THE PROFIT MOTIVE

THE PROFIT MOTIVE

What makes someone want to be in business and continue in business? If you don't know, then you probably don't need to consider owning your own business. It's money! Some people think the word "profit" is a dirty word. It's not! Nor is it a four-letter word (obviously). What's the point? Well, when you think about it, everybody in business has to make a profit, otherwise they don't stay in business very long, do they? If they don't close voluntarily, their creditors will bring legal action and force them to take bankruptcy, so they (the creditors) can get part of their money back.

Let me give you an example. I once bought a new car, drove it a few months, and became dissatisfied with it. Now that I'm older, I realize that I was dissatisfied with having to make those payments every month. Since it was many years ago, I think I paid around $2,600 for the car plus I traded in an old clunker just to get rid of it. After driving the new car a few months, I took it to a used car dealer and asked him what he would give me for it. When he told me $1,200, I was very disappointed. I told him that I owed more than that on it! He said that I probably needed to drive it a while longer, until I established more of an equity in it. I thought he was trying to cheat me, but now I realize that he made his money this way, by buying low and selling high. I know you have heard of this formula. All businesses follow it. They have to buy whatever it is for less than they sell it for, and the difference is their profit.

I once sold some 8-track stereo tapes to stores. I found that, after awhile, many of them had some tapes left in the bottom of the display case that they couldn't sell. So, I traded them out for some new tapes and took the "duds" down the road to another store. After awhile, I found that some of the "duds" wouldn't sell anywhere! I even made a point of trying to find stores that had a display case full of "duds" that had been left by another wholesaler who had quit servicing them. Often, the owner of the store would ask me what the "duds" were worth. I usually told them that they would probably throw me out if I really told them what they were worth. Why did I make a point of trying to find stores that had a display case full of "duds"? Because usually this was a fellow who had sold tapes in the past and knew that his customers would buy them again, if he could find some good tapes. So, I would try to make some kind of exchange arrangement with him, where both he and I could make a little money. I would usually offer to exchange about ten percent of his tapes each time I came around, if he would agree to buy an equal number of new tapes. If he had 100 tapes, for example, I would put in 10 new tapes in exchange for 10 of his "duds" plus I would sell him 10 more new tapes, so he would get 20 new tapes each time. When his customers found out that he had some new music, he would start selling tapes again, and both he and I would make some money.

After awhile, I found a pawn shop that would buy all the "duds" I could find, but he wouldn't pay me very much for them. Since the tapes were retailing for around $1.99 to $3.99, he wanted to sell them for $1.00 each, so that his customers would get a bargain. Since he wanted to make a profit, he wouldn't pay over 50 cents for a tape. When I would go around looking for stores that had a display case full of "duds" that had been left by another wholesaler who had quit servicing them, and when the owner of the store would ask me what the "duds" were worth and I usually told them that they would probably throw me out if I really told them what they were worth, I worked it into my "sales pitch" that I had found a pawn shop that would buy all the "duds" I could find, but that he wouldn't pay me very much for them. I would tell them that, since the tapes were retailing for around $1.99 to around $3.99, the pawn shop wanted to sell them for $1.00 each, so that his customers would get a bargain. Since the pawn shop owner wanted to make a profit, he wouldn't pay over 50 cents for a tape. So, since I wanted to make a profit, too, I couldn't pay over 25 cents for a tape. Some of the store owners really did want to throw me out at that point, until I became "Mr. Nice Guy" and offered to take the "duds" off their hands.

I once knew a builder who told me he tried to make $5,000 on each house he built. He didn't care what it cost, or what it sold for, just so he made his $5,000. At that time, in 1948, he said that he tried to build one house a month. You can figure out the rest. Was he entitled to this much money? What kind of service did he perform? The people who bought his houses, my parents included, felt that it was certainly worth it, as he built a top quality house, he didn't use any knotty pine in it, and he handled everything from start to finish, so they could continue their job and not have to stop working to deal with sub-contractors, city inspectors, clean-up people, suppliers, etc. This was the service he performed, plus he drew the house plans the way the buyer wanted them, had the blueprints made, and took care of all the little details, like turning a closet around that was facing the wrong bedroom, repainting a room when the paint didn't look quite right, etc. If the builder couldn't make anything on a house, he would lose his incentive to build more houses. Wouldn't you?

You be the judge. Which way is better? Personally, I would rather spend the money to pay some of these folks their profit rather than hassle with some of their problems. Some fellows like to work on their car. Fine! But I don't. I am not mechanically inclined, and I don't have any patience with mechanical gadgets that won't do what I think they should do (or people, either). I don't like to get greasy and dirty, and I would prefer to make my money some other way, and when my car needs some work on it (or breaks down and won't go), I would prefer to pay a mechanic whatever he wants for fixing it. I realize that I am letting myself in for being "taken to the cleaners" but I still don't want to work on my own car, or anybody else's car. I just try to find a mechanic I can trust and hope he is in a good mood that day!

I found that many people are interested in getting a bargain. This is why pawn shops and auction houses stay in business. They offer a bargain to their customers, plus they help others get rid of items they don't want. I found that store owners are also interested in getting a bargain. In fact, if I could find a really greedy fellow who owned a store, I found that I could sell him anything! One of the more successful "sales pitches" involved the investment of his funds. At that time, banks were paying around 3 percent on money left with them (they never paid very much, did they? Wonder why! Do you think it's because they want to make a profit, too?) so I would show Mr. Store Owner how he could take that money out of the bank and double it in 90 days by buying my tapes (or whatever else I was selling). It's really surprising how many of them actually did take their money out of the bank and buy from me. You might try this "sales pitch" yourself. It works with individuals who have a little money stashed away somewhere, too. If you are selling something to individuals, like I did for many years, you can show them how they can save money, make money, get a bargain, etc. by buying your product. If they are the kind of folks who like to own big new cars, big new houses, boats, the latest electronic gadgets, etc., then it is easy to appeal to their ego and show them how buying your product would really make them look like they had a million dollars!

Everybody likes to "get something free." Most people don't realize that they are paying for the "freebies" when they buy whatever else it is that they have to buy. It seems that most stores, television offers, radio offers, newspaper offers, etc. are in the business of giving away free stuff, selling items at a discount, or below cost, or wholesale. How do you think they can stay in business if they sell below cost? Is this a legitimate offer? Many stores, especially groceries and discount stores, will sell a few items at an extremely low price, then raise the price on some other items to make up for their loss. Most folks know this, but they still fall for the "free" or "discount" ads. Lately, I seem to receive a lot of mail saying that I won a million dollars or ten million dollars, or some other such nonsense. I am tempted to do like a friend of mine did. When he received a magazine offer saying that he had won a few million dollars, he wrote back that they should send him all the magazines, take the cost out of his winnings, and send him the difference. He said that he never heard from them again, nor did he receive any magazines or millions of dollars.

As you begin your journey into the world of owning a business, remember the story of the used car dealer, the pawn shop owner, the greedy store owner, the home builder, the folks who give away something "free" and seem to offer a bargain, and the fellow who won millions of dollars with the magazine offer. Then remember the fact that every business has to make a profit, and that nothing is really "free." Or is it? You be the judge.


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

BEING ORGANIZED

BEING ORGANIZED

I can't emphasize enough the importance of getting organized and staying organized. Some people just don't have any organization about them. This is more a habit than anything, I think. If you develop the habit of being organized, it will stay with you the rest of your life.

My grandfather was an example of someone who needed some organizational skills. Much as I loved him, I can look back and see some of his problems with being organized. As soon as I was old enough to get a Work Permit, at age 14, I went to work for my father and grandfather, who owned a shoe store and shoe repair business with my uncle. They put me to work repairing shoes, and when this didn't work out (due to the fact that I didn't have any mechanical skills and I couldn't stand the dust thrown out by the finishing machines), they put me "on the counter" waiting on customers, taking in orders for shoe repairs, selling new shoes, and being the "gopher" - you know, go for coffee, go for change at the bank, go for toilet paper at the grocery store, and go for light bulbs at the local electric wholesaler. Anyway, they had an elaborate cash register that I thought was really something! It had department keys that broke down the items as to whether it was a new shoe sale, a shoe repair sale, a "rip" job (sewing up rips in shoes and leather purses), findings (laces and shoe polish), plus other categories, then a miscellaneous key when nothing else worked (this was long before computers were even thought of). Well, when everybody got off work and came in to get their shoes around 5 p.m. or so, we had long lines of people, and that was when my grandfather got real frustrated and began ringing up sales on "miscellaneous." He just couldn't get anything to fit the proper category. I well remember my father going over it with him the next day, explaining patiently that it didn't do any good to put everything under "miscellaneous," as that was why they needed a "break-down" of what had been sold and what inventory needed to be re-stocked. My grandfather understood all that, but the next time he saw long lines of people backed up waiting for their shoes, his mind just wasn't organized in such a way that he could figure out which key to punch, and a whole bunch of sales began to suddenly appear on "miscellaneous" again. This is kind of like the secretary who filed all the letters in the filing cabinet under "L."

