My name is Greg and I am a technical architect with over 20 years of IT experience. I'm happy to be a Giant Squid and active participant in the Squidoo Community. I am on Squidoo on a daily basis, and hope to regularly share some great new lenses. Outside of the day job, I am a husband, father of two, and an avid outdoors man. http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/InterRev Mon, 06 Oct 2014 21:58:04 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.squidoo.com/toe-straightener Many people struggle each year with the embarrassment of crooked toes. This usually becomes an issue during the warmer months when they visit the beach or the pool and are going barefoot. For women with crooked toes, wearing open toe shoes or sandals can be a source of embarrassment. This problem is correctable by surgery or alternative methods. This often leads people into seeking surgery to correct this problem, which can be painful, result in loss of work, and result in long recovery periods. Not to mention the fact that surgery can be a frightening option. There may be another way to correct this problem without surgery though. There are toe straightening devices that can be used in a person's shoes to help straighten toes naturally over time. Since time is required to straighten your toes with these devices, the sooner you start using them the sooner you will see results. You should note that not all toe conditions can be corrected without surgery. If the case is severe enough, surgery may be required. You should consult your physician for advice for any issues concerning your health. (Image Credit to _Tony_B - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) healthy-living Fri, 06 Dec 2013 11:09:15 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/owl-decoy I love the outdoors and wildlife, but only up to the point that they become a nuisance. If you are experiencing a problem with birds, rabbits, rodents, or other small animals around your home or garden, then consider using an owl decoy as a deterrent. Most owl decoys mimic the great horned owl. You might not think so from looking at them, but great horned owls are fierce predators. They have incredibly keen vision, and very sharp talons capable of exerting 300 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) of bone and flesh crushing power. Almost any living creature that walks, crawls, flies, or swims (with the exception of large mammals) is the great horned owl's legitimate prey. They predominantly feed on small to medium-sized mammals like rabbits, which are their most common prey. They also feed on any small to moderately sized rodent such as rats, squirrels, flying squirrels, mice, lemmings and more. Other mammals eaten regularly will include shrews, bats, armadillos, muskrats, martens and weasels. The great horned owl is a natural predator of prey two to three times heavier than itself, like porcupines, marmots, and skunks. Even other winged creatures, such as birds, are not excluded from the great horned owls diet. So if any of these pests are causing problems around your home or garden, then you may want to consider an owl decoy as a possible solution. Some work better than others, so let's take a look at the options available and which ones are the most highly recommended. (Image Credit to InterRev - This is my personal photo of my owl decoy.) home-and-garden Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:24:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/thermostat-lock-box If you are sick and tired of people changing the settings on your thermostat, then take control with a thermostat lock box. These lock boxes are easy to install, but how do you know which model you need to protect your model of thermostat? Keep reading below for some tips that will help you select a model that will work for your needs. It is no secret that heating and cooling costs can be expensive. Turning your thermostat up a few degrees in the Summer or down a few degrees in the Winter can offer excellent savings on your heating and cooling bill. That's why programmable thermostats are so popular now. They can heat and cool on multiple different schedules to regulate the temperature in your home for the best savings. But all those savings can be eliminated when other people crank the heating or cooling without your knowledge. So whether it is your children or in-laws messing with your home thermostat, or employees and patrons messing with the thermostat at your place of business, you can regain control with a thermostat lock box. (Image Credit to InterRev - That's me!) home-and-garden Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:23:19 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/couch-cushion-replacement-foam You can get back that 'like new' look and feel for your couch cushions with some inexpensive replacement foam. This simple project can typically be completed in less than an hour, and is easier to complete than you might think. You can save a lot of money by doing this project yourself as opposed to paying for the work. You can also find a sense of pride in knowing that you completed the job yourself. If your cushions have lost that firm feeling or have that worn appearance, you can easily insert new foam to breathe new life back into your sofa and save some money in the process. Replacing your cushion foam is easier than you might think. So take on this simple project, and make your sofa feel like new again! (Image Credit to Wonderlane - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) home-and-garden Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:56:31 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/bow-mounted-range-finder As a seasoned bow hunter, I know the importance of accurately estimating the distance to your target. As the effects of gravity take over, your arrow will drop more quickly as the distance to your target increases. This is known as arrow fall. The trajectory of an arrow is pretty flat for shorter shots, say within 20 yards. As that distance increases, an archer actually needs to aim above their target, so that the arrow fall allows the arrow to drop back onto the target. If a bow hunter incorrectly estimates the distance by as little as 5 yards on a 40 yard shot, then they will most likely have a clean miss. Even worse than missing their game all together, the potential exists to wound their game, never to recover it. This is a scenario that every responsible hunter strives to avoid, and why correctly estimating the distance to their target is so important. Know your range, and stay on target! sports-and-recreation Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:13:22 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/grill-gazebo If you like to grill like I do, then you probably are manning the grill all year long. I will grill in the Summer when it is 100 degrees and the sun is beating down. I will grill in the rain, and even in the Winter with a foot of snow on the ground. I will cook an entire meal on the grill, from the meat all the way down to sliced vegetables in aluminum foil. Having a grill gazebo is the ultimate way to protect yourself and your grill from rain, snow, and the harmful rays of the sun. It is also a great way to protect your grill surface and food from falling leaves and debris, as well as bird droppings. A grill gazebo is a great way to define your grilling area, and also offers many conveniences such as shelving to place your platters and spices. There are also often hooks that can be used to hang you utensils. They also add a touch of class to your outdoor living space! If you are serious about your grilling, then a grill gazebo is right for you. Check out the reviews of a number of the best grill gazebos on the market today! The grill gazebo pictured above is the Eclipse Backyard Grill Center Black. Image credit to Amazon.com home-and-garden Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:18:43 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/RabbitTraps Rabbits have invaded my garden, and it doesn't take them long to do some serious damage! "OOOHHH - I'm going to get those wascally wabbits!" Rabbit season here in Kentucky is November through February. So to make sure I stay on the right side of the law, I've been experimenting with making Live Catch rabbit traps for use outside of the rabbit season. I've been enjoying making rabbit traps and catching rabbits as much as I enjoy gardening. This lens focuses on How to Make Rabbit Traps. I have some great designs to share, so check back often for updates. pets-and-animals Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:24:11 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/ear-cleaning-kit Ear wax build up can cause a person a lot of problems, but it is something that can be easily resolved by using an ear cleaning kit. They are inexpensive and will usually correct the issue. They can offer big savings when used properly, compared to the cost of having a physician perform the cleaning. Some of the problems you can encounter from ear wax blockages are decreased hearing, dizziness, ear pain, a plugged sensation in the ear, and ringing in the ear. Most doctors and physicians will recommend against using Q-Tips or other brands of cotton swab for cleaning the inside of the ear canal. Using cotton swabs inside the ear canal can result in pushing wax deeper into the ear canal which can contribute to wax blockages. There is also the risk of damage if a swab is inserted too far into the ear canal. Ear cleaning and wax removal kits will typically include a bulb or syringe and and ear drop solution designed to soften and loosen excessive ear wax to allow easy removal. We will take a look at some of the highest rated and recommended ear cleaning kits below. (Image Credit to InterRev - Owner and author of the image.) healthy-living Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:39:19 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/gazebo-canopy A patio or garden gazebo can be a great addition to your outdoor living space. The shade during the summer, or protection from the rain makes your patio or deck space useable even during times when the weather isn't cooperative. Gazebo frames can last a lifetime, but the gazebo canopy is often a casualty of the elements. Due to sun fade and tearing from the wind, gazebo canopies often need to be replaced every two to three years. So don't throw away that perfectly good gazebo, just because the canopy needs replacing. Find out how to select a replacement canopy. home-and-garden Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:12:50 