Howl Too

New Blog

2011-06-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

Please come and support my new blog!

Superior Daily Words

It has new content daily and it would be great if I could see all of you over there.

Regards
obi

How To Match Wine With Food

2011-05-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

How to merge wines with food? Herebelow are some fundamentals.

Avoid

The following food damages wine tasting: spice, garlic, vinegar (replace with white wine), raw fruits.

You ought to also:

Avoid red meat with white wines or sweet wines.
Avoid fish, raw vegetables, and goat cheese, with red wines that dry the palate - but think of trying a cold Gamay or a fruity Pinot.
Avoid desserts, Foie Gras, and strong cheeses (Munster, blue cheese), with Loire Cabernet, pink wine, or crisp white (such as dry Loire, Champagne, or Vinho Verde).

Food-wine pairing explained

Wine rouses pleasure with various food. any dish can be matched with lots of types of wines. People have different palates and inclinations: everyone will make their own combinations. For example you can try cheese with a young white (any cheese with Chardonnay, light cheeses with Sauvignon Blanc).

Some rules can guide your matching experiments though:

A simple course leaves room for the wine to shine.
Elderly wines are delicate to serve and match. The dish ought to be discreet.
In theory, a slightly sweetened or bitter coursework accentuates the dryness (acidity, tannins) of a wine. You ought to thus avoid hard wines with sweet food.
the opposite, the more a dish is salty or acidic, the sweeter the wine will taste. This is a chance for you to try wines from fresher climates.

There is plenty of room left when following this guide, so try experimenting and finding what works for you. And remember the joy is in the journey!

How To Make Bread Rolls

2011-05-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

These bread rolls are rapid to make not much over an hour if the dough rises quickly. You can make them in the morning so they are prepared for lunch or a late breakfast at the weekend.

Ingredients

one cup warm water (blood heat about 37°C)
two teaspoons sugar
two teaspoon dried yeast
two cups white flour
one teaspoon salt
½ cup additional flour

Process

Measure the warm water in to a tiny bowl.
Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
Sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the water. Leave in a warm place for ten minutes until the mixture is frothy.
Sift the flour and salt in to a warm bowl. Stir the frothy yeast mixture well then pour in to the flour. Beat well with a wooden spoon.
Cover the bowl with a wet teatowel or plastic film and leave in a warm place for ten minutes.
Stir the mixture till you have a soft dough (not sticky, not dry and crumbly). If sticky, add more flour a tablespoon at a time. If dry, add up to one tablespoon milk, a tiny at a time.
Tip on to a floured board and knead for four minutes.
The kneading method is a fold, push and turn movement. Fold the far side of the dough towards you along with your left hand, then press down with the heel of your right hand and push the dough away from you. Give the dough a quarter turn and repeat until the dough is no longer sticky.
To check if the dough is kneaded , dent the dough with a finger. When prepared, the dent will fill in so you can see where the dent was.
To make the rolls, break off 12 evenly sized pieces of dough and roll in to balls.
Place the balls on a warm greased oven tray or warm greased muffin pans. Brush with milk to glaze.
Cover with a wet tea towel or plastic film and leave to rise in a warm place for about ten minutes or until about doubled in size.
Bake in a hot oven at 220°C for 10-15 minutes.

Makes 12 rolls

TIPS

The key to making these rolls quickly is the heat incorporated in the work of the method. This speeds up the work the yeast does in the bread rising method

To warm the bowl, pour in hot water, tip the water out and dry the bowl thoroughly.

A warm place is a sunny window sill or kitchen bench, the oven at 50Â°C or the hot water cupboard

The kneading method incorporates air in to the dough and helps to make a light easy-to-eat roll.

Blood heat is your body temperature (37°C) and the water ought to not feel much hotter or colder than your skin. Check on the inside of your wrist as you do when testing the temperature of milk for a baby's bottle.

How To Ride a Bike

2011-05-17T23:10:00.000-07:00

Most of us learn to ride a bike as a child but what if you never got the chance or it never caught on. Training wheels are not really an option as an adult so here is how to learn to ride a bicycle as an adult.