After my grandfather retired, he developed "itchy feet," and he began to revert to his younger days when he went out and called on stores, selling various items to them. By that time, the shoe store and shoe repair shop had developed into a small factory which manufactured house-shoes, baby shoes, Indian moccasins, and leather-related products such as church-pew cushions and archery items that fit on the hand to keep the arrow from burning the arm. My grandfather wanted to go out and try to sell these to stores, mostly so that he had an excuse to "ramble around" the country-side and see as much territory as he could. In his younger days, he had been too nervous to drive a car, so he depended on the trolley cars, trains, and busses. When I was in college, he paid me $ 5.00 a day plus meals and gasoline, and I drove his car and we went out and called on stores, selling the above products and some others which he obtained from other sources.

We hadn't been out too long the first day when he said that he had forgotten and left his hat at the last store we called on. So, we drove back about 5 or 10 miles or so, and he went in and got his hat. Later, he forgot his order book, so we had to go back to another store to retrieve it. Soon, I figured out that, even though he was handling the sales and I was doing the driving and shuffling of merchandise, it would be much smoother if I would simply follow him inside each store. I found that he would go in, ask for the manager (or owner, or buyer), who was usually in the back of the store, or upstairs, then as he walked down an aisle, he would lay his hat on top of a rack of merchandise, walk some more and lay down his order book, then later he would lay down his sample of whatever it was he was selling. Soon, he had "stuff" scattered all over the store. By walking behind him, when he laid down his hat, I simply picked it up, then when he laid down his order book, I would pick it up, then later when he laid down his sample, I would pick it up, too. By the time he got to "Mr. Big-Shot," I was standing there beside or behind him holding all his "stuff." Then, when he began telling "Mr. Big-Shot" what he was selling, I would hand him his sample. Later, when "Mr. Big-Shot" decided to try some of the wonder gadgets, I would hand him his order book. When we got ready to leave, I would hand him his hat. Things really went a lot smoother from then on! In my own way, I guess, I got him about as well organized as I could.


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT

USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT

Over the years, I have found that you have to use your own judgment in many matters. For example, I had a lot of "nose problems" as a child, sneezing, reacting to weather changes (which were quite frequent in Arkansas), reacting to cigarette smoke, having "sinus fits" pretty regularly, especially when I went out in the woods, when I got too hot, when I got around smoke (not just cigarette smoke, but burning leaves and other smoky situations). Since I was having "nose problems," my folks took me to a "Nose Doctor." I don't remember his title, but he specialized in noses. Of course, if you had foot problems, you went to a Foot Doctor, if you had bone problems, you went to a Bone Doctor. This all seems logical, doesn't it?

So, what did the "Nose Doctor" recommend? Well, a "nose operation," of course. My family and I didn't think much about it. We went ahead and got my "nose operation," which consisted of the "Nose Doctor" chiseling some bone out of a part of my nose. This did open up my nose. I could breathe better than I could in years, I could smell again, and I felt that the "nose operation" would take care of the problem.

Later, when I married, my new wife experienced some "nose problems." So, what did I do? Well, I suggested that she see the "Nose Doctor" I had seen. And what did the "Nose Doctor" recommend? Well, of course, he recommended the same "nose operation." My new wife decided against it, and as far as I know, she hasn't had the same "nose operation" done to this day.

Later, I got called up by the Selective Service folks for a physical exam to see if I was "fit" to go into the military. I passed it with flying colors! Until the interview with a nice old physician who inquired about any previous operations. When I told him about my "nose operation," and the problems prior to it, he suggested sending me out to an allergy clinic for some allergy tests. He said the government would pay for them and he recommended them, so I did as he suggested. It seems that I tested very strongly on allergies, and the old physician at Uncle Sam's testing center said that he would recommend that I be classified as a person who was "1-Y," meaning that I had a deferment because of my "nose problems" and allergies, but that it was like a "1-A" classification, in that I could be drafted in case of an "all-out war." He said that I couldn't be transported by air.

Much later in my life, about 30 years to be exact, I decided to take a trip overseas, and I rode on an airplane with no problems from my allergies. I also ran into some folks my own age who were getting allergy shots, so I went back to an allergy clinic again, went through their tests, and began getting allergy shots. By being one to use your own judgment, which I did, I solved some problems that the earlier "nose operation" had not solved. What's the point of the story? Simply that if I had investigated the situation more, which would have been almost impossible when I was a child, I might not have needed or had the "nose operation." I might have gone the allergy shot route instead. But, since we went to a "Nose Doctor," he recommended a "nose operation."

Most people must take the recommendation of the first doctor they see. I still say, use your own judgment, get a second opinion. It might be better to go a different route. I know of a lady who was having "back problems." So, what did she do? She went to a "Back Doctor." And what did he recommend? Well, a "back operation," of course. In other words, he wanted to cut into her back, work on some discs, replace a hip. This is a pretty big deal! It's expensive. He would make a lot of money. Plus, how many people who go through the operation wind up paralyzed for the rest of their life? Perhaps this lady should be one to use her own judgment. I had some "back problems" earlier in my life, too. I went to a chiropractor. He "popped" my back a few times, and my "back problems" went away. I still go to a chiropractor occasionally, when I have "back problems." I sure don't want some guy cutting on my back unless I'm about to die!

Most people must take the recommendation of the first auto mechanic they see. I still say, use your own judgment, get a second opinion. It might be better to go a different route. I know of a lady who was having "car problems." So, she went to a "car mechanic." What did he recommend? Well, since he rebuilt a lot of motors, he recommended a complete rebuilding job on the motor. This is an expensive job! He would make a lot of money. Of course, this would probably cure most of the "car problems" the lady and her old car were having, but perhaps she could go to another "car mechanic," get a second opinion, and get some repairs done a lot cheaper.

I once took my car in to a dealership in another town not too far from where I lived. I wanted a tune-up. I am not a mechanic, and I don't look like a guy who knows much about cars. In fact, I don't know much about cars! I don't like to get my hands greasy. I don't like to "tinker" with cars. But over the years I have paid the bill for mechanics to work on my car, and I can usually figure out what the problem is by the way the car acts and sounds, by how long it has been since I had a tune-up. Well, on this particular day, I felt like I needed a tune-up. Back in those days, I knew that I could get a tune-up at most shops for around $ 25 or so. However, this particular dealer was having a "special." He had a sign on a board set up so that anyone could see it when they got out of their car to talk to the "service manager." It said something like this: "1. Check fan belts, 2. Check the radiator coolant, 3. Check air conditioner, 4. Check battery, 5. Check..." Well you get the idea. Buried somewhere down there around number 26 or so, it said something about spark plugs. The price shown was $ 39.95, which I thought was a bit high. I told the "service manager" that I wanted a tune-up, consisting of spark plugs, points, and a condenser. He pointed to the sign and asked if that was what I wanted. Now, at this point, most folks would probably say "yes," but I was a poor boy who didn't have the sum of $ 39.95 on him, and I knew I could get a tune-up at most places for around the sum of $ 25 or so, and I told him that I didn't want all that other stuff, that I had just had most of it checked when I got an oil change, and that I just wanted plugs, points, and a condenser. He pointed to the sign again, and I insisted on just the plugs, points, and a condenser.

He acted like he didn't know what I was talking about, and I don't think I ever got a price out of him for my tune-up of just the plugs, points, and a condenser. I finally left and went somewhere else where I could get what I wanted. So, again, by being one to use your own judgment, I didn't fall for the "special," I didn't pay the extra $ 15 or so for some things I didn't want or need, and I eventually got what I wanted, since I was willing to seek out a second opinion.


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

Here’s another good website to check out: “Bibles New and Used” - http://www.bibles-new---used.zoomshare.com

Forums - Free Help On The Net

Forums - Free Help On The Net

An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.

They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user and/or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes visible.

Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; e.g. A single conversation is called a "thread."

A forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure: a forum can contain a number of sub-forums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread, and can be replied to by as many people as wish to.

Depending on the forum set-up, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently log in, to post messages. Usually users do not have to log in to read existing messages.

From a technological standpoint, forums or boards are web applications managing user-generated content.

Technology, computer games and/or video games, sports, music, fashion, religion, and politics are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of topics. Internet slang and image macros popular across the Internet are abundant and widely used in Internet forums.

Want to test your mettle by fixing your computer yourself? Here are some free sites to get you started. Read a few tutorials or peek at the forums to see if others are having similar problems. But remember, there can be more than one answer, and a little trial and error is standard operating procedure.

WINDOWS AND MICROSOFT APPS

Microsoft's Support Knowledge Base at http://suppart.microsoft.com/search


When Windows misbehaves or you are stumped on how to use a Microsoft application feature, your first stop should be Microsoft’s Knowledge Base. Search using keywords or error messages: Most of the help is great step-by-step advice, but don't expect to find the answer you need every time.

JSI FAQ at www.jsifaq.com

Jerald Schulman offers thousands of no-nonsense tips about the Windows NT, 2000, and XP platforms. Search by keyword or check out Today's Tips and Recent Tips. Detailed instructions help tweak Windows and solve problems. The home page (www.jsiinc.com) includes a link to Microsoft's excellent Windows XP Expert Zone Community.