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/stadium-seats-with-backs-provide-all-day-comfort If you attend sporting events that require you to sit in bleachers for an extended period of time, then you have to see the new stadium seats with backs. They can provide all day comfort. My daughter is 11 years old and recently started playing club volleyball. Club volleyball is a lot more involved than the school team that she has played on the last couple of years. It is an all day event. For some tournaments, we are in the gyms all weekend. We arrived at the volleyball center yesterday at 7:30 am and left around 4:00 pm. She played in 4 matches for a total of 10 games. There was a lot of sitting around time during the games and in between the matches. Needless to say, the metal bleachers we were sitting on were brutal on our rear ends. I talked to a number of seasoned parents whose children have been playing on the volleyball circuit for some time. Several of them had these padded stadium seats with backs and they all raved about them. They stated that these seats were a must have item in order to avoid many weekends worth of sore buttocks from sitting on these metal benches. After 8 and a half hours of sitting on these metal bleacher, I heeded their advice and went home to order a pair of these stadium seats for my wife and myself. (Image Credit to Amazon.com - the image above is the Markwort Stadium Seat ) sports-and-recreation Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:57:09 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/fly-tying-kits-for-beginners Ask any fly fisherman to see his fly box and it is likely to be loaded with a ton of different flies for different applications. I have four fly boxes in my fly fishing vest, and I can tell you that I spent a lot of money stocking them. There are a lot of great fly tying kits for beginners that can allow any novice or seasoned fly fisherman to start making their own flies and save a lot of money. Aside from saving money, you get an extra sense of pride when you are catching fish on flies that you created with your own two hands! Fly tying is definitely an art. It is one of those things that can really get addictive once you start doing it. As you master some simple techniques tying basic fly patterns, you will get quicker at tying your own flies and can advance into tying more intricate flies. So, when you can't be wading in your favorite creek or stream trying to hook that monster trout, consider giving fly tying a try. It is a great hobby that can provide hours of fun. (Image Credit to kasperbs - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) sports-and-recreation Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:33:35 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/metal-detector-pinpointer It is no secret that I have become an avid metal detectorist recently. I have purchased all of the gear that allows me to enjoy this hobby to its fullest, and have been unearthing some great finds. My start into this hobby did not go too well though, and I struggled at first to locate the objects that my metal detector had indicated were beneath the ground. I quickly learned that I was missing one piece of critical gear - a metal detector pinpointer. Locating a buried coin or other relic can be very difficult, even though you have already dug it out of the hole. It can be sitting inside of a dirt clod not much larger than the coin itself, and without a pinpointer you can spend a lot of time breaking apart pieces of dirt to locate the object. Most pinpointers will vibrate and emit a tone when its tip comes within an inch or so of the metal object. So after you have removed a plug of sod or dirt from the ground, you can use the pinpointer to hone in on the actual location of the metal object. When you probe the dirt or around the inside of the hole you have dug, if the pinpointer goes off you know that you are within an inch of the object. These pinpointers for metal detecting offer several benefits: They speed the recovery of buried objects, allowing you to locate items faster and spend more time searching for other buried 'treasures'. They help to eliminate frustration. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a good signal and spending many minutes sifting through the dirt while attempting to locate the actual object. They can allow you to make less of a mess while digging. You can pop a plug out of the soil, and pinpoint the object, keeping you from doing more digging while searching. They can keep you from digging a deep hole, when all you need is a shallow one. When you get a good signal from your metal detector, you can run the pinpointer over the top of the sod or ground. If it sounds off, then you know that the object is within an inch or so under the surface. So let's take a look at some of the recommended pinpointers for metal detecting, and I'll give you some tips and tricks to help you utilize your pinpointer to the fullest. (Image Credit to InterRev - This is a personal photo of the Bounty Hunter pinpointer that I own.) hobbies-games-toys Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:00:23 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cellular-trail-camera It never ceases to amaze me how quickly technology is advancing these days. Advancements in technology are offering us more capability in our jobs, our leisure time, and our hobbies. I have been a hunter for more years that I can count and have been an outdoors man since I was old enough to walk. I started working in the computer industry when PCs were a novelty item that people said wouldn't last, and have watched them evolve into what they are today. So I have seen that same evolution in the outdoor industry, but it has never been progressing more rapidly than it is now. The trail camera industry is one area that is specifically seeing massive improvements due to new technology. My first trail camera used 35 millimeter film. The battery life was horrible and you more or less had to stand in front of it waving your arms to get it to take a picture. To check the pictures that I had gotten, I had to swap out the roll of film, take it to be developed, and hope that I had loaded the film correctly and actually gotten some pictures. Boy have things changed. With the digital game camera technology today utilizing cellular towers for communication, you can check your game camera pictures without ever having to leave your home. sports-and-recreation Sun, 04 Aug 2013 09:35:18 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/how-do-i-attract-the-aries-man Understanding the nature of the aries man is crucial to knowing how to attract him. Aries are natural leaders. They have boundless energy and enthusiasm. Aries are often pioneers in their industry, seeking new adventures into the future. They rarely allow themselves to be found in a subservient role. They are direct. When decisions are made, they stick to them. Their approach is typically straight to the point. Tactfulness and diplomacy are typically not qualities possessed by the aries man. Are these qualities that you are looking for in a man? relationships-and-family Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:11:58 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/millenium-tree-stands Every deer hunter knows that harvesting that big buck often requires many long hours in the tree stand. Serious hunters require serious gear, and quality is of the utmost importance when you are 20 feet off the ground. The Millenium tree stands have taken the hunting community by storm with their new line of hang on tree stands, ladder stands, and tripod stands. They may cost a little bit more than the competitor's stands, but once you hunt from a Millenium tree stand you will understand why. Millenium stands are designed for comfort, allowing a hunter to sit in that prime location from sun up to sun down. Their patented technology and engineering has allowed them to create the most comfortable and most quiet stands on the market today. They have also designed their hang on stands to be the easiest stands to hang, and they can be positioned in seconds. So let's take a closer look at why Millenium are a cut above the rest. sports-and-recreation Mon, 08 Oct 2012 23:11:47 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/oakley-safety-glasses Eye injuries at work or at play occur all too frequently. They are often preventable if you take precautions to protect your eyes. A good pair of Oakley safety glasses offer excellent protection and are both comfortable and stylish too. The government-operated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each day more than 2,000 U.S. workers receive some form of medical treatment because of eye injuries sustained at work. The equates to more than 800,000 work-related eye injuries occurring each year. That doesn't even include the injuries that go unreported, or the injuries that occur outside of the workplace. For many people, using eye protection is an after-thought, and something that they seek out after having experienced an eye-related injury in the past. This is unfortunate, because injuries to the eye are often preventable if safety glasses had been used. You can see in the image that this person has a foreign body in his eye that is requiring medical assistance. Don't be this guy... Wear eye protection when working or playing in an environment that is prone to eye injuries. fashion-and-beauty Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:20:49 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-use-a-metal-detector Metal detecting is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by all. Contrary to what you might think, learning how to use a metal detector can be very easy and can be very rewarding (both monetarily and emotionally). There is nothing like finding an old coin, piece of jewelry, or long lost relic that has been buried in the ground for many years. For most metal detectorists, the thrill is in the hunt and the unknown of what you might find on a given day. This year I dove head first into metal detecting, and have purchased all of the gear necessary to enjoy this hobby to its fullest. One of the most important things when learning how to use a metal detector is learning about how your specific machine operates. In this lens, I will walk you through some helpful tips that will shorten your learning curve as you dive into metal detecting. I will also share some of my 'lessons learned' along the way, and introduce you to some accessories and gear that can make your metal detecting