With the arrival of winter, your car or truck doors are bound to freeze up solid at least once. Before you break that window, read the following from our in-house expert on frozen doors...
Most of us have dealt frozen vehicle doors on a cold winter morning. If you haven't, then you're either smart enough to use the garage, or you live in an area that stays above 60 all year.
Trying to get the door open can be a real pain. Short of smashing the windows, you might want to try the following methods:
-Carefully scrape the ice off of the edges of the door. Get in the cracks and slowly move all along the outline of the door. Be careful you don't scrape too hard. You don't want to damage the paint.
-Use some extra windshield washer fluid and pour it on the frozen areas. The washer fluid contains a small amount of alcohol, which may help melt the ice.
-Buy some de-icer spray from your local hardware store, Target or Walmart. Spray a good amount of de-icer in the places where the door is sticking. Try and get in the jambs and all around the edges.
Note: De-icer can be hazardous if not used properly. Read all directions and warnings carefully before using.
-Carefully try prying the door open with something that will fit in the jamb. Don't use too much force because you may damage the door.
Some people may tell you to pour hot water all over the door. I advise against this, because you may end up cracking the window or worse.
If all else fails, you'll just have to pray for a warm day. The ice will melt and you'll be able to get the door open.
No matter how you achieve it, once you get the door open, wipe away all the excess water and spray the jamb with some WD-40. This should prevent water from collecting inside and therefore stop the door from freezing shut.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Google Earth - Damn Cool Stuff
Have you ever dreamed of being able to visit anywhere on this earth with the click of a button? Fly from Paris to San Francisco in a matter of seconds? Zoom in on your favorite city? Well, thanks to the creative geniuses over at Google, you can make those dreams come true.
Google Earth is one of the most innovative ways to visit almost every city in the world. And you can do it all while lounging around in your boxers.
You'll have a couple of choices when you visit Google Earth's download site. You can either pay for a full version, or download the freebie...with the loss of some capabilities. We at TBNL are cheapskates, so it was the free version for us.
Trust us, spying on everything doesn't get old. You'll be at this for hours.
Download Google Earth now at: earth.google.com
Google Earth is one of the most innovative ways to visit almost every city in the world. And you can do it all while lounging around in your boxers.
You'll have a couple of choices when you visit Google Earth's download site. You can either pay for a full version, or download the freebie...with the loss of some capabilities. We at TBNL are cheapskates, so it was the free version for us.
Trust us, spying on everything doesn't get old. You'll be at this for hours.
Download Google Earth now at: earth.google.com
Monday, November 07, 2005
10 Reasons to Watch Family Guy
Lucky there's a family guy is how this show's theme starts out. Lucky we are indeed. Family Guy began airing in 1999 and, after a short-lived cancellation, returned to prime time earlier this year.
Creator Seth McFarlane is the brains behind the animation. His voice can also be heard on the weekly series as he provides the voices for three of the main characters.
We at TBNL love this show beyond words. But, for the sake of our Blog-zine, we have to express our feelings in actual words, so here you go. Ten reasons to watch Family Guy...
-It stars Seth Green (of Buffy fame) as Chris, the dimwitted older son
-The 1 year old boy is a genius and wants to dominate the world
-The dog can talk
-Adam West (Batman) is the mayor
-Lois, the wife, is hot
-Clever references to real life people and events
-Quagmire, the sex-crazed neighbor, just plain rules
-Cleveland, the other neighbor, just plain rules
-Mila Kunis (That 70's Show), is the awkward, confused daughter, Meg
-Peter...you'll just have to watch and see
Creator Seth McFarlane is the brains behind the animation. His voice can also be heard on the weekly series as he provides the voices for three of the main characters.
We at TBNL love this show beyond words. But, for the sake of our Blog-zine, we have to express our feelings in actual words, so here you go. Ten reasons to watch Family Guy...
-It stars Seth Green (of Buffy fame) as Chris, the dimwitted older son
-The 1 year old boy is a genius and wants to dominate the world
-The dog can talk
-Adam West (Batman) is the mayor
-Lois, the wife, is hot
-Clever references to real life people and events
-Quagmire, the sex-crazed neighbor, just plain rules
-Cleveland, the other neighbor, just plain rules
-Mila Kunis (That 70's Show), is the awkward, confused daughter, Meg
-Peter...you'll just have to watch and see
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Blog-zine TBNL Exclusive - Online Dating
You've read about it, heard it being talked about on TV, maybe even tried it once or twice. Online dating, it's today's answer to the personals that were oh so popular decades ago.