HOW TO

Get a bicycle, preferably that is a tiny bit too small for you if you can.
Remove the pedals with a wrench. Most bicycle pedals take a 15 mm wrench, and the left side pedal is reverse threaded. That means "lefty loosey" is the opposite of what you require to do on the left side pedal.
Drop the saddle down as low as it will go on the frame. The idea is that when you sit on the saddle, your feet can touch the ground.
Discover a smooth open space. The best is a slight hill with short grass, but you don't require anything steep. You require to start at the top of the hill.
Sit on the saddle along with your feet on the ground, then push off along with your feet so you are scooting along on the bicycle like on an elderly fashioned hobby horse.
Don't try to steer yet, but receive a feel for the brakes.
As you scoot and pick up speed, let your feet off of the ground. You ought to receive a feel for how to balance the bicycle after a couple of tries.
One time you have the balance down, take very gentle turns to receive a feel for steering. This won't be intuitive for you, but steering comes by leaning the bicycle. Don't make sharp movements with the handlebar or you'll flop over.
One time you are confident, replace the pedals, adjust your saddle to an correct height, and before you know it you'll be trackstanding and riding no handed with the best of us!

TIP

Remember start slow and build your way up and it is always a good idea (if not the law) to wear a helmet particuraly when you are starting off. Stay safe and have fun!

How To Make a Martini

2011-05-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

The martini is probably best known from Ian Fleming's character James Bond. Bond would order his martini, Vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. Making a great martini will vary depending on the person for whom you are making the martini.

The key
A who likes a martini dirty desires the additional ingredient of olive juice added to the mixture. By doing this you add about a half of an ounce of olive juice in to the martini mixture.
Garnish

Vodka or gin
Martinis can be made with either liquor. Martinis were originally made with gin and vermouth. Soon after people started using the recipe to make a martini with gin. The first step when making a martini is find out which a person would prefer. A person may also have a personal choice the brand of gin or vodka.

Up or on the rocks
A martini can be served ways. Up in a martini glass or on the rocks in a highball glass. If the martini is served up, the glass ought to be chilled. You can chill the glass by putting it in the freezer or chilling the glass with ice.

Dry martini
A main ingredient of a martini is vermouth. Plenty of people select to order a martini dry. This infers putting either a dash of vermouth or no vermouth at all in to the martini. You may require to clarify by asking the person how dry they require a martini. If someone states very dry, do not bother putting any vermouth in the mix.

Dirty martini
There's also choices of a garnish for a martini. Olives is choice. Take olives and put them onto a toothpick and place in to the martini. The second choice is a lemon twist. Take the twist and rub it around the rim of the glass then twist it and place in to the glass.

Determining the way a person wants a martini is the key to making a great martini. There's a number of ways to make a martini. Three times you have figured out all the choices of the person you are making a martini for you can proceed.

How to
You will require:
three ounces of vodka or gin
Dry vermouth (optional)
Ice

Take the ingredients and put in to a martini shaker. Shake or stir for about ten seconds and pour in to a martini glass up or highball glass over ice. Use the garnish of choice either olives or a lemon twist. Voila a great martini is made.

Enjoy!

How To Tie a Tie

2011-05-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

The double Windsor knot, named after the Duke of Windsor, is one of the most popular tie knots, and it is also the type of knot that is most commonly tied the wrong way. If you like the symmetric look, as well as a larger tie knot, then the Double Windsor will the right knot for you. It is a perfect knot for wide-spread collar dress shirts.

STEPS

1. Start with the wide end of the tie on your right.
    Extend it about 12" below the narrow end.

2. Cross the wide end over the narrow,

    and bring it up through the loop.

3. Bring the wide end down, around behind the narrow,

    and up on your right.

4. Put this end down through the loop and across the narrow.

5. Turn the wide end, and pass it through the loop.

6. Slip the wide end through the knot in the front.

    Tighten and draw up to the collar.

TIPS

While just about everyone can use this tie knot to tie his tie, it looks especially well on men with longer necks as its wide form shortens the perceived height of the neck a little bit.

How To Kiss

2011-05-09T10:34:00.001-07:00

From the kiss of respect to platonic kiss to a passionate kiss like you see in the movies, bringing your lips in contact with someone else's is a sign of affection that most people enjoy. But since there are many kinds of kisses to reflect the many levels of affection you can have for someone, it can be nerve-wracking! Don't worry though, this howl too will go over several kinds of kisses, as well as when, and how, to give them.