experience more enjoyable. So 'keep your coil to the soil' and read on as I share some tips about the wonderful world of metal detecting! (Image Credit to InterRev - Personal Photo) hobbies-games-toys Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:17:15 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/universal-canopy Gazebo canopies need replacing every few years due to damage from the elements and weathering from the sun. Manufacturer canopies are often expensive. So is it worth considering a universal gazebo canopy replacement? home-and-garden Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:29:31 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/light-up-bocce Why let the fun end, when the sun goes down? If you love the game of Bocce Ball like I do, then you will love "Light Up Bocce". So let me tell you a little bit about the game of Bocce, and why I am so jazzed about the light up bocce ball set that my wife gave me for my birthday. Bocce is a game that anyone can play. Playing it at night with a set of bocce balls that glow just adds a cool twist to it. hobbies-games-toys Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:45:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/water-carbonator I am addicted to drinking soda water. I love carbonated beverages, but don't want all of the carbohydrates, sugars, caffeine, and other additives that come with traditional soda pops. Making your own sparkling water and adding your own natural flavors is a great way to enjoy carbonated drinks that are healthy for you. There is no debating the fact that store-bought soft drinks are not the healthiest choice of drinks. They contain a high amount of sugars and sodium, and a lot of other ingredients that I can't even come close to pronouncing. A home water carbonator will allow you to make healthy drinks in a matter of seconds in the comfort of your own home. food-and-cooking Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:47:08 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/citronella-plant An outdoor living space is a great place to spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, pesky mosquitoes can put a damper on the fun and send the festivities indoors. To combat mosquitoes during the summer months, many people will often burn citronella candles, torches with citronella oil, or use bug sprays containing the DEET chemical in an effort to repel these unwelcome guests. Mosquitoes create more cause for concern than just the itchy, red bites they leave behind. There are a number of diseases that mosquitoes can carry, including the West Nile Virus which has been on the rise in recent years. From 2011 to 2012, there was an 800% increase in the number of confirmed cases (more details on this below). Did you know that there are citronella plants that you can use around your patio or garden to combat mosquitoes the natural way? There are also several other varieties of plants that will naturally repel mosquitoes and other undesirable insects. So put away those insect sprays and avoid the potentially toxic DEET chemicals. Consider adorning your patio or garden with some of these plants that mosquitoes will naturally avoid. (Image Credit to Gina Pina - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) home-and-garden Mon, 01 Jul 2013 16:21:26 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dryer-vent-cleaning-kit A clogged dryer vent can certainly cause a dryer to operate hotter. This does increase the chances that your dryer could catch fire. A dryer vent cleaning kit can help you avoid this risk, and extend the life of your dryer. A dryer that 'runs hot' is also likely to experience other mechanical issues, which can reduce the effective life of your dryer. While some companies may try to use stories of dryer fires as a tactic to sell their vent cleaning services, the reality is that this is a real risk. While the risk may not be high in every house hold, it is something that can easily be prevented. This risk can be addressed by the home owner without contracting the services of a service company. It really makes sense to take a small amount of time, and check your dryer vent to see if it is in need of cleaning. The few minutes that it costs you could save a life. Many fire departments and insurance companies do recommend that dryer vents be inspected and cleaned regularly to ensure safe operation. Required or not, inspecting and cleaning your dryer vent is a simple thing to do and just makes good sense. It should be part of annual maintenance for your home or residence. (Image Credit to Amazon.com. The Woodeze LintEater dryer vent cleaning kit is pictured above.) home-and-garden Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:13:42 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/xhose-review So we have all seen the 'As Seen On TV' commercials featuring the Xhose. You know, the amazing garden hose that automatically expands and contracts when the water is turned on and off. Well, I wanted to take a closer look at the features and benefits of this product and see if it is all that it is cracked up to be. We all want products and features that are going to make our lives easier, but we also want good quality products that will do everything they promise to do. I've also sifted through a number of the reviews from the largest retailer on the Internet to see just what other owners of the Xhose are saying about it - both good and bad. I've offered my personal experiences. I've also found a great video review of the Xhose that was conducted by Fox News. I hope to provide you with the information you need to determine if the Xhose is right for you! (Image Credit to Amazon) home-and-garden Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:08:56 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/rug-hooking-kits Rug hooking is a great hobby that is simple to do and allows you to craft some wonderful creations. Learning to hook rugs is very easy, especially if you start off with a rug hooking kit for beginners that provides some step-by-step instructions. These beginner kits typically use less complicated patterns. As you get the hang of it, you can move up to more detailed patterns. Like anything else, this hobby can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose to make it. You can utilize recycled wool to save some expense, or opt to go with new wool, which will be a bit more expensive. There are a number of low-cost beginner kits available, so the cost of getting started will not be a barrier. This is one hobby that you can start with very little up front expense. (Image credit to noricum - licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution to the author. arts-and-design Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:15:39 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/a-lesche-digging-tool-is-a-must-for-any-metal-detectorist There are three pieces of gear that are a must have for anyone that is into metal detecting; a metal detector, a pinpointer, and some type of digging tool. When I started metal detecting, I used only a standard, garden hand trowel for all my digging. I had no idea how difficult digging could be, especially in hard ground. I am sure that you have heard the old phrase "there is a right tool for every job". Well, a Lesche digging tool is the right tool for the job when it comes to metal detecting. The thing that I didn't realize when I got into metal detecting is that you will need to be digging a lot of targets. A lot of the targets you dig will be junk, even though your metal detector may indicate that they could be coins or jewelry. Digging needs to be quick and easy, so that you can get through as many targets as possible, so that you ultimately get past the junk and get to the good finds. Pictured here is my new Lesche Sampson Pro-Series shovel. I have been on two metal detecting trips since receiving it, and honestly do not know how I ever lived without it. So let's take a closer look at my Lesche, and look at the features and benefits that these Lesche digging tools have to offer. (Image Credit to InterRev - Personal Photo) hobbies-games-toys Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:09:57 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/garrett-at-pro-metal-detector Not long ago, I got into metal detecting when I received a Bounty Hunter QuickSilver as a gift. It was a low end metal detector, but I quickly became fascinated with this hobby. I quickly knew that I wanted to get a new metal detector that would do a better job of detecting and identifying objects in the ground. I chose to purchase the Garrett AT Pro metal detector after doing much research, and I can't tell you enough how much I love this machine. The Bounty Hunter model was a pretty basic model. Don't get me wrong, it worked just fine but did not reveal much information about the target that it detected. I spent way too much time digging up objects that ended up just being trash. This detector really helped me to realize that this was a hobby I am very interested in, and would continue to pursue. Like with all my hobbies, I found myself wanting to use quality gear. Quality gear that offers more capabilities leads to a more enjoyable experience and better results. If I was going to spend the time outdoors searching for 'my treasures', then I wanted to have the best gear that I could justify purchasing, and get the best results for my time. I have found lots of coins, several pieces of jewelry, and many other cool things with my AT Pro. You can see some of them in the photo gallery below. I even had the opportunity to reunite a girl with her lost wedding ring after answering an ad that they posted looking for someone with a metal detector. The smile on her face when she was reunited with her lost ring was almost as gratifying as the thrill that came with finding it. So why did I choose the Garrett AT Pro, when there are so many more metal detectors on the market that cost less? Let's take a closer look at the Garrett AT Pro's features and benefits, and see why I ended up choosing this model. (Image Credit to InterRev - Personal Photo) hobbies-games-toys Mon, 01 Jul 2013 09:32:41 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/fitbit-pedometer I walk many times each week for exercise, and have worn a pedometer daily for years. So I am very excited to upgrade to a new Fitbit pedometer. Fitbit offers a several great cutting edge pedometers that are easy to use and do more than just count your steps. I decided to buy Fitbit to take advantage of the Fitbit app, so I can log activities, meals, food and