The world is a busy place these days. Technology runs our lives. You jump in your car by 9 AM, already running late for work. It is too late to stop at the local coffee shop where you try to manage to say more than "tall skim latte" to the pretty girl behind the counter. At the end of the day you prepare yourself for the long bumper to bumper ride home. Before you know it, it's after 6PM, just enough time to heat up a frozen dinner and catch an episode of CSI Miami, or which ever CSI is on that night. You could try to call up a buddy or two to meet you at the local dive where by chance there might be a few single girls there that night. But this would require showering and shaving and somewhere along the lines of a clean shirt.
Enter the world of online dating. There a literally hundreds, if not thousands, of sites out there. With just a few strokes of the keypad and some simple words entered into a search engine, you step into a world that's full of many different options for dating and of course what others consider dating.
Once you've picked a few sites that look appealing, you begin to investigate a little further. You find a good one and think about signing up for it. Hell, it's free for 30 days, so you decide to go for it.
You create your profile, being careful not to give too much away at first. Leaving a little to the imagination can be a good thing. Once you've managed to describe yourself and what you're looking for, you move on to other member's listings.
Finding exactly what you're looking for may not be easy. One person may have 90% of the qualities you're looking for, but they could live 1000 miles away. Another person could live 10 miles away but only be a 50% match.
If you're lucky enough to find someone that sparks your interest, you can send them a message and see what happens.
To be continued in next month's edition...
The world is a busy place these days. Technology runs our lives. You jump in your car by 9 AM, already running late for work. It is too late to stop at the local coffee shop where you try to manage to say more than "tall skim latte" to the pretty girl behind the counter. At the end of the day you prepare yourself for the long bumper to bumper ride home. Before you know it, it's after 6PM, just enough time to heat up a frozen dinner and catch an episode of CSI Miami, or which ever CSI is on that night. You could try to call up a buddy or two to meet you at the local dive where by chance there might be a few single girls there that night. But this would require showering and shaving and somewhere along the lines of a clean shirt.
Enter the world of online dating. There a literally hundreds, if not thousands, of sites out there. With just a few strokes of the keypad and some simple words entered into a search engine, you step into a world that's full of many different options for dating and of course what others consider dating.
Once you've picked a few sites that look appealing, you begin to investigate a little further. You find a good one and think about signing up for it. Hell, it's free for 30 days, so you decide to go for it.
You create your profile, being careful not to give too much away at first. Leaving a little to the imagination can be a good thing. Once you've managed to describe yourself and what you're looking for, you move on to other member's listings.
Finding exactly what you're looking for may not be easy. One person may have 90% of the qualities you're looking for, but they could live 1000 miles away. Another person could live 10 miles away but only be a 50% match.
If you're lucky enough to find someone that sparks your interest, you can send them a message and see what happens.
To be continued in next month's edition...
Movies to Watch - Kill Bill Vol. 1
We are proud to present you with Blog-zine TBNL's Movies to Watch. Our staff spent hours and hours watching and writing about these movies, so we hope you'll go out and rent them.
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine
A truly bloody (as well as bloody good) film filled with well... blood, and a lot of dismembered limbs. We loved this flick.
Uma Thurman plays "The Bride"...an ass-kicking, revenge-seeking hottie Who used to be part of an organization called The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, or DiVAS. The "Squad" is run by a man known simply as Bill, a character played brilliantly by veteran martial arts actor David Carradine.
When "The Bride" left "The Squad", Bill got pissed and sent the other members to find her and take her out. The whole movie centers around Uma's character fighting with various members of the DiVAS.
There is one particular scene where Uma's character meets the legendary sword maker named Hattori Hanzo, played by played by 70's and 80's marital arts star Sonny Chiba (It's been said that Quentin's feelings for Chiba rival those of his love for cocaine...ha ha...just kidding QT). "The Bride" requests that Hanzo make her one of his swords, but he is reluctant at first, because he does not want to break the blood oath he made with God 28 years ago...an oath that he would "never make another instrument that kills people"; However, with some convincing, he obliges her request and presents her with the finest blade he's ever made.