How to Romantic Kiss

As your lips make contact with theirs, pucker them slightly and close your eyes. If you "overpucker" your lips will become tense, which is better for the platonic peck (described below), not for romance.
Kiss your partner's upper or lower lip gently, then pull away slightly. Put about an inch or 3 cm between you and your partner's lips.
Open your eyes. Once your gaze meets theirs, smile a little and decide whether or not to go for another kiss. If things are going well, move on to the next step. Or if one or both of you think that's enough for today, pull away, smile, and shift your gaze elsewhere.
Kiss your partner's upper or lower lip again, but this time part your lips so that their lip goes between yours. Apply a little bit of pressure closing your lips as you pull away. You can practice on the length of your finger to get an idea for how much pressure to apply. You can also gently pinch one of your lips between your index finger and thumb to see how it feels to have someone kiss you in this way.
Switch to the other lip. If you were kissing their upper lip, now go to their lower lip, and vice versa. Ideally, as you kiss someone's upper lip, they're kissing your lower lip, and vice versa, and you can go on like this for quite some time, alternating with closed lip kisses.

How to French Kiss

As you are locking and re-locking lips, brush your tongue against your partner's lips ever so slightly. This should make it clear that you want to French kiss. If your partner's tongue does not respond in like fashion or if they pull away, you will have to save the French kiss for another time when you are both ready.
Slowly open your mouth a little bit more and gently push your tongue a little farther into their mouth until the tip of your tongue meets the tip of theirs. Let your tongues brush against each other briefly and gently and then pull it away, back into your own mouth.
Close your mouth a little (not all the way) and open it again to start another kiss. This time you can push your tongue a little further into your partner's mouth, so that more of it brushes against theirs.
For a passionate kiss: Put your hand(s) on your partner's face, neck, or hair and hold them close as your tongues meet. Gently suck or nibble on their lips here and there. Breathe deeply. Kiss the person like you just can't get enough of them, and like you might never get to kiss them again.
Finish off a French kiss with a little lip locking (as described in the previous section) or continue kissing, in which case you'll want to read the tips in How to Make Out.

Tips

Live in the moment. You will not kiss as well if your mind is somewhere else. For example, when kissing, try to avoid thoughts like "What is he/she thinking about?", "Do I look good tonight?", or anything else. Don't be too self-conscious, or have ANY thoughts outside the kiss if you can help it. Instead, concentrate on the way the other person's lips feel against yours.

How To Prevent or Survive a Monkey Attack

2011-05-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

Whether in the remote forests of Bali or in the backyard of some exotic animal dealer, you may encounter a monkey. To avoid bodily injury to yourself or to the monkey, read on for tips on how to protect yourself from any "unwanted" contact. Remember, monkeys have a unique muscular structure, and can possess up to 4 times the strength of the average man because of the amount of lactic acid in their blood.

Steps

Learn that whatever the situation is, never heckle a monkey. They have feelings and get irritated, and they are very instinctive. So if you anger or annoy a monkey it will bite, scratch or inflict other bodily harm upon you.

2
Take proper precautions, depending on the situation. Look around and think to yourself, "Is the monkey in a secure enclosure?" If not, "Is there a place where I can secure myself if the monkey were to attack?" Avoid operations where monkeys are on leashes or tied to trees.

Recognize that even if the monkey is in a cage or enclosure, you need to stay a distance away from the cage. Do not put your hands on the cage, either. Just watch from a distance.

If you are in a situation where the monkey is not in a cage, you're playing a whole different ball game. Again think, "Is the monkey loose?" "On a chain or rope?" "Within grabbing distance?" If the situation seems safe, proceed to the next step.

Step back and look at yourself. Do you have food, shiny jewelery, glasses, children or toys with you? If so, you should remove those items or yourself from the situation. Monkeys are attracted things that shine, smell good and make noise, so be aware of what you may be dangling in front of their faces.

Stay calm in the unfortunate and unlikely event that you are attacked. If the monkey charges you, don't fight back. The monkey can run, jump and climb better than you. Find something to get in between you and the monkey--a garbage can lid, a car or a steel door, anything you have that works.

Protect yourself by barricading yourself somewhere--a bathroom or building of some sort, your car. Anything safe and secure should be fine. Unless you've really angered or annoyed the monkey, it should lose interest within minutes and go away.

Notify the owner first and then animal control, but only if absolutely necessary.

Never get within the monkey's reach.