water intake, workouts, weight, and more. My goal has always been to walk at least 10,000 steps on a daily basis, but I want to take that even further and monitor more aspects of my health. The Fitbit One that I purchased can even help to track your sleep activity. I've read other Fitbit reviews, but I wanted to provide you my own Fitbit review from the perspective of a person that actually owns and uses one. I got the Fitbit One for myself and the Fitbit Zip for my wife. They also offers the Fitbit Flex, which is another attractive multi-function pedometer that comes in the form of a wristband. Let's take a closer look at each of these models below. (Image Credit to Amazon) sports-and-recreation Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:41:10 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/zboost-yx545 There is nothing more frustrating than paying for cell phone service that does not work properly in your home. Dealing with dropped calls, slow download speeds from 3G and 4G networks, and missing calls that go straight to voice mail does nothing but add to the frustration. I recently moved to a new home, only to discover that our iPhone (with their expensive voice and data plans) do not work as well in our new home as they did in our old home. My wife talks on her cell phone constantly. After dropping yet another call the other night, she said she was going "to hurt someone if her cell phone didn't start working better". ( I suspect that someone will be me! ) So I have started researching my options to improve cell phone reception in this home, and have come up with some pretty good alternatives. (Photo credit to Lazurite, sourced from Flickr and licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lazurite/.) computers-and-electronics Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:36:38 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/leupold-vendetta Errors in estimating distance are the number one problem that causes an archer to miss their shots. This is due to the effects of gravity causing arrow fall over greater distances. Knowing the exact distance to your target is critical for consistent shooting. We will dig deeper into the importance of distance estimation and the effect that this can have on an archer's shot. Please realize that electronic range finders on bows are not legal for hunting in all states, but they are legal for recreational shooting purposes in all 50 states. You can check with your local state's hunting regulations to see if a device like the Leupold Vendetta is legal for hunting in your state. You can also see the link below which shows a U.S. Map listing out all states where this device is legal. Non-electronic range finders are legal for use on bows in all 50 states. So these types of devices are a good, inexpensive alternative to electronic rangefinders. sports-and-recreation Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:51:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/lone-wolf-tree-stands I am an avid outdoors man, and love spending time in the great outdoors. Because I spend so much time outdoors, I like to own and use the best gear. When it comes to tree stands, Lone Wolf will get my vote every time, but never more so than now. I was a little disillusioned with Lone Wolf back in 2010 when they decided to move their tree stand production out of the country. I am sure that this was a financial decision to remain competitive with the rest of the industry. I commend Lone Wolf for reversing this decision when the results were not as good as they had anticipated. This Peoria, Illinois company now has their tree stands manufactured a mere 6 miles from their headquarters. In an age where the trend is to move manufacturing over seas, I really respect this company for moving their production back to the United States and keeping jobs in America. One of the biggest things that Lone Wolf is known for is creating a very quiet tree stand. They do this by using one-piece cast aluminum for their platform. Not only does this give you a light-weight tree stand, it also eliminates the noise associated with sound-echoing hollow tubes, popping metal associated with grate platforms, and creaking tin associated with the metal on metal design of some other tree stands. The result is a quiet tree stand that will not make noise and alert the game animals to your presence. This is just one of the innovative features and technologies that Lone Wolf integrates into their stands. They have numerous patented features that make their tree stands rise above the competition. sports-and-recreation Sun, 04 Aug 2013 09:51:07 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/DigitalGameCameras This lens was designed for digital game cameras enthusiasts looking to get the most out of their digital scouting cameras. Get helpful tips and tricks for getting more and better pictures from your game camera. I have been an avid outdoors man for quite a number of years and spend a lot of time outdoors. I am a game camera enthusiast, and currently own about a dozen game cameras. During the hunting seasons, I use my cameras to pattern game on various properties that I hunt on. Outside of the hunting seasons, I still use my scouting cameras as a hobby. I love capturing unique photos and videos of wildlife in the environment. I have also used my game cameras as security cameras, to monitor property for trespassers. There are many different brands and models of scouting cameras on the market. The price ranges run from inexpensive to very expensive, and everywhere in between. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a decent camera, but you can spend a lot on premium brands or for models that offer extra bells and whistles. Most of my trail cameras cost between $100.00 to $200.00, but I own some that cost more and some that cost less. The best piece of advice I can offer to anyone looking to purchase a scouting camera is to become familiar with the models that are available, determine what it is that you want to do with your game camera, and select a model that fits your specific criteria. Game cameras are much more than just a tool designed to increase a hunter's success. The use of a scouting camera will quickly become a hobby in itself, and is a great way to extend your time in the woods, both pre-season and post-season. Image credit to DeerTrackingCameras.com. sports-and-recreation Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:19:50 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wildgame-innovations-x6c Thinking about buying a Wildgame Innovations X6C digital game camera? Then check out our channel on the X6C and see what this infrared scouting camera can do. See the sample videos and images created with this cam, and learn about its features. I am definitely partial to game cameras that have video capability. There is nothing like watching a movie of that big buck and getting to view multiple angles of his rack. It can sometimes be difficult to see all the details in an image that you wish to see, especially if the deer is turned the wrong way. With video, you get to see the entire sequence, as that buck turns its head, and gives you a great opportunity to study that rack. You also get to see some very entertaining videos of game in their natural surroundings. I have captured videos of bucks fighting, does fighting, and bucks chasing does. I've even captured some videos of trespassers and other game animals like foxes, turkeys, coyotes, and more. I love the anticipation of watching each new video, because you never know what you are going to see. sports-and-recreation Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:46:55 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cortland-fly-rods I am an avid outdoors man, and was first introduced to Cortland fly rods around 15 years ago. I had my first fly fishing experience a few months before on a business trip out West. Pardon the pun, but I have been 'hooked' every since. I had received an Orvis fly rod combo for Christmas that year, because my family had taken notice of my new interest in fly fishing. I had taken my Orvis on a weekend trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee where a friend and I had hired a local guide to take us fishing on a mountain stream. The guide recommended we use the gear that he supplied, which were Cortland fly rods. After spending the day fishing with his Cortland, I fell in love with it. We returned to his fly shop when our time fishing was over, and I ended up buying a new Cortland fly fishing combo from him for around $100.00. The same model that I had used that day. It was a 3/4 weight rod in a 7'6" length, with a fly reel, fly line, and backing included. I still have this fly rod and it goes on every fly fishing trip with me. This short, light-weight combo is ideal for those small mountain streams, especially if there are trees or overhead branches in the area. It really is a great finesse rod that makes the little fish feel big, and the big fish feel even bigger! (Image Credit to InterRev - That's me with my Cortland fly rod fishing in Idaho.) sports-and-recreation Sun, 29 Jun 2014 09:50:33 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/orange-golf-balls I'm not a pro golfer by any means, but I have been spending a lot more time on the course lately with my daughter. As a 5th grader, she has been playing on her school's golf team over the summer, and has been participating in a metro parks league. She has really taken a liking to the game, and even took second place in the Catholic School Athletic Association Tournament in the 5th Grade Girls Division. My daughter is definitely into bright, flashy colors (from the clothes that she wears to the paint on the walls in her room). Her love of bright colors has extended to the golf course where she uses a selection of pink, yellow, and orange golf balls. If you have ever been on the golf course, you have probably noticed that most people use a white golf ball. I will occasionally run across someone using a colored ball, but they are not the norm. There can be some big benefits from using a brightly colored ball though. They can be more visible than a white ball under certain conditions, but did you also know that they could possibly help you to avoid a two stroke penalty? Read on, and I'll explain more about that below. (Image Credit to © Lisricka | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images) sports-and-recreation Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:51:06 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/have-you-seen-the-new-cuddeback-seen