Good useful Reading.. espeically if your bored..

[(A!)Rico]

Helpful Things---who knew??
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Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...)
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Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

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For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.
(wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)

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Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).

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Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

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Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. And now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way!
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Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! Now, where to put the body?

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Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks.  Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

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Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.

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Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

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Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.

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To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!

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To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.

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Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

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Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

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When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

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Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

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Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. Left over wine? What's that? !

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To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.

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Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.

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Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

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When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

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Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.

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Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

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Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

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Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

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Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain! followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

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* Just cleaned it up for read-ability - ZW *



WD40
I thought that you might like to know more about this well-known product.

When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing that has cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stovetop. Viola! It's now
shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts. The workers were so pleased with the product, they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home. The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans.

The rest, as they say, is history.

It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. Only one of them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets it's distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.

Here are some of the uses:

*Protects silver from tarnishing

*Cleans and lubricates guitar string

*Gets oil spots off concrete driveways

*Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
 *Keeps flies off cows

*Restores and cleans chalkboards

*Removes lipstick stains

*Loosens stubborn zippers

*Untangles jewelry chains

*Removes stains from stainless steel sinks

*Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill

*Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing

*Removes tomato stains from clothing

*Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots

*Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors

*Keeps scissors working smoothly

*Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes

*Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide

*Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers

*Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises

*Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open

*Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close

*Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers

*Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
*Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans

*Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling

*Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly

*Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools

*Removes splattered grease on stove

*Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging

*Lubricates prosthetic limbs

*Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)

*Removes all traces of duct tape

*I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

*Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers

*The favorite use in the state of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

*WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

*Use it for fire ant bites It takes the sting away immediately, and stops the itch.

 *WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

  *Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry ,saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!

*If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.(If I knew what a distributor cap was, it might help)

*WD-40, long known for its ability to remove
leftover tape mung (sticky label tape), is also a lovely perfume and air freshener! Sprayed liberally on every hinge in the house, it leaves that distinctive clean fresh scent for up to two days!

*Seriously though, it removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!

*Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.

*Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

*Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!

Use WD-40!

you can also use  WD40 to get static out of you slinky clothes.







 Two interesting stories.

 
   STORY NUMBER  ONE
   
   Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.  Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
   
   Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well Not only was the money big, but also Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
   
   Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.  Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything: clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.  Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name and a good example.
   
   One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
   
   Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he would ever pay.
   
   Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion and a poem clipped from a magazine.
   
   The poem read:
   
   The clock of life is wound but once
   And no man has the power
   To tell just when the hands will stop
   At late or early hour.
   Now is the only time you own.
   Live, love, toil with a will.
   Place no faith in time.
   For the clock may soon be still.
   
   STORY NUMBER TWO
   
   World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.
   
   One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier.  Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold,  a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet.
   
   The American fighters were gone on a mission, and the fleet was all but
defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
   
   Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted  50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault.   He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
   
   Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.  Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had in fact destroyed five enemy aircraft.
   
   This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
   
   So the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
   
   SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
   
   Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.

[Edited on 3-7-2005 by ZWarrior]

[ZWarrior]

That last bit was too good to be true, so I checked Snopes. Come to find out that is mostly true!!

 For more on the truth of the O'Hare story, check out http://www.snopes.com/glurge/ohare.asp