Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Future of Satellite TV

This article may be considered science fiction, just like Arthur C. Clark once had a scientific vision about 3 satellites orbiting the earth in geostationary orbits to make global communications possible. Everything in this article is merely a scientific vision and an extrapolation of current technologies into the future.What would be the future of Satellite TV? That may seem to be a difficult . . .

A History of Names

The history of names is so ancient that no one know quite where it began. Oral and written history both profess people having names. Earlier names seem to have some sort of meaning, usually descriptive. In contrast, today's names are usually given based upon their popularity or pleasing sounds. Early in prehistory, descriptive names were used continuously. Eventually, a collection of names were. . .

Mothers – The True Unsung Heroes In Our Lives

Quote of The Day: “Be grateful to all of your teachers and anyone who took interest in you, particularly your family, for their knowledge and love contributed to your journey.” While growing up, my mom’s way of helping me recognize and respect the value of motherhood was to say that since God could not be everywhere at the same time, He invented moms. Naturally, it was an honorable job that dem. . .

Tips For Traveling With Rover

Wether it be on a vacation to your favorite resort, or just visiting the in-laws for the weekend, many people are choosing to take their dogs with them when traveling. Land or air, there are many things to take into consideration. The best advice is simply, be prepared. Below are some great tips for traveling by air and land. Tips on preparing rover for air travel Unless your dog is a frequent . . .

Loving Your Spouse When Your Spouse is Not Loving You

Marlo and Jack have been married for twelve years and have two young children. Marlo and Jack each state that they love each other, yet Marlo does not feel loved by Jack, while Jack states that he is content with the relationship.In their relationship system, Marlo tends to be the caretaker, while Jack is the taker. Marlo often thinks about what would please Jack, while Jack rarely thinks about. . .

How Satellite TV Works

Gone are the days where you could spot a satellite dish six blocks away. Today’s dish is drastically smaller, much more reliable and considerably less expensive than its enormous ancestor. So, just how does Satellite TV work? First, you need to understand how the antenna broadcasting system works. Traditional television broadcasting antennas use radio waves to transmit their programming. Each b. . .

How to shop and save Online from your favorite stores

Every year statistics show that there is an overwheming increase for consumers shopping online , shopping online is no more a commodity for many people its a "necessity" Today with a click of a button you can have goods shipped to your doorsteps in no time from half way around the world , who could of imangined this 20 years ago. There are billions of people buying online everyday but we all s. . .

Cockatiel Illnesses

Cockatiels are one of the most lovable pets in the world. They are a valuable treasure to the owner. Cockatiels, just like humans, need a lot of attention and care. Parrots as pets are delightful but they can become extremely moody and temperamental. This may also depend on its health and diet. Good cockatiel care involves not only regulation of diet but also of hygiene and cleanliness. Cockati. . .

Price Book 101

Several months ago, I thought I knew it all on how to save money when grocery shopping. I have found, however, that there is always more to learn as months later I am beginning to address this topic again. I know I am not the only one who thinks that we are playing a game when we go to the grocery store. Educated consumers walk away with loads of goodies for minimal money and others of us fo. . .

Grocery Shopping On a Budget

Grocery shopping is one of the first places you can learn how to be frugal. I am amazed when I go to the grocery store how many times people are spending so much more money than myself and getting half the amount of stuff I have within my cart. Here are just a few ways you can learn to cut back on your grocery bill.Cut and Organize Your Coupons: There are many people who take the time to cut th. . .

Back To School

Amy Allen ClarkAbout The Authorr© 2003-2004 Amy Allen Clark. All rights reserved.Amy Allen Clark is a stay-at-home mother of a two year old son. She is founder and creator of http://www.momadvice.com. Her web site is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and for those seeking work-at-home employment. Please visit her site to sign up for he. . .

Saving On Utility Bills

Some of our bills can be eliminated as being “extras”, but utilities is just not one of these. If you are noticing an increase in your utility bills it is time to review what you may/may not be doing to cause this increase. Here are some helpful tips for ways to decrease your utility bills.Water Check to make sure none of the faucets in your household are leaking/dripping. A slow dripping fauc. . .

In My House, If It's Broken I Bought It

Often a store has a sign with the warning, "You break it, you bought it." This is to keep people from carelessly handling the merchandise.I'm thinking of another sign, which should be posted all through my house. "If it's broken, I bought it." This is not to say everything in my house is broken, but to point out that everything has a breaking point. And, it's not to say I can't fix anything. I . . .