It's no secret that I am an avid outdoors man. I have been blogging about hunting and digital scouting cameras since 2008. But nothing in recent years has gotten me more excited about the trail camera industry than the release of the new Cuddeback Seen digital scouting camera. Why does this excite me? Because Cuddeback trail cameras have historically been expensive and priced well over $200.00 price point. This is Cuddeback's first first low-cost game camera that is still packed with high-end features. It was released with a retail price of $170.00, but I have frequently seen this model selling for much less and purchased mine for $138.00. Scouting cameras offer huge benefits to outdoors men, and are most commonly used by deer hunters. They are usually placed in the woods and leverage an IR sensor to detect when game passes in front of the camera. This will trigger the camera to capture pictures or videos of the game. Scouting cameras can help a hunter survey the deer population on a piece of property; help them determine the quality of the deer in the area; and decide up front whether or not they have chosen the best location to hunt. So what high-end features does this game camera have? Trigger Speed - Cuddeback cameras are known for having fast trigger speeds, and the Seen has a fast 1/2 second trigger. This means that a picture or video can be triggered within 1/2 second of the game passing within the camera's detection zone. Infrared Flash - Pictures and videos can be captured in pure darkness with no visible flash that can spook your game. The IR flash uses 24 LEDs that can illuminate game up to 50 feet away. Native 5 Mega Pixel Images - You get full color 5 MP images by day, and infrared black and white images at night. HD Video - The Cuddeback Seen captures AVI files in 720P wide format. It can capture videos in lengths of 10, 20, or 30 seconds. Great Battery Life - It is capable of capturing thousands of images or operating for 6 months on a single set of 8 AA batteries. The long battery life makes this camera cost effective to operate, and is important if it is placed in a remote location. Large External Memory Capability - An SD memory card of up to 32 GB in size can be used, giving you all the capacity you need for your pictures and videos. Time of Day and Delay Settings - You can configure this scouting camera to operate during the day only, night only, or day and night. You also have the ability to set delays between pictures from 1 second to 3 minutes. This allows you flexibility in how the camera is used. It can also prevent you from getting tons of pictures of the same animal (unless that is what you want)! Time Lapse Video Mode - The Seen can be configured to operate as a 'time lapse video' camera. This allows the camera to automatically capture images at predefined intervals, without the passive infrared sensor being triggered. This feature is great for monitoring large fields or open areas There are game cameras on the market now that operate only in TLV mode. With the Cuddeback Seen you get the flexibility to operate in TLV or normal mode. Center Subject Technology - You get the flexibility to determine the detection mode with the Zone Control feature. The Center Detection mode waits until the game animal is in the center of the frame before taking the picture. This gives you better quality images, and less pictures of noses and butts! But you still have the option to use Wide Detection mode, which will start taking pictures as soon as the game enters the frame. Much, Much, More - The Cuddeback Seen is packed with more features and benefits than can be listed here today. It is a great scouting camera to use on trails, scrapes, feeders, food plots, and open fields. It is also a great Surveillance Camera that can be used to monitor your home or property. I've been very pleased with the image quality and the performance of the Cuddeback Seen. I am definitely impressed at the features and capabilities of this camera, considering the low price point. I also own the more expensive Cuddeback Capture and Cuddeback Attack scouting cameras. I would put the Cuddeback Seen up against these more expensive models any day! sports-and-recreation Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:58:03 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/history-of-bocce-ball The game of bocce was born during ancient times. The game is so old in fact, that many historians can't agree on when this game actually came into being. We do know however that a form of bocce ball was being played around 5200 BC by the ancient Egyptians. Evidence of this can be seen in hieroglyphics. From Egypt, this game spread to the Middle East and Asia. It was played by common-folk. Around 800 BC the game of bocce found its way to Greece where it because a favored game of the high society. We owe it to the Greeks for evolving this game into what it has become today. Throughout history, bocce has been played with a variety of items, from coconuts, to melons, rounded stones, and even carved olive wood. Today they are made from plastic, chromed steel, and more commonly resin materials. Bocce ball is a fun game that can be enjoyed by all. I often refer to it as a 'high class corn hole' game. (Image Credit to Liz West - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) hobbies-games-toys Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:41:48 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/carpenter-bee-trap Carpenter bees can do a lot of damage to the wood around your home or deck in a short period of time. These yellow and black bees get their name because of the fact that they like to burrow into wood to build their nests. While the damage they cause is often not structural, it is definitely unsightly. If no action is taken to prevent additional nesting, structural damage can occur over time. A carpenter bee trap is a very unique, but simple device that can help prevent damage by trapping and killing these bees as they are attempting to nest around your structures. (Image Credit to thatredhead4, licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution.) pets-and-animals Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:59:32 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wii-lens-cleaning-kit Wii console games are great for family fun. That is until you get a dreaded error like the one pictured here. With a little preventive maintenance you can keep your Wii in tip top shape. A Wii lens cleaning kit can be used keep your Wii lens clean and reading the game discs correctly. A soft cleaning cloth can be used to help keep your Wii discs clean before you insert them into the gaming system. I unfortunately learned this the hard way, and a little too late. My family's Wii console stopped reading discs. After consulting Nintendo's support, they never presented the option of trying a lens cleaner, and recommended that I send in the unit for service. In addition to the repair expenses, my kids were without their Wii for a couple of weeks, which for them was a tragedy. After paying $90.10, I had the repaired Wii returned to me which I could have potentially repaired myself for a fraction of the price.Here are some tips that will hopefully help you to keep your Wii in optimal shape and allow you to avoid the expense of having it repaired by Nintendo. (Image Credit to InterRev - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) videogames Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:46:54 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/binocular-buying-guide There is nothing like having a good pair of binoculars for outdoor activities and sporting events. With so many different brands, different models, and different features how do you know which ones are right for you? This binocular buying guide will help you understand the terminology related to binoculars so you can determine which kind is right for you. This lens will explain the terminology (not in technical terms) but in terms that are easy to understand. It will also make recommendations on binoculars for astronomy, birding, marine, hunting, and more. (Image Credit to TGardArt - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) sports-and-recreation Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:19:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/tfo-fly-rods TFO fly rods have taken the fly fishing industry by storm by setting a new standard of value for fly rods. They have created a series of fly rods that offer a perfect balance between price and performance, which they have backed up with the Lifetime No-Fault Warranty. This Temple Fork Outfitters lifetime warranty covers the original registered owner FOR LIFE! For just a $25.00 fee, your broken rod will be repaired and shipped back to you within just a few days of receipt. They will replace blanks sections as appropriate too. With as much money as we invest in our fly rods, Temple Fork's warranty will offer you peace of mind that your investment will give you a lifetime's worth of enjoyment! (Image Credit to Fishking_1 - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) sports-and-recreation Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:42:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/outdoor-faucet-cover As colder weather sets in, it is time to start taking some preventative action to keep the pipes from your outdoor faucets from freezing. One great way to do this is to use an outdoor faucet cover. By installing these inexpensive covers, you can potentially save yourself a lot of money by avoiding costly repairs due to frozen pipes. I recently moved to a new home (well, not a new home but a different home) and have been doing my fair share of repairs and home maintenance. As I make my preparations for Winter weather, I have ordered two Frost King outdoor faucet covers to protect my outdoor faucets from freezing. In one of my previous homes, I did experience a frozen and split pipe leading to one of my outdoor faucets and I want to share some tips that just may help you avoid the same headache that I experienced. home-and-garden Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:19:36 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/how-does-a-defibrillator-work This morning, I completed an online Medic First Aid training course offered by my company. It was more or less a first responder training course that was geared toward teaching you how to provide basic first aid, CPR, and how to utilize an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). The goal of this training course was to arm you with the