10
Many monkeys roam wild but are frequently in contact with humans. Monkeys like these are frequently taunted by children throwing stones and other objects at them. A good tactic for scaring away a monkey is to pretend to throw something at them or to carry a couple of small rocks to throw at the ground near the monkey's feet. Never throw the stone directly at the monkey unless you are in serious danger.

RUN!

How To Smell Good Without Bathing

2011-05-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Are you getting ready for that special date but don't have time to take a shower or bath? Did your parents tell you to freshen up, but you are too lazy to take a bath or shower? Admit it, do you stink? Well, if you do, it's time to read this article to gets some ideas to fresh up without taking a bath or shower!

Steps

Get a scented moist towelette or baby wipe. Carefully wipe your armpits and your genital area. (This is the "T-zone" of many body odors.) This will remove bacteria in areas that are prone to body odor.

Spray some cologne or perfume on. After putting your clothes on, douse yourself with a lovely scent. Don't overdo it though.

Put on a scented lotion. Rub your entire body with a scented lotion. This works good if you are going to wear shorts, skirts, short sleeves, or a strapless dress.

Get some deodorant or body spray! Put on some deodorant that's strong. It's a great way to freshen up in a hurry!

Carry around some flower petals. They can be roses or anything, but carry it around with you! Put it in your pocket, or stash it in your purse, ladies! It will produce a great scent and people with never think you haven't showered!

Have a great shampoo. When you do wash, just wash your hair! The first thing people smell is normally your hair, so wash it in a nice-smelling shampoo.

Wash your clothing! Get a good smelling detergent or fabric softener. Now-a-days, detergent is coming with the fabric softener already inside of the detergent. Just wash your clothing it put it on. This works if you are in a hurry. The smell will linger on you for a while.

Get near somebody that smells even worse than you! People might actually say you smell great if you stand near somebody else that stinks.

Sprinkle a little baby powder on you. Baby powder has a lovely smell that smells like a baby. Who doesn't want to smell like a fresh baby?

If baby powder isn't available, sprinkle some baking soda on you. Baking soda can absorb some odors.

How To make a Bow and Arrow

2011-05-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

Things You'll Need

A Hardwood Stick; About 1 Meter In Length (For The Bow)
Non-Stretchy String( Weed eater line, 50 pound fishing line, etc.)
Wood-Cutting Tool (Knife Or An Axe)
Straight, Dead Sticks; About 1/2 Meter In Length (For Arrows)
Feathers (For Fletching)
Flint Stone; Metal; Similar Materials for Making Arrowheads
Steel Wool (If Making A Green Bow)
Skill

Bow

Choose a piece of wood for the bow or stick. This piece of wood should be flexible, such as juniper or mulberry.You can even use a shaft of bamboo or cane but take care that it is not too thick.For that you can use a young bamboo which is strong as well as flexible. Find a piece of dry, dead but not gray and cracking hardwood--oak, lemon tree wood, hickory, yew, black locust, or teak for example--about 1 meter (1 yard +/-) in length. The wood should be free of knots, twists or limbs. Green wood can be used if absolutely necessary, but it should be avoided because it does not provide the same power as dry wood. If using green wood, try for pine. It is the easiest to cut, and clean. Steel wool is usable to clean it off. Also if using green wood, skin it and soak it in hot water. This will help the bow to bend. If it is green wood once you bend it you can steam it over a fire to dry it. Also try to get one that curves enough, so that when you release arrows, the string doesn't slap the side of your hand which is very painful.

Determine the natural curve of the stick. Every piece of wood will have a natural curve, no matter how slight. As you construct the bow, be mindful of the curve.

Shape the bow. Ideally, you will want the bow to be strong (and hence thicker) in the center. A thick center will also serve as a good handle. Using a knife or similar tool, shave wood off the inside of the curve (the side that faces behind you when shooting) on the thicker half of the stick until it has the same width and pull as the thinner half. If the stick is roughly the same diameter all along its length, you may need to shave both ends to some degree. You want the bow to end up with a thick, strong center portion flanked by two thinner, more flexible end segments of roughly the same thickness and length (see Figure 1).

Cut notches to hold the bow string. Use your knife to cut notches about 1-2 inches from each end of the bow. The notches should be in the shape of a half moon on the outside of the bow's curve.

Select a bow string. The string can be made of rawhide, thin nylon rope, hemp cord, fishing line, strands of cotton or silk from caterpillars, perhaps even vines or sinew. If you are stranded in the wilderness, it may be difficult to find a suitable string, and you may need to try a variety of materials before you find one that has the necessary strength. The string should not be stretchy, as the power comes from the wood, not the string.