We could go on forever about the great lines and great characters in This film. But that would require a lot of time and energy, plus it would probably ruin this truly awesome flick for you.
One thing you'll notice about this flick is the copious amount of blood. To avoid getting in trouble with the censors, QT made a genius move and used anime, plus filmed a portion of the film in black and white. These scenes were considered too violent to be shown with live actors. If he had used real people, the movie would have gotten an "X" rating.
Tarantino has a knack for picking the right actors as well as the right music for his films. Our staff admits to consistently buying the soundtracks to every one of Quentin's movies, and this one is not going to be an exception.
We have to give Quentin all the credit that he is due for this movie. The man has a tendency to try to shock people in some scenes in his movies (the "Buck Scene" in this particular movie), and until this point we had questioned his ability to tell an honest to goodness story without having to rely on shock tactics. Without a doubt he truly does not disappoint.
On an interesting side note, Quentin and Uma both helped to pen the screenplay (they are listed in the credits as "Q" and "U").
Next month we review Kill Bill Vol. 2
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine
A truly bloody (as well as bloody good) film filled with well... blood, and a lot of dismembered limbs. We loved this flick.
Uma Thurman plays "The Bride"...an ass-kicking, revenge-seeking hottie Who used to be part of an organization called The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, or DiVAS. The "Squad" is run by a man known simply as Bill, a character played brilliantly by veteran martial arts actor David Carradine.
When "The Bride" left "The Squad", Bill got pissed and sent the other members to find her and take her out. The whole movie centers around Uma's character fighting with various members of the DiVAS.
There is one particular scene where Uma's character meets the legendary sword maker named Hattori Hanzo, played by played by 70's and 80's marital arts star Sonny Chiba (It's been said that Quentin's feelings for Chiba rival those of his love for cocaine...ha ha...just kidding QT). "The Bride" requests that Hanzo make her one of his swords, but he is reluctant at first, because he does not want to break the blood oath he made with God 28 years ago...an oath that he would "never make another instrument that kills people"; However, with some convincing, he obliges her request and presents her with the finest blade he's ever made.
We could go on forever about the great lines and great characters in This film. But that would require a lot of time and energy, plus it would probably ruin this truly awesome flick for you.
One thing you'll notice about this flick is the copious amount of blood. To avoid getting in trouble with the censors, QT made a genius move and used anime, plus filmed a portion of the film in black and white. These scenes were considered too violent to be shown with live actors. If he had used real people, the movie would have gotten an "X" rating.
Tarantino has a knack for picking the right actors as well as the right music for his films. Our staff admits to consistently buying the soundtracks to every one of Quentin's movies, and this one is not going to be an exception.
We have to give Quentin all the credit that he is due for this movie. The man has a tendency to try to shock people in some scenes in his movies (the "Buck Scene" in this particular movie), and until this point we had questioned his ability to tell an honest to goodness story without having to rely on shock tactics. Without a doubt he truly does not disappoint.
On an interesting side note, Quentin and Uma both helped to pen the screenplay (they are listed in the credits as "Q" and "U").
Next month we review Kill Bill Vol. 2
The "Ask Bianca" Column
We here at Blog-zine TBNL know that sometimes a guy just can't give the right advice. Therefore, we asked our resident expert, Bianca, to weigh in on some of the more "burning" questions guys everywhere have always wanted to ask.
Don't be shy. Send Bianca an email with a question you'd like answered. She'll answer almost everything. And if she thinks it's worthy, we'll post it on here for guys everywhere to see.
And now, the answers you've been dying to read...
How do I know if the girl I'm in to, is in to me?
J.P. - San Diego, CA
The way a woman shows she is into you really hasn't changed much since the way she did in high school. This is coming from the fact you were able to pick up those signs back then, unfortunately the average teenage guy wasn't able to. A 95% chance to tell if she is into you is as follows:
-She invites you out often with her friends.
She does this because she wants to see you but is really not brave enough to go solo. Going out with her and a group is a safe guard to show she likes you, but doesn't want to throw herself at you incase you aren't interested.
-She goes out of her way to touch you.
This doesn't mean necessarily in a sexual way, but rather a playful way, a listening way or a consoling way. You may say a joke that makes her laugh followed by a slap on the arm. Maybe you didn't get that promotion you were working for, she will listen intently and rest her hand on yours.