Inside Outlook Express at http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com

You’ll find news, including bug fixes, update reports, and frequently reported problems. For discussion groups, the site steers you to MSnews, which is Microsoft’s public news server.

Slipstick Systems at www.slipstick.com/outlook

If Microsoft Outlook is your favorite E-Mail program, turn to Slipstick for help. Beginners are welcome, and the site is rich with update information, tips on customization, and articles on how to manage your mail. Like Inside Outlook Express, Slipstick sends you to MSnews for discussion groups.

A BIT OF EVERYTHING

ExtremeTech at www.extremetech.com

You might assume that Ziff Davis's ExtremeTech is too technical, but don't be intimidated. The site offers plenty of straightforward information and advice from experts, hardware and software reviews, how-to articles, and busy discussion forums. Often just browsing questions by topic is enough to find the information you need. It helps to know the configuration of your computer system, because if you post here, members will ask.

PC Magazine at www.go.pcmag.com/solutions, and www.go.pcmag.com/usertouser

The searchable Solutions and User-to-User sections are fantastically useful.

TechRepublic at http://techrepublic.com

TechRepublic is an information and help site for IT professionals and power users. It offers downloads, including printable keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft applications, articles from popular computer authors, and tips for networking professionals. You'll also find discussion forums with useful advice, links to blogs, and white papers.

Tech Support Guy at www.helponthe.net

Mike the Tech Support Guy started this site as an antidote to over-priced technical support. His volunteers include everyday people who love computers and contribute often. The site is very simple to use, but you'll find some irrelevant information. Read the rules, search the forums, and register to post messages. With almost 200,000 members, Tech Support Guy is sure to have a hint or two.

WhatIs.com at http://whatis.techtarget.com

WhatIs is part of the SearchTechTarget universe, a database search portal for IT professionals. Its growing encyclopedia is the place to visit if geek-speak is getting you down. Search by keyword or category, or alphabetically.

Answers to your questions about Windows, Linux, Unix, office software, NetWare, security, and 20 other topics await in Computing.Net's friendly and free support forums. Begin in the Novice Section for buyer's guides and tutorials.

On a more personal level, one of my first uses of forums was when my CD Player in the trunk wouldn’t play some CD’s. Later, I got it to play 9 out of the 12 CD’s that are in it, so the problem wasn’t related to the recent alternator & battery replacement. After working with it for a while and referencing more forums, I finally got it to play all 12 CD’s that are in it, although I had to re-copy some of the CD’s and convert some files to a different format. I got on some forums & learned that many CD Players in cars won’t play CD-RW’s but will play CD-R’s (since mine are CD-RW’s, then I had to hunt up some blank CD-R’s). Sometimes it’s related to the speed used in recording the CD’s - I used the “Record to CD” on the File Menu in Windows Explorer, so I don’t know the speed, but most forums said to use a real slow speed, such as 4X or 1X. Some suggested using a particular program, and I’ve got a Roxio Program that the fellow put on here when he re-programmed this computer a few years ago. I think it has a variation on speed, so I just kept on working on it! I did learn from the car manual I downloaded in .pdf format, that the CD’s need to be in the little carriers UPSIDE DOWN label-wise, which doesn’t make sense to me, but it works! Some forums said that many CD Players won’t play mp3 files, although some are advertised as being able to play them, so I’ll probably convert the files to .wma or .wmv for Windows Media Player, which seems to work for most CD Players installed in cars.

I found the CD Player in my car requirements: Must be in .mp3 format only! No other formats will work, including .wma! Must be on a CD-R only; not a CD-RW! Take whatever music is wanted, run it thru one of the MANY Programs that are available FREE on the Internet (run a Google search) that will convert files to .mp3, copy (NOT move) these files into a separate directory of their own (temporarily), & mass copy them to CD (preferably using “Edit\Copy to Folder” in Windows Explorer! Try NOT to use Windows Media Player to do the copying, as it will tell you that it can’t do it, either because it does not have the “license,” or you need to delete some temporary files because it does not have enough memory to work with (even though the computer shows 1.5 GB of memory FREE)! Once the files are on the CD, Windows Media Player will play them, even though each file may say File01, File02, and such; but if the files are on the hard drive, Windows Media Player will NOT play them, as it will say that it does not have the “license!” Even though I personally bought & PAID FOR the music (from CD’s). Dumb, but that’s the way it is! If ideas and advice are needed, type “forum...” then whatever the question is, into Google, and “Google it” (like the kids say), and it will bring up some forums where this subject is discussed. Read through them, and eventually some teenager will have a similar problem in getting his music copied so that his Ipod (or whatever device) will play it - this is what you want! Follow his advice, and it will probably work! CD-R’s need to be loaded into the CD Player label down! It feeds from the bottom, so the bottom one becomes CD 1, the next one up becomes CD 2, and such! How did I figure this out? By trial and error; also by reading through quite a few pages of forums, where others were having similar problems!

Here are some forums and searches that have helped me recently:

10 alternatives to mininova torrent freak files
100 templates
1996 Cadilac sedan DeVille trouble anti-theft system
301 useless facts
56 directories to submit to
57ebookarticles.pdf
A guide to the Patriot Act
A virtual library of useful URLs
a squared (a²) free a2 is a freeware anti-trojan
a squared knowledgebase what is riskware
ACLU info on Patriot Act
Add tv to your toolbar
African passenger railways & Africa train travel railserve.com
Anonymous email
Answers fe us.js\Windows Movie Maker will not let me import video files
Anti-malware free
Arkansas television
Article directory read free articles submit free articles articlerich.com
Article downloads
Articles directory free articles
Auto-mixer free software to control audio volume
Autoruns for Windows
Avoiding Internet scams
Avoiding net swindlers
Best of the MIG 29 photos
Bin Laden story
Biography of Pope Benedict xvi
Biz.ly free web hosting - free domain hosting & biz free hosting
Blogarama the blog directory blogs and blog resources
Blogs
Blogs with humor
Borax granular
Breed a larger male dog with a smaller female
Business ethics
Can't connect timeout solutions
Cleaning with vinegar & baking soda
Clogged dishwasher
Computer tips
Convert wma from Windows Media Player into mp3 files
Convert protected audio into a plain mp3
Converting vob files to mpeg
Corporate strategies for addressing Internet complainers
Craigslist scams page
Craziest name of mixes for designer dogs
Create a free web site
Dachshunds
Death of Osama Bin Laden
Dishwasher repair websites
Disk encryption
Dog health ideas
Dog health vomit
Dog registries
Dog feeding
Download freeware & shareware software programs
DVD-RW will not read anything
Educational weblogs
Email
Epublishers accepting submissions
Female dog heat cycle
Fighting consumer fraud
Financial\sting sites
Fleas
Flv file extension
Free advertising forum
Free articles - free article submission and distribution directory
Free domain name
Free ebooks
Free ecommerce website online store builder
Free file sharing
Free hosting for educational weblogs
Free online dictionary
Free software download to analyze sound problems
Free web services
Free web site hosting & most free resources
Free webmaster resources free web space
Free webmaster tools
Free website layouts and website templates
Free Windows video editing software
Free DVD video software download
Free ebooks on Internet marketing
Free marketing ebooks
Freeware
Gamehippo.com game dev free web hosting
Getting rid of viruses
Global web ru
Google & Yahoo to merge survivor will be Goo Hoo
Green cleaning products
History of sewing machine
How to bypass MegaVideo 72 minutes limitation files
How to care for newborn puppies and their mother
How to convert mp3 files to video
How to fix svchost.exe using 100% CPU
How to open pspd files
How to play music & narration at same time in Windows Movie Maker
How to post pictures to blog
How to prepare dogs for breeding
How to remove a trojan
How to remove an installed program from your computer
How to separate audio track only from video
How to take ownership of a file or a folder in Windows XP
How to transfer music files from one computer to another
How to treat burned pots
How to uninstall certain spyware
How to watch tv online for free
How to convert flv (flash video) to avi or mpg
How to install PC speakers
How to use SuperAntiSpyware tutorial
Html tips protect email address from spam robots
Html tutorial
Internal parasites in dogs
Internet resources
Internet scams
Internet virus warnings
Items for blog
Kiva loans
Last.fm faq listen to free music with Internet radio
Library stuff
Linksys router help for WRT54g
List of free domain hosting providers
List of spies from Peer Block
Mailinator.com
Main sources for downloadable blocklists for Peer Block
Major geeks.com
Male or female determines size of puppy
Media Player Classic cannot render file
Metric
Microcredit
Microfinance gateway frequently asked questions
Microfinancing
Microloans
Minicam instructions
Mouse locks up under Windows XP
Movie mistakes
My car won't start
My report to 800 notes about 8102387891 that appeared on my cell phone
My computer says I have no sound device
My mouse locks up when I switch user accounts
New Orleans disaster
Nigerian scams
Old Farmer's Almanac astronomy center
Open directory games developers and publishers
Passwords
PC beginners guides & tweaks
PeerBlock forums
Pet friendly hotels in New Orleans
Photos Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 29 (9 13) aircraft pictures airliners
Photos TU's
Picasa forums view topic how to insert pic to an existing post
PPC affiliate programs
Problems creating audio CD
Record Internet radio using Audacity
Recover deleted history in Windows
Remove geolocation permission for websites in Firefox
Ringsurf.com netring blogs and sites by pets
Scam spam report
Scampage - busted up cowgirl who fought back!
Scams
Search for Cadillac
Send free FAX from the web
Sewing machine problems
Sites that make a teacher's life easier
Slow loading pages timing out files
Small appliance replacement parts
Social responsibilities of business
Socialize it
Software
Solved removing items start bar
Spam & scam report.pdf
Spyware removal
Subject index to literature on electronic sources of information
Tapeworms dog
TeacherTube videos 50 states and capitals
The Super Seal and would-be reporter who got Osama Bin Laden
To rid fleas and pests borates and Diatomaceous Earth are safe solutions
Top free software
Top 20 Micro-Philanthropy sites
Transfer large files over the Internet
Transferring files and settings from another computer
Translation software
Translators & dictionaries
TweakXP.com Windows XP tweaks
Undergoos
US television stations by state
USA Patriot Act Wikipedia
Uses for corn starch
Uses of baking soda sodium bicarbonate
Utility downloads
Vegetable gardening
Video downloader - free download online video with video download capture
Web hosting resource and directory
Webmaster web sites
Website promotion website design tips webmaster forum
Website tools for creating and maintaining webpages make your own free page
What are blogs and why is everyone so excited about them
What is lulnchr
Windows Media Player 12 constantly updating media library
Windows Movie Maker add music & narration
Windows problems & Linux
Windows XP video decoder checkup utility website
Windows Media Player 11 has lots of problems
WRT54g router issues forum
You Tube video on how to delete history.