knowledge needed to help stabilize an injured person, or to be able to administer potentially life-saving assistance until an Emergency Medical Technician could respond to the scene. At my workplace, we have an AED located next to the elevators on every floor of our building. I have frequently taken notice of them, but honestly had no clue how they worked, or more importantly when one should be utilized. I was fascinated by this part of the training course, and now have a good understanding of how they work and when to use them. So I decided to create this lens, hoping that it may help to convey some awareness to others and potentially help someone out in the future. With heart attacks being such a common occurrence in the work place, becoming aware of how an Automated External Defibrillator works just could save a life some day. So in this lens, I will take a closer look at these devices and answer the question "how does a defibrillator work". healthy-living Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:33:28 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/iq-bow-sight Consistent shooting for archers requires consistent form. Bow hand torque and varying your anchor point are two of the most critical errors that an archer can make that will negatively affect arrow placement. Oftentimes, an archer doesn't even realize that they are being affected by these issues, but the resulting arrow groupings let them know that something is wrong. The Retina Lock by IQ Bow Sights just may be the solution to these problems which ail many hunters. This simple to use bow sight let's you know if your form is being affected by bow hand torque, or a change to your anchor point. See what this innovative bow sight does and how it works. sports-and-recreation Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:46:55 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/hug-your-hound-day The second Sunday in September is National Hug Your Hound Day! It is a day devoted to those four-legged little family members that bring so much joy into our lives everyday. This special day is really dedicated to increasing dog-friendly use of urban spaces. It serves as a reminder to keep the dogs we love safe, happy, and healthy. It is a day to get outdoors with your canine friend and enjoy the city parks or wide open spaces, no matter where you live. Most importantly it is a day to remind your dog that they are loved. Hug your hound and spend a little quality time playing with them or taking them for a walk. Focus on the physical, mental, and emotional well being of your pet and make sure they have a great day! Pictured to the left is our cockapoo Honey Skittles. She is wearing my baseball cap and getting a great big hug from my son. We love Honey Skittles (A.K.A. Skittles), and we see her as a member of our family. While she gets hugs from everyone every day. On the second Sunday in September, we will make sure that our hound has a day to remember. (Image Credit to InterRev - Personal Photo Not to Be Reused Without Permission) pets-and-animals Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:16:20 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/ultimate-frisbee-discs Over the weekend, I purchased what I believe to be two sets of best disc golf discs for beginners. I had the pleasure of surprising my kids with a fun round of disc golf at a local park. You can see the delight on their faces when I gave them their new disc golf gear, and the fun continued when we hit the course. Disc golf has been around for quite some time, but really seems to have been gaining popularity in recent years. It wasn't until I planned this outing with my kids that I discovered there are approximately 15 disc golf courses within an hour drive of my home. People actually started playing disc golf in the early 1960's, using trees and trash cans as their targets. In 1975, the sport really became officially recognized with the formation of the PDGA. This was the first Professional Disc Golf Association, which is responsible for officiating the standard rules of play. Disc golf continues to grow in popularity today at a growth rate of 12-15 percent annually. There are now approximately 3,000 disc golf courses in the United States, and over 4,000 courses around the world. I can just about guarantee you that a quick Google search will reveal a disc golf course in a park near you. So consider getting outdoors and enjoying a game of disc golf with your family and friends. It is a fun-filled activity that everyone in the family can participate in. It provides some low impact exercise and allows you to enjoy the outdoors! sports-and-recreation Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:54:26 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/lemonade-dispenser Any day is a great day for a glass of fresh lemonade, and one young entrepreneur has found a way to increase her lemonade sales and her profits. My daughter has seen great success with her lemonade stands this Summer, and has taken steps to stand out from the rest. By adding a lemonade dispenser, some custom signage, and a special ingredient to her lemonade recipe she has welcomed repeat customers and seen her profits soar. Location is very important when it comes to getting customers to a lemonade stand. Our home sits on one of the main roads that passes through a large neighborhood, so she is able to get lots of customers visiting her stand. After running her first lemonade stand this Spring, she brought in about $20.00 in less than a couple of hours selling 50 cent glasses of lemonade. With a few simple tweaks to her lemonade stand, she has been able to double her profits and now brings in around $40.00 for the same amount of time. This has been a great learning exercise for my daughter. It has helped her to realize the value of money and what it takes to earn it. Here are her secrets to success that you can use to help your own child's entrepreneurial venture find increased profits. (Image Credit to InterRev - Personal Photo) food-and-cooking Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:27:00 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/ditch-your-rake-and-let-the-toro-51609-handle-your-leaves Fall is one of my favorite seasons and a beautiful time of the year. Unfortunately, the Autumn season also brings the back breaking chore of raking leaves. Well, don't let that pile of leaves in your yard consume your weekend. Ditch that rake and let the Toro 51609 electric leaf blower and vacuum turn that mountain of leaves into a mole hill. The Toro Ultra 3-in-1 leaf blower is an inexpensive piece of lawn care equipment that can blow leaves, vacuum leaves, and shred leaves at a ratio of 16 to 1. This means that 16 bags of leaves can be shredded down to a single bag. Don't let the fact that the Toro 51609 isn't gas-powered lead you to believe that it isn't powerful. This blower boasts air speeds of up to 235 miles per hour and has the ability to push an air volume of up to 390 cubic feet per minute (CFM). This surpasses the CFM and airflow of the popular gas-powered Echo PB-265L backpack leaf blower. It is lighter and more quiet than any gas-powered blower on the market. Best of all, this blower's variable 12 amp electric motor runs clean and disperses no emissions into the environment. You get two different air concentrator nozzles with this blower. The main tube does a fine job of moving leaves and debris away from your home and your shrubbery. Add the power insert to the tube for the focused power to move a volume of leaves into piles for collection. Add the concentrator insert to get the power you need to remove debris from cracks and to move stubborn leaves. Forget about bagging up that pile of leaves. You can use the convenient quick-release latch to convert this blower into a vacuum in seconds, with no tools required. The metal impeller can make quick work of that leaf pile as it shreds the leaves into a fine mulch which is collected in the included vacuum bag. You can even use this mulch around your flower beds or garden as nutrients for your plants. If you own a large piece of property and can't have your blower tethered to an electrical cord, then the 51609 may not be right for you. This blower isn't for commercial use either. It is designed to appeal to the average home owner. We all know that raking leaves can be a strenuous activity. Weighing in at only 7.5 pounds the Toro 51609's light weight and ergonomic design makes it pleasant to use. I won't go so far as to say that it makes yard work fun, but it sure makes it easier. So save your arms and your back, ditch that rake, and let the Toro's impressive 3-in-1 leaf blower tackle your yard. home-and-garden Fri, 20 Sep 2013 17:15:00 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/glitter-tattoo-kit Whether you are heading out for a wild night on the dance floor or looking for a neat activity for your kids, a glitter tattoo kit is guaranteed to add fun. We all know that face painting is a major hit with children. Temporary tattoos and henna tattoo are very popular with people of all ages. Well, you can take it to the next level and add some "bling-bling" to your skin with some glitter tattoos that are sure to get you noticed. These kits will come with everything you need to get started, and are very easy to use. In fact, many can be used by children and will be rated for ages 8 and up. They will often have a number of stencils, glue, and glitter. A glitter tattoo can last for up to 7 days, even after showering. You can even create your own templates to make your own tattoo designs. Now how fun is that! (Image Credit to Jill Saperstein - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) fashion-and-beauty Sun, 25 Aug 2013 23:36:31 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/google-chromecast I read a press release about the new Google Chromecast yesterday, which is labelled as a TV game changer. Maybe it was due to the $35.00 price tag on this device, but I found myself completing an order for this new device minutes later. The Chromecast is different than any other digital media delivery device that you have ever seen. It is a small USB-like device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port, and allows content from your laptop, tablet device, or smart phone to be streamed onto your TV screen. Google appears to have positioned the Chromecast to compete directly with the Apple TV and the Roku, but these two devices carry a much higher price tag than the Chromecast. It allows you to enjoy and share movies, TV shows and music from popular media sources like