Arrows

Select sticks for arrows. Some strong, straight plants for arrows are goldenrod and mullen. They can be found in fields. Arrows should be formed from the straightest sticks you can find. The wood should be dry and dead, however green wood does work if you can give it some extra time to dry out naturally, as the sap may ignite if placed over a fire to dry; each arrow should be about half as long as the bow, or as long at the bow can draw back. It does not work to have arrows that can't be pulled back to the bow's potential.

Shape the arrows. You will need to whittle the wood smooth around the circumference of the arrow. You can straighten an arrow by gently heating the shaft over hot coals--do not scorch or burn the wood--and then holding the arrow straight while the wood cools. Carve a small notch at the back end of each arrow to accommodate the bow string.

Construct the arrowheads. The simplest arrowhead is simply a carved point on the front of the arrow shaft. You can whittle such a point with a knife and then fire harden it by gently heating it in coals (again, be careful not to burn or scorch the wood). You can also construct an arrowhead from metal, stone, glass, or bone and attach it to the arrow's tip by notching the wood, inserting the arrowhead into the notch, and then lashing the arrowhead to the wood with some sort of string or cord.

Find some feathers to make the fletchings and glue them (if possible) onto the back ends of the arrows. You could also split back of the arrow, slide the feather in, and tightly wrap a thin thread ( possibly obtained from your own clothes)around the fletching. If a fletching is not feasible, skip this step. While fletching improves the arrow's flight, it is not necessary for a field-expedient weapon.

Warnings

When shaping the bow, make sure to shave wood off the inside of the curve (the belly of the bow). Otherwise, the bow is likely to break on its first use.
The bow and arrow is not easy to use effectively. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to hunt to survive, you may be better off constructing traps or a more easily-used weapon.
This bow and arrow is a lethal weapon. Exercise caution when using, and never aim at anything you do not intend to kill.
Use extreme caution with the knife or axe.
You may want to carry a bowstring with you when camping as they are hard to make from scratch.
Keep bow and arrows out of reach of small children.
Always wait for everyone to finish shooting to collect arrows.
If you cut the arrow too short and you pull the bow back it can go through your hand.

How To Be a Ninja

2011-05-04T01:46:00.000-07:00

Let's face it. Everybody wants to be a ninja. But not all of us are lucky enough to be born in fourteenth century feudal Japan and/or as an anthropomorphic turtle named after an Italian Renaissance painter. So how would one become a ninja in modern times? It's all about the attitude. Sabotage, espionage, and assassination are optional--and in many cases, not encouraged.

Things you'll need

passion
ability
strength
love

Instructions

First and foremost, ninjas are known for their stealth and invisibility. Part of that is in developing one's own sharp reflexes, grace, night vision, and ability to move quickly in silence. Think about whether you want to be an indoor ninja or an outdoor ninja, and start practicing right away.

Next is the outfit. Conceptually, part is tough. You can easily go on the internet and buy a ninja outfit online, but then you have to come to terms with the fact that you are a commercialized ninja. Just as James Bond is clothed by Brioni, you will be clothed by karatedepot.com. It might undermine your ninja street cred.

Another option is making your own outfit. You could either kidnap someone and have them make it for you--using either threats and intimidation or seduction. Or you can learn to sew and make it yourself. Spider-Man did it. No shame in going to a fabric store.

Outfits need to be light and maneuverable, as you will be doing many incredibly awesome moves in them. Generally, ninja outfits are depicted as being all black, but historically, there is no proof that this is true. Generally, they are in a solid color that is useful for camouflage. Ninja boots need to be sturdy, comfortable, and virtually silent. Head covering must be secure and cover the entire face except the eyes.

Ninjas are warriors. Master a few weapons and be a master at trickery. Attach a sword onto your back. Become swift and accurate with ninja stars. Nunchucks, sais, bo staffs, swords and vanishing bombs are highly recommended.

Get a mentor.

Ninjas are often depicted as spies to learn secrets from their enemies, and therefore gain the upperhand in combat. Think about who your enemies are, and where you could disguise yourself in order to obtain undercover information.

Be prepared for each of your missions. Often times, obstacles will arise which will throw your plans off course. If you're prepared, you will be better equipped to handle these spantaneous diversions.