By reading some of my other blog posts, you will see where I had a problem (such as my car not starting), and where I went to the forums to try to get advice on solving it. Most of the time, the forums really helped. I just had to remember that what works for one person may not work for me, but on the other hand, it may work for me! It’s a lot cheaper than paying someone to “fix it!”


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

Here’s another good website to check out: “Bibles New and Used” - http://www.bibles-new---used.zoomshare.com

WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR DOORS FOR BUSINESS

WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR DOORS FOR BUSINESS

Once you open your doors for business, as I mentioned in my book "How To Start Your Own Business," every sales person for miles around will find their way to your door. You automatically become a prospect for whatever it is they are selling. Since you are in business, they reason, you must be taking in a lot of money, and you must be buying necessities. Of course, their item has to be a necessity, and they will spend however much time they need to convince you to part with some of your hard-earned money to buy their necessity. Of course, each sales person will expect you to drop everything else and see them immediately. They not only expect you to be in at all times (especially when they drop in unannounced), but they expect you to be able to see them at any and all hours. If they are telephoning you, they expect you to return their phone calls to distant area codes promptly, at your expense. They expect you to buy tickets, ball point pens, memberships, cookies, and so forth, ad nauseam. Others will drop in or call and expect you to give large contributions, give your time (which is really money), and/or perform your service (whatever it may be) at cost or no cost to them, whether you print, build something, or whatever.

Let me give you an example. I often receive unsolicited phone calls from all kinds of companies selling everything imaginable, as I seem to turn up on lists of small business owners. These lists get sold and exchanged, plus I have the bad habit of replying to offers that I may be remotely interested in later on. As a result, I have had to resort to the use of an answering machine almost exclusively in order to be able to get any work done. If I don't reply to their message immediately, many sales people will call back, often daily for a number of weeks, until they finally figure out that I am not interested enough to pay for a long distance call to tell them so. One outfit got very obnoxious, even to the point of passing my name and phone number around among their entire sales staff so that a man would call one day and a woman would call the next day, then a different man would call, then a different woman, and so forth. I finally got enough of it, so I wrote the company a nice letter telling them that they could put in an 800 number very cheaply; that one company had quoted me a cost of $ 5 to $ 20 a month for an 800 number, and suggesting that they could spend their long distance money better by calling people who might be interested in whatever it was they were trying to sell me. Needless to say, after making them feel real silly because of their conduct, they did finally take me off their list and quit calling. I made a point of keeping their name handy, so that I wouldn't respond to any more of their ads. Another company ran an ad promising a coffee cup (which I really didn't need), so I responded, only to receive a phone call from a salesman selling cleaning chemicals to "clean the keyboard on my computer" (which one can do with a damp cloth, according to the manual sent with the computer). When I didn't buy his high-priced stuff, he hung up, and I haven't received my coffee cup yet!

I realize that there are probably many worthwhile causes out there, many good products that are reasonably priced, and so forth, and I am not saying that you need to be a Scrooge. I am just saying that you need to be aware, because a list of new businesses is considered to be a prime prospect by many sales people. Perhaps it is because the owner is inexperienced in dealing with sales people. You can't buy everything! You can't support everybody's cause, no matter how worthy it is. If you do, you will be broke in a hurry. Even the rich folks have to limit what they give and buy, otherwise they don't stay rich very long. There will always be something new to sell, and most items you buy for your business are tax-deductible, so don't fall for this old "sales pitch." It is best to decide before you open for business just how much of your profits you plan to give to charity, how much time you plan to donate, and how much of your sales you plan to re-invest in merchandise to re-sell and make more money. This way you can stay within your budget later on, and most sales people seem to accept the fact that you have a budget and that it has limitations. They probably have limitations on what they can buy, too. Many companies set up rules and post signs stating that they will take applications on Thursdays between the hours of 2 and 4 p. m., see sales people, charity workers, vendors, and so forth on Tuesdays between 2 and 4 p. m., and so forth. By sticking to this schedule, you are making good use of your slow times of day and slow days, plus you are releasing your other time to be used more profitably in the actual running of your business. As your business grows, you can delegate these jobs to others who can do much of the screening of personnel, products, worthy causes, and so forth. By doing a little planning in advance, you can really save yourself a lot of headaches later.

One of my father's books was "How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine," which we still sell. I helped my father compose and type some of the materials in the original book, and I tried to encourage him to sell them world-wide. Unfortunately, he passed away recently at the age of 88. I helped my father look up some of the technical manuals and other materials he wanted to include in his book. He wanted to show as many illustrations as possible, and he wanted to keep it in as simple language as he could, so that the average person could understand it. Anyone doing sewing machine repairs can appreciate this approach.

Unfortunately, he was the sewing machine repair man in our family, and I do not possess his mechanical abilities. He offered to teach me the sewing machine repair business at one time, but I told him that I don't have the kind of patience with mechanical things that he had, especially when they won't do what they ought to do. My talents are in other areas, and I know he realized this. My father tried to include the kind of instruction in his book where the average person could take almost any kind of sewing machine on the market and work on it, but it was hard for him to anticipate the many changes that have come about, especially in the areas of computer devices, the electrical workings, and the various new brands that would come on the market. He did include the names of some companies that sold parts.

My father did have a lot of experience with both industrial and home-type repairs, as he worked in a factory keeping up their sewing machines; then after he retired, he worked for two different sewing machine dealers who needed a repair-man. He also did some sewing machine repairs on his own, although he didn't advertise it. I think he was trying to avoid the neighbors, relatives, and friends who wanted to get their machine fixed free! When you go into business, you will find a lot of folks who will want something for free. If you know how to capitalize on this, it is a good marketing tool. But if you try to see your doctor or dentist or lawyer or banker somewhere else other than the office (at church, on the street, in the mall, in a restaurant, and so forth), you will find that he or she will always tell you to "come down to the office" and they will look up whatever it is you want to know. They don't usually give out free advice, for they can't make any money this way. Neither can you. Neither could my father. He always felt that he should get paid for his work.

He also held a Copyright on another book, but it was not related to sewing machines--it was called "Chronicles of Arkansas" and it contained many photos of early scenes in Arkansas that he had collected over the years. He even sent a copy to then-President Clinton, since he was from Arkansas, and he was very proud of the nice letter he received from President Clinton.

I once knew a builder who helped his church by doing the contracting on a new educational building they wanted to build. He didn't charge his church for his time, and they felt that it was certainly worth it to go through him, as he built a top quality building, he didn't use any inferior products in it, and he handled everything from start to finish, so they could continue their job and not have to stop working to deal with sub-contractors, city inspectors, clean-up people, suppliers, and so forth. This was the service he performed, plus he drew the building plans the way the church wanted it, had the blueprints made, and took care of all the little details. If the builder didn't make anything on the building for his church, he just considered it a contribution to his church, and it became a "win-win" situation for everybody. Since he obviously had planned to do this without pay, that's OK. He didn't "get roped into it." He did it because he wanted to. He already had his living made, as he had already retired, so he didn't have to be as concerned about the day-to-day expenses that you and I might have to be concerned with.