Summer Survival

Summer SurvivalThe summer season is here and along with it comes summer vacation for the school-aged kids. Moms are now responsible for coming up with the ideas and curriculum for their children and I am the first to admit that by the summer my creative juices have just about run out. How can you make summer another time of fun and enjoyment rather than boredom? And just how do you do this on a. . .

Spring Cleaning For Today's Mom

With spring comes all of the beauty of the changing season. We finally began to see our grass; we enjoy seeing the new buds on our trees, and the sweet smell of a good April shower. What also comes along is the dreaded ritual of spring cleaning. Maybe you went through this awful experience as a child. Your mother would be pulling all the linens, washing the drapes, deep cleaning every nook and . . .

Couponing 101: Saving Money Clipping Coupons

You've probably stood in a checkout line behind someone who has a coupon for every item they've purchased, and it seems like eternity until they are finished. But, they probably saved over 50% to 80% off their grocery bill in that few minutes!How, you ask?If you want to try your hand at snipping scissors for savings, first you need the coupons! The best source for coupons is in the Sunday new. . .

Chicken Compared to Chicken Meal

When selecting the best dry food for your dog, why is it better to go with the chicken meal than the pure chicken? Chicken meal is simply chicken that has been baked to remove bacteria and other toxins. Chicken is simply pure chicken. What people dont know about chicken, is that it is made mostly of water. If a label on a bag of dog food says %60 whole chicken, that is quite misleading as that . . .

5 Things You Must Do If You Want To Create a First Aid Ki...

1. Accidents and medical emergencies in the home happen frequently. Maybe more frequently than we realize.Statistics show a fatal injury occurs every 18 minutes in homes across America and every 4 seconds a disabling injury could occur. Accidents occur from falls, fire, burns, choking and poisoning.2. Every home should have at least one first Aid Kit that is well stocked and readily available.F. . .

150-Million Year Old Baby Bird Fossil/ W Hide Scraper!

I was using my metal detector in the foothills of Tucson, Arizona. As luck would have it, I never find what I am Seeking. As the day started to come to an end. I was walking back to my truck with the metal detector resting on my shoulder. I caught sight of an unusual looking rock laying on the ground. After picking up the rock I dusted the rock on my pant leg and noticed a fossilized baby bird . . .

Picture Frame Crafts For Your Kids Party

One of the most popular party favors is a framed picture of the party guest taken at your kids party. He or she could be showing off a silly hat or party costume, performing an outrageous party game stunt, or wearing a face full of frosting and ice cream. Having party guests create their own make-and-take frame to display this memorable photo makes it an even greater treasure for the memory box. . .

Make a Fairy Garden For Your Kids Party

This project is a truly unique kids party activity, combining fun, fantasy, and learning. Kids love getting their hands dirty and learning how things grow. They will also love the idea of making a magical garden place for a fairy to live. A miniature garden takes little space and can rest on a tabletop. Maintenance requires only a light misting from time to time and watching for fairies to come. . .

Ten Tips To Save On Gasoline

Gas prices continue to be near all time highs meaning that car travel is taking a a larger portion out of each of your paychecks. AAA estimates that the cost of driving a car including all direct and indirect costs has surpassed 50 cents a gallon with that price expected to rise.Reducing the cost of driving your car can be done fairly easy simply by paying a bit more attention to your car. Here. . .

How to Tame Wild Kittens

Over the past several years, the wild mother cat who has taken up residence in our barn in rural Wisconsin has given me many opportunities to figure out how to tame wild kittens. The mother cat always hides her kittens very well, and then, when they are big enough to leave the nest and are big enough to eat kitty food, she brings them out and expects me to feed them. When the wild mother cat br. . .

Number 1 Key to Good Parenting

The numbers are chilling. Teen suicide and homicide rates have tripled from twenty years ago. There is a 50% increase in childhood obesity. Teenage pregnancy rates are the highest for any Western society. SAT scores have plummeted. 15-20% of kids are flunking kindergarten. Millions of children are medicated to be more “manageable” at home and school. One of the ongoing tragedies in our culture. . .

A Guide to Successful Obedience Training

Showing off your dog in front of friends and family is something that I personally love to do. Having an obedient, happy slab of lab is like having an obedient happy child. Have you ever been in a supermarket only to come across a screaming baby and a blushing parent? I know I have, and my first reaction is to get as far away from the disturbing scene as possible. I have also been in the undesi. . .