Tips & Warnings

Don't breathe loudly.
No smiling. Not even with your eyes.
No screaming even when you're scared.
Don't be scared.
Watch out for Samurai and Pirates. They are your worst enemies and toughest challengers, because of their delicate swordplay and dashing good looks. And the cannibalism.
If you are looking for "How to Become a Ninja" in terms of becoming part of the armed groups active under Indonesian rule in East Timor (sometimes called "Ninja"), then this article is irrelevant. You might want to contact the government of Indonesia.

How To Change a Tire

2011-05-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

you??

Have a flat tire? In the worst scenarios, the gas station can be miles away and you haven't any way to call for help. You are too afraid to ask for help from a person driving by. This is why every person should be able to change their own tires just in case. It is wise to have a little bit of practice beforehand so there isn't a shock if anything should happen. Reading your car's manual can be very beneficial to the process and you should have all of the necessary tools in your vehicle--a jack, a spare tire, and a wrench.

Preparing the Car
Before changing a tire, the car should be pushed out of the street or freeway and brought next to the edge of the road. It is also important that the change be done on a level, even ground. You should be out of the way of moving vehicles, even if that means you must keep driving on the flat tire for a little while longer in order to do so. After you get your car to a safe, appropriate place, set your parking brake. If the car has a manual transmission, put it in reverse or first gear. After this has been done, gather up all the supplies you should have already stowed away in your trunk, flick on your hazard lights, and turn the car off to begin the tire changing process.

Changing the Tire

First, you should take off your wheel covers. This may mean you have to unlock, unscrew, or pop off, depending upon the model of your car.
All of the lugs nuts should be loosened by about a half turn, without removing them from the wheel.
Then, use the jack to elevate the car based on the manual's standards.
After the jack has been placed and the car has been positioned, you can finally remove all of the lug nuts. As they come off, the tire will begin to fall off.
Hold the wheel steady in the same place until all the lug nuts have been removed.
Put the spare tire you have in place of the flat while simultaneously aligning it with the bolts.
Screw the lug nuts back on to the spare and tighten them halfway.
Once this is complete, use the jack to put the car back onto the ground.
Lastly, completely tighten the lugs.

You may not be able to do as good a job as a professional; however, it will get you to a repair shop. Once there have it checked and/or buy a new full tire.

end on the road...sorry

How To Unblock a Sink

2011-05-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

At one time or another as a DIY novice or expert you may well be called upon to unblock a sink in the kitchen or the bathroom.
The most common sink to be unblocked is the kitchen sink and this is simply because foodstuffs inadvertently make their way down through the plughole and can gather.
Both the sinks and toilet in your home are attached to what is referred to as the ‘foul water drain’; a drain which as it name might suggest takes waste water and waste products away from the home and into the main sewage system.

The U Bend

Most commonly blockages in sinks occur in what is known as the ‘U Bend’ – the same name is used to refer to the drainage pipe attached to the rear of your toilet. Given the shape of the ‘U Bend’ and the fact that sometimes larger pieces of debris do not float or can become trapped in the base of this pipe, this is where most of the blockages will occur and this is where you should start.

Blocked Sinks

The first thing you will notice when it comes to a blocked sink is that the water may still continue to drain but will take longer to do so. If you notice this problem occur or it is brought to your attention it is best to act sooner rather than later. Likewise blocked sinks will fill with water when there is no plug in the plughole.If you have children in the household it is best to educate them as to what not to put down the plughole. Many DIY enthusiasts have found themselves removing cotton buds, cotton wool, disposable kitchen towels and all manner of other things including – as we have already mentioned – foodstuffs.

Plunging

The first way in which to establish if you have a blockage that cannot be easily removed is to try and plunge the plughole. Plunging is simply a case of removing and adding air to the pipe in order to dislodge anything that might be down there.

First of all try placing the palm of your hand over the plughole and pumping up and down a few times to see if the water level begins to drop. Of course this is a rudimentary manner in which to plunge the sink but it can work. There are also the old fashioned sink plungers – the suction cup on the end of a stick – which work just as well. By placing the suction cup over the plughole and cutting off the air and then pumping it up and down this too can dislodge any item that is small enough to be moved by the current.
With DIY now becoming one of the fasted growing leisure pursuits there are always new gadgets coming onto the market and the latest is what is known as the ‘blast plunger’. This is effectively a pump which covers over the plughole as you might do with your hand or an old fashioned plunger but you force air in and out using a pump handle.