You be the judge. Which way is better? Personally, I would rather spend the time to plan a little bit, then try to stick with my plan, rather than spend a lot of money to pay some of these folks for something that might not be as good as it seemed when I bought it. I do try to support worthy causes, but I also feel that many of them should do some planning, too, especially when they come around looking for "volunteers." Usually, when I needed my house painted, my porch replaced, some brochures printed, and so forth, I didn't try to get somebody to do it for free. I simply got in touch with someone who did that kind of work and paid them their price (including their profit) rather than hassle with some of their problems. I do think the "volunteer" situation is getting over-worked, as they come on television now and hunt people to "volunteer" to help with all kinds of things. I once knew a fellow who said that he retired so that he wouldn't have to work, and because he wanted to go fishing. He really didn't like it when his church wanted all the "old folks" to go down there on weekends to trim the shrubbery, do the clean-up work, take out the trash, and so forth. He stated to me that, since they paid the preacher somewhere around $ 60,000 a year, it seemed that they could pay a few thousand dollars for some maintenance and clean-up people and let the "old folks" alone. If you bought everything they sold on television and sent money to all the folks on television who want you to send them some money for their "worthy cause," you would be broke in a hurry!

I had a friend who told me that he sat through a Sunday School Class recently where they had a panel of folks from different agencies, each one wanting people to volunteer their time, bring them their old clothes, donate unused household goods and gadgets, open their wallets, and so forth, ad nauseam. He said he should have got up and left! To top it off, the Church Paper they send out in the mail each week listed some other agencies which wanted things, and one of them even asked someone to donate a computer to them! Imagine that, a computer! When I wanted a computer, I was dumb enough to go down to a store and buy one, paying for it out of my own pocket! I didn't even think of asking somebody to give me one! What will these nervy people think of next? The folks at the Sunday School Class panel wanted people to bring fans, take them out to people who needed them, paint houses, build houses, stay with the elderly (I stayed with my own elderly family members, or we paid someone to do it when we couldn't), bring nice toys (no broken ones, of course), bring nice clothes (no junk, please), mow yards, and so forth, ad nauseam. My friend said that he started to tell them that he didn't go to Sunday School to have people "put the squeeze on me," but that he came hoping to learn something about Christianity and go away feeling better than when he came. He said that he sure didn't want to hear all this about everybody else's problems. I bought my own house, painted it myself or paid someone to do what I couldn't do or didn't want to do, did my own household maintenance or paid someone to do what I couldn't do or didn't want to do, bought my own toys, clothes, mowed my yard or paid someone else to do it, bought and paid for my own fans and air conditioners, paid my own utility bills, taxes, and so forth, and sure didn't expect someone else to do all this for me.

I found that many business people buy things they don't need, that they over-buy because they get a better price, and so forth. Most sales people would love to sell you a car-load of their stuff, but if you can't use it, can't sell it, can't eat it, can't give it away, and wind up throwing it away, then it's not much of a bargain, is it? Years ago, when I sold to stores, I found that many small country stores bought a "tool display deal" that some fellow went around selling. It had a nice cardboard display that sat on the floor and had a bin to hold the tools being sold. Most of the stores I went in said they had bought the "tool deal" about six months ago, and most of them had about half of the tools left. The half that were left had just sat there for the last five months, as most of the tools that had been sold had been sold within the first month. Since I didn't know much about tools at that time (and don't know much more about them now), I talked with some people who knew tools. They told me that the tools that were left over were not good tools, that they were not very good sellers anyway, as nobody used them very much. The store owners knew about as much about tools as I did, and they wondered why just enough of the tools sold to get them their money back, but why the rest of them didn't sell remained a mystery to them. If they had known tools better, or if they had stuck to groceries or whatever it was that they sold mostly, they would have been better off.

As you begin your journey into the world of owning a business, remember the story of the sales people who kept calling until they became obnoxious, the fellow who offered the cup so that I had to hear his "sales pitch" about the keyboard cleaner, the people who plan their time and their budget, the church builder, the folks who want to fish and don't want to volunteer (and the church that expected them to do the work that could have been done by hired hands), my father who wanted to get paid for his work instead of doing it for free, and the "tool deal" that only had some good tools in it. Then remember the fact that every business, including yours, has to make a profit, and that your time and money are limited (I imagine, otherwise you probably wouldn't be reading books and information about how to make money). Also remember that nothing is really "free." Then, if you want to volunteer some of your time, give some of your money, buy some things you don't know much about, and so forth, then at least you will know what you are doing.


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s another good website to check out: "Bibles New and Used" -
http://www.bibles-new-&-used.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

PUPPIES FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!

PUPPIES FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!

If you want a puppy for a Christmas present for someone, let me know, as there is an "incubation period" for doggies of 61 days (instead of 9 months like it is with humans) that has to be taken into account, according to my vet and the Internet (one source says 62 or 63 days, so I'm not one to quibble over a day or two). At this point, I have 2 sets of Miniature Dachshunds that can breed, plus I have a Rat Terrier (female) that is available (I may have found a "boy friend" for her, but I'm not sure, as I've only talked to a lady whose father has a male Rat Terrier that he wants to breed, and apparently the lady's mother wants one of the pups, which they would be entitled to, as "pick of the litter" for the use of their male).

Anyway, if you want a puppy for Christmas, any breeding will have to be done before September 1, so that the puppies will be born around November 1. They would be ready to wean around December 15th or so, when they are 6 weeks old, and they would be available to be adopted at that time. I haven't set any prices yet, but Miniature Dachshunds are going for around $200-300 here in Arkansas, and around $350-700 on the Internet - at least that's the price they are ASKING! Whether that's the price they're getting, I don't know! Rat Terriers are going for around $100-200 here in Arkansas, and around $200-350 or so on the Internet - again, these are ASKING PRICES only! If one takes the puppies to a vet, one can easily have $50 or more tied up in EACH PUPPY, by the time all 3 of the "puppy shots" are given and the worming medicine is given.

This doesn't count the breeder's time, which is A LOT! With the litter I had around 3 years ago, I found that the Mama dog wanted to and HAD TO eat EVERY 2 HOURS, DAY AND NIGHT, 24/7. She was an experienced mama dog, having had other litters previously, so she knew a lot more about it than I did! She cleaned up after the pups, she cleaned up the pups, and she kept herself cleaned up, which is a full-time job. I placed her cage in the hallway next to my bedroom, and I could hear her breathing real hard at times, as she made a pump out of her body, and she was pumping milk to the pups! If she didn't get food and water on a regular basis, she couldn't pump milk, so I had to get up and feed her! Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep for those 6 weeks, until she weaned them! My time, figured at 25 cents an hour, would add up real fast, so I figured that, whatever I made, I would just go ahead and take it and figure that I was doing this for the love of the Dachshunds, and not for the money! Some local people who had been trained by the shelters and rescue organizations, thinking that ALL dogs should cost NO MORE THAN $25, got a "re-education" when they ran into me, as I told them in no uncertain terms, that I had over $50 in EACH PUP, counting shots, worming, and vet fees! I'm not against what the shelters and rescue organizations are doing, as the Mama dog came through a rescue organization, having been found CHAINED TO A TRAILER WITH 2 OF HER PUPPIES CHAINED TO THE SAME HOUSE TRAILER occupied by a "foreigner" who ran a local gas station. They told me that they had to threaten him with the law, to get him to release the mama dog and 2 puppies to them. They found a home for the 2 puppies with someone in one of their churches, before they found a home for the Mama dog with me! But, this just goes to show that everyone doesn't feel the same way about dogs; in fact, in some cultures, they EAT dogs! And cats!

I read a story on the Internet recently about a fellow from China, who lived in California, who ran a restaurant. Everyone around said he sure served great hamburgers! Then one day, the law closed him down & jailed him, as many of his neighbors said that their cats were missing!

Anyway, if you want to get a Miniature Dachshund or a Rat Terrier for Christmas, let me know before September 1st. I have mostly reddish-brown, smooth short-hair Dachshunds. One of them, however, has some black and white in his background, as well as brown, and he is long-haired, so his pups may be some combination of brown, black, and\or white. He is a silver Dapple, beautiful fellow, the 3-year old son of the above mama dog, who was a long-haired Dapple with white on both ends and gray in the middle. The other male Dachshund is his father, smooth, short-hair, reddish-brown. The two females are sisters, not twins, but litter-mates (out of the same litter) that I bought separately: they are both smooth, reddish-brown, short-haired. None of my Dachshunds weigh over 18 pounds, with most of them weighing around 8-10 pounds.

The Rat Terrier is white with a few black spots here and there. The male I have located is also white with a few black spots here and there, the lady says, and he is slightly larger than my female. She weighs around 8-10 pounds.

None of my dogs are registered. Registered dogs, especially AKC, usually sell for a lot more than the above prices! At one time, I had the breeding dogs and puppies registered through Certified Pet Registry, but their rules have changed, and I can't seem to get my dogs to qualify. They are all full-blood Dachshunds or Terriers, there are no mixed-breeds involved.

Let me know if you want a puppy for Christmas!

Contact me at wpsmith_98@yahoo.com and we'll go from there.



Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

The First Flush Toilet

The First Flush Toilet

The first flush toilet was invented by Tomas Crapper in 1884. It was first presented in a large Health Exhibition in London. The items that were used in the original "flush-test" were four tests that consisted of 3 wads of paper, a sponge, 4 greased paper sheets, and 10 apples. As these items were tossed in one after the other, the crowd was surprised by this great break-through in toilet efficiency.

No, Mr. Crapper did not invent the toilet, he was the first to make a practical and efficient system to get rid of waste. There were many prior toilet designs and types used. Some of these consisted of the compost toilet (which consisted of using heat to evaporate sewage out a pipe), an oil-flushed toilet (this used recyclable mineral oil, but was not efficient enough), the bioelectric toilet (which used heat and circulating air to clean waste), incinerating toilet (these reduced waste to ash), biological toilets (which used enzymes to dissolve waste), and finally the earth closet (a pit-like well that sealed the waste in soil below).

All of these methods created were inefficient in some way. Whether it was the smell, the inability to get rid of the waste, the slowness, or the tremendous energy put into it for every bowel movement. The basic mechanism was very simple--it was made of a float, a metal arm, and a siphonic action to empty the reservoir of water.

In the beginning this method was not popular and the flush toilet was given the name "Valveless Water Waste Prevented." The slogan used to sell this product was "Certain Flush with Easy Pull. Will Flush When Only Two-Thirds Full." Today, every toilet (or similar flushing device) is based on Tomas Crapper's original model.

This invention certainly changed the world and made it a MUCH more sanitary place! This breakthrough has unarguably saved thousands of lives since it's creation. Before this toilet, there were such highly unsanitary conditions that a huge cholera epidemic in London in the mid-19th century claimed 30,000 lives!

One important thing is that this flushable toilet was not invented a long time ago! Can you imagine what the world would be like without the efficient flush toilets we have today? Think of this the next time you make a pun of the name "Crapper."


Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE

MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE

Many people are not who they say they are. A friend was in line at the local Post Office when a lady in the next line became very agitated because she had phoned ahead and told "someone" what she wanted, then she had produced identification, and "they" still wouldn't let her have the package for her "sister." By the looks of the package, it looked like food stamps, my friend told me. At one point there were three male clerks and one female clerk trying to explain to the woman that "many people are not who they say they are." But the woman became louder, finally getting so agitated that it seemed like the police were going to be called to calm her down. It seems that some people go to the Post Office and tell them all kinds of stories, and one of the male clerks explained that they could only release the "package" if the local Social Services Office would send them a letter stating that this lady could pick up mail for her "sister." Needless to say, she left without getting the "package" she came for. She was probably going to stop by the grocery store on the way back to her "sister's house."

Another friend related another story that shows that many people are not who they say they are. He worked for a company selling a product to people in their homes. He said that he made a sale to a couple, and it seemed that the man didn't seem to be especially interested in the product, but he didn't object when the woman wanted it and bought it. He just didn't want to sign the Order Form. A few months later the account became delinquent, so my friend went back out to the house to collect some money. A man answered the door and stated that his wife was gone, and he seemed unfamiliar and didn't seem to know much about the sale or delinquency. When my friend began describing the situation on the day of the sale, the man at the door asked some questions about the time of day and similar details that soon made it apparent to both that the man with the woman on the day of the sale was not the woman's husband, as my friend had assumed.

Since many people are not who they say they are, this explained the fact that it seemed that the man didn't seem to be especially interested in the product, but he didn't object when the woman wanted it and bought it. He just didn't want to sign the Order Form! No wonder!

Another friend related a story about answering an ad to buy a house. The fellow who met him at the door and showed him through the house stated that he would give "a Deed conveying everything I own in the house, in other words my entire interest in the house." When my friend couldn't pass up the ridiculously low price and bought the house, he found that many people are not who they say they are, as the real owner of the house showed up in a month or so and wanted to know what was going on! It seems that he had rented the house to the first fellow who met my friend at the door and showed him through the house, stating that he would give "a Deed conveying everything I own in the house, in other words my entire interest in the house." It seems that the renter didn't own much interest in the house (none, in fact). The renter made off with my friend's money, which not only proves that many people are not who they say they are, but it also proves the saying that "if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!"

When the river flooded a few miles from my house a few years ago, the story went around that some of the people who lived the closest to the river found that, not only would their flood insurance not pay off (if they had any), but that they didn't actually own the land their house had been built on. It seems that some sharp developer had obtained a 99-year lease on the land from the government, then built and sold a bunch of houses. Years later, when the flood came, the homeowners found that many people are not who they say they are, as they didn't actually own title to the land.

Another friend found that he was going to be away on vacation for an extended period of time, so he put a Temporary Forwarding Order on his mail at his local Post Office.

Within a week or so, he received a letter from his local Post Office at both his original address and his new vacation address stating that they had received a Temporary Forwarding Order to re-route his mail. The letter went on to say that, if this information was correct, he didn't need to do anything; but if this information was incorrect, then he should come in and notify them in person. It seems that many people are not who they say they are, as some people had been putting in Temporary Forwarding Orders and Change of Address Forms on other people's mail, then receiving checks belonging to the unsuspecting victim, then going out and cashing the checks. This may be why more places are asking for identification if they don't know you, and why more places are putting up signs that they don't accept out-of-town checks and similar pieces of paper.

This same friend had ordered a new debit card from his bank, and it was to be mailed to his original address. He also received a check at the same address every month. When neither the debit card or the check showed up at the new vacation address, my friend found that they had been returned to the senders (that is what it means when an envelope you receive says something like "Address Correction Requested" or "Do Not Forward" or "Form 3691 Requested.") It probably isn't 3691, but it means that, for a small additional fee, the Post Office will notify the sender of the new address from the Temporary Forwarding Orders and Change of Address Forms. This also explains how collection agencies seem to be able to find people who move frequently, and why some people don't notify the Post Office of their new address when they move!

When neither the debit card or the check showed up at the new vacation address, my friend found that they had been returned to the senders, so he made some phone calls to explain the situation to the bank and the sender of the monthly check. It seems that many people are not who they say they are, as some people receive credit cards and checks from someone else this way, and they go out and use the credit cards and cash the checks that don't belong to them.

A number of years ago, my grandfather decided to buy a clothing store. This was not so unusual, except that he was supposedly “retired” and in his 70's at the time. He never learned to drive a car, so he would always pay me a few dollars to take him where he wanted to go, and he would usually buy our lunch, too, which made it even nicer! He wanted to go see a clothing store that was for sale, having talked to the owner on the phone earlier. When we arrived, at about 4:30 p.m. one day, the place was full of clothes on racks, where one would expect them to be after they had been tagged with the price and other pertinent information. My grandfather talked to the fellow for a good 30 minutes or so, then we went on our way. A few days later, my grandfather again wanted me to take him to the same clothing store, which I didn’t think was too odd, as he apparently had thought it over and made a decision. This time, however, the owner was not expecting us. In other words, we just walked in “unannounced.” One thing I did notice, was that the store was a lot emptier than it had been a few days earlier! When we got back out to the car, I remarked about this to my grandfather. He had noticed it, too! He thought that the owner was “seeding” the inventory, adding clothes brought from home or borrowed elsewhere, to make the inventory look bigger, especially when a buyer was expected! Another thing my grandfather pointed out, was that there had been NO CUSTOMERS either day, and both times we were there when there should have been at least a few customers! The 4:30 p.m. time was when most people were getting off work, and this should be a busy time for a clothing store, especially if people wanted to shop after work (which they did in those days, while waiting for a streetcar or a bus).

My grandfather and father took me to a nice little coffee shop in the downtown area one day, introducing me to the proprietor and such. On our next trip to the same little coffee shop, a new person introduced himself as being the new owner, saying he had bought the coffee shop from the previous fellow. A month or so later, when we again visited the same little coffee shop, the original fellow appeared, saying that the “new owner” had not paid him the agreed monthly payment, so he took his coffee shop back! This happened quite a few times in the coming months, with the original owner “selling” the coffee shop to someone else, who only stayed a month or two, then the original owner appeared again. My father and grandfather figured out that the “new owners” thought they were buying a going restaurant business, as it was in the downtown area where a lot of people worked at that time. After operating the coffee shop for a month or two, they would discover that, instead of the business being a going restaurant business, it was only a little coffee shop, with very little restaurant business! Of course, they couldn’t make any money just selling coffee, and when it came time to make a payment, most of them would simply return the coffee shop to the original owner. This fellow sold the same coffee shop about a dozen times during the year or two we watched it, with each “new owner” thinking they had bought a thriving restaurant business, only to find that they had bought a little coffee shop that didn’t make much money. We figured that the original owner made more money out of selling the coffee shop over and over, than he did out of selling coffee!

So, when you run into small problems in your daily walk through life, just remember that many people are not who they say they are, and be glad that someone asks you for identification and double-checks on Temporary Forwarding Orders and Change of Address Forms. This is for your benefit. Like a lady once told me in a bank, "You don't want the bank to give your money to some stranger, do you?" Another friend who worked in a bank said that they "make people mad every day," probably because they don't want to cash checks for strangers, cash checks on other banks (which is why they ask if you have an account there), don't want to loan money on "questionable deals" and many other things that people seem to dream up.