The Benefits of Reading

Did you know that reading can keep your mind active and engaged well into old age?Several years ago when I was working as a newspaper reporter, I interviewed a woman who was a resident at a local nursing home. She was 100 years old. And she read at least one book per week. Mostly novels. She was bright, intelligent and fun to talk with."I love to read. It helps me keep up with what's going on i. . .

Broken Trust

The large animal organizations and the public money. It is said that in America, anything the imagination can conjure up can be attained with persistence. In a society where we boast of freedom and clearly recognize the importance of our leadership in the world, one must be increasingly disillusioned by the simple things in life that prevent us from moving ahead even further. We can successfull. . .

How to Have a Dream Wedding on a Budget

No one wants to pay more than they have to for anything, especially something as costly as a wedding. And if you’re like me, and you had to foot your own bill, then you certainly want to keep costs down. I was afraid it couldn’t be done, especially since my husband and I live in one of the most expensive regions of the country. But my wedding is proof that it can be done, and here’s how: Recept. . .

Writing Your Life Stories

Remember the time that you got into 'big trouble' when you were a kid because. . .?Or what about the time that your little sister. . .?Or how about the time that your mom was making. . .and burned the. . .?You probably have hundreds of these stories tucked away in your memory. Perhaps you've even thought that someday you would like to write about them. There's only one problem. "I don't know wh. . .

First Time Renter? You Need Credit

Planning to move out of your parents' house and into an apartment is a difficult process. In order to avoid adding additional stress to that which inevitably comes along with planning, preparing and packing, you should consider establishing good credit. Without it, some apartment complexes will give first time renters the option to have a guarantor. However, every complex has it's own rules and. . .

Apartment Locators: How Do They Make Their Money?

If you're looking for an apartment in a hurry, apartment location services are a convenient, efficient route to your next home. The vast majority of these services are free, and if you happen to live in a high-growth metropolitan area, you're likely to find them everywhere. In North Dallas, for example, where apartment community developers are keeping plenty busy these days, you'll find as many. . .

Apartment Living: The Need for Fire Insurance

If your apartment catches on fire due to the negligence of a neighbor, it could cost you thousands of dollars. It doesn’t seem fair that someone else’s carelessness could cost you your prized possessions - but without fire insurance, it can.Late for an appointment, Suzan squished her cigarette into a bottle and tossed it under the sink. A few hours later she returned to see the charred remains . . .

The Bare Necessities

You're a twentysomething fresh out of college. You've landed a job, and the world is your oyster. Tonight, you're spending your first night in your new apartment. Or perhaps you're newly single and suddenly striking out on your own for the first time in years. For example, you lose your electricity, and suddenly, it hits you that you should have purchased a reliable flashlight. Take some time t. . .

Apartment Searches: Lose the Rose-Colored Glasses First

If you're getting ready to rent, don't do what this editor did once ... a long, long time ago.Don't walk into the unit -- particularly if it's not the same unit you're getting ("It's pretty similar," you'll be assured, but don't listen) -- nod, and let that affordable rent lure you into blurting out, "I'll take it!" (That exclamation is often fueled by that familiar lust for freedom that new tw. . .

Apartment-Hunting Season Returns: How to Arm Yourself

If you're on the hunt for an apartment right now, you've probably noticed that you're in good company. Each weekend, hordes of hunters arrive at the newest and most luxurious complexes. The apartment business is growing increasingly competitive in many markets, and leasing companies are offering tempting specials to sweeten the deal and lure prospective renters away from competitors. Working in. . .

To Buy or Rent For Your College Student

September always means Back To School, and for thousands of families it also signals Off To College. In addition, more and more young people are opting to continue their education with post-graduate studies.Once a student is past the Mandatory - Freshman - Year - In - The - Dorm Policy that many colleges have, parents face an interesting dilemma: should they continue to shell out rent, or consi. . .

Keeping Renters Happy

The results of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recent bi-annual housing survey supports what the multi-family housing industry has already known for a long time - that given the opportunity, many renters would rather own their own homes than rent. Not only do multi-family properties compete for tenants with other apartment developments, they also compete with the lure of homeownersh. . .

8 Tips for Renting the Right Apartment

So, you're looking for an apartment to rent or share with a roommate. Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced apartment-hunter, it's worth taking the time to decide what's most important to you in where you live and to plan your search strategy accordingly. With that in mind, here are eight tips to consider:1. Make a list of your top housing priorities.Do you need extra parking spaces? A. . .