Removing the U Bend

You may find that not everything is as easily dislodged as we have described above so you will have to undo the ‘U Bend’. To do this you should have the following items to hand:

Bucket
Waterproof Tape
Plunger (if necessary)
Screwdriver
Towel or cloth

You will notice that the ‘U Bend’ has two sets of threads – one directly underneath the sink and one further along where the bend finishes. Unscrew the first set of threads – underneath the sink and then slowly and gently pull it free. You should at this point place the bucket and towel underneath the sink to catch any water or debris that may be stuck. Then undo the second set of threads – to be found at the end of the bend. This will allow you to remove this section of pipe which is in the shape of the letter ‘U’. If there is a blockage it will most likely be in this section of pipe and you can use a screwdriver or piece of flexible wire to clear out the inside.
Once you are satisfied that the blockage has been cleared replace the pipe, screwing the threads tightly shut – but not too tightly or they may crack. Use a few strips of waterproof tape to seal around the edges just to ensure there are no excess drips and then plunge the sink again.
After you have completed this procedure you should find the sink is blockage free.

How to Bild a Raft

2011-05-02T00:17:00.000-07:00

What you Need for the Raft

The first step is to collect logs which are preferably uniform in size and look similar in origin. The number of logs will differ depending on the size of the raft you'd like to build and a small raft will only need 4-5 logs while a large one can have as many as 10-12.

Building the Raft

The next step is to lash together poles that can hold these logs together. And the right way to do that is by putting poles up and below the raft spaced evenly all across. I.e. you will need to put a pole below the logs you've laid down side by side, and one exactly above it on the logs. Equidistantly put up a few more connectors so that all the logs you laid down are covered. You might need 6-8 logs for the purpose. Lash them together and clamp the edges so they don't move.
These cross poles that you have lashed together will form the base for your elevated platform, and it would be nice if you shave the edges to make them flat so the platform holds strong. The easiest option for the platform is a sheet of plywood as that is available in all sizes. The larger your raft, the larger the sheet of plywood! Screw the plywood sheet onto the cross poles and you are set!
Cut down two more long sturdy logs, which will act as steering poles. Get your life jackets ready, and you are ready to test your raft in flowing water! You can try at a small beach where the waves are not rough; but the best option would be a lake and a small one at that initially, so you can graduate to the rougher waters with experience.

Tips

Just remember build your raft near the shore, so you can just roll it into the water once you are done building. You don't want to lug the heavy thing around once you are done making it and also remember to wear a life jacket!

start small and work your way up!

How to Find an Owls Nest

2011-05-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Have an enjoyable and fun adventure following the growth of an owl baby. Knowing where to look and what to look for can provide a fun and inexpensive activity for anyone.

STEPS

1
Use the internet or a good birding book to find out what kinds of owls live in your area.

Use a map of your area to find potential habitats.

Choose a nearby habitat to explore being careful not to trespass. Tree groves are good spots.

You can start your search at night or in the daytime.

Walk into the grove listening carefully for any hoot-hoot-hoot-hoot sounds. You can hear these in daylight but they are easier to hear at night.

Choose a tree and check the bottom of the trunk all the way around for signs of owl pellets or white owl excrement.

When you spot excrement, move your eyes slowly up the tree looking for unusual trunk formations, broken branches or natural indentations in the trunk. Any of these might make a good owl nest.

Continue searching around and up the tree trunks for signs of owl nests. Be patient. Create a way to remember which trees have already been studied.

If you're lucky and find a nest, chances are you'll see your new owl friend or friends in it.

You might see one or both of the owl parents nearby. In the daytime, they will be sleeping close to their babies on nearby branches or in the nest itself if the babies are very young.

Study and enjoy your discovery being careful not to disturb them.

Come back a few more times to monitor their growth and progress.

TIPS

Take binoculars to enhance your viewing and bring along a camera. It is fairly easy to get good photos of your trip into the natural world.
Always remember not to disturb the owl environment. They richly deserve our respect and support.

A New Beginning

2011-04-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Welcooome!

Howl Too is a 'how to' site built by owls for the owls of the world. So if you have a constant thirst for knowledge and learning this is the place for you.

Please be patient as our owls populate the site over the coming weeks with all sorts of instructional how to from the regular to the obscure.

In the mean time please join up by followlng.

Regards
Chief Owl