Netflix, YouTube and Google Play. By using the supported apps, you can cast this content directly to your HD TV screen. What is even more intriguing, is that any content you can get in the Chrome Browser can be cast directly to your TV. So you can sit on the couch with your laptop, phone or tablet and see your browser on your big screen TV. (Image Credit to EricaJoy - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) computers-and-electronics Fri, 26 Jul 2013 15:49:25 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/preventing-periodontal-disease I just returned from my dental appointment, and was happy to have yet another good checkup. I visit the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. My dentist and her staff are great. They always take time to educate their patients about the benefits of good dental health and about adopting good dental habits. Today, the topic of conversation was preventing periodontal disease. I always leave the dentist office with a "goody bag" filled with a new toothbrush, fluoride rinse, floss, toothpaste, coupons for dental care items, etc. In my "goody bag" they also included some literature about preventing periodontal disease from the American Dental Association. Gum disease doesn't happen overnight. Correcting it or preventing it doesn't happen overnight either. Preventing gum disease is a result of healthy dental habits. I want to share a few of the things that I have learned today about the link between good oral health and your overall health, the causes of gum disease, how to prevent periodontal disease, and some of the warning signs of gum disease. (Image Credit to AJC1 - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) healthy-living Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:57:59 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/national-anthem-etiquette I am a patriotic person, but after observing some recent events I've been troubled by a lack of National Anthem etiquette and wondering if the citizens of the United States have lost respect for its true meaning. I don't want this lens to be offensive to anyone in any way, but I do want to spark some thought in the minds of my American brethren about what our flag and National Anthem means to you. By the same token, if you are a citizen of another country, you can ask yourself these same questions about your country's flag and anthem. I took a trip to New York City last week, and was feeling an amazing sense of sorrow and pride after visiting the Patriot's Peace Memorial which now stands on the site of the fallen Twin Towers. I was in New York for the NCAA Big East Basketball Championship, and the actions I observed during the singing of the United States National Anthem left me disturbed. (Image Credit to lecates - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) culture-and-society Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:49:28 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/big-four-bridge It has been more than 40 years since the last trains rumbled across the Big Four Bridge in Louisville Kentucky. The train tracks leading to this rusty old rail bridge that crosses the Ohio River have been gone for decades. With no way on or off of the bridge, it has been known as the 'bridge to no where'. That all changed on February 7, 2013. The City of Louisville opened access for the Big Four Bridge to the public, and it has been reborn as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. The completion of this 22 million dollar project has been eagerly anticipated by the Louisville community. Hundreds of people waited with their bikes, dogs, and cameras to be the first to experience its opening (and I was fortunate enough to be one of them)! (Image Credit to Cameron Miquelon - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) travel-and-places Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:53:54 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/ooma-review I recently switched my home phone service to Ooma and am providing this Ooma review lens to show my cost savings and how easy it was to do. I have to say that I am so happy that I made the switch to Ooma, and I will explain why. I managed to drop my phone bill from $35.00 per month (plus 911 fees and taxes) down to a total $3.87 per month, and keep my phone number in the process. So I have estimated my annual savings from making the move to Ooma to be a minimum of $392.52. Many of my friends have been dropping their home phone service and opting to just use their cell phones. While I would love to do this too, it just isn't an option for my family. I have kids, and I need to have a home phone that is accessible for anyone to use at any time. In addition, my home phone number is on record with so many companies, banking institutions, my kid's school, as well as with other family and friends. I just couldn't imagine changing my home phone number at this point and having to update all those records. I did this all with an easy to install Ooma Telo box. Keep reading below to see the Ooma Telo box that I purchased. I'll also explain how easy it was to set this up, how you can even keep your existing phone number, and how you can calculate what your annual savings might be! Update - It has been a couple of months since I cancelled my home phone service and have been running purely on Ooma. Looking back on the last couple of months, there have been no issues with the service, and it has performed better than expected. computers-and-electronics Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:21:11 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/deviled-egg-recipe Deviled Eggs are a popular dish served at parties and family gatherings. This dish is enjoyed by all, and can be easily and quickly prepared. The traditional Deviled Egg recipe has been enhanced into many different variations, introducing different flavors and spices. Deviled Eggs can also be decorated to suit the occasion. Deviled Eggs are easy to make, so try preparing some for your next gathering! Below is one of my favorite classic deviled egg recipes. Did you know that there are over 50 variations of deviled egg recipes? food-and-cooking Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:17:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/unconditional-love-quotes Love is in the air on Valentines Day as couples around the world celebrate their relationships. But shouldn't we celebrate our love every day of the year? I hope this list of unconditional love quotes will help you feel and share the love in your life. I love inspirational quotes, and find that they can serve as a good reminder to make the most of your relationships. Here are my top ten unconditional love quotes that I find inspiration in. They are presented in a 'David Letterman' format, starting at #10 and leading down to my #1 favorite. My top favorite unconditional love quotes focus on children. I think any parent will agree and feel the meaning conveyed in these words. I hope these quotes inspire you all to make the most of the love you give and receive in your daily lives. (Image Credit to Millzero Photography - Licensed via Creative Commons with Attribution) relationships-and-family Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:41:32 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/best-electronic-gifts-for-men It's no secret, us guys love our gadgets. For some guys, acquiring gadgets is like an addiction. There is always some new 'whiz-bang' device hitting the market that I just have to get, and it seems that I am always buying something new. I have to say that there is nothing better than receiving a gadget as a gift though. So we are going to take a tour of some of the best electronic gifts for men in this lens. So here are my top gadget picks that any man should love! As you read forward, think about what your favorite electronic gift would be, and leave me a comment below in the comments section. I just might add it to the list! gift-guide Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:03:35 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/lawn-aerator-shoes-for-a-healthy-lawn Aerate your lawn simply by walking on it with a set of lawn aerator shoes. Aerating your lawn will revitalize it, allowing it to grow greener and healthier. These shoes or sandals will have a series of spikes that will typically be one and a half inches in length. As you walk on your lawn, compacted soil is loosened. This allows water to more easily reach the root system.In some of my recent articles, I have written about my family's move to a different home and the work that we are doing to get the house in the state that we want it in. Well, the lawn is one of those things that I am currently planning for. The soil is very compacted and aeration will be required to loosen it. There are a number of weeds that I will need to attack and stomp out. I need to do fertilization and also need to sow some new seed. This is a lot of work and properly aerating the soil will make the rest of my tasks go easier. I plan to rent and aerator to do my initial spring aeration. After that, I will continue to aerate the soil with my aerator shoes. I have a self propelled push mower, so I will be walking the yard to mow every week anyway. Why not aerate the soil while I'm mowing? (Image Credit to Amazon) home-and-garden Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:52:31 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/new-archery-accessories Every year there are always many new archery accessories that hit the market and have archers and bow hunters alike buzzing. This year is no different, and there are several new accessories that I have been testing in preparation for the bow hunting season to return. There are way too many new products that appear each year, so I am only focusing on a few select items that I feel will really make a difference for avid bow hunters. It is easy to get caught up in the hype associated with new gear. Everyone is always looking for a 'magic fix' for their problems, or a product that will make them a better archer. While there is no substitute for regular practice, there are some products that can help to make you a more consistent archer or provide a better experience in the woods. And I am all for that! (Image Credit to InterRev - That's Me!) sports-and-recreation Sun, 20 Jan 2013 01:17:19 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/trail-camera-tips Trail cameras are a great asset for hunters and outdoors-men alike. There are some simple tips that you can follow that will help you get the most out of