-She can't stop bringing you into a conversation.
If a friend or coworker mentions that he heard how you throw up outside a Denny's Restaurant one night and this is a story you only told her or you tell a friend your going to a basketball game the night and they say they already knew because she had told them, she's into you.
If any of these scenarios happen to you a few times, there is a 95% chance she is into you.
If you are rejected after receiving these signs, she is the other 5%, not anyone you would want to be with.
How soon is too soon to call after a first date?
Chris H. - Minneapolis, MN
As if dating wasn't hard enough, there isn't a real time frame to call after a first date. The first call is a lot like gambling, you make that high bet only if the cards you were dealt were right, unless you feel lucky.
Knowing when to call comes down to the date itself.
If it was an OK date, you two had a good time but it wasn't spactacular, waiting two to three days is fine. If you didn't feel that dying need to speak to her again after you dropped her at the door, chances are she isn't sitting by her phone waiting for you either. However, even if the date wasn't that great, but you do want another, don't wait more than five days to call her, because by then, she has probably given up on you and moved on.
If the date went well, you two laughed and had a really good time, waiting one to two days would be fine. Even though it was a great date and you defiently want to make plans for later in the week, a day or two of breathing room and suspense is nice.
Now, if you had the best first date ever and you two couldn't keep your hands off each other, it is fine to call her the next day, maybe even the same night. Keep in mind that this has to be a really good date for you to call her that night, otherwise she may be scared off.
These are just a few guidlines you can ask yourself when deciding to call. Most of it is your own gut instinct that decides when to call, when you are most comfortable.
Got a question you want to ask Bianca? Send it to: askbianca@gmail.com
Don't be shy. Send Bianca an email with a question you'd like answered. She'll answer almost everything. And if she thinks it's worthy, we'll post it on here for guys everywhere to see.
And now, the answers you've been dying to read...
How do I know if the girl I'm in to, is in to me?
J.P. - San Diego, CA
The way a woman shows she is into you really hasn't changed much since the way she did in high school. This is coming from the fact you were able to pick up those signs back then, unfortunately the average teenage guy wasn't able to. A 95% chance to tell if she is into you is as follows:
-She invites you out often with her friends.
She does this because she wants to see you but is really not brave enough to go solo. Going out with her and a group is a safe guard to show she likes you, but doesn't want to throw herself at you incase you aren't interested.
-She goes out of her way to touch you.
This doesn't mean necessarily in a sexual way, but rather a playful way, a listening way or a consoling way. You may say a joke that makes her laugh followed by a slap on the arm. Maybe you didn't get that promotion you were working for, she will listen intently and rest her hand on yours.
-She can't stop bringing you into a conversation.
If a friend or coworker mentions that he heard how you throw up outside a Denny's Restaurant one night and this is a story you only told her or you tell a friend your going to a basketball game the night and they say they already knew because she had told them, she's into you.
If any of these scenarios happen to you a few times, there is a 95% chance she is into you.
If you are rejected after receiving these signs, she is the other 5%, not anyone you would want to be with.
How soon is too soon to call after a first date?
Chris H. - Minneapolis, MN
As if dating wasn't hard enough, there isn't a real time frame to call after a first date. The first call is a lot like gambling, you make that high bet only if the cards you were dealt were right, unless you feel lucky.
Knowing when to call comes down to the date itself.
If it was an OK date, you two had a good time but it wasn't spactacular, waiting two to three days is fine. If you didn't feel that dying need to speak to her again after you dropped her at the door, chances are she isn't sitting by her phone waiting for you either. However, even if the date wasn't that great, but you do want another, don't wait more than five days to call her, because by then, she has probably given up on you and moved on.
If the date went well, you two laughed and had a really good time, waiting one to two days would be fine. Even though it was a great date and you defiently want to make plans for later in the week, a day or two of breathing room and suspense is nice.
Now, if you had the best first date ever and you two couldn't keep your hands off each other, it is fine to call her the next day, maybe even the same night. Keep in mind that this has to be a really good date for you to call her that night, otherwise she may be scared off.
These are just a few guidlines you can ask yourself when deciding to call. Most of it is your own gut instinct that decides when to call, when you are most comfortable.
Got a question you want to ask Bianca? Send it to: askbianca@gmail.com
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