Is Renters' Insurance Really Necessary?

You and your landlord share a common goal: You both want to ensure the protection of your interests. Obtaining a security deposit from you -- usually ranging from $100 to a full month's rent, and averaging $250 -- is how your landlord obtains a degree of insurance from you. The deposit covers your landlord should you cause any damage to your apartment while you are a tenant. Your landlord, in t. . .

Don't Sign That Lease Yet

You're being transferred to a new city in another state for a position that you start in exactly two weeks. You fly to your new hometown to select an apartment. You have exactly two days to make a decision and sign a lease, so when, after much searching, you find a vacancy in a relatively decent property, you're anxious to sign when the lease is placed in front of you. Resist the urge. As menti. . .

Pet Policies: Pleading Your Case Successfully

I was spending the evening with friends, a married couple who had just moved into an immaculate, upscale apartment community in North Dallas. Their two "children" were a good-natured cat and a very large, yet friendly dog who claimed the apartment's second bedroom for herself. "How did you get the leasing staff to agree to let you keep her here?" I asked, motioning to the dog. The couple exchan. . .

Do I Need Renter's Insurance?

If you are moving into an apartment you may want to consider investing in insurance. Along with the first month's rent, chances are you will be asked to pay a security deposit. This is a type of insurance for your landlord. The landlord can use this deposit to pay for any damages caused during your residency. For you, security comes in the form of renter's insurance.Most renters use the homeown. . .

How to Create the Illusion of Space

By positioning mirrors in the right places, you have the power to make any room appear larger. Whether you live in a loft, or a four bedroom house, you can follow these tips to make small areas more comfortable. If you are living in a loft, you probably might have pillars throughout the room. Mirror them and they'll seem to disappear. If you want a hallway/stairway to appear wider: stagger mirr. . .

Signing a Roommate Pre-nup

You're just graduating from college. You and your new roommate are moving into your first off-campus apartment. Now you can just kick back, relax, and enjoy the real world. Right? Wrong! The real world walks hand in hand with real responsibility. Just as there are new freedoms and new opportunities, there are also new things to consider. One thing that's incredibly helpful, but generally overlo. . .

The Triple Play: How To Tackle Tough Vacancy Problems

Every property manager knows apartment vacancy rates are a little bit like the weather: everybody talks about them, but no one ever seems to do anything.Sometimes the usual combination of advertising and tenant incentives doesn't work and something more is needed to give the properties with vacancies an immediate and sustainable booster shot. After months of struggling to find the right formula. . .

Fire Safety Begins in Your Own Apartment

The risks associated with fire should be one of the chief concerns of any apartment-dweller. You can be as responsible as ever, but who's to say your neighbor is as conscientious as you are? He might walk away from a stove or a candle, leave a stationary heater too close to the drapes ... a million scenarios could keep you awake at night.Anonymity doesn't have to be a fact of life in apartment . . .

Rent Late? Don't Jump to Conclusions

As a landlord, you are financially dependent on your tenants. When a tenant fails to turn in their rent payment on time, you have to worry about making your own mortgage, rent and utility payments. Being put in this situation is frustrating and sometimes angering, but before you take legal action, evaluate the situation. Perhaps your tenant is going through some hard times. Don't want to jump t. . .

Making Room for Two: How to Adjust to Life with a Roommate

Because downsizing is a fact of life these days, many renters and homeowners can, at a moment's notice, find themselves unable to pay the rent or the mortgage. It suddenly becomes necessary to find a roommate - and fast.In previous articles, we've discussed the screening process and what kinds of questions you should ask before moving anyone into your home, whether he or she is a close friend o. . .

Understanding Your Lease

Leasing agents working on behalf of multifamily housing developers are so accustomed to signing deals with veteran renters these days that when it comes time to sign the lease, you're often just directed to the line that waits for your signature. After all, who wants to read all of that fine print? You've been through the process before. Do you really have to take out your magnifying glass and . . .

Rent Collections Via The Internet? They're Not Far Awayll...

Since the first rental units were built there have been property managers, a profession which requires both real estate expertise as well as a keen understanding of the human psyche. Property managers not only collect the rent and undertake repairs, they are also the bridge between owners and tenants -- two groups often in conflict.But have modern times changed property management? How does man. . .