your camera. Overall, the best tip is to "Have a Plan". What are you trying to accomplish with your scouting camera? Many hunters will head into the woods and set up a camera without regard for the location that they place it. Ideally, you will have already thought about where you want to place your cam, and more importantly why. Trails that you are considering hunting are an ideal place to set up one of these devices. This will help to confirm whether or not you will be spending your limited hunting time in the proper spot. Food plots or feeders are excellent locations for monitoring your deer herd. Many hunters like to manage their property and keep track of the number and quality of deer that are in their area. The new time lapse video cameras are great for monitoring large fields or open sections of woods to keep track of game movement. No matter what your purpose, have a plan for how you will use your game camera and what type of information you expect to receive from it. Then follow some of the simple tips below to get the most from your trail camera. (Image Credit to Greg Moore - That's Me!) sports-and-recreation Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:49:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/munitio-bullet-headphones If you haven't heard about the line of Munitio bullet headphones yet, you soon will. The Munitio company is based out of San Diego, California and creates a number of precision sound lifestyle electronic accessories. This company began in 2010 with a team of veterans from the music and recording industry. Their main goal is to bring true craftsmanship to portable electronic peripheral devices. This craftsmanship can be seen in some of their unique products that utilize titanium-coated and 18K gold plated earphones. What makes Munitio headphones most unique is their design, which mimics a 9mm bullet. Known for their deep base-pumping sound, other features that you will find on Munitio earbuds are Kevlar reinforced fabric cables, a 3 button inline mic, and quality that will transform into pride of ownership! (Image Credit - Amazon.com) computers-and-electronics Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:37:24 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/walking-dead-season-3 If you are a Walking Dead fan like I am, then you have been waiting every since the Season 2 Finale for an all new action packed season. Well, that day is here! Each week I'll be adding a new section with a rundown of what happened in that week's episode. Then we will try to have a little fun with it! Leave your comments about your thoughts on each episode. If you haven't seen it yet, then check out the Walking Dead Season 3 trailer. It looks like we are in for a whole lot of action. I also want to point out that in order not to violate any copyrights, I will not have any images on this lens from the actual Walking Dead series. All of the images will be sourced from the Creative Commons licensed for commercial use with attribution given to the source. I want this lens to remain up through the entire season, and be a place that we can all come back to for some fun each week. Image credit to Digital Sextant on Flickr entertainment Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:55:44 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/reconyx-hyperfire-hc600 The Reconyx HyperFire HC600 is a hot new infrared digital game camera with one of the fastest triggers you've ever seen. In this lens, I'll tell you about the features and benefits of the HC600, and then we'll take a look at some videos. Reconyx game cameras are definitely the top of the line. They appeal to professional hunters and guides, and those who just have to have the best of the best. They carry a pretty steep price tag, but if you talk to other Reconyx trail camera owners, they will tell you that they are worth every penny of it. Reconyx's slogan is "See what you've been missing", and for good reason. Their fast trigger speeds and RapidFire technology make then a primary choice of experts and zoologists. Reconyx game cameras have recently been used to discover what was previously thought to be an 'extinct' monkey in Indonesia. They have also been used to spot 30 endangered snow leopards in 16 different locations in the wilds of Afghanistan. When getting a quality image and not missing the shot is critical, Reconyx is the clear choice. computers-and-electronics Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:41:52 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/plotwatcher The PlotWatcher TLV (time-lapse video) game camera puts a whole new twist on scouting for game. Set aside any preconceived notions about how traditional game cameras work, and let's take a look at this new trail camera concept. Day6Outdoors broke into the market with this first dedicated time lapse video game camera. Due to the popularity of this concept, other game camera manufacturers have since released their own models of TLVs. Primos released their Turkey Tracker TLV and TRUTH DPS models. Cuddeback added TLV capability to their Attack game camera line. Moultrie released the Plot Stalker, which is a dedicated TLV game camera, but also added time lapse capability to their M-80 and M-100 models. Time lapse video is a hot trend that is here to stay! computers-and-electronics Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:38:39 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wildgame-innovations-red-6-camera My game cameras have become more than just a tool that I use to help me be more successful on my hunts. They have become a hobby that I pursue 365 days a year. I purchased my first game camera, and I used it throughout the hunting season. After the deer season ended, I found myself heading to the wood not to retrieve the camera, but to install new batteries and swap the memory card. I was hooked. That game camera is still in the woods, and I have added additional scouting cameras to my inventory. Game cameras have turned into a hobby that allows me to spend more time in the woods and enjoy everything that Mother Nature has to offer all year long! sports-and-recreation Wed, 26 Sep 2012 23:53:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/the-worx-wg430-leaf-shredder-makes-bagging-leaves-a-breeze With the arrival of Fall, I'll be breaking out my WORX WG430 leaf shredder this weekend to start tackling the first round of leaves that have begun to collect in my yard. While I used to dread raking leaves, I can definitely say that using my trusty leaf blower and my WORX WG430 has made the job much easier. Don't get me wrong. I'm still not a fan of the task at hand, but it is not the chore that it used to be. The WORX WG430 is an electric leaf shredder. It has a 13-amp motor that is capable of compressing your leaves down at an 11:1 ratio. This means that the amount unshredded leaves that would normally fill 11 bags can fit into a single bag after being shredded. Like other products from the WORX company, there are no tools required to assemble and disassemble this shredder. You can put it together quickly and easily for use, and disassemble it easily for storage that requires little space. The shredder itself sits on top of a stand allowing the pulverized leaves to fall into a trash bag beneath it. You can use plastic or paper yard waste bags. An included bag support ring keeps the bag open and in place. A series of quick-release latches holds the shredder firmly in place while in use. The powerful 13-amp motor allows the Flex-a-line blade-free mulching system to turn at 8,500 RPM to tackle up to 53 gallons of leaves per minute. It uses a heavy-duty trimmer line, similar to what you would see on a grass trimmer. This Eco-friendly yard tool lets you reduce the amount of waste bags you send to the landfill. It does not put any harmful emissions into the environment like a gas-powered engine would. You can also reuse the shredded leaves as mulch around your garden or flowerbeds. The WG430 has been a big time saver for my family. I'll typically use my leaf blower to blow all of the leaves into a big piles, while my wife feeds the leaves into the shredder. I'd also recommend looking at a set of leaf scoops. We use the Midwest Gloves and Gear brand, which are pictured below. These allow us to easily pick up larger handfuls of leaves to feed into the shredder. I end up dragging less bags of leaves to the curb and have more time for watching football games! home-and-garden Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:10:26 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/the-new-kan-jam-game While tailgating at a local college football game this past weekend, I was introduced to the fun new Kan Jam game. If you haven't seen it yet, it a really fun frisbee game that is perfect for tailgating, parties, or playing with your family in the yard. It is very simple to play, and surprisingly addictive. The game is played with four people (two teams each with two players). The game includes a frisbee and two 'buckets' which are placed 50 feet apart. A member of each team stands at each bucket. Partners stand at the opposite ends of the 'court'. They take turns being 'the thrower' and 'the deflector'. The thrower tosses the frisbee at the bucket, and when necessary the deflector deflects it toward the goal attempting to score points. After each member of the team has thrown and their score is tallied, and the flying disc is passed to the opposing team. Points are scored in one of four ways: - If the thrower scores a direct hit on the goal, it is a DEUCE and worth 2 points. - If the deflector redirects the disc and it strikes the goal, it is a DINGER and worth 1 point. - If the deflector redirects the disc into the goal, it is a BUCKET and worth 3 points. - If the thrower tosses the disc into the goal (through the top or slot opening), it is an INSTANT WIN. The game is played until a team wins with a score of 21 points. So what's so fun about this game? First off, it is addictive. It is two team mates working together for a win. Anyone can play this Kan Jam, but it can definitely become competitive as skill levels increase. It is portable and can easily be transported for tailgating, to the lake, to the gathering at your neighbors... you name it. Kan Jam is even used in over 2,000 schools throughout the United States. It encourages exercise and enhances coordination skills and is being used as part of the physical education curriculum. Be one of the first to introduce your friends to the new game of Kan Jam! sports-and-recreation Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:09:48 -0600