The next time you go to buy a house, remember the story of the fellow who was quite willing to give "a Deed conveying everything I own in the house, in other words my entire interest in the house." And remember the story of the lady who had phoned ahead and told "someone" what she wanted, then she had produced identification, and "they" still wouldn't let her have the package for her "sister." And remember that the story of the man with the woman on the day of the sale was not the woman's husband, as my friend had assumed. This explained the fact that it seemed that the man didn't seem to be especially interested in the product, but he didn't object when the woman wanted it and bought it. He just didn't want to sign the Order Form! And remember the story of the sharp developer who had obtained a 99-year lease on the land from the government, then built and sold a bunch of houses. Years later, when the flood came, the homeowners found that they didn't actually own title to the land. And remember the story of the "Address Correction Requested" or "Do Not Forward" or "Form 3691 Requested," as well as the Temporary Forwarding Orders and Change of Address Forms. Perhaps these stories will save you some headaches as well as some time and trouble, not to mention money!

If and when you decide to buy a business, remember the fellow who “seeded” the inventory in his clothing store, and remember the fellow who sold and re-sold the little coffee shop that didn’t make much money! Regardless of the situation, remember that many people are not who or what they say they are! Buyer beware! And, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!”

Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

OVER-QUALIFIED

OVER-QUALIFIED

I once knew a fellow who, upon reaching about age 40 or so, found that when he went to look for a job, he kept getting told that he was "over-qualified." He finally decided that this was just a subtle form of age discrimination, as they probably wanted some sweet young thing who would cross her legs a certain way and show the boss some nice thighs, rather than an old bald-headed man. So, in order to get a job, he began down-playing his degree, or not mentioning it at all. For one particular job, he didn't even put down that he had a high school diploma. He did the same thing with his experience, accounting for gaps in his employment by stating that he had been self-employed at the time.

One company that hired my friend invested quite a bit of time and money to train him to do the job they needed doing. When he left after a short while, they lost it, of course. Perhaps they should have done some more background checking on my friend. How would you do this? Talk to some friends in the insurance industry. When you take out a new auto or life insurance policy, don't they usually check up on you, to see how many wrecks you have had, whether or not you drink, smoke, and do drugs? If it turns out that you jump out of airplanes for fun, do dare-devil stunts, and walk tight-ropes between high-rise buildings, then you will probably be turned down or rated up for your insurance. If your lifestyle doesn't fit "the norm" (whatever that is), then your chances of buying insurance are not too good.

I once had an insurance investigator turn up in my carport one morning, and he seemed a bit stunned to see me. He must have thought he would come by and look at my car without having to be bothered with seeing me. I guess he just wanted to see if there was a car like the one I described when I took out the policy. I suppose some people would try to insure a car that didn’t exist, then claim it got “stolen” or some such, and collect on the insurance policy! Maybe he wanted to see if the car actually existed! He told me who he was and who he was with, but he didn't seem to have very many questions for me. He soon left. Another time, when I applied for a life insurance policy, my neighbors said that someone had been asking questions about me, wanting to know how many times a week I beat my wife and kids, whether or not I came home drunk late at night, whether or not I was a homosexual, and all kinds of nosey questions that they thought were pretty personal and not anybody's business. So, if insurance companies can do these kind of background checks on people, surely they can tell you whether or not an applicant's answers fit what he/she is actually living.

Perhaps I should have done more background checks on some of the people I hired in my own business over the years, as they always managed to come up "short" on their inventory when they decided to leave my employ. It was usually around $50 and it was usually in their favor. None of them actually handed me any money, and I usually did well to get most of my inventory back. I did find, however, that when I “invented a bonding company” and told applicants that they would be checked up on, that I didn't care if they had served time in prison or what, but that the bonding company was a lot more particular about who they bonded, that some applicants suddenly lost interest in the job and had another appointment to keep.

Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com

GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS & DOG HEALTH IDEAS AND HOME REMEDIES

Green Cleaning Products

What do you use for cleaning around your house? The last time I bought dish soap (for the sink, not the dishwasher), I decided to stock up on simple cleaning products. I have baking soda, washing soda, borax, alcohol, ammonia (though I'm not sure I'd call that one "green"), and glycerin.

What I need are more suggestions for good recipes and a heads-up on something I might have missed. I ran out of cleanser, which I love, but thought I'd try homemade instead. So yesterday I improvised my recipe. I had seen a recipe somewhere that sounded good, but couldn't find it again, so I just threw together the ingredients. I'll check today to make sure it didn't get too dried out. I used: (all measurements are approximate, as usual around here :)) a cup of baking soda, a teaspoon of dish soap, a tablespoon of glycerin, and 20 drops of essential oil (I chose lavender and tea tree for antibacterial properties). I cleaned the kitchen sink with it and it seemed to work great. Today I'll probably tackle either the toilet bowls or the tub with it and see what I think.

I don't make my own laundry soap, I tried it a couple of times, but wasn't happy with the result. We have a front-loader, so the four bottles I bought a month or so ago will probably last me at least until next year - I don't use but maybe 1/3 of what is suggested, and my clothes come out just fine.

I use some other products, undiluted, for really bad jobs such as bicycle grease, and such.

I've never heard of that one, Oggie. Lance has some "simple green," but I don't like wintergreen, and try as I might, can't stand to use it. Smells like Skoal, which I have never been able to stand.

Add white vinegar to your list.

Oh yes, I have white vinegar also. What specifically do you do with it? I soak my kitchen rags in it because they are red and I don't want to bleach them; use it in my drains and on windows.

I don't use it for some things because my husband thinks it stinks, to the point that he will actually leave the house when he smells it - weird man!

Ladycat, what do you use the oil soap for? I remember buying it in the past when I had wood floors, but have no idea what else I might use it on. It's an all-purpose cleaner.

Mostly I use it to clean pet accidents! And to clean windows and counter tops. I'd rather smell white vinegar than ammonia any day!

Bleach, soda, vinegar, store-brand dishwashing detergent, rubbing alcohol, DW liquid because it does a really good job on glassware. I also use whatever toilet bowl cleaner is on sale. And no, none of these get used as often as they really should.

It is surprising how clean plain water gets a lot of things. I often use it with a rough cloth or brush. It works well.

All-purpose spray:

2 cups water
½ cup white vinegar
3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops lavender oil

I just found this recipe, and I love it. It even works great on mirrors and windows.

I scrub the tub with borax when there is soap scum, and use the all-purpose spray daily. The toilet gets cleaned with Simple Green. I use white vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener in my washing machine. I make a paste of baking soda and a teeny bit of dish soap to clean the fridge. I have chemical sensitivities, but these items don't seem to bother me.

For cleaning the bathroom, if things need scrubbing I use baking soda. I never thought to use borax to scrub the shower, but I will try it - our water leaves a terrible film.

Orange oil products are harder to find around here, but years ago I ordered some orange oil and used it for all kinds of cleaning as well as treated my nephews hair for lice.

Vinegar is a great window cleaner. I like it a lot. We used to use newspaper with it and it works like a champ. Now I use newspaper to put in my compost bin for the wormies.

You might be interested to know that Diatom skeletons are the primary ingredient for basic scouring powder and original toothpaste. Same principle...a very fine grit to get off yuckies whether on your counter or your teeth!

Diatomacious earth is a very fine version of the Diatom skeletons, sometimes further ground to remove the grittiness. They make their bodies of silica.... basically glass... with all kinds of pokies and so their broken microscopic shells are great scourers. You can go totally natural by simply getting some of that and using it.

We took the boys down to the river and let them ride last week. It's a good ride, flat and not crowded. Just in case you wanted to try a new ride.

I'm not sure whether to say "cool" or not to that one. But I may look for DE and give it a try after I use up my baking soda version. Thanks!

I agree. I made a paste of tsp. baking soda and vinegar, then cleaned my cabinet
tops, which are a white pattern - they look like I bleached them, their so clean!!

I also poured baking soda down my shower drain - it runs clear now - much better than when we used a drain cleaner.

I use baking soda as a laundry booster. Plus it really makes my laundry smell good! Cheaper than those sheets you throw in the dryer, too!

Since another poster told about the vinegar and baking soda combo cleaning so well, I've decided to quit buying cleaning products and use it in different ratios as a household cleaner. It's so cheap for both. It cleans better and I don't worry about the my DGD getting into it, even though I keep it up out of the way.

That's what I bought! It's a great pre-treater for laundry stains, especially grease spots. I've been able to get set-in spots out of clothes by spraying it on there and soaking them, then running them through the wash. My DD swears hydrygen peroxide works on stains too, but I wasn't sure if you can use it on colors.

I use powder in my front loader sometimes - it has a delay timer so I can set it to start about an hour before I plan on getting up, and I am one load ahead on the day!

