paying some of their personal debt unpaid. The US Congress enacted the existing bankruptcy code in 1978, and newly amended it in the spring of 2005.The objective of the legislation is to give relief and structure to those people of society who have gotten themselves so deep into debt they can not possibly pay back. Currently there are 2 forms of bankruptcy that are available for individuals: chapter 13 & chapter 7.

Will you be able to get credit again?

Undoubtedly, the banks have become better at working with people who have filed for personal bankruptcy. You can get a new kind of protected credit card, where a deposit is made to cover the line of credit. This card is the start of the process of credit restoration. Within a couple of years, the banks will start giving you credit again.

What about my creditors?

You might worry about your creditors harassing you, and if they will ever get off your back. They will! By law all activities against a debtor must end when bankruptcy papers have been filed with the government.

Will anybody know that I filed?

Very few people will know that you have filed for Bankruptcy. The file goes into the public record. Credit bureaus will keep a documentation of your filing for 10 years.

Changes made to the bankruptcy laws?

The "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005" was passed by congress in spring of 2005 and will be effective on October 17th, 2005. The purpose of the act was to force people who have enough money to make some of the payments on their debt make those payments instead than steer clear of the debt all together. The major changes are:

Tests are performed to identify the ability of the debtor to pay their debts. The tests are: Is the family earning higher than the average income for their state? If yes, does the family have enough income to pay some or all of their debts?

Debtors wishing to filing for bankruptcy must give the government their most recent tax return.

A minimum 2 year residency is required to take advantage of state exceptions.

Counselling: Debtors must have completed a federally approved credit counselling program within the six months prior to filing.

Child support and Alimony payments were moved to first priority when dividing the income.

About The Author

Derek Gardner

Huge amount of Bankruptcy Law quality information on this site ? Go there. http://www.bankruptcylaw.infostairs.com.

At Last, a GPS-Enabled Fish Finder That Doesn't Break the Bank

At Last, a GPS-Enabled Fish Finder That Doesn't Break the Bank

by: Niall Pesci

Imagine being able to tell what the fish action is like under your boat. It would save you hours of casting into barren water. With an Eagle fishfinder you will have a clear picture of what is below and whether its time to move on, or time to cast.

For those looking for a fish finder that will allow them to locate their fish without breaking the bank, the Cuda 168 is one of the best you?ll find. You will find a packed-full-of-features system with the 168 EX. Here are some of the features that you will be proud to call your own.

The Cuda features a 4 ? inch diagonal screen. It is a high definition, 168 vertical pixel resolution, backlit screen and keypad, 4 level grayscale system. What does all of that mean? It will deliver for you a clear picture of what is below the water?s surface. It will allow you to see, with clarity the images that your sonar is depicting. Its clarity is a main point that makes it such a find and you will find it such a great help when out on the water.

The sonar depth is 600 feet with 800 watts of power. This is perfect for the small lake or for see what?s below the surface in a larger lake. It has a high performance, 60 degree fish detection system which is highly sensitive and will give you a clear picture of your fish lurking below. You also get other features with this sonar that will help to enhance its quality. For example, Grayline allows you to see your fish even if it is up against a nearby structure or hiding on the floor. Without this, you may never have noticed it.

You simply need to know where your fish is, how deep he is and what his next move is so that you can reel him in! This will help you do that!

The Cuda 168 also has an easy, quick connect and disconnect feature to it. Nothing is worse than dealing with a mess of cables and this system eliminates that.

With so much to offer this Eagle Cuda is a great bargain!

About The Author

Niall Pesci is a keen lakes fisherman who is always looking at new tools to help him catch more fish. Visit Fish Finder Review for more information and great deals about the Eagle Cuda 168 and other Eagle GPS and Sonar fish finders and marine navigation systems. http://www.fish-finder-review.com.

10 Spring Decorating Ideas To Bring Your Home Back To Life!

10 Spring Decorating Ideas To Bring Your Home Back To Life!

by: Michael Holland

Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If you're looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.

3. Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.

4. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)

5. Hang Pictures or Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.

6. Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.

7. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

8. Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don't have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

9. Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.

10. Eliminate Clutter- Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of the Web sites http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His sites offer lots of FREE home decorating tips and ideas.

8 Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year

8 Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year

by: Kah Joon Liow

What are the Chinese New Year activities for celebrating

this most important festival in the Chinese calendar?

Let's start at the beginning...

In China, Chinese New Year is called the Spring Festival.

That?s because the first day of Chinese New Year falls on

the start of spring.

The beginning of spring is a fresh start?

It's the start of a new year of sowing and reaping.

A wish for a good harvest in the year ahead.

(That's how the Chinese character for "year" nian2 年 came

about.)

A cause for celebration!

All around the world, Chinese families...

put up Chinese New Year scrolls on both sides of the door,

set off firecrackers (It's illegal in many Chinese cities

now, but people do it anyway)

and married adults give children red envelopes filled with

?lucky money?.

Chinese New Year activities begin 2-4 weeks before the "big

day".

Here's what you can do to celebrate Chinese New Year.

It's what Chinese families do all over the world.

1. Clean up the house

Select a day and together with the family, clean up the

house.

This ritual gets rid of bad luck in the ending year and

welcomes in good luck in the new year.

2. Send greeting cards

Send greeting cards with new year wishes to friends,

relatives and colleagues.

Remember to post your greeting cards early!

3. Go shopping

Go shopping to buy new clothes for the whole family, food

and sweets, and festive home decorations.

Looking for Chinese New Year activities for kids? Go to

http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-new-year-activities.html

4. Get ready some red packets.

You'll need them later.

5. Decorate the house

Hang Chinese New Year scrolls called spring couplets on both

sides of the door to usher in good wishes for the new year.

Paste paper cuts of upside down good fotune "fu" characters,

happy children and tangerine oranges on the wall.

Make sure you have vases of flowers in the house during

Chinese New Year.

They do more than just add a new year atmosphere to the

home.

Living plants symbolize growth and flowers represent wealth

and prosperity.

Pum blossoms can be arranged together with bamboo and pine.

They stand for endurance, nobility and longevity.

Other favorite flowers are pussy willow, azalea, peony and

water lily or narcissus.

6. Prepare the reunion dinner

Gather your family together for this most important and

sumptuous meal of the year on Chinese New Year?s eve.

Prepare a meal with auspicious dishes like chicken, fish,

oysters, dumplings, green vegetables and noodles.

They have meanings of prosperity, longevity and abundance.

I've put together some Chinese New Year recipes and a list

of what different foods symbolize at http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-new-year-activities.html

7. Pass the year

After a hearty meal, stay up late to ?pass the year? guo4

nian2 过年, an ancient tradition.

You can watch TV, play card games, or chat.

After midnight (or on the morning of Chinese New Year's

day), give your children the red envelopes filled with money

(called ?lucky money?).

Put the red packets under the pillow of children. This is

said to ward off evil.

8. Send New Year greetings

Call up friends or SMS them on the morning of Chinese New

Year and wish them Happy New Year, Good Health and

Prosperity.

Visit the homes of friends and relatives with two big

tangerines.

Bring red packets to give to the children at the homes

you're visiting.

These are eight ways to have a roaring Chinese New Year

celebration with family and friends!

Eight is the most auspicious number for Chinese people.

It means wealthy and properous.

Here's to your good health and prosperity in the New Year!

About The Author

Kah Joon Liow

Want to discover the culture of Chinese symbols

and characters and enhance your life? LIOW Kah Joon is your

guide. Read his Chinese New Year Special and sign up

for his free Chinese Symbols ezine at http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com.

kahjoon@myarticleannouncer.com

London Hotel Breaks - The Halkin 5* (Belgravia)

London Hotel Breaks - The Halkin 5* (Belgravia)

by: Steven Cronin

The 5 star Halkin hotel is located in the heart of Belgravia, approximately 100 metres from Hyde Park Corner tube station. Boasting a total of 41 rooms, the Halkin is the epitome of comfort and luxurious living. En suite facilities are magnificent, huge baths soothe and relax, perfect for contemplating the events of the day and recharging those batteries.

The hotel is within easy reach of Knightsbridge and an abundance of designer shops, restaurants, in fact just about anything that takes your fancy, offering the opportunity to spoil yourself rotten. However, there is no need to dine out; the Halkin hotel boasts an excellent restaurant, almost guaranteed to leave you coming back for more.

Tariffs at the Halkin hotel range from ?135 per person per night (based on two sharing) during the months of spring, rising ?5 during summer and winter. This includes a full breakfast. The single supplement (if you are staying on your own) means the price doubles. The mid-week (Monday to Thursday) supplement is ?37.50 during spring, rising to ?58.75 across summer and winter. A deluxe room upgrade is available from ?75 per room per night.

West India Quay Marriott Hotel & Executive Apartments 5* (Canary Wharf)

The West India Quay Marriott Hotel exudes grace and charm. With its grand entrance hall and spacious rooms, a stay here will remain long in your memory. Located next to the West India Quay tube station, a trip to the West End is just a short 15 minute hop.

The West India Quay Marriott Hotel is an ingredient of the new development at the celebrated Canary Wharf; its supreme position allows convenient access to museums and leading London attractions.

Tariffs at the West India Quay Marriott Hotel vary from ?96.50 per person per night (based on two sharing) during spring, ?55 in summer, and ?60 during the winter, including a full breakfast. If you are travelling alone, the single person supplement effectively doubles the price. The mid-week (Monday to Thursday) supplement is ?32.75 during spring, ?91.50 throughout summer, and ?86.50 for the duration of winter. Room only rates are available upon request.

Please note all prices are correct at time of writing (December 2005). For reservations call Superbreak on 0870 701 2200. Lines are open 8am ? 11pm 7 days a week (excluding Christmas Day).

About The Author

Steven Cronin owns the Sargas Travel online magazine featuring travel reviews, news, inspiration, advice and special offers. For further reading please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk.

5 Steps To A Better Lawn And Garden

5 Steps To A Better Lawn And Garden

by: George Chapman

If you're lucky enough to have a lawn with a good topsoil base, much of the hard work of keeping a lawn beautiful is already done for you. But many of us do not have this luxury, and besides, even with a good topsoil base, you still have to work hard to keep a beautiful lawn and garden.

1. The best time to mow a lawn is when it is cool and dry. Wait for the morning dew to dry off, and before the afternoon heat takes hold. Alternatively, late afternoon or early evening following a watering in the morning is also a good time.

2. A hedge is a much better boundary divider than a fence. It will provide better privacy and keep pets and children in - or out. It will attract birds to its shelter, and provide a great backdrop for plants and flowers.

3. Bring the beauty of your garden to you; plant hyacinths near walkways and doors. Their magnificent perfume will swamp the spring air and make your garden really come alive.

4. Add your garden to non-garden items, such a lampposts and mail boxes. Surround these items with flowers planted to take advantage of the earliest to the latest flowerings. You could have white snowdrops, purple and gold crocus, blue hyacinths, and various colored tulips. You could also surround the posts with rocks to provide added interest.

5. Simple, but effective weed control can be achieved on your lawn by mowing often during spring. This will prevent dandelions spreading by eliminating the yellow blossoms and preventing seed formation. Mow high during late spring and early summer. This will allow grass blades to shade the ground, and will help prevent crabgrass from sprouting.

Your lawn and garden should be a source of pride and beauty. You don't need to spend lots of money on expensive fertilizers and herbicides, or fancy lawn furniture and ornaments. A little commonsense and thought can go a long way to making your lawn and garden a much better place.

About The Author

George Chapman is the author of several commonsense approach gardening books filled with his lifetime?s experience of lawn and garden management. His website on the lawn and garden provides many useful tips: http://www.LawnAndGardenReferrals.com.

10 Facts You Might Not Know About St. Patrick's Day

10 Facts You Might Not Know About St. Patrick's Day

by: Niall Cinneide

The tradition of St. Patrick?s Day began hundreds of years ago when a boy in Roman England was captured and taken to Ireland as a captive where he found God. It is said that St. Patrick could hear from the angels, and that he had raised people from the dead. He was a very active missionary throughout Ireland for 30 years, and that is why he is called the patron saint of Ireland. There have been many legends attached to this saint, and they have lasted throughout the centuries. This holiday began as a Holy Day in the Catholic Church, but over the years this religious Catholic saint?s day has turned into a more secular celebration of the upcoming new spring.

Here are a few facts for St. Patrick?s Day:

- March 17th, the day of celebration, is the day of Patrick?s death.

- St. Patrick, the patron saint of the Irish, was not from Ireland.

- Patrick was an old time missionary in Ireland during the 4th century.

- He brought many people to conversion and into the Christian religion.

- The Shamrock, symbol of St. Patrick?s Day, was a plant with three leaves that Patrick used to demonstrate to the pagans the trinity of God ? Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

- Maewyn is the name St. Patrick was born with. His name was changed by the Bishop in a monastery in France, after he escaped his captivity. He was not religious at all when he was a child.

- The first St. Paddy?s day parade in America was in 1737, 40 years before the Revolutionary War.

- The first day of spring is March 21st and this could be the reason St. Patrick?s Day celebrations have caught on so big.

- Everyone turns Irish for a day ? just wear green, the sign of life.

- Irish dishes include Corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, Irish cream pie, Irish soda bread, scones, Irish cheese bread, and all of these would be a good choice on St. Patrick?s Day.

There are many traditions and legends that have been passed down through the generations, so even the barest of facts have gotten confused. It is not even certain exactly when Patrick was born, the actual date varies about 30 years in early 300 AD but the day of his death is certain, March 17, and that is the important day.

So whether you are celebrating the life of a glorified Catholic saint or the oncoming spring and all the new growth and new life possibilities that a new life can encompass, it really doesn?t matter. Wear something Green, grab a green hat, give someone a shamrock and join in the parade. Good luck and Blessings are meant for all!

About The Author

Niall Cinneide loves to celebrate St Patrick's Day. He publishes news, views and information about St Patricks Day at St Patricks Information.

7 Ways to Grow Flowers

7 Ways to Grow Flowers

by: Johnny Greenthumb

Flowering landscape trees are the crown jewels of the yard. Perhaps no other plants, individually, can have as great an impact on how a yard looks in spring. Browse the articles to which I've linked below for information on particular varieties of flowering landscape trees. Pictures are included.

Crape Myrtles: Landscape Trees of the South

A popular choice in flowering landscape trees for Southerners, crape myrtles have a long blooming period (mid-summer to fall). The blooming clusters of these flowering landscape trees come in pink, white, red and lavender. The clusters appear on the tips of new wood. Northerners can sometimes get away with treating these flowering landscape trees as perennials that die back in winter but come back in spring.

Trees

Not all specimens with a weeping habit are flowering landscape trees, but this article looks at several weeping varieties that do bloom, headed by four types of cherry.

Saucer Magnolias

The size and shape of the blooms are what suggested the common name for these flowering landscape trees. Want a specimen with a brilliant bloom as big as a saucer? Access information on these beauties here.

Rose of Sharon

Although some people think of it as a landscape "tree" (because it gets tall and can be pruned so as to have a single trunk), rose of sharon is, in fact, a flowering shrub. The fact that it blooms relatively late -- and for a long time -- makes it a valuable plant for those looking to distribute their yard's color display throughout the growing season.

Top 10 List of Flowering Landscape Trees and Shrubs for Spring |

This article features information on ten flowering landscape trees and shrubs that brighten our spring seasons. Included are redbud, callery pear and crabapple.

Hawthorn: Late-Blooming Landscape Trees

This article offers information on Washington hawthorn trees, which are perhaps most valued for the time at which they bloom (late spring to early summer). Many of the popular flowering specimens bloom earlier in the spring, and while their blossoms are pleasant sights for eyes sore from winter's barrenness, they desert us too quickly!

About The Author

Johnny Greenthumb makes it easy to create beautiful gardens, quickly & easily. Learn the 7 essential keys to lush, vibrant gardens. To receive your free 4-part mini-course visit: http://www.mygreenflowers.com.

johnny@mygreenflowers.com