I use a lot of white vinegar, I buy it in a two pack. I use it on pet accidents or kids accident sheets, in my kleen kanteens, a splash to my milk buckets after I wash them with soap and water, on my rags and towels that have soured, anything really that needs "deodorizing" (it kills 99% of bacteria by the way, the same as bleach). Like someone else, I bought one gallon and it has lasted forever! For general cleaning and spray bottles, I use baking soda in all sorts of things. I also do have bleach for what needs bleaching (this summer it seems mostly for my daughter's "whites" from goat showing). I hand wash my dishes and have bought all sorts of things in the past. Oh, for laundry, I've made my own laundry soap off and on for years! I too use white vinegar for cleaning also.

I'm looking for a natural cleaner for my leather furniture and I'm looking for a natural wood furniture wax. Recommendations welcome.

I use white vingear to clean:

Tile floors: 1 cup vinegar to 1 gal water.
Wood floors: I use a spray bottle with 1/4 cup vinegar then fill with water.
Soap scum in the shower/bath: straight vinegar in a spray bottle ( I let it sit for a few minutes then scrub and rinse).
Fabric softener and drain cleaner too.

DOG HEALTH IDEAS AND HOME REMEDIES:

Don’t give garlic, but sprinkle garlic powder on dog’s food, & it should expel any worms!

When vomiting, give ice, bland rice topped with bouillon broth (from boiling a bouillon cube or two in water). Can give Pepto Bismol in small amounts. Add canned pumpkin to dog’s diet, too.

When dog has diarrhea, give a drop of Kaopectate (available at most grocery stores for a few $$$ - don’t pay the high vet prices for these items) on top of food, or a piece of a weenie, to stop it sooner.

Tapeworms and fleas go together: get rid of the fleas (whether the dog is scratching or not), and there should be no problem with tapeworms.

Remedy: Food grade diatomacious earth. Works on all intestinal worms.

Forum: “I have tried the dewormer from the vet with no success. I tried the tobacco and it does work! I cut a 1cm piece off a cigarrete and crumbled it into the dog food for 3 days, the 4th morning a dead tapeworm and a lot of dead eggs came out. I am going to do this for 7 days every 3 months to keep my dogs and cat worm free.”

Food grade diatomaceous earth is the organic natural "effective" worming ticket for all beings, human, livestock, and pets. For livestock, we feed it free choice and in their daily herb-grain-seed mix. Incoming rescues with gray gums, scruffy coats stick their heads into a 5 gallon bucket of food grade diatomaceous earth and eat it, as they know they need it. It doesn't take 2 weeks for their gums to turn pink and their coats to look nice. Same for puppy and kitten rescues with pot bellies, loose stools, etc., within 48 hours of feeding food grade diatomaceous earth their pot bellies are gone and their bowel movements are firm.

In my 14 years of raising and rescuing llamas, goats, chickens, guineas, peafowl, pigs, foxes, wolves, dogs, cats, reptiles, and more, food grade diatomaceous earth is the only wormer we use and it works without poisoning the animals or people. Makes everyone's lives simple, safe, and effective.

Can give dog a little vegetable oil, and they will poop out any worms.

Other Remedies for Worms:

Panacur (fenbendazole) - available as a paste or liquid; is available at your agricultural supply store. It is good for most worms, although it does not treat tape worms.

Tape worms can easily be killed with Tape Worm Taps. The ingredient is Praziquantel, and was prescription only until a year or so ago. You can purchase it at your local Tractor Supply store.

Foods that are toxic to dogs are grapes, raisons, chocolate, avocados, baby food, alcohol, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, onions, and coffee.

Garlic: Add one clove of finely chopped garlic in the dog’s food every day. If possible, make use of it in dinner or meals at night. This will work wonders as it is the most reliable and old-time home-based remedy to get rid of fleas.

Vinegar: Include some vinegar in the pet’s regular drinking water. It works as a disinfectant.

Eucalyptus Leaves

The answer is eucalyptus leaves. You can get them at any craft store. For some reason the fleas don't like the smell of it. I used this for many years when I lived in California. I had a dog and 2 cats and a toddler! Safe for the kids and the environment.

Sprinkle the Borax

Borax is great for fleas. It is not toxic and you can sprinkle it on your carpet. Let it sit for a few days and then vacuum it up. You can sprinkle it around the fence of your yard too. Don’t sprinkle it on your pet directly.

Diatomacious earth cheaper to sprinkle

An inexpensive way to rid your yard of fleas is to sprinkle DE (diatomaceous Earth) all over.

Set A Trap

I read this in a magazine about 15 years ago and it works great. At night you put a dinner plate on the floor (preferably in the room with the worst flea problem) and put a drop of dish soap in some water on the plate. Put a lamp on the floor next to the plate. The fleas are attracted to the light and jump on the plate. Without the dish soap the water surface tension is enough that they can jump off but with the soap the sink and drown. If this is done for several nights eventually all the fleas will be gone unless more are brought in.

Make a 50/50 mixture of 20 Mule Team Borax (the boxed laundry product), and diatomaceous earth. Don’t get the diatomaceous earth where swimming pool supplies are sold, also called swimming pool filter earth. Pure borax will also work but will cost a bit more.

Make a dust can by punching or drilling a bunch of holes in the base of a container. A used quart yogurt or cottage cheese container, with the top, is perfect. Medium dust all carpets and hidden nooks and crannies of furniture, closets, and wherever else larval fleas might be hiding (they eat dust and detritus). Try not to breathe the dust, or wear a face mask over your nose. Keep pets out of the area being dusted. After any dust settles, it is OK to let pets in, as they can eat the diatomacious earth with no problem. Don’t put it directly on the pets!

The best thing I've used to rid my house and dogs of fleas is Lorann Oils - Oil of American Cedar Leaf. Put 3 drops on a 3 inch square of brown paper bag in every corner of EVERY room of your house. Do this every 2 days, next week-do it every 4 days, 3rd week - and through the 'flea season' put the 3 drops on the paper. I put the paper with the oil on it on a shelf, or somewhere that my 6 dogs can't possibly reach. I bought 4 oz. of this oil 6 years ago [think it was about $25], and still have a half bottle left [house has 9 rooms] Make sure you specify Oil of American Cedar LEAF! makes your house like a cedar closet.

Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, is bitter and unappetizing to fleas. Mop the floors with it and use it in your carpet cleaner as well. As a bonus, vinegar doesn’t have to be rinsed out like regular carpet cleaning soaps!

Use diatomaceous earth, which is nothing more than finely ground fosslilized seashells. It is NOT A CHEMICAL of any kind, it's a rock - and will score and then dry up the outer shell of any insect - including fleas - and kill them without harming anyone else.

Treat your home by vacuuming thoroughly and frequently. Use of diatomaceous earth (DE) is a very effective substance for killing fleas (as well as ants and several other pests) but has low toxicity for humans and pets. Spread a dusting onto carpets, upholstery and pet bedding. Wear goggles and a dust mask to avoid breathing the dust.

Diatomaceous Earth is often used as a non-toxic flea treatment. It is made from the crushed exoskeletons of diatoms, tiny creatures that live in the ocean (whales eat them). You sprinkle it on the carpets, and the vacuum it up later. The tiny bits get in the breathing pores of the bugs and suffocate them. The downside is that some people find that it wears their carpets out sooner (though this is only hearsay; those I know who've used it haven't had any trouble). Dawn

Use of a borax and water mixture in a carpet cleaner is another low-toxicity method to break the reproductive cycle of fleas. It does not kill adult fleas but the borate binds to carpet fibers and prevents fleas from maturing thus breaking the reproductive cycle. This treatment can be effective for up to a year. While borax powder can be sprinkled onto the carpet and the excess vacuumed up, the powder poses some hazard for your lungs and so the wet method is preferred.

Diatomacious Earth. We had a flea infestation, mostly in our yard from a local feral cat colony. And even though we don’t like to use advantage on our pets, the fleas were hitching a ride into the house on our construction teams feet.

I wound up only spraying the yard (you mix a very small amount with water. It becomes effective once it dries), but would have applied it in the house as well.

One shouldn't inhale the dust, but it's otherwise completely safe- I even found it being sold online as a dietary supplement. Don't use the kind that's sold for cleaning pools though, as it has stuff added to it.

I can say that it worked beautifully.

Consult a qualified health care practitioner before taking any substance for medicinal purposes.

Boron is used as an insecticide, and is harmless to humans and pets. It is especially good for killing fleas and cockroaches. By mixing the boron powder with water, then spraying it around the home, it will really help to control fleas, while not harming any pets that are present. It should not be sprayed directly on a pet, but it can be sprayed on the pet’s bedding and other places where it stays and moves.

Copyright 2011 by Preston Smith, Walker Enterprises/Silver Dollar Press. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a good website to check out: “Studio Quality Portraits For Less” - http://studio-quality-portraits-for-less.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “Green Cleaning Products” - http://green-cleaning-products.weblodge.net

Here’s another good website to check out: “How To Adjust & Repair Your Sewing Machine” - http://www.silver-dollar.zoomshare.com

Here’s a good Forum to check out: http://dachshund-